Storytime in the Park 4/22/21

Book read: It looked like split milk by Charles Shaw

I'm a little cloud (to the tune of "I'm a little teapot")

I'm a little cloud in the sky (fingers in a circle above head) 

You can find me way up high (stretch arms).

Sometimes I'm puffy (hands on hips)

Sometimes I'm stretched out (hands at sides)

I just love to float about!

 

Stomping in the Rain (from Librarian vs. Storytime)
We're stomping in the rain, (stomp feet)
We're stomping in the rain,
We can't go yet,
We must get wet!
We're stomping in the rain!
Other verses can include clapping, hopping, twirling, dancing, etc.

 

It Ain't Gonna Rain No More (from Jbrary)
It ain't gonna rain no more, no more,
It ain't gonna rain no more,
Oh no, it's up to my toe!
It ain't gonna rain no more!

It ain't gonna rain no more, no more,
It ain't gonna rain no more,
Oh gee, it's up to my knee!
It ain't gonna rain no more!

It ain't gonna rain no more, no more,
It ain't gonna rain no more,
Oh my, it's up to my thigh!
It ain't gonna rain no more!

It ain't gonna rain, no more, no more,
It ain't gonna rain no more,
Oh fiddle, it' s up to my middle!
It ain't gonna rain no more!

It ain't gonna rain, no more, no more,
It ain't gonna rain no more,
Oh heck, it's up to my neck,
It ain't gonna rain no more!

It ain't gonna rain no more, no more,
It ain't gonna rain no more,
Oh dread, it's up to my head,
I guess I'll just swim home! 

Teddy Bear Picnic 4/23/21

Book read:
The Little Mouse, the Big Red Strawberry and the Big Hungry Bear by Audrey and Don Wood

On a Picnic We Will Go (to the tune of "The Farmer in the Dell")
On a picnic we will go, (march)
On a picnic we will go,
Hi ho the dairy-o,
On a picnic we will go!

We all will jump with joy, (jump)
We all will jump with joy,
Hi ho the dairy-o,
We will will jump with joy!

We'll run around and play, (run)
We'll run around and play,
Hi ho the dairy-o,
We'll run around and play!

My Teddy Bear (to the tune of "Skip to My Lou", from Vivian the Librarian)
I love to play with my teddy bear-air!
I love to play with my teddy bear-air!
I love to play with my teddy bear-air!
We can play most anywhere!
Other actions can include dancing, jumping, spinning, etc.

Teddy Bear, Teddy Bear

Teddy bear, Teddy Bear,
Turn around.

Teddy Bear, Teddy Bear,
Touch the ground.
Teddy Bear, Teddy Bear,

Turn of the light.

Teddy Bear, Teddy Bear,

Say "Goodnight!"

Bouncy Bear (with stuffed bear on chute)
Bouncy, bouncy, bouncy bear!
Bounce him here, and bounce him there.
Fly him high up in the air! 

Sleepy Bear (to the tune of "Where is Thumbkin?", from Preschool Education)
Where is bear? Where is bear?
Here I am. Here I am.
How are you this winter?
Very tired, thank you.
Go to sleep. Go to sleep.

Take home craft: Picnic collage! 

Head Start Storytime 4/19/21

Book read: Plinka Plinka Shake Shake by Emma Garcia

We're Marching to the Beat (modified from Storytime Out Loud, done with shakers)
We're marching to the beat!
We're marching to the beat!
Hi-ho the derry-o,
We're marching to the beat!
Other actions can include shaking, jumping, clapping, etc.

Can you make music with me?
Can you make music with me,
Music with me, Music with me?
Can you make music with me?
Tap along right on your (insert body part)! 

Dance anyway you want to (modified from Ms. Meg's Storytime)
Dance anyway that you want to,
Dance anyway that you want to,
Dance anyway that you want to,
But stop when I say FREEZE!
Other verses can include jumping as high as you can, dancing as fast as you can, spinning, etc

Songs from song cube

Storytime in the Park 4/8/21

Book read: From Head to Toe by Eric Carle

Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes

Dancing Animals (from Librarian Lisa's Storytimes)

This is the way the bunnies hop,

The bunnies hop,

This is the way the bunnies hop,

So early in the morning!

(Other actions can include any other animal and accompanying movement) 

I know a chicken (with shaky eggs)

1, 2 Shake It on Your Shoe (from Jbrary)

1, 2, shake it on your shoe.
3.4 shake it on the floor.
5. 6 shake it really quick.
7, 8 hold it up straight.
9, 10 shake it with your friends! 

One little fish (with scarves, from Jbrary)
One little fish,
Swimming in the water,
Swimming in the water,
Swimming in the water,
Bubble, bubble, bubble,
Pop, pop, pop!

Literacy tip of the week: Talk with your child about their favorite animal. How does it move?

Facebook Live Storytime 3/25/21

Book read: Shake a leg, egg! by Kurt Cyrus

On our way to the farm (modified from Storytimes and More, to the tune of "Here we go round the Mulberry Bush")
Here we go marching down the road, down the road,
Here we go marching down the road, on our way to the farm today!
Additional verses can include: running, tiptoeing, stomping, flying, etc.   

Little Birds (from Storytime Katie)
Little birds, little birds, jump up and down. (jump)
Little birds, little birds, don't make a sound! (finger to lips)
Little birds, little birds, tiptoe to me. (tiptoe)
Little birds, little birds, bend your knees! (bend knees)
Little birds, little birds, peep, peep, peep. (peep)
Little birds, little birds, sleep, sleep, sleep. (pretend to sleep)
Little birds, little birds, fly to the leaves. (fly)
Little birds, little birds, sit down please. (sit) 

Shake, Shake, Shake (to the tune of "Do your ears hang low?", from Storytimes and More)
Can you shake your egg up high?
Can you shake your egg down low?
Can you shake it side to side?
Can you shake it by your toe?
Can you shake it really fast?
Can you shake it really slow?
Can you shake your egg?

Five Little Eggs

Five little eggs (raise fingers on one hand)

And five little eggs (raise fingers on other hand)

Are 10 little eggs you see (wiggle fingers)

Break their shells and what do you have? (clap)

Ten little chickens as yellow as can be! (wiggle fingers)

Literacy tip of the week: Playing pretend is a great way to practice the imagination and storytelling skills.

Facebook Live Storytime 3/18/21

Book read: Bunnies! by Kevan Atteberry

Joe the Bunny
I'm a little bunny, my name is Joe.
I hop fast, and I hope slow! (hop fast then slow)
Whenever I get sleepy, my ears droop low, (make droopy ears with hands)
But after my nap, up they go! (lift "ears" up)

Hop along (to the tune of "Row, row, row your boat")
Hop, hop, hop along,
Or bounce on someone's knee.
Higher and higher and higher,
Bunny hop with me! 

Bunny in the hole
Bunny in the hole,
Sits so still,
Will he come out?
Yes he will!

Dance your bunnies
Dance your bunnies up,
Dance your bunnies down,
Dance your bunnies side to side,
Dance them round and round,
Dance them on your shoulders,
Dance them on your head,
Dance them on your tummy,
And put them right to bed!

There's something in my garden (with puppets)
There's something in my garden,
Something I can't see.
I hear a funny sound (insert noise)
What could it be?

Literacy tip of the week: Stories with few words provide a great opportunity to ask your child questions as you read together.

Facebook Live Storytime 3/11/21

Book read: Have you seen my new blue socks? by Eve Bunting

If you like blue (to the tune of "Did you ever see a lassie?")
If you like blue, like blue, like blue,
If you like blue clap your hands!
If you like blue, like blue, like blue,
If you like blue jump up and down!
Other actions can include stomp your feet, spin all around, etc.

The Boat on the Waves (to the tune of "The Wheels on the Bus")
The boat on the waves goes rock, rock, rock,
Rock, Rock, Rock. (stand and rock back and forth)
The boat on the waves goes rock, rock, rock,
All around the lake.

The wind in the sails goes swish, swish, swish,
Swish, Swish, Swish. (swing arms back and forth)
The wind in the sails goes swish, swish,
All around the lake.

The waves on the lake go up and down,
up and down, up and down, (alternate bending knees and standing up)
The waves on the lake go up an down,
All around the lake. 

Blueberry Roll (from Canton Public Library)
Five little blueberries sitting in a bowl,
One fell down and it started to ROLL!
It rolled off the table and under my seat.
How many blueberries are there left to eat? 
Repeat and count down to zero

One little fish (with scarves, from Jbrary)
One little fish,
Swimming in the water,
Swimming in the water,
Swimming in the water,
Bubble, bubble, bubble,
Pop, pop, pop! 

Literacy tip of the week: You can introduce new vocabulary to your child by talking about things that are different colors!

Facebook Live Storytime 3/4/21

Book read: Where is the green sheep? by Mem Fox

Red, red, red (from Storytime All Stars)
Red, red, red, touch your head.
Blue, blue, blue, touch your shoe.
Brown, brown, brown, touch  the ground.
Black, black, black, touch your back.
Pink, pink, pink, give a wink.
Gray, gray, gray, shout hooray!

Grey Squirrel (first verse from Miss Meg's Storytime, others by me)
Grey Squirrel, Grey Squirrel,
Shake your bushy tail!
Grey Squirrel, Grey Squirrel,
Shake your bushy tail!

Red Bird, Red Bird,
Flap your pretty wings!
Red Bird, Red Bird,
Flap your pretty wings!

Brown Dog, Brown Dog,
Wag your long tail!
Brown Dog, Brown Dog,
Wag your long tail!

Black Cat, Black Cat,
Crawl around the floor!
Black Cat, Black Cat,
Crawl around the floor!

Goldfish, Goldfish,
Swim around the room!
Goldfish, Goldfish,
Swim around the room!

Funny, Funny, Froggy (from Perry Public Library)
Funny, funny froggy,
Hop, hop hop!  (jump)
Funny, funny froggy,
Stop, stop, stop! (stop)
Funny, funny froggy,
Don't run away! (run)
Funny, funny froggy,
Stay and play!

Mary had a (insert color) lamb flannelboard 

Literacy tip of the week: Ask questions about the story as you read with your child. This will help expose them to new vocabulary!

Facebook Live Storytime 2-11-21

Book read: Click Clack Moo, I love you! by Doreen Cronin

Friend of Mine (to the tune of "Mary Had A Little Lamb", from Kelly's Kindergarten)
Will you be a friend of mine, friend of mine, friend of mine?
Will you be a friend of mine and (insert action) around with me?

Give Mom a Hug (from Storytime Katie)
Roar like a lion, growl like a bear, (growl/roar)
Give Mom a hug, show her you care.
Hop like a bunny, flap like a bird, (hop, then flap arms like wings)
Quiet as a mouse now, don't say a word.

Counting time (flannelboard)

Counting time, counting time.

So let's all sing a simple rhyme!

Five little hearts, in a row. 

Let's all count them. Here we go!

(follow with counting high/low and fast slow)

 

Literacy tip of the week: Learning about shapes (like hearts) will eventually help your little one differentiate between letters.

Facebook Live Storytime 2/4/21

Book read: Bounce by Doreen Cronin

Bouncing, Bouncing (adapted from NIEHS)
Bouncing, bouncing (bounce baby)
Hop, hop, hop! Hop, hop, hop!
Bouncing, bouncing bouncing,
Bouncing, bouncing,
Now we stop! (stop)
Other actions can include clapping, stomping, flying, etc)

Hey Mr. Snowman

I went walking through a winter wonderland

And spied a frosty snowman who needed a hand. 

Hey Mr. Snowman, what do you need?
I need some eyes put them on me please.

(repeat with other parts of the snowman)

Bumping up and down

Bumping up and down on my little blue sled, (bounce)
Bumping up and down on my little blue sled,
Bumping up and down on my little blue sled,
Won't you be my darling? (hug)
Other verses: Snow is falling down, Waving to my friends

 

Literacy tip of the week: Bouncing to a song helps your child feel the sounds that make up words.

Facebook Live Storytime 1/28/21

Book read: Hi Pizza Man! by Virginia Walter

Baking Pizza (to the tune of Shortin' Bread)
I can make a pizza! You can too!
Listen and you'll know just what to do.

Every little baker loves mixing, mixing.
Every little baker loves mixing dough.

Every little baker loves kneading, kneading.
Every little baker loves kneading dough.

Every little baker loves tossing, tossing.
Every little baker loves tossing dough.

This is the way (animal version with puppets)
This is the way I stomp my feet,
Stomp my feet, stomp my feet.
This is the way I stomp my feet,
Cause I'm an elephant!
Other actions can include: Wave trunk, shake tail, etc.

Little Fox, Little Fox

Little Fox, Little Fox

Are you in the (insert color) box?

 

Wheels on the bus 

 

Literacy tip of the week: Scarf play is a fun way to develop the finger muscles needed to write.

 

 

Facebook Live Storytime 1/21/21

Book read: Is everyone ready for fun? by Jan Thomas

Did you ever get silly (to the tune of "Did you ever see a Lassie?")
Did you ever get silly, get silly, get silly,
Did you ever get silly by shaking your head?
Did you ever get silly, get silly, get silly,
Did you ever get silly by jumping around?
Other actions can including stomping, shaking, etc.

Monkey See, Monkey Do (from Perry Public Library)
Monkey see, monkey do,
Little monkey in the zoo,
Little monkey in the tree,
Can you (insert action) like me?

Bananas Unite (from Jbrary)
Bananas unite! (hands connected above head)
Peel bananas, peel bananas! (move hands down)
Chop bananas, chop bananas! (chopping motion)
Mash bananas, mash bananas! (mashing motion)
Go bananas! Go bananas!

Silly Monster (with monster cut outs on flannelboard)
We hid our monster near colored beds.
For each color we chant: "Little Monster named Fred, Are you (under, over, above, below) the (color) bed?" 

Literacy tip of the week: Directional words help literacy development because they will be important  when they learn to write letters.

Facebook Live Storytime 1/14/21

Book read: Bear Snores On by Karma Wilson

Bears are Sleeping (to the tune of "Frere Jacques") (from King County Library System)
Bears are sleeping,
Bears are sleeping (pretend to sleep)
In their lairs,
In their lairs.
Soon it will be springtime,
Soon it will be springtime.
Wake up bears! Wake up bears! (pretend to wake up) 

Snowky Pokey (from Everything Preschool)
You put your right mitten in,
You take your right mitten out.
You put your right mitten in and you shake it all about.
You do the Snowky Pokey and you turn yourself around.
That's what it's all about!
Other verses can include boot, hat, whole self, etc.

Saw a snowflake (modified from Preschool Express, to the tune of "My Darling Clementine")
Saw a snowflake,
Saw a snowflake,
Saw a snowflake falling down.
It was floating,
It was twirling.
As it spun around and round. 

Snowball, Snowball (flannelboard, from Clinton Macomb Public Library Facebook)
Snowball, snowball, cold and round,
Under which mitten can you be found?

Literacy tip of the week:  Talking with your child about winter and hibernation is a great way to introduce new vocabulary.

Facebook Live Storytime 12/3/20

Book read: Tap the Magic Tree by Christie Matheson

A Tree is a Home (from Holiday Zone)
A tree may be a home for a bird (flap arms like a bird)
A tree may be a home for a bee (buzz hand like a bee)
A tree may be a home for a snake (slither like a snake)
A tree may be a home for a monkey (swing arms)
I would if a tree would make a good home for me? (point to self)

Frisky Squirrel (to the tune of "The Grand Old Duke of York", from HCPL Storytime)
Oh, the frisky squirrel,
He gathers nuts and seeds, (pretend to gather seeds)
He hides them for the winter months,
So he'll have all he needs!
Oh, up, up, up he goes! (reach up)
And down, down, down he comes. (reach down)
He runs around, goes up and down, (run, go up and down)
His work is never done! 

Five Little Monkeys Swinging in a Tree

We Hit the Floor Together (to the tune of "The Farmer in the Dell")

We hit the floor together,
We hit the floor together,

We hit the floor together,

Because it's fun to do! 

Repeat with different actions: clap hands, nod heads, sway side to side, say hello, etc.

Literacy tip of the week: Share your favorite holiday tradition with your child. The more you talk and share words together the more language your child is exposed to.

 

Facebook Live Storytime 11/19/20

Book read: If animals gave thanks by Ann Whitford Paul

I love Mommy (to the tune of "Frere Jacques" )
(we did this song using the ASL signs for "Mom" "Love" and "Yes")
I love Mommy, I love Mommy
Yes I do, Yes I do.
Mommies are for hugging (hug self or mom)
Mommies are for kissing, (blow a kiss)
I love you, yes I do. (point to mother)

Friend of Mine (to the tune of "Mary Had A Little Lamb")
Will you be a friend of mine, friend of mine, friend of mine?
Will you be a friend of mine and (insert action) around with me? 

 

We're going to the market (modified version of We're Going to the Zoo from ALA's 2014 Guerilla Storytime)
We're going to the market,
We're going to be there soon!
We're going to get some veggies, and other yummy food!
Shake it baby, shake it!
Shake it while you can!
Shake it like a milkshake, and pour it in the can!
Shake it to the bottom! Shake it to the top!
Shake it round and round and round!
Until I tell you stop!  

Itsy Bitsy Spider

 

Literacy tip of the week: Fingerplays help to develop fine motor skills that are needed for learning to write.

Facebook Live Storytime 11/12/20

Book read: Dinosaur Stomp by Paul Stickland

Dinosaurs were... (from Storytime Survival Kit)
Dinosaurs lived long ago.
Some walked (stomp in place).
Some swam (pretend to swim).
Some flew you know! (pretend to swim).
Some were big (hold arms out wide).
Some were small (crouch low).
Some were very, very tall! (reach high)

Hiding Dinosaurs

Dinosaur, dinosaur, where can you be?

Hiding behind me where I cannot see. (hands behind back)

Now you see one,  (bring out one hand)

It's waiting for you.

Here comes another, (bring out other hand)

And now you see two!

Dinosaur Wheels on the Bus (found at multiples sources)
The Pterodactyl wings go flap, flap, flap.
Flap, flap, flap. Flap flap flap.
The Pterodactyl wings go flap, flap, flap.
All around the swamp.
Other additions cam be Stegosaurus tail/swish swish swish, Tyrannosaurus Rex/grr grr grr, Brontosaurus/munch munch munch, etc.

Literacy tip of the week: Sharing pop up books with your child is a great way to increase print motivation. 

Facebook Live Storytime 11/5/20

Book read: The cow loves cookies by Karma Wilson

If You're a Cow and You Know It (to the tune of "If You're Happy and You Know It")
If you're a cow and you know it stomp your feet. (stomp feet)
If you're a cow and you know it stomp your feet.
If you're a cow and you know it and your face will surely show it.
If you're a cow and you know it stomp your feet.
Other verses include: shake you tail, eat grass, say "Moo!"

 

The cows in the barn (to the tune of "Wheels on the Bus")

The cows in the barn go moo, moo, moo,

Moo, moo, moo,

Moo, moo, moo,

All around the farm.

Use other animals and sounds for additional verses

Down around the corner (done as a flannelboard)

Down around the corner in the bakery shop.

Were five yummy cookies with chips on top.

Along came a friend with a dollar to pay.

They bought a cookie and took it away.

Count down until cookies are gone

Literacy tip of the week: Rhyming books are a great way to help your child recognize the words that make up language.

 

Facebook Live Storytime 10/29/20

Book read: Pumpkin Eye by Denise Fleming

Pumpkin Chant

Pumpkin, pumpkin, (pretend to slice bread)

Pumpkin bread!

Pumpkin, pumpkin,

Pumpkin head! (touch head)

Pumpkin, pumpkin

Pumpkin pie! (make circle with arms)

Pumpkin, pumpkin,

Pumpkin eye! (circles around eyes)

Pumpkin, pumpkin,

Pumpkin cake! (stir cake)

Pumpkin, pumpkin,

Pumpkin shake! (shake body)    

 

Pumpkin Search Game

Oh, where oh where has my pumpkin gone?

Oh, where oh where can it be?
I'm searching and singing my pumpkin song.
Won't you please help me?

 
Ten Little Ghosts

Five little ghosts all dressed in white (Hold up 10 fingers)
Went out a-haunting on Halloween night. (Wiggle fingers)
They all looked around for someone to scare. (Cup hands around eyes, look around)
They floated here and floated there. (Wiggle fingers to the right then to the left)
Then the ten little ghosts took a look at you (Point to child)
And they all ran away when you said "Boo!"(Put hands behind your back)

Literacy tip of the week: Knowledge of shapes (like those cut into pumpkins) is an important step to recognizing letters.

Facebook Live Storytime 10/8/20

Book read: Just say boo! by Susan Hood

This is the way (Halloween version)
This is the way the monsters stomp, the monsters stomp, the monsters stomp.
This is the way the monsters stomp, on Halloween night!
Other verses: the bat flies, the pumpkin smiles, the werewolf howls, etc.

Pumpkin, pumpkin
Pumpkin, pumpkin siting on a wall,
Pumpkin, pumpkin tip and fall,
Pumpkin, pumpkin, rolling down the street,
Pumpkin, pumpkin, trick or treat! 

Monsters Galore (modified from Storytime Katie)
Monsters galore, can you roar? (roar)
Monsters galore, can you soar? (fly)
Monsters galore, can you snore? (pretend to sleep)
Monsters galore, fall on the floor! (fall down)

Horns, fangs, knees and claws (version of "Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes")
Horns and fangs, knees and claws, (touch each corresponding body part)
Knees and claws.
Horns and fangs, knees and claws,
Knees and claws.
Eyes and ears and tail and claws!
Horns and fangs, knees and claws,
Knees and claws.   

Literacy tip of the week: Pretending (like we do on Halloween) is a great way to develop your child's imagination and storytelling skills.

Facebook Live Storytime 10/1/20

Book read: Fall Leaves Fall by Zoe Hall

 

Autumn leaves are falling down (adapted from Jbrary)
Autumn leaves are falling down, falling down, falling down, (flutter hands towards ground)
Autumn leaves are falling down, all around town.

The wind will blow them round and round, round and round, (spin)
The wind will blow them round and round, all around town.

Autumn leaves are dancing round, dancing round, dancing round (dance)
Autumn leaves are dancing round, all around town.

 

Let's All Do a Little Clapping 
(Tune:"We Wish You a Merry Christmas")
Let's all do a little clapping,
Let's all do a little clapping,
Let's all do a little clapping,
and spread some fall cheer!
Other actions can include stomping, jumping, twirling, etc.  

 

Autumn Animals (to the tune of Frere Jacques, from KCLS)
Bears are sleeping, bears are sleeping. (pretend to sleep)
Birds fly south, birds fly south. (pretend to fly)
Squirrels are storing acorns, squirrels are storing acorns,
In their mouths, in their mouths. (pretend to eat)  

 

Way up high in the apple tree

Way up high in the apple tree (stretch arms up high)

Five red apples smiled at me. (hold up five fingers)
I shook that tree as hard as I could. (shake)
Down came an apple, and boy was it good!

Way up high in the apple tree (stretch arms up high)
Four red apples smiled at me (hold up four fingers)
I shook that tree as hard as I could. (shake)
Down came an apple, and boy was it good!

 

Literacy tip of the week: Talk with your child about what you see all around you each season.