If you’ve ever attended my storytimes for kids, you know that I mix in songs, stretches and puppet hilarity between the stories. During the pandemic, I’ve added a few fun ones to my repertoire. Here are some of the most-requested, thanks to other children’s performers.

Sef told me he learned this song from some women from the Caribbean.

I prefer the video from KidsMusicShop1, but the link only worked on YouTube. One thing I’ve learned about singing with kids is that you can sing simply, and it’s even fine if the tune shifts—that’s the folkloric process! Kids will rarely criticize your singing.

I found this next one through the Lullabies, Tickles and Fingerplays for Early Childhood group on Facebook. It became a fast favorite. I especially like how they explain the best way to spit out all the seeds at the end. We don’t want actual spitting at storytime!

I learned this next song from my sister-in-law years ago, but her tune is slightly different. I sing it with high melodrama. On Zoom calls, I prompt the audience to sing the “meow, meow, meow” by pointing at them.

I just got a new cat puppet and named him Don Gato. I also just got a real cat (really still a kitten). His name is Pippin.

What are your favorite songs to sing with kids?