Category: Sensory Friendly Story time

Library Story Time – Sensory Friendly

Opening Song: “These Are My Glasses” – Laurie Berkner: Whaddaya Think of That?

Book: Lola at the Library by Anna McQuinn, illustrated by Rosalind Beardshaw

Song: “If You’re a Reader and You Know It” (Tune: “If You’re Happy and You Know It”)
If you’re a reader and you know it, clap your hands.
If you’re a reader and you know it, clap your hands.
If you’re a reader and you know it, and you really want to show it,
If you’re a reader and you know it, clap your hands.

Repeat with stomp your feet, shout hooray, and do all three.
(Credit: Storytime Katie)

Book: Hooray for Books! by Brian Won

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

Yoga: Tree pose (while pretending to read a book!)

Social Story: Being Responsible by Rebecca Pettiford

Closing Song

Craft: Make your own bookmark with book character stickers

Beach Story Time – Sensory Friendly

Opening Song

Book: Little Houses by Kevin Henkes, illustrated by Laura Dronzek

Song: “The Waves at the Beach” (Tune: “The Wheels on the Bus”)
The waves at the beach go up and down, (raise and lower arms)
Up and down, up and down,
The waves at the beach go up and down
All day long.

Additional verses:
The sun at the beach goes shine, shine, shine… (open and close hands)
The crab at the beach goes pinch, pinch, pinch… (pinch fingers)
The seagulls at the beach go flap, flap, flap… (flap arms)
The children at the beach have fun, fun, fun… (clap hands)
(Credit: Jen in the Library)

Book: A Perfect Day by Sarah S. Brannen

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

Movement: Learn the yoga pose “crab”

Social Story: Hum and Swish by Matt Myers

Closing Song

Craft: Paper plate seagulls

Boat Story Time – Sensory Friendly

Opening Song

Book: Boats on the Bay by Jeanne Walker Harvey, illustrated by Grady McFerrin

Song: “Row, Row, Row Your Boat” – Old Town School of Folk Music: Songs for Wiggleworms

Book: And Then Came Hope by Stephen Savage

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

Movement: Learn the yoga pose “row your boat”

Social Story: We’re All in the Same Boat! by Barney Saltzberg

Closing Song

Craft: Pool noodle boats

Bug Story Time – Sensory Friendly

Opening Song

Book: I Love Bugs! by Philemon Sturges, illustrated by Shari Halpern
love bugs cover image

Song: “Itsy Bitsy Spider” – Old Town School of Folk Music: Songs for Wiggleworms

Book: Firefly Home by Jane Clarke, illustrated by Britta Teckentrup

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

Movement: Learn the yoga pose “butterfly”

Social Story: Try a Bite, Trilobite! by Jonathan Fenske

Closing Song

Craft: Ladybug headbands

Garden Story Time – Sensory Friendly

Opening Song

Book: How to Say Hello to a Worm by Kari Percival

Song: “The Gardener Plants the Seeds” (Tune: “The Farmer in the Dell”)
The gardener digs the soil.
The gardener digs the soil.
Hi-ho, the derry-oh,
The gardener digs the soil. (pretend to dig)

The gardener plants the seeds.
The gardener plants the seeds.
Hi-ho, the derry-oh,
The gardener plants the seeds. (pretend to plant seeds)

Additional verses:
The rain falls on the ground… (flutter fingers down to the ground)
The sun shines bright and warm… (hold hands in a circle overhead)
The seeds/plants begin to grow… (slowly raise hands from ground)
Flowers grow everywhere… (hold hands outstretched)
Fresh vegetables to eat… (pretend to eat)

Book: Flower Garden by Eve Bunting, illustrated by Kathryn Hewitt
Flower Garden book cover

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

Yoga: Flower pose

Social Story: Being Responsible by Rebecca Pettiford

Closing Song

Craft: Cupcake liner flowers