Book: A Birthday for Cow by Jan Thomas

Fingerplay: Make a Cake

Mix the batter, stir the batter (make a stirring motion with one arm/hand)
Shake some flour in (make a shaking motion with one arm/hand)
Mix the batter, stir the batter (make a stirring motion with one arm/hand)
Place it in a tin (pretend to pour)

Sprinkle in some chocolate chips (pretend to sprinkle)
Put it in to bake (open both hands, palms up, and slide them forward)
Then open wide the oven door (pretend to open door)
And out comes the cake! (open both hands, palms up, and slide them forward)

Song: “Can’t Wait to Celebrate” – Jim Gill: The Irrational Anthem

Book: The Birthday Box by Leslie Patricelli

birthday box book cover

Draw and Tell Story: Birthday Cake
(Credit: Linda Meuse, Notes from the Story Room)

Song: “Little Candles”
One little, two little, three little candles
four little, five little, six little candles
seven little, eight little, nine little candles
10 little candles on the cake.
Close your eyes, make a wish,
Ready, set, blow them out!

Song: “If You’re Happy and You Know It”– Laurie Berkner: Laurie Berkner’s Favorite Classic Kids Songs

Book: Brownie & Pearl Step Out by Cynthia Rylant, illustrated by Brian Biggs

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

Closing Rhyme

Craft: Decorate a paper cupcake with crayons and stickers

Snow Story Time – Everybody

January 15, 2019

Opening Song

Book: Snow Happy by Patricia Hubbell, illustrated by Hiroe Nakata

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

Book: Soup Day by Melissa Iwai

Felt Story: Build a Snowperson

Song: “Boots and Parka, Scarf and Hat” (Tune: “Head, Shoulders, Knees, and Toes”)
Boots and parka, scarf and hat, scarf and hat
Boots and parka, scarf and hat, scarf and hat
In wintertime we dress like that!
Boots and parka, scarf and hat, scarf and hat
(Credit: Mel’s Desk)

Book: Walking in a Winter Wonderland by Felix Bernard & Richard B. Smith, illustrated by Tim Hopgood

Song: “Snowy Pokey”
You put your mittens in, You take your mittens out,
You put your mittens in and you shake it all about.
You do the Snowy Pokey and you turn yourself around.
That’s what it’s all about!

Additional Verses:
You put your boots in…
You put your hat in…
You put your snowself in…..(Credit: Sturdy for Common Things)

Song: “Shake Your Scarves” – Johnette Downing: The Second Line

Closing rhyme

Craft: Paper Snow Globes

Sick Story Time – Everybody

November 30, 2018November 30, 2018

Opening song

Book: Llama Llama Home with Mama by Anna Dewdney

Song: “Five Little Monkeys”- David Landau: Kids and Kitties

Book: Barn Sneeze by Karen B. Winnick

Song: “If You’re Sick and You Know It” (Tune: “If You’re Happy and You Know It”)
If you’re sick and you know it cover your mouth (cough into elbow)
If you’re sick and you know it cover your mouth (cough into elbow)
If you’re sick and you know it, and you really want to show it!
If you’re sick and you know it cover your mouth (cough into elbow)
Additional verses: drink some juice, take a nap, if you feel better and you know it — jump up and down

Puppet Show: The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle

Song: “Mi Cuerpo” – Hot Peas ‘n Butter: Best of the Bowl

Book: Dear Daisy, Get Well Soon by Maggie Smith

Song with scarves: “Tops and Bottoms” (Tune: “Frere Jacques”)
Tops and bottoms, tops and bottoms
In between, in between
Scrub them all together, scrub them all together
Now we’re clean, squeaky clean
(Credit: The Handwashing Song from Jbrary)

Closing Rhyme

Craft: “If you cough or if you sneeze, cover your mouth with a tissue please” rhyme and tissue glued to a piece of paper with a hand outline

Family Thanks Story Time – Everybody

November 20, 2018November 20, 2018

Opening song

Book: The Thank You Book by Mary Lyn Ray, illustrated by Stephanie Graegin

Song: “If You’re Thankful and You Know It”
If you’re thankful and you know it clap your hands. (clap clap)
If you’re thankful and you know it clap your hands. (clap clap)
If you’re thankful and you know it and you really want to show it.
If you’re thankful and you know it clap your hands. (clap clap)

Additional verses: Stomp Your Feet, Jump up and Down, Shout Hooray

Book: One Family by George Shannon, illustrated by Blanca Gomez

Flannel: “Thanks A Lot” by Raffi: Best of Raffi

Song: “Love Grows”
Love grows one by one, two by two, and four by four
Love grows, round like a circle
And comes back knocking at your front door
(Credit: Actions from Tom Pease)

Book: The Family Book by Todd Parr

Song: “Can’t Wait to Celebrate”- Jim Gill: The Irrational Anthem

Book: Llama Llama Gives Thanks by Anna Dewdney

Closing song

Craft: Thank You/Just Because Cards

Trains Story Time – Everybody

November 12, 2018September 29, 2022

Opening Song

Book: A Train Goes Clickety-Clack by Jonathan London, illustrated by Denis Roche

Song: “The Wheels on the Train” (Tune: “The Wheels on the Bus”)
The wheels on the train go clickety clack,
Clickety clack, clickety clack,
The wheels on the train go clickety clack,
On the railroad tracks.

Additional verses:
The engine on the train goes chug, chug, chug…
The conductor on the train says “Ticket please”…
The people on the train go bounce, bounce, bounce…
The whistle on the train goes toot, toot, toot…
(Credit: Librarian Lisa’s Storytimes)

Book: Chugga Chugga Choo Choo by Emma Garcia

Flannel: “This Little Train” (Tune: “This Old Man”)
This little train painted black,
It comes chugging down the track
With a “Choo-choo! Toot-toot!”
Hear the whistle blow.
This little train goes chugging home.

This little car painted blue,
It has seats for me and you
With a “Choo-choo! Toot-toot!”
Hear the whistle blow.
This little train goes chugging home.

This little car painted yellow,
It shimmies and shakes like a bowl of jello
With a “Choo-choo! Toot-toot!”
Hear the whistle blow.
This little train goes chugging home.

This little car painted green,
It’s the fanciest car you’ve seen,
With a “Choo-choo! Toot-toot!”
Hear the whistle blow.
This little train goes chugging home.

This caboose, it is red,
It will take you home to bed
With a “Choo-choo! Toot-toot!”
Hear the whistle blow.
This little train goes chugging home.

Song: “Walk, Walk” – Carol Peterson: Tiny Tunes Music for the Very Young Child

Book: I Love Trains! by Philemon Sturges, illustrated by Shari Halpern

Fingerplay: “Engine on the Track”
Here is the engine on the track. (hold up thumb)
Here is the coal car, just in back. (pointer)
Here is the box car to carry freight. (middle)
Here is the mail car…don’t be late! (ring)
Way back here at the end of the train (little)
Rides the caboose through the sun and rain. (make a circle with hands above your head, then wiggle fingers from high to low to emulate rain drops)

Book: Freight Train by Donald Crews

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

Closing Rhyme

Veggies Story Time – Everybody

November 9, 2018November 9, 2018

Opening Song

Book: Up, Down, and Around by Katherine Ayers, illustrated by Nadine Bernard Westcott

Song: “If You Like Vegetables and You Know It” (modified version of “If You’re Happy and You Know It”)
If you like vegetables and you know it, clap your hands.
If you like vegetables and you know it, clap your hands.
If you like vegetables and you know it, and you really want to show it.
If you like vegetables and you know it, clap your hands.

Additional verses: stomp feet , jump up and down, shout hooray!

Book: Growing Vegetable Soup by Louis Ehlert

Flannel: Rainbow Soup

Song: “Vegetable Song” (Tune: “Twinkle Twinkle”)
Carrots, peas, and broccoli
Vegetables are good for me
For my snack and in my lunch
Veggie sticks are great to munch
Carrots, peas, and broccoli
Vegetables are good for me

Book: The Life Cycle of a Carrot by Linda Tagliaferro

Rhyme: “Five Little Peas”
Five little peas in a pea-pod pressed,
One grew , two grew, and so did all the rest;
They grew…and grew…and did not stop,
Until one day the pod went…POP!

Song: “When the Pod went Pop!” – Rachel Buchman: Sing a Song of Seasons

Book: Very Tasty Vegetables by Bryony Jones, illustrated by Rebecca Fox

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

Opening Song

Craft: Vegetables in a basket

Superheroes Story Time – Everybody

October 29, 2018

Opening Song

Book: Even Superheroes Make Mistakes by Shelly Becker, illustrated by Eda Kaban

Song: ” Superhero, Superhero”
Superhero, superhero turn around
Superhero, superhero touch the ground
Superhero, superhero put on your suit
Superhero, Superhero put on your boots.
Superhero, Superhero, jump up high
Superhero, Superhero, fly, fly, fly
Superhero, Superhero, turn around.
Superhero, Superhero, please sit down.
(Credit: Jbrary)

Book: Super Jumbo by Fred Koehler

Flannel: “Capes of Many Colors”
My cape of bravery
Goes over my head
It makes me feel bold
And its color is RED.

My cape of honesty
Makes villains speak true
And chases out lies
Its color is BLUE.

My cape of fairness
Conquers those who are mean
It makes me feel strong,
And its color is GREEN.

My cape of calmness
Makes me feel mellow
It quiets the world
And its color is YELLOW.

My cape of wisdom
Helps me to think
And solve tricky problems
Its color is PINK.

My favorite cape
Gives me a nice glow
Its all these great colors
In a rainbow!
(Source: Carissa Christner, Madison Public Library)

Song: “The Superhero” (Tune: “The Wheels on the Bus”)
The Superhero’s arms flex and lift,
Flex and lift, flex and lift.
The superhero’s arms flex and lift, all around the town.

Additional Verses:
The Superhero’s legs run very fast…
The Superhero jumps up super high..
(Credit: The Mild-Mannered Librarian)

Book: Do Super Heroes Have Teddy Bears? by Carmela LaVigna Coyle

Flannel: “Five Superheroes”
5 superheroes ready to fly
Here comes the villain,
Stop that guy!
This superhero can save the day.
Off he flies – up, up, and away!

Count down from 4, 3, 2, 1, 0
(Credit: Jbrary)

Song: “If You’re a Superhero and You Know It” (Tune: “If you’re happy and you know it”)
If you’re Spiderman and you know it, jump up high…..
If you’re the Flash and you know it, run super-fast…..
If you’re Catwoman and you know, climb a building…..
If you’re Aquaman and you know it, swim through the ocean…
(Credit: Sunflower Storytime)

Action Song: “Did You Ever See a Superhero?” (Tune: “Did You Ever See…?”)
Did you ever see a hero, a hero, a hero,
Did you ever see a hero, flying through the sky?
Fly this way and that way, and that way and this way
Did you ever see a hero flying through the sky?

Additional verses: hopping on one foot, twirling around
(Credit: Jbrary)

Closing rhyme

Craft: Masks

Bounce and Jump Story Time – Everybody

October 12, 2018

Opening Song

Book: Bounce by Doreen Cronin and Scott Menchin

Song: “Five Little Monkeys” – Sharon, Lois, and Bram: Great Big Hits

Book: Jump! By Scott M. Fischer

Flannel: “5 Green and Speckled Frogs” (with frogs on a log)

Song: “Jump Up, Turn Around” – Jim Gill: Moving Rhymes for Modern Times

Flannel: Kangaroo, Kangaroo, Where Are You?

Song with Scarves: “Popcorn Calling Me” – Laurie Berkner: Buzz Buzz

Song: “Jumping and Counting”- Jim Gill: Jim Gill’s Irrational Anthem

Closing Song

Craft: Kangaroo

Fall Story Time – Everybody

October 2, 2018

Opening Song

Book: Hocus Pocus, It’s Fall! By Anne Sibley O’Brien, Illustrated by Susan Gal

Song: (Tune: “London Bridge”)
Autumn leaves are in the trees . . . All over town.
Autumn leaves are falling down . . .
Autumn leaves are whirling round . . .
Everybody rake them up . . .
Jump into the piles we made . . .

Book: In the Middle of Fall by Kevin Henkes

Flannel board: “Five Little Leaves”
Five little leaves on the tree next door
One fell off and then there were four
Four little leaves all over the tree
One fell off and then there were three
Three little leaves where the wind blew
One fell off and then there were two
Two little leaves sitting in the sun
One fell off and then there was one
One little leaf in the tree all alone
The wind blew and blew now there are none!

Song: Gray squirrel, gray squirrel, shake your bushy tail.
Gray squirrel, gray squirrel, shake your bushy tail.
Wrinkle up your funny nose; put a nut between your toes.
Gray squirrel, gray squirrel, shake your bushy tail!

Book: Duck and Goose Find a Pumpkin by Tad Hills

Puppet Song: So many leaves are falling on the ground (Tune: “Five Little Ducks”)
So many leaves are falling on the ground,
Orange ones, yellow ones, and even brown,
But the one little leaf that rhymes with ____________.
Is my favorite color, it’s the color ___________.

Book: Fall by Ailie Busby

Song: “Pumpkin, Pumpkin” (Tune: “Twinkle, Twinkle”)
Pumpkin, pumpkin on the ground, (touch the ground)
How’d you get so big and round? (make a big circle)
Once you were a seed so small, (hold hands together)
Now you are a great big ball! (make a big circle)
Pumpkin, pumpkin on the ground, (touch the ground)
How’d you get so big and round? (make a big circle)
(Credit: Step by Step Childcare)

Song: “If You’re Happy and You Know It”– Laurie Berkner: Laurie Berkner’s Favorite Classic Kids Songs

Closing rhyme

Craft: Color in and add orange things to a paper pumpkin

Feelings Story Time – Everybody

September 28, 2018

Opening Song

Book: Hooray for Hat! by Brian Won

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

If you’re happy and you know it, clap your hands.
If you’re happy and you know it, clap your hands.
If you’re happy and you know it,
Then your face will surely show it.
If you’re happy and you know it, clap your hands.

If you’re angry and you know it, stomp your feet,
If you’re scared and you know it, hide your eyes.
(Source: Adapted Traditional)

Book: The Feelings Book by Todd Parr

Flannel: “Old MacDonald Felt So Glad”
Old MacDonald felt so glad
HA-HA-HA-HA-HA
And when he’s glad he sounds like this:
HA-HA-HA-HA-HA
With a HA-HA here and a HA-HA there
Here a HA, there a HA everywhere a HA-HA
Old MacDonald felt so glad.
HA-HA-HA-HA-HA

Repeat this, substituting the following emotions and sounds:
Grumpy = NO NO NO NO NO
Sad = Boo-hoo-hoo-hoo-hoo!
Silly = Nah-nah-nah-nah-nah
(Credit: Jen in the Library)

Book: I Am (Not) Scared by Anna Kang, illustrated by Christopher Weyant