Book: Winter Is the Warmest Season by Lauren Stringer

Flannel: “Red Mitten, Red Mitten”
Red mitten, red mitten, what do you see?
I see a blue mitten looking at me.

Repeat for different colored mittens

Song: “Snow on the Rooftops” – Kathy Reid-Naiman: Sing the Cold Winter Away

Song: “Boots, Parka, Scarf and Hat” (Tune: “Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes”)
Boots, parka, scarf and hat, scarf and hat.
Boots, parka, scarf and hat, scarf and hat.
In wintertime we dress like that!
Boots, parka, scarf and hat, scarf and hat.
(Credit: Mel’s Desk)

Book: Under My Hood I Have a Hat by Karla Kuskin, illustrated by Fumi Kosaka

Song: “Snowflake, Snowflake” (Tune: “Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star”)
Snowflake, snowflake, dance around.
Snowflake, snowflake, touch the ground.
Snowflake landing on my nose.
Snowflake landing on my toes.
Snowflake, snowflake, dance around.
Snowflake, snowflake, touch the ground.

Song: “We’re Marching in the Snow” – Miss Carole: Season Sings!

Book: Bear & Hare, Snow! by Emily Gravett

Song: “Hot Potato” – The Wiggles: Yummy Yummy

Song: “Jumping and Counting” – Jim Gill: Jim Gill’s Irrational Anthem

Closing Rhyme

Polar Animals Story Time – Everybody

February 15, 2024February 15, 2024

Opening Song

Book: What’s That Noise? by Naomi Howarth

Song: “If You’re a Penguin and You Know It” (Tune: “If You’re Happy and You Know It”)
If you’re a penguin and you know it, flap your wings,
If you’re a penguin and you know it, flap your wings,
If you’re a penguin and you know it, then your face will surely show it,
If you’re a penguin and you know it, flap your wings.

Additional verses:
Stomp your feet
Waddle around

Action Rhyme: “Polar Bear, Polar Bear”
Polar bear, polar bear, turn around,
Polar bear, polar bear, touch the ground,
Polar bear, polar bear, bend down low,
Polar bear, polar bear, touch your toe.
Polar bear, polar bear, slide on the ice,
Polar bear, polar bear, spin around twice,
Polar bear, polar bear, reach up high,
Polar bear, polar bear, wave goodbye.

Book: Way Up in the Arctic by Jennifer Ward, illustrated by Kenneth Spengler

Flannel: “Five Playful Penguins”
Five playful penguins
Stood on the shore.
One went for a swim,
And then there were four. (swimming motions)

Four playful penguins
Looked out to sea. (look around)
One went swimming,
And then there were three. (swimming motions)

Three playful penguins
Said, “What can we do?” (shrug shoulders)
One went swimming,
And then there were two. (swimming motions)

Two playful penguins
Sat in the sun. (fan self)
One went swimming,
And then there was one. (swimming motions)

One playful penguin
Said, “This is no fun!” (grumpy look)
They went swimming,
And then there were none. (swimming motions)
5 Little Penguins

Puppet Song: “I’m a Little Penguin” (Tune: “I’m a Little Teapot”)
I’m a little penguin, black and white,
Short and wobbly, an adorable sight.
I can’t fly at all, but I love to swim.
So I’ll waddle to the water and dive right in!

Book: Penguins, Penguins, Everywhere! by Bob Barner

Song: “The Party Freeze Dance Song” – The Kiboomers

Closing Rhyme

Yarn Story Time – Everybody

December 21, 2023December 21, 2023

Opening Song

Book: Cat Knit by Jacob Grant

Song: “If You’re a Kitty and You Know It” (Tune: “If You’re Happy and You Know It”)
If you’re a kitty and you know it, lick your paws. (pretend to lick paws)
If you’re a kitty and you know it, lick your paws. (pretend to lick paws)
If you’re a kitty and you know, and you really want to show it,
If you’re a kitty and you know it, lick your paws. (pretend to lick paws)

Additional verses:
Show your claws (show claws)
Swish your tail (wiggle bottom)
Say, “Meow!”

Song: “Let’s Play in the Snow” – Rachel Buchman: Sing a Song of Seasons

Book: One Little Lamb by Elaine Greenstein

Song: “The Mitten Song” – Rachel Buchman: Sing a Song of Seasons

Rhyme: “Ten Balls of Yarn”
Ten balls of yarn on my lap, (show number on fingers, then pat lap)
Clickety clack, clickety clack, (clap)
Needles go, the [color] ball rolls, (roll hands, take ball away)
I sit and knit, but what is it? (clap hands, add coordinating color section to mitten)

Repeat, counting down until there are no more balls of yarn.
(Credit: Leah Portz)

Song: “Dancing Scarf Blues” – Carole Peterson: Dancing Feet

Puppet Story: The Mitten by Jan Brett

Closing Rhyme

Clothes and Hats Story Time – Everybody

December 17, 2023December 17, 2023

Opening Song

Book: Mr. Bat Wants a Hat by Kitty Black, illustrated by Laura Wood

Song: “The Wheels on the Bus”
The wheels on the bus go round and round,
Round and round,
Round and round.
The wheels on the bus go round and round
All through the town!

Additional verses:
Horn/beep-beep-beep
Wipers/swish-swish-swish
Doors/open and shut
Babies/up & down
Parents/I love you

Book: Hooray for Hat! by Brian Won

Rhyme: “This Is Big”
This is big, big, big. (stretch hands far to sides)
This is small, small, small. (cup hands together)
This is short, short, short. (hold palms close vertically)
This is tall, tall, tall. (hold palms far apart vertically)
This is fast, fast, fast. (roll hands quickly)
This is slow, slow, slow. (roll hands slowly)
This is yes, yes, yes. (nod head)
This is no, no, no. (shake head)

Activity: “Hat Hunt”
(Credit: Miss Meg’s Storytime)

Book: Applesauce Is Fun to Wear by Nancy Raines Day, illustrated by Jane Massey

Scarf Song: “Four Corners”
My scarf has four corners,
Four corners has my scarf.
And if there weren’t four corners,
It would not be my…scarf.

Additional verses:
My hat…
My blanket…
My cape…
My pillow…

Scarf Song: “Wave Your Scarf Up and Down” (Tune: “London Bridge”)
Wave your scarf up and down,
Up and down, up and down.
Wave your scarf up and down,
Wave your scarf.

Additional verses:
Left and right
Fast and slow
High and low
Around and around
Wave it goodbye
(Credit: Jbrary)

Scarf Song: “We Wave Our Scarves Together”
We wave our scarves together,
We wave our scarves together,
We wave our scarves together
Because it’s fun to do.

Wave them up high,
Wave them down low,
Wave them in the middle
Because it’s fun to do.
(Credit: Jbrary)

Song: “Icky Sticky Bubble Gum” – David Landau: Kids and Kitties

Closing Rhyme

Pie Story Time – Everybody

December 14, 2023December 14, 2023

Opening Song

Book: The Apple Pie Tree by Zoe Hall, illustrated by Shari Halpern

Song: “Make a Circle, Draw a Square” (Tune: “Oh My Darling Clementine”)
Make a circle, make a circle, draw it in the sky.
Use your finger, use your finger, make it round as pie.

Make a square, make a square, make the lines so straight.
Draw a square, draw a square, draw one or draw eight.

Draw a triangle, draw a triangle, always start at the top.
Make a tent, make a tent, use three lines and then stop!

Flannel: “One Whole Pie”
One whole pie
Set by the door,
Cut into pieces,
I count four.

Four pieces of pie,
All for me,
I ate one piece, (make loud eating sounds as you take the piece of the board)
Now there are three.

Three pieces of pie
For me, too.
I ate another piece,
Now there are two.

Two pieces of pie,
Oh! What fun!
I ate another piece,
Now there is one.

One piece of pie,
I can’t wait!
I ate that last piece,
Empty plate!

Song: “This Is the Way We Make a Pie”
This is the way we slice the pumpkin, slice the pumpkin, slice the pumpkin,
This is the way we slice the pumpkin to make a yummy pie.

Additional verses:
Pour the flour
Roll the dough
Stir the filling
Sprinkle spices
Bake our pie
Eat a slice

Song with Ukulele: “Apples and Bananas”

Book: All for Pie, Pie for All by David Martin, illustrated by Valeri Gorbachev

Rhyme: “Alligator Pie”
Alligator, alligator, alligator pie.
If I don’t get some,
I think I’m gonna cry.
Take away my basketball,
Take away the sky,
But don’t take away
My alligator pie.

Repeat for other pies in high and low voices

Shaker Eggs: “Shoo Fly Pie” – Johnny Bregar: Putumayo Kids Presents – Picnic Playground

Shaker Eggs: “Shaky Shaky” – The Wiggles: Yummy Yummy

Shaker Eggs: “Shake Your Shakers” (Tune: “London Bridge”)
Shake your shakers in the air, in the air, in the air,
Shake your shakers in the air, shake your shakers.

Additional verses:
Shake your shakers high, high, high…
Shake your shakers low, low, low…
Shake your shakers fast, fast, fast…
Shake your shakers slow, slow, slow…

Closing Rhyme

Bear Story Time – Everybody

December 7, 2023December 7, 2023

Opening Song

Book: Bear Snores On by Karma Wilson, illustrated by Jane Chapman

Song: “The Wheels on the Bus”
The wheels on the bus go round and round,
Round and round,
Round and round.
The wheels on the bus go round and round
All through the town!

Additional verses:
Horn/beep-beep-beep
Wipers/swish-swish-swish
Doors/open and shut
Babies/up & down
Parents/I love you

Puppet Rhyme: “My Bear”
My bear is looking all around.
My bear is sniffing at the ground.
My bear is looking at my toes.
My bear can kiss me on the nose.
My bear can whisper in my ear.
What’s he saying? Can you hear?
My bear can hide behind me,
But wherever I go, my bear can surely find me.
(Credit: Yorba Linda Public Library)

Book: Bears on Chairs by Shirley Parenteau, illustrated by David Walker

Song: “Roly Poly” (Tune: “Frère Jacques”)
Roly poly, roly poly
Up, up, up
up, up, up
Roly roly poly
roly roly poly
down, down, down
down, down, down

Repeat with: out/in, fast/slow
(Credit: Jbrary)

Book: Orange Pear Apple Bear by Emily Gravett

Scarf Song: “We Wave Our Scarves Together”
We wave our scarves together,
We wave our scarves together,
We wave our scarves together
Because it’s fun to do.

Wave them up high,
Wave them down low,
Wave them in the middle
Because it’s fun to do.
(Credit: Jbrary)

Scarf Rhyme: “Popcorn Kernels”
Popcorn kernels (wave scarves overhead)
In the pot. (make their scarves ‘disappear’ by bunching them up in their fists)
Shake them, shake them, shake them (shake fists)
‘Til they POP! (toss scarves up into the air)

Scarf Song: “You’ll Sing a Song and I’ll Sing a Song” – Based on Ella Jenkins: You’ll Sing a Song and I’ll Sing a Song

Song: “Icky Sticky Bubble Gum” – David Landau: Kids and Kitties

Closing Rhyme

Counting Story Time – Everybody

December 6, 2023December 6, 2023

Opening Song

Book: How to Count to ONE: And Don’t Even Think About Bigger Numbers! by Caspar Salmon, illustrated by Matt Hunt

Song: “Ten Little Fingers”
One little, two little, three little fingers,
Four little, five little, six little fingers,
Seven little, eight little, nine little fingers,
Ten little fingers on my hand.

Additional verses:
They wiggle, and they wiggle, and they wiggle all together…
They clap, and they clap, and they keep on clapping…

Song: “1-2 Hands” – Laurie Berkner: Superhero

Book: One-osaurus, Two-osaurus by Kim Norman, illustrated by Pierre Collet-Derby

Flannel: “Five Elephants in the Bathtub”
One elephant in the bathtub,
Going for a swim.
Knock, knock, (clap twice)
Splash, splash, (slap knees twice)
Come on in! (motion with both hands to come in)

Repeat for 2, 3, and 4 elephants.

Five elephants in the bathtub,
Going for a swim.
Knock, knock, (clap twice)
Splash, splash, (slap knees twice)
It all fell in! (knock the felt pieces down)

Song: “Three Little Ducks”
Three little ducks went out one day,
Over the hills and far away.
Mother duck said, “Quack, quack, quack, quack,”
But only two little ducks came back.

Repeat with 2, 1, and no little ducks.

…And three little ducks came wandering back.

Book: Count! by Denise Fleming

Song: “Jumping and Counting” – Jim Gill: Jim Gill’s Irrational Anthem

Closing Rhyme

Owl Story Time – Everybody

October 19, 2023October 19, 2023

Opening Song

Book: Wow! Said the Owl by Tim Hopgood

Flannel: “Little Owl Count”
5 little owls on a dark, dark night.
5 little owls are quite a sight.
5 little owls! Are you keeping score?
1 flies away and that leaves 4.

4 little owls as happy as can be.
1 flies away and that leaves 3.

3 little owls calling, “Who, who, who.”
1 flies away and that leaves 2.

2 little owls having lots of fun.
1 flies away and that leaves 1.

1 little owl and we’re almost done.
He flies away and that leaves none.
(Credit: Upper Hudson Library System)

Song: “Be Like an Owl” (Tune: “London Bridge”)
Flap your wings and fly around, fly around, fly around.
Flap your wings and fly around, just like an owl.

Open your eyes big and wide, big and wide, big and wide.
Open your eyes big and wide, just like an owl.

Land on the ground and hop along, hop along, hop along.
Land on the ground and hop along, just like an owl.

Turn your head and say, “Who, who! Who, who, who! Who, who, who!”
Turn your head and say, “Who, who,” just like an owl.
(Credit: Upper Hudson Library System)

Book: Owl Babies by Martin Waddell, illustrated by Patrick Benson

Rhyme: “Wide-Eyed Owl”
There’s a wide-eyed owl (thumbs and forefingers around eyes)
With a pointed nose, (forefinger makes a v at end of nose)
Two pointed ears, (forefingers extended up from head)
And claws for toes. (fingers and arms bent in front of chest)
When he sits up in the tree, (point to tree)
And he looks at you, (point at a child in the group)
He flaps his wings, (fold arms into arm pits and flap)
And he says, “Whoo Whoo!”

Song: “Toes are Tapping” – Kimbo Educational: Toddler Gym

Book: Little Owl Lost by Chris Haughton

Song: “This Is How I Do It” – Laurie Berkner: Superhero

Closing Rhyme

Goose Story Time – Everybody

October 18, 2023October 18, 2023

Opening Song: “Bread and Butter”

Book: Truck, Truck, Goose! by Tammi Sauer, illustrated by Zoe Waring

Song: “(Silly) Wheels on the Bus” – Miss Nina & the Jumping Jacks: Every Day’s Your Birthday!

Book: Goose on the Farm by Laura Wall

Puppet Song: “Old MacDonald Had a Farm” – Bob McGrath: Sing Along with Bob #2

Book: The Goose Egg by Liz Wong

Song: “Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes”
Head, shoulders, knees and toes, knees and toes,
Head, shoulders, knees and toes, knees and toes,
Eyes and ears and mouth and nose,
Head, shoulders, knees and toes, knees and toes.

Song: “If You’re Happy and You Know It”

Closing Rhyme

Verona Story Time

Story Time Ideas from the Verona Public Library

Category: Everybody Story time

Winter Story Time – Everybody

Polar Animals Story Time – Everybody

Yarn Story Time – Everybody

Clothes and Hats Story Time – Everybody

Pie Story Time – Everybody

Bear Story Time – Everybody

Counting Story Time – Everybody

Owl Story Time – Everybody

Goose Story Time – Everybody