feelings – Storytime with Ms. Emily Library

book covers for my heart fills with happiness, may there always be sunshine, and the thank you book

Storytime: Feeling Thankful (2025)

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

It’s the end of November, so that means it’s time for the annual “Feeling Thankful” theme! I try not to repeat themes more than every 2 or 3 years, but this one is close to my heart and I’ve done it every year since 2019. (I wasn’t blogging that year, so I don’t have a post for that one!) It’s fun but also a storytime that promotes mindfulness and a bit of a slowing down to think and feel and appreciate.

Every year I tweak the program just a bit 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 introduced the song and book “May There Always Be Sunshine” by Jim Gill. I had the pleasure of attending a workshop with him in person a few months ago and it hit me that this is a perfect song for feeling thankful. I was even inspired to create a new craft based on it and it was a big hit.

This is also a great opportunity for me to slow down and say THANK YOU 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 find my footing in storytime 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.

my heart fills with happiness book cover, featuring an indigenous girl from the top down looking up, with two braids and a flared circular flowered skirt around her.

may there always be sunshine book cover, showing a stylized yellow sun with big cheeks and chin on a light blue background

the thank you book cover, with a picture of a light skinned girl with red hair giving a taller Black boy a flower. flowers, rainbows, a sun, and two blackbirds are in the background.

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*

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*
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*

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: 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?
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*

I’ve shared books by Monique Gray Smith in the past, but this was a new-to-me title. It’s perfect for feeling thankful, because it describes the feeling of gratitude – your heart fills with happiness! It also is short and simple and references things that can make the readaloud more interactive. “Let’s imagine the scent of our favorite thing baking – can you breathe in deep and imagine it?“ It’s also great to share that both the author and the illustrator are indigenous (I read their tribal heritages from the bio at the back), and that November is Native American Heritage Month.
Read: My Heart Fills with Happiness by Monique Gray Smith & Julie Flett

This was my backup title, but I didn’t end up using it this year. It’s 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

the thank you book cover, with a picture of a light skinned girl with red hair giving a taller Black boy a flower. flowers, rainbows, stars, a sun, and two blackbirds are in the background.

I’m grateful for my body and the senses that I use to experience the world. Here’s a rhyme about 4 of the 5 senses. (AFTER – which senses did we talk about?)
I learned this one from my home library’s storytime. I loved that so many of the pages in My Heart Fills with Happiness were tied to the senses.
Action Rhyme: Two Little Eyes
Two little eyes to look around
Two little ears to hear a sound
One little nose to smell what’s sweet
One little mouth that likes to eat!
Source: Ms Shelby & Ms Robin at Indy PL
Find it online at King County (WA) Library System

two little eyes thumbnail, with a graphic of four children - a white boy with brown hair holding up a magnifying glass, a girl with black hair and vitiligo listening to earphones, a Black boy smelling a flower, and a white girl with blonde hair eating broccoli. click the image to download a non-branded PDF

Which of the senses did we miss talking about? Touch! Here’s a tickle rhyme to engage our sense of touch! I’m thankful for the bees that pollinate our plants and make us honey
Tickle Rhyme: Here Is the Beehive
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
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
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.
Scarf Song: Popcorn Kernels
(tune of “Frère Jacques”)
Popcorn kernels, popcorn kernels (wave scarves overhead)
In the pot, in the pot (bunch up scarf in your fist)
Shake them, shake them, shake them!
Shake them, shake them, shake them! (shake)
‘Til they POP! ‘Til they POP! (toss scarves up into the air)
Source: Jbrary

popcorn kernels thumbnail, with a photograph of two popped popcorn kernels. 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
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. I love the recorded version so I usually let Raffi do the singing.) 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 is an old song – originally in Russian, and it’s very simple, just four lines. But children’s musician Jim Gill started singing it. When he performs it for a group of kids, he always asks them what they’d always want there to be. He collected his favorites and made a book from them! [show book and a few of the pages] So take a moment and think about what you are thankful for and that you want there to always be.
We sang the original four lines, then I took suggestions. No suggestion too silly or wrong! We were thankful for Ariel, Rapunzel, trucks, cats, naptime (from an adult!), and more. I finished the last line by saying “storytime” and I got lots of nods and yeses from the grownups! A note on the songsheet – I changed the key to fit my voice better (always a good thing to do to make you feel comfortable!)
Recorded or Ukulele Song: May There Always Be Sunshine
May there always be sunshine
May there always be blue skies
May there always be family
May there always be me
Insert the things you are grateful for!
Source: Jim Gill, from the album “Jim Gill Sings the Sneezing Song and Other Contagious Tunes”

Get a downloadable ukulele songsheet for “May There Always Be Sunshine” here!

thumbnail for may there always be sunshine ukulele songsheet

may there always be sunshine thumbnail, with a graphic of a smiling yellow sun with orange rays. click the image to download a non-branded PDF

Action Song: Zoom, Zoom, Zoom!*

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

Craft: May There Always Be… Booklet
Another idea I got from Jim Gill’s workshop was to create a craft for kids to create their own “May There Always Be…” book. I used a technique I learned from zines to fold a 11″x17″ sheet of tabloid paper into an eight-page book, and printed a front, back, and “may there always be” on each inside page. I branded mine to my library, but I made an unbranded version that you can download as well! The trick with folding is to make your folds as precise and as sharp as you can. I use a bone folding tool to help. See the helpful graphic below for help folding and cutting from Anna Brones blog (where she has a very nice intro to zines and how to create them).

Download a PDF of the booklet here!

May there always be booklet craft - with the words "may there always be" at the top, followed by a colored-in outline of a smiling sun. below are the words "a book of thankfulness by:" and a line filled in by Emily in crayon.

Visual guide to folding a zine - our craft booklet. involves folding the paper into eighths, cutting a slit along the middle four sections, and folding it into the booklet.

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*

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)
Thank a Farmer – Maria Gianferrari & Monica Mikai
Thank You, Everything – Icinori & Emilie Robert Wong
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 11/19 & 11/20/25.

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

little hoo has the flu and llama home with mama book covers

Storytime: Feeling Sick and Feeling Better

Posted on March 14, 2025March 14, 2025 by msemilylibrary

It is an unfortunate truth that we all get sick sometimes. Kids especially, who are still building their immune systems, get sick a lot! So although it isn’t a “fun” topic, it’s definitely a relevant one for the storytime crowd. As is often the case, real life ironically (in the Alanis sense) reared its head and I got really sick with the Flu A strain right after this week of programs! It was not fun, but I did, eventually, get to feeling better.

little hoo has the flu book cover, showing an owl holding a thermometer and whose beak area is reddened.

llama llama home with mama book cover, with a sick in bed llama with mama feeling his forehead.

Early Literacy Tip: Children love being able to identify animals and imitate the sounds they make. Identifying animals, matching sounds with an animal puppet or picture, and imitating animal sounds build children’s knowledge of the world around them. Even children who are not yet talking can make a cow sound: Moo! -adapted from The Early Literacy Kit: A Handbook and Tip Cards by Betsy Diamant-Cohen & Saroj Ghoting

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: Has anyone felt sick before? It’s not fun, but it does happen to everyone at some point or another. What does it feel like in our body when we’re sick? We may: feel pain, have an upset stomach, coughing, sneezing, sore throat, tired. The good thing to remember about being sick is that eventually we get better! Some things that make us feel better: visiting the doctor, taking medicine, getting plenty of rest, drinking water, and lots of hugs and kisses.

Here’s a rhyme about feeling sick.
Action Rhyme: I’ve Got a Cold (TT) (TB) (FT)
I’ve got a cold
My nose can’t smell (touch nose)
My eyes are red (touch by eyes)
I don’t feel well (hand to forehead or tummy)
So I’ll drink my juice (pretend to drink)
And go to bed… (fold hands under head)
Until my nose feels better (touch nose)
And so does my head! (touch head)
Source: Handley (VA) Regional Library System

I've got a cold thumbnail, with a graphic of a light skinned girl with a red nose and pained expression. she has a thermometer in her mouth, is wearing a scarf, and hugging her body as if cold. click the image to download a non-branded PDF

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

This isn’t the most sophisticated publishing (it kind of looks self-published), but it’s actually a good one for storytime in that it’s straightforward and simple, and did a good job of talking about feeling sick as well as friends helping to cheer you up with flowers and a card, which related to our craft today. We actually have about six Little Hoo books on early experiences.
Read: Little Hoo Has the Flu by Brenda Ponnay (TT) (FT)

Everyone seems to like Llama Llama books. This one worked okay, but I felt like the group got a antsy toward the end.
Read: Llama Llama Home With Mama by Anna Dewdney (TB)

When we are sick, our germs can sometimes make other people sick. There are a few things we can do to avoid that! Stay home when we have a fever. Wash our hands. Cover our mouth!
The original rhyme had you using a tissue or your hand – I updated to the better practice of using the crook of your elbow. We practiced coughing into our elbows before starting the rhyme.
Action Rhyme: When You Cough (TT) (TB) (FT)
When you cough or when you sneeze
Will you think of others, please?
Use a tissue or your elbow
So on your friends your germs won’t go now – Ah-choo!
Source: adapted from SurLaLuneFairyTales.com

When you cough thumbnail, with a graphic of a light skinned girl holding a tissue to her nose, and a dark skinned boy coughing into his elbow. click the image to download a non-branded PDF

Oh, no! Someone forgot to cover their mouth and now everyone on the farm has a cold!
I have a farm flannel set, so put the farmer out from there, but used puppets for the other verses.
Puppet Rhyme: Animal Sneezes (TT) (TB) (FT)
Farmer’s nose tingles,
Farmer’s nose twitches,
Farmer is going to sneeze!
Ah-choo, ah-choo, ah-choo!

Repeat, with animal noises:
Oh, no! Look at cow – cow’s nose wiggling…
Cow: moo-choo
Chicken: bok-choo
Pig: oink-choo
Duck: quack-choo
Source: Handley (VA) Regional Library System

photo of farmer flannelboard piece surrounded by four farm animal puppets: cow, chicken, pig, and duck.

animal sneezes thumbnail, with a graphic of a yellow chick pictured twice, once at the inhale of a sneeze ("ah"), and once at the exhale ("choo"). click the image to download a non-branded PDF

The other thing to do both to keep others from getting sick AND to prevent us from getting sick in the first place is to wash our hands. Germs are tiny, so tiny we can’t see them! So we need three things to wash our hands well – soap, water, and time. Let’s sing through this song twice so there’s enough time to get all the germs. Okay, everyone get a some soap on your hands (pretend to pump soap). Now turn on the water! (pretend to twist knob)
I sing this one slow so you can highlight each part of the hand as it’s sung.
Action Song: Wash Your Hands (TT) (TB) (FT)
(tune of Row Your Boat)
Wash, wash, wash your hands,
Get them nice and clean
Wash the tops and wash below,
And wash them in between

Scrub, scrub, scrub your hands,
Fingernails and thumbs
Wrists and palms and pinky too,
Wash them every one!
Source: Waukee (IA) Public Library

Wash your hands thumbnail, with a graphic of a light skinned pair of hands holding soap on the left and a dark skinned pair of hands washing between fingers on the right. click the image to download a non-branded PDF

A nice bowl of soup always makes me feel better when I’m sick.
I cut this one for time during the last session.
Action Song: The Soup Is Boiling Up (TT) (TB)
(tune of The Farmer in the Dell)
The soup is boiling up (hands corkscrew up)
The soup is boiling up
Stir it slow, around we go (stir)
The soup is boiling up
What goes in soup? – noodles, chicken, lentils, celery, carrots, etc
Source: Jbrary

the soup is boiling up thumbnail, with a graphic of a silhouetted soup pot with lid ajar showing bubbles underneath. click the image to download a non-branded PDF

I saw a pin for the inspiration of this rhyme, but rewrote all but the first two lines to change it from enjoying popsicles in the summertime to enjoying them when you’re sick. The last two lines helped me use my “popsicle girl” flannel, which I love but rarely have the opportunity to use.
And when my throat is sore, a popsicle feels so nice!
Flannel Rhyme: Popsicles (TT) (TB) (FT)
Popsicles, popsicles taste so sweet
Popsicles, popsicles hard to beat
Whenever my throat feels sore and sick
A cool lime popsicle does the trick
Look in the mirror, give a holler
My tongue has changed to a different color! GREEN!
What other flavors and colors do popsicles come in?
Source: original, inspired by First Grade Wow

photo of popsicle girl flannelboard set. includes a dark skinned girl with afro puffs and a large smile on her face, as well as 7 popsicles and a coordinating color tongue: orange, yellow, green, blue, purple, red, and rainbow.

popsicles thumbnail, with a graphic of three popsicles - green, red, purple. click the image to download a non-branded PDF

Time to get our shaker eggs out! Let’s practice a bit with this song.
Shaker Song: Shake Your Shaker (TT) (TB) (FT)
(tune of Grand Old Duke of York)
You shake your shaker high
You shake your shaker low
You shake your shaker fast, fast, fast
And then you shake it slow
Source: Harris County (TX) Public Library

shake your shaker thumbnail, with a graphic of three shaker eggs: blue, purple, and yellow. click the image to download a non-branded PDF

Sometimes we feel bad when we aren’t sick, but we’ve fallen down & hurt ourselves.
Easy enough to adapt this rhyme for shakers since it has a rhythm. Before starting, I asked everyone to decide where their boo-boo was on their body so they could point to it during the rhyme.
Shaker Rhyme: Boo-Boo (TT) (TB) (FT)
One, two, I’ve got a boo-boo
Three, four Oh, it’s sore!
Five, six Blow it a kiss
Seven, eight, Put the bandage on straight
Nine, ten, Now it’s better again!
Source: North Olympic (WA) Library System

boo boo thumbnail, with a graphic of an adhesive bandage with a blue heart in the middle. click the image to download a non-branded PDF

All the rest, soup, and popsicles are making me feel so much better! Let’s shake our sickies out!
Recorded Song: Shake My Sillies (Sickies) Out (TT) (TB) (FT)
Source: Raffi, from the album In Concert with the Rise and Shine Band

I also have this one as a ukulele songsheet. Download it here!

shake my sillies out ukulele songsheet thumbnail

shake my sillies out thumbnail, with a graphic of two children dancing. click the image to download a non-branded PDF

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

Craft: Get Well Soon Cards (TB) (FT)
A super easy craft. I printed cards with a dotted-line font saying “Get Well Soon” on cardstock and folded to a card. Then provided crayons, foam stickers, and band-aid bandages to decorate however they wanted.

Download the Get Well Soon Card template.

get well soon card craft, showing the card decorated with hearts and flower foam stickers with band aid bandages across them.

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)
Doctor Maisy – Lucy Cousins
Leo Gets a Checkup – Anna McQuinn & Ruth Hearson
Scaredy Squirrel Visits the Doctor – Melanie Watt
Germs Make Me Sick! – Melvin Berger & Marylin Hafner
My Mommy Medicine – Edwidge Danticat & Shannon Wright
A Bad Case of Stripes – David Shannon
Bear Feels Sick – Karma Wilson & Jane Chapman
How Do Dinosaurs Get Well Soon – Jane Yolen & Mark Teague
A Sick Day for Amos McGee – Philip C Stead & Erin E Stead
The Flea’s Sneeze – Lynn Downey & Karla Firehammer

This storytime was presented in-person on 2/24, 2/25, & 2/26/25.

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: 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.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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: All My Feelings

Posted on May 10, 2024May 10, 2024 by msemilylibrary

Let’s talk feelings! I think a lot of adults (myself included) were taught that sad or angry feelings are “bad” and we should try not to feel them, or to “get over” them as soon as possible. Research is showing that this attitude is not the healthiest. All feelings are valid and they actually give us important information about ourselves and help us process the world and our place in it. (If you’re interested in reading more, I recommend the book Permission to Feel by Marc A. Brackett.)

All this to say, I hope this generation of kids gets permission to be more in tune with their feelings, learning strategies to process them and not simply hide or bottle them up. That starts with us normalizing talking about them, being able to identify them in yourself and others, and teaching ways to process without hurting yourself or others. I can’t say that this storytime is going to solve all the problems, but I hope it was one small step in the right direction.

See another version of this theme from 2020.

Early Literacy Tip: Grown-ups, talking about both our own feelings and other people’s feelings is so important! Research shows that kids with emotional intelligence do better in school and life because they can self-regulate and build strong relationships. When you read books, talk about how the characters are feeling and make connections. This helps your child build the vocabulary they need to better recognize their own feelings and communicate with you.
I’m trying to be better about sourcing my early lit tips, at least here on the blog. This one came whole cloth from Jessica at Storytime in the Stacks, who always includes excellent early lit/early development tips!

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) (FT)

Intro: Today we are talking about our feelings! Our feelings help us process the world around us. It’s okay to feel all the feelings. What are the names of some feelings?

Activity: Identify Feelings (TT) (TB) (FT)
Show emotions on cartoon faces, and/or photos of kids’ faces. What might they be feeling? Sometimes it’s hard to tell what others are feeling. We can share our feelings to help others understand.
(OPTIONAL – Read: I Feel by Juana Medina)
I used the cartoon feelings faces from (now defunct) Sunflower Storytime, as well as feelings cards of photographs of actual kids that I put together from Canva images. I like that some of them are not cut and dried – what I labeled as “excited” could be read as “happy.” The tired yawning baby could be interpreted as crying. Feelings aren’t always easy to read! I didn’t use the Juana Medina book, but it is another good resource with lots of feelings and great illustrations of diverse kids.

Download the Sunflower Storytime Feelings Faces (6 emotions)

Download Feelings Cards with photographs (10 emotions, 2 faces each)

Action Rhyme: Feelings (TT) (TB) (FT)
Sometimes on my face you’ll see
How I feel inside of me
A smile means happy, a frown means sad
And when I grit my teeth, I’m mad
When I’m proud I beam and glow
But when I’m shy, my head hangs low
Source: North Olympic (WA) Library System

feelings thumbnail, with a graphic of a star looking proud, a flame looking angry, a tear looking sad, and a laughing smiley face. click the image to download a non-branded PDF

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

Read: Mad, Mad Bear by Kimberly Gee (TT) (FT)
Bear gets very mad, but some breathing, a snack, and a nap help him feel better.

Read: Hooray for Hat! by Brian Won (TB)
This is a good one for interactivity – there are repeated phrases that the whole group can help yell out.

Here’s a silly song about being grumpy. Who looks sleepy? Who looks grumpy?
Flannel Song: Five in the Bed (TT) (TB) (FT)
There were five in a bed, and the little one said (5 fingers up)
“Roll over, roll over” (make rolling motion)
And they all rolled over and one fell out.
There were four in a bed… (continue down to one)

There was one in the bed and the little one said,
(tune of He’s Got the Whole World In His Hands)
“Ahhhhhhhh. I’ve got the whole bed to myself!
I’ve got the whole wide bed to myself!
I’ve got the whole bed to myself,
I’ve got the whole bed to myself! Goodnight!”
Source: traditional

[My friend Rebecca at Oconee County Library cued me in to connecting the songs Five in the Bed and He’s Got the Whole World; I think it’s a brilliant mashup! I made my own copy of Five in the Bed flannel using inspiration from Adventures in Storytime for the faces and Making Learning Fun for the bed. The faces flip to show their sleeping and surprised faces (the little one starts out grumpy)]

five in the bed thumbnail, with a graphic of a small bear in the middle of a big bed, with four larger bears looking surprised off to the side. click the image to download a non-branded PDF

Sometimes when I get hurt, I feel sad or mad or scared.
We clapped and patted in rhythm through most of this.
Rhyme: Boo Boo (TT) (TB) (FT)
One, two, I’ve got a boo-boo
Three, four, oh, it’s sore!
Five, six, blow it a kiss
Seven, eight, put the bandage on straight
Nine, ten, now it’s better again!
Source: North Olympic (WA) Library System

boo boo thumbnail, with a graphic of a bandage with a blue heart on it. click the image to download a non-branded PDF

Breathing can help us feel, and it’s a great way to work through big feelings.
Ukulele Song: Take a Breath (The Self-Reg Song) (TT) (TB) (FT)
Verse 1:
When I’m not doing fine, I keep this in mind
I can take a breath or two
When I want to feel well, I can be still
I can take a breath or two
Breathing in, Breathing out, Breathing in, Breathing out
When I am still, I can be fine, Breathing in and out

Additional verses:
…I can sing a song or two…
…I can move my arms around…

Last verse:
To change how I feel, I keep this in mind
I can take a breath – I can hum a song – I can move my arms – And feel all right.
Source: Raffi, from the album Dog on the Floor

Get a downloadable ukulele songsheet here!

Thumbnail of ukulele songsheet for Take a Breath

We didn’t end up doing this one for any of the sessions.
Whatever we feel, it’s good to remember our grownups love us no matter what.
Action Song: I’ll Hug You
(tune of Farmer in the Dell)
I’ll hug you when you’re sad
I’ll hug you when you’re glad,
I’ll hug you when you’re feeling scared
I’ll hug you when you’re mad
Source: Librionyian

I'll hug you thumbnail, with a graphic of an anthropomorphic heart shape giving itself a hug. click the image to download a non-branded PDF

Let’s shake it out now with some shaker egg songs!
Shaker Song: Shake It to the East (TT) (TB) (FT)
Shake it to the east, Shake it to the west
Shake it all around and Then you take a rest
Shake your shakers up, Shake your shakers down
Shake it, shake it, shake it, and Then you settle down!
Source: Jbrary

shake it to the east thumbnail, with a graphic of three diverse children shaking maracas, and one sitting and reading a book. click the image to download a non-branded PDF

We shook our eggs along with the motions.
Shaker Song: If You’re Happy and You Know It (TT) (TB) (FT)
If you’re happy and you know it shout hooray…
…grumpy…stomp your feet…
…sad…have a cry (boo hoo!)…
…silly…wave your arms…
…surprised…shout “oh my!”…
…scared…cover your eyes…
Source: Rain City Librarian

if you're happy thumbnail, with lyrics. click the image to download a non-branded PDF

I like the live version of this recording best!
Recorded Song: Shake My Sillies Out (TT) (TB) (FT)
Source: Raffi, from the album In Concert with the Rise and Shine Band

I also have this one as a ukulele songsheet. Download it here!

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

Craft: Feelings Flower (TB) (FT)
I looked around for a feelings craft that my little ones could do, but the ones I saw were generally too complex, requiring them to draw faces, or just didn’t fit quite what I wanted. So, finding inspiration in a couple of places, I created my own. The flower concept came from this video from Gru Languages, but they didn’t have a free printable and it involved both drawing faces as well as didn’t include all of the emotions I’d prefer. I also saw a feelings spinning wheel from Super Simple Songs, but again, it was a little more complex. So I created my own flower shape, labeled it with the feelings I wanted, and used the round tokens from Super Simple Songs. That way, the kids just needed to match the right feeling to the right petal (with their grown-up’s help), glue it down, and decorate by coloring. The kids really liked it – the faces were recognizable to them, and they liked how the petals folded in. I mentioned that it might be a good tool for them to use anytime they’re feeling big feelings and they’re having trouble putting them in words. (I did resize and place the Super Simple Songs tokens on a page to maximize how many could be printed without wasting paper, but because this isn’t my IP, I don’t feel comfortable sharing that sheet.)

Download the flower template here.

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

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

Tickle the stars thumbnail, with a graphic of blue and pink stars. 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)
I Feel! – Juana Medina
I’m Sad – Michael Ian Black & Debbie Ridpath Ohi
Grumpy Pants – Claire Messer
How Do You Feel? – Lizzy Rockwell
The Rabbit Listened – Cori Doerrfeld
The Many Colors of Harpreet Singh – Supriya Kelkar & Alea Marley
When Sadness Is at Your Door – Eva Eland
When Sophie Gets Angry-Really, Really Angry – Molly Bang
I Am a Tornado – Drew Beckmeyer
I Want to Be Mad for a While! – Barney Saltzberg

This storytime was presented in-person on 4/29, 4/30, & 5/1/24.

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

Storytime: Feeling Thankful (2023)

Posted on December 1, 2023November 30, 2023 by msemilylibrary

I have generally not repeated storytime themes, (at a single library – I have repeated themes I did at my old job!) EXCEPT for my Feeling Thankful theme, which I’ve done every November since 2019. Every year there are a few tweaks, of course. New books, different songs, but the core is there. This year was not very different – just two new scarf songs and different books.

As I’ve written before, holiday themes don’t feel inclusive to me, and American Thanksgiving has a lot more underlying issues beyond that. But I feel that gratitude and feeling thankful and appreciative are universal, and I look forward to celebrating them each year.

Speaking of – THANK YOU for being a reader. I started this blog to document what I’ve done, not even sure if anyone would see it. I owe so much to other library bloggers and sharers that I’ve always hoped readers would find something of use to them, their libraries, and their patrons. Thanks for reading and for doing the work you do.

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

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

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

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

Rhyme: This is Big, Big, Big* (FT)

Talk: 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.

Lyrics to Where are Three Friends with silhouettes of two hands with thumbs up and two hands showing the ASL "I Love You" sign.

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

I found a new Thank You book this year! This is a board book, so it’s not very big, but it does work for my group. I liked the different ways of saying thank you, both in words and in actions.
Read: The Thank You Book by Danna Smith & Juliana Perdomo (TT) (FT)

This is a fun title, with some unusual things to be thankful for. I am a Spanish learner, so I read the subject for the thanks in Spanish, but not the whole explanation. So for the first page, I read “Para el sol, for the sun that wakes me up…”
Read: Gracias/Thanks by Pat Mora & John Parra (TB)

Gracias mentions bees, but the Thank You Book didn’t. We just glossed over it!
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

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 books.
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

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 the weather, even when it rains!
Scarf Rhyme: Rain on the Green Grass (TT) (TB) (FT)
Rain on the green grass (wave low)
Rain on the trees (wave high)
Rain on the roof (hold over head)
But not on me! (let fall to the floor!)
repeat with Sun, Snow, Leaves
Source: Jbrary

I’m thankful for games with our loved ones!
Scarf 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

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 one fist)
Sits so still
Will he come out?
Yes, he will! (throw scarf in the air)
Source: Jbrary

This flannel was made from the template created by Mel at Mel’s Desk! I go over the lyrics first and add the flannel pieces, then play the song (recorded or ukulele). I encourage kids to snuggle with someone they love. Before or afterwards is a good time to mention today’s early literacy tip, whichever flows more naturally for you.
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

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

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

Craft: Thankful Wreath (TB) (FT)
I used die-cuts from my library’s collection to make the leaves and asked volunteers to cut out the middle of a paper plate, hole punch it and string it with yarn. If you don’t have a die-cutter, you can use these templates for leaves at firstpalette.com. I encouraged families to write what they’re thankful for on the leaves, being sure to mention that not all leaves need to be filled out right away – this can be a craft “in progress” over time. I also mentioned that it might be easier to glue the leaves to the outer side of the plate (curving out) rather than the inner part (curving in) like I did. I had trouble getting my leaves to stick and had to hold them on there for 20-30 seconds.

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

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

Other books I had available for families to browse (and may work for you on this theme)
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, Bees – Toni Yuly
Thank You, Neighbor! – Ruth Chan

This storytime was presented in-person on 11/20, 11/21, & 11/22/23.

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

Summer Storytimes: All Together Now, Part I

Posted on August 4, 2023August 12, 2023 by msemilylibrary

Welcome back to the blog! My library’s Summer Reading Program is officially over, and I am deep into planning the fall. Summer is so busy that I take a break from blogging, but it was a great season, and I’d love to share it with you. I implemented all I learned in the last couple of years doing outdoor programming, and I think it was the best yet, despite worse weather and air quality this year (boo.)

Our library generally uses the theme and graphics from the Collaborative Summer Library Program, or CSLP, a national initiative that helps libraries plan summer programming. This year’s theme was “All Together Now,” with an emphasis on kindness and community. I focused on a different aspect of this each week for seven weeks in June and July. My program themes then were Community, We Work Together, Kindness, Family, Animal Helpers, and Helping Hands. More detail on how these were interpreted below. I also simplified the usual age requirements that I normally have for my indoor programs through the rest of the year. (So, instead of a Toddler Time for 1-2 year olds on Mondays and a Teddy Bear time for 2-3.5s on Tuesdays, I offered Family Time for 0-3.5 Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday.) Siblings are always welcome, and I don’t have a limit to the number of families who can participate, so the programs are open to all.

For each session, we had about 15-20 minutes of storytime rhymes, songs, and a book, then 20 minutes of free play at various sensory stations. We end with bubbles and a goodbye song. Stations are a really great way to promote socializing, practice skills like sharing and being gentle, and allow for unstructured play, which science tells us is so important to learning and development. I added a section of parachute songs weekly, too, which was a treat for everyone. It was easy to do thematically – “A parachute is hard to have fun with by yourself. You need some friends and have to work ‘all together!'”

I also am all about simplicity and repetition over the summer. I have a lot of moving parts, set up and tear down to deal with, so I don’t change a lot in the storytime part and plan everything ahead so I am purely in “execute” mode rather than worrying about planning or learning songs. I changed one song and the book each week, and had a mixture of weekly, rotating, and unique stations. Since so much was the same, I’ll write up the whole summer in two posts: this first one focusing on the storytime half, and the second post focusing on all of the hands-on stations!

And, in addition to being back from hiatus, I finally bit the bullet and bought a domain name and WordPress subscription. Welcome to the ad-free Storytime with Ms. Emily Library experience! Please let me know if anything is wonky or links not working correctly in the transition.

The Plan: Storytime Portion

Welcome Song: Hello, Friends
(tune of Goodnight, Ladies)
Hello, friends! Hello, friends!
Hello, friends, it’s time to say hello!
Hello, [name 1], hello, [name 2]!
Hello, [name 3], it’s time to say hello! (repeat as needed)
(ASL motions: salute for “hello,” then take the index fingers on each hand and you link them together as though they are hugging each other back and forth for “friends”)
Source: Glenside Public Library District

Warm-Up Rhyme: We Wiggle and Stop
(Use the ASL sign for the word “stop” – one hand “chops” across the opposite hand)
We wiggle and we wiggle and we STOP
We wiggle and we wiggle and we STOP
We wiggle and we wiggle and we wiggle and we wiggle
And we wiggle and we wiggle and we STOP
(We wiggled every week, but then added 2 more motions. Motions we did throughout the summer: jump, twirl, run, splash, hop, swim, stretch, stomp, wave, sway, march, lean, roll [arms,] hug)
Source: Jbrary

Intro: Our summer reading program is “All Together Now” and it is all about how wonderful things can happen when we work together. Short intro to the weekly theme (see below)

Themed Song (see below)

Transition Song: If You’re Ready for a Story
(tune of If You’re Happy and You Know It)
If you’re ready for a story, clap your hands (clap, clap)
If you’re ready for a story, clap your hands (clap, clap)
If you’re ready for a story, if you’re ready for a story,
If you’re ready for a story, clap your hands (clap, clap)
Source: Miss Keithia (my predecessor)

Themed Book (see below)

Parachute! A parachute is really hard to have fun with all by yourself. We need friends, and we need to work together!

Parachute Song: Let’s Go Riding in an Elevator
Let’s go riding in an elevator, Elevator, elevator (parachute up and down)
Let’s go riding in an elevator, Ride along with me!
First floor, Second floor, Third floor, Fourth floor, Fifth floor… (shake parachute low, and get progressively higher)
And down, down, down, down, down! (lower parachute)
Source: Jbrary

I remind everyone to start rowing very gently, then after the first verse, say, “Oh, the wind is picking up, can we row more firmly?” and before the third verse, “Oh, no, there’s a storm! Row as strongly as you can!”
Parachute Song: Row Your Boat (3 verses)
Row, row, row your boat
Gently/Firmly/Strongly down the stream
Merrily, merrily, merrily, merrily
Life is but a dream
(Wave the parachute gently, then firmly, then wildly!)
Source: traditional

Breathing Break
Whew, all that rowing got me out of breath! I’m ready for a breathing break. Let’s take a big breath in and lift the parachute up, then breathe out and lower it. We’ll repeat a few times.

Most people know the first verse, but the second verse is probably newer and much less well known. It was a fun way to get us “up” from falling down. We did this one twice, walking in one direction and then the other.
Parachute Song: Ring Around the Rosie
(walk in a circle with parachute)
Ring around the rosie,
Pocket full of posies
Ashes, ashes,
We all fall down! (fall and stay seated)

Cows are in the meadow, (crouching by the ‘chute)
Eating buttercups
Thunder, lightning, (shake the parachute)
we all stand up! (stand)
Source: traditional

It actually took a few weeks for the adults to “get” this one. Repetition is good for them, too. 🙂
Parachute Song: Parachute Fly
(tune of Skip to my Lou)
(kids go under the parachute and adults raise and lower)
Up, up, up it goes,
Down, down, down so low
Raise our parachute to the sky
Count to 3 and watch it fly
Spoken:
Up on one…
Down on two…
Up on three…
and FLY! (adults let go and leader pulls ‘chute in to themselves)
Source: Gymboree

Release to Stations
I have eight stations each week, which involve a mixture of dry, wet, and art/creativity stations. We spend about 20 minutes before I ring the bell to call everyone back to the grassy area. We’ll go into further detail on these in the next blog post.

Everybody loves bubbles! The trick to doing bubbles outside, I’m finding, is to figure out which way the wind is blowing and get upwind of your group!
Recorded Bubble Song: Pop, Pop, Pop by Nathalia
From the album “Dream a Little,” available on Spotify

CD album cover for Nathalia's Dream a Little

Goodbye Song: See You Later, Alligator
(tune of Clementine)
See you later, alligator (wave with one hand, then the other)
In a while, crocodile (open and shut arms like a croc’s mouth)
Give a hug, ladybug (hug yourself or a loved one)
Blow a kiss, jellyfish! MWAH! (move hand like a jellyfish then blow a kiss!)
Source: King County Library System

Weekly Themes

Week 1: Friends 6/6, 6/7/23

Intro: Friends are the people who we love to play and hang out with, and who help us out when we need it. I love making new friends!

Themed Song: All Together Now I played this one on my ukulele, and asked the group to participate by doing the “response” part of the “all together now” chorus. If you don’t want to sing this one, play the original recording by the Beatles or the cover by Caspar Babypants.
I got the chord sheet from Jim’s Ukulele Songbook. It’s a great resource since he’s got a lot of functionality built into the site and among other things you can change the key of any of the songs and print sheets very easily. I prefer to play and sing this one in the key of G.

Themed Read: Who Has Wiggle Waggle Toes? by Vicky Shiefman & Francesca Chessa This is a story of friends having fun together. Can you join in?

Week 2: Community 6/12, 6/13, 6/14/23

Intro: We live in a community of people, and the people in our community help each other. Some people have jobs that let them help others every day.

I played this one on my ukulele and took suggestions from the group. I prompted them by asking, “who helps us when we’re feeling sick?” if there was a lull.
Themed Song: Community Helpers Song
(tune of Farmer in the Dell)
The teachers teach the kids
The teachers teach the kids
Heigh-ho, they help us so
The teachers teach the kids

Choose 3-5 verses!
The firefighters put out the fires….
The crossing guards help us cross…
The librarians find us books….
The dentists check our teeth…
The doctors keep us well…
The farmers grow our food…
The mail carriers deliver the mail…
Custodians keep us clean…

Click for a ukulele songsheet for “Farmer in the Dell”

I encouraged the group to give a cheer for every page to keep interest up.
Themed Read: Cheer: A Book to Celebrate Community by Uncle Ian Aurora & Natalia Moore

Week 3: We Work Together 6/19, 6/20, 6/21/23

Intro: Working together really makes things go smoother.

Instead of the ukulele this week, we did the ASL motions.
Themed Song: The More We Get Together
The more we get together, together, together
The more we get together, The happier we’ll be
For your friends are my friends, and my friends are your friends
The more we get together, The happier we’ll be

The more we read together… (ASL for read)
We’ll read big books and small books
Read short books and tall books…

The more we work together the stronger we’ll be… (ASL for work)
Source: traditional, ASL for verse one

Themed Read: Blocks by Irene Dickson

Week 4: Kindness 6/26, 6/27, 6/28/23

Intro: One important way to work together is to show kindness. Being kind means thinking of others and doing what you can to be a good neighbor.

The root of all kindness, I believe, is love. Here’s a traditional song your grownups might remember from their childhoods!
Themed Song: Skinnamarink
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, motions from Jbrary

Themed Read: How Kind! by Mary Murphy

Week 5: Family 7/3, 7/5/23

Intro: We can start working together with the people who are closest to us – our families! Who are the people in your family?

Here’s a song for all the people in our families – listen carefully! I included some different iterations to try to be as inclusive as possible. To keep things from getting too long, I sometimes combined (grandma and grandpa). Pairing it with a silly action (and telling grown-ups that they count, too) increases the fun.
Themed Song: If You Have a Brother
(tune of Do You Know the Muffin Man)
If you have a brother
A half-brother, a step-brother
If you have a foster-brother
Please stand up!
Repeat with other family members: sister, mommy, daddy, cousin, aunt, uncle, grandpa, grandma, etc. Ask for suggestions!
Pair with other silly actions: raise your hand, stick out your tongue, wiggle your foot, jump up and down, pat your head, etc.
Source: Abby the Librarian (though I changed the tune)

Themed Read: The Family Book by Todd Parr

Week 6: Animal Helpers 7/10, 7/11, 7/12/23

Intro: Does anyone have a pet at home? Did you know that some animals have important jobs, helping their humans? Some animals help humans who need them to get around or keep them safe. Some animals help soothe people who are lonely or need an animal to help them calm down. Today we are celebrating these animal helpers.

I talked briefly about different helper animals and what they do – including miniature horses, who can be used for the visually impaired! Cats and bunnies are generally therapy animals. I used puppets for each, and asked what sound each one made – including the rabbit! “You’re right, rabbits are quiet! But they can be helpful by being snuggly!”
Themed Song: Animal Helpers Song
(tune of The Wheels on the Bus)
The dog helps his owner with a woof, woof, woof
Woof, woof, woof
Woof, woof, woof
The dog helps his owner with a woof woof
All day long!

The cat helps her owner with a meow, meow, meow…
The horse helps their owner with a neigh, neigh, neigh…
The bunny helps her owner with a snuggle, snuggle, snuggle…
Source: adapted from the traditional

So, I kind of realized after planning that this dog was not a working dog but a pet – the vest threw me off. It still seemed like the best option as far as length. If you know a better option, please let me know in the commets!
Themed Read: Best Day Ever! by Marilyn Singer & Leah Nixon

Week 7: Helping Hands 7/17, 7/18, 7/19/23

Intro: Who likes to be a helper? What are some ways you might help at home? Putting toys away, set the table, put laundry in the hamper, play with a younger sibling, etc.

Since we use this tune for our transitional song, which comes right after this one, I saved the “clap” action for that one and went right into it. I also played ukulele for this one!
Themed Song: If You’re Helpful and You Know It
(tune of If You’re Happy and You Know It)
If you’re helpful and you know it, stomp your feet
If you’re helpful and you know it, stomp your feet
If you’re helpful and you know it and you really want to show it
If you’re helpful and you know it, stomp your feet

If you’re friendly and you know it, peekaboo…
If you’re thoughtful and you know it, shout hooray…
Then go right into “If you’re ready for a story, clap your hands”
Source: adapted from the traditional

Get a downloadable ukulele songsheet here!

Themed Read: Kindness Makes Us Strong by Sophie Beer

Tune in to the next post to learn more about all the sensory stations – like the Fly Swatter Slap, Pool Noodle Sort, Ping Pong Fishing, Mystery Water, Feed the Croc, and more!

Storytime: I Love Being Me

Posted on March 10, 2023March 9, 2023 by msemilylibrary

Instead of a Valentine’s theme, I wanted to do a program on loving and appreciating ourselves this February. I learned some new songs and my groups did a lot of self-hugs.

This is a topic near and dear to me, and in one of my asides, I noted to the group that kids generally do a pretty good job loving themselves, but it’s a harder task for us grown-ups. I reminded them that finding ways to be loving and compassionate to ourselves as adults sends a great message to our kids that our bodies don’t have to look a certain way for us to appreciate them, and we can celebrate our smarts, our creativity, our problem-solving, our kindness as well as our bodies and all the amazing things they do for us.

Early Literacy Tip: Self-confidence is an attribute that you can teach your children as they play, learn, and read with you. Don’t forget that they pick up so many cues from us even when we’re not paying attention. Being positive about your own body and self is a great way to model it for them – both now and as they grow and change.

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

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

Rhyme: This is Big, Big, Big* (FT)

Intro: February is a month full of love – who are some of the people you love? Don’t forget to love YOU. You are special and there’s no one else exactly like you. Loving yourself gives you the foundation to love others.

The orginal rhyme said “my fingers can snap” but most of my kids can’t snap yet, so I changed it to wiggle!
Rhyme: All of Me (TT) (TB) (FT)
My hands are for clapping, My arms can hug tight
My fingers can wiggle, Or turn out the light
My legs are for jumping, My eyes help me see
This is my body, And I love all of me!
Source: Miss Sarah’s Storytime

Rhyme: Up & Down (TT) (TB) (FT)
Put your arms up, Put your arms down
Put them in the middle, Move them all around
One arm to the left, One arm to the right
Give yourself a hug, And hold on tight!
Source: Mansfield/Richland County (OH) Public Library

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

This is just a perfect book for this age. Lots of adorable kids in the illustrations, and body parts to touch and tickle.
Read: I Love All of Me by Lorie Ann Grover & Carolina Búzio (TT) (FT)

I love that this one looks at the whole person.
Read: Be You! by Peter H. Reynolds (TB)

Our bodies are so amazing, let’s test them out.
Rhyme: Touch Your Nose (TT) (TB) (FT)
Touch your nose, touch your chin,
That’s the way this game begins.
Touch your eyes, touch your knees,
Now pretend you feel a breeze.
Touch your hair, touch one ear,
Touch your two cheeks right here.
Touch your elbows where they bend,
That’s the way this touch game ends.
[I added: okay, now reach a little farther and give yourself a big hug!]
Source: King County (WA) Library System

I love my body, but I also love other things about myself. Here’s some of them!
The original song uses the “love” verse as a chorus and repeats it. It also is sung a little differently. I simplified by singing it the same as the other verses and used it as the last verse.
Ukulele Song: I Am Kind (TT) (TB) (FT)
I am kind – I’ll be your friend, will you be mine?
I can share a smile, I am kind

I am brave – I do it though I feel afraid
I can do the hard things, I am brave

I am wise – Solving problems that arise
Finding new solutions, I am wise

I am strong – I’m OK when things go wrong
I know I can do it, I am strong

I am love – I wrap my arms around myself
In a great big hug, I am love!
Source: Lindsay Munroe featuring Raffi, from the album I AM KIND: Songs for Unique Kids

Download a ukulele songsheet here!

Thumbnail for I Am Kind Ukulele songsheet

Rhyme: Make a Heart (TT) (TB) (FT)
I put my hands together,
This is how I start
I curve my fingers right around,
And I can make a heart!
Source: Verona Story Time

Shaker Rhyme: Egg Shakers 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!
Source: Jbrary

I absolutely love this song. Gives me the feels every time. The toddlers were running out of steam, so we skipped this song for them and went straight to the hokey pokey. For everyone else, I just encouraged them to shake their shakers along with the music.
Ukulele/Shaker Song: I Love My Body (TB) (FT)
I love my body from my head to my toes
I love my face, my eyes, my mouth, my nose
I love the way I look when I look in the mirror
I stand a little closer just to see a little clearer

Who is that? It’s me! And I am looking good as good can be
So, what do I say? I tell myself I love me every day
I hope you can, too! You’re worthy of your own love, it is true
So what do we say? We tell ourselves we love us, every day!
Source: Mother Moon

Download a ukulele songsheet here!

thumbnail for I Love My Body ukulele songsheet

Shaker Song: The Hokey Pokey (TT) (TB) (FT)
You put your right arm in,
You take your right arm out,
You put your right arm in
and you shake it all about,
You do the hokey pokey,
and you turn yourself around
That’s what it’s all about! (clap, clap)
(repeat with arms, legs, head, whole self)
Source: traditional

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

With one group I did this after Zoom, Zoom, Zoom and before our craft, and with the others I did it after cleaning up toys and before our Goodbye song and rhyme. I think it worked best before saying goodbye, but it worked either way!
Affirmation (TT) (TB) (FT)
I am KIND (hands outstretched)
I am BRAVE (hands on hips)
I am SMART (finger to your head)
I am STRONG (arms curled up)
I am LOVED (give yourself a hug)
Today is an awesome day! (fist pump)
Source: adapted from Miss Sarah’s Storytime

Craft: Valentine to Yourself (TB) (FT)
Very simple concept and execution. Write your name on the heart. Talk with your grownup about some of the things you love about yourself, and ask them to help you write a few on your (die-cut) heart. Decorate with stickers and crayons.

Craft showing a pink scalloped heart shape with the name EMILY written vertically down the middle, with "I like my smile" "My hands let me be creative" "I am friendly" "I am kind" also written on it, decorated with hearts, stars, stickers, and jewels.

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

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

Other books I had available for families to browse (and may work for you on this theme)
Be Who You Are – Todd Parr
Bodies Are Cool – Tyler Feder
I Love My Body Because – Shelly Anand, Nomi Ellenson, & Erika Rodriguez Medina
Lovely – Jess Hong
I Love You, Nose! I Love You, Toes! – Linda Davick
Beautifully Me – Nabela Noor & Nabi H. Ali
I Am Golden – Eva Chen & Sophie Diao
Who Will You Be? – Andrea Pippins
From Head to Toe – Eric Carle

This storytime was presented in-person on 2/13, 2/14, & 2/15/23.

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

Storytime: Feeling Thankful (2022)

Posted on November 24, 2022November 30, 2023 by msemilylibrary

Each year in November, I turn back to this theme and spend some time with the abstract idea of gratitude and feeling thankful. This has been my fourth iteration, and with each year, some things stay the same but there are also tweaks and updates.

Since the American Thanksgiving tradition is problematic at best, I focus on feeling thankful, and honestly, that can be as broad a concept as you’d like it to be! You can say – “I’m thankful for pets” and do the song My Dog Rags. You can be thankful for tacos and sing a song about that. The sky is the limit.

Since November is Native American Heritage Month, I also make a point to incorporate or at least highlight books by Indigenous authors at this program (though of course it’s a good idea to be aware of and read and celebrate books by Indigenous and other marginalized groups in storytime all year long.) I am thankful for the wealth of fantastic picture books available from a wide range of perspectives!

Lastly, I’m thankful for you, readers! I appreciate your likes and comments and hope that me documenting my process is in any way helpful. I’m always open to ideas and suggestions, too. Wishing you peace, safety, a little relaxation, and lots of appreciation for all you do.

You can see the plans for every year I’ve done this theme here.

Early Literacy Tip: When we are warm, and fed, 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.

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

Warm Up Song: Wake Up, Feet* (BB) (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 arms and ears.

Lifting Rhyme: Toast in the Toaster* (BB)

Rhyme: This is Big, Big, Big* (BB) (TB) (FT)

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

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

This book is so great for the youngest group. I asked them to help me tell the story and prompted them at each “thank you” page.
Read: Thank You, Bees by Toni Yuly (BB) (FT)

I am always thankful when people are kind to one another. This book is by two Native American creators. Monique Gray Smith is of Cree, Lakota and Scottish descent, and Nicole Neidhardt is Diné, also known as Navajo.
Read: When We Are Kind by Monique Gray Smith & Nicole Neidhardt (TB)

I love those bees! Here’s a rhyme about the bees being inside their beehive.
Tickle Rhyme: Here Is the Beehive (BB) (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

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 books.
Song: These Are My Glasses (BB) (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

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 the weather, even when it rains!
Scarf Rhyme: Rain on the Green Grass (BB) (TB) (FT)
Rain on the green grass (wave low)
Rain on the trees (wave high)
Rain on the roof (hold over head)
But not on me! (let fall to the floor!)
repeat with Sun, Snow, Leaves
Source: Jbrary

Scarf Song: We Wave Our Scarves Together (BB) (TB) (FT)
(tune of For He’s a Jolly Good Fellow)
We wave our scarves together
We wave our scarves together
We wave our scarves together…
Because it’s fun to do!

We wave them up high
We wave them down low
We wave them in the middle
Because it’s fun to do!
Source: Jbrary

I’m thankful for games we can play with our loved ones.
Scarf Game: Peek-a-boo (BB) (FT)
(tune of Frère Jacques)
Peek-a-boo, peek-a-boo, I see you, I see you
I see your button nose, I see your tiny toes
I see you! Peek-a-boo!
Source: Jbrary

I’m thankful for time to read and be with you. I kind of did the hand motions of the ASL version with my scarf in hand, just for something to do with the scarves.
Scarf Song: The More We Get Together
See ASL movements here: https://youtu.be/YZLlZoD3gU8
The more we get together, together, together
The more we get together
The happier we’ll be
For your friends are my friends
and my friends are your friends
The more we get together
The happier we’ll be

The more we read together, together, together
the more we read together
the happier we’ll be.
Read big books and small books
Read short books and tall books
The more we read together
the happier we’ll be.
Verse 2 Source: Story Time Secrets

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

Okay, we got pretty chill there for a moment, which is lovely. But now it’s time to bring our energy up again!
Action Song: Zoom, Zoom, Zoom!* (BB) (TB) (FT)

Craft: Thankful Tree
Since I’m at a new library this year, I just did the same craft that I did last year. I asked volunteers to cut out leaf shapes in various fall colors (red, yellow, orange, brown), and provided a piece of sky blue construction paper with a brown bare tree shape printed on it. I added the heading “I am thankful for…” at the top, and kids could write (with or without help) or draw the things they’re grateful for on the leaves and paste them on.

Download a PDF of the tree and leaves here!

Play Time
The babies 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* (BB) (TB) (FT)

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

Other books I had available for families to browse (and may work for you on this theme)
Gracias/Thanks – Pat Mora & John Parra
Thank You, Omu – Oge Mora
We All Play/Kimêtawânaw – Julie Flett
The Thankful Book – Todd Parr
We Are Grateful: Otsaliheliga – Traci Sorell & Frané Lessac
The Thank You Book – Mo Willems
Wild berries/Pikaci-mīnisa – Julie Flett
Thanku: Poems of Gratitude – Marlena Myles & Miranda Paul
Thank You, Earth – April Pulley Sayre
Grandma’s Tiny House – JaNay Brown-Wood & Priscilla Burris
Bear Says “Thank You” – Michael Dahl & Oriol Vidal
Thank You and Good Night – Patrick McDonnell

This storytime was presented in-person on 11/14, 11/15, & 11/16/22.

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:
(BB) Book Babies, ages 0-2
(TB) Teddy Bears, ages 2-3.5
(FT) Family Time, ages 0-3.5

Storytime: Friendly Monsters

Posted on November 11, 2022November 10, 2022 by msemilylibrary

Holidays are tricky. My first consideration in planning storytime is serving anyone in my community who cares to attend, and to make EVERYONE feel welcome and included. I tend to avoid a specific holiday program, but try to find a way to tap into the feeling of the season while being inclusive. There are tons of great books featuring and about monsters in children’s literature, plus we get to talk a bit about how to gently face fears and empower kids to confront them. All that and a lot of roaring and stomping? Yes, please! I invited everyone to dress up in whatever kind of costume they would like, and I wore my green dragon onesie. (I now don’t recommend fleece onesie costumes for storytime – I was sweating buckets by the end!)

Early Literacy Tip: It’s natural for kids to have fears. One way to help your child conquer a fear is to gently expose them to it. Books can take a common fear like monsters and make them fun and comfortable to talk about. They also model how to be brave and address a fear, which is empowering. Two great books for this purpose are Go Away, Big Green Monster and Tickle Monster.

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

Lifting Rhyme: Toast in the Toaster* (BB)

Intro: Today we’re having some fun with friendly monsters! I love getting to play pretend, especially something that goes roar! Can we pretend to be monsters together?

Action Rhyme: Wild Things
Wild things, wild things, look at you!
Wild things, wild things, what can you do?
We can roar our roars! (roar)
We can gnash our teeth at you! (show teeth and growl)
We can wiggle our eyebrows! (wiggle)
We can show our claws, too! (extend fingers)
Wild things, wild things, look at you!
Wild things, wild things, what can you do? ROAR!
Source: Small Town Story Time Lady

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

I think this book would work really well one-on-one, and I had high hopes for it for my group, but it just didn’t go over great in Book Babies. Maybe it was just the day (it was Halloween and the energy was super wiggly).
Read: Let’s Play Monsters by Lucy Cousins (BB)

My other groups *loved* this book. Total hit.
Read: Monsters Go Night-Night by Aaron Zenz (TB) (FT)

These cute monsters came from the Picklebums.com blog, as well as the rhyme. But none of them have a nose! I went into Canva and did a little editing to the red one. I encouraged kids and grownups to play this one like “This Little Piggy” on their fingers.
Fingerplay: Five Little Monsters (BB) (TB) (FT)
This little monster has a big red nose
This little monster has purple toes
This little monster plays all night
This little monster is such a fright
And this little monster goes:
“Tee-hee-hee – I’m not scary, I’m just silly me.”
Source: picklebums.com

five printed and laminated monsters in variegated colors - red, blue, orange, dark green, and light green.

Puppet/Retelling: Go Away, Big Green Monster by Ed Emberley (TB) (FT)
We had this puppet in our library inventory, so we retold the book. I admittedly felt a little awkward with this one – the pieces were kind of behind me and I kept stumbling over the words. I need more practice!

Action Song: Monsters Stomp (TB)
(tune of The Ants Go Marching)
The monsters stomp around the house hurrah, hurrah!
The monsters stomp around the house hurrah, hurrah!
The monsters stomp around the house
Their brothers and sisters send them out
So they stomp some more outside, Oh yeah,
Around the house, Boom, boom, boom!

The monsters roar around the house, rahrrr, rahrrr…
Source: Jbrary

It felt like I didn’t have much for the babies in this session, so I added a couple of bounces and tickles for them. I adapted this traditional one to have a couple of monster/Halloween references.
Bounce Rhyme: Jelly on a Plate (BB)
Jelly on the plate, Jelly on the plate
Wibble wobble, wibble wobble (wobble & bounce baby)
Jelly on the plate!

Additional verses:
Sausage in the pan… turn them over… (lift and turn baby)
Biscuits in the tin… shake them up… (gently wiggle and lift)
Sweeties in my sack… pick them out… (gently pinch tummy)
Monster in the house… turn him out… (supported fall back or side)
Candles on the sill… blow them out… whoosh! (blow on neck)
Source: adapted from Jbrary

This was on my plan, but I didn’t actually end up using it at any of the sessions.
Tickle Rhyme: Do I Hear a Monster?
If you think you hear a monster (cup hand to ear)
Growling somewhere outside (point outward)
It’s probably just your belly (rub tummy)
Needing some food inside! Nom, nom! (nibble or tickle tummy)
Source: Small Town Story Time Lady

Another one that’s only tangentially related to monsters, but was still fun.
Tickle: Treasure Hunt (BB)
Going on a treasure hunt, X marks the spot (draw an X on back)
Big circle (draw), Little circle (draw) Dot, dot, dot (poke 3x)
Spiders crawling up your back (walk fingers up back)
Bite, bite, bite! (gently pinch shoulders)
Snakes slither up your back (drag fingers up back)
Bite, bite, bite!
Tight squeeze (hug) Cool breeze (blow on neck)
Now you’ve got the… shivers! (tickle)
Source: Jbrary

Time for shaker eggs!
It is time to do the Monster Boogie! Do you know what a boogie is? It’s a dance! So think about what your monster dance is going to look like, but we’re going to start by stomping like a monster!
Recorded Shaker Egg Song: The Monster Boogie (BB) (TB) (FT)
Source: The Laurie Berkner Band, album: Buzz, Buzz

Oh, all that dancing has me worn out. I think I need a snack. Let’s make some popcorn!
Shaker Egg Rhyme: Pop, Pop, Pop (BB) (TB) (FT)
Pop, pop, pop, put the corn in the pot
Pop, pop, pop, shake it ’til it’s hot
Pop, pop, pop, lift the lid and what have you got? Popcorn!
Source: Jbrary

And now all that salty popcorn has made me thirsty! Let’s make ourselves a milkshake!
Recorded Shaker Egg Song: The Milkshake Song (BB) (TB) (FT)
Source: Old Town School of Folk Music, album: Wiggleworms

Action Song: Horns, Fangs, Knees, and Claws (BB) (FT)
(tune of Head, Shoulders, Knees & Toes)
Horns, fangs, knees, and claws, knees and claws
Horns, fangs, knees, and claws, knees and claws
Eyes, ears, tail, and paws
Horns, fangs, knees, and claws, knees and claws
Source: Madelyn’s Library Programming

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

Craft: Monster Mask
So I originally did a monster program in 2019, and reused the craft for this year. Then, I saw the craft first on Storytime Katie, who got it from Awesome Storytime. I had a PDF template saved in my files, but neither one of those sites has it – I’m not sure if they took it down or another library blog made the template – there’s no marking indicating. Since I couldn’t find the origin, I’ll upload my copy here, but if anyone knows the original source, let me know and I’ll defer to them!
In any case, this is a super cute craft that’s pretty easy. I used four colors of neon cardstock and asked volunteers to cut out the eyes and face and mouth. I mixed up the eyes with a different color monster, and used different sized hole punchers on all the scrap to provide polka dots for decorating. All the kids really enjoyed this, and were eager to show me their masks when they were done. One last tip – the part of the face between the edges of the mouth and the sides of the face are pretty skinny, making it flip-floppy (technical term). I provided mini craft sticks to reinforce that area, as shown in the picture.

Download a template for the monster mask here!

split picture of the front and back of the monster mask, showing multi colored polka dots, orange eyes, and a green face on the front, and the placement of two mini craft sticks and one large craft stick on the back.

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

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

Other books I had available for families to browse (and may work for you on this theme)
Monster Boogie – Laurie Berkner & Ben Clanton
Eat Pete! – Michael Rex
Can You Make a Scary Face? – Jan Thomas
Tickle Monster – Édouard Manceau
Leonardo the Terrible Monster – Mo Willems
There’s a Monster in Your Book – Tom Fletcher & Greg Abbott
Monster Trucks – Anika Denise & Nate Wragg
The Monster at the End of this Book – Jon Stone & Michael Smollin
If You’re a Monster & You Know It – Rebecca Emberley & Ed Emberley

This storytime was presented in-person on 10/31, 11/1, & 11/2/22.

Storytime Handout:

program 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:
(BB) Book Babies, ages 0-2
(TB) Teddy Bears, ages 2-3.5
(FT) Family Time, ages 0-3.5