Welcome to the Storytime at Home Series! Once a month, we highlight a kid-approved theme with book lists, songs and rhymes, and a simple craft you can try at home. All books are available in our collection, and the crafts use easy-to-find items you likely already have on hand.
P.S. Love library storytime? Check out all of RPL’s storytime options here; there’s a program for your child almost every morning at our branches!
CELEBRATE NATIONAL DANCE LIKE A CHIKEN DAY!
This May 14th, get ready to celebrate… the Chicken Dance! Did you know May 14th is National Dance Like a Chicken Day? You know the one: “I don’t want to be a chicken, I don’t want to be a duck, so I shake my…” This classic, silly song is a great way to get the wiggles out—and it features one of kids’ favorite animals: chickens!
Chickens make a fantastic storytime theme because they naturally support early literacy skills. Practicing simple sounds like “cluck,” “peep,” and “bok” encourages imitation, which builds phonological awareness. Chickens also appear in many familiar stories and songs, such as “Big Fat Hen,” giving young learners the chance to enjoy repetition and practice retelling. Ready to get started? Then check out these chicken-themed books from RPL!
BOOKS
Babies (Ages 0 – 17 months)
- Little Chicks, by Taro Gomi (Ages 0 – 3 years).
- The Baby Chicks Are Singing / Los Pollitos Dicen, by Ashley Wolf (Ages 0 – 3 years).
- Five Little Chicks, by Nancy Tafuri (Ages 1 – 4).
- Big Fat Hen, by Keith Baker (Ages 1 – 4).
Toddlers (ages 18 months – 3 years)
- Little Chick, by Petr Horáček (Ages 1 – 5).
- Farmyard Beat, by Lindsey Craig (Ages 1 – 5).
- Con Pollo: A Bilingual Playtime Adventure, by Jimmy Fallon and Jennifer Lopez (Ages 2 – 5).
- Catch That Chicken, by Atinuke (Ages 2 – 6).
Preschool (Ages 3 – 5 years)
- Woo Hoo! You’re Doing Great!, by Sandra Boynton (Ages 3 – 6).
- Chick, Chick, Chick, Chick, Chicken!, by Vivian French (Ages 4 – 8).
- Hen In The Bed, by Katrinia Charman (Ages 4 – 8).
- Chicken Talk, by Patricia MacLachlan (Ages 4 – 8).
SONGS AND RHYMES
Storytime is more than just reading books. Check out these chicken-related songs and fingerplays to try at home!
Movement Song: The Chicken Dance (of course)!
Finger Play: Ten Fluffy Chickens
- Five eggs and five eggs (hold up both hands).
- That makes ten! (hold up ten fingers).
- Sitting on top is mother hen (fold one hand over the other).
- Crackle ! Crackle! Crackle! (clap hands three times).
- What do I see? (place fingers around eyes like glasses).
- Ten fluffy chickens, as yellow as can be (wiggle all ten fingers).
Finger Play: Five Little Chicks
Here is a calmer song, perfect for settling down after story time:
CRAFT
Make a paper plate chicken. Check out the blog below for a simple, kid-friendly craft. Don’t have tissue paper or colored construction paper? No problem, you can use regular paper and color it in with a yellow crayon or marker instead.
Check out the Glued To My Crafts Blog for instructions.
That’s a wrap on our chicken-themed Storytime at Home!
Whether you’re clucking along to a silly song, sharing a favorite book, or getting crafty together, these small moments help build strong early literacy skills in fun and meaningful ways. Keep the learning (and the dancing!) going by revisiting your child’s favorite parts of the storytime throughout the week—repetition helps build confidence and connection.
Don’t forget to stop by your local Richmond Public Library branch to find even more books, songs, and activities to enjoy together, and be sure to check back next month for a brand-new theme. Until then, keep reading, singing, and playing!
Want more? Check out our past Storytime at Home blogs!
