Category: Preschool Story time

Breakfast Story Time – Preschool

Opening Song

Book: Little Mouse’s Big Breakfast by Christine Pym

Fingerplay: “Five Fat Sausages”
Five fat sausages frying in a pan. (hold up 5 fingers)
All of a sudden, one went BANG! (clap hands)

Repeat, counting down until there are no sausages left.

Last line:
Now there are no fat sausages frying in the pan.

Flannel Song: “I’m Toast in the Toaster” (Tune: “I’m a Little Teapot”)
I’m toast in the toaster, (like holding a loaf of bread)
And I’m getting very hot! (fan yourself)
Tick, tock, tick, tock, (move hands back and forth)
Up I pop! (jump in the air and raise hands)

Repeat with: waffles, Pop-tarts, English muffins, bagels

Book: Hey, Pancakes! by Tamson Weston, illustrated by Stephen Gammell

Movement: “Pancakes”
Mix a pancake,
Stir a pancake,
Pop it in a pan.
Fry a pancake,
Toss a pancake,
Catch it if you can!

Flannel: “Eggs for Breakfast”

Song: “If You Like Your Eggs Scrambled” (Tune: “If You’re Happy and You Know It”)
If you like your eggs scrambled, clap your hands.
If you like your eggs scrambled, clap your hands.
Yes, they’re yummy and they’re yellow,
So you’ll be a happy fellow.
If you like your eggs scrambled, clap your hands.

Additional verses:
If you like your eggs fried, jump up high…
If you want bacon with your eggs, wiggle your legs…
If you want toast instead, nod your head… (nod and say “mmm-hmmm”)
(Credit: King County Library System)

Puppet Story: Ellie’s Breakfast by Sarah Garland

Closing Rhyme

Celebrating Differences Story Time – Preschool

Opening Song

Book: This Is How We Play: A Celebration of Disability and Adaptation by Jessica Slice and Caroline Cupp, illustrated by Kayla Harren

Song: “This Is How I Do It” – Laurie Berkner: Superhero

Book: Everybody Has a Body by Molli Jackson Ehlert, illustrated by Lorian Tu

Song: “Bodies 1-2-3” – Peter & Ellen Allard: Sing It! Say It! Stamp It! Sway It! Vol. 2

Flannel Rhyme: “Assistive Devices”
What do I need to help me be me?
Something I use in my daily routine.
I need a…

Repeat with: wheel chair, prosthetic, pair of glasses, fidget, computer, walker, wiggle seat, guide dog

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

Book: The Same But Different Too by Karl Newson, illustrated by Kate Hindley

Puppets: Take out animal pairs that have both similarities and differences and discuss with the group.

Closing Rhyme

Air Story Time – Preschool

Opening Song

Book: Puff: All About Air by Emily Kate Moon

Song: “Put Your Finger in the Air” – Bob McGrath: Bob’s Favorite Sing Along Songs

Book/Flannel: The Wind Blew by Pat Hutchins
The Wind Blew book cover

Song: “Blow Up Your Balloon” – The Wiggles: Racing to the Rainbow

Puppets: What flies up in the air?
(Collection of puppets: some flying, some not)

Bell Song: “Ring Your Bells”
Ring your bells in the air, in the air,
Ring your bells in the air, in the air,
Ring your bells in the air and hold them right there,
Ring your bells in the air, in the air.

Additional verses:
On the side/as you smile really wide
Way down low/wave and say hello
All around/until they touch the ground

Book: Little Cloud by Eric Carle
Little Cloud book cover

Closing Rhyme

Pockets Story Time – Preschool

Opening Song

Book: Poem in My Pocket by Chris Tougas, illustrated by Josée Bisaillon

Song: “Bottle Caps” – Laurie Berkner: Victor Vito (-2:14)

Book/Flannel: What Did You Put in Your Pocket? by Beatrice Schenk de Regniers, illustrated by Michael Grejniec
What did you Put in Your Pocket Cover Image

Song: “I’m Gonna Catch You” – Laurie Berkner: Under a Shady Tree

Activity: Sort colorful items into color-matching pockets

Book/Puppets: A Sock Is a Pocket for Your Toes by Elizabeth Garton Scanlon, illustrated by Robin Preiss Glasser
A Sock is a Pocket for Your Toes Cover Image

Closing Rhyme

Yeti Story Time – Preschool

Opening Song

Book: The Thing about Yetis by Vin Vogel

Song: “RAWR RAWR Went the Abominable Snowman”
Rawr rawr went the abominable snowman one day, rawr rawr went the abominable snowman.
Rawr rawr went the abominable snowman one day, and they all went rawr rawr rawr. But…
We know abominables go [clap] la de la de la [wavey arms],
[clap] la de la de la [wavey arms], [clap] la de la de la [wavey arms]!
We know abominables go [clap] la de la de la [wavey arms], they don’t go rawr rawr rawr.

Shake shake went the snowy yeti one day, shake shake went the snowy yeti.
Shake shake went the snowy yeti one day, and they all went shake shake shake. But…
We know yetis go [clap] rub a dub a dub [running arms],
[clap] rub a dub a dub [running arms], [clap] rub a dub a dub [running arms]!
We know yetis go [clap] rub a dub a dub [running arms], they don’t go shake shake shake.
(Credit: Canton Public Library (originally inspired by Jbrary))

Puppet Story: No Yeti Yet by Mary Ann Fraser

Puppet Song: “10 Little Marshmallows” (Yeti puppet drops marshmallows in mug)
One little, two little, three little marshmallows.
Four little, five little, six little marshmallows.
Seven little, eight little, nine little marshmallows.
Ten little marshmallows melting in hot cocoa!
(Credit: Fantastic Fun and Learning)

Song: “Cocoa Pokey” (Tune: “Hokey Pokey”)
You dip your marshmallow in,
You take your marshmallow out,
You dip your marshmallow in
And you put it in your mouth,
You do the cocoa pokey,
And you turn yourself around,
And that’s what it’s all about, yum!

Additional verse options: Pretzel, cracker, cookie

Book: Yeti, Turn Out the Light! by Greg Long and Chris Edmundson, illustrated by Wednesday Kirwan

Flannel Song: “Five Enormous Yetis” (Tune: “Five Enormous Dinosaurs”)
Five enormous yetis letting out a roar,
One stomped away and then there were four.
Stomp, stomp, stomp, stomp,
stomp, stomp, stomp, stomp, ROAR!

Four enormous yetis hiding in the trees,
One stomped away and then there were three.
Stomp, stomp, stomp, stomp,
stomp, stomp, stomp, stomp, ROAR!

Three enormous yetis didn’t know what to do,
One stomped away and then there were two.
Stomp, stomp, stomp, stomp,
stomp, stomp, stomp, stomp, ROAR!

Two enormous yetis having lots of fun,
One stomped away and then there was one.
Stomp, stomp, stomp, stomp,
stomp, stomp, stomp, stomp, ROAR!

One enormous yeti saw the setting sun,
She stomped home and then there were none.
Stomp, stomp, stomp, stomp,
stomp, stomp, stomp, stomp, ROAR!
(Credit: Lady Librarian)

Closing Rhyme

Fairy Tale Story Time – Preschool

Opening Song

Book: Sausages by Jessica Souhami
sausages book cover

Movement Story: “The Three Little Pigs: Live Action”
Read the story aloud with sound effects and have the kids do movements with you.

Book with Puppet: Interrupting Chicken by David Ezra Stein
Interrupting Chicken book cover

Song: “There Was a Dragon”
Repeat every line twice, the 2nd time ending with “long, long ago.”
There was a Dragon long ago, long ago, long ago… (fly, breathe fire)
And she lived in a big high tower, big high tower, big high tower… (hands above head in a triangle)
A wicked fairy cast a spell, cast a spell, cast a spell… (wiggle fingers, cackle)
The Dragon slept for a hundred years, a hundred years, a hundred years… (head on hands & snore)
A great big forest grew around, grew around, grew around… (spin)
A strong princess came riding by, riding by, riding by… (gallop)
She took her sword and cut the trees, cut the trees, cut the trees… (chopping motions)
She woke the dragon with a kiss, with a kiss, with a kiss… (blow kisses)
And everyone was happy then, happy then, happy then… (shout “hooray!”)

Puppet Show: Falling for Rapunzel by Leah Wilcox, illustrated by Lydia Monks
falling-for-rapunzel cover image

Closing Rhyme

Acceptance Story Time – Preschool

Opening Song

Book: Oh, Olive! by Lian Cho

Flannel: “Draw a Shape in the Air” (Tune: “Found a Peanut”)
Draw a circle, draw a circle,
Draw a circle in the air.
A circle has no corners,
Draw a circle in the air.

Additional verses:
Triangle…3 sides
Square…4 sides
Heart…2 curved lines
Star…5 points
Hexagon…6 sides

Folder Story: “Pat the Cat”

(Credit: Adapted from Dr. Jean)

Book: Blurp’s Book of Manners by Cindy Derby

Song: “You’ll Sing a Song and I’ll Sing a Song”
You’ll sing a song and I’ll sing a song,
Then we’ll sing a song together.
You’ll sing a song and I’ll sing a song
In warm or wintry weather.

Additional verses:
Clap hands
Stomp feet
Twirl around

Closing Rhyme

Night Story Time – Preschool

Opening Song

Book: Nighttime Symphony by Timbaland and Christopher Myers, illustrated by Christopher Myers and Kaa Illustration

Activity: Make a rainstorm
Start with quiet, then rub hands together, snap fingers, pat legs, and clap. Go in reverse to make the storm go away.

Book: Awake by Mags DeRoma

Song: “The Itsy Bitsy Spider” (w/extra verses)
Additional verses:
The teensy weensy spider (do the motions as small as possible with just fingertips)
The great big giant spider (use whole body and stomp)

Big Book: Owl Babies by Martin Waddell, illustrated by Patrick Benson
owl babies

Puppet Rhyme: “There’s Something in the Nighttime”
There’s something in the nighttime that I can’t really see.
There’s something in the nighttime, now what can it be?
Whoo, Whoo. Hear it’s funny sound? Whoo, Whoo. An Owl is what I found!

Repeat with other nighttime animals (cat, mouse, possum, skunk, bat, etc.)
(Credit: Miss Barbara at the Library)

Closing Rhyme

Family Story Time – Preschool

Opening Song

Book: Bathe the Cat by Alice B. McGinty, illustrated by David Roberts

Song: “Pig on Her Head” – Laurie Berkner: Buzz Buzz

Song: “Love Grows”
Love grows one by one, two by two, and four by four. (cross arms over heart, “grow” one arm past the other like a tree, then show the number of fingers first on one hand then the other)
Love grows, round like a circle (repeat crossing arms and “growing” arm, then draw a circle in the air)
And comes back knocking at your front door. (roll arms, mime knocking, and put hands together and hinge one out like opening a door)
(Credit: Actions from Tom Pease)

Book: One, Two, Grandpa Loves You by Shelly Becker, illustrated by Dan Yaccarino or Grandma’s Tiny House by JaNay Brown-Wood, illustrated by Priscilla Burris

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

Closing Rhyme

Sleepy Story Time – Preschool

Opening Song

Big Book: The Napping House by Audrey Wood, illustrated by Don Wood
Napping House book cover

Fingerplay: “Five in the Bed”
There were five in the bed and the little one said,
“Roll over, roll over!”

So they all rolled over and one fell out.
There were four in the bed and the little one said,
“Roll over, roll over!”

So they all rolled over and one fell out.
There were three in the bed and the little one said,
“Roll over, roll over!”

So they all rolled over and one fell out.
There were two in the bed and the little one said,
“Roll over, roll over!”

So they all rolled over and one fell out.
There was one in the bed and the little one said, “Goodnight.”

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: Shhh! The Baby’s Asleep by JaNay Brown-Wood, illustrated by Elissambura

Song: “The Goldfish” – Laurie Berkner: Victor Vito

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

Closing Rhyme