Category: Preschool Story time

Horse Story Time – Preschool

Opening Song

Book: Doris by Sarah Jacoby

Song: “If You’re a Horse and You Know It” (Tune: “If You’re Happy and You Know It”)
If you’re a horse and you know it, stamp your hooves.
If you’re a horse and you know it, stamp your hooves.
If you’re a horse and you know it, and you really want to show it,
If you’re a horse and you know it, stamp your hooves.

Additional verses:
Toss your mane
Prance around
Say, “Neigh!”

Fingerplay: “Ten Galloping Horses”
Ten galloping horses, (hold up ten fingers)
Came through town. (slap hands on legs like galloping)
Five were white, (hold up five fingers)
And five were brown. (hold up five fingers on other hand)
They galloped up, (slap up toward top of thighs)
They galloped down, (slap down toward knees)
Ten galloping horses, (hold up ten fingers)
Came through town. (slap hands on legs like galloping)
(Credit: King County Library System)

Book: The Princess and the Pony by Kate Beaton

Puppet Song: “Old MacDonald Had a Farm”

Book (if time): Noni the Pony by Alison Lester

Closing Rhyme

Rock Story Time – Preschool

Opening Song

Book: What Can You Do with a Rock? by Pat Zietlow Miller, illustrated by Katie Kath

Flannel Song: “This Is a Rock” (Tune: “The Wheels on the Bus”)
Chalk is a rock we use to draw, use to draw, use to draw,
Chalk is a rock we use to draw,
Chalk is a rock.

Additional verses:
Lava is made of molten rock…
Sand is made of ground up rocks…
Meteorites are rocks that fall from space…
Fossils are rocks that show the past…
Granite is a rock we use to build…
Clay is a rock we sculpt into pots…
(Credit: Mia Imperl)

Flannel Rhyme: “Listen to the Rock”
I listen to the rock,
What do I hear?
I listen to the [name the type/form of rock],
Is something there?
I hear [make an animal noise].

Repeat with different animals and rocks
(Credit: Mia Imperl)

Book: Bring Me a Rock! by Daniel Miyares

Song: “Rocky Shore Symphony” – Linda Arnold: Splash Zone: Singable Sea Songs for Kids

Book (if time): Petra by Marianna Coppo

Closing Rhyme

Gratitude Story Time – Preschool

Opening Song

Book: We Are Grateful: Otsaliheliga by Traci Sorell, illustrated by Frané Lessac

Song: “If You’re Thankful and You Know It” (Tune: “If You’re Happy and You Know It”)
If you’re thankful and you know it, clap your hands.
If you’re thankful and you know it, clap your hands.
If you’re thankful and you know it, then your face will surely show it.
If you’re thankful and you know it, clap your hands.

Additional verses:
Stomp your feet
Say, “Thank you!”
Do all 3

Book: The Thankful Book by Todd Parr

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

Song: “The More We Get Together”
(Use American Sign Language for “more,” “get together,” and “happier.” See ASL movements here.)
The more we get together, together, together,
The more we get together,
The happier we’ll be.
Cause your friends are my friends
and my friends are your friends.
The more we get together,
The happier we’ll be.
(Credit: Storytime with Ms. Emily Library)

Book: The Thank You Book by Mo Willems

Closing Rhyme

Lost and Found Story Time – Preschool

Opening Song

Flannel: “Bookworm, Bookworm”
Bookworm, bookworm,
Hiding in a book.
Bookworm, bookworm,
Where should we look?
Are you inside the [color] book?

Repeat until you find the bookworm.

Book: I Want My Hat Back by Jon Klassen
I Want My Hat Back book cover

Fingerplay: “Where Is Thumbkin?”
Where is Thumbkin, where is Thumbkin?
Here I am! Here I am!
How are you today, Friend?
Very well, I thank you.
Run away, run away.

Repeat for pointer, pinky, and all three.
(Credit: Modified from Storytime Solidarity and Storytime with Ms. Emily Library)

Book: Mister Kitty Is Lost! by Greg Pizzoli

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

Book: Knuffle Bunny: A Cautionary Tale by Mo Willems
Knuffle Bunny book cover

Song (if time): “Hug My Bunny” (Tune: “Found a Peanut”)
Hug my bunny, hug my bunny, hug my bunny just now,
Just now I hug my bunny, hug my bunny, just now.

Additional verses:
Load the laundry
Play outside
Lost my bunny
Can’t stop crying
Check the washer
Found my bunny
(Credit: Leah Portz)

Closing Rhyme

Snacks on the Farm Story Time – Preschool

Opening Song

Book: Spreckle’s Snack Surprise by Sandra Salsbury

Flannel: “Five Little Kernels”
(Put up the five kernel shapes on the board, as spread out as you can. When you say “POP!” slap a white popcorn shape right on top of one of the kernels.)
Five little kernels sizzling in the pot.
All of a sudden, one went POP!

Repeat, counting down until all the kernels have popped.
(Credit: Mel’s Desk)

Song: “Dragon Pokey”
You put your claws in, you take your claws out,
You put your claws in, and you scratch them all about!
You do the Dragon Pokey and you turn yourself around,
That’s what it’s all about!

Additional verses:
Feet in/stomp them all about
Teeth in/chomp them all about
Tail in/swing it all about

Book: Croc-a-doodle-doo! by Huw Lewis Jones, illustrated by Sebastien Braun

Song: “DONUT” (Tune: “BINGO”)
I know a treat that’s round and sweet,
It’s fancy, fried, and tasty!
D-O-N-U-T
D-O-N-U-T
D-O-N-U-T
Please save a bite for me, hey!

Count down just as in “BINGO,” clapping for each letter as it’s replaced.

Puppet Rhyme: “Mmm, Donuts!”
Down around the corner, at the bakery shop,
There were [number] little donuts with frosting on top.
Along came [name], hungry for a treat,
And s/he picked the [color] one to take home and eat!
(Credit: The Lion is a Bookworm)

Song: “Jump Up, Turn Around” – Jim Gill: Moving Rhymes for Modern Times

Book: The Cow Loves Cookies by Karma Wilson, illustrated by Marcellus Hall

Closing Rhyme

Monster Story Time – Preschool

Opening Song

Book: The Monster at the End of this Book by Jon Stone, illustrated by Michael Smollin

Song: “Monstermixmerge” – Scholastic
(Actions: snort & growl, smack claws, stomp paws, twitch tail, wiggle warts, roar)

Book: Some Monsters Are Different by David Milgrim
Some Monsters Are Different book cover

Song: “Horns, Fangs, Knees and Claws” (Tune: “Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes”)
Horns, fangs, knees and claws, knees and claws,
Horns, fangs, knees and claws, knees and claws,
Eyes and ears and tail and paws,
Horns, fangs, knees and claws, knees and claws.
(Credit: King County Library System)

Fingerplay: “Five Little Monsters”
Five little monsters sitting on the floor.
The red one said, “Let’s knock on someone’s door.”
The green one said, “Let’s act a little scary.”
The white one said, “Why are we so hairy?”
The blue one said, “I hear a funny sound.”
The pink one said, “There’s no one else around.”
Then, “Whoosh!” went the wind and “Eek!” someone said,
So five little monsters ran under the bed.

Song: “Monster Boogie” – Laurie Berkner: Buzz Buzz

Flannel Story: Go Away, Big Green Monster! by Ed Emberley

Rhyme: “Monster, Monster”
Monster, Monster, turn around! (turn around)
Monster, Monster, touch the ground! (touch ground)
Monster, Monster, reach up high! (stretch up high)
Monster, Monster, squint your eyes! (squint eyes)
Monster, Monster, show your teeth! (bare teeth and make claws)
Monster, Monster, stomp your feet! (stomp)
Monster, Monster, slap your knees! (slap knees)
Monster, Monster, sit down, please! (sit down)
(Credit: King County Library System)

Book: Can You Make a Scary Face? by Jan Thomas

Closing Rhyme

Apple Story Time – Preschool

Opening Song

Book: What’s an Apple? by Marilyn Singer, illustrated by Greg Pizzoli
What's an Apple? book cover

Song: “Autumn Leaves Are Falling Down” – Junior Jukebox: Four Seasons

Rhyme: “Way Up High in the Apple Tree”
Way up high in the apple tree, (stretch arms in air)
Two little apples smiled at me. (make two fists)
I shook that tree as hard as I could, (shake arms in air)
And down came the apples. (drop fists to floor)
Mmmmm, they were good! (rub tummy)

Book/Flannel: Ten Red Apples by Pat Hutchins

Rhyme: “Wiggle Worms”
Here are some worms who are, oh, so sad.
They’ve lost all the wiggles that they once had.
They wonder if you, just for today,
Would lend them your wiggles so they can play.

Wiggle them up and wiggle them down,
Wiggle the worms around and around.
Wiggle them high and wiggle them low,
Wiggle them fast and wiggle them slow.
Wiggle them over your shoes and your socks,
Then wiggle them back into their box.

Fingerplay: “Five Little Apples”

Song: “Put Your Finger in the Air” – Bob McGrath: Sing Along with Bob #2

Flannel/Puppet Story: Little Mouse’s Big Secret by Éric Battut

Song: “A Little Apple Seed” (Tune: “The Itsy Bitsy Spider”)
Once a little apple seed
Was planted in the ground.
Down came the raindrops falling all around.
Out came the big sun,
Bright as bright could be,
And that little apple seed grew up
To be an apple tree.

Closing Rhyme

Celebrating Spanish Speakers Story Time – Preschool

Opening Song

Book: A Song of Frutas by Margarita Engle, illustrated by Sara Palacios

Shaker Eggs: “Fruit Salad Salsa” – Laurie Berkner: Victor Vito

Book/Flannel: Green Is a Chile Pepper: A Book of Colors by Roseanne Thong, illustrated by John Parra
Green is a Chile Pepper cover image

Song: “Mi Cuerpo” – Hot Peas ‘n Butter: Best of the Bowl

Flannel: Numbers in Spanish

Song: “Uno Dos Tres” – Laura Doherty: Kids in the City

Book with Puppets: Animal Talk: Mexican Folk Art Animal Sounds in English and Spanish by Cynthia Weill, illustrated by Rubí Fuentes and Efraín Broa

Closing Rhyme

Moose Story Time – Preschool

Opening Song

Book: Moose by Aaron Carr

Song: “In the Woods” (Tune: “The Wheels on the Bus”)
The moose in the woods go trot trot trot,
Trot trot trot, trot trot trot.
The moose in the woods go trot trot trot
All day long.

Additional verses:
The wolves . . . go aw-ooo
The rabbits . . . go hop
The badgers . . . go dig
The owls . . . go flap

Book/Puppets: Elusive Moose by Joan Gannij, illustrated by Clare Beaton
Elusive Moose Book Cover

Song: “Sleeping Bag Chant” – Carole Peterson: H.U.M. All Year Long

Flannel: “Where is the Moose?” (hide a moose behind shapes of different colors)

Song: “There Was a Great Big Moose!” (repeat-after-me)
There was a great big moose!
He liked to drink a lot of juice.

Chorus:
Singin’ oh way oh
Way oh way oh way oh way oh
Way oh way oh
Way oh way oh way oh way oh

(Repeat each verse, then chorus.)

The moose’s name was Fred.
He liked to drink his juice in bed.

He drank his juice with care,
but he spilled some in his hair.

Now he’s a sticky moose
Because he’s all covered in juice!

Rhyme: “Mr. Moose”
Mr. Moose is very tall, (put hands to head for antlers)
His antlers touch the sky. (hand high up in the air)
They make a real good resting place (put hands out to sides)
For birdies passing by. (flap arms like wings)
(Credit: Harford County Public Library)

Book: Duck, Duck, Moose! by Sudipta Bardhan-Quallen, illustrated by Noah Z. Jones
Duck, Duck, Moose! book cover

Closing Rhyme

Bedtime Story Time – Preschool

Opening Song

Book: Everyone Sleeps by Marcellus Hall

Action Song: “This Is the Way We Yawn & Stretch” (Tune: “Here We Go ‘Round the Mulberry Bush”)
This is the way we yawn and stretch,
Yawn and stretch, yawn and stretch.
This is the way we yawn and stretch
On our way to bed.

Additional verses:
This is the way we take a bath . . .
This is the way we read a book . . .
This is the way we hug and kiss . . .
This is the way we close our eyes . . .
(Credit: Mel’s Desk)

Book: Goodnight World by Debi Gliori

Scarf Rhyme: “I Once Had a Blanket”
I once had a blanket. It was fluffy and new.
I once had a blanket, and its color was __________ (blue).
I once had a blanket, the prettiest I’ve seen.
I once had a blanket, and its color was ________ (green).
I once had a blanket, soft as a pillow.
I once had a blanket, and its color was _______ (yellow).
I once had a blanket at the foot of my bed.
I once had a blanket, and its color was ________ (red).
(Credit: Jen in the Library)

Song: “Five Little Monkeys Jumping on the Bed” – David Landau: Kids and Kitties

Finger Puppets: “A Window Light”
A window light,
So bright at night.
The shade goes up. (open shade)
Who do I see?
________ is there,
Waiting for me!
Goodnight, ________. (close shade)
(Credit: Leah Portz)

Book: Baa, Baa, Tap Sheep by Kenda Henthorn, illustrated by Lauren Gallegos

Closing Rhyme