The first story times of 2026! Back to school story times typically take place in August. However, I want to reuse my school bus flannel AND announce the “Stuff the Bus” school supply drive for the 2026-2027 school year. We will start collecting donations to gift each child a backpack full of their annual school supplies. Since there are over 700 students, we are starting a bit early in our efforts.
Stuff the Bus Donations
To get the donations rolling, I contacted the local school to get the school supply lists. I then went through each grade and found links to the products that the school wants the families to buy. The major retailer in our area is Walmart so most of the links go directly to their website. However, some of the supplies are not available via Walmart so there are some Amazon links as well. If you or someone you know wants to donate to a growing rural community school district, please send supplies before July 15th to the address below:
Attn: Stuff the Bus Program
705 NW 10th St
Newcastle, OK 73065
U.S.A
Story Time
Every Wednesday I do 2 story times at the library. The first one is Family Story Time which is suited for ages 0-12. The second is Toddle Story Time that is geared towards ages 1-3. When I prep for my story times, I try to choose the path of least resistance. This means, I pick a plethora of books and make a game time decision on which one to read. Below are some of my selections:
Warm Welcome: Music & Nametags
As families come into my story time area, I have a playlist with relevant songs. You can find my back to school playlist here: Back to School Spotify Playlist. I greet each person who walks into the room and ask if they would like a name tag. It is very important to me that I say and write their name correctly so I take my time during this process.
Welcome Song
To call everyone together once we are settled, I have everyone wiggle their fingers. I will say “Let’s wiggle our fingers, show me your nose, point to your toes” as I show them with my own body. This preps the participants to jump into Hello, Everybody found on Jbrary’s YouTube Channel:
Well, hello everybody!
Can you touch your toes?
Touch your nose?
Touch your nose?
Well, hello everybody!
Can you touch your nose?
Hello, everybody!
(toes, pat your head, rub your tummy)
Round of Applause: To signal a transition to the next activity, I will always applaud in a circle.
Book 1: A Hook
For my first book of the story time, I always try to read something that will grab my participants attention. This will usually be a short punchy familiar story that gets the kids excited. For both my family and toddler story times, I will probably will start with Pete the Cat Rocking in my School Shoes by Eric Litwin and James Dean.
round of applause
Announcements
After getting my participants attention, I will tell them about upcoming events at the library, provide early literacy resources, and tell them about our theme for the week. It is during this segment, that I will talk a bit about the Stuff the Bus School Supply Drive.
Song: The More We Get Together
To call back the group from announcements, I sing another song. I will model the movements before we sing it all together. Jbrary has excellent lyrics and motions to this classic:
The more we get together,
together, together
The more we get together
The happier we'll be
For your friends are my friends
and my friends are your friends
The more we get together
The happier we'll be
The more we read together,
together, together
The more we read together
The happier we'll be
Read big books and small books
Read short books and tall books
The more we read together
The happier we'll be.
round of applause
Flannel: The Seals on the Bus
When searching for a flannel for school themed story times, I had a lot of difficulty choosing something versatile. Then I found storytime katie’s post about making The Seals on the Bus flannel. Instead of felt, I used foam which made it much easier for me. I was able to draw the details on without a problem!
Flannels: 1 school bus, 1 tiger, 1 monkey, 1 rabbit, 1 goose, 1 snake, 1 seal, 1 person
Instructions: Put the bus on the board and introduce the song. For each verse put the corresponding foam flannel piece in the bus before you start singing.
The big yellow bus is ready to roll, but wait... it can’t leave just yet.
First, it has to pick up all its wiggly, giggly, noisy passengers!
Who’s at the first stop? Oh wow—look at that!
It’s a seal! Let’s all say "Arp, arp, arp!"
The seals on the bus go arp, arp, arp
arp, arp, arp,
arp, arp, arp
The seals on the bus go
arp, arp, arp
All around the town.
The rabbits on the bus go up and down
The snakes on the bus go hiss, hiss, hiss
The monkeys on the bus go eeh, eeh, eeh
The tigers on the bus go roar, roar, roar
The geese on the bus go honk, honk, honk
The people on the bus go help, help, help!
Before I put the flannel away, I like to count the flannels and say goodbye to them as I put them away.
round of applause
Movement: Scarves
The kids are probably getting antsy at this time, so I will give EVERYONE a scarf so we can dance to a song. The scarf for this activity is mainly as a distraction while I get the song set up. After passing out the scarves, I will model what movements we will do in the song. I chose “Hop to School” by Jazzy Ash because of the theme connection and multiple movement opportunities in the song.
Movement Set One: Sway side to side then hop. (bounce baby in lap if small child)
Movement Set Two: Hug yourself then run in place. (hug baby then bounce faster)
Movement Set Three: Wiggle fingers, walk in place, then stomp. (tap baby, sway side to side, then bounce)
Movement Set Four: Pretend to drive car (sway side to side)
After the song, I will collect the scarves while singing the Barney clean up song.
Round of applause
Song: This is Big Big Big
While getting settled after clean up, I ask the group to make their arms big. I model the motions for “This is Big, Big, Big” before we sing the song:
This is big, big, big.
This is small, small, small.
This is short, short, short.
This is tall, tall, tall.
This is fast, fast, fast.
This is slow, slow, slow.
This is yes, yes, yes.
This is no, no, no.
I like to do this familiar song to help regulate the kids. We do it at every story time and try to make fun variations each time. We will do it slow, fast, in a robot voice, etc.
round of applause
Book 2: A Narrative
For school themed story times, I like to emphasize the development of writing skills. The early literacy tip of scribbling will tie directly into the craft at the end of story time. I will explain the connection as I explain the craft.
I always like to read a story with a clear beginning, middle, and end in my story times. For the different age groups, I have to select different books. For my toddlers, I will probably read Click, Clack, Quack to School! by Doreen Cronin. It has lots of animal sounds and interactions. For my family story time, I will probably read Miss Nelson is Missing! by James Marshall. Both these stories can be cut down easily based on the attention of the participants.
round of applause
Early Literacy Tip
During each story time, I try to talk to the families about early literacy by providing bite size tips. My library system developed early literacy tips based on the work Saroj Ghoting. For school themed story times, I like to talk about writing skills as kids are starting to utilize writing utensils more regularly.
When we encourage our children to scribble, we are strengthening the fine motor skills they will need to write. Eventually, they will have enough coordination to draw shapes, then letters and numbers. Writing starts with scribbling, so encourage your child to
– Pioneer Library System
After I talk about the tip, I like to directly connect it to an activity or book. For this story time, it will be connected to the craft. During this time, I will explain the crafts and show examples.
Closing Song: If you’re happy and you know it.
I always close with the same song:
If you're happy and you know it,
clap your hands.
If you're happy and you know it,
clap your hands.
If you're happy and you know it,
and you really want to show it,
If you're happy and you know it,
clap your hands.
If you're happy and you know it,
stomp your feet.
If you're happy and you know it,
stomp your feet.
If you're happy and you know it,
and you really want to show it,
If you're happy and you know it,
stomp your feet.
If you're happy and you know it,
shout hooray.
If you're happy and you know it,
shout hooray.
If you're happy and you know it,
and you really want to show it,
If you're happy and you know it,
shout hooray.
After the song, I tell the participants to turn on their listening ears and look at their grown-ups to find out what they will do next.
Craft/Activities
I never know who will be at my story times, so I like to have a variety of stay and play activities. While families are participating in the activities, I play the themed playlist.
Coloring Sheet
This activity is one I will put on the floor table with jumbo crayons. Kids can practice their coloring skills with a themed coloring page. I found this one on PJ’s and Paints website.
Build a Pencil!
For kids that are able to work on their cutting and pasting skills, I will put out scissors, glue sticks, crayons, and the Build a Pencil worksheet on raised tables. I will put them to the right of the coloring sheets as the order of difficulty of skill follows reading direction.
Bubbles!
To signal that the space is closing, I will start the bubble machine. I will have the bubbles going for the length of one song.
I am looking forward to my next year in story times! When I can, I will write a post about the books I am reading and programs/events that are happening in my side of the library world!
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