For our fourth Infant Storytime of the spring session, we read books about balloons.
Books We Shared
Our first story, Come Back Ben by Ann and John Hassett, is about a boy whose balloon takes him on an adventure “up, up, up!” The ending is surprising and cute!
Our second book, It’s Tough to Lose Your Balloon by Jarrett J. Krosoczka, suggests ways to see the bright side of many of life’s small disappointments. This one might have been better for a preschool crowd though.
Flannel Board Counting
Pete the Clown and His Five Bright Balloons
(Credit: Story Time Secrets)
Pete the Clown bought five bright balloons at the carnival.
He was so excited about them, he sang a song as he walked along.
“I’ve got five balloo-oons! I’ve got five balloo-oons!”
(The tune for Pete’s song is what you would sing if you were part of a conga line.)
But then… POP!
One balloon broke and started to drop.
Now how many balloons did Pete have?
Did Pete cry? No, never.
He knows balloons don’t last forever.
Pete was still so happy to have four balloons, that he kept walking along and singing his song.
“I’ve got four balloo-oons! I’ve got four balloo-oons!”
(Repeat the same sequence of events until Pete is out of balloons, then add the following ending.)
Pete was out of balloons! What could he do?
Well, he stopped where he was, turned around, and went back to the carnival, where he got five more balloons.
As he walked along, he sang his song:
“I’ve got five balloo-oons! I’ve got five balloo-oons!”
Pop Goes the Balloon
(Tune: Pop goes the Weasel)
(Credit: Anne’s Library Life)
“__(animal’s name) ___ had a __(balloon color)_ balloon.
He/she blew and blew all day.
His/her mother said you better stop.
UH- (CLAP!) OH, he/she popped it!”
Rhymes & Bounces & Songs We Shared without Music
We sing a lot of songs during storytime! You’ll find lyrics to those songs without music here.
Eyes, Nose, Cheeky Cheeky Chin
(to the tune of :”Goodnight Ladies”)
Eyes, nose, cheeky cheeky chin. (touching parts of baby’s face)
Eyes, nose, cheeky cheeky chin.
Eyes, nose, cheeky cheeky chin.
Cheeky cheeky cheeky cheeky chin!
Icky Bicky Soda Cracker Bounce
Icky Bicky Soda Cracker (bounce baby gently on knees)
Icky Bicky Boo
Icky Bicky Soda Cracker
Up Goes You! (lift baby into air)
Icky Bicky Soda Cracker (bounce baby gently on knees)
Icky Bicky Boo
Icky Bicky Soda Cracker
I love you! (bring baby in for a cuddle)
I’m Going to Blow Up This Balloon
I’m going to blow up this balloon (make circle with hands)
And never, never stop. ( make circle bigger and bigger)
I’ll blow and blow and blow and blow and (pretend to blow)
POP! (clap loudly!)
(Credit: Annes Library Life)
Where is Thumbkin
(start with hands hidden behind back)
Where is thumbkin?
Where is thumbkin?
Here I am! (bring one thumb out)
Here I am! (bring the other thumb out)
How are you today, sir? (pretend the thumbs are talking to each other)
Very well, and thank you!
Run away! (hide one thumb)
Run away! (hide the other)
Storytime’s Over
Hands up high! (Put your hands in air)
Now give a big sigh (sigh and bring hands down)
Our storytime’s over
So wave bye-bye (wave)
Music from CDs We Shared
I love to sing and dance to music. Here are some of the songs and cds used in storytime.
“Clap Everybody and Say Hello” from Sally Go Round the Sun by Kathy Reid-Naiman
Clap everybody and say hello, (clap hands)
Clap everybody and say hello,
Clap everybody and say hello,
No matter what the weather.
Stamp everybody and say hello, (stomp feet)
Stamp everybody and say hello,
Stamp everybody and say hello,
No matter what the weather.
Wiggle everybody and say hello, (wiggle baby)
Wiggle everybody and say hello,
Wiggle everybody and say hello,
No matter what the weather.
Jump everybody and say hello, (lift baby up high)
Jump everybody and say hello,
Jump everybody and say hello,
No matter what the weather.
Sing everybody and say hello, (wave hi)
Sing everybody and say hello,
Sing everybody and say hello,
No matter what the weather.
“Ladies Ride” from Wiggleworms Love You by Old Town School of Folk Music
This is the way the ladies ride (bounce baby to rhythm)
Trit trot, trit trot
This is the way the ladies ride early in the morning!
This is the way the gentleman ride, gallop and trot, gallop and trot
This is the way the gentleman ride, early in the morning!
This is the way the farmers ride, clippity cloppety, clippity cloppety
This is the way the farmers ride early in the morning!
This is the way the cowgirls/boys ride, giddy up, giddy up
This is the way the cowgirls/boys ride early in the morning – YEEHAW!!
(REPEAT once more)
Additional Activities
We danced to a song I have about bubbles, and I blew bubbles for everyone to pop. We also learned how to say “Balloon” in sign language and reinforced it in many of our rhymes.
Continue the Fun
Want more stories about balloons? Check these out at your Pasadena Public Library branch: