Day and Night

This program was for children age 0-2.

Books

Moonlight by Helen V. Griffith
Hello, Day! by Anita Lobel

Songs and Rhymes

Mr. Sun
Courtesy of Jbrary

Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star
Courtesy of Jbrary

We wiggled our fingers throughout the song to mimic stars. On the verse "up above...", we lifted our arms. I instructed caregivers with babies to lift them in the air.

When Cows Get Up in the Morning
Courtesy of Jbrary

I use puppets to accompany the song. We sang about cows, sheep, pigs, chickens, and ducks.

Rain!

This program was for children ages 2-5.

Books

Big Umbrella by Amy June Bates and Juniper Bates
Little Cloud by Eric Carle
Splish, Splash, Ducky by Lucy Cousins

Songs and Rhymes

Come Under My Umbrella
Courtesy of King County Library System. 

Rain is Falling Down
Courtesy of Storytime Katie 


The Rain Falling Down
(Tune: "The Wheels on the Bus")

The rain falling down goes plink, plink, plink.
(wiggle fingers downward)
Plink,  plink, plink.
Plink, plink, plink.
The rain falling down goes plink, plink, plink.
All day long.

Other verses:
The thunder in the sky goes boom, boom, boom. (clap hands on each "boom")
The wind blowing by goes swish, swish, swish. (sway hands)
The sun in the sky shines so bright. (make a circle with your arms over your head)

Fruits and Veggies!

This program was for ages 0-2.

Books

Growing Vegetable Soup by Lois Ehlert
The Very Hunger Caterpillar by Eric Carle
Little Green Peas by Keith Baker

Songs and Rhymes

Apple Tree
Courtesy of Teach Preschool

In our version we only sing "one red apple". 

Pea Soup
Courtesy of Storytime with Ms. Kelly

At the end we sing "Now stir the soup until it's nice and hot".

I use the following magnet board pieces with the rhyme.

Watermelon
To the tune "Frère Jacques". Courtesy of Preschool Education.

Cats and Dogs

This program was for children ages 0-2.

Books

Dogs by Emily Gravett
Where is Tippy Toes? by Betsy Lewin

Songs and Rhymes

If You're a Dog and You Know It
Courtesy of Sunflower Storytime

In our version, we only acted out the following movements:

If you're a dog and you know it, say "Woof, woof." (woof, woof)
If you're a dog and you know it, wag your tail. (wiggle hips or sway child)
If you're a dog and you know it, tap your paws. (tap knees or wiggle baby's legs)

 Five Little Cats
Courtesy of Narrating Tales of Preschool Storytime

I used the following flannel board to accompany the rhyme.

 

Images courtesy of Sweet Clipart. 

Doggies Got a Flea
Courtesy of Jbrary 

I'm a Little Kitty Cat
Courtesy of Jbrary

Clothing

This program was for children ages 0-2.

Books

Ooh La La Polka-Dot Boots by Ellen Olson-Brown
Under My Hood I Have a Hat by Karla Kuskin


Songs and Rhymes

Boots, Parka, Scarf, and Hat
(Courtesy of Mel's Desk)

We pointed to our legs, shoulders, neck, and head to indicate each article of clothing.

Hats on Everyone
Courtesy of Storytime Katie

I used the following magnet board to accompany the rhyme.

Washing Machine
Courtesy of Yogibrarian.

Valentine's Day!

This program was for children ages 0-2. 

Books

Sweet Hearts by Jan Carr
Be Mine, Be Mine, Sweet Valentine by Sarah Weeks

Songs

The Funky, Spunky Monkey
Courtesy of Jbrary

For the second verse, we sing "Along came his papa...".

If You Love Someone and You Know It
Courtesy of Librarian Lisa's Storytime

Skinnamarink  
Courtesy of Jbrary

This is a classic song by Sharon, Lois, and Bram! We sing the song once together to learn the movements. Afterwards, I play the song on the CD Six Little Ducks by Kimbo.


Hug From You
Courtesy of West Bank Library 


Five Little Hearts
Courtesy of Jbrary

I used the following flannel board to accompany the rhyme.

Weather

This program was for a family storytime. The children were ages 0-5.

Books

Wow! Said the Owl by Time Hopgood
No Two Alike by Keith Baker
Rain Fish by Lois Ehlert

Songs and Rhymes

What's the Weather?
(Courtesy of Jbrary)

I used a flannel board to accompany the song. I asked the children to guess the weather for the day.

Mr. Sun
(A classic Raffi song! View Jbrary for movements.)

Raindrops Falling
(View previous post Rain & Rainbows)

Shaker Eggs!

Where is Shaker?
Courtesy of Library Meow.

Can You Shake Along With Me?
Courtesy of Jbrary

Egg Shakers Up! 
Courtesy of Jbrary.

Halloween!

This program was for children ages 2-5.

Books

Trick or Treat by Leo Landry
Mouse's First Halloween by Laura Thompston

Songs

Five Little Pumpkins
Courtesy of Jbrary
 
Halloween Zoom, Zoom, Zoom
Courtesy of Jbrary

If You're a Ghost and You Know It

Five Little Monsters
Courtesy of Storytime Katie

I used this magnet board to accompany the rhyme.

The Itsy Bitsy and Great Big Hairy Spider
Inspired by Strings, Keys, and Melodies

After the program we paraded around the library!

Things That Go!

This program was for children ages 0-2.

Books

Chugga Chugga Choo Choo by Emma Garcia
A Plane Goes Ka-Zoom! by Jonathan London
Wake Up Engines by Denise Dowling Mortensen

Songs

Drive the Firetruck
Courtesy of Jbrary

I rang a bell every time we said "ding".

Take You Riding in My Car
Courtesy of Jbrary

This Little Train
Courtesy of Storytime Katie

Little Red Car
Courtesy of Storytime Katie

I created this magnet board to accompany each color.

Wild Animals

This program was for children ages 0-2.

Books

From Head to Toe by Eric Carle
My First Peek-a-Boo Animals by The World of Eric Carle 
My Heart is Like a Zoo by Michael Hall

Songs and Rhymes 

If You're a Jungle Animal
(Tune: If You’re Happy and You Know It)


If you’re an elephant and you know it, stomp your feet (stomp feet) If you’re a monkey and you know it, jump up and down
If you’re a crocodile and you know it, snap your jaws (clap hands)
If you’re a lion and you know it, give a ROAR!

If you're a parrot and you know it, flap your wings (flap arms)

I use stick puppets for this song. 

Monkey See, Monkey Do
Courtesy of Storytime Katie 

I Have a Giraffe
Inspired by So Tomorrow 

Five Little Monkeys

Farm

This program was for children ages 0-2.

Books

Do Cows Meow? by Salina Yoon
Barnyard Boogie by Tim McCanna
Farmyard Beat by Lindsey Craig

Songs and Rhymes

When Cows Get Up in the Morning
Courtesy of Jbrary

I use farm animal finger puppets to accompany the song.

Ten Fluffy Chicks
Courtesy of Library Village. 

I created this flannel board for the rhyme!

The Wheels on the Tractor  
Inspired by Preschool Education

I used the following lyrics:

The wheels on the tractor go round and round- roll arms
The door on the barn go open and shut- open and shut hands
The wagon on the farm goes bump, bump, bump - clap hands
The pigs in the mud go squish, squish, squish- open and shut hands
The chickens on the farm go cluck, cluck, cluck- flap arms and cluck

I used this outline for a Halloween program in my previous position. Since Halloween is coming up, I thought it would be fun to share! Unfortunately I was unable to locate images of the crafts we made. Provided are the links to the pages that inspired the crafts.

This program was for children ages 2-6.

Books

Woo! The Not-So-Scary Ghost by Ana Martin Larranaga
Plumply, Dumply Pumpkin by Mary Serfozo
Monster, Be Good! by Natalie Marshall

Songs 

If You're a Ghost and You Know It
Courtesy of Sunflower Storytime

I used the following lyrics and actions:

If you’re a ghost and you know it, just say BOO!
If you're a monster and you know it, stomp your feet. 
If you’re a skeleton and you know it, shake your bones.
If you love Halloween and you know it, clap your hands.

Five Little Pumpkins
I used the version by Everything Preschool.

Five Little Monsters
Courtesy of Storytime Katie.  


Parade!

After the storytime, I took the kids on a parade around the library! They picked up goodies at different desks. Everyone wore their costume.

I played the CD Kidz Bop Halloween while the kids worked on their crafts.

Crafts

I offered three crafts to the kids.

Frankenstein paper plate.

Paper plate mummy. 

Spring!

Books

Splish, Splash, Spring by Jan Carr
Mouse's First Spring by Lauren Thompson
Who's at Home? by Jane E. Gerver

Songs

Bumblebee, Bumblebee
Courtesy of Storytime Katie 

The Sun is Shining Bright
Courtesy of Teaching Mama 

Rain, Rain 
Courtesy of Preschool Education

Hickory Dickory Dock
Courtesy of Jbrary

 I like to use a little mouse puppet with the rhyme! 



Head and Shoulders Baby, 1,2,3
Courtesy of Jbrary

Classic Songs 

The Wheels on the Bus
Open, Shut Them 
The Itsy Bitsy Spider
Row, Row, Row Your Boat
Five Little Monkeys

I like to end the program with familiar songs. It builds the confidence of young children and the caregivers enjoy singing well-known songs.

Fruits and Vegetables

This program was for children ages 0-2. It was so much fun! I've used the fruit and vegetable theme in several storytimes and the kids and caregivers love it.

Books

The Very Hungry Caterpillar Pop-Up Book by Eric Carle

Many people know this story, but are surprised when they see the pop-up version! It's gorgeous and engaging.

Potato Joe by Keith Baker
We're Rabbits! by Lisa Peters 

Themed Songs and Rhymes

Fruit Salad
(Courtesy of Jbrary)

Way Up High in the Apple Tree
(Courtesy of Jbrary)

We sang about apple, lemon, and pear trees. I used a flannel board to accompany the rhyme. I asked caregivers with babies to gently bounce the baby on their lap when we shake the tree. When the fruits fall, I asked the same caregivers to wiggle their fingers down their baby's arm.

Additional Songs and Rhymes

Itsy Bitsy Spider

Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star
(Courtesy of Jbrary)

Everybody Knows I Love My Toes 
(Courtesy of Jbrary)

Toast in the Toaster
(Courtesy of Jbrary)

Winter

This program was for children ages 0-2.

Books

Mouse's First Snow by Lauren Thompson
Peek-a-Boo in the Snow by Cocoretto
Frozen Noses by Jan Carr

Songs and Fingerplays

Boots, Park, Scarf, and Hat
(Courtesy of Mel's Desk)

Hey, Mr. Snowman!
(Courtesy of Storytiming)

I made a flannel board to accompany the rhyme. I asked caregivers to point to their child's body part as we dressed the snowman. The older kids were able to act out the movements on their own.

Additional Songs and Rhymes

Mr. Sun by Raffi

Toast in the Toaster
(Courtesy of Jbrary)



Head and Shoulders Baby 1,2,3
(Courtesy of Jbrary)

This is a great song for young children and caregivers. It's so much fun!

Elevator Song

Bubble, Bubble, Pop!
(Courtesy of Jbrary)

We sang:

One little red fish
Two little blue fish
Three little yellow fish

Row, Row, Row Your Boat
(Courtesy of Jbrary)

I was inspired byJbrary's version! We sang about a crocodile, polar bear, mouse, and lion. It worked really well with the 0-2 age group.

Open, Shut Them

Itsy Bitsy Spider

Cities

This program was for children ages two and under.

Books

Subway by Anastasia Suen
Toot, Toot, Beep, Beep by Emma Garcia
Do Cows Cows Meow? by Salina Yoon

Songs and Fingerplays

A Hippopotamus Got On A City Bus
Courtesy of Jbrary

The older children tapped their hands on their knees.

Driving Around in My Little Red Car
Courtesy of Storytime Katie

The caregivers with babies swayed back and forth with the baby. When we said zoom, they could lift the baby or bounce them. I held up pictures of a red, blue, and yellow car. We took a "drive" in each!

The Wheels on the Bus 

1,2,3 Doggies Got a Flee
Courtesy of Jbrary

This song isn't related to cities, but it was too exciting not to share! It's a great song for any age group, but it worked well with the under twos. Caregivers with babies could point to each body part, while the older children actively participated.  

The Elevator Song
Courtesy of Jbrary 

I included another six songs that did not cover cities. I try to incorporate songs that can be modified for babies and toddlers.

Fabulous Fall

This theme was used in a preschool storytime.

Books

Aw, Nuts! by Rob McClurkan
Old Bear by Kevin Henkes

Songs

Five Furry Chipmunks 
Inspired by 123 Learn Curriculum.

One furry chipmunk dashes by,
(bounce one finger)
Two furry chipmunks are way up high.
(wiggle two fingers in the air)
Three furry chipmunks with some nuts to hide,
(put hands behind back)
Four furry chipmunks play outside.
(wiggle four fingers)
Five furry chipmunks chase round and round,
(roll hands)
Scattering acorns on the ground.
(make sprinkling motion with fingers)

This rhyme is a variation on Five Furry Squirrels.

I used a chipmunk finger puppet by Folkmanis to accompany the song.

I'm a Nut
Courtesy of Jbrary

We incorporate various movements into our version.

I'm an acorn small and round,
(make a circle with your arms out in front)
lying on the cold, cold, ground.
(point to the ground)
People always step on me,
(stomp foot)
that is why I'm cracked you see.
(clap hands)
I'm a nut (clack, clack)
(tap head)
I'm a nut (clack, clack)
I'm a nut, I'm a nut, I'm a nut (clack, clack)

Apple Seed
Courtesy of Everything Preschool. 

Activity

Bubble play! I used the song Fun, Fun, Fun by the Beach Boys!

Craft

Owl

Supplies:

• Brown paper cup
• Yellow construction paper
• Brown construction paper
• Feathers
• Sticker eyes 
• Scissors
• Glue stick 

Note: To make circle cutting easier, I use a circle stamp found in the stationary section of most craft stores. 

Apples

This theme was used in a preschool program.

Books

One Red Apple by Harriet Ziefert
Ned's New Home by Kevin Tseng
Ducking for Apples by Lynne Berry

Songs

Apple Seed
Courtesy of Everything Preschool. 

Five Little Apples
Courtesy of Preschool Education. See Apple Fingerplay. 

Activity

Rhythm Sticks!

If You Have Some Rhythm Sticks
Courtesy of Jbrary 

Bread and Butter
Courtesy of Jbrary

Rainstorm! 
Courtesy of Early Childhood News.

Craft

Caramel Apple!

Supplies:

• Red construction paper
• Brown construction paper
• Red and gold sequins
• Glue
• Popsicle stick

Nocturnal Animals

I used this theme for an evening preschool program.

Books

Little Owl's Night by Divya Srinivasan
It's a Firefly Night by Dianne Ochiltree
Forest Bright, Forest Night by Jennifer Ward

I only read the nighttime portion of Jennifer Ward's book for the program. 

Songs

There's Something in the Nighttime
Courtesy of Miss Barbara at the Library

We discovered an owl, cricket, cat, mouse, and a skunk! I held up a stick puppet of each animal after the kids guessed. 

Sleeping Bats
Courtesy of CanTeach 

We acted out the following movements to the rhyme:

Tune: Frère Jacques
Bats are sleeping,
(place hands together and press against cheek. Pretend to sleep)
Bats are sleeping,
Upside down,
Upside down,
Sleeping in the morning sun,
(make a circle with your arms above your head)
Waiting for the night to come,
(twinkle fingers like stars)
Then they'll fly all around,
(flap arms)
Then they'll fly all around.

Activity

Bubbles

Craft

Hedgehog

 Supplies:

• White cardstock
• Glue
• Google eyes
• Crayons
• Gray and brown construction paper
• Leaf template or stamp

Art and Color

I used this theme in a preschool storytime.

Books

Sky Color by Peter Reynolds
Dog's Colorful Day by Emma Dodd

I created this prop for a colleague's storytime last year. I never had the chance to use it until now. The kids loved it!

Songs

Can You Find?
Courtesy of  Preschool Education

We used the following colors:

• Blue
• Red
• Green
• Yellow
• Purple

I placed large circles around the room in each color. This gave the kids had a specific object to look for.

This is the Way We Paint
Courtesy of Storytime Katie

We performed the following actions:

• Stir the paint
• Dip the brush
• Paint the paper
• Frame the picture
• Hang it high

Activities

Bubble play!

Craft

We created a fall mural! I placed out a large piece of butcher paper and used puffy paint and pom poms to make an apple tree in the center. I punched out Ellison letters to create the phrase "Happy Fall" in the center. I used the Ellison stamp to punch out apples, pumpkins, and leaves. I supplied the kids with stickers, glue, and crayons to decorate the mural.I did not provide an image, since a few of the kids wrote their first and last names on the mural.