Sing-a-Song Storytime: The Carrot Seed

  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 - Little Flower Open Up (action song written by Carol Hopkins to the tune of "Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star")

Little flower begin to grow

Open up your petals bright

Swaying in the sunshine light

Come and let the bees buzz right

Little flower in the night

Closing up your petals tight

Transition sit down song - 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 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) 

 

Book - The Carrot Seed by Ruth Krauss, illustrated by Crockett Johnson (read with permission by HarperCollins Children's Books)   

 

Action song - A Little Plant (adapted action rhyme)

In the heart of a seed
Buried oh so deep, a little plant lay fast asleep
"Awake," said the sun
"Come up through the earth."
"Awake," said the rain
"We are giving you birth."
The little seed heard and giving it a try
Pointed its leaves
Up to the sky

Action song - Do It for Your Family (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 family

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

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

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 6/30/21 on my library's YouTube channel.