Acceptance Story Time – Preschool

Opening Song

Book: Oh, Olive! by Lian Cho

Flannel: “Draw a Shape in the Air” (Tune: “Found a Peanut”)
Draw a circle, draw a circle,
Draw a circle in the air.
A circle has no corners,
Draw a circle in the air.

Additional verses:
Triangle…3 sides
Square…4 sides
Heart…2 curved lines
Star…5 points
Hexagon…6 sides

Folder Story: “Pat the Cat”

(Credit: Adapted from Dr. Jean)

Book: Blurp’s Book of Manners by Cindy Derby

Song: “You’ll Sing a Song and I’ll Sing a Song”
You’ll sing a song and I’ll sing a song,
Then we’ll sing a song together.
You’ll sing a song and I’ll sing a song
In warm or wintry weather.

Additional verses:
Clap hands
Stomp feet
Twirl around

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

Family Story Time – Preschool

Opening Song

Book: Bathe the Cat by Alice B. McGinty, illustrated by David Roberts

Song: “Pig on Her Head” – Laurie Berkner: Buzz Buzz

Song: “Love Grows”
Love grows one by one, two by two, and four by four. (cross arms over heart, “grow” one arm past the other like a tree, then show the number of fingers first on one hand then the other)
Love grows, round like a circle (repeat crossing arms and “growing” arm, then draw a circle in the air)
And comes back knocking at your front door. (roll arms, mime knocking, and put hands together and hinge one out like opening a door)
(Credit: Actions from Tom Pease)

Book: One, Two, Grandpa Loves You by Shelly Becker, illustrated by Dan Yaccarino or Grandma’s Tiny House by JaNay Brown-Wood, illustrated by Priscilla Burris

Song: “Can’t Wait to Celebrate” – Jim Gill: Jim Gill’s Irrational Anthem

Closing Rhyme

Sleepy Story Time – Preschool

Opening Song

Big Book: The Napping House by Audrey Wood, illustrated by Don Wood
Napping House book cover

Fingerplay: “Five in the Bed”
There were five in the bed and the little one said,
“Roll over, roll over!”

So they all rolled over and one fell out.
There were four in the bed and the little one said,
“Roll over, roll over!”

So they all rolled over and one fell out.
There were three in the bed and the little one said,
“Roll over, roll over!”

So they all rolled over and one fell out.
There were two in the bed and the little one said,
“Roll over, roll over!”

So they all rolled over and one fell out.
There was one in the bed and the little one said, “Goodnight.”

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: Shhh! The Baby’s Asleep by JaNay Brown-Wood, illustrated by Elissambura

Song: “The Goldfish” – Laurie Berkner: Victor Vito

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

Closing Rhyme

Hungry Story Time – Preschool

Opening Song

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

Action Rhyme: “Abracadabra, Alaka-zow!”
Abra-cadabra, Alaka-zow
When I say KAZAM you’ll all be cows! KAZAM!

Abra-cadabra, Alaka-zello
When I say KAZAM you’ll all be jello! KAZAM!

Abra-cadabra, Alaka-zitty
When I say KAZAM you’ll all be kitties! KAZAM!

Abra-cadabra, Alaka-zids
When I say KAPOW you’ll turn back into kids! KAPOW!
(Credit: Handley Regional Library)

Action Song: “Bananas Unite!”
Bananas unite! (put your hands above your head so your body makes a banana shape)
Sing each line twice.
Peel bananas, peel, peel bananas. (“peel” your arms down to your sides)
Chop bananas, chop, chop bananas. (hold one hand straight up and down and chop on the other hand)
Mash bananas, mash, mash bananas. (make one hand into a fist and mash the other hand)
Eat bananas, eat, eat bananas. (pretend to eat)
Go bananas, go, go bananas! (do a silly dance)
(Credit: Jbrary)

Book: Roll, Roll, Little Pea by Cécile Bergame, illustrated by Magali Attiogbé, translated by Angus Yuen-Killick

Flannel Song: Today Is Monday by Eric Carle

Closing Rhyme

Surprise Endings Story Time – Preschool

Opening Song

Song: “I Wake Up My Hands”
I wake up my hands with a clap, clap, clap,
A clap, clap, clap, a clap, clap, clap,
I wake up my hands with a clap, clap, clap,
And I wiggle my waggles away.

Additional verses:
Feet – stomp
Head – nod
Belly – beep
Eyes – blink
(Credit: Jbrary)

Book: The Three Billy Goats Gruff by Mac Barnett, illustrated by Jon Klassen

Fingerplay: “Two Little Goats”
Two little goats, standing on a hill,
One named Jack and one named Jill.
Fly away, Jack, fly away, Jill!
Come back, Jack, come back, Jill!

Additional verses:
Munching on some grass – slow/fast
Prancing in the snow – high/low

Song: “The Goldfish” – Laurie Berkner: Victor Vito

Book: That Is Not a Good Idea! by Mo Willems

Closing Rhyme

Spooky Story Time – Preschool

Opening Song

Book: I Want To Be in a Scary Story by Sean Taylor, illustrated by Jean Jullien

Song: “Monster Boogie” – Laurie Berkner: Buzz Buzz

Prop Box: “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: “Horns, Fangs, Knees and Claws” (Tune: “Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes”)
Horns, fangs, knees and claws, knees and claws,
Horns, fangs, knees and claws, knees and claws,
Eyes and ears and tail and paws,
Horns, fangs, knees and claws, knees and claws.
(Credit: King County Library System)

Book: Boo! by Ben Newman

Song: “Sleeping Bag Chant” – Carole Peterson: H.U.M. All Year Long

Song: “Spider on the Floor” – Raffi: Singable Songs for the Very Young

Puppet Story: The Mouse Who Wasn’t Scared by Petr Horáček

Closing Rhyme

Pumpkin Story Time – Preschool

Opening Song

Book: Let It Grow by Mary Ann Fraser, illustrated by Riley Samels

Song: “Have You Ever Seen a Pumpkin?” (Tune: “Have You Ever Seen a Lassie?”)
Have you ever seen a pumpkin, a pumpkin, a pumpkin? (show pumpkin)
Have you ever seen a pumpkin that grows on a vine? (show pumpkin, twirl finger like vine)
Short ones and tall ones and big ones and small ones. (hold hand down low, up higher, hold arms in big circle, hands in small circle)
Have you ever seen a pumpkin that grows on a vine? (show pumpkin, twirl finger like vine)
(Credit: Adventures in Storytime)

Song: “Pumpkin, Pumpkin” (Tune: “Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star”)
Pumpkin, pumpkin on the ground, (touch the ground)
How’d you get so big and round? (make a big circle)
Once you were a seed so small, (hold hands together)
Now you are a great big ball! (make a big circle)
Pumpkin, pumpkin on the ground, (touch the ground)
How’d you get so big and round? (make a big circle)

Book: Penguin and Pumpkin by Salina Yoon
penguin-and-pumpkin cover image

Puppet Song: “So Many Leaves Are Falling on the Ground” (Tune: “Five Little Ducks”)
So many leaves are falling on the ground,
Orange ones, yellow ones, and even brown,
But the one little leaf that rhymes with ____________,
Is my favorite color, it’s the color ___________.

Verses: (bed) red, (wink) pink, (true) blue, (snack) black, (may) gray, (mean) green

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

Flannel: “Five Big Pumpkins”
5 big pumpkins sitting in a line, (hold fingers up)
All growing on one long vine. (hold flat arm up)
Along came the wind, WHOOSH! (make arm ripple)
It made the squashes sway, (sway back and forth)
And one big pumpkin rolled away. (roll arms)

Repeat, counting down until:
One big pumpkin sitting all alone,
A family picked it and took it home!
(Credit: Leah Portz)

Book: Piggies in the Pumpkin Patch by Mary Peterson and Jennifer Rofé
piggies-in-the-pumpkin patch cover image

Closing Rhyme

Communication Story Time – Preschool

Opening Song

Book: Little Grump Truck by Amanda Driscoll

Song: “Old MacDonald Felt So Glad”
Old MacDonald felt so glad,
HA-HA-HA-HA-HA!
And when he’s glad, he sounds like this:
HA-HA-HA-HA-HA!
With a HA-HA here, and a HA-HA there,
Here a HA, there a HA, everywhere a HA-HA!
Old MacDonald felt so glad,
HA-HA-HA-HA-HA!

Additional verses:
Grumpy = NO-NO-NO-NO-NO
Sad = Boo-hoo-hoo-hoo-hoo!
Silly = Nah-nah-nah-nah-nah
(Credit: Jen in the Library)

Song: “Can’t Wait to Celebrate” – Jim Gill: Jim Gill’s Irrational Anthem and More Salutes to Nonsense

Book with Puppets: Are You Mad at Me? by Tyler Feder and Cody Feder

Song: “I Look in the Mirror and What Do I See?” (adapted)
I look in the mirror and what do I see?
I see a happy face smiling at me.

Additional verses:
…surprised face looking at me.
…scared face hiding from me.
…angry face shouting at me.
…sad face frowning at me.
…shy face peeking at me.
…excited face grinning at me.

Pop-up Book/Song: If You’re Happy And You Know It, Clap Your Hands! by David A. Carter

Flannel: “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,
Then your face will surely show it.
If you’re happy and you know it, clap your hands.

Additional verses:
If you’re angry and you know it, move your feet…
If you’re sad and you know it, get a hug…
If you’re worried and you know it, take a breath…
If you’re silly and you know it, shake it off…

Closing Rhyme

Plant Pets Story Time – Preschool

Opening Song

Book: Luna’s Green Pet by Kirsten Pendreigh, illustrated by Carmen Mok

Song: “The Seed” (Tune: “Mary Had a Little Lamb”)
I’m a little planted seed, (crouch into a ball)
Planted seed, planted seed.
I’m a little planted seed,
This is how I grow.

Additional verses:
See the rain come sprinkling down…
Sunshine comes down through the trees…
Now I am a growing bud…
See my petals open up…

Book: The Pet Potato by Josh Lacey, illustrated by Momoko Abe

Flannel: “One Potato, Two Potatoes”
One potato, two potatoes,
Three potatoes, four.
Five potatoes, six potatoes,
Seven potatoes,
More!

Song: “Hot Potato” – The Wiggles: Yummy Yummy

Book: Keep an Eye on Ivy by Barroux

Puppet Rhyme: “There’s Some Pet in My Bedroom”
There’s some pet in my bedroom,
Now what can it be?
There’s some pet in my bedroom
That’s not supposed to be.
Hear its funny sound…WOOF – WOOF – WOOF!
A Dog is what I found! WOOF – WOOF – WOOF!

Additional verses:
Cat/MEOW
Moose/BELLOW
Snake/HISS
Macaw/SQUAWK
Octopus/SQUELCH
Ferret/DOOK
Fish/BLUB
Hippo/HONK
(Or any other silly/normal pet puppets you have!)
(Credit: Leah Portz)

Closing Rhyme