family – Page 3 – Storytime with Ms. Emily Library

book covers for some pets and pet this book.

Storytime: Pets

Posted on March 7, 2025March 6, 2025 by msemilylibrary

Apologies for the long delay in posting. I’ve been sick with flu A and it was a doozy!

Kids love animals! They love to talk about their pets and the animals they’ve met in their day-to-day lives. There are lots of fun rhymes and songs about domesticated animals, too, so this is really an easy theme to take into lots of different directions. You could probably do a session just on dogs or cats! One on “unusual” pets would be more challenging, but I’m sure it would work. Here’s the route I went.

You can find another version of this theme from 2021 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: Hello, Friends* (TT) (TB) (FT)** †

Hello Friends rhyme sheet. Includes a smiling rainbow and two yellow ducks at the bottom. click the image to download a non-branded PDF

Warm Up Song: Wake Up, Feet* (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. I rotate between elbows, cheeks, hips, noses, arms, chins, thighs, heads, shoulders, ears, knees, and fingers.

Wake Up Feet thumbnail, with a graphic of three pairs of baby-sized shoes. click the image to download a non-branded PDF

Lifting Rhyme: Toast in the Toaster* (TT) (TB) (FT)

Toast in the Toaster thumbnail, with a graphic of a toaster with a piece of bread hovering above it. click the image to download a non-branded PDF

Intro: Who 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 furry pets because we’re allergic, or we don’t have the time to properly take care of a pet. Maybe you have a stuffed animal that gets your love, or maybe you get to visit a relative or neighbor’s pet.

Let’s see if we can pretend to be some common pets.
Action Rhyme: Can You?
Can you make yourself small like a hamster?
Can you jump up high like a frog?
Can you s-t-r-e-t-c-h like a cat?
Can you wag your tail like a dog?
Can you fly like a bird?
Can you swim like a fish?
Can you sit back down and be as still as this?
Source: Harford County (MD) Public Library

can you thumbnail, with a graphic of each animal: a hamster, green frog, stretching gray and white cat, brown dog with waggy tail, blue parakeet, and goldfish. click the image to download a non-branded PDF

Transition: If You’re Ready for a Story* (TB) (FT)

Super simple, with just a few words per page, this is a great title. There’s a lot to look at in the pictures, so I try to point out the main animals and encourage them to check it out later to look more closely.
Read: Some Pets by Angela DiTerlizzi & Brendan Wenzel (TT) (FT)

I love the interactiveness of this title. However, some of the animals are a bit of a stretch as far as “pets” go – a butterfly? And two different dogs are featured – it feels like that was a missed opportunity to feature another animal.
Read: Pet this Book by Jessica Young & Daniel Wiseman (TB)

I don’t think I used every single animal in the flannel set I’d made, but I went with the most common as well as some that have distinctive noises like the snake. We had to get creative with the rabbit! I did include the dog, cat, snake, bird, fish, and rabbit.
Can you help me with all of my pets? I forgot what they say!
Activity: Pet Voices (TT) (TB) (FT)
Use pictures and let your child fill in the blanks for each animal
This my pet____________. They make this sound __________.
(for example)
This is my Fish. They make this sound: “Glub Glub”
Source: Jen in the Library

Let’s sing a song. I will need your help to do some of the animal voices that we just practiced. What does the doggie say again?
Ukulele Song: How Much is that Doggie (TT) (TB) (FT)
How much is that doggie in the window? (Woof woof!)
The one with the waggily tail?
How much is that doggie in the window? (Woof woof!)
I do hope that doggie’s for sale

Kitty…meow…whiskers so long
Birdie… tweet tweet…flappity wings
Rabbit…hop hop…hoppity legs
Fishy… glub glub… swimmity fins
Source: adapted from traditional by Jen in the Library

Get a downloadable ukulele songsheet here!

How much is that doggie thumbnail, with a graphic of a friendly beagle dog. click the image to download a non-branded PDF

I found this song version with the fun bubble motions at the end at Jbrary. If you’re a child of the 90s like me, you’ll recognize the old hand clapping tune – when we sang it, it was about Miss Lucy and the person in the bathtub was her baby (although I think the Miss Suzy and her steamboat song also used the same tune). The adults sang loud so I wasn’t the only one who remembered it!
We love our pets, but sometimes they can get into trouble!
Song: Tiny Tim (TT) (TB) (FT)
I have a little turtle his name is Tiny Tim
I put him in the bathtub to see if he could swim
He drank up all the water (glug, glug, glug)
He ate up all the soap (munch, munch, munch)
And now he’s lying in his bed with bubbles in his throat!
Bubble, bubble, bubble, bubble, bubble, POP! (roll arms then clap)
Bubble, bubble, bubble, bubble, bubble, POP!
Source: Jbrary

tiny tim thumbnail, with a graphic of a small green turtle. click the image to download a non-branded PDF

We sure do love our pets. And I love this song!
I went through the different motions with everyone first.
Action Song: My Dog Rags (TT) (TB) (FT)
I have a dog and his name is Rags
He eats so much that his tummy sags
His ears flip flop and his tail wig wags
and when he walks he goes zig zag!
He goes flip flop, wig wag, [pause] zig zag
He goes flip flop, wig wag, [pause] zig zag
He goes flip flop, wig wag, [pause] zig zag
I love Rags and he loves me!
Source: Jbrary

my dog rags thumbnail, with a graphic of a dark skinned girl hugging a floppy eared dog. click the image to download a non-branded PDF

Let’s get out our scarves! Make sure they’re working – shake them up high… down low… in a circle… behind your knees… looks good!

I learned this rhyme at an in-person children’s roundtable event and I don’t know who shared it! It’s a great one because it can be done with anything. I did all animals, starting with a snake (which is an easy one for a scarf to emulate) then did a fish (loosely fold scarf in half, with a bulbous fish body in front and all the edges sticking out the back of your hand as the tail), bird (hold scarf in the middle and let both sides be wings that flap), and rabbit (same as fish but the “tail” turned upward to form the ears).
Did you know that these are magic scarves?
Scarf Rhyme: Magic Scarf (TT) (TB) (FT)
Abracadabra! Fiddle dee dee!
If I wave my magic scarf, what will it be?
Source: unknown

magic scarf thumbnail, with a graphic of a magic wand with stars coming out, and a waving blue scarf. click the image to download a non-branded PDF

My friend Little Bo Peep has outdoor pets – sheep!
Scarf Rhyme: Little Bo Peep
Little Bo Peep has lost her sheep (hide scarf)
And doesn’t know where to find them
Leave them alone
and they’ll come home (bring scarf out)
Wagging their tails behind them! (wave scarf)
Source: traditional, scarf movements from Jbrary

little bo peep thumbnail, with a graphic of three fluffy white sheep. click the image to download a non-branded PDF

Let’s do a song about this pet – what is it? (pointing to rabbit flannelboard piece) And how do bunnies get around? First we’re going to pretend to be sleeping bunnies. Let’s make a pillow with our scarf.
Action/Scarf Song: Sleeping Bunnies
(begin with “bunnies” asleep on the floor)
Look at all the bunnies sleeping
’Til it’s nearly noon (point to wrist)
Shall we wake them with a merry tune? (wave hands like a conductor)
Oh so still… Are they ill? (dramatic pause, then sing fast and clap!)
Wake up, wake up, wake up little bunnies!
Wake up, wake up, wake up little bunnies! (bunnies get up and hop around!)
Hop little bunnies, Hop, hop, hop
Hop little bunnies, Hop, hop, hop
Stop little bunnies, Stop, stop, stop!
(FREEZE!)
Source: King County (WA) Library System

sleeping bunnies thumbnail, with a graphic of many curled up sleepy bunnies. click the image to download a non-branded PDF

Action Song: Zoom, Zoom, Zoom!* (TT) (TB) (FT)

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

Craft:Pet Parade/Collage Craft (TB) (FT)
My library has a great collection of Ellison and Accucut dies, so I just went through and picked out all the animals that could be construed as pets! I cut them all in colors that made sense for the animal and gave them a large 12 x 18″ piece of purple construction paper. I tried to emphasize that they could choose any of the animals, and didn’t need to do all the same ones I did, to make it their own.

Pet parade craft, showing a large purple piece of construction paper with die-cut animals - a blue bird, brown dog, white cat, orange fish, green frog, gray rabbit, and yellow chicken. They are labeled and decorated with crayon.

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)

See you later thumbnail, with a graphic of a green alligator, brown crocodile, ladybug, and jellyfish. click the image to download a non-branded PDF

Other books I had available for families to browse (and may work for you on this theme)
Mister Kitty Is Lost! – Greg Pizzoli
The Man Who Didn’t Like Animals – Deborah Underwood & LeUyen Pham
The Welcome Home – Amy June Bates
Mr. Watson’s Chickens – Jarrett Dapier & Andrea Tsurumi
I Am Cat / I Am Dog – Peter Bently & Chris Chatterton
My Dog Just Speaks Spanish – Andrea Cáceres
Where Have You Been, Little Cat? – Richard Jones
Coquí in the City – Nomar Perez
Alfie – Thyra Heder
Lola Gets a Cat – Anna McQuinn & Rosalind Beardshaw
Take Your Pet to School Day – Linda Ashman & Suzanne Kaufman
Dog in Charge – K.L. Going & Dan Santat
Mr. Fuzzbuster Knows He’s the Favorite – Stacy McAnulty & Edward Hemingway
I Got a New Friend – Karl Newsom Edwards
Is This Your Class Pet? – Troy Cummings
The Pigeon Wants a Puppy – Mo Willems
Hello, Jimmy! – Anna Walker
I Wanna Iguana – Karen Kaufman Orloff & David Catrow

This storytime was presented in-person on 2/17, 2/18, & 2/19/25.

Storytime Handout:

handout with book suggestions, rhyme and song lyrics.

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

**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

Storytime: Hibernation

Posted on February 21, 2025February 20, 2025 by msemilylibrary

Another wintery theme for the season! Hibernation touches on some STEM concepts as well as bedtime and weather. I’ve done this one before, but updated with some new rhymes and songs about particular hibernators, such as frogs and bats. I also worked out two songs to play on ukulele – which is always popular.

If you have them, puppets are a great addition to a hibernator storytime. I bought two new finger puppets – both Folkmanis – a chipmunk and a bat. I already had a frog, turtle, and bear, so we had a puppet-stravaganza!

You can find another version of this theme from 2021 here.

Early Literacy Tip: Don’t shy away from using regular adult language with young children. They pick up the words you say and the more words they hear, the greater their vocabulary will be. Children learn words best in context, so you can clarify or explain what you mean if it’s a new or difficult word. -adapted from The Early Literacy Kit: A Handbook and Tip Cards by Betsy Diamant-Cohen & Saroj Ghoting

Welcome Song: Hello, Friends* (TT) (TB) (FT)** †

Lifting Rhyme: Toast in the Toaster* (TT) (TB) (FT)

Intro: When it’s cold outside, we bundle up and like to spend more time indoors. But animals in the wild have to adapt to the winter temperatures and do so in different ways. Some migrate south to warmer temperatures, like geese. Some grow thick coats of fur like wolves. But some animals will sleep all winter long – it’s called hibernation! Let’s see, I have some animals that hibernate here! (Pull out puppets one by one) Turtle, frog, chipmunk, bat, and the star of the hibernation show – bear!

Photo of realistic animal puppets on top of a flannelboard. Includes bear, chipmunk, turtle, bat, and frog.

When I think of hibernation, I usually start by thinking of bears, who will often find a cave to sleep in over the winter.
After one session, I felt this rhyme was a little too long, especially with not very many “movements” to pair with each line. I reprinted the rhyme sheet and skipped the couplet that dealt with summer, shown in brackets below. I’ve included both versions in the pdf, even though only one is shown here.
Fingerplay: Here Is a Cave (TT) (TB) (FT)
Here is a cave, Inside is a bear (make a circle with thumb and fingers, then tuck thumb in)
Now she comes out To get some fresh air (pop thumb out)
[She stays out all summer In sunshine and heat
She hunts in the forest For berries to eat]
When snow starts to fall She hurries inside (wiggle fingers down and tuck thumb in)
Her warm little cave And there she will hide
Snow covers the cave Like a fluffy white rug (cover hand with other hand)
Inside the bear sleeps All cozy and snug (lay head on hands)
Source: Storytime Katie

Here is a cave thumbnail, with a graphic of a sleeping bear in a snowy cave. click the image to download a non-branded PDF

Transition: If You’re Ready for a Story* (TB) (FT)

I love that this title showcases a wide variety of hibernators, but it was a bit long for my squirrely 1-2 year olds. I switched to Old Bear for the next two sessions.
Read: Time to Sleep by Denise Fleming (TT)

Short and sweet, with beautiful illustrations that are just odd enough to be dreamy, this title is always a winner.
Read: Old Bear by Kevin Henkes (TB) (FT)

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. This is a fun and fairly easy one to do on ukulele, too.
Song: Hibernation (TT) (TB) (FT)
(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) 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
Source: Charles County Public Library (MD)

Download a ukulele songsheet for Hibernation here!

hibernation thumbnail, with a graphic of a hollow log, a cave, and a mud puddle. click the image to download a non-branded PDF

Oh, no, the bear is so sleepy, it lost its footing and is ROLLING!
I think we did four bears instead of five for this one.
Counting/Flannel Rhyme: Sleepy Bear Roll (TT) (TB)
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…
How many bears are left to explore? (count down)
Source: Canton (MI) Public Library

printed and laminated flannelboard set for sleepy bear roll - includes 5 different sleeping cartoon bears.

sleepy bear roll thumbnail, with a graphic of a curled up sleepy bear rolling end over end. click the image to download a non-branded PDF

I got out the frog puppet to jump with us on this rhyme. I’ve used this rhyme in the past and just changed one word to make it fit for hibernation – the last line I’ve used before was “Now go free.” “Sleep” slips in there perfectly!
We said that bears hibernate, but what about this friend? Did you know that frogs bury themselves in the mud and freeze solid in the winter? Then in the spring, they thaw out and hop along!
Action Rhyme: Funny, Funny Froggy (TT) (TB) (FT)
Funny, funny froggy, Hop, hop, hop!
Funny, funny froggy, Stop, stop, stop!
Funny, funny froggy, Jump with me
Funny, funny froggy, Now go sleep
Source: adapted from Books and Bibliotheks

funny fuuny froggy thumbnail, with a graphic of a cartoon frog with its tongue sticking out. click the image to download a non-branded PDF

Another one that I changed the middle lines to make it a hibernation song.
How about this friend? They sleep upside down in a cave
Song: Flutter, Flutter, Little Bat (TT) (TB) (FT)
(tune of Twinkle, Twinkle)
Flutter, flutter, little bat
How I wonder where you’re at
When winter chill begins to creep
To your cave you go to sleep
Flutter, flutter little bat
How I wonder where you’re at
Source: adapted from traditional

flutter little bat thumbnail, with a graphic of a brown bat with closed eyes. click the image to download a non-branded PDF

Time for some movement!
This version is from Jazzy Ash’s rendition of Teddy Bear.
Action Rhyme: Black Bear, Turn Around (TT) (TB) (FT)
Black bear, black bear turn around,
Black bear, black bear touch the ground
Black bear, black bear Wave up high
Black bear, black bear Wink one eye
Black bear, black bear Bend your knees,
Black bear, black bear flap in the breeze
Black bear, black bear climb up to bed,
Black bear, black bear rest your head!
Source: adapted from traditional

black bear thumbnail, with a graphic of a standing black bear. click the image to download a non-branded PDF

I started with turtle, then went chipmunk, and ended with bear to transition into the next song.
Puppets/Fingerplay: Sleepy Turtle (TT) (TB) (FT)
(tune of Thumbkin)
Where is Turtle? Where is Turtle?
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)
Source: Storytime Katie

sleepy turtle thumbnail, with a graphic of a turtle with closed eyes resting its head on its front arms. click the image to download a non-branded PDF

A few of our grownups knew this song right away! I did go through the motions with everyone before we started, especially since I couldn’t lead them while playing.
Let’s put our bears to sleep for the winter.
Ukulele Action Song: Rockabye Your Bear (TT) (TB) (FT)
Everybody clap (clap, clap, clap)
Everybody sing, La, la-la, la, la!
Bow to your partner
Then you turn around
Hands in the air
Rockabye your bear
Bear’s now asleep: (sh, sh, sh!)
Bear’s now asleep: (sh, sh, sh!)
Source: The Wiggles

Download a ukulele songsheet for Rockabye Your Bear here!

rockabye your bear ukulele songsheet thumbnail

rockabye your bear thumbnail, with a graphic of a brown haired light skinned girl hugging a teddy bear. click the image to download a non-branded PDF

Action Song: Zoom, Zoom, Zoom!* (TT) (TB) (FT)

Craft: Bear Cave Craft (TB) (FT)
Inspired by the project at Glued To My Crafts blog, I pre-printed the bear image on cardstock and cut out triangles. Then I glued three craft sticks to the edges with liquid glue – the craft sticks tended to warp a bit with the glue, so they needed to be weighted down with some wax paper and a heavy book while they dried. That way, the kids just needed to decorate with these small leaf cutouts (we had them in the craft stash but they look like they came from paper punches) and add snow with pulled-apart cotton balls. There was some time investment on the prep for me, but it was a smooth craft for them. Bear image from Play Create Explore.

Bear in a cave craft consisting of a printed picture of a sleeping bear glued to a triangle of wooden craft sticks. fall-colored leaves are glued to the sides and cotton is glued to the top and bottom to simulate snow.

Goodbye Song: See You Later Alligator* (TT) (TB) (FT)

Other books I had available for families to browse (and may work for you on this theme)
Bear Has a Story to Tell – Philip C Stead & Erin E Stead
William’s Winter Nap – Linda Ashman & Chuck Groenink
Bear’s Big Dreaming – Michael Rosen & Daniel Egneus
Hiders Seekers Finders Keepers – Jessica Kulekjian & Salini Perera
Knock Knock – Tammi Sauer & Guy Francis
Over and Under the Snow – Kate Messner & Christopher Silas Neal
I Don’t Want to Go to Sleep – Dev Petty & Mike Boldt
Bear Snores On – Karma Wilson & Jane Chapman
Bedtime for Bear – Brett Helquist
Sleep, Big Bear, Sleep! – Maureen Wright & Will Hillenbrand

This storytime was presented in-person on 2/3, 2/4, & 2/5/25.

Storytime Handout:

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

**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

book covers for no yeti yet and the thing about yetis

Storytime: Yetis

Posted on February 7, 2025February 7, 2025 by msemilylibrary

Winter monsters, come play! Yetis (or yeti, looks like either can be plural) have a pretty good representation in picture books, as well as some popular media. Smallfoot, Abominable, and Missing Link are all fairly recent animated films featuring yetis. I was also reminded of the yeti character in the old stop-motion Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer television special as well as the Pixar film Monsters, Inc by families who came to the program. So it wasn’t too difficult to plan a whole storytime around yetis! I did this theme back in 2020 (pre-blog) and enjoyed revisiting it and adding some new songs and activities. Props to Lady Librarian Life, who first inspired this theme and from whom I borrowed a lot of activities!

no yeti yet book cover, featuring two children in the snow, looking at a large footprint. a yeti is peering at them from behind a mound of snow.

The thing about yetis show a cute yeti in the snow wearing a red earflap hat and holding a small stuffed yeti

Early Literacy Tip: The concept of loud and soft plays an important role in music and throughout life. Children need to know when a loud voice is okay and when a soft voice is required. Through music and rhymes they can have fun learning the difference between loud and soft, and practice the right time for the right volume. -The Early Literacy Kit: A Handbook and Tip Cards by Betsy Diamant-Cohen & Saroj Ghoting

Welcome Song: Hello, Friends* (TT) (TB) (FT)** †

Lifting Rhyme: Toast in the Toaster* (TT) (TB) (FT)

Intro: Today we are talking about a mythical creature called a Yeti. A mythical creature is one that we tell stories about, but doesn’t really exist in real life, like a unicorn or a dragon. A yeti lives high in the mountains where it’s cold and snowy most of the time. They have fuzzy white hair all over their bodies and walk on two feet like a person. They usually don’t like to be out in the open and are shy around people. Some stories say they are ferocious and like to roar! Can I hear a mighty yeti roar?

Yes, we did this rhyme last week, but it never gets old.
Fingerplay: Two Little Yetis (TT) (TB) (FT)
(style of Two Blackbirds)
Two little yetis playing in the snow
One was fast and one was slow
Go away fast, go away slow
Come back fast, come back slow

Two little yetis looking at the clouds One was quiet and one was loud…
Two little yetis getting kind of chilly, One was serious and one was silly…
Source: Lady Librarian Life

two little yetis thumbnail, with a graphic of two white and blue yetis. click the image to download a non-branded PDF

Now, let’s pretend to be a yeti ourselves.
Action Rhyme: Yeti, Yeti, Turn Around (TT) (TB) (FT)
Yeti, Yeti, turn around
Yeti, Yeti, touch the ground
Yeti, Yeti, reach up high
Yeti, Yeti, blink your eyes
Yeti, Yeti, show your teeth
Yeti, Yeti, stomp your feet
Yeti, Yeti, slap your knees
Yeti, Yeti, sit down, please
Source: Lady Librarian Life

yeti turn around thumbnail, with a graphic of a white and blue yeti waving. click the image to download a non-branded PDF

Transition: If You’re Ready for a Story* (TB) (FT)

This was a fun title, but one that my library didn’t own. Thankfully, I was able to get a copy from my home library because it worked so seamlessly with the Yeti Hunt theme.
Read: No Yeti Yet by Mary Ann Fraser (TT) (FT)

I tried this one with my older group, but they were pretty wiggly through it. Cute title, but they maybe were just not in the mood that day.
Read: The Thing About Yetis by Vin Vogel (TB)

Yetis are such mysterious creatures! Let’s see if we can go find some.
Everyone seemed to enjoy this one and I’ve started to figure out some ways to make the “hunt” flow well for me and be enjoyable for my groups. Just to keep things moving, I’ve started skipping the “can’t go over it” part, and it still works really well. We slap our knees in rhythm during the “chorus” part. For the flannel, I was able to reuse the penguin ice floe from last week to add to my various bear/dragon hunt pieces. No more than four terrains (including the cave) are a good amount for my age group. This has taken a good amount of trial and error – the very first time I did Bear Hunt, it was a mess! But tweaks along the way have made it a favorite.
Chant: Going on a Yeti Hunt (TT) (TB) (FT)
(chorus, repeat between each terrain)
We’re going on a yeti hunt (We’re going on a yeti hunt)
We’re gonna find a big one! (We’re gonna find a big one!)
With great big feet (With great big feet) (stomp feet)
And fuzzy white fur (And fuzzy white fur)
Look, it’s a great, big field of snow
We have to ski across it – put on your skis! Swoosh, swoosh, swoosh!
Look, it’s a wide, frozen river
We have to skate across it – get your skates on! Glide, glide, glide!
Look, it’s a great big mountain with snow on top
We have to climb up it! Do you have all your climbing gear? (pretend to climb, then when you get to the top, slide down the other side: whee!)
Look, it’s a deep, dark cave! Just like where the Yeti lives.
Let’s go in: Tiptoe, tiptoe, tiptoe!
Whoops, what is that? I see two great big feet!
And fuzzy white fur! It’s a Yeti! RUN!
(backwards through terrain)
Back to the house, shut the door, up the stairs, jump in bed, put the blanket over your head – are we safe? whew!
Source: adapted from Adventures in Storytime

yeti hunt flannel, with a snow field, river, snow capped mountain, and cave. A yet figure is show at the cave mouth.

going on a yeti hunt thumbnail, with a graphic of a tall sasquatch like yeti going into an icy cave. click the image to download a non-branded PDF

I made this felt set back in 2020, and I’m not sure where I got the pattern! It’s very hard to tell from the pictures, but the beard part was made from glittery white felt – I love it! As a transition from the Yeti Hunt, I set this one up like this:
Let’s peek out the window and see if it’s safe outside. Oh, no!! I see not one, not two, three, four, but FIVE enormous yetis out there! Maybe they will go away if we wait.
Counting Rhyme: Five Enormous Yetis (TT) (TB) (FT)
Five enormous yetis letting out a roar
One stomped away and then there were four
Stomp, stomp, stomp, stomp, ROAR!

4… hiding in the trees…
3… didn’t know what to do…
2… having lots of fun…
1… saw the setting sun…
Source: Lady Librarian Life

flannel with five yets with white beards and blue faces, each with a different expression.

five enormous yetis thumbnail, with a graphic of a five blue yeti heads peeking around the sides and bottom of the sheet. click the image to download a non-branded PDF

We found a yeti, let’s see what they do.
This was not the most engaging, so I dropped it after the first session.
Action Song: The Yetis In the Snow (TT)
(tune of Wheels on the Bus)
The yetis in the snow go roar, roar, roar
Roar, roar, roar, roar, roar, roar
The yetis in the snow go roar, roar, roar,
All through the snow

Additional verses:
…stomp their feet
…slide down the hill – whee!
…creep by the town sh, sh, sh
Source: Lady Librarian Life

yeti in the snow thumbnail, with a graphic of yeti creeping in front of a darkened town. click the image to download a non-branded PDF

Time to get our scarves out. What a snowy day! Yeti love the snow.
Scarf Song: Snowflake in the Sky (TT) (TB) (FT)
(tune of Twinkle, Twinkle)
Snowflake, snowflake in the sky
Love to watch you floating by
Down you fall upon the ground
Down you fall without a sound
Snowflake, snowflake in the sky
Love to watch you floating by
Source: Jbrary

snowflake in the sky thumbnail, with a graphic of a brown indeterminate monster wearing a red scarf and sticking its tongue out to catch falling snowflakes. click the image to download a non-branded PDF

I was looking for more snowy scarf rhymes to add, and found this one about the robin which I rewrote to fit with yetis.
Oh, the weather is changing again – the wind is blowing! Can you make your scarf blow in the wind?
Scarf Rhyme: When Cold Winds Blow (TT) (TB) (FT)
When cold winds blow
And we shall have snow
What will the shy yetis do?
They’ll run outside
With their arms open wide
Then slide down the mountain with a “yahoo!”
Source: adapted from King County (WA) Lib Sys

when the cold winds blow thumbnail, with a graphic of a blue yeti raising his arms in front of a mountain. click the image to download a non-branded PDF

Another kind of a stretch to fit with the theme, but I could just imagine a bunch of yetis rolling around in the snow! I demoed rolling the scarf by holding both ends and rolling your hands, or by letting go of one end and letting it fly free. Either works.
Yetis like to roll around and play in the snow.
Scarf Rhyme: Roly Poly (TT) (TB) (FT)
(roll scarf accordingly)
Roly poly, roly, poly, up, up, up
Roly poly, roly, poly, down, down, down
Roly poly, roly, poly, out, out, out
Roly poly, roly, poly, in, in, in
Roly poly, roly, poly, BIG, BIG, BIG
Roly poly, roly, poly, very, very small
Roly poly, roly, poly, fast, fast, fast, fast, fast!
Rol…ly… po…ly… to… a… stop! (clap)
Source: Rebecca Jane Flanagan

roly poly thumbnail, with a graphic of a snowboarding yeti doing a loop de loop. click the image to download a non-branded PDF

Action Song: Zoom, Zoom, Zoom!* (TT) (TB) (FT)

Craft: Yeti Fork Painting (TB) (FT)
Inspired by this post at the Our Kid Things blog, we painted yeti fur with white paint and forks. I didn’t want to mess with two colors of paint, so I made and cut a head and chest shape out of light blue construction paper and pre-glued it down to black construction paper. I also drew big eyes and a toothy mouth/nose combo on white cardstock and made copies. So the kids only had three small things to glue down, then they could go to work painting the fur. They came out very cute, and unique with interesting combinations of feature placement (one kid did a cyclops yeti!) and though most painted with the forks, some abandoned them and did finger painting. It’s all good! I love that they can do their own thing and most of our parents are willing to let them.

craft showing a blue head above a blue chest on black construction paper. big eyes and a large smiling toothy mouth are pasted to the head, and fork lines of white paint are all over the head and chest for hair

Goodbye Song: See You Later Alligator* (TT) (TB) (FT)

Other books I had available for families to browse (and may work for you on this theme)
(There are a good number but not a huge number on yetis, so I supplemented with Bigfoot books!)
Are We There, Yeti? – Ashlyn Anstee
Dear Yeti – James Kwan
Henry and the Yeti – Russell Ayto
How to Catch a Yeti – Adam Wallace & Andy Elkerton
Itchy, Scratchy Pants – Steve Smallman & Elina Ellis
Not Yet, Yeti – Bethany V Freitas & Maddie Frost
Yetis Are the Worst – Alex Willan
Elwood Bigfoot – Jill Esbaum & Nate Wragg
Bigfoot Cinderrrrrella – Tony Johnston & James Warhola
Larf – Ashley Spires
Bigfoot’s Big Heart – Sarah Glenn Marsh & Ishaa Lobo

This storytime was presented in-person on 1/20, 1/21, 1/22, & 1/30/25.

Storytime Handout:

handout with suggested books, rhyme and song lyrics.

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

**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

Storytime: Penguins

Posted on January 31, 2025January 30, 2025 by msemilylibrary

Penguins are just undeniably cute! I had done a penguin theme much earlier in my career, before starting this blog, so I’m glad to finally document this one. We had so much fun with this program, and it’s the first time in a long time that the plan seemed to go really, really, well for every single session. Each activity flowed well into the next and everyone seemed to keep focused and interested the whole way through. That’s rare – usually I do some tweaking from one session to the next, or realize that this song or that rhyme didn’t work well. This one was a pleasure start to finish for three days straight.

Well done mommy penguin book cover (illustration of adult and baby penguin hugging)

hello penguin book cover (photograph of penguin on beach)

Early Literacy Tip: Factual books, or nonfiction books, are a great way to expand children’s knowledge about the world. You can read the whole book or choose certain pages your child might be interested in. One great way to share these books with young children is to look at the pictures or photographs and read the captions.

Welcome Song: Hello, Friends* (TT) (TB) (FT)** †

Lifting Rhyme: Toast in the Toaster* (TT) (TB) (FT)

Intro: Today we’re talking about an animal that lives where it is cold outside – Penguins! Penguins mainly live in Antarctica, but there are some that also live in Africa and South America. Penguins are birds, but they can’t fly in the air. Instead, they “fly” in the water – they swim! They have short legs and waddle around on land. Let’s find out more.
I had one kiddo insist when I said they live in Antarctica that no, they live in the South Pole. I was so impressed! We talked briefly about how that land may have different names, but that he was right.

Here I showed 3-4 pages from this very short nonfiction title and talked about the photographs.
Book: Hello, Penguin! by Kathryn Williams

Can we get two penguins out on our fingers?
Fingerplay: Two Little Penguins (TT) (TB) (FT)
(style of Two Blackbirds)
Two little penguins sitting on a hill
One named Jack and one named Jill
Waddle away Jack, waddle away Jill
Come back Jack, come back Jill

Two little penguins sitting on the ice
One bows once, the other bows twice
Waddle little penguins, waddle away
Come back, penguins – time to play!
Source: Storytime Katie

two little penguins thumbnail, with a graphic of two emperor penguins facing each other. click the image to download a non-branded PDF

Transition: If You’re Ready for a Story* (TB) (FT)

This book hit all the high marks – it had noises, a repeated phrase, humor, drama, and a happy ending!
Read: Well Done, Mommy Penguin by Chris Haughton (TT) (TB) (FT)

Our penguins are playing with their friends in the water. Can they jump on the shore like Mommy Penguin?
My flannelboard has a black background, which works well most of the time. But occasionally I need a different color! I made a dark blue background (basically just a felt piece the size of board) that can go on top of the black when needed. That was a great color for the “sea,” and I added an ice shelf. My five penguins started in the ocean, then hopped up to the ice on the “pop.” This goes a little beyond counting up or counting down, since there are a number of penguins still swimming and a number that have hopped up and we can talk about both numbers.
Flannel/Counting Song: Five Penguins Swimming (TT) (TB) (FT)
Five little penguins swimming in the water
Swimming in the water, Swimming in the water
Five little penguins Swimming in the water
Bubble, bubble, bubble, bubble …POP!
(count down)
Source: adapted from All the Fish from Caspar Babypants

five penguins flannel, showing a two layer ice bank of light blue behind white felt. Three felt penguins are on the ice bank, and two are "swimming" beside it.

Five little penguins thumbnail, with a graphic of five identical cartoon penguins, each with a number 1-5 on its belly. click the image to download a non-branded PDF

I think it’s time for penguin puppets! Can you come up and pick a puppet?
The kids love to have something to move around, and simple cardstock and craft stick puppets are an easy and cheap way to give them an extra somatic element.

Three paper penguin puppets - a white oval is attached to a craft stick, and a black die-cut penguin is glued to the white oval.

Can you hold up your penguin? Oh, we just landed on Antarctica – I see penguins all over!
Puppet Action Rhyme: Penguins Everywhere (TT) (TB) (FT)
The penguins are here, the penguins are there
the penguins, the penguins are everywhere!
The penguins are up, the penguins are down
The penguins, the penguins are all around!
The penguins are in, the penguins are out
the penguins, the penguins are all about!
The penguins go low, the penguins go high
The penguins, the penguins all wave goodbye!
Source: One Little Librarian (link no longer working)

penguins everywhere thumbnail, with a graphic of six small penguins, each dressed in winter accessories (hats/scarves) and doing winter play such as sledding, making snow angels, etc. click the image to download a non-branded PDF

Reinforcing the facts learned in our nonfiction title as well as in our story:
What do penguins eat? Fish! Let’s do the penguin cheer!
At the “splash” our penguin puppets dove down to catch a fish. We did this three or four times!
Puppet Chant: Penguin Cheer (TT) (TB) (FT)
I like fishies, Yes, I do!
When I want fishies, Here’s what I do:
One, two three… SPLASH !
Source: King County (WA) Library System

Penguin cheer thumbnail, with a graphic of one penguin diving and a second standing with a fish in its mouth. click the image to download a non-branded PDF

I debated doing this one on ukulele or just singing and ended up just singing. That way I could model moving the puppet around.
Let’s let our penguins play.
Puppet Song: The Penguin Song (TT) (TB) (FT)
(tune of My Bonnie)
The penguin slides over the ice bank
The penguin jumps into the sea
Look at her black and white feathers
That penguin’s as cute as can be
Swim fast, swim fast,
Oh, swim fast my penguin to me, to me!
Swim fast, swim fast
Oh, swim fast my penguin to me!
Source: Johnson County (KS) Library (link no longer working)

Download a ukulele songsheet for The Penguin Song

thumbnail for penguin song ukulele songsheet

penguin song thumbnail, with a graphic of a wavy ocean at the bottom of the page, with a penguin seeming to jump out of the waves. click the image to download a non-branded PDF

At this point I let everyone know that we were going to do a next-level exercise. We would be *trading in* our penguin puppet for a shaky egg. Everyone did a really good job of putting the puppet away in one bin and picking out an egg in the other.
Remember penguins are birds. And how are baby birds born? From eggs!
Shaker Rhyme: Eggs Up (TT) (TB) (FT)
Egg shakers up
Egg shakers down
Egg shakers dancing all around the town
Dance them on your shoulders
Dance them on your head
Dance them on your knees
And tuck them into bed (tuck shaker under your arm)
Source: adapted from the traditional Tommy Thumbs

egg shakers up thumbnail, with a graphic of four egg shapes: red, blue, green, and yellow. click the image to download a non-branded PDF

This one was good because I was sure to end with shaker on your feet (I think I did knee, elbow, tummy, then feet). Then we talked about how daddy penguins take care of the eggs before they hatch and keep them on their feet so they stay warm. We tried walking around with shaker on feet like a daddy penguin, to varying degrees of success, but high hilarity!
Shaker Song: Can You Shake? (TT) (TB) (FT)
(tune of London Bridge)
Can you shake along with me,
Along with me, along with me?
Can you shake along with me?
Put your shaker on your… knee!
(repeat with different body parts)
Source: Jbrary

can you shake thumbnail, with a graphic of a blue and a green egg shape with motion lines around them. click the image to download a non-branded PDF

Oh, did you hear that? Our penguin eggs are ready to hatch! Let’s listen carefully!
After hatching our eggs a few times, we returned our shaky eggs back to the “nest” bowl and moved on to Zoom, Zoom, Zoom.
Shaker Rhyme: Egg So Quiet (TT) (TB) (FT)
Egg so quiet (keep shaker egg still)
Egg so still
Will it hatch?
Yes, it will! (shake vigorously!)
Source: Storytime in the Stacks

egg so quiet thumbnail, with a graphic of a large white egg with a crack across the middle. click the image to download a non-branded PDF

Action Song: Zoom, Zoom, Zoom!* (TT) (TB) (FT)

Craft: Heart Penguins (TB) (FT)
I found a sample of this penguin in my predecessor’s files, and it was an easy one to recreate. The two main parts were made by folding and cutting like you do a heart (though the black body was not heart shaped but more bullet-like. The white face and belly was the widest heart shape I could make on a half-sheet of white construction paper (so I would fold into fourths and then cut the shape and get two in one sheet). We have a paper die that’s for a heart border, which has four heart shapes strung together, with a smaller heart cut out of the middle. Cutting these into individual hearts made the feet, and the inner heart made the beak. My predecessor also was uncomfortable with googly eyes for kids under 2, so she printed out pairs of eyes on label paper. I have a lot left, so the eyes are just these stickers. They turned out very cute and were minimal work for me to prep.

penguin heart craft - a black penguin body with an elongated white heart shape for the face and belly. Sticker eyes and a small orange heart beak make the face and two larger orange hearts make the feet.

Goodbye Song: See You Later Alligator* (TT) (TB) (FT)

Other books I had available for families to browse (and may work for you on this theme)
Waiting for Mama – Gianna Marino
Flora and the Penguin – Molly Idle
What’s in the Egg, Little Pip – Karma Wilson & Jane Chapman
Baby Penguins Love Their Mama! – Melissa Guion
If You Were a Penguin – Florence Minor & Wendell Minor
A Penguin Story – Antoinette Portis
The King Penguin – Vanessa Roeder
Vampenguin – Lucy Ruth Cummins
Harriet Gets Carried Away – Jessie Sima
Grumpy Pants – Claire Messer

This storytime was presented in-person on 1/13, 1/14, & 1/15/25.

Storytime Handout:

handout with suggested books, rhymes, and song lyrics.

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

**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

book covers for kitty's cuddles and a day so gray

Storytime: Warm & Cozy

Posted on January 24, 2025January 23, 2025 by msemilylibrary

When it’s been as polar vortex-y cold as it has been in the midwest this winter, all you want to talk about is how to stay warm and cozy inside. Ironically, the first scheduled session for this theme was cancelled (the one I mark as TT) with a big storm that gave us about 6 inches of snow!
I’ve done this theme before, and this time I added some extension activities about soup and cuddly kitties to this version of warm and cozy.

You can find another version of this theme from 2020.

Early Literacy Tip: One of the best and most impactful things you can give your children is the enjoyment of books and reading. By allowing even the youngest children to participate as you share books with them, you can keep them engaged. Feel free to have them turn the pages, to stop and talk about a picture, or ask an open-ended question to keep their interest. Of course, if their attention wanders, don’t force them to sit still. Try again later – it’s better to have several abbreviated reading times throughout the day rather than forcing a longer session. Your child’s attention span and tolerance for longer stories will increase in time.

Welcome Song: Hello, Friends* (TB) (FT)** †

Warm Up Song: Wake Up, Feet* (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. I rotate between elbows, cheeks, hips, noses, arms, chins, thighs, heads, shoulders, ears, knees, and fingers.

Lifting Rhyme: Toast in the Toaster* (TB) (FT)

Intro: Brr – it sure is cold outside! When it’s cold outside, I do my best to get warm and cozy inside. What does it mean to feel cozy? It can mean different things to different people. For me, when I’m feeling warm, safe, and loved.

Let’s try a counting rhyme about being cozy.
Rhyme: Cozy Night (TB) (FT)
(hold up the correct number of fingers at the beginning of each line)
One fluffy quilt on my bed (mime shaking out a blanket)
Two little pillows for my head (fold hands under head)
Three teddy bears to hold so tight (hug self)
Now I’m ready for a cozy night! (rub arms)
Source: Literary Hoots

Cozy night thumbnail, with a graphic of an unmade bed with a yellow blanket, two pillows, and three various teddy bears. click the image to download a non-branded PDF

Transition: If You’re Ready for a Story* (TB) (FT)

This one really has nothing to do with being warm, but it sure is cozy.
Read: Kitty’s Cuddles by Jane Cabrera (TB)

A lovely book about seeing beyond the blah, and appreciating the little joys.
Read: A Day So Gray by Marie Lamba & Alea Marley (FT)

There are lots of things that can help you feel warm and cozy.
Rhyme: Chilly Day (TB) (FT)
When the day is chilly (shiver)
And I don’t know what to do
Mama gives me my sweater (mime putting on sweater)
I put it on and say, “Thank you!”

But when I am still chilly (shiver)
From the snowy winter storm
Papa puts a blanket over me (mime pulling up a blanket)
But still I’m not quite warm

So when I am still chilly (shiver)
I know just what I should do
I say, “Mom & Pop, I’d like some
warm cuddles from you!” (hug self or a loved one)
Source: Storytime Stuff

Chilly day thumbnail, with a graphic of pink hearts. click the image to download a non-branded PDF

As a quick print and laminate flannel, this was easy and pretty fun. We went over time though, so I skipped it for the second storytime.
Flannel Rhyme Game: Looking for a Hug (TB)
I’m looking for something warm and snug,
You open your arms and give a great big…
…rug? NO! …bug? NO! …mug? NO! …plug? NO! …pug? NO! …slug? EW, NO! …hug? YES!
Source: Pasadena (CA) Public Library

printed and laminated flannelboard pieces including a Persian style rug, a ladybug, a blue mug with a smiley face, a pug dog, a yellow slug, an orange extension cord, and a stylized "hug" - a pink heart with arms crossed around it.

looking for a hug thumbnail, with a graphic of a stylized "hug" - a pink heart with arms crossed around it. click the image to download a non-branded PDF

This one always gets a lot of laughs and smiles and awwws.
Bounce Rhyme: Bounce, Tickle, Hug (TB) (FT)
I bounce you here, I bounce you there
I bounce you, bounce you everywhere!
I tickle you here, I tickle you there
I tickle you, tickle you everywhere!
I hug you here, I hug you there
I hug you, hug you everywhere!
Source: Mansfield/Richland County (OH) Public Library

bounce, tickle, hug thumbnail, with lyrics only. click the image to download a non-branded PDF

One thing that always warms me up is a nice bowl of soup. My favorite kind is split pea soup! Here’s a fun fingerplay.
Fingerplay: Pea Soup (TB) (FT)
(begin with five fingers up)
One little pea jumped into the pot,
And waited for the soup to get hot (fold one finger down)
(count down)

Finally, the soup got so very, very hot,
That all the little peas jumped out of the pot! (open hand jumps)
Source: Librarian is on the Loose blog

pea soup thumbnail, with a graphic of three peas in a pod, the middle of which has arms raised. click the image to download a non-branded PDF

Breathing Break: Soup Breathing (TB) (FT)
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

We got out our scarves at this point. Oh, my scarf has turned into a kitty cat. A kitty cat that is very excited! We waved our scarves around and our kitties zoomed up, down, and all around. Then I said we would need to calm our kitties down. We gathered them in our arms and started petting them. Isn’t it cozy to snuggle with a pet or a stuffed animal? Let’s sing them a lullaby!
I saw lots of big smiles from the grownups who probably knew this song from The Big Bang Theory sitcom (which I haven’t watched!) I actually found it on the King County Tell Me a Story site, and it’s a sweet one.
Scarf Song: Soft Kitty (TB) (FT)
Soft kitty, Warm kitty,
Little ball of fur
Happy kitty, Sleepy kitty,
Purr, purr, purr
Source: King County (WA) Library System

soft kitty thumbnail, with a graphic of a sleeping calico cat. click the image to download a non-branded PDF

I’ve done this one as a flannel rhyme before, but I added a scarf element to it. I tried to think of scarf movements that were different for each line.
Scarf/Flannel Rhyme: Blue is the Sky (Winter Edition) (TB) (FT)
Blue is the sky (wave scarf high)
Yellow is the sun (twirl scarf to make a circle)
Silver are the stars when the day is done (throw and catch your “falling stars”)
Orange is the fire (wiggle scarf with hand underneath)
Green is the tree (stretch scarf up long)
Brown is the cocoa for you and me (gather scarf in fist and “sip”)
Source: adapted by Ms. Emily from Mel’s Desk

Flannel for "blue is the sky" with blue blob, yellow sun, two aluminum foil stars, a fireplace with an orange flame, a dark green conifer tree, and a red mug with light brown cocoa and white marshmallows.

Download the template for winter pieces here! (Original at Mel’s Desk for sky, sun, and stars)

Thumbnail of flannel template for blue is the sky.

blue is the sky thumbnail, with a graphic of a fireplace next to an evergreen tree, with two red cups of hot chocolate on the mantel. click the image to download a non-branded PDF

Speaking of hot cocoa, or hot chocolate, I’ve got a song about it! Will you wave your scarves around while I play my ukulele?
I found the first verse as a photo pin on Pinterest, but when I went back to it later I couldn’t find any indication as to the source. I added a couple of verses to round it out.
Scarf/Ukulele Song: Hot Chocolate (TB) (FT)
(tune of On Top of Old Smokey)
Do you like hot chocolate?
Marshmallows on top!
It’s warm and delicious
I can hardly stop

Whenever it’s cold out
I like it a lot
And you know the best part:
Marshmallows on top!

We pour in the chocolate
Stir it well but don’t slop
And right before sipping:
Marshmallows on top! – Sluuurp… YUM!
Source: unknown verse 1, original vs 2-3

Download a ukulele songsheet for Hot Chocolate

thumbnail for hot chocolate ukulele songsheet

hot chocolate thumbnail, with a graphic of a pink mug of hot chocolate with marshmallows. click the image to download a non-branded PDF

Action Song: Zoom, Zoom, Zoom!* (TT) (TB) (FT)

Craft: Hot Chocolate Mug (TB) (FT)
We decorated our mugs of hot chocolate and added some white pompoms to the top for marshmallows in our simple craft. Hot chocolate always tastes best from your own special mug, right? We used dot markers and stickers. Inspired by Made to Be a Momma blog, where you can find a template.

blue hot chocolate mug with an oval of brown construction paper on top, decorated with colorful dot stickers. Three white pompoms make the marshmallows on top.

Goodbye Song: See You Later Alligator* (TT) (TB) (FT)

Other books I had available for families to browse (and may work for you on this theme)
In My Anaana’s Amautik – Nadia Sammurtok & Lenny Lishchenko
Winter is the Warmest Season – Lauren Stringer
The All-Together Quilt – Lizzy Rockwell
Blanket: Journey to Extreme Coziness – Loryn Brantz
Dreamland – Noah Klocek
I’m Going to Give You a Polar Bear Hug! – Caroline B. Cooney & Tim Warnes
Snoozapalooza – Kimberlee Gard & Vivian Mineker
Twinkle, Twinkle, Winter Night – Megan Litwin & Nneka Myers
Chaiwala! – Priti Birla Maheshwari

This storytime was presented in-person on 1/7 & 1/8/25.

Storytime Handout:

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

**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

Storytime: Boxes

Posted on December 20, 2024December 19, 2024 by msemilylibrary

What can you do with a box? What CAN’T you do with it!? December seems to be a time when the cardboard boxes start to pile up, so what a great time to celebrate both the imaginative things you can do with boxes as well as the fun and mystery of an unopened box. We talked a little about presents and gifts, as well.

You can find another version of this theme from 2021.

Early Literacy Tip: Research shows that constructive play (creating and building with different types of materials) supports children’s physical, cognitive and emotional development. When we pretend and act out stories, we’re using problem-solving skills and it prepares us to write stories of our own someday. –Storytime in the Stacks

Welcome Song: Hello, Friends* (TT) (TB) (FT)** †

Lifting Rhyme: Toast in the Toaster* (TT) (TB) (FT)

Intro: Today we’re celebrating something like this… point to brown felt box on flannelboard. What is it? A box! Boxes can be fun to play with, to build with, and sometimes, when we’re lucky, they have something wonderful inside of them!

I have a box here, and I think there’s something inside. It’s heavy! And I think I hear something.
This was a box left from my predecessor that I don’t use very often (I think she put her book in it and other special props). I had four puppets in the box: cat, duck, frog, and turtle. Turtle came last to transition to the next rhyme. Turtle didn’t make any noises, so there was some mystery and anticipation in the last repetition. After taking turtle out, I showed everyone that the box was now empty.
Puppet Game: Here Is a Box (TT) (TB) (FT)
Here is a box where something is hid
I wonder whatever is under the lid?
Let’s listen for a shout and see who comes out!
(make animal noises and guess who is in the box)
Source: Storytime in the Stacks

Remember to put your puppets in “butts up” so it’s easy to slip them on while holding the box!

here is a box thumbnail, with a graphic of a red lidded box. the lid is suspended above the box, and gold confetti is coming from it. in the air between the lid and box is a black question mark. click the image to download a non-branded PDF

Don’t be shy, turtle, come on out! Have you ever heard of a box turtle? This turtle LIVES in a box. He’s a little feisty today – he’s hungry!
It was a little awkward because I can’t clap like I normally would for the “caught” lines, but I slapped my thigh with my free hand and the adults clapped, so it worked just fine. After one time through, we repeated, after I asked the turtle if he was still hungry and he nodded. My (adorable!) turtleneck turtle has a mouth that moves so it works a little differently than the ones in the Jbrary video.
Fingerplay: There Was a Little Turtle (TT) (TB) (FT)
There was a little turtle (make fist)
who lived in a box (cover fist)
he swam in the puddles (fist wiggles like swimming)
he climbed on the rocks (fist climbs up opposite arm)
He snapped at a mosquito (pinch with thumb and fingers at each “snap”)
He snapped at a flea
He snapped at a minnow
And he snapped at me!
He caught that mosquito (clap each “caught”)
He caught that flea
He caught that minnow
But he didn’t catch me! (waggle finger)
Source: Jbrary

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

Transition: If You’re Ready for a Story* (TT) (TB) (FT)

The classic storytime book about boxes. It works so well it’s hard not to feature it!
Read: Not a Box by Antoinette Portis (TT) (FT)

A newer title, and one from an Indiana author! The illustrations on this one are pretty great. I’m not in love with the rhyme scheme, but I think that’s a personal preference.
Read: Grace & Box by Kim Howard & Megan Lötter (TB)

I felt like I needed another action activity, and one especially featuring pretending with boxes. Sometimes you have to just make up your own!
I love to pretend in a box – what could it be? Let’s all get out a big box to play in.
Rhyme Song: In My Box (TT) (TB) (FT)
In my box, I have found (hold arms out like a box)
I can really get around
My box is a bus: Beep, beep, beep! (wide steering wheel then horn)
Turns into a submarine and dives down deep (tip “wheel” down and crouch)
In my boat I row, row, row (row arms)
Now it’s a race car: go, go, go! (narrow steering wheel and run in place)
Let’s hop into an airplane to glide and fly (arms out to sides)
Then 3, 2, 1 – my rocket zooms to the stars in the sky (count down then clap and jump)
Source: original

in my box thumbnail, with a graphic of a rabbit driving a race car illustration from Not a Box book. click the image to download a non-branded PDF

Boxes can also hold anything – there are surprises under every lid.
We talked about how many boxes there were (I only used four: blue, brown, green, and pink) and what colors they were, then we did the rhyme for each one.
Flannel Rhyme: Mystery Boxes (TT) (TB) (FT)
Little BLUE box
Let’s look and see
What’s inside there?
1… 2… 3!
Source: adapted from One For the Books blog

mystery boxes thumbnail, with a graphic of four lidded boxes: blue, brown, green, and pink. click the image to download a non-branded PDF

Do you ever have the issue where you can’t sing a storytime tune when the time comes? This happened to me twice for this song! So frustrating. I originally had the Elevator song before this one. That tune messed me up and I could not get the Buffalo Gals tune going and just belted out some weird melody I knew was totally off. Oh, well, it happens, and the adults are very gracious. After that, I was running through the tune in my head over and over and felt pretty confident the second session, but again when it was time for it, I blanked. By my third time doing this program, I switched the order to do this one first, which worked! I was able to do this tune without any problem. So if you’re ever struggling, try switching the order of activities or songs.

I didn’t use my ukulele for this one, but I do have a chord sheet for it! I only did three verses for this age group and it seemed just right.
Sometimes when I have too many wiggles, I have to get out my wiggle box.
Shaker Song: Wiggle Box (TT) (TB) (FT)
(tune of Buffalo Gals)
Let’s open up the wiggle box, the wiggle box, the wiggle box,
Let’s open up the wiggle box, And wiggle our cares away!

additional verses:
There’s a lot of wiggles in the wiggle box… So wiggle and dance today!
There’s a lot of giggles in the wiggle box… So wiggle and laugh today!
Now throw all your wiggles in the wiggle box… And lock that box up tight!
(slowly, relaxed)
Now that wiggle box is closed up tight… We’re ready for a story today!
Source: Verse 4 from Anne’s Library Life, remainder original

Get a downloadable ukulele songsheet for “Wiggle Box” here!

wiggle box thumbnail, with a graphic of a brown box with a lid askew, with many-colored wiggly lines coming from it. click the image to download a non-branded PDF

Here’s a big box! What could it be? Maybe an elevator?
Okay, a bit of a stretch, but the kids don’t care. I changed from my original plan of scarves to shakers since we used scarves last week, but the prop songs work perfectly well with either.
Shaker Song: Let’s Go Riding on an Elevator (TT) (TB) (FT)
Let’s go riding on an elevator, elevator, elevator
Let’s go riding on an elevator – Ride along with me!
First floor, Second floor, Third floor, Fourth floor, Fifth floor…
And down-down-down-down-down!
Source: Jbrary

let's go riding on an elevator thumbnail, with a graphic of a line drawing of an elevator with buttons on the right and a potted plant on the left. click the image to download a non-branded PDF

This was the stand-out hit of this session. We did it three times and I think they wanted to do it again. Sue is a genius.
Remember the Jack-in-the-Box? Let’s play.
Ukulele/Action/Shaker Song: Turn Around (TT) (TB) (FT)
Can you turn around with me?
It’s as easy as can be
Round and round and round just so
Then ker-PLOP! Down we go! (fall/crouch to floor)
Jack is quiet–shhh! (finger to lips)
In his box… (arm covers head)
Open the lid… (open arm up)
And up he… POPS! (jump up)
Source: Sue Schnitzer, from the album “Wiggle and Whirl”

Get a downloadable ukulele songsheet for “Turn Around” here!

turn around thumbnail, with a graphic of a jack in the box. click the image to download a non-branded PDF

Two uke songs in a row! This is such a fun tune. Since I was playing ukulele, I couldn’t lead any special movements (which you can see with the source link below), but encouraged everyone to just dance and shake their shakers.
Sometimes a box comes with a very special present inside!
Ukulele/Shaker Song: Mail Myself to You (TT) (TB) (FT)
I’m gonna wrap myself in paper, I’m gonna dot myself with glue
Stick some stamps on top of my head, I’m gonna mail myself to you!

I’m gonna tie me up in a red string, I’m gonna tie a blue ribbon too
Climb on up inside my mailbox, I’m gonna mail myself to you!

When you see me in your mailbox Cut the string and let me out!
Wash the glue off my fingers Stick some bubble gum in my mouth

Take me out of my wrapping paper Wash the stamps off my head
Pour me out an ice cream soda…slurp! Put me in a nice warm bed!
Source: Woody Guthrie See motions at: https://youtu.be/no034U7ivfA

Get a downloadable ukulele songsheet for “Mail Myself to You” here!

Mail Myself to you Ukulele songsheet thumbnail

Mail myself to you thumbnail, with a graphic of a blue box wrapped in a red ribbon, with a "Fragile" sticker. click the image to download a non-branded PDF — 2 pg sheet, PDF includes both

Action Song: Zoom, Zoom, Zoom!* (TT) (TB) (FT)

Craft: Box Coloring Page (TB) (FT)
I wanted to keep it very simple this week, to give plenty of time to play with boxes. This is a simple sheet with a square in the middle and lots of white space around it, giving the opportunity to draw something imaginary à la Not a Box.

You can download the sheet here!

Play Time
Something special this week! Instead of our usual toys, we played with boxes. I asked my coworkers to save and bring in some boxes and got a great selection, both large and small. I made two “cars” – larger rectangular boxes that I cut the top flaps off and added a cardboard steering wheel using a large brass brad (it turned!). I also made a tunnel by taping two similar-sized boxes together with their flaps taped up. Other than that, the boxes went out as they came to me and families could play however they wanted. I did have some scissors, extra brads, and large clips set out that could be used for “building” but for the most part the kids just stacked the boxes and crawled in them. The cars and tunnel were all popular, but everyone was great about sharing and taking turns.

My two “cars” and the (somewhat flimsy) tunnel on the left, and the aftermath of box play on the right. I offered boxes to anyone who wanted to take them home after the last session, and both cars went, but nothing else!

Goodbye Song: See You Later Alligator* (TT) (TB) (FT)

Other books I had available for families to browse (and may work for you on this theme)
A Box Can Be Many Things – Dana Meachen Rau & Paige Billin-Frye
Boxitects – Kim Smith
Big Box, Little Box – Caryl Hart & Edward Underwood
The Box Turtle – Vanessa Roeder
Inside, Outside, Upside Down – Stan & Jan Berenstain
Fraidyzoo – Thyra Heder
Big Box of Shapes – Wiley Blevins & Elliot Kreloff
My Book Box – Will Hillenbrand
Scaredy Cats – Jeff Mack
The Big Sibling Getaway – Korrie Leer
A Gift for Goose – Tad Hills
Thank You Bear – Greg Foley

This storytime was presented in-person on 12/16, 12/17, 12/18, & 12/19/24.

Storytime Handout:

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

**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

Storytime: Mice

Posted on December 13, 2024December 12, 2024 by msemilylibrary

Mice are so ubiquitous in children’s literature, I had no trouble finding lots of cute books for this theme. I also had an abundance of rhymes to choose from, making this a fairly easy theme to plan.

Early Literacy Tip: It takes longer for children who are just learning to talk to respond to our questions. This happens because four different parts of the brain have to work together to form a response. We need to be patient and wait anywhere from 5-12 seconds for children to respond. That feels like a long time because adults usually respond in about 2 seconds. The extra time we give children allows them the practice they need to respond more quickly over time. -The Early Literacy Kit: A Handbook and Tip Cards by Betsy Diamant-Cohen & Saroj Ghoting

Welcome Song: Hello, Friends* (TT) (TB) (FT)** †

Lifting Rhyme: Toast in the Toaster* (TT) (TB) (FT)

Intro: I have a little friend who lives in this basket! Can you guess who she is? She has little pink ears, soft brown fur, a long pink tail, whiskers, and a twitchy little nose. Who is she? Little Mousie Brown! She has her own rhyme. Would you like to do it with us, Mousie?

Fingerplay: Little Mousie Brown (TT) (TB) (FT)
Up the tall white candlestick went little Mousie Brown
But when she got up to the top she could not get back down
She called for Mama, “Mama, Mama!”
But Mama was in town
So she called for Papa, “Papa, Papa!”
But Papa wasn’t around
So little Mousie curled right up and rolled right down!
Source: Jbrary

Little mousie brown thumbnail, with a graphic of a gray mouse perched atop a white candle in an orange candlestick. click the image to download a non-branded PDF

Let’s do one more rhyme with Mousie Brown before she goes back to her house.
I switched Mousie Brown from my index finger to my thumb for this one.
Fingerplay: Quiet Mouse (TT) (TB) (FT)
Here’s a quiet little mouse (show thumb)
Living in a quiet little house (hide thumb in fist)
When all was quiet as could be
OUT popped she! (pop out thumb) Squeak!
Source: King County (WA) Library System

quiet mouse thumbnail, with a graphic of a mouse peeking out from a hole in a stump. click the image to download a non-branded PDF

Transition: If You’re Ready for a Story* (TT) (TB) (FT)

Very short, and I wish some of the rhymes weren’t split over page turns, but quite effective.
Read: Mice by Rose Fyleman & Lois Ehlert (TT)

A storytime classic.
Read: The Little Mouse, the Red Ripe Strawberry, and the Big Hungry Bear by Don & Audrey Wood (TB) (FT)

Little mice need to look out for bigger animals, like bears or… cats!
I really liked how the librarian in this video did the scampering at the end, but like the tune and progression (especially the transitions between verses of this video better, so my version is a bit of an amalgamation of the two.
Action Song: The Old Gray Cat (TT) (TB) (FT)
The old gray cat is sleeping,
Sleeping, sleeping (lay head in hands)
The old gray cat is sleeping
In the house (peak hands up to make a roof above head)

additional verses:
The little mice are creeping… (creep fingers)
The little mice are nibbling… (pretend to eat)
The old gray cat is creeping… (creep/stalk fingers)
The little mice go scampering… (quickly, and pat lap)
Source: King County (WA) Library System, Version 1 Version 2

the old gray cat thumbnail, with a graphic of a dark gray sleeping cat with two small mice. click the image to download a non-branded PDF

I know a story about another mouse who has a special trick to keep the cat at bay. Little Clapping Mouse!
Story Rhyme: Little Clapping Mouse (TT) (TB) (FT)
(give two claps after each line * *)
Behind the tree * *
And under the house * *
There lived a teeny * *
Tiny mouse * *
She loved to sing * *
She loved to tap * *
But most of all * *
She loved to clap * *
She clapped all night * *
She clapped all day * *
She clapped to frighten * *
The cat away! * * * * * (lots of claps)
Source: Jbrary

little clapping mouse thumbnail, with a graphic of a gray mouse with their hands together. click the image to download a non-branded PDF

Do you hear that? (squeak) it’s a squeak, but it’s so soft! It must be some BABY mice
I had one little one who really loved the counting and the “That’s all” at the end. She said it several times after we finished this rhyme – precious.
Fingerplay Rhyme: Baby Mice (TT) (TB) (FT)
Where are the baby mice? Squeak, squeak, squeak (cover eyes)
I cannot see them. Peek, peek, peek (peek-a-boo)
Here they come from a hole in the wall (make hole with fingers)
1-2-3-4-5… That’s all! (lift fingers as you count)
Source: Mel’s Desk

baby mice thumbnail, with a graphic of an open round door with five white mice near it. click the image to download a non-branded PDF

We passed out scarves and wiggled them around like little mice.
Tickle/Scarf Rhyme: Hurry Scurry Little Mouse (TT) (TB) (FT)
Hurry scurry little mouse Starts down at your toes
Hurry scurry little mouse Past your knees he goes
Hurry scurry little mouse Past where your tummy is
Hurry scurry little mouse Gives a mousy kiss!
Source: Mel’s Desk

hurry scurry little mouse thumbnail, with a graphic of a small gray mouse. click the image to download a non-branded PDF

I needed another scarf song, so was looking at my generic ones. I use “Shake it to the East” often with both scarves and shaker eggs, and thought, why not scurry your mouse in scarf form?
Scarf Song: Scurry to the East (TT) (TB) (FT)
Scurry to the east, Scurry to the west
Scurry all around and Then you take a rest
Scurry mousies up Scurry mousies down
Scurry, scurry, scurry, and Then you settle down!
Source: adapted from Jbrary

scurry to the east thumbnail, with a graphic of three inquisitive mice, white, grey, and tan. click the image to download a non-branded PDF

Let’s be mice. Where would your ears be if you were a mouse? Your whiskers? Tail!? Feet?
Action/Scarf Song: Ears and Whiskers, Tail and Feet (TT) (TB) (FT)
(tune of Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes)
Ears and whiskers
Tail and feet, tail and feet
Ears and whiskers
Tail and feet, tail and feet
Pet my fur and
Give a little squeak!
Ears and whiskers
Tail and feet, tail and feet
Source: King County (WA) Library System

ears and whiskers tail and feet thumbnail, with a graphic of a mouse sitting upright, with tail showing behind its body. click the image to download a non-branded PDF

Action Song: Zoom, Zoom, Zoom!* (TT) (TB) (FT)

Craft: Mouse Finger Puppet (TB) (FT)
This craft turned out so cute! I was inspired by a photo at Storytime Katie, but the link she provided was no longer in service. I played around and figured out the shape I would need to get a little pocket for your finger. The rest is just circles for the ears, yarn for the tail, and a tiny pompom for the nose. Eyes are just drawn on. I made a template for the mouse bodies and ears, and printed on brown and pink 9×12″ construction paper.

Download the mouse finger puppet template here!

Goodbye Song: See You Later Alligator* (TT) (TB) (FT)

Other books I had available for families to browse (and may work for you on this theme)
Where Is Jumper? – Ellen Stoll Walsh
Mina – Matthew Forsythe
Hide-and-Squeak – Heather Vogel Frederick & C.F. Payne
Mousie, I Will Read to You – Rachael Cole & Melissa Crowton
Red House, Tree House, Little Bitty Brown Mouse – Jane Godwin & Blanca Gómez
The Completed Hickory Dickory Dock – Jim Aylesworth & Eileen Christelow
It’s So Quiet – Sherri Duskey Rinker & Tony Fucile
Mice Skating – Annie Silvestro & Teagan White
By Mouse & Frog – Deborah Freedman
Big Bear, Small Mouse – Karma Wilson & Jane Chapman
The Voice in the Hollow – Will Hillenbrand
House mouse – Michael Hall

This storytime was presented in-person on 12/9, 12/10, & 12/11/24.

Storytime Handout:

handout with suggested books and rhyme/song lyrics.

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

**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

Storytime: Fairy Tales

Posted on December 6, 2024December 6, 2024 by msemilylibrary

Fairy tales are such a broad theme, you could really go into lots of different directions for this one. I looked through my library’s “Tales” section and tried to choose books that were short and sweet for my young group. I found that a LOT of fairy tale books are quite long, with a significant amount of text on each page. I don’t think these are completely inaccessible to the toddler age group, but I think longer books work better one-on-one rather than in a big group. I did find a few that would work well read aloud and settled on a couple versions of the Three Little Pigs.

I also wanted to break out the parachute and realized it can readily be adapted to the motions for “Going on a Bear Hunt,” which I’ve never put together before! Inspired by Storytime in the Stacks’ Going on a Dragon Hunt flannel, I planned to throw in a dragon plushie at the very end that could bounce around. I asked if any of my coworkers had one to lend me, and ended up receiving TEN plush dragons, including one giant sized one! Oh, librarians.

This ended up being a rather long program, too. I never did the Billy Goats Trip Trap rhyme, and we still went 5+ minutes over every time. Thankfully, no one seemed to mind.

Early Literacy Tip: Telling different versions of the same story, or using different ways to tell a story (such as on a flannelboard, with puppets, or by acting it out) gives children lots of practice with narrative pre-reading skills. It reinforces story structure and sequencing, language development and comprehension, as well as developing empathy and thinking about different perspectives. Different mediums like puppets support different learning styles. Lastly, sharing fairy tales with children helps give them background knowledge of well-known stories and characters. -inspired by Read Write NYC & Children’s Museum of Sonoma County but also some of my own thoughts (probably why it’s so long…)

Welcome Song: Hello, Friends* (TT) (TB) (FT)** †

Lifting Rhyme: Toast in the Toaster* (TT) (TB) (FT)

Intro: Fairy tales are old stories that have been told and retold over and over again. They may start with “Once upon a time…”, and end with “…and they lived happily ever after.” They frequently have talking animals, dragons, princesses, princes, fairies, kings, queens, and other fantastical beings. The same story might be told in slightly different ways. Some fairy tales include Goldilocks and the Three Bears, Red Riding Hood, Cinderella, or The Three Little Pigs.

In the story of Jack and the Beanstalk, the giant says something funny!
This was the perfect little fingerplay to kick us off.
Fingerplay: Fee Fi Fo Fum (BB) (TB) (FT)
Fee fi fo fum (touch fingers, one at a time)
See my fingers (hold up four fingers)
See my thumb (hold up thumb)
Fee fi fo fum (touch fingers, one at a time)
Good-bye fingers (fold fingers to palm)
Good-bye thumb! (fold thumb)
Source: Collaborative Summer Library Program 2020 Manual

fee fi fo fum thumbnail, with a graphic of a beanstalk and a hand with thumbs up. click the image to download a non-branded PDF

Transition: If You’re Ready for a Story* (TT) (TB) (FT)

This is a super simple version of the Three Pigs, where the reader/audience plays the part of the wolf. I could see a little concern in the eyes of some of the kids and adults that the wolf (we) were being so mean, but it all turns around at the end, where we reveal that the wolf is just blowing out his birthday candles!
Read: Huff & Puff by Claudia Rueda (TT) (FT)

This author has a series of “first” fairy tales that are short and to the point. This version was quite true to the original that I remember, including the wolf coming down the chimney and ending up in the soup pot, although he jumps out comically and runs out the window at the end instead of getting cooked. The whole room was pretty entranced at this one.
Read: The Three Little Pigs by Saviour Pirotta & Olivia Beckman (TB)

I have a rhyme that tells this story in a slightly different way. Let’s put 3 piggies on our fingers!
Story Rhyme: The Three Little Pigs (TT) (TB) (FT)
There were three little piggies sitting in a house
When along came a wolf as quiet as a mouse
He said, “Little pigs, little pigs, let me come in”
“Not by the hair of our chinny, chin, chins!”
So that old wolf huffed and that old wolf blew
And away a little piggy flew! (count down to no piggies)

There were no little piggies sitting in a house
When along came a wolf as quiet as a mouse
He said, “Little pigs, little pigs, let me come in”
But there was no one there to answer him
So that old wolf turned and walked away
He said, “I’ll be back another day”
And those three little piggies, back into their beds did creep
And soon they fell fast asleep (snore!) The End.
Source: Jbrary

the three little pigs thumbnail, with a graphic of three pigs, each holding their building materials (hay, sticks, bricks) with a wolf looking at them from the other side of a hedge. click the image to download a non-branded PDF — 1st page of 2 shown, PDF contains both

They do love this game, no matter what is hiding under what. And I get to reuse these houses a lot, so if you’re not big into making flannels, this will give you a lot of use for your time! The pig is from a farm set from Oriental Trading. This activity took longer than I anticipated, but it was fun.
Flannel Game: Little Pig in a House (TT) (TB) (FT)
Little pig, little pig
By the hair of your
chinny-chin-chin
Is it the BLUE house
You’re hiding inny-in-in?
Source: rhyme original, idea inspired by Early Literacy Librarian

Little pig in a house flannel, showing six multi-toned houses and a pink pig. Houses are single story pink and yellow, two story orange and green, and three story blue and red.

little pig in a house thumbnail, with a graphic of a simple blue house and cartoon pig. click the image to download a non-branded PDF

Another favorite story is the Three Billy Goats Gruff. Here’s a short rhyme version.
I decided to skip this one for time.
Story Rhyme: Billy Goats Trip Trap
Trip, trap, trip, trap, Across the bridge they come
Trip, trap, trip, trap, Crossing one by one
Trip, trap, trip, trap, Baby takes a stroll
Trip, trap, trip, trap, Over the sleeping troll
Trip, trap, trip, trap, Louder taps I hear
Trip, trap, trip, trap, Middle goat is near
Trip, trap, trip, trap, Stomps the biggest goat
Trip, trap, trip, trap, Troll goes in the moat!
Source: Jbrary

billy goats trip trap thumbnail, with a graphic of three goats (small, medium, and large) and a green troll. click the image to download a non-branded PDF

This one may not strictly be a fairy tale, but it kind of reminds me of one? Maybe nursery rhymes and fairy tales are cousins.
Parachute Song: The Grand Old Duke of York (TT) (TB) (FT)
The grand old duke of York
He had ten thousand men
He marched them to the top of the hill
And he 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: traditional

grand old duke of york thumbnail, with a graphic of a large hill of green behind the text, with a British soldier marching up one side and another marching down the other. click the image to download a non-branded PDF

Some of my favorite fairy tale creatures are dragons! Let’s go looking for one.
To keep things moving, I did highly modify this traditional chant, and removed one piece of terrain in both the second and third sessions. You can download my “cheat sheet” here. Before we started, I put the terrain pieces on the flannelboard – mostly to remind myself where we were going next!
Parachute/Scarf Chant: Going on a Dragon Hunt (TT) (TB) (FT)
refrain:
We’re going on a dragon hunt (We’re going on a dragon hunt)
We’re gonna catch a big one! (We’re gonna catch a big one!)

Okay, let’s hop on our trusty steed, Lightning, and clip, clop down the lane (clip clop, clip, clop) [did this line only once, not every refrain]
Oh, no! GRASS – Long, wavy grass
[We can’t go OVER it,
We can’t go UNDER it
We have to go THROUGH it] removed for time and attention
Swish, swish! (move parachute side to side)

repeat, replacing terrain:
A RIVER – Splish splash (wave gently)
A FOREST – Jump, Lightning, jump! (wave big on the jump) [I ended up doing a “1, 2, 3, Jump!” a few times]
A STORM – Whoosh, whoosh (wave quickly)
A CAVE – Tip-toe (wiggle in a small motion)
What’s that?! It’s so dark in here.
I feel a long, sharp talon. Smooth, hard scales. A warm breeze – a whiff of smoke…
IT’S A DRAGON!!!! RUN!!!!
(backwards through the terrain), get to our castle and bring up the drawbridge. Let’s take a look out the window… Wait, it’s a FRIENDLY dragon! He just wants to play. Whew!
Source: adapted from Storytime in the Stacks

going on a dragon hunt flannel, showing grass, a wavy blue river, a tall pine tree, a blue cloud with yellow lightning, and a gray cave with a green and yellow dragon.

going on a dragon hunt thumbnail, with a graphic of a green dragon breathing fire. click the image to download a non-branded PDF

That dragon just wanted to play! And here are some baby dragons!
At this point I asked grownups to hold the parachute and invited the kids to go under after throwing 3-4 little dragon plushies on top. I switched who was chasing who from the original version of this rhyme to make more sense with our setup.
Parachute Song: All Around the Castle
(tune of Pop Goes the Weasel)
All around the castle
The dragon chased the children
The dragon thought it was all in fun
ROAR went the dragon!
(repeat, can substitute children for knight, princess, king, queen, prince, ogre, etc)
Source: Collaborative Summer Library Program 2020 Manual

all around the castle thumbnail, with a graphic of a pink castle with a green dragon flying around it. click the image to download a non-branded PDF

Picture of 10 plush dragons ranging in size and color. — So. Many. Dragons.

This is a great way to put the parachute away. I left the dragons in and just asked the kids to put them back in their nest (a bag) when we were done.
Parachute Song: Parachute Fly (TT) (TB) (FT)
(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

Parachute fly thumbnail, with a graphic of an overhead view of children holding on to a colorful parachute with balls bouncing on top. click the image to download a non-branded PDF

Action Song: Zoom, Zoom, Zoom!* (TT) (TB) (FT)

Craft: Dragon (TB) (FT)
This was a bit of work on my part (lots of parts and pieces) but fairly easy on their end. I used a template from HeidiSongs Teaching Resource and instead of bubble wrap painting, we added detail with dot markers. Most of her parts are mirrored rather than identical, so there’s a right ear and a right eyebrow and a right flame. I had volunteers cut mine out!

I made my own template based on hers, trying to get as many pieces as possible on each sheet of paper, and including ovals for the eyes and nostrils (her kids freehanded theirs.) It’s sized for 9×12″ construction paper and I used a dark green for the main head, a lighter green for the ears and eyebrows, orange for flames, and black for the nostrils and eyes. You can download mine, but all credit goes to her.

Download the dragon template here!

ALTERNATE CRAFT! (Virtual)
I try to avoid templates when I present a craft idea for my virtual program, so instead I suggested some three little pigs puppets, encouraging adults to draw some simple pig and wolf shapes and let their kids cut them out. Mine turned out pretty cute, so I wanted to share them with you!

Download the puppet template here!

Goodbye Song: See You Later Alligator* (TT) (TB) (FT)

Other books I had available for families to browse (and may work for you on this theme)
There’s a Dragon in Your Book – Tom Fletcher & Greg Abbott
Dragon Was Terrible – Kelly DiPucchio & Greg Pizzoli
The Three Billy Goats Gruff – Mara Alperin & Kate Pankhurst
Clever Jack Takes the Cake – Candace Fleming & G. Brian Karas
Falling for Rapunzel – Leah Wilcox & Lydia Monks
Interstellar Cinderella – Deborah Underwood & Meg Hunt
King Jack and the Dragon – Peter Bently & Helen Oxenbury
La Princesa and the Pea – Susan Middleton Elya & Juana Martinez-Neal
The Paper Bag Princess – Robert N. Munsch & Michael Martchenko
Little Red Riding Hood & Other Stories – Lucy Cousins

This storytime was presented in-person on 12/2, 12/3, & 12/4/24.

Storytime Handout:

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

**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

Storytime: Feeling Thankful (2024)

Posted on November 22, 2024November 21, 2024 by msemilylibrary

If you’ve been following me for a bit, you may have noticed this theme before. I’ve done a “Feeling Thankful” theme every year since 2019. (I wasn’t blogging that year, so I don’t have a post for that one!) It’s a favorite not only because I enjoy the flow and activities we do, but also because it gives me a moment to step back and really think about the gratitude I feel for doing the work I do. I have the privilege of then sharing that gratitude with my families in a way that’s heartfelt and meaningful, while giving them a jumping off point for talking about kindness, empathy, and gratitude with their kids.

Not a ton changes from year to year, but I do switch a few things out to keep it fresh for myself as well as for any of my regulars who have been with me for a year or more. This year I went with some different scarf songs and found a new book to share.

Thanks once again for being a reader. I hope these posts are helpful to you whether you are a fellow librarian, a teacher, caregiver, or anyone else who is interested in early literacy. I love being part of a profession that is generous with our ideas, and I am thankful for all the librarians and teachers who have helped me by sharing their materials online.

If you’re looking for more ideas, take a look at the Feeling Thankful themes from every year I’ve done this theme here.

Early Literacy Tip: When we are warm, fed, safe, and snuggled with someone we love, our brains release a chemical called serotonin. This makes us feel good, but it also has the effect of helping us learn. When you snuggle with your child and sing and read together, their brains soak up the language they hear and the serotonin helps make that learning permanent. Snuggling, talking, and singing with your child helps get them ready to read. Source: Mel’s Desk

Welcome Song: Hello, Friends* (TT) (TB) (FT)** †

Lifting Rhyme: Toast in the Toaster* (TT) (TB) (FT)

Intro: What does it mean to feel thankful? When someone does something nice for you, saying “thank you” lets them know we appreciate them and are happy they did what they did! We can also think for a moment about all the good things in our lives and feel happy about them, too. Let’s practice saying “thank you” with this rhyme.

Figuring out how to do this rhyme without the middle finger AND using it to do the ASL sign for I love you is one of my proudest moments. 🙂
Fingerplay: Where is Thumbkin? (BB) (TB) (FT)
Where is Thumbkin, Where is Thumbkin?
Here I am, Here I am,
How are you today, Friend?
Very well, I thank you.
Run away, run away.

(repeat with pointer, pinky, then all three)
Where are three friends, Where are three friends?
Here we are, Here we are,
How are you today, Friends?
Very well, we thank you.
I love you, I love you.
Source: adapted from the traditional rhyme by Ms. Emily

where is thumbkin thumbnail, with a graphic of silhouettes of two hands with thumbs up and two hands showing the ASL "I Love You" sign. click the image to download a non-branded PDF

Transition: If You’re Ready for a Story* (TT) (TB) (FT)

I liked all my book choices so much I had trouble deciding. So I did a different one for each of my three sessions.

I think I shared this one my first year or so of doing this theme, and it’s a perfect one for the littlest kids. Very simple, and we all repeat the “Thank you” every other page. It also is the easiest to transition from this book to “Here Is the Beehive,” for obvious reasons.
Read: Thank You, Bees by Toni Yuly (TT)

One from last year. This is a board book, so it’s not very big, but it does work for my group. It focuses mostly on HOW to say thank you, both in words and in actions.
Read: The Thank You Book by Danna Smith & Juliana Perdomo (TB)

The newest one (or at least newest to me). Also a board book, but large enough that I can share it easily. This one is more of the litany of things TO be thankful for.
Read: I Am Thankful by Kathryn Jewitt & Lizzy Doyle (FT)

I had some honey on my toast this morning. Does anyone here like honey, too? Where does honey come from? Bees! I’m thankful for the bees that pollinate our plants and make us honey!
Tickle Rhyme: Here Is the Beehive (TT) (TB) (FT)
Here is the beehive, but where are all the bees? (make fist)
Hidden away where nobody sees
Watch and you’ll see them come out of the hive:
1, 2, 3, 4, 5 (open fingers)
They’re alive! Buzz, buzz, buzz! (tickle)
Source: Jbrary

here is the beehive thumbnail, with a graphic of a yellow beehive with several bees flying around it, centered on a red circle. click the image to download a non-branded PDF

I’m sure it comes as no surprise to you – something I love and something I’m always thankful for are books and reading! Here’s a fun song about someone who wears glasses when she reads a book.
We practice making glasses with our hands, and then a book. We open and close the book several times before we get started with the song!
Song: These Are My Glasses (TT) (TB) (FT)
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

these are my glasses thumbnail, with a graphic of a pair of glasses folded next to a small pile of books. A red mug is alongside. click the image to download a non-branded PDF

Scarf distribution: I am thankful for songs we can sing with our scarves! Will you practice with me – wave high, low, in a circle, throw and catch!

I’m thankful for all of the beautiful plants, especially the trees. Can we pretend to be a little acorn?
We start by scrunching up our scarves in our fists and crouching low to make our bodies small like a seed.
Scarf Rhyme: Be a Seed (TT) (TB) (FT)
Be a seed, small and round (crouch, with scarf scrunched)
Sprout, sprout, sprout up from the ground (stand up)
Shake your leaves for all to see (shake arms and scarf)
Stretch your arms up, you’re a tree! (stretch tall)
Source: Jbrary

be a seed thumbnail, with a graphic of an acorn and a tree. click the image to download a non-branded PDF

I’m thankful for delicious food that we can make and eat with our loved ones. (And breakfast – I LOVE breakfast!)
Scarf Rhyme: Mixin’ Pancakes (TT) (TB) (FT)
(mime actions)
Mixin’ pancakes, stirrin’ pancakes
Pour ’em in the pan
Fryin’ pancakes, flippin’ pancakes
Catch ’em if you can! (throw scarf up and catch)
Source: adapted from poet Christina Rossetti

mixin' pancakes thumbnail, with a graphic of a girl in an apron and chef's toque flipping a pancake in a frying pan. click the image to download a non-branded PDF

I’m thankful for toys and games to play.
We did this one three times each session. They loved throwing the scarves up!
Scarf Rhyme: Jack in the Box (TT) (TB) (FT)
Jack in the box (scrunch scarf up in fist)
Sits so still
Will he come out?
Yes, he will! (throw scarf in the air)
Source: Jbrary

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

This flannel was made from the template created by Mel at Mel’s Desk! I add the flannel pieces as the recorded song mentions them (if you’re playing ukulele for this one, you could go over the pieces first and then sing the song). Before or afterwards is a good time to mention today’s early literacy tip, whichever flows more naturally for you.
We’re going to do a quiet song now. This one is nice to snuggle to. If you’d like to snuggle with your grownup, that’s great. If not, no need to force it, but let’s listen to the words and all the things we can be thankful for.
Flannel/Ukulele Song: Thanks a Lot
Thanks a lot, Thanks for sun in the sky
Thanks a lot, Thanks for clouds so high
Thanks a lot, Thanks for whispering wind
Thanks a lot, Thanks for the birds in the spring
Thanks a lot, Thanks for the moonlit night
Thanks a lot, Thanks for the stars so bright
Thanks a lot, Thanks for the wondering me
Thanks a lot, Thanks for the way I feel
Thanks for the animals, Thanks for the land,
Thanks for the people everywhere
Thanks a lot
Thanks for all I’ve got
Thanks for all I’ve got
Source: From the Album “Baby Beluga” by Raffi

Thanks a lot flannel set with a yellow sun, white cloud, red bird, blue swirl for wind, yellow crescent moon, purple star, single person figure with arms raised, pink heart, elephant, evergreen tree, and group of three people of various skin tones with arms to the side.

Get a downloadable ukulele songsheet for “Thanks a Lot” here!

thumbnail of Thanks A Lot ukulele songsheet

thanks a lot thumbnail, showing lyrics only. click the image to download a non-branded PDF

This was a new addition to this year’s Feeling Thankful, and it fit very well. A lot of my grownups know and love this song.
I’m thankful for friends and family, and I am especially thankful for each and every one of you. A good way to say thank you to someone we’re close to is to tell them we love them!
Song: Skinnamarink (TT) (TB) (FT)
Skinnamarinky-dinky-dink, Skinnamarinky-doo
I love you!
Skinnamarinky-dinky-dink, Skinnamarinky-doo
I love you!
I love you in the morning, and in the afternoon
I love you in the evening, underneath the moon
Skinnamarinky-dinky-dink, Skinnamarinky-doo
I love you!
Source: traditional, see hand motions from Jbrary

skinnamarink thumbnail, with a graphic of small red hearts. click the image to download a non-branded PDF

Action Song: Zoom, Zoom, Zoom!* (TT) (TB) (FT)

Craft: Thankful Tree (TB) (FT)
There aren’t a ton of “thankful” crafts (I try to stay away from overtly Thanksgiving imagery like turkeys), so I have just been alternating between a tree and a wreath each year, with the same idea behind both. Leaves are used to decorate, and on them to write things they are thankful for (with or without grownup help). I try to remind my group that they don’t need to fill every leaf with a word, and they can even leave them blank and fill them out over time as they think of things. I asked volunteers to cut out the leaf shapes in various fall colors (red, yellow, orange). Each child gets a piece of sky blue construction paper with a brown bare tree shape printed on it, with the heading “I am thankful for…” at the top. If you have an idea for a new “thankful” craft, please share in the comments!

Download a PDF of the tree and leaves here!

Thankful tree craft - a dark brown bare tree figure on light blue paper with a heading, "I am thankful for..." and fall colored leaves listing gratitudes: books, love, storytime friends, feeling safe, family, and music.

Goodbye Song: See You Later Alligator* (TT) (TB) (FT)

Other books I had available for families to browse (and may work for you on this theme)
Thank You, Omu – Oge Mora
The Thankful Book – Todd Parr
We Are Grateful: Otsaliheliga – Traci Sorell & Frané Lessac
The Thank You Book – Mo Willems
Thank You, Earth – April Pulley Sayre
The Thank You Letter – Jane Cabrera
When We Are Kind – Monique Gray Smith & Nicole Neidhardt
The Blue Table – Chris Raschka
Thank You, Neighbor! – Ruth Chan
Gracias/Thanks – Pat Mora & John Parra
Bear Says Thanks – Karma Wilson & Jane Chapman
To Dogs, With Love – Maria Gianferrari & Ishaa Lobo
Grandma’s Tiny House – JaNay Brown-Woods & Priscilla Burris

This storytime was presented in-person on 11/18, 11/19, & 11/20/24.

Storytime Handout:

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

**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

Storytime: DINOvember 2024

Posted on November 15, 2024November 14, 2024 by msemilylibrary

Dinosaurs are a tried and true storytime theme, and I celebrate DINOvember every couple of years. This year, we did more shaker egg activities, and I found a fantastic new book that’s perfect for my age group. It is short and simple, has facts about dinosaurs, and a great surprise fold-out page at the very end. Plus – it’s written by an actual dinosaur scientist (who is also a woman of color) and I love pointing out actual jobs that people have in storytime.

You can find other versions of this theme from 2021 and 2022.

Early Literacy Tip: Everybody knows at least one child who can rattle off the names of dozens of dinosaurs. There’s a reason for that! Children’s brains are wired to learn as much vocabulary as possible. So, don’t underestimate them: give them all the words you can! Use the most specific terms possible and they will soak them up like a sponge. –Mel’s Desk

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. I rotate between elbows, cheeks, hips, noses, arms, chins, thighs, heads, shoulders, ears, knees, and fingers.

Lifting Rhyme: Toast in the Toaster* (TT) (TB) (FT)

Intro: Today we’re talking all about dinosaurs! Even though they’re not around any longer, I love to imagine what these gigantic and amazing creatures might have been like. Some dinos were big, and some were little. Let’s do a rhyme.

I changed the claws/jaws rhyme to claws/pause and roar – roaring seemed more fun that clacking our teeth together. It added that anticipatory element as well.
Action Rhyme: Dinosaur, Dinosaur (TT) (TB) (FT)
Dinosaur, dinosaur, turn around
Dinosaur, dinosaur, stomp the ground
Dinosaur, dinosaur, show your claws
Dinosaur, dinosaur, now let’s pause… and ROAR!
Dinosaur, dinosaur, big and tall (reach up high)
Dinosaur, dinosaur, quick and small (crouch low)
Dinosaur, dinosaur, shake the ground (stomp again)
Dinosaur, dinosaur, sit back down!
Source: adapted from Verona Storytime and Plainfield-Guilford Township (IN) Library

dinosaur, dinosaur thumbnail, with a graphic of a large green brachiosaurus, and a small magenta dino similar to Compsognathus. click the image to download a non-branded PDF

Transition: If You’re Ready for a Story* (TT) (TB) (FT)

As mentioned in the intro above, this book has all the elements to make it work perfectly in a toddler storytime. Everyone loved it. During the “dig, dig, dig” refrain, we had our tools out and did the digging motion, which made it even more interactive.
Read: Dig, Dig, Dinosaur by Anjali Goswami & Maggie Li (TT) (TB) (FT)

This was on my cart as a backup, but I didn’t end up using it.
Read: We Love Dinosaurs by Lucy Volpin

This dinosaur flannel comes from Mel’s Desk – inspiration for a lot of the program. I did it on paper, but I’ve seen a lot of cute felt versions, too.
There are so many kinds of dinosaurs! Who is this again? Stegosaurus! Let’s see who comes to play with Stegosaurus when she calls for some friends.
Song: One Dinosaur Went Out to Play (TT) (TB) (FT)
(tune of Five Little Ducks)
One dinosaur went out to play,
By a giant fern one day
She had such enormous fun
That she called for another dinosaur to come:
Oh, Diiiiiiiiiinosaur!
(Slap hands on thighs to make “running” sounds and repeat, counting up to five dinosaurs)

Last verse: Five dinosaurs went out to play
By a giant fern one day
They had such enormous fun
That they played until the day was done!
Source: Mel’s Desk

Get a downloadable ukulele songsheet here!

Thumbnail of ukulele songsheet for One Dinosaur Went Out to Play

printed and laminated dinosaurs with a large green fern, including a purple pteranodon, yellow stegosaurus, blue triceratops, orange t-rex, and red brachiosaurus.

one dinosaur went out to play thumbnail, with a graphic of the Mel's desk flannel dinos - a purple pteranodon, yellow stegosaurus, blue triceratops, orange t-rex, and red brachiosaurus. click the image to download a non-branded PDF

We talked very briefly about each dino before doing their verse. This actually felt a little long, I maybe would shorten it or replace it next time.
Now that the dinos are all together, what do they do?
Song: All Through the Swamp (TT) (TB) (FT)
The Tyrannosaurus Rex goes grr grr grr,
Grr grr grr, Grr grr grr
The Tyrannosaurus Rex goes grr grr grr
All through the swamp

additional verses:
The Triceratops’ horns go poke poke poke…
The Stegosaurus’ tail goes swish, swish, swish…
The Brachiosaurus’ mouth goes munch, munch, munch…
The Pteranodon’s wings go flap flap flap…
Source: Mel’s Desk

all through the swamp thumbnail, with lyrics only. click the image to download a non-branded PDF

This storytime went a little long, so I dropped this rhyme and “Inside Her Eggshell” for my two sessions that did a craft as well.
Let’s stretch our bodies.
Action Rhyme: Dinosaur Stretch (TT)
Spread your arms, way out wide
Fly like Pteranodon, soar and glide
Bend to the floor, head down low
Move like Stegosaurus, long ago
Reach up tall, try to be
As tall as Brachiosaurus eating on a tree
Using your claws, grumble and growl
Just like Tyrannosaurus Rex on the prowl
Source: Storytime Katie

dinosaur stretch thumbnail, with a graphic of five children dressed in dinosaur costumes. click the image to download a non-branded PDF

Oh, my! I found a dinosaur nest! Did you know that dinosaurs hatch from eggs? Come on up and get yourself a dinosaur egg.
Shaker Rhyme: Dino Eggs (TT) (TB) (FT)
Dino eggs are up, Dino eggs are down
Dino eggs are dancing, All around the town
Dance them on your shoulders, Dance them on your head
Dance them on your knees, And tuck them into bed
Source: adapted from the traditional “Tommy Thumbs”

dino eggs up thumbnail, with a graphic of three spotted dino eggs, the middle of which has a smiling baby dinosaur peeking out. click the image to download a non-branded PDF

I wonder what kind of dinosaur is inside my egg? I guess I’ll just have to wait until it hatches.
Shaker Rhyme: Inside Her Eggshell (TT)
Inside her egg shell, white and round
Baby dinosaur is safe and sound
But she wants to come out into the light
So she pushes and shoves with all her might
Her shell soon cracks and creaks and pops
One big jump and out she pops!
Source: Yogibrarian

inside her eggshell thumbnail, with a graphic of a green cartoon dinosaur sitting in a cracked egg, with the top half of the egg on its head. click the image to download a non-branded PDF

Shaker Rhyme: Egg So Quiet (TT) (TB) (FT)
Egg so quiet , Egg so still (keep shaker still)
Will it hatch?
Yes, it will! (shake hard!)
Source: Storytime in the Stacks

egg so quiet thumbnail, with a graphic of a white egg with cracks around its middle. click the image to download a non-branded PDF

Shaker/Recorded Song: We Are the Dinosaurs (TT) (TB) (FT)
Source: The Laurie Berkner Band, from the album: “Whaddya Think of That?”

we are the dinosaurs thumbnail, with a graphic of the Ben Clanton dinosaur illustration from the We Are The Dinosaurs book. The lyrics of only the chorus are pictured. click the image to download a non-branded PDF

Action Song: Zoom, Zoom, Zoom!* (TT) (TB) (FT)

Craft: Dinosaur Parade Headband (TB) (FT)
Our library has these four dinosaur dies for our die cutter, which makes this an easy craft for me. The bands are made by cutting a piece of 9 x 12″ construction paper in quarters, and each band is made from two strips stapled together. The kids glued dinos on and grownups stapled the bands together to fit. Whenever we do a headband, I remind grownups to keep the smooth side of the staples on the inside so hair doesn’t get caught.

I made sure to put out my dinosaur manipulative: Clothespin Stegasauruses. I talk more about making these at this post from 2022.

Download a template for the Clothespin Stegosaurus here!

Play manipulative with four spikeless stegosaurus shapes, each a different color and with numbers written on their backs. The yellow one has six clothespins attached, while green, blue, and red show only the numbers, with a bowl of color-coded clothespins sitting next to them. Green has 3, blue has 4, red has 5, and yellow has 6.

Goodbye Song: See You Later Alligator* (TT) (TB) (FT)

Other books I had available for families to browse (and may work for you on this theme)
Hello Dinosaurs! – Joan Holub & Chris Dickason
Bones, Bones, Dinosaur Bones – Byron Barton
Iamasaurus – Anne Ylvisaker & Mark Hoffmann
Have You Seen My Invisible Dinosaur? – Helen Yoon
We Are the Dinosaurs – Laurie Berkner & Ben Clanton
What the Dinosaurs Did Last Night – Refe & Susan Tuma
One-osaurus, Two-osaurus – Kim Norman & Pierre Collet-Derby
Crunch, the Shy Dinosaur – Cirocco Dunlap & Greg Pizzoli
Old MacDino Had a Farm – Becky Davies & Ben Whitehouse
Goldilocks and the Three Dinosaurs – Mo Willems

This storytime was presented in-person on 11/11, 11/12, 11/13, & 11/14/24.

Storytime Handout:

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

**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