Four and Roars – Toddler

Opening SongHello Hello! by Super Simple Songs
CalendarKids helped identify the month, weather and season.
Introduction to ConceptIdentify the Big Cat pictures that roar.
Leopards
Jaguars
Lions
Tigers
Cheetahs (purr)
ASLNumber 4                           
Book I Can Roar by Frank Asch
Weekly RhymeThis is Big, Big, Big
This is big, big, big.
This is small, small, small.
This is tall, tall, tall.
This is short, short, short.
This is fast, fast, fast.
This is slow, slow, slow.
This is yes, yes, yes.
This is no, no. no. 
         
Sing two times. Second time add in ASL for yes and no.
Source: Mel’s Desk
Weekly RhymeClap, Clap, Clap Your Hands
Clap, clap, clap your hands
Clap your hands with me
Clap your hands, let me see
Clap your hands with me

Beep, beep, beep your nose
Touch, touch, touch your shoulders
Tap, tap, tap your knees
Shake, shake, shake your feet
Source: Found this on another librarian’s site years ago.
Guessing ActivityDoes it Roar?
I mixed the big cat pictures in with other animals that do not roar. I would pull out each animal and ask the kids if it roars. If the animal does not roar then kids made the sound appropriate for that animal.
RhymeSpots, Spots
Spots, spots, spots, spots, (tap spots around your body)
spots, spots, spots, spots (tap spots)
A leopard has lots of spots (tap spots)
What a lot of spots he got
A tiger’s stripes are always nice (make stripes down your body)
But a leopard has lots of spots (resume tapping spots on body)
Spots, spots, spots, spots,
Spots, spots, spots, spots
Source: Jbrary
Nursery Dance songSoft Kitty
Soft kitty,
Warm kitty,
Little ball of fur!
Happy kitty,
Sleepy kitty,
Purr, purr, purr!

Make a “kitty” with your fist and put it against your chest. Pet the kitty while you sing the song.
Dance SongThe Lion by Pinkfong
Cool DownMelt all the way down to floor until you are laying down. Sin the Alphabet and count up and down from 5.
Goodbye SongSkidamarink (Ipod)

Storytime Craft:

I wanted to work on the recognizing the letter 4 but incorporating elements of the roaring big cats. Each number 4 represents a roaring big cat. The spotted 4 is technically representing two big cats (leopard and jaguar) because they have similar spots.

Craft: Out Like a Lion for 2026 craft.

Gabby’s Dollhouse: A-Meow-Zing Forts

Set-Up/RegistrationFor this program, I had families register as one unit. Once I knew how many families were going to be in attendance, I created stations. Each station had one table, three chairs, and 6 clothespins. Families were expected to bring their own blankets and pillows.



Activity 1: Paper BlanketsI have done this craft in the past and it is a huge hit. I die-cut a bunch of different scrapbook paper and then created a 6 X 6 square sheet for the kids to create their own quilt. After they were done quilting, they would cut out their quilt and glue it on to a colorful piece of construction paper.
Activity 2: PillowsI had the kids create their own no-sew fleece pillows. To be cost effective, I opted for 9X9 size squares for 43 kids. This size turned out some cute small pillows, but the adults definitely had to help younger kids out. If I had my way, I would have gone 12×12 size.

SnackRainbow Sherbet Punch with animal crackers.

Recipe from Bitz & Giggles
I really liked this recipe because it did not require a ton of extra ingredients. A library board member helped me dish out individual cups to participants. Once all the kids had their snack and drink, we allowed the adults to come up. Surprisingly a lot of the adults also enjoyed the snack.

Squishmallow Madness

OverviewOriginally I had planned to make this program more intimate by capping it at 30 kids. However, the program filled up very quickly. We then had numerous phone calls asking if we were going to have a waitlist. With so much interest, I switched gears and changed up the program to drop-in.
Squishmallow StonesI put this activity in our CreateSpace to help control the mess.
Kids got to pick their rocks, and we used paint pens to minimize
clean up.
Squishmallow Scavenger
Hunt		I made a a simple scavenger hunt for the kids to find 6 pictures of
Squishmallows. Once they checked in with their sheet, they received
a Squishmallow sticker, free McDonald’s fry coupon, and Squishmallow
Face stickers.
Squishmallow CraftKids had the opportunity to make their own squishmallow cam cat ears!
I also had a table set up with coloring sheets and squishmallow word hunt.
Guess the # of marshmallowsWe did a guessing game with marshmallows. I had a volunteer count ad and stuff a container with the marshmallows. The kids then guessed for the chance to win a giant Squishmallow!

Blue & Yellow – Preschool

Opening SongWelcome by Carole Peterson
CalendarWe work on identifying Day, Date, Month, Weather, Season
ASLWe learned how to sign blue & yellow.
Rhyming ConceptI printed off two images of blue and yellow. The kids had to figure out which pictures rhymed with blue and yellow. I used glue, zoo, shoe, marshmallow, and jello.
FeelingsWe identified what colors can be matched with feelings. Sad(blue)/Happy(yellow)
BookBlue vs. Yellow by Tom Sullivan
Action RhymeNow I’m Up, Now I’m Down
Now I’m up (stand up)
Now I’m down (crouch)
See me waddle all around.
Put my hands behind my back….
Like a duck I’ll say “quack, quack”.
Source: King County Library System Tell Me a Story
BookBanana, Banana, Meatball by GoNoddle. Watch the actual song to incorporate movement.
BookBanana, Banana, Meatball with action words
Art ActivityWe mixed blue and yellow together to find out what color we make.
SongBanana Dance by Dr. Jean
Cool Down ActivitiesWe sing the alphabet. We then count up to 10 and then down from 10.

I did not create a new craft, as I’m trying to recycle old crafts.

Blue & Yellow – Toddlers

Opening Song Hello Hello! by Super Simple Songs
CalendarWe work on identifying the month, weather, and season with a calendar.
FeelingsWe talked about how blue and yellow can also show feelings. We mostly said said blue can be sad and yellow can be happy.
ASLWe learned the color blue.
BookOne Hot Chick by Hannah Eliot
Weekly RhymeThis is Big, Big, Big
This is big, big, big.
This is small, small, small.
This is tall, tall, tall.
This is short, short, short.
This is fast, fast, fast.
This is slow, slow, slow.
This is yes, yes, yes.
This is no, no. no.    
Source: Mel’s Desk.
We do this rhyme twice. The second time we add in sign language.    
BookLittle Blue Truck by Alice Schertle
ActivityWhere are Trucks? (Thumbkin)
Where is pick-up truck?
Where is pick-up truck?
Here I am. Here I am.
How are you today, sir?
Very well, I thank you.
Drive away. Drive away.  

Tow truck, Dump truck, Moving Truck  

Source: Storytime Katie

I laminated the different trucks and put them on popsicle sticks.
RhymeI am a Little Duck
I am a little duck and I go, “Quack, Quack, Quack.” (flap arms and quack or quack with your hands)
And I wiggle my tail in the back, back, back. (wiggle you tail!)
I swim in the water and go, “Quack, Quack, Quack.” (paddle with hands)
And I wiggle my tail in the back, back, back. (wiggle you tail)  
Source: King County Library System
Art ActivityWe mixed blue and yellow together to find out what color we would get.
Song Shake My Sillies Out by The Wiggles
Closing Song Skidamarink by Old Town Folk Songs

Craft: I did not choose a specific craft for this storytime. I recycled an old craft.

A Very Bluey Christmas

IntroductionFor our last summer reading program, we decided to do A Very Bluey Christmas. Since Australia has Christmas during their summer season and the holiday promotes togetherness, we thought it was perfect. Little did we know how popular. We clocked over 400 people for our program. We did a two hour window.
CraftsInside our meeting room, we had all paper and craft activities. All credit goes to my coworker for these picks.


Festive Cards


Letters to Verandah Santa


Ornaments


Puppets


Christmas Crackers


Tree Toppers


Coloring Sheets
Scavenger HuntTo help break up the crowd, we had a scavenger hunt in the children’s department. Once the kids returned their sheet, they received a sticker and a free McDonald’s French Fry Coupon.

Outside Activities We are very fortunate to have a large lawn space. We ended up using a chunk of it to create an outdoor play area. This was my brain child area. I crafted a “creek” in honor the creek epsiode. We put out water tables, buckets, and a baby pool. We filled them with sand, rocks, insects, fishes, and reptiles. We did advertise that there was going to be water play and to dress for a mess. We also asked that patrons finish up all their indoor activities before making their way outside. I was supposed to man the outside, but I ended up having to help monitor Santa, so a shelver helped me out. She ended up having the hose and if kids got the okay from their adults, she would get them wet.


Fear of someone drowning, I kept this primarily mud. The water in the picture got drained out before the kids arrived. I knew kids would climb into the pool.


Our “creek”. Kids would move the buckets to different areas.
Character Outside Activity
We had a holiday tattoo station. Kids could either pick a holiday or summer tattoo. The line for this was crazy. I had to make a make-shift barrier towards the end because people were still getting in line after last call.
SantaWe of course needed Santa and some elves. We have a great partnership with this character company, and the owner helped us brainstorm some activities. She was able to get summer dresses for the elves and Santa arrived in his summer gear.

MakerSquare: Crystallizing Watercolors

Description: Create a piece of art using salt and water.
Warning: Paint may stain clothing and furniture.

Supplies:

·         Watercolor Paper

·         Paint Brush

·         Watercolor Paint

·          Tablespoon of Epsom Salt

·          Teaspoon of Table Salt

·          Tablespoon of Water (not provided)

·         Mixing Bowl (not provided)

·         Sheet Pan (not provided)

Directions:

·         In a bowl, combine the water and paint with the table salt and Epsom salt mixture.

·         Swirl or gentle stir the mixture until the salt is dissolved. It is okay if there are a few grains. If the salt is not dissolving, add a tiny bit more water.

·         Place watercolor paper in a pan or a flat container.

·         Start painting with the paint mixture.

·         Create a variety of thin and heavy areas on the paper. Thinner layers will have a shimmery finish while heavier layers will have larger crystals.

·         Thinner layers will crystallize in about 2 hours. Heavier layers will crystallize in 24 hours.

·         Enjoy the art piece!

Source: Fun at Home With Kids

Play-Doh Reads: Llama Llama Red Pajama

Opening Song“I Like To” by Early Emily
Hand-Out SuppliesPlay-Doh, Play-Doh mats, popsicle sticks, straw
Action Rhyme with
Play-Doh		Pizza Man!
Pat-a-cake, pat-a-cake, pizza man (Clap Play-Doh)
Make me a pizza as fast as you can.
Roll it (Roll Play-Doh)
Toss it (Toss Play-Doh)
Sprinkle it with cheese (Pretend Sprinkle Over Play-Doh)
Put it in the oven (Mime Putting Play-Doh in Oven)
And bake it fast, please!
Credit: SurLaLune Storytime
I adapted the movement to work with Play-Doh
Letter Recognition and Tactile FocusI found these awesome sheets from Pre-K Printable Fun. I laminated them for future use. The kids got to pick if they wanted to work on the lowercase or uppercase letter “P”.


 
We then moved on to the bottom half of the sheet with making pumpkins. I started them with one large pumpkin. I then had them split their pumpkin into 2, 3, and 4.
Source: Pre-K Printable Fun
Shape Tactile FocusWe talked about how quilts can be made up of different shapes and sometimes they are have circles inside of quilts. I created a sheet with a bunch of different circle shapes. Kids worked on filling their circles while I read Llama, Llama Red Pajama to them.
BookLlama, Llama Red Pajama by Anna Dewdney
Song ActivityBefore I started the song, I had the kids make five balls of play-doh. I handed out 3X3in poster board and had the kids put their “monkeys” on the bed. They could make their monkeys jump but had to remove a monkey when one fell off.
Song: No More Monkeys by Asheba
Open Play After we were done with the structured storytime, I released the kids and their adults for open play. I had tables out with a ton of play-doh tools.

GoodbyeClean Up Song by Gracie’s Corner

Gabby’s Dollhouse: Cakey’s Bakery

IntroductionWe talked about Cakey and all the food we were going to make! I was inspired to create food based around the characters of Gabby’s Dollhouse. I already had all the food on the table for easier access.

Treat 1: Kitty Fairy’s Fairy BreadThis recipe worked out great for Kitty Fairy, and it was probably one of the favorites. I researched several different versions and settled on this recipe. I recommend getting thicker white bread.
Treat 2: Mercat’s CookiesI adapted this recipe to fit our theme. Instead of seashells I gave them goldfish crackers. I made sure to get the goldfish colors packages. For the graham crackers, I crushed them before the event and had containers at each table for the kids to sprinkle their frosting.
Treat 3: Cakey’s MarshmallowsCakey’s marshmallows was the overall favorite for both kids and adults. I had a staff member staff this station, since we were dealing with heat. I would release the tables when there was space available.

We thankfully had melting pots that she would refill as it got low on chocolate. We made it more budget-friendly by having attendees only dip the top of their marshmallows and then sprinkling their marshmallows.

I believe this was the recipe used for our base. However, we did not use the oil since we had the melting pots.

CraftOur craft was a cakey headband. I made a template and had our volunteers cut out the pieces for the kids.

Dance PartyWe finished up the program with a dance party to the Gabby Dollhouse Soundtrack.