Bones Storytime
Scott Bahlmann
Opening: Shake My Sillies Out – Raffi
Book: Bone Dog – Eric Rohmann
(Charming illustrations, and just enough scaryness without being too scary.)
Song: This Old Man - traditional
(This was a fun counting and rhyming activity. We'd ask the kids what rhymed with each number. Three ended up knick-knacking on pee!)
This old man, he played one, (hold up finger)
He played knick-knack on my thumb;
With a knick-knack (clap, clap) paddywhack, (slap knees)
Give the dog a bone, (pat knees)
This old man came rolling home. (roll hands)
...continue with increasing numbers.
Book: Skeleton Hiccups – Margery Cuyler
(A cute book with nice big pictures, and a bit of interactive potential.)
Activity: Bones in My Body
(We stood up and wiggled each body part that we added to the list. I made up the words and tune, so you can do it chanty, or make up something!)
Book: The Skeleton in the Closet – Alice Schertle
(Such cute pictures! They keep the creeping skeleton from being too scary. A lovely find.)
Flannel Story: Bone Soup –
from the story by Cambria Evans (full version here)
(My favorite part of the program. The kids all thought the soup was disgusting!)
Book: Halloween Forest – Marion Dane Bauer
(Fun pictures, and a nice Halloween ending made this a lovely finish to the program. It didn't hurt that
Activity: Streamers
(And if we had no bones, how would we be? Just like wibbly streamers! We danced to the song Dem Bones by Five Little Monkeys)