Book: Polly’s Pink Pajamas by Vivian French, illustrated by Sue Heap
Song: “Can’t Wait to Celebrate” – Jim Gill: Jim Gill’s Irrational Anthem
Book: A Birthday for Cow! by Jan Thomas
Song: “Tap, Tap, Tap” – Cathy Fink and Marcy Marxer: Get Set for School Sing Along
Yoga/Breathing: Balloon breath
Social Story: Brownie & Pearl Step Out by Cynthia Rylant, illustrated by Brian Biggs
Craft: Decorate party crowns with stickers
Book: Upside Down and Right Side Up
Song: “If You’re a Kitty and You Know It” (Tune: “If You’re Happy and You Know It”)
If you’re a kitty and you know it, lick your paws,
If you’re a kitty and you know it, lick your paws,
If you’re a kitty and you know it and you really want to show it,
If you’re a kitty and you know it, lick your paws.
Additional verses:
Show your claws
Swish your tail
Chase some yarn
Say meow
Flannel: “Four Little Gabby Cats” (use toy cats with flannel pieces)
Four little Gabby Cats looking at me.
One ran off, and then there were three!
Three little Gabby Cats with nothing to do.
One fell asleep, and then there were two!
Two little Gabby Cats playing in the sun.
One jumped in the pool, and then there was one!
One little Gabby Cat alone is no fun.
She chased the others, and then there were none!
Book: Sprinkle Party!
Song: “Dance Like a Gabby Cat” – Gabby’s Dollhouse
Puppet Rhyme: “Mouse Loved to Clap” (use a MerCat stuffed animal with the mouse puppet, clap every time there is *)
Behind the tree * *
And under the house * *
There lived a teeny * *
Tiny mouse * *
She loved to sing * *
She loved to tap * *
But most of all * *
She loved to clap * *
She clapped all night * *
She clapped all day * *
She clapped to frighten * *
The cat away * * * * * * * * (lots of claps, “Meow!”)
Book: MerCat’s Sparkle Surprise!
Dance Party: “Gabby’s Dollhouse Theme Song”
Opening Song: “Bread and Butter”
Book: Dreamhouse Party by Jill Rosenblum
Movement Activity: “Career Barbies”
Hold up a picture of a Barbie and say what job that Barbie does. Then, pretend to do things someone with that job might do. For example, Chef Barbie might chop vegetables or stir a pot and Zookeeper Barbie might feed the animals. End with Astronaut Barbie to lead into the next song.
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)
Book: My Book of Puppies illustrated by Kellee Riley
Flannel: “Barbie Shoe Song” (Tune: “Mary Wore Her Red Dress”)
(Hold up a shoe that is a different color for every day of the week.)
Barbie wears her (color) shoe, (color) shoe, (color) shoe.
Barbie wears her (color) shoe every (day of the week).
Book: You Can Be a Musician by Christy Webster, illustrated by Fernando Güell, Ferran Rodriguez, and David Güell
Song: “Shake It Off” – Kidz Bop Kids: Kidz Bop 27
Book: Going Up! by Sherry J. Lee, illustrated by Charlene Chua
Song: “Can’t Wait to Celebrate” – Jim Gill: Jim Gill’s Irrational Anthem
Book: Happy Birthday, Bunny! by Liz Garton Scanlon, illustrated by Stephanie Graegin
Song/Video: “Reach for the Sun”
Yoga: Happy birthday candle
Social Story: It Was Supposed to Be Sunny by Samantha Cotterill
Craft: Paper cupcake
Book: Guinea Pig Party by Holly Surplice
Rhyme: “Jello in the Bowl” (tune: A Hunting We Will Go)
Jello in the bowl, jello in the bowl,
Wibble, wobble, wibble, wobble,
Jello in the bowl.
Cookies in the jar, cookies in the jar,
Shake ‘em up, shake ‘em up,
cookies in the jar.
Candles on the cake, candles on the cake,
Blow ‘em out, blow ‘em out,
candles on the cake.
(Credit: King County Library System)
Song: “Can’t Wait to Celebrate” – Jim Gill: The Irrational Anthem
Book: The Fairytale Cake by Mark Sperring, illustrated by Jonathan Langley
Flannel: “Five Candles”
Five candles on a birthday cake
Five, and not one more
You may blow one candle out,
Now there are four!
(There for all to see / three; Standing straight and true / two; Helping us have fun / one; We know its task is done / none)
(Credit: Addison Public Library)
Song: “If You’re Happy and You Know It”
If you’re happy and you know it, clap your hands,
If you’re happy and you know it, clap your hands,
If you’re happy and you know it, and you really wanna show it,
If you’re happy and you know it, clap you’re hands
Repeat with:
Stomp your feet
Blow out the candles
Shout “Hooray”
Song: “10 Little Candles”
1 little, 2 little, 3 little candles
4 little, 5 little, 6 little candles,
7 little, 8 little, 9 little candles,
10 little candles on the cake
Count back down from 10
Book: A Birthday for Cow! by Jan Thomas
Song: “Happy Birthday” to Cow
Happy Birthday to you,
Happy Birthday to you,
Happy Birthday dear Cow,
Happy Birthday to you
Song: “Icky Sticky Bubble Gum” – David Landau: Kids and Kitties
Book: When’s My Birthday by Julie Fogliano (Roaring Brook Press-Macmillan)
Song: “These Are My Glasses” sung acapella, recording: Laurie Berkner: Whaddaya Think of That?
Book: Brownie & Pearl Step Out by Cynthia Rylant (Beach Lane Books-Simon & Schuster)
Flannel: Where’s the Owl?
Song: “Happy Birthday to You!” to Mr. Sloth
Sign Language:
Intro: birthday, age, party, my, name
The Birthday Box: present, dog, hungry, eat, cake
The Fairytale Cake: make, happy birthday
Where is Baby’s Birthday Cake?: looking for, no, ice cream, yes
Book: The Birthday Box by Leslie Patricelli
Song/Rhyme: Pat-A-Cake
Pat a cake, pat a cake, baker man.
Bake me a cake as fast as you can.
Roll it and pat it and mark it with a “B”
And put it in the oven for baby and me!
Make a cake, make a cake, baker woman.
Make it in as many flavors as you can!
Please decorate it really nice,
I can’t wait to have a great big slice!
(Credit: ChuChu TV)
Song: “Baby Put Your Pants On” (Tune: “Short’nin’ Bread”)
Baby put your pants on, pants on, pants on (move baby’s legs)
Baby put your pants on, one, two, three (gently poke baby’s belly)
Baby put your pants on, pants on, pants on
Baby put your pants on, one, two, three
Leg to the left, leg to the right (move legs)
Wiggle and jiggle and pull them up tight
Leg to the left, leg to the right
Wiggle and jiggle and pull them up tight
Baby put your pants on, pants on, pants on
Baby put your pants on, one, two, three
Baby put your pants on, pants on, pants on
Baby put your pants on, one, two, three!
(Credit: Jbrary)
Book: The Fairytale Cake by Mark Sperring
Song (Recording): “Can’t Wait to Celebrate” – Jim Gill: The Irrational Anthem
Rhyme: This is Big, Big, Big
This is big, big, big. Move arms out to side
This is small, small, small. Move arms back to center.
This is short, short, short. Hold hands with palms facing each other
This is tall, tall, tall. Reach one hand above head
This is fast, fast, fast. Circle fists quickly
This is slow, slow, slow. Circle fists slowly
This is yes, yes, yes. Nod
This is no, no, no. Shake head
(Credit: Mel’s Desk)
Song: “Grand Old Duke of York” (Tune: “The Farmer in the Dell”)
The grand old Duke of York (bounce baby)
He had ten thousand men
He marched them up to the top of the hill (lift baby)
And marched them down again.
‘Cause when you’re up you’re up (lift baby)
And when you’re down you’re down
And when you’re only halfway up (lift baby)
You’re neither up nor down.
He marched them to the left (bounce left)
He marched them to the right (bounce right)
He marched them to the top of the hill (lift baby)
Oh, what a silly sight!
(Credit: Jbrary)
Book: Where is Baby’s Birthday Cake? by Karen Katz
Song (Recording) with shaky eggs: “Milkshake Song” – Old Town School of Folk Music: Songs for Wiggleworms
Book: A Birthday for Cow by Jan Thomas
Fingerplay: Make a Cake
Mix the batter, stir the batter (make a stirring motion with one arm/hand)
Shake some flour in (make a shaking motion with one arm/hand)
Mix the batter, stir the batter (make a stirring motion with one arm/hand)
Place it in a tin (pretend to pour)
Sprinkle in some chocolate chips (pretend to sprinkle)
Put it in to bake (open both hands, palms up, and slide them forward)
Then open wide the oven door (pretend to open door)
And out comes the cake! (open both hands, palms up, and slide them forward)
Song: “Can’t Wait to Celebrate” – Jim Gill: The Irrational Anthem
Book: The Birthday Box by Leslie Patricelli
Draw and Tell Story: Birthday Cake
(Credit: Linda Meuse, Notes from the Story Room)
Song: “Little Candles”
One little, two little, three little candles
four little, five little, six little candles
seven little, eight little, nine little candles
10 little candles on the cake.
Close your eyes, make a wish,
Ready, set, blow them out!
Song: “If You’re Happy and You Know It”– Laurie Berkner: Laurie Berkner’s Favorite Classic Kids Songs
Book: Brownie & Pearl Step Out by Cynthia Rylant, illustrated by Brian Biggs
Song: “Clap your Hands” – They Might Be Giants: Here Come the ABCs
Craft: Decorate a paper cupcake with crayons and stickers
Sign language: Party, cake , gift
Book: Baby’s Firsts by Nancy Raines Day, illustrated by Michael Emberley
Rhyme: Ten Little Candles
Ten little candles on a birthday cake. (hold up ten fingers)
“Wh! Wh!” Now there are eight.
(blow twice and bend down two fingers)
Eight little candles on a birthday cake.
“Wh! Wh!” Now there are six.
Six little candles on a birthday cake.
“Wh! Wh!” Now there are four.
Four little candles on a birthday cake.
“Wh! Wh!” Now there are two.
Two little candles on a birthday cake.
“Wh! Wh!” Now there are none!
Make a wish!
Song: “This is the Way”
This is the way we drink our milk
Drink our milk, drink our milk.
This is the way we drink our milk,
Early in the morning.
Additional verses: Milk, Juice, Water
Book: Guinea Pig Party by Holly Surplice
Song: “Did you ever see a baby, a baby, a baby?”
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)
Rhyme: “Icky bicky soda cracker”
Icky, bicky, soda cracker (bounce to rhythm)
Icky, bicky, boo! (lean forward on ‘boo‘)
Icky, bicky, soda cracker (bounce to rhythm)
Up goes you! (lift baby up)
Icky, bicky, soda cracker (bounce to rhythm)
Icky, bicky, boo! (lean forward on ‘boo‘)
Icky, bicky, soda cracker (bounce to rhythm)
I love you! (hug baby)
(Credit: King County Library System)
Rhyme: “Round About”
Round about, round about, goes the wee mouse (draw circle)
Up a bit, up a bit, in a wee house (tickle chin)
Book (choral): Don’t Spill the Beans! by Ian Schoenherr
Song (with shaky eggs): “Milkshake Song” – Old Town School of Folk Music: Songs for Wiggleworms
Book: Birthdays by Brenda Haugen, illustrated by Todd Ouren
Flannel: Queen Elsa’s Crowns (Tune: “Mary Wore Her Red Dress”)
Queen Elsa wore her purple crown, purple crown, purple crown.
Queen Elsa wore her purple crown every Sunday!
(repeat with different crowns and days)
(Source: Miss Sarah Storytime blog)
Song: “Jumping and Counting” – Jim Gill: The Irrational Anthem
Book: Boa’s Bad Birthday by Jeanne Willis, illustrated by Tony Ross
Song: “Can’t Wait to Celebrate” – Jim Gill: The Irrational Anthem
Rhyme: Ten Little Candles
Ten little candles on a birthday cake.
(hold up ten fingers)
“Wh! Wh!” Now there are eight.
(blow twice and bend down two fingers)
Eight little candles on a birthday cake.
“Wh! Wh!” Now there are six.
Six little candles on a birthday cake.
“Wh! Wh!” Now there are four.
Four little candles on a birthday cake.
“Wh! Wh!” Now there are two.
Two little candles on a birthday cake.
“Wh! Wh!” Now there are none!
Make a wish!
Book: Wolf’s Coming by Joe Kulka
Closing song
Craft: Birthday crowns
