Story time went really well today. Sometimes the chemistry is just there. The kids all participated and were eagerly shouting out answers. We’re starting to get a nice, cohesive group of regulars and the occasional newbie who is made to feel extremely welcome. It’s lovely!
Welcome Song: Hands Go Up and Hands Go Down
(to the tune of Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star)
Hands go up and hands go down
I can turn around and round
I can hop upon two shoes
I can listen so can you
I can sit, I’ll show you how
Story time is starting now
Song: This Old Man
This old man,
He played one, (hold up one finger)
He played knick knack on my thumb.
With a knick knack (slap knees)
paddy wack (clap hands)
give a dog a bone, (hand jive)
This old man came rolling home. (roll hands)
Two … on my shoe // Three … on my knee // Four .. on the floor // Five … on the hive
Book: When Spring Comes by Kevin Henkes; illustrated by Laura Dronzek
Flannel: Five Little Flowers
One little flower growing just for you,
Up came another and then there were two.
Two little flowers growing near a tree,
Up came another and then there were three.
Three little flowers growing more and more,
Up came another and then there were four.
Four little flowers growing side by side,
Up came another and then there were five.
Then BOOM went the thunder, (clap)
And ZAP went the lightning, (flash hands)
That springtime storm was really frightening! (hide eyes under hands)
But the flowers weren’t worried — no, no, no! (wag your finger)
The rain helped them grow, grow, grow! (lift hands up to the sky)
Adapted from Miss Meg’s Storytime
Song: Song cube (The Wheels on the Bus)
Book: Mouse’s First Spring by Lauren Thompson; illustrated by Buket Erdogan
The kids were great at shouting out what little mouse was discovering in spring and the grown-ups loved the mommy hug at the end.
Song: Ten Little Flowers (to the tune of Ten Little Indians)
One little, two little, three little flowers, (count on fingers)
Four little, five little, six little flowers,
Seven little, eight little, nine little flowers,
Ten little flowers in spring!
Give them rain and lots of sunshine, (rain down with fingers; arms over head for sunshine)
Give them rain and lots of sunshine,
Give them rain and lots of sunshine,
So they’ll grow up tall! (raise arms over head)
Source: Storytime Katie
Song: Baby Shark
Baby shark do do do do do do (shark mouth with two fingers)
Baby shark do do do do do do
Baby shark do do do do do do
Baby shark
Other verses:
Mama Shark (shark mouth with hands connected at the wrists)
Daddy Shark (shark mouth with whole arms)
Grandma Shark (shark mouth like mama shark but with fists)
Shark attack (snap arms overhead)
Swim away (swimming motion with arms)
Safe at last (jazz hands)
Source: Adapted from Kindergarten Nation
Egg Shakers: Shake It by Sally’s Music Circle
Song: Springtime is Here! (to the tune of The Wheels on the Bus)
The chickies in the grass go peep, peep, peep, (use fingers to make peeps)
Peep, peep, peep,
Peep, peep, peep.
The chickies in the grass go peep, peep, peep,
Springtime is here! (tap knees)
The kites in the sky go woosh, woosh, woosh. (wave hands over head)
The rain coming down goes drip, drip, drip. (drip fingers down)
The frog in the pond goes hop, hop, hop. (make hands jump)
The boots in the mud go splash, splash, splash. (stomp feet)
Source: King County Library System
Song: Song cube (Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star)
Book: Spring is Here by Will Hillenbrand
Not to toot my own horn but I’m pretty amazing at bear snores. The kids seemed to think so too and were very amused.
Song: Mr. Sun
Oh Mr. Sun. Sun. Mr. golden sun, (arms over head)
Please shine down on me. (move hands back and forth and down)
Oh Mr. Sun. Sun. Mr. golden sun, (arms over head)
Hiding behind a tree. (hide face behind hands)
These little children are asking you. (point to the children)
To please come out so they can play with you. (gesture ‘come here’ with hands)
Oh Mr. Sun. Sun. Mr. golden sun. (arms over head)
Please shine down on me. (move hands back and forth and down)
Goodbye Song: We Wave Goodbye Like This (to the tune of The Farmer in the Dell)
We wave goodbye like this.
We wave goodbye like this.
We clap our hands for all our friends.
We wave goodbye like this.
The Short Stack Librarian 