Books We Shared

We read Chugga-chugga Choo-choo by Kevin Lewis with pictures by Daniel Kirk, in which toys act out the busyness and work of a train coming into the station.

I don’t always do this, but sometimes I have a book from home that really works with my theme and I share that instead of a library book. This book, Tell the Time With Thomas by Christopher Awdry and Ken Stott introduces the concept of the analog clock with an actual play clock and a simple, interactive story about a day in the life of everyone’s favorite tank engine!

Flannel Boards We Shared

Freight Train by Donald Crews

I used felt pieces to narrate the classic book Freight Train by Donald Crews.

Down at the Station

(Tune: Little Bunny Foo Foo)

Down at the station early in the morning
See the little puffer trains all in a row
See the engine driver turn the little handle
Puff puff, chuff chuff, off we go!
(remove one train, and count, then sing again until there are no more trains)

Action Songs & Bounces We Shared

Hickory, Dickory Dock

We used the clockface on my Tell the Time With Thomas book to show the hours changing.

Hickory, dickory dock
The mouse ran up the clock (crawl your fingers up your arm)
The clock struck one–BONNNNG (slapping your lap)
And down he’d run!–Weee! (crawl your fingers down your arm)
Hickory, dickory dock

Hickory, dickory dock
The mouse ran up the clock (crawl your fingers up your arm)
The clock struck two–BONNNG, BONNNNG (slapping your lap)
And down he flew!–Weee! (crawl your fingers down your arm)
Hickory, dickory dock

Hickory, dickory dock
The mouse ran up the clock (crawl your fingers up your arm)
The clock struck three–BONNNNG, BONNNNG, BONNNNG (slapping your lap)
The mouse went: “Weee!” (crawl your fingers down your arm)
Hickory, dickory dock

Open, Shut Them

Open shut them, open shut them.
Give a little clap, clap, clap.
Open shut them, open shut them.
Place them on your lap, lap, lap.
Creep them, crawl them
Creep them, crawl them
Right up to your chin, chin, chin
Open up your little mouth… Buuuuuuuuuuut…
Do not let them in!

Engine, Engine

from
Songs & games for toddlers featuring Bob McGrath & Katharine Smithrim

Engine, engine number 9
Coming down Chicago Line
If the train goes off its track
Do you want your money back?
Yes? (sway to the side)
No? (sway to the other side)
Maybe so? (sway back and forth)

Goodbye Friends (song in sign)

Click here for video:  Goodbye Babies (Friends) 

Goodbye friends, goodbye friends
Goodbye friends, 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.

“Clap Everybody and Say Hello” from Sally Go Round the Sun by Kathy Reid-Naiman

“Little Red Caboose” from Wiggleworms Love You by Old Town School of Folk Music

“Wheels on the Bus” from Songs for Wiggleworms by Old Town School of Folk Music

Video We Shared

We watched “The Train Ride,” an episode from our Peppa Pig DVD “Stars.” In it, Peppa’s whole preschool class gets to take a train ride and write down the things that they see.

Continue the Fun

Here are some more books about trains to check out at your Pasadena Public Library Branch: