Ava's Storybook Pick

I Like Cats

By: Patricia Hubbell 

Illustrated by: Pamela Paparone

This book is about all different kinds of cats; fat and thin, short and tall. The kid in the story loves them all! So did Ava. She is obsessed with cats right now and she loved this book. The book had really good rhythmic flow (which I love) and the pictures kept both of us entertained.

Art Activity: Cat Hand prints

Materials: Paint, Paint brush, Crayons, Paper, Scissors, Computer/Printer (optional), Glue

How to:

1. Paint hands (palm and fingers) with black, white, brown, etc
2. Place hand onto paper with fingers together and thumb stretched out
3. Print or draw cat heads
4. Color the cat heads and cut out
5. Glue heads onto bodies

Math Activity: Cat Matching

Materials: Computer/Printer (optional), Paper, Crayons (optional), Scissors

How to:

1. Print or draw several cats (make sure they have a matching partner)
2. Cut out pictures
3. Have child find each matching pair (easy level: lay out 3 cats and hand child 1 cat, allow them to find the match; medium level: lay out all 6 cats face up and have child find matching pairs; hard level: lay all cats upside down and have child turn over to find matching pairs)

Food Activity: Peanut butter Cats

Materials: Fruit (such as raspberries, strawberries, blueberries), Cheese, Bread (toasted), Nut butter spread, Pretzels/Licorice

How to:

1. Cut a circle shape out of toast and spread your favorite type of nut butter on top
2. Use fruit such as raspberries and strawberries to create the face 
3. Cut cheese into triangles for the ears
4. Pretzel sticks or licorice make great whiskers
5. Enjoy!

Cat Joke:

What did the cat eat for breakfast?

Answer: Mice Crispies

Cat Songs/Rhymes/Fingerplays:

Five little kittens
Five little kittens standing in a row (hold up 5 fingers)
They nod their heads to the children so (bend fingers)
They run to the left, they run to the right (run fingers to the left and then to the right)
They stand up and stretch in the bright sunlight (stretch fingers out tall)
Along comes a dog who's in for some fun (hold up one finger from opposite hand)
MEOW! See those little kittens run (let fingers run) 

http://www.childcarelounge.com/Caregivers/fingerplays.htm

Black Cat

Black cat, black cat – sneak around.
Black cat, black cat – roll on the ground.
Black cat, black cat – climb up high.
Black cat, black cat – touch the sky.
Black cat, black cat – jump down low.
Black cat, black cat – touch your toe.
                                    Adapted Traditional
 

I'm a Little Kitty Cat
Tune:  “I’m A Little Teapot”
I’m a little kitty-cat,
Soft and small.
I like to climb
Or chase my ball.
If you pick me up
And rub my fur.
You can hear me
Purr and purr!
               Jean Warren
http://www.preschoolexpress.com/music_station07/cat-songs-oct07.shtml