movement – Storytime with Ms. Emily Library

gallery showing salsa lullaby and kitchen dance book covers

Storytime: ¡Bailemos! Let’s Dance! (Hispanic Heritage Month)

Posted on October 10, 2025October 11, 2025 by msemilylibrary

I don’t think I did a Hispanic Heritage Month storytime last year, so it was time! This year, I focused on dancing! I found a couple of fantastic new books to use, although I am using a lot of the songs and rhymes that I have in the past. Thankfully, they fit! As always, I am very careful to let my storytime families know that I am not a native speaker, but I am a learner (910 day streak on Duolingo!) I have worked with some of my Spanish-speaking friends and storytime families to get advice on songs and rhymes to include, as well as checking my pronunciation – though all mistakes I end up making are mine! There are so many great books by Spanish-speaking and Latine-heritage authors and illustrators it’s always fun to discover new ones and showcase them to storytime families, whether they are Spanish speakers at home or not.

Find posts on past Hispanic Heritage Month storytimes here!

salsa lullaby book cover with an illustration of a family (mother, father, baby) dancing with musical notes streaming above them

kitchen dance book cover, showing a family (father, mother, son, daughter) dancing in a kitchen

Early Literacy Tip: Studies show that children raised in bilingual environments develop core cognitive skills like decision-making and problem-solving — before they even speak. And giving your child the gift of two or more languages and cultures is one they will appreciate their whole life. If you aren’t bilingual, that’s okay! You can still model an attitude of learning and respect for others by being curious about other languages and cultures. As long as you expose them to words in a consistent way with the same context, they’ll reap benefits.

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: Hispanic Heritage Month runs from Sept 15-Oct 15. Hispanic means Spanish-speaking. I’m not a native Spanish speaker, but I’m a learner! Today we are going to celebrate Spanish and Spanish-speakers. And we’re going to celebrate with dancing! In Spanish, the word bailar means “to dance.” And bailemos means – “Let’s dance!”

Let’s start by dancing with our hands. Can you flip your hand back and forth?
Song: La linda manita
La linda manita (flip hand back and forth)
que tiene el bebé
qué linda, qué bella
qué preciosa es
Source: traditional, watch: https://youtu.be/OWAunlWlMUI

La linda manita thumbnail, with a graphic of a line drawing of an adult hand holding a baby's hand. click the image to download a non-branded PDF

Transition: If You’re Ready for a Story*

I heard this story at a storytime at my home library with my little one earlier in the month. Yay for learning from other librarians! I put it on hold to use in storytime and placed a book order for my library immediately. It is mostly in English, but has key verbs and phrases in Spanish. The fact that it is about a family dancing was lovely.
Read: Salsa Lullaby by Jen Arena & Erika Meza

My backup title is one my library already had though I just discovered it. I love that it is about an Afro-Latino family. Again, it is mostly in English, but has Spanish words and phrases scattered throughout. Lots of noises to make and the illustrations show fantastic movement.
Read: Kitchen Dance by Maurie J Manning

Here’s a traditional (and silly!) counting song about the elephant. He is having fun balancing and dancing on a …spiderweb! Can you imagine a spiderweb strong enough to hold an elephant?
Counting Song: Canción de los elefantes
Un elefante se balanceaba, sobre la tela de una araña,
como veía que resistía, fue a buscar a otro elefante

Dos elefantes se balanceaban, sobre la tela de una araña,
como veían que resistía, fueron a buscar otro elefante.

Tres … Quatro…

Cinco elefantes se balanceaban, sobre la tela de una araña,
la telaraña se debilitó, ¡y todo al suelo se cayó!
Source: traditional, watch: https://youtu.be/I0IW4101ew0

Flannel for Canción de los elefantes, showing a white spiderweb made from pipe cleaners and 5 colored felt elephants, orange, blue, yellow, green, and purple.

Canción de los elefantes thumbnail, with a graphic of a spiderweb in the corner and below two elephants walking tight-rope style on a line. click the image to download a non-branded PDF

Let’s bring out the music that’s in our bodies so we can DANCE!
Action Song: Mi cuerpo hace música
Mi cuerpo, mi cuerpo hace música
Mi cuerpo, mi cuerpo hace música
Mis manos hacen (clap,clap, clap)
Mis pies hacen (stomp, stomp, stomp)
Mi boca hace: la, la, la! (point at mouth)
Mi cuerpo hace: cha, cha, cha! (dance)
Source: Sol y Canto, from the album El Doble de Amigos. Watch with motions at Jbrary

mi cuerpo hace musica thumbnail, with a graphic of two kids, a brown skinned girl and a lighter skinned boy. Next to the words for the body parts are close ups of those parts from the kids - hands, feet, and mouth. click the image to download a non-branded PDF

Here’s a circle song – similar to Ring Around the Rosie. (Translate song lyrics) At the end we fall down and go to sleep!
Circle Song: A la rueda, rueda
(walk in a circle, and fall down and pretend to sleep at the end!)
A la rueda, rueda, De pan y canela
Dame un besito, Y vete para la escuela
Spoken: Si no quieres ir, Acuéstate a dormir!

To the wheel, wheel, of bread and cinnamon
Give me a kiss, and go to school
If you don’t want to go, Lay down to sleep!
Source: traditional, watch here: https://www.mamalisa.com/?t=es&p=2792

a la rueda rueda thumbnail, with a graphic of a brown-skinned baby laying with their head on their arms. click the image to download a non-branded PDF

Confession: I am not a big fan of this song, in any language. I know the kids like it, though, so we did it in English first and then in Spanish.
Action Song: Cabeza y hombros, rodillas y pies
(Head, Shoulders, Knees, & Toes)
Cabeza y hombros, rodillas y pies (rodillas y pies)
Cabeza y hombros, rodillas y pies (rodillas y pies)
Ojos, orejas, boca y nariz
Cabeza y hombros, rodillas y pies (rodillas y pies)
Source: traditional

cabeza y hombros rodillas y pies thumbnail, with a graphic of four kids, touching in a line, their head, shoulders, knees, and toes. click the image to download a non-branded PDF

Now to get our shakers out and get to dancing.
Shaker Practice: Shake Your Shaker High
(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

Shaker Rhyme: Egg Shakers Up
Egg shakers up
Egg shakers down
Egg shakers dancing all around the town
Dance them on your shoulders
Dance them on your head
Dance them on your knees
And tuck them into bed (tuck shaker under your arm)
Source: adapted from the traditional Tommy Thumbs

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

I showed the video, and encouraged them to dance with their shakers.
Body Song: Baila, baila
Cuando un amigo baila, baila, baila, baila!
Pies = Feet
Rodillas = Knees
Caderas = Hips
Manos = Hands
Cabeza = Head
Source: Baila, Baila

baila baila thumbnail, with a graphic of diverse kids dancing. click the image to download a non-branded PDF

Lastly, we got out the bubbles! This was a free dance with shakers and bubbles.
Recorded Song: Pop, Pop, Pop
by Nathalia From the album “Dream a Little”

Album cover for Dream a Little/Sueña un poquito from Nathalia.

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:
My library is going through a transition, where our interim programmer who covered my maternity leave is no longer doing the Monday/Tuesday sessions while the new person who will be the permanent full time programmer is getting onboarded. Because we were down two sessions that are often full, I offered to do a second session back-to-back on Wednesdays. So, no crafts in the month of October. Crafts will be back in November!

Play Time
I put out a laundry basket of baby toys – rattles and cars, sorters and stackers, toy phones and spinners. For the older toddlers and siblings, we have foam blocks, soft food toys, puzzles, plastic farm animals, and lacing cards and I rotate among a few of these options each session. We play for 5-10 minutes at the most, then I ring the bell and ask the kids to help me clean up. The clean up bit is good practice for them – I often say “it’s hard to say goodbye to toys, so that’s why we practice every storytime!” I think that helps the grown ups who may be embarrassed that their kid is crying or refusing to put a toy away. So much of what we do in storytime is practicing skills, and I don’t expect the kids to “do it right’ every time, or even most times.

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)
Fiesta Babies – Carmen Tafolla & Amy Córdova
How do you say? /¿Como se dice? – Angela Dominguez
Hola amigo! / Hello, Friend – 123 Andrés & Sara Palacios
Téo’s Tutu – Maryann Jacob Macias & Alea Marley
My Name is Celia / Me llamo Celia – Monica Brown & Rafael López
A Song of Frutas – Margarita Engle & Sara Palacios
La Guitarrista – Lucky Diaz & Micah Player
Jazz for Lunch – Jarrett Dapier & Eugenia Mello
Bailando con Abuelito – Linda Bozzo & Mudassir M Abid
Feel the Beat: Dance Poems that Zing from Salsa to Swing – Marilyn Singer & Kristi Valiant
How Do You Dance? – Thyra Heder

This storytime was presented in-person on 10/8/25.

Storytime Handout:

handout with book suggestions, rhyme and song lyrics.

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

† Click the image of rhyme/song sheets to download a non-branded PDF

book covers of gather round, red canoe shows up at two, and the sharing book.

Storytime: Camping

Posted on August 8, 2025August 16, 2025 by msemilylibrary

Welcome back, friends! I’m back from leave and started up my first storytime last week. I’m down to part-time hours, so I’m offering a Wednesday morning Family Time (ages 0-3.5 and siblings) and a Wednesday afternoon Book Babies (0-12 months, or pre-walkers.) I’m collaborating with a coworker, who is offering a Monday and Tuesday storytime with the same theme as my Family Time. Since we are both part-time now, we’re switching off all the planning duties for our weekly themes, and I started with a camping theme.

Coming back after four months away does feel like riding a bike – I know how to do it, but getting back on I was a bit wobbly. I felt like I could have read the room better and skipped activities or brought the group back with more movement. This new set up will take some getting used to – having three storytimes per week used to mean that I could tweak and try different things as the days went by, but now I’m one and done, with no opportunity to try again.

New challenges, new opportunities, right? Camping is a theme I’ve done once before, way back in 2019 and at a different library for a different age group. So this time around I’ve revamped it quite a bit, and found some new songs and rhymes that I liked.

I’ve also got some ideas simmering, so stay tuned for some new Storytime with Ms. Emily Library content coming this fall!

You can find another version of this theme from 2019.

gather round book cover, with an illustration of a campfire with marshmallows being roasted around it and fireflies in the background

red canoe shows up at two book cover, with a photograph of a red canoe at the shore of a tree lined lake.

the sharing book cover with two children hugging in the foreground and a forest with campsites in the background

Early Literacy Tip: Singing with our children is one way to help them hear the smaller sounds in words, especially if there is a different note for each syllable. In “Walking, Walking” the word “walking” has two syllables and two different notes. Learning to hear the individual sounds of words is called phonological awareness, and developing this skill will help your child later with reading.

Welcome Song: Hello, Friends* †

Lifting Rhyme: Toast in the Toaster*

Intro: Has anyone been camping before? It’s so fun! You get to spend time outdoors, observe nature, cook over a campfire, and sleep in a tent!

Fingerplay: Here Are the Campers
Here are the campers (hold up 2 fingers)
Here is the tent (bend fingers of other hand over like tent)
And when it was night that’s where they went (fingers go under other hand)
Fireflies flicker in a friendly way (fists open & shut)
And the campers sleep tight ‘Til the light of day (head on folded hands)
Source: adapted from Sturgis Kids Wiki

here are the campers thumbnail, with a graphic of a modern dome tent surrounded by fireflies. click the image to download a non-branded PDF

Transition: If You’re Ready for a Story*

This is a beautiful book, and short, but it ended up being a little too abstract, or maybe too quiet for my group. I ended up just describing the pictures on the last few pages rather than reading the text.
Read: Gather Round by David Covell

Two fun books that were my backups. I like to give myself options and choose a book based on the moment. Looking back, I probably should have chosen Red Canoe for my audience. It’s pretty short and snappy. A few of the boats aren’t “camping” boats (like the tugboat at 1:00), but most of the rest are.
Backup titles: Red Canoe Shows Up at Two by Victoria Allenby OR The Sharing Book by Dianne White & Simone Shin

I wanted to highlight a lot of the things that I love best about camping, and hiking is one of them! I set the scene for each verse before we sang the song. I always want what we do to make sense, and telling the “story” of our hike gets everyone more excited.
Let’s go on a hike! Okay, we’ll start by walking down the trail, then – oh! there’s a log fallen over the path! We’ll have to jump over it. Then a long, straight stretch – we should race!
Action Song: Walking, Walking
(tune of Frère Jacques)
Walking, walking (Walking, walking)
Jump, jump, jump (Jump, jump, jump)
Running, running, running (Running, running, running)
Now we stop! (Now we stop)

[Okay, let’s keep hiking – until we get to a stream. We’ll need to hop across the rocks. And beyond that there’s a large ridge – can we climb to the top?]
Hiking, hiking (Hiking, hiking)
Hop, hop, hop (Hop, hop, hop)
Climbing, climbing, climbing (Climbing, climbing, climbing)
Now we stop! (Now we stop!)
[Oh, it’s so beautiful up here! Let’s look around – I see the stream, and the trail. Can we take a big breath of fresh air?]
Source: adapted from Jbrary

walking walking thumbnail, with a graphic of a pair of hiking boots. click the image to download a non-branded PDF

It’s going to be dark soon, let’s build our fire. There are so many sights and sounds when you go camping that you don’t see or hear at home.
Action Song: The Fire at the Camp
(tune of Wheels on the Bus)
The fire at the camp goes Crackle, crackle, POP (wiggle fingers, then clap)
Crackle, crackle, POP, Crackle, crackle, POP
The fire at the camp goes Crackle, crackle, POP
All night long!

Additional verses:
Fireflies at night go blink, blink, blink… (open and close hands)
Rain on my tent goes pitter, pitter, PAT… (pat lap)
The moon up above glows so bright… (circle arms above head)
The water in the river goes whoosh… (move hand up and down)
The leaves in the trees go rustle… (wave hands)
Source: The Crazy Outdoor Mama via Pinterest

the fire at the camp thumbnail, with a graphic of a fire transposed behind the lyrics of the first verse. click the image to download a non-branded PDF

I didn’t end up doing this one but had it available in case I needed it.
Fingerplay: Two Little Fireflies
Two little fireflies Blinking in the sky
One blinked low And one blinked high
Fly away low, Fly away high
Come back low Come back high

Two little fireflies Blinking in the grass
One blinked slow And one blinked fast
Fly away slow, Fly away fast
Come back slow Come back fast
Source: Indiana Firefly Award 2020 Program Guide

two little fireflies thumbnail, with a graphic of two cartoon fireflies. click the image to download a non-branded PDF

When you’re camping, you may hear wildlife! Birds, squirrels, cicadas, owls. Maybe even something like a coyote! Don’t worry, these coyotes are just having fun howling at the moon.
I love using this song – it’s just a lot of fun to do all the howling and snoring!
Flannel/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)
Source: adapted by Rebecca Ballard from Nancy Stewart

five coyotes thumbnail, with a graphic of a coyote silhouette howling in front of a yellow moon. click the image to download a non-branded PDF

You might be able to go on a lake or river when you camp, so let’s row our boats.
Originally I’d planned to use scarves for this program, but we were going to use them for next week, so I changed to shakers. For several songs, including this one, we just shook our eggs in rhythm with the song.
Shaker Song: Row, Row, Row Your Boat
Row, row, row your boat
Gently down the stream
Merrily, merrily, merrily, merrily
Life is but a dream!

Rock, rock, rock your boat
Gently down the stream
If you see a crocodile
Don’t forget to SCREAM! (Aaah!)

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

row your boat thumbnail, with a graphic of a rowboat and a cartoon alligator. click the image to download a non-branded PDF

Did you know you can make popcorn over a campfire?
Shaker Rhyme: Pop, Pop, Pop
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

pop pop pop thumbnail, with a graphic of a small pile of unpopped popcorn kernels and two popped. click the image to download a non-branded PDF

Popcorn is tasty, but my FAVORITE campfire treats are s’mores!
The shaker was really just a rhythm prop for this one. We started by patting our laps and clapping, then miming the stacking of the graham crackers and chocolate, and toasting over a fire.
Shaker Rhyme: Campfire, Campfire
(in the style of Pat a Cake)
Campfire, campfire, Toast me a s’more
Graham crackers, chocolate But we need more: Marshmallow!
Toast it and roast it and Get it just right
Put it on top for a Toasted delight!
Source: adapted from The Crazy Outdoor Mama via Pinterest

campfire campfire thumbnail, with a graphic of a s'more. click the image to download a non-branded PDF

Okay, friends. It’s getting dark; it’s time to get into our tents, and find our sleeping bags, and say goodnight. Can you make twinkling stars with your shakers?
Ukulele and Shaker Song: Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star
Twinkle, twinkle, little star
How I wonder what you are
Up above the world so high
Like a diamond in the sky
Twinkle, twinkle, little star
How I wonder what you are
Source: traditional

Download a Ukulele Songsheet here!

Thumbnail for Twinkle Twinkle Little Star ukulele songsheet

twinkle twinkle thumbnail, with a graphic of a smiling blue star in front of a pink cloud. click the image to download a non-branded PDF

Action Song: Zoom, Zoom, Zoom!*

Craft: S’mores
A borrow from Miss Mariah’s Library – s’mores cross-sections using jumbo craft sticks, construction paper, and cotton balls, decorated with chalk or white crayon.

photo of s'mores craft. dk blue paper is the background, on which is a s'more made of two jumbo craft sticks as the graham crackers, a strip of brown construction paper as the chocolate, and four cotton balls as the marshmallow. stars are drawn in the background in white crayon.

Goodbye Song: See You Later Alligator*

Other books I had available for families to browse (and may work for you on this theme)
The Hike – Alison Farrell
The Camping Trip – Jennifer K. Mann
Make More S’mores – Cathy Ballou Mealey & Ariel Landy
Fatima’s Great Outdoors – Ambreen Tariq & Stevie Lewis
Maisy Goes Camping – Lucy Cousins
Hiking Day – Anne Rockwell & Lizzy Rockwell
A Bed of Stars – Jessica Love
Camp Rex – Molly Idle
Hungry Bird – Jeremy Tankard
Daddy & Me, Side by Side – Pierce Freelon & Nadia Fisher
Bear Hug – Lawrence Pringle & Kate Salley Palmer
Tiny T. Rex and the Very Dark Dark – Jonathan Stutzman & Jay Fleck

This storytime was presented in-person on 8/6/25.

Storytime Handout:

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

† Click the image of rhyme/song sheets to download a non-branded PDF

Storytime: Hop & Jump

Posted on April 23, 2025April 22, 2025 by msemilylibrary

A big movement storytime generally works pretty well, as long as there are some breaks in between. And as spring advances, my thoughts turn to some of the notable animals we haven’t seen all winter – rabbits and frogs – so this week was all about jumping and hopping. We talked a bit about the difference between a jump and a hop (a hop could be a little jump, or it could be a jump on one foot for an advanced move) and practiced both a LOT.

I’ll be taking a little break from blogging in the next couple of months. I’m so happy to say that I’ll be on maternity leave, getting to know our new little one. I wish you all a wonderful summer and look forward to catching up again in July or August!

If you're hoppy book cover with a rabbit, frog and cricket mid leap

Bounce book cover showing a dog on a big bouncing ball toy

Early Literacy Tip: Learning to “stop” is an important skill for children, both for safety as well as for impulse control. Practicing “stopping” in a fun way, like with freeze songs, helps work on this skill in a positive environment. You can also add the American Sign Language sign for “stop” to further reinforce this concept: one hand “chops” against the other as if blocking the way.

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

Warm Up Song: Wake Up, Feet* (TT) (TB) (FT)
This is a repeated song that everyone seems to enjoy. I always begin and end with feet and tummies, but find two other body parts to wiggle in the middle. I rotate between elbows, cheeks, hips, noses, arms, chins, thighs, heads, shoulders, ears, knees, and fingers.

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

Intro: Today I am very excited – I’m just feeling very bouncy, and hoppy, and jumpy! We’re going to do a lot of moving today, so get your bouncy feet ready.

Let’s practice our jumping and listening.
Action Rhyme: We Can Jump (TT) (TB) (FT)
We can jump, jump, jump, We can hop, hop, hop
We can clap, clap, clap, We can stop, stop, stop
We can nod our heads for yes
We can shake our heads for no
We can bend our knees a little bit
And sit down really slow
Source: Jen in the Library

we can jump thumbnail, with a graphic of a jumping green frog. click the image to download a non-branded PDF

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

A story you can sing! This one got a lot of chuckles from the adults in particular (especially the “slimy and scaly … nevermind” line.) It worked so well I used it for all of my sessions.
Read: If You’re Hoppy by April Pulley Sayre & Jackie Urbanovic (TT) (TB) (FT)

This was a backup title for me but I didn’t end up using it.
Read: Bounce by Doreen Cronin & Scott Menchin

My group stayed seated during the book, so this gave them a chance to act it out afterward. After the end of this song, I assured the grownups that this was the last time we’d be using this tune this storytime (pretty much 3 times in a row!)
Are YOU hoppy?
Action Song: If You’re Hoppy (TT) (TB) (FT)
If you’re hoppy and you know it give a jump
If you’re hoppy and you know it give a jump
If you’re hoppy and you know it
and you really want to show it
If you’re hoppy and you know it give a jump

additional verses:
If you’re jumpy… hop high
If you’re bouncy… baby hop
Source: adapted from Jen in the Library

if you're hoppy thumbnail, with a graphic of multiple jumping animals: a rabbit, frog, dolphin, kangaroo, and sheep. click the image to download a non-branded PDF

There’s an animal that is really good at jumping – like this!
I did this one once with the puppet and a second time demonstrating the hand movements.
Fingerplay/Puppet: Mr. Bullfrog (TT) (TB) (FT)
Here is Mr. Bullfrog (make fist)
Sitting on a rock (place fist on other palm)
He jumps into the water… (lift fist)
KERPLOP! (clap hands together)
Source: Storytime with Miss Tara and Friends

mr bullfrog thumbnail, with a graphic of a fat green bullfrog sitting on a gray rock. click the image to download a non-branded PDF

Counting Song: Five Green & Speckled Frogs (TT) (TB) (FT)
Five green and speckled frogs Sat on a hollow log
Eating the most delicious bugs (yum, yum)
One jumped into the pool Where it was nice and cool
Then there were four green speckled frogs
(count down)
Source: traditional

five green and speckled frogs thumbnail, with a graphic of a five different frogs (all with spots) sitting on a brown log. click the image to download a non-branded PDF

There’s another jumpy animal who lives far away in Australia
Fingerplay: Kangaroo (TT)
Jump, jump, jump (jump pointer finger)
Goes the kangaroo
I thought I saw one (hold up one finger)
But now I see two! (hold up two fingers)
Mommy and her baby
With his head popping out (wiggle thumb from fist)
He holds on tight (hug self)
As they jump all about! (bounce hand around)
Source: Storytime Katie

kangaroo thumbnail, with a graphic of a mother kangaroo with a joey in her pouch. click the image to download a non-branded PDF

Time to get our shakers out! Okay, let’s see if we can FREEZE when you hear the word STOP
I learned this one from Jbrary, but going back to listen to them I realized that I morphed the tune and made it my own. You can hear how I do it here!
Action/Shaker Song: We Bounce and STOP (TT) (TB) (FT)
(ASL sign for “stop” – one hand “chops” across the opposite hand)
We bounce and we bounce and we STOP
We bounce and we bounce and we STOP
We bounce and we bounce and we bounce and we bounce
And we bounce and we bounce and we STOP
(we hop… we shake… we hug…)
Source: Jbrary

we bounce and stop thumbnail, with lyrics only. click the image to download a non-branded PDF

There’s a traditional rhyme about jumping over a candlestick. Can we pretend that our shaker is a candlestick? Lay it on the ground, and we’ll try to jump over. Grown-ups, please help if needed.
Only the oldest of my kiddos were able to let go of their shakers to put them on the ground, but oh, well. This is another place where a good early literacy tip fits – that traditional nursery rhymes often use rich language that isn’t usually included in everyday conversation, and we talked briefly about what the word “nimble” means.
Nursery Rhyme: Jack Be Nimble (TT) (TB) (FT)
(at home, try using a cardboard tube or similar to jump over!)
Jack be nimble, Jack be quick
Jack jump over the candlestick!
Source: traditional

jack be nimble thumbnail, with a graphic of an old fashioned candlestick holding a white lit taper candle. An arrow is arced over the candle. click the image to download a non-branded PDF

I know you’re good at jumping – but let’s practice our counting
Recorded Song: Jumping and Counting (TT) (TB) (FT)
Source: Jim Gill (from the album Irrational Anthem and More Salutes to Nonsense)

One last chance to jump around!
Recorded Song: Shake My Sillies Out (TT) (TB) (FT)
Source: Raffi (from the album Raffi 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

A couple other recorded songs about jumping that might work for you. I added them to my take home handout but didn’t play them in storytime.
Recorded Song: Leap Frog
Source: Jazzy Ash (from the album Bon Voyage)

Recorded Song: All the Ways of Jumping Up and Down
Source: Hap Palmer (from the album Walter the Waltzing Worm)

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

Craft: Speckled Frogs (TB) (FT)
After last week’s very, very messy craft, I went easy this week. My library has a few frog die cuts, so I cut out enough so everyone could have five, as well as a brown construction paper rectangle log. All could be arranged and decorated with crayons however they liked on a background sheet of sky (or water) blue. I pointed out that two of my frogs had already jumped into the pool and were feeling nice and cool!

Speckled frog craft, showing a sky blue background sheet of construction paper with a brown paper log and five die cut frogs - two lime green and taller, three grass green and squatter.

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

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

Other books I had available for families to browse (and may work for you on this theme)
A Hippy-Hoppy Toad – Peggy Archer & Anne Wilsdorf
Jabari Jumps – Gaia Cornwall
Froggy Day – Heather Pindar & Barbara Bakos
Hop Jump – Ellen Stoll Walsh
Hop – Jorey Hurley
Jump! – Scott M. Fischer
The Ball Bounced – Nancy Tafuri
Jumpy Jack & Googily – Meg Rosoff & Sophie Blackall
Peep Leap – Elizabeth Verdick & John Bendall-Brunello
The Croaky Pokey – Ethan Long

This storytime was presented in-person on 3/31, 4/1, & 4/2/25.

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: Sports

Posted on August 9, 2024August 9, 2024 by msemilylibrary

We are back to indoor storytimes after a lovely summer outside, and I started with a Sports theme. I’m not much of an organized sports person myself, but I recognize all the good that can come from involving kids in sports and promoting physical activity for fun. Add in all the excitement that comes from the 2024 Paris Olympics and it was a great theme to explore. Plus, I found a bunch of kids sports equipment in our library storage from a long-ago grant; I’m always keen to use what we have.

Early Literacy Tip: Early experiences help to form the architecture of the brain and lay a strong foundation for both social and emotional development. Playing with other children at a young age, experiencing the fun of taking turns and sharing, and discovering that it is fun to pass a ball or beanbag to someone else and then get it back are great ways to learn important social and emotional skills. 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) (FT)

Intro: Today our theme is about sports! Sports are games that people play that help them move their bodies (which makes us feel good) and they are fun! Sometimes it can take lots of practice to learn how to play a sport really well. Can we think of some sports? There’s a big worldwide gathering of people who are the very best at their sports called the Olympics. Every four years they do it during the summer, with sports like swimming, soccer, running, gymnastics and much more. On other years, they do it during the winter, with sports like skiing, ice hockey, figure skating, and snowboarding.

Activity: Stretching (TT) (TB) (FT)
The first thing an athlete should do before doing any sports is to warm up their bodies with some stretching! Let’s stretch down to our toes, up to sky, to the left, to the right, make a star shape, opposite toe touch.

Many sports use a ball. Let’s do a rhyme and see if we can identify these.
This is the first flannel I’ve made in a good while! I made two sets of little, big, and biggest balls – since so many sports balls are different sizes, it was fun to brainstorm which ones to do. After they identified the first three balls, we did the rhyme. Then I got out the second set for them to identify, and we did it again. Lastly, we counted all the balls that were on the board – six!
Flannel/Fingerplay: Little, Big, Biggest
A little ball (make a circle with your fingers)
A bigger ball (make a larger circle with your hands)
A great big ball I see (make a large circle with your arms)
Can you count them?
1 – 2 – 3 (make 3 circles again)
Source: Storytime Katie

Sports balls flannel, showing two small balls (a white and gray golf ball and an orange ping-pong ball), two medium sized balls (a green tennis ball and a white baseball with red lacing) and two large balls (an orange basketball and a black-and-white soccer ball)

Little big biggest thumbnail, with a graphic of a golf ball, a tennis ball, and a basketball. click the image to download a non-branded PDF

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

This worked quite well for my active group.
Read: Bounce by Doreen Cronin & Scott Menchin (TT) (FT)

I tried this one with my older group, and it was okay. Not as exciting as Bounce – probably would do better with preschoolers.
Read: Clothesline Clues to Sports People Play by Kathryn Heling & Deborah Hembrook (TB)

Book cover for Clothesline clues to sports people play

Can we train like Olympians?
We didn’t do all of the actions, I think I chose four for each session. The flannel was made using graphics from Canva.
Action Song: See the Olympians (TT) (TB) (FT)
(tune of Mary Had a Little Lamb) (act out each verse)
See the runners Run, run, run
Run run run, Run run run
See the runners Run, run, run
At the Olympics!

Additional verses:
Swimmers swim… Riders jump… Gymnasts twirl…
Cyclists pedal… Soccer team kick… Crew row…
Source: Storytime in the Stacks

Photo of See the Olympians flannelboard, with printed and laminated pictures of the olympic rings, an equestrian jumping a hurdle, a woman running, a cyclist on a bicycle, a four person crew team rowing, a rhythmic gymnast in dancer pose with a long ribbon prop, a woman swimming, and a man kicking a soccer ball.

See the Olympians thumbnail, with a graphic of a light brown skinned girl with a ponytail running with a race number on her shirt. click the image to download a non-branded PDF

A fun game that isn’t in this year’s Olympics but will be next time is baseball.
Action Song: Baseball Player (TT) (TB) (FT)
(tune of Frère Jacques)
Baseball player, Baseball player (get in batter’s stance)
Swing the bat, Hit the ball (pretend to swing)
Run around the bases, Run around the bases (run in place)
Home run! Home run! (cheer)
Source: Adventures of a Bookworm

Baseball player thumbnail, with a graphic of a Black girl with a long ponytail swinging a baseball bat and connecting with a ball. click the image to download a non-branded PDF

I like this rhyme a lot, but I didn’t end up using it in any of my sessions. By this time they were all getting a little squirrely so we skipped ahead to the beanbag activities.
Being a good sport means treating each other with respect, win or lose. After a game is done, athletes shake hands with their competitors on a good game.
Rhyme: Good Game
When all the goals are scored (pretend to kick)
And the final score is on the board (point to scoreboard)
We go up to the other team who came (step forward)
And always shake hands and say, “Good game!” (shake hands)
Source: Handley Regional Library System (VA)

Good game thumbnail, with a graphic of three pairs of hands shaking in a row. All of the hands have different skin shades, from dark brown to light. click the image to download a non-branded PDF

Beanbag Intro: Try to balance the bean bags on our hand (palm first, then back), foot, and head. Then try to toss up and catch.

Let’s start by listening to the directions on this song.
Beanbag Action Song: The Beanbag Song (TT) (TB) (FT)
(tune of Happy and You Know It)
Put your bean bag on your toes, on your toes
Put your bean bag on your toes, on your toes
Put your bean bag on your toes,
Then move it to your nose
Put your bean bag on your nose, on your nose

Additional verses:
Put your bean bag on your knee…
Then shake it just like me…

Put your bean bag on your hair…
Then toss it in the air…
Source: Allegan (MI) District Library

Beanbag Song thumbnail, with a graphic of 4 square beanbags - yellow, purple, red, and blue. click the image to download a non-branded PDF

The original rhyme talks about a tightrope, but because I was tying it to the Olympics, I went with balance beam. To be honest, this one didn’t go great. Our beanbags are very slippery synthetic fabric, not a grippy cotton, so we all had a lot of trouble. I changed the rhyme in my third session!
Can you balance the beanbag on your head and walk like a gymnast on a balance beam?
Beanbag Rhyme: Balance Beam (TT) (TB)
With my bean bag on my head
I stand so very tall
I walk along my balance beam
And will not let it fall
Source: adapted from Allegan (MI) District Library

Balance beam thumbnail, with a graphic of a girl with a yellow beanbag on her head, with her arms to both sides as if balancing. click the image to download a non-branded PDF

Let’s try tossing and catching by ourselves, and then maybe with a partner (like your grownup!)
Beanbag Rhyme: Here Is a Beanbag (FT)
Here is a beanbag I keep on the shelf
I can toss it and catch it all by myself
Here is a beanbag that I toss to you
Please catch it and toss it right back to me too
Source: Storytime with Ms. Kelly

Here is a beanbag thumbnail, with a graphic of a square orange beanbag with motion lines. click the image to download a non-branded PDF

A classic sports song – all the grownups sang loud for this one!
Ukulele Beanbag Song: Take Me Out to the Ballgame (TT) (TB) (FT)
(toss and catch the beanbag through the song)
Take me out to the ball game
Take me out to the crowd
Buy me some peanuts and cracker jack
I don’t care if I ever get back
‘Cause it’s root, root, root for the home team
If they don’t win it’s a shame
For it’s one… two… three strikes you’re out
At the old ball game
Source: traditional

Get a downloadable ukulele songsheet here!

Thumbnail for Take Me Out to the Ball Game Ukulele Songsheet, with a graphic of a smiling baseball with stick figure arms waving.

Take me out to the ballgame thumbnail, with a graphic of a baseball. click the image to download a non-branded PDF

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

Craft: Olympic Rings Art (TB) (FT)
I’ve done this craft before, and I love the simplicity of the process art which turns out looking cool. Instead of toilet paper tubes (another staff member needs them and our stash is low), I used plastic egg halves, which worked just as well.

Play Time
Instead of our usual toys, we did some sports conditioning with our bean bags, balls, and some equipment. I think we got the sports equipment from a grant, and it was very nice to use with the group. They had fun, it was a novelty, and (thankfully!) no one complained that they didn’t see the usual toys! I set it up station-style, and let everyone go where they wanted. It was toddler chaos as you can imagine, but in a good way. The stations included Balance Beam, Beanbag Toss, Ball Toss, Catch, Racquet Balance, and Beanbag Slalom.

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)
Baller Ina – Liz Casal
Jabari Jumps – Gaia Cornwall
Jake at Gymnastics – Rachel Isadora
Karate Kids – Holly Sterling
Maisy Plays Soccer – Lucy Cousins
Olympics! – B.G. Hennessy & Michael Chesworth
Together We Swim – Valerie Bolling & Kaylani Juanita
Watch Me Throw the Ball! – Mo Willems
Peanut Goes for the Gold – Jonathan Van Ness & Gillian Reid
Olympig! – Victoria Jamieson
Goodnight Football – Michael Dahl & Christina Forshay

This storytime was presented in-person on 8/5, 8/6, & 8/7/24.

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: Dance with Me

Posted on April 27, 2024May 10, 2024 by msemilylibrary

Dancing is such a broad topic, you could really do a series on dance! This theme really seemed to work especially well for each of my sessions. I think having a lot of gross motor opportunities plus music appealed to them. Plus, we got out our wrist ribbons for the first time. Everyone loved waving theirs around.

Early Literacy Tip: By integrating movement and literacy, children use more of their senses to retain information. Movement stimulates the brain and memory.

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: I love to dance! How about you? It’s so fun to listen to music and move your body. Before we do some moving and grooving, let’s loosen up with some stretching.

Stretch: We stretched down and touched our toes, stretched high up, out to the sides, made a big star shape with our arms and legs out, then lastly crossed the midline by touching opposite hands to opposite feet. (Next level stretching!) I added another quick development tip here about how crossing the midline develops some key brain functions!

Rhyme: This is Big, Big, Big* I just mentioned in the last blog post that I rarely do this rhyme anymore, but I actually made it a part of this week’s plan. It was a good next step after stretching.

This is Big Big Big thumbnail, with a graphic of an anthropomorphic ruler. click the image to download a non-branded PDF

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

Read: Everybunny Dance! by Ellie Sandall (TT) (TB) (FT)
This was extremely interactive and fun. The kids followed along as I did the motions and sound effects. We talked about how fox was feeling and how it’s always nice to clap at the end of a performance.

Read: Dancing Feet by Lindsey Craig & Marc Brown
I do love this title and its companion book, Farmyard Beat, but Everybunny Dance was so good I used it for all three sessions.

Can we count some ballet dancers on our fingers?
I didn’t end up using this one, purposely for the first session, and then realizing that adding it to the agenda for the other sessions would make everything run too long. The graphics for this flannel I got many many years ago, and am not sure of the source.
Counting Rhyme: Five Ballet Dancers
Five ballet dancers, prancing on their toes
They twirl and spin and jump
then off the stage one goes (count down)
No ballet dancers are left – what do we do now? We applaud!
Source: Jen in the Library

printed and laminated flannelboard showing five animals dancing. A pig in a dress, a mouse in shorts, a lavender cat doing splits, a bunny executing a jeté leap, and a frog in shorts waving his arms.

five ballet dancers thumbnail, with a graphic of the animals from the flannelboard. click the image to download a non-branded PDF

Our fingers can do their own dancing!
Fingerplay: Dance Your Fingers (TT) (TB) (FT)
Dance your fingers up,
Dance your fingers down
Dance your fingers side to side,
Dance them all around
Dance them on your shoulders,
Dance them on you head
Dance them on your tummy,
and put them all to bed (tuck under arms)
Source: Storytime Katie

dance your fingers thumbnail, with a graphic of hands with diverse skin tones walking and waving. click the image to download a non-branded PDF

Now we need to warm up our feet.
Action Rhyme: Walking, Walking (TT) (TB) (FT)
(tune of Frère Jacques) (each line 2x)
Walking, walking
Hop, hop, hop
Running, running, running
Now we stop! (ASL sign for stop)

Tiptoe, tiptoe
Hop, hop, hop
Dancing, dancing, dancing
Now we stop!
Source: adapted from Jbrary

walking, walking thumbnail, with a graphic of four animals dancing, rabbit, cat, dog, and bear. click the image to download a non-branded PDF

Pass out wrist ribbons. I believe we got these from Lakeshore Learning – they are nice and silky and just the right length for kiddos.

rainbow colored wrist ribbons drying on a table. The wristbands sit on the table while the ribbons drape over.

Here are my ribbons drying after the program. PS – I wash my scarves, ribbons, and any other fabric with Soak. I’ll put them in the sink, fill with cold water, add a small squeeze of Soak Unscented, and let them sit for about 15 minutes. No need to rinse, I just squeeze out the water and let them air dry. It’s wonderful, baby safe and really works. I don’t think these ribbons had ever been washed before, and the first sinkful of cloudy water showed it. By the third day, the water was clear and the ribbons were looking brighter.

Who is this? A sheep! A sheep who likes to dance…
Puppet Song: Dancing Sheep (TT) (TB) (FT)
Shh! It’s time to go to sleep
But into my bedroom one sheep creeps
“Don’t go to bed,” the one sheep said
“I would rather dance instead!”

Soon he was…

Dancing on the ceiling!
Dancing on the floor!
Dancing on the window!
Dancing on the door!

He kept on… (repeat the chorus, speeding up)

“Stop that dancing, silly sheep
It is time to go to sleep!”
Soon the sheep lay on the floor
Soon the sheep began to snore
Then I started… (repeat chorus until tired)
Source: Jen in the Library, video at Deschutes Public Library

dancing sheep thumbnail, with a graphic of a dancing sheep on the top, bottom, and both sides of the sheet. click the image to download a non-branded PDF

Well, that was silly! I think the thing for us to do now is… a silly dance contest!
I rely pretty heavily on my flip chart of song lyrics to remind me what to do next, so even though there are too many words to print for this song, I still made a sheet for it.
Recorded Song: Silly Dance Contest (TT) (TB) (FT)
Source: Jim Gill, from the album Jim Gill Sings the Sneezing Song and Other Contagious Tunes

silly dance contest thumbnail, with a graphic of various animals dancing: bear, frog, alligator, elephant, snake, cat, rabbit, dog, sheep, fox, and turtle. click the image to download a non-branded PDF

Breathing Break: 5 Finger Breathing (TT) (TB) (FT)
Whew! I need a breathing break. Will you breathe with me? We’ll take a big breath in while we trace up our finger, and let it out as we trace down.

How about a nice slow song? A waltz! A waltz is a dance of threes. It goes, 1, 2, 3, 1, 2, 3 (demo a box step). A waltz is also a partner dance! If you have someone you’d like to dance with, now’s the time!
Many of our grownups picked up their little ones to dance, which was exactly what I hoped would happen!
Ukulele Song: Baby Bear Waltz (TT) (TB) (FT)
1, 2, 3, 1, 2, 3 Waltzing with bears
1, 2, 3, 1, 2, 3 Dance ‘round the chairs
1, 2, 3, 1, 2, 3 That’s what we’ll do
1, 2, 3, 1, 2, 3 Waltzing with you
1, 2, 3, 1, 2, 3 Waltz round the room
1, 2, 3, 1, 2, 3 Dance ‘round the moon
1, 2, 3, 1, 2, 3 Glide past the stars
1, 2, 3, 1, 2, 3 Waltzing to Mars
Source: Kathy Reid Naiman, from the album Say Hello to the Morning

Download a ukulele songsheet for Baby Bear Waltz!

baby bear waltz thumbnail, with a graphic of bears prancing with magic wands and stars. click the image to download a non-branded PDF

It’s time to shake the sillies out!
Recorded Song: Shake My Sillies Out (TT) (TB) (FT)
Source: Raffi, from the album In Concert with the Rise and Shine Band

I let them keep their wrist ribbons for this one, and collected them after.
Action Song: Zoom, Zoom, Zoom!* (TT) (TB) (FT)

Craft: Ribbon Sticks (TB) (FT)
Now they get to make their own ribbons for dancing! I cut lengths of crepe paper streamers to about 2.5 feet, then cut them down the length to get them a bit thinner and get more material out of what I had. (You can stack 6-8 streamers and cut them together easily.) I used jumbo craft sticks and had grownups staple the streamers to the sticks. (Did you know staplers go through craft sticks?!) They were very excited to make their own ribbons and everyone wanted to show them to me as soon as they were done! (My example one was a little sad – I took the reject streamers that were too short or a little crumpled.)

a ribbon stick with four multi colored streamers attached to a craft stick.

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)
Firebird – Misty Copeland & Christopher Myers
Hilda Must Be Dancing – Karma Wilson & Suzanne Watts
John’s Turn – Mac Barnett & Kate Berube
I Got the Rhythm – Connie Schofield-Morrison & Frank Morrison
Boys Dance – John Robert Allman & Luciano Lozano
Amy Wu & the Ribbon Dance – Kat Zhang & Charlene Chua
Duck Sock Hop – Jane Kohuth & Jane Porter
How Do You Dance? – Thyra Heder
Téo’s Tutu – Maryann Jacob Macias & Alea Marley
Bea at Ballet – Rachel Isadora

This storytime was presented in-person on 4/15, 4/16, & 4/17/24.

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

Family Storytime: Animal Movement

Posted on November 12, 2021 by msemilylibrary

I knew I wanted to highlight animal movement during my outdoor storytime this summer, and Head to Toe was one of the first books on my list that I thought would translate well with a big, spread-out crowd. Not a lot of visuals for this blog post, but we were moving around a LOT! Families seemed to enjoy this one, especially our bubble song at the end.

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

Early Literacy Tip: Crafts are great ways to allow your child to practice their creativity, work with different materials, strengthen their finger grip, and improve hand/eye coordination. All of these will help prepare them for school and learning to write later on!

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: We’ve All Got Bellybuttons! by David Martin & Randy Cecil

I’d always done this one as “bubble bubble POP” with increasing numbers of fish, but the splash made more sense when ducks, frogs, and children! (I also think Caspar Babypants does it like this!)
Action Song: All the Fish Are Swimming
All the fish are swimming in the water
Swimming in the water
Swimming in the water
All the fish are swimming in the water
Bubble, bubble, bubble, bubble…SPLASH

Additional verses:
All the ducks are quacking…
All the frogs are jumping…
All the children are splashing…
Credit: King County Library System

Fingerplay: Up the Hill
Here goes a turtle up a hill, creepy, creepy, creepy, creepy (crawl up arm)
Here goes a rabbit up the hill, boing, boing, boing, boing (bounce up arm)
Here goes an elephant up the hill, thud, thud, thud, thud (clap up arm)
Here goes a snake up the hill, slither, slither, slither, slither (slither up arm)
Here comes a rock down the hill, boom, boom, boom, boom, CRASH!
(bounce down, clap hands for crash)
Credit: Storytime Katie

Read: From Head to Toe by Eric Carle

This is such a silly and fun song!
Action Song: Noisy Animals Eating
(tune of Row Your Boat)
See the hippopotamus, eating fruits and weeds
Take a bite … chew it up …
Then spit out all the seeds!

Additional verses:
See the very tall giraffe…
See the wrinkly elephant…
Credit: King County Library System

Fingerplay: Little Turtle
There was a little turtle, he lived in a box
He swam in a puddle, he climbed on rocks
He snapped at a mosquito (hand “bites”)
He snapped at a flea
He snapped at a minnow,
And he snapped at me!
He caught the mosquito (clap)
He caught the flea (clap)
He caught the minnow (clap)
But he didn’t catch me! (shake finger “no”)
Credit: Jbrary

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 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

Everyone loves bubbles! The wind was a little stronger than I’d anticipated, so I had to move quite a bit to the side to get the bubbles anywhere near the kids. They went chasing after them, so I’m glad we had a large lawn area!
Bubble Song: There Are Bubbles in the Air
(tune of If You’re Happy and You Know It)
There are bubbles in the air, in the air (x2)
There are bubbles in the air, there are bubbles everywhere!
There are bubbles in the air, in the air

Additional verses:
There are bubbles way up high… in the sky
There are bubbles way down low… that tickle your toes
Credit: Jbrary

I had this song in my back pocket, but the bubble time was so chaotic I didn’t do any more than the Bubbles in the Air song. I’m choosing to just play recorded music in the future anytime I do bubbles!
Bubble Song: My Bubbles
(tune of My Bonnie)
My bubbles flew over the ocean,
My bubbles flew over the sea,
My bubbles flew over the rainbow,
Oh come back, my bubbles, to me.
Come back, come back, oh come back my bubbles to me!
Credit: Storytime Katie

Craft: Tissue Paper Turtle
The most difficult thing about this craft was sorting through our box full of tissue paper squares to find the “turtle” colored ones. Sometimes it’s nice to be able to reach in and grab a variety of colors, but other times you really need just greens! This craft was inspired by The Adventures Start Here blog.

A paper plate craft with different colored green tissue squares glued on, with green construction paper legs, tail and head with googly eyes, making a turtle.

I also booktalked these alternative titles during the permanent YouTube video.
Wiggle by Doreen Cronin & Scott Menchin
Everyone is Yawning by Anita Bijsterbosch
Count the Monkeys by Mac Barnett & Kevin Cornell

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 7/20/21.

Storytime Handout: