Here’s a storytime theme I’ve never done before, and let me tell you: it was a lot of fun! All the activities seemed to land well and there was a ton of enthusiasm for Pete the Cat (of course.) I was slightly worried because there were no prop activities (scarves/shakers/etc), but it really was okay. I got to see lots of cute kiddo shoes as everyone was proud to show theirs off. And I broke out my collection of fun socks to wear on storytime days.
Early Literacy Tip: Tiptoeing helps to develop good balancing skills. Show your child how to walk on tiptoes (and not the sides of their feet.) You can also try making it a game – challenge your child to tiptoe and be as quiet as a mouse as they do an activity. This can also be a more positive way to reduce the playtime noise level (for at least a little bit!) -adapted The Early Literacy Kit: A Handbook and Tip Cards by Betsy Diamant-Cohen & Saroj Ghoting
Welcome Song: Hello, Friends* (TT) (TB) (FT)** †
Warm Up Song: Wake Up, Feet* (TT) (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. I rotate between elbows, cheeks, hips, noses, arms, chins, thighs, heads, shoulders, ears, knees, and fingers.
Lifting Rhyme: Toast in the Toaster* (TT) (TB) (FT)
Intro: Today we’re talking about something we wear. Something we wear on our feet. Hats? Shirts? No! Socks and shoes! Socks & shoes are super! They protect your feet, can come in fun patterns, and sometimes even light up!
Activity: Sock Matching (TT) (TB) (FT) Hm, I did some laundry before work today, but I didn’t have time to sort it! Will you help me match these socks? Inspired by Singin in the Stacks, as well as Miss Mary Liberry, who made this activity as a flannelboard withan awesome array of felt socks in a myriad of colors and patterns, plus a sweet “dryer” made from a cardboard box. I had big plans to make my own version, but alas, time was short. As it dawned on me I wouldn’t be able to make it in time, I had the eureka moment when I realized that regular socks would stick to the flannelboard. AND I could put my regular socks in any kind of bag or basket and it would work, even if it’s not quite as cute as an adorable miniature clothes dryer. So I chose a few pairs of my own fun socks that had some different characteristics, and we did the activity – hooray!(I ended up using only four pairs of socks, just to keep the activity short.
Now that our socks are all sorted out, now I need to organize all the shoes in the house. Can we sort them from smallest to largest? Who has the smallest shoes, Baby or Daddy? Action Rhyme: Shoes (TT) (TB) (FT) (move hands further and further out) Baby’s shoes Child’s shoes Mommy’s shoes Daddy’s shoes GIANT SHOES! Source: Librarian Is on the Loose
Transition: If You’re Ready for a Story* (TT) (TB) (FT)
Something new this week – instead of reading only one book, I retold two books using the flannelboard. When I do a retelling, I always show the book cover to reinforce that the story came from a book (and they can check it out!) Flannel Retelling: One Red Sockby Jennifer Sattler (TT) (TB) (FT)
Have you ever noticed that you can move a little differently when you’re wearing a nice pair of socks? Let’s try it out! I took my shoes off and slid around for this one. Action Song: Let’s Put On Our Socks (TT) (TB) (FT) (tune of Hickory Dickory Dock) Hickory, dickory, dock, Let’s put on our socks We’ll walk around without a sound When we put on our socks
…We’ll tiptoe around and won’t be found… …We’ll slide around the slippery ground… …We’ll dance around and jump and bound… Source: Stratford Library
Remember the nursery rhyme that starts by putting on our shoes? This was a good transition for me to actually put my shoes back on. Action Rhyme: Buckle My Shoe (TT) (TB) (FT) 1, 2, Buckle my shoe (touch toes) 3, 4, Shut the door (clap) 5, 6, Pick up sticks (wiggle fingers upright) 7, 8, Lay them straight (one hand in other, fingers straight) 9, 10, A big fat hen! (arms wide) Source: traditional
What kind of shoes are you wearing today? How might we describe my shoes? (color/pattern) Take a moment here with your grownup and talk about your shoes – what’s something we can say to describe them? We started with my shoes, then had two or three volunteers tell us something about their shoes. Action Rhyme: Old Shoes, New Shoes (TT) (TB) (FT) Old shoes, new shoes, [Name] is wearing [description] shoes One, two, three, four Now I stomp them on the floor! Source: Storytime Katie
Pete is wearing some bright white shoes. But not for long! Our second book retelling! I had several families reciting this one with me. Flannel was inspired by Flannelboard Fun. Read/Retell Flannel: Pete the Cat: I Love My White Shoes by James Dean & Eric Litwin (TT) (TB) (FT)
Mm, Pete’s story made me hungry for some berries! Can we go pick some? Any opportunity for kids to get a lift from their grownups is a good one. Action Song: Pop Goes the Berry (TT) (TB) (FT) (tune of Pop Goes the Weasel) (walk or dance in circle) All around the strawberry fields We picked some juicy berries We brought them home and washed them off, Pop! Goes the berry! (jump or lift up) Source: Jbrary
Talking about our shoes and socks makes me appreciate my toes. To give shoes and socks equal time, I wrote one more verse about socks. I had grownups singing along to this jazzy tune on the second verse, so you know it’s catchy! Body Song: Everybody Knows (TT) (TB) (FT) Everybody knows I love my toes Everybody knows I love my toes I love my shoulders, my knees, my elbows, and my nose But everybody knows I love my toes
Everybody knows that I love my shoes Everybody knows that I love my shoes I love my shirt, my pants, my hat and you But everybody knows I love my shoes
Everybody knows that I love my socks Everybody knows that I love my socks In socks I’ll run, I’ll jump, tiptoe and walk Everybody knows I love my socks Source: Singin in the Stacks, last verse original
Action Song: Zoom, Zoom, Zoom!* (TT) (TB) (FT)
Craft: Sock and Shoe Design (TB) (FT) After a couple of weeks of paint and messy crafts, I went simple. I found an outline of a sock and a shoe (high top!) and let the kids design and decorate them however they wanted. I gave them dot markers, stick-on jewels and foam stickers, ribbon, and pom poms. Easy and fun. Both craft sessions went longer than usual since they worked on these longer than usual and didn’t get to toys until later as well.
Play Time The toddlers 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* (TT) (TB) (FT)
Other books I had available for families to browse (and may work for you on this theme) Duck Sock Hop – Jane Kohuth & Jane Porter New Shoes – Chris Raschka Lizette’s Green Sock – Catharina Valckx Rock Your Mocs – Laurel Goodluck & Madelyn Goodnight Emily’s Shoes – Joan Cottle Which Shoes Would You Choose? – Betsy Rosenthal & Nancy Cote The Sock Thief – Ana Crespo & Nana Gonzalez Kicks – Van G Garrett & Reggie Brown Have You Seen My New Blue Socks? – Eve Bunting & Sergio Ruzzier One Shoe, Two Shoes – Caryl Hart & Edward Underwood A Pig, a Fox, and Stinky Socks – Jonathan Fenske One Two That’s My Shoe! – Alison Murray It’s Shoe Time! – Bryan Collier
This storytime was presented in-person on 10/7, 10/8, & 10/9/24.
**These symbols indicate the program sessions I used the activities for: (TT) Toddler Time, ages 1-2 (TB) Teddy Bears, ages 2-3.5 (FT) Family Time, ages 0-3.5
† Click the image of rhyme/song sheets to download a non-branded PDF
After last week’s Messy storytime, it was time to talk about clean up! Toddlers can be very interested in being helpful, and the vast majority of my kiddos love to help put away any props we use during storytime, and the toys we play with at the end. I pointed that out to caregivers, and reminded them that kids of all ages crave to be a contributing part of the family, if you give them a chance.
For this Clean theme, I thought about tidying up messes we make with objects, as well as cleaning our hands and bodies and the clothes we wear. I couldn’t find many rhymes or songs about tidying, but we did start with a cleaning up flannel activity. (Of course, there’s always the Barney “Clean Up” song, but as someone who heard that nonstop in the 90s, I’m okay never singing it myself.) The rest have to do with bathtime or washing clothes.
Early Literacy Tip: Bath time is a wonderful opportunity to encourage play and imagination! You can be pirates or sea turtles, or you can use bubbles to practice fine motor skills and finger dexterity. Practice narrative skills by telling a story together using bath toys. -adapted from Yogibrarian
Welcome Song: Hello, Friends* (TT) (TB) (FT)** †
Warm Up Song: Wake Up, Feet* (TT) (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. I rotate between elbows, cheeks, hips, noses, arms, chins, thighs, heads, shoulders, ears, knees, and fingers.
Lifting Rhyme: Toast in the Toaster* (TT) (TB) (FT)
Intro: Last week we made a big mess, and this week we’re talking about cleaning up! This can be picking up our toys, washing our hands, or washing our whole bodies.
Activity: Cleaning Up (TT) (TB) (FT) What a big mess! Let’s see if we can put all these things back in their proper place. Inspired by Verona Storytime, I made a paper bag labeled with a refrigerator, a laundry basket, and a toy box, as well as four items that would go in each one, using Canva graphics. After my first session, I realized twelve was too many, so next time I just put out nine and that seemed just right. The kids called out where things went, and corrected me when I tried to put them in the wrong place!
Objects haphazardly strewn on the board include a pair of jeans, a toy dump truck, a half gallon jug of milk, a bunch of grapes, a pair of socks, a striped shirt, a ring sorter toy, a wedge of cheese, a ball, a toy dinosaur, carrot sticks in a plastic bag, and a pair of green pajamas.
Uh, oh, my hands got dirty picking up all of those things from the dusty floor. What can I do to clean up? Try to sing this one SLOWLY so you can show each part. Action Rhyme: Wash Your Hands (TT) (TB) (FT) (tune of Row Your Boat) Wash, wash, wash your hands, Get them nice and clean Wash the tops and wash below, And wash them in between
Scrub, scrub, scrub your hands, Fingernails and thumbs Wrists and palms and pinky too, Wash them every one! Source: Waukee (IA) Public Library
Transition: If You’re Ready for a Story* (TT) (TB) (FT)
After reading this one at my first session, I think my group would do better with just two sets of animals – they were definitely getting wiggly toward the end. Read: How Do You Take a Bath?by Kate McMullan & Sydney Hanson (TT)
A silly and fun bath story. Read: Bubble Bath Pirates! by Jarrett J. Krosoczka (TB) (FT)
After we wash, maybe there’s a little time to play in the tub! I realized I should have also made a bubble to add to this flannel. Flannel Song: Baby in the Tub (TT) (TB) (FT) (tune of Wheels on the Bus) The baby in the tub goes Splash, splash, splash (pat lap) Splash, splash, splash, Splash, splash, splash The baby in the tub goes splash, splash, splash All through the bath!
The duck in the tub goes quack… (hand makes a duck bill) The boat in the tub goes toot… (pull a horn) The bubbles in the tub go pop… (clap) Source: Storytime in the Stacks
The template for this flannel is from the ever-helpful but now defunct Sunflower Storytime. You can download a copy of it here. I used to tuck each elephant into the bath in a row, but saw another librarian on YouTube stacking them up tall. That’s a lot easier, and it looks a lot funnier to me, too. Someone else wants to take a bath! Move over, baby! Counting/Flannel Rhyme: Elephants in the Bathtub (TT) (TB) (FT) One elephant in the bathtub (hold up one finger) Going for a swim (swimming motion) Knock, knock (clap, clap) Splash, splash (pat lap) Come on in (motion with hand to come in)
(count up) Five elephants in the bathtub Going for a swim Knock, knock CRASH, CRASH! They all fell in! (wiggle arms downward; knock flannel pieces to the floor!) Source: Sunflower Storytime, see moves on Jbrary
This one took a little explanation before we got started, as I can’t do any motions when I’m playing ukulele. I always say the second “bar of soap!” in a high voice to make it funnier, and I encouraged them to either raise their arms and/or have a grown up lift them up during that echo part. I also thought this song needed MORE, so wrote a couple more verses! What makes all of these bubbles? Soap! Ukulele Song: Little Bar of Soap (TT) (TB) (FT) (tune of If You’re Happy and You Know It) Oh, I wish I were a little bar of soap (bar of soap!) (lift arms and/or lift child) Oh, I wish I were a little bar of soap (bar of soap!) Oh, I’d slippy and I’d slidey over everybody’s hidey Yes, I wish I were a little bar of soap (bar of soap!)
Oh, I wish I were a squeaky yellow duck (quack quack)… (make a duck bill) I’d be your friend in the tub while you rub and scrub-a-dub…
Oh, I wish I were a bubble floating there (bloop, bloop)… (pulse fingers) I’d float until I drop, and then land with a big POP! (clap)… Source: Jbrary, verses 2-3 original
Let’s make sure we get clean all over. Can you use your scarf like a washcloth? Scarf Song: This Is the Way We Wash (TT) (TB) (FT) (tune of Here We Go Round the Mulberry Bush) This is the way we wash our face, wash our face, wash our face! This is the way we wash our face When we take a bath! (arms, legs, back, tummy, etc.) Source: Jbrary
I so love both this song and the Walrus song, I tried to do both at the first session. It went fine because we don’t do a craft for that one, but I had to choose one or the other for the other two sessions, where I have a little less time. Using our scarves was so much fun. I always start with my scarf way up high and hold out the “Waaaaay,” then swoosh my scarf down low when I get to “down in the valley.” When we take a bath, we take off our clothes. But what if our clothes are dirty, too? Should they come in the bath with us? No! They go in the laundry. Scarf Song: Wishy Washy Washer Woman (TT) (TB) Waaay down in the valley where nobody goes There’s a wishy washy washer woman washing her clothes She goes wishy washy up, she goes wishy washy down She goes wishy washy up, she goes wishy washy down That’s how the wishy washy washer woman washes her clothes!
…drying her clothes, she goes whoo-eee! (shake in a circle) …folding her clothes, she goes side, side (clap to one side, then the other) Source: traditional
Here’s a silly song about a walrus who needs to wash his coat. Scarf Song: The Walrus Washes (TT) (FT) The walrus washes his winter coat down by the wavy ocean He adds some water and he adds some soap and he waits… and he waits… and he waits
Then the laundry shakes, shakes, shakes The laundry shakes and shakes and shakes The laundry shakes, shakes, shakes until it’s clean (repeat)
The laundry spins… (twirl scarf in a circle) The laundry tumbles… (throw scarf in the air and catch) Source: Brytani Fraser via Jbrary
Can you catch the bubbles with your scarf? Yes, there were three songs with the Happy and You Know It tune this storytime, which I generally try to avoid, but it was fine. Bubble Song: Bubbles in the Air (TT) (TB) (FT) (tune of Happy and You Know It) There are bubbles in the air (In the air) There are bubbles in the air (In the air) There are bubbles in the air, There are bubbles in my hair There are bubbles in the air (In the air!)
There are bubbles way up high… in the sky Way down low… on my toe Source: Jbrary
Action Song: Zoom, Zoom, Zoom!* (TT) (TB) (FT)
Craft: Bubble Wrap Bath Scene (TB) (FT) This is a craft I’ve have done before, but it’s been a while! This is a not-too-messy painting craft, with the novelty of using bubble wrap to make the bubbles. I also set out crayons and a rubber duck print to glue on. I prep my bubble wrap by cutting it into 2-3 inch wide strips, maybe 5 inches long, then creating a tube by taping the two short ends together, bubble side out. That way the kids can put their hands in the ring and dip it in the paint without having to grip it on a “clean side” – the inside should stay clean for them (ideally!) The original bathtub and duck printables were from Sunflower Storytime (no longer available.) Download my copies here:
Play Time The toddlers 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* (TT) (TB) (FT)
Other books I had available for families to browse (and may work for you on this theme) Car Wash – Sandra & Susan Steen & G. Brian Karas Mrs. McNosh Hangs Up Her Wash – Sarah Weeks & Nadine Bernard Westcott Lion Needs a Haircut – Hyewon Yum Tidy – Emily Gravett Love-a-Duck – Alan James Brown & Francesca Chessa Have You Seen My Invisible Dinosaur? – Helen Yoon Off to See the Sea – Nikki Grimes & Elizabeth Zunon Scaredy Bath – Zoë Foster Blake & Daniel Gray-Barnett How to Give Your Cat a Bath in Five Easy Steps – Nicola Winstanley & John Martz Bath! Bath! Bath! – Douglas Florian & Christiane Engel
This storytime was presented in-person on 9/23, 9/24, 9/25, & 9/26/24.
**These symbols indicate the program sessions I used the activities for: (TT) Toddler Time, ages 1-2 (TB) Teddy Bears, ages 2-3.5 (FT) Family Time, ages 0-3.5
† Click the image of rhyme/song sheets to download a non-branded PDF
Making messes and being messy are just part of life for a baby or toddler! This week we celebrated the mess and the ability to be creative while being messy, while still reiterating that after making a mess we clean up. (Though we’re going more in depth for getting clean next week.)
We don’t get our parachute out for indoor storytime often, but I thought of a few ways to tie it in. It’s always a treat, especially when we add some objects to the ‘chute to bounce around. I also went all in for our messy craft, and everyone enjoyed playing with shaving cream (and the whole room smelled like a barbershop!)
Early Literacy Tip: Messes are a fact of life for little ones. Give your child opportunities to be “messy” and play creatively, then reinforce the idea that all messes eventually get cleaned up.
Welcome Song: Hello, Friends* (TT) (TB) (FT)** †
Warm Up Song: Wake Up, Feet* (TT) (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. I rotate between elbows, cheeks, hips, noses, arms, chins, thighs, heads, shoulders, ears, knees, and fingers.
Lifting Rhyme: Toast in the Toaster* (TT) (TB) (FT)
Intro: Today we are making a mess! Do you ever make a mess? Maybe when you’re eating? Or when you go outside and play? Sometimes making messes can be fun, but it’s always good to clean up after we make a mess.
Let’s pretend to make a big mess outside – let’s make Mud Pies! This doesn’t actually rhyme, and I struggled a bit when planning how exactly to present it. I finally settled on slowing the middle part down and making exaggerated motions, and it worked! Everyone seemed to be into it. I also changed from “mud cake” in the original to “mud pie,” which is what I always called them. Maybe a regional difference? Action Chant: Make a Mud Pie (TT) (TB) (FT) Make a mud pie in the mud, mud, mud (pat lap) Digging… (digging motion downward) Scooping… (scoop hands upward) Patting (pat hands in air) It’s so much fun! (hands out, emphasizing)
[Where else should we make a mud pie? How about our head!? Scoop together some mud…] Make a mud pie on your head, head, head… (pat head) Digging… Scooping… Patting… It’s so much fun! (repeat: toes, tum) Source: Tacoma Public Library
Transition: If You’re Ready for a Story* (TT) (TB) (FT)
This is such a fun book. We tickled and mimed all the different body parts as they were mentioned, which kept everyone engaged. Read: Applesauce Is Fun to Wearby Nancy Raines Day & Jane Massy (TT) (FT)
We added spots to Dog’s coat on the flannelboard as we read the story. Read: Dog’s Colorful Day by Emma Dodd (TB)
Those babies got food all over them! [Dog got so messy!] A food that is especially messy for me is spaghetti! Let’s do a rhyme about spaghetti. I mentioned that we could say “daddy” or “auntie” or “grammy” or any other appropriate word in place of “mommy.” Action Rhyme: Spaghetti (TT) (TB) (FT) Spaghetti on my tummy Spaghetti on my nose Spaghetti on my elbows Spaghetti on my toes
Wipe it off my elbows Wipe it off my toes Oops, here comes mommy I forgot to wipe my nose! Source: Tacoma Public Library
Can you think of an animal who loves to make a mess? For these groups I did only three pigs, which was the perfect length. This flannel is from the now-defunct (and sorely missed) Sunflower Storytime. You can download my copy of their printable below. Counting Song: Five Pigs So Squeaky Clean (TT) (TB) (FT) (tune of Five Green and Speckled Frogs) Five pigs so squeaky clean, Cleanest you’ve ever seen Wanted to go outside and play, Oink! Oink! (clap, clap) One jumped into the mud Landed with a great big thud Then there were four clean squeaky pigs (count down) Source: Sunflower Storytime (no longer online)
What else is pink and can make a big mess if you’re not careful? Song: Sticky Bubble Gum (TT) (TB) (FT) (Spoken intro) Did you bring your bubble gum? What about pretend bubble gum? Can you find some pretend bubble gum in your pocket? Reach in and get it out. Unwrap it, and stick the wrapper back in your pocket – we don’t want to litter! Is your gum pink like mine is? Let’s pop it in and start chewing Is it soft and squishy? Is it yummy? Let’s blow an imaginary bubble – show me with your hands as you blow it Bigger, bigger – oh, no it popped! There’s sticky bubble gum everywhere. Pull it off your forehead, nose, chin… Now squish it all together in a big sticky ball of bubble gum. And SMASH IT! Oh, no, it’s so sticky that my hands are stuck together. The only way I know to get them unstuck is to sing the sticky bubble gum song. (Singing) Sticky sticky sticky sticky bubble gum Bubble gum, Bubble gum Sticky sticky sticky sticky bubble gum Sticking your hands to your knees! and UN-STICK! Source: Carole Peterson (see her perform this, including the guided intro, at https://vimeo.com/95412823)
Let’s get out our parachute! Can we practice a little bit with this song? My sheet has shaker eggs on it, I just didn’t feel like making a new one. It works. Parachute Song: Shake and Shake and STOP (TT) (TB) (FT) We shake and we shake and we STOP We shake and we shake and we STOP We shake and we shake and we shake and we shake and we shake and we shake and we STOP! (try other motions – wave, wiggle, reach, etc) Source: Jbrary
Let’s take a trip down the road. It’s a dirt road, so hopefully we don’t get messy! But of course, we did! Parachute or Bounce: A Smooth Road (TT) (TB) (FT) A smooth road! (repeat x4) (slowly, and wave gently) A bumpy road! (x4) (a little faster, shaking gently up and down) A rough road! (x4) (even faster and rougher) Oh, no! A hole! (lift parachute up and then down) Source: Jbrary
I put in these “indoor snowballs” that we had in storage, and they LOVED seeing them bounce and pop up. I’m hungry! Let’s make some popcorn! I’m going to put some popcorn kernels in the parachute! Parachute or Scarf Song: Popcorn Kernels (TT) (TB) (FT) (tune of Frère Jacques, sing each line 2x) Popcorn kernels (wave chute) In the pot (add pompoms) Shake them, shake them, shake them (shake) ’til they POP! (pop pompoms up into the air) Source: Jbrary
This is a great way to put the parachute away.I left the “popcorn” in so it would go everywhere when the parachute flew, and asked everyone to help clean up the mess when we were done. Parachute Song: Parachute Fly (TT) (TB) (FT) (tune of Skip to my Lou) (kids go under the parachute and adults raise and lower) Up, up, up it goes, Down, down, down so low Raise our parachute to the sky Count to 3 and watch it fly Spoken: Up on one… Down on two… Up on three… and FLY! (adults let go and leader pulls ‘chute in to themselves) Source: Gymboree
Action Song: Zoom, Zoom, Zoom!* (TT) (TB) (FT)
Craft: Marbled Paper with Shaving Cream (TB) (FT) We made marbled paper, but the product was really not the point. It was a messy craft! Each kid got a tray, a smock, a half sheet of cardstock, and a craft stick. Their grownup put shaving cream in their tray and dripped a couple of drops of liquid watercolor paint in it, which they could then swirl around. I reminded them to swirl, not mix, since you want the colors to stay separate and not blend. Then they put their cardstock on top and tapped it down to make contact with the paint and cream, lifted it up and scraped off the excess cream using old empty gift cards. Then they could play in the cream! I had a couple buckets of water around the room and each table had a moistened towel to help with clean up. They put their dirty smocks in a bin and I took care of the rest. It took a lot of time to clean up after, but it was worth it! Putting plastic tablecloths on that I could just ball up and throw away helped a lot.
The finished product and the setup:
The aftermath (or “craftermath”)
Play Time We didn’t have time for toys today after the craft!
Goodbye Song: See You Later Alligator* (TT) (TB) (FT)
Other books I had available for families to browse (and may work for you on this theme) Splat! – Jon Burgerman Tyrannosaurus Wrecks! – Sudipta Bardhan-Quallen & Zachariah OHora Off-Limits – Helen Yoon A Perfectly Messed-Up Story – Patrick McDonnell Uh-Oh! – Rachel Isadora Hogwash! – Karma Wilson & Jim McMullan I’m Dirty!- Kate & Jim McMullan Roy Digs Dirt – David Shannon What the Dinosaurs Did Last Night – Refe & Susan Tuma Trashy Town – Andrea Zimmerman, David Clemesha, & Dan Yaccarino
This storytime was presented in-person on 9/16, 9/17, & 9/18/24.
**These symbols indicate the program sessions I used the activities for: (TT) Toddler Time, ages 1-2 (TB) Teddy Bears, ages 2-3.5 (FT) Family Time, ages 0-3.5
† Click the image of rhyme/song sheets to download a non-branded PDF
The one bad thing about being caught up with blogging your storytimes is that there’s no backlog to hold you over when you’re on break! I usually do three weeks of programming per month, so there are sometimes one or two weeks of a break. In the summer I’m doing seven weeks straight, and I know there are other libraries that do longer sessions of 6-9 weeks before taking a break, but the frequent short break works best for me and my community. What sort of schedule do you use for your storytimes?
In any case, this session was our last of my “early concepts” themes, after doing the alphabet and numbers/counting (and a color series earlier in the spring.) Shapes are so important for learning letters and recognizing patterns. They can get more advanced, since there are tons of kinds of shapes, but I generally kept this session to the most basic ones.
Early Literacy Tip: Identify the shapes you see and talk about them with your children. Circles and triangles are often parts of letters. Being able to recognize shapes is the first step to recognizing letters, which will help your child learn to read later. –adapted from The Early Literacy Kit: A Handbook and Tip Cards by Betsy Diamant-Cohen & Saroj Ghoting
Welcome Song: Hello, Friends* (TT) (TB) (FT)** †
Warm Up Song: Wake Up, Feet* (TT) (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. I rotate between elbows, cheeks, hips, noses, arms, chins, thighs, heads, shoulders, ears, knees, and fingers.
Lifting Rhyme: Toast in the Toaster* (TT) (TB) (FT)
Intro: Today we are learning about shapes! I see some shapes on the board. Let’s see if we can identify them.
Shape Flannel This was from a pre-made set purchased from Oriental Trading. I went with our most basic shapes: square, circle, triangle, and rectangle.
I took each shape off the board and described it a bit: “This shape has four corners, and four sides, and all the sides are the same length. Hm, what shape could it be?” Then launched into the song. I had several kids call out “square” before we got to the end, which is totally fine! Jbrary suggests giving each kid a felt shape to shake but with so many kids I adjusted the words and it worked better for my group. And I would always rather do the Muffin Man tune than Mary Had a Little Lamb, which is droning and boring to me. Song: What Shape This Is (TT) (TB) (FT) (tune of Do You Know the Muffin Man) Do you know what shape this is, What shape this is, What shape this is? Do you know what shape this is? So shout, “Hooray for… SQUARES!” (repeat, showing different shapes) Source: adapted from Jbrary
Transition: If You’re Ready for a Story* (TT) (TB) (FT)
Read: Big Box of Shapes by Wiley Blevins & Elliot Kreloff (TT) (FT)
Although the kid were actually quite intrigued by the illustrations, I’m not sure this is an effective shapes book for this age. Plus, whenever I said, “Where’s Cat?” they pointed out the second Kitty – a little confusing. It was not very obvious where Cat might be hiding, so the guessing and predicting weren’t generally right, which I think might be discouraging. Super cute book, but maybe better for older kids or one-on-one rather than storytime. Read: Kitty & Cat: Bent Out of Shape by Mirka Hokkanen (TB)
So let’s do something with our shapes. Maybe we can try to build a house! I adapted this one just a bit to hide my cute little mouse behind the rectangle of the door. After the rhyme was done, we knocked and – whoop! There was little mouse! Flannel Rhyme: Build a House (TT) (TB) (FT) Some houses are wood and some are stone But let’s build one with shapes alone Start with a square but we won’t stop Add a triangle up on the top Then a rectangle for the door Now square windows 1, 2, 3, 4 A little circle just for fun And a big yellow one for the sun A house of circles, rectangles, triangles, and squares… Now I wonder… who lives there? Source: adapted from Keen on Librarianship
There are some shapes that are special, like this one (put up felt heart). Let’s make a heart with our hands! This rhyme sets us up for the next one. Action Rhyme: Make a Heart (TT) (TB) (FT) Put your hands together This is how we start Now curve your fingers around And now we make a heart! Source: King County (WA) Library System
So, what on our bodies looks kind of like a circle? (Our head!) And we can see a bit of a square with our middles. We went through each of the motions first, then repeated the song a couple times, getting faster. Action Song: Shapes Song (TT) (TB) (FT) (tune of Head, Shoulders, Knees & Toes) Circle, square and triangle (Triangle) (point to head, torso, then make a triangle with fingers) Circle, square and triangle (Triangle) Heart and star and rectangle (make heart with hands as above, jump into a star shape with arms and legs out, then jump body back together with arms and legs in) Circle, square and triangle (Triangle) Source: Yogibrarian
I made this one up, but didn’t end up using it. Each group was getting wiggly by this time in the session, so I decided to get out the scarves rather than try to plow through. I’m curious how it would have gone! (I even made some polygon visuals to add to the board at the end!) This could also be done with shakers instead of clapping. Clapping Rhyme: Sides and Corners No corners, one side, That’s the way the circle rides (roll arms) Two sides short, and two sides long That’s the way a rectangle is strong: 1, 2! 1, 2! (clap) Three corners, three sides That’s the way a triangle slides: 1, 2, 3! Four sides, all the same That’s the way a square is named: 1, 2, 3, 4! Five or more, what you’ve drawn Is some kind of polygon: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, or more! (clap a lot!) Source: original
Let’s warm up our scarves by doing some shaking. Scarf Song: Shake it to the East (TT) (TB) (FT) Shake it to the east, shake it to the west Shake it all around and then you take a rest Shake your scarves up, shake your scarves down Shake it, shake it, shake it and then you settle down Source: Jbrary
Let’s take a closer look at our scarves. Can you lay your scarf on your lap or on the ground? How many corners does it have? How many sides? Are they all the same? I was pretty proud of myself for figuring out how to get more shapes out of our scarves. I’ve only seen the four corners verse online. Scarf Song: My Scarf (TT) (TB) (FT) (tune of My Hat It Has Three Corners) My scarf it has four corners, Four corners has my scarf If it had not four corners, It would not be my scarf!
[But what if we folded it in half vertically? Now it has four corners, and four sides, but two sides are shorter than the others – it’s now a… Rectangle!]
My scarf it is a rectangle…
[Let’s try folding our scarves from corner to corner diagonally. Now my scarf has three corners and three sides. What is it now?]
My scarf it is a triangle…
[Hm, we’ve made a few shapes, but what about a circle? Is there a way to make our scarf a circle? Here I try folding in the corners and holding up a lumpy shape – that doesn’t look very good. Oh, I have an idea! Can you make your scarf a shape like this? (twirl in a circle)]
My scarf it is a circle… Source: adapted from Jbrary
I know another way to make a scarf circular, or like a ball. We can scrunch it up! Scarf Song: Popcorn Kernels (TT) (TB) (FT) (tune of Frère Jacques) Popcorn kernels, Popcorn kernels (wave scarves overhead) In the pot, In the pot (bunch up scarves in your fists) Shake them, shake them, shake them (shake) Shake them, shake them, shake them ’til they POP! ’til they POP!(toss scarves up into the air) Source: Jbrary
What was this again? (point to yellow circle by house) Scarf Rhyme: Big Round Sun (TT) (TB) (FT) Big round sun In the summer sky (use scarf to make a circle with your arms above head) Waved to a cloud That was passing by The little cloud laughed As it started to rain Then out came the Big round sun again Source: Mel’s Desk
Let’s sing to Mr. Sun to help us play outside! Shake along or make a circle shape with your arms. Ukulele Song: Mr. Sun (TT) (TB) (FT) Oh, Mr. Sun, Sun, Mr. Golden Sun Please shine down on me Oh, Mr. Sun, Sun, Mr. Golden Sun Hiding behind a tree
These little children are asking you To please come out so we can play with you
Craft: Shape Pictures Craft (TB) (FT) Very simple, just a bowl full of different colored and sized shapes – squares, circles, triangles, and rectangles, and encouraged them to make whatever they would like – rockets, houses, vehicles, or even just abstract art!
Play Time The toddlers 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* (TT) (TB) (FT)
Other books I had available for families to browse (and may work for you on this theme) City Shapes – Diana Murray & Bryan Collier Some of These Are Snails – Carter Higgins Round – Joyce Sidman & Taeeun Yoo Go, Shapes, Go! – Denise Fleming Round Is a Tortilla – Roseanne Greenfield Thong & John Parra Shapes & Shapes – Ivan Brunetti The Shape of You – Mượn Thị Văn & Miki Sato Baby Party – Rebecca O’Connell & Susie Poole Circle / Triangle / Square – Mac Barnett & Jon Klassen Circle! Sphere! (¡Círculo! ¡Esfera!)– Grace Lin
This storytime was presented in-person on 9/9, 9/10, & 9/11/24.
**These symbols indicate the program sessions I used the activities for: (TT) Toddler Time, ages 1-2 (TB) Teddy Bears, ages 2-3.5 (FT) Family Time, ages 0-3.5
† Click the image of rhyme/song sheets to download a non-branded PDF
After last week’s alphabet theme, this week we’re celebrating numbers and counting. I have to say that I found this week easier to plan. There are lots of counting and number rhymes and songs to choose from!
We also got out our rhythm sticks (which for me are unsharpened neon-colored pencils). Keeping a beat and counting a certain number of times is a natural use of sticks, though I bet you could adapt many of those rhymes to shaker eggs.
Early Literacy Tip: Learning the numbers in order is a great first step to math literacy. Working on showing numbers out of order, counting down as well as up, and identifying different numbers of items is a great way to develop those skills further.
Welcome Song: Hello, Friends* (TT) (TB) (FT)** †
Warm Up Song: Wake Up, Feet* (TT) (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. I rotate between elbows, cheeks, hips, noses, arms, chins, thighs, heads, shoulders, ears, knees, and fingers.
Lifting Rhyme: Toast in the Toaster* (TT) (TB) (FT)
Intro: Last week, we talked about the alphabet – letters are the foundation of reading! This week, we’re talking about numbers and counting – the foundations of math. Let’s practice counting!
Number Flannel This was from a pre-made set purchased from Oriental Trading. Unfortunately they only include 0-9 digits, so I made my own extra 1 to make 10. I had it up throughout this program.
One of the easiest ways to count is on our fingers. I have 10 fingers! How many do you have? Let’s see what we can do with them. I did my best to not be ableist here by asking how many fingers they have, instead of assuming they all had ten. I have indeed had kids in the past with a malformed hand and it’s possible some kids might have a different number of fingers. Something to keep in mind when deciding whether to use this one! Fingerplay: Ten Little Fingers (TT) (TB) (FT) I have ten little fingers And all they all belong to me I can make them do things Would you like to see? I can squeeze them up tight I can open them wide I can clap them together And make them all hide I can wave them up high Wave them down low I can hold them together just like so I have ten little fingers And they all belong to me Do you have ten little fingers? Let’s count and see! Source: Jbrary
Let’s test our listening! Chant: Show Me One (TT) (TB) (FT) Show me a one, one – (hold up 1 finger) You’ve got your one! You’ve got your one! (count up to 5, then choose random numbers or actions) Source: Jbrary
Transition: If You’re Ready for a Story* (TT) (TB) (FT)
This is a great title, very simple and short. The illustrations really tell the story, so we talked through what the dog was doing on each page. Read: One Two That’s My Shoe! by Alison Murray (TT)
A fun game of hide and seek – the illustrations on this one are very dynamic, and again it is quite simple.There was a lot of roaring happening as we read! Read: One-Osaurus, Two-Osaurus by Kim Norman & Pierre Collet-Derby (TB) (FT)
Here’s the traditional version of this rhyme. This one played very well after One Two That’s My Shoe, so we did it to accompany that book, but skipped it after One-Osaurus. Action Rhyme: One, Two, Buckle My Shoe (TT) 1, 2, Buckle my shoe (touch toes) 3, 4, Shut the door (clap) 5, 6, Pick up sticks (wiggle fingers upright) 7, 8, Lay them straight (lay one hand in other w/ fingers straight) 9, 10, A big fat hen! (arms wide) Source: traditional
Are you good at jumping? I know you’re doing great at counting! Let’s put them together. Recorded Song: Jumping and Counting (TT) Source: Jim Gill, from the album “Irrational Anthem and More Salutes to Nonsense”
Those dinosaurs sure had fun with their game. Let’s get our fingers out again – and play our own game. We’re going to tell a story using our fingers and numbers. This story is about some friends who go out dancing! Though I don’t usually make a lyric sheet for recorded songs, I thought it would be helpful for everyone to see what “finger dance” is coming next. Recorded Song: One From the Left (TB) (FT) Source: Jim Gill, from the album “Vote for Jim Gill”
What are these? Carrots! How many do we have? (count) Who likes to eat carrots? (We do!) Someone else loves carrots, and is very hungry. Rabbit would like some lunch. Lady Librarian Life used peas and a slightly different rhyme that I adapted to carrots because I already had them. Puppets eating food always seem to be a hit. Rhyme: Down in the Garden (TT) (TB) (FT) Down around the corner In the garden we found Four crunchy carrots Growing from the ground Along comes a rabbit Who wants something to munch She takes one carrot And eats it for lunch – Nom, nom, nom! (count down) Source: adapted from Lady Librarian Life
You have been doing so great with counting, let’s learn the first three numbers in Spanish! Does anyone here like hot chocolate? A molinillo is used to stir and mix hot chocolate traditionally in Mexico, where chocolate originated. Such a fun and simple song. We did it without rhythm sticks the first session, but I realized that they can easily be incorporated by tapping the rhythm on the first part and using them to stir when we get to bate bate. I actually have a decorative molinillo, so I showed it and demonstrated how it works. Ukulele Song: ¡Chocolate! (TT) (TB) (FT) (a leader sings each line and the group echoes it) Uno, dos, tres, CHO (Uno, dos, tres, CHO) Uno, dos, tres, CO (Uno, dos, tres, CO) Uno, dos, tres, LA (Uno, dos, tres, LA) Uno, dos, tres, TE (Uno, dos, tres, TE) ¡Chocolate! (¡Chocolate!) ¡Chocolate! (¡Chocolate!) ¡Bate! ¡Bate! (¡Bate! ¡Bate!) ¡El chocolate! (¡El chocolate!) Source: traditional; check out the version by José-Luis Orozco
Let’s practice some different ways to tap our sticks. Rhythm Sticks Chant: Bread and Butter (TT) (TB) (FT) Bread and butter, Marmalade and jam Let’s tap our sticks As high as we can! (repeat, change underlined word. Try low, fast, slow, loud, quiet, etc) Source: Jbrary
Rhythm Sticks Song: Count the Beat (TT) (TB) (FT) (tune of Wheels on the Bus) 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 (tap in rhythm) 8 9 10, 8 9 10 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 – 9 – 10! Source: Jbrary
Jbrary has this one as a shaker egg song, so I adapted to work with rhythm sticks.The “tap again” and “that’s the end” lines came from Storytime Katie. Rhythm Sticks Rhyme: One, Two, Tap it on Your Shoe (TT) (TB) (FT) 1, 2, Tap it on your shoe 3, 4, Tap it on the floor 5, 6, Stir and mix 7, 8, Stand up straight 9, 10, Tap it again! (repeat) 2nd time: That’s the end! Source: adapted from Jbrary
My group seemed a little antsy, so I cut this one from the last session. Rhythm Sticks Rhyme: So Glad to See You (TT) (TB) I’m so glad to see you, I really couldn’t wait Can you tap your sticks While you count to 8? (tap 8 times. Repeat with different actions, such as tap your shoulder, tap the floor, alternate sticks, roll sticks) Source: Librerin
Action Song: Zoom, Zoom, Zoom!* (TT) (TB) (FT)
Craft: Counting Leaves Craft (TB) (FT) I found this worksheet at Hello Wonderful. I simplified by not doing the circular stickers in the middle of each flower. I have two green stamp pads and four tables for crafts. So I split them between two, and also provided some green finger paint on every table, so that’s why my leaves look different.
Play Time The toddlers 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* (TT) (TB) (FT)
Other books I had available for families to browse (and may work for you on this theme) Ducks Away! – Mem Fox & Judy Horacek Counting Kisses – Karen Katz Goodnight, Numbers – Danica McKellar & Alicia Padrón One is a Piñata – Rosanne Greenfield Thong & John Parra Swallow the Leader – Danna Smith & Kevin Sherry Counting Kindness – Hollis Kurman & Barroux Ten in the Bed – Jane Cabrera My Bus – Byron Barton Two Dogs on a Trike – Gabi Snyder & Robin Rosenthal
This storytime was presented in-person on 8/19, 8/20, & 8/21/24.
**These symbols indicate the program sessions I used the activities for: (TT) Toddler Time, ages 1-2 (TB) Teddy Bears, ages 2-3.5 (FT) Family Time, ages 0-3.5
† Click the image of rhyme/song sheets to download a non-branded PDF
Sometimes you just need to get back to basics. That’s how I was feeling after sitting down with the calendar and trying to brainstorm storytime themes for the rest of the year. So today we’re celebrating the alphabet, and upcoming we’ll get to counting, shapes, messy, and clean. Although knowing the alphabet is a fundamental literacy skill, and there are many online storytime write-ups of alphabet themes, I found this one challenging to put together. I tried to choose rhymes and songs I liked and ended up with a plan that worked okay, but got some tweaking with every session. What are your favorite alphabet activities?
Early Literacy Tip: Singing the alphabet song helps children learn the names of the letters. Singing the names of the letters to a different tune breaks the letters down in different ways and helps them hear the names more clearly. Experiment with other common tunes like “Mary Had a Little Lamb,” “This Old Man,” or “Row Your Boat.” adapted from Mel’s Desk
Welcome Song: Hello, Friends* (TT) (TB) (FT)** †
Warm Up Song: Wake Up, Feet* (TT) (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. I rotate between elbows, cheeks, hips, noses, arms, chins, thighs, heads, shoulders, ears, knees, and fingers.
Lifting Rhyme: Toast in the Toaster* (TT) (FT)
Intro: Today our theme is the alphabet! It’s all the letters that make up words, and one of the early steps of learning to read and write is knowing the alphabet. You’re just getting started and you have lots of time to practice, so don’t worry if you don’t know it yet. Can we sing the alphabet song together?
Song: The Alphabet Song (TT) (TB) (FT) The first time through, we sang the traditional tune, to “Twinkle Twinkle Little Star.” The second time, I shared today’s early literacy tip and sang to “Mary Had a Little Lamb.” I have always felt a little awkward with the alphabet song – there’s no motion to do with my hands. I asked on the Storytime Solidarity FB group for suggestions, and got lots of good ones, including clapping, shaking shakers, stomping, jumping, or patting your lap to the beat, having an alphabet chart and pointing to the letters, or doing the “There’s a Dog in School” song. Others do the letters in ASL, but I have never learned it and don’t want to get it wrong. For this week, I had the letters on the flannelboard (made with the die cutter) and pointed to them as we sang each time, and that worked well. If I start incorporating the song in future storytimes, I’ll think I’ll do clapping. Thanks to all who gave a suggestion!
This rhyme features things from the first four letters of the alphabet. What are those letters again? A, B, C, & D! We previewed the motions for A B and C, and when we got to Circle, we spun around and around and around and around to extend the spinning! Rhyme: A Is for Alligator A is for alligator chomp, chomp, chomp B is for bunny, hop, hop, hop C is for circle, spin around and around D is for dizzy, and we all fall down! Source: King County (WA) Library System
Transition: If You’re Ready for a Story* (TT) (TB) (FT)
Both my younger and older classes were entranced for the first few pages (maybe through G), then got wiggly. I did skip to the end, which is not the easiest to do with this book. But it is a beautiful and fun title! Read: Animalphabet by Julia Donaldson & Sharon King-Chai (TT) (TB)
After the first two groups struggling with Animalphabet, I switched to this classic. (Which is not one that I grew up with – in fact I read it for the first time in preparation for this week!) Again, they loved the first part (and I had several people reciting the first few pages with me out loud), but after the letters fell and we were going through the alphabet the second time, they were distracted. To keep it interactive, I asked them to say “Boom Boom” with claps whenever I said “Chicka Chicka,” which they quite enjoyed. I notice that there aren’t any of those interspersed between letters the second time through, only at the very end. So perhaps that was a factor? Read: Chicka Chicka Boom Boom by Bill Martin Jr, John Archambault, & Lois Ehlert (FT)
Cute, and the biggest hit with Toddler Time, I cut it for time in the last session. Can we spread our arms really wide for a big A? How about a little a? Bounce: Big A Little A (TT) (TB) Big “A,” Little “a” (spread hands wide apart, then bring them close together) Bouncing “B” (bounce up and down) The cat’s in the cupboard (cover your eyes) And can’t see me! Peek-a-boo! Source: Loudest Librarian
My little mouse flannel gets more mileage with a letter hide and seek. They love this game! One of our alphabet wants to play a game – can we find them? Flannel: Letter Hide & Seek (TT) (TB) (FT) Letter B, letter B Playing hide and seek Are you in the RED house? Let’s take a peek! Source: original
Houses flannel shown with mouse, but I subbed the letter B
We talk about ABC a lot, but what about the letter at the END of the alphabet? Here’s a song about ZOOMING down the highway. Action Song: Zoom Down the Highway (TT) (TB) (FT) Zoom down the highway, Zoom down the highway, Zoom down the highway (slide arms forward on “zoom”) FAST! (clap) Up goes the drawbridge (x3) (raise child up on knees, or lift arms from a flat to a vertical position) A ship is going past
Down goes the drawbridge (x3) (reverse previous movement) The ship has passed at last
I’m not super good with puppets. I tried to make this one silly with googly eyes and a scrunchy (since I don’t have any actual monster puppets), but I felt a little awkward and I’m sure that telegraphed into the rendition. I probably would have dropped it for the last session, but that’s what tied in the craft, so no. Who is this? IT’S a monster! An alphabet monster! Can you make a monster with your hand? Rhyme: Alphabet Monster (TB) (FT) I’m the Alphabet Monster and nothing tastes better To the Alphabet Monster than eating a letter Today I will eat an “M” if I may With the million more letters I munch every day I’m hungry now. What shall I do? I think I’ll eat a “y” an “o” and a “u”… That means YOU! (nom, nom, nom) Source: Yogibrarian
Shakers Intro: Let’s practice our shakers. Shake high, low, slow, fast, in a circle.
I saw this one on almost every single storytime blog about the alphabet I visited. It seemed a little hokey to me, but then I saw the librarian at Waukee Public Library sharing it (see link below), and I liked her style. I got a similar set of magnetic alphabet letters and I liked the idea of picking a random letter each verse. She also had a fourth letter verse I didn’t see anywhere else. Let’s practice some letters with this action rhyme. Action Rhyme: Alphabet Beat (TT) (TB) (FT) (choose any four letters, name a object or word that starts with that letter and the name of the letter) Clap your hands and stomp your feet Everybody’s doing the alphabet beat Bear, Bear, Bear – B – B – B Bear, Bear, Bear – B – B – B
Wave your hands high, swing your arms low The alphabet beat is the way to go (2nd letter)
Shake to the left and shake to the right The alphabet beat is out of sight (3rd letter)
Sparkle really fast. Sparkle really slow (wiggle fingers) The alphabeat’s great, and now you know (4th letter)
(I didn’t include this end verse) Now give a high five to a nearby friend The alphabet beat has come to the end! Source: Waukee (IA) Public Library
This song features some very special letters. A, E, I, O, U. Grownups, what are they called? Vowels! Ukulele/Shaker Song: Apples and Bananas (TT) (TB) (FT) (begin with the correct pronunciation, then change the vowel sounds for each verse to a, e, i, o, and u) I like to eat, eat, eat apples and bananas I like to eat, eat, eat apples and bananas
Additional verses: I like to ate, ate, ate ayples and ba-nay-nays… I like to eet, eet, eet eeples and ba-nee-nees… I like to ite, ite, ite iples and ba-ni-nis… I like to ote, ote, ote oples and ba-no-nos… I like to ute, ute, ute uples and ba-nu-nus… Source: Raffi, from the album “One Light, One Sun”
Craft: Alphabet Monster (TB) (FT) We have a large supply of all kinds of stickers, so I pulled out all of the letter ones to make a simple monster coloring sheet fit with our theme. Googly eyes help make them fun, and I stressed that any letters would be good for their monsters, no need to try to spell anything. Idea from Verona Storytime, monster printable from PreschoolAlphabet.blogspot.com.
Play Time The toddlers 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* (TT) (TB) (FT)
I actually have not done this one for the last two weeks (since being back from summer.) I like it a lot, but it extends the goodbye period and by this time most grownups are packing up and getting going. So I think I’m going to nix it for the foreseeable future. Goodbye Rhyme: Tickle the Stars*
Other books I had available for families to browse (and may work for you on this theme) Owls Are Good at Keeping Secrets – Sara O’Leary & Jacob Grant Oops Pounce Quick Run – Mike Twohy The Racecar Alphabet – Brian Floca Eating the Alphabet – Lois Ehlert K Is for Kindness – Rina Horiuchi & Risa Horiuchi Z Is for Moose – Kelly Bingham & Paul O Zelinski B Is for Bananas – Carrie Tillotson & Estrela Lourenco Click, Clack, Quackity-Quack – Doreen Cronin & Betsy Lewin
This storytime was presented in-person on 8/12, 8/13, & 8/14/24.
**These symbols indicate the program sessions I used the activities for: (TT) Toddler Time, ages 1-2 (TB) Teddy Bears, ages 2-3.5 (FT) Family Time, ages 0-3.5
† Click the image of rhyme/song sheets to download a non-branded PDF
We are back to indoor storytimes after a lovely summer outside, and I started with a Sports theme. I’m not much of an organized sports person myself, but I recognize all the good that can come from involving kids in sports and promoting physical activity for fun. Add in all the excitement that comes from the 2024 Paris Olympics and it was a great theme to explore. Plus, I found a bunch of kids sports equipment in our library storage from a long-ago grant; I’m always keen to use what we have.
Early Literacy Tip: Early experiences help to form the architecture of the brain and lay a strong foundation for both social and emotional development. Playing with other children at a young age, experiencing the fun of taking turns and sharing, and discovering that it is fun to pass a ball or beanbag to someone else and then get it back are great ways to learn important social and emotional skills. adapted from The Early Literacy Kit: A Handbook and Tip Cards by Betsy Diamant-Cohen & Saroj Ghoting
Welcome Song: Hello, Friends* (TT) (TB) (FT)** †
Warm Up Song: Wake Up, Feet* (TT) (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. I rotate between elbows, cheeks, hips, noses, arms, chins, thighs, heads, shoulders, ears, knees, and fingers.
Lifting Rhyme: Toast in the Toaster* (TT) (FT)
Intro: Today our theme is about sports! Sports are games that people play that help them move their bodies (which makes us feel good) and they are fun! Sometimes it can take lots of practice to learn how to play a sport really well. Can we think of some sports? There’s a big worldwide gathering of people who are the very best at their sports called the Olympics. Every four years they do it during the summer, with sports like swimming, soccer, running, gymnastics and much more. On other years, they do it during the winter, with sports like skiing, ice hockey, figure skating, and snowboarding.
Activity: Stretching (TT) (TB) (FT) The first thing an athlete should do before doing any sports is to warm up their bodies with some stretching! Let’s stretch down to our toes, up to sky, to the left, to the right, make a star shape, opposite toe touch.
Many sports use a ball. Let’s do a rhyme and see if we can identify these. This is the first flannel I’ve made in a good while! I made two sets of little, big, and biggest balls – since so many sports balls are different sizes, it was fun to brainstorm which ones to do. After they identified the first three balls, we did the rhyme. Then I got out the second set for them to identify, and we did it again. Lastly, we counted all the balls that were on the board – six! Flannel/Fingerplay: Little, Big, Biggest A little ball (make a circle with your fingers) A bigger ball (make a larger circle with your hands) A great big ball I see (make a large circle with your arms) Can you count them? 1 – 2 – 3 (make 3 circles again) Source: Storytime Katie
Transition: If You’re Ready for a Story* (TT) (TB) (FT)
This worked quite well for my active group. Read: Bounce by Doreen Cronin & Scott Menchin (TT) (FT)
I tried this one with my older group, and it was okay. Not as exciting as Bounce – probably would do better with preschoolers. Read: Clothesline Clues to Sports People Play by Kathryn Heling & Deborah Hembrook (TB)
Can we train like Olympians? We didn’t do all of the actions, I think I chose four for each session. The flannel was made using graphics from Canva. Action Song: See the Olympians (TT) (TB) (FT) (tune of Mary Had a Little Lamb) (act out each verse) See the runners Run, run, run Run run run, Run run run See the runners Run, run, run At the Olympics!
Additional verses: Swimmers swim… Riders jump… Gymnasts twirl… Cyclists pedal… Soccer team kick… Crew row… Source: Storytime in the Stacks
A fun game that isn’t in this year’s Olympics but will be next time is baseball. Action Song: Baseball Player (TT) (TB) (FT) (tune of Frère Jacques) Baseball player, Baseball player (get in batter’s stance) Swing the bat, Hit the ball (pretend to swing) Run around the bases, Run around the bases (run in place) Home run! Home run! (cheer) Source: Adventures of a Bookworm
I like this rhyme a lot, but I didn’t end up using it in any of my sessions. By this time they were all getting a little squirrely so we skipped ahead to the beanbag activities. Being a good sport means treating each other with respect, win or lose. After a game is done, athletes shake hands with their competitors on a good game. Rhyme: Good Game When all the goals are scored (pretend to kick) And the final score is on the board (point to scoreboard) We go up to the other team who came (step forward) And always shake hands and say, “Good game!” (shake hands) Source: Handley Regional Library System (VA)
Beanbag Intro: Try to balance the bean bags on our hand (palm first, then back), foot, and head. Then try to toss up and catch.
Let’s start by listening to the directions on this song. Beanbag Action Song: The Beanbag Song (TT) (TB) (FT) (tune of Happy and You Know It) Put your bean bag on your toes, on your toes Put your bean bag on your toes, on your toes Put your bean bag on your toes, Then move it to your nose Put your bean bag on your nose, on your nose
Additional verses: Put your bean bag on your knee… Then shake it just like me…
The original rhyme talks about a tightrope, but because I was tying it to the Olympics, I went with balance beam. To be honest, this one didn’t go great. Our beanbags are very slippery synthetic fabric, not a grippy cotton, so we all had a lot of trouble. I changed the rhyme in my third session! Can you balance the beanbag on your head and walk like a gymnast on a balance beam? Beanbag Rhyme: Balance Beam (TT) (TB) With my bean bag on my head I stand so very tall I walk along my balance beam And will not let it fall Source: adapted from Allegan (MI) District Library
Let’s try tossing and catching by ourselves, and then maybe with a partner (like your grownup!) Beanbag Rhyme: Here Is a Beanbag (FT) Here is a beanbag I keep on the shelf I can toss it and catch it all by myself Here is a beanbag that I toss to you Please catch it and toss it right back to me too Source: Storytime with Ms. Kelly
A classic sports song – all the grownups sang loud for this one! Ukulele Beanbag Song: Take Me Out to the Ballgame (TT) (TB) (FT) (toss and catch the beanbag through the song) Take me out to the ball game Take me out to the crowd Buy me some peanuts and cracker jack I don’t care if I ever get back ‘Cause it’s root, root, root for the home team If they don’t win it’s a shame For it’s one… two… three strikes you’re out At the old ball game Source: traditional
Craft: Olympic Rings Art (TB) (FT) I’ve done this craft before, and I love the simplicity of the process art which turns out looking cool. Instead of toilet paper tubes (another staff member needs them and our stash is low), I used plastic egg halves, which worked just as well.
Play Time Instead of our usual toys, we did some sports conditioning with our bean bags, balls, and some equipment.I think we got the sports equipment from a grant, and it was very nice to use with the group. They had fun, it was a novelty, and (thankfully!) no one complained that they didn’t see the usual toys! I set it up station-style, and let everyone go where they wanted. It was toddler chaos as you can imagine, but in a good way.The stations included Balance Beam, Beanbag Toss, Ball Toss, Catch, Racquet Balance, and Beanbag Slalom.
Goodbye Song: See You Later Alligator* (TT) (TB) (FT)
Goodbye Rhyme: Tickle the Stars* (TT) (TB) (FT)
Other books I had available for families to browse (and may work for you on this theme) Baller Ina – Liz Casal Jabari Jumps – Gaia Cornwall Jake at Gymnastics – Rachel Isadora Karate Kids – Holly Sterling Maisy Plays Soccer – Lucy Cousins Olympics! – B.G. Hennessy & Michael Chesworth Together We Swim – Valerie Bolling & Kaylani Juanita Watch Me Throw the Ball! – Mo Willems Peanut Goes for the Gold – Jonathan Van Ness & Gillian Reid Olympig! – Victoria Jamieson Goodnight Football – Michael Dahl & Christina Forshay
This storytime was presented in-person on 8/5, 8/6, & 8/7/24.
**These symbols indicate the program sessions I used the activities for: (TT) Toddler Time, ages 1-2 (TB) Teddy Bears, ages 2-3.5 (FT) Family Time, ages 0-3.5
† Click the image of rhyme/song sheets to download a non-branded PDF
Hello, again, readers! I hope you have had a wonderful summer, full of adventures and fun. We certainly did here at the library. I love summer, and everything it means at the library. Sometimes our negative feelings about summer reading as library staff can be in front of mind – it’s a lot of work, we’re out of our routines, we have a lot more people to manage with their needs and quirks and behaviors – it’s easy to get burnt out. But I love the summer reading season and I keep in mind that all that extra work, all that foot traffic and so on means that our library is an important part of our community. That means a lot in these uncertain days. And the smiles and appreciation of our patrons of all ages give me a lift every single day. So, fellow librarians, I hope you were able to take care of yourselves AND enjoy the vibrant chaos.
Our library generally uses the theme and graphics from the Collaborative Summer Library Program, or CSLP, a national initiative that helps libraries plan summer programming. This year’s theme was “Adventure Begins at Your Library.” Adventure is a broad theme! I used many of the weekly theme ideas from the CSLP manual and applied them to the framework I’ve been honing in the last couple of years: an outdoor storytime with sensory stations. It’s a big hit and I saw great numbers. All summer, I offered Family Time for ages 0-3.5 Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday, with siblings welcome. As an organization we have also been working toward more weekend and evening programs, so there were a couple of those sprinkled in as well this year. I do have an indoor backup option when the weather is bad, so I still do registration and am limited by that, but it’s a bigger room than I usually use, so space isn’t generally an issue.
For each session, we had about 15-20 minutes of storytime rhymes, songs, and a book, including parachute play, then 20 minutes of free play at various sensory stations. We end with bubbles and a goodbye song. Stations are a really great way to promote socializing, practice skills like sharing and being gentle, and allow for unstructured play, which science tells us is so important to learning and development.
I only did one new station this year (in week 2, see below), the rest were all repeats from the last couple of years, which you can read about in depth at this blog post.
I don’t think I took any photos this year, so here’s one from last year – same set-up!
Repeating Weekly Plan Each week, the structure of the storytime was the same, with only three parts that changed depending on the theme: a themed song, a book, and one fresh parachute song. (Stations also changed weekly.) All the other songs and rhymes were the same:
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! (repeat as needed) (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 (We wiggled every week, but then added 2 more motions. Motions we did throughout the summer: jump, twirl, run, splash, hop, swim, stretch, stomp, wave, sway, march, lean, roll [arms,] hug) Source: Jbrary
Intro: Our theme this summer is Adventure Begins at Your Library. Are you ready to go on an adventure? Short intro to the weekly theme (see below)
Themed Song (see below)
Transition Song: If You’re Ready for a Story (tune of If You’re Happy and You Know It) If you’re ready for a story, clap your hands (clap, clap) If you’re ready for a story, clap your hands (clap, clap) If you’re ready for a story, if you’re ready for a story, If you’re ready for a story, clap your hands (clap, clap) Source: Miss Keithia (my predecessor)
Themed Book (see below)
Parachute! What sorts of adventures can we have with our parachute?
Let’s head out on our adventure. Our road is going to start out very smooth. Can we wave the parachute slowly and gently? Parachute: A Smooth Road A smooth road! (repeat x4) (slowly, and gently) [Uh, oh! Our road has turned a little bumpy! Can we wave the parachute medium-fast?] A bumpy road! (x4) (a little faster) [Oh, no! The road has gotten very rough!] A rough road! (x4) (frantic waving of the parachute ensues!) Oh, no! A hole! (lift the parachute up high and then down) Source: Jbrary
Rotating Parachute Song (see below)
Breathing Break Whew, I am out of breath! I’m ready for a breathing break. Let’s take a big breath in and lift the parachute up, then breathe out and lower it. We’ll repeat a few times.
At this point the kids are usually darting under the parachute, so I go with it! Okay, if grown-ups can grab the edges of the parachute, kids can go underneath if they want (if you prefer to just watch from the outside, that’s always fine!) This was originally intended to be a song where we walk around in a circle, but with the age of the kids, grown ups generally wanted to stay kind of close to where their kid was and not walk around. So we just waved up and down until the very end, where we pulled the parachute down (briefly) around the kids underneath. I also originally intended to do a second verse where we stood up, but I didn’t think it was a good idea for the kids to be trapped under the parachute for the length of a verse, so I never did it. It’s included here in case you were curious! Parachute Song: Merry Go Round (tune similar to Mulberry Bush, see link below for a recording) The merry go round goes round and round (walk in a circle with parachute or wave it up and down) The children laugh and laugh and laugh So many were on the merry go round The merry go round collapsed! (fall to the ground or bring parachute down)
(stand up verse) Fishies in the ocean (stay crouched/fallen) Fishies in the sea We all jump up with a 1 2 3! (stand up) Source: Read Sing Play
Okay, grown ups – for our last parachute song we’re going to let the parachute fly – so let go at the very end after we count down and I say “FLY.” Parachute Song: Parachute Fly (tune of Skip to my Lou) (kids go under the parachute and adults raise and lower) Up, up, up it goes, Down, down, down so low Raise our parachute to the sky Count to 3 and watch it fly Spoken: Up on one… Down on two… Up on three… and FLY! (adults let go and leader pulls ‘chute in to themselves) Source: Gymboree
Release to Stations I have eight stations each week, which involve a mixture of dry, wet, and art/creativity stations. We spend about 20 minutes before I ring the bell to call everyone back to the grassy area. See more detail here.
Everybody loves bubbles! The trick to doing bubbles outside is to figure out which way the wind is blowing and get upwind of your group! Recorded Bubble Song: Pop, Pop, Pop by Nathalia From the album “Dream a Little,” available on Spotify
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
Intro: This week we’re talking about travel adventures. Sometimes you think the adventure will happen when you reach your destination, but adventures can happen on the way, too!
I varied whether I did the themed song or the book first, just depending on what made the most sense to me.
Themed Read: Go, Go, Go! by Bob Barner There are lots of ways of going on an adventure! This is a very simple book – a beginning reader – but I had the group do a noise and motion for each kind of vehicle, which made it very interactive.
Let’s get our own adventures underway! Themed Song: Row, Row, Row Your Boat/Car/Plane/Bus Row, row, row your boat (row arms) Gently down the stream Merrily, merrily, merrily, merrily Life is but a dream!
Additional verses: Drive, drive, drive your car (steering wheel arms) Gently down the street…Life is but a treat
Fly, fly, fly your plane (airplane arms) Gently in the sky…Watch the clouds go by
Drive, drive, drive your bus (big wide steering wheel) Gently down the way Stop to let some people out To ride another day Source: Grandview Heights Public Library (this is the source I had in my notes, but I’m not finding a link now)
Parachute Song: The Wheels on the Bus I used the verses that worked well with the parachute: Wheels: we just flapped the parachute Horn: We held the parachute taut and “beeped” our hand on it Wipers: we swished the parachute from side to side People: again, flapped the parachute up and down Source: traditional
Week 1 Stations:(details here) Pouring Station Pool Noodle Soup Fly Swatter Slap Kinetic Sand Sort Beanbags Sort Craft Sticks Color the Parachute Ice Painting
Week 2: Adventures Close to Home 6/10, 6/11, 6/12/24
Intro: This week we’re talking about adventures close to home. You can have an adventure in your backyard or close to home – camping, exploring, and more!
This is a fantastic book with a lot of opportunity for interaction. Whenever we said “Roll, roll, little pea” they joined and rolled their arms. They called out the animals on each page and we made their noise. Great storytime book. This story is about a little pea who finds adventure wherever it rolls Themed Read: Roll, Roll, Little Pea by Cécile Bergame & Magali Attiogbé
Let’s do a fingerplay about five plump peas. Themed Rhyme: 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, and they grew, and they grew, and never stopped (hands get wide) They grew SO BIG that the peapod… POPPED! (hands spread wide, then CLAP!) Source: Jbrary
Since eyes, ears, mouth, and nose are all in the same place, I changed that line. We did this three times, getting faster! Parachute Song: Head, Shoulders, Knees, and Toes (move parachute to correct height) Head, shoulders knees and toes, knees and toes Head, shoulders knees and toes, knees and toes Wave the parachute up and down Head, shoulders knees and toes, knees and toes (repeat, faster) Source: traditional
Week 2 Stations:(details here) Pouring Station Lemon Sensory Bin Mystery Water Kinetic Sand Pool Noodle Sort Feed the Croc Color the Parachute Spray Silhouettes
New Station: Spray Silhouettes! I used liquid watercolors in spray bottles and provided a myriad of shapes to create negative image artwork. Some of the shapes were plastic food, big puzzle pieces, the shapes from a baby toy sorter, and duplos. Basically anything I could find that could lay mostly flat and be okay getting wet. It was important to set the spray bottles to “mist” instead of “stream,” and we still had kids who just saturated the paper, but it’s all about the process and not the product! Idea and photo on the sign from Picklebums.
Week 3: Adventures in Imagination 6/17, 6/18, 6/19, 6/20/24
Intro: This week we’re talking about adventures in imagination. When we imagine, we can make adventures anywhere with anything.
To start, we all pretended we had a stick. Then we did some kind of action for each imagined use as we read. Themed Read: Not a Stick by Antoinette Portis
Let’s put our imagination hats on and get some practice. Themed Rhyme: Can You Pretend? Let’s hear you roar like a lion Let’s see you jump like a frog Let’s see you snap your jaws like a crocodile Let’s hear you howl like a hound dog Pretend you’re an elephant with a big, looooong, trunk Pretend you’re a monkey Let’s see you jump, jump, jump And now you’re a mouse Just let me see How very, very quiet you can be Source: YouthScope
Teddy Bear is going on an adventure – up and down a hill with LOTS of friends. Parachute Song: Funny Teddy Bear (tune of Grand Old Duke of York) Funny teddy bear Bear had a thousand friends Bear marched them up to the top of the hill and Marched them down again And when you’re up you’re up And when you’re down you’re down And when you’re only halfway up you’re neither up nor down Source: Storytime Katie via ALSC Blog
Week 3 Stations:(details here) Pouring Station Sponge Play Scooping Blocks Kinetic Sand Colored Ball Sort Pompom Sort Color the Parachute Fly Swatter Painting
Intro: This week we’re talking about animal adventures. Can you imagine going to see amazing animals in the wild?
Themed Read: It’s a Tiger! by David Larochelle & Jeremy Tankard
Can you imagine being a tiger? A SLEEPING tiger?! Themed Song: Sleeping Tigers (tune of Sleeping Bunnies) See the fearsome tigers sleeping till it’s nearly noon Shall we wake them with a merry tune Oh so still! Are they ill? Wake up, wake up, wake up sleeping tigers! Wake up, wake up, wake up sleeping tigers! Wake up tigers and roar, roar, roar (repeat, second time: pounce, pounce, pounce)! Source: adapted from the traditional
Even tiny animals might go on an adventure. Parachute: Itsy Bitsy Spider (move parachute up and down as indicated in lyrics) The itsy bitsy spider climbed up the water spout Down came the rain and washed the spider out Up came the sun and dried up all the rain So the itsy bitsy spider climbed up the spout again Source: traditional
Week 4 Stations:(details here) Pouring Station Pool Noodle Soup Whisking Bubbles Kinetic Sand Beanbag Sort Craft Stick Sort Color the Parachute Shape Sorter Stamping
Intro: This week we’re going out to sea – get your lifejackets on!
I tried this book at the first session as a “sing aloud” but it just did not go over well, even with several pages clipped to shorten it. I ditched it for the other two sessions. Themed Read: Port Side Pirates by Oscar Seaworthy & Debbie Harter(Monday only)
This one worked much better – we did some kind of motion or noise for each page to make it interactive. I wish the book itself was bigger and the illustrations were more vibrant, though. Themed Read: Sheep on a Ship by Nancy Shaw & Margot Apple(Tuesday and Wednesday)
When the ocean gets rough, that’s an adventure! Themed Song: The Ocean Song (tune of The Elevator Song) Oh, the ocean is great and the ocean is grand! There are lots of big ships but 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: (ready?) We… ride… the… waves going up, we ride the waves going down we ride the waves going up, we ride the waves going down we ride the waves going up, we ride the waves going down And we turn… a-… round! Source: Jbrary
I remind everyone to start rowing very gently, then after the first verse, say, “Oh, the wind is picking up, can we row more firmly?” and before the third verse, “Oh, no, there’s a storm! Row as strongly as you can!” Parachute: Row Your Boat (repeat 3 times) Row, row, row your boat Gently/Firmly/Strongly down the stream Merrily, merrily, merrily, merrily Life is but a dream (Wave the parachute gently, then firmly, then wildly!) Source: traditional
Week 5 Stations:(details here) Pouring Station Ping Pong Fishing Ice Play Kinetic Sand Pool Noodle Sort Feed the Croc Color the Parachute Dot Painting
Intro: This week we’re celebrating books, and all the adventures we can have in them!
Here’s a song about someone who wears glasses getting ready to read. I’ve found that if I set this one up right, it’s very fun, and if I don’t, it’s a little awkward. We practice making glasses, putting them on and taking them off. Then we make a book and practice opening and closing it (several times!) THEN we sing. Themed Song: These Are My Glasses 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
I’ve used this book for years in outreach and for library tours, so I was a little disappointed that it didn’t go over quite as well with the toddler set as the preschoolers. A good reminder that developmental age matters! Another good option for this week would have been Hooray for Books! by Brian Won, but I wasn’t able to get it last minute.The parents enjoyed the jokes, but the kids got antsy. Themed Read: Book! Book! Book! by Deborah Bruss & Tiphanie Beeke
Teddy Bear is going on an adventure – up and down a hill with LOTS of friends. Parachute Song: Funny Teddy Bear (tune of Grand Old Duke of York) Funny teddy bear Bear had a thousand friends Bear marched them up to the top of the hill and Marched them down again And when you’re up you’re up And when you’re down you’re down And when you’re only halfway up you’re neither up nor down Source: Storytime Katie via ALSC Blog
Week 6 Stations:(details here) Pouring Station Flower Sensory Bin Scooping Blocks Kinetic Sand Colored Ball Sort Pompom Sort Color the Parachute Finger Painting
Week 7: Adventures in the Dark 7/14, 7/15, 7/16, 7/17, 7/18/24
Intro: This week is about adventures you might have after dark. Have you ever taken a walk with your family after sunset in your neighborhood? Or maybe gone outside to chase fireflies after dark? I love fireflies. Did you know that the Indiana State Insect is the firefly?
Let’s do a rhyme about some fireflies. Can you make your hands “blink” like a firefly light? (Open and close fingers) Themed Song: Two Little Fireflies (like Two Little Blackbirds) Two little fireflies, Blinking in the sky (open and close hands) One blinked low, And one blinked high Fly away low, Fly away high Come back low, Come back high
Other options, choose 2 or 3 more: …Blinking in the grass…one blinked slow And one blinked fast… …blinking by the car. . .1 blinked near, one blinked far… …blinking by a gate… 1 flew wobbly and the other flew straight… …blinking by the lilies, 1 was serious, the other was silly… Source: adapted from the traditional
I love doing this one. It’s so silly. And thanks to a librarian friend, I can do the song with my ukulele, which always captures the group’s attention. Themed Read: Let’s Sing a Lullaby with the Brave Cowboy by Jan Thomas
In honor of our brave cowboy, let’s sing the Itsy Bitsy Spider! Parachute: Itsy Bitsy Spider (move parachute up and down as indicated in lyrics) The itsy bitsy spider climbed up the water spout Down came the rain and washed the spider out Up came the sun and dried up all the rain So the itsy bitsy spider climbed up the spout again Source: traditional
Week 7 Stations:(details here) Pouring Station Sponge Play Fly Swatter Slap Kinetic Sand Beanbag Sort Craft Stick Sort Color the Parachute Chalk Art
At my library, the month of May is generally spent in frenzied preparation for our Summer Reading Program, which usually starts the first week of June. This year has been no different. I did only one week of storytimes and spent the rest of the month prepping for the busy summer season. I may take a bit of a break in blogging over summer, it just depends on how much time there is! If you’re curious about how I do my summer programming, you can see a write up of last year here and here. I’ve tweaked it a bit for this year, but many of the stations are the same.
One of my duties year-round is taking care of one of my library’s two Storywalk paths. My coworker who usually does the other one was out on leave, so I had two to change this time! We are using the CSLP summer reading theme, “Adventure Begins at Your Library,” so I chose two books that go with that, focusing on Adventures in the Great Outdoors, and Adventures in Imagination. So one was Hiking Day by Anne and Lizzy Rockwell and the other Not A Stick by Antoinette Portis.
I change the stories quarterly, and I include interactive asides for each post that help engage readers in the early literacy practices (Read, Write, Play, Sing, Talk) as well as occasional counting, movement, and social-emotional reflections.
It takes some time to come up with these asides, and at some point I thought, why reinvent the wheel? If other librarians are also doing this, why not pool our resources and share? So, the Storywalk Resources page was born!
Check out the page to see what books have already been shared. If you’re looking for some last-minute books to go with the national theme, there are several options, including the ones I just uploaded, plus The Hike by Alison Farrell, A Way with Wild Things by Larissa Theule & Sara Palacios, or We’re Going on a Lion Hunt by David Axtell. Take a look and see what you think!
If you have worked on literacy and engagement asides for your Storywalk, please consider sharing your work by filling out the form HERE. Thank you!
This was my last set of regular storytimes before our Summer Reading Program begins, so I went with a fairly simple theme of Zoo and Zoo Animals. Many animals can be found at the zoo, and even if a song doesn’t directly show a certain animal in a zoo setting, I think it counts if you *might* find that animal at a zoo!
Early Literacy Tip: Being able to coordinate small muscles in hands and fingers enables children to hold things, cut with scissors, tie their shoes, and fasten buttons. Fingerplays like Kangaroo, the Itsy Bitsy Spider, or Where is Thumbkin develop fine motor skills which also help prepare children to later hold a pencil and manipulate it for writing. adapted from The Early Literacy Kit: A Handbook and Tip Cards by Betsy Diamant-Cohen & Saroj Ghoting
Welcome Song: Hello, Friends* (TT) (TB) (FT)**
Warm Up Song: Wake Up, Feet* (TT) (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. I rotate between elbows, cheeks, hips, noses, arms, chins, thighs, heads, shoulders, ears, knees, and fingers.
Lifting Rhyme: Toast in the Toaster* (TT) (FT)
Intro: Today we are talking about the animals at the zoo! Has anyone been to the zoo before? What kinds of animals did you see?
I bought some finger puppets and looked for the “zooiest” animals, and came up with monkey, snake, and tiger, then got out the much-bigger alligator puppet as a surprise finish! Let’s say hello like the animals do. Puppet Song: The Zoo Wakes Up (TT) (TB) (FT) When monkeys get up in the morning, they always say hello When monkeys get up in the morning, they always say hello Oo-oo-ah-ah! That is what they say Oo-oo-ah-ah! That is what they say (repeat with other animals) Source: Storytime in the Stacks
Transition: If You’re Ready for a Story* (TT) (TB) (FT)
Let’s see if your favorite zoo animal shows up in this book! I skipped three animals, just because otherwise it was too long for my group. We didn’t do the zebra, hyenas, or the chameleon. Read: The Wheels on the Bus by Jane Cabrera (TT) (TB) (FT)
Those animals sure had fun on the bus! Here’s a bouncy rhyme about animals taking a ride on the bus! When I got to the sheep & cow verse, I mentioned we were heading to the petting zoo! Bounce: Hippopotamus on a City Bus (TT) (TB) (FT) (bounce or slap thighs rhythmically until the last line of each verse) A hip, a hip, a hippopotamus Got on, got on, got on a city bus And all, and all, and all the people said, “You’re squishing us!” (squish face or hug baby)
Additional verses: A cow, a cow, a cow got on a bus Yes, a cow, a cow, a cow got on the bus And all, and all, and all the people said,“Mooooove over!” (lean far to one side) A snake…“Sssssssssit down!” (fall thru knees or sit) A sheep…“Baaaack up!” (lean far back) Source: Jbrary
Oo, our hippo is hungry now! Can we make a giant hippo mouth with our arms? Cut for time in my second and third sessions. Action Song: Noisy Animals Eating (TT) (tune of Row, Row, Row Your Boat) See the hippopotamus (extend arms together in front) Eating fruits and weeds (open arms up and down) Take a bite, chew it up Then spit out all the seeds (flick hands out, like spitting)
Additional verses: See the very tall giraffe, Eating fruits and trees… (extend one arm high, extend hand) See the wrinkly elephant, Eating fruits and weeds… (extend arm downward, like an elephant’s trunk) Source: King County (WA) Library System
Flannel Retelling: Dear Zoo by Rod Campbell (TB) (FT) I used the template at kizclub.com for this one. I spent a lot of time a few years ago painstakingly cutting most of the inner bits with an Xacto knife, then laminated them. The effect is really nice – you can see through bars and such, but the pieces are still sturdy. I tried to leave a little bit of the animal sticking out the boxes that don’t already give a hint go help the kiddos guess what might be inside.
Can anyone think of an animal who gets around by jumping, lives in Australia, and carries its babies in a pouch? A kangaroo! Our local zoo just opened a kangaroo exhibit in the last couple of years, so many of them had seen that. I changed this from an action rhyme (the original instructions had full-body jumps) into a fingerplay. Fingerplay: Kangaroo (TB) (FT) Jump, jump, jump (jump pointer finger) Goes the kangaroo I thought I saw one (hold up one finger) But now I see two! (hold up two fingers) Mommy and her baby With his head popping out (wiggle thumb from fist) He holds on tight (hug self) As they jump all about! (bounce hand around) Source: Storytime Katie
Who at the zoo has spots? Cut for time in the second and third sessions. Tickle: Spots, Spots, Spots (TT) (tune of the baseball organ wind up) Spots, spots, spots, spots, spots, spots, spots, spots (gently poke baby all over) A leopard has lots of spots What a lot of spots he’s got A tiger’s stripes are always nice (slow, tracing fingers up arm) But a leopard has lots of spots Spots, spots, spots, spots, spots, spots, spots, spots (tickle, tickle, tickle!) Source: Jbrary
Can we move like zoo animals? Action Game: Zoo Animals Die (TB) (FT) I have found that I can’t really roll a big storytime die on the ground. It’s too much of a temptation for everyone to grab it, there’s not a lot of space for it to roll, and it’s more of a distraction than a tool. However, I had the (brilliant, IMHO) idea to throw the die up in the air and catch it instead (more like a coin toss). This has the added benefit that I can kind of cheat on what face to show, letting us do all six moves with fewer repeats. It worked!My library has a die with a foam center and clear plastic cover that I use – you can switch out the faces easily. At a previous library, I made the die from an empty square tissue box. Source: Storytime Sprout
What does the zookeeper do when the elephants get messy? They give them a bath, of course! The template for this flannel is from the ever-helpful but now defunct Sunflower Storytime. You can download a copy of it here. I used to tuck each elephant into the bath in a row, but saw another librarian on YouTube stacking them up tall. That’s a lot easier, and it looks a lot funnier to me, too. Counting Rhyme: Elephants in the Bathtub (TT) (TB) (FT) One elephant in the bathtub (hold up one finger) Going for a swim (swimming motion) Knock, knock (clap, clap) Splash, splash (pat lap) Come on in (motion with hand to come in)
(count up) Five elephants in the bathtub Going for a swim Knock, knock CRASH, CRASH! They all fell in! (wiggle arms downward; knock flannel pieces to the floor!) Source: Sunflower Storytime, see moves on Jbrary
Action Song: Zoom, Zoom, Zoom!* (TT) (TB) (FT)
Craft: Animal Dot Painting (TB) (FT) Okay, so this is a bit of a cop-out craft, but sometimes we need a simple week! I’m doing lots of planning and organizing for my summer programs, so I printed out some animal dot painting coloring pages and called it a day. These were from Two Pink Peonies, and I am borrowing the photo from her, as well.
Play Time The toddlers 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* (TT) (TB) (FT)
Goodbye Rhyme: Tickle the Stars* (TT) (TB) (FT)
Other books I had available for families to browse (and may work for you on this theme) My Heart Is Like a Zoo – Michael Hall Xander’s Panda Party – Linda Sue Park & Matt Phelan Polar Bear, What Do You Hear? – Bill Martin Jr & Eric Carle Color Zoo – Lois Ehlert From Head to Toe – Eric Carle Fraidyzoo – Thyra Heder A Sick Day for Amos McGee – Philip C Stead & Erin E Stead Wild About Us! – Karen Beaumont & Janet Stevens ZigZag ZooBorns – Andrew Bleiman & Chris Eastland Where’s Walrus? – Stephen Savage
This storytime was presented in-person on 5/6, 5/7, & 5/8/24.
**These symbols indicate the program sessions I used the activities for: (TT) Toddler Time, ages 1-2 (TB) Teddy Bears, ages 2-3.5 (FT) Family Time, ages 0-3.5
Storytime with Ms. Emily Library 