Each year in November, I turn back to this theme and spend some time with the abstract idea of gratitude and feeling thankful. This has been my fourth iteration, and with each year, some things stay the same but there are also tweaks and updates.
Since the American Thanksgiving tradition is problematic at best, I focus on feeling thankful, and honestly, that can be as broad a concept as you’d like it to be! You can say – “I’m thankful for pets” and do the song My Dog Rags. You can be thankful for tacos and sing a song about that. The sky is the limit.
Since November is Native American Heritage Month, I also make a point to incorporate or at least highlight books by Indigenous authors at this program (though of course it’s a good idea to be aware of and read and celebrate books by Indigenous and other marginalized groups in storytime all year long.) I am thankful for the wealth of fantastic picture books available from a wide range of perspectives!
Lastly, I’m thankful for you, readers! I appreciate your likes and comments and hope that me documenting my process is in any way helpful. I’m always open to ideas and suggestions, too. Wishing you peace, safety, a little relaxation, and lots of appreciation for all you do.
You can see the plans for every year I’ve done this theme here.
Early Literacy Tip: When we are warm, and fed, and snuggled with someone we love, our brains release a chemical called serotonin. This makes us feel good, but it also has the effect of helping us learn. When you snuggle with your child and sing and read together, their brains soak up the language they hear and the serotonin helps make that learning permanent. Snuggling, talking, and singing with your child helps get them ready to read.
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 ears.
Lifting Rhyme: Toast in the Toaster* (BB)
Rhyme: This is Big, Big, Big* (BB) (TB) (FT)
Talk: What does it mean to feel thankful? When someone does something nice for you, saying “thank you” lets them know we appreciate them and are happy they did what they did! We can also think for a moment about all the good things in our lives and feel happy about them, too. Let’s practice saying “thank you” with this rhyme.
Figuring out how to do this rhyme without the middle finger AND using it to do the ASL sign for I love you is one of my proudest moments. 🙂
Fingerplay: Where is Thumbkin? (BB) (TB) (FT)
Where is Thumbkin, Where is Thumbkin?
Here I am, Here I am,
How are you today, Friend?
Very well, I thank you.
Run away, run away.
(repeat with pointer, pinky, then all three)
Where are three friends, Where are three friends?
Here we are, Here we are,
How are you today, Friends?
Very well, we thank you.
I love you, I love you.
Source: adapted from the traditional rhyme by Ms. Emily
Transition: If You’re Ready for a Story* (BB) (TB) (FT)
This book is so great for the youngest group. I asked them to help me tell the story and prompted them at each “thank you” page.
Read: Thank You, Bees by Toni Yuly (BB) (FT)
I am always thankful when people are kind to one another. This book is by two Native American creators. Monique Gray Smith is of Cree, Lakota and Scottish descent, and Nicole Neidhardt is Diné, also known as Navajo.
Read: When We Are Kind by Monique Gray Smith & Nicole Neidhardt (TB)
I love those bees! Here’s a rhyme about the bees being inside their beehive.
Tickle Rhyme: Here Is the Beehive (BB) (FT)
Here is the beehive, but where are all the bees? (make fist)
Hidden away where nobody sees
Watch and you’ll see them come out of the hive:
1, 2, 3, 4, 5 (open fingers)
They’re alive! Buzz, buzz, buzz! (tickle)
Source: Jbrary
I’m sure it comes as no surprise to you – something I love and something I’m always thankful for are books and reading! Here’s a fun song about books.
Song: These Are My Glasses (BB) (TB) (FT)
These are my glasses, this is my book
I put on my glasses and open up the book
Now I read, read, read
And I look, look, look
I put down my glasses and
Whoop! Close up the book!
Source: “Whaddaya Think of That?” by the Laurie Berkner Band
Scarf distribution: I am thankful for songs we can sing with our scarves! Will you practice with me – wave high, low, in a circle, throw and catch!
I’m thankful for the weather, even when it rains!
Scarf Rhyme: Rain on the Green Grass (BB) (TB) (FT)
Rain on the green grass (wave low)
Rain on the trees (wave high)
Rain on the roof (hold over head)
But not on me! (let fall to the floor!)
repeat with Sun, Snow, Leaves
Source: Jbrary
Scarf Song: We Wave Our Scarves Together (BB) (TB) (FT)
(tune of For He’s a Jolly Good Fellow)
We wave our scarves together
We wave our scarves together
We wave our scarves together…
Because it’s fun to do!
We wave them up high
We wave them down low
We wave them in the middle
Because it’s fun to do!
Source: Jbrary
I’m thankful for games we can play with our loved ones.
Scarf Game: Peek-a-boo (BB) (FT)
(tune of Frère Jacques)
Peek-a-boo, peek-a-boo, I see you, I see you
I see your button nose, I see your tiny toes
I see you! Peek-a-boo!
Source: Jbrary
I’m thankful for time to read and be with you. I kind of did the hand motions of the ASL version with my scarf in hand, just for something to do with the scarves.
Scarf Song: The More We Get Together
See ASL movements here: https://youtu.be/YZLlZoD3gU8
The more we get together, together, together
The more we get together
The happier we’ll be
For your friends are my friends
and my friends are your friends
The more we get together
The happier we’ll be
The more we read together, together, together
the more we read together
the happier we’ll be.
Read big books and small books
Read short books and tall books
The more we read together
the happier we’ll be.
Verse 2 Source: Story Time Secrets
This flannel was made from the template created by Mel at Mel’s Desk! I go over the lyrics first and add the flannel pieces, then play the song (recorded or ukulele). I encourage kids to snuggle with someone they love. Before or afterwards is a good time to mention today’s early literacy tip, whichever flows more naturally for you.
Flannel/Ukulele Song: Thanks a Lot
Thanks a lot, Thanks for Sun in the sky
Thanks a lot, Thanks for clouds so high
Thanks a lot, Thanks for whispering wind
Thanks a lot, Thanks for the birds in the spring
Thanks a lot, Thanks for the moonlit night
Thanks a lot, Thanks for the stars so bright
Thanks a lot, Thanks for the wondering me
Thanks a lot, Thanks for the way I feel
Thanks for the animals, Thanks for the land,
Thanks for the people everywhere
Thanks a lot
Thanks for all I’ve got
Thanks for all I’ve got
Source: From the Album “Baby Beluga” by Raffi
Get a downloadable ukulele songsheet for “Thanks a Lot” here!
Okay, we got pretty chill there for a moment, which is lovely. But now it’s time to bring our energy up again!
Action Song: Zoom, Zoom, Zoom!* (BB) (TB) (FT)
Craft: Thankful Tree
Since I’m at a new library this year, I just did the same craft that I did last year. I asked volunteers to cut out leaf shapes in various fall colors (red, yellow, orange, brown), and provided a piece of sky blue construction paper with a brown bare tree shape printed on it. I added the heading “I am thankful for…” at the top, and kids could write (with or without help) or draw the things they’re grateful for on the leaves and paste them on.
Download a PDF of the tree and leaves here!
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)
Gracias/Thanks – Pat Mora & John Parra
Thank You, Omu – Oge Mora
We All Play/Kimêtawânaw – Julie Flett
The Thankful Book – Todd Parr
We Are Grateful: Otsaliheliga – Traci Sorell & Frané Lessac
The Thank You Book – Mo Willems
Wild berries/Pikaci-mīnisa – Julie Flett
Thanku: Poems of Gratitude – Marlena Myles & Miranda Paul
Thank You, Earth – April Pulley Sayre
Grandma’s Tiny House – JaNay Brown-Wood & Priscilla Burris
Bear Says “Thank You” – Michael Dahl & Oriol Vidal
Thank You and Good Night – Patrick McDonnell
This storytime was presented in-person on 11/14, 11/15, & 11/16/22.
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 