Valentines Through and Through Toddler Storytime

Storytime for 1 to 3 year olds:

·         Opening - Skinnamarink, Sticky Sticky Bubblegum

 

 

  

·         Book #1 – I Love You Through and Through by Bernadette Rossetti-Shustak, illustrated by Caroline Jayne Church

·         Stand-up Activity – Valentine, Valentine Turn Around (action rhyme similar to the traditional "Teddy Bear, Teddy Bear Turn Around")

Valentine, Valentine turn around.
Valentine, Valentine touch the ground.
Valentine, Valentine blow a kiss.
Valentine, Valentine swim like a fish.
Valentine, Valentine give a hug.
Valentine, Valentine jump like a bug.
Valentine, Valentine find your feet.
Valentine, Valentine 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 - Eight Valentine Cards (counting  backwards story found in Artsy Toddler Storytimes by Carol Garnett Hopkins)

·         Letter of the Day - "V" is for Valentine

·         Transition - 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 #2 –  Lilly's Chocolate Heart by Kevin Henkes (board book)

·         Closing -  Scarves to the song "Water, Wind and World" from The Second Line: Scarf Activity Songs by Johnette Downing

 

 

·         Art Experience – Glue craft foam hearts onto a paper heart 

Sing-a-Song Storytime: No Two Alike

  With the pandemic closing the library and all large gatherings, my library continues offering 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, 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 - This Is the Way We Play In the Snow (action song written by Carol Hopkins to the tune of "Here We go Round the Mulberry Bush")

This is the way we stomp through the snow, stomp through the snow, stomp through the snow.
This is the way we stomp through the snow,
When we go out to play.
This is the way we hop through the snow, hop through the snow, hop through the snow.
This is the way we hop through the snow,
When we go out to play.

(Repeat with other action words)

Transition sit down song - Itsy-Bitsy Snowflake (fingerplay I found in a Mailbox Preschool magazine)

The itsy-bitsy snowflake fell down from the sky.

It landed on my nose

And it bounced upon my eye

It slid down to my chin

And it landed on my tongue.

Then it melted all away

Now my snowflake song is done! 

 

Book - No Two Alike by Keith Baker (read with permission by Simon & Schuster)  

 

Action song - Snowflakes Falling (action rhyme I picked up many years ago)

Snowflakes falling down, down, down

Gently covering all the town

Swirling, twirling, down they come

One landed on my tongue!

Action song - Make Some Snowballs (action song written by Carol Hopkins to the tune of "Are You Sleeping")

Snow is falling,

Snow is falling,

All around,

All around,

Come let's make some snowballs,

Come let's make some snowballs,

Throw them here,

Throw them there!

Closing song - Down By the Bay (traditional rhyming camp song)

Down by the bay
Where the watermelons grow
Back to my home
I dare not go
For if I do
My mother will say
"Did you ever you ever see a goose kissing a moose?"
Down by the bay!

..."Did you ever see a whale with a polka dot tail?"...

..."Did you ever see a fly wearing a tie?"...

..."Did you ever see a fairy inside a library?"... 

***The video for this storytime will remain up through 3/31/21 on my library's YouTube channel.