Kathy Haug of the Richmond Public Library offers this popular "Farm"-themed storytime for toddlers and preschoolers:

Finger Play: "The Mice Are Creeping," based on "The Indians Are Creeping" from Let’s Do Fingerplays by Marion Grayson, 1962, 1998:

The mice are creeping [creep fingers of one hand down the opposite arm to wrist}
Shh…Shh… [bring index finger to lips]
The little mice are creeping [creep fingers of one hand down the opposite arm to wrist]
Shh… Shh… [bring index finger to lips]
They do not make a sound as their feet touch the ground [stop all movement]
The little mice are creeping [creep fingers of one hand down the opposite arm to wrist]
Shh… Shh… [bring index finger to lips]

Book: 1-2-3 by Sarah Lynn, or substitute any book that involves identifying farm animals.

Finger Play: "Here is the Beehive" based on the finger play from Hand Rhymes by Marc Brown, 1985:

Here is the beehive [make a fist and point to it with index finger of opposite hand]
Where are the bees? [open hands and shrug]
Hiding inside where nobody sees [make a fist and point to it with index finger of opposite hand]
Here they come now, out of their hive…
One, Two, Three, Four, Five [open each finger as you count to five]
BZZZZ! [move fingers around like bees, or parent may tickle child]

Book: When the Rooster Crowed by Patricia Lillie, 1991.

Song: "Old MacDonald Had A Farm." This song is available in picture book editions or in many song books. There is also a Story Apron packet available with velcro figures, from Lakeshore Learning Materials, www.lakeshorelearning.com.

Book: The Big Fat Worm by Nancy Van Laan, 1987.

Song: "Bingo," an American Folk Song found in many song books, including Singing Bee! A Collection of Favorite Children’s Songs, 1982.

"There was a farmer had a dog, and Bingo was his name, O! B-I-N-G-O, B-I-N-G-O, and Bingo was his name, O!" Sing the song through one time. Sing five more times, each time dropping a letter and substituting a clap – that is, clap once instead of singing "B," clap twice instead of singing "B-I," ending with all claps on the name for the final verse.

Closing Song: "If You’re Happy And You Know It," found in Juba This and Juba That: Story Hour Stretches for Large and Small Groups, 1969, and other books.

Additional Books with a farm theme:

• Barnyard Song by Rhonda Gowler Greene, 1997.
• Cock-A-Doodle-Doo! A Day On The Farm by Venice Shone, 1991.
• The Farmer by Rosalinda Kightly, 1987.
• Who Took The Farmer’s Hat by Joan L. Nodset, 1963.

July, 2001