Category: Sensory Friendly Story time

Cat Story Time – Sensory Friendly

Opening Song

Book: No Cats in the Library by Lauren Emmons

Song: “If You’re a Kitty and You Know It” (Tune: “If You’re Happy and You Know It”)
If you’re a kitty and you know it, lick your paws. (pretend to lick paws)
If you’re a kitty and you know it, lick your paws. (pretend to lick paws)
If you’re a kitty and you know it, and you really want to show it.
If you’re a kitty and you know it, lick your paws. (pretend to lick paws)

Additional verses:
Show your claws (show claws)
Swish your tail (wiggle bottom)
Chase some yarn (swat high)
Say “Meow!”

Book: Pete the Cat: I Love My White Shoes by Eric Litwin, illustrated by James Dean

Song/Video: “Dance for the Sun” – Kira Willey: Dance for the Sun

Yoga/Breathing: Cat

Social Story: I Want to Be Mad for a While! by Barney Saltzberg

Closing Song

Craft: Cats in sweaters

(Credit: Krokotak.com)

Pie Story Time – Sensory Friendly

Opening Song

Book: All for Pie, Pie for All by David Martin, illustrated by Valeri Gorbachev

Flannel: “Alligator Pie”
Alligator, alligator, alligator pie.
If I don’t get some,
I think I’m gonna cry.
Take away the green grass,
Take away the sky,
But don’t take away
My alligator pie.

Alligator, alligator, alligator cake.
If I don’t get some,
I think I’m gonna shake.
Take away the river,
Take away the lake,
But don’t take away
My alligator cake.

Alligator, alligator, alligator soup.
If I don’t get some,
I think I’m gonna droop.
Take away my basketball,
Take away my hoop,
But don’t take away
My alligator soup.

Alligator, alligator, alligator stew.
If I don’t get some,
I don’t know what I’ll do.
Take away my socks,
Take away my shoe,
But don’t take away
My alligator stew.

Alligator, alligator, alligator tea.
If I don’t get some,
I think I’ll climb a tree.
Take away the ocean,
Take away the sea,
But don’t take away
My alligator tea.
(Credit: Pre-K Fun)

Book: Apple Pie ABC by Alison Murray

Yoga: Basket pose (aka rocking horse)

Social Story: Pete’s a Pizza by William Steig
Pete's a Pizza book cover

Closing Song

Craft: Paper plate pumpkin pie

Party Story Time – Sensory Friendly

Opening Song

Book: Polly’s Pink Pajamas by Vivian French, illustrated by Sue Heap

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

Book: A Birthday for Cow! by Jan Thomas

Song: “Tap, Tap, Tap” – Cathy Fink and Marcy Marxer: Get Set for School Sing Along

Yoga/Breathing: Balloon breath

Social Story: Brownie & Pearl Step Out by Cynthia Rylant, illustrated by Brian Biggs
Brownie and Pearl Step Out

Closing Song

Craft: Decorate party crowns with stickers

Spooky Story Time – Sensory Friendly

Opening Song

Book: Ghosts in the House! by Kazuno Kohara

Song: “If You’re a Ghost and You Know It” (Tune: “If You’re Happy and You Know It”)

(Credit: Prospect Heights Public Library Youth Services Dept.)

Book: Go Away, Big Green Monster! by Ed Emberley

Yoga: Scarecrow twist/Ghost coat swing

Social Story: “Showing Your Work” from Quinn at School: Relating, Connecting, and Responding at School by Rick H. Warren
Quinn at School: Relating, Connecting and Responding - A Book for ...

Closing Song

Fall Story Time – Sensory Friendly

Opening Song

Book: In the Middle of Fall by Kevin Henkes, illustrated by Laura Dronzek
in the middle of fall cover

Song: “Leaves are Falling” (Tune: “Jingle Bells”)
Leaves are falling, leaves are falling, falling on my nose,
Leaves are falling, leaves are falling, falling on my toes,
On my head, on my ears, even my elbows,
Leaves are falling, leaves are falling, when the brisk wind blows.

Repeat the song, faster.

Book: The Busy Little Squirrel by Nancy Tafuri
The Busy Little Squirrel book cover

Movement: Learn the yoga pose “tree”

Social Story: “Listening in Class” from Quinn at School: Relating, Connecting, and Responding at School by Rick H. Warren

Closing Song

Craft: Torn paper fall tree

Alphabet Story Time – Sensory Friendly

Opening Song

Book: Chicka Chicka Boom Boom by Bill Martin Jr. and John Archambault, illustrated by Lois Ehlert

Song: “There’s a Dog in the School” – Stuart Stotts and Tom Pease: Celebrate, A Song Resource

Book: Click, Clack, Quackity-Quack by Doreen Cronin, illustrated by Betsy Lewin

Song: “Tap, Tap, Tap” – Cathy Fink and Marcy Marxer: Get Set for School Sing Along

Yoga: R is for Roar

Social Story: “Asking Kids to Play” from Quinn at School: Relating, Connecting, and Responding at School by Rick H. Warren
Quinn at School: Relating, Connecting and Responding - A Book for ...

Closing Song

Craft: Chicka Chicka Boom Boom letter trees

Dinosaur Story Time – Sensory Friendly

Opening Song

Book: Dinosaurs, Dinosaurs by Byron Barton

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

Book: Crunch, the Shy Dinosaur by Cirocco Dunlap, illustrated by Greg Pizzoli

Song/Video: “Dance for the Sun” – Kira Willey: Dance for the Sun

Yoga: Volcano

Social Story: “Playing and Sharing” from Quinn at School: Relating, Connecting, and Responding at School by Rick H. Warren
Quinn at School: Relating, Connecting and Responding - A Book for ...

Closing Song

Craft: Dinosaur foam feet

Silly Story Time – Sensory Friendly

Opening Song

Book: Silly Sally by Audrey Wood

Song: “Shake My Sillies Out” – Raffi: The Singable Songs Collection

Book: Rhyming Dust Bunnies by Jan Thomas

Song: “Tap, Tap, Tap” – Cathy Fink and Marcy Marxer: Get Set for School Sing Along

Yoga/Breathing: Pedal laughing

Social Story: “Greeting My Teacher” from Quinn at School: Relating, Connecting, and Responding at School by Rick H. Warren
Quinn at School: Relating, Connecting and Responding - A Book for ...

Closing Song

Craft: Silly sculptures (used pipe cleaners instead of straws)

(Credit: Life with Moore Learning)

Farm Story Time – Sensory Friendly

Opening Song

Book: Spots, Feathers, and Curly Tails by Nancy Tafuri

Shaker Eggs: “I Know a Chicken” – Laurie Berkner: Whaddaya Think of That?

Book: Is Everyone Ready for Fun? by Jan Thomas
Is Everyone Ready for Fun? book cover

Song: “Tap, Tap, Tap” – Cathy Fink and Marcy Marxer: Get Set for School Sing Along

Movement: Learn the yoga poses “cat” and “cow”

Social Story: “Meet Quinn” from Quinn at School: Relating, Connecting, and Responding at School by Rick H. Warren

Closing Song

Craft: Cotton ball sheep

(Credit: Preschool Activities)

Outdoors Story Time – Sensory Friendly

Opening Song

Book: How to Say Hello to a Worm: A First Guide to Outside by Kari Percival

Song: “We Go Outside to Plant Our Seeds” (Tune: “The Farmer in the Dell”)
We go outside to plant our seeds.
We go outside to plant our seeds.
High ho the derry oh,
We go outside to plant our seeds.

Additional verses:
The rain falls on the ground…
The sun shines bright and warm…
The seeds begin to grow…

Book: Let’s Go Outside! by Ben Lerwill, illustrated by Marina Ruiz

Song: “Mat Man” – Cathy Fink and Marcy Marxer: Get Set for School Sing Along

Movement: Learn the yoga pose “reach for the sun”

Social Story: Thank You, Bees by Toni Yuly

Closing Song

Craft: Forest of colored trees on green paper