Wriggly Rabbits - 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.

 

Opening #3: Fee Fi Fo Fum

Fee fi fo fum,
(clap for each syllable)

See my fingers,
(wiggle fingers)

See my thumbs.
(wiggle thumbs)

Fee fi fo fum,
(clap for each syllable)

Good bye fingers,
(hide one hand behind back)

Good bye thumbs.
(hide the other hand behind back)

(Repeat several times moving and saying the words faster and faster)

 

Literacy activity flannelboard: Colored Bunnies in a Field of Clover (flannelboard rhyme written by Carol Hopkins)

{Blue} bunnies hopping onto a field|
Finding lots of yummy clover to eat
They eat and they eat until they are full
So they ask for more bunnies to join the fun

{Yellow} bunnies hopping onto a field
Finding lots of yummy clover to eat
They eat and they eat until they are full
So they asked for more bunnies to join the fun

(repeat as many times as you wish)

 

  

 

Book #1: I am Wriggly by Michael Rosen, illustrated by Robert Starling

Stand-up activity: Bunny Jump Over the Great Big Stick (originally written as a lap bounce action rhyme written by Carol Hopkins, it can also be used as an action rhyme for older children)

Bunny be nimble, Bunny be quick,
Bunny jump over the great big stick. 

Bunny be nimble, Bunny be slick,
Bunny dig under the great big stick.

Bunny be nimble, Bunny go click,
Bunny almost falls off the great big stick.

Bunny be nimble, Bunny be fine,
Bunny blows kisses at story time!

 

Activity: 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)

 

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) 

  

***Parent literacy tip:  Don’t forget to read non-fiction books with your children.  Even young children love learning new things.               

Book #2: The Magic Rabbit by Richard Jesse Watson

Book #3: Wee Little Bunny by Lauren Thompson, illustrated by John Butler

Book #4:  Me andOther Bunnies by Mo Willems

Closing music with bells: “The Tempo Marches On” from Jim Gill Sings Do Re Mi on His Toe Leg Knee by Jim Gill      

   

Art activity: Rabbit face headband coloring sheet. Decorate and cut out the paper I found online with crayons and googly eyes. 

Optional other books:
Bunny’s Rainbow Day by Monica Wellington (board book)  

 

 

 

 

 

Bunny Rabbits Jump - 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: Bunny and Me by Adele Aron Greenspun and Joanie Schwarz

Themed activity #1: If You’re a Bunny and You Know It (action song to the tune of “If You’re Happy And You Know It” that I found at Adventures of a Bookwork blog at https://www.adventuresofabookworm.com/2019/04/17/storytime-bunnies-rabbits/#google_vignette)

If you’re a bunny and you know it, hop around
If you’re a bunny and you know it, hop around
If you’re a bunny and you know it and you really want to show it
If you’re a bunny and you know it, hop around

(flop your ears)

(wiggle your nose)

 

Themed activity #2: Bunny Jump Over the Great Big Stick (lap bounce action rhyme written by Carol Hopkins)

Bunny be nimble, Bunny be quick,
Bunny jump over the great big stick. 

Bunny be nimble, Bunny be slick,
Bunny dig under the great big stick.

Bunny be nimble, Bunny go click,
Bunny almost falls off the great big stick.

Bunny be nimble, Bunny be fine,
Bunny blows kisses at story time!

 

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: We’re Making a Purple Stew (story time song I saw a in a video from New York Public Library)

We’re making a {_purple_} stew,
Whip-whip-, whip-whip.
(pretend to stir a big pot in front of your body)

We’re making a {_purple_} stew,
Scooby-dooby-doo.

With {_purple_} potatoes,
(use one hand to pretend to throw potatoes from your shoulder into the pretend pot)

And {_purple_} tomatoes,
(use your other hand to pretend to throw tomatoes from your shoulder into the pretend pot)

And even a {_purple_} you!
(tickle baby’s tummy)

**What other colors should we do?
(repeat the song with other colors)

 

Lap rhyme #4: 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: Don’t forget to read non-fiction books with your children.  Even young children love learning new things.              

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: "R” is for rabbit

 

 

Flannelboard: Five Bunny Rabbits (counting down flannelboard rhyme I found in my library’s storytime collection)

Five bunny rabbits sitting by my door.
One hopped away and then there were four.

Four bunny rabbits sleeping by a tree.
One hopped away and then there were three.

Three bunny rabbits, now what will they do?
One hopped away and then there were two.

Two bunny rabbits resting in the sun.
One hopped away and then there was one.

One bunny rabbit left all alone.
So he hopped away, and then there were none. 

 

Closing song with egg shakers: “Bublebee Buzz Buzz” from Buzz Buzz by Laurie Berkner   

 

 

 

 

Spring Happiness - 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: Bird Shapes (a fun shape and color rhyme I found in my library’s flannelboard collection, it is very similar to this Bird House flannelboard I found at https://fallingflannelboards.wordpress.com/2013/01/18/flannel-friday-bird-houses/ )

 

  

 

Book #1: Hooray for Hoppy! by Tim Hopgood

Stand-up activity: “If You’re Happy and You Know It” traditional movement song from WeeSing

Activity: Jump, Jump Went the Little Green Frog (action chant)

 Jump, jump went the little green frog.

Jump, jump went the little green frog.
Jump, jump went the little green frog...
And his eyes went blink, blink.

Blink, blink went the little green frog.
Blink, blink went the little green frog.
Blink, blink went the little green frog...
And his tongue went glup, glup.

Glup, glup went the little green frog.
Glup, glup went the little green frog.
Glup, glup went the little green frog...
And his legs went jump, jump.

Jump, jump went the little green frog.
Jump, jump went the little green frog.
Jump, jump went the little green frog...
And then he swam away.

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) 

  

***Parent literacy tip:  When singing, children hear the same short sentences over and over.  This helps them recognize simple sentence structures and patterns.             

Book #2: Splish, Splash, Spring by Jan Carr, illustrated by Dorothy Donohue  

Book #3: It Looked Like Spilt Milk by Charles G. Shaw (Big Book)   

Closing music with bells: “The Tempo Marches On” from Jim Gill Sings Do Re Mi on His Toe Leg Knee by Jim Gill      

  

Art activity: Nest water color sheets with feathers to glue on 

Optional other books:
A Book of Babies by Il Sung Na
Spring Song by Barbara Seuling, illustrated by Greg Newbold

 

 

 

 

 

Habits of Rabbits - 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: The Wonderful Habits of Rabbits by Douglas Florian, illustrated by Sonia Sánchez

Stand-up activity: If You’re a Bunny and You Know It (action song to the tune of “If You’re Happy And You Know It” that I found at Adventures of a Bookwork blog at https://www.adventuresofabookworm.com/2019/04/17/storytime-bunnies-rabbits/#google_vignette)

If you’re a bunny and you know it, hop around
If you’re a bunny and you know it, hop around
If you’re a bunny and you know it and you really want to show it
If you’re a bunny and you know it, hop around

(flop your ears)

(wiggle your nose)

 

Sit-down activity: Bunny Jump Over the Great Big Stick (lap bounce action rhyme written by Carol Hopkins)

Bunny be nimble, Bunny be quick,
Bunny jump over the great big stick. 

Bunny be nimble, Bunny be slick,
Bunny dig under the great big stick.

Bunny be nimble, Bunny go click,
Bunny almost falls off the great big stick.

Bunny be nimble, Bunny be fine,
Bunny blows kisses at story time!

 

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: Choo Choo (fingerplay that crosses the midline that I found at https://youtu.be/gr4gtVYSAEg?si=ceNiLrI-2BuUbGMC)

Choo, choo, choo, choo, choo, choo, choo, choo,
Up the railroad track.
Choo, choo, choo, chook, choo, choo, choo, choo,
Then we come right back. 

First, we go to grandma’s house,
Up the railroad track.
Then, we go to monkey’s house,
Then we come right back. 

Choo, choo, choo, choo, choo, choo, choo, choo,
Up the railroad track.
Choo, choo, choo, chook, choo, choo, choo, choo,
Then we come right back. 

 

Lap rhyme #4: 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: 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.

 

Letter of the day: "R” is for Rabbits

 

 

Flannelboard: Spring Things (flannelboard I found in my library system’s collection)

One little frog croaks, “How do you do?”
Two little ducks quack, “How do you do too?”
Three little clouds drift across the sky.
Four little butterflies start to fly away.
Five little bunny go hopping on by.

 

***Literacy tip: Don’t forget to read non-fiction books with your children.  Even young children love learning new things.          

Closing song with scarves: “Milkshake” from Songs for Wiggleworms