Bedtime 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: Goodnight, sleep, stars, moon

Book: Sleepyheads by Sandra J. Howatt, illustrated by Joyce Wan
The cover of the book Sleepyheads. The illustration shows a bear, a bird, and a rabbit sleeping peacefully outside.

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: “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: “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!

Book: A Book of Sleep by Il Sung Na
The cover of the book A Book of Sleep. The illustration is a side profile of an owl with a very wide awake eye looking at the reader.

Lap Song: “Zoom, Zoom, Zoom”
Zoom, zoom, zoom, we’re going to the moon! (bounce baby)
Zoom, zoom, zoom, we’re going to the moon!
Would you like 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! (lift baby up)
(Credit: Jbrary)

Lap Song: “Bumping Up and Down in My Little Blue Sled”
Bumping up and down in my little blue sled,
Bumping up and down in my little blue sled,
Bumping up and down in my little blue sled,
Won’t you be my darling?

Additional verses:
Snow’s coming down on my little blue sled…
Waving to my friends on my little blue sled…
(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

Shaker Eggs: “Wimoweh” – Laurie Berkner: Whaddaya Think of That?

Closing Rhyme

Owl Story Time – Preschool

Opening Song

Big Book: Owl Babies by Martin Waddell, illustrated by Patrick Benson
owl babies

Song: “There Were Three Night Owls in the Tree” (Tune: “She’ll Be Coming ‘Round the Mountain”)
There were three night owls in the tree:
Hoo! Hoo!
There were three night owls in the tree:
Hoo! Hoo!
Oh, they called up to the sky to their mama flying by,
And she swooped down and joined them happily:
Hoo! Hoo!
(Credit: Adapted from Jen in the Library)

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
People/up & down
Owls/whoo, whoo, whoo

Book: Hoot Owl, Master of Disguise by Sean Taylor, illustrated by Jean Jullien

Song: “Be Like an Owl” (Tune: “London Bridge is Falling Down”)
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 and 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, say who, who, say who, who.
Turn your head and say who, who, just like an owl.
(Credit: Jen in the Library)

Puppet Story: Adapted from Good-night, Owl! by Pat Hutchins

Closing Rhyme

Opposites Story Time – Toddler

Opening Song

Book: The Opposite Zoo by Il Sung Na

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: “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: Opposites by Eric Carle

Song: “Open Shut Them”
Open shut them, open shut them.
Give a little clap, clap, clap.
Open shut them, open shut them.
Put them in your lap, lap, lap.
Creep them, crawl them
Creep them, crawl them
Right up to your chin, chin, chin
Open wide your little mouth…
But do not let them in.
(Credit: Laurie Berkner)

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)

Book: Quiet Koala, Noisy Monkey by Liesbet Slegers

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 Song: “If You’re Happy and You Know It”

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

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

Nocturnal Animals Story Time – Everybody

Opening Song

Book: Secret Pizza Party by Adam Rubin, illustrated by Daniel Salmieri

Puppet 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 the rhyme above before giving each clue:
I’m an animal who’s big, brown, and furry and who “Roars.” (bear)
I’m an animal who has a long skinny tail and carries my babies on my back, “Click, click, click.” (opossum)
I’m an animal who says, “Whoo, whoo” at night. (owl)
I’m an animal who’s black and white and very stinky, “Stomp, stomp, stomp.” (skunk)
I’m an animal with a black mask and I’m nocturnal! (raccoon)

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.

Book: I Am Bat by Morag Hood

Song: “Bats Eat Bugs” – Banana Slug String Band: Dirt Made My Lunch
Bats eat bugs, they don’t eat people.
Bats eat bugs, they don’t fly in your hair.
Bats eat bugs, they eat insects for dinner,
That’s why they’re flying up there.

Coyotes eat rabbits, they don’t eat people.
Coyotes eat rabbits, ‘cuz you’re too big to bite.
Coyotes eat rabbits, they eat rabbits for dinner,
That’s why they’re out in the night.

Snakes eat mice, they don’t eat people.
Snakes eat mice, that’s why they’re on the ground.
Snakes eat mice, ‘cuz we’re too big to swallow,
So they don’t want you hanging around.

Bears eat berries, they don’t eat people.
Bears eat berries, they don’t eat you or me.
Bears eat berries, and they’ll steal your dinner,
So you better hang it high in a tree.

Nothing out there wants to eat you.
Nothing out there wants to make you its meal.
Nothing out there eats people for dinner
‘Cuz they know how sick they would feel

Flannel Rhyme: “One Whole Pie”
One whole pie
Set by the door,
Cut into pieces,
I count four.

Four pieces of pie,
All for us,
Bear ate one piece, (make loud eating sounds as you take the piece off the board)
Now there are three.

Three pieces of pie
All for us,
Opossum ate another piece,
Now there are two.

Two pieces of pie,
Oh! What fun!
Skunk ate another piece,
Now there is one.

One piece of pie,
I can’t wait!
I ate that last piece,
Empty plate!

Song: “If You’re Happy and You Know It”

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

Closing Rhyme

Outer Space 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: Sleep, up

Book: Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star by Jane Cabrera
Twinkle Twinkle Little Star book cover

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 were none!

(Credit: RovingFiddlehead KidLit)

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)

Lap Song: “Zoom, Zoom, Zoom” (baby version)
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)

Book: Where’s the Astronaut? by Ingela P. Arrhenius

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!

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)

Lap Song: “Did You Ever See a Baby?” (Tune: “Did You Ever See a Lassie?”)
Did you ever see a baby, a baby, a baby?
Did you ever see a baby go this way and that? (lean side to side)
Go this way and that way and this way and that way (lean front to back, side to side)
Did you ever see a baby go this way and that? (lean front to back)

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)

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

Closing Rhyme

Night Story Time – Preschool

Opening Song

Book: Nighttime Symphony by Timbaland and Christopher Myers, illustrated by Christopher Myers and Kaa Illustration

Activity: Make a rainstorm
Start with quiet, then rub hands together, snap fingers, pat legs, and clap. Go in reverse to make the storm go away.

Book: Awake by Mags DeRoma

Song: “The Itsy Bitsy Spider” (w/extra verses)
Additional verses:
The teensy weensy spider (do the motions as small as possible with just fingertips)
The great big giant spider (use whole body and stomp)

Big Book: Owl Babies by Martin Waddell, illustrated by Patrick Benson
owl babies

Puppet Rhyme: “There’s Something in the Nighttime”
There’s something in the nighttime that I can’t really see.
There’s something in the nighttime, now what can it be?
Whoo, Whoo. Hear it’s funny sound? Whoo, Whoo. An Owl is what I found!

Repeat with other nighttime animals (cat, mouse, possum, skunk, bat, etc.)
(Credit: Miss Barbara at the Library)

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

Bedtime Story Time – Everybody

Opening Song

Book: This Book Will Get You to Sleep! by Jory John, illustrated by Olivier Tallec

Action Song: “This Is the Way We Yawn & Stretch” (Tune: “Here We Go ‘Round the Mulberry Bush”)
This is the way we yawn and stretch,
Yawn and stretch, yawn and stretch.
This is the way we yawn and stretch
On our way to bed.

Additional verses:
This is the way we take a bath…
This is the way we read a book…
This is the way we hug and kiss…
This is the way we close our eyes…
(Credit: Mel’s Desk)

Book: Bonnie and Ben Rhyme Again by Mem Fox, illustrated by Judy Horacek

Scarf Rhyme: “Blanket Colors”
I once had a blanket.
It was fluffy and new.
I once had a blanket,
And its color was __________ (blue).

I once had a blanket,
The prettiest I’ve seen.
I once had a blanket,
And its color was ________ (green).

I once had a blanket,
Soft as a pillow.
I once had a blanket,
And its color was _______ (yellow).

I once had a blanket,
At the foot of my bed.
I once had a blanket,
And its color was ________ (red).
(Credit: Jen in the Library)

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

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)

Book w/Puppets: Go Sleep in Your Own Bed! by Candace Fleming, illustrated by Lori Nichols

Closing Rhyme

Bedtime Story Time – Preschool

Opening Song

Book: Everyone Sleeps by Marcellus Hall

Action Song: “This Is the Way We Yawn & Stretch” (Tune: “Here We Go ‘Round the Mulberry Bush”)
This is the way we yawn and stretch,
Yawn and stretch, yawn and stretch.
This is the way we yawn and stretch
On our way to bed.

Additional verses:
This is the way we take a bath . . .
This is the way we read a book . . .
This is the way we hug and kiss . . .
This is the way we close our eyes . . .
(Credit: Mel’s Desk)

Book: Goodnight World by Debi Gliori

Scarf Rhyme: “I Once Had a Blanket”
I once had a blanket. It was fluffy and new.
I once had a blanket, and its color was __________ (blue).
I once had a blanket, the prettiest I’ve seen.
I once had a blanket, and its color was ________ (green).
I once had a blanket, soft as a pillow.
I once had a blanket, and its color was _______ (yellow).
I once had a blanket at the foot of my bed.
I once had a blanket, and its color was ________ (red).
(Credit: Jen in the Library)

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

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)

Book: Baa, Baa, Tap Sheep by Kenda Henthorn, illustrated by Lauren Gallegos

Closing Rhyme