Early Literacy Tip: Point out that letters can make different sounds when combined with other letters (for example, Tr), and can change one word into another. For example: tee becomes tree, tail becomes trail, and tap becomes trap. Make a game out of having your child cover up the letter r with their finger and then uncover it, while you say each word. How fast can you switch back and forth between the words?

This week, we celebrated the letter T, which allowed me to share some of my favorite picture books. As usual, we started by drawing an upper and lower-case T in the air together, and then came up with words that started with the letter T. The kids suggested turkey, tree, and toothbrush. I also pulled some items out of my paper bag: a troll doll, a tambourine, and a triangle (the kids enjoyed playing the tambourine and triangle at the end of storytime).

Secret Words: As usual, I gave out slips of paper with a “secret word” on them at the end. Our words this time were: tiger, train, tree and turtle.

Here’s the rest of what we did:

Books:

It’s a Tiger by David LaRochelle; illustrated by Jeremy Tankard

This book has been a favorite of several of my storytime regulars, and it’s a lot of fun to read aloud. The reader is invited along on a story adventure that begins in the jungle where the monkeys swing from vine to vine. But everywhere you go, there’s a tiger hiding there! RUN! The book features lots of fun twists, including a boat captain with a tail, and a treasure chest with two glowing eyes peering out. Luckily, the tiger just wants a belly rub.

Leonardo, the Terrible Monster by Mo Willems

I love performing this book, which is so perfectly executed, hilarious, and sweet. Leonardo is a terrible monster. No matter how hard he tries, he can’t scare anyone. Until one day, he sneaks up on Sam, the most scaredy-cat kid in the whole wide world, and makes him cry. But when he finds out the long list of reasons why Sam is sad, he decides to stop being a terrible monster and become a wonderful friend instead. The page with all of the reasons why Sam is sad is so much fun to read. I always try to get through the whole thing in one breath.

Towed by Toad by Jashar Awan

Cute story about a toad who drives a tow truck, helping all kinds of animals all day long. But when his tow truck breaks down, he learns that even he needs help himself every now and then. My vehicle-obsessed storytime kiddos loved this one.

I Like Trains by Daisy Hirst

Sweet book about a dog who loves trains and train rides, especially when they involve a trip to see Grandma. The large format and illustrations, and simple language make this a great book for toddlers.

Songs & Activities:

Brush Your Teeth by Raffi

This Raffi song is an old standby of mine, and always goes over well with toddlers and preschoolers. I usually start by telling the kids to imagine their finger is a toothbrush. Then we all mime squeezing our imaginary toothpaste onto our fingers (I often ask them to share their favorite flavor of toothpaste).

When you wake up in the morning,
It’s a quarter to one,
And you want to have a little fun,
You brush your teeth,
Ch-ch-ch-ch-ch-ch-ch-ch-ch!
You brush your teeth,
Ch-ch-ch-ch-ch-ch-ch-ch-ch!

When you wake up in the morning,
It’s a quarter to two,
And you just can’t think of something to do,
You brush your teeth…

When you wake up in the morning,
It’s a quarter to three,
And your mind starts humming,
“Fiddle-dee-dee,”…

When you wake up in the morning,
It’s a quarter to four,
And you think you hear a knock on the door,
You get a little scared,
And then you brush your teeth…

When you wake up in the morning,
It’s a quarter to five,
And you just can’t wait to come alive!…

Going on a Tiger Hunt

Instead of the usual bear hunt, we went on a tiger hunt after reading It’s a Tiger.  I like to ham it up by pretending to get a grasshopper stuck in my shirt, wiping the mud off my feet, and shaking myself dry from the lake.  There are lots of variations, but this the script I use, with the kids repeating every line:

We’re going on a tiger hunt!
(We’re going on a tiger hunt!)
It’s a beautiful day!
(It’s a beautiful day!)
We’re not scared!
(We’re not scared!)

We’re coming to some grass.
(We’re coming to some grass).
Can’t go over it.
(Can’t go over it.)
Can’t go under it.
(Can’t go under it.)
Have to go through it.
(Have to go through it.)
Swish! Swish! Swish! Swish! (Rubbing hands together)

We’re coming to some mud.
(We’re coming to some mud.)
Can’t go over it.
(Can’t go over it.)
Can’t go under it.
(Can’t go under it.)
Have to go through it.
(Have to go through it).
Squilch! Squelch! Squilch! Squelch! (Clapping hands together).

We’re coming to a lake.
(We’re coming to a lake.)
Can’t go over it.
(Can’t go over it.)
Can’t go under it.
(Can’t go under it.)
Have to swim across it.
(Have to swim across it.)
Splish! Splash! Splish! Splash!

We’re coming to a cave.
(We’re coming to a cave.)
Can’t go over it.
(Can’t go over it.)
Can’t go under it.
(Can’t go under it.)
Have to go inside.
(Have to go inside.)
Tiptoe…tiptoe…tiptoe…tiptoe…
It’s dark in here…
(It’s dark in here…)
It’s cold in here…
(It’s cold in here…)
Two yellow eyes…it’s a tiger!

Run!
Swim across the lake!
Run through the mud!
Run through the grass!
Into the house!
Slam the door!
Lock it!
We’re never going on a tiger hunt again!

We Wave Our Scarves Together

We sang this with the play scarves at Family Storytime. It’s a fun, versatile song that you can extend by adding a verse about any other actions you can think to do with the scarves. It’s to the tune of For He’s a Jolly Good Fellow. Jbrary does a nice job of demonstrating it in the video below.

We wave our scarves together,
We wave our scarves together,
We wave our scarves together,
Because it’s fun to do.

We hug our scarves together…

We wear our scarves together…

We peek-a-boo together…

We throw our scarves together…

Ducks are on the Trampoline (Parachute Song)

I made this one up, using the tune to The Wheels on the Bus. I have lots of little animals that came with some Monkey Mitt sets and I threw different ones on the parachute each time we sang it. The kids loved watching them bounce up and down.

Ducks are on the trampoline, trampoline, trampoline,
Ducks are on the trampoline, bouncing up and down.

Dogs are on the trampoline… etc.

Freight Train

We sang this as our instrument play-along at the end. It’s one of my all-time favorite songs, and it has an incredible back-story. The original version by Elizabeth Cotten is beautiful, but sad, so I use this kid-friendly version by Elizabeth Mitchell. I ask the kids for different destinations for each verse.

[C] Freight train, Freight train [G7] going so fast.
[G7] Freight train, Freight train, [C] going so fast.
[E7] Please don’t tell what [F] plane I’m on,
So they [C] won’t know [G7] where I’ve [C] gone.

Going to Hawaii, going so fast!
Going to Hawaii, going so fast!
Please don’t tell what train I’m on,
So they won’t know where I’ve gone.

Going to the park, going so fast! etc…

Stay & Play: Tissue Paper Paintings

I love this simple process art activity. For the Stay & Play, I brought a box of colored tissue paper cut into small pieces, some white construction paper, and some small atomizers filled with water.

The kids had a great time arranging the tissue paper pieces on the construction paper and then spraying them with water. One nice aspect of this project is that as the tissue paper dries, you can peel it off and see the imprint it’s left behind on the paper, so the kids get to enjoy a second version of their artwork a few hours later.

Do you have any favorite picture books or songs featuring the letter T? Please share them in the comments below.