Magical Creature Books - Family Storytime

A Wednesday morning storytime for ages 0-6 years old.  

Opening #1: “Row, Row, Row Your Boat” from Songs for Wiggleworms by Old Town School of Folk Music

Opening #2: Roly Poly Oh So Fast (hand rolling body part chant adapted by Carol Hopkins)

Roly poly, roly poly, oh so fast!
Roly poly, roly poly, oh so slowly.
Roly poly, roly poly, up.
Roly poly, roly poly, down.
Roly poly, roly poly, hands on your head.
Roly poly, roly poly, hand on your feet.

(Repeat with other body parts)

Roly poly, roly poly, hands in your lap.

 

Opening #3: Fee Fi Fo Fum

Fee fi fo fum,
(clap for each syllable)

See my fingers,
(wiggle fingers)

See my thumbs.
(wiggle thumbs)

Fee fi fo fum,
(clap for each syllable)

Good bye fingers,
(hide one hand behind back)

Good bye thumbs.
(hide the other hand behind back)

(Repeat several times moving and saying the words faster and faster)

 

Literacy activity flannelboard: Baby Dragons Playing with Letters (flannelboard song to the tune of "Do You Know the Muffin Man" written by Carol Hopkins)

I was inspired by a flannelboard rhyme I found at Storytime In the Stacks to write my own dragon flannelboard rhyme.  I passed out one baby dragon to each child.  The dragons have one of 5 letters on them.  The children bring their dragon up to the board when I say their letter.  

Now we have baby dragons, baby dragons, baby dragons, 

Now we have baby dragons, 

Trying to blow bubbles.

(Bubbles starts with the letter "B")

Now we have baby dragons, baby dragons, baby dragons, 

Now we have baby dragons, 

Blowing kisses to their mom.

(Kiss starts with the letter "K")

...Flapping their tiny wings.

(Wings starts with the letter "W")

...Jumping with a rope.

(Rope starts with the letter "R")

...Trying to breathe fire.

(Fire starts with the letter "F")

Now we have loud dragons, loud dragons, loud dragons,

Now we have loud dragons,

Giving out a roar!

(Everyone roars)

 

 

Book #1: There's a Unicorn In Your Book by Tom Fletcher, illustrated by Greg Abbott 

Theme activity #1: "If You're Happy And You Know It" traditional action song from WeeSing 

Theme activity #2: Magic Finger (fingerplay I found at the Storytime with Ms. Emily Library blog at https://msemilylibrary.com/2021/03/29/preschool-storytime-magic/) 

  

Transition: Come 'A' Look And See (fingerplay song I first picked up at a workshop conducted by Jane Cobb but can also be found on the music CD The Baby Record by Bob McGrath)

Come a' look a' see, here's my mama, 
(point to thumb)
Come a' look a' see, here's my papa, 
(point to index finger)
Come a' look a' see, my brother tall, 
(point to tall finger)
Sister, baby, 
(point to ring, then baby finger) 
I love them all. 
(Kiss the fingertips of your finger family)

 

***Parent literacy tip: Stories often explore themes of emotions, relationships, and dilemmas, helping children understand and navigate their own feelings and social interactions.  

Book #2: The Magic Rabbit by Richard Jesse Watson 

Book #3: How to Spot a Mermaid by Jane Yolen, illustrated by Sally Deng 

Closing music with scarves: “Silly Dance Contest” from Jim Gill Sings the Sneezing Song & Other Contagious Tunes by Jim Gill    

  

 

 

Art activity:  Create magical door charms by painting watercolor paints on doorknob hangers

Optional other books:
If I Had a Gryphon by Vikki VanSickle 
Waking Dragons by Jane Yolen, illustrated by Derek Anderson 

 

 

 

 

Hop Frogs - Baby Toddler Storytime

A Wednesday morning storytime for ages 0-2 years old.  

Opening #1: Skinnamarink (action song from Car Songs: Songs to Sing Anywhere by Dennis Buck from Kimbo)

Opening #2: Sticky, Sticky Bubblegum (fingerplay)

Sticky, sticky bubblegum, bubblegum, bubblegum; 
Sticky, sticky bubblegum;
Stuck to your __________.
1, 2, 3, PULL!

(Repeat with more places to stick the gum)

 

 

Book: Hop Jump by Ellen Stoll Walsh

Themed activity #1:  Froggies High and Low (lap bounce I slightly adapted that I found at https://pasadena-library.net/kids/2017/frogs-infant-storytime/ ) 

Five little froggies sitting on a wall (bounce baby)
One looked up and down he fell (tip baby over)
Froggies jumped high (lift baby up)
Froggies jumped low (bring baby down)
Froggies dancing to and fro (wiggle)

  

Themed activity #2: I’m a Little Bullfrog (lap bounce rhyme I found in “Wiggles, Tickles and Rhymes” booklet from PCLS as “Here’s Mr. Bullfrog”)

I’m a little bullfrog (gribbit)
Sitting on a rock
Into the water I jump
Ker-plop!

I swim to the right
I swim to the left
I jump back onto my rock
Ker-plump!

  

Lap rhyme #1: Tick Tock (lap bounce)

(bounce baby from leg to leg)

Tick tock, tick tock, I’m a little cuckoo clock.
Tick, tock, tick tock, now it is one o’clock… Cuckoo!
(raise baby up for each cuckoo)

(repeat for other times of day)
Now it is two o’clock… Cuckoo! Cuckoo!

Now it is three o’clock… Cuckoo! Cuckoo! Cuckoo!

 

Lap rhyme #2: Counting Bubbles (counting rhyme I learned during a BrainDance workshop)

One bubble, two bubbles, three bubbles, top.
(pat legs with hands for each number chanted, then place hands on top of head)

Three bubbles, four bubbles, five bubbles, drop.
(pat legs with hands for each number chanted, then drop hands to lap)

Six bubbles, seven bubbles, nine bubbles, pop.
(pat legs with hands for each number chanted, then clap hands loudly in front of body)

Ten little bubbles floating down!
(twinkle hands down to floor)

Now let’s blow _____ bubbles.
(This is a breath exercise.  Pick a number and pretend to blow that number of bubbles through hand.  Don’t forget to pop the bubbles with a loud clap after blowing it up.  I count the bubble while I do the clap.) 

 

Lap rhyme #3: A Hippopotamus Got on a City Bus (lap bounce rhyme I found at Jbrary at https://youtu.be/OZOq5Wiiox8?si=guAfW8ip2WPwZAtq)

A sheep, a sheep, a sheep got on a city bus;
And all, and all, and all the people said,
"Baaaack up!"

A cow, a cow, a cow got on a bus;
And all, and all, and all the people said,
"Mooooove over!"

A hip, a hip, a hippopotamus got on, got on, got on a city bus;
And all, and all, and all the people said,
"You're squishing us!"
(hug baby)

 

Lap rhyme #4: Head, Shoulders, Knees, and Toes (traditional song)

Head, shoulders, knees, and toes,
Knees and toes.
Head, shoulders, knees and toes,
Knees and toes.
And eyes and, ears and, mouth and nose.
Head, shoulders, knees and toes,
Knees and toes.

   

***Literacy tip: Singing to  your child is very important in any language!  It helps trigger speech development and children love being sung to by their parents/caregivers.  

Transition: Come 'A' Look And See (fingerplay song I first picked up at a workshop conducted by Jane Cobb but can also be found on the music CD The Baby Record by Bob McGrath)

Come a' look a' see, here's my mama, 
(point to thumb)
Come a' look a' see, here's my papa, 
(point to index finger)
Come a' look a' see, my brother tall, 
(point to tall finger)
Sister, baby, 
(point to ring, then baby finger) 
I love them all. 
(Kiss the fingertips of your finger family)

 

Letter of the day: “F” is for frog

 

 

Flannelboard: Five Green and Speckled Frogs (traditional counting down song)

Closing song with scarves: "Nelly Go Cross the Ocean" from More Tickles & Tunes by Kathy Reid-Naiman 

 

 

 

  

Fabulous Frogs - Family Storytime

A Wednesday morning storytime for ages 0-6 years old.  

Opening #1: “Row, Row, Row Your Boat” from Songs for Wiggleworms by Old Town School of Folk Music

Opening #2: Roly Poly Oh So Fast (hand rolling body part chant adapted by Carol Hopkins)

Roly poly, roly poly, oh so fast!
Roly poly, roly poly, oh so slowly.
Roly poly, roly poly, up.
Roly poly, roly poly, down.
Roly poly, roly poly, hands on your head.
Roly poly, roly poly, hand on your feet.

(Repeat with other body parts)

Roly poly, roly poly, hands in your lap.

 

Opening #3: Fee Fi Fo Fum

Fee fi fo fum,
(clap for each syllable)

See my fingers,
(wiggle fingers)

See my thumbs.
(wiggle thumbs)

Fee fi fo fum,
(clap for each syllable)

Good bye fingers,
(hide one hand behind back)

Good bye thumbs.
(hide the other hand behind back)

(Repeat several times moving and saying the words faster and faster)

 

 

Literacy activity flannelboard: Did You Ever See a Frog?  (flannelboard pattern and shape song to the tune of “Did You Ever See a Lassie?” created by Carol Hopkins)

Did you ever see a frog, a frog, a frog?
Did you ever see a frog, with {_spots_} on its back?

(continue with other shapes and patterns on the back of the frog: Stripes, stars, arrows, etc.)

  

  
 

Book #1: Towed by Toad by Jashar Awan 

Theme activity #1: “Jumping and Counting” action song from Jim Gill’s Irrational Anthem And More Salutes to Nonsense by Jim Gill

Theme activity #2: Frog Jump Over the Great Big Stick (action rhyme written by Carol Hopkins)

Frog be nimble, frog be quick, 
Frog jump over the great big stick
Frog be nimble, frog be slick
Frog swim under the great big stick
Frog be nimble, frog go click
Frog run around the great big stick
Frog be nimble, frog be fine
Frog sit down for storytime

 

Transition: Come 'A' Look And See (fingerplay song I first picked up at a workshop conducted by Jane Cobb but can also be found on the music CD The Baby Record by Bob McGrath)

Come a' look a' see, here's my mama, 
(point to thumb)
Come a' look a' see, here's my papa, 
(point to index finger)
Come a' look a' see, my brother tall, 
(point to tall finger)
Sister, baby, 
(point to ring, then baby finger) 
I love them all. 
(Kiss the fingertips of your finger family)

 

***Parent literacy tip: Singing to your child is very important in any language! It helps trigger speech development and childdren love being sung to by their parents/caregivers.  

Book #2: The Wide-Mouthed Frog: A Pop-up Book by Keith Faulkner, illustrated by Jonahtan Lambert (pop-up) 

Book #3: Fabulous Frogs by Martin Jenkins, illustrated by Tim Hopgood 

Closing music with scarves: “Silly Dance Contest” from Jim Gill Sings the Sneezing Song & Other Contagious Tunes by Jim Gill    

  

 

Art activity:  Paper frog headband to cut and color

Optional other books:
Maisy Loves Frogs by Lucy Cousins (board book) 
Frogs (National Geographic Kids Little Kids First Board Book series) by Ruth A. Musgrave 

 

 

 

 

Favorite Playtime Arts & Crafts Activities

Doing arts and crafts with young children helps to build fine motor skills like cutting, gluing, and hand-eye coordination.  It also boosts confidence through completed projects.  It provides an outlet for emotional self-expression while naturally teaching children how to follow instructions.

The arts and crafts activities that the children who attend my Playtimes like to do the most:

-          Playdough with cookie cutters and playdough toys

-          Watercolor paints

-          Rubber stamps

Summer Reading presentations, 2026 edition

This was another light year on elementary school summer reading presentations.  Instead, we concentrted on tabling at end-of-school-year parties at our area elementary schools.  

I did go out to a couple of Early Learning Centers to talk about summer reading and then share a storytime book.  I tried out one new book while bringing along two other favorites.  The kindergarten and preschool classes loved these books!  

  

Bark, George by Jules Feiffer 

Crash, Splash, or Moo! by Bob Shea 

Mr. Fox's Game of "No!" by David LaRochelle, illustrated by Mike Wohnoutka 

Board Game Table at Playtime

 

Playing board games with young children is a powerful learning tool disguised as fun. They help to build foundational social-emotional skills like turn-taking, sharing, and emotional regulation.  They reaffirm every day skills such as counting, color recognition, and pattern matching.  Board games also encourage screen free play with family and friends. 

I love bringing out board games for the children to experiment with.  There are a great many available, old classics along with some entertaining new games.  Even if a child is not ready to play the game according to the written rules, it is fun to watch them interact with the game pieces in imaginative ways. 

 

Some board games available at my library:

-          Pengoloo

-          Chickyboom

-          Dinosaur dominoes

-          Candy Land

Pretend Play at Playtime

 

Pretend play allows children to safely practice social interactions, experiment with language, and develop creative problem-solving skills.  It doesn’t take much for children to start pretending!  My pretend play (a.k.a. dramatic play) corner consists of a box with the lines of a stove top on the lid, a cash register, some toy pots and pans, plus some plastic fruit and other foods.