Halloween Storytime

Storytime for 1 to 3 year olds: 

• Opening - Skinnamarink (from Car Songs: Songs to Sing Anywhere by Dennis Buck at Kimbo), Sticky Sticky Bubblegum
• Book #1 – I Love You, Little Pumpkin! by Sandra Magsamen (lift-flap, board book)
• Stand-up Activity - Jack-O-Lantern, Jack-O-Lantern (action rhyme adapted by Carol Hopkins similar to "Teddy Bear, Teddy Bear Turn Around")

Jack-O-Lantern, Jack-O-Lantern turn around.
Jack-O-Lantern, Jack-O-Lantern roll on the ground.
Jack-O-Lantern, Jack-O-Lantern dance on your toes.
Jack-O-Lantern, Jack-O-Lantern light up your nose.
Jack-O-Lantern, Jack-O-Lantern reach up high.
Jack-O-Lantern, Jack-O-Lantern jump to the sky.
Jack-O-Lantern, Jack-O-Lantern smile with heat.
Jack-O-Lantern, Jack-O-Lantern find your seat.

• Bridge - Open Shut Them (fingerplay)

Open, shut them
(open and close hands)
Open, shut them
Give a little clap (clap)
Open, shut them
Open, shut them
Put them in your lap
(put hands in lap)

Creep them, creep them
Under your chin
(creep fingers up chest)
Open your mouth, but don't put them in
(do as words say)

Open, shut them
Open, shut them
Give a little clap
Open shut them
Open shut them
Put them in your lap 

• Flannelboard - Three Little Pumpkins (picked up this rhyme off a website many years ago)

• Book #2 - Maisy's Halloween by Lucy Cousins
• Activity – Pumpkins Over There (action rhyme written by Carol Hopkins)

Pumpkins small
And pumpkins tall
Pumpkins, pumpkins everywhere
Pumpkins fat
And pumpkins thin
Pumpkins, pumpkins over there!

• Closing - Use egg shakers to the song "I Know a Chicken" from Whaddaya Think of That? by Laurie Berkner
• Craft – Glue small tissue paper squares onto a pumpkin drawing to create unique Jack-O-Lanterns

John, Paul, George, and Ben, and Independent Tom

A library program for children ages 4 through 12.

Show the Weston Woods movie of the book John, Paul, George, and Ben by Lane Smith.

Tell the story of why Betsy Ross used  5 pointed stars on the U.S flag. (They can be made easily with a proper single cut.)

Sing the song "Yankee Doodle" from Kids Silly Songs by Wonder Kids.

Activity stations:

-  Create maccaroni noodle art by gluing a variety of different shaped noodles and pasta onto paper.

-  Fold and cut five pointed stars.  Then color them with crayons.

-  Due some creative building like Tom with Straw Connectors.

Tales of Wonder

The following is a program I did for a large multi-age group of children. There were about 60 kids ranging in age from first through fifth grade.

Read: Snoring Beauty by Bruce Hale, illustrated by Howard Fine

Act Out: Using volunteers and a minimal amount of props, act out the story of "This Too Shall Pass" 

Extra book if needed: One Grain of Rice by Demi

Craft: Decorate a paper towel tube bracelet

Frog and Toad Storytime

Storytime for 1 to 3 year olds: 

• Opening - Skinnamarink (from Car Songs: Songs to Sing Anywhere by Dennis Buck at Kimbo), Sticky Sticky Bubblegum
• Book #1 – Splash by Ann Jonas
• Stand-up Activity - "The Little Green Frogs" (action song from It's Toddler Time by Carol Hammet and Elaine Bueffel)

• Bridge - Open Shut Them (fingerplay)

Open, shut them
(open and close hands)
Open, shut them
Give a little clap (clap)
Open, shut them
Open, shut them
Put them in your lap
(put hands in lap)

Creep them, creep them
Under your chin
(creep fingers up chest)
Open your mouth, but don't put them in
(do as words say)

Open, shut them
Open, shut them
Give a little clap
Open shut them
Open shut them
Put them in your lap 

• Flannelboard - Five Green and Speckled Frogs (traditional song)

• Book #2 - Toad by Ruth Brown
• Activity – 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

• Closing - Use scarves to the song "Milkshake" from Songs for Wiggleworms by Old Town School of Folk Music
• Craft – Coloring pens on a frog headband

Friendship Storytime

Storytime for 1 to 3 year olds: 

• Opening - Skinnamarink (from Car Songs: Songs to Sing Anywhere by Dennis Buck at Kimbo), Sticky Sticky Bubblegum
• Book #1 – Along Came Toto by Anni Axworthy
• Stand-up Activity - "Hey Little Friend" action song from Sing It! Say It! Stamp It! Sway It! volume 3 by Peter and Ellen Allard

• Bridge - Open Shut Them (fingerplay)

Open, shut them
(open and close hands)
Open, shut them
Give a little clap (clap)
Open, shut them
Open, shut them
Put them in your lap
(put hands in lap)

Creep them, creep them
Under your chin
(creep fingers up chest)
Open your mouth, but don't put them in
(do as words say)

Open, shut them
Open, shut them
Give a little clap
Open shut them
Open shut them
Put them in your lap 

• Flannelboard - Five Friends (counting down rhyme I found at www.stepbystepcc.com)

• Book #2 - How Do Dinosaurs Play with Their Friends? by Jane Yolen and Mark Teague (board book)
• Activity – Four Friends (fingerplay I found somewhere many years ago)

• Closing - Use scarves to the song "Milkshake" from Songs for Wiggleworms by Old Town School of Folk Music
• Craft – Dot stickers on a friendship card

Lunar New Year Storytime

Storytime for 1 to 3 year olds: 

• Opening - Skinnamarink (from Car Songs: Songs to Sing Anywhere by Dennis Buck at Kimbo), Sticky Sticky Bubblegum
• Book #1 – Ten Mice for Tet by Pegi Deito Shea and Cynthia Weill, illustrated by Tō Ngọe Trang, embroidery by Phạm Viết Ðinh
• Stand-up Activity - Little Mouse, Little Mouse (action rhyme similar to "Teddy Bear, Teddy Bear Turn Around")

Little mouse, little mouse turn around.
Little mouse, little mouse creep to the ground.
Little mouse, little mouse scamper on your toes.
Little mouse, little mouse twitch your nose.
Little mouse, little mouse squeak up high.
Little mouse, little mouse jump to the sky.
Little mouse, little mouse pat your feet.
Little mouse, little mouse have a seat.

• Bridge - Open Shut Them (fingerplay)

Open, shut them
(open and close hands)
Open, shut them
Give a little clap (clap)
Open, shut them
Open, shut them
Put them in your lap
(put hands in lap)

Creep them, creep them
Under your chin
(creep fingers up chest)
Open your mouth, but don't put them in
(do as words say)

Open, shut them
Open, shut them
Give a little clap
Open shut them
Open shut them
Put them in your lap 

• Flannelboard - Five Green Dragons (counting backwards rhyme I found at everythingpreschool.com)

Five green dragons making such a roar.
One danced away and then there were four.
Four green dragons dancing around a tree.
One danced away and then there were three.
Three green dragons dancing around you.
One danced away and then there were two.
Two green dragons dancing in the sun.
One danced away and then there was one.
One green dragon having lots of fun
She danced away and then there were none.

• Book #2 - My First Chinese New Year by Karen Katz
• Activity – A Marching We Will Go (action chant)

A marching we will go
A marching we will go
Hi ho the derry oh
A Marching will will go

A jumping...
A spinning...
A running...
A sitting...

• Closing - Use scarves to the song "Milkshake" from Songs for Wiggleworms by Old Town School of Folk Music
• Craft – Chalk coloring on construction paper Chinese lanterns

Monster Storytime

Storytime for 1 to 3 year olds: 

• Opening - Skinnamarink (from Car Songs: Songs to Sing Anywhere by Dennis Buck at Kimbo), Sticky Sticky Bubblegum
• Book #1 – Into the Castle by June Crebbin, illustrated by John Bendall-Brunello
• Stand-up Activity - Monster, Monster (action rhyme, based on the rhyme "Teddy Bear, Teddy Bear Turn Around")

Monster, monster turn around.
Monster, monster touch the ground.
Monster, monster reach up high.
Monster, monster bug out your eyes.
Monster, monster bend your knees.
Monster, monster give a sneeze.
Monster, monster sit on your bed.
Monster, monster rest your head.

• Bridge - Open Shut Them (fingerplay)

Open, shut them
(open and close hands)
Open, shut them
Give a little clap (clap)
Open, shut them
Open, shut them
Put them in your lap
(put hands in lap)

Creep them, creep them
Under your chin
(creep fingers up chest)
Open your mouth, but don't put them in
(do as words say)

Open, shut them
Open, shut them
Give a little clap
Open shut them
Open shut them
Put them in your lap 

• Book #2 - Go Away Big Green Monster! by Ed Emberley
• Activity – I'm a Little Monster (action song to the tune of "I'm a Little Teapot")

I'm a little monster hear me growl

Here are my big ears

Here are my claws

When I get all sneaky, I tip toe up

I jump in the air and give a big ROAR!

• Closing - Use scarves to the song "Milkshake" from Songs for Wiggleworms by Old Town School of Folk Music
• Craft – Paint a monster mask

Mother Storytime

Storytime for 1 to 3 year olds: 

• Opening - Skinnamarink (from Car Songs: Songs to Sing Anywhere by Dennis Buck at Kimbo), Sticky Sticky Bubblegum
• Book #1 – Owl Babies by Martin Waddell, illustrated by Patrick Benson
• Stand-up Activity - Do It for Your Mother (action song to the tune of "Row, Row, Row Your Boat")

Roll, roll, roll your hands
As fast as fast can be
Do it now let me see
Do it for your mother

Clap, clap, clap your hands
As fast as fast can be
Do it now let me see
Do it for your mother

(use other body motions such as stomp your feet, jump your legs, etc.)

• Bridge - Open Shut Them (fingerplay)

Open, shut them
(open and close hands)
Open, shut them
Give a little clap (clap)
Open, shut them
Open, shut them
Put them in your lap
(put hands in lap)

Creep them, creep them
Under your chin
(creep fingers up chest)
Open your mouth, but don't put them in
(do as words say)

Open, shut them
Open, shut them
Give a little clap
Open shut them
Open shut them
Put them in your lap 

• Flannelboard/Math Activity - Five Little Ducks (counting backwards song)
• Book #2 - Is Your Mama a Llama? by Deborah Guarino, illustrated by Steven Kellogg
• Activity – Come A' Look A' See (fingerplay song I first picked up at a workshop conducted by Jane Cobb but can also be found on the cd The Baby Redord by Bob McGrath)
• Closing - Use scarves to the song "Milkshake" from Songs for Wiggleworms by Old Town School of Folk Music
• Craft – Glue a daisy flower with white paper petals and yellow circle center