We had a wonderful time reading books about birds during Infant Storytime last Tuesday. We also talked to Henrietta (our library hen), sang songs, shared nursery rhymes and had fun with a number of bounces. Halfway through our storytime we heard a loud, CLUCK, CLUCK, CLUCK and voila! Henrietta managed to lay a “shaky” egg. Who says you can’t have a little fun in the library?
Oh! Did I mention that the children also got to witness some blue birds hatch? Not your usual storytime fare but it definitely enhanced our theme!
Below you’ll find a listing of the stories, songs, activities, bounces and flannel rhyme we shared. As our session progresses you’ll notice that I repeat many of the same songs, rhymes and bounces. I do this because repetition is one of the most important learning tools for a young child.
Repitition provides the practice that children need to master new skills. Repetition helps to improve speed, increases confidence, and strengthens the connections in the brain that help children learn. Reading Brightstart
Books We Shared
Fun FACT: Reading aloud is one of the best things you can do for your baby’s brain development! Click here for a list of the benefits: Birth to Five
Early Bird by Toni Yuly is the perfect picture book for infants and toddlers. In this book Yuly introduces us to a bird that loves waking up early in the morning so he can get GOING! The book shows the early bird moving across, through, under and over obstacles to get to the other side of the garden where the early worm awaits. Along with getting introduced to prepositions, there is anticipation as we wonder if our now hungry bird will eat that worm for lunch! Thankfully, the worm is saved by a big, juicy strawberry.
Charlie the Chicken by Nick Denchfield is an old favorite of mine. Its a pop-up book which adds dimension and texture to this simple story of a chicken who eats lots of barley, wheat and corn. Of course that food helps him grow in all sorts of ways. However, we find out that he still isn’t as big as his beautiful mother hen!
Nursery Rhyme Flannel We Shared
“One, Two, Buckle My Shoe”
“One, Two, Buckle My Shoe” or “1, 2 Buckle My Shoe” is a counting song dating back to late 18th century USA. Below are the words to a modern, condensed version:
Modern version
One, two,
Buckle my shoe;
Three, four,
Knock at the door;
Five, six,
Pick up sticks;
Seven, eight,
Lay them straight:
Nine, ten,
A big fat hen.
Songs, Rhymes & Bounces We Shared
We share a lot of songs, bounces & rhymes during storytime! You’ll find lyrics/words to most of the bounces, songs & rhymes we shared.
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!
Clap Everybody and Say Hello! (see “CDs section” below to find this song in our CD collection)
Clap everybody and say hello, clap everybody and say hello, clap everybody and say hello, no matter what the weather
Stamp everybody…
Wiggle everybody…
Jump everybody…
Dance everybody…
Sing everybody…
Songs, Bounces & Tickle
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.
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.
One, Two, Three…Whee!!! (song & bounce)
One, two, three…Whee (repeat 3 x)
Then count – 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8!
REPEAT with Jump, Shake, Twist & then back to Whee!
From: Smile at Your Neighbor with Mr. Eric ~ Eric Litwin
Peas Porridge Hot! (bounce)
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!
With My Little Hands (song activity)
With my little hands I go clap, clap, clap, (clap baby’s hands)
With my little feet I go tap, tap, tap. (tap baby’s feet)
With my little arms I wave bye, bye, bye, (gently lift baby’s arm to wave bye)
With my little legs I kick high, high, high! (help lift baby’s legs)
With my little eyes I say peekaboo, (cover baby’s eyes and play peekaboo)
With my little lips I say I love you! (look at baby and say I love you)
REPEAT but change the last line to…”sing I love you! (sing I love you to baby)
Tickles:
Round the Garden (circle baby’s belly button)
Round and round the garden, goes the Teddy Bear, a one-step, a two-step, a tickle under there.
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. Click onto the CD titles to find these items in our library catalog.
“Clap Everybody and Say Hello” fm 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
“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’d like to read more books about birds, check these out from your local Pasadena Public Library!
