With the pandemic closing the library and all large gatherings last year, my library offered 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 video 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 - Valentine's Day Is Here to Stay (action song to the tune of "Jingle Bells" written by Carol Hopkins)
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 - Biscuit's Valentine's Day by Alyssa Satin Capucilli, illustrated by Pat Schories (read with permission by HarperCollins Children's Books)
Action song - I Have a Little Heart (action chant I picked up someplace, I have seen different adaptations of it in many places)
I have a little heart
(hand over heart)
And it goes thump, thump, thump
(pat chest with fingers)
It keeps right on beating when I jump, jump, jump
(jump)
I get a special felling when I look at you
(point to children)
It makes me want to blow a kiss or two
(blow kisses)
A walking we will go,
Hi ho a Valentine,
A walking we will go.
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?"...
