Puppies–Toddlers

DRESS-UP ITEM

Opening Song

If You Want to Hear a Story

Tune: “If You’re Happy and You Know It”

If you want to hear a story, clap your hands!
If you want to hear a story, clap your hands!
If you want to hear a story,
If you want to hear a story,
If you want to hear a story, clap your hands!

Books

Bark George by Jules Feiffer
Yip! Snap! Yap! by Charles Fuge
Underwater Doggies Colors by Seth Casteel

Action Rhymes

Some Dogs Bark (make appropriate noises)

Some Dogs Bark.
Some dogs growl.
Some dogs yip.
Some dogs howl.
And some dogs just wag their tail. (wiggle bottom)
Source: Storytime Katie

Puppy Dog
Puppy dog, puppy dog,
turn around. (turn in place)
Puppy dog, puppy dog,
Sit on the ground (sit)
Puppy dog , puppy dog,
Sit and beg. (pretend begging)
Puppy dog, puppy dog,
Stand on one leg. (stand on one leg)
Puppy dog, puppy dog,
Bark and wail! (bark and howl)
Puppy dog, puppy dog,
Chase your tail! (run in circle)
Puppy dog, puppy dog,
Into your bed creep. (walk softly)
Puppy dog, puppy dog,
Go to sleep! (close eyes, put head on hands)
Source: Librarian Lisa’s Storytimes

Fingerplay

“Five Little Puppies”

Five little puppies were playing in the sun. (Hold up hand, fingers extended.)
This one saw a rabbit, and he began to run. (Bend first finger.)
This one saw a butterfly, and he began to race. (Bend second finger.)
This one saw a pussycat, and he began to chase. (Bend third finger.)
This one tried to catch his tail, and he went round & round. (Bend fourth finger.)
This one was so quiet, he never made a sound. (Bend thumb.)
Source: Storytime Katie

Source: Mollie Makes

Take Home Craft

This was original designed to be a card, but I thought the puppy dog would be cute as a craft.
Source: mmmcrafts

Closing Dance Song

Silly Dance Contest by Jim Gill

Observations

I just knew that I had to dress-up for this storytime. Of course it had to be puppy ears. I made these super cute dalmatian ears in one night and received some nice “oooooo” from the kids when I put them on to start the storytime.

The toddlers really liked this storytime. They enjoyed Bark George and really liked Yip! Snap! Yap!. Everyone liked making all the noises along with me. Underwater Doggies was ok. The kids were restless by the time we reached this story. It might be a better book for colors or kicking off a storytime.

The puppets were fun. They are currently missing eyes as I ran out of time the night before. However, the kids didn’t mind. We actually named them before we did the rhyme. I had a lot of “puppy” for chosen names.

I actually got feedback about the craft the next week. One mom said that her twins girls really enjoyed making the craft and talking about puppies. She even put magnets on the back of each puppy dog so her girls could hang them on the fridge.