For this storytime, we focused on the letter “W.” And since it’s Halloween week, we talked about black cats’ whiskers and bats’ wings (you could easily add in some witches too!)

OPENING SONG: Days of the Week (mp3) by the Magic Crayons
Tune: The Addams Family theme song

FINGERPLAY: Two Little Black Bats

To make the finger puppets, I used regular black craft felt for the bodies.  But I would recommend using stiffened felt or craft foam for the wings (so that they aren’t floppy.) Once I had the pieces cut out, I sewed around the edges using a zig-zag stitch.

Two little black bats,
Hanging in a cave.
One named Demetri
And one named Dave.

Fly away Demetri.
Fly away Dave.

Come back Demetri.
Come back Dave!

Two Little Bats Finger Puppet Template (pdf)

NONFICTION: Furry Fliers of the Night (Ipad App) OR National Geographic Readers Bats! (Book)

Either of these are great to show a few pictures and talk about some bat facts! Did you know that bats are the only animals with fur AND wings?  Or that most bats can’t take off (fly) from the ground?

FLANNEL SONG: Bats in My Belfry (mp3) by Count von Count
From the Album Sesame Street: Bert And Ernie Sing-Along

You can download this song for free if you have Amazon Prime!  I actually just sang this one instead of using the music.  There’s a lot of chatter going on in the background and I wanted to be able to stop and ask the group “now how many bats are there?” and count together as we went along.

One bat hanging in the steeple,
One bat flies in through the door.
That makes two bats in my belfry.
Wonderful….But wait…. there’s more!

Continue up to five total

Four bats hanging in the steeple
One bat flies in through the door.
That makes five bats in my belfry.
Snuggled up and flying no more.

Credit: SLC Book Boy

Bats Flannel Template (pdf)

BOOK 1: Moonlight, the Halloween Cat by Cynthia Rylant

ACTION SONG: I’ve Got a Black Cat On My Knee
Tune: Skip to my Loo
Credit: Storytime Kids

I’ve got a black cat on my knee
I’ve got a black cat on my knee,
I’ve got a black cat on my knee
Meow meow meow meow meow

Continue with nose, foot, head, belly button…etc.

I printed out some black cat clipart and gave one to each child before singing this song.  Then we held our black cats on each body part that we sang about.

The kids were thrilled that I let them keep their cats so that they could sing this song at home! We did have to do a quick “Hold your cats up high in the air; wave them around; put your cats on the ground in front of you; now hold your hands up; and then put them in your laps so that we can listen to the next book!” before moving on to the next story.  🙂

DIGITAL STORY: Scruffy Kitty
Available on the iTunes App Store

This is a really cute story about “scruffy kitty” who lives outside and is looking for a cozy new home (spoiler alert – he finds one!)  This has a fun Halloween skin right now, but it changes by the season so you can use it anytime!

CLOSING SONG: Shake My Sillies Out by Raffi

MORE RESOURCES

BOARD BOOK: I’m the Scariest Thing in the Castle by Kevin Sherry
Little vampire bat thinks that HE is the scariest thing in the castle…way more scary than all of the other creepies. If you’re familiar with I’m the Biggest Thing in the Ocean, this is written by the same author and has the same funny, adorable vibe. This is a good one for toddlers – and it’s not too scary.

 

BOOK: Kitten’s First Full Moon by Kevin Henkes
A favorite story of mine.  Poor kitten is just trying to get a bowl of milk (but keeps mistaking one for the reflection of the moon.)  Will she ever get her milk? The black and white illustrations are fantastic.

BOARD BOOK: Five Black Cats by Patricia Hegarty
A simple, rhyming board book good for babies and toddlers. It’s a small format book, so this would need to be read one-on-one or to a small group.

BOOK: Scaredy-Cat, Splat! by Rob Scotton
This would be most appropriate for preschool and up.  It’s Halloween time and Splat is trying to come up with the scariest Halloween costume….the only problem is that Splat is afraid of everything!

RHYME: Five Batty Bats
Author Unknown

Five Batty Bats
Were hanging ‘neath the moon.

“Quiet!” said the first.
“The witch is coming soon.”

“She’s green,” said the second,
“With a purple pointy nose.”

“Black boots,” said the fourth,
“Can scratch you – that I know!”

“I’m scared,” said the fifth.
“I think we’d better go.”

Five batty bats,
Escaped into the night.
“Dear me, ” said the witch.
“That’s a scary sight!”

RHYME: Five Little Bats Hanging Upside Down
Found on: Melissa Smith Blog

Five little bats, hanging upside down.
The first little bat didn’t make a sound.
The second one said, “I’ll fly far tonight.”
The third one said, “I don’t like sunlight.”
The fourth on said, “I want to eat some bugs.”
The fifth one said, “Let me give you a hug!”
Five little bats hanging upside down.
Shhh! It’s daytime, don’t make a sound.

RHYME: Five Little Bats
Credit: Felt Board Magic

Five little bats on a dark, dark night.
Five little bats are quite a sight.

Five little bats.  Are you keeping score?
One flies away and then there are four.

Four little bats as happy as can be.
One flies away and that leaves three.

Three little bats swooping in towards you.
One flies away and that leaves two.

Two little bats having lots of fun.
One flies away and that leaves one.

One little bat and we’re almost done!
He flies away and then there are none.