winter – Storytime with Ms. Emily Library

book covers for hiders seekers finders keepers and after the snowfall

Storytime: Animals in Winter

Posted on November 7, 2025November 6, 2025 by msemilylibrary

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

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

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

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

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

Welcome Song: Hello, Friends* †

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

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

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

Lifting Rhyme: Toast in the Toaster*

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

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

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

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

Transition: If You’re Ready for a Story*

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Printable Animal Tracks Field Guide from Personal Creations.

Printable Animal illustrations.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Action Song: Zoom, Zoom, Zoom!*

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

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

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

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

Goodbye Song: See You Later Alligator*

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

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

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

Storytime Handout:

handout with book suggestions, rhyme and song lyrics.

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

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

Storytime: Hibernation

Posted on February 21, 2025February 20, 2025 by msemilylibrary

Another wintery theme for the season! Hibernation touches on some STEM concepts as well as bedtime and weather. I’ve done this one before, but updated with some new rhymes and songs about particular hibernators, such as frogs and bats. I also worked out two songs to play on ukulele – which is always popular.

If you have them, puppets are a great addition to a hibernator storytime. I bought two new finger puppets – both Folkmanis – a chipmunk and a bat. I already had a frog, turtle, and bear, so we had a puppet-stravaganza!

You can find another version of this theme from 2021 here.

Early Literacy Tip: Don’t shy away from using regular adult language with young children. They pick up the words you say and the more words they hear, the greater their vocabulary will be. Children learn words best in context, so you can clarify or explain what you mean if it’s a new or difficult word. -adapted from The Early Literacy Kit: A Handbook and Tip Cards by Betsy Diamant-Cohen & Saroj Ghoting

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) (TB) (FT)

Intro: When it’s cold outside, we bundle up and like to spend more time indoors. But animals in the wild have to adapt to the winter temperatures and do so in different ways. Some migrate south to warmer temperatures, like geese. Some grow thick coats of fur like wolves. But some animals will sleep all winter long – it’s called hibernation! Let’s see, I have some animals that hibernate here! (Pull out puppets one by one) Turtle, frog, chipmunk, bat, and the star of the hibernation show – bear!

Photo of realistic animal puppets on top of a flannelboard. Includes bear, chipmunk, turtle, bat, and frog.

When I think of hibernation, I usually start by thinking of bears, who will often find a cave to sleep in over the winter.
After one session, I felt this rhyme was a little too long, especially with not very many “movements” to pair with each line. I reprinted the rhyme sheet and skipped the couplet that dealt with summer, shown in brackets below. I’ve included both versions in the pdf, even though only one is shown here.
Fingerplay: Here Is a Cave (TT) (TB) (FT)
Here is a cave, Inside is a bear (make a circle with thumb and fingers, then tuck thumb in)
Now she comes out To get some fresh air (pop thumb out)
[She stays out all summer In sunshine and heat
She hunts in the forest For berries to eat]
When snow starts to fall She hurries inside (wiggle fingers down and tuck thumb in)
Her warm little cave And there she will hide
Snow covers the cave Like a fluffy white rug (cover hand with other hand)
Inside the bear sleeps All cozy and snug (lay head on hands)
Source: Storytime Katie

Here is a cave thumbnail, with a graphic of a sleeping bear in a snowy cave. click the image to download a non-branded PDF

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

I love that this title showcases a wide variety of hibernators, but it was a bit long for my squirrely 1-2 year olds. I switched to Old Bear for the next two sessions.
Read: Time to Sleep by Denise Fleming (TT)

Short and sweet, with beautiful illustrations that are just odd enough to be dreamy, this title is always a winner.
Read: Old Bear by Kevin Henkes (TB) (FT)

I had photographs of a bear, frog, snake, and bat being active, then hibernating on the back of cards. We talked about them before starting the song. This is a fun and fairly easy one to do on ukulele, too.
Song: Hibernation (TT) (TB) (FT)
(tune of “Alouette”)
Chorus:
Hibernation, time for hibernation
Hibernation, time to go to sleep
Verse:
In the winter, where’s the bear?
Sleeping in his log or lair
Where’s the bear? (Log or lair) OOOOOOH!

Additional verses:
…frog? Sleeping by a pond or log
…snake? In the mud beside the lake
…bat? In a cave is where she’s at
Source: Charles County Public Library (MD)

Download a ukulele songsheet for Hibernation here!

hibernation thumbnail, with a graphic of a hollow log, a cave, and a mud puddle. click the image to download a non-branded PDF

Oh, no, the bear is so sleepy, it lost its footing and is ROLLING!
I think we did four bears instead of five for this one.
Counting/Flannel Rhyme: Sleepy Bear Roll (TT) (TB)
Five sleepy bears moving really slow
One yawns and stumbles and starts to… ROLL! (roll arms)
He rolls to a stop and begins to snore…
How many bears are left to explore? (count down)
Source: Canton (MI) Public Library

printed and laminated flannelboard set for sleepy bear roll - includes 5 different sleeping cartoon bears.

sleepy bear roll thumbnail, with a graphic of a curled up sleepy bear rolling end over end. click the image to download a non-branded PDF

I got out the frog puppet to jump with us on this rhyme. I’ve used this rhyme in the past and just changed one word to make it fit for hibernation – the last line I’ve used before was “Now go free.” “Sleep” slips in there perfectly!
We said that bears hibernate, but what about this friend? Did you know that frogs bury themselves in the mud and freeze solid in the winter? Then in the spring, they thaw out and hop along!
Action Rhyme: Funny, Funny Froggy (TT) (TB) (FT)
Funny, funny froggy, Hop, hop, hop!
Funny, funny froggy, Stop, stop, stop!
Funny, funny froggy, Jump with me
Funny, funny froggy, Now go sleep
Source: adapted from Books and Bibliotheks

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

Another one that I changed the middle lines to make it a hibernation song.
How about this friend? They sleep upside down in a cave
Song: Flutter, Flutter, Little Bat (TT) (TB) (FT)
(tune of Twinkle, Twinkle)
Flutter, flutter, little bat
How I wonder where you’re at
When winter chill begins to creep
To your cave you go to sleep
Flutter, flutter little bat
How I wonder where you’re at
Source: adapted from traditional

flutter little bat thumbnail, with a graphic of a brown bat with closed eyes. click the image to download a non-branded PDF

Time for some movement!
This version is from Jazzy Ash’s rendition of Teddy Bear.
Action Rhyme: Black Bear, Turn Around (TT) (TB) (FT)
Black bear, black bear turn around,
Black bear, black bear touch the ground
Black bear, black bear Wave up high
Black bear, black bear Wink one eye
Black bear, black bear Bend your knees,
Black bear, black bear flap in the breeze
Black bear, black bear climb up to bed,
Black bear, black bear rest your head!
Source: adapted from traditional

black bear thumbnail, with a graphic of a standing black bear. click the image to download a non-branded PDF

I started with turtle, then went chipmunk, and ended with bear to transition into the next song.
Puppets/Fingerplay: Sleepy Turtle (TT) (TB) (FT)
(tune of Thumbkin)
Where is Turtle? Where is Turtle?
Here I am! Here I am!
How are you this winter? Very tired, thank you
Go to sleep, Go to sleep (repeat with other hibernators)
Source: Storytime Katie

sleepy turtle thumbnail, with a graphic of a turtle with closed eyes resting its head on its front arms. click the image to download a non-branded PDF

A few of our grownups knew this song right away! I did go through the motions with everyone before we started, especially since I couldn’t lead them while playing.
Let’s put our bears to sleep for the winter.
Ukulele Action Song: Rockabye Your Bear (TT) (TB) (FT)
Everybody clap (clap, clap, clap)
Everybody sing, La, la-la, la, la!
Bow to your partner
Then you turn around
Hands in the air
Rockabye your bear
Bear’s now asleep: (sh, sh, sh!)
Bear’s now asleep: (sh, sh, sh!)
Source: The Wiggles

Download a ukulele songsheet for Rockabye Your Bear here!

rockabye your bear ukulele songsheet thumbnail

rockabye your bear thumbnail, with a graphic of a brown haired light skinned girl hugging a teddy bear. click the image to download a non-branded PDF

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

Craft: Bear Cave Craft (TB) (FT)
Inspired by the project at Glued To My Crafts blog, I pre-printed the bear image on cardstock and cut out triangles. Then I glued three craft sticks to the edges with liquid glue – the craft sticks tended to warp a bit with the glue, so they needed to be weighted down with some wax paper and a heavy book while they dried. That way, the kids just needed to decorate with these small leaf cutouts (we had them in the craft stash but they look like they came from paper punches) and add snow with pulled-apart cotton balls. There was some time investment on the prep for me, but it was a smooth craft for them. Bear image from Play Create Explore.

Bear in a cave craft consisting of a printed picture of a sleeping bear glued to a triangle of wooden craft sticks. fall-colored leaves are glued to the sides and cotton is glued to the top and bottom to simulate snow.

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)

Other books I had available for families to browse (and may work for you on this theme)
Bear Has a Story to Tell – Philip C Stead & Erin E Stead
William’s Winter Nap – Linda Ashman & Chuck Groenink
Bear’s Big Dreaming – Michael Rosen & Daniel Egneus
Hiders Seekers Finders Keepers – Jessica Kulekjian & Salini Perera
Knock Knock – Tammi Sauer & Guy Francis
Over and Under the Snow – Kate Messner & Christopher Silas Neal
I Don’t Want to Go to Sleep – Dev Petty & Mike Boldt
Bear Snores On – Karma Wilson & Jane Chapman
Bedtime for Bear – Brett Helquist
Sleep, Big Bear, Sleep! – Maureen Wright & Will Hillenbrand

This storytime was presented in-person on 2/3, 2/4, & 2/5/25.

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 no yeti yet and the thing about yetis

Storytime: Yetis

Posted on February 7, 2025February 7, 2025 by msemilylibrary

Winter monsters, come play! Yetis (or yeti, looks like either can be plural) have a pretty good representation in picture books, as well as some popular media. Smallfoot, Abominable, and Missing Link are all fairly recent animated films featuring yetis. I was also reminded of the yeti character in the old stop-motion Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer television special as well as the Pixar film Monsters, Inc by families who came to the program. So it wasn’t too difficult to plan a whole storytime around yetis! I did this theme back in 2020 (pre-blog) and enjoyed revisiting it and adding some new songs and activities. Props to Lady Librarian Life, who first inspired this theme and from whom I borrowed a lot of activities!

no yeti yet book cover, featuring two children in the snow, looking at a large footprint. a yeti is peering at them from behind a mound of snow.

The thing about yetis show a cute yeti in the snow wearing a red earflap hat and holding a small stuffed yeti

Early Literacy Tip: The concept of loud and soft plays an important role in music and throughout life. Children need to know when a loud voice is okay and when a soft voice is required. Through music and rhymes they can have fun learning the difference between loud and soft, and practice the right time for the right volume. -The Early Literacy Kit: A Handbook and Tip Cards by Betsy Diamant-Cohen & Saroj Ghoting

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

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

Intro: Today we are talking about a mythical creature called a Yeti. A mythical creature is one that we tell stories about, but doesn’t really exist in real life, like a unicorn or a dragon. A yeti lives high in the mountains where it’s cold and snowy most of the time. They have fuzzy white hair all over their bodies and walk on two feet like a person. They usually don’t like to be out in the open and are shy around people. Some stories say they are ferocious and like to roar! Can I hear a mighty yeti roar?

Yes, we did this rhyme last week, but it never gets old.
Fingerplay: Two Little Yetis (TT) (TB) (FT)
(style of Two Blackbirds)
Two little yetis playing in the snow
One was fast and one was slow
Go away fast, go away slow
Come back fast, come back slow

Two little yetis looking at the clouds One was quiet and one was loud…
Two little yetis getting kind of chilly, One was serious and one was silly…
Source: Lady Librarian Life

two little yetis thumbnail, with a graphic of two white and blue yetis. click the image to download a non-branded PDF

Now, let’s pretend to be a yeti ourselves.
Action Rhyme: Yeti, Yeti, Turn Around (TT) (TB) (FT)
Yeti, Yeti, turn around
Yeti, Yeti, touch the ground
Yeti, Yeti, reach up high
Yeti, Yeti, blink your eyes
Yeti, Yeti, show your teeth
Yeti, Yeti, stomp your feet
Yeti, Yeti, slap your knees
Yeti, Yeti, sit down, please
Source: Lady Librarian Life

yeti turn around thumbnail, with a graphic of a white and blue yeti waving. click the image to download a non-branded PDF

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

This was a fun title, but one that my library didn’t own. Thankfully, I was able to get a copy from my home library because it worked so seamlessly with the Yeti Hunt theme.
Read: No Yeti Yet by Mary Ann Fraser (TT) (FT)

I tried this one with my older group, but they were pretty wiggly through it. Cute title, but they maybe were just not in the mood that day.
Read: The Thing About Yetis by Vin Vogel (TB)

Yetis are such mysterious creatures! Let’s see if we can go find some.
Everyone seemed to enjoy this one and I’ve started to figure out some ways to make the “hunt” flow well for me and be enjoyable for my groups. Just to keep things moving, I’ve started skipping the “can’t go over it” part, and it still works really well. We slap our knees in rhythm during the “chorus” part. For the flannel, I was able to reuse the penguin ice floe from last week to add to my various bear/dragon hunt pieces. No more than four terrains (including the cave) are a good amount for my age group. This has taken a good amount of trial and error – the very first time I did Bear Hunt, it was a mess! But tweaks along the way have made it a favorite.
Chant: Going on a Yeti Hunt (TT) (TB) (FT)
(chorus, repeat between each terrain)
We’re going on a yeti hunt (We’re going on a yeti hunt)
We’re gonna find a big one! (We’re gonna find a big one!)
With great big feet (With great big feet) (stomp feet)
And fuzzy white fur (And fuzzy white fur)
Look, it’s a great, big field of snow
We have to ski across it – put on your skis! Swoosh, swoosh, swoosh!
Look, it’s a wide, frozen river
We have to skate across it – get your skates on! Glide, glide, glide!
Look, it’s a great big mountain with snow on top
We have to climb up it! Do you have all your climbing gear? (pretend to climb, then when you get to the top, slide down the other side: whee!)
Look, it’s a deep, dark cave! Just like where the Yeti lives.
Let’s go in: Tiptoe, tiptoe, tiptoe!
Whoops, what is that? I see two great big feet!
And fuzzy white fur! It’s a Yeti! RUN!
(backwards through terrain)
Back to the house, shut the door, up the stairs, jump in bed, put the blanket over your head – are we safe? whew!
Source: adapted from Adventures in Storytime

yeti hunt flannel, with a snow field, river, snow capped mountain, and cave. A yet figure is show at the cave mouth.

going on a yeti hunt thumbnail, with a graphic of a tall sasquatch like yeti going into an icy cave. click the image to download a non-branded PDF

I made this felt set back in 2020, and I’m not sure where I got the pattern! It’s very hard to tell from the pictures, but the beard part was made from glittery white felt – I love it! As a transition from the Yeti Hunt, I set this one up like this:
Let’s peek out the window and see if it’s safe outside. Oh, no!! I see not one, not two, three, four, but FIVE enormous yetis out there! Maybe they will go away if we wait.
Counting Rhyme: Five Enormous Yetis (TT) (TB) (FT)
Five enormous yetis letting out a roar
One stomped away and then there were four
Stomp, stomp, stomp, stomp, ROAR!

4… hiding in the trees…
3… didn’t know what to do…
2… having lots of fun…
1… saw the setting sun…
Source: Lady Librarian Life

flannel with five yets with white beards and blue faces, each with a different expression.

five enormous yetis thumbnail, with a graphic of a five blue yeti heads peeking around the sides and bottom of the sheet. click the image to download a non-branded PDF

We found a yeti, let’s see what they do.
This was not the most engaging, so I dropped it after the first session.
Action Song: The Yetis In the Snow (TT)
(tune of Wheels on the Bus)
The yetis in the snow go roar, roar, roar
Roar, roar, roar, roar, roar, roar
The yetis in the snow go roar, roar, roar,
All through the snow

Additional verses:
…stomp their feet
…slide down the hill – whee!
…creep by the town sh, sh, sh
Source: Lady Librarian Life

yeti in the snow thumbnail, with a graphic of yeti creeping in front of a darkened town. click the image to download a non-branded PDF

Time to get our scarves out. What a snowy day! Yeti love the snow.
Scarf 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

snowflake in the sky thumbnail, with a graphic of a brown indeterminate monster wearing a red scarf and sticking its tongue out to catch falling snowflakes. click the image to download a non-branded PDF

I was looking for more snowy scarf rhymes to add, and found this one about the robin which I rewrote to fit with yetis.
Oh, the weather is changing again – the wind is blowing! Can you make your scarf blow in the wind?
Scarf Rhyme: When Cold Winds Blow (TT) (TB) (FT)
When cold winds blow
And we shall have snow
What will the shy yetis do?
They’ll run outside
With their arms open wide
Then slide down the mountain with a “yahoo!”
Source: adapted from King County (WA) Lib Sys

when the cold winds blow thumbnail, with a graphic of a blue yeti raising his arms in front of a mountain. click the image to download a non-branded PDF

Another kind of a stretch to fit with the theme, but I could just imagine a bunch of yetis rolling around in the snow! I demoed rolling the scarf by holding both ends and rolling your hands, or by letting go of one end and letting it fly free. Either works.
Yetis like to roll around and play in the snow.
Scarf Rhyme: Roly Poly (TT) (TB) (FT)
(roll scarf accordingly)
Roly poly, roly, poly, up, up, up
Roly poly, roly, poly, down, down, down
Roly poly, roly, poly, out, out, out
Roly poly, roly, poly, in, in, in
Roly poly, roly, poly, BIG, BIG, BIG
Roly poly, roly, poly, very, very small
Roly poly, roly, poly, fast, fast, fast, fast, fast!
Rol…ly… po…ly… to… a… stop! (clap)
Source: Rebecca Jane Flanagan

roly poly thumbnail, with a graphic of a snowboarding yeti doing a loop de loop. click the image to download a non-branded PDF

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

Craft: Yeti Fork Painting (TB) (FT)
Inspired by this post at the Our Kid Things blog, we painted yeti fur with white paint and forks. I didn’t want to mess with two colors of paint, so I made and cut a head and chest shape out of light blue construction paper and pre-glued it down to black construction paper. I also drew big eyes and a toothy mouth/nose combo on white cardstock and made copies. So the kids only had three small things to glue down, then they could go to work painting the fur. They came out very cute, and unique with interesting combinations of feature placement (one kid did a cyclops yeti!) and though most painted with the forks, some abandoned them and did finger painting. It’s all good! I love that they can do their own thing and most of our parents are willing to let them.

craft showing a blue head above a blue chest on black construction paper. big eyes and a large smiling toothy mouth are pasted to the head, and fork lines of white paint are all over the head and chest for hair

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)
(There are a good number but not a huge number on yetis, so I supplemented with Bigfoot books!)
Are We There, Yeti? – Ashlyn Anstee
Dear Yeti – James Kwan
Henry and the Yeti – Russell Ayto
How to Catch a Yeti – Adam Wallace & Andy Elkerton
Itchy, Scratchy Pants – Steve Smallman & Elina Ellis
Not Yet, Yeti – Bethany V Freitas & Maddie Frost
Yetis Are the Worst – Alex Willan
Elwood Bigfoot – Jill Esbaum & Nate Wragg
Bigfoot Cinderrrrrella – Tony Johnston & James Warhola
Larf – Ashley Spires
Bigfoot’s Big Heart – Sarah Glenn Marsh & Ishaa Lobo

This storytime was presented in-person on 1/20, 1/21, 1/22, & 1/30/25.

Storytime Handout:

handout with suggested books, rhyme and song lyrics.

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

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

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

Storytime: Penguins

Posted on January 31, 2025January 30, 2025 by msemilylibrary

Penguins are just undeniably cute! I had done a penguin theme much earlier in my career, before starting this blog, so I’m glad to finally document this one. We had so much fun with this program, and it’s the first time in a long time that the plan seemed to go really, really, well for every single session. Each activity flowed well into the next and everyone seemed to keep focused and interested the whole way through. That’s rare – usually I do some tweaking from one session to the next, or realize that this song or that rhyme didn’t work well. This one was a pleasure start to finish for three days straight.

Well done mommy penguin book cover (illustration of adult and baby penguin hugging)

hello penguin book cover (photograph of penguin on beach)

Early Literacy Tip: Factual books, or nonfiction books, are a great way to expand children’s knowledge about the world. You can read the whole book or choose certain pages your child might be interested in. One great way to share these books with young children is to look at the pictures or photographs and read the captions.

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

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

Intro: Today we’re talking about an animal that lives where it is cold outside – Penguins! Penguins mainly live in Antarctica, but there are some that also live in Africa and South America. Penguins are birds, but they can’t fly in the air. Instead, they “fly” in the water – they swim! They have short legs and waddle around on land. Let’s find out more.
I had one kiddo insist when I said they live in Antarctica that no, they live in the South Pole. I was so impressed! We talked briefly about how that land may have different names, but that he was right.

Here I showed 3-4 pages from this very short nonfiction title and talked about the photographs.
Book: Hello, Penguin! by Kathryn Williams

Can we get two penguins out on our fingers?
Fingerplay: Two Little Penguins (TT) (TB) (FT)
(style of Two Blackbirds)
Two little penguins sitting on a hill
One named Jack and one named Jill
Waddle away Jack, waddle away Jill
Come back Jack, come back Jill

Two little penguins sitting on the ice
One bows once, the other bows twice
Waddle little penguins, waddle away
Come back, penguins – time to play!
Source: Storytime Katie

two little penguins thumbnail, with a graphic of two emperor penguins facing each other. click the image to download a non-branded PDF

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

This book hit all the high marks – it had noises, a repeated phrase, humor, drama, and a happy ending!
Read: Well Done, Mommy Penguin by Chris Haughton (TT) (TB) (FT)

Our penguins are playing with their friends in the water. Can they jump on the shore like Mommy Penguin?
My flannelboard has a black background, which works well most of the time. But occasionally I need a different color! I made a dark blue background (basically just a felt piece the size of board) that can go on top of the black when needed. That was a great color for the “sea,” and I added an ice shelf. My five penguins started in the ocean, then hopped up to the ice on the “pop.” This goes a little beyond counting up or counting down, since there are a number of penguins still swimming and a number that have hopped up and we can talk about both numbers.
Flannel/Counting Song: Five Penguins Swimming (TT) (TB) (FT)
Five little penguins swimming in the water
Swimming in the water, Swimming in the water
Five little penguins Swimming in the water
Bubble, bubble, bubble, bubble …POP!
(count down)
Source: adapted from All the Fish from Caspar Babypants

five penguins flannel, showing a two layer ice bank of light blue behind white felt. Three felt penguins are on the ice bank, and two are "swimming" beside it.

Five little penguins thumbnail, with a graphic of five identical cartoon penguins, each with a number 1-5 on its belly. click the image to download a non-branded PDF

I think it’s time for penguin puppets! Can you come up and pick a puppet?
The kids love to have something to move around, and simple cardstock and craft stick puppets are an easy and cheap way to give them an extra somatic element.

Three paper penguin puppets - a white oval is attached to a craft stick, and a black die-cut penguin is glued to the white oval.

Can you hold up your penguin? Oh, we just landed on Antarctica – I see penguins all over!
Puppet Action Rhyme: Penguins Everywhere (TT) (TB) (FT)
The penguins are here, the penguins are there
the penguins, the penguins are everywhere!
The penguins are up, the penguins are down
The penguins, the penguins are all around!
The penguins are in, the penguins are out
the penguins, the penguins are all about!
The penguins go low, the penguins go high
The penguins, the penguins all wave goodbye!
Source: One Little Librarian (link no longer working)

penguins everywhere thumbnail, with a graphic of six small penguins, each dressed in winter accessories (hats/scarves) and doing winter play such as sledding, making snow angels, etc. click the image to download a non-branded PDF

Reinforcing the facts learned in our nonfiction title as well as in our story:
What do penguins eat? Fish! Let’s do the penguin cheer!
At the “splash” our penguin puppets dove down to catch a fish. We did this three or four times!
Puppet Chant: Penguin Cheer (TT) (TB) (FT)
I like fishies, Yes, I do!
When I want fishies, Here’s what I do:
One, two three… SPLASH !
Source: King County (WA) Library System

Penguin cheer thumbnail, with a graphic of one penguin diving and a second standing with a fish in its mouth. click the image to download a non-branded PDF

I debated doing this one on ukulele or just singing and ended up just singing. That way I could model moving the puppet around.
Let’s let our penguins play.
Puppet Song: The Penguin Song (TT) (TB) (FT)
(tune of My Bonnie)
The penguin slides over the ice bank
The penguin jumps into the sea
Look at her black and white feathers
That penguin’s as cute as can be
Swim fast, swim fast,
Oh, swim fast my penguin to me, to me!
Swim fast, swim fast
Oh, swim fast my penguin to me!
Source: Johnson County (KS) Library (link no longer working)

Download a ukulele songsheet for The Penguin Song

thumbnail for penguin song ukulele songsheet

penguin song thumbnail, with a graphic of a wavy ocean at the bottom of the page, with a penguin seeming to jump out of the waves. click the image to download a non-branded PDF

At this point I let everyone know that we were going to do a next-level exercise. We would be *trading in* our penguin puppet for a shaky egg. Everyone did a really good job of putting the puppet away in one bin and picking out an egg in the other.
Remember penguins are birds. And how are baby birds born? From eggs!
Shaker Rhyme: Eggs 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 (tuck shaker under your arm)
Source: adapted from the traditional Tommy Thumbs

egg shakers up thumbnail, with a graphic of four egg shapes: red, blue, green, and yellow. click the image to download a non-branded PDF

This one was good because I was sure to end with shaker on your feet (I think I did knee, elbow, tummy, then feet). Then we talked about how daddy penguins take care of the eggs before they hatch and keep them on their feet so they stay warm. We tried walking around with shaker on feet like a daddy penguin, to varying degrees of success, but high hilarity!
Shaker Song: Can You Shake? (TT) (TB) (FT)
(tune of London Bridge)
Can you shake along with me,
Along with me, along with me?
Can you shake along with me?
Put your shaker on your… knee!
(repeat with different body parts)
Source: Jbrary

can you shake thumbnail, with a graphic of a blue and a green egg shape with motion lines around them. click the image to download a non-branded PDF

Oh, did you hear that? Our penguin eggs are ready to hatch! Let’s listen carefully!
After hatching our eggs a few times, we returned our shaky eggs back to the “nest” bowl and moved on to Zoom, Zoom, Zoom.
Shaker Rhyme: Egg So Quiet (TT) (TB) (FT)
Egg so quiet (keep shaker egg still)
Egg so still
Will it hatch?
Yes, it will! (shake vigorously!)
Source: Storytime in the Stacks

egg so quiet thumbnail, with a graphic of a large white egg with a crack across the middle. click the image to download a non-branded PDF

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

Craft: Heart Penguins (TB) (FT)
I found a sample of this penguin in my predecessor’s files, and it was an easy one to recreate. The two main parts were made by folding and cutting like you do a heart (though the black body was not heart shaped but more bullet-like. The white face and belly was the widest heart shape I could make on a half-sheet of white construction paper (so I would fold into fourths and then cut the shape and get two in one sheet). We have a paper die that’s for a heart border, which has four heart shapes strung together, with a smaller heart cut out of the middle. Cutting these into individual hearts made the feet, and the inner heart made the beak. My predecessor also was uncomfortable with googly eyes for kids under 2, so she printed out pairs of eyes on label paper. I have a lot left, so the eyes are just these stickers. They turned out very cute and were minimal work for me to prep.

penguin heart craft - a black penguin body with an elongated white heart shape for the face and belly. Sticker eyes and a small orange heart beak make the face and two larger orange hearts make the feet.

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)
Waiting for Mama – Gianna Marino
Flora and the Penguin – Molly Idle
What’s in the Egg, Little Pip – Karma Wilson & Jane Chapman
Baby Penguins Love Their Mama! – Melissa Guion
If You Were a Penguin – Florence Minor & Wendell Minor
A Penguin Story – Antoinette Portis
The King Penguin – Vanessa Roeder
Vampenguin – Lucy Ruth Cummins
Harriet Gets Carried Away – Jessie Sima
Grumpy Pants – Claire Messer

This storytime was presented in-person on 1/13, 1/14, & 1/15/25.

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

† 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: 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)**

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 knees and cheeks.

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:

*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

Preschool Storytime: Warm & Cozy

Posted on February 25, 2021 by msemilylibrary

In another attempt to avoid holiday programming while still celebrating a universal happy winter feeling, my last storytime of December was focused on the feeling of “coziness.” I invite the kids to think about what makes them feel cozy, and remind them that different people may have different things that make them feel that way. In general, though, we feel cozy when we are warm, secure, fed, and loved – something every child (and adult!) needs and deserves.

You can see the virtual program that does not include the full books read aloud here.

Early Literacy Tip: One of the best things you can give your children is the enjoyment of books and reading. By allowing your children to participate as you share books with them, you can keep them engaged around the book. 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 they are not enjoying it, don’t force them to sit still. Try again at another time – it’s fine to have several abbreviated reading times throughout the day if they’re enjoyable rather than forcing a longer session. Your child’s attention span and tolerance for longer stories will increase in time.

Welcome Song: We Clap and Sing Hello

I hadn’t really used any fingerplays that specify right and left hands before, so I asked on the Storytime Underground Facebook page what best practices were. Many people do the opposite so that children can mirror them and use the correct hand, while specifying for parents that’s what they’re doing. I think it’s good to emphasize that it’s a hard concept and parents can gently help until kids get it. There was also discussion about ableism and excluding kids that may not have two hands/fingers which is great food for thought.
Fingerplay: Warm Mittens
I wiggle my left mitten (wave hand)
I wiggle my right (wave hand)
Inside of my mittens (make “mitten” hands)
So warm and so tight
I wiggle my pinkie (wiggle pinkie)
I wiggle my thumbs (wiggle thumbs)
So when I make snowballs (cup hands together)
My hands don’t get numb (shake out hands)
Credit: Adventures of a Bookworm

Read: Winter is the Warmest Season by Lauren Stringer

Rhyme: Cozy Night
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)
Credit: Literary Hoots

Action Rhyme: Teddy Bear, Teddy Bear
Teddy bear, teddy bear, turn around
Teddy bear, teddy bear, touch the ground
Teddy bear, teddy bear, reach up high
Teddy bear, teddy bear, touch the sky
Teddy bear, teddy bear, touch your knees
Teddy bear, teddy bear, sit down please!
Credit: traditional

Sometimes it feels like winter is gray and colorless. What do you think?
Read: A Day So Gray by Marie Lamba & Alea Marley

This flannel, which Mel’s Desk does with an autumn theme, always feels cozy to me, so I wrote an alternative ending for winter.
Flannel Rhyme: Blue is the Sky (Winter Edition)
Blue is the sky
Yellow is the sun
Silver are the stars when the day is done
Orange is the fire
Green is the tree
Brown is the cocoa for you and me
Credit: adapted by Ms. Emily from Mel’s Desk

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

Pull laminated pieces out of a hat or basket. Do as many or as few as your group has patience for! End with a hug for kiddos and caregivers.
Flannel: Looking for a Hug
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!
Credit: Pasadena Public Library

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

William is ready to get nice and cozy for a nap, but something happens! Let’s find out.
Read: William’s Winter Nap by Linda Ashman & Chuck Groenink

Rhyme: Chilly Day
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!”
(give yourself a hug, or hug a loved one)
Credit: Storytime Stuff

Action Song: Cocoa Pokey
(tune of the Hokey Pokey)
You put your mug in, you take your mug out
You put your mug in, and you shake it all about
You do the cocoa pokey and you turn yourself around
That’s what it’s all about!

Additional verses:
You put your spoon in… stir it all about…
You put your cocoa in… sip it all up…
You put your marshmallow in… slurp it all up…
Credit: So Tomorrow blog

Craft: Mug of Cocoa
This was a kit from Oriental Trading that we’d had extras of. I don’t see it on their site any longer, though. Photo credit to them.

I also suggested these alternative titles during the permanent YouTube video.
Lucky Pennies and Hot Chocolate by Carol Diggory Shields & Hiroe Nakata
In My Anaana’s Amautik by Nadia Sammurtok & Lenny Lishchenko
Sleep, Black Bear, Sleep by Jane Yolen & Heidi EY Stemple & Brooke Dyer

Closing Rhyme: Tickle the Stars

This storytime was presented virtually on 12/15/20.

Storytime Handout: