Our theme for the third storytime of the spring session was MOVE & Play! There are so many ways to move & play – you can run, jump, swim, spin around and play peek-a-boo. We did almost all of these during Infant Storytime.
Children learn through play and they develop their fine and gross motor skills by being active! Add a bit of talking, reading and singing to the mix and you have a winning equation!
Listed below are the books, songs, rhymes, flannel board and bounces we shared.
In Leon Can Swim by Anne McQuinn, Leo learns how to swim. His Dad puts on his swim diaper and swim trunks and off they go to swim class to do some kicking, splishing, swishing and swoshing with the other babies! They even sing a “splashy” song. (We sang “Twinkle Twinkle”). After swim class it’s shower and snack time. Leo is tuckered out after all of that moving and he falls fast asleep. Simple text, a linear story and clear bright illustrations make this a perfect book for infants.
One, two three RUN! is a board book by Carol Thompson. The title says it all! In the book we see toddlers doing what they do best – running up and down, spinning round and round, moving through grass, getting their feet wet and splashing in puddles. This book is great to read aloud but it also makes for the perfect lap sit.
We snuck in a third book just for fun. Jane Cabrera’s Peek-A-Boo Zoo! was a twist on the classic peek-a-boo game! “Peek-a-boo baby…peek-a-boo two, blue, roo…” – everything rhymed with boo. Can you guess the final rhyming word? ZOO! A lot of fun for babies as each turn of the page offers a different animal surprise.
Flannel Boards We Shared
Two Little BLUEBIRDS
Two little bluebirds sitting on a hill
One named Jack and the other named Jill
Fly away Jack, fly away Jill
Come back Jack, come back Jill.
Two little bluebirds sitting on a hill
One named Short and the other named Tall
Fly away Short, fly away Tall
Come back short, come back tall.
Two little blue birds sitting on a hill
One named Fast and the other named Slow
Fly away Fast, fly away Slow
Come back Fast, come back Slow.
There are many different versions of “Two Little Blackbirds”. You can replace blackbirds with blue birds or you can have them exhibit different “opposite” characteristics (short and tall, fast and slow, quiet and loud). By making up your own version – you’ll have a special rhyme just for you and baby.
P.S. The best thing about finger play rhymes like this one? No need for puppets or props – you just need your fingers!
“Two Little Blackbirds performed by Deborah Takahashi, Librarian at two branch libraries in Pasadena – Linda Vista & Santa Catalina.
Action Songs, Rhymes & Bounces We Shared
We share a lot of songs, bounces & rhymes during storytime!
You’ll find lyrics/words to those songs & rhymes we shared without CD accompaniment here.
Welcome Song
(to the tune of Twinkle Twinkle Little Star)
Welcome, welcome everyone,
Now we’re here let’s have some fun!
First we clap our hands just so,
Then we bend and touch our toes.
Welcome, welcome everyone,
Now we’re here let’s have some fun!
Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star
Video: Twinkle Twinkle
Twinkle Twinkle Little Star
How I wonder what you are
Up above the world so high
Like a diamond in the sky
Twinkle Twinkle little star
How I wonder what you are.
Dickery Dickery Dare (bounce)
Video: Dickery Dickery Dare
Dickery dickery dare,
The pig flew up in the air –
Wooooo!
The man in brown,
Brought him back down,
Dickery dickery dare!
The Grand Old Duke of York (bounce)
Video: The Grand Old Duke of York
Oh, the grand old Duke of York,
He had ten thousand men;
He marched them up to the top of the hill
And he marched them down again.
When they were up, they were up,
And when they were down, they were down,
And when they were only halfway up,
They were neither up nor down.
Peas Porridge Hot!
Video: Peas Porridge Hot
Peas porridge hot
Peas porridge cold
Peas porridge in the pot, nine days old!
Some like it hot
Some like it cold
Some like it in the pot, nine days old!
Tickle: Round and round the garden, goes the Teddy Bear, a one-step, a two-step, a tickle under there.
Goodbye Friends (song in sign)
Click here for video: Goodbye Babies (Friends)
Goodbye babies, goodbye babies
Goodbye babies, it’s time to say goodbye.
Music from CDs We Shared
Children love to sing and dance to music. Here are some of the songs/bounces on CD that we used in storytime. Click onto the CD titles to find these items in our library catalog.
“Clap Everybody and Say Hello” from Sally Go Round the Sun by Kathy Reid-Naiman
“Ladies Ride” from More Tickles & Tunes by Kathy Reid-Naiman
“Smooth Road” from Baby’s Boat by Kathy Reid-Naiman
“With My Little Hands” from Active Baby by Tumble Tots
“I’m a Little Teapot” from Toddler Favorites by Music for Little People
“Two Little Blackbirds” from by Circle Time: songs and rhymes for the very young by Lisa Monet
“Itsy Bitsy Spider” from It’s Toddler Time by Carol Hammett and Elaine Bueffel
Continue the Fun
If you want to read more books about moving and playing, check these out at your local Pasadena Public Library.
