Another day covering storytime this week. It’s been fun to get out there and experience what my team does on a regular basis. In my current role I don’t get to do a lot of storytimes, so it’s fun when I get to step in.
As I’ve tried to do when I cover, I want to take on some of the elements that my colleagues use so that there is continuity for those who are attending the storytime. So you may see a lot of new elements below that I stole borrowed from my colleague who usually runs toddler storytime.
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MOVEMENT: Welcome Song*
MOVEMENT: Roly Poly
MOVEMENT:
“Open Shut Them” from Laurie Berkner’s Favorite Classic Kids’ Songs 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
High-ho the derry-o
It’s time to read a book.
BOOK:
I Love Trains! by Philemon Sturges, illustrated by Shari Halpern
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:
Clickety Clack
taken from Mel’s Desk
Clickety-Clack, clickety-clack
Here comes the train on the railroad track.
Clickety-clunn, clickety-clunn
Here comes ENGINE number one.
Clickety-clew, clickety-clew
Here comes COAL CAR number two.
Clickety-clee, clickety-clee
Here comes BOXCAR number three.
Clickety-clore, clickety-clore
Here comes TANK CAR number four.
Clickety-clive, clickety-clive
Here comes COACH CAR number five.
Clickety-clicks, Clickety-clicks
Here’s the CABOOSE, that’s number six.
Clickety-clack, clickety-clack
There goes the train on the railroad track!
Choo-chooooooo! Goodbye!
Once I had the pieces up for this we talked a little about the colors of the different cars. Then we all made a chugga chugga noise together as I took the pieces off the board.
MOVEMENT:
“Itsy Bitsy Spider” from Early Childhood Classics by Hap Palmer
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:
Listen Up! Train Song by Victoria Allenby
This was the book that made me want to do a train storytime. I got it awhile ago, but I hadn’t read it for a storytime yet. It was fun, but I wonder if there was some way to get the audience a little more included in the sound portion.
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: If You’re Happy and You Know It
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: 110
PRESENTED: November 5, 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
Jen in the Library 