Today feels like a firsts for me for storytime.  It was my first time filling in for storytime since we are in our newly renovated Children’s Room.  That means it was also my first time using our new microphone and sound setup for the storytime as well.  And my first time doing storytime for a group as large as we are now getting!

Since I was covering for a colleague for this storytime, I tried to incorporate a lot of the elements that she uses in her storytimes (Ralph’s World, Milkshake, We are the Dinosaurs), with some that I traditionally use (Clap Everybody and Say Hello).

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MOVEMENT: Welcome Song*

MOVEMENT:

“Clap Everybody and Say Hello” from Sally Go Round the Sun by Kathy Reid-Naiman

MOVEMENT: Open, Shut Them*

MOVEMENT: Roly Poly

BOOK:

I’m the Biggest Thing in the Ocean by Kevin Sherry

MOVEMENT:

“Driving in My Car” from Ralph’s World by Ralph’s World

MOVEMENT:

“Row, Row, Row Your Boat” from Songs for Wiggleworms by Old Town School of Folk Music

FLANNELBOARD:
Counting

I sing a song that has no real tune, just something that I made up:
“It’s counting time, it’s counting time,
So let’s all count while I put them in the line.”

Then we count the whales as I put them up.  Today we counted 8 whales (even though the picture shows 10).

I keep thinking I want to do a new counting song, maybe using “The Ladybug’s Picnic” as a template, and count:
“1, 2, 3
4, 5, 6,
7, 8, 9
10
whatevers came to storytime today.
(Repeat counting)
They came for the stories and they came for the fun
Because there’s books to be read and songs to be sung.
1, 2, 3
4, 5, 6,
7, 8, 9
10
whatevers came to storytime today.”

Writing this down here as I know it is going to escape my mind, and I may want to be reminded of it.  Only thing is the song actually counts to 12, and most of my counting flannels have only been made for 10 pieces, so the cadence is a little off, but I think I could make it work.

The Waves at the Beach

Lyrics adapted from Preschool Education.  Templates for pieces taken from various online coloring pages and clip art.  (Sorry for the weird perspective on this photo.  All the flannelboard pieces are about the same size.)

To the tune of: ” Wheels on the Bus”

The waves at the beach go up and down, (bounce baby up and down on knees smoothly)
up and down, up and down,
the waves at the beach go up and down, all day long.

The sun at the beach goes shine, shine, shine… (open and close hands)
The crabs at the beach go pinch, pinch, pinch… (make pinchy motion with hands)
The jellyfish at the beach go wibble wobble wibble….. (wiggle arms like a jellyfish up)
The seals at the beach go arf, arf, arf… (clap hands and bark like a seal)
The seagulls at the beach go skwak, skwak, skwak…
The children at the beach have fun fun fun… (gently lap with hands)

MOVEMENT: Itsy Bitsy Spider

MOVEMENT:

“We are the Dinosaurs” from Whaddaya Think of That? by Laurie Berkner

SONG: “It’s Time to Read a Book”
(To the tune of “The Farmer in the Dell”)
It’s time to read a book
It’s time to read a book
Hi-ho the derry-o
It’s time to read a book.

BOOK:

Splish-Splash by Nicola Smee

SHAKERS:

“Milkshake Song” from Songs for Wiggleworms by Old Town School of Folk Music

“Shake Your Sillies Out” from More Singable Songs by Raffi

MOVEMENT: Two Little Blackbirds*

MOVEMENT: Storytime’s Over*
Since we have playtime after storytime, I changed the words of this one so that we don’t say goodbye (since a lot of people still stay for the playtime):
Hands up high
Let’s give a big sigh
Storytime’s over
How time does fly!

ATTENDANCE: 150 or so.  Really.  I know.

PRESENTED: August 6, 2025 at Central

*To see the words to these movements and activities I use frequently, please visit my
A-capella Movements Section on my Storytime Movements and Music Page