Hop in for a Frog Storytime

I am so excited to share this storytime theme because it was one of the absolute best sessions I've done to date!  The kids and parents all loved this theme.  Everyone was participating in the songs, paying close attention to the stories, and checking out the books I put on display after storytime was over.

Books

Jump! by Scott M. Fischer

Little Green Frogs by Frances Barry

Move! by Liesbet Slegers

The Croaky Pokey by Ethan Long

Lead-In

I started by playing music as people entered the room.  I love playing upbeat oldies with instruments as an intro to storytime, so we listened to "At the Hop" and played with shakers to help break the ice and get kids in a happy mood.  Once everyone arrived, I introduced myself and we sang a few of our favorite songs such as Hi Hello, Open and Shut Them, and Mr. Sun.  Then I asked the children what a frog says.  They all started croaking and ribbitting, so I asked what the frog DOES.  The answer is...  he jumps!  This lead us to our first book, Jump! by Scott M. Fischer, which also seemed to be the favorite of this session.

Songs and Rhymes

★Little Frog (source)

I’m a little frog, (point to self)

Sitting on a log. (hands on knees)

Listen to my song. (hand to ear)

I sing it all day long: (cup hands to mouth)

Ribbit! Ribbit! Ribbit! Ribbit! Ribbit! (sway side to side)

CROAK! (in a deep voice)

★The Croaky Pokey (source)

We sang and acted out this song as I read the book

★Five Speckled Frogs 

Five little speckled frogs

Sat on a great big log 

Eating the most delicious bugs (yum yum) 

One jumped into the pool 

Where it was nice and cool 

Now there are just four speckled frogs  

Four little speckled frogs… 

Three little speckled frogs… 

Two little speckled frogs...

One little speckled frogs...

Felt Board Activity

Make a scene to go along with Five Speckled Frogs by cutting out frogs from green felt with darker green spots, a log from brown felt with a wood grain pattern drawn on, and a blue "pool" from aqua felt or paper with Velcro on the back.  Move the frogs into the pool as you sing the song and hold up your fingers to indicate how many frogs are left.  

Closure

Have children practice hopping and croaking like frogs, then show parents a selection of nonfiction books about frogs that are available for checkout if their kids would like to learn more.  Blow bubbles and sing the goodbye song, then give each child a frog stamp on their hand before they leave.

Additional Resources

Can You Growl Like a Bear by John Butler (to teach animal sounds)
Tell Me the Difference Between a Frog and a Toad by Leigh Rockwood
A Frog’s Life by Ellen Lawrence
Everything You Need to Know about Frogs and Other Slippery Creatures
Frogs by Peter Murray
Frog Coloring Pages