Category: Toddler Story time

Cats and Dogs Story Time – Toddler

Opening Song

Book: Kitten’s First Full Moon by Kevin Henkes
Kitten's First Full Moon book cover

Song: “Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes”
Head, shoulders, knees and toes, knees and toes,
Head, shoulders, knees and toes, knees and toes,
Eyes and ears and mouth and nose,
Head, shoulders, knees and toes, knees and toes.

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

Puppets: “Old MacDonald Had a Farm”

Book: One Two That’s My Shoe! by Alison Murray

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)

Flannel: “Bingo”
There was a farmer had a dog,
And Bingo was his name-o!
B-I-N-G-O, B-I-N-G-O, B-I-N-G-O,
And Bingo was his name-o!

Scarf Song: “Four Corners”
My scarf has four corners,
Four corners has my scarf.
And if there weren’t four corners,
It would not be my…scarf.

Additional verses:
My hat…
My blanket…
My cape…
My pillow…

Scarf Song: “We Wave Our Scarves Together”
We wave our scarves together,
We wave our scarves together,
We wave our scarves together
Because it’s fun to do.

Wave them up high,
Wave them down low,
Wave them in the middle
Because it’s fun to do.
(Credit: Jbrary)

Scarf Song: “Popcorn Kernels”
Popcorn kernels (wave scarves overhead)
In the pot. (make their scarves ‘disappear’ by bunching them up in their fists)
Shake them, shake them, shake them (shake fists)
‘Til they POP! (toss scarves up into the air)

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

Closing Rhyme

Dinosaur Story Time – Toddler

Opening Song

Book: The Dinos on the Bus by Peter Millett, illustrated by Tony Neal

Rhyme: “Dinosaur, Dinosaur”
Dinosaur, dinosaur, turn around!
Dinosaur, dinosaur, stomp the ground!
Dinosaur, dinosaur, make some claws!
Dinosaur, dinosaur, roar!
Dinosaur, dinosaur, big and tall!
Dinosaur, dinosaur, scary and small!
Dinosaur, dinosaur, shake the ground!
Dinosaur, dinosaur, sit back down!

Song: “The Wheels on the Bus”

Book: How Do Dinosaurs Say Good Night? by Jane Yolen, illustrated by Mark Teague

Song: “5 Little Dinosaurs Jumping on the Bed”

Song: “Roly Poly” (Tune: “Frère Jacques”)
Roly poly, roly poly
Up, up, up
up, up, up
Roly roly poly
roly roly poly
down, down, down
down, down, down

Repeat with: out/in, fast/slow
(Credit: Jbrary)

Book: Shape by Shape by Suse MacDonald

Puppet Song: “3 Dinosaurs”
One dinosaur went out to play
On a bright and sunny day.
He had such enormous fun
That he called another dinosaur to come.
(call very loud) DI-NO-SAUR!
(Then chant while patting hands on laps) Thump! Thump!

Additional verses:
2 dinosaurs…
3 dinosaurs…

End with these lines:
Instead they heard their mother,
And she was calling, “DINNER!”
And they all went home for dinner!

Shaker Eggs: “If You’re Happy and You Know It”
Verses: Give a shake, give a tap, clap your hands

Shaker Eggs: “Shake Your Shakers” (Tune: “The Wheels on the Bus”)
Shake your shakers, shake, shake, shake,
Shake, shake, shake, shake, shake shake.
Shake your shakers, shake, shake, shake,
Shake your shakers.

Additional verses:
Shake your shakers high, high, high
Shake your shakers low, low, low
Shake your shakers fast, fast, fast
Shake your shakers slow, slow, slow

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

Closing Rhyme

Counting Story Time – Toddler

Opening Song

Book: One-osaurus, Two-osaurus by Kim Norman, illustrated by Pierre Collet-Derby

Song: “Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes”
Head, shoulders, knees and toes, knees and toes,
Head, shoulders, knees and toes, knees and toes,
Eyes and ears and mouth and nose,
Head, shoulders, knees and toes, knees and toes.

Song: “The Wheels on the Bus”

Book: Five Little Chicks by Nancy Tafuri

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)

Song: “Zoom, Zoom, Zoom”
Zoom, zoom, zoom,
We’re going to the moon.
Zoom, zoom, zoom,
We’re going to the moon.
If you want to take a trip
climb aboard my rocket ship.
Zoom, zoom, zoom,
We’re going to the moon.
In 5, 4, 3, 2, 1,
Blast off!
(Credit: Jbrary)

Flannel: “Five Elephants in the Bathtub”
One elephant in the bathtub,
Going for a swim.
Knock, knock, (clap twice)
Splash, splash, (slap knees twice)
Come on in! (motion with both hands to come in)

Repeat for 2, 3, and 4 elephants.

Five elephants in the bathtub,
Going for a swim.
Knock, knock, (clap twice)
Splash, splash, (slap knees twice)
It all fell in! (knock the felt pieces down)

Shaker Eggs: “If You’re Happy and You Know It”
Verses: Give a shake, give a tap, clap your hands

Shaker Eggs: “Shake Your Shakers” (Tune: “The Wheels on the Bus”)
Shake your shakers, shake, shake, shake,
Shake, shake, shake, shake, shake shake.
Shake your shakers, shake, shake, shake,
Shake your shakers.

Additional verses:
Shake your shakers high, high, high
Shake your shakers low, low, low
Shake your shakers fast, fast, fast
Shake your shakers slow, slow, slow

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

Closing Rhyme

Birds Story Time – Toddler

Opening Song

Book: Silly Little Goose! by Nancy Tafuri

Song: “The Wheels on the Bus”

Rhyme: “Fly Your Fingers”
Fly your fingers up,
Fly your fingers down!
Fly your fingers to the side,
And fly them all around!
Perch them on your shoulders,
Perch them on your head!
Perch them on your belly,
Then put them all to bed!

Book: Early Bird by Toni Yuly

Song: “Zoom, Zoom, Zoom”
Zoom, zoom, zoom,
We’re going to the moon.
Zoom, zoom, zoom,
We’re going to the moon.
If you want to take a trip
climb aboard my rocket ship.
Zoom, zoom, zoom,
We’re going to the moon.
In 5, 4, 3, 2, 1,
Blast off!
(Credit: Jbrary)

Song: “Roly Poly” (Tune: “Frère Jacques”)
Roly poly, roly poly
Up, up, up
up, up, up
Roly roly poly
roly roly poly
down, down, down
down, down, down

Roly poly, roly poly
out, out, out
out, out, out
Roly roly poly
roly roly poly
in, in, in
in, in, in

Roly poly, roly poly
fast, fast, fast
fast, fast, fast
Roly roly poly
roly roly poly
slow, slow, slow
slow, slow, slow
(Credit: Jbrary)

Flannel: “Five Little Ducks”
Five little ducks went out one day,
Over the hills and far away,
Mother duck called, “Quack, quack, quack, quack,”
But only four little ducks came back.

Repeat with four, three, two, one, and no little ducks.

Scarf Song: “This is the Way”
This is the way we wash our arms,
Wash our arms, wash our arms.
This is the way we wash our arms
When we’re in the bathtub.

Scarf Song: “We Wave Our Scarves Together”
We wave our scarves together,
We wave our scarves together,
We wave our scarves together
Because it’s fun to do.

Wave them up high,
Wave them down low,
Wave them in the middle
Because it’s fun to do.
(Credit: Jbrary)

Scarf Song: “Popcorn Kernels”
Popcorn kernels (wave scarves overhead)
In the pot. (make their scarves ‘disappear’ by bunching them up in their fists)
Shake them, shake them, shake them (shake fists)
‘Til they POP! (toss scarves up into the air)

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

Closing Rhyme

Messy & Clean Story Time – Toddler

Opening Song

Book: Trashy Town by Andrea Zimmerman and David Clemesha, illustrated by Dan Yaccarino

Song: “Roly Poly” (Tune: “Are You Sleeping?”)
Roly poly, roly poly
Up, up, up
up, up, up
Roly roly poly
roly roly poly
down, down, down
down, down, down

Roly poly, roly poly
out, out, out
out, out, out
Roly roly poly
roly roly poly
in, in, in
in, in, in

Roly poly, roly poly
fast, fast, fast
fast, fast, fast
Roly roly poly
roly roly poly
slow, slow, slow
slow, slow, slow
(Credit: Jbrary)

Song: “The Wheels on the Bus”

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

Song: “Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes”
Head, shoulders, knees and toes, knees and toes,
Head, shoulders, knees and toes, knees and toes,
Eyes and ears and mouth and nose,
Head, shoulders, knees and toes, knees and toes.

Song: “This is Big”
This is big big big (hold arms out to the side)
This is small small small (cup hands together)
This is short short short (hold hands close 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)

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)

Scarf Song: “This is the Way”
This is the way we wash our arms,
Wash our arms, wash our arms.
This is the way we wash our arms
When we’re in the bathtub.

Scarf Song: “We Wave Our Scarves Together”
We wave our scarves together,
We wave our scarves together,
We wave our scarves together,
because it’s fun to do.

Wave them up high,
Wave them down low,
Wave them in the middle,
Because it’s fun to do.
(Credit: Jbrary)

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

Closing Rhyme

Winter Story Time – Toddler

Opening Song

Book: A Hat for Minerva Louise by Janet Morgan Stoeke

Song: “Roly Poly” (Tune: “Are You Sleeping?”)
Roly poly, roly poly
Up, up, up
up, up, up
Roly roly poly
roly roly poly
down, down, down
down, down, down

Roly poly, roly poly
out, out, out
out, out, out
Roly roly poly
roly roly poly
in, in, in
in, in, in

Roly poly, roly poly
fast, fast, fast
fast, fast, fast
Roly roly poly
roly roly poly
slow, slow, slow
slow, slow, slow
(Credit: Jbrary)

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

Book: Snow by Manya Stojic

Song: “Boots, Parka, Scarf and Hat” (Tune: “Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes”)
Boots, parka, scarf and hat, scarf and hat.
Boots, parka, scarf and hat, scarf and hat.
In wintertime we dress like that!
Boots, parka, scarf and hat, scarf and hat.
(Credit: Mel’s Desk)

Song: “The Wheels on the Bus”

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

Song: “Little Blue Sled” (Tune: “Little Red Wagon”)
Bumpin’ up and down in my little blue sled,
Bumpin’ up and down in my little blue sled,
Bumpin’ up and down in my little blue sled,
Won’t you be my darlin’?

Additional verses:
Snow’s coming down on my little blue sled…
Waving to my friends on my little blue sled…

Song: “You’ll Wave Your Scarf”
You’ll wave your scarf and I’ll wave my scarf.
We’ll wave our scarves together.
You’ll wave your scarf and I’ll wave my scarf,
In warm or wintry weather.

Additional verses:
You’ll throw your scarf…
You’ll twirl with your scarf…
You’ll shake your scarf…

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

Closing Rhyme

Train Story Time – Toddler

Opening Song

Book: I Like Trains by Daisy Hirst

Song: “On the Railroad Train” (Tune: “The Wheels on the Bus”)
The conductor on the train says, “All aboard!” (motion to “Come on in!”)
“All aboard! All aboard!”
The conductor on the train says, “All aboard!”
On the railroad train.

Additional verses:
The freight worker says, “Load ’em up!” (move arms from low to high)
The brakeman says, “Hitch up those cars!” (link both hands in front of you)
The engine on the train goes chugga-chugga-choo (make a circular chugging motion)
The wheels on the train go clickity-clack (clap hands)
The whistle on the train goes “Whoo-whoo-whoo!” (pretend to pull a train whistle)

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

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

Song: “Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes”
Head, shoulders, knees and toes, knees and toes,
Head, shoulders, knees and toes, knees and toes,
Eyes and ears and mouth and nose,
Head, shoulders, knees and toes, knees and toes.

Book: Chugga Chugga Choo Choo by Emma Garcia

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

Closing Rhyme

Thanksgiving Story Time – Toddler

Opening Song

Book: Thanks for Thanksgiving by Julie Markes, illustrated by Doris Barrette

Flannel: “Five Little Kernels”
(Put up the five kernel shapes on the board, as spread out as you can. When you say “POP!” slap a white popcorn shape right on top of one of the kernels.)
Five little kernels sizzling in the pot.
All of a sudden, one went POP!

Repeat, counting down until all the kernels have popped.
(Credit: Mel’s Desk)

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

Additional verses:
If you’re thankful and you know it, stomp your feet…
If you’re thankful and you know it, shout “I am!”…
If you’re thankful and you know it, do all three…

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

Flannel: “Four Pieces of Pie”
One whole pie
Set by the door,
Cut into four pieces,
I count…four.

Four pieces of pie,
All for me!
NomNomNomNomNom
I ate one piece
Now there are…three.
NomNomNomNomNom
[Gasp], Cat ate a piece!
Now there are…two.

Two pieces of pie,
All for me!
[“Squeak, sharing is fun!”] (mouse)
NomNomNomNomNom
[Gasp], Mouse ate a piece!
Now there is…one.

One piece of pie,
All for me!
[“Hurry, scurry, you’re my hero!”] (ant)
NomNomNomNomNom
[Gasp], Ant ate a piece!
Now there’s…zero.
My pie’s all gone.

Song: “Hot Potato” – The Wiggles: Yummy Yummy

Book: Theo’s Thanksgiving by David Steinberg, illustrated by Julia Woolf

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

Closing Rhyme

Cat Story Time – Toddler

Opening Song

Book: Pete the Cat and His Four Groovy Buttons by Eric Litwin, illustrated by James Dean
pete the cat and his four groovy buttons

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)
Say “Meow!”

Book: Cat Nap by Toni Yuly
cat nap book cover

Song: “When Cats Get Up” – Old Town School of Folk Music: Wiggleworms Love You

Song: “These Are My Glasses” – Laurie Berkner: Whaddaya Think of That?
These are my glasses, this is my book.
I put on my glasses and open up the book.
Now I read, read, read,
And I look, look, look.
I put down my glasses and
Whoop! Close up the book!

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!
(Credit: Jbrary)

Pop-up Book: If You’re Happy and You Know It by David A. Carter
if youre happy

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

Closing Rhyme

Pumpkins Story Time – Toddler

Opening Song

Book: Piggies in the Pumpkin Patch by Mary Peterson, illustrated by Jennifer Rofé
piggies-in-the-pumpkin patch cover image

Puppet Song: “Old MacDonald” (use pig, dog, and cow puppets)

Book: Plumply, Dumply Pumpkin by Mary Serfozo, illustrated by Valeria Petrone

Song: “Have You Ever Seen a Pumpkin?” (Tune: “Have You Ever Seen a Lassie?”)
Have you ever seen a pumpkin, a pumpkin, a pumpkin? (show pumpkin)
Have you ever seen a pumpkin that grows on a vine? (show pumpkin, twirl finger like vine)
Short ones and tall ones and big ones and small ones. (hold hand down low, up higher, hold arms in big circle, hands in small circle)
Have you ever seen a pumpkin that grows on a vine? (show pumpkin, twirl finger like vine)
(Credit: Adventures in Storytime)

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

Book: Pete the Cat: Five Little Pumpkins by James Dean or I See Fall by Charles Ghigna, illustrated by A.G. Jatkowska

Rhyme: “Pumpkin Chant”
Pumpkin, pumpkin, (on first pumpkin, pat hands on thighs, then clap twice on second pumpkin)
Pumpkin bread! (on pumpkin, pat hands on thighs, then hold hands flat in front with one palm lying on top of the other)
Pumpkin, pumpkin,
Pumpkin head! (put hands on head)
Pumpkin, pumpkin,
Pumpkin pie! (hold hands in a big circle)
Pumpkin, pumpkin,
Pumpkin eye! (curve hands around eyes)
Pumpkin, pumpkin,
Pumpkin cake! (hold hands flat, one palm up, one palm down five inches above the other)
Pumpkin, pumpkin,
Pumpkin shake! (hold fists up close to ears and shake hard)
Pumpkin, pumpkin,
Pumpkin stew! (pretend to stir stew)
Pumpkin, pumpkin,
Pumpkin BOO!
(Credit: Jbrary)

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

Closing Rhyme