We had the luck o’ the Irish with us during our infant storytime today.  We read about all things green, told a big, green monster to “go away” and counted out some shamrocks.  It was all in a day’s fun here at PPL!

Books We Shared

Brenda Vaccaro Seeger’s book, Green, was the perfect pick for a storytime about St. Patrick’s Day!  This is a beautiful book – the illustrations are lush and each page is a surprise, highlighting various things in nature that are green.  A bit long for infants so I shortened it by a few pages.

In keeping with the “GREEN” theme, we shared Go Away Big Green Monster by Ed Emberley. But, it wasn’t the book exactly…it was a “puppet” version of the story, making it perfect for use with infants.  The kids were mesmerized as I placed two round eyes, two pointy ears, a long, greenish-blue nose, purple hair and a red mouth with sharp white teeth onto the puppet monster’s green face.  Of course, we had the power to make the monster GO AWAY completely as we pulled the eyes, ears, nose, mouth and hair off AND turned the puppet face around to reveal an empty black background!  No more features and no more GREEN!  There were a few laughs and audible gasps from the parents…the children were just shocked (at least it appeared that way).

Flannel Board Rhymes

 Five Green Shamrocks

One green shamrock, in the morning dew
Another one sprouted
and then there were two!

Two green shamrocks, growing beneath a tree,
Another one sprouted
and then there were three!

Three green shamrocks, by the cottage door,
Another one sprouted
and then there were four!

Four green shamrocks, near a beehive,
Another one sprouted
and then there were five!

Five little shamrocks, bright and emerald green,
Think of all the luck these shamrocks will bring.

Little Bo Peep
Little Bo Peep has lost her sheep and doesn’t know where to find them.
Leave them alone and they’ll come home, wagging their tails behind them.

Rhymes, Bounces & Songs 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

Clap everybody and say hello,
Clap everybody and say hello,
Clap everybody and say hello,
No matter what the weather!
REPEAT with Stamp, Wiggle, Jump & Sing

With My Little Hands

With my little hands I go clap, clap, clap (help baby clap hands)
With my little feet I go tap, tap, tap (help baby touch or tap feet)
With my little arms I wave bye, bye, bye (help baby wave bye)
With my little legs I kick high, high, high (move baby’s legs)
With my little eyes I say peek-a-boo (cover baby’s eyes and remove)
With my little lips I say, I love you!  (tell baby I love you)
REPEAT once

Ladies Ride (bounce baby on lap throughout )
This is the way the ladies ride, trit trot, trit trot
This is the way the ladies ride so early in the morning!
This is the way the gentleman ride, gallop and trot, gallop and trot
This is the way the gentleman ride, so early in the morning!
This is the way the farmers ride, clippity cloppety, clippity cloppety
This is the way the farmers ride so early in the morning!
This is the way the cowgirls/boys ride, giddy up, giddy up
This is the way the cowgirls/boys ride so early in the morning – YEEHAW!!
REPEAT once more

Click here for video: Ladies Ride

The Itsy Bitsy Spider

The itsy bitsy spider (L shape with both hands.  Place thumb of one hand on forefinger of the other)
went up the water spout.   (“walk” your fingers up thumb to forefinger, alternating.)
Down came the rain and (wiggle fingers and bring then downward)
Washed the spider out. (make baseball “safe” motion)
Out came the sun and (hands above head in a circle)
and dried up all the rain. (hands out at side of body)
And the itsy bitsy spider (L shape with both hands.  Place thumb of one hand on forefinger of the other)
went up the spout again. (“walk” your fingers up thumb to forefinger, alternating.)

I’m a Little Teapot

I’m a little teapot, short and stout
Here is my handle, here is my spout

When I get all steamed up, hear me shout!
Just tip me over and pour me out, tip me over and pour me out!

Click here for video: I’m a Little Teapot

Twinkle Twinkle Little Star

Twinkle, twinkle little star (open and close fingers into fist to make star)
How I wonder what you are.
Up above the world so high, (move hands up)
Like a diamond in the sky. (make a diamond shape with hands)
Twinkle, twinkle little star
How I wonder what you are. (open and close fingers into fist to make star)

You are My Sunshine

You are my sunshine, my only sunshine,
You make me happy when skies are grey.
You’ll never know dear, how much I love you…
and I love you more every day!

Goodbye Friends (in sign)

Goodbye friends, goodbye friends, goodbye friends…it’s time to say goodbye!
Click here for video of song:  Goodbye Friends

Continue the Fun

Love sharing stories with your little one at home?  Check out some of these books at your Pasadena Public Library branch: