My first ever Outside Storytime got moved from the nearby park to the parking lot! This switch (coinciding with the installation of our new auto shop playscape) inspired my transportation themed storytime plan. The change of scenery didn’t seem to deter folks… we still had 137 people in attendance!
Pre-Storytime Playlist:
- Here Comes the Sun by Caspar Babypants
- Baby’s Driving a Car by Caspar Babypants
- Riding in My Car by Woodie Guthrie
- Wheels on the Bus by Mr. Jon and 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
Sing: If You’re Happy and You Know It…*
Sing: If You’re Ready for a Story…*
Story: Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus!
My library ditched all mask wearing requirements and restrictions back in May (insert pregnant pause)… so now we have tons of foam poster boards from outdated signage. These boards are the perfect size for our sandwich display easels, so I repurposed them for storytime!
One of my fabulous teammates played the Pigeon, my boss played the Bus Driver, and I took charge of facilitating audience interaction. I posted the script on the back of the easel in case if we forgot any lines. We didn’t, but it felt good to know the words were there, just in case!
Sing: The Wheels on the Bus
We added a verse about brakes squeaking at the red light, which set the stage perfectly for our next song!
Sing: Green, Yellow, Red by Music with Mar (scarves)
“You know so much about traffic lights! You’re going to be great drivers one day. My first car when I was learning to drive was a little red car. Let’s pretend we’re driving down the road in a little red car! Grown-ups, this is a fun bounce to do if you have a little one on your lap.”
Bounce: Little Red Car
Tune: Little Red Wagon
Driving down the road in my little red car,
Driving down the road in my little red car,
Driving down the road in my little red car.
Won’t you be my darling?
Repeat:
Wheel fell off and the car rolled over…
I’m gonna take it to the Library Pit Stop…
CREDIT: PIGGYBACK
“Look at that! My red car is good as new. Let’s go on a drive again with some friends!”
Sing: Clean and Dirty Cars
“Uh-oh, we better take those muddy cars to the car wash!”
I whipped up some giant bubbles following these wand instructions and bubble mix recipe from HGTV: https://www.hgtv.com/design/make-and-celebrate/handmade/how-to-make-giant-bubbles.
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
Sing: I Took a Bath in the Washing Machine by Jim Gill (scarves)
“All those bubbles remind me of soapy suds in the washing machine!”
Sing: Our Storytime is Over, Wave Goodbye*
We continued to play with bubbles after storytime. They were a HUGE hit!
Post-Storytime Playlist:
- Car Wash by Rose Royce
- Bubbles by The Laurie Berkner Band
- 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.
What secrets have you discovered to Outside Storytime success? Bubbles? Giant props? Oral stories? Would love to learn more in the comments below!
Storytime in the Stacks 
What library do you work at that there is no masking requirement!?
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Megan, if you send me an email or a Twitter message, I will let you know!
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