Storytime: Bats

As I have mentioned before, I make a point not to create programs revolving around holidays, particularly holidays that are religious in nature. Because of this, my October storytimes all have themes that relate to fall and/or Halloween, but none of them are Halloween storytimes in and of themselves.  This week's theme was bats.

Opening Rhyme: Open Them, Shut Them

Book: Bat Loves the Night by Nicola Davies

Rhyme: Spooky Bats
Spooky bats go flying at night
Flapping about in the pale moonlight
Spreading their wings; they're a scary sight!
But truth be told, there's no need for fright.
Spooky bats like to sleep in the day.
They hang upside down and doze all day.
Caves and trees are where they stay.bri
Until it grows dark, then it's up and away!

Book: Stellaluna by Janell Cannon

Rhyme: Five Little Bats
Five little bats went out for a flight
On a crisp and clear fall night.
Mother bat called, "Please come right back!"
But only four little bats flew back.

Four little bats ...

Mother Bat went out for a flight
To look for her five little bats that night.
When Mother Bat saw them, she said, "Boo!"
And right back home five bats flew!

Song: "If You're Happy and You Know It"

Book: Desert Song by Tony Johnston

Bat Rhyming Game: I gave the kids words/pictures on cards and we made two columns on our storytime board - words that rhyme with "bat" and words that don't.  This didn't work as well as I expected because many of the children at storytime were a bit too young to understand the concept of rhyming.

Song: "Head, Shoulders, Knees, and Toes"

Book: Bats at the Library by Brian Lies

Goodbye Rhyme

Craft: We used Brian Lies's reading bat as our craft. Some of the children left their crafts with me so I could display them in the children's area of the library.