Sign language for fall

Book: Mouse’s First Fall by Lauren Thompson

Song: “Autumn leaves” (Tune: “London Bridge”)
Autumn leaves are in the trees…All over town.
Autumn leaves are falling down…All over town.
Autumn leaves are whirling round…
Everybody rake them up…

Rhyme: Way up high in the apple tree (stretch arms up high)
Two red apples smiled at me (hold up two fingers)
I shook that tree as hard as I could (make a shaking motion)
Down came the apples… (make a downward motion)
And mmm, they were good! (smile and rub stomach)

Book: Welcome Fall by Jill Ackerman, illustrated by Nancy David

Flannel: Five Red Apples (I used names of kids in the storytime)
Five red apples in a grocery store
Bobby brought one home and then there were four.
Four red apples on an apple tree
Susie ate one, and then there were three.
Three red apples. What did Alice do?
Why, she ate one, and then there were two.
Two red apples ripening in the sun.
Timmy ate one and then there was one.
One red apple and now we are done
I ate the last one and now there are none!

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

Book: Duck and Goose Find a Pumpkin by Tad Hills

Song: “Pumpkin, Pumpkin” (Tune: “Twinkle, twinkle”)
Pumpkin, pumpkin on the ground, (touch the ground)
How’d you get so big and round? (make a big circle)
Once you were a seed so small, (pinch fingers together)
Now you are a great big ball! (make a big circle)
Pumpkin, pumpkin on the ground, (touch the ground)
How’d you get so big and round? (make a big circle)
(Credit: Step by Step Childcare)

Song: “Pig on Her Head” (alternate version) – Laurie Berkner: The Best of the Laurie Berkner Band

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

Song: “Walking, Walking” – Old Town School of Folk Music: Songs for Wiggleworms

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

Closing rhyme

Craft: Pumpkin shape cut out of paper, with different orange strips of paper glued to the back (inspired by mermagblog.com)

Pet Story Time – Toddler

September 16, 2014

Opening song

Sign language for bunny

Book: Lift-the-flap Pets by Sarah Khan, photographs by Jane Burton

Rhyme: I went to the pet store (with puppets)

I went to the pet store and made a special wish.
The pet that I wanted was a very special (fish)!

I went to the pet store, I went there at a jog,
To get a pet with a wagging tail, it was a little (dog)!

I went to the pet store, it had become a habit.
The pet I wanted now was a soft, fluffy (rabbit)!

I went to the pet store, I’m sure this sounds absurd,
But the pet I wanted was a colorful flying (bird)!

I went to the pet store, it was no mistake.
What I really wanted now was a hissing green (snake)!

(Credit: A Box Full of Tales by Kathy MacMillan)

Song: “The Hands are for Clapping” – Jim Gill: Jim Gill Sings the Sneezing Song and Other Contagious Tunes

Book: That Pup! by Lindsay Barret George

Flannelboard: Dog houses (credit: Mel’s Desk)
Little dog, little dog, are you in the green house? Is this the green house? No, this is the red house. No, little dog, you are not in the red house, etc.

Song: “BINGO” – Pamela Conn Beall: We Sing Animals, Animals, Animals

Book: I Spy Pets by Edward Gibbs

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

If you’re a cat and you know it say meow, meow.
If you’re a cat and you know it say meow, meow.
If you’re a cat and you know it and you really want to show it
If you’re a cat and you know it say meow.

If you’re a cat and you know it lick your paws…
If you’re a cat and you know it purr like this…
If you’re a cat and you know it pounce like this…

(Source: Storytime Magic by Kathy MacMillan)

Song: Sleeping bunnies (ukulele)

See the little bunnies sleeping till it’s nearly noon
Come and let us gently wake them with a merry tune
Oh how still, are they ill, wake up soon
Hop little bunnies, hop, hop, hop

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

Closing rhyme

Craft: Pet turtles (idea from spitupisthenewblack.com)

Special guest: Midnight the bunny

Senses Story Time – Toddler

July 24, 2014October 19, 2014

Opening song

Sign language for touch and smell.

Rhyme: “Open, Shut Them”
Open, shut them
Open, shut them
Give a little clap, clap, clap!
Open, shut them
Open, shut them
Put them in your lap, lap, lap
Creep them, creep them
Creep them, creep them
Way up to your chin
Open up your little mouth,
But do not let them in!

Book: Cold, Crunchy, Colorful by Jane Brocket

Song: “The Sensey Pokey”
You put your seeing eyes in, you put your seeing eyes out,
You put your seeing eyes in and you shake them all about
You do the Sensey Pokey and you turn yourself around
That’s what it’s all about

(Sniffing nose, Hearing ears, Touching hands, Tasting tongue)

(Credit: Storytime Hooligans)

Rhyme: “A Nose”
A nose breathes in
A nose breathes out
A nose can smell and wiggle about.
A nose can blow
A nose can sneeze
Achoo! That’s what noses can do!

“For this next book, we’re going to see what our eyes can do with a little game of ‘I Spy.’ Do you think you can help me figure out what all the animals are?”

Book: I Spy Under the Sea by Edward Gibbs

Song: “Shake Your Sillies Out” – The Wiggles: Yummy Yummy

“Can you find your head? Your shoulders? Your knees? And your toes? We’re also going to find some of our sensing parts for this next song. Let’s sing it together!”

Song: “Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes”

“What kinds of sounds did you hear this morning? Birds singing? Dogs barking? Cars going by on the street? We’re going to read a book about the different things that Polar Bear hears. Feel free to read along if you know the words!”

Book: Polar Bear, Polar Bear, What Do You Hear? by Bill Martin Jr., illustrated by Eric Carle

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

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

Craft: Mr. Potato Head paper craft

Water Story Time- Toddler

June 27, 2014June 27, 2014

Welcome song: “We Clap and Sing Hello” (Tune: Farmer in the Dell)

Sign: “Water”

STEM Activity: Sink or Float?

With a small tub of water and several items to put in the water, make predictions of which items will float and which will sink (rubber ducks, paper clips, clothespins, washers, popsicle sticks, etc.)

Song: “Row, Row, Row Your Boat”

Row, row, row your boat
Gently down the stream
Merrily, merrily, merrily, merrily
Life is but a dream.

Rock, rock, rock your boat
Gently down the stream
If you see a crocodile
Don’t forget to scream! (Aahhh!)

Row, row, row your boat
Gently to the shore
If you see a lion there
Don’t forget to roar! (Roar!)

Book: Splash! by Flora McDonnell

Song: “It’s Raining, it’s Pouring/The Itsy Bitsy Spider Medley”

Rhyme: “Rain is Falling Down”

Rain is falling down, splash!
Rain is falling down, splash!
Pitter, patter, pitter, patter,
Rain is falling down, splash!

Sun is peeking out, peek-a-boo!
Sun is peeking out, peek-a-boo!
Peeking here, peeking there,
Sun is peeking out, peek-a-boo!

Book: Storm Song by Nancy Viau

Song: “All the Fish are Swimming in the Water”

All the fish are swimming in the water (swimming motions with arms)
Swimming in the water
Swimming in the water
All the fish are swimming in the water
Bubble, bubble, bubble, bubble…SPLASH! (waggle fingers up and clap above head)

All the ducks are quacking in the water (doggy paddle motion with hands)
All the frogs are jumping in the water (jump with both feet)
All the children are splashing in the water (splash hands in the air)

Book: Hooray for Fish! by Lucy Cousins

Song: “The Fish in the Sea” (Tune: The Wheels on the Bus)

The fish in the sea go swish, swish, swish, (put hands together like a fin and swim along!)
Swish, swish, swish,
Swish, swish, swish,
The fish in the sea go swish, swish, swish,
All day long!

The lobsters…pinch, pinch, pinch (Make pinching motions with fingers)
The sharks…chomp, chomp, chomp (Chomp with your arms)
The stingray…flap, flap, flap (Move arms in slow, flying motions)
The crabs…skit, skat, skit (Run in place)
The octopus…wiggle, wiggle, wiggle (Wiggle your body and arms)
The clams…open and shut (Two hands together to make a clam)

Closing Song: “Icky Sticky Bubble Gum”- David Landau

Craft: Rainbow coffee filter art

Use markers to draw on coffee filters and spray with water when finished for a color-mixing effect. Patrons took them home in plastic bags to dry.

Earth Day Story Time – Toddler

April 22, 2014

Opening song

Sign language for earth

Book: The Earth and I by Frank Asch

Song/Flannel: “The Green Grass Grew All Around”

Song: “Shakin’ Like a Leafy Tree” – The Wiggles: Racing to the Rainbow

Book: Ten Things I Can Do to Help my World by Melanie Walsh

Song: (Tune: “Mulberry Bush”)

This is the way we pick up trash,
pick up trash, pick up trash.
This is the way we pick up trash
To help our Mother Earth.

This is the way we turn off the light,
we turn off the light, we turn off the light,
This is the way we turn off the light,
To help our Mother Earth.

This is the way we plant a seed,
plant a seed, plant a seed,
This is the way we plant a seed,
To help our Mother Earth.

Book: Counting in the Garden by Kim Parker

Song: “Clap your Hands” – Old Town School of Folk Music: Wiggleworms Love You

Song: “Reach for the Ceiling” – Toddlers on Parade

Song: “Shake Your Sillies Out” – The Wiggles: Yummy Yummy

Song: “Jumping and Counting” – Jim Gill: Jim Gill’s Irrational Anthem

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

Closing rhyme

Craft: Earth coloring page with glued-on die-cut handprints

Teeth Story Time – Toddler

April 15, 2014

Opening song

Sign language for brush your teeth.

Book: Does a Lion Brush? by Fred Ehrlich, illustrated by Emily Bolam

Song: “Brush your Teeth” – Raffi: Singable Songs for the Very Young

Song: “My Dentist” (Tune: “Frere Jacques” – done as an Echo song)
My Dentist, repeat
Always tells me, repeat
Brush your teeth, repeat
Twice a day. Repeat
(Source: Storytimes at the Library blog)

(Explain dentist. Who has been there?)

Book: Maisy, Charley and the Wobbly Tooth by Lucy Cousins

Song: “Shake Your Sillies Out” – The Wiggles: Yummy Yummy

Song: “Roll your Hands” – Toddlers on Parade

Song: “Reach for the Ceiling” – Toddlers on Parade

Book: Pony Brushes His Teeth by Michael Dahl, illustrated by Oriol Vidal

Song: “Clap your Hands” – Old Town School of Folk Music: Wiggleworms Love You

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

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

Closing rhyme

Craft: “T is for Toothbrush” with puffy blue paint (made with shaving cream, glue, neon blue food coloring and peppermint extract) (Source: Miss Meg’s Storytime)

Bunny Story Time – Toddler

April 8, 2014

Opening song with bunny puppet

Sign language for bunny

Book: The Little Rabbit Who Liked to Say MOO by Jonathan Allen

Song: “Did You Ever See a Bunny?” – Junior Jukebox: Four Seasons

Book: What Does Bunny See? by Linda Sue Park, illustrated by Maggie Smith

Rhyme: Here is a bunny (Make fist with two fingers up straight.)
With his ears so funny.
Here is his hole (Circle fingers and thumb of other hand.)
In the ground.
When a noise he hears, (Rotate rabbit as if hearing noise.)
He pricks up his ears,
And jumps in his hole (Jump rabbit ears into hole.)
In the ground.

Song: Sleeping bunnies (with ukulele)
See the little bunnies sleeping till it’s nearly noon (pretend to sleep)
Come and let us gently wake them with a merry tune
Oh how still, are they ill, wake up soon
Hop little bunnies, hop, hop, hop (hop around)

Book: Little White Rabbit by Kevin Henkes

Song: “Little Bunny” (Tune: “Twinkle, twinkle”)
Little bunny turn around
Little bunny touch the ground
Little bunny wiggle your nose
Little bunny touch your toes
Little bunny rest your head
Little bunny jump in bed

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

Song: “Roll your Hands” – Toddlers on Parade

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

Closing song

Craft: Bunny masks with paper plates (source: Bethany Vangrin/pinterest)

Love Story Time – Toddler

February 11, 2014March 14, 2015

Opening song

Sign language for heart

Book: Time for a Hug by Phillis Gershator and Mim Green, illustrated by David Walker

Flannel: Valentine Hearts
Valentines, valentines, how many do I see?
Valentines, valentines, count them with me.
I have a red one, orange one, yellow one too.
I have a green one, purple one, and one that is blue.
I have a pink one, brown one, and one that is white.
And one last valentine as black as the night.
Valentines, valentines, how many do I see?
Valentines, valentines, count them with me.
1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9-10.

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

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!

Song: Hearts and Kisses (using sign for heart)

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

Book: Be Mine, Be Mine, Sweet Valentine by Sarah Weeks, illustrated by Fumi Kosaka

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: “Monkey Dance” – The Wiggles: Yummy Yummy

Song: “I Like to Hop” – Brian Vogan & His Good Buddies: Born to Wiggle

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

Closing rhyme

Craft: Heart tree with phrase “All things grow with love”

Jump and Bounce Story Time – Toddler

February 4, 2014February 14, 2014

Opening song

Sign language for jump

Book: Bouncing Time by Patricia Hubbbell, illustrated by Melissa Sweet

Song: Five Green and Speckled Frogs (with plush frogs on a log)

Song: Five Little Monkeys – Sharon, Lois, and Bram

Flannelboard chant: “Ten Little Grasshoppers”

One little, two little, three little grasshoppers,
Four little, five little, six little grasshoppers,
Seven little, eight little, nine little grasshoppers,
Ten grasshoppers in my yard.

Grasshoppers, grasshoppers, hopping all around me (slap thighs to rhythm)
Grasshoppers, grasshoppers, hopping all around me,
Grasshoppers, grasshoppers, hopping all around me,
Ten grasshoppers in my yard.

Ten little, nine little, eight little grasshoppers,
Seven little, six little, five little grasshoppers,
Four little, three little, two little grasshoppers,
One grasshopper in my yard.

Grasshopper, grasshopper, hopping all around me,
Grasshopper, grasshopper, hopping all around me,
Grasshopper, grasshopper, hopping all around me,
One grasshopper in my yard.

(credit: 2008 CSLP Manual)

Song: “If You’re Hoppy and You Know It”

If you’re hoppy and you know it give a jump,
If you’re hoppy and you know it give a jump,
If you’re hoppy and you know it then you really want to show it,
If you’re hoppy and you know it give a jump.
(Credit: Miss Sarah’s Storytime)

Book: Hop, Hop, Jump! by Lauren Thompson, illustrated by Jarrett Krosoczka

Rhyme: Kangaroo Brown
Jump! Jump! Kangaroo Brown
Jump! Jump! Off to town
Jump! Jump! Up and down
Jump! Jump! Kangaroo Brown
(Continue with Hop!.. Leap!…)

Song: “I Like to Hop” – Brian Vogan & His Good Buddies: Born to Wiggle

Song: “Jumping and Counting” – Jim Gill: Jim Gill’s Irrational Anthem

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

Closing rhyme

Activity: Balls and bouncers in community room

Polar Animals Story Time – Toddler

January 29, 2014January 29, 2014

Opening song

Sign language for penguin

Book: If You Were a Penguin by Wendell Minor and Florence Friedmann Minor

Song: If You’re a Penguin and You Know It (Tune: “If You’re Happy and You Know It”)
If you’re a penguin and you know it flap your wings,
If you’re a penguin and you know it flap your wings,
If you’re a penguin and you knot it, then your face will surely show it,
If you’re a penguin and you know it flap your wings,
…stomp your feet
…waddle around.

Book: Penguins, Penguins Everywhere! by Bob Barner