Just Being Silly

For Parents & Caregivers: Children who enjoy books will want to learn how to read!  An enjoyable storytime supports your child's literacy development!
Article: Humor as a Key to Child Development

Storytime Books
On Top of Spaghetti
Tiki Tiki Tembo
Pigs Ahoy!
Good Thing You're Not an Octopus!
The Problem with Chickens
The Pigeon Wants a Puppy

Rhymes

Music CDs: "Over the Deep Blue Sea" Come and Make a Circle and "Chicken Dance" Dance Along.

Silly Storytime Booklist

Ducks

For Parents & Caregivers: Being comfortable with printed language helps children feel comfortable with books and understand that print is useful.  Reading to your child everyday develops print awareness.
Article: Print Awareness (click on video clip)

Storytime Books
Danny's Duck
All Night Near the Water
Across the Stream
Quacky Duck
Mommy Is That You?
Duck! Rabbit!
Have You Seen My Duckling?
Whose Chick Are You?

Rhymes

Music CDs: "Six Little Ducks" and "Little White Duck" Six Little Ducks, and  "Alle meine Entchen -- All My Little Ducklings" Favorite Traditinal German Songs.

Duck Storytime Booklist

Bathtime!

For Parents & Caregivers: Help your pre-reader become aware of the smaller sounds that make up words.  Play rhyming games, sing songs,  and say words with the sounds left out.  Example:  BAT - the "buh" sound = at
Article: March Kindergarten Readiness Skills

Storytime Books
Harry the Dirty Dog
Big Red Tub
Pet Wash
What Next, Baby Bear?
To Bathe a Boa
Is It Time?

Rhymes

Music CDs: "This Is the Way You Take a Bath" Wee Sing for Baby; "Everybody Wash" Sesame Street Splish Splash and "If You Don't Take a Bath" Wave Your Hands

Bath Storytime Booklist

Sniffles, Sneezes and Get Well Wishes

For Parents & Caregivers: School readiness skills, listening and following directions, are developed during storytimes.
Article: Getting Your Child Ready to Read

Storytime Books
Next Please
I Wish I Was Sick, Too!
How to Heal a Broken Wing
Get Well Soon Book
Dear Daisy, Get Well Soon
How Do Dinosaurs Get Well Soon?

Rhymes

Music CDs: "Five Little Joeys" Dance Party and "Body Rock" Kids in Motion.

Storytime Booklist

Go! Go! Go!

For Parents & Caregivers: Children learn letters in stages: 1. the names of letters, 2. recognize the shapes of different letters, and 3. match the letters with their sounds.
Article: Alphabet Learning Activities

Storytime Books
Frieght Train
Duck on a Bike
Pigs in the Mud in the Middle of the Rud
The Bus for Us
Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus
The Big Trip
The Little Engine That Could

Rhymes

Music CDs: "Stomp and Clap" Physical Ed; "The Train" Wee Sing Children's Songs and Fingerplays; "Walk & Stop" & "Zoom-e-Oh" Away We Go "Riding in the Buggy/Tideo" Sing A to Z

Transportation Storytime Booklist

Happy Valentine's Day!

For Parents & Caregivers: Why are you so important?  You know your child best! Children learn by doing things and they love doing things with you. Take every opportunity you have to read, talk, and play with your child.

Article: February Kindergarten Skills Development

Storytime Books

The Secret

A Hug for You

The Cuddle Book

Secret Valentine

Rhymes

Music CD: "Skidamarink" Wiggleworms We Love You

Valentine Storytime Booklist

Black History Month

Special celebration of African-American heritage and families!

Storytime Books
Storytelling: Anansi tale, "The King's Drum"
My People
Feast for Ten
Our Children Can Soar

Music CDs: "Che Che Kule" & "John the Rabbit" Come and Make a Circle; "Shortin' Bread" Come and Make a Circle 2 and "Do What the Spirit Say Do" Experience 101.

African-American Character Storytime Booklist

Forest Friends

For Parents & Caregivers: Children who enjoy books will want to learn how to read.  Make book-sharing time a special time for closeness for you and your child.
Article: Creating a Reading Environment at Home

Storytime Books
The Wild Woods
Sally Goes to the Mountains
Counting on the Woods
In the Snow

Rhymes

Music CDs: "Anilae\Chipmunk" Wee Sing Around the World; "She'll Be Coming Around the Mountain" Whaddaya Think of That?; "Baby Bird" Wee Sing Children's Songs and Fingerplays and "Skunk" Stories with a Twist

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

Playtime!

For Parents & Caregivers: Reading to children is especially important in building a larger vocabulary because children hear more new words when you read books. 
Article: Everyday Literacy - Vocabulary Building

Storytime Books
I'm a Tiger, Too!
I'll Play with You
Chili, Chili, Chin, Chin
Baby Goes Beep
Follow Carl!
Someone Says

Rhymes

Music CDs:  "Put Your Hands Up in the Air" Learning Basic Skills through Music: "Tingalayo" Wee Sing Around the World; and "Stop and Go" Play Your Instruments and Make a Pretty Sound.

Play Booklist

Sweet Treats!

For Parents & Caregivers: Children who enjoy books will want to learn how to read.  An enjoyable storytime supports your child's literacy development.
Article: 20 Ways for Parents to Encourage Reading

Storytime Books
Gingerbread Man
If You Give a Moose a Muffin
Big Block of Chocolate
Cake that Mack Ate
Where is the Apple Pie?

Rhymes

Music CDs: "Shortnin' Bread" Come and Make a Circle 2 and "No More Pie" Adventures in Rhythm

Cookies & Sweets Booklist

I am Special!

For Parents & Caregivers:  Being comfortable with printed language helps children feel comfortable with books and understand that print is useful.  Reading to your child everyday develops print awareness.
Article: Reading Aloud to Your Children: The Loving, Personal Gift

Storytime Books
Hands Can
Here Are My Hands
Baghead
Leo the Latebloomer
To Be a Kid
When I Was Little

Music CDs: "Clap Your Hands" and "Jim Along Josie" American Folk, Game, and Activity Songs for Children; "Can You Point Your Fingers and Do the Twist?" Dance Party; and "Head & Shoulders" Wee Sing Childrens Songs and Fingerplays.

Rhymes

Self Concept Booklist

Hats!

For Parents & Caregivers: Learning words begins at birth. Most children start school knowing between 3,000 and 5, 000 words.  Storytime provides opportuities for hearing and learning more words!
Article: Kindergarten Readiness

Storytime Books
Happy Birthday, Moon
Silly Little Goose
Who Took the Farmer's Hat?
Whose Hat?
The Magic Hat

Hats Booklist

Fun Furballs!

For Parents & Caregivers: Help your pre-reader become aware of the smaller sounds that make up words. Play rhyming and word games.
Article: Say It Slow/Say It Fast Game

Storytime Books
While We Were Out
One Guinea Pig Is Not Enough
10 Minutes Till Bedtime
Busy Little Mouse

Rhymes

Music CDs: "Little Peter Rabbit"; "Round the Garden"; and "Hickory, Dickory, Dock" Wee Sing Children's Songs and Fingerplays

Fun Furballs Booklist

Opposites

For Parents & Caregivers: School readiness skills -- listening and following directions -- are developed during storytimes.
Article: November Kindergarten Readiness Skills

Storytime Books
What's Opposite?
Too Big, Too Small, Just Right
Don't Laugh, Joe
Where Is the Green Sheep?

Rhymes

Music CDs: "Freeze" Kids in Motion; "Stop and Go" Play Your Instruments and Make a Pretty Sound and "Now Tall, Now Small" & "Clap, Clap, Clap Your Hands" Wee Sing Children's Songs and Fingerplays

Opposite Storytime Booklist

What's Inside an Egg?

For Parents & Caregivers: Why are you so important?  You know your child best.  Children learn best by doing things -- and they love doing things with you! Take every opportunity to talk, read, and play with your child.
Article: Converstations that Count

Storytime Books
Danny's Duck
Tweedle-Dee-Dee
Guess What's Growing Inside This Egg
Better Move on Frog

Rhymes

Music CDs: "I Know a Chicken" Whaddaya Think of That? and "Baby Bird" Wee Sing Children's Songs and Fingerplays

Egg Storytime Booklist

Sleepy Nights!

For Parents & Caregivers: Children who enjoy books will want to learn how to read.  Make book-sharing time a special time of closeness for you and your child.
Article: Choosing Books for Young Children

Storytime Books
The Noisy Way to Bed
Asleep, Asleep
There's an Alligator Under My Bed
Time for Bed

Rhymes

Music CDs: "Five Little Joeys" Dance Party; "Good Night" "Sleep, Baby, Sleep" Twinkle, Twinkle" Wee Sing Children's Songs and Fingerplays; and "Wimoweh" Whaddaya Think of That?

Bedtime Stories Booklist