Storytime: Color Wheel – Orange

Posted on by msemilylibrary

We are trucking along on our color series and this week’s session was our first secondary color, orange. There were plenty of books and rhyme ideas, and I even had to cut a rhyme about carrots in the end. I’m very pleased that I was able to work in using our parachute for this session, too.

In planning these color-based themes, I brainstorm what is orange and songs and rhymes that work with those things. Here’s this week’s list:

Pumpkins
Oranges
Carrots
Basketball
Goldfish
Tigers
Orange tabby cats
Monarch butterflies
Traffic cones
Fall leaves

Early Development Tip: Your child may enjoy flap books. It’s a kind of peek-a-boo game using a book! Developing an enjoyment of books goes a long way for them later when they need persistence to stick with learning to read.

Welcome Song: Hello, Friends* (TT) (TB) (FT)**

Hello Friends rhyme sheet. Includes a smiling rainbow and two yellow ducks at the bottom. click the image to download a non-branded PDF

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. This week it was thighs & heads.

Wake Up Feet thumbnail, with a graphic of three pairs of baby-sized shoes. click the image to download a non-branded PDF

Lifting Rhyme: Toast in the Toaster* (TT) (FT)

Toast in the Toaster thumbnail, with a graphic of a toaster with a piece of bread hovering above it. click the image to download a non-branded PDF

Rhyme: This is Big, Big, Big* (FT)

This is Big Big Big thumbnail, with a graphic of an anthropomorphic ruler. click the image to download a non-branded PDF

Intro: Look at these beautiful colors on this color wheel! In the next couple of months, we’re going to get to know each of these colors in our storytimes. Today’s color is orange! Can you think of anything that is orange? Write answers on whiteboard in orange pen. Is anyone wearing orange today?

I made this color wheel, using the “chart” feature in Canva, since I wanted an unusual seven-wedge pie, including pink, which I couldn’t find already made.

A round color wheel showing the colors red, orange, yellow, green, blue, purple, and pink, with a highlighted white outline wedge around blue, which can spin on a push pin in the middle.

I plan to do this rhyme at the beginning of all of the color sessions. Just in case someone doesn’t wear a particular color, I gave out small colored dot stickers (that my library already had) to each kid as they arrive.
Action Rhyme: The Color I See (TT) (TB) (FT)
Orange, orange is the color I see
If you’re wearing orange, then show it to me
Stand up, take a bow, turn around
Show me your orange and sit back on the ground
Source: Librarian vs. Storytime

The Color I see thumbnail, with a graphic of a clothes rack with various colored clothing. The place where the color name is repeated is shown as a blank within the text. click the image to download a non-branded PDF

Transition: If You’re Ready for a Story* (TT) (TB) (FT)

I was surprised that this didn’t really go over as well with the 1-2 year olds. The flaps just didn’t hold their attention – maybe it was just a bad day no matter what book. But I chose not to revisit this one for my other two sessions.
Read: Where is Tippy Toes? by Betsy Lewin (TT)

where is tippy toes book cover

This one went much better. I was kind of amazed how quiet and attentive they were, especially after the opening lines that include a “Shhh!” I made a little joke about tigers being orange, but this tiger was a little more yellow that I’d hoped, and the adults got a chuckle out of that.
Read: Don’t Wake Up the Tiger by Britta Teckentrup (TB) (FT)

don't wake up the tiger book cover

This one I only did after reading Tippy Toes, so needed a little transition.
Tippy Toes is an orange cat – but there’s a BIG cat who is also orange – a TIGER! What kind of markings does a tiger have? What about their friends the leopards?
Tickle Song: Spots, Spots, Spots (TT)
(tune of the baseball organ build up)
Spots, spots, spots, spots,
Spots, spots, spots, spots
A leopard has lots of spots
What a lot of spots he got!
A tiger’s stripes are always nice…
But a leopard has lots of
Spots, spots, spots, spots,
Spots, spots, spots, spots… (tickle!)
Source: Jbrary

Spots, spots, spots thumbnail, with a graphic of a tiger and leopard dancing. click the image to download a non-branded PDF.

Action Rhyme: Tiger, Tiger (TB) (FT)
Tiger, tiger, turn around
Tiger, tiger, touch the ground
Tiger, tiger, reach up high
Tiger, tiger, touch the sky
Tiger, tiger, find your nose
Tiger, tiger, touch your toes
Tiger, tiger, touch your knees
Tiger, tiger, sit down please
Source: Storytime Jennifer

tiger, tiger thumbnail, with a graphic of a cartoon tiger. click the image to download a non-branded PDF

Oh, look at this! This is a beautiful bug who has lovely orange wings – a monarch butterfly. But it doesn’t start life with wings. I used a caterpillar and butterfly felt from other sets I’ve made.
Fingerplay: My Friend Caterpillar (TT) (TB) (FT)
My friend caterpillar (fingers crawl up arm)
Made its cocoon one day (close hands together)
It turned into a butterfly (open hands with thumbs hooked)
And quickly flew away (flap hands)
Source: Storytime Katie

flannel pieces of an orange monarch butterfly and a yellow, black, and white monarch caterpillar

my friend caterpillar thumbnail, with a graphic of a tree branch with a caterpillar on the leaf, a cocoon hanging from the branch, and a monarch butterfly flying away. click the image to download a non-branded PDF

Oh, our butterfly has landed on this large, round, vegetable in the garden. What is it? A pumpkin!
I really enjoy this one. The dynamic speed with the rolling arms (as well as the cadence of the song) really hooks the littles.
Action Song: Roly Poly Pumpkin (TT) (TB) (FT)
(tune of Itsy Bitsy Spider)
Oh, the roly-poly pumpkin (roll arms, gradually speed up)
Went rolling down the hill
Once it started rolling
It couldn’t keep still
It rolled and rolled
Until it bumped into a rock (clap)
Then the roly-poly pumpkin (roll slowly)
Rolled to a stop (hands spread)
Source: King County (WA) Library System

roly poly pumpkin thumbnail, with a graphic of a small smiling pumpkin tumbling down a brown hill. click the image to download a non-branded PDF

Time to get out the parachute! I have one more song about a pumpkin. Can we walk in a circle?
Parachute Song: Ring Around the Pumpkin (TT) (TB) (FT)
(tune of Ring around the Rosies)
Ring around the pumpkin
Orange, big, and round
Pumpkin seeds, pumpkin seeds
We all fall down!
Source: The Lion is a Bookworm Blog

ring around the pumpkin thumbnail, with a graphic of a large orange pumpkin. click the image to download a non-branded PDF

Something else that is round and orange is a basketball. Can you pretend to bounce like a basketball?
We bounced up and down once by ourselves, then I added two small foam basketballs to the parachute to bounce!
Parachute Rhyme: Bouncing Ball (TT) (TB) (FT)
I’m bouncing, bouncing everywhere,
I’m bouncing, bouncing like a ball,
I bounce and bounce until I fall! (drop to the floor)
Source: Librionyian

bouncing ball thumbnail, with a graphic of a basketball with cartoon motion lines indicating a bounce. click the image to download a non-branded PDF

For the coup de grâce on our parachute, I threw in some fake autumn leaves.
Parachute Song: Autumn Leaves Are Falling Down (TT) (TB) (FT)
(tune of London Bridge)
Autumn leaves are falling down
Falling down, falling down
Autumn leaves are falling down
All around the town

The wind will blow them round and round…
Source: King County (WA) Library System

autumn leaves thumbnail, with a graphic of orange leaves swirling in lines indicating wind. click the image to download a non-branded PDF

This is a great way to put the parachute away.
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

Parachute fly thumbnail, with a graphic of an overhead view of children holding on to a colorful parachute with balls bouncing on top. click the image to download a non-branded PDF

Action Song: Zoom, Zoom, Zoom!* (TT) (TB) (FT)

zoom zoom zoom thumbnail, with a graphic of a rocket ship. click the image to download a non-branded PDF

Craft: Color Mixing (TB) (FT)
Here’s a fun and no-mess way to explore color mixing. Start with a heavy duty zip-top bag (I practiced with gallon size, but ended up buying quart size.) Did you know you can remove the white write-on labels using hand sanitizer or rubbing alcohol!? I added a dollop of red and a dollop of yellow to each bag, squeezed out the air and taped them down to the tables using clear packing tape. I also printed out half-sheets of the various “orange” things we talked about. The pictures are black and white outlines so that that they could move the paint around to “color” them in or “find” them under the paint. The kids moved the paint around in the bag to mix up the paints and make orange. You might experiment with your paint – I found that I needed more yellow and less red to get a good orange color. Afterward, I told everyone they could take their bag of paint home (plus the image papers) if they wanted. A few did, but not the majority!

Download a template for the background images 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)

See you later thumbnail, with a graphic of a green alligator, brown crocodile, ladybug, and jellyfish. click the image to download a non-branded PDF

Goodbye Rhyme: Tickle the Stars* (TT) (TB) (FT)

Tickle the stars thumbnail, with a graphic of blue and pink stars. click the image to download a non-branded PDF

Other books I had available for families to browse (and may work for you on this theme)
Creepy Carrots! – Aaron Reynolds & Peter Brown
Leaf Jumpers – Carole Gerber & Leslie Evans
Piggies in the Pumpkin Patch – Mary Peterson & Jennifer Rofé
I’m a Little Pumpkin – Hannah Eliot & Anna Daviscourt
Señorita Mariposa – Ben Gundersheimer & Marcos Almada Rivero
It’s a Tiger! – David LaRochelle & Jeremy Tankard
Dino-Basketball – Lisa Wheeler & Barry Gott
Orange Pear Apple Bear – Emily Gravett
An Orange in January – Dianna Hutts Aston & Julie Maren
Mr. Tiger Goes Wild – Peter Brown

This storytime was presented in-person on 2/5, 2/6, & 2/7/24.

Storytime Handout:

handout with suggested books, rhyme and song lyrics.

*Lyrics to these songs can be found on the Repeated Songs & Rhymes page.

**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

Book Babies Storytime (September)

Posted on by msemilylibrary

Here’s another Book Babies plan! This was the plan for September, 2023. Instead of doing a prop this month, we got up and did some dancing with our little ones! At first, it felt a little awkward – I think grownups felt a little self-conscious. But I used my baby stand-in, Froggie, and demonstrated, and they eventually loosened up. I used my ukulele to do both our lullaby and the Baby Bear Waltz, then finished with some bubbles – another activity this group had not yet done. Two elements reminded me of pirates (Two Little Boats and What Shall We Do with a Grumpy Baby) so I ended up theming the handout as piratey – appropriate since Talk Like a Pirate Day is in September!

I think I will keep putting dancing in the rotation, but perhaps less often that the usual suspects of scarves, shakers, and parachute. I usually switch to a different prop each month, and change out songs and rhymes a few at a time, so there are always a few familiars in the lineup.

As in the last post, I’m also adding a thumbnail of the 11×17″ rhyme sheets I display during programs for adults to join in singing and rhymes. Click on the pictures to get a full-sized non-branded PDF.

The books featured in the photos below are just some of the board books made available for individual reading.

See all the Book Babies plans here.

Early Literacy Tip: Associate songs with fun, and they can help ease a grumpy mood. Try “What Shall We Do with a Grumpy Baby?” when your child is having fun, and it might help them shake an actual grumpy mood later on.

Here is our room setup, with the parachute out for babies to lay on/sit on, with a few chairs for those who prefer them to the floor. My pink short chair is perfect for this – I can move easily from it to the floor if I want to demo one way or another. I wish our parachute was colorful – I think the original idea was that you can write on it. There are some names on there from years ago that are probably grown with their own children by now.

Photo showing Book Babies setup, with a round white parachute spread on a purple rug, with purple chairs to either side. A board book is set on each wedge, and a small pink chair sits at the head, with a dog puppet on the chair and a frog stuffy laying on the parachute. An easel to the side of the chair has song lyrics on it.

For this and the next song, I use puppets to greet everyone.
Welcome/Puppet Song: Hello, Everybody
(tune of Skip to My Lou)
Hello, everybody and how are you?
Hello, everybody and how are you?
Hello, everybody and how are you?
How are you today?

Hello, [name 1], how are you?
Hello, [name 2], how are you?
Hello, [name 3], how are you?
How are you today?

hello everybody thumbnail, with a graphic of a smiling sun and cloud. click the image to download a non-branded PDF

I finally changed up this hello animal puppet song! I do still start with the dog Scout, then bring out two other random animals.
Song: The Dog Says Hello
(tune of Farmer in the Dell)
The dog says hello, The dog says hello
Woof, woof, Woof-woof, woof-woof
The dog says hello!
Repeat with any other animals; try using puppets!
Source: adapted from the traditional

the dog says hello thumbnail, with a graphic of a dog with a speech bubble saying woof. click the image to download a non-branded PDF

The familiar tune makes this a good one for parents to jump in. I did have to insert in the “whole baby” verse (to ease my own mind) to wave them (GENTLY) around. All the grownups smiled.
Body Song: The Baby Pokey
(tune of the Hokey Pokey)
You put your arms up,
You put your arms down
You put your arms up,
And you wave them all around
You wiggle, wiggle, wiggle,
And you tickle, tickle, tickle
That’s how the baby pokey goes! (clap)

Additional verses:
You put your legs up…
You put your whole baby up…
Source: Westerville (OH) Public Library

the baby pokey thumbnail, with a graphic of four diverse babies. click the image to download a non-branded PDF

For babies, we do fingerplays as “puppet shows” for the child, rather than expecting them to be able to do these fine motor movements. Since it is difficult to hold a baby when you are hiding your hands behind your back, for thumbkin we start with fists out.
Fingerplay Rhyme: Where Is Thumbkin?
(tune of Frère Jacques)
Where is Thumbkin, where is Thumbkin? (show fists)
Here I am! Here I am! (reveal thumbs)
How are you today, friend? Very well, I thank you! (wiggle thumbs at each other)
Say goodbye. Say goodbye. (tuck thumbs again)
Source: traditional

where is thumbkin thumbnail, with a graphic of two hands showing thumbs up (each thumb has a small smiley face on it). click the image to download a non-branded PDF

Bounce: Giddy-Up
Giddy-up, giddy-up ride to town
Giddy-up, giddy-up up and down
Giddy-up fast, Giddy up slow
Giddy-up, giddy-up, giddy-up, WHOA! (lean backwards gently)
Source: Mead Public Library (WI)

giddy up thumbnail, with a graphic of a cartoon horse. click the image to download a non-branded PDF

Bounce/Lift: Two Little Boats
Two little boats went out to sea (rock forward and back)
All is calm as calm can be
Gently the wind begins to blow (rock side to side)
Two little boats rock to and fro
Loudly the wind begins to shout (bounce up and down)
Two little boats they bounce about
STOP! (freeze)
goes the storm, the wind, and rain
And two little boats sail on again (rock forward and back)
Source: Intellidance

two little boats thumbnail, with a graphic of two sailboats. click the image to download a non-branded PDF

This isn’t a terribly difficult song, but there are a lot more chords (eight) with the bridge part than the typical children’s song. If it’s helpful, it’s totally okay for you to have the songsheet out during your program – that’s what I do! It’s okay to not have songs memorized (and I think that goes for all songs/rhymes. I put words up for caregivers, but I use them, too, and I don’t think that’s a bad thing.)
Ukulele Lullaby: You’re My Rainbow
(tune of Love Me Tender)
You’re my rainbow, you’re my star,
You’re my bright red cookie jar
You’re my goldfish, you’re my pie,
You’re the apple of my eye
You’re my rainbow, you’re my star
You’re my bright red cookie jar
You’re my daisy, you’re my vine,
You’re my own true Valentine
Source: Dany Rosevear

Download a ukulele songsheet for You’re My Rainbow.

thumbnail of you're my rainbow ukulele songsheet

you're my rainbow thumbnail, with a graphic of a rainbow in the background. click the image to download a non-branded PDF

I place a book on each wedge on the parachute , so I encourage grownups to take a few minutes to grab a book that is nearby and looks interesting, and to interact with the book however they’d like with their baby. They can read the text, but they don’t have to – they can describe the pictures, colors, or even just let their baby practice turning pages. We generally do this for 2-3 minutes, or until the group as a whole seems to be nearing a stopping point.
Read: choose a board book that’s nearby and looks interesting to you!

Pictured:
Global Babies – “A Global Fund for Children book”
Everyone’s Sleepy but the Baby – Tracy C. Gold & Adèle Dafflon
Shake My Sillies Out – Raffi & Maple Lam

Prop Songs & Rhymes
Instead of a prop, we moved the parachute and our books out of the way (so no one would trip), stood up and danced with our babies.

Dance: London Bridge
(either carry baby and lean or lower baby on the “down” or, for those steady on their feet, stand facing each other, holding hands and shift weight from one foot to the other in a bridge shape)
London Bridge is falling down,
Falling down, falling down
London Bridge is falling down,
My fair baby!
Build it up with love and hugs…
Source: adapted from the traditional

London bridge thumbnail, with a graphic of an adult and child dancing. click the image to download a non-branded PDF

Dance: What Shall We Do with a Grumpy Baby?
(tune of What Shall We Do with a Drunken Sailor)
What shall we do with a grumpy baby?
What shall we do with a grumpy baby?
What shall we do with a grumpy baby early in the morning!

additional verses:
Up in the air and safely down again…
Tickle ‘em here to watch ‘em laugh again…
Give ‘em a hug because we love ‘em…
Source: I cobbled the verses together from multiple sources, I believe. One is Rainbow Songs

what shall we do with a grumpy baby thumbnail, with a graphic of a stylized jolly roger flag, with a diaper, bottle and rattle replacing the skull and crossbones. click the image to download a non-branded PDF

Ukulele Dance: Baby Bear Waltz
1, 2, 3, 1, 2, 3, Waltzing with bears,
1, 2, 3, 1, 2, 3, Dance ‘round the chairs
1, 2, 3, 1, 2, 3, That’s what we’ll do
1, 2, 3, 1, 2, 3, Waltzing with you
1, 2, 3, 1, 2, 3, Waltz round the room,
1, 2, 3, 1, 2, 3, Dance ‘round the moon,
1, 2, 3, 1, 2, 3, Glide past the stars
1, 2, 3, 1, 2, 3, Waltzing to Mars
Source: Kathy Reid Naiman

Baby bear waltz thumbnail, with a graphic of bears posing with a magic wand with stars coming out. click the image to download a non-branded PDF

Bubbles: Bubbles in the Air
(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!)

additional verses:
There are bubbles way up high… in the sky
Way down low… on my toe
Source: Jbrary

Bubbles in the air thumbnail, with a graphic of blue bubbles in the background. click the image to download a non-branded PDF

To adapt this for babies, we bounce or clap rather than scraping our hands past each other, and walk fingers up and down baby’s body, arms, or legs for the “if you want to take a trip” part.
Lifting Song: Zoom, Zoom, Zoom
Zoom, zoom, zoom, We’re going to the moon
Zoom, zoom, zoom, We’re going to the moon
If you want to take a trip climb aboard my rocket ship
Zoom, zoom, zoom, We’re going to the moon
In 5, 4, 3, 2, 1 Blast off!
Source: Jbrary

Zoom zoom zoom thumbnail, with a graphic of rocket ship. click the image to download a non-branded PDF

I find it really helpful to finish with a rhyme that definitively says that storytime is over. This one is short and sweet.
Goodbye Rhyme: Hands Up High
Hands up high! (Put your hands in air)
Now give a big sigh (sigh and bring hands down)
Our storytime’s over
So wave bye-bye (wave)
Source: Pasadena Public Library

Hands up high thumbnail, with a graphic of diverse hands reaching up and small hearts emanating from them. click the image to download a non-branded PDF

And that’s it! We don’t have time for free play at the end, but I encouraged grownups to take a little time in the children’s department to play and socialize together.

Suggested books are a little different on my handout since at my library board books are not able to be held if they’re checked out. My handout says:
Check out our board book selections – they cannot be held or requested, so see what’s available anytime you visit the library! Here are some other titles that *can* be requested:
Good Night, Good Night – Sandra Boynton
Who’s That Baby? – Sharon Creech & David Diaz
Bounce – Doreen Cronin & Scott Menchin
Applesauce Is Fun to Wear – Nancy Raines Day & Jane Massey
Barnyard Banter – Denise Fleming
Get Happy – Malachy Doyle & Caroline Uff

This storytime was presented in-person on 9/11, 9/18, & 9/25/23.

Storytime Handout:

handout with book suggestions, rhyme and song lyrics

Storytime: Color Wheel – Yellow

Posted on by msemilylibrary

Before we get started with this theme, I have a question for readers! Would it be helpful for me to post my rhyme/song sheets? These are 11×17″ (tabloid size) sheets that I print and put on my easel for grown-ups to follow along. I tape them in a stack to the top and flip them as we progress. I usually try to do a cute graphic for visual interest (all made in Canva). I’ll include these today – click on the thumbnail to download a full sized non-branded PDF. If you like them, let me know!

Our third color of this series is Yellow. I was really happy with this plan – it was fun, it flowed smoothly, and was well received.

In planning these color-based themes, I brainstormed what is yellow (usually or always) and songs and rhymes that work with those things. Here’s that list for yellow:

Bananas
Corn
Ducks
Chicks
Lemons
Dandelions
Sun/sunshine/Moon/Stars
School bus
Noodles
Sunflower
Pineapple
Bees
Cheese
Crown/gold
Bulldozers/construction equipment
Taxicabs

Last time, I felt that my transitions didn’t flow very well, so I made an intentional effort to work on those more this week. It paid off and I felt a lot more confident in moving from one song to another.

Early Development Tip: Rhymes, songs, and books often have vocabulary that we use more rarely in conversation. Sharing these withyour little one expands their vocabulary, and putting an action to the words (“mashing” or “chopping” bananas,for example) further reinforces the meaning behind the word.

Welcome Song: Hello, Friends* (TT) (TB) (FT)**

Hello Friends rhyme sheet. Includes a smiling rainbow and two yellow ducks at the bottom. click the image to download a non-branded PDF

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. This week it was thighs & heads.

Wake Up Feet thumbnail, with a graphic of three pairs of baby-sized shoes. click the image to download a non-branded PDF

Lifting Rhyme: Toast in the Toaster* (TT) (FT)

Toast in the Toaster thumbnail, with a graphic of a toaster with a piece of bread hovering above it. click the image to download a non-branded PDF

Rhyme: This is Big, Big, Big* (FT)

This is Big Big Big thumbnail, with a graphic of an anthropomorphic ruler. click the image to download a non-branded PDF

Intro: Look at these beautiful colors on this color wheel! In the next couple of months, we’re going to get to know each of these colors in our storytimes. Today’s color is yellow! Can you think of anything that is yellow? Write items on whiteboard in yellow pen. Is anyone wearing yellow today?

I made this color wheel, using the “chart” feature in Canva, since I wanted an unusual seven-wedge pie, including pink, which I couldn’t find already made.

A round color wheel showing the colors red, orange, yellow, green, blue, purple, and pink, with a highlighted white outline wedge around blue, which can spin on a push pin in the middle.

I plan to do this rhyme at the beginning of all of the color sessions. Just in case someone doesn’t wear a particular color, I gave out small colored dot stickers (that my library already had) to each kid as they arrive.
Action Rhyme: The Color I See (TT) (TB) (FT)
Yellow, yellow is the color I see
If you’re wearing yellow, then show it to me
Stand up, take a bow, turn around
Show me your yellow and sit back on the ground
Source: Librarian vs. Storytime

The Color I see thumbnail, with a graphic of a clothes rack with various colored clothing. The place where the color name is repeated is shown as a blank within the text. click the image to download a non-branded PDF

Transition: If You’re Ready for a Story* (TT) (TB) (FT)

This worked really well, with the anticipation of guessing and seeing what vehicle was teased.
Read: The Bus for Us by Suzanne Bloom (TT) (FT)

book cover of The Bus For Us

I have to keep reminding myself that toddler humor is not that advanced. On the surface, this seemed like a great book – funny, but short and not a ton of text. Unfortunately, they just didn’t really get it.
Read: Counting to Bananas by Carrie Tillotson & Estrela Lourenço (TB)

Book cover of Counting to Bananas

What kind of fruit is yellow?
In the first group, I got “lemon!” I gave some more clues to get us to banana.
Chant: Bananas Unite! (TT) (TB) (FT)
Bananas……unite!
Peel bananas, peel, peel bananas (x2)
(arms begin above head, and peel down one after the other)
Chop bananas, chop chop bananas (x2)
(make a chopping motion with one hand on the palm of the other)
Mash bananas, mash mash bananas (x2)
(smoosh the palms of the hands together)
Eat bananas, eat, eat bananas (x2)
(bring hands up to mouth as if eating)
Goooooooooo BANANAS! (arms go wild!)
Source: Jbrary

Bananas unite thumbnail, with a graphic of a smiling banana. click the image to download a non-branded PDF

Bzzz, bzzz – what’s that I hear? Some bees! Bees make honey. Who likes to eat golden yellow honey? Bears.
Tickle Rhyme: Bears Eat Honey (TT) (TB) (FT)
Bears eat honey
They think it’s yummy
In their tummy
But…
The bees don’t think it’s funny!
(Buzz, buzz, buzz!) (tickle)
Source: King County Library System via Storytime Katie

Bears eat honey thumbnail, with a graphic of a bear with a paw in a honeypot, surrounded by bees. click the image to download a non-branded PDF

What’s another animal that is yellow? Quack, quack!
Action Rhyme: Yellow Duck (TT)
When a yellow duck walks down the street
Quack goes his bill and waddle go his feet
He comes to a puddle and with a bound
In goes the yellow duck and swims around!
Source: Storytime in the Stacks

Yellow duck thumbnail, with a graphic of a duck walking and a duck swimming. click the image to download a non-branded PDF

I used the flannelboard set I originally got from Sunflower Storytime. It’s no longer published, so you can download it here.
Look at these – what are they? Eggs. Eggs aren’t yellow, are they?
Fingerplay: Ten Fluffy Chicks (TT) (TB) (FT)
Five eggs and five eggs, And that makes ten
Sitting on top is mother hen
Cackle, cackle, cackle, And what do I see?
Ten fluffy chicks as yellow as can be
Source: Mel’s Desk

Ten Fluffy chicks thumbnail, with a graphic of the flannelboard hen and 2 clutches of 5 eggs. click the image to download a non-branded PDF

Let’s do a rhyme about a vehicle that is usually yellow. It’s a taxi cab! You might use a taxi cab when you are visiting a big city and need a way to get around.
For the Toddler Time (youngest) group, we just clapped and patted. For the other two groups, we passed out our “rhythm sticks” (aka unsharpened pencils) and tapped the rhythm.
Action Rhyme/Rhythm Stick Song: Taxi Cab (TT) (TB) (FT)
(in the style of Pat-a-Cake)
Taxi cab, taxi cab (pat and clap)
Driving day and night
We’ll visit the city And see all the sights!
We’ll roll… (roll arms)
And we’ll STOP! (two hands up)
(repeat a couple of times, varying how long you “roll” – this is the taxi being in traffic!)
We’ll get out and look around (return to pat and clap)
We’ll hail another cab
And be homeward bound – TAXI! (lift arm)
Source: original

Taxi cab thumbnail, with a graphic of a taxi at the top and a child sitting on their grownups shoulder's raising their hand at the bottom. click the image to download a non-branded PDF

A vehicle that’s usually painted yellow is a – school bus!
Rhythm Stick Song: The Wheels on the Bus (TT) (TB) (FT)
The wheels on the bus go round and round (circle sticks)
Round and round, Round and round
The wheels on the bus go round and round
All through the town

The wipers on the bus go Swish, swish, swish (wiper motion)
The doors on the bus go open and shut (open/close sticks)
The driver on the bus says “Move on back” (sticks to shoulders)
The kids on the bus go up and down (bounce sticks)
Source: traditional, rhythm stick adaptations via Jbrary

Wheels on the bus thumbnail, with a graphic of diverse children in a yellow school bus. click the image to download a non-branded PDF

Here’s a fun clapping rhyme we can do with our sticks.
This is a traditional clapping game, and like all traditional games, there are endless variations. Many of them end with kicking a boyfriend out of town, but I went with a can instead!
Clapping Game/Rhythm Sticks: Lemonade (TB) (FT)
Lemonade (clap, clap, clap!)
Crunchy ice (clap, clap, clap!)
Sip it once (clap, clap, clap!)
Sip it twice (clap, clap, clap!)
Lemonade, Crunchy ice,
Sip it once, Sip it twice
Turn around, Touch the ground
Now kick that can right out of town –
and FREEZE!
Source: traditional – these girls are adorable demonstrating

Lemonade thumbnail, with a graphic of a glass of lemonade at the top and a smiling lemon at the bottom. click the image to download a non-branded PDF

So this one we’ll do at the end of each color session, too – so there are some familiarity bookending this series. I have rainbow colored scarves, and pass them out for everyone to wave around while we sing.
Scarf Song: Rainbow Colors (TB) (FT)
(tune of Twinkle Twinkle)
Rainbow colors way up high, Happy colors in the sky
Red and pink and green and blue
Yellow, orange, and purple, too
Rainbow colors way up high, Happy colors in the sky
Source: adapted from King County (WA) Library System

Rainbow colors thumbnail, with a graphic of pink, red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo, and purple paint splotches. click the image to download a non-branded PDF

Action Song: Zoom, Zoom, Zoom!* (TT) (TB) (FT)

zoom zoom zoom thumbnail, with a graphic of a rocket ship. click the image to download a non-branded PDF

Craft: Yellow Abstract Art (TB) (FT)
Another process art craft to focus more on creativity than on a finished product. I provide some art supplies and let the kids do what they wish. Each week, I’ll plan to use slightly different media, but hope to keep the craft very open ended. This week I provided yellow crayons, yellow paper shapes, glue sticks, yellow dot markers, and yellow stickers.

Yellow abstract art - showing a figure made of a cut paper shapes (squares and triangles) holding a crayon drawn banana next to a bunch of bananas, covered in yellow dots.

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)

See you later thumbnail, with a graphic of a green alligator, brown crocodile, ladybug, and jellyfish. click the image to download a non-branded PDF

Goodbye Rhyme: Tickle the Stars* (TT) (TB) (FT)

Tickle the stars thumbnail, with a graphic of blue and pink stars. click the image to download a non-branded PDF

Other books I had available for families to browse (and may work for you on this theme)
A Seed Grows – Antoinette Portis
Thank You, Bees – Toni Yuly
Pineapple Princess – Sabina Hahn
5 Little Ducks – Denise Fleming
Five Fuzzy Chicks – Diana Murray & Sydney Hanson
B Is for Baby – Atinuke & Angela Brooksbank
Ducks Away! – Mem Fox & Judy Horacek
Beehive – Jorey Hurley
Truck Full of Ducks – Ross Burach
Piranhas Don’t Eat Bananas – Aaron Blabey

This storytime was presented in-person on 1/22, 1/23, & 1/24/24.

Storytime Handout:

thumbnail of handout with book suggestions, rhyme and song lyrics

*Lyrics to these songs can be found on the Repeated Songs & Rhymes page.

**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

Book Babies Storytime (August)

Posted on by msemilylibrary

Here’s another Book Babies plan! This was the plan for August, 2023. This month’s prop was egg shakers, and we did a lullaby to the tune of “Love Me Tender” on ukulele. I do the same themeless plan three weeks each month at a time, to get the caregivers familiar and comfortable with the songs and rhymes. I usually switch to a different prop each month, and change out songs and rhymes a few at a time, so there are always a few familiars in the lineup.

The books featured in the photos below are just some of the board books made available for individual reading.

See all the Book Babies plans here.

Early Literacy Tip: Making up new lyrics to songs you already know (as in our lullaby, You’re My Rainbow) is a great way to be creative and introduce your child to popular music.

Here is our room setup, with the parachute out for babies to lay on/sit on, with a few chairs for those who prefer them to the floor. My pink short chair is perfect for this – I can move easily from it to the floor if I want to demo one way or another. I wish our parachute was colorful – I think the original idea was that you can write on it. There are some names on there from years ago that are probably grown with their own children by now.

Photo showing Book Babies setup, with a round white parachute spread on a purple rug, with purple chairs to either side. A board book is set on each wedge, and a small pink chair sits at the head, with a dog puppet on the chair and a frog stuffy laying on the parachute. An easel to the side of the chair has song lyrics on it.

For this and the next song, I use puppets to greet everyone.
Welcome/Puppet Song: Hello, Everybody
(tune of Skip to My Lou)
Hello, everybody and how are you?
Hello, everybody and how are you?
Hello, everybody and how are you?
How are you today?

Hello, [name 1], how are you?
Hello, [name 2], how are you?
Hello, [name 3], how are you?
How are you today?

I finally changed up this hello animal puppet song! I do still start with the dog Scout, then bring out two other random animals.
Song: The Dog Says Hello
(tune of Farmer in the Dell)
The dog says hello, The dog says hello
Woof, woof, Woof-woof, woof-woof
The dog says hello!
Repeat with any other animals; try using puppets!
Source: adapted from the traditional

This tune follows a major scale from one octave to the next and back again. I think it’s great for babies to hear it since it’s the basis of most Western music and having those tones in your head will help with musicality.
Body Song: Creeping Little Flea
(sing up and down a scale)
Creeping, creeping, little flea,
Up my leg and past my knee
To my tummy, on my nose
To my head where my hair grows! (top of scale)
Now he’s creeping down my chin,
To my tummy once again
Down my leg and past my knee
To my toe that little flea – GOTCHA! (tickle foot)
Source: King County (WA) Library System

A classic. I encourage parents to do the motions in front of their baby like a “puppet show.” Since it’s hard to put your arms behind your back when holding a baby, when the birds fly away, I just wiggle and then tuck my fingers away.
Fingerplay Rhyme: Two Little Blackbirds
Two little blackbirds, sitting on a hill
One named Jack, and one named Jill
Fly away, Jack; fly away, Jill
Come back, Jack; come back, Jill
Source: traditional

Bounce: Giddy-Up
Giddy-up, giddy-up ride to town
Giddy-up, giddy-up up and down
Giddy-up fast, Giddy up slow
Giddy-up, giddy-up, giddy-up, WHOA! (lean backwards gently)
Source: Mead Public Library (WI)

Bounce/Lift: Acka Backa
Acka backa soda cracker,
Acka backa boo!
Acka backa soda cracker,
Up goes you! (lift)
Acka backa soda cracker,
Acka backa boo!
Acka backa soda cracker,
I love you! (hug)
Source: traditional

This isn’t a terribly difficult song, but there are a lot more chords (eight) with the bridge part than the typical children’s song. If it’s helpful, it’s totally okay for you to have the songsheet out during your program – that’s what I do! It’s okay to not have songs memorized (and I think that goes for all songs/rhymes. I put words up for caregivers, but I use them, too, and I don’t think that’s a bad thing.)
Ukulele Lullaby: You’re My Rainbow
(tune of Love Me Tender)
You’re my rainbow, you’re my star,
You’re my bright red cookie jar
You’re my goldfish, you’re my pie,
You’re the apple of my eye
You’re my rainbow, you’re my star
You’re my bright red cookie jar
You’re my daisy, you’re my vine,
You’re my own true Valentine
Source: Dany Rosevear

Download a ukulele songsheet for You’re My Rainbow.

I place a book on each wedge on the parachute , so I encourage grownups to take a few minutes to grab a book that is nearby and looks interesting, and to interact with the book however they’d like with their baby. They can read the text, but they don’t have to – they can describe the pictures, colors, or even just let their baby practice turning pages. We generally do this for 2-3 minutes, or until the group as a whole seems to be nearing a stopping point.
Read: choose a board book that’s nearby and looks interesting to you!

Pictured:
Bath! Bath! Bath! – Douglas Florian & Christiane Engel
How Are You?/¿Cómo estás? – Angela Dominguez
How Kind! – Mary Murphy

We did this last month, but I liked it so much we kept it for this month.
Song: I’m Riding on My Bicycle
(Lay baby on their back, and cycle their legs like they’re riding a bike!)
I’m riding on my bicycle,
I’m riding on my bicycle,
I’m riding on my bicycle,
All around the town!

Verses:
My bike goes up, up, up… My bike goes down, down down… (legs go up or down)
My bike goes slow… My bike goes fast… (cycle fast and slow)
My bike goes twist… My bike goes turn… (cross legs both ways)
My bell goes ding-a-ling-a-ling! (tickle!)
Source: Nancy Kopman (this link is to the full song)

Prop Songs & Rhymes
Each month is a new prop. This month is shaker eggs! Babies love their shakers.

Shaker Song: Shake Your Shaker
(tune of Grand Old Duke of York)
You shake your shaker high
You shake your shaker low
You shake your shaker fast, fast, fast
And then you shake it slow
Source: Harris County (TX) Public Library

Shaker Song: 1 – 2, Shake it On Your Shoe
1, 2 – Shake it on your shoe
3, 4 – Shake it on the floor
5, 6 – Stir and mix
7, 8 – Stand up straight
9, 10 – Wave to your friends!
Source: Jbrary

This was one that sounds traditional, but I had never heard before. I like the tune.
Shaker Song: Cobbler, Cobbler
Cobbler, cobbler, mend my shoe
Get it done by half past two, Tu-la-roo-la-roo
Half past two is much too late
Get it done by half past eight, Tu-la-roo-la-roo
Source: Dynamic Music Room

Shaker Song: Shake it to the East
Shake it to the east, Shake it to the west
Shake it all around and Then you take a rest
Shake your shakers up,
Shake your shakers down
Shake it, shake it, shake it,
And then you settle down!
Source: Jbrary

To adapt this for babies, we bounce or clap rather than scraping our hands past each other, and walk fingers up and down baby’s body, arms, or legs for the “if you want to take a trip” part.
Lifting Song: Zoom, Zoom, Zoom
Zoom, zoom, zoom, We’re going to the moon
Zoom, zoom, zoom, We’re going to the moon
If you want to take a trip climb aboard my rocket ship
Zoom, zoom, zoom, We’re going to the moon
In 5, 4, 3, 2, 1 Blast off!
Source: Jbrary

I find it really helpful to finish with a rhyme that definitively says that storytime is over. This one is short and sweet.
Goodbye Rhyme: Hands Up High
Hands up high! (Put your hands in air)
Now give a big sigh (sigh and bring hands down)
Our storytime’s over
So wave bye-bye (wave)
Source: Pasadena Public Library

And that’s it! We don’t have time for free play at the end, but I encouraged grownups to take a little time in the children’s department to play and socialize together.

Suggested books are a little different on my handout since at my library board books are not able to be held if they’re checked out. My handout says:
Check out our board book selections – they cannot be held or requested, so see what’s available anytime you visit the library! Here are some other titles that *can* be requested:
Go! Go! Go! Stop! – Charise Mericle Harper
You Are New – Lucy Knisley
After the Buzz Comes the Bee – Rachel Isadora & Robie Rogge
Good Morning, Good Night – Anita Lobel
Leo Can Swim – Anna McQuinn & Ruth Hearson
5 Little Ducks – Denise Fleming

This storytime was presented in-person on 8/7, 8/21, & 8/28/23.

Storytime Handout:

Storytime: Color Wheel – Red

Posted on by msemilylibrary

Starting our Color Wheel series with the primary colors, last week was Blue, this week is RED. There are lots of great red things to build our storytime around.

First off, I brainstorm what is red (usually or always) and songs and rhymes that work with those things. Here’s what I came up with for red:

Berries: Strawberry, raspberry, cherry
Apples
Cardinal bird
Tomato/Spaghetti/Pizza
Fire engines
Crabs
Ladybugs
Stop signs
Caboose
Barn
Hot/Bell Peppers

And thinking of extension activities, here are ones that came to mind:

One Red Sock flannel
Five Fat Sausages (my flannel shows the sausages as red)
Five Little Apples
Four Juicy Apples
Great Big Apple Tree
Green Means Go (? – uses three colors)
Little Apple Seed
Little Red Caboose
Little Red Train Going Down the Track
Hurry Drive the Fire Truck
Pat a Cake Pizza
Pick Berries High
Picked a Strawberry
Pretty Ladybug

I also searched other blogs for a red theme and got a few other ideas, then wove together a plan. I think I’m learning that the transitions are very important for these – it feels a little cheap to say, “oh, here’s another thing that’s red.” I didn’t do a great job with that this week, and I felt it during the program. It was a little disjointed and not as satisfying for me. Next week, yellow, I concentrated more on how to move from one topic to another and was a lot happier with the result.

Early Development Tip: Songs and rhymes that focus on body parts and their actions increase children’s awareness of how different parts of the body can start specific movements. By using their muscles to make the motions in a song, children develop both their gross motor skills and body self-awareness.

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. This week it was arms & chins.

Lifting Rhyme: Toast in the Toaster* (TT) (FT)

Rhyme: This is Big, Big, Big* (FT)

Intro: Look at these beautiful colors on this color wheel! In the next couple of months, we’re going to get to know each of these colors in our storytimes. Today’s color is red! Can you think of anything that is red? Write items on whiteboard in red pen. Is anyone wearing red today?

I made this color wheel, using the “chart” feature in Canva, since I wanted an unusual seven-wedge pie, including pink, which I couldn’t find already made.

A round color wheel showing the colors red, orange, yellow, green, blue, purple, and pink, with a highlighted white outline wedge around blue, which can spin on a push pin in the middle.

I plan to do this rhyme at the beginning of all of the color sessions. Just in case someone doesn’t wear a particular color, I gave out small colored dot stickers (that my library already had) to each kid as they arrive.
Action Rhyme: The Color I See (TT) (TB) (FT)
Red, red is the color I see
If you’re wearing red, then show it to me
Stand up, take a bow, turn around
Show me your red and sit back on the ground
Source: Librarian vs. Storytime

Transition: If You’re Ready for a Story* (TT) (TB) (FT)

A definite classic.
Read: The Little Mouse, the Red Ripe Strawberry, and the Big Hungry Bear by Don & Audrey Wood (TT)

book cover of The Little Mouse, the Red Ripe Strawberry, and the Big Hungry Bear

A much newer book, but one that really worked well. I decided to repeat it for my third session, even though they skew younger.
Read: Firefighter Flo! by Andrea Zimmerman & Dan Yaccarino (TB) (FT)

book cover of Firefighter Flo

I changed the song order around depending on which book I read – we did “Picked a Strawberry” first after the Little Mouse book, and “Hurry Drive the Firetruck” after Firefighter Flo.

Song: Picked a Strawberry (TT) (TB) (FT)
(tune of Clementine)
Picked a strawberry, picked a strawberry
That was growing in the sun
Then I washed it, and I ate it
And I picked another one
Repeat with other red foods: apple, tomato, raspberry, etc
Source: Jbrary

This was a new to me apple rhyme, and a nice change from my usual Two Little Apples.
Action Rhyme: Little Red Apple (TT) (TB) (FT)
A little red apple grew high in a tree (raise fist above head)
I looked up at it, It looked down on me
“Please, please, please come down,” I said
And that little red apple fell right on my head! (bonk your own head with fist)
Source: Librarian vs. Storytime

I can think of another food that doesn’t grow on a tree or a bush, but it has a delicious red sauce on it. Pizza!
Tickle Rhyme: Pizza Pickle Pumpernickel (TT) (TB) (FT)
Pizza, pickle, pumpernickel, (bounce)
My little one shall have a tickle! (tickle)
One for your nose, And one for your toes,
And one for your tummy, where the pizza goes!
Source: King County (WA) Library System

Oh, there’s a tiny red bug over here. Do you know her name?
I used a flannel ladybug that I made for a bug storytime to fly around and land on my parts.
Body Rhyme: Ladybug, Ladybug (TT) (TB) (FT)
Ladybug, ladybug, Fly out of the farm
and land right on my little arm
Pair other rhyming places/body parts like:
Tree/Knee, Bed/Head, Rose/Nose
Source: Storytime Secrets

This one uses a problematic tune, so I try to sing it more like Old Town School of Folk Music. The actions are a lot of fun, and I always enjoy slowly driving back to the station.
Wee-oo, I hear a siren! What red vehicle uses a siren?
Action Song: Hurry, Hurry (TT) (TB) (FT)
Hurry, hurry, drive the fire truck
Hurry, hurry, drive the fire truck
Hurry, hurry, drive the fire truck
Ding, ding, ding, ding, ding!

Additional verses: …turn the corner; …climb the ladder; …spray the water; Slowly, slowly, to the station…
Source: Old Town School of Folk Music

There’s another vehicle that’s usually painted red, and it’s at the end of a train.
This is always a fun song, which I play on ukulele, and use a wooden train whistle to do the Woo-woos at the end of each verse, encouraging the kids to woo along.
Ukulele Song: Little Red Caboose (TT) (TB) (FT)
Little red caboose chug, chug, chug,
Little red caboose chug, chug, chug,
Little red caboose behind the train, train, train, train
Smokestack on its back, back, back, back
Coming down the track, track, track, track
Little red caboose behind the train, Woo-woo!

Little red caboose chug, chug, chug,
Little red caboose chug, chug, chug,
Little red caboose behind the train, train, train, train
Always at the end, end, end, end
Comin’ round the bend, bend, bend, bend
Little red caboose behind the train, Woo-woo!

Always on time, time, time, time
Comin’ down the line, line, line, line
Little red caboose behind the train, train, train
Never running late, late, late, late
Comin’ through the gate, gate, gate, gate
Little red caboose behind the train, Woo-woo!
Source: Lindsay Munroe

Get a downloadable ukulele songsheet for “Little Red Caboose” here!

thumbnail for ukulele songsheet

So this one we’ll do at the end of each color session, too – so there are some familiarity bookending this series. I have rainbow colored scarves, and pass them out for everyone to wave around while we sing.
Scarf Song: Rainbow Colors (TB) (FT)
(tune of Twinkle Twinkle)
Rainbow colors way up high, Happy colors in the sky
Red and pink and green and blue
Yellow, orange, and purple, too
Rainbow colors way up high, Happy colors in the sky
Source: adapted from King County (WA) Library System

Action Song: Zoom, Zoom, Zoom!* (TT) (TB) (FT)

Craft: Red Abstract Art (TB) (FT)
Another process art craft to focus more on creativity than on a finished product. I provide some art supplies (all red!) and let the kids do what they wish. Each week, I’ll plan to use slightly different media, but hope to keep the craft very open ended. This week I provided red crayons, red tempera paint, and red stickers.

Abstract art with red shapes made by different shades of red crayons, painted squiggles, and stickers of a red umbrella.

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)
Mine! – Candace Fleming & Eric Rohmann
Apple Farmer Annie – Monica Wellington
One Fox – Kate Read
Yoo-Hoo, Ladybug! – Mem Fox & Laura Ljungkvist
Firefighter Duckies! – Frank W. Dormer
One Red Sock – Jennifer Sattler
Pete’s a Pizza – William Steig
Llama, Llama Red Pajama – Anna Dewdney
Pizza Day – Melissa Iwai

This storytime was presented in-person on 1/15, 1/16, & 1/17/24.

Storytime Handout:

thumbnail of handout with suggested books, rhymes, and song lyrics

*Lyrics to these songs can be found on the Repeated Songs & Rhymes page.

**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

Book Babies Storytime (July)

Posted on by msemilylibrary

Here’s another Book Babies plan! During the summer I was outside for my toddler classes, so this was the only indoor program I did in June and July. Here’s the plan from July, 2023. I do the same themeless plan three weeks each month at a time, to get the caregivers familiar and comfortable with the songs and rhymes. I usually switch to a different prop each month, and change out songs and rhymes a few at a time, so there are always a few familiars in the lineup.

The books featured in the photos below are just some of the board books made available for individual reading.

See all the Book Babies plans here.

Early Literacy Tip: Pairing directional words with motions that match while singing and rhyming helps babies better understand their meanings in a fun way. The purposeful gestures we use in “I’m Riding on My Bicycle” and “The ‘Chute Is on My Head” help baby learn new words.

Here is our room setup, with the parachute out for babies to lay on/sit on, with a few chairs for those who prefer them to the floor. My pink short chair is perfect for this – I can move easily from it to the floor if I want to demo one way or another. I wish our parachute was colorful – I think the original idea was that you can write on it. There are some names on there from years ago that are probably grown with their own children by now.

Photo showing Book Babies setup, with a round white parachute spread on a purple rug, with purple chairs to either side. A board book is set on each wedge, and a small pink chair sits at the head, with a dog puppet on the chair and a frog stuffy laying on the parachute. An easel to the side of the chair has song lyrics on it.

For this and the next song, I use puppets to greet everyone.
Welcome/Puppet Song: Hello, Everybody
(tune of Skip to My Lou)
Hello, everybody and how are you?
Hello, everybody and how are you?
Hello, everybody and how are you?
How are you today?

Hello, [name 1], how are you?
Hello, [name 2], how are you?
Hello, [name 3], how are you?
How are you today?

I finally changed up this hello animal puppet song! I do still start with the dog Scout, then bring out two other random animals.
Song: The Dog Says Hello
(tune of Farmer in the Dell)
The dog says hello, The dog says hello
Woof, woof, Woof-woof, woof-woof
The dog says hello!
Repeat with any other animals; try using puppets!
Source: adapted from the traditional

I sing this to the tune of Where Has My Little Dog Gone, and none of the videos I’ve seen of these words do. But I can’t not hear it to this tune! Do what works for you.
Body Song: Where Are Baby’s Fingers?
(tune of Where Has My Little Dog Gone)
Where, oh where are baby’s fingers?
Where, oh where are their toes?
Where, oh where, is baby’s belly button?
‘Round and round it goes!
(make circle around belly)

Where, oh where are baby’s ears?
Where, oh where is their nose?
Where, oh where, is baby’s belly button?
Round and round it goes!
Source: Jbrary

I thought it was very cool to learn (and share with my families) that this rhyme was published in a book for children in 1893. There are a few slightly different versions, but this is the one we did.
Fingerplay Rhyme: Here Is a Ball for Baby
Here’s a ball for baby (touch ten fingers together in a ball)
Big and soft and round
Here is baby’s hammer (pound fist into palm)
See how it can pound
Here are baby’s soldiers (hold fingers up)
Standing in a row
Here is baby’s music (clap hands)
Clapping, clapping so
Here is baby’s trumpet (hands to mouth like a trumpet)
Tootle-doo-doooo!
And here’s baby’s favorite game,
Peek-a-boo! (cover face with hands, then remove)
Source: Washington County (OR) Cooperative Library Services

Bounce: A Smooth Road
A smooth road! (repeat x4) (slowly, and sway baby gently)
A bumpy road! (x4) (a little faster, bouncing gently up and down)
A rough road! (x4) (even faster, bouncing and adding erratic swaying)
Oh, no! A hole! (tip over, lift up, and/or let them fall safely through your knees)
Source: Jbrary

Bounce/Lift: Acka Backa
Acka backa soda cracker
Acka backa boo!
Acka backa soda cracker
Up goes you! (lift)
Acka backa soda cracker
Acka backa boo!
Acka backa soda cracker
I love you! (hug)
Source: traditional

After some bouncing and lifting, we slow it down a bit with a lullaby. This is such a sweet one.
Ukulele Lullaby: Rockabye You
Rockabye you high, Rockabye you low
Rockabye you close, Rockabye you slow
Rockabye you high, Rockabye you low
Rockabye you everywhere we go

Rockabye the sun, Rockabye the moon
Rockabye the sweet flowers growing in June
Rockabye you love, My turtle dove
Rockabye you everywhere I go
Source: Kathy Reid-Naiman

Download a ukulele songsheet for Rockabye You

thumbnail of Rockabye you ukulele songsheet

I place a book on each wedge on the parachute , so I encourage grownups to take a few minutes to grab a book that is nearby and looks interesting, and to interact with the book however they’d like with their baby. They can read the text, but they don’t have to – they can describe the pictures, colors, or even just let their baby practice turning pages. We generally do this for 2-3 minutes, or until the group as a whole seems to be nearing a stopping point.
Read: choose a board book that’s nearby and looks interesting to you!

Pictured:
Who Is Making a Mess? – Maria D’Haene & Charlie Eve Ryan
Sonrisas for Baby – Jen Arena & Blanca Gómez
Peek-a-You! – Andrea Davis Pinkney & Brian Pinkney

Before doing this rhyme, I shared our early development tip. I found this song on this blog post that shared this short video of a caregiver singing the song a capella and the baby doing the motion themselves and giving a joyful scream. It’s so cute. The official recorded version is a little long, so I do the chorus, then two verses back to back, then the chorus, then the last two verses. It’s very fun!
Song: I’m Riding on My Bicycle
(Lay baby on their back, and cycle their legs like they’re riding a bike!)
I’m riding on my bicycle,
I’m riding on my bicycle,
I’m riding on my bicycle,
All around the town!

Verses:
My bike goes up, up, up… My bike goes down, down down… (legs go up or down)
My bike goes slow… My bike goes fast… (cycle fast and slow)
My bike goes twist… My bike goes turn… (cross legs both ways)
My bell goes ding-a-ling-a-ling! (tickle!)
Source: Nancy Kopman (this link is to the full song)

Prop Songs & Rhymes
Each month is a new prop. This month we moved our books and played with the parachute.

Parachute Song: The Itsy Bitsy Spider
The itsy bitsy spider went up the water spout
Down came the rain and washed the spider out
Out came the sun and dried up all the rain
And the itsy bitsy spider went up the spout again
Source: traditional

Since this rhyme has some ups and downs, I thought it might work well for the parachute. Instead of clapping the numbers as we normally would, we made the sound of the clock with our voices.
Parachute Rhyme: Hickory Dickory Dock
Hickory, dickory dock,
the mouse ran up the clock
the clock struck one (ding!)
the mouse ran down, hickory dickory dock!

…two… the mouse said, boo!
…three… the mouse said, whee!
…four… the mouse said, no more!
Source: Jbrary

Parachute Song: The ‘Chute Is on My Head
(tune of Farmer in the Dell)
The ‘chute is on my head
The ‘chute is on my head
Hi-ho the dairy-o,
The ‘chute is on my head!

additional verses:
The ‘chute goes up and down…
The ‘chute goes fast and slow…
Source: Laughter and Literacy

Parachute Song: Peek a Boo
(tune of Frère Jacques)
Peek a boo, peek a boo
I see you, I see you
I see your button nose, I see your tiny toes
I see you, peek a boo!
Source: Jbrary

To adapt this for babies, we bounce or clap rather than scraping our hands past each other, and walk fingers up and down baby’s body, arms, or legs for the “if you want to take a trip” part.
Lifting Song: Zoom, Zoom, Zoom
Zoom, zoom, zoom, We’re going to the moon
Zoom, zoom, zoom, We’re going to the moon
If you want to take a trip climb aboard my rocket ship
Zoom, zoom, zoom, We’re going to the moon
In 5, 4, 3, 2, 1 Blast off!
Source: Jbrary

I find it really helpful to finish with a rhyme that definitively says that storytime is over. This one is short and sweet.
Goodbye Rhyme: Hands Up High
Hands up high! (Put your hands in air)
Now give a big sigh (sigh and bring hands down)
Our storytime’s over
So wave bye-bye (wave)
Source: Pasadena Public Library

And that’s it! We don’t have time for free play at the end, but I encouraged grownups to take a little time in the children’s department to play and socialize together.

Suggested books are a little different on my handout since at my library board books are not able to be held if they’re checked out. My handout says:
Check out our board book selections – they cannot be held or requested, so see what’s available anytime you visit the library! Here are some other titles that *can* be requested:
Say Hello Like This – Mary Murphy
Wee Rhymes: Baby’s First Poetry Book – Jane Yolen & Jane Dyer
The Babies on the Bus – Karen Katz
One, Two, Buckle My Shoe – Jane Cabrera
Mine, Mine, Mine, Yours – Kimberly Gee
Boop! – Bea Birdsong & Linzie Hunter
Welcome to the World – Julia Donaldson & Helen Oxenbury

This storytime was presented in-person on 7/6, 7/13, 7/20, & 7/27/23.

Storytime Handout:

handout with book suggestions, rhyme and song lyrics

Storytime: Color Wheel – Blue

Posted on by msemilylibrary

Welcome, 2024! I was off on medical leave during the month of December, so I’m coming back fresh, with a new theme series – colors!

While I was off, I was able to clock in and do some work from home, prepping for upcoming programs, ordering books, and so on. Usually when I’m preparing program plans, I can flip through books and get some inspiration for rhymes and songs based on the books that we’ll share. Unfortunately, I didn’t have access to my library’s collection at home, so I was spinning my wheels on how to plan when I hit upon the idea of colors as a theme. It’s very flexible – I was able to select any number of extension activities based on things that are a certain color, and I knew that I would have a lot of options for books to choose from when I returned to work and was able to look at them in person. Plus, I was able to plan out about two and a half months, getting “Pink” in Valentine’s Day week and “Green” in the week before St. Patrick’s.

I chose to do the rainbow colors plus pink, and started with primary colors, blue, red, then yellow. For each color, I brainstormed things that were that color (trying to keep to things that were usually or always that color.) I also searched other storytime blogs for color theme ideas. Here was my brainstorm list for blue:

Blueberries
Sky
Water/Rain/Ocean
Whale/Shark/Fish
Blue Jay/Bluebird
Butterfly
Jeans

I didn’t find any rhymes for jeans (if you know one, please share!), and I saved all my butterfly rhymes for Orange week, but this was a good starting out point. I think my lists for other colors got a bit longer – blue seems a little less naturally-occuring than red or green – but I found plenty of material to use!

Early Development Tip: Learning how to deal with big feelings is one crucial way we can help our child’s development. The act of taking slow, deep breaths triggers a cascade of mind-body systems that can result in increased comfort, relaxation, vigor, and alertness, and reduced symptoms of confusion, anxiety, stress, sadness, and anger – and it works fast. Taking a breathing break regularly gives kids the practice for using this tool when they really need it.

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. This week it was hips & noses.

Lifting Rhyme: Toast in the Toaster* (TT) (FT)

Rhyme: This is Big, Big, Big* (FT)

Intro: Look at these beautiful colors on this color wheel! In the next couple of months, we’re going to get to know each of these colors in our storytimes. Today’s color is blue! Can you think of anything that is blue? Write blue items on whiteboard in blue pen. Is anyone wearing blue today?

I made this color wheel, using the “chart” feature in Canva, since I wanted an unusual seven-wedge pie, including pink, which I couldn’t find already made.

A round color wheel showing the colors red, orange, yellow, green, blue, purple, and pink, with a highlighted white outline wedge around blue, which can spin on a push pin in the middle.

I plan to do this rhyme at the beginning of all of the color sessions. Just in case someone doesn’t wear a particular color, I gave out small colored dot stickers (that my library already had) to each kid as they arrive.
Action Rhyme: The Color I See (TT) (TB) (FT)
Blue, blue is the color I see
If you’re wearing blue, then show it to me
Stand up, take a bow, turn around
Show me your blue and sit back on the ground
Source: Librarian vs. Storytime

Transition: If You’re Ready for a Story* (TT) (TB) (FT)

One very old book, and one very new book, both on the same topic.
Read: It Looked Like Spilt Milk by Charles G. Shaw (TT) (FT)

book cover for it looked like spilt milk

This is a very interactive book!
Read: Ploof by Ben Clanton & Andy Chou Musser (TB)

book cover for Ploof

I decided to go with three clouds, since I had a lot planned. I’d made these clouds for a moon hiding game.
Flannel/Counting Rhyme: Five Little Clouds (TT) (TB) (FT)
Five little clouds up in the sky (five fingers up)
Drifting, floating way up high (float hand around)
When a big gust of wind came blowing through (blow on finger)
One disappeared from the sky so blue (lower a finger)
Source: Jen in the Library

Flannel of three clouds, one light blue, medium blue, and salmon colored.

There’s a lovely bird who flies through the blue sky who is also blue – a bluebird!
Fingerplay: Little Bluebird (TT) (FT)
Little bluebird rests in a tree (put index finger on shoulder)
Little bluebird looks at me (turn index finger inward)
Little bluebird chirps, “Hello” (flex finger)
Spread your wings and away you go! (spread arms and flap)
Source: Librarian vs. Storytime

I did this one right after our cloud counting rhyme during the Teddy Bear session, and that was a mistake. Two counting songs in a row just felt a little repetitive. But it’s a fun song!
Do you know who this is? It’s Pigeon! Did you know he was a triplet? Here’s pigeon and his siblings sitting on a wall.
Song: Three Blue Pigeons (TB)
Three blue pigeons, Sittin’ on a wall
Three blue pigeons, Sittin’ on a wall
If one of those pigeons should happen to fall…
There’d be two blue pigeons sittin’ on a wall!
(count down)
Source: Long Beach Public Library

printed and laminated flannelboard pieces of a red brick wall with three copies of Mo Willems' pigeon character on top.

Since I have tried and failed to do circle walking songs in the past (too many people, too small a space), I encouraged kids to go round the blueberry bush with their grownup in a two-person circle.
Oh, what’s that I see? The bluebird landed on a blueberry bush! Yum!
Action Song: The Blueberry Bush (TT) (FT)
(tune of The Mulberry Bush)
Here we go round the blueberry bush,
The blueberry bush, the blueberry bush
Here we go round the blueberry bush,
So early in the morning!

additional verses:
Pick the blueberries, small and round…
Taste the blueberries, ripe and sweet…
Source: Librarian vs. Storytime

Breathing Break: Ocean Breath (TT) (TB) (FT)
Oh, my, I hear something. The ocean! Can we make the sound of the ocean with our breath? Take a big breath in, hold it for just a moment, then let the wave crash – TCHHHHHHH!

I have a blue shark puppet that was fun to pull out during verse two!
What might we find in the water?
Flannel/Action Song: All the Fish (TT) (TB) (FT)
All the fish are swimming in the water (weave hands back and forth as if swimming)
Swimming in the water, Swimming in the water
All the fish are swimming in the water
Bubble, bubble, bubble, (corkscrew index fingers upwards)
…SPLASH! (clap)

additional verses:
All the sharks are chomping…
All the whales are spraying…
Source: adapted from Caspar Babypants, from the album “I Found You”

flannel showing a small green and blue fish, a grey shark, and a blue whale. Sitting above the flannelboard is a puppet of a shark.

I showed one of the pails and asked if anyone knew what it was – “Bucket!” of course.
Whale would like to play a game with us!
Flannel Game: Whale behind the Pail (TT) (TB) (FT)
Little whale, little whale,
Are you behind the BLUE pail?
Source: Long Beach Public Library

Download the flannel template here!

printed and laminated flannelboard pieces of six pails in different colors: blue, purple, red, orange, green, and yellow, with a small blue whale.

So this one we’ll do at the end of each color session, too – so there are some familiarity bookending this series. I have rainbow colored scarves, and pass them out for everyone to wave around while we sing.
Scarf Song: Rainbow Colors (TT) (TB) (FT)
(tune of Twinkle Twinkle)
Rainbow colors way up high, Happy colors in the sky
Red and pink and green and blue
Yellow, orange, and purple, too
Rainbow colors way up high, Happy colors in the sky
Source: adapted from King County (WA) Library System

Action Song: Zoom, Zoom, Zoom!* (TT) (TB) (FT)

Craft: Blue Abstract Art (TB) (FT)
I’ve been thinking about doing more process art, and these color themes are a perfect way to do that. I provide some art supplies (all blue!) and let the kids do what they wish. Each week, I’ll plan to use slightly different media, but hope to keep the craft very open ended. This week I provided blue crayons, blue dot markers, and blue foam stickers and shapes.

picture of craft: blue abstract blob shapes are drawn in various shades of blue crayon. Blue dots from a dot marker are all over the page, and different shaped foam stickers (teardrops, triangles, and a whale) are also glued on.

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 Ocean is Blue – Darren Lebeuf & Ashley Barron
Little Blue Truck – Alice Schertle & Jill McElmurry
Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus – Mo Willems
Blue Goose – Nancy Tafuri
The Proudest Blue – Ibtihaj Muhammad, SK Ali, & Hatem Aly
In a Blue Room – Jim Averbeck & Tricia Tusa
Have You Seen My New Blue Socks? – Eve Bunting & Sergio Ruzzier
Here Comes Ocean – Meg Fleming & Paola Zakimi
Blue Chicken – Deborah Freedman
Chomp: A Shark Romp – Michael Paul

This storytime was presented in-person on 1/8, 1/9, & 1/10/24.

Storytime Handout:

handout with suggested books, rhyme and song lyrics

*Lyrics to these songs can be found on the Repeated Songs & Rhymes page.

**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

Book Babies Storytime (June)

Posted on by msemilylibrary

Here’s another Book Babies plan! During the summer I was outside for my toddler classes, so this was the only indoor program I did in June and July. Here’s the plan from June, 2023. I do the same themeless plan a month at a time, to get the caregivers familiar and comfortable with the songs and rhymes. I usually switch to a different prop each month, and change out songs and rhymes a few at a time, so there are always a few familiars in the lineup.

The books featured in the photos below are just some of the board books made available for individual reading.

See all the Book Babies plans here.

Early Literacy Tip: Tummy time is important for newborns and infants 1–3 months old who are just developing neck control. Tummy time helps develop the muscles they’ll need to roll over, sit up, crawl, and walk. Always stay with your baby during tummy time. Start with a few minutes at a time, 2-3 times a day, and work up. It’s also good for older babies, 4–7 months old. They should still spend some supervised time on their bellies, even if they can roll over and sit with some help. Tummy time helps them practice lifting their head and chest further by straightening their arms. This strengthens arm, chest, and back muscles.

Here is our room setup, with the parachute out for babies to lay on/sit on, with a few chairs for those who prefer them to the floor. My pink short chair is perfect for this – I can move easily from it to the floor if I want to demo one way or another. I wish our parachute was colorful – I think the original idea was that you can write on it. There are some names on there from years ago that are probably grown with their own children by now.

Photo showing Book Babies setup, with a round white parachute spread on a purple rug, with purple chairs to either side. A board book is set on each wedge, and a small pink chair sits at the head, with a dog puppet on the chair and a frog stuffy laying on the parachute. An easel to the side of the chair has song lyrics on it.

For this and the next song, I use puppets to greet everyone.
Welcome/Puppet Song: Hello, Everybody
(tune of Skip to My Lou)
Hello, everybody and how are you?
Hello, everybody and how are you?
Hello, everybody and how are you?
How are you today?

Hello, [name 1], how are you?
Hello, [name 2], how are you?
Hello, [name 3], how are you?
How are you today?

I finally changed up this hello animal puppet song! I do still start with the dog Scout, then bring out two other random animals.
Song: The Dog Says Hello
(tune of Farmer in the Dell)
The dog says hello, The dog says hello
Woof, woof, Woof-woof, woof-woof
The dog says hello!
Repeat with any other animals; try using puppets!
Source: adapted from the traditional

I sing this to the tune of Where Has My Little Dog Gone, and none of the videos I’ve seen of these words do. But I can’t not hear it to this tune! Do what works for you.
Body Song: Where Are Baby’s Fingers?
(tune of Where Has My Little Dog Gone)
Where, oh where are baby’s fingers?
Where, oh where are their toes?
Where, oh where, is baby’s belly button?
‘Round and round it goes!
(make circle around belly)

Where, oh where are baby’s ears?
Where, oh where is their nose?
Where, oh where, is baby’s belly button?
Round and round it goes!
Source: Jbrary

Fingerplay Rhyme: This Little Piggy
(wiggle each toe or finger on one side, starting with the thumb)
This little piggy went to market
This little piggy stayed home
This little piggy had roast beef
And this little piggy had none
And this little piggy cried “wee wee wee” all the way home (tickle!)

(now try on the other hand or foot, starting with the pinky)
This little piggy had a rub-a-dub-dub
And this little piggy had a scrub-a-dub-dub
This little pig-a-wig ran upstairs
And this little pig-a-wig cried out ‘BEARS!’
Down came the jar with a big slam bam (clap or pat foot)
And this little piggy had all the jam
Source: traditional, second verse found with King County (WA) Library System

Bounce Rhyme: Rocking Horse
Rocking horse, rocking horse, to and fro (rock side to side)
Side to side and away we go!
Rocking horse, rocking horse, front and back (rock front and back)
Don’t fall off just like that! Whoaaa! (lean back)
Source: Intellidance

This is such a really fun rhyme! The person who posted it to the Storytime Solidarity Facebook Group didn’t have a source, so if anyone knows where it came from or who wrote it, please let me know!
Bounce/Lift: Fishy, Fishy, Fishy
Fishy, fishy, fishy goes swishy, swishy, swishy (bounce)
Flip flop, flip flop, flip flop (rock side to side)
Uuuuup, (lift baby high in air) 
KERPLOP! (return baby to lap)
Source: Storytime Solidarity

After some bouncing and lifting, we slow it down a bit with a lullaby. This is such a sweet one.
Ukulele Lullaby: Rockabye You
Rockabye you high, Rockabye you low
Rockabye you close, Rockabye you slow
Rockabye you high, Rockabye you low
Rockabye you everywhere we go

Rockabye the sun, Rockabye the moon
Rockabye the sweet flowers growing in June
Rockabye you love, My turtle dove
Rockabye you everywhere I go
Source: Kathy Reid-Naiman

Download a ukulele songsheet for Rockabye You

I place a book on each wedge on the parachute , so I encourage grownups to take a few minutes to grab a book that is nearby and looks interesting, and to interact with the book however they’d like with their baby. They can read the text, but they don’t have to – they can describe the pictures, colors, or even just let their baby practice turning pages. We generally do this for 2-3 minutes, or until the group as a whole seems to be nearing a stopping point.
Read: choose a board book that’s nearby and looks interesting to you!

Pictured:
Summer Babies – Kathryn O. Galbraith & Adela Pons
Sharing – Yusuke Yonezu
My Colors/Mis colores – Rebecca Emberley
Mama Bird, Baby Birds – Angela Johnson & Rhonda Mitchell

Before doing this rhyme, I shared our early development tip. This is a great rhyme to make rolling over fun. I also had to share what I learned about “stiles” when I was researching what that word was, and how they worked. (A stile is something that allows humans (and sometimes their dogs) to easily go over a fence in a field, while not letting the livestock through.)
Rhyme: Leg Over Leg
Leg over leg (criss cross legs)
The dog went to Dover
He came to a stile And – WHOOPS – He went over!
(lift legs or gently roll over)
Source: Jbrary

Prop Songs & Rhymes
Each month is a new prop. This month we got out our scarves.

Scarf Rhyme: Rain on the Green Grass
Rain on the green grass (shake on floor)
Rain on the trees (shake high)
Rain on the roof (hold above head)
But not on me! (drop scarf)
repeat with: Sun, Snow, Leaves
Source: Jbrary

We’ve done this song with the parachute before, so this month we used scarves.
Action/Scarf Song: Come Under My Umbrella
(tune of Did You Ever See a Lassie?)
Come under my umbrella, umbrella, umbrella (scarf over head)
Come under my umbrella, it’s starting to rain (wiggle scarf)
With thunder and lightning, and lightning and thunder (wave scarf dramatically in the air)
Come under my umbrella, it’s starting to rain
Source: traditional, see it used with scarves here

A fun take on the traditional nursery rhyme.
Scarf Rhyme: Little Bo Peep
Little Bo Peep has lost her sheep (hide scarf)
And doesn’t know where to find them
Leave them alone
and they’ll come home (bring scarf out)
Wagging their tails behind them! (wave scarf)
Source: Jbrary

And scarves are just perfect for a game of peekaboo!
Scarf Song: Peek a Boo
(tune of Frère Jacques)
Peek-a-boo, peek-a-boo
I see you, I see you
I see your button nose
I see your tiny toes
I see you! Peek-a-boo!
Source: Jbrary

To adapt this for babies, we bounce or clap rather than scraping our hands past each other, and walk fingers up and down baby’s body, arms, or legs for the “if you want to take a trip” part.
Lifting Song: Zoom, Zoom, Zoom
Zoom, zoom, zoom, We’re going to the moon
Zoom, zoom, zoom, We’re going to the moon
If you want to take a trip climb aboard my rocket ship
Zoom, zoom, zoom, We’re going to the moon
In 5, 4, 3, 2, 1 Blast off!
Source: Jbrary

I find it really helpful to finish with a rhyme that definitively says that storytime is over. This one is short and sweet.
Goodbye Rhyme: Hands Up High
Hands up high! (Put your hands in air)
Now give a big sigh (sigh and bring hands down)
Our storytime’s over
So wave bye-bye (wave)
Source: Pasadena Public Library

And that’s it! We don’t have time for free play at the end, but I encouraged grownups to take a little time in the children’s department to play and socialize together.

Suggested books are a little different on my handout since at my library board books are not able to be held if they’re checked out. My handout says:
Check out our board book selections – they cannot be held or requested, so see what’s available anytime you visit the library! Here are some other titles that *can* be requested:
My Baby and Me – Lynn Reiser & Penny Gentieu
The Seals on the Bus – Lenny Hort & G. Brian Karas
Goodnight Moon – Margaret Wise Brown & Clement Hurd
Baby Day! – Nancy Elizabeth Wallace
Pat the Bunny – Dorothy Kunhardt
The Neighborhood Mother Goose – Nina Crews
Faces – Shelley Rotner & Ken Kreisler

This storytime was presented in-person on 6/8, 6/15, 6/22, & 6/29/23.

Storytime Handout:

Book Babies Storytime (May)

Posted on by msemilylibrary

I’m slowly adding my backlog of Book Babies plans, so here’s what we did in the month of May, 2023. I do the same themeless plan a month at a time, to get the caregivers familiar and comfortable with the songs and rhymes. I usually switch to a different prop each month, and change out songs and rhymes a few at a time, so there are always a few familiars in the lineup.

The books featured in the photos below are just some of the board books made available for individual reading.

See all the Book Babies plans here.

Early Literacy Tip: The use of small percussion instruments such as bells, rhythm sticks, shakers, and drums helps children with muscular development and coordination.

Here is our room setup, with the parachute out for babies to lay on/sit on, with a few chairs for those who prefer them to the floor. My pink short chair is perfect for this – I can move easily from it to the floor if I want to demo one way or another. I wish our parachute was colorful – I think the original idea was that you can write on it. There are some names on there from years ago that are probably grown with their own children by now.

Photo showing Book Babies setup, with a round white parachute spread on a purple rug, with purple chairs to either side. A board book is set on each wedge, and a small pink chair sits at the head, with a dog puppet on the chair and a frog stuffy laying on the parachute. An easel to the side of the chair has song lyrics on it.

For this and the next song, I use puppets to greet everyone.
Welcome/Puppet Song: Hello, Everybody
(tune of Skip to My Lou)
Hello, everybody and how are you?
Hello, everybody and how are you?
Hello, everybody and how are you?
How are you today?

Hello, [name 1], how are you?
Hello, [name 2], how are you?
Hello, [name 3], how are you?
How are you today?

I start this one with the same puppet as above, my floppy-eared dog, Scout. Then I’ll bring out one or two other puppets to say hello.
Welcome/Puppet Song: When Animals Get Up in the Morning
When dogs get up in the morning
They always say hello!
When dogs get up in the morning
They always say hello!
“Woof, woof, woof, woof,” That is what they say
“Woof, woof, woof, woof,” That is what they say
Source: King County (WA) Library System

Body Song: I Wake Up My Hands
I wake up my hands with a Clap, clap, clap,
Clap, clap, clap, Clap, clap, clap,
I wake up my hands with a clap, clap, clap,
And I wiggle my wiggles away!

Feet…stomp, stomp, stomp
Belly…beep, beep, beep
Body…wiggle, wiggle, wiggle
Source: Jbrary

Fingerplay Rhyme: Little Gnome
Up to the doorway (finger walks up arm)
Comes a little gnome (tickle neck)
Knock, knock! (gently “knock” top of head)
Ding, dong! (tap nose)
Anybody home? (finger to chin, can pull down to open mouth)
Source: Sing, Rhyme and Play with Ms. Christina

Bounce Song: Ride, Baby, Ride
Ride, baby, ride, Cha-cha, cha-cha, cha-cha
Ride that horsey ride
Ride, baby, ride, Cha-cha, cha-cha, cha-cha
Ride that horsey ride (repeat, whispering)
Whooooaaaa!
Source: Jbrary

Lifting Rhyme: Grand Old Duke of York
The grand old Duke of York, He had ten thousand men
He marched them up to the top of the hill
And he 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 half-way uuuuup…
You’re neither up nor down!
Source: traditional

After some bouncing and lifting, we slow it down a bit with a lullaby. I remind grownups that rocking and holding your baby while singing is a great way to calm them, even if it’s not bedtime.
Ukulele Lullaby: I See the Moon
(tune of Hush Little Baby)
I see the moon and the moon sees me
Down through the leaves of the old oak tree
Please let the moon that shines on me
Shine on the ones I love

Over the mountain, over the sea
Back where my heart is longing to be
Please let the moon that shines on me
Shine on the ones I love!
Source: Jbrary

Download a ukulele songsheet for I See the Moon

Thumbnail of I See the Moon ukulele chord sheet

I place a book on each wedge on the parachute , so I encourage grownups to take a few minutes to grab a book that is nearby and looks interesting, and to interact with the book however they’d like with their baby. They can read the text, but they don’t have to – they can describe the pictures, colors, or even just let their baby practice turning pages. We generally do this for 2-3 minutes, or until the group as a whole seems to be nearing a stopping point.
Read: choose a board book that’s nearby and looks interesting to you!

Pictured:
Library Babies – Puck & Violet Lemay
In My Heart – Mackenzie Porter & Jenny Løvlie
Leo, Sleep Tight! – Anna McQuinn & Ruth Hearson

Tickle Song: Spots, Spots, Spots
(tune of the baseball organ build up)
Spots, spots, spots, spots, spots, spots, spots, spots
A leopard has lots of spots, What a lot of spots he’s got!
A tiger’s stripes are always nice, But a leopard has lots of…
Spots, spots, spots, spots, spots, spots, spots, spots
(tickle, tickle, tickle!)
Source: Jbrary

Prop Songs & Rhymes
Each month is a new prop. This month we got out the jingle bells! This was a lot of fun and the babies really liked the jingle noise. I did try to emphasize that there was a possibility that a bell piece could come loose and be a choking hazard, to try to keep grownups on the lookout. I did see bells go in mouths, so I am not sure if I would do bells for this group again. I wonder if there are infant-safe bells out there.

Bell Song: Are You Sleeping?
Are you sleeping, are you sleeping? (keep bells quiet)
Brother John, Brother John,
Morning bells are ringing, morning bells are ringing (ring bells)
Ding ding dong, ding ding dong
(try substituting your child’s name for “Brother John”)
Source: traditional

This is a good one for demonstrating a steady beat.
Bell Rhyme: 1 – 2 – 3 – 4
1 – 2 – 3 – 4, Jingle at the cottage door
5 – 6 – 7 – 8, Jingle at the cottage gate
Source: Kathy Reid-Naiman

Bell Song: Ice Cream Truck
(tune of Do You Know the Muffin Man)
Do you see the ice cream truck?
The ice cream truck, The ice cream truck?
Do you see the ice cream truck?
It’s driving down the street!

The bells go ring-a-ling-a-ling…
Source: adapted from the traditional

Bell Song: Shake Your Bell In the Air
(tune of If You’re Happy and You Know It)
Shake your bell in the air, in the air
Shake your bell in the air, in the air
Shake your bell in the air and hold it right there
Shake your bell in the air, in the air

…on the side… as you smile really wide
…way down low… then wave and say hello
Source: Jbrary

To adapt this for babies, we bounce or clap rather than scraping our hands past each other, and walk fingers up and down baby’s body, arms, or legs for the “if you want to take a trip” part.
Lifting Song: Zoom, Zoom, Zoom
Zoom, zoom, zoom, We’re going to the moon
Zoom, zoom, zoom, We’re going to the moon
If you want to take a trip climb aboard my rocket ship
Zoom, zoom, zoom, We’re going to the moon
In 5, 4, 3, 2, 1 Blast off!
Source: Jbrary

I find it really helpful to finish with a rhyme that definitively says that storytime is over. This one is short and sweet.
Goodbye Rhyme: Hands Up High
Hands up high! (Put your hands in air)
Now give a big sigh (sigh and bring hands down)
Our storytime’s over
So wave bye-bye (wave)
Source: Pasadena Public Library

And that’s it! We don’t have time for free play at the end, but I encouraged grownups to take a little time in the children’s department to play and socialize together.

Suggested books are a little different on my handout since at my library board books are not able to be held if they’re checked out. My handout says:
Check out our board book selections – they cannot be held or requested, so see what’s available anytime you visit the library! Here are some other titles that *can* be requested:
This Is the Way a Baby Rides – Susan Meyers & Hiroe Nakata
Leo Loves Baby Time – Anna McQuinn & Ruth Hearson
This Little Piggy – Tim Harrington
Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What do You See? – Bill Martin, Jr. & Eric Carle
My Very First Mother Goose – Iona Opie & Rosemary Wells

This storytime was presented in-person on 5/1, 5/8, & 5/15/23.

Storytime Handout:

handout with suggested books, rhyme and song lyrics

Storytime: Jingle Jam

Posted on by msemilylibrary

What is seasonal, non-holiday, interactive, and… loud? Jingle bells! We have a set of jingle bell bracelets in our storytime supply closet that I don’t get out very regularly, and I thought they would make a great December program focus. I had them planned for the second week of December, but then had to schedule some surgery. I needed to be off work for the month, so I moved this program up to the last week of November and canceled the rest. I’m glad I did get to do it – we had a lot of fun jingle jangling away!

You can see a shortened virtual version of this program here.

Early Literacy Tip: Like a muscle, the brain needs to work to grow. Playing an instrument stimulates the brain, which can accelerate development in toddlers. Studies have shown that playing music activates the areas of the brain responsible for language, speech and reading.

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. This week it was elbows & cheeks.

Lifting Rhyme: Toast in the Toaster* (TT) (FT)

Rhyme: This is Big, Big, Big* (FT)

Intro: Today we are going to make lots of music with our Jingle Jam. We’ll play instruments and dance and sing. Let’s first loosen up a little and start to jam with our bodies. Let’s pretend we are in a parade!

This is a super fun rhyme. We did it a couple of times. The source link doesn’t have a video, so if you’d like to see/hear me doing it, click the link above to the virtual version.
Action Rhyme: The Parade (TT) (TB) (FT)
Clap your hands! (clap, clap, clap)
Stamp your feet! (stomp, stomp, stomp)
The parade is coming down the street
Bum, bum, bum: a great big drum
Root-a-toot: a horn and flute
Bang, bang, bang: Cymbals clang
Ding-ding-ding: triangles ring
Clap your hands! (clap, clap, clap)
Stamp your feet! (stomp, stomp, stomp)
The parade is coming down the street
Source: King County (WA) Library System

Transition: If You’re Ready for a Story* (TT) (TB) (FT)

One of the moms quietly said all the words of this along with me – apparently it’s one of their at-home favorites that they do over and over. So sweet! Despite the Santa-like hats the animals are wearing, this book doesn’t have any references to holidays, just snow and sleighs. It’s a great one for the youngest groups. I used a jingle bell to accompany me whenever I said “jingle.”
Read: Jingle-Jingle by Nicola Smee (TT) (FT)

Book cover for Jingle Jingle

This is a very interactive book if you encourage the group to do the instruments with you.
Read: Play This Book by Jessica Young & Daniel Wiseman (TB)

book cover for Play this book

Before we get our instruments out, let’s exercise our hands with a fingerplay.
Fingerplay: Five Plump Peas (TT) (TB) (FT)
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 wider and wider)
They grew SO BIG that the peapod… POPPED!
(hands spread as wide as possible, then CLAP!)
Source: Jbrary

Time to get out the bells! Our bells look like this, with four large bells attached to a velcroed wrist band.

Jingle bell instruments: four silver bells are attached to a nylon wristband that can velcro together. Shown in green and red.

Let’s practice our bells with this rhyme.
Bell Rhyme: Jingle Bells UP (TT) (TB) (FT)
Jingle bells up, Jingle bells down
Jingle bells dancing all around the town
Dance them on your shoulders, Dance them on your head
Dance them on your knees, And tuck them into bed
Source: adapted from the traditional Tommy Thumbs rhyme

I had this as an “optional” song on my plan, but when the time came I could not remember the tune! I have since remembered – I know it’s a common tune but I can’t place it. I just now recorded myself singing it to a voice memo for future reference!
I also can’t figure out where I first got this. Google searches aren’t helping, so maybe I made it up? (If you know the tune or source, please let me know!)
Bell Song: Ring Those Bells
Ring those bells and tap your toes
Ring those bells and tap your toes
Ring those bells and tap your toes
Now give a little kiss, kiss, kiss!

Additional verses:
…and clap, clap, clap … Give a little hug, hug, hug
…and shake, shake, shake … Give a little wave, wave, wave
Source: ??

It actually worked out to skip the previous song, since putting our bells to bed in Jingle Bells UP was a perfect segue to this song. We started with our bells quiet in bed (tucked under our arm) then got them out to ring loudly starting with the “Morning bells” line. On the second time through, I encouraged everyone to sing their child’s name instead of “Brother John” – so I saing “Sister Emily.”
Bell Song: Are You Sleeping? (TT) (TB) (FT)
Are you sleeping, are you sleeping? (keep bells quiet)
Brother John, Brother John,
Morning bells are ringing, morning bells are ringing (ring bells)
Ding ding dong, ding ding dong
(try substituting your child’s name for “Brother John”)
Source: traditional

This is a lovely jazzy tune that I found on a video with some other jingle songs.
Oh, my! My bells turned into a jingle bug! Yours did, too! Here’s a song about the jingle bugs.
Bell Song: Jingle Bug (TT) (TB) (FT)
Some bugs wiggle, Some bugs creep
Some bugs jump to a jingling beat
Jingle bug just wants to play
What will your bug do today?

She’s gonna wiggle to the left and wiggle to the right
Wiggle way up high and wiggle out of sight (hide behind back)
Where’s that Jingle Bug you say?
Sneaking softly back out to play! (try to bring out bell without ringing)

Additional verses:
She’s gonna creep to the left and creep to the right…
She’s gonna jump to the left and jump to the right…
Source: Clap for Classics

Dancing with our bells to a recorded song. I always put out a list of the dances so we know which ones come next.
One last chance to jam!
Recorded Song: List of Dances (TT) (TB) (FT)
Source: Jim Gill From the Album “Jim Gill Makes It Noisy In Boise, Idaho”

Action Song: Zoom, Zoom, Zoom!* (TT) (TB) (FT)

Craft: Jingle Bell Bracelets and Dot Painting Coloring Sheets (TB) (FT)
I couldn’t think of any better craft than to give the kids jingle bells of their own. At the same time, though, I could see that these bells could be a choking hazard. I said and put up warnings for grown-ups to always be supervising when playing with bells, and offered some dot painting for an extra or alternative craft. For the bells, I bought some multicolored 15 mm bells, and provided chenille stems for them to string onto to create a bracelet. The coloring sheet I chose is from the wonderful Elizabeth Dulemba, who I love and use her coloring pages regularly.

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)
The Sounds Around Town – Maria Carluccio
Squeak, Rumble, Whomp! Whomp! Whomp! – Wynton Marsalis & Paul Rogers
Music Class Today – David Weinstone & Vin Vogel
The Composer Is Dead – Lemony Snicket, Nathaniel Stookey & Carson Ellis
Zin! Zin! Zin! A Violin – Lloyd Moss & Marjorie Priceman
A Neighborhood Walk, a Musical Journey – Pilar Winter Hill & Olivia Duchess
The Oboe Goes Boom Boom Boom – Colleen AF Venable & Lian Cho
This Magical Musical Night – Rhonda Gowler Greene & James Rey Sanchez
Pokko and the Drum – Matthew Forsythe
A Is for Oboe – Lera Auerbach, Marilyn Nelson, Paul Hoppe

This storytime was presented in-person on 11/27, 11/28, & 11/29/23.

Storytime Handout:

handout with suggested books, rhyme and song lyrics.

*Lyrics to these songs can be found on the Repeated Songs & Rhymes page.

**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