For our fourth Toddler 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!”
Letter of the Day
To emphasize writing skills I have the toddlers practice drawing the letter of the day in the air. Our letter of the day was “B.” We talked about things that start with B.
Video We Shared
We won’t ALWAYS do a Peppa Pig video–I promise!–but this one about a ride in a hot air balloon just went so well with my theme.
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.
Open Shut Them
Open, shut them (open and close fingers)
Open, shut them
Give a little clap, clap, clap (clap hands)
Open, shut them (open and close fingers)
Open, shut them
Place them on your lap, lap, lap (pat knees)
Creep them, crawl them, creep them, crawl them (“crawl” your fingers very slowly from your knees up to your face)
Right up to your chin, chin, chin (touch chin)
Open up your little mouth BUT…(open wide!)
Do not let them in! (quickly and abruptly move hands behind your back and smack lips shut)
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)
I Had a Little Red Balloon
I had a little red balloon
And I blew, and I blew, and I blew.
And it grew, and it grew, and it grew.
I tossed it up in the air,
And didn’t let it drop.
I bounced it on the ground,
And it went “Pop!”
(Credit: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DFsUBuJU3d4)
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.
“Row, Row, Row Your Boat” from Songs for Wiggleworms by Old Town School of Folk Music
Row, row, row your boat
gently down the stream
Merrily, merrily, merrily, merrily
life is but a dream.
Other verses:
Twist, twist, twist your boat
Bounce, bounce, bounce your boat…
Sway, sway, sway your boat…
Wiggle, wiggle, wiggle your boat…
Tickle, tickle, tickle your boat…
“I’m a Little Teapot/Two Little Blackbirds” from Wiggleworms Love You by Old Town School of Folk Music
I’m a little teapot, short and stout
Here is my handle (bring one hand to waist)
Here is my spout (stick the other hand out like a teapot spout)
When I get all steamed up, hear me shout: (wiggle a little bit)
“Tip me over and pour me out!” (bend in the direction of your outstretched hand)
Two little blackbirds sitting on a hill (hold both your index fingers out and wiggle them)
One named Jack and the other named Jill (wiggle each index finger)
Fly away Jack and fly away Jill (bring each finger, one at a time, behind your back)
Come back Jack and come back Jill (bring each finger back in front of you one at a time)
“Twinkle Twinkle Little Star” from Walt Disney’s Children’s Favorite Songs Volume 1
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.
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: