Put on Your Dancing Shoes

For Parents & Caregivers: Silly songs, rhymes, and chants in storytime help children hear and play with language. They build phonemic awareness and vocabulary.
Article: Learning with Music

Storytime Books
Kitchen Dance
Dancin' in the Kitchen
Twist with a Burger, Jitter with a Bug
Chicken Dance
Do Donkeys Dance?

Rhyme:
(twist) Oliver Twist, Twist, Twist can't do this, this, this.
(do actions as indicated)
Touch his hair, hair, hair
Touch his toes, toes, toes,
Touch his back, back, back
Touch his nose, nose, nose
(twist) Oliver Twist, Twist, Twist can't do this, this, this.
BUT YOU CAN!

"Dancing" Music:  "All Around the Kitchen" American Folk, Game, and Activity Songs for Children; "Can You Point Your Fingers and Do the Twist?" Dance Party; and "Chicken Dance" Dance Along

Movement Storytime Booklist

Let's Eat!

For Parents & Caregivers: We ask "what" questions during storytime beacause it helps build narrative skills.  Narrative skills = Comprehension
Article: Dialogic Reading

Storytime Books
Don't Forget the Bacon
Peanut Butter and Jelly
Victor Vito and Freddie Vasco
On Top of Spaghetti

Rhymes

Music CDs: "Peanut Butter and Jelly" Cathy and Marcy Collection; "Victor Vito and Freddie Vasco" Whaddaya Think of That?; and "On Top of Spaghetti" Six Little Ducks.

Food Storytime Booklist

Polar Friends!

For Parents & Caregivers: We use music during storytimes because it's fun and: 1. encourages creativity 2. improves coordination 3. improves concentration 4. literally makes brains grow!
Article: Singing as a Teaching Tool

Storytime Books
My Little Polar Bear
Tacky the Penguin
Bear Play
Puffins Climb, Penguins Rhyme

Rhymes

Music CDs: "Doing the Penguin" Hot! Hot! Hot! Dance Songs; "On an Island" ABC Sing-Along Flip Chart; and "Penguin Polka" Hop Like a Bunny, Waddle Like a Duck

Winter Animals Booklist

Families

For Parents and Caregivers: Being able to hear the beginning and ending sounds that make up words will help children sound out words when they begin to read.  Most children who can "play with sounds" have an easier time learning to read.
Article: Say It Slow/Say It Fast Game

Storytime Books
Families
Grandmother and I
Bumpety Bump
Ten, Nine, Eight
I Go with My Family to Grandma's
Me and My Brother
Me and My Sister

Rhymes

Music CDs: "Grandpa's Farm" Cathy & Marcy Collection for Kids; "Skid-a-Marink" Wiggleworms Love You; and "Gert's Grandpa Gregory" ABC Sing Along Flip Chart

Family Booklist