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.

Farm Fun

This theme was used in a toddler program.

Books

Peek-a-Moo by Marie Torres Cimarusti
Farmyard Beat by Lindsey Craig

Songs

I'm a Little Piggy
Courtesy of Preschool Express

For this song  I use a pig puppet. We act out different movements.

I’m a little piggy
With a round pig nose.

(draw a circle in front of face)
I’m all pink
From my head to my toes.

(point to head, then touch toes)

Here’s my piggy tail,
As you can see,
It’s pink and curly
As it can be.
(draw another circle shape with finger)

The Cows on the Farm
Inspired by Preschool Education's Farm Sounds.

In our version we sing about cows, chickens, pigs, horses, and sheep. I hold up a stick puppet for each animal as we make the noises.

Activity

Shaker eggs!

Where is shaker?
Courtesy of Library Meow

One, Two, Shake it On Your Shoe
Courtesy of Jbrary

Egg Shakers Up!
Courtesy of Jbrary

Image courtesy of Cliparts

Springtime

This theme was used in a toddler program.

Books

One Little Blueberry by Tammi Salzano
Splish, Splash, Spring by Jan Carr

Songs

Rain, Rain
Courtesy of Prechool Education

I Saw a Little Duck
Courtesy of Storytime Katie 

The Clouds are Passing By  
Courtesy of Preschool Express 


Activity

Bubbles and Scarf Play 

Wind, Oh Wind
Courtesy of Anne's Library Life

Popcorn Kernels
Courtesy of Jbrary.

My Scarf
Courtesy of Yogilibrarian

 

Image courtesy of Clipart Panda.

Ponds!

This theme was used in a toddler program.

Books

Scoot by Cathryn Falwell
In the Small, Small Pond by Denise Fleming

Songs

Five Green and Speckled Frogs

I incorporated a puppet into this song!

One Little Red Fish
Courtesy of Jbrary

In our version we sing the following:

One little red fish
Two little blue fish
Three little fish

Put Your Hands Up High 
Courtesy of Jbrary 

Activity

Scarf Play and Bubbles!

This is the Way
Courtesy of Anne's Library Life

Wind, Oh Wind
Courtesy of Anne's Library Life

In our version we hide the scarves behind our back at the end. 

After the scarf activities, the children danced in the bubbles with the scarves.

 

Image courtesy of Clipart Panda 

Colors!

This theme was used in a toddler program.

Books

Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See? by Bill Martin
Hello, Yellow! by Christianne Jones 

Songs & Fingerplays

Driving Around In My Little Red Car
Courtesy of Storytim Katie.

In our version we pretend like we're driving the car. We also clap our hands on each beep. I incorporated the colors yellow, green, and blue into the song. I held up a stick puppet of a car in each color.

Green Says Go!
Courtesy of Storytime Katie 

Activity

Shaker eggs!

Where is shaker?
Courtesy of Library Meow.

We shake the egg above our head, tap it on our knee, and tap it on our shoulder.

Free Dance

I used the song Twist and Shout from the Kids Wanna Rock! CD.

 

Image courtesy of Clipart Panda. 

Shapes!

This theme was used in a Toddler Time program.  

Books

Lots of Dots by Craig Frazier
Shape by Shape by Suse MacDonald

Fingerplays

Have You Ever Seen a Circle?
Courtesy of Verona Storytime

I Put My Hands Together
Courtesy of Jbrary 

Activity 

Scarf Play!

This Is The Way We Wash
Courtesy of Anne's Library Life

Kids were able to free dance afterwards. I played the song I  Want Candy from the  Mr. Al  CD Kids Wanna Rock!.

 

Image courtesy of Clip Art Best.