Winter makes me want to feel cozy, so here’s a new-to-me storytime theme: Blankets! I expanded it a bit beyond blankets to bedtime in general because I was worried I wouldn’t be able to find enough material for just blankets, so it was nice to have that flexibility. I actually had trouble finding a lot of books appropriate for toddlers about having a special blanket or lovey at my library. So expanding to bedtime helped with book selection, but I mostly focused on blankets and loveys like teddy bears in our rhymes and songs.
Unfortunately, I was sick the day of this storytime so I never got a chance to present it, though my wonderful coworkers stepped in for me. I’ll definitely have to try it again sometime.
Early Literacy Tip: Singing a lullaby while putting your baby to sleep will help them settle down. Singing lullabies to your older children will bring them back to that safe, calm, soft place and will also help to settle them down. So continue singing lullabies, even when your children are no longer babies. from The Early Literacy Kit: A Handbook and Tip Cards by Betsy Diamant-Cohen & Saroj Ghoting
Welcome Song: Hello, Friends*
Warm Up Song: Wake Up, Feet* This is a repeated song that everyone seems to enjoy. I always begin and end with feet and tummies, but find two other body parts to wiggle in the middle. I rotate between elbows, cheeks, hips, noses, arms, chins, thighs, heads, shoulders, ears, knees, and fingers.
Lifting Rhyme: Toast in the Toaster*
Intro: Today we are talking about bedtime! Who loves bedtime? (grownups?!) Okay, sometimes bedtime is hard, but it’s important that we get good sleep every night so that our bodies can rest and grow and be healthy. Maybe you have something that helps you at bedtime. Maybe it’s a special song your grownup sings, a certain book you read together, or a lovey or stuffy or special blanket that you sleep with.
Action Rhyme: Time for Bed Time for bed, time for bed Fluff up the pillow Lay down your head Pull up the blanket Tuck it in tight Close your eyes And sleep all night Source: Storytime Katie
Transition: If You’re Ready for a Story*
I think Sydney Hanson has got to win the award for most adorable animal illustrations. This is one of those “let’s reverse psychology you into going to sleep” but it’s so darn cute. And I love the wide variety of animals represented. There’s one page that talks about a little ape with their blanket, but that’s the only blanket connection. Read: Close Your Eyes: A Book of Sleepiness by Lori Haskins Houran & Sydney Hanson
This and the companion Bird Bath are really fun, very simple titles that my little one loved. This one has a great rundown of the bedtime routine, and Cat has both a blanket and a teddy bear. Okay, technically it’s about naptime and not bedtime proper, but it works in every other aspect. Read: Cat Nap by Steve Antony
Who has a special blanket? What color is it? I had fun making this flannel, trying to do different patterns with different hues of each color. Guessing Rhyme: Blanket Colors I once had a blanket, It was fluffy and new. I once had a blanket, And its color was… (blue)
I once had a blanket, The prettiest I’ve seen I once had a blanket, And its color was… (green)
I once had a blanket, Soft as a pillow I once had a blanket, And its color was… (yellow)
I once had a blanket, At the foot of my bed I once had a blanket, And its color was… (red) Source: Anne’s Library Life
OH! There is a teddy bear under this blanket who wants to play hide and seek! I had the teddy under the blanket as I put it up with the previous flannel. This rhyme doesn’t mention the color as you say it, so you have to set it up each time – which blanket do you think bear is under? Okay, let’s check the red blanket! Flannel Game: Where is Teddy Bear? Teddy bear, teddy bear, Are you under there? Source: Anne’s Library Life
I know a song that teddy bear likes to hear! The Jazzy Ash version of this is superb, and fun that it speeds up with each repetition. Action Song: Teddy Bear Teddy Bear, Teddy Bear, turn around Teddy Bear, Teddy Bear, touch the ground Teddy Bear, Teddy Bear, wave up high Teddy Bear, Teddy Bear, wink one eye Teddy Bear, Teddy Bear, bend your knees Teddy Bear, Teddy Bear, flap in the breeze Teddy Bear, Teddy Bear, climb up to bed Teddy Bear, Teddy Bear, rest your head Source: traditional, as recorded by Jazzy Ash
The last line is the only reason this rhyme fits with the theme, but it’s a good movement one. Fingerplay: Dance Your Fingers Dance your fingers up, Dance your fingers down Dance your fingers side to side Dance them all around Dance them on your shoulders Dance them on you head Dance them on your tummy and put them all to bed (tuck under arms) Source: Storytime Katie
This was an optional add for me based on time, but I think my coworker did do it! Ukulele Song: I Wish I Were a Fuzzy Wuzzy Blanket (tune of the Oscar Meyer Jingle) Oh, I wish I were a fuzzy wuzzy blanket That is what I’d truly like to be For if I were a fuzzy wuzzy blanket Everyone would snuggle up with me! Source: Book Besotted Librarian Blog
I hadn’t done this scarf song before, so it’s always nice to switch things up. I planned to sing “Blanket” instead of scarf Scarf Song: Wave Your Blanket/Scarf/Stuffy (tune of London Bridge) Wave your blanket up and down Up and down, up and down Wave your blanket up and down Wave your blanket
additional verses: left and right – fast and slow – high and low – around and around Source: Jbrary
If you bring your blanky everywhere, it may get dirty and need a wash. My idea was to really play up the washing and laying out to dry motions. And the original text had PB at lunch and mustard at snack time, but it made more sense to switch those in my mind. Just a personal preference! Scarf Rhyme: Wash My Blanket At breakfast time, oh me, oh my Milk spilled on my blanket – oh me, oh my Have to wash my blanket And lay it out to dry
Repeat with: Lunch time – mustard / Snack time – peanut butter / Dinner time – spaghetti
At bedtime, oh me, oh my Cookie crumbs fell on my blanket – oh me, oh my Have to shake my blanket out, No time to wash or dry I need my blanket, It’s time for beddy bye Source: Anne’s Library Life
It’s almost bedtime and I’ve still got some wiggles! Let’s dance with our blankies. Recorded Song: Dancing Scarf Blues from the album “Dancing Feet” by Miss Carole
*Yawn* I think it’s time for bed. Let’s sing a lullaby. Can you wave your scarf gently? Scarf 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
Action Song: Zoom, Zoom, Zoom!*
Craft: Bear’s Blanket This craft was inspired by the Fun With Friends at Storytime blog. Apparently the image was inspired by the book Stormy Night by Salina Yoon (which my library does not own). I actually borrowed the book from my home library just to read it, and I didn’t see this image anywhere! Maybe she drew it in the style of Yoon? Anyway, I used my own magic to create a copy for myself, put it on cardstock, folded in half, and cut away the top of the blanket to show bear’s head. We used tissue paper squares to create his quilt. Because it is clearly Yoon’s artwork I don’t feel comfortable sharing my template for this one publicly, sorry.
Play Time The toddlers have two laundry baskets of baby toys – rattles and cars, sorters and stackers, toy phones and spinners. For the older kids, I have foam blocks, soft food toys, puzzles, and a few other items that are a little more sophisticated than the baby toys. For Family Time, I gauge the overall age of the group and put out what seems right for them. We play for 5-10 minutes at the most, then I ring the bell and ask the kids to help me clean up. I think the clean up bit is good practice for them!
Goodbye Song: See You Later Alligator*
Other books I had available for families to browse (and may work for you on this theme) Blanket: Journey to Extreme Coziness – Loryn Brantz Sloth Wasn’t Sleepy – Kate Messner & Valentina Toro I Love You, Baby Burrito – Angela Dominguez The Twins’ Blanket – Hyewon Yum Sleepy Snuggles – Diana Murray & Charles Santoso I’m Not Sleepy! ¡No tengo sueño! – Angela Dominguez Go Sleep in Your Own Bed – Candace Fleming & Lori Nichols The Best Bed for Me – Gaia Cornwall Farm Lullaby – Karen Jameson & Wednesday Kirwan Dreamland – Noah Klocek
This storytime was presented in-person on 12/10/25.
**These symbols indicate the program sessions I used the activities for: (TT) Toddler Time, ages 1-2 (TB) Teddy Bears, ages 2-3.5 (FT) Family Time, ages 0-3.5
† Click the image of rhyme/song sheets to download a non-branded PDF
Hello, again, readers! I hope you have had a wonderful summer, full of adventures and fun. We certainly did here at the library. I love summer, and everything it means at the library. Sometimes our negative feelings about summer reading as library staff can be in front of mind – it’s a lot of work, we’re out of our routines, we have a lot more people to manage with their needs and quirks and behaviors – it’s easy to get burnt out. But I love the summer reading season and I keep in mind that all that extra work, all that foot traffic and so on means that our library is an important part of our community. That means a lot in these uncertain days. And the smiles and appreciation of our patrons of all ages give me a lift every single day. So, fellow librarians, I hope you were able to take care of yourselves AND enjoy the vibrant chaos.
Our library generally uses the theme and graphics from the Collaborative Summer Library Program, or CSLP, a national initiative that helps libraries plan summer programming. This year’s theme was “Adventure Begins at Your Library.” Adventure is a broad theme! I used many of the weekly theme ideas from the CSLP manual and applied them to the framework I’ve been honing in the last couple of years: an outdoor storytime with sensory stations. It’s a big hit and I saw great numbers. All summer, I offered Family Time for ages 0-3.5 Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday, with siblings welcome. As an organization we have also been working toward more weekend and evening programs, so there were a couple of those sprinkled in as well this year. I do have an indoor backup option when the weather is bad, so I still do registration and am limited by that, but it’s a bigger room than I usually use, so space isn’t generally an issue.
For each session, we had about 15-20 minutes of storytime rhymes, songs, and a book, including parachute play, then 20 minutes of free play at various sensory stations. We end with bubbles and a goodbye song. Stations are a really great way to promote socializing, practice skills like sharing and being gentle, and allow for unstructured play, which science tells us is so important to learning and development.
I only did one new station this year (in week 2, see below), the rest were all repeats from the last couple of years, which you can read about in depth at this blog post.
I don’t think I took any photos this year, so here’s one from last year – same set-up!
Repeating Weekly Plan Each week, the structure of the storytime was the same, with only three parts that changed depending on the theme: a themed song, a book, and one fresh parachute song. (Stations also changed weekly.) All the other songs and rhymes were the same:
Welcome Song: Hello, Friends (tune of Goodnight, Ladies) Hello, friends! Hello, friends! Hello, friends, it’s time to say hello! Hello, [name 1], hello, [name 2]! Hello, [name 3], it’s time to say hello! (repeat as needed) (ASL motions: salute for “hello,” then take the index fingers on each hand and you link them together as though they are hugging each other back and forth for “friends”) Source: Glenside Public Library District
Warm-Up Rhyme: We Wiggle and Stop (Use the ASL sign for the word “stop” – one hand “chops” across the opposite hand) We wiggle and we wiggle and we STOP We wiggle and we wiggle and we STOP We wiggle and we wiggle and we wiggle and we wiggle And we wiggle and we wiggle and we STOP (We wiggled every week, but then added 2 more motions. Motions we did throughout the summer: jump, twirl, run, splash, hop, swim, stretch, stomp, wave, sway, march, lean, roll [arms,] hug) Source: Jbrary
Intro: Our theme this summer is Adventure Begins at Your Library. Are you ready to go on an adventure? Short intro to the weekly theme (see below)
Themed Song (see below)
Transition Song: If You’re Ready for a Story (tune of If You’re Happy and You Know It) If you’re ready for a story, clap your hands (clap, clap) If you’re ready for a story, clap your hands (clap, clap) If you’re ready for a story, if you’re ready for a story, If you’re ready for a story, clap your hands (clap, clap) Source: Miss Keithia (my predecessor)
Themed Book (see below)
Parachute! What sorts of adventures can we have with our parachute?
Let’s head out on our adventure. Our road is going to start out very smooth. Can we wave the parachute slowly and gently? Parachute: A Smooth Road A smooth road! (repeat x4) (slowly, and gently) [Uh, oh! Our road has turned a little bumpy! Can we wave the parachute medium-fast?] A bumpy road! (x4) (a little faster) [Oh, no! The road has gotten very rough!] A rough road! (x4) (frantic waving of the parachute ensues!) Oh, no! A hole! (lift the parachute up high and then down) Source: Jbrary
Rotating Parachute Song (see below)
Breathing Break Whew, I am out of breath! I’m ready for a breathing break. Let’s take a big breath in and lift the parachute up, then breathe out and lower it. We’ll repeat a few times.
At this point the kids are usually darting under the parachute, so I go with it! Okay, if grown-ups can grab the edges of the parachute, kids can go underneath if they want (if you prefer to just watch from the outside, that’s always fine!) This was originally intended to be a song where we walk around in a circle, but with the age of the kids, grown ups generally wanted to stay kind of close to where their kid was and not walk around. So we just waved up and down until the very end, where we pulled the parachute down (briefly) around the kids underneath. I also originally intended to do a second verse where we stood up, but I didn’t think it was a good idea for the kids to be trapped under the parachute for the length of a verse, so I never did it. It’s included here in case you were curious! Parachute Song: Merry Go Round (tune similar to Mulberry Bush, see link below for a recording) The merry go round goes round and round (walk in a circle with parachute or wave it up and down) The children laugh and laugh and laugh So many were on the merry go round The merry go round collapsed! (fall to the ground or bring parachute down)
(stand up verse) Fishies in the ocean (stay crouched/fallen) Fishies in the sea We all jump up with a 1 2 3! (stand up) Source: Read Sing Play
Okay, grown ups – for our last parachute song we’re going to let the parachute fly – so let go at the very end after we count down and I say “FLY.” Parachute Song: Parachute Fly (tune of Skip to my Lou) (kids go under the parachute and adults raise and lower) Up, up, up it goes, Down, down, down so low Raise our parachute to the sky Count to 3 and watch it fly Spoken: Up on one… Down on two… Up on three… and FLY! (adults let go and leader pulls ‘chute in to themselves) Source: Gymboree
Release to Stations I have eight stations each week, which involve a mixture of dry, wet, and art/creativity stations. We spend about 20 minutes before I ring the bell to call everyone back to the grassy area. See more detail here.
Everybody loves bubbles! The trick to doing bubbles outside is to figure out which way the wind is blowing and get upwind of your group! Recorded Bubble Song: Pop, Pop, Pop by Nathalia From the album “Dream a Little,” available on Spotify
Goodbye Song: See You Later, Alligator (tune of Clementine) See you later, alligator (wave with one hand, then the other) In a while, crocodile (open and shut arms like a croc’s mouth) Give a hug, ladybug (hug yourself or a loved one) Blow a kiss, jellyfish! MWAH! (move hand like a jellyfish then blow a kiss!) Source: King County Library System
Intro: This week we’re talking about travel adventures. Sometimes you think the adventure will happen when you reach your destination, but adventures can happen on the way, too!
I varied whether I did the themed song or the book first, just depending on what made the most sense to me.
Themed Read: Go, Go, Go! by Bob Barner There are lots of ways of going on an adventure! This is a very simple book – a beginning reader – but I had the group do a noise and motion for each kind of vehicle, which made it very interactive.
Let’s get our own adventures underway! Themed Song: Row, Row, Row Your Boat/Car/Plane/Bus Row, row, row your boat (row arms) Gently down the stream Merrily, merrily, merrily, merrily Life is but a dream!
Additional verses: Drive, drive, drive your car (steering wheel arms) Gently down the street…Life is but a treat
Fly, fly, fly your plane (airplane arms) Gently in the sky…Watch the clouds go by
Drive, drive, drive your bus (big wide steering wheel) Gently down the way Stop to let some people out To ride another day Source: Grandview Heights Public Library (this is the source I had in my notes, but I’m not finding a link now)
Parachute Song: The Wheels on the Bus I used the verses that worked well with the parachute: Wheels: we just flapped the parachute Horn: We held the parachute taut and “beeped” our hand on it Wipers: we swished the parachute from side to side People: again, flapped the parachute up and down Source: traditional
Week 1 Stations:(details here) Pouring Station Pool Noodle Soup Fly Swatter Slap Kinetic Sand Sort Beanbags Sort Craft Sticks Color the Parachute Ice Painting
Week 2: Adventures Close to Home 6/10, 6/11, 6/12/24
Intro: This week we’re talking about adventures close to home. You can have an adventure in your backyard or close to home – camping, exploring, and more!
This is a fantastic book with a lot of opportunity for interaction. Whenever we said “Roll, roll, little pea” they joined and rolled their arms. They called out the animals on each page and we made their noise. Great storytime book. This story is about a little pea who finds adventure wherever it rolls Themed Read: Roll, Roll, Little Pea by Cécile Bergame & Magali Attiogbé
Let’s do a fingerplay about five plump peas. Themed Rhyme: Five Plump Peas Five plump peas in a peapod pressed (make a fist and cover with the other hand) One grew, two grew, and so did all the rest (raise all fingers on first hand one by one) they grew, and they grew, and they grew, and never stopped (hands get wide) They grew SO BIG that the peapod… POPPED! (hands spread wide, then CLAP!) Source: Jbrary
Since eyes, ears, mouth, and nose are all in the same place, I changed that line. We did this three times, getting faster! Parachute Song: Head, Shoulders, Knees, and Toes (move parachute to correct height) Head, shoulders knees and toes, knees and toes Head, shoulders knees and toes, knees and toes Wave the parachute up and down Head, shoulders knees and toes, knees and toes (repeat, faster) Source: traditional
Week 2 Stations:(details here) Pouring Station Lemon Sensory Bin Mystery Water Kinetic Sand Pool Noodle Sort Feed the Croc Color the Parachute Spray Silhouettes
New Station: Spray Silhouettes! I used liquid watercolors in spray bottles and provided a myriad of shapes to create negative image artwork. Some of the shapes were plastic food, big puzzle pieces, the shapes from a baby toy sorter, and duplos. Basically anything I could find that could lay mostly flat and be okay getting wet. It was important to set the spray bottles to “mist” instead of “stream,” and we still had kids who just saturated the paper, but it’s all about the process and not the product! Idea and photo on the sign from Picklebums.
Week 3: Adventures in Imagination 6/17, 6/18, 6/19, 6/20/24
Intro: This week we’re talking about adventures in imagination. When we imagine, we can make adventures anywhere with anything.
To start, we all pretended we had a stick. Then we did some kind of action for each imagined use as we read. Themed Read: Not a Stick by Antoinette Portis
Let’s put our imagination hats on and get some practice. Themed Rhyme: Can You Pretend? Let’s hear you roar like a lion Let’s see you jump like a frog Let’s see you snap your jaws like a crocodile Let’s hear you howl like a hound dog Pretend you’re an elephant with a big, looooong, trunk Pretend you’re a monkey Let’s see you jump, jump, jump And now you’re a mouse Just let me see How very, very quiet you can be Source: YouthScope
Teddy Bear is going on an adventure – up and down a hill with LOTS of friends. Parachute Song: Funny Teddy Bear (tune of Grand Old Duke of York) Funny teddy bear Bear had a thousand friends Bear marched them up to the top of the hill and Marched them down again And when you’re up you’re up And when you’re down you’re down And when you’re only halfway up you’re neither up nor down Source: Storytime Katie via ALSC Blog
Week 3 Stations:(details here) Pouring Station Sponge Play Scooping Blocks Kinetic Sand Colored Ball Sort Pompom Sort Color the Parachute Fly Swatter Painting
Intro: This week we’re talking about animal adventures. Can you imagine going to see amazing animals in the wild?
Themed Read: It’s a Tiger! by David Larochelle & Jeremy Tankard
Can you imagine being a tiger? A SLEEPING tiger?! Themed Song: Sleeping Tigers (tune of Sleeping Bunnies) See the fearsome tigers sleeping till it’s nearly noon Shall we wake them with a merry tune Oh so still! Are they ill? Wake up, wake up, wake up sleeping tigers! Wake up, wake up, wake up sleeping tigers! Wake up tigers and roar, roar, roar (repeat, second time: pounce, pounce, pounce)! Source: adapted from the traditional
Even tiny animals might go on an adventure. Parachute: Itsy Bitsy Spider (move parachute up and down as indicated in lyrics) The itsy bitsy spider climbed up the water spout Down came the rain and washed the spider out Up came the sun and dried up all the rain So the itsy bitsy spider climbed up the spout again Source: traditional
Week 4 Stations:(details here) Pouring Station Pool Noodle Soup Whisking Bubbles Kinetic Sand Beanbag Sort Craft Stick Sort Color the Parachute Shape Sorter Stamping
Intro: This week we’re going out to sea – get your lifejackets on!
I tried this book at the first session as a “sing aloud” but it just did not go over well, even with several pages clipped to shorten it. I ditched it for the other two sessions. Themed Read: Port Side Pirates by Oscar Seaworthy & Debbie Harter(Monday only)
This one worked much better – we did some kind of motion or noise for each page to make it interactive. I wish the book itself was bigger and the illustrations were more vibrant, though. Themed Read: Sheep on a Ship by Nancy Shaw & Margot Apple(Tuesday and Wednesday)
When the ocean gets rough, that’s an adventure! Themed Song: The Ocean Song (tune of The Elevator Song) Oh, the ocean is great and the ocean is grand! There are lots of big ships but very little land And we sleep down deep in a hammock near the floor And this is what we do when we go out to shore: (ready?) We… ride… the… waves going up, we ride the waves going down we ride the waves going up, we ride the waves going down we ride the waves going up, we ride the waves going down And we turn… a-… round! Source: Jbrary
I remind everyone to start rowing very gently, then after the first verse, say, “Oh, the wind is picking up, can we row more firmly?” and before the third verse, “Oh, no, there’s a storm! Row as strongly as you can!” Parachute: Row Your Boat (repeat 3 times) Row, row, row your boat Gently/Firmly/Strongly down the stream Merrily, merrily, merrily, merrily Life is but a dream (Wave the parachute gently, then firmly, then wildly!) Source: traditional
Week 5 Stations:(details here) Pouring Station Ping Pong Fishing Ice Play Kinetic Sand Pool Noodle Sort Feed the Croc Color the Parachute Dot Painting
Intro: This week we’re celebrating books, and all the adventures we can have in them!
Here’s a song about someone who wears glasses getting ready to read. I’ve found that if I set this one up right, it’s very fun, and if I don’t, it’s a little awkward. We practice making glasses, putting them on and taking them off. Then we make a book and practice opening and closing it (several times!) THEN we sing. Themed Song: These Are My Glasses These are my glasses, this is my book I put on my glasses and open up the book Now I read, read, read And I look, look, look I put down my glasses and Whoop! Close up the book! Source: “Whaddaya Think of That?” by the Laurie Berkner Band
I’ve used this book for years in outreach and for library tours, so I was a little disappointed that it didn’t go over quite as well with the toddler set as the preschoolers. A good reminder that developmental age matters! Another good option for this week would have been Hooray for Books! by Brian Won, but I wasn’t able to get it last minute.The parents enjoyed the jokes, but the kids got antsy. Themed Read: Book! Book! Book! by Deborah Bruss & Tiphanie Beeke
Teddy Bear is going on an adventure – up and down a hill with LOTS of friends. Parachute Song: Funny Teddy Bear (tune of Grand Old Duke of York) Funny teddy bear Bear had a thousand friends Bear marched them up to the top of the hill and Marched them down again And when you’re up you’re up And when you’re down you’re down And when you’re only halfway up you’re neither up nor down Source: Storytime Katie via ALSC Blog
Week 6 Stations:(details here) Pouring Station Flower Sensory Bin Scooping Blocks Kinetic Sand Colored Ball Sort Pompom Sort Color the Parachute Finger Painting
Week 7: Adventures in the Dark 7/14, 7/15, 7/16, 7/17, 7/18/24
Intro: This week is about adventures you might have after dark. Have you ever taken a walk with your family after sunset in your neighborhood? Or maybe gone outside to chase fireflies after dark? I love fireflies. Did you know that the Indiana State Insect is the firefly?
Let’s do a rhyme about some fireflies. Can you make your hands “blink” like a firefly light? (Open and close fingers) Themed Song: Two Little Fireflies (like Two Little Blackbirds) Two little fireflies, Blinking in the sky (open and close hands) One blinked low, And one blinked high Fly away low, Fly away high Come back low, Come back high
Other options, choose 2 or 3 more: …Blinking in the grass…one blinked slow And one blinked fast… …blinking by the car. . .1 blinked near, one blinked far… …blinking by a gate… 1 flew wobbly and the other flew straight… …blinking by the lilies, 1 was serious, the other was silly… Source: adapted from the traditional
I love doing this one. It’s so silly. And thanks to a librarian friend, I can do the song with my ukulele, which always captures the group’s attention. Themed Read: Let’s Sing a Lullaby with the Brave Cowboy by Jan Thomas
In honor of our brave cowboy, let’s sing the Itsy Bitsy Spider! Parachute: Itsy Bitsy Spider (move parachute up and down as indicated in lyrics) The itsy bitsy spider climbed up the water spout Down came the rain and washed the spider out Up came the sun and dried up all the rain So the itsy bitsy spider climbed up the spout again Source: traditional
Week 7 Stations:(details here) Pouring Station Sponge Play Fly Swatter Slap Kinetic Sand Beanbag Sort Craft Stick Sort Color the Parachute Chalk Art
Here’s another theme with an animal that just feels autumnal, even though yes, of course, owls are around all year. Perhaps it’s their big eyes and the way they show up in Halloween illustrations. In any case, it was very fun to flap our wings and hoot a lot this week. I even heard from a grown-up the following week that their child had been singing “If You Want to Be an Owl” on repeat – yes!
I read the book Owl Babies for two groups, and I wasn’t sure how it would go over. It’s a little longer than the books I usually do, and I’d read mixed reviews on storytime blogs where it worked for some people and didn’t for others. My kids LOVED it. The room was quieter than it ever is, and their eyes were glued to the illustrations. Perhaps I should try more plot-driven titles with a bit of suspense?
Early Literacy Tip: When we say rhymes, play rhyming games with children, and point out the rhyming words, it helps them hear the smaller sounds in words which will help them later when they try to sound out words to read.
Welcome Song: Hello, Friends* (TT) (TB) (FT)**
Warm Up Song: Wake Up, Feet* (TT) (TB) (FT) This is a repeated song that everyone seems to enjoy. I always begin and end with feet and tummies, but find two other body parts to wiggle in the middle. This week it was hips & noses.
Lifting Rhyme: Toast in the Toaster* (TT) (FT)
Rhyme: This is Big, Big, Big* (TB) (FT)
Intro: (With owl felt) Whooo is this? Do you know what he says? Today we are going to talk about owls. They have sharp beaks – that is their nose & mouth, and very sharp claws or talons. They sleep during the day and hunt for food at night.
Rhyme: The Owl (TT) (TB) (FT) There’s a wide eyed owl (circle fingers around eyes) With a pointed nose, (forefinger makes a v at end of nose) Two pointed ears, (point fingers up on top of head) and claws for toes, (curl fingers like claws) When he sits up in the tree (point up) and he looks at you, (point out) he flaps his wings, (fold arms and flap) and he says “Whoo, Whoo” Source: Johnson County Library (Kansas)
Transition: If You’re Ready for a Story* (TT) (TB) (FT)
This is a pretty cool book – there are just four words per page, and it reads a little like a palindrome – once you get to the middle, the words are repeated in backwards order, giving it a slightly different meaning and making the story circular. Read: Owl Sees Owl by Laura Godwin & Rob Dunlavey (TT)
As mentioned above, this one mesmerized both groups I read it too. They helped me by joining in with Bill’s plaintive, “I want my mommy!” which I did in a higher-pitched voice. Read: Owl Babies by Martin Waddell & Patrick Benson (TB) (FT)
Okay, let’s pretend to be owls! Action Song: If You Want to Be an Owl (TT) (TB) (FT) (tune of Did You Ever See a Lassie) If you want to be an owl, an owl, an owl If you want to be an owl, then flap your wings Flap this way and that way, and that way and this way If you want to be an owl, then flap your wings
Additional verses: …blink your eyes! …say hoot-hoot! Source: original
Fingerplay: Owl’s Eyes (TT) (TB) Owl’s eyes open wide at night (circle eyes with fingers) He looks to the left, he looks to the right He turns his head around and around And then he makes a most curious sound! Whoo! Whoo! Whoo! Source: King County (WA) Library System
What do you think owls see when they are flying around? The sun? No, the stars! Song: Twinkle, Twinkle (TT) (TB) (FT) 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’ve had good luck with flannels that work like the book “Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See?” This is my take on what the Hoot Owls sees in the tree, using flannels from a variety of other sets. Flannel Rhyme: What Do You See? (TT) (TB) (FT) Hoot Owl, Hoot Owl, what do you see? I see a brown squirrel in the old tree
Brown squirrel-red apple Red apple – green worm Green worm – orange leaf Orange leaf – black crow Black crow – yellow moon (above tree) Yellow moon – Hoot owl hooting at me (Hoo, hoo!) Source: original
This was a fun rhyming game from Jessica at Storytime in the Stacks. I decided just to use words that end in “oo,” but of course you could use rhymes that aren’t spelled the same, too, like “blue” or “shoe.” Flannel Rhyme: Little Baby Owls (FT) Little baby owls learning how to “hoo.” They flap their wings and then say… “boo!” (how many rhymes can you make before the little owls get it right?) Source: Storytime in the Stacks
My owl flannel set was modeled on Storytime Katie’s. Ukulele/Flannel Song: One Night Owl Went Out to Play (TT) (TB) (FT) (tune of Five Little Ducks) One night owl went out to play under the moon so far away He had such enormous fun, That he called out for another owl to come! HOOT! HOOT!
Repeat: 2… 3… 4… Five night owls went out to play under the moon so far away They had such enormous fun, That they played until they saw the sun! …then what did they do? (I put my head in my hands and started to snore) Source: Storytime in the Stacks
I didn’t end up using this one for time, but it’s always good to have a little extra in your back pocket. Action Song: Hoot, Hoot Hoot hoot went the little brown owl one day, Hoot hoot went the little brown owl Hoot hoot went the little brown owl one day, And they all went hoot hoot hoot! But… We know owls go (clap) la de la de la (wavy arms) la de la de la, La de la de la! We know owls go la de la de la They don’t go hoot, hoot, hoot! Additional Verses: Jump jump went the little red squirrel one day… But… We know squirrels go rub a dub a dub (running arms) Grrr, grrr went the big brown bear one day… But… We know bears go huggy, huggy, hug (hug self) Source: Jbrary
Action Song: Zoom, Zoom, Zoom!* (TT) (TB) (FT)
Craft: Cupcake Liner Owl Puppets (TB) (FT) After looking at scores of owl crafts, I saw a Pinterest pin from Julia Hull District Library for these cupcake liner owls and knew that was our craft. There’s no blog, it’s just an image pin, but I made a template based on the photo. You can get two owl bodies on a piece of brown construction paper, and I printed the eyes, beaks, and feet on goldenrod paper. I added the craft stick to make it a puppet, and just used white mini cupcake liners for the eye feathers. It was simple to put together and the kids loved it – several came up to show me their creations!
Play Time The toddlers have two laundry baskets of baby toys – rattles and cars, sorters and stackers, toy phones and spinners. For the older kids, I have foam blocks, soft food toys, puzzles, and a few other items that are a little more sophisticated than the baby toys. For Family Time, I gauge the overall age of the group and put out what seems right for them. We play for 5-10 minutes at the most, then I ring the bell and ask the kids to help me clean up. I think the clean up bit is good practice for them!
Goodbye Song: See You Later Alligator* (TT) (TB) (FT)
Goodbye Rhyme: Tickle the Stars* (TT) (TB) (FT)
Other books I had available for families to browse (and may work for you on this theme) Little Hoot – Amy Krouse Rosenthal & Jen Corace Hooray for Today! – Brian Won Don’t Blink! – Amy Krouse Rosenthal & David Roberts Little Owl’s Night – Divya Srinivasan A Book of Sleep – Il Sung Na “I’m Not Cute!” – Jonathan Allen Good Night Owl – Greg Pizzoli Hoot Owl: Master of Disguise – Sean Taylor & Jean Jullien Owl Love You – Matthew Heroux & Wednesday Kirwan Whoo Goes There? – Jennifer A. Ericsson & Bert Kitchen
This storytime was presented in-person on 10/16, 10/17, & 10/18/23.
**These symbols indicate the program sessions I used the activities for: (TT) Toddler Time, ages 1-2 (TB) Teddy Bears, ages 2-3.5 (FT) Family Time, ages 0-3.5
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.
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!
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
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
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.
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 with Ms. Emily Library 