“Space” Preschool Storytime

Opening Song
I wiggle my fingers. I wiggle my toes.
I wiggle my ears. I wiggle my nose.
I wiggle my shoulders. I wiggle my chin.
I stretch my arms wide and pull them back in.
I wiggle my elbows. I wiggle my knees.
I hop like a bunny. I smile and say, “Cheese!”
Now I have no more wiggles left in me
And I sit on the floor as still as can be.
Source: Storytime with Jason

Book – I Want to be an Astronaut

If You’re Going to the Moon
If you’re going to the moon, wear your boots,
(stomp, stomp)
If you’re going to the moon, wear your boots,
If you’re going to the moon, this is what you have to do,
If you’re going to the moon, wear your boots,
If you’re going to the moon, wear your gloves (clap, clap)…
If you’re going to the moon, wear your helmet (pat, pat)…
Source: Jbrary

Inside the Rocket Ship
Inside the Rocket Ship
Not Much Room
Ready for the countdown
5,4,3,2,1
Zoom!
Source: King County Library System

Book – Sun, Moon, and Stars 

The Earth Turns Around
(The Farmer and the Dell)
 The earth turns around
The earth turns around
Once a day, every day
The earth turns around

The moon goes ’round the earth
The moon goes ’round the earth
Once a month, every month
The moon goes ’round the earth

The earth goes ’round the sun
The earth goes ’round the sun
Once a year, every year
The earth goes ’round the sun
Source: CanTeach 

Song – Laurie Berkner’s “Rocketship Run” 

Book – Higher! Higher!

Zoom, Zoom, Zoom
Zoom, zoom, zoom, we’re going to the moon.
Zoom, zoom, zoom, we’re going to the moon.
If you want to take a trip,
climb aboard my rocket ship.
Zoom, zoom, zoom, we’re going to the moon.
In 5, 4, 3, 2, 1 – Blast off!
Far, far, far, we’re going to the stars
Fun, fun, fun, we’re going to the sun
Source:  Jbrary

Sometimes I am Tall
Sometimes I am tall.
Sometimes I am small.
Sometimes I am wide.
Sometimes I hide. Boo!
Sometimes tall. Sometimes small.
See how I am now.
Source: King County Library System
Goodbye
Bread and butter, marmalade and jam
Let’s say good-bye as high as we can
Good-bye! (in high, squeaky voice)
Bread and butter, marmalade and jam
Let’s say good-bye as low as we can
Good-bye! (in a deep voice)
Bread and butter, marmalade and jam
Let’s say good-bye as fast as we can
Good-bye! (very quick)
Bread and butter, marmalade and jam
Let’s say good-bye as slow as we can
Good-bye! (very slowly and drawn out)
Bread and butter, marmalade and jam
Let’s say good-bye as quiet as we can
Good-bye! (in a whisper)
Bread and butter, marmalade and jam
Let’s say good-bye as loud as we can
GOOD-BYE! (yelling)
Source: Jbrary

Extension Activity:
Show your children how far away the planets are using this scale and toilet paper!

Other books that would work for this theme: 
Hush, Little Rocket by Mo O’Hara and illustrated by Alexandra Cook

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“Dr. Seuss” Yoga Storytime

Opening – How I explain the rules of yoga storytime: stay on your mat and keep your hands to yourself.
(Skip to my Lou –  from Jim Gill)
Stomping feet, one and two
Stomping feet, one and two
But if my feet were covered in glue
I’d stick to the glue, my darling.

Clapping hands, one and two
Clapping hands, one and two
But if my hands were covered in glue
I’d stick to the glue, my darling
(hands in Anjali mudra, or prayer position)

Extend and Stretch
Frere Jacques
Extend and stretch (sit in sukasana – easy seated pose, or crisscross applesauce- and do seated side bends)
Extend and stretch
Twist and turn (seated twists)
Twist and turn
This is yoga, (hands overhead on “this,” then bring to prayer position on “yoga”)
This is yoga
Om sweet om, (hands in prayer, bow forward)
Om sweet om
Source: I got this from Kids Yoga Guide teacher training, but here is another from Be Grace Yoga 

Sun Salutations – I use a call and response version of Sargeant Salutations from Kidding Around Yoga. For this storytime, instead of butterflies, we said, “Red fish up. Blue fish down.”

Taste Test Experiment with Pre-judging
We did this experiment before we read the book. I cracked up when one child, after trying the blue drink, yelled out, “Miss Andrea fed us dirty water!”

Open Book
Arms, legs, both
Close the book. Open the book. Turn the page.
Start seated with arms stretched out in front of you, palms touching. To “open the book,” stretch the arms wide. To close it, bring them back together. To “turn the page,” open just the right arm and close it, then the left arm and close it. Repeat “turning pages” until the kids giggle. Repeat the whole sequence using legs instead of arms. Then try arms and legs together. 

Book – Green Eggs and Ham by Dr. Seuss
I pretty much followed this outline from Omazing Kids, with a few changes. 

1. • Here or There = seated twist and added an extended arms to point(http://yogainmyschool.com/2010/07/05/seated-yoga-twists-for-kids/)
   • House – triangle pose for rooftop
   • Mouse = child’s pose
   • Fox = cat pose with alternating leg extended as the bushy fox tail(http://yogainmyschool.com/2009/09/07/cat-cow-pose/)
   • Car = used the “Bumpy Camel Ride” from Radiant Child  – it became a bumpy car ride
   • Of course we needed to do “Washing Machine & Dryer” to clean our clothes after that bumpy ride (first 33 sec: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cK_6YppMQz0)
   • Tree = tree pose (http://yogainmyschool.com/2010/01/27/kids-yoga-poses-tree-pose-vrksasana/)
   • Train = group pose – sat lined up and moved our arms in unison as we did “soft” breaths as the train moved slowly & “louder” breaths as it sped up
   • In the Dark = rubbed palms together & then covered our eyes
   • Goat = downward dog with “goat” kicks
   • Boat = boat pose (http://yogainmyschool.com/2009/07/27/boat-pose/)

Flip the Pose Activity from EVOkids at Evolution Yoga
I also used these poses from Omazing Kids as the flip side to my green eggs.

Song: Kidding Around Yoga- “Head Shoulders Yoga Pose”

Savasana
This was a guided savasana. We pretended we were in the world of Dr. Seuss with orange and purple truffala trees, cats in hats, and elephants sitting on eggs. We saw the mountain and how beautiful it was in all its unusual and beautiful colors. We climbed to the top and looked down from above and saw all of our friends, families, and pets . We thought of the things on earth that made us the most happy and calm and tried to hold on to that feeling.

Peace begins with me
Hold both hands overhead. On the word “peace,” touch the thumbs and pinky fingers together. On the word “begins,” touch the thumbs and ring fingers. On the word “with,” touch the thumbs and middle fingers. On the word “me,” touch the thumbs and pointers. Repeat this four times, the first time loudly and hands overhead. The second time, bring the hands down a little and speak a little softer. The third time, bring hands lower and whisper. The last time, bring hands to knees and speak words silently to self.
Source: Kids Yoga Guide Teacher Training

Dr. Seuss Doodle Pages

 

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“Sun and Moon” Toddler storytime

Opening Rhyme
(to the tune of The Farmer in the Dell)
We’re all here today. We’re all here today.
Let’s clap our hands and sing together.
Hip, hip, hooray!
Source: (To be honest, my library was using this before I started so I’m not sure where the previous librarian found it, but it looks like a modified version of Jean Warren’s Preschool Express song here.)

Hello, Hands. Good-bye, Hands.
Hello, hands. (Wave hands in front of face.)
Good-bye, hands. (Hide hands behind back.)
Hello, hands. Good-bye, hands.
My hands were feeling shy today. (Keep hands hidden.)
But now they’re feeling better! (Bring hands out, wave frantically, and smile HUGE.)
Repeat with feet, face, etc.
Source: King County Library System

Book: What the Sun Sees by Nancy Tafuri

Itsy Bitsy Spider
The itsy bitsy spider went up the water spout.
Down came the rain and washed the spider out.
Out came the sun and dried up all the rain,
And the itsy bitsy spider went up the spout again.
Extra verses: Teeny weeny spider (in high-pitched voice)
Big humungous spider (in deep voice)
Source: King County Library System

Scarf Play
Peek-a-boo
Scarf Toss (literally, just tossing the scarves in the air, while saying, “1,2,3 – weee!!!!)

Scarf Song
(tune of The Farmer in the Dell)
My scarf goes up. My scarf goes down.
My scarf goes around, around, around, around, around.
My scarf goes in. My scarf comes out.
My scarf flies about, about, about, about, about.
Source: No clue where I originally saw or heard this, but here is a PDF.)

Scarf Dance
(Tune of Here we go Round the Mulberry Bush)
Wave the scarf above your head
Above your head, above your head.
Wave the scarf above your head.
Now drop it on the ground.
Stretch your arms up to the sky.
To the sky, to the sky.
Stretch your arms up to the sky.
Now make a clapping sound.
Pick your scarf up off the ground
Off the ground, off the ground.
Pick the scarf up off the ground.
Now twirl and dance around.
Source: King County Library System

Book – What the Moon Sees by Nancy Tafuri

The Moon
The moon is round
As round can be,
Two eyes, a nose and a mouth
Like me!
Source: Jbrary

Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star
Twinkle, twinkle, little star
How I wonder what you are
Up above the world so high
Like a diamond in the sky
Twinkle, twinkle, little star
How I wonder what you are
Source: Traditional

Bubbles – best bubble machine ever! (IMHO, of course)

Rainbows in my Bubbles
(Tune of She’ll be Coming Round the Mountain)
I’ve got rainbows in my bubbles, yes, I do
I’ve got rainbows in my bubbles, yes, I do
When I look up towards the sun,
They’ve got rainbows every one.
I’ve got rainbows in my bubbles, yes, I do.
Source: Preschool Express

Good-bye Song
Wave with one hand, then with the other
Wave with one hand, then with the other
Wave with one hand, then with the other
Wave with both feet now
Repeat with other body parts
Source: King County Library System

Play Time!

Early literacy tip: Sing a book with your child. You can make up a tune, or choose a book with a song you already know. You can even choose a theme – such as books about spiders – and then sing “Itsy Bitsy Spider” with your child.

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“Mr. Eric” Preschool Storytime (Eric Litwin)

Opening Song
I wiggle my fingers. I wiggle my toes.
I wiggle my ears. I wiggle my nose.
I wiggle my shoulders. I wiggle my chin.
I stretch my arms wide and pull them back in.
I wiggle my elbows. I wiggle my knees.
I hop like a bunny. I smile and say, “Cheese!”
Now I have no more wiggles left in me
And I sit on the floor as still as can be.
Source: Storytime with Jason

Book – Pete the Cat: I Love my White Shoes

Walking Walking (Frere Jacques)
Walking walking,  walking walking
Hop, hop, hop. Hop, hop, hop.
Running, running, running.
Running, running, running.
Now we stop. Now we drop.
Source: Super Simple Learning

Walking Old Joe
Walking old Joe, walking old Joe
You’re the best horse in the county-o.
Walking old Joe, walking old Joe,
Whoa, Joe!
Trotting old Joe,
Galloping old Joe
Source: King County Library System

Song: “Mr. Eric’s Jumping Song” by the Learning Groove (It never ceases to amaze me how much this song tires the kids out. I mean, really, it’s less than 2 minutes long! I am almost always the only one still jumping at the end; must have been all those festivals I went to in my 20s. 😉 But hey, since they were so tired, we read a bedtime story next.)

Book – Bedtime at the Nut House

Sleeping Bunnies
See the little bunnies sleeping
Till it’s nearly noon?
Shall we wake them with a merry tune?
Oh, so still. Are they ill?
Wake up, little bunnies!
Hop, little bunnies, hop, hop, hop.
Hop, little bunnies, hop, hop, hop.
Hop, little bunnies, hop, hop, hop.
Hop little bunnies, till I say stop.
Source: So many versions of this song! Here is one with a ukulele! (Random fact: Did you know Miss Mary and I both have tattoos of Pete the Cat?)

Song: “Dance Freeze Melt” by the Learning Groove

Tony Chestnut
Toe, knee, chest, nut (head), nose, eye, heart, point
Tony Chestnut knows I love you
Tony knows, Tony knows
Tony Chestnut knows I love you
That’s what Tony knows
Source:  King County Library System

Book – Pete the Cat and his Four Groovy Buttons

Song – “When the Saints Go Marching In” by the Learning Groove

Tommy Thumbs Up
Tommy thumbs up, Tommy thumbs down
Tommy thumbs dancing all over town
Dance them on your shoulders
Dance them on your head
Dance them on your knees
And tuck them into bed
Source: King County Library System

Goodbye
Bread and butter, marmalade and jam
Let’s say good-bye as high as we can
Good-bye! (in high, squeaky voice)
Bread and butter, marmalade and jam
Let’s say good-bye as low as we can
Good-bye! (in a deep voice)
Bread and butter, marmalade and jam
Let’s say good-bye as fast as we can
Good-bye! (very quick)
Bread and butter, marmalade and jam
Let’s say good-bye as slow as we can
Good-bye! (very slowly and drawn out)
Bread and butter, marmalade and jam
Let’s say good-bye as quiet as we can
Good-bye! (in a whisper)
Bread and butter, marmalade and jam
Let’s say good-bye as loud as we can
GOOD-BYE! (yelling)
Source: Jbrary

Early Literacy Tip:
Take a deep breath, man, because it’s all good. Just sing about it! Singing breaks words into individual syllables so sounds are easier to hear. Sing and play music with your child!

 

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“The Color Green” Toddler Storytime

Opening Rhyme
(to the tune of The Farmer in the Dell)
We’re all here today. We’re all here today.
Let’s clap our hands and sing together.
Hip, hip, hooray!
Source: (To be honest, my library was using this before I started so I’m not sure where the previous librarian found it, but it looks like a modified version of Jean Warren’s Preschool Express song here.)

Hello, Hands. Good-bye, Hands.
Hello, hands. (Wave hands in front of face.)
Good-bye, hands. (Hide hands behind back.)
Hello, hands. Good-bye, hands.
My hands were feeling shy today. (Keep hands hidden.)
But now they’re feeling better! (Bring hands out, wave frantically, and smile HUGE.)
Repeat with feet, face, etc.
Source: King County Library System

Book: Where is the Green Sheep? by Mem Fox

Five Green Peas
Five green peas in a peapod, pressed (make fist)
One grew, two grew, and so did all the rest (raise fingers one at a time)
They grew and grew and they did not stop (stretch fingers wide)
Till one day that peapod just had to go…POP! (clap)
Source: Storytime Themes 

I’m a Little Leprechaun
(I’m a Little Teapot)
I’m a little leprechaun.
Watch me dance.
Up go my feet.
Up go my hands.
When I get excited,
You will know.
Faster and faster
I will go!
Source: Preschool Express

Felt Board – “So Many Fishies in the Deep Blue Sea” based off the Nancy Stewart song

Book – Little Green by Keith Baker

Steam Shovel
Here is a steam shovel. Hold right forearm erect, hand drooping
And here is the ground.
two arms enclose area
See the great boom right elbow stationary, forearm moving side to side
Swing round and round.
It dips, it, bites, forearms dips, thumb and fingers in grasping motion
It lifts, it throws, forearm lifts,
thumb and fingers spin
My, how the hole In the ground grows! two hands enclose circle
Digging, scooping,
Lifting, throwing,
See how the hill
forearms with hands meeting
Beside it is growing
Source: Pre-K Fun

Hector Protector
Hector Protector was dressed all in green
Hector Protector was sent to the Queen.
The Queen did not like him,
No more did the King;
So Hector Protector was sent back again
Source: traditional

Rain on the Green Grass
Rain on the green grass.
(flutter hands down to the ground)
Rain on the tree. (arms up like branches)
Rain on the rooftop
(fingers together over head to make peak of roof)
But NOT on me!
(brush shoulders with fingers)
Source: King County Library System

 Tony Chestnut
Tony Chestnut knows I love you
Tony knows. Tony knows.
Tony Chestnut knows I love you
That’s what Tony knows
Source: King County Library System

Bubbles – best bubble machine ever! (IMHO, of course)

Rainbows in my Bubbles
(Tune of She’ll be Coming Round the Mountain)
I’ve got rainbows in my bubbles, yes, I do
I’ve got rainbows in my bubbles, yes, I do
When I look up towards the sun,
They’ve got rainbows every one.
I’ve got rainbows in my bubbles, yes, I do.
Source: Preschool Express

Good-bye Song
Wave with one hand, then with the other
Wave with one hand, then with the other
Wave with one hand, then with the other
Wave with both feet now
Repeat with other body parts
Source: King County Library System

Play Time!

Early literacy tip:  When your child is very young, it is great to talk to them in a calm and soothing voice. Most of us pitch our voice higher than usual and exaggerate our lips, mouth, and tongues when talking to infants. This “motherese” is helpful to young children who are learning to speak by watching. Your voice is recognizable and is an important part of your child’s sense of security.

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“St. Patrick’s Day” Preschool Storytime

Opening Song
I wiggle my fingers. I wiggle my toes.
I wiggle my ears. I wiggle my nose.
I wiggle my shoulders. I wiggle my chin.
I stretch my arms wide and pull them back in.
I wiggle my elbows. I wiggle my knees.
I hop like a bunny. I smile and say, “Cheese!”
Now I have no more wiggles left in me
And I sit on the floor as still as can be.
Source: Storytime with Jason

Book – There was an Old Lady who Swallowed a Clover by Lucille Colandro

Song – Jim Gill “Silly Dance Contest”

Five Little Leprechauns
Five little leprechauns digging for some gold (digging motion)
One slipped down and fell into a hole (falling)
The others called a fairy
That started to scold “No more leprechauns digging for gold!” (shaking finger)
Four little leprechauns digging for some gold
(And so on…)
No little leprechauns to dig for gold (shrug shoulders)
All wee five are down in the hole (hold up five fingers then point down)
Above them stands the fairy who loudly scolds (hands on hips)
“I told you to stop digging for that gold!” (shaking finger)
Source: Kids Soup 

Book- The Night Before St. Patrick’s Day by Natasha Wing 

The Leprechauns are Leapinng
Tune:  “The Ants Go Marching”
The leprechauns are leaping around,
Hooray, hooray!
They are happy when it is St. Patrick’s Day.
Some leap high, some leap low.
They all wear green wherever they go.
Oh, we’re oh so glad the Leprechauns could come today.
Source: Preschool Express

I’m a Little Leprechaun     
Tune:  “I’m A Little Teapot”
I’m a little leprechaun.
Watch me dance.
Up go my feet.
Up go my hands.
When I get excited,
You will know.  (loooooong dramatic pause)
Faster and faster
I will go!
Source: Preschool Express

 Book – Duckie’s Rainbow by Frances Barry

Do You Feel Lucky? felt board 

Song- Irish Rovers “The Unicorn Song”
We did one verse of this song using animal motions that I learned during (ahem) past St. Patrick’s Day shenanigans. We then used bubbles for the rest of the song.  

 

Goodbye
Bread and butter, marmalade and jam
Let’s say good-bye as high as we can
Good-bye! (in high, squeaky voice)
Bread and butter, marmalade and jam
Let’s say good-bye as low as we can
Good-bye! (in a deep voice)
Bread and butter, marmalade and jam
Let’s say good-bye as fast as we can
Good-bye! (very quick)
Bread and butter, marmalade and jam
Let’s say good-bye as slow as we can
Good-bye! (very slowly and drawn out)
Bread and butter, marmalade and jam
Let’s say good-bye as quiet as we can
Good-bye! (in a whisper)
Bread and butter, marmalade and jam
Let’s say good-bye as loud as we can
GOOD-BYE! (yelling)
Source: Jbrary

Early Literacy Tip:
You can help your child make a rainbow appear on the wall by having her place a small mirror in a glass of water.  Then, have her place the glass on a window ledge in the direct sun light. Help her adjust the mirror so that the light hits the mirror and reflects through the water, creating a rainbow on the wall. Have her name all the colors she can see.
Source: Preschool Express

Bonus joke: What’s Irish and sits out on the lawn all summer?
Paddy O’Furniture

Happy St. Patrick’s Day!

 

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Barnyard Fun Toddler Storytime

Opening Rhyme
(to the tune of The Farmer in the Dell)
We’re all here today. We’re all here today.
Let’s clap our hands and sing together.
Hip, hip, hooray!
Source: (To be honest, my library was using this before I started so I’m not sure where the previous librarian found it, but it looks like a modified version of Jean Warren’s Preschool Express song here.)

Open Shut Them
Open, shut them, open, shut them,
Give a little clap, clap, clap.
Open, shut them, open, shut them,
Put them in your lap, lap, lap.
Creep them, crawl them,
Creep them, crawl them,
Right up to your chin, chin, chin.
Open up your little mouth,
But do not put them in.
Source: King County Library System

Book – Clip Clop by Nicola Smee

A Farmer went Trotting
A farmer went trotting upon his grey mare,
Bumpety, bumpety, bump!
With his daughter behind him so rosy and fair,
Lumpety, lumpety, lump!
A raven cried “Croak,” and they all tumbled DOWN,
Bumpety, bumpety, bump!
The mare broke her knees, and the farmer his crown,
Lumpety, lumpety, lump!
The mischievous raven flew laughing away
Bumpety, bumpety, bump!
And he vowed he would serve them the same the next day,
Lumpety, lumpety, Lumpety, lumpety, Lumpety, lumpety, lump!
Source: Traditional

Bell Horses (with bells)
Bell horses, bell horses,
What’s the time of day?
One o’clock, two o’clock,
Time to go away.
Little bell, little bell,
Where are you?
Here I am, here I am. How do you do?
Source: Traditional

Tap Your Hand (Row your Boat)
Tap, tap, tap your hand
With your bell today.
Tap the beat – of the song.
Tap your bell this way.
Tap, tap, tap your hand
With your bell today.
Let’s make music with our hands
Then put our bells away
Source: Preschool Express

Book – Barnyard Banter by Denise Fleming

Ten Galloping Horses
10 galloping horses
came through the town
5 were white and
5 were brown.
They galloped up and
they galloped down
10 galloping horses
came through the town
Source: King County Library System

I Have a Little Pony
I have a little pony
(bounce child on knees)
His name is Macaroni (keep bouncing)
He trots and trots and then he STOPS! (long pause on stop)
My funny Mac-a-RO-ni!
(bounce and jiggle on “RO”)
Source: King County Library System

Bubbles – best bubble machine ever! (IMHO, of course)

 Rainbows in my Bubbles
Tune of She’ll be Coming Round the Mountain)
I’ve got rainbows in my bubbles, yes, I do
I’ve got rainbows in my bubbles, yes, I do
When I look up towards the sun,
They’ve got rainbows every one.
I’ve got rainbows in my bubbles, yes, I do.
Source: Preschool Express

Good-bye Song
Wave with one hand, then with the other
Wave with one hand, then with the other
Wave with one hand, then with the other
Wave with both feet now
Repeat with other body parts
Source: King County Library System

Play Time!

Early literacy tip:  Communication and Language Development: Print, spoken language, and gesturing are all strategies human beings use to communicate. In the first 3 years, infants and toddlers begin acquiring the first of thousands of words they will use throughout their lives. Simultaneously, children are learning the rules of grammar as well as absorbing the social conventions that exist around communication in their community. When adults respond sensitively and consistently to infants’ and toddlers’ attempts to communicate, children develop a sense of their own competence and self-efficacy.
Source: Zero to Three

More books that could work for this theme
Parker’s Place by Russ Williams

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“Shapes” Preschool Storytime

Opening Song
I wiggle my fingers. I wiggle my toes.
I wiggle my ears. I wiggle my nose.
I wiggle my shoulders. I wiggle my chin.
I stretch my arms wide and pull them back in.
I wiggle my elbows. I wiggle my knees.
I hop like a bunny. I smile and say, “Cheese!”
Now I have no more wiggles left in me
And I sit on the floor as still as can be.
Source: Storytime with Jason

Book – Mouse Shapes by Ellen Stohl Walsh

Felt Board – Shape Song
Head, Shoulders, Knees, and Toes
Circle, square and triangle, triangle.
Circle, square and triangle, triangle.
Heart and star and rectangle,
Circle, square and triangle, triangle.
Source:  adapted traditional

How Can You Tell?
This is a circle. (point to a circle)
How can you tell?
It goes round and round,
No end can be found.
This is a square. (point to a square)
How can you tell?
It has four sides,
All the same size.
Source: King County Library System

Hop and Twirl
Make a circle and we’ll go around
First walk on tip-toe
So we don’t make a sound.
Tip, toe, around we go.
Then hop on our left foot,
Then hop on our right
Then hop together,
What a funny sight!
Now stop hopping and twirl around.
Now we’re ready to settle down.
Source: King County Library System

Book – Not a Box by Antoinette Portis

Felt Board – Pete the Cat and his Four Groovy Buttons

Song – Ravioli
Tune: Alouette
Ravioli, ravioli,
Ravioli, that’s the stuff for me.
Do you have it on your sleeve?
Yes, I have it on my sleeve.
On your sleeve?
On my sleeve.
Ra-vi-o-li…
Repeat with other body parts or articles of clothing, e.g. Do you have it on your chin? Do you have it in your shoes? etc.
Source: King County Library System

Book – Color Zoo – Lois Ehlert

Zoo Animals
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.
Eagle…flap your wings
Elephant…swing your trunk
Lion…roar out loud
Giraffe…stand up tall  (stretch high)
Snake…slither and hiss
Source: King County Library System

My Balloon
(Tune: Pop Goes the Weasel)
Here I have a big balloon
Watch me while I blow.
Small at first, then bigger,
Watch it grow and grow. (expand arms)
Do you think it’s big enough?
Maybe I should stop.
For if I blow much longer,
My balloon will surely pop! (big clap)
Source: King County Library System

Goodbye
Bread and butter, marmalade and jam
Let’s say good-bye as high as we can
Good-bye! (in high, squeaky voice)
Bread and butter, marmalade and jam
Let’s say good-bye as low as we can
Good-bye! (in a deep voice)
Bread and butter, marmalade and jam
Let’s say good-bye as fast as we can
Good-bye! (very quick)
Bread and butter, marmalade and jam
Let’s say good-bye as slow as we can
Good-bye! (very slowly and drawn out)
Bread and butter, marmalade and jam
Let’s say good-bye as quiet as we can
Good-bye! (in a whisper)
Bread and butter, marmalade and jam
Let’s say good-bye as loud as we can
GOOD-BYE! (yelling)
Source: Jbrary

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Other Titles that Will Work for This Theme
The World of Worm Shapes by Esther van den Berg
The Shape of You – Muon Thi Van and illustrated by Miki Soto
Kitty and Cat Bent Out of Shape – Mirka Hokkanen

“Nursery Rhymes” Toddler Storytimes

Opening Rhyme
(to the tune of The Farmer in the Dell)
We’re all here today. We’re all here today.
Let’s clap our hands and sing together.
Hip, hip, hooray!
Source: (To be honest, my library was using this before I started so I’m not sure where the previous librarian found it, but it looks like a modified version of Jean Warren’s Preschool Express song here.)

Hello, Hands. Good-bye, Hands.
Hello, hands. (Wave hands in front of face.)
Good-bye, hands. (Hide hands behind back.)
Hello, hands. Good-bye, hands.
My hands were feeling shy today. (Keep hands hidden.)
But now they’re feeling better! (Bring hands out, wave frantically, and smile HUGE.)
Repeat with feet, face, etc.
Source: King County Library System

Book- To Market, To Market by Anne Miranda

Jack Be Nimble
Jack be nimble, Jack be quick
Jack jump over the candle stick.

The Wheels on the Bus
The wheels on the bus go round and round,
Round and round, round and round,
The wheels on the bus go round and round,
All through the town.
The people on the bus go up and down…
The wipers on the bus go swish, swish, swish…
The horn on the bus goes beep, beep, beep…
The babies on the bus go wah, wah, wah…
The driver on the bus says move on back…

Rub-a-Dub-Dub
Rub-a-dub-dub,
Three men in a tub.
And who do you think they be?
The butcher, the baker, the candlestick maker
And out they jumped, all three!

Book – Neighborhood Mother Goose

One, Two, Buckle My Shoe
One, two, buckle my shoe
(pat foot)
Three, four, shut the door (clap)
Five, six, pick up sticks
(show fingers)
Seven, eight, lay them straight (pat floor)
Nine, ten, a big fat hen!
(make wings and cluck)

Wee Willie Winkie
Wee Willie Winkie runs through the town,
Upstairs and downstairs in his nightgown,
Rapping at the window, crying through the lock,
“Are the children in their beds? It’s now eight o’clock!”

Pat-a-cake
Pat-a-cake, pat-a-cake, baker’s man,
Bake me a cake as fast as you can.
Roll it, and prick it, and mark it with a “B”
And put it in the oven for Baby and me!

The Grand Old Duke of York
The grand old Duke of York
He had 10 thousand men
He marched them up to the top of the hill
Then he marched them down again
And when they were up, they were up
And when they were down, they were down
And when they were only half-way up
They were neither up nor down

Bubbles – best bubble machine ever! (IMHO, of course)

Rainbows in my Bubbles
(Tune of She’ll be Coming Round the Mountain)
I’ve got rainbows in my bubbles, yes, I do
I’ve got rainbows in my bubbles, yes, I do
When I look up towards the sun,
They’ve got rainbows every one.
I’ve got rainbows in my bubbles, yes, I do.
Source: Preschool Express

Good-bye Song
Wave with one hand, then with the other
Wave with one hand, then with the other
Wave with one hand, then with the other
Wave with both feet now
Repeat with other body parts
Source: King County Library System

Play Time!

Early literacy tip:  Nursery rhymes are short and rhythmic, which makes them easy for children to learn and memorize. As children hear, sing or read nursery rhymes, they develop “phonemic awareness” or the ability to detect the individual sounds that make up words, a crucial first step in learning to read. Nursery rhymes, especially Mother Goose rhymes, also introduce children to new vocabulary which increases comprehension and benefits learning in all subjects.
Source: Mother Goose Club

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