Bedtime Storytime for 2s and 3s!

1. Regular Opening Song (to tune of the Mulberry Bush)

This is the way our hands say hello,
With a clap, clap-clap, Clap, clap-clap
This the way our hands say hello,
With a clap, clap-clap, clap-clap

This is the way our knees say hello,
With a tap tap-tap,
Tap tap-tap
This is the way our knees say hello,
With a tap tap-tap, tap-tap

This is the way we wave hello,
Wave hello, wave hello
This is the way we wave hello,
So early in the morning

2. Book: Tuck Me In! By Dean Hacohen and Sherry Scharschmidt

This book is so darling. It names many baby animals that need to be tucked in and the illustrations are adorable and vibrant. Each animal presented has a half-sized page on the right that is the bespread which you turn over to tuck the animal in. It is such a fun book and it's perfect for this age group. I asked children to name the animals as I read through the book which helps to build their vocabulary!

3. Flannelboard: My Stuffed Animals Get Ready For Bed by Annie Inches

This is an excellent children's book that can be made into a wonderful flannelboard story. You can act out some of the words while you put the pictures of the animals onto the flannel board. The animal names are bolded in red and you can use any clipart that suits your fancy!

My stuffed animals are wild - not sleepy at all.
Tumbling and twirling, they dance down the hall.
They slide and they squeel-one stands on his head.
How can I get these guys ready for bed?

My furry polar bear goes scrub-a-dub-dub.
Hush, furry polar bear-get out of the tub.

My scruffy monkey bangs a pot on his head.
Hush, scruffy monkey-hop into your bed.

My squeely pink pig plays electric guitar.
Hush, pink pig-wish on a star.

My little red hen eats alphabet soup.
Hush, little hen-climb into your coop.

My fluffy kitten hides under the rug.
Hush, fluffy kitten-give me a hug.

My spotted cow signs songs to the lambies.
Hush, spotted cow-put on your jammies.

My slippery snake slithers and hisses.
Hush, slippery snake-blow me some kisses.

My velvety horse asks for some light.
hush, velvety horse-now say goodnight

My shaggy llama winds up his clock.
Hush, shaggy llama-hush-hush and tick tock.

My scaly dragon stretches and yawns.
Hush, scaly dragon-the curtains are drawn.

The time has come to say your good-nights.
Hush, cuddly ones-turn out the lights.

Now my stuffed animals are as safe as can be.
Settled and quiet, they watch over me.

Good night. Sleep tight.

4. Song: Puttin on My Pajamas - Baby Loves Jazz

5. Book: How Do Dinosaurs Say Goodnight? by Jane Yolen

This is SUCH a fun book! The kids really love it and the parents always get a kick out of it as well. I really love all the dinosaur books by Jane Yolen.

6. Flannelboard Story: In His Jungle Bed
Read this softly until the last line

Way down deep in his jungle bed
a lion rests his sleepy head
a SNAKE comes by and asks him to roar
(put your head on your hands, like you are sleeping and snore)
 
Way down deep in his jungle bed
a lion rests his sleepy head
a MONKEY comes by and asks him to roar
But the lion just snores a gentle snore
(put your head on your hands, like you are sleeping and snore)

Way down deep in his jungle bed
a lion rests his sleepy head
a PARROT comes by and asks him to roar
But the lion just snores a gentle snore
Then he lifts his head with a great big ROAR!
(ROAR LOUDLY)

 

7. Song: Bouncin on the Bed by Philly Joe Giraffe



8. Flannel Board Rhyme:

5 yellow crescent moons,
How sleepy one did snore!
He went away to bed
and then there were 4.

4 yellow crescent moons.
Shining bright as could be.
One went to find the stars
and then there were 3.

3 yellow crescent moons.
Now what could they do?
"I'm off to play," said the bright eyed one
and then there were 2.

2 yellow crescent moons
Out came the sun.
"I't's much too bright", one complained
and then there was one.

1 yellow crescent moon
Alone so way up high.
Shines and shines for all the earth
Can you see it in the sky?


9. Closing Song (to tune of the Mulberry Bush)

This is the way our hands say goodbye,
With a clap clap-clap,Clap, clap-clap
This is the way our hands say goodbye,
With a clap clap-clap, clap-clap

This is the way our knees say goodbye,
With a tap, tap-tap,Tap tap-tap
This is the way our knees say goodbye,
With a tap tap-tap, tap-tap

This is the way we wave goodbye,
Wave goodbye, wave goodbye,
This is the way we wave goodbye,
Goodbye until next time

10. Give children a star stamp on their hand!

Other books to consider:

The Whole Night Through by David Frampton

This book is SO beautiful. I really love the woodcut illustrations because they provide such a nice contrast of colors for a night time setting. There are a lot of big words in this book that will be unfamiliar to toddlers but there's absolutely nothing wrong with that! It's never too early to introduce obscure animals to children!

Night Lights by Susan Gal

This is a truly beautifully illustrated book about a child's nighttime routine through the many lights that she sees. There are street lights, night lights, star lights and good nights. This would be a great addition to any toddler storytime about bed time! "Night Lights” was included in School Library Journal’s Best Books of 2009 list! This book has also received a tramendous review from Kirkus Reviews and she also received a star, which is "assigned to books of unusual merit." Here is what they had to say:

“For this family of three – mother, daughter, and pup – the everyday events of an evening take on special meaning in this debut author/illustrator’s capable hands. A single word or two describing the lights that brighten the night determine each page’s action. A streetlight illuminates the darkened cityscape as mother and child cycle home; firelight makes for a cozy backyard BBQ; a flashlight produces a shadow-puppet play. Gal cleverly weaves these intimate moments together to create a seamless bedtime story. The illustrations, done with a heavy oil crayon or chalk pastel-type texture in combination with cut and pasted photographic elements, are infused with an inviting warmth. Reminiscent of Ezra Jack Keats, for the atmospheric collage work, and Margaret Bloy Graham, with a pooch that could double for Harry (whose story the girl reads in bed with her dog), the images manage to be both fresh and familiar. The many warm renderings of light – the glow from a reading light, the comfort of the night-light and the peacefulness of the moonlight – reveal the loveliness of a night spent with an affectionate family”. -- Kirkus Reveiws

Peekaboo Bedtime by Rachel Isadora

 

This is also an adorable book which goes through all the things a child sees in a regular day, from grandparents to daddy to the moon to a rubber ducky at bathtime! The ending is "Peekaboo, I see you!"

Time for bed, Fred! by Yasmeen Ismail

I really love this book not only because of the fun story, but also because of the beautiful water color illustrations! This is also a story children can relate to if they happen to have a dog. The dog Fred is shown doing all sorts of activities other than going to bed, such as jumping in a puddle or hiding in some flowers. The texts repeats, "that's not your bed, fred!" Then fred is shown taking a bath and zipping down the stairs without being dried (which, if you have a dog, is something we've all dealt with!) Then Fred is shown hiding again and the texts reads "Fred? .... Fred?..... Fred? it's very late now, Fred. Time for bed." Then the dog is read one story and afterwards he jumps onto the reader's bed, "Oh Fred, that's MY bed!" Let's find your bed, Fred..."  and at last, Fred is shown sleeping in his dog bed.

Nap in a Lap by Sarah Wilson

 

This is a cute and short book featuring baby animals taking their naps in very interesting places. Piglets snooze in haystacks. Ladbugs doze on rosebuds.But what's the best place for a tired little girl and her puppy to nap? Just like the other babies, they find the perfect spot, which so happens to be a nap in a lap!

Additional Fingerplays and Rhymes:

Going to Bed
This little child is going to bed (point to self)
Down on the pillow he lays his head (rest head on hands)
He wraps himself in covers tight (wrap hands across body)
And this is the way he sleeps all night (close eyes, nod head)
Morning comes, he opens his eyes (raise head, eyes open wide)
Off with a toss the covers fly (fling arms wide)
Soon he is up and dressed and awake (jump up)
Ready for fun and play all day (clap hands and turn in a circle)
Credit: Best Kids Book Site // Used: “Day and Night” Storytime & “Starry Night Stories”

Five White and Fluffy Sheep
Five white and fluffy sheep (hold up five fingers)
In the pasture fast asleep (hands under head, lean over)
Their wool kept them cozy all night long (hug yourself)
Snore! Snore! (make snore sounds)
The farmer slipped away with one (hold up one finger)
And sheared the wool till he was done (clap)
Then there were 4 white fluffy sheep (hold up four fingers)
Baa! Baa! (baa!)

Big Yellow Moon
Big yellow moon shines so bright, (circle overhead)
Glides across the starry night (arms left to right)
Looks down at me (hand shades eyes)
Asleep in bed, (head on hands)
Whispers, “Good night sleepyhead.” (shh)
Big yellow moon, your turn is done (move arms down)
Here comes Mr. Morning Sun (circle overhead)
I wake up. (arms stretch out)
You go to bed. (head on hands)
“Sleep well, Moon, you sleepyhead.” (shh)

Five Little Bats
Five little bats flew out one night
(Hold up five fingers)
To have some fun in the bright moonlight.
(Move your hand in a circle)
The first one said, “You can’t catch me!”
(Move your thumb away to the side)
The second one said, “Look out for the tree!”
(Shake your first finger in warning)
The third one said, “I love to swoop,”
(Make your middle finger do a graceful dive)
The fourth one did a loop-the-loop.
(Move your ring finger in a circle)
The fifth one said, “Let’s catch some gnats!”
(Wiggle your little finger)
Isn’t it fun being five little bats!
(Wiggle all five fingers)