Master List || Opening & Closing Songs || Getting the Wiggles Out || Rhymes for Babies
Opening Songs
“Here, Here” (Tune: “Skip to My Lou”)
Here, here, we’ll all here
Here, here, we’ll all here
Here, here, we’ll all here
We’re all here in storytime
Hello, [Name], how are you?
Hello, [Name], how are you?
Hello, [Name], how are you?
We’re so glad to see you!
(Repeat until every child’s name is said)
Credit: Co-worker
Fall 2006, Fall 2009 & Spring 2010
“Mr. Sun”
Oh, Mr. Sun, Sun, Mr. Golden Sun
Please shine down on me
Oh, Mr. Sun, Sun, Mr. Golden Sun
Hiding behind a tree
These little children are asking you
To please come down, so we can play with you
Oh, Mr. Sun, Sun, Mr. Golden Sun
Please shine down on me
Credit: Childhood
Summer 2010
“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.
Credit: Childhood (Girl Scouts)
Winter 2010/2011 & Spring 2011
“Clap and Sing Hello!” (Tune: Farmer in the Dell)
We clap and sing hello,
We clap and sing hello,
With our friends at storytime,
We clap and sing hello!
(Wave and sing hello; stomp and sing hello.)
Credit: Storytime Songs
Summer 2011 — Winter 2013/2014
“If You’re Ready” (Tune: If You’re Happy and You Know It)
If you’re ready for a story, take a seat
If you’re ready for a story, take a seat
Clap your hands and stomp your feet
Make your hands all nice and neat
If you’re ready for a story, take a seat
Credit: SJPL Hello & Goodbye Songs [Link no longer works]
Summer 2011 — Winter 2013/2014
“Clap Everybody and Say Hello” Kathy Reid-Naiman
Clap everybody and say hello,
Say hello, say hello
Clap everybody and say hello,
No matter what the weather
Credit: Read Sing Play
Toddler Storytimes Spring 2014 — Current
“Hands Are Clapping” (Tune: Skip to My Lou)
Hands are clapping, clap, clap, clap
Hands are clapping, clap, clap, clap
Hands are clapping, clap, clap, clap
Clap your hands, my darling!
Toes are tapping, fingers are wiggling, eyes are hiding “peek-a-boo”
Credit: Co-worker
Baby Storytimes Spring & Summer 2014
“Hello Friends” (Tune: Goodnight Ladies)
Hello friends,
Hello friends,
Hello friends,
It’s time to say hello!
Credit: Jbrary
Family Storytimes Fall 2014 — Current
Closing Songs
“We Wave Goodbye Like This” (Tune: “Farmer in the Dell”)
We wave goodbye like this.
We wave goodbye like this.
We clap our hands for all our friends.
We wave goodbye like this.
Credit: Sunflower Storytime
Winter 2010 — Winter 2013/2014
“Tickle the Clouds”
Tickle the clouds
Tickle your toes
Turn around
And tickle your nose
Reach down low
Reach up high
Storytime’s over
So wave goodbye!
Credit: Pinterest
Toddler Storytimes Spring 2014 — Current
“With My Little Hands”
With my little hands I go clap, clap, clap
With my little feet I go tap, tap, tap
With my little arms I wave bye, bye, bye
With my little legs I kick high, high, high
With my little eyes I play peek-a-boo
With my little mouth I say “I love you”
Credit: Co-worker
Baby Storytimes Spring & Summer 2014
“Goodbye Friends” (Tune: Goodnight Ladies)
Goodbye friends,
Goodbye friends,
Goodbye friends,
It’s time to say goodbye!
Credit: Jbrary
Family Storytimes Fall 2014 — Current
storytime katie 
A great resource! 🙂
Thank you! I actually need to update this page, cause I’m singing some different songs now.
I’ve been looking for new opening songs for my 2 year old class for a few months now, but I couldn’t find any. These are perfect. Can’t wait to try them out.
Glad that this helped you out!
A fellow librarian recommended your site. I love it. I added a couple of verses to More We Get Together that have extended the life of the song without becoming too tedious….The more we laugh together…..The more we share together.
The words reinforce that storytime is fun (and of course it is!) and when we get the toys out sharing is the goal.
That’s a great idea — it’s always good to reinforce that storytime is fun!
For “The more we get together” I’ve seen librarians add sign language which seemed really unique and fun for kids and parents
That does sound fun — thanks!
I love your opening and closing songs! Thanks for sharing them.
Thank you for the ideas. I have been using Shake my Sillies out (Raffi) as an opening song, but I think this gets the children too wound up. I would like to tone it down for a beginning song. I really like the Farmer in the Dell rendition.
Starting a story time for expat kids in Atyrau, Kazakhstan and I am very happy to have found your website. My kids loved going to story time at our library in Texas, so I am hoping to create the same kind of fun environment. So grateful to you for sharing your ideas, lessons and songs.
You are so welcome! I would love to hear how it goes, if you feel like following up and sharing — simplykatie [at] gmail [dot] com — or you can always leave a comment on the blog!
What an excellent resource your site is. Thank you for all the love and care you’ve poured into it.
A small note, the very last line I believe must be a typo, and should be “It’s time to say goodbye!”
Thank you!! That’s what I get for copying-and-pasting. 😀
For how many weeks do you usually repeat an opening song/rhyme?
For the session — typically seven or eight weeks.
Thank you so much for these lists! 🙂