Tag: scarves

Book Babies Storytime (June)

Posted on by msemilylibrary

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

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

See all the Book Babies plans here.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Download a ukulele songsheet for Rockabye You

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Storytime Handout:

Storytime: Cats & Bats

Posted on by msemilylibrary

Coming closer to the end of October, I chose a theme that incorporated some classic Halloween animals, without being overtly Halloweeny. The rhyming was incidental but welcome!

I thought that I had a book (or could find a book) that incorporated both animals in a story, but alas, no luck. There was a title I got hopeful about, Oscar and the Bat: A Book About Sound by Geoff Waring, but unfortunately it was developmentally a little beyond my group. And Bat Wings! Cat Wings? by Laura Gehl isn’t a story about cats with bat wings as I anticipated. Instead, I used a nonfiction title to show some photographs of bats, and read Denise Fleming’s Mama Cat Has Three Kittens to great success.

Early Literacy Tip: Encourage and support your child’s pretend play – they are developing their symbolic thinking. This helps them to visualize what is not present, helps with problem solving, and with reading where pictures and text represent real things.

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

Warm Up Song: Wake Up, Feet* (TT) (TB) (FT)
This is a repeated song that everyone seems to enjoy. I always begin and end with feet and tummies, but find two other body parts to wiggle in the middle. This week it was arms & chins.

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

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

Intro: Today we are talking about two nocturnal animals – animals that (mostly) sleep during the day and are active at night, just like the owl that we learned about last week. But this week we’re talking cats and bats! Does anyone have a pet cat at home? Do they like to sleep during the day? Does anyone have a pet bat at home? Bats are mostly wild animals. Has anyone seen a bat in person or up close before? I showed some of the pictures from the nonfiction title, including a bat eating some fruit, bats roosting in a cave, and a bat flying with their wingspan clearly showing.

Share: Bats by Julie Murray

Bats book cover

Let’s do some rhymes about bats and cats! Bats like to sleep upside down, right? So here are our bats! (point index fingers downward)
Fingerplay: Two Little Friends (TT) (TB) (FT)
Two little bats hanging in a cave
One named Dora, and one named Dave
Fly away, Dora, Fly away, Dave
Come back, Dora, Come back, Dave!

Now cats – cats have two pointy ears, can you make two pointy ears?
(put fingers in V shape)
Two little cats prowling under the moon
One named Jasper, and one named June
Jump away, Jasper, Jump away, June (I jumped my finger-cats as well as jumping my body!)
Jump back, Jasper, Jump back, June!
Source: verse 1-Door2Door Librarian, Verse 2-original

I think I need a stretch. Will you stretch with me?
Action Rhyme: My Kitten Stretches (TB) (FT)
My kitten stretches one paw high
With the other she’ll touch the sky
Then say “meow” and turn around
Then fold her paws and sit right down
Source: Lady Librarian Life

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

A simple but very funny story that worked very well for all of my sessions.
Read: Mama Cat Has Three Kittens by Denise Fleming (TT) (TB) (FT)

Mama Cat has Three Kittens book cover

Time for scarves! Some of these were a bit of a stretch with the scarves, but it worked.

Action/Scarf Song: The Old Gray Cat (TT) (TB) (FT)
The old gray cat is sleeping, Sleeping, sleeping
The old gray cat is sleeping in the house

The little mice are creeping…
The little mice are nibbling…
The old gray cat is creeping…
The little mice are hiding…
So the old gray cat is sleeping…
Source: King County (WA) Library System

We held our scarves with two corners upside down, then held them in the middle to fly them around.
Scarf Song: Bats Are Sleeping (TT) (TB) (FT)
(tune of Frère Jacques)
Bats are sleeping, Bats are sleeping
Upside down, upside down
Sleeping in the morning sun
Waiting for the night to come
Then they’ll fly around, Then they’ll fly around
Source: Child Care Lounge

Whenever we say the word “pounce” throw your scarf up in the air and try to catch it! Let’s practice: 1, 2, 3, POUNCE!
Scarf Rhyme: Kitty Cat POUNCE (TT) (TB) (FT)
Kitty cat, kitty cat sneaks out of the house
Kitty cat, kitty cat creeps up to a mouse And… POUNCE!

Kitty cat, kitty cat creeps up to a bird
Kitty cat, kitty cat is not even heard And… POUNCE!

But the mouse ran, and the bird flew away,
So kitty cat found a ball of yarn to play And… POUNCE!
Source: Literary Hoots

I have three colors of scarves – red, yellow, and blue. I asked the kids to take a look at their scarf and notice what color it is before we did this. I did the first part of the rhyme for each color. But when it was time to put them away, everyone came up at once so I ended up just saying, Let’s bring our bats back to the cave to roost! I put the colored bats on the board as a visual cue.
Scarf or Flannel Rhyme: Color Bats (TT) (TB) (FT)
The sun is setting, the moon’s rising high
Now all the red bats start to fly! (wave red scarf, or add red bats)

(repeat, changing colors)
The moon has gone, the sky’s getting light
And all the red bats say goodnight! (put away red scarves)
Source: Abby the Librarian

Color bats flannel - three yellow bats, three red, and three blue bats on a black background.

Didn’t end up using this one, but I reworded a couple of parts to make it flow a little better, so I’ll post it here!
Fingerplay Rhyme: Five Little Bats
(wiggle each finger)
Five little bats hanging in a cave
First one said, “Tonight I’m feeling brave”
Second one said, “There are mosquitoes in the air”
Third one said, “Let’s eat them here and there”
Fourth one said, “I’m ready to see the sky”
Fifth one said, “Let’s fly, fly, fly”
Then WHOOSH went the wind And out went the light (clap!)
And the five little bats flew off in the night (hook thumbs together and flap hands)
Source: adapted from Esther Storytimes

I made this flannel last year for a pumpkin storytime, and since it included both a cat and a bat thought it would be a nice closer.
Felt Rhyme: Orange Pumpkin (TT) (TB) (FT)
Orange pumpkin, Orange pumpkin
What do you see?
I see a red leaf looking at me!

Continue with:
Red leaf > Black cat > Gray owl > Brown bat > Yellow moon > Orange Jack-o-Lantern
Source: original

Flannel with various items: orange pumpkin, Red leaf, Black cat, Gray owl, Brown bat, Yellow crescent moon, and an inset shows that the orange pumpkin can be flipped over to reveal a Jack-o-Lantern face on the back (yellow eyes and mouth)

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

Craft: Cut Out Cats and Clothespin Bats (TB) (FT)
We have a die cut for the clothespin bats, and I’ve used the adorable cut out cat craft from Literary Hoots (I think originally from Storytime Katie) before at another library. This is the first time I’ve put out scissors for a craft at this library. Mostly the adults did the cutting, but this was during a fall break so I actually had some older siblings who did their own cutting. I let everyone know they could do both crafts if they wanted, but if they choose just one, that’s fine, too. The clothespin bats were just gluing the cardstock to the pins and drawing a chalk face on. Because the directions to make the cats are a little more involved than just looking at a sample, I made tent cards with the how-to to put on each table. (Photos on the instructions from Literary Hoots.)

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)

Goodbye Rhyme: Tickle the Stars* (TT) (TB) (FT)

Other books I had available for families to browse (and may work for you on this theme)
Baby Bat’s Lullaby – Jacquelyn Mitchard & Julia Noonan
How to Be a Cat – Nikki McClure
Fiona the Fruit Bat – Dan Riskin & Rachel Qiuqi
Atticus Caticus – Sarah Maizes & Kara Kramer
Bats at the Library – Brian Lies
Bat Wings! Cat Wings? – Laura Gehl & Monique Felix
Cat’s Very Good Day – Kristen Tracy & David Small
Little Lost Bat – Sandra Markle & Alan Marks
Gato Guapo – Anika Aldamuy Denise & Zara González Hoang
Little Bat Up All Day – Brian Lies
Cookie’s Week – Cindy Ward & Tomie dePaola

This storytime was presented in-person on 10/23, 10/24, & 10/25/23.

Storytime Handout:

handout with suggested books, rhyme and song lyrics.

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

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

STEM Storytime: Windy Days

Posted on by msemilylibrary

Every so often it’s nice to mix things up a little! This week, I went back to a training I’d attended in 2019 about incorporating STEM into storytimes, created by the Franklin Institute, a science museum in Philadelphia. They put together a packet of material called “Leap into Science” and made it available for free! This focused on plans for a preschool, elementary, and family program that incorporated literacy/storytime with the science of wind. Since then, there have been two other topics, Light & Shadow and Balance. You can find the free materials, including training videos and the full PDF curricula, at http://leap.fi.edu/resources.

In the past, I had presented this to a slightly older audience, more preschool age, as well as a separate program for families with all ages of child, and basically followed the outline in the curriculum for these programs. With my current group of kids up to age 3.5, I simplified, and ran the program as a half-storytime, half-science-station situation. It worked well, and I think my kids enjoyed the novelty and the hands-on elements.

Early Literacy Tip: You can encourage scientific thinking by asking children to observe, ask questions, make predictions, test their ideas, and learn from repeated attempts. These practices strengthen critical thinking skills that are essential in both science and literacy learning. Focusing on the process of science rather than a specific product or outcome frees children and to explore and take risks.

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

Warm Up Song: Wake Up, Feet* (TT) (TB) (FT)
This is a repeated song that everyone seems to enjoy. I always begin and end with feet and tummies, but find two other body parts to wiggle in the middle. This week it was knees & fingers.

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

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

Intro: A few years ago I had the opportunity to do a training on incorporating STEM into storytime. The science part of today’s storytime was developed by the Franklin Institute, a science museum in Philadelphia. Our goal today is to have fun exploring the wind and to feel like scientists. So KIDS get to be scientists- explore and ask questions, make predictions, and test and explore possible answers. Caregivers –your job today is to help your scientists.  Ask them open ended questions, give them help if they need it, but allow your kiddos to take the lead!

Science Talk: Breeze Vs. Gust (TT) (TB) (FT)
We had a discussion about what they already know about wind, and introduced the vocabulary of “breeze” vs. “gust.”
Have you ever been outside on a windy day?
How did it feel?
What did you see?
Let’s make our own wind! – hold your hand in front of your face and blow into it – 3, 2, 1, GO!
What did you notice?  How did it feel?
Who made a soft, gentle wind?  What did that feel like? A soft, gentle wind is called a breeze.
Who made a strong, hard wind?  What did you notice? A strong, hard wind is called a gust.
Okay, everyone blow a breeze – gentle. 
Now everyone blow a gust – strong.
Stand up – let’s see what kind of wind we can make with this. I used a large plastic tub lid to wave a gentle breeze at the group.
How did that feel?  What did you see?
Look at clothes and hair as I do it again.
Predicting – if I wave a strong gust toward you, how will it feel different?

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

As I introduced both books, I asked if the group could tell it’s supposed to be windy, and what clues on the cover let them know.
Read: Like a Windy Day by Frank Asch & Devin Asch (TT)

book cover of "Like a Windy Day"

This one is great since it uses the language of breeze and gust. And the illustrations are gorgeous.
Read: Windy Days by Deborah Kerbel & Miki Sato (TB) (FT)

Book cover of "windy Days"

We handed out scarves for our rhymes.
Scarf Rhyme: Wind, Oh Wind (TT) (TB) (FT)
Wind, oh wind, Oh wind I say
What are you blowing away today?
Scarves, scarves, scarves, I say
I am blowing the scarves away, today
What else might the wind blow? Leaves, hats…?
Source: King County (WA) Library System

Scarf Rhyme: Windmills (TT) (TB) (FT)
The wind blows high (wave scarves/hands high)
And the wind blows low (wave scarves low)
Round and round the windmills go (roll arms or wave scarf in a circle)
Sometimes fast, and sometimes slow (roll fast, then slow)
And that is how the wind blows (wave scarf/hands)
Source: Adventures in Storytime

Scarf Rhyme: I See the Wind (TT)
(mime the object with scarves)
I see the wind when the leaves dance by
I see the wind when the clothes wave “Hi!”
I see the wind when the trees bend low
I see the wind when the flags all blow
I see the wind when the kites fly high
I see the wind when the clouds float by
I see the wind when it blows my hair
I see the wind ‘most everywhere!
Source: Mild-Mannered Librarian

Scarf Song: Noisy Wind (TT) (TB) (FT)
(tune of The Farmer in the Dell)
I like the noisy wind, I like the noisy wind
It roars and mutters and shakes the shutters
I like the noisy wind!

I like the noisy wind, I like the noisy wind
It flaps the flag and rustles my bag
I like the noisy wind!
Source: Mild-Mannered Librarian

Science Stations
After doing a few songs and rhymes, we brought our scarves back to put away, and I explained the stations. My Toddler Time group doesn’t usually do a craft, so they had the first three stations only, but Teddy Bears and Family Time also included making wind detectors.

Station 1: Leaf Blower (TT) (TB) (FT)
Fabric leaves, foam leaves, flat paper, and crumpled paper were available to move using a paper fan, a folded fan, squeeze bottles, and fish squirter bath toys. I also provided a yardstick in case they wanted to measure how far their leaves blew.

Station 2: What Moves? (TT) (TB) (FT)
Using the same tools (paper fan, folded fan, squeeze bottles and fish squirters), kids could test different objects and sort them into “easy to move” and “hard to move” bins. I collected random objects such as plastic eggs, tissues, pompoms, cotton balls, feathers, and fabric leaves for the “easy to move” items, and rocks, large 2″ buttons, binder clips, plastic turtles, clothespins, little bottles of bubble solution, and trees and signs from our train set for the “hard to move” items.

Station 3: Race the Wind (TT) (TB) (FT)
Boats with different kinds of sails float in a plastic tub of water. Handheld battery powered fans were available to test them out (not pictured). This was a science experiment on my part – I originally made boats with household sponges (which I’d seen instructions for online), but unfortunately my boats just instantly absorbed water and sank. I guess there are different densities of sponge and mine just didn’t work. Instead, I used these small plastic yogurt containers that I had a large stash of. After taping the mast and sail to the front, I had to counterbalance them with coins taped to the other side. It was a bit of a nail-biter to figure it all out, but in the end, the boats worked well for our station. Definitely reinforces the fact that programmers need to try it out before putting it out for the kids!

Station 4: Flying Colors (TB) (FT)
This station acted as our craft, and the idea is to make something that detects a breeze and a gust in different ways. The example I made and was featured in the curriculum is a craft stick with a feather, crepe paper streamer, and piece of yarn. The idea being that maybe only the feather will move in a very light breeze, and the heavier yarn may only move in a strong gust. For older kids, I may not have created an example, letting them be creative and test different designs, but our group only had a limited amount of time and I wanted them to leave with a finished wind detector. There was a larger fan with variable speeds available for them to test their creations.

Science Debrief:
How did you move things with wind today?
How did you make a breeze?  A gust?
Did anything happen that surprised you?
How did you feel like a scientist today?  When did you make a guess about something and test it?  Was there a time when you tried something over and over?  Did you have fun?
Thank you for doing great work as scientists.  In the next few weeks – remember to keep your scientist hats on and notice and observe how objects move in the wind outside or at home.

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

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)

Goodbye Rhyme: Tickle the Stars* (TT) (TB) (FT)

Other books I had available for families to browse (and may work for you on this theme)
Kite Day – Will Hillenbrand
The Wind Blew – Pat Hutchins
Gusts and Gales – Josepha Sherman & Omarr Wesley
Kate, Who Tamed the Wind – Liz Garton Scanlon & Lee White
I Am the Wind – Michael Karg & Sophie Diao
Wild Is the Wind – Grahame Baker-Smith
Windblown – Édouard Manceau
The Windy Day – G. Brian Karas
Someone Bigger – Jonathan Emmett & Adrian Reynolds

This storytime was presented in-person on 10/9, 10/10, & 10/11/23.

Storytime Handout:

handout with suggested books, rhymes and songs, questions to encourage your scientist, and try it at home: bathtime sponge sailboats.

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

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

Book Babies Storytime (February)

Posted on by msemilylibrary

I wrote up my plan for my very first Book Babies sessions in January of this year, but I’m realizing I haven’t updated it at all. I do the same themeless plan a month at a time, to get the caregivers familiar and comfortable with the songs and rhymes. I usually switch to a different prop each month, and change out songs and rhymes a few at a time, so there are always a few familiars in the lineup.

This has really turned out to be a great program, and I consistently get eight to twelve babies, which seems just right. We have a lot of fun bouncing, singing, tickling, and giggling. After the first month, I instituted a few minutes of individual reading instead of reading aloud to the group. The books I’ll feature in the photos below are just some of my favorite board books I’ve passed around.

Early Literacy Tip: Singing to your child is important, and it doesn’t matter if you sing in English or another language. In one scientific study, babies as young as one week could distinguish their mother’s voice from a group of other female voices. Singing helps trigger speech development, and children love hearing their grownups’ voices, so sing aloud to your children at home in any language you like.

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

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

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

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

I start this one with the same puppet as above, my floppy-eared dog, Scout. Then I’ll bring out one or two other puppets to say hello.
Welcome/Puppet Song: When Animals Get Up in the Morning
When dogs get up in the morning
They always say hello!
When dogs get up in the morning
They always say hello!
“Woof, woof, woof, woof,” That is what they say
“Woof, woof, woof, woof,” That is what they say
Source: King County (WA) Library System

One last rhyme with Scout the puppet, adapted from one about “Teddy.” I have looked for the source that I got this one and unfortunately I did not record it. I tried googling but nothing came up. If anyone knows the source, I’m happy to give credit!
Puppet Rhyme: Where’s Scout?
Let’s clap our hands for Scout,
Scout’s come to play
Cover up your eyes
While Scout hides away! (hide puppet behind back)
Where’s Scout? Here he is! (reveal puppet)

Light brown dog hand puppet named "Scout." Scout is a hound dog with big floppy ears and jowls on the sides of his mouth.

I feel that a body part song is an important part of baby programming. This one can be repeated with any body parts, and I started jotting down some different options to do each time. I’m currently doing three verses, always starting with “nose.”
Body Song: Hello, Everybody, Can You Touch Your Nose?
Well, hello, everybody,
Can you touch your nose?
Touch your nose,
Touch your nose?
Well, hello, everybody,
Can you touch your nose?
Touch…your…nose!

Other verses:
Touch your toes, rub your tummy, pat your back, touch your chin, touch your ears, squeeze your knees, touch your hands, pat your head, clap your hands, tickle your neck, etc.
Source: Jbrary

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

This is a hit with every group I try it in, and the babies are no exception!
Bounce: Toast in the Toaster
I’m toast in the toaster,
I’m getting very hot
Tick tock, tick tock,
UP I pop!
Source: Jbrary

After a fun bounce, we slow it down a bit with a lullaby. I remind grownups that rocking and holding your baby while singing is a great way to calm them, even if it’s not bedtime. I asked the group if anyone knows how to say “I love you” in another language, and we did do several different versions in the weeks that we sang this one!
Bilingual Lullaby with Ukulele: Yo te amo / I Love You
Yo te amo, yo te amo
All day long I’ll sing this little song to you.
Yo te amo, yo te amo
Darling, I love you!
Source: Jbrary
Thanks to Storytime Ukulele, who published the chords to this song. I made my own PDF version that you can download.

Get a downloadable ukulele songsheet here!

thumbnail for yo te amo ukulele songsheet

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

Pictured: Ten Little Birds/Diez Pajaritos – 123 Andrés & Sara Palacios
Whose Knees Are These? – Jabari Asim & LeUyen Pham
Opposites – Sandra Boynton
I Love All of Me – Lorie Ann Grover & Carolina Búzio

After reading, we do a rhyme that’s good for “on your back” – maybe one to do after a diaper change. It ends in a tickle!
Tickle Rhyme: Wiggle Waggle Went the Bear
Wiggle, waggle went the bear (open and close baby’s legs)
Catching bees in his underwear
One bee out, (open) one bee in (close)
One bee bit him on his big bearskin!
Bzz! Bzz! Bzz! (tickle)
Source: Jbrary

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

Fingerplay/Scarf Song: Rain Is Falling Down
Rain is falling down, SPLASH (wiggle fingers/scarf down, then to ground)
Rain is falling down, SPLASH
Pitter patter, pitter patter (softly drum ground)
Rain is falling down, SPLASH

Sun is peeking out, PEEK (hide behind scarf)
Sun is peeking out, PEEK
Peeking here, peeking there
Sun is peeking out, PEEK
Source: Jbrary

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

Action/Scarf Song: This Is the Way We Wash
(tune of Here We Go Round the Mulberry Bush)
This is the way we wash our face,
Wash our face, wash our face!
This is the way we wash our face, When we take a bath!
(arms, legs, back, tummy, etc.)
Source: Greenville Library

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

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

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

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

Suggested books are a little different on my handout since at my library board books are not able to be held if they’re checked out. My handout says:
Check out our board book selections – they cannot be held or requested, so see what’s available anytime you visit the library! Here are some other titles that *can* be requested:
B Is for Baby – Atinuke & Angela Brooksbank
Knock at the Door – Kay Chorao
Sleepy, Oh So Sleepy – Denise Fleming
Hello Baby! – Mem Fox & Steve Jenkins
Bright Brown Baby – Andrea Davis Pinkney & Brian Pinkney
Jazz Baby – Lisa Wheeler & R. Gregory Christie
Ten Tiny Tickles – Karen Katz

This storytime was presented in-person on 2/6, 2/13, & 2/20/23.

Storytime Handout:

handout with suggested books, rhyme and song lyrics.

Storytime: Squirrels

Posted on by msemilylibrary

Squirrels don’t hibernate, so we see them year-round, but they always seem a little autumnal to me thematically. Probably because that’s when the acorns are ripe and they’re collecting and burying them to prepare for winter. I have a Scaredy Squirrel puppet (based on the books by Mélanie Watt) who I use year-round to demonstrate lap bounces and tickles. He was super excited that we’re finally doing a program on squirrels, and helped out even more than usual this week!

See another version of this theme from 2020.

Early Literacy Tip: Stories can be a great springboard to learning. Reading a story like The Busy Little Squirrel and then finding more information about squirrels and trees in nonfiction titles is a great way to support curiosity, learn new vocabulary and general knowledge, and encourage a love of learning.

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

Warm Up Song: Wake Up, Feet* (TT) (TB) (FT)
This is a repeated song that everyone seems to enjoy. I always begin and end with feet and tummies, but find two other body parts to wiggle in the middle. This week it was thighs and heads.

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

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

Intro: Today we’re talking about squirrels – Scaredy Squirrel is SO EXCITED that we are finally talking about squirrels! Do you ever see squirrels in your neighborhood? What is their favorite food? They have some special abilities – they climb, have a versatile tail, and know how to hide and find acorns.

Squirrels especially love big oak trees, who produce acorns. Let’s pretend to be a big oak tree.
Fingerplay: Be a Seed (TT) (TB) (FT)
Be a seed, small and round (make a fist -we also crouch low)
Sprout, sprout, sprout up from the ground (open fingers – and stand if crouched)
Shake your leaves for all to see (shake hands and body)
Stretch your arms up, you’re a tree! (raise arms high)
Source: Jbrary

Fingerplay: This Little Squirrel (TT) (FT)
(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 other arm)
And crack these acorns: one, two, three! (clap three times)
Source: Sunflower Storytime (no longer linkable)

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

Perfect for little ones, this features some different animals and animal noises, a repeated phrase, and a little twist at the end.
Read: The Busy Little Squirrel by Nancy Tafuri (TT) (FT)

book cover for the busy little squirrel.

April Pulley Sayre was the queen of nonfiction that doesn’t seem like nonfiction.
Read: Squirrels Leap, Squirrels Sleep by April Pulley Sayre & Steve Jenkins (TB)

book cover for squirrels leap, squirrels sleep

This was a really great flannel that I borrowed from AnnMarie Kolakowski from the Pasadena Public Library blog. Her picture didn’t show anything for the green leaf, so I made a little inchworm to hide behind mine. I really appreciated that she talked about some of the skills this flannel addresses: identifying color names, rhyming words, and left-to-right prereading focus. I was only going to do it for the younger group but it went over so well I ended up using it in all three sessions. Of course, the “little squirrel” in question was our Scaredy Squirrel puppet, not pictured.
Flannel: Little Squirrel (TT) (TB) (FT)
Little squirrel, little squirrel time to eat!
Which leaf is hiding your favorite treat?
Source: Pasadena Public Library blog

flannel showing four leaves with color coordinated items that were hidden behind them: a green leaf and green inchworm, a red leaf and ladybug, a yellow leaf and a yellow/white/black striped monarch caterpillar, and a brown leaf with an acorn

After Scaredy Squirrel devoured the little acorn from the previous flannel, I asked if he was still hungry. After a big nod yes, I asked the group to see if they can find more acorns in our room. I had brought in and hidden real acorns from my yard for them to bring to Scaredy. He ate some, and he saved the rest in his log (made from an old oatmeal canister.) This was a great activity to get everyone up and moving around. Even the shyer kids came up to give Scaredy the acorns they had found!
Activity: Acorn Gathering (TT) (TB) (FT)

"log" made of a cardboard oatmeal container, with woodgrain drawn on, sitting next to two real acorns

We handed out scarves and did several songs with them, starting with this warm-up.
Scarf Song: We Wave Our Scarves Together (TT) (TB) (FT)
(tune of For He’s a Jolly Good Fellow)
We wave our scarves together
We wave our scarves together
We wave our scarves together
Because it’s fun to do!

We wave them up high
We wave them down low
We wave them in the middle
Because it’s fun to do!
Source: Jbrary

Scarf Song: Great Big Oak Tree (TT) (FT)
(tune of Frère Jacques)
Great big oak tree, Great big oak tree (hold arms out)
Home to squirrels, Home to squirrels
Moving your branches, When the wind blows (sway arms)
Acorns fall! Acorns fall! (drop scarf)
Source: adapted from Pasadena (CA) Public Library blog (original was apples)

I showed the group photos of the squirrel species that might live in our area, and we shook their bushy tails!
Action Rhyme: Gray Squirrel, Gray Squirrel (TT) (TB) (FT)
Gray squirrel, gray squirrel, shake your bushy tail
Gray squirrel, gray squirrel, shake your bushy tail
Wrinkle up your funny nose…
Hold a nut between your toes…
Gray squirrel, gray squirrel, shake your bushy tail
(repeat for other squirrels: fox, red, flying, or other colors!)
Source: Jbrary

gray squirrel
red squirrel
fox squirrel
flying squirrel on a tree trunk
flying squirrel in the air

We ended up running out of time for this one, so didn’t get to it for any of the sessions.
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

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

Craft: Fork Painted Squirrel (TB) (FT)
This one was kind of a mix of two inspirations – Glued to My Crafts did a squirrel but only fork painted the tail. I wasn’t crazy about the squirrel template there, either. I also saw a cuter squirrel base that Crafting Cherubs Blog did with tissue paper, so combined the two ideas. I printed the squirrel template from Crafting Cherubs (originally from Twisty Noodle) on light gray construction paper and provided brown paint, plastic forks, and a googly eye. It was fun and as simple as the kids wanted to make it.

coloring page of a squirrel with brown fur painted on with a fork.

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)

Goodbye Rhyme: Tickle the Stars* (TT) (TB) (FT)

Other books I had available for families to browse (and may work for you on this theme)
The Leaf Thief – Alice Hemming & Nicola Slater
Girl Versus Squirrel – Hayley Barrett & Renée Andriani
Nuts to You! – Lois Ehlert
Squirrel’s Family Tree – Beth Ferry & A.N. Kang
Scaredy Squirrel Has a Birthday Party – Mélanie Watt
Who Stole the Hazelnuts? – Marcus Pfister & David Henry Wilson
This Is a Taco! – Andrew Cangelose & Josh Shipley
Cyril and Pat – Emily Gravett
The Tale of Squirrel Nutkin – Beatrix Potter

This storytime was presented in-person on 9/11, 9/12, & 9/13/23.

Storytime Handout:

handout with suggested books, rhyme and song lyrics

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

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

Storytime: Country Life

Posted on by msemilylibrary

Following up on last week’s “City Life” storytime, this time we went to the country! My library is in a suburban area, so it’s possible the kids here have some familiarity with rural or urban areas, or none at all. In either case, it’s good to explore our world with books!

It is very easy to plan a “Farm” storytime – there are plenty of books and rhymes and songs about farm animals. But I really wanted to reflect what it’s like for PEOPLE living in the country, and from a modern standpoint, at that. It’s much harder to find books featuring non-stereotypical Farmer and Farmer’s Wife-type books. However, there are some excellent newer ones out there. I was really happy to see the book, Frances in the Country by Liz Garton Scanlon & Sean Qualls, featuring a BIPOC child visiting her cousins in the country. And C is for Country by Lil Nas X & Theodore Taylor III is another fun modern title. And though we did sing Old MacDonald, hopefully we got a little broader sense of what actually living in the country is like.

See another take on this theme from 2020 here.

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

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

Warm Up Song: Wake Up, Feet* (TT) (TB) (FT)
This is a repeated song that everyone seems to enjoy. I always begin and end with feet and tummies, but find two other body parts to wiggle in the middle. This week it was hips & noses.

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

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

Intro: What does it mean to live in the country? There are fewer people on more land, it’s farther from cities and towns. Living in the country might mean there are farms, but it could also mean living in mountains, forests, even deserts. Even if you don’t live on a farm, a lot of people have the space to have a nice big garden in the country

Remember our elevator song from last week?  Here’s a version about the country!
Lifting Song: The Country Song (TT) (TB) (FT)
Oh, the country is great and the country is grand!
There are not a lot of buildings on a whole lot of land
And we live way out by the forest and the trees
We grow a lot of vegetables and maybe keep some bees
We put the seeds in the earth, we take the vegetables out
We put the seeds in the earth, we take the vegetables out
We put the seeds in the earth, we take the vegetables out
And we dance and shout!
Source: Jbrary

Bees are really important – they help pollinate the plants that give us food, as well as making honey.
Tickle Rhyme: Here Is the Beehive (TT) (TB) (FT)
Here is the the beehive (show fist)
But where are the bees?
Hidden away where nobody sees
Watch and you’ll see them come out of the hive
1, 2, 3, 4, 5… (show fingers)
They’re alive!
Buzz buzz buzz! (tickle)
Source: Jbrary

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

This was the shorter of my two books, but I still paperclipped one set of pages to shorten! Parents were very skeptical about putting vinegar in a drink as described in the switchel recipe. I love that this one shows a mother and daughter doing the farm work.
Read: Hey, Hey, Hay! A Tale of Bales and the Machines that Make Them by Christy Mihaly & Joe Cepeda (TT) (FT)

Book Cover for Hey, Hey, Hay!

Read: Frances in the Country by Liz Garton Scanlon & Sean Qualls (TB)

Book cover for Frances in the Country

I made up these lyrics for the last time I did the Country Life theme. This time I left out the “taking a break” verse for time. Riding on a tractor looks like fun, but also hard work!
Bounce: Bumpin’ Up & Down in My Little Green Tractor (TT) (TB) (FT)
(bounce child, then lift, hug, or lean on the last line)
Bumpin’ up and down in my little green tractor
Bumpin’ up and down in my little green tractor
Bumpin’ up and down in my little green tractor
Over the fields we go!

Additional verses:
Mowin’ down the grass in my little green tractor…
(bounce or “steer” tractor)
Takin’ a break for cake and switchel…
(bounce or pretend to eat & drink)
Baling up the hay in my little green tractor…
(bounce or roll arms)
Source: adapted from the traditional

We got out scarves and did some songs. You see a lot of corn being grown in the country. Did you know that our state, Indiana, is the second largest producer of POPcorn in the US?
Scarf Song: Popcorn Kernels (TT) (TB) (FT)
(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)
Shake them, shake them, shake them!
‘Til they POP! ‘Til they POP! (toss scarves up into the air)
Source: Jbrary

If you live in the country, you might have room for a big garden!
Scarf Song: Picked a Strawberry (TT) (TB) (FT)
(tune of Clementine)
Picked a strawberry, picked a strawberry
That was growing in the sun
Then I washed it, and I ate it
And I picked another one
Repeat with other foods: apple, grape, tomato, blueberry, etc
Source: Jbrary

We can also grow some apples!
Scarf Rhyme: Way Up High in the Apple Tree (TT) (TB) (FT)
Way up high in the apple tree, (pull scarf up through hand)
I saw two apples looking at me (make fists w/ scarf in one)
I shook that tree as hard as I could (shaking motion)
Down came the apples, (drop scarf)
and mmmm, they were good! (rub tummy)
Source: traditional

Everyone loves puppets! I made the barn for a farm storytime recently and I get some really rapt toddlers for this one!
Puppet Song: Old MacDonald had a Farm (TT) (TB) (FT)
Old MacDonald had a farm, E – I – E – I – O!
And on that farm he had a dog, E – I – E – I – O!
With a woof, woof here, & a woof, woof there
Here a woof, there a woof,
everywhere a woof, woof!
Old MacDonald had a farm, E – I – E – I – O!
How many other farm animals can you think of?
Source: traditional

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

Craft: Shape Tractor (TB) (FT)
Using some basic shapes, we made a tractor hauling hay in a trailer. My library had some yellow cotton balls in the craft closet, but white would work just as well.

Craft showing a green tractor with a red trailer attached, with three yellow cotton balls atop the trailer. Tractor and trailer are made from rectangles, and black circles are used as wheels.

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)

Goodbye Rhyme: Tickle the Stars* (TT) (TB) (FT)

Other books I had available for families to browse (and may work for you on this theme)
Green on Green – Dianne White & Felicita Sala
The Old Truck – Jarrett Pumphrey & Jerome Pumphrey
Birdsong – Julie Flett
Farmhouse – Sophie Blackall
Summer Sun Risin’ – W. Nikola-Lisa & Don Tate
Everything Is Different at Nonna’s House – Caron Lee Cohen & Hiroe Nakata
City Dog, Country Frog – Mo Willems & Jon J. Muth
C Is for Country – Lil Nas X & Theodore Taylor III
Early One Morning – Mem Fox & Christine Davenier

This storytime was presented in-person on 8/15, 8/16, & 8/21/23.

Storytime Handout:

Handout including book suggestions and rhyme/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

Storytime: The Seeds of Spring

Posted on by msemilylibrary

Springtime in Indiana is capricious, but thankfully we had some warm days, some rain, and some early blooms to reflect on. Although an ostensibly “springtime” theme, I focused mostly on seeds and plants. I’ve done gardening themes before, and I’ve also done a couple of sessions on bugs (here and here) that might also fit into this theme, if you are looking for more ideas.

Early Literacy Tip: Learning directional words like up, down, above, and below is foundational to learning to write letters. When you use words like these with your child and you gesture to show what you mean, you’re setting them up to learn how to write later on.

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

Warm Up Song: Wake Up, Feet* (TT) (TB) (FT)
This is a repeated song that everyone seems to enjoy. I always begin and end with feet and tummies, but find two other body parts to wiggle in the middle. This week it was fingers and knees.

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

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

Intro: This week is the first official day of spring. Every day, the days are getting a little bit longer, the weather changing like the season, but moving toward getting a little warmer, and the little seeds that have been in the ground all winter long are starting to wake up!

As simple as this is, it worked really well for all three groups.
Fingerplay: During the Spring (TT) (TB) (FT)
During the spring, it often showers (flutter fingers down)
Or the sun shines for many hours (form circle with arms)
Both are very good for the flowers! (cup hands, extend arms)
Source: Storytime Katie

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

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

Read: A Seed Grows by Antoinette Portis (TT) (FT)

What a beautiful book this is. I love its playfulness and gentleness.
Read: How to Say Hello to a Worm by Kari Percival (TB)

Fingerplay: Five Plump Peas
Five plump peas in a peapod pressed (make a fist and cover with the other hand)
One grew, two grew, and so did all the rest (raise all fingers on first hand one by one)
they grew, & they grew, & they grew, & never stopped (hands get wider and wider)
They grew SO BIG that the peapod… POPPED! (hands spread as wide as possible, then clap!)
Source: Carole Stephens

Rhyme: Be A Seed
Be a seed, small and round
Sprout, sprout, sprout up from the ground.
Shake your leaves for all to see
Stretch your arms up, you’re a tree!
Source: Jbrary

Action Rhyme: A Big Green Leaf (TT) (TB) (FT)
(tune of A Ram Sam Sam)
A big green leaf, a big green leaf (hold hands apart)
Little ladybug (pinch fingers close)
On a big green leaf (x2)

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

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

Scarf Rhyme: Here is a Green Leaf (TT) (TB) (FT)
(start by crumpling scarf between both hands)
Here is a green leaf, and here is a green leaf (show thumbs)
and that, you see, makes two
Here is the bud that makes the flower (show a tiny bit of the scarf)
Now watch it bloom for you! (open hands to let scarf expand)
Source: Jbrary

Scarf Rhyme: Little Seed (TB) (FT)
(start by scrunching scarf in one hand)
Little seed in the ground
Sitting oh, so still
Little seed, will you sprout?
YES, I WILL! (pull scarf up out of hand)
Source: Lady Librarian Life

Ukulele 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

Oh, 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

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

Craft: Dot Painted Flowers
Pretty simple. I used two die cuts to make flowers on white construction paper, and provided light blue backing paper, glue sticks, and dot markers.
I’d also read a great article on how radishes are a great veggie for children to grow, since they are very quick to both sprout and mature. I bought a package of radish seeds and gave them out with some simple instructions.

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)

Goodbye Rhyme: Tickle the Stars* (TT) (TB) (FT)

Other books I had available for families to browse (and may work for you on this theme)
And Then it’s Spring – Julie Fogliano & Erin E. Stead
If You Plant a Seed – Kadir Nelson
Flower Garden – Eve Bunting & Kathryn Hewitt
On a Snow-Melting Day – Buffy Silverman
A Seed is Sleepy – Dianna Hutts Aston & Sylvia Long
Emile and the Field – Kevin Young & Chioma Ebinama
My Garden/Mi Jardín – Rebecca Emberley
Lola Plants a Garden – Anna McQuinn & Rosalind Beardshaw
How a Seed Grows – Helene J. Jordan & Loretta Krupinski
Planting a Rainbow – Lois Ehlert

This storytime was presented in-person on 3/20, 3/21, & 3/22/23.

Storytime Handout:

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

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

Storytime: Favorites

Posted on by msemilylibrary

Oof, it’s been awhile… (Cue the Critical Role crew) It’s been a busy couple of weeks, but I’ll catch up!

I’d done a version of a “Favorites” theme before as a virtual-only program, and transforming it into something that worked for live in-person sessions wasn’t too difficult, but took a little thought. For one, I had a lot of favorite songs and rhymes I wanted to incorporate, more than before. I also was worried about the “voting” aspect – with quite a few kids, I didn’t want to have votes for several different things and then I would have to choose anyway.

So instead, I decided to incorporate an element of chance with a foam six-sided die. I split my favorite rhyme and song selections into groups of six. They seemed to naturally fall into groups of fingerplays, action songs, some scarf songs, and ukulele songs. I added a couple here or there, took a few off the list, and that was it for the planning. For books, I looked at my Goodreads to find my top rated picture books from the last couple of years. It was remarkably quick to plan. (Proponents of themeless storytimes may be thinking – “That’s what I do every week!”)

There was an element of visuals that took a little more work. I always print out the words to our songs and rhymes on an 11×17″ sheet and flip them as we move through storytime. For visual interest, I include a little icon or picture on almost every page. To help make the selections, I printed and laminated the icon from all the songs to put up on the board under the numbers 1-6. That way the group (and I) had a visual cue as to which song corresponded with each die roll. My stack of song sheets was a lot larger than usual, but it worked just fine.

This was a lot of fun. My songs consisted of some favorites that everyone knew – Two Little Blackbirds, I’m a Little Teapot, Wheels on the Bus – but I also explained that some of them were favorites of mine that they may not have heard before. Some just never fit with my previous themes. That mix of familiar and unfamiliar seemed to add some excitement.

Early Literacy Tip: Talking with your children, especially as you share books, is one of the best ways to develop your children’s vocabulary. In books they see things they might not otherwise see, like different kinds of animals. Take advantage of expanding their vocabulary by talking with them about the pictures in books.

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

Warm Up Song: Wake Up, Feet* (TT) (TB) (FT)
This is a repeated song that everyone seems to enjoy. I always begin and end with feet and tummies, but find two other body parts to wiggle in the middle. This week was elbows and ears.

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

Rhyme: This is Big, Big, Big* (FT)

Intro: Today I wanted to do some of my favorite storytime songs, rhymes and books. Some might be new to you, but some might be your favorites, too! I have so many favorites, I picked too many, so we are going to get some help in what we do today!

Flannelboard marked "Favorites" at the top, then numbered 1-6. Icons are: 1 peapod 2 blackbirds facing each other, 3 teapot with smiley face 4 snail and mouse 5 grandfather clock with mouse 6 beehive surrounded by bees

For each group of songs, I put up the icons and said the titles. If I got a lot of “Little Teapot!” just from that, I’d make that one of our choices. Otherwise, we rolled the foam die to decide (no repeats!)
Fingerplay: Let the dice or popular consensus choose 2 from list:
1. Five Plump Peas (FT)
2. Two Little Blackbirds
3. I’m a Little Teapot (TT) (TB)
4. Slowly, Slowly
5. Hickory Dickory Dock (TT)
6. Here is the Beehive (TB) (FT)

Five Plump Peas
Five plump peas in a peapod pressed (make a fist and cover with the other hand)
One grew, two grew, and so did all the rest (raise all fingers on first hand one by one)
they grew, and they grew, and they grew, and never stopped (hands get wider and wider)
They grew SO BIG that the peapod… POPPED! (hands spread as wide as possible, then CLAP!)
Source: Jbrary

Two Little Blackbirds
Two little blackbirds (pointer fingers up)
Sitting on a hill
One named Jack (wiggle one finger)
One named Jill (wiggle the other finger)
Fly away, Jack (first finger hides behind back)
Fly away, Jill (second finger hides behind back)
Come back, Jack (first finger returns)
Come back, Jill (second finger returns)
Source: traditional

I’m a Little Teapot
I’m a little teapot, Short and stout
Here is my handle (crook one hand to hip)
Here is my spout (hold other hand out to side)
When I get all steamed up then I shout:
“Tip me over and pour me out!” (tilt body to the side of the spout)
Source: traditional

Slowly, Slowly
(fist with thumb sticking out is “snail,” which crawls slowly up one arm, then the other)
Slowly, slowly, very slowly creeps the garden snail
Slowly, slowly, very slowly up the garden rail

(fingers wiggle up one arm then the other quickly, then tickle under the chin)
Quickly, quickly, very quickly runs the little mouse
Quickly, quickly very quickly ‘Round about the house
Source: Jbrary

Hickory Dickory Dock
Hickory, dickory dock
The mouse ran up the clock (fingers scurry up arm)
The clock struck one (pause and clap once)
The mouse ran down (fingers scurry down arm)
Hickory dickory dock

…2, the mouse said, “boo!” (hands splay out)
…3, the mouse said, “whee!” (arms go wide)
…4, the mouse said, “no more!” (shake finger)
Source: Jbrary

Here is the Beehive
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

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

For each group, I gave them a choice between two of the four that I chose for the week, and they voted. Of the four, only Mel Fell was not chosen. All were fun, but I think Animals Go Vroom! got the best response!
Read: Animals Go Vroom! by Abi Cushman (TT)
Read: Strollercoaster by Matt Ringler, Raúl the Third, Elaine Bay (TB)
Read: Just In Case You Want to Fly by Julie Fogliano & Christian Robinson (FT)
Read: Mel Fell by Corey R. Tabor

Flannelboard marked "Favorites" at the top, then numbered 1-6. Icons are: 1 fish jumping from water splash 2 gray sleeping cat, 3 coyote silhouetted in front of moon 4 cartoon hippo 5 a girl hugging a dog 6 bananas with smiley face

Action Song: Let the dice or popular consensus choose 2 from list:
1. All the Fish (TT)
2. The Old Gray Cat (FT)
3. Five Coyotes
4. Hippopotamus on the City Bus (FT)
5. My Dog Rags (TB)
6. Bananas Unite! (TT) (TB)

All the Fish
All the fish are swimming in the water (hands zig zag in front)
Swimming in the water, Swimming in the water
All the fish are swimming in the water
Bubble, bubble, bubble, …SPLASH!
(both hands corkscrew upwards, then clap together)

All the ducks are quacking… (hand opens and closes like a duck)
All the frogs are jumping… (jump!)
All the kids are splashing… (slap hands downward as if splashing)
Source: Caspar Babypants, from the album I Found You

The Old Gray Cat
The old gray cat is sleeping,
Sleeping, sleeping (cradle head in hands)
The old gray cat is sleeping
In the house (hands join together above head)

The little mice are creeping… (tiptoe and hands “paw” forward)
The little mice are nibbling… (hands come to mouth)
The old gray cat is creeping… (hands “stalk” forward)
The little mice are hiding… (hide face with hands)
So the old gray cat is sleeping… (cradle head in hands)
Source: King County (WA) Library System

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

Hippo on the Bus
(bounce or slap thighs rhythmically until the last line of each verse)
A hip, a hip, a hippopotamus
Got on, got on, got on a city bus
And all, and all, and all the people said,
“You’re squishing us!” (squish face or hug baby)

A cow, a cow, a cow got on a bus
Yes, a cow, a cow, a cow got on the bus
And all, and all, and all the people said,
“Mooooove over!” (lean far to one side)

A snake…“Sssssssssit down!” (motion hand down or fall thru knees)
A sheep…“Baaaack up!” (lean far back)
Source: Jbrary

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

(repeat motions above)
He goes flip flop, wig wag, (pause) zig zag (x3)
I love Rags and he loves me! (hug self)
Source: Jbrary

Bananas Unite
Bananas……unite! (arms meet and extend above head)
Peel bananas, peel, peel bananas (x2) (one arm opens to the side, then the other)
Chop bananas, chop chop bananas (x2) (one hand chops across other palm)
Mash bananas, mash mash bananas (x2) (palms mash together)
Eat bananas, eat, eat bananas (x2) (bring hands to mouth)
Goooooooooo BANANAS! (wild arms)
Source: Jbrary

Flannelboard marked "Favorites" at the top, then numbered 1-6. Icons are: 1 girl peeking from open elevator 2 kids on schoolbus, 3 car on a bumpy road 4 four kids, touching their head shoulders, knees, and toes 5 cuckoo clock with bird popping out 6 rocket ship

These were clear favorites in every class, so we chose the same songs this grouping!
Action Song 2: Let the dice or popular consensus choose 2 from list:
1. The Elevator Song
2. The Wheels on the Bus (TT) (TB) (FT)
3. A Smooth Road
4. Head, Shoulders, Knees, and Toes
5. Tick, Tock
6. Zoom, Zoom, Zoom (TT) (TB) (FT)

Elevator Song
Oh, the city is great and the city is grand!
There’s a whole lot of people (hands go wide)
On a little piece of land (hands come together)
And we live way up on the 57th floor (point up)
And this is what we do when we go out the door: (point out)

(either lift baby up and down, or reach tall and crouch down)
We take the elevator up and the elevator down,
Take the elevator up, take the elevator down
Take the elevator up and the elevator down
And we turn around (spin in a circle)
Source: Jbrary

I usually only do 3 or 4 total verses for this – sometimes there are favorites so I’ll ask what else the bus does.
Wheels on the Bus
The wheels on the bus go 
Round and round, round and round, round and round (fists circle)
The wheels on the bus go round and round
All through the town!

The wipers on the bus go Swish, swish, swish… (arms pivot back and forth)
The doors on the bus Open and shut… (arms move apart and together)
The horn on the bus goes Beep, beep, beep… (hand mimes pushing a button)
The driver on the bus says “Move on back”… (cock thumb back to shoulder)
The people on the bus go Up and down… (bounce body up and down)
The baby on the bus says “Wah, wah, wah”… (fists wring at eyes)
The parents on the bus say “Shh, shh, shh”… (lift forefinger to lips)
Source: traditional

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

Head, Shoulders, Knees, and Toes
(touch each body part as it’s mentioned)
Head, shoulders, knees, and toes, Knees and toes!
Head, shoulders, knees, and toes, Knees and toes
Eyes and ears and a mouth and nose,
Head, shoulders, knees, and toes, Knees and toes! (can repeat, singing faster)
Source: traditional

Tick, Tock, Tick Tock
Tick tock, tick tock (bounce or sway baby on lap)
I’m a little cuckoo clock
tick tock tick tock
Now I’m striking one o’clock: cuckoo! (lift on each cuckoo)
(repeat, counting up)
Source: Jbrary

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

Flannelboard marked "Favorites" at the top, then numbered 1-6. Icons are: 1 jack in the box 2 popcorn, 3 two kids playing peek a boo 4 compass pointing east 5 purple scarf 6 a boat with oars

Scarf Songs: Let the dice or popular consensus choose 3-4 from list:
1. Jack in the Box (TT) (TB) (FT)
2. Popcorn Kernels (TT) (TB) (FT)
3. Peek a Boo
4. Shake it to the East (TB) (FT)
5. One Bright Scarf (TT)
6. Row Your Boat (TT) (TB) (FT)

Jack in the Box
(scrunch scarf up in one fist)
Jack in the box (shake fist in rhythm with rhyme)
Sits so still
Will he come out?
Yes, he will! (pull scarf out from fist and wave)
Source: Jbrary

Popcorn Kernels
(tune of Frère Jacques)
Popcorn kernels, popcorn kernels (wave scarf overhead)
In the pot, in the pot (bunch up in fist)
Shake them, shake them, shake them / shake them, shake them, shake them (shake fists)
‘Til they POP, ‘til they POP (toss scarves up)
Source: Jbrary

Peekaboo
(tune of Frère Jacques)
Peek-a-boo, peek-a-boo,
I see you, I see you (alternately hide face and reveal with scarf)
I see your button nose, I see your tiny toes (touch nose and toes)
I see you! Peek-a-boo!
Source: Jbrary

Shake it to the East
Shake it to the east (shake scarf to one side)
Shake it to the west (then to the other)
Shake it all around and (shake in a circle)
Then you take a rest (clasp hands, stilling scarf)

Shake your scarves up
Shake your scarves down
Shake it, shake it, shake it, and
Then you settle down
Source: Jbrary

One Bright Scarf
One bright scarf waiting for the wind to blow (wave scarf)
Toss it up high, and wave it down low
Wiggle it fast, and wiggle it slow (hide the scarf behind back, under shirt, etc)
Hey! Where did it go? (bring out) Here it is!
Source: Jbrary

Row, Row, Row Your Boat
Row, row, row your boat (hold both ends of scarf across body, then move forward and back like oars)
Gently down the stream
Merrily, merrily, merrily, merrily (wave scarf)
Life is but a dream! 

Rock, rock, rock your boat (rock body and move scarf up and down)
Gently down the stream
If you see a crocodile
Don’t forget to SCREAM! (Aaah!) (wave scarf wildly)

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

Flannelboard marked "Favorites" at the top, then numbered 1-6. Icons are: 1 a sun with a top hat 2 an apple and banana with smiley faces, 3 whale with pink and blue polkadots on its tail 4 two kids dancing 5 basset hound cartoon 6 sun with smiley face

I let them keep their scarves to dance with during our last song.
Ukulele/Dancing Songs: Let the dice or popular consensus choose 1 from list:
1. Mr. Sun
2. Apples & Bananas (TT) (TB)
3. Down By the Bay
4. Shake My Sillies Out (FT)
5. How Much is that Doggie in the Window?
6. You Are My Sunshine

For chord and lyric song sheets to any of these songs, check out the Ukulele Song Sheet page!

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
Oh, Mr. Sun, Sun, Mr. Golden Sun
Please shine down on me
Source: Raffi, from the album Singable Songs for the Very Young

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

…ate ayples and ba-nay-nays
…eet eeples and ba-nee-nees
…ite iples and ba-ni-nis
…ote oples and ba-no-nos
…ute uples and ba-nu-nus
Source: Raffi, from the album One Light, One Sun

Down by the Bay
Down by the bay, Where the watermelons grow
Back to my home, I dare not go
For if I do, my mother will say:
“Did you ever see a whale with a polka dot tail, 
Down by the bay?”

…goose kissing a moose…
…fly wearing a tie…
…bear combing his hair…
…see llamas eating pajamas…
…have a time you couldn’t make a rhyme…
Source: Raffi, from the album Singable Songs for the Very Young

I decided to change “crazies” to “kookies” to help destigmatize mental health issues.
Shake My Sillies Out
I gotta shake, shake, shake my sillies out
Shake, shake, shake my sillies out
Shake, shake, shake my sillies out
And wiggle my waggles away!

I gotta clap, clap, clap my kookies out…
I gotta jump, jump, jump my jiggles out…
I gotta stretch, stretch, stretch my stretchies out…
I gotta yawn, yawn, yawn my sleepies out…
Source: Raffi, from the album Raffi in Concert with the Rise and Shine Band

How Much is that Doggie in the Window?
How much is that doggie in the window? (Woof woof!)
The one with the waggily tail?
How much is that doggie in the window? (Woof woof!)
I do hope that doggie’s for sale

Kitty…meow…whiskers so long
Birdie… tweet tweet…flappity wings
Rabbit…hop hop…hoppity legs
Fishy… glub glub… swimmity fins
Source: traditional

You Are My Sunshine
You are my sunshine, My only sunshine
You make me happy When skies are gray
You’ll never know, dear, How much I love you
Please don’t take My sunshine away
Source: traditional

Craft: My Favorites Coloring Sheet (TB) (FT)
Last week’s craft, the puffy snow paint, was pretty involved, so it was really lovely (on my end) to just print out some pages and put them out with our crayon bins. The kids didn’t complain. This is a sheet I created using Canva for the last Favorites session (at a different library), so I just reused it. You can download a copy here.

Coloring sheet with My favorite... animal, color, food, toy, book, and thing to do outside

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)

Goodbye Rhyme: Tickle the Stars* (TT) (TB) (FT)

Other books I had available for families to browse (for this theme, just choose your favorites!)
Red House, Tree House, Little Bitty Brown Mouse – Jane Godwin & Blanca Gómez
Bathe the Cat – Alice B McGinty & David Roberts
I Love You Because I Love You – Mượn Thị Văn & Jessica Love
Off-Limits – Helen Yoon
Pokko and the Drum – Matthew Forsythe
You Matter – Christian Robinson
Nanette’s Baguette – Mo Willems
Everybody in the Red Brick Building – Anne Wynter & Oge Mora
The Day You Begin – Jacqueline Woodson & Rafael López
Thank You, Omu! – Oge Mora
Crash, Splash, or Moo! – Bob Shea
Lulil & the Language of Tea – Andrea Wang & Hyewon Yum
Crown – Derrick Barnes & Gordon C. James
We Sang You Home – Richard Van Camp & Julie Flett
Mr. Fuzzbuster Knows He’s the Favorite – Stacey McAnulty & Edward Hemingway
Vroom! – Barbara McClintock

This storytime was presented in-person on 1/16, 1/17, & 1/18/23.

Storytime Handout:

storytime handout with book suggestions, rhyme and song lyrics. Includes: Find all of the rhymes and songs we may have chosen here: https://bit.ly/3ICgnQI

*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

Storytime: Up & Down (Opposites)

Posted on by msemilylibrary

Last week was the first of my fall storytimes. They represent another big shift in the way I have been able to present since I started at this library. Last spring when I started, we were still observing pandemic protocols, which meant social distancing (each family sat at a separate table) and a very limited capacity of 7 kids with their grownup and an occasional sibling. Over the summer, I was able to present storytime outside, with no need for capacity limits. Now, with vaccines available to kids ages 6 months and up, and masks optional (and virtually abandoned by 90% of the population where I live in the Midwest), we’re back to what was our pre-pandemic storytime protocols.

That means I have registration for 15 families (which can include multiple kids) and we have open space on the rug for everyone to get close, though I do offer chairs for grown-ups who need them. It was quite a paradigm shift. Monday’s Book Babies program for ages 0-2 was at full capacity, and the rug was just a writhing mass of little limbs, parents reaching for runners, overstimulated kiddos exploring and taking it all in. Overall, it went better than I expected! I credit caregivers for participating and doing their best to keep their little ones interested. I explained at the beginning that I don’t expect a 2 year old to sit still for 25 or 30 minutes and listen intently. That roaming around and being more interested in their neighbor than in me is normal and fine. That we are all learning how this new configuration works and the more we participate, the more the kids will, too. It’s a new challenge.

Funny enough, registration for the Tuesday class for 2-3.5 years was full, but only about half of them showed. It was so strange to see everyone in chairs on the opposite side of the rug from me, sitting quietly and shyly. Now that threw me for a loop, after the previous day’s experience!

Early Literacy Tip: Today we used a lot of movements to represent words in our songs and books. Words like up, down, left, right, small, big, nose, toes, and tummy! Pairing purposeful gestures with words helps little ones learn and put meaning to words. Older kids get practice with fine and gross motor skills and controlling their bodies in space. When we sing and use these purposeful gestures, we help kids develop their minds and bodies.

Instead of singing everyone’s name, after singing the first verse we went around the circle and each caregiver introduced themselves and their little one, giving their age and a favorite plaything.
Welcome Song: Hello, Friends* (BB) (TB) (FT)**

Warm Up Song: Wake Up, Feet* (BB) (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. This week was arms and knees.

Intro: Today we’re talking about opposite words. Words like up and down, big and small, awake and asleep. Let’s start with a rhyme where we make our hands open (like this…) and shut (like this…) Good!

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

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

Lifting Rhyme: Toast in the Toaster (BB)
I’m toast in the toaster,
I’m getting very hot
Tick tock, tick tock,
UP I pop!
Source: Jbrary

Action Rhyme: Up and Down (BB) (TB) (FT)
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

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

Read: Up, Up, Up, Down by Kimberly Gee (BB)

Book cover for Up Up Up Down

Read: Big Bear, Small Mouse by Karma Wilson & Jane Chapman (TB) (FT)

Book cover for Big Bear Small Mouse

Scarf warmup: Wave your scarves up high and low, fast and slow, and throw them up and try to catch them.

Here’s a song about a spider who goes UP and DOWN the waterspout! We used our scarves to modify the movements. In the two older classes, we also did the Great BIG Spider (who has a great big voice) and the Very Quiet Spider (who whispers).
Scarf Song: The Itsy Bitsy Spider (BB) (TB) (FT)
The itsy bitsy spider
climbed up the water spout
Down came the rain and
washed the spider out
Out came the sun and dried up all the rain
And the itsy bitsy spider
climbed up the spout again
Source: traditional

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

I could not for the life of me get this tune in my head when faced with this song in the moment. Just a total brain failure. The grown ups were very gracious. I did some very strange half-song, half-chant for this. Of course, afterward, I couldn’t get the tune OUT of my head…
Scarf Song: We Wave Our Scarves Together (TB) (FT)
(tune of For He’s a Jolly Good Fellow)
We wave our scarves together (3x)
because it’s fun to do!
Wave them up high
Wave them down low
Wave them in the middle
Because it’s fun to do!
Source: Jbrary

Scarf Song: One Bright Scarf (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

I let the babies hang on to their scarves until playtime, and grabbed them when they were distracted by toys.
Scarf Collection: If You Have a Red Scarf (TB) (FT)
(tune of Do You Know the Muffin Man)
If you have a red scarf
A red scarf, a red scarf
If you have a red scarf then hold it up high!
(repeat with other colors)
Source: unsure, have used for a long time

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

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

Action Song: Head, Shoulders, Knees, and Toes (BB) (FT)
Head, shoulders, knees and toes (knees and toes!)
Head, shoulders, knees and toes (knees and toes!)
Eyes and ears and a mouth and nose
Head, shoulders, knees and toes (knees and toes!)
Source: traditional

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

Recorded Song: Teddy Bear by Jazzy Ash (TB)

Teddy Bear by Jazzy Ash single cover

Craft: Itsy Bitsy Spider (TB) (FT)
I liked this simple “glue stuff down” craft I saw on the Preschool Wonders Blog. I decided to ask a volunteer to glue all the legs to the spiders so it simplified it a bit, and put out crayons so the kids could decorate however they liked.

Itsy Bitsy Spider Craft: A light green sheet of construction paper with a yellow circle, three blue raindrops, a light gray "L" shaped drainpipe, and a black spider made of a small black circle and 8 small black strips glued to it for legs. Crayon details include sun's rays and motion lines coming out of the pipe.

Play Time
The babies 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* (BB) (TB) (FT)

Goodbye Rhyme: Tickle the Stars* (BB) (TB) (FT)

Other books I had available for families to browse (and may work for you on this theme)
Marta! Big & Small – Jen Arena & Angela Dominguez
Stop, Go, Yes, No! – Mike Twohy
Baby’s Opposites – Nancy Raines Day & Rebecca Evans
Maisy Big, Maisy Small – Lucy Cousins
Big Little – Leslie Patricelli
Spot’s Opposites – Eric Hill
Cat & Dog: A Tale of Opposites – Tullio Corda
A High, Low, Near, Far, Loud, Quiet Story – Nina Crews
My Book of Opposites – Britta Teckentrup
Mine, Mine, Mine, Yours – Kimberly Gee

This storytime was presented in-person on 8/15, 8/16, & 8/17/22.

Storytime Handout:

Storytime handout with song lyrics and suggested books.

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

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


Storytime: Camping

Posted on by msemilylibrary

I have a short break before my next set of storytimes, so I took a look at my old files and will start blogging some of the older themes I did pre-pandemic. Today’s is the very first theme I did on my own when I started as an early literacy librarian (I’d done some ad hoc before, but it wasn’t the main part of my job.) This is back in summer of 2019, and it’s kind of amazing to look and see how they’ve changed since then.

If I did these themes again, I probably would tweak, but I like getting them blogged as a record of what came before, and ideas, songs, rhymes, and props that I might reuse. I hope they may be helpful for you, too!

Back then, I had two storytimes: one for Babies & Toddlers ages 0-2, and a “Stories and More” preschool class for ages 3-5. I’ll indicate what was used in each program with a (B) for babies and a (P) for preschool. I also did not have a handout or do early literacy tips at this point. Cheers for the evolution and education I’ve achieved since then!

You can find another version of this theme from 2025.

Welcome song: We Clap and Sing Hello* (B) (P)
*See lyrics for repeated songs on the Repeated Songs and Rhymes page

I read three books for the preschool class, which worked there, but I haven’t been able to do more than one with my current group of kids.
Read: Just Me & My Dad by Mercer Mayer (P)

Book cover

Action Song: I’m Going Camping (P)
(tune of I’m a Little Teapot)
I am going camping (point thumbs proudly to chest)
Time to pack (point to wrist)
My tent, my bedroll, and a snack (Make tent with hands; fold hands to cheek; pretend to eat)
I’ll sit by the campfire (warm hands over fire)
Its glow so bright (wiggle fingers like a fire)
Then snooze in my tent (pretend to snore)
‘Til the morning light! (arms circle over head)
Source: Lady Librarian’s Literacy, Lifestyle, and Lookbook Log

Counting Rhyme: Five Little Fireflies (B)
One little firefly shines very bright (hold up fingers)
Two little fireflies show their lights
Three little fireflies glimmer and glow
Four little fireflies watch them go!
Five little fireflies fly in the night
Blink! Blink! Blink! Blink! (open and close fingers)
My! What a sight!
Source: King County (WA) Library System

Read: Camping Day by Patricia Lakin (B) (P)

Book cover

Rhyme: Sleeping Bag (P)
I was lying in my sleeping bag
I couldn’t go to sleep
I looked at my watch and wanted to weep!
I rolled to my left
I rolled to my right
but all I could hear were noises in the night!
I hear an owl! Hoo hoo hoo!
(have the kids name some things you might hear in the middle of the night, out in the woods, in your backyard. Some good options include a dog, a bear, a wolf, etc)
Source: Sturgis Kids

I made cardstock paper props for this song and gave each family a packet with each item so they had something to put in the middle for each verse.
Action Song: The Campfire Pokey (B) (P)
You put your marshmallow in
You take your marshmallow out
You put your marshmallow in
And you shake it all about
You do the campfire pokey
And you turn yourself around
That’s what it’s all about: Yum, Yum!
Repeat with hot dog, potato, popcorn, or anything else that you can roast over the campfire.
Last verse:
You put your whole dinner in…
Source: What Happens in Storytime

Download a copy of the template here!

thumbnail of campfire pokey props, with a pan of popcorn, marshmallow on a stick, hot dog in a bun, and potato.

Read: Ruby’s Sleepover by Kathryn White & Miriam Latimer (P)

Book cover

Scarf Song: Popcorn Kernels (P)
(tune of Frère Jacques)
Popcorn kernels, popcorn kernels (wave overhead)
In the pot, in the pot (bunch up in fists)
Shake them, shake them, shake them / shake them, shake them, shake them (shake fists)
‘Til they POP, ‘til they POP (toss scarves up)
Source: Jbrary

This was a song my predecessor played at every single storytime program! It was well loved. We had a basket of unsharpened pencils in a bunch of different colors that they used as their sticks. The kids liked to find two of the same color.
Rhythm Stick Song: Tap Your Sticks by Hap Palmer (B) (P)
from the album Rhythms on Parade
see the video: https://youtu.be/M-UKTeWNgOk

cover of the Rhythms on Parade album

Craft: Campfire (P)
Red, orange, and yellow squares of construction paper were glued to a black piece of construction paper, with two (regular) craft sticks glued crisscross underneath. Simple, but I like that there are some different materials and a 3D element in the sticks. Inspired by this craft at Once Upon a (Story) Time (photo credit to her blog, since I don’t have mine anymore!)

Photo of craft with red, orange, and yellow squares of construction paper glued to a black piece of construction paper, with two craft sticks glued crisscross underneath
photo from Once Upon a (Story) Time blog

Centers/Playtime (B) (P)
We spent 5-10 minutes in playtime and socialization each storytime. The babies and toddlers had a couple of baskets full of baby toys – stackers and sorters and pull toys, cars and rattles and toy phones, that sort of thing. I’m not sure where the library got them, whether they purchased them or had donations or looked at yard sales. The preschool group had more complex or interactive toys like puzzles, musical instruments, finger puppets, and toys that I’ve seen on the Lakeshore Learning site that require just a bit more sophistication.

Parachute Time (B) (P)
I honestly forget what I did during parachute time! I think we practiced holding it high, low, shaking fast and slow, and maybe did a song like the Itsy Bitsy Spider. It’s been a long time and when I get out the parachute again I’ll have to re-learn how to do it!

Closing Rhyme: Tickle the Stars* (B) (P)

This storytime was presented in person on 6/18/19 & 6/20/19.