Train Story Time – Toddler

Opening Song

Book: I Like Trains by Daisy Hirst

Song: “On the Railroad Train” (Tune: “The Wheels on the Bus”)
The conductor on the train says, “All aboard!” (motion to “Come on in!”)
“All aboard! All aboard!”
The conductor on the train says, “All aboard!”
On the railroad train.

Additional verses:
The freight worker says, “Load ’em up!” (move arms from low to high)
The brakeman says, “Hitch up those cars!” (link both hands in front of you)
The engine on the train goes chugga-chugga-choo (make a circular chugging motion)
The wheels on the train go clickity-clack (clap hands)
The whistle on the train goes “Whoo-whoo-whoo!” (pretend to pull a train whistle)

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

Flannel Story: I Love Trains! by Philemon Sturges, illustrated by Shari Halpern
I Love Trains book cover

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: Chugga Chugga Choo Choo by Emma Garcia

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

Closing Rhyme

Train Story Time – Preschool & Everybody

Opening Song

Book: And the Train Goes… by William Bee
And the Train Goes . . . book cover

Song: “She’ll Be Comin’ Round the Mountain” – Wee Sing: Wee Sing in the Car

Flannel: I Love Trains! by Philemon Sturges, illustrated by Shari Halpern
I Love Trains book cover

Song: “The Freight Train” – Jane Murphy: Cars, Trucks and Trains

Book/Song: The Whistle on the Train by Margaret McNamara, illustrated by Richard Egielski, paper engineering by Gene Vosough
The Whistle on the Train

Movement/Whistle: Train horn signals (“o” indicates short sounds and “=” is for longer sounds)

= Stop
= = Go
o o o Back up
= = o = Train is approaching public crossings

Big Book: Freight Train by Donald Crews
Freight Train book cover

Closing Rhyme

Craft (from 2016): Track coloring sheet with train cars
Preschool story time train craft

Transportation Story Time – Toddler

Opening Song

Book: Animals Go Vroom! by Abi Cushman

Song: “Have You Ever Seen a Sailboat?” (Tune: “The More We Get Together”)
Have you ever seen a sailboat, a sailboat, a sailboat,
Have you ever seen a sailboat
Waving its sail?
Wave this way and that way
And that way and this way
Have you ever seen a sailboat waving its sail?

Additional verses:
Dump truck – driving down the road
Rocket ship – flying through space
(Credit: Jbrary)

Book: I Like Trains by Daisy Hirst

Flannel: “Where is Pick-up Truck?” (Tune: “Where is Thumbkin?”)
Where is pick-up truck? Where is pick-up truck?
Here I am. Here I am.
How are you today, sir? Very well, I thank you.
Drive away. Drive away.

Additional verses:
Fire truck, garbage truck, tow truck

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: The Seals on the Bus by Lenny Hort,
illustrated by G. Brian Karas

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

Closing Rhyme

Trains Story Time – Everybody

Opening Song

Book: A Train Goes Clickety-Clack by Jonathan London, illustrated by Denis Roche

Song: “The Wheels on the Train” (Tune: “The Wheels on the Bus”)
The wheels on the train go clickety clack,
Clickety clack, clickety clack,
The wheels on the train go clickety clack,
On the railroad tracks.

Additional verses:
The engine on the train goes chug, chug, chug…
The conductor on the train says “Ticket please”…
The people on the train go bounce, bounce, bounce…
The whistle on the train goes toot, toot, toot…
(Credit: Librarian Lisa’s Storytimes)

Book: Chugga Chugga Choo Choo by Emma Garcia

Flannel: “This Little Train” (Tune: “This Old Man”)
This little train painted black,
It comes chugging down the track
With a “Choo-choo! Toot-toot!”
Hear the whistle blow.
This little train goes chugging home.

This little car painted blue,
It has seats for me and you
With a “Choo-choo! Toot-toot!”
Hear the whistle blow.
This little train goes chugging home.

This little car painted yellow,
It shimmies and shakes like a bowl of jello
With a “Choo-choo! Toot-toot!”
Hear the whistle blow.
This little train goes chugging home.

This little car painted green,
It’s the fanciest car you’ve seen,
With a “Choo-choo! Toot-toot!”
Hear the whistle blow.
This little train goes chugging home.

This caboose, it is red,
It will take you home to bed
With a “Choo-choo! Toot-toot!”
Hear the whistle blow.
This little train goes chugging home.

Song: “Walk, Walk” – Carol Peterson: Tiny Tunes Music for the Very Young Child

Book: I Love Trains! by Philemon Sturges, illustrated by Shari Halpern
I Love Trains book cover

Fingerplay: “Engine on the Track”
Here is the engine on the track. (hold up thumb)
Here is the coal car, just in back. (pointer)
Here is the box car to carry freight. (middle)
Here is the mail car…don’t be late! (ring)
Way back here at the end of the train (little)
Rides the caboose through the sun and rain. (make a circle with hands above your head, then wiggle fingers from high to low to emulate rain drops)

Book: Freight Train by Donald Crews
Freight Train book cover

Scarf Song: “Scarves on Your Laps” – Johnette Downing: The Second Line

Closing Rhyme

Train Story Time – Baby

Opening song

Sign language: Train

Book: Terrific Trains by Tony Mitton, illustrated by Ant Parker

Terrific Trains book cover

Rhyme: This Little Train
This little train ran up the track (run your fingers up arm)
Toot, toot, toot (make train whistle sound)
And then it came toot-tooting back (run fingers down arm)
Toot, toot, toot
(Credit: earlylit.net)

Rhyme: Away up high in the apple tree (lift baby)
I saw a little baby smiling at me
I shook that tree as hard as I could (shake gently)
Down came the baby (bring down)
Mmm, was she good! (Kiss)

Rhyme: Trot, trot, trot to Boston (gently bounce baby on your knees)
Trot, trot, trot to Lynn.
Look out baby
You’re going to fall in (lower knees)

Book/Song: The Whistle on the Train by Margaret McNamara, illustrated by Richard Egielski, paper engineering by Gene Vosough

The Whistle on the Train

Song: “Train Wheels Are Rolling” – Kathy Reid-Naiman: Say Hello to the Morning

Rhyme: 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)

Flannel: The Train
Chug, chug, choo, choo, choo down the track.
First comes the engine with the coal car in back;
Boxcar, flat car, boxcar again;
Last the caboose at the end of the train.
(Credit: C.S. Peterson)

Song: 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)

Book (choral): Freight Train by Donald Crews

Freight Train book cover

Song (shaky eggs): “Train Song” – Bari Koral: Anna and the Cupcakes

Closing rhyme

Train Story Time – Baby

Opening song

Sign language for train

Book: A Train Goes Clickety-Clack by Jonathan London

train goes clickety-clack

Song: “The Train Wheels are Rolling” (roll hands during chorus) – Kathy Reid-Naiman: Say Hello to the Morning

Rhyme: Icky bicky soda cracker (bounce)
Icky bicky boo
Icky bicky soda cracker
Up goes you! (lift baby)

Rhyme: X marks the spot (draw on baby’s back)
Dot, dot, dot,
Up and down, around and around,
Oooooh! (tickle)

Rhyme: This Little Train
This little train ran up the track (run your fingers up arm)
toot, toot, toot (make train whistle sound)
And then it came toot-tooting back (run fingers down arm)
Toot, toot, toot
(Credit: earlylit.net)

Song: “Wake Up Toes” – Joanie Bartels: Morning Magic

Rhyme: Let’s go riding in an elevator
First floor, second floor, third floor, fourth floor (slowly lift baby)
Down (bring baby back down)

Book (choral): Freight Train by Donald Crews

Song: “Can You Shake Your Egg With Me?” (Tune: “London Bridge”)
Can you shake your egg with me,
Shake your egg along with me
It’s as easy as can be
Now put it on your knee!
(Repeat with head, tummy, etc.)
From Nancy Stewart; see nancymusic.com .

Song (shaky eggs): “Train Song” – Bari Koral: Anna and the Cupcakes

anna and the cupcakes

Closing rhyme