Zoo Story Time – Toddler

Opening Song

Book: From Head to Toe by Eric Carle

Song: “The Animals at the Zoo” (Tune: “The Wheels on the Bus”)
The lions at the zoo go roar, roar, roar,
Roar, roar, roar, roar, roar, roar!
The lions at the zoo go roar, roar, roar!
All day long!

Additional verses:
Monkeys…ooh ooh ah!
Snakes…hiss hiss hiss!
Penguins…waddle, waddle, waddle!

Song: “The Monkey Dance” – The Wiggles: Hot Potatoes!

Book: The Underpants Zoo by Brian Sendelbach

Puppet Song: “We Went to the Zoo One Day” (Tune: “Mary Had a Little Lamb”)
We went to the zoo one day,
Zoo one day, zoo one day.
We went to the zoo one day, and this is what we saw: lion!

Repeat with other animal puppets.

Action Rhyme: “Monkey See, Monkey Do”
Monkey see, monkey do,
Little monkey at the zoo.
Monkey, monkey in the tree.
Can you ________ like me?

Actions: jump around, swing your arms, scratch an itch, eat a banana, screech
(Credit: Perry Public Library)

Book: Dear Zoo by Rod Campbell
Dear Zoo

Song: “Zoo Movements” – Dr. Jean: Better Brains and Bodies

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

Closing Rhyme

Monkey Story Time – Toddler

Opening song

Book: Monkey Colors by Darrin Lunde, illustrated by Patricia J. Wynne

monkey colors

Rhyme: Monkey see, monkey do, little monkey in the zoo
Monkey, monkey, in the tree.
Can you jump around like me?
(swing your tail, clap your hands, nod your head).
(Source: Perry Public Library)

Song: “Monkey Dance” – The Wiggles: Yummy Yummy

Book: Monkey See, Look at Me! by Lorena Siminovich

monkey see look at me

Rhyme: Five little monkeys jumping on the bed

Song: (tune: “The Wheels on the Bus”)

The monkeys in the zoo turn round and round,
Round and round,
Round and round.
The monkeys in the zoo turn round and round,
Just like I do.

The monkeys in the zoo all touch their toes…
The monkeys in the zoo all rub their tummies…
The monkeys in the zoo all pat their heads…
The monkeys in the zoo jump up and down…

Book: Little Monkey Calms Down by Michael Dahl, illustrated by Oriol Vidal

Song: “Tap your Toe and Follow Me” – Susan Salidor: Come and Make a Circle

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

Closing rhyme

Craft: M is for Monkey (inspired by Blessings Overflowing)

 

Jungle Story Time – Toddler

Opening song

Sign language: monkey

Book: From Head to Toe by Eric Carle

Song: “The Monkey Dance” – The Wiggles: Yummy Yummy

Book: Tiny Little Fly by Michael Rosen, illustrated by Kevin Waldron

Puppet Story: Down in the Jungle

Down in the jungle where nobody goes,
There’s a big fat elephant washing his toes,
With a rub-a-dub here, and a rub-a-dub there,
That’s the way he washes his toes!

Down in the jungle where there’s nobody there,
There’s a great big lion washing his hair,
With a rub-a-dub here, and a rub-a-dub there,
That’s the way he washes his hair!

Down in the jungle, if you look in the trees,
There’s a cheeky monkey washing her knees,
With a rub-a-dub here, and a rub-a-dub there,
That’s the way she washes her knees!

Down in the jungle if you care to check,
There’s a hippopotamus washing his neck,
With a rub-a-dub here, and a rub-a-dub there,
That’s the way he washes his neck!

Down at the river, if you look underneath,
There’s a great big crocodile brushing his teeth,
With a rub-a-dub here, and a rub-a-dub there,
That’s the way he brushes his teeth!

Down in the jungle, if you care to take a peek,
There’s a colorful bird cleaning its beak
With a rub-a-dub here, and a rub-a-dub there,
That’s the way she cleans her beak!

(Credit: Miss Meg’s Storytime)

Song: “The Lion Sleeps Tonight” – Laurie Berkner: Whaddaya Think of That?

(most lions live in grasslands but a few are found in jungles)

Book: If You’re Happy and You Know It : Jungle Edition by James Warhola

Song: “This is the way we clap our hands” – Kimbo Educational: Teach a Toddler

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

Closing song

Craft: lion mask

lion Mane Image

Primate Story Time – Baby

Opening song

Sign language: Monkey & Gorilla

Book: Monkey Colors by Darrin Lunde, illustrated by Patricia Wynne

Monkey Colors

Rhyme: Pizza, pickle, pumpernickel
My little baby deserves a tickle! (tickle baby)
One for her nose, and one for her toes
And one for her tummy where the hot dog goes!

Finger puppets: Teasing Mr. Crocodile

Song: Ants go marching

Book:  Little Gorilla by Ruth Bornstein

little gorilla

Song: “Monkey Dance” – The Wiggles: Yummy Yummy

Song: Let’s Tap our Feet Together (Tune: “The More We Get Together”)
Let’s tap our feet together, together, together,
Let’s tap our feet together, because it’s fun to do.
Let’s clap our hands….
Let’s touch our nose…
Let’s touch our ears…

Rhyme: Great A, little a
Bouncing B,
The cat’s in the cupboard,
But she can’t see me.

Book: Banana! by Ed Vere

Banana!

Song: (Tune: “The Wheels on the Bus”)

The monkeys in the zoo all touch their toes . . . just like I do.
The monkeys in the zoo all rub their tummies . . .
The monkeys in the zoo all swing their arms . . .
The monkeys in the zoo all pat their heads . . .

Song (with shaky eggs): “No More Monkeys” – Asheba: Animal Playground

Closing rhyme

Monkey Story Time – Baby

Opening song

Sign language for monkey

Book: Banana by Ed Vere

banana

Song: “Monkey Dance” – The Wiggles: Yummy Yummy

Rhyme: Roly poly ever so slowly [slowly roll baby’s hands]
Roly poly faster faster faster faster! [roll hands faster]

Book: Mommy, Carry Me Please by Jane Cabrera

mommy carry me please

Song: “Let’s Tap our Feet Together” (Tune: “The More We Get Together”)

Let’s tap our feet together, together, together,Let’s tap our feet together, because it’s fun to do.

Let’s clap our hands….
Let’s touch our nose…
Let’s touch our ears…

Song: “Hands Go Up and Down” – Fisher Price: Babbles to Books

Book: Curious George: How Many? by Cathy Hapka, H.A. Rey, and Margret Rey

Rhyme: Five little monkeys

Song: (tune: “The Wheels on the Bus”)

The monkeys in the zoo all touch their toes…just like I do.
The monkeys in the zoo all rub their tummies…
The monkeys in the zoo all pat their heads…

Song (with shaky eggs): “No More Monkeys” – Asheba: Animal Playground

Animal-Playground

Closing rhyme