Counting 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: More, all done, help, stop

Book: Ten Tiny Tickles by Karen Katz

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: “Ten Little Fingers”
One little, two little, three little fingers,
Four little, five little, six little fingers,
Seven little, eight little, nine little fingers,
Ten little fingers on my hand.

Additional verses:
They wiggle, and they wiggle, and they wiggle all together…
They clap, and they clap, and they keep on clapping…

Song: “1-2 Hands” – Laurie Berkner: Superhero

Puppet Song: “Three Little Ducks”
Three little ducks went out one day,
Over the hills and far away.
Mother duck said, “Quack, quack, quack, quack,”
But only two little ducks came back.

Repeat with 2, 1, and no little ducks.

…And three little ducks came wandering back.

Book: Count! by Denise Fleming

Lap Rhyme: “I’m a Little Cuckoo Clock”
Tick tock, tick tock, I’m a little Cuckoo clock. (rock gently side to side)
Tick tock, tick tock, now I’m striking one o’clock.
Cuckoo! (lift in air once)

Repeat with: two o’clock (lift into air 2x), three o’clock (lift into air 3x)
(Credit: King County Library System)

Lap Song: “Bouncing, Bouncing, Baby on My Knee”
Bouncing, bouncing, baby on my knee.
Bouncing, bouncing, 1 – 2 – 3!

Clapping, clapping, baby on my knee.
Clapping, clapping, 1 – 2 – 3!

Rocking, rocking, baby on my knee.
Rocking, rocking, 1 – 2 – 3!
(Credit: Jbrary)

Lap Song: “Zoom, Zoom, Zoom”
Zoom, zoom, zoom,
We’re going to the moon! (swing baby through the air)
Zoom, zoom, zoom,
We’re going to the moon!
In 5, 4, 3, 2, 1, (bending knees, lower baby as you count)
BLAST OFF! (baby “flies” or swings up into the air)
(Credit: Jbrary)

Shaker Eggs: “If You’re Happy and You Know It”
Verses: Shake up high, shake down low, shout, “Hooray!”

Shaker Eggs: “Shake it on Your Shoe”
1, 2, shake it on your shoe.
3, 4, shake it on the floor.
5, 6, stir and mix.
7, 8, stand up straight.
9, 10, wave to your friends.
(Credit: Jbrary)

Closing Rhyme

Counting Story Time – Everybody

Opening Song

Book: How to Count to ONE: And Don’t Even Think About Bigger Numbers! by Caspar Salmon, illustrated by Matt Hunt

Song: “Ten Little Fingers”
One little, two little, three little fingers,
Four little, five little, six little fingers,
Seven little, eight little, nine little fingers,
Ten little fingers on my hand.

Additional verses:
They wiggle, and they wiggle, and they wiggle all together…
They clap, and they clap, and they keep on clapping…

Song: “1-2 Hands” – Laurie Berkner: Superhero

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

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)

Song: “Three Little Ducks”
Three little ducks went out one day,
Over the hills and far away.
Mother duck said, “Quack, quack, quack, quack,”
But only two little ducks came back.

Repeat with 2, 1, and no little ducks.

…And three little ducks came wandering back.

Book: Count! by Denise Fleming

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

Closing Rhyme

Counting Story Time – Sensory Friendly

Opening Song

Book: Ten Black Dots by Donald Crews

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

Book: Feast for 10 by Cathryn Falwell

Song/Video: “Dance for the Sun” – Kira Willey: Dance for the Sun

Yoga/Breathing: Take 5

Social Story: “Waiting Your Turn” from Quinn at School: Relating, Connecting, and Responding at School by Rick H. Warren
Quinn at School: Relating, Connecting and Responding - A Book for ...

Closing Song

Craft: 10 black dots Q-tip painting
(Credit: School Time Snippets)

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

Census Story Time – Everybody

Opening Song

Book: Everyone Counts! Census 2020 Story and Activity Book

Song: “Everyone Counts!” – 2020 Census Song and Lyrics

Book: Grandma’s Tiny House: A Counting Story by JaNay Brown-Wood

grandma's tiny house cover

Activity: Ask story time attendees “How many people are in the room?” Lead children in counting, and explain that counting people gives us helpful information.

Movement: Learn the yoga pose “Take 5”

Book: Let’s Count Goats! by Mem Fox

let's count goats! cover

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

Closing Song

Craft: Draw a picture of everyone who lives in your home

Counting Story Time – Sensory Friendly

Opening Song

Book: Baby Goes to Market by Atinuke

baby goes to market

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

Book: Pete the Cat and His Four Groovy Buttons by Eric Litwin

pete the cat and his four groovy buttons

Song: “Tap, Tap, Tap” – Handwriting without Tears: Get Set for School Singalong

Movement: Learn the yoga pose “Take 5”

Social Story:  “Waiting Your Turn”

Closing Song

Craft: Ice cream cones with pom poms (idea from Fun-A-Day)

Counting 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

Flannel: Four Little Rockets

Rhyme: “Five Little Ducks” – Susie Tallman: Animal Songs – felt/glove

Book: Count by Denise Fleming

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

Song: “Count to Five” – Kira Willey: Mindful Moments for Kids

Book: Ten Tiny Tickles by Karen Katz

Song: “1-2 Hands” – Laurie Berkner: Superhero

Song: “Mi Cuerpo” – Hot Peas ‘n Butter: Best of the Bowl

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

Closing Rhyme

Craft: ice cream cones numbered with glued circles above
ice cream cone preschool story time craft

Counting Story Time – Toddler

Opening song

Sign language: ten

Book: Count! by Denise Fleming

count

Flannel: “Four Little Rockets”

Four little rockets winking at me.
One shot off and then there were three!
Three little rockets with nothing to do.
One shot off, and then there were two!
Two little rockets afraid of the sun.
One shot off, and then there was one!
One little rocket alone is no fun.
It shot off, and then there was none!
(Source: RovingFiddlehead KidLit)

rockets

Rhyme: “This is big”
This is big big big
This is small small small
This is short short short
This is tall tall tall
This is fast fast fast
This is slow slow slow
This is yes yes yes
This is no no no
(Source: Mel’s Desk)

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

Book: Big Fat Hen illustrated by Keith Baker

Big Fat Hen


Song/Flannel:
“10 Little Grasshoppers”

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

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

grasshopper

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

Book: Ten Tiny Tickles by Karen Katz

ten tiny tickles

Song: “Can’t Wait to Celebrate”- Jim Gill: Jim Gill’s Irrational Album

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

Closing rhyme

Craft: goldfish crackers on a page divided into fourths

goldfish