Farm Story Time – Preschool

Opening Song

Book: Cows Go Boo! by Steve Webb, illustrated by Fred Blunt

Flannel: “Five Pigs So Squeaky Clean” (Tune: “Five Green and Speckled Frogs”)
Five pigs so squeaky clean,
Cleanest you’ve ever seen,
Wanted to go outside and play.
Oink! Oink!
One jumped into the mud,
Landed with a big THUD,
Then there were four clean and squeaky pigs.

Repeat, counting down until there are no clean and squeaky pigs.
(Credit: Mel’s Desk)

Action Song: “I’m a Little Chick” (Tune: “I’m a Little Teapot”)
I’m a little chick who’s ready to hatch, (crouch down inside your egg)
Pecking at my shell, Tap, tap, tap! (pecking motion with hands)
When I crack it open, out I’ll leap (jump out of shell)
I’ll flap my feathers, and say, “Peep! Peep! Peep!”
(Credit: Metropolitan Library System, Oklahoma City area)

Book: Moo! by David LaRochelle, illustrated by Mike Wohnoutka

Puppet Song: “Down on Grandpa’s Farm”
Down on Grandpa’s farm there is a black and white cow,
Down on Grandpa’s farm there is a black and white cow.
The cow she makes a sound like this: Moo! Moo!
The cow she makes a sound like this: Moo! Moo!

Chorus:
Oh, we’re on our way, we’re on our way,
On our way to Grandpa’s farm.
We’re on our way, we’re on our way,
On our way to Grandpa’s farm.

Additional verses:
Down on Grandpa’s farm there is a strong, brown horse…
Down on Grandpa’s farm there is fluffy, white sheep…
Down on Grandpa’s farm there is a muddy, pink pig…
Down on Grandpa’s farm there is a little, yellow chick…
(Credit: Adapted from Kentucky Department for Libraries and Archives)

Closing Rhyme

Train Story Time – Preschool & Everybody

Opening Song

Book: And the Train Goes… by William Bee
And the Train Goes . . . book cover

Song: “She’ll Be Comin’ Round the Mountain” – Wee Sing: Wee Sing in the Car

Flannel: I Love Trains! by Philemon Sturges, illustrated by Shari Halpern
I Love Trains book cover

Song: “The Freight Train” – Jane Murphy: Cars, Trucks and Trains

Book/Song: The Whistle on the Train by Margaret McNamara, illustrated by Richard Egielski, paper engineering by Gene Vosough
The Whistle on the Train

Movement/Whistle: Train horn signals (“o” indicates short sounds and “=” is for longer sounds)

= Stop
= = Go
o o o Back up
= = o = Train is approaching public crossings

Big Book: Freight Train by Donald Crews
Freight Train book cover

Closing Rhyme

Craft (from 2016): Track coloring sheet with train cars
Preschool story time train craft

Elephant Story Time – Preschool

Opening Song

Book: Elmer by David McKee

Scarf Song: “Rainbow” – Wunmi: Science Fair

Book: Have You Seen Elephant? by David Barrow

Song: “Elephant in There” – Laurie Berkner: Superhero

Song: “Do Your Ears Hang Low?”
Do your ears hang low?
Do they wobble to and fro?
Can you tie ’em in a knot?
Can you tie ’em in a bow?
Can you throw ’em over your shoulder
Like a continental soldier?
Do your ears hang low?

Flannel: “Five Elephants in the Tub”
One elephant in the tub
Going for a swim,
Knock-knock (clap twice), splash-splash (slap knees twice),
Come on in!
2 . . . 3 . . . 4
Five elephants in the tub
Going for a swim,
Knock-knock (clap twice), splash-splash (slap knees twice),
And they all FELL IN!
(Credit: King County Library System)

Movement: “An Elephant Has”
An elephant has a great big trunk (swing arm)
That goes swinging to and fro.
And he has tiny, tiny eyes (make binoculars with hands)
That show him where to go.
His great big ears go flopping, (put hands by ears to be elephant ears)
Flopping all around,
While his great big feet go stomping, (stamp feet)
STOMPING on the ground!
(Credit: Adapted from KidSparkz)

Book: I Took My Frog to the Library by Eric A. Kimmel, illustrated by Blanche Sims
I Took My Frog to the Library book cover

Closing Rhyme

Opposites Story Time – Preschool

Opening Song

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

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

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)

Book with Puppets: Marta! Big & Small by Jen Arena, illustrated by Angela Dominguez

Song: “Open Shut Them” – Laurie Berkner: Laurie Berkner’s Favorite Classic Kids’ Songs

Fingerplay: “Two Little Blackbirds”
Two little blackbirds sitting on a hill.
One named Jack and one named Jill.
Fly away Jack, fly away Jill.
Come back Jack, come back Jill.

Additional verses:
Two little blackbirds flying in the sky. One named Low and one named High…
Two little blackbirds sitting on a pole. One named Fast and one named Slow…

Song: “Slow and Fast” – Hap Palmer: Rhythms on Parade

Book with Puppets: ROAR-chestra!: A Wild Story of Musical Words by Robert Heidbreder, illustrated by Dušan Petričić

Closing Rhyme

Raccoon Story Time – Preschool

Opening Song

Book: Kitty by Rebecca Jordan-Glum

Song: “Raccoon Sitting in a Tree” (Tune: “Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star”)
Raccoon, raccoon, climbing a tree, (make climbing motions)
Wearing a mask, you can’t fool me. (hands circle eyes, then shake finger)
Hiding there so I can’t see (point to eyes)
What you’re doing in that tree. (hands stretched over head like a tree)
Raccoon, raccoon, climbing a tree, (make climbing motions)
Wearing a mask, you can’t fool me. (hands circle eyes, then shake finger)

Book: Raccoons by Mari C. Schuh

Song: “Nocturnal Animals” – Banana Slug String Band: Dirt Made My Lunch

Book: Raccoon Tune by Nancy Shaw, illustrated by Howard Fine

Song: “Jump, Jump” – Joanie Leeds and the Nightlights: I’m a Rock Star

Puppet Rhyme: “There’s Something in the Woods”
There’s something in the woods, that I can’t really see. (hands around eyes like binoculars)
There’s something in the woods. Now what can it be? (hold up hands, shrug shoulders in question)

Repeat the rhyme above before giving each clue:
I’m an animal who’s big, brown, and furry and who “Roars.” (bear)
I’m an animal who has long ears and goes “Hop, hop, hop.” (rabbit)
I’m an animal who says “Whoo, whoo” at night. (owl)
I’m an animal who’s red, furry, has a big, bushy tail, and likes to eat chicken. (fox)
I’m an animal who’s small, has a big, bushy tail, and loves to eat nuts. (squirrel)
I’m an animal who’s tiny and makes very quiet “Squeaks.” (mouse)
I’m an animal with a black mask and I’m nocturnal! (raccoon)

Closing Rhyme

Pizza Story Time – Preschool

Opening Song

Book: Hoot Owl, Master of Disguise by Sean Taylor, illustrated by Jean Jullien

Song: “Make a Pizza” (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)

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

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

Song: “If You Wanna Eat Some Pizza” (Tune: “If You’re Happy and You Know It”)
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)

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

Closing Rhyme

Swimming Story Time – Preschool

Opening Song

Book: Jabari Jumps by Gaia Cornwall

Action Rhyme: “Swimming”
Swimming in the water cool and bright, (pretend to swim)
I kick my feet with all my might, (kick feet)
And when I’m tired I turn and float, (spin and hold arms out)
Pretending that I’m a boat! (rock hands)
I like to hold my breath and dive, (take a breath and bend down)
I swim beneath the water and count to five. (count to five)
Wow! What a dive!
(Credit: Hummingbird Educational Resources)

Book: Froggy Learns to Swim by Jonathan London, illustrated by Frank Remkiewicz

Song: “Swimming, Swimming”
Swimming, swimming (mime swimming)
In the swimming pool (outline rectangle with fingers)
When days are hot (fan yourself)
When days are cold (shiver)
In the swimming pool. (outline rectangle with fingers)
Breaststroke, sidestroke, (mime both strokes)
Fancy diving, too. (make diving hands)
Don’t you wish you never had anything else to do? (shrug)
(Credit: Miss Nina – Music & Movement for Preschool)

Book: Swim Swim Sink by Jenn Harney

Song (if time): “The Goldfish” – Laurie Berkner: Victor Vito

Closing Rhyme

Art Story Time – Preschool

Opening Song

Book: Arty!: The Greatest Artist in the World by William Bee

Action Song: “This Is the Way We Stir the Paint”
This is the way we stir the paint,
Stir the paint, stir the paint,
This is the way we stir the paint
So early in the morning.

Additional verses:
Dip our brush
Paint the paper
Frame the picture
(Credit: Storytime Katie)

Big Book: Mouse Paint by Ellen Stoll Walsh
Mouse Paint book cover

Folder Story: “Scat the Cat”

(Credit: Adapted from Dr. Jean)

Pop-up Book: 600 Black Spots by David A. Carter
600 Black Spots

Closing Rhyme

Craft (from 2016): Free-form shape art with black spots
art preschool story time craft

Fun Outdoors Story Time – Preschool

Opening Song

Book: We Love Fishing! by Ariel Bernstein, illustrated by Marc Rosenthal

Puppet Rhyme: “Sleeping Bag Rhyme”
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!
I hear an owl! Whoo whoo whoo
(Repeat with mouse, cat, wolf, etc.)

Book: Bear Came Along by Richard T. Morris, illustrated by LeUyen Pham

Song: “The Cool Bear Hunt” – Dr. Jean: Sings Silly Songs

Book (if time): Sheep Take a Hike by Nancy Shaw, illustrated by Margot Apple

Closing Rhyme

Ocean Creatures Story Time – Preschool

Opening Song

Book: Turtle Tug to the Rescue by Michael Slack

Flannel Song: “Bubble, Bubble, Pop!”
One little red fish
Swimming in the water,
Swimming in the water,
Swimming in the water.

One little red fish
Swimming in the water,
Bubble, bubble, bubble, bubble…POP!

Additional verses: Increase the number and change the color of the fish.
(Credit: Jbrary)

Book: I Spy Under the Sea by Edward Gibbs

Action Rhyme: “I’m a Little Octopus”
Arm #1 goes swish, swish, swish (swing arms back and forth)
Arm #2 helps me catch fish (wiggle hand back and forth)
Arm #3 pats my head (pat hand on head)
Arm #4 makes sure I’m fed (put hand to mouth)
Arm #5 swims me to shore (move arms in swimming motion)
Arm #6 touches the ocean floor (touch hand to floor)
Arm #7 can grab and tug (open and close hands)
But all eight arms give me a hug! (cross arms and hug yourself)
(Credit: Storytime Katie)

Book/Flannel: I’m the Biggest Thing in the Ocean by Kevin Sherry

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

Closing Rhyme