Welcome Song: Clap and Sing Hello (to the tune of The Farmer in the Dell)
We clap and sing hello,
We clap and sing hello,
With our friends at story time,
We clap and sing hello!
We wave and sing hello // We stomp and sing hello
Source: Storytime Katie
Song: Apples & Bananas
In my children’s librarian and semi-new-parent ignorance I thought everyone knew this song! But no one really does … I’ll probably sing it until the end of the summer but then it’s retired.
Book: ‘Twas the Day Before Zoo Day by Catherine Ipcizade; illustrated by Ben Hodson
Song: Alice the Camel
Alice the Camel has five humps
Alice the Camel has five humps
Alice the Camel has five humps
So go Alice go
Four // Three // Two // One
Alice the Camel has no humps
Alice the Camel has no humps
Alice the Camel has no humps
‘Cause Alice is a horse
Action Rhyme: At the Zoo
At the zoo we saw a bear,
With great big paws and shaggy hair. (raise hands like claws, touch hair)
At the zoo a zebra we found
With black and white stripes all around. (criss-cross hands in front of body)
At the zoo a giraffe so tall,
It could look right over the top of the wall. (hands at eye level, lower them under chin)
We saw a lion in a cage,
He was roaring in an awful rage. (roar)
At the zoo, the monkeys run,
And jump and swing and have lots of fun! (sway back and forth; arms overhead)
But my favorite animal at the zoo is the red panda (fill in your favorite animal) — how about you? (point to kid)
Source: King County Library System
Book: Cock-A-Doodle Quack! Quack! by Ivor Baddiel
Song: Old MacDonald Had a Farm
I used the Popsicle stick farm animals I created to help with this one.
Flannel: Open Up the Barn Door
Open up the barn door, the spring goes “boink,”
There’s a pig in the barn saying, “oink, oink, oink.”
Open up the barn door before the clock strikes two,
There’s a cow in the barn saying, “moo, moo, moo.”
Open up the barn door, it’s a sunny day,
There’s a horse in the barn saying “neigh, neigh, neigh.”
Open up the barn door while singing “tra-la-la,”
There’s a sheep in the barn saying “baa, baa, baa.”
Open up the barn door while the sky is blue,
There’s a rooster in the barn saying “cock-a-doodle-doo!”
Open up the barn door and don’t get off the track,
There’s a duck in the barn saying “quack, quack, quack.”
Credit: Storytime Katie
Egg Shakers: Shake It by Sally’s Music Circle
Additional Shaker Song: Going to the Zoo by Raffi
This wasn’t such a hit. The kids didn’t know the song and weren’t in the mood to just roll with a new music experience.
Book: The Day Jimmy’s Boa Ate the Wash by Trinka Hakes Noble; illustrated by Steven Kellogg
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
Closing Song: It’s Time to Say Goodbye to All Our Friends (to the tune of She’ll Be Comin’ Round the Mountain When She Comes)
It’s time to say goodbye to all our friends, “Goodbye!” (tap knees)
It’s time to say goodbye to all our friends, “Goodbye!”
It’s time to say goodbye,
Wave your hands and wink your eye, (wave, wink)
Now it’s time to say goodbye to all our friends, “Goodbye!”
Source: Sunflower Storytime
The Short Stack Librarian 