Fall Story Time – Toddler

Opening song

Sign language for fall

Book: Mouse’s First Fall by Lauren Thompson

mouses first fall

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

0-545-09917-X

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

duck and goose find a pumpkin

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)

pumpkin

 

 

Homes Story Time – Preschool

Opening song

Book: The Napping House by Audrey Wood, illustrated by Don Wood

napping house

Action Rhyme: “Homes”
Here is a house for a robin (hold hands open)
Here is a hive for a bee (close hands together)
Here is a hole for a bunny (make a circle with hands)
Here is a home for me (point around)

Book: Too Tall Houses by Gianna Marino

too tall houses

Fingerplay: “Here is a House”
Here is a house built up high (hands over head to make a roof)
With two big chimneys reaching for the sky (raise arms up high)
Here is a window (draw a square)
Here is a door (pretend to open a door)
If we look inside (peek through fingers)
There’s a mouse on the floor! (scamper fingers away)

Flannel Board Story: The Three Little Pigs

3 pigs flannel

Book: The Big Orange Splot by Daniel Pinkwater

big orange splot

Craft: Paper bag houses

Socks and Shoes Story Time – Preschool

Opening song

Book: The Foot Book by Dr. Seuss

foot book

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

pete the cat i love my white shoes

Fingerplay: “Shoes” (start with hands close together and move them farther apart with each pair) Baby’s shoes, Child’s shoes, Mother’s shoes, Father’s shoes, GIANT SHOES
(Modified from: Youth Literature)

Action Rhyme: “Old Shoes, New Shoes”
Old shoes, new shoes
(Child) is wearing (description) shoes
One, two, three, four
Now I stomp them on the floor!
(Credit: Preschool Education)

Book: Have You Seen My New Blue Socks? by Eve Bunting, illustrated by Sergio Ruzzier

have you seen my new blue socks

Craft: Coloring sheet – Pete the Cat (http://www.heidisongs.com/Free_Downloads/assets/Pete_the_Cat-Color_Words.pdf)

Train Story Time – Baby

Opening song

Sign language for train

Book: A Train Goes Clickety-Clack by Jonathan London

train goes clickety-clack

Song: “The Train Wheels are Rolling” (roll hands during chorus) – Kathy Reid-Naiman: Say Hello to the Morning

Rhyme: Icky bicky soda cracker (bounce)
Icky bicky boo
Icky bicky soda cracker
Up goes you! (lift baby)

Rhyme: X marks the spot (draw on baby’s back)
Dot, dot, dot,
Up and down, around and around,
Oooooh! (tickle)

Rhyme: This Little Train
This little train ran up the track (run your fingers up arm)
toot, toot, toot (make train whistle sound)
And then it came toot-tooting back (run fingers down arm)
Toot, toot, toot
(Credit: earlylit.net)

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

Rhyme: Let’s go riding in an elevator
First floor, second floor, third floor, fourth floor (slowly lift baby)
Down (bring baby back down)

Book (choral): Freight Train by Donald Crews

Song: “Can You Shake Your Egg With Me?” (Tune: “London Bridge”)
Can you shake your egg with me,
Shake your egg along with me
It’s as easy as can be
Now put it on your knee!
(Repeat with head, tummy, etc.)
From Nancy Stewart; see nancymusic.com .

Song (shaky eggs): “Train Song” – Bari Koral: Anna and the Cupcakes

anna and the cupcakes

Closing rhyme

Leslie Patricelli Story Time – Baby

Opening song

Sign language for big, little

Book: Big, Little by Leslie Patricelli

big little

Song: “Little Red Wagon” – Old Town School of Folk Music: Wiggleworms Love You

Rhyme: Icky bicky soda cracker (bounce)
Icky bicky boo
Icky bicky soda cracker
Up goes you! (lift baby)

Rhyme: X marks the spot (draw on baby’s back)
Dot, dot, dot,
Up and down, around and around,
Oooooh! (tickle)

Book: Yummy, Yucky by Leslie Patricelli

yummy yucky

Song: “Roll your Hands” – Toddlers on Parade

Song: Did you ever see a baby, a baby, a baby?
Did you ever see a baby go this way and that? (lean side to side)
Go this way and that way and this way and that way (lean front to back, side to side)
Did you ever see a baby go this way and that? (lean front to back)

Rhyme: Let’s go riding in an elevator
First floor, second floor, third floor, fourth floor (slowly lift baby)
Down (bring baby back down)

Book (choral): Tubby by Leslie Patricelli

tubby

Song: “Can You Shake Your Egg With Me?” (Tune: “London Bridge”)
Can you shake your egg with me,
Shake your egg along with me
It’s as easy as can be
Now put it on your knee!
(Repeat with head, tummy, etc.)
(From Nancy Stewart; see nancymusic.com)

Song (shaky eggs): “Bubble Bath” – Joanie Bartels: Bathtime Magic

Closing rhyme

Pet Story Time – Toddler

Opening song

Sign language for bunny

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

lift the flap pets

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

that pup

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.

little dog

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

Book: I Spy Pets by Edward Gibbs

i spy pets

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)

pet turtle

Special guest: Midnight the bunny

midnight

 

 

Bear Story Time – Baby

Opening song with bear puppet

Rhyme: My Bear (using a bear puppet)
My bear is looking all around.
My bear is sniffing at the ground.
My bear is looking at my toes.
My bear can kiss me on the nose.
My bear can whisper in my ear.
What’s he saying? Can you hear?
My bear can hide behind me,
But wherever I go, my bear can surely find me.

Sign language for bear

Book: Mama’s Little Bears by Nancy Tafuri

mamas little bears

Rhyme: Icky bicky soda cracker (bounce)
Icky bicky boo
Icky bicky soda cracker
Up goes you! (lift baby)

Rhyme: X marks the spot (draw on baby’s back)
Dot, dot, dot,
Up and down, around and around,
Oooooh! (tickle)

Book: Sleepy Bear by Lydia Dabcovich

sleepy bear

Song: “Teddy Bear” – Kimbo Educational: Teach a Toddler

Song: Did you ever see a baby, a baby, a baby?
Did you ever see a baby go this way and that? (lean side to side)
Go this way and that way and this way and that way (lean front to back, side to side)
Did you ever see a baby go this way and that? (lean front to back)

Rhyme: Let’s go riding in an elevator
First floor, second floor, third floor, fourth floor (slowly lift baby)
Down (bring baby back down)

Book (choral): Orange, Pear, Apple, Bear by Emily Gravett

orange pear apple bear

Song (shaky eggs): “Can You Shake Your Egg With Me?” (Tune: “London Bridge”)
Can you shake your egg with me,
Shake your egg along with me
It’s as easy as can be
Now put it on your knee!
(Repeat with head, tummy, etc.)
(Credit: Nancy Stewart, nancymusic.com)

Song (shaky eggs): “The Bear Went Over the Mountain” – Susie Tallman: Animal Sounds

Closing rhyme

Moon & Stars – Baby

Opening song

Sign language for moon, stars.

Book: The Moon by Robert Louis Stevenson

the moon

Song: I can make my hands go clap, clap, clap (tune of The Wheels on the Bus)

I can make my hands go clap, clap, clap
Clap, clap, clap
Clap, clap, clap
I can make my hands go clap, clap, clap
They’re a part of me.

I can make my feet go stomp, stomp, stomp, etc…
I can make my hands wave bye, bye, bye…

Book: The Sun is my Favorite Star by Frank Asch

sun is favorite star

Song: Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star

Twinkle, twinkle, little star
How I wonder what you are
Up above the world so high
Like a diamond in the sky
Twinkle, twinkle, little star
How I wonder what you are

Rhyme:  One arm goes up,

One arm goes up,
one arm goes down,
one arm goes up and down.
Two arms go up…
One leg goes up…
Two legs go up…

Book: Kitten’s First Full Moon by Kevin Henkes

 kittens first full moon

Song: You are my Sunshine

You are my sunshine, my only sunshine
You make me happy when skies are gray
You’ll never know dear, how much I love you
Please don’t take my sunshine away

Activity: Little clock, big clock

The little clock goes tick-tock, tick-tock, tick-tock (swing baby side to side while standing)
The big clock goes ding-dong, ding-dong, ding-dong (swing back front to back)

Song (with shaky eggs): Mr. Sun by Raffi

Closing rhyme

Senses Story Time – Toddler

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

cold crunchy colorful

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

i spy under the sea

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

polar bear polar bear what do you hear

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

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

Craft: Mr. Potato Head paper craft

Outer Space Story Time – Preschool

Opening song

Book: Papa, Please Get the Moon for Me by Eric Carle

papa please get the moon for me

Book: Kitten’s First Full Moon by Kevin Henkes

kittens first full moon

Song: “Moon, Moon, Moon” – Laurie Berkner: Victor Vito

Book: Zoom, Zoom, Zoom I’m Off to the Moon by Dan Yaccarino

zoom zoom zoom i'm off to the moon

Song: “Rocketship Run” – Laurie Berkner: Rocketship Run

Rhyme: Do you want to go up with me to the moon?
[Point to friend, self, then to sky.]
Let’s get in our rocket ship and blast off soon!
[Pretend to climb in ship, swish hands quickly.]
Faster and faster we reach to the sky.
[Jump and reach.]
Isn’t it fun to be able to fly?
We’re on the moon, now all take a look.
[Look down.]
Sit back down, and I’ll read you a book.
[All sit down.]

Book: Higher, Higher by Leslie Patricelli

Higher Higher

Song: “Jump Up, Turn Around” – Jim Gill: Moving Rhymes for Modern Times

 Craft: Staff hot glued the aliens (glow-in-the-dark! from Amazon) and the cups to the paper plates ahead of time. Kids used crayons, tissue paper squares, jewels and stickers to decorate them.

spaceship1spaceship2