Storytime: Letter X

Welcome Song:

(to the tune of Farmer and the Dell)

            We clap and sing hello,

            We clap and sing hello,

            With our friends at storytime,

            We clap and sing hello!

            (wave, stomp, march, wiggle, blink, waddle)

Alphabet Song: Use shakers while singing!

 

Introduce Letter:

            Show kids a flashcard of the letter X.

            Sing “The X says x, the X says x, every letter makes a sound, the X says x.”

Book 1: What’s that Sound? Instruments

 

Activity: Bring a xylophone and let the kids take turns playing it.

 

Book 2: Fox in Socks by Dr. Seuss

 

Activity: Talk about x-rays!

Pretend to take x-rays of the kids arms and wrap them in ace bandages.

 

Book 3: The Adventures of Taxi Dog by Debra and Sal Barracca

 

Review: Show letter flashcard and say the sound again

 

Craft: Letter X x-ray

 

Storytime: Letter Y

Welcome Song: (to the tune of Farmer and the Dell)

            We clap and sing hello,

            We clap and sing hello,

            With our friends at storytime,

            We clap and sing hello!

            (wave, stomp, march, wiggle, blink, waddle)

Alphabet Song: Use shakers while singing!

 

Introduce Letter:

            Show kids a flashcard of the letter Y.

            Sing “The Y says yyy, the Y says yyy, every letter makes a sound, the Y says yyy.”

Book 1: Good Night Yoga by Diane Kovanda and Adam Gamble

 

Activity: Yoga!

Teach the kids easy yoga poses.

 

Book 2: Extra Yarn by Mac Barnett and Jon Klassen

 

Activity: Yarn Play

Give each kid a long piece of yarn – what can they do with it? Swirl it? Make a snake? Wrap it around something?

 

Book 3: What Color is It? by Agnese Baruzzi

 

Review: Show letter flashcard and say the sound again

 

Craft: Letter Y yak

 

Storytime: Letter E

Welcome Song: (to the tune of Farmer and the Dell)

            We clap and sing hello,

            We clap and sing hello,

            With our friends at storytime,

            We clap and sing hello!

            (wave, stomp, march, wiggle, blink, waddle)

Alphabet Song: Use shakers while singing!

 

Introduce Letter:

            Show kids a flashcard of the letter E.

            Sing “The E says eee, the E says eee, every letter makes a sound, the E says eee.”

Book 1: We’re Going on an Egg Hunt

 

Activity: Egg Hunt!

Write letters on the outside of plastic eggs, and have the kids find eggs with the letter E on them.

Book 2: Do Your Ears Hang Low by Jenny Cooper

 

Activity: Relay race!

Put plastic eggs on plastic spoons and have the kids walk across the room.

 

Book 3: 10 Easter Egg Hunters by Janet Schulman and Linda Davick

 

Review: Show letter flashcard and say the sound again

 

Craft: Letter E egg

Storytime: Letter K

Welcome Song: (to the tune of Farmer and the Dell)

            We clap and sing hello,

            We clap and sing hello,

            With our friends at storytime,

            We clap and sing hello!

            (wave, stomp, march, wiggle, blink, waddle)

Alphabet Song: Use shakers while singing!

 

Introduce Letter:

            Show kids a flashcard of the letter K.

            Sing “The K says k, the K says k, every letter makes a sound, the K says k.”

Book 1: What Color is a Kiss? by Rocio Bonilla

 

Activity: Types of Kisses

Print out the following pictures and when you hold them up, have the kids do that kind of kiss:

Grandma (grab cheeks and squeeze)

Fish (purse lips and move them)

Movie star (blow big ones)

Rabbit (wiggle nose)

Dog (stick out your tongue and lick)

Butterfly (bat your eyelashes)

 

Book 2: Little Blue Truck by Alice Schertle and Jill McElmurry

 

Activity: Lock and Key Match

 

Print out a set of keys and locks that match by color. Pass out the keys to the kids and place the locks on your flannel board. Call out a lock by color and have the child with the matching key come place it on the flannel board.

 

Book 3: The Legend of Rock, Paper, Scissors by Drew Daywalt and Adam Rex

 

Review: Show letter flashcard and say the sound again

 

Craft: Letter K kite

 

Storytime: Letter N

Welcome Song: (to the tune of Farmer and the Dell)

            We clap and sing hello,

            We clap and sing hello,

            With our friends at storytime,

            We clap and sing hello!

            (wave, stomp, march, wiggle, blink, waddle)

Alphabet Song: Use shakers while singing!

 

Introduce Letter:

            Show kids a flashcard of the letter N.

            Sing “The N says nnn, the N says nnn, every letter makes a sound, the N says nnn.”

Book 1: Goodnight Numbers by Danica McKellar

 

Activity: Number Match

Write the number 1-10 on notecards. Bring objects and have the kids count out the objects and find the matching number.

 

Book 2: Noisy Night by Mac Barnett and Brian Biggs

 

Activity: Noise!

Using shakers or rhythm sticks, have the kids make noise when you hold up “Go!” and be quiet when you hold up “Stop!”

 

Book 3: Night Animals by Gianna Marino

 

Review: Show letter flashcard and say the sound again

 

Craft: Letter N night

Storytime: Letter Z

Welcome Song: (to the tune of Farmer and the Dell)

            We clap and sing hello,

            We clap and sing hello,

            With our friends at storytime,

            We clap and sing hello!

            (wave, stomp, march, wiggle, blink, waddle)

Alphabet Song: Use shakers while singing!

 

Introduce Letter:

            Show kids a flashcard of the letter Z.

            Sing “The Z says zzz, the Z says zzz, every letter makes a sound, the Z says zzz.”

Book 1: My Grandparents Love Me by Claire Freedman and Judi Abbot

 

Activity: Sing “Zany Z’s are Zipping By” to the tune of “London Bridge”

Zany Z's are zipping by, Zipping by, zipping by.
Zany Z's are zipping by, Zip! Zap! Zoom!

Book 2: Dear Zoo by Rod Campbell

 

Activity: Clue Zoo

Bring a bag of plastic zoo animals. Give clues about each animal and have the kids guess what it is.

 

Book 3: Put Me in the Zoo by Robert Lopshire

 

Review: Show letter flashcard and say the sound again

 

Craft: Letter Z zebra

Storytime: Letter J

Welcome Song: (to the tune of Farmer and the Dell)

            We clap and sing hello,

            We clap and sing hello,

            With our friends at storytime,

            We clap and sing hello!

            (wave, stomp, march, wiggle, blink, waddle)

Alphabet Song: Use shakers while singing!

 

Introduce Letter:

            Show kids a flashcard of the letter J.

            Sing “The J says jjj, the J says jjj, every letter makes a sound, the J says jjj.”

Book 1: Jamberry by Bruce Degen

 

Activity: Sing “Jump for Joy” using shakers or scarves

 

Book 2: Thunder Boy Jr. by Sherman Alexie and Yuyi Morales

 

Activity: Jungle Sounds

Pull a jungle animal out of a bag and have the kids make that animal sound and pretend to be that animal.

 

Book 3: In the Jungle

 

Review: Show letter flashcard and say the sound again

 

Craft: Letter J jellyfish

Storytime: Letter D

Welcome Song: (to the tune of Farmer and the Dell)

            We clap and sing hello,

            We clap and sing hello,

            With our friends at storytime,

            We clap and sing hello!

            (wave, stomp, march, wiggle, blink, waddle)

Alphabet Song: Use shakers while singing!

 

Introduce Letter:

            Show kids a flashcard of the letter D.

            Sing “The D says ddd, the D says ddd, every letter makes a sound, the D says ddd.”

Book 1: Dragons Love Tacos by Adam Rubin and Daniel Salmieri

 

Activity: Sing “Where, Oh Where did the Little Dog Go?”

 

Book 2: Dinosaur Kisses by David Ezra Stein

 

Activity: Dance like a dinosaur using shakers and scarves

 

Book 3: No, David! by David Shannon

 

Review: Show letter flashcard and say the sound again

 

Craft: Letter D duck

Storytime: Letter L

Welcome Song: (to the tune of Farmer and the Dell)

            We clap and sing hello,

            We clap and sing hello,

            With our friends at storytime,

            We clap and sing hello!

            (wave, stomp, march, wiggle, blink, waddle)

Alphabet Song: Use shakers while singing!

Introduce Letter:

            Show kids a flashcard of the letter L.

            Sing “The L says lll, the L says lll, every letter makes a sound, the L says lll.”

Book 1: Lucy Lady Bug by Sharon King-Chai

Activity: Sing “London Bridges”

 

Book 2: Pete the Cat Five Little Ducks by James Dean

 

Activity: Play a memory game!

Place a bunch of “L” items on a tray. Cover it with a towel and take one item away. See if the kids can figure out which “L” item you removed.

 

Book 3: Llama Llama Wakey Wake by Anna Dewdney

 

Review: Show letter flashcard and say the sound again

 

Craft: Letter L lion

Storytime: Letter U

Welcome Song: (to the tune of Farmer and the Dell)

            We clap and sing hello,

            We clap and sing hello,

            With our friends at storytime,

            We clap and sing hello!

            (wave, stomp, march, wiggle, blink, waddle)

Alphabet Song: Use shakers while singing!

Introduce Letter:

            Show kids a flashcard of the letter U.

            Sing “The U says uuu, the U says uuu, every letter makes a sound, the U says uuu.”

Book 1: A Unicorn Named Sparkle by Amy Young

Activity: Sing “The Grand Ol’ Duke of York” – emphasize “up”

Book 2: Don’t Let the Pigeon Stay Up Late by Mo Willems

 

Activity: Play the under game!

Put out a bunch of upside down cups. Place a small object under one of the cups. Have the kids take turns picking a cup to see if they can find the object.

 

Book 3: Mix it Up! By Herve Tullet

 

Review: Show letter flashcard and say the sound again

 

Craft: Letter U underwater scene

Storytime: Letter W

Welcome Song: (to the tune of Farmer and the Dell)

            We clap and sing hello,

            We clap and sing hello,

            With our friends at storytime,

            We clap and sing hello!

            (wave, stomp, march, wiggle, blink, waddle)

Alphabet Song: Use shakers while singing!

Introduce Letter:

            Show kids a flashcard of the letter W.

            Sing “The W says www, the W says www, every letter makes a sound, the W says www.”

Book 1: Wolfie the Bunny by Ame Dyckman and Zachariah OHora

Activity: Sing “The Wheels on the Bus”

Book 2: What Will Hatch? By Jennifer Ward and Susie Ghahremani

Activity: Make weather

        Use shakers, rhythm sticks and scarves to make wind, rain, snow, and sunshine.

Book 3: Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak

 

Review: Show letter flashcard and say the sound again

 

Craft: Letter W watermelon

Storytime: Letter V

Welcome Song: (to the tune of Farmer and the Dell)

            We clap and sing hello,

            We clap and sing hello,

            With our friends at storytime,

            We clap and sing hello!

            (wave, stomp, march, wiggle, blink, waddle)

Alphabet Song: Use shakers while singing!

Introduce Letter:

            Show kids a flashcard of the letter F.

Sing “The V says vvv, the V says vvv, every letter makes a sound, the V says vvv.”

Book 1: Peppa Pig I Love You Game

Activity: Sing “We’re Going on Vacation” (to the tune of She’ll Be Comin’ Round the Mountain)

Oh, we’re going on vacation in a plane (zoom zoom)!
Oh, we’re going on vacation in a plane (zoom zoom)!
Oh, we’re going on vacation,
We’re going on vacation,
We’re going on vacation in a plane (zoom zoom)!

Oh, we’re going on vacation on a train (choo choo)…

Oh, we’re going on vacation in our car (beep beep)

Book 2: Happy Valentine’s Day Curious George!

Action Rhyme: Valentine, Valentine

Valentine, Valentine run in place

Valentine, Valentine touch your face

Valentine, Valentine turn around

Valentine, Valentine touch the ground

Valentine, Valentine touch your nose

Valentine, Valentine touch your toes

Valentine, Valentine jump and hop

Valentine, Valentine time to stop!

Valentine, Valentine pat your knees

Valentine, Valentine sit down please

Book 3: Zin! Zin! Zin! A Violin! By Lloyd Moss

Review: Show letter flashcard and say the sound again

Craft: Letter V Valentine

Storytime: Letter O

Welcome Song: (to the tune of Farmer and the Dell)

            We clap and sing hello,

            We clap and sing hello,

            With our friends at storytime,

            We clap and sing hello!

            (wave, stomp, march, wiggle, blink, waddle)

 

Alphabet Song: Use shakers while singing!

Introduce Letter:

            Show kids a flashcard of the letter O.

Sing “The O says ooo, the O says ooo, every letter makes a sound, the O says ooo.”

Book 1: Good Night Owl by Greg Pizzoli

Activity:

Print out picture cards with opposite on them. Play memory on the floor or using the flannel board.

 

Book 2: Orange Fish, Green Fish by Linda Kranz

 

Activity: Open/Close Eyes

           I brought in a little octopus toy. I had the kids close their eyes while I hid the octopus and then open their eyes to find the octopus.

 

Book 3: Octopus Garden by Ringo Starr and Ben Cort

 

Review: Show letter flashcard and say the sound again

 

Craft: Letter O Ostrich

Storytime: Letter H

I run Storytime at the Penguin Bookshop and thought it would be fun to share my Storytime plans. While my Storytime is open to all ages, I do gear toward the younger crowd because a lot of 1 and 2 year olds attend. A few of these ideas are my own, but the majority I borrow from my favorite Storytime websites, which include Storytime Katie, Sunflower Storytime, Dog Earned Storytime, and Library Village.

We did this Storytime the week of Halloween, so it was Halloween-focused.

Welcome Song:

            (to the tune of “The Farmer in the Dell”)

            We clap and sing hello,

            We clap and sing hello,

            With our friends at Storytime,

            We clap and sing hello!

            (wave, stomp, march, wiggle, blink, waddle)

Alphabet Song: Use shakers while singing!

Introduce Letter:

• Show kids a flashcard of the letter H.

• Sing “The H says hhh, the H says hhh, every letter makes a sound, the H says hhh.”

Book 1: Pete the Cat Five Little Pumpkins

Activity: Five Little Pumpkins

            (I used a flannel board version of this)

            Five little pumpkins sitting on a gate

            The first one said, “Oh my, it’s getting late.”

            The second one said, “There are witches in the air.”

            The third one said, “But I don’t care.”

            The fourth one said, “Let’s run and run and run.”

            The fifth one said, “I’m ready for some fun.”

            “Oooo-oooo” went the witch

            And out went the lights

            And five little pumpkins rolled out of sight.

Book 2: Peppa’s Halloween Party

Activity: “If You’re a Ghost and You Know It”

            (to the tune of If You’re Happy and You Know it)

            If you’re a ghost and you know it, just say BOO

            If you’re a ghost and you know it, just say BOO

            If you’re a ghost and you know it, and you really want to show it,

            If you’re a ghost and you know it, just say BOO

(If you’re a witch and you know it, just say [evil crackle], if you’re a black cat and you know it, just say hiss)

Book 3: Spooky Pookie

Review: Show letter flashcard and say the sound again

Craft: Letter H haunted house

Storytime: Letter G

Welcome Song:

            (to the tune of “The Farmer in the Dell”)

            We clap and sing hello,

            We clap and sing hello,

            With our friends at Storytime,

            We clap and sing hello!

            (wave, stomp, march, wiggle, blink, waddle)

Alphabet Song: Use shakers while singing!

Introduce Letter:

• Show kids a flashcard of the letter G.

• Sing “The G says ggg, the G says ggg, every letter makes a sound, the G says ggg.”

Book 1: Goodnight Gorilla

Activity: “If You’re Grateful and You Know it, Clap Your Hands!”

            If you’re grateful and you know it, clap your hands!

            If you’re grateful and you know it, clap your hands!

            If you’re grateful and you know it, then you’re face will really show it,

            If you’re grateful and you know it, clap your hands!

            (stomp your feet, shout hooray)

Book 2: Giraffes Can’t Dance

Activity: Go! Stop!

• I made “go” and “stop” signs and gave the kids shakers. When I held up GO, they had to shake. When I held up STOP, they had to freeze.

Book 3: The Thank You Book (we talked about gratitude)

Review: Show letter flashcard and say the sound again

Craft: Letter G giraffe

Storytime: Letter F

Welcome Song:

           (to the tune of “The Farmer in the Dell”)

            We clap and sing hello,

            We clap and sing hello,

            With our friends at Storytime,

            We clap and sing hello!

            (wave, stomp, march, wiggle, blink, waddle)

Alphabet Song: Use shakers while singing!

Introduce Letter:

• Show kids a flashcard of the letter F.

• Sing “The F says fff, the F says fff, every letter makes a sound, the F says fff.”

Book 1: Fire Engine No. 9

Activity: “Hurry, Hurry! Drive the Fire Truck!”

            Hurry, hurry, drive the fire truck

            Hurry, hurry, drive the fire truck

            Hurry, hurry, drive the fire truck

            Ding, ding, ding, ding, ding!

            (climb the ladder, shoot the water)

Book 2: Footloose

Activity: Fishing

• I brought in a fishing pole (a wooden dowel and string with a magnet at the end) and laminated fish with paper clips on each of them. The kids had to catch the fish. They loved it!

Book 3: Farm Friends

Review: Show letter flashcard and say the sound again

Craft: Letter F Fireman

Storytime: Letter B

Welcome Song:

            (to the tune of “The Farmer in the Dell”)

            We clap and sing hello,

            We clap and sing hello,

            With our friends at Storytime,

            We clap and sing hello!

            (wave, stomp, march, wiggle, blink, waddle)

Alphabet Song: Use shakers while singing!

Introduce Letter:

• Show kids a flashcard of the letter B.

• Sing “The B says bbb, the B says bbb, every letter makes a sound, the B says bbb.”

Book 1: You’re My Boo

Activity: Bean Bag in a Bucket

• I gave the kids bean bags to throw in a bucket. When they threw their bag in, they had to say something that started with B.

Book 2: Baby Parade

Activity: “Bubble, Bubble, Pop!”

            (to the tune of “Ten Little Indians”)

            One little red fish, swimming in the water,

            Swimming in the water, swimming in the water

            One little red fish, swimming in the water

            Bubble, bubble, bubble, POP!

            (Two little blue fish, three little green fish, etc.)

Book 3: Brown Bear, Brown Bear

Review: Show letter flashcard and say the sound again

Craft: Letter B bee

Storytime: Letter R

I run Storytime at the Penguin Bookshop and thought it would be fun to share my Storytime plans. While my Storytime is open to all ages, I do gear toward the younger crowd because a lot of 1 and 2 year olds attend. A few of these ideas are my own, but the majority I borrow from my favorite Storytime websites, which include Storytime Katie, Sunflower Storytime, Dog Earned Storytime, and Library Village.

Welcome Song:  

            (to the tune of “The Farmer in the Dell”)

            We clap and sing hello,

            We clap and sing hello,

            With our friends at Storytime,

            We clap and sing hello!

            (wave, stomp, march, wiggle, blink, waddle)

Alphabet Song: Use shakers while singing!

Introduce Letter:

•             Show kids a flashcard of the letter R.

•             Sing “The R says rrr, the R says rrr, every letter makes a sound, the R says rrr.”

Book 1: Outstanding in the Rain

Activity: Make a rainstorm

• Give some kids egg shakers, some kids bells, and some kids rhythm sticks. Talk about the different sounds rain makes – shakers are light rain, bells are hard rain, rhythm sticks are thunder. Say “light rain,” “hard rain,” and “thunder” in different orders and have the kids practice listening and following directions to make a rainstorm.

Book 2: Duck! Rabbit!

Activity: “Run, Run, Run”

•             (to the tune of “Frere Jacques”)

            Run, run, run,

            Run, run, run,

            Hop, hop, hop

            Hop, hop, hop

            Tiptoe very quietly

            Tiptoe very quietly

            Then you stop

            Then you stop

            Kerplop!

Book 3: Curious George and the Rocket

Review: Show letter flashcard and say the sound again

Craft: Letter R racetrack

Storytime: Letter P

I run Storytime at the Penguin Bookshop and thought it would be fun to share my Storytime plans. While my Storytime is open to all ages, I do gear toward the younger crowd because a lot of 1 and 2 year olds attend. A few of these ideas are my own, but the majority I borrow from my favorite Storytime websites, which include Storytime Katie, Sunflower Storytime, Dog Earned Storytime, and Library Village.

Since I work at the Penguin Bookshop, the letter P had to be a Penguin party!

Welcome Song:

•   (to the tune of “The Farmer in the Dell”)

            We clap and sing hello,

            We clap and sing hello,

            With our friends at Storytime,

            We clap and sing hello!

            (wave, stomp, march, wiggle, blink, waddle)

Alphabet Song: Use shakers while singing!

Introduce Letter:

•   Show kids a flashcard of the letter P.

•   Sing “The P says ppp, the P says ppp, every letter makes a sound, the P says ppp.”

Book 1: Penguin Problems

Activity: Feed the penguin

• I made a penguin head with a beak that opened and closed. I cut out little fish of different colors and hid them around the room. The kids had to find the fish and when I called out a color, they came up and fed the penguin their fish.

Book 2: If You Were a Penguin

Activity: Penguin Waddle

• I made beaks for the kids to wear and then told them to act like penguins (waddle, bob their heads, swim, slide on their bellies, eat fish)

Book 3: Playful Little Penguins

Review: Show letter flashcard and say the sound again

Craft: Letter P penguin

Storytime: Letter S

I run Storytime at the Penguin Bookshop and thought it would be fun to share my Storytime plans. While my Storytime is open to all ages, I do gear toward the younger crowd because a lot of 1 and 2 year olds attend. A few of these ideas are my own, but the majority I borrow from my favorite Storytime websites, which include Storytime Katie, Sunflower Storytime, Dog Earned Storytime, and Library Village.

Welcome Song:

            (to the tune of “The Farmer in the Dell”)

            We clap and sing hello,

            We clap and sing hello,

            With our friends at Storytime,

            We clap and sing hello!

            (wave, stomp, march, wiggle, blink, waddle)

Alphabet Song: Use shakers while singing!

Introduce Letter:

•             Show kids a flashcard of the letter S.

•             Sing “The S says sss, the S says sss, every letter makes a sound, the S says sss.”

Book 1: Land Shark

Activity: “Baby Shark”

•             Baby shark, do-do-do-do

            Baby shark, do-do-do-do

            Baby shark, do-do-do-do, do-do-doot-doot-doot-do

(Baby shark – wrists together, hands clapping, Mama shark – elbows together, arms clapping, Papa Shark – whole arms clapping, Grandpa shark – wrists together, with fingers folded in like no teeth)

Book 2: Ming Goes to School

Activities: Simon Says and I Spy

Book 3: Scaredy Squirrel Makes a Friend

Review: Show letter flashcard and say the sound again

Craft: Letter S snake