The first themed Saturday storytime special of 2021! We started the new year with the one and only Daniel Tiger Storytime! This set a highly unrealistic attendance expectation for 2021, but I am very happy with the final product. If nothing else in 2021 works out whatsoever, maybe my storytime game will be on point?
Daniel Tiger is close to my heart because of Mr. Rogers, though I did learn in this process that I am not the biggest fan of the Daniel Tiger tv show. But, there is most definitely an audience for Daniel, and, if we ever return to in-person programs in the next five years, this is something I would like to recreate as a party-style event. The heart of the story is excellent, and in person I could use some Mr. Rogers tunes–something Facebook strictly does not allow (it WILL shut down your stream, mid-stream or immediately after–be warned). Daniel Tiger songs are fine.
I talked about Daniel Tiger during the well-attended Noon Year’s Eve Storytime, and I could tell the Facebook event had a lot of interest (over 1000 people responded to the event), so I did not make a trailer for this one. (Also, Noon Year’s Eve was barely a week prior, and I’m tired.)
The trailer was not needed because, following the Noon Year’s Eve Storytime fun, we once again broke attendance records. This is the most-well attended program I have ever done…ever. (Except for the in-person Wizards & Wands Festival, but that is a whole other thing.) Final attendance was 770 people, most of which were from central Ohio based on anecdotal info (where we are located), and even knowing that Facebook’s one-minute view count isn’t the most accurate, we had 400 people just from families self-reporting how many people were watching in the comments (so they stuck with us long enough to hear my announcements).
Moral of the story: Daniel Tiger > Dog Man.
Just like past virtual storytimes, I curated a PDF packet that we shared with event participants. Download it here.
Watch the full storytime here (starts about 5 minutes in):
The general storytime layout–in order of what I presented–is below, with videos where applicable.
Daniel Tiger Storytime Outline
Backdrop Setup: Daniel Tiger pennant banners, book covers, and images. I’m happy to share these printable files if anyone is interested–just let me know in those comments or send us an email.
Intro Song: It’s a Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood
Daniel Tiger Story: Meet the Neighbors!
Neighbor Day Help: The premise for storytime was that it was time for the annual Neighbor Day Festival, and we needed to help all of our friends in the Neighborhood of Make Believe get ready.
Each time we were ready to find a new friend we took a seat and pretended to “drive” trolley.
Driving Round in My Little Red Trolley Driving round in my little red trolley, Driving round in my little red trolley, Driving round in my little red trolley, Ding, ding, ding, ding, ding!
When we got to a location, we would receive three clues to figure out where we ended up.
And then we figure out where we ended up (the bakery!) and see which friend is waiting for us there (Miss Elaina!):
Before starting that location’s activity:
Bakery with Miss Elaina to Mix a Cake
Mix the batter, stir the batter Shake some flour in Mix the batter, stir the batter Pour it in a tin
Sprinkle in some chocolate chips Put it in to bake Then open wide the oven door And out comes the cake!
Faster, Faster!
Music Shop with Katerina Kittycat for Head Shoulders Knees and Toes
Head, shoulders, knees, and toes, knees and toes! Head, shoulders, knees, and toes, knees and toes! And eyes and ears and mouth and nose! Head, shoulders, knees, and toes, knees and toes!
Playground with Prince Wednesday for Animal Guessing Game
Grocery Store with O the Owl to Count the Balloons
Red Balloons, red balloons, how many do we see? Red balloons, red balloons, count them now with me!
Post Office with Daniel Tiger for Letter Matching
Oh, have you seen the letter W The letter W, the letter W Oh, have you seen the letter W? It makes the sound wuh-wuh-wuh
Wrapping Things Up After helping Daniel find all of the letters for his friends, we found one more lost letter that needed a home! But this one was addressed to…us!
When we opened it, we discovered that since we were so kind to all of our new friends, we would become honorary residents of the Neighborhood of Make Believe! First, we just had to sing our song one more time:
Noon Year’s Eve Storytime! I’m still recovering from this one.
I learned something with this program that I pose as a challenge to myself and all of you: Not everyone is “zoomed out” or “over virtual programs.” Keep trying. Figure out what works for your audience, put in all of your energy, and try and try again when nothing seems to be sticking.
I was not that excited for Noon Year’s Eve Storytime & Dance Party. Honestly, the content is not my favorite. While I loved my dance party lineup, I didn’t like the book I was reading and some of the other activities felt like they drug on too long. I didn’t expect an audience because my library doesn’t regularly have a consistent Noon Year’s Eve program (so no built-in viewers), and we typically slow down our storytimes in December because our audience shrinks (which was reflected in our virtual storytimes throughout the month too).
Our Noon Year’s Eve Storytime received a little more press than regular programs. We weren’t able to advertise it at weekly storytimes the week before, since we didn’t have any the week prior, but a local newspaper and tv station briefly mentioned the program in their lists of ways to celebrate the New Year. I made a “commercial” advertising the event too but that is a regular practice for me.
In Ohio, per our state library, we count live program stats for programs that air live, like Facebook Like Storytimes, by adding the number of 1-minute viewers and the number of additional people mentioned in the comments. We ask families to let us know how many people are watching behind the screen in the comments, to get a more accurate count.
Our regular storytimes have been averaging around 30-50 people, with some peaks up to the 60s-80s, maybe 100 at a particular popular Saturday storytime.
VirtualNoon Year’s Eve Storytime Attendance: 439 people.
I was blown away. When I started the stream, five minutes early to give people time to join, I saw the “live view” count immediately jump to 25. That felt unusual so early, but fit within our normal numbers. By the time I started, five minutes later, the “live view” count was 65. I haven’t been really, genuinely, nervous presenting a virtual storytime since April–but those numbers genuinely terrified me, and you can sort of see it during the first few minutes based on how out of breath I am.
Anyhow, after that long-winded introduction, Noon Year’s Eve Storytime & Dance Party content awaits below.
Check out my preview video! I had a lot of fun with this one, reflecting on 2020 and including some fun bloopers:
Watch the full storytime here, including the dance party (storytime starts about 5 minutes in):
The general storytime layout–in order of what I presented–is below, with videos where applicable.
Noon Year’s Eve Storytime Outline
Backdrop & Logistics: New Year’s Eve pennant banner and decor.
Since everyone’s clock is going to be a little bit different, plus there is a delay on Facebook, I used two iPads to keep track of the time until our (approximately) noon countdown. They were synced, with one displayed beside me and another behind the camera, so it was in my line of vision, and I didn’t need to keep looking away from the camera throughout the whole program to check the time.
I also attempted a balloon drop, filled with balloons and confetti. This didn’t work quite as planned, with maybe 3 out of 20 balloons falling, but that might have been better than what I expected, which was everything, tablecloths included, to fall on my head 5 minutes into the program.
Intro Song: Shake Your Sillies Out by Rainbow Songs (my go-to opening storytime song)
Book: The Night Before New Year’s by Amy Wummer I struggled with this book. I wanted a more diverse representation of New Year’s Eve, but the only diverse options I had access to before the program were Our Favorite Day of the Year, which feels like a back-to-school book, and Shante Keys and the New Year’s Peas (and I can’t get past some of the rhyming choices in Shante Peas). I did like that this book showed one family celebrating at home by themselves (no extended family or community parties). I tried to find a middle ground by spending some time before and during the book talking about how everyone’s New Year traditions are different and how not everyone celebrates New Year’s on Dec. 31. (This issue, right here, is why I struggle with theming storytimes–decisions are made for the sake of the theme instead of the quality of the materials, their diversity, and their developmentally appropriate content.)
Song: Dance Freeze Melt by Mr. Eric and Mr. Michael
Hilda the Dragon, Playing Hide and Seek I wanted to include some of the familiar characters we saw at virtual storytime specials during 2020, so I decided to have us discover some characters while hunting for our library dragon, Hilda (see a photo of 30-foot, smoke-breathing Hilda here.)
Zoom Zoom Zoom, A New Year’s Coming Soon As always, thank you jbrary.
Fabulous Fireworks
If You’re Ready for the New Year (If you’re happy and you know it)
We finished If You’re Ready for the New Year with just about a minute until our countdown, which I still almost missed because I talk too much.
And it was finally time for our 20-minute dance party! I used these songs:
And that was 2020 Virtual Noon Year’s Eve Storytime and Dance Party! I didn’t receive much specific feedback from this program, other than those attendance numbers, which makes me a little sad (I really rely on that feedback to keep my energy up), but I think it went well enough. I just hope some of those people listened to my always-rambling announcements and return for our weekly live storytimes next week and Daniel Tiger Storytime on Saturday.
As part of our virtual programming, I run a monthly school age storytime, designed for ages 6-8. This program highlights a different diverse individual from the Little People Big Dreams book series. In December, I featured Harriet Tubman in my Little People Big Dreams Storytime.
Each program features 1-2 books on the famous individual (one book being their matching title from the Little People, Big Dreams book series). I also highlight music from a diverse artist and include a link to an at-home packet to continue the fun and learning.
Explore More Little People, Big Dreams Storytime Outlines:
First Book: Harriet Tubman by Maria Isabel Sanchez Vegara (Little People Big Dreams)
Music Break: Shake It by Brother Yusef (with shakers)
Second Book: Before She Was Harriet by Lesa Cline-Ransome
Closing Rhyme: See You Later, Alligator
See you later, alligator In a while, crocodile Give a hug, ladybug Blow a kiss, jellyfish See you soon, big baboon Out the door, dinosaur Take care, polar bear Wave goodbye, butterfly!
Another themed Saturday storytime special, filled with the most fantastique Fancy Nancy Storytime fun! This outline has a lot of extra content because I came up with so many activities that made me super excited. Not everything made it into my storytime since I had a limited amount of time.
I had so much fun getting FANCY for this storytime, particularly after getting to know Nancy Clancy and her universe. I was more familiar with Baby Shark and Elephant & Piggie before those storytime specials, but for some of these storytimes, I’ve got to really explore these characters for the first time. Nancy is such a sweet kid who just wants to make everything better with lots of accessories, lace, and glitter.
I made a preview video you can watch here:
To help continue the Fancy Nancy fun at home, I curated a PDF packet that we shared with event participants. Download it here.
Watch the full storytime here (starts about 5 minutes in):
The general storytime layout–in order of what I presented–is below, with videos where applicable. All the extra videos I didn’t use for the program are at the bottom.
Fancy Nancy Storytime Outline
Backdrop Setup: Fancy Nancy pennant banners, book covers, and images. I’m happy to share these printable files if anyone is interested–just let me know in those comments or send us an email.
Intro Song: Add a Little Fancy by Fancy Nancy
Fancy Nancy Dance Soiree Checklist: Whenever possible, I like to give my special storytimes a storyline to help with transitions and to make the experience more entertaining for everyone.
In our Fancy Nancy storytime, we were hoping to complete our Fancy Nancy Dance Soiree Checklist (soiree is a fancy word for party). If we completed all of our tasks by the end of storytime, we might just get a magical phone call from the one and only Fancy Nancy inviting us to an after-storytime dance party!
Download your own Fancy Nancy Soiree Checklist here:
Get to Know Our Hostess (Book): Fancy Nancy by Jane O’Connor
(And Her Secret Indentity) (Music): Dazzle Girl by Fancy Nancy (with scarves)
It’s book list season! I’ve read a lot this year, and I am excited to highlight my favorite releases of 2020. I’m thrilled to start this year’s lists with 2020 favorite storytime books.
These lists are personal. The storytime books that work for me may not work for you–and that is okay! We each have our own storytime preferences. Also, I very well may have missed some great titles that were released over the last year–so make sure to check out all of the great lists all over the internet.
I had so many favorites this year that I split picture books over two lists: storytime favorites and picture book favorites. Make sure to check both places for amazing 2020 titles!
Which titles were your favorites of the year? Please share in the comments!
#Baby by Michael Joosten Adorable baby photographs paired with humorous hashtags will make this a winner for both babies (who will love the close ups of other babies) and grown ups (who will appreciate the humor). Fun choice for virtual baby storytime.
A is for Another Rabbit by Hannah Batsel “A is for A Rabbit. B is for Bunny. C is for Can you believe how many rabbits are on this page?” A rabbit-obsessed narrator makes an owl angrier and angrier as this alphabet book fails to follow normal expectations. Try this out at an elementary school storytime.
Animals Brag About their Bottoms by Maki Saito Bottoms are cool. Animal bottoms are SUPER COOL. For toddlers, focus on identifying the animal by their bottom. For preschoolers, read through the story and talk about loving our bodies in all their unique shapes and sizes. Pair with a nonfiction book about animals, Whose Poop Is That?, or any Steve Jenkins title.
The Babies and Kitties Book by John Schindel and Molly Woodward Redd A companion to the adorable The Babies and Doggies Book, this book features photographs of babies…and kitties! Wonderful photographs featuring diverse babies are paired with fun actions that work well in a storytime environment (climbing, hiding, jumping).
Bedtime Bonnet by Nancy Amanda Redd and illustrated by Nneka Myers “In my family, when the sun goes down, our hair goes up!” A little girl shows us her Black family’s nighttime hair routines, but when it comes time for her to go to bed, she can’t find her bonnet! Where could it be? A fantastic own voices book that centers a diverse narrative in a bedtime storytime.
Do Sharks Bark? by Salina Yoon These lift-the-flap books are perfect for toddler or preschool storytime. Read them as they are written–opening each animal mouth for that sound–or try retelling them with puppets.
Don’t Feed the Coos! by Jonathan Stutzman and illustrated by Heather Fox Coos are so cute! And they are begging you for a snack…but don’t give in! If you feed one, they will all come! Lots of humor and giggles about what happens if you feed pigeons (or seagulls or ibis or ducks depending where you live).
The Elephants’ Guide to Hide and Seek by Kjersten Hayes and illustrated by Gladys Jose Elephants love playing hide and seek–but they aren’t very good at it. Consult this handy guide for tips and tricks to improving your hide and seek game. Ask storytime attendees to think of new places or ways for an elephant to try to hide–maybe even places in your library!
Federico and the Wolf by Rebecca J. Gomez and illustrated by Elisa Chavarri A clever retelling of “Little Red Riding Hood.” Frederico tries to take food to his grandfather’s store, but a hungry wolf has other ideas. A bouncy rhythm makes this fun to read aloud. Spanish words are scattered throughout, with a glossary and pronunciation guide in the back.
Fussy Flamingo by Shelly Vaughan James and illustrated by Matthew Rivera Lola is one fussy bird–she doesn’t want to eat shrimp like her fellow flamingos. She is determined to try any other food, and each of those foods changes the color of her feathers. Lots of repetitive text and humor make this a fun family read aloud.
The Ghosts Went Floating by Kim Norman and illustrated by Jay Fleck A spooky Halloween story sung to the tune of The Ants Went Marching. Perfect for counting practice, with a catchy tune that will soon have everyone singing. The last few pages include a Halloween tie in with the spooky friends all attending a Halloween party, though those could be skipped.
Going Up by Sherry J. Lee and illustrated by Charlene Chua Sophie and her dad are excited for Olive’s birthday party! Sophie pushes the elevator button, and they start the long journey up their building–but at each floor, the elevator stops, and more neighbors crowd in. Repetitive text helps keeps readers engaged as they meet the diverse residents of this apartment building.
Hey Baby!: A Baby’s Day in Doodles by Andrea Pippins Lovely photographs follow a 1-year-old through everyday activities. The black and white contrast is great for young eyes (if a little busy for a virtual storytime setting). Great actions and motions to compare the baby’s day to your family’s day.
I Love Me! by Laronda Gardner Middlemiss and illustrated by Beth Hughes Celebrate diversity, identity, community, and everything that makes you special. Rhyming text, vibrant illustrations, and the repeated “I Love Me!” makes this a great fit for toddler and preschool storytimes
I Love My Fangs! by Kelly Leigh Miller Little Dracula loves his two, pointy, beautiful fangs! But then–oh dear–one falls out. How can Dracula be a vampire with just one tooth? Why won’t it pop back in? Lots of humor and drama surround our adorable young vampire, including a hilarious battle with the tooth fairy. Bright, colorful illustrations will keep the youngest readers engaged.
Jules vs. the Ocean by Jessie Sima Jules wants to build the best sandcastle ever! But the ocean has other plans, washing away all of Jules’ attempts–and eventually it takes her bucket too. A fun summer beach story filled with dry humor in both the words and illustrations.
Lia & Luís: Who Has More? by Ana Crespo and illustrated by Giovana Medeiros Lia and Luís argue over who has more of their favorite snacks. A great way to include math concepts in storytime including measuring, counting, estimating, and weighing. Perfect for STEM programs!
Llama Unleashes the Alpacalypse by Jonathan Stutzman and illustrated by Heather Fox I am a fan of everything Llama! While this sequel isn’t quite as amazing as the original, Llama gets into even more hilarious shenanigans in an effort to never have to clean his house again.
Lift by Minh Lê and illustrated by Dan Santat Wow! This book is visually gorgeous, but also contains serious storytime potential. Iris tapes a broken elevator button to the wall of her room. When she pushes the button, a new world opens up. A great book for older readers paired with an activity where kids create their own imaginary worlds that they would like to find behind magical elevator doors.
On Account of the Gum by Adam Rex A poor kid wakes up with gum in their hair, and their grown up is determined to get the gum out. Instead, they make things much, much, much worse along the way. Lots of laughs.
One of These Is Not Like the Others by Barney Saltzberg Three cows and one elephant–one of these is not like the other! A great read-aloud for toddlers practicing similarities and differences (and celebrating both). Easy to skip spreads to shrink the length of the book.
Our Favorite Day of the Year by A.E. Ali and illustrated by Rahele Jomepour Bell Musa’s kindergarten teacher, Ms. Gupta, proposes a yearlong show and tell, where each child shares with their classmates about their favorite day of the year. As a class, they celebrate Eid Mubarak, Rush Hashanah, Christmas (with some Lantinx cultural elements), and Pi Day. A great way to have a conversation about holidays without focusing on one religion (or, in the case of Pi Day, any religion at all).
Sloth Went by Adam Lehrhaupt and illustrated by Bensom Shum Is there ever an audience where poop books don’t get a good laugh? Encourage young sloth to climb down a tree for his weekly poop. Pair with fascinating facts about how sloths poop in the wild, or a conversation about bathrooms and potty training.
Smug Seagull by Maddie Frost Smug Seagull can snatch more snacks than you! But…who is this new crab? How is crab so good at swiping? Is there enough room at the beach for two snack snatchers? A perfect read aloud to pair with Mo Willems’ Pigeon.
Speak Up by Miranda Paul and illustrated by Ebony Glenn When you see something that doesn’t feel right, when you make a mistake, when you can help someone in need, use your voice and speak up! While this book’s message is simple, it approaches kindness, activism, and using your voice in a tone perfect for preschoolers, kindergarteners, and first graders.
Turtle Walk by Matt Phelan “Turtle walk! Nice and slow. Here we go. Are we there yet? No.” This repetitive story is delightful. Adorable turtles make their plodding walk, exploring the wonders of the world, slowly making their way through the seasons to the cave where they will nap for the winter. Lots of fun to read aloud with a great refrain to repeat as a group.
Twinkle, Twinkle, Diaper You by Ellen Mayer and illustrated by Ying-Hwa Hu Mama changes baby’s diaper in this simple board book. While the action is straightforward, the book excels in modeling ways a caregiver can turn a small exchange, like changing a diaper, into an early literacy experience by singing a modified version of Twinkle Twinkle Little Star, practicing animal sounds, identifying body parts, and more. A great board book to highlight in a virtual storytime.
Unicorns Are the Worst! by Alex Willan Unicorns are the worst! Goblin is not happy when unicorns move in next door with their glitter and tea parties. Why are unicorns so well loved while goblins are so underappreciated? Funny story perfect for fans of unicorns, magic, humor, and new friendships. Bright illustrations will draw in young readers and also make this a good book to share virtually.
We Will Rock Our Classmatesby Ryan T. Higgins We Don’t Eat Our Classmates is one of my favorite storytime books–and I am so glad Penelope is back for more fun! She is excited to play her guitar at the school talent show until she hears a classmate say that dinosaurs can’t rock and roll. Her classmates have a lot of opinions about what dinosaurs can be…does Penelope have the courage to show off everything she is capable of? A great elementary read, especially to start a conversation about bullying and microaggressions with kindergarteners and first graders.
Welcome to the Party by Gabrielle Union and illustrated by Ashley Evans This is a baby storytime win! Beautiful illustrations, wonderful rhymes, and perfect actions for a group of babies or toddlers.
What Color Is My Hijab? by Hudda Ibrahim and illustrated by Meenal Patel A simple book that highlights both colors and diversity as a little girl chooses what color hijab she will wear today. Great choice for toddlers or preschoolers.
What Will Fit? by Grace Lin Grace Lin’s new series of math board books are perfect for introducing simple math concepts for toddlers. Make sure to check out the whole series!
When We Are Kind by Monique Gray Smith and illustrated by Nicole Neidhardt Celebrate kindness with this beautiful book by a Native author and illustrator. Perfect for talking to preschoolers and kindergarteners about being kind and helping others.
Your Name Is a Song by Jamilah Thompkins-Bigelow and illustrated by Luisa Uribe A girl tells her mother how frustrated she was after her teacher and classmates couldn’t pronounce her name. Her mother teaches her that her name is a song as well as how to embrace your name and identity. A beautiful book perfect for elementary school conversations about the importance of pronouncing names correctly.
Flannel and magnet activities are a staple of storytimes–especially my virtual storytimes! While I’ve always enjoyed these activities, we typically had very large in-person storytime audiences. I’ve never had the best vision, and I was always the kid (and adult) who was stuck in the back of a crowded room and who couldn’t see the tiny shapes on a flannel board or magnet board. I have some tricks to still make flannel and magnet activities work in a large crowd–mostly giant magnet and flannel pieces on a board I’m holding up high–but I like the intimacy of a virtual storytime where everyone can see everything I am doing.
While I love the cuteness of a high quality flannel set (Mister Keith is the flannel making king), I personally lean more towards magnet sets. I can stumble my way through making a nice flannel set I am happy with, but more often I try to find high quality images to create my own magnet sets. These can be printed over and over and laminated for reuse. Magnets stick a bit better for me (on a cookie sheet I hold up) are are generally less likely to fall off than flannel board pieces.
Looking for more flannel and magnet activities for your storytimes? Your one stop shop is Flannel Friday. Their Pinterest boards are regularly updated and filled with a world of cuteness.
Looking for more storytime tools? Check out our Storytime Resources page for links to more content.
Flannel and Magnet Activities
B-I-N-G-O
There was a farmer who had a dog And BINGO was his name-o B-I-N-G-O B-I-N-G-O B-I-N-G-O And BINGO was his name-o
Brown Owl, Brown Owl, What Do You See?
Retelling of Brown Owl, Brown Owl, What Do You See?, a spooky book adaptation of Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See? by Bill Martin Jr.
Chicka Chicka Boom Boom
Retelling of the book Chicka Chicka Boom Boom by Bill Martin Jr.
Dear Zoo
Retelling of the book Dear Zoo by Rod Campbell.
Dog’s Colorful Day
Retelling of the book Dog’s Colorful Day by Emma Dodd.
Down Around the Corner
Down around the corner at the bakery shop Were five yummy/fancy cupcakes with sprinkles on top. Along comes a…. With a dollar to pay. She picks out a cupcake and takes it away.
Fancy Nancy, Fancy Nancy Playing hide and seek. Are you behind the __ teacup? Let’s take a peek!
Fancy Words (Fancy Nancy)
Paired Words:
Hello – Bonjour
Great – Fantastique
Sad – Crestfallen
Pretty – Glamorous
Thank You – Merci
Goodbye – Au Revoir
Five Fancy Peacocks
One fancy peacock feeling mighty fine Spreading his tail in the bright sunshine. Another peacock has come to play. Now two fancy peacocks have a great day.
Continue with: 2, 3, 4
Five Ferocious Lions
Deep in the jungle, what did I hear? Five ferocious lions roaring loud and clear. ROAR! said the lions. SCAT! said I. And one ferocious lion ran away… Goodbye!
4, 3, 2, 1…
Five in the Bed
There were five in the bed, And the little llama said “Roll over! Roll over!” And they all rolled over And one fell out.
Five Little Bats
Five little bats sleeping in a tree Hanging upside down Where no one else can see. The sun sets and the moon shines bright, And one little bat flies out of sight.
Five Little Ducks
Five little ducks went out one day. Over the hill and far away. Mother duck said QUACK, QUACK, QUACK, QUACK! But only four little ducks came back.
Continue with: 4, 3, 2, 1
Five Little Fishies
Five little fishies, swimming in the sea Teasing Baby Shark – “You Can’t Catch Me!” Along comes Baby Shark, as quiet as can be… And SNAPS that fishy right out of the sea!
Continue with: 4, 3, 2, 1
Five Little Owls
Five little owls sitting in a tree Shouting “hoo, hoo, hoo” As loud as can be!
One flew away, And then there were… 1, 2, 3, 4!
Five Little Penguins
Five little penguins playing in the snow, Slipping and sliding to and fro.
One looked up and yelled “Oh no!” “I see a great big ball of snow!”
Rolling down the hill it stopped with a splat, All that’s left is a fuzzy hat.
5, 4, 3, 2, 1…
Five big snowballs wearing fuzzy hats, Rolled back home dressed just like that!
Five Little Pigeons
Five little pigeons jumping on the bed One fell off and bumped his head! The driver called the doctor, and the doctor said No more pigeons jumping on the bed!
Continue with: 4, 3, 2, 1
Five Sharks in the Bathtub
Five sharks in the bathtub, Going for a swim. Knock, knock. Splash, splash. Come on in!
Froggy Gets Dressed
Retelling of the book Froggy Gets Dressed by Jonathan London.
Get Dressed Fancy (Fancy Nancy)
It’s time to put our dress on, Dress on, Dress on, It’s time to put our dress on 1, 2, 3!
Continue with: shoes, gloves, glasses, crown
Now that we’re all dressed! Now that we’re all dressed! Now that we’re all dressed! Let’s be FANCY!
Go Away Big Green Monster
Retelling of book Go Away Big Green Monster by Ed Emberly.
Goodnight Moon
Retelling of the book Goodnight Moon by Margaret Wise Brown.
If You Give a Mouse a Cookie
Retelling of the book If You Give a Mouse a Cookie by Laura Numeroff.
I’m the Biggest Thing in the Ocean
Retelling of the book I’m the Biggest Thing in the Ocean by Kevin Sherry.
Is Your Mama a Llama?
Retelling of the book Is Your Mama a Llama? by Deborah Guarino.
The Little Old Lady Who Was NOT Afraid of Anything
Retelling of the book The Little Old Lady Who Was Not Afraid of Anything by Linda Williams.
L-L-A-M-A
There was a llama who wore pajamas, And Llama was his name-o! L-L-A-M-A L-L-A-M-A L-L-A-M-A And Llama was his name-o!
Llama Llama Playing Hide and Seek
Little Llama, Little Llama Playing hide and seek. Are you behind the __ bed? Let’s take a peek!
Little Crab, Little Crab
Little crab, little crab, Where do you hide? Are you in the…shell? Let’s look inside!
Little Fox, Little Fox
Little fox, little fox Are you in the YELLOW box?
Little Monster, Little Monster
Little monster, little monster Playing hide and seek!
Are you behind the __ door? Let’s take a peak!
Little Mouse, Little Mouse
Little mouse, little mouse, Are you in the…. RED house?
Little Snail, Little Snail
Little snail, little snail, Are you in the _ pail?
Little Spider, Little Spider
Little spider, little spider, Playing hide and seek!
Is spider behind the __ leaf? Let’s take a peak!
Magic Butterflies
Five fuzzy caterpillars spinning cocoons Hoping spring will come real soon! With a little bit of magic And the warm sunshine– Clap, clap, clap, there’s a butterfly!
Marco the Polar Bear
Marco the polar bear As white as the snow Sat on the ice Where the cold waters flow
“Lunch! I need lunch!” he said. “I’ll make a wish!” He stuck out his paw And came up with a fish!
What color is it?
Move Over, Rover
Retelling of the book Move Over, Rover! by Karen Beaumont.
N-A-N-C-Y
I know a girl who is so fancy, Nancy is her name-o! N-A-N-C-Y N-A-N-C-Y N-A-N-C-Y And Nancy is her name-o!
Old Brass Wagon
Circle to the side, old brass wagon. Circle to the side, old brass wagon. Circle to the side, old brass wagon. Now there’s one my darling!
Continue with: Oval to the side Square in the middle Triangle up high Rectangle down low Heart to the back We’ll stop at six my darling!
One Dinosaur Went Out to Play
One dinosaur went out to play, On a giant fern one day. She had such enormous fun, That she called for a friend to come… OH DINOSAUR!!
One Elephant in the Bathtub
One elephant in the bathtub, Going for a swim, Knock, knock (clap) Splash, splash (slap knees) Come on in! (wave)
Continue with: 2, 3 – all fell in!
One Elephant in the Bathtub (Elephant & Piggie)
One elephant in the bathtub, Going for a swim! Knock, knock! (clap, clap) Splash, splash! (slap legs) Come on in! (wave)
Continue with: 2, 3, 4
One Red Sock
Retelling of the book One Red Sock by Jennifer Sattler.
Our Friend Rocky Has Some Tools
Our friend Rocky has some tools, E-I-E-I-O. And with those tools he had a hammer, E-I-E-I-O. With a bang, bang here and a bang, bang there. Here a bang, there a bang, everywhere a bang, bang. Our friend Rocky has some tools, E-I-E-I-O!
Retelling of the book Pete the Cat and His Four Groovy Buttons by Eric Litwin and illustrated by James Dean.
Pete the Cat: I Love My White Shoes
Retelling of the book Pete the Cat: I Love My White Shoes by Eric Litwin and illustrated by James Dean.
Pete the Cat Playing Hide and Seek
Pete the Cat, Pete the Cat, Playing hide and seek. Is Pete behind the __ shoe? Let’s take a peek!
Piggie, Are You in a Book?
Piggie, piggie, where so you hide? Are you in the __ book? Let’s look inside!
Pinkalicious, Where Do You Hide?
Pinkalicious, Pinkalicious, Where do you hide? Are you in the pink __? Let’s look inside!
Tickle Monster
Retelling of the book Tickle Monster by Edouard Manceau.
Tip Tip Dig Dig
Retelling of the book Tip Tip Dig Dig by Emma Garcia.
Very Hungry Caterpillar
Retelling of the book The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle.
Walking Through The Jungle
Walking through the jungle, What do I see? I think it was a….elephant! Trumpeting at me!
We’re Going on a Bug Hunt
We’re going on a bug hunt! We’re gonna catch a bug one! What a sunny day. Are you ready? Okay!
Oh my! A ladybug! A red and black ladybug. Crawling on a leaf. Crawl, crawl, crawl, crawl.
Continue with: Bumblebee…buzzing through the air Grasshopper…hopping through the grass Dragonfly…darting across the sky Butterfly…fluttering through the air Spider…spinning its web Time to go home…Goodbye!
Who Stole the Cookies
Cat stole the cookies from the cookie jar. Who me? Let’s see!
Couldn’t be! Then who?
Zuma, Are You in a Boat?
Zuma, Zuma, where so you hide? Are you in the __ boat? Let’s look inside!
As part of our virtual programming, I run a monthly school age storytime, designed for ages 6-8. This program highlights a different diverse individual from the Little People Big Dreams book series. In November, I featured Rosa Parks and the Montgomery Bus Boycotts in my Little People Big Dreams Storytime.
Each program features 1-2 books on the famous individual (one book being their matching title from the Little People, Big Dreams book series). I also highlight music from a diverse artist and include a link to an at-home packet to continue the fun and learning.
Explore More Little People, Big Dreams Storytime Outlines:
First Book: Rosa Parks by Lisbeth Kaiser (Little People Big Dreams)
Music Break: Leap Frog by Jazzy Ash (with shakers)
Second Book: Pies from Nowhere: How Georgia Gilmore Sustained the Montgomery Bus Boycott by Dee Romitto
Closing Rhyme: See You Later, Alligator
See you later, alligator In a while, crocodile Give a hug, ladybug Blow a kiss, jellyfish See you soon, big baboon Out the door, dinosaur Take care, polar bear Wave goodbye, butterfly!
Another themed Saturday storytime special! So much Llama Llama Red Pajama fun! This outline has a lot of extra content because I couldn’t decide what to use in the storytime, so I filmed a bunch of videos and picked through more carefully closer to the program.
No preview video this time because it was Election Week 2020 and my productivity was focused on concrete tasks more than creative tasks. We still had a fairly strong audience (about 75) without the preview video, which makes me happy, especially with our lower numbers at regular virtual storytimes lately. I’m definitely missing our print event guides now that we are open to the public again, as 90% of the people who walk in the children’s department don’t have any idea that we are doing (or have been doing) any virtual programs.
To help continue the Llama Llama fun at home, I curated a PDF packet that we shared with event participants. Download it here.
The general storytime layout–in order of what I presented–is below, with videos where applicable. All the extra videos I dropped from the program are below.
Llama Llama Storytime Outline
Backdrop Setup: Llama Llama pennant banners, book covers, and images. I’m happy to share these printable files if anyone is interested–just let me know in those comments or send us an email.
Intro Song: Shake Your Sillies Out by Rainbow Songs
Book: Llama Llama Red Pajama be Anna Dewdney
Song: The Monkey Dance by The Wiggles Have you looked for llama songs for kids? I have. A lot. And they are all odd or annoying or emphasize “big fat mama llama” or things I don’t want to include in a storytime. So I used The Monkey Dance as our get-the-wiggles out song instead.
Fingerplay: Two Little Llamas
Song: L-L-A-M-A
Download your own LLAMA BINGO printable letters here:
I made a lot of extra content that I was sure I was going to use until I was practicing. A lot of my materials were completely swapped around the day before the storytime when I practiced and didn’t like the storytime with the content below.
Is Your Mama a Llama? Book Retelling, Llama Llama Edition
Baby Bounce Rhymes are a staple of Baby Storytime. Our baby storytimes are designed for ages 0-2, so my example videos often show a little bit more movement than may make sense for a little one you are holding in your arms (especially a little one that needs head support). Many of these baby bounce rhymes can also be adapted for walking babies, who could jump instead of bounce. When little ones have started walking, I encourage grown-ups to do the baby bounce rhymes themselves, even if their little one is standing nearby and doesn’t want to be confined to a lap anymore.
I sometimes refer to baby bounce rhymes as “movement rhymes” instead of bounces because there are many activities that encourage the same behavior as bounce rhymes but instead focus on swaying (or other, similar, full body movements). Regardless of what I call them, when introducing this section of storytime, I always use these activities as an early literacy moment, explaining to parents how bouncing or moving little ones to the rhythm of words helps them hear the small parts of words and builds phonological awareness skills.
Looking for more storytime tools? Check out our Storytime Resources page for links to more content.
Baby Bounce Rhymes
1, 2, 3, 4, 5 I Caught a Fish Alive
1, 2, 3, 4, 5 (bounce) I caught a fish alive! (hug) 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 (bounce) Then I let him go again! (tickle)
Acka Backa Soda Cracker
Acka backa soda cracker, Acka backa boo. Acka backa soda cracker, I love you! (hug)
Acka backa soda cracker, Acka backa boo. Acka backa soda cracker, Up goes you! (lift)
Andy Pandy
Andy Pandy Sugar and Candy All pop down.
Andy Pandy Sugar and Candy All pop up.
Andy Pandy Sugar and Candy All pop in.
Andy Pandy Sugar and Candy All pop out.
Bounce and Stop
We bounce and bounce and bounce and stop! We bounce and bounce and bounce and stop! We bounce and bounce and bounce and stop! Now bounce that baby to the top!
Bouncing, Bouncing
Bouncing, bouncing, Let’s go bouncing! Up and down, All around.
Bouncing, bouncing, Let’s go bouncing, Whoops! Don’t fall down!
A bouncing we will go, A bouncing we will go, Hi ho the derry o, A bouncing we will go.
Continue with: rocking, tickling
Did You Ever See a Baby?
Did you ever see a baby, a baby, a baby? Did you ever see a baby go this way and that? Go this way and that way, and that way and this way? Did you ever see a baby go this way and that?
Dump Truck
Dump truck dump truck, bumpin’ down the road. Spillin’ out gravel as you travel with your load. Bumpety, bumpety, bump, bump, bump! Dump truck, dump truck, dump truck, DUMP!
Five Little Riders
Five little riders on a nice fall day, Jumped on their ponies and rode far away.
They galloped in the meadow. They galloped up a hill. (lift) They galloped so fast, That they all took a spill. (tip over)
Giddy Up
Giddy up, giddy up, ride to town. Giddy up, giddy up, UP and DOWN (lift). Giddy up fast! Giddy up slow! Giddy up, giddy up, giddy up, WHOA! (tilt)
Gregory Griggs
Gregory Griggs, Gregory Griggs, Had 27 different wigs. He wore them up, He wore them down. To please the people of the town. He wore them east. He wore them west. But which one did he love the best? This one!
Here We Go Bumpy Boo
Here we go bumpy-boo Here we go bumpy-bye Here we go bumpy-bee All on top of my knee.
I bounce you to the left. I bounce you to the right. I bounce you up and down. I bounce you out of sight!
Here we go bumpy-boo Here we go bumpy-bye Here we go bumpy-bee All on top of my knee.
I bounce you very fast. I bounce you very slow. I bounce you up and down. And back we both do go!
Here We Go Up, Up, Up
Here we go up, up, up! Here we go down, down, down, Here we go back and forth, And here we go round and round!
Here’s a Little Pumpkin
Here’s a little pumpkin bouncing on the vine. Roll it left, and roll it right, And bounce it bounce it down the line!
Continue with: Medium pumpkin…medium bounces Great big pumpkin…great big bounces
Hippity Hop
Hippity hop to the candy shop, To buy ourselves some candy. Some for you and some for me, And some for sister Mandy!
A Hippopotamus
A hip, a hip, a hippopotamus Got on, got on, got on a city bus, And all, and all, and all the people said, You’re squishing us! (hug)
A cow, cow, a cow got on the bus, And all, and all, and all the people said, Moooooooooove over (tilt to side)
A sheep, a sheep, a sheep got on the bus, And all, and all, and all the people said, Baaaaaaaaaaccckkkk up (lean back)
Humpy Dumpty
We rock and rock and rock on the wall, (sway) We rock and rock, I hope we don’t fall!
Humpty Dumpty sat on the wall, Humpty Dumpty had a great fall! (tilt sideways)
All the king’s horses and all the king’s men (bounce) Couldn’t put Humpty together again!
I’m Bouncing
I’m bouncing, bouncing everywhere. I bounce and bounce into the air. I’m bouncing, bouncing like a ball. I bounce and bounce and then I fall.
Jelly on a Plate
Jelly on a plate, jelly on a plate, Wibble wobble, wibble, wobble, jelly on a plate.
Candy in a jar, candy in a jar, Shake ’em up, shake ’em up, candy in a jar.
Candles on a cake, candles on a cake, Blow ’em out, blow ’em out, candles on a cake.
Old Grey Mare
Clip, clip, clippety clop, Clippety, clippety, clop. The old grey mare goes up and down, Until it’s time to stop!
Popcorn, Popcorn
Popcorn, popcorn sizzle in the pan. Shake it, shake it, bam, bam, BAM!
Rocking horse, rocking horse, to and fro, Side to side and away we go, Rocking horse, rocking horse, front and back, Don’t fall off just like that.
Woah!
Snuggle Up
Snuggle up together, Baby in your lap. Snuggle up together, And clap, clap, clap!
Snuggle up together. Don’t you nap! Snuggle up together, And tap, tap, tap!
We’re working out together. Baby don’t stop. We’re working out together, So hop, hop, hop!
Now our song is over, Get ready to stop! Now our song is over, So stop, stop, stop!
Tick Tock
Tick, tock, tick, tock, I’m a little cuckoo clock. Tick, tock, tick, tock, Now it’s almost one o’clock. Cuckoo! (lift)
Tiny Little Babies
Tiny little babies love bouncin’ bouncin’, Tiny little babies love bouncin’ so. Tiny little babies love bouncin’ bouncin’ Tiny little babies love bouncin’ yeah.
Bounce to the left, Bounce to the right, Now hug that baby nice and tight.
Toast in the Toaster
I’m toast in the toaster. I’m getting very hot. Tick tock, tick tock, Up I pop! (lift)
Two Little Boats
(rock front to back)
Two little boats went out to sea. All is calm as calm can be.
(rock side to side)
Gently the wind begins to blow. Two little boats rock to and fro.
(bounce)
Loudly the wind begins to shout! Two little boats they bounce about.
(freeze then rock front to back)
STOP goes the storm, the wind, and rain. Two little boats sail on again.
Zoom, Zoom, Zoom
Zoom, zoom, zoom, We’re going to the moon. Zoom, zoom, zoom, We’ll get there very soon.
Fingerplays are awesome! Fingerplays are especially fantastic for toddlers and preschoolers, allowing them to practice controlling their fingers in specific ways while building those finger muscles they will need for writing. I sometimes include fingerplays in baby storytimes, but I’ve been able to explore fingerplays more since I’ve started presenting toddler and preschool virtual storytimes.
Looking for more storytime tools? Check out our Storytime Resources page for links to more content.
Problems with 10 Littles
Ten Little Indians. I’ve heard librarians use it (with those original words). For a while, I used adapted fingerplays to the same tune with different words, but I’ve stopped. I may attempt to avoid dehumanizing Indigenous people by not counting Indians like they are toys, but the few times I used this fingerplay, some caregiver would often mess up my new words and loudly use the original words because they are so associated with the tune.
At the beginning of virtual storytimes, I shifted to a different counting tune I found while watching other library storytimes (I have one, I have two, I have three little fingers). I adapted this a lot virtually because it was a quick, easy fingerplay that was just…easy to adapt.
But. Not everyone has 10 little fingers. Or 10 little toes. Or 5 little fingers. I’ve made storytime videos using ten fingers that I am not highlighting below. I’m including fingerplays that count up to five, though I want to eventually phase those out to or make videos where we count to five using two hands instead of always just using one. How do you think about inclusivity in your fingerplays and overall storytime plans? What other elements to this am I not thinking about?
Fingerplays
Thinking about some of the inclusivity lessons I mentioned above, plus that some kids can’t bend their fingers one at a time, I’m also including action rhymes that focus on hand motions.
One little red fish Swimming in the water, Swimming in the water, Swimming in the water.
One little red fish Swimming in the water, Bubble, bubble, bubble, bubble (roll arms) POP! (clap)
Clap Them
Clap them, clap them, clap them so. Clap them high! Clap them low. Clap them left. Clap them right. Clap them, clap them, out of sight!
Continue with: roll them, shake them
Cool Cat
Hey there everybody, you’re a real cool cat. You got a lot of this, And you got a lot of that. So come on in And get down (ch ch ch ch ch ch) To the left (ch ch ch ch ch ch) To the right (ch ch ch ch ch ch) Up in the air (ch ch ch ch ch ch) And get down (ch ch ch ch ch ch)
Dance Your Fingers Up
Dance your fingers up. Dance your fingers down. Dance your fingers side to side. Dance them all around.
Dance them on your shoulders. Dance them on your head. Dance them on your tummy. And put them all to bed.
The Elevator Song
Oh the city is great and the city is grand. There are lots of tall buildings on a little piece of land, And we live way up on the 57th floor, and this is what we do when we go out the door.
We take the elevator up and the elevator down, take the elevator up, take the elevator down Take the elevator up and the elevator down and we turn around.
Five Fat Peas
Five fat peas in a peapod pressed. One grew, two grew, And so did all the rest.
They grew, and they grew, And they wouldn’t stop. They grew, and they grew, Until they popped! (clap)
Five Green and Speckled Frogs
Five green and speckled frogs Sitting on a spaced log. Eating the most delicious lunch, Yum, yum!
One jumped into the pool Where it was nice and cool Then there were four green and speckled frogs Ribbet, Ribbet.
Continue with: 4, 3, 2, 1
Five Little Caterpillars
Five little caterpillars wiggling on a leaf, One falls off, goes to sleep. Close her eyes and wait a week, Up come a butterfly floating on the breeze.
Repeat with: 4, 3, 2, 1, None
Five Little Hot Dogs
Five little hot dogs Frying in a pan. The grease for hot, And one went BAM!
Continue with: 4, 3, 2, 1
Five Little Pumpkins
Five little pumpkins sitting on the gate The first one said, “Oh, my it’s getting late.” The second one said, “There are witches in the air.” The third one said, “But we don’t care!” The fourth one said, “Let’s run and run and run.” The fifth one said, “Let’s have some fun!” Ooooooooo went the wind, and out went the light. And five little pumpkins rolled out of sight.
Funky Spunky Monkeys
Funky spunky monkey Climbed up the coconut tree Down came the coconut And bonked him on his knee Along came his mama And kissed away the pain And the funky spunky monkey Climbed up the tree again.
Here is the Beehive
Here is the beehive, But where are the bees? Hidden away where nobody sees. Watch and you’ll see them come out of the hive… 1, 2, 3, 4, 5…They’re alive! Buzzzzzzzzz
Here’s a Llama
Here’s a llama! There’s a llama! Llama Llama Red Pajama! Fuzzy llama! Funny llama! Llama, llama, duck!
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.
Leaves on the Trees
The leaves on the trees turn orange and red, Orange and red, Orange and red. The leaves on the trees turn orange and red, all around the town.
The leaves on the trees come twirling down, Twirling down, Twirling down. The leaves on the trees come twirling down, all around the town.
The leaves on the ground go swish, swish, swish, Swish, swish, swish, Swish, swish, swish. The leaves on the ground go swish, swish, swish, all around the town.
Little Mousie Brown
Little Mousie Brown Little Mousie Brown Climbed up the big, white candlestick And couldn’t get back down.
So she called to her Grandma, “Grandma! Grandma!” But Grandma was not around. So she curled into a little ball, And rolled herself back down.
Mix a Pancake
Mix a pancake. Stir a pancake. Pop it in a pan. Fry a pancake. Toss a pancake. Catch it if you can!
My Garden
Here is my garden. Rake it with care. And then, some seeds We’ll plant in there!
The sun will shine, The rain will fall, And then my garden Will grow big and tall.
Open Shut Them
Open, shut them. Open, shut them. Let your hands go clap, clap, clap!
Open, shut them. Opem, shut them. Drop them in your lap, lap, lap!
Walk them, walk them, Walk them, walk them, Right up to your chin, chin, chin!
Open up your little mouth, But do not let them in!
Point to the Ceiling
Point to the ceiling. Point to the floor. Point to a window. Point to the door!
Point to your elbow. Point to your knee. Now sit down, And point at me!
Put Your Claws
Put your claws in the air. Put your claws on the ground. Put your claws in the middle, And wiggle them around.
Put your claws to the side, And pretend to soar! Put your claws to your mouth, And give a big ROAR!
Put Your Hands Up High
Put your hands up high, Put your hands down low, Put your hands in the middle, And wiggle just so. Put your elbows in front. Put your elbows in back. Put your elbows to the side and QUACK, QUACK, QUACK!
Roll Roll Sugar Babies
Roll roll sugar babies, Roll roll sugar babies, Push and pull And clap, clap, clap!
Roll roll sugar babies, Roll roll sugar babies, Push and pull And clap, clap, clap!
Roll up high! Roll down low. Roll real fast! Roll real slow.
Roll roll sugar babies, Roll roll sugar babies, Push and pull And clap, clap, clap!
Slowly, Slowly
Slowly, slowly, very slowly, Creeped the garden snail. Slowly, slowly, very slowly Up the wooden rail.
Quickly, quickly, very quickly Ran the little mouse. Quickly, quickly, very quickly, Round about the house!
Snowflakes and Icicles
Snowflakes float so smoothly to the ground Smoothly to the ground Smoothly to the ground Snowflakes float so smoothly to the ground Twirling round and round.
Icicles are sharp and cold Sharp and cold Sharp and cold Icicles are sharp and cold Sparkling like gold.
These Little Fingers
These little fingers go Wiggle, wiggle, wiggle, Wiggle, wiggle, wiggle, Wiggle, wiggle, wiggle These little fingers go Wiggle, wiggle, wiggle And now they’re on my…HEAD!
Continue with: tummy, feet
There Was a Crocodile
There was a crocodile, An orangutan, A flying eagle, And a silvery fish.
A bunny, A beaver, A crazy elephant, Da na na na na na Da na na na na na
This is 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 yes. This is no no no no.
Tiny Tim
I have a friendly frog. His name is Tiny Tim! I put him in the bathtub, To see if he could swim.
He drank up all the water! He ate up all the soap! And now he’s home sick in bed, With bubbles in his throat!
We are Annamarie Carlson and Michala Sage, two librarians who work at public libraries in central Ohio, specializing in youth and teen services. Book Cart Queens is our way of sharing our experiences with the greater library community. Learn more.
