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By the Numbers: A Storytime About Counting

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Last week was National Literacy and Numeracy Week. I figure all of my storytimes are connected to literacy, but I don’t often get to focus on numbers and counting, so I made that the theme for both my evening Family Storytime last week, and today’s Outdoor Musical Storytime.

Here’s what we did:

Books:

How to Count to One (And Don’t Even Think About Bigger Numbers!) by Caspar Salmon; illustrated by Matt Hunt

This book is a little longer than I usually read for my Outdoor Musical Storytime crowd, but they loved it anyway. It’s a funny book that asks the reader to count…to 1. After starting out with one apple and one elephant, the pages get increasingly tricky, showing, for example, three bowls of soup on a page, but asking you to count the one fly. Once the kids caught onto the joke, they loved shouting out, “ONE!”

Pete the Cat and His Four Groovy Buttons by Eric Litwin; illustrated by James Dean

One of my favorite Pete the Cat books, which features lots of elements for the kids to repeat, including Pete’s song (“My buttons, my buttons, my four groovy buttons”) and the “POP! Oh No!” as each button pops off and rolls away. Like I Love My White Shoes, it also includes the “Did Pete Cry? Goodness, No!” refrain, which the kids enjoy joining in on. Plus the punchline, when Pete looks down and sees his belly button, always gets a laugh.

One-osaurus, Two-osaurus by Kim Norman; illustrated by Pierre Collet-Derby

Adorable rhyming book about nine colorful dinosaurs who all hide when ten-osaurus rex appears. It seems like they might all be in danger, but wait, they’re actually all just playing hide-and-seek. The rhymed text and the large, clear numbers make it easy for kids to join in on the counting, and there’s a page in the middle where everyone gets to roar. The book ends with the dinosaurs playing Simon-Says, so I introduced the kids to that game for a minute or two after we read it.

Five Hiding Ostriches by Barbara Barbieri McGrath; illustrated by Riley Samels

This book is surprisingly similar to One-osaurus, Two-osaurus, so I read it for my Family Storytime, but not my Outdoor Musical one. This one features five ostriches hiding from a lion, who once again turns out to be playing Hide-and-Seek. The rhyme is reminiscent of Five Little Pumpkins.

Songs & Activities:

We Are the Dinosaurs by Laurie Berkner

We sang this as a follow-up to One-osaurus, Two-osaurus (after a brief game of Simon Says). The kids loved stomping around and roaring. Laurie Berkner’s video is below:

[Dm] We are the [C] dinosaurs marching, marching.
[Dm] We are the dinosaurs. [A] Whaddaya think of that?
[Dm] We are the dinosaurs [C] marching, marching.
[Dm] We are the [A] dinosaurs. [Dm] We make the [C] earth [Dm] flat.
We make the [C] earth [Dm] flat.

[F] We stop and eat our [C] food, [F] when we’re in the [C] mood.
[F] Stop and eat our [C] food on the [Dm] ground.
[F] We stop and eat our [C] food, [F] when we’re in the [C] mood.
[F] Stop and eat our [C] food, and [Dm] then we march [A] around.

[Dm] We are the [C] dinosaurs marching, marching.
[Dm] We are the dinosaurs. [A] Whaddaya think of that?
[Dm] We are the dinosaurs [C] marching, marching.
[Dm] We are the [A] dinosaurs. [Dm] We make the [C] earth [Dm] flat.
We make the [C] earth [Dm] flat.

[F] We stop and take a [C] rest, [F] over in our [C] nest.
[F] Stop and take a [C] rest at the end of the [Dm] day.
[F] We stop and take a [C] rest, [F] over in our [C] nest.
[F] Stop and take a [C] rest, and [Dm] then you’ll hear us [A] say…

[Dm] We are the [C] dinosaurs marching, marching.
[Dm] We are the dinosaurs. [A] Whaddaya think of that?
[Dm] We are the dinosaurs [C] marching, marching.
[Dm] We are the [A] dinosaurs. [Dm] We make the [C] earth [Dm] flat.
We make the [C] earth [Dm] flat.

[A] And then we RO-AR-OAR!
[A] Because [Dm] we [C] are the [Dm]dino-[D]saurs!

Counting with Dice

This was just a simple counting activity I threw in between books. Our library has a giant inflatable die that we used for a summer program years ago. I let the kids take turns throwing the die, and we counted the dots together. Then I asked for suggestions of something we could do that number of times (jumping up and down, spinning around, walking like a robot, etc.). It was a big hit at both storytimes.

Zoom! Zoom! Zoom!

We did this one with the parachute (it’s a shorter version of the Zoom, Zoom, Zoom song):

Zoom! Zoom! Zoom! We’re going to the moon! (shake the parachute in rhythm)

Zoom! Zoom! Zoom! We’re be there very soon! (shake the parachute in rhythm)

10-9-8-7-6-5-4-3-2-1 (shake the parachute for each number)

Blast Off! (raise or throw the parachute as high as you can, then let it fall back down).

The Ladybug’s Picnic by Donald Hadley and William Luckey

I’m dating myself, but I love this old Sesame Street song, which was a lot of fun for our instrument play-along at the end of storytime.

[C] One, two, three
Four, five, six
Seven, eight, nine,
Ten, eleven, twelve
[G7] Ladybugs
Came to the ladybugs’ [C] picnic.

[C] One, two, three,
Four, five, six
Seven, eight, nine,
Ten, eleven, twelve
[G7] And the all played games
At the ladybugs’ [C] picnic.

[F] They had twelve sacks so they ran sack races.
[C] They fell on their backs and they fell on their faces.
[G7] The ladybugs twelve
At the ladybugs’ [C] picnic.
[F] They played jump rope but the rope it broke,
So they [C] just sat around telling knock-knock jokes,
[G7] The ladybugs twelve.
At the ladybugs’ [C] picnic.

[C] One, two, three
Four, five, six
Seven, eight, nine,
Ten, eleven, twelve
[G7] And they chattered away
At the ladybugs’ [C] picnic.

[F] They talked about the high price of furniture and rugs,
[C] And fire insurance for ladybugs.
[G7] The ladybugs twelve
At the ladybugs’ [C] picnic.

Stay & Play: Air Dry Clay Dice

For the Stay & Play, we put out small amounts of white air-dry clay on individual paper plates, along with some markers. I explained to the kids how they could make their own dice by rolling the clay into a ball, and then flattening the sides against the plate. I told them they could put as many dots on each side as they wanted, and then do the dice activity (above) with their family. As usual, I also told them they were free to make whatever they wanted with the clay as well, so we also had some kids making adorable snakes and dinosaurs.

What are your favorite counting books or songs? Please share them in the comments below.

Taking Flight: A Storytime for National Aviation Day

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This Saturday (August 19) is National Aviation Day, so we had a fun time celebrating airplanes and other flying machines at today’s Outdoor Musical Storytime.

Here’s what we did:

Books:

Bearplane! by Deborah Underwood; illustrated by Sam Wedelich

Super cute, rhyming book about a little bear’s first airplane ride. The author includes a lot of common experiences, including going through the metal detector, putting items in bins in security, finding the bathroom on the plane, and dealing with popping ears during landing by chewing gum. This would be a great book for kids who are preparing for a first plane trip, but is also just a fun read, with adorable illustrations.

Little Plane Leans to Write by Stephen Savage

Cute, short story about a little plane learning to skywrite. He easily masters dives and arc, but loopity-loops make him dizzy, so he keeps leaving out the letter O. I had the kids draw the shapes in the air as I read.

Today I Will Fly by Mo Willems

This one doesn’t actually feature a flying machine (Piggie ends up flying with the help of a friendly pelican), but it’s one of my favorite Elephant and Piggie books. Claire and I read it together (she read Gerald, and I read Piggie). The kids especially loved Piggie chanting, “Fly! Fly! Fly! Fly!” while flapping her arms.

Songs:

The Airplane Song by Laurie Berkner

This one was a lot of fun. Here’s the video by Laurie Berkner with the motions:


[C] Get in your airplanes, and [F] off we [G] go.
[C] Going to the park is [F] first, you [G] know.
[C] Now slow it [C7] down and [F] land on the [Fm] ground,
And when you [G] get out,
You’re gonna jump all [C] around.

Get back in your airplanes and off we go.
Going to the California is next, you know.
Now slow it down and land on the ground,
And when you get out,
You’re gonna spin all around.

Get back in your airplanes and off we go.
Going to the New York City is next, you know.
Now slow it down and land on the ground,
And when you get out,
You’re gonna gallop all around.

Get back in your airplanes and off we go.
Going to the playground is next, you know.
Now slow it down and land on the ground,
And when you get out,
You’re gonna dance all around.

Get back in your airplanes, it’s time to go home,
Your family and friends are waiting you know.
Now slow it down and land on the ground,
And come sit down in your own hometown.

I’m a Little Airplane

To the tune of I’m a Little Teapot:

I’m a little airplane on the ground. (crouch down with arms outstretched)

Watch my propeller spin round and round (move your hand in a circle).

Racing down the runway, time to fly (run in place)

Up! Up! Up! Into the sky! (“fly” around with your arms outstretched)

Zoom! Zoom! Zoom!

My coworker, Rachel, recently ordered us a 20 foot parachute for storytime, and it’s a been a big hit so far. I found this idea on Early Impact Learning, and the kids loved it, especially running underneath the parachute at the end. It’s a shorter version of the traditional Zoom, Zoom, Zoom song:

Zoom! Zoom! Zoom! We’re going to the moon! (shake the parachute in rhythm)

Zoom! Zoom! Zoom! We’re be there very soon! (shake the parachute in rhythm)

10-9-8-7-6-5-4-3-2-1 (shake the parachute for each number)

Blast Off! (raise or throw the parachute as high as you can, then let it fall back down).

Airplane (based on the song Freight Train by Elizabeth Cotten)

I love the song Freight Train by Elizabeth Cotten, and frequently do the more kid-friendly version by Elizabeth Mitchell for storytime (see the YouTube video below). For today’s theme, I just changed the train into an airplane, and asked the kids to suggest places they’d like to go for each verse. We went to Hawaii, Tokyo, Ireland, and Disneyland, before coming back home.

[C] Airplane, Airplane [G7] going so fast.

[G7] Airplane, airplane, [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.

Stay & Play: Paper Airplanes

Before storytime, I folded a bunch of paper airplanes out of white paper. (I wanted an easy design, without a sharp point, so I used The Bumble design from HGTV). For the Stay & Play, I put out the pre-folded planes, markers, and dot markers, along with some blank paper in case anyone wanted to fold their own plane. The kids had a great time decorating their planes, and then testing them out in the park.

What are your favorite picture books about airplanes and other flying machines? Please share them in the comments below.

All in the Family: A Storytime for Family Fun Month

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I recently learned that August is Family Fun Month, which I was excited to try as a storytime theme for Outdoor Musical Storytime. Here’s what we did:

Books:

The Nuts: Bedtime at the Nut House by Eric Litwin; illustrated by Scott Magoon

I had never read this one aloud before, but it was a big hit! Simple story about Wally and Hazel Nut, who are too busy singing their song (“We’re Nuts! We’re Nuts! We’re Nuts!”) to hear their mother’s repeated refrain, “All little Nuts need to go up to bed!” Most of the kids and grown-ups were singing along by the end.

Rattletrap Car by Phyllis Root; illustrated by Jill Barton

This book is so much fun to read aloud, and I was able to borrow a Big Book version from another library, which made it even better for storytime. When Junie, Jakie, and the Baby beg to go to the lake on a hot, hot day, their Poppa worries that their rattletrap car won’t be able to survive the trip. Sure enough, they are met with one disaster after another: a flat tire, a missing floorboard, a detached gas tank, and finally a missing engine! Luckily, with some quick thinking, and their supply of chocolate raspberry fudge delight, they are able to make the journey. The joy of the book is in the sound effects: fizzelly sizzelly, wappity bappity, lumpety bumpety, etc.

Llama Llama Gram and Grandpa by Anna Dewdney

I wanted to include grandparents in my family theme, and this Llama Llama book is so sweet! When Llama Llama goes for his first overnight alone at his grandparents’ house, he enjoys getting to try new things, like building a chair for his Little Llama stuffie. But he can’t stop thinking about Little Llama, who he has accidentally left at home. He is especially upset at bedtime, until Grandpa shares the special toy that HE had when he was a young llama.

Songs:

No More Monkeys

I love this lively, musical version of the traditional Five Little Monkeys rhyme, written and performed by  Caribbean singer-songwriter Asheba. The kids really enjoyed all of the jumping up and down!

[C] Five monkeys were playing on the bed.
One fell off and bumped his [G7] head.
Mama called the doctor, and [F] the doctor said,
[C] “No more monkeys [G7] jumping on the [C] bed!”
[C] “No more monkeys jumping on the bed!
No more monkeys [G7] jumping on the bed!
[C] No more monkeys [F] jumping on the bed!”
[C] That is what the [G7] doctor [C] said.

Four monkeys were jumping on the bed…
(Repeat, counting down to one…)

One monkey was playing on the bed,
She fell off and bumped her head.
Mama called the children, and the children said,
“YES! More monkeys jumping on the bed!”
“Yes! More monkeys jumping on the bed!
Yes! More monkeys jumping on the bed!
Yes! More monkeys jumping on the bed!”
That is what the children said.

The Wheels on the Bus (with parachute)

My coworker, Rachel, recently surprised me with a 20 foot parachute, which I was excited to try with our Outdoor Musical Storytime group. We did The Wheels on the Bus, which was a nice follow-up to Rattletrap Car, and gave us lots of opportunities to move the parachute in different ways. Some kids wanted to hold the handles, while others just wanted to run underneath, but they all had fun:

[C]The wheels on the bus go round and round. (Walk the parachute around in a circle)

[G7]Round and round, [C] Round and round.

The wheels on the bus go round and round,

[G7]All over [C] town.

The doors on the bus go open and shut… (Step in towards the middle of the parachute, then out again)

The windows on the bus go up and down… (Raise the parachute up in the air, then lower it)

The people on the bus go bumpety bump… (Shake the parachute).

Baby Shark

I couldn’t resist throwing in the quintessential preschool ear-worm, about a family a sharks. We did it as our instrument play-along at the end:

C] Baby shark, doo doo doo doo doo doo

[F] Baby shark, doo doo doo doo doo doo

[Am] Baby shark, doo doo doo doo doo doo

[G] Baby shark!

Mommy shark…

Daddy shark…

Grandma Shark…

Grandpa Shark…

Let’s go hunt!…

Run Away…

Safe at last…

That’s the end…

Stay & Play: Craft Stick Families

For the Stay & Play, we put out jumbo craft sticks, pieces of yarn in different colors, glue sticks, googly eyes, and markers, for the kids to make families (their own, or one they invented). Some of them were very determined to make sure every member of their family was represented.

Do you have favorite books about families having fun together? Please share them in the comments below.

This Land Is Your Land: A Storytime About Parks

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July is Park and Recreation Month, and since I have been holding my weekly Outdoor Musical Storytime in a local park for the past couple of years (originally because of the pandemic, but also because the library branch closest to the park doesn’t have any open hours in the mornings), it seemed like the perfect time to celebrate the parks in our area.

Like other libraries in California, we offer free passes to many of the state parks for patrons to check out, so I brought one of our park backpacks along to show it to the storytime families. We have similar passes for our County Parks, but those were all checked out.

Here’s what we did:

Books:

The Hike by Allison Farrell

This book was new to me, but it ended up being perfect for the theme. Three kids and a dog hike to the top of the mountain to read a poem, plant a flag, and release some feathers into the wind. Along the way they get lost, but find their way again, and see lots of animals and birds, which one of them draws in her sketchbook. The kids enjoyed calling out things they saw in the pictures.

Where’s My Teddy? by Jez Alborough

This is a long-time favorite of mine: a rhyming story about a boy named Eddie who finds a giant teddy bear while he is searching for his own lost teddy in the woods. He runs into a bear, who is looking for his own lost teddy, and the two are so frightened that they both run back home. This is the first book in a trilogy about Eddie and the Bear, with the two eventually becoming close friends.

The Bear Went Over the Mountain by Jane Cabrera

This version of the classic children’s song is perfect for storytime. When a baby bear goes over the mountain, he gets stuck in a tree. Luckily, his friend Hare comes to rescue him, and her friend Fox brings them tea. The last verse shows a boy climbing the stairs to his bedroom, where all of the animals are revealed to be his toys, cuddled up in bed. The ending got lots of “Awws.”

Songs & Rhymes:

Two Little Ravens

Since I was trying to focus on animals commonly found in the park, I changed the traditional Two Little Blackbirds rhyme to Two Little Ravens, and held up a picture of a raven for the kids to see. Click on the triangle for the tune:

Two little ravens sitting on a hill, (Hold up both thumbs)
One named Jack, and the other named Jill.
Fly away, Jack! (Put one thumb behind your back)
Fly away, Jill! (Put the other thumb behind your back)
Come back, Jack! (Bring the first thumb out in front).
Come back, Jill! (Bring the second thumb out in the front).

Two little ravens sitting on a cloud,
One was quiet, and the other was loud (I make my voice as loud and obnoxious as possible each time I sing the word “Loud!”)
Fly away, Quiet!
Fly away, Loud!
Come back, Quiet!
Come back, Loud!

Two little ravens sitting in the snow.
One flew fast!
And the other flew slow!…

Two little ravens sitting on a gate.
One was early,
And the other was…late!…  (I like to drag the pauses out as long as possible before saying “Late!” until the kids are all yelling it out.)

I’m a California Quail

The California Quail is the state bird, and it happens to be a common sight in the park where we have our storytime. I held up a picture of the bird for the kids to see and played a clip of its call before we sang this song, which is to the tune of I’m a Nut. We ended by making sounds like the quail, which makes a cawing sound in a rhythm similar to the word “Chicago.”

I’m a California Quail,
See me walking on the trail.
Got six feathers called a crown (put the back of your hand on your forehead and wiggle your fingers),
See it bobbing up and down (bob your head up and down).

Caw-CAW-Caw! Caw-CAW-Caw!

Going on a Bear Hunt

This was one of my favorite activities when I was a kid, and I love to throw it into a storytime.  The kids echo most of the lines (the ones in parentheses).  I like to play up wiping grass off my pants, and the mud off my feet, and shaking off the water from the lake.  It’s always a hit:

We’re going on a bear hunt!
(We’re going on a bear 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 bear!

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 bear hunt again!

The Bears Go Marching In

Fun variation of When The Saints Go Marching In. The kids loved it!

[C] Oh, when the bears go marching in,

Oh, when the bears go marching [G7] in,

Oh, [C7] how I want to be in that [F] number,

When the [C] bears go [G7] marching [C] in!

Repeat with other actions, like:

Oh, when the bears go clapping in…

Oh, when the bears go stomping in… etc.

This Land Is Your Land by Woody Guthrie

We did this one for our instrument play-along (where we hand out shakers for the kids). Here’s an old recording of Guthrie himself.

CHORUS

[C] This land is [F] your land, this land is [C] my land.
From [G7] California to the New York [C] island.
From the redwood [F] forest to the Gulf Stream [C] waters
[G7] This land was made for you and [C] me

As I was walking that ribbon of highway,
I saw above me that endless skyway.
I saw below me that golden valley,
This land was made for you and me.

CHORUS

I’ve roamed and rambled and I followed my footsteps,
To the sparkling sands of her diamond deserts.
And all around me a voice was sounding
“This land was made for you and me.”

CHORUS

Stay & Play: California Quail Coloring Sheet & Scavenger Hunt

For the Stay & Play, we put out crayons, along with these coloring sheets from coloringhome.com, featuring our state bird, the California Quail.

My main goal for the Stay & Play this week, other than introducing the state bird, was to encourage families to explore the park and learn about some of the major plants and animals. So I created a simple Scavenger Hunt, featuring nine common animals, birds, and plants. Before I handed it out, I held up a large picture of Poison Oak, and talked about the old “leaves of three, let them be” rhyme. The park does try to keep the poison oak trimmed back, but there’s usually some growing around the edges of the picnic areas that I want the families to be aware of.

We also all signed a big handmade thank you card to give to the park employees.

Do you have favorite picture books about parks or outdoor activities? Please share them in the comments below.

scavenger-hunt-for-san-pedro-valley-parkDownload

Moo-ving Experiences: A Storytime About Cows

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July 10 was Cow Appreciation Day, so we had a lot of fun celebrating cows at this week’s Outdoor Musical Storytime. Here’s what we did:

Books:

A Birthday for Cow by Jan Thomas

Pig and Mouse are busy making a birthday cake for cow, but Duck keeps trying to get them to include a turnip in the recipe. The surprise ending got lots of laughs! I love Jan Thomas’ funny, short, colorful picture books, which are usually perfect for younger kids.

Peek-a-Moo! by Marie Torres Cimarusti

This simple, lift-the-flap book was a big hit! Each page features a different animal playing peek-a-boo. The kids loved calling out the names of the animals and their sounds.

Cowlick by Christin Ditchfield; illustrated by Rosalind Beardshaw

Funny, rhyming story about a mischievous cow who sneaks into a house to leave sleeping children with an untameable cowlick.

Songs & Rhymes:

Ten Candles on a Birthday Cake

We did this fingerplay as a follow-up to A Birthday for Cow. After we did the rhyme with ten candles, I asked if there were any one year-olds in the group, and we did it again with one candle, then two, then three, then four, etc. I usually make a joke about how I don’t have enough fingers to do my age, which gets laughs from the grown-ups.

Ten candles on a birthday cake (hold up ten fingers)
All lit up for me (point to yourself)
I make a wish and blow them out.
Watch and you will see! (blow on fingers and quickly close hands into fists)

This is the Way I Blow My Balloon

This is the way I blow my balloon: (mime holding a balloon in both hands)

Blow! (blow air out while spreading your hands apart)

Blow! (blow air out while spreading hands even wider)

Blow! (blow air out while spreading your hands as wide apart as you can)

This is the way I POP my balloon. Oh! Oh! No! (clap hands together)

Wiggle Till the Cows Come Home by Susan Salidor

This was my first time singing this song, but it was a big hit, and is definitely one I will use again.

Here’s a link to the video by Susan Salidor:

[C] I’m gonna’ jump, twist, and clap my hands.
[G7] I’m gonna’ jump, twist, and clap my hands.
I’m gonna’ jump, twist, and clap my hands.
And wiggle till the cows come [C] home.

CHORUS
‘Cause when the [F] cows come home,
We say, “Moo, Moo, Moo!”
And when the [C] cows come home,
We go, “Doodle-i-doo.”
And when the [F] cows come home,
It’s time to cele[G7]brate,
Moo! Moo! Moo! Moo!

I’m gonna’ jump, twist, and stomp my feet…

CHORUS

I’m gonna’ jump, twist, and turn around once…

CHORUS

[C] I’m gonna’ jump, twist, and clap my hands.
[G7] I’m gonna’ jump, twist, and stomp my feet.
I’m gonna’ jump, twist, and turn around once.
And wiggle till the cows come [C] home.

Old MacDonald Had a Farm

We sang one while holding up the Old MacDonald Monkey Mitt, adding a new animal for each verse:

C] Old MacDonald [F] had a [C] farm,

E-I- [G7] E-I- [C] O!

And on that farm he [F] had a [C] cow,

E-I- [G7] E-I- [C] O!

With an moo-moo here, and an moo-moo there,

Here a moo, there a moo,

Everywhere a moo-moo.

[C] Old MacDonald [F] had a [C] farm,

E-I- [G7] E-I- [C] O!

Cows in the Kitchen

Cute, versatile animal song to the tune of Skip to My Lou. We did it as our instrument play-along at the end. I asked the kids for suggestions of animals and rooms in a house for the other verses. We had a pig in the pantry, a duck in the bathtub, and a dog in the dining room.

Here’s a link to a version by The Tiny Boppers:

[C] Cows in the kitchen,
Moo, Moo, Moo!
[G7] Cows in the kitchen,
Moo, Moo, Moo!
[C] Cows in the kitchen,
Moo, Moo, Moo!
[G7] What shall we do, Tom [C] Farmer?

Stay & Play: Dot Marker Cows

This was a really simple activity. I just printed out cow templates from FreeStencilGallery.com ahead of time. Then, for the Stay & Play, I put out the printed templates, along with Dot Markers, glue sticks, and googly eyes. Most of the kids used the dot markers to cover their cows with multi-colored spots (although many gave them more than two eyes), but I liked this Mark Rothko-esque cow design that one girl made by using the dot markers to color in the whole cow.

Do you have any favorite cow books, songs, or activities? Please share them in the comments below.

Busy as a Bee: A Storytime about Bees

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Yesterday (July 10) was Don’t Step on a Bee Day, a day celebrated in the United Kingdom in honor of the important roles bees play in our ecosystems. It seemed like a fun excuse to do a storytime about bees, sot that’s what we did for our Outdoor Musical Storytime today.

Here’s what we did:

Books:

The Hidden Rainbow by Christie Matheson

This book asks the reader to help the bees by brushing away snow, blowing a kiss to the lilac trees, and other interactive activities focused on flowers that represent all the colors of the rainbow. The kids loved calling out the colors on each page, and some of them came up to the front to point to things in the illustrations.

Bear and Bee by Sergio Ruzzier

Funny story about a bear who wants some honey from a nearby hive, but is terrified of bees, who he has heard are big with sharp teeth and claws. Luckily a real bee sets him straight, and shares his honey.

beehive by John Hurley

Very simple book with only one word per page, showing how bees swarm, lay eggs, pollinate flowers, guard their hive, and make honey. I had the kids mimic the actions of the bees on each page.

Songs & Rhymes:

Rainbow ‘Round Me

We sang this one after reading The Hidden Rainbow. I asked the kids to suggest things they might see outside the window. We had a brown kitty, a blue and purple dinosaur, a white owl, and a black tree.

When I [C] look outside my [G7] window,
There’s a world of color I [C] see.
Fiddle-dee-dee, [F] outside my [C] window 
There’s a [G7] world of color I [C] see.

CHORUS:
[F] Rainbow, [C] rainbow, [G7] rainbow ’round [C] me. 
[F] Rainbow, [C] rainbow, [G7] rainbow ’round [C] me. 

And the [C] tree outside my [G7] window,
Is as green as green can [C] be.
Fiddle-dee-dee, [F] outside my [C] window 
It’s as [G7] green as green can [C] be.

CHORUS:
[F] Rainbow, [C] rainbow, [G7] rainbow ’round [C] me. 
[F] Rainbow, [C] rainbow, [G7] rainbow ’round [C] me. 

And the [C] bird outside my [G7] window,
Is as blue as blue can [C] be.
Fiddle-dee-dee, [F] outside my [C] window 
It’s as [G7] blue as blue can [C] be.
And the tree is [G7] green as green can [C] be.

Bringing Home a Baby Bumblebee

I do a variation of the version in this video by Dr. Jean, which is considerably less violent than the old camp song. I asked the kids to suggest other animals they would like to bring home and we made up new verses for them: “I’m bringing home a baby elephant. Won’t my Mommy say, “Oh, no, we can’t!” etc.


I’m [C] bringing home a [F] baby [C]bumblebee.
[G7] Won’t my mommy be so proud of me?
‘Cause I’m [C] bringing home a [F] baby [C] bumblebee.
[G7 ]Ouch! It stung me!

Here is a Beehive

One of my favorite rhymes for baby and toddler storytimes. We did it three times:

Here is the beehive (hold up fist)

Where are the bees?

Hiding away where nobody sees.

Watch, and they’ll all come out of their hive!

1, 2, 3, 4, 5! They’re alive! (fly fingers around).

You Are My Flower

This is a sweet, old song by The Carter Family. I especially love this version by Elizabeth Mitchell. It’s also very easy to play on the ukulele or guitar, with a two chord pattern that repeats all the way through. I actually played it on the autoharp today, which the kids found really fun to play at the end of storytime.

[C] The grass is just as green, the sky is just as [G7] blue.
The day is just as bright and the birds are singing [C] too.

You are my [C] flower, that’s blooming in the mountain for [G7] me.
You are my flower, that’s blooming there for [C] me.

The [C] air is just as pure, the sunlight just as [G7] free,
And nature seems to say, it’s all for you and [C] me.

You are my [C] flower, that’s blooming in the mountain for [G7] me.
You are my flower, that’s blooming there for [C] me.

So [C] wear a happy smile, and life will be worth-[G7]while.
Forget your tears, but don’t forget to [C]smile.

You are my [C] flower, that’s blooming in the mountain for [G7] me.
You are my flower, that’s blooming there for [C] me.

When [C] summertime is gone and snow begins to [G7] fall,
Just sing this song and say to one and [C] all.

You are my [C] flower, that’s blooming in the mountain for [G7] me.
You are my flower, that’s blooming there for [C] me.

Stay & Play: Craft Stick Bees

This was a variation of a similar craft from I Heart Crafty Things. Before the storytime, I cut out ovals and slightly smaller circles on yellow paper for the body and the head, and small ovals for the wings.

For the Stay & Play, we put out the paper shapes, glue sticks, googly eyes, craft sticks, and markers. The kids had fun making their own unique bees, some of which had many eyes!

What are your favorite books or songs about bees? Please share them in the comments below.

Law of the Jungle: A Storytime for World Rainforest Day

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This Thursday (June 22) is World Rainforest Day, so we based our Outdoor Musical Storytime on rainforest animals.

Here’s what we did:

Books:

Me…Jane by Patrick McDonnell

I love picture book biographies, and this is one of the few that is short enough to read with preschoolers. It tells the story of Jane Goodall, who dreamed of living with wild animals when she was a young child, and grew up to see her dream come true.

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

Fun, colorful adventure that imagines a journey into the jungle, where the narrator is constantly being surprised by a tiger (RUN!). After several narrow escapes, the tiger is discovered to be friendly. This one was a big hit with the kids.

Wild Baby by Cori Doerrfeld

Very cute rhyming story about a baby orangutan who wanders off after a blue butterfly.

Rhymes & Songs:

Monkey See and Monkey Do

When you clap, clap, clap your hands,

The monkey clap, clap, claps his hands,

Monkey see, and monkey do,

The monkey does the same as you!

Repeat with other motions: jump up and down; make a funny face; turn yourself around; and sit back on the ground.

Five Little Monkeys Sitting in a Tree

Five little monkeys sitting in a tree,

Teasing Mr. Alligator,

“Can’t catch me!

You can’t catch me!”

Along comes Mr. Alligator

Quiet as can be, and…SNAP

That monkey right off the tree!

Kids LOVE this fingerplay rhyme for some reason. I like to do it with the Monkee Mitt and an alligator puppet. Whenever the alligator chomps a monkey off the tree, I have it spit it out into the crowd and say, “Yuck! That monkey tastes terrible!” which always gets big laughs. The kids enjoy gathering up the monkeys and putting them back on the mitt at the end.

Going on a Tiger Hunt

Instead of the usual bear hunt, we went on a tiger hunt.  This is a great way to give the kids a chance to move around in between books.  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!

The Lion Sleeps Tonight

The Lion Sleeps Tonight by Solomon Linda

We did this as our instrument play-along at the end. Here’s a YouTube link to the version by The Tokens if you’re not familiar with the tune (there are lots of variations):

[C] Wee-ee-ee-ee ee [F] ee-ee-ee-ee [C] wee-oh weem a-[G7]way.
[C] Wee-ee-ee-ee ee [F] ee-ee-ee-ee [C] wee-oh weem a-[G7]way.

[C] In the jungle, the [F] mighty jungle,
The [C] lion sleeps to- [G7]night.
In the [C] jungle the [F] quiet jungle,
The [C] lion sleeps to-[G7]night.

[C] Wee-ee-ee-ee ee [F] ee-ee-ee-ee [C] wee-oh weem a-[G7]way.
[C] Wee-ee-ee-ee ee [F] ee-ee-ee-ee [C] wee-oh weem a-[G7]way.

Near the [C] village, the [F] peaceful village,
The [C] lion sleeps tonight.
Near the [C] village, the [F] quiet village,
The [C] lion sleeps to-[G7]night.

[C] Wee-ee-ee-ee ee [F] ee-ee-ee-ee [C] wee-oh weem a-[G7]way.
[C] Wee-ee-ee-ee ee [F] ee-ee-ee-ee [C] wee-oh weem a-[G7]way.

Hush, my [C] darling, don’t [F] fear, my darling,
The [C] lion sleeps to-[G7]night.
Hush, my [C] darling, don’t [F] fear, my darling,
The [C] lion sleeps to-[G7]night.

[C] Wee-ee-ee-ee ee [F] ee-ee-ee-ee [C] wee-oh weem a-[G7]way.
[C] Wee-ee-ee-ee ee [F] ee-ee-ee-ee [C] wee-oh weem a-[G7]way.

Stay & Play: Paper Plate Pythons

I found this craft on Craftymornings.com, although I did it slightly differently. It was messy, but a big hit, and several adults commented on how much they liked it.

Before the storytime, I cut paper plates into spiral snake shapes, and cut squares of bubble wrap roughly 6″ x 6″.

For the Stay & Play, I put out the paper plates snakes, the bubble wrap squares, Tempera paint, glue sticks, googly eyes, and some strips of red paper for the tongues.

For each child, I helped them put a small blob of two different colors of paint on the bubble wrap. Then I showed them how to fold the bubble wrap square in half and squish the paint around before opening it up and stamping it on their paper plate snake. In most cases, the paint was wet enough to hold the googly eyes and paper tongue, but I provided glue sticks just in case.

What are your favorite books or songs about rainforest animals? Please share them in the comments below.

Family Man: A Storytime for Father’s Day

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This Sunday is Father’s Day, so we had a great time celebrating fathers and families at today’s Outdoor Musical Storytime.

Here’s what we did:

Books:

Knuffle Bunny: A Cautionary Tale by Mo Willems

Hilarious, simple story about Trixie and her Dad, who accidentally leave Trixie’s beloved Knuffle Bunny stuffed animal at the laundromat. It got lots of laughs, especially from the parents.

Rafa Counts On Papá by Joe Cepeda

Sweet story, similar to Guess How Much I Love You by Sam McBratney. Rafa and his Papá love to measure and count things to discover how long Rafa’s toy train is, how high their dog can jump, and how far they can run in 22 minutes. But, Rafa wonders, is it possible to measure how much his Papá loves him? The answer is a big hug.

Old MacDonald Had a Baby by Emily Snape; illustrated by K-Fai Steele

Baby-themed version of the classic song, describing the different things Old MacDonald does for his baby throughout the day: feeding him, giving him a bath, changing his diaper, etc. The lines don’t exactly rhyme, but we sang it anyway (I handed out instruments beforehand). The illustrations are adorable. The illustrations on the last page reveal that the baby has two Dads, which makes it a good fit for Pride month, as well as reflecting different types of families.

Songs:

Hop Little Bunnies

We did this song as a follow-up to Knuffle Bunny. The motions are pretty self-explanatory, but you can either have the kids physically pretend to sleep and then hop around, or you can have them make bunny ears with their fingers. There are different versions of the song, but the tune I used is the same as in this video by Little Baby Bums Nursery Rhymes for Babies:

See the little bunnies sleeping

‘Till it’s nearly noon.

Shall we wake them with a merry tune?

They’re so still.

Are they ill?

NO! Wake up little bunnies!

Hop little bunnies, hop, hop, hop!

Hop little bunnies, hop, hop, hop!

Hop little bunnies, hop, hop, hop!

Hop little bunnies, hop and stop!

Baby Shark

This one was kind of a stretch, but I threw it in because it features different members of a family (baby, Mommy, Daddy, etc.)

C] Baby shark, doo doo doo doo doo doo

[F] Baby shark, doo doo doo doo doo doo

[Am] Baby shark, doo doo doo doo doo doo

[G] Baby shark!

Mommy shark…

Daddy shark…

Grandma Shark…

Grandpa Shark…

Let’s go hunt!…

Run Away…

Safe at last…

That’s the end…

Old MacDonald Had a Farm

We sang this before Old MacDonald Had a Baby and I handed out the instruments beforehand (usually I save them for the last two songs). I asked the kids for animal suggestions for each verse.

C] Old MacDonald [F] had a [C] farm,

E-I- [G7] E-I- [C] O!

And on that farm he [F] had a [C] pig,

E-I- [G7] E-I- [C] O!

With an oink-oink here, and an oink-oink there,

Here an oink, there an oink,

Everywhere an oink-oink.

[C] Old MacDonald [F] had a [C] farm,

E-I- [G7] E-I- [C] O!

Dance to Your Daddy

This is a traditional English folk song, although the original lyrics are not particularly well suited to storytime. There are lots of adaptations and different tunes, but the one I do is closest to this one from Kids-Songs.TV:

[C] Dance to your Daddy,

My little baby.

Dance to your Daddy,

My little lamb.

You shall have a fishy

On a little dishy.

You shall have a fishy when the boat comes in.

Dance to your Mommy…

Dance to your Granny…

Dance to your Granddad…

Stay & Play: Craft Stick Picture Frames

There are lots of versions of this craft, but the one I did was closest to this example from dodoburd.com.

I premade the frames by gluing the craft sticks together with white glue, and letting them dry for several hours (it helps to make them in a stack, so the spacing stays consistent). And I precut 4″ x 4″ pieces of cardstock.

For the Stay & Play, we put out the wooden frames and cardstock squares, along with stickers and markers for decorating the frames, and markers for drawing pictures on the cardstock. I also put out glue sticks to glue the pictures to the back of the frame.

What are your favorite books or songs for Father’s Day? Please share them in the comments below.

Picture Books for Special Education Preschools and Sensory Storytimes

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One of the highlights of my job each month is visiting two Special Day preschool classrooms to offer a twenty to thirty minute storytime. I’ll admit that the first time I went, I was a little nervous, worried that I might not be able to hold the interest of the students, or worse, that students with sensory sensitivities might find my usual songs too loud or overwhelming. But now it’s one of my very favorite places to visit.

For one thing, the classes are so small (no more than seven students) that I really get a chance to know the kids individually. And for the most part, the students LOVE music! I usually start and end each visit by holding out my ukulele to each student, and encouraging them to strum the strings while I play the chords and sing Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star. Some of the students strum the whole song in perfect rhythm, while others enjoy squeezing the strings or touching the stickers on the body of my ukulele. Some need a teacher’s help to strum the strings. But it’s always a wonderful chance to interact with each child. (I do this in some of my regular preschool outreach visits too, but the classes are usually much larger).

I always incorporate a lot of songs into the rest of my visit too. If there are kids who are sensitive to sound, I’ll start out singing and playing very quietly, but usually once they have tried the ukulele themselves, they warm up to me and the music. Most of the kids especially love traditional songs like The Wheels on the Bus, If You’re Happy and You Know It, and Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star, but also We Bounce and We Bounce and We Stop!

The picture books that have been the most successful for me are the ones based on songs, rhyming books, and books with interesting words or sound effects. Here are some of my favorites, which also all work well for regular preschool classes or storytimes:

Chicka Chicka Boom Boom by Bill Martin, Jr. and John Archambault; illustrated by Lois Ehlert

I actually brought free copies of this book for all of the students at the special day preschool the other day, as part of our annual Summer Learning Program. I read the book aloud to the whole class first, and we sang the Alphabet song when we got to the pages at the beginning and the end that show the colorful upper and lower case letters. One of the students was so excited every time we got to the alphabet that he didn’t want me to turn the page, and when I gave him his very own copy of the book, he was glued to that page for the whole rest of my visit (luckily it was the last book!). Some of the other kids were familiar enough with the book that they chanted the rhyme along with me.

Froggy Gets Dressed by Jonathan London; illustrated by Frank Remkiewicz

The Froggy books are always fun because they follow the formula of repeatedly saying, “FROGGY!” followed by “What?!”, which kids enjoy joining in on. But this one also has a number of unusual sound effects, like “zwit” and “zup,” to describe putting on different articles of clothing, and the kids in the special day class often enjoying echoing them. It’s a funny story too, where Froggy keeps forgetting to put on different things, until finally his Mom embarrasses him by reminding him that he forgot his underwear.

Hush, Little Trucker by Kim Norman; illustrated by Yoshiki Nakamura

Very cute variation on the Hush, Little Baby traditional lullaby, this time about a little boy who has lost his favorite toy truck in the snow. His Mom describes how she will use different trucks and construction vehicles to try and retrieve it, making it a great book for kids who like big machines.

The Seals on the Bus by Lenny Hort; illustrated by G. Brian Karas

Funny variation on The Wheels on the Bus, which depicts a bus full of different animals. The kids especially love the ending, where the people on the bus cry “Help! Help! Help!”

Down by the Station by Will Hillenbrand

Adorable extended version of the traditional song, showing different baby animals riding on a train to the children’s zoo. It’s a great combination of music and fun, repeated sounds.

Pete the Cat: I Love My White Shoes by Eric Litwin; illustrated by James Dean

The first of the Pete the Cat books, and my favorite one to read aloud (with Pete the Cat and His Four Groovy Buttons as a close second). The kids usually love shouting out the color of Pete’s shoes each time he steps in something new (strawberries, blueberries, etc.).

Old MacDonald Had a Zoo…? by Iza Trapani

A funny variation of Old MacDonald Had a Farm, where Old MacDonald’s farm is infiltrated by a variety of escaped zoo animals. The kids enjoy calling out the names of the animals, and joining in on the sounds they make.

Grumpy Pants by Claire Messer

Adorable book about a grumpy penguin who takes off different articles of clothing and jumps in a bath to try to improve his mood.

Peek-a-Moo! by Marie Torres Cimarusti; illustrated by Stephanie Peterson

Very cute, large lift-the-flap book that allows kids to guess which animal is hiding on each page. I sometimes let the kids take turns lifting the flap, and I usually get lots of giggles by repeatedly lifting the flap up and down and calling out the different animal sounds “Peek-a-MOO!” “Peek-a-QUACK!” etc.

I Ain’t Gonna’ Paint No More by Karen Beaumont; illustrated by David Catrow

I love this funny variation of It Ain’t Gonna Rain No More, about a little boy who has been forbidden to use paint, but just can’t resist painting different parts of his body. The kids usually like calling out the names of the different body parts, and we often follow it up by singing Head and Shoulders, Knees and Toes.

Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Car by Kate Dopirak; illustrated by Mary Peterson

Very cute car-themed version of Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star, which features lots of different vehicles and the sounds they make.

The Itsy Bitsy Spider by Iza Trapani

One of my favorite nursery rhyme adaptations, which shows a persistent spider struggling to climb up different surfaces. The illustrations are adorable.

Trashy Town by Andrea Zimmerman and David Clemesha; illustrated by Dan Yaccarino

Simple story about Mr. Gilly, the garbage man, which features the very catchy chant, “Dump it in! Smash it down! Drive around the Trashy Town!”

For more tips on Sensory Storytimes for children with autism and other developmental disabilities, check out my friend Ashley Waring’s post on the ALSC blog: https://www.alsc.ala.org/blog/2012/03/sensory-storytime-a-brief-how-to-guide/

If you have any favorite books or tips for sensory storytimes or special education classes, please share them in the comments below.

Mother Knows Best: A Storytime for Mother’s Day

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Yesterday at our Outdoor Musical Storytime, we did stories and songs about mothers. Here’s what we did:

Books:

Toad on the Road: Mama and Me by Stephen Shaskan

This is a really cute story about a Mama toad who drives a tow truck, accompanied by her little one. As they drive along, they rescue a goat who has run out of gas, a fox with a flat tire, and a moose in the muck. Finally, they arrive at a party, where they discover where all of their newfound friends have been going.

Baby Goes to Market by Atinuke; illustrated by Angela Brooksbank

Adorable book about a mother and her baby, who are shopping in a Nigerian market. The vendors can’t resist giving Baby different foods: bananas, oranges, chin-chin biscuits, and more. Each time, Baby eats one, and puts the rest in the basket on Mama’s head, without her knowing. Eventually Mama notices how heavy her basket is, and is shocked all the additional food. The crowd laughed at the ending, when the mother says Baby must be very hungry, since he’s had nothing to eat.

Everything is Mama by Jimmy Fallon

Very simple but funny book that shows a variety of baby animals who call everything they see “Mama.” Claire read the part of the babies, and I read the other parts. The kids enjoyed chiming in on the “Mama’s.”

Songs:

We Bounce and We Bounce and We Stop

One of my all-time favorite storytime songs. It works so well for different ages, and you can do different motions for each verse. We did clapping, turning, leaning, and stomping. The kids always love it!

C

We bounce and we bounce and we stop!

C

We bounce and we bounce and we stop!

C

We bounce and we bounce and we bounce and we bounce,

C                                          G7                       C

And we bounce and we bounce and we stop!

Five Dinosaurs by Nancy Stewart

This one was a fun tie in to Toad on the Road: Mama and Me. I have the kids pretend to drive the car as we sing.

[C] There were five dinosaurs, [F] driving in cars,
[C] Having a really good [G7] time.
They said, [C] “We’ll step on the gas, and [F] go really fast!”
And they [C] did…until one [G7] had a flat [C] tire.
Ka-thunk! Ka-thunk! Ka-thunk! Ka-thunk!
She said, “Go on without me!”

Then there were four dinosaurs…

Repeat, until the last dinosaur has a flat tire, then say,

“She said, ‘I know! I’ll fix the tire! and then I’ll pick up all my friends!”

Then there were five dinosaurs,
Riding in a car, having a really good time.
They said, “Step on the gas, and go really fast!”
And they did, and down the road they went flying.

ROAR!!

Five Days Old by Laurie Berkner

We sang this after Baby Goes to Market. It’s a fun action song, and very catchy! Here’s Laurie Berkner’s video:

[C] I’m sitting here, I’m [F] one day old, and [C] I’m sitting here I’m [F] two [G7] days [C] old.

[C] I’m sitting here, I’m [F] three days old, and [C] I’m sitting here I’m [F] four [G7] days [C] old.

[F] One [C] day, I’ll [F] be a [C] year, then [F] I’ll be [C] two, then [G7] three, then four.

[C] As for now I’m [F] sitting here, I’m [C] five days old and [F] no [G7] days [C] more!

I’m jumping up, I’m one day old…

I’m clapping my hands, I’m one day old…

I’m kicking my legs, I’m one day old…

Getting really tired, I’m one day old…

I’m jumping up, I’m one day old..

Skiddamarink-A-Dink-A-Dink

This song is always a favorite with both kids and caregivers. I go over the sign language for “I Love You” before we sing the song together. Here’s a link to a YouTube video from Super Simple Songs with the tune:

Skidamarink a-dink, a-dink
Skidamarink a-doo
I love you.
Skidamarink a-dink, a-dink
Skidamarink a-doo
I love you.
I love you in the morning
And in the afternoon.
I love you in the evening
And underneath the moon.
Oh, skidamarink a-dink, a-dink
Skidamarink a-doo
I love you.

Circle of the Sun by Sally Rogers

We did this as our instrument play-along at the end. It’s a pretty folk song, that works well because you can add your own verses about different “firsts” in the life of a child. We sang, “Babies take their first steps in a circle of the sun,” and “Babies say their first words…”

[C] Babies are born in a circle of the sun,

Circle of the sun on their [G7] birthing [C] day.

[C] Babies are born in a circle of the sun,

Circle of the sun on their [G7] birthing [C] day.

CHORUS

[C] Clouds to the North, Clouds to the South,

[F] Wind and [C] rain to the [F] East and the [G7] West,

[C] Babies are born in a circle of the sun,

Circle of the sun on their [G7] birthing [C] day.

Stay & Play: Dot Paint Hearts

I intended this to be a resist type project, where the kids used the dot markers to color all around different sized hearts, and then removed the hearts to reveal the heart-shape in white, like the example on the right. But the kids seemed to be more caught up in decorating the paper hearts, and some of them turned out really well (the kid on the right was VERY enthusiastic about the dot markers!).

In any case, to prepare, I cut several paper hearts out of cardstock, and then covered the back with restickable glue stick. For the Stay & Play, I put out the paper hearts, sheets of cardstock, and dot markers.

I think if I did this again, I would either just have the kids decorate paper hearts, or pre-stick the paper frames of the hearts I cut out onto the cardstock, so they could enjoy decorating a big heart, and still have the magic moment when they peeled the frame away.

OTHER FAVORITE BOOKS ABOUT MOTHERS

Where’s My Mom? by Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler

At my preschool visits this month I’ve read sharing this fun rhyming story about a monkey who can’t find his mother. A butterfly tries to help by pointing out various animals (an elephant, a frog, a snake, etc.), but none of them are the monkey’s Mom. The monkey complains that none of the animals the butterfly has found look like him, but the butterfly points out that her baby caterpillars look nothing like her either. The kids love yelling out, “No, that’s an elephant!” etc. on each page, and the book has a wonderful message about how not all children look like their parents.

Owl Babies by Martin Waddell; illustrated by Patrick Benson

One of my all-time favorite books for toddlers. An adorable family of baby owls wake up to discover that their mother is missing. At first they reassure themselves that she’s probably gone hunting, but then they start to worry. Luckily, their mother arrives just as they are starting to panic. The beautiful illustrations and repeated lines for kids to chime in on, along with the reassuring message make this perfect for storytime.

Bedtime for Mommy by Amy Krouse Rosenthal; illustrated by LeUyen Pham

Sweet, funny story about a little girl who puts her Mommy to bed, with all of the usual negotiating and stalling tactics.

Hush, Little Trucker by Kim Norman; illustrated by Toshiki Nakamura

Another book I’ve been reading at the preschools lately is this truck-themed version of Hush, Little Baby. When a little boy loses his toy truck, his mother helps him look for it using a variety of construction vehicles.

What are your favorite stories, songs, or crafts for Mother’s Day? Please share them in the comments below.