Fingerplays
Storytimes for Toddlers and Preschoolers
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Fingerplays, songs, and rhymes to use in storytimes
listed in alphabetical order by title

 
ABC School
A B C D E
School is where I want to be.
F G H I J
Learning to read and write each day.
K L M N O
Boys and girls I want to know.
P Q R S T
Sharing books with you and me.
U V W X Y
Now it's time to say goodbye.
Z Z Z Z Z
School is where I want to be.
After My Bath
After my bath I try, try, try
To rub with a towel til I'm dry, dry, dry
Hands to dry, and fingers and toes
And two wet legs and a shiny nose
Just think how much less time it would take
If I were a dog and could shake, shake, shake!
 
The Airplane
The airplane has great big wings (arms outstretched)
Its propeller spins around and sings (roll hands)
BRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR
The airplane goes up (light arms and body)
The airplane goes down (lower arms and body)
The airplane flies high (arms outstretched, spin around)
All over the town!
 
All Around the Farmyard
All around the farmyard, (hold hands and walk in circle) 
The animals were sleeping
The rooster thought ‘twas time to wake up
Shhhh (squat down, put finger to lips)
1-2-3 (hold up fingers)
Cock-a-doodle doo!  (tuck arms and flap wings as you crow like a rooster)
Up jumped the animals! (jump up high)
 
Animals
(do actions for each line)
Can you hop like a rabbit?
Can you jump like a frog?
Can you walk like a duck?
Can you run like a dog?
Can you fly like a bird?
Can you swim like a fish?
And then sit down and be still like this?
 
Bear Went Over the Mountain
The bear went over the mountain
The bear went over the mountain
The bear went over the mountain
To see what he could see
 
To see what he could see
To see what he could see
 
The other side of the mountain
The other side of the mountain
The other side of the mountain
Was all that he could see
 
Was all that he could see
Was all that he could see
The other side of the mountain
Was all that he could see
 
Bears Eat Honey
A bear eats honey (pretend to eat)
He thinks it's yummy
In his tummy (rub tummy)
But the bees don't think it's funny
Buzzzzzzzzzzz!  (make hand buzz around like a bee)
 
Beat Your Drums (tune: Row, Row, Row Your Boat)
Beat, beat, beat your drums
Beat them loud and clear
Beat them hard, and beat them soft
For everyone to hear
 
Beat, beat, beat your drums
Beat them all around
Beat them hard, and beat them soft
Now, don't make a sound.
 
Be My Valentine (tune: Mary Had A Little Lamb)
You're a special friend of mine, friend of mine, friend of mine
You're a special friend of mine,
Be my Valentine!
 
Big Bugs, Small Bugs (tune: Are you sleeping?)
Big bugs, small bugs
Big bugs, small bugs
See them crawl, up the wall
Creepy, creepy crawling
Never, never falling
Bugs, bugs, bugs!
 
Birthdays
Birthday candles, one-two-three (hold up fingers on the count)
Birthday candles just for me! (point to self)
Last year two, next year four (hold up 2 fingers on left hand and 4 on right)
Birthday candles I want more! (hold up all fingers)
 
Boom Bang!

Boom, bang, boom, bang! (tap on knees)
Rumpety, lumpety, bump! (tap on stomach)
Zoom, zam, zoom, zam! (slide hands back and forth)
Clippety, clappety, clump! (stomp on floor)
Rustles and bustles
And swishes and zings (hug shoulders and rock)
What wonderful noises a thunderstorm brings

 
Brownie
This is Brownie's dog house and (make teepee with fingertips touching)
This is Brownie's bed (lay one hand on top of other)
The is the pan that holds his milk (cup hands)
And other good things he's fed
This is the collar that goes round his neck (make circle, thumbs and index fingers touching)
All bright and shiny and new
And this is his ball, just give it a toss (cup hand and 'throw' ball)
And he'll bring it right back to you. (reach down to retrieve ball)
 
Building a House
I'm going to build a little house (form arch over head)
WIth windows big and bright (circles around eyes)
With chimney tall and curling smoke drifting out of sight (stretch up arms and make drifting motion)
In winter when the snowflakes fall (flutter hands down)
Or when I hear a storm (cup hand to ear)
I'll go inside my little house (crouch inside)
And I'll be safe and warm (hug self or child)
 

Clippity-Clop

Clippity, clippity, clippity-clop (alternately slap hands on lap)

This is the way the horses trot

Clippity, clippity, clippity-clop

Faster, faster, faster (slap hands faster and faster)

Until you…(even faster)

Drop! (slap both hands on ground)

 

Colors
Blue is the lake ( point to the floor)
Yellow is the sun (point to the sky)
Silver are the stars when the day is done (wiggle fingers)
Red is the apple (make circle with hands)
Green is the the tree (raise arms over head like branches)
Brown is a choclate chip cookie for you and me! (rub tummy)
 
The Cows on the Farm
The cows on the farm go moo, moo, moo
Moo, moo, moo
Moo, moo, moo
The cows on the farm go moo, moo, moo
All night long.
 
The sheep on the farm go baa, baa, baa...
The pigs on the farm go oink, oink, oink...
The farmer on the farm yells, "Go to sleep!"...So I can get my rest!
 
Do You Hear a Monster?
 
If you think you hear a monster, (Cup hand to ear)
Growling somewhere outside, (Point off into the distance)
It's probably just your stomach, (Rub tummy)
Needing some food inside.
Elephant, Elephant in the Zoo
Elephant, elephant in the zoo
I wish I had a trunk like you
I'd swing it high, Id' swing it low
I'd swing it everywhere I go!
 
The Elephant Goes (tune: The Mulberry Bush)
The elephant goes like this and that,this and that, this and that (walk heavily and stomp feet)
The elephant goes like this and that
Cause he's so big and he's so fat! (puff up cheeks and stretch out arms)
 
He has no finger and has no toes, he has no fingers and he has no toes (wiggle fingers, wiggle toes)
He has no finger and he has no toes,
But goodness gracious, what a nose! (pull hands out from face to suggest a long trunk)
 
Elephant Walk
Right foot, left foot, down the street
With my trunk and four big feet
I am gray and big and slow
Watch me as I come and go
 
The Family (point to each finger)
This is mommy, kind and dear
This is daddy, standing near
This is brother, see how tall
This is sister, not so tall
This is baby, sweet and small
This is the family one and all (wiggle fingers)
 
Five Little Cookies
Five little cookies in the bakery shop
Shining bright with sugar on top
Along comes [child's name] with a nickel to pay
He/she buys a cookie and take it away
(repeat for 4, 3, 2, 1)
 
Five Little Ducks
Five little ducks that I once knew
Fat ones, skinny ones, tall ones too
But the one little duck with the feather on his back
He led the others with a
Quack, quack, quack
Quack, quack, quack
Quack, quack, quack
He led the others with a
Quack, quack, quack
 
Five Little Pumpkins
Five little pumpkins sitting on a gate (five fingers)
The first one said, "oh my it's getting late" (hands on cheeks)
The second one said "there's a chill in the air" (arms around self)
The third one said "but we don't care" (swing pointer finger)
The fourth one said "I'm ready for some fun" (hand in the air)
The fifth one said "Let's run, run, run" (running motion)
So woooo went the wind, and out went the lights,
And the five little pumpkins rolled out of sight. (roll hands)
 
Five Little Puppies
This little puppy said, "Let's go out and play"
This little puppy said, "Let's run away"
This little puppy said, "Let's stay out till dark"
This little puppy said, "Let's bark, bark, bark"
This little puppy said, "I think it would be fun
     to go straight home so let's run, run, run!"
 
Five Speckled Frogs
Five green and specked frogs sat on a speckled log
Eating some most delicious bugs, yum, yum
One fell into the pool where it was nice and cool
There there were four green and speckled frogs, blub, blub.
Repeat until there were no green...
 
Four Little Ballplayers
Four little ballplayers waiting for their turn
One came to bat and BAM (clap hands) he got a hit
repeat until...
One came to bat and BAM (clap hands) - they all ran in!
 
Freddy the Green Frog (tune: My Bonnie Lies Over the Ocean)
There once was a green frog named Freddy
He lived in a pond near a tree
He jumped up and down like a yo-yo
That green frog was something to see
Freddy, Freddy, you look so happy to me, to me
Freddy, Freddy, please jump again just for me
 
Fuzzy Little Caterpillar (act out appropriately)
The fussy little caterpillar went up into a tree
Spun his cocoon and then he went to sleep
While he was sleeping, he dreamt that he could fly
When he woke up, he was a butterfly!
 
 

Goldilocks

When Goldilocks went to the house of the bears,
Oh, what did her blue eyes see?
A bowl that was big,
A bowl that was small,
A bowl that was tiny, and that was all,
She counted them: one, two, three.


When Goldilocks went through the house of the bears,
Oh, what did her blue eyes see?
A chair that was big,
A chair that was small,
A chair that was tiny, and that was all,
She counted them: one, two, three.

When Goldilocks went through the house of the bears,
Oh, what did her blue eyes see?
A bed that was big,
A bed that was small,
A bed that was tiny, and that was all,
She counted them: one, two, three.

When Goldilocks went through the house of the bears,
Oh, what did her blue eyes see?
A bear that was big,
A bear that was small,
A bear that was tiny, and that was all,
And they growled at her - ROARR! ROARR! ROARR!

 

Goldilocks, Goldilocks Turn Around  

Goldilocks, Goldilocks, turn around
Goldilocks, Goldilocks, knock on the door

Goldilocks, Goldilocks, eat some porridge

Goldilocks, Goldilocks, have a seat
Goldilocks, Goldilocks, go to sleep
Goldilocks, Goldilocks, run, run, run!

 

Here is the Sea

Here is the sea,

the wavy sea.

Here is my boat,

and here is me.

All of the fishes

Down below

Wiggle their tails

And away they go!

 

Here We Go Round The Big Red Barn
Here we go round the big red barn, the big red barn, the big red barn.
Here we go round the big red barn, so early in the morning.
 
This is the way we milk the cows...
This is the way we feed the chickens...
 
Hopping Kangaroo
The hopping kangaroo is very funny,
She leaps and runs and hops like a bunny,
And on her stomach is a pocket so wide,
Her baby can jump in and go for a ride!
If You're Thankful and You Know It
If you're thankful and you know it, clap your hands...
stomp your feet...shout "I am!"...do all three
 
I Have A Little Bunny
I have a little bunny with ears so funny
And here it his hole in the ground
At the first sound he hears, he pricks up his ears
And jumps in his hole in the ground
 
I Hear Thunder (tune: Frere Jacques)
I hear thunder, I hear thunder (drum feet on floor)
Do you too? Do you too? (pretend to listen)
Pitter-patter raindrops, pitter-patter raindrops (indicate rain with fingers)
I'm wet through, (shake body vigorously)
So are you (point to a neighbor)
 
I'm A Friendly Snowman (tune: I'm a little teapot)
I'm a friendly snowman, big and fat
Here is my tummy
Here is my hat
Here's my mouth all smiley
Here's my nose
I'm all snow from my head to my toes!
 
I'm A Little Piece of Tin
I'm a little piece of tin
Nobody knows what shape I'm in
Got four wheels and a running board
Not a Chevy or a Ford
Honk, honk, rattle, rattle, crash, beep, beep!
Honk, honk, rattle, rattle, crash, beep, beep!
 
I'm A Little Rabbit
I'm a little Rabbit, soft and white
Here are my ears and my tail so white
I like to nibble carrots every day
And then I hop and hop away
 
I'm A Little Turkey
I'm a little turkey
My name is Ted
Here are my feathers
And here is my head
Gobble, gobble, gobble
Is what I say
Quick, run!
It's Thanksgiving Day!
 
I'm An Airplane (tune: Clementine)
I'm an airplane, I'm an airplane
Flying up into the sky
Flying higher, flying higher
As I watch the clouds go by
 
I'm an airplane, I'm an airplane
See me flying all around
Flying lower, flying lower
Till I land down on the ground.
 
Itsy bitsy Monkey
The itsy bitsy monkey climbed up the coconut tree
(have hands climb)
Down came a coconut that bopped him on the knee
(drop fist from over head to hit yourself on the knee)
Along came his Mama, who kissed away the pain
(kiss your fist)
Then the itsy bitsy monkey climbed up the tree again
(climb hands again -having kids stretch as high as they can reach)
The Lights on the Tree
The lights on the tree go blink, blink, blink...blink, blink, blink...blink, blink, blink
The lights on the tree go blink, blink, blink. All Christmas day!
The presents at the house go rattle, rattle, rattle...
The mom at the house goes bake, bake, bake...
The kids at the house go yum, yum, yum...
 
Little Boy Blue
Little boy blue, come blow your horn (pretend to blow horn)
The sheep's in the meadow (right arm gestures left)
The cow's in the corn (left arm gestures right)
Where is the little boy who looks after the sheep? (Hand above eyes, look around)
He's under the haystack, fast asleep (hands under cheek, eyes closed)
 
Little Ducklings
All the little ducklings,
Line up in a row. (Stand up)
Quack, quack, quack, (clap three times)
And away they go. (walk in place)

They follow their mother, (put hands behind like a tail)
Waddling to and fro. (waddle)
Quack, quack, quack (clap three times)
And away they go.
 
Little Candles
Little candles
Burning bright
Shining in the winter night
Shining there for all to see
Little candles
One, two, three
 
Little Heart
I have a little heart
(place hand over heart)
And it goes thump, thump, thump.
(pat chest three times)
It keeps right on beating
when I jump, jump, jump.
(jump three times)
I get a special feeling
when I look at you.
(point to child)
It makes me want to give you
A hug or two.
Little Snowflakes (tune: Frere Jacques)
Little snowflakes, little snowflakes
Twirling round, twirling round
Fally very softly, oh so very softly
To the ground
To the ground
 
Mr. Bullfrog
Here's Mr. Bullfrog (make a fist)
Sitting on a rock (put fist on palm)
Into the water he jumps (raise arm high)
KERPLOP!  (clap loudly)
 
Mr. Turkey Song (tune: Shortnin' Bread)
I am Mr. Turkey, turkey, turkey
I am Mr. Turkey, big and fat
  (hold out arms to show a big, fat turkey body and wobble back and forth)
On my tail are feathers, feathers, feathers
On my tail are feathers, now what do you think of that?
  (turn around and show hands backward on behind with finger pointing up like feathers)
When I walk I wobble, wobble, wobble
and when I talk I gobble, gobble, gobble, gobble!
 (wobble again)
 
Monster, Monster
Monster, monster, turn around.
Monster, monster, touch the ground.
Monster, monster, reach up high.
Monster, monster, squint your eyes.
Monster, monster, show your teeth.
Monster, monster, stamp your feet.
 
The More We Get Together
The more we get together,
together, together
the more we get together,
the happier we'll be
‘cause your friends are my friends
and my friends are your friends
The more we get together the happier we'll be

Old St. Nicholas Had A Tree (magnet board) (tune: Old MacDonald Had A Farm)
Old St. Nicholas had a tree
Ho, ho, ho, ho, ho
And on his tree he had some horns
Ho, ho, ho, ho, ho
With a toot-toot here
And a toot-toot there
Here a toot, there at toot
Every where a toot-toot
 
Repeat with...
lights - blink, blink
Candy canes - yum, yum
Drums - boom, boom
Bells - ring, ring
Bird - peep, peep
Stars - twinkle, twinkle
Snowflakes - flutter, flutter
 
One Little Elephant
One little elephant went out to play (hold out arm like trunk and walk slowly)
Out on a spider's web one day (tip toe)
He had such enormous fun (make gesture for enormous)
He called for another elephant to come (cup hands like yelling)
Too many elephants!  There goes the web! (fall down)
 
Pawpaw Patch
Where oh where is dear little Nellie?
Where oh where is dear little Nellie?
Where oh where is dear little Nellie?
Way down yonder in the pawpaw patch.
 
Come on boys, let’s go find her.
Come on girls, let’s go find her.
Come on all, let’s go find her.
Way down yonder in the pawpaw patch.
 
Picking up pawpaws, puttin' em in your pocket
Picking up pawpaws, puttin' em in your pocket
Picking up pawpaws, puttin' em in your pocket
Way down yonder in the pawpaw patch.
 
Piggy Piggy in the Barn
Piggy, piggy in the barn
Don't you come out just yet
It's raining hard and don't forget
Your curly tail might straighten out
If you get wet!
 
Piggy Wig and Piggy Wee
Piggy Wig (right index finger) and
Piggy Wee (left index finger)
Were hungry as two pigs can be (rub tummy)
When the farmer called, they scurried off (run fingers back and forth)
And jumped right into the dinner trough! (diving motion with both hands)
 
Piggy Wig and Piggy Wee
Were playful as two pigs can be (wiggle fingers)
They rolled and rolled in the mud all day (roll hands)
Then went to sleep in the new-mown hay (sleep gesture)
 
Pumpkin, pumpkin (tune: Twinkle, twinkle little star)
Pumpkin, pumpkin on the ground,
How'd you get so big and round?
Once you were a seed so small,
Now you are a great big ball!
Pumpkin, pumpkin on the ground
How'd you get so big and round?
 
The Quiet Mouse
 Once there lived a quiet mouse
(hold out fist with index finger extended)
In a quiet little house.
(insert index finger into other fist)
When all was quiet as can be
Out popped He!  (throw arms and hands apart)
 
See the Little Baby (tune: I'm a little teapot)
See the little baby
Soft and sweet
Here are her hands
Here are her feet
If you hug and squeeze her
She will coo
She loves to be
So close to you!
 
Skip To My Lou

Arms are swinging, skip to my lou

Arms are swinging, skip to my lou

Arms are swinging, skip to my lou

Skip to my lou, my darling.

 

Feet are stomping…

Fingers dancing…

Children are sitting…

 
Spring Garden
This is my garden (extend palm)
I rake it with care (rake palm with fingers)
Then I plant flower seeds in there (pretend to plant)
The sun will shine (hold arms in circle overhead)
and the rain will fall (wiggle fingers and move downward)
My garden will blossom (cup hands)
and grow straight and tall (stretch arms/hands up slowly)
 
Stars and Stripes
(tune: row, row, row your boat)
 
Wave, wave, wave the flag,
As we march around.
Hold it hight to show our pride,
It must not touch the ground.
Wave, wave, wave the flag,
Dear red, white and blue.
Stars and stripes forever bright,
America for you!
 
Storytime Song
We're all here for storytime,
Storytime, storytime
We're all here for storytime,
Let's get ready.
 
Can you turn your ears up high,
Ears up high, ears up high?
Can you turn your ears up high
So you can hear?
 
Can you turn your mouth down low,
mouth down low, mouth down low?
Can you turn your mouth down low?
Now let's read!
 
Take Me Out to The Barnyard
Take me out to the barnyard.
Take me out there right now.
Show me the cows, pigs and horses, too
I hear and oink and a neigh and a moo.
 
The chickens are laying their eggs
If they don't lay, it's a shame
Oh, it's one, two, three eggs today
And I'm glad that I came!
 
Teasing Mr. Shark
Five little fishes
Swimming in the sea
Teasing Mr. shark
You can't catch me!
Along somes Mr. Shark
Quiet as can be and...
SNAP!
Four little fishes...etc.
 
Teddy Bear, Teddy Bear
Teddy bear, teddy bear turn around
Teddy bear, teddy bear touch the ground
Teddy bear, teddy bear show your shoe
Teddy bear, teddy bear that will do
Teddy bear, teddy bear climb the stairs
Teddy bear, teddy bear say your prayers
Teddy bear, teddy bear  turn out the light
Teddy bear, teddy bear say good-night
 
Ten Little Pigs
Ten little pigs rolled in the mud
Squisky, squashy felt so good
THe farmer took one pig out
Oink, oink, oink the pig did shout
(repeat with 9, 8, 7, etc, then...)
No little pigs rolled in the mud,
They all looked clean and good
Then the farmer turns his back and then
Those pigs rolled in the mud again
 
Three Good Friends
Three good friends, rolling in the dirt (hold up 3 fingers, roll hands)
First one said, "I have dirt in my hair!" (hold up finger, point to hair)
Second one said, "I have mud between my toes! (hold up finger, touch toes)
Third one said, "I have a smudge on my nose!" (hold up finger, touch nose)
They rush to their houses, to their bath tubs (make running motion with fingers)
They jump right in, and scrub, scrub, scrub. (pretend to scrub body)
Three good friends, all neat and clean (hold up three fingers)
From their heads to their toes and in between. (run forefinger down body from head to toe)
 
Tiny Turtle
I have a little turtle
His name is Tiny Tim
I put him in the bathtub
To see if he could swim.
He drank up all the water
He ate up all the soap
And then he burped last night
From the bubbles in his throat
 
Traffic Light Song (magnet board; tune: Where is Thumbkin?)
Where's my red light? Where's my red light?
Here I am. Here I am .
Tel me what you say sir. Tell me what you say, sir.
I say stop.  I say stop.
 
Where's my yellow light...I say wait
Where's my green light...I say go
 
Twinkle, Twinkle, Traffic Light
Twinkle, twinkle, traffic light
Round the corner, shining bright
Red means stop, green means go
And yellow means wait you know
Twinkle, twinkle traffic light
Round the corner, shining bright.
 
Two Mother Pigs
Two mother pigs lived in a pen.(Hold up thumbs)
They each had four babies, and that made ten. (Show eight fingers, then add two thumbs)
These four babies were black and white (Show four fingers in one hand, thumb in palm)
And these four babies were black as night. (Show four fingers in other hand, thumb in palm)
But all eight babies loved to play (Roll hands over each other)
And they rolled and rolled in the mud all day.  (Continue rolling hands)
At night, with their mother,  (Make fists, palms up)
They curled up in a heap,
And squealed and squealed until
They went to sleep. (Move fists)
 
The Waves on the Sea (tune: Wheels on the bus)
The waves on the sea go up and down,
up and down, up and down
The waves on the sea go up and down
All day long
The fish in the sea go swim, swim, swim...
The children in the sea go splash, splash, splash...
 
We're Riding In The Car (tune: Farmer In The Dell)
We're riding in the car
We're riding in the car
Heigh-ho, away we go
We're riding in the car
 
We're riding oh so far
We're riding oh so far
Heigh-ho, away we go
We're riding, oh so far.
 
We Wish You A Merry Christmas
We wish you a merry Christmas. We wish you a merry Christmas.  We wish you a merry Christmas and a happy new year!
Let's all do a little clapping, let's all do a little clapping, let's all do a little clapping and spread Christmas cheer!
Let's all do a little jumping, let's all do a little jumping, let's all do a little jumping and spread Christmas cheer!
Let's all do a little waving, let's all do a little waving, let's all do a little waving and spread Christmas cheer!
We wish you a merry...

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