This is one of my favorite and most popular songs. I use five laminated coyotes (shown here), included in the lyric sheet. There is also a pattern for rabbits which many librarians pull out at the end of the song. Kids love to howl and say the word “carnivore” I always start with saying “coyotes are carnivores," and they are off and running! Of course you can sing this any time of year, but it’s especially fun in the summer when you’re doing camping songs, and in the fall when you’re talking about nocturnal animals.

Five Coyotes
 

Five coyotes up on the hill,
Hold up 5 fingers, then raise them high on “hill”)
Just a sittin' and a'howlin' at the moon
(stretch neck and howl)
One coyote said, "I'm gettin' kinda hungry,
I'm off to find some rabbit stew!"
(hide hand behind back, then bringing it back with 4 fingers)

(Repeat with FOUR, THREE, TWO, and ONE)

LAST VERSE:

Then down in the valley five little rabbits
Hop into a hole in the ground
(Hold up five fingers, then have them dive into hole)
The said, "We hear the coyotes are gettin' kinda' hungry,
(cup hand over ear)
And we don't plan to be around!"
(wag finger and nod head for "no")

(Spoken) The End!