puppets – Page 2 – Storytime with Ms. Emily Library

Storytime: Pockets

Posted on November 9, 2024November 9, 2024 by msemilylibrary

I find pockets in clothing are kind of exciting. You can store treasures that you find on your adventures. And if you’ve walked around without any or adequate pockets (ahem, women’s clothing, I’m looking at you), you know how much you miss them when they’re gone.

I was actually surprised at how few books about children and their pockets there were to be found in my library – I wonder if the waning popularity of letting children roam and explore outdoors makes pockets a little less important to today’s children. Or perhaps it hasn’t been a publishing trend. In any event, I was inspired by the new book The Pocket Book by Hinrichs & Breckenreid, and bought a couple others for the collection to support this theme. In addition, we talked about kangaroos and their incredible biological pockets, as well as their adorable joeys.

I was extra crafty for this session, too. In addition to creating some pockets for the flannel board, I knit a little worm finger puppet and used my sewing machine to add some pockets to an apron. I enjoy crafting a lot so this was fun!

Early Literacy Tip: Crafts and activities like our lacing pocket develop fine motor skills, which means strengthening and developing accuracy in our finger muscles. These are the same muscles they will need for writing. And writing a P for Pocket or your child’s name help develop their letter knowledge. The activities you do with your children all work together to help build a strong foundation for reading later on. -adapted The Early Literacy Kit: A Handbook and Tip Cards by Betsy Diamant-Cohen & Saroj Ghoting

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

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* (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.

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* (TT) (TB) (FT)

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: Do your clothes have any pockets today? Mine do, and that’s always exciting! You can put all kinds of things in your pocket to save for later.

First, let’s find a pocket! Maybe your pocket is pretend, maybe it’s real.
At the end of the song, we talked about what they would want to put in their pockets. I got some good answers, such as a rock, their pet, or a hand!
Action Song: Where’s Your Pocket? (TT) (TB) (FT)
(tune of Frère Jacques)
Where’s your pocket? Where’s your pocket?
Find it now, find it now
What will you put in it? What will you put in it?
Tell me now! Tell me now!
Source: Rachel Anne Mencke Blog

where's your pocket thumbnail, with a graphic of a pair of overalls with pink arrows pointing to three visible pockets. click the image to download a non-branded PDF

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

This book is a bit abstract, so we spent some time looking at the items on the page and what they could represent.
Read: The Pocket Book by Alexandra S. D. Hinrichs & Julia Breckenreid (TT) (FT)

I also tried this sweet book about a joey who’s afraid of everything. The kids enjoyed making the noises of the animals that joey encounters. In the session I read this book, I moved the kangaroo rhyme up to directly follow the book, then kept the order of the other activities the same.
Read: Pouch! by David Ezra Stein (TB)

This rhyme works with anything – just think of a one-line hint to put in the middle to describe your object. I kept two of the hints from the Wielded Pen’s original post, but replaced the clock and the flashlight with small toys – a bouncing ball and a matchbox car.
When creating the felt, I cut two pieces of felt for each pocket and hand-sewed them together with embroidery floss and glued die-cut numbers on the fronts. Because they needed to hold a bit of weight and stay up on the board, I added some extra Velcro to the backs to keep them stuck on. It worked, and they held the weight of the toy car without an issue. Of course, you could always print pictures of the items instead of using real items.
Let’s try a guessing game. I have four pockets up on the board. Can you guess what’s inside each of them? I’ll give you a hint.
Rhyming Game: What’s In My Pocket? (TT) (TB) (FT)
I have a little pocket where something can hide
[Hint!]
Do you know what’s inside?

Hints from storytime:
…It opens doors and starts the car (key)
…It’s used to draw in a coloring book (crayon)
…It’s fun to bounce and catch outdoors (ball)
…When we play it rolls and I say “vroom!” (toy car)
Source: The Wielded Pen

what's in my pocket thumbnail, with a graphic of a plain pocket with a question mark above it. click the image to download a non-branded PDF

A fun song that was new to me. The recording is nice, with the instrumentation dropping out each time a finger is lost, but I wanted a bit more space in between the verses for us to count the remaining fingers, so I just sang the tune myself. Mar’s recording (linked below) is helpful as she gives some tips and tricks for adults.
When I put my hand in my pocket, I can keep all my fingers warm. But have you ever lost something in your pocket?
Action Song: Five Fingers in My Pocket (TT) (TB) (FT)
I’ve got five fingers in my pocket (show hand & put in pocket)
Five fingers hidden away
Five fingers in my pocket
Look! Aww, one went away! (show hand with 4 fingers)

Count down to no fingers, then bring 5 out again
Last line: Five fingers here to stay!
Source: Music with Mar via Story Tree

Five fingers in my pocket thumbnail, with a graphic of a the outline of a hand holding up four fingers with the thumb hidden. click the image to download a non-branded PDF

I didn’t happen to have a finger puppet for a worm, so I looked to see if there were any free knitting patterns out there. Of course there were! This was a quick and relatively easy (if you know how to knit in the round on dpns) pattern from Chem Knits for a cute stripey worm made from a small amount of fingering weight yarn.
Oh! I felt something in my pocket. Something that wiggles!
Fingerplay: Wiggly Worm (TT) (TB) (FT)
Wiggly is a wee worm who wiggles everywhere
Can you keep your eyes on it as it wiggles here and there?
Wiggly starts down at my toes
And wiggles all the way up to my nose!
It wiggles back down without a peep
Creeps into my pocket and goes to sleep
Source: King County (WA) Library System

photograph of knitted worm finger puppet that is blue and beige stripes with large black eyes.

wiggly worm thumbnail, with a graphic of an orange and green striped worm. click the image to download a non-branded PDF

I remembered that my predecessor had a couple of “storytime aprons,” and as I was planning this session I thought one had a bunch of pockets on it. But when I looked, one was a “flannel” apron with a fuzzy surface and standard pockets at the bottom, and the other was just a regular apron. So I cut out some pocket shapes from felt and sewed the extras on the regular apron for this pocket zoo.
I have a special apron that has LOTS of pockets! Wow! What do you think is in these pockets? Would you believe that I have a zoo in my pockets?
Puppet Song: Pocket Zoo (TT) (TB) (FT)
(tune of Old MacDonald)
In my pocket is a zoo, E I E I O!
There’s a froggy in there, too E I E I O!
With a ribbit-ribbit here and a ribbit-ribbit, there
Here a ribbit, there a ribbit
Everywhere a ribbit-ribbit!
In my pocket is a zoo, E I E I O!
Source: Rachel Anne Mencke Blog

photograph of a burgandy apron with five extra pockets on the bib - purple, green, orange, and blue. a finger puppet is peeking out of each of these - frog, snake, tiger, and dog.

pocket zoo thumbnail, with a graphic of four white pockets with animals peeking out from them: frog, monkey, snake, and pig. click the image to download a non-branded PDF

There’s an animal at the zoo who is very special, and has a pocket that they use to carry their babies around. Do you know what animal that is? A kangaroo! What would you call a baby kangaroo? A joey
Action Rhyme: Brown Kangaroo (TT) (TB) (FT)
The brown kangaroo Is very funny
She leaps and she runs and she hops like a bunny
And on her tummy is a pocket so wide
Her baby jumps in and goes for a ride
Source: Rachel Anne Mencke Blog

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

I had this one in my back pocket (ha, ha) but didn’t need it as we had plenty to do in the time available.
Have you ever picked flowers and put them in your pocket? Let’s play a game.
Action Song: Ring Around the Rosie
Ring around the rosie,
A pocket full of posies
Ashes, ashes,
We all fall down!

Cows are in the meadow,
eating buttercups
Thunder, lightning,
We all stand up!
Source: traditional

ring around the rosie thumbnail, with a graphic of a pocket full of pink and yellow flowers. The pocket has a heart patch sewn on. click the image to download a non-branded PDF

My groups really enjoy when we do songs with my ukulele, so I kind of shoehorned this one in. But it made me think about that song that mentions “sunshine in my pocket,” and everyone likes this one.
I have one more thing in my pocket – a song!
Ukulele Song: You Are My Sunshine (TT) (TB) (FT)
You are my sunshine, My only sunshine
You make me happy when skies are gray
You’ll never know, dear,
How much I love you
Please don’t take my sunshine away
Source: traditional

Get a downloadable ukulele songsheet for You Are My Sunshine here!

thumbnail of You Are My Sunshine ukulele songsheet.

You Are My Sunshine thumbnail, with a graphic of a smiling sun. click the image to download a non-branded PDF

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

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

Craft: Joey in a Pocket Lacing Craft (TB) (FT)
This craft was originally inspired by this post by Saroj Ghoting on her blog (which has a lot of great resources for early literacy asides in storytime). I modified it a bit, adding a little paper joey to add in the pocket. Doing the lacing was a bit of a stretch for my littlest crafters, but with their grownups’ help they were all able to do it. Some of my crafts are extremely simple (just decorating with paint or stickers, for example), and some are a little more involved. I think it’s good to have a mix of easy and challenging in addition to offering many craft mediums.
I didn’t find any scrapbook paper in my library’s craft stash, so I just printed pockets with some fun patterns using Canva. (I started with a plain one and colored it as my example, but decided to go with the patterns for the group.) To get the crafts ready, I printed and cut out the pockets from cardstock and paired them with a half sheet of plain cardstock. I then punched holes – the trick here is to make sure all your edges are close enough for the hole puncher to reach. I put a little bit of painter’s tape on to keep the pocket from shifting around, then removed it when all the holes were punched. You also need an even number of holes if you want your yarn to start and end from the back. I taped the end of the yarn to the back and threaded the first hole to get them started. I also wrapped the end of the yarn with tape to make a shoelace-like aglet to make it easier to do the lacing (the only step I forgot to photograph.)

Click here to download the joey and pocket pattern!

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)

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)
A Pocket Full of Kisses – Audrey Penn & Barbara Leonard Gibson
What’s in Your Pocket? – Heather L. Montgomery & Maribel Lechuga
A Dress with Pockets – Lily Murray & Jenny Løvlie
Sharko and Hippo – Elliott Kalan & Andrea Tsurumi
The Whole Hole Story – Vivian McInerny & Ken Lamug
A Sock is a Pocket for Your Toes – Elizabeth Garton Scanlon & Robin Preiss Glasser
Does a Kangaroo Have a Mother, Too? – Eric Carle
Marsupial Sue – John Lithgow & Jack E. Davis
Wombat – Philip Bunting
A Pocket for Corduroy – Don Freeman

This storytime was presented in-person on 11/4, 11/5, & 11/6/24.

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: Hats

Posted on October 19, 2024October 19, 2024 by msemilylibrary

Another fun theme that’s relatable for my toddlers who wear their hats in sun and snow all the time. The hat hide-and-seek flannelboard game with Walrus was a big hit, and my Folkmanis Bunny in a Hat puppet is also a big attention draw. I was pleased to see several families (grownups as well as kids) wear their hats, even if they didn’t stay on long during the program!

Early Literacy Tip: Parents, when you share wordless books with your children, there’s no limit to the conversations you can have together! Taking part in lots of conversations helps your child learn new words, gives them a big vocabulary, and helps them become good readers. Talking with your child will help them get ready to read. –Mel’s Desk

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

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

Intro: Last week we talked about what we wear on our feet – shoes and socks. What do we wear on our heads? Hats! Just like shoes, there are so many kinds of hats – some are good for a specific activity or job, and some we wear just because we like how they look.

Hats come in all shapes and sizes!
Action Rhyme: Tall Hat, Small Hat (TT) (TB) (FT)
Tall hat, (tall hands above head)
Small hat (small rounded hands on head)
Big hat, (hands wide to either side of head)
Cap (one hand flat on head)
Let me take them off again (hands move down and to lap)
And put them in my lap
Source: Librionyian

tall hat small hat thumbnail, with a graphic of a tall black top hat, a tiny purple top hat attached to a headband, a red hat with a wide floppy brim, and a brown newsboy style cap. click the image to download a non-branded PDF

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

I actually only “read” one book this week because my following activities were so tied to it, though I kept Hooray For Hats as a backup. I took a lot of inspiration from Jessica at Storytime in the Stacks on how to present Where’s Walrus as a wordless picture book, and how to present wordless books as an early literacy tool from Mel’s Desk.
Walrus is going to be wearing a lot of hats in this book to hide from the zookeeper. Let’s see if you can find Walrus.
Read: Where’s Walrus? by Stephen Savage (TT) (TB) (FT)

Walrus is hiding here at the library! Let’s see if we can find him.
This flannel was again inspired by Storytime in the Stacks. You can find a template for the hats (plus more varieties) at her post. We both used a very affordable download from Etsy seller Creative Cat and Co for the animal faces. To present, I just went hat by hat, talking a little about each one and what it was for, leaving the last one for Walrus.
Flannel Rhyme: Where’s Walrus? (TT) (TB) (FT)
Walrus, walrus, where could you be?
Are you under the baseball cap? Let’s look and see!
[That’s not Walrus? Who is it? Panda! Well, maybe Walrus is under the next hat – a chef’s hat!]
Source: Storytime in the Stacks

where's walrus thumbnail, with a graphic of a walrus wearing a blue baseball cap that is obscuring his eyes and nose. click the image to download a non-branded PDF

I intended to do this guessing game after finding Walrus, but it just didn’t seem right for my first group, so I skipped it. And looking at the clock when we were done, it was a good thing – I ended right on time. With the craft for the next two sessions, I knew it wouldn’t fit, so it didn’t get used at all. But it’s a possible activity for you, so I’m including it here! The original I saw didn’t include a space helmet, so I wrote a verse for it.
Flannel Game: Whose Hat Am I?
I’m hard and yellow, sturdy as can be
To protect your head – who wears me? [Construction worker – Hard Hat]
One, two, three strikes you’re out
I am worn in the field and in the dugout [Baseball player – Baseball cap]
I’m tall and white, take a look
Someone wears me when they cook [Chef – Chef’s hat or toque]
Hocus pocus, look about
A magician taps me and a rabbit jumps out! [Magician – Top hat]
On your birthday, I’ll be there
Sitting up atop your hair [Party goer – Party hat]
I am special, you can see
Worn by those of royalty [King or queen – Crown]
Tall with stars and a pointy peak
Look for my owner if magic you seek [Witch or Wizard – Magic hat]
If there’s a fire, I’ll be there
Protecting my brave owner’s hair [Firefighter – Fire helmet]
I’m made of straw with a brim so wide
Can you tell whose head will be inside? [Cowpoke – Western hat/Stetson]
A knitted hat for young and old
To keep a head warm in the cold [Anyone! – Winter hat]
When my owner walks in outer space
I keep them safe in that airless place [Astronaut – Space helmet]
Source: Stratford (CT) Library

That cowpoke hat is quite something! Let’s do a bounce
Bounce: I Hop on My Horse (TT) (TB) (FT)
I hop on my horse and go to town (bounce)
I ride up high (arms up, or lift child)
and I don’t fall down (arms low, or lower child)
I wear a hat so my hair won’t blow (hand on head)
And when I want to stop I just say “Ho!” (tilt back)
Source: Madison (WI) Public Library

i hop on my horse thumbnail, with a graphic of a rocking horse wearing a red western style hat and bandanna. click the image to download a non-branded PDF

This rhyme is about a grandma and a grandpa who wear a hat.
Rhyme: Grandma’s Glasses (TT) (TB) (FT)
These are grandma’s glasses
This is grandma’s hat
And this is the way she folds her hands
And lays them on her lap

These are grandpa’s glasses
This is grandpa’s hat
And this is the way he folds his arms
And takes a little nap (snore)
Source: Adventures of a Bookworm

grandma's glasses thumbnail, with a graphic of a sunhat with a flower and a newsboy style cap, plus a pair of blue-rimmed and black-rimmed glasses. click the image to download a non-branded PDF

Did you know that sometimes when you go to see a magic show, the magician will have a very special hat?
This is a draw and tell rhyme that I thought about using for a magic storytime but didn’t have time in that session. This time I made sure to fit it in, and they did enjoy it – by the time I got to the ears, I heard excited voices saying – “rabbit!” The numbers refer to the photos below, showing what to add at each line.
Drawing Rhyme: The Magician’s Hat (TT) (TB) (FT)
The magician has an empty hat (1)
Turned upside down with a brim like that (2)
Then suddenly a head appears (3)
With two bright eyes… (4)
…and two long ears (5)
And a small round nose… (6)
…and whiskers, too. (7)
And magic stories just for you (I just added some stars here)
Source: Chalk in Hand: The Draw and Tell Book by Phyllis Noe Pflomm (c)1986 via Once Upon a (Story) Time blog

And I’m pretty sloppy, so honestly you don’t need to draw perfectly to get this one!

a photo of my drawing for the Magician's hat - a fairly slapdash affair with crooked stars and a bunny with lopsided eyes and ears.

the magician's hat thumbnail, with a graphic of yellow and gold stars and exclamations. click the image to download a non-branded PDF

Little bunny would like to say hello! But bunny is a little shy.
Everyone loves the Bunny in a hat puppet – she gets lots of pets after storytime. After showing the rhyme with the puppet, I tell them, you can do this one with your fingers! And we do it together with just our hands, and then I did it a third time with the puppet and them following along.
Fingerplay: Little Bunny in a Hat (TT) (TB) (FT)
Make a bunny with your index and middle fingers, hide in other hand
Little bunny in a hat, Sitting so still (begin with bunny hidden)
Will she come out? Yes she will! (bunny pops out of hat)
She looks to the left (turn left)
She looks to the right (turn right)
She looks straight ahead (turn to front)
And pops out of sight (hides in hat/fist again)
Source: Jbrary

bunny in a hat puppet - white rabbit in a black hat. Also pictured is a magician's wand.

Little bunny in a hat thumbnail, with a graphic of a white rabbit peeking her head out of a black top hat, with yellow stars in the air around her. click the image to download a non-branded PDF

If you wear a hat, you won’t get rain on your head!
A bit of a stretch for a hat storytime, but I wanted another simple one for our scarves.
Scarf Rhyme: Rain on the Green Grass (TT) (TB) (FT)
Rain on the green grass (shake on floor)
Rain on the trees (shake high)
Rain on the roof (hold above head)
But not on me! (drop scarf)
repeat with: Sun, Snow, Leaves
Source: Jbrary

rain on the green grass thumbnail, with a graphic of an umbrella in the rain. click the image to download a non-branded PDF

Speaking of the weather, have you ever tried to wear a hat when it’s windy outside?
Scarf Song: Hats Are Blowing (TT) (TB) (FT)
(tune of Frère Jacques)
Hats are blowing, Hats are blowing
In the air, Everywhere!
Every time the wind blows, Someone’s hat, away it goes
Hold on tight. You’ll be all right!
Source: Storybook Stephanie

hats are blowing thumbnail, with a graphic of a cloud blowing wind and a wide-brimmed hat flipped and blowing in the breeze. click the image to download a non-branded PDF

This is a silly song. Every time we sing a word that starts with the letter “B”, let’s lift up our “hat” (scarf), and when we sing another “B” word, put your hat on. Listen carefully!
I’m always trying to add in a ukulele tune, so I was pleased to realize I could replace one word in this traditional tune and make it a hat tune. Jim Gill does this one with the hands up/down twist. I try to raise and lower the neck of my ukulele to lead the group. It’s hard! I kept trying to change position whenever I change chords, not just at B words. But it’s all fun.
Note that I changed the key of this song after trying my original sheet – C just worked better for my voice. Feel free to use what works best for you!
Ukulele/Scarf Song: My Bonnet (TT) (TB) (FT)
(tune of My Bonnie)
(raise hands or scarf when you hear a word that starts with “B,” and lower them the next time you hear one!)
My Bonnet lies over the ocean
My Bonnet lies over the sea
My Bonnet lies over the ocean

Oh, Bring Back my Bonnet to me
Bring Back, Bring Back
Oh, Bring Back my Bonnet to me, to me
Bring Back, Bring Back
Oh, Bring Back my Bonnet to me!
Source: adapted from traditional, hear the Jim Gill version here

Get a downloadable ukulele songsheet in the key of C here!
Get a downloadable ukulele songsheet in the key of G here!

thumbnail for "my bonnie" ukulele songsheet

my bonnet thumbnail, with a graphic of an old fashioned bonnet and an ocean wave. click the image to download a non-branded PDF

It’s time to put our astronaut helmets on so we can zoom, zoom, zoom!
Action Song: Zoom, Zoom, Zoom!* (TT) (TB) (FT)

Craft: Origami Hat Decorating (TB) (FT)
A traditional origami hat! When I was a kid we made these out of newspapers, but for a plain hat to decorate I used white butcher paper that we have as a library supply. I cut pages to approximately newspaper size, 15 x 22″, and made the hats myself. If I had a slightly older group, I may have let them fold. You can find instructions here, using the “pirate hat” instructions: https://www.wikihow.com/Make-a-Newspaper-Hat. We decorated with dot markers and the library’s extensive supply of stickers.

an origami hat decorated with multicolored dots from dot markers, plus heart and star stickers and two round stickers of animals in space.

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)
Very Good Hats – Emma Straub & Blanca Gómez
Hooray for Hat! – Brian Won
Bedtime Bonnet – Nancy Redd & Nneka Myers
A Hat for Minerva Louise – Janet Morgan Stoeke
I Had Ten Hats – David McPhail
Finders Keepers – Keiko Kasza
I Want My Hat Back – Jon Klassen
Do YOU Have a Hat? – Eileen Spinelli & Geraldo Valério
Hat Tricks – Satoshi Kitamura
Kindergarten Hat – Janet Lawler & Geraldine Rodriguez
Hats Are NOT for Cats! – Jacqueline K Rayner
A Hat for Mrs. Goldman – Michelle Edwards & G Brian Karas
The Magic Hat – Mem Fox & Tricia Tusa

This storytime was presented in-person on 10/14, 10/15, & 10/16/24.

Storytime Handout:

handout with suggested books, rhyme and song lyrics.

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

**These symbols indicate the program sessions I used the activities for:
(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: Counting/Numbers

Posted on August 23, 2024August 21, 2024 by msemilylibrary

After last week’s alphabet theme, this week we’re celebrating numbers and counting. I have to say that I found this week easier to plan. There are lots of counting and number rhymes and songs to choose from!

We also got out our rhythm sticks (which for me are unsharpened neon-colored pencils). Keeping a beat and counting a certain number of times is a natural use of sticks, though I bet you could adapt many of those rhymes to shaker eggs.

Early Literacy Tip: Learning the numbers in order is a great first step to math literacy. Working on showing numbers out of order, counting down as well as up, and identifying different numbers of items is a great way to develop those skills further.

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

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

Intro: Last week, we talked about the alphabet – letters are the foundation of reading! This week, we’re talking about numbers and counting – the foundations of math. Let’s practice counting!

Number Flannel
This was from a pre-made set purchased from Oriental Trading. Unfortunately they only include 0-9 digits, so I made my own extra 1 to make 10. I had it up throughout this program.

Number flannel thumbnail, with a graphic of the numbers 1-10.

One of the easiest ways to count is on our fingers. I have 10 fingers! How many do you have? Let’s see what we can do with them.
I did my best to not be ableist here by asking how many fingers they have, instead of assuming they all had ten. I have indeed had kids in the past with a malformed hand and it’s possible some kids might have a different number of fingers. Something to keep in mind when deciding whether to use this one!
Fingerplay: Ten Little Fingers (TT) (TB) (FT)
I have ten little fingers And all they all belong to me
I can make them do things Would you like to see?
I can squeeze them up tight I can open them wide
I can clap them together And make them all hide
I can wave them up high Wave them down low
I can hold them together just like so
I have ten little fingers And they all belong to me
Do you have ten little fingers? Let’s count and see!
Source: Jbrary

ten little fingers thumbnail, with lyrics only. click the image to download a non-branded PDF

Let’s test our listening!
Chant: Show Me One (TT) (TB) (FT)
Show me a one, one – (hold up 1 finger)
You’ve got your one! You’ve got your one!
(count up to 5, then choose random numbers or actions)
Source: Jbrary

Show Me One thumbnail, with a graphic of a line drawing of a hand with one finger up, labeled "1" and a second hand with two fingers up, labeled "2." click the image to download a non-branded PDF

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

This is a great title, very simple and short. The illustrations really tell the story, so we talked through what the dog was doing on each page.
Read: One Two That’s My Shoe! by Alison Murray (TT)

A fun game of hide and seek – the illustrations on this one are very dynamic, and again it is quite simple. There was a lot of roaring happening as we read!
Read: One-Osaurus, Two-Osaurus by Kim Norman & Pierre Collet-Derby (TB) (FT)

Here’s the traditional version of this rhyme.
This one played very well after One Two That’s My Shoe, so we did it to accompany that book, but skipped it after One-Osaurus.
Action Rhyme: One, Two, Buckle My Shoe (TT)
1, 2, Buckle my shoe (touch toes)
3, 4, Shut the door (clap)
5, 6, Pick up sticks (wiggle fingers upright)
7, 8, Lay them straight (lay one hand in other w/ fingers straight)
9, 10, A big fat hen! (arms wide)
Source: traditional

one two buckle my shoe thumbnail, with a graphic of a pair of buckled mary jane style children's shoes and a brown hen. click the image to download a non-branded PDF

Are you good at jumping? I know you’re doing great at counting! Let’s put them together.
Recorded Song: Jumping and Counting (TT)
Source: Jim Gill, from the album “Irrational Anthem and More Salutes to Nonsense”

Those dinosaurs sure had fun with their game. Let’s get our fingers out again – and play our own game. We’re going to tell a story using our fingers and numbers. This story is about some friends who go out dancing!
Though I don’t usually make a lyric sheet for recorded songs, I thought it would be helpful for everyone to see what “finger dance” is coming next.
Recorded Song: One From the Left (TB) (FT)
Source: Jim Gill, from the album “Vote for Jim Gill”

One from the left thumbnail, with a graphic of a line drawing of a hand on each side of the name of the dance holding up that number of fingers. 1- whoop de do, 2- snips galore, 3 - the finger mix, 4- bend and straight, 5 - clap and clap and clap and clap again. click the image to download a non-branded PDF

What are these? Carrots! How many do we have? (count) Who likes to eat carrots? (We do!) Someone else loves carrots, and is very hungry. Rabbit would like some lunch.
Lady Librarian Life used peas and a slightly different rhyme that I adapted to carrots because I already had them. Puppets eating food always seem to be a hit.
Rhyme: Down in the Garden (TT) (TB) (FT)
Down around the corner
In the garden we found
Four crunchy carrots
Growing from the ground
Along comes a rabbit
Who wants something to munch
She takes one carrot
And eats it for lunch – Nom, nom, nom!
(count down)
Source: adapted from Lady Librarian Life

down in the garden flannel, showing the number flannel with four orange carrots under the 1-4. Also pictured is a pink bunny puppet and the lyric page.

down in the garden thumbnail, with a graphic of a pink bunny sitting next to a mound of dirt with four carrot tops growing from it. click the image to download a non-branded PDF

You have been doing so great with counting, let’s learn the first three numbers in Spanish! Does anyone here like hot chocolate? A molinillo is used to stir and mix hot chocolate traditionally in Mexico, where chocolate originated.
Such a fun and simple song. We did it without rhythm sticks the first session, but I realized that they can easily be incorporated by tapping the rhythm on the first part and using them to stir when we get to bate bate. I actually have a decorative molinillo, so I showed it and demonstrated how it works.
Ukulele Song: ¡Chocolate! (TT) (TB) (FT)
(a leader sings each line and the group echoes it)
Uno, dos, tres, CHO (Uno, dos, tres, CHO)
Uno, dos, tres, CO (Uno, dos, tres, CO)
Uno, dos, tres, LA (Uno, dos, tres, LA)
Uno, dos, tres, TE (Uno, dos, tres, TE)
¡Chocolate! (¡Chocolate!) ¡Chocolate! (¡Chocolate!)
¡Bate! ¡Bate! (¡Bate! ¡Bate!) ¡El chocolate! (¡El chocolate!)
Source: traditional; check out the version by José-Luis Orozco

Get a downloadable ukulele songsheet here!

thumbnail for Chocolate ukulele songsheet.

a decorative molinillo, painted with different patterns in black, white, mustard, and rust colors.

chocolate thumbnail, with a graphic of a molinillo and traditional pitcher as well as a mug of hot chocolate with marshmallows. click the image to download a non-branded PDF

Let’s practice some different ways to tap our sticks.
Rhythm Sticks Chant: Bread and Butter (TT) (TB) (FT)
Bread and butter,
Marmalade and jam
Let’s tap our sticks
As high as we can!
(repeat, change underlined word. Try low, fast, slow, loud, quiet, etc)
Source: Jbrary

bread and butter thumbnail, with a graphic of a piece of bread with butter and a knife, a jar of marmalade, and a jar of grape jam. click the image to download a non-branded PDF

Rhythm Sticks Song: Count the Beat (TT) (TB) (FT)
(tune of Wheels on the Bus)
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 (tap in rhythm)
8 9 10, 8 9 10
1 2 3 4 5 6 7
8 – 9 – 10!
Source: Jbrary

count the beat thumbnail, with a graphic of two sets of unsharpened pencils, crossed and in pink and yellow. click the image to download a non-branded PDF

Jbrary has this one as a shaker egg song, so I adapted to work with rhythm sticks. The “tap again” and “that’s the end” lines came from Storytime Katie.
Rhythm Sticks Rhyme: One, Two, Tap it on Your Shoe (TT) (TB) (FT)
1, 2, Tap it on your shoe
3, 4, Tap it on the floor
5, 6, Stir and mix
7, 8, Stand up straight
9, 10, Tap it again! (repeat)
2nd time: That’s the end!
Source: adapted from Jbrary

one two tap it on your shoe thumbnail, with a graphic of two green unsharpened pencils to either side of the lyrics. click the image to download a non-branded PDF

My group seemed a little antsy, so I cut this one from the last session.
Rhythm Sticks Rhyme: So Glad to See You (TT) (TB)
I’m so glad to see you,
I really couldn’t wait
Can you tap your sticks
While you count to 8?
(tap 8 times. Repeat with different actions, such as tap your shoulder, tap the floor, alternate sticks, roll sticks)
Source: Librerin

so glad to see you thumbnail, with a graphic of the numbers 1-8 in a decorative font on colorful circles, and a crossed set of unsharpened blue pencils. click the image to download a non-branded PDF

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

Craft: Counting Leaves Craft (TB) (FT)
I found this worksheet at Hello Wonderful. I simplified by not doing the circular stickers in the middle of each flower. I have two green stamp pads and four tables for crafts. So I split them between two, and also provided some green finger paint on every table, so that’s why my leaves look different.

craft showing five flowers with increasingly tall stems. In the center of each flower is a number, 1-5 (with the tallest stem showing 5). The flowers are colored with crayons and each stem has a fingerprinted number of leaves corresponding with the number on the flower. The first three are pale green (stamp pad), the last two are a much darker green (fingerpaint)

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)
Ducks Away! – Mem Fox & Judy Horacek
Counting Kisses – Karen Katz
Goodnight, Numbers – Danica McKellar & Alicia Padrón
One is a Piñata – Rosanne Greenfield Thong & John Parra
Swallow the Leader – Danna Smith & Kevin Sherry
Counting Kindness – Hollis Kurman & Barroux
Ten in the Bed – Jane Cabrera
My Bus – Byron Barton
Two Dogs on a Trike – Gabi Snyder & Robin Rosenthal

This storytime was presented in-person on 8/19, 8/20, & 8/21/24.

Storytime Handout:

handout including recommended books, rhymes, and song lyrics.

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

**These symbols indicate the program sessions I used the activities for:
(TT) Toddler Time, ages 1-2
(TB) Teddy Bears, ages 2-3.5
(FT) Family Time, ages 0-3.5

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

Storytime: Alphabet

Posted on August 16, 2024August 15, 2024 by msemilylibrary

Sometimes you just need to get back to basics. That’s how I was feeling after sitting down with the calendar and trying to brainstorm storytime themes for the rest of the year. So today we’re celebrating the alphabet, and upcoming we’ll get to counting, shapes, messy, and clean. Although knowing the alphabet is a fundamental literacy skill, and there are many online storytime write-ups of alphabet themes, I found this one challenging to put together. I tried to choose rhymes and songs I liked and ended up with a plan that worked okay, but got some tweaking with every session. What are your favorite alphabet activities?

Early Literacy Tip: Singing the alphabet song helps children learn the names of the letters. Singing the names of the letters to a different tune breaks the letters down in different ways and helps them hear the names more clearly. Experiment with other common tunes like “Mary Had a Little Lamb,” “This Old Man,” or “Row Your Boat.” adapted from Mel’s Desk

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

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

Intro: Today our theme is the alphabet! It’s all the letters that make up words, and one of the early steps of learning to read and write is knowing the alphabet. You’re just getting started and you have lots of time to practice, so don’t worry if you don’t know it yet. Can we sing the alphabet song together?

Song: The Alphabet Song (TT) (TB) (FT)
The first time through, we sang the traditional tune, to “Twinkle Twinkle Little Star.” The second time, I shared today’s early literacy tip and sang to “Mary Had a Little Lamb.”
I have always felt a little awkward with the alphabet song – there’s no motion to do with my hands. I asked on the Storytime Solidarity FB group for suggestions, and got lots of good ones, including clapping, shaking shakers, stomping, jumping, or patting your lap to the beat, having an alphabet chart and pointing to the letters, or doing the “There’s a Dog in School” song. Others do the letters in ASL, but I have never learned it and don’t want to get it wrong. For this week, I had the letters on the flannelboard (made with the die cutter) and pointed to them as we sang each time, and that worked well. If I start incorporating the song in future storytimes, I’ll think I’ll do clapping. Thanks to all who gave a suggestion!

Flannel showing multicolored capital letters on a blue background.

This rhyme features things from the first four letters of the alphabet. What are those letters again? A, B, C, & D!
We previewed the motions for A B and C, and when we got to Circle, we spun around and around and around and around to extend the spinning!
Rhyme: A Is for Alligator
A is for alligator chomp, chomp, chomp
B is for bunny, hop, hop, hop
C is for circle, spin around and around
D is for dizzy, and we all fall down!
Source: King County (WA) Library System

A is for Alligator thumbnail, with a graphic of a cartoon alligator. click the image to download a non-branded PDF

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

Both my younger and older classes were entranced for the first few pages (maybe through G), then got wiggly. I did skip to the end, which is not the easiest to do with this book. But it is a beautiful and fun title!
Read: Animalphabet by Julia Donaldson & Sharon King-Chai (TT) (TB)

After the first two groups struggling with Animalphabet, I switched to this classic. (Which is not one that I grew up with – in fact I read it for the first time in preparation for this week!) Again, they loved the first part (and I had several people reciting the first few pages with me out loud), but after the letters fell and we were going through the alphabet the second time, they were distracted. To keep it interactive, I asked them to say “Boom Boom” with claps whenever I said “Chicka Chicka,” which they quite enjoyed. I notice that there aren’t any of those interspersed between letters the second time through, only at the very end. So perhaps that was a factor?
Read: Chicka Chicka Boom Boom by Bill Martin Jr, John Archambault, & Lois Ehlert (FT)

Cute, and the biggest hit with Toddler Time, I cut it for time in the last session.
Can we spread our arms really wide for a big A? How about a little a?
Bounce: Big A Little A (TT) (TB)
Big “A,” Little “a” (spread hands wide apart, then bring them close together)
Bouncing “B” (bounce up and down)
The cat’s in the cupboard (cover your eyes)
And can’t see me! Peek-a-boo!
Source: Loudest Librarian

Big A little A thumbnail, with a graphic of two capital and two lowercase letter a's in various font and color styles, as if cut from magazines. click the image to download a non-branded PDF

My little mouse flannel gets more mileage with a letter hide and seek. They love this game!
One of our alphabet wants to play a game – can we find them?
Flannel: Letter Hide & Seek (TT) (TB) (FT)
Letter B, letter B
Playing hide and seek
Are you in the RED house?
Let’s take a peek!
Source: original

Little house flannel, showing seven houses (two one-story, three two-story, and two three-story) in different colors. Green, red, orange, yellow, brown, pink, and blue. Also pictured is a little brown mouse not used in this storytime. — Houses flannel shown with mouse, but I subbed the letter B

Letter hide and seek thumbnail, with a graphic of five houses from the above flannelboard with a letter B peeking from behind one. click the image to download a non-branded PDF

We talk about ABC a lot, but what about the letter at the END of the alphabet? Here’s a song about ZOOMING down the highway.
Action Song: Zoom Down the Highway (TT) (TB) (FT)
Zoom down the highway, Zoom down the highway,
Zoom down the highway (slide arms forward on “zoom”)
FAST! (clap)
Up goes the drawbridge (x3)
(raise child up on knees, or lift arms from a flat to a vertical position)
A ship is going past

Down goes the drawbridge (x3)
(reverse previous movement)
The ship has passed at last

So we can… Zoom down the highway… (repeat verse one)
Source: King County (WA) Library System

zoom down the highway thumbnail, with a graphic of a coupe car with motion lines behind it. click the image to download a non-branded PDF

I’m not super good with puppets. I tried to make this one silly with googly eyes and a scrunchy (since I don’t have any actual monster puppets), but I felt a little awkward and I’m sure that telegraphed into the rendition. I probably would have dropped it for the last session, but that’s what tied in the craft, so no.
Who is this? IT’S a monster! An alphabet monster! Can you make a monster with your hand?
Rhyme: Alphabet Monster (TB) (FT)
I’m the Alphabet Monster and nothing tastes better
To the Alphabet Monster than eating a letter
Today I will eat an “M” if I may
With the million more letters I munch every day
I’m hungry now. What shall I do?
I think I’ll eat a “y” an “o” and a “u”…
That means YOU! (nom, nom, nom)
Source: Yogibrarian

alphabet monster thumbnail, with a graphic of a cute blue monster holding letters of different fonts and colors, with other letters floating in front of it. click the image to download a non-branded PDF

Shakers Intro: Let’s practice our shakers. Shake high, low, slow, fast, in a circle.

I saw this one on almost every single storytime blog about the alphabet I visited. It seemed a little hokey to me, but then I saw the librarian at Waukee Public Library sharing it (see link below), and I liked her style. I got a similar set of magnetic alphabet letters and I liked the idea of picking a random letter each verse. She also had a fourth letter verse I didn’t see anywhere else.
Let’s practice some letters with this action rhyme.
Action Rhyme: Alphabet Beat (TT) (TB) (FT)
(choose any four letters, name a object or word that starts with that letter and the name of the letter)
Clap your hands and stomp your feet
Everybody’s doing the alphabet beat
Bear, Bear, Bear – B – B – B
Bear, Bear, Bear – B – B – B

Wave your hands high, swing your arms low
The alphabet beat is the way to go (2nd letter)

Shake to the left and shake to the right
The alphabet beat is out of sight (3rd letter)

Sparkle really fast. Sparkle really slow (wiggle fingers)
The alphabeat’s great, and now you know (4th letter)

(I didn’t include this end verse)
Now give a high five to a nearby friend
The alphabet beat has come to the end!
Source: Waukee (IA) Public Library

alphabet beat thumbnail, with a graphic of animal letters (from the magnetic set used in person): a B shaped as a bear, P for panda, F for flamingo, L for lion, R for rhino, T for tiger, and Z for zebra. click the image to download a non-branded PDF

This song features some very special letters. A, E, I, O, U. Grownups, what are they called? Vowels!
Ukulele/Shaker Song: Apples and Bananas (TT) (TB) (FT)
(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

Additional verses:
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 ite, ite, ite iples and ba-ni-nis…
I like to ote, ote, ote oples and ba-no-nos…
I like to ute, ute, ute uples and ba-nu-nus…
Source: Raffi, from the album “One Light, One Sun”

Get a downloadable ukulele songsheet here!

apples and bananas ukulele songsheet thumbnail.

apples and bananas thumbnail, with a graphic of a red apple and yellow banana with cute faces. click the image to download a non-branded PDF

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

Craft: Alphabet Monster (TB) (FT)
We have a large supply of all kinds of stickers, so I pulled out all of the letter ones to make a simple monster coloring sheet fit with our theme. Googly eyes help make them fun, and I stressed that any letters would be good for their monsters, no need to try to spell anything. Idea from Verona Storytime, monster printable from PreschoolAlphabet.blogspot.com.

Monster craft, showing a monster with a large egg-shaped body, two three fingered hands, two small legs/feet, two horns, and a large smile with three uneven teeth. Mine is colored with crayons, has three plastic googly eyes, and several different color/font/size letter stickers.

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

I actually have not done this one for the last two weeks (since being back from summer.) I like it a lot, but it extends the goodbye period and by this time most grownups are packing up and getting going. So I think I’m going to nix it for the foreseeable future.
Goodbye Rhyme: Tickle the Stars*

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)
Owls Are Good at Keeping Secrets – Sara O’Leary & Jacob Grant
Oops Pounce Quick Run – Mike Twohy
The Racecar Alphabet – Brian Floca
Eating the Alphabet – Lois Ehlert
K Is for Kindness – Rina Horiuchi & Risa Horiuchi
Z Is for Moose – Kelly Bingham & Paul O Zelinski
B Is for Bananas – Carrie Tillotson & Estrela Lourenco
Click, Clack, Quackity-Quack – Doreen Cronin & Betsy Lewin

This storytime was presented in-person on 8/12, 8/13, & 8/14/24.

Storytime Handout:

handout with suggested books, rhymes and song lyrics.

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

**These symbols indicate the program sessions I used the activities for:
(TT) Toddler Time, ages 1-2
(TB) Teddy Bears, ages 2-3.5
(FT) Family Time, ages 0-3.5

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

Storytime: Color Wheel – Green

Posted on April 5, 2024April 4, 2024 by msemilylibrary

Welcome back to me catching up on programs from a few weeks ago! Here is our LAST in the Color Wheel series, and possibly the easiest one to plan: Green. This has been a great series, and it largely allowed for broad options in choosing rhymes, songs, and books (except purple!) Green is no exception, and I had, in fact, done “green” storytimes in the past as a March theme. I did a few new-to-me activities as well as a couple old favorites. I was even inspired to make up a new rhyme!

In planning these color-based themes, I brainstorm objects/animals/plants that are generally the color in question and songs and rhymes that work with those things. Here’s my list for green!

Frogs
Turtles
Peas
Plants/Trees
Broccoli/other veg
Alligator/Crocodile
Kiwi
Caterpillar
Snake
Grass
Avocado
Lime

Early Development Tip: Take advantage of the many opportunities during the day to give words to feelings—your child’s feelings and your own. This can be done when the child is playing, making transitions from one activity to another, or while looking at the facial expressions of characters as you read books together. Your child is not only learning vocabulary, but also learning how to identify different feelings which helps with self-regulation.

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

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

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

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

Intro: Look at these beautiful colors on this color wheel! Today’s color is green! Green is made when we mix yellow and blue together. Can you think of anything that is green? Write answers on whiteboard in green pen. Is anyone wearing green today?

I made this color wheel, using the “chart” feature in Canva, since I wanted an unusual seven-wedge pie, including pink, which I couldn’t find already made.

A round color wheel showing the colors red, orange, yellow, green, blue, purple, and pink, with a highlighted white outline wedge around blue, which can spin on a push pin in the middle.

I did this rhyme at the beginning of all of the color sessions. Just in case someone doesn’t wear a particular color, I gave out small colored dot stickers (that my library already had) to each kid as they arrive.
Action Rhyme: The Color I See (TT) (TB) (FT)
Green, green is the color I see
If you’re wearing green, then show it to me
Stand up, take a bow, turn around
Show me your green and sit back on the ground
Source: Librarian vs. Storytime

The Color I see thumbnail, with a graphic of a clothes rack with various colored clothing. The place where the color name is repeated is shown as a blank within the text. click the image to download a non-branded PDF

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

Read: What Does Little Crocodile Say? by Eva Montanari (TT) (FT)
This was an absolute hit. I asked the group to help me tell the story by helping me make the noises. Everyone participated! The little ones enjoyed that, and the grown-ups also had fun with the story – lots of “awwws” on the last reveal.

What does little crocodile say book cover

Read: Turtle Walk by Matt Phelan (TB)
Although this is a lovely book, with simple and repetitive words, it was just a little too conceptual for my group. I tried pointing out that the seasons were changing, and everyone liked the cute pictures of the turtles playing in the snow, but I’m not sure they really got that concept of the time passing.

The order of activities depended on which book we read – we followed it with the rhyme matching, then did the other.

This was very fun. I did it as shown in the KCPL video first, with just hand motions, then got out my crocodile puppet, which they loved! I offered to let them pet the croc after, and a few were very excited and few hung back.
Action Rhyme: The Hungry Crocodile (TT) (TB) (FT)
Here comes the hungry crocodile
With his sly, toothy smile
Going chomp chomp chomp
In the swamp swamp swamp
So swim fast, fish
Birds, fly away
Move along, turtles and crabs
Hurry on your way
For here comes the hungry crocodile
With his sly, toothy smile
Going chomp chomp chomp
In the swamp swamp swamp
Source: King County (WA) Library System

the hungry crocodile thumbnail, with a graphic of a green cartoon croc. click the image to download a non-branded PDF

Here’s a rhyme about a hungry turtle.
Fingerplay: There Was a Little Turtle (TT) (TB) (FT)
There was a little turtle (make fist)
who lived in a box (cover fist with arm)
he swam in the puddles (fist wiggles like swimming)
he climbed on the rocks (fist climbs up opposite arm)
He snapped at a mosquito, (pinch with thumb and fingers at each “snap”)
he snapped at a flea
He snapped at a minnow,
he snapped at me!
He caught that mosquito, (clap each “caught”)
He caught that flea
He caught that minnow
But he didn’t catch me! (waggle finger)
Source: Jbrary

there was a little turtle thumbnail, with a graphic of a green turtle with a brown and green shell. click the image to download a non-branded PDF

And don’t forget about the green frog!
Fingerplay: Mr. Bullfrog (TT)
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)
Source: Storytime with Miss Tara and Friends

Mr. Bullfrog thumbnail, with a graphic of a realistic looking clipart bullfrog on a rock. click the image to download a non-branded PDF

Action Rhyme: Funny, Funny, Froggy (TB) (FT)
Funny, funny froggy, Hop, hop hop!
Funny, funny froggy, Stop, stop, stop!
Funny, funny froggy, Jump with me
Funny, funny froggy, Now go free!
Source: adapted from Books and Bibliotheks

Funny funny froggy thumbnail, with a graphic of a silly cartoon frog with its tongue sticking out. click the image to download a non-branded PDF

We passed out scarves. I’ve done this rhyme several times without in the past, but it lends itself very well to scarf play!
Now let’s think about some green plants. Can we pretend to be trees?
Scarf Rhyme: Be a Seed (TT) (TB) (FT)
Be a seed, small and round (crouch, with scarf scrunched)
Sprout, sprout, sprout up from the ground (stand up)
Shake your leaves for all to see (shake arms and scarf)
Stretch your arms up, you’re a tree! (stretch tall)
Source: Jbrary

Be a seed thumbnail, with a graphic of an acorn and a tree. click the image to download a non-branded PDF

Again, I don’t think this was originally meant to be used with scarves, but it works well. For bees buzzing, we shook our scarves.
What makes trees green? Their leaves! Demo: We’re going to have a big leaf, little ladybug, and then the bees are going to come buzzing around. Can you buzz like a bee?
Scarf Song: A Big Green Leaf (TT) (TB) (FT)
(tune of Ram Sam Sam)
A big green leaf, a big green leaf (hold scarf apart)
Little ladybug (pinch fingers/scarf close)
On a big green leaf (x2)

A bumblebee- BZZ! (tickle or wave scarf around)
A bumblebee- BZZ!
And a little ladybug On a big green leaf (x2)
Source: Storytime in the Stacks

a big green leaf thumbnail, with a graphic of a green leaf with a small ladybug crawling on it, and a black and yellow bumblebee flying opposite. click the image to download a non-branded PDF

We waved the scarves rhythmically until we we came to the body part, then put the scarves there. I moved from place to place where food might go – head, chest, lap, then feet.
There are also a lot of green plants that are good to eat, and good for your body. This is a silly song about green zucchini!
Scarf Song: Green Zucchini (TT) (TB) (FT)
(tune of Alouette)
Green zucchini, I like green zucchini
Green zucchini, That’s what I like best
Do you like it on your head?
Yes, I like it on my head!
On your head? On my head! Ooooooh!
Source: Jbrary

green zucchini thumbnail, with a graphic of two zucchini, one whole and one partially sliced into medallions. click the image to download a non-branded PDF

We’d done the lemonade chant a couple weeks ago for the “Yellow” theme, and looking at my “list of green things” and saying broccoli out loud, it just fit. Our scarves were just accessories for this. I held mine loosely between fingers while clapping.
And one more rhyme about good green things to eat! We pretended to be a big tree earlier. Have you ever eaten a tree? Or something that LOOKS like a tree – broccoli!
Chant: Broccoli (TB)
Broccoli (clap, clap, clap!)
Peas and beans (clap, clap, clap!)
All these greens (clap, clap, clap!)
Taste good to me! (clap, clap, clap!)
Broccoli, peas and beans
All these greens taste good to me
Turn around, Jump up and down
Sit down to lunch and Go to town! Nom, nom!
Source: original, adapted from the traditional “Lemonade” clapping game

broccoli thumbnail, with a graphic of a dinner plate featuring broccoli, peas, and green beans. click the image to download a non-branded PDF

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

Craft: Green Finger Paint Art (TB) (FT)
Everyone got a blob of blue and a blob of yellow paint to mix up, then paint whatever they liked! You can see a bit of blue toward the back of the croc that didn’t get blended.

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)
Where Is the Green Sheep? – Mem Fox & Judy Horacek
Our Green City – Tanya Lloyd Kyi & Colleen Larmour
A New Green Day – Antoinette Portis
Is This Your Class Pet? – Troy Cummings
Eco Girl – Ken Wilson-Max
The Swamp Where Gator Hides – Marianne Berkes & Roberta Baird
A Good Place – Lucy Cousins
Green on Green – Dianne White & Felicita Sala
In the Tall, Tall Grass – Denise Fleming

This storytime was presented in-person on 3/4, 3/5, & 3/6/24.

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

Book Babies Storytime (October and beyond)

Posted on March 15, 2024March 15, 2024 by msemilylibrary

I started doing a separate infant program (0-12 months or pre-walking) in January 2023. By October, I noticed that the individual families in my group were completely different from the ones that started in January – those had moved on to my toddler sessions. So, I started recycling my previous plans, though I did switch a couple of things out, wanting to try new activities occasionally.

So for this post, I’ll show my general outline, and list just the new rhymes/songs since October. Going forward, I won’t list individual program plans, but maybe an update post with new stuff every few months. You can always go back and see the previous full plans here.

I’d love to hear your feedback and any rhymes/songs/activities that you do for this age group that you think work particularly well! As always, please leave a comment – I’m always happy to see what you think.

The books featured in the photos below are just some of the board books made available for individual reading.

See all the Book Babies plans here.

The general plan goes like this:

Hello/Welcome song
- I use a puppet as well as singing each child’s name in the song
Animal Hello
- Use several animal puppets, with animal noises incorporated in the song
Body Song
Fingerplay
- If too complex for babies (i.e., anything more involved than Pat-A-Cake), encourage grownups to do the motions as a kind of “puppet show” for babies.
Bounce
Lift
- Occasionally there’s a song that incorporates bounces and lifts, of course. Any combination will do, or one longer song with multiple verses may be substituted for both
Lullaby
- I always play this on ukulele
Reading time
- Currently doing individual reading for 2-3 minutes, but have read board books to the group before
Tickle/On Your Back
- Often good for post-diaper change, usually uses leg motions
Props or Dancing
- Include 3-4 songs and rhymes that go with the month’s prop
Lifting Song – Zoom, Zoom, Zoom
- Consistent at each program
Goodbye Rhyme

Here is our room setup, with the parachute out for babies to lay on/sit on, with a few chairs for those who prefer them to the floor. My pink short chair is perfect for this – I can move easily from it to the floor if I want to demo one way or another. I wish our parachute was colorful – I think the original idea was that you can write on it. There are some names on there from years ago that are probably grown with their own children by now.

Photo showing Book Babies setup, with a round white parachute spread on a purple rug, with purple chairs to either side. A board book is set on each wedge, and a small pink chair sits at the head, with a dog puppet on the chair and a frog stuffy laying on the parachute. An easel to the side of the chair has song lyrics on it.

New since October

Body Song

Body Song: Eyes, Nose, Cheeky, Cheeky, Chin
Eyes, nose, cheeky, cheeky, chin
Eyes, nose, cheeky, cheeky, chin
Eyes, nose, cheeky, cheeky, chin
Cheeky, cheeky, chin, nose, eyes!
Source: Jbrary

Eyes nose cheeky chin thumbnail, with a graphic of children pointing to each body part with a speech bubble of the word above them. click the image to download a non-branded PDF

Fingerplay

Fingerplay: Popcorn, Popcorn
Popcorn, popcorn
Put it in the pan, (swish hands back & forth)
Shake it up! Shake it up! (shake hands)
(pause)
BAM! BAM! BAM! (clap hands)
Source: Westerville (OH) Public Library

popcorn, popcorn thumbnail, with a graphic of a bucket of popcorn with a smiling face. click the image to download a non-branded PDF

Bounce/Lift

Bounce/Lift: Bug Bounce
1, 2, 3, Baby’s on my knee
Fuzzy, buzzy bumblebee… Tickles me!
1, 2, 3, Baby’s on my knee
Grasshopper hops… Up he pops!
1, 2, 3, Baby’s on my knee
Ants march down and… All around! (tickle)
1, 2, 3, Baby’s on my knee
Ladybug flies… (lift) Says goodbye! (wave hands)
Source: I found this one in my predecessor’s files!

bug bounce thumbnail, with a graphic of a bee, grasshopper, ant, and ladybug. click the image to download a non-branded PDF

Lullabies

This was a very special one for me. I remember my dad singing this to me. I modified the second verse to secularize it, but also learned that there are quite a few more verses than I knew about. It was originally written in the 1920s and as all folk songs, there are lots of lyric variations.
Ukulele Lullaby: Down in the Valley
Down in the valley, The valley so low
Hang your head over, Hear the wind blow
Hear the wind blow, dear, Hear the wind blow
Hang your head over, Hear the wind blow

Roses love sunshine, Violets love dew
The winds in the trees, dear, Know I love you
Know I love you, dear, Know I love you
The winds in the trees, dear, Know I love you
Source: traditional
See Andy Griffith playing and singing it from the Andy Griffith Show.

Download a ukulele songsheet for Down in the Valley

Ukulele songsheet Thumbnail for Down in the Valley

down in the valley thumbnail, with a graphic of a blowing cloud, a rose, and a violet. click the image to download a non-branded PDF

Lullaby: Sleep, Sleep, My Baby
Sleep, sleep, my baby
Sleep, sleep, my love
Fall asleep my little dove
Dream of the ocean, dream of the stars
Rest your head in my strong arms

Sleep, sleep, my baby
Sleep, sleep, my love
Fall asleep my little dove
Dream of the whales, dream of the fish
Don’t forget to make a special wish

Sleep, sleep, my baby
Sleep, sleep, my love
Fall asleep my little dove
Dream of the mountains, dream of the sea
You will always, always, be with me
Source: Jbrary

Download a ukulele songsheet for Sleep, Sleep, My Baby

Ukulele songsheet Thumbnail for Sleep, Sleep My Baby

sleep my baby thumbnail, without graphics. click the image to download a non-branded PDF

Tickle/On Your Back

Tickle: Round the Garden
Round and round the garden (draw circle on belly)
Goes the teddy bear
One step, two step (walk fingers up torso)
Tickle baby bear! (tickle under arms or chin)
Ten little piggies (walk fingers down legs)
On two tiny feet (grasp feet)
Wiggle once (wiggle one foot)
Wiggle twice (wiggle other foot)
Good enough to eat! (legs together and nibble toes!)
Nom, nom, nom, nom!
Source: Intellidance

Round the garden thumbnail, with no graphics. click the image to download a non-branded PDF

Leg Rhyme: Charlie Chaplin
Charlie Chaplin went to France (legs dance side to side)
To teach the babies how to dance!
First he did the rumba, the rumba, the rumba (legs together, circular motion)
Then he did the kicks, the kicks, the kicks (kick out)
Then he did the samba, the samba, the samba (legs crisscross rapidly)
Then he did the splits, the splits, the splits! (legs apart)
Source: Vancouver Public Library

charlie chaplin thumbnail, with a graphic of a cartoon rendition of chaplin in his signature suit, hat, and mustache. click the image to download a non-branded PDF

Props

Action/Parachute Song: Autumn Leaves
(tune of London Bridge)
Autumn leaves are Falling down,
Falling down, falling down
Autumn leaves are Falling down
All around the town

The wind will blow them round and round…
Round and round, round and round
The wind will blow them round and round
All around the town
Source: King County (WA) Library System

autumn thumbnail, with a graphic of orange leaves swirling in a wind. click the image to download a non-branded PDF

Scarf Song: Let’s Go Riding in an Elevator
Let’s go riding on an elevator, elevator, elevator
Let’s go riding on an elevator – Ride along with me!
First floor, Second floor, Third floor, Fourth floor, Fifth floor…
And down-down-down-down-down!
Source: Jbrary

Let's go riding in an elevator thumbnail, with a graphic of a line drawing of an elevator door, showing a button to the right and a potted plant to the left. click the image to download a non-branded PDF

Scarf Rhyme: Jack in the Box
Jack in the box (scrunch scarf up in one fist)
Sits so still
Will he come out?
Yes, he will! (throw scarf in the air)
Source: Jbrary

jack in the box thumbnail, with a graphic of a jack in the box with a colorful jester head popped out of it. click the image to download a non-branded PDF

We’d done another version of peek-a-boo, but this one is simpler.
Scarf Rhyme: Peek A Boo
Peek a boo!
Where are you?
Hiding in your place!
Peek a boo!
I see you!
With your smiling face!
Source: traditional

peek a boo thumbnail, with a graphic of a cartoon cat holding a pink plaid transparent scarf in front of its face. click the image to download a non-branded PDF

Dancing (instead of props)

Dancing Song: In and Out the Window
(swing baby to the center of the circle)
Go in and out the window, Go in and out the window,
Go in and out the window, As we have done before

Stand up and face your partner… (swing baby close to another)
Source: Jbrary

In and out the window thumbnail, with a graphic of two toddlers peering out of opposite windows at each other. click the image to download a non-branded PDF

Lifting/Dance Song: The Elevator Song
Oh, the city is great and the city is grand
There are a whole lot of people on a little piece of land
And we live way up on the fifty-seventh floor
And this is what we do when we go out the door:
We take the elevator up, we take the elevator down
We take the elevator up, we take the elevator down
We take the elevator up, we take the elevator down
And we turn around!
Source: Jbrary

the elevator song thumbnail, with a graphic of an elevator repeated three times, with a fourth rendition showing the doors open and a child peeking out at the bottom. click the image to download a non-branded PDF

Book Babies Storytime (September)

Posted on February 23, 2024February 22, 2024 by msemilylibrary

Here’s another Book Babies plan! This was the plan for September, 2023. Instead of doing a prop this month, we got up and did some dancing with our little ones! At first, it felt a little awkward – I think grownups felt a little self-conscious. But I used my baby stand-in, Froggie, and demonstrated, and they eventually loosened up. I used my ukulele to do both our lullaby and the Baby Bear Waltz, then finished with some bubbles – another activity this group had not yet done. Two elements reminded me of pirates (Two Little Boats and What Shall We Do with a Grumpy Baby) so I ended up theming the handout as piratey – appropriate since Talk Like a Pirate Day is in September!

I think I will keep putting dancing in the rotation, but perhaps less often that the usual suspects of scarves, shakers, and parachute. I usually switch to a different prop each month, and change out songs and rhymes a few at a time, so there are always a few familiars in the lineup.

As in the last post, I’m also adding a thumbnail of the 11×17″ rhyme sheets I display during programs for adults to join in singing and rhymes. Click on the pictures to get a full-sized non-branded PDF.

The books featured in the photos below are just some of the board books made available for individual reading.

See all the Book Babies plans here.

Early Literacy Tip: Associate songs with fun, and they can help ease a grumpy mood. Try “What Shall We Do with a Grumpy Baby?” when your child is having fun, and it might help them shake an actual grumpy mood later on.

For this and the next song, I use puppets to greet everyone.
Welcome/Puppet Song: Hello, Everybody
(tune of Skip to My Lou)
Hello, everybody and how are you?
Hello, everybody and how are you?
Hello, everybody and how are you?
How are you today?

Hello, [name 1], how are you?
Hello, [name 2], how are you?
Hello, [name 3], how are you?
How are you today?

hello everybody thumbnail, with a graphic of a smiling sun and cloud. click the image to download a non-branded PDF

I finally changed up this hello animal puppet song! I do still start with the dog Scout, then bring out two other random animals.
Song: The Dog Says Hello
(tune of Farmer in the Dell)
The dog says hello, The dog says hello
Woof, woof, Woof-woof, woof-woof
The dog says hello!
Repeat with any other animals; try using puppets!
Source: adapted from the traditional

the dog says hello thumbnail, with a graphic of a dog with a speech bubble saying woof. click the image to download a non-branded PDF

The familiar tune makes this a good one for parents to jump in. I did have to insert in the “whole baby” verse (to ease my own mind) to wave them (GENTLY) around. All the grownups smiled.
Body Song: The Baby Pokey
(tune of the Hokey Pokey)
You put your arms up,
You put your arms down
You put your arms up,
And you wave them all around
You wiggle, wiggle, wiggle,
And you tickle, tickle, tickle
That’s how the baby pokey goes! (clap)

Additional verses:
You put your legs up…
You put your whole baby up…
Source: Westerville (OH) Public Library

the baby pokey thumbnail, with a graphic of four diverse babies. click the image to download a non-branded PDF

For babies, we do fingerplays as “puppet shows” for the child, rather than expecting them to be able to do these fine motor movements. Since it is difficult to hold a baby when you are hiding your hands behind your back, for thumbkin we start with fists out.
Fingerplay Rhyme: Where Is Thumbkin?
(tune of Frère Jacques)
Where is Thumbkin, where is Thumbkin? (show fists)
Here I am! Here I am! (reveal thumbs)
How are you today, friend? Very well, I thank you! (wiggle thumbs at each other)
Say goodbye. Say goodbye. (tuck thumbs again)
Source: traditional

where is thumbkin thumbnail, with a graphic of two hands showing thumbs up (each thumb has a small smiley face on it). click the image to download a non-branded PDF

Bounce: Giddy-Up
Giddy-up, giddy-up ride to town
Giddy-up, giddy-up up and down
Giddy-up fast, Giddy up slow
Giddy-up, giddy-up, giddy-up, WHOA! (lean backwards gently)
Source: Mead Public Library (WI)

giddy up thumbnail, with a graphic of a cartoon horse. click the image to download a non-branded PDF

Bounce/Lift: Two Little Boats
Two little boats went out to sea (rock forward and back)
All is calm as calm can be
Gently the wind begins to blow (rock side to side)
Two little boats rock to and fro
Loudly the wind begins to shout (bounce up and down)
Two little boats they bounce about
STOP! (freeze)
goes the storm, the wind, and rain
And two little boats sail on again (rock forward and back)
Source: Intellidance

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

This isn’t a terribly difficult song, but there are a lot more chords (eight) with the bridge part than the typical children’s song. If it’s helpful, it’s totally okay for you to have the songsheet out during your program – that’s what I do! It’s okay to not have songs memorized (and I think that goes for all songs/rhymes. I put words up for caregivers, but I use them, too, and I don’t think that’s a bad thing.)
Ukulele Lullaby: You’re My Rainbow
(tune of Love Me Tender)
You’re my rainbow, you’re my star,
You’re my bright red cookie jar
You’re my goldfish, you’re my pie,
You’re the apple of my eye
You’re my rainbow, you’re my star
You’re my bright red cookie jar
You’re my daisy, you’re my vine,
You’re my own true Valentine
Source: Dany Rosevear

Download a ukulele songsheet for You’re My Rainbow.

thumbnail of you're my rainbow ukulele songsheet

you're my rainbow thumbnail, with a graphic of a rainbow in the background. click the image to download a non-branded PDF

I place a book on each wedge on the parachute , so I encourage grownups to take a few minutes to grab a book that is nearby and looks interesting, and to interact with the book however they’d like with their baby. They can read the text, but they don’t have to – they can describe the pictures, colors, or even just let their baby practice turning pages. We generally do this for 2-3 minutes, or until the group as a whole seems to be nearing a stopping point.
Read: choose a board book that’s nearby and looks interesting to you!

Pictured:
Global Babies – “A Global Fund for Children book”
Everyone’s Sleepy but the Baby – Tracy C. Gold & Adèle Dafflon
Shake My Sillies Out – Raffi & Maple Lam

Prop Songs & Rhymes
Instead of a prop, we moved the parachute and our books out of the way (so no one would trip), stood up and danced with our babies.

Dance: London Bridge
(either carry baby and lean or lower baby on the “down” or, for those steady on their feet, stand facing each other, holding hands and shift weight from one foot to the other in a bridge shape)
London Bridge is falling down,
Falling down, falling down
London Bridge is falling down,
My fair baby!
Build it up with love and hugs…
Source: adapted from the traditional

London bridge thumbnail, with a graphic of an adult and child dancing. click the image to download a non-branded PDF

Dance: What Shall We Do with a Grumpy Baby?
(tune of What Shall We Do with a Drunken Sailor)
What shall we do with a grumpy baby?
What shall we do with a grumpy baby?
What shall we do with a grumpy baby early in the morning!

additional verses:
Up in the air and safely down again…
Tickle ‘em here to watch ‘em laugh again…
Give ‘em a hug because we love ‘em…
Source: I cobbled the verses together from multiple sources, I believe. One is Rainbow Songs

what shall we do with a grumpy baby thumbnail, with a graphic of a stylized jolly roger flag, with a diaper, bottle and rattle replacing the skull and crossbones. click the image to download a non-branded PDF

Ukulele Dance: Baby Bear Waltz
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

Baby bear waltz thumbnail, with a graphic of bears posing with a magic wand with stars coming out. click the image to download a non-branded PDF

Bubbles: Bubbles in the Air
(tune of Happy and You Know It)
There are bubbles in the air (In the air)
There are bubbles in the air (In the air)
There are bubbles in the air,
There are bubbles in my hair
There are bubbles in the air (In the air!)

additional verses:
There are bubbles way up high… in the sky
Way down low… on my toe
Source: Jbrary

Bubbles in the air thumbnail, with a graphic of blue bubbles in the background. click the image to download a non-branded PDF

To adapt this for babies, we bounce or clap rather than scraping our hands past each other, and walk fingers up and down baby’s body, arms, or legs for the “if you want to take a trip” part.
Lifting Song: Zoom, Zoom, Zoom
Zoom, zoom, zoom, We’re going to the moon
Zoom, zoom, zoom, We’re going to the moon
If you want to take a trip climb aboard my rocket ship
Zoom, zoom, zoom, We’re going to the moon
In 5, 4, 3, 2, 1 Blast off!
Source: Jbrary

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

I find it really helpful to finish with a rhyme that definitively says that storytime is over. This one is short and sweet.
Goodbye Rhyme: Hands Up High
Hands up high! (Put your hands in air)
Now give a big sigh (sigh and bring hands down)
Our storytime’s over
So wave bye-bye (wave)
Source: Pasadena Public Library

Hands up high thumbnail, with a graphic of diverse hands reaching up and small hearts emanating from them. click the image to download a non-branded PDF

And that’s it! We don’t have time for free play at the end, but I encouraged grownups to take a little time in the children’s department to play and socialize together.

Suggested books are a little different on my handout since at my library board books are not able to be held if they’re checked out. My handout says:
Check out our board book selections – they cannot be held or requested, so see what’s available anytime you visit the library! Here are some other titles that *can* be requested:
Good Night, Good Night – Sandra Boynton
Who’s That Baby? – Sharon Creech & David Diaz
Bounce – Doreen Cronin & Scott Menchin
Applesauce Is Fun to Wear – Nancy Raines Day & Jane Massey
Barnyard Banter – Denise Fleming
Get Happy – Malachy Doyle & Caroline Uff

This storytime was presented in-person on 9/11, 9/18, & 9/25/23.

Storytime Handout:

handout with book suggestions, rhyme and song lyrics

Book Babies Storytime (August)

Posted on February 2, 2024February 1, 2024 by msemilylibrary

Here’s another Book Babies plan! This was the plan for August, 2023. This month’s prop was egg shakers, and we did a lullaby to the tune of “Love Me Tender” on ukulele. I do the same themeless plan three weeks each month at a time, to get the caregivers familiar and comfortable with the songs and rhymes. I usually switch to a different prop each month, and change out songs and rhymes a few at a time, so there are always a few familiars in the lineup.

The books featured in the photos below are just some of the board books made available for individual reading.

See all the Book Babies plans here.

Early Literacy Tip: Making up new lyrics to songs you already know (as in our lullaby, You’re My Rainbow) is a great way to be creative and introduce your child to popular music.

This tune follows a major scale from one octave to the next and back again. I think it’s great for babies to hear it since it’s the basis of most Western music and having those tones in your head will help with musicality.
Body Song: Creeping Little Flea
(sing up and down a scale)
Creeping, creeping, little flea,
Up my leg and past my knee
To my tummy, on my nose
To my head where my hair grows! (top of scale)
Now he’s creeping down my chin,
To my tummy once again
Down my leg and past my knee
To my toe that little flea – GOTCHA! (tickle foot)
Source: King County (WA) Library System

A classic. I encourage parents to do the motions in front of their baby like a “puppet show.” Since it’s hard to put your arms behind your back when holding a baby, when the birds fly away, I just wiggle and then tuck my fingers away.
Fingerplay Rhyme: Two Little Blackbirds
Two little blackbirds, sitting on a hill
One named Jack, and one named Jill
Fly away, Jack; fly away, Jill
Come back, Jack; come back, Jill
Source: traditional

Bounce/Lift: Acka Backa
Acka backa soda cracker,
Acka backa boo!
Acka backa soda cracker,
Up goes you! (lift)
Acka backa soda cracker,
Acka backa boo!
Acka backa soda cracker,
I love you! (hug)
Source: traditional

Download a ukulele songsheet for You’re My Rainbow.

Pictured:
Bath! Bath! Bath! – Douglas Florian & Christiane Engel
How Are You?/¿Cómo estás? – Angela Dominguez
How Kind! – Mary Murphy

We did this last month, but I liked it so much we kept it for this month.
Song: I’m Riding on My Bicycle
(Lay baby on their back, and cycle their legs like they’re riding a bike!)
I’m riding on my bicycle,
I’m riding on my bicycle,
I’m riding on my bicycle,
All around the town!

Verses:
My bike goes up, up, up… My bike goes down, down down… (legs go up or down)
My bike goes slow… My bike goes fast… (cycle fast and slow)
My bike goes twist… My bike goes turn… (cross legs both ways)
My bell goes ding-a-ling-a-ling! (tickle!)
Source: Nancy Kopman (this link is to the full song)

Prop Songs & Rhymes
Each month is a new prop. This month is shaker eggs! Babies love their shakers.

Shaker Song: Shake Your Shaker
(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

Shaker Song: 1 – 2, Shake it On Your Shoe
1, 2 – Shake it on your shoe
3, 4 – Shake it on the floor
5, 6 – Stir and mix
7, 8 – Stand up straight
9, 10 – Wave to your friends!
Source: Jbrary

This was one that sounds traditional, but I had never heard before. I like the tune.
Shaker Song: Cobbler, Cobbler
Cobbler, cobbler, mend my shoe
Get it done by half past two, Tu-la-roo-la-roo
Half past two is much too late
Get it done by half past eight, Tu-la-roo-la-roo
Source: Dynamic Music Room

Shaker Song: Shake it to the East
Shake it to the east, Shake it to the west
Shake it all around and Then you take a rest
Shake your shakers up,
Shake your shakers down
Shake it, shake it, shake it,
And then you settle down!
Source: Jbrary

And that’s it! We don’t have time for free play at the end, but I encouraged grownups to take a little time in the children’s department to play and socialize together.

Suggested books are a little different on my handout since at my library board books are not able to be held if they’re checked out. My handout says:
Check out our board book selections – they cannot be held or requested, so see what’s available anytime you visit the library! Here are some other titles that *can* be requested:
Go! Go! Go! Stop! – Charise Mericle Harper
You Are New – Lucy Knisley
After the Buzz Comes the Bee – Rachel Isadora & Robie Rogge
Good Morning, Good Night – Anita Lobel
Leo Can Swim – Anna McQuinn & Ruth Hearson
5 Little Ducks – Denise Fleming

This storytime was presented in-person on 8/7, 8/21, & 8/28/23.

Storytime Handout:

Book Babies Storytime (July)

Posted on January 19, 2024January 17, 2024 by msemilylibrary

Here’s another Book Babies plan! During the summer I was outside for my toddler classes, so this was the only indoor program I did in June and July. Here’s the plan from July, 2023. I do the same themeless plan three weeks each month at a time, to get the caregivers familiar and comfortable with the songs and rhymes. I usually switch to a different prop each month, and change out songs and rhymes a few at a time, so there are always a few familiars in the lineup.

The books featured in the photos below are just some of the board books made available for individual reading.

See all the Book Babies plans here.

Early Literacy Tip: Pairing directional words with motions that match while singing and rhyming helps babies better understand their meanings in a fun way. The purposeful gestures we use in “I’m Riding on My Bicycle” and “The ‘Chute Is on My Head” help baby learn new words.

I sing this to the tune of Where Has My Little Dog Gone, and none of the videos I’ve seen of these words do. But I can’t not hear it to this tune! Do what works for you.
Body Song: Where Are Baby’s Fingers?
(tune of Where Has My Little Dog Gone)
Where, oh where are baby’s fingers?
Where, oh where are their toes?
Where, oh where, is baby’s belly button?
‘Round and round it goes!
(make circle around belly)

Where, oh where are baby’s ears?
Where, oh where is their nose?
Where, oh where, is baby’s belly button?
Round and round it goes!
Source: Jbrary

I thought it was very cool to learn (and share with my families) that this rhyme was published in a book for children in 1893. There are a few slightly different versions, but this is the one we did.
Fingerplay Rhyme: Here Is a Ball for Baby
Here’s a ball for baby (touch ten fingers together in a ball)
Big and soft and round
Here is baby’s hammer (pound fist into palm)
See how it can pound
Here are baby’s soldiers (hold fingers up)
Standing in a row
Here is baby’s music (clap hands)
Clapping, clapping so
Here is baby’s trumpet (hands to mouth like a trumpet)
Tootle-doo-doooo!
And here’s baby’s favorite game,
Peek-a-boo! (cover face with hands, then remove)
Source: Washington County (OR) Cooperative Library Services

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

Bounce/Lift: Acka Backa
Acka backa soda cracker
Acka backa boo!
Acka backa soda cracker
Up goes you! (lift)
Acka backa soda cracker
Acka backa boo!
Acka backa soda cracker
I love you! (hug)
Source: traditional

After some bouncing and lifting, we slow it down a bit with a lullaby. This is such a sweet one.
Ukulele Lullaby: Rockabye You
Rockabye you high, Rockabye you low
Rockabye you close, Rockabye you slow
Rockabye you high, Rockabye you low
Rockabye you everywhere we go

Rockabye the sun, Rockabye the moon
Rockabye the sweet flowers growing in June
Rockabye you love, My turtle dove
Rockabye you everywhere I go
Source: Kathy Reid-Naiman

Download a ukulele songsheet for Rockabye You

thumbnail of Rockabye you ukulele songsheet

Pictured:
Who Is Making a Mess? – Maria D’Haene & Charlie Eve Ryan
Sonrisas for Baby – Jen Arena & Blanca Gómez
Peek-a-You! – Andrea Davis Pinkney & Brian Pinkney

Before doing this rhyme, I shared our early development tip. I found this song on this blog post that shared this short video of a caregiver singing the song a capella and the baby doing the motion themselves and giving a joyful scream. It’s so cute. The official recorded version is a little long, so I do the chorus, then two verses back to back, then the chorus, then the last two verses. It’s very fun!
Song: I’m Riding on My Bicycle
(Lay baby on their back, and cycle their legs like they’re riding a bike!)
I’m riding on my bicycle,
I’m riding on my bicycle,
I’m riding on my bicycle,
All around the town!

Verses:
My bike goes up, up, up… My bike goes down, down down… (legs go up or down)
My bike goes slow… My bike goes fast… (cycle fast and slow)
My bike goes twist… My bike goes turn… (cross legs both ways)
My bell goes ding-a-ling-a-ling! (tickle!)
Source: Nancy Kopman (this link is to the full song)

Prop Songs & Rhymes
Each month is a new prop. This month we moved our books and played with the parachute.

Parachute Song: The Itsy Bitsy Spider
The itsy bitsy spider went up the water spout
Down came the rain and washed the spider out
Out came the sun and dried up all the rain
And the itsy bitsy spider went up the spout again
Source: traditional

Since this rhyme has some ups and downs, I thought it might work well for the parachute. Instead of clapping the numbers as we normally would, we made the sound of the clock with our voices.
Parachute Rhyme: Hickory Dickory Dock
Hickory, dickory dock,
the mouse ran up the clock
the clock struck one (ding!)
the mouse ran down, hickory dickory dock!

…two… the mouse said, boo!
…three… the mouse said, whee!
…four… the mouse said, no more!
Source: Jbrary

Parachute Song: The ‘Chute Is on My Head
(tune of Farmer in the Dell)
The ‘chute is on my head
The ‘chute is on my head
Hi-ho the dairy-o,
The ‘chute is on my head!

additional verses:
The ‘chute goes up and down…
The ‘chute goes fast and slow…
Source: Laughter and Literacy

Parachute Song: Peek a Boo
(tune of Frère Jacques)
Peek a boo, peek a boo
I see you, I see you
I see your button nose, I see your tiny toes
I see you, peek a boo!
Source: Jbrary

And that’s it! We don’t have time for free play at the end, but I encouraged grownups to take a little time in the children’s department to play and socialize together.

Suggested books are a little different on my handout since at my library board books are not able to be held if they’re checked out. My handout says:
Check out our board book selections – they cannot be held or requested, so see what’s available anytime you visit the library! Here are some other titles that *can* be requested:
Say Hello Like This – Mary Murphy
Wee Rhymes: Baby’s First Poetry Book – Jane Yolen & Jane Dyer
The Babies on the Bus – Karen Katz
One, Two, Buckle My Shoe – Jane Cabrera
Mine, Mine, Mine, Yours – Kimberly Gee
Boop! – Bea Birdsong & Linzie Hunter
Welcome to the World – Julia Donaldson & Helen Oxenbury

This storytime was presented in-person on 7/6, 7/13, 7/20, & 7/27/23.

Storytime Handout:

Book Babies Storytime (June)

Posted on January 5, 2024January 4, 2024 by msemilylibrary

Here’s another Book Babies plan! During the summer I was outside for my toddler classes, so this was the only indoor program I did in June and July. Here’s the plan from June, 2023. I do the same themeless plan a month at a time, to get the caregivers familiar and comfortable with the songs and rhymes. I usually switch to a different prop each month, and change out songs and rhymes a few at a time, so there are always a few familiars in the lineup.

The books featured in the photos below are just some of the board books made available for individual reading.

See all the Book Babies plans here.

Early Literacy Tip: Tummy time is important for newborns and infants 1–3 months old who are just developing neck control. Tummy time helps develop the muscles they’ll need to roll over, sit up, crawl, and walk. Always stay with your baby during tummy time. Start with a few minutes at a time, 2-3 times a day, and work up. It’s also good for older babies, 4–7 months old. They should still spend some supervised time on their bellies, even if they can roll over and sit with some help. Tummy time helps them practice lifting their head and chest further by straightening their arms. This strengthens arm, chest, and back muscles.

Fingerplay Rhyme: This Little Piggy
(wiggle each toe or finger on one side, starting with the thumb)
This little piggy went to market
This little piggy stayed home
This little piggy had roast beef
And this little piggy had none
And this little piggy cried “wee wee wee” all the way home (tickle!)

(now try on the other hand or foot, starting with the pinky)
This little piggy had a rub-a-dub-dub
And this little piggy had a scrub-a-dub-dub
This little pig-a-wig ran upstairs
And this little pig-a-wig cried out ‘BEARS!’
Down came the jar with a big slam bam (clap or pat foot)
And this little piggy had all the jam
Source: traditional, second verse found with King County (WA) Library System

Bounce Rhyme: Rocking Horse
Rocking horse, rocking horse, to and fro (rock side to side)
Side to side and away we go!
Rocking horse, rocking horse, front and back (rock front and back)
Don’t fall off just like that! Whoaaa! (lean back)
Source: Intellidance

This is such a really fun rhyme! The person who posted it to the Storytime Solidarity Facebook Group didn’t have a source, so if anyone knows where it came from or who wrote it, please let me know!
Bounce/Lift: Fishy, Fishy, Fishy
Fishy, fishy, fishy goes swishy, swishy, swishy (bounce)
Flip flop, flip flop, flip flop (rock side to side)
Uuuuup, (lift baby high in air)
KERPLOP! (return baby to lap)
Source: Storytime Solidarity

Download a ukulele songsheet for Rockabye You

Pictured:
Summer Babies – Kathryn O. Galbraith & Adela Pons
Sharing – Yusuke Yonezu
My Colors/Mis colores – Rebecca Emberley
Mama Bird, Baby Birds – Angela Johnson & Rhonda Mitchell

Before doing this rhyme, I shared our early development tip. This is a great rhyme to make rolling over fun. I also had to share what I learned about “stiles” when I was researching what that word was, and how they worked. (A stile is something that allows humans (and sometimes their dogs) to easily go over a fence in a field, while not letting the livestock through.)
Rhyme: Leg Over Leg
Leg over leg (criss cross legs)
The dog went to Dover
He came to a stile And – WHOOPS – He went over!
(lift legs or gently roll over)
Source: Jbrary

Prop Songs & Rhymes
Each month is a new prop. This month we got out our scarves.

Scarf Rhyme: Rain on the Green Grass
Rain on the green grass (shake on floor)
Rain on the trees (shake high)
Rain on the roof (hold above head)
But not on me! (drop scarf)
repeat with: Sun, Snow, Leaves
Source: Jbrary

We’ve done this song with the parachute before, so this month we used scarves.
Action/Scarf Song: Come Under My Umbrella
(tune of Did You Ever See a Lassie?)
Come under my umbrella, umbrella, umbrella (scarf over head)
Come under my umbrella, it’s starting to rain (wiggle scarf)
With thunder and lightning, and lightning and thunder (wave scarf dramatically in the air)
Come under my umbrella, it’s starting to rain
Source: traditional, see it used with scarves here

A fun take on the traditional nursery rhyme.
Scarf Rhyme: Little Bo Peep
Little Bo Peep has lost her sheep (hide scarf)
And doesn’t know where to find them
Leave them alone
and they’ll come home (bring scarf out)
Wagging their tails behind them! (wave scarf)
Source: Jbrary

And scarves are just perfect for a game of peekaboo!
Scarf Song: Peek a Boo
(tune of Frère Jacques)
Peek-a-boo, peek-a-boo
I see you, I see you
I see your button nose
I see your tiny toes
I see you! Peek-a-boo!
Source: Jbrary

And that’s it! We don’t have time for free play at the end, but I encouraged grownups to take a little time in the children’s department to play and socialize together.

Suggested books are a little different on my handout since at my library board books are not able to be held if they’re checked out. My handout says:
Check out our board book selections – they cannot be held or requested, so see what’s available anytime you visit the library! Here are some other titles that *can* be requested:
My Baby and Me – Lynn Reiser & Penny Gentieu
The Seals on the Bus – Lenny Hort & G. Brian Karas
Goodnight Moon – Margaret Wise Brown & Clement Hurd
Baby Day! – Nancy Elizabeth Wallace
Pat the Bunny – Dorothy Kunhardt
The Neighborhood Mother Goose – Nina Crews
Faces – Shelley Rotner & Ken Kreisler

This storytime was presented in-person on 6/8, 6/15, 6/22, & 6/29/23.

Storytime Handout: