Mouse Count!

Ok, let me start by saying that this is totally over the top.  BUT SO WORTH IT!

It started when I was at a bookstore and I found the fabulous over-sized board book version of Ellen Stoll Walsh's "Mouse Count."  I already loved "Mouse Paint" but "Mouse Count" immediately inspired me.  I wanted to create props that we could use to act out the story.



Mouse Count!



I made the snake using one of my father-in-law's old ties.  I used stuffing and a wire coat hanger to fill it out and make it 3D.  I stitched it closed, added a flannel tongue and glued on some eyes to create a great big snake that kids are just fascinated by.  I stuffed it pretty firm, so he extends out when I hold him--it definitely makes him more animated. 



The whole set

I made the rock 'mouse' using a chunk of homemade clay--flour, salt, oil and food coloring.  I made it vaguely mouse-shaped and let it dry solid. 

Making the pattern

For the little mousies, I made a paper pattern by folding a piece of cardstock and cutting out a cone shape.  Then I whipstitched the long edges to make a felt cone, and then stitched a circle on to close it--mostly remembering to add the tails and fill them with rice before totally closing the opening.



Mouse Booty



I added pinched circles for the ears, googly eyes, and little bells for noses.  I found a jar at Goodwill and that was all!

Sometimes I hand the mice out if I have a small enough crowd, otherwise I just hide the mice around the front of the room--including the rock 'mouse'--before we start storytime.  I show the book, but usually I just tell the story and move around with the snake and the jar collecting all the mice.

It's a labor-intensive one, for sure, but as I said in the beginning, it is completely worth it.  I'd really like to make another set that's sturdier and put it together as a kit for kids to check out.  It's amazing watching them act out the story on their own terms!

Why didn't I think of this?!

So, for last year's CSLP theme, Make a Splash! I had my dad make me a simple wooden frame that would hold a sheet of plywood with a hole in the middle for kids to get their photo taken.  I figured I could re-paint the sheet for each year's theme.  Last year, I came up with this guy:

 He was pretty popular around my library!

I've been stuck on what to do for this year though--My drawing skills are fairly limited, and I've been searching for inspirations. 

Enter the party/design blog, "Oh Happy Day" and this GENIUS idea: Use a projector and an image from the 'net (or clipart)! Project the image, trace, and voila! My stand is nice, but cardboard would be great too since it's just for summer.

Who doesn't have a projector at their library?!  Easy peasy. 

Now I just have to find a little extra time to do it :)

Hello Robots!

Update: a full Robot Storytime outline can be found here

Thought I'd join the Flannal Friday fun and share one of my favorites.  I decided to do a robot storytime a while back, inspired by Bob Staake's "Hello Robots."  It has a great refrain that is perfect for storytime.  It went really well, but I am still on the lookout for more storytime robot books, so if you have any ideas please share. 

This was such and easy story to turn into a flannel.  I just used basic shapes inspired by the illustrations and free-handed it.  It was very simple and fun!

The robots each have a distinctive job that they love (cleaning, gardening, cooking, and working/building/fixing). 



But then they get caught in the rain and bzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzt! Their robot wires get crossed!  Suddenly they start doing crazy things like hammering the pie and raking the window.  So...they switch heads!



I love this flannel because it's so simple but works on so many levels.  We can talk about the robot shapes, colors, jobs, and tools.  I read the book, then we retold the story together with the flannel pieces.  I can't wait to do it again this week with my 4K field trip.