toddler – Page 6 – Storytime with Ms. Emily Library

Storytime: Color Wheel – Green

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

What does little crocodile say book cover

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

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

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

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

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

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

And don’t forget about the green frog!
Fingerplay: Mr. Bullfrog (TT)
Here is Mr. Bullfrog (make fist)
Sitting on a rock (place fist on other palm)
He jumps into the water… (lift fist, building anticipation)
KERPLOP! (clap hands together)
Source: Storytime with Miss Tara and Friends

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Tickle the stars thumbnail, with a graphic of blue and pink stars. click the image to download a non-branded PDF

Other books I had available for families to browse (and may work for you on this theme)
Where Is the Green Sheep? – Mem Fox & Judy Horacek
Our Green City – Tanya Lloyd Kyi & Colleen Larmour
A New Green Day – Antoinette Portis
Is This Your Class Pet? – Troy Cummings
Eco Girl – Ken Wilson-Max
The Swamp Where Gator Hides – Marianne Berkes & Roberta Baird
A Good Place – Lucy Cousins
Green on Green – Dianne White & Felicita Sala
In the Tall, Tall Grass – Denise Fleming

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

Storytime Handout:

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

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

Storytime: Sun, Moon, Eclipse!

Posted on March 29, 2024April 1, 2024 by msemilylibrary

I don’t generally post my storytime plans until after they have occured, but I thought this one might be helpful to anyone else doing an eclipse program for the April 8, 2024 event.

We are in the path of totality, so my library is holding a lot of programming for all ages and making a big event of the day. I’ll be holding these Sun, Moon, Eclipse sessions the week before to get our little ones excited for the upcoming event.

I had done Moon storytimes before, so I figured I could adapt that and add some sun activities. I’m not usually good at coming up with original material, but I did think up a rhyme and a song to directly discuss the eclipse – “Eclipse-a-Boo” and “These Are My [Eclipse] Glasses.” You can see my renditions of these on my virtual program, Storytime Shorts (available to view April 1, 2024 at 9:00 am EDT). I also got a lot of inspiration from Lady Librarian Life, who did an eclipse themed storytime in 2017, when the last eclipse was visible from the US.

Early Development Tip: Hearing rhymes and patterns in sounds helps to trigger speech. Scientific evidence shows that early exposure to nursery rhymes and songs with strong sound patterns significantly enhances a child’s ability to hear the smaller sounds that words are made up of, which in turn helps develop early reading skills. When you engage your child with rhymes and songs, you help your child build a strong foundation for learning to read.

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

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

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

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

Intro: Our theme today is a special one – we’re preparing for an amazing and rare astronomical event, a total solar eclipse. This will happen one week from today, April 8, and we are in the right place to see it in its totality. This means that the moon will get in between the earth and the sun, casting its shadow and blocking our view of the sun for just a few minutes. Today we’re celebrating the main players – the sun and the moon.

So how do the sun and moon usually work? Who’s out in the daytime/at night?
Fingerplay: Sun and Moon (TT) (TB) (FT)
(One hand is the moon as a crescent and the other is the sun – spread five fingers for sun’s rays)
Moon comes out, Sun goes in
Here is a blanket to cuddle your chin (tickle chin)
Moon goes in, and Sun comes out
Throw off the blankets and bustle about! (fling arms wide and wiggle)
Source: Sunflower Storytime (no longer published)

Sun & Moon thumbnail, with a graphic of a smiling sun and moon. click the image to download a non-branded PDF

Apparently this is adapted from a Romper Room tune, which is before my time. To get the tune, I found the link to a video of it being performed by Dany Rosevear of Singing Games for Children. She’s a great resource for songs and guitar/ukulele chords.
Let’s stretch up to the sky.
Stretch: Sky Stretch (TT) (TB) (FT)
Bend and stretch, reach for the moon!
Sway back and forth to our little tune
Bend and stretch, reach for the sun!
Sit down slowly now, our song is done
Source: Lady Librarian Life

Sky Stretch thumbnail, with a graphic of a sun and moon with multicolored hands reaching up. click the image to download a non-branded PDF

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

Read: Our Friend Moon by Lea Redmond (TT) (FT)
It would be great to be able to read Eclipse, but I don’t think it will come in on time for me. I’m 3rd on the holds list right now and there’s only one week to go! Instead, I plan to read Our Friend Moon for the Monday and Wednesday groups, a lovely little board book that I helped Kickstart!

Read: A Day in the Sun by Diana Ejaita (TB)
A newer title with lovely illustrations, showing daytime activities around the world.

Have you ever seen the moon during the daytime?
Rhyme: Ms. Moon (TT) (TB) (FT)
Ms. Moon, Ms. Moon
You’re up too soon!
The sun is still in the sky
Go back to your bed,
And cover up your head,
And wait till the day goes by
In the morning
the sun wakes up,
And marches all the day
At noon he stands straight overhead
And at night? He goes away
Source: Lady Librarian Life

Ms. Moon thumbnail, with a graphic of a smiling full moon surrounded by stars. click the image to download a non-branded PDF

Flannel: Eclipse (TT) (TB) (FT)
This isn’t a rhyme or song, but I just made a simple sun and a black circle to represent the moon to try to show what the eclipse would look like. I pulled out a moon flannel from my “Five Coyotes” set, too. The plan is to just explain what happens and show the moon eclipsing the sun.

Flannelboard pieces of a realistic white moon with light gray craters, a bright yellow sun with short rays, and a black circle that would cover the sun but show the rays. The black circle is 80% covering the sun in this picture.

I was trying to think of a simple way to incorporate the eclipse into a rhyme, and the image just struck me of the sun and moon playing, and the rhyme practically wrote itself (except that last line, which, I realize, is a little awkward…)
During an eclipse, the sun and moon seem like they’re playing peek-a-boo!
Action Rhyme: Eclipse-A-Boo (TT) (TB) (FT)
The sun is playing peek-a-boo
Oh, look, the moon is playing, too
Peek a boo, goodbye, sun
Hide and seek is so much fun!
Peek a boo, hello, moon
I didn’t expect to see you so soon
Peek a boo, sun returns
Much fun with sun and moon in turns
Source: original

Eclipse-a-Boo thumbnail, with a graphic of a sun with a surprised face peeking out from behind a big smiling sun. click the image to download a non-branded PDF

Another one that just came in a flash of inspiration. I was thinking about eclipse glasses, and Laurie Berkner’s song popped into my head. It took a little wrangling to make it work, but I am very pleased with the end rhymes of both verses!
It’s very important to protect our eyes while we’re watching the eclipse. There are special glasses we’ll wear to keep our eyes safe from the brightness of the sun.
Song: These Are My [Eclipse] Glasses (TT) (TB) (FT)
These are my glasses,
There is the sun
I put on my glasses before I look above
And I look, look, look
and I see, see, see
I take off my glasses
When we reach totality! …Oooh! Aaah!…

These are my glasses,
There goes the moon
I put on my glasses as the moon moves on
And I look look look
Until down the moon slips
I take off my glasses – What a cool eclipse!
Source: original, to tune of Laurie Berkner’s These Are My Glasses

These are my eclipse glasses thumbnail, with a graphic of a line drawing of a boy and a girl wearing dark eclipse glasses. click the image to download a non-branded PDF

At this point I’m thinking I’ll get out shaky eggs for the group to accompany us as we sing.
Here’s a song I love to sing about the sun. Another librarian wrote some lyrics to celebrate the last eclipse, so listen carefully!
Song: Mr. Sun (TT) (TB) (FT)
Oh, Mr. Sun, Sun, Mr. Golden Sun,
Please shine down on me
Oh Mr. Sun, Sun, Mr. Golden Sun
Hiding behind a tree
These little children are asking you
To please come out so we can play with you
Mr. Sun, Sun, Mr. Golden Sun
Please shine down on me

Additional verses:
Ms. Moon, Moon, Ms. Silver Moon please shine down on me…

Oh Mr. Sun, Sun, Mr. Golden Sun
Please come out real soon
Oh Mr. Sun, Sun, Mr. Golden Sun
Hiding behind the moon…
Source: Raffi, with vs 2-3 by Lady Librarian Life

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

Mr Sun thumbnail, with a graphic of a smiling sun. click the image to download a non-branded PDF

I’ll probably put my ukulele down for this one to do the hand motions.
This song mentions the daytime and nighttime, but I love that it says you’re loved always
Song: Skinnamarink (TT) (TB) (FT)
Skinnamarinky-dinky-dink, Skinnamarinky-doo
I love you!
Skinnamarinky-dinky-dink, Skinnamarinky-doo
I love you!
I love you in the morning,
and in the afternoon
I love you in the evening,
Underneath the moon
Skinnamarinky-dinky-dink, Skinnamarinky-doo
I… Love… you!
Boo-boopee-doo!
Source: traditional, see Jbrary doing motions

Skinnamarink thumbnail, with a graphic of small red hearts surrounding the words. click the image to download a non-branded PDF

We only ever do the chorus in storytime, but the verses of this song really made me dislike it. It’s very controlling/unhealthy relationship! In my songsheet, I found some alternative lyrics from the children’s musician Bill Crosby (not Bill Cosby) that I like. BUT, for this storytime, I plan to just do the chorus a couple times.
Help me by shaking your shakers!
Ukulele Song: You Are My Sunshine (TT) (TB) (FT)
You are my sunshine,
My only sunshine
You make me happy
When skies are gray
You’ll never know, dear
How much I love you
Please don’t take my sunshine away
Source: traditional

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

thumbnail of You Are My Sunshine ukulele songsheet.

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

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

Craft: Chalk Eclipse (TB) (FT)
It’s a simple craft, and not original, but it still makes a beautiful presentation. Use some black or dark construction paper, white or yellow chalk, and some thin cardboard or cardstock. Cut out a circle with the cardstock – I used a die cut, but you can also trace around a bowl to make a nice circle. Hold down the circle on your construction paper, or tack it down with a little bit of tape. Then draw a thick line around the circle with your chalk, and use your finger to smudge the chalk outward. Always start from the circle outward, then pick up your finger to do it again (don’t go back and forth). Then remove the cardstock circle and you have this cool image of an eclipse!

Picture of the chalk eclipse craft, showing the corona of the sun behind a black moon.

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)
Hello, Moon – Evan Turk
Kitten’s First Full Moon – Kevin Henkes
Moonlight – Helen V Griffith & Laura Dronzek
Moonday – Adam Rex
The Moon Remembers – EB Goodale
A Day in the Sun – Diana Ejaita
Sun Flower Lion – Kevin Henkes
May There Always Be Sunshine – Jim Gill & Susie Signorino-Richards
Sunny Days – Deborah Kerbel & Miki Sato
Stella Keeps the Sun Up – Clothilde Ewing & Lynn Gaines

This storytime will be presented in-person on 4/1, 4/2, & 4/3/24.

Storytime Handout:

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

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

Storytime: Color Wheel – Purple

Posted on March 22, 2024April 19, 2024 by msemilylibrary

Wow, I didn’t expect purple to be such a difficult color to program for! There should be more books about grapes, plums, and violets. But I was glad that I found a flannelboard set of the Gigantic Turnip in our storage, and the PB & J song is such a standard. I got creative on the rest, with the help of some other color storytime blogs.

In planning these color-based themes, I brainstorm objects/animals/plants that are generally the color in question and songs and rhymes that work with those things. Yes, it was shorter this time. Here’s the list:

Grapes
Eggplant
Blackberry (ish)
Cabbage
Onion
Violets
Plums
Lavender/Lilac flowers
Grape Jelly
Turnips

Amazingly, there aren’t songs about purple cabbage and red onions. 🤔

Early Development Tip: Purple is a beautiful color, and there are so many different words to describe the color purple. Learning synonyms (like lilac, lavender, orchid, violet, fuschia, eggplant, plum) helps young children expand their vocabulary. Research shows that who know more find it easier learn read.

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 & heads.

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

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

Intro: Look at these beautiful colors on this color wheel! Today’s color is purple! Can you think of anything that is purple? Write answers on whiteboard in purple pen. Is anyone wearing purple today?

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

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

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

Today’s story is a very old one. There are a lot of books that retell it, but today I’m going to tell it to you using our flannelboard to illustrate.
Tell: The Giant Turnip (TT) (TB) (FT)
I pulled the bones of the story from this one on the Arts on the Move site, but modified it a bit to suit my own taste. (The woman was the gardener and the man had a fantastic turnip soup recipe) The flannel was donated to my library with a bunch of others. It was made on very thin white material (milk filters?) and colored. In the picture they had finally pulled the turnip and they’d all fallen down!

picture of flannel story of the giant turnip, with a brown lump of a hill, purple turnip with green stem, a man, woman, and girl dressed in traditional Russian attire, and a dog, cat, and mouse.

This was a good transition; we started by pulling our turnips, and ended with sniffing purple flowers to flow to the next activity.
Let’s put our pretend hats on and see what purple things we can pretend.
Action Activity: Purple Pretending (TT) (TB) (FT)
(act out different purple activities. Here are some we tried)
Pull a purple turnip
Eat a purple popsicle
Climb a purple mountain
Act like a purple monster
Color with a purple crayon
Spread purple jam on bread
Fly like a purple bird
Chew purple bubble gum
Sip purple grape juice
Smell purple flowers
Source: The Lion Is a Bookworm

purple pretending thumbnail, with a graphic of two thought bubbles in purple. click the image to download a non-branded PDF

Several of my purple ideas were flowers, so I expanded a bit on that theme and changed a generic flower rhyme to this. I wanted realistic renditions of these very different flowers, so opted for photographs. We talked a little about how the different purple flowers were different – darker, lighter, more pinky purple, etc.
Several lovely flowers are purple. In fact, we get the names for some of my favorite purple shades come from flowers. Violet, Lavender, Lilac, Orchid.
Counting Rhyme: Four Purple Flowers (TT) (TB) (FT)
Four pretty purple flowers in the meadow grew
“Hmmm,” I said, “I bet they smell pretty, too!”
I bent down to sniff but they tickled my nose
Ah-CHOO! Oh, no!
Away one flower blows!
(count down)
Source: adapted from Jen in the Library

Flannel of printed and laminated photographs of violets, lilacs, lavender, and orchids.

four purple flowers thumbnail, with a graphic of lavender, violets, lilacs, and orchids. click the image to download a non-branded PDF

I felt like I needed another grape song, so adapted the itsy bitsy spider.
Does anyone like grapes? There are green grapes, but there are also PURPLE grapes! I like to eat grapes, but so does this caterpillar.
Song: Up the Grapevine (TT) (TB) (FT)
(tune of Itsy Bitsy Spider)
The itsy bitsy caterpillar climbed up the twisty vine
She reached for purple grapes and then began to dine
The plump grape burst and all the juices ran down
So the itsy bitsy caterpillar slid down to the ground – Whee!
Source: original, adapted from the traditional

Up the grapevine thumbnail, with a graphic of a grapevine with a green caterpillar beginning to climb the base of the vine. Purple grape clusters hang down. click the image to download a non-branded PDF

Purple grapes make a delicious grape jelly. And you can use THAT to make… a PB&J!
Lots of ways to do this song, here’s mine.
Song: Peanut Butter and Jelly (TT) (TB) (FT)
Peanut, peanut butter… and jelly! (clap and pat)
Peanut, peanut butter… and jelly!
Verses:
First you take the peanuts & you crush ‘em, you crush ‘em (x2 each verse) (crush fist into opposite hand)
Then you take some grapes & you squish ‘em, you squish ‘em (stomp feet)
Then you take the bread and you spread it, you spread it (swipe hand across opposite hand)
Then you take the sandwich and you eat it, you eat it (hands to mouth)
(last chorus sung as if your mouth is full!)
Source: traditional

peanut butter and jelly thumbnail, with a graphic of peanuts, grapes, a knife with peanut butter on it, one piece of bread spread with jelly and another with peanut butter, and a sandwich cut diagonally with one bite taken out of it. click the image to download a non-branded PDF

And here’s where I ran out of purple ideas… So we got out our shakey eggs!
That PBJ gave me so much energy! Let’s shake some of our energy out with some shaker egg songs.
Shaker Song: Shake Your Shaker (TT) (TB) (FT)
(tune of Grand Old Duke of York)
You shake your shaker high,
You shake your shaker low
You shake your shaker fast, fast, fast
And then you shake it slow
Source: Harris County (TX) Public Library

shake your shaker thumbnail, with a graphic of blue, purple, and yellow eggs. click the image to download a non-branded PDF

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

shake it to the east thumbnail, with a graphic of four kids. Three have maracas and are shaking, and the fourth is sitting reading a book. click the image to download a non-branded PDF

Perhaps this is a grape milkshake? Or even a PBJ flavored one?
(OMG, a PBJ flavored milkshake sounds awesome!)
Shaker Song: The Milkshake Song (TT) (TB) (FT)
You take a little milk – pour some milk!
And you take a little cream – pour some cream!You stir it all up,
You shake it and you’ll sing…
Milkshake, milkshake shake it up, shake it up!
Milkshake, milkshake shake it all up! (x2)
Source: Old Town School of Folk Music, from the album Songs for Wiggleworms

the milkshake song thumbnail, with a graphic of a pink milkshake with whipped cream and a cherry and straw, with a smiley face on the glass. click the image to download a non-branded PDF

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

Craft: Purple Process Art (TB) (FT)
I provided tissue paper squares in various shades of purple, glue sticks, purple crayons, and some purple stickers (smiley faces and stars, not pictured) from the sticker bin for them to create whatever they would like.

craft showing a flower and bunch of grapes made with tissue squares and crayons.

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 Turnip – Pierr Morgan
Peanut Butter & Jelly – Nadine Bernard Westcott
Harold and the Purple Crayon – Crockett Johnson
The World Needs More Purple People – Kristen Bell, Benjamin Hart, & Daniel Wiseman
Purple is Best – Dana Meachen Rau & Mike Cressy
Lousy Rotten Stinkin’ Grapes – Margie Palatini & Barry Moser
Lilly’s Purple Plastic Purse – Kevin Henkes
A Perfectly Messed-Up Story – Patrick McDonnell
Monster Boogie – Laurie Berkner & Ben Clanton
Creepy Crayon – Aaron Reynolds & Peter Brown
The Purple Puffy Coat – Maribeth Boelts & Daniel Duncan

This storytime was presented in-person on 2/19, 2/20, & 2/21/24.

Storytime Handout:

handout thumbnail, including 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: Color Wheel – Pink

Posted on March 9, 2024March 9, 2024 by msemilylibrary

Okay, so I know that pink isn’t officially on the color wheel (and according to Pink Is Not a Color by Lindsay Ward isn’t even a color but just a “tint”), but I had plenty of ideas for pink and I was able to schedule it during the week of Valentine’s Day, so it got added to our color wheel!

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

Pigs
Flamingos
Strawberry ice cream
Watermelon
Axolotl
Blobfish
Shrimp
Radish
Flowers
Hearts
Bubblegum
Worms
Ballet costumes/tutus

This was an odd week for me – I ended up getting a cold and stayed home on Monday and Tuesday, and thankfully my colleagues covered for me. So I only presented the program once on Wednesday. I realize that presenting three times really does help me get a good feel for what works best and how to adjust a bit here and there. Doing just one didn’t really do that for me, so it would be interesting to see how different groups react to some of the activities. I know a few things my colleagues weren’t familiar with just got skipped, which is fine! It all worked out in the end.

Early Development Tip: The song Sticky Bubblegum incorporates cross-lateral movement (crossing the midline of the body, which promotes brain/body development and gross motor skills), body part identification, pretend/imaginative play, vocabulary, and listening and doing.

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

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

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

Intro: Look at these beautiful colors on this color wheel! Today’s color is pink! Can you think of anything that is pink? Write answers on whiteboard in red pen. Is anyone wearing pink today?

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

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

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

I believe that both of my colleagues chose this book to read. My Wednesday group was a little young, so I chose it, too. It’s silly and very short, with very bold graphics, so a great storytime choice.
Read: The Watermelon Seed by Greg Pizzoli (TT) (TB) (FT)

I’d planned to read this one to my slightly older group on Tuesday. It’s a bit longer, but has lots of animals in it, plus a seek and find feature. But because I was out sick, it didn’t get a reading.
Read: Pinky Got Out! by Michael Portis & Lori Richmond

Can you pretend you have a great big watermelon in your arms?
Action Song: Watermelon (TT) (TB) (FT)
(tune of Frère Jacques)
Watermelon, Watermelon,
On the vine, On the vine,
Sweet and pink and yummy, Sweet and pink and yummy,
Please be mine! Please be mine!

Watermelon, Watermelon,
Thump, thump, thump, Thump, thump, thump,
I think you are ready, I think you are ready
Big and plump! Big and plump!
Source: King County (WA) Library System

Watermelon thumbnail, with a graphic of a whole watermelon and a slice of watermelon. click the image to download a non-branded PDF

Let’s do a silly fingerplay about a small pink animal who lives in the soil and likes to wiggle around. What is it? An earthworm! But oh, no, these worms have lost their wiggle!
Fingerplay: The Worm Wiggle (TT) (TB) (FT)
Here are some worms who are, oh, so sad (limp fingers)
They’ve lost all the wiggles that they once had
They wonder if you, just for today
Would lend them your wiggles so they can play?
Wiggle them up and wiggle them down
Wiggle the worms around and around
Wiggle them high and wiggle them low
Wiggle them fast and wiggle them slow
Wiggle them over your shoes and your socks
Then wiggle them back into their box (fold into other hand)
Source: Storytime with Miss Tara

the worm wiggle thumbnail, with a graphic of five worms wiggling in various ways. click the image to download a non-branded PDF

I really wanted a flamingo rhyme, but couldn’t find one other than “If You’re a Flamingo and You Know It.” So I wrote this one to be a little shorter but still action based. (It might work a little better if we had read the flamingo book and knew some facts about flamingos)
I can think of two other animals that are pink. Can you think of one with wings?
Action Rhyme: Pink Flamingo (TT) (TB) (FT)
I’m a pink flamingo, flapping to the coast (flap arms)
I stand on one leg, straight as a post (stand on one leg)
I wade in the water and search for a bite (hand nibbles downward)
These pink shrimp taste just right (rub tummy)
When the day is over and the sun gets low
I tuck my head under my wing and sleep just so
(cover head with arm, AND stand on one leg if you can!)
Source: original

Pink flamingo thumbnail, with a graphic of three flamingos, one flying, one bending down while standing on one leg, and one with their head tucked backward in sleep (also on one leg). click the image to download a non-branded PDF

Maybe you’ve done this nursery rhyme on your toes before, but let’s try it on our fingers.
Fingerplay Rhyme: This Little Piggy (TT) (TB) (FT)
(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

This little piggy thumbnail, with a graphic of a cartoon pig and a spilled jar of purple jam. click the image to download a non-branded PDF

I would have done this one with the Tuesday group, but my colleague decided to nix it for This Little Piggy. I have used this in the past, but I don’t think I’ve ever blogged about it before! I got the flannel printout pieces from the now-defunct Sunflower Storytime. Since they don’t have it online anymore, I feel okay posting it here for you. (If you are the Sunflower original and want me to desist, please just let me know!) The flannel is fun because it’s reversable – the pigs flip and the dirty side shows!
The other animal I am thinking of is pink – lives on a farm, likes to take mud baths, says OINK!
Counting Song: Five Pigs So Squeaky Clean
(tune of Five Green and Speckled Frogs)
Five pigs so squeaky clean,
Cleanest you’ve ever seen
Wanted to go outside and play, Oink! Oink! (clap, clap)
One jumped into the mud
Landed with a great big thud
Then there were four clean squeaky pigs (count down)
Source: Sunflower Storytime (no longer online)

Download Sunflower Storytime’s flannelboard template here.

flannelboard pieces for Five Pigs So Squeaky Clean - five printed and laminated ovals containing a cartoon pig in each. The first two have brown splotches on them, the last three are clean pink. The dirty pigs face right and the clean pigs face left.

five pigs so squeaky clean thumbnail, with a graphic of five pigs: three clean and two dirty. click the image to download a non-branded PDF

Not sure if this got done on Monday, but it was crossed off my Tuesday sheet!
Song: Sticky Bubble Gum (TT) (FT)
(Spoken intro)
Did you bring your bubble gum?
What about pretend bubble gum?
Can you find some pretend bubble gum in your pocket? Reach in and get it out.
Unwrap it, and stick the wrapper back in your pocket – we don’t want to litter!
Is your gum pink like mine is?
Let’s pop it in and start chewing
Is it soft and squishy? Is it yummy?
Let’s blow an imaginary bubble – show me with your hands as you blow it
Bigger, bigger – oh, no it popped!
There’s sticky bubble gum everywhere. Pull it off your forehead, nose, chin…
Now squish it all together in a big sticky ball of bubble gum.
And SMASH IT!
Oh, no, it’s so sticky that my hands are stuck together.
The only way I know to get them unstuck is to sing the sticky bubblegum song.
(Singing)
Sticky sticky sticky sticky bubble gum
Bubble gum, Bubble gum
Sticky sticky sticky sticky bubble gum
Sticking your hands to your knees! and UN-STICK!
Source: Carole Peterson (see her perform this, including the guided intro, at https://vimeo.com/95412823)

Sticky bubblegum thumbnail, with a graphic of a pair of lips blowing a pink bubble. click the image to download a non-branded PDF

What color is a hug? Hugs aren’t really a color, but when people think of love, a lot of times they think of pink! Pink can be a love color.
Action Rhyme: Up and Down (TT) (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) Library (storytime page no longer functional)

up and down thumbnail, with a graphic of a boy and a girl giving themselves a hug. click the image to download a non-branded PDF

I like making up Down By the Bay rhymes! Here are the ones I came up with that have to do with the pink things we talked about today.
Silly Song: Down By the Bay (PINK Edition!) (TT) (TB) (FT)
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 pig wearing a fancy wig,
Down by the bay?”

Additional verses:
…flamingo doing the limbo…
…worm watering his fern…
…slug giving another slug a hug…
…have a time you couldn’t make a rhyme…
Source: adapted from the traditional

Download a ukulele songsheet for Down By the Bay!

Thumbnail of "Down By the Bay" ukulele song sheet

down by the bay pink edition thumbnail, with a graphic of a pig wearing a curly blonde wig, two slugs crisscrossed with pink hearts above them, a pink worm holding a watering can by a potted fern, and a flamingo behind a limbo stick. click the image to download a non-branded PDF

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

Craft: Pink Hearts (FT)
Very simple – I used our die-cutter to make big pink hearts that they could decorate with crayons or dot markers. I didn’t make a sample, but pictured below is a sample I made for an “I Love Me” program, just to see the shape of the heart.

Craft showing a pink scalloped heart shape with the name EMILY written vertically down the middle, with "I like my smile" "My hands let me be creative" "I am friendly" "I am kind" also written on it, decorated with hearts, stars, stickers, and jewels.

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)
On Account of the Gum – Adam Rex
Pink Is Not a Color – Lindsay Ward
Pig Takes a Bath – Michael Dahl & Oriol Vidal
Have You Ever Seen a Flower – Shawn Harris
Pink is for Everybody! – Ella Russell & Udayana Lugo
How to Say Hello to a Worm – Kari Percival
Fussy Flamingo – Shelly Vaughan James & Matthew Rivera
The Book Hog – Greg Pizzoli
I Love My Tutu Too! – Ross Burach
Ice Cream Face – Heidi Woodward Sheffield

This storytime was presented in-person on 2/12, 2/13, & 2/14/24.

Storytime Handout:

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

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

Storytime: Color Wheel – Orange

Posted on March 1, 2024March 9, 2024 by msemilylibrary

We are trucking along on our color series and this week’s session was our first secondary color, orange. There were plenty of books and rhyme ideas, and I even had to cut a rhyme about carrots in the end. I’m very pleased that I was able to work in using our parachute for this session, too.

In planning these color-based themes, I brainstorm what is orange and songs and rhymes that work with those things. Here’s this week’s list:

Pumpkins
Oranges
Carrots
Basketball
Goldfish
Tigers
Orange tabby cats
Monarch butterflies
Traffic cones
Fall leaves

Early Development Tip: Your child may enjoy flap books. It’s a kind of peek-a-boo game using a book! Developing an enjoyment of books goes a long way for them later when they need persistence to stick with learning to read.

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

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

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

Intro: Look at these beautiful colors on this color wheel! In the next couple of months, we’re going to get to know each of these colors in our storytimes. Today’s color is orange! Can you think of anything that is orange? Write answers on whiteboard in orange pen. Is anyone wearing orange today?

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

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

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

I was surprised that this didn’t really go over as well with the 1-2 year olds. The flaps just didn’t hold their attention – maybe it was just a bad day no matter what book. But I chose not to revisit this one for my other two sessions.
Read: Where is Tippy Toes? by Betsy Lewin (TT)

This one went much better. I was kind of amazed how quiet and attentive they were, especially after the opening lines that include a “Shhh!” I made a little joke about tigers being orange, but this tiger was a little more yellow that I’d hoped, and the adults got a chuckle out of that.
Read: Don’t Wake Up the Tiger by Britta Teckentrup (TB) (FT)

This one I only did after reading Tippy Toes, so needed a little transition.
Tippy Toes is an orange cat – but there’s a BIG cat who is also orange – a TIGER! What kind of markings does a tiger have? What about their friends the leopards?
Tickle Song: Spots, Spots, Spots (TT)
(tune of the baseball organ build up)
Spots, spots, spots, spots,
Spots, spots, spots, spots
A leopard has lots of spots
What a lot of spots he got!
A tiger’s stripes are always nice…
But a leopard has lots of
Spots, spots, spots, spots,
Spots, spots, spots, spots… (tickle!)
Source: Jbrary

Spots, spots, spots thumbnail, with a graphic of a tiger and leopard dancing. click the image to download a non-branded PDF.

Action Rhyme: Tiger, Tiger (TB) (FT)
Tiger, tiger, turn around
Tiger, tiger, touch the ground
Tiger, tiger, reach up high
Tiger, tiger, touch the sky
Tiger, tiger, find your nose
Tiger, tiger, touch your toes
Tiger, tiger, touch your knees
Tiger, tiger, sit down please
Source: Storytime Jennifer

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

Oh, look at this! This is a beautiful bug who has lovely orange wings – a monarch butterfly. But it doesn’t start life with wings. I used a caterpillar and butterfly felt from other sets I’ve made.
Fingerplay: My Friend Caterpillar (TT) (TB) (FT)
My friend caterpillar (fingers crawl up arm)
Made its cocoon one day (close hands together)
It turned into a butterfly (open hands with thumbs hooked)
And quickly flew away (flap hands)
Source: Storytime Katie

flannel pieces of an orange monarch butterfly and a yellow, black, and white monarch caterpillar

my friend caterpillar thumbnail, with a graphic of a tree branch with a caterpillar on the leaf, a cocoon hanging from the branch, and a monarch butterfly flying away. click the image to download a non-branded PDF

Oh, our butterfly has landed on this large, round, vegetable in the garden. What is it? A pumpkin!
I really enjoy this one. The dynamic speed with the rolling arms (as well as the cadence of the song) really hooks the littles.
Action Song: Roly Poly Pumpkin (TT) (TB) (FT)
(tune of Itsy Bitsy Spider)
Oh, the roly-poly pumpkin (roll arms, gradually speed up)
Went rolling down the hill
Once it started rolling
It couldn’t keep still
It rolled and rolled
Until it bumped into a rock (clap)
Then the roly-poly pumpkin (roll slowly)
Rolled to a stop (hands spread)
Source: King County (WA) Library System

roly poly pumpkin thumbnail, with a graphic of a small smiling pumpkin tumbling down a brown hill. click the image to download a non-branded PDF

Time to get out the parachute! I have one more song about a pumpkin. Can we walk in a circle?
Parachute Song: Ring Around the Pumpkin (TT) (TB) (FT)
(tune of Ring around the Rosies)
Ring around the pumpkin
Orange, big, and round
Pumpkin seeds, pumpkin seeds
We all fall down!
Source: The Lion is a Bookworm Blog

ring around the pumpkin thumbnail, with a graphic of a large orange pumpkin. click the image to download a non-branded PDF

Something else that is round and orange is a basketball. Can you pretend to bounce like a basketball?
We bounced up and down once by ourselves, then I added two small foam basketballs to the parachute to bounce!
Parachute Rhyme: Bouncing Ball (TT) (TB) (FT)
I’m bouncing, bouncing everywhere,
I’m bouncing, bouncing like a ball,
I bounce and bounce until I fall! (drop to the floor)
Source: Librionyian

bouncing ball thumbnail, with a graphic of a basketball with cartoon motion lines indicating a bounce. click the image to download a non-branded PDF

For the coup de grâce on our parachute, I threw in some fake autumn leaves.
Parachute Song: Autumn Leaves Are Falling Down (TT) (TB) (FT)
(tune of London Bridge)
Autumn leaves are falling down
Falling down, falling down
Autumn leaves are falling down
All around the town

The wind will blow them round and round…
Source: King County (WA) Library System

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

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

Parachute fly thumbnail, with a graphic of an overhead view of children holding on to a colorful parachute with balls bouncing on top. click the image to download a non-branded PDF

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

Craft: Color Mixing (TB) (FT)
Here’s a fun and no-mess way to explore color mixing. Start with a heavy duty zip-top bag (I practiced with gallon size, but ended up buying quart size.) Did you know you can remove the white write-on labels using hand sanitizer or rubbing alcohol!? I added a dollop of red and a dollop of yellow to each bag, squeezed out the air and taped them down to the tables using clear packing tape. I also printed out half-sheets of the various “orange” things we talked about. The pictures are black and white outlines so that that they could move the paint around to “color” them in or “find” them under the paint. The kids moved the paint around in the bag to mix up the paints and make orange. You might experiment with your paint – I found that I needed more yellow and less red to get a good orange color. Afterward, I told everyone they could take their bag of paint home (plus the image papers) if they wanted. A few did, but not the majority!

Download a template for the background images here.

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)
Creepy Carrots! – Aaron Reynolds & Peter Brown
Leaf Jumpers – Carole Gerber & Leslie Evans
Piggies in the Pumpkin Patch – Mary Peterson & Jennifer Rofé
I’m a Little Pumpkin – Hannah Eliot & Anna Daviscourt
Señorita Mariposa – Ben Gundersheimer & Marcos Almada Rivero
It’s a Tiger! – David LaRochelle & Jeremy Tankard
Dino-Basketball – Lisa Wheeler & Barry Gott
Orange Pear Apple Bear – Emily Gravett
An Orange in January – Dianna Hutts Aston & Julie Maren
Mr. Tiger Goes Wild – Peter Brown

This storytime was presented in-person on 2/5, 2/6, & 2/7/24.

Storytime Handout:

handout with suggested books, rhyme and song lyrics.

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

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

Storytime: Color Wheel – Yellow

Posted on February 9, 2024April 4, 2024 by msemilylibrary

Before we get started with this theme, I have a question for readers! Would it be helpful for me to post my rhyme/song sheets? These are 11×17″ (tabloid size) sheets that I print and put on my easel for grown-ups to follow along. I tape them in a stack to the top and flip them as we progress. I usually try to do a cute graphic for visual interest (all made in Canva). I’ll include these today – click on the thumbnail to download a full sized non-branded PDF. If you like them, let me know!

Our third color of this series is Yellow. I was really happy with this plan – it was fun, it flowed smoothly, and was well received.

In planning these color-based themes, I brainstormed what is yellow (usually or always) and songs and rhymes that work with those things. Here’s that list for yellow:

Bananas
Corn
Ducks
Chicks
Lemons
Dandelions
Sun/sunshine/Moon/Stars
School bus
Noodles
Sunflower
Pineapple
Bees
Cheese
Crown/gold
Bulldozers/construction equipment
Taxicabs

Last time, I felt that my transitions didn’t flow very well, so I made an intentional effort to work on those more this week. It paid off and I felt a lot more confident in moving from one song to another.

Early Development Tip: Rhymes, songs, and books often have vocabulary that we use more rarely in conversation. Sharing these withyour little one expands their vocabulary, and putting an action to the words (“mashing” or “chopping” bananas,for example) further reinforces the meaning behind the word.

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

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

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

Intro: Look at these beautiful colors on this color wheel! In the next couple of months, we’re going to get to know each of these colors in our storytimes. Today’s color is yellow! Can you think of anything that is yellow? Write items on whiteboard in yellow pen. Is anyone wearing yellow today?

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

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

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

This worked really well, with the anticipation of guessing and seeing what vehicle was teased.
Read: The Bus for Us by Suzanne Bloom (TT) (FT)

I have to keep reminding myself that toddler humor is not that advanced. On the surface, this seemed like a great book – funny, but short and not a ton of text. Unfortunately, they just didn’t really get it.
Read: Counting to Bananas by Carrie Tillotson & Estrela Lourenço (TB)

What kind of fruit is yellow?
In the first group, I got “lemon!” I gave some more clues to get us to banana.
Chant: Bananas Unite! (TT) (TB) (FT)
Bananas……unite!
Peel bananas, peel, peel bananas (x2)
(arms begin above head, and peel down one after the other)
Chop bananas, chop chop bananas (x2)
(make a chopping motion with one hand on the palm of the other)
Mash bananas, mash mash bananas (x2)
(smoosh the palms of the hands together)
Eat bananas, eat, eat bananas (x2)
(bring hands up to mouth as if eating)
Goooooooooo BANANAS! (arms go wild!)
Source: Jbrary

Bananas unite thumbnail, with a graphic of a smiling banana. click the image to download a non-branded PDF

Bzzz, bzzz – what’s that I hear? Some bees! Bees make honey. Who likes to eat golden yellow honey? Bears.
Tickle Rhyme: Bears Eat Honey (TT) (TB) (FT)
Bears eat honey
They think it’s yummy
In their tummy
But…
The bees don’t think it’s funny!
(Buzz, buzz, buzz!) (tickle)
Source: King County Library System via Storytime Katie

Bears eat honey thumbnail, with a graphic of a bear with a paw in a honeypot, surrounded by bees. click the image to download a non-branded PDF

What’s another animal that is yellow? Quack, quack!
Action Rhyme: Yellow Duck (TT)
When a yellow duck walks down the street
Quack goes his bill and waddle go his feet
He comes to a puddle and with a bound
In goes the yellow duck and swims around!
Source: Storytime in the Stacks

Yellow duck thumbnail, with a graphic of a duck walking and a duck swimming. click the image to download a non-branded PDF

I used the flannelboard set I originally got from Sunflower Storytime. It’s no longer published, so you can download it here.
Look at these – what are they? Eggs. Eggs aren’t yellow, are they?
Fingerplay: Ten Fluffy Chicks (TT) (TB) (FT)
Five eggs and five eggs, And that makes ten
Sitting on top is mother hen
Cackle, cackle, cackle, And what do I see?
Ten fluffy chicks as yellow as can be
Source: Mel’s Desk

Ten Fluffy chicks thumbnail, with a graphic of the flannelboard hen and 2 clutches of 5 eggs. click the image to download a non-branded PDF

Let’s do a rhyme about a vehicle that is usually yellow. It’s a taxi cab! You might use a taxi cab when you are visiting a big city and need a way to get around.
For the Toddler Time (youngest) group, we just clapped and patted. For the other two groups, we passed out our “rhythm sticks” (aka unsharpened pencils) and tapped the rhythm.
Action Rhyme/Rhythm Stick Song: Taxi Cab (TT) (TB) (FT)
(in the style of Pat-a-Cake)
Taxi cab, taxi cab (pat and clap)
Driving day and night
We’ll visit the city And see all the sights!
We’ll roll… (roll arms)
And we’ll STOP! (two hands up)
(repeat a couple of times, varying how long you “roll” – this is the taxi being in traffic!)
We’ll get out and look around (return to pat and clap)
We’ll hail another cab
And be homeward bound – TAXI! (lift arm)
Source: original

Taxi cab thumbnail, with a graphic of a taxi at the top and a child sitting on their grownups shoulder's raising their hand at the bottom. click the image to download a non-branded PDF

A vehicle that’s usually painted yellow is a – school bus!
Rhythm Stick Song: The Wheels on the Bus (TT) (TB) (FT)
The wheels on the bus go round and round (circle sticks)
Round and round, Round and round
The wheels on the bus go round and round
All through the town

The wipers on the bus go Swish, swish, swish (wiper motion)
The doors on the bus go open and shut (open/close sticks)
The driver on the bus says “Move on back” (sticks to shoulders)
The kids on the bus go up and down (bounce sticks)
Source: traditional, rhythm stick adaptations via Jbrary

Wheels on the bus thumbnail, with a graphic of diverse children in a yellow school bus. click the image to download a non-branded PDF

Here’s a fun clapping rhyme we can do with our sticks.
This is a traditional clapping game, and like all traditional games, there are endless variations. Many of them end with kicking a boyfriend out of town, but I went with a can instead!
Clapping Game/Rhythm Sticks: Lemonade (TB) (FT)
Lemonade (clap, clap, clap!)
Crunchy ice (clap, clap, clap!)
Sip it once (clap, clap, clap!)
Sip it twice (clap, clap, clap!)
Lemonade, Crunchy ice,
Sip it once, Sip it twice
Turn around, Touch the ground
Now kick that can right out of town –
and FREEZE!
Source: traditional – these girls are adorable demonstrating

Lemonade thumbnail, with a graphic of a glass of lemonade at the top and a smiling lemon at the bottom. click the image to download a non-branded PDF

So this one we’ll do at the end of each color session, too – so there are some familiarity bookending this series. I have rainbow colored scarves, and pass them out for everyone to wave around while we sing.
Scarf Song: Rainbow Colors (TB) (FT)
(tune of Twinkle Twinkle)
Rainbow colors way up high, Happy colors in the sky
Red and pink and green and blue
Yellow, orange, and purple, too
Rainbow colors way up high, Happy colors in the sky
Source: adapted from King County (WA) Library System

Rainbow colors thumbnail, with a graphic of pink, red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo, and purple paint splotches. click the image to download a non-branded PDF

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

Craft: Yellow Abstract Art (TB) (FT)
Another process art craft to focus more on creativity than on a finished product. I provide some art supplies and let the kids do what they wish. Each week, I’ll plan to use slightly different media, but hope to keep the craft very open ended. This week I provided yellow crayons, yellow paper shapes, glue sticks, yellow dot markers, and yellow stickers.

Yellow abstract art - showing a figure made of a cut paper shapes (squares and triangles) holding a crayon drawn banana next to a bunch of bananas, covered in yellow dots.

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)
A Seed Grows – Antoinette Portis
Thank You, Bees – Toni Yuly
Pineapple Princess – Sabina Hahn
5 Little Ducks – Denise Fleming
Five Fuzzy Chicks – Diana Murray & Sydney Hanson
B Is for Baby – Atinuke & Angela Brooksbank
Ducks Away! – Mem Fox & Judy Horacek
Beehive – Jorey Hurley
Truck Full of Ducks – Ross Burach
Piranhas Don’t Eat Bananas – Aaron Blabey

This storytime was presented in-person on 1/22, 1/23, & 1/24/24.

Storytime Handout:

thumbnail of handout with book suggestions, rhyme and song lyrics

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

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

Storytime: Color Wheel – Red

Posted on January 26, 2024January 25, 2024 by msemilylibrary

Starting our Color Wheel series with the primary colors, last week was Blue, this week is RED. There are lots of great red things to build our storytime around.

First off, I brainstorm what is red (usually or always) and songs and rhymes that work with those things. Here’s what I came up with for red:

Berries: Strawberry, raspberry, cherry
Apples
Cardinal bird
Tomato/Spaghetti/Pizza
Fire engines
Crabs
Ladybugs
Stop signs
Caboose
Barn
Hot/Bell Peppers

And thinking of extension activities, here are ones that came to mind:

One Red Sock flannel
Five Fat Sausages (my flannel shows the sausages as red)
Five Little Apples
Four Juicy Apples
Great Big Apple Tree
Green Means Go (? – uses three colors)
Little Apple Seed
Little Red Caboose
Little Red Train Going Down the Track
Hurry Drive the Fire Truck
Pat a Cake Pizza
Pick Berries High
Picked a Strawberry
Pretty Ladybug

I also searched other blogs for a red theme and got a few other ideas, then wove together a plan. I think I’m learning that the transitions are very important for these – it feels a little cheap to say, “oh, here’s another thing that’s red.” I didn’t do a great job with that this week, and I felt it during the program. It was a little disjointed and not as satisfying for me. Next week, yellow, I concentrated more on how to move from one topic to another and was a lot happier with the result.

Early Development Tip: Songs and rhymes that focus on body parts and their actions increase children’s awareness of how different parts of the body can start specific movements. By using their muscles to make the motions in a song, children develop both their gross motor skills and body self-awareness.

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

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

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

Intro: Look at these beautiful colors on this color wheel! In the next couple of months, we’re going to get to know each of these colors in our storytimes. Today’s color is red! Can you think of anything that is red? Write items on whiteboard in red pen. Is anyone wearing red today?

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

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

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

A definite classic.
Read: The Little Mouse, the Red Ripe Strawberry, and the Big Hungry Bear by Don & Audrey Wood (TT)

book cover of The Little Mouse, the Red Ripe Strawberry, and the Big Hungry Bear

A much newer book, but one that really worked well. I decided to repeat it for my third session, even though they skew younger.
Read: Firefighter Flo! by Andrea Zimmerman & Dan Yaccarino (TB) (FT)

I changed the song order around depending on which book I read – we did “Picked a Strawberry” first after the Little Mouse book, and “Hurry Drive the Firetruck” after Firefighter Flo.

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 red foods: apple, tomato, raspberry, etc
Source: Jbrary

This was a new to me apple rhyme, and a nice change from my usual Two Little Apples.
Action Rhyme: Little Red Apple (TT) (TB) (FT)
A little red apple grew high in a tree (raise fist above head)
I looked up at it, It looked down on me
“Please, please, please come down,” I said
And that little red apple fell right on my head! (bonk your own head with fist)
Source: Librarian vs. Storytime

I can think of another food that doesn’t grow on a tree or a bush, but it has a delicious red sauce on it. Pizza!
Tickle Rhyme: Pizza Pickle Pumpernickel (TT) (TB) (FT)
Pizza, pickle, pumpernickel, (bounce)
My little one shall have a tickle! (tickle)
One for your nose, And one for your toes,
And one for your tummy, where the pizza goes!
Source: King County (WA) Library System

Oh, there’s a tiny red bug over here. Do you know her name?
I used a flannel ladybug that I made for a bug storytime to fly around and land on my parts.
Body Rhyme: Ladybug, Ladybug (TT) (TB) (FT)
Ladybug, ladybug, Fly out of the farm
and land right on my little arm
Pair other rhyming places/body parts like:
Tree/Knee, Bed/Head, Rose/Nose
Source: Storytime Secrets

This one uses a problematic tune, so I try to sing it more like Old Town School of Folk Music. The actions are a lot of fun, and I always enjoy slowly driving back to the station.
Wee-oo, I hear a siren! What red vehicle uses a siren?
Action Song: Hurry, Hurry (TT) (TB) (FT)
Hurry, hurry, drive the fire truck
Hurry, hurry, drive the fire truck
Hurry, hurry, drive the fire truck
Ding, ding, ding, ding, ding!

Additional verses: …turn the corner; …climb the ladder; …spray the water; Slowly, slowly, to the station…
Source: Old Town School of Folk Music

There’s another vehicle that’s usually painted red, and it’s at the end of a train.
This is always a fun song, which I play on ukulele, and use a wooden train whistle to do the Woo-woos at the end of each verse, encouraging the kids to woo along.
Ukulele Song: Little Red Caboose (TT) (TB) (FT)
Little red caboose chug, chug, chug,
Little red caboose chug, chug, chug,
Little red caboose behind the train, train, train, train
Smokestack on its back, back, back, back
Coming down the track, track, track, track
Little red caboose behind the train, Woo-woo!

Little red caboose chug, chug, chug,
Little red caboose chug, chug, chug,
Little red caboose behind the train, train, train, train
Always at the end, end, end, end
Comin’ round the bend, bend, bend, bend
Little red caboose behind the train, Woo-woo!

Always on time, time, time, time
Comin’ down the line, line, line, line
Little red caboose behind the train, train, train
Never running late, late, late, late
Comin’ through the gate, gate, gate, gate
Little red caboose behind the train, Woo-woo!
Source: Lindsay Munroe

Get a downloadable ukulele songsheet for “Little Red Caboose” here!

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

Craft: Red Abstract Art (TB) (FT)
Another process art craft to focus more on creativity than on a finished product. I provide some art supplies (all red!) and let the kids do what they wish. Each week, I’ll plan to use slightly different media, but hope to keep the craft very open ended. This week I provided red crayons, red tempera paint, and red stickers.

Abstract art with red shapes made by different shades of red crayons, painted squiggles, and stickers of a red umbrella.

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)
Mine! – Candace Fleming & Eric Rohmann
Apple Farmer Annie – Monica Wellington
One Fox – Kate Read
Yoo-Hoo, Ladybug! – Mem Fox & Laura Ljungkvist
Firefighter Duckies! – Frank W. Dormer
One Red Sock – Jennifer Sattler
Pete’s a Pizza – William Steig
Llama, Llama Red Pajama – Anna Dewdney
Pizza Day – Melissa Iwai

This storytime was presented in-person on 1/15, 1/16, & 1/17/24.

Storytime Handout:

thumbnail of handout with suggested books, rhymes, and song lyrics

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

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

Storytime: Color Wheel – Blue

Posted on January 12, 2024January 12, 2024 by msemilylibrary

Welcome, 2024! I was off on medical leave during the month of December, so I’m coming back fresh, with a new theme series – colors!

While I was off, I was able to clock in and do some work from home, prepping for upcoming programs, ordering books, and so on. Usually when I’m preparing program plans, I can flip through books and get some inspiration for rhymes and songs based on the books that we’ll share. Unfortunately, I didn’t have access to my library’s collection at home, so I was spinning my wheels on how to plan when I hit upon the idea of colors as a theme. It’s very flexible – I was able to select any number of extension activities based on things that are a certain color, and I knew that I would have a lot of options for books to choose from when I returned to work and was able to look at them in person. Plus, I was able to plan out about two and a half months, getting “Pink” in Valentine’s Day week and “Green” in the week before St. Patrick’s.

I chose to do the rainbow colors plus pink, and started with primary colors, blue, red, then yellow. For each color, I brainstormed things that were that color (trying to keep to things that were usually or always that color.) I also searched other storytime blogs for color theme ideas. Here was my brainstorm list for blue:

Blueberries
Sky
Water/Rain/Ocean
Whale/Shark/Fish
Blue Jay/Bluebird
Butterfly
Jeans

I didn’t find any rhymes for jeans (if you know one, please share!), and I saved all my butterfly rhymes for Orange week, but this was a good starting out point. I think my lists for other colors got a bit longer – blue seems a little less naturally-occuring than red or green – but I found plenty of material to use!

Early Development Tip: Learning how to deal with big feelings is one crucial way we can help our child’s development. The act of taking slow, deep breaths triggers a cascade of mind-body systems that can result in increased comfort, relaxation, vigor, and alertness, and reduced symptoms of confusion, anxiety, stress, sadness, and anger – and it works fast. Taking a breathing break regularly gives kids the practice for using this tool when they really need it.

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

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

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

Intro: Look at these beautiful colors on this color wheel! In the next couple of months, we’re going to get to know each of these colors in our storytimes. Today’s color is blue! Can you think of anything that is blue? Write blue items on whiteboard in blue pen. Is anyone wearing blue today?

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

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

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

One very old book, and one very new book, both on the same topic.
Read: It Looked Like Spilt Milk by Charles G. Shaw (TT) (FT)

book cover for it looked like spilt milk

This is a very interactive book!
Read: Ploof by Ben Clanton & Andy Chou Musser (TB)

I decided to go with three clouds, since I had a lot planned. I’d made these clouds for a moon hiding game.
Flannel/Counting Rhyme: Five Little Clouds (TT) (TB) (FT)
Five little clouds up in the sky (five fingers up)
Drifting, floating way up high (float hand around)
When a big gust of wind came blowing through (blow on finger)
One disappeared from the sky so blue (lower a finger)
Source: Jen in the Library

Flannel of three clouds, one light blue, medium blue, and salmon colored.

There’s a lovely bird who flies through the blue sky who is also blue – a bluebird!
Fingerplay: Little Bluebird (TT) (FT)
Little bluebird rests in a tree (put index finger on shoulder)
Little bluebird looks at me (turn index finger inward)
Little bluebird chirps, “Hello” (flex finger)
Spread your wings and away you go! (spread arms and flap)
Source: Librarian vs. Storytime

I did this one right after our cloud counting rhyme during the Teddy Bear session, and that was a mistake. Two counting songs in a row just felt a little repetitive. But it’s a fun song!
Do you know who this is? It’s Pigeon! Did you know he was a triplet? Here’s pigeon and his siblings sitting on a wall.
Song: Three Blue Pigeons (TB)
Three blue pigeons, Sittin’ on a wall
Three blue pigeons, Sittin’ on a wall
If one of those pigeons should happen to fall…
There’d be two blue pigeons sittin’ on a wall!
(count down)
Source: Long Beach Public Library

printed and laminated flannelboard pieces of a red brick wall with three copies of Mo Willems' pigeon character on top.

Since I have tried and failed to do circle walking songs in the past (too many people, too small a space), I encouraged kids to go round the blueberry bush with their grownup in a two-person circle.
Oh, what’s that I see? The bluebird landed on a blueberry bush! Yum!
Action Song: The Blueberry Bush (TT) (FT)
(tune of The Mulberry Bush)
Here we go round the blueberry bush,
The blueberry bush, the blueberry bush
Here we go round the blueberry bush,
So early in the morning!

additional verses:
Pick the blueberries, small and round…
Taste the blueberries, ripe and sweet…
Source: Librarian vs. Storytime

Breathing Break: Ocean Breath (TT) (TB) (FT)
Oh, my, I hear something. The ocean! Can we make the sound of the ocean with our breath? Take a big breath in, hold it for just a moment, then let the wave crash – TCHHHHHHH!

I have a blue shark puppet that was fun to pull out during verse two!
What might we find in the water?
Flannel/Action Song: All the Fish (TT) (TB) (FT)
All the fish are swimming in the water (weave hands back and forth as if swimming)
Swimming in the water, Swimming in the water
All the fish are swimming in the water
Bubble, bubble, bubble, (corkscrew index fingers upwards)
…SPLASH! (clap)

additional verses:
All the sharks are chomping…
All the whales are spraying…
Source: adapted from Caspar Babypants, from the album “I Found You”

flannel showing a small green and blue fish, a grey shark, and a blue whale. Sitting above the flannelboard is a puppet of a shark.

I showed one of the pails and asked if anyone knew what it was – “Bucket!” of course.
Whale would like to play a game with us!
Flannel Game: Whale behind the Pail (TT) (TB) (FT)
Little whale, little whale,
Are you behind the BLUE pail?
Source: Long Beach Public Library

Download the flannel template here!

printed and laminated flannelboard pieces of six pails in different colors: blue, purple, red, orange, green, and yellow, with a small blue whale.

So this one we’ll do at the end of each color session, too – so there are some familiarity bookending this series. I have rainbow colored scarves, and pass them out for everyone to wave around while we sing.
Scarf Song: Rainbow Colors (TT) (TB) (FT)
(tune of Twinkle Twinkle)
Rainbow colors way up high, Happy colors in the sky
Red and pink and green and blue
Yellow, orange, and purple, too
Rainbow colors way up high, Happy colors in the sky
Source: adapted from King County (WA) Library System

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

Craft: Blue Abstract Art (TB) (FT)
I’ve been thinking about doing more process art, and these color themes are a perfect way to do that. I provide some art supplies (all blue!) and let the kids do what they wish. Each week, I’ll plan to use slightly different media, but hope to keep the craft very open ended. This week I provided blue crayons, blue dot markers, and blue foam stickers and shapes.

picture of craft: blue abstract blob shapes are drawn in various shades of blue crayon. Blue dots from a dot marker are all over the page, and different shaped foam stickers (teardrops, triangles, and a whale) are also glued on.

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)
My Ocean is Blue – Darren Lebeuf & Ashley Barron
Little Blue Truck – Alice Schertle & Jill McElmurry
Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus – Mo Willems
Blue Goose – Nancy Tafuri
The Proudest Blue – Ibtihaj Muhammad, SK Ali, & Hatem Aly
In a Blue Room – Jim Averbeck & Tricia Tusa
Have You Seen My New Blue Socks? – Eve Bunting & Sergio Ruzzier
Here Comes Ocean – Meg Fleming & Paola Zakimi
Blue Chicken – Deborah Freedman
Chomp: A Shark Romp – Michael Paul

This storytime was presented in-person on 1/8, 1/9, & 1/10/24.

Storytime Handout:

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

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

Storytime: Jingle Jam

Posted on December 15, 2023December 14, 2023 by msemilylibrary

What is seasonal, non-holiday, interactive, and… loud? Jingle bells! We have a set of jingle bell bracelets in our storytime supply closet that I don’t get out very regularly, and I thought they would make a great December program focus. I had them planned for the second week of December, but then had to schedule some surgery. I needed to be off work for the month, so I moved this program up to the last week of November and canceled the rest. I’m glad I did get to do it – we had a lot of fun jingle jangling away!

You can see a shortened virtual version of this program here.

Early Literacy Tip: Like a muscle, the brain needs to work to grow. Playing an instrument stimulates the brain, which can accelerate development in toddlers. Studies have shown that playing music activates the areas of the brain responsible for language, speech and reading.

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

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

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

Intro: Today we are going to make lots of music with our Jingle Jam. We’ll play instruments and dance and sing. Let’s first loosen up a little and start to jam with our bodies. Let’s pretend we are in a parade!

This is a super fun rhyme. We did it a couple of times. The source link doesn’t have a video, so if you’d like to see/hear me doing it, click the link above to the virtual version.
Action Rhyme: The Parade (TT) (TB) (FT)
Clap your hands! (clap, clap, clap)
Stamp your feet! (stomp, stomp, stomp)
The parade is coming down the street
Bum, bum, bum: a great big drum
Root-a-toot: a horn and flute
Bang, bang, bang: Cymbals clang
Ding-ding-ding: triangles ring
Clap your hands! (clap, clap, clap)
Stamp your feet! (stomp, stomp, stomp)
The parade is coming down the street
Source: King County (WA) Library System

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

One of the moms quietly said all the words of this along with me – apparently it’s one of their at-home favorites that they do over and over. So sweet! Despite the Santa-like hats the animals are wearing, this book doesn’t have any references to holidays, just snow and sleighs. It’s a great one for the youngest groups. I used a jingle bell to accompany me whenever I said “jingle.”
Read: Jingle-Jingle by Nicola Smee (TT) (FT)

This is a very interactive book if you encourage the group to do the instruments with you.
Read: Play This Book by Jessica Young & Daniel Wiseman (TB)

Before we get our instruments out, let’s exercise our hands with a fingerplay.
Fingerplay: Five Plump Peas (TT) (TB) (FT)
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

Time to get out the bells! Our bells look like this, with four large bells attached to a velcroed wrist band.

Jingle bell instruments: four silver bells are attached to a nylon wristband that can velcro together. Shown in green and red.

Let’s practice our bells with this rhyme.
Bell Rhyme: Jingle Bells UP (TT) (TB) (FT)
Jingle bells up, Jingle bells down
Jingle bells dancing all around the town
Dance them on your shoulders, Dance them on your head
Dance them on your knees, And tuck them into bed
Source: adapted from the traditional Tommy Thumbs rhyme

I had this as an “optional” song on my plan, but when the time came I could not remember the tune! I have since remembered – I know it’s a common tune but I can’t place it. I just now recorded myself singing it to a voice memo for future reference!
I also can’t figure out where I first got this. Google searches aren’t helping, so maybe I made it up? (If you know the tune or source, please let me know!)
Bell Song: Ring Those Bells
Ring those bells and tap your toes
Ring those bells and tap your toes
Ring those bells and tap your toes
Now give a little kiss, kiss, kiss!

Additional verses:
…and clap, clap, clap … Give a little hug, hug, hug
…and shake, shake, shake … Give a little wave, wave, wave
Source: ??

It actually worked out to skip the previous song, since putting our bells to bed in Jingle Bells UP was a perfect segue to this song. We started with our bells quiet in bed (tucked under our arm) then got them out to ring loudly starting with the “Morning bells” line. On the second time through, I encouraged everyone to sing their child’s name instead of “Brother John” – so I saing “Sister Emily.”
Bell Song: Are You Sleeping? (TT) (TB) (FT)
Are you sleeping, are you sleeping? (keep bells quiet)
Brother John, Brother John,
Morning bells are ringing, morning bells are ringing (ring bells)
Ding ding dong, ding ding dong
(try substituting your child’s name for “Brother John”)
Source: traditional

This is a lovely jazzy tune that I found on a video with some other jingle songs.
Oh, my! My bells turned into a jingle bug! Yours did, too! Here’s a song about the jingle bugs.
Bell Song: Jingle Bug (TT) (TB) (FT)
Some bugs wiggle, Some bugs creep
Some bugs jump to a jingling beat
Jingle bug just wants to play
What will your bug do today?

She’s gonna wiggle to the left and wiggle to the right
Wiggle way up high and wiggle out of sight (hide behind back)
Where’s that Jingle Bug you say?
Sneaking softly back out to play! (try to bring out bell without ringing)

Additional verses:
She’s gonna creep to the left and creep to the right…
She’s gonna jump to the left and jump to the right…
Source: Clap for Classics

Dancing with our bells to a recorded song. I always put out a list of the dances so we know which ones come next.
One last chance to jam!
Recorded Song: List of Dances (TT) (TB) (FT)
Source: Jim Gill From the Album “Jim Gill Makes It Noisy In Boise, Idaho”

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

Craft: Jingle Bell Bracelets and Dot Painting Coloring Sheets (TB) (FT)
I couldn’t think of any better craft than to give the kids jingle bells of their own. At the same time, though, I could see that these bells could be a choking hazard. I said and put up warnings for grown-ups to always be supervising when playing with bells, and offered some dot painting for an extra or alternative craft. For the bells, I bought some multicolored 15 mm bells, and provided chenille stems for them to string onto to create a bracelet. The coloring sheet I chose is from the wonderful Elizabeth Dulemba, who I love and use her coloring pages regularly.

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 Sounds Around Town – Maria Carluccio
Squeak, Rumble, Whomp! Whomp! Whomp! – Wynton Marsalis & Paul Rogers
Music Class Today – David Weinstone & Vin Vogel
The Composer Is Dead – Lemony Snicket, Nathaniel Stookey & Carson Ellis
Zin! Zin! Zin! A Violin – Lloyd Moss & Marjorie Priceman
A Neighborhood Walk, a Musical Journey – Pilar Winter Hill & Olivia Duchess
The Oboe Goes Boom Boom Boom – Colleen AF Venable & Lian Cho
This Magical Musical Night – Rhonda Gowler Greene & James Rey Sanchez
Pokko and the Drum – Matthew Forsythe
A Is for Oboe – Lera Auerbach, Marilyn Nelson, Paul Hoppe

This storytime was presented in-person on 11/27, 11/28, & 11/29/23.

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: Feeling Thankful (2023)

Posted on December 1, 2023November 30, 2023 by msemilylibrary

I have generally not repeated storytime themes, (at a single library – I have repeated themes I did at my old job!) EXCEPT for my Feeling Thankful theme, which I’ve done every November since 2019. Every year there are a few tweaks, of course. New books, different songs, but the core is there. This year was not very different – just two new scarf songs and different books.

As I’ve written before, holiday themes don’t feel inclusive to me, and American Thanksgiving has a lot more underlying issues beyond that. But I feel that gratitude and feeling thankful and appreciative are universal, and I look forward to celebrating them each year.

Speaking of – THANK YOU for being a reader. I started this blog to document what I’ve done, not even sure if anyone would see it. I owe so much to other library bloggers and sharers that I’ve always hoped readers would find something of use to them, their libraries, and their patrons. Thanks for reading and for doing the work you do.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Lyrics to Where are Three Friends with silhouettes of two hands with thumbs up and two hands showing the ASL "I Love You" sign.

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

I found a new Thank You book this year! This is a board book, so it’s not very big, but it does work for my group. I liked the different ways of saying thank you, both in words and in actions.
Read: The Thank You Book by Danna Smith & Juliana Perdomo (TT) (FT)

This is a fun title, with some unusual things to be thankful for. I am a Spanish learner, so I read the subject for the thanks in Spanish, but not the whole explanation. So for the first page, I read “Para el sol, for the sun that wakes me up…”
Read: Gracias/Thanks by Pat Mora & John Parra (TB)

Gracias mentions bees, but the Thank You Book didn’t. We just glossed over it!
I’m thankful for the bees that pollinate our plants and make us honey!
Tickle Rhyme: Here Is the Beehive (TT) (TB) (FT)
Here is the beehive, but where are all the bees? (make fist)
Hidden away where nobody sees
Watch and you’ll see them come out of the hive:
1, 2, 3, 4, 5 (open fingers)
They’re alive! Buzz, buzz, buzz! (tickle)
Source: Jbrary

I’m sure it comes as no surprise to you – something I love and something I’m always thankful for are books and reading! Here’s a fun song about books.
Song: These Are My Glasses (TT) (TB) (FT)
These are my glasses, this is my book
I put on my glasses and open up the book
Now I read, read, read
And I look, look, look
I put down my glasses and
Whoop! Close up the book!
Source: “Whaddaya Think of That?” by the Laurie Berkner Band

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

I’m thankful for the weather, even when it rains!
Scarf Rhyme: Rain on the Green Grass (TT) (TB) (FT)
Rain on the green grass (wave low)
Rain on the trees (wave high)
Rain on the roof (hold over head)
But not on me! (let fall to the floor!)
repeat with Sun, Snow, Leaves
Source: Jbrary

I’m thankful for games with our loved ones!
Scarf Song: Let’s Go Riding on an Elevator (TT) (TB) (FT)
Let’s go riding on an elevator, elevator, elevator
Let’s go riding on an elevator – Ride along with me!
First floor, Second floor, Third floor, Fourth floor, Fifth floor…
And down-down-down-down-down!
Source: Jbrary

We did this one three times each session. They loved throwing the scarves up!
Scarf Rhyme: Jack in the Box (TT) (TB) (FT)
Jack in the box (scrunch scarf up in one fist)
Sits so still
Will he come out?
Yes, he will! (throw scarf in the air)
Source: Jbrary

This flannel was made from the template created by Mel at Mel’s Desk! I go over the lyrics first and add the flannel pieces, then play the song (recorded or ukulele). I encourage kids to snuggle with someone they love. Before or afterwards is a good time to mention today’s early literacy tip, whichever flows more naturally for you.
Flannel/Ukulele Song: Thanks a Lot
Thanks a lot, Thanks for Sun in the sky
Thanks a lot, Thanks for clouds so high
Thanks a lot, Thanks for whispering wind
Thanks a lot, Thanks for the birds in the spring
Thanks a lot, Thanks for the moonlit night
Thanks a lot, Thanks for the stars so bright
Thanks a lot, Thanks for the wondering me
Thanks a lot, Thanks for the way I feel
Thanks for the animals, Thanks for the land,
Thanks for the people everywhere
Thanks a lot
Thanks for all I’ve got
Thanks for all I’ve got
Source: From the Album “Baby Beluga” by Raffi

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

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

thumbnail of Thanks A Lot ukulele songsheet

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

Craft: Thankful Wreath (TB) (FT)
I used die-cuts from my library’s collection to make the leaves and asked volunteers to cut out the middle of a paper plate, hole punch it and string it with yarn. If you don’t have a die-cutter, you can use these templates for leaves at firstpalette.com. I encouraged families to write what they’re thankful for on the leaves, being sure to mention that not all leaves need to be filled out right away – this can be a craft “in progress” over time. I also mentioned that it might be easier to glue the leaves to the outer side of the plate (curving out) rather than the inner part (curving in) like I did. I had trouble getting my leaves to stick and had to hold them on there for 20-30 seconds.

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)
Thank You, Omu – Oge Mora
The Thankful Book – Todd Parr
We Are Grateful: Otsaliheliga – Traci Sorell & Frané Lessac
The Thank You Book – Mo Willems
Thank You, Earth – April Pulley Sayre
The Thank You Letter – Jane Cabrera
When We Are Kind – Monique Gray Smith & Nicole Neidhardt
The Blue Table – Chris Raschka
Thank You, Bees – Toni Yuly
Thank You, Neighbor! – Ruth Chan

This storytime was presented in-person on 11/20, 11/21, & 11/22/23.

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