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: The Big Wide-Mouthed Frog by Ana Martín Larrañaga
A wide-mouthed (and loud-mouthed) frog sets out to see the world. I’m not sure the kids understood that the frog was a braggart but they sat still and seemed to enjoy the story. One of the little girls enjoyed finding the fly on every page. (Which I didn’t even notice until she pointed it out!)
Flannel: Five Little Speckled Frogs
Five little speckled frogs
Sitting on a speckled log
Eating the most delicious bugs — Yum, yum!
One jumped into the pool
Where it was nice and cool
Now there are four speckled frogs — Ribbit, ribbit!
(count down from there)
Action Rhyme: The Frog on the Log
There once was a green little frog, frog, frog — (ribbit, ribbit, ribbit)
Who played in the woods on a log, log, log. (stretch arms out to make a log)
A screech owl sitting in a tree, tree, tree — (point to the owl in the tree)
Came after the frog with a scree, scree, scree! (hold hands up to mouth and scree)
When the frog heard the owl in a flash, flash, flash — (hold hand up to ear)
He leaped in the pond with a splash, splash, splash! (pretend to dive with arms)
Source: Librarian Lisa’s Storytimes
Song: Song cube (I’m a Little Teapot)
Book: Big Frog Can’t Fit In by Mo Willems
Big frog is too big for her book! I thought the kids would be more excited for a pop-up book but they were having a subdued week. Though they all listened attentively and appreciated the big pop at the end.
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
Every time someone new attends story time Grandma Shark gets a huge laugh. The kids love, love, love this song. I may never take it out of rotation …
Song: Song cube (Itsy, Bitsy Spider)
Action Rhyme: I Had a Little Turtle
I had a little turtle, (hands on top of each other, wiggle thumbs)
He lived in a box. (make a box with hands)
He swam in the river, (paddle with hands)
He climbed on the rocks. (climbing motions)
He snapped at a mosquito, (pinch fingers in air)
He snapped at a flea, (pinch fingers in air)
He snapped at a minnow, (pinch fingers in air)
And he snapped at me! (pinch fingers toward self)
He caught the mosquito, (clap)
He caught the flea, (clap)
He caught the minnow, (clap)
But he didn’t catch me! (shake head and point at self)
Adapted from Perry Public Library Storytime
Book: Who Wants a Tortoise? by Dave Keane; illustrated by K. G. Campbell
A little girl wants a doggie for her birthday and to her disappointment, receives a tortoise instead. This one was a little long but the kids did sit still for it. I’m not entirely sure they loved it so I’m not sure I’d read it again. I may use my outreach kids as guinea pigs and try it one more time …
Egg Shakers: Shake It by Sally’s Music Circle
Song: Song cube (Row, Row, Row Your Boat)
Book: Turtle Island by Kevin Sherry
A turtle takes care of four shipwrecked animals and is then sad when they want to go home to their families. Isn’t he their family?
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 