I love a good animal storytime!!
Books
for the tots
Zoo Ah-chooo by Peter Mandel
My Heart is Like a Zoo by Michael Hall
Color Zoo by Louis Ehlert
Dear Zoo by Rod Campbell
for preschool+
Zebra on the Go by Jill Nogales
Going to the Zoo by Tom Paxton (storytime collection)
Still a Gorilla by Kim Norman
Activities
“5 Little Lions”
This is a great flannel activity for all ages and works well for the toddlers, who are first learning how to “roar” like a lion!
“Five Little Lions”
One little lion, roaring at the zoo
called for another: ROAR!
Then there were two!
Two little lions, underneath a tree.
Called for another: ROAR!
Then there were three!
Three little lions heard a distant roar.
Called for another: ROAR!!
Then there were four!
Four little lions, happy and alive.
Called for another: ROAR!
Then there were five!
Five little lions ran off to play.
ROAR! ROAR! ROAR! ROAR! ROAR!
(take off a lion with each roar)
Bye little lions, we’ll see you another day!
“Kangaroo”
This is a great little action rhyme for all ages. I happened to be pregnant when I did this theme so it worked out perfectly for me!
“Kangaroo”
Jump, jump, jump (jump)
goes the kangaroo (jump)
I thought only one – (hold up finger)
but now I see two! (hold up two fingers)
Mommy and her abby
With his head popping out (wiggle thumb from fist)
he holds on tight (hug self)
as the jump all about! (jump around)
“The Animals at the Zoo”
Another take on “Wheels on the Bus!” For preschoolers and older, you can have them come up with additional animals and their motions. It’s always funny to see what they come up with!
The Animals at the Zoo
The lions at the zoo go roar, roar, roar…
roar, roar, roar,
roar, roar, roar,
the lions at the zoo go roar, roar, roar
all day long.
The tigers at the zoo go growl, growl, growl…
The snakes at the zoo go hiss, hiss, hiss…
The kangaroos at the zoo go hop, hop, hop…
The penguins at the zoo go waddle, waddle, waddle…
Conclusion
Animal storytimes are the best! I love to use puppets and there are plenty of great ones to bring out for this storytime!
