Dance Together Toddler Storytime

 After two year, in-person storytimes are starting up again!

I started with a change in my usual storytime plan, doing some experimenting.  But things are starting off good!

Opening #1 - Skinnamarink (action song from Car Songs: Songs to Sing Anywhere by Dennis Buck from Kimbo)

Opening #2 - Sticky, Sticky Bubblegum (fingerplay)

Sticky, sticky bubblegum, bubblegum, bubblegum;
Sticky, sticky bubblegum;
Stuck to your __________.
1, 2, 3, PULL!

(repeat with more body parts)

Letter of the day - "D" is for dance

Transition #1 - 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 - Hop Jump by Ellen Stoll Walsh

Stand-up activity - Clap Your Hands (action song from Toddler Action Songs by Cedarmont Kids)

Activity - If I Was a Bird (action song from Wiggleworms Love You by Old Town School of Folk Music) 

Transition #2 - Come 'A' Look And 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)

Flannelboard - Five Little Dancers (counting down rhyme I found at the Jen In the Library blog)

Closing - Jumping and Counting (action song from Jim Gill's Irrational Anthem & More Salutes to Nonsense by Jim Gill) 

Sing-a-Song Storytime: Little White Rabbit

 Last year when the pandemic closed all large gatherings, my library continued 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 - A-Tisket, A-Tasket (traditional nursery rhyme sung with a stuffed animal)

A-tisket, a-tasket,
(swing stuffed animal back and forth)
A green and yellow basket.
I bought a basket for my love,
And on the way I dropped it.
(drop animal on the floor)
I dropped it! I dropped it!
(throw animal up in the air and let it land on the floor)
Yes, on the way I dropped it.
(throw animal up in the air and let it land on the floor)
A little baby picked it up,
(pick up animal)
And gave it to their love.
(hug animal)

Transition sit down song - I Have Ten Little Fingers (traditional fingerplay)

I have 10 little fingers

They all belong to me!

I can make them do things

Would you like to see?

I can close them up tight

I can open them up wide

I can raise them up high

I can put them at my side

I can wave them to and fro

And I can fold them - just like so.

 

Book - Little White Rabbit by Kevin Henkes (read with permission by HarperCollins Children's Books)

 

Action song - I Saw a Little Rabbit (action rhyme)

I saw a little rabbit go hop, hop, hop
(jump)
I saw his ears go flop, flop, flop
(flop hands on head)
I saw his eyes go blink, blink, blink
(point to eyes and blink)
I saw his nose go twink, twink, twink
(wiggle nose)
I said, "Little rabbit, won't you stay?"
(beckon with hand)
He looked at me and hopped away
(jump)

Action song - Bunny Jump Over the Great Big Stick (action rhyme written by Carol Hopkins, use a sock as the stick on the ground to jump over)

Bunny be nimble, bunny be quick,

Bunny jump over the great big stick

Bunny be nimble, bunny be slick

Bunny swim under the great big stick

Bunny be nimble, bunny go click

Bunny run around the great big stick

Bunny be nimble, bunny be fine

Bunny sit down for storytime

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?"...