Sign language: dance

Book: Dancing Feet by Lindsey Craig, illustrated by Marc Brown

Rhyme: Dance your fingers up, dance your fingers down
Dance your fingers to the side, dance them all around
Dance them on your shoulders, dance them on your head
Dance them on your tummy, and put them all to bed

Song: “I Really Love to Dance” – Laurie Berkner: Buzz, Buzz

Book: Doing the Animal Bop by Jan Ormerod, illustrated by Lindsey Gardiner

Song: “Wiggy Wiggles Freeze Dance” – Hap Palmer: Two Little Sounds

Song: “Head to Toe Dance” – The Learning Station: Literacy in Motion

Book: Dancing in my Bones by Sylvia Andrews, illustrated by Ellen Mueller

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

Song: “Dance Around” – Woody and Arlo Guthrie: Woody’s 20 Grow Big Songs

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

Closing rhyme

Craft: Ballerina pictures with cupcake liner tutus – template from thecraftycrow.net

Spring Story Time – Toddler

March 31, 2015March 31, 2015

Opening song

Sign language: spring

Book: Baby Loves Spring by Karen Katz

Flannel: There’s something in my garden

Song: “It is Springtime” – Junior Jukebox: Four Seasons

Book: Rain by Robert Kalan, illustrated by Donald Crews

Song: “It’s raining/Itsy-bitsy spider medley” – Music for Little People: 101 Toddler Favorites

Song: “La Arana Pequenita” – Cantarima: Canciones Tradicionales

Book: Duckie’s Rainbow by Frances Berry

Song (with scarves): “Colors” – Kira Willey: Dance for the Sun

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

Closing rhyme

Craft: Glue worms and flowers and color.

Valentine’s Day Story Time – Toddler

February 10, 2015

Opening song

Sign language: heart

Book: My Heart is Like a Zoo by Michael Hall

Rhyme: Make a heart

I put my hands together, (hands together like praying)
This is how I start
I curve my fingers right around, (curl fingertips)
And I can make a heart!

Book: Where is Baby’s Valentine? by Karen Katz

Song: If You Love Someone (Tune: “If You’re Happy and You Know It”)
If you love someone and you know it clap your hands…
If you love someone and you know it shout hooray…
If you love someone and you know it blow a kiss…

Song: Hearts and Kisses

One little, two little, three little hearts (do sign for heart)
Four little, five little, six little hearts,
Seven little, eight little, nine little hearts,
Ten little hearts and a kiss
(Credit: SurLaLune Storytime)

Book: Kiss, Kiss Good Night by Karen Nesbitt, illustrated by Rebecca Elliott

Rhyme: Different Kinds of Kisses
Grandma kisses (grab cheeks and squeeze)
Fish kisses (purse lips and move them)
Movie star kisses (blow big ones)
Rabbit kisses (wiggle nose)
Dog kisses (stick out your tongue and lick)

Song: “Skinnamarink” – Sharon, Lois and Bram: Sing around the Campfire

Book: Do Crocs Kiss? by Salina Yoon

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

Song: “Monkey Dance” – The Wiggles: Yummy Yummy

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

Closing rhyme

Craft: Love glasses

Slow and Fast Story Time – Toddler

February 3, 2015

Opening song

Sign language: fast, slow

Book: Hi, Harry! by Martin Waddell, illustrated by Barbara Firth

Rhyme: Roly poly, ever so slowly, roly poly, faster, faster, faster (roll arms)

Rhyme: Green says, “Go!” (march quickly)
Go! Go! Go!
Yellow says, “Slow!” (march slowly)
Slow…slow…slow
And red says, “Stop!” (stop and freeze)
Go! Go! Go! (march fast)
Slow…slow…slow (march slowly)
and STOP! (stop)
(Credit: Toddler Storytime)

Book: Slow Snail by Mary Murphy

Rhyme: Garden snail
Slowly, slowly, very slowly, creeps the garden snail. (Move hands down legs)
Slowly, slowly, very slowly, up the wooden rail. (Move hands up legs)
Quickly, quickly, very quickly, runs the little mouse, (Down legs)
Quickly, quickly, very quickly, in his little house. Squeak! (Up legs and body, make ears)

Rhyme: This is big, big, big Hold arms out to side
This is small small small Cup hands together
This is short short short Hold hands with palms facing each other
This is tall tall tall Reach one hand above head
This is fast fast fast Circle fists quickly
This is slow slow slow Circle fists slowly
This is yes yes yes Nod
This is no no no Shake head
(Credit: Mel’s Desk)

Book: Quick Duck by Mary Murphy

Song (with shaky eggs): “Slow and Fast” by Hap Palmer: Rhythms on Parade

Song (with shaky eggs): “Shaky Shaky” by The Wiggles: Yummy Yummy

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

Closing rhyme

Craft: Small paper plate snail with tissue paper squares

Construction Story Time – Toddler

January 27, 2015

Opening Song

Sign language: hammer

Book: Construction by Sally Sutton, illustrated by Brian Lovelock (spoiler alert: they build a library!)

Fingerplay: “Five Little Nails”
Five little nails, standing straight and steady
Here I come with my hammer ready!
Bam, bam, bam! That nail goes down.
Now there are just four nails to pound.
(count down)
(Credit: Mel’s Desk)

Song: The wheels on the truck go round and round (roll hands)
Round and round, round and round
The wheels on the truck go round and round
All through the town

The shovel on the truck goes dig dig dig
The horn on the truck goes honk honk honk

Book: Diggers by Aaron Frisch

Song: “Construction Worker Song”
This is the way we pound our nails, pound our nails, pound our nails
This is the way we pound our nails, so early in the morning
(saw the wood, stack the bricks, stir the paint, paint the walls)
(Credit: Pre-K Fun)

Book: The Construction Crew by Lynn Meltzer, illustrated by Carrie Eko-Burgess

Since we were without an ipod this week, we sang the following songs together:
“Itsy Bitsy Spider”
“ABC Song”
“Bingo”
“Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes”
“Icky Sticky Bubble Gum”

Closing rhyme

Craft: Construction vehicles matching game – cut apart and put in ziplocs so participants could play right away and/or take them along with them

Cat Story Time – Toddler

January 21, 2015

Opening song with cat puppet

Sign language for cat

Book: Kitten’s First Full Moon by Kevin Henkes

Song/poster: Hey, diddle, diddle

Rhyme: Tiptoe Soft by Margaret Hillert
Tiptoe soft as a pussycat
Soft on little cat feet.
Flap your wings like a baby bird.
Open your beak for a treat.
Clomp, clomp, clomp like a big old horse.
Pick up a hoof, and then
Tip, tip tip on the tips of your toes
Soft as a cat again.

Song: “If You’re a Kitty and You Know It”

If you’re a kitty and you know it lick your paws. (pretend to lick paws)

Continue with:
…show your claws (show claws)
…swish your tail (wiggle bottom)
…say “Meow!”

Book: Where is Tippy Toes? by Betsy Lewin

Flannel: The Cat of Many Colors

Song: “I’m a little kitty cat” (Tune: “I’m a little teapot”)
I’m a little kitty cat
Nice and sweet
Here are my whiskers
And here are my feet
When I go out hunting
Mice beware
Or you might just have a scare!
(Source: Jbrary)

Book: Three Little Kittens by Lorianne Siomades

Book: If You’re Happy and You Know It by David Carter

Song (with shaky eggs): “Kitty Cat” – Laura Doherty: Kids in the City

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

Closing rhyme

Craft: Glue paper cat and yarn on “C is for Cat” paper

Good Morning Story Time – Toddler

January 13, 2015

Opening song

Book: Wake Up, Me! by Marnie McGee

Song: “Wake Up Toes” – Joanie Bartels: Morning Magic

Song: “Mr. Sun” – Raffi: The Singable Songs Collection

Book: Ellie’s Breakfast by Sarah Garland

Song: “If You Like Your Eggs Scrambled”
(Tune: “If You’re Happy & 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

If you like your eggs fried, jump up high…
If you want bacon with your eggs, wiggle your legs…

(Source: King County Library System)

Song: “Toes are Tapping” – Kimbo Educational: Toddler Gym

Book: Llama, Llama, Wakey-Wake by Anna Dewdney

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

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

Song: “Monkey Dance” – The Wiggles: Yummy Yummy

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

Closing rhyme

Craft: Suns out of half paper plates with rainbow streamers, inspired by maros-kindergarten.blogspot.gr

Snow Story Time – Toddler

January 6, 2015January 6, 2015

Opening song

Sign language for snow

Book: Olaf’s 1-2-3 by Olga T. Mosqueda, Elena Naggi, and Grace Lee

Flannel: Red mitten
Red mitten, red mitten, what do you see?
I see an orange mitten looking at me.

Orange mitten, orange mitten, what do you see?
I see a yellow mitten looking at me, etc.

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: Under My Hood I Have a Hat by Karla Kuskin, illustrated by Fumi Kosaka

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)

Song: “Snowy Pokey”

You put your right mitten in, You take your right mitten out,
You put your right mitten in and you shake it all about.
You do the Snowy Pokey and you turn yourself around.
That’s what it’s all about!

You put your left mitten in….
You put your right boot in…
You put your hat in…
You put your snowself in…..
(Credit: Sturdy for Common Things)

Book: Snowballs by Lois Ehlert

Fingerplay: I’m a Friendly Snowman

I’m a friendly snowman big and fat (stretch arms out at sides)
Here is my tummy and here is my hat (point to tummy and then top of head)
I’m a happy fellow, here’s my nose (smile and then point to nose)
I’m all snow from my head to my toes (point to head and then to toes)
I have two bright eyes so I can see (point to eyes)
All the snow falling down on me (flutter fingers downward)
When the weather’s cold I’m strong and tall (stand up tall)
But when it’s warm I get very small. (crouch down low)
(Credit: primarysuccess.ca)

Song: “Bodies 1-2-3” – Ellen and Peter Allard: Sing it! Say it! Stamp it! Sway it! vol. 2

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

Closing rhyme

Craft: Tissue paper trees with snowflakes on black paper, inspired by marymaking.blogspot.com and theteacherwife.blogspot.com.au.

Bell Story Time – Toddler

December 9, 2014December 9, 2014

Opening song

Sign language for bell

Book: The Doorbell Rang by Pat Hutchins

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

Book: Good Night, Country by Susan Verlander

Rhyme: “When the Cat Goes Walking”
When the cat goes walking (tiptoe)
Her feet make no sound
But the bell around her neck
warns all the mice around (do the sign for bell)
If they don’t hear the bell,
then mice come out to play (jump and dance)
But when they hear a “ring-a-ling”
then they run away (run in place)

(Source: A Box Full of Tales by Kathy MacMIllan)

Song: “Bodies 1-2-3” – Ellen and Peter Allard: Sing it! Say it! Stamp it! Sway it! vol. 2

Book: Ting-a-ling! by Siobhan Dodds

Song: “There’s a Bell on My Head” (Tune: “There’s a Spider on the Floor”)
There’s a bell on my head, on my head,
There’s a bell on my head, on my head,
Oh, let it be said, there’s a bell on my head,
There’s a bell on my head, on my head.

There’s a bell on my arm…It’s not doing any harm but there’s a bell on my arm,

There’s a bell on my hand…Oh, isn’t it grand, there’s a bell on my hand,

There’s a bell on my leg…Oh, help me, I beg, there’s a bell on my leg,

There’s a bell on my knee…Oh, can’t you see, there’s a bell on my knee,

There’s a bell on my toe…Oh, wouldn’t you know, there’s a bell on my toe,

(Source: A Box Full of Tales by Kathy MacMIllan)

Song: “Frere Jacques” – Music for Little People: Toddler Favorites

Song: “Jingle Bells” – The Wiggles: Wiggly, Wiggly Christmas

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

Closing rhyme

Craft: J and Jingle Bells coloring sheet with foil bells

Pig Story Time – Toddler

November 18, 2014November 19, 2014

Opening song

Sign language for pig

Book: How Big is a Pig? by Claire Beaton

Song: “The Tail of a Pig” (Tune: “The Wheels on the Bus”)

The tail of a pig curls round and round… (circle finger round and round)
All through the mud.

The mouth of a pig goes oink, oink, oink… (put hand in front of mouth like a snout)
All through the mud.

The snout of a pig goes root, root, root…(act with snout and hands like you are rooting through the mud)
All through the mud.

The hooves of a pig go run, run, run… All through the mud.

The ears of a pig go twitch, twitch, twitch… All through the mud.

(Credit: Recipes for Reading blog)

Book: The Long-Nosed Pig by Keith Faulkner, illustrated by Jonathan Lambert

Rhyme: “To Market, To Market”
To market, to market (march slowly in place)
To buy a fat pig.
Home again, home again (hop)
Jiggety jig.
To market, to market (march slowly in place)
To buy a fat hog.
Home again, home again (hop)
Jiggety jog.

Song: “I’m a Little Piggy” (Tune: “I’m a Little Teapot”)
I’m a little piggy
Short and stout
Here are my ears (point to ears)
And here is my snout (point to nose)
When I see the yummy food in my pail (put hand up over eyes like you are looking)
I oink, oink oink (oink!)
and wiggle my tail (wiggle your piggy tails!)

(Credit: Recipes for Reading blog)

Book: Piggy Pie Po (#3) by Audrey and Don Wood

Song: “Old McDonald” (with puppets)

Song: “Pig on her Head” – Laurie Berkner: The Best of the Laurie Berkner Band

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

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

Closing song

Craft: Peppa Pig coloring sheet

Verona Story Time

Story Time Ideas from the Verona Public Library

Category: Toddler Story time

Dance Story Time – Toddler

Spring Story Time – Toddler

Valentine’s Day Story Time – Toddler

Slow and Fast Story Time – Toddler

Construction Story Time – Toddler

Cat Story Time – Toddler

Good Morning Story Time – Toddler

Snow Story Time – Toddler

Bell Story Time – Toddler

Pig Story Time – Toddler