Share This Book: And Then It’s Spring
And Then It’s Spring by Julie Fogliano. New York: Roaring Brook Press, 2012.
After a long winter, a boy and his dog decide to do something about the brown that is all around, they plant a garden! Simple text and illustrations tell this delightful story of a boy waiting for spring to arrive. The boy looks all around at the brown, plants seeds, worries about his seeds, wishes for rain, and waits. As time goes by, the illustrations show that the weather is warming, the brown is changing, until one day it’s spring!
After the winter we’ve had, we can all sympathize with the boy’s watchful waiting!
Action Song: “I’m a Little Flower”
I’m a Little Flower
(to the tune of: “I’m a Little Teapot”)
I’m a little flower, watch me grow.
I start as a seed in the ground so low. (lie on the ground in a small ball)
When the sun is shining up I go, (slowly rise)
I open my petals, just like so! (pop up and stretch arms to the sky)
Springtime Fun Storytime
Recommended Books:
Me and My Mom! by Alison Ritchie (Good Books, Intercourse, PA, 2009)
Although baby bear is little and unsure of the world around him, he knows with Mom by his side he can do anything. Mom shares daily adventures with her baby bear, all the while reassuring him that he is special, loved and with time will grow up to do all the things she can. For more loving family adventures with baby bear, check out Me and My Dad! by the same author.
Hooray for Spring! by Kazuo Iwamura (North-South Books Inc., 2009)
Mick, Mack and Molly, sibling squirrels, are excited to see the first signs of spring. As they explore the caterpillars, bees and trees, they discover a baby bird waiting for its mama to bring food. The squirrel siblings attempt to offer the baby bird some of their favorite foods, but the bird isn’t interested in anything they offer. Mama bird soon arrives and surprises the squirrels with the lunch she brings. For more Mick, Mack and Molly adventures, check out Hooray for Summer! and Hooray for Snow!
Action Rhymes
Bouncing Bunny
Bunny is so excited because spring is here,
Can you give spring a big hello cheer? (“Hooray!”)
Can you bounce like bunny, high in the air? (Bounce in place)
Shake your head like bunny, shake your hair! (shake head)
Bunny can wiggle his ears, I bet you can too. (wiggle ears)
Bunny also wiggles his nose, can you? (wiggle nose)
Often bunny tries to hide by sitting very still (pretend to hide behind hands)
Can you sit like bunny? I bet you will. (all sit down)
Spring Garden
My mom and I are working in the garden today.
First we have to loosen the soil. (mime digging)
Then mom gives me some seeds.
We have to be careful not to plant them too close together. (mime sprinkling seeds)
Next I carefully give each seed a small drink of water (mime pouring water)
and wait for the sunshine to warm them. (point up at sun)
Mom and I tend the garden every day, giving the seeds a little water. (mime watering)
Finally we start to see little green leaves sprout from the soil. (hunch down, slowly stand)
In the summer we have tall strong plants, both vegetables and flowers. (reach arms over head)
I can’t wait until next spring when we plant again!
Flannelboard Song
5 Caterpillars (to the tune of “The Itsy-Bitsy Spider”)
5 caterpillars went looking for some lunch.
1 found a leaf, crunch, crunch, crunch.
He made a little cocoon and he hid himself inside.
And when he woke up he was a beautiful butterfly!
4 caterpillars… (continue, counting down to 1)
Click here for a free flannelboard pattern to go with this song, courtesy of artist Melanie Fitz.
Storytime Stuff 