Tag: animals

Preschool Storytime: Colorful Stories

Posted on by msemilylibrary

There’s just something about spring that makes me want to do stories about colors! And the retelling of White Rabbit’s Color Book is kind of magical.

A “color” storytime is also a good opportunity to talk about race in an explicit way in storytime. This is something that I’ve been wanting to do but just have not felt there was a comfortable “in” to get there. Of course, it’s not about me (a white woman) being comfortable. There’s some fear of messing up and fear of possible push-back, but none of those are good reasons to avoid talking about race in an age-appropriate way. I consulted with a librarian of color that was kind enough to offer feedback and went for it. There was no push-back that I’m aware of and I hope that it was a good way to educate both kids AND their parents that it is okay and necessary to talk about race even with young kids.

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

Early Education Tip: Research shows that children form race-related ideas long before they’re ready to talk about race and racism… awareness of race begins as early as infancy! No matter their age, all children collect clues from their experiences to make sense of the world, so early, honest, and age-appropriate conversations really matter. Check out the Sesame Street Workshop’s excellent resources and videos for every age:
https://www.sesameworkshop.org/what-we-do/racial-justice

Welcome Song: We Clap and Sing Hello

Discussion: [For my virtual audience: To get ready for today’s storytime, please grab 1 or 2 scarves, bandanas, washcloths, or even a t-shirt that has a rainbow color – red, orange, yellow, green, blue, or purple.] Now that it’s starting to be springtime, I’m noticing lots and lots of colors outside, how about you? New leaves, new flowers! Let’s do some rhymes and songs that celebrate colors! Let’s get warmed up by identifying some colors and shapes.

Rhyme Game: Pink Square, Pink Square
Pink square, pink square, what do you see?
I see a … blue circle looking at me.

Blue circle, blue circle, what do you see?
I see a … green rectangle looking at me.
Credit: Sunflower Storytime

Flannel of colorful shapes: pink square, blue circle, green rectangle, red heart, yellow 5 pointed star, purple diamond, and orange triangle.

I have a flannel for this book, but it felt like I had a lot of props and flannels going on with this storytime, so I decided to just read the book this time.
Read: Dog’s Colorful Day by Emma Dodd

Flannel of "Dog's Colorful Day" including the black and white dog figure and colored dots: red, brown, pink, blue, gray, yellow, purple, orange, and green.

Rhyme: Blue is the Lake
Blue is the lake (point to the floor)
Yellow is the sun (point to the sky)
Silver are the stars when the day is done (wiggle fingers)
Red is the apple (make circle with hands)
Green is the tree (raise arms over head like branches)
Brown is the cookie for you and me! (rub tummy)
Credit: Harris County Public Library via Librionyian

Action Song: If You’re Wearing…
tune of “Do You Know the Muffin Man”
If you’re wearing red today, red today, red today
If you’re wearing red today,
Would you touch your head?

Additional verses:
brown … touch the ground
blue … tie your shoe
white … take a bite
green … look mean
black … touch your back
gray … shout “hooray!”
Credit: adapted from Lego Librarian

Discussion: There’s one color that doesn’t get a lot of attention, but it’s a beautiful color that we all have with us all the time! It’s BROWN, and everyone’s skin has some brown in it. The thing that makes our skin brown is called melanin, and that’s also what helps color our hair and our eyes. Some people have a lot of melanin, and some people only have a little bit. There are some people whose bodies don’t produce melanin at all, but that’s quite rare. In this next book, a little boy describes all the different colors of brown in his family! No one has exactly the same color. I love how he gives them all beautiful names.

Read: Brown: The Many Shades of Love by Nancy Johnson James & Constance Moore

I encouraged kiddos to use their scarves for this if the wanted to.
Flannel/Scarf Song: Bubble, Bubble, Pop!
One little red fish swimming in the water, (motion one finger, then weave hand back and forth as if swimming)
Swimming in the water, swimming in the water,
One little red fish swimming in the water
Bubble, bubble, bubble, bubble, (corkscrew index fingers upwards on both sides)
POP! (clap)
(repeat, change the number and/or color of fish)
Credit: Jbrary

Flannel of fish with googly eyes. There are 1 red, 2 blue, 3 green, and 4 purple fish of various hues.

Scarf Song: Rainbow Dancers
Rainbow dancers let’s get ready
Hold your scarves nice and steady
You’ll hear the colors of the rainbow
Listen for your time to go:
Shake red… Shake orange… Shake yellow…
Shake green… Shake blue… Shake purple…
Red scarves – turn around! Orange scarves – up and down!
Yellow scarves – reach up high! Green scarves – fly, fly, fly!
Blue scarves – tickle your nose! Purple scarves – touch your toes!
Everybody dance around
Swirl your scarves up and down!
Shake purple… Shake blue… Shake green…
Shake yellow… Shake orange… Shake red…
Rainbow dancers dance around
Scarves swirl up and down
Our colorful dance is at an end
Thank you, thank you, all my friends
Credit: Jbrary

Flannel Retelling: White Rabbit’s Color Book by Alan Baker
I used the fantastic tutorial on Sunflower Storytime to put this together. I couldn’t find colored pails, so I covered white pails with felt.
Some tips I learned:
• Make sure the pails are well ABOVE the eyeline/camera line of your audience, so they can’t see inside
• PRACTICE
• Arrange the rabbits in the order that you’ll be exchanging them in the pails, but try to separate them if possible.
• Felt sticks to itself (as we all know!) You may need to draw out your “hop, swish, swish, swish” and maybe add some kind of flourish so that you have time to release one rabbit and pull out another without them sticking
• PRACTICE!

Since it’s springtime, let’s end with a rhyme about rain! Get your scarves out!
Scarf Song: Rain on the Green Grass
Rain on the green grass (flutter scarf downward)
Rain on the tree (arms up like branches)
Rain on the rooftop (fingers peak together like a roof)
But NOT on me! (hold scarf above head)
Repeat with different colored items: yellow duck, pink flower, blue stream, brown squirrel, etc.
Credit: King County Library System

Craft: Rainbow
Simple, simple craft, inspired by Storytime Katie. In my instructions home, I emphasized the idea of creative freedom, and making this a “process” craft instead of a “product” craft. Process-focused art gives a child an open-ended project so they have the opportunity to express themselves in the art. I provided the rainbow template and some tissue paper squares, but also suggested using other mediums – paint, crayons, markers, or colored pencils instead of or in addition to the tissue squares.

sheet showing a black and white rainbow arc with colorful tissue paper squares glued to it.
Image from Storytime Katie

I also suggested these alternative titles during the permanent YouTube video.
Red Is a Dragon by Roseanne Thong & Grace Lin
Are Your Stars Like My Stars by Leslie Helakoski & Heidi Woodward Sheffield
Mix It Up! by Hervé Tullet

Closing Rhyme: Tickle the Stars

This storytime was presented virtually on 4/6/21.

Storytime Handout:

Handout including suggested books, rhyme and song lyrics

Preschool Storytime: Green

Posted on by msemilylibrary

This was a milestone storytime for me. It was the one that I had planned and ready to go March 17, 2020, but was abandoned because our library closed March 16th. Because it was tied up as a St. Patrick’s Day alternative, I never used the theme later on while doing virtual, but held on to it to use in March 2021. So getting this ready for this year had a lot of “capital F” Feelings surrounding it.

As I’ve mentioned before, I’m not really into doing holiday themed programs, but would prefer to celebrate some secular aspect of popular holidays. Thus, instead of going on about leprechauns, rainbows, and Catholic saints, I focused this theme on the color green.

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

Early Literacy Tip: “Crossing the midline” is when we move our arm or leg across the middle of our body to perform a task. Crossing the midline is vital to the development of using both sides of the body together, such as putting on shoes and socks, writing and cutting. Practice crossing the midline by: playing with bubbles, cutting or drawing across a page, playing catch, and encouraging children to reach with one hand to touch their opposite foot, arm, ear, etc.

Welcome Song: We Clap and Sing Hello

Discussion: We’re talking about the color green today. What are some things that are green? If you’re in person, you could shuffle the books around based on the answers you get – frogs, trees and grass seem to be common responses. I also mined my flannels for anything that was green!

Lots of green flannel pieces, culled from many sets. Includes dark and light green apples, alien, yarn, snake, turtle, chameleon, truck, rectangle, and two trees.

Bounce Song: Bumping Up and Down
Bumping up and down in my little green wagon
Bumping up and down in my little green wagon
Bumping up and down in my little green wagon
Won’t you be my darling?

Additional verses:
Driving around in my little green car… stroller… bicycle… etc.
Credit: adapted from Raffi

Additional or Alternative Action Rhyme: I Had a Little Turtle
I had a little turtle (make turtle with fist – thumb is the head)
His name was Tiny Tim
I put him in the bathtub
To see if he could swim.
He drank up all the water (glub, glub)
He ate up all the soap (munch, munch)
And when he woke up next morning
He had bubbles in his throat! (bubbly noises)
Credit: Jbrary

Read: One Frog Sang by Shirley Parenteau & Cynthia Jabar

The turtle verse might be my favorite of all the variations!
Song: Mmm-ah Went the Little Green Frog
Mmm-ahh (stick out tongue) went the little green frog one day,
Mmm-ahh went the little green frog
Mmm ahh went the little green frog one day,
And they all went mmm, mmm, ahh
But… We know frogs go (clap) sha-na-na-na-na (wiggle arms)
(clap) Sha-na-na-na-na, (clap) Sha-na-na-na-na
We know frogs go (clap) sha-na-na-na-na
They don’t go mmm, mmm, ahh!

Additional verses:
Hiss, Hiss went the slippery snake one day… (hands snake back and forth)
But… We know snakes go (clap) shoo-be-do-be-do (jazz hands)

Slow, slow went the little green turtle one day… (one hand on other, palms down, like a shell)
But… We know turtles go (clap) cowabunga, dude! (shaka hand sign)
Credit: Jbrary (different videos for frog, snake, and turtle verses)

Action Rhyme: Funny, Funny, Froggy
Funny, funny froggy, Hop, hop hop!
Funny, funny froggy, Stop, stop, stop!
Funny, funny froggy, Don’t run away!
Funny, funny froggy, Sit and play!
Credit: Perry Public Library (OH) via Books and Bibliotheks

I thought the rebus pictures at the back of the book were perfect for a flannel, though I had to add the bug. You can download a PDF of these here. They definitely helped me keep the song straight! (Note that you sing “chick in the egg, and the bird on the egg,” changing the pattern. It took me a few practice tries to get it right)
Read/Sing/Flannel: There Was a Tree by Rachel Isadora
There was a hole (there was a hole)
In the middle of the ground (in the middle of the ground)
The prettiest hole (the prettiest hole)
That you ever did see (that you ever did see)
Oh, the hole in the ground and the green grass grew all around, all around,
And the green grass grew all around!

Add a phrase each verse until you get to:
Oh, the bug on the wing,
and the wing on the chick,
and the chick in the egg,
and the bird on the egg,
and the egg in the nest,
and the nest on the branch,
and the branch on the tree,
and the tree in the hole,
and the hole in the ground,
And the green grass grew all around, all around,
And the green grass grew all around!

Printed and laminated "flannel" pieces showing the rebus symbols from Isadora's book. Includes hole, tree, branch, nest, egg, bird, chick in egg half, wing, and bug.

I really love how meditative and calming this song is.
Song: Standing Like a Tree
Standing like a tree (start with “prayer” hands in front of your heart)
With my roots dug down, (stomp feet)
My branches wide and open; (arms reach up and out)
Come down the rain, (fingers wiggle downward)
Come down the sun, (arms go back up and then go down, hands making a circle)
Come down the fruit to a heart that is open to be… (arms go back up, hands cup and move to heart)
Standing like a tree (repeat)
Credit: Betsy Rose, motions from Fall Creek Elementary’s video

Movement/Yoga: Tree Pose
I explained that the tree pose is a good balance builder and explained how to do it, with variations to make it easier and harder. And that it’s okay to feel unsteady or fall – it’s part of the process to get stronger.

Screenshot from virtual storytime video, showing Ms. Emily in Tree Pose.

Fingerplay: Five Plump Peas
Five plump peas in a peapod pressed (make a fist and cover with the other hand)
One grew, two grew, and so did all the rest (raise all fingers on first hand one by one)
they grew, & they grew, & they grew, & never stopped (hands get wider and wider)
They grew SO BIG that the peapod… POPPED! (hands spread as wide as possible, then clap!)
Credit: Carole Stephens

Read: In the Tall, Tall Grass by Denise Fleming

You might notice a lot of people wearing green tomorrow. Let’s see what we’re wearing today! (If in person, I would hand out shamrock stickers so everyone was wearing green. For virtual, I just went with it.)
Ukulele Song: I If You’re Wearing Green Today
(tune of If You’re Happy and You Know It)
If you’re wearing green today, dance a jig,
If you’re wearing green today, dance a jig
If you’re wearing green today, dance a jig, smile and wave
If you’re wearing green day dance a jig

Additional verses:
Clap your hands… Spin around… Shout Hooray!… Stomp your feet
Credit: Sunflower Storytime via Storytime with Ms. Kelly

Craft/Activity: Cutting the Grass
I saw this activity from Little Pine Learners and thought it was really clever. Kids get scissor practice, crossing the midline, the fun of discovery, and some coloring, if they wish. I made my own set of items that could be found under the grass (that pill bug was challenging but fun!), and stapled green construction paper over the top. In my take-home instructions, I encouraged parents to tape down the white part to a table or somewhere vertical, like the refrigerator to help make the cutting a little easier. Parents and kids can go on a scavenger hunt for these items in their own yard or in a park to extend the fun and learning. Download a printable PDF of the artwork here!

I also suggested these alternative titles during the permanent YouTube video.
The Croaky Pokey by Ethan Long
Gator, Gator, Gator by Daniel Bernstrom & Frann Preston-Gannon
Where Is the Green Sheep? by Mem Fox & Judy Horacek

Closing Rhyme: Tickle the Stars

This storytime was presented virtually on 3/16/21.

Storytime Handout:
I had these already printed out from 2020, so I didn’t update them. (The header is different and there’s no info on our virtual storytimes). The Red Light/Green Light song was something I would have done in person, but not virtually.

Handout including suggested books and rhyme and song lyrics.

Preschool Storytime: Pets

Posted on by msemilylibrary

I’m not sure why I thought it was a great idea to do a bunch of animal-themed storytimes in the months BEFORE our animal-themed summer reading program, but here we are. Kids love animals, so it’s probably okay to do a bunch on them! There were so many great books for pets that I had lots of trouble deciding which to feature.

The flannel pieces I made from “scratch,” starting with clipart from Canva and building the layers. Since there are lots of potential pets, there was plenty of options to choose from, so I did as many animals as I could, and probably still left out a few. It was another labor of love, with some tiny pieces. Does anyone else feel like they ruin anything they add paint to? I just have NOT gotten a handle on how to make puffy paint look good. Overall, though, I’m happy with how it turned out.

See another version of this theme from 2025 here.
You can see the virtual program that does not include the full books read aloud here.

Early Literacy Tip: Even before your child can read on their own, books are a great way to work on visual literacy skills. Let them “read” the pictures to you – they’ll learn to pick up details, tell a narrative, and appreciate how illustrations can tell a story as well as text. Books like Dog in Charge or even wordless picture books are great for this exercise.

Welcome Song: We Clap and Sing Hello

Discussion: Who has a pet at home? What kind? What do you love about them? If not, what kind of pet would you get if you could? Some of us can’t have pets because we’re allergic, or we don’t have the time or live in a space to properly take care of a pet, so maybe we have pretend pets or stuffed animals.

I adapted this rhyme to fit the pets I made flannels for, and updated the names to reflect a more modern and diverse set of kiddos.
Rhyme: Pet Show
We’re having a pet show in our neighborhood
With prizes for the pets that are good
Blake’s cat is the bravest and Juan’s turtle is cute
Quinn’s dog is funny, while Will’s hermit crab sure can scoot
Ana’s bunny is softest with her silky coat
And Noor’s goldfish is pretty, though all it does is float
Lane has a chameleon that is the best at hiding
And Jin has a snake that is very good at sliding
Khari has a guinea pig that really loves to chew
But my bird’s the only one that can say, “I love you”
Credit: adapted by Ms. Emily from Stratford Library (CT)

Flannel of various pets. Includes a chameleon, turtle, dog, goldfish, guinea pig, hermit crab, rabbit, cat, snake, and parakeet.

Read: Some Pets by Angela DiTerlizzi & Brendan Wenzel

Flannel Activity: Pet Voices
This my pet _____ . They make this sound ______.
(for example)
This is my pet fish. They make this sound: “Glub Glub”
Get creative with noises! Dog, cat, bird, snake, rabbit, lizard, turtle, etc.
Credit: Jen in the Library

Song: How Much is that Pet in the Window?
How much is that doggy in the window? Woof woof!
The one with the waggily tail?
How much is that doggy in the window? Woof woof!
I do hope that doggy’s for sale

Additional verses: (What do other animals do and say?)
Kitty…meow…whiskers so long
Bird… tweet tweet…flappity wings
Rabbit…hop hop…hoppity legs
Fish… glub glub… swimmy fins
Credit: Jen in the Library

Update 6/17/21: I recently used this song at an outreach event and played it on ukulele. It was a hit!

Get a downloadable ukulele songsheet here!

I used the template at kizclub.com for this one. I’m a little extra, so I used an exacto knife to cut out some of the white spaces before laminating. I also changed up the animal pronouns instead of defaulting male as the book does.
Flannel Retelling: Dear Zoo by Rod Campbell

Printed and laminated "flannel" pieces for the book Dear Zoo. Includes an elephant, giraffe, lion, snake, monkey, frog, camel, and dog, with crates for each.

I love this title so much. There’s some inference needed to understand what’s going on in the story, so don’t be afraid to talk it out with a younger group, but it’s just such a sweet book.
Read: Alfie by Thyra Heder

Action Rhyme: I Had a Little Turtle
I had a little turtle (make turtle with fist – thumb is the head)
His name was Tiny Tim
I put him in the bathtub
To see if he could swim.
He drank up all the water (glub, glub)
He ate up all the soap (munch, munch)
And when he woke up next morning
He had bubbles in his throat! (bubbly noises)
Credit: Jbrary

Action Rhyme: Can You?
(act out each line)
Can you hop like a rabbit?
Can you creep like turtle in a bog?
Can you stalk like a cat?
Can you run like a dog?
Can you slither like a snake?
Can you swim like a fish?
Can you sit down now and listen
And be as still as this?
Credit: adapted from Jen in the Library

I went back and forth on whether to read this one or Mr. Fuzzbuster Knows He’s the Favorite. Both are great. Dog in Charge is a little shorter, though, so it won out.
Read: Dog in Charge by K.L. Going & Dan Santat

Ukulele Song: The Goldfish by The Laurie Berkner Band, from the album Victor Vito

Get a downloadable ukulele songsheet for “The Goldfish” here!

thumbnail of ukulele songsheet for The Goldfish.

Craft: Fishbowl
Paper plate crafts are great. I love that it (hopefully) shows parents that they don’t need fancy art supplies to let their kids get creative. For this one, I took inspiration from Sunflower Storytime (who, in turn, credits Daisy Cottage Designs), and mine turned out to be a mix of the two. Since I had just given out cereal last week, I decided to use some leftover dried beans as the aquarium rocks, and used green tissue paper to make the underwater plant. If you don’t have beans, puffed rice would make a lighter alternative. I liked the look of the multicolored beans, though. I had two plants only because I had alternative directions on how to make two kinds, but gave the kids material enough for just one.

I also suggested these alternative titles during the permanent YouTube video.
Lola Gets a Cat by Anna McQuinn & Rosalind Beardshaw
Take Your Pet to School Day by Linda Ashman & Suzanne Kaufman
Mr. Fuzzbuster Knows He’s the Favorite by Stacy McAnulty & Edward Hemingway

Closing Rhyme: Tickle the Stars

This storytime was presented virtually on 3/9/21.

Storytime Handout:

Handout including book suggestions and rhyme and song lyrics.

Preschool Storytime: Chickens

Posted on by msemilylibrary

Even beyond all the farm books, there are lots of great picture books featuring silly chicken characters. And I had fun finding lots of great rhymes and songs to go along! We did do “soup” as a theme last week – I did not call attention to the fact that many of us associate chickens with soup, though!

NOTE: I’ve realized that the tunes “Do Your Ears Hang Low” and “Skip to My Lou” are rooted in racism and can be harmful. I’ll no longer be using “Shake, Shake, Shake” during storytime, as it uses the “Do Your Ears” tune. There are lots of great shaker egg songs that can be used instead. Thankfully, “I Know a Chicken” is actually a Laurie Berkner song, and actually uses a completely different tune (and I was just oblivious!) Use that instead!

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

Early Literacy Tip: Talking about words that rhyme helps children become more aware of the smaller sounds in words, (which is the early literacy skill “phonological awareness”). Pick a word (like “sleep”) and see if your children can think of a rhyming word. If that is too hard, then see if your children can recognize a rhyming word, which is easier—does “sleep” rhyme with “cat?” Does “sleep” rhyme with “peep?”

Welcome Song: We Clap and Sing Hello

Intro: Can you guess what animal we’ll talk about today? It’s a funny animal that is a bird – lays eggs – eats worms and bugs and corn – wakes everyone up in the morning with a cock-a-doodle-doo – It’s a chicken!

Rhyme with Flannel: All Around the Barnyard
All around the barnyard
The animals are fast asleep
Sleeping cows and horses
Sleeping pigs and sheep
Here comes the cocky rooster
To sound his daily alarm
“Cock-a-doodle-doo!”
To wake the sleepy farm! (“wake” all the animals)
Credit: Storytime Katie, flannel from Oriental Trading

Flannel with barn, tree, rooster, hen, chick, and horse, cow, pig and sheep laying on their sides.

Here’s a story about a chicken who doesn’t lay her eggs where she’s supposed to. I decided to start with this book because it has great actual photographs of chickens on a farm, including different varieties.
Read: Tillie Lays an Egg by Terry Golson & Ben Fink

Shaker Egg Song: I Know a Chicken
(tune of Skip to my Lou) **SEE NOTE ABOVE**
Oh, I know a chicken and she laid an egg
Oh, I know a chicken and she laid an egg
Oh my goodness, it’s a shaky egg!
Shake your eggs like this! Fast!
Repeat, changing the final action: slow, in a circle, etc.
Credit: Laurie Berkner Band, via Storytime Katie

**SEE NOTE ABOVE**
Shaker Egg Song: Shake, Shake, Shake
(tune of Do Your Ears Hang Low?)
Credit: Storytimes and More via Yogibrarian

Fingerplay with Flannel: Ten Fluffy Chicks
Five eggs and five eggs, (show hand with five fingers, then the other)
And that makes ten (put hands together)
Sitting on top is mother hen (one hand folds over other)
Cackle, cackle, cackle, (clap, clap, clap!)
And what do I see? (hands out, questioning)
Ten fluffy chicks as yellow as can be (ten fingers up again)
Credit: Mel’s Desk, flannel printout from Sunflower Storytime

Read: Bedtime for Chickies by Janee Trasler

I loved learning this song for Hispanic Heritage Month and am happy to use it for other themes! I start by explaining what’s happening in 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! I left the flannel up with the yellow chicks showing.
Song: Los pollitos dicen (The Chicks Say…)
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
Credit: traditional, watch: https://youtu.be/a7zUbmjUtDM

Can be done with fingers or toes (à la “This Little Piggie”), but it’s easier to do on fingers in storytime!
Fingerplay: This Little Chick
(add one finger at a time, ending with thumb OR pinky)
This little chick got into the barn
This little chick ate all the corn
This little chick said he wasn’t well
This little chick said he’d go tell
But this little chick said “Peep, peep, peep” (wiggle last finger)
“Please be quiet, I’m trying to sleep!”
Credit: Handley Regional Library System (CO)

I held up my chick, hen, and rooster flannel pieces in the video, but in person, I’d encourage kids to do a different motion for each verse.
Action Song: The Chickens in the Coop
(tune of Wheels on the Bus)
The chicks in the coop go peep, peep, peep
Peep, peep, peep, peep, peep, peep
The chicks in the coop go peep, peep, peep, all day long!

Additional verses:
The hens in the coop go bok, bok, bok…
The roosters in the coop go cock-a-doodle-doo…
Credit: Storytime Hooligans

Read: Chicken Story Time by Sandy Asher & Mark Fearing

Action Song: If You’re a Chicken and You Know It
(tune of: If You’re Happy and You Know It)
If you’re a chicken and you know it, flap your wings (flap, flap)
If you’re a chicken and you know it, flap your wings (flap, flap)
If you’re a chicken and you know it, and you really want to show it,
If you’re a chicken and you know it, flap your wings (flap, flap)

Additional verses:
Search for worms: scritch scratch (scratch ground with foot)
Eat some corn: peck peck (move head in pecking motion)
Cluck hello: bok bok (nice and loud!)
Get in your nest: settle settle (wiggle bottom and get low)
Credit: adapted from Jen in the Library

Craft: Chicken Puppet
Crafty Pammy has made this simple but adorable chicken puppet based on our last book, Chicken Story Time. To give it my own flavor, I suggested families look at different breeds/varieties of chicken and choose one to decorate their puppet like. I chose to make mine a Brahma! I was told by one mom that this was her kid’s favorite craft, and that he continues to play with his chicken puppet weeks later!

Cardstock white chicken puppet on a jumbo craft stick, decorated with black feathers on the back of the neck and tail, red comb and waddle, yellow beak, and big black and white eyes.

I also booktalked these alternative titles during the permanent YouTube video.
Chickens to the Rescue by John Himmelman
Chicken Wants a Nap by Tracy Marchini & Monique Felix
Acoustic Rooster & His Barnyard Band by Kwame Alexander & Tim Bowers

Closing Rhyme: Tickle the Stars

This storytime was presented virtually on 3/2/21.

Storytime Handout:

Storytime handout with suggested book list and rhyme and song lyrics.
book covers of titles presented in this storytime

Preschool Storytime: Animals Eating Animals

Posted on by msemilylibrary

So… someone on Storytime Underground mentioned they did an Animals Eating Animals theme and my mind started whirring! I loved it and tucked it away for a future idea. When I did a callout on the site a couple of months later in preparation for this session, I got lots of great ideas, but a few people who said “That’s a weird theme.” Which, sure, it is. BUT – if you look at the number of available books and songs and rhymes that tie in, it’s really not that weird. There’s definitely a basis in the natural world, though I went “silly” instead of “scientific.” And lots of kids seem to love stuff that is just a little taboo – underwear, snot, slime, bugs. So I went in full throttle and had a lot of fun goofing with Animals Eating Animals. I even got to wear my dinosaur dress, and used a TON of props, which I love.

See another version of this theme from 2026.

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

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

Early Literacy Tip: Preschool 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: We Clap and Sing Hello

Discussion: Out in the wild, a lot of animals eat other animals to stay alive. This makes them carnivores, or meat-eaters, or omnivores, which means they eat both plants and animals. What about you? Are you a carnivore, omnivore, or even a herbivore (only eat plants – another word is vegetarian)? 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 fish – here’s a rhyme about that:

Fingerplay: There Was a Little Turtle
There was a little turtle (make fist)
who lived in a box (cover fist with arm)
he swam in the puddles (fist wiggles like swimming)
he climbed on the rocks (fist climbs up opposite arm)
He snapped at a mosquito, he snapped at a flea (pinch with thumb and fingers)
He snapped at a minnow, he snapped at me
He caught that mosquito, He caught that flea (clap each time)
He caught that minnow
But he didn’t catch me! (waggle finger)
Credit: Jbrary

Read: Swallow the Leader by Danna Smith & Kevin Sherry

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
Great white shark … lurking in the water

Humongous whale, humongous whale, spouting in the water,
Humongous whale, humongous whale,
Gulp! … Gulp! … Gulp! … BURP! (Cover mouth)
Excuse me!
Credit: Jbrary (see motions there)

This is one of the first flannels I made – about 2 years ago now. I think I saw it on a video, took a screenshot, and based the design on that. But I went back to see if I could find either my printout or the original video and couldn’t find it. I do wish the whale was facing the other direction (I guess I could just put another eyeball on the back) and the sizes were increasingly big, but I make it work!

slippery fish flannel, including small green fish, pink jellyfish, gray octopus with pink suckers, white tuna with pink fins, a gray shark, and a blue whale.

I’m not sure if I do Baby Shark the same way the viral video does, but it’s the way I’ve always done it!
Action Song: Baby Shark
(motion shark jaws opening and closing throughout, motions getting bigger with larger relatives)
Baby shark, doo-doo, doo-doo-doo-doo (x3) Baby shark!

Baby (thumb and pointer) … Sister (whole hand) …
Brother (both hands) … Grandma (both hands, fingers curled) …
Momma (arms from elbows down) … Daddy (whole arms) …

SHARK ATTACK!! AAAAAHHH!
Swim away (swim motion) doo-doo, doo-doo-doo-doo (x3)
Gotcha! (tickle)
Credit: traditional

Based on this post on Literary Commentary, I asked one of our volunteers to make me a George box to retell this classic story. She did an amazing job and this is the second time I’ve gotten to use this prop. It’s a lot of fun, and a good opportunity to show that books can be acted out!
Puppet Retelling: Bark, George by Jules Feiffer

I love the jazzy tune of this song, and chose it over Five Green and Speckled Frogs, which is another option for this theme and my prop, which I fashioned after the instructions on the Kenton County Public Library’s page. I have an alligator puppet I considered using, but the logistics seemed just too much – holding the log in one hand and flipping the frogs with the alligator puppet on the other hand while singing is a little beyond my coordination.
Counting Song: Five Frogs, Sittin’ on a Log
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)
Credit: Anna Moo

prop for Five Frogs: consists of a paper towel tube covered by 5 strips. one side of the strip depicts a green frog with spots sitting on a brown log. When the strip is flipped to the bottom of the tube, it shows a light blue wave of water.

With a snake prop: the head sticks out from under your arm, and as you say “moa,” pull so the body is exposed.
Poem: Boa
Just when you think you know the boa
There’s moa, and moa, and moa, and moa!
Credit: King County Library System

Photo of plush snake made from a man's tie in browns with a hexagonal pattern and black toy safety eyes.

I’ve seen a lot of videos doing this with a prop – some kind of play tunnel that you leave collapsed at the floor then slowly bring up around your body. If I had one, I’d have used it! As it is, I found a snake plush in our basement so just held and moved that.
Song/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…
Credit: Shel Silverstein, from the book Where the Sidewalk Ends

I think this is the book that I first thought of when contemplating this theme! Here’s how I introduced it: “This next book has a lot of great rhythm! I love that the author talks about being visually impaired in his bio, so the way the book SOUNDS was very important to him.”
Read: One Day in the Eucalyptus, Eucalyptus Tree by Daniel Bernstrom & Brendan Wenzel

Silly Story: Herman the Worm
I was sittin’ on my fencepost, chewing my bubblegum (chew, chew, chew, chew)
Playin’ with my yo-yo – wee-oo! wee-oo!
When along came Herman the worm
And he was this big (measure a small worm with fingers)
And I said: “Herman? What happened?”
“I ate my mother!”

(Herman gets bigger and bigger, eating more family members, then
goes back to being tiny)
…And I said: “Herman? What happened?”
“I burped!”
Credit: traditional, via Jbrary

Craft: Bark, George Story Retelling Activity
This was a printable that came straight from Making Learning Fun. I didn’t have time to pick up snack-sized bags, so I used sandwich size and just made sure the bottom was where George’s belly was. I had a volunteer precut the holes and I taped the plastic bag on the back so the kids just had to color and cut out their animals.

I also suggested these alternative titles during the permanent YouTube video.
Poor Little Guy by Elanna Allen
The Wolf, the Duck, & the Mouse by Mac Barnett & Jon Klassen
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

Closing Rhyme: Tickle the Stars

This storytime was presented virtually on 1/26/21.

Storytime Handout:

Sheet with book suggestions and rhyme/song lyrics

Preschool Storytime: Hibernation

Posted on by msemilylibrary

I’m slowly catching up on recording storytimes – I’m now into 2021! Inspired by the book William’s Winter Nap used in the last session (Warm & Cozy), it made sense to theme an upcoming storytime on hibernation. Although I’ve been a librarian for over 16 years, I’m only creeping into my second year as a children’s programmer (I started as a teen librarian, then went into management). So I’ve been presenting a lot of “classic” themes that I’m sure a lot of veteran librarians have been doing forever – but they’re new to me!

This theme gave me the opportunity to learn some more facts, as well as be frustrated with inaccurate picture books! I wanted to present a variety of animals that hibernate, not just bears, but several books show squirrels as hibernators, when they are not. I think they are less active in the winter, but they definitely don’t hibernate – the ones in my yard play in the snow! So there were a few titles that were good except for these inaccuracies that I just couldn’t present. Grr.

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

Early Literacy Tip: Making predictions about a book really helps children understand what they read. Comprehension is important because without it, kids don’t stay motivated to keep reading for very long. So ask your children a question or two about the book before you start reading. Talking with your child will help them get ready to read!

Discuss: When it’s cold outside, we bundle up and like to spend more time indoors. But some animals will sleep all winter long – this is called hibernation! Let’s learn more about what it means.

Read: Hibernation by Margaret Hall

I had photographs of a bear, frog, snake, and bat being active, then hibernating on the back of cards. We talked about them before starting the song.
Song: Hibernation
(tune of “Alouette”)
Chorus:
Hibernation, time for hibernation
Hibernation, time to go to sleep
Verse:
In the winter, where’s the bear?
Sleeping in his log or lair
Where’s the bear? (Log or lair)
Where’s the bear? (Log or lair) OOOOOOH!

Additional verses:
…frog? Sleeping by a pond or log
…snake? In the mud beside the lake
…bat? In a cave is where she’s at
Credit: Charles County Public Library (MD)

Fingerplay: Here Is a Cave
Here is a cave. Inside is a bear (bend fingers on one hand; put thumb inside)
Now he comes out to get some fresh air (pop out thumb)
He stays out all summer in sunshine and heat
He hunts in the forest for berries to eat (move thumb in a circle)
When snow starts to fall, he hurries inside
His warm little cave and there he will hide (put thumb inside fingers)
Snow covers the cave like a fluffy white rug
Inside the bear sleeps all cozy and snug (place one hand over the other)
Credit: King County Library System (WA)

Bear is ready to sleep, but first, he wants to remind his friends that it’s time to hibernate. Who will he meet?
Read: Time to Sleep by Denise Fleming

Action Rhyme: Brown Bear, Brown Bear
Brown bear, brown bear, turn around
Brown bear, brown bear, touch the ground
Brown bear, brown bear, reach up high
Brown bear, brown bear, touch the sky
Brown bear, brown bear, bend down low
Brown bear, brown bear, touch your toes
Brown bear, brown bear, go to bed
Brown bear, brown bear, rest your head
Brown bear, brown bear, turn out the lights
Brown bear, brown bear, say “good night”
Credit: King County Library System (WA)

I rooted around for any hibernator puppets or stuffed animals we had and came up with quite a few. I think I only did about four during storytime, though.
Fingerplay with Puppets: Sleepy Bear
(tune of “Thumbkin”)
Where is Bear? Where is Bear?
Here I am. Here I am.
How are you this winter?
Very tired, thank you.
Go to sleep. Go to sleep.
(repeat with other hibernators: hedgehog, chipmunk, turtle, bat, frog, mouse)
Credit: preschooleducation.com

photo of stuffed animals and puppets: turtle, hedgehog, mouse, bat, and chipmunk.
A few of my hibernators – not pictured: baby bear and frog who are at home!

You know I love a funny book. This one is told entirely in jokes!
Read: Knock Knock by Tammi Sauer & Guy Francis

Flannel/Action Rhyme: Sleepy Bear Roll
Five sleepy bears moving really slow
One yawns and stumbles and starts to… ROLL! (roll arms)
He rolls to a stop and begins to snore (exaggerated snoring)
How many bears are left to explore? (count down)
Credit: Canton Public Library (MI)

laminated cartoon pictures of 5 different cartoon bears, all sleeping.

Counting/Ukulele Song: The Bears Go Marching
The bears go marching one by one, Hurrah! Hurrah!
The bears go marching one by one, Hurrah! Hurrah!
The bears go marching one by one,
The little one knew that autumn was done
And they all go marching down to their den
Because winter had set in, boom, boom, boom

Additional verses:
…two by two… little one stopped to sneeze : “ahh-choo!”
…three by three… little one stopped to scratch a tree
…four by four… little one stopped to eat just a bit more
…five by five… little one stopped to whisper : “nighty-night!”
Credit: Ram Sam Storytime

Get a downloadable ukulele songsheet for “The Bears Go Marching” here!

Thumbnail of ukulele sheet

Craft: Sleeping Bear Den
I ordered some foam leaf stickers to go with this craft, but they didn’t come in time. Either way, I think it’s simple and cute. Inspired by the project at Glued To My Crafts blog. Bear image from Play Create Explore.

craft with 3 jumbo craft sticks colored brown and glued into a triangle, with a grey construction paper triangle glued to it plus a picture of a sleeping bear. Cotton balls are glued to the top and bottom to represent snow.

I also suggested these alternative titles during the permanent YouTube video.
Over and Under the Snow by Kate Messner & Christopher Silas Neal
Old Bear by Kevin Henkes
I Don’t Want to Go to Sleep by Dev Petty & Mike Boldt

Closing Rhyme: Tickle the Stars

This storytime was presented virtually on 1/5/21.

Storytime Handout:

handout with suggested books and rhyme/song lyrics

Preschool Storytime: Mistaken Identity

Posted on by msemilylibrary

What a mouthful for a storytime theme – Mistaken Identity! Yet, I easily found three books that tied to this concept and I’m sure there are many more. We spent a moment at the beginning of the session breaking down the phrase and talking about what it means, and I got feedback later that the kids really enjoyed these stories. This was an early-lockdown storytime I did exclusively on Facebook Live, and do not have a YouTube version available. With everyone staying safer at home, we weren’t providing handouts or Take and Make packets at that time. I tried to suggest either crafts made with household materials or activities caregivers could do with their child.

Welcome Song: Clap and Sing Hello

Read: Mother Bruce by Ryan T. Higgins

Fingerplay: Hickory Dickory Dock
Hickory, dickory dock
the mouse ran up the clock (fingers run up arm)
the clock struck one (clap once)
the mouse ran down (fingers run down arm)
hickory dickory dock.

Additional verses:
…the clock struck two (clap twice) the mouse said, boo! …
…the clock struck three (clap three times) the mouse said, whee! …
…the clock struck four (clap four times) the mouse said, no more! …
Credit: Jbrary

Song: Grr, Grr Went the Big Brown Bear
Grrr, grrr went the big brown bear one day (make claws and scary face)
Grrr , grrr went the big brown bear
Grrr, grrr went the big brown bear one day
And they all went grrr, grrr, grrr
But… We know bears go (clap) huggy, huggy, hug! (hug yourself)
(Clap) Huggy, huggy, hug, (clap) huggy, huggy, hug!
We know bears go (clap) huggy, huggy, hug!
They don’t go grrr, grrr, grrr

Jump, jump went the little red squirrel one day (jump!)
Jump, jump went the little red squirrel
Jump, jump went the little red squirrel one day
And they all went jump, jump, jump.
But… We know squirrels go (clap) rub a dub a dub! (arms “run” in front of you)
(Clap) Rub a dub a dub, (clap) rub a dub a dub!
We know squirrels go (clap) rub a dub a dub!
They don’t go jump, jump, jump

Mmm-ahh went the little green frog one day (stick out tongue)
Mmm-ahh went the little green frog
Mmm-ahh went the little green frog one day
And they all went mm-mm-ahh!
But… We know frogs go (clap) sha-na-na-na-na (jazz hands)
(Clap) sha-na-na-na-na, (clap) sha-na-na-na-na
We know frogs go (clap) sha-na-na-na-na
They don’t go mm-mm-ahh!
Credit: Jbrary

Read: The Wide-Mouthed Frog by Keith Faulkner & Jonathan Lambert

For this song, I use three differently sized frog rasps that I purchased on Amazon. They’re a lot of fun and the kids love them. Thanks so much to Ada Moreau Demlow for posting a video of her original creation on Facebook!
Song: Three Frogs in a Bog
There was a big frog (rasp, rasp)
Lived in a big bog (rasp, rasp)
He swam in the water (rasp, rasp)
Played on a big log (rasp, rasp)
Big log (rasp, rasp)
Big bog (rasp, rasp)
Big frog (rasp, rasp)

There was a middle-sized frog…
There was a little frog…

And then one day (rasp big, rasp middle, rasp little)
The frogs got together (rasp, rasp, rasp)
They swam in the water (rasp, rasp, rasp)
In the bright sunny weather (rasp, rasp, rasp)
Three frogs (rasp, rasp, rasp)
Three friends (rasp, rasp, rasp)
The end! (rasp, rasp, rasp)
Credit: Ada Moreau Demlow

Three wooden frog-shaped percussion instruments, with a line of ridges down the back; large, medium, and small. Each holds a removable wooden percussion stick in its mouth.
Frog rasps

Fingerplay: Mr. Bullfrog
Here is Mr. Bullfrog (make fist)
sitting on a rock (place fist on other palm)
He jumps into the water… (lift fist, building anticipation)
Kerplop! (clap hands together)
Credit: Storytime with Miss Tara and Friends

Read: Duck! Rabbit! by Amy Krouse Rosenthal & Tom Lichtenheld

Ukulele Song: Duck On Her Head
Ms. Emily’s got a duck on her head
Ms. Emily’s got a duck on her head
Ms. Emily’s got a duck on her head
And she keeps it there all day! (Quack, quack!)

Repeat with children’s names and other animals. I used animals that were in our stories and rhymes today: Rabbit, Frog, Bear, Goose, Mouse.
Credit: Laurie Berkner (Original song is “Pig on Her Head”)
Get a downloadable ukulele songsheet here!

Craft Idea: Animal Headband
Use construction paper and any other craft materials you wish to create a headband featuring an animal you like best! Add ears, eyes, noses or snouts to evoke different animals. I made a duck, and traced my hands to make the wings. Pro tip – always staple with the smooth side toward the inside so it doesn’t get tangled in a child’s hair!

Yellow paper headband with features to look like a duck: wing feathers, eyes, and an orange beak.

Closing Rhyme: Tickle the Stars

This storytime was presented virtually on 4/14/20.