Alligator and Crocodile Story Time – Preschool

Opening Song

Book: Crocodile or Alligator? by Susan Kralovansky

Fingerplay: “Alligator on a Log”
There was an alligator (make an alligator mouth with hand)
Who sat on a log. (set the alligator arm over your log arm)
He looked in the water, (make hand look in water)
And saw a little frog.
In dove the ‘gator, (dive hand down)
Round went the log, (roll arms around each other)
Splash! Went the water, (make splashing motion)
And away swam the frog! (swim away)
(Credit: King County Library System)

Song: “Row, Row, Row Your Boat” (with animal verses)
Row, row, row your boat,
Gently down the stream,
Merrily, merrily, merrily, merrily,
Life is but a dream.

Row, row, row your boat,
Gently down the stream,
If you see a crocodile,
Don’t forget to scream.

Row, row, row your boat,
Gently down the Nile,
If you see a camel,
Don’t forget to smile.

Row, row, row your boat,
Gently down the river,
If you see a polar bear,
Don’t forget to shiver.

Row, row, row your boat,
Gently to the shore,
If you see a lion there,
Don’t forget to roar!

Row, row, row your boat,
Gently down the creek,
If you see a little mouse,
Don’t forget to squeak.
(Credit: Jbrary)

Book: Gator, Gator, Gator! by Daniel Bernstrom, illustrated by Frann Preston-Gannon

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

Alligator, alligator, alligator cake.
If I don’t get some,
I think I’m gonna shake.
Take away the river,
Take away the lake,
But don’t take away
My alligator cake.

Alligator, alligator, alligator soup.
If I don’t get some,
I think I’m gonna droop.
Take away my basketball,
Take away my hoop,
But don’t take away
My alligator soup.

Alligator, alligator, alligator stew.
If I don’t get some,
I don’t know what I’ll do.
Take away my socks,
Take away my shoe,
But don’t take away
My alligator stew.

Alligator, alligator, alligator tea.
If I don’t get some,
I think I’ll climb a tree.
Take away the ocean,
Take away the sea,
But don’t take away
My alligator tea.
(Credit: Pre-K Fun)

Book: Solomon Crocodile by Catherine Rayner

Closing Rhyme

Alligator and Crocodile Story Time – Everybody

Opening Song

Book: Snip Snap! What’s That? by Mara Bergman, illustrated by Nick Maland

Song: “Crocodile Family, Don’t You Bite” (Tune: “Frère Jacques”)
Baby crocodile, baby crocodile, (pinch thumb and forefinger together like a crocodile mouth)
Don’t you bite, don’t you bite, (hold forefinger up and wave back and forth in a no-no motion)
I can run away from you, I can run away from you, (run in place or, if sitting, drum hands on thighs)
Out of sight, out of sight. (cover eyes with hands, like peek-a-boo)

Additional verses:
Mommy crocodile (place hands together, hold flat, open and close)
Daddy crocodile (hold arms out like a mouth, clap hands as you bring your arms together and apart)

Book: Crocodile or Alligator? by Susan Kralovansky

Flannel: “Five Hungry Alligators”
Five hungry alligators lying on the shore,
A fish swims by, and now there are four.

Four hungry alligators lying by a tree,
A fish swims by, and now there are three.

Three hungry alligators swimming in a pool,
A fish swims by, and now there are two.

Two hungry alligators soaking up some sun,
A fish swims by, and now there is one.

One hungry alligator looking for some fun,
A fish swims by, and now there are none!

Song: “Alligator Chomp” – Jack Hartmann: Kindergarten Songs, Greatest Hits, Vol. 1

Book: A Girl and Her Gator by Sean Bryan, illustrated by Tom Murphy

Song: “Pig On Her Head (Alternate Version)” – Laurie Berkner: The Best of the Laurie Berkner Band

Song: “Ha, Ha, This-a-way” – Bob McGrath: Bob’s Favorite Sing Along Songs

Closing Rhyme

Craft: Alligator or crocodile clothespin magnet

Alligators and Crocodiles Story Time – Toddler

Opening Song

Book: Clarabella’s Teeth by An Vrombaut
clarabellas teeth

Song: “Pig on Her Head” – Laurie Berkner: The Best of the Laurie Berkner Band

Book: The Lady with the Alligator Purse by Mary Ann Hobermen, illustrated by Nadine Bernard Westcott
lady with alligator purse

Rhyme: “Five Little Monkeys”
Five little monkeys swinging in the tree,
Teasing Mr. Crocodile, “You can’t catch me, no you can’t catch me!”
Along comes Mr. Crocodile, as quiet as can be,
And SNAPPED that monkey out of the tree!

Repeat, counting down until there are no monkeys left.
(Credit: Storytime Katie)

Song: “Walking Through the Jungle”
Walking through the jungle, what did I see? (beat drum)
A big lion roaring at me me me!
Walking through the jungle, what did I see?
A baby monkey laughing at me me me!
Walking through the jungle, what did I see?
A slippery snake hissing at me me me!
Walking through the jungle, what did I see?
A crocodile crunching at me me me!
Walking through the jungle, what did I see?
An elephant stomping at me me me!

Pop-up Book: The Wide-Mouthed Frog by Keith Faulkner, illustrated by Jonathan Lambert
wide mouthed frog

Song: “Put Your Finger in the Air” – Woody Guthrie: Nursery Days

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

Closing Rhyme

Craft: A is for Alligator
alligator