Bear Story Time – Everybody

Opening Song

Book: There’s a Bear in Your Book by Tom Fletcher

Song: “The Cool Bear Hunt” – Dr. Jean: Dr. Jean Sings Silly Songs

Book: Bear Counts by Karma Wilson, illustrated by Jane Chapman

Song: “Teddy Bear, Teddy Bear, Turn Around” – The Wiggles: Taking Off!

Big Book: Sleepy Bear by Lydia Dabcovich

Song: “If You’re a Bear and You Know It” (Tune: “If You’re Happy and You Know It”)
Verses:
If you’re a polar bear and you know it…clap your paws
If you’re a black bear and you know it…show your teeth
If you’re a grizzly bear and you know it…growl out loud

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

Closing Rhyme

Animal Sounds Story Time – Baby

Opening Song

Puppet Song: “When Ducks Get Up in the Morning”
When ducks get up in the morning, they always say good day.
When ducks get up in the morning, they always say good day.
Quack, quack, quack, quack, this is what they say.
Quack, quack, quack, quack, this is what they say.

Repeat with other animals/sounds
(Credit: King County Library System)

Sign Language: Dog, cat, duck

Book: Flappy, Waggy, Wiggly by Amanda Leslie

Lap Song: “A Hippopotamus Got On A City Bus”
A hip, a hip, a hippopotamus,
Got on, got on, got on a city bus,
And all, and all, and all the people said,
“You’re squishing us!” (hug baby)

A cow, a cow, a cow got on the bus,
And all, and all, and all the people said,
“Moooove over!” (lean baby to side)

A sheep, a sheep, a sheep got on the bus,
And all, and all, and all the people said,
“Baaaaaack up!” (lean baby back)
(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

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

Rhyme: “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.

Book: Do Cats Moo? by Salina Yoon

Puppet Song: “Old MacDonald Had a Farm”
Old MacDonald had a farm, E-I-E-I-O.
And on his farm, he had a cow, E-I-E-I-O.
With a moo, moo here, and a moo, moo there,
Here a moo, there a moo, everywhere a moo, moo.
Old MacDonald had a farm, E-I-E-I-O.

Repeat with other animals/sounds

Lap Rhyme: “Giddyap Giddyap”
Giddyap, giddyap ride to town (bounce)
Giddyap, giddyap up and down (lift)
Giddyap fast, giddyap slow
Giddyap, giddyap WHOA! (lean baby back)
(Credit: Read Sing Play)

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.

Shaker Eggs: “Everyone Can Shake, Shake, Shake”
Everyone can shake, shake, shake.
Everyone can shake, shake, shake.
Everyone can shake, shake, shake,
And now let’s make a stop.

Additional verses:
Tap
Clap
Wave
(Credit: Jbrary)

Closing Rhyme

Animals at Night Story Time – Preschool

Opening Song

Book: Knight Owl by Christopher Denise

Song: “We Are Dinosaurs” – Laurie Berkner: Whaddaya Think of That?

Book: Night Animals by Gianna Marino

Song: “Flutter, Flutter, Little Bat” (Tune: “Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star”)
Flutter, flutter, little bat.
How I wonder where you’re at.
Up above the world so high.
Like a mouse who’s learned to fly.
Flutter, flutter, little bat,
Glad there are no flying cats!
(Credit: King County Library System)

Flannel Rhyme: “Bear in the Lair”
Sleepy bear, sleepy bear,
Are you in the (color) lair?

Repeat for different colored lairs (caves) until you find the bear.

(Credit: Lady Librarian Life)

Book: Make More S’mores by Cathy Ballou Mealey, illustrated by Ariel Landy

Closing Rhyme

Forest Friends Story Time – Everybody

Opening Song

Book: Let’s Play in the Forest While the Wolf Is Not Around! by Claudia Rueda
let's play in the forest

Song: “If You’re Ever in the Forest” (Tune: “Did You Ever See a Lassie?”)
If you’re ever in the forest,
The forest, the forest,
If you’re ever in the forest,
You might see some deer—
A young one and an old one,
And some that can quickly run. (run in place)
If you’re ever in the forest,
You might see some deer.

If you’re ever in the forest,
The forest, the forest,
If you’re ever in the forest,
You might see some rabbits.
They hop here, and they hop there, (jump like rabbits)
They hop, hop, hop everywhere.
If you’re ever in the forest,
You might see some rabbits.

If you’re ever in the forest,
The forest, the forest,
If you’re ever in the forest,
You might hear some birds.
A tweet here, and a tweet there,
They are flying around everywhere. (fly like a bird)
If you’re ever in the forest,
You might hear some birds.

If you’re ever in the forest,
The forest, the forest,
If you’re ever in the forest,
You’ll surely see lots of trees.
There are tall ones and short ones, (stretch high, and then get low)
And young ones and old ones.
If you’re ever in the forest,
You’ll surely see lots of trees.
(Adapted by Jolanda Garcia, KidsSoup Inc.)

Puppet Story: The Bear Went Over the Mountain by Jane Cabrera

Song: “Silly Dance Contest” – Jim Gill: The Sneezing Song and Other Contagious Tunes

Action Song: “My Blue Canoe” (Tune: “The Wheels on the Bus”)
Start by having kids ask an adult for permission. Then we all put our life jackets on!
I love to paddle my blue canoe, (pretend to row)
Blue canoe, blue canoe.
I love to paddle my blue canoe
Out on the forest pond.

My blue canoe tracks back and forth, (twist right to left)
Back and forth, back and forth.
My blue canoe tracks back and forth
Out on the forest pond.

My blue canoe goes up and down, (bend knees)
Up and down, up and down.
My blue canoe goes up and down
Out on the forest pond.

My blue canoe has a fishing pole, (cast “rod” arm)
A fishing pole, a fishing pole.
My blue canoe has a fishing pole
Out on the forest pond.

My blue canoe rocks side to side, (rock side to side)
Side to side, side to side.
My blue canoe rocks side to side
Out on the forest pond.

My blue canoe turns round and round, (turn in a circle)
Round and round, round and round.
My blue canoe turns round and round
Out on the forest pond.

So, come for a paddle in my blue canoe, (pretend to row)
Blue canoe, blue canoe.
So come for a paddle in my blue canoe
Out on the forest pond.
(Credit: Leah Portz)

Puppet Story: Who Sank the Boat? by Pamela Allen

Closing Rhyme

Fun Outdoors Story Time – Preschool

Opening Song

Book: Bear Came Along by Richard T. Morris, illustrated by LeUyen Pham

Song: “The Cool Bear Hunt” – Dr. Jean: Sings Silly Songs

Book: Ride, Roll, Run: Time for Fun! by Valerie Bolling, illustrated by Sabrena Khadija

Flannel Song: “Campfire Pokey” (Tune: “The Hokey Pokey”)
You put your marshmallow in,
You take your marshmallow out.
You put your marshmallow in,
And you shake it all about.
You do the campfire pokey,
And you turn yourself around.
That’s what it’s all about!

Repeat with hot dog, potato, popcorn
(Credit: What Happens In Storytime…)

Book: Sheep Take a Hike by Nancy Shaw, illustrated by Margot Apple

Song: “The Ants Go Marching”

Closing Rhyme

Hibernation Story Time – Everybody

Opening Song

Book: Goodnight, Grizzle Grump! by Aaron Blecha

Puppet Song: “Where Is Hedgehog?” (Tune: “Where Is Thumbkin?”)
Where is Hedgehog? Where is Hedgehog?
Here I am. Here I am.
How are you this winter?
Very tired, thank you.
Go to sleep. Go to sleep.

Additional verses:
Snake
Skunk (torpor)
Frog
Bear
(Credit: Adapted from Lady Librarian Life)

Song: “Big Brown Bear” – Kira Willey: Dance for the Sun

Book: I Don’t Want to Go to Sleep by Dev Petty, illustrated by Mike Boldt

Rhyme: “Winter Is Cold”
Winter is cold, (hug yourself and shiver)
There is snow in the sky, (flutter fingers above head)
The squirrel gathers nuts, (pretend to gather nuts)
And the wild geese fly, (flap arms)
The fluffy red fox (cup hands over head to form ears)
Has his fur to keep warm, (stroke arms)
The bear’s in her cave (form a cave with arms)
Sleeping all through the storm. (pretend to sleep)
(Credit: Rhyming Reasor)

Flannel: “Bear in the Lair”
Sleepy bear, sleepy bear,
Are you in the _________ lair?

Have caves in different colors, repeat until the bear is found.

(Credit: Lady Librarian Life)

Song: “Teddy Bear, Teddy Bear, Turn Around” – The Wiggles: Taking Off!

Book with Puppets: Winter Dance by Marion Dane Bauer, illustrated by Richard Jones

Closing Rhyme

Zoo Story Time – Baby

Opening Song

Puppet Song: “When Ducks Go on an Adventure”
When ducks go on an adventure, they always say good day.
When ducks go on an adventure, they always say good day.
Quack, quack, quack, quack, this is what they say.
Quack, quack, quack, quack, this is what they say.

Repeat with other animals/sounds
(Credit: King County Library System)

Sign Language: Bear, monkey, alligator, lion

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

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)

Song: “Our Arms Go Up and Down” (Tune: “The Farmer In the Dell”)
Our arms go up and down,
Our arms go up and down,
Hi ho the derry-o,
Our arms go up and down.

Additional verses:
Our feet go back and forth…
Our heads go side to side…
We all go up and down…
(Credit: Bucks County Free Library)

Puppet Song: “The Animals at the Zoo” (Tune: “The Wheels on the Bus”)
The lions at the zoo go roar, roar, roar,
Roar, roar, roar, roar, roar, roar!
The lions at the zoo go roar, roar, roar
All day long!

Additional verses:
Monkeys…ooh, ooh, ah
Seals…arf, arf, arf
Snakes…hiss, hiss, hiss
Penguins…waddle, waddle, waddle

Book: Peekaboo Zoo by Susan Hood, illustrated by Simone Abel

Lap Rhyme: “A Hippopotamus Got on a City Bus”
A hip, a hip, a hippopotamus,
Got on, got on, got on a city bus,
And all, and all, and all the people said,
“You’re squishing us!” (hug baby)

A cow, a cow, a cow got on the bus,
And all, and all, and all the people said,
“Moooove over!” (lean baby to side)

A sheep, a sheep, a sheep got on the bus,
And all, and all, and all the people said,
“Baaaaaack up!” (lean baby back)
(Credit: Jbrary)

Lap Song: “Row, Row, Row Your Boat”
Row, row, row your boat
Gently down the stream,
Merrily, merrily, merrily, merrily,
Life is but a dream.

Repeat with: bounce, sway, tickle

Lap Rhyme: “Alice the Camel”
Alice the Camel has 2 humps (bounce)
Alice the Camel has 2 humps
Alice the Camel has 2 humps
So go, Alice, go!

Additional verses:
Alice the camel has 1 hump…So go, Alice, go!
Alice the camel has no humps…Because Alice is a horse!

Shaker Eggs: “Going to the Zoo” – Raffi: The Raffi Singable Songs Collection

Closing Rhyme

Forest Story Time – Baby

Opening Song

Puppet Song: “When Ducks Go on an Adventure”
When ducks go on an adventure, they always say good day.
When ducks go on an adventure, they always say good day.
Quack, quack, quack, quack, this is what they say.
Quack, quack, quack, quack, this is what they say.

Repeat with other animals/sounds
(Credit: King County Library System)

Sign Language: Trees, squirrel, rabbit, owl

Book: The Very Hungry Caterpillar’s Forest Hide & Seek by Eric Carle

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: “Our Arms Go Up and Down” (Tune: “The Farmer In the Dell”)
Our arms go up and down,
Our arms go up and down,
Hi ho the derry-o,
Our arms go up and down.

Additional verses:
Our feet go back and forth…
Our heads go side to side…
We all go up and down…
(Credit: Bucks County Free Library)

Puppet Rhyme: “There’s Something in the Forest”
There’s something in the forest
That I can’t really see.
There’s something in the forest.
Now what can it be?

Repeat for bear, rabbit, owl, fox, squirrel, and mouse.

Book: Hide-and-Seek In the Forest by Rachel Elliot, illustrated by Gareth Lucas

Lap Song: “Row, Row, Row Your Boat”
Row, row, row your boat
Gently down the stream,
Merrily, merrily, merrily, merrily,
Life is but a dream.

Repeat with: bounce, sway, tickle

Lap Song: “Way Up High in the Apple Tree”
Way up high in the apple tree, (lift baby)
I saw a little baby smiling at me.
I shook that tree as gently as I could, (shake gently)
Down came the baby, (bring down)
Mmm, was she good! (kiss)
(Credit: King County Library System)

Lap Song: “Giddyap Giddyap”
Giddyap, giddyap ride to town (bounce)
Giddyap, giddyap up and down (lift)
Giddyap fast, giddyap slow
Giddyap, giddyap WHOA! (lean baby back)
(Credit: Read Sing Play)

Scarf Song: “Rain on the Grass”
Rain on the grass, (shake on floor)
Rain on the trees, (shake high)
Rain on the roof, (hold above head)
But not on me. (drop)

Repeat with sun and leaves.
(Credit: Jbrary)

Scarf Song: “Peekaboo” (Tune: “Frère Jacques”)
Peekaboo, peekaboo,
I see you, I see you,
I see your button nose,
I see your tiny toes,
Peekaboo, I see you.

Closing Rhyme

Camping Story Time – Everybody

Opening Song

Book: Night Animals by Gianna Marino

Puppet Rhyme: “Sleeping Bag Rhyme”
(Do an animal noise and have the kids guess the animal, then reveal the puppet.)
I was lying in my sleeping bag – I couldn’t go to sleep.
I looked at my watch, and wanted to weep!
So I rolled to the left and I rolled to the right,
But all I could hear were noises in the night!
Whoo whoo whoo! I hear…an owl!

Repeat with bear, squirrel, wolf/coyote, goose, frog, etc.

Movement: “Camp Counselor Says”
Play “Simon Says,” replacing “Simon” with “camp counselor.” Do night animal noises/movements (whoo like an owl, hop like a rabbit, etc.) and camping motions (sit by the campfire, set up a tent, and go to sleep).

Book: One-Dog Canoe by Mary Casanova, illustrated by Ard Hoyt
One-Dog Canoe book cover

Action Song: “Bear Hunt”
(Have kids repeat your words and movements.)
We’re going on a bear hunt.
We’re going to catch a big one!
I’m not scared.
It’s a beautiful day!

Look over there!
It’s a tall field of grass.
Can’t go over it,
Can’t go under it,
Can’t go around it,
We’ve got to go through it. (pretend to go through obstacle)

Repeat for mud swamp, rushing river, and cave.

(Cave verse)
Get out your flashlight,
Look around.
I see something flutter up high. (bats)
WHAT’S THAT?
I see one shiny wet nose,
Two big furry ears,
Two big googly eyes!
IT’S A BEAR!
Quick! Quietly!
Back through the cave!
Tiptoe! Tiptoe! Tiptoe!

Go back through the other 3 obstacles.

Go home! (open door, shut & lock the door, hop into bed)

We went on a Bear Hunt,
And we weren’t afraid!

Book: Don’t Feed the Bear by Kathleen Doherty, illustrated by Chip Wass

Song: “Campfire Pokey” (Tune: “Hokey Pokey”)
You put your marshmallow in,
You take your marshmallow out.
You put your marshmallow in,
And you shake it all about.
You do the campfire pokey,
And you turn yourself around.
That’s what it’s all about!

Repeat with hot dog, potato, popcorn
(Credit: What Happens In Storytime…)

Action Song: “I’m Going Camping” (Tune: “I’m a Little Teapot”)
I am going camping, (point thumbs proudly to chest)
Time to pack (point to wrist)
My tent, my bedroll, and a snack. (make tent with hands, fold hands to cheek, pretend to eat)
I’ll sit by the campfire, (warm hands over fire)
Its glow so bright, (wiggle fingers like a fire)
Then snooze in my tent (pretend to snore)
‘Til the morning light! (arms circle over head)
(Credit: Lady Librarian’s Literacy, Lifestyle, and Lookbook Log)

Closing Rhyme

Bear Story Time – Toddler

Opening Song

Book: Bear Snores On by Karma Wilson, illustrated by Jane Chapman
Bear Snores On Cover Image

Song: “The Wheels on the Bus”
The wheels on the bus go round and round,
Round and round,
Round and round.
The wheels on the bus go round and round
All through the town!

Additional verses:
Horn/beep-beep-beep
Wipers/swish-swish-swish
Doors/open and shut
Babies/up & down
Parents/I love you

Puppet Rhyme: “My Bear”
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.
(Credit: Yorba Linda Public Library)

Book: Orange Pear Apple Bear by Emily Gravett
Orange Pear Apple Bear 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.

Flannel: “Bear in the Lair”
Sleepy bear, sleepy bear,
Are you in the (color) lair?

Repeat for different colored lairs (caves) until you find the bear.

Scarf Song: “Rain on the Grass”
Rain on the grass, (shake on floor)
Rain on the trees, (shake high)
Rain on the roof, (hold above head)
But not on me. (drop)

Repeat with: sun, snow, leaves

Scarf Rhyme: “Jack in the Box”
Jack in the box
Sits so still.
Will he come out?
Yes, he will!
(Credit: Jbrary)

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

Closing Rhyme