preschool – Page 6 – Storytime with Ms. Emily Library

Preschool Storytime: Pumpkins

Posted on December 9, 2020October 17, 2025 by msemilylibrary

Another typical fall theme! I like the idea of a pumpkin storytime much more than a “Halloween” one since not everyone celebrates. Book choices are more limited when all reference to Halloween is excluded. I tried to focus more on the gourd for at least two books, though I couldn’t resist including Mr. Pumpkin’s Tea Party. Even though there’s a host of “monstrous” guests included in this beautiful, simple counting book, it doesn’t specifically reference Halloween. I began this storytime by calling the theme a mystery, then read Cathryn Falwell’s Mystery Vine with the help of a prop I had a lot of fun making (I even hand-dyed the cord green since I couldn’t find any that wasn’t plain white.) I can’t wait to use it in an in-person storytime in the future for more of an impact!

See other versions of this storytime from 2022 and 2025.

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

pumpkin day book cover, showing a Black boy holding a pumpkin and sitting on a pile of them, with a farm scene in the background.

Early Literacy Tip: Narrative skills have to do with learning how to describe things and being able to tell stories. Little stories, like the one in “Pumpkin, Pumpkin,” are great for children to start learning how stories work. “First the pumpkin is a seed, then it is a plant, then it is a pumpkin!”

Welcome Song: We Clap and Sing Hello

Read with prop: Mystery Vine by Cathryn Falwell
As I read, I pulled out a little more vine to reveal leaves, smaller vines, flowers, a green pumpkin, and finally some orange pumpkins. Big kudos to Rebecca from Sturdy for Common Things for her inspiration for this prop, as well as excellent photos of the process of making it.

Fingerplay: Pumpkin, Pumpkin
(tune of Twinkle, Twinkle)
Pumpkin, pumpkin on the ground
(ASL for pumpkin: gently flick middle finger on back of other hand)
How’d you get so big and round? (arms circle over head)
Once you were a seed so small (pinch fingers together)
Now you are a great big ball (arms circle in front)
Pumpkin, pumpkin on the ground (ASL pumpkin sign)
How’d you get so big and round? (arms circle over head)
Credit: Jbrary

Action Song: Roly Poly Pumpkin
(tune of Itsy Bitsy Spider)
Oh, the roly-poly pumpkin (roll arms, gradually speed up)
Went rolling down the hill
Once it started rolling
It couldn’t keep still
It rolled and rolled
Until it bumped into a rock (act surprised)
Then the roly-poly pumpkin (roll slowly)
Rolled to a stop (clap)
Credit: King County Library System

Have you ever been to a pumpkin patch? Here’s a story about what it’s like.
Read: Pumpkin Day! by Candice Ransom & Erika Meza

I borrowed this idea from Adventures in Storytime, and used the printable pumpkins from Sunflower Storytime. We sang the song first, then we talked about feelings, then sang it again substituting “Happy ones and sad ones and silly ones and mad ones” (randomized with a shuffle) when those pumpkins were shown.
Song: Did You Ever See a Pumpkin?
(tune of Did You Ever See a Lassie?)
Did you ever see a pumpkin, a pumpkin, a pumpkin?
Did you ever see a pumpkin that grows on a vine?
Short ones and tall ones and big ones and small ones
Did you ever see a pumpkin that grows on a vine?
Credit: Adventures in Storytime

Laminated pumpkins mounted on craft sticks with faces depicting 5 feelings: happy, sad, mad, scared, and silly.

Another borrow from Adventures in Storytime – I loved her idea of doing the fingerplay on the opposite hand the second time through to strengthen the non-dominant side a little!
Fingerplay: Five Little Pumpkins
Five little pumpkins, sitting on a gate. (hold up 5 fingers)
The 1st one said, “Oh my, it’s getting late!” (1 finger, point to wrist)
The 2nd one said, “There are bats in the air.” (2 fingers, flap hands)
The 3rd one said, “But we don’t care!” (3 fingers, shake head)
The 4th one said, “Let’s run and run and run!” (4 fingers, jog arms)
The 5th one said, “I’m ready to have some fun!” (5 fingers, wiggle)
Then WHOOOOSH went the wind, (curve hand in air)
And OUT went the light. (clap hands together loudly)
And five little pumpkins rolled out of sight! (5 fingers, roll arms)
Credit: Adventures in Storytime

Read: Mr. Pumpkin’s Tea Party by Erin Barker

Action Rhyme: Pumpkin Chant
(For each line, pat lap twice on 1st pumpkin, clap twice on 2nd, pat twice on 3rd, then do action for last word)
Pumpkin, pumpkin, pumpkin bread!
(Hold hands flat in front, one on top of the other)
Pumpkin, pumpkin, pumpkin head!
(Put hands on head)
Pumpkin, pumpkin, pumpkin pie!
(Hold hands in a big circle)
Pumpkin, pumpkin, pumpkin eye!
(Curve hands around eyes)
Pumpkin, pumpkin, pumpkin cake!
(Hold hands flat, one about 5 inches above the other)
Pumpkin, pumpkin, pumpkin shake!
(shake fists by head)
Pumpkin, pumpkin, pumpkin stew!
(Pretend to stir stew)
Pumpkin, pumpkin, pumpkin BOO!
(do a peek-a-boo)
Credit: Jane Willis Johnston, via Jbrary

Craft: Pumpkin Patch
I was rummaging around and found some cute foam stickers that included pumpkins, leaves, and mice on corn (also a fox wearing a headdress that I threw away – why can’t designers understand that is cultural appropriation!?) That sparked an idea to make a pumpkin patch using green yarn to make vines. I suggested two different methods. Grownups could draw swirling vine shapes on the page with glue, then older kids could follow the glue with the yarn. That would take a little more coordination. Alternatively, grownups could put some liquid glue into a shallow bowl, dunk the yarn in to saturate it, then the kids could add the vines whichever way they wished. Messier, but easier. Both methods work on fine motor skills!

I also booktalked these alternative titles during the permanent YouTube video.
From Seed to Pumpkin by Wendy Pfeffer & James Graham Hale
The Great Pumpkin Contest by Angie Rozelaar
Sixteen Runaway Pumpkins by Dianne Ochiltree & Anne-Sophie Lanquetin

Closing Rhyme: Tickle the Stars

This storytime was presented virtually on 10/27/20.

Storytime Handout:

Preschool Storytime: Apples

Posted on November 17, 2020September 25, 2025 by msemilylibrary

Yum! Apples are an easy theme – most kids like them, and there’s a wealth of storytime material to choose from when planning. I’d noticed in my last few storytimes that I’ve been cramming more and more content in, and my videos were getting longer and longer. Starting with this week, I tried to cut back. It’s against my nature, but I’m doing better!

You can find other versions of this theme from 2022 and 2025.

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

tap the magic tree book cover, showing a tree's branches in various seasons.

Early Literacy Tip: As you and your child go about your day, highlight the five senses and talk about the textures, the size, color, sounds, smells, and tastes of the things around you. These observations will be the basis for later exploration and classifying that will lead to sorting and problem solving skills. These are skills that will help your child later understand what they read.

Welcome Song: We Clap and Sing Hello

Fingerplay: A Little Apple Seed
(tune of Itsy Bitsy Spider)
Once a little apple seed was planted in the ground
Down came the rain drops falling all around
Out came the big sun bright as bright could be
And the little apple seed grew up to be an apple tree
Credit: Madelyn’s Library Programming

Read: Apples Here! by Will Hubbell
This is a really great book that goes through the seasons of an apple tree and shows that apples are “in” the buds, flowers, and more. It shows diverse kids enjoying the orchard and cooking, eating applesauce with latkes and finding them in the toes of Christmas stockings. Simple and short text makes it perfect for storytime.

Rhyme: Way Up High in the Apple Tree
Way up high in the apple tree (stretch arms up high)
Two red apples smiled at me (hold up two fists)
I shook that tree as hard as I could (make a shaking motion)
Down came the apples… (make a downward motion)
And mmm, they were good! (smile and rub tummy)
Credit: traditional

Rhyme: Eat an Apple
Eat an apple (bring hand to mouth)
Save the core (close hand in fist)
Plant some seeds (bend down to touch hand to ground)
And grow some more! (extend both arms out)
Credit: preschooleducation.com

Word Exercise: Using Our Five Senses
What words can we use to describe apples using our senses? This definitely would work better in-person, but I made it work for virtual. I borrowed this activity from Literary Hoots

drawing of a red apple outline (with brown stem and green leaf) on whiteboard, with words written inside: sweet, smooth, fresh, red, yellow, green, wet, crunchy, tart, good, shiny, crisp, sour, mushy

Read: Apple Pie ABC by Alison Murray

Action Song: The Pie Song
(tune of The Farmer in the Dell)
This is the way we slice the apple, (act out each step)
Slice the apple, slice the apple,
This is the way we slice the apple to make a yummy pie.

Additional verses:
Pour the flour… Roll the dough… Stir the filling…
Sprinkle spices… Bake our pie… Eat a slice…
Credit: adapted from “Thanksgiving Pie Song” at Storytime Hooligans

People like to eat apples, but so do animals! I decided to do a twist ending on this one, with 4 tiny finger puppet animals (mouse, rabbit, duck, and deer) and then a full size alligator! Silliness. 🙂 I made the flip side of the apples with different amounts eaten and with counted up seeds, but ended up not flipping them for this rhyme.
Flannel Rhyme: Five Little Apples
Five little apples up in a tree
The farmer wasn’t looking,
So guess who came to eat?
A mouse! Munch munch munch!
(count down, using available animal finger puppets, or choose animals you like to “munch” on your five fingers as the apples)
Credit: Storytime Katie

Read: Tap the Magic Tree by Christie Matheson

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: Apple Pie
Cut an apple in half. Eat one half and use the other for this craft! Spread the paint on one plate and let your child dip the cut apple half in paint, then “stamp” a second paper plate in the middle. They can make as many stamps as they wish! Help your child spread brown paint around the rim of the plate. For an additional sensory element, let your child sprinkle a little cinnamon or pumpkin pie spice on the wet paint. (My example pie looked a little sad – I didn’t have an apple handy so cut a foam sheet in an apple shape and it didn’t stamp as well as I’d hoped!) Credit: Literary Hoots

paper plate craft - brown paint around the edge to look like crust, red paint in middle for apples, sprinkled with cinnamon

I also booktalked these alternative titles during the permanent YouTube video.
Secrets of the Apple Tree by Carron Brown & Alyssa Nassner
Ten Red Apples by Pat Hutchins
Apples, Apples! by Salina Yoon

Closing Rhyme: Tickle the Stars

This storytime was presented virtually on 10/20/20.

Storytime Handout:

Preschool Storytime: Hispanic Heritage Month

Posted on November 13, 2020October 7, 2025 by msemilylibrary

I wanted to showcase Latinx and Hispanic authors and illustrators for this storytime, as well as some historic and important Hispanic Americans. After all, authors and illustrators are MY rock-stars and their contributions are found in storytime throughout the year. They deserve some recognition, too!

I was a French major in college, and never took Spanish (I wish I had!) I think if we were doing in-person programming and/or I was a little more savvy with technology, I would have invited a Spanish-speaking friend to co-present with me. As it was, I listened very closely to native speaker videos for the songs and rhymes and did my best. I was nervous, so I tried to address that as a teachable moment, too. I explained that I wasn’t an expert, but it’s fun to learn a new language and that I knew that my storytime friends would be understanding if I made a mistake. I asked them to take a couple big breaths with me, and let them know that I felt better afterward. Hopefully, modelling what to do when you’re nervous will be helpful to a little one!

For the songs, I made myself a sheet with the phonetic pronunciations and practiced, practiced, practiced. You can download my sheet if it is helpful to you. It’s not written out in any standard or consistent way, just what worked for me. Some words I knew and didn’t need to spell phonetically (que=kay). I also had to make some notations regarding syllable breakouts and stresses and for Los pollitos dicen where the tune went up so I could remember the melody. Pretty me-specific, but it may be a start if you need help with these. The videos I used were really great – especially the YouTuber UkeleCanta. I believe she is Chilean and as such she pronounces her ll with a j sound instead of a y. I just went with it. But check out her videos for the great songs, energy, and even ukulele tutorials!

One last thought. I am always trying to be aware of my biases and the limits of my worldview. I realized after doing this storytime that all of my comments and asides were directed toward single-language English-speaking families, and I didn’t even think about Spanish-speaking or bilingual families as I was commenting. That was a mistake and a serious one. I will keep working to change my own habits and be the inclusive and welcoming librarian and person I aspire to be.

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

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. If you aren’t already bilingual, that’s okay! You can still expose your child to different languages. As long as you expose them to foreign words in a consistent way with the same context, they’ll reap the benefits. Read more: https://bigthink.com/laurie-vazquez/the-sooner-you-expose-a-baby-to-a-second-language-the-smarter-theyll-be

Welcome Song: We Clap and Sing Hello

Song: La linda manita (The Beautiful Little Hand)
La linda manita (flip hand back and forth throughout song)
que tiene el bebé
qué linda, qué bella
qué preciosa es
Credit: traditional, watch: https://youtu.be/OWAunlWlMUI

In our first book, we’ll be talking about opposites. Let’s practice with this rhyme.
Rhyme: This is Big, Big, Big
This is big, big, big (hold arms out to side)
This is small, small, small (cup hands together)
This is short, short, short (flat hand lowers)
This is tall, tall, tall (flat hand reaches up)
This is fast, fast, fast (circle fists quickly)
This is slow, slow, slow (circle fists slowly)
This is yes, yes, yes (nod head)
This is no, no, no (shake head)
Credit: Mel’s Desk

In this book, Marta discovers she is both big and small, slow and fast, loud and quiet. How can that be?!
Read: Marta Big & Small by Jen Arena & Angela Dominguez

“What was big in that book? The elephant! What was small? The bug! In this traditional song from Mexico, a big elephant balances on a spiderweb. What do you think will happen? We’ll be counting to 5 in Spanish. Will you count with me?” I reused my flannel for 5 elephants in the bathtub and made a spiderweb from pipe cleaners. It didn’t stick too well to the flannelboard, but I was able to hook it over the edge and that worked! I also realized after a practice run that I really needed to learn the colors of my elephants in Spanish!
Counting Song: Un elefante (An Elephant)
Un elefante se balanceaba,
sobre la tela de una araña, (swing 1 finger back and forth)
como veía que resistía, (veía=point at eye, resistía=flex muscles)
fue a buscar a otro elefante! (cup hands at mouth)
Oh, elefante!

Dos elefantes se balanceaban, sobre la tela de una araña, (swing 2 fingers)
como veían que resistía, fueron a buscar otro elefante.
Oh, elefante!

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

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

Cinco elefantes se balanceaban, sobre la tela de una araña,
la telaraña se debilitó, (shake hands/body)
¡y todo al suelo se cayó! (hands fall like elephants!)
Credit: traditional, watch: https://youtu.be/I0IW4101ew0

5 flannel elephants (purple, green, yellow, blue, and orange) with a white pipe cleaner web.

Another song about animals. These little chicks say “pio!” in Spanish! They have lost their mother, and they’re cold and hungry! But their mother is very good, so she finds food for them, corn and wheat, and tucks them all under her wing so they are cozy. BUT – these silly little chicks do the same thing the next day! This “flannel” is from the printable made by Sunflower Storytime for the rhyme Ten Fluffy Chickens.
Song: Los pollitos dicen (The Chicks Say…)
Los pollitos dicen, pío, pío, pío
cuando tienen hambre, cuando tienen frío (hambre=rub belly, frío=rub shoulders)
La gallina busca, el maíz y el trigo
les da la comida, y les presta abrigo
Bajo sus dos alas, acurrucaditos,
duermen los pollitos hasta el otro día (duermen=lay head on hands, sleepy)
Pío, pío, pío dicen los pollitos
cuando tienen hambre, cuando tienen frío
Credit: traditional, watch: https://youtu.be/a7zUbmjUtDM

laminated printout of 5 chicks and separate laminated printout of a brown hen.

Pura Belpré was a librarian, author and storyteller, and is one of my heroes! She worked hard to make sure that the kids who came to her library had books in their own language and stories from their homelands.
Read: Planting Stories: The Life of Librarian and Storyteller Pura Belpré by Anika Aldamuy Denise & Paola Escobar

Did you notice that the book compared stories to seeds, and Pura did a lot of story planting? Let’s do a rhyme about seeds growing up.
Rhyme: Be A Seed
Be a seed, small and round
Sprout, sprout, sprout up from the ground.
Shake your leaves for all to see
Stretch your arms up, you’re a tree!
Credit: Jbrary

I also loved Pura’s story about the beautiful cockroach Martina and the gallant mouse Perez. It reminded me of this fun rhyme about a mouse.
Clapping Rhyme: Little Clapping Mouse
(clap for each *)
Behind the tree * *
And under the house * *
There lived a teeny * *
Tiny mouse * *
She loved to sing * *
She loved to tap * *
But most of all * *
She loved to clap * *
She clapped all night * *
She clapped all day * *
She clapped to frighten * *
The cat away! * * * * * * * *
Credit: Jbrary

In Mexico, el día de los niños (Children’s Day) is celebrated in April. Bilingual children’s author Pat Mora decided to bring that festival to the United States, and to tie it to love of books, so created el dia do los libros (Book Day). This is the book she wrote to celebrate that.
Read: Book Fiesta! by Pat Mora & Rafael López

When I celebrate, I like music and dancing! This song is about how our bodies can make music. (translate song)
Action Song: Mi cuerpo hace música (My Body Makes Music)
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!
Mi cuerpo hace: cha, cha, cha!
Credit: Sol y Canto, from the album El Doble de Amigos. Watch with motions at Jbrary

Bilingual Lullaby: Yo te amo (I Love You)
Yo te amo, yo te amo
All day long I’ll sing this little song to you.
Yo te amo, yo te amo
Darling, I love you!
Credit: Jbrary

Craft: Tissue Paper Flowers
In Mexico there is a tradition of making crafts with tissue paper. Behind me you can see papel picado, an ancient craft that goes all the way back to the Aztec. You’ll also see big colorful paper flowers as decorations at celebrations, and that’s what our craft is this week. I used the instructions from the Inspired By Family blog.

I also booktalked these alternative titles.
Just Ask! by Sonia Sotomayor & Rafael López
Viva Frida by Yuyi Morales
Los Gatos Black on Halloween by Marisa Montes & Yuyi Morales
Maria Had a Little Llama / María tenía una llamita by Angela Dominguez

Closing Rhyme: Tickle the Stars

This storytime was presented virtually on 10/13/20.

Storytime Handout:

Preschool Storytime: Celebrate the Moon

Posted on November 6, 2020January 29, 2026 by msemilylibrary

October 1 was the first full moon of autumn, and the date of the Mid-Autumn Moon Festival. I have done programming on the moon from a scientific perspective in the past (during the 2019 Universe of Stories summer reading theme), but this time I wanted to concentrate on how the moon has been celebrated traditionally and across cultures.

See other versions of this theme from 2022 and 2026.

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

Early Literacy Tip: Children are naturally curious about the world around them. Take advantage of this curiosity to help them develop background knowledge. When we talk with our children about things that interest them and when we share books to broaden their knowledge, all this learning they have about the world, big ideas and little facts, will help them later understand what they read.

Welcome Song: We Clap and Sing Hello

Discussion: Did you get to see the full moon on Thursday? Ever since then it’s gotten a little bit smaller and skinnier as it goes through its phases. Did you know that throughout all of history, and all over the world, people have looked up in the sky and told stories about the moon? In China, Japan, Korea, the Aztec empire, and the Cree people of Canada have all told stories about the Moon Rabbit. The Salish people of the Pacific Northwest and in China there are also stories about a Moon Toad! In Angola stories were told about the Moon Frog, and the Maori of New Zealand had a story about the Lady in the Moon. You may have heard of the “Man in the Moon,” which is common where we live – that originated with a story from Germany! Perhaps you’ve seen drawings of the moon that look like this (holding up full and crescent versions of a “man in the moon.”) The moon is so far away that people couldn’t see it very clearly, so they imagined what it looked like. But now, we have telescopes that give us a better picture (hold up full and crescent photographs of the moon). Still, it’s fun to use our imaginations and tell stories about the moon. (Credit to Mental Floss for the global moon stories – also, I realize I probably babbled on about all this for much too long! Editing myself is something I’m working on…)

Here are some traditional nursery rhymes that feature the moon
Rhyme: The Man In The Moon
The man in the moon looked out of the moon,
Looked out of the moon and said:
It’s time for all children on the Earth
To think about getting to bed!
Credit: traditional

Flannel Rhyme: Hey, Diddle, Diddle
Hey, diddle, diddle, the cat and the fiddle
The cow jumped over the moon
The little dog laughed to see such fun
And the dish ran away with the spoon
Credit: traditional

Professionally printed flannel with pieces of the cat and the fiddle, the laughing dog, a cow, and the dish and spoon, with a background piece with green grass and a night sky featuring a full moon with a face for the rhyme "Hey, Diddle, Diddle"

Read: Kitten’s First Full Moon by Kevin Henkes

Song: Moon, Moon, Moon
Moon, moon, moon, shining bright
Moon, moon, moon, my night light
Moon, moon, moon, I can see
Moon, moon, moon, you’re taking care of me
(sing twice)

Look up, it’s the moon
Look up, it’s the moon
Look up, it’s the moon up in the sky
It’s big and round and I have found
That it looks just like a pizza pie!
Credit: The Laurie Berkner Band, from the album Victor Vito

Rhyme: The Moon is Round
The moon is round –
As round can be (trace the circle of your face)
Two eyes, a nose, (point at eyes and nose)
And a mouth like me! (point at mouth, then hug baby or self)
Credit: Jbrary

Fingerplay: Sun and Moon
(One hand is the moon as a crescent and the other is the
sun – spread five fingers for sun’s rays)
Moon comes out, Sun goes in
Here is a blanket to cuddle your chin (tickle chin)
Moon goes in, and Sun comes out
Throw off the blankets and bustle about!
(Fling arms out wide and wiggle body)
Credit: Sunflower Storytime

The next book compares the light of the moon to butter!
Read: Moonlight by Helen V. Griffith & Laura Dronzek

Action Rhyme: Big Yellow Moon
Big yellow moon shines so bright, (circle overhead)
Glides across the starry night (arms glide left to right)
Looks down at me (hand shades eyes)
Asleep in bed, (head on hands)
Whispers, “Good night sleepyhead.” (shh)

Big yellow moon, your turn is done (circle overhead, then move arms down)
Here comes Mr. Morning Sun (circle overhead)
I wake up. (arms stretch out)
You go to bed. (head on hands)
“Sleep well, Moon, you sleepyhead.” (shh)
Credit: King County Library System

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

The last story is about the Mid-Autumn Moon festival, which is celebrated in China and many other Asian countries, and among some Asian-American families. It’s an opportunity to give thanks for a good harvest, and is centered on the full moon.
Read: Thanking the Moon by Grace Lin

Fingerplay: Twinkling Stars
At night I see the twinkling stars (wiggle fingers)
And the great big shining moon (arms overhead in circle)
My mama tucks me into bed (fists under chin)
And sings this goodnight tune! (follow with a lullaby)
Credit: Sunflower Storytime

Ukulele Song: I See the Moon
(tune of Hush, Little Baby)
I see the moon and the moon sees me
Down through the leaves of the old oak tree
Please let the moon that shines on me
Shine on the ones I love

Over the mountain, over the sea
Back where my heart is longing to be
Please let the moon that shines on me
Shine on the ones I love
Credit: Jbrary

Download a ukulele songsheet for I See the Moon

Thumbnail of I See the Moon ukulele chord sheet

Craft: Moon Lanterns
Make a paper lantern just like the ones we saw in Thanking the Moon. Easy instructions can be easily found online. This craft gives kids practice cutting, and being careful not to cut all the way through the folded paper, but to stop before the end. There are many variations – ours had an inner tube of contrasting color and a handle that was made from a 1.5 inch strip cut from that inner piece.

I also booktalked these alternative titles during the permanent YouTube video.
Moonbeams: A Lullaby of the Phases of the Moon by Ann Bausum & Kyung Eun Han
Max and the Tag-Along Moon by Floyd Cooper
A Big Mooncake for Little Star by Grace Lin

max and the tag-along moon book cover, with a large yellow moon in the top right corner framing a little boy looking upward from playing with cars

Closing Rhyme: Tickle the Stars

This storytime was presented virtually on 10/6/20.

Storytime Handout:

Preschool Storytime: What We Wear

Posted on October 28, 2020October 26, 2020 by msemilylibrary

I’ve been wanting to do a clothing theme since making the One Red Sock flannel a few months ago, so finally got a chance to do it. This was a fun theme, with lots of great options for books as well as songs and rhymes. I was also able to use the last Indiana Early Literacy Firefly Award nominee from 2020 I hadn’t yet used in storytime, Pirate Jack Gets Dressed. I loved the flannelboard idea found in the program guide, and ended up with two versions. The first was a quicker, easier print out that came straight from the guide. I used magnets and quickly learned that it’s really hard to have multiple layers with magnets! Plus, some things went under his beard, complicating the layering. I ended up making a felt version that worked much better. This was a good storytime to talk about the myth of “girl colors” and “boy colors” since Pirate Jack loves all the colors, and I also put in a little plug about glamorous clothes good for some people (boys and girls), but it’s okay to want to wear plain clothes, too. Dismantling gendered socialization one storytime at a time!

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

Early Literacy Tip: Playing rhyming games in the car, while waiting for an appointment, or anywhere can be a fun way to help your child hear the smaller sounds in words. Remember, children can recognize a rhyme before they can make the rhyme. So if it’s too hard to make rhymes, let them start with hearing rhymes and recognizing them. For example, the question “Does cat rhyme with bat?” is easier for young children to answer than the question, “What rhymes with cat?” Children enjoy playing with words and their sounds.

Welcome Song: We Clap and Sing Hello

Ukulele Song: If Your Clothes Have Any Red
(tune of If You’re Happy and You Know It)
If your clothes have any red, any red,
If your clothes have any red, any red,
If your clothes have any red,
Put your fingers on your head,
If your clothes have any red, any red.

Additional verses:
Blue … count your fingers up to two
Green … curl your fingers and look mean
Pink … open your eyes wide then blink
Black … do a quick jumping jack
Brown … make a face like a clown
Yellow … Sit back down and look real mellow
Credit: Firefly Early Literacy Award Program Guide 2020 (Pink, black, and brown verses by Ms. Emily)

Download a ukulele songsheet for If You’re Happy and You Know It)

Read: Pirate Jack Gets Dressed by Nancy Raines Day & Allison Black
I did the flannel while reading the book. A little more difficult, but it was worth it. I started by creating a printed cardstock version, laminated, and attached with magnets. As someone who has to complicate everything, I replaced the generic face with an actual scan of Pirate Jack’s illustration. I cut out his beard and cut slits in the shirt, vest, and coat to get them all to fit underneath. However, the paper version was VERY precarious on a vertical magnet board and awfully difficult to keep so many layers in the right place. When it was clear that wasn’t working well, I went ahead and did a felt version. I lengthened his body to fit the pants and boots (in the paper version his boots are just stuck on the ends of his legs with nothing underneath.) I like the felt version a lot, even though it was a lot of work! The parrot might be my favorite piece!

Action Song: Baby, Put Your Pants On
(tune of Shortnin’ Bread)
Baby, put your pants on, pants on, pants on (mime putting on pants)
Baby, put your pants on: 1, 2, 3!

Repeat with other articles of clothing (socks or tights, shoes, etc.)

Now that you’re all dressed, all dressed, all dressed
Now that you’re all dressed, Let’s go out to play!
Credit: Storytime Hooligans

Our next book is about a missing sock! It reminded me of a poem I heard that made me laugh:
Poem: I’m Glad I’m Not a Centipede
I’m glad I’m not a centipede
And I will tell you why:
I would have 100 feet
And 100 shoes to tie!
Credit: thelibraryann

Read: One Red Sock by Jennifer Sattler
Two flannels in one storytime! Crazy.

Flannel for one red sock. Purple hippo, pink chair, variety of socks next to the book.

Action Rhyme: Hickory Dickory Dock
Hickory, dickory, dock. Let’s put on our socks.
We’ll walk around, Without a sound,
When we put on our socks

Additional verses:
…We’ll slide around…
…We’ll tiptoe around…
Credit: Miss Mariah’s Library

Shaker Song: We Shake and We Shake and We Stop
We shake and we shake and we STOP
We shake and we shake and we STOP
We shake and we shake and we shake and we shake
and we shake and we shake and we STOP
Repeat with other actions such as circle, roll, twirl, tap, wave)
Credit: Jbrary

Shaker Song: Wishy Washy Washerwoman
Waaaay down in the valley where nobody goes
There’s a wishy washy washerwoman washing her clothes
She goes wishy washy up, she goes wishy washy down
She goes wishy washy up, she goes wishy washy down
That’s how the wishy washy washerwoman washes her clothes!

Additional verses:
…drying her clothes, she goes whoo-eee! (shake in a circle)
…folding her clothes, she goes side, side (clap shaker to one side, then the other)
Credit: traditional, as sung by Carole Peterson on her page Macaroni Soup

Our next story is about a little girl who likes to wear glamorous clothes!
Read: Mary Had a Little Glam by Tammi Sauer & Vanessa Brantley-Newton

Action Song: Hat, Sweater, Pants, and Shoes
(tune of Head Shoulders Knees and Toes)
Hat, sweater, pants, and shoes (Pants and shoes)
Hat, sweater, pants, and shoes (Pants and shoes)
Belt, and scarf, and underwear!
Hat, sweater, pants, and shoes (Pants and shoes)
Credit: Literary Hoots

Craft: Clothesline Scene
Color a field or the ground for your clothesline to sit on. Glue down the ends of the yarn but leave the middle free, then the sticks to make the clothesline. Color and cut clothes out, then “hang” them using tabs. (If this is too fiddly, feel free to glue down the string and the clothes.) Add details like sun, clouds, trees, etc.
I couldn’t find clothes with tabs the way I wanted, so I created my own page of clothesline clothes using Canva. Download the PDF here.

I also booktalked these alternative titles during the permanent YouTube video.
Ella Sarah Gets Dressed by Margaret Chodos-Irvine
Mrs. McNosh Hangs Up Her Wash by Sarah Weeks & Nadine Bernard Westcott

Closing Rhyme: Tickle the Stars

This storytime was presented virtually on 9/29/20.

Storytime Handout:

Preschool Storytime: No Theme

Posted on October 26, 2020 by msemilylibrary

This was my second virtual storytime ever, way back in March. I worked with books I had at home and tried to transition between them using rhymes and songs. I used shaker songs, so encouraged caregivers to make a simple shaker at home using rice or beans in a closable container their child could grip (mine is a 4 oz plastic food container secured with tape). I also said that even if you don’t have a shaker, you can participate by getting out your “magic shaker” – an invisible shaker you can shake and make noise with a “cha-cha” sound. This was a storytime I did exclusively on Facebook Live, and do not have a permanent YouTube version available. With everyone staying safer at home, we weren’t providing handouts or Take and Make packets at that time. I tried to suggest either crafts made with household materials or activities caregivers could do with their child.

Welcome Song: Clap and Sing Hello

Fingerplay: Mr. Bullfrog
Here is Mr. Bullfrog (make fist)
sitting on a rock (place fist on other palm)
He jumps into the water… (lift fist, building anticipation)
Kerplop! (clap hands together)
Credit: Storytime with Miss Tara and Friends

Read: Jump! by Scott M. Fischer

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!
Credit: Jbrary (see video for motions)

Shaker Song: Shake Your Shaker
(tune of London Bridge)
Shake your shakers in the air
Shake it here, shake it there
Shake your shakers in the air
Shake your shakers

Shake it high and shake it low
Shake it yes, shake it no
Shake it high and shake it low
Shake your shakers

Shake it up and shake it down
Shake your shaker on the ground
Shake it up and shake it down
Shake your shakers

Shake it near and shake it far
Drive your shaker like a car
Shake it near and shake it far
Shake your shaker

Shake it fast and shake it slow
Shake it stop, shake it go
Shake it fast and shake it slow
Shake your shaker
Credit: Jbrary

Read: The Pigeon Wants a Puppy! by Mo Willems

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

He goes flip flop, wig wag, (pause) zig zag (repeat motions above)
He goes flip flop, wig wag, (pause) zig zag
He goes flip flop, wig wag, (pause) zig zag
I love Rags and he loves me! (arms cross chest)
Credit: Jbrary

Ukulele Song: Days of the Week
(tune of the Addams Family Theme)
Days of the week (clap, clap)
Days of the week (clap, clap)
Days of the week, days of the week, days of the week (clap, clap)

There’s Sunday and there’s Monday
There’s Tuesday and there’s Wednesday
There’s Thursday and there’s Friday
And then there’s Saturday!
Credit: Yogibrarian

Download a ukulele songsheet for Days of the Week

Read: Saturday by Oge Mora

Breathing Exercise
When things don’t go our way, sometimes it helps to take some deep breaths, just like Ava did in Saturday. Will you breathe with me? Let’s breathe in for 3 counts and out for 3 counts.

Activity Suggestion: Puppets!
Just as Ava and her mother made puppets, so can you! You can make puppets from a sock, a paper lunch sack, or even make finger puppets out of plain paper. Dramatic play is great for storytelling and narrative skills, and is a great creative outlet! My puppets were a paper bag flamingo, a sock puppet with pink bows, and a pigeon finger puppet. (My sock puppet was dismantled after storytime.)

Closing Rhyme: Tickle the Stars

This storytime was presented virtually on 3/30/20.

Preschool Storytime: Autumn

Posted on October 19, 2020October 3, 2025 by msemilylibrary

Storytime fell on the official first day of autumn, so it seemed natural to make that our theme today. This is a very basic theme, but I actually struggled planning it because it seemed like so many of the songs and rhymes were so alike. I planned to do individual sessions on apples and pumpkins, so I saved those, and everything else seemed to be variations on the falling leaf motif! I tried to mix it up a little bit, even though three activities were about leaves. Making two of them scarf songs kept it more interesting in my view. I borrowed heavily from Sunflower Storytime’s plan – even though I had pulled from many sources in my planning stage, hers just worked well for me and the flow of the stories! In my mind, our arc went from nonfiction, to a fictional title about nature, to a fictional title about human traditions.

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

See other versions of this theme from 2023 and 2025.

Early Literacy Tip: Factual books are a great way to expand children’s knowledge about the world. You can read the whole book or choose certain pages your child might be interested in. In fact, it’s perfectly okay to read only parts of a book, or to just focus on the pictures. You can adapt the experience to your child’s interest and attention span.

Welcome Song: We Clap and Sing Hello

Read: selections from Awesome Autumn by Bruce Goldstone
I paper-clipped some pages together, and read just the larger font sentences after talking about the early literacy tip. We did include the information about birds migrating, which helped transition to our first rhyme.

Each bird is one who migrates for the winter.
Fingerplay: Two Little Bluebirds
Two little bluebirds sitting on a hill
One named Jack and one named Jill
Fly away Jack, fly away Jill
Come back Jack, come back Jill

Two little blackbirds in the corn crop
One named Bottom and the other named Top
Fly away Bottom, fly away Top
Come back Bottom, come back Top

Two little geese sitting on a stick
One named slow and one named quick
Fly away slow, fly away quick
Come back slow, come back quick
Credit: traditional, adapted

Fingerplay: Autumn Leaves
Leaves are falling from the trees (Flutter fingers down)
Yellow, brown and red.
Falling, falling from above.
One landed on my head! (Hands on head)
Credit: Sunflower Storytime

What happens in nature during fall?
Read: In the Middle of Fall by Kevin Henkes & Laura Dronzek

Scarf Song: Autumn Leaves are Falling Down
(tune of London Bridge)
Autumn leaves are falling down (flutter scarf down)
Falling down, falling down
Autumn leaves are falling down
All around the town

Additional verses:
The wind will blow them round and round… (twirl in a circle)
Take a rake and rake them up… (use scarf as a scoop)
Now let’s jump into the pile… (jump and throw scarf)
Credit: Sunflower Storytime

Scarf Song: Leaves Are Twirling
(tune of Frère Jacques)
Leaves are twirling, leaves are twirling
All around, all around
They are falling softly, very, very softly
To the ground, to the ground
Credit: Sunflower Storytime

The next book talks more about the traditions that one family has during autumn – look to see which ones you recognize and which are new to you. Perhaps you’ll want to start some new traditions inspired by this book!
Read: I Know it’s Autumn by Eileen Spinelli & Nancy Hayashi

Action Song: Scarecrow, Scarecrow
(tune of Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star)
Scarecrow, scarecrow, turn around
Scarecrow, scarecrow, touch the ground
Stand up tall and blink your eyes
Raise your hands up to the sky
Clap your hands, then tap your knees
Turn around and stomp your feet

Scarecrow, scarecrow, touch your toes
Scarecrow, scarecrow, tap your nose
Swing your arms so very slow
Now really fast to scare the crows!
Touch your head, jump up and down
Now sit down without a sound
Credit: Adventures in Storytime

Flannel Rhyme: Blue is the Sky
Blue is the sky, Yellow is the sun
Silver are the stars, When the day is done
Orange is the leaf, Brown is the tree
Red is the apple, For you and me
Credit: Mel’s Desk

flannel of Blue is the Sky: a light blue blob, yellow sun, two silver stars, an orange leaf, a brown tree with no leaves (mounted on a tan blob), and a red apple.

Craft: Tissue Paper Autumn Tree
A simple but pretty craft that allows kids to work their grip muscles by crunching up pieces of tissue paper. Liquid glue seems to work best for this. I printed a bare tree on blue construction paper. If you aren’t sure how to print on construction paper, I highly recommend learning! Makes a lot of crafts much easier!

I also booktalked these alternative titles during the permanent YouTube video.
Fall Leaves Fall by Zoe Hall & Shari Halpern
When Autumn Falls by Kelli Nidey & Susan Swan
Fall Mixed Up by Bob Raczka & Chad Cameron

Closing Rhyme: Tickle the Stars

This storytime was presented virtually on 9/22/20.

Storytime Handout:

Preschool Storytime: Squirrels!

Posted on October 9, 2020September 21, 2023 by msemilylibrary

Hoo-boy, I have been busy! It feels like storytimes have taken a bit longer to plan, and we started offering school-age programs as well in September, so there’s been less time to write up blog posts. But I’ll get them all!

Squirrels may be one of my favorite animals. We have several oak trees in our yard at my house, so we have lots of squirrel friends to watch throughout the year. They’re cute, they have funny tails, and adorable paws for patting the ground after burying an acorn! Plus, there are some GREAT picture books, rhymes, and songs about squirrels, so it’s a perfect storytime theme.

You can see the virtual program that does not include the full books read aloud here.
See another version of this from 2023 here.

Early Literacy Tip: Having your child retell a story is one way to help them understand the story. However, sometimes retelling the whole story can be hard. You can start off with having your child say a repeated phrase as we did in the book Ol’ Mama Squirrel. “Chook, chook, chook! Get out of my tree!” “And that takes care of that!”

Welcome Song: We Clap and Sing Hello

Action Rhyme: Sneaky, Squeaky Squirrel
Sneaky, squeaky, (tiptoe) Hippity, hop, (hop)
Up he goes to the tree top (stretch arms up)
Whirly, twirly round and round (spin around)
Down he scampers to the ground. (sit down)
Credit: Librionyian

Read: Squirrels Leap, Squirrels Sleep by April Pulley Sayre & Steve Jenkins

We talked about the different kinds of squirrels that were mentioned in the book, and I showed photographs of these. For the rhyme, we did a verse for each.

Action Rhyme: Gray Squirrel, Gray Squirrel
Gray squirrel, gray squirrel, shake your bushy tail
Gray squirrel, gray squirrel, shake your bushy tail
Wrinkle up your funny nose…
Hold a nut between your toes…
Gray squirrel, gray squirrel, shake your bushy tail
Gray squirrel, gray squirrel, shake your bushy tail
(repeat with fox squirrel, red squirrel, and flying squirrel)
Credit: Jbrary

Fingerplay: This Little Squirrel
(wiggle each finger in turn)
This little squirrel said, “Let’s run and play!”
This little squirrel said, “Let’s hunt nuts today!”
This little squirrel said, “Yes, nuts are good.”
This little squirrel said, “Yes, my favorite food.”
This little squirrel said, “Come climb this tree.”
(run fingers up other arm, quickly)
And crack these nuts: one, two, three!
(clap hands three times)
Credit: Sunflower Storytime via Storytime Katie

Our grownups love us and want to protect us. In the next book, Ol’ Mama Squirrel is VERY protective of her babies!
Read: Ol’ Mama Squirrel by David Ezra Stein

Song: Grr, Grr Went the Big Brown Bear
Grrr, grrr went the big brown bear one day (make claws and scary face)
Grrr , grrr went the big brown bear
Grrr, grrr went the big brown bear one day
And they all went grrr, grrr, grrr
But… We know bears go (clap) huggy, huggy, hug! (hug yourself)
(Clap) Huggy, huggy, hug, (clap) huggy, huggy, hug!
We know bears go (clap) huggy, huggy, hug!
They don’t go grrr, grrr, grrr

Jump, jump went the little red squirrel one day (jump!)
Jump, jump went the little red squirrel
Jump, jump went the little red squirrel one day
And they all went jump, jump, jump.
But… We know squirrels go (clap) rub a dub a dub! (arms “run” in front of you)
(Clap) Rub a dub a dub, (clap) rub a dub a dub!
We know squirrels go (clap) rub a dub a dub!
They don’t go jump, jump, jump
Credit: Jbrary

My Scaredy Squirrel puppet took these acorns off the flannel board.
Flannel Rhyme: Squirrel’s Acorns
Down around the corner by the big oak tree
Sat five little acorns looking sooo yummy
Along came a squirrel with a big bushy tail
He took one acorn and ran off down the trail
(count down)
Credit: Storytime Secrets

Photo of 5 felt acorns with a puppet of Melanie Watt's Scaredy Squirrel

Read: Scaredy Squirrel by Mélanie Watt

We need to follow that silly story with a silly song! In this one, we will click/clack our tongues. Let’s practice. If you can’t quite get it, you can clap instead of clicking!
Song: I’m a Nut (The Acorn Song)
I’m an acorn small and round
Lying on the cold, cold, ground
People always step on me
That is why I’m cracked you see
I’m a nut (clack, clack)
I’m a nut (clack, clack)
I’m a nut, I’m a nut, I’m a nut (clack, clack)
Credit: traditional

Craft: Scaredy Squirrel Headbands
Assemble the shapes as shown in the picture. Glue the headband piece to the bottom of Scaredy’s head, then measure to fit your child’s head. Glue or staple the pieces. (I made my own pattern pieces based on this blog post from LiBrionyan.)

I also booktalked these alternative titles during the permanent YouTube video.
Squirrel’s Family Tree by Beth Ferry & A.N. Kang
Girl Versus Squirrel by Hayley Barrett & Renée Andriani
This Is a Taco! by Andrew Cangelose & Josh Shipley

Closing Rhyme: Tickle the Stars

This storytime was presented virtually on 9/15/20.

Storytime Handout:

Preschool Storytime: Mistaken Identity

Posted on October 1, 2020 by msemilylibrary

What a mouthful for a storytime theme – Mistaken Identity! Yet, I easily found three books that tied to this concept and I’m sure there are many more. We spent a moment at the beginning of the session breaking down the phrase and talking about what it means, and I got feedback later that the kids really enjoyed these stories. This was an early-lockdown storytime I did exclusively on Facebook Live, and do not have a YouTube version available. With everyone staying safer at home, we weren’t providing handouts or Take and Make packets at that time. I tried to suggest either crafts made with household materials or activities caregivers could do with their child.

Welcome Song: Clap and Sing Hello

Read: Mother Bruce by Ryan T. Higgins

Fingerplay: Hickory Dickory Dock
Hickory, dickory dock
the mouse ran up the clock (fingers run up arm)
the clock struck one (clap once)
the mouse ran down (fingers run down arm)
hickory dickory dock.

Additional verses:
…the clock struck two (clap twice) the mouse said, boo! …
…the clock struck three (clap three times) the mouse said, whee! …
…the clock struck four (clap four times) the mouse said, no more! …
Credit: Jbrary

Read: The Wide-Mouthed Frog by Keith Faulkner & Jonathan Lambert

For this song, I use three differently sized frog rasps that I purchased on Amazon. They’re a lot of fun and the kids love them. Thanks so much to Ada Moreau Demlow for posting a video of her original creation on Facebook!
Song: Three Frogs in a Bog
There was a big frog (rasp, rasp)
Lived in a big bog (rasp, rasp)
He swam in the water (rasp, rasp)
Played on a big log (rasp, rasp)
Big log (rasp, rasp)
Big bog (rasp, rasp)
Big frog (rasp, rasp)

There was a middle-sized frog…
There was a little frog…

And then one day (rasp big, rasp middle, rasp little)
The frogs got together (rasp, rasp, rasp)
They swam in the water (rasp, rasp, rasp)
In the bright sunny weather (rasp, rasp, rasp)
Three frogs (rasp, rasp, rasp)
Three friends (rasp, rasp, rasp)
The end! (rasp, rasp, rasp)
Credit: Ada Moreau Demlow

Three wooden frog-shaped percussion instruments, with a line of ridges down the back; large, medium, and small. Each holds a removable wooden percussion stick in its mouth. — Frog rasps

Fingerplay: Mr. Bullfrog
Here is Mr. Bullfrog (make fist)
sitting on a rock (place fist on other palm)
He jumps into the water… (lift fist, building anticipation)
Kerplop! (clap hands together)
Credit: Storytime with Miss Tara and Friends

Read: Duck! Rabbit! by Amy Krouse Rosenthal & Tom Lichtenheld

Ukulele Song: Duck On Her Head
Ms. Emily’s got a duck on her head
Ms. Emily’s got a duck on her head
Ms. Emily’s got a duck on her head
And she keeps it there all day! (Quack, quack!)

Repeat with children’s names and other animals. I used animals that were in our stories and rhymes today: Rabbit, Frog, Bear, Goose, Mouse.
Credit: Laurie Berkner (Original song is “Pig on Her Head”)
Get a downloadable ukulele songsheet here!

Craft Idea: Animal Headband
Use construction paper and any other craft materials you wish to create a headband featuring an animal you like best! Add ears, eyes, noses or snouts to evoke different animals. I made a duck, and traced my hands to make the wings. Pro tip – always staple with the smooth side toward the inside so it doesn’t get tangled in a child’s hair!

Yellow paper headband with features to look like a duck: wing feathers, eyes, and an orange beak.

Closing Rhyme: Tickle the Stars

This storytime was presented virtually on 4/14/20.

Preschool Storytime: Country Life

Posted on September 21, 2020 by msemilylibrary

When I first thought about doing a City Life/Country Life duo for storytime, I thought that it would be really easy to find books about country life. But as I was clarifying in my mind what I really wanted to present, I realized that the books I wanted were much harder to identify. Of course, books about “farm life,” especially from the perspective of farm animals, are everywhere. That’s the bread and butter of children’s picture books, it seems. However, I really wanted to show a realistic view of living in the country from a child’s or family’s perspective. I eventually found a few books that worked well for me, and a couple as backup.

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

Early Literacy Tip: Learning shapes and practicing manipulating them as we do in our tractor craft this week is an important early literacy skill. A child who is able to distinguish between shapes is better equipped to notice the differences in shapes of letters. This helps not only with reading but also with writing.

Welcome Song: We Clap and Sing Hello

Lifting Song: The Country Song
Oh, the country is great and the country is grand!
There are not a lot of buildings on a whole lot of land.
And we live way out by the forest and the trees.
We grow a lot of vegetables and maybe keep some bees.

We put the seeds in the earth, we take the vegetables out
(repeat 3 times)
And we dance and shout!
Credit: Jbrary

Tickle Rhyme: Here Is the Beehive
Here is the the beehive (show fist)
But where are the bees?
Hidden away where nobody sees
Watch and you’ll see them come out of the hive
1, 2, 3, 4, 5… (show fingers) They’re alive!
Buzz buzz buzz! (tickle)
Credit: Jbrary

Read: Green On Green by Dianne White & Felicita Sala
A beautiful book that shows a family through the seasons in different settings of their country home – a pond, the seashore, by trees, picnicking in a field with friends. Some may notice that the mother’s belly grows through the seasons until a new baby is subtly included in the last pictures.

Scarf Song: Picked a Strawberry
(tune of Clementine)
Picked a strawberry, picked a strawberry (“pick” your scarf)
That was growing in the sun. (raise arms with scarf to make a round sun)
Then I washed it, and I ate it, (“scrub” with scarf and pretend to take a bite)
And I picked another one. (pick again)
Repeat with other foods: apple, grape, tomato, blueberry, etc
Credit: Jbrary

Scarf Rhyme: Way Up High in the Apple Tree
Way up high in the apple tree, (pull scarf up through hand)
I saw two apples looking at me (make fists with scarf in one hand)
I shook that tree as hard as I could (shaking motion)
Down came the apples, and mmmm, they were good! (drop scarf, rub tummy)
Credit: traditional

Read: Hey, Hey, Hay! by Christy Mihaly & Joe Cepeda
This simple rhyming text shows a modern farm with modern equipment, a mom and daughter who work it, and explains why and how hay is made. I love that it mentions the traditional haymaker’s punch, or switchel, and includes a recipe as well as glossary of terms.

Lap Bounce: Bumpin’ Up and Down in My Little Red Tractor
(bounce child, then lift, hug, or lean on the last line)
Bumpin’ up and down in my little red tractor (repeat 3 times)
Won’t you be my darlin’?

Additional verses:
Mowin’ down the grass in my little red tractor… (bounce or “steer” tractor)
Takin’ a break for cake and switchel… (bounce or pretend to eat & drink)
Baling up the hay in my little red tractor… (bounce or roll arms)
Credit: adapted by Ms. Emily from the traditional “Bumpin’ Up and Down in my Little Red Wagon”

A lot of people in the country drive a pickup truck. It’s useful for hauling things like supplies for the farm. Here’s a story about Farmer MacDonald and his wife – they want to buy a new truck.

Folder Story: Farmer MacDonald’s Truck
Farmer McDonald and his wife go to town to buy a new truck. But each time the truck sales person offers a different color truck, it is never right. First he shows them a red truck and Farmer McDonald says:
“Oh no, that won’t do, please bring me a truck that is BLUE”
“No no, you are being mean, please bring me a truck that is GREEN”
“No no,” said Old McDonald with a gurgle, “Please bring me a truck that is PURPLE”
“No, no, I think….- I’d like to see a truck that is PINK”
“I can’t drive that bright truck around town! Please show me a truck that is BROWN”
“No, that’s just not the truck I have pictured in my head. Let’s try a truck that is RED”
“Yes, yes! That one wins the race! Why didn’t you show me that in the first place?!”
and The McDonalds drive back to the farm in their new truck.
Credit: The LibraryAnn

Picture of manila folder with a truck outline cut out, with black tires. Paper inside the folder changes the color of the truck. — Farmer MacDonald’s Truck

Read: The Old Truck by Jerome Pumphrey & Jarrett Pumphrey
Story of a truck owned by a family of farmers, that worked hard but grew old. The young girl who begins the story grows older and eventually restores the truck to be used again with her own family. Great simple story of an African-American farming family.

Action Rhyme: Open the Truck Door
(act out rhyme)
Open the truck door, climb inside
I get to help my mommy drive!
Fasten the seat belt and shut the door
Start the engine, hear it roar
Turn the corner and step on the gas
If the road is clear, we may pass.
Credit: Librarian Lisa

Craft: Shape Tractors
Assemble a tractor and cart with simple shapes, then add cotton balls to represent hay bales.

I also booktalked these alternative titles during the permanent YouTube video.
Birdsong by Julie Flett
Why Are You Doing That? by Elisa Amado & Manuel Monroy
Pond by Jim LaMarche

Closing Rhyme: Tickle the Stars

This storytime was presented virtually on 9/8/20.

Storytime Handout: