Month: October 2023

Fall Story Time – Sensory Friendly

Opening Song

Book: It’s Fall! by Renée Kurilla

Song: “Leaves are Falling” (Tune: “Jingle Bells”)
Leaves are falling, leaves are falling, falling on my nose,
Leaves are falling, leaves are falling, falling on my toes,
On my head, on my ears, even my elbows,
Leaves are falling, leaves are falling, when the brisk wind blows.

Book: In the Middle of Fall by Kevin Henkes, illustrated by Laura Dronzek
in the middle of fall cover

Song/Video: “Dance for the Sun” – Kira Willey: Dance for the Sun

Movement: Learn the yoga pose “tree”

Social Story: “Telling How Old You Are” from Quinn at School: Relating, Connecting, and Responding at School by Rick H. Warren

Closing Song

Craft: Torn paper fall tree

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

Bugs Story Time – Toddler

Opening Song

Book: I Love Bugs! by Emma Dodd

Song: “Roly Poly” (Tune: “Frère Jacques”)
Roly poly, roly poly
Up, up, up
up, up, up
Roly roly poly
roly roly poly
down, down, down
down, down, down

Repeat with: out/in, fast/slow
(Credit: Jbrary)

Song: “The Itsy Bitsy Spider”

Book: A Good Place by Lucy Cousins

Song: “If You’re Happy and You Know It”

Song: “The Wheels on the Bus”

Flannel: “Six Little Bumblebees”
Six little bumblebees sitting on a hive,
One flew away and then there were five.
Bumblebee, bumblebee fly away!
Bumblebee, bumblebee happy all day!

Repeat for these verses:
Five little bumblebees sitting on the floor…
Four little bumblebees sitting in the tree…
Three little bumblebees looking at you…
Two little bumblebees sitting in the sun…

Final verse:
One little bumblebee left all alone.
He flew away, safe to his home.

Shaker Eggs: “Can You Shake Along With Me?” (Tune: “Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes”)
Can you shake along with me, along with me?
Can you shake along with me, along with me?
Put your shaker on your… knee.
Can you shake along with me, along with me?

Repeat with different body parts

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

Closing Rhyme

Fall Story Time – Baby

Opening Song

Song: “When Ducks Get Up in the Morning”
When ducks get up in the morning, they always say good day.
When ducks get up in the morning, they always say good day.
Quack, quack, quack, quack, this is what they say.
Quack, quack, quack, quack, this is what they say.

Repeat with other animals/sounds
(Credit: King County Library System)

Sign Language: Autumn, tree, leaves

Book: The Busy Little Squirrel by Nancy Tafuri
The Busy Little Squirrel book cover

Song: “Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes”
Head, shoulders, knees and toes, knees and toes,
Head, shoulders, knees and toes, knees and toes,
Eyes and ears and mouth and nose,
Head, shoulders, knees and toes, knees and toes.

Rhyme: “Autumn”
Autumn winds begin to blow. (blow gently on baby’s cheek)
Colored leaves fall fast and slow. (wiggle fingers downward)
Twirling, whirling all around, (roll hands)
Until, at last, they touch the ground. (lower baby between legs)
(Credit: Library Village)

Scarf Song: “Autumn Leaves are Falling Down” (Tune: “London Bridge”)
Autumn leaves are falling down,
Falling down, falling down.
Autumn leaves are falling down
All around the town.

The wind will blow them round and round,
Round and round, round and round.
The wind will blow them round and round
All around the town.
(Credit: King County Library System)

Book: I See Fall by Charles Ghigna, illustrated by A.G. Jatkowska

Lap Song: “Little Red Wagon”
Bumpin’ up and down in my little red wagon,
Bumpin’ up and down in my little red wagon,
Bumpin’ up and down in my little red wagon,
Won’t you be my darlin’?

Additional verses:
Goin’ back and forth in my little red wagon… (lean front to back)
One wheel’s off and the axle’s broken… (lean side to side)
(Credit: Old Town School of Folk Music: Wiggleworms Love You)

Lap Song: “I’m a Little Cuckoo Clock”
Tick tock, tick tock, I’m a little Cuckoo clock. (rock gently side to side)
Tick tock, tick tock, now I’m striking one o’clock.
Cuckoo. (lift in air once)

Repeat with: two o’clock (lift into air 2x), three o’clock (lift into air 3x)
(Credit: King County Library System)

Lap Rhyme: “Way Up High in the Apple Tree”
Way up high in the apple tree, (lift baby)
I saw a little baby smiling at me.
I shook that tree as hard as I could. (wobble gently)
Down came the baby. (bring down)
Mmm, was she good! (Kiss)
(Credit: King County Library System)

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

Closing Rhyme

Fall Story Time – Everybody

Opening Song: “Bread and Butter”

Book: In the Middle of Fall by Kevin Henkes, illustrated by Laura Dronzek

Song: “Autumn Leaves” (Tune: “London Bridge”)
Autumn leaves are in the trees,
In the trees, in the trees.
Autumn leaves are in the trees
All over town.

Additional verses:
Autumn leaves are falling down…
Autumn leaves are whirling round…
Everybody rake them up…
Jump into the pile we made…

Song: “Leaves are Falling” (Tune: “Jingle Bells”)
Leaves are falling, leaves are falling, falling on my nose,
Leaves are falling, leaves are falling, falling on my toes,
On my head, on my ears, even my elbows,
Leaves are falling, leaves are falling, when the brisk wind blows.

Book: That Pup! by Lindsay Barrett George

Song: “Walk Old Squirrel” – Kathy Reid-Naiman: When It’s Autumn

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

Book: It’s Fall! by Renée Kurilla

Song: “(Silly) Wheels on the Bus” – Miss Nina and the Jumping Jacks: Every Day’s Your Birthday!

Song: “Can You Clap” – Sue Schnitzer: Wiggle and Whirl, Clap and Nap

Closing Rhyme

Friendship Story Time – Sensory Friendly

Opening Song

Book: Grumpy Bird by Jeremy Tankard

Song: “If You’re Happy and You Know It”

Book: Stick and Stone by Beth Ferry, illustrated by Tom Lichtenheld

Song: “Mat Man” – Cathy Fink and Marcy Marxer: Get Set for School Sing Along

Movement: Learn the yoga pose and breathing for “scarecrow twist”

Social Story: “Listening in Class” from Quinn at School: Relating, Connecting, and Responding at School by Rick H. Warren

Closing Song

Craft: Straw friendship bracelets

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

Fall Story Time – Toddler

Opening Song

Book: Piggies in the Pumpkin Patch by Mary Peterson, illustrated by Jennifer Rofé
piggies-in-the-pumpkin patch cover image

Rhyme: “This Is Big”
This is big, big, big. (stretch hands far to sides)
This is small, small, small. (cup hands together)
This is short, short, short. (hold palms close vertically)
This is tall, tall, tall. (hold palms far apart vertically)
This is fast, fast, fast. (roll hands quickly)
This is slow, slow, slow. (roll hands slowly)
This is yes, yes, yes. (nod head)
This is no, no, no. (shake head)

Song: “If You’re Happy and You Know It”

Book: Plumply, Dumply Pumpkin by Mary Serfozo, illustrated by Valeria Petrone

Rhyme: “Pumpkin Chant”
Pumpkin, pumpkin,
Pumpkin bread!
(Hold hands flat in front, palms up, one lying on top of the other)

Pumpkin, pumpkin,
Pumpkin head!
(Put hands on head)

Pumpkin, pumpkin,
Pumpkin pie!
(Hold hands in a big circle)

Pumpkin, pumpkin,
Pumpkin eye!
(Curve hands around eyes)

Pumpkin, pumpkin,
Pumpkin cake!
(Hold hands flat, one palm up, one palm down five inches above the other)

Pumpkin, pumpkin,
Pumpkin shake!
(Hold fists up close to ears and shake hard)

Pumpkin, pumpkin,
Pumpkin stew!
(Pretend to stir stew)

Pumpkin, pumpkin,
Pumpkin BOO!

Song: “Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes”
Head, shoulders, knees and toes, knees and toes,
Head, shoulders, knees and toes, knees and toes,
Eyes and ears and mouth and nose,
Head, shoulders, knees and toes, knees and toes.

Book: The Busy Little Squirrel by Nancy Tafuri
The Busy Little Squirrel book cover

Scarf Song: “Autumn Leaves are Falling” (Tune: “London Bridge”)
Autumn leaves are falling down, falling down, falling down.
Autumn leaves are falling down, all around the town.

The wind will blow them round and round, round and round, round and round.
The wind will blow them round and round, all around the town.

They’re drifting gently to the ground, to the ground, to the ground.
They’re drifting gently to the ground, all around the town.

Take a rake and rake them up, rake them up, rake them up.
Take a rake and rake them up, all around the town.

Scarf Song: “Rain on the Grass”
Rain on the grass, (shake on floor)
Rain on the trees, (shake high)
Rain on the roof, (hold above head)
But not on me. (drop)

Sun on the grass,
Sun on the trees,
Sun on the roof,
But not on me.

Snow on the grass,
Snow on the trees,
Snow on the roof,
But not on me.

Leaves on the grass,
Leaves in the trees,
Leaves on the roof,
But not on me.

Scarf Rhyme: “Jack in the Box”
Jack in the box
Sits so still.
Will he come out?
Yes, he will!
(Credit: Jbrary)

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

Closing Rhyme

Fox Story Time – Everybody

Opening Song

Book: How to Find a Fox by Kate Gardner, illustrated by Ossi Saarinen

Song: “If You’re a Fox and You Know It” (Tune: “If You’re Happy and You Know It”)
If you’re a fox and you know it, swish your tail.
If you’re a fox and you know it, swish your tail.
If you’re a fox and you know it, then you’ll really want to show it.
If you’re a fox and you know it, swish your tail.

Additional verses:
Wiggle your nose
Show your claws

Big Book: Hattie and the Fox by Mem Fox, illustrated by Patricia Mullins
Hattie and the Fox book cover

Puppet Story: “The Gingerbread Man”

Song: “Gingerbread Man” – Stuart Stotts and Tom Pease: Celebrate

Book: How to Find a Fox by Nilah Magruder

Song: “The Fox (What Does the Fox Say?)” – Ylvis: The Fox

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 box
I’ll share with fox.
It’s so much fun to share.

Additional verses:
chair – bear
log – frog
hat – bat
house – mouse
pail – whale
wig – pig
boat – goat
(Credit: Adapted from Jen in the Library)

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