Books Story Time – Baby

Opening song

Sign language: Book, Library, Read

Book (with instruments): Roger is Reading a Book by Koen Van Biesen

roger-is-reading cover image

Song: I can make my hands go clap, clap, clap
Clap, clap, clap
Clap, clap, clap
I can make my hands go clap, clap, clap
They’re a part of me.

I can make my feet go stomp, stomp, stomp, etc…
I can make my hand wave bye, bye, bye…

Book/Puppets: Read It, Don’t Eat It! by Ian Schoenherr

Read It, Don't Eat It! book cover

Rhyme: X marks the spot
X marks the spot
Dot, dot, dot
Up and down
Around and around
Oooo (tickle)

Song: Forgot a bag to carry (Tune: “Ring around the Rosie”)
Forgot a bag to carry (sign for bag)
Our books at the library (sign for book)
Stack’em, stack’em (lift baby, or stack hands)
They all fall down (baby to lap, or hands open)
(Credit: Leah Portz, Verona Public Library)

Book: Book! by Kristine O’Connell George, illustrated by Maggie Smith

Book! book cover

Rhyme: The moon is round  
The moon is round (circle face)
As round can be
Two eyes
A nose
A mouth like me

Song (shaky eggs): “Your Library” – Ludwig Von Drake: Disney’s Mickey Mouse Clubhouse  

Closing rhyme

Dinosaurs Story Time – Preschool

Opening Song

Book: How Big Were Dinosaurs? by Lita Judge (abridged)

How Big Were the Dinosaurs? book cover

Song: “We Are the Dinosaurs” – Laurie Berkner: Whaddaya Think of That?

Book: Dancing with the Dinosaurs by Jane Clarke, illustrated by Lee Wildish

Dancing with the Dinosaurs book cover

Flannel: Five little dinosaurs jumping on the bed

Book: Snappy Little Dinosaurs by Dugald Steer, illustrated by Derek Matthews

Snappy Little Dinosaurs book cover

Song: The Tyrannosaurus Rex goes grr grr grr grr, grr grr, grr grr grr,
The Tyrannosaurus Rex goes grr grr grr . . . All through the swamp.
The Triceratops’ horns go poke poke poke . . .
The Stegosaurus tail goes spike, spike, spike . . .
The Apatasaurus mouth goes munch, munch, munch . . .
The Pteranodon’s wings go flap flap flap . . .

Flannel: How Do Dinosaurs Count to Ten? by Jane Yolen & Mark Teague

how do dinosaurs count to ten cover image

Craft: Dinosaurs on coloring sheet

dinosaur preschool story time craft

Closing Rhyme

Dance Story Time – Baby

Opening song

Sign language: Dance, Music

Book: Baby Danced the Polka by Karen Beaumont, illustrated by Jennifer Plecas

baby danced the polka

Song: “Baby’s Hokey Pokey” – Georgiana Stewart: Baby Face

Rhyme: The moon is round  
The moon is round (circle face)
As round can be
Two eyes
A nose
A mouth like me

Book: Barnyard Dance by Sandra Boynton

Barnyard Dance book cover

Song: I can make my hands go clap, clap, clap
Clap, clap, clap
Clap, clap, clap
I can make my hands go clap, clap, clap
They’re a part of me.

I can make my feet go stomp, stomp, stomp, etc…
I can make my hand wave bye, bye, bye…

Book/Puppets: Dancing Feet by Lindsey Craig, illustrated by Marc Brown

dancing feet

Song: Forgot a bag to carry (Tune: “Ring around the Rosie”)
Forgot a bag to carry (sign for bag)
Our books at the library (sign for book)
Stack’em, stack’em (lift baby, or stack hands)
They all fall down (baby to lap, or hands open)
(Credit: Leah Portz, Verona Public Library)

Rhyme: X marks the spot
X marks the spot
Dot, dot, dot
Up and down
Around and around
Oooo (tickle)

Book (choral): Shake it up, Baby! by Karen Katz

Shake It Up, Baby! book cover

Song (shaky eggs): “Swing It, Baby, Swing” – Cathy Fink: All Wound Up! (fade 2:18)

Closing rhyme

Outer Space – Preschool

Opening Song

Book: Gravity by Jason Chin

Gravity book cover

Song: “If You’re Going to the Moon”
If you’re going to the moon, wear your boots (stomp stomp)
If you’re going to the moon, wear your boots
If you’re going to the moon, this is what you have to do
If you’re going to the moon, wear your boots
…wear your suit (ziiiip!)
…wear your gloves (clap clap)
…wear your helmet (pat your head)

Book: Roaring Rockets by Tony Mitton, illustrated by Ant Parker

Roaring Rockets book cover

Song: “Rocketship Run” – Laurie Berkner: Rocketship Run

Flannel: “Four Little Rockets”
Four little rockets winking at me.
One shot off and then there were three!
Three little rockets with nothing to do.
One shot off, and then there were two!
Two little rockets afraid of the sun.
One shot off, and then there was one!
One little rocket alone is no fun.
It shot off, and then there was none!
(Source: RovingFiddlehead KidLit)

rockets flannel image

Rhyme: Do you want to go up with me to the moon? (Point to friend, self, then to sky.)
Let’s get in our rocket ship and blast off soon! (Pretend to climb in ship, swish hands quickly.]
Faster and faster we reach to the sky. (Jump and reach.)
Isn’t it fun to be able to fly?
We’re on the moon, now all take a look. (Look down.)
Sit back down, and I’ll read you a book. (All sit down.)

Book: Higher! Higher! by Leslie Patricelli

Higher! Higher! book cover

Flannel/Song: “Stars Shining” – Kathy Reid-Naiman – Sing the Cold Winter Away

Craft: Paint Qtips constellations

space preschool story time craft

Closing Rhyme

Cats Story Time – Preschool

Opening Song

Book: Some Cat! by Mary Casanova, illustrated by Ard Hoyt

Some Cat! book cover

Rhyme/ Puppets: “Five Little Kittens”
Five little kittens standing in a row
They nod their heads to the children so
They run to the left, they run to the right
They stand up and stretch in the bright sunlight
Along comes a dog, who’s in for some fun
M-e-oooow, see those kittens run!
(Credit: Los Angeles Public Library)

Book: Kitten’s First Full Moon by Kevin Henkes

Kitten's First Full Moon book cover

Flannel: The cat of many colors

Song: “If You’re a Kitty and You Know It”
If you’re a kitty and you know it lick your paws (lick paws)
. . . show your claws (show claws)
. . . swish your tail (wiggle bottom)
. . . chase some yarn (swat high)
. . . say “Meow!”

Book: Where is Tippy Toes? by Betsy Lewin

where is tippy toes

Craft: Standing paper cat

paper cat preschool story time craft

Closing Rhyme

Brave Story Time – Baby

Opening song

Sign language: Big, Stop, Hot

Book: Let’s Sing a Lullaby with the Brave Cowboy by Jan Thomas

Let's Sing a Lullaby with the Brave Cowboy book cover

Song: “Home on the Range” – Victor Johnson: Putumayo Kids

Song: I can make my hands go clap, clap, clap
Clap, clap, clap
Clap, clap, clap
I can make my hands go clap, clap, clap
They’re a part of me.

I can make my feet go stomp, stomp, stomp, etc…
I can make my hand wave bye, bye, bye…

Rhyme: The moon is round  
The moon is round (circle face)
As round can be
Two eyes
A nose
A mouth like me

Book: Cuddle Time by Libby Gleeson, illustrated by Julie Vivas

Cuddle Time book cover

Song: Forgot a bag to carry (Tune: “Ring around the Rosie”)
Forgot a bag to carry (sign for bag)
Our books at the library (sign for book)
Stack’em, stack’em (lift baby, or stack hands)
They all fall down (baby to lap, or hands open)
(Credit: Leah Portz)

Rhyme: X marks the spot
X marks the spot
Dot, dot, dot
Up and down
Around and around
Oooo (tickle)

Song/Puppets: “Itsy Bitsy Spider” – Carol Hammett and Elaine Bueffel: It’s Toddler Time

Book (choral): I Am So Brave! by Stephen Krensky, illustrated by Sara Gillingham

I am so brave book cover

Song (shaky eggs): “Bravest Kid in the World” – Recess Monkey: Flying!

Closing rhyme

Pizza Story Time – Preschool

Opening Song

Book: Pete’s a Pizza by William Steig

Pete's a Pizza book cover

Song: (Tune: “Shortnin’ Bread”)

I can make a pizza! You can, too!
Listen and you’ll know just what to do.

Every little baker loves mixing, mixing
Every little baker loves mixing dough!

Chorus: Flour to the left, flour to the right
Now tie your apron nice and tight

Every little baker loves kneading, kneading
Every little baker loves kneading dough!

Every little baker loves tossing, tossing
Every little baker loves tossing dough!
(Credit: Abby the Librarian – modified with added chorus)

Book: Pizza at Sally’s by Monica Wellington

Pizza at Sally's book cover

Flannel: Build a pizza (give children felt ingredients for board)

Song: “If You Wanna Eat Some Pizza”
If you want to eat some pizza, clap your hands!
If you want to eat some pizza, clap your hands!
If you like bubbly cheese then just say, “Pizza please!”
If you want to eat some pizza, clap your hands!
(Credit: Awesome Storytime)

Book/Puppets: “Hi, Pizza Man!” by Virginia Walter, illustrated by Ponder Goembel

Hi, Pizza Man! book cover

Rhyme: “Pizza Man, Pizza Man”
Pizza man, pizza man: turn around, touch the ground, reach up high, touch the sky,
find your nose, touch your toes, find your knees, sit down, please!
(Credit: Modified from childhood; idea from Awesome Storytime)

Craft: Personal paper pizzas (paper shredder cheese)

pizza preschool story time craft

Closing Rhyme

Bells Story Time – Baby

Opening song

Sign language: Bell

Book: Baby Knows Best by Kathy Henderson, illustrated by Brita Granström

Baby Knows Best book cover

Song: (Tune: Shortnin’ Bread)
Mama’s little baby loves bouncin’, bouncin’
Mama’s little baby loves bouncin’ round.
Mama’s little baby loves bouncin’, bouncin’
Mama’s little baby loves bouncin’ round.

Lean to the left, lean to the right,
Now hug that baby nice and tight.
Lean to the left, lean to the right,
Now hug that baby nice and tight.

Daddy’s little baby loves wigglin’ wigglin’ . . .

Book: Jingle-Jingle by Nicola Smee

Jingle Jingle book cover

Rhyme: “When the Cat Goes Walking” (with mice puppets)
When the cat goes walking (tiptoe)
Her feet make no sound
But the bell around her neck
warns all the mice around (do the sign for bell)
If they don’t hear the bell,
then mice come out to play (puppets jump and dance)
But when they hear a “ring-a-ling”
then they run away (puppets run away)

Rhyme: Icky bicky soda cracker

Book: Ting-a-ling! by Siobhan Dodds

ting-a-ling

Song: Baby Hop (Tune: “Bunny Hop”)
Snuggle up together
Baby’s in your lap
Snuggle up together and clap, clap, clap

Snuggle up together
Baby don’t you nap
Snuggle up together and tap, tap, tap

You’re working out together
Baby don’t stop
You’re working out together now hop, hop, hop

Rhyme: Diddle diddle dumpling

Song (with bells): “Frere Jacques” – Raffi: The Corner Grocery Store

Song: “There’s a Bell on My Head” (Tune: “There’s a Spider on the Floor”)
There’s a bell on my head, on my head,
There’s a bell on my head, on my head,
Oh, let it be said, there’s a bell on my head,
There’s a bell on my head, on my head.

arm…It’s not doing any harm but there’s a bell on my arm,
hand…Oh, isn’t it grand, there’s a bell on my hand,
leg…Oh, help me, I beg, there’s a bell on my leg,
knee…Oh, can’t you see, there’s a bell on my knee,
toe…Oh, wouldn’t you know, there’s a bell on my toe,
(Credit: A Box Full of Tales by Kathy MacMIllan)

Song (bells): “Jingle Bell Rock” – Bobby Helms: Billboard Greatest Christmas Hits

Closing rhyme

Snow Story Time – Preschool

Opening Song

Book: Outside by Deirdre Gill

Outside book cover

Song: “Let’s Play in the Snow” – Rachel Buchman: Sing a Song of Seasons

Book: Snowmen All Year by Caralyn Buehner, illustrated by Mark Buehner

Snowmen All Year book cover

Song: “Snow on the Rooftops” – Kathy Reid-Naiman: Sing the Cold Winter Away

Flannel: Build a Snowman

Snowman felt story time

Song/Scarves: “Scarves on Your Laps” – Johnette Downing: The Second Line

Book/Puppets: Oh! by Kevin Henkes, illustrated by Laura Dronzek

Oh! book cover

Craft: Plastic cup snow globes

snow globe preschool story time craft

Closing Rhyme

Snow Story Time – Baby

Opening song

Sign language: Snow, coat, hat

Book: Snowy, Blowy Winter by Bob Raczka, illustrated by Judy Stead

Snowy Blowy Winter book cover

Rhyme: Jack Frost’s nose
Where did you get that little red nose? (touch nose)
Jack Frost kissed it (pinch nose)
I suppose.
He kissed it once (one kiss on nose)
He kissed it twice (two kisses)
Poor little nose, it’s as cold as ice (wiggle nose)

Song: Baby Hop (Tune: “Bunny Hop”)
Snuggle up together
Baby’s in your lap
Snuggle up together and clap, clap, clap

Snuggle up together
Baby don’t you nap
Snuggle up together and tap, tap, tap

You’re working out together
Baby don’t stop
You’re working out together now hop, hop, hop

Book: Under My Hood I Have a Hat by Karla Kuskin, illustrated by Fumi Kosaka

under my hood i have a hat

Song: Snowflake, Snowflake (Tune: “Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star”)
Snowflake, Snowflake, dance around,
Snowflake, snowflake, touch the ground,
Snowflake, landing on your nose,
Snowflake, landing on your toes,
Snowflake, Snowflake, dance around,
Snowflake, snowflake, touch the ground.

Rhyme: Icky bicky soda cracker

Book/Puppets: Oh! by Kevin Henkes, illustrated by Laura Dronzek

Oh! book cover

Rhyme: Diddle diddle dumpling

Song: (Tune: Shortnin’ Bread)
Mama’s little baby loves bouncin’, bouncin’
Mama’s little baby loves bouncin’ round.
Mama’s little baby loves bouncin’, bouncin’
Mama’s little baby loves bouncin’ round.

Lean to the left, lean to the right,
Now hug that baby nice and tight.
Lean to the left, lean to the right,
Now hug that baby nice and tight.

Daddy’s little baby loves wigglin’ wigglin’ . . .

Book (choral): Winter Friends by Carl R. Sams II and by Jean Stoick

Winter Friends

Song (shaky eggs): “Let’s Play in the Snow” – Rachel Buchman; Sing a Song of Seasons

Closing rhyme