December Daycare Stories

This month, I had the privilege to visit my favorite daycare center to read stories.  I was surprised by how many of the older preschool students remembered the books I read to them 2 months ago!

In the toddler room (ages 2.5 to 3.5 years old):

I started off by singing the "Animals Get Up In the Morning" song using my little red cloth barn full of small animals.  Then I read these books:

Cookie Count: A Tasty Pop-Up by Robert Sabuda (pop-up)

Dog by Matthew Van Fleet, photography by Brian Stanton (lift-flaps, moving pieces)

Do Sharks Bark? by Salina Yoon (lift-flaps)

What Can Rabbit Hear? by Lucy Cousins (lift-flaps)

Where is Baby's Belly Button? by Karen Katz (board book)

Wrapping Paper Romp by Patricia Hubbell, illustrated by Jennifer Plecas (board book)

In the Tracker room (ages 3.5 to 4.5 years old):

A Big Bed for Little Snow by Grace Lin

Dog by Matthew Van Fleet, photography by Brian Stanton (lift-flaps, moving pieces)

Grandma's Tiny House by JaNay Brown-Wood, illustrated by Priscilla Burris

Pete the Cat I Love My White Shoes by Eric Litwin, illustrated by James Dean

There's an Alien in Your Book by Tom Fletcher, illustrated by Greg Abbott

In the Pre-K room:

A Big Bed for Little Snow by Grace Lin

Cookie Count: A Tasty Pop-Up by Robert Sabuda (pop-up)

Dog by Matthew Van Fleet, photography by Brian Stanton (lift-flaps, moving pieces)

Pete the Cat I Love My White Shoes by Eric Litwin, illustrated by James Dean

What Riley Wore by Elana K. Arnold, illustrated by Linda Davick

Virtual Preschool Storytime: Putting Things Together

 Here is a virtual preschool storytime I put together for a special group.

 

Opening - A Rum Sum-Sum Welcome to Storytime (action song written by Carol Hopkins to the theme of the traditional "Rum Sum-Sum" song)

(Start off by teaching sign language for “storytime”) 

A rum sum-sum, a rum sum-sum, 
(slap legs, clap, clap, slap legs, clap, clap)
 Gooli-gooli, gooli-gooli,
 (fists over fists, then switch)
 Rum sum-sum.
 (slap legs, clap, clap) 

 Hello! Hello!
 (wave hands)
 I’m glad you’re here at storytime.
 (sign language for storytime) 

 A rum sum-sum, a rum sum-sum,
 (slap legs, clap, clap, slap legs, clap, clap)
 Gooli-gooli, gooli-gooli,
 (fists over fists, then switch) 
Rum sum-sum.
 (slap legs, clap, clap) 

I’m stretching! I’m stretching!
 (stretch arms out to side)
 I’m glad you’re here at storytime. 
 (hug self then sign language for storytime) 

 A rum sum-sum, a rum sum-sum,
 (slap legs, clap, clap, slap legs, clap, clap)
 Gooli-gooli, gooli-gooli,
 (fists over fists, then switch)
 Rum sum-sum.
 (slap legs, clap, clap)  

Blow a kiss! Blow a kiss!
 (blow kisses)
 I’m glad you’re here at storytime.
 (sign language for storytime) 

Math literacy flannel board - Ice cream scoop patterns

Directions: Start a simple pattern on the flannel board using an ice cream cone triangle and circles for the ice cream scoops. Ask the children what the next color in the pattern should be. Do this with two patterns.

Transition rhyme - Tommy and Tammy Thumb (fingerplay)

(Start off by showing two thumbs) 

Tommy Thumb up, Tommy
Thumb down,
Tommy Thumb dancing all around town. 

 Tammy Thumb out,
 Tammy Thumb in,
 Tammy Thumb dancing all in a spin. 

 Dance them, dance them everywhere.
 Dance them on your knees.
 Dance them on your shoulders.
 Dance them on your head.
 Then tuck them into bed.
 (tuck hands under armpits)

Book #1 - My Pop Pop and Me by Irene Smalls, illustrated by Cathy Ann Johnson 

Stand-up activity - I'm a Little Teapot (traditional action song)

I’m a little teapot short and stout.
 Here is my handle.
Here is my spout.
 When I get all steamed up,
 Hear me shout.
 Tip me over and pour me out! 

I’m a clever teapot, yes, it’s true.
 Here let me show you what I can do.
 I can change my handle,
 And my spout.
 Tip me over and pour me out! 

Sit-down activity - Can You? (action chant adapted by Carol Hopkins from one I found at Roving Fiddlehead KidLit)

Can you stretch your neck like a tall, tall giraffe?
Can you hop like a frog?
Can you bark like a dog?
Can you slither like a snake? 
Can you fly like a parrot?
Can you wiggle your nose like a rabbit?
Can you swim like a fish?
Can you stretch like a cat?
Can you sit like a kid at storytime?  

Book #2 - Stack the Cats by Susie Ghahremani 

Closing - Skinnamarink (action song with scarf)

Skinnamarinky dinky dink
Skinnamarinky do, I love you!
Skinnamarinky dinky dink
Skinnamarinky do, I love you! 

I love you in the morning,
And in the afternoon
I love you in the evening,
Underneath the moon…

Skinnamarinky dinky dink
Skinnamarinky do, I love you! 

Art activity - Stacking ice cream cones

Directions: Grown-ups, please be sure to print out this make at home art activity. You will need scissors, glue, and coloring crayons/pencils/pens. There is one sheet with ice cream cones on it. There is another sheet with ice cream scoops on it. First, color the ice cream cones and the ice cream scoops. Next, cut out the ice cream scoops only. Then, glue the ice cream scoops stacked on top of the cones (show example). If you want to make this into a math activity, roll a 6-sided die. Let your child count the number of pips, or dots, that come up. Then glue on this number of ice cream scoops onto the page. 

Daycare storytimes are back!

 This fall I was able to visit a daycare center for the first time since the pandemic began.  It was so much fun to be sharing books with young children again.      

In the toddler room (2.5 to 3.5 years old) I read a bunch of short books and sprinkled in a lot of fingerplays and action rhymes.  These guys were still getting used to the ideas of sitting as a group for stories.  

I started off by singing the "Animals Get Up In the Morning" song using my little red cloth barn full of small animals.  Then I read these books:

Cat by Matthew Van Fleet (pop-up and moving pieces)

Don't Push the Button by Bill Cotter

Maisy Drives the Bus by Lucy Cousins

Pete the Cat and His Four Groovy Buttons by Eric Litwin and James Dean

Peekaboo, Blueberry! by Barney Saltzberg (lift-flaps)

Truck Jam by Paul Stickland (pop-up)

I also read stories in the preschool and pre-K rooms.  I was able try out a new book with these two classes.  I read these books:

Don't Push the Button by Bill Cotter

Hooray for Hat! by Brian Won

Hot Pot Night! by Vincent Chin

Pete the Cat and His Four Groovy Buttons by Eric Litwin and James Dean

Supertruck by Stephen Savage

What's Next Door? by Nicola O'Byrne

Sing-a-Song Storytime: Biscuit Is Thankful

Last year when the pandemic closed the library and all large gatherings, I created this video storytime series along with a coworker, who is a talented musician, to get young children moving around and singing.  It is filled with lots of favorite storytime songs and rhymes, and of course a book!  I really wanted the grown-ups watching along with the kiddos to learn the songs, so I used a split screen technique on the videos to display the words to the songs/rhymes while I am singing and acting them out.  

Opening song - Skinnamarink (https://youtu.be/95JkQfANW9M) 

Action song - Turkeys Come Marching (adaptation of the "Ants Go Marching" song)

The turkeys come marching one by one
Hoorah!  Hoorah!
The turkeys come marching one by one
Hoorah!  Hoorah!
The turkeys come marching one by one.
The little one stops to suck their thumb.
And they all go marching,
Down,
Around
The farm,
Boom!  Boom!  Boom!  

The turkeys come marching two by two...
The little one stops to tie its shoe...

The turkeys come marching three by three...
The little one stops to gobble at me...

The turkeys come marching four by four...
The little one's feather was stuck in the door...

Transition sit down song - Ten Fat Turkeys (not sure where I picked up this fingerplay)

(count fingers)

Ten fat turkeys standing in a row.

They spread their wings and tails just so.

They look to the left,

They look to the right,

When they strut their stuff, they're quite a sight!

But you won't see them on Thanksgiving Day,

'Cause one by one they'll run away.   

Book - Biscuit Is Thankful by Alyssa Satin Capucilli, illustrated by Pat Schories (read with permission by HarperCollins Children's Books)

 

Action song - I'm a Little Teapot (action song)

I’m a little teapot

Short and stout

Here is my handle

(one hand on hip)

Here is my spout

(other arm out straight)

When I get all steamed up

Hear me shout

“Tip me over

and pour me out!”

(lean over toward spout)

I’m a clever teapot,

Yes it’s true

Here let me show you

What I can do

I can change my handle

And my spout

(switch arm positions)

Just tip me over and pour me out!

(lean over toward spout)

Action song - Turkey Lurkey (to the tune of "Handy Spandy" performed with a ball)

Turkey Lurkey fine and dandy.
(ball on head)
Loves pumpkin pie and sugar candy.
(put down ball and sign language for "candy")
Bought it from a baker's shop,
(bounce ball)
And away did hop, hop, hop!
(toss ball into the air)

Closing song - excerpt from the Carpenter's song "Sing a Song" (also a classic Sesame Street song https://youtu.be/-nI7IfwLoBI)

Sing-a-Song Storytime: Pigs and Pirates

 

Despite the library reopening, the world-wide pandemic is still closing down all large gatherings at my library.  Therefore, I continue with my summer offering of virtual storytimes.  I created this video storytime series along with a coworker, who is a talented musician, to get young children moving around and singing.  It is filled with lots of favorite storytime songs and rhymes.  For the summer series, we changed things up a bit!  Instead of a book we are bringing in puppets and a flannelboard story or rhyme.  I really wanted the grown-ups watching along with the kiddos to learn the songs, so I used a split screen technique on the videos to display the words to the songs/rhymes while I am singing and acting them out.  

Opening song – When Animals Get Up in the Morning (adaptation of a traditional song)

When pigs get up in the morning,
They always say “Good Day!”
When pigs get up in the morning,
They always say “Good Day!”
They say, "Oink!, Oink!, Oink!, Oink!,"
that is what they say.
They say, "Oink!, Oink!, Oink!, Oink!,"
that is what they say.

When pigs get up in the morning,
They always say “Good Day!”
When pigs get up in the morning,
They always say “Good Day!”
They say, "Grunt!, Grunt!, Grunt!, Grunt!,"
that is what they say.
They say, "Grunt!, Grunt!, Grunt!, Grunt!,"
that is what they say.

   

 

Flannelboard activity – Five Little Pirate Boats (adapted by Carol Hopkins)

Five little pirate boats, bright and shiny clean.
One tipped over, it was green.

Four little pirate boats, with all sails spread.
One sailed into a storm, it was red.

Three little pirate boats, what a dreadful sight!
One bumped into a shark, it was grey and white.

Two little pirate boats, coming close for a view.
One smashed into the rocks, it was blue.

One little pirate boat, now a lonely fellow.
He went looking for treasure, he was yellow.  

 

Stand-up Activity – Ten Little Pirates (fingerplay found at Born Librarian blog)

Ten little pirates stood in a row 
(hold up all ten fingers)
They bowed to their captain so 
(lower and raise fingers)
They marched to the left 
(march hands to left - or opposite since kids will mirror you)
They marched to the right 
(march hands to right - or opposite since kids will mirror you)
They shouted yo ho! 
(cup hands over mouth)
And gave their captain a fright 
(act scared, cover mouth with hands)

Action song - Have You Ever Seen a Sailboat? (scarf song found at Step By Step Childcare blog to the tune of "Did You Ever See a Lassie?")

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,
Wave that way and this way.
Have you ever seen a sailboat
Waving its sail?

 

Action rhyme – Row, Row, Row Your Boat (traditional action song)

Row, row, row your boat,
Gently down the stream.
Merrily, merrily, merrily, merrily,
Life is but a dream.

Sway, sway, sway your boat,
Gently down the stream.
Merrily, merrily, merrily, merrily,
Life is but a dream.

Bounce, bounce, bounce your boat,
Gently down the stream.
Merrily, merrily, merrily, merrily,
Life is but a dream.

Twist, twist, twist your boat,
Gently down the stream.
Merrily, merrily, merrily, merrily,
Life is but a dream.

Hide, hide, hide your boat,
Gently down the stream.
Merrily, merrily, merrily, merrily,
Life is but a dream. 

Closing song - Skinnamarink (https://youtu.be/95JkQfANW9M) 

Skinnamarinky dinky dink
Skinnamarinky do,
I love you!

Skinnamarinky dinky dink
Skinnamarinky do,
I love you!

I love you in the morning,
And in the afternoon
I love you in the evening,
Underneath the moon…

Skinnamarinky dinky dink
Skinnamarinky do,
I love you!

 

***The video for this storytime can be found on my library's YouTube channel.

Sing-a-Song Storytime: Five Little Pumpkins

 With the pandemic closing the library and all large gatherings, my library took its time deciding how to get back into the storytime groove.  In the Fall of 2020, I created this video storytime series along with a coworker, who is a talented musician, to get young children moving around and singing.  It is filled with lots of favorite storytime songs and rhymes, and of course a book!  I really wanted the grown-ups watching along with the kiddos to learn the songs, so I used a split screen technique on the videos to display the words to the songs/rhymes while I am singing and acting them out.  

 

Opening song - Skinnamarink (https://youtu.be/95JkQfANW9M) 

Action song - Spiders Go Marching (action song to the tune of "Ants Go Marching")

The spiders go marching one by one,
hurrah, hurrah!
The spiders go marching one by one, 
hurrah, hurrah!
The spiders go marching one by one,
The little one stops to suck its thumb,
And they all go marching up,
To the tree,
On Hallowee-een.

The spiders go marching two by two... 
The little one stops to tie its shoe...

The spiders go marching three by three...
The little one stops to hug a tree...

The spiders go marching four by four...
The little one stops to close the door...

Transition sit down song - Tommy & Tammy Thumb (fingerplay) 

Tommy Thumb up,

Tommy Thumb down,

Tommy Thumb dancing all around town.

Tammy Thumb out,

Tammy Thumb in,

Tammy Thumb dancing all in a spin.

Dancing, dancing, dancing,

Dance them on your knees,

Dance them on your head,

Dance them on your shoulders,
Then tuck them into bed.

Book - Five Little Pumpkins illustrated by Dan Yaccarino 

 

Action song - 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.

Action song - See the Pumpkin (sung with a ball or pumpkin, adapted from a song found on the internet)  

See the pumpkin,
(roll the ball one way)
See the orange,
(roll the ball the other way)
See the candy we can eat!
(sing language for "candy" and "eat")

Though it's night-time,
(hold ball high in the air like the moon)
It's a sweet time,
(sign language for "candy")
I don't mind saying, "Trick or Treat!"
(throw the ball into the air and catch it)

Closing song - excerpt from the Carpenter's song "Sing a Song" (also a classic Sesame Street song https://youtu.be/-nI7IfwLoBI)

 

Sing-a-Song Storytime: Small Animals

 Despite the library reopening, the world-wide pandemic is still closing down all large gatherings at my library.  Therefore, I continue with my summer offering of virtual storytimes.  I created this video storytime series along with a coworker, who is a talented musician, to get young children moving around and singing.  It is filled with lots of favorite storytime songs and rhymes.  For the summer series, we changed things up a bit!  Instead of a book we are bringing in puppets and a flannelboard story or rhyme.  I really wanted the grown-ups watching along with the kiddos to learn the songs, so I used a split screen technique on the videos to display the words to the songs/rhymes while I am singing and acting them out.  

Opening song – When Animals Get Up in the Morning (adaptation of a traditional song)

When skunks get up in the morning,
They always say “Good Day!”
When skunks get up in the morning,
They always say “Good Day!”
They say, "Sniff, sniff, sniff, sniff,"
that is what they say.
They say, "Sniff, sniff, sniff, sniff,"
that is what they say.

When skunks get up in the morning,
They always say “Good Day!”
When skunks get up in the morning,
They always say “Good Day!”
They say, "Pew, pew, pew, pew,"
that is what they say.
They say, "Pew, pew, pew, pew,"
that is what they say.

  

 

Flannelboard activity – Playing Drums On the Mat (clapping rhyme found in the book Artsy Toddler Storytimes: A Year's Worth of Ready-To-Go Programming by Carol Garnett Hopkins)

Stand-up Activity – Smelly Skunk, Smelly Skunk (action rhyme adapted by Carol Hopkins and Debi Rinehart similar to "Teddy Bear, Teddy Bear Turn Around")

Smelly skunk, smelly skunk turn around
Smelly skunk, smelly skunk touch the ground
Smelly skunk, smelly skunk walk on your toes
Smelly skunk, smelly skunk paw your nose
Smelly skunk, smelly skunk stretch up high
Smelly skunk, smelly skunk jump to the sky
Smelly skunk, smelly skunk start to eat
Smelly skunk, smelly skunk find your seat

Action song - Skunk Makes a Silly Sound (action song written by Carol Hopkins and Debi Rinehart to the tune of "Pop Goes the Weasel")

The skunk waddles all over the town 
(waddle walk)
The skunk walk all around
The skunk stops to make a sound
Now make a silly sound!
(blow a raspberry)

The skunk runs all around
(runny motions)
The skunk stops in place
The skunk stops to take a look
(pretend to look around)
Now stamp, stamp your feet!
(stomping feet) 

Action rhyme – Slithering, Sliding Snake (action chant written by Carol Hopkins)

Here comes a slithering, sliding, slinking snake

Her mouth goes "Hiss! Hiss! Hiss!"

Here eyes go blink, blink, blink

Her tongue goes "Thrp, thrp, thrp."

First she slinks to the right

Then she slides to the left

And finally she slithers out of sight

 

Closing song - Skinnamarink (https://youtu.be/95JkQfANW9M) 

Skinnamarinky dinky dink
Skinnamarinky do,
I love you!

Skinnamarinky dinky dink
Skinnamarinky do,
I love you!

I love you in the morning,
And in the afternoon
I love you in the evening,
Underneath the moon…

Skinnamarinky dinky dink
Skinnamarinky do,
I love you!

 

***The video for this storytime can be found on my library's YouTube channel.

Sing-a-Song Storytime: Frogs

 Despite the library reopening, the world-wide pandemic is still closing down all large gatherings at my library.  Therefore, I continue with my summer offering of virtual storytimes.  I created this video storytime series along with a coworker, who is a talented musician, to get young children moving around and singing.  It is filled with lots of favorite storytime songs and rhymes.  For the summer series, we changed things up a bit!  Instead of a book we are bringing in puppets and a flannelboard story or rhyme.  I really wanted the grown-ups watching along with the kiddos to learn the songs, so I used a split screen technique on the videos to display the words to the songs/rhymes while I am singing and acting them out.  

Opening song – When Animals Get Up in the Morning (adaptation of a traditional song)

When frogs get up in the morning,
They always say “Good Day!”
When frogs get up in the morning,
They always say “Good Day!”
Gribbit, gribbit, gribbit, gribbit, that is what they say.
Gribbit, gribbit, gribbit, gribbit, that is what they say.

When frogs get up in the morning,
They always say “Good Day!”
When frogs get up in the morning,
They always say “Good Day!”
Jump, jump, jump, jump, that is what they say.
Jump, jump, jump, jump, that is what they say.

(Any animal can be replaced with a variety of other animals and animal sounds/action words)

  

 

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

 

Stand-up 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
Frog be nimble, frog be fine
Frog sit down for storytime

Action song - Frogs Go Jumping (adapted action counting song to the tune of “The Ants Go Marching)  

The frogs go jumping one by one, Hurrah! Hurrah!
The frogs go jumping one by one. Hurrah! Hurrah!
The frogs go jumping one by one,
The little one stops to suck its thumb
And they all go jumping,
Around the town.
BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!

The frogs go jumping two by two. Hurrah! Hurrah!
The frogs go jumping two by two. Hurrah! Hurrah!
The frogs go jumping two by two,
The little one stops to tie its shoe,
And they all go jumping,
Around the town.
BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!

The frogs go jumping three by three. Hurrah! Hurrah!
The frogs go jumping three by three. Hurrah! Hurrah!
The frogs go jumping three by three,
The little one stops to hug a tree,
And they all go jumping,
Around the town.
BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!

The frogs go jumping four by four. Hurrah! Hurrah!
The frogs go jumping four by four. Hurrah! Hurrah!
The frogs go jumping four by four,
The little one stops to shut the door,
And they all go jumping,
Around the town.
BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!

 

Action rhyme – Here Goes Turtle (action chant, not sure where I picked up this one)

Here goes turtle down the hill,
Creeping, creeping, creeping.

Here goes frog up the hill,
Boing, boing, boing.

Here goes elephant down the hill,
Thud, thud, thud.

Here goes snake up the hill,
Slither, slither, slither.

Here comes a rock down the hill,
Rolling, rolling, rolling,… Crash!

 

Closing song - Skinnamarink (https://youtu.be/95JkQfANW9M) 

Skinnamarinky dinky dink
Skinnamarinky do,
I love you!

Skinnamarinky dinky dink
Skinnamarinky do,
I love you!

I love you in the morning,
And in the afternoon
I love you in the evening,
Underneath the moon…

Skinnamarinky dinky dink
Skinnamarinky do,
I love you!

 

***The video for this storytime can be found on my library's YouTube channel.