Tag: favorites

Oof, it’s been awhile… (Cue the Critical Role crew) It’s been a busy couple of weeks, but I’ll catch up!

I’d done a version of a “Favorites” theme before as a virtual-only program, and transforming it into something that worked for live in-person sessions wasn’t too difficult, but took a little thought. For one, I had a lot of favorite songs and rhymes I wanted to incorporate, more than before. I also was worried about the “voting” aspect – with quite a few kids, I didn’t want to have votes for several different things and then I would have to choose anyway.

So instead, I decided to incorporate an element of chance with a foam six-sided die. I split my favorite rhyme and song selections into groups of six. They seemed to naturally fall into groups of fingerplays, action songs, some scarf songs, and ukulele songs. I added a couple here or there, took a few off the list, and that was it for the planning. For books, I looked at my Goodreads to find my top rated picture books from the last couple of years. It was remarkably quick to plan. (Proponents of themeless storytimes may be thinking – “That’s what I do every week!”)

There was an element of visuals that took a little more work. I always print out the words to our songs and rhymes on an 11×17″ sheet and flip them as we move through storytime. For visual interest, I include a little icon or picture on almost every page. To help make the selections, I printed and laminated the icon from all the songs to put up on the board under the numbers 1-6. That way the group (and I) had a visual cue as to which song corresponded with each die roll. My stack of song sheets was a lot larger than usual, but it worked just fine.

This was a lot of fun. My songs consisted of some favorites that everyone knew – Two Little Blackbirds, I’m a Little Teapot, Wheels on the Bus – but I also explained that some of them were favorites of mine that they may not have heard before. Some just never fit with my previous themes. That mix of familiar and unfamiliar seemed to add some excitement.

Early Literacy Tip: Talking with your children, especially as you share books, is one of the best ways to develop your children’s vocabulary. In books they see things they might not otherwise see, like different kinds of animals. Take advantage of expanding their vocabulary by talking with them about the pictures in books.

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

Warm Up Song: Wake Up, Feet* (TT) (TB) (FT)
This is a repeated song that everyone seems to enjoy. I always begin and end with feet and tummies, but find two other body parts to wiggle in the middle. This week was elbows and ears.

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

Rhyme: This is Big, Big, Big* (FT)

Intro: Today I wanted to do some of my favorite storytime songs, rhymes and books. Some might be new to you, but some might be your favorites, too! I have so many favorites, I picked too many, so we are going to get some help in what we do today!

For each group of songs, I put up the icons and said the titles. If I got a lot of “Little Teapot!” just from that, I’d make that one of our choices. Otherwise, we rolled the foam die to decide (no repeats!)
Fingerplay: Let the dice or popular consensus choose 2 from list:
1. Five Plump Peas (FT)
2. Two Little Blackbirds
3. I’m a Little Teapot (TT) (TB)
4. Slowly, Slowly
5. Hickory Dickory Dock (TT)
6. Here is the Beehive (TB) (FT)

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

Two Little Blackbirds
Two little blackbirds (pointer fingers up)
Sitting on a hill
One named Jack (wiggle one finger)
One named Jill (wiggle the other finger)
Fly away, Jack (first finger hides behind back)
Fly away, Jill (second finger hides behind back)
Come back, Jack (first finger returns)
Come back, Jill (second finger returns)
Source: traditional

I’m a Little Teapot
I’m a little teapot, Short and stout
Here is my handle (crook one hand to hip)
Here is my spout (hold other hand out to side)
When I get all steamed up then I shout:
“Tip me over and pour me out!” (tilt body to the side of the spout)
Source: traditional

Slowly, Slowly
(fist with thumb sticking out is “snail,” which crawls slowly up one arm, then the other)
Slowly, slowly, very slowly creeps the garden snail
Slowly, slowly, very slowly up the garden rail

(fingers wiggle up one arm then the other quickly, then tickle under the chin)
Quickly, quickly, very quickly runs the little mouse
Quickly, quickly very quickly ‘Round about the house
Source: Jbrary

Hickory Dickory Dock
Hickory, dickory dock
The mouse ran up the clock (fingers scurry up arm)
The clock struck one (pause and clap once)
The mouse ran down (fingers scurry down arm)
Hickory dickory dock

…2, the mouse said, “boo!” (hands splay out)
…3, the mouse said, “whee!” (arms go wide)
…4, the mouse said, “no more!” (shake finger)
Source: Jbrary

Here is the Beehive
Here is the beehive (make fist)
But where are all the bees? 
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

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

For each group, I gave them a choice between two of the four that I chose for the week, and they voted. Of the four, only Mel Fell was not chosen. All were fun, but I think Animals Go Vroom! got the best response!
Read: Animals Go Vroom! by Abi Cushman (TT)
Read: Strollercoaster by Matt Ringler, Raúl the Third, Elaine Bay (TB)
Read: Just In Case You Want to Fly by Julie Fogliano & Christian Robinson (FT)
Read: Mel Fell by Corey R. Tabor

Action Song: Let the dice or popular consensus choose 2 from list:
1. All the Fish (TT)
2. The Old Gray Cat (FT)
3. Five Coyotes
4. Hippopotamus on the City Bus (FT)
5. My Dog Rags (TB)
6. Bananas Unite! (TT) (TB)

All the Fish
All the fish are swimming in the water (hands zig zag in front)
Swimming in the water, Swimming in the water
All the fish are swimming in the water
Bubble, bubble, bubble, …SPLASH!
(both hands corkscrew upwards, then clap together)

All the ducks are quacking… (hand opens and closes like a duck)
All the frogs are jumping… (jump!)
All the kids are splashing… (slap hands downward as if splashing)
Source: Caspar Babypants, from the album I Found You

The Old Gray Cat
The old gray cat is sleeping,
Sleeping, sleeping (cradle head in hands)
The old gray cat is sleeping
In the house (hands join together above head)

The little mice are creeping… (tiptoe and hands “paw” forward)
The little mice are nibbling… (hands come to mouth)
The old gray cat is creeping… (hands “stalk” forward)
The little mice are hiding… (hide face with hands)
So the old gray cat is sleeping… (cradle head in hands)
Source: King County (WA) Library System

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

Hippo on the Bus
(bounce or slap thighs rhythmically until the last line of each verse)
A hip, a hip, a hippopotamus
Got on, got on, got on a city bus
And all, and all, and all the people said,
“You’re squishing us!” (squish face or hug baby)

A cow, a cow, a cow got on a bus
Yes, a cow, a cow, a cow got on the bus
And all, and all, and all the people said,
“Mooooove over!” (lean far to one side)

A snake…“Sssssssssit down!” (motion hand down or fall thru knees)
A sheep…“Baaaack up!” (lean far back)
Source: Jbrary

My Dog Rags
I have a dog and his name is Rags
He eats so much that his tummy sags (arms circle in front of tummy)
His ears flip flop and his tail wig wags (flop hands up and down by ears, then wiggle bottom)
And when he walks, he goes zig zag! (zig zag hands together)

(repeat motions above)
He goes flip flop, wig wag, (pause) zig zag (x3)
I love Rags and he loves me! (hug self)
Source: Jbrary

Bananas Unite
Bananas……unite! (arms meet and extend above head)
Peel bananas, peel, peel bananas (x2) (one arm opens to the side, then the other)
Chop bananas, chop chop bananas (x2) (one hand chops across other palm)
Mash bananas, mash mash bananas (x2) (palms mash together)
Eat bananas, eat, eat bananas (x2) (bring hands to mouth)
Goooooooooo BANANAS! (wild arms)
Source: Jbrary

These were clear favorites in every class, so we chose the same songs this grouping!
Action Song 2: Let the dice or popular consensus choose 2 from list:
1. The Elevator Song
2. The Wheels on the Bus (TT) (TB) (FT)
3. A Smooth Road
4. Head, Shoulders, Knees, and Toes
5. Tick, Tock
6. Zoom, Zoom, Zoom (TT) (TB) (FT)

Elevator Song
Oh, the city is great and the city is grand!
There’s a whole lot of people (hands go wide)
On a little piece of land (hands come together)
And we live way up on the 57th floor (point up)
And this is what we do when we go out the door: (point out)

(either lift baby up and down, or reach tall and crouch down)
We take the elevator up and the elevator down,
Take the elevator up, take the elevator down
Take the elevator up and the elevator down
And we turn around (spin in a circle)
Source: Jbrary

I usually only do 3 or 4 total verses for this – sometimes there are favorites so I’ll ask what else the bus does.
Wheels on the Bus
The wheels on the bus go 
Round and round, round and round, round and round (fists circle)
The wheels on the bus go round and round
All through the town!

The wipers on the bus go Swish, swish, swish… (arms pivot back and forth)
The doors on the bus Open and shut… (arms move apart and together)
The horn on the bus goes Beep, beep, beep… (hand mimes pushing a button)
The driver on the bus says “Move on back”… (cock thumb back to shoulder)
The people on the bus go Up and down… (bounce body up and down)
The baby on the bus says “Wah, wah, wah”… (fists wring at eyes)
The parents on the bus say “Shh, shh, shh”… (lift forefinger to lips)
Source: traditional

A Smooth Road
A smooth road! (repeat x4) (slowly, and sway baby gently)
A bumpy road! (x4) (a little faster, bouncing gently up and down)
A rough road! (x4) (even faster, bouncing and adding erratic swaying)
Oh, no! A hole! (tip over, lift up, and/or let them fall safely through your knees)
Source: Jbrary

Head, Shoulders, Knees, and Toes
(touch each body part as it’s mentioned)
Head, shoulders, knees, and toes, Knees and toes!
Head, shoulders, knees, and toes, Knees and toes
Eyes and ears and a mouth and nose,
Head, shoulders, knees, and toes, Knees and toes! (can repeat, singing faster)
Source: traditional

Tick, Tock, Tick Tock
Tick tock, tick tock (bounce or sway baby on lap)
I’m a little cuckoo clock
tick tock tick tock
Now I’m striking one o’clock: cuckoo! (lift on each cuckoo)
(repeat, counting up)
Source: Jbrary

Zoom, Zoom, Zoom
(rhythmically slide hands past each other)
Zoom, zoom, zoom, we’re going to the moon
Zoom, zoom, zoom, we’re going to the moon
If you’d like to take a trip (fingers walk up opposite arm)
climb aboard my rocket ship (repeat on other arm)
Zoom zoom zoom, we’re going to the moon
In 5…4…3…2…1…BLAST OFF!
(count on hands, crouch lower and lower, then jump, or lift baby)
Source: Jbrary

Scarf Songs: Let the dice or popular consensus choose 3-4 from list:
1. Jack in the Box (TT) (TB) (FT)
2. Popcorn Kernels (TT) (TB) (FT)
3. Peek a Boo
4. Shake it to the East (TB) (FT)
5. One Bright Scarf (TT)
6. Row Your Boat (TT) (TB) (FT)

Jack in the Box
(scrunch scarf up in one fist)
Jack in the box (shake fist in rhythm with rhyme)
Sits so still
Will he come out?
Yes, he will! (pull scarf out from fist and wave)
Source: Jbrary

Popcorn Kernels
(tune of Frère Jacques)
Popcorn kernels, popcorn kernels (wave scarf overhead)
In the pot, in the pot (bunch up in fist)
Shake them, shake them, shake them / shake them, shake them, shake them (shake fists)
‘Til they POP, ‘til they POP (toss scarves up)
Source: Jbrary

Peekaboo
(tune of Frère Jacques)
Peek-a-boo, peek-a-boo,
I see you, I see you (alternately hide face and reveal with scarf)
I see your button nose, I see your tiny toes (touch nose and toes)
I see you! Peek-a-boo!
Source: Jbrary

Shake it to the East
Shake it to the east (shake scarf to one side)
Shake it to the west (then to the other)
Shake it all around and (shake in a circle)
Then you take a rest (clasp hands, stilling scarf)

Shake your scarves up
Shake your scarves down
Shake it, shake it, shake it, and
Then you settle down
Source: Jbrary

One Bright Scarf
One bright scarf waiting for the wind to blow (wave scarf)
Toss it up high, and wave it down low
Wiggle it fast, and wiggle it slow (hide the scarf behind back, under shirt, etc)
Hey! Where did it go? (bring out) Here it is!
Source: Jbrary

Row, Row, Row Your Boat
Row, row, row your boat (hold both ends of scarf across body, then move forward and back like oars)
Gently down the stream
Merrily, merrily, merrily, merrily (wave scarf)
Life is but a dream! 

Rock, rock, rock your boat (rock body and move scarf up and down)
Gently down the stream
If you see a crocodile
Don’t forget to SCREAM! (Aaah!) (wave scarf wildly)

Row, row, row your boat
Gently to the shore
If you see a lion there
Don’t forget to ROAR! (Grrrrr!) (wave scarf while making claws)
Source: traditional (mostly)

I let them keep their scarves to dance with during our last song.
Ukulele/Dancing Songs: Let the dice or popular consensus choose 1 from list:
1. Mr. Sun
2. Apples & Bananas (TT) (TB)
3. Down By the Bay
4. Shake My Sillies Out (FT)
5. How Much is that Doggie in the Window?
6. You Are My Sunshine

For chord and lyric song sheets to any of these songs, check out the Ukulele Song Sheet page!

Mr. Sun
Oh, Mr. Sun, Sun, Mr. Golden Sun
Please shine down on me
Oh, Mr. Sun, Sun, Mr. Golden Sun
Hiding behind a tree
These little children are asking you
To please come out so we can play with you
Oh, Mr. Sun, Sun, Mr. Golden Sun
Please shine down on me
Source: Raffi, from the album Singable Songs for the Very Young

Apples and Bananas
(begin with the correct pronunciation, then change the long vowel sounds for each verse to a, e, i, o, and u)
I like to eat, eat, eat apples and bananas
I like to eat, eat, eat apples and bananas

…ate ayples and ba-nay-nays
…eet eeples and ba-nee-nees
…ite iples and ba-ni-nis
…ote oples and ba-no-nos
…ute uples and ba-nu-nus
Source: Raffi, from the album One Light, One Sun

Down by the Bay
Down by the bay, Where the watermelons grow
Back to my home, I dare not go
For if I do, my mother will say:
“Did you ever see a whale with a polka dot tail, 
Down by the bay?”

…goose kissing a moose…
…fly wearing a tie…
…bear combing his hair…
…see llamas eating pajamas…
…have a time you couldn’t make a rhyme…
Source: Raffi, from the album Singable Songs for the Very Young

I decided to change “crazies” to “kookies” to help destigmatize mental health issues.
Shake My Sillies Out
I gotta shake, shake, shake my sillies out
Shake, shake, shake my sillies out
Shake, shake, shake my sillies out
And wiggle my waggles away!

I gotta clap, clap, clap my kookies out…
I gotta jump, jump, jump my jiggles out…
I gotta stretch, stretch, stretch my stretchies out…
I gotta yawn, yawn, yawn my sleepies out…
Source: Raffi, from the album Raffi in Concert with the Rise and Shine Band

How Much is that Doggie in the Window?
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: traditional

You Are My Sunshine
You are my sunshine, My only sunshine
You make me happy When skies are gray
You’ll never know, dear, How much I love you
Please don’t take My sunshine away
Source: traditional

Craft: My Favorites Coloring Sheet (TB) (FT)
Last week’s craft, the puffy snow paint, was pretty involved, so it was really lovely (on my end) to just print out some pages and put them out with our crayon bins. The kids didn’t complain. This is a sheet I created using Canva for the last Favorites session (at a different library), so I just reused it. You can download a copy here.

Play Time
The toddlers have two laundry baskets of baby toys – rattles and cars, sorters and stackers, toy phones and spinners. For the older kids, I have foam blocks, soft food toys, puzzles, and a few other items that are a little more sophisticated than the baby toys. For Family Time, I gauge the overall age of the group and put out what seems right for them. We play for 5-10 minutes at the most, then I ring the bell and ask the kids to help me clean up. I think the clean up bit is good practice for them!

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

Goodbye Rhyme: Tickle the Stars* (TT) (TB) (FT)

Other books I had available for families to browse (for this theme, just choose your favorites!)
Red House, Tree House, Little Bitty Brown Mouse – Jane Godwin & Blanca Gómez
Bathe the Cat – Alice B McGinty & David Roberts
I Love You Because I Love You – Mượn Thị Văn & Jessica Love
Off-Limits – Helen Yoon
Pokko and the Drum – Matthew Forsythe
You Matter – Christian Robinson
Nanette’s Baguette – Mo Willems
Everybody in the Red Brick Building – Anne Wynter & Oge Mora
The Day You Begin – Jacqueline Woodson & Rafael López
Thank You, Omu! – Oge Mora
Crash, Splash, or Moo! – Bob Shea
Lulil & the Language of Tea – Andrea Wang & Hyewon Yum
Crown – Derrick Barnes & Gordon C. James
We Sang You Home – Richard Van Camp & Julie Flett
Mr. Fuzzbuster Knows He’s the Favorite – Stacey McAnulty & Edward Hemingway
Vroom! – Barbara McClintock

This storytime was presented in-person on 1/16, 1/17, & 1/18/23.

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