Leaves are Falling all Around! 

Hibernation

(Sung to Alouette)

Hibernation.  Time for Hibernation.

Hibernation.  Time to go to sleep.

In the winter where's the bear?

Sleeping in its log or lair.

Where's the bear? Log or lair. OH!

Hibernation.  Time for Hibernation.

Hibernation.  Time to go to sleep.

(Shh...Go to Sleep)

Storytime Books:

Leaves by David Ezra Stein

Summary:  Bear is surprised when the leaves start falling off the trees, but when he tries to reattach them, it doesn't work.  Eventually, he gets sleepy, and burrows into the fallen leaves for a nap. When he wakes up, it's spring-and there are suddenly brand-new leaves all around, seeming to welcome him.

Sleepy Bear by Lydia Dabcovich

Summary:  It's getting cold, leaves are falling, birds are leaving, and bear is getting sleeping.  Short simple word phrases and bold outlined illustrations show how Bear hibernates and looks forward to spring.  

Time To Sleep by Denise Fleming

Summary:  Bear can tell...it is time to hibernate.  But before she crawls into her cave to go to sleep, she alerts Snail, who tells Skunk, who tells Turtle, and on and on, until silly, enthusiastic Ladybug awakens Bear to give her the news she already has...it is time to hibernate.

Song & Fingerplay:

Where Is Bear?

(Sung to Where Is Thumbkin)

Where is Bear? Where is Bear?
(Hide hands behind back)

Here I am!  Here I am!
(Show left thumb, then right thumb)

How are you today, Bear?
(Wiggle left thumb)

Very tired, I thank you.
(Wiggle right thumb)

Go to sleep.  Go to sleep.
(Hide left hand behind back, then right hand behind back)


(Continue with Snail, Skunk, Turtle, and Ladybug)

Storytime Songs:

Five Little Leaves  by Lynn Kleiner

Up And Down  by Oomba Baroomba

I Can't Wait to Hibernate  by Brent Holmes



More Books:

Leaf Man by Lois Ehlert
Red Leaf, Yellow Leaf by Lois Ehlert
Leaves! Leaves! Leaves! by Nancy Elizabeth Wallace
Fletcher and the Falling Leaves by Julia Rawlinson
Fall Leaves Fall! by Zoe Hall
A leaf Can Be... by Laura Purdie Salas
We're Going on a Leaf Hunt by Steve Metzger
Mouse's First Fall by Lauren Thompson
Trees, Leaves & Bark by Diane Burns
Sleep, Big Bear, Sleep! by Maureen Wright
Old Bear by Kevin Henkes
Bear Snores On by Karma Wilson
Bear Has a Story to Tell by Philip C. Stead
Orange Pear Apple Bear by Emily Gravett

The Wheels On The Bus...

Storytime Books:

Mary Had A Little Lamb by Mary Ann Hoberman

Summary:  This expanded version of the traditional rhyme shows what happens after the lamb gets to school.  Includes music on the last page.

Mother Goose  Rhyme:

Mary Had A Little Lamb

Mary had a little lamb.

Its fleece was white as snow;

And everywhere that Mary went,

The lamb was sure to go.

It followed her to school one day,

Which was against the rules;

It made the children laugh and play,

To see a lamb at school.

Cornelius P. Mud, Are You Ready For School? by Barney Saltzberg

Summary:  Cornelius the pig has his own style when preparing for school in the morning, but he does not really feel ready until he gets a kiss.

Mother Goose Rhyme:

This Is The Way

This is the way we wash our hands,

Wash our hands, wash our hands.

This is the way we wash our hands,

So early in the morning.

This is the way we wash our face,

Wash our face, wash our face.

This is the way we wash our face,

So early in the morning.

This is the way we brush our teeth,

Brush our teeth, brush our teeth.

This is the way we brush our teeth,

So early in the morning.

This is the way we brush our hair,

Brush our hair, brush our hair.

This is the way we brush our hair,

So early in the morning.

This is the way we wave goodbye,

Wave goodbye, wave goodbye.

This is the way we wave goodbye,

So early in the morning.

(Use hand motions)

The Wheels On The Bus by Jane Cabrera

Summary:  "The wheels on the bus go round and round..." Yes, but what's on the bus?  Lots of adorable animals!  And they're not staying quiet.  The lion roars; the monkeys chatter.  The hyenas think the whole scene is ridiculous and are laughing hysterically.  Watch out for the crocodile, whose jaws go snap, snap, snap!

Traditional Song:

The Wheels On The Bus

The wheels on the bus go round and round

Round and round, round and round

The wheel on the bus go round and round

All through the town.

(Roll hands over each other)

The people on the bus go up and down

Up and down, up and down

The people on the bus go up and down

All through the town.

(Raise hands high and low)

The horn on the bus goes "Beep, beep, beep

Beep, beep, beep, beep, beep, beep"

The horn on the bus goes "Beep, beep, beep"

All through the town.

(Pretend to honk horn)

The wipers on the bus goes "Swish, swish, swish

Swish, swish, swish, swish, swish, swish"

The wipers on the bus goes "Swish, swish, swish"

All through the town.

(Put hands in front and swish from side to side)

The driver on the bus says "Move on back

Move on back, move on back"

The driver on the bus says "Move on back"

All through the town.

(Thumb moving from front to back)

Storytime Songs:

Mary Had A Little Lamb by The Countdown Kids

The Wheels On The Bus by Twin Sisters