We read all about CITY animals in today’s Toddler Storytime! Some of these critters actually end up in our backyards and even our homes!
Our library friends Percy the squirrel and Mickey the mouse joined the fun!
What follows are the books, songs, rhymes, flannel board stories, movement activities and video we shared.
BOOKS WE SHARED
That Pup by Lindsay Barrett George is a story about a puppy who runs around his yard uncovering buried acorns. It’s all fun and games until he runs into gray squirrel. Gray squirrel is a bit upset because he has been burying those acorns to eat in winter. Pup decides the best way to fix things is to play another game – let’s bury the acorns! Bright, bold illustrations, a simple story line and a happy ending make this a perfect book for toddlers.
In City Animals by Simms Taback, we are given very specific clues about some city animals. A squirrel, a dog, a cat, a horse and a mouse pop out in this lift-the-flap book of huge proportions. Some of the animals are easy for little ones to guess, others not so much. A beautiful and clever concept book that highlights animals seen in our neighborhoods.
FLANNELBOARDS WE SHARED
10 Little Acorns
(Sung to the tune of Ten Little Indians)
One little, two little, three little acorns,
Four little, five little, six little acorns,
Seven little, eight little, nine little acorns,
Ten little acorns here!
This Little Squirrel
This little squirrel said, “Let’s Run and Play”
This little squirrel said, “Let’s hunt acorns all day!”
This little squirrel said, “Yes acorns are good!”
This little squirrel said, “Yes my favorite food!”
This little squirrel said, “Come climb this tree!”
(run fingers up arm quickly)
…and crack these acorns –
1, 2, 3! (clap hands after each number)
Little Mouse, Little Mouse
Little mouse is hiding behind one of these colorful houses. Can we find him?
Little mouse, little mouse, are you in the ____ house?
Red
Yellow
Green
Brown
It’s up to us to guess! Can you guess which house little mouse was hiding behind?
Action Songs & Fingerplays We Shared
We share a lot of songs, bounces & rhymes during storytime! You’ll find lyrics/words to those songs & rhymes we shared without CD accompaniment here.
Welcome, Welcome Everyone
(to the tune of Twinkle Twinkle)
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
Open Shut Them – Video: Open Shut Them
Open, shut them, open, shut them, (open and close hands)
Give a little clap, clap, clap. (clap three times)
Open shut them, open shut them (open and close hands)
Put them in your lap, lap, lap. (place hands in lap and bounce them 3X)
Creep them, crawl them, creep them crawl them, (crawl fingers up arms)
Right up to your chinny chin chin. (place fingers on chin)
Open up your little mouth (open mouth and say ahhhhhh)
But do not put them in!! (put hands behind your back)
This is Big
This is big, big, big (stretch hands far to sides)
This is small, small, small (cup hands together)
This is short, short, short (hold palms close vertically)
This is tall, tall, tall (hold palms far apart vertically)
This is fast, fast, fast (roll hands quickly)
This is slow, slow, slow (roll hands slowly)
This is yes, yes, yes (nod head)
This is no, no, no (shake head)
Credit: Mel’s Desk
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.
Goodbye Friends (in sign) – Video: Goodbye 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 action songs & rhymes 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” from Sally Go Round the Sun by Carol Hammett and Elaine Bueffel
“Roll Your Hands” from Toddlers on Parade by Kathy Reid-Naiman
“I’m a Little Teapot” from Toddler Favorites by Music for Little People
“Itsy Bitsy Spider” from Its Toddler Time by Carol Hammett and Elaine Bueffel
“ABC” from Go Baby Go! Baby Loves Jazz by Baby Loves Jazz Band
Two Little Blackbirds” from Circle Time: songs and rhymes for the very young by Lisa Monet
“We’re Going to the Market” from I Love to Hear the Sounds by Kathy Reid-Naiman
“Head, Shoulders, Knees, Toes” from Its Toddler Time by Carol Hammett and Elaine Bueffel
We used our shaker eggs and bells for this song! “We’re Going to the Market”
Video We Shared
Iggy’s Pet Friends
Continue the Fun
If you’d like to read more books about city animals, check these out at your local Pasadena Public Library!
