Cranes
Credit: Storytime Katie

Cranes reach up,
Cranes reach down,
Cranes reach out,
And all around.

Building a Skyscraper
Credit: Jen in the Library

Brick by brick
By brick by brick.
My building’s so high
It’s scraping the sky.      (Place fists one on top of the other, going higher each time.)

Brick by brick
by brick by brick.
My Building will sway
When the wind blows this way.  (Sway left, then right.)

Brick by brick
by brick by brick.
Now I’m ready to stop
And a flag goes on top.   (Open one fist and wave hand left and right.)

The Carpenter
Credit: Jen in the Library

The carpenter’s hammer goes rap, rap, rap. (pretend to hammer.)
And his saw goes see-saw-see. (Pretend to saw.)
He hammers and hammers, and saws and saws, (Pretend to hammer, then saw.)
To build a house for me.  (Form roof shape with fingers.)
​

Clap, Slap, Tap
Credit:  Fingerplays & Action Rhymes

Clap, clap, clap, clap   (clap hands)
Slap, slap, slap, slap  (slap legs)
Tap, tap, tap, tap (tap hands on head)

We Wave Hello Like This/We Wave Goodbye Like This
To the tune of “The Farmer in the Dell”

We wave hello like this
We wave hello like this
We clap our hands for all our friends
We wave hello like this

We wave hello like this
We wave hello like this
We clap our hands for all our friends
We wave hello like this


We Wave Goodbye Like This
To the tune of “The Farmer in the Dell”

We wave goodbye like this
We wave goodbye like this
We clap our hands for all our friends
We wave goodbye like this

We wave goodbye like this
We wave goodbye like this
We clap our hands for all our friends
We wave goodbye like this
​

She'll be Driving
Credit: Jen in the Library
To the tune “She’ll be Coming ‘Round the Mountain”

She’ll be driving a bulldozer
When she comes.
Push it back! (Hold hands palm out and move them away from body.)
She’ll be driving a bulldozer
When she comes.
Push it back! (Hold hands palm out and move them away from body.)

She’ll be driving a bulldozer,
She’ll be driving a bulldozer,
She’ll be driving a bulldozer,
When she comes.
Push it back! (Hold hands palm out and move them away from body.)

She’ll be running a big digger when she comes.
Scoop it up! (Make a scooping motion with hands.)
She’ll be running a big digger when she comes.
Scoop it up! (Make a scooping motion with hands.)

She’ll be running a big digger,
She’ll be running a big digger,
She’ll be running a big digger,
When she comes.
​

Here's My Toolbox
​Credit: Librarian is on the Loose
To the tune of “Oh My Darling Clementine”

Here’s my toolbox, here’s my toolbox
This is where I keep my tools
Here’s my toolbox, trusty toolbox
Take a look at all my tools.

Here’s my hammer, here’s my hammer
See the hammer pound and pound
Here’s my hammer, trusty hammer
Watch me as I pound and pound.

Here’s my wrench, here’s my wrench
See the wrench turn and turn
Here’s my wrench, trusty wrench
Watch me as I turn and turn.

Here’s a saw, here’s a saw
See the saw go see-saw
Here’s my saw, trusty saw
Watch me as I go see-saw.

​These are the songs that we danced to during storytime.  If you are interested in checking out these songs, the album cover images are linked to Amazon so you can listen to a sample and/or purchase these great songs!

These are the songs that we moved to with scarves.  If you are interested in checking out these songs, the album cover images are linked to Amazon so you can listen to a sample and/or purchase these great songs!

​Today's animals were dog, chicken, horse, pig

​Knock on the door
Knock, knock, knock
Please come out
Come out!
Hello, dog
How are you?
Hello, dog
How are you?
Dog says "woof"

Knock on the door
Knock, knock, knock
Please come out
Come out!
Hello, chicken
How are you?
Hello, chicken
How are you?
Chicken says "cluck"

Knock on the door
Knock, knock, knock
Please come out
Come out!
Hello, horse
How are you?
Hello, horse
How are you?
Horse says "neigh"

Knock on the door
Knock, knock, knock
Please come out
Come out!
Hello, pig
How are you?
Hello, pig
How are you?
Pig says "oink"

To see the songs and action rhymes for the month of March click here: Tales for 2's and 3's: Farm Animals & Jan Thomas

​For young children, making self-made symbols (i.e., “scribble/refrigerator art”) is the first step in the process of learning how to write.  The symbols that young children make are pretty fluid.  One day the “scribble” can represent Doug, the dog and the next day the “scribble” can represent a superhero platypus eating a can of beans.  

In ETM, song mapping allows children to make their own self-made symbol to represent an SEG.  For song mapping to be beneficial in the development of pre-writing skills, it is crucial that children have internalized the SEG before mapping.  There are a few ways to tell if a child has internalized the song: they can sing and play the song on their own, they begin to play with the language of the song, or they can identify the song when presented with a series of movements, pictures, or clapped rhythms that represent the song.  

An excellent example of internalization is the SEG that I like to use in my Tales for 2’s and 3’s storytime.  I have been using Come Along and Wave with Me for the whole storytime cycle (spring and fall - so about 24 weeks).  We have been doing the same movements in the same order.  If I were to walk into my Tales storytime next week and say “guess my song” then proceeded to do the motions of our hello song - wave, hug, twist, stretch, and wiggle without singing any of the words, the children who have been coming to my storytime every week will likely know that it is our hello song.

​Let’s pretend that I’ve been facilitating preschool storytime.  We’ve been singing and playing the song "Fly Away Little Birdie" every single week.  I notice the kids are playing it out in the play area after storytime.  The following week, we play "Fly Away Little Birdie" again, and I have them follow along as we “draw” the song in the air our fingers.  We will not “draw” the entire song.  Instead, we will “draw” short phrases like “Fly away little birdie” or “way up in the sky.”  After three or four weeks of having the kiddos mirror my movements when we chunk the song, I will notice the way that a child has chosen to “draw” the song and we will mirror that child’s movements.

Since most storytime sessions are between 10-14 weeks, that will be as far as we get with mapping and that is perfectly okay.

Ten Friends Today
Credit: Fun With Friends at Storytime, Kathryn Roach

One friend, two friends, three friends, four
In they come right through the door.
Five friends, six friends, seven friends, eight
Nine friends, ten friends make it great!
Ready to listen, ready to play,
Ten little friends are here today!

Hooray!!

Making New Friends
Credit:  Madison Public Library
 
Good day, everybody. (Nod to others.)
Good day, everybody
Good day, good day, good day
Smile, everybody, (smile at others)
Smile, everybody,
Let’s chase the blues away.
Shake hands, everybody,
(shake hands with others)
Shake hands, everybody,
Let’s make new friends today.
​

Clap, Slap, Tap
Credit:  Fingerplays & Action Rhymes

Clap, clap, clap, clap   (clap hands)
Slap, slap, slap, slap  (slap legs)
Tap, tap, tap, tap (tap hands on head)

1,2,3 Good Friends/Uno, Dos, Tres Amigos
Credit: Madison Public Library

1, 2, 3 good friends,
4, 5, 6 good friends,
7, 8, 9 good friends,
10 good friends are we!
​
Uno, dos, tres amigos,
Cuatro, cinco, seis amigos
Siete, ocho, nueve amigos
Diez amigos son!
​

Two Little Friends
Credit: Storytime Katie

Two little friends are better than one,
And three are better than two
And four are much better still
Just think! What four little friends can do!

We Wave Hello/Goodbye Like This
Credit: Jbrary
To the tune of "The Farmer in the Dell"

Friends Go Marching
Credit:  Madison Public Library
To the tune of “The Ants Go Marching”
​
My friends are marching ‘round and round,
hurrah, hurrah.
My friends are marching ‘round and ‘round,
hurrah, hurrah.
My friends are marching ‘round and ‘round,
It’s time for a story, so let’s sit down.
And we all will sit on down
on the ground to get our next story
Book, book, book, book,
Book, book, book, book.

Let’s Be Friends
Credit:  Storytime Katie
To the tune of “London Bridge is Falling Down”

Let’s be friends with one another
One another, one another
Let’s be friends with one another
Let’s be friends today.

You can sing with a friend,
With a friend, with a friend
You can sing with a friend
Sing with friends today.

You can clap with a friend,
With a friend, with a friend
You can clap with a friend
Clap with friends today.

You can hop with a friend,
With a friend, with a friend
You can hop with a friend.
Hop with friends today.
​
Let’s be friends with one another
One another, one another
Let’s be friends with one another
Let’s be friends today.

These are the songs that we used with the animal bells.  If you are interested in checking out these songs, the album cover images are linked to Amazon so you can listen to a sample and/or purchase these great songs!

Today's animals were horse, cow, pig, and sheep

Knock on the door
Knock, knock, knock
Please come out
Come out!
Hello, horse
How are you?
Hello, horse
How are you?
Horse says "neigh"

​Knock on the door
Knock, knock, knock
Please come out
Come out!
Hello, cow
How are you?
Hello, cow
How are you?
Cow says "moo"

Knock on the door
Knock, knock, knock
Please come out
Come out!
Hello, pig
How are you?
Hello, pig
How are you?
Pig says "oink"

Knock on the door
Knock, knock, knock
Please come out
Come out!
Hello, sheep
How are you?
Hello, sheep
How are you?
Sheep says "baa"

To see the songs and action rhymes for the month of March click here: Tales for 2's and 3's: Farm Animals & Jan Thomas

I divided our participants into two groups.  They had to answer questions about the book and answer the question correctly in order to be lead to the next question. The questions were hidden in different places within the Children's Department.  The last question lead them to the children's reference desk where they were given a cryptogram puzzle to solve.  Once they solved the puzzle they could choose a "Top Secret" note pad or pencil as their prize.

Part of being an excellent detective/spy is being able to come up with amazing disguises.  I set-up a mini photo booth, my personal puppet stash, photo booth props from Target, and an iPad for The Crew to snap photos.  These are pictures that the kids took.  

I used crepe paper to create the obstacle course.  The kids had a lot of fun trying to squeeze, bend, and wiggle their way through this "laser" obstacle course.

When you think about it, all songs tell a story.  Music is just another form of communication. Basically, music and communication go together like unicorns and rainbows.

Think of a conversation that you recently had with a friend.  Think about the way that you conveyed what you had to say to your friend.  Did you use facial expressions? Did you use your hands?

When we communicate, even if we are aware of it or not, we like to move when we speak.  Movement is an essential function. Think of movement as coffee for your brain - it helps you think.  In order for us to communicate our thoughts coherently, we employ our entire body in the process of conveying our message.  We use our voice, eyes, ears, hands, and brain! This is particularly important for children because they are still new here and they are learning how to communicate.  In her book Aesthetic Foundations of Thinking, Mary Helen Richards says “children are drawn to move when they are speaking in order to say what they mean and to develop their understanding more thoroughly.”

Talking plays a HUGE role in the acquisition of early literacy skills.  If adults do not talk to children, then they do not have the words to communicate, and if children cannot communicate then they cannot read and write!  We want to encourage talking in storytime by asking questions - “what do you think will happen next?”, “what color is the cat?”, “how are you today?” In smaller storytime groups, we can also provide children with the opportunity to explain something or to share a story of their own.  

In addition to talking, singing is an excellent way to boost a child’s language development.  Mary Helen Richards said it best “song, (is the) godmother of communication and the godchild of language.” When it comes to language development in children, ETM SEG’s are a triple threat - there is language, movement, and experience.  When children participate in the playing of a SEG, they also have the added benefits of practicing social skills and communication. Basically, SEGs are the vitamins of early literacy!

I Went to The Farm
Credit: Kentucky Department for Libraries & Archives
*with puppets*

I went to the farm the other day.                      (march in place)
I saw a cow across the way.                             (point)
And what do you think I heard it say?             (cup hand to ear)
Moo, Moo, Moo!

I went to the farm the other day.                       (march in place)
I saw a duck across the way.                             (point)
And what do you think I heard it say?              (cup hand to ear)
Quack, quack, quack!

I went to the farm the other day.                      (march in place)
I saw a goat across the way.                             (point)
And what do you think I heard it say?             (cup hand to ear)
Bleat, bleat, bleat!

When Ducks Get Up in the Morning
Credit: Kentucky Department for Libraries & Archives
*with duck puppet*

When Ducks Get Up in the Morning
When ducks get up in the morning
They always say good day.
When ducks get up in the morning
They always say good day.
“Quack, quack! Quack, quack!”
That is what they say.
“Quack, quack! Quack, quack!”
That is what they say.

Come Along & Wave with Me
From Education Through Music - The Richards Institute of Education & Research
To the tune of “Oats, Peas, Beans, and Barley Grow”

Come along and wave with me
Come along and wave with me
We’ll wave and wave
and wave and wave
So come along and wave with me

Come along and hug with me
Come along and hug with me
We’ll hug and hug
And hug and hug
So come along and hug with me

Come along and twist with me
Come along and twist with me
We’ll twist and twist
And twist and twist
So come along and twist with me

Come along and stretch with me
Come along and stretch with me
We’ll stretch and stretch
And stretch and stretch
So come along and stretch with me

Come along and wiggle with me
Come along and wiggle with me
We’ll wiggle and wiggle
And wiggle and wiggle
So come along and wiggle with me

The Pigs  on the Farm
Credit: Adventures of a Bookworm
To the tune “The Wheels on the Bus”

The pigs on the farm go oink, oink, oink
oink, oink, oink, Oink, oink, oink
The pigs on the farm go oink, oink, oink
All night long

The cows on the farm go moo, moo, moo
Moo, moo, moo, Moo, moo, moo
The cows on the farm go moo, moo, moo
All night long

The sheep on the farm go baa, baa, baa
Baa, baa baa, Baa, baa, baa
The sheep on the farm go baa, baa, baa
All night long

The chicks on the farm go cheep, cheep, cheep
Cheep, cheep, cheep, Cheep, cheep, cheep
The chicks on the farm go cheep, cheep, cheep
All night long

The farmer on the farm says “Go to sleep”
go to sleep, go to sleep
The farmer on the farm says “Go to sleep”
So I can get my rest

To the Farm
Credit: Library Ann
To the tune of “Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star”

Horses, donkeys, cows that moo,
Chickens, kittens, piglets too,
Fish that swim down in the pond,
Ducklings quacking all day long.
All these animals you can see
If you go to the farm with me.

I learned this awesome ditty from one of my co-workers at our downtown location.  We have a big soft barn with animals that I use for this.  

Knock on the door
knock, knock, knock
Please come out
Come out!
Hello (animal name)
How are you?
Hello (animal name)
How are you?
(animal name) says (animal noise)

Today's animals were cow, horse, and hen.

Knock on the door
knock, knock, knock
Please come out
Come out!
Hello cow
How are you?
Hello cow
How are you?
Cow says "moo!"

​I have never understood why the word “play” is considered a four letter word.  I have learned that play is vital to the development and education of children, but our society deems play as “a waste of time.”  We have a system in place that wishes to rush children through childhood rather than protecting their right to play. 

We forget that play helps children explore and experience the world around them.  Play leads to imagination, creativity, and innovation - a cardboard box becomes a robot companion that goes on adventures, a stick becomes a wizard’s wand, a hula hoop becomes a portal to a new world.  Cultivating imagination in the post-modern child just may lead to discoveries that will propel our society forward - a dryer that dries AND folds clothes, flying cars, a safe and renewable energy source, or the cure to cancer.

​Libraries are encouraging play by providing toys and games in their children’s departments. Children’s departments in libraries aren’t bastions of solitude and silence anymore.  They are full of singing, talking, exploring, and playing.  Caregivers are playing “dinosaurs” with their children, children are giving impromptu puppet shows, or families are sitting down to play a board game together.  

Playing has also been extended into library programming. Librarians are creating and facilitating programming that encourages imagination and play.   Librarians are also incorporating playtime into our age-specific storytimes.  

Librarians are making play the norm and I am 200% here for it.

Mary Helen Richards defined playgrounds as something “full of wonderful things for the child to use, build with, manipulate, take apart, and put back together,”  

In ETM, the Song Experience Game (SEG) is very much like a playground or children’s department. 

Benefits of playing through the use of a SEG:

• Children are having a shared experience with friends
• Exploration and creativity is encouraged
• Children learn how to navigate their surroundings (spatial awareness)
• Children work on social interaction and communication 

When I get to experience the singing and playing of ETM SEGs, I find that I am happier, more engaged, and I am more regardful of others.  If I can experience those benefits as a 33-year old, can you imagine the benefits for a 3 year old?  

For children, the play state has a slew of benefits:

• They are actively engaged - they are 100% in it to win it
• They are experiencing enjoyment and a genuine pleasure from the activity
• There is (playful) structure and routine which provides children with a sense of safety, but also encourages them to take risks.  
• Increased motivation
• Stronger language skills and symbolic thinking

When I facilitated Lapsit, I liked to tack on 10-15 minute playtime at the end.  It provided babies with an opportunity to explore our various age appropriate toys and caregivers with an opportunity to socialize and share stories.  During this time, I like to talk with the caregivers and play with the babies.  Aside from the total complete joy of getting to interact with a baby, I also had an opportunity to foster relationships with the caregivers.  

In my years of study of ETM, I realized how important it is to allow yourself to be a little vulnerable and be completely silly because it shows children that this is a safe space to explore, play, and imagine.  This session of Tales for 2s and 3s, I used an ETM favorite that I adapted “Come Along and Walk with Me” as our hello song.  Each week we sing “Come Along and Wave with Me”.  The last action that we do is “come along and wiggle with me.”  Every week when it is time to wiggle, the kids all look at me expectantly because they know that this is the part where Ms. Nicole gets super dooper silly.  Every week they laugh and wiggle along with me.  Every week, we play.

My goal as a librarian is to make play the norm in storytime.  Whether it is through using a SEG, reading an interactive picture book, playing a guessing game on the flannel board, or adding on some time for children to play at the end of storytime.  I want caregivers and children to know that play is a far more effective learning tool than flashcards, apps, and standardized testing will ever be.  Play is part of the human experience.  It allows us to create, marvel, and engage with one another. 

I found a really fabulous I-Spy Cats and Dogs from And Next Comes L Blog.

Credit: Verona Storytime

I went to the pet store and made a special wish.
The pet that I wanted was a very special (fish)!

I went to the pet store, I went there at a jog,
To get a pet with a wagging tail, it was a little (dog)!

I went to the pet store, it had become a habit.
The pet I wanted now was a soft, fluffy (rabbit)!

I went to the pet store, I’m sure this sounds absurd,
But the pet I wanted was a colorful flying (bird)!

I went to the pet store, it was no mistake.
What I really wanted now was a hissing green (snake)!

Gertie the Goldfish
Credit: The Door to Door Librarian

Gertie the Goldfish goes
smack, smack, smack
She looks at me and goes like
smack, smack, smack,
She doesn’t laugh, doesn’t sing
doesn’t do anything
Just blows big kisses like this
Smack, smack, smack, smack

Puppy Roll
Credit:  Canton Public Library
​
Five little puppies all digging a hole (hold up five fingers)
One fell in and started to roll… (roll your hands)
She rolled to the bottom, she didn’t get hurt.
How many puppies are left digging dirt? (count how many puppies are left)

Four little puppies all digging a hole (hold up five fingers)
One fell in and started to roll… (roll your hands)
he rolled to the bottom, he didn’t get hurt.
How many puppies are left digging dirt? (count how many puppies are left)

Three little puppies all digging a hole (hold up five fingers)
One fell in and started to roll… (roll your hands)
She rolled to the bottom, she didn’t get hurt.
How many puppies are left digging dirt? (count how many puppies are left)

Two little puppies all digging a hole (hold up five fingers)
One fell in and started to roll… (roll your hands)
he rolled to the bottom, she didn’t get hurt.
How many puppies are left digging dirt? (count how many puppies are left)

One little puppy all digging a hole (hold up five fingers)
They fell in and started to roll… (roll your hands)
They rolled to the bottom, they didn’t get hurt.
How many puppies are left digging dirt? (count how many puppies are left)

Can You?
Credit: Sunflower Storytime

Can you hop like a rab­bit?
Can you jump like a frog? Can you wad­dle like a duck?
Can you wag your tail like a dog?
Can you fly like a bird?
Can you swim like a fish?
Can you sit back down and be still like this?

Kitty Cat Pounce!
Credit:  Literary Hoots
*This was a crowd favorite today!   We had so much fun we did this action rhyme twice

Kitty cat, kitty cat, sneaks out of the house.
Kitty cat, kitty cat, creeps up to a mouse,
And … POUNCE!
Kitty cat, kitty cat, creeps up to a bird.
Kitty cat, kitty cat, is not even heard
And … POUNCE!
But the mouse ran, and the bird flew away,
So kitty cat found a ball of yarn to play
And … POUNCE!

We Wave Hello Like This & We Wave Goodbye Like This
Credit: Jbrary
​To the tune of "The Farmer in the Dell"

When Pets Wake Up in the Morning
Credit: TCPL Kids
To the tune of "Jolly Good Fellow"

When dog wakes up in the morning
When dog wakes up in the morning
When dog wakes up in the morning
he always says “Bow-wow!”
 
When cat wakes up in the morning
When cat wakes up in the morning
When cat wakes up in the morning
She always says “Me-ow!”

When mouse wakes up in the morning
When mouse wakes up in the morning
When mouse wakes up in the morning
They always say “squeak-squeak”
 
When turtle wakes up in the morning
When turtle wakes up in the morning
When turtle wakes up in the morning
He always goes back to sleep!

Mice!
Credit: TCPL Kids
​To the tune of "Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes"

Ears and whiskers, tails and feet
Tails and feet!
Ears and whiskers, tails and feet
Tails and feet…
Pet my fur and make me squeak!
Ears and whiskers, tails and feet,
Tails and feet!

If You're a Cat and You Know It
Credit: Verona Storytime
To the tune of "If You're Happy and You Know It"

If you’re a cat and you know it say meow, meow.
If you’re a cat and you know it say meow, meow.
If you’re a cat and you know it and you really want to show it
If you’re a cat and you know it say meow.

If you’re a cat and you know it lick your paws
If you’re a cat and you know it lick your paws
If you’re a cat and you know it and you really want to show it
If you’re a cat and you know it lick your paws

If you’re a cat and you know it purr like this (purr)
If you’re a cat and you know it purr like this (purr)
If you’re a cat and you know it purr like this (purr)
If you’re a cat and you know it and you really want to show it
If you’re a cat and you know it purr like this (purr)

If you’re a cat and you know it pounce like this
If you’re a cat and you know it pounce like this
If you’re a cat and you know it pounce like this
If you’re a cat and you know it and you really want to show it
If you’re a cat and you know it pounce like this