The Youth Services team at Flathead County Library plans and implements early literacy programs for babies, toddlers, and preschoolers in Kalispell, Bigfork, and Columbia Falls. Our goal in every Storytime is to connect with young children and their caregivers through books, songs, and interactive activities that foster early literacy and social emotional skills.

Explore the Storytime Schedule

Wakey wakey sleepy head! It’s time for a storytime post all about our favorite bedtime books and routines!  

Books Read:

Dino Pajama Party

by Laurie Wallmark
ISBN: 9780762497751

Everybunny Dream!

by Ellie Sandall
ISBN: 9781534440043

Goodnight Everyone

by Chris Haughton
ISBN: 9780763690793 

The Bedtime Book

by Todd Parr
ISBN: 9780316428002

We often choose a theme for each week of storytime, and sometimes we choose different books that suit our Toddler and Preschool audiences best. This week, we read Dino Pajama Party and Everybunny Dream with our Toddler group,  and we read Goodnight Everyone, The Bedtime Book, and Everybunny Dream with our Preschool group. 

We also read The Bedtime Book during our babytime and discussed why lullabies are so important in infant development. Not only are lullabies soothing, but they help stretch out sounds and make it easier for babies to hear and learn language. 

Songs & Interactives:

Five Little Monkeys Jumping on the Bed (Song and Flannel Board)

 

Five little monkeys jumping on the bed
One fell off and bumped his head
Momma called the doctor and the doctor said,
No more monkeys jumping on the bed!
(Repeat)

Are you Sleeping

We sang this song a few times today to help us practice executive functioning skills and following directions! The first time we sang very quietly (whisper), the second time we sang at a normal volume (regular voice), and the third time we sang loudly. Our audience handled it so well that later on during storytime we brought out the parachute and sang in correspondence with how hard we shook the parachute!

Are you sleeping?
Are you sleeping?
Brother John
Brother John
Morning bells are ringing
Morning bells are ringing
Ding, ding, dong
Ding, ding, dong

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Activities:

Sensory Tub

We filled our sensory tub with colorful rice and a mix of funnel stands, funnels, scoops, and cups this week. This was the perfect station to practice pouring and scooping, two essential fine motor skills that kids develop in their toddler and preschool years! 

Loose Parts Mobile Craft

During preschool storytime we made mobiles using dowels, pipe cleaners, ribbon, tag board, scissors, tin foil, markers, and beads. This station allowed kids to make their own version of a familiar bedtime staple! The gentle swaying motion of a mobile when hung can surely help soothe little ones to sleep, but did you know that they also support visual development and spacial awareness?  

Process Art

This week we encouraged kids to use pastels to trace different objects and create their own designs. This simple process art activity got the creativity flowing and provided another great space to practice fine motor skills. Everyone enjoyed seeing how bright and vibrant the pastels looked against different backdrops!  

Air Toobz

One of our favorite STEM toys to bring out at the library are Air toobz! With this toy, kids connect various lengths of tubes to design their own tunnels that they can send a ball flying through. It is powered by one fan, so this station requires lots of collaboration and patience. It’s the perfect way to help kids develop their problem-solving skills through some hands-on fun!