House Story Time – Toddler

Opening Song

Book: Do Lions Live On Lily Pads? by Melanie Walsh

Song: “The Elevator Song”
Oh the city is great and the city is grand,
There’s a whole lot of people
on a little piece of land,
And we live way up on the 57th floor,
and this is what we do when we go out the door.

We take the elevator up, and the elevator down,
Take the elevator up, take the elevator down,
Take the elevator up, and the elevator down,
And we turn around.
(Credit: Jbrary)

Book: In My Nest by Sara Gillingham, illustrated by Lorena Siminovich

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, wipers, money, driver, kids, babies, grown-ups

Flannel Rhyme: “Some Houses”
Some houses are wood and some are stone.
But let’s build one with shapes alone.

Start with a square, but we won’t stop.
Add a triangle up on the top.
Then a rectangle for the door.
Now square windows 1, 2, 3, 4!
A little circle just for fun.
Now our shape house is all done!
house
(Credit: Finger Tales by Joan Phelps)

Fingerplay: “Houses”
Here is a nest for robin, (cup both hands)
Here is a hive for bee, (fists together)
Here is a hole for bunny, (make a circle)
And here is a house for ME! (make a roof)
(Credit: Perry Public Library)

Shaker Eggs: “Can You Shake Along With Me?” (Tune: “Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes”)
Can you shake along with me?
Along with me, along with me,
Can you shake along with me?
Put your shaker on your…knee!

Repeat with different body parts
(Credit: Jbrary)

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

Closing Rhyme

Home Story Time – Preschool

Opening Song

Book: Home Is… by Hannah Barnaby, illustrated by Frann Preston-Gannon

Flannel: “Can We Find?” (Tune: “The Muffin Man”)

Song: “In and Out the Doors” (Tune: “Go In and Out the Window”)
Step in and out the front door. (take a step forward, then back)
Step in and out the front door. Step in and out the front door.
Then make a doorbell sound. (say “ding dong”)

Jump in and out the back door. (jump forward, then back)
Jump in and out the back door. Jump in and out the back door.
Bend down and touch the ground. (touch ground with hand)

Slide in and out the side door. (slide to one side, then other)
Slide in and out the side door. Slide in and out the side door.
And then turn all around. (turn around)

Step in and out the front door.
Jump in and out the back door.
Slide in and out the side door.
Then sit yourself right down. (sit down)
(Credit: Susan M. Dailey)

Book: Windows by Julia Denos, illustrated by E. B. Goodale

Finger Puppets: “A Window Light”
A window light,
So bright at night.
The shade goes up (open shade)
Who do I see?
________ is there,
Waiting for me!
Goodnight, ________. (close shade)
(Credit: Leah Portz)

Song: “Five Little Monkeys Jumping on the Bed” – David Landau: Kids and Kitties

Book/Puppets: Lilah Tov, Good Night by Ben Gundersheimer, illustrated by Noar Lee Naggan

Closing Rhyme

Houses Story Time – Baby

Opening song

Sign language: House

Book: My House by Lisa Desimini

My House

Rhyme: Round and Round the Garden
Round and round the garden (make a circle in child’s palm)
Goes the teddy bear.
One step, two steps, (fingers walk up arm)
Tickle you under there. (tickle under arm)
Round and round the haystack, (make a circle in child’s other palm)
Goes the little mouse.
One step, two steps, (fingers walk up arm)
Into his little house. (tickle under arm)

Rhyme: Diddle diddle dumpling

Book: Bear at Home by Stella Blackstone, illustrated by Debbie Harter

Bear at Home

Song/Puppets: “Bringing Home a Baby Bumble Bee” – Dr. Jean; Sings Silly Songs

Song: Buckle, buckle (Tune: “Sailing, Sailing”)
Buckle, buckle, buckle my baby in (pat tummy)
Start up the car and drive around (sign for car)
Until we get to town (sign for travel, as you travel up the tummy to tickle chin)
Buckle, buckle, buckle my baby in (pat tummy)
Start up the car and drive around (sign for car)
‘Til we come home again (sign for travel, as you travel up the tummy to tickle chin)
(Credit: Leah Portz)

Rhyme: Balloon goes up
Balloon goes up (lift)
Balloon goes down (lap)
Balloon goes up to reach the clouds (lift high)
Storm rolls by (wiggle side to side)
Babe rocks down (sway to lap)
Made it home, safe and sound (hug and kiss)
(Credit: Leah Portz)

Puppet: The Quiet Mouse
Once there lived a quiet mouse (hold out index finger)
In a quiet little house (wrap other hand around it)
When all was quiet as can be
OUT popped he! (pop finger out)

Flannel: Some Houses are wood and some are stone.
But let’s build one with shapes alone.
Start with a square but we won’t stop.
Add a triangle up on the top.
Then a rectangle for the door.
Now square windows 1, 2, 3, 4!
A little circle just for fun.
Now our shape house is all done!
(credit: Finger Tales, by Joan Phelps)

Song: Baby Hop (Tune: “Bunny Hop”)
Snuggle up together
Baby’s in your lap
Snuggle up together and clap, clap, clap

Snuggle up together
Baby don’t you nap
Snuggle up together and tap, tap, tap

You’re working out together
Baby don’t stop
You’re working out together now hop, hop, hop

Rhyme: Rickety rocking horse

Book: Minerva Louise by Janet Morgan Stoeke

Minerva Louise

Rhyme: Slowly, Slowly
Slowly, slowly, very slowly, Creeps the garden snail (walk fingers over baby)
Slowly, slowly, very slowly, Up the wooden rail
Quickly, quickly, very quickly, Runs the little mouse (run fingers over baby)
Quickly, quickly, very quickly, Round about the house

Song (shaky eggs): “Home on the Range” – Victor Johnson; Cowboy Playground

Closing rhyme

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