Forest Story Time – Toddler

Opening Song

Book: Squirrels Leap, Squirrels Sleep by April Pulley Sayre, illustrated by Steve Jenkins

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: “I’m a Little Pinecone” (Tune: “I’m a Little Teapot”)
I’m a little pinecone, brown and small. (make a fist with one hand)
I live in a pine tree oh so tall. (stretch arms up high)
When the wind blows, I dance and hop (wave arms as though the wind were blowing)
Down on the ground with a PLOP, PLOP, PLOP! (fall down on the floor)
(Credit: King County Library System)

Book: Night Owl by Toni Yuly

Song: “If You’re an Owl and You Know It”
If you’re an owl and you know it, hoot like this, “Hoo(t), hoo(t)!”
If you’re an owl and you know it, hoot like this, “Hoo(t), hoo(t)!”
If you’re an owl and you know it, then your hoot will surely show it.
If you’re an owl and you know it, hoot like this, “Hoo(t), hoo(t)!”

Additional verses:
Flap your wings (flap wings)
Turn your head (turn it from side to side!)

Book: Acorns Everywhere! by Kevin Sherry

Scarf Song: “Wave Your Scarf Up and Down” (Tune: “London Bridge”)
Wave your scarf up and down,
Up and down, up and down.
Wave your scarf up and down,
Wave your scarf.

Additional verses:
Left and right
Fast and slow
High and low
Around and around
Wave it goodbye
(Credit: Jbrary)

Scarf Rhyme: “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

Forest Animals Story Time – Everybody

Opening Song

Book: The Bear Who Shared by Catherine Rayner

Rhyme: Here is a Cave
Here is a cave. Inside is a bear. (bend fingers on one hand; put thumb inside)
Now he comes out to get some fresh air. (pop out thumb)
He stays out all summer in sunshine and heat.
He hunts in the forest for berries to eat. (move thumb in a circle)
When snow starts to fall, he hurries inside
His warm little cave and there he will hide. (put thumb inside fingers)
Snow covers the cave like a fluffy white rug.
Inside the bear sleeps all cozy and snug. (place one hand over the other)

Song: “Raccoon Sitting in a Tree” (Tune: “Twinkle, Twinkle”)
Raccoon, raccoon, climbing a tree (make climbing motions)
Wearing a mask, you can’t fool me (hands circle eyes, then shake finger)
Hiding there so I can’t see (point to eyes)
What you’re doing in that tree (hands stretched over head like a tree)
Raccoon, raccoon, climbing a tree (make climbing motions)
Wearing a mask, you can’t fool me (hands circle eyes, then shake finger)

Book: Night Owl by Toni Yuly

Puppets/Rhyme:  There’s Something in the Woods
There’s something in the woods, that I can’t really see. (hands around eyes like binoculars) There’s something in the woods. Now what can it be? (hold up hands, shrug shoulders in question)

Repeat above rhyme before giving each clue…
I’m an animal who’s big, brown and furry and who “Roars” (bear).
I’m an animal who’s who has long ears and goes “Hop, hop, hop” (rabbit).
I’m an animal who says ‘whoo, whoo’ at night (Owl).
I’m an animal who’s red, furry, has a big bushy tail and likes to eat chicken (Fox)
I’m an animal who’s small, has a big, bushy tail and loves to eat nuts (Squirrel).
I’m an animal who’s tiny and makes very quiet “squeaks” (Mouse).

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 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 surely see lots of tree.
(Adapted by Jolanda Garcia, KidsSoup Inc.)

Book: Let’s Play in the Forest by Laudia Rueda
Let's Play in the Forest while the Wof is Not Around book cover

Song: “If You’re an Owl and You Know It”
If you’re an owl and you know it hoot like this “Hoo(t), hoo(t)…”
If you’re an owl and you know it hoot like this “Hoo(t), hoo(t)…”
If you’re an owl and you know it then your hoot will surely show it
If you’re an owl and you know it hoot like this “Hoo(t), hoo(t)…”

Additional verses:
Flap your wings (flap wings)
Turn your head (turn it from side to side!)

Song: “Clap your Hands” – They Might Be Giants: Here Come the ABCs

Closing rhyme

Craft: Paper Animal Masks