Rhyming to Read: Little Bo Peep and I Asked My Mother

Little Bo Peep

Introduction of Rhyme	Little Bo Peep Little Bo peep has lost her sheep And doesn’t know where to find them. Leave them alone and they’ll come home, Bringing their tails behind them.
Acton Rhyme	Little Sheep Little sheep, little sheep, turn around. Little sheep, little sheep, graze on the ground. Little sheep, little sheep, frolic on your toes. Little sheep, little sheep, wiggle your nose. Little sheep, little sheep, fluff your wool. Little sheep, little sheep, jump to keep cool. Little sheep, little sheep, scratch your feet. Little sheep, little sheep, find your seat.Source: Artsy Toddler
Book	Where is Green Sheep?
Flannel	Matching Tails to Sheep Source:Best Toys 4 Toddlers
Finger Rhyme	5 Fluffy Sheep 5 fluffy sheep skating on the floor, one fell down and that left 4.4 fluffy sheep drinking cold tea, one got a tummy ache and that left 3. 3 fluffy sheep wondering what to do, one got bored and that left 2. 2 fluffy sheep laying in the sun, one fell asleep and that left 1. 1 fluffy sheep sitting all alone, he didn’t know what to do so he went home! Source: Narrating Tales of Preschool Storytime
Action Rhyme	Newborn Lamb Tune: I’m A Little TeapotI’m a baby lamb just born today I want to run around and play I am very hungry – I must eat So I’ll grow up big like my daddy sheep. – repeat, substituting “mommy sheep” Source:King County Library System

I Asked My Mother

Introduction of Rhyme	I Asked My Mother… I asked my mother For fifteen cents. To see the elephant Jump the fence.He jumped so high That he touched the sky And never came back Til the Fourth of July.
Rhyme	I asked my mother I asked my mother for fifty cents, (put hand out with palm up) To see the elephant jump the fence, (cup eyes and start to crouch) He Jumped so high, (jump up) He reached the sky, (keep jumping) And didn’t come back till the Fourth of the July. ( wave goodbye)I assigned the actions to the rhyme.
Magnet Board	Recognize Money This was slightly harder for my younger participants. However, parents/guardians of my older participants really liked this idea.
Action	Colonel Hathi’s March We had the kids march around the room.
Goodbye	Song

Crafts:

Lamb Tails: We made sure the strings were long enough for the kids to tie them around their waists.

Wrap the lamb: We received our inspiration from Verona Storytime. Our craft did kind of look like a mummy. This is a great tactical craft!

Elephant: Our last take-home craft was a Popsicle elephant that went to our last rhyme.

Squirrels – Preschool

Introduction	Good Morning
Books	Shake the Tree! A Minibombo Book by Chiara Vignocchi
Action Rhyme	Grey Squirrel Grey squirrel, grey squirrel Swish your busy tail! Grey squirrel, grey squirrel Swish your busy tail! Wrinkle up your funny nose Hold a nut between your toes Grey squirrel, grey squirrel Swish your busy tail.Source: Small Town Story Time Lady
Book	Squirrels by Derek Zobel
Sign Language	Squirrel
Finger Rhyme	This Little Squirrel This little squirrel said, “Let’s run and play!” This little squirrel said, “Let’s hunt nuts today!” This little squirrel said, “Yes, nuts are good.” This little squirrel said, “Yes, my favorite food.” This little squirrel said, “Come climb this tree.” (run fingers up other arm, quickly) And crack these nuts: one, two, three! (clap hands three times)Source: Sunflower Storytime
Action Song	Scamper Little Squirrel Scamper, scamper little squirrel (run in place) Up the tree, (reach up high) And down again. (touch the ground) Grab an acorn. (Pretend to grab something with one hand). Grab that peanut. (Pretend to grab something with the other hand). Stuff them in your puffy cheeks. (Point to your cheeks as you puff them out) Swish your tail (wiggle your bottom) Look around (look around with one hand above eyes) Coast is clear, scamper up the tree again. (run in place) Source: Artsy Toddler Storytimes: A year Worth of Ready-To-Go Programming
Dance Song	Squirrel There was a little squirrel. He ran up a tree. When he turned around He threw a nut at meSource: CanTeach
Dance Song	Let Us Chase the Squirrel
Dance Song	I’m a Nut (a cappella)
Traditional Song	ABC, Count to 10
Goodbye Song	Skidamarink

Craft

Craft: Scaredy Squirrel hat! Mrs Wills’ Kindergarten was my source.

Squirrels – Toddler

We celebrated national squirrel day!

Introduction	Hello Hello!
Action Rhyme	The Squirrel Sneaky, squeaky (tiptoe) Hippity, hop, (hop) Up he goes (stretch arms up) To the tree top. Whirly, twirly (spin around) Round and round Down he scampers (sit down) To the ground. Source: Circle Time Activities, Grade Preschool
Book	The Sneaky, Snacky Squirrel
Flannel	Acorns Down around the corner by the big oak tree Sat five little acorns looking so yummy Along came a squirrel with a big bushy tail. He took one acorn and ran off down the trail. (4,3,2,1).Source: One Little Librarian
Book	Shake the Tree! A Minibombo Book by Chiara Vignocchi
Traditional Rhyme	This is Big Big Big This is big big big This is small small small This is short short short This is tall tall tall This is fast fast fast This is slow slow slow This is yes yes yes This is no no no Source: Mel’s Desk Second Rhyme We Do: Very, Very Tall
Nursery Rhyme	Little Miss Muffet Little Miss Muffet Sat on a tuffet, Eating her curds and whey; Along came a spider Who sat down beside her And frightened Miss Muffet away.
Sign Language	Squirrel
Action Rhyme	Grey Squirrel Grey squirrel, grey squirrel Swish your busy tail! Grey squirrel, grey squirrel Swish your busy tail! Wrinkle up your funny nose Hold a nut between your toes Grey squirrel, grey squirrel Swish your busy tail. Source: Small Town Story Time Lady
Action Song	Nuts Put your acorns UP, put your acorns DOWN Hold your acorns and turn around! Put your acorns UP, put your acorns DOWN Put your acorn down on the groundSource:One Little Librarian I modified the version from squirrels to acorn. Just a recommendation, I originally said “nuts” and realized it didn’t work as well…. I gave the kids egg shakers for this portion.
Dance Song	I’m a Nut (a cappella)
Dance Song	Let Us Chase the Squirrel
Traditional Song	ABC, Count to 5
Goodbye Song	Skidamarink

Craft: Scaredy Squirrel hat! Mrs Wills’ Kindergarten was my source.

Little STEAMers: Food

Introduction	Tickle the Moon Tickle the Moon Tickle your toes. Clap your hands And tickle your nose. Reach up high. Reach down low. Turn around, And say hello! Source: Storytime Katie has a closing version she found on pinterest. I wanted an opening song, so my coworker reworked it to make an opening song.
Book	Dragons Love Tacos by Adam Rubin
Action Song	Spicy Salsa We did not have time for this song, but I have made a mental note to do it with the kids another time.
Song	Table Manners (Tune: Frere Jacques)Chewing quietly, chewing quietly Do not slurp, do not slurp, We must say excuse me, We must say excuse me When we burp, When we burp.Source: https://jbrary.com/family-storytime-making-food/
Activity	We made our own butter! I played a list of songs that involved shakes and wiggles (Shake it Off, Hot Potato, Milkshake). I would count to 10 and have the kids pass the jar to the next kid. It worked out great! We had butter by the third song.
Closing Song	Tickle the Stars Tickle the Stars Tickle your toes Turn around And tickle your nose Reach down low Reach up high Storytime’s over So wave goodbye!

Activities

Craft	Taco Bar!
Touch	Rainbow Jello Soup This was the most popular station. It was also the messiest. Word of advice. Clean the big bin right away.
Sorting	I printed off the different food groups and assigned each one to a bucket. The kids then sorted the food to the appropriate food bin.
Imaginary Play	We have a play kitchen and I opened it up for the kids to play with.

Rhyming to Read: Purple Cow and Rock-a-Bye Baby

Purple Cow (Color Mixing)

Introduction of Rhyme	Purple Cow I never saw a Purple Cow, I never hope to see one; But I can tell you, anyhow, I’d rather see than be one.
Sing Rhyme	We repeated the rhyme several times.
Color Mixes	I never saw a Red Cow, I never hope to see one; But I can tell you, anyhow, I’d rather see than be one. I never saw a Blue Cow, I never hope to see one; But I can tell you, anyhow, I’d rather see than be one. I never saw a Purple Cow, I never hope to see one; But I can tell you, anyhow, I’d rather see than be one.
Color Experiment	To have a little fun with we did a science experiment. I unfortunately did not get any pictures, but the kids enjoyed mixing the colors and seeing the reaction. source: Hands On As We Grow
Craft	Source: Apples & abcs I just turned my craft into a purple cow.

Rock-a-Bye Baby

Introduction of Rhyme	Rock-A-Bye Baby
Traditional Rhyme	We repeated the rhyme several times.
Call Response	Rock-a-Bye Baby Rock-a-bye baby On the treetop When the wind blows The cradle will rock When the bough breaks The cradle will fall And down will come baby Cradle and allI would say one line and the crowd would say the next line. After we went though it once, we switched who said what line.I mentioned this is a great way to teach memory tactics.
Action Rhyme	Rock-a-Bye Baby Rock-a-bye baby (rock back and forth) On the treetop When the wind blows (act like the wind) The cradle will rock (rock back and forth) When the bough breaks (start squatting) The cradle will fall (fall to the ground) And down will come baby Cradle and all
Craft	Source: Danielle’s Place I took my inspiration from one of her ideas, but I put my own spin on it. I liked that the kids would be able to “rock” their baby with this craft.

Buttons – Preschool

Opening Song

Clap Everybody and Say Hello!

Clap everybody and say hello!
Clap everybody and say hello!
Clap everybody and say hello!
No matter what the weather!

Stomp everybody and say hello!
Stomp everybody and say hello!
Stomp everybody and say hello!
No matter what the weather!

Jump everybody and say hello!
Jump everybody and say hello!
Jump everybody and say hello!
No matter what the weather!

Books

Press Here by Hervé Tullet
Don’t Push the Button! by Bill Cotter
Pete the Cat and His Four Groovy Buttons by Eric Litwin

Flannel

I read Pete the Cat and His Four Groovy Buttons along with this flannel.

Finger Rhyme

Five Little Buttons

Five Little Buttons on my shirt
One popped off and rolled away….

Four Little Buttons on my shirt
One popped off and rolled away…

Three Little Buttons on my shirt…
One popped off and rolled away

Two Little Buttons on my shirt…
One popped off and rolled away

One little button on my shirt..
It popped off and rolled away

No more buttons on my shirt!
Oh no I need another shirt!
Source: My own creation.

Themed Rhymes

Big Button

One Push
Two Pushes
Three pushes
Jump!
Source: My own creation.

Where is Button

Where is button, (hid the stick behind my back)
Where is button,
Here it is! (revealed the button)
Here it is!
Put on my belly (put it on the belly)
Put on my belly
Belly Button
Belly Button
Source: My own creation.

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Action Play

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A fellow librarian blogger talked about playing a game called “Remote Control Says.” I thought it was awesome and decided to make a 2 foot remote control for this game. The kids really got a hoot out of it.

Remote Control

Remote Control Says…
Dance
Jump up and Down
Sit
Make a Silly Face
Turn in a Circle
Clap your hands
Stomp
Run in Place
Reach to the Ceiling

Activity Songs

Belly Button by Ralph’s World
Button Factory by The Learning Station

Take Home Craft

Closing Activities

The Alphabet Song. We are learning it in sign language.
Counting to 25.

Closing Goodbye Song

See you later, alligator

See you later, alligator (Wave goodbye)
In a while, crocodile
Give a hug, ladybug (Hug yourself)
Blow a kiss, jellyfish (Blow a kiss)
See you soon, big baboon
Out the door, dinosaur (Point straight ahead)
Take care, polar bear
Wave goodbye, butterfly (Wave goodbye)

Observations

Pete the Cat is always a hit. Don’t Push This Button was another popular book with the kids. I did this book for a school visit and we actually handed out “buttons” for the kids to push along with me.

Buttons – Toddler

Opening Song

Well Hello Everybody, Can You Touch Your Nose

Well hello everybody, can you touch your nose,
Touch your nose, touch your nose?
Well hello everybody, can you touch your nose,
touch your nose?

Well hello everybody can you touch your toes,
touch your toes, touch your toes?
Well hello everybody, can you touch your toes,
touch your toes?

Well hello everybody, can you rub your tummy,
rub your tummy, rub your tummy?
Well hello everybody, can you rub your tummy,
rub your tummy?

Books

We’ve All Got Bellybuttons!by David Martin
Where is Baby’s Belly Button? by Mo Willems

Traditional Rhymes

This is Big Big Big

This is big big big
This is small small small
This is short short short
This is tall tall tall
This is fast fast fast
This is slow slow slow
This is yes yes yes
This is no no no
Source: Mel’s Desk

Clap, Clap, Clap Your hands

Clap, clap, clap your hands
Clap them now 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

Dickery Dickery Dare

Dickery, dickery dare,
The pig flew up in the air.
The man in brown
Soon brought him down!
Dickery, dickery, dare.

Finger Rhyme

Five Little Buttons

Five Little Buttons on my shirt
One popped off and rolled away….

Four Little Buttons on my shirt
One popped off and rolled away…

Three Little Buttons on my shirt…
One popped off and rolled away

Two Little Buttons on my shirt…
One popped off and rolled away

One little button on my shirt..
It popped off and rolled away

No more buttons on my shirt!
Oh no I need another shirt!
Source: My own creation.

Themed Rhymes

Big Button

One Push
Two Pushes
Three pushes
Jump!
Source: My own creation.

Where, Oh Where are Baby’s Fingers

Where, oh where are baby’s fingers? (touch fingers)
Where, oh where are baby’s toes? (touch toes)
Where, oh where, is baby’s belly button? (tap belly button)
‘Round and round it goes (make circle around belly)

Where, oh where are baby’s ears? (touch ears)
Where, oh where is baby’s nose? (touch nose)
Where, oh where, is baby’s belly button? (tap belly button)
Round and round it goes. (make a circle around belly)
Source: King County Library System

Where is Button

Activity Songs

Belly Button by Joe Scruggs
Belly Button by Ralph’s World

Take Home Craft

Closing Activities

The Alphabet Song
Counting to 15.

Closing Goodbye Song

The Goodbye Train is Leaving
Oh the goodbye train is leaving see you soon, toot, toot.
Oh the goodbye train is leaving see you soon, toot, toot.
Oh the goodbye train is leaving, the goodbye train is leaving
Oh the goodbye train is leaving see you soon, toot, toot

Observations

I had to create a lot of the rhymes. There were not a lot of button rhymes.

Summer 2016 Kick-Off: Olympic Games

Last Friday my library officially kicked off our summer reading program with an Olympic Games. We thought an Olympic Games kick-off was appropriate for the theme, “On Your Mark, Get Set…READ.” We opted to do early registration, crafts, snacks and games.

Crafts

My coworker loves to find crafts. These are the ideas she found for our kick-off.

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Games

I was in charge of finding games. Unfortunately, our building is without AC, so I decided to find games that would still be entertaining but would not overheat the kids. I thought it would be fun for the kids to have a passport for this section. For every section they completed, they received a sticker. Their final task was to make a ribbon for their completion.

The staff said the long jump and javelin throw were the most popular activities. They said the kids would get very determined and would get back in line to do them again. The Marble Run was so-so. It was kind of a one trick pony.

Passport
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Long Jump
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Javelin Throw
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Marble Run
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Ribbon
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Photo Op and Food

We had the Olympic Rings as a Photo Op. Kids could either stick their heads in the holes or stand next to it.

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The food was pretty awesome and simple. We bought a mixture of cheesy and movie theater popcorn. We then combined them and made Olympic torches!

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Observations

We had a total of 315 people for two hours. This was a more low-key event compared to last year’s kickoff. However, with the lack of AC and the number of people, we were OK with it.

Eric Carle Storytime

Opening Song

Clap Everybody and Say Hello!

Clap everybody and say hello!
Clap everybody and say hello!
Clap everybody and say hello!
No matter what the weather!

Stomp everybody and say hello!
Stomp everybody and say hello!
Stomp everybody and say hello!
No matter what the weather!

Jump everybody and say hello!
Jump everybody and say hello!
Jump everybody and say hello!
No matter what the weather!

Books

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Does a Kangaroo Have a Mother, Too? by Eric Carle
From Head to Toe by Eric Carle

Flannel

The Very Hungry Caterpillar. I did this flannel along with the book.

Themed Rhymes

Zoo Animals

(tune: If You Are Happy and You Know It)
If you want to be a monkey, jump up high!
If you want to be a monkey, jump up high!
If you want to be a monkey, if you want to be a monkey,
If you want to be a monkey, jump up high!
Parrot – flap your wings
Elephant – wing your trunk
Lion – roar out loud
Giraffe – stand up tall
Source:King County Library System

Let’s Hear You Roar!

Let’s hear you roar like a lion!
Let’s see you jump like a frog.
Let’s see you snap your jaws like a crocodile.
Let’s hear you woof like a dog.
Pretend you’re an elephant with a big, long trunk.
Pretend you’re a monkey; let’s see you jump, jump, jump.
And now you’re a mouse. Just let me see
How very, very quiet you can be.
Credit: Toddler Storytimes II by Diane Briggs

Caterpillar, Caterpillar
(tune: Motor Boat, Motor Boat)

Caterpillar, caterpillar, long and slow.
Caterpillar, caterpillar eat and grow.
Caterpillar, caterpillar close your eyes.
Caterpillar, caterpillar change your size.
Caterpillar, caterpillar where’d you go
Source: CanTeach

I’m a Litte Egg
(tune: Pop Goes the Weasel)

A little egg lay on a leaf
In the light of the moon
It wiggled and wiggled
What will it be?
Pop! A caterpillar
Source:Sing a New Song

Activity Songs

Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes
Shoo Fly
The Shaker Song

Take Home Craft

I thought it would be appropriate to make a baby kangaroo for Does a Kangaroo Have a Mother, Too?

Closing Activities

The Alphabet Song. We are learning it in sign language.
Counting to 25.

Closing Goodbye Song

See you later, alligator

Observations

Sooooo it has been over three months since I did this storytime. This translates into my mind is super fuzzy, and I cannot remember the exact CD I used for all the songs. I will update it if I ever remember them.

Overall, the storytime went extremely well and the kids loved The Very Hungry Caterpillar flannel. I also wore this sweet baby kangaroo for Does a Kangaroo Have a Mother, Too?

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Cookies – Preschool

Opening Song

Clap Everybody and Say Hello!

Clap everybody and say hello!
Clap everybody and say hello!
Clap everybody and say hello!
No matter what the weather!

Stomp everybody and say hello!
Stomp everybody and say hello!
Stomp everybody and say hello!
No matter what the weather!

Jump everybody and say hello!
Jump everybody and say hello!
Jump everybody and say hello!
No matter what the weather!

Books

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Who Took the Cookie From the Cookie Jar by David Carter
The Duckling Gets a Cookie!? by Mo Willems
The Cow Loves Cookies by Karma Wilson

Themed Rhymes

Five Little Cookies
Five little cookies with frosting galore.
Mother ate the pink one, then there were four.

Four little cookies with frosting galore.
Father ate the green one, then there three.

Three little cookies, but before I knew,
Sister at the blue one, then there were two.

Two Little Cookies, oh, what fun!
Brother ate the orange one, then there was one.

One little cookie, watch me run!
I ate the red one, then there were none.

Finger Rhymes

Five Chocolate Cookies
Five chocolate cookies lying on a tray. (Hold up five fingers).

One jumped up and ran away! (drop one finger and use the other hand to make it runaway)

Four chocolate cookies…
Three chocolate cookies…
Two chocolate cookies…
One chocolate cookie…

No chocolate chip cookies lying on a tray.
Next time I’ll eat them right away.
Source:Storytimes Around the Year by Kimberly Faurot

I changed the lyrics slightly and added my own twist to this rhyme.

Themed Rhymes

Super-Cookie
I’m Super Cookie! (jump up in a power stance)
You’re a cookie! Cookies are for eating! (act like your eating a cookie)
Run, run, run just as fast as you can! (run in place)
You can’t catch me – I’m the Gingerbread Man! (jump back into power stance).

Jump, jump, jump just as fast as you can.
Swim, swim, swim just as fast as you can.
Source: Storytime Around the Year by Kimberly Faurot

I Wish I Were
Oh, I wish I were a little cookie crumb, cookie crumb.
Oh, I wish I were a little cookie crumb, cookie crumb.
I’d go crumbly, crumbly, crumbly.
Over everybody’s tummy.
Oh, I wish I were a little cookie crumb, cookie crumb.
Source: Do You Know the Muffin Man?: An Essential Preschool Literacy Resource by Pamela Byrne Schiller

Gingerbread Head and Shoulders
Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes
Knees and Toes
Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes
Knees and Toes
I use icing to finish these things.
On my gingerbread boys (sign for boys)
And girls! (sign for girls)
Source: Storytime Around the Year by Kimberly Faurot

Cookie Jar
I looked in the cookie jar and what did I see? (pretend to look)
A big fat cookie! Mother put there for me! (Make a big circle with hands)
Mother looked in the cookie jar. (pretend to look)
But she did not see. (shake head no)
The big fat cookie she put there for me!
Source: 1000 Fingerplays & Action Rhymes by Barbara A. Scott

Activity Songs

Who Stole the Cookies by Lucky Diaz and the Family Jam Band
Milkshake Song by Songs for Wiggleworms
Animal Crackers in My Soup by Maria Maulder

During the Animal Cracker song I handed out animal crackers to the kids.

Take Home Craft

Closing Activities

The Alphabet Song. We are learning it in sign language.
Counting to 25.

Closing Goodbye Song

See you later, alligator

Observations

When I read The Duckling Gets a Cookie I would plug my nose for the duckling. The kids got a kick out of it! I do recommend to read this book last if you do this action. I read it first in my first preschool storytime and the kids kept plugging their nose through the rest. I also danced around and asked the kids if they stole the cookies during the “Who Stole the Cookies” song.