For the past few years, I’ve been playing around with writing my own songs to fit with storytime themes.  I’ve always tried to incorporate songs and rhymes as much as possible, mostly because I love to sing, but also because it breaks things up a bit, gives the kids a chance to interact and move around, and often pulls wandering toddlers back into the circle.  I was happy when singing also became a major focus of our library system, following the American Library Association’s promotion of the five easy ways to build early literacy skills: Talk, Sing, Read, Write, and Play.  There’s also a lot of research to suggest that learning songs helps build the neural pathways kids need for reading later on, and that kids who know at least eight songs or rhymes by the age of four, will be among the top readers in their class at the age of eight.

All that aside, writing songs is a fun challenge.  Mostly I play around with basic chord progressions on the ukulele until I find a melody, and then try to come up with lyrics. Admittedly both the songs and recordings are rough (it’s hard to find a quiet place to record with two kids in a tiny house).  If you have any storytime themes you’d like me to write a song for, please let me know.

I have most of these songs up on SoundCloud and also Bandcamp, if you’d like to follow me there. You can also find me on TikTok. https://www.tiktok.com/@ukelibrarian?_t=8gvfvOGf4uJ&_r=1

I’LL SEE YOU LATER, ALLIGATOR

If you see something in the water
With scales and lots of teeth,
Looking like a floating log
With four legs underneath.
You can tell that it must be a type
Of dangerous reptile.
But is it an alligator
Or a hungry crocodile?

I’ll see you later, Alligator,
With your mouth shaped like a U,
But Crocodile, with the V-shaped smile,
It’ll be a while
‘Till I see you.

Alligators like to live in swamps,
While crocs prefer a river.
No matter where you find them,
They’re sure to make you shiver.
On crocs you see their bottom teeth,
On gators just the top.
If you’re able to see either,
You’re way too close, so STOP!

I’ll see you later, Alligator,
With your mouth shaped like a U,
But Crocodile, with the V-shaped smile,
It’ll be a while
‘Till I see you.

A crocodile has lighter skin,
While gator’s skin is dark,
To help them hide out in the mud
Waiting to catch their mark.
Learning of their differences
Can be a lot of fun,
But one thing they have in common,
If you see one you should run!

I’ll see you later, Alligator,
With your mouth shaped like a U,
But Crocodile, with the V-shaped smile,
It’ll be a while
‘Till I see you.

WHEN I’M WITH YOU IT’S CHRISTMAS

A song for all of us celebrating the holidays in a warm place.

Lyrics
There’s no snow on the ground,
It’s bright and clear today,
Too hot for ugly sweaters
Or a one horse open sleigh.
No chestnuts by the fire,
No winter wonderland,
But I feel that Christmas magic
Every time I hold your hand.

Chorus

‘Cause when I’m with you it’s Christmas,
Even though it looks like Spring,
I feel that spark of joy
Just like a child on Christmas morning.
And the world is full of hope and light
Whenever I’m with you.
It may look like July outside
But it’s Christmas here with you.

When I was a child, it was so hard to wait,
Seeing presents underneath the tree
Wrapped for that special date.
But now that I am grown,
It can seem like such a chore,
Buying all the gifts I’ve got to give
As I rush from store to store

Chorus

It may be seventy degrees
Beneath the sun’s bright glare,
With palms instead of evergreens
Waving in the air.
But with you I feel that cozy winter holiday
delight.
Like relaxing by the fire in the glow of
Christmas lights.

You make me want to sing
And wear silly hats and clothes,
And rock around a Christmas tree
Beneath some mistletoe.
Though the shopping lines are long,
There’s so much I have to do.
I just can’t wait for Christmas,
Because I get to be with you.

Chorus

FISH OUT OF WATER

Not a kids song, but one inspired by the Hans Christian Andersen story The Little Mermaid, which I was mildly obsessed with as a kid. It is VERY different from the Disney movie.

CHORUS

I’m a [F] fish out of [C] water when[G7] ever you’re [C] near.
[F] Tongue-tied and [C] awkward when [G7] you [C] appear.
I [F] wish I could [C] show you the [E7] things I can [Am] do.
But I’m a [F] fish out of [G7] water with [C] you.

[C] I was a [G7] mermaid, a [F] queen of the [G7] sea,
[C] Agile and [G7] graceful, [F] contented and [G7] free.
But I’ve been [F] breathless and [C] floundering, since [E7] we [Am] met,
I [F] never [C] intended to get [E7] caught in your [Am] net.
I [F] may be a [C] princess in the [E7] wild ocean [Am] blue.
But I’m a [F] fish out of [G7] water with [C] you.

CHORUS

We [C] may be as [G7] different [F] as people can [G7] be,
[C] You are steady and [G7] grounded, [F] while I’m all at [G7] sea.
I just [F] wish I could [C] show you [E7] who I really [Am] am,
But [F] whenever I’m [C] with you I [E7] close up like a [Am] clam.
And I [F] feel like I’ve [C] landed [E7] in a world that’s [Am] brand new.
I’m just a [F] fish out of [G7] water with [C] you.

I lure [F] sailors to [C] me with my [E7] songs by [Am] choice,
But [F] when I’m with [C] you I [E7] lose my [Am] voice.
I may have [F] saved you from [C] drowning, but [E7] you never [Am] knew.
I’m just a [F] fish out of [G7] water with [C] you.

I wish I could show you my world in the sea,
But I know in my heart that we’re not meant to be.
For it’s only in movies that our love can prevail,
My original story’s a morality tale.
In life happy endings are random and few,
And I’m a fish out of water with you

CHORUS

PUMPKIN PIRATE

A short silly song I wrote for a Pumpkin-themed storytime.

 [Am] I’m gonna be a pumpkin pirate,

[C] My name is Lantern Jack.

[F] My pumpkin boat will stay afloat

[E7] ‘cross the Seven Seas and back.

[Am] I’m gonna be a pumpkin pirate.

[C] A real squash buckler, I!

[F] My pumpkin patch remains unmatched.

[E7] My pirate flag waves high!

[F] I’ll search for golden treasure,

[C] But I won’t go overboard.

[F] With a yo ho ho, away I’ll go

[E7] In my trusty orange gourd.

[Am] I’m gonna be a pumpkin pirate.

[C] My boat serves all my needs

[F] Cause whenever I get hungry

[E7] I’ll just roast some pumpkin seeds

[Am] I’m gonna be a pumpkin pirate. 

[C] In my boat I’ll travel far

[F] And if you’d like to go with me

[E7] I’ll meet you where you [Am] ARRRR!

NOTHING TO DO

I wrote this song for a storytime about National Anti Boredom Month in July. I found myself thinking about the times I spent with my friends as a teenager, where time would fly by doing nothing at all.

There’s nothing to do.
There’s nothing to do.
Can’t swim in the pool,
Can’t go to the zoo.

But my favorite thing
In the whole world to do
Is just doing nothing
With you.

We could talk for an hour,
We could talk for a day,
And I wouldn’t remember
One thing that we’d say.

But I’d remember I laughed
Till my stomach was sore,
And I’d feel more alive
Than ever before,
Cause my favorite thing
In the whole world to do
Is just doing nothing with you.

The years fly so fast,
It’s like no time at all,
And I have done more
Than I’ll ever recall.

But the very best moments that I ever knew
Were just doing nothing with you.

There’s nothing to do,
There’s nothing to do.
Can’t go to the pool,
Can’t go to the zoo.

But my favorite thing in the whole world to do,
Is just doing nothing,
Just doing nothing,
Just doing nothing with you.

VELVETEEN

A song based on The Velveteen Rabbit by Margery Williams, and dedicated to anyone who longs to be seen for who they really are.

Velveteen, velveteen,
Are you real,
Are you seen?
Or are you lost in between?
Velveteen.

You were a gift, bright and new,
And everybody thought they knew
Who you were, what you’d do,
We couldn’t see

The part you kept deep inside,
How you longed to be alive,
To be yourself, not just survive,
To be free.

Velveteen, velveteen,
Are you real, are you seen?
Or are you lost in between?
Velveteen.

But one day you showed the spark that burned inside you,
And let us see the you you couldn’t hide.
And though others might tease you and deride you,
I hope you know you fill my heart with pride.

Velveteen, velveteen,
You don’t know how much you mean.
You are real,
You are seen
Velveteen.

THE GIVING TREE

A song based on the picture book, The Giving Tree, by Shel Silverstein, but told from the tree’s perspective:

I am the Giving Tree,
I once loved a boy
Who said he loved me.

I gave him my leaves
To make him a crown.
I lifted him up,
But he just cut me down.

Is this really love,
And is this really living?
His constantly taking,
My constant forgiving.

He took the best of me,
For his wants and his needs,
And his restless misery.

And then he abandoned me
With nothing but dreams
Of what I used to be.

Is this really love
And is this really living?
His constantly taking,
My constant forgiving.

Waiting silent in the snow,
With a tiny seed
Of hope I can regrow.

And that new life will come again,
This time for me
Not for some old broken man.

I will be all I can.
I won’t twist my life
Into someone else’s plan.
Because this isn’t love
And this isn’t living,
And I can be loving
Without always giving,
And I can be faithful
While still being free
And I am forgiving me.

ME AND THE TIGER

A tribute to Calvin and Hobbes.

Me and the Tiger
We pack every day,
With questions and battles,
Adventures and play.

And all of of the grown-ups
They can’t understand,
That life’s so much more
Than the routines they’ve planned.

They just see a toy
And they think it’s pretend.
They don’t know the magic
You find with a friend.

But me and the Tiger
We make our own rules,
Our world’s more than homework,
And bedtime, and schools.

And when we don’t like things,
We simply defy them,
Or build new inventions
To transmogrify them.

My Mom and Dad think
That it’s all in my head,
They can’t see the monster
That’s under my bed.

But I will sleep soundly,
My best friend beside me,
To laugh with, and argue,
And comfort, and guide me

Through all the adventures
And wonders we’ll see,
When a new day arrives
For my Tiger and me.

HOME AGAIN

I wrote this one in honor of Maurice Sendak.  It includes references to many of his books, including Outside Over There, We Are All in the Dumps with Jack and Guy, and Where the Wild Things Are.

Darling, when you feel afraid,
For you can plainly see,
The world is full of monsters
Who look just like you and me.

Just jump aboard your tiny boat
Follow the falling star.
And sail away through night and day,
To where the wild things are.

And you will dance and then
Let the wild rumpus begin.
But I will love you best of all
When you come home again.

And darling, when the goblins come,
And no one seems to care,
Climb out your bedroom window
Into outside over there.

Bring your horn, and play a jig,
And charm them with a song.
They’ll set you free, and you will soon be
Home where you belong.

And you will dance and then,
Let the wild rumpus begin.
But I will love you best of all,
When you come home again.

And if you fall into the Night Kitchen,

Just fly your plane up to the Milky Way.

Our world is full of dark and strange visions,

But I know that you will find your way.

When the moon is in a fit,
And you are in the dumps,
Lost in the rye with one black eye,
And diamonds are all trumps.

I will come and buy you bread,
One loaf or maybe two.
And I will bring you up
Cause happy endings can come true.

And we will dance and then,
Let the wild rumpus begin.
And I will love you best of all
Until the very end.

I AM A PENGUIN (written for a Penguin storytime.  I play this one on the dulcimer)

I am a penguin,
My wings cannot fly.
Not like the petrols
And gulls in the sky.

CHORUS:
But put me in the water
And then you will see.
There’s no bird in the ocean,
Who flies as fast as me.

On land I may waddle,
And look quite absurd.
A flightless and clumsy,
Black-and-white bird.

CHORUS

My home is the ice
Where we huddle for heat.
I carry my egg
On the top of my feet.

CHORUS

I am a penguin,
My wings cannot fly.
But the ice is my home,
And the sea is my sky.

CHORUS

CANDY CORN FOR DINNER (written for an Ice Cream storytime)

This one was also on an album we made to distribute to storytime families at the Millbrae Library. Here’s a link to that version on Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/ashley-larsen-1/sets/musical-storytime-2016

C                                                                     G7                  
Mom and dad put me in charge of our dinner tonight.
C                                                                                G7
They said I could make anything as long as we ate right.
C                                                        G7                   C
I had to serve some vegetables, a salad, and a stew.
C                                                                        G7               C
I thought a while and cooked a bit, and here is my menu.

F                                                     C
We’re having candy corn for dinner
G7                             C
With a side of chocolate stew.
F                               C
A three jelly bean salad,
G7                                                C
And an ice cream sandwich too.

I don’t know why Mom and Dad say cooking’s such a chore,
‘Cause I had such a great time going to the grocery store.
My mom said we were out of milk, so I bought a big milkshake,
And since my dad likes cheese so much, I got him a cheesecake.

We’re having candy corn for dinner
With a side of chocolate stew.
A three jelly bean salad,
And an ice cream sandwich too.

MY IMAGINARY FRIEND

I wrote this one to go along with the book The Adventures of Beekle the year it won the Caldecott Award.

I have a little monster (C)
No larger than a tear. (F, C)
He climbs up on my shoulder (C)
And whispers in my ear. (G7, C)

CHORUS
He’s my friend, my friend, (C)
My imaginary friend. (F, C)
Nobody else can see him. (C)
They say he’s just pretend. (G7, C)

Chorus

My monster’s always hungry.
He likes to eat my peas.
He brings me little treasures,
Like shiny coins and keys.

Chorus

My monster sleeps beside me
In a matchbox filled with hay.
He tells me funny stories,
And scares bad dreams away.

Chorus

If you find a monster,
I hope you’ll let him stay,
To chase away your nightmares
And play throughout the day.

He’ll be your friend, your friend,
Your imaginary friend.
And though no one else can see him,
He’ll be with you till the end.

ABRACADABRA (written for a Magic Storytime)

One day I found a magic wand (C G)
Out floating in a stream. (F C)
I waved it at my dinner plate, (C G)
And my beets became ice cream! (F G C)

I said, “Abracadabra! (C G)
Alakazaam! (F G)
Abracadabra!” (C G)
And my peas turned into jam. (F G C)

So then I took my magic wand
To school with me one day.
When Teacher said, “It’s time to work.”
I said, “I’d rather play.”

I said, “Abracadabra!
Hocus pocus!” too.
“Abracadabra!”
And my class was at the zoo!
Being taught by a kangaroo.

So if you find a magic wand
Out floating in a stream.
I hope that it will bring to you
Whatever you may dream.

You’ll say, “Abracadabra!
Presto chango!” too.
“Abracadabra!”
Many things will come to you.
Like a treehouse with a view,
And a unicorn or two,
And a chocolate mansion too.
May your every dream come true.

I AM THANKFUL

My most recent song, which I wrote for a Thanksgiving storytime.  After months and months of doing storytimes over Zoom, I’ve finally gotten used to seeing myself on video, so here’s a recording of the song I put up on YouTube:

[C] I am thankful for

The [F] colors that I see,

For [C] friends who play with me,

And for my [G7] loving family.

[C] I am thankful for [F] rainbows in the sky,

For the [C] taste of pumpkin pie,

And for a [G7] warm hug when I cry.

I’m thankful [F] for the sky above

I’m thankful [C] for the ones I love,

[D] My cozy bed at night,

And for [G] the summer sun so bright.

[C] I am thankful for the [F] monkeys at the zoo

But [C] most of all I’m [G7] thankful for [C] YOU!

[C] I am thankful for [F] bubbles in the air,

For a [C] cool breeze in my hair,

And for my [G7] snuggly teddy bear.

[C] I am thankful for [F] yummy things to eat,

For [C] ice cream cones so sweet,

And for a [G7] special birthday treat.

I’m thankful [F] for the sky above

I’m thankful [C] for the ones I love,

[D] My cozy bed at night,

And for [G] the summer sun so bright.

[C] I am thankful for the [F] monkeys at the zoo

But [C] most of all I’m [G7] thankful,

[C] I am so very [F] thankful!

[C] Most of all I’m [G7] thankful for [C] YOU!