Tag: scarves

will ladybug hug and can i give you a squish book covers

Storytime: Hugs

Posted on by msemilylibrary

Hugs is a great generic theme to use the week of Valentine’s Day without explicitly dealing with the holiday. Most toddlers are very hug-positive, though it’s also a great opportunity to introduce the idea of consent and that perhaps not everyone likes hugs, or there may be times they prefer not to hug. I also love that we can do lots of self-hugs, which are always available!

See another version of this theme from 2021.

will ladybug hug book cover, with an illustration of a friendly open armed ladybug
Can I give you a squish book cover, with an enthusiastic merboy with arms raised looking at friends dolphin, crab, octopus, and fish.

Early Development Tip: (two tips again today!) Rhymes can boost memory retention. The repetition and predictability of rhyming words allow children to anticipate what’s coming next, helping them build vocabulary and comprehension skills.
Help your child understand that their bodies are their own and that they have the right to make decisions about their body. This includes letting your child decide if they would like to offer or receive a hug or kiss from family members or friends rather than making them. Learn more about discussing consent with young children here: https://tinyurl.com/mr2mt6k4

Welcome Song: Hello, Friends* 

Hello Friends rhyme sheet. Includes a smiling rainbow and two yellow ducks at the bottom. click the image to download a non-branded PDF

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

Wake Up Feet thumbnail, with a graphic of three pairs of baby-sized shoes. click the image to download a non-branded PDF

Lifting Rhyme: Toast in the Toaster* 

Toast in the Toaster thumbnail, with a graphic of a toaster with a piece of bread hovering above it. click the image to download a non-branded PDF

Intro: There are lots of ways to tell someone you love them. We can use our words – let’s say “I love you!”. We can sign it with our hands – do you know the ASL sign? [demo] We can write it on a card. OR you might ask if you can give them a hug. Sometimes you don’t feel like giving a hug, or you might not feel comfortable with a hug. That’s okay! It’s always okay to say, “I don’t feel like a hug right now.” And your friends may also feel that way, so it’s always a good idea to ask before giving hugs.

Let’s practice giving ourselves a hug!
Action Rhyme: Up and Down
Put your arms up, Put your arms down
Put them in the middle, Move them all around
One arm to the left, One arm to the right
Give yourself a hug, And hold on tight!
Source: Mansfield/Richland County (OH) Public Library

up and down thumbnail, with a graphic of two children with light brown skin hugging themselves. click the image to download a non-branded PDF

Transition: If You’re Ready for a Story*

A perfect book for toddlers about celebrating different kinds of hugs, including respecting others’ wishes not to hug. It’s short and to the point and very cute.
Read: Will Ladybug Hug? by Hilary Leung

will ladybug hug book cover, with an illustration of a friendly open armed ladybug

I used this one for my evening session of this program, which is open to older kids (up to age 5.) I tend to have an older crowd, so I try to choose books that are just a little bit longer and more story-driven than the ones I choose for the littles. This one also shows different kinds of affection as well as big hugs for Mama.
Backup Reads: Can I Give You a Squish? by Emily Neilson

Can I give you a squish book cover, with an enthusiastic merboy with arms raised looking at friends dolphin, crab, octopus, and fish.

There’s a missing word in this rhyme, can you guess it?
Flannel Rhyme: Looking for a …
I’m looking for something warm and snug
You open your arms and give a great big…
…rug? NO! …bug? NO! …mug? NO! …plug? NO! …pug? NO! …slug? EW, NO! …hug? YES!
Source: Pasadena Public Library

Laminated clipart of a green rug, cartoon ladybug, blue mug, orange electrical cord and plug, pug dog, yellow slug, and an icon of a "hug" - pink heart with arms around it.

looking for a hug thumbnail, with a graphic of a stylized "hug" - a pink heart with arms crossed around it. click the image to download a non-branded PDF

There are lots of ways to hug. Here are a few for inspiration from The Catalogue of Hugs by Joshua David Stein, Augustus Heeren Stein & Elizabeth Lilly. [show 3-4 examples]
Such a cute book, but I didn’t want to use it for my read aloud, so I shoehorned a couple pages in here!

book cover for catalogue of hugs, showing a child hanging off her adult's outstretched arm ("the sloth")

Bounce: Bounce, Tickle, Hug
I bounce you here, I bounce you there
I bounce you, bounce you everywhere
I tickle you here, I tickle you there
I tickle you, tickle you everywhere
I hug you here, I hug you there
I hug you, hug you everywhere
Source: Mansfield/Richland County (OH) Public Library

bounce, tickle, hug thumbnail, with lyrics only. click the image to download a non-branded PDF

In creating the rhyme sheet for this one, I had to look hard to find an example of heart hands that are made like the rhyme. Most show the bottom of the heart made with the thumbs!
Did you know you can make a heart shape with your hands? Here’s how:
Fingerplay: Make a Heart
I put my hands together (hands palm-to-palm)
This is how I start
I curve my fingers right around (curl fingertips)
And I can make a heart!
Source: Verona Story Time

make a heart thumbnail, with a photograph of light skinned hands making a heart in the manner described by the rhyme. click the image to download a non-branded PDF

Make your heart hands when we say “love!”
I skipped this for time for the second program.
Action Song: Love, Love, Love
(tune of Three Blind Mice)
Love, love, love, Love, love, love (make heart hands)
See how it grows, see how it grows
I love my friends and they love me
We love others and then, you see
There’s more than enough for my family
It’s love, love, love
Source: Preschool Education

love love love thumbnail, with a graphic of a pair of light skinned arms hugging a red heart. click the image to download a non-branded PDF

Here’s an old song about loving someone sooo much!
Not directly a hug song, but I always get so much enthusiasm from the adults for this. I think many of them forgot about the song but remembered it from their childhoods. I hope they sing it with their kids now they are reminded!
Action Song: Skinnamarink
Skinnamarinky-dinky-dink, Skinnamarinky-doo, I love you!
Skinnamarinky-dinky-dink, Skinnamarinky-doo, I love you!
I love you in the morning, and in the afternoon
I love you in the evening, underneath the moon
Skinnamarinky-dinky-dink, Skinnamarinky-doo, I love you!
Source: traditional Find hand motions at this video from Jbrary.

skinnamarink thumbnail, with a graphic of small red hearts scattered on the margins. click the image to download a non-branded PDF

Okay, it’s time to get out our scarves! Can you shake out your scarf and make sure it’s working right?
This is a good one to get us comfortable using our scarves.
Scarf Song: One Bright Scarf
One bright scarf waiting for the wind to blow
Toss it up high, and wave it down low
Wiggle it fast, and wiggle it slow (hide the scarf)
Hey! Where did it go? (bring out) Here it is!
Source: Jbrary

one bright scarf thumbnail, with a graphic of a yellow scarf. click the image to download a non-branded PDF

Can you pretend your scarf is a loving ladybug? She wants to hug you!
This was of most relevance after reading Will Ladybug Hug, but it worked fine for the other program, too.
Scarf Rhyme: Ladybug, Ladybug
Ladybug, ladybug, Fly out of the farm
And land right on my little arm
Ladybug, ladybug Fly out of the tree,
And land right on my little knee
Ladybug, ladybug Fly out of your bed
And land right on my little head
Ladybug, ladybug Fly out of the rose
And land right on my little nose
Source: Storytime Secrets

ladybug ladybug thumbnail, with a graphic of a flying ladybug, whose flight path is indicated by a dotted line which includes a heart shape. click the image to download a non-branded PDF

Now your scarf is a teddy bear – or your favorite stuffy or lovey! Can you give him a cuddle and a hug?
Scarf Song: Hug Your Bear
(tune of Row Your Boat)
Hug, hug, hug your bear
Squeeze him very tight
Hold him high and help him fly (toss scarf)
Then hug with all your might
Source: Jbrary

hug your bear thumbnail, with a graphic of a teddy bear hugging a pink heart. click the image to download a non-branded PDF

Action Song: Zoom, Zoom, Zoom!*

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

Craft: Stamped Hearts Craft
A second craft using hearts in two weeks! Oh, well, ’tis the season. My colleague planned this one – we used toilet paper tubes that were bent into a heart shape as well as pieces of celery to stamp hearts on pink paper. They turned out super sweet!

picture of light pink paper stamped with white, red, and dark pink hearts.

Here’s what the toilet paper tubes looked like – I forgot to take a picture of the setup as a whole. They aren’t hard to bend, but they generally only look good from one end. We also used our art smocks, which are always nice to have on hand whenever paint is out.

toilet paper tubes bent into heart shapes, with a piece of celery on a paper plate. also pictured is a pink art smock folded up.

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

Goodbye Song: See You Later Alligator*

See you later thumbnail, with a graphic of a green alligator, brown crocodile, ladybug, and jellyfish. click the image to download a non-branded PDF

Other books I had available for families to browse (and may work for you on this theme)
Kitty’s Cuddles – Jane Cabrera
How to Hug – Maryann Macdonald & Jana Christy
Hug Machine – Scott Campbell
Don’t Hug Doug – Carrie Finison & Daniel Wiseman
I Hug – David McPhail
Group Hug – Jean Reidy & Joey Chou
Hug Me, Please! – Przemysław Wechterowicz & Emilia Dziubak
10 Hugs and Kisses – Nicola Slater & Chronicle Books
How To Send A Hug – Hayley Rocco & John Rocco
Hugs are (Not) for Everybody – Ella Russell & Udayana Lugo
I Need A Hug – Aaron Blabey
So Many Cuddles – Ruth Austin & Clare Owen
The Hug – Eoin McLaughlin & Polly Dunbar
The Perfect Hug – Joanna Walsh & Judi Abbot
The Very Best Hug – Smriti Prasadam-Halls & Alison Brown
Tiny T. Rex and the Impossible Hug – Jonathan Stutzman

This storytime was presented in-person on 2/18 & 2/19/26.

Storytime Handout:

handout with book suggestions, rhyme and song lyrics.

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

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

papa please get the moon for me and max and the tag-along moon book covers

Storytime: Moon

Posted on by msemilylibrary

Here’s a new take on a Moon storytime theme, planned by my fabulous coworker. In the past I’d separated the idea of the moon in a scientific way, talking about space and astronauts in one program (2019, pre-blog) and the idea of the moon “from the ground” – as an object we see in the sky at night and tell stories about and give almost human qualities to. In this program, both aspects are given some time to shine! There were a couple of songs that had a count-down to blast-off that we’d considered (in addition to our evergreen Zoom, Zoom, Zoom), so I did cut one of them to save feeling repetitive, but I’ll include both below as a resource. Note that most of the rhyme sheets and the MOON shapes flannel were made/designed by her and not me!

See other versions of this theme from 2020 and 2022.

papa please get the moon for me book cover, with a large moon showing a small crescent on the left and the remainder darkened with an abstract face. Below is a very small ladder
max and the tag-along moon book cover, with a large yellow moon in the top right corner framing a little boy looking upward from playing with cars

Early Literacy Tip: Talk about the shapes you see with your children! Circles and triangles are often parts of letters. Being able to see shapes will help children later recognize letters. from The Early Literacy Kit: A Handbook and Tip Cards by Betsy Diamant-Cohen & Saroj Ghoting

Welcome Song: Hello, Friends* 

Hello Friends rhyme sheet. Includes a smiling rainbow and two yellow ducks at the bottom. click the image to download a non-branded PDF

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

Wake Up Feet thumbnail, with a graphic of three pairs of baby-sized shoes. click the image to download a non-branded PDF

Lifting Rhyme: Toast in the Toaster* 

Toast in the Toaster thumbnail, with a graphic of a toaster with a piece of bread hovering above it. click the image to download a non-branded PDF

Intro: What’s something big big big that comes out at night? The Moon!

Flannel Activity: Spelling with Shapes
What shape is the Moon? A circle! Let’s spell the word, MOON. Can you spot any shapes in this word? The Os are circles! And this shape (triangle!) fits into the M and the N.
I had a few older siblings who jumped on this activity and were very excited to let us know the answers. For the younger, it may have been a little more difficult, so supplying the answers is fine.

Moon word flannel: the word moon is spelled in capital letters in grey felt, with a realistic looking felt moon above it.
Moon word flannel: the word moon is spelled in capital letters in grey felt, with tan triangles in the spaces of the M and N, and blue circles covering the Os. A realistic looking felt moon is above the word.

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

the moon is round thumbnail, with a graphic of an illustration of a full moon with a face. click the image to download a non-branded PDF

Transition: If You’re Ready for a Story*

We have a large board book edition of this in our office collection, in addition to our circulating hardback. Both have really fun fold-out pages, but the circulating one understandably has been pretty beat-up. Our office edition was perfect, though, and all those fold-out pages are wow-inducing!
Read: Papa, Please Get the Moon for Me by Eric Carle

papa please get the moon for me book cover, with a large moon showing a small crescent on the left and the remainder darkened with an abstract face. Below is a very small ladder

Love this story of the moon that helps a little boy feel close to his grandpa.
Read: Max and the Tag-Along Moon by Floyd Cooper

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

Sometimes the moon is hard to find. When it’s cloudy out, it can be covered up. Let’s see if we can find the hide and seek moon.
My take on the classic guessing game flannel. I reused the moon from my Five Coyotes set and created some clouds in dreamy sunset/twilight colors. We identified each color before we started since they were a little amorphous.
Flannel Board Rhyme: Find The Moon
Little moon, little moon, shining bright
Which cloud are you hiding behind tonight?
[Can you make a big wind gust to blow that cloud away? Woosh!]
Source: original

Find the Moon flannel, with four clouds (blue, peach, lilac, and mint green) with a white and gray moon peeking from behind the blue one.

find the moon thumbnail, with a graphic of four clouds (blue, purple, pink and green) with a moon peeking out from the blue one. click the image to download a non-branded PDF

Some people actually get to go to the moon! They are called astronauts! Outer space is not easy to be in, so they have to wear very special clothes to protect them.
Action Song: If You’re Going To The Moon
(tune of Happy and You Know It)
If you’re going to the moon, wear your boots (stomp, stomp)
If you’re going to the moon, wear your boots (stomp, stomp)
If you’re going to the moon, this is what you have to do
If you’re going to the moon, wear your boots (stomp, stomp)

Additional Verses:
…wear your suit (ziiiip)
…wear your helmet (pat head)
…wear your gloves (clap, clap)
Source: Harford County (MD) Public Library

If you're going to the moon thumbnail, with a graphic of an astronaut in a space suit reading a book. click the image to download a non-branded PDF

Now that we are suited up, it’s time to go!
Counting Rhyme: Climb Aboard The Spaceship
(tune of Itsy Bitsy Spider)
Climb aboard the spaceship
We’re going to the moon
Hurry and get ready
We’re going to blast off soon
Put on your helmets
And buckle up real tight
Here comes the countdown
Let’s count with all our might
10-9-8-7-6-5-4-3-2-1- Blast Off!
Source: Preschool Express

climb aboard the spaceship thumbnail, with a graphic of a space shuttle blasting off. click the image to download a non-branded PDF

Time to get out our scarves! Shake them out, make sure they are working! Can you pretend your scarf is a blanket?
This wasn’t originally a scarf rhyme, but it works well, with an opportunity to snuggle the scarf under your chin at the beginning, and to throw it up in the air at the end (they loved that part!)
Scarf Rhyme: Sun And Moon
Moon comes out, Sun goes in (moon is a crescent as one hand and sun is other, fingers outstretched)
Here is a blanket to cuddle your chin
Moon goes in, and Sun comes out
Throw off the blankets and wiggle about!
Source: Sunflower Storytime (no longer online)

sun and moon thumbnail, with a graphic of a stylized moon and sun overlapping. click the image to download a non-branded PDF

I’ve done a modified version of this before, but I think these are the original Romper Room lyrics.
Scarf Song: Sky Stretch
Bend and stretch, Reach for the stars
There goes Jupiter, Here comes Mars
Bend and stretch, Reach for the sky
Stand on tippy toes, Oh so high!
Source: Romper Room via Molly Whuppie

sky stretch thumbnail, with a graphic of jupiter and mars with cartoon arms stretching up. click the image to download a non-branded PDF

This is the one I cut – it was just too similar to Climb Aboard the Spaceship.
Scarf Song: I’m A Little Astronaut
(tune of I’m A Little Teapot)
I’m a little astronaut flying to the moon
My rocket is ready, we blast off soon
I climb aboard and close the hatch
5-4-3-2-1, off we blast!
Source: Preschool Express

I'm a little astronaut thumbnail, with a graphic of an astronaut in their space suit doing a space walk. click the image to download a non-branded PDF

Ready to dance in outer space?
Scarf/Ukulele Song: 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, from the album Say Hello to the Morning

Download a ukulele songsheet for Baby Bear Waltz!

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

Here’s a slow song about the moon. You can snuggle up with your grown up or pretend your scarf is a blankie if you like, or dance and sway.
Scarf/Ukulele Lullaby: I See the Moon
(tune of Hush, Little Baby)
I see the moon and the moon sees me
Down through the leaves of the old oak tree
Please let the moon that shines on me
Shine on the ones I love

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

Download a ukulele songsheet for I See the Moon

Thumbnail of I See the Moon ukulele chord sheet

i see the moon thumbnail, with a graphic of a watercolor gray and white moon with a smiling face. click the image to download a non-branded PDF

The most appropriate time for this one we do every week!
Action Song: Zoom, Zoom, Zoom!*

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

Craft/Activity: Telescopes
A very simple craft – we used toilet paper rolls, paint sticks, and foam shape stickers to create our own telescopes to see the moon.

telescope craft - a brown toilet paper tube decorated with paint and foam shape stickers.

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

Goodbye Song: See You Later Alligator*

See you later thumbnail, with a graphic of a green alligator, brown crocodile, ladybug, and jellyfish. click the image to download a non-branded PDF

Other books I had available for families to browse (and may work for you on this theme)
Moonlight – Helen V. Griffith & Laura Dronzek
Kitten’s First Full Moon – Kevin Henkes
Like the Moon Loves the Sky – Hena Khan & Saffa Khan
The Moon Is Going to Addy’s House – Ida Pearle
City Moon – Rachael Cole & Blanca Gómez
Can’t Sleep – Chris Raschka
Hello, Moon – Evan Turk
Moonday – Adam Rex
Moonlight – Stephen Savage
Music for Mister Moon – Philip C Stead & Erin E Stead
The Mouse Who Ate The Moon – Petr Horáček
Goodnight, Moon – Margaret Wise Brown & Clement Hurd
Astronaut – Lucy M. George & AndoTwin
Moon – Marion Dane Bauer & John Wallace
Snail in Space – Rachel Bright & Nadia Shireen
Rocket Beams, Lunar Dreams – Chiara Colombi & Scott Magoon

This storytime was presented in-person on 1/14 & 1/15/26.

Storytime Handout:

handout with book suggestions, rhyme and song lyrics.

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

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

close your eyes and cat nap book covers

Storytime: Blankets and Bedtime

Posted on by msemilylibrary

Winter makes me want to feel cozy, so here’s a new-to-me storytime theme: Blankets! I expanded it a bit beyond blankets to bedtime in general because I was worried I wouldn’t be able to find enough material for just blankets, so it was nice to have that flexibility. I actually had trouble finding a lot of books appropriate for toddlers about having a special blanket or lovey at my library. So expanding to bedtime helped with book selection, but I mostly focused on blankets and loveys like teddy bears in our rhymes and songs.

Unfortunately, I was sick the day of this storytime so I never got a chance to present it, though my wonderful coworkers stepped in for me. I’ll definitely have to try it again sometime.

close your eyes book cover, with an illustration of a bundle of adorable baby animals looking sleepy, including a lion, owl, fox cat, bunny, guinea pig, tarsier, and bluebirds.
cat nap book cover, with a cat holding a blanket and stuffed bear.

Early Literacy Tip: Singing a lullaby while putting your baby to sleep will help them settle down. Singing lullabies to your older children will bring them back to that safe, calm, soft place and will also help to settle them down. So continue singing lullabies, even when your children are no longer babies. from The Early Literacy Kit: A Handbook and Tip Cards by Betsy Diamant-Cohen & Saroj Ghoting

Welcome Song: Hello, Friends* 

Hello Friends rhyme sheet. Includes a smiling rainbow and two yellow ducks at the bottom. click the image to download a non-branded PDF

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

Wake Up Feet thumbnail, with a graphic of three pairs of baby-sized shoes. click the image to download a non-branded PDF

Lifting Rhyme: Toast in the Toaster* 

Toast in the Toaster thumbnail, with a graphic of a toaster with a piece of bread hovering above it. click the image to download a non-branded PDF

Intro: Today we are talking about bedtime! Who loves bedtime? (grownups?!) Okay, sometimes bedtime is hard, but it’s important that we get good sleep every night so that our bodies can rest and grow and be healthy. Maybe you have something that helps you at bedtime. Maybe it’s a special song your grownup sings, a certain book you read together, or a lovey or stuffy or special blanket that you sleep with.

Action Rhyme: Time for Bed
Time for bed, time for bed
Fluff up the pillow Lay down your head
Pull up the blanket Tuck it in tight
Close your eyes And sleep all night
Source: Storytime Katie

time for bed thumbnail, with a graphic of a small bed with a green blanket and pillow. click the image to download a non-branded PDF

Transition: If You’re Ready for a Story*

I think Sydney Hanson has got to win the award for most adorable animal illustrations. This is one of those “let’s reverse psychology you into going to sleep” but it’s so darn cute. And I love the wide variety of animals represented. There’s one page that talks about a little ape with their blanket, but that’s the only blanket connection.
Read: Close Your Eyes: A Book of Sleepiness by Lori Haskins Houran & Sydney Hanson

close your eyes book cover, with an illustration of a bundle of adorable baby animals looking sleepy, including a lion, owl, fox cat, bunny, guinea pig, tarsier, and bluebirds.

This and the companion Bird Bath are really fun, very simple titles that my little one loved. This one has a great rundown of the bedtime routine, and Cat has both a blanket and a teddy bear. Okay, technically it’s about naptime and not bedtime proper, but it works in every other aspect.
Read: Cat Nap by Steve Antony

cat nap book cover, with a cat holding a blanket and stuffed bear.

Who has a special blanket? What color is it?
I had fun making this flannel, trying to do different patterns with different hues of each color.
Guessing Rhyme: Blanket Colors
I once had a blanket, It was fluffy and new.
I once had a blanket, And its color was… (blue)

I once had a blanket, The prettiest I’ve seen
I once had a blanket, And its color was… (green)

I once had a blanket, Soft as a pillow
I once had a blanket, And its color was… (yellow)

I once had a blanket, At the foot of my bed
I once had a blanket, And its color was… (red)
Source: Anne’s Library Life

flannel showing four blankets - a blue one with lighter blue stripes, a green one with lighter green checks, a yellowy-orange one with bright yellow stars, and a red one with a dark pink heart.

blanket colors thumbnail, with a graphic of a folded up blue striped blanket. click the image to download a non-branded PDF

OH! There is a teddy bear under this blanket who wants to play hide and seek!
I had the teddy under the blanket as I put it up with the previous flannel. This rhyme doesn’t mention the color as you say it, so you have to set it up each time – which blanket do you think bear is under? Okay, let’s check the red blanket!
Flannel Game: Where is Teddy Bear?
Teddy bear, teddy bear,
Are you under there?
Source: Anne’s Library Life

the same flannel as for blanket colors, but with a brown teddy bear showing waving from under the blue blanket.

where is teddy bear thumbnail, with a graphic of a teddy bear peeking its head from behind a red blanket with pink hearts. click the image to download a non-branded PDF

I know a song that teddy bear likes to hear!
The Jazzy Ash version of this is superb, and fun that it speeds up with each repetition.
Action Song: Teddy Bear
Teddy Bear, Teddy Bear, turn around
Teddy Bear, Teddy Bear, touch the ground
Teddy Bear, Teddy Bear, wave up high
Teddy Bear, Teddy Bear, wink one eye
Teddy Bear, Teddy Bear, bend your knees
Teddy Bear, Teddy Bear, flap in the breeze
Teddy Bear, Teddy Bear, climb up to bed
Teddy Bear, Teddy Bear, rest your head
Source: traditional, as recorded by Jazzy Ash

teddy bear thumbnail, with a graphic of a teddy bear standing on two legs. click the image to download a non-branded PDF

The last line is the only reason this rhyme fits with the theme, but it’s a good movement one.
Fingerplay: Dance Your Fingers
Dance your fingers up,
Dance your fingers down
Dance your fingers side to side
Dance them all around
Dance them on your shoulders
Dance them on you head
Dance them on your tummy
and put them all to bed (tuck under arms)
Source: Storytime Katie

dance your fingers thumbnail, with a graphic of six hands with various skin colors doing things like finger walking and waving. click the image to download a non-branded PDF

This was an optional add for me based on time, but I think my coworker did do it!
Ukulele Song: I Wish I Were a Fuzzy Wuzzy Blanket
(tune of the Oscar Meyer Jingle)
Oh, I wish I were a fuzzy wuzzy blanket
That is what I’d truly like to be
For if I were a fuzzy wuzzy blanket
Everyone would snuggle up with me!
Source: Book Besotted Librarian Blog

Click here for a ukulele songsheet of this tune (words are for Pepperoni Pizza, but tune/chords are the same)

thumbnail of "I Wish I Were a Pepperoni Pizza" ukulele songsheet

fuzzy wuzzy blanket thumbnail, with a graphic of four folded knitted blankets piled on each other: blue, red, yellow, and light green. click the image to download a non-branded PDF

I hadn’t done this scarf song before, so it’s always nice to switch things up. I planned to sing “Blanket” instead of scarf
Scarf Song: Wave Your Blanket/Scarf/Stuffy
(tune of London Bridge)
Wave your blanket up and down
Up and down, up and down
Wave your blanket up and down
Wave your blanket

additional verses:
left and right – fast and slow – high and low – around and around
Source: Jbrary

wave your scarf thumbnail, with a graphic of a yellow scarf. click the image to download a non-branded PDF

If you bring your blanky everywhere, it may get dirty and need a wash.
My idea was to really play up the washing and laying out to dry motions. And the original text had PB at lunch and mustard at snack time, but it made more sense to switch those in my mind. Just a personal preference!
Scarf Rhyme: Wash My Blanket
At breakfast time, oh me, oh my
Milk spilled on my blanket – oh me, oh my
Have to wash my blanket And lay it out to dry

Repeat with:
Lunch time – mustard / Snack time – peanut butter / Dinner time – spaghetti

At bedtime, oh me, oh my
Cookie crumbs fell on my blanket – oh me, oh my
Have to shake my blanket out, No time to wash or dry
I need my blanket, It’s time for beddy bye
Source: Anne’s Library Life

wash my blanket thumbnail, with a graphic of various smudges, stains, ans smears looking like milk, peanut butter, mustard, spaghetti sauce, and cookie crumbs. click the image to download a non-branded PDF

It’s almost bedtime and I’ve still got some wiggles! Let’s dance with our blankies.
Recorded Song: Dancing Scarf Blues
from the album “Dancing Feet” by Miss Carole

album cover for Miss Carole's Dancing Feet

*Yawn* I think it’s time for bed. Let’s sing a lullaby. Can you wave your scarf gently?
Scarf Lullaby: Twinkle, Twinkle
Twinkle, twinkle, little star
How I wonder what you are
Up above the world so high
Like a diamond in the sky
Twinkle, twinkle, little star
How I wonder what you are
Source: traditional

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

Action Song: Zoom, Zoom, Zoom!*

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

Craft: Bear’s Blanket
This craft was inspired by the Fun With Friends at Storytime blog. Apparently the image was inspired by the book Stormy Night by Salina Yoon (which my library does not own). I actually borrowed the book from my home library just to read it, and I didn’t see this image anywhere! Maybe she drew it in the style of Yoon? Anyway, I used my own magic to create a copy for myself, put it on cardstock, folded in half, and cut away the top of the blanket to show bear’s head. We used tissue paper squares to create his quilt. Because it is clearly Yoon’s artwork I don’t feel comfortable sharing my template for this one publicly, sorry.

bear's blanket craft closed, showing bear's head on his pillow peeking up above a blanket of colored tissue paper squares.
bear's blanket craft open, showing bear laying on his pillow and holding his rabbit lovey

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

Goodbye Song: See You Later Alligator*

See you later thumbnail, with a graphic of a green alligator, brown crocodile, ladybug, and jellyfish. click the image to download a non-branded PDF

Other books I had available for families to browse (and may work for you on this theme)
Blanket: Journey to Extreme Coziness – Loryn Brantz
Sloth Wasn’t Sleepy – Kate Messner & Valentina Toro
I Love You, Baby Burrito – Angela Dominguez
The Twins’ Blanket – Hyewon Yum
Sleepy Snuggles – Diana Murray & Charles Santoso
I’m Not Sleepy! ¡No tengo sueño! – Angela Dominguez
Go Sleep in Your Own Bed – Candace Fleming & Lori Nichols
The Best Bed for Me – Gaia Cornwall
Farm Lullaby – Karen Jameson & Wednesday Kirwan
Dreamland – Noah Klocek

This storytime was presented in-person on 12/10/25.

Storytime Handout:

handout with book suggestions, rhyme and song lyrics.

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

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

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

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

Storytime: Feeling Thankful (2025)

Posted on by msemilylibrary

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

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

This is also a great opportunity for me to slow down and say THANK YOU for being a reader. I hope these posts are helpful to you whether you are a fellow librarian, a teacher, caregiver, or anyone else who is interested in early literacy. I love being part of a profession that is generous with our ideas, and I am thankful for all the librarians and teachers who have helped me find my footing in storytime by sharing their materials online.

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

my heart fills with happiness book cover, featuring an indigenous girl from the top down looking up, with two braids and a flared circular flowered skirt around her.
may there always be sunshine book cover, showing a stylized yellow sun with big cheeks and chin on a light blue background
the thank you book cover, with a picture of a light skinned girl with red hair giving a taller Black boy a flower. flowers, rainbows, a sun, and two blackbirds are in the background.

Early Literacy Tip: When we are warm, fed, safe, and snuggled with someone we love, our brains release a chemical called serotonin. This makes us feel good, but it also has the effect of helping us learn. When you snuggle with your child and sing and read together, their brains soak up the language they hear and the serotonin helps make that learning permanent. Snuggling, talking, and singing with your child helps get them ready to read. Source: Mel’s Desk

Welcome Song: Hello, Friends* 

Hello Friends rhyme sheet. Includes a smiling rainbow and two yellow ducks at the bottom. click the image to download a non-branded PDF

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

Wake Up Feet thumbnail, with a graphic of three pairs of baby-sized shoes. click the image to download a non-branded PDF

Lifting Rhyme: Toast in the Toaster* 

Toast in the Toaster thumbnail, with a graphic of a toaster with a piece of bread hovering above it. click the image to download a non-branded PDF

Intro: What does it mean to feel thankful? When someone does something nice for you, saying “thank you” lets them know we appreciate them and are happy they did what they did! We can also think for a moment about all the good things in our lives and feel happy about them, too. Let’s practice saying “thank you” with this rhyme.

Figuring out how to do this rhyme without the middle finger AND using it to do the ASL sign for I love you is one of my proudest moments. 🙂
Fingerplay: Where is Thumbkin?
Where is Thumbkin, Where is Thumbkin?
Here I am, Here I am,
How are you today, Friend?
Very well, I thank you.
Run away, run away.

(repeat with pointer, pinky, then all three)
Where are three friends, Where are three friends?
Here we are, Here we are,
How are you today, Friends?
Very well, we thank you.
I love you, I love you.
Source: adapted from the traditional rhyme by Ms. Emily

where is thumbkin thumbnail, with a graphic of silhouettes of two hands with thumbs up and two hands showing the ASL "I Love You" sign. click the image to download a non-branded PDF

Transition: If You’re Ready for a Story*

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

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

This was my backup title, but I didn’t end up using it this year. It’s a board book, so it’s not very big, but it does work for my group. It focuses mostly on HOW to say thank you, both in words and in actions.
Read: The Thank You Book by Danna Smith & Juliana Perdomo

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

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

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

Which of the senses did we miss talking about? Touch! Here’s a tickle rhyme to engage our sense of touch! I’m thankful for the bees that pollinate our plants and make us honey
Tickle Rhyme: Here Is the Beehive
Here is the beehive, but where are all the bees? (make fist)
Hidden away where nobody sees
Watch and you’ll see them come out of the hive:
1, 2, 3, 4, 5 (open fingers)
They’re alive! Buzz, buzz, buzz! (tickle)
Source: Jbrary

here is the beehive thumbnail, with a graphic of a yellow beehive with several bees flying around it, centered on a red circle. click the image to download a non-branded PDF

I’m sure it comes as no surprise to you – something I love and something I’m always thankful for are books and reading! Here’s a fun song about someone who wears glasses when she reads a book.
We practice making glasses with our hands, and then a book. We open and close the book several times before we get started with the song!
Song: These Are My Glasses
These are my glasses, this is my book
I put on my glasses and open up the book
Now I read, read, read
And I look, look, look
I put down my glasses and
Whoop! Close up the book!
Source: “Whaddaya Think of That?” by the Laurie Berkner Band

these are my glasses thumbnail, with a graphic of a pair of glasses folded next to a small pile of books. A red mug is alongside. click the image to download a non-branded PDF

Scarf distribution: I am thankful for songs we can sing with our scarves! Will you practice with me – wave high, low, in a circle, throw and catch!

I’m thankful for all of the beautiful plants, especially the trees. Can we pretend to be a little acorn?
We start by scrunching up our scarves in our fists and crouching low to make our bodies small like a seed.
Scarf Rhyme: Be a Seed 
Be a seed, small and round (crouch, with scarf scrunched)
Sprout, sprout, sprout up from the ground (stand up)
Shake your leaves for all to see (shake arms and scarf)
Stretch your arms up, you’re a tree! (stretch tall)
Source: Jbrary

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

I’m thankful for delicious food that we can make and eat with our loved ones.
Scarf Song: Popcorn Kernels
(tune of “Frère Jacques”)
Popcorn kernels, popcorn kernels (wave scarves overhead)
In the pot, in the pot (bunch up scarf in your fist)
Shake them, shake them, shake them!
Shake them, shake them, shake them! (shake)
‘Til they POP! ‘Til they POP! (toss scarves up into the air)
Source: Jbrary

popcorn kernels thumbnail, with a photograph of two popped popcorn kernels. click the image to download a non-branded PDF

I’m thankful for toys and games to play.
We did this one three times each session. They loved throwing the scarves up!
Scarf Rhyme: Jack in the Box
Jack in the box (scrunch scarf up in fist)
Sits so still
Will he come out?
Yes, he will! (throw scarf in the air)
Source: Jbrary

jack in the box thumbnail, with a graphic of a colorful jester's head coming out of a box with a crank. click the image to download a non-branded PDF

This flannel was made from the template created by Mel at Mel’s Desk! I add the flannel pieces as the recorded song mentions them (if you’re playing ukulele for this one, you could go over the pieces first and then sing the song. I love the recorded version so I usually let Raffi do the singing.) Before or afterwards is a good time to mention today’s early literacy tip, whichever flows more naturally for you.
We’re going to do a quiet song now. This one is nice to snuggle to. If you’d like to snuggle with your grownup, that’s great. If not, no need to force it, but let’s listen to the words and all the things we can be thankful for.
Flannel/Ukulele Song: Thanks a Lot
Thanks a lot, Thanks for sun in the sky
Thanks a lot, Thanks for clouds so high
Thanks a lot, Thanks for whispering wind
Thanks a lot, Thanks for the birds in the spring
Thanks a lot, Thanks for the moonlit night
Thanks a lot, Thanks for the stars so bright
Thanks a lot, Thanks for the wondering me
Thanks a lot, Thanks for the way I feel
Thanks for the animals, Thanks for the land,
Thanks for the people everywhere
Thanks a lot
Thanks for all I’ve got
Thanks for all I’ve got
Source: From the Album “Baby Beluga” by Raffi

Thanks a lot flannel set with a yellow sun, white cloud, red bird, blue swirl for wind, yellow crescent moon, purple star, single person figure with arms raised, pink heart, elephant, evergreen tree, and group of three people of various skin tones with arms to the side.

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

thumbnail of Thanks A Lot ukulele songsheet

thanks a lot thumbnail, showing lyrics only. click the image to download a non-branded PDF

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

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

thumbnail for may there always be sunshine ukulele songsheet

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

Action Song: Zoom, Zoom, Zoom!*

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

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

Download a PDF of the booklet here!

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

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

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

Goodbye Song: See You Later Alligator*

See you later thumbnail, with a graphic of a green alligator, brown crocodile, ladybug, and jellyfish. click the image to download a non-branded PDF

Other books I had available for families to browse (and may work for you on this theme)
Thank a Farmer – Maria Gianferrari & Monica Mikai
Thank You, Everything – Icinori & Emilie Robert Wong
Thank You, Omu – Oge Mora
The Thankful Book – Todd Parr
We Are Grateful: Otsaliheliga – Traci Sorell & Frané Lessac
The Thank You Book – Mo Willems
Thank You, Earth – April Pulley Sayre
The Thank You Letter – Jane Cabrera
When We Are Kind – Monique Gray Smith & Nicole Neidhardt
The Blue Table – Chris Raschka
Thank You, Neighbor! – Ruth Chan
Gracias/Thanks – Pat Mora & John Parra
Bear Says Thanks – Karma Wilson & Jane Chapman
To Dogs, With Love – Maria Gianferrari & Ishaa Lobo
Grandma’s Tiny House – JaNay Brown-Woods & Priscilla Burris

This storytime was presented in-person on 11/19 & 11/20/25.

Storytime Handout:

handout with book suggestions, rhyme and song lyrics.

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

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

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

book covers for hiders seekers finders keepers and after the snowfall

Storytime: Animals in Winter

Posted on by msemilylibrary

This week we are talking about all the different things that animals do to survive and adapt to the winter months. It isn’t quite winter yet (in fact the high temp the day I did this program was 70° F!) but it was a good opportunity to point things out that may be happening in the next several weeks or months.

This theme was chosen by my new colleague, and I’m really thrilled to be working with someone who has as much of a passion for littles as I do. Since I had done a Hibernation storytime fairly recently, as well as one on Polar animals in the past, I decided to change up a couple of her selections and go more with backyard/woodland animals and their winter adaptations for my session. It was both fun and challenging – fun to find activities that worked well, and challenging that there weren’t as many options to choose from. (If you look up “winter animal storytime” you find a lot of hibernation and polar animals!) But looking up “songs about geese migrating” or “songs about tracks in the snow” did unearth some treasures for me. I added a couple more about snow in general to fill out the plan.

Hiders Seekers finders keepers book cover, showing a child and adult walking in a snowy landscape, and a cutaway look at the ground beneath showing chipmunk burrows.
after the snowfall book cover, showing a minimalist snowy landscape with two bare trees.

Early Literacy Tip: You don’t always need to read all of (or even any of) the text in a book for your child for them to benefit. Simply looking at and talking about the illustrations in books is a great way to interact. It also gives your child practice at what we do when we read – we look from left to right, turn the pages a certain way, and all the talking you’re doing is giving them vocabulary, background knowledge, and more practice at noticing and observing what is on the page. adapted from The Early Literacy Kit: A Handbook and Tip Cards by Betsy Diamant-Cohen & Saroj Ghoting

Welcome Song: Hello, Friends* †

Hello Friends rhyme sheet. Includes a smiling rainbow and two yellow ducks at the bottom. click the image to download a non-branded PDF

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

Wake Up Feet thumbnail, with a graphic of three pairs of baby-sized shoes. click the image to download a non-branded PDF

Lifting Rhyme: Toast in the Toaster*

Toast in the Toaster thumbnail, with a graphic of a toaster with a piece of bread hovering above it. click the image to download a non-branded PDF

Intro: It’s starting to get chilly in Indiana. Soon it will be winter! When we get cold, we can put on our hats, coats, mittens, boots. But when animals get cold, what do they do? Where do they go?

This rhyme talks about several ways animals adapt – they gather extra food, they migrate to somewhere warmer, they grow heavier coats, or they hibernate.
Action Rhyme: Winter is Cold
Winter is cold (shiver)
There is snow in the sky (fingers wiggle down)
The squirrel gathers nuts (pretend to pick up nuts)
And the wild geese fly (flap arms)
The fluffy red fox has fur to keep warm (stroke arms)
The bear’s in a cave sleeping all through the storm (lay head on hands)
Source: Adventures in Storytime

winter is cold thumbnail, with a graphic of a fox, a squirrel, a canadian goose, and a sleeping bear. click the image to download a non-branded PDF

Transition: If You’re Ready for a Story* 

I discovered this book last time I did a Hibernation theme, but didn’t end up using it. It’s a really excellent nonfiction title, with a short main text with extra information in bubbles that isn’t necessary for the flow of the book. It gave a great opportunity to share the Early Literacy Tip of the day.
Read: Hiders, Seekers, Finders, Keepers: How Animals Adapt in Winter by Jessica Kulekjian & Salini Perera

Hiders Seekers finders keepers book cover, showing a child and adult walking in a snowy landscape, and a cutaway look at the ground beneath showing chipmunk burrows.

My backup title is one that emphasizes animals that are active in the winter with a simple text and colorful but minimal cut paper artwork.
Read: After the Snowfall by Rich Lo

after the snowfall book cover, showing a minimalist snowy landscape with two bare trees.

Oh, my! It’s starting to snow!
Fingerplay: Winter Counting
1, 2, 3 Snowflakes fall
4, 5, 6 We count them all
7, 8, 9 Squirrels play
10 Snowflakes make a winter day
Source: Ms Ali

winter counting thumbnail, with a graphic of two squirrels playing in the snow. click the image to download a non-branded PDF

After all that snow, it may be hard for some animals to find food.
The only thing I changed was to replace the word “wilderness” in the first line to “backyard.”
Action Rhyme: Animals in the Snow
(mime movements)
Out in the backyard I can see
So many animals have been here before me
I refill feeders and put out seeds
In hopes that the animals will have plenty of feed
I wipe off the window from inside my house,
And spot the flash of a little mouse – squeak, squeak!
Soon other animals come to eat
All the birds give a happy tweet
When nighttime falls, the seeds are gone
But I’ll scatter more in the morning at dawn!
Source: Storytime Stuff

animals in the snow thumbnail, with a graphic of a red male cardinal at a bird feeder. click the image to download a non-branded PDF

Let’s go on a sleigh ride in the snow – the animals don’t have to have all the fun!
Bounce: Sleigh Ride
Let’s go on a sleigh ride through the snow
Up and down and up and down
And away we go!
We climb so high ‘til we reach the top
Then whoosh down the hill
Until we STOP!
Source: Intellidance

sleigh ride thumbnail, with a graphic of a capybara with a striped hat and scarf sledding. click the image to download a non-branded PDF

Oh, wow! I see animal tracks in the snow. Let’s see what animals may have made them.
I had used an animal track field guide as room decorations 3-4 years ago, and found that document again for this activity. I showed the track first, then we sang the song, and then revealed which animal it was. It says “counting fingerplay” but I ended up completely forgetting to count my animals as we went along. Oops. I had a bare tree and some snowflakes from another flannel set, and added printed pictures of animals from Canva with the tracks. Made for a very busy flannelboard at the end, but it still worked.
Counting Fingerplay: Tracks in the Snow
I see some tracks in the snow
I want to know: Where do they go?
I follow them around the tree
Can you guess what do I see?
Source: Music Time Kid

Printable Animal Tracks Field Guide from Personal Creations.

Printable Animal illustrations.

winter animals and tracks in the snow flannel, with a felt bare tree and felt snowflakes in the background and printed photos of animals and an example of their track. Included are deer, fox, rabbit, raccoon, squirrel, cardinal, and housecat.

tracks in the snow thumbnail, with a graphic of various crisscrossing animal tracks in light blue over the whole page, behind the text. click the image to download a non-branded PDF

Time to get out our scarves! We’ve talked a lot about squirrels. Your scarf looks a little like a squirrel tail!
Scarf Song: Frisky Squirrel
(tune of the Grand Old Duke of York)
Oh, the frisky little squirrel
She gathers nuts and seeds
She hides them for the winter months
So she’ll have all she needs

Oh, up-up-up she goes
And down-down-down she comes
She runs around, goes up and down
Her work is never done
Source: Storytime Secrets

frisky squirrel thumbnail, with a graphic of a squirrel standing on its hind legs. click the image to download a non-branded PDF

It’s starting to snow again! Can your scarf be a snowflake?
Scarf Song: Watch the Snowflakes
(tune of Frère Jacques)
Watch the snowflakes, Watch the snowflakes
Floating down, Floating down
Oh so very slowly, Oh so very slowly
To the ground, To the ground
(repeat: from so very high, quickly, twirly)
Source: Jen in the Library

watch the snowflakes thumbnail, with a graphic of various snowflake designs in shades of blue. click the image to download a non-branded PDF

Remember that geese fly south in the winter? That’s a long way to go. They fly in a particular V formation. This is a song about how they take turns at the point of their V so no one gets too tired! Can you flap your scarf like a goose?
I made a rhyme sheet and included the very simple chorus, but mainly wanted to have a visual of the V to point to. But I did get lots of enthusiastic singing on the choruses from the grown-ups, so, win!
Recorded Song: Honk, Honk!
Source: Birdsong and the Eco-Wonders, from the album “Everything is Connected (and Other Animal Songs for Kids)” accessed through Spotify

honk honk thumbnail, with a graphic of a group of geese flying in a v shape above a close up illustration of a canadian goose. click the image to download a non-branded PDF

Action Song: Zoom, Zoom, Zoom!*

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

Craft: V-Flying Geese
Crafts are back now that we have full storytime coverage! I saw a very cute flying geese V on Pinterest and did a simplified version for storytime. Instead of painting the paper (which looks so cool but we don’t have time for), I used our die-cutter to make Vs from gray construction paper, and provided white crayons. Grown ups could make a big V on the dark blue background page for the kids to glue their little vs to, and then they could add some winter snow in the background.

photo of craft with seven die cut gray "v"s arranged in a v shape on a dark blue page. The background has snowflakes drawn with white crayon.

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

Goodbye Song: See You Later Alligator* 

See you later thumbnail, with a graphic of a green alligator, brown crocodile, ladybug, and jellyfish. click the image to download a non-branded PDF

Other books I had available for families to browse (and may work for you on this theme)
On a Flake-Flying Day – Buffy Silverman
Cold Turkey – Corey R Schwartz, Kirsti Call & Chad Otis
Time to Sleep – Denise Fleming
The Busy Little Squirrel – Nancy Tafuri
Under the Snow – Melissa Stewart & Constance R. Bergum
Over & Under the Snow – Kate Messner & Christopher S Neal
Duck, Duck, Goose! – John Hare
Señorita Mariposa – Ben Gundersheimer & Marcos A Rivero
Bear Snores On – Karma Wilson & Jane Chapman
Knock Knock – Tammi Sauer & Guy Francis

This storytime was presented in-person on 11/5/25.

Storytime Handout:

handout with book suggestions, rhyme and song lyrics.

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

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

It is time, a butterfly is patient, and the very hungry caterpillar book covers

Storytime: Butterflies

Posted on by msemilylibrary

I had always associated butterflies with springtime – the flowers are blooming, the world is becoming more colorful and warm – it just seems like butterfly time. But a friend of mine is a monarch enthusiast and she associates butterflies with autumn, since monarch butterflies migrate south in the fall. So my coworker and I decided to do our butterfly theme this month in September. She planned this one, so there were some new-to-me rhymes and songs, which is always fun.

A butterfly theme is perfect for incorporating your scarves, so flutter away!

it is time book cover, showing a boy looking at a green caterpillar on a plant.
a butterfly is patient book cover featuring a big blue butterfly as well as several other smaller ones and caterpillars
The Very Hungry Caterpillar book cover, showing a green and red caterpillar

Early Literacy Tip: When we say rhymes, play rhyming games with children, and point out the rhyming words, it helps them hear the smaller sounds in words which will help them later when they try to sound out words to read.

Welcome Song: Hello, Friends* †

Hello Friends rhyme sheet. Includes a smiling rainbow and two yellow ducks at the bottom. click the image to download a non-branded PDF

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

Wake Up Feet thumbnail, with a graphic of three pairs of baby-sized shoes. click the image to download a non-branded PDF

Lifting Rhyme: Toast in the Toaster*

Toast in the Toaster thumbnail, with a graphic of a toaster with a piece of bread hovering above it. click the image to download a non-branded PDF

Intro: Today we’re talking about butterflies! These wonderful creatures begin their lives as tiny eggs, then hatch into caterpillars. After that, they create a cocoon or chrysalis where they spend 1-2 weeks transforming into butterflies! Butterflies love the sun and have delicate wings that make beautiful patterns.

Butterflies are not born with wings. Let’s use our hands to go through the life cycle of a butterfly!
Fingerplay: My Friend Caterpillar
My friend caterpillar (fingers crawl up arm)
Made its cocoon one day (close hands together)
It turned into a butterfly (open hands with thumbs hooked)
And quickly flew away (flap hands)
Source: Storytime Katie

my friend caterpillar thumbnail, with a graphic of a monarch butterfly flying away from a leafed branch where there is a caterpillar and a chrysalis. click the image to download a non-branded PDF

Transition: If You’re Ready for a Story*

This is an excellent and very simple primer on the life of a caterpillar. I always enjoy Lizzy Rockwell books. I did have a moment of difficulty, though, during the book. She says “A pupa is there” when referring to the chrysalis. I kind of tried to explain that a pupa and chrysalis and cocoon are all similar, but I was sure there were scientific differences. I just hadn’t checked before the program, which I regret. I learned later that a pupa is that particular stage (not the structure that holds it.) A chrysalis is the pupa of a butterfly, and moths spin cocoons from silk – a cocoon surrounds a pupa but it is not the same thing. More info at Wikipedia!
Read: It Is Time: The Life of a Caterpillar by Lizzy Rockwell

it is time book cover, showing a boy looking at a green caterpillar on a plant.

My backups. A Butterfly Is Patient is such a beautiful book, and I appreciate that it can be read on several levels. You can just read the larger text and give a very concise explanation, or you can read the smaller text as well which gives more detail.
Backup titles: A Butterfly Is Patient by Dianna Hutts Aston & Sylvia Long OR The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle.

a butterfly is patient book cover featuring a big blue butterfly as well as several other smaller ones and caterpillars
The Very Hungry Caterpillar book cover, showing a green and red caterpillar

Does anyone know what butterflies eat? They drink sweet juice from flowers called nectar. Let’s count to 10 while we pretend to feed a butterfly.
The hand motions for this one are a bit simple, but it worked.
Action Rhyme: Butterfly Food
(tune of 1, 2, Buckle my Shoe)
1, 2, Nectar for you! (point outward)
3, 4, Find some more! (searching motion)
5, 6, Plants by sticks! (pretend to hold sticks)
7, 8, Nectar is great! (thumbs up)
9, 10, Let’s eat again! (eating motion)
Source: Carla @ Preschool Powol Packets

butterfly food thumbnail, with a graphic of an orange butterfly eating from a pink flower. click the image to download a non-branded PDF

The butterfly song is about waiting for a caterpillar to make his transformation into a butterfly.
I pointed to each stage on the flannelboard, but also tried to add some volume dynamics. “Oh, oh, oh” was very soft and anticipatory, then louder on “out of the chrysalis.” I had created the butterfly and caterpillar flannel pieces for another set, and my colleague completed the life cycle by making the eggs and chrysalis and arrows!
Flannel Song: The Butterfly Song
(tune of Up on the House Top)
First comes the butterfly and lays an egg
Out comes a caterpillar with many legs
Oh see the caterpillar spin and spin
A little chrysalis to sleep in
Oh, oh, oh, wait and see
Oh, oh, oh, wait and see
Out of the chrysalis, my oh my
Out comes a pretty butterfly
Source: Storytime Hooligans

flannel showing a monarch butterfly, a leaf with eggs, a monarch caterpillar, and a green chrysalis. gray arrows show the circular flow.

butterfly song thumbnail, with a graphic of the four butterfly life stages - egg, caterpillar, pupa, and butterfly. click the image to download a non-branded PDF

I skipped this one for time.
Fingerplay Song: Caterpillar
(tune of Frère Jacques)
Caterpillar, caterpillar (wiggle index finger)
In the tree, in the tree (spread arms like branches)
First you wiggle this way (wiggle finger to one side)
Then you wiggle that way (wiggle finger to other side)
Look at me, look at me (finger “looks” at you)
Source: Palatine Public Library District

caterpillar thumbnail, with a graphic of a realistic yellow, black, and white monarch caterpillar. click the image to download a non-branded PDF

When I hand out a prop, I generally will do a “practice” song – something that gets them using the prop and following directions, and doesn’t necessarily go with the theme.
Scarf Song: Let’s All Twirl
(tune of Mulberry Bush)
Let’s all twirl our scarves today
Scarves today, scarves today
Let’s all twirl our scarves today
All around the room
(toss, scrunch, shake)
Source: Library Village Blogspot

let's all twirl thumbnail, with a graphic of a dancing unicorn. click the image to download a non-branded PDF

Oh, my scarf has turned into a butterfly! Can you turn your scarf into a butterfly? Where will it fly?
Demonstrate pinching the scarf in the middle to create “wings” on both sides. This one was fun because they got to toss their scarf up and catch it. Getting the tune right was tricky for me, so I had to practice a few times pre-storytime.
Scarf Song: A Butterfly is Landing on my Nose
(tune of I’m a Little Teapot)
A butterfly is landing on my nose
On my head, and on my toes
Now the butterfly is landing on my knee
She’ll fly away when I count to three:
1… 2… 3…! (toss scarf)
Source: The Loudest Librarian

a butterfly is landing on my nose thumbnail, with a phot of a dog with a butterfly on its snout. click the image to download a non-branded PDF

Next, let’s use our scarves to wiggle, munch, and flutter!
The original song had a “big fat” caterpillar in the second verse. In addition to the syllables being awkward to sing, why fat-shame our poor caterpillar?!
Ukulele/Scarf Song: There’s a Tiny Caterpillar on a Leaf
(tune of If you’re happy & you know it)
There’s a tiny caterpillar on a leaf: wiggle, wiggle
There’s a tiny caterpillar on a leaf: wiggle, wiggle
There’s a tiny caterpillar, there’s a tiny caterpillar
There’s a tiny caterpillar on a leaf: wiggle, wiggle

additional verses:
There’s a big caterpillar on a leaf: munch, munch
There’s a pretty butterfly on a leaf: flutter, flutter
Source: Storytime with Miss Jennifer

there's a tiny caterpillar on a leaf thumbnail, with a graphic of a smiling green caterpillar on a leaf. click the image to download a non-branded PDF

Download a ukulele songsheet for If You’re Happy And You Know It here!

thumbnail for happy and you know it ukulele songsheet

Another one I skipped for time!
Scarf Song: Flutter, Flutter Butterfly
(tune of Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star)
Flutter, flutter, butterfly
Floating in the summer sky
Floating by for all to see
Floating by so merrily
Flutter, flutter, butterfly
Floating in the summer sky
Source: Storytime with Miss Jennifer

flutter butterfly thumbnail, with a graphic of a pink cartoon butterfly. click the image to download a non-branded PDF

Action Song: Zoom, Zoom, Zoom!*

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

Craft: Coffee Filter Butterfly
We used dot markers to decorate. I’ve also done washable markers and sprayed with water to make a watercolor or tie dye effect, but this time just markers! Clip it with a wooden clothespin and add a little bit of pipe cleaner for antenna, and you are set!

coffee filter butterfly craft, showing a white coffee filter pinched in the middle to create two wings. It's decorated with blue yellow, and purple dots, and secured with a wooden clothespin.

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

Goodbye Song: See You Later Alligator*

See you later thumbnail, with a graphic of a green alligator, brown crocodile, ladybug, and jellyfish. click the image to download a non-branded PDF

Other books I had available for families to browse (and may work for you on this theme)
Ten Little Caterpillars – Bill Martin, Jr. & Lois Ehlert
Hello, Little One – Zeena Pliska & Fiona Halliday
Winged Wonders – Meeg Pincus & Yas Imamura
The Digger and the Butterfly – Joseph Kuefler
Señorita Mariposa – Ben Gundersheimer & Marcos Almada Rivero
Binkle’s Time to Fly – Sharmila Collins & Carolina Rabei
Goodnight, Butterfly – Ross Burach
Waiting for Wings – Lois Ehlert
Bianca and the Butterfly – Sergio Ruzzier
Papilio – Ben Clanton, Corey R. Tabor, & Andy Chou Musser
Becoming Charley – Kelly DiPucchio & Loveis Wise

This storytime was presented in-person on 9/10/25.

Storytime Handout:

handout with book suggestions, rhyme and song lyrics.

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

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

book cover gallery with I'm a unicorn by Loehr, I'm a unicorn by Yoon, and Unicorn thinks he's pretty great

Storytime: Unicorns

Posted on by msemilylibrary

Get ready for some magical storytimes! I love how you can incorporate things like horse rhymes and rainbows into a unicorn theme. I bet you could work in some songs/rhymes on magic or kindness as well. Next week we’re diving into Merfolk.

This week’s storytime was a new experience for me. I went part-time at my library, so I’m now sharing storytime duties with a fabulous coworker. She presents Mondays and Tuesdays, and I do Wednesdays and monthly Thursday evenings. We present the same theme throughout the week, but we decided that since we are both part-time, we would share responsibility for planning each theme. So this is the first time I presented a program that I didn’t plan myself! There is room for individualizing – we are both good with tweaking the plan to suit our own styles. I had a simple bounce that I really enjoy that I slipped into the mix, as well as a different counting song that I played on my ukulele. I think it’s a great way to work with the time we have, and I’m so glad that I have the opportunity to continue to work with the age group I love.

(If you’re an email subscriber, please note I forgot to link my rhyme sheets for last week’s blog post – they are fixed online now!)

You can find another magical creatures theme (which included unicorns) from 2020.

I'm a unicorn book cover with a pastel picture of a cute unicorn
I'm a unicorn book cover with an excited looking cow with one horn
Unicorn thinks he's pretty great book cover, with a picture of a unicorn surrounded by a rainbow aura, with a grumpy looking goat at the bottom

Early Literacy Tip: Early experiences help to form the architecture of the brain and lay a strong foundation for both social and emotional development. Playing with other children at a young age, experiencing the fun of taking turns and sharing, and discovering that it is fun to pass a ball or beanbag to someone else and then get it back are great ways to learn important social and emotional skills. -from The Early Literacy Kit: A Handbook and Tip Cards by Betsy Diamant-Cohen & Saroj Ghoting

Welcome Song: Hello, Friends* †

Hello Friends rhyme sheet. Includes a smiling rainbow and two yellow ducks at the bottom. click the image to download a non-branded PDF

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

Wake Up Feet thumbnail, with a graphic of three pairs of baby-sized shoes. click the image to download a non-branded PDF

Lifting Rhyme: Toast in the Toaster*

Toast in the Toaster thumbnail, with a graphic of a toaster with a piece of bread hovering above it. click the image to download a non-branded PDF

Intro: Today we’re talking about unicorns! Unicorns are mythical, magical horses with a long horn on their head. They love rainbows, sparkles and spreading kindness.

I did this one more like the King County video, but my colleague had the same instructions as Jen in the Library, so I think that’s where she found it.
Fingerplay: Ten Galloping Unicorns
Ten galloping unicorns
Came galloping through the town
Five were white and five were brown
They galloped up
They galloped down
Ten galloping unicorns
Came through the town… Then WHOA!
They all slowed down
Source: adapted from King County Library System and Jen in the Library

ten galloping unicorns thumbnail, with a graphic of two groups of unicorns - five white and five brown - with various colored manes and horns. click the image to download a non-branded PDF

Transition: If You’re Ready for a Story*

A sweet and simple book that sets up the idea of unicorns and their purported properties. Perfect introduction to the theme for the littlest ones.
Read: I’m a Unicorn by Mallory C. Loehr

I'm a unicorn book cover with a pastel picture of a cute unicorn

My backups. Both are humorous takes on what unicorns are, so may work better for kids who are already familiar with unicorns.
Backup titles: I’m a Unicorn by Helen Yoon OR Unicorn Thinks He’s Pretty Great by Bob Shea.

I'm a unicorn book cover with an excited looking cow with one horn
Unicorn thinks he's pretty great book cover, with a picture of a unicorn surrounded by a rainbow aura, with a grumpy looking goat at the bottom

My coworker created the rhyme sheet for this one!
Action Rhyme: Unicorn, Unicorn
Unicorn, unicorn touch your toes
Unicorn, unicorn touch your nose
Unicorn, unicorn pat your head
Unicorn, unicorn go to bed
Unicorn, unicorn wake up now
Unicorn, unicorn take a bow
Unicorn, unicorn touch the ground
Unicorn, unicorn turn around
Unicorn, unicorn sit back down
Source: Verona Storytime

unicorn unicorn thumbnail, with a graphic of the bust of a unicorn with a rainbow colored mane. click the image to download a non-branded PDF

My coworker created a flannel for this one and I forgot to grab a picture. The colors of the unicorns match what I added to the rhyme sheet, though.
Flannel/Counting/Ukulele Song: Five Unicorns Went Out One Day
(tune of Five Little Ducks)
Five unicorns went out one day
Beyond the rainbow and far away
Papa unicorn said, “Please don’t roam”
But only four unicorns came home (count down)

Last verse:
Well, papa unicorn went out one day
Searching for unicorns far and away
He searched far and he searched near
And just like magic, they re-appeared!
Source: Flannel Board Fun

Find a ukulele songsheet for the same tune here (One Dinosaur Went Out to Play)

thumbnail for one dinosaur went out to play

five unicorns thumbnail, with a graphic of a larger white unicorn and five smaller ones: purple, red, orange, green, and blue. click the image to download a non-branded PDF

Our unicorns want to go for a ride! Can you mount up?
I do this one slow to start, then speed up over the next 2-3 repetitions.
Bounce: Giddy Up, Up, Up
(tune of the William Tell Overture)
Giddy up, giddy up
Giddy up, up, up
Giddy up, giddy up
Giddy up, up, up
Giddy up, giddy up
Giddy up, up, up
Whoooa, unicorn! (lean back!)
Source: Adventures in Storytime

giddy up up up thumbnail, with a graphic of a rearing unicorn with pastel rainbow mane and tail. click the image to download a non-branded PDF

Time to get our scarves out! Can you come up and pick out a scarf? Let’s warm up by doing some shaking.
Scarf 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 scarves up, shake your scarves down
Shake it, shake it, shake it and then you settle down
Source: Jbrary

shake it to the east thumbnail, with a graphic of a compass pointing east. click the image to download a non-branded PDF

My coworker created the rhyme sheet for this one!
Scarf Song: Let’s All Twirl
(Tune of Mulberry Bush)
Let’s all twirl our scarves today
Scarves today, scarves today
Let’s all twirl our scarves today
All around the room

Additional verses:
…toss our scarves
…circle our scarves
…shake our scarves
Source: Storytime with Miss Jennifer

let's all twirl thumbnail, with a graphic of a dancing unicorn. click the image to download a non-branded PDF

Scarf Song: Rainbow Colors
(Tune of Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star)
Rainbow colors way up high
Happy colors in the sky
Red and pink and green and blue
Yellow, orange and purple, too
Rainbow colors way up high
Happy colors in the sky
Source: adapted from King County (WA) Library System

rainbow colors thumbnail, with a graphic of watercolor splashes of each color: pink, red, orange, yellow, green, blue, purple. click the image to download a non-branded PDF

Action Song: Zoom, Zoom, Zoom!*

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

Here were the ones I didn’t end up doing that my coworker planned:

Since I wanted to do a ukulele song, I subbed in Five Unicorns Went Out to Play instead.
Counting Rhyme: 5 Little Unicorns
I saw 5 little unicorns – creatures from folklore
I watched the blue one prance away and then there were 4
I saw 4 little unicorns resting by a tree
I watched the orange one prance away, and then there were 3
I saw 3 little unicorns, but as near to them I drew
The green one pranced away, and then there were 2
I saw 2 little unicorns – I watched them run and run
The red one pranced away, and then there was 1
I saw a lonely purple unicorn standing in the sun
When I blinked my eyes, it pranced away, and then there were none
Source: Storytime Secrets

I was planning to do this one, but I ended up cutting it for time!
Action Song: If You’re A Unicorn & You Know It
If you’re a unicorn & you know it, shake your horn (shake, shake)
If you’re a unicorn & you know it, shake your horn (shake, shake)
If you’re a unicorn & you know it, then your magic will surely show it
If you’re a unicorn & you know it, shake your horn (shake, shake)

Additional Verses:
…stomp your hooves (stomp, stomp)
…toss your mane (toss, toss)
…twitch your tail (twitch, twitch)
…prance around (prance, prance)
Source: Adventures in Storytime

I think my coworker made these two up as I didn’t see them online.
Action Song: Unicorn Pokey
You put your front hoof in, you put your front hoof out.
You put your front hoof in, and you shake it all about.
You do the unicorn pokey, and you turn yourself around.
That’s what it’s all about!

Additional Verses:
Back hoof, Sparkly horn, Swishy tail, Whole self
Source: E Fox

Action Song: I’m A Little Unicorn
(tune of I’m A Little Teapot)
I’m a little unicorn, short and stout
Here is my horn, and here is my snout
I like to chase the rainbow to and fro
I spread kindness wherever I go!
Source: E Fox

Craft: Paper Plate Unicorn
Inspired by Glued to My Crafts, this was a very colorful unicorn! I think if I did it again, I’d have attached the yarn hair ahead of time, as no kids could do that part on their own, but all of the adults were helpers. Snouts, horns and ears were pre-cut as well. For eyes, we have white label paper that we’ve printed eyes on as a good alternative to googly eyes for little ones who may still be putting things in their mouths. My coworker cut her eyes out individually here, but since they’re on white paper and getting stuck to a white paper plate, they don’t need to be cut.

paper plate unicorn craft with a small paper plate decorated with a pink horn, ears, and snout, sticker eyes, and a multi colored yarn mane.

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

Goodbye Song: See You Later Alligator*

See you later thumbnail, with a graphic of a green alligator, brown crocodile, ladybug, and jellyfish. click the image to download a non-branded PDF

Other books I had available for families to browse (and may work for you on this theme)
Uni the Unicorn – Amy Krouse Rosenthal & Brigette Barrager
The Teeny-Weeny Unicorn – Shawn Harris
Roxy the Last Unisaurus Rex – Eva Chen & Matthew Rivera
Not Quite Narwhal – Jessie Sima
Kevin the Unicorn: It’s Not All Rainbows – Jessika Von Innerebner
Grumpycorn – Sarah McIntyre
Do You Believe in Unicorns? – Bethanie Deeney Murguia
Wee Unicorn – Meg McLaren
Unicorn Day – Diana Murray & Luke Flowers
You Don’t Want A Unicorn! – Ame Dyckman & Liz Climo
Layla, The Last Black Unicorn – Tiffany Haddish, Jerdine Nolen, & Jessica Gibson
Thelma the Unicorn – Aaron Blabey

This storytime was presented in-person on 8/13/25.

Storytime Handout:

handout with book suggestions, rhyme and song lyrics.

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

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

ploof and little cloud book covers

Storytime: Clouds

Posted on by msemilylibrary

I’m dreaming of warm sunny days with soft puffy clouds drifting, although this spring has brought much more dark rainclouds and overcast skies. Clouds are like that, though! Clouds are a theme you can take in a few directions, obviously weather, but also shapes, or even imagination! There are a few newer titles on clouds, as well as classics like It Looked Like Spilt Milk, so I was able to find plenty of books for display and take-home.

Our craft this session, making cloud dough, was quite messy, but every so often I do like to tackle a messy craft. After all, I am on the clock so I’m getting paid to clean up!

book cover for ploof, showing a white cloud with big eyes and a small smile on a light blue sky
book cover for little cloud, showing a white scribbled cloud with abstract eyes, nose, and smile.

Early Literacy Tip: Playing with playdough, kneading bread dough, or squishing a soft ball are not only fun activities with a unique sensory component, they also help strengthen the hand muscles. These muscles will be important when your child is learning to write later on!

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: Last week we talked about springtime, and how much the weather changes in the spring. Today we’re talking about clouds, which play very important role in our weather. They can also be beautiful to look at, and come in all different shapes and sizes!

Can we pretend to be clouds? What does your cloud look like?
Song: I’m a Little Cloud (TT) (TB) (FT)
(tune of I’m a Little Teapot)
I’m a little cloud up in the sky
You can find me way up high
Sometimes I’m puffy,
Sometimes stretched out
I just love to float about
Source: Jen in the Library

I'm a little cloud thumbnail, with a graphic of a white cloud with a smiling face and pink cheeks. click the image to download a non-branded PDF

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

A fantastic interactive read that touches not only on clouds, but also feelings and shapes. I see there’s a new one in the series, too, Paint with Ploof, which would be awesome if you’re doing the CSLP theme Color Our World this summer. So good I did it for all four of my sessions!
Read: Ploof by Ben Clanton & Andy Chou Musser (TT) (TB) (FT)

book cover for ploof, showing a white cloud with big eyes and a small smile on a light blue sky

This was a backup title for me but I didn’t end up using it.
Read: Little Cloud by Eric Carle

book cover for little cloud, showing a white scribbled cloud with abstract eyes, nose, and smile.

If you were a cloud way up high in the sky, what might you see?
I was inspired by Abby the Librarian, but used either felt pieces that I already had or ones that we have a die cut for to make creating the felt easy and quick. I wanted to end with the sun, as a transition to the next rhyme.
Flannel Chant: Fluffy Cloud, What Do You See? (TT) (TB) (FT)
Fluffy cloud, fluffy cloud,
What do you see?
I see an orange butterfly looking at me!

What else might a cloud see? Try making up your own!
…green kite …white airplane …red rocket …yellow sun
Source: adapted from Abby the Librarian

flannel of fluffy cloud what do you see, with three white clouds, an orange and black butterfly, a green kite, white airplane, red rocket ship, and yellow sun.

Fluffy cloud what do you see thumbnail, with a graphic of a light blue cloud with a smiling face next to a monarch orange butterfly. click the image to download a non-branded PDF

I imagine that the sun and the clouds are good friends.
Action Rhyme: Big Round Sun (TT) (TB) (FT)
Big round sun in the summer sky (circle arms overhead)
Waved to a cloud that was passing by (wave)
The little cloud laughed as it started to rain (wiggle fingers down)
Then out came the big round sun again (circle overhead)
Source: Mel’s Desk

big round sun thumbnail, with a graphic of a smiling yellow and orange sun. click the image to download a non-branded PDF

I ended up not using this one, but I reimagined my “Find the Moon” hide and seek game for the sun. There were just too many fun things to fit them all in!
Here come some clouds, it’s getting overcast! The sun is playing peekaboo
Flannel Rhyme Game: Find the Sun
Yellow sun, yellow sun,
Come out to play!
Which cloud are you hiding behind today?
Source: original

find the sun flannel, showing four big cloud shapes - blue, purple, mint green, and peach colored, with a yellow sun peeking from behind the blue one.

find the sun thumbnail, with a graphic of four clouds - teal, purple, pink, and mint green, and a sun with a face peeking from the blue one. click the image to download a non-branded PDF

And again, just not enough time for everything. I have done this one in the past and it’s fun to do, with the whooshing at the end! I would have used the large colored clouds shown in the “Find the Sun” rhyme above.
Counting/Flannel Fingerplay: Five Little Clouds
Five little clouds up in the sky (five fingers up)
Drifting, floating, way up high (drift hand)
When a big gust of wind came blowing through – Whoosh! (blow on hand)
One disappeared from the sky so blue (lower a finger, count down)
Source: Jen in the Library

five little clouds thumbnail, with a graphic of five different white cloud shapes outlined in black. click the image to download a non-branded PDF

Let’s get our scarves out. The weather is turning windy!
I do this two or three times, hiding my scarf in different places. They especially like it when I put it under my shirt or up a sleeve!
Scarf Song: One Bright Scarf (TT) (TB) (FT)
One bright scarf waiting for the wind to blow
Toss it up high, and wave it down low
Wiggle it fast, and wiggle it slow (hide the scarf)
Hey! Where did it go? (bring out) Here it is!
Source: Jbrary

one bright scarf thumbnail, with a graphic of a yellow scarf. click the image to download a non-branded PDF

We did this rhyme last week with our parachute. Let’s try it with our scarves this week!
Scarf Song: Rain Is Falling Down (TT) (TB) (FT)
Rain is falling down, SPLASH!
Rain is falling down, SPLASH!
Pitter patter pitter patter,
Rain is falling down, SPLASH!

Sun is peeking out, PEEK!
Sun is peeking out, PEEK!
Peeking here, peeking there,
Sun is peeking out, PEEK!
Source: Jbrary

rain is falling down thumbnail, with a graphic of a smiling cartoon raincloud with a sun peeking from behind it. click the image to download a non-branded PDF

Oh, no! The weather is turning stormy! Can you make your scarf big?
Scarf Song: Big Dark Clouds (TT) (TB) (FT)
(tune of A Ram Sam Sam)
Some big dark clouds, Some big dark clouds (hold hands apart)
Raindrops falling from (wiggle fingers down)
Some big dark clouds (x2)

A thunderclap – BOOM! (clap) A thunderclap – BOOM! (clap)
Raindrops falling from some big dark clouds (x2)
Source: Storytime in the Stacks

big dark clouds thumbnail, with a graphic of a dark gray stormcloud with a lightning bolt and raindrops. click the image to download a non-branded PDF

The rain is going away, and now it’s time for the sun to come out again. Can your scarves be little puffy clouds floating in a beautiful sunshiny sky?
Scarf Song: Mr. Sun (TT) (TB) (FT)
Oh, Mr. Sun, Sun, Mr. Golden Sun,
Please shine down on me
Oh Mr. Sun, Sun, Mr. Golden Sun
Hiding behind a tree
These little children are asking you
To please come out so we can play with you
Mr. Sun, Sun, Mr. Golden Sun
Please shine down on me
Source: Raffi from the album Singable Songs for the Very Young

Get a downloadable ukulele songsheet for “Mr. Sun” here!

thumbnail of Mr. Sun ukulele songsheet

Mr. Sun 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: Cloud Dough (TB) (FT)
Some days we go big on the craft. Cloud dough is fun but very messy! I did my best to control it, but it was inevitable. I meant to take pictures of the setup and the aftermath, but didn’t even get any pictures of my finished product! The recipe came from Southern Plate, and it’s basically 2 parts cornstarch to 1 part hair conditioner. I bought six 12 oz boxes of cornstarch and three large (28 oz) bottles of Suave conditioner and that lasted me through 50+ portions. I pre-measured 1/4 cup of cornstarch in big bowls we had in storage (they’re Halloween candy bowls!) so they had lots of space to mix. Then I pre-measured 2 Tbsp conditioner into small disposable bowls and gave everyone a plastic spoon. I did mention to grownups that if they were doing this at home, I would encourage them doing the measuring with their kid as it’s a great way to get some math and spatial skill practice in, but with the big group I didn’t want big scoops of cornstarch or conditioner going everywhere. Everyone got a small snack sized plastic bag to take their cloud dough home. Clean up was a lot, but, hey – I’m getting paid to clean up the mess!

photo of a hand gripping cloud dough, a white fluffy play-dough-like material.
Photo from Southern Plate blog

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)
It Looked Like Spilt Milk – Charles G. Shaw
Partly Cloudy – Deborah Freedman
Cloudette – Tom Lichtenheld
Cloudy – Alice K Flanagan
When Cloud Became a Cloud – Rob Hodgson
Clouds – Marion Dane Bauer & John Wallace
Weather Together – Jessie Sima
The Little Cloud – Pam Fong
Cloudland – John Burningham
Moongame – Frank Asch
The Little Cloud – Pam Fong
Paint with Ploof – Ben Clanton & Andy Chou Musser

This storytime was presented in-person on 3/24, 3/25, 3/26, & 3/27/25.

Storytime Handout:

handout with book suggestions, rhyme and song lyrics.

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

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

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

whats new daniel, when spring comes, and little book about spring book covers

Storytime: Spring

Posted on by msemilylibrary

A seasonal storytime is a great one to do – there are so many aspects to each season that there are a lot of activities to pull from. For this week I focused on weather, sprouting plants, and animals that have their babies in the spring. You could also go with gardening, bugs, (bug option 2 here), eggs, seeds, or wind.

what's new daniel book cover, with a little boy in a red hoodie crouching on a rock looking into a pond
when spring comes book cover, with three white kittens looking up at cherry blossoms and a robin.
a little book about spring, with mice looking at the large letters of spring decorated in different colors and textures.

Early Literacy Tip: As we do fingerplays and action songs, we are working on our fine and gross motor skills. Both are necessary for learning to write. Doing storytime activities at home with your child now will help develop the muscles and skills your child will need to learn to write later on.

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: Friday will be the first day of the new season. Does anyone know what it is? Hint – right now we’re in “winter.” What happens during the season of spring? (temps warm, weather is unpredictable, flowers and other plants sprout, many animal babies are born.)

In the spring, the weather can do anything! Sunshine, rain, wind, even snow! Let’s check. What’s it like outside today?
I showed different weather symbols and asked them to say what kind of weather it was. I chose about four of the eight to do at each session: sun, rain, wind, and something else. Usually I get my ukulele out at the end of a storytime, but this week it was the first themed song we did. You can download my printable flannel template here!
Flannel/Ukulele Song: What’s the Weather? (TT) (TB) (FT)
(tune of Clementine)
What’s the weather, what’s the weather,
What’s the weather, everyone?
Is it windy, is it cloudy,
Is there rain, or is there sun?
Source: Storytime Katie

Download a ukulele songsheet for What’s the Weather here!

what's the weather ukulele songsheet thumbnail

What's the weather flannel, showing eight circles with a blue background and various weather symbols: sun, wind, clouds, sun behind clouds, snow, rain, cloud with lightning, and fog

what's the weather thumbnail, with a graphic of four blue circles with weather symbols on them: wind, clouds, rain, and sun. click the image to download a non-branded PDF

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

I LOVE this book. It’s so sweet, and I love the interplay between the natural world and the child’s world. The turnaround at the end (where Daniel asks grandpa what’s new with HIM) is an unusual example of modeling empathy and care for caregivers rather than showing the child being the only subject of questions and concern. My group’s attention seemed to wander toward the end, though, so I didn’t try it again at the other sessions.
Read: What’s New, Daniel by Micha Archer (TT)

what's new daniel book cover, with a little boy in a red hoodie crouching on a rock looking into a pond

Read: When Spring Comes by Kevin Henkes & Laura Dronzek (TB)

when spring comes book cover, with three white kittens looking up at cherry blossoms and a robin.

By far the simplest of the three, I chose this one when my Wednesday group was already very wiggly.
Read: A Little Book About Spring by Leo Lionni & Julie Hamilton (FT)

a little book about spring, with mice looking at the large letters of spring decorated in different colors and textures.

Let’s see, what’s the weather… it is raining!
Action Rhyme: “Splash!” Fall the Raindrops (TT) (TB) (FT)
“Splash!” fall the raindrops (wiggle fingers down)
To the ground they go (pat lap in rhythm)
We need the rain (pat lap quickly)
To help the flowers grow (lift hands and wiggle up)
Source: King County (WA) Library System

splash fall the raindrops thumbnail, with a graphic of a droplet of water splashing on the left and a small yellow flower on the right. click the image to download a non-branded PDF

When there are new spring flowers, there are also bees to collect their pollen and make honey.
Tickle/Fingerplay: Here Is the Beehive (TT) (TB) (FT)
Here is the beehive, (make fist)
But where are all the bees?
Hidden away where nobody sees
Watch and you’ll see them come out of the hive:
1, 2, 3, 4, 5 (open fingers)
They’re alive! Buzz, buzz, buzz! (tickle)
Source: Jbrary

here is the beehive thumbnail, with a graphic of a yellow beehive centered on a red circle. Five small bees fly around it.. click the image to download a non-branded PDF

Who is this? A duck! And duck has an egg. I hear something cracking… it’s hatching! Can you be a duckling?
I switched from “little duck” to “duckling,” but I love all these actions!
Action Rhyme: Duckling (TT) (TB) (FT)
Duckling, duckling, waddle around
Duckling, duckling, touch the ground
Duckling, duckling, wings go flap
Duckling, duckling, “Quack, quack, quack!”
Duckling, duckling, jump into the river
Duckling, duckling, give a little shiver
Duckling, duckling, shake your feet
Duckling, duckling, find your seat
Source: Storytime in the Stacks

Duckling flannel and puppet - a fat yellow duck puppet poses in front of the flannelboard, which shows a blue-green egg and duckling flannel pieces.

duckling, duckling thumbnail, with a graphic of a realistic looking brown and yellow duckling. click the image to download a non-branded PDF

Another animal who has its babies in the springtime is the bunny.
I cut this one for time after the first session.
Fingerplay: Here is a Bunny (TT)
Here is a bunny with ears so funny (bunny ear fingers, bent)
And here is his hole in the ground (make circle w/ other hand)
At the first sound he hears, he pricks up his ears (extend ears)
And hops in the hole in the ground (fingers jump into the hole)
Source: Storytime Katie

here is a bunny thumbnail, with a graphic of a gray bunny posing next to a patch of grass with a hole in it. click the image to download a non-branded PDF

Let’s get out the parachute! In the springtime, the weather can change quickly. We did this song last week with scarves, let’s try it this week with the parachute.
We haven’t gotten the parachute out in a while. I have to remind myself that a lot of the songs we do with scarves can also be done with a parachute.
Parachute Song: Rain Is Falling Down (TT) (TB) (FT)
Rain is falling down, SPLASH! Rain is falling down, SPLASH!
Pitter patter pitter patter, Rain is falling down, SPLASH!

Sun is peeking out, PEEK! Sun is peeking out, PEEK!
Peeking here, peeking there, Sun is peeking out, PEEK!
Source: Jbrary

rain is falling down thumbnail, with a graphic of a smiling cartoon raincloud with a sun peeking from behind it. click the image to download a non-branded PDF

Let’s sing about the itsy bitsy spider in some unpredictable spring weather.
I sing “up came the sun” instead of the traditional “out came the sun” to emphasize the up and down motion of the parachute.
Parachute Song: The Itsy Bitsy Spider (TT) (TB) (FT)
(lift and lower scarf when the song indicates up or down)
The itsy bitsy spider climbed up the water spout
Down came the rain and washed the spider out
Up came the sun and dried up all the rain
So the itsy bitsy spider climbed up the spout again
Source: traditional

the itsy bitsy spider thumbnail, with a graphic of a smiling spider next to a rain gutter attached to a red brick wall. click the image to download a non-branded PDF

Can we pretend that we’re planting some seeds?
I added some scarves to the middle of the parachute as our “seeds” and then we popped them up to become flowers. I was not completely sure if scarves would pop up or stick to the parachute, but they did! They floated perfectly! I will definitely be using scarves on top of the parachute in the future.
Parachute/Scarf Rhyme: Little Seed (TT) (TB) (FT)
Little seed in the ground
Sitting oh, so still
Little seed, will you sprout?
YES, I WILL! (pop scarf up in the air)
Source: Lady Librarian Life

Little seed thumbnail, with a graphic of a seedling sprouting with a watering can above it. click the image to download a non-branded PDF

Now our scarves are butterflies! Let’s help them flutter!
The power of imagination transforms our flower-scarves into butterfly-scarves.
Parachute/Scarf Song: Flutter Butterfly (TT) (TB) (FT)
Flutter, flutter butterfly
Floating in the springtime sky
Floating by for all to see
Floating by so merrily
Flutter, flutter butterfly
Floating in the springtime sky
Source: Storytime Katie

flutter butterfly thumbnail, with a graphic of a pink cartoon butterfly. click the image to download a non-branded PDF

My go-to way to put the parachute away.
Parachute Song: Parachute Fly (TT) (TB) (FT)
(tune of Skip to my Lou)
(kids go under the parachute and adults raise and lower)
Up, up, up it goes,
Down, down, down so low
Raise our parachute to the sky
Count to 3 and watch it fly
Spoken:
Up on one…
Down on two…
Up on three…
and FLY! (adults let go and leader pulls ‘chute in to themselves)
Source: Gymboree

Parachute fly thumbnail, with a graphic of an overhead view of children holding on to a colorful parachute with balls bouncing on top. 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: Tissue Paper Butterflies (TB) (FT)
Inspired by the Taming Little Monsters blog, I found a simple butterfly outline in Canva, and sized to to print two per page of cardstock. Volunteers cut them out and I provided tissue paper squares to decorate. We added regular craft sticks and a loop of yarn to make a hanger.

butterfly craft with wings covered in colored tissue paper and the body made from a craft stick with a face drawn on. A loop of yarn is attached as a hanger.

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)
Mouse’s First Spring – Lauren Thompson & Buket Erdogan
How to Say Hello to a Worm – Kari Percival
Emile and the Field – Kevin Young & Chioma Ebinama
On a Snow-Melting Day – Buffy Silverman
And Then it’s Spring – Julie Fogliano & Erin E. Stead
An Earth Song – Langston Hughes & Tequitia Andrews
A Seed Grows – Antoinette Portis
The Tiny Seed – Eric Carle
Goodbye Winter, Hello Spring – Kenard Pak
Escargot & the Search for Spring – Dashka Slater & Sydney Hanson

This storytime was presented in-person on 3/17, 3/18, & 3/19/25.

Storytime Handout:

handout with book suggestions, rhyme and song lyrics.

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

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

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

tap the magic tree and can you hug a forest book covers

Storytime: Trees

Posted on by msemilylibrary

As I mentioned last post, I got sick with the flu and was off work for a week. In that time, my awesome coworkers stepped in and did the theme that I planned for trees. I was disappointed I didn’t get to present any of the sessions – I’d never done this theme before and I was looking forward to seeing how it played out. Oh, well – maybe I’ll do it again in another two or three years! This would also be a great theme to tie to Earth Day in April.

Early Literacy Tip: We do a lot of rhymes in storytime. Rhyming and reading go hand in hand! Being able to recognize rhyming words helps kids pick up on word patterns, which helps them read AND write. When you say, sing, and play with rhyming words, you help your child get ready to read. –Storytime in the Stacks

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: Today we’re celebrating trees! Trees are beautiful, they provide a home for many different animals and insects, they can give us fruit or nuts, a shady spot, and they help give us clean air to breathe. Trees are amazing!

Trees come in all shapes and sizes (just like people)!
I had fun finding specific trees to highlight on this rhyme sheet – many of them are quite different! Palms, redwoods, baobabs, saplings, a conifer, and a willow were the ones I matched to the rhyme. I’m sure you could find lots of other options! I did change the word “perfect” to “beautiful” because perfection is such a loaded term. We can be beautiful without being perfect, and so can trees!
Action Rhyme: Some Trees
Some trees are thin, (stand straight with arms to sides)
Some trees are tall (reach up high)
Some trees are wide, (spread hands wide)
Some trees are small (crouch)
Some trees reach high, (reach high)
Some trees bend low (bend over and hang arms down)
All trees are beautiful, No matter how they grow! (could give a self hug here)
Source: Lady Librarian Life

some trees thumbnail, with a graphic of trees that match each description: a palm tree, redwood, baobab, sapling, a conifer, and a willow. click the image to download a non-branded PDF

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

A modern classic, with so much interaction! I’m not sure which books were read by my substitutes at which sessions, but this would have been my pick for Toddler Time and Family Time.
Read: Tap the Magic Tree by Christie Matheson

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

This is a beautiful celebration of nature and appreciating it in the moment. It’s a little longer, so I would have tried it at my Teddy Bear session.
Read: Can You Hug a Forest? by Frances Gilbert & Amy Hevron

Some trees provide delicious fruit for us!
Action Rhyme: Way Up High in the Apple Tree
Way up high in the apple tree (stretch arms high)
I saw two apples looking at me (hold up two fists)
I shook that tree as hard as I could (shaking motion)
Down came the apples… (fists fall)
And mmm, they were good! (smile and rub belly)
Source: traditional

apple tree flannelboard - a large simple tree shape takes up most of the board, and two red apples of slightly different hues are in the tree's canopy.

way up high in the apple tree thumbnail, with a graphic of a tree with two red apples in it. click the image to download a non-branded PDF

Can we pretend to be a big old oak tree?
Action Song: I’m an Old Oak Tree
(tune of I’m A Little Teapot)
I’m an old oak tree Tall and strong
My trunk is wide And my branches long
My roots go underground to help me grow
Underground below, below
Source: Richmond (VA) Public Library

i'm an old oak tree thumbnail, with a graphic of a tree showing both the branches and root system of a big tree. click the image to download a non-branded PDF

Who lives in the old oak tree and eats lots of acorns? Squirrels!
Fingerplay: This Little Squirrel
(wiggle each finger in turn)
This little squirrel said, “Let’s run and play!”
This little squirrel said, “I want some acorns today!”
This little squirrel said, “Acorns are good.”
This little squirrel said, “Yes, my favorite food”
This little squirrel said, “Come climb this tree” (run fingers up arm)
And crack these acorns: one, two, three! (clap)
Source: Sunflower Storytime (no longer linkable)

this little squirrel thumbnail, with a graphic of a squirrel holding an acorn. click the image to download a non-branded PDF

Let’s do some moving. Listen carefully!
Action Rhyme: Tall as a Tree
Tall as a tree, (stretch tall)
Wide as a house (arms out to either side)
Thin as a pin, (stand straight with arms to body)
Small as a mouse (crouch down)
Source: King County (WA) Library System

tall as a tree thumbnail, with a graphic of a tall slim tree. click the image to download a non-branded PDF

Let’s get our scarves out. Can we pretend to be a baby tree – a seed?
Scarf Rhyme: Be a Seed
Be a seed, small and round (hide scarf and crouch low)
Sprout, sprout, sprout up from the ground (stand and reach up)
Shake your leaves for all to see (shake scarf)
Stretch your arms up, you’re a tree! (raise arms high)
Source: Jbrary

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

Some trees lose their leaves in the autumn.
Yes, it’s similar to the last one, but I liked the dropping of the scarves at the end!
Scarf Rhyme: Once I Was a Seed
Once I was a seed and I was small, small, small
I grew into a tree and now I’m tall, tall, tall!
My branches sway in the breeze so soft (sway gently)
And when it’s autumn, all my leaves fall off! (drop scarf)
Source: Storytime in the Stacks

once i was a seed thumbnail, with a graphic of a tree with most of its leaves fallen to the ground. click the image to download a non-branded PDF

This is a very catchy melody – so be careful, it will stick with you! It definitely feels like the tune of a common hymn to me, but I am not familiar enough with it to name a specific one. Lady Librarian Life created a very helpful chord sheet, but I did feel like it needed a couple tweaks.
A tree has deep, deep roots that help them stay steady even when they grow very tall.
Scarf Song: My Roots Go Down
My roots go down, down to the earth
My roots go down, down to the earth
My roots go down, down to the earth
My roots go down

verses:
I am a birch tree swaying in the breeze…
I am a pine tree standing tall…
I am an oak tree spreading wide…
I am a willow swinging low…
Source: original by Sarah Pirtle, adapted by Lady Librarian Life

Download my version of the songsheet here.

thumbnail for my roots go down ukulele songsheet

my roots go down thumbnail, with a graphic of a tree's root system. click the image to download a non-branded PDF

I’m not sure if they played this one or not, it was an extra in case we had time.
Optional Scarf Song: Mr. Sun
Oh, Mr. Sun, Sun, Mr. Golden Sun,
Please shine down on me
Oh Mr. Sun, Sun, Mr. Golden Sun
Hiding behind a tree
These little children are asking you
To please come out so we can play with you
Mr. Sun, Sun, Mr. Golden Sun
Please shine down on me
Source: Raffi from the album Singable Songs for the Very Young

Get a downloadable ukulele songsheet for “Mr. Sun” here!

thumbnail of Mr. Sun ukulele songsheet

Mr. Sun 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: Tree Handprint Paintings (TB) (FT)
This craft was a mashup of two tree crafts I saw online. The first was from the Richmond (VA) Public Library. Instead of tracing their hand on brown paper and cutting it out to glue down onto a different page, I just provided crayons and encouraged them to trace and color in their hand to be the tree trunk and branches. Then, instead of gluing down tissue paper leaves, I took the idea from Brie Brie Blooms to use a stamper to make the leaves. She used play-doh lids, but I just used our toilet paper tube stash. A great example of taking ideas from all over to create something that will work for your group.

handprint tree craft, showing a brown traced hand colored with crayon, and overlapping circles of green paint making the leaves of the tree.

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)
Only a Tree Knows How to Be a Tree – Mary Murphy
Some Questions About Trees – Toni Yuly
The City Tree – Shira Boss & Lorena Alvarez
Apple and Magnolia – Laura Gehl & Patricia Metola
Treehouse Town – Gideon Sterer & Charlie Mylie
Eco Girl – Ken Wilson-Max
All Kinds of Special – Tammi Sauer & Fernando Martin
My Tree – Hope Lim & Il Sung Na
Nell Plants a Tree – Anne Wynter & Daniel Miyares
Zee Grows a Tree – Elizabeth Rusch & Will Hillenbrand

This storytime was presented in-person on 3/3, 3/4, & 3/5/25.

Storytime Handout:

handout with book suggestions, rhyme and song lyrics.

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

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

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