This summer our library used the CSLP theme Imagine Your Story, so each week had some kind of fairy tale/fantasy theme (except for the first week, Family History). This week centered on helpful or friendly magical creatures (we did “bad guys” a few weeks ago), and focused on fairies, gnomes, unicorns, and mermaids.
You can see the virtual program that does not include the full books read aloud here.
You can find other versions of a merfolk theme from 2022 and 2025, and unicorns from 2025.
Early Literacy Tip: Model and encourage pretend play! You can say a block is a fairy or pretend to be a unicorn. This kind of play, called representational or symbolic play, is key to developing abstract thinking and to understanding language.
Welcome song: Clap and Sing Hello
Song: A Lovely Unicorn
(tune of If You’re Happy and You Know It)
Oh, I wish I were a lovely unicorn (neigh!)
Oh, I wish I were a lovely unicorn (neigh!)
Oh, I’d frolic and I’d play and I’d dream the day away
Oh, I wish I were a lovely unicorn (neigh!)
Credit: dltk-teach.com
Read: Kevin the Unicorn: It’s Not All Rainbows by Jessika von Innerebner
Lap Bounce: Giddy-Up!
(tune of the William Tell Overture)
Start slow, repeat and get faster each time.
Giddy-up, giddy-up, giddy-up, up, up!
Giddy-up, giddy-up, giddy-up, up, up!
Giddy-up, giddy-up, giddy-up, up, up!
WHOOOAAAAA, Unicorn! (lean back with child)
Credit: Adventures In Storytime (and Beyond)
Action Song: Did You Ever See a Mermaid?
(tune of Did You Ever See a Lassie?)
Did you ever see a mermaid, a mermaid, a mermaid
Did you ever see a mermaid swim this way and that?
Swim this way and that way,
Swim that way and this way?
Did you ever see a mermaid swim this way and that?
Additional verses:
…a merman flip his tail this way and that?
…merbabies sleep this way and that?
Credit: Barberton Public Library
Read: Mermaids Fast Asleep by Robin Riding & Zoe Persico
Lullaby: Rockabye, Merchild
(tune of Rockabye, Baby)
Rockabye, merchild, in the deep sea
Let the tide soothe you and cuddle close to me
When the waves break high up above
Sleep sound and dream sweetly, for you’re safe and loved
Credit: Ms. Emily Library
I reused my Mouse in the House flannel and made a little gnome friend to hide for our flannel this week.
Flannel Rhyme: Little Gnome
Little gnome, little gnome, are you in the blue home?
Read: A Fairy Friend by Sue Fliess & Claire Keane
Ukulele Song: Down by the Bay
Down by the bay, where the merbabies grow
Back to my home I dare not go!
For if I do, my mother will say:
“Did you ever see a whale with a polka dot tail?”
Down by the bay!
Additional verses:
… a fairy wearing a raspberry?
… a unicorn nibbling on popcorn?
… a mermaid swimming in lemonade?
… a gnome building a mushroom home?
Credit: adapted from the traditional song, additional verses by Ms. Emily Library
Download a ukulele songsheet for Down By the Bay
Craft: Paper Plate Gnome or Fairy Home
Adapted from Glued to My Crafts.
I wanted kids to have more options, so I added boy and girl gnomes and a boy fairy to the options in the windows using Canva.
Closing Rhyme: Tickle the Stars
I also had this rhyme in my back pocket but didn’t end up using it:
Fingerplay: Two Little…
(variation of Two Little Blackbirds)
Two little garden gnomes sitting on a leaf
One named Kurt and one named Keith
Run away, Kurt; run away, Keith
Come back, Kurt; come back, Keith!
Two little fairies dancing on the lawn
One named Faye and one named Fawn
Fly away, Faye; fly away, Fawn
Come back, Faye; come back, Fawn!
Credit: Sunflower Storytime
This storytime was presented virtually on 7/7/20.
Storytime Handout:
Storytime with Ms. Emily Library 