Raccoon Story Time – Preschool

Opening Song

Book: Kitty by Rebecca Jordan-Glum

Song: “Raccoon Sitting in a Tree” (Tune: “Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star”)
Raccoon, raccoon, climbing a tree, (make climbing motions)
Wearing a mask, you can’t fool me. (hands circle eyes, then shake finger)
Hiding there so I can’t see (point to eyes)
What you’re doing in that tree. (hands stretched over head like a tree)
Raccoon, raccoon, climbing a tree, (make climbing motions)
Wearing a mask, you can’t fool me. (hands circle eyes, then shake finger)

Book: Raccoons by Mari C. Schuh

Song: “Nocturnal Animals” – Banana Slug String Band: Dirt Made My Lunch

Book: Raccoon Tune by Nancy Shaw, illustrated by Howard Fine

Song: “Jump, Jump” – Joanie Leeds and the Nightlights: I’m a Rock Star

Puppet Rhyme: “There’s Something in the Woods”
There’s something in the woods, that I can’t really see. (hands around eyes like binoculars)
There’s something in the woods. Now what can it be? (hold up hands, shrug shoulders in question)

Repeat the rhyme above before giving each clue:
I’m an animal who’s big, brown, and furry and who “Roars.” (bear)
I’m an animal who has long ears and goes “Hop, hop, hop.” (rabbit)
I’m an animal who says “Whoo, whoo” at night. (owl)
I’m an animal who’s red, furry, has a big, bushy tail, and likes to eat chicken. (fox)
I’m an animal who’s small, has a big, bushy tail, and loves to eat nuts. (squirrel)
I’m an animal who’s tiny and makes very quiet “Squeaks.” (mouse)
I’m an animal with a black mask and I’m nocturnal! (raccoon)

Closing Rhyme

Forest Animals Story Time – Everybody

Opening Song

Book: The Bear Who Shared by Catherine Rayner

Rhyme: Here is a Cave
Here is a cave. Inside is a bear. (bend fingers on one hand; put thumb inside)
Now he comes out to get some fresh air. (pop out thumb)
He stays out all summer in sunshine and heat.
He hunts in the forest for berries to eat. (move thumb in a circle)
When snow starts to fall, he hurries inside
His warm little cave and there he will hide. (put thumb inside fingers)
Snow covers the cave like a fluffy white rug.
Inside the bear sleeps all cozy and snug. (place one hand over the other)

Song: “Raccoon Sitting in a Tree” (Tune: “Twinkle, Twinkle”)
Raccoon, raccoon, climbing a tree (make climbing motions)
Wearing a mask, you can’t fool me (hands circle eyes, then shake finger)
Hiding there so I can’t see (point to eyes)
What you’re doing in that tree (hands stretched over head like a tree)
Raccoon, raccoon, climbing a tree (make climbing motions)
Wearing a mask, you can’t fool me (hands circle eyes, then shake finger)

Book: Night Owl by Toni Yuly

Puppets/Rhyme:  There’s Something in the Woods
There’s something in the woods, that I can’t really see. (hands around eyes like binoculars) There’s something in the woods. Now what can it be? (hold up hands, shrug shoulders in question)

Repeat above rhyme before giving each clue…
I’m an animal who’s big, brown and furry and who “Roars” (bear).
I’m an animal who’s who has long ears and goes “Hop, hop, hop” (rabbit).
I’m an animal who says ‘whoo, whoo’ at night (Owl).
I’m an animal who’s red, furry, has a big bushy tail and likes to eat chicken (Fox)
I’m an animal who’s small, has a big, bushy tail and loves to eat nuts (Squirrel).
I’m an animal who’s tiny and makes very quiet “squeaks” (Mouse).

Song: “If You’re Ever in the Forest” (Tune: “Did You Ever See a Lassie?”)
If you’re ever in the forest,
The forest, the forest,
If you’re ever in the forest,
You might see some deer—
A young one and an old one,
And some that can quickly run. (Run in place.)
If you’re ever in the forest,
You might see some deer.

If you’re ever in the forest,
The forest, the forest,
If you’re ever in the forest,
You might see some rabbits.–
They hop here, and they hop there, (Jump like rabbits.)
they hop, hop, hop everywhere.
If you’re ever in the forest,
You might see some rabbits.

If you’re ever in the forest,
The forest, the forest,
If you’re ever in the forest,
You might hear some birds.
A tweet here, and a tweet there,
they are flying around everywhere. (Fly like bird.)
If you’re ever in the forest.
You might hear some birds.

If you’re ever in the forest,
The forest, the forest,
If you’re ever in the forest,
You’ll surely see lots of trees.
There are tall ones and short ones, (Stretch high, and then get low.)
and young ones and old ones.
If you’re ever in the forest.
You surely see lots of tree.
(Adapted by Jolanda Garcia, KidsSoup Inc.)

Book: Let’s Play in the Forest by Laudia Rueda
Let's Play in the Forest while the Wof is Not Around book cover

Song: “If You’re an Owl and You Know It”
If you’re an owl and you know it hoot like this “Hoo(t), hoo(t)…”
If you’re an owl and you know it hoot like this “Hoo(t), hoo(t)…”
If you’re an owl and you know it then your hoot will surely show it
If you’re an owl and you know it hoot like this “Hoo(t), hoo(t)…”

Additional verses:
Flap your wings (flap wings)
Turn your head (turn it from side to side!)

Song: “Clap your Hands” – They Might Be Giants: Here Come the ABCs

Closing rhyme

Craft: Paper Animal Masks

Woodland Animals – Toddler

Opening song

Book: Little Owl Lost by Chris Haughton

Rhyme: There’s something in the woods, that I can’t really see. (hands around eyes like binoculars)
There’s something in the woods. Now what can it be?

Repeat above rhyme before giving each clue…. (used Folkmanis tree with finger puppets)

I’m an animal who has long ears and goes “Hop, hop, hop” (rabbit).
I’m an animal who is brown and says “roar!” (bear)
I’m an animal who says ‘whoo, whoo’ at night (Owl).
I’m an animal who flies in the air and makes nests (bird – Stellar’s jay)
I’m an animal who’s small, has a big, bushy tail and loves to eat nuts (Squirrel).

Song:
“Raccoon and Possum” – Dan Zanes: Turn, Turn, Turn

Book: Raccoons by G.G. Lake

Song: If You’re Ever in the Forest (Tune: “Did You Ever See a Lassie?”)
(Adapted by Jolanda Garcia, KidsSoup Inc.)

If you’re ever in the forest,
The forest, the forest,
If you’re ever in the forest,
You might see some deer
A young one and an old one,
And some that can quickly run. (Run in place.)
If you’re ever in the forest,
You might see some deer.

If you’re ever in the forest,
The forest, the forest,
If you’re ever in the forest,
You might see some rabbits.–
They hop here, and they hop there, (Jump like rabbits.)
they hop, hop, hop everywhere.
If you’re ever in the forest,
You might see some rabbits.


You might hear some birds.
A tweet here, and a tweet there,
they are flying around everywhere. (Fly like bird.)
If you’re ever in the forest.
You might hear some birds.


You’ll surely see lots of trees.
There are tall ones and short ones, (Stretch high, and then get low.)
and young ones and old ones.
If you’re ever in the forest.
You surely see lots of tree.

Song (with ukulele): “Sleeping bunnies”

Book: Who’s in the Forest by Phillis Gershator, illustrated by Jill McDonald

Song: “Everybody Clap Your Hands” – Peter Moses: 90 Nifty Songs

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

Closing rhyme

Craft: paper plate raccoons (adapted from First and Kinder Blue Skies)