T is for Thanksgiving

An Outreach Storytime

Five Little Turkeys

5 little turkeys by the barn door
1 waddled off, then there were 4.

4 little turkeys out under the tree
1 waddled off, then there were 3.

3 little turkeys with nothing to do
1 waddled off, then there were 2.

2 little turkeys in the noonday sun
1 waddled off, then there was 1.

1 little turkey--better run away!
Soon it will be Thanksgiving Day!

Book:  'Twas the Night Before Thanksgiving Written and illustrated by Dav Pilkey




Five Fat Turkeys
Two fat turkeys standing in a row (hold up two fingers)
They spread their feathers (spread out arms) and their tails like so (wiggle bottom)
They strut to the left (move to the left)
They strut to the right (move to the right)
They say "Gobble, gobble!"
In the bright sunlight! (arms high and move down)

Continue counting up to five

Book:  The Very First Thanksgiving Day Written by Rhonda Gowler Greene; Illustrated by Susan Gaber



Book:  This is the Turkey Written by Abby Levine; Illustrated by Paige Billin-Frye



Thanksgiving Dinner
(Sung to "Frere Jacques")

We eat turkey, we eat turkey.
Oh, so good. Oh, so good.
Always on Thanksgiving, always on Thanksgiving
Yum-yum-yum! Yum,-yum-yum!

Other verses:
Mashed potatoes
Homemade biscuits
Turkey dressing
Pumpkin Pie

You can also ask children what they like to eat on Thanksgiving and sing about that. Be warned: You may be singing about cheeseburgers and spaghetti!

F is for Fall

An Outreach Storytime...

Books:

Songs/Fingerplays

A-C-O-R-N
(tune: Bingo)

There is a nut that squirrels like
And acorn is it's name-o
A-C-O-R-N
A-C-O-R-N
A-C-O-R-N
And acorn is it's name-o.

There is a nut that squirrels like

And acorn is it's name-o
A-C-O-R-(clap/crunch)
A-C-O-R-(clap/crunch)
A-C-O-R-(clap/crunch)
And acorn is it's name-o.

Continue singing the song, taking one letter from the end and replacing it with a clap/crunch, until all letter are gone and you do five clap/crunch.

Scarecrow, Scarecrow
Scarecrow, scarecrow turn around
Scarecrow, scarecrow touch the ground

Scarecrow, scarecrow reach up high
Scarecrow, scarecrow touch the sky

Scarecrow, scarecrow bend down low
Scarecrow, scarecrow touch your toe.

Scarecrow, scarecrow stand up now
Scarecrow, scarecrow take a bow!  

Autumn Leaves
(tune: Did you ever see a lassie?)

Autumn leaves are hanging, are hanging, are hanging
Autumn leaves are hanging, are hanging today.

Autumn leaves turn colors, turn colors, turn colors
Autumn leaves turn colors, turn colors today.

Autumn leaves are falling, are falling, are falling
Autumn leaves are falling, are falling today.

Autumn leaves are dancing, are dancing, are dancing
Autumn leaves are dancing, dancing today.

Autumn leaves are raked up, are raked up, are raked up
Autumn leaves are raked up, raked up today.

Autumn leaves are jumped in, are jumped in, are jumped in
Autumn leaves are jumped in, are jumped in today!

S is for Swimming

Two Outreach Stotyimes

S is for Swimming!
(toddler/preschool children)

Splish, Splash, Splat! by Rob Scotton

Don't be Afraid, Little Pip by Karma Wilson and Jane Chapman

Down in the Cool of the Pool by Tony Mitton

August "Holidays"!
(elementary-aged children)

National Watermelon Day--August 3
Peter Spit a Seed at Sue by Jackie French Koller

National Lazy Day--August 10
Tops and Bottoms by Janet Stevens

National Tell a Joke Day--August 16
[I used three different joke books found in the non-fiction area...any good joke books will do!]

National Dog Day--August 26
Always in Trouble by Corinne Demas

B is for Bedtime

An outreach storytime
To introduce the Summer Reading Program--Dream Big--Read!

Book:  Go To Bed, Monster  (Natasha Wing)

Song:  Before I go to bed
(tune:  The Wheels on the Bus)

Before I go to bed I take a bath
Splash, splash, splash
Splash, splash, splash
Before I go to bed I take a bath
Splash, splash, splash!

Additional verses:
I brush my teeth--brush, brush, brush
I get a drink--gulp, gulp, gulp
I read a book--once upon a time
I give a kiss--(make kissing sounds)
I whisper good night--nighty-night, nighty-night

Now I'm in bed I go to sleep
(snore, snore, snore)
(snore, snore, snore)
Now I'm in bed I go to sleep
(snore, snore, snore)

Book:  Sweet Dreams: How Animals Sleep (Kimiko Kajikawa)

Song:  Sleeping Bunny
(Tune:  Frere Jacques)

Are you sleeping, are you sleeping?
Little bunny?  Little bunny?
Shhhhh!!  Shhhh!!
Wake up little bunny
Wake up little bunny
Hop, hop, hop!
Hop, hop, hop!

Additional verses:
Little tiger--Grrrrr, grrrr, grrrrr
Little cheetah--run, run, run
Little crocodile--chomp, chomp, chomp
Little frog--jump, jump, jump

Book:  Chicks Run Wild (Sudipta Bardham-Quallen)

R is for Rainy

Outreach Storytime

Welcome School April 17

Flannel Board Song: R-A-I-N-Y
(sung to B-I-N-G-O)

There is a time when we get wet
And rainy is the weather
R-A-I-N-Y, R-A-I-N-Y, R-A-I-N-Y
And rainy is the weather!

There is a time when we get wet
And rainy is the weather
R-A-I-N-(clap), R-A-I-N-(clap), R-A-I-N-(clap)

I prefer to take the letters from the end of the word instead of the beginning.  I think it is easier for the kids to know when to clap.

Book: One Rainy Day (Butler)

Stand-up Song/Chant: Rain is falling down

The rain is falling down (flutter fingers down)
SPLASH! (clap once loudly)
The rain is falling down
SPLASH!
Pitter patter pitter patter (flutter fingers down)
The rain is falling down
SPLASH!
Repeat several times; each time a little faster!

Book: Rain (Stojic)

Song: Itsy Bitsy Spider

Book: Who Likes the Rain? (Yee)

S is for Spring!

An Outreach Storytime

Spring!

Song: Hello Springtime
(Tune: Goodnight Ladies)
Hello springtime
Hello springtime
Hello springtime
I hope you're here to stay!

Additional verses:
Bluebird, green grass, bunny, flowers, butterfly, rain, rainbow

Book: Spring Things (Raczka)

Book: Tweedle Dee Dee (Voake)

Song: Have you ever seen a bunny?
(Tune:  Did you ever see a Lassie?)

Did you ever see a bunny?
Did you ever see a bunny, a bunny, a bunny?
Did you ever see a bunny that hops so slow?
It hops and hops and hops and hops
Did you ever see a bunny that hops so slow?

That hops so fast?
That hops on one foot?

Book: Someone Bigger (Emmett)

S is for Seuss

An Outreach Storytime

Flannel Board: Dr. Seuss is on the Loose
(sung to B-I-N-G-O)

Dr. Seuss is on the loose
And this is how we know...
Cats, hats, eggs, and ham
Cats, hats, eggs, and ham
Cats, hats, eggs, and ham
We love Dr. Seuss sooo....

Book: I wish that I had duck feet

Song: Cat in the Hat
(Tune:  Addam's Family)

Cat in the hat (clap, clap)
Cat in the hat (clap, clap)
Cat in the hat, cat in the hat, cat in the hat (clap, clap)

He causes so much fun
But when the fun is done
You will be the one
To send that cat away!
Repeat chorus

Most kids cannot snap, so I replaced it with clapping, the next verse we stomp, and the last verse we jump.

Book: The Shape of Me

Song:  Have you ever seen?
(Tune: If you're happy and you know it?)

Have you ever seen a cat in a hat?
Have you ever seen a cat in a hat?
No I never, no I never, no I never, no I never
No I've never seen a cat in a hat.

Additional verse:
Bear sit in a chair
Lamb eating jam
Dog chop a log
Fish wash a dish

P is for Pets!

An Outreach Storytime

Flannel Board—I have 5 pets

I have 5 little pets I’d like you to meet
They are the best pets, they can’t be beat!
This is my bird who lives in my room
He sings all day with a lively tune.
This is my hamster who sleeps all day.
Than at night she begins to play,
This is my beautiful, colorful fish
He swims and he swims around in his dish.
This is my kitten, so soft and furry,
When I pet her, she feels so warm and purry.
And this is my puppy who love to have fun
He chases my pets and makes them run!

Book—What pet to get? (Dodd)

Action Rhyme—Two little pets…

Two little kittens sitting on a hill.
One named Jack and one named Jill.
Sneak away Jack, sneak away Jill.
Come back Jack, come back Jill.

Two little mice sitting on the wall,
One named Peter, one named Paul
Skitter away

2 little goldfish swimming in a tank
One named Felicia and one named Frank
Swim away…

2 little parakeets flying in the sky. . .
1 flew Low and the other flew high
Fly away

2 little puppies playing in the snow,
1 was fast and the other was SLOWWWW...
Run away

Book—The Birthday Pet (Javernick)

Stand up Song— Five Kittens in a Row

5 little kittens in a row
They nod their heads at the children so
They zip to the left, they zip to the right
They stretch and stretch in the bright sunlight.
Along comes a dog who’s in for some fun
Meow, meow, see those kittens run!

Book—That’s My Dog (Walton)

W is for Winter

An Outreach Storytime

Henrietta:  Hat and scarf

Book:  Ant and Grasshopper (Gray)
This book a kind of long, but it went over really well.  They loved "Here we come a-waffling" song at the end!

Stand-up Song:  Hooray for Winter!
(sung to London Bridges)

Snow is falling all around, All around, all around
Snow is falling all around, Hooray for winter!

Now put on your boots and hat, Boots and hat, boots and hat
Now put on your boots and hat, Hooray for winter!

Take the snow and roll it round, Roll it round, roll it round
Take the snow and roll it round, Hooray for winter!

Now let's have a snowball fight, Snowball fight, snowball fight
Now let's have a snowball fight, Hooray for winter!

Book:  Snowmen at Night (Buehner)

Stand-up Rhyme:   Snowman, snowman

Snowman, snowman, nod your head
Snowman, snowman, go to bed
Snowman, snowman wink your eye
Snowman, snowman jump up high
Snowman, snowman touch your knee
Snowman, snowman stand quietly
Snowman, snowman bend way down
Snowman, snowman melt to the ground.

Book:  Don't Wake Up the Bear (Murray)
I taught the children the phrase "Don't wake up the bear!"  We practiced--I said, "You may come in, but...don't wake up the bear!"  The children loved participating in the story!

C is for Christmas

An Outreach Storytime


Book:  Shhh! (Sykes)

Song: S-A-N-T-A
(Tune: Bingo)

I know a man with a long white beard
And Santa is his name-o
S-A-N-T-A, S-A-N-T-A, S-A-N-T-A
And Santa is his name-o

Eight little reindeer pull his sleigh
And Santa is his name-o
S-A-N-T---, S-A-N-T---, S-A-N-T---
And Santa is his name-o

He flies through the air with a Ho! Ho! Ho!
And Santa is his name-o
S-A-N------, S-A-N------, S-A-N------
And Santa is his name-o

He slides down the chimney with a pack on his back
And Santa is his name-o
S-A-------, S-A--------, S-A--------
And Santa is his name-o

He leaves some toys with a twinkle in his eye
And Santa is his name-o
S----------, S----------, S----------
And Santa is his name-o

Then off into the night he goes
And Santa is his name-o
-----------, -----------, -----------
And Santa is his name-o!

Book:  One Snowy Night

Song:  There's an elf...
(Adapted from:  There's a spider on the floor)

There's an elf on the floor, on the floor
There's an elf on the floor, on the floor
Who could ask for any more than an elf on the floor
There's an elf on the floor, on the floor.

There's an elf on my leg...
He isn't very big, this elf on my leg

There's an elf on my tummy...
It's really very funny, there's an elf on my tummy

There's an elf on my arm...
He doesn't mean any harm, this elf on my arm

There's an elf on my face...
Oh, what a big disgrace, there's an elf on my face

There's an elf on my head...
Oh, I wish I was in bed, there's an elf on my head

There's an elf on the floor...

Book:  Snowbear's Christmas Countdown

S is for Santa

An Outreach Storytime

Song:  S-A-N-T-A
(Tune: Bingo)

I know a man with a long white beard
And Santa is his name-o
S-A-N-T-A, S-A-N-T-A, S-A-N-T-A

And Santa is his name-o

Eight little reindeer pull his sleigh
And Santa is his name-o
S-A-N-T---, S-A-N-T---, S-A-N-T---
And Santa is his name-o

He flies through the air with a Ho! Ho! Ho!

And Santa is his name-o

S-A-N------, S-A-N------, S-A-N------
And Santa is his name-o

He slides down the chimney with a pack on his back
And Santa is his name-o

S-A-------, S-A--------, S-A--------
And Santa is his name-o

He leaves some toys with a twinkle in his eye
And Santa is his name-o

S----------, S----------, S----------
And Santa is his name-o

Then off into the night he goes
And Santa is his name-o

-----------, -----------, -----------
And Santa is his name-o!

Book:  Santa's Stowaway (Dorman)

Song:  There's an elf...
(Adapted from:  There's a spider on the floor)

There's an elf on the floor, on the floor
There's an elf on the floor, on the floor
Who could ask for any more than an elf on the floor
There's an elf on the floor, on the floor.

There's an elf on my leg...
He isn't very big, this elf on my leg

There's an elf on my tummy...
It's really very funny, there's an elf on my tummy

There's an elf on my arm...
He doesn't mean any harm, this elf on my arm

There's an elf on my face...
Oh, what a big disgrace, there's an elf on my face

There's an elf on my head...
Oh, I wish I was in bed, there's an elf on my head

There's an elf on the floor...

Book:  Santa's Stuck (Greene)

Song:  Jingle Bells

Book:  Bear Stays Up for Christmas (Wilson)

T is for Turkey

An outreach storytime

Book:  This First Thanksgiving Day: A Counting Story (Laura Krauss Melmed)

Five Little Turkeys
5 little turkeys by the barn door,
1 waddled off, then there were 4.

4 little turkeys out under the tree,
3 little turkeys with nothing to do...
2 little turkeys in the noonday sun...

1 little turkey--better run away!
Soon will come Thanksgiving Day.

Book:  One is a Feast for a Mouse:  A Thanksgiving Tale (Judy Cox)

Stand and Stretch [Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes]

Thanksgiving Dinner
(tune: Frere Jacques)

We eat turkey, we eat turkey
Oh, so good, oh, so good.
Always on Thanksgiving, always on Thanksgiving
Yum-yum-yum!  Yum-yum-yum!

Additional verses:
Mashed Potatoes
Homemade biscuits
Turkey stuffing
Pie and ice cream (or pumpkin pie)

Book:  Sleep, Big Bear, Sleep (Maureen Wright)

F is for Fall

An Outreach Storytime

Flannel Board:  Fall Riddles (Totline, July/Aug 2000, 12)

Beneath your feet you hear us crunch,
Then we get raked into a bunch.
What are we?  LEAVES

I drop off trees, and there I lie,
Till someone bakes me in a pie.
What am I?  AN APPLE

I stand in the field and scare a bird,
But I don't say a single word.
What am I?  A SCARECROW

I'm cold in autumn, if I blow,
I swirl the leaves and make a show.
What am I?  THE WIND

Of all the flowers, I am queen,
With yellow petals and seeds between.
What am I?  A SUNFLOWER

I'm big and orange and quite a catch,
When you pick me from the patch.
What am I?  A PUMPKIN

Book:  Little Bear's Big Sweater (Bedford)

Song:  A-C-O-R-N (tune: Bingo)
I made letters to hang from the flannel board, on the back of each letter is a picture showing hands clapping.  So as we sing the song I turn over a letter and we count how many "claps" we'll do.

There is a nut that squirrels like and acorn is it's name-o
A-C-O-R-N, A-C-O-R-N, A-C-O-R-N
And acorn is it's name-o.

Book:  The Busy Little Squirrel (Tafuri)

Action Song:  Autumn Leaves (tune: London Bridges)

Autumn leaves are falling down, falling down, falling down
Autumn leaves are falling down, Welcome Autumn.

Sweep the leaves and put them here, put them here, put them here
Sweep the leaves and put them here. Welcome Autumn!

Jump right in and have some fun, have some fun, have some fun
Jump right in and have some fun.  Welcome Autumn!

Book:  The little old lady who was not afraid of anything (Williams)
This is one of my all time favorite picture books!

B is for Bus

A Kindercare Storytime

B is for Bus

Book:  Molly rides the bus (Brillhart)

Finger play: The Bus

One lonely bus driver all alone and blue
He picked up a passenger and then there were two.
Two people riding, they stopped by a tree
They picked up a passenger, and then there were three.
Three people riding, they stopped by a store
They picked up a passenger, and then there were four.
Four people riding, happy and alive,
They picked up a passenger, and then there were five.

Five people riding open swung the door
Four passengers got off the bus,
The driver's alone once more.

Book:  The Little School Bus (Roth)

Song:  The Wheels on the Bus

Book:  The Bus for Us (Bloom)

M is for Magic

A Kindercare Storytime

Flannel Board:  Carl the Clown
My name boys and girls is Carl the Clown
I wear my hats all over town.
Each one has its own color name,
Which you can learn if you play my game.
Oh, here's a hat, and it is red (Santa hat)
it fits so nicely on my head.
Now when I wear my hat of yellow, (hard hat)
I'm told I'm quite a dandy fellow.
I hope you like my hat of blue (ball cap)
I'll put it on just for you.
I wear my white hat on a sunny day. (sombrero)
It looks quite nice my friends all say.
i put on my green hat to visit the park, (leprechaun)
But I take it off when it gets dark.
My purple hat is just as good, (clown)
I'd wear it always if I could.
My life would be oh so tragic
If I didn't have my black hat for magic!

The Magic Hat by Mem Fox

The Magic Rabbit by Annette LeBlane Cate

Have you ever seen a bunny
(tune: Have you ever seen a Lassie)
Have you ever seen a bunny, a bunny, a bunny
Have you ever seen a bunny that hops so slow?
He hops, and hops and hops and hops
Have you ever seen a bunny that hops so slow?

Additional verses:
Fast, Backward, On one foot

Milo's Hat Trick by Jon Agee

A is for Apples

A Kindercare storytime

Book: Tucker’s Apple-dandy Day (Winget)

Finger play:
Way up high in the apple tree,
Four little apples hung over me
I shook the tree as hard as I could
Down came an apple and mmmmmmm!
It was good!

Continue down to 1
Book: Ouch! (Scamell)

Song:  Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes

Book: Apple Farmer Annie (Wellington)