Tag: animals

some bugs and a good place book covers

Stories & Stations: Bugs

Posted on by msemilylibrary

Bugs is such a fun theme – there are so many kinds of bugs and so many ways to think about presenting a program on them! Even though “bugs” is not a scientific category, I like using it as it can include all kinds of creepy-crawlies including insects, arachnids, worms, snails, and even terrestrial crustaceans (AKA roly poly pill bugs!) My colleague planned this one, and I love the different ways she incorporated bugs in the stations. We used one of my flannels, Going on a Bug Hunt, which is a really nice activity that spans the age ranges that we’re seeing.

This was our last storytime of May, and our last indoor Stories & Stations* for the foreseeable future. In June and July we will be doing Stories & Stations outside, and when we return in August we may have a new staff member and possible rethinking of how and what we offer 0-5 year old kiddos in our community. I generally don’t blog over the summer months, so you probably won’t see me again until August – I hope everyone has a great summer! And one last note – if you are someone who maintains your library’s Storywalk, I’ve added quite a few new titles in the last month or so – submissions and ones I’ve done. These include a fun BUG one (Bug in a Bog by Jonathan Fenske) and our newest for the SRP theme Unearth a Story – Sam and Dave Dig a Hole by Mac Barnett & Jon Klassen.

See other versions of this theme from 2021 (old library and new library).

*We are doing a new format for our storytimes in a transition period of personnel change and calling it Stories & Stations (you can read the whole saga of the whys and hows at this post.)

some bugs book cover, showing various bugs including bees, preying mantis, ladybug, wasps and more in a natural setting.
a good place book cover, showing a dragonfly, bee, ladybug and beetle on flowers.

Early Development Tip: When you enjoy a book, let your child know that you like it and why. Sharing your enjoyment gives them a positive attitude toward books. This positive attitude carries over when they get to school and start learning to read. Let your child choose their books and tell you why they like them. –from The Early Literacy Kit: A Handbook and Tip Cards by Betsy Diamant-Cohen & Saroj Ghoting

Welcome Song: Hello, Friends* 
Even with a larger number of kids, I still go around and sing this with everyone’s name. The kids really do love it, and it helps me learn names and storytime participants to learn each others’ names.

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: Wiggle and Wiggle and STOP*
This week I rolled my “Bug Movement” cube to select our two additional movements. You can download a copy of the six sides (that can be put on a square tissue container) here!

bug movement cube, showing "March like an ant" "zip like a dragonfly" and "buzz like a bee" showing on three sides.

we wiggle and stop thumbnail, with a graphic of two pink worms. click the image to download a non-branded PDF

Lifting Rhyme: Toast in the Toaster* 
Okay, this one *seems* to be better for younger kids, but all I have to do is encourage the older kids to jump as high as they can at the end and it is instantly perfect for a 5 year old, too. I always give the option for a lap bounce and lift as well.

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

Intro: Our planet is home to millions of different kinds of bugs, each with their own special “job.” Some help pollinate the flowers (like bees & butterflies). Others like to eat old leaves and turn it into fresh soil (like worms & beetles). And many bugs are food for other animals (like birds & anteaters)! Whether they crawl, hop, or fly, every bug plays a vital role in keeping our environment healthy and vibrant. Let’s read about some bugs!

Transition: If You’re Ready for a Story*

Straight into our book this week! This is such a perfect book, as it showcases so many bugs and the things they do, with a really short text that’s great for all ages. 
Read: Some Bugs by Angela DiTerlizzi & Brendan Wenzel

some bugs book cover, showing various bugs including bees, preying mantis, ladybug, wasps and more in a natural setting.

A great backup with Cousins’ signature bright, bold colors.
Backup Read: A Good Place by Lucy Cousins

a good place book cover, showing a dragonfly, bee, ladybug and beetle on flowers.

So let’s go on our own bug hunt!
Similar to Going on a Bear Hunt, but without the “Can’t go over it…” parts. Each time we get out a new flannel piece, they get excited! Then we do a little motion or sound to go with each. I only ended up doing bee, butterfly, ladybug, ant, and roly poly (who curls up when you flip him over).
Flannel/Rhythm Chant: Going on a Bug Hunt
Pat lap in rhythm and repeat between each bug:
We’re going on a bug hunt! (We’re going on a bug hunt!)
We’re going to see some big ones. (We’re going to see some big ones.)
What a sunny day! (What a sunny day!)
Are we ready? OK! (Are we ready? OK!)

Oh, my! A bee! A black & yellow bee, Flying over the flowers. BUZZ
Oh, my! An ant! A tiny, black ant, Crawling through the grass. SHH
Oh, my! A grasshopper! A big, green grasshopper, Hopping around the tree. BOING
Oh, my! A butterfly! A pretty, orange butterfly, Floating in the sky. WHOOSH
Oh, my! A spider! A big black spider, Creeping on the tree. CREEP
Oh, my! A ladybug! A bright red ladybug, climbing up a flower. CLIMB
Oh, my! A roly-poly! A gray, armored roly-poly, hiding under a rock. ROLL
Source: adapted from Small Town Story Time Lady Blog

Picture of felt bug hunt set, including a tree trunk, grass, flower, and rock, with a roly poly, bee, ladybug, butterfly, ant, grasshopper, and spider.

Closeup of the roly poly felt flipped to the other side, showing it rolled up in a ball.

going on a bug hunt thumbnail, with a graphic of a grasshopper and a bee. click the image to download a non-branded PDF

Let’s get out our scarves! Can we roll our scarves like a roly poly pill bug?
Time for props!
Scarf Rhyme: Roly Poly
(roll scarf accordingly)
Roly poly, roly, poly, up, up, up
Roly poly, roly, poly, down, down, down
Roly poly, roly, poly, out, out, out
Roly poly, roly, poly, in, in, in
Roly poly, roly, poly, BIG, BIG, BIG
Roly poly, roly, poly, very, very small
Roly poly, roly, poly, fast, fast, fast, fast, fast!
Rol…ly… po…ly… in… your… lap!
Source: Rebecca Jane Flanagan

roly poly thumbnail, with a graphic of a toy ball. click the image to download a non-branded PDF

Bugs have to pay attention to the weather, too.
Scarf Song: Rain Is Falling Down
Rain is falling down (flutter scarf down) –
SPLASH! (sweep scarf to the side)
Rain is falling down – SPLASH!
Pitter patter pitter patter (wave scarf up and down quickly)
Rain is falling down – SPLASH!

Sun is peeking out – PEEK! (hide behind scarf, then peek)
Sun is peeking out – PEEK!
Peeking here, peeking there,
Sun is peeking out – PEEK!
Source: Jbrary

Rain is falling down thumbnail, with a graphic of a sun peeking out from behind a raincloud, both with faces. click the image to download a non-branded PDF

Here’s a song about a spider who goes UP and DOWN. Can you make your scarf into a spider?
This was pretty easy to convert to a scarf song – we gripped our scarves in the middle to simulate a spider, climbed her up the spout, then the scarf becomes the rain falling. I held both ends above my head to make the sun before making a spider again.
Scarf Song: The Itsy Bitsy Spider 
The itsy bitsy spider climbed up the water spout
Down came the rain and washed the spider out
Up came the sun and dried up all the rain
So the itsy bitsy spider climbed up the spout again
Source: traditional

the itsy bitsy spider thumbnail, with a graphic of a smiling spider next to a rain gutter attached to a red brick wall. click the image to download a non-branded PDF

Can you scrunch up your scarf in your hands and get small? We’re going to start this rhyme very quietly! Pretend to be a jumping spider!
Scarf Rhyme: Jack in the Box
Jack in the box (scrunch scarf up in fist)
Sits so still
Will he come out?
Yes, he will! (throw scarf in the air)
Source: Jbrary

jack in the box thumbnail, with a graphic of a colorful jester's head coming out of a box with a crank. click the image to download a non-branded PDF

After collecting our props, we released to stations! I let everyone know that I’d put out toys and puzzles in the current room, so they could stay if they wanted, and opened the door to the other room for everyone else to go to stations. I’m noticing that some of the youngest kiddos are staying to just play with toys the whole time and not bothering with stations, which is totally fine.

Art Station: Fingerprint Ladybug Bookmark
My colleague Ali created this, drawing all of the little bugs! She said it was okay to share the template, which you can download here! Kids could stamp their fingerprints to make the ladybug bodies. We put out just a couple of colors – red, orange, and purple. Such a cute and simple craft!

love bug bookmark, one with red stamped ladybugs and one with orange. each says "I will always be your love bug"
finger print art station, showing messy trays holding a bookmark with ladybug heads and spots that says "I will always be your love bug." Large stamp pads are on the table, as well as a package of wet wipes.

Gross Motor Stations: Flower Pistil Leap
We encouraged kids to buzz like a bee or flit like a butterfly from one flower to another for this simple station. Photographs of flower blooms were laminated and stuck to the floor with painter’s tape.

flower pistil leap station, with printed and laminated flowers in a zigzag pattern on the floor.

Fine Motor Station: Sorting Stations
We put out several sorting stations on the rug for multiple kids to enjoy at once. One was a repeat from last week – the craft stick sort. There’s also a ball sort and drop that I have used for several summers past (made with Baker and Taylor boxes, RIP). The instructions I used to make them are from the Taming Little Monsters blog. Then Ali created a spider sorting box – it’s long and skinny and she drew adorable spiders coming down. Each spider body is a hole outlined in a color, and we provided pom poms to put through the holes.

craft stick sort and spider sort stations, with colored craft sticks to be put into small boxes with small color coded holes, and a long cardboard box with spiders drawn on the side and a tray of pom poms nearby. The spider bodies are outlined in a color and are a hole sized for a pom pom to fit in
ball sort station, with brown cardboard boxes with holes in the top, cut to have a "tray" where the balls can be retrieved.

Sensory Station 1: Bug Sensory Bins
Another fun sensory bin, this time with uncooked rice colored green, with various plastic bugs, pom poms, fake flowers and foliage, and collecting/viewing cups to capture the critters!

bug sensory bin showing green colored rice in a bin with fake flowers, foliage, pom poms, and plastic bugs.
bug sensory bin station, showing two bins on a fitted sheet held down by two tables.

Sensory Station 2:
We also put the colored rice in shallow messy trays with letter cards to encourage finger tracing for the older kiddos. I pulled out the letters A N T and B U G to get them started and set the rest of the letter cards to the side.

letter tracing, showing green colored rice in shallow messy trays. letter cards above the trays spell A N T and B U G, with other letter cards to the side.

Toys and Puzzles
Our regular baby toys and puzzles, as well as soft food, babies in a basket, and lacing cards came out as another option for play. I didn’t capture a picture of this one.

After 20 minutes of free station time, I ring our bell to gather everyone again in the storytime room. Everyone helps put away the toys and puzzles before we end with our last two songs.

Action Song: Zoom, Zoom, Zoom!*

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

Goodbye Song: See You Later Alligator*

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

Other books I had available for families to browse (and may work for you on this theme)
Bugs! Bugs! Bugs! – Bob Barner
Hustle Bustle Bugs – Catherine Bailey & Lauren Eldridge
The Gentleman Bug – Julian Hector
Hello Bugs, What Do You Do? – Loes Botman
A Way with Wild Things – Larissa Theule & Sara Palacios
Six Little Sticks – Tiffany Stone & Ruth Hengeveld
How to Say Hello to a Worm – Kari Percival
Beehive – Jorey Hurley
Step Gently Out – Helen Frost & Rick Lieder
Giant Steps – Anaïs Lambert & Johanna McCalmont
Bug in a Bog – Jonathan Fenske
Becoming Charley – Kelly DiPucchio & Loveis Wise
Holey Moley – Lois Ehlert
Du iz tak? – Carson Ellis
Bugs on the Move – Charlotte Guillain
The Honeybee – Kirsten Hall & Isabelle Arsenault
A Closer Look – Mary McCarthy
One Million Insects – Isabel Thomas & Lou Baker-Smith

This storytime was presented in-person on 5/13 & 5/14/26.

Storytime Handout:

handout with book suggestions, rhyme and song lyrics.

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

† Click the image of rhyme/song sheets to download a non-branded PDF

up down and around and goodnight veggies book covers

Stories & Stations: Garden

Posted on by msemilylibrary

This week we celebrated spring with a gardening theme! We are doing a new format for our storytimes in a transition period of personnel change and calling it Stories & Stations (you can read the whole saga of the whys and hows at my last post.)

I had worked with a community member earlier in the year to do a one-off all-ages drop-in evening program about gardens, so I reused some of those activities in the planning for this, and added a few others. Gardens and gardening is a fun theme – you can talk about flowers, vegetables, bugs, dirt, weather, the earth, and the environment – so many possibilities!

See another version of this theme from 2021.

up down, and around book cover, showing kids by a large corn stalk
goodnight, veggies book cover, showing a cutaway side vew of a garden, with two beets on either side of a worm wearing a sneaker and hat.

Early Development Tip: Helping children hear the smaller sounds in words, the syllables, by clapping them out is one way to develop their phonological awareness. Children can hear the syllables more easily than each individual sound in words. –from The Early Literacy Kit: A Handbook and Tip Cards by Betsy Diamant-Cohen & Saroj Ghoting

Welcome Song: Hello, Friends* 
Even with a larger number of kids, I still go around and sing this with everyone’s name. The kids really do love it, and it helps me learn names and storytime participants to learn each others’ names.

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: Wiggle and Wiggle and STOP*
This week I went with garden themed actions so in addition to wiggling, we also did “dig” and “pick” – digging was a little frenetic, which is fun, but for “pick” I said that we’re picking some delicate berries, so we were very fastidious! Spinning the actions in different ways (do it slowly! Make your voice quieter! Pick as high up on the berry bush as you can!) is a great way to give this song some dynamics.

we wiggle and stop thumbnail, with a graphic of two pink worms. click the image to download a non-branded PDF

Lifting Rhyme: Toast in the Toaster* 
Okay, this one *seems* to be better for younger kids, but all I have to do is encourage the older kids to jump as high as they can at the end and it is instantly perfect for a 5 year old, too. I always give the option for a lap bounce and lift as well.

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

Intro: Today we’re talking about gardens and gardening. It’s fun to grow plants and this is the time of year we see little plants start to grow. In a garden, you can grow flowers or vegetables or fruit. Do any of you have a garden at home?

A garden can attract a lot of wildlife! Let’s see who else is enjoying our veggies!
I made this flannel set awhile ago, it’s always nice to get more use out of them. For time, I only did the frog, crow, mouse, and worm.
Guessing Game: Something In My Garden
There’s something in my garden, Now, what can it be?
There’s something in my garden,That I can’t really see.
I hear its funny sound…. RIBBIT – RIBBIT – RIBBIT
A … FROG is what I found! RIBBIT – RIBBIT – RIBBIT

Repeat with other animals found in a garden.
Ribbit – Frog – bugs from a lettuce plant
Thump – Rabbit – nibbling a carrot
Squeak – Mouse – tasting a blackberry
Caw – Crow – pecking at some corn
Buzz – Bee – gathering pollen from a flower
Wiggle – Worm – chewing an old leaf
Flutter – Butterfly – sipping nectar from a hyacinth
Source: Storytime Katie

Laminated printed "flannel" showing a frog, lettuce plant that has bugs on it, rabbit, carrot, crow, corn, mouse, blackberry, worm, flat brown leaf, hyacinth flower, bee, and butterfly.

something in my garden thumbnail, with a graphic of a rabbit hiding behind some carrot greens and a frog behind some lettuce. click the image to download a non-branded PDF

Let’s play a game with some gardening words. We are listening for the syllables that make up the words – a syllable has the smaller sounds in words.
I planned to do garden, flower, worm, vegetable, but was running behind so we only did garden and vegetable!
Word Game: Super Duper
Super duper, 1 – 2 – 3
Can you say this word with me?
Say it! Clap it! Pat it! Tap it! Whisper it! Shout it!
Practice words and separate the syllables for great early learning!
Source: Betsy Diamant-Cohen & Saroj Ghoting

super duper thumbnail, with a graphic of a red and yellow diamond shaped superhero insignia with the word wow in the middle. click the image to download a non-branded PDF

Transition: If You’re Ready for a Story*

This is an oldie but a goodie, and I make it interactive by telling the group to either stand up or raise their arms when I say UP, crouch or touch the floor when I say DOWN, and either spin their bodies or their arms when I say ALL AROUND.
Read: Up, Down, and Around by Katherine Ayres & Nadine B Westcott

up down, and around book cover, showing kids by a large corn stalk

Another awesome title for my backup – I love the illustrations so much, especially that cool worm with his knee sock, sneaker, and hat.
Read: Goodnight, Veggies by Diana Murray & Zachariah OHora

goodnight, veggies book cover, showing a cutaway side vew of a garden, with two beets on either side of a worm wearing a sneaker and hat.

Let’s get out our ribbons! I know a song about a little teapot, do you? I was thinking about gardening, and something we use in the garden also has a handle and a spout – a watering can! So let’s be watering cans to help our gardens grow.
We go straight to our props after the book! This week was our wrist ribbons. There’s no need to theme these prop activities, but if I can find some kind of thread, I can’t help myself. I kind of balled up the ribbons in my hand until the last line and let them be the “water” coming out. I am sure someone else could change the “steamed up” line to be more like a watering can, but I never got there.
UPDATE: Miss Liz from the Bethel Library in CT sent me her PERFECT words to replace the “steamed up” line. Thank you, Miss Liz! I’ve updated the rhyme sheet.
Ribbon Song: I’m a Little Water Can
I’m a little water can short and stout
Here is my handle, here is my spout
When I get all steamed up then I shout:
When it’s time to water then I shout:
“Tip me over and pour me out!”
Source: adapted from the traditional, with help from Miss Liz from the Bethel Library (CT)

i'm a little water can thumbnail, with a graphic of a yellow watering can tipped and watering a small sprout. click the image to download a non-branded PDF

I usually do this one as a shaker song, but it works just as well with scarves or ribbons.
Ribbon Song: Wave Your Ribbons High
(tune of Grand Old Duke of York)
You wave your ribbons high
You wave your ribbons low
You wave your ribbons fast, fast, fast
And then you wave them slow
Source: Harris County (TX) Public Library

wave your ribbons thumbnail, with a graphic of blue, yellow, and green ribbons. click the image to download a non-branded PDF

A garden needs pollinators like bees and butterflies!
This one was originally a beanbag rhyme. It works really well with ribbons or scarves, too! For the last line, we threw our ribbons up in the air and caught them.
Ribbon Rhyme: Butterfly, Butterfly
Butterfly, butterfly in the sky
Flap your wings and up you fly
Back and forth to and fro
Up, up, up and… Away you go!
Source: Evansville-Vanderburgh Co (IN) Public Library

butterfly butterfly thumbnail, with a graphic of a yellow and blue butterfly. click the image to download a non-branded PDF

King County shows the first two lines as a chorus repeated between every other two lines, but for time I just did it straight through. The tune I did was something akin to Going to Kentucky (which I think sounds like some traditional clapping/jump rope songs like Miss Lucy had a baby…)
Ribbon Song: I Have a Little Streamer
I have a little streamer, I wave it in the air
I wave it over here and I wave it over there
It can be a flag waving way up high
It can be a sailing ship slowly floating by
It can be a carousel going round and round
It can be a shooting star falling to the ground
It can be a branch swaying in the breeze
It can be a flying kite caught up in the trees
Source: King Co (WA) Library System

little streamer thumbnail, with a graphic of a pennant flag, a shooting star, and a kite. click the image to download a non-branded PDF

After collecting our props, we released to stations! I let everyone know that I’d put out toys and puzzles in the current room, so they could stay if they wanted, and opened the door to the other room for everyone else to go to stations. I’m noticing that some of the youngest kiddos are staying to just play with toys the whole time and not bothering with stations, which is totally fine.

Art Station: Garden Process Art
We cut the tops off brussels sprouts and celery into sticks to do some paint stamping, and also had brown paint and brushes and dried beans for kids to create their gardens however they liked. I was inspired by this post by Buggy and Buddy.

garden art station, with messy trays with brown construction paper, plates with paint, brussels sprouts and celery, and bowls with dried beans.

Gross Motor Stations: Weed Toss & Garden Yoga
This is just a beanbag toss game with a sign to help kids imagine their beanbags are weeds in the garden that need to be pulled and tossed into the bucket. I also had a poster with “Garden Yoga Poses” over by the rug, but I didn’t see anyone doing them and I forgot to get a picture. The free printable poster is from Childhood 101.

garden weed toss, showing beanbags and buckets with a sign on the wall explaining that the beanbags are weeds to pull and toss

Fine Motor Station 1: Seed Sorting
Someone put this container on the free table in our break room – it was originally for tea, and has six compartments in a box with a hinged lid. It was perfect for this! I printed some labels and added some dried seeds from our seed library and beans from the sensory bins. There were tongs for older kids to practice, but anyone could sort the seeds using their fingers, too.

seed sorting station, showing a box with 6 sections. a mix of seeds are in the two middle sections, and the four others are labeled: sweet corn, lima beans, pinto beans, and black beans.

Fine Motor Station 2: Match the Seed to the Plant
I did some extra stations since I had these activities leftover from the previous program. This was a set of cards that show a plant and a seed that could be matched. The cards are a free printable from Preschool Powol Packets. I did modify the cards: cards said something like “sunflowers” and “sunflower seeds” which felt too easy. I kept the label on the plant but removed it from the seeds.

Garden seed match card station, showing cards with either a plant or its seed for matching.

Fine Motor Station 3: Cut/Tear the Grass
I’ve used this activity before, and it’s a fun one. We put out safety scissors for the older kids, but younger ones can tear. It works on lots of developmental skills, including crossing the midline as well as pincer grip/scissor manipulation. Plus it’s fun to see what is hidden! I taped a few of the sheets to the edge of the table so they were vertical, but put the others down flat for varying ways to interact. Download a printable PDF of the artwork here!

cut the grass station, showing green construction paper sheets with 1 inch strips cut halfway down to make grass. Underneath are papers with various things that may be found in grass: flowers, apples, bugs, etc.

green construction paper sheets with 1 inch strips cut halfway down to make grass. Underneath are papers with various things that may be found in grass: flowers, apples, bugs, etc. Pictured is a leaf and a pillbug

Sensory Station: Garden Sensory Bins
I made these for that earlier program (mentioned in the intro, above) and I knew we had a garden theme planned, so I’d saved everything, making this a really easy station! The “dirt” was made of a mix of dried black beans and pinto beans (giving it a look of potting mix with perlite in it) and added various “garden” things like shovels, fake flowers and foliage, plastic bugs and critters like frogs and salamanders, little seed starter peat pots, pom poms. Like last week’s kinetic sand station, I put this one on a fitted sheet held down by two tables to make cleanup easier.

garden sensory bin, showing two bins on a fitted sheet with black beans and various gardening toys like shovels, plastic bugs, fake flowers, plant labels, and small seed starter containers

Toys and Puzzles
Our regular baby toys and puzzles, as well as soft food, babies in a basket, and lacing cards came out as another option for play. I didn’t capture a picture of this one.

After 20 minutes of free station time, I ring our bell to gather everyone again in the storytime room. Everyone helps put away the toys and puzzles before we end with our last two songs.

Action Song: Zoom, Zoom, Zoom!*

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

Goodbye Song: See You Later Alligator*

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

Other books I had available for families to browse (and may work for you on this theme)
Miguel’s Community Garden – JaNay Brown-Wood & Samara Hardy
Lola Plants a Garden – Anna McQuinn & Rosalind Beardshaw
Here Are the Seeds – JaNay Brown-Wood & Olivia Amoah
How to Say Hello to a Worm – Kari Percival
No Nibbling! – Beth Ferry & AN Kang
Prunella – Beth Ferry & Claire Keane
Flower Garden – Eve Bunting & Kathryn Hewitt
My Garden – Kevin Henkes
Planting a Rainbow – Lois Ehlert
Jayden’s Impossible Garden – Mélina Mangal & Ken Daley
Up in the Garden and Down in the Dirt – Kate Messner & Christopher Silas Neal
Everything Grows in Jiddo’s Garden – Jenan A. Matari & Aya Ghanameh
The Hidden Rainbow – Christie Matheson
Uncle John’s City Garden – Bernette G. Ford & Frank Morrison
No, No, Gnome! – Ashlyn Anstee
See Marcus Grow – Marcus Bridgewater & Reggie Brown

This storytime was presented in-person on 4/15/26.

Storytime Handout:

handout with book suggestions, rhyme and song lyrics.

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

† Click the image of rhyme/song sheets to download a non-branded PDF

I was born a baby and animals move book covers

Stories & Stations: Baby Animals

Posted on by msemilylibrary

My library is in a transition time. Our longtime and beloved preschool programmer just retired after more than 40 years! We won’t be hiring her replacement for several months, so we are doing some creative programming solutions. Rather than splitting age groups for Itty Bitty (0-3.5) and Preschool (3.5-6) ages as we have up until now, my Itty Bitty colleague and I are increasing our capacity and offering storytime for ages 0-5 until the end of summer. To streamline and make it relevant to that wider age range, we changed our format to “Stories & Stations,” using my summer programming formula as a basis. We’ll be indoors in April and May, and outdoors (as weather permits) in June and July.

So, what does that mean? Instead of a 45 minute storytime (which included a craft and playtime), we are doing just 15-20 minutes of traditional storytime activities and then doing 20 minutes of exploring various stations in a more free-form way. That helps with breaking up a bigger group. We are fortunate to have two children’s storytime rooms that adjoin and have a temporary wall and pass-through door. That gives us a lot of flexibility. We ultimately decided to keep the wall closed and keep the storytime portion in one room and the stations in the other, opening the door when we are ready to release to stations.

We also decided to go “light” on our themes – really only having one or two truly themed songs/rhymes during the storytime portion and a themed book, then moving to props and songs that work well for them regardless of whether they’re on theme or not. I realize a lot of libraries do this already!

For the stations portion, we planned four stations in the second room: art, gross motor, fine motor, and sensory. Then we put out our baby toys and wooden puzzles in the storytime room as another station. This spread out the group enough that everyone got a chance to try different things and not feel crowded doing it.

Our first session was around Easter, so we chose “baby animals” as the theme. It was my colleague’s turn to do the planning, and we have both enjoyed how easy it is to put together a plan with this new template. Baby animals was a cute and fun theme (and one I’ve never done before), and the plan worked well for our older newcomers as well as our tried-and-true itty bitties. We had to do some tweaking on timing, but stations were all received well and everyone seemed to have a good time.

I was born a baby book cover, showing a small Black boy in a diaper only, with various baby animals standing behind him, including a cow calf, fawn, piglet, bear cub, rabbit kit, and horse foal.
animals move book cover, showing a photograph of a kitten pouncing in a meadow

Early Development Tip: Musical activities stimulate the auditory cortex and language centers in the brain. When children listen to and create rhythms, they’re engaging the same brain processes needed for decoding language. –My Little Conservatory

Welcome Song: Hello, Friends* 
Even with a larger number of kids, I still go around and sing this with everyone’s name. The kids really do love it, and it helps me learn names and storytime participants to learn each others’ names.

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: Wiggle and Wiggle and STOP*
I’ve used this as my warm-up song every summer for a few years! We decided with the broader age range to put “Wake Up Feet” on hold as it skews a bit younger. Wiggle and STOP is one everyone enjoys! I realized after re-watching the Jbrary video that I’ve morphed into a different tune. One of these days I’ll record my version. I have been doing “Wiggle” and two other verses/actions that change each week. Some options are jump, twirl, run, splash, hop, swim, stretch, stomp, wave, sway, march, lean, roll [arms,] hug, but you can really use any action here!

we wiggle and stop thumbnail, with a graphic of two pink worms. click the image to download a non-branded PDF

Lifting Rhyme: Toast in the Toaster* 
Okay, this one *seems* to be better for younger kids, but all I have to do is encourage the older kids to jump as high as they can at the end and it is instantly perfect for a 5 year old, too. I always give the option for a lap bounce and lift as well.

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

Intro: Spring is here, and this is the time of year that many animals will have their babies! Did you know that most animals have a special name we use for their babies? Who knows what a baby cat is called? A kitten! A baby owl is called an owlet, and he likes to stay in the nest until he’s ready to fly. A tiny kangaroo is a joey, and when she travels, she sits in her mama’s pouch. And a baby goat is called a kid (just like you!) Learning their names helps us understand how every big animal started out small.

Let’s see if you can guess the names of these animals.
My colleague had both some printed photographs of baby animals and she also made a flannel that highlighted the babies in their natural habitats. We talked about the photos and then she had a very cute guessing game rhyme for the habitats. I unfortunately forgot about the rhymes and didn’t have them printed out, so I just showed the animals and asked them to guess the baby names – which were not easy! It was good to have a few stumpers – I think everyone learned something! Rabbit was maybe the most surprising. I noted that we sometimes call a baby rabbit a bunny, but that’s really just a nickname. Rabbit babies are actually called kits! The flannel she made for this was really beautiful, too.
Flannel Game: Guess that Animal
My baby is called a tadpole.
I have four legs that help me jump.
I like to live near ponds and rivers.
I say “ribbit”.
What am I? A frog!

My baby is called a kit.
I have four legs.
I like to eat carrots.
I am small and fast.
What am I? A rabbit!

My baby is called a calf.
I have four legs.
I have a trunk that I use to grab my food.
I am big and gray.
What am I? An elephant!

My baby is called a pup.
I live in the ocean.
I have fins and a tail.
I’m a carnivore. I like to eat meat.
What am I? A shark!
Source: Ms Ali

printed cards of photos of baby animals - a kitten, puppy, lamb, calf, and chicks.

animal habitat flannel showing a pond with lily pad, a meadow with flowers, a savannah with acacia tree, and ocean with small school of fish
animal habitat flannel revealing animals: frog on the lily pad, a rabbit in the meadow, an elephant on the savannah, and shark in the ocean

What if we had a whole farm of baby animals?
I think we ended up doing 3 or 4 verses total. The phrasing was a little awkward, but it almost made it even more silly fun!
Themed Song: Old MacDonald Had a Baby Farm
Old MacDonald had a baby farm, E-I-E-I-O!
And on that farm he had a puppy, E-I-E-I-O!
With a woof, woof here
And a woof, woof there
Here a woof, there a woof,
Everywhere a woof, woof!
Old MacDonald had a baby farm, E-I-E-I-O!

Additional verses:
kitten – meow, lamb – baa, calf – moo, chicks – cheep, foal – neigh
Source: adapted from traditional

old macdonald had a baby farm thumbnail, with a graphic of a red barn. click the image to download a non-branded PDF

Transition: If You’re Ready for a Story*

This title would be a little long for the youngest group, but with a mixed group it seemed to work okay.
Read: I was Born a Baby by Meg Fleming & Brandon James Scott

I was born a baby book cover, showing a small Black boy in a diaper only, with various baby animals standing behind him, including a cow calf, fawn, piglet, bear cub, rabbit kit, and horse foal.

A neat back up – the photographs are pretty cool, and there were some very unusual babies, like porcupettes. It also has a built-in interactive element with all the movement!
Read: Animals Move by Jane Whittingham

animals move book cover, showing a photograph of a kitten pouncing in a meadow

Let’s get our scarves out now. Baby animals love to play! Can we roly poly our scarves like a baby puppy likes to roll in the grass?
We go straight to our props! There’s no need to theme these, but if I can find some kind of thread, I’ll make it! My coworker did this one like Jbrary does, to the tune of Frere Jacques, but I do it more as a chant like I saw in a video from storyteller Rebecca Jane Flanagan.
Scarf Rhyme: Roly Poly
(roll scarf accordingly)
Roly poly, roly, poly, up, up, up
Roly poly, roly, poly, down, down, down
Roly poly, roly, poly, out, out, out
Roly poly, roly, poly, in, in, in
Roly poly, roly, poly, BIG, BIG, BIG
Roly poly, roly, poly, very, very small
Roly poly, roly, poly, fast, fast, fast, fast, fast!
Rol…ly… po…ly… in… your… lap!
Source: Rebecca Jane Flanagan

roly poly thumbnail, with a graphic of a toy ball. click the image to download a non-branded PDF

Let’s have a snack. Ms. Ali says that before it becomes popcorn, we have baby kernels!
Scarf Song: Popcorn Kernels
(tune of Frère Jacques)
Popcorn kernels, popcorn kernels (wave scarves overhead)
In the pot, in the pot (bunch up scarf in your fist)
Shake them, shake them, shake them!
Shake them, shake them, shake them! (shake)
‘Til they POP! ‘Til they POP! (toss scarves up into the air)
Source: Jbrary

popcorn kernels thumbnail, with a photograph of two popped popcorn kernels. click the image to download a non-branded PDF

Can you scrunch up your scarf in your hands and get small? We’re going to start this rhyme very quietly!
Scarf Rhyme: Jack in the Box
Jack in the box (scrunch scarf up in fist)
Sits so still
Will he come out?
Yes, he will! (throw scarf in the air)
Source: Jbrary

jack in the box thumbnail, with a graphic of a colorful jester's head coming out of a box with a crank. click the image to download a non-branded PDF

We had one more scarf song ready but I was out of time at this point, so I skipped it!
Scarf Song: Fish In The Sea
(tune of Wheels on the Bus)
Fish in the sea go swish, swish, swish,
swish, swish, swish, swish, swish, swish
Fish in the sea go swish, swish, swish
All day long

additional verses:
Dolphins in the sea swim round and round
Waves on the sea go up and down
Source: Jbrary

Fish in the sea thumbnail, with a graphic of waves at the bottom and photos of a clownfish, small school of fish, dolphin and yellow tropical fish. click the image to download a non-branded PDF

Now we released to stations! I asked littles to come first, then the older kids, then I got out the toys and put them up in the storytime room for those who wanted to play right away.

Art Station: Sponge Paw Print Painting
My colleague cut out different kinds of animal prints from sponges, including birds, elephants, lizard/dino, humans, and die cut dog paws. We had art smocks and just let everyone make whatever they wanted from the sponge prints.

animal paw print art station showing a table with blank paper and paint, and on the wall is a sign for the station and examples of art
animal paw print art station table, with 8 messy trays and small plates with paint and sponges in the shape of different animal prints. there are art smocks on the chairs.

Gross Motor Station: Koala Swing
We have some small athletic cones, so this was basically a slalom, which turned into a Koala swing! Kids could grab a beanbag to be their koala joey and safely swing them from “tree” to “tree.”

koala swing station, showing athletic cones with pictures of trees on them

Fine Motor Station: Habitat Building
So this went through a bit of an evolution – I think the original idea was to make habitats with smaller materials, but it got changed to using our big blocks (like Legos, but much bigger!) to build habitats for some of our animal puppets. It was a very popular station, even if it was a little less “fine motor” skills. We are happy to be flexible and use the materials we have!

big blocks habitat station showing big legos on a rug with realistic animal puppets

Sensory Station: Animals on Vacation (Kinetic Sand)
Ha, so we didn’t feel like we really needed to theme every station, but this was just too good. We got out our kinetic sand from summers past and added our plastic farm animals for fun. Another very popular station.

kinetic sand station, showing a fitted sheet held down by two tables, and two clear bins with sand and plastic farm animal figurines

Toys and Puzzles
Our regular baby toys and puzzles, as well as soft food, babies in a basket, and lacing cards came out as another option for play. I didn’t capture a picture of this one.

After 20 minutes of free station time, I ring our bell to gather everyone again in the storytime room. Everyone helps put away the toys and puzzles before we end with our last two songs.

Action Song: Zoom, Zoom, Zoom!*

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

Goodbye Song: See You Later Alligator*

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

Other books I had available for families to browse (and may work for you on this theme)
Little Blue Truck’s Springtime – Alice Schertle & Jill McElmurry
Close Your Eyes: A Book of Sleepiness – Lori Haskins Houran & Sydney Hanson
Five Fuzzy Chicks – Diana Murray & Sydney Hanson
Pouch – David Ezra Stein
Puppies – Julie Murray
Baby Penguins Love Their Mama – Melissa Guion
Does a Kangaroo Have a Mother, Too? – Eric Carle
Hello, Baby! – Mem Fox & Steve Jenkins
Kitty’s Cuddles – Jane Cabrera
Baby Animals Moving – Suzi Eszterhas
Hello, Baby! I’m Your Mom – Eve Bunting & Jui Ishida
In Between – April Pulley Sayre
The Little Lamb – Phoebe Dunn
Loon Baby – Molly Beth Griffin & Anne Hunter
Peep Leap – Elizabeth Verdick & John Bendall-Brunello
Sweetest Kulu – Celina Kalluk & Alexandria Neonakis

This storytime was presented in-person on 4/8/26.

Storytime Handout:

handout with book suggestions, rhyme and song lyrics.

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

† Click the image of rhyme/song sheets to download a non-branded PDF

unearth a story CSLP graphic, with two dinosaurs reading in a jungle setting

“Unearth a Story” Ideas!

Posted on by msemilylibrary

Have you ever woken up in the middle of the night with some storytime inspiration? I have! I was struck by the Storytime Muse with ideas for my summer programs, which will again be outdoors. During the short storytime portion, we get out our parachute and do some fun songs with it – always the same each week. I’ve themed them loosely for the Collaborative Summer Library Program (CSLP) theme that my library uses. For “All Together Now,” for example, I said we all had to work together to make the parachute move. For “Adventure Begins at Your Library,” I used tunes like Row Your Boat for an adventure on water or A Smooth Road for one on land.

This year’s theme is “Unearth a Story,” and we chose weekly themes like dinosaurs, dirt/mud, worms, and buried treasure. Having some parachute activities that fit the overall theme is perfect for my plan. I’m looking forward to using these three and maybe they will help you, too. Happy summer planning!

See detailed posts about previous Outdoor Summer Storytimes here.

unearth a story CSLP graphic, with two dinosaurs reading in a jungle setting

Not an original, but a new way to use this song for a parachute! This would be an abbreviated version, not doing the “stop and eat their food” part. We would imitate the kind of movement we’re singing about with the parachute – marching being even and steady ups and downs, tiptoeing being very tiny waves, jumping being very big ones, and running being wild, fast shaking! Then, make the earth flat by pulling the ‘chute backward. Granted, the littlest ones might not be able to follow directions well enough to actually execute that part, but preschoolers would probably love that.
Parachute Song: We Are the Dinosaurs
We are the dinosaurs, marching, marching (wave chute in steady beat)
We are the dinosaurs, whaddaya think of that?
We are the dinosaurs, marching, marching
We are the dinosaurs we make the earth flat (pull parachute back to make flat)
(tiptoeing, jumping, running)
Source: Laurie Berkner, from the album Whaddaya Think of That?

We are the dinosaurs thumbnail, with a graphic of dinosaurs stomping the ground (illustrations from the picture book). click the image to download a non-branded PDF

I think the hard part of this one for me will be to remember to reverse the tune so my voice is high for “first level” and goes down, since I’m so used to the opposite for the elevator version of the song!
Parachute Song: Let’s Go Digging
(tune of Let’s go Riding on an Elevator)
Let’s go digging deep in the earth, in the earth, in the earth
Let’s go digging deep in the earth, dig along with me!
[Let’s start at the ground level and dig down!]
(start with chute high and high voice)
First level, second level, third level, fourth level, fifth level… (voice goes down)
[Oh, look! I found a fossil!/buried treasure/worm/dino bone]
And up, up, up, up, up! (voice goes up)
Source: piggyback lyrics by Ms. Emily Library

Let's go digging thumbnail, with a graphic of things found underground: a worm, a bone, a fossil, and a treasure chest. click the image to download a non-branded PDF

In my groups, some kids always want to go underneath the parachute. This rhyme would be a good one to direct the adults to do the waving and the kids to go under and pretend to be worms!
Parachute Rhyme: I’m a Worm
I’m a worm and I’m wiggling so slow (wave slowly)
I help to make the flowers grow (raise parachute high on “grow”)
But when I see a bird I wiggle quickly down (wave and lower chute)
Where I can wiggle and play underground! (wave low to ground)
Source: original (Ms. Emily Library)

I'm a worm thumbnail, with a graphic of a pink earthworm peeking up from below ground. click the image to download a non-branded PDF

† Click the image of rhyme/song sheets to download a non-branded PDF

I saw anaconda and chez bob book covers

Storytime: Gulp! (Animals Eating Animals)

Posted on by msemilylibrary

Okay, so yes, a storytime about animals getting eaten and swallowed up by other animals may seem a little morbid or inappropriate for babies and toddlers. But there are SO MANY books, rhymes, and songs that fit this theme! Little ones delight in sharks, snakes, crocodiles, lions, and bears being fearsome and sometimes eating other animals. All the activities we did were silly and fun, and not gruesome or graphic like a Discovery Channel special. And it was very puppet-friendly so we had lots of puppets as well as flannels!

Because some of my coworkers were not convinced that “Animals Eating Animals” (the title I’d given this theme in the past) would not alarm our adult caregivers, we did officially call this storytime “Gulp! A Storytime” in our marketing. In any case, we had fun and I promise no blood was shed in storytime.

See another version of this theme from 2021.

I saw anaconda book cover, showing a very large snake looking at a pale skinned child holding binoculars
chez bob book cover, showing a yellow alligator wearing a chef's hat and tux shaking salt on a bird sitting on his nose in front of a bird-sized table.

Early Development Tip: Children have wonderful imaginations. Encourage pretend play and find ways to expand it so that children explore different situations and characters. You can enrich their play by following their lead, adding new words, offering “what if” situations, and incorporating writing and print into their play. This kind of play adds to their “sense of story.”

Welcome Song: Hello, Friends* 

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* 
This is a repeated song that everyone seems to enjoy. I always begin and end with feet and tummies, but find two other body parts to wiggle in the middle. I rotate between elbows, cheeks, hips, noses, arms, chins, thighs, heads, shoulders, ears, knees, and fingers.

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* 

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

Intro: Out in the wild, animals sometimes eat other animals to stay alive. This makes them carnivores, or meat-eaters, or omnivores, which means they eat plants and animals. What about you? Are you a carnivore, omnivore, or even a herbivore (only eat plants)? One thing I love is that there are a lot of really funny stories and songs about animals eating animals!

How about turtles? They eat bugs and small fish!
I demoed this one with just my hands first, then I said, “Oh, turtle is here and wants to do this rhyme with us!” I really love this Folkmanis turtleneck turtle puppet – so adorable, and with a perfect mouth for snapping!
Fingerplay: There Was a Little Turtle
There was a little turtle (make fist with thumb sticking out)
who lived in a box (cover fist with arm)
he swam in the puddles (fist wiggles like swimming)
he climbed on the rocks (fist climbs up opposite arm)
He snapped at a mosquito, he snapped at a flea (pinch fingers)
He snapped at a minnow, he snapped at me (pinch fingers)
He caught that mosquito, He caught that flea (clap!)
He caught that minnow (clap!)
But he didn’t catch me! (waggle finger)
Source: Jbrary

There was a little turtle rhyme sheet with turtleneck turtle puppet in front of storytime easel

there was a little turtle thumbnail, with a graphic of a turtle with a green head and feet and brown shell. click the image to download a non-branded PDF

Transition: If You’re Ready for a Story*

Very similar to the Old Lady who Swallowed a Fly structure, but it’s an anaconda eating lots of animals (including a little kid!) Not to worry, it throws them all up at the end. Super fun with lots of interesting flaps.
Read: I Saw Anaconda by Jane Clarke & Emma Dodd

I saw anaconda book cover, showing a very large snake looking at a pale skinned child holding binoculars

This may be my all-time favorite animals eating animals book. It’s hilarious and clever, with lots of opportunities for funny voices and expressive reading. It is a little long for my littles, though, so I didn’t end up doing it. If I had a mixed group with preschoolers I definitely would, though!
Backup Read: Chez Bob by Bob Shea

chez bob book cover, showing a yellow alligator wearing a chef's hat and tux shaking salt on a bird sitting on his nose in front of a bird-sized table.

Oh, no! There’s a big snake back here!!!
I remember hearing some recording of this when I was a kid, and it’s stuck with me ever since. I got a snake puppet to “eat” me, but I’ve also seen people do this with one of those collapsible crawling tunnels and actually being “swallowed,” which is also cool!
Poem: Boa Constrictor
(your arm or your grownup can be the snake)
I’m being eaten by a boa constrictor
A boa constrictor, a boa constrictor
I’m being eaten by a boa constrictor
And I don’t like it– one bit
Well, what do you know? It’s nibblin’ my toe!
Oh Gee! It’s up to my knee! Oh My! It’s up to my thigh!
Oh Fiddle! It’s up to my middle! Oh Heck! It’s up to my neck!
Oh Dread! It’s upmmmmmmmmmmffffffffff…
Source: Shel Silverstein from Where the Sidewalk Ends

boa constrictor rhyme sheet with stuffed snake on storytime easel

boa constrictor thumbnail, with a graphic of a large coiled brown snake. click the image to download a non-branded PDF

If you go to the swamp, look out for the crocodiles!
Action Rhyme: The Hungry Crocodile
Here comes the hungry crocodile with his sly, toothy smile
Going chomp chomp chomp In the swamp swamp swamp
So swim fast, fish. Birds, fly away.
Move along, turtles and crabs, Hurry on your way
For here comes the hungry crocodile w/ his sly, toothy smile
Going chomp chomp chomp In the swamp swamp swamp
Source: King County (WA) Library System

hungry crocodile thumbnail, with a graphic of a green crocodile with mouth open. click the image to download a non-branded PDF

The crocodile has a cousin – the alligator!
We had this frog flannel in storage – obviously made for Five Green and Speckled Frogs, but it works just as well for this song, especially with a big alligator puppet. I love how jazzy it is!
Counting/Puppet/Flannel Song: Five Frogs
Five frogs were hoppin’ on a log
One hopped off into the pond
Then a big alligator came a-swimmin’ along
He went, “Chomp! Mm-mm.” Now he’s gone. (Count down)
Source: Anna Moo, from the album Anna Moo Crackers

flannel of 5 green frogs, each with different colored speckles. Above the flannelboard, an alligator puppet

five frogs thumbnail, with a graphic of five frogs sitting on a log with an alligator swimming in the water underneath them. click the image to download a non-branded PDF

Did you know there may be a CARNIVORE in your HOUSE? Who has a cat or dog?
Action Song: The Old Gray Cat
The old gray cat is sleeping, (lay head in hands)
Sleeping, sleeping
The old gray cat is sleeping
In the house (peak hands up to make a roof above head)

additional verses:
The little mice are creeping… (creep fingers)
The little mice are nibbling… (pretend to eat)
The old gray cat is creeping… (creep/stalk fingers)
The little mice go scampering… (quickly, and pat lap)
Source: King County (WA) Library System

the old gray cat thumbnail, with a graphic of a gray cat with eyes closed and two brown mice in front of her. Click the image to download a non-branded PDF.

Who said they have a dog? I have a dog, too! (show puppet)
I made a new Bark, George box! The one from my previous library was made by a volunteer and stayed there. It was fun to make my own using inspiration from Literary Commentary. To share, I showed the book and acknowledged the author, but said I’d be retelling the story with my dog puppet instead of reading the book today.
Puppet Retelling: Bark, George by Jules Feiffer

Download my one-page script for Bark, George here!

bark george puppet, made from a box covered in brown paper with eyes, muzzle, ears, and tongue added. The mouth is where the box opens on a hinge.
bark george puppet, made from a box covered in brown paper with eyes, muzzle, ears, and tongue added. The mouth is where the box opens on a hinge. Shown in this picture with a frog puppet halfway out of the mouth.

bark george book cover showing a picture of a brown dog looking up

I had this on my list as an optional song so I didn’t end up using it for time, but it is a really fun one. I usually say, something like, “Let’s do a song about a baby shark! OH, not THAT baby shark!” I don’t think I’ll ever do Baby Shark in storytime again. Since it got popular it’s been ruined for me!
Action Song: The Shark Song
Oh, there’s a shark, do-do, do-do-do
A baby shark, do-do, do-do-do
He lives in the ocean, do-do, do-do-do
He eats fish, CHOMP-CHOMP! CHOMP! CHOMP!
He has a fin, do-do, do-do-do
A dorsal fin, do-do, do-do-do
And that’s the end, do-do, do-do-do
[But it’s not the end! What about sister shark?]
(repeat with sister, mama, daddy, grandma, etc)
Source: The Ooey Gooey Lady

the shark song thumbnail, with a graphic of a happy looking shark and two small fish. click the image to download a non-branded PDF

Let’s turn to the ocean. Oh, here’s a little fish. Little fish is just swimming along…
Yes, I changed great white shark to mako shark because I read that mako sharks actually do eat octopus AND have been found in the bellies of sperm whales. Science! Someday I will redo this flannel to make each piece a little larger than the last one rather than being mostly the same size. I didn’t use the tuna fish for this group, just to make it a little shorter.
Action/Flannel Song: Slippery Fish
Slippery fish, slippery fish, sliding through the water,
Slippery fish, slippery fish, Gulp, Gulp, Gulp!
Oh, no! It’s been eaten by an …

Jellyfish … floating in the water
Octopus … squiggling in the water
[Tuna fish … flashing in the water]
Mako shark … lurking in the water
Humongous whale … spouting in the water…
Gulp! … Gulp! … Gulp! … BURP!
(Cover mouth) Excuse you!
Source: Jbrary

slippery fish flannel, showing a small green fish, a pink jellyfish, a gray octopus, a white tuna fish, the head of a gray shark with mouth open, and a blue whale

slippery fish thumbnail, with a graphic of a small blue fish, pink jellyfish, red octopus, shark with an open mouth, and big blue whale. The whale is behind the text. click the image to download a non-branded PDF

Action Song: Zoom, Zoom, Zoom!*

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

Craft: Shark Attack Craft
Inspired by this newsprint shark craft from iHeartCraftyThings, this was a silly shark scene. It did involve a lot of pieces and gluing. I enlisted the help of volunteers to cut everything out (and just used gray construction paper rather than newsprint.) I also added a small die-cut fish for the shark to be about to eat! I am thinking about making glue sponges for the future – they seem a lot easier than glue sticks. What do you think? Has anyone used them before? If I’d had more time, I might have pre-glued the shark and the water and let them do the facial features, but it seemed to work out and I didn’t get any complaints from grownups.

Shark craft showing a large shark face looking down at the water in front o fit where a little green fish is swimming. There are lots of sharp white teeth!

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*

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

Other books I had available for families to browse (and may work for you on this theme)
One Day in the Eucalyptus, Eucalyptus Tree – Daniel Bernstrom & Brendan Wenzel
One Day at the Bottom of the Deep Blue Sea – Daniel Bernstrom & Brandon James Scott
Swallow the Leader – Danna Smith & Kevin Sherry
That is NOT a Good Idea! – Mo Willems
Lucky Duck – Greg Pizzoli
I’m the Biggest Thing in the Ocean – Kevin Sherry
What Does an Anteater Eat? – Ross Collins
There Was an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Fly – Simms Taback
Duckworth, the Difficult Child – Michael Sussman & Júlia Sardà
Don’t Eat Eustace – Lian Cho
One Fox – Kate Read
Seals Are Jerks! – Jared Chapman
The Wolf, the Duck, & the Mouse – Mac Barnett & Jon Klassen
I’m Hungry! / ¡Tengo hambre! – Angela Dominguez 
This is Not My Hat – Jon Klassen
I Want My Hat Back – Jon Klassen
Mina – Matthew Forsythe
Tadpole’s Promise – Jeanne Willis & Tony Ross
Pierre – Maurice Sendek
We Don’t Eat Our Classmates – Ryan T Higgins
Carnivores – Aaron Reynolds & Dan Santat

This storytime was presented in-person on 3/11/26.

Storytime Handout:

handout with book suggestions, rhyme and song lyrics.

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

† Click the image of rhyme/song sheets to download a non-branded PDF

cat knit, don't worry wuddles, and knit together book covers

Storytime: Knitting & Yarn

Posted on by msemilylibrary

Any other knitters out there? Knitting and yarn is a fun storytime theme and I love that I get to share one of my hobbies with the littles. They always have some wide eyes when I show them a couple of knit stitches, and it’s a great way to think about the origins of things, tracing a sweater or hat all the way back to sheep. I did make up a couple of piggyback songs for this one (the first time I did this theme) and they work pretty well.

One thing I struggled a bit with is using Baa Baa Black Sheep. I couldn’t think of another way to use my “naked sheep” flannel and I wanted to do a sheep activity of some kind. I took another look at the origins and decided to use the song, though I did make some slight changes. I believe this is one of those rhymes that originally did not have any racial meaning, though of course connotative meanings get added over time and can also do real harm even if they weren’t original. The document that I have seen in the past of a list of problematic rhymes and songs has two notations for this song. The first looks to be the song basically as we sing it today, and the illustration does not show anything objectionable that I could tell – I’m not sure why it was listed in the document. The second is from a book called “Negro Folk Rhymes” which *does* include objectionable language, but from what I can tell is an adaptation of the original and not widely known. The tune to the song is the same as Twinkle Twinkle and the ABCs, so that’s not something that is tied to racism (unlike the “One Little, Two Little” song.) So, I did not do any “black sheep” verses, opting instead to do red, blue, and pink, and changed the word “master” to “mister.” Is it enough? I hope so. If you have an opinion that respectfully disagrees, I would love to hear it. And I’d love to hear alternative options for different colored and naked sheep flannel games, too!

See another version of this theme from 2021.

cat knit book cover, showing a irritated dark gray cat tangled up in red yarn, with the ball end in the foreground with a pair of knitting needles in it.
don't worry wuddles book cover, showing a shaggy sheep with a small yellow duckling making off with some wool.
knit together book cover, showing a mother and daughter hugging. The daughter is wearing a knit hat and scarf and the title is made with red yarn.

Early Development Tip: (two tips today!) Lacing activities help children develop fine motor skills, hand/eye coordination, motor planning, visual perception, improved attention, patience, and perseverance. In addition, lacing helps children practice the precursor skills for shoe tying and writing.
We count up and down from the number five often in storytime! It’s a great idea to mix it up sometimes and choose a different number to start with, such as in our rhyme “Six Balls of Yarn.”

Welcome Song: Hello, Friends* 

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* 
This is a repeated song that everyone seems to enjoy. I always begin and end with feet and tummies, but find two other body parts to wiggle in the middle. I rotate between elbows, cheeks, hips, noses, arms, chins, thighs, heads, shoulders, ears, knees, and fingers.

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* 

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

Intro: [Have some knitting to show.] This is yarn! And I’m knitting with my yarn! Knitting is a way to make yarn into clothes like sweaters, mittens, hats, scarves. Is anyone wearing a something made of yarn today? Are any grownups knitters?

In order to knit, your fingers need to be all warmed up. And someone who really knows how to weave and knit a beautiful web is spider!
Okay, a bit of a stretch, but it was a good way to get us started. I always repeat this one with GREAT BIG SPIDER with your whole hand and sing loudly and tiny shy spider with fingertips in a whisper.
Fingerplay: 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
So the itsy bitsy spider climbed up the spout again
Source: traditional

the itsy bitsy spider thumbnail, with a graphic of a smiling spider next to a rain gutter attached to a red brick wall. click the image to download a non-branded PDF

Transition: If You’re Ready for a Story*

A funny and short book, perfect for my group. Lots of smiles and laughs.
Read: Cat Knit by Jacob Grant

cat knit book cover, showing a irritated dark gray cat tangled up in red yarn, with the ball end in the foreground with a pair of knitting needles in it.

Knit Togetheris a lovely story about a girl and her mom who work on designing a knit piece together, but my library doesn’t actually own it. I borrowed it from my home library as a backup but didn’t end up using it. My library DOES have Don’t Worry Wuddles, which is a cute one about a duckling who takes all of a sheep’s wool to keep the other animals warm, but it’s a little ambiguous about knitting – it kind of looks like the yarn is just wound around the animals.
Backup Reads: Knit Together by Angela Dominguez OR Don’t Worry Wuddles by Lita Judge

knit together book cover, showing a mother and daughter hugging. The daughter is wearing a knit hat and scarf and the title is made with red yarn.
don't worry wuddles book cover, showing a shaggy sheep with a small yellow duckling making off with some wool.

Do you know where woolen yarn comes from? Sheep! Sheep’s wool come in different colors, like white, black, gray, and brown, just like we have different hair colors. But I have some EXTRAORDINARY colored sheep!
See my note above for all my dithering about using this rhyme. I do like the second and third verses, I found them at Book Besotted Librarian but I don’t know if they are traditional or not. The last verse I’ve previously attributed to Piper Loves the Library (where I definitely stole the flannel pattern), but going to the site her rhyme is much different. It’s possible I made it up, but I don’t remember! The flannel is fun – the “naked sheep” has a removable sweater! Note that the rhyme sheet is two pages; the preview only shows the first, but the PDF includes both.
Nursery Rhyme: Baa, Baa, Sheep
Baa, baa red sheep have you any wool?
Yes, sir, yes, sir, three bags full
One for the mister, One for the dame
And one for the little boy who lives down the lane

Baa baa blue sheep have you any wool?
Yes, ma’am, yes ma’am, three needles full
One to mend a jumper, One to mend a frock
And one for the little girl, With holes in her socks

Baa baa pink sheep have you any wool?
Yes, child, yes, child, three bags full
One for the kitten, One for the cats
And one for the guinea pigs to knit some woolly hats

Baa baa, naked sheep have you any wool?
No, friend, no, friend, I’m cold right through!
Baa baa, naked sheep, what can we do?
Knit a sweater for me and you!
Source: traditional, 2nd and 3rd verses from Book Besotted Librarian, last vs adapted from Piper Loves the Library

flannel for baa baa sheep, showing sheep with red, blue and pink wool, and a sheep wearing a striped sweater.

baa baa sheep page one of two, thumbnail, with a graphic of a dark faced sheep with red wool and a light faced sheep with blue wool. click the image to download a non-branded PDF

Sometimes I put on glasses to read a book or to do my knitting!
We practice putting our glasses on and off, and opening and closing our books before we started. For “yarn” I pretended to hold a ball of yarn, and for “knit” I fiddled my fingers together.
Action Song: These Are My Glasses
These are my glasses, And this is my book
I put on my glasses, And open up the book
Now I read, read, read, And I look, look, look
I put down my glasses and…
WHOOP! Close up the book

These are my glasses, And this is my yarn
I put on my glasses And start to knit my yarn
Now I look, look, look, And I knit, knit, knit
I put down my glasses and…
WHOOP! It’s time to quit
Source: Laurie Berkner, from the album Whaddaya Think of That?
second verse by Ms. Emily

These are my glasses thumbnail, with a graphic of a pair of glasses, a green book, a pair of knitting needles, and a skein of pink yarn. click the image to download a non-branded PDF

I have some lovely yarn here! What colors do you see?
I used only six colors from my Ten Balls of Yarn set, as ten gets a bit much for this age. The flannel was a labor of love. I am so pleased with how it turned out, even though it was a lot of work! Click the link for more on how I made it, plus a downloadable template. For this storytime, I made a new felt basket to put them in! I also used a cat puppet to pull the balls off of the flannelboard.
Counting Rhyme: Six Balls of Yarn
Six balls of yarn, sitting in a bowl
One fell out and started to…. ROLL (roll arms)
It bounced on my foot and there it sits
How many balls are left to knit?
(count down to one)
Source: Canton Public Library (MI)

picture of ten balls of yarn flannel updated with a brown basket. The yarn colors are purple, green, white, blue, black, red, orange, yellow, brown, and pink.

six balls of yarn thumbnail, with a graphic of six multicolored yarn balls in a basket. click the image to download a non-branded PDF

Warm clothes can be knitted with warm yarn – like a sweater!
I have not figured out motions for this song that work REALLY well – I directed the group to rub their arms during the first part of the song, and do an exaggerated forward and back motion with their arms during the “bring back” portion. I played this on ukulele, so I wasn’t able to do any of the motions myself, which always makes it harder.
Ukulele Song: My Sweater
(tune of My Bonnie)
My sweater is warm and cozy
My sweater is warm and dry
When I play in very cold weather
Oh, bring me a sweater to wear
Oh, bring me, bring me, bring me a sweater to wear, to wear
Bring me, bring me, oh bring me a sweater to wear!
Source: Johnson County (KS) Library

Get a copy of the ukulele song sheet for My Bonnie!

my bonnie ukulele songsheet thumbnail

my sweater thumbnail, with a graphic of an orange turtleneck sweater with a heart. click the image to download a non-branded PDF

Rhythm Sticks Intro: Let’s get out our rhythm sticks and practice! Can you make your sticks go Fast & Loud? Slow & Quiet? In a Circle? Drive them like a car? Rest them on your shoulders? Tap the ground? Okay, listen carefully! Fast, Quiet, Shoulders, etc.
It’s always good to do some practice with the sticks before we really get started. I use unsharpened pencils instead of traditional rhythm sticks to make it easier for the littles.

Let’s pretend our sticks are knitting needles!
I actually have a pair of jumbo knitting needles, so that’s what I used for my sticks! I have used variations on this rhyme many times – it works really well! This time I wanted to capitalize on the sticks, so made sure we did some tapping and rolling. The tricky one was tapping your sticks while turning in a circle, but the challenge made it fun.
Rhythm Stick Rhyme: Knitting Needles UP
Knitting needles up!
Knitting needles down!
Tap your knitting needles and turn around
Knitting needles up!
Knitting needles down!
Roll your knitting needles around and around
Source: One Little Librarian

knitting needles up thumbnail, with a graphic of a light skinned hand holding a pair of knitting needles. click the image to download a non-branded PDF

What kinds of noises do our needles make?
Rhythm Stick Song: Click Clack Went the Knitting Needles
(tune of Mmm Ahh Went the Little Green Frog)
Click, clack went the knitting needles one day (pretend to knit)
Click, clack went the knitting needles
Click, clack went the knitting needles one day,
and they both went click clack click!

But… We know needles go
Tappy-tappy-tap! Tappy-tappy-tap! (big taps!)
Tappy-tappy-tap!
We know needles go
Tappy-tappy-tap!
They don’t go click, click, clack

Additional verse:
Roll, roll went the big ball of yarn one day… (roll arms/sticks)
But… we know yarn goes
Bouncy-bouncy-bounce… (bounce sticks in a vertical position)
Source: Canton Public Library (MI)

click clack thumbnail, with a graphic of some green yarn being knit into a smallswatch. click the image to download a non-branded PDF

Can you listen carefully to the instructions in this song?
This was a song that a colleague played every week in storytime at my old library. It’s fun and has some good instructions, but isn’t too hard. I even had one caregiver ask about it afterwards as she wanted to play it at home!
Recorded Rhythm Stick Song: Tap Your Sticks
Source: Hap Palmer, from the album Rhythms on Parade

image of Rhythms on Parade album cover showing animals following a kangaroo

Action Song: Zoom, Zoom, Zoom!*

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

Craft: Yarn Hearts Craft
As this was the week before Valentine’s Day, I chose a craft that could be made into a Valentine if they wished. We have a die cut for a large heart with scalloped edges, so I cut those out in pink paper. Then I cut short lengths of yarn in varying colors and provided liquid glue for adhesion. Tip: wrap yarn around your hand (4 fingers) many times, then cut the whole bunch at the bottom and the top for neat, even short lengths of yarn. I mentioned that kids could follow the lines of glue on their papers or just scattershot, making sure their yarn was touching some glue. For even older kids, you could encourage them to draw or write with the glue and then follow it with the yarn. It’s a craft that scales for age!

photo of a pink heart with scallops around the edge with colored yarn glued on in a haphazard way.

Is it helpful to see the setup for crafts? This is what it looked like on each table. I put everything on a messy tray except some baby wipes for gluey hands.

photo of craft setup, showing piles of different colored yarn, pink paper hearts, and liquid glue on a messy tray, with a package of baby wipes on the table next to it.

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*

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

Other books I had available for families to browse (and may work for you on this theme)
Where Is the Green Sheep? – Mem Fox & Judy Horacek
Extra Yarn – Mac Barnett & Jon Klassen
Sweater Weather – Matt Phelan
Hide and Sheep – Andrea Beaty & Bill Mayer
A Hat for Mrs. Goldman – Michelle Edwards & G Brian Karas
While We Wait – Judy Ann Sadler & Élodie Duhameau
Silli’s Sheep – Tiffany Stone & Louis Thomas
Lester’s Dreadful Sweaters – KG Campbell
The Mitten – Jan Brett
Sheep Dog and Sheep Sheep – Eric Barclay
Knitty Kitty – David Elliott & Christopher Denise
If You Want to Knit Some Mittens – Laura Purdie Salas & Angela Matteson
Penguin in Love – Salina Yoon

This storytime was presented in-person on 2/11/26.

Storytime Handout:

handout with book suggestions, rhyme and song lyrics.

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

† Click the image of rhyme/song sheets to download a non-branded PDF

book covers for hiders seekers finders keepers and after the snowfall

Storytime: Animals in Winter

Posted on by msemilylibrary

This week we are talking about all the different things that animals do to survive and adapt to the winter months. It isn’t quite winter yet (in fact the high temp the day I did this program was 70° F!) but it was a good opportunity to point things out that may be happening in the next several weeks or months.

This theme was chosen by my new colleague, and I’m really thrilled to be working with someone who has as much of a passion for littles as I do. Since I had done a Hibernation storytime fairly recently, as well as one on Polar animals in the past, I decided to change up a couple of her selections and go more with backyard/woodland animals and their winter adaptations for my session. It was both fun and challenging – fun to find activities that worked well, and challenging that there weren’t as many options to choose from. (If you look up “winter animal storytime” you find a lot of hibernation and polar animals!) But looking up “songs about geese migrating” or “songs about tracks in the snow” did unearth some treasures for me. I added a couple more about snow in general to fill out the plan.

Hiders Seekers finders keepers book cover, showing a child and adult walking in a snowy landscape, and a cutaway look at the ground beneath showing chipmunk burrows.
after the snowfall book cover, showing a minimalist snowy landscape with two bare trees.

Early Literacy Tip: You don’t always need to read all of (or even any of) the text in a book for your child for them to benefit. Simply looking at and talking about the illustrations in books is a great way to interact. It also gives your child practice at what we do when we read – we look from left to right, turn the pages a certain way, and all the talking you’re doing is giving them vocabulary, background knowledge, and more practice at noticing and observing what is on the page. adapted from The Early Literacy Kit: A Handbook and Tip Cards by Betsy Diamant-Cohen & Saroj Ghoting

Welcome Song: Hello, Friends* †

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*
This is a repeated song that everyone seems to enjoy. I always begin and end with feet and tummies, but find two other body parts to wiggle in the middle. I rotate between elbows, cheeks, hips, noses, arms, chins, thighs, heads, shoulders, ears, knees, and fingers.

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*

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

Intro: It’s starting to get chilly in Indiana. Soon it will be winter! When we get cold, we can put on our hats, coats, mittens, boots. But when animals get cold, what do they do? Where do they go?

This rhyme talks about several ways animals adapt – they gather extra food, they migrate to somewhere warmer, they grow heavier coats, or they hibernate.
Action Rhyme: Winter is Cold
Winter is cold (shiver)
There is snow in the sky (fingers wiggle down)
The squirrel gathers nuts (pretend to pick up nuts)
And the wild geese fly (flap arms)
The fluffy red fox has fur to keep warm (stroke arms)
The bear’s in a cave sleeping all through the storm (lay head on hands)
Source: Adventures in Storytime

winter is cold thumbnail, with a graphic of a fox, a squirrel, a canadian goose, and a sleeping bear. click the image to download a non-branded PDF

Transition: If You’re Ready for a Story* 

I discovered this book last time I did a Hibernation theme, but didn’t end up using it. It’s a really excellent nonfiction title, with a short main text with extra information in bubbles that isn’t necessary for the flow of the book. It gave a great opportunity to share the Early Literacy Tip of the day.
Read: Hiders, Seekers, Finders, Keepers: How Animals Adapt in Winter by Jessica Kulekjian & Salini Perera

Hiders Seekers finders keepers book cover, showing a child and adult walking in a snowy landscape, and a cutaway look at the ground beneath showing chipmunk burrows.

My backup title is one that emphasizes animals that are active in the winter with a simple text and colorful but minimal cut paper artwork.
Read: After the Snowfall by Rich Lo

after the snowfall book cover, showing a minimalist snowy landscape with two bare trees.

Oh, my! It’s starting to snow!
Fingerplay: Winter Counting
1, 2, 3 Snowflakes fall
4, 5, 6 We count them all
7, 8, 9 Squirrels play
10 Snowflakes make a winter day
Source: Ms Ali

winter counting thumbnail, with a graphic of two squirrels playing in the snow. click the image to download a non-branded PDF

After all that snow, it may be hard for some animals to find food.
The only thing I changed was to replace the word “wilderness” in the first line to “backyard.”
Action Rhyme: Animals in the Snow
(mime movements)
Out in the backyard I can see
So many animals have been here before me
I refill feeders and put out seeds
In hopes that the animals will have plenty of feed
I wipe off the window from inside my house,
And spot the flash of a little mouse – squeak, squeak!
Soon other animals come to eat
All the birds give a happy tweet
When nighttime falls, the seeds are gone
But I’ll scatter more in the morning at dawn!
Source: Storytime Stuff

animals in the snow thumbnail, with a graphic of a red male cardinal at a bird feeder. click the image to download a non-branded PDF

Let’s go on a sleigh ride in the snow – the animals don’t have to have all the fun!
Bounce: Sleigh Ride
Let’s go on a sleigh ride through the snow
Up and down and up and down
And away we go!
We climb so high ‘til we reach the top
Then whoosh down the hill
Until we STOP!
Source: Intellidance

sleigh ride thumbnail, with a graphic of a capybara with a striped hat and scarf sledding. click the image to download a non-branded PDF

Oh, wow! I see animal tracks in the snow. Let’s see what animals may have made them.
I had used an animal track field guide as room decorations 3-4 years ago, and found that document again for this activity. I showed the track first, then we sang the song, and then revealed which animal it was. It says “counting fingerplay” but I ended up completely forgetting to count my animals as we went along. Oops. I had a bare tree and some snowflakes from another flannel set, and added printed pictures of animals from Canva with the tracks. Made for a very busy flannelboard at the end, but it still worked.
Counting Fingerplay: Tracks in the Snow
I see some tracks in the snow
I want to know: Where do they go?
I follow them around the tree
Can you guess what do I see?
Source: Music Time Kid

Printable Animal Tracks Field Guide from Personal Creations.

Printable Animal illustrations.

winter animals and tracks in the snow flannel, with a felt bare tree and felt snowflakes in the background and printed photos of animals and an example of their track. Included are deer, fox, rabbit, raccoon, squirrel, cardinal, and housecat.

tracks in the snow thumbnail, with a graphic of various crisscrossing animal tracks in light blue over the whole page, behind the text. click the image to download a non-branded PDF

Time to get out our scarves! We’ve talked a lot about squirrels. Your scarf looks a little like a squirrel tail!
Scarf Song: Frisky Squirrel
(tune of the Grand Old Duke of York)
Oh, the frisky little squirrel
She gathers nuts and seeds
She hides them for the winter months
So she’ll have all she needs

Oh, up-up-up she goes
And down-down-down she comes
She runs around, goes up and down
Her work is never done
Source: Storytime Secrets

frisky squirrel thumbnail, with a graphic of a squirrel standing on its hind legs. click the image to download a non-branded PDF

It’s starting to snow again! Can your scarf be a snowflake?
Scarf Song: Watch the Snowflakes
(tune of Frère Jacques)
Watch the snowflakes, Watch the snowflakes
Floating down, Floating down
Oh so very slowly, Oh so very slowly
To the ground, To the ground
(repeat: from so very high, quickly, twirly)
Source: Jen in the Library

watch the snowflakes thumbnail, with a graphic of various snowflake designs in shades of blue. click the image to download a non-branded PDF

Remember that geese fly south in the winter? That’s a long way to go. They fly in a particular V formation. This is a song about how they take turns at the point of their V so no one gets too tired! Can you flap your scarf like a goose?
I made a rhyme sheet and included the very simple chorus, but mainly wanted to have a visual of the V to point to. But I did get lots of enthusiastic singing on the choruses from the grown-ups, so, win!
Recorded Song: Honk, Honk!
Source: Birdsong and the Eco-Wonders, from the album “Everything is Connected (and Other Animal Songs for Kids)” accessed through Spotify

honk honk thumbnail, with a graphic of a group of geese flying in a v shape above a close up illustration of a canadian goose. click the image to download a non-branded PDF

Action Song: Zoom, Zoom, Zoom!*

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

Craft: V-Flying Geese
Crafts are back now that we have full storytime coverage! I saw a very cute flying geese V on Pinterest and did a simplified version for storytime. Instead of painting the paper (which looks so cool but we don’t have time for), I used our die-cutter to make Vs from gray construction paper, and provided white crayons. Grown ups could make a big V on the dark blue background page for the kids to glue their little vs to, and then they could add some winter snow in the background.

photo of craft with seven die cut gray "v"s arranged in a v shape on a dark blue page. The background has snowflakes drawn with white crayon.

Play Time
I put out a laundry basket of baby toys – rattles and cars, sorters and stackers, toy phones and spinners. For the older toddlers and siblings, we have foam blocks, soft food toys, puzzles, plastic farm animals, and lacing cards and I rotate among a few of these options each session. We play for 5-10 minutes at the most, then I ring the bell and ask the kids to help me clean up. The clean up bit is good practice for them – I often say “it’s hard to say goodbye to toys, so that’s why we practice every storytime!” I think that helps the grown ups who may be embarrassed that their kid is crying or refusing to put a toy away. So much of what we do in storytime is practicing skills, and I don’t expect the kids to “do it right’ every time, or even most times.

Goodbye Song: See You Later Alligator* 

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

Other books I had available for families to browse (and may work for you on this theme)
On a Flake-Flying Day – Buffy Silverman
Cold Turkey – Corey R Schwartz, Kirsti Call & Chad Otis
Time to Sleep – Denise Fleming
The Busy Little Squirrel – Nancy Tafuri
Under the Snow – Melissa Stewart & Constance R. Bergum
Over & Under the Snow – Kate Messner & Christopher S Neal
Duck, Duck, Goose! – John Hare
Señorita Mariposa – Ben Gundersheimer & Marcos A Rivero
Bear Snores On – Karma Wilson & Jane Chapman
Knock Knock – Tammi Sauer & Guy Francis

This storytime was presented in-person on 11/5/25.

Storytime Handout:

handout with book suggestions, rhyme and song lyrics.

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

† Click the image of rhyme/song sheets to download a non-branded PDF

apples gallery of book titles: all for pie, pie for all, mine, and tap the magic tree.

Storytime: Apples

Posted on by msemilylibrary

Back to basics for a fall storytime about apples! This is one of those themes that is so common, but it is just such a tried-and-true. It was nice to revisit again, shuffle up the activities and try something new. I had put together a program proposal for a preschool aged group for a job interview with this theme, and for that I used rhythm sticks as the prop, with an anchor in the Pie Song. For my younger group, I kept the Pie Song but used shaker eggs instead.

You can find other versions of this theme from 2020 and 2022.

all for pie, pie for all book cover, with an image of a grandmother cat holding a pie.
Mine! book cover, showing a bear, fox, and rabbit jumping for a falling red apple.
tap the magic tree book cover, showing a tree's branches in various seasons.

Early Development Tip: Grownups, spending time to TALK through different scenarios can help your child learn problem solving skills, and gives them practice in thinking through the outcomes of different decisions. When we play the “what if” game, we’re building thinking skills!

Welcome Song: Hello, Friends* †

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*
This is a repeated song that everyone seems to enjoy. I always begin and end with feet and tummies, but find two other body parts to wiggle in the middle. I rotate between elbows, cheeks, hips, noses, arms, chins, thighs, heads, shoulders, ears, knees, and fingers.

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*

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

Intro: Who likes apples?  I do!  Apples are ripe and fresh right now, so let’s celebrate this delicious fruit!  Where do apples come from?  Apples grow from little seeds into tall apple trees!

Action Song: A Little Apple Seed
(tune of Itsy Bitsy Spider)
Once a little apple seed was planted in the ground (pinch finger together like a small seed)
Down came the rain drops falling all around (fingers wiggle downward)
Out came the big sun bright as bright could be (join hands in circle above head)
And the little apple seed grew up to be an apple tree (start with the pinch, then grow arms out)
Source: Madelyn’s Library Programming

a little apple seed thumbnail, with a graphic of an apple tree full of apples with raindrops on the left and the sun on the right. click the image to download a non-branded PDF

Transition: If You’re Ready for a Story*

I love this story. The repetition, the anticipation of what’s happening next, and the adorable animals all make it a winner for me.
Read: All for Pie, Pie for All by David Martin & Valeri Gorbachev

book cover for all for pie pie for all

My backup titles. I really enjoyed the art of Mine! but I really wanted a book that tied apples to pie.
Backup titles: Mine! by Candace Fleming & Eric Rohmann OR Tap the Magic Tree by Christie Matheson.

Mine! book cover, showing a bear, fox, and rabbit jumping for a falling red apple.
tap the magic tree book cover, showing a tree's branches in various seasons.

Let’s go on a ride to the apple orchard.
Bounce: A Smooth Road
[The road starts out paved so it’s… ]
A smooth road! (repeat x4) (slowly, and sway baby gently)
[Oh, the road has turned to gravel! Now it’s… ]
A bumpy road! (x4) (a little faster, bouncing gently up and down)
[Now we’re in between all the trees and it’s… ]
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

a smooth road thumbnail, with the lyrics only. click the image to download a non-branded PDF

Tired of “Way Up High in the Apple Tree?” Here’s another apple tree rhyme to try, courtesy of Storytime in the Stacks. She has a really great “Math Talk” video on her page, talking through how to share four apples fairly. I highly recommend watching. I did a simplified version with my groups, and said our early development tip right after. I also changed “Four Red Apples” to “Four Juicy Apples” since my flannel apples were different colors.
Flannel Rhyme: Four Juicy Apples
Four juicy apples growing in a tree
Two for you and two for me! (hold up two fingers on each hand)
Help me shake the tree just so, (make a shaking motion)
And all the apples will fall below!
Source: Storytime in the Stacks

Flannel showing a large simple tree with green foliage and four large apples of different colors: dark red, yellow, light green, and light red.

four juicy apples thumbnail, with a graphic of an apple tree with three apples on the tree and one in the middle of falling. click the image to download a non-branded PDF

Now all of our apples have fallen, it’s time to eat one!
Rhyme: Eat an Apple
Eat an apple (bring hand to mouth)
Save the core (close hand in fist)
Plant some seeds (bend down to touch hand to ground)
And grow some more! (extend both arms out)
Source: preschooleducation.com

eat an apple thumbnail, with a graphic of an apple core. click the image to download a non-branded PDF

Let’s get out our shakers! Can we practice some shaking movements?
Shaker Rhyme: Egg Shakers Up
Egg shakers up, egg shakers down
Egg shakers 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: Jbrary

egg shakers up thumbnail, with a graphic of four different colored egg shapes. click the image to download a non-branded PDF

Okay, it’s time for us to make our own apple pie! Let’s start by slicing up our apples – hold your apple steady (egg) and slice it up with your other hand! Careful, that’s a sharp knife!
I modeled this after a “make a pizza” video but it works well with pie, too!
Shaker Song: The Pie Song
(tune of Skip to My Lou)
Slice, slice, slice the fruit (mime motions)
Slice, slice, slice the fruit
Slice, slice, slice the fruit
Slice the fruit together!

additional verses:
Pour the flour…
Roll the dough… (roll egg between hands)
Sprinkle spices…
Stir the filling…
[Now open the oven door, slide it in. It takes some time to bake, so let’s go for a walk!]
Lou, lou, skip to my lou…
[Oh, look, there’s a bee (pretend shaker is a bee)]
Buzz, buzz, buzz-buzz-buzz…
[I see a grasshopper!]
Hop, hop, hop-hop-hop…
[Let’s head back home – I think our pie is ready! Open the oven… take out your pie… cut a slice… blow on it to cool… now take a bite!]
Source: adapted from Harbor Preschool Music YouTube

pie song thumbnail, with a graphic of an apple pie with two whole apples behind and an apple slice in front. click the image to download a non-branded PDF

There’s one slice of our apple pie left! How about making a milkshake with it?
I think an “apple pie milkshake” sounds amazing.
Shaker Song: The Milkshake Song
You take a little milk – pour some milk!
And you take a little cream – pour some cream!
You stir it all up, You shake it and you’ll sing…

Milkshake, milkshake shake it up, shake it up!
Milkshake, milkshake shake it all up!
Milkshake, milkshake shake it up, shake it up!
Milkshake, milkshake shake it all up!
Source: Old Town School of Folk Music, from the album Songs for Wiggleworms via Jbrary

the milkshake song thumbnail, with a graphic of a tall pink milkshake with a straw, whipped cream, and a cherry. click the image to download a non-branded PDF

Action Song: Zoom, Zoom, Zoom!*

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

Craft: Apple Pie Painting
This is a fun craft I’ve done before. I love all the ways it engages our senses. I cut up a couple apples (a Cosmic Crisp and a Granny Smith) that could be taste-tested as well. Each table had a brown dot marker, a plate with red paint, and a plate with green paint, blank paper plates, and halved apples to use as stamps. For an additional sensory element, I had a small container of cinnamon to sprinkle on the wet paint. Source: Literary Hoots

Photo of paper plate apple pie craft, with the tray of supplies to the side, including blank paper plates, red and green paint with a halved apple cut side down in the paint, and a brown dot marker.

Play Time
I put out a laundry basket of baby toys – rattles and cars, sorters and stackers, toy phones and spinners. For the older toddlers and siblings, we have foam blocks, soft food toys, puzzles, plastic farm animals, and lacing cards and I rotate among a few of these options each session. We play for 5-10 minutes at the most, then I ring the bell and ask the kids to help me clean up. The clean up bit is good practice for them – I often say “it’s hard to say goodbye to toys, so that’s why we practice every storytime!” I think that helps the grown ups who may be embarrassed that their kid is crying or refusing to put a toy away. So much of what we do in storytime is practicing skills, and I don’t expect the kids to “do it right’ every time, or even most times.

Goodbye Song: See You Later Alligator*

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

Other books I had available for families to browse (and may work for you on this theme)
Applesauce is Fun to Wear – Nancy Raines Day & Jane Massey
Apple Picking Day – Candice Ransom & Erika Meza
Orange Pear Apple Bear – Emily Gravett
Apples and Pumpkins – Anne Rockwell & Lizzy Rockwell
The Apple Pie Tree – Zoe Hall & Shari Halpern
Apple Farmer Annie – Monica Wellington
Biscuit and the Great Fall Day – Alyssa Satin Capucilli
Apples, Apples, Everywhere – Robin Koontz & Nadine Takvorian
Apples for Little Fox – Ekaterina Trukhan
Ten Apples Up on Top! – Dr Seuss as Theo LeSieg & Roy McKie
Apple and Magnolia – Laura Gehl & Patricia Metola
Apple Seed to Juice – Bryan Langdo
Apple Pie Picnic – Alicia Duran & Brian Fitzgerald
How to Grow an Apple Pie – Beth Charles & Katie Rewse
Apples – Gail Gibbons

This storytime was presented in-person on 9/17/25.

Storytime Handout:

handout with book suggestions, rhyme and song lyrics.

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

† Click the image of rhyme/song sheets to download a non-branded PDF

It is time, a butterfly is patient, and the very hungry caterpillar book covers

Storytime: Butterflies

Posted on by msemilylibrary

I had always associated butterflies with springtime – the flowers are blooming, the world is becoming more colorful and warm – it just seems like butterfly time. But a friend of mine is a monarch enthusiast and she associates butterflies with autumn, since monarch butterflies migrate south in the fall. So my coworker and I decided to do our butterfly theme this month in September. She planned this one, so there were some new-to-me rhymes and songs, which is always fun.

A butterfly theme is perfect for incorporating your scarves, so flutter away!

it is time book cover, showing a boy looking at a green caterpillar on a plant.
a butterfly is patient book cover featuring a big blue butterfly as well as several other smaller ones and caterpillars
The Very Hungry Caterpillar book cover, showing a green and red caterpillar

Early Literacy Tip: When we say rhymes, play rhyming games with children, and point out the rhyming words, it helps them hear the smaller sounds in words which will help them later when they try to sound out words to read.

Welcome Song: Hello, Friends* †

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*
This is a repeated song that everyone seems to enjoy. I always begin and end with feet and tummies, but find two other body parts to wiggle in the middle. I rotate between elbows, cheeks, hips, noses, arms, chins, thighs, heads, shoulders, ears, knees, and fingers.

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*

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

Intro: Today we’re talking about butterflies! These wonderful creatures begin their lives as tiny eggs, then hatch into caterpillars. After that, they create a cocoon or chrysalis where they spend 1-2 weeks transforming into butterflies! Butterflies love the sun and have delicate wings that make beautiful patterns.

Butterflies are not born with wings. Let’s use our hands to go through the life cycle of a butterfly!
Fingerplay: My Friend Caterpillar
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

my friend caterpillar thumbnail, with a graphic of a monarch butterfly flying away from a leafed branch where there is a caterpillar and a chrysalis. click the image to download a non-branded PDF

Transition: If You’re Ready for a Story*

This is an excellent and very simple primer on the life of a caterpillar. I always enjoy Lizzy Rockwell books. I did have a moment of difficulty, though, during the book. She says “A pupa is there” when referring to the chrysalis. I kind of tried to explain that a pupa and chrysalis and cocoon are all similar, but I was sure there were scientific differences. I just hadn’t checked before the program, which I regret. I learned later that a pupa is that particular stage (not the structure that holds it.) A chrysalis is the pupa of a butterfly, and moths spin cocoons from silk – a cocoon surrounds a pupa but it is not the same thing. More info at Wikipedia!
Read: It Is Time: The Life of a Caterpillar by Lizzy Rockwell

it is time book cover, showing a boy looking at a green caterpillar on a plant.

My backups. A Butterfly Is Patient is such a beautiful book, and I appreciate that it can be read on several levels. You can just read the larger text and give a very concise explanation, or you can read the smaller text as well which gives more detail.
Backup titles: A Butterfly Is Patient by Dianna Hutts Aston & Sylvia Long OR The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle.

a butterfly is patient book cover featuring a big blue butterfly as well as several other smaller ones and caterpillars
The Very Hungry Caterpillar book cover, showing a green and red caterpillar

Does anyone know what butterflies eat? They drink sweet juice from flowers called nectar. Let’s count to 10 while we pretend to feed a butterfly.
The hand motions for this one are a bit simple, but it worked.
Action Rhyme: Butterfly Food
(tune of 1, 2, Buckle my Shoe)
1, 2, Nectar for you! (point outward)
3, 4, Find some more! (searching motion)
5, 6, Plants by sticks! (pretend to hold sticks)
7, 8, Nectar is great! (thumbs up)
9, 10, Let’s eat again! (eating motion)
Source: Carla @ Preschool Powol Packets

butterfly food thumbnail, with a graphic of an orange butterfly eating from a pink flower. click the image to download a non-branded PDF

The butterfly song is about waiting for a caterpillar to make his transformation into a butterfly.
I pointed to each stage on the flannelboard, but also tried to add some volume dynamics. “Oh, oh, oh” was very soft and anticipatory, then louder on “out of the chrysalis.” I had created the butterfly and caterpillar flannel pieces for another set, and my colleague completed the life cycle by making the eggs and chrysalis and arrows!
Flannel Song: The Butterfly Song
(tune of Up on the House Top)
First comes the butterfly and lays an egg
Out comes a caterpillar with many legs
Oh see the caterpillar spin and spin
A little chrysalis to sleep in
Oh, oh, oh, wait and see
Oh, oh, oh, wait and see
Out of the chrysalis, my oh my
Out comes a pretty butterfly
Source: Storytime Hooligans

flannel showing a monarch butterfly, a leaf with eggs, a monarch caterpillar, and a green chrysalis. gray arrows show the circular flow.

butterfly song thumbnail, with a graphic of the four butterfly life stages - egg, caterpillar, pupa, and butterfly. click the image to download a non-branded PDF

I skipped this one for time.
Fingerplay Song: Caterpillar
(tune of Frère Jacques)
Caterpillar, caterpillar (wiggle index finger)
In the tree, in the tree (spread arms like branches)
First you wiggle this way (wiggle finger to one side)
Then you wiggle that way (wiggle finger to other side)
Look at me, look at me (finger “looks” at you)
Source: Palatine Public Library District

caterpillar thumbnail, with a graphic of a realistic yellow, black, and white monarch caterpillar. click the image to download a non-branded PDF

When I hand out a prop, I generally will do a “practice” song – something that gets them using the prop and following directions, and doesn’t necessarily go with the theme.
Scarf Song: Let’s All Twirl
(tune of Mulberry Bush)
Let’s all twirl our scarves today
Scarves today, scarves today
Let’s all twirl our scarves today
All around the room
(toss, scrunch, shake)
Source: Library Village Blogspot

let's all twirl thumbnail, with a graphic of a dancing unicorn. click the image to download a non-branded PDF

Oh, my scarf has turned into a butterfly! Can you turn your scarf into a butterfly? Where will it fly?
Demonstrate pinching the scarf in the middle to create “wings” on both sides. This one was fun because they got to toss their scarf up and catch it. Getting the tune right was tricky for me, so I had to practice a few times pre-storytime.
Scarf Song: A Butterfly is Landing on my Nose
(tune of I’m a Little Teapot)
A butterfly is landing on my nose
On my head, and on my toes
Now the butterfly is landing on my knee
She’ll fly away when I count to three:
1… 2… 3…! (toss scarf)
Source: The Loudest Librarian

a butterfly is landing on my nose thumbnail, with a phot of a dog with a butterfly on its snout. click the image to download a non-branded PDF

Next, let’s use our scarves to wiggle, munch, and flutter!
The original song had a “big fat” caterpillar in the second verse. In addition to the syllables being awkward to sing, why fat-shame our poor caterpillar?!
Ukulele/Scarf Song: There’s a Tiny Caterpillar on a Leaf
(tune of If you’re happy & you know it)
There’s a tiny caterpillar on a leaf: wiggle, wiggle
There’s a tiny caterpillar on a leaf: wiggle, wiggle
There’s a tiny caterpillar, there’s a tiny caterpillar
There’s a tiny caterpillar on a leaf: wiggle, wiggle

additional verses:
There’s a big caterpillar on a leaf: munch, munch
There’s a pretty butterfly on a leaf: flutter, flutter
Source: Storytime with Miss Jennifer

there's a tiny caterpillar on a leaf thumbnail, with a graphic of a smiling green caterpillar on a leaf. click the image to download a non-branded PDF

Download a ukulele songsheet for If You’re Happy And You Know It here!

thumbnail for happy and you know it ukulele songsheet

Another one I skipped for time!
Scarf Song: Flutter, Flutter Butterfly
(tune of Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star)
Flutter, flutter, butterfly
Floating in the summer sky
Floating by for all to see
Floating by so merrily
Flutter, flutter, butterfly
Floating in the summer sky
Source: Storytime with Miss Jennifer

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

Action Song: Zoom, Zoom, Zoom!*

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

Craft: Coffee Filter Butterfly
We used dot markers to decorate. I’ve also done washable markers and sprayed with water to make a watercolor or tie dye effect, but this time just markers! Clip it with a wooden clothespin and add a little bit of pipe cleaner for antenna, and you are set!

coffee filter butterfly craft, showing a white coffee filter pinched in the middle to create two wings. It's decorated with blue yellow, and purple dots, and secured with a wooden clothespin.

Play Time
I put out a laundry basket of baby toys – rattles and cars, sorters and stackers, toy phones and spinners. For the older toddlers and siblings, we have foam blocks, soft food toys, puzzles, plastic farm animals, and lacing cards and I rotate among a few of these options each session. We play for 5-10 minutes at the most, then I ring the bell and ask the kids to help me clean up. The clean up bit is good practice for them – I often say “it’s hard to say goodbye to toys, so that’s why we practice every storytime!” I think that helps the grown ups who may be embarrassed that their kid is crying or refusing to put a toy away. So much of what we do in storytime is practicing skills, and I don’t expect the kids to “do it right’ every time, or even most times.

Goodbye Song: See You Later Alligator*

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

Other books I had available for families to browse (and may work for you on this theme)
Ten Little Caterpillars – Bill Martin, Jr. & Lois Ehlert
Hello, Little One – Zeena Pliska & Fiona Halliday
Winged Wonders – Meeg Pincus & Yas Imamura
The Digger and the Butterfly – Joseph Kuefler
Señorita Mariposa – Ben Gundersheimer & Marcos Almada Rivero
Binkle’s Time to Fly – Sharmila Collins & Carolina Rabei
Goodnight, Butterfly – Ross Burach
Waiting for Wings – Lois Ehlert
Bianca and the Butterfly – Sergio Ruzzier
Papilio – Ben Clanton, Corey R. Tabor, & Andy Chou Musser
Becoming Charley – Kelly DiPucchio & Loveis Wise

This storytime was presented in-person on 9/10/25.

Storytime Handout:

handout with book suggestions, rhyme and song lyrics.

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

† Click the image of rhyme/song sheets to download a non-branded PDF

book cover gallery with I'm a unicorn by Loehr, I'm a unicorn by Yoon, and Unicorn thinks he's pretty great

Storytime: Unicorns

Posted on by msemilylibrary

Get ready for some magical storytimes! I love how you can incorporate things like horse rhymes and rainbows into a unicorn theme. I bet you could work in some songs/rhymes on magic or kindness as well. Next week we’re diving into Merfolk.

This week’s storytime was a new experience for me. I went part-time at my library, so I’m now sharing storytime duties with a fabulous coworker. She presents Mondays and Tuesdays, and I do Wednesdays and monthly Thursday evenings. We present the same theme throughout the week, but we decided that since we are both part-time, we would share responsibility for planning each theme. So this is the first time I presented a program that I didn’t plan myself! There is room for individualizing – we are both good with tweaking the plan to suit our own styles. I had a simple bounce that I really enjoy that I slipped into the mix, as well as a different counting song that I played on my ukulele. I think it’s a great way to work with the time we have, and I’m so glad that I have the opportunity to continue to work with the age group I love.

(If you’re an email subscriber, please note I forgot to link my rhyme sheets for last week’s blog post – they are fixed online now!)

You can find another magical creatures theme (which included unicorns) from 2020.

I'm a unicorn book cover with a pastel picture of a cute unicorn
I'm a unicorn book cover with an excited looking cow with one horn
Unicorn thinks he's pretty great book cover, with a picture of a unicorn surrounded by a rainbow aura, with a grumpy looking goat at the bottom

Early Literacy Tip: Early experiences help to form the architecture of the brain and lay a strong foundation for both social and emotional development. Playing with other children at a young age, experiencing the fun of taking turns and sharing, and discovering that it is fun to pass a ball or beanbag to someone else and then get it back are great ways to learn important social and emotional skills. -from The Early Literacy Kit: A Handbook and Tip Cards by Betsy Diamant-Cohen & Saroj Ghoting

Welcome Song: Hello, Friends* †

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*
This is a repeated song that everyone seems to enjoy. I always begin and end with feet and tummies, but find two other body parts to wiggle in the middle. I rotate between elbows, cheeks, hips, noses, arms, chins, thighs, heads, shoulders, ears, knees, and fingers.

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*

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

Intro: Today we’re talking about unicorns! Unicorns are mythical, magical horses with a long horn on their head. They love rainbows, sparkles and spreading kindness.

I did this one more like the King County video, but my colleague had the same instructions as Jen in the Library, so I think that’s where she found it.
Fingerplay: Ten Galloping Unicorns
Ten galloping unicorns
Came galloping through the town
Five were white and five were brown
They galloped up
They galloped down
Ten galloping unicorns
Came through the town… Then WHOA!
They all slowed down
Source: adapted from King County Library System and Jen in the Library

ten galloping unicorns thumbnail, with a graphic of two groups of unicorns - five white and five brown - with various colored manes and horns. click the image to download a non-branded PDF

Transition: If You’re Ready for a Story*

A sweet and simple book that sets up the idea of unicorns and their purported properties. Perfect introduction to the theme for the littlest ones.
Read: I’m a Unicorn by Mallory C. Loehr

I'm a unicorn book cover with a pastel picture of a cute unicorn

My backups. Both are humorous takes on what unicorns are, so may work better for kids who are already familiar with unicorns.
Backup titles: I’m a Unicorn by Helen Yoon OR Unicorn Thinks He’s Pretty Great by Bob Shea.

I'm a unicorn book cover with an excited looking cow with one horn
Unicorn thinks he's pretty great book cover, with a picture of a unicorn surrounded by a rainbow aura, with a grumpy looking goat at the bottom

My coworker created the rhyme sheet for this one!
Action Rhyme: Unicorn, Unicorn
Unicorn, unicorn touch your toes
Unicorn, unicorn touch your nose
Unicorn, unicorn pat your head
Unicorn, unicorn go to bed
Unicorn, unicorn wake up now
Unicorn, unicorn take a bow
Unicorn, unicorn touch the ground
Unicorn, unicorn turn around
Unicorn, unicorn sit back down
Source: Verona Storytime

unicorn unicorn thumbnail, with a graphic of the bust of a unicorn with a rainbow colored mane. click the image to download a non-branded PDF

My coworker created a flannel for this one and I forgot to grab a picture. The colors of the unicorns match what I added to the rhyme sheet, though.
Flannel/Counting/Ukulele Song: Five Unicorns Went Out One Day
(tune of Five Little Ducks)
Five unicorns went out one day
Beyond the rainbow and far away
Papa unicorn said, “Please don’t roam”
But only four unicorns came home (count down)

Last verse:
Well, papa unicorn went out one day
Searching for unicorns far and away
He searched far and he searched near
And just like magic, they re-appeared!
Source: Flannel Board Fun

Find a ukulele songsheet for the same tune here (One Dinosaur Went Out to Play)

thumbnail for one dinosaur went out to play

five unicorns thumbnail, with a graphic of a larger white unicorn and five smaller ones: purple, red, orange, green, and blue. click the image to download a non-branded PDF

Our unicorns want to go for a ride! Can you mount up?
I do this one slow to start, then speed up over the next 2-3 repetitions.
Bounce: Giddy Up, Up, Up
(tune of the William Tell Overture)
Giddy up, giddy up
Giddy up, up, up
Giddy up, giddy up
Giddy up, up, up
Giddy up, giddy up
Giddy up, up, up
Whoooa, unicorn! (lean back!)
Source: Adventures in Storytime

giddy up up up thumbnail, with a graphic of a rearing unicorn with pastel rainbow mane and tail. click the image to download a non-branded PDF

Time to get our scarves out! Can you come up and pick out a scarf? Let’s warm up by doing some shaking.
Scarf 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 scarves up, shake your scarves down
Shake it, shake it, shake it and then you settle down
Source: Jbrary

shake it to the east thumbnail, with a graphic of a compass pointing east. click the image to download a non-branded PDF

My coworker created the rhyme sheet for this one!
Scarf Song: Let’s All Twirl
(Tune of Mulberry Bush)
Let’s all twirl our scarves today
Scarves today, scarves today
Let’s all twirl our scarves today
All around the room

Additional verses:
…toss our scarves
…circle our scarves
…shake our scarves
Source: Storytime with Miss Jennifer

let's all twirl thumbnail, with a graphic of a dancing unicorn. click the image to download a non-branded PDF

Scarf Song: Rainbow Colors
(Tune of Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star)
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 watercolor splashes of each color: pink, red, orange, yellow, green, blue, purple. click the image to download a non-branded PDF

Action Song: Zoom, Zoom, Zoom!*

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

Here were the ones I didn’t end up doing that my coworker planned:

Since I wanted to do a ukulele song, I subbed in Five Unicorns Went Out to Play instead.
Counting Rhyme: 5 Little Unicorns
I saw 5 little unicorns – creatures from folklore
I watched the blue one prance away and then there were 4
I saw 4 little unicorns resting by a tree
I watched the orange one prance away, and then there were 3
I saw 3 little unicorns, but as near to them I drew
The green one pranced away, and then there were 2
I saw 2 little unicorns – I watched them run and run
The red one pranced away, and then there was 1
I saw a lonely purple unicorn standing in the sun
When I blinked my eyes, it pranced away, and then there were none
Source: Storytime Secrets

I was planning to do this one, but I ended up cutting it for time!
Action Song: If You’re A Unicorn & You Know It
If you’re a unicorn & you know it, shake your horn (shake, shake)
If you’re a unicorn & you know it, shake your horn (shake, shake)
If you’re a unicorn & you know it, then your magic will surely show it
If you’re a unicorn & you know it, shake your horn (shake, shake)

Additional Verses:
…stomp your hooves (stomp, stomp)
…toss your mane (toss, toss)
…twitch your tail (twitch, twitch)
…prance around (prance, prance)
Source: Adventures in Storytime

I think my coworker made these two up as I didn’t see them online.
Action Song: Unicorn Pokey
You put your front hoof in, you put your front hoof out.
You put your front hoof in, and you shake it all about.
You do the unicorn pokey, and you turn yourself around.
That’s what it’s all about!

Additional Verses:
Back hoof, Sparkly horn, Swishy tail, Whole self
Source: E Fox

Action Song: I’m A Little Unicorn
(tune of I’m A Little Teapot)
I’m a little unicorn, short and stout
Here is my horn, and here is my snout
I like to chase the rainbow to and fro
I spread kindness wherever I go!
Source: E Fox

Craft: Paper Plate Unicorn
Inspired by Glued to My Crafts, this was a very colorful unicorn! I think if I did it again, I’d have attached the yarn hair ahead of time, as no kids could do that part on their own, but all of the adults were helpers. Snouts, horns and ears were pre-cut as well. For eyes, we have white label paper that we’ve printed eyes on as a good alternative to googly eyes for little ones who may still be putting things in their mouths. My coworker cut her eyes out individually here, but since they’re on white paper and getting stuck to a white paper plate, they don’t need to be cut.

paper plate unicorn craft with a small paper plate decorated with a pink horn, ears, and snout, sticker eyes, and a multi colored yarn mane.

Play Time
I put out a laundry basket of baby toys – rattles and cars, sorters and stackers, toy phones and spinners. For the older toddlers and siblings, we have foam blocks, soft food toys, puzzles, plastic farm animals, and lacing cards and I rotate among a few of these options each session. We play for 5-10 minutes at the most, then I ring the bell and ask the kids to help me clean up. The clean up bit is good practice for them – I often say “it’s hard to say goodbye to toys, so that’s why we practice every storytime!” I think that helps the grown ups who may be embarrassed that their kid is crying or refusing to put a toy away. So much of what we do in storytime is practicing skills, and I don’t expect the kids to “do it right’ every time, or even most times.

Goodbye Song: See You Later Alligator*

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

Other books I had available for families to browse (and may work for you on this theme)
Uni the Unicorn – Amy Krouse Rosenthal & Brigette Barrager
The Teeny-Weeny Unicorn – Shawn Harris
Roxy the Last Unisaurus Rex – Eva Chen & Matthew Rivera
Not Quite Narwhal – Jessie Sima
Kevin the Unicorn: It’s Not All Rainbows – Jessika Von Innerebner
Grumpycorn – Sarah McIntyre
Do You Believe in Unicorns? – Bethanie Deeney Murguia
Wee Unicorn – Meg McLaren
Unicorn Day – Diana Murray & Luke Flowers
You Don’t Want A Unicorn! – Ame Dyckman & Liz Climo
Layla, The Last Black Unicorn – Tiffany Haddish, Jerdine Nolen, & Jessica Gibson
Thelma the Unicorn – Aaron Blabey

This storytime was presented in-person on 8/13/25.

Storytime Handout:

handout with book suggestions, rhyme and song lyrics.

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

† Click the image of rhyme/song sheets to download a non-branded PDF