Books We Shared

Charlie Rides by Bob Bianchini is about a boy enjoying all kinds of vehicles with his Dad!

It’s unclear whether the protagonist of Love is a Truck by Amy Novesky and Sara Gillingham is a boy or a girl–but it’s not important. What is clear is that the child in the story LOVES trucks and the text is so exuberant in its appreciation of trucks that the truck becomes a metaphor for love itself…

But enough of the English-major-rambling. Let’s talk about our Letter of the Day!

Letter of the Day

Our Letter of the Day was T–T for trains, transportation, trucks, tigers and more! We talk about words that start with T and make a big T in the air.

Flannel Boards We Shared

Nine Little Dump Trucks

One little, two little, three little dump trucks
Four little, five little, six little dump trucks
Seven little, eight little, nine little drump trucks
On their way to the garbage dump!

Now they have to empty their load (tilt sideways)

And now nine little, eight little, seven little dump trucks
Six little, five little, four little dump trucks
Three little, two little, one little dump truck
All have left the garbage dump!

Action Songs & Bounces We Shared

We learned the sign language for various different vehicles while I told a little story. Before I said the words in bold, I showed the sign language and waited to see if the audience would guess it first.
(spoken)

I’m going to the grocery store.
I’m gonna hop on my… BIKE! (move hands like pedaling a bicycle)

 

But now I need to go somewhere a little bit farther.
I know! I’ll take my… MOTORCYLE! (move hands like revving up the motor with the handlebars)

 

Now I have to go far out of town.
I’m gonna have to take the… CAR! (move hands like operating a steering wheel)

 

Next week, I have to go out of state to visit my grandma.
I’ll take a… TRAIN! (with two fingers on each hand, cross them like an X)

 

And next month, when I go visit my aunt who lives in another country,
I’m gonna take a… PLANE! (lower your middle and ring finger and soar your hand through the sky)

(I made this up but was inspired by an idea I read in Baby Storytime Magic by Kathy MacMillan and Christine Kirker)

 

Little Red Wagon

Bumping up and down in my little red wagon
Bumping up and down in my little red wagon
Bumping up and down in my little red wagon
Won’t you be my darling?

One wheel’s off and the axle’s broken (sway to the side)
One wheel’s off and the axle’s broken (sway to the other side)
One wheel’s off and the axle’s broken (sway to the side)
Won’t you be my darling?

(by Raffi)

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 Babies (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.

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

“Ladies Ride” from Wiggleworms Love You by Old Town School of Folk Music

“Smooth Road to London Town” from A Smooth Road to London Town by Kathy Reid-Naiman

Continue the Fun

Here are some more books about cars, trains, trucks and planes to check out at your Pasadena Public Library Branch: