Bedtime

Opening Song: “I Am Here & You Are Here” by Peter & Ellen Allard (on Sing It! Say It! Stamp It! Sway It! Vol. 3)

Story: Tuck Me In! by Dean Hacohen.  Super simple, sweet introduction to bedtime.  I was able to call helpers to the front to tuck in the animals, which they really enjoyed.

Song: “Goodnight” by Laurie Berkner on Victor Vito.  In a coup of lazy flannel-board making, I stole the animals from “Cat Goes Fiddle-I-Fee” (hen, duck, sheep, pig, cow, horse, dog) and made some quick rectangles of different colors to be blankets.  I put the animals on the flannel board, and the kids named them and told me what sound they make.  I passed out blankets to the kids who didn’t get a turn with Tuck Me In! – luckily, the numbers worked out just about right for everyone to have a turn.  When I called on a child, she chose which animal to tuck and then we sang the verse for that animal.

Story: Farmyard Beat by Lindsay Craig.  I always introduce this one as “the worst bedtime story ever” because it wakes everyone up and makes them want to dance.  I had the kids tap out the rhythm on their laps while I read, and they joined in a bit on the animal noises and guessing what animal was going to come next.  At the end, most said the book would make them want to get up and dance rather than going to bed.

Song: I planned to sing “Kiss the Baby Goodnight” by Peter & Ellen Allard (on Sing It! Say It! Stamp It! Sway It! Vol. 3).  It’s a lullaby, with a cumulative recitation of everything that happens at bedtime.  You can go with the original lyrics or take suggestions from the kids (if you don’t mind wonky sequencing.)  I ended up reading Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star by Jane Cabrera instead, since I had a pretty young group and I thought a familiar song might go better.

Story: Nighty-Night, Cooper by Laura Numeroff.  I skipped the first song (to “Rockabye Baby”) because I couldn’t get the rhythm right, and just started in with the second song.  The songs were a big hit, although the parent/child interactions between songs were pretty forgettable.  I did have someone ask if she could check this one out right after storytime, so it resonated with someone.

I had also considered Tell Me About Your Day Today by Mem Fox.  I had gone 25 minutes and didn’t think the group had any more attention left, so we ended there.

Ending Song: “See You Later”

   

Craft: Tuck me in beds with construction paper bed/blanket, child, and lovie.  I got this idea from a “hug” folding craft one of my storytimers did for Valentine’s day, and it’s a great match for Tuck Me In!  The kids seemed to enjoy it.  I had one caregiver who was very insistent on looking at the sample, and I ended up with a lot of checkered blankets!

 

Other Possible Titles:

Good Night, Little Bot by Karen Kaufman Orloff