animals – Page 5 – Storytime with Ms. Emily Library

Summer Storytimes: Ocean Life

Posted on June 12, 2022July 25, 2022 by msemilylibrary

We’re back doing outdoor summer programming! I love outdoor programming. It’s novel and fun and just seems more sensory than indoor programs. I started doing outdoor programs in 2013, when our regular indoor summer storytimes always seemed to be full, and we were getting interest from daycares bringing 5-10 kids. That would have wiped out most of one class’s registered openings, so we decided to offer a once a week outdoor class with no registration and no limit to accommodate them. The regular programmers were super busy, so I took that on as the manager. It was my first foray into programming for little ones (previously I’d been the Teen Services Librarian), and I really fell in love with it. Of course, I came back to it after a break when the pandemic hit and the safest way to offer programs was outdoors in 2021.

This year we’re all about the CSLP 2022 theme, Oceans of Possibilities. I have a weekly sub-theme and am presenting an outdoor program for the littles three days a week. Monday is Book Babies, for ages 0-2 (which we didn’t have the first week since our big Kick-Off party was Monday). Tuesday is Teddy Bears, ages 2-3.5, and Wednesday is Family Time, for ages 0-3.5. I’m welcoming siblings as well, so we’ve had a few older kids join us, too. The program is basically the same for each age group, but I might adjust my book selection for the older or younger group.

For each session, we’re doing about 15-20 minutes of storytime rhymes, songs, and a book, then there is 20 minutes of free play at our seven sensory stations. We end with bubbles and a goodbye song. I’ve never done stations like this before, so it was a lot of planning (and anxiety – “will this work!?”). My goal is to give kids and grownups some ideas of things they could do at home, plus give the kids (and caregivers) an opportunity to socialize with others. Many of them were born during or right before the pandemic started and have not had a chance at “normal” socialization. They’re very much still learning about sharing, appropriate interactions, friendship. I’m happy to report that stations were a total hit our first week, with lots of “This is such a great idea!” “You’re so well organized!” “I could totally do this at home” comments from caregivers. So gratifying!

Sign that says "Storytime Area. Gather here at 10 AM for storytime. We will release to stations during the program. Thank you to grown-ups for keeping stations clear until the time is right!" and the Oceans of Possibilities icon

Our first week is all about Ocean Life – fish, crabs, sea turtles, octopuses, etc. I’d planned a “paint with water” activity as one of the stations, but we had overcast skies and that works best on a hot, sunny day to dry out the concrete, so I switched it with a sponge play activity I’d originally planned for later in the summer.

I’m relying heavily on repetition this year, with only one themed song and a themed book changing each week. Our other songs and rhymes will be repeated, to ground us in consistency. Additionally, two stations are repeated each week, with three others rotating and two additional ones unique each week. I’ll indicate each below.

Early Literacy Tip: My goal is for your children to have positive experiences and thoughts about the library and reading, so if you’re having a rough day or not having fun, it’s completely okay to step away for a bit to calm yourself and come back when you’re ready. If you need to leave early for any reason, that’s fine, too. That goes for reading at home, too. It’s better to take breaks and come back when the mood is right rather than force a child to sit through a book when they’re not enjoying it.

In our winter/spring indoor programs, I’d been doing a song where each child was named in a verse of the song. Due to spacing and distancing concerns, I only had 7 kids then. Now that we’re outside, I’m having 15-20 kids, so this welcome song, which lets me do three names each verse, goes a little faster!
Welcome Song: Hello, Friends (repeated)
(tune of Goodnight, Ladies)
Hello, friends! Hello, friends!
Hello, friends, it’s time to say hello!
Hello, [name 1], hello, [name 2]!
Hello, [name 3], it’s time to say hello! (repeat as needed)
(ASL motions: salute for “hello,” then take the index fingers on each hand and you link them together as though they are hugging each other back and forth for “friends”)
Source: Glenside Public Library District

Warm-Up Rhyme: We Wiggle and Stop (repeated)
(Use the ASL sign for the word “stop” – one hand “chops” across the opposite hand)
We wiggle and we wiggle and we STOP
We wiggle and we wiggle and we STOP
We wiggle and we wiggle and we wiggle and we wiggle
And we wiggle and we wiggle and we STOP
(This week we also “jumped” and “twirled” – I’ll do two new motions in addition to wiggle each week to keep it interesting)
Source: Jbrary

Intro to Weekly Theme:
Our summer theme this year is “Oceans of Possibilities!” This week we’re looking at what lives in the ocean. Can anyone think of something that lives in the ocean? (hopefully “fish” is mentioned!) Here’s a song about some of those animals!

Every single time I try to sing this melody the way Caspar Babypants does, but it always seems to come out more like Michael Finnigan (the way Jbrary does it). I keep trying!
Themed Song: All the Fish
All the fish are swimming in the water, (hands zig-zag in front of you)
Swimming in the water, swimming in the water
All the fish are swimming in the water,
Bubble, bubble, bubble, POP! (corkscrew fingers up then CLAP)

Additional verses:
All the crabs are snapping in the water… (pinch with hands as pincers)
All the sharks are chomping in the water… (arms snap together vertically like jaws)
Source: adapted from Jbrary, Caspar Babypants, from the album “I Found You”

CD album cover of Caspar Babypants I Found You.

Transition Song: If You’re Ready for a Story
(tune of If You’re Happy and You Know It)
If you’re ready for a story, clap your hands (clap, clap)
If you’re ready for a story, clap your hands (clap, clap)
If you’re ready for a story, if you’re ready for a story,
If you’re ready for a story, clap your hands (clap, clap)
Source: Miss Keithia (my predecessor)

Themed Book:
Little White Fish by Guido van Genechten
OR
Hooray For Fish by Lucy Cousins
I ended up only doing Little White Fish, but had Hooray for Fish as a backup.

I adapted the lyrics only slightly from Jbrary’s pirate themed song to be a little more generic ocean. I also let grownups know this could be a lifting song, but only if they’re feeling ambitious! I invite everyone else to do the up and down motions with me.
Repeated Song: The Ocean Song
(tune of The Elevator Song)
Oh, the ocean is great and the ocean is grand!
There are lots of big ships but very little land
And we sleep down deep in a hammock near the floor
And this is what we do when we go out to shore:

(ready?) We… ride… the…
waves going up, we ride the waves going down
we ride the waves going up, we ride the waves going down
we ride the waves going up, we ride the waves going down
And we turn… a-… round!
Source: Jbrary

After the Ocean Song, I’m invariably out of breath, so it’s time for a breathing break. I’d considered doing ocean wave breathing on the theme, but I decided that Five Finger Breathing is an easy one to teach and for kids to remember, which is my point in doing it.
Breathing Break: Five Finger Breathing
Whew, I could use a breathing break! Let’s get out our five fingers and spread our hands out wide. We’re going to breathe in deeply as we trace our fingers up, pause for just a moment at the top of our finger, then breathe out as we trace down. Ready?

I like to mention that this song was adapted by an occupational therapist as a reminder of ways to self-soothe.
Repeated Movement Song: Big Sea Star
(tune of A Ram Sam Sam)
A big sea star, a big sea star
Little cuddle clam and a big sea star
A big sea star, a big sea star
Little cuddle clam and a big sea star
A pufferfish! A pufferfish!
Little cuddle clam and a big sea star
A pufferfish! A pufferfish!
Little cuddle clam and a big sea star
Source: Jbrary

Release to Stations
I have seven stations each week, which involve a mixture of dry, wet, and an action station.

Repeated Stations:
Kinetic Sand (Dry)
I bought some kinetic sand and added it to two plastic bins. In the recycling bin I found some fruit cup containers that had fun shapes and added them plus some plastic shovels. I keep a sheet underneath this station to catch any stray sand that escapes the bins. I didn’t realize until after that this one should not be put in mouths, so I do warn the parents that if their kiddo is still exploring with their mouth, they may want to skip this station.

Kinetic Sand sign.
"Feel it! Mold it! Can you build a sand castle? What sea creature can you sculpt? Can you write your name or draw a picture in the sand? Please dry off before playing with the sand to prevent mold."

Pouring Station (Wet)
I asked coworkers to collect clean plastic recyclables with wide openings for this station and visited Goodwill for some additional pitchers. We had measuring cups and funnels in our materials, as well as a baby pool, which is the perfect container. I fill the pool with plastic bins and fill them randomly with water from the hose each week.

Pouring Station Sign:
"Simply pour water from one container to another! Do some containers sound different? Can you guess how much water you need to fill a particular one? Is it easier to pour from a round lip or one with a spout? How many containers have a handle?"

Rotating Stations:
Craft Stick Sort (Dry)
I noticed in my storage bin that I had these boxes of dot painters that have small holes already in the top. I colored a ring around each hole a different rainbow color and added colored craft sticks for a fine motor and color identification station.

Craft Stick Sort sign:
"Sort the craft sticks! Can you insert the colored sticks into the holes that match? Please dry off before playing at this station."

Beanbag Sort (Dry)
We had these beanbags from Lakeshore Learning that are different colors and shapes. They’re a super easy station where kids can play and sort with them in several ways.

Beanbag Sort sign:
"Sort the beanbags! Create piles for different colors or shapes. Try tossing or rolling the beanbags to a friend. Please dry off before playing at this station."

Ocean Boulder Leap (Action)
This started out in my head as a lily pad leap, but adapted to the ocean theme. We had the rubber dots from an active play set and I cut out some crab graphics to tape on for flavor.

Ocean Boulder Leap sign:
"Get your wiggles out! Leap from one boulder to another and don't fall in!"

Unique Stations:
Sponge Play (Wet)
Based on this Pinterest idea from Little Lifelong Learners, I just had sponges in bins of water for little ones to play with. Of course, I have to do some theme stuff, so in addition to simple shapes (sticks, triangles, circles), I cut out some ocean animals as well. These sponges will be reused in a craft later in the summer. This was the only station I snapped a picture of outdoors – but I’ll be sure to do more pictures in upcoming posts.

Sponge Play sign:
"Free play with sponge shapes in the water! How does it feel to squeeze them? What colors do you see? How many are simple shapes, and how many are animals you recognize? Are they heavier before or after you squeeze them?"

Photo of two white bins filled with colorful sponge shapes, including skinny rectangles, circles, triangles, fish, seahorses, dolphins, sharks, sea stars, clamshells, seaweed, and wave shapes.

Finger Painting (Art/Messy)
I simply put out pieces of paper in our messy trays with finger paints in recycled plastic containers. There was a rinse station nearby with a couple buckets of water and towels for cleaning up hands. All of my craft stations this summer are simple process-focused art with different media.

Finger Painting sign:
"Get creative! Let your child enjoy the process and sensation of painting with their hands, without any expectation of the end product. Explore color and form!"

Rinse Station sign:
"Messy hands? Rinse and dry off here!"

After about 20 minutes exploring stations, I rang the bell to call everyone back to the storytime area. 20 minutes felt like a good time – kids had generally found their way to all the stations and were winding down.

Everybody loves bubbles! The trick to doing bubbles outside, I’m finding, is to figure out which way the wind is blowing and get upwind of your group!
Recorded Bubble Song: Pop, Pop, Pop by Nathalia
From the album “Dream a Little,” available on Spotify

CD album cover for Nathalia's Dream a Little

Goodbye Song: See You Later, Alligator
(tune of Clementine)
See you later, alligator (wave with one hand, then the other)
In a while, crocodile (open and shut arms like a croc’s mouth)
Give a hug, ladybug (hug yourself or a loved one)
Blow a kiss, jellyfish! MWAH! (move hand like a jellyfish then blow a kiss!)
Source: King County Library System

Sign:
"Books are available to look at here OR take home, in which case they MUST be CHECKED OUT INSIDE the library. Please dry off before looking at books."

Other books I had available for families to browse (and may work for you on this theme)
In the Sea by David Elliott & Holly Meade
The Old Boat by Jarrett & Jerome Pumphrey
Secret Seahorse by Stella Blackstone & Clare Beaton
Ocean Counting by Janet Lawler & Brian Skerry
Little White Fish Deep Beneath the Sea by Guido van Genechten
Little White Fish and His Daddy by Guido van Genechten
Oscar the Octopus by Matthew Van Fleet
Dolphin Baby! by Nicola Davies & Brita Granström

This storytime was presented in-person on 6/7/22 & 6/8/22.

Family Storytime: Bedtime

Posted on January 21, 2022January 13, 2022 by msemilylibrary

Bedtime is a perennial favorite storytime theme, so I challenged myself to craft a session using only NEW bedtime books – ones that have been published in 2021. I had lots of options, and I loved being able to showcase some titles that caregivers may not have seen yet.

This is another reason why I’m happy with my decision to booktalk books rather than read them in full on my permanent YouTube videos. This allows me to have a book-centered virtual program that does not violate copyright laws (and I don’t have to jump through publisher hoops), AND I get to highlight six books instead of the two or three I’d have time to read in their entirety. When I get back to in-person storytimes, I’ll be sad to not get to share as many great titles with families. I always put a list on my handout, but I’m not sure how effective that is.

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

Early Literacy Tip: When we talk about the sequence of our days with our children, they have a chance to hear vocabulary words in context and begin to learn how to put events in order… both skills that help with comprehension when they are readers.

Welcome Song: We Clap and Sing Hello

Our new repeated warm-up rhyme.
Warm-Up Rhyme: Open, Shut Them
Open, shut them, Open, shut them
Give a little clap, clap clap!
Open, shut them, Open, shut them
Lay them in your lap, lap, lap!

Creepy, crawly, Creepy, crawly
Right up to your chin, chin, chin
Open up your little mouth,
But do not let them In, in, in!

Higher, higher, Higher, higher
Almost to the sky, sky, sky
Then like little birdies
Watch them Fly, fly, fly!

Lower, lower, Lower, lower
Almost to the ground, ground, ground
Quickly pick them up again
And turn them round and round:
Faster, faster, faster!
Slower, slower, slower.

Open, shut them, Open, shut them
Give a little clap, clap clap
Open, shut them, Open, shut them
Lay them in your lap, lap, lap!
Source: adapted from King County Library System (WA)

Intro: Let’s talk about Bedtime! For some, it’s their favorite time of day (parents?) For others, it may be a chore. But I’d like to share some rhymes, songs, and books that show that bedtime can be lots of fun! And when we get enough sleep at night, we feel refreshed and ready for our day in the morning. If you have a light scarf, bandana, or even a tissue, grab it now and we’ll be using it in our songs later.

Fingerplay: Here Is a Baby
Here is a baby (raise pointer finger)
Ready for a nap
Lay her down in her mother’s lap (place finger in palm)
Cover her up so she won’t peek (curl fingers around pointer)
Rock her till she’s fast asleep (rock)
Source: Library Village

Read: Brown Baby Lullaby by Tameka Fryer Brown & AG Ford

Scarf Song: This Is the Way We…
(tune of Here We Go Round the Mulberry Bush)
This is the way we wash our face (rub scarf on face)
Wash our face, wash our face
This is the way we wash our face,
When we get ready for bed!

Additional verses:
Wash our toes // wash our arms // wash our tummy //
Read a book // give a hug // snuggle and drift
Source: Library Village & Handley Regional Library (VA)

Aside: Another great action song that ends in bed is Teddy Bear, Teddy Bear. Check out this version by Jazzy Ash, which will tire you out! (Linked in the YouTube video description and on the handout)

Song: Look at All the Bunnies
Look at all the bunnies sleeping til it’s nearly noon
Shall we wake them with a merry tune?
Oh so still! Are they ill?
Wake up, wake up, wake up little bunnies
Wake up, wake up, wake up little bunnies
Hop little bunnies, hop, hop, hop
Stop little bunnies, stop, stop, stop… and FREEZE!
Source: King County Library System

Sydney Hanson is the master of cuteness!
Read: Five Fuzzy Chicks by Diana Murray & Sydney Hanson

I just love this song! I use my laminated pieces for “Ten Yellow Chicks” (originally from Sunflower Storytime) to illustrate it on the flannel board, and explain what is happening before singing the song. In English, we interpret the sounds of chicks as “peep” or “cheep,” but in Spanish we say “pío.” And these chicks wander away from their mother and get hungry and cold. But the mother hen is a good mama, so she finds food for them, corn and wheat, and gathers them under her wings to get warm and go to sleep. But the next day, the silly chicks do it all over again!
Flannel Song: Los Pollitos Dicen
Los pollitos dicen, pío, pío, pío
cuando tienen hambre, cuando tienen frío (hambre=rub belly, frío=rub shoulders)
La gallina busca, el maíz y el trigo
les da la comida, y les presta abrigo
Bajo sus dos alas, acurrucaditos,
duermen los pollitos hasta el otro día (duermen=lay head on hands, sleepy)
Pío, pío, pío dicen los pollitos
cuando tienen hambre, cuando tienen frío
Source: traditional – watch here: https://youtu.be/a7zUbmjUtDM

Printed and laminated flannelboard pieces showing a brown chicken and ten yellow chicks.

Breathing Break: Soup Breathing
Time for a mindful breathing break. I asked the kids to imagine they were holding a bowl of their very favorite soup, and asked what kind they liked. Then with their hands cupped in front of them, we slowly breathed in the delicious aroma through their noses, then slowly and gently breathed out through their mouths to cool off this hot soup. Afterward, I let them know that this exercise always makes me feel good and more grounded, and they could always get out their bowl of soup if they need help calming down or feeling more connected to their bodies.
Source: Lucky Little Learners

One more repeated activity. This has always been a favorite song, and it actually fits with our theme this week!
Action Song: Zoom, Zoom, Zoom!
Zoom, zoom, zoom, we’re going to the moon!
(hands scrape past each other rhythmically)
Zoom, zoom, zoom, we’re going to the moon!
If you want to take a trip (fingers walk up arm)
Climb aboard my rocket ship!
Zoom, zoom, zoom, we’re going to the moon!
In 5, 4, 3, 2, 1, BLASTOFF! (crouch, then jump!)
Credit: Jbrary

Lullabies are a must for a bedtime storytime!
Lullaby: Twinkle, Twinkle
Twinkle, twinkle little star, how I wonder what you are
Up above the world so high, like a diamond in the sky
Twinkle, twinkle little star How I wonder what you are!
Source: traditional, I used the motions from Jbrary

Ukulele Lullaby: Hush, Little Baby
Hush, little baby, don’t say a word,
Mama’s gonna buy you a mockingbird
And if that mockingbird won’t sing,
Mama’s gonna buy you a diamond ring
And if that diamond ring turns brass,
Mama’s gonna buy you a looking glass
And if that looking glass gets broke,
Mama’s gonna buy you a billy goat
And if that billy goat won’t pull,
Mama’s gonna buy you a cart and bull
And if that cart and bull turn over,
Mama’s gonna buy you a dog named Rover
And if that dog named Rover won’t bark
Mama’s gonna buy you a horse and cart
And if that horse and cart fall down,
You’ll still be the sweetest little baby in town.
Credit: traditional

Download a Ukulele songsheet for Hush, Little Baby

thumbnail of ukulele songsheet for "hush little baby"

Craft: Night Sky
A super simple craft this time – I cut out crescent moon shapes from white cardstock to glue to a piece of black construction paper, and gave each kid some sparkly star stickers to make their own night sky. On the craft how-to sheet, I posed some questions to encourage kids and caregivers to talk. “Can you imagine your stars make shapes like constellations? What stories might you tell about these shapes?” Idea (and photo, I didn’t make a sample) borrowed from Library Village.

A white paper crescent moon glued to a piece of black construction paper with sparkly star stickers to make a night sky scene — image from Library Village blog

I also booktalked these alternative titles during the permanent YouTube video.
Bedtime for Sweet Creatures by Nikki Grimes & Elizabeth Zunon
Close Your Eyes by Lori Haskins Houran & Sydney Hanson
It’s So Quiet by Sherri Duskey Rinker & Tony Fucile
Sloth Wasn’t Sleepy by Kate Messner & Valentina Toro

Goodbye Song: See You Later, Alligator
(tune of Clementine)
See you later, alligator (wave with one hand, then the other)
In a while, crocodile (open and shut arms like a croc’s mouth)
Give a hug, ladybug (hug yourself or a loved one)
Blow a kiss, jellyfish! MWAH! (move hand like a jellyfish then blow a kiss!)
Credit: King County Library System

Closing Rhyme: Tickle the Stars

This storytime was presented virtually on 11/16/21.

Storytime Handout:

Family Storytime: The American Southwest

Posted on December 31, 2021December 21, 2021 by msemilylibrary

Sometimes life inspires storytime! I was planning to take a two week vacation to visit family in Arizona and do some sightseeing as well, so the week before I was to be off, storytime was all about the Southwest! It was fun to do some learning before the trip as well as incorporate things I love about the region, such as the animals and plants that live there. I also wanted to highlight the fact that Native peoples have lived there continuously, as well as it once being a part of Mexico, so there are many wonderful traditions and stories from the region, and they are told in many languages. I had trouble finding a book that was short and simple enough to share from a Native perspective, but I tried to offer some of the longer options on my take-home reading list.

This was also my last outdoor in-person storytime of the season, though I picked up virtual programming again when I returned home in November. It was really nice to be able to offer outdoor programs, but the weather was turning colder and more unpredictable as far as the rain and wet.

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

Early Literacy Tip: The American Southwest has been (and still is) the home of Native American nations for centuries including the Lakota, Navajo, Hopi and many other nations. It was also once a part of a Spanish territory, and then Mexico, before becoming part of the United States. This means a rich collection of stories about the Southwest exists in English, Spanish, and Native languages. Your child can build good speaking and listening skills and habits when they listen and talk to people who are fluent in any language.
Source: Adapted from this Storytime Starter document from the Madison Public Library (WI)

Welcome Song: We Clap and Sing Hello

Welcome Song: Hello, Friends
(tune of Goodnight, Ladies)
Hello, friends! Hello, friends!
Hello, friends, it’s time to say hello!
Hello, [name 1], hello, [name 2]!
Hello, [name 3], it’s time to say hello!
(ASL motions: salute for “hello,” then take the index fingers on each hand and you link them together as though they are hugging each other back and forth for “friends”)
Source: Glenside Public Library District

I handed out shaker eggs at the beginning of storytime and we used them for several songs. For this one, we wiggled our eggs, rolled them (rolled our arms), and made a big circle in front of us.
Warm-Up Rhyme: We Wiggle and Stop
(Use the ASL sign for the word “stop” – one hand “chops” across the opposite hand)
We wiggle and we wiggle and we STOP
We wiggle and we wiggle and we STOP
We wiggle and we wiggle and we wiggle and we wiggle
And we wiggle and we wiggle and we STOP
(Try other motions such as jump, twirl, stretch)
Source: Jbrary

Anytime a rhyme uses “left” and “right,” I make a point of telling the crowd to “mirror me” and I do the opposite.
Fingerplay: Two Desert Tortoises
(tune of Two Little Blackbirds)
Two desert tortoises walking at night
One turns left, the other turns right
Come back tortoises, don’t go away
Come back here, it’s time to play
Source: Brevard County Libraries (FL)

This storytime took place at the tail end of Hispanic Heritage Month, so I mentioned that both Pat Mora and Francisco X. Mora are of Mexican heritage. I read the title in English and Spanish, and mentioned that the book is bilingual, but that I’d only be reading the text in English today.
Read: Listen to the Desert/Oye al desierto by Pat Mora & Francisco X. Mora

Shaker Rhyme: Mr. Rattlesnake
I wish that I could rattle and shake
Just like Mister Rattlesnake!
Wiggle, wiggle, wiggle,
And shake, shake, shake
Just like Mister Rattlesnake!
Source: MCLS Kids Wiki

I kind of shoehorned this song to be a “shaker” song. Kids could hop like a rabbit, or make their egg shaker “jump.” For the coyote verse, the shaker could be the moon we howled at. The cactus verse didn’t really incorporate it, though!
Shaker Song: In the Desert
(tune of Wheels on the Bus)
The jackrabbit in the desert can hop like this,
Hop like this, hop like this
The jackrabbit in the desert can hop like this,
All night long!

Additional verses:
The coyotes in the desert can howl…
The rattlesnakes in the desert can rattle…
The saguaro in the desert can stand like this…
Source: Literary Hoots

I really enjoy using my frog rasp instruments with a song written by a fellow librarian and posted on Storytime Underground – Three Frogs in a Bog. I rewrote it so I could have some desert toads! I used the rasps, but encouraged the kids to use their shakers.
Shaker Song: Three Toads
There was a big toad (shake, shake)
Lived in a cactus by the road (shake, shake)
He hopped in the desert (shake, shake)
Croaked his hellos (shake, shake)
Big toad (shake, shake)
By a big road (shake, shake)
Croaked a big hello (shake, shake)
(repeat for middle-sized and little frogs)

And then one day (shake, shake, shake)
The toads got together (shake, shake, shake)
Hopped in the desert (shake, shake, shake)
In the hot dusty weather (shake, shake, shake)
Three toads (shake, shake, shake)
Three friends (shake, shake, shake)
The end! (shake, shake, shake)
Source: adapted by Ms. Emily from Ada Moreau Demlow

Three wooden frog rasp instruments, large, medium, and small

Shaker Collecting Song: If You Have a Red Egg
(tune of Do You Know the Muffin Man)
If you have a red egg, a red egg, a red egg
If you have a red egg, please bring it up here!
Repeat with other colors of eggs.
Source: adapted from this ALSC Blog post

Breathing Break: Soup Breathing
Since the weather was turning colder, I brought back our soup breathing visualization. I asked the kids to imagine they were holding a bowl of their very favorite soup, and asked what kind they liked. Then with their hands cupped in front of them, we slowly breathed in the delicious aroma of their very favorite soup through their noses, then slowly and gently breathed out through their mouths to cool off this hot soup. We repeated about 5 times. Afterward, I let them know that this exercise always makes me feel good and more grounded, and they could always get out their bowl of soup if they need help calming down or feeling more connected to their bodies.
Source: Lucky Little Learners

One more repeated activity. This has always been a favorite song!
Action Song: Zoom, Zoom, Zoom!
Zoom, zoom, zoom, we’re going to the moon!
(hands scrape past each other rhythmically)
Zoom, zoom, zoom, we’re going to the moon!
If you want to take a trip (fingers walk up arm)
Climb aboard my rocket ship!
Zoom, zoom, zoom, we’re going to the moon!
In 5, 4, 3, 2, 1, BLASTOFF! (crouch, then jump!)
Source: Jbrary

The main reason I chose this one is that it was short and showed some different animals. I wish there were more short titles on this topic!
Read: Way Out West Lives a Coyote Named Frank by Jillian Lund

Book cover for Way Out West Lives a Coyote Named Frank

I *love* this song. It has a great tune and everyone likes howling and snoring! I had fun making a flannel for this one, but generally flannels are too small for the outdoor crowd. Instead, I used a larger template from Nancy Stewart to make bigger coyotes that stuck with magnets to my book cart. The tune I learned is slightly different from Nancy’s original, which a librarian friend Rebecca taught me. You can hear it in the video link above.
Counting/Flannel Song: Five Coyotes
Five coyotes, sittin’ on a hill
Just sittin’ and a howlin’ at the moon
Aahh-ooo!
One coyote had his fill
So he went to sleep and snoozed
Snore!
(Count down)
Source: adapted by Rebecca Ballard from Nancy Stewart

For the regular-sized flannel, I had plans to make them double-sided, with the reverse showing the coyotes curled up and sleeping, but ran out of time. Someday I’ll add that! I also did my best to make the moon look realistic, with craters in the right place. 🙂

Craft: Saguaro Cactus
Inspired by Literary Hoots, this was an easy yet really attractive craft, with some nice 3D elements. Cactus trunks and arms can be cut from construction paper, and the kids can glue them down however they like. I snapped toothpicks in half to make spines they could glue on, and picked out some magenta tissue paper squares they could crumple and glue to the tops. (I learned later that saguaro blooms are white/yellow – oops.)

Craft of a saguaro cactus, with one main trunk and two arms, glued on a sandy colored paper. Toothpicks are glued on as spines, and pink tissue paper flowers are glued to the top of the trunk and arms.

I also booktalked these alternative titles during the permanent YouTube video.
Big Moon Tortilla by Joy Cowley & Dyanne Strongbow
Fry Bread: A Native American Family Story by Kevin Noble Maillard & Juana Martinez-Neal
The Seed and the Giant Saguaro by Jennifer Ward & Mike K. Rangner
She’ll Be Coming ‘Round the Mountain by Jonathan Emmett & Deborah Allwright

Closing Rhyme: Tickle the Stars

This storytime was presented in-person and virtually on 10/12/21.

Storytime Handout:

Family Storytime: Cows & Horses

Posted on December 17, 2021December 28, 2022 by msemilylibrary

This started out as a “cowboy/cowgirl” storytime, but I liked the idea of focusing more on the animals than the more narrow subject of cow wrangling. The whole thing was kicked off by the Jan Thomas book, Let’s Sing a Lullaby with the Brave Cowboy that my friend and colleague Christy suggested as being a great ukulele song to play while reading. I’m not sure who to credit for writing out the original song, but I did find the tune on Jan Thomas’ site, which was very helpful to get it into my head. I also tried hard not to gender the profession, so substituted “cowpoke” instead of cowboy/cowgirl in songs and rhymes. This was another theme I could go all out on for dressing up with stuff I had in my closet – jeans, flannel shirt, bandanna, and hat (that I’d saved from my post-prom event 20 years ago!)

screenshot of virtual storytime, showing cowpoke outfit.

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

Early Literacy Tip: Your child may not have much experience with cowpokes and ranches and horses, but talk to them about new ideas and experiences anyway. The more we talk to our children, the bigger their vocabularies grow. Sometimes we get bored talking about the same old daily routine with our kids. New topics can keep us motivated to keep talking!

Welcome Song: We Clap and Sing Hello

Warm-Up Rhyme: We Wiggle and Stop
(Use the ASL sign for the word “stop” – one hand “chops” across the opposite hand)
We wiggle and we wiggle and we STOP
We wiggle and we wiggle and we STOP
We wiggle and we wiggle and we wiggle and we wiggle
And we wiggle and we wiggle and we STOP
(Try other motions such as jump, twirl, stretch)
Source: Jbrary

Fingerplay: Ten Galloping Horses
Ten little horses galloped into town,
Five were black and five were brown
They galloped up
They galloped down
Then they galloped out of town!
(repeat & whisper, then end silently doing motions)
Source: King County Library System (WA)

Read: Clip-Clop! by Nicola Smee

Bounce: Giddy-Up!
(tune of William Tell Overture)
Giddy-up, giddy-up, giddy-up, up, up! (bounce)
Giddy-up, giddy-up, giddy-up, up, up!
Giddy-up, giddy-up, giddy-up, up, up!
Whoa, horsie! (lean back with child)
Source: Handley Regional Library (VA)

Action Song: The Horses Are Walking
The horses are walking,
They’re walking along, walking along, walking along
The horses are walking, they’re walking along.
Whoa, whoa, WHOA!
Additional verses: Trotting, galloping
Source: Jbrary

Breathing Break: Five Finger Breathing
Our breathwork visualization. We inhale while tracing up a finger, pause at the top, then exhale while tracing down, and pause at the bottom. Repeat for all five fingers. At the end, I let them know this is a great way to get calm, get centered or focused, and get ready for the next thing. I also remind them they can take a ten finger break if they need to, and it’s always available for them whenever they need it.

Fingerplay: This Little Cow
(count on fingers)
This little cow eats grass (pinkie)
This little cow eats hay
This little cow looks over the hedge
This little cow runs away
And this BIG cow does nothing at all (thumb)
But lie down in the fields all day! (lay thumb down)
Source: North Mankato Taylor Library (MN)

I felt the need to explain what chaps were before this song.
Action Song: I’m a Little Cowpoke
(tune of I’m a Little Teapot)
I’m a little cowpoke (point to self)
Here is my hat (put on hat)
Here are my boots, (stomp feet)
And here are my chaps (slap sides of legs)
When I get up, I work all day (pretend to lasso)
Get on my horse, (swing leg up)
And ride away! (pretend to ride)
Source: Adventures in Storytime

I used a wire book holder to prop up the book while I sang and played the lullaby parts (and did some editing for the video version), but it would be much easier to have a colleague help you by holding and possibly reading the “cow” parts.
Read/Sing: Let’s Sing a Lullaby with the Brave Cowboy by Jan Thomas
Get a copy of the sheet music here!
Listen to the song on the Jan Thomas website!

Let's Sing a Lullaby with the Brave Cowboy book cover.

Action Song: The Cowpoke Pokey
(tune of the Hokey Pokey)
You put your left spur in,
You take your left spur out,
You put your left spur in and you shake it all about
You do the cowpoke pokey and you turn yourself around
That’s what it’s all about – Yee-haw!

Additional verses:
Right spur, lasso (“throw” a rope in and out), hat (head), ride your horse in (whole self)
Source: Loudest Librarian

Craft: “Footprint” Horse
This craft was modeled after one from the Busy Bee Kids Crafts site. But since these are for take and makes, I didn’t actually do “footprints” – the parts and pieces were pre-cut, and although my head was still vaguely footprint shaped, I’m not sure anyone would recognize that. Yarn and googly eyes give them some texture and interest, making a cute and simple craft.

picture of craft, with horse neck, head, and ears as separate construction paper pieces, with googly eyes and yarn mane.

I also booktalked these alternative titles during the permanent YouTube video.
Noni the Pony by Alison Lester
Moo! by David LaRochelle & Mike Wohnoutka
A Wild Cowboy by Dana Kessimakis Smith & Laura Freeman
I Wanna Be a Cowgirl by Angela DiTerlizzi & Elizabet Vukovic

Closing Rhyme: Tickle the Stars

This storytime was presented in-person and virtually on 9/28/21.

Storytime Handout:

Family Storytime: Tigers

Posted on November 19, 2021November 15, 2021 by msemilylibrary

This was the last of my Tails & Tales Summer Reading storytimes! The parks outreach that I was also doing this week had a theme of “Jungle,” which I distilled down to tigers. My second book was a real stretch (Novak does mention a hippopotamus at one point…), but I was more interested in the interactivity and humor for this last book. I was especially proud of my craft, that I created from scratch (inspired by a completely different fork painting lion craft I’d seen.) My library takes the month of August off from programming, so my next update will be from September (and I’ll be that much closer to catching up!)

A note: I did include and use a “Five Monkeys” rhyme. I know that monkey rhymes have gotten a lot of attention in that the “Jumping on the Bed” one is rooted in racism. The one I used is about monkeys in the wild, teasing a tiger (I’ve also seen crocodile in other versions.) My thought is that this centers on the animals in their wild milieu and not anthropomorphized animals in a human setting. I don’t know if that’s the right call or not; I’m open to listening and learning.

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

Early Literacy Tip: Part of reading books with young children is simply helping them become comfortable with how books work. Babies will bat at the pages, imitating your turning the page. Toddlers will know what a book is for and may babble a story while “reading.” Run your finger under the text for older children to show that you are reading the words, not the pictures. All these activities help support your children’s print awareness.

Welcome Song: We Clap and Sing Hello

Our new warm-up for the last few weeks of the summer session.
Warm-Up Rhyme: We Wiggle and Stop
(Use the ASL sign for the word “stop” – one hand “chops” across the opposite hand)
We wiggle and we wiggle and we STOP
We wiggle and we wiggle and we STOP
We wiggle and we wiggle and we wiggle and we wiggle
And we wiggle and we wiggle and we STOP
(Try other motions such as jump, twirl, stretch)
Credit: Jbrary

Chant: Walking Through the Jungle
Walking through the jungle (repeat each line)
What do I hear? (x2)
I think I heard a snake! (x2)
Hiss, hiss, hiss! (x2)

Repeat with other jungle animals and their sounds:
Elephant-trumpet, alligator-snap, monkey-screech, tiger-growl
Credit: King County Library System

Read: It’s a Tiger! by David LaRochelle & Jeremy Tankard

Ukulele Song: If You’re a Tiger
(tune of If You’re Happy and You Know It)
If you’re a tiger and you know it give a growl
If you’re a tiger and you know it give a growl
If you’re a tiger and you know it
and you really want to show it
If you’re a tiger and you know it give a growl

Additional verses:
Swish your tail … Show your claws
Credit: Verona Storytime

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

Read: The Book With No Pictures by BJ Novak

I added the last verse to allow for the monkeys to explicitly “get away.”
Song: Cheeky Monkeys
Five cheeky monkeys swinging in a tree
Teasing Mr. Tiger: “You can’t catch me!”
Along came the tiger, slowly as can be
And… POUNCE!

(count down, then last verse)
Five cheeky monkeys swinging from a vine
Teasing Mr. Tiger and feeling so fine
“We’re too quick for tiger, he’s way down below”
Tiger gave a JUMP!
… but he was too slow!
Credit: adapted from Never Shushed

Action Chant: Bananas Unite!
Bananas……unite!
Peel bananas, peel, peel bananas (x2)
Chop bananas, chop chop bananas (x2)
Mash bananas, mash mash bananas (x2)
Eat bananas, eat, eat bananas (x2)
Goooooooooo BANANAS!
Credit: Jbrary

Breathing Break: Five Finger Breathing
Our breathwork visualization for the last few weeks of the summer session. We inhale while tracing up a finger, pause at the top, then exhale while tracing down, and pause at the bottom. Repeat for all five fingers. At the end, I let them know this is a great way to get calm, get centered or focused, and get ready for the next thing. I also remind them they can take a ten finger break if they need to, and it’s always available for them whenever they need it.

Recorded Song: Silly Dance Contest by Jim Gill

Instead of a recorded song in the virtual program, I played this on ukulele:
Ukulele Song: Apples and Bananas
(begin with the correct pronunciation, then change the vowel sounds for each verse to a, e, i, o, and u)
I like to eat, eat, eat apples and bananas
I like to eat, eat, eat apples and bananas

I like to ate, ate, ate ayples and ba-nay-nays
I like to ate, ate, ate ayples and ba-nay-nays

I like to eet, eet, eet eeples and ba-nee-nees
I like to eet, eet, eet eeples and ba-nee-nees

I like to ite, ite, ite iples and ba-ni-nis
I like to ite, ite, ite iples and ba-ni-nis

I like to ote, ote, ote oples and ba-no-nos
I like to ote, ote, ote oples and ba-no-nos

I like to ute, ute, ute uples and ba-nu-nus
I like to ute, ute, ute uples and ba-nu-nus
Credit: Raffi, from the album One Light, One Sun

Download a ukulele songsheet for Apples and Bananas

thumbnail of apples and bananas ukulele songsheet

Craft: Tiger in the Jungle
I’d remembered a craft idea about using forks to paint a lion’s mane, and I really liked the idea of a more unusual painting utensil. I found a picture of a tiger with no stripes, printed it on orange construction paper, then provided a green background sheet, plastic fork, some black paint, and some big broad leaves, and let the kids create their own scene.

Click here to download the tiger and leaves template (sized to print on 9×12″ construction paper)

Craft showing an orange tiger with painted on black stripes, on a green construction paper background with four green leaves pasted on and a vine drawn in marker.

I also booktalked these alternative titles during the permanent YouTube video.
Mr. Tiger Goes Wild by Peter Brown
I Am a Tiger by Karl Newson & Ross Collins

Closing Rhyme: Tickle the Stars

This storytime was presented in-person and virtually on 7/27/21.

Storytime Handout:

Family Storytime: Animal Movement

Posted on November 12, 2021 by msemilylibrary

I knew I wanted to highlight animal movement during my outdoor storytime this summer, and Head to Toe was one of the first books on my list that I thought would translate well with a big, spread-out crowd. Not a lot of visuals for this blog post, but we were moving around a LOT! Families seemed to enjoy this one, especially our bubble song at the end.

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

Early Literacy Tip: Crafts are great ways to allow your child to practice their creativity, work with different materials, strengthen their finger grip, and improve hand/eye coordination. All of these will help prepare them for school and learning to write later on!

Welcome Song: We Clap and Sing Hello

Read: We’ve All Got Bellybuttons! by David Martin & Randy Cecil

I’d always done this one as “bubble bubble POP” with increasing numbers of fish, but the splash made more sense when ducks, frogs, and children! (I also think Caspar Babypants does it like this!)
Action Song: All the Fish Are Swimming
All the fish are swimming in the water
Swimming in the water
Swimming in the water
All the fish are swimming in the water
Bubble, bubble, bubble, bubble…SPLASH

Additional verses:
All the ducks are quacking…
All the frogs are jumping…
All the children are splashing…
Credit: King County Library System

Fingerplay: Up the Hill
Here goes a turtle up a hill, creepy, creepy, creepy, creepy (crawl up arm)
Here goes a rabbit up the hill, boing, boing, boing, boing (bounce up arm)
Here goes an elephant up the hill, thud, thud, thud, thud (clap up arm)
Here goes a snake up the hill, slither, slither, slither, slither (slither up arm)
Here comes a rock down the hill, boom, boom, boom, boom, CRASH!
(bounce down, clap hands for crash)
Credit: Storytime Katie

Read: From Head to Toe by Eric Carle

This is such a silly and fun song!
Action Song: Noisy Animals Eating
(tune of Row Your Boat)
See the hippopotamus, eating fruits and weeds
Take a bite … chew it up …
Then spit out all the seeds!

Additional verses:
See the very tall giraffe…
See the wrinkly elephant…
Credit: King County Library System

Fingerplay: Little Turtle
There was a little turtle, he lived in a box
He swam in a puddle, he climbed on rocks
He snapped at a mosquito (hand “bites”)
He snapped at a flea
He snapped at a minnow,
And he snapped at me!
He caught the mosquito (clap)
He caught the flea (clap)
He caught the minnow (clap)
But he didn’t catch me! (shake finger “no”)
Credit: Jbrary

Everyone loves bubbles! The wind was a little stronger than I’d anticipated, so I had to move quite a bit to the side to get the bubbles anywhere near the kids. They went chasing after them, so I’m glad we had a large lawn area!
Bubble Song: There Are Bubbles in the Air
(tune of If You’re Happy and You Know It)
There are bubbles in the air, in the air (x2)
There are bubbles in the air, there are bubbles everywhere!
There are bubbles in the air, in the air

Additional verses:
There are bubbles way up high… in the sky
There are bubbles way down low… that tickle your toes
Credit: Jbrary

I had this song in my back pocket, but the bubble time was so chaotic I didn’t do any more than the Bubbles in the Air song. I’m choosing to just play recorded music in the future anytime I do bubbles!
Bubble Song: My Bubbles
(tune of My Bonnie)
My bubbles flew over the ocean,
My bubbles flew over the sea,
My bubbles flew over the rainbow,
Oh come back, my bubbles, to me.
Come back, come back, oh come back my bubbles to me!
Credit: Storytime Katie

Craft: Tissue Paper Turtle
The most difficult thing about this craft was sorting through our box full of tissue paper squares to find the “turtle” colored ones. Sometimes it’s nice to be able to reach in and grab a variety of colors, but other times you really need just greens! This craft was inspired by The Adventures Start Here blog.

A paper plate craft with different colored green tissue squares glued on, with green construction paper legs, tail and head with googly eyes, making a turtle.

I also booktalked these alternative titles during the permanent YouTube video.
Wiggle by Doreen Cronin & Scott Menchin
Everyone is Yawning by Anita Bijsterbosch
Count the Monkeys by Mac Barnett & Kevin Cornell

Closing Rhyme: Tickle the Stars

This storytime was presented in-person and virtually on 7/20/21.

Storytime Handout:

Flannel Friday!

Posted on October 22, 2021October 14, 2021 by msemilylibrary

I’m on vacation for two weeks, but I wanted to share a preview of some flannels I’ve been working on for upcoming posts, and what better day to do so than on a Friday? (If you haven’t checked it out yet, Flannel Friday is an amazing resource of community-submitted flannelboard/feltboard props.)

My last in-person outdoor storytime of the season was themed for the American Southwest (where I’m vacationing!) My friend and fellow librarian Rebecca suggested this Five Coyotes song and flannel that is so sweet. The coyotes were fun but layered, so took some patience. I was feeling extra and wanted the moon to be as realistic as possible, so I printed a NASA photo of the moon and mapped out some simplified craters and darker areas.

Flannel showing five coyotes, three sitting on the back haunches and two standing on four feet, all howling upward at a white and gray moon.

I ran out of time, but I will someday make the coyotes reversible! I’d like them to be curled up and sleeping on the back.

Counting Song: Five Coyotes
Five coyotes, sittin’ on a hill
Just sittin’ and a howlin’ at the moon
Aahh-ooo!
One coyote had his fill
So he went to sleep and snoozed
Snore!
(Count down)
Credit: adapted by Rebecca Ballard from Nancy Stewart

Upcoming, I have a Breakfast-themed storytime coming up. One rhyme is about doughnuts, so here are mine. I love jelly doughnuts, so I had to make one a filled jelly! Making some pieces different is a great opportunity for talking with your group about similarities and differences. I thought about putting sprinkles on these, but I’m kind of paint-shy – they never seem to look as good after I’ve added the paint! So for now, they’ll just be frosted.

Flannel showing five doughnuts, four with holes in the middle and different colored frosting: mint green, dark brown, lavender, and light pink, and one with no hole but covered in white frosting and a dark pink dot of jelly showing on one side.

Counting Rhyme: Five Colored Doughnuts
Down around the corner
at the bakery shop,
There were [number] little donuts
with frosting on top
Along came [name]
hungry for a treat,
And s/he picked the [color] one
to take home and eat!
Credit: The Lion is a Bookworm via Literary Hoots

Family Storytime: Arctic Animals

Posted on October 15, 2021October 14, 2021 by msemilylibrary

To do an arctic animal storytime in July, we needed to put on our pretend hats! I don’t think I would have come up with this theme myself, but the parks camp I did outreach to had this as their theme, so I adapted it for my outdoor storytime.

To be honest, I felt like this storytime was a little “off.” Maybe I wasn’t super comfortable with some of the materials. Maybe the audience was just a little more wiggly than usual. Maybe the imminent threat of rain made me feel rushed. More than likely, it was a combination of things. I don’t dwell. Some days you just have an off day, and that’s okay.

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

Early Literacy Tip: Counting up or down in songs like Five Little Polar Bears helps kids strengthen their number recognition. And don’t be afraid to change up the number – eight little polar bears or ten little polar bears will let kids hear lesser-used numbers.

Welcome Song: We Clap and Sing Hello

This book might have been the start of my “offness” – although I like that it shows a wide variety of arctic animals AND it shows the arctic in the summertime AND it’s a book you can sing, it just wasn’t right for my group. It was too long, and because it was a regular sized book, the pictures were too small. I skipped a few pages, but I could still see the attention wandering.
Read: Way Up in the Arctic by Jennifer Ward & Kenneth J. Spengler

For the virtual, I stuck velcro on the back of these laminated pieces, but for the in-person session, I taped craft sticks on the bears to make them easier to hold.
Counting Song: Five Little Polar Bears
Five little polar bears riding on a sled
One fell off and bumped his head
Mama called the doctor and the doctor said,
“No more polar bears riding on a sled!”
(count down)
Credit: Literary Hoots

Laminated clipart of five polar bears on a sled

Another regular-sized book. The illustrations of cut and torn paper are AMAZING, but again, probably too small for my audience to really see.
Read: A Polar Bear in the Snow by Mac Barnett & Shawn Harris

Movement: Arctic Animal Movement
Can you…
…Walk on four feet like a polar bear?
…Turn your head like a snowy owl?
…Swim like an orca/beluga whale?
…Flap your wing like an arctic tern?
…Stomp your feet like a caribou?
…Hop like an arctic hare?
Credit: Guilderland Public Library

One more new repeated activity. This has always been a favorite song!
Action Song: Zoom, Zoom, Zoom!
Zoom, zoom, zoom, we’re going to the moon!
(hands scrape past each other rhythmically)
Zoom, zoom, zoom, we’re going to the moon!
If you want to take a trip (fingers walk up arm)
Climb aboard my rocket ship!
Zoom, zoom, zoom, we’re going to the moon!
In 5, 4, 3, 2, 1, BLASTOFF! (crouch, then jump!)
Credit: Jbrary

I always try to do several songs that use a particular prop so that the kids have some time with them. Today was scarves! To collect them at the end of the in-person session, I sang “If You Have a Red Scarf” to the tune of The Muffin Man and directed kids to listen for their color.

Scarf Song: Dance Like Snowflakes
(tune of Frère Jacques)
Dance like snowflakes
Dance like snowflakes
In the air, in the air
Whirling, twirling snowflakes
Whirling, twirling snowflakes
Everywhere, everywhere
Credit: Jbrary

Scarf Song: We Wave Our Scarves Together
(tune of For He’s a Jolly Good Fellow)
We wave our scarves together (3x)
because it’s fun to do!
Wave them up high
Wave them down low
Wave them in the middle
Because it’s fun to do!
Credit: Jbrary

I added the “drying” verse because this song is too fun to just do two verses! For the “tumble” action, we threw our scarves up and caught them, like they were tumbling around in a dryer. This song was probably the most successful activity of the storytime!
Scarf Song: The Walrus Washes His Winter Coat
Oh, the walrus washes his winter coat
Down by the wavy ocean
He adds some water and he adds some soap
and he waits…and he waits…and he waits.

Then the laundry shakes, shakes, shakes
The laundry shakes and shakes and shakes
The laundry shakes, shakes, shakes
until it’s clean. (repeat)

Additional verses:
The laundry spins … until it’s clean
The laundry tumbles … until it’s dry
Credit: Brytani Fraser via Jbrary

Recorded Song: Teddy Bear, Teddy Bear by Jazzy Ash

Craft: Polar Bear Scene
This was inspired by Tompkins County Public Library, and I loved how they suggested different mediums and let the kids decide what to do with them. So I printed an outline of a polar bear on a dark blue sheet of construction paper, provided cotton balls and chalk, and gave both example photos below. Kids could use the cotton for snow or for the bear, and chalk for the opposite, or do whatever they liked!

I also booktalked these alternative titles during the permanent YouTube video.
Sweetest Kulu by Celina Kalluk & Alexandria Neonakis
The Bear Report by Thyra Heder
Sea Bear by Lindsay Moore

Closing Rhyme: Tickle the Stars

This storytime was presented in-person and virtually on 7/13/21.

Storytime Handout:

Family Storytime: Wiggly Bugs

Posted on September 24, 2021 by msemilylibrary

I knew I’d done a bug storytime recently, but I couldn’t resist repeating the theme for our summer outdoor storytime. For one, I had two big books that featured bugs, and for another, there’s just so many good songs and rhymes and movement activities for bugs. It worked out really well, and the families seemed enthusiastic. All summer, I didn’t use many props or flannelboards, so these blog posts have seemed kind of boring with fewer pictures. I’ll have more to show for fall programs!

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

Early Literacy Tip: When we do fingerplay activities like “The Itsy Bitsy Spider,” we use various finger motions, and change and exaggerate them for verses like “the great big spider.” These motions help your child’s finger strength and dexterity which is important later when they are learning to write, tie shoes, or hold utensils like a fork or toothbrush.

Welcome Song: We Clap and Sing Hello

Read: In the Tall, Tall Grass by Denise Fleming

Song: The Itsy Bitsy Spider
The itsy bitsy spider
climbed up the water spout
Down came the rain and
washed the spider out
Out came the sun and dried up all the rain
And the itsy bitsy spider
climbed up the spout again
(repeat with Great Big Spider, teeny weeny spider)
Credit: traditional

For this session, I used fruit instead of Herman’s relatives and went grape, apple, banana, pineapple, and watermelon!)
Silly Story: Herman the Worm
I was sittin’ on my fencepost,
chewing my bubblegum (munch, munch)
Playin’ with my yo-yo, (wee-oo! wee-oo!)
When along came Herman the worm
And he was this big (measure a small worm)
And I said: “Herman? What happened?”
“I ate a grape.”
(Herman gets bigger and bigger, eating more fruit, then goes back to being tiny)
…And I said: “Herman? What happened?”
“I burped!”
Credit: traditional, see motions at Jbrary

So, this book is all about different vegetables that grow up, down, or around, but there are SO MANY wiggly bugs in the illustrations! So, in addition to asking the kiddos to reach up, reach down, and turn around when the text says, we also pointed out and identified one bug on each page.
Read: Up, Down, and Around by Katherine Ayres & Nadine Bernard Westcott

Breathing Break: Five Finger Breathing
Our new breathwork visualization for the last few weeks of the summer session. We inhale while tracing up a finger, pause at the top, then exhale while tracing down, and pause at the bottom. Repeat for all five fingers. At the end, I let them know this is a great way to get calm, get centered or focused, and get ready for the next thing. I also remind them they can take a ten finger break if they need to, and it’s always available for them whenever they need it.

I handed out scarves for the last three songs – yay for being able to do props again!
Song: We Wave Our Scarves Together
(tune of For He’s a Jolly Good Fellow)
We wave our scarves together (3x)
because it’s fun to do!
Wave them up high
Wave them down low
Wave them in the middle
Because it’s fun to do!
Credit: Jbrary

Scarf Song: I’m a Caterpillar
(tune of Skip to My Lou)
I’m a caterpillar, wiggle with me (rep. 3x, wiggle scarf)
What’ll I be my darling?

Additional verses:
I’m a chrysalis, now sleep with me… (whisper)
I’m a butterfly, come fly with me… (hold scarf in middle and “fly”)
Credit: Adventures of a Bookworm

For the virtual program, we did:
Popcorn Kernels
(tune of Frère Jacques: sing each line twice)
Popcorn kernels (wave scarves overhead)
In the pot (bunching scarves up in fist)
Shake them shake them shake them (shake fists)
’til they POP! (toss scarves)
Credit: Jbrary

For the outdoor program, I collected scarves with this song.
Song: If You Have a Scarf
(tune of Do You Know the Muffin Man)
If you have a red scarf,
Red scarf, red scarf
If you have a red scarf
Please bring it up here!
Credit: have used this a long time, not sure the original source!

Recorded Song: Teddy Bear, Teddy Bear by Jazzy Ash

Craft: Butterfly Mask
Just a nice printable template from Simple Mom Project. I purchased the elastics since this library didn’t have any in the supply room, and asked a volunteer to pre-cut the masks. I added some sequins to the supply bags to give them some sparkle!

picture of butterfly mask colored blues, greens, and purples, with green and gold sequins.

I also booktalked these alternative titles during the permanent YouTube video.
The Spider and the Fly by Mary Howitt & Tony DiTerlizzi
The Eensy Weensy Spider Freaks Out! Big Time! by Troy Cummings
Daddy Is a Doodlebug by Bruce Degen

Closing Rhyme: Tickle the Stars

This storytime was presented in-person and virtually on 7/6/21.

Storytime Handout:

Family Storytime: Going on a Bear (and Berry) Hunt

Posted on September 17, 2021September 13, 2021 by msemilylibrary

I’d been wanting to use the Going on a Bear Hunt chant/rhyme for outdoor storytime, and just happened to have a big book copy of The Little Mouse, the Red Ripe Strawberry, and the Big Hungry Bear, so that translated quite well into a theme. We had a lot of fun going THROUGH various obstacles, roaring like mad, and identifying berries. Since this was our fifth week of outdoor stories, I changed up our recurring rhymes and activities, too.

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

Early Literacy Tip: Pretend play helps your child act out and understand stories and events they have seen, heard, or experienced. Simple props or costumes like the bear ears we’ll make in today’s craft help enhance the fun and promote more immersive play.

Welcome Song: We Clap and Sing Hello

Read: The Little Mouse, the Red Ripe Strawberry, & the Big Hungry Bear by Don & Audrey Wood

Outside, I held up large pictures of the various berries at the end of each verse for the kids to shout out. The kids got all of them except the gooseberry! In the video, I had a laminated version for the flannelboard, made from Canva.
Counting Rhyme: Jamberry Hunt
Under the bridge and over the dam,
looking for berries, berries for jam
1 berry, 2 berries, pick me a strawberry
(repeat, counting up to 10 and asking for different berries each time: blackberry, blueberry, raspberry, gooseberry.)

Last line:
Under the bridge and over the dam,
Back home to cook my berries, berries for jam
Credit: Jbrary

laminated flannelboard set of a canoe, simplified water, and 5 berries: strawberry, blueberry, raspberry, blackberry, and gooseberry.

Action Rhyme: Bears Eat Honey
Bears eat honey (pretend to eat)
They think it’s yummy
In their tummy (rub tummy)
But the bees don’t think it’s funny!
Buzzzzzzzzzzzz! (tickle)
Credit: King County Library System via Storytime Katie

I pretty much did as Michael Rosen does in this video, but encouraged the group to repeat the first four lines as call and response. You can download my reminder sheet here.
Retelling/Chant: We’re Going on a Bear Hunt by Michael Rosen & Helen Oxenbury

screenshot from virtual storytime, showing five finger breathing.

Movement: Bear Brain Break
Based on this worksheet from the OT Toolbox, we moved like a bear and did the Bear Crawl, Bear Scratch, Bear Bend, Bear Stretch, and Bear Hug!

thumbnail of Bear Brain Breaks worksheet.

Sometimes this song features bears, so that’s where my thoughts were in choosing it. You could sing “and the little bear said…” to further reinforce it. And I saw my colleague Rebecca B. do the Whole Bed schtick, which I thought was a hilarious and perfect end! I use a flannel (template from Making Learning Fun) for this on the video, but we just did hand motions in person.
Counting Song: Five in the Bed
There were five in a bed,
and the little one said (5 fingers up)
“Roll over, roll over” (make rolling motion)
And they all rolled over and one fell out.
There were four in a bed… (continue to 1)

There was one in the bed
and the little one said,
(tune of He’s Got the Whole World In His Hands)
“Ahhhhhhh. I’ve got the whole bed to myself!
I’ve got the whole wide bed to myself!
I’ve got the whole bed to myself,
I’ve got the whole bed to myself! Goodnight!”
Credit: traditional

Flannel for Five in the Bed - bed with a blue cover and two white pillows, as well as one small brown bear and four larger bears in purple, yellow, light blue, and red.

Recorded Song: Teddy Bear, Teddy Bear by Jazzy Ash

For the virtual session, I did this instead of the recorded Teddy Bear song.
Song: Bear Went Over the Mountain
Oh, the bear went over the mountain, (rep. 3x)
To see what he could see!

But all that he could see,
Yes, all that he could see
Was the other side of the mountain, (rep 3x)
Was all that he could see!
(repeat with “around,” “under,” and “jumped over”)
Credit: traditional, movement ideas from Intellidance

Craft: Bear Ears Headband
Simple, simple craft that allows for lots of dramatic play.

picture of bear ears headband - brown construction paper band with brown bear ears (and pink inner ear) glued on.

I also booktalked these alternative titles during the permanent YouTube video.
Jamberry by Bruce Degen
Where is Bear? by Jonathan Bentley
There’s a Bear on My Chair by Ross Collins

Closing Rhyme: Tickle the Stars

This storytime was presented in-person and virtually on 6/29/21.

Storytime Handout: