Springtime in Indiana is capricious, but thankfully we had some warm days, some rain, and some early blooms to reflect on. Although an ostensibly “springtime” theme, I focused mostly on seeds and plants. I’ve done gardening themes before, and I’ve also done a couple of sessions on bugs (here and here) that might also fit into this theme, if you are looking for more ideas.
Early Literacy Tip: Learning directional words like up, down, above, and below is foundational to learning to write letters. When you use words like these with your child and you gesture to show what you mean, you’re setting them up to learn how to write later on.
Welcome Song: Hello, Friends* (TT) (TB) (FT)**
Warm Up Song: Wake Up, Feet* (TT) (TB) (FT) This is a repeated song that everyone seems to enjoy. I always begin and end with feet and tummies, but find two other body parts to wiggle in the middle. This week it was fingers and knees.
Lifting Rhyme: Toast in the Toaster* (TT) (FT)
Rhyme: This is Big, Big, Big* (FT)
Intro: This week is the first official day of spring. Every day, the days are getting a little bit longer, the weather changing like the season, but moving toward getting a little warmer, and the little seeds that have been in the ground all winter long are starting to wake up!
As simple as this is, it worked really well for all three groups. Fingerplay: During the Spring (TT) (TB) (FT) During the spring, it often showers (flutter fingers down) Or the sun shines for many hours (form circle with arms) Both are very good for the flowers! (cup hands, extend arms) Source: Storytime Katie
Fingerplay: Dig a Little Hole Dig a little hole, Plant a little seed Pour a little water, Pull a little weed Chase a little bug, Heigh-ho, there he goes! Give a little sunshine, Grow a little rose Credit: SurLaLune Storytime via Storytime Katie
Transition: If You’re Ready for a Story* (TT) (TB) (FT)
Read: A Seed Grows by Antoinette Portis (TT) (FT)
What a beautiful book this is. I love its playfulness and gentleness. Read: How to Say Hello to a Worm by Kari Percival (TB)
Fingerplay: Five Plump Peas Five plump peas in a peapod pressed (make a fist and cover with the other hand) One grew, two grew, and so did all the rest (raise all fingers on first hand one by one) they grew, & they grew, & they grew, & never stopped (hands get wider and wider) They grew SO BIG that the peapod… POPPED! (hands spread as wide as possible, then clap!) Source: Carole Stephens
Rhyme: Be A Seed Be a seed, small and round Sprout, sprout, sprout up from the ground. Shake your leaves for all to see Stretch your arms up, you’re a tree! Source: Jbrary
Action Rhyme: A Big Green Leaf (TT) (TB) (FT) (tune of A Ram Sam Sam) A big green leaf, a big green leaf (hold hands apart) Little ladybug (pinch fingers close) On a big green leaf (x2)
A bumblebee- BZZ! (tickle) A bumblebee- BZZ! (tickle) And a little ladybug On a big green leaf (x2) Source: Storytime in the Stacks
Scarf Song: One Bright Scarf (TT) (TB) (FT) One bright scarf waiting for the wind to blow Toss it up high, and wave it down low Wiggle it fast, and wiggle it slow (hide the scarf) Hey! Where did it go? (bring out) Here it is! Source: Jbrary
Scarf Rhyme: Here is a Green Leaf (TT) (TB) (FT) (start by crumpling scarf between both hands) Here is a green leaf, and here is a green leaf (show thumbs) and that, you see, makes two Here is the bud that makes the flower (show a tiny bit of the scarf) Now watch it bloom for you! (open hands to let scarf expand) Source: Jbrary
Scarf Rhyme: Little Seed (TB) (FT) (start by scrunching scarf in one hand) Little seed in the ground Sitting oh, so still Little seed, will you sprout? YES, I WILL! (pull scarf up out of hand) Source: Lady Librarian Life
Ukulele Song: Mr. Sun Oh, Mr. Sun, Sun, Mr. Golden Sun Please shine down on me Oh, Mr. Sun, Sun, Mr. Golden Sun Hiding behind a tree
These little children are asking you To please come out so we can play with you
Craft: Dot Painted Flowers Pretty simple. I used two die cuts to make flowers on white construction paper, and provided light blue backing paper, glue sticks, and dot markers. I’d also read a great article on how radishes are a great veggie for children to grow, since they are very quick to both sprout and mature. I bought a package of radish seeds and gave them out with some simple instructions.
Play Time The toddlers have two laundry baskets of baby toys – rattles and cars, sorters and stackers, toy phones and spinners. For the older kids, I have foam blocks, soft food toys, puzzles, and a few other items that are a little more sophisticated than the baby toys. For Family Time, I gauge the overall age of the group and put out what seems right for them. We play for 5-10 minutes at the most, then I ring the bell and ask the kids to help me clean up. I think the clean up bit is good practice for them!
Goodbye Song: See You Later Alligator* (TT) (TB) (FT)
Goodbye Rhyme: Tickle the Stars* (TT) (TB) (FT)
Other books I had available for families to browse (and may work for you on this theme) And Then it’s Spring – Julie Fogliano & Erin E. Stead If You Plant a Seed – Kadir Nelson Flower Garden – Eve Bunting & Kathryn Hewitt On a Snow-Melting Day – Buffy Silverman A Seed is Sleepy – Dianna Hutts Aston & Sylvia Long Emile and the Field – Kevin Young & Chioma Ebinama My Garden/Mi Jardín – Rebecca Emberley Lola Plants a Garden – Anna McQuinn & Rosalind Beardshaw How a Seed Grows – Helene J. Jordan & Loretta Krupinski Planting a Rainbow – Lois Ehlert
This storytime was presented in-person on 3/20, 3/21, & 3/22/23.
**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
Doing a storytime about shadows is fun and exciting. It’s also a bit logistically difficult. I think I’ve seen others do this theme around Groundhog Day, but I hadn’t actually made that connection in my mind when I scheduled this for late February. I’d done this theme once before, pre-pandemic, and at that time I brought in one of those heavy-duty work lights with the halogen bulbs that have lots of scary warning stickers on them. For several of our rhymes and songs, we’re making motions and looking for our shadows to imitate us. Back then, I was able to put that big light toward the back of the room to shine on the group and project our shadows on the front wall, but I had a lot fewer kids attending then, and their grownups were more fastidious about keeping them within arms length. This time around, the only good place to put it was front and center, and I now have a larger and more mobile group. I just didn’t feel comfortable with that setup. I had a desk lamp I was able to use for my shadow theater, but it wasn’t a good fit for the wider room. A coworker let me borrow her ring light, but the light was too diffused to throw much of a shadow. Instead, we made do. I had a few flashlights, and when I lowered the main lights, there were still some can lights on the ceiling that stayed on and we were able to throw some shadows on the floor.
All that to say – it was still totally worthwhile to do, even with all the technical difficulties! Just lowering lights in storytime is fun and exciting, and a shadow made with a handheld flashlight still demonstrates the science, even if not everyone can see their distinct shadow at the same time.
Early Literacy Tip: Sharing nonfiction titles, even in an abbreviated way, helps introduce your child to new concepts, vocabulary, and general knowledge of the world around them. You can look at the pictures and read captions or paraphrase the “big ideas” of a book to create an age-appropriate experience with a factual book on a subject like shadows.
Welcome Song: Hello, Friends* (TT) (TB) (FT)**
Warm Up Song: Wake Up, Feet* (TT) (TB) (FT) This is a repeated song that everyone seems to enjoy. I always begin and end with feet and tummies, but find two other body parts to wiggle in the middle. This week it was knees and noses.
Lifting Rhyme: Toast in the Toaster* (TT) (FT)
Intro: Today we’re talking about shadows! A shadow is a dark spot that is made when light shines past something solid, like us! Let’s make some shadows on the walls. I’m going to lower the overhead lights and turn on this bright light behind us. Can you see our shadow on the wall? [This ended up being floor!]
I usually use this rhyme as a “filler,” but since it makes some nice big movements, it was a good option to do and see our shadow selves doing as well. Rhyme: This is Big, Big, Big* (TT) (TB) (FT)
Read: Share individual pages fromWhat Makes Shadow by Clyde Robert Bulla & June Otani. This is where I shared our literacy tip.
Let’s try this rhyme and see what our shadows do. Action Rhyme: My Shadow Movements (TT) (TB) (FT) If I walk, my shadow walks If I run, my shadow runs And when I stand still, as you can see My shadow stands beside me When I hop, my shadow hops When I jump, my shadow jumps And when I sit still, as you can see My shadow sits beside me Source: Johnson County (Kansas) Library (link no longer functional)
Transition: If You’re Ready for a Story* (TT) (TB) (FT)
Instead of reading a book here, I performed the story of the Three Billy Goats Gruff using shadow puppets. I just improvised the traditional story on memory, but the novelty of the shadow theater was riveting for the little ones and I highly recommend trying this sometime! I found a puppet and scenery template for this story at this website and increased the size to fit about 11×17 inches, which fit nicely on the box I used. I liked this story because it only had four characters, and only two were “onstage” at one time, so I felt like I could handle that by myself pretty easily. I watched this Hallmark Channel video as a guide to how to make the theater (the side hole for manipulating the puppets is really helpful.)I didn’t make the box look super nice or fancy, but sketched a little theater outline on the outside with the help of a ruler. You can’t actually see it when it’s dark and the play is going on, so you really don’t need to do that. If you do need a script, there are lots of versions out there, in picture book form as well as by searching for “Billy Goats Gruff Script.” Shadow Theater: The Three Billy Goats Gruff (TT) (TB) (FT)
Let’s try to retell that story with this rhythm rhyme! We didn’t use rhythm sticks, but patted our laps and did the hand motions option from Jbrary. Story Rhyme: Billy Goats Trip Trap (TT) (TB) (FT) Trip, trap, trip, trap, Across the bridge they come Trip, trap, trip, trap, Crossing one by one Trip, trap, trip, trap, Baby takes a stroll Trip, trap, trip, trap, Over the sleeping troll Trip, trap, trip, trap, Louder taps I hear Trip, trap, trip, trap, Middle goat is near Trip, trap, trip, trap, Stomps the biggest goat Trip, trap, trip, trap, Troll goes in the moat! Source: Jbrary(see motions there)
Action Rhyme: Shadow, Shadow (TB) Shadow, shadow turn around Shadow, shadow touch the ground Shadow, shadow dance on your toes Shadow, shadow touch your nose Shadow, shadow jump up now Shadow, shadow take a bow Shadow, shadow stomp your feet Shadow, shadow take your seat. Source: Storytimes and More
You can use pretty much any clip art here, I was inspired by Sunflower Storytime (website now unavailable) and Storytimes and More (link below). I found several of the same images they used. I laminated my printout and also a black piece of cardstock, then cut both out together to make the image and the art. Most are fairly easy, and the kids were excited to tell me each object until the last one, the sandwich on the plate, which was a difficult one. I got some good guesses, like a boat, but they laughed to see the actual picture. Flannelboard Game: Guess That Shadow (TB) (FT) I’m a shadow, look at me Guess whose shadow I might be! Source: Sunflower Storytime and Storytimes and More
I wanted them to have the opportunity to try puppet theater, so I made some spider puppets (a die cut spider on a craft stick) and we did the Itsy Bitsy Spider, using our opposite arm as the water spout. With all the lighting issues, only my shadow really made it on the wall, but we sang through it twice and I told them this will look amazing on their bedroom wall tonight with their grownup helping with a flashlight. They all loved that they were allowed to take their spiders home. Fingerplay: The Itsy Bitsy Spider (TT) (TB) (FT) The itsy bitsy spider went up the water spout Down came the rain and washed the spider out! Out came the sun and dried up all the rain And the itsy bitsy spider went up the spout again Source: traditional
I didn’t actually play this for any of the storytime sessions, we just ran too long. But it’s a good one if you do have time. Ukulele Song: Mr. Sun Oh, Mr. Sun, Sun, Mr. Golden Sun Please shine down on me Oh, Mr. Sun, Sun, Mr. Golden Sun Hiding behind a tree
These little children are asking you To please come out so we can play with you
Another optional activity, which I didn’t use (or even plan to use), but I did include on my handout, is the classic Sesame Street video of Grover and his Furry Little Shadow. Video: My Furry Little Shadow Source: Sesame Street
Action Song: Zoom, Zoom, Zoom!* (TT) (TB) (FT)
Craft: Shadow Tracing (TB) (FT) I encouraged grownups to use their phone’s flashlight feature or one of my traditional flashlights (I had about four available) to cast a shadow on a piece of paper using one of our farm animal toys or plastic trucks, then the kids could trace the shadow. ALTERNATELY, since I understand that this is on the higher skill spectrum for this age, they could just draw and color whatever they wanted. I had about half and half, so it was good to have both options out there. No original picture for this one, just a borrowed one from the site that inspired the idea, the Dad Lab.
Play Time The toddlers have two laundry baskets of baby toys – rattles and cars, sorters and stackers, toy phones and spinners. For the older kids, I have foam blocks, soft food toys, puzzles, and a few other items that are a little more sophisticated than the baby toys. For Family Time, I gauge the overall age of the group and put out what seems right for them. We play for 5-10 minutes at the most, then I ring the bell and ask the kids to help me clean up. I think the clean up bit is good practice for them!
Goodbye Song: See You Later Alligator* (TT) (TB) (FT)
Goodbye Rhyme: Tickle the Stars* (TT) (TB) (FT)
Other books I had available for families to browse (and may work for you on this theme) Shadows – April Pulley Sayre & Harvey Stevenson The Three Billy Goats Gruff – Jerry Pinkney I Love My Shadow – Hans Wilhelm Groundhug Day – Anne Marie Pace & Christopher Denise Shadow – Suzy Lee Groundhog’s Runaway Shadow – David Biedrzycki Footprints and Shadows – Ann Dodd & Henri Sorensen Maisy Goes Camping – Lucy Cousins Moonbear’s Shadow – Frank Asch The Night World – Mordicai Gerstein Shadows and Reflections – Tana Hoban
This storytime was presented in-person on 2/20, 2/21, & 2/22/23.
**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
Instead of a Valentine’s theme, I wanted to do a program on loving and appreciating ourselves this February. I learned some new songs and my groups did a lot of self-hugs.
This is a topic near and dear to me, and in one of my asides, I noted to the group that kids generally do a pretty good job loving themselves, but it’s a harder task for us grown-ups. I reminded them that finding ways to be loving and compassionate to ourselves as adults sends a great message to our kids that our bodies don’t have to look a certain way for us to appreciate them, and we can celebrate our smarts, our creativity, our problem-solving, our kindness as well as our bodies and all the amazing things they do for us.
Early Literacy Tip: Self-confidence is an attribute that you can teach your children as they play, learn, and read with you. Don’t forget that they pick up so many cues from us even when we’re not paying attention. Being positive about your own body and self is a great way to model it for them – both now and as they grow and change.
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 elbows and hair!
Lifting Rhyme: Toast in the Toaster* (TT) (FT)
Rhyme: This is Big, Big, Big* (FT)
Intro: February is a month full of love – who are some of the people you love? Don’t forget to love YOU. You are special and there’s no one else exactly like you. Loving yourself gives you the foundation to love others.
The orginal rhyme said “my fingers can snap” but most of my kids can’t snap yet, so I changed it to wiggle! Rhyme: All of Me (TT) (TB) (FT) My hands are for clapping, My arms can hug tight My fingers can wiggle, Or turn out the light My legs are for jumping, My eyes help me see This is my body, And I love all of me! Source: Miss Sarah’s Storytime
Rhyme: Up & 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) Public Library
Transition: If You’re Ready for a Story* (TT) (TB) (FT)
This is just a perfect book for this age. Lots of adorable kids in the illustrations, and body parts to touch and tickle. Read: I Love All of Me by Lorie Ann Grover & Carolina Búzio (TT) (FT)
I love that this one looks at the whole person. Read: Be You! by Peter H. Reynolds (TB)
Our bodies are so amazing, let’s test them out. Rhyme: Touch Your Nose (TT) (TB) (FT) Touch your nose, touch your chin, That’s the way this game begins. Touch your eyes, touch your knees, Now pretend you feel a breeze. Touch your hair, touch one ear, Touch your two cheeks right here. Touch your elbows where they bend, That’s the way this touch game ends. [I added: okay, now reach a little farther and give yourself a big hug!] Source: King County (WA) Library System
I love my body, but I also love other things about myself. Here’s some of them! The original song uses the “love” verse as a chorus and repeats it. It also is sung a little differently. I simplified by singing it the same as the other verses and used it as the last verse. Ukulele Song: I Am Kind (TT) (TB) (FT) I am kind – I’ll be your friend, will you be mine? I can share a smile, I am kind
I am brave – I do it though I feel afraid I can do the hard things, I am brave
I am wise – Solving problems that arise Finding new solutions, I am wise
I am strong – I’m OK when things go wrong I know I can do it, I am strong
I am love – I wrap my arms around myself In a great big hug, I am love! Source: Lindsay Munroe featuring Raffi, from the album I AM KIND: Songs for Unique Kids
Rhyme: Make a Heart (TT) (TB) (FT) I put my hands together, This is how I start I curve my fingers right around, And I can make a heart! Source: Verona Story Time
Shaker Rhyme: Egg Shakers Up (TT) (TB) (FT) Egg shakers up, egg shakers down Egg shakers 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: Jbrary
I absolutely love this song. Gives me the feels every time. The toddlers were running out of steam, so we skipped this song for them and went straight to the hokey pokey. For everyone else, I just encouraged them to shake their shakers along with the music. Ukulele/Shaker Song: I Love My Body (TB) (FT) I love my body from my head to my toes I love my face, my eyes, my mouth, my nose I love the way I look when I look in the mirror I stand a little closer just to see a little clearer
Who is that? It’s me! And I am looking good as good can be So, what do I say? I tell myself I love me every day I hope you can, too! You’re worthy of your own love, it is true So what do we say? We tell ourselves we love us, every day! Source: Mother Moon
Shaker Song: The Hokey Pokey (TT) (TB) (FT) You put your right arm in, You take your right arm out, You put your right arm in and you shake it all about, You do the hokey pokey, and you turn yourself around That’s what it’s all about! (clap, clap) (repeat with arms, legs, head, whole self) Source: traditional
Action Song: Zoom, Zoom, Zoom!* (TT) (TB) (FT)
With one group I did this after Zoom, Zoom, Zoom and before our craft, and with the others I did it after cleaning up toys and before our Goodbye song and rhyme. I think it worked best before saying goodbye, but it worked either way! Affirmation (TT) (TB) (FT) I am KIND (hands outstretched) I am BRAVE (hands on hips) I am SMART (finger to your head) I am STRONG (arms curled up) I am LOVED (give yourself a hug) Today is an awesome day! (fist pump) Source: adapted from Miss Sarah’s Storytime
Craft: Valentine to Yourself (TB) (FT) Very simple concept and execution. Write your name on the heart. Talk with your grownup about some of the things you love about yourself, and ask them to help you write a few on your (die-cut) heart. Decorate with stickers and crayons.
Play Time The toddlers have two laundry baskets of baby toys – rattles and cars, sorters and stackers, toy phones and spinners. For the older kids, I have foam blocks, soft food toys, puzzles, and a few other items that are a little more sophisticated than the baby toys. For Family Time, I gauge the overall age of the group and put out what seems right for them. We play for 5-10 minutes at the most, then I ring the bell and ask the kids to help me clean up. I think the clean up bit is good practice for them!
Goodbye Song: See You Later Alligator* (TT) (TB) (FT)
Goodbye Rhyme: Tickle the Stars* (TT) (TB) (FT)
Other books I had available for families to browse (and may work for you on this theme) Be Who You Are – Todd Parr Bodies Are Cool – Tyler Feder I Love My Body Because – Shelly Anand, Nomi Ellenson, & Erika Rodriguez Medina Lovely – Jess Hong I Love You, Nose! I Love You, Toes! – Linda Davick Beautifully Me – Nabela Noor & Nabi H. Ali I Am Golden – Eva Chen & Sophie Diao Who Will You Be? – Andrea Pippins From Head to Toe – Eric Carle
This storytime was presented in-person on 2/13, 2/14, & 2/15/23.
**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
Although I did a “snow” theme a couple of weeks ago, I still had activities and ideas I couldn’t fit into that program and which followed more of a theme of warm winter clothing.
I think I overplanned a bit for this session, and we skipped several things I had on my list, but it’s better to have too much material than too little. My third session was the one I was planning to retell Froggy Gets Dressed in, but – ironically enough – we had some snow and ice and cancelled programming that day!
Early Literacy Tip: Songs that focus on body parts increase children’s awareness of how different parts of their body can start specific movements. By using their muscles to make the motions in the song, children develop both their gross motor skills and body self-awareness.
Welcome Song: Hello, Friends* (TT) (TB)**
Warm Up Song: Wake Up, Feet* (TT) (TB) 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.
Lifting Rhyme: Toast in the Toaster* (TT)
Rhyme: This is Big, Big, Big*
Intro: When it’s cold outside we need to dress warmly – did anyone wear their Coat today? Hat/boot/mitten/scarf/etc.
Bounce: Bumpin’ Up and Down in My Little Blue Sled (TT) (TB) Bumping up and down in my little blue sled Bumping up and down in my little blue sled Bumping up and down in my little blue sled Won’t you be my darling? (lift)
Hit a rock and we all fell over… (lean to sides) Source: adapted from the traditional
Let’s come inside to drink something hot. Ready to put the kettle on? Action Song: I’m a Little Teapot (TT) (TB) I’m a little teapot, short and stout Here is my handle (crook one hand to hip) Here is my spout (hold other hand out to side) When I get all steamed up then I shout: “Tip me over and pour me out!” (tilt body to the side of the spout) Source: traditional
Transition: If You’re Ready for a Story* (TT) (TB)
I think this is more entertaining for the adults than for the kids, but it’s cute and quick and goes through several winter clothing choices. Read: Under My Hood I Have a Hat byKarla Kuskin & Fumi Kosaka (TT)
A newer book about a bundled-up turkey who gives away his warm clothes to friends on the farm. Lots of funny puns and silly illustrations! Read: Cold Turkey by Corey Rosen Schwartz, Kirsti Call, & Chad Otis (TB)
Fingerplay: Warm Mittens (TT) (TB) I wiggle my left hand, I wiggle my right Inside of my mittens so warm and so tight I wiggle my pinkie, I wiggle my thumbs So when I make snowballs My hands don’t get numb! Source: Adventures of a Bookworm
This was one of the songs that I skipped for time purposes. Another reason is that I hadn’t really worked out what motions to pair with the song, which made it feel awkward to me. If I figure it out, I’ll gladly try again – I am a fan of the My Bonnie tune! Song: My Sweater (tune of My Bonnie) My sweater is warm and cozy My sweater is warm and dry When I play in very cold weather Oh bring me a sweater to wear Oh bring me, bring me, Oh bring me a sweater to wear, to wear Bring me, bring me, oh bring me my sweater to wear Source: Johnson County (KS) Library
This was a fun alternative to the usual tune of Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes, with a little built-in anticipation and silliness! Action Song: Hat, Coat, Pants, and Boots (TT) (TB) (tune of London Bridge) Hat, coat, pants, and boots (touch head, shoulders, knees, and toes) Pants and boots, Pants and boots Hat, coat, pants, and boots Mittens… (wiggle hands) Earmuffs! (hands over ears) (repeat, changing the last item to other clothing or accessories, including silly ones – scarf, glasses, bow tie, umbrella, etc) Source: adapted from Storytime Secrets
This probably should have been done earlier, maybe before the book – it didn’t flow very well in this spot. Bounce: Baby’s in a Bundle (TT) Baby’s in a bundle Baby’s very warm Baby’s very happy In the snowstorm Source: Handley Regional Library System (VA)
I was pretty excited to do this one, but we ended up not having time in the Teddy Bear session, and Family Time was cancelled for weather. I printed and laminated the Froggy and clothing pieces from Kizclub.com (they have lots of great resources!). I enlarged it to fit 11×17″ instead of 8.5×11″, and that seemed like a better size for a flannel for everyone to see. After laminating, I attached velcro dots to hold the clothing in place according to the story. To help them blend in, I colored the velcro with different Sharpie markers, and was pleased at how well they are hidden. This is definitely going to come out again in the future! Retelling: Froggy Gets Dressed by Jonathan London & Frank Remkiewicz
Ukulele Song: Fuzzy Wuzzy Blanket (TT) (TB) (tune of the Oscar Mayer jingle) Oh I wish I were a fuzzy wuzzy blanket That is what I’d truly like to be ‘Cause if I were a fuzzy wuzzy blanket Everyone would snuggle up with me!
Additional verses: …fuzzy wuzzy beanie… …fuzzy wuzzy scarf… …pair of fuzzy mittens… Source: Book Besotted Librarian Blog
Craft: Warm Hat Suncatcher (TB) Inspired by this mitten project at Kinder Craze, I took a look at our library’s die cut designs and realized we had a winter hat die. This was better than mittens since I’d only have to cut out one per kid, and it would use less contact paper. I made an outline for the brim and the main body of the hat and asked volunteers to cut it out, then stuck the outline on a piece of contact paper, replacing the backing paper until we were ready to craft. I then provided tissue squares and another piece of contact paper to seal it all up. I relied on grownups to cut out the shape, punch a hole, and string some yarn through for a hanger. It was a bit more intensive craft, but everyone enjoyed piecing the tissue paper and making colorful designs for their hats.Again, our Family Time program was cancelled due to weather, so I packaged up the materials for that group and offered it in the next week as a Take and Make packet.
Play Time The toddlers have two laundry baskets of baby toys – rattles and cars, sorters and stackers, toy phones and spinners. For the older kids, I have foam blocks, soft food toys, puzzles, and a few other items that are a little more sophisticated than the baby toys. For Family Time, I gauge the overall age of the group and put out what seems right for them. We play for 5-10 minutes at the most, then I ring the bell and ask the kids to help me clean up. I think the clean up bit is good practice for them!
Goodbye Song: See You Later Alligator* (TT) (TB) (FT)
Goodbye Rhyme: Tickle the Stars* (TT) (TB) (FT)
Other books I had available for families to browse (and may work for you on this theme) Three Little Kittens – Barbara McClintock Lost. Found. – Marsha Diane Arnold & Matthew Cordell Extra Yarn – Mac Barnett & Jon Klassen A Sled for Gabo – Emma Otheguy & Ana Ramírez González Not Now, Cow – Tammi Sauer & Troy Cummings A Hat for Minerva Louise – Janet Morgan Stoeke Winter Babies – Kathryn O Galbraith & Adela Pons Winter is the Warmest Season – Lauren Stringer Sweater Weather – Matt Phelan
This storytime was presented in-person on 1/23 & 1/24/23.
**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
Oof, it’s been awhile… (Cue the Critical Role crew) It’s been a busy couple of weeks, but I’ll catch up!
I’d done a version of a “Favorites” theme before as a virtual-only program, and transforming it into something that worked for live in-person sessions wasn’t too difficult, but took a little thought. For one, I had a lot of favorite songs and rhymes I wanted to incorporate, more than before. I also was worried about the “voting” aspect – with quite a few kids, I didn’t want to have votes for several different things and then I would have to choose anyway.
So instead, I decided to incorporate an element of chance with a foam six-sided die. I split my favorite rhyme and song selections into groups of six. They seemed to naturally fall into groups of fingerplays, action songs, some scarf songs, and ukulele songs. I added a couple here or there, took a few off the list, and that was it for the planning. For books, I looked at my Goodreads to find my top rated picture books from the last couple of years. It was remarkably quick to plan. (Proponents of themeless storytimes may be thinking – “That’s what I do every week!”)
There was an element of visuals that took a little more work. I always print out the words to our songs and rhymes on an 11×17″ sheet and flip them as we move through storytime. For visual interest, I include a little icon or picture on almost every page. To help make the selections, I printed and laminated the icon from all the songs to put up on the board under the numbers 1-6. That way the group (and I) had a visual cue as to which song corresponded with each die roll. My stack of song sheets was a lot larger than usual, but it worked just fine.
This was a lot of fun. My songs consisted of some favorites that everyone knew – Two Little Blackbirds, I’m a Little Teapot, Wheels on the Bus – but I also explained that some of them were favorites of mine that they may not have heard before. Some just never fit with my previous themes. That mix of familiar and unfamiliar seemed to add some excitement.
Early Literacy Tip: Talking with your children, especially as you share books, is one of the best ways to develop your children’s vocabulary. In books they see things they might not otherwise see, like different kinds of animals. Take advantage of expanding their vocabulary by talking with them about the pictures in books.
Welcome Song: Hello, Friends* (TT) (TB) (FT)**
Warm Up Song: Wake Up, Feet* (TT) (TB) (FT) This is a repeated song that everyone seems to enjoy. I always begin and end with feet and tummies, but find two other body parts to wiggle in the middle. This week was elbows and ears.
Lifting Rhyme: Toast in the Toaster* (TT) (FT)
Rhyme: This is Big, Big, Big* (FT)
Intro: Today I wanted to do some of my favorite storytime songs, rhymes and books. Some might be new to you, but some might be your favorites, too! I have so many favorites, I picked too many, so we are going to get some help in what we do today!
For each group of songs, I put up the icons and said the titles. If I got a lot of “Little Teapot!” just from that, I’d make that one of our choices. Otherwise, we rolled the foam die to decide (no repeats!) Fingerplay: Let the dice or popular consensus choose 2 from list: 1. Five Plump Peas (FT) 2. Two Little Blackbirds 3. I’m a Little Teapot (TT) (TB) 4. Slowly, Slowly 5. Hickory Dickory Dock (TT) 6. Here is the Beehive (TB) (FT)
Five Plump Peas Five plump peas in a peapod pressed (make a fist and cover with the other hand) One grew, two grew, and so did all the rest (raise all fingers on first hand one by one) they grew, and they grew, and they grew, and never stopped (hands get wider and wider) They grew SO BIG that the peapod… POPPED! (hands spread as wide as possible, then CLAP!) Source: Jbrary
Two Little Blackbirds Two little blackbirds (pointer fingers up) Sitting on a hill One named Jack (wiggle one finger) One named Jill (wiggle the other finger) Fly away, Jack (first finger hides behind back) Fly away, Jill (second finger hides behind back) Come back, Jack (first finger returns) Come back, Jill (second finger returns) Source: traditional
I’m a Little Teapot I’m a little teapot, Short and stout Here is my handle (crook one hand to hip) Here is my spout (hold other hand out to side) When I get all steamed up then I shout: “Tip me over and pour me out!” (tilt body to the side of the spout) Source: traditional
Slowly, Slowly (fist with thumb sticking out is “snail,” which crawls slowly up one arm, then the other) Slowly, slowly, very slowly creeps the garden snail Slowly, slowly, very slowly up the garden rail
(fingers wiggle up one arm then the other quickly, then tickle under the chin) Quickly, quickly, very quickly runs the little mouse Quickly, quickly very quickly ‘Round about the house Source: Jbrary
Hickory Dickory Dock Hickory, dickory dock The mouse ran up the clock (fingers scurry up arm) The clock struck one (pause and clap once) The mouse ran down (fingers scurry down arm) Hickory dickory dock
…2, the mouse said, “boo!” (hands splay out) …3, the mouse said, “whee!” (arms go wide) …4, the mouse said, “no more!” (shake finger) Source: Jbrary
Here is the Beehive Here is the beehive (make fist) But where are all the bees? Hidden away where nobody sees Watch and you’ll see them come out of the hive: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 (open fingers) They’re alive! Buzz, buzz, buzz! (tickle) Source: Jbrary
Transition: If You’re Ready for a Story* (TT) (TB) (FT)
For each group, I gave them a choice between two of the four that I chose for the week, and they voted. Of the four, only Mel Fell was not chosen. All were fun, but I think Animals Go Vroom! got the best response! Read: Animals Go Vroom! by Abi Cushman (TT) Read: Strollercoaster by Matt Ringler, Raúl the Third, Elaine Bay (TB) Read: Just In Case You Want to Fly by Julie Fogliano & Christian Robinson (FT) Read: Mel Fell by Corey R. Tabor
Action Song: Let the dice or popular consensus choose 2 from list: 1. All the Fish (TT) 2. The Old Gray Cat (FT) 3. Five Coyotes 4. Hippopotamus on the City Bus (FT) 5. My Dog Rags (TB) 6. Bananas Unite! (TT) (TB)
All the Fish All the fish are swimming in the water (hands zig zag in front) Swimming in the water, Swimming in the water All the fish are swimming in the water Bubble, bubble, bubble, …SPLASH! (both hands corkscrew upwards, then clap together)
All the ducks are quacking… (hand opens and closes like a duck) All the frogs are jumping… (jump!) All the kids are splashing… (slap hands downward as if splashing) Source: Caspar Babypants, from the album I Found You
The Old Gray Cat The old gray cat is sleeping, Sleeping, sleeping (cradle head in hands) The old gray cat is sleeping In the house (hands join together above head)
The little mice are creeping… (tiptoe and hands “paw” forward) The little mice are nibbling… (hands come to mouth) The old gray cat is creeping… (hands “stalk” forward) The little mice are hiding… (hide face with hands) So the old gray cat is sleeping… (cradle head in hands) Source: King County (WA) Library System
Five Coyotes Five coyotes, sittin’ on a hill Just sittin’ and a howlin’ at the moon: Aahh-ooo! One coyote had his fill So he went to sleep and snoozed – Snore! (Count down) Source: adapted by Rebecca Ballard from Nancy Stewart
Hippo on the Bus (bounce or slap thighs rhythmically until the last line of each verse) A hip, a hip, a hippopotamus Got on, got on, got on a city bus And all, and all, and all the people said, “You’re squishing us!” (squish face or hug baby)
A cow, a cow, a cow got on a bus Yes, a cow, a cow, a cow got on the bus And all, and all, and all the people said, “Mooooove over!” (lean far to one side)
A snake…“Sssssssssit down!” (motion hand down or fall thru knees) A sheep…“Baaaack up!” (lean far back) Source: Jbrary
My Dog Rags I have a dog and his name is Rags He eats so much that his tummy sags (arms circle in front of tummy) His ears flip flop and his tail wig wags (flop hands up and down by ears, then wiggle bottom) And when he walks, he goes zig zag! (zig zag hands together)
(repeat motions above) He goes flip flop, wig wag, (pause) zig zag (x3) I love Rags and he loves me! (hug self) Source: Jbrary
Bananas Unite Bananas……unite! (arms meet and extend above head) Peel bananas, peel, peel bananas (x2) (one arm opens to the side, then the other) Chop bananas, chop chop bananas (x2) (one hand chops across other palm) Mash bananas, mash mash bananas (x2) (palms mash together) Eat bananas, eat, eat bananas (x2) (bring hands to mouth) Goooooooooo BANANAS! (wild arms) Source: Jbrary
These were clear favorites in every class, so we chose the same songs this grouping! Action Song 2: Let the dice or popular consensus choose 2 from list: 1. The Elevator Song 2. The Wheels on the Bus (TT) (TB) (FT) 3. A Smooth Road 4. Head, Shoulders, Knees, and Toes 5. Tick, Tock 6. Zoom, Zoom, Zoom (TT) (TB) (FT)
Elevator Song Oh, the city is great and the city is grand! There’s a whole lot of people (hands go wide) On a little piece of land (hands come together) And we live way up on the 57th floor (point up) And this is what we do when we go out the door: (point out)
(either lift baby up and down, or reach tall and crouch down) We take the elevator up and the elevator down, Take the elevator up, take the elevator down Take the elevator up and the elevator down And we turn around (spin in a circle) Source: Jbrary
I usually only do 3 or 4 total verses for this – sometimes there are favorites so I’ll ask what else the bus does. Wheels on the Bus The wheels on the bus go Round and round, round and round, round and round (fists circle) The wheels on the bus go round and round All through the town!
The wipers on the bus go Swish, swish, swish… (arms pivot back and forth) The doors on the bus Open and shut… (arms move apart and together) The horn on the bus goes Beep, beep, beep… (hand mimes pushing a button) The driver on the bus says “Move on back”… (cock thumb back to shoulder) The people on the bus go Up and down… (bounce body up and down) The baby on the bus says “Wah, wah, wah”… (fists wring at eyes) The parents on the bus say “Shh, shh, shh”… (lift forefinger to lips) Source: traditional
A Smooth Road A smooth road! (repeat x4)(slowly, and sway baby gently) A bumpy road! (x4) (a little faster, bouncing gently up and down) A rough road! (x4) (even faster, bouncing and adding erratic swaying) Oh, no! A hole! (tip over, lift up, and/or let them fall safely through your knees) Source: Jbrary
Head, Shoulders, Knees, and Toes (touch each body part as it’s mentioned) Head, shoulders, knees, and toes, Knees and toes! Head, shoulders, knees, and toes, Knees and toes Eyes and ears and a mouth and nose, Head, shoulders, knees, and toes, Knees and toes! (can repeat, singing faster) Source: traditional
Tick, Tock, Tick Tock Tick tock, tick tock (bounce or sway baby on lap) I’m a little cuckoo clock tick tock tick tock Now I’m striking one o’clock: cuckoo! (lift on each cuckoo) (repeat, counting up) Source: Jbrary
Zoom, Zoom, Zoom (rhythmically slide hands past each other) Zoom, zoom, zoom, we’re going to the moon Zoom, zoom, zoom, we’re going to the moon If you’d like to take a trip (fingers walk up opposite arm) climb aboard my rocket ship (repeat on other arm) Zoom zoom zoom, we’re going to the moon In 5…4…3…2…1…BLAST OFF! (count on hands, crouch lower and lower, then jump, or lift baby) Source: Jbrary
Scarf Songs: Let the dice or popular consensus choose 3-4 from list: 1. Jack in the Box (TT) (TB) (FT) 2. Popcorn Kernels (TT) (TB) (FT) 3. Peek a Boo 4. Shake it to the East (TB) (FT) 5. One Bright Scarf (TT) 6. Row Your Boat (TT) (TB) (FT)
Jack in the Box (scrunch scarf up in one fist) Jack in the box (shake fist in rhythm with rhyme) Sits so still Will he come out? Yes, he will! (pull scarf out from fist and wave) Source: Jbrary
Popcorn Kernels (tune of Frère Jacques) Popcorn kernels, popcorn kernels (wave scarf overhead) In the pot, in the pot (bunch up in fist) Shake them, shake them, shake them / shake them, shake them, shake them (shake fists) ‘Til they POP, ‘til they POP (toss scarves up) Source: Jbrary
Peekaboo (tune of Frère Jacques) Peek-a-boo, peek-a-boo, I see you, I see you (alternately hide face and reveal with scarf) I see your button nose, I see your tiny toes (touch nose and toes) I see you! Peek-a-boo! Source: Jbrary
Shake it to the East Shake it to the east (shake scarf to one side) Shake it to the west (then to the other) Shake it all around and (shake in a circle) Then you take a rest (clasp hands, stilling scarf)
Shake your scarves up Shake your scarves down Shake it, shake it, shake it, and Then you settle down Source: Jbrary
One Bright Scarf One bright scarf waiting for the wind to blow (wave scarf) Toss it up high, and wave it down low Wiggle it fast, and wiggle it slow (hide the scarf behind back, under shirt, etc) Hey! Where did it go? (bring out) Here it is! Source: Jbrary
Row, Row, Row Your Boat Row, row, row your boat (hold both ends of scarf across body, then move forward and back like oars) Gently down the stream Merrily, merrily, merrily, merrily (wave scarf) Life is but a dream!
Rock, rock, rock your boat (rock body and move scarf up and down) Gently down the stream If you see a crocodile Don’t forget to SCREAM! (Aaah!) (wave scarf wildly)
Row, row, row your boat Gently to the shore If you see a lion there Don’t forget to ROAR! (Grrrrr!) (wave scarf while making claws) Source: traditional (mostly)
I let them keep their scarves to dance with during our last song. Ukulele/Dancing Songs: Let the dice or popular consensus choose 1 from list: 1. Mr. Sun 2. Apples & Bananas (TT) (TB) 3. Down By the Bay 4. Shake My Sillies Out (FT) 5. How Much is that Doggie in the Window? 6. You Are My Sunshine
Mr. Sun Oh, Mr. Sun, Sun, Mr. Golden Sun Please shine down on me Oh, Mr. Sun, Sun, Mr. Golden Sun Hiding behind a tree These little children are asking you To please come out so we can play with you Oh, Mr. Sun, Sun, Mr. Golden Sun Please shine down on me Source: Raffi, from the album Singable Songs for the Very Young
Apples and Bananas (begin with the correct pronunciation, then change the long vowel sounds for each verse to a, e, i, o, and u) I like to eat, eat, eat apples and bananas I like to eat, eat, eat apples and bananas
…ate ayples and ba-nay-nays …eet eeples and ba-nee-nees …ite iples and ba-ni-nis …ote oples and ba-no-nos …ute uples and ba-nu-nus Source: Raffi, from the album One Light, One Sun
Down by the Bay Down by the bay, Where the watermelons grow Back to my home, I dare not go For if I do, my mother will say: “Did you ever see a whale with a polka dot tail, Down by the bay?”
…goose kissing a moose… …fly wearing a tie… …bear combing his hair… …see llamas eating pajamas… …have a time you couldn’t make a rhyme… Source: Raffi, from the album Singable Songs for the Very Young
I decided to change “crazies” to “kookies” to help destigmatize mental health issues. Shake My Sillies Out I gotta shake, shake, shake my sillies out Shake, shake, shake my sillies out Shake, shake, shake my sillies out And wiggle my waggles away!
I gotta clap, clap, clap my kookies out… I gotta jump, jump, jump my jiggles out… I gotta stretch, stretch, stretch my stretchies out… I gotta yawn, yawn, yawn my sleepies out… Source: Raffi, from the album Raffi in Concert with the Rise and Shine Band
How Much is that Doggie in the Window? How much is that doggie in the window? (Woof woof!) The one with the waggily tail? How much is that doggie in the window? (Woof woof!) I do hope that doggie’s for sale
Kitty…meow…whiskers so long Birdie… tweet tweet…flappity wings Rabbit…hop hop…hoppity legs Fishy… glub glub… swimmity fins Source: traditional
You Are My Sunshine You are my sunshine, My only sunshine You make me happy When skies are gray You’ll never know, dear, How much I love you Please don’t take My sunshine away Source: traditional
Craft: My Favorites Coloring Sheet (TB) (FT) Last week’s craft, the puffy snow paint, was pretty involved, so it was really lovely (on my end) to just print out some pages and put them out with our crayon bins. The kids didn’t complain.This is a sheet I created using Canva for the last Favorites session (at a different library), so I just reused it.You can download a copy here.
Play Time The toddlers have two laundry baskets of baby toys – rattles and cars, sorters and stackers, toy phones and spinners. For the older kids, I have foam blocks, soft food toys, puzzles, and a few other items that are a little more sophisticated than the baby toys. For Family Time, I gauge the overall age of the group and put out what seems right for them. We play for 5-10 minutes at the most, then I ring the bell and ask the kids to help me clean up. I think the clean up bit is good practice for them!
Goodbye Song: See You Later Alligator* (TT) (TB) (FT)
Goodbye Rhyme: Tickle the Stars* (TT) (TB) (FT)
Other books I had available for families to browse (for this theme, just choose your favorites!) Red House, Tree House, Little Bitty Brown Mouse – Jane Godwin & Blanca Gómez Bathe the Cat – Alice B McGinty & David Roberts I Love You Because I Love You – Mượn Thị Văn & Jessica Love Off-Limits – Helen Yoon Pokko and the Drum – Matthew Forsythe You Matter – Christian Robinson Nanette’s Baguette – Mo Willems Everybody in the Red Brick Building – Anne Wynter & Oge Mora The Day You Begin – Jacqueline Woodson & Rafael López Thank You, Omu! – Oge Mora Crash, Splash, or Moo! – Bob Shea Lulil & the Language of Tea – Andrea Wang & Hyewon Yum Crown – Derrick Barnes & Gordon C. James We Sang You Home – Richard Van Camp & Julie Flett Mr. Fuzzbuster Knows He’s the Favorite – Stacey McAnulty & Edward Hemingway Vroom! – Barbara McClintock
This storytime was presented in-person on 1/16, 1/17, & 1/18/23.
**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
As mentioned in my previous post, this year I’m tweaking my age groups and looking to offer something a little different for pre-walking babies and their caregivers. Book Babies is for ages twelve months and under, with a concentration on pre-walkers (so kiddos over twelve months but still not walking are welcome, too.)
I’ve advertised this program as a themeless session, letting them know that we’ll be repeating a lot of our activities, songs, and rhymes. This lets me keep the same schedule most of the weeks, rotating out one or two songs per month and changing props when it seems like the right time to try something new. It eases the prep time for an extra program, while still allowing some flexibility. Time always seems to be a sticky point for me. I only have 20-30 minutes for this group due to back-to-back programming, so I had to take a breath and NOT include all that I wanted to.
Before splitting the under-ones from their older counterparts, I worried about using props like the parachute with runners and walkers with the crawlers, so having them on their own makes it easier to make sure no one is getting hurt. I also have limited this class to 10 babies, so it’s easier for everyone to fit on the parachute and be close to each other and their little one.
Early Literacy Tip: Let your baby take the lead when it comes to books. Even if they sit still for only a minute or two, don’t give up! Keep books a positive time, and engage them with pictures and words, even if they aren’t the words written in the book. When they get fussy or seem finished, set it aside and try again later.
Here is our room setup, with the parachute out for babies to lay on/sit on, with a few chairs for those who prefer them to the floor. My pink short chair is perfect for this – I can move easily from it to the floor if I want to demo one way or another. I wish our parachute was colorful – I think the original idea was that you can write on it. There are some names on there from years ago that are probably grown with their own children by now.
Trying a new/old welcome song! This is the one my predecessor passed on to me, that I stopped using in favor of a quicker “Hello, Friends.” With a smaller group of babies, though, I like the slower pace of this one. For this and the next song, I use puppets to greet everyone. Welcome/Puppet Song: Hello, Everybody (tune of Skip to My Lou) Hello, everybody and how are you? Hello, everybody and how are you? Hello, everybody and how are you? How are you today?
Hello, [name 1], how are you? Hello, [name 2], how are you? Hello, [name 3], how are you? How are you today?
I start this one with the same puppet as above, my floppy-eared dog, Scout. Then I’ll bring out one or two other puppets to say hello. Welcome/Puppet Song: When Animals Get Up in the Morning When dogs get up in the morning They always say hello! When dogs get up in the morning They always say hello! “Woof, woof, woof, woof,” That is what they say “Woof, woof, woof, woof,” That is what they say Source: King County (WA) Library System
This is a hit with every group I try it in, and the babies are no exception! Bounce: Toast in the Toaster I’m toast in the toaster, I’m getting very hot Tick tock, tick tock, UP I pop! Source: Jbrary
I feel that a body part song is an important part of baby programming. This one can be repeated with any body parts, and I started jotting down some different options to do each time. I’m currently doing three verses, always starting with “nose.” Body Song: Hello, Everybody, Can You Touch Your Nose? Well, hello, everybody, Can you touch your nose? Touch your nose, Touch your nose? Well, hello, everybody, Can you touch your nose? Touch…your…nose!
Other verses: Touch your toes, rub your tummy, pat your back, touch your chin, touch your ears, squeeze your knees, touch your hands, pat your head, clap your hands, tickle your neck, etc. Source: Jbrary
I learned this one as “roll it and pat it,” but I like the physicality of “stretch it” better. I found some videos by Intellidance showing some different ways of interacting with an infant for several traditional nursery rhymes, which was really great for offering different options for lap babies, laying down babies, and standing babies. Check out their channel for additional videos. Fingerplay Rhyme: Pat a Cake Pat-a-cake, pat-a-cake, Baker’s man Bake me a cake As fast as you can Roll it, And stretch it And mark it with a “B” (can substitute first initial and name) And put it in the oven For baby and me! Source: traditional
Let’s go on a little trip! Bounce: A Smooth Road A smooth road! (x4) (slowly, and sway baby gently back and forth) A bumpy road! (x4) (a little faster, bouncing gently up and down) A rough road! (x4) (even faster, bouncing slightly harder and adding erratic swaying) Oh, no! A hole! (tip baby over, lift up, and/or let them fall safely through your knees) Source: Jbrary
After all that excitement, let’s slow it down with a lullaby. Holding your baby close to your chest lets them hear your heartbeat, which is what they heard before they were born. It’s soothing and reminds them they are safe. Ukulele Lullaby: Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star Twinkle, twinkle, little star How I wonder what you are Up above the world so high Like a diamond in the sky Twinkle, twinkle, little star How I wonder what you are Source: traditional
These first two times I read aloud to the group, but I plan to intersperse that with a couple minutes of individual reading. I may also use regular picture books in the future, but I’m starting by modelling board books. Read: choose an age-appropriate board book such as: Read, Read, Baby! by Anna W. Bardaus & Christine Grove Whose Toes Are Those? by Jabari Asim & LeUyen Pham BIG Little by Leslie Patricelli Where’s Ellie? by Salina Yoon
Are you ready for a tickle? I’m ready for a little laughing! Let’s try this rhyme about bees. Tickle Rhyme: Here Is the Beehive Here is the beehive, but where are all the bees? (make fist) Hidden away where nobody sees Watch and you’ll see them come out of the hive: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 (open fingers) They’re alive! Buzz, buzz, buzz! (tickle)
Prop Songs For the first month, we’ll do the same ones, with the parachute. Later I’m thinking I’ll keep the parachute for the program setup (as a “mat” of a sort), but switch to other props like scarves and shaker eggs.
Parachute Song: The Itsy Bitsy Spider The itsy bitsy spider went up the water spout Down came the rain and washed the spider out Out came the sun and dried up all the rain And the itsy bitsy spider went up the spout again Source: traditional
Parachute Song: Come Under My Umbrella tune of Did You Ever See a Lassie? Come under my umbrella, umbrella, umbrella (lift up) Come under my umbrella, it’s starting to rain (shake) With thunder and lightning, and lightning and thunder (big shakes!) Come under my umbrella, it’s starting to rain Source: King County (WA) Library System
Parachute Song: Dance Like Snowflakes tune of Frère Jacques Dance like snowflakes, dance like snowflakes In the air, in the air Whirling, twirling snowflakes Whirling, twirling snowflakes Everywhere, everywhere Source: Jbrary
Parachute Song: Parachute Fly tune of Skip to My Lou 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 1… Down on 2… Up on 3, and Fly! Source: Gymboree
To adapt this for babies, we bounce or clap rather than scraping our hands past each other, and walk fingers up and down baby’s body, arms, or legs for the “if you want to take a trip” part. Lifting Song: Zoom, Zoom, Zoom Zoom, zoom, zoom, We’re going to the moon Zoom, zoom, zoom, We’re going to the moon If you want to take a trip climb aboard my rocket ship Zoom, zoom, zoom, We’re going to the moon In 5, 4, 3, 2, 1 Blast off! Source: Jbrary
I find it really helpful to finish with a rhyme that definitively says that storytime is over. This one is short and sweet. Goodbye Rhyme: Hands Up High Hands up high! (Put your hands in air) Now give a big sigh (sigh and bring hands down) Our storytime’s over So wave bye-bye (wave) Source: Pasadena Public Library
And that’s it! We don’t have time for free play at the end, but I encouraged grownups to take a little time in the children’s department to play and socialize together.
Suggested books are a little different on my handout since at my library board books are not able to be held if they’re checked out. My handout says: Check out our board book selections – they cannot be held or requested, so see what’s available anytime you visit the library! Here are some other titles that *can* be requested: All of Baby Nose to Toes – Victoria Adler & Hiroe Nakata Brown Baby Lullaby – Tameka Fryer Brown & AG Ford Nose to Toes, You Are Yummy! – Tim Harrington Kitty’s Cuddles – Jane Cabrera I Love You, Baby Burrito – Angela Dominguez Up, Up, Up, Down – Kimberly Gee “More More More,” Said the Baby – Vera B. Williams
This storytime was presented in-person on 1/9, 1/16, & 1/23/23.
Everyone loves cookies, right? I did this theme for the first time before starting this blog, but even so, I made a lot of changes to my old plan for this year. I looked for more activities to suit the age I work with now, and replaced an extensive prop story use of the “Ten Little…” song melody that I’d used before I knew better. I think this is a better mix. I also had a fairly different plan for the younger Book Babies program than the one for the older Teddy Bears (Family time skewed younger, so I used the same plan as BB), with a different slate of songs and rhymes in addition to the books.
To be honest, the actual programs went a little haywire – I had a couple of kids/families that were pretty wired up and I felt off my game. That happens. I generally either plow on or just cut short what I’m doing in favor of going to either the next song with movement or finishing up with Zoom, Zoom, Zoom, always our last song. That didn’t really help this time! What kinds of strategies do you use when kiddos are extra wiggly and distracted?
Early Literacy Tip: Showing a child how to follow a recipe not only introduces print in a new way, but also develops early math skills through measuring. It also teaches the ability to follow directions. For babies, set out a small tub filled with uncooked beans or rice. Give them a scoop and let them play while you’re in the kitchen.
Welcome Song: Hello, Friends* (BB) (TB) (FT)**
Warm Up Song: Wake Up, Feet* (BB) (TB) (FT) This is a repeated song that everyone seems to enjoy. I always begin and end with feet and tummies, but find two other body parts to wiggle in the middle. This week was shoulders and fingers.
Lifting Rhyme: Toast in the Toaster* (BB) (FT)
Rhyme: This is Big, Big, Big* (FT)
Intro: Mmm, today I’m in the mood for cookies! Let’s make some cookies together.
Rhyme: Pat a Cake (Cookie Style) (BB) (FT) Pat a cake, pat a cake, baker’s man (clap hands together) Bake me a cookie as fast as you can Roll it (roll hands) And pat it (pat lap) And mark it with a “C” (draw a C in the air or on baby’s belly) And put it in the oven for you and me! (point) Source: adapted from the traditional
Transition: If You’re Ready for a Story* (BB) (TB) (FT)
Read: Mr. Cookie Baker by Monica Wellington (BB) (FT)
I love this book, but it didn’t really work well for my group. This was the EXTRA wiggly group, so that may have been a factor, but I did notice with this retelling that it seemed a missed opportunity that “but the Cow loves cookies” was not consistently repeated after everygrouping. The repetition of the other animals made the book drag a little, too. The lilting rhymes help, but I think this is better for a little older kids. Read: The Cow Loves Cookies by Karma Wilson & Marcellus Hall (TB)
Tickle: Round and Round the Batter Bowl (BB) (FT) Round and round the batter bowl (circle on baby’s belly) One, two, three! (gentle poke on each number) A little here, a little there (touch both cheeks) As tasty as can be! (tickle or nibble belly!) Source: Storytime in the Stacks
I did this and Here’s a Cup for all three programs, but for Teddy Bears we did them before our book. Rhyme: Making Cookies (BB) (TB) (FT) (mime each action unless otherwise indicated) I am making cookie dough (point to self) Round and round the beaters go (roll hands) Add some flour from a cup Stir and mix the batter up Roll them, cut them nice and neat Put them on a cookie sheet Bake them, count them, 1, 2, 3 (count with fingers) Then serve them to my friends for tea! Source: Jen in the Library
The arms on my Scaredy Squirrel puppet that I usually use as my “little one” when I demonstrate rhymes are not long enough for this to work! I asked a grownup to help me demonstrate, then we did the rhyme twice more. Fingerplay: Here’s a Cup (BB) (TB) (FT) Here’s a cup, and here’s a cup, And here’s a pot of tea Pour a cup, and pour a cup, And drink some tea with me Source: Jbrary
Even though I didn’t read The Cow Loves Cookies for these sessions, I used my cow puppet to gobble up all the cookies. Click the source link to get Jessica’s template for the sugar cookie flannel!(I made six cookies, but only used five for this group) Puppet/Flannel Rhyme: Down Around the Corner (BB) (FT) Down around the corner at the bakery store Were five sugar cookies with frosting galore! Along came a cow looking for a treat… She saw those cookies and she took one to eat! (count down) Source: Storytime in the Stacks
So this is the song I adapted to replace the “Ten Little” melody. In the past I had a flannel oven, cookie sheet, and 10 cookies that a volunteer helped me make at my old library and followed the prop story from One Little Librarian (the blog is now not available to the public). I had left the flannel at that library and didn’t make a replacement, so this was just an action song for us. BUT, I did have laminated cookies for all the kids that I gave out during the “cool the cookies” verse that they fed to Cookie Monster later in the session. Action Song: This Is the Way We Make Cookies (TB) (tune of Here We Go Round the Mulberry Bush) This is the way we pour the flour, Pour the flour, pour the flour This is the way we pour the flour To make our cookie treats
Additonal verses: Now we cream the butter & sugar… This is the way we stir the dough… Bake the dough… Cool the cookies… Eat the cookies… Source: original
You know who else loves to eat cookies? Cookie monster! This was made with a fairly high resolution picture of Cookie Monster, printed on cardstock and laminated, then attached to an empty tissue box covered in blue paper. Song: C is for Cookie (TB) C is for cookie, That’s good enough for me C is for cookie, That’s good enough for me C is for cookie, That’s good enough for me Oh, cookie, cookie, cookie – Starts with C! Source: Sesame Street, From the Album “Sesame Street Platinum All-Time Favorites”
After this rhyme, the kids took their paper cookies and fed them to Cookie Monster. Action Rhyme: Cookies Up (TB) Cookies up! Cookies down! Hold your cookie & turn around Cookies up! Cookies down! Wave your cookies all around Source: adapted from One Little Librarian
I wanted to make this a little longer, so made up the second and third verses. I’m particularly proud of the “mustachy” couplet! I asked everyone to join in on the echoes, and either raise their hands or do a lift there. Ukulele Song: I Wish I Were a Little Cookie Crumb (BB) (TB) (FT) (tune of If You’re Happy and You Know It) Oh, I wish I were a little cookie crumb (cookie crumb!) Oh, I wish I were a little cookie crumb (cookie crumb!) I’d go crumby, crumby, crumby Over everybody’s tummy Oh, I wish I were a little cookie crumb (cookie crumb!)
Additional verses: Oh, I wish I were a little chocolate chip (chocolate chip!)… I’d be melty and sweet And leave chocolate in your teeth…
Oh, I wish I were a cold glass of milk (glass of milk!)… I’d go splishy splishy splashy And leave you a cute mustachy… Source: verse 1, North Mankato Taylor Library (MN), verses 2 & 3, original
One last song for the babies! Let’s wash up our faces from all the messy cookie crumbs! Body Song: Eyes, Nose, Cheeky, Cheeky, Chin Eyes, nose cheeky cheeky chin Eyes, nose cheeky cheeky chin Eyes, nose cheeky cheeky chin Cheeky cheeky chin, nose, eyes Source: King County (WA) Library System
Action Song: Zoom, Zoom, Zoom!* (BB) (TB) (FT)
Craft: Cookie Design Craft We had giant cookies that could be decorated with crayons and adhesive foam shapes, mounted on another sheet of construction paper. I encouraged the kids to think about what flavor their cookie might have, and if they had a special name for their recipe.
Play Time The babies have two laundry baskets of baby toys – rattles and cars, sorters and stackers, toy phones and spinners. For the older kids, I have foam blocks, soft food toys, puzzles, and a few other items that are a little more sophisticated than the baby toys. For Family Time, I gauge the overall age of the group and put out what seems right for them. We play for 5-10 minutes at the most, then I ring the bell and ask the kids to help me clean up. I think the clean up bit is good practice for them!
Goodbye Song: See You Later Alligator* (BB) (TB) (FT)
Goodbye Rhyme: Tickle the Stars* (BB) (TB) (FT)
Other books I had available for families to browse (and may work for you on this theme) The Duckling Gets a Cookie!? – Mo Willems Who Put the Cookies in the Cookie Jar? – George Shannon & Julie Paschkis Baker Baker Cookie Maker – Linda Hayward & Tom Brannon If You Give a Mouse a Cookie – Laura Numeroff & Felicia Bond May I Please Have a Cookie? – Jennifer E. Morris Gingerbread Baby – Jan Brett Good Night, Knight – Betsy Lewin The Cookie Fiasco – Dan Santat Stop and Smell the Cookies – Gibson Frazier & Micah Player
This storytime was presented in-person on 12/12, 12/13, & 12/14/22.
**These symbols indicate the program sessions I used the activities for: (BB) Book Babies, ages 0-2 (TB) Teddy Bears, ages 2-3.5 (FT) Family Time, ages 0-3.5
Each year in November, I turn back to this theme and spend some time with the abstract idea of gratitude and feeling thankful. This has been my fourth iteration, and with each year, some things stay the same but there are also tweaks and updates.
Since the American Thanksgiving tradition is problematic at best, I focus on feeling thankful, and honestly, that can be as broad a concept as you’d like it to be! You can say – “I’m thankful for pets” and do the song My Dog Rags. You can be thankful for tacos and sing a song about that. The sky is the limit.
Since November is Native American Heritage Month, I also make a point to incorporate or at least highlight books by Indigenous authors at this program (though of course it’s a good idea to be aware of and read and celebrate books by Indigenous and other marginalized groups in storytime all year long.) I am thankful for the wealth of fantastic picture books available from a wide range of perspectives!
Lastly, I’m thankful for you, readers! I appreciate your likes and comments and hope that me documenting my process is in any way helpful. I’m always open to ideas and suggestions, too. Wishing you peace, safety, a little relaxation, and lots of appreciation for all you do.
Early Literacy Tip: When we are warm, and fed, 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* (BB) (TB) (FT)**
Warm Up Song: Wake Up, Feet* (BB) (TB) (FT) This is a repeated song that everyone seems to enjoy. I always begin and end with feet and tummies, but find two other body parts to wiggle in the middle. This week was arms and ears.
Lifting Rhyme: Toast in the Toaster* (BB)
Rhyme: This is Big, Big, Big* (BB) (TB) (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
Transition: If You’re Ready for a Story* (BB) (TB) (FT)
This book is so great for the youngest group. I asked them to help me tell the story and prompted them at each “thank you” page. Read: Thank You, Bees by Toni Yuly (BB) (FT)
I am always thankful when people are kind to one another. This book is by two Native American creators. Monique Gray Smith is of Cree, Lakota and Scottish descent, and Nicole Neidhardt is Diné, also known as Navajo. Read: When We Are Kind by Monique Gray Smith & Nicole Neidhardt (TB)
I love those bees! Here’s a rhyme about the bees being inside their beehive. Tickle Rhyme: Here Is the Beehive (BB) (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 (BB) (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 (BB) (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
Scarf Song: We Wave Our Scarves Together (BB) (TB) (FT) (tune of For He’s a Jolly Good Fellow) We wave our scarves together We wave our scarves together We wave our scarves together… Because it’s fun to do!
We wave them up high We wave them down low We wave them in the middle Because it’s fun to do! Source: Jbrary
I’m thankful for games we can play with our loved ones. Scarf Game: Peek-a-boo (BB) (FT) (tune of Frère Jacques) Peek-a-boo, peek-a-boo, I see you, I see you I see your button nose, I see your tiny toes I see you! Peek-a-boo! Source: Jbrary
I’m thankful for time to read and be with you. I kind of did the hand motions of the ASL version with my scarf in hand, just for something to do with the scarves. Scarf Song: The More We Get Together See ASL movements here: https://youtu.be/YZLlZoD3gU8 The more we get together, together, together The more we get together The happier we’ll be For your friends are my friends and my friends are your friends The more we get together The happier we’ll be
The more we read together, together, together the more we read together the happier we’ll be. Read big books and small books Read short books and tall books The more we read together the happier we’ll be. Verse 2 Source: Story Time Secrets
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
Okay, we got pretty chill there for a moment, which is lovely. But now it’s time to bring our energy up again! Action Song: Zoom, Zoom, Zoom!* (BB) (TB) (FT)
Craft: Thankful Tree Since I’m at a new library this year, I just did the same craft that I did last year. I asked volunteers to cut out leaf shapes in various fall colors (red, yellow, orange, brown), and provided a piece of sky blue construction paper with a brown bare tree shape printed on it. I added the heading “I am thankful for…” at the top, and kids could write (with or without help) or draw the things they’re grateful for on the leaves and paste them on.
Play Time The babies have two laundry baskets of baby toys – rattles and cars, sorters and stackers, toy phones and spinners. For the older kids, I have foam blocks, soft food toys, puzzles, and a few other items that are a little more sophisticated than the baby toys. For Family Time, I gauge the overall age of the group and put out what seems right for them. We play for 5-10 minutes at the most, then I ring the bell and ask the kids to help me clean up. I think the clean up bit is good practice for them!
Goodbye Song: See You Later Alligator* (BB) (TB) (FT)
Goodbye Rhyme: Tickle the Stars* (BB) (TB) (FT)
Other books I had available for families to browse (and may work for you on this theme) Gracias/Thanks – Pat Mora & John Parra Thank You, Omu – Oge Mora We All Play/Kimêtawânaw – Julie Flett The Thankful Book – Todd Parr We Are Grateful: Otsaliheliga – Traci Sorell & Frané Lessac The Thank You Book – Mo Willems Wild berries/Pikaci-mīnisa – Julie Flett Thanku: Poems of Gratitude – Marlena Myles & Miranda Paul Thank You, Earth – April Pulley Sayre Grandma’s Tiny House – JaNay Brown-Wood & Priscilla Burris Bear Says “Thank You” – Michael Dahl & Oriol Vidal Thank You and Good Night – Patrick McDonnell
This storytime was presented in-person on 11/14, 11/15, & 11/16/22.
**These symbols indicate the program sessions I used the activities for: (BB) Book Babies, ages 0-2 (TB) Teddy Bears, ages 2-3.5 (FT) Family Time, ages 0-3.5
It’s DINOvember and we are having all the fun with dinosaurs! Even my baby program had fun with some dinosaur songs and rhymes, though I felt I needed to adapt a couple traditional baby/toddler rhymes to involve them more. But just like a monster storytime, we did a lot of roaring and stomping and pretending.
You can find other versions of this theme from 2021 and 2024.
Early Literacy Tip: Everybody knows at least one child who can rattle off the names of dozens of dinosaurs. There’s a reason for that! Children’s brains are wired to learn as much vocabulary as possible. So, don’t underestimate them: give them all the words you can! Use the most specific terms possible and they will soak them up like a sponge.
Welcome Song: Hello, Friends* (BB) (TB) (FT)**
Warm Up Song: Wake Up, Feet* (BB) (TB) (FT) This is a repeated song that everyone seems to enjoy. I always begin and end with feet and tummies, but find two other body parts to wiggle in the middle. This week was shoulders and noses.
Lifting Rhyme: Toast in the Toaster* (BB)
Rhyme: This is Big, Big, Big* (BB) (FT)
Intro: Today’s theme is all about dinosaurs! Even though they’re not around any longer, I love to imagine what these gigantic and amazing creatures might have been like. Some dinos were big, and some were little. Let’s do a rhyme.
Action Rhyme: Big Dino, Little Dino Big Dino, Little Dino, turn around Big Dino, Little Dino, touch the ground Big Dino, Little Dino, reach up high Big Dino, Little Dino, blink your eyes Big Dino, Little Dino, touch your nose Big Dino, Little Dino, touch your toes Big Dino, Little Dino, slap your knees Big Dino, Little Dino, sit down please Source: Project I.Am.Abbey
Transition: If You’re Ready for a Story* (BB) (TB) (FT)
I like the big flaps at the end of this board book, and all the cheerful, colorful dinosaurs in a prehistoric setting! Read: Hello Dinosaurs! by Joan Holub & Chris Dickason (BB)
This one is so simple and perfect.The ending always makes the adults chuckle. Read: We Love Dinosaurs by Lucy Volpin (TB) (FT)
It’s kind of amazing what even the two-year-olds already know about dinosaurs!I introduced each dinosaur with a very short description – “Triceratops had three horns and a big frill on its head – it was a plant-eater but used its horns to defend itself when needed.” The flannelboard dinosaurs can be used for both this song and “One Dinosaur Went Out to Play,” below, and the template is available at Mel’s Desk. Action Song: All Through the Swamp (tune of Wheels on the Bus) The Tyrannosaurus Rex goes grr grr grr Grr grr grr, Grr grr grr The Tyrannosaurus Rex goes grr grr grr All through the swamp
Additional verses: The Triceratops’ horns go poke, poke, poke… The Stegosaurus’ tail goes swish, swish, swish… The Brachiosaurus’ mouth goes munch, munch, munch… The Pteranodon’s wings go flap, flap, flap… Credit: Mel’s Desk
This and Dino Thumbs are the rhymes I quickly came up with for the youngest group, though I did do “Where Is T Rex” at all my sessions. Fingerplay: Where is T Rex? (BB) (TB) (FT) (tune of Where is Thumbkin?) Where is T Rex? Where is T Rex? (use thumbs) HERE I AM! HERE I AM! (use T-Rex voice!) HOW ARE YOU TODAY, FRIEND? VERY WELL I THANK YOU! ROAR AWAY! ROAR AWAY!
Where is Pteranodon? (thumb spread from fingers like wings) … Fly away! Fly away! Where is brachiosaurus? (use pointer finger) …Munch, munch, munch! Munch, munch, munch! (don’t retreat) Source: original, adapted from the traditional
I’ve seen this as “Tommy Thumbs” and also with “Egg Shakers.” My rhyme sheet had a picture of thumbs with dinosaur finger puppets on them! Fingerplay: Dino Thumbs (BB) Dino Thumbs are up Dino Thumbs are down Dino Thumbs are 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 (fold arms) Source: adapted from the traditional
Rhyme: Dinosaur Stretch (BB) (TB) (FT) Spread your arms, way out wide Fly like Pteranodon, soar and glide Bend to the floor, head down low Move like Stegosaurus, long ago Reach up tall, try to be As tall as Brachiosaurus eating on a tree Using your claws, grumble and growl Just like Tyrannosaurus Rex on the prowl Source: Storytime Katie
This was on my plan, but I didn’t end up doing it at any of my sessions. Action Rhyme: Five Little Dinosaurs Five little dinosaurs sitting in a swamp. The first one said, “Let’s stomp, stomp, stomp.” The second one said, “Time for lunch!” The third one said, “Let’s munch, munch, munch.” The fourth one said, “Let’s stomp some more.” The fifth one said, “Let’s all roar!” GRRRR! Source: Everybody Loves Bubbles
Everyone enjoyed slapping their knees to make the sound of dinosaurs running! Ukulele/Flannel Song: One Dinosaur Went Out to Play (TB) (FT) (tune of Five Little Ducks) One dinosaur went out to play By a giant fern one day She had such enormous fun That she called for another dinosaur to come: Oh, Diiiiiiiiiinosaur! (slap hands on thighs)
(count up to 5) Last line: …That they played until the day was done! Source: Mel’s Desk
Action Song: Head, Shoulders, Knees, and Toes* (BB)
Action Song: Zoom, Zoom, Zoom!* (BB) (TB) (FT)
Craft: Dinosaur Parade Headband In an attempt to make life easy, and since my library has a great selection of die cuts, I provided two green strips (2.24×12″, four strips per sheet of construction paper), and the four dinosaurs that we had dies for – T-Rex, Pteranodon, stegosaurus, and brachiosaurus. Glue sticks and staplers (pro tip: put the “bumpy side” of the staples on the *outside* of the headband) and everyone had a dinosaur parade to wear on their heads!
Play Time The babies have two laundry baskets of baby toys – rattles and cars, sorters and stackers, toy phones and spinners. For the older kids, I have foam blocks, soft food toys, puzzles, and a few other items that are a little more sophisticated than the baby toys. For Family Time, I gauge the overall age of the group and put out what seems right for them. We play for 5-10 minutes at the most, then I ring the bell and ask the kids to help me clean up. I think the clean up bit is good practice for them!
For my older kids, I made a new manipulative for playtime (which was my suggested craft for our Storytime Shorts video series this month): Clothespin Stegosauruses! This was inspired by a craft I originally saw on Storytime Katie’s blog, and found another version on Oh, Hey, Let’s Play. She said she didn’t know where she originally got her artwork, but I loved it, so drew my own version based on hers. (If anyone finds the original source, let me know!) We have a ton of yard signs that were purchased for summer 2020 that were not used, so they are a great backer for this. You can also use cardboard. I put two mirror image dinos on one sheet of paper and printed on colored paper to glue to the stiff yard sign outline that I cut using an Exacto knife. Four was enough for my sore fingers, but that’s perfect for a toy that we’ll use at playtime but not take home. Then I colored wooden clothespins to match the colored dinos. In addition to the different colors, each dino has a different number of spikes, and the clothespins are numbered, too. Depending on a child’s age and development, they can start by just focusing on pinching the clothespins (strengthening hand muscles), then move up to color matching and/or number matching. I was fascinated by this article about kids not having the requisite hand strength for kindergarten activities and highlighted that when talking with caregivers about this activity.
Goodbye Song: See You Later Alligator* (BB) (TB) (FT)
Goodbye Rhyme: Tickle the Stars* (BB) (TB) (FT)
Other books I had available for families to browse (and may work for you on this theme) Bones, Bones, Dinosaur Bones – Byron Barton Tyrannosaurus Wrecks! – Sudipta Bardhan-Quallen & Zachariah OHora Dinosaur Vs. the Library (series) – Bob Shea Dinosong – Tim McCanna & Richard Smythe What the Dinosaurs Did Last Night – Refe & Susan Tuma One-osaurus, Two-osaurus – Kim Norman & Pierre Collet-Derby Counting Dinos – Eric Pinder & Junissa Bianda Old MacDino Had a Farm – Becky Davies & Ben Whitehouse Goldilocks and the Three Dinosaurs – Mo Willems
This storytime was presented in-person on 11/7, 11/8, & 11/9/22.
**These symbols indicate the program sessions I used the activities for: (BB) Book Babies, ages 0-2 (TB) Teddy Bears, ages 2-3.5 (FT) Family Time, ages 0-3.5
After moving to a new library, I’ve been using a lot of the themes that I developed while in a virtual-only setting at a different organization. It’s been really fun to see the in-person impact of some of the extension activities that seemed like, well, *maybe* real life kids would enjoy. (Virtual programs always felt like a shot in the dark since I wasn’t getting any immediate feedback.) I’m also working with a different book collection and a slightly younger audience, so books and some activities are adjusted. For example, the pumpkin vine prop I created back in 2020 was made with the book Mystery Vine by Cathryn Falwell in mind specifically. The new library doesn’t have this one (and it’s out of print so I can’t make the purchase), so I found a song that will work with the prop. I love that it’s like a puzzle, fitting pieces together to make a storytime that works for me now in this particular situation.
See other versions of this storytime from 2020 and 2025.
Early Literacy Tip: Narrative skills have to do with learning how to describe things and being able to tell stories. Little stories, like the one in “Pumpkin, Pumpkin on the Ground,” are great for children to start learning how stories work. “First the pumpkin is a seed, then it is a plant, then it is a pumpkin!”
Welcome Song: Hello, Friends* (BB) (TB) (FT)**
Warm Up Song: Wake Up, Feet* (BB) (TB) (FT) This is a repeated song that everyone seems to enjoy. I always begin and end with feet and tummies, but find two other body parts to wiggle in the middle. This week was knees and cheeks.
Lifting Rhyme: Toast in the Toaster* (BB)
Intro: It’s pumpkin time! Pumpkins are great big gourds that get ripe around this time. They are very tasty and are good for you – AND they can be fun to carve a face into! But how do pumpkins grow? That’s what this song is asking.
Fingerplay: Pumpkin, Pumpkin, On the Ground (BB) (TB) (FT) (tune of Twinkle, Twinkle) Pumpkin, pumpkin on the ground (ASL for pumpkin: gently flick middle finger on back of other hand) How’d you get so big and round? (arms circle over head) Once you were a seed so small (pinch fingers together) Now you are a great big ball (arms circle in front) Pumpkin, pumpkin on the ground (ASL pumpkin sign) How’d you get so big and round? (arms circle over head) Source: Jbrary
So how do they grow, in between being a tiny seed and a big pumpkin? I found a video of this song but had some trouble finding the original provenance – the video said the song was by Mary Ann Hall, but I also saw Marcia Louis credited (and I did find a YouTube video of hers, so that’s pretty credible.) In any case, I was able to figure out the chords, changed the key to fit my voice better, and now it’s available as a ukulele songsheet for you! This song is also a perfect replacement for the Mystery Vine book I didn’t have at this library. I could pull out a little of the vine after each verse and I got the extremely satisfying gasps of surprise when the green and orange pumpkins appeared! So fun.I set up the song by asking everyone to help me plant a pumpkin seed, let some rain fall down, let the sun shine, and then… a little pumpkin vine appeared! Ukulele Song: Pumpkin Vine (BB) (TB) (FT) I looked out my window and what did I find? Green leaves growin’ on my pumpkin vine Green leaves, Green leaves are growin’ (x3) Green leaves are growin’ on my pumpkin vine
Additional verses: …yellow flowers growin’ …honey bees buzzin’ …green pumpkins growin’ …orange pumpkins growin’ Source: Montessori de Terra Linda
Transition: If You’re Ready for a Story* (BB) (TB) (FT)
To shorten this a bit I paperclipped one rhyme set near the beginning of the book, and it worked well for my younger kids. Read: Pumpkin Day! by Candice Ransom & Erika Meza (BB) (FT)
To simplify and shorten, I ended the book when they were making pies and didn’t read the very last couple of pages. That also eliminates the reference to Halloween, in case that’s a concern in your community. I did it just to shorten the book, though. Read: How to Help a Pumpkin Grow by Ashley Wolff (TB)
Action Song: Roly Poly Pumpkin (BB) (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 (stop suddenly) Source: King County Library System
Just adding a bounce for the littles Bounce: Bounce, Tickle, Hug (BB) (FT) I bounce you here, I bounce you there I bounce you, bounce you everywhere I tickle you here, I tickle you there I tickle you, tickle you everywhere I hug you here, I hug you there I hug you, hug you everywhere Source: Mansfield/Richland County (OH) Public Library
I saw that Mel’s Desk created a rhyme/game reminiscent of the Brown Bear, Brown Bear books. She started hers with Brown Bat, but I decided to make mine Orange Pumpkin. Mine is also circular – I start and end with the same flannel piece, which is a plain pumpkin on one side and a jack-o-lantern on the other, so I just flip it over as we say the last line. Flannel Rhyme: Orange Pumpkin, Orange Pumpkin, What Do You See? (BB) (TB) (FT) Orange pumpkin, orange pumpkin, what do you see? I see a red leaf looking at me!
Continue with: Red leaf > Black cat > Gray owl > Brown bat > Yellow moon > Orange Jack-o-Lantern
Look at that pumpkin – it has a face! It looks happy, doesn’t it? Just like this one (show happy face pumpkin on a stick.) What about this one, how do you think it’s feeling?
I used the printable pumpkins from Sunflower Storytime to briefly discuss feelings, then we sang a verse for each one. Song: If You’re Happy & You Know It If you’re happy and you know it, shout hooray (hooray!) If you’re happy and you know it, shout hooray (hooray!) If you’re happy and you know it, and you really want to show it If you’re happy and you know it, shout hooray (hooray!) …angry…stomp your feet… …surprised…say “oh, my!”… …sad…have a cry (boo hoo)… …silly…do a dance… Source: traditional
This is a fun rhyme, and I love how KCLS has options for babies, hand motions, and full body motions! Bounce Rhyme: Pumpkin, Pumpkin Sitting on a Wall (BB) Pumpkin, pumpkin Sitting on a wall (bounce) Pumpkin, pumpkin Tip and fall (tip to side) Pumpkin, pumpkin Rolling down the street (roll arms or legs) Pumpkin, pumpkin Trick or treat! (lift) Source: King County (WA) Library System
Action Rhyme: Pumpkin Chant (TB) (FT) (For each line, pat lap twice on 1st pumpkin, clap twice on 2nd, pat twice on 3rd, then do action for last word) Pumpkin, pumpkin, pumpkin bread! (Hold hands flat in front, one on top of the other) Pumpkin, pumpkin, pumpkin head! (Put hands on head) Pumpkin, pumpkin, pumpkin pie! (Hold hands in a big circle) Pumpkin, pumpkin, pumpkin eye! (Curve hands around eyes) Pumpkin, pumpkin, pumpkin cake! (Hold hands flat, one about 5 inches above the other) Pumpkin, pumpkin, pumpkin shake! (shake fists by head) Pumpkin, pumpkin, pumpkin stew! (Pretend to stir stew) Pumpkin, pumpkin, pumpkin BOO! (do a peek-a-boo) Source: Jane Willis Johnston, via Jbrary
Action Song: Zoom, Zoom, Zoom!* (BB) (TB) (FT)
Craft: Pumpkin Patch We did a take on a previous craft I did that also incorporated the green leaves and yellow flowers we sang about in our “Pumpkin Vine” song. I offered two methods for the yarn vines: grownups could draw swirling vine shapes on the page with glue, then older kids could follow the glue with the yarn. That would take a little more coordination, but is less messy. Alternatively, I had some liquid glue in a shallow bowl, and kids could dunk the yarn in to saturate it, then add the vines whichever way they wished. Messier, but easier. Both methods work on fine motor skills! Unfortunately, I saw a lot of grownups drawing the glue swirls and then sticking the yarn on themselves, just letting kids add the pumpkins, leaves, and flowers. 😦
Play Time The babies have two laundry baskets of baby toys – rattles and cars, sorters and stackers, toy phones and spinners. For the older kids, I have foam blocks, soft food toys, puzzles, and a few other items that are a little more sophisticated than the baby toys. For Family Time, I gauge the overall age of the group and put out what seems right for them. We play for 5-10 minutes at the most, then I ring the bell and ask the kids to help me clean up. I think the clean up bit is good practice for them!
Goodbye Song: See You Later Alligator* (BB) (TB) (FT)
Goodbye Rhyme: Tickle the Stars* (BB) (TB) (FT)
Other books I had available for families to browse (and may work for you on this theme) Let it Grow – Mary Ann Fraser & Riley Samuels Mr. Pumpkin’s Tea Party – Erin Barker Pumpkin Eye – Denise Fleming The Great Pumpkin Contest – Angie Rozelaar Stumpkin – Lucy Ruth Cummins Amara’s Farm – JaNay Brown-Wood & Samara Hardy Pumpkin Countdown – Joan Holub & Jan Smith Piggies in the Pumpkin Patch – Mary Peterson & Jennifer Rofé Pumpkin Trouble – Jan Thomas Biscuit Visits the Pumpkin Patch – Alyssa Satin Capucilli & Pat Schories
One of these I’d like to especially highlight is Let it Grow by Mary Ann Fraser & Riley Samuels. It didn’t come in on hold for me in time to use it in the program, but it’s such an excellent book I would have substituted it for How to Help a Pumpkin Grow. It also goes through the life cycle of the pumpkin – seed to vine to leaves to flowers to fruit. But it’s cleverly written, has a BIPOC character/family and even goes beyond the expected Jack-o-lantern size pumpkin – they let theirs grow to be a GIANT pumpkin, which they take to the fair and then use in the pumpkin regatta! The back matter talks about the real life regatta and has some great photographs that I’m sure would elicit lots of oohs and aahs. I’ll definitely be using this one next time!
This storytime was presented in-person on 10/24, 10/25, & 10/26/22.
**These symbols indicate the program sessions I used the activities for: (BB) Book Babies, ages 0-2 (TB) Teddy Bears, ages 2-3.5 (FT) Family Time, ages 0-3.5
