Sharing a fun outside storytime plan from this summer! Storytiming in the great outdoors presents its own set of challenges, but it’s so good to be able to see the audience again and read their cues!
Attendance: 173
Pre-Storytime Playlist:
- Here Comes the Sun by Caspar Babypants
- Mister Rabbit by Caspar Babypants
- Baby Bear by Caspar Babypants
- This Is the Way the Woods Wake Up by Caspar Babypants
- Clap Your Hands by Mr. Jon & Friends
Sing: Hello Everybody
Hellooo everybody!
We’re so glad to see you.
Hellooo everybody!
We’re so glad to see you.
Repeat:
Babies, Brothers/Sisters, Mommies/Daddies, Grandmas/Grandpas, Aunties/Uncles, etc.
CREDIT: MUSIC TOGETHER
Welcome/Introductions
Sing: If You’re Happy and You Know It…*
Sing: If You’re Ready for a Story…*
Story: Going on a Bear Hunt
There are so many different Bear Hunt versions, but my favorite is this rhythmic chant by Greg & Steve! Before we get into this classic call & response story, I like to warm up the audience by having them repeat silly sounds back to me.
“Speaking of bears… I’m thinking of another animal that starts with the “b” sound! Can you guess what animal I’m thinking of? It likes to hop!”
Rhyme: Two Little Bunnies
Tune: Two Little Blackbirds
Two little bunnies sitting on a hill.
One named Jack, one named Jill.
Hop away, Jack! Hop away, Jill!
Come back, Jack! Come back, Jill!
Repeat:
Rolling in the grass/one named Slow and one named Fast; laying in the sun/one named Serious and one named Fun
CREDIT: PIGGYBACK
Story Song: Little Bunny Foo Foo
Photograph: A fairy puppet scolds a bunny puppet.
“I know ANOTHER bunny! His name is Little Bunny Foo Foo…”
Sing: Bunny Hop by Katherine Dines
Sing: Sleeping Bunnies by Kathy Reid Naiman (x2)
“Are you tired after all that hopping around? I sure am! I need a little nap before we tell another story…”
Story: The Great Big Carrot
Photograph: A rabbit puppet attempts to pull a carrot out of the ground (a brown felt pocket). The posterboard is painted in a garden scene. The posterboard story is contained in a large easel sandwich board.
“Well, when I wake up from a nap, I’M HUNGRY. Our next story is about a bunny who wakes up from a nap and feels hungry, too. And what do hungry bunnies like to eat?”
This fun folk tale teaches kids all about the power of collaboration and strength in numbers! I love asking the audience to suggest the biggest animal they can think of to help the rabbit pull the carrot out of the ground. One little darling suggested we bring in a dinosaur! 😂 Since the dinosaurs are extinct, we asked an elephant for help instead. Finally, after a small but mighty mouse enters the scene, the carrot comes free.
Sing: Bubbles
Tune: Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star
Bubbles floating all around,
Bubbles big and bubbles round.
Bubbles on my toes and nose.
Blow a bubble, up it goes!
Bubbles floating all around,
Bubbles falling to the ground.
CREDIT: CSL
“Let’s wash all the mud and dirt off that carrot before we eat it!”
Chant: Banana Dance by Dr. Jean
We started with the carrot verse, naturally.
Sing: Our Storytime is Over, Wave Goodbye*
Post-Storytime Playlist:
- I’m a Bubble by Jennifer Gasoi
- Bubbles by The Laurie Berkner Band
- Movin Groovin by Mr. Jon & Friends
- Go Go Go! by Caspar Babypants
- Hello Goodbye by Caspar Babypants
*Please visit this page to learn more about my regular storytime songs and routines.
Has your library jumped into programming outdoors? What’s been challenging for you? What’s working well? I would love to learn more in the comments below!
Storytime in the Stacks 