A new highly interactive early literacy storytime featuring instrument exploration, songs, fingerplays, dance and books for ages 3 and up.

Chandra and Sheila playing the drums.
photo by Paige Bentley-Flannery

Created by Community Librarians Sheila Grier and Chandra vanEijinsbergen, Music, Movement, and Stories (MnMS for short) is one of my favorite new children’s programs for ages 3-5 at Deschutes Public Library.  The music cd’s, books, and musical instruments circulate between all six branches.  The program includes two stories and lots of dancing, singing and playing musical instruments.

I joined Sheila and Chandra in our Early Learning Space at the Downtown Bend Library and we made some noise!   We talked about the most asked about questions and shared favorite books and ideas.

How did MnMS start?

“Music Movement and Stories started when I began to read about doing a music program at our library and wondered why most music programs at libraries do not include the great books we have about music, dancing or sing-along books.  We can feature these books along with our cd collection,” says Sheila.

Do you use a different theme each week?  (scarves flying around…)

Chandra vanEijinsbergen, Community Librarian
photo by Paige Bentley-Flannery

Chandra VanEijinsbergen says, “Some of the librarians do.  Like with regular story time, I like the idea of using themes in MnMS.   Some themes came together naturally, for example farms.  Easy to find both books and songs about farms and farm animals.   Food was more difficult- books were easy and songs to use with shakers or musical instruments, were sort of easy.”

When do you offer MnMS?

“We do MnMS on a different day than our regular story times, Baby Steps, Toddlin Tales and Preschool Parade,” says Sheila

 What is your story time structure?

• Welcoming/Hello song
• Listening song
• Two movement songs
• Story (book or felt board)
• Two musical prop songs – ribbons, scarves, bean bags, hoops, etc.
• Story (book or felt board)
• Two musical instrument songs
• Goodbye song

Ideas for handing out and getting materials back?

“Sing a song”, says Sheila.  For example, Kathy Reid-Naiman’s “I’m Passing Out the Sticks” & “Time to Put Away”.  “Talk about the instrument or prop as you are handing them out.  Put a container in the middle of the room, they will happily return items.”

Any great tips to share?

Sheila Grier, Community Librarian
photo by Paige Bentley-Flannery

Sheila’s tip:  Telling the parents that it’s ok to look silly and dance it’s a must, their child, grandchild will think they are wonderful and mimic what the adult is doing.  I love seeing the dads and grandpas dancing.

Chandra’s tip:  Remove chairs from the story time space.  This encourages caregivers to sit and participate with their child.  If you have a smaller group, sitting in a circle is nice.

Paige’s tip:  Take over the whole story time room.  Wiggle, shake, shimmy, jump and march across the room backwards.

Thank you Sheila and Chandra!  Check out their recommended books and music below!

 Traditional Song Picture Books

• Down by the Station by Will Hillenbrand
• Hush Little Baby by Sylvia Long
• Old MacDonald by Jessica Souihami
• On Top of Spaghetti by Paul Johnson
• Over in the Meadow by Jill McDonald
• Pete the Cat Wheels on the Bus by James Dean
• Ten in the Den by John Butler
• Twinkle Twinkle Little Star by Sylvia Long

By Jane Cabrera

• Twinkle Twinkle Little Star
• Here We Go Round the Mulberry Bush
• Row Row Row Your Boat
• If You’re Happy and You Know It
• Ten in the Bed
• Wheels on the Bus

by Iza Trapani

• Baa Baa Black Sheep
• The Bear Went over the Mountain
• Here we Go Round the Mulberry Bush
• How Much is that Doggy in the Window
• Itsy Bitsy Spider  *
• I’m a Little Tea Pot
• Row Row Row Your Boat
• Shoo Fly
• Twinkle Twinkle Little Star

MnMns
Photo by Tina D.

Scarves or Ribbons

• Wiggle Song by Dragon Tales from Dragon Tales-
• Freeze by Michael Plunkett from Shakin the Chute
• Fast Slow by Laura Berkner from the Best of
• Parachute (or ribbons)
• Got the Wiggles by Michael Plunkett from Ribbons and Rhythms
• Long Ribbons by Michael Plunkett from Ribbons and Rhythms
• Shake Your Reader Ribbons by Pam Schiller  from Leaping Literacy
• Ribbon Dance by Michael Plunkett from Rhyme and Rhyme movement

Bean Bags

• Beanie Bag Dance by Greg and Steve  from Kids in Action
• Bean Bag Boogie by Learning Station from Me and My Bean Bag
• Bean Bag Rock by Georgiana Stewart from Action Songs for Preschoolers
• The Bean Bag by Hap Palmer from Can a Jumbo Jet Sing the Alphabet

Dancing/Movement Stories

• Baby Danced the Polka by Karen Beaumont
• Croaky Pokey by Ethan Long
• Dance with me by Charles Smith Jr.
• Dancing Feet or Farmyard Beat by Linda Craig
• Dancing in my Bones by Sylvia Andrews
• Down by the Cool of the Pool by Tony Mitton
• Hilda Must be Dancing by Karma Wilson

Listening and Free Dance Songs 

• Wiggle Walk by Georgiana Stewart from Toddlerific
• Jump Jump by Lolly Hollywood from Go! Go! Go!
• March Around by Lolly Hollywood from Go! Go! Go!
• Put Your Little Foot by Carole Peterson from Dancing Feet
• My Energy by Laura Berkner from Under a Shady Tree
• Jump Up by from Imagination Movers
• The Wiggle Song by Carole Peterson from Sticky Bubblegum
• Rock and Roll Freeze Dance by Hap Palmer from So Big
• Clap Your Hands by Singalong Kidz from Singalong Kidz
• Parachute (or ribbons)
• Clap Your Hands by Kathy Reid Naiman from Preschool Songs 1
• Walking Walking by Ann Marie Akin from Songs for Wiggleworms
• Put Your Finger On by Parachute Express from Feel the Music
• Stretch!  by Dragon Tales  from Dragon Tales
• Clap Clap Clap Your Hands by Carole Peterson from Sticky Bubble Gum
• Statues by Georgiana Stewart from Action Songs for Preschoolers
• Hands are for Clapping by Jim Gill from Jim Gill Sings the Sneezing Song and other contagious tunes
• Twist Stop Hop by Ronno from Jump Start Action Songs
• I Can Do It by Patty Shukla from I Can Do It
• Say & Rhyme by Pam Schiller from Leaping Literacy
• I Can Dance by Ronno from Jump Start Action Songs
• Spaghetti Legs by Jim Gill  from Jim Gill Sings the Sneezing Song and other contagious tunes
• Warm Up Time by Georgiana Stewart from Action Songs for Preschools
• The Freeze by Steve and Greg from We All Live Together
• The Airplane Song by Laura Berkner from Whaddya Think of That
• I have a little scarf by Eine Kleine NachtMusick from Moving with Mozart
• Dancing Scarf Blues by Carole Peterson from Dancing Feet      

   Bells

• Bell Horses by Kathy Reid Naiman from I Love to Hear the Sounds
• Tideo By Kathy Reid Naiman from More Tickle Tunes
• Oh children ring your bells by Kathy Reid Naiman from I love to hear the Sounds
• Ring them on the Floor by Kathy Reid Naiman from I love to hear the Sounds     

Rhythm Sticks

•  Nursery Rhyme Tap  by Pam Schiller from Leaping Literacy
• Tap your Sticks By Hap Palmer from Rhymes on Parade
• When the Saints Come Marching in by Georgiana Stewart from Rhythm Sticks Rock
• Sticks on the Move by Georgiana Stewart from Rhythm Sticks Rock
• Rhythm Stick March  by Michael Plunkett from Rhythm Stick Rap and Tap
• Chim, Chimmy Chimpanze By Pam Schiller from  Leaping Literacy

 Shakers

• Milkshake by Anne– Marie Akin from Songs for Wiggleworms
• We’re going to the Market by Kathy Reid-Naiman from I Love to Hear the Sounds
• Shaker Hop by Carole Peterson from Dancing feet        

For more great MnMS recommendations, please email Sheila Grier at [email protected]

Paige Bentley-Flannery is a Community Librarian at Deschutes Public Library. For over fifteen years–from Seattle Art Museum to the New York Public Library to the Deschutes Public Library-Paige’s passion and creative style for art, poetry and literature have been combined with instructing, planning, and providing information. Paige is currently serving on the ALSC Notable Children’s Book Committee, 2015 – 2017. She is a former Chair of the ALSC Digital Content Task Force and member of the ALSC Great Websites Committee.  

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