100 Storytimes : Trains Storytime, Friday, September 8 @ 10:30

Props:

train whistle,
bubble wrap,
Donald Crews' freight train.

Books:

Freight Train by Donald Crews. As I turned the pages of the book, I held up each car STARTING WITH THE CABOOSE NOT THE ENGINE, asking the kids what color they were. They loved starting off the storytime as guest experts. I hung up the train on a clothesline and we talked about the type of cars. And as I hung them up, I talked a little bit about what each car might carry. Tank Car: lemonade; hopper car: Legos (dump them right out the bottom) Cattle car: cows; gondola car: bananas; box car: boxes of books or birthday presents.
Thomas the Tank Engine. I introduce this most famous of trains using the beginner book Blue Train, Green Train, but I don't actually read it.
Down by the Station. I love the Will Hillenbrand version about different zoo animals, but if your copy is torn to shreds, the way mine is, Jennifer Riggs Vetter has a very fun version out about different vehicles: "Down by the bus station, airport, etc.
Clickety Clack by Robert and Amy Spence. This rhymy readaloud reads like a train ride. Start off slow and steady, and gradually, as talking yaks and ducks go quack, pick up the speed and the sound level until by the time those mice light their fireworks, you're really zooming! Your voice rising and speeding up is enough to fascinate even the babies. This book is always a major performance piece. I made a stick of fireworks for the mice out of twisted bubble wrap and a little red at the tip. I twisted it for a really big pop. Use a lot.
I'm Fast by Kate & Jim McMullan. Even more fun than their I Stink. This is the story of a race between a train and a red sports car. Maybe not a really big hit.
Ride, Fly Guy, Ride by Tedd Arnold. Fly Guy comes to the rescue with this verrrry funny and outrageous tale of a ride every two-year-old would like to take. Fly Guy's voice: low nasal. Buzz's: surprised boy soprano
The Little Engine That Could by Piper. Every year I read the board book, and it's a wonderful thing to hear the moms chime into the chorus: I think I can, I think I can.
Crossing by Booth. REally gorgeous book
How to Train a Train by Jason Carter Eaton. (Check wiggle index first -- this requires a bit of a sense of humor, about "how to Train a Train" as if they were new pet puppies. "Make the call of the wild train: Chugga-chugga, chugga-chugga" and offer it coal."
Steam Train, Dream Train by Sherri Duskey Rinker. Short and sweet.
Window Music by Anastasia Suen. Short, nice

Songs:

The wheels on the train go round and round, etc.

· The conductor on the train says, “All aboard! All aboard! Etc.

· The clowns on the train laugh, “Ha, ha, ha. Ha, ha, ha. Etc.

· The lions on the train roar, “RoooOAAR, RoooOAAR, Etc.

· The elephants like to stomp around, stomp around, Etc.

· The seals on the train go clap, clap, clap, clap, clap clap, Etc.

· The acrobats swing through the air, through the air, etc.

· The emcee on the train wants to take a bow, take a bow, etc.

· The audience on the train shouts YAAAAY! YAAAAAY! Etc.

The wheels on the train go round and round, round and round, Etc.

JLIB sing The Little Red Train Goes Down the Track

Craft: Train. Materials: Rectangles 2" x 3", squares 2" x 2" (railway cares come in different shapes!) Thin washy tape, black dots, markers for detail, and glue sticks.