Apples and Pumpkins Story Time – Toddler

Opening Song

Book: Tap the Magic Tree by Christie Matheson

Flannel with Puppets: Ten Red Apples by Pat Hutchins

Song: “Tap Your Toe and Follow Me” – Susan Salidor: Come and Make a Circle

Book: Seed, Sprout, Grow! by Ruth A. Musgrave

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)
(Credit: Step by Step Childcare)

Song: “Fall Freeze Dance” – The Kiboomers

Book: Pepo and Lolo and the Red Apple by Ana Martín Larrañaga

Rhyme: “Way Up High in the Apple Tree”
Way up high in the apple tree, (stretch arms in the air)
Two little apples smiled at me. (make two fists)
I shook that tree as hard as I could, (shake arms in the air)
And down came the apples, (drop fists to floor)
Mmm, were they good! (rub tummy)
(Credit: King County Library System)

Song: “Reach for the Ceiling” – Carol Totsky Hammett, Elaine Bueffel, Dennis Buck, and Lynn Roberts: Toddlers on Parade

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

Closing Rhyme

Fall Story Time – Sensory Friendly

Opening Song

Book: In the Middle of Fall by Kevin Henkes, illustrated by Laura Dronzek
in the middle of fall cover

Song: “Leaves are Falling” (Tune: “Jingle Bells”)
Leaves are falling, leaves are falling, falling on my nose,
Leaves are falling, leaves are falling, falling on my toes,
On my head, on my ears, even my elbows,
Leaves are falling, leaves are falling, when the brisk wind blows.

Repeat the song, faster.

Book: The Busy Little Squirrel by Nancy Tafuri
The Busy Little Squirrel book cover

Movement: Learn the yoga pose “tree”

Social Story: “Listening in Class” from Quinn at School: Relating, Connecting, and Responding at School by Rick H. Warren

Closing Song

Craft: Torn paper fall tree

Leaves Story Time – Family

Opening Song

Book: My Leaf Book by Monica Wellington

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

Book: Leaves by David Ezra Stein
Leaves book cover

Flannel: “The Green Grass Grew All Around”

Book: One Leaf, Two Leaves, Count with Me! by John Micklos Jr., illustrated by Clive McFarland

Song: “Orange, Yellow, Red and Brown” (Tune: “Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes”) (with colored felt leaves)
Orange, yellow, red and brown, red and brown,
Orange, yellow, red and brown, red and brown,
Autumn leaves are twirling all around, (hold your arms out to your sides and spin them around and around)
Orange, yellow, red and brown, red and brown.

Orange, yellow, red and brown, red and brown,
Orange, yellow, red and brown, red and brown,
Autumn leaves are dancing in the breeze, (hold your arms up and dance them all around)
Orange, yellow, red and brown, red and brown.

Orange, yellow, red and brown, red and brown,
Orange, yellow, red and brown, red and brown,
Autumn leaves are falling to the ground, (go down to the floor and lay down)
Orange, yellow, red and brown, red and brown.
(Credit: From the CD, “Children’s Favorite Autumn Songs & Fingerplays” by The Learning Station)

Closing Rhyme

Apples and Pumpkins Story Time – Baby

Opening Song

Song: “When Ducks Go on an Adventure”
When ducks go on an adventure, they always say good day.
When ducks go on an adventure, 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: Apple, pumpkin

Puppet Story: Ten Red Apples by Pat Hutchins

Rhyme: “Criss Cross Applesauce”
Criss, cross, applesauce (draw X on back)
Spiders crawling up your back (crawl fingers up)
Cool breeze, tight squeeze, (blow air, squeeze)
Now you’ve got the shivers! (tickle)

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: Duck & Goose Find a Pumpkin by Tad Hills or I’m a Little Pumpkin by Hannah Eliot, illustrated by Anna Daviscourt
Duck and goose find a pumpkin

Lap Rhyme: “Way Up High in the Apple Tree”
Way 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. (wobble gently)
Down came the baby. (bring down)
Mmm, was she good! (Kiss)
(Credit: King County Library System)

Lap Rhyme: “Pumpkin, Pumpkin”
Pumpkin, pumpkin, sitting on a wall,
Pumpkin, pumpkin, tip and fall.
Pumpkin, pumpkin, rolling down the street,
Pumpkin, pumpkin, tickle those feet!

Lap Song: “Bumpity Bumpity Goes the Dump Truck”
Bumpity bumpity goes the dump truck.
Bumpity bumpity goes the dump truck.
Bumpity bumpity goes the dump truck.
Dump out the load. (tip baby to the side)
(Credit: Jbrary)

Shaker Eggs: “Apple Pickin’ Time” – Tom Pease: I’m Gonna Reach!

Closing Rhyme

Fall Story Time – Baby

Opening Song

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: Tree, leaves, squirrel

Book: The Busy Little Squirrel by Nancy Tafuri
The Busy Little Squirrel 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.

Rhyme: “Autumn”
Autumn winds begin to blow. (blow gently on baby’s cheek)
Colored leaves fall fast and slow. (wiggle fingers downward)
Twirling, whirling all around, (roll hands)
Until, at last, they touch the ground. (lower baby between legs)
(Credit: Library Village)

Book: Leaves: An Autumn Pop-Up Book by Janet Lawler, illustrated by Lindsay Dale-Scott, paper engineered by Yoojin Kim

Lap Song: “Bumpity Bumpity Goes the Dump Truck”
Bumpity bumpity goes the dump truck.
Bumpity bumpity goes the dump truck.
Bumpity bumpity goes the dump truck.
Dump out the load. (tip baby to the side)
(Credit: Jbrary)

Lap Song: “Way Up High in the Apple Tree”
Way up high in the apple tree, (lift baby)
I saw a little baby smiling at me.
I shook that tree as gently as I could, (shake gently)
Down came the baby, (bring down)
Mmm, was she good! (kiss)
(Credit: King County Library System)

Lap Song: “A Bouncing We Will Go” (Tune: “The Farmer in the Dell”)
A bouncing we will go, a bouncing we will go,
High-ho the dairy oh, a bouncing we will go.

Repeat with rocking and tickling
(Credit: King County Library System)

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

Scarf Song: “Autumn Leaves are Falling Down” (Tune: “London Bridge”)
Autumn leaves are falling down,
Falling down, falling down.
Autumn leaves are falling down
All around the town.

The wind will blow them round and round,
Round and round, round and round.
The wind will blow them round and round
All around the town.
(Credit: King County Library System)

Closing Rhyme

Outdoors Story Time – Sensory Friendly

Opening Song

Book: How to Say Hello to a Worm: A First Guide to Outside by Kari Percival

Song: “We Go Outside to Plant Our Seeds” (Tune: “The Farmer in the Dell”)
We go outside to plant our seeds.
We go outside to plant our seeds.
High ho the derry oh,
We go outside to plant our seeds.

Additional verses:
The rain falls on the ground…
The sun shines bright and warm…
The seeds begin to grow…

Book: Let’s Go Outside! by Ben Lerwill, illustrated by Marina Ruiz

Song: “Mat Man” – Cathy Fink and Marcy Marxer: Get Set for School Sing Along

Movement: Learn the yoga pose “reach for the sun”

Social Story: Thank You, Bees by Toni Yuly

Closing Song

Craft: Forest of colored trees on green paper

Forest Story Time – Baby

Opening Song

Puppet Song: “When Ducks Go on an Adventure”
When ducks go on an adventure, they always say good day.
When ducks go on an adventure, 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: Trees, squirrel, rabbit, owl

Book: The Very Hungry Caterpillar’s Forest Hide & Seek by Eric Carle

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: “Our Arms Go Up and Down” (Tune: “The Farmer In the Dell”)
Our arms go up and down,
Our arms go up and down,
Hi ho the derry-o,
Our arms go up and down.

Additional verses:
Our feet go back and forth…
Our heads go side to side…
We all go up and down…
(Credit: Bucks County Free Library)

Puppet Rhyme: “There’s Something in the Forest”
There’s something in the forest
That I can’t really see.
There’s something in the forest.
Now what can it be?

Repeat for bear, rabbit, owl, fox, squirrel, and mouse.

Book: Hide-and-Seek In the Forest by Rachel Elliot, illustrated by Gareth Lucas

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

Lap Song: “Way Up High in the Apple Tree”
Way up high in the apple tree, (lift baby)
I saw a little baby smiling at me.
I shook that tree as gently as I could, (shake gently)
Down came the baby, (bring down)
Mmm, was she good! (kiss)
(Credit: King County Library System)

Lap Song: “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)

Scarf Song: “Rain on the Grass”
Rain on the grass, (shake on floor)
Rain on the trees, (shake high)
Rain on the roof, (hold above head)
But not on me. (drop)

Repeat with sun and leaves.
(Credit: Jbrary)

Scarf Song: “Peekaboo” (Tune: “Frère Jacques”)
Peekaboo, peekaboo,
I see you, I see you,
I see your button nose,
I see your tiny toes,
Peekaboo, I see you.

Closing Rhyme

Earth Story Time – Sensory Friendly

Opening Song

Book: Red House, Tree House, Little Bitty Brown Mouse by Jane Godwin, illustrated by Blanca Gómez

Song: “Sammy” – Hap Palmer: Getting to Know Myself

Book: The Earth Is Good: A Chant in Praise of Nature by Michael DeMunn, illustrated by Jim McMullan

Song: “Mat Man” – Cathy Fink and Marcy Marxer: Get Set for School Sing Along

Yoga: Mountain and tree

Social Story: Big Earth, Little Me by Thom Wiley, illustrated by Kate Endle

Closing Song

Craft: Earth suncatchers

Apple Story Time – Preschool

Opening Song

Book: What’s an Apple? by Marilyn Singer, illustrated by Greg Pizzoli
What's an Apple? book cover

Song: “Autumn Leaves Are Falling Down” – Junior Jukebox: Four Seasons

Rhyme: “Way Up High in the Apple Tree”
Way up high in the apple tree, (stretch arms in air)
Two little apples smiled at me. (make two fists)
I shook that tree as hard as I could, (shake arms in air)
And down came the apples. (drop fists to floor)
Mmmmm, they were good! (rub tummy)

Book/Flannel: Ten Red Apples by Pat Hutchins

Rhyme: “Wiggle Worms”
Here are some worms who are, oh, so sad.
They’ve lost all the wiggles that they once had.
They wonder if you, just for today,
Would lend them your wiggles so they can play.

Wiggle them up and wiggle them down,
Wiggle the worms around and around.
Wiggle them high and wiggle them low,
Wiggle them fast and wiggle them slow.
Wiggle them over your shoes and your socks,
Then wiggle them back into their box.

Fingerplay: “Five Little Apples”

Song: “Put Your Finger in the Air” – Bob McGrath: Sing Along with Bob #2

Flannel/Puppet Story: Little Mouse’s Big Secret by Éric Battut

Song: “A Little Apple Seed” (Tune: “The Itsy Bitsy Spider”)
Once a little apple seed
Was planted in the ground.
Down came the raindrops falling all around.
Out came the big sun,
Bright as bright could be,
And that little apple seed grew up
To be an apple tree.

Closing Rhyme

Garden Story Time – Toddler

Opening Song

Book: Lola Plants a Garden by Anna McQuinn, illustrated by Rosalind Beardshaw

Puppet Song: “There’s Something in My Garden”
There’s something in my garden,
Now, what can it be?
There’s something in my garden,
That I can’t really see.
I hear its funny sound…
RIBBIT – RIBBIT – RIBBIT
A FROG is what I found!
RIBBIT – RIBBIT – RIBBIT

Additional verses:
THUMP – Rabbit
SQUEAK – Mouse
TWEET – Bird
BUZZ – Bee
WIGGLE – Caterpillar
FLUTTER – Butterfly

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)

Book: Big Yellow Sunflower by Frances Barry

Flannel: “Way Up High In the Apple Tree”
Way up high in the apple tree,
Two little apples smiled at me.
I shook that tree as hard as I could.
Down fell the apples.
Mmmm, were they good!
(Credit: King County Library System)

Song: “The Itsy Bitsy Spider”
The itsy bitsy spider went up the waterspout,
Down came the rain and washed the spider out,
Out came the sun and dried up all the rain,
And the itsy bitsy spider went up the spout again.

Book: Early Bird by Toni Yuly

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

Shaker Eggs: “Shake it on Your Shoe”
1, 2, shake it on your shoe.
3, 4, shake it on the floor.
5, 6, stir and mix.
7, 8, stand up straight.
9, 10, wave to your friends.

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

Closing Rhyme