Jump Up! Like a Bunny

Spring has sprung, and we’ve started up our next 8-week storytime session! In celebration of Easter coming up, we had a “hoppy” bunny storytime.

Stories Shared:
Bunny Fun by Sarah Weeks
A Boy and His Bunny by Sean Bryan
Little Rabbit’s Snacktime by Alan Baker

Rhymes (Can be found on Toddler Rhymes sheet.):
Twinkle Twinkle Little Star
Hands Up High
If You’re Happy and You Know It
I’m a Little Teapot

Bonus Rhyme:
Tired Bunnies (Flannel set can be found here.)
“Come my bunnies, it’s time for bed.”
That’s what Mother Bunny said.
“But first I’ll count you just to see
If you have all come back to me.
Bunny 1, Bunny 2, Bunny 3, oh dear!
Bunny 4, Bunny 5, yes, you’re all here!
You’re the sweetest things alive.
My bunnies 1, 2, 3, 4, 5.”

Bonus Song:
“Little Bunny Foo Foo”
Lyrics and melody can be found here.

Music:
Laurie Berkner: Buzz Buzz (Pig on Her Head)
Jim Gill Sings Moving Rhymes for Modern Times (Jump Up, Turn Around)

Getting Places with Transportation

“Things that Go” storytimes are always very popular, and this was a great way to finish up our Winter Storytime Sessions. We will start up again in two weeks on the week of March 29. Signups for the Spring Storytime Session over at the Buena Vista Library start next Wednesday, March 17 (St. Paddy’s Day!). Storytimes over at the Central and Northwest Libraries will remain open with no registration required. Have a great spring break, everyone! I am going away to have fun at the Public Library Association Conference in Portland, Oregon 🙂 See you in two weeks!

Books Shared:
Who is Driving? by Leo Timmers
Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus by Mo Willems

Rhymes (Can be found on Toddler Rhymes sheet.):
Open, Shut Them
Fee, Fie, Fo, Fum
Where is Thumbkin?
If You’re Wearing Red Today
Thank You
Tony Chestnut

Bonus Song:
The Wheels on the Bus
(Melody and lyrics can be found here.)
(Patterns can be found here.)

Music:
Music for Little People: Most Amazing Truck, Train & Plane Songs
Carole Peterson: Sticky Bubble Gum and Other Tasty Tunes (Little Old Wagon)
Me and My Bean Bag (Take that Bean Bag)

Out sick

Thank you so much to Donna and Cathleen for filling in for my storytimes this week while I’ve been out sick. I’ll be back ready to dance, sing and read stories next week! See you then, friends!

Farm Animals

It’s “farm animal” time! EIEIO! Also: Just 2 more weeks in our “winter storytime” session. We will be taking a short break the weeks of March 15 and 22. The spring session starts the week of March 29. As always, BV participants MUST register ahead of time. The Central storytimes will remain open with no registration necessary.

Books Shared:
I Went Walking by Sue Williams
Barn Sneeze by Karen B. Winnick
Mrs. Wishy-Washy by Joy Cowley
Moo, Baa, La La La! by Sandra Boynton

Rhymes (Can be found on Toddler Storytime Rhymes Sheet.):
Old MacDonald
Not Say a Single Word
Rain is Falling Down
Fun with Hands
If You’re Happy and You Know It

Bonus Song:
Five Little Ducks (Flannel pieces can be purchased here. Melody can be listened to here.)
Five little ducks (Wiggle 5 fingers)
Went out one day
Over the hills (Make “hilly” motion with hand.)
and far away (Shield eyes as if looking out to sea.)
Mother duck said
“Quack, quack, quack, quack.” (“Quack” with hand as if a puppet.)
But only four little ducks came back. (Show 4 fingers.)
Four little ducks…
Three little ducks…
Two little ducks…
One little duck…
Sad mother duck
Went out one day
Over the hills and far away
The sad mother duck said
“Quack, quack, quack.”
And all of the five little ducks came back.

Music:
Dr. Jean & Friends (Tooty Ta; Mother Goony Bird)

ZOO Animal Action

Stories Shared:
You and Me: We’re Opposites by Harriet Ziefert
Whose Baby am I? by John Butler (Template)
If You See a Kitten by John Butler
Can You Growl Like a Bear? By John Butler
Seals on the Bus by Lenny Hort
Head to Toe by Eric Carle (Template)

Rhymes (Can be found on Toddler Storytime Rhymes Sheet.)
Open, Shut Them
Fee, Fie, Fo, Fum
Where is Thumbkin?
Rhyme: Not Say a Single Word
Itsy Bitsy Spider
If You’re Happy and You Know It
Twinkle Twinkle Little Star
Thank You

Bonus Rhyme:
“Five Elephants in a Bathtub” felt board rhyme
(My Five Elephants in the Bathtub felt board set came from Artfelt.)

One elephant in the bathtub going for a swim.
Knock, Knock,
(Clap twice with “Knock, Knock.”)
Splash, Splash,
(Slap knees twice with “Splash, Splash.”)
Come on in!
(Motion with both hands to come in.)

Two elephants…
Three elephants…
Four elephants…

Five elephants in a bathtub
Going for a swim.
Knock, Knock,
Splash, Splash,
They all fell in!

Music:
Greg and Steve’s Kids in Motion (Animal Action)
Putumayo Kids: Animal Playground
The Wiggles: Go Bananas!

Will You Be My Valentine and Love Me Every Day?

Yes, I’ll be your Valentine! Here’s this year’s Valentine Toddler Storytime…

Stories Shared:
Do You Love Me? by Joost Elffers
Peekaboo Kisses by Barney Saltzberg
Stop Kissing Me! By Ethan Long
Kitty’s Cuddles by Jane Cabrera

Rhymes (Can be found on Toddler Storytime Rhymes Sheet.)
Tony Chestnut
If You’re Wearing Red Today
Where is Thumbkin?
My Eyes Can See
Fun With Hands
If You’re Happy and You Know It

Bonus Song:
Will You Be My Valentine?
(Sing this to the tune of “The Muffin Man”)
Oh, will you be my valentine?
My valentine? My valentine?
Oh, will you be my valentine?
And love me every day?
Oh, yes, I’ll be your valentine,
Your valentine, your valentine.
Oh, yes, I’ll be your valentine,
And love you every day.

Bonus Rhyme (Use with flannel hearts of appropriate colors):
Valentines, valentines, how many do I see?
Valentines, valentines, share them now with me.
I have red ones.
I have orange ones.
I have yellow ones, too.
I have green ones.
I have purple ones.
I have some that are blue.
Valentines, valentines, how many do I see?
Valentines, valentines, count them now with me.
1-2-3-4-5-6!

Music:
Jim Gill Sings Do Re Mi on his Toe Leg Knee
Greg and Steve’s Kids in Motion (Animal Action)

Rainy Day

It’s raining, it’s pouring, it’s time for a story…….

Stories Shared:
Raindrop Plop! by Wendy Lewison
Little Cloud by Eric Carle
It Looked Like Spilt Milk by Charles Shaw (flannel pieces here)
Jack—It’s a Rainy Day by Rebecca Elgar (pull-the-tab book)
The Napping House by Audrey Wood (pop-up version)

Rhymes (Can be found on Toddler Storytime Rhymes Sheet.):
Itsy Bitsy Spider
Rain is Falling Down
Tony Chestnut
Twinkle Twinkle Little Star
Open, Shut Them
If You’re Happy and You Know It
Ten in the Bed
Thank You

Music:
Jim Gill Sings the Sneezing Song and Other Contagious Tunes (Silly Dance Contest)
Raffi: Rise and Shine (Ducks Like Rain) (with shakers!)

All About Love Pajama Time

This week, we had a “love”-ly pajama storytime to prepare ourselves for Valentine’s Day!

PROGRAM
Entrance Music: A Father’s Love: Golden Slumbers
Opening Song: If you Want to Hear a Story
Flannel: The Little Cockroach Martina (from The Flannel Storytelling Book by Judy Sierra)
Song: Tony Chestnut
Book: The Frog Prince by Susanna Davidson
Song: Five Green and Speckled Frogs
Book: Snog the Frog by Tony Bonning
Song (with flannels): Barnyard Gate [version available on Ed McCurdy: Children’s Songs: the Greatest Hits (I Had a Little Rooster)]
Book: No More Kissing! by Emma Chichester Clark
Song: Will You Be My Valentine?

AFTER PROGRAM VIDEO
A Kiss For Little Bear (32 minutes)

Will You Be My Valentine?
(Sing this to the tune of “The Muffin Man”)
Oh, will you be my valentine?
My valentine? My valentine?
Oh, will you be my valentine?
And love me every day?
Oh, yes, I’ll be your valentine,
Your valentine, your valentine.
Oh, yes, I’ll be your valentine,
And love you every day.

Snow in California?

Today we brought “snow” to California with a snowy storytime!

FYI: I will be presenting a Pajama Storytime over at Buena Vista next Tuesday night at 7 pm. Wear your pjs and bring your teddy. We’ll be reading stories about love, and we’ll have a movie encore afterwards.

Stories Shared:
Snow by Uri Shulevitz
Snowballs by Lois Ehlert
Frosty the Snowman by Steve Nelson
Polar Bear, Polar Bear, What Do You Hear? by Bill Martin (Templates here)

Rhymes (Can be found on Toddler Storytime Rhymes Sheet.):
If You’re Wearing Red Today
Where is Thumbkin?
Fun with Hands
Open, Shut Them

Bonus Flannel Rhymes:
Six Little Snowmen
Six little snowmen
All made of snow,
Six little snowmen
Standing in a row.
Out came the sun
And stayed all day.
One little snowman melted away.
Five little snowmen all made of snow.
Five little snowmen standing in a row.
Out came the sun and stayed all day.
One little snowman melted away. (continue)

Cute Little Snowman
A cute little snowman
Had a carrot nose
Along came a bunny,
And what do you suppose?
That hungry little bunny,
Looking for his lunch,
Ate the snowman’s carrot nose,
Nibble, nibble, crunch!

Music:
Carole Peterson: Sticky Bubble Gum and Other Tasty Tunes (I am a Fine Musician)
Jim Gill Sings the Sneezing Song and Other Contagious Tunes (Silly Dance Contest)

Many Colored Sheep

We’re baaaaaaack! Time for another fun session of storytime! This week’s storytime was not only fun…it was colorful!

Nursery Rhyme of the Week:
Baa, Baa Black Sheep
Baa, baa, black sheep,
Have you any wool?
Yes, sir, yes, sir,
Three bags full;
One for the master,
One for the dame,
And one for the little boy
Who lives down the lane.

Stories Shared:
Wow! Said the Owl by Tim Hopgood
Where is the Green Sheep? by Mem Fox
Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See? by Bill Martin

Rhymes (Can be found on Toddler Storytime Rhymes Sheet.):
Rain is Falling Down
If You’re Wearing Red Today
Twinkle Twinkle Little Star
If You’re Happy and You Know It
Tony Chestnut

Flannel:
Little Mouse, Little Mouse, Are you in the [insert color] house?
(Underneath different colored flannel houses, I place different flannel animals. Using a cat puppet, we go in search of the mouse flannel…)

Music:
Carole Peterson: Sticky Bubble Gum and Other Tasty Tunes (Hokey Pokey)