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Summer Reading Storytime: A Royal Tea Party

Posted on July 31, 2020 by msemilylibrary

This summer our library used the CSLP theme Imagine Your Story, so each week had some kind of fairy tale/fantasy theme (except for the first week, Family History). My colleague had chosen a Royal Tea Party as her theme for the family program, so I followed along with the storytime theme. This was a chance to talk about Kings, Queens, Princes, and Princesses, as well as tea. Since I’m stuck on the couch for virtual programming, I’ve been using a scarf for movement and dancing songs, but encouraging the kids to use the space they have around them.

You can see the virtual program that does not include the full books read aloud here.

Early Literacy Tip: When we read or sing cumulative books or songs (ones that repeat and add a growing list of items like “In the Middle of the Moat”), children start to learn how to put ideas in order. This helps them become good readers because sequencing events is one part of reading comprehension skills.

Welcome song: Clap and Sing Hello

Read: La Princesa and the Pea by Susan Middleton Elya & Juana Martinez-Neal

Fingerplay: Five Plump Peas
Five plump peas in a peapod pressed (make a fist and cover with the other hand)
One grew, two grew, and so did all the rest (raise all fingers on first hand one by one)
They grew, & they grew, & they grew, & never stopped (hands get wider and wider)
They grew SO BIG that the peapod… POPPED! (hands spread as wide as possible, then clap!)
Credit: Carole Stephens

Action Rhyme: Castle Capers
I am the king of running, I run and run and run.
My subjects all run with me, and we have so much fun!
I am the prince of turning, I turn and turn and turn.
My subjects all turn with me, it’s an easy thing to learn!
I am the princess of dancing, I dance and dance and dance
My subjects all dance with me, and dance when they get the chance!
I am the Queen of jumping, I jump and jump and jump.
My subjects all jump with me, and sit down with a bump.
Credit: Delta Township District Library Storytimes blog

Read: Prince Peter and the Teddy Bear by David McKee

Flannel pieces to accompany the Middle of the Moat song. Moat, castle, drawbridge, throne, king, and crown with a jewel. — Flannel: In the Middle of the Moat

Flannel Song: In the Middle of the Moat
(tune of There’s a Hole in the Middle of the Sea)
There’s a castle in the middle of the moat (clap, clap)
There’s a castle in the middle of the moat (clap, clap)
There’s a castle, there’s a castle,
There’s a castle in the middle of the moat. (clap, clap)

Additional Verses:
There’s a throne in the castle in the middle of the moat…
There’s a king on the throne in the castle…
There’s a crown on the king on the throne…
There’s a jewel in the crown on the king…
Credit: Literary Hoots

Action Rhyme: Here’s a Cup
Here’s a cup and here’s a cup
and here’s a pot of tea.
Pour a cup, and pour a cup
and drink some tea with me.
Credit: Jbrary

Read: Tea Rex by Molly Idle

Printed pieces to accompany the Royal Crowns song. Older king and queen, adult princess and duke, children prince and princess, and royal baby, each with a different crown. — Flannel: Royal Crowns

I first introduced this song by saying hello to the royal family and explaining who they were. I explained that the (adult) princess married a Duke and their children were the royal twins and a royal baby. Very twee, but I didn’t want to subject the King and Queen to adult children as well as an infant! We then said they don’t look very royal without their crowns, so proceeded with the song. For each verse we talked about the colors of the crowns and gemstones in them – some verses were more awkward (three-syllable amethyst was a mouthful) but I liked the extra vocabulary. Everything could easily be simplified (even to one royal who changes crowns each day). All of the images came from Canva.

Flannel Song: Royal Crowns
(tune of Mary Wore Her Red Dress)
The king wore his purple crown, purple crown, purple crown
The king wore his purple crown every Monday!

The queen wore her red crown, red crown, red crown
The queen wore her red crown every Tuesday!

The princess wore her emerald crown, emerald crown, emerald crown
The princess wore her emerald crown every Wednesday!

The duke wore his sapphire crown, sapphire crown, sapphire crown
The duke wore his sapphire crown every Thursday!

The prince wore his silver crown, silver crown, silver crown
The prince wore his silver crown every Friday!

The princess wore her amethyst crown, amethyst crown, amethyst crown
The princess wore her amethyst crown every Saturday!

The royal baby wore their diamond crown, diamond crown, diamond crown
The royal baby wore their diamond crown every Sunday!
Credit: adapted from Miss Sarah’s Storytime blog

Song: Clapping in the Castle
There is clapping in the castle, there is clapping all around
There is clapping in the castle, mirth and merriment abound
There is jumping with the jesters, there is jumping all around
There is jumping with the jesters, mirth and merriment abound
There is twirling in the towers, there is twirling all around
There is twirling in the towers, mirth and merriment abound
There is dancing on the drawbridge, there is dancing all around
There is dancing on the drawbridge, mirth and merriment abound
Light the candles, start the music, lords and ladies one and all
With our song and dance and laughter we will fill the castle walls
Credit: Nancy Stewart

Craft: Royal Crown
From Oriental Trading.
I usually try to present crafts that can be easily recreated with common materials, but we had a bit of a budget this summer so I opted for these glittery pre-printed crowns. Adding all of those glitter stickers works those fine motor skills, right?

Crown craft with glittery stickers attached mosaic style.

Closing Rhyme: Tickle the Stars

This storytime was presented virtually on 6/23/20.

Storytime handout:

Summer Reading Storytime: Magical Creatures

Posted on July 30, 2020August 22, 2025 by msemilylibrary

This summer our library used the CSLP theme Imagine Your Story, so each week had some kind of fairy tale/fantasy theme (except for the first week, Family History). This week centered on helpful or friendly magical creatures (we did “bad guys” a few weeks ago), and focused on fairies, gnomes, unicorns, and mermaids.

You can see the virtual program that does not include the full books read aloud here.

You can find other versions of a merfolk theme from 2022 and 2025, and unicorns from 2025.

Early Literacy Tip: Model and encourage pretend play! You can say a block is a fairy or pretend to be a unicorn. This kind of play, called representational or symbolic play, is key to developing abstract thinking and to understanding language.

Welcome song: Clap and Sing Hello

Song: A Lovely Unicorn
(tune of If You’re Happy and You Know It)
Oh, I wish I were a lovely unicorn (neigh!)
Oh, I wish I were a lovely unicorn (neigh!)
Oh, I’d frolic and I’d play and I’d dream the day away
Oh, I wish I were a lovely unicorn (neigh!)
Credit: dltk-teach.com

Read: Kevin the Unicorn: It’s Not All Rainbows by Jessika von Innerebner

Lap Bounce: Giddy-Up!
(tune of the William Tell Overture)
Start slow, repeat and get faster each time.
Giddy-up, giddy-up, giddy-up, up, up!
Giddy-up, giddy-up, giddy-up, up, up!
Giddy-up, giddy-up, giddy-up, up, up!
WHOOOAAAAA, Unicorn! (lean back with child)
Credit: Adventures In Storytime (and Beyond)

Action Song: Did You Ever See a Mermaid?
(tune of Did You Ever See a Lassie?)
Did you ever see a mermaid, a mermaid, a mermaid
Did you ever see a mermaid swim this way and that?
Swim this way and that way,
Swim that way and this way?
Did you ever see a mermaid swim this way and that?
Additional verses:
…a merman flip his tail this way and that?
…merbabies sleep this way and that?
Credit: Barberton Public Library

Read: Mermaids Fast Asleep by Robin Riding & Zoe Persico

Lullaby: Rockabye, Merchild
(tune of Rockabye, Baby)
Rockabye, merchild, in the deep sea
Let the tide soothe you and cuddle close to me
When the waves break high up above
Sleep sound and dream sweetly, for you’re safe and loved
Credit: Ms. Emily Library

I reused my Mouse in the House flannel and made a little gnome friend to hide for our flannel this week.
Flannel Rhyme: Little Gnome
Little gnome, little gnome, are you in the blue home?

Read: A Fairy Friend by Sue Fliess & Claire Keane

Ukulele Song: Down by the Bay
Down by the bay, where the merbabies grow
Back to my home I dare not go!
For if I do, my mother will say:
“Did you ever see a whale with a polka dot tail?”
Down by the bay!
Additional verses:
… a fairy wearing a raspberry?
… a unicorn nibbling on popcorn?
… a mermaid swimming in lemonade?
… a gnome building a mushroom home?
Credit: adapted from the traditional song, additional verses by Ms. Emily Library

Download a ukulele songsheet for Down By the Bay

Craft: Paper Plate Gnome or Fairy Home
Adapted from Glued to My Crafts.
I wanted kids to have more options, so I added boy and girl gnomes and a boy fairy to the options in the windows using Canva.

Closing Rhyme: Tickle the Stars

I also had this rhyme in my back pocket but didn’t end up using it:
Fingerplay: Two Little…
(variation of Two Little Blackbirds)
Two little garden gnomes sitting on a leaf
One named Kurt and one named Keith
Run away, Kurt; run away, Keith
Come back, Kurt; come back, Keith!

Two little fairies dancing on the lawn
One named Faye and one named Fawn
Fly away, Faye; fly away, Fawn
Come back, Faye; come back, Fawn!
Credit: Sunflower Storytime

This storytime was presented virtually on 7/7/20.

Storytime Handout:

Summer Reading Storytime: A Heroic Quest

Posted on July 29, 2020July 30, 2020 by msemilylibrary

I debated whether to post my storytime themes chronologically from the very first I did onward, but my memory being what it is it’s probably best that I go in reverse order.

This summer our library used the CSLP theme Imagine Your Story, so each week had some kind of fairy tale/fantasy theme (except for the first week, Family History). The last week was “A Heroic Quest.”

You can see the virtual program that does not include the full books read aloud here.

Early Literacy Tip: Offer your child opportunities to scribble and draw, and ask them to tell you about what they drew or wrote. They are learning that what they write has meaning. This is the beginning of print awareness, one of the skills they need to learn to read.

Welcome song: We Clap and Sing Hello
We clap and sing hello, we clap and sing hello
With our friends at storytime we clap and sing hello!
We wave and sing hello…
We stomp and sing hello…
We clap and sing hello…

Action Rhyme: Little Knights
Little knights count: one, two, three
Little knights bend on one knee
Little knights reach and touch their toes
Little knights, now touch their nose
Little knights make a funny face
Little knights run very fast in place
Little knights lay down on the floor
Little knights sleep and start to snore
Credit: adapted from “Little Dragon” found at mphpl.org

Read: Good Night, Knight by Betsy Lewin

Lap Bounce: The Horses Are Walking
The horses are walking,
They’re walking along, walking along, walking along
The horses are walking, they’re walking along.
Whoa, whoa, WHOA!
Additional verses: trotting, galloping
Credit: Jbrary

Read: Nobody Likes a Goblin by Ben Hatke

Song: There’s a Crown on Me!
(tune of There’s a Spider On Me!)
There’s a crown on my foot, on my foot
There’s a crown on my foot, on my foot
It just won’t stay put; does it really go on my foot?
There’s a crown on my foot, on my foot
Additional verses:
Knee…Goodness, gracious me, does it belong on my knee?
Arm…It’s not doing any harm, but does it go on my arm?
Head…Did you hear what I said? I think it goes up here instead!
Credit: Adventures in Storytime (and Beyond)

Draw & Tell Story: The Emperor’s Dragon
from the book Handmade Tales: Stories to Make and Take by Dianne de Las Casas

Flannel Story Rhythm Chant: Going on a Dragon Hunt
We’re going on a Dragon Hunt, We’re gonna catch a big one!
What a beautiful day! We’re not scared!
(repeat after each section)
Lower down the drawbridge – SQUEAK!
Trot down the road. CLIP CLOP, CLIP CLOP.

Uh, oh – grass – tall, wavy grass.
Can’t go under it, Can’t go over it,
Have to ride through it! SWISH SWISH, SWISH SWISH.

Uh, oh – a river – a deep, cold river.
Can’t go under it, Can’t go over it,
Have to find a bridge! CLIP CLOP, CLIP CLOP.

Uh, oh – a mountain – a high, wide mountain.
Can’t go under it, Can’t go around it,
Guess we’ll have to climb it!
Climb to the top. HUFF PUFF, HUFF PUFF.
Do you see a dragon? No! That’s a bird!
Climb down the other side. HUFF PUFF, HUFF PUFF.

Uh, oh – a cave, a narrow, gloomy cave.
Can’t go under it, can’t go over it,
We have to go through it! TIPTOE, TIPTOE, TIPTOE
… It’s dark in here! Is anyone around?
GASP! I see two shining eyes! And a green, scaly body!
Is that a puff of smoke? RUN! IT’S A DRAGON!
Through the cave! Climb back up the mountain! Climb down!
Find the bridge! Trot across it! Ride through the tall grass!
Into the castle! Raise the drawbridge! Phew! We made it.
Were you scared?
Credit: adapted from Storytime in the Stacks and Michael Rosen

(My Dragon Hunt felt story came from Storytime in the Stacks, but I deliver the chant à la Michael Rosen, so I adapted her lyrics to better fit. I also used the castle from another felt set – There’s a Castle in the Middle of the Moat modeled from Literary Hoots)

Read: I Will Be Fierce by Bea Birdsong & Nidhi Chanani

Craft: Cardboard Tube Dragon Puppet
From One Little Craft

Closing Rhyme: Tickle the Stars
Tickle the stars
Tickle your toes
Turn around
And tickle your nose! (tickle, tickle, tickle!)
Reach down low
And reach way up high
Storytime is over
So wave goodbye. Goodbye!

This storytime was presented virtually on 7/14/20.

Storytime handout:

Flannelboard: One Red Sock

Posted on July 28, 2020August 25, 2020 by msemilylibrary

The book One Red Sock by Jennifer Sattler was on one of Lindsey Krabbenhoft’s (of Jbrary fame) annual lists of favorite storytime books, and as soon as I read it I knew I’d have to create felt pieces for it. The book tells, in rhyming and predictive text, the story of a messy purple hippo that can’t find a second red sock to wear. Instead, she tries on a variety of other colors. It’s cute and the format is exactly the same as so many of our other felt rhymes, so it translates perfectly.

Download my template for this set

Purchase or check out the book from your local library to see the rhyme!

Why, Hello!

Posted on July 23, 2020August 3, 2020 by msemilylibrary

I’m Emily, and I’m happy to share some storytime stuff with you. I’ve been a public librarian since 2004, but I’m relatively new to children’s librarianship. I started in teen services and moved on to management, but have always been drawn to all the magic that happens with the younger crowd. In my current position (which began May 2019) I’m serving the 0-5 age range weekly, with programs for elementary age kids thrown in a couple times a month.

I have always benefited so much from the ocean of library blogs offering programming ideas, tips on the whys and hows of early literacy programming, and creative uses of props and manipulatives. Even a newbie can pull together something fun with so much help. So, as I’ve been learning and growing, I’m doing a lot of copy/paste and getting ideas from others, but occasionally I come up with something on my own. In that spirit of sharing I’d love to add my voice to that ocean of knowledge and maybe help out the next librarian, teacher, or parent out there.

Here you’ll find my storytime plans, ideas for elementary age programming, felt/flannel board ideas, rhymes, and songs.