Brew and Boo! (a witch and ghost storytime)
Scott Bahlmann
Opening: Shake My Sillies Out – Raffi
Book: Skeleton Hiccups – Margery Cuyler
(After introducing the theme, I asked the kids if this was a witch or a ghost, they weren't fooled! But then his friend, a ghost, showed up to help out. Very simple and fun in the story and illustrations.)
Activity: Five Little Ghosties
adapted from The Chocolate Chip Ghost
(see the full version here)
(The kids got to identify the foods as they came out, and predict what color the ghosts would turn. They loved it!)
Five little ghosties shining clean and white,
Waiting for their mother to bring dinner for the night.
One little ghost said ‘I’m too hungry to wait!’
Grabbed up some ____ and that is what it ate.
It swallowed it all down into its hungry tum.
Do you know what color did that ghost did become?
Count down remaining ghosts end with…
One mother ghostie, shining clean and white,
Brought home to her little ones dinner for the night.
When she saw the colors her ghosts had become,
She knew just what do to, and put into their tums,
A tall glass of milk, and a marshmallow or three.
Then her little ghosties were as white as white could be!
Book: Peek-a-Boooo! – Marie Torres Cimarusti
(Another simple book, where the kids got to show off their smarts. After the revelations, we all tried making the sounds of the character. Fun)
Activity: If You’re a Witch and You Know It
Tune: If You're Happy and You Know It
If you’re a witch and you know it ride your broom…
If you’re a monster and you know it stamp your feet…
If you’re a skeleton and you know it shake your bones…
If you’re a wolf and you know it give a howl…
If you’re a bat and you know it flap your wings..
If you’re a ghost and you know it, just say Booo!...
(A great get-up-and-move activity.)
Book: Ghosts in the House – Kazuno Kohara
(A charming book, which belies the traditional view of both ghosts and witches! Adorable illustrations.)
Activity: Humbug Witch
adapted from the story by Lorna Balian
(see the full version here)
(I loved this story, and it transitioned very well into a flannel book. The kids got a kick out of the final revelation, and the undies as well.)
Book: What’s In the Witches Kitchen – Nick Sharratt
(A fun book, with some cool special effects. It felt a smidge long, but not enough for the kids to get restless.)
Activity: Bubbles
(Then we had bubbles from the witch's cauldron. Don't let them transform you into anything nasty!)