Welcome

Welcome, Welcome and How are You Today?

All great storytimes begin with a welcoming smile and a fun song. What better way to signal that you are ready for storytime or laptime and that it's now time to gather together, sit down and be still.

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The More We Get Together
(Bob McGrath's Sing Along with Bob, Vol. 1 or Eye Winker, Tim Tinker, Chin Chopper by Tom Glazer - as suggested in I'm a Little Teapot by Jane Cobb)

The more we get together, together, together
The more we get together, the happier we'll be
For your friends are my friends
And my friends are your friends,
The more we get together the happier we'll be.
(now change to these additional verses)


The more we read together...
The more we sing together...
The more we play together...
(end by repeating the first verse)


Howdi Do by Woody Guthrie - Book / Woody's 20 Grow Big Songs Vol 1


Roly Poly
another great idea I learned from Alison

Roly poly, roly poly, up, up up!
~roll forearms, mid body and then up, up

Roly poly, roly poly, out, out out!
~ roll hands out to sides

Roly poly, roly poly, clap, clap, clap
~clap

Roly poly, roly poly, fold them in your lap
~fold arms and we are ready to begin!

Hickety Pickety
Amy's version
(Let's Play Music uses this opening song along with some bells /Sol-Mi/ , but you can keep the beat with rythm sticks or just by clapping)

Hickety pickety
LMN OP

Can you say your name for me?
~ have child say their name
Hello, ___ ____
~ break up the name into syllables


Willoughby Wallaby Wee
(This is not the original, I don't remember how the original one goes, this is just how I do it in my laptimes)
Before you start tell the parents that when you point to them, that you want them to tell you their child's name.

Willoughby, wallaby we
An elephant sat on me,~ I point to me

Willoughby, wallaby woo,
An elephant sat on you
~point to group of kids

Willoughby, wallaby wandy,
An elephant sat on Andy!
~move from child to child through the whole song...)

Willoughby, wallaby wed,
An elephant sat on Ed
Willoughby, wallaby walendy,
An elephant sat on wendy
Willoughby, wallaby wus
An elephant sat on US!

~I hold up a card that says 'US' so that everyone can know it's coming if they have never heard me do it.
(And fall backwards flat! if you can, it's a fun and 'obvious' ending ;))


Ding Dong

Ding Dong
Ding Dong
~stand with a partner, facing each other, holding each other's hands
Someone's at the door

Ding Dong
Ding Dong
Now who can it be?

Hello
~have kids echo you - Hello
~raise one set of arms to 'open gate'

Who's there?
~have kids echo you - Who's there

Come in
~have kids echo you - Come in
~child enters the gate and you lower your arms

Please come and play with me
~lift other side and let child 'enter'
(repeat for each child - obviously this is for a small group ;))


Hello

Hello!
~say name
Hello!
~say name

Hello and how are you?
I'm fine!
I'm fine!
And I hope that you are too


Open Them Shut Them

Open them, shut them,
Open them, shut them
~ open and shut fingers-in fists

Give a little clap
~ clap

Open them, shut them,
Open them, shut them
~open and shut fingers-in fists

Fold them in your lap
~ fold hands in lap

Creep them Creep them,
All the way to your chin...
~ fingers crawl up baby's tummy

Now open your mouth wide
~open mouth

But do not let them in!
~hands behind back!




The Raffi Books and CD's are always a great source, check out

One Light, One Sun - found in the Second Raffi Songbook
OPL CD Link
OPL Book Link

I'm in the Mood ... (for storytime) - found in Raffi's Rise and Shine
OPL CD Link
OPL Book Link