Storytime: Flowers

This storytime was for a preschool-aged group at my library.

Read Aloud Books

My GardenWritten and illustrated by Kevin Henkes

An adorable book about a girl imagining all the things she wants to have in her garden—yes, including a jelly bean bush. The kids thought it was pretty silly, but we still had fun with it, especially when I asked some of the kids what they wish could grow in their garden.

The Empty PotWritten and illustrated by Demi

This classic tale of selecting the next emperor based on a flower seed is one of my favorites....but went over the kids heads ("Wait, he gets to be emperor because he didn't have a flower??"). And it's long. Which I knew, but I thought the story would be worth it. Turns out it's better for older kids.

Ava's PoppyWritten and illustrated by Marcus Pfister

Tagged on to the end, this is about a girl who loves and cares for her poppy, but it dies anyway come winter. Yeah, pretty much. Not at the top of my recommendation list...

Songs and Rhymes

Hello Song

Song: The Farmer and His Seeds

(Tune: The Farmer in the Dell)

I used this puppet from DSS as we sang this song

So, first we plant the seed,

Oh, first we plant the seed,

Hi, Ho, the dairy-o,

Oh, first we plant the seed.

The sun comes out to shine,

The sun comes out to shine,

Hi, Ho, the dairy-o,

The sun comes out to shine.

The rain begins to fall,

The rain begins to fall,

Hi, Ho, the dairy-o,

The rain begins to fall.

The seeds begin to grow,

The seeds begin to grow,

Hi, Ho, the dairy-o,

The seeds begin to grow.

A flower we have grown,

A flower we have grown,

Hi, Ho, the dairy-o,

A flower we have grown.

Song: "The Seed"

(Tune: Mary Had a Little Lamb)

I'm a little planted seed (crouch into a ball)

Planted seed, planted see.

I’m a little planted seed,

This is how I grow.

See the rain come sprinkling down (hands sprinkle down)

Sprinkling down, sprinkling down

See the rain come sprinkling down

This is how I grow.

Sunshine comes down through the trees (arms in big circle)

Through the trees, through the trees

Sunshine comes down through the trees

This is how I grow.

Now I am a growing flower, (slowly stand and dance)

Growing flower, growing flower

Now I am a growing flower,

This is how I grow

Goodbye Song

Games and Activities

Flannel: Flower, Flower, Where do you Grow?

Terrible but true: I don't have pictures for this one. Sorry! So use your imagination: five different colored flower pots and one small flower. Hide the flower behind one of the pots and have the kids guess where it is with this rhyme:

Flower, flower where do you hide? 

Are you in the ____ (insert color) pot? 

Let's peek inside!

I also had sign language actions to do along with the rhyme. The kids love this game, especially shouting out which pot to look under next.

Craft

Cupcake liners, my friend. And whatever sorts of things you want for the middle of the flower. Anything works really. I had the strips of green paper already cut, so the kids basically did lots of gluing.

Other Book Ideas

The Flower BallWritten by Sigrid Laube, illustrated by Silke Leffler

Huck Runs Amuck!Written by Sean Taylor, illustrated by Peter Reynolds

Planting a RainbowWritten and illustrated by Lois Ehlert

What Does Bunny See?Written by Linda Sue Park, illustrated by Maggie Smith