Storytime: Zoo Animals!

This storytime was for babies and their caregivers at my library.

Opening Songs and Rhymes

(we use these same ones every week)

Hello Song

Lap Bounce: Little Red Wagon

(we use the version on the album Wiggleworms Love You)

Bouncing up and down in my little red wagon (3x)

Won’t you be my darlin’

Down the hill and around the corner, weeee! (3x)

Won’t you be my darlin’

The wheel fell off & the wagon tipped over, woah! (3x)

Won’t you be my darlin’

I’m gonna fix it with my little hammer (3x)

Won’t you be my darlin’

Bouncing up and down in my little red wagon (3x)

Won’t you be my darlin’

Fingerplay: Roly Poly

(with baby's arms or in front of baby)

Roly poly, roly poly up up up (roll arms up)

Roly poly, roly poly down down down (roll arms down)

Roly poly, roly poly out out out (roll arms away from baby)

Roly poly, roly poly in in in (roll arms close to baby)

Roly poly, roly poly clap clap clap (clap)

Roly poly, roly poly lap lap lap (pat baby's lap)

Themed Songs and Rhymes

Song: You Can Hear

(Tune: She’ll Be Coming ‘Round the Mountain)

You can hear the lions roaring at the zoo, ROAR ROAR!

You can hear the lions roaring at the zoo, ROAR ROAR!

You can hear the lions roaring,

You can hear the lions roaring,

You can hear the lions roaring at the zoo, ROAR ROAR!

You can hear the snakes hissing at the zoo...

You can hear the bears growling at the zoo...

Fingerplay: Up The Hill

(Adult does the actions on baby's arm)

Here goes a turtle up a hill,

creepy, creepy, creepy, creepy (tickle fingers slowly up the arm)

Here goes a rabbit up a hill,

boing, boing, boing, boing (bounce fingers up the arm)

Here goes a snake up the hill,

slither, slither, slither, slither (slide hand up the arm)

Here goes an elephant up the hill,

thud, thud, thud, thud (gently push hand up arm with each thud)

Here comes an elephant down the hill,

boom, boom, boom, boom, CRASH (roll hand down arm and clap)

Song: Five Little Monkeys

Five little monkeys jumping on the bed (bounce babies)

One fell off and bumped his head (tip over)

Mama called the doctor and the doctor said,

“No more monkeys jumping on the bed!” (shake finger)

Song: Old McDonald had a ZOO!

(Tune: Old McDonald had a Farm)

Old MacDonald had a ZOO, EE-I-EE-I-O.

And in that ZOO he had a lion, EE-I-EE-I-O,

With a rawr-rawr here and a rawr-rawr there,

Here a rawr, there a rawr, everywhere a rawr-rawr.

Old MacDonald had a ZOO, EE-I-EE-I-O.

(we used our puppets with each animal)

Books and Play

Polar Bear, Polar Bear, What Do You Hear? Written by Bill Martin, illustrated by Eric Carle

All the animals you can hear at the zoo. Including children. I read this aloud while my storytime partner pulled out puppets/stuffed animals to go with each puppet. The babies loved them. Each time I read the word "hear," we'd touch our ears.

Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See? Written by Bill Martin, illustrated by Eric Carle

Brown bear sees some pretty colorful animals. We passed out board books so that caregivers could read one-on-one with their babies.

Then we said our goodbyes with lots of bubbles! And pulled out our toys for play time.

Other (Board)Book Ideas

Good Night, Gorilla Written and illustrated by Peggy Rathmann

Dear Zoo Written and illustrated by Rod Campbell

From Head to Toe Written and illustrated by Eric Carle