Category: Preschool Story time

Sloth Story Time – Preschool

Opening Song: “Bread and Butter”

Book: If I Had a Sleepy Sloth by Gabby Dawnay, illustrated by Alex Barrow

Song: “Fast And Slow” – Laurie Berkner: Rocketship Run

Book: “Slowly, Slowly, Slowly,” said the Sloth by Eric Carle
slowlyslowly-slowly

Puppet/Flannel Song: “Five Little Sloths Went Climbing One Day” (Tune: “Five Little Ducks”)
Five little sloths went climbing one day,
High in the canopies, where they like to play.
The mama sloth called, “Aahh-eeeee!”
But only four little sloths came back.

Count down until no sloths come back.

A worried mama sloth went climbing one day,
High in the canopies, where they like to play.
The mama sloth called, “Aahh-eeeee!”
And all the little sloths came back!
(Credit: Storytime Solidarity)

Book: Happy Sloth Day! by April Pulley Sayre and Jeff Sayre

Song (if time): “S-L-O-T-H”
The rainforest has many friends.
My favorite is the sloth.
S-L-O-T-H
S-L-O-T-H
S-L-O-T-H
I really love the sloth!

Count down just as in “BINGO,” clapping for each letter as it’s replaced.
(Credit: Cockburn Libraries)

Closing Rhyme

Angry Story Time – Preschool

Opening Song: “Bread and Butter”

Book: I Was So Mad by Mercer Mayer

Song: “If You’re Happy and You Know It” (make faces to go with each emotion)
If you’re happy and you know it, clap your hands!
If you’re happy and you know it, clap your hands!
If you’re happy and you know it, then your face will surely show it. (point to your smile)
If you’re happy and you know it, clap your hands!

If you’re angry and you know it, stomp your feet!
If you’re angry and you know it, stomp your feet!
If you’re angry and you know it, then your face will surely show it. (point to your angry face)
If you’re angry and you know it, stomp your feet!

If you’re sad and you know it, say “boo hoo!” (pretend to cry)
If you’re sad and you know it, say “boo hoo!”
If you’re sad and you know it, then your face will surely show it. (point to your sad face)
If you’re sad and you know it, say “boo hoo!”

If you’re silly and you know it, dance around! (do a silly dance)
If you’re silly and you know it, dance around!
If you’re silly and you know it, then your face will surely show it. (point to silly face)
If you’re silly and you know it, dance around!

Book: When Sophie Gets Angry – Really, Really Angry by Molly Bang

Meditation: “Candle Breath” – Kira Willey: Mindful Moments for Kids

Book: Grump Groan Growl by bell hooks, illustrated by Chris Raschka

Song: “Shakes Your Sillies Out” – The Wiggles: Yummy Yummy

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

Closing Rhyme

Mail Story Time – Preschool

Opening Song: “Bread and Butter”

Book: Bunny Mail by Rosemary Wells

Song: “Mailing Letters” (Tune: “Here We Go Round the Mulberry Bush”)
This is the way we write a letter,
Write a letter, write a letter.
This is the way we write a letter
So early in the morning.

Additional verses:
Stamp a Letter
Mail a Letter
Wait for a Letter
Shout “Hooray!”…when we receive a letter
(Credit: Out of the Box Programming)

Book: A Mail Carrier’s Job by Miguel Rosario

Puppets: “Letters to Animals”
Read each letter and have everyone guess the animal the letter is for. Reveal the animal using the matching puppet and “deliver” the letter to that animal.

There are letters in the mailbox. Can we help the letters get to the correct animal?

“Dear friend, how are you? I’m feeling awkward and shy at my new school. Sometimes I wish I had a shell to hide away in – like you.” – Turtle

“Dear NEIGHbor, thank you for teaching me to braid. Your mane and tail always look fabulous!” – Horse

“Dear Little Brother, I have enclosed some bits of cheese. Don’t forget to clean your whiskers SQUEAKY-clean, and look out for the cat!” – Mouse

“Dear Mommy, I feel safe and loved wrapped up in your trunk. I miss your big floppy ears! Someday I will trumpet as loud as you!” – Elephant

“Dear Friend, I’m so happy you’re nocturnal and like to sleep during the day, just like me! Thank you for teaching me to hiss and growl. I wish I could ‘play dead’ like you, too. Next time I see you, I will bring you some ticks to eat!” – Possum

Book: Millie Waits for the Mail by Alexander Steffensmeier
millie waits for the mail cover image

Closing Rhyme

World Story Time – Preschool

Opening Song: “Bread and Butter”

Book: How Big Is the World? by Britta Teckentrup

Puppet Song: “Five Green and Speckled Frogs”
Five green and speckled frogs sat on a speckled log,
Eating the most delicious grubs. Yum, yum!
One jumped into the pool, where it was nice and cool.
Now there are four green and speckled frogs.

Repeat, taking a frog away each time until there are no green and speckled frogs.

Book: Roy Digs Dirt by David Shannon

Flannel: “The Green Grass Grew All Around”

Closing Rhyme

Alone Story Time – Preschool

Opening Song: “Bread and Butter”

Book: Leave Me Alone! by Vera Brosgol

Song: “The Cool Bear Hunt” – Dr. Jean: Sings Silly Songs

Song: “I Wiggle My Fingers”
I wiggle my fingers.
I wiggle my toes.
I wiggle my shoulders.
I wiggle my nose.
Now no more wiggles are left in me.
And I can be still, as still can be.
(Credit: Adapted from King County Library System)

Book: Sometimes, All I Need Is Me by Juliana Perdomo

Meditation: “Imagine You’re a Tree” – Kira Willey: Mindful Moments for Kids

Song: “The Goldfish” – Laurie Berkner: Victor Vito

Closing Rhyme

Sharing Story Time – Preschool

Opening Song: “Bread and Butter”

Book: Thank You, Omu! by Oge Mora

Flannel: “It’s So Much Fun to Share” (Tune: “The Farmer in the Dell”)
It’s so much fun to share.
It’s so much fun to share.
I have a log
I’ll share with frog.
It’s so much fun to share.

Additional verses:
chair – bear
box – fox
hat – bat
house – mouse
pail – whale
wig – pig
(Credit: Adapted from Jen in the Library)

Scarf Song: “The More We Get Together”
The more we get together, together, together;
The more we get together, the happier we’ll be.
Because your friends are my friends, and my friends are your friends,
The more we get together, the happier we’ll be.

The more we help each other, each other, each other;
The more we help each other, the happier we’ll be.
Because helping is kindness, and kindness is helping,
The more we help each other, the happier we’ll be.

The more we share together, together, together;
The more we share together, the happier we’ll be.
Because sharing is caring, and caring is sharing;
The more we share together, the happier we’ll be.

The more we show kindness, show kindness, show kindness;
The more we show kindness, the happier we’ll be.
Because kindness is sharing, and helping, and caring;
The more we show kindness, the happier we’ll be.
(Credit: Adventures in Storytime)

Book: A Tree for Mr. Fish by Peter Stein

Song (if time): “The Goldfish” – Laurie Berkner: Victor Vito

Book (if time): The Doorbell Rang by Pat Hutchins

Closing Rhyme

Community Story Time – Preschool

Opening Song: “Bread and Butter”

Book: I Am You by Refiloe Moahloli, illustrated by Zinelda McDonald

Song: “Do As I’m Doing”
Do as I’m doing, follow, follow me, (clap hands)
Do as I’m doing, follow, follow me.
If I do it high or low, (clap high and low)
If I do it fast or s-l-o-w… (clap fast and slow)
Do as I’m doing, follow, follow me,
Do as I’m doing, follow, follow me.

Repeat with marching motions, then go back to clapping to end the song.
(Credit: King County Library System and Jbrary)

Book: The Big Orange Splot by Daniel Manus Pinkwater

Fingerplay: “One Little House”
One little house, all alone it stood, (hold up one finger)
Then another was built, (put up a second finger)
There grows the neighborhood.

Repeat, adding fingers for two, three, and four little houses.

Five little houses, (hold up hand with all fingers up)
All together they stood
On a beautiful street in a happy neighborhood.
(Credit: Handley Regional Library System)

Action Rhyme: “Hi, My Name is Joe”
Hi, my name is Joe,
And I work in a button factory.
I have a dog and family.
One day my boss said to me,
“Are you busy Joe?” I said, “No.”
They said, “Push this button with your _____.” (press a pretend button with the named body part, continue to do so for the rest of the song)

Repeat the rhyme for your right hand, left hand, right foot, left foot, and head. Pretend to push a button with each body part, adding them on so by the end you are pushing a button with every body part you have named at the same time.

To end the rhyme, answer “Yes!” to “Are you busy, Joe?”
(Credit: Adapted from Jbrary)

Book: Thank You, Neighbor! by Ruth Chan

Closing Rhyme

Fruits and Veggies Story Time – Preschool

Opening Song: “Bread and Butter”

Book: The Life Cycle of a Carrot by Linda Tagliaferro

Fingerplay: “Five Little Peas”
Five little peas in a pea pod pressed. (fold hands in front of you)
1 grew, 2 grew, and so did all the rest. (pull one set of fingers out of the fist at a time)
They grew and they grew, (slowly pull hands apart)
And they did not stop, (stretch arms as far apart as possible)
Until one day, that pod went, Pop! (clap hands loudly)

Book: Lunch by Denise Fleming
Lunch

Flannel & Puppet Song: “Out In the Garden” by Jean Warren (Tune: “Down By the Station”) (Use a mouse puppet to eat the veggies from the garden.)
Out in the garden early in the morning,
See the red tomatoes all in a row,
See the hungry mouse coming out to eat them,
Munch, crunch, munch, crunch, off they go.

Additional verses:
Red tomatoes
Yellow corn
Green peas
Orange carrots
Purple peppers
White onions
Brown potatoes

Book: The Watermelon Seed by Greg Pizzoli

Song: “Apples and Bananas” – Raffi: One Light, One Sun

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

Closing Rhyme

Outer Space Story Time – Preschool

Opening Song: “Bread and Butter”

Book: Astro Girl by Ken Wilson-Max

Song: “If You’re Going to the Moon” (Tune: “If You’re Happy and You Know It”)
If you’re going to the moon, wear your boots. (stomp stomp)
If you’re going to the moon, wear your boots.
If you’re going to the moon, this is what you have to do,
If you’re going to the moon, wear your boots.

Additional verses:
Wear your suit (ziiiip!)
Wear your gloves (clap clap)
Wear your helmet (pat your head)
(Credit: Mel’s Desk)

Flannel: If Pluto Was a Pea by Gabrielle Prendergast, illustrated by Rebecca Gerlings

Song: “Zoom, Zoom, Zoom”
Zoom, zoom, zoom,
We’re going to the moon.
Zoom, zoom, zoom,
We’re going to the moon.
If you want to take a trip
climb aboard my rocket ship.
Zoom, zoom, zoom,
We’re going to the moon.
In 5, 4, 3, 2, 1,
Blast off!
(Credit: Jbrary)

Book: Snakes in Space by Kathyrn Dennis

Closing Rhyme

Tree Story Time – Preschool

Opening Song

Book: Apple and Magnolia by Laura Gehl, illustrated by Patricia Metola

Action Rhyme: “Once I Was a Seed”
Once I was a seed and I was small, small, small.
I grew into a tree and now I’m tall, tall, tall!
My branches sway in the breeze so soft.
And when it’s autumn, all my leaves fall off!
(Credit: Storytime in the Stacks)

Flannel: “The Green Grass Grew All Around”

Book: The Busy Tree by Jennifer Ward, illustrated by Lisa Falkenstern

Shaker Eggs: “Shakin’ Like a Leafy Tree” – The Wiggles: Racing to the Rainbow

Shaker Eggs: “Shake Your Shakers”
Shake your shaker up.
Shake your shaker down.
Shake it side to side.
Shake it all around.
Shake it on your shoulders.
Shake it on your head.
Shake it on your knees,
And shake it right to bed!

Closing Rhyme