LibGuides: Stay Home Storytimes: Stay Home Storytimes

Cold, Cold, Cold Storytime

When it's cold what do you do? What do the animals do? Find out with this cold storytime!

Cold Little Duck, Duck, Duck by Lisa Westberg Peters; Sam Williams (Illustrator)
ISBN: 0688161782
Publication Date: 2000-03-01
What's a cold little duck to do when she races the spring thaw to her home pond and wins? She could shiver, slip, slide, and shake--or think lovely, warm thoughts until nature comes through and brings the pond splashing and quacking to life once again.
Winter Bees and Other Poems of the Cold by Joyce Sidman; Rick Allen (Illustrator)
ISBN: 9780547906508
Publication Date: 2014-11-04
In this outstanding picture book collection of poems by Newbery Honor-winning poet, Joyce Sidman (Song of the Water Boatman, Dark Emperor and Other Poems of the Night), discover how animals stay alive in the wintertime and learn about their secret lives happening under the snow.
What a Cold Needs by Barbara Bottner; Chris Sheban (Illustrator)
ISBN: 9780823441723
Publication Date: 2019-02-12
An amusing, heartwarming story about the unavoidable stages of dealing with a cold. What does a cold need? It needs a comfy bed by a window, warm socks, Grandma's chicken soup, and plenty of Dad's silly jokes. In this warmly written picture book about a girl waiting for a rotten case of the sniffles to run its course, she and her family learn an important lesson--a cold needs what a cold needs.

Silly Food

Have a blast and inspire some food bravery with this silly foods storytime!

Craft instructions - Meatball umbrella activity and dragon coloring sheets

Silly Food Storytime

Dragons Love Tacos by Adam Rubin; Daniel Salmieri (Illustrator)
ISBN: 9780803736801
Publication Date: 2012-06-14
Whether they're munching on chicken, beef, big, or small tacos, dragons just can't get enough. But beware: where there are tacos, there's spicy salsa, and dragons eating spicy salsa spells trouble!
Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs by Judi Barrett; Ron Barrett (Illustrator)
ISBN: 0689306474
Publication Date: 1978-08-01
In the quaint town of Chewandswallow, weather came three times a day: breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Instead of typical weather, the townsfolk enjoyed showers of soup and juice, snowfalls of mashed potatoes, and gusts of hamburger storms. What could possible go wrong?
Piranhas Don't Eat Bananas by Aaron Blabey (Illustrator)
ISBN: 9781338297133
Publication Date: 2019-07-09
Brian, a unique piranha, loves munching on bananas and all kinds of fruit, much to the disbelief of his piranha pals. They insist piranhas only eat meat with their sharp teeth, especially when there's a tempting pair of feet nearby. With Blabey's hilarious text and quirky illustrations, this book celebrates the joy of trying new things, even when they seem a little odd!

Bunnies

A sweet storytime that focuses on bunnies and kindness.

Craft Instructions - Bunny Masks!

Bunnies Storytime

The Rabbit Listened by Cori Doerrfeld
ISBN: 9780735231139
A moving and universal picture book about empathy and kindness, sure to soothe heartaches big and small.
The Little Bunnies by Margaret Wise Brown
ISBN: 9781474882910
Come, look - open the book! Follow our happy hops and springs and we'll show you some little things.
Bunny Roo, I Love You by Melissa Marr
ISBN: 9780698172272
A warm and tender welcome to the world!

Music

Sing along with this musical storytime!

Craft instructions - maracas from paper plates and beans

Music Storytime

Punk Farm by Jarrett J. Krosoczka
ISBN: 9780375983351
After a long day of work, Farmer Joe goes home to bed.
But meanwhile, back at the barn . . .
Pete the Cat's World Tour by James Dean
ISBN: 9780062675361
Pete the Cat and his band have packed up their bags and are ready to perform all over the globe.
There's a Hole in the Log at the Bottom of the Lake by Loren Long
ISBN: 9780698174559
Built for giggles and fun read-alouds, this classic children's song has been adapted into a story! Sing along.

Dinosaurs

A prehistoric storytime full of dinosaur fun and some homemade dinosaur fossils!

Craft instructions - homemade dinosaur fossils

Dinosaur Storytime

Dinosaur Kisses by David Ezra Stein
ISBN: 076366104X
"Kids will plunge into the whomping and chomping with glee." - Publishers Weekly (starred review)
How Do Dinosaurs Learn to Read? (eAudiobook) by Jane Yolen
ISBN: 1338233017
Get ready to laugh at this lighthearted, heartwarming, and funny approach to books!

Monkeys

Get ready to monkey around during storytime!

Craft instructions - Itsy Bitsy Monkey’s Coconut Tree

Monkeys Storytime

Five Little Monkeys Jumping on the Bed (Read-Aloud) by Eileen Christelow
ISBN: 9780547547718
Their teeth are brushed, their pajamas are on, and as soon as they say good night to Mama, the five little monkeys start to jump on their bed
Grumpy Monkey by Suzanne Lang; Max Lang (Illustrator)
ISBN: 9780553537888
The hilarious New York Times bestselling picture book about dealing with unexplained feelings...and the danger in suppressing them!
Monkey: Not Ready for Bedtime by Marc Brown
ISBN: 9781101937631
It's time to go to bed . . . but Monkey is NOT ready. Acclaimed author and illustrator Marc Brown (Arthur) offers a fun and reassuring story about bedtime.

Mice

Fun stories about cute tiny creatures!

Craft Instructions - Mouse with Cheese Craft

Mice Storytime

One Shoe Two Shoes by Caryl Hart
ISBN: 9781547600953
With bright, bold illustrations, this stylish picture book features lots of shoes, ten white mice, and one adorable dog.
Penny and Her Song by Kevin Henkes
ISBN: 9780062081988
When Penny comes home from school, she is ready to sing her song.
A Visitor for Bear by Bonny Becker; Kady MacDonald Denton (Illustrator)
ISBN: 9780763680442
"A Visitor for Bear has the feel of a classic, and it's so cozy no parent could object to reading it aloud every night." — The New York Times Book Review (starred review)

Ducks

A storytime filled with quackers!

Craft instructions - tissue paper duck

Duck Storytime

QUACKERS by Liz Wong
ISBN: 9780553511567
A cat who thinks he's a duck? He must be Quackers!!
Truck Full of Ducks by Ross Burach
ISBN: 9781338257236
Publication Date: 2018-03-27
Did you call for a truck full of ducks?
Duck! Rabbit! by Amy Krouse Rosenthal
ISBN: 0811868656
Publication Date: 2009-02-25
From the award-winning team of author Amy Krouse Rosenthal and illustrator Tom Lichtenheld comes a clever take on the age-old optical illusion: is it a duck or a rabbit? Depends on how you look at it!

Busy Buzzy Bees

A storytime all about bees and the important work they do!

The Bee Book by Charlotte Milner
ISBN: 9781465465535
Publication Date: 2018-02-06
Discover more about our fuzzy little insect friends with award-winning author and illustrator Charlotte Milner. The perfect introduction to bee conservation for little ones. Learn all about the beautiful world of bees and their adventure from flower to flower. You'll find out just how much they matter, why they are declining, and what we can do to help in this adorable kids' book.
Brilliant Bees by Linda Glaser; Gay W. Holland (Illustrator)
ISBN: 0761326707
Publication Date: 2003-08-05
Simple text and illustrations describe the physical characteristics, habits, and life cycle of the honey bee.
The Thing about Bees by Shabazz Larkin
ISBN: 0998047791
Publication Date: 2019-08-01
"Sometimes bees can be a bit rude. They fly in your face and prance on your food." And yet... without bees, we might not have strawberries for shortcakes or avocados for tacos! Shabazz Larkin's The Thing About Bees is a Norman Rockwell-inspired Sunday in the park, a love poem from a father to his two sons, and a tribute to the bees that pollinate the foods we love to eat.

Back to School

A storytime to help get ready for going back to school!

Craft instructions - dinosaur stress ball and a handprint pigeon

Back to School Storytime

We Don't Eat Our Classmates by Ryan T Higgins
ISBN: 9781368041805
It's the first day of school for Penelope Rex, and she can't wait to meet her classmates. But it's hard to make human friends when they're so darn delicious!
The Pigeon HAS to Go to School! by Mo Willems
ISBN: 9781368046459
Publication Date: 2019-07-02
Why does the Pigeon have to go to school? He already knows everything! And what if he doesn't like it? What if the teacher doesn't like him? What if he learns TOO MUCH!?! Ask not for whom the school bell rings; it rings for the Pigeon!

Colors

A storytime full of color, imagination, and fun!

Craft instructions - color chameleons

Color Storytime

The Crayons' Book of Colors by Drew Daywalt
ISBN: 9780515157857
It's Duncan's birthday, and all the crayons want to make him a card!
Steam Train Dream Train Colors by Sherri Duskey Rinker
ISBN: 9781452154145
All aboard for a rainbow of train cars and their lively animal crew!
A Color of His Own by Leo Lionni
ISBN: 9780307974266
Elephants are gray. Pigs are pink. Only the chameleon has no color of his own.

Bears

Snuggle up with your favorite teddy bear for a cuddly storytime!

Craft instructions - newspaper bears

Bears Storytime

Bears Make the Best Reading Buddies by Carmen Oliver; Jean Claude (Illustrator)
ISBN: 1623706548
All the students in the class are assigned reading buddies, except for Adelaide. She already has one—a bear!
Big Bear, Small Mouse by Karma Wilson; Jane Chapman (Illustrator)
ISBN: 9781481459716
Publication Date: 2016-11-29
Even young readers can have fun with Bear in this sweet introduction to opposites by Karma Wilson and Jane Chapman, creators of "Bear's New Friend". Bear is big and mouse is small, but they stick together through highs and lows in their glen, exploring opposites in a delightful concept book perfect for bedtime reading.
Sleep Tight, Sleepy Bears by Margaret Wise Brown; Julie Clay (Illustrator)
ISBN: 1445493284
. . . a perfect bedtime story for your little one.

Body Parts

What do hands, feet, and bones have in common? They're the body parts in this storytime!

Craft instructions - make a face (and practice labeling body parts)

Body Parts Storytime

Feet, Go to Sleep by Barbara Bottner
ISBN: 9780449813270
A gentle bedtime book that includes a proven relaxation technique parents can use to help their little ones go to sleep after an exciting day.
Give Me Back My Bones! by Kim Norman; Bob Kolar (Illustrator)
ISBN: 9781536210514
A silly pirate skeleton seeks to put its bones back together in this rhyming romp beneath the waves.
Whose Hands Are These? by Miranda Paul; Luciana Navarro Powell (Illustrator)
ISBN: 9781512407389
The hands in this book—and the people attached to them—do all sorts of helpful work.

Dogs

Wag your tails for this storytime based on doggy friends.

Craft instructions - Pup Cups

Dogs Storytime

Walk Your Dog by Elizabeth Stevens Omlor
ISBN: 9780399546532
Pet lovers will adore this funny romp about the ups and downs of day in the life of a kid and her canine.
A Dog Named Doug by Karma Wilson; Matt Myers (Illustrator)
ISBN: 9781442449329
Dogs love to dig but one dog named Doug takes digging to new heights (and depths) . . .
Snow Dog, Sand Dog by Linda Joy Singleton; Jess Golden (Illustrator)
ISBN: 9781480474871
In this whimsical picture book, a young girl uses her crafty nature and imagination to create four-legged friends each season as the weather changes.

Numbers

Get ready to count along with this number filled storytime!

Craft Instructions - Crafty Numbers

Numbers Storytime

One Is a Piñata by Roseanne Greenfield Thong; John Parra (Illustrator)
ISBN: 9781452165844
One is a rainbow. One is a cake. One is a piñata that's ready to break!
10 Little Ninjas by Miranda Paul; Nate Wragg (Illustrator)
ISBN: 9780553534993
A charming bedtime counting book about ten sneaky little characters who aren't ready to go to sleep... until daddy calls the sensei to send them back to bed.
Pete the Cat: Five Little Ducks by James Dean (Illustrator); Kimberly Dean
ISBN: 9780062404480
Publication Date: 2017-01-24
Join Pete the Cat as he leads five little ducks on a groovy adventure in this fun adaptation of the classic children's song "Five Little Ducks," with original illustrations by James Dean, the New York Times bestselling creator of Pete the Cat.

Summer

Enjoy warm weather and sunshine all year round with this bright summer storytime.

Craft Instructions - Egg Carton Bird Feeders

Summer Storytime

The Truth About My Unbelievable Summer . . . by Davide Cali
ISBN: 9781452146928
. . . a fantastical fast-paced, detail-rich illustrated summer adventure that's so unbelievable, it just might be true!
The Sandcastle That Lola Built by Megan Maynor; Kate Berube (Illustrator)
ISBN: 9781524716172
A modern, summery spin on the classic The House That Jack Built, in which Lola's day at the beach leads to new friends and a giant sandcastle.
Summer Sun Risin' by W. Nikola-Lisa; Don Tate
ISBN: 9781620140710
. . . this loving tribute to childhood, farm life, and family togetherness will resonate with readers of all backgrounds today.

Animales

¡Hora del cuento en español todo sobre animales!

Animales Hora del Cuento

Muu, Moo! Rimas de Animales/Animal Nursery Rhymes by Alma Flor Ada; Vivi Escriva (Illustrator); F. Isabel Campoy
ISBN: 9780061346132
Publication Date: 2010-03-09
Debajo de un botón, ton ton, que encontró Martín, tin, tin había un ratón, ton, ton, ay, que chiquitín, tin, tin! Martin found a mouse, mouse, mouse, 'neath a button on the floor, floor, floor, in a tiny house, house, house, with a tiny door, door, door.
Flutter and Hum / Aleteo y Zumbido by Julie Paschkis (Illustrator)
ISBN: 9781627791038
Publication Date: 2015-08-18
Poemas hermosos en español e ingles que celebran una gran variedad de animales.

Beautiful poems in English and Spanish celebrate a wide variety of animals in this bilingual kids book Flutter & Hum / Aleteo y Zumbido All sorts of animals flutter and hum, dance and stretch, and slither and leap their way through this joyful collection of poems in English and Spanish.

Outside, Outside Storytime

Spark imagination, remember how easily things can change, and explore the world in this outside themed storytime!

Outside, Inside by LeUyen Pham (Illustrator)
ISBN: 9781250798350
Publication Date: 2021-01-05
From Caldecott honoree LeUyen Pham, Outside, Inside is a moving picture book that captures the unforgettable moment during the pandemic when people all over the world came together. It celebrates the essential workers, frontline workers, and communities that worked with each other to protect our loved ones. Something strange happened on an unremarkable day just before the season changed. Everybody who was outside . . . . . . went inside.
Outside Amelia's Window by Caroline Nastro; Anca Sandu Budisan (Illustrator)
ISBN: 9781542027854
Publication Date: 2023-03-28
New friends to meet, new worlds to explore... Amelia is a shy little girl with a big imagination. After an injury, she finds solace in stories--fairy tales about faraway lands and magical creatures. When two children move in next door, Amelia wonders: Can she play with them? Can she be as brave as the heroines in the stories she reads?
Outside by Deirdre Gill (Illustrator)
ISBN: 9780547910659
Publication Date: 2014-10-21
In this gentle picture book fantasy, a child's world transforms through his hard work, imagination, and persistence when he opens the door and steps outside, into to the brave new world of his imagination.

Playful Puppies

Everybody loves puppies! Have a mental cuddle with this puppy storytime!

A Puppy for Annie by Kim Lewis (Illustrator)
ISBN: 9780763632007
Publication Date: 2006-10-24
In touchably soft pastels, the creator of Floss gently captures the growing bond between puppy and child. Full color.
Hello, Puppy! by Jane Cowen-Fletcher (Illustrator)
ISBN: 9780763643034
Publication Date: 2010-06-08
Who can resist? Any child who has ever wished for or had a new puppy will delight in this cozy portrait of puppy love. What's that puppy doing? Sleeping, playing, running -- all the things every new puppy loves to do.
The Poky Little Puppy by Janette Sebring Lowrey; Gustaf Tenggren (Illustrator)
ISBN: 0307903281
Publication Date: 2003-02-11
One of the original 12 Little Golden Books, Now this curious little puppy is ready to win the hearts and minds of a new generation of kids.

Cows

A fun storytime filled with the most recognizable farm animal, cows.

Craft instructions - cow face/mask

Cow Storytime

Only Cows Allowed! by Lynn Plourde
ISBN: 9780892729616
Once uPUN a new New England farm, the cows refuse to let the other farm animals mooooove into the barn.
Farmyard Beat by Lindsey Craig
ISBN: 9780375988868
As soon as the sun goes down, the animals are up! A toe tapping farmyard dance-off is about to begin!
Farm Animals: Cows by Sheri Lynn Doyle
ISBN: 9781496627568
Chew some grass. Flick a tail. Cows are at home on the farm.

Feelings/Emotions

A storytime full of opportunities to discuss feelings and how to express yourself.

Craft instructions - Emoji tin can holders

Feelings Storytime

Hurty Feelings by Helen Lester; Lynn Munsinger (Illustrator)
ISBN: 9780547347646
In the face of real insults, will Fragility [the hippo] finally learn to take a compliment?
Happy! by Pharrell Williams
ISBN: 9780698409088
Now Pharrell Williams brings his beloved song to the youngest of readers in photographs of children across cultures celebrating what it means to be happy.
Love Monster by Rachel Bright
ISBN: 9781466860018
Love Monster is a slightly hairy monster trying to fit in with the cuddly residents of Cutesville.

Manners

Remember to use those magic words with this polite storytime!

Craft instructions - The Tree of Good Manners

Manners Storytimes

Rules of the Wild by Bridget Levin; Amanda Shepherd (Illustrator)
ISBN: 9781452137186
Playing in the dirt, staying up all night, and leaving clothes strewn across the floor are not a problem if you're a wild animal.
Are Pirates Polite? by Corinne Demas; Artemis Roehrig; David Catrow (Illustrator)
ISBN: 9780545628754
These pirates remember to say "please" and "thank you." If pirates can be polite, surely young readers can, too!
Please, Mr. Panda by Steve Antony
ISBN: 9780545804165
What is the proper way to ask Mr. Panda for doughnuts?

Family

Read about families from all different backgrounds, but the one thing they have in common is love!

Craft instructions - family tree craft

Families are Fun Storytime

Islandborn by Junot Díaz; Leo Espinosa (Illustrator)
ISBN: 9780735230958
So when Lola's teacher asks the students to draw a picture of where their families immigrated from, all the kids are excited. Except Lola.
The Giant Hug by Sandra Horning; Valeri Gorbachev (Illustrator)
ISBN: 9780307982346
How do you give your granny a hug when she lives far away? Send it through the mail, of course!
This Is Me by Jamie Lee Curtis; Laura Cornell (Illustrator)
ISBN: 9780761189664
Raising important identity issues like "Where did we come from?" and "Who are we?" This Is Me is as delightful as it is important, sure to stimulate dinner table conversation.

Spring

How do we know it's spring? Find out with this storytime!

Craft instructions - Pasta Butterflies

Spring Storytime

Hogbert's Spring by Georgie Birkett
ISBN: 1472331834
Spring is on its way..."But what is Spring?" wonders Hogbert.
Little Blue Truck's Springtime by Jill McElmurry (Illustrator); Alice Schertle
ISBN: 9781328466679
Young fans will love finding all kinds of baby animals by tapping on the images in this delightful interactive book.
Sun above and Blooms Below by Felicia Sanzari Chernesky; Susan Swan (Illustrator)
ISBN: 9781504001144
On a springtime field trip to a local farm, children in Miss Ava's classroom watch chicks hatch from eggs, see cloudy skies turn sunny, and find all kinds of opposites in the world around them.