Playful Books - Family Storytime

A Tuesday morning storytime for ages 0-6 years old.  

Opening #1: “Row, Row, Row Your Boat” from Songs for Wiggleworms by Old Town School of Folk Music

Opening #2: Roly Poly Oh So Fast (hand rolling body part chant adapted by Carol Hopkins)

Roly poly, roly poly, oh so fast!
Roly poly, roly poly, oh so slowly.
Roly poly, roly poly, up.
Roly poly, roly poly, down.
Roly poly, roly poly, hands on your head.
Roly poly, roly poly, hand on your feet.

(Repeat with other body parts)

Roly poly, roly poly, hands in your lap.

 

 

Literacy activity flannelboard: Did You Ever See a Wiggleworm? (an alphabet flannelboard song to the tune of “Did You Ever See a Lassie?” for the letters W, O, R, and M) 

Did you ever see a wiggleworm?
A wiggleworm? A wiggleworm?
Did you ever see a wiggleworm,
Sitting next to a {_W_}? 

(repeat for the other letters)

 

 

Book #1: What’s Next Door? by Nicola O’Byrne

Stand-up activity: “If You’re Happy And You Know It” traditional action song from The Best of Wee Sing   

Sit-down activity: Circles, Triangles, and Rectangles (fingerplay to the tune of "Jingle Bells" written by Carol Hopkins)

Circles round, circles round, circle in the air
Circles can be small or big
We see them everywhere

Triangles, triangles, triangle in the air
Triangles can be slim or huge
We see them everywhere

Rectangles, rectangles, rectangle in the air
Rectangle can be as big as a door
We see them everywhere

 

Transition: 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)

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 #2: I Ain’t Gonna Paint No More! by Karen Beaumont, illustrated by David Catrow

***Parent literacy tip:  Words used in storybooks are different from what we use when we are speaking, so children hear different words when being read to , which builds vocabulary.              

Closing music with egg shakers: “I Know a Chicken” from The Best of the Laurie Berkner Band by Laurie Berkner

Art activity: Paper plate kite - Glue on crepe paper streamers and decorate with bingo dabber dot pens        

Optional other books:
Ice Cream Face by Heidi Woodward Sheffield
Can I Give You a Squish? by Emily Neilson

 

 

 

 

Baby Steps Author Visit - Baby Toddler Storytime

A couple of months ago I was blessed with a special visit from author Kimberly Derting during my Tuesday morning Baby Storytime.    

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)

 

 

Book: Author Kimberly Derting read her book Baby Steps, illustrated by Shiho Pate (signed copies of her book were available for purchase at the local downtown bookstore)

Stand-up activity: “If You’re Happy And You Know It” action song from Songs for Wiggleworms by Old Town School of Folk Music  

Sit-down activity: Froggies High and Low (lap bounce I slightly adapted from one I found at https://pasadena-library.net/kids/2017/frogs-infant-storytime/ ) 

Five little froggies sitting on a wall (bounce baby)
One looked up and down he fell (tip baby over)
Froggies jumped high (lift baby up)
Froggies jumped low (bring baby down)
Froggies dancing to and fro (wiggle)

 

Lap rhyme #1: Tick Tock (lap bounce)

(bounce baby from leg to leg)

Tick tock, tick tock, I’m a little cuckoo clock.
Tick, tock, tick tock, now it is one o’clock… Cuckoo!
(raise baby up for each cuckoo)

(repeat for other times of day)
Now it is two o’clock… Cuckoo! Cuckoo!

Now it is three o’clock… Cuckoo! Cuckoo! Cuckoo!

 

Lap rhyme #2: Counting Bubbles (counting rhyme I learned during a BrainDance workshop)

One bubble, two bubbles, three bubbles, top.
(pat legs with hands for each number chanted, then place hands on top of head)

Three bubbles, four bubbles, five bubbles, drop.
(pat legs with hands for each number chanted, then drop hands to lap)

Six bubbles, seven bubbles, nine bubbles, pop.
(pat legs with hands for each number chanted, then clap hands loudly in front of body)

Ten little bubbles floating down!
(twinkle hands down to floor)

Now let’s blow _____ bubbles.
(This is a breath exercise.  Pick a number and pretend to blow that number of bubbles through hand.  Don’t forget to pop the bubbles with a loud clap after blowing it up.  I count the bubble while I do the clap.) 

 

Lap rhyme #3: Head, Shoulders, Knees, and Toes (traditional body parts action song)

Head, shoulders, knees, and toes,
Knees and toes.
Head, shoulders, knees and toes,
Knees and toes.
And eyes and, ears and, mouth and nose.
Head, shoulders, knees and toes,
Knees and toes.

   

***Literacy tip: Five of the best ways to prepare your child to read are talking, singing, reading, writing, and playing.      

Transition: 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 

 

Letter of the day: "W” is for walking

 

 

Flannelboard: How Many Feet? (Simple rhyme I found somewhere many years ago)

Birds have two
Dogs have four
Beetles have six
Spiders have eight
That's quite a lot more than me because I only have two feet!

 

Closing song with scarves: “Alabama, Mississippi” from Jim Gill Sings the Sneezing Song & Other Contagious Songs by Jim Gill  

 

 

 

 

February Library Lady

  This month I did two short storytimes for a local preschool program.  The storytimes were followed by time to play with the big blue blocks alongside their caregivers.  

BOOKS:

Buffalo Fluffalo by Bess Kalb, illustrated by Erin Kraan 
Crash, Splash, and Moo! by Bob Shea
Dandelion Magic by Darren Farrell, illustrated by Maya Tatsukawa
Supertruck by Stephen Savage 

SCARVES WITH MUSIC:

“Popcorn Calling Me” action song from Buzz Buzz by Laurie Berkner

"Milkshake Song" action song from Songs for Wiggleworms by Old Town School of Folk Music 

Wheels All Day - Family Storytime

A Tuesday morning storytime for ages 0-6 years old.  

Opening #1: “Row, Row, Row Your Boat” from Songs for Wiggleworms by Old Town School of Folk Music

Opening #2: Roly Poly Oh So Fast (hand rolling body part chant adapted by Carol Hopkins)

Roly poly, roly poly, oh so fast!
Roly poly, roly poly, oh so slowly.
Roly poly, roly poly, up.
Roly poly, roly poly, down.
Roly poly, roly poly, hands on your head.
Roly poly, roly poly, hand on your feet.

(Repeat with other body parts)

Roly poly, roly poly, hands in your lap.

 

 

Literacy activity flannelboard: Colored Cars in the Basket
(I happened to get ahold of a bunch of wood cars of a variety of colors.  I handed out the cars, then asked the children to bring them up to the basket as I called out their color.  Afterwards, we counted how many cars we had.) 

  

  

Book #1: What Do Wheels Do All Day? by April Jones Prince, illustrated by Giles Laroche  

Stand-up activity: “Wheels On the Bus” traditional action song from Toddler Tunes by Cedarmont Kids   

Sit-down activity: “Little Red Wagon” action song from Wiggleworms Love You

Transition: 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)

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 #2: Freight Train by Donald Crews

Book #3: Giant Pop-Out Vehicles: A Pop-OutSurprise Book by Meagan Bennett (lift-flap, pop-up)

***Parent literacy tip:  Talk about putting toys in ordinal number order (1^st, 2^nd, 3^rd, etc.) to expand your child’s vocabulary and knowledge about numbers.  This can be done in any language!            

Closing music with egg shakers: “I Know a Chicken” from The Best of the Laurie Berkner Band by Laurie Berkner

  

 

Art activity: Color, cut, and glue traffic lights       

Optional other books:
The Bus for Us by Suzanne Bloom
Supertruck by Stephen Savage  

 

 

 

  

Here Come the Animals - Baby Toddler Storytime

A Tuesday morning storytime for ages 0-2 years old.  

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)

 

 

Book: Here Come Poppy and Max by Lindsey Gardiner

***Literacy tip: When you read a book to your child, running your finger under the text teaches them that you are reading words on the page. 

Stand-up activity: I’m a Duck/Goose (sung to the tune of "Frere Jacques," adapted by Carol Hopkins from a song found at Step By Step Child Care)

I'm a duck, I'm a duck
(sign language for duck)
Watch me waddle, as I walk
(waddle walk)
Hear me when I talk, hear me when I talk
Quack, quack quack! Quack, quack, quack!

I'm a goose, I'm a goose
(sign language for goose)
Watch me sway, as I walk
(waddle walk)
Hear me when I talk, hear me when I talk
Honk, honk, honk! Honk, honk, honk!

 

Sit-down activity: On My Toes There Is a Flea (action rhyme I found at https://pasadena-library.net/kids/2018/zoo-infant-storytime/ but have seen elsewhere)   

On my toe there is a flea
Now it’s climbing on my knee
Past my tummy, past my nose
On my head where my hair grows
On my head there is a flea
Now it’s climbing down on me
Past my tummy, past my knee
On my toe… Get off, you flea!

 

Lap rhyme #1: Tick Tock (lap bounce)

(bounce baby from leg to leg)

Tick tock, tick tock, I’m a little cuckoo clock.
Tick, tock, tick tock, now it is one o’clock… Cuckoo!
(raise baby up for each cuckoo)

(repeat for other times of day)
Now it is two o’clock… Cuckoo! Cuckoo!

Now it is three o’clock… Cuckoo! Cuckoo! Cuckoo!

 

Lap rhyme #2: Counting Bubbles (counting rhyme I learned during a BrainDance workshop)

One bubble, two bubbles, three bubbles, top.
(pat legs with hands for each number chanted, then place hands on top of head)

Three bubbles, four bubbles, five bubbles, drop.
(pat legs with hands for each number chanted, then drop hands to lap)

Six bubbles, seven bubbles, nine bubbles, pop.
(pat legs with hands for each number chanted, then clap hands loudly in front of body)

Ten little bubbles floating down!
(twinkle hands down to floor)

Now let’s blow _____ bubbles.
(This is a breath exercise.  Pick a number and pretend to blow that number of bubbles through hand.  Don’t forget to pop the bubbles with a loud clap after blowing it up.  I count the bubble while I do the clap.) 

 

Lap rhyme #3: Head, Shoulders, Knees, and Toes (traditional body parts action song)

Head, shoulders, knees, and toes,
Knees and toes.
Head, shoulders, knees and toes,
Knees and toes.
And eyes and, ears and, mouth and nose.
Head, shoulders, knees and toes,
Knees and toes.

   

Transition: 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)

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) 

 

Letter of the day: "P” is for Poppy

 

 

Flannelboard: A Squirrel Lives In a Tree (to the tune of "The Farmer In the Dell" that I found at the Program Palooza blog by Carol Simon Levin)

A squirrel lives in a tree.  A squirrel lives in a tree
He’s as cozy as he can be -- A squirrel lives in a tree.

(more verses)
A snail lives in a shell…Oh, yes it suits him very well.
A bear lives in a cave…He comes out to give a wave.
A fish lives in the sea…We will all just let him be.
A bird lives in a nest…That’s where she goes to take a rest.

      

Closing song with egg shakers: “I Know a Chicken” from The Best of the Laurie Berkner Band by Laurie Berkner 

 

 

 

 

Wheels - Baby Toddler Storytime

A Tuesday morning storytime for ages 0-2 years old.  

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)

 

 

Book: Maisy Drives the Bus by Lucy Cousins

***Literacy tip: Talk about putting toys in ordinal number order (1^st, 2^nd, 3^rd, etc.) to expand your child’s vocabulary and knowledge about numbers.  This can be done in any language! 

Stand-up activity: Nice Friendly Bus Driver (not sure where I picked up this song sung to the tune of "The Noble Duke of York")

The nice, friendly bus driver,
He had a green bus
He drove it up a hill
And then he drove it down.
So, when you're up you're up!
And, when you're down you're down!
But when you're only halfway up,
You're neither up nor down.

(Repeat going faster)

 

Sit-down activity: “Wheels on the Bus” movement song from Toddlers On Parade by Kimbo

Lap rhyme #1: Tick Tock (lap bounce)

(bounce baby from leg to leg)

Tick tock, tick tock, I’m a little cuckoo clock.
Tick, tock, tick tock, now it is one o’clock… Cuckoo!
(raise baby up for each cuckoo)

(repeat for other times of day)
Now it is two o’clock… Cuckoo! Cuckoo!

Now it is three o’clock… Cuckoo! Cuckoo! Cuckoo!

 

Lap rhyme #2: Counting Bubbles (counting rhyme I learned during a BrainDance workshop)

One bubble, two bubbles, three bubbles, top.
(pat legs with hands for each number chanted, then place hands on top of head)

Three bubbles, four bubbles, five bubbles, drop.
(pat legs with hands for each number chanted, then drop hands to lap)

Six bubbles, seven bubbles, nine bubbles, pop.
(pat legs with hands for each number chanted, then clap hands loudly in front of body)

Ten little bubbles floating down!
(twinkle hands down to floor)

Now let’s blow _____ bubbles.
(This is a breath exercise.  Pick a number and pretend to blow that number of bubbles through hand.  Don’t forget to pop the bubbles with a loud clap after blowing it up.  I count the bubble while I do the clap.) 

 

Lap rhyme #3: Head, Shoulders, Knees, and Toes (traditional body parts action song)

Head, shoulders, knees, and toes,
Knees and toes.
Head, shoulders, knees and toes,
Knees and toes.
And eyes and, ears and, mouth and nose.
Head, shoulders, knees and toes,
Knees and toes.

   

Transition: 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)

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) 

 

Letter of the day: "W” is for wheels

 

 

Flannelboard: Wheels On a Hippopotamus (rhyme I was introduced to by a librarian at the King County Library System)

You see
Wheels on a car
And on a train.
Wheels on a truck,
And a jumbo plane. 
You see
Wheels on a van,
A bike,
A bus,
But you don’t see wheels on a hippopotamus - -
Unless she’s roller-skating!

      

Closing song with egg shakers: “I Know a Chicken” from The Best of the Laurie Berkner Band by Laurie Berkner 

 

 

 

 

Wild Animals - Family Storytime

A Tuesday morning storytime for ages 0-6 years old.  

Opening #1: “Row, Row, Row Your Boat” from Songs for Wiggleworms by Old Town School of Folk Music

Opening #2: Roly Poly Oh So Fast (hand rolling body part chant adapted by Carol Hopkins)

Roly poly, roly poly, oh so fast!
Roly poly, roly poly, oh so slowly.
Roly poly, roly poly, up.
Roly poly, roly poly, down.
Roly poly, roly poly, hands on your head.
Roly poly, roly poly, hand on your feet.

(Repeat with other body parts)

Roly poly, roly poly, hands in your lap.

 

 

Literacy activity flannelboard: Lots of Little Owls (color literacy flannelboard adapted by Carol Hopkins from a rhyme found at https://www.northmankato.com/sites/default/files/images/Owl%20Miss%20You%20Storytime.pdf) 

(Hand out colored owls to the children.  Instruct the children to place their owl on the flannelboard when their color is said in the rhyme.  Start off with one solitary owl on the board.)

One little owl when the moon was new,
Along came some more, and they were blue.

Lots of little owls perched high in the tree,
Along came some more, and they were green.

Lots of little owls flew down for a drink,
Along came some more, and they were pink.

Lots of little owl flew around the town,
Along came some more, and they were brown.

(Count the owls on the board)
_____ little owls saying, “Whoo! Whoo!” 
Then they all flapped their wings and they flew away.

 

Book #1: Roar: A Book of Animals Sounds by Katerina Kerouli (lift-flap)   

Stand-up activity: “If I Was a Bird” action song from Wiggleworms Love You  

Sit-down activity: 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

 

***Parent literacy tip:  When you read a book to your child, running your finger under the text teaches them that you are reading words on the page.          

Transition: 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)

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 #2: If You’re Happy And You Know It by Jane Cabrera  

Closing music with egg shakers: “I Know a Chicken” from The Best of the Laurie Berkner Band by Laurie Berkner

Art activity: I drew a feather shape on watercolor paper.  The children then painted with watercolor paints and glued feathers to the paper.      

Optional other books:
Run! By Guilherme Karsten
Fangs by Katrine Crow (board book)