Tag Archives: toddler storytime

Purple Prose: A Storytime About the Color Purple (and Indigo)

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I actually did this storytime a couple of weeks ago, but haven’t had a chance to post about it until now.

I’ve enjoyed doing this series of storytimes about the colors of the rainbow, but I admit I had a hard time deciding what to do about indigo. From everything I’ve read, indigo was included in the colors of the rainbow by Sir Isaac Newton because he attributed mystical significance to the number seven, and wanted there to be seven colors. But there are very few books (at least books that are simple enough for my storytime audience) about the color indigo. In the end, I talked a bit about the color at the beginning of my purple storytime, and then read the book Big Choo, which features a train with an indigo engine and a purple car.

Books:

Big Choo by Stephen Shaskan

Cute story about a little train who is determined to climb a big hill, with the encouragement of his father. The kids loved joining in on the train noises. As I mentioned in the intro, the engine of the train is indigo, but the book also features a purple train car, so it was provided a good way to show the difference between the two colors.

Purple Little Bird by Greg Foley

Adorable story about a little bird who paints everything purple, but isn’t completely happy with his house, so he goes on a journey to find the perfect home. The ending got a lot of laughs.

Sally and the Purple Socks by Lisze Bechtold

Funny story about a goose whose new purple socks keep growing, and growing, becoming a scarf, then curtains, then a blanket, and more. The kids were really engaged by this one.

Harold and the Purple Crayon by Crockett Johnson

I didn’t actually end up reading this because I had done it fairly recently, but I wanted to include it in my list since it’s such a classic (there’s also a movie adaptation coming out this fall). It was a favorite of my own kids when they were little, an imaginative story about a little boy whose drawings come to life. I especially love the part about the nine different kinds of pie.

Songs:

Freight Train by Elizabeth Cotten

We sang this after reading Big Choo. I sing the adapted kids version by Elizabeth Mitchell, which is the one in the video below, although the original version is beautiful and has a fascinating back story. I usually ask the families to suggest places where they would like to go, and we sing a verse about each of those places.

[C] Freight train, freight train, [G7] going so fast.
[G7] Freight train, freight train, [C] going so fast.
[E7]Please don’t tell what [F] train I’m on,
So they [C] won’t know [G7] where I’ve [C] gone.

Going to Mexico, going so fast!
Going to Mexico, going so fast!
Please don’t tell what train I’m on,
So they won’t know where I’ve gone.

Two Little Purple Birds

We sang this after reading The Little Purple Bird, although it works well for any color (the original version is “Two Little Blackbirds”). We sang it with play scarves for Family Storytime.

Two little purple birds sitting on a hill, (Hold up both thumbs)
One named Jack, and the other named Jill.
Fly away, Jack! (Put one thumb behind your back)
Fly away, Jill! (Put the other thumb behind your back)
Come back, Jack! (Bring the first thumb out in front).
Come back, Jill! (Bring the second thumb out in the front).

Two little purple birds 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 purple birds sitting in the snow.
One flew fast!
And the other flew slow!…

Two little purple birds sitting on a gate.
One was early, and the other was…late!…

The Purple People Eater by Sheb Wooley

We did this as our instrument play-along, and it was a big hit! The original song features several key changes, but I sang the whole thing in C. I actually only sang the first couple of verses, and then repeated the chorus several times, but I included the full version below.

[C] Well, I saw the thing comin’ out of the sky,
It had [G] one long horn, [C] one big eye.
I commenced to shakin’ and I [F] said “ooh-eee!”,
It [G] looks like a purple people eater to [C] me.

CHORUS:
[C] It was a one-eyed, one-horned, flyin’ purple people eater.
[G] One-eyed, one-horned, flyin’ purple people eater.
A [C] one-eyed, one-horned, flyin’ purple people eater.
[G] Sure looks strange to [C] me.

[C] Well, he came down to earth, and he lit in a tree.
I said, [G] “Mr. Purple People Eater, [C] don’t eat me.”
I heard him say in a [F] voice so gruff:
“I [G] wouldn’t eat you cause you’re so [C] tough!”

CHORUS

I said, “Mr. Purple People Eater, what’s your line?”
He said, “It’s eatin’ purple people and it sure is fine.
But that’s not the reason that I came to land..
I wanna get a job in a rock and roll band.”

Well, bless my soul, rock and roll, flyin’ purple people eater.
Pigeon-toed, undergrowed, flyin’ purple people eater.
(We wear short shorts) Flyin’ purple people eater..
Sure looks strange to me.

And then he swung from the tree and he lit on the ground,
He started to rock, really rockin’ around.
It was a crazy ditty with a swingin’ tune..
Sing A bop bop-A-boppa-loppa-lim-bam-boom.

Well, bless my soul, rock and roll, flyin’ purple people eater.
Pigeon-toed, undergrowed, flyin’ purple people eater.
I like short shorts!..Flyin’ little people eater.
Sure looks strange to me.

And then he went on his way, and then what do ya know?
I saw him last night on a TV show.
He was blowing it out, a’really knockin’ ’em dead..
Playin’ rock and roll music through the horn in his head.

Stay & Play: Flower Petal Collage

I love doing activities with flowers. For Outdoor Storytime, I gathered a variety of flowers from my yard (lavender, nasturtiums, geraniums, etc.) and them out on the tables with some white cardstock and glue sticks. The kids had a great time exploring the different colors and textures, as they arranged them on their paper and glued them down.

For Family Storytime, which gets a smaller crowd, I did the same basic activity, but taped squares of contact paper onto the table. The kids stuck the flowers onto the sticky part of the contact paper, and then we helped them seal them in with another piece of contact paper on top.

Do you have any favorite books or songs featuring the color purple (or indigo)? Please share them in the comments below.

Out of the Blue: A Storytime About the Color Blue

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This past week, I continued my rainbow color series of storytimes by focusing on the color blue. I started by asking the kids to suggest things that were blue. They enjoyed looking around and pointing at different things around them, including the sky, backpacks, blueberries, and blankets.

Here’s a combination of the books and songs I used for both Outdoor Musical Storytime and Family Storytime.

Books:

Becoming Blue by Ellen Tarlow and Julien Chung

Blue wants to be more like Red, who seems to be so much more exciting and impressive. But he doesn’t seem to be able to be anything other than Blue. Finally Red tells him stop copying her and be blue, and he discovers the joys of being himself. The kids really liked the bright, colorful illustrations.

Roo Knows Blue by Renée Treml

Cute rhyming book about a kangaroo who says he knows blue, but does he really? The kids enjoyed calling out the names of the correct colors.

Blue vs Yellow by Tom Sullivan

Blue and Yellow both think they are the best colors, until they discover that together they can make something entirely different. The kids had fun calling out the names of the blue, yellow, and green things in the pictures.

Blueberries for Sal by Robert McCloskey

I was thinking about this book recently, because it was one of my mother-in-law’s childhood favorites, and I wrote a song based on it for her for Mother’s Day. It’s a longer book than I usually read for storytime, but I decided to give it a try with my Family Storytime group, and they loved it. Such a sweet, classic story about a little girl and her mother, and a baby bear and his mother, who all get a big surprise while eating berries on Blueberry Hill.

Songs:

Peanut Butter & Jelly

I sang this one at Family Storytime to go along with Blueberries for Sal. I do a slightly different version of the one in the Super Simple Songs video below. I have the kids mime picking the peanuts and grapes (or whatever other fruit they suggest), mash them, spread them, and eat the sandwich. I usually pretend to have peanut butter stuck to the roof of my mouth at the end, and then we all mime pouring and drinking a glass of milk.

First you take the peanuts, and you pick ’em,
You pick ’em, you pick ’em, pick ’em, pick ’em.
Then you smash them, you smash them,
You smash ’em, smash ’em, smash ’em.
Then you spread ’em, you spread ’em.
You spread ’em, spread ’em, spread ’em.
Singing, “Peanut, Peanut Butter…and Jelly!
Peanut, Peanut Butter…and Jelly!”

Then you take the grapes and you pick ’em,
You pick ’em, you pick ’em, pick ’em, pick ’em.
Then you smash them, you smash them,
You smash ’em, smash ’em, smash ’em.
Then you spread ’em, you spread ’em.
You spread ’em, spread ’em, spread ’em.
Singing, “Peanut, Peanut Butter…and Jelly!
Peanut, Peanut Butter…and Jelly!”

Then you take the sandwich and you bite it,
You bite it, you bite it, bite it, bite it.
Then you chew it, you chew it, you chew it,
Chew it, Chew it.
Then you swallow it, you swallow it,
You swallow it, swallow it, swallow it.
Singing, “Peanut, Peanut Butter…and Jelly!
Peanut, Peanut Butter…and Jelly!”

Shoo Fly

I did this song to go along with Roo Knows Blue. In Family Storytime, I passed out play scarves for the kids to wave on the chorus. I do this version of the song from Greg and Steve, and ask the kids to suggest different animals they would like to be.

Shoo, Fly, don’t bother me! (Wave hands or scarf as if shooing a fly)
Shoo, Fly, don’t bother me!
Shoo, Fly, don’t bother me,
I’ll tell you what I want to be.
I hop, I hop,
I hop like a kangaroo.
I hop, I hop,
I hop like a kangaroo.


Oh, Shoo, Fly, don’t bother me.
Shoo, Fly, don’t bother me!
Shoo, Fly, don’t bother me,
I’ll tell you what I want to be.

I wiggle, I wiggle, I wiggle like a wiggling worm…

The Waves on the Ocean

We did this one with the parachute for Outdoor Musical Storytime, and put a stuffed animal on top to go up and down with the waves. It’s to the tune of The Wheels on the Bus:

The waves on the ocean go up and down,
Up and down, Up and down.
The waves on the ocean go up and down,
All day long!

Baby Beluga by Raffi

This one was a bit of a stretch, but I used it for our instrument play-along because of the “deep blue sea” line. The kids always love it.

C] Baby Beluga in the deep blue sea
Swim so wild and you [G7] swim so free
Heaven above and the sea below
And a little white whale [C] on the go

CHORUS
[F] Baby Beluga, [C] Baby Beluga, [D] is the water warm?
Is your mama home [G7] with you so happy?
[C] Way down yonder where the dolphins play
Where you dive and [G7] splash all day
Waves roll in and the waves roll out
[G] See the water squirting [C] out of your spout


CHORUS
[F] Baby Beluga, [C] Baby Beluga, [D] sing your little song,
Sing for all your friends. [G7] We love to hear you!
[C] When it’s dark you’re home and fed
Curl up snug in your [G7] water bed
Moon is shining and the stars are out
Good night, little whale, [C] goodnight

CHORUS
[F] Baby Beluga, [C] Baby Beluga, [D] with tomorrow’s sun,
Another day’s begun. [G7] You’ll soon be waking.
[C] Baby Beluga in the deep blue sea,
Swim so wild and you [G7] swim so free.
Heaven above and the sea below,
And a little white whale [C] on the go.
[G7] You’re just a little white whale [C] on the go!

Stay & Play: Glow Glue Painting

We happened to have a lot of blue glow-in-the-dark glue, along with other colors, left over from a STEAM program last summer, so I decided to use it for a very simple process art activity. For the Stay & Play, I put out paper plates with small quantities of different colors of glue, along with cotton swabs (Q-tips), and black construction paper. The kids had fun drawing with the glue on the paper, and were excited to take it home to see their paintings glow in the dark. My Family Storytime kids, who tend to be a bit order, had a great time mixing different colors of glue on the plates to make different colors.

Do you have any favorite books or songs about the color blue? Please share them in the comments below.

Green Means Go: A Storytime About the Color Green

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Last week in Outdoor Musical Storytime and Family Storytime, we enjoyed books, songs, and activities celebrating the color Green. As usual, I started out by asking the kids to name things that were Green. They suggested: trees, grass, snakes, and turtles.

Here’s a combination of everything I did for both storytimes.

Books:

Green by Laura Vaccaro Seeger

A beautiful celebration of all of the different shades of green, with cut out shapes revealing colors on the next page. The kids enjoyed calling out things they saw in the illustrations: a lizard, a sea turtle, a tiger, etc.

There’s an Alligator Under My Bed by Mercer Mayer

This was one of my favorite books to read to my own kids when they were little: a story about a boy who finds a way to lure the alligator under his bed out into the garage, using a trail of food. The kids loved making munching noises.

Mama Don’t Allow by Thatcher Hurd

Cute, musical story about a band of animals who agree to perform on a riverboat full of alligators, with dangerous consequences. I gave out egg shakers before we read this one in Family Storytime, and the kids enjoyed playing them whenever the band played in the story.

Where is the Green Sheep? by Mem Fox and Judy Horacek

Adorable rhyming book about different types of sheep, with the repeated line, “But where in the green sheep?” Several families said this was a favorite of theirs.

Go Away, Big Green Monster by Ed Emberley

Always a hit! This is such a simple, magical book. I had the kids at Family Storytime turn the pages to make the different parts of the monster’s face disappear.

Little Pea by Amy Krouse Rosenthal; illustrated by Jen Corace

An old favorite of mine, by one of my favorite picture book authors. Little Pea dreads having to eat his candy for dinner every night, but is excited to have spinach for dessert.

Turtle Walk by Matt Phelan

Simple story about a group of turtles walking to a place to play in the snow. I had the kids walk in place as I read. They enjoyed calling out “No!” each time I read “Are we there yet?”

Songs & Rhymes:

Head and Shoulders, Knees and Toes

We sang this after reading Go Away, Big Green Monster in Family Storytime. I like to do it three times, getting faster each time.

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

Red Light, Green Light

I did this as an activity after we read Green. I basically had the kids do different actions (running in place, jumping, clapping, stomping, etc.). I called out “Green Light” to have them start the action, and “Red Light” to make them stop. The kids loved it!

Down By the Banks of the Hanky Panky

This is one of my favorite lapsit rhymes for baby storytime, where caregivers bounce their babies from knee to knee. For Outdoor Musical Storytime, I did it with the parachute, and put a frog puppet on top. The kids got a kick out of watching the frog bounce around on the parachute, as we shook it time to the rhyme.

Down by the banks of the Hanky Panky,
Where the bullfrogs jump from bank to banky,
With a hip, hop, a hippy hop,
Jump off the lily pad and
Ker-PLOP!

Little Bo Peep

We did this rhyme after reading Where is the Green Sheep? in Family Storytime. I handed out the play scarves, and we did the motions from this JBrary video:

Little Bo Peep has lost her sheep (hide scarf behind your back)
And doesn’t know where to find them.
Leave them alone and they’ll come home (wave scarf in front of you)
Wagging their tails behind them! (wag scarf behind you like a tail)

I Had a Little Turtle

Another fun song from JBrary:

I had a little turtle,
His name is Tiny Tim.
I put him in the bathtub,
To see if he could swim.

He drank up all the water,
He ate up all the soap,
And now he’s home sick in bed
With bubbles in his throat!

Bubble, bubble, bubble,
Bubble, bubble, POP!
Bubble, bubble, bubble,
Bubble, bubble, POP!

I’ll See You Later, Alligator

I wrote this song after a storytime discussion about the differences between alligators and crocodiles. We did it as our instrument play-along for Outdoor Musical Storytime. I made a video with photos of alligators and crocodiles to illustrate the differences described in the song:

[C] If you see something in the water
With [F] scales and lots of teeth,
[G7] Looking like a floating log
With [C] four legs underneath.
[C] You can tell that it must be a type
Of [F] dangerous reptile.
But is it an alli[C]-gator
Or a [G7] hungry croco[C]-dile?

I’ll see you [F] later, Alligator, (open and close your hands like an alligator mouth)
With your [G7] mouth shaped like a [C] U, (put the base of your hands together to make a U shape)
But [F] Crocodile, with the V-shaped [G7] smile, (straighter your hands to make a V shape)
It’ll be a while (tap your wrist)
‘Till I see [C] you. (point)

[C] Alligators like to live in swamps,
While [F] crocs prefer a river.
No [G7] matter where you find them,
They’re sure to make you [C] shiver.
On crocs you see their bottom teeth,
On [F] gators just the top.
If you’re able to see [C] either,
You’re [G7] way too close, so [C] STOP!

I’ll see you [F] later, Alligator,
With your [G7] mouth shaped like a [C] U,
But [F] Crocodile, with the V-shaped [G7] smile,
It’ll be a while
‘Till I see [C] you.

A [C] crocodile has lighter skin,
While [F] gator’s skin is dark,
To [G7] help them hide out in the mud
Waiting to [C] catch their mark.
Learning of their differences
Can [F] be a lot of fun,
But one thing they have in [C] common,
If you [G7] see one you should [C] run!

I’ll see you [F] later, Alligator,
With your [G7] mouth shaped like a [C] U,
But [F] Crocodile, with the V-shaped [G7] smile,
It’ll be a while
‘Till I see [C] you.

Stay & Play: Paper Plate Turtles

I found this craft idea on GluedtoMyCraftsBlog.com. Before the storytime, I cut out simple head, tail, and leg shapes from green construction paper. I happened to have some precut cellophane squares in different colors, left over from some other activity. For the Stay & Play, I put out white paper plates, the cut out shapes, the cellophane squares, glue sticks and markers. The kids had fun assembling and decorating their turtles.

Do you have any favorite books or songs about the color green? Please share them in the comments below.

Yellow Pages: A Storytime About the Color Yellow

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Last week we continued our colors of the rainbow series of storytimes by focusing on the color Yellow. I started by asking the kids to suggest things that are yellow. They came up with bananas, lemons, flowers, and school buses.

Here are the books and songs we did for Family Storytime and Outdoor Musical Storytime.

Books:

The Duckling Gets a Cookie?! by Mo Willems

One of the Pigeon books by Mo Willems, this one features the Duckling, who gets a cookie (with nuts), and upsets the Pigeon, who complains that he never gets anything he asks for. But for once the Pigeon has a happy ending, when the Duckling gives him the cookie.

The Little Yellow Leaf by Carin Berger

This book was a bit out of season, since it’s almost summer, but the kids enjoyed it. It’s about a yellow leaf that doesn’t want to let go of the tree, until it meets a red leaf who agrees to let go at the same time. I gave out play scarves before we read it, and the kids enjoyed waving them through the air and dropping them like leaves.

Counting to Bananas by Carrie Tillotson; illustrated by Estrela Lourenço

A funny, rhyming counting book, featuring a banana who complains that the narrator keeps putting animals in a book about fruit. He gets even more upset when the animals include baboons and apes, who love to eat bananas.

Yellow Copter by Kersten Hamilton; illustrated by Valeria Petrone

Very cute rhyming story about a yellow helicopter who rescues a teacher stranded at the top of a ferris wheel. I read this one at Family Storytime, and gave out play scarves for the kids to spin around like propellors as I read.

Songs:

Do You See the Color Yellow

This song always gets the kids excited, as they look around the room pointing to things that match each color. It’s to the tune of Do You Know the Muffin Man?

Do you [C] see the color yellow,
The [F] color yellow, the [G7] color yellow?
Do you [C] see the color yellow,
[F] Right here [G7] in this [C] room?

Do you see the color blue… etc.

Leaves Are Falling on the Ground

To the tune of The Wheels on the Bus. I got this one from PreschoolExpress.com, who credits Jean Warren as the author. We handed out play scarves before we sang it, and pretended they were leaves falling through the air, then swished them in the air like rakes for the second verse:

The leaves on the trees are falling down,
Falling down, falling down.
The leaves on the trees are falling down,
All through the town.

Let’s rake the leaves into a mound,
Into a mound, into a mound.
Let’s rake the leaves into a mound
All through the town.

The kids in the town jump up and down,
Up and down, up and down.
The kids in the town jump up and down,
All through the town.

Yellow Bird

This is a traditional song called Little Bird. For Outdoor Musical Storytime, I sang it with the parachute, and had the kids walk underneath the parachute as if they were flying through the window.


[C] Yellow Bird, Yellow Bird,
[C] Fly through my window.
[G7] Yellow Bird, Yellow Bird,
[G7] Fly through my window.
[C] Yellow Bird, Yellow Bird,
[C] Fly through my window.
[G7] Find molasses [C] candy.

Chorus:

[G7] Fly through my window, my sugar lump!
[C] Fly through my [G7] window, my [C] sugar lump!
[G7] Find molasses [C] candy!

Black Bird, Black Bird, Fly through my window…

I Like to Eat Apples and Bananas

The kids always love this silly camp song, which goes through all of the long vowel sounds. Here’s a video from Super Simple Songs:

I like to [C] eat, eat, eat, apples and ba-[G]nanas.
I like to eat, eat, eat, apples and ba-[C]nanas.
I like to [C] eat, eat, eat, apples and ba-[G]nanas.
I like to eat, eat, eat, apples and ba-[C]nanas.

Ay lake to ate, ate, ate, ayples and baynaynays…

Ee leek to eat, eat, eat, eeples and beeneenees…

I like to īte, īte, īte, īpples, and bīnīnīs… (the ī symbol is for the long “i” sound, which sounds like “eye”)

Oh, loke to oh-te, oh-te, ohte, oh-pples and boh-noh-nohs…

 Ū lūk to ūte, ūte, ūte, ūpples and būnūnūs… (the ū symbol is for the long “u” sound, which sounds like “ooh)

Stay & Play: Flower Painting

This is such an easy process art activity, but it’s always a big hit. Before storytime, I gathered a bunch of flowers from my yard (I try to stick to edible flowers like nasturtiums, oxalis, lavender, and geraniums). For the Stay and Play, I put out white card stock and the flowers. The kids had a great time squishing the flower petals onto the paper to make different colors.

Do you have any favorite books or songs featuring the color yellow? Please share them in the comments below.

Orange You Glad? A Storytime About the Color Orange

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This week, we continued our journey through the colors of the rainbow in Outdoor Musical Storytime and Family Storytime.

I started by asking the kids to call out things that could be Orange. They suggested oranges, carrots, flowers (we talked about the state flower, the California Poppy), butterflies, tigers, and clothes.

Here are the books and songs that I used (a combination of what I did in for both storytimes):

Books:

It’s a Tiger by David LaRochelle; illustrated by Jeremy Tankard

This is such a fun adventure story, featuring an adorable tiger who keeps showing up in unexpected places: in a cave, under a pile of leaves, on a ship, and in a treasure chest. The kids love calling out “A Tiger!”

Moth and Butterfly: Ta Da! by Dev Petty; illustrated by Ana Aranda

This book does a nice job of explaining the differences between moths and butterflies in the context of a sweet story about two caterpillar friends.

Orange, Pear, Apple, Bear by Emily Gravett

Before I read this book, I taught the kids the American Sign Language signs for Orange, Pear, Apple, and Bear, so that they could sign along with the story. These four words make up almost the entire text of the rhyming book, and the author plays with different combinations: Orange Bear, Orange Pear, etc. The illustrations are clever and fun. A parent told me afterwards that this is one of her family’s favorite books.

It’s An Orange Aardvark by Michael Hall

When a group of ants spies something orange outside of their stump, one of them worries that it is an orange aardvark, waiting to eat them. Another ant drills peepholes in the stump, looking out to see more colors outside, but the worried ant’s fears become more and more elaborate: It’s an orange aardvark wearing blue pajamas and carrying a bottle of ketchup! Eventually, the colors are revealed to be a rainbow, but maybe also an aardvark. The kids enjoyed pretending to drill with their fingers each time I read the “Whirrr” sound.

Songs & Rhymes:

Going on a Tiger Hunt

Instead of the usual bear hunt, we went on a tiger hunt to go along with It’s A Tiger! This is a great way to give the kids a chance to move around in between books.  I like to ham it up by pretending to get a grasshopper stuck in my shirt, wiping the mud off my feet, and shaking myself dry from the lake.  There are lots of variations, but this the script I use, with the kids repeating every line:

We’re going on a tiger hunt!
(We’re going on a tiger hunt!)
It’s a beautiful day!
(It’s a beautiful day!)
We’re not scared!
(We’re not scared!)

We’re coming to some grass.
(We’re coming to some grass).
Can’t go over it.
(Can’t go over it.)
Can’t go under it.
(Can’t go under it.)
Have to go through it.
(Have to go through it.)
Swish! Swish! Swish! Swish! (Rubbing hands together)

We’re coming to some mud.
(We’re coming to some mud.)
Can’t go over it.
(Can’t go over it.)
Can’t go under it.
(Can’t go under it.)
Have to go through it.
(Have to go through it).
Squilch! Squelch! Squilch! Squelch! (Clapping hands together).

We’re coming to a lake.
(We’re coming to a lake.)
Can’t go over it.
(Can’t go over it.)
Can’t go under it.
(Can’t go under it.)
Have to swim across it.
(Have to swim across it.)
Splish! Splash! Splish! Splash!

We’re coming to a cave.
(We’re coming to a cave.)
Can’t go over it.
(Can’t go over it.)
Can’t go under it.
(Can’t go under it.)
Have to go inside.
(Have to go inside.)
Tiptoe…tiptoe…tiptoe…tiptoe…
It’s dark in here…
(It’s dark in here…)
It’s cold in here…
(It’s cold in here…)
Two yellow eyes…it’s a tiger!

Run!
Swim across the lake!
Run through the mud!
Run through the grass!
Into the house!
Slam the door!
Lock it!
We’re never going on a tiger hunt again!

The Butterfly Song

We gave out play scarves before I sang this one (as a follow up to Moth & Butterfly: Ta Da!). The kids LOVED it! We sang it through three times at both storytimes.

First comes a butterfly (Wave scarf)
Who lays an egg. (Make a circle with your thumb and index finger).
Out comes a caterpillar (Wiggle your finger like a caterpillar)
With lots of legs.
Now see the caterpillar spin and spin (Spin the scarf),
A little chrysalis to sleep in (Bundle scarf up in a ball in your hand).
Oh, oh, oh, wait and see…
Oh, oh, oh, wait and see…
Out of the chrysalis, my, oh, my!
Out comes a beautiful butterfly! (Open up hand and wave scarf).

Go Round and Round the Orange Tree

We sang this one with the parachute, and I put three oranges in the middle. Click on the triangle for the tune.

Go round and round the orange tree, (walk around in a circle with the parachute)
Go round and round the orange tree,
Go round and round the orange tree,
And pick some oranges just for me!
1 2 3! (shake the parachute so the oranges bounce up and down)

The Ants Go Marching

We sang this song as our instrument play-along at the end. It was adorable to see the kids marching along. Here’s a YouTube video from Super Simple Songs for the tune:

[Am] The ants go marching one by one, [C] Hurrah, Hurrah!
The [Am] ants go marching one by one, [C] Hurrah, Hurrah!
The [C] ants go marching [G7] one by one,
The [Am] little one stops to [E7] suck his thumb,
And they [C] all [G7] go marching [Am] down to the ground to get out of the rain,
BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!

The ants go marching two by two…the little one stops to tie her shoe…

The ants go marching three by three…the little one stops to climb a tree…

The ants go marching four by four…the little one stops to shut the door…

Stay & Play: Paper Butterflies

There are lots of variations of this simple craft online. I decided to make the popsicle stick a kind of handle so the kids could “fly” their butterflies around the park when they were done.

Before storytime, I printed out butterfly templates and cut them out. For the Stay & Play, I put out the cut-out paper butterflies, popsicle sticks, markers, glue sticks, and gem stickers. The kids spent a lot of time decorating them.

Do you have any favorite books or songs about the color Orange? Please share them in the comments below.

Red Letter Day: A Storytime About the Color Red

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Recently, in the Storytime Solidarity Facebook group, someone posted about doing a series of storytimes based on the colors of the rainbow. Having just finished my series of storytimes based on letters of the alphabet, I thought that would be fun to try too. So last week I started with the color Red in both Outdoor Musical Storytime and Family Storytime.

Here are the books and songs I used (a combination of both storytimes):

Books:

Firefighter Flo by Andrea Zimmerman; illustrated by Dan Yaccarino

This simple story about a firefighter and her crew putting out a fire is full of great sound effects that the kids really enjoyed joining in on. It also starts and ends with a fun chant: Hey, Yo, Firefighter Flo! You’re a hero! You’re a pro!

I’m Brave by Kate & Jim McMullan

By the author/illustrator team behind I Stink, this book describes all of the parts and tools of a brave firetruck. It was a big hit with the older kids at my Family Storytime.

Lion and the Little Red Bird by Elisa Kleven

This is a long-time favorite of mine, a story about a little red bird who wonders why a lion has a green tail. She follows him for the day as he plays in a field of orange flowers, then disappears into his cave. The next day, she is surprised to see that his tail has turned orange. One night, a big storm washes the bird’s nest away. The lion rescues her and carries her into his cave, where she discovers that he is using his tail to paint pictures of his daily adventures on the walls. It’s a longer story than I usually read, but it usually keeps the kids engaged.

Red, Red, Red by Valeri Gorbachev

Cute story about a series of animals who wonder why Turtle is rushing to see “Red, Red, Red.” They each try to guess what he is seeking, and follow him until he leads them to see the beautiful red sunset.

The Little Mouse, the Red Ripe Strawberry, and the Big Hungry Bear by Don and Audrey Wood

I had a big book version of this, which made it perfect for Outdoor Musical Storytime. An adorable little mouse worries that a big hungry bear will take his freshly picked strawberry, until he is convinced to share it with the book’s narrator. The illustrations are both beautiful and funny.

Songs & Rhymes

Do You See the Color Blue?

This song always gets the kids excited, as they look around the room pointing to things that match each color. It’s to the tune of Do You Know the Muffin Man?

Do you [C] see the color red,
The [F] color red, the [G7] color red?
Do you [C] see the color red,
[F] Right here [G7] in this [C] room?

Do you see the color blue… etc.

Two Little Red Birds

I handed out two play scarves to each of the kids before we sang this one, and we pretended they were birds.

Two little red birds sitting on a hill, (Hold up both thumbs)
One named Jack, and the other named Jill.
Fly away, Jack! (Put one thumb behind your back)
Fly away, Jill! (Put the other thumb behind your back)
Come back, Jack! (Bring the first thumb out in front).
Come back, Jill! (Bring the second thumb out in the front).

Two little red birds 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 red birds sitting in the snow.
One flew fast!
And the other flew slow!…

Hurry, Hurry, Drive the Firetruck!

We sang this one as a follow-up to Firefighter Flo for Outdoor Musical Storytime and I’m Brave for Family Storytime. I had the kids pretend to put on their fire fighter gear, and then we slid down the pole before climbing into the truck. We sang the whole thing through three times, getting faster each time. For Family Storytime, I sprayed the kids with water from the atomizer I had brought for our Stay & Play, which they LOVED!

There are lots of different versions, but these are the words I use. Here’s a video from Kiboomers with the tune.

Hurry, Hurry, Drive the fire truck!
Hurry, Hurry, Drive the fire truck!
Hurry, Hurry, Drive the fire truck!
Ding, Ding, Ding, Ding, Ding!

Hurry, Hurry, Spray the water…

Hurry, Hurry, Climb the ladder…

Hurry, Hurry, Save the kitty cat…

Hurry, Hurry, Back to the station…

Way Up High in the Apple Tree

We did this rhyme with the parachute for Outdoor Musical Storytime. I put two apple-shaker instruments on the parachute first, so the kids could see them bounce up and down.

Way up high in the apple tree,
Two little apples smiled at me.
I shook that tree as hard as I could!
Down came the apples.
Mmmm! They were good!

Little Red Caboose

Before lockdown, I used to always end my Family Storytimes with this song. I would give the kids egg shakers and we would march around the children’s area in a train. I brought it back again this week, and it was a big hit. There are lots of versions of this song, but the one I do is closest to this version by Sweet Honey in the Rock.

[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: Coffee Filter Flowers

I found this idea on Little Bins for Little Hands. It’s a really easy and fun way to make paper flowers. I put out white coffee filters, markers, dot markers, and pipe cleaners, along with a couple of small plastic atomizers filled with water. After the kids decorated their coffee filters, they sprayed them with the atomizers to make the ink run a little. Then I helped them pinch the bottom of the coffee filter together, and wrap the pipe cleaner around them (we had to let some of them dry a little before adding the pipe cleaners).

What are your favorite books or songs about the color red? Please share them in the comments below.

Time for Mother Goose: A Storytime About Nursery Rhymes

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Yesterday (May 1) was National Mother Goose Day, so this week we had a great time celebrating famous nursery rhymes in Family Storytime and Outdoor Musical Storytime.

Here’s what we did:

Books:

Mary Had a Little Lamp by Jack Lechner; illustrated by Bob Staake

Hilariously silly parody of Mary Had a Little Lamb, about a little girl who takes her lamp everywhere. It got a lot of laughs, especially from parents, and they all loved the ending.

Hickory Dickory Dog by Alison Murray

Cute parody of Hickory Dickory Dock, featuring a dog named Rufus who follows a little boy to school and gets covered in glue, paint, leaves, and food.

The Itsy Bitsy Spider by Iza Trapani

This extended version of The Itsy Bitsy Spider is always a hit with a wide range of ages. The illustrations are colorful and adorable (I especially love the spider wearing sunglasses at the end).

Cindy Moo by Lori Mortensen; illustrated by Jeff Mack

Adorable rhyming story about a cow who hears the rhyme Hey Diddle Diddle and decides to jump over the moon. None of her attempts work, however, until a rainstorm comes and creates a puddle on the ground that reflects the moon.

Songs:

I’m a Little Teapot

This is a classic nursery song for a reason. The kids always love it, and most of them know it already. Here’s a video by Sing with Bella with the melody and the motions.

I’m a little teapot, short and stout.
Here is my handle, here is my spout.
When I get all steamed up, here me shout!
Just tip me over and pour me out.

Hickory Dickory Dock

I did this one with a mouse puppet. We followed up the version below by putting the mouse puppet on the parachute, and lifting the parachute up and down. Here’s a video from The Learning Station with the tune.

I did this one with a mouse puppet. We followed up the version below by putting the mouse puppet on the parachute, and lifting the parachute up and down.

Hickory Dickory Dock (clap hands in rhythm)
The mouse ran up the clock (run fingers up arm)
The clock struck one: BONG!
The mouse ran down (run fingers down arm)
Hickory Dickory Dock (clap hands)

…the clock struck two: BONG! BONG!
The mouse went “boo!” (cover eyes with hands, then peekaboo)

…the clock struck three: BONG! BONG! BONG!
The mouse went “whee!” (slide fingers down body)

There’s a Spider on the Floor

To the tune of If You’re Happy and You Know It. This is an old Raffi song, although I usually change the lyrics a little. I mimed the actions with a spider puppet, while the kids made spiders with their hands.

There’s a spider on the floor, on the floor.
There’s a spider on the floor, on the floor.
Who could ask for any more than a spider on the floor?
There’s a spider on the floor, on the floor.

Now the spider’s on my leg, on my leg.
Now the spider’s on my leg, on my leg.
Oh, he’s really, really big, this old spider on my leg.
There’s a spider on my leg, on my leg.

Now the spider’s on my tummy, on my tummy…
Oh, I feel so very funny with this spider on my tummy!…

Now the spider’s on my neck, on my neck…
Oh, I’m gonna’ be a wreck, I’ve got a spider on my neck!…

Now the spider’s on my face, on my face…
Oh, I’m such a big disgrace. I’ve got a spider on my face!…

Now the spider’s on my head, on my head…
Oh, it fills my heart with dread to have this spider on my head!…

Spoken: But it jumps off!

Now the spider’s on the floor, on the floor…

Who could ask for any more than a spider on the floor?…

Throw It Out the Window

This is a silly song I remember from my childhood. I stuck to the nursery rhymes that didn’t involve throwing living things, but it was a fun song to do for our instrument play-along at the end. Here’s a video by Michael Rosen with the tune:

[C] Old Mother Hubbard went to the cupboard
To fetch her poor dog a bone.
But [G7] when she got there the cupboard was bare,
So she [C] threw it out the window.

CHORUS
The [C] window, the window, the second-story window
[G7] With a heave and a ho, she gave a big throw,
And [C] threw it out the window.

Old King Cole was a merry old soul,
And a merry old soul was he.
He called for his pipe, and he called for his bowl,
And threw them out the window.

CHORUS

Little Jack Horner sat in the corner,
Eating a Christmas pie.
He stuck in his thumb, and pulled out a plum,
And threw it out the window.

CHORUS

Stay & Play: Paper Teapots

This was a SUPER easy Stay & Play craft. All I did was print out a teapot coloring sheet from Super Coloring, and put out markers, dot markers, googly eyes, and gem stickers. The kids had a great time decorating their teapots.

Do you have favorite books or songs based on nursery rhymes? Please share them in the comments below.

A Whale of a Time: A Storytime About Whales

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Our coastal town is having a Whale Fest this weekend, so I thought it would be fun to do a storytime about whales.

Here are the books and songs that I did (a combination of Outdoor Musical Storytime and Family Storytime). I also printed out this brochure of whales and other marine mammals from savethewhales.org.

Books:

Oona in the Arctic by Kelly DiPucchio; illustrated by Raissa Figueroa

This is a stunningly beautiful book, with a sweet story about Oona the mermaid coming to the rescue of a lost baby beluga whale. It was a bit too long for my usual Outdoor Musical Storytime crowd, but a big hit at Family Storytime.

The Whale in My Swimming Pool by Joyce Wan

Cute, funny story about a boy who finds his swimming pool occupied by a very large whale. He tries everything he can think of to get it to move, but then discovers that having your own whale isn’t so bad after all. One family asked to check this one out after storytime.

I Love You, Blue by Barroux

Sweet, simple story about a lighthouse keeper who makes friends with a whale named Blue. When he finds Blue at the bottom of the ocean feeling sick, he asks him to open his mouth, and sees that the whale has swallowed hundreds of bags. Taking the bags away makes Blue feel much better. This was a great book for Whale Fest, which focuses a lot on the importance of keeping trash out of the ocean.

Breathe by Scott Magoon

This is a beautiful book, with very little text, showing a baby beluga whale’s day with his mother. The kids enjoyed taking breaths together on the pages that said “Breathe.”

Songs:

Slippery Fish

We sang this one with a fish, octopus, shark, and whale puppet. Lots of swimming schools around here use this song, and it’s always a big hit.

Slippery Fish, Slippery Fish,
Swimming in the water.
Slippery Fish, Slippery Fish,
Gulp! Gulp! Gulp!

She was eaten by an octopus, octopus,
Swimming in the water.
Octopus, Octopus,
Gulp! Gulp! Gulp!

He was eaten by a great white shark,
Great white shark,
Swimming in the water,
Great white shark, Great white shark.
Gulp! Gulp! Gulp!

She was eaten by a humongous whale,
Humongous whale,
Swimming in the water,
Humongous whale,
Humongous whale,
Gulp! Gulp! Gulp!
BURP!! Pardon me!

The Waves on the Sea

We did this one with the parachute, and put a whale puppet on top to go up and down with the waves. It’s to the tune of The Wheels on the Bus:

The waves on the ocean go up and down,
Up and down, Up and down.
The waves on the ocean go up and down,
All day long!

Baby Beluga by Raffi

We sang this as our instrument play-along at Outdoor Musical Storytime.

[C] Baby Beluga in the deep blue sea
Swim so wild and you [G7] swim so free
Heaven above and the sea below
And a little white whale [C] on the go

CHORUS
[F] Baby Beluga, [C] Baby Beluga, [D] is the water warm?
Is your mama home [G7] with you so happy?

[C] Way down yonder where the dolphins play
Where you dive and [G7] splash all day
Waves roll in and the waves roll out
[G] See the water squirting [C] out of your spout

CHORUS
[F] Baby Beluga, [C] Baby Beluga, [D] sing your little song,
Sing for all your friends. [G7] We love to hear you!

[C] When it’s dark you’re home and fed
Curl up snug in your [G7] water bed
Moon is shining and the stars are out
Good night, little whale, [C] goodnight

CHORUS
[F] Baby Beluga, [C] Baby Beluga, [D] with tomorrow’s sun,
Another day’s begun. [G7] You’ll soon be waking.

[C] Baby Beluga in the deep blue sea,
Swim so wild and you [G7] swim so free.
Heaven above and the sea below,
And a little white whale [C] on the go.
[G7] You’re just a little white whale [C] on the go!

Down By the Bay by Raffi

We had so much fun doing this song as an instrument play-along at the end of Family Storytime that I may make it a regular ending song. We sang the first verse the way it’s written below, but I asked the kids for suggestions for the additional verses. They came up with “Did you ever see a shark going to the park?” and “Did you ever see a mouse burning a house?”

[C] Down by the bay, where the watermelons [G7] grow,
Back to my home, I dare not [C] go,
For if I [F] do, my mother will [C] say,
“Did you ever see a whale with a polka dot tail
[G7] Down by the [C] bay?”

Stay & Play: Whale Puppets

I got this idea from OutUpontheWaters.com. It was a bit more involved than my usual crafts, but the kids seemed to enjoy it.

Before storytime, I pre-folded blue construction paper. Unlike the directions, I didn’t cut the paper. Instead, I folded it half lengthwise (hotdog style), and then crosswise (hamburger style). Then I folded the top layer on one side back, so that the end of the paper lined up with the fold. I flipped it over and folded the other top layer the same way. In the end, the sheet was folded in half lengthwise, with crosswise folds that made the shape of a capital letter M.

I also cut several tear-drop shaped pieces of construction paper for the flippers, and semi-circles out of red paper for the inside of the mouth. Finally, I cut some white paper into rectangles to make the water spouts (I let the kids cut the small lines to make it look like water spray).

For the Stay & Play, I put out the folded papers, the paper flippers, the paper mouths, the white paper rectangles, kids’ scissors, googly eyes, markers, and glue sticks. The kids had fun gluing the parts of their whale together and cutting the white paper rectangles to make the spray coming out of the top of the whale’s head. A few kids put the fish stickers I had given out at the end of storytime in the whale’s mouth, which was hilarious.

Do you have any favorite books or songs about whales? Please share them in the comments below.

Go Wild: A Storytime for National Wildlife Week

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Last week was National Wildlife Week, which seemed like a fun theme opportunity, especially for our Outdoor Musical Storytime at the park. For that one, and for Family Storytime, I asked the kids what kinds of animals and insects they have seen outside. They mentioned rabbits, deer, turkeys, and birds. For Outdoor Musical Storytime, I also handed out a Scavenger Hunt featuring animals and plants that are commonly found at the park, so that the kids could look for them after storytime.

Here are the books and songs we did for both storytimes.

Books:

What About Worms by Ryan T. Higgins

One of the Elephant & Piggie Like Reading books, featuring an adorable tiger who is not scared of anything, except worms. His fear of worms leads him to break a flowerpot (which might be full of worms), drop an apple (in case it contained a worm), and run away from a book (that seemed to be about worms). Unfortunately, a group of grateful worms is so happy to find the things he left behind that they all decide to give him a “worm hug.” SO much fun to read aloud, and always gets a lot of laughs.

Can I Keep It? by Lisa Jobe

A little boy catches a variety of animals (a frog, a squirrel, a bird) and asks if he can keep them. Each time, his Mom asks where he thinks those animals would prefer to live, and he reluctantly sets them free. But then he finds a stray cat, who prefers to live with him. Very sweet, simple story, with large illustrations. A family asked to check it out after storytime.

The Lost Little Bird by David McPhail

When a bluebird hits his head, he finds that he can’t remember what kind of bird he is. He asks a nightingale, an owl, and a crow, but none of those seem right. Finally, he meets another bluebird, who not only helps him figure out what kind of bird he is, but helps him find a new home as well. I was happy to read this book because years ago, I had a library patron named Howard Rathlesberger, who built and posted bluebird houses all over San Mateo County. I think of him whenever I see a bluebird.

Kitty by Rebecca Jordan-Glum

Funny story about a grandmother who misplaces her glasses while pet-sitting, and mistakes a raccoon for the family cat. Naturally, the “kitty” makes a huge mess! I read this one for Family Storytime. The kids especially enjoyed the illustrations.

How to Heal a Broken Wing by Bob Graham

When a pigeon flies into a window and breaks its wing, a little boy brings it home and cares for it until it is ready to fly again. Sweet story, and a nice reminder that wildlife can be found in cities as well as more rural areas.

If Only by Mies van Hout

Simple story about a child who wishes he could be a butterfly, not knowing that the butterfly wishes it could be a stick insect, and the stick insect wishes it could be a whirligig beetle. Each insect wishes it could be something else, until the dragonfly wishes it could be a child. The kids enjoyed pretending to be the different insects: fluttering like a butterfly, buzzing like a bee, etc.

Shoo Fly

We sang this song after reading If Only. I had the kids suggest different animals they would like to be for each verse. They came up with a dancing giraffe, a butterfly, a snake, and a cat. There are lots of versions of this traditional song, but the one I do is closest to the one in this YouTube video by Greg and Steve.

Shoo, Fly, don’t bother me! (Wave hands or scarf as if shooing a fly)
Shoo, Fly, don’t bother me!
Shoo, Fly, don’t bother me,
I’ll tell you what I want to be.
I wiggle, I wiggle,
I wiggle like a wiggling worm.
I wiggle, I wiggle,
I wiggle like a wiggling worm.
Oh, Shoo, Fly, don’t bother me.
Shoo, Fly, don’t bother me!
Shoo, Fly, don’t bother me,
I’ll tell you what I want to be.

Bringing Home a Baby Bumblebee

Another song with lots of versions. This one by Dr. Jean is closest to the one I do. We sang it for Family Storytime, after reading Can I Keep It?, and I asked the kids to suggest different animals to bring home. It’s always a fun challenge to come up with a rhyme for each animal: “I’m bringing home a baby lion. Won’t my Mommy really start a’crying?” etc.

I’m [C] bringing home a [F] baby [C]bumblebee.
[G7] Won’t my mommy be so proud of me?
‘Cause I’m [C] bringing home a [F] baby [C] bumblebee.
[G7 ]Ouch! It stung me!

Two Little Bluebirds

We sang this one with scarves at Family Storytime, and just with hand motions at Outdoor Musical Storytime.

Two little blackbirds sitting on a hill, (Hold up both thumbs)
One named Jack, and the other named Jill.
Fly away, Jack! (Put one thumb behind your back)
Fly away, Jill! (Put the other thumb behind your back)
Come back, Jack! (Bring the first thumb out in front).
Come back, Jill! (Bring the second thumb 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!…

Rockin’ Robin by Jimmie Thomas

We sang this as our instrument play-along at the end. The original song has LOTS of verses, but I just did the first two.

Tweedily deedily [Am] dee, [D] Tweedily deedily dee.
Tweedily deedily [Am] dee, [D] Tweedily deedily dee.
Tweedily deedily [Am] dee, [D] Tweedily deedily dee.
[G] Tweet, tweet, tweet tweet.

[G7] He rocks in the [G] treetops all day long,
[G7] Hoppin’ and a-boppin’ and [G] a-singin’ his song.
[G7] All the little birds on [G] J-Bird Street,
Love to hear the robin go [G7] tweet, tweet, tweet.

Rockin’ [C] robin (tweet, tweet, tweet);
Rockin’ [G] robin (tweet, tweedle-dee);
[D] Blow rockin’ robin, cause we’re [C] really gonna [G] rock tonight. (Tweet, tweedle-dee!)

[G7] Every little swallow, [G] every chickadee,
[G7] Every little bird in the [G] tall oak tree,
The [G7] wise old owl, the [G] big black crow,
[G] Flappin’ their wings [G7] singin’ go bird, go.

Rockin’ [C] robin (tweet, tweet, tweet).
Rockin’ [G] robin (tweet, tweedle-dee);
[D] Blow rockin’ robin, cause we’re [C] really gonna [G] rock tonight. (Tweet, tweedle-dee!)

Tweedily deedily [Am] dee, [D] Tweedily deedily dee.
Tweedily deedily [Am] dee, [D] Tweedily deedily dee.
Tweedily deedily [Am] dee, [D] Tweedily deedily dee.
[G] Tweet, tweet, tweet tweet.

Stay & Play: Bead Earthworms

I adapted this idea from Little Lifetime Learners. For the Stay & Play, I put out plastic beads, pipe cleaners, and googly eyes. I showed the kids how to fold the end of the pipe cleaner over to make “head” that would also keep the beads from sliding off. They had a great time threading beads onto the pipe cleaners, and then adding googly eyes (although one kid reminded me that “worms don’t have eyes.”)

What are your favorite books or songs about wildlife? Please share them in the comments below.

Somebunny Loves You: A Storytime About Rabbits

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In honor of Easter and Spring, I did a Rabbit Theme for Family Storytime this week.

Here’s what we did:

Books:

Wolfie, the Bunny by Ame Dyckman and Zachariah O’Hora

This one is so much fun to read aloud. When a baby wolf is left on their doorstep, Dot’s parents immediately decide to adopt him. But Dot (a young rabbit) knows that he is dangerous, and warns them repeatedly that “He’s going to eat us all up!” But when Wolfie is threatened by an enormous bear, Dot surprises everyone by defending her new little brother.

Little White Rabbit by Kevin Henkes

Simple, sweet story about a rabbit who imagines what it would be like to be like other things he sees in the world: green like the grass, tall like a tree, still like a stone. A peaceful, beautiful book that the kids seemed mesmerized by.

The Rabbit Listened by Cori Doerrfeld

This is one of my favorite books about feelings. When Taylor’s block tower gets destroyed by a flock of birds, all of the other animals offer advice: talk about it, get angry, destroy someone else’s tower. None of it helps, until the rabbit comes along and merely listens.

Knuffle Bunny by Mo Willems

This hilarious first story about Trixie and her Knuffle Bunny, who gets lost on a trip to the laundromat, is always a hit with both adults and kids. It was immediately checked out by one of the families after storytime.

Songs & Rhymes:

See the Little Bunnies Sleeping

One of our local daycare providers always used this song with her kids, and I can see why. They love the moment when they get to jump up and hop after crouching down and pretending to be asleep. We sang it through three times.

See the little bunnies sleeping
‘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!
Hop little bunnies, hop, hop, hop!
Hop little bunnies, hop, hop, hop!
Hop little bunnies, hop, hop, hop!
Hop little bunnies, hop and stop!

Here is a Bunny

This is a simple fingerplay rhyme, but a fun one:

Here is a bunny (hold up two fingers like bunny ears)
With ears so funny,
And here is his hole in the ground. (make a circle with the thumb and index finger of your other hand)
When a noise he hears,
He pricks up his ears, (move your bunny ears)
And jumps through the hole in the ground! (put your bunny ear fingers into the hole).

The Wishy Washy Washer Woman

We sang this with the play scarves after reading Knuffle Bunny. I use the version in this video from Imagine More Story Adventures:

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 (blowing on the scarves), folding her clothes, and wearing her clothes.

Love Somebunny, Yes I Do!

For our instrument play-along at the end, I changed the words to Love Somebody, Yes I Do. 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 several times.

Love somebunny, yes I do!
Love somebunny, yes I do!
Love somebunny, yes I do!
Love somebunny and it’s you, you, you! (point to different people)
You, you, you!

Stay & Play: Cotton Ball Rabbits

Before storytime, I printed and pre-cut blank rabbit templates on white cardstock (I used this one from clipartix.com), and cut some small triangles out of pink paper. For the Stay & Play, I put out the paper rabbits and pink triangles, along with cotton balls, gluesticks, markers, and googly eyes.

The kids had a great time gluing the cotton balls to the paper. It’s such a fun, tactile activity.

Do you have any favorite books or songs about rabbits? Please share them in the comments below.

Happy Easter to everyone who celebrates!