Caterpillars

Still more science!  We read caterpillar books this week and talked about the changes that caterpillars go through to become butterflies.

BOOKS:

We read The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle because of course, what kind of children’s librarian would I be if I didn’t read this one?  And Bob and Otto by Nick Bruel.

Both of these books were fantastic for storytime.  Many of the children had already heard The Very Hungry Caterpillar and one even came up to me before I started reading and told me (in a whisper, of course) that it was her FAVORITE book.  Bob and Otto touches on familiar storytime themes – friendship, conflict and resolution – but it also brings up some important science facts – like metamorphosis and the role earthworms play in the growth of plants.  Two thumbs up for both books.

SONG:

We sang “The Life of a Butterfly” which I borrowed from Storytime Katie’s blog.  I think that we should have sang it through two times –I need to get in the habit of doing that, but the kids did the actions and the parents sang along.

"The Life of a Butterfly" (Tune: Skip to My Lou)

I'm a caterpillar, wiggle with  me
I'm a caterpillar, wiggle with  me
I'm a caterpillar, wiggle with  me
What will I be my darlin'?

(A chrysalis, now sleep with me / A butterfly, come fly with me)

CRAFT:

We made our very own Very Hungry Caterpillars.  I love this craft.  It is adorable.  If we had more time with storytime, I would have had the kids punch their own holes in the leaves (I don’t have enough hole punchers either though now that I think about it) and talk about how the caterpillar makes the holes.  Anyway.  I love mine.  It’s hanging out on my desk with some of my other favorite craft projects.