If you haven’t had the pleasure of reading Pirate Jack Gets Dressed by Nancy Raines Day & Allison Black, check him out! This swashbuckler takes us through his morning dress routine, which consists of a long list of clothing items in a variety of colors, all in charming rhyme that begs to be read with a jaunty pirate-y accent. I love that there are some more unusual clothes, like a vest and sash, as well as colors often overlooked in books that focus on the rainbow, like gold and silver and brown. Hello, vocabulary!
Adding one clothing piece after another is a perfect fit for flannel adaptation. I first blogged about this set in a What We Wear/Clothing themed storytime and was inspired by a resource my state library put together on nominees for their Early Literacy Firefly Award (you can find their template in the 2020 program guide). I changed the set quite a bit, giving Jack his distinctive features from the book and lengthening his body so his sock and boot actually fit on his leg.
Thanks to reader Jennifer who asked about a template for this flannel set! I didn’t initially make a template, but scanned my finished pieces so you could recreate it if you wish. There are notes on the template that indicate where pieces might be layered, and a scan of a few of the back pieces to see how a couple of the trickier pieces are put together. One more note – my pieces are a little small. I think if I were doing this again, I would enlarge it a bit just to make it easier to see and work with. You should be able to use your printer dialog box to enlarge (probably anywhere from 20-50% might be good) and print on tablet (11×17) sized paper instead of the default letter (8.5×11).
Pirate Jack is a great multi-use flannel. You could use this one for a Clothing theme, as I did, one for Pirates or the Ocean, or, of course, Colors. It’s a great fit for the Collaborative Summer Library Program’s Oceans of Possibilities theme for summer 2022. Enjoy!
Hello, Readers! Apologies that I’ve been MIA. I started a “new” job in December 2021.
tl;dr I worked at a library for 14 years. I left to do storytime programming at a new library and stayed there for 2+ years. The original library had an opening for a storytime programmer. I’m back and it’s wonderful!
Story time! Not “storytime” but time for me to share my story. I suppose I could begin in 2004, when Ms. Emily was graduating from college with an English/French double major. I’d had vague thoughts about becoming an editor in a publishing company. There were actually quite a few where I lived in the Midwest, but after learning they were all technical/textbook publishers, I was less interested and feeling a bit lost. I had strong family and fiancé ties to the area and wasn’t really looking to move. Then, my college’s English department hosted a panel discussion: “What to Do with your English Major!” One of the panelists was a librarian, and everything fell into place. I started looking and applying for any library position in the area and was eventually hired at a mid-sized single-branch library in a bedroom community to Indianapolis. The position I kind of randomly fell into was their Young Adult librarian – but I’d always loved to read and was fairly okay with teenagers so it worked out. I was super-lucky that they also had a tuition reimbursement program. I enrolled in library school and started work.
2005-2009, including Halloweens (Cinderella Skeleton and Coraline’s Other Mother), Deathly Hallows release party, Teen Book Buddies, Twilight Party, and Life-Sized Monopoly.
I learned a ton in the years I spent as the teen services librarian – how to plan, budget, and present programs to a sometimes reluctant, sometimes super-engaged audience. How to build trust and rapport. Teen programming was a lot of fun. I learned how to do the Thriller dance and zombie makeup. We did lock-ins, LAN parties, D&D, poetry slams, pizza taste tests, and all the crafts I could come up with. I worked with teens on grant-writing and leadership. I wrote letters of recommendation and saw kids turn into adults. And of course, provided food at every program! In those years I also learned how to develop a diverse and inclusive collection of books to serve youth. How to interact with adults and children working a reference desk and a children’s reference desk. To become part of a team of coworkers and build a work ethic. I took on some new responsibilities, like managing our page department, first with a colleague and then on my own. Hiring, training, difficult conversations. For many of these employees, this was their first ever job.
2011-2014, including, Thrill the World 2011, Live Clue (Peacock & Scarlett!), Teen Lock-In, Summer Water Party, another Halloween as Lark Trent, Giant Twister, and the READ domino for an SRP School Video
I loved teens, but after eight years I was looking for something new. When my supervisor’s position opened, I applied to run our ten-person Information Services department, which covered adult, teen, and children’s services. In our medium library, we did a lot – all programming, all collection development and management, all reference desk hours. We needed to be able to help patrons with technology and reader’s advisory and couldn’t forget to be engaged in community outreach. It was exciting to work with a great team of people to serve all these roles. To work with our equally great administration team to shape policy and a vision for the future of the library.
2012-2018, including animal programs (skunk and fennec fox), Halloweens (Fern from Charlotte’s Web, incarcerated HP witch), Thrill the World 2012, World Book Night, and two SRP kickoffs
After six years or so in management, though, I started feeling another itch for change. Summer Reading was stressful – figuring out prizes, sponsors, how it would work from year to year. Being responsible for ten people’s work rather than just my own. The push-pull of middle management – trying to interpret and stand up for the needs of your staff as well as implementing new ideas and policies from admin. Not to mention the eye-crossing work of scheduling, time cards, board reports, performance reviews, annual statistics. What was once an exciting challenge was becoming a slog. One thing that I always enjoyed, though, was filling in for coworkers’ children’s programs and offering a weekly outdoor storytime in the summer. [We’d had problems with preschools and daycares taking up all of the spaces in our registered storytimes in the summer, so we decided to offer an extra one that required no registration and could accommodate everyone, geared for 0-5. The regular programmers were already doing a lot of their own programs and scheduling was difficult, so I took it on, and I LOVED doing it.] After lots of thought and reflection, I decided it was time to switch gears yet again.
In May of 2019, I took a part-time job in an even smaller community doing youth programming and desk time exclusively. Youth services consisted of one other part-time person doing only desk, a full-time teen librarian who spent half her time in a job-share at the local middle school, and my supervisor. I did two storytimes a week for kids ages 0-5 and collaborated with the teen librarian on weekly programs for school age kids. My boss was someone I had hired and trained at my old library and really liked, and I was really enjoying the fun and creativity of programming.
Unfortunately, two months later, my supervisor moved to a new job. We did a lot of interviewing (the director involved the whole department in the hiring process), but struggled to find someone. When we did, one month later the pandemic started and they quit soon after. I adapted, as the whole library world did, to quarantine. The week after we closed, I missed my storytime friends so much I started offering virtual storytime and book club for elementary kids from home, learning as I went about virtual programs, Facebook Live, YouTube, and, of course, Zoom. We slowly came back to the building in May, but continued to only offer virtual programs until June of 2021, when I started doing outdoor storytime. Since we wanted everyone spread out, I learned more about speakers and wireless hands-free microphones and how to connect our MP3 player to play music! I find it exciting to figure out new ways of working and serving the public.
Outdoor storytimes, summer 2021
Even after we opened the doors to the public again, this new library was quiet. I could go a full morning seeing only one or two families. On my night shift, we’d see people come in after school from about 3-5:30, then I might not see anyone until we closed at 8. The part-time person who had only done desk had gone to another job in 2020, so the youth department consisted of our teen librarian and me. This library was also a little more compartmentalized, so I didn’t interact with other staff members very often. It was lonely and isolating – my weekly bright spots were programming and the occasional visit from one of our regular families. The director did the best she could, but with limited staff and budget, a library that wasn’t bustling, and difficulty filling the positions we did have open, not much was changing. Even so, I hadn’t yet made the decision to move on. I liked the schedule and the fact I was responsible for my own work. I had a lot of control over how the children’s department was run day-to-day, and complete creative license in my own programming, plus a healthy book and programming budget due to an endowment (which couldn’t be used for anything else like personnel.)
Fate can be funny, though. I just happened to see an employment ad through our state library listserv for the “Itty Bitty” programming position at my old library, and everything seemed clear. I applied, interviewed, and was hired in the next week. My old library felt like home, and with this new position, I felt like I could do the exact job I really wanted to do there. I am enjoying the transition back to a “new-old” library, as they underwent major renovations right before I left. (The admin and management team I was on worked hard on the design and picking out all the furniture, so it’s weird to see it all in place kind of suddenly!) These past few months, I’ve been adapting to programming for a narrower audience, just 0-3½. I’ve been reusing a lot of my old program plans, and adjusting them to fit a younger group. I’ve also been figuring out in-person indoor storytime for myself, and have been working hard to make it safe and fun. I’ll be working on updating my program plans in upcoming blog posts, and I’m really looking forward to my summer plans, which are very different from what I’ve done before.
If you read this far, thanks! Even if no one is interested, it was kind of fun for me to reminisce and lay it out. Next post will come sooner than this one, and will be more program focused!
I haven’t repeated storytime themes very often, but I find it comforting to do this theme every year in November, just tweaking my books and activities from year to year. With the tumult of the pandemic, I’m not sure how many of my families have actually experienced all three versions of this, but I’m finding it’s a worthy repeat. You can see the version I did in 2020 here (I hadn’t been blogging in 2019, but perhaps someday I’ll write up those older sessions.)
As in the past, I prefer not to focus on the American Thanksgiving tradition, culturally and problematically wrapped up in false narratives and violent colonialism, but on gratitude as a concept. I also like to use this opportunity to highlight Native authors and illustrators. This year I also talked kindness and family get-togethers (both of which I’m thankful for) as segues into our books.
Additionally, this was a significant storytime for me, as it was my last one at this library. I accepted another position (still doing storytime!) and this was a great theme for me to say goodbye and express my appreciation for all the storytime friends I’ve made and the library as a whole. More on that transition in an upcoming post!
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: We Clap and Sing Hello
Our new repeated warm-up rhyme. Warm-Up Rhyme: Open, Shut Them Open, shut them, Open, shut them Give a little clap, clap clap! Open, shut them, Open, shut them Lay them in your lap, lap, lap!
Creepy, crawly, Creepy, crawly Right up to your chin, chin, chin Open up your little mouth, But do not let them In, in, in!
Higher, higher, Higher, higher Almost to the sky, sky, sky Then like little birdies Watch them Fly, fly, fly!
Lower, lower, Lower, lower Almost to the ground, ground, ground Quickly pick them up again And turn them round and round: Faster, faster, faster! Slower, slower, slower.
Open, shut them, Open, shut them Give a little clap, clap clap Open, shut them, Open, shut them Lay them in your lap, lap, lap! Source: adapted from King County Library System (WA)
Talk: What does it mean to feel thankful? When would you say “thank you” to a person? Let’s practice with this fingerplay
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? 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
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
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
Breathing Break: Soup Breathing Time for a mindful breathing break. I asked the kids to imagine they were holding a bowl of their very favorite soup, and asked what kind they liked. Then with their hands cupped in front of them, we slowly breathed in the delicious aroma through their noses, then slowly and gently breathed out through their mouths to cool off this hot soup. Afterward, I let them know that this exercise always makes me feel good and more grounded, and they could always get out their bowl of soup if they need help calming down or feeling more connected to their bodies. Source: Lucky Little Learners
One more repeated activity. Action Song: Zoom, Zoom, Zoom! Zoom, zoom, zoom, we’re going to the moon! (hands scrape past each other rhythmically) Zoom, zoom, zoom, we’re going to the moon! If you want to take a trip (fingers walk up arm) Climb aboard my rocket ship! Zoom, zoom, zoom, we’re going to the moon! In 5, 4, 3, 2, 1, BLASTOFF! (crouch, then jump!) Source: Jbrary
I’m thankful for time to get together with family! This grandma has a tiny house, but a BIG family! Read: Grandma’s Tiny House by JaNay Brown-Wood & Priscilla Burris
Ukulele Song: If You’re Thankful and You Know It (tune of If You’re Happy and You Know It) If you’re thankful and you know it, clap your hands If you’re thankful and you know it, clap your hands If you’re thankful and you know it and you really want to show it If you’re thankful and you know it, clap your hands
Additional Verses: Stomp your feet, Shout “hooray”, Do all three Source: adapted from the traditional
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 kiddos and parents to snuggle and hug, or kiddos can snuggle with a stuffed animal during this song. Afterwards is a good time to mention today’s early literacy tip. 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
Craft: Thankful Tree The concept is very similar to the “Thankful Wreath” from last year. Each craft packet had several leaf shapes in various fall colors (red, yellow, orange, brown), and 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.
I also booktalked these alternative titles during the permanent YouTube video. Let’s Be Kind by Ekaterina Trukhan The Blue Table by Chris Raschka Thanks a Ton! by Sabrina Moyle & Eunice Moyle The Thank You Book by Mo Willems
Goodbye Song: See You Later, Alligator (tune of Clementine) See you later, alligator (wave with one hand, then the other) In a while, crocodile (open and shut arms like a croc’s mouth) Give a hug, ladybug (hug yourself or a loved one) Blow a kiss, jellyfish! MWAH! (move hand like a jellyfish then blow a kiss!) Source: King County Library System
Closing Rhyme: Tickle the Stars
This storytime was presented virtually on 11/23/21.
Bedtime is a perennial favorite storytime theme, so I challenged myself to craft a session using only NEW bedtime books – ones that have been published in 2021. I had lots of options, and I loved being able to showcase some titles that caregivers may not have seen yet.
This is another reason why I’m happy with my decision to booktalk books rather than read them in full on my permanent YouTube videos. This allows me to have a book-centered virtual program that does not violate copyright laws (and I don’t have to jump through publisher hoops), AND I get to highlight six books instead of the two or three I’d have time to read in their entirety. When I get back to in-person storytimes, I’ll be sad to not get to share as many great titles with families. I always put a list on my handout, but I’m not sure how effective that is.
Early Literacy Tip: When we talk about the sequence of our days with our children, they have a chance to hear vocabulary words in context and begin to learn how to put events in order… both skills that help with comprehension when they are readers.
Welcome Song: We Clap and Sing Hello
Our new repeated warm-up rhyme. Warm-Up Rhyme: Open, Shut Them Open, shut them, Open, shut them Give a little clap, clap clap! Open, shut them, Open, shut them Lay them in your lap, lap, lap!
Creepy, crawly, Creepy, crawly Right up to your chin, chin, chin Open up your little mouth, But do not let them In, in, in!
Higher, higher, Higher, higher Almost to the sky, sky, sky Then like little birdies Watch them Fly, fly, fly!
Lower, lower, Lower, lower Almost to the ground, ground, ground Quickly pick them up again And turn them round and round: Faster, faster, faster! Slower, slower, slower.
Open, shut them, Open, shut them Give a little clap, clap clap Open, shut them, Open, shut them Lay them in your lap, lap, lap! Source: adapted from King County Library System (WA)
Intro: Let’s talk about Bedtime! For some, it’s their favorite time of day (parents?) For others, it may be a chore. But I’d like to share some rhymes, songs, and books that show that bedtime can be lots of fun! And when we get enough sleep at night, we feel refreshed and ready for our day in the morning. If you have a light scarf, bandana, or even a tissue, grab it now and we’ll be using it in our songs later.
Fingerplay: Here Is a Baby Here is a baby (raise pointer finger) Ready for a nap Lay her down in her mother’s lap (place finger in palm) Cover her up so she won’t peek (curl fingers around pointer) Rock her till she’s fast asleep (rock) Source: Library Village
Read: Brown Baby Lullaby by Tameka Fryer Brown & AG Ford
Scarf Song: This Is the Way We… (tune of Here We Go Round the Mulberry Bush) This is the way we wash our face (rub scarf on face) Wash our face, wash our face This is the way we wash our face, When we get ready for bed!
Aside: Another great action song that ends in bed is Teddy Bear, Teddy Bear. Check out this version by Jazzy Ash, which will tire you out! (Linked in the YouTube video description and on the handout)
Song: Look at All the Bunnies Look at all the bunnies sleeping til it’s nearly noon Shall we wake them with a merry tune? Oh so still! Are they ill? Wake up, wake up, wake up little bunnies Wake up, wake up, wake up little bunnies Hop little bunnies, hop, hop, hop Stop little bunnies, stop, stop, stop… and FREEZE! Source: King County Library System
Sydney Hanson is the master of cuteness! Read: Five Fuzzy Chicks by Diana Murray & Sydney Hanson
I just love this song!I use my laminated pieces for “Ten Yellow Chicks” (originally from Sunflower Storytime) to illustrate it on the flannel board, and explain what is happening before singing the song.In English, we interpret the sounds of chicks as “peep” or “cheep,” but in Spanish we say “pío.” And these chicks wander away from their mother and get hungry and cold. But the mother hen is a good mama, so she finds food for them, corn and wheat, and gathers them under her wings to get warm and go to sleep. But the next day, the silly chicks do it all over again! Flannel Song: Los Pollitos Dicen Los pollitos dicen, pío, pío, pío cuando tienen hambre, cuando tienen frío (hambre=rub belly, frío=rub shoulders) La gallina busca, el maíz y el trigo les da la comida, y les presta abrigo Bajo sus dos alas, acurrucaditos, duermen los pollitos hasta el otro día (duermen=lay head on hands, sleepy) Pío, pío, pío dicen los pollitos cuando tienen hambre, cuando tienen frío Source: traditional – watch here: https://youtu.be/a7zUbmjUtDM
Breathing Break: Soup Breathing Time for a mindful breathing break. I asked the kids to imagine they were holding a bowl of their very favorite soup, and asked what kind they liked. Then with their hands cupped in front of them, we slowly breathed in the delicious aroma through their noses, then slowly and gently breathed out through their mouths to cool off this hot soup. Afterward, I let them know that this exercise always makes me feel good and more grounded, and they could always get out their bowl of soup if they need help calming down or feeling more connected to their bodies. Source: Lucky Little Learners
One more repeated activity. This has always been a favorite song, and it actually fits with our theme this week! Action Song: Zoom, Zoom, Zoom! Zoom, zoom, zoom, we’re going to the moon! (hands scrape past each other rhythmically) Zoom, zoom, zoom, we’re going to the moon! If you want to take a trip (fingers walk up arm) Climb aboard my rocket ship! Zoom, zoom, zoom, we’re going to the moon! In 5, 4, 3, 2, 1, BLASTOFF! (crouch, then jump!) Credit: Jbrary
Lullabies are a must for a bedtime storytime! Lullaby: Twinkle, Twinkle Twinkle, twinkle little star, how I wonder what you are Up above the world so high, like a diamond in the sky Twinkle, twinkle little star How I wonder what you are! Source: traditional, I used the motions from Jbrary
Ukulele Lullaby: Hush, Little Baby Hush, little baby, don’t say a word, Mama’s gonna buy you a mockingbird And if that mockingbird won’t sing, Mama’s gonna buy you a diamond ring And if that diamond ring turns brass, Mama’s gonna buy you a looking glass And if that looking glass gets broke, Mama’s gonna buy you a billy goat And if that billy goat won’t pull, Mama’s gonna buy you a cart and bull And if that cart and bull turn over, Mama’s gonna buy you a dog named Rover And if that dog named Rover won’t bark Mama’s gonna buy you a horse and cart And if that horse and cart fall down, You’ll still be the sweetest little baby in town. Credit: traditional
Craft: Night Sky A super simple craft this time – I cut out crescent moon shapes from white cardstock to glue to a piece of black construction paper, and gave each kid some sparkly star stickers to make their own night sky. On the craft how-to sheet, I posed some questions to encourage kids and caregivers to talk. “Can you imagine your stars make shapes like constellations? What stories might you tell about these shapes?” Idea (and photo, I didn’t make a sample) borrowed from Library Village.
image from Library Village blog
I also booktalked these alternative titles during the permanent YouTube video. Bedtime for Sweet Creatures by Nikki Grimes & Elizabeth Zunon Close Your Eyes by Lori Haskins Houran & Sydney Hanson It’s So Quiet by Sherri Duskey Rinker & Tony Fucile Sloth Wasn’t Sleepy by Kate Messner & Valentina Toro
Goodbye Song: See You Later, Alligator (tune of Clementine) See you later, alligator (wave with one hand, then the other) In a while, crocodile (open and shut arms like a croc’s mouth) Give a hug, ladybug (hug yourself or a loved one) Blow a kiss, jellyfish! MWAH! (move hand like a jellyfish then blow a kiss!) Credit: King County Library System
Closing Rhyme: Tickle the Stars
This storytime was presented virtually on 11/16/21.
Another theme on a “concept” that has been treated well in children’s picture book literature is boxes! Imaginative play in or using cardboard boxes, as well as the shape concepts of square and cube, the related idea of block play – all are great early learning tools and fun to riff on at storytime.
Early Literacy Tip: Playing helps children’s brains grow and develop in so many ways! When we pretend and act out stories, like pretending that a box might be a rocket ship, and what we might do on a space adventure, we’re using problem-solving skills and it prepares us to write stories of our own someday.
Welcome Song: We Clap and Sing Hello
I started using a new warm-up rhyme this week. I’d known the first two verses for many, many years, but saw the “Higher” and “Lower” verses and decided to expand! I chant this, though I think some librarians sing it. Warm-Up Rhyme: Open, Shut Them Open, shut them, Open, shut them Give a little clap, clap clap! Open, shut them, Open, shut them Lay them in your lap, lap, lap!
Creepy, crawly, Creepy, crawly Right up to your chin, chin, chin Open up your little mouth, But do not let them In, in, in!
Higher, higher, Higher, higher Almost to the sky, sky, sky Then like little birdies Watch them Fly, fly, fly!
Lower, lower, Lower, lower Almost to the ground, ground, ground Quickly pick them up again And turn them round and round: Faster, faster, faster! Slower, slower, slower.
Open, shut them, Open, shut them Give a little clap, clap clap Open, shut them, Open, shut them Lay them in your lap, lap, lap! Source: adapted from King County Library System (WA)
Intro: Oh, do you like my hat? What do you mean it’s not a hat? It’s a box! That’s the wonderful thing about a box. It can be a hat… or a mixing bowl … or a hiding place!
I used a variety of animal puppets in an old paper box – I chose that since it has a lid rather than just flaps. Puppet Rhyme: Here is a Box Here is a box where something is hid I wonder whatever is under the lid? Let’s listen for a shout And see who comes out! (make animal noises and have kids guess who is in the box before opening) Source: Storytime in the Stacks
Read: Not a Box by Antoinette Portis
This was a really fun flannel that I saw on several storytime blogs – Fun With Friends at Storytime got super fancy with three different shades of felt for each box to make them look more three dimensional. I stuck to one color per box, but I did include a front and back piece, gluing the front piece to just three sides of the back, so the box would create a little “pocket” I could put small laminated pictures in that were “in” the box. The lid was another separate piece that could be removed. I used the template shared by Anne’s Library Life but the rhyme came from One For the Books blog. The small mystery items were different brightly-colored toys and animals that I found on Canva. I was sure to include a “jack in the box” as one of the mystery items, since I wasn’t sure how familiar modern kids would be with this old-fashioned toy. “Jack” features prominently in our song “Turn Around” later in storytime, so I got this picture out again to remind kids who Jack was and why he was in a box. Flannel Game: Mystery Boxes Little [pink] box let me look inside and see What’s inside? Ready? 1, 2, 3! (lift the lid) Source: adapted from One For the Books blog
Fingerplay: There Was a Little Turtle There was a little turtle (make fist) Who lived in a box (cover fist with arm) He swam in the puddles (fist wiggles like swimming) He climbed on the rocks (fist climbs up opposite arm) He snapped at a mosquito, he snapped at a flea (pinch with thumb and fingers at each “snap”) He snapped at a minnow, and he snapped at me! He caught that mosquito, he caught that flea (clap with each “caught”) He caught that minnow But he didn’t catch me! (waggle finger) Source: Jbrary
I really liked the idea of this one-verse song that I found on Anne’s Library Life, but wanted to expand it! Of course, you can shorten/remove verses to fit your audience as needed. Ukulele Song: Wiggle Box (tune of Buffalo Gals) Let’s open up the wiggle box, the wiggle box, the wiggle box Let’s open up the wiggle box, and wiggle our cares away!
Additional verses: There’s a lot of wiggles in the wiggle box… so wiggle and dance today! There’s a lot of giggles in the wiggle box… so wiggle and laugh today! Now throw all your wiggles in the wiggle box… And lock that box up tight! (slowly, relaxed) Now that the wiggle box is closed up tight… We’re ready for a story today! Source: Verse 4 from Anne’s Library Life, remainder by Ms. Emily
This has really interesting illustrations if you have a small group that can appreciate them. I liked that the text was pretty simple and short, too. Read: What to Do With a Box by Jane Yolen & Chris Sheban
It’s pretty unusual for me to do two ukulele songs in one storytime, but it worked out here. This is from Sue Schnitzer, who I was connected to through the ukulele community, and I didn’t even realize she put out children’s song albums because she was also a librarian! She graciously shared the chords for this song with me. Check her out! One more note – be sure to practice this one ahead of time! I didn’t realize how difficult it was to spin in a circle and play ukulele and sing all at the same time, and it took me a couple of tries to get the rhythm down! Ukulele Song: Turn Around Can you turn around with me? (spin in place) It’s as easy as can be Round and round and round just so Then ker-PLOP! Down we go! (fall to the floor)
(tacit) Jack is quiet – shhh! (fingers to lips) In his box… (arm covers head) Open the lid… (slowly open arm out) And up he… POPS! (jump up) Source: Sue Schnitzer, from the album “Wiggle and Whirl”
Breathing Break: Soup Breathing After all that turning and falling and jumping, I was ready for a breathing break. I asked the kids to imagine they were holding a bowl of their very favorite soup, and asked what kind they liked. Then with their hands cupped in front of them, we slowly breathed in the delicious aroma through their noses, then slowly and gently breathed out through their mouths to cool off this hot soup. Afterward, I let them know that this exercise always makes me feel good and more grounded, and they could always get out their bowl of soup if they need help calming down or feeling more connected to their bodies. Source: Lucky Little Learners
One more repeated activity. This has always been a favorite song! Action Song: Zoom, Zoom, Zoom! Zoom, zoom, zoom, we’re going to the moon! (hands scrape past each other rhythmically) Zoom, zoom, zoom, we’re going to the moon! If you want to take a trip (fingers walk up arm) Climb aboard my rocket ship! Zoom, zoom, zoom, we’re going to the moon! In 5, 4, 3, 2, 1, BLASTOFF! (crouch, then jump!) Credit: Jbrary
Craft: Blocks Craft and Box Coloring Page Two crafts today! I used an idea from Storytime Katie for a very simple 2D blocks craft, making some random squares, rectangles, triangles, half circles, and “bridge” shapes (a rectangle with a half circle cut out of it) from different colored construction paper, and a plain white sheet to glue them to. (Photo from Storytime Katie’s blog) I also created a Box Imagination sheet, which just has a plain box in the middle with lots of white space around, in which kids could color whatever they imagined the box to be. (I made mine a treehouse as an example.)
I also booktalked these alternative titles during the permanent YouTube video. A Box Can Be Many Things by Dana Meachen Rau & Paige Billin-Frye Boxitects by Kim Smith Big Box, Little Box by Caryl Hart & Edward Underwood Blocks by Irene Dickson
Goodbye Song: See You Later, Alligator (tune of Clementine) See you later, alligator (wave with one hand, then the other) In a while, crocodile (open and shut arms like a croc’s mouth) Give a hug, ladybug (hug yourself or a loved one) Blow a kiss, jellyfish! MWAH! (move hand like a jellyfish then blow a kiss!) Credit: King County Library System
Closing Rhyme: Tickle the Stars
This storytime was presented virtually on 11/9/21.
Mmmmm. Breakfast (and breakfast food) might be my favorite meal of the day. And there are some fun and cute books out there about breakfast items.
This was my first back-to-virtual-only program after a summer and fall of outdoor in-person sessions. I missed seeing the families in person and sometimes wonder what the actual impact of virtual programming is, but the days were getting colder and we were not doing indoor in-person programs at the library.
Early Literacy Tip: As you go about your day, stop for a moment and listen to the sounds around you. Ask your children what they hear. Talk about what you hear. Try to imitate the sounds. Even little activities like this one help your children develop phonological awareness – the ability to hear and play with the smaller sounds in words.
Welcome Song: We Clap and Sing Hello
Warm-Up Rhyme: We Wiggle and Stop (Use the ASL sign for the word “stop” – one hand “chops” across the opposite hand) We wiggle and we wiggle and we STOP We wiggle and we wiggle and we STOP We wiggle and we wiggle and we wiggle and we wiggle And we wiggle and we wiggle and we STOP (Try other motions such as jump, twirl, stretch) Source: Jbrary
Intro: My favorite meal of the day is breakfast! What are some things that you like to eat for breakfast? Discuss and suggest. I added flannel parts from Flip Flap Jack to the board (randomly, not to build the “man”) as I talked through (realizing that probably the most common and favorite food for kids is probably cereal, which is not part of the flannel…) In the future, I might add things like eggs and cereal (hot or cold) to my set just so they are represented. Our rhymes and songs started with toast!
Chant: Bread and Butter Bread and butter, marmalade and jam Let’s say “Breakfast” as quiet as we can – “Breakfast!”
Other verses: Loud, Slow, Fast, High, Low (you can change the word as well as the adverb) Source: traditional
Lifting Rhyme: Toast in the Toaster I’m toast in the toaster, I’m getting very hot Tick tock, tick tock, UP I pop! Source: Jbrary
Read: Early One Morning by Mem Fox & Christine Davenier
Fingerplay: Five Fat Sausages Five fat sausages (show five fingers) frying in a pan (lay fingers in the flat opposite hand) The grease got hot (wiggle the “sausage” fingers) and one went BAM! (clap!) (count down)
No fat sausages frying in a pan. The grease got hot and the pan went BAM! Source: Jbrary
Action Rhyme: Mixing Pancakes (mime actions) Mixin’ pancakes, stirrin’ pancakes Pour ’em in the pan Frying’ pancakes, flippin’ pancakes Catch ’em if you can! Source: Adapted from poet Christina Rossetti via Jbrary
Read: Please, Mr. Panda by Steve Antony
For this one, I chose the names of five of my regular in-person kids to pick a doughnut.And I had to include my favorite kind of doughnut in the flannel – jelly-filled! Flannel Song: Five Colored Doughnuts Down around the corner at the bakery shop There were five little donuts with frosting on top Along came [name], hungry for a treat, And s/he picked the [color] one to take home and eat! (count down) Source: Literary Hoots
Breathing Break: “Soup” Breathing – Which became “Oatmeal Breathing!” Instead of using a bowl of soup as we have been in the last couple of weeks, today we imagined our favorite hot cereal in our bowls in front of them. I suggested oatmeal, porridge, cream of wheat, and grits! You could also go into what kinds of toppings and mix-ins they like, if you wanted to prolong the discussion. Then with their hands cupped in front of them, we slowly breathed in the delicious aroma through their noses, then slowly and gently breathed out through their mouths to cool off this hot cereal. Afterward, I let them know that this exercise always makes me feel good and more grounded, and they could always get out their bowl if they need help calming down or feeling more connected to their bodies. Source: Lucky Little Learners
One more repeated activity. This has always been a favorite song! Action Song: Zoom, Zoom, Zoom! Zoom, zoom, zoom, we’re going to the moon! (hands scrape past each other rhythmically) Zoom, zoom, zoom, we’re going to the moon! If you want to take a trip (fingers walk up arm) Climb aboard my rocket ship! Zoom, zoom, zoom, we’re going to the moon! In 5, 4, 3, 2, 1, BLASTOFF! (crouch, then jump!) Source: Jbrary
This was another instance where I had two versions of the flannel props. I’d originally planned this theme earlier in the fall, when I would be doing it outdoors in person, but moved things around so it was my first virtual-only theme in November. One set is actually made of flannel, that I purchased from Storytelling Fun. It is nice to have a detailed felt set, but I was disappointed that the the images, which seemed to be ink-jet printed onto white felt, seemed very pixelated. I also made a larger paper version that was photocopied from the book by Gail Benton and Trisha Waichulaitis, who wrote the song. I colored and laminated it, and it turned out pretty well, so I’ll have to make a reason to use it at some point. Flannel Song: Flip Flap Jack Intro: There was a man made of food (Made of food?) Made of food! There was a man made of food and his name was Flip Flap Jack!
Chorus: And he danced upon the table, the table, the table. He danced upon the table, and his name was Flip Flap Jack!
Verses: His head was a pancake (A pancake?) A pancake! His head was a pancake and his name was Flip Flap Jack His hair was made of whipped cream (whipped cream?) Whipped cream! His hair was made of whipped cream and his name was Flip Flap Jack
(Do two verses between each chorus repetition, and repeat the intro at the very end as an outro) His eyes were blueberries / His nose was a strawberry / His mouth was a sausage / His ears were oranges / His body was a waffle / His arms were two bananas /His legs were made of bacon / His feet were made of French toast /His bellybutton was a raspberry Source: Gail Benton and Trisha Waichulaitis from the book Ready to Go Storytimes: Fingerplays, Scripts, Patterns, Music and More. To get the tune in my head and an idea of movements, I used this video from Klamath County Library (OR).
Craft: Paper Plate Pancake This was a take on a craft I saw on the What Happens in Storytime blog. The kids got a paper plate, three light brown circles, three yellow squares, some brown yarn, and red and blue pom poms. They could then build their pancake breakfast however they liked. In the instructions, I noted that kids could glue down their creations if they wanted to make “art,” but they could also leave the pieces loose and treat it like play food, taking orders from different family members and extending the activity to do some dramatic play.
I also booktalked these alternative titles during the permanent YouTube video. Everyone Loves Bacon by Kelly DiPucchio & Eric Wight Dozens of Doughnuts by Carrie Finison & Brianne Farley Woodpecker Wants a Waffle by Steve Breen Pancakes with Grandma by Kathryn Smith & Seb Braun
Goodbye Song: See You Later, Alligator (tune of Clementine) See you later, alligator (wave with one hand, then the other) In a while, crocodile (open and shut arms like a croc’s mouth) Give a hug, ladybug (hug yourself or a loved one) Blow a kiss, jellyfish! MWAH! (move hand like a jellyfish then blow a kiss!) Source: King County Library System
Closing Rhyme: Tickle the Stars
This storytime was presented virtually on 11/2/21.
Sometimes life inspires storytime! I was planning to take a two week vacation to visit family in Arizona and do some sightseeing as well, so the week before I was to be off, storytime was all about the Southwest! It was fun to do some learning before the trip as well as incorporate things I love about the region, such as the animals and plants that live there. I also wanted to highlight the fact that Native peoples have lived there continuously, as well as it once being a part of Mexico, so there are many wonderful traditions and stories from the region, and they are told in many languages. I had trouble finding a book that was short and simple enough to share from a Native perspective, but I tried to offer some of the longer options on my take-home reading list.
This was also my last outdoor in-person storytime of the season, though I picked up virtual programming again when I returned home in November. It was really nice to be able to offer outdoor programs, but the weather was turning colder and more unpredictable as far as the rain and wet.
Early Literacy Tip: The American Southwest has been (and still is) the home of Native American nations for centuries including the Lakota, Navajo, Hopi and many other nations. It was also once a part of a Spanish territory, and then Mexico, before becoming part of the United States. This means a rich collection of stories about the Southwest exists in English, Spanish, and Native languages. Your child can build good speaking and listening skills and habits when they listen and talk to people who are fluent in any language. Source: Adapted from this Storytime Starter document from the Madison Public Library (WI)
Welcome Song: We Clap and Sing Hello
Welcome Song: Hello, Friends (tune of Goodnight, Ladies) Hello, friends! Hello, friends! Hello, friends, it’s time to say hello! Hello, [name 1], hello, [name 2]! Hello, [name 3], it’s time to say hello! (ASL motions: salute for “hello,” then take the index fingers on each hand and you link them together as though they are hugging each other back and forth for “friends”) Source: Glenside Public Library District
I handed out shaker eggs at the beginning of storytime and we used them for several songs. For this one, we wiggled our eggs, rolled them (rolled our arms), and made a big circle in front of us. Warm-Up Rhyme: We Wiggle and Stop (Use the ASL sign for the word “stop” – one hand “chops” across the opposite hand) We wiggle and we wiggle and we STOP We wiggle and we wiggle and we STOP We wiggle and we wiggle and we wiggle and we wiggle And we wiggle and we wiggle and we STOP (Try other motions such as jump, twirl, stretch) Source: Jbrary
Anytime a rhyme uses “left” and “right,” I make a point of telling the crowd to “mirror me” and I do the opposite. Fingerplay: Two Desert Tortoises (tune of Two Little Blackbirds) Two desert tortoises walking at night One turns left, the other turns right Come back tortoises, don’t go away Come back here, it’s time to play Source: Brevard County Libraries (FL)
This storytime took place at the tail end of Hispanic Heritage Month, so I mentioned that both Pat Mora and Francisco X. Mora are of Mexican heritage. I read the title in English and Spanish, and mentioned that the book is bilingual, but that I’d only be reading the text in English today. Read: Listen to the Desert/Oye al desierto by Pat Mora & Francisco X. Mora
Shaker Rhyme: Mr. Rattlesnake I wish that I could rattle and shake Just like Mister Rattlesnake! Wiggle, wiggle, wiggle, And shake, shake, shake Just like Mister Rattlesnake! Source: MCLS Kids Wiki
I kind of shoehorned this song to be a “shaker” song. Kids could hop like a rabbit, or make their egg shaker “jump.” For the coyote verse, the shaker could be the moon we howled at. The cactus verse didn’t really incorporate it, though! Shaker Song: In the Desert (tune of Wheels on the Bus) The jackrabbit in the desert can hop like this, Hop like this, hop like this The jackrabbit in the desert can hop like this, All night long!
Additional verses: The coyotes in the desert can howl… The rattlesnakes in the desert can rattle… The saguaro in the desert can stand like this… Source: Literary Hoots
I really enjoy using my frog rasp instruments with a song written by a fellow librarian and posted on Storytime Underground – Three Frogs in a Bog. I rewrote it so I could have some desert toads! I used the rasps, but encouraged the kids to use their shakers. Shaker Song: Three Toads There was a big toad (shake, shake) Lived in a cactus by the road (shake, shake) He hopped in the desert (shake, shake) Croaked his hellos (shake, shake) Big toad (shake, shake) By a big road (shake, shake) Croaked a big hello (shake, shake) (repeat for middle-sized and little frogs)
And then one day (shake, shake, shake) The toads got together (shake, shake, shake) Hopped in the desert (shake, shake, shake) In the hot dusty weather (shake, shake, shake) Three toads (shake, shake, shake) Three friends (shake, shake, shake) The end! (shake, shake, shake) Source: adapted by Ms. Emily from Ada Moreau Demlow
Shaker Collecting Song: If You Have a Red Egg (tune of Do You Know the Muffin Man) If you have a red egg, a red egg, a red egg If you have a red egg, please bring it up here! Repeat with other colors of eggs. Source: adapted from this ALSC Blog post
Breathing Break: Soup Breathing Since the weather was turning colder, I brought back our soup breathing visualization. I asked the kids to imagine they were holding a bowl of their very favorite soup, and asked what kind they liked. Then with their hands cupped in front of them, we slowly breathed in the delicious aroma of their very favorite soup through their noses, then slowly and gently breathed out through their mouths to cool off this hot soup. We repeated about 5 times. Afterward, I let them know that this exercise always makes me feel good and more grounded, and they could always get out their bowl of soup if they need help calming down or feeling more connected to their bodies. Source: Lucky Little Learners
One more repeated activity. This has always been a favorite song! Action Song: Zoom, Zoom, Zoom! Zoom, zoom, zoom, we’re going to the moon! (hands scrape past each other rhythmically) Zoom, zoom, zoom, we’re going to the moon! If you want to take a trip (fingers walk up arm) Climb aboard my rocket ship! Zoom, zoom, zoom, we’re going to the moon! In 5, 4, 3, 2, 1, BLASTOFF! (crouch, then jump!) Source: Jbrary
The main reason I chose this one is that it was short and showed some different animals. I wish there were more short titles on this topic! Read: Way Out West Lives a Coyote Named Frank by Jillian Lund
I *love* this song. It has a great tune and everyone likes howling and snoring! I had fun making a flannel for this one, but generally flannels are too small for the outdoor crowd. Instead, I used a larger template from Nancy Stewart to make bigger coyotes that stuck with magnets to my book cart. The tune I learned is slightly different from Nancy’s original, which a librarian friend Rebecca taught me. You can hear it in the video link above. Counting/Flannel Song: Five Coyotes 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
For the regular-sized flannel, I had plans to make them double-sided, with the reverse showing the coyotes curled up and sleeping, but ran out of time. Someday I’ll add that! I also did my best to make the moon look realistic, with craters in the right place. 🙂
Craft: Saguaro Cactus Inspired by Literary Hoots, this was an easy yet really attractive craft, with some nice 3D elements. Cactus trunks and arms can be cut from construction paper, and the kids can glue them down however they like. I snapped toothpicks in half to make spines they could glue on, and picked out some magenta tissue paper squares they could crumple and glue to the tops. (I learned later that saguaro blooms are white/yellow – oops.)
I also booktalked these alternative titles during the permanent YouTube video. Big Moon Tortilla by Joy Cowley & Dyanne Strongbow Fry Bread: A Native American Family Story by Kevin Noble Maillard & Juana Martinez-Neal The Seed and the Giant Saguaro by Jennifer Ward & Mike K. Rangner She’ll Be Coming ‘Round the Mountain by Jonathan Emmett & Deborah Allwright
Goodbye Song: See You Later, Alligator (tune of Clementine) See you later, alligator (wave with one hand, then the other) In a while, crocodile (open and shut arms like a croc’s mouth) Give a hug, ladybug (hug yourself or a loved one) Blow a kiss, jellyfish! MWAH! (move hand like a jellyfish then blow a kiss!) Source: King County Library System
Closing Rhyme: Tickle the Stars
This storytime was presented in-person and virtually on 10/12/21.
Another theme culled from the Chase’s Calendar of Events, October is Fire Safety Month in the US. I called our local fire station and asked if they would be able to be guests for my Tuesday and/or Saturday program for this week. They said they could for Tuesday, and they would *try* for Saturday, since they were short staffed and would be on call.
I’m a planner and like to have all the contingencies covered, so this was hard for me! Even for the Tuesday program, I didn’t get a lot of information about what to expect or what the firefighters themselves would be expecting when they arrived, despite my tentative ask. I figure the fire chief is pretty busy and probably doesn’t have a lot of attention for working out details for a volunteer appearance, so I didn’t make myself a nuisance and follow up. It was a good time for me to practice going with the flow.
My solution was to plan a storytime as if the guests wouldn’t show at all, and just be prepared to drop some or all of it as needed. This worked well – I ended up using about half of my plan when the firefighters showed up 10 minutes late on Tuesday, and didn’t show up at all on Saturday. (And of course, I wouldn’t have them available for the virtual version at all.) I had what I needed, but was able to adjust. Their visit turned out great, too. I “made” one of them help me tell the book I was in the middle of when they arrived (making sound effects). The two others that didn’t get roped into this snickered in the background, but my “victim” was very good-natured about it all. And during the fire truck show and tell, the grownups were just as entranced (if not more) and asked lots of questions!
This storytime also had a TON of props – most of which I didn’t use in the outdoor session. It’s nice to have them on hand though, for when we’re back indoors.
Early Education Tip: We talk about possible emergencies not to scare anyone, but to be prepared! It’s important that children know what a fully dressed firefighter looks and sounds like, as well as what to do if they hear the fire alarm, and have practiced a fire escape plan. While we hope we’ll never need to use it, it’s better to have those skills in our brains ahead of time in case there is a fire emergency.
Welcome Song: We Clap and Sing Hello
Welcome Song: Hello, Friends (tune of Goodnight, Ladies) Hello, friends! Hello, friends! Hello, friends, it’s time to say hello! Hello, [name 1], hello, [name 2]! Hello, [name 3], it’s time to say hello! (ASL motions: salute for “hello,” then take the index fingers on each hand and you link them together as though they are hugging each other back and forth for “friends”) Source: Glenside Public Library District
Warm-Up Rhyme: We Wiggle and Stop (Use the ASL sign for the word “stop” – one hand “chops” across the opposite hand) We wiggle and we wiggle and we STOP We wiggle and we wiggle and we STOP We wiggle and we wiggle and we wiggle and we wiggle And we wiggle and we wiggle and we STOP (Try other motions such as jump, twirl, stretch) Source: Jbrary
Intro: Firefighters are people who are trained to put out fires and help people who may be hurt or stuck. They use a big truck that has special equipment just for fighting fires. It’s important for us to talk about who they are, what they do, and what YOU can do if there’s an emergency.
I didn’t end up using this one outdoors, but it was a nice backup. The flannel printout is generously provided on the Literary Hoots blog! Song: If You’re Going to Fight a Fire (tune of If You’re Happy and You Know It) If you’re going to fight a fire,wear your helmet If you’re going to fight a fire, wear your helmet Firefighters feeling steady Very quickly let’s get ready! If you’re going to fight a fire, wear your helmet (repeat with gloves, boots, hat, etc) Source: adapted from Literary Hoots
In the virtual version, I used this rhyme and firefighter flannel template from Storytime in the Stacks in place of the above song. He’s really cute in his red boxer shorts! Flannel Rhyme: Here Is a Firefighter Here is a firefighter! Here are his pants. Here is his coat, and here is his hat. Here are his gloves, Here are his boots. Here is his mask, And his fire hose too! Source: Storytime in the Stacks
This one is told almost entirely in sound effects. I love the bold illustrations and diverse firefighters. Read: Fire Engine No. 9 by Mike Austin
I made a large version of this that I could stick on my bookcart for the outdoor version, and a smaller one for the flannelboard. That’s a definite advantage to printed out flannels – they’re scalable! Counting Rhyme: One Brave Firefighter One brave firefighter putting out the fire Swoosh goes the water, But the flames climb higher The firefighter calls for a friend with a shout: “HELP ME PUT THIS FIRE OUT!”
Count up, last verse: Four brave firefighters putting out the fire. Swoosh goes the water And the flames start to expire! The firefighters clap their hands and shout: “HOORAY, we put the fire out!” Source: Madelyn’s Library Programming Blog
I originally learned this song to the tune of “10 Little Indians,” which I no longer use. I was happy to discover that the Old Town School of Folk Music has a version that uses a different melody. Action Song: Hurry, Hurry Hurry, hurry, drive the fire truck (turn a steering wheel) Hurry, hurry, drive the fire truck Hurry, hurry, drive the fire truck Ding, ding, ding, ding, ding! (ring a bell)
Additional verses: Turn the corner (lean far left and right) Put the ladder up, (climb a ladder) Spray the fire hose (hold a hose and move it back and forth)
Last verse, we drive the fire truck back to the station: Slowly, slowly, drive the fire truck Slowly, slowly, drive the fire truck Slowly, slowly, drive the fire truck Ding, ding, ding, ding, ding! (ring a bell) Source: adapted from Old Town School of Folk Music from the Songs for Wiggleworms album
Breathing Break: Soup Breathing Since the weather was getting cooler, I returned to the soup breathing for ourbreathwork visualization. I asked the kids to imagine they were holding a bowl of their very favorite soup, and asked what kind they liked. Then with their hands cupped in front of them, we slowly breathed in the delicious aroma through their noses, then slowly and gently breathed out through their mouths to cool off this hot soup. Afterward, I let them know that this exercise always makes me feel good and more grounded, and they could always get out their bowl of soup if they need help calming down or feeling more connected to their bodies. Source: Lucky Little Learners
One more repeated activity. This has always been a favorite song! Action Song: Zoom, Zoom, Zoom! Zoom, zoom, zoom, we’re going to the moon! (hands scrape past each other rhythmically) Zoom, zoom, zoom, we’re going to the moon! If you want to take a trip (fingers walk up arm) Climb aboard my rocket ship! Zoom, zoom, zoom, we’re going to the moon! In 5, 4, 3, 2, 1, BLASTOFF! (crouch, then jump!) Credit: Jbrary
This is a sillier story! Read: Firefighter Duckies by Frank W. Dormer
The next two songs got cut for the in-person sessions. Song: Fire Safety (tune of What Do You Do with a Drunken Sailor) What do you call if there’s a fire (x3) Call 9-1-1!
What do you do to plan for fire (x3) Have a fire drill!
What do you do if your clothes are on fire(x3) Stop, drop and roll!
The flannel and song both came from the Making Learning Fun site – I adjusted the truck so it would fit on one piece of felt. Song: The Wheels on the Truck (tune of Wheels on the Bus) The wheels on the truck go round and round Round and round, round and round! The wheels on the truck go round and round When they fight the fire
Additional verses: Door- open and shut; Siren- woo, woo, woo; Ladder- up and down; Hose-woosh,woosh,woosh Source: Making Learning Fun
Craft: Fire Truck Adapted and simplified from Busy Bee Kids Crafts. The ladder became a rectangle of yellow, and I encouraged the kids to draw themselves in the truck windows.
I also booktalked these alternative titles during the permanent YouTube video. Firefighters! Speeding! Spraying! Saving! by Patricia Hubbell & Viviana Garofoli Fire! ¡Fuego! Brave Bomberos by Susan Middleton Elya & Dan Santat Firefighter Ted by Andrea Beaty & Pascal Lemaitre I’m Brave! by Kate & Jim McMullan
Goodbye Song: See You Later, Alligator (tune of Clementine) See you later, alligator (wave with one hand, then the other) In a while, crocodile (open and shut arms like a croc’s mouth) Give a hug, ladybug (hug yourself or a loved one) Blow a kiss, jellyfish! MWAH! (move hand like a jellyfish then blow a kiss!) Credit: King County Library System
Closing Rhyme: Tickle the Stars
This storytime was presented in-person and virtually on 10/5/21 & 10/9/21.
This started out as a “cowboy/cowgirl” storytime, but I liked the idea of focusing more on the animals than the more narrow subject of cow wrangling. The whole thing was kicked off by the Jan Thomas book, Let’s Sing a Lullaby with the Brave Cowboy that my friend and colleague Christy suggested as being a great ukulele song to play while reading. I’m not sure who to credit for writing out the original song, but I did find the tune on Jan Thomas’ site, which was very helpful to get it into my head. I also tried hard not to gender the profession, so substituted “cowpoke” instead of cowboy/cowgirl in songs and rhymes. This was another theme I could go all out on for dressing up with stuff I had in my closet – jeans, flannel shirt, bandanna, and hat (that I’d saved from my post-prom event 20 years ago!)
Early Literacy Tip: Your child may not have much experience with cowpokes and ranches and horses, but talk to them about new ideas and experiences anyway. The more we talk to our children, the bigger their vocabularies grow. Sometimes we get bored talking about the same old daily routine with our kids. New topics can keep us motivated to keep talking!
Welcome Song: We Clap and Sing Hello
Welcome Song: Hello, Friends (tune of Goodnight, Ladies) Hello, friends! Hello, friends! Hello, friends, it’s time to say hello! Hello, [name 1], hello, [name 2]! Hello, [name 3], it’s time to say hello! (ASL motions: salute for “hello,” then take the index fingers on each hand and you link them together as though they are hugging each other back and forth for “friends”) Source: Glenside Public Library District
Warm-Up Rhyme: We Wiggle and Stop (Use the ASL sign for the word “stop” – one hand “chops” across the opposite hand) We wiggle and we wiggle and we STOP We wiggle and we wiggle and we STOP We wiggle and we wiggle and we wiggle and we wiggle And we wiggle and we wiggle and we STOP (Try other motions such as jump, twirl, stretch) Source: Jbrary
Fingerplay: Ten Galloping Horses Ten little horses galloped into town, Five were black and five were brown They galloped up They galloped down Then they galloped out of town! (repeat & whisper, then end silently doing motions) Source: King County Library System (WA)
Read: Clip-Clop! by Nicola Smee
Bounce: Giddy-Up! (tune of William Tell Overture) Giddy-up, giddy-up, giddy-up, up, up! (bounce) Giddy-up, giddy-up, giddy-up, up, up! Giddy-up, giddy-up, giddy-up, up, up! Whoa, horsie! (lean back with child) Source: Handley Regional Library (VA)
Action Song: 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 Source: Jbrary
Breathing Break: Five Finger Breathing Our breathwork visualization. We inhale while tracing up a finger, pause at the top, then exhale while tracing down, and pause at the bottom. Repeat for all five fingers. At the end, I let them know this is a great way to get calm, get centered or focused, and get ready for the next thing. I also remind them they can take a ten finger break if they need to, and it’s always available for them whenever they need it.
One more repeated activity. This has always been a favorite song! Action Song: Zoom, Zoom, Zoom! Zoom, zoom, zoom, we’re going to the moon! (hands scrape past each other rhythmically) Zoom, zoom, zoom, we’re going to the moon! If you want to take a trip (fingers walk up arm) Climb aboard my rocket ship! Zoom, zoom, zoom, we’re going to the moon! In 5, 4, 3, 2, 1, BLASTOFF! (crouch, then jump!) Source: Jbrary
Fingerplay: This Little Cow (count on fingers) This little cow eats grass (pinkie) This little cow eats hay This little cow looks over the hedge This little cow runs away And this BIG cow does nothing at all (thumb) But lie down in the fields all day! (lay thumb down) Source: North Mankato Taylor Library (MN)
I felt the need to explain what chaps were before this song. Action Song: I’m a Little Cowpoke (tune of I’m a Little Teapot) I’m a little cowpoke (point to self) Here is my hat (put on hat) Here are my boots, (stomp feet) And here are my chaps (slap sides of legs) When I get up, I work all day (pretend to lasso) Get on my horse, (swing leg up) And ride away! (pretend to ride) Source: Adventures in Storytime
I used a wire book holder to prop up the book while I sang and played the lullaby parts (and did some editing for the video version), but it would be much easier to have a colleague help you by holding and possibly reading the “cow” parts. Read/Sing: Let’s Sing a Lullaby with the Brave Cowboy by Jan Thomas Get a copy of the sheet music here! Listen to the song on the Jan Thomas website!
Action Song: The Cowpoke Pokey (tune of the Hokey Pokey) You put your left spur in, You take your left spur out, You put your left spur in and you shake it all about You do the cowpoke pokey and you turn yourself around That’s what it’s all about – Yee-haw!
Additional verses: Right spur, lasso (“throw” a rope in and out), hat (head), ride your horse in (whole self) Source: Loudest Librarian
Craft: “Footprint” Horse This craft was modeled after one from the Busy Bee Kids Crafts site. But since these are for take and makes, I didn’t actually do “footprints” – the parts and pieces were pre-cut, and although my head was still vaguely footprint shaped, I’m not sure anyone would recognize that. Yarn and googly eyes give them some texture and interest, making a cute and simple craft.
I also booktalked these alternative titles during the permanent YouTube video. Noni the Pony by Alison Lester Moo! by David LaRochelle & Mike Wohnoutka A Wild Cowboy by Dana Kessimakis Smith & Laura Freeman I Wanna Be a Cowgirl by Angela DiTerlizzi & Elizabet Vukovic
Goodbye Song: See You Later, Alligator (tune of Clementine) See you later, alligator (wave with one hand, then the other) In a while, crocodile (open and shut arms like a croc’s mouth) Give a hug, ladybug (hug yourself or a loved one) Blow a kiss, jellyfish! MWAH! (move hand like a jellyfish then blow a kiss!) Source: King County Library System
Closing Rhyme: Tickle the Stars
This storytime was presented in-person and virtually on 9/28/21.
As I was planning my fall session, I looked a little more at Chase’s Calendar of Events than I had in the past, just looking for new inspiration. I was reminded that September 19th is Talk Like a Pirate day, so I coordinated my closest storytime session to be on pirates. Arrrrr!
I went very vague about what pirates did – something like sailing the seas, looking for treasure. The lore and traditions of “pirates” in the way they’ve been interpreted and exaggerated (and certainly skewed) in movies and pop culture is undeniably fun, and the reality is quite a bit more violent and depressing, so we kept it light. I went all out with the pirate getup. Wearing an eyepatch was really discombobulating during the virtual version, so I opted out in person, but still wore my stripey shirt, waist sash, headscarf, and parrot craft on my shoulder!
Early Literacy Tip: Books are very rich in vocabulary—they have words that we do not use in everyday conversation with young children. This is especially true with books on unusual subjects like pirates! So, children hear many more words when we read books to them, and research shows that gives kids an advantage well into their school years. Feel free to explain unfamiliar words, but don’t substitute them for easier ones.
Welcome Song: We Clap and Sing Hello
Welcome Song: Hello, Friends (tune of Goodnight, Ladies) Hello, friends! Hello, friends! Hello, friends, it’s time to say hello! Hello, [name 1], hello, [name 2]! Hello, [name 3], it’s time to say hello! (ASL motions: salute for “hello,” then take the index fingers on each hand and you link them together as though they are hugging each other back and forth for “friends”) Source: Glenside Public Library District
Our new warm-up for the last few weeks of the summer session. Warm-Up Rhyme: We Wiggle and Stop (Use the ASL sign for the word “stop” – one hand “chops” across the opposite hand) We wiggle and we wiggle and we STOP We wiggle and we wiggle and we STOP We wiggle and we wiggle and we wiggle and we wiggle And we wiggle and we wiggle and we STOP (Try other motions such as jump, twirl, stretch) Source: Jbrary
Intro: September 19th is a holiday – did you know? It’s Talk Like A Pirate Day! So let’s enjoy some fun about pirates. BTW, Do you know what a pirate’s favorite letter is? … [Hope for a parent to supply “R”] … Ah, yeh’d think it’d be R, but it’s really the C they love!
Lifting Song: The Ocean Song Oh the ocean is great and the ocean is grand There are lots of pirate ships and very little land And we sleep down deep in a hammock near the floor And this is what we do when we go out to shore: We ride the waves going up, We ride the waves going down (rep 3x) And we turn around – Arr! Source: Jbrary
I talked briefly about the fact that the word “sea/see” sounded the same but was spelled differently and meant two different things. The sea, like the ocean: we made a wavy hand motion in front of us. And to see, like to look: we shaded our eyes with our hands like we were looking far away. The next song we made the appropriate motions to go with the words, and I held up big pictures of sea creatures that we cumulatively sang at the end of each verse. (I used my “slippery fish” felt for the video.) Song: A Pirate Went to Sea A pirate went to sea, sea, sea (wavy motion with hand) To see what she could see, see, see (shade eyes) But all that she could see, see, see (shade eyes) Was the bottom of the deep blue sea, sea, sea… (wavy) OH aaaand a seahorse!
A pirate went to sea, sea, sea (wavy motion with hand) To see what she could see, see, see (shade eyes) But all that she could see, see, see (shade eyes) Was a seahorse in the deep blue sea, sea, sea… (wavy) OH aaaand a jellyfish!
A pirate went to sea, sea, sea (wavy motion with hand) To see what she could see, see, see (shade eyes) But all that she could see, see, see (shade eyes) Was a seahorse and a jellyfish in the deep blue sea, sea, sea… (wavy) OH aaaand an octopus! (keep adding sea animals – fish, shark, whale) Source: Johnson County Library (KS)
I wanted to shorten this one, so I paper clipped the pages that dealt with fighting with the rival pirate ship. So they found the treasure, then they celebrated on their ship. Read: Dinosaur Pirates! by Penny Dale
I’d never heard this one before and it was on several storytime blogs, so I found this adorable video of a girl scout group performing it – I got the tune and the motions from them! Song: The Counting Pirate Song When I was one, I banged my drum (mime) The day I went to sea (wavy motion) I climbed aboard a pirate ship (climb ladder) And the captain said to me (salute) We’re going this way, that way (hands on hips, lean left and right) Forwards, backwards over the rolling sea (lean front and back, wavy motion) A bottle of milk to warm my tum, (drink, then rub tummy) And that’s the life for me! Yo-ho-ho-ho! (the “pirate” motion – bent arm rocks in front of you)
I didn’t actually do this one in person since I could tell we were running a bit long, but it’s another fun option. Song: Captain Billy (tune of Old MacDonald) Captain Billy had a ship, E-I-Yo-Ho-Ho! And on his ship he had a crew, E-I-Yo-Ho-Ho! With an Arrr, Arrr here and an Arrr, Arrr there, Here an Arr, there an Arr, everywhere an Arr, Arr Captain Billy had a ship, E-I-Yo-Ho-Ho!
Additional verses: …on his ship his crew would swab… swish, sweep … …found an isle …and on that isle buried treasure…dig… …on his ship he had a treasure…gold doubloons here… Source: Stratford Library (CT)
Breathing Break: Five Finger Breathing Our breathwork visualization. We inhale while tracing up a finger, pause at the top, then exhale while tracing down, and pause at the bottom. Repeat for all five fingers. At the end, I let them know this is a great way to get calm, get centered or focused, and get ready for the next thing. I also remind them they can take a ten finger break if they need to, and it’s always available for them whenever they need it.
We did the PIRATE version of this one today! Song: PIRATE Zoom, Zoom, Zoom! Zoom, zoom, zoom, we’re hunting for doubloons! (hands sweep past each other, then shade eyes) Zoom, zoom, zoom, we’re hunting for doubloons! If you want to take a trip (climb a ladder) Climb aboard my pirate ship! Zoom, zoom, zoom, we’re hunting for doubloons! In 5, 4, 3, 2, 1, AHOY! (crouch, jump & wave!) Source: Jbrary
Read: Bubble Bath Pirates! by Jarrett J. Krosoczka
So I needed to get the bubble machine out after that book! In person, I played a new-to-me song that I really dig: Recorded song: Pop, Pop, Pop by Nathalia
In the virtual version, I played and sang this one: Ukulele Song: If You’re A Pirate & You Know It (tune of If You’re Happy & You Know It) If you’re a pirate and you know it, swab the deck (swish, swish) (x2) If you’re a pirate and you know it and you really want to show it If you’re a pirate and you know it, swab the deck (swish, swish)
Craft: Eyepatch and Parrot Inpsired by this great post at Sturdy for Common Things I made eyepatches from black foam and strung them with black yarn, then provided this really cool parrot craft to go with them. I adjusted the template so that I could print two parrots on a sheet of cardstock (I did white and let the kids color them), and I removed the B and C lines since I couldn’t really figure out why they were there, and just left the one folding line A. Parents could position the parrot on their kid’s shoulder, taping the tab to their back and letting the body of the bird drape over the front. (The pictures at the blog post make it clearer.) Since I altered the template and it’s not available at its original spot anymore, you can download my version here. I also added some plastic gold coins in the packet for funsies.
I also booktalked these alternative titles during the permanent YouTube video. The Grumpy Pirate by Corinne Demas, Artemis Roehrig & Ashlyn Anstee Pirate Jack Gets Dressed by Nancy Raines Day & Allison Black Go, Go, Pirate Boat by Katrina Charman & Nick Sharratt We’re Going on a Treasure Hunt by Kelly DiPucchio & Jay Fleck
Goodbye Song: See You Later, Alligator (tune of Clementine) See you later, alligator (wave with one hand, then the other) In a while, crocodile (open and shut arms like a croc’s mouth) Give a hug, ladybug (hug yourself or a loved one) Blow a kiss, jellyfish! MWAH! (move hand like a jellyfish then blow a kiss!) Source: King County Library System
Closing Rhyme: Tickle the Stars
This storytime was presented in-person and virtually on 9/21/21.
Storytime with Ms. Emily Library 