weather – Storytime with Ms. Emily Library

Storytime: Clouds

Posted on April 11, 2025April 10, 2025 by msemilylibrary

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Other books I had available for families to browse (and may work for you on this theme)
It Looked Like Spilt Milk – Charles G. Shaw
Partly Cloudy – Deborah Freedman
Cloudette – Tom Lichtenheld
Cloudy – Alice K Flanagan
When Cloud Became a Cloud – Rob Hodgson
Clouds – Marion Dane Bauer & John Wallace
Weather Together – Jessie Sima
The Little Cloud – Pam Fong
Cloudland – John Burningham
Moongame – Frank Asch
The Little Cloud – Pam Fong
Paint with Ploof – Ben Clanton & Andy Chou Musser

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

Storytime Handout:

handout with book suggestions, rhyme and song lyrics.

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

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

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

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

Storytime: Spring

Posted on March 29, 2025March 29, 2025 by msemilylibrary

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

what's the weather ukulele songsheet thumbnail

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Craft: Tissue Paper Butterflies (TB) (FT)
Inspired by the Taming Little Monsters blog, I found a simple butterfly outline in Canva, and sized to to print two per page of cardstock. Volunteers cut them out and I provided tissue paper squares to decorate. We added regular craft sticks and a loop of yarn to make a hanger.

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

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

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

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

Storytime Handout:

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

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

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

book covers for kitty's cuddles and a day so gray

Storytime: Warm & Cozy

Posted on January 24, 2025January 23, 2025 by msemilylibrary

When it’s been as polar vortex-y cold as it has been in the midwest this winter, all you want to talk about is how to stay warm and cozy inside. Ironically, the first scheduled session for this theme was cancelled (the one I mark as TT) with a big storm that gave us about 6 inches of snow!
I’ve done this theme before, and this time I added some extension activities about soup and cuddly kitties to this version of warm and cozy.

You can find another version of this theme from 2020.

Early Literacy Tip: One of the best and most impactful things you can give your children is the enjoyment of books and reading. By allowing even the youngest children to participate as you share books with them, you can keep them engaged. Feel free to have them turn the pages, to stop and talk about a picture, or ask an open-ended question to keep their interest. Of course, if their attention wanders, don’t force them to sit still. Try again later – it’s better to have several abbreviated reading times throughout the day rather than forcing a longer session. Your child’s attention span and tolerance for longer stories will increase in time.

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

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

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

Intro: Brr – it sure is cold outside! When it’s cold outside, I do my best to get warm and cozy inside. What does it mean to feel cozy? It can mean different things to different people. For me, when I’m feeling warm, safe, and loved.

Let’s try a counting rhyme about being cozy.
Rhyme: Cozy Night (TB) (FT)
(hold up the correct number of fingers at the beginning of each line)
One fluffy quilt on my bed (mime shaking out a blanket)
Two little pillows for my head (fold hands under head)
Three teddy bears to hold so tight (hug self)
Now I’m ready for a cozy night! (rub arms)
Source: Literary Hoots

Cozy night thumbnail, with a graphic of an unmade bed with a yellow blanket, two pillows, and three various teddy bears. click the image to download a non-branded PDF

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

This one really has nothing to do with being warm, but it sure is cozy.
Read: Kitty’s Cuddles by Jane Cabrera (TB)

A lovely book about seeing beyond the blah, and appreciating the little joys.
Read: A Day So Gray by Marie Lamba & Alea Marley (FT)

There are lots of things that can help you feel warm and cozy.
Rhyme: Chilly Day (TB) (FT)
When the day is chilly (shiver)
And I don’t know what to do
Mama gives me my sweater (mime putting on sweater)
I put it on and say, “Thank you!”

But when I am still chilly (shiver)
From the snowy winter storm
Papa puts a blanket over me (mime pulling up a blanket)
But still I’m not quite warm

So when I am still chilly (shiver)
I know just what I should do
I say, “Mom & Pop, I’d like some
warm cuddles from you!” (hug self or a loved one)
Source: Storytime Stuff

Chilly day thumbnail, with a graphic of pink hearts. click the image to download a non-branded PDF

As a quick print and laminate flannel, this was easy and pretty fun. We went over time though, so I skipped it for the second storytime.
Flannel Rhyme Game: Looking for a Hug (TB)
I’m looking for something warm and snug,
You open your arms and give a great big…
…rug? NO! …bug? NO! …mug? NO! …plug? NO! …pug? NO! …slug? EW, NO! …hug? YES!
Source: Pasadena (CA) Public Library

printed and laminated flannelboard pieces including a Persian style rug, a ladybug, a blue mug with a smiley face, a pug dog, a yellow slug, an orange extension cord, and a stylized "hug" - a pink heart with arms crossed around it.

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

This one always gets a lot of laughs and smiles and awwws.
Bounce Rhyme: Bounce, Tickle, Hug (TB) (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

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

One thing that always warms me up is a nice bowl of soup. My favorite kind is split pea soup! Here’s a fun fingerplay.
Fingerplay: Pea Soup (TB) (FT)
(begin with five fingers up)
One little pea jumped into the pot,
And waited for the soup to get hot (fold one finger down)
(count down)

Finally, the soup got so very, very hot,
That all the little peas jumped out of the pot! (open hand jumps)
Source: Librarian is on the Loose blog

pea soup thumbnail, with a graphic of three peas in a pod, the middle of which has arms raised. click the image to download a non-branded PDF

Breathing Break: Soup Breathing (TB) (FT)
Time for a mindful breathing break. I asked the kids to imagine they were holding a bowl of their very favorite soup, and asked what kind they liked. Then with their hands cupped in front of them, we slowly breathed in the delicious aroma through their noses, then slowly and gently breathed out through their mouths to cool off this hot soup. Afterward, I let them know that this exercise always makes me feel good and more grounded, and they could always get out their bowl of soup if they need help calming down or feeling more connected to their bodies.
Source: Lucky Little Learners

We got out our scarves at this point. Oh, my scarf has turned into a kitty cat. A kitty cat that is very excited! We waved our scarves around and our kitties zoomed up, down, and all around. Then I said we would need to calm our kitties down. We gathered them in our arms and started petting them. Isn’t it cozy to snuggle with a pet or a stuffed animal? Let’s sing them a lullaby!
I saw lots of big smiles from the grownups who probably knew this song from The Big Bang Theory sitcom (which I haven’t watched!) I actually found it on the King County Tell Me a Story site, and it’s a sweet one.
Scarf Song: Soft Kitty (TB) (FT)
Soft kitty, Warm kitty,
Little ball of fur
Happy kitty, Sleepy kitty,
Purr, purr, purr
Source: King County (WA) Library System

soft kitty thumbnail, with a graphic of a sleeping calico cat. click the image to download a non-branded PDF

I’ve done this one as a flannel rhyme before, but I added a scarf element to it. I tried to think of scarf movements that were different for each line.
Scarf/Flannel Rhyme: Blue is the Sky (Winter Edition) (TB) (FT)
Blue is the sky (wave scarf high)
Yellow is the sun (twirl scarf to make a circle)
Silver are the stars when the day is done (throw and catch your “falling stars”)
Orange is the fire (wiggle scarf with hand underneath)
Green is the tree (stretch scarf up long)
Brown is the cocoa for you and me (gather scarf in fist and “sip”)
Source: adapted by Ms. Emily from Mel’s Desk

Flannel for "blue is the sky" with blue blob, yellow sun, two aluminum foil stars, a fireplace with an orange flame, a dark green conifer tree, and a red mug with light brown cocoa and white marshmallows.

Download the template for winter pieces here! (Original at Mel’s Desk for sky, sun, and stars)

Thumbnail of flannel template for blue is the sky.

blue is the sky thumbnail, with a graphic of a fireplace next to an evergreen tree, with two red cups of hot chocolate on the mantel. click the image to download a non-branded PDF

Speaking of hot cocoa, or hot chocolate, I’ve got a song about it! Will you wave your scarves around while I play my ukulele?
I found the first verse as a photo pin on Pinterest, but when I went back to it later I couldn’t find any indication as to the source. I added a couple of verses to round it out.
Scarf/Ukulele Song: Hot Chocolate (TB) (FT)
(tune of On Top of Old Smokey)
Do you like hot chocolate?
Marshmallows on top!
It’s warm and delicious
I can hardly stop

Whenever it’s cold out
I like it a lot
And you know the best part:
Marshmallows on top!

We pour in the chocolate
Stir it well but don’t slop
And right before sipping:
Marshmallows on top! – Sluuurp… YUM!
Source: unknown verse 1, original vs 2-3

Download a ukulele songsheet for Hot Chocolate

thumbnail for hot chocolate ukulele songsheet

hot chocolate thumbnail, with a graphic of a pink mug of hot chocolate with marshmallows. click the image to download a non-branded PDF

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

Craft: Hot Chocolate Mug (TB) (FT)
We decorated our mugs of hot chocolate and added some white pompoms to the top for marshmallows in our simple craft. Hot chocolate always tastes best from your own special mug, right? We used dot markers and stickers. Inspired by Made to Be a Momma blog, where you can find a template.

blue hot chocolate mug with an oval of brown construction paper on top, decorated with colorful dot stickers. Three white pompoms make the marshmallows on top.

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

Other books I had available for families to browse (and may work for you on this theme)
In My Anaana’s Amautik – Nadia Sammurtok & Lenny Lishchenko
Winter is the Warmest Season – Lauren Stringer
The All-Together Quilt – Lizzy Rockwell
Blanket: Journey to Extreme Coziness – Loryn Brantz
Dreamland – Noah Klocek
I’m Going to Give You a Polar Bear Hug! – Caroline B. Cooney & Tim Warnes
Snoozapalooza – Kimberlee Gard & Vivian Mineker
Twinkle, Twinkle, Winter Night – Megan Litwin & Nneka Myers
Chaiwala! – Priti Birla Maheshwari

This storytime was presented in-person on 1/7 & 1/8/25.

Storytime Handout:

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

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

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

Storytime: Rain

Posted on April 12, 2024April 9, 2024 by msemilylibrary

Rain is a great storytime theme for any time of year, but it feels especially apt in the springtime. I’ve done general weather programming in the past (pre-blogging days!), but there’s enough material to focus on rain, and some excellent books to highlight.

Early Literacy Tip: The Itsy Bitsy Spider is more than just a fun song. It describes the natural world. In simple words, we learn that after rain makes everything wet, the sun will shine and dry out the wet areas. What an enjoyable way to learn about what happens after it rains! Often our songs and rhymes describe how the world works.

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

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

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

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

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

Intro: This week we are enjoying some rainy weather (if not in reality, in our storytime!) We often get a lot of rain this time of year, and sometimes that means we stay inside. Sometimes we might play outside. But either way, rain is important for our world – can you think of what needs water? (Everything needs water!)

Let’s sing what’s maybe the most famous song about rain!
After singing this in a regular way, we invited Itsy Bitsy’s cousins, Very Quiet Spider (very small hand motions and whispers) and Great Big Spider (whole hand spider and booming voice) to the party.
Action Song: The Itsy Bitsy Spider
The itsy bitsy spider climbed up the water spout
Down came the rain and washed the spider out
Out came the sun and dried up all the rain
And the itsy bitsy spider climbed up the spout again
Source: traditional

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

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

Read: Let’s Go Puddling! by Emma Perry & Claire Alexander (TT) (TB) (FT)
This worked so well I went ahead and used it for all three sessions. It’s a sweet book with the possibility of engaging the crowd with motions and a few sound effects. There are a couple of spots where the text finishes a sentence on the next page spread, so definitely do a little practice run before reading live. A bonus for us, this is one of the five titles on the ballot this year for our state’s Early Literacy Firefly Award. They always release a program guide which has lots of great ideas, and you can see the archived guides going back to 2018.

Read: Raindrops Roll by April Pulley Sayre
A backup title in case Puddling didn’t come in on time. As with all of Sayre’s books, it integrates very simple rhyming text with gorgeous nature photography.

Can we make the sound of a rainstorm?
Activity: Make a Rainstorm (TT) (TB) (FT)
Though this works best with a very large group (like a whole auditorium), it was not bad in our smaller groups of 25-40. The adults were able to switch a little faster than the kids, so there was a good amount of overlap from one motion to the next, which is actually good!
Here’s what we did:
Two fingers making circles on opposite palm
Rubbing hands together
Snaps
Light claps
Hard claps
Jump up and say “Kaboom!” for thunder a couple times during hard claps
Light claps
Snaps
Rubbing hands
Two fingers
Hands up – what a beautiful rain we made!

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

during the spring thumbnail, with a graphic of a sun and rain cloud above three flowers. click the image to download a non-branded PDF

Look at all this rain! Let’s pull on our rain boots and stomp some puddles.
Action Song: Stomping in the Rain (TT) (TB) (FT)
(tune of Farmer in the Dell)
We’re stomping in the rain,
We’re stomping in the rain
We can’t go yet, we must get wet
We’re stomping in the rain
(repeat: clapping, jumping, turning, tiptoeing, etc)
Source: Adventures of a Bookworm

stomping in the rain thumbnail, with a graphic of four children jumping in a puddle. click the image to download a non-branded PDF

It’s time to get in the car and go. But how will we see out the windshield?
Action Rhyme: Windshield Wiper (TT) (TB) (FT)
I’m a windshield wiper,
This is how I go
Back and forth, back and forth,
In the rain and snow
Source: Adventures of a Bookworm

Windshield wiper thumbnail, with a graphic of a pair of windshield wipers and the pattern they leave on the glass. click the image to download a non-branded PDF

Time to get out our scarves! Can we make the sound of the rain with our scarves?
Scarf Song: Rain Is Falling Down (TT) (TB) (FT)
Rain is falling down (flutter scarf down) –
SPLASH! (sweep scarf to the side)
Rain is falling down – SPLASH!
Pitter patter pitter patter (wave scarf up and down quickly)
Rain is falling down – SPLASH!

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

Rain is falling down thumbnail, with a graphic of a sun peeking out from behind a raincloud, both with faces. click the image to download a non-branded PDF

Scarf Rhyme: Falling Raindrops (TT) (TB) (FT)
Raindrops, raindrops, Falling all around (wave scarf in a circle)
Pitter-patter on the roof (wave high)
Pitter-patter on the ground (wave low)
Here is my umbrella (open scarf and put above head)
It will keep me dry
When I go walking in the rain (march)
I hold it up so high (reach high)
Source: Bayviews.org

falling raindrops thumbnail, with a graphic of a yellow duckling walking with a green umbrella in the rain. click the image to download a non-branded PDF

Scarf Song: Under My Umbrella (TT) (TB) (FT)
(tune of Did You Ever See a Lassie)
Come under my umbrella, umbrella, umbrella
Come under my umbrella, It’s starting to rain
With thunder and lightning
And lightning and thunder
Come under my umbrella, It’s starting to rain
Source: traditional

Under my umbrella thumbnail, with a graphic of a cloud with raindrops and a multicolored umbrella. click the image to download a non-branded PDF

Let’s do some more stomping!
Recorded song: Boots (TT) (TB) (FT)
B-O-O-T-S Boots! B-O-O-T-S – black boots
In my black boots, In my black boots
I stomp around in my black boots
In my boots (stomp, stomp)
In my boots (stomp, stomp)
I stomp around in my boots!
Source: The Laurie Berkner Band, from the album Victor Vito

Boots thumbnail, with a graphic of four pairs of boots: yellow and blue polka dotted, green frogs, red, and black. click the image to download a non-branded PDF

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

Craft: Raindrop Stamping (TB) (FT)
Inspiration for this craft came from Adventures of a Bookworm! I had white clouds pre-cut and provided light blue paper for them to glue them on. Then, they used toilet paper tube stamps pinched on one side to make a raindrop shape to dip into darker blue paint.

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

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

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

Other books I had available for families to browse (and may work for you on this theme)
Rainy Days – Deborah Kerbel & Miki Sato
Welcome, Rain! – Sheryl McFarlane & Christine Wei
Raindrop, Plop! – Wendy Cheyette Lewison & Pam Paparone
Soaked – Abi Cushman
Singing in the Rain – Arthur Freed, Nacio Herb Brown, & Tim Hopgood
The Blue Umbrella – Emily Ann Davison & Momoko Abe
When the Storm Comes – Linda Ashman & Taeeun Yoo
Mr. Gumpy’s Motor Car – John Burningham
Puddle – Hyewon Yum

This storytime was presented in-person on 3/18, 3/19, & 3/20/24.

Storytime Handout:

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

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

STEM Storytime: Windy Days

Posted on October 21, 2023October 21, 2023 by msemilylibrary

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Storytime Handout:

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

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

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

Storytime: Keeping Warm (Warm Clothing)

Posted on February 20, 2023February 20, 2023 by msemilylibrary

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 by Karla Kuskin & Fumi Kosaka (TT)

Book cover for Under My Hood I Have a Hat

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

Download my story cheat sheet here

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

Click here for a ukulele songsheet of this tune (words are for Pepperoni Pizza)

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

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

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.

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.

Storytime Handout:

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

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

Storytime: Let it Snow

Posted on January 13, 2023January 12, 2023 by msemilylibrary

Regular storytimes are back! After a couple week’s break over the winter holidays, we’re back for a new year, with a few tweaks to the Itty Bitty programs at my library. I took the plunge and have started a program for pre-walking babies, who had been lumped together with toddlers in the past. It’s new for me, so I spent a lot of those three weeks off (and some time earlier, too…) figuring out what and how I’ll do things differently now that the age groups I’m serving have shifted a bit.

I’ll do a separate blog post for that baby program, but shifting there also means that one of my other programs has also shifted. What used to be “Book Babies” is now “Toddler Time” serving kids ages 1-2. The other two sessions remain the same: “Teddy Bears” is ages 2-3.5, and “Family Time” still serves 0-3.5. My resolution this year was was to expand my repertoire by incorporating some new hands-on props beyond shaker eggs and scarves – instruments, rhythm sticks, ribbon bracelets, etc. I jumped in with two feet by starting with the parachute!

In the past I’d been hesitant to incorporate parachute play where we had very mobile three-year-olds in the same room as crawlers or unsteady walkers. Separating them (in most classes) means I feel better about using the parachute with both groups.

You may also notice that there aren’t a ton of activities marked (TT) – that group was super wound up this week! I didn’t do half of what I’d planned, but we got out the parachute and they enjoyed that, and they spent a little extra time during free play, so it all evened out.

This week was a very common January theme, snow. We danced like snowflakes and made a blizzard with the parachute and some cotton balls, too!

Early Literacy Tip: Seeing patterns and trying to recognize things that are alike and things that are different is a fun game for children. Such activities help them develop the mathematical concepts of patterns and relationships.

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

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

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

Intro: This is the season for snow! Does anyone like to play in the snow? Let’s pretend it’s snowing right now.

Action Song: Watch the Snowflakes (TT) (TB) FT)
(tune of Frère Jacques)
Watch the snowflakes, Watch the snowflakes
Floating down, Floating down
Oh so very slowly, Oh so very slowly
To the ground, To the ground
(repeat: from so very high, quickly, twirly)
Source: Jen in the Library

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

Read: Mouse’s First Snow by Lauren Thompson & Buket Erdogan (TT) (FT)

book cover for Mouse's First Snow, showing little mouse next to a mouse made of snow.

This is such a beautiful book, with stunning crisp photographs and a very simple, lyrical text. This group was fascinated. Bonus, it’s by an Indiana author!
Read: Best in Snow by April Pulley Sayre (TB)

book cover for best in snow, showing a bluejay sitting on a snowy branch

I loved that Mouse got to do lots of fun things in the snow, like sledding! Here’s a rhyme about sledding.
Rhyme: Here’s a Hill (TT)
Here’s a hill (tilt one arm diagonally)
And here’s a hill (tilt other arm diagonally)
All covered with snow (wiggle fingers downward)
I’ll put on my coat, (mime putting a coat on)
And jump on my sled (hold the rope of a sled)
And ZOOM, down the hill I go! (clap, slide hands)
Source: Storytime Katie

For this one, we really emphasized going slow at the beginning, and fast at the end.
Bounce: Sledding (TT) (FT)
(tune of Row Your Boat)
Crunch, crunch, Crunch, crunch, crunch (sway slowly)
Up the hill so slow
Sliding, sliding, Sliding, sliding (bounce quickly)
Down the hill we go!
Source: Yogibrarian

I think it’s getting ready to snow again!
Action Song: A Snowy Sky (TB) (FT)
(tune of A Ram Sam Sam)
A big white sky, A big white sky
Snowflakes falling from a big white sky
A big white sky, A big white sky
Snowflakes falling from a big white sky
A winter breeze – BRRR!
A winter breeze – BRRR!
And snowflakes falling from a big white sky!
Source: Storytime in the Stacks

I see some colors through the snow.
Flannel Activity: Colors in the Snow (TB) (FT)
Based on this post by Abby Johnson on the ALSC Blog (and in turn, inspired by Mel’s Desk!), we looked at some colorful shapes.
The idea is to lay out several shapes of one color, saying something like, “I see a white snowflake. And a white cloud. And a white rabbit. And a white pumpkin!” The kids will likely correct you that no, that is an ORANGE pumpkin, thank you very much. Then you start again with orange things, messing up at the end of each line. When all your items are out, you can say you see something that has all those colors, what could it be? A snowman!
My shapes were mostly die cuts, though I did search for a few shapes online like the cat, crow, cloud, rabbit, and leaf.

colors in the snow felt. Shapes in different colors are lined in a grid shape:
white: snowflake, cloud, rabbit
orange: pumpkin, butterfly, leaf
black: cat, bat, crow
red: ladybug, apple, fire truck
a snowman with a black hat, orange nose and red scarf sits to the side.

I was so enamored with this snowman with his jaunty eyebrows that I copied it exactly from Storytime in the Stacks!
Flannel/Puppet Rhyme: A Chubby Little Snowman (TB) (FT)
A chubby little snowman
Had a carrot nose
Along came a bunny,
And what do you suppose?
That hungry little bunny,
Looking for some lunch
Ate that snowman’s nose,
With a nibble, nibble, crunch!
Source: Storytime in the Stacks

Chubby Little Snowman felt and puppet - the snowman's nose has been caught by the pink bunny puppet, who holds the carrot shape. The snowman felt is just the head, with eyes, a mouth and eyebrows.

This is a very catchy tune – fair warning, it’s been stuck in my head all week!
Action Song: Once there Was a Snowman (FT)
Once was there was a snowman, a snowman, a snowman
Once there was a snowman – Tall, tall, tall!
In the sun he melted, he melted, he melted
In the sun he melted – Small, small, small!
Source: Jbrary

Parachute Time!
We started by practicing a bit, lifting up and down, shaking fast and shaking slow

After one repetition through this song, I threw a couple of handfuls of cotton balls in the middle – fun! After a couple of songs when most of them had “jumped” off, we took a short break to collect them and throw them back in the middle. After Parachute Fly, I asked the kids to find and bring up the scattered cotton balls, which they were very happy to do.
Parachute Song: Snowflake in the Sky (TT) (TB) (FT)
(tune of Twinkle, Twinkle)
Snowflake, snowflake in the sky,
Love to watch you floating by
Down you fall upon the ground,
Down you fall without a sound
Snowflake, snowflake in the sky,
Love to watch you floating by
Source: Jbrary

I accidentally planned two songs that use Frère Jacques. Oops.
Parachute Song: Dance Like Snowflakes (TT) (TB) (FT)
(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

I watched a bunch of YouTube videos of using parachutes with kids to prepare, and saw this song used by several Gymboree classes. It seems like a good one for putting the parachute away. Hopefully in time I can teach the adults to actually let go at the end – this first time took us a couple tries!
Parachute Song: Parachute Fly (TT) (TB) (FT)
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

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

Craft: Puffy Snow Paint (TB) (FT)
Sometimes it’s nice to do a messy craft – it may inspire some families to try it at home, and it might be the one chance kids from more fastidious families might have to be messy! This really cool puffy paint is easy to make, stores easily in between uses, and dries actually puffy. It’s made with equal (ish) parts foam shaving cream and white school glue. I mixed and kept it in a large zip-top bag with the air squeezed out, and it stayed good for 3 days. There was white chalk to draw with as well, and I free-hand cut out some small black circles and orange triangles in case they wanted to make snowpeople. Fun and cute!

craft showing snowflakes drawn on black construction paper with white chalk, and a snowman made of white puffy paint with two black paper eyes, three black paper buttons, and a orange paper nose.

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

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

Other books I had available for families to browse (and may work for you on this theme)
The Snowman Shuffle – Christianne Jones & Emma Randall
In the Snow – Sharon Phillips Denslow & Nancy Tafuri
Winter Is Here – Kevin Henkes & Laura Dronzek
One Snowy Morning – Kevin Tseng & Dana Wulfekotte
The Snowy Day – Ezra Jack Keats
A Big Bed for Little Snow – Grace Lin
In My Anaana’s Amautik – Nadia Sammurtok & Lenny Lishchenko
Making a Friend – Tammi Sauer & Alison Friend
Ten on the Sled – Kim Norman & Liza Woodruff
Over & Under the Snow – Kate Messner & Christopher Silas Neal

This storytime was presented in-person on 1/9, 1/10, & 1/11/23.

Storytime Handout:

handout with suggested books, rhymes and song lyrics

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

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