Miss Shari's Storytime © 2009 - 2013

Rain, rain….

Miss Shari — Mon, 30 Apr 2012 00:29:14 +0000

Rain Rain

Rain, rain go away,
there’s a hole in my rain boots anyway.

I want to stomp in puddles,
not stay in and muddle.

We can’t play outside,
and have to stay inside.

I want to make mud pies and
catch the rain from the sky.

But now I need new rain boots,
and I am in an awful mood.

I want to make a mess
and not stress.

I want to go out in the rain and sing and dance.
I want to smell the fresh air if I get a chance.

I want to enjoy the rainy day. But how?
I think I’ll go get my new rain boots now!

Dr. Seuss: Mr. Brown Can MOO! Can You?

Miss Shari — Tue, 06 Mar 2012 11:39:35 +0000

Hello again! It has been a busy few months. But The Story Carpet has some great tings in store. So stay tuned and we hope to see you at story time.

In the last few weeks I have been in search of a great book to share – but kept coming up empty. Then after a busy week with our little tots at work we had one of those moments – where you can choose to make it fun or get frustrated. Anyone who works with toddlers and twos knows that they LOVE the sound of their voices and they love to make NOISE. While trying to get them washed for lunch and at the table together (it can be done) a potty accident erupted that needed my attention. So as I tended to the wet pants in the bathroom the children were making noises and even screaming so I decided to make this game fun – instead of saying stop yelling or indoor voices – I said friends can you Roar like a lion? “Roar” they said. Can you Moo like a cow? “MOOOOOOO”, they said. And so on and so on until our yummy lunch arrived and they loved it and it was controlled and not chaotic. And they learned to listen and respond.

As I thought about it – it also happened to be March 2nd, Dr. Suess’s birthday that day. So what better book to share than Mr. Brown Can Moo! Can You? Here is the story below and be sure to read it with expression and stop to let the children make NOISE!

As Always – Happy Reading!

Make Way for a “Little One”

Miss Shari — Thu, 22 Dec 2011 11:40:19 +0000

In true Christmas tradition, the time is coming near to make way for the King. This is a hard concept for young children to understand – they are so excited for the magic morning of gifts, laughter and love. Yet, there is another magical moment that we sometimes neglect – that starry night when the Savior was born in lowly stable.

This short, sweet little tale Room for a Little One: A Christmas Tale is a great way to share with your youngest about the magic of that first Christmas. It tells a tale of the animals making room for one another on a cold winter night – and nearing the end they make room for the Donkey carrying Mary, Joseph and the “little one” who will be born that night. It is a close reminder too of one of the prophetic chapters in Isaiah regarding the root of Jesse. And a great song by Alli Rogers – “Make Way”.

…..Make Room for the “Little One”.

Have a very Merry Christmas!

Happy Hanukkah!

Miss Shari — Wed, 21 Dec 2011 12:03:26 +0000

For the next eight nights, Hanukkah will be in full swing. It is also the first day of winter. How fitting that on the shortest day of the year that we celebrate – light, life and miracles – in the midst of the cold, darkness of winter.

Read the story of Hanukkah also contained in the Maccabees books. You can also check out the many books for children that tell the story of Hanukkah and how and why it is celebrated today in our culture and society.

Happy Hanukkah!

As always, enjoy your reading, celebrations and special times!

Christmastime is Here….Again!

Miss Shari — Tue, 13 Dec 2011 10:58:23 +0000

Yes the magical season is upon us and we have been anxiously awaiting its arrival for months now (probably since Halloween). And I was informed twice that I MISSED my favorite Christmas movie, A Charlie Brown Christmas. I also love the old favorite’s, Frosty the Snowman, Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer - I usually watch this trio every year. So since the season is in full swing I thought, I’d share a few clips from the (greatest) Christmas movie. Enjoy…..

Check out some of the features from Christmases past – Christmas 2010 and Christmas 2009.

Have a wonderful holiday season and Merry Christmas!

P.S. Tell Miss Shari, some of your favorite Christmas movies and stories! Leave a comment below.

Enjoy some pumpkin pie this holiday..

Miss Shari — Wed, 23 Nov 2011 12:10:05 +0000

Pumpkin Pie, Pumpkin Pie

Carve, carve the pumpkin shell,
Steam it up, cook it up very well.

Mix with some sugar in a cup,
Add cream and eggs and mix it up.

A touch of ginger and cinnamon,
Clove and brown sugar yum, yum ,yum.

Flour, butter and water for the dough,
Mix it, roll it, squeeze it, pat it so.

Roll it, roll it, roll it out nice and flat
And lay in the pie plate just like that.

Take it to the oven and turn it on high,
Soon well have and yummy pumpkin pie.

Cool it off, cut it up, put it on a plate.
Add the whipping cream I can’t wait.

Yummy in my tummy, pumpkin pie
is the best at Thanksgiving time.

Happy, Happy Thanksgiving!

Ready to Rock, Rhyme, Read and Write…..

Miss Shari — Mon, 21 Nov 2011 12:06:59 +0000

Am I psyched? You bet I am! I had been looking forward to meeting Dr. Jean Feldman since September. I returned to work after a six week medical leave and I was eager to return to work anyway. When I saw the notice about the upcoming training seminar Rock, Rhyme, Read and Write at LCCC – I was totally excited (I said that already).

See, I created this blog because of my love for picture books, songs, rhymes and circle-times. I believe that magic happens at The Story Carpet or the “Magic Carpet” whatever you may call it. When you gather your children and you are singing, rhyming and sharing – you are bonding and learning together. While the rest of the world thinks you are just singing silly songs – you know that you are teaching valuable skills and tools for education success.

Dr. Jean has been a great resource of experience, songs, rhymes, music & movement, tips and tricks to make your little ones eager to learn and be happy learning. So get your voices singing and get ready to Rock, Rhyme, Read and Write the day away. I had a great time – I was enthused, inspired, wired, tired and just plain happy. The best was the quote from Dr. Jean’s daughter Holly – about kids “They take it in and they take it in and they take it in and then it comes out!” It is so true. Just when you think they aren’t learning a thing they finally surprise you and there it is!

I am so happy to be returning with some refreshed ideas, new ideas and hopeful that the kids are on their way to success and they are learning and it will come to fruition when the time is right…

…but of course I didn’t get away with out a CD in hand and some Best Wishes from Dr. Jean. And the Banana Dance in my back pocket …

As always, Happy Reading, Singing and Dancing,

An Old Fave: The Runaway Bunny

Miss Shari — Fri, 18 Nov 2011 12:46:03 +0000

I realized just a few days ago that I had never read The Runaway Bunny by Margaret Wise Brown. What? I know…I was completely baffled by my lack of knowledge in this all time must reads in children’s literature.

It wasn’t until a few month ago I was going through my music library – everyone has music library and everyone loves some type of music – and I came across JJ Heller’s Boat Song. Wanting to know more about this song I researched a bit and found a YouTube video of her and her husband sharing how the song was inspired by a book they had “never before read” to their daughter – The Runaway Bunny. I had thought that I had heard (of) this story before but I never read it. So i went into work a few days ago and discovered that we had this book and I read it to my little group of tots . I was struck wit*misty eyes* because of all the times that they run away and come back to the safety of my care. It was sweet and they loved it.

JJ Heller’s Boat Song inspiration….

Enjoy Reading and Singing…Always,

It’s Gonna be a Rockin’ Saturday….

Miss Shari — Thu, 17 Nov 2011 11:15:55 +0000

You ask why? Well because I am meeting Dr. Jean Feldman. Well, I will be attending her all day workshop Rock, Rhyme, Read and Write at our local LCCC.

It has been a long road since I first started teaching – young children - I remember so much from years ago and I am in need of a refresher and a boost of excitement. I remember when I had the time to research and plan everything and of course we had a song for EVERYTHING. One staff member asked me years ago, “Miss Shari do you sing all the time? And my response was “Yes. There is a song for everything. And as you can see they learn it too.”

I know this is a children’s storybook site but….if you really research early literature who do you come up with Mother Goose. Yes, good old nursery rhymes. I LOVE THEM. They are funny, silly, packed with knowledge, words, and numbers and KIDS LOVE to hear them and sing them.

I have only recently started to write my own little stories and rhymes -yes I secretly aspire to be like Margaret Wise Brown and Dr. Jean Feldman . But in all seriousness – I truly want to give my children the best of me there is. And I hope to have a fun day of learning how to teach by singing and dancing my heart out will being silly, fun and loving at the same time. I often worry about the kid not having fun at school – because they are two – and “Play is their Work”. Why not sing and dance while we work each day.

So I look forward to (Meeting and Hopefully and photo opp *wink wink*) Dr. Jean Feldman’s awesome seminar this Saturday!

Until next time as always, Happy Reading, Singing and Dancing!

Magical Monday: Night Dancer by Marcia Vaughan

Miss Shari — Mon, 10 Oct 2011 11:09:52 +0000

With crisp, autumn weather on the horizon and November just around the corner many schools and children will be learning about Native American history, tribes and traditions. Although this book is a tale about the Mythical Piper of the Native American Southwest – Kokopelli is found in Hopi, Zuni and Pueblo mythology.

Night Dancer by Marcia Vaughan sings and paints a song of the night – also a great serration activity for young children. Each page shares a little rhyme.

“Come dance, come dance, come dance with me
Stepping and stamping joyously.
Like the stars and the wind, happy and free,
Who’ll dance away the night with me?

And with each page a new creature – coyote, snake, tortoise, Javalina – pig, jackrabbit and tarantula join in the dance and song. They dance and sing past the sleeping children, who wake and join the night dancer and friends. They dance along the mesa until the sun rises and the pier plays one last song.

“Let morning awake and the new day begin
for when the Moon shines bright, I’ll dance again”.

With beautiful and magical illustrations by Lisa Desimini, Night Dancer is a great read to share. Its history, mythology, poetry and serration skills make it a great read and activity, especially during the months of October and November.

Have a magical autumn season!