Storytime: Forest Friends
Storytime: Forest Friends
Let’s have fun in the forest with our friends! Even if you are an overzealous “friendly” bear, or a mischievous mouse, there’s always an adventure waiting in the forest for you and your friends.
Join us Tuesdays, and Wednesdays at 10:30 a.m. or Tuesdays at 6:30 p.m. in the Community Room.
Ages 2-5
Sing, Talk, Read, Write, Play
Tip
During the first years of life, an important set of skills known as problem solving abilities are developed. Get into the habit of asking questions during your daily story time that develop higher-order thinking skills. Instead of just reading and your child passively listening, ask questions throughout, concentrating on solving problems. –www.empoweredparents.co/problem-solving-activities-preschoolers/
Activity
Help your child find a favorite book. Ask your child questions similar to these: –Why do you think the mouse did that? –Do you think his friend will be happy? Why? –What do you think would happen if the mouse did something else? – www.empoweredparents.co/problem-solving-activities-preschoolers/
Books Presented
I am Friendly: Confessions of a Helpful Bear by Kristen Tracy
Anonymoose by Shawna J.C. Tenney
A humorous, heartfelt story about shyness, blending in, and the courage it takes to step out and speak up when it matters most. Ana Moose feels most comfortable when she is hiding. Hiding is much more fun than knowing what to say or being picked last for the team. She enjoys being “Anonymoose”! Until one day, when she sees her classmate Peter building a fort. A fort could be a very good place to hide! But also, Ana starts to feel a connection with Peter. Will Anonymoose have enough courage to come out of hiding to make a friend?
In the Forest by David M. Schwartz
The Quiet Forest by Charlotte Offsay
Songs, Rhymes, and Fingerplays
If You’re Ever in the Forest
(Tune: “Did You Ever See a Lassie?”)
If you’re ever in the forest,
The forest, the forest,
If you’re ever in the forest,
You might see some deer—
A young one and an old one,
And some that can quickly run. (Run in place.)
If you’re ever in the forest,
You might see some deer.
If you’re ever in the forest,
The forest, the forest,
If you’re ever in the forest,
You might see some rabbits.–
They hop here, and they hop there, (Jump like rabbits.)
they hop, hop, hop everywhere.
If you’re ever in the forest,
You might see some rabbits.
If you’re ever in the forest,
The forest, the forest,
If you’re ever in the forest,
You might hear some birds.
A tweet here, and a tweet there,
they are flying around everywhere.
(Fly like bird.)
If you’re ever in the forest.
You might hear some birds.
If you’re ever in the forest,
The forest, the forest,
If you’re ever in the forest,
You’ll surely see lots of trees.
There are tall ones and short ones,
(Stretch high, and then get low.)
and young ones and old ones.
If you’re ever in the forest.
You surely see lots of tree.
Source: Verona Story Time
There’s Something in the Forest
There’s something in the forest, that I can’t really see. There’s something in the forest. Now what can it be?
- I’m an animal who’s big, brown, furry and who, “Roars!”
- I’m an animal who has long ears and goes, hop, hop, hop!.
- I’m an animal who’s small, has a striped back and loves to eat nuts.
- I’m an animal who looks very huggable but I will poke if you squeeze.
- I’m an animal who’s tiny and makes very quiet “squeaks”.
- I’m an animal who chomps on trees and gives my tail a “slap”.
- I’m an animal who loves water plants and has big decorations on my head.
- I’m an animal who soars in the air and makes high pitched whistles.
Adapted from Verona Story Time
Crafts and Activities
Forest Friends Coloring Page
Forest at Night Craft
Additional Books
Bear's New Friend by Karma Wilson
Bear and his friends persuade a bashful owl to play with them.
Animal Hide & Seek by Dahlov Zorach Ipcar
Sometimes, you need to know what to look for in order to see an animal, even if it’s hiding in plain sight! In Animal Hide and Seek, author and artist Dahlov Ipcar first offers young readers portraits of woodland animals and then, on the companion page, sets the animal into its natural setting, camouflaged for the careful reader to find.
In the Quiet, Noisy Woods by Michael J. Rosen
A forest’s quiet chorus of chirps, clicks, and chits change to loud scree-scree-screeches and other noises as two rambunctious wolf pups, separated from their pack, scamper and chase.
