Month: August 2024

Fresh Water Story Time – Everybody

Opening Song

Book: Rattletrap Car by Phyllis Root, illustrated by Jill Barton

Flannel Song: “Five Sailboats” (Tune: “Five Little Ducks”)
Five sailboats went out one day, (hold up 5 fingers)
Over the waves and far away. (move hand up and down)
With the wind, they began to rock, (lean side to side)
And one sailboat returned to the dock.

Repeat until there are no sailboats left.
(Credit: Adapted from Storytime Katie and Adventures of a Bookworm)

Song: “Walk Along the River” – Laurie Berkner: Rocketship Run (use rainstick)

Puppet Story: Jo MacDonald Saw a Pond by Mary Quattlebaum, illustrated by Laura J. Bryant

Song: “Black Dog in the River” – Kira Willey: Dance for the Sun

Song: “Baby Duck/Duckie Countdown” – Carole Peterson: Sticky Bubble Gum

Book/Flannel: Ducks Away! by Mem Fox, illustrated by Judy Horacek

Closing Rhyme

Berry Story Time – Preschool

Opening Song

Book: Berry Song by Michaela Goade

Song: “I Wake Up My Hands”
I wake up my hands with a clap, clap, clap,
A clap, clap, clap, a clap, clap, clap,
I wake up my hands with a clap, clap, clap,
And I wiggle my waggles away.

Additional verses:
Feet – stomp
Head – nod
Belly – beep
Eyes – blink
(Credit: Jbrary)

Song: “Pop Goes the Berry” (Tune: “Pop Goes the Weasel”)
All around the strawberry fields,
We picked some juicy berries
We brought them home and washed them off,
Pop! Go the berries! (have kids jump up on “pop”)

Additional verses: blueberry, blackberry, huckleberry, raspberry
(Credit: Jbrary)

Book: Share, Big Bear, Share! by Maureen Wright, illustrated by Will Hillenbrand

Puppet/Flannel: “Five Red Strawberries”
Five red strawberries, sweet to the core.
Bear came and ate one and then there were four.

Four red strawberries, growing near a tree.
Bear came and ate one and then there were three.

Three red strawberries, for you and you and you.
Bear came and ate one and then there were two.

Two red strawberries, sitting in the sun.
Bear came and ate one and then there was one.

One red strawberry, left all alone.
Bear came and ate it and then there were none.
(Credit: Storytime Katie)

Closing Rhyme

Beach Story Time – Preschool

Opening Song

Book: Noah’s Seal by Layn Marlow

Song: “I Wake Up My Hands”
I wake up my hands with a clap, clap, clap,
A clap, clap, clap, a clap, clap, clap,
I wake up my hands with a clap, clap, clap,
And I wiggle my waggles away.

Additional verses:
Feet – stomp
Head – nod
Belly – beep
Eyes – blink
(Credit: Jbrary)

Song: “Beach Song” (Tune: “The Wheels on the Bus”)
(I drew a picture of each thing in the song on the whiteboard so the participants could follow along.)
The sun at the beach is shining bright,
Shining bright,
Shining bright,
The sun at the beach is shining bright
All through the day.

The waves of the sea come rolling in,
Rolling in,
Rolling in,
The waves of the sea come rolling in
All through the day.

The crabs near the rocks go pinch, pinch, pinch,
Pinch, pinch, pinch,
Pinch, pinch, pinch,
The crabs near the rocks go pinch, pinch, pinch
All through the day.

The sand underfoot goes crunch, crunch, crunch,
Crunch, crunch, crunch,
Crunch, crunch, crunch,
The sand underfoot goes crunch, crunch, crunch,
All through the day.
(Credit: Pre-K Fun)

Book: Beach Feet by Kiyomi Konagaya, illustrated by Masamitsu Saito, translated by Yuki Kaneko

Song: “Having Fun at the Beach” – The Wiggles: Splish, Splash, Big Red Boat!

Book: To the Beach! by Linda Ashman, illustrated by Nadine Bernard Westcott

Closing Rhyme

Up in the Air Story Time – Toddler

Opening Song

Book: I Spy in the Sky by Edward Gibbs

Action Rhyme: “Little Birds”
Little birds, little birds, jump up and down.
Little birds, little birds, don’t make a sound.
Little birds, little birds, tip-toe to me.
Little birds, little birds, bend your knees.
Little birds, little birds, peep, peep, peep.
Little birds, little birds, sleep, sleep, sleep.
Little birds, little birds, fly to the leaves.
Little birds, little birds, sit down please.
(Credit: Greatest Resource Education Child Care)

Song: “Reach for the Ceiling” – Toddlers on Parade

Book: Little Cloud by Eric Carle
little cloud

Song: “If You’re a Cloud and You Know It” (Tune: “If You’re Happy and You Know It”)
If you’re a cloud and you know it, float around. (raise arms to the side and sway)
If you’re a cloud and you know it, float around.
If you’re a cloud and you know it, then you’ll really want to show it,
If you’re a cloud and you know it, float around.

If you’re a cloud and you know it, make it rain. (move fingers down to ground like rain)
If you’re a cloud and you know it, make it rain.
If you’re a cloud and you know it, then you’ll really want to show it,
If you’re a cloud and you know it, make it rain.

If you’re a cloud and you know it, make it thunder. (stomp feet and slap legs)
If you’re a cloud and you know it, make it thunder.
If you’re a cloud and you know it, then you’ll really want to show it,
If you’re a cloud and you know it, make it thunder.
(Credit: Storytime with Ms. Kelly)

Song: “If All of the Raindrops” – Old Town School of Folk Music: Songs for Wiggleworms

Book: I Love Planes! by Philemon Sturges, illustrated by Shari Halpern
i love planes

Flannel: “Six Little Airplanes”
Six little airplanes flying around,
Zoom, zoom, zoom!
One decided to touch down, (zoom!)
Leaving 5 little airplanes flying around.

Continue rhyme with 5…4…3…2…1…

Song: “The Airplane Song” – Laurie Berkner: Whaddaya Think of That?

Song: “All the Fish” – Sue Schnitzer: Wiggle and Whirl, Clap and Nap

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

Closing Rhyme

Forest Story Time – Baby

Opening Song

Puppet Song: “When Ducks Go on an Adventure”
When ducks go on an adventure, they always say good day.
When ducks go on an adventure, 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: Trees, squirrel, rabbit, owl

Book: The Very Hungry Caterpillar’s Forest Hide & Seek by Eric Carle

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.

Song: “Our Arms Go Up and Down” (Tune: “The Farmer In the Dell”)
Our arms go up and down,
Our arms go up and down,
Hi ho the derry-o,
Our arms go up and down.

Additional verses:
Our feet go back and forth…
Our heads go side to side…
We all go up and down…
(Credit: Bucks County Free Library)

Puppet Rhyme: “There’s Something in the Forest”
There’s something in the forest
That I can’t really see.
There’s something in the forest.
Now what can it be?

Repeat for bear, rabbit, owl, fox, squirrel, and mouse.

Book: Hide-and-Seek In the Forest by Rachel Elliot, illustrated by Gareth Lucas

Lap Song: “Row, Row, Row Your Boat”
Row, row, row your boat
Gently down the stream,
Merrily, merrily, merrily, merrily,
Life is but a dream.

Repeat with: bounce, sway, tickle

Lap Song: “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 gently as I could, (shake gently)
Down came the baby, (bring down)
Mmm, was she good! (kiss)
(Credit: King County Library System)

Lap Song: “Giddyap Giddyap”
Giddyap, giddyap ride to town (bounce)
Giddyap, giddyap up and down (lift)
Giddyap fast, giddyap slow
Giddyap, giddyap WHOA! (lean baby back)
(Credit: Read Sing Play)

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)

Repeat with sun and leaves.
(Credit: Jbrary)

Scarf Song: “Peekaboo” (Tune: “Frère Jacques”)
Peekaboo, peekaboo,
I see you, I see you,
I see your button nose,
I see your tiny toes,
Peekaboo, I see you.

Closing Rhyme

Camping Story Time – Everybody

Opening Song

Book: Night Animals by Gianna Marino

Puppet Rhyme: “Sleeping Bag Rhyme”
(Do an animal noise and have the kids guess the animal, then reveal the puppet.)
I was lying in my sleeping bag – I couldn’t go to sleep.
I looked at my watch, and wanted to weep!
So I rolled to the left and I rolled to the right,
But all I could hear were noises in the night!
Whoo whoo whoo! I hear…an owl!

Repeat with bear, squirrel, wolf/coyote, goose, frog, etc.

Movement: “Camp Counselor Says”
Play “Simon Says,” replacing “Simon” with “camp counselor.” Do night animal noises/movements (whoo like an owl, hop like a rabbit, etc.) and camping motions (sit by the campfire, set up a tent, and go to sleep).

Book: One-Dog Canoe by Mary Casanova, illustrated by Ard Hoyt
One-Dog Canoe book cover

Action Song: “Bear Hunt”
(Have kids repeat your words and movements.)
We’re going on a bear hunt.
We’re going to catch a big one!
I’m not scared.
It’s a beautiful day!

Look over there!
It’s a tall field of grass.
Can’t go over it,
Can’t go under it,
Can’t go around it,
We’ve got to go through it. (pretend to go through obstacle)

Repeat for mud swamp, rushing river, and cave.

(Cave verse)
Get out your flashlight,
Look around.
I see something flutter up high. (bats)
WHAT’S THAT?
I see one shiny wet nose,
Two big furry ears,
Two big googly eyes!
IT’S A BEAR!
Quick! Quietly!
Back through the cave!
Tiptoe! Tiptoe! Tiptoe!

Go back through the other 3 obstacles.

Go home! (open door, shut & lock the door, hop into bed)

We went on a Bear Hunt,
And we weren’t afraid!

Book: Don’t Feed the Bear by Kathleen Doherty, illustrated by Chip Wass

Song: “Campfire Pokey” (Tune: “Hokey Pokey”)
You put your marshmallow in,
You take your marshmallow out.
You put your marshmallow in,
And you shake it all about.
You do the campfire pokey,
And you turn yourself around.
That’s what it’s all about!

Repeat with hot dog, potato, popcorn
(Credit: What Happens In Storytime…)

Action Song: “I’m Going Camping” (Tune: “I’m a Little Teapot”)
I am going camping, (point thumbs proudly to chest)
Time to pack (point to wrist)
My tent, my bedroll, and a snack. (make tent with hands, fold hands to cheek, pretend to eat)
I’ll sit by the campfire, (warm hands over fire)
Its glow so bright, (wiggle fingers like a fire)
Then snooze in my tent (pretend to snore)
‘Til the morning light! (arms circle over head)
(Credit: Lady Librarian’s Literacy, Lifestyle, and Lookbook Log)

Closing Rhyme

Summer Story Time – Preschool

Opening Song

Book: Natsumi’s Song of Summer by Robert Paul Weston, illustrated by Misa Saburi

Fingerplay: “Two Little Fireflies”
Two little fireflies shining in the sky,
One shined low and one shined high.
Fly away low, Fly away high.
Come back low, Come back high.

Two little fireflies shining in the grass,
One shined slow and one shined fast.
Fly away slow, Fly away fast.
Come back slow, Come back fast.
(Credit: Indiana Firefly Award 2020 Program Guide)

Song: “I Wake Up My Hands”
I wake up my hands with a clap, clap, clap,
A clap, clap, clap, a clap, clap, clap,
I wake up my hands with a clap, clap, clap,
And I wiggle my waggles away.

Additional verses:
Feet – stomp
Head – nod
Belly – beep
Eyes – blink
(Credit: Jbrary)

Book: One Hot Summer Day by Nina Crews

Flannel: “If You’re Going to the Pool” (Tune: “If You’re Happy and You Know It”)
If you’re going to the pool, wear your suit, (show picture)
If you’re going to the pool, wear your suit,
If you’re going to the pool, then a suit will keep you cool,
If you’re going to the pool, wear your suit.

Additional verses:
…then a hat will keep you cool
…then your shoes will keep you cool
…then your shades will keep you cool
(Credit: Mel’s Desk)

Action Song: “We Are Ice Cream Cones” (Tune: “Row, Row, Row Your Boat”)
We are ice cream cones
On a summer’s day,
Melting, melting, melting, melting,
Melting all away.
(Credit: Heather McPhail)

Closing Rhyme

Adventure Story Time – Preschool

Opening Song

Book: A Hippy-Hoppy Toad by Peggy Archer, illustrated by Anne Wilsdorf

Song: “Bouncing, Hopping and Jumping” – Jim Gill: Vote for Jim Gill

Flannel Rhyme: “Shoes”
Start with an orange shoe on the board.
I was walking along the street one day (march)
With my knees up high, can you walk this way?
But I stepped in something. Now what should I do?
My favorite, fastest shoes have turned the color blue!

I was hopping along the street one day (hop)
On just one foot, can you hop this way?
But I hopped in something. Now I’m filled with dread.
My favorite, fastest shoes have turned the color red!

I was twirling along the street one day, (turn in a circle)
Around and around, can you twirl this way?
But I twirled into something, and I’m not a happy fellow.
My favorite, fastest shoes have turned the color yellow!

I tiptoed along the street one day (tiptoe)
Way up on my toes, can you tiptoe this way?
But I tiptoed in something. Now I’m about to make a scene,
For my favorite, fastest shoes have turned the color green!

I stood perfectly still on the street one day, (stand in place)
With my feet like this, can you stand this way?
I stepped into nothing, but this isn’t very fun.
My favorite, fastest shoes are meant to run, run, run! (run in place)
(Credit: Shawn Wolf)

Book: Mr. Complain Takes the Train by Wade Bradford, illustrated by Stephan Britt

Song: “The Airplane Song” – Laurie Berkner: Whaddaya Think of That?

Puppets/Book: Wild One by Jane Whittingham, illustrated by Noel Tuazon

Closing Rhyme