Every now and then, there’s a picture book that works so perfectly for storytime that I know it’s going to be in my regular rotation for a long time. Pop! Goes the Nursery Rhyme by Betsy Bird and Andrea Tsurumi is one of those picture books.
It starts with the song “Pop! Goes the Weasel,” and then moves into several other famous nursery rhymes: Jack and Jill, Little Miss Muffet, Mary Had a Little Lamb. Each one gets interrupted by “Pop! Goes the Weasel!” partway through.
All the kids I’ve read this to have found this book hilarious. It’s fun to have them clap their hands or throw play scarves in the air whenever you point to the word “Pop!” (which is also a wonderful way to help them develop print awareness). You can also extend it by singing some of the songs after you read the book (especially Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star, which they usually know), and throw in your own “Pop! Goes the Weasel” in the middle.
Early Literacy Tip:Point out words that share the same letters and sounds (like “La La La” and “Ma Ma Ma” in the book Noisy Night) to help kids learn to keep an eye out for patterns in the words they see.
Last week, we celebrated the letter N. As usual, we started by writing the letter N (upper and lower case) in the air together and then talking about words that started with N. The kids suggested “No,” and “nut.” I pulled a few other items out of a paper bag: a nose flute, a name tag, and a can of nuts (which was really one of those trick cans with a snake inside).
I read this with my Family Storytime group, which tends to skew a bit older. It’s a darkly humorous story about a goose who runs into a fox, who invites her to his house for dinner. Every time he invites her to do something (going for a walk in the deep dark woods, going to his house, tasting his soup), a small yellow gosling warns “That is NOT a good idea!” or “That is REALLY NOT a good idea!” In a surprise twist, the goose pushes the fox into the soup, and the book ends with the goslings saying, “We did try to warn him!” The kids loved joining in on the repeated “That is NOT a good idea!” parts.
One of my favorite Elephant and Piggie books. In this story, Piggie lets Gerald play with her new toy. He throws it in the air, but it breaks when it lands. Piggie is “mad and sad,” and Gerald is sorry, until a squirrel explains that the toy is actually a break and snap toy that’s meant to come apart. The representation of feelings (both named and unnamed) is spot on.
Adorable, slightly suspenseful story about a ninja on a nighttime mission. Before he can achieve his goal, the kitchen light comes on and he is caught…and revealed to be a boy trying to sneak some chocolate ice cream from the freezer.
Noisy Night by Mac Barnett; illustrated by Brian Biggs
Fun book about a noisy apartment building, where everyone wonders what’s making the noises in the apartment above them: an opera singer singing “La La La,” a baby cooing, “Ma Ma Ma,” a sheep saying, “Baa Baa Baa,” etc. The kids enjoyed repeating the sounds on each page and trying to guess who is making them.
A lot of the kids were already familiar with this popular book. I love to tell them (and their caregivers) that the book was based on drawings that David Shannon made as a child, which his mother saved and sent to him. The kids enjoyed seeing all the ways David gets in trouble, especially the page where he runs down the street naked.
Songs & Activities:
Old MacDonald
We sang this after reading That Is Not a Good Idea in Family Storytime. I always have animal puppets out on all of the chairs for that storytime, and it’s fun to ask the kids to hold up an animal for us to sing about.
[C] Old MacDonald [F] had a [C] farm, E-I- [G7] E-I- [C] O! And on that farm he [F] had a [C] cow, E-I- [G7] E-I- [C] O! With an moo-moo here, and an moo-moo there, Here a moo, there a moo, Everywhere a moo-moo. [C] Old MacDonald [F] had a [C] farm, E-I- [G7] E-I- [C] O!
Repeat with different animals…
Number Play Activity
For Outdoor Musical Storytime, I brought out a foam die and explained that we were all going to clap our hands, but first we would throw the die to see how many times to clap. Once we threw the die (which landed on 5), we counted the dots and then clapped 5 times. Then we tried the same thing with jumping and stomping. I’ve also done this with a second die that has different actions (clapping, jumping, stomping, etc.) on each side.
The Noble Duke of York
We sang this song with the parachute at Outdoor Musical Storytime. I threw a bunch of small animals on the parachute (one little girl volunteered her stuffed rabbit), and we lifted the parachute up and down with the song. Here’s a Barney video with the tune, in case you’re not familiar with it.
The noble Duke of York, He had ten thousand men. He marched them all to the top of the hill, (stretch up high or lift parachute) And he marched them down again. (crouch down low or lower parachute) And when you’re up, you’re up. (stretch up high) And when you’re down, you’re down. (crouch down low) And when you’re only halfway up, You’re neither up, nor down. (stretch up high, then quickly crouch down)
No One Like You by Andrea Willis Muhoberac
For years, this was our opening song for Musical Storytime, and it’s still one of my all-time favorites. We used it as our instrument play-along at the end. Click on the triangle for the melody.
I like your [C] eyes. I like your [F] nose. I like your [G] mouth. Your ears, your hands, your [C] toes. I like your face. It’s really [F] you. I [Dm] like the things you say and [G] do.
There’s not a [F] single [G] soul Who [C] sees the [Am] skies The [G] way you see them. Through your [C] eyes. [F] And aren’t you [G] glad. [E]You should be [Am] glad. There’s [C] no one, [G] no one Exactly like [C] you.
Stay & Play: Nature Rubbings
Really simple, inexpensive Stay & Play, which worked perfectly for Outdoor Musical Storytime.
Before storytime, we gathered several different types of leaves. For the Stay & Play, I put out the leaves, white computer paper, crayons and colored pencils and tape (taping the leaves to the back of the paper keeps them from sliding around). I also gave out picture books for the kids to put underneath their paper, since the tables at the park are a bit bumpy.
I showed the kids how to tape a leaf to the back of the paper, and then flip it over and run the crayon or colored pencil back and forth on the part of the paper where the leaf is. Most of the kids had never done this before and were surprised to see the outline of the leaf appear.
Do you have any favorite books or songs featuring the letter N? Please share them in the comments below.
The book is about a boy named Steven who wants everything to be fun, fair, and even. He knows that cutting things in half is a great way to make things even. He discovers that works well for cookies, but not for crayons or books or nickels. He tries giving each person one of something, but that doesn’t work for roller skates or playground slides. Then he tries taking turns, which works well for the swings, but not with an umbrella or building with blocks. Eventually, he learns that things can be fun and fair without necessarily being even, and that some things (like your toothbrush!) don’t need to be shared at all.
This is such a fun and engaging look at all of the different ways to share. The kids thought parts of it (like the idea of sharing a lollipop or a toothbrush) were hilarious. Some pages ask the readers for ideas on how to share different things, like a sweatshirt, or the Earth. I didn’t dwell on these with the preschoolers (although one girl did raise her hand to suggest how she would share a sweatshirt), but I think they could make for a great discussion in a Kindergarten or elementary school classroom.
The book runs a little longer than the ones I usually read with preschoolers, but it kept them engaged. It will definitely be one I bring to my class visits in the fall. It’s one of those rare titles that conveys a complicated idea in a fun (and funny!), relatable way.
Although I’m not usually involved with teen programming in my current job, I am one of volunteer coordinators for the two libraries where I work, so I do regularly work with teen volunteers.
Volunteers in our system usually have to agree to a commitment of at least six months, and have to have a background check and be fingerprinted if they are over 16. In spite of these requirements, we do have a fair number of teens who help with evening storytime, teach people how to use the 3D printer, help with prepping crafts, straightening shelves, or pulling books for weeding or redistribution, lead Dungeons and Dragons campaigns, and (for a while anyway) read with kids as part of a drop-in Reading Buddies program (this is being replaced by a more formal reading program led by interns).
Recently, one of the teen librarians in our library system started a VolunTEEN program, to provide a way for high school students to earn Community Service hours (a requirement for some of the schools in our area) without all of the normal volunteer requirements. We tried it out in our libraries this Spring, and it has been a big success!
The idea of VolunTEEN is that it’s an hour-long drop-in program overseen by a staff person, which makes it more of a library program, rather than a regular volunteer activity where volunteers are operating without as much direct oversight. We provide snacks, and usually set aside some basic tasks for the teens to do during that time. Some of the tasks they have done are:
Prepping storytime crafts (cutting out paper templates, checking markers and stamp pads, etc.)
Cleaning shelves (we provided them with cleaning spray and cloths, and showed them how to carefully move the books onto a cart, wipe down the shelf, and carefully put the books back in order. One teen enjoyed this so much that he stayed for an extra hour, and then came back the next month to do it again).
Checking board games to make sure all of the pieces are in the box
Checking video game and DVD cases for the corrent cartridge or disk
Straightening shelves (just for neatness, not organization)
Some tips that have made the program successful:
Connecting with the local high schools (especially the community service coordinators) to help promote the VolunTEEN hour. It especially helps when they advertise it in the weekly parent email newsletters
Providing tasks the teens can work on together, or at least at the same table or in the part of the library. Although not all of them were eager to socialize, some of them really enjoyed getting to talk to other students while they worked
Putting out name tag stickers, to identify them to library staff and each other
Providing a sign-in sheet to log their hours (I include a column for them to add their email address, so I can remind them about the next VolunTEEN date. I also have a spreadsheet where I keep track of who attended each month)
Providing snacks
This program has been a great way to provide community service opportunities for students who aren’t able to volunteer weekly. It’s also helped us with a lot of tasks that we don’t usually have time for, like cleaning the shelves. The turnout isn’t huge (at most we’ve had 6 students at a time), which makes it easy to manage. I’m also hopeful that these students will become more regular users of the library.
Have you hosted any teen programs that you love? Please share them in the comments below.
Early Literacy Tip: Ask kids to point out the word or words starting with a particular letter in the titles of the books you read. (Example: Can you find a word starting with the letter M?”) Learning to recognize letters is a key part of learning to read, and noticing them in the books they read helps them make the connection between the words they know and say, and the written words they see on the page.
Last week, we celebrated the letter M, a letter which has lots of fun word tie-ins. As usual, we started by drawing the letter M in the air together, and then listed words that started with M. Some of the words the kids suggested were: Mommy, moon, and monster. I also pulled out other items from a paper bag: a mouse puppet, a microphone and a marker.
I think this is one of the most relatable Llama Llama books (a friend of mine told me recently that whenever her teenaged daughter is upset with her, she asks her, “Llama Llama, mad at Mama?,” which probably just annoys her more, but I thought it was funny). It was also nice to include this book because we read Llama Llama, Red Pajama last week. In this story, Llama Llama gets increasingly frustrated by a trip to the store. When his temper finally explodes, his Mama tells him that she thinks shopping is boring too, but she enjoys being with him.
I love this book so much! Every Monday, Mabel’s family watches her take her breakfast and a chair out to the driveway to see the best thing ever: the garbage truck! The descriptions of the garbage truck and its sounds (gah-dump!) are so much fun to read.
This is a long-time favorite of mine: the rhyming story of a mouse who enjoys playing in a human family’s kitchen, and making a huge mess.
M is for Mango by Atinuke; illustrated by Angela Brooksbank
This is an adorable book that uses a series of M words to tell a simple story about a little boy named Mo, whose mango is stolen by monkeys in a small Nigerian village. Perfect for toddler storytimes.
Songs:
If You’re Happy and You Know It
We sang this variation of the classic song after reading, Llama Llama, Mad at Mama. I really like adding in other emotions to this song, both because I think it’s important for kids to be able to name and share their “negative” emotions, and also because they love to act them out. If you’re not familiar with the original version, here’s a video from Super Simple Songs.
[C] If you’re happy and you know it, clap your [G7] hands (clap, clap) If you’re happy and you know it, clap your [C] hands (clap, clap) If you’re [F] happy and you know it, and you [C] really want to show it, If you’re [G7] happy and you know it, clap your [C] hands! (clap, clap)
If you’re sad and you know it, cry “Boo hoo!” (say “Boo hoo!” and pretend to cry)…
If you’re angry and you know it, say, “I’m mad!” (“I’m mad!” and stomp feet)…
If you’re shy and you know it, hide your face… (cover your eyes and then uncover them and say, “Peek-a-boo!”)…
If you’re sleepy and you know it, yawn and stretch…
If you’re happy and you know it, shout “Hooray!”…
Hickory Dickory Dock
We sang this with the parachute in Outdoor Musical Storytime, and with the play scarves in Family Storytime. With the parachute, I put a mouse puppet on top, and we bounced it up and down with the song. With the play scarves, I had the kids pretend the scarf was a mouse and run it up and down their arms. I use the same tune as the one in this Learning Station video, but add in the additional verses below.
[C] Hickory [G7] Dickory [C] Dock! (clap hands in rhythm) The mouse [G7] ran up the [C] clock. (run fingers up arm) The clock struck one: BONG! The [F] mouse ran down. (run fingers down arm) [C] Hickory [G7] Dickory [C] Dock! (clap hands in rhythm)
Hickory Dickory Dock! (clap hands in rhythm) The mouse ran up the clock. (run fingers up arm) The clock struck two: BONG! BONG! The mouse went, “BOO!” (cover your face and then uncover it when you yell, “BOO!”) Hickory Dickory Dock! (clap hands)
Hickory Dickory Dock! (clap hands in rhythm) The mouse ran up the clock. (run fingers up arm) The clock struck three: BONG! BONG! BONG! The mouse went “Whee!” (run fingers down body quickly) Hickory Dickory Dock! (clap hands)
Hickory Dickory Dock! (clap hands in rhythm) The mouse ran up the clock. (run fingers up arm) The clock struck four: BONG! BONG! BONG! BONG! The mouse said, “No more!” (hold hands out palms up and shrug shoulders) Hickory Dickory Dock! (clap hands)
Monkey See and Monkey Do
I wish I could remember who originally taught me this song, because it’s one of my favorites. You can ask the kids to suggest other actions. I always end with “when you sit back on the ground,” which is a great way to get everyone ready to listen to the next book. Click on the triangle for the tune.
[C] When you clap, clap, clap your hands, The monkey clap, clap, claps his [G7] hands, Monkey [C] see, and monkey do, The monkey [G7] does the same as [C] you!
Repeat with other motions: when you jump up and down; make a funny face; turn yourself around; and sit back on the ground.
Mi Cuerpo Hace Musica
One of my storytime families requested this song, which was a perfect fit for our letter M theme. We sang it in Spanish and English like the Learning Groove video below.
[A] Mi cuerpo, mi cuerpo [D] hace músic-[A]a Mi cuerpo, mi cuerpo [D] hace músic-[A]a Mis manos hacen Clap! Clap! Clap! Mis [E7] pies hacen Stomp! Stomp! Stomp! Mi [A] boca hace “La La La!” [E7] Cintura hace [A] Cha cha cha! (shake your hips) [A] Mi cuerpo, mi cuerpo [D] hace músic-[A]a Mi cuerpo, mi cuerpo [D] hace músic-[A]a
My body, my body makes music! My body, my body makes music! My hands go Clap! Clap! Clap! My feet go Stomp! Stomp! Stomp! My mouth goes, “La La La!” My hips go Cha Cha Cha!
Stay & Play: Paper Masks
This was a fun and easy storytime, although it definitely helps to have volunteers to prep the masks in advance. Before storytime, I printed a variety of paper masks onto cardstock and cut them out. Unfortunately, the mask in the picture was one that a coworker had cut out years ago, and I don’t know where she found it, but there are a lot of cute mask templates available at FirstPalette.com: Printable Animal Masks | Kids’ Crafts | Fun Craft Ideas | FirstPalette.com
For the Stay & Play, I put out the masks, markers, craft sticks, and tape (for attaching the craft sticks to the back). I also put out some colored feathers and glue, which some kids enjoyed adding to their masks. It was so much fun to see them all modeling their finished masks.
Do you have any favorite books or songs featuring the letter M? Please share them in the comments below.
I don’t have a photo of any of my storytime kids playing with scarves, but I found this beautiful royalty-free photo from Estonia on Pexels.com
A storytime prop I use a lot, especially for Family Storytime, are play scarves. They are so light, compact, and fun, and they provide an easy break from reading, which helps kids refocus and usually brings any wandering toddlers back into the group.
So, I thought I would share some of my favorite scarf songs and book connections.
I’m always looking for more, so please share your favorites in the comments at the bottom.
Songs:
Popcorn Kernels
For my Family Storytimes, which are in the evenings and have a smaller turnout, I always hand out the play scarves after reading the third book. I usually do a song that relates to the theme, or at least to the book I just read, and then I always do Popcorn Kernels. The kids love to grab handfuls of scarves and throw them all up in the air. Here’s a video from JBrary.
To the tune of Are You Sleeping? (Frere Jacques)
Popcorn kernels, Popcorn kernels, (Wave scarves) In the pot, In the pot. (bundle the scarf into your hand) Shake ’em, shake ’em, shake ’em. (shake your hands) Shake ’em, shake ’em, shake ’em. ‘Till they pop! ‘Till they pop! (throw the scarf in the air)
The Wishy-Washy Washer Woman
Another favorite of mine. I like it because it uses the scarf in a lot of different ways, and it’s fun to sing the “ooh! ah!” part.
Way down in the valley where nobody goes, There’s a wishy washy washer woman washing her clothes. She goes “Oooh! Ahhh! Oooh! Ahhh! Oooh! Ahhh!” And that’s the way she washes her clothes.
Repeat with drying her clothes (we blow on the scarves), folding her clothes, and wearing her clothes.
Two Little Blackbirds
This is a classic fingerplay (usually you pretend your thumbs are the birds and put them behind your back). I love to sing it with scarves though (I give each child two scarves). It pairs well with lots of different themes: you can substitute different colors of bird, or different types of bird (“two little owls sitting on a hill”). It’s also a great way to demonstrate opposites. But mostly, it’s just a lot of fun. The kids always giggle on the loud verse. Click on the triangle for the tune.
Two little blackbirds sitting on a hill, (Hold up both scarves) One named Jack, and the other named Jill. Fly away, Jack! (Put one scarf behind your back) Fly away, Jill! (Put the other scarf behind your back) Come back, Jack! (Bring the first scarf out in front). Come back, Jill! (Bring the second scarf out in the front).
Two little blackbirds sitting on a cloud, One was quiet, and the other was loud (I make my voice as loud and obnoxious as possible each time I sing the word “Loud!”) Fly away, Quiet! Fly away, Loud! Come back, Quiet! Come back, Loud!
Two little blackbirds sitting in the snow. One flew fast! And the other flew slow!…
Two little blackbirds sitting on a gate. One was early, and the other was…late!…
You Sing a Song by Ella Jenkins
This is an old song by Ella Jenkins that we used to use regularly in Musical Storytime. I adapted the words to include things to do with the scarves (waving them, throwing them, etc.). You can also add in other actions like “You clap your hands,” or “You stomp your feet,” etc.
[C] You’ll sing a song, and [Am] I’ll sing a song, And [C] we’ll sing a [Dm] song toge-[G]ther. [C] You’ll sing a song, and [Am] I’ll sing a song, In [G] warm or [C] wintry [G] wea-[C]ther.
You’ll wave a scarf, and I’ll wave a scarf, and we’ll wave our scarves together…
You’ll peek-a-boo, and I’ll peek-a-boo… (put the scarf over your face, then pull it away)
You’ll throw a scarf, and I’ll throw a scarf…
We Are Spooky Ghosts
I made this video during lockdown, when I was doing Zoom storytimes and asking kids to use props from home (that’s why I have a cloth napkin instead of a scarf). It’s a song I learned originally as We Are Scary Skeletons (at Halloween, it’s fun to ask the kids for different things they would like to be: witches, monsters, zombies, etc.), but I love to use play scarves and have the kids pretend to be ghosts. They love the “BOO!” at the end.
We are spooky ghosts (put scarf on your head) Floating down the street, Floating down the street, Floating down the street. We are spooky ghosts Floating down the street. We’ll scare you! BOO! (pull scarf off quickly)
Rain Is Falling Down
This one is a lot of fun too, and pairs well with stories about weather. I use the same tune as the one in the JBrary video below, although they don’t use scarves in the video.
Rain is falling down. SPLASH! (toss the scarf in the air, and then grab it and pull it down quickly towards the ground) Rain is falling down. SPLASH! Pitter patter, Pitter patter, (wave the scarf up and down) Rain is falling down. SPLASH!
Snow is falling down. SHHH! (wave the scarves in figure 8’s in the air getting lower each time) Snow is falling down. SHHH! Swirling, twirling, swirling, twirling, Snow is falling down. SHHH!
Icky Sticky Bubblegum
Another fun one to do with scarves. I have the kids stretch the scarves between their hands like they are stretching bubblegum, and then we “stick” them to different body parts (I ask the kids for suggestions). I usually end with the bubblegum “all over my face.”
Icky, sticky, sticky bubble gum, (stretch the scarf between your hands) Bubble gum, Bubble gum, Icky, sticky, sticky bubble gum, Sticking my hands to my knee… (touch one end of the scarf to your knee) 1,2,3, UNSTUCK! (throw the scarf in the air)
Other Songs and Activities:
There are lots of ways to adapt favorite songs and rhymes to work with scarves. Here are a few ideas:
You can pretend the scarf is a spider climbing up the waterspout for The Itsy Bitsy Spider, or a mouse climbing up the clock (your arm) for Hickory Dickory Dock
You can throw the scarf in the air for any rhymes or songs that talk about falling, like London Bridge is Falling Down.
You can spin the scarf in the air for The Wheels on the Bus Go Round and Round, and then wave it up and down for “The windows on the bus go up and down.”
You can wave the scarf up and down for songs like The Noble Duke of York
Sometimes it’s fun just to have a “snowfall fight” with the scarves, bundling them up and throwing them at each other. The kids especially love throwing them at me, and at their caregivers.
Using Scarves with Books
Another fun thing to do with scarves is to use them with certain picture books, usually ones involving waving or throwing or painting. Some of my favorites are:
Go Away, Big Green Monster by Ed Emberley. I like to give them kids scarves before I read the book. Each time I turn the page to make another part of the monster disappear, we all wave our scarves like magic wands and make a “whsh” sound
Food Fight Fiesta by Tracey Kyle and Ana Gomez. This is a fun picture book about La Tomatina, a Spanish festival where people throw tomatoes at each other. I usually hand out scarves before we read it, and we all throw them in the air whenever the book talks about throwing the tomatoes
The Snowy Day by Ezra Jack Keats. There are a number of fun ways to use scarves with this story, like putting the scarf on your head when the snow plops on Peter’s head, throwing them in the air on the page with the snowball fight, and bundling them up when Peter puts the snowball in his pocket.
I Ain’t Gonna Paint No More by Karen Beaumont and David Catrow. This one works especially well with scarves, because you can have the kids pretend the scarves are paintbrushes and use them to “paint” the different body parts along with the book.
Other Scarf Tips:
Fortunately, my Family Storytime group is usually small enough that all of the kids can have the scarf color that they want, but I used to bring the scarves to preschool visits where the “I want pink!” “I want blue!” demands could sometimes end in tears. For those situations, I usually have the kids close their eyes tight and then I drop a scarf in their laps, telling them that the color they get is a surprise!
Washing scarves is always a bit of pain. But if you have volunteers, a good task for them is to hand wash the scarves gently in warm water and baby shampoo or a little dish soap. Then rinse in cold water and hang them up to dry. Just don’t use hot water or the dyes will run (I have a set of scarves that is now a blend of very interesting colors!)
Do you have any favorite songs or rhymes to use with scarves? Any other tips? I’m always looking for new ideas, so please share them in the comments below.
Early Literacy Tip: When reading books with predictable or very familiar text, try pausing before you say a word, and let your child fill in the blank (For example, “The cow said, “_____”. Using prediction skills is a key part of learning how to read.
This week, we continued our journey through the alphabet, focusing on the Letter L. We started by drawing the letter L (upper and lower-case in the air together), and then talking about words that begin with L. The kids suggested lollipop, lion, and lamb. I pulled out some items from a paper bag: a ladle, a lid, and a lyre(which I brought around for the kids to strum).
This is a cute book that kept the kids guessing. The text describes how things don’t always work out the way you expect, and demonstrates this on each page by ending with “Red Light, Green Li-” only to begin the next page with “Lion” or “Lifeboat” or “Livestock.” I tried to draw out the “Li…” each time, and the kids would laugh at the unexpected word.
The perfect book for letter L! Most of the kids knew the book already and were excited to see it. It’s such a classic rhyming story about an anxious Llama who gets upset when his Mama doesn’t come when he calls.
Another classic picture book that a lot of the kids knew. I especially like this one because it’s fun to pause when you read the lines about each animal and have the kids supply the missing word (“Sheep said ____! Cow said _____!”) A sweet, rhyming story about a friendly blue truck who saves a grumpy dump truck with the help of all of his animal friends.
I wanted to include a picture book featuring the word “Love,” and this is one of my favorites (although it would also work well for letter M). Full of word play around the word “Moo,” (like “I would jump over the Moo-N for you!”) and sweet, funny pictures of cows, both the kids and their caregivers enjoyed this one.
Songs & Activities:
Red Light, Green Light
After reading Red Light, Green Lion, we played a short game of Red Light, Green Light. Instead of the traditional game of having the kids walk towards me when I said, “Green Light” and stop when I said, “Red Light,” I just had them do different actions (clapping, stomping, etc.) when I said “Green Light” and stop when I said “Red Light.” It works especially well if you hold up pictures of a red light and a green light each time.
Can You See the Color Red?
We sang this after reading Llama Llama Red Pajama. The kids always enjoying pointing to things around them that match each color. It’s to the tune of Do You Know the Muffin Man?
Can you [C] see the color red, The [F] color yellow, the [G7] color red? Can you [C] see the color red, [F] Right here [G7] where you [C] are?
Can you see the color blue… etc.
Love Somebody, Yes, I Do
For Outdoor Musical Storytime, we sang this with the parachute, shaking it in time with the song.There are lots of different versions of the song, but the one I do is closest to the one in the video by Musicaliti found below. We sang it through three times.
Love somebody, yes I do! Love somebody, yes I do! Love somebody, yes I do! Love somebody and it’s you, you, you! (point to different people) You, you, you!
Little Red Caboose
We did this as our instrument play-along at the end. For Family Storytime, I had the kids line up to make a train, and we circled the row of shelves next to the storytime space as we sang and shook our egg shakers (it would also be fun with play scarves). There are lots of versions of this song, but the one I do is closest to the Sweet Honey and the Rock version below.
[C] Little red caboose, Little red caboose, Riding behind the [G7] train. Little red caboose, Little red caboose, Riding behind the [C] train.
[C] Get your tickets and get on board, Riding behind the [G7] train. Get your tickets and get on board, Riding behind the [C] train.
[C] Little red caboose, Little red caboose, Riding behind the [G7] train. Little red caboose, Little red caboose, Riding behind the [C] train.
I’ve got a brother on that train, Riding behind the train. You’ve got a sister on that train, Riding behind the train.
[C] Little red caboose, Little red caboose, Riding behind the [G7] train. Little red caboose, Little red caboose, Riding behind the [C] train
Stay & Play: Letter Stamps
This was a super easy Stay & Play, where I just put out our set of letter stamps, along with ink-pads, markers, and other fun stamps. Most of the kids stamped out their names with the help of a caregiver. It’s a great activity for both literacy (searching for each letter) and fine motor skills (figuring out the best way to coat the stamp in ink and press it onto the paper).
Do you have any favorite books or songs featuring the Letter L? Please share them in the comments below.
I’ve been reading it at preschools this month, and it’s been a big hit (yesterday, one little boy begged me to read it again, and then asked if I could bring him all of Pigeon books pictured on the back cover).
In this story, the Pigeon is excited to celebrate his Bird-Day. He has his Bird-Day hat, and can’t wait to eat his Bird-Day hot dog. But wait! Someone has eaten half of his Bird-Day hot dog, and someone else has a Bird-Day hat! It’s the Duckling, who shares the same Bird-Day, along with five newly hatched chicks. Suddenly, his Bird-Day doesn’t feel so special, until he asks YOU, the reader, if you see him, and he finds he is okay with sharing his Bird-Day after all.
This book works so well, partly because it’s such a relatable experience to realize you aren’t necessarily the only one being celebrated on your special day. Also, it’s really fun to say “Bird-Day!” I’m sometimes hesitant to read Pigeon books with younger kids, because they really do rely on the kids answering the Pigeon’s questions, and in shyer, younger groups, they don’t always work. But this one only asks the reader “Will you see me?” And adorably, all the kids I’ve read it to have always answered “Yes.”
This will definitely become one of my go-to read-alouds. Thank you, Mo Willems!
Have you run across any particular favorite picture books published this year? Please share them in the comments below.
Early Literacy Tip: Point out words and letters that behave in surprising ways, like the silent K in words like “knot” and “knee.” It’s helpful for kids to know that words don’t always follow the “rules.”
Still working our way through the alphabet! This week was Letter K. As usual, we started by drawing an upper and lower case K in the air together, and I asked the kids if they knew any words that started with K. They suggested koala, Kindergarten, kite and kangaroo. From my paper bag, I also pulled out a kazoo, a set of keys, and a kalimba (also known as a thumb piano. I brought it around for the kids to try).
Before I read this one, I talked about how the letter K is usually silent when it appears in front of the letter N. Out of habit, I usually pronounce “knuffle” this way, although I’ve read that it’s actually based on a Dutch word (knuffel) that’s pronounced “Kuh-nuffle.” However you pronounce it, this is one of my favorite read-alouds, about a little girl whose favorite toy goes missing at the laundromat, and leads her to say her first words.
Mama’s Kisses by Kate McMullan; illustrated by Tao Nyeu
I read this one for Family Storytime, which is a much smaller group, so they were able to find the baby animals hiding in the illustrations throughout the book. A sweet book about four animal mothers looking for their babies at bedtime.
I love this adorable story about a dog named Katie who is so excited when her owner brings home three little kittens that she just can’t stop herself from howling and chasing them around. She feels terrible for scaring them, but somehow it keeps happening, until she falls asleep, and wakes to find the kittens curled up on top of her. This book does such a good job of capturing the “cuteness aggression” that kids often struggle with around pets, and the kids loved howling along with the repeated “AROOOO’s!”
This book was a great lead-in to our Stay & Play and our last song. It’s a simple story about Bear and Mole making and flying a kite, which flies away and gets stuck in a tree. They are upset at first, until they discover that the lost kite is serving as an umbrella to a grateful nest full of baby birds.
Songs:
The Sleeping Bunnies
We sang this to go along with Knuffle Bunny. It’s one of my favorite songs to use with toddlers and preschoolers because they love lying down and then jumping back up. I usually sing it through three times.
See the little bunnies sleeping (crouch or lie down and pretend to sleep) ‘Till it’s nearly noon. Come, let us wake them with a merry tune? They’re so still. Are they ill? NO! Wake up little bunnies! (jump up) Hop little bunnies, hop, hop, hop! (hop!) Hop little bunnies, hop, hop, hop! Hop little bunnies, hop, hop, hop! Hop little bunnies, hop and stop!
Five Days Old by Laurie Berkner
We sang this after reading Mama’s Kisses. It’s one of my favorite Laurie Berkner songs, because the actions are built into the lyrics.
[C] I’m sitting here, I’m [F] one day old, and [C] I’m sitting here I’m [F] two [G7] days [C] old. [C] I’m sitting here, I’m [F] three days old, and [C] I’m sitting here I’m [F] four [G7] days [C] old. [F] One [C] day, I’ll [F] be a [C] year, then [F] I’ll be [C] two, then [G7] three, then four. [C] As for now I’m [F] sitting here, I’m [C] five days old and [F] no [G7] days [C] more!
I’m jumping up, I’m one day old…
I’m clapping my hands, I’m one day old…
I’m kicking my legs, I’m one day old…
Getting really tired, I’m one day old…
I’m jumping up, I’m one day old…
Old MacDonald
We sang this with the parachute in Outdoor Musical Storytime after reading Katie Loves the Kitten. I threw different stuffed animals on the parachute each time: a cat, a mouse, and (just for fun) a snake!
[C] Old MacDonald [F] had a [C] farm, E-I- [G7] E-I- [C] O! And on that farm he [F] had a [C] cow, E-I- [G7] E-I- [C] O! With an moo-moo here, and an moo-moo there, Here a moo, there a moo, Everywhere a moo-moo. [C] Old MacDonald [F] had a [C] farm, E-I- [G7] E-I- [C] O!
Repeat with different animals…
Let’s Go Fly a Kite by Richard M. Sherman and Robert Sherman
We sang this Mary Poppins song as our instrument play-along at the end. It would also work well with play scarves or ribbon wands.
With [G] tuppence for paper and strings, You can have your own set of [C] wings. With your [G] feet on the [G7] ground You’re a [A] bird in [C] flight, With your [G] fist holding [D] tight, To the string of your [G] kite.
Oh, oh, oh, [C] Let’s go fly a kite! [G] Up to the highest height. [D] Let’s go fly a kite, And [G] send it soaring! [C] Up through the atmosphere, [G] Up where the air is clear, [D] Oh, let’s go fly a [G] kite.
When you send it flying up there, All at once you’re lighter than air. You can dance on the breeze over houses and trees, With your fist holding tight To the string of your kite.
Oh, oh, oh Let’s go fly a kite! Up to the highest height. Let’s go fly a kite, And send it soaring. Up through the atmosphere, Up where the air is clear, Oh, let’s go fly a kite!
Stay & Play: Paper Bag Kites
A fun and easy kite craft, with a paper lunch bag as the base. There are lots of different examples online, but the one I used was based on this Crafty with Natalie example: Paper Bag Kite! – Crafty with Natalie.
For the Stay & Play, I put out paper lunch bags, a hole punch, crepe paper, glue sticks, kids scissors, string, markers, and popsicle sticks. The kids decorated their bags with markers and bits of crepe paper, and the grown-ups helped them punch a hole in the bottom of the bag, tie a long piece of string through the hole, and tie and wrap the string to the popsicle stick. It was cute to see them running with their kites, especially at Outdoor Musical Storytime.
Do you have any favorite picture books or songs based on the letter K? Please share them in the comments below.
Early Literacy Tip: Play rhyming games with your kids by asking them to come up with words that rhyme with another word, or asking them to guess which rhyming word you are thinking of. Rhymes are one of the best ways to help kids learn the sounds that make up the parts of words, an essential skill for learning to read later on.
This week, we focused on the letter J for storytime. As usual, I started by having the kids draw a capital and lowercase letter J in the air with me, and then asked them if they knew any words that started with J. They came up with jellybean, jellyfish, and jelly. I also pulled some items out of a paper bag: a jaw harp, a jar, and a jack-in-the-box (which I demonstrated several times. They loved it!).
This classic book was a childhood favorite of my own kids, and the storytime families were excited to see it too. Rhyming text and large, beautiful illustrations describe a fantasyland full of different kinds of berries and animals.
I love this book about a young boy named Jabari who decides to jump off of the high dive for the first time, but keeps finding reasons to put it off (thinking of the dive he wants to do, doing his stretches, etc.). His Dad tells him that sometimes when he’s afraid, he takes a deep breath, and discovers that the fear feels more like a surprise. His trick works for Jabari, who finally does his dive. The descriptions and illustrations are perfect for storytime.
Joy by Yasmeen Ismail; illustrated by Jenni Desmond
Very cute story about a kitten’s joy at playing with a ball of yarn, until she takes a tumble. A sweet exploration of different types of feelings. I have a volunteer who helps with Family Storytime, and she acted out the kitten’s motions with a kitten stuffed animal as I read.
Classic rhyming story about a group of sheep who take a joyride in a Jeep. Before I read it, I asked the kids to guess the last word in the title, based on the rhyme and the picture on the front cover.
Songs:
Peanut Butter and Jelly
This is an old camp song that I remember learning in Girl Scouts when I was a kid. Our library actually has a set of props for this, and I used them when I sang the song. I often ask the kids to suggest a type of berry to pick for the jam. At the end, I usually pretend to have peanut butter stuck to the roof of my mouth, and we all pour and drink a pretend glass of milk. The version I sing is a little different than the one in this Super Simple Songs video (they repeat the “Peanut, peanut butter” line after each action, while I only sing it once per verse. See below.), but the tune is basically the same.
First, you take the peanuts and you pick ’em, (pretend to pick peanuts) You pick ’em, you pick ’em, pick ’em, pick ’em. Then you smash them, you smash them, (clap your hands together) You smash ’em, smash ’em, smash ’em. Then you spread ’em, you spread ’em. (pretend to spread something on one hand) You spread ’em, spread ’em, spread ’em. Singing, “Peanut, peanut butter (wave your hands to the right) And jelly! (wave your hands to the left) Peanut, peanut butter (wave your hands to the right) And jelly!” (wave your hands to the left)
Then, you take the berries and you pick ’em, (pretend to pick berries) You pick ’em, you pick ’em, pick ’em, pick ’em. Then you smash them, you smash them, (clap your hands together) You smash ’em, smash ’em, smash ’em. Then you spread ’em, you spread ’em. (pretend to spread something on one hand) You spread ’em, spread ’em, spread ’em. Singing, “Peanut, peanut butter (wave your hands to the right) And jelly! (wave your hands to the left) Peanut, peanut butter (wave your hands to the right) And jelly!” (wave your hands to the left)
Then you take the sandwich and you bite it, (pretend to bite a sandwich) You bite it, you bite it, bite it, bite it. Then you chew it, you chew it, you chew it, (pretned to chew) Chew it, Chew it. Then you swallow it, you swallow it, (rub your tummy) You swallow it, swallow it, swallow it. Singing, “Peanut, peanut butter (wave your hands to the right) And jelly! (wave your hands to the left) Peanut, peanut butter (wave your hands to the right) And jelly!” (wave your hands to the left).
Down in the Jungle
For Family Storytime, I gave out play scarves before we sang this one, and then we mimed washing them. I asked the kids to suggest different animals each time we sang it. I use the same tune as the Sing and Learn with Vicky video below:
Down in the jungle where nobody goes, There’s a little baby elephant washing his clothes. With a rub-a-dub here, and a rub-a-dub there. That’s the way he washes his clothes!
Jellies Floating
We sang this with the parachute at Outdoor Musical Storytime. I threw cotton balls on the parachute and told the kids they were our jellyfish.
Jellies floating up and down, Up and down, Up and down. Jellies floating up and down, In the sea.
Jellies floating all around, All around, All around. Jellies floating all around, In the sea.
Jump Up
We did this as our instrument play-along at the end. The kids loved jumping up and down as we sang. It’s such a fun and happy song!
[C] Jump up day is breaking [G7] Jump up let’s get shaking [C] I know you’re lying down [F] Jump up and we’ll dance a-[C]round
Jump up bells are ringing And i hear friends are singing Oh yea, it’s a crazy sound Jump up and we’ll dance around
Jump up stand on your tip toes Reach out grab a rainbow Turn it upside down Jump up and we’ll dance it around
Jump up clouds are passing Look up the sky is laughing I know we’ll be laughing too Jump up I want to dance with you
Jump up you know i love you That’s right i love love love you A new day is shining down Jump up and we’ll dance around
Stay & Play: Beaded Jewelry
I actually did a different craft for Family Storytime, but didn’t get to take pictures. For that one, I just put out white cardstock, markers, and kids scissors, and told the kids to draw a picture and then cut it into a jigsaw puzzle. I told them they could challenge their caregiver to put the puzzle together, or have their caregiver cut the pieces and challenge them do to the puzzle.
For Outdoor Musical Storytime though, I put out a large selection of Pony beads and pipe cleaners, and let the kids make beaded bracelets. They always love threading the beads, and it’s a wonderful activity for developing their fine motor skills.
Do you have any favorite books or songs featuring the letter J? Please share them in the comments below.
The Loudest Librarian! 