Did I want to do a specific song at storytime and design the whole theme around it? Yes, I did! And let me tell you, Five Coyotes was the crowd-pleasing hit I was dreaming of! My friend and fellow children’s librarian Rebecca first introduced me to this one, and I used it as part of a virtual program on the American Southwest. But I really wanted to try it in person, and a MOON storytime was perfect. I finally finished the flannel I started back then (I had the howling side done, and added the sleepy coyotes to the back), and I’m really pleased with how they turned out.
I presented this the week after the full moon and many of my families had been watching that big Hunter’s Moon, so it was familiar and relevant. It’s also a great theme for kicking off October, the month that belongs to the night and nighttime haunts.
Early Literacy Tip: Singing is soothing! Studies have shown that singing calms children faster than talking. And singing a soft song while rocking your little one is not just for nighttime. It’s great way for both of you to relax and de-stress anytime. Sharing these quiet moments lovingly shows your child how to slow down, relax, and take time out. The next time your child has a tantrum or meltdown, try bringing the energy down by singing a lullaby and holding them close.
Welcome Song: Hello, Friends* (BB) (TB) (FT)**
Warm Up Song: Wake Up, Feet* (BB) (TB) (FT)
This is a repeated song that everyone seems to enjoy. I always begin and end with feet and tummies, but find two other body parts to wiggle in the middle. This week was arms and noses.
Lifting Rhyme: Toast in the Toaster* (BB)
Rhyme: This is Big, Big, Big* (BB) (TB) (FT)
Intro: Have you had a chance to notice the moon up in the sky this week? It’s big! In fact, it was a full moon, the biggest it gets, on Sunday. In the next few weeks, it will get smaller and smaller. People from all over the world and all through the ages have looked up in the sky and told stories about the moon.
Here are some traditional nursery rhymes that feature the moon
Rhyme: The Man In The Moon (BB) (TB) (FT)
The man in the moon looked out of the moon,
Looked out of the moon and said:
It’s time for all children on the Earth
To think about getting to bed!
Source: traditional
A community member donated their extensive collection of flannels to the library, and this is one of them. They are very thin – looks like they were milk filters that were colored on with maybe oil crayons? I’ve heard of using milk filters before but had not seen them up close.
Flannel Rhyme: Hey, Diddle, Diddle (BB) (TB) (FT)
Hey, diddle, diddle, the cat and the fiddle
The cow jumped over the moon
The little dog laughed to see such fun
And the dish ran away with the spoon
Source: traditional
Transition: If You’re Ready for a Story* (BB) (TB) (FT)
Read: Kitten’s First Full Moon by Kevin Henkes (BB) (FT)
The author of this book was inspired by her favorite holiday, the Mid-Autumn Moon Festival, which is celebrated in many Asian and Asian-American communities. It took place this year on September 10. I presented another storytime that focused a bit more on this holiday that you can see here.
Read: A BIG Mooncake for Little Star by Grace Lin (TB)
My take on the classic guessing game flannel. I reused the moon from my Five Coyotes set and created some clouds in dreamy sunset/twilight colors. (Turns out those are a little hard to differentiate. Which one is purple? Is that green or blue? (It was mint) Orange or pink? Oh, well.) It was a lot of fun to woosh away the cloud for the reveal, too.
Flannel Rhyme: Find the Moon (BB) (TB) (FT)
Little moon, little moon, shining bright
Which cloud are you hiding behind tonight?
-Let’s pretend to be the wind blowing the cloud away – WOOSH!-
Source: original
When you get to howl and snore in one song, it’s a winner. I also finally finished my flannel for this, making my coyotes double sided, howling on one side and sleeping on the other. Of course the flannelboard at my new library is black and not dark blue… I’m going to need to get a big sheet of blue for the few of my sets I’ve put on that color!
The tune I sing was taught by a friend, and it and the words are a little bit different from Nancy Stewart’s original. You can hear how I sing it in this video.
Counting Song: Five Coyotes (TB) (FT)
Five coyotes, sittin’ on a hill
Just sittin’ and a howlin’ at the moon: Aahh-ooo!
One coyote had his fill
So he went to sleep and snoozed – Snore!
(Count down)
Source: adapted by Rebecca Ballard from Nancy Stewart
Rhyme: The Moon is Round (BB)
The moon is round –
As round can be (trace the circle of your face)
Two eyes, a nose, (point at eyes and nose)
And a mouth like me! (point at mouth, then hug baby or self)
Source: Jbrary
Fingerplay: Sun and Moon (BB)
(One hand is the moon as a crescent and the other is the
sun – spread five fingers for sun’s rays)
Moon comes out, Sun goes in
Here is a blanket to cuddle your chin (tickle chin)
Moon goes in, and Sun comes out
Throw off the blankets and wiggle about!
(Fling arms out wide and wiggle body)
Source: Sunflower Storytime
This got a lot of smiles from the grown-ups who recognized it.
Song: Skinnamarink (BB) (TB) (FT)
Skinnamarinky-dinky-dink, Skinnamarinky-doo
I love you!
Skinnamarinky-dinky-dink, Skinnamarinky-doo
I love you!
I love you in the morning, and in the afternoon
I love you in the evening, underneath the moon
Skinnamarinky-dinky-dink, Skinnamarinky-doo
I love you!
Credit: traditional, motions from Jbrary
Fingerplay: Twinkling Stars (BB)
At night I see the twinkling stars (wiggle fingers)
And the great big shining moon (arms overhead in circle)
Please come tuck me into bed (fists under chin)
And sing me a goodnight tune! (follow with a lullaby)
Source: adapted from Sunflower Storytime
Ukulele Song: I See the Moon (BB) (TB) (FT)
(tune of Hush, Little Baby)
I see the moon and the moon sees me
Down through the leaves of the old oak tree
Please let the moon that shines on me
Shine on the ones I love
Over the mountain, over the sea
Back where my heart is longing to be
Please let the moon that shines on me
Shine on the ones I love
Source: Jbrary
Download a ukulele songsheet for I See the Moon
Action Song: Head, Shoulders, Knees, and Toes* (BB) (TB) (FT)
We do this every week, but this time it was actually on theme!
Action Song: Zoom, Zoom, Zoom!* (BB) (TB) (FT)
Craft: Foil Stamped Moon
I used a big “planet’ diecut and black piece of paper for the base, then gave each table three different shades of gray paint with three sizes of round foil stamps. This was inspired by the post by A Dab of Glue Will Do, who had the brilliant idea to create the stamps by stuffing aluminum foil into different sized measuring cups to make them round. Be sure to mold a little handle to hold on to and these stamps are ready to go. I also provided a few cotton swabs for making the stars with the lightest gray paint in the background.
Play Time
The babies have two laundry baskets of baby toys – rattles and cars, sorters and stackers, toy phones and spinners. For the older kids, I have foam blocks, soft food toys, puzzles, and a few other items that are a little more sophisticated than the baby toys. For Family Time, I gauge the overall age of the group and put out what seems right for them. We play for 5-10 minutes at the most, then I ring the bell and ask the kids to help me clean up. I think the clean up bit is good practice for them!
Goodbye Song: See You Later Alligator* (BB) (TB) (FT)
Goodbye Rhyme: Tickle the Stars* (BB) (TB) (FT)
Other books I had available for families to browse (and may work for you on this theme)
Moonlight – Helen V. Griffith & Laura Dronzek
Max and the Tag-Along Moon – Floyd Cooper
Moonlight – Stephen Savage
Like the Moon Loves the Sky – Hena Khan & Saffa Khan
The Moon Is Going to Addy’s House – Ida Pearle
City Moon – Rachael Cole & Blanca Gómez
Can’t Sleep – Chris Raschka
Moonday – Adam Rex
Goodnight, Moon – Margaret Wise Brown & Clement Hurd
Papa, Please Get the Moon for Me – Eric Carle
This storytime was presented in-person on 10/10, 10/11, & 10/12/22.
Storytime Handout:
*Lyrics to these songs can be found on the Repeated Songs & Rhymes page.
**These symbols indicate the program sessions I used the activities for:
(BB) Book Babies, ages 0-2
(TB) Teddy Bears, ages 2-3.5
(FT) Family Time, ages 0-3.5
Storytime with Ms. Emily Library 
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