As I was planning for a “Warm and Cozy” theme in December, I noticed that there were quite a few books about knitting that came up in my searches. I love to knit and crochet and these books were pretty darn cute. So I set them aside and planned to do a theme just on knitting and yarn.
NOTE: I’ve realized that the rhyme “Baa Baa Black Sheep” has problematic associations with racism and can be harmful. I’ll no longer be using it during storytime.
You can see the virtual program that does not include the full books read aloud here.
Early Literacy Tip: Lacing activities help children develop fine motor skills, hand/eye coordination, motor planning, visual perception, improved attention, patience, and perseverance. In addition, lacing helps children practice the precursor skills for shoe tying and writing.
Welcome Song: We Clap and Sing Hello
Discussion: What is this I have? It’s some yarn, and I’m using these needles to knit. Knitting is a way to make yarn into clothes like sweaters, mittens, hats, scarves. Do you know where yarn comes from? Our first book is about how a knitted item is made, all the way back from the wool sheared from the sheep. Did you know that the oldest piece of knitting found was a sock from Egypt in the 11th century CE!
Read: Farmer Brown Shears His Sheep by Teri Sloat & Nadine Bernard Westcott
NOTE: Since this storytime I’ve learned that this rhyme has problematic associations with racism. I will no longer be using it. I think in the future I would use this felt set to discuss different colors of wool without using the rhyme.
Nursery Rhyme: Baa, Baa, Black Sheep
Baa, baa black sheep have you any wool?
Yes, sir, yes, sir, three bags full
One for the mister, One for the dame
And one for the little boy who lives down the lane
Baa baa ___ sheep have you any wool?
Yes, ma’am, yes ma’am, three needles full
One to mend a jumper, One to mend a frock
And one for the little girl, With holes in her socks
Baa baa ___ sheep have you any wool?
Yes, child, yes, child, three bags full
One for the kitten, One for the cats
And one for the guinea pigs to knit some woolly hats
Baa, baa naked sheep have you any wool?
No, friend, no friend, I’m cold right through
Baa, baa naked sheep, what can we do?
Knit a sweater for me and you!
Credit: traditional, final rhyme and flannel via Piper Loves the Library
I was pretty proud of myself for writing a new knitting verse!
Action Song: These Are My Glasses
These are my glasses, And this is my book
I put on my glasses, And open up the book
Now I read, read, read, And I look, look, look
I put down my glasses and…
WHOOP! Close up the book
These are my glasses, And this is my yarn
I put on my glasses And start to knit my yarn
Now I look, look, look, And I knit, knit, knit
I put down my glasses and…
WHOOP! It’s time to quit
Credit: Laurie Berkner, from the album Whaddaya Think of That?
(second verse by Ms. Emily)
Read: Cat Knit by Jacob Grant
This flannel was a labor of love. I am so pleased with how it turned out, even though it was a lot of work! Click the link for more on how I made it, plus a downloadable template.
Counting Rhyme: Ten Balls of Yarn
Ten balls of yarn, sitting in a bowl
One fell out and started to…. ROLL
It bounced on my foot and there it sits
How many balls are left to knit?
(Count down to one)
Credit: Canton Public Library (MI)
Song: Click Clack Went the Knitting Needles
(tune of Mmm Ahh Went the Little Green Frog)
Click, clack went the knitting needles one day (pretend to knit)
Click, clack went the knitting needles
Click, clack went the knitting needles one day,
and they both went click clack click!
But… We know needles go (clap) la de la de la (wave arms)
(clap) la de la de la, (clap) la de la de la!
We know needles go (clap) la de la de la,
they don’t go click clack click!
Roll, roll went the big ball of yarn one day (roll arms)…
We know yarn goes (clap) rub a dub a dub (running arms)…
Credit: Canton Public Library (MI)
This was a song that my predecessor played every week in storytime, and it’s a favorite with many of our regulars. I stopped doing it every week, but sprinkled it in every so often. This is the first time I did it for a virtual program – it seemed so appropriate for a knitting theme!
Recorded Song: Tap Your Sticks
Credit: Hap Palmer, from the album Rhythms on Parade
I like to knit, but it took me some time to learn how. And I wasn’t very good at it at first! Just like the girl in our next book.
Read: A Hat for Mrs. Goldman by Michelle Edwards & G. Brian Karas
Action Rhyme: Mittens Up
Put your mittens UP, put your mittens DOWN
Hold your mittens together, and turn around!
Put your mittens UP, put your mittens DOWN
Put your mittens flat down on the ground.
Credit: One Little Librarian
With “movie magic” I added a knitted item to my ensemble for each verse. One benefit of pre-recorded storytimes! I didn’t do this song for my Facebook Live version since I ran out of time.
Ukulele Song: I Wish I Were a Fuzzy Wuzzy Blanket
(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 …
Credit: Book Besotted Librarian Blog
Click here for a ukulele songsheet of this tune (words are for Pepperoni Pizza)
Craft: Y is for Yarn Lacing Card
Not exactly a craft this week, but a lacing activity. I asked a volunteer to pre-cut the Ys from craft foam, punched holes, and provided a length of yarn that had tape on both ends (imitating a shoelace). This correlated with our Early Literacy Tip for the week. Craft idea from The Lion is a Bookworm.
I also booktalked these alternative titles during the permanent YouTube video.
Extra Yarn by Mac Barnett & Jon Klassen
Leave Me Alone! by Vera Brosgol
Knit Together by Angela Dominguez
Closing Rhyme: Tickle the Stars
This storytime was presented virtually on 2/2/21.
Storytime Handout:
Storytime with Ms. Emily Library 