Tag: flannel

Family Storytime: Pirates

Posted on by msemilylibrary

As I was planning my fall session, I looked a little more at Chase’s Calendar of Events than I had in the past, just looking for new inspiration. I was reminded that September 19th is Talk Like a Pirate day, so I coordinated my closest storytime session to be on pirates. Arrrrr!

I went very vague about what pirates did – something like sailing the seas, looking for treasure. The lore and traditions of “pirates” in the way they’ve been interpreted and exaggerated (and certainly skewed) in movies and pop culture is undeniably fun, and the reality is quite a bit more violent and depressing, so we kept it light. I went all out with the pirate getup. Wearing an eyepatch was really discombobulating during the virtual version, so I opted out in person, but still wore my stripey shirt, waist sash, headscarf, and parrot craft on my shoulder!

You can see the virtual program that does not include the full books read aloud here.

Early Literacy Tip: Books are very rich in vocabulary—they have words that we do not use in everyday conversation with young children. This is especially true with books on unusual subjects like pirates! So, children hear many more words when we read books to them, and research shows that gives kids an advantage well into their school years. Feel free to explain unfamiliar words, but don’t substitute them for easier ones.

Welcome Song: We Clap and Sing Hello

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!
(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

Our new warm-up for the last few weeks of the summer session.
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
(Try other motions such as jump, twirl, stretch)
Source: Jbrary

Intro: September 19th is a holiday – did you know? It’s Talk Like A Pirate Day! So let’s enjoy some fun about pirates. BTW, Do you know what a pirate’s favorite letter is? … [Hope for a parent to supply “R”] … Ah, yeh’d think it’d be R, but it’s really the C they love!

Lifting Song: The Ocean Song
Oh the ocean is great
and the ocean is grand
There are lots of pirate ships
and very little land
And we sleep down deep
in a hammock near the floor
And this is what we do
when we go out to shore:
We ride the waves going up,
We ride the waves going down (rep 3x)
And we turn around – Arr!
Source: Jbrary

I talked briefly about the fact that the word “sea/see” sounded the same but was spelled differently and meant two different things. The sea, like the ocean: we made a wavy hand motion in front of us. And to see, like to look: we shaded our eyes with our hands like we were looking far away. The next song we made the appropriate motions to go with the words, and I held up big pictures of sea creatures that we cumulatively sang at the end of each verse. (I used my “slippery fish” felt for the video.)
Song: A Pirate Went to Sea
A pirate went to sea, sea, sea (wavy motion with hand)
To see what she could see, see, see (shade eyes)
But all that she could see, see, see (shade eyes)
Was the bottom of the deep blue sea, sea, sea… (wavy)
OH aaaand a seahorse!

A pirate went to sea, sea, sea (wavy motion with hand)
To see what she could see, see, see (shade eyes)
But all that she could see, see, see (shade eyes)
Was a seahorse in the deep blue sea, sea, sea… (wavy)
OH aaaand a jellyfish!

A pirate went to sea, sea, sea (wavy motion with hand)
To see what she could see, see, see (shade eyes)
But all that she could see, see, see (shade eyes)
Was a seahorse and a jellyfish in the deep blue sea, sea, sea… (wavy)
OH aaaand an octopus!
(keep adding sea animals – fish, shark, whale)
Source: Johnson County Library (KS)

Download a copy of the printed sea animals.

I wanted to shorten this one, so I paper clipped the pages that dealt with fighting with the rival pirate ship. So they found the treasure, then they celebrated on their ship.
Read: Dinosaur Pirates! by Penny Dale

I’d never heard this one before and it was on several storytime blogs, so I found this adorable video of a girl scout group performing it – I got the tune and the motions from them!
Song: The Counting Pirate Song
When I was one, I banged my drum (mime)
The day I went to sea (wavy motion)
I climbed aboard a pirate ship (climb ladder)
And the captain said to me (salute)
We’re going this way, that way (hands on hips, lean left and right)
Forwards, backwards over the rolling sea (lean front and back, wavy motion)
A bottle of milk to warm my tum, (drink, then rub tummy)
And that’s the life for me! Yo-ho-ho-ho! (the “pirate” motion – bent arm rocks in front of you)

When I was 2, I buckled my shoe…
When I was 3, I banged my knee…
When I was 4, I knocked on a door…
When I was 5, I learned to dive…
Source: Johnson County Library (KS)
See motions here: https://youtu.be/PjHaqtUIa9E

I didn’t actually do this one in person since I could tell we were running a bit long, but it’s another fun option.
Song: Captain Billy
(tune of Old MacDonald)
Captain Billy had a ship, E-I-Yo-Ho-Ho!
And on his ship he had a crew, E-I-Yo-Ho-Ho!
With an Arrr, Arrr here and an Arrr, Arrr there,
Here an Arr, there an Arr, everywhere an Arr, Arr
Captain Billy had a ship, E-I-Yo-Ho-Ho!

Additional verses:
…on his ship his crew would swab… swish, sweep …
…found an isle …and on that isle buried treasure…dig…
…on his ship he had a treasure…gold doubloons here…
Source: Stratford Library (CT)

Breathing Break: Five Finger Breathing
Our breathwork visualization. We inhale while tracing up a finger, pause at the top, then exhale while tracing down, and pause at the bottom. Repeat for all five fingers. At the end, I let them know this is a great way to get calm, get centered or focused, and get ready for the next thing. I also remind them they can take a ten finger break if they need to, and it’s always available for them whenever they need it.

We did the PIRATE version of this one today!
Song: PIRATE Zoom, Zoom, Zoom!
Zoom, zoom, zoom, we’re hunting for doubloons!
(hands sweep past each other, then shade eyes)
Zoom, zoom, zoom, we’re hunting for doubloons!
If you want to take a trip (climb a ladder)
Climb aboard my pirate ship!
Zoom, zoom, zoom, we’re hunting for doubloons!
In 5, 4, 3, 2, 1, AHOY! (crouch, jump & wave!)
Source: Jbrary

Read: Bubble Bath Pirates! by Jarrett J. Krosoczka

So I needed to get the bubble machine out after that book! In person, I played a new-to-me song that I really dig:
Recorded song: Pop, Pop, Pop by Nathalia

In the virtual version, I played and sang this one:
Ukulele Song: If You’re A Pirate & You Know It
(tune of If You’re Happy & You Know It)
If you’re a pirate and you know it, swab the deck (swish, swish) (x2)
If you’re a pirate and you know it and you really want to show it
If you’re a pirate and you know it, swab the deck (swish, swish)

Additional verses:
Walk the plank (stomp, stomp)
Say ahoy (ahoy!)
Source: Canton Public Library (MI)

Craft: Eyepatch and Parrot
Inpsired by this great post at Sturdy for Common Things I made eyepatches from black foam and strung them with black yarn, then provided this really cool parrot craft to go with them. I adjusted the template so that I could print two parrots on a sheet of cardstock (I did white and let the kids color them), and I removed the B and C lines since I couldn’t really figure out why they were there, and just left the one folding line A. Parents could position the parrot on their kid’s shoulder, taping the tab to their back and letting the body of the bird drape over the front. (The pictures at the blog post make it clearer.) Since I altered the template and it’s not available at its original spot anymore, you can download my version here. I also added some plastic gold coins in the packet for funsies.

I also booktalked these alternative titles during the permanent YouTube video.
The Grumpy Pirate by Corinne Demas, Artemis Roehrig & Ashlyn Anstee
Pirate Jack Gets Dressed by Nancy Raines Day & Allison Black
Go, Go, Pirate Boat by Katrina Charman & Nick Sharratt
We’re Going on a Treasure Hunt by Kelly DiPucchio & Jay Fleck

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

Closing Rhyme: Tickle the Stars

This storytime was presented in-person and virtually on 9/21/21.

Storytime Handout:

Family Storytime: International Dot Day

Posted on by msemilylibrary

Friends, I love the book The Dot by Peter H. Reynolds, about Vashti, a young girl who doesn’t think she’s an artist. I also love how dots and spots and buttons and polka dots are so common for early literacy activities! I decided to do a Dot Day storytime to go along with the International Dot Day celebrated “on or around September 15-ish,” according to the official website.

Since The Dot is a fairly small book, I decided to retell it using props outdoors, and as a draw & tell story in my virtual storytime. It was fun to try to “recreate” the story with graphics in Canva, and then to try to draw it. It stretched my creative muscles! The drawing (and erasing) took way longer than anyone’s got attention for, so I used some editing to speed it up in the video version. Although the parents in my outdoor storytime seemed to enjoy the story, I completely lost the little ones, who skewed a bit younger at this particular session. Upon more reflection, this book really is best for kindergarten and older kids, who may have had the experience of being frustrated by their art. The younger ones probably don’t need this message yet!

In any event, I think that all of my other activities and books WERE age-appropriate, so this still turned out to be a fun storytime! Next time, it’ll just be themed to polka-dots and we’ll save The Dot for some school outreach.

You can see the virtual program that does not include the full books read aloud here.

Early Literacy Tip: Art engages children’s senses in open-ended play and develops cognitive, social, emotional, and sensory-motor skills. Allow your child to create sometimes without having an expectation that the result should look a certain way – focus on the process, not the product. Product-based crafts are good for learning to follow directions, but process-based crafts allow for self-expression and joy in the making. Both are beneficial to your child!

Welcome Song: We Clap and Sing Hello

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!
(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
(Try other motions such as jump, twirl, stretch)
Source: Jbrary

Intro: What is a dot? A spot, a circle, a polka-dot! We’re going to read a book that some people liked so much and were so inspired by, that they made an International Dot Day holiday to celebrate it!

Retell: The Dot by Peter Reynolds

Download my visual aids here! (I started with a blank sheet and used a sharpie to make a dot and sign it “Vashti.” I also wrote out the text of the book and pasted it to the back of each sheet, not included in the download. For the gallery page, I made a color copy of that sheet from the book and enlarged it about 200% onto 11×17 paper, also not included in the download.)

I wrote this one, but it is very specific to the book. If you’re not reading it, it may not make sense.
Song: Making Artwork
(tune of Frère Jacques)
Painting, painting (painting, painting)
Dot, dot, dot (dot, dot, dot)
Now we sign our names there
(now we sign our names there)
Look at my art! (look at my art!)!
Credit: Ms. Emily

Because I was doing this outside, I made it as large as I could on cardstock, and added magnets to the back and the dots so I could stick it on my bookcart. I liked that we counted up to six instead of the usual five, too.
Flannel Song: Pretty Ladybug
(tune of Do You Know the Muffin Man)
Ladybug has 1 black spot
1 black spot, 1 black spot
Ladybug has 1 black spot
Pretty ladybug!
(count up)
Source: Jen in the Library

Download the Pretty Ladybug template!

Tickle Song: Spots, Spots, Spots
(tune of the baseball organ build up)
Spots, spots, spots, spots,
Spots, spots, spots, spots
A leopard has lots of spots
What a lot of spots he got!
A tiger’s stripes are always nice…
But a leopard has lots of
Spots, spots, spots, spots,
Spots, spots, spots, spots… (tickle!)
Source: Jbrary

Everyone liked this one!
Read: Don’t Push The Button by Bill Cotter

When I did this one as a kid, we said “I have a wife and three kids and I work at the button factory.” That seemed so outdated! The parents really got into this one, which was super-fun to see!
Action Chant: The Button Factory
Hi, my name is Jo(e)!
I have a dog and a cat
And I work at the button factory
One day, my boss came to me,
She said, “Jo(e), are you busy?”
I said “No”
She said,“Push this button
with your right hand”

Continue to push the button, repeat and add left hand, right foot, left foot, nose, hip, etc.
On last verse:
She said, “Jo(e), are you busy?” “YES!”
Source: traditional

Breathing Break: Five Finger Breathing
Our breathwork visualization. We inhale while tracing up a finger, pause at the top, then exhale while tracing down, and pause at the bottom. Repeat for all five fingers. At the end, I let them know this is a great way to get calm, get centered or focused, and get ready for the next thing. I also remind them they can take a ten finger break if they need to, and it’s always available for them whenever they need it.

One more repeated activity. This has always been a favorite song!
Action Song: Zoom, Zoom, Zoom!
Zoom, zoom, zoom, we’re going to the moon!
(hands scrape past each other rhythmically)
Zoom, zoom, zoom, we’re going to the moon!
If you want to take a trip (fingers walk up arm)
Climb aboard my rocket ship!
Zoom, zoom, zoom, we’re going to the moon!
In 5, 4, 3, 2, 1, BLASTOFF! (crouch, then jump!)
Source: Jbrary

Ukulele Song: Ladybugs’ Picnic
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 ,8 ,9, 10, 11, 12
Ladybugs came to the ladybugs’ picnic

They had twelve sacks so they ran sack races
And they fell on their backs and they fell on their faces
The ladybugs 12 At the ladybugs’ picnic

They played jump rope but the rope it broke
So they just sat around telling knock-knock jokes
The ladybugs 12 At the ladybugs’ picnic

1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 ,8 ,9, 10, 11, 12
And they chatted away At the ladybugs’ picnic

They talked about the high price of furniture and rugs
And fire insurance for ladybugs
The ladybugs 12 At the ladybugs’ picnic. 12!
Credit: Sesame Street

Get a downloadable ukulele songsheet for “Ladybugs’ Picnic” here!

Thumbnail of ukulele songsheet

Craft: Pom Pom Painting
When giving my early lit tip, I emphasized the benefits of process art projects. For this one, I supplied a blank sheet of paper, two pom poms, two colors of paint, and two clothespins (to hold the pom poms), and encouraged them to paint whatever they wanted! I also printed some of the Dot Day coloring sheets for the take-home packets.

I also booktalked these alternative titles during the permanent YouTube video.
Art by Patrick McDonnell
The Book of Mistakes by Corinna Luyken
The Button Book by Sally Nicholls & Bethan Woollvin
Just Add Glitter by Angela DiTerlizzi & Samantha Cotterill

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

Closing Rhyme: Tickle the Stars

This storytime was presented in-person and virtually on 9/14/21.

Storytime Handout:

Flannel Friday!

Posted on by msemilylibrary

I’m on vacation for two weeks, but I wanted to share a preview of some flannels I’ve been working on for upcoming posts, and what better day to do so than on a Friday? (If you haven’t checked it out yet, Flannel Friday is an amazing resource of community-submitted flannelboard/feltboard props.)

My last in-person outdoor storytime of the season was themed for the American Southwest (where I’m vacationing!) My friend and fellow librarian Rebecca suggested this Five Coyotes song and flannel that is so sweet. The coyotes were fun but layered, so took some patience. I was feeling extra and wanted the moon to be as realistic as possible, so I printed a NASA photo of the moon and mapped out some simplified craters and darker areas.

Flannel showing five coyotes, three sitting on the back haunches and two standing on four feet, all howling upward at a white and gray moon.

I ran out of time, but I will someday make the coyotes reversible! I’d like them to be curled up and sleeping on the back.

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

Upcoming, I have a Breakfast-themed storytime coming up. One rhyme is about doughnuts, so here are mine. I love jelly doughnuts, so I had to make one a filled jelly! Making some pieces different is a great opportunity for talking with your group about similarities and differences. I thought about putting sprinkles on these, but I’m kind of paint-shy – they never seem to look as good after I’ve added the paint! So for now, they’ll just be frosted.

Flannel showing five doughnuts, four with holes in the middle and different colored frosting: mint green, dark brown, lavender, and light pink, and one with no hole but covered in white frosting and a dark pink dot of jelly showing on one side.

Counting Rhyme: Five Colored Doughnuts
Down around the corner
at the bakery shop,
There were [number] little donuts
with frosting on top
Along came [name]
hungry for a treat,
And s/he picked the [color] one
to take home and eat!
Credit: The Lion is a Bookworm via Literary Hoots

Family Storytime: Arctic Animals

Posted on by msemilylibrary

To do an arctic animal storytime in July, we needed to put on our pretend hats! I don’t think I would have come up with this theme myself, but the parks camp I did outreach to had this as their theme, so I adapted it for my outdoor storytime.

To be honest, I felt like this storytime was a little “off.” Maybe I wasn’t super comfortable with some of the materials. Maybe the audience was just a little more wiggly than usual. Maybe the imminent threat of rain made me feel rushed. More than likely, it was a combination of things. I don’t dwell. Some days you just have an off day, and that’s okay.

You can see the virtual program that does not include the full books read aloud here.

Early Literacy Tip: Counting up or down in songs like Five Little Polar Bears helps kids strengthen their number recognition. And don’t be afraid to change up the number – eight little polar bears or ten little polar bears will let kids hear lesser-used numbers.

Welcome Song: We Clap and Sing Hello

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!
(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”)
Credit: Glenside Public Library District

Our new warm-up for the last few weeks of the summer session.
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
(Try other motions such as jump, twirl, stretch)
Credit: Jbrary

This book might have been the start of my “offness” – although I like that it shows a wide variety of arctic animals AND it shows the arctic in the summertime AND it’s a book you can sing, it just wasn’t right for my group. It was too long, and because it was a regular sized book, the pictures were too small. I skipped a few pages, but I could still see the attention wandering.
Read: Way Up in the Arctic by Jennifer Ward & Kenneth J. Spengler

For the virtual, I stuck velcro on the back of these laminated pieces, but for the in-person session, I taped craft sticks on the bears to make them easier to hold.
Counting Song: Five Little Polar Bears
Five little polar bears riding on a sled
One fell off and bumped his head
Mama called the doctor and the doctor said,
“No more polar bears riding on a sled!”
(count down)
Credit: Literary Hoots

Laminated clipart of five polar bears on a sled

Another regular-sized book. The illustrations of cut and torn paper are AMAZING, but again, probably too small for my audience to really see.
Read: A Polar Bear in the Snow by Mac Barnett & Shawn Harris

Movement: Arctic Animal Movement
Can you…
…Walk on four feet like a polar bear?
…Turn your head like a snowy owl?
…Swim like an orca/beluga whale?
…Flap your wing like an arctic tern?
…Stomp your feet like a caribou?
…Hop like an arctic hare?
Credit: Guilderland Public Library

Breathing Break: Five Finger Breathing
Our breathwork visualization for the last few weeks of the summer session. We inhale while tracing up a finger, pause at the top, then exhale while tracing down, and pause at the bottom. Repeat for all five fingers. At the end, I let them know this is a great way to get calm, get centered or focused, and get ready for the next thing. I also remind them they can take a ten finger break if they need to, and it’s always available for them whenever they need it.

One more new repeated activity. This has always been a favorite song!
Action Song: Zoom, Zoom, Zoom!
Zoom, zoom, zoom, we’re going to the moon!
(hands scrape past each other rhythmically)
Zoom, zoom, zoom, we’re going to the moon!
If you want to take a trip (fingers walk up arm)
Climb aboard my rocket ship!
Zoom, zoom, zoom, we’re going to the moon!
In 5, 4, 3, 2, 1, BLASTOFF! (crouch, then jump!)
Credit: Jbrary

I always try to do several songs that use a particular prop so that the kids have some time with them. Today was scarves! To collect them at the end of the in-person session, I sang “If You Have a Red Scarf” to the tune of The Muffin Man and directed kids to listen for their color.

Scarf Song: Dance Like Snowflakes
(tune of Frère Jacques)
Dance like snowflakes
Dance like snowflakes
In the air, in the air
Whirling, twirling snowflakes
Whirling, twirling snowflakes
Everywhere, everywhere
Credit: Jbrary

Scarf Song: We Wave Our Scarves Together
(tune of For He’s a Jolly Good Fellow)
We wave our scarves together (3x)
because it’s fun to do!
Wave them up high
Wave them down low
Wave them in the middle
Because it’s fun to do!
Credit: Jbrary

I added the “drying” verse because this song is too fun to just do two verses! For the “tumble” action, we threw our scarves up and caught them, like they were tumbling around in a dryer. This song was probably the most successful activity of the storytime!
Scarf Song: The Walrus Washes His Winter Coat
Oh, the walrus washes his winter coat
Down by the wavy ocean
He adds some water and he adds some soap
and he waits…and he waits…and he waits.

Then the laundry shakes, shakes, shakes
The laundry shakes and shakes and shakes
The laundry shakes, shakes, shakes
until it’s clean. (repeat)

Additional verses:
The laundry spins … until it’s clean
The laundry tumbles … until it’s dry
Credit: Brytani Fraser via Jbrary

Recorded Song: Teddy Bear, Teddy Bear by Jazzy Ash

Craft: Polar Bear Scene
This was inspired by Tompkins County Public Library, and I loved how they suggested different mediums and let the kids decide what to do with them. So I printed an outline of a polar bear on a dark blue sheet of construction paper, provided cotton balls and chalk, and gave both example photos below. Kids could use the cotton for snow or for the bear, and chalk for the opposite, or do whatever they liked!

I also booktalked these alternative titles during the permanent YouTube video.
Sweetest Kulu by Celina Kalluk & Alexandria Neonakis
The Bear Report by Thyra Heder
Sea Bear by Lindsay Moore

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

Closing Rhyme: Tickle the Stars

This storytime was presented in-person and virtually on 7/13/21.

Storytime Handout:

Family Storytime: Going on a Bear (and Berry) Hunt

Posted on by msemilylibrary

I’d been wanting to use the Going on a Bear Hunt chant/rhyme for outdoor storytime, and just happened to have a big book copy of The Little Mouse, the Red Ripe Strawberry, and the Big Hungry Bear, so that translated quite well into a theme. We had a lot of fun going THROUGH various obstacles, roaring like mad, and identifying berries. Since this was our fifth week of outdoor stories, I changed up our recurring rhymes and activities, too.

You can see the virtual program that does not include the full books read aloud here.

Early Literacy Tip: Pretend play helps your child act out and understand stories and events they have seen, heard, or experienced. Simple props or costumes like the bear ears we’ll make in today’s craft help enhance the fun and promote more immersive play.

Welcome Song: We Clap and Sing Hello

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!
(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”)
Credit: Glenside Public Library District

Our new warm-up for the last few weeks of the summer session.
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
(Try other motions such as jump, twirl, stretch)
Credit: Jbrary

Read: The Little Mouse, the Red Ripe Strawberry, & the Big Hungry Bear by Don & Audrey Wood

Outside, I held up large pictures of the various berries at the end of each verse for the kids to shout out. The kids got all of them except the gooseberry! In the video, I had a laminated version for the flannelboard, made from Canva.
Counting Rhyme: Jamberry Hunt
Under the bridge and over the dam,
looking for berries, berries for jam
1 berry, 2 berries, pick me a strawberry
(repeat, counting up to 10 and asking for different berries each time: blackberry, blueberry, raspberry, gooseberry.)

Last line:
Under the bridge and over the dam,
Back home to cook my berries, berries for jam
Credit: Jbrary

laminated flannelboard set of a canoe, simplified water, and 5 berries: strawberry, blueberry, raspberry, blackberry, and gooseberry.

Action Rhyme: Bears Eat Honey
Bears eat honey (pretend to eat)
They think it’s yummy
In their tummy (rub tummy)
But the bees don’t think it’s funny!
Buzzzzzzzzzzzz! (tickle)
Credit: King County Library System via Storytime Katie

I pretty much did as Michael Rosen does in this video, but encouraged the group to repeat the first four lines as call and response. You can download my reminder sheet here.
Retelling/Chant: We’re Going on a Bear Hunt by Michael Rosen & Helen Oxenbury

Breathing Break: Five Finger Breathing
Our new breathwork visualization for the last few weeks of the summer session. We inhale while tracing up a finger, pause at the top, then exhale while tracing down, and pause at the bottom. Repeat for all five fingers. At the end, I let them know this is a great way to get calm, get centered or focused, and get ready for the next thing. I also remind them they can take a ten finger break if they need to, and it’s always available for them whenever they need it.

screenshot from virtual storytime, showing five finger breathing.

One more new repeated activity. This has always been a favorite song!
Action Song: Zoom, Zoom, Zoom!
Zoom, zoom, zoom, we’re going to the moon!
(hands scrape past each other rhythmically)
Zoom, zoom, zoom, we’re going to the moon!
If you want to take a trip (fingers walk up arm)
Climb aboard my rocket ship!
Zoom, zoom, zoom, we’re going to the moon!
In 5, 4, 3, 2, 1, BLASTOFF! (crouch, then jump!)
Credit: Jbrary

Movement: Bear Brain Break
Based on this worksheet from the OT Toolbox, we moved like a bear and did the Bear Crawl, Bear Scratch, Bear Bend, Bear Stretch, and Bear Hug!

thumbnail of Bear Brain Breaks worksheet.

Sometimes this song features bears, so that’s where my thoughts were in choosing it. You could sing “and the little bear said…” to further reinforce it. And I saw my colleague Rebecca B. do the Whole Bed schtick, which I thought was a hilarious and perfect end! I use a flannel (template from Making Learning Fun) for this on the video, but we just did hand motions in person.
Counting Song: Five in the Bed
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 to 1)

There was one in the bed
and the little one said,
(tune of He’s Got the Whole World In His Hands)
“Ahhhhhhh. 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!”
Credit: traditional

Flannel for Five in the Bed - bed with a blue cover and two white pillows, as well as one small brown bear and four larger bears in purple, yellow, light blue, and red.

Recorded Song: Teddy Bear, Teddy Bear by Jazzy Ash

For the virtual session, I did this instead of the recorded Teddy Bear song.
Song: Bear Went Over the Mountain
Oh, the bear went over the mountain, (rep. 3x)
To see what he could see!

But all that he could see,
Yes, all that he could see
Was the other side of the mountain, (rep 3x)
Was all that he could see!
(repeat with “around,” “under,” and “jumped over”)
Credit: traditional, movement ideas from Intellidance

Craft: Bear Ears Headband
Simple, simple craft that allows for lots of dramatic play.

picture of bear ears headband - brown construction paper band with brown bear ears (and pink inner ear) glued on.

I also booktalked these alternative titles during the permanent YouTube video.
Jamberry by Bruce Degen
Where is Bear? by Jonathan Bentley
There’s a Bear on My Chair by Ross Collins

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

Closing Rhyme: Tickle the Stars

This storytime was presented in-person and virtually on 6/29/21.

Storytime Handout:

Family Storytime: Dinosaurs!

Posted on by msemilylibrary

Hopping on to the theme chosen by my summer outreach session, this week was all about dinosaurs! This is an easy theme with lots of great books and extension activities, so it all came together quickly.

You can find other versions of this theme from 2022 and 2024.

You can see the virtual program that does not include the full books read aloud here.

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

Welcome Song: We Clap and Sing Hello

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!
(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”)
Credit: Glenside Public Library District

We did a repeated warm up each week to get everyone loosened up.
Warm-Up Rhyme: Roly Poly
(Roll arms and change voice to coordinate with the lyrics)
Roly poly, roly, poly, up, up, up
Roly poly, roly, poly, down, down, down
Roly poly, roly, poly, out, out, out
Roly poly, roly, poly, in, in, in
Roly poly, roly, poly, BIG, BIG, BIG
Roly poly, roly, poly, very, very small
Roly poly, roly, poly, fast, fast, fast, fast, fast!
Rol…ly… po…ly… in… your… lap
Credit: Rebecca Jane Flanagan

Read: Dinosaur Vs. the Library by Bob Shea

The flannel can be used for both this song and “One Dinosaur Went Out to Play,” below, and the template is available at Mel’s Desk.
Action Song: All Through the Swamp
(tune of Wheels on the Bus)
The Tyrannosaurus Rex goes grr grr grr
Grr grr grr, Grr grr grr
The Tyrannosaurus Rex goes grr grr grr
All through the swamp

Additional verses:
The Stegosaurus’ tail goes swish, swish, swish…
The Brachiosaurus’ mouth goes munch, munch, munch…
The Pteranodon’s wings go flap, flap, flap…
Credit: Mel’s Desk

laminated dinosaurs and fern for the flannelboard. Includes a yellow stegosaurus, orange t. rex, purple pteranodon, blue triceratops, and red brachiosaurus.

Song: Dino Ditty
(tune of Do Wah Diddy Diddy)
Here they come just a stompin’ with their feet (stomp)
Singing “Dino ditty, ditty, dum ditty do”
Searchin’ around for something good to eat
Singin’ “Dino ditty, ditty, dum ditty do.”
They’re big! (They’re big!)
They’re strong! (They’re strong!)
They’re big, They’re strong, won’t be hungry very long!
Singin’ “Dino ditty, ditty, dum ditty do…”

Additional verses:
Here they come just a flying through the sky (flying motions)
Singing “Dino ditty, ditty, dum ditty do”
Looking around for a good fish pie…

Here they come just a swimming in the lake (swimming motions)
Singin’ “Dino ditty, ditty, dum ditty do”
Looking around for a good clam bake…
Credit: King County Library System (WA)

Read: Crunch, the Shy Dinosaur by Cirocco Dunlap & Greg Pizzoli

Breathing Break: Soup Breathing
This was part of our repeated activities in June. I asked the kids to imagine they were holding a bowl of their very favorite soup, and asked what kind they liked. Then with their hands cupped in front of them, we slowly breathed in the delicious aroma of their very favorite soup through their noses, then slowly and gently breathed out through their mouths to cool off this hot soup. We repeated about 5 times, and after the 1st time with explanation, I used my Hoberman sphere to help them visualize the in and out breaths. Afterward, I let them know that this exercise always makes me feel good and more grounded, and they could always get out their bowl of soup if they need help calming down or feeling more connected to their bodies.
Credit: Lucky Little Learners

Another repeated activity during June.
Song: Look at All the Bunnies
Look at all the bunnies sleeping til it’s nearly noon
Shall we wake them with a merry tune?
Oh so still! Are they ill?
Wake up, wake up, wake up little bunnies
Wake up, wake up, wake up little bunnies
Hop little bunnies, hop, hop, hop
Hop little bunnies, hop, hop, hop
Stop little bunnies, stop, stop, stop
And…. 1, 2, 3, SILLY FREEZE!
Credit: King County Library System

Action Rhyme: Dinosaur Stretch
Spread your arms, way out wide
Fly like Pteranodon, soar and glide
Bend to the floor, head down low
Move like Stegosaurus, long ago
Reach up tall, try to be
As tall as Brachiosaurus eating on a tree
Using your claws, grumble and growl
Just like Tyrannosaurus Rex on the prowl
Credit: Storytime Katie

Recorded Song: We Are the Dinosaurs by Laurie Berkner

In the virtual session, I did this song instead of the recorded one:
Ukulele/Flannel Song: One Dinosaur Went Out to Play
(tune of Five Little Ducks)
One dinosaur went out to play
By a giant fern one day
She had such enormous fun
That she called for another dinosaur to come:
Oh, Diiiiiiiiiinosaur! (slap hands on thighs)

(count up to 5)
Last line:
…That they played until the day was done!
Credit: Mel’s Desk

Get a downloadable ukulele songsheet here!

Thumbnail of ukulele songsheet for One Dinosaur Went Out to Play

Craft: Shape-o-Saurus
Make a dino using simple shapes. I created a template to get all the shapes for two dinos on one sheet of construction paper, which you can download here. I printed them on red, green, and purple, but you could do any color you like.

Printable Shape-o-Saurus Template

photo of shape-o-saurus craft - purple shapes on a black paper make a stegosaurus. triangles, half-circles, circles, and rectangles make up the body.

I also booktalked these alternative titles during the permanent YouTube video.
We Love Dinosaurs by Lucy Volpin
We Are the Dinosaurs by Laurie Berkner & Ben Clanton
We Don’t Eat Our Classmates by Ryan T. Higgins

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

Closing Rhyme: Tickle the Stars

This storytime was presented in-person and virtually on 6/22/21.

Storytime Handout:

Parks Department Outreach

Posted on by msemilylibrary

Our local parks department runs a summer half-day camp for preschoolers, and asked the library to come out for a story and craft session once a week. It was another outdoor opportunity to connect with our community, so I was happy to do it! We had time each week for a book, a song, and a craft, and the kiddos were a lot of fun. The camp had their own weekly themes, so I tailored each session to what they were already doing. Where I could, I then used any overlapping animal themes for my weekly library storytime (dinosaurs, arctic, jungle), but did something different the weeks they had non-animal themes (transportation, olympics).

Pets: 6/17/21

I’d done a pet theme a few months earlier, so this was an easy one. I got to read a book that was a little long for my “all ages/family” virtual program, but was perfect for a group of preschoolers. I did a different voice for each pet and really hammed it up. They loved it! For our song, I wanted to get the ukulele out, so did “How Much is that Pet in the Window.” Their “job” was to make the animal noises after each line, and they took that job *very* seriously. 🙂

Book: Mr Fuzzbuster Knows He’s the Favorite by Stacy McAnulty & Edward Hemingway

book cover of Mr. Fuzzbuster Knows He's the Favorite

Song: How Much Is that Pet in the Window?
How much is that doggy in the window? Woof woof!
The one with the waggily tail?
How much is that doggy in the window? Woof woof!
I do hope that doggy’s for sale

Additional verses: (What do other animals do and say?)
Kitty…meow…whiskers so long
Bird… tweet tweet…flappity wings
Rabbit…hop hop…hoppity legs
Fish… glub glub… swimmy fins
Credit: Jen in the Library

Get a downloadable ukulele songsheet here!

Thumbnail of ukulele songsheet for How Much is that Doggie in the Window

Craft: Paper Plate Fishbowls
In the past I’d used dried beans for the aquarium rocks, but for simplicity and weight I used crispy rice cereal for this group. My photo is from my original sample.

photo of fishbowl craft - paper plate colored blue, with multicolored dried beans glued to the bottom, tissue paper aquatic plants, and two goldfish with googly eyes.

Dinosaurs: 6/24/21

Again, I’ve done dinosaurs in the past (pre-blog), so it was easy to pull together a song and book. I figured out the chords for Five Little Ducks the way I sing it (which seems to be a little different from a lot of the chord sheets I looked at, strangely enough). I also had flannel board dino pieces that I brought along and held up for each new dinosaur. They were from a template on the Mel’s Desk blog.

Book: We Don’t Eat Our Classmates by Ryan T. Higgins

book cover of We Don't Eat our Classmates

Ukulele Song: One Dinosaur Went Out to Play
(tune of Five Little Ducks)
One dinosaur went out to play
By a giant fern one day
She had such enormous fun
That she called for another dinosaur to come:
“Oh, Diiiiiiiiiiiinosaur!” (slap thighs for “running” sounds)

(count up to 5)
Last line:
…That they played until the day was done!
Credit: Mel’s Desk

Get a downloadable ukulele songsheet here!

Thumbnail of ukulele songsheet for One Dinosaur Went Out to Play

Craft: Shape-o-Saurus
Make a dino using simple shapes. This was a tough one to do on a windy day – shapes blew everywhere! But the kids still enjoyed it. I created a template to get all the shapes for two dinos on one sheet of construction paper, which you can download here. I printed them on red, green, and purple, but you could do any color you like.

Printable Shape-o-Saurus Template

photo of shape-o-saurus craft - purple shapes on a black paper make a stegosaurus. triangles, half-circles, circles, and rectangles make up the body.

Transportation: 6/28/21

Another easily adapted theme from sessions I’ve done in the past. I used a new-to-me book and tried to keep the craft as simple as possible. I figured a familiar song would be welcome and the kiddos were happy to call out the Wheels on the Bus verses we did together.

Book: Toad on the Road: A Cautionary Tale by Stephen Shaskan

book cover of Toad on the Road

Ukulele Song: The Wheels on the Bus
The wheels on the bus go round and round, (circle arms)
Round and round, Round and round.
The wheels on the bus go round and round,
All through the town.

Additional verses:
The wipers on the bus go Swish, swish, swish (wiper motion)
The doors on the bus go open and shut (open/close hands)
The horn on the bus goes Beep, beep, beep (push a horn)
The driver on the bus says “Move on back” (cock thumb back)
The people on the bus go up and down (bounce up and down)
The baby on the bus says “Wah, wah, wah” (wring hands at eyes)
The parents on the bus say “Shush, shush, shush.” (bring index finger to lips)

Get a downloadable ukulele songsheet here!

Thumbnail of ukulele songsheet for The Wheels on the Bus

Craft: Name Train
Simple craft this time. I printed a train engine on two halves of 11×17 paper and provided construction paper squares to make cars. (My cars were too big for kids to have one per letter, so we figured out how to get their name on using 4 cars or less…) For a little extra sensory experience, we glued down cotton ball steam – which is hard to see in the picture!

Download the train template (print to 11×17 paper and cut in half)

photo of name train craft. long rectangular (5.5"x17") white paper with a train engine printed on the left side, followed by purple, green, blue, and orange rectangles behind it. Letters on each train car spell EMILY. Cotton is glued to the smoke stack on the engine.

Arctic: 7/15/21

A cold weather theme for the middle of summer! I had an inflatable globe I’d intended to bring to point out the arctic and antarctic (the fact that polar bears and penguins get grouped together is one of my pet peeves), but I’d left it behind. Oh, well, next time! I also left the ukulele at home this week on purpose – our song worked better with motions, and I brought our storytime scarves for it. I added a verse about the dryer since it felt wrong to wash without drying!

Book: A Polar Bear in the Snow by Mac Barnett & Shawn Harris

book cover of A Polar Bear in the Snow

Scarf Song: The Walrus Washes His Winter Coat
Oh, the walrus washes his winter coat
Down by the wavy ocean
He adds some water and he adds some soap
and he waits…and he waits…and he waits.

Then the laundry shakes, shakes, shakes
The laundry shakes and shakes and shakes
The laundry shakes, shakes, shakes
until it’s clean. (repeat)

Additional verses:
The laundry spins … until it’s clean
The laundry tumbles … until it’s dry
Credit: Brytani Fraser via Jbrary

Craft: Polar Bear Scene
This was inspired by Tompkins County Public Library (NY). I printed a picture of a polar bear on dark blue construction paper, and gave kids chalk and cotton balls. They could choose to fill the bear with either chalk or cotton, or the snow (or really, whatever they wanted.) I showed them examples of both and let them go. It was fun to see the variety of what they made.

Olympics: 7/22/21

This theme was actually not one I’d ever done before, so I pulled a lot of books to see what might fit. I considered Peanut Goes for the Gold by Jonathan Van Ness & Gillian Reid – it’s super cute and a pretty recent title (plus, Peanut uses they/them pronouns – bonus!), but ultimately decided to go with Jabari Jumps. I’d thought it would be more relatable, and worked with the song I’d chosen. Our craft was an abstract process art piece that the kids really got into.

Book: Jabari Jumps by Gaia Cornwall

book cover of Jabari Jumps

Ukulele Song: If You’re Going to the Pool
(tune of If You’re Happy and You Know It)
If you’re going to the pool, wear your suit
If you’re going to the pool, wear your suit
If you’re going to the pool, then a suit will keep you cool
If you’re going to the pool, wear your suit
(Additional verses: hat, flip flops, sunglasses, what else?)
Credit: Teeny Tiny Library

Craft: Olympic Rings
Inspired by the Happy Hooligans blog, this was a simple process art. I brought paper plates, tempera paint, toilet paper tubes, and construction paper, showed them how to make a ring, and let them at it! Some were done in three minutes, some lingered for ten.

photo of olympic ring craft - rings are randomly stamped on the page from toilet paper tubes in black, red, yellow, green, red, and blue.

Jungle: 7/29/21

The last session! Our book was on the longer side and the group got a little wiggly during it, so perhaps it is a better fit for slightly older kids – maybe kindergarten. The other option I was thinking of was Oh, No! by Candace Fleming & Eric Rohmann, which might have been better with the interactive option for the repeated phrase. I set up the chant by talking about monkeys and what the phrase “go bananas” meant – that helped them know exactly what to do on the last line! And the craft was one I was pretty proud of – I’d seen this lion fork painting at Crafty Morning and adapted the idea to painting the tiger’s stripes! (Since grouping savanna animals with jungle animals is another pet peeve of mine…) I found a picture of a stripeless tiger, made some jungle leaves, and the kids built their scene.

Book: Mr. Tiger Goes Wild by Peter Brown

book cover of Mr. Tiger Goes Wild

Action Chant: Bananas Unite!
Bananas……unite!
Peel bananas, peel, peel bananas (x2)
Chop bananas, chop chop bananas (x2)
Mash bananas, mash mash bananas (x2)
Eat bananas, eat, eat bananas (x2)
Goooooooooo BANANAS!
Credit: Jbrary

Craft: Tiger in the Jungle
I asked the kids to glue down all the parts and pieces first – leaves and tiger, then gave them forks to dip into black paint to add the stripes. Lastly, they could draw any other elements on their page, such as vines or other animals.

picture of tiger craft - orange tiger on a green paper, with 4 different colored leaves glued on. The tiger's stripes are made with the tines of a fork.

Preschool Storytime: Hello & Goodbye

Posted on by msemilylibrary

This was the end of my storytime season – at my library we take the month of May off for planning our summer reading program. We start back up in June, and I’ll be doing OUTDOOR STORYTIMES! I’m very excited to be seeing the kids and caregivers in person again (and a little scared, too – will I remember names? Will it be terrible? Have I lost all my in-person skills?) Deep breath – we’ll be good.

See another version of this theme from 2026.

You can see the virtual program that does not include the full books read aloud here.

Early Literacy Tip: Helping children cope with transitions is something we caregivers can do mindfully, whether going from one activity to another or going to a new school or moving to a new house. Ease into transitions by creating or continuing routines that evolve as a child gets older. A goodbye routine might be a special hug and kiss, but can evolve into pat and a smile by the time they are “big kids.” Simple songs can signal going to bed (it’s time to go bed, it’s time to go bed, heigh-ho the derry-o, it’s time to go to bed) or time alerts (5 minutes until bed… 3 minutes until bed…) As you show your child ways to cope, they will develop their own internal transition skills.

Welcome Song: We Clap and Sing Hello

Rhyme: How Do You Say Hello?
Hey! Hi! Howdy! Yo!
There are many ways to say hello!
Wave your hand. Nod your head
Smile big or wink instead
Blow a kiss. Tip your hat
Shake your hands. Give a pat
Of all the ways to say hello,
Here’s the way I like to go…
HELLO! (choose your favorite!)
Credit: Storytime Katie

In this book, a little girl named Carmelita loves to say hello to all the people in her neighborhood. Many of them speak a different language, so she’s learned to say hello many different ways.
Read: Say Hello! by Rachel Isadora

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!
Say goodbye. Say goodbye.
Credit: adapted from the traditional

Action Song: Say Hello to Your Toes
(tune of London Bridge)
Say hello to your toes, to your toes, to your toes!
Say hello to your toes. Hello, toes!
(repeat for knees, tummies, elbows, middle, etc.)
Credit: Storytime Secrets via the Reading Room

Fingerplay: Open, Shut Them (Hello/Goodbye Version)
Open, shut them, open, shut them
Put your hands down low, low, low
Open, shut them, open, shut them
Wave and say hello-lo-lo!

Open, shut them, open, shut them
Raise your hands up high, high, high
Open, shut them, open, shut them
Wave and say goodbye, bye, bye!
Credit: One Little Librarian

This one is a little long, but it’s so sweet.
Read: Hello Goodbye Dog by Maria Gianferrari & Patrice Barton

Using this farm set from Oriental Trading, I hid various animals behind farm objects, with little bits of them sticking out.
Flannel Song: Can We Find?
(tune of Do You Know the Muffin Man?)
Can we find a pink pig? A pink pig? A pink pig?
Can we find a pink pig? We want to say HELLO! (oink, oink!)
(can be used for any hide-and-seek type game at home!)
Credit: Sunflower Storytime

Action 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! (blow a kiss!)
(can you think of other goodbye rhymes? wave goodbye, butterfly, toodle-oo, kangaroo, gotta go, buffalo, take care, teddy bear, etc)
Credit: King County Library System

Discuss: This is our last storytime before our summer programs, so we’ll be saying goodbye for a little while, but I’ll be planning and getting ready to have some amazing fun storytimes for you starting again in June. This next book is about how saying goodbye to one thing always means saying hello to something else.

Read: Goodbye Brings Hello by Dianne White & Daniel Wiseman

Action Rhyme: Thank You Rhyme
My hands say thank you with a clap, clap, clap
And my feet say thank you with a tap, tap, tap
Clap, clap, clap; tap, tap, tap
We roll our hands around and we say goodbye
Credit: Mansfield/Richland County Public Library (OH)

Ukulele Song: Hello Goodbye
See songsheet for lyrics. I couldn’t resist singing this classic Beatles tune for a Hello & Goodbye theme! Honestly, it’s kind of perfect for contrary toddlers. I simplified it for storytime, but kept the full song on the sheet in case you have time or want to play the whole thing on your own. (The parts I eliminated for storytime are in gray.)
You can channel the original from the Beatles, or maybe try to embody Caspar Babypants! If you’re in-person and not a singer, you could play these recordings instead.

Get a downloadable ukulele songsheet for “Hello Goodbye” here!

Craft: Hello Goodbye Elephant
Another simple craft from Sunflower Storytime. I love her printables! I had (too much?) fun making a purple elephant with pink polka dots.

Update 4/21/23: Since the Sunflower Storytime blog is no longer available, I’ll share the downloads that I had saved from their site. Download the Hello Goodbye Elephant here!

I also suggested these alternative titles during the permanent YouTube video.
Say Hello Like This! by Mary Murphy
Evelyn Del Rey Is Moving Away by Meg Medina & Sonia Sánchez
Goodbye, Friend! Hello, Friend! by Cori Doerrfeld

Closing Rhyme: Tickle the Stars

This storytime was presented virtually on 4/27/21.

Storytime Handout:

Preschool Storytime: Bugs

Posted on by msemilylibrary

Bugs are so fun, and I feel like kids have more of a fascination than the fear and disgust that many adults have. Maybe because they are closer to the ground? I used the unscientific term “bugs” for this storytime, since I wanted to be able to include non-insects like spiders, roly-polys, and worms. Maybe “creepy crawlies” is another synonym to use!

You can see the virtual program that does not include the full books read aloud here.

Early Literacy Tip: Go ahead and use words that are unfamiliar to your children. Don’t replace words in books that they may not understand. Explain them. When you talk with them try to use the word for a specific thing. For example, if you see a bug, call it a bug, but also the kind if you know it, like a cicada or praying mantis.

Welcome Song: We Clap and Sing Hello

I used one of my small felt ladybugs for this – pictured below.
Rhyme: 1, 2, 3, There’s a Bug on Me
1, 2, 3, there’s a bug on me! (pretend to brush it off)
Where did it go? (look around)
I don’t know! (shrug shoulders)
Credit: Perry County (OH) Library Storytime via Library Village

Read: Some Bugs by by Angela DiTerlizzi & Brendan Wenzel

This flannel was a lot of fun to make. I have really been enjoying finding clipart and then transforming it into multilayered flannel pieces. (My favorite is little roly-poly, who curls up when you tap him (flip him over))
Flannel/Rhythm Chant: Going on a Bug Hunt
Repeat between each bug:
We’re going on a bug hunt!
We’re going to see some big ones.
What a sunny day! Are you ready? OK!

Oh, my! A bee! A black & yellow bee, Flying over the flowers. BUZZ
Oh, my! An ant! A tiny, black ant, Crawling through the grass. SHH
Oh, my! A grasshopper! A big, green grasshopper, Hopping around the tree. BOING
Oh, my! A butterfly! A pretty, orange butterfly, Floating in the sky. WHOOSH
Oh, my! A spider! A big black spider, Creeping on the tree. CREEP
Oh, my! A ladybug! A bright red ladybug, climbing up a flower. CLIMB
Oh, my! A roly-poly! A gray, armored roly-poly, hiding under a rock. ROLL
Credit: adapted from Small Town Story Time Lady Blog

Picture of felt bug hunt set, including a tree trunk, grass, flower, and rock, with a roly poly, bee, ladybug, butterfly, ant, grasshopper, and spider.
Closeup of the roly poly felt flipped to the other side, showing it rolled up in a ball.

I didn’t end up doing this one, but it’s a fun one for babies and toddlers.
Bounce: I’m a Little Beetle
I’m a little beetle and I wiggle all day (bounce)
If you get too close to me, I’ll FLY away! (lift or jump at end)
Repeat with other bugs that fly or jump:
bumblebee, ladybug, grasshopper, dragonfly…
Credit: Mel’s Desk

Song: The Itsy Bitsy Spider
The itsy bitsy spider climbed up the water spout
Down came the rain and washed the spider out
Out came the sun and dried up all the rain
And the itsy bitsy spider climbed up the spout again
Repeat with a “great big” spider and a “eensy weensy” spider, making your hands and voice match.
Credit: traditional

What a gorgeous book. I loved looking for Poppy when she was trying to blend in to the background at social functions.
Read: A Way with Wild Things by Larissa Theule & Sara Palacios

I used five of the small ladybugs from a set made by a predecessor for this song, one for the 1,2,3 rhyme above, and nine (plus three paper ones) for Ladybugs’ Picnic.
Flannel/Counting Song: Five Little Ladybugs
adapted tune of “Five Little Ducks”
Five little ladybugs climbing up my door
One flew away and then there were four

Oh, ladybug, ladybug I’m happy to play,
Ladybug ladybug don’t go away

Four… climbing up a tree… then there were three…
Three… climbing up my shoe… then there were two…
Two… playing in the sun… then there was one…
One… on my honey bun… then there were none…
Credit: adapted from Betsy Diamant-Cohen

Felt ladybugs in various sizes, including 2 large, 3 medium, and 5 small.

Movement: Bug Cube
Many librarians use a song cube during storytime, to add some interest and randomization to the familiar songs and rhymes they repeat. I saw a very cute version of this with bug movements, and decided to create my own. It fits a standard “cube” shaped tissue box. Yes, the sides are a bit larger than the top and bottom, but we’re not going to Vegas here.

Download a copy of my template here!

Picture of bug cube, showing three sides which say "march like an ant" "zip like a dragonfly" and "buzz like a bee" with an illustration of each bug.

This goes beyond the standard counting book by counting to 10 on each page, split between bugs and plants, and using all the various ways to get to ten: 1+9. 2+8, 3+7, etc.
Read: 100 Bugs! A Counting Book by Kate Narita & Suzanne Kaufman

A simple but seriously fun song that brings back the nostalgia from my own childhood, watching Sesame Street reruns. The verses go a little fast, so practice a bit so you don’t get tongue-tied. The arrows in the songsheet reminded me whether the melody goes up or down, as it changes at various parts. Listen to the original and you’ll get it. I put up 12 ladybugs on the flannel board to reinforce the number concept, using some paper ones since I only had 9 small bugs from the set I inherited from my predecessor.
Ukulele Song: Ladybugs’ Picnic
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 ,8 ,9, 10, 11, 12
Ladybugs came to the ladybugs’ picnic

They had twelve sacks so they ran sack races
And they fell on their backs and they fell on their faces
The ladybugs 12 At the ladybugs’ picnic

They played jump rope but the rope it broke
So they just sat around telling knock-knock jokes
The ladybugs 12 At the ladybugs’ picnic

1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 ,8 ,9, 10, 11, 12
And they chatted away At the ladybugs’ picnic

They talked about the high price of furniture and rugs
And fire insurance for ladybugs
The ladybugs 12 At the ladybugs’ picnic. 12!
Credit: Sesame Street

Get a downloadable ukulele songsheet for “Ladybugs’ Picnic” here!

Thumbnail of ukulele songsheet

Craft: Clothespin Dragonflies
A simple but fun 3D craft. I knew we had some sparkly pipe cleaners in our supply closet, which sealed the deal. Thanks to Crafty Morning for the inspiration!

Picture of dragonfly craft using a wooden clothespin with blue and green marker stripes, googly eyes, and sparkly wings made from silver and green pipe cleaners.

I also suggested these alternative titles during the permanent YouTube video.
Backyard Bugs by Jill McDonald
Stories from Bug Garden by Lisa Moser & Gwen Millward (seriously charming!)
There’s a Bug on My Book! by John Himmelman

Closing Rhyme: Tickle the Stars

This storytime was presented virtually on 4/20/21.

Storytime Handout:

Handout including book suggestions, rhyme and song lyrics.

Preschool Storytime: In the Garden

Posted on by msemilylibrary

Another classic springtime theme. I loved that there were some good recent titles about gardening!

You can see the virtual program that does not include the full books read aloud here.

Early Literacy Tip: When your children are playing, think about what words you might write or what signs you can make to make the play more language-rich. For example, if children are playing gardening, you might ask what plants they are growing and then make signs for them, saying the letters as you spell the words.

Welcome Song: We Clap and Sing Hello

Discussion: Have you noticed all of the new growing things in the world? Do any of you have a garden or some plants that you’ve helped to grow? A garden can be outside in your yard, or you can grow some great plants in pots or in a window garden. Let’s see how a plant grows from a tiny seed. What does it need? Water, soil, sunshine!

Garden tableau: the word garden spelled at the top, five flowers, butterfly, carrot, worm, and lettuce leaf.

Fingerplay: Dig a Little Hole
Dig a little hole, Plant a little seed
Pour a little water, Pull a little weed
Chase a little bug, Heigh-ho, there he goes!
Give a little sunshine, Grow a little rose
Credit: SurLaLune Storytime via Storytime Katie

Read: The Hidden Rainbow by Christie Matheson

Song: Will Our Flowers Bloom?
(tune of Wheels on the Bus)
The seeds from the pack go in the ground (poke with finger)
In the ground, in the ground
The seeds from the pack go in the ground
Will our flowers bloom?

additional verses:
The rain from the sky goes drip drip drop… (flutter fingers)
The sun above is bright and hot… (arms make a circle)
Our little seeds are sprouting fast… (fingers grow upward)
(last line) Look! Our flowers bloomed! (spread hands)
Credit: Storytime with Miss Jennifer

Flannel Rhyme: Five Little Flowers
Five little flowers growing in a row
The first one said, “We need rain to grow.”
The second one said, “Yes, we need water!”
The third one said, “Whew, it’s getting hotter!”
The fourth one said, “Look, there are clouds in the sky.”
The fifth one said, “I wonder why?”
Then “BOOM” went the thunder, (clap hands)
And “ZAP” went the lightening (draw zig-zag in air)
That springtime storm was kind of frightening.
But were the flowers scared? No, no, no. (shake head)
They knew they needed rain to grow, grow, grow.
Credit: Adventures in Storytime

Felt set with a sun, grey clouds, lightning bolt, three raindrops, and five different-colored flowers, pink, blue, orange, purple, and yellow.

I LOVE the little worm protagonist with his one sneaker!
Read: Goodnight, Veggies by Diana Murray & Zachariah OHora

I found these cute carrot flannels at Target before Easter last year, so adapted a flower rhyme. They kind of remind me of the carrots from the book Creepy Carrots!
Flannel Counting Rhyme: Out in the Garden
Out in the garden growing in the sun
Were 4 tasty carrots and my mommy picked one! (nom, nom!)
Out in the garden growing in the sun
Were 3 tasty carrots and my daddy picked one! (nom, nom!)
Out in the garden growing in the sun
Were 2 tasty carrots and the baby picked one! (nom, nom!)
Out in the garden growing in the sun
Was 1 tasty carrot and and I picked that one! (nom, nom!)
Credit: adapted from Pasadena Public Library (CA)

Felt pieces of carrots with googly eyes and smiles

I tried to pair an animal and what they might be after in the garden for each of these.
Guessing Game: Something In My Garden
There’s something in my garden, Now, what can it be?
There’s something in my garden,That I can’t really see.
I hear its funny sound…. RIBBIT – RIBBIT – RIBBIT
A … FROG is what I found! RIBBIT – RIBBIT – RIBBIT

Repeat with other animals found in a garden. I used:
Ribbit – Frog – bugs from a lettuce plant
Thump – Rabbit – nibbling a carrot
Squeak – Mouse – tasting a blackberry
Caw – Crow – pecking at some corn
Buzz – Bee – gathering pollen from a flower
Wiggle – Worm – chewing an old leaf
Flutter – Butterfly – sipping nectar from a hyacinth
Credit: Storytime Katie

Laminated printed "flannel" showing a frog, lettuce plant that has bugs on it, rabbit, carrot, crow, corn, mouse, blackberry, worm, flat brown leaf, hyacinth flower, bee, and butterfly.

Read: One Little Lot by Diane C. Mullen & Oriol Vidal

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

I like to ate, ate, ate ayples and ba-nay-nays
I like to ate, ate, ate ayples and ba-nay-nays

I like to eet, eet, eet eeples and ba-nee-nees
I like to eet, eet, eet eeples and ba-nee-nees

I like to ite, ite, ite iples and ba-ni-nis
I like to ite, ite, ite iples and ba-ni-nis

I like to ote, ote, ote oples and ba-no-nos
I like to ote, ote, ote oples and ba-no-nos

I like to ute, ute, ute uples and ba-nu-nus
I like to ute, ute, ute uples and ba-nu-nus
Credit: Raffi, from the album One Light, One Sun

Download a ukulele songsheet for Apples and Bananas

thumbnail of apples and bananas ukulele songsheet

Craft: Cupcake Liner Flowers
I provided a blue construction paper background, various cupcake liners in different colors and sizes, and several strips of green construction paper that they could cut or tear into any kind of leaf shape. Thanks to Storytime Katie and Literary Hoots for the inspiration.

Flower craft made from cupcake liners on a blue background with strips of green construction paper as leaves and stems.

I also booktalked these alternative titles during the permanent YouTube video.
A Peaceful Garden by Lucy London & Christa Pierce
Up, Down, and Around by Katherine Ayres & Nadine Bernard Westcott
Anywhere Farm by Phyllis Root & G. Brian Karas

Closing Rhyme: Tickle the Stars

This storytime was presented virtually on 4/13/21.

Storytime Handout:

Handout with suggested books, rhyme and song lyrics.