Owl Story Time – Everybody

Opening Song

Book: Little Owl’s Snow by Divya Srinivasan
The cover of the book Little Owl's Snow. The illustration is of a tiny orange owl with big green eyes flying on a snowy night.

Flannel: “Little Owl Count”
5 little owls on a dark, dark night.
5 little owls are quite a sight.
5 little owls! Are you keeping score?
1 flies away and that leaves 4.

4 little owls as happy as can be.
1 flies away and that leaves 3.

3 little owls calling, “Who, who, who.”
1 flies away and that leaves 2.

2 little owls having lots of fun.
1 flies away and that leaves 1.

1 little owl and we’re almost done.
He flies away and that leaves none.
(Credit: Upper Hudson Library System)

Song: “Be Like an Owl” (Tune: “London Bridge”)
Flap your wings and fly around, fly around, fly around.
Flap your wings and fly around, just like an owl.

Open your eyes big and wide, big and wide, big and wide.
Open your eyes big and wide, just like an owl.

Land on the ground and hop along, hop along, hop along.
Land on the ground and hop along, just like an owl.

Turn your head and say, “Who, who! Who, who, who! Who, who, who!”
Turn your head and say, “Who, who,” just like an owl.
(Credit: Upper Hudson Library System)

Book: Little Owl Lost by Chris Haughton
The cover of the book Little Owl Lost. The illustration is of a little owl on a plain background.

Song: “The Owls” – Laurie Berkner Band: A Laurie Berkner Halloween

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

Book: Who Meows? by Robin Page
The cover of the book Who Meows?: A Book of Animal Sounds. The illustration is of a tan cat with green eyes who is peeking over the edge of a black rectangle that contains the title.

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

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

Closing Rhyme

Hippopotamus Story Time – Everybody

Opening Song

Book: I am a Hippo by Aaron Carr
The cover of the book I am a Hippo.

Song: “The Hooves on a Hippo Go Stomp” (Tune: “The Wheels on the Bus”)
The ____ on a hippo go . . . ____ ____ ____ . . . all day long.

Verses:
Hooves/stomp
Nose/snort
Birds/peck
Tail/swish
Legs/swim
Jaws/open and shut
(Credit: Verona Public Library, Leah Portz)

Book: Hippos Go Berserk! by Sandra Boynton
The cover of the book Hippos Go Berserk!

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

Flannel Rhyme: “Five Hungry Hippos”
Five hungry hippos eating grass by the shore,
One cannon balls into the water and now there are four.

Four hot hippos under a shady tree,
One slides into the water and now there are three.

Three grazing hippos found some grass to chew,
One dives into the water and now there are two.

Two hot and cranky hippos want to get out of the sun,
One does a back flip into the water and now there is one.

One lonely hippo needs the others for some fun,
He jumps into the water and now there are none!

But wait!
Look in the water and what do we see?
Five cool hippos as happy as can be!
(Credit: Fun with Friends at Storytime and The Short Stack Librarian)

Scarf Song: “The Water’s Getting Higher” (Tune: “The Bear Went Over the Mountain”)
The water’s getting _____ x3
Bubble, bubble, pop!

Verses:
Higher
Lower
Faster
Slower
Rougher
Calmer

Puppet Story: Hidden Hippo by Joan Gannij, illustrated by Clare Beaton
The cover of the book Hidden Hippo.

Closing Rhyme

Caregiver Appreciation Story Time – Everybody

Opening Song

Book: Llama Llama Meets the Babysitter by Anna Dewdney and Reed Duncan, illustrated by J.T. Morrow

Fingerplay: “5 Little Ducks”
Five little ducks went out one day, (hold up five fingers)
Over the hills and far away, (wave goodbye)
Mother duck called, “Quack, quack, quack, quack,”
But only four little ducks came back. (hold up four fingers)

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

Book: Oh, Daddy! by Bob Shea

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!

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

Book: I Really Want to See You, Grandma by Taro Gomi

Ring Song: “The Ring in the Dell” (Tune: “The Farmer in the Dell”)
The ring goes side to side, (reach to each side)
The ring goes side to side,
Hi-ho, the derry-o,
The ring goes side to side.

Additional verses:
Up and down (touch sky, touch ground)
All around (draw circle in sky)
Front and back (hold in front and hide behind back)
Repeat!

Ring Song: “Can You Roll Your Ring?” (Tune: “If You’re Happy and You Know It”)
Can you roll your ring like this, (both arms roll inside ring)
Just like this?
Can you roll your ring like this,
Just like this?
Can you roll your ring like this,
‘Round and ’round and ’round your wrist?
Can you roll your ring like this,
Just like this?

Additional verses:
Drive (steering wheel)
Oh, a stop sign! Don’t you miss!
Spin (spin fast on one wrist) OR Twirl (spin in circle with ring above head)

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

Closing Rhyme

Silly Songs and Stories Story Time – Everybody

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: “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)

Flannel Song: “Five Little Monkeys”

Book: The Whales on the Bus by Katrina Charman, illustrated by Nick Sharratt

Flannel Song: “All The Fish”
All the fish are swimming in the water (with hands together, swish hands back and forth like a darting fish)
Swimming in the water
Swimming in the water
All the fish are swimming in the water (swimming motions with arms)
Bubble, bubble, bubble, bubble…SPLASH! (make hands larger and larger and big clap to SPLASH)

Additional verses:
All the ducks are quacking in the water (quack hands like duck bills)
All the frogs are jumping in the water (hop child or hands on lap)
All the children are splashing in the water (imitate splashing in the water)

Action Rhyme: “Pumpkin Chant”
Pumpkin, pumpkin,
Pumpkin bread!
(hold hands flat in front, palms up, one 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!

Book: Duck & Goose: Find A Pumpkin by Tad Hills
Duck and goose find a pumpkin

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

Closing Rhyme

Food Story Time – Everybody

Opening Song

Big Book: Jamberry by Bruce Degen

Song: “Popcorn Calling Me” – Laurie Berkner: Buzz Buzz

Book/Song: The Rice in the Pot Goes Round and Round by Wendy Wan-Long Shang, illustrated by Lorian Tu

Song: “Hot Potato” – The Wiggles: Yummy Yummy (With the “copy the pool noodle” game)

Movement: “Hot Soup” – Kira Willey: Mindful Moments for Kids

Flannel Rhyme: “Five Little Cookies”
Five little cookies, with frosting galore.
Cookie Monster ate the pink one, then there were four.

Four little cookies, two and two, you see,
Cookie Monster ate the green one, then there were three.

Three little cookies, but before I knew,
Cookie Monster ate the blue one, then there were two.

Two little cookies, oh, what fun!
Cookie Monster ate the orange one, then there was one.

One little cookie, watch me run!
Cookie Monster ate the red one, then there were none.
cookie monster prop image

Song: “I Feel Crazy so I Jump in the Soup” – Laurie Berkner: Victor Vito

Rhyme: “Pizza People, Pizza People”
Pizza People, pizza people, turn around,
…touch the ground,
…reach up high,
…touch the sky,
…find your nose,
…touch your toes,
…find your knees,
…sit down, please!
(Credit: Modified from childhood; idea from Awesome Storytime)

Puppet Story: “Hi, Pizza Man!” by Virginia Walter, illustrated by Ponder Goembel
Hi, Pizza Man! book cover

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

Closing Rhyme

Weather Story Time – Everybody

Opening Song

Book: It Looked Like Spilt Milk by Charles G. Shaw
It Looked Like Spilt Milk book cover

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: “Big Round Sun”
The big round sun in the summertime sky (form large circle with arms)
Winked at a cloud that was passing by. (wink eye)
The little cloud laughed as it scattered rain, (flutter fingers downward)
Then out came the big round sun again. (form large circle with arms)

Book: Split! Splat! by Amy Gibson, illustrated by Steve Björkman

Song: “The Itsy Bitsy Spider”

Song: “If All of the Raindrops” – Old Town School of Folk Music: Songs for Wiggleworms

Book: Weather by Jill McDonald

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: “You Wave a Scarf” based on the song “You Sing a Song” by Ella Jenkins
You’ll wave a scarf, and I’ll wave a scarf,
And we’ll wave our scarves together.
You’ll wave a scarf, and I’ll wave a scarf
In warm or wintry weather.

Additional verses:
You’ll peek-a-boo, and I’ll peek-a-boo… (put the scarf over your face, then pull it away)
You’ll throw a scarf, and I’ll throw a scarf…
(Credit: Adapted by The Loudest Librarian)

Scarf Rhyme: “I’m Toast in the Toaster”
I’m toast in the toaster, (crumple scarf in your hands)
And I’m getting very hot.
Tick, tock, tick, tock, (tilt hands side to side)
Up I POP! (toss scarf in the air)
(Credit: King County Library System)

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

Closing Rhyme

Unique Animal Story Time – Everybody

Opening Song

Book: Is it a Mermaid? by Candy Gourlay, illustrated by Francesca Chessa

Puppet Song: “I Am Hungry” (Tune: “Frère Jacques”)
(Call and response song w/manatee puppet.)
I am hungry! (I am hungry!)
What should I eat? (What should I eat?)
I think I’ll have some sea grass. (I think I’ll have some sea grass.)
A salty treat. (A salty treat.)

I am hungry! (I am hungry!)
What should I eat? (What should I eat?)
I think I’ll have some lettuce. (I think I’ll have some lettuce.)
A nice big bunch. (A nice big bunch.)

I am hungry! (I am hungry!)
What should I eat? (What should I eat?)
I think I’ll have some mangrove leaves. (I think I’ll have some mangrove leaves.)
A tasty lunch. (A tasty lunch.)

I am hungry! (I am hungry!)
What should I eat? (What should I eat?)
I think I’ll have some algae. (I think I’ll have some algae.)
It makes me burp. (It makes me burp.)

I am tired! (I am tired!)
Where should I sleep? (Where should I sleep?)
I think I’ll find a nice canal. (I think I’ll find a nice canal.)
Warm and deep. (Warm and deep.)
(Credit: Storytime Solidarity)

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: Roly Poly Pangolin by Anna Dewdney

Puppet Song: “Old MacDonald Had a Farm”
Verses: kangaroo, opossum, iguana, porcupine, Yeti

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

Closing Rhyme

Pirate Story Time – Everybody

Opening Song

Book: Monsters in the Briny by Lynn Becker, illustrated by Scott Brundage

Song: “If You’re a Pirate and You Know It”
If you’re a pirate and you know it, swab the deck. (swish, swish)
If you’re a pirate and you know it, swab the deck. (swish, swish)
If you’re a pirate and you know it, then you’ll hear the sea winds blowin’.
If you’re a pirate and you know it, swab the deck. (swish, swish)

Additional verses:
If you’re a pirate and you know it, hoist the sails. (heave ho!)
If you’re a pirate and you know it, walk the plank. (splish, splash)
If you’re a pirate and you know it, say, “Ahoy!” (Ahoy!)
(Credit: Born Librarian blog)

Book: The Treasure of Pirate Frank by Mal Peet and Elspeth Graham, illustrated by Jez Tuya
Actions to do during the story:
Map (x), Sea (side-side), Island (circle), Mountains (shiver), Forest (monkey), Swamp (jump), Steps (march), Volcano (hands up), Tree (tree pose)

Puppet Rhyme: “Four Little Parrots”
One little parrot,
Singing I love you.
One more joins in,
Making them two.

Two little parrots,
Happy as can be.
One more joins in,
Making them three.

Three little parrots,
Looking for more.
One more joins in,
Making them four.

Four little parrots,
Up in a tree.
One flew away,
Then there were three.

Three little parrots,
Of green and yellow hue.
One flew away,
Then there were two.

Two little parrots,
Watch the setting sun.
Another flew away,
Then there was one!

He became a pirate,
Then there were none!

Song: “A Sailor Went to Sea/Hornpipe” – The Wiggles: You Make Me Feel Like Dancing

Song: “Take a Trip Out on the Sea” – The Wiggles: Splish, Splash, Big Red Boat!

Puppet Show: “Peg Leg Pup”

Closing Rhyme

Eric Carle Story Time – Everybody

Opening Song

Book: The Mixed-Up Chameleon by Eric Carle

Song: “Zoo Animals” (Tune: “If You’re Happy and You Know It”)
If you want to be a seal, clap your flippers!
If you want to be a seal, clap your flippers!
If you want to be a seal, if you want to be a seal,
If you want to be a seal, clap your flippers!

Additional verses:
Polar bear – roar out loud
Turtle – hide in your shell
Flamingo – stand on one leg
Fish – swim around
Elephant – swing your trunk
Fox – swish your tail
Deer – shake your antlers
Giraffe – stand up tall
Chameleon – catch a fly
Yourself – shout, “Hooray!”
(Credit: Adapted from King County Library System)

Puppet Story: The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle
The Very Hungry Caterpillar

Song: “I’m a Little Egg” (Tune: “Pop Goes the Weasel”)
A little egg lay on a leaf (lay head on hands)
In the light of the moon. (make your arms into a circle over your head)
It wiggled and wiggled, (wiggle)
What will it be? (shrug arms)
Pop! A caterpillar. (clap hands and jump up on “pop” and crawl your finger like a caterpillar)

A chrysalis hung on a leaf (make hands into a “chrysalis”)
In the light of the moon. (make your arms into a circle over your head)
It wiggled and wiggled, (wiggle)
What will it be? (shrug arms)
Pop! A butterfly. (clap hands and jump up on “pop” and make a butterfly with your hands)
(Credit: Adapted from Sing a New Song)

Flannel Song: Today Is Monday by Eric Carle

Big Book: From Head to Toe by Eric Carle (Have everyone do the actions the animals do and repeat, “I can do it!”)

Closing Rhyme

Fruit Story Time – Everybody

Opening Song

Song: “In My Garden” – Raffi: Raffi’s Box of Sunshine

Book: Odd Dog by Claudia Boldt

Puppet/Flannel: “Five Red Strawberries”
Five red strawberries, sweet to the core.
Bear came and ate one and then there were four.

Four red strawberries, growing near a tree.
Bear came and ate one and then there were three.

Three red strawberries, for you and you and you.
Bear came and ate one and then there were two.

Two red strawberries, sitting in the sun.
Bear came and ate one and then there was one.

One red strawberry, left all alone.
Bear came and ate it and then there were none.
(Credit: Storytime Katie)

Book: Orangutangled by Sudipta Bardhan-Quallen, illustrated by Aaron Zenz

Song: “The Ants Go Marching” – Old Town School of Folk Music: Songs for Wiggleworms

Book: The Watermelon Seed by Greg Pizzoli

Song: “Fruit Salad Salsa” – Laurie Berkner: Victor Vito

Closing Rhyme