Happy Noon Year Storytime

I am starting storytimes at a new library.  I have decided at least for now to forgo themes and any ages limits.  Overall the kids had a great time.  Despite the ages and the array of books I brought with me, I felt my book choices were often too short or too long.  The kids ranged in age from 2-8 years and clearly I need to work on all ages programming. 

Books 
Bunny Slopes by Claudia Rueda
Spunky Little Monkey by Bill Martin
Dance Party Countdown by Eric Litwin

Egg Shakers
Hip Hop Body Rock by Mr. Eric and Mr. Micheal from Rockin' Red

Ribbon Wands 

Spin again by Jim Gill for Jim Gill Sings Do Re Mi on his toe leg knee 

by Jim Gill. 

Shake Your Scarves by Johnette Downing from The Second Line - Scarf Activity Songs

Songs 
Jumping and Counting by Jim Gill from Jim Gill's Irrational Anthem
Washing Machine by Jim Gill for Jim Gill Sings the Sneezing Song and Other Contagious Tunes

Scarves
Going to Kentucky by Carole Peterson from Baloney

The Elevator Song from Jbrary


Oh the city is great and the city is grand
There's a whole lot of people
on a little piece of land
And we live way up on the 57th floor
and this is what we do when we go out the door.
We take the elevator up and the elevator down,
take the elevator up, take the elevator down
Take the elevator up and the elevator down
and we turn around.

Oh the ocean is great and the ocean is grand.
There are lots of tall ships and very little land.
And we sleep down deep in a hammock near the floor
And this is what we do when we go out the door:
We ride the waves going up, we ride the waves going down
We ride the waves going up, we ride the waves going down
We ride the waves going up, we ride the waves going down
And we turn around.

Oh the fair is great and the fair is grand
There are lots of tall rides and cotton candy in your hand
Better get your ticket quick and don’t be late
And this is what you do when you go through the gate
Take the roller coaster up and the roller coaster down
Take the roller coaster up and the roller coaster down
Take the roller coaster up and the roller coaster down
And we turn around

Closing Rhyme

Little Clapping Mouse from Jbrary

     Behind the tree * *
And under the house * *
There lived a teeny * *
Tiny mouse * *
She loved to sing * *
She loved to tap * *
But most of all * *
She loved to clap * *
She clapped all night * *
She clapped all day * *
She clapped to frighten * *
The cat away * * * * * * * * (lots of claps)

Laura
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Music and Movement - Favorites

Music and Movement - Welcome
Music and Movement - Water
Music and Movement - Plants/Trees
Music and Movement - Animals
Music and Movement - Patriotic
Music and Movement - Farm

Music and Movement - Bugs

Music and Movement - Construction/Transportation
Music and Movement - Favorites

Opening
I know a New Way to Say Hello by Big Jeff for Exercise Party 

I know a new way to say hello 
Say hello say hello 
I know a new way to say hello 
All you do is wiggle your ears 

Stomp your feet

Move your hips 

But I still like the old way to say hello 
Say hello say hello 
All you do is wave your hands

Books
Crunch, the Shy Dinosaur by Cirocco Dunlap 
If You're Hoppy by April Pulley Sayre
My Friends Make Me Happy by Jan Thomas

Music and Movement - Bugs

Music and Movement - Welcome
Music and Movement - Water
Music and Movement - Plants/Trees
Music and Movement - Animals
Music and Movement - Patriotic
Music and Movement - Farm

Music and Movement - Bugs

Music and Movement - Construction/Transportation
Music and Movement - Favorites 

Opening
I know a New Way to Say Hello 
by Big Jeff for Exercise Party 

I know a new way to say hello 
Say hello say hello 
I know a new way to say hello 
All you do is wiggle your ears 

Stomp your feet

Move your hips 

But I still like the old way to say hello 
Say hello say hello 
All you do is wave your hands

Books

Tiny Little Fly by Michael Rosen

Spider on the Floor by Bill Russell and Raffi  + scarves
Walters Wonderful Web by Tim Hopgood

Music and Movement - Animals

Music and Movement - Welcome
Music and Movement - Water
Music and Movement - Plants/Trees
Music and Movement - Animals
Music and Movement - Patriotic
Music and Movement - Farm

Music and Movement - Bugs

Music and Movement - Construction/Transportation
Music and Movement - Favorites

Opening 
I know a New Way to Say Hello by Big Jeff for Exercise Party 

I know a new way to say hello 
Say hello say hello 
I know a new way to say hello 
All you do is wiggle your ears 

Stomp your feet

Move your hips 

But I still like the old way to say hello 
Say hello say hello 
All you do is wave your hands

Books
Pet This Book by Jessica Young 
It's a Tiger! by David LaRochelle

Songs

What Are You Wearing by Carole Peterson for Baloney

Hula Mula for Exercise Party

Music and Movement - Water

Music and Movement - Welcome
Music and Movement - Water
Music and Movement - Plants/Trees
Music and Movement - Animals
Music and Movement - Patriotic
Music and Movement - Farm

Music and Movement - Bugs

Music and Movement - Construction/Transportation
Music and Movement - Favorites

Opening
I know a New Way to Say Hello by Big Jeff for Exercise Party

I know a new way to say hello
Say hello say hello
I know a new way to say hello
All you do is wiggle your ears

Stomp your feet

Move your hips

But I still like the old way to say hello
Say hello say hello
All you do is wave your hands

Books

Jump! by Scott M. Fischer + told with scarves to throw in the air every time I use the word jump. 

Jump, Frog, Jump! by Robert Kalan (big book)

The Croaky Pokey by Ethan Long

Songs

Shake My Sillies Out by Raffi from More Singable Songs + Bells

Goldfish by Laurie Berkner fromThe Best of the Laurie Berkner Band

Music and Movement - Welcome

Music and Movement is a nine week group of preschool storytimes that last from 35-45 minutes with an emphasis and keeping the kids extra active.  There is no craft at the end.  Ideally each class will use two hand outs such as shakers, scarves, drums, bells, ribbon wands and rhythm sticks. 

Music and Movement - Welcome
Music and Movement - Water
Music and Movement - Plants/Trees
Music and Movement - Animals
Music and Movement - Patriotic
Music and Movement - Farm

Music and Movement - Bugs

Music and Movement - Construction/Transportation
Music and Movement - Favorites

Opening 
I know a New Way to Say Hello by Big Jeff for Exercise Party 

I know a new way to say hello
Say hello say hello
I know a new way to say hello
All you do is wiggle your ears

Stomp your feet 

Move your hips

But I still like the old way to say hello
Say hello say hello
All you do is wave your hands

Books 
Dance With Animals :Shake Your Tail and Stomp Your Feet by Susan Kelly

Like a Windy Day by Devin Asch  - read in with scarves and have the children act out the motions 

Tap to Play by Salina Yoon

Songs
Windy Day by Carole Peterson for HUM Highly Usable Music
What Are You Wearing by Carole Peterson for Baloney

Hula Mula for Exercise Party + egg shakers
Milkshake for Songs for Wiggle Worms+ eggs shakers

Tube Cube

Preschool Storytime - Boxes and Presents

*Update - I originally misattributed the idea for my felt board to the wrong blogger. I learned to make the Mystery Box felt by reading Fun with Friends at Storytime. *

Opening
Hello Everybody, Yes Indeed by Carole Peterson from her Album HUM - Highly Usable Music

Hello to your toes yes indeed yes indeed yes indeed
Hello to your toes yes indeed my darling
Knees – shoulders - friends

Books
Thank You Bear by Greg Foley
My Book Box by Will Hillenbrand.

Music
Jack in the Box by Hap Palmer for So Big: Activity Songs for Little Ones
Can't Wait to Celebrate by Jim Gill from Jim Gill's Irrational Anthem


Little Red Box - Dr. Jean Sings Silly Songs
I wish I had a little red box
To put my mommy in.
I'd take her out and go,
Kiss, kiss, kiss, (Kiss in air.)
And put her back again.
Daddy: Hug, hug, hug. (Hug self.)
Good Friends: "How do you do?" (Shake hands).

Preschool Storytime - Owls

Opening

Hello Everybody, Yes Indeed by Carole Peterson from her Album HUM - Highly Usable Music 

Hello to your toes yes indeed yes indeed yes indeed
Hello to your toes yes indeed my darling
Knees – shoulders - friends

Books
Wow! Said the Owl by Tim Hopgood
Whooo's There? by Mary Serfozo



Music
Can't Wait to Celebrate by Jim Gill from Jim Gill's Irrational Anthem
1 2 3 Whee by Mr. Eric and Mr. Michael from Groovy Green

Sleeping Bag Chant by Carole Peterson Stephenson from H.U.M. - Highly Usable Music - Here the tune so you can sing it yourself and see lyrics on Macaroni Soup.

Dance Party 2

Read about our first Dance Party.

Opening
I Know New Way to Say Hello from Exercise Party. 
 I used the tune and we added other things beyond the original lyrics. 

I know a new way to say hello, say hello, say hello
I know a new way to say hello all you do is blink your eyes
wiggle your ears
stomp your feet

but I still like the old way to say hello, say hello, say hello
I still like the old way to say hello, all I do is wave my hands

Zoom Zoom Zoom

Far, far, far, we're going to the stars (x 2)
If you want to take a trip climb aboard my rocket ship
Far, far, far, we're going to the stars
In 5, 4, 3, 2, 1, blast off!

Fun, fun, fun we're going to the sun....

Zoom, Zoom, Zoom, We’re going to the moon.

Preschool Storytime - Opposites

Inspired by Jbrary's Opposites at Storytime and Sunflower Storytime's Opposites Storytime.

Opening

Hello Everybody, Yes Indeed by Carole Peterson HUM
Hello to your toes yes indeed yes indeed yes indeed
Hello to your toes yes indeed my darling
Knees – shoulders - friends

Books
Animal Opposites by Petr Horáček
Opposite Zoo by Ila Na
The Three Bears by Byron Barton

Songs
Can't Wait to Celebrate by Jim Gill from Jim Gill's Irrational Anthem

Scarves
Reach Up High from Exercise Party

Two Little Black Birds

Two little blackbirds sitting on a hill.
One named Jack and one named Jill.
Fly away Jack, flay away Jill.
Come back Jack, come back Jill.
Two little blackbirds flying in the sky.
One named Low and one named High...
Two little blackbirds sitting on a pole.
One named Fast and one named Slow...
Two little blackbirds sitting on a gate...
One named Early and one named Late..

Five Clean and Dirty Pigs

Felt Board

Flannel Friday: Clean and Dirty Pigs from Mel's Desk

Sing it to “Five Green and Speckled Frogs”

Five pigs so squeaky clean
Cleanest you’ve ever seen
Wanted to go outside and play
Oink! Oink!
One jumped into the mud
Landed with a big thud
Then there were four clean squeaky pigs.

Park Outreach Storytime - Water

This program was held at a local park.  They have a building for educational programs that has electricity so some of the activities were indoors and some of them were outdoors. For the music I used songs on my phone played over a homemade pringle can speaker.  We walked outside to a tree with benches around it for some of the program.  The rest of it was held indoors so we do a craft the park services provide without things blowing away. The program is for children ages 4-7 and their parents. 

Preschool Storytime - Camping

Opening

Hello Everybody, Yes Indeed by Carole Peterson HUM

Hello to your toes yes indeed yes indeed yes indeed
Hello to your toes yes indeed my darling
Knees – shoulders - friends

Books

Camping in Green by Christianne C Jones 

Good Night, Animals by Lena Arro

Music
Can't Wait to Celebrate by Jim Gill from Jim Gill's Irrational Anthem

Sleeping Bag Chant by Carole Peterson Stephenson from H.U.M. - Highly Usable Music - Here the tune so you can sing it yourself and see lyrics on Macaroni Soup.

Scarves
Borrowed from Scarf Songs and Rhymes for Storytime on Jbrary.
One Bright scarf - (adapted from 10 Little Fingers at Storytime Rocks)

One bright scarf waiting for the wind to blow (hold in hand)
Wiggle it high (wiggle scarf above head)
Wiggle it low (wiggle scarf by knees)
Shake it fast (wiggle scarf quickly)
Shake it slow (wiggle scarf slowly)
Put it behind your back
Where did it go? (bring out empty hands)

Reach Up High from Exercise Party

Felt
Colorful Butterflies from Caterpillars and Butterflies Storytime by Miss Meg's Storytime. 

Colorful Butterflies

The first to come to the garden bed
is a lovely butterfly of brilliant RED

Then in comes another and that makes two
Fly right in, my friend of BLUE

This garden is fine, the best I’ve seen
says the butterfly of the softest GREEN

Our garden needs a sunny fellow
Fly in butterfly, with wings of YELLOW

Little friend of PURPLE, fly in too
the garden is waiting for a color like you

Hello ORANGE, we’ve waited so long
fly in, right where you belong

Butterflies, Butterflies, you’re such a sight
Flying together with such delight!

Dance Party

Opening

I Know New Way to Say Hello - from Exercise Party.  I used the tune and we added other things beyond the original lyrics. 

I know a new way to say hello, say hello, say hello
I know a new way to say hello all you do is blink your eyes
wiggle your ears
stomp your feet

but i still like the old way to say hello, say hello, say hello
i still like the old way to say hello, all I do is wave my hands

Stand Up Sit Down Song by Rick Goldin
Everybody stand up
Everybody sit down
now stand up again, and turn around
you can keep standing up, but not for long
cause this is the stand up, sit down, stand up, sit down song

stand up if you're ___ years old
and sit back down again

stand up if you're ___ years old

and sit back down with your friends
(repeat until I get everyone)

Eggs Shakers 
Shaky Shaky by the Wiggles from Yummy Yummy

Mango Tree – call and answer song you can repeat with lots of other fruits

Shake, shake, the mango tree.
Shake, shake, the mango tree.

Mango yellow, mango green
Mango yellow, mango green

One for you, and one for me.
One for you, and one for me.

Book Break - If You're Hoppy by April Pulley Sayre

Zoom Zoom Zoom

Far, far, far, we're going to the stars (x 2)
If you want to take a trip climb aboard my rocket ship
Far, far, far, we're going to the stars
In 5, 4, 3, 2, 1, blast off!

Fun, fun, fun we're going to the sun....

Zoom, Zoom, Zoom, We’re going to the moon.

Bean Bags
Dance Freeze Melt by Mr. Eric and Mr. Micheal from Rockin' Red

Drive the Fire Truck - see the video version by the Toronto Public Library. 

Book Break - Wiggle by Doreen Cronin. Every time the book used the word wiggle the kids had to shake their bean bags. 

Jumping and Counting by Jim Gill from The Irrational Album


Closing - scarves

Wind, Oh Wind - King County Library System
wind oh wind oh wind oh wind I say
what are you blowing away today?
Scarves scarves scarves I say
I’m blowing the scarves away today

Reach Up High from Exercise Party


Laura

Disclaimer

Preschool Storytime - Summer

Opening
Hello Everybody, Yes Indeed by Carole Peterson HUM
Hello to your toes yes indeed yes indeed yes indeed
Hello to your toes yes indeed my darling

Knees – shoulders - friends

Books
Cheers for a Dozen Ears by Felicia Sanzari Chernesky
Zoomer's Summer Snowstorm by Ned Young
Mouse’s First Summer by Lauren Thompson

Songs
Bananas by Jim Gill from Music Play for Folks of All Stripes 
Reach Up High from Exercise Party (with scarves)
Head and Shoulders from Songs for Wiggleworms

There was a tree
All in the wood
The pretties little tree that you ever did see
The tree was in a hole and the hole was in the ground

And the green grass grew all around all around

and on that tree...there was a branch
and on that branch...there was a nest
and in that nest...there was an egg
and in that egg...there was a bird
and on that bird...there was a wing 
and on that wing...there was a feather
and on that feather...there was a bug

Preschool Storytime - Eggs

Opening
We Are Here Together (Tune: “Skip to My Lou”)

Here, here, we’ll all here
Here, here, we’ll all here
Here, here, we’ll all here
We’re all here in storytime
Hello, children, how are you?
Hello, grown-ups, how are you?
Hello, friends, how are you?
We’re so glad to see you!

Books
Peep and Egg I’m Not Hatching by Laura Gehl
Daisy and the Egg by Jane Simmons
Odd Egg by Emily Gravett

Songs
Flitter Flutter by Johnette Downing for The Second Line – Scarf Activity Songs (with scarves)
I Know a Chicken by Laurie Berkner for The Best of the Laurie Berkner Band (with egg shakers)
Jumping and Counting by Jim Gill from the Irrational Anthem and More Salutes to Nonsense

Felt

Three Little Birds
I don't know the original inspiration for this story. The felt was made by a previous staff member so I just inherited it. Its a bit like Goldilocks and the three bears.  Basically the three birds Pinkie, Blue Bird and Robin want to be neighbors so they can play together everyday. They go looking at houses but of course there is a perfect house for each bird.  The kids enjoyed watching the bird test each house and then they told me why that house wasn't quite right.  We switched the bird around until everyone was happy. 

Preschool Storytime - Bugs

Opening
Hello Everybody, Yes Indeed by Carole Peterson from H.U.M.

Hello to your toes yes indeed yes indeed yes indeed
Hello to your toes yes indeed my darling
Knees – shoulders - friends

Books
Ten Wriggly Wiggly Caterpillars by Debbie Tarbett
Butterfly Butterfly by Petr Horocek
Very Greedy Bee by Steve Smallman

Music
Flitter Flutter by Johnette Downing for The Second Line – Scarf Activity Songs
Spider on the Floor by Raffi for Singable Songs for the Very Young 

Walter the Waltzing Worm by Hap Palmer - I start this song by handing each child a piece of string to use at their worm.  They move the worm around on their body as the song suggests and at the end they can keep their new friend.

Scarves
Borrowed from Scarf Songs and Rhymes for Storytime on Jbrary.
One Bright scarf (adapted from 10 Little Fingers at Storytime Rocks)

One bright scarf waiting for the wind to blow (hold in hand)
Wiggle it high (wiggle scarf above head)
Wiggle it low (wiggle scarf by knees)
Shake it fast (wiggle scarf quickly)
Shake it slow (wiggle scarf slowly)
Put it behind your back (bring out empty hands)
Where did it go?


Jack in the box, sits so still
Will he come out, yes he will.

Folder Story
This is my library's version of the Ladybug, Ladybug folder story that teaches colors.  I didn't make this for my library and I do not know who to credit for the original idea. Full text of the rhyme is available at Fun With Friends at Storytime - The Lovely Ladybug.

Closing
We Clap Our Hands Like This - tune farmer in the dell. Borrowed from Opening/Closing Songs on Storytime Katie who borrowed it from Rhymes for Toddlers on Sunflower Storytime.

We clap our hands like this
We clap out hands like this
We clap our hands with all of our friends
We clap our hands like this.
We blow a kiss like this

We blow a kiss like this
We blow a kiss with all of our friends
We blow a kiss like this.
We wave goodbye like this.

We wave goodbye like this.
We wave goodbye with all our friends.
We wave goodbye like this.

Craft

Using two Ellison die cuts, I made large magnifying glasses and many small bugs.  The children could glue their magnifying class on construction paper and then draw an outdoor scene with the paper bugs in full view.



Laura
Disclaimer

Preschool Storytime - Spring

Howdy
The good news is my storytime is getting bigger; 30 kids today.  The bad news is we do less because passing out scarves and other activies just take longer. 

Opening
Hello Everybody, Yes Indeed by Carole Peterson from H.U.M.
Hello to your toes yes indeed yes indeed yes indeed
Hello to your toes yes indeed my darling

Knees – shoulders - friends

Books
Bear Wants More by Karma Wilson
Red Rubber Boot Day by Mary Lyn Ray
Rainy Day by Patricia Lakin

Music

Leaky Umbrella by Jim Gill for The Sneezing Song and Other Contagious Tunes
Shake Your Scarves by by Johnette Downing from The Second Line - Scarf Activity Songs
I Feel Crazy So I Jump in the Soup by Laurie Berkner from Victor Vito

Felt Board

Five Little Rain Drops

Five Little Raindrops

Five little raindrops (hold up five fingers)
Dancing on the walk (dance hand up and down)
Pitter patter, pitter patter,
that’s the way they talk. (pat legs)
Out comes the yellow sun, shining in the sky (raise arms up like the sun)
And away goes one raindrop (hold up one finger)
Bye, bye, bye! (wave goodbye)

Scarves
Borrowed from Scarf Songs and Rhymes for Storytime on Jbrary.
One Bright scarf - (adapted from 10 Little Fingers at Storytime Rocks)
One bright scarf waiting for the wind to blow (hold in hand)
Wiggle it high (wiggle scarf above head)
Wiggle it low (wiggle scarf by knees)
Shake it fast (wiggle scarf quickly)
Shake it slow (wiggle scarf slowly)
Put it behind your back
Where did it go? (bring out empty hands)

Jack in the box sits so still
Will he come out
Yes he will

Closing
We Clap Our Hands Like This - tune farmer in the dell. Borrowed from Opening/Closing Songs on Storytime Katie who borrowed it from Rhymes for Toddlers on Sunflower Storytime.

We clap our hands like this
We clap out hands like this
We clap our hands with all of our friends
We clap our hands like this.

We blow a kiss like this
We blow a kiss like this
We blow a kiss with all of our friends
We blow a kiss like this.

We wave goodbye like this.
We wave goodbye like this.
We wave goodbye with all our friends.
We wave goodbye like this.

Rainy-Day Watercolors

Craft
Today's craft was Rainy-Day Watercolors from Mailbox Magazine. I printed a spring themed coloring sheet which the kids filled in with watercolor markers. Then they dipped  paintbrushes in water and painted the marker on the coloring pages.  The result was really pretty. I tested all my washable markers and found that nearly all of them bleed when you add water. The only downside was some children worked at their papers until they made a hole.   I would recommend table clothes and maybe cardstock next time. 


Laura
Disclaimer