A frog-themed storytime can be fun anytime of year, especially when accompanied by any of the great activities listed in the next column on Froggy programs. The kids at my library enjoy all of Jonathan London’s “Froggy” books, especially “Froggy Gets Dressed” which is available in the Big Book format. Don’t forget to sing “Five Green and Speckled Frogs.”
Arnold, Tedd. GREEN WILMA. Wilma looks for flies to eat and disrupts school.
Manushkin, Fran. PEEPING AND SLEEPING. Barry and his dad walk by a pond and try to figure out who or what is making that sound!
Anderson, Peggy. TIME FOR BED, THE BABYSITTER SAID. Joe won’t go to bed in this short rhyming story.
Faulkner Keith. THE WIDE MOUTHED FROG. Pop-ups highlight this short, funny story.
Lionni, Leo. IT’S MINE! Three frogs argue over whose owns the pond, until a storm shows them the value of sharing.
London, Jonathan. FROGGY GETS DRESSED. The kids will scream with laughter when Froggy forgets to put on his underwear! Special thanks to Walter Mayes for introducing me to Froggy.
FROGGY PROGRAM
Thanks to Barb Scott, children’s librarian at the Bucyrus Public Library for the following ideas for a program celebrating the Froggy books by Jonathan London. She posted her ideas on the PUBYAC listserv, detailing the success of a program held in October to coincide with London’s birthday. The program included readalouds of the some of the Froggy books, followed by several crafts and games. The craft stations included:
1. Frog Fact Booklet-This idea was taken from a back issue of CopyCat magazine. Participants made what is called a “slit book” whose shape was cut out, slit in the middle and then folded into successive pages.
2. Froggy Paper Bag Puppet-Participants colored a paper bag and then cut out arms, eyes, and a rolled up tongue to complete this cute craft!
3. Froggy Toilet Paper Roll Craft-Toilet paper rolls were the basis of this craft. Pattern pieces were colored and cut out and pasted around and onto the toilet paper roll to make a frog.
4. Draw Froggy-Participants were guided by a “How to Draw Froggy” page displayed at this station. Each participant handed in their drawing of Froggy for display outside of the Children’s Room at the library.
5. Accordion Arm and Leg Frog-Frog body, feet, and hand pieces were cut out. Feet and hand pieces were attached to the body with accordion folded pieces of green construction paper.
While participants worked on crafts, a special visit from Froggy was made. He made the rounds shaking hands and giving hugs to those in attendance.
Once crafts were finished, refreshments were served. The refreshment table featured Froggy Cupcakes, fruit snacks, French Onion flavored Harvest Chips, and punch.
Drawings were held at the end of the program while participants either finished with refreshments or with crafts. Given away were two copies of Froggy’s Activity Book.
Before leaving, each participants received a goodie bag with a “Read It” frog sticker, a small plastic frog, and an Ellison frog finger puppet, as well as a trick-or-treat bag from the library to put completed crafts in.