Book Babies: Welcome, Spring!

Book Babies: Welcome, Spring!

Book Babies: Welcome, Spring!

Spring is a great time for exploration, discovery and sensory experiences. You and Baby can talk about sounds, smells, colors, and how things feel to the touch such as a leaf that’s wet after a rainstorm. Try some of these books and songs to help Baby, “Welcome, Spring!”

Join us live Wednesdays at 10:00 AM  – Online on Facebook

Ages 2-5

Welcome Songs

Here We Are Together

Here we are together, together, together! Oh, here we are together in our library. There’s (sing names)… Here we are together in our library!

Hello Everybody

Hello everybody let’s clap our hands*, clap our hands, clap our hands. Hello everybody let’s clap our hands today! *pat our head, stretch up high, wiggle our fingers, tickle our knees, kick our feet, bounce up high!

S, T, R, W, P

(Sing while pointing to each finger on your child’s hand.) Sing, talk, read, write, play! Sing, talk, read write, play! Sing, talk, read, write, play! Sing, talk, read, write, play each day!

Sing, Talk, Read, Write, Play

Tip

Even little rhymes present knowledge about our world. “Little Raindrops Falling Down” uses a familiar melody to tell the story of different types of rain and how they sound when falling to the ground, just like real rain.

Activity

Sing, “Little Raindrops Falling Down,” and do the actions with Baby. Talk about how the rain sounds. Then, when you go for a walk after it’s rained, look for puddles. You can show your child how the trees, buildings, and clouds are upside down in the water before Baby jumps in the puddle!

Books Presented

Baby Loves Spring! by Karen Katz

On a fine spring day, Baby goes for a walk and wonders about what he sees and hears in a tree, in the dirt, and behind a bush.

Tap the Magic Tree by Christie Matheson

Invites the reader to tap, rub, touch, and wiggle illustrations to make an apple tree bloom, produce fruit, and lose its leaves.

Little Blue Truck's Springtime by Alice Schertle

Lift the flaps to discover the animal babies encountered by Toad and Little Blue Truck when they drive to the farm in the spring.

We Believe in You by Beth Ferry

Animals inspire their little ones to chase their dreams and reach for the stars.

Songs, Rhymes, and Fingerplays

Scarf Rhyme: Here is a Green Leaf

Here is a green leaf (hold out one palm)
And here is a green leaf (hold out other palm)
That, you see, makes two (hold up two fingers)
Here is a bud (cup hands together)
That makes it a flower (slowly open hands)
Watch it bloom for you (slowly open hands)

Libraryvillage.blogspot.com

Song/Action Song: Rain is Falling Down

The rain is falling down, (flutter fingers down)
SPLASH (clap loudly once)
The rain is falling down, (flutter fingers down)
SPLASH (clap loudly once)
Pitter patter pitter patter
The rain is falling down, (flutter fingers down)
SPLASH (clap loudly once)

Libraryvillage.blogspot.com

 

Action Song: Little Raindrops Falling Down

Little raindrops falling down,
Falling down, falling down.(gently pat lap)
Little raindrops falling down,
Falling to the ground.

2nd verse – Bigger raindrops (clap hands)
3rd verse – Giant raindrops (stomp feet)

Kcls.org

Scarf Song: Rain on the Grass

Rain on the grass
Rain on the trees
Rain on the roof
but not on me

Sun…
Snow…
Leaves…

Sotomorrowblog.com

 

Bouncing Baby on My Knee

– Jbrary

Additional Books

Kitten's Spring by Eugenie Fernandes

A young kitten explores the wilderness as other animals celebrate spring.

Dr. Seuss's Spring Things by Dr. Seuss

Written in super-simple rhyme, this sweet sturdy board book features Thing One and Thing Two as they frolic with iconic Spring “things”–including ducklings, bunnies, flowers, frogs, wriggling worms, and butterflies.

Abracadabra, It's Spring! by Anne Sibley O'Brien

Winter turns to spring in this lyrical book that celebrates the magic of nature and the changing seasons. Eleven gatefolds open to recreate the excitement and surprise of spring’s arrival.

When Spring Comes by Kevin Henkes

Before spring comes, the trees are dark sticks, the grass is brown, and the ground is covered in snow. But if you wait, leaves unfurl and flowers blossom, the grass turns green, and the mounds of snow shrink and shrink.

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OCTOBER Book Babies + Toddlers: Horses & Ponies

This is how the ladies ride… clippity-clop, clippity-clop. This is how the gentlemen ride… giddy-up, giddy-up. This is how the cowboys ride… Yee haw! Ride ‘em cowboy!! There are many rhymes and songs about horses which encourage parent and child communication,...

SEPTEMBER Book Babies + Toddlers: Feelings

Ah, emotions… however big or small, can be difficult to manage for everyone, especially children. There are, however, tips and tricks you can use to help your child learn how to recognize and regulate their feelings, and you can start early, even with an infant. The...

JULY Book Babies + Toddler Time: Adventures in the Dark

At the end of the day, it’s a great time to establish a routine to help your child prepare for bed. Some of the activities in your routine could include reading a book, taking a bath, singing a song, picking up toys, or perhaps doing a knee bounce. When you follow the...

JUNE Book Babies + Toddler Time: Adventures in Imagination

Did you know that imaginative or pretend play contains the building blocks of developing critical thinking skills, following directions, expressive language, and even managing emotions? So, grab those sheets, boxes, mud, dishes, and anything you can think of to help...

APRIL Book Babies + Toddler Time: Walking Together

As you look forward to the first steps of your infant, don’t forget the benefit of walking outside with your child. Not only is it a great self-care activity for you as a caregiver, but it opens up the world to your child as they develop and find themselves in a...

MARCH Book Babies + Toddler Time: Eric Carle

If you haven’t discovered the bold, colorful world of Eric Carle, you are in for a enchanting experience. “Eric Carle (1929-2021) was the creator of The Very Hungry Caterpillar. But that’s not the only reason why he received nearly 10,000 fan letters every year. Carle...

FEBRUARY Book Babies + Toddler Time: Music & Movement

Music and movement can improve a child’s mood and help to reduce stress all while stimulating the formation of important brain connections. So, sing those lullabies, dance in the kitchen, play an instrument, and sing a book with your baby each and every day! ​ ​ Book...

JANUARY Book Babies + Toddler Time: Dinosaurs

Dinosaurs, dinosaurs, we love you! We love the way you stomp! We love the way you chomp! We love the way you soar! And, we especially love the way you, ROAR! There are so many things to do with your budding dinosaur. ​Book Babies: Wednesday @ 9:30am in Community Room...

NOVEMBER Book Babies + Toddler Time: Under the Sea

Glub! Glub! Glub! went the slippery little fish! Children love “diving” under the sea and meeting all the different creatures who reside in the deep blue ocean. In addition to the activities listed below, try filling a large container with water, possibly tinting it...

Book Babies: Bugs, Bugs, and More Bugs!

Book Babies: Bugs, Bugs, and More Bugs!

Book Babies: Bugs, Bugs, and More Bugs!

Today in Book Babies/ Toddler Time, we read all about bugs! The fun thing about bugs is that they come a a variety of shapes, sizes, and colors. Talk about their differences and similarities with your child as you explore the incredible world of insects.

Join us live Wednesdays at 10:00 AM  – Online on Facebook

Ages 2-5

Welcome Songs

Here We Are Together

Here we are together, together, together! Oh, here we are together in our library. There’s (sing names)… Here we are together in our library!

Hello Everybody

Hello everybody let’s clap our hands*, clap our hands, clap our hands. Hello everybody let’s clap our hands today! *pat our head, stretch up high, wiggle our fingers, tickle our knees, kick our feet, bounce up high!

S, T, R, W, P

(Sing while pointing to each finger on your child’s hand.) Sing, talk, read, write, play! Sing, talk, read write, play! Sing, talk, read, write, play! Sing, talk, read, write, play each day!

Sing, Talk, Read, Write, Play

Tip

Something as simple as playing with blocks, even if your baby is putting them in his mouth, is the beginning of mathematical and scientific thinking. Through play, your child is discovering shapes, learning how blocks can be balanced, observing how they fall, and discovering what fits together. It’s hard to believe, but all of these explorations are the foundation for later mathematical and scientific thinking.

- Lambert

Activity

When playing with blocks, talk about the shapes and encourage your child to explore and see what they can do with them such as stacking, tumbling over, sorting, lining up, or even hiding them.

Books Presented

Bugs! Bugs! Bugs! by Bob Barner

A nonsense rhyme introduces children to familiar bugs. Includes a fun facts section.

Busy Little Bee by Salina Yoon

A bunch of busy little bees go buzzing about their day! Little ones will love this sturdy book with handles for easy reading and carrying on the go!

More Bugs in Boxes by David A. Carter

What kind of bugs are in the yard-long yellow box? A bunch of bouncing brown basketball bugs, of course. Learning one’s colors was never more fun than in this ingeniously illustrated and engineered pop-up book.

The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle

Follows the progress of a very hungry caterpillar as he eats his way through a varied and very large quantity of food, until, full at last, he forms a coccoon around himself and goes to sleep.

Songs, Rhymes, and Fingerplays

Fingerplay and Bounce: The Pretty Butterflies

The pretty butterflies fly up and down, up and down, up and down,
The pretty butterflies fly up and down, all through the day!
(flap arms like wings)

2) The spiders in the tree all spin a web… (roll arms)
3) The crickets in the field hop up and down… (bounce baby)
4) The bees in the hive go buzz, buzz, buzz… (fly with arms out)

Libraryvillage.blogspot.com

Fingerplay: Here is the Beehive, Where are the Bees?

Here is the beehive, where are the bees?
Hidden away were nobody sees
Watch and you will see them come out of their hives,
One, two, three, four, five,
Buzz, buzz, buzz.

Yogibrarian.wordpress.com

 

Insects on Me

To the tune “The Farmer in the Dell”
A fly is on my face
A fly is on my face
Heigh-ho just watch me go
A fly is on my face.
Other verses:
A gnat is on my nose,
A hornet is on my head
A bee is on my back

Yogibrarian.wordpress.com

Fingerplay/Action Rhyme: Caterpillar Creeping

(Do actions as rhyme indicates.)
Caterpillar creeping, Caterpillar crawl.
Caterpillar climbing all along the wall.

Caterpillar spinning,
Caterpillar snug.
Caterpillar changing,
What have you become?

– Beverly Qualbeim, 1001 Rhymes and Fingerplays by Totline Books

Additional Books

Yoga Bug: Simple Poses for Little Ones by Sarah Jane Hinder

Bringing “the fun and benefits of authentic yoga practice to infants and toddlers, Yoga Bug guides children through ten authentic yoga poses named after insects that unfold in an irresistibly whimsical flow of play, imagination, and movement.

Bugs by Dawn Sirett

Invites young readers to move their fingers along trails on each page of the book to discover facts about four different insects.

Buzz, Buzz, Baby! by Karen Katz

Young readers are invited to lift flaps to reveal such insects as ladybugs, caterpillars, ants, and bees.

Incredible Insects: A Counting Book by Storyweaver

Can you count all these pretty insects?

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“Play is serious business when it comes to a child's health and development. From peek-a-boo to pat-a-cake and hide-and-seek to hopscotch, the many forms of play enrich a child's brain, body and life in important ways.” HealthyChildren.org. When reading books with...

OCTOBER Book Babies + Toddlers: Horses & Ponies

This is how the ladies ride… clippity-clop, clippity-clop. This is how the gentlemen ride… giddy-up, giddy-up. This is how the cowboys ride… Yee haw! Ride ‘em cowboy!! There are many rhymes and songs about horses which encourage parent and child communication,...

SEPTEMBER Book Babies + Toddlers: Feelings

Ah, emotions… however big or small, can be difficult to manage for everyone, especially children. There are, however, tips and tricks you can use to help your child learn how to recognize and regulate their feelings, and you can start early, even with an infant. The...

JULY Book Babies + Toddler Time: Adventures in the Dark

At the end of the day, it’s a great time to establish a routine to help your child prepare for bed. Some of the activities in your routine could include reading a book, taking a bath, singing a song, picking up toys, or perhaps doing a knee bounce. When you follow the...

JUNE Book Babies + Toddler Time: Adventures in Imagination

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APRIL Book Babies + Toddler Time: Walking Together

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MARCH Book Babies + Toddler Time: Eric Carle

If you haven’t discovered the bold, colorful world of Eric Carle, you are in for a enchanting experience. “Eric Carle (1929-2021) was the creator of The Very Hungry Caterpillar. But that’s not the only reason why he received nearly 10,000 fan letters every year. Carle...

FEBRUARY Book Babies + Toddler Time: Music & Movement

Music and movement can improve a child’s mood and help to reduce stress all while stimulating the formation of important brain connections. So, sing those lullabies, dance in the kitchen, play an instrument, and sing a book with your baby each and every day! ​ ​ Book...

JANUARY Book Babies + Toddler Time: Dinosaurs

Dinosaurs, dinosaurs, we love you! We love the way you stomp! We love the way you chomp! We love the way you soar! And, we especially love the way you, ROAR! There are so many things to do with your budding dinosaur. ​Book Babies: Wednesday @ 9:30am in Community Room...

NOVEMBER Book Babies + Toddler Time: Under the Sea

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Book Babies: Fun with Scarves and New Board Books!

Book Babies: Fun with Scarves and New Board Books!

Book Babies: Fun with Scarves and New Board Books!

Today we decided to have fun with scarf songs (always a favorite!) and with some of our brand new board books! Click the links below to check them out for you and your baby – you’ll love them!

Join us live Wednesdays at 10:00 AM  – Online on Facebook

Ages 2-5

Welcome Songs

Here We Are Together

Here we are together, together, together! Oh, here we are together in our library. There’s (sing names)… Here we are together in our library!

Hello Everybody

Hello everybody let’s clap our hands*, clap our hands, clap our hands. Hello everybody let’s clap our hands today! *pat our head, stretch up high, wiggle our fingers, tickle our knees, kick our feet, bounce up high!

S, T, R, W, P

(Sing while pointing to each finger on your child’s hand.) Sing, talk, read, write, play! Sing, talk, read write, play! Sing, talk, read, write, play! Sing, talk, read, write, play each day!

Sing, Talk, Read, Write, Play

Tip

Singing to and with your child is very important, and it doesn’t matter if you sing in English or another language. In one scientific study, babies as young as one week could distinguish their mother’s voice from a group of other female voices. Children love being sung to by their parents, and such singing helps to trigger their speech development. So, sing aloud to your children at home in any language you like.

- Lambert

Activity

Make a bedtime routine where songs and books play an important role. Sing favorites over and over again. And add a new one every now and then perhaps connected to a new book that you just read.

Books Presented

Bubbles by Ben Clanton

Narwhal accidentally bursts a saddened Jelly’s bubble before offering comfort by showing his friend how the ocean has oodles of bubbles in all sizes and colors.

Hello, Baby Shark by John Bajet

Say hello to Baby Shark and all his friends!

Waddle! by Rufus Butler Seder

In the same way that kids can’t read Gallop! without wanting to gallop around the room, Waddle!, an animals-in-motion Scanimation book, will inspire prancing, hopping, stomping, and scampering.

Twinkle, Twinkle, Robot Beep by Jeffrey Burton

In a twist on the classic nursery rhyme “Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star”, take a trip to the stars with this little robot.

Move! by Liesbet Slegers

Six animals demonstrate their preferred methods of locomotion with help from rectangular flaps that lift up or to the side.

Songs, Rhymes, and Fingerplays

Zoom Zoom Zoom

Zoom, zoom, zoom
We’re going to the moon.
Zoom, zoom, zoom
We’re going to the moon.
If you want to take a trip
climb aboard my rocket ship.
Zoom, zoom, zoom
We’re going to the moon.
In 5, 4, 3, 2, 1
Blast off!
Additional verses:
Fun, fun, fun
We’re going to the sun…
Far, far, far
We’re going to the stars…

Herrickdl.org

Popcorn, Popcorn

Sizzling in the pan.
Shake it up, shake it up,
Bam, bam, bam!
Popcorn, popcorn,
Now it’s getting hot,
Shake it up, shake it up,
Pop, pop, pop!
(lift baby up with each “pop”)

Sayrshirelib.files.wordpress.com

 

The Fish in the Sea

(Tune: Wheels on the Bus)

The fish in the sea
Go swish, swish, swish, (wave scarf side to side)
Swish, swish, swish,
Swish, swish, swish,
The fish in the sea,
Go swish, swish, swish,
All Day Long…
Dolphins in the sea
Swim round and round (paint circle in front of you with scarf)
Round and round
Round and round
The dolphins in the sea
Swim round and round
All day long.
The sand in the sea
Drifts down, down, down (slowly lower scarf or throw scarf and watch it drift to the floor)
Down, down, down,
Down, down, down
The sand in the sea
Drifts down, down, down
All day long.
The waves on the sea
Go up and down, (wave scarf up and down)
Up and down,
Up and down.
The waves on the sea
Go up and down,
All Day Long….

Kcls.org

We Wave Our Scarves Together

Tune: The Bear Went Over the Mountain

We wave our scarves together.
We wave our scarves together.
We wave our scarves together,
At music class today!
We wave them way up high!
We wave them way down low!
We wave our scarves together,
At music class today!

Other verses:
We shake our scarves together.
We spin our scarves together.
We wear our scarves together.

– Weegroove.com

Helicopter, Helicopter Way Up High

Tune: Frère Jacques
Helicopter. Helicopter.
Way up high. Way up high.
See the blades are spinning. See the blades are spinning.
In the sky. In the sky.

Little songbird, little songbird
Way up high. Way up high.
See their wings flapping.
See their wings flapping.
In the sky. In the sky.

Butterfly, butterfly.
Way up high. Way up high.
See them flutter, flutter.
See them flutter, flutter.
In the sky. In the sky.

– Adapted from Weegroove.com

Bubbles All Around

Sung to the tune of “Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star”

Bubbles floating all around (pretend to catch bubbles)
Bubbles fat and bubbles round (make a circle with arms)
Bubbles on my toes and nose (point to toes and then to nose)
Blow a bubble, up it goes! (pretend to blow bubble and point up)
Bubbles floating all around. (pretend to catch bubbles)
B..u..b. .b..l..e..s f..a..l..l. .i..n..g to…the…ground. (sing slowly while sinking to ground)

-Cde.state.co.us

More Book Babies

NOVEMBER Book Babies + Toddler Time: Duck, Duck, Goose

“Play is serious business when it comes to a child's health and development. From peek-a-boo to pat-a-cake and hide-and-seek to hopscotch, the many forms of play enrich a child's brain, body and life in important ways.” HealthyChildren.org. When reading books with...

OCTOBER Book Babies + Toddlers: Horses & Ponies

This is how the ladies ride… clippity-clop, clippity-clop. This is how the gentlemen ride… giddy-up, giddy-up. This is how the cowboys ride… Yee haw! Ride ‘em cowboy!! There are many rhymes and songs about horses which encourage parent and child communication,...

SEPTEMBER Book Babies + Toddlers: Feelings

Ah, emotions… however big or small, can be difficult to manage for everyone, especially children. There are, however, tips and tricks you can use to help your child learn how to recognize and regulate their feelings, and you can start early, even with an infant. The...

JULY Book Babies + Toddler Time: Adventures in the Dark

At the end of the day, it’s a great time to establish a routine to help your child prepare for bed. Some of the activities in your routine could include reading a book, taking a bath, singing a song, picking up toys, or perhaps doing a knee bounce. When you follow the...

JUNE Book Babies + Toddler Time: Adventures in Imagination

Did you know that imaginative or pretend play contains the building blocks of developing critical thinking skills, following directions, expressive language, and even managing emotions? So, grab those sheets, boxes, mud, dishes, and anything you can think of to help...

APRIL Book Babies + Toddler Time: Walking Together

As you look forward to the first steps of your infant, don’t forget the benefit of walking outside with your child. Not only is it a great self-care activity for you as a caregiver, but it opens up the world to your child as they develop and find themselves in a...

MARCH Book Babies + Toddler Time: Eric Carle

If you haven’t discovered the bold, colorful world of Eric Carle, you are in for a enchanting experience. “Eric Carle (1929-2021) was the creator of The Very Hungry Caterpillar. But that’s not the only reason why he received nearly 10,000 fan letters every year. Carle...

FEBRUARY Book Babies + Toddler Time: Music & Movement

Music and movement can improve a child’s mood and help to reduce stress all while stimulating the formation of important brain connections. So, sing those lullabies, dance in the kitchen, play an instrument, and sing a book with your baby each and every day! ​ ​ Book...

JANUARY Book Babies + Toddler Time: Dinosaurs

Dinosaurs, dinosaurs, we love you! We love the way you stomp! We love the way you chomp! We love the way you soar! And, we especially love the way you, ROAR! There are so many things to do with your budding dinosaur. ​Book Babies: Wednesday @ 9:30am in Community Room...

NOVEMBER Book Babies + Toddler Time: Under the Sea

Glub! Glub! Glub! went the slippery little fish! Children love “diving” under the sea and meeting all the different creatures who reside in the deep blue ocean. In addition to the activities listed below, try filling a large container with water, possibly tinting it...

Book Babies: Tickle, Tickle!

Book Babies: Tickle, Tickle!

Book Babies: Tickle, Tickle!

I tickle you here, I tickle you there, I tickle you, tickle you everywhere! Gentle tickles and massages can be a fun bonding experience between caregiver and baby. Be careful not to tickle if baby is uncomfortable. Simply place your hand on baby’s head, back, tummy, etc. as you sing the rhymes below. And of course, don’t forget to read with baby every day!

Join us live Wednesdays at 10:00 AM  – Online on Facebook

Ages 2-5

Welcome Songs

Here We Are Together

Here we are together, together, together! Oh, here we are together in our library. There’s (sing names)… Here we are together in our library!

Hello Everybody

Hello everybody let’s clap our hands*, clap our hands, clap our hands. Hello everybody let’s clap our hands today! *pat our head, stretch up high, wiggle our fingers, tickle our knees, kick our feet, bounce up high!

S, T, R, W, P

(Sing while pointing to each finger on your child’s hand.) Sing, talk, read, write, play! Sing, talk, read write, play! Sing, talk, read, write, play! Sing, talk, read, write, play each day!

Sing, Talk, Read, Write, Play

Tip

According to developmental experts, manual dexterity is directly tied to cognitive development. ‘It’s through her hands that your baby demonstrates the link between thought and action,’ says Rhoda Erhardt, a pediatric occupational therapist in St. Paul who specializes in hand function.

- www.parents.com/baby/development/physical/encouraging-fine-motor-skill-development/

Activity

Wax Paper Fun! Show baby how to crumple a piece of waxed paper into a ball. It provides both sound and grip for an instant toy. While it’s non-toxic, you still want to monitor baby’s inclinations to eat it. As baby’s finger dexterity increases, cut off one strip of waxed paper, place a safe snack like Cheerios every couple of inches along the length, and then fold and twist the wax paper between each piece. The game for baby is to open and find each snack!

- "Games Babies Play" by Vicki Lansky

Books Presented

Tickle Time! by Sandra Boynton

Based on the wildly popular song from Boynton’s wildly popular Rhinoceros Tap CD, Tickle Time! is pure irrepressible Boynton, lively in tempo, nimble in rhyme, and filled with irresistible fuzzy cats that cavort from page to page.

Tickle the Duck! by Ethan Long

In this hilarious touch-and-feel book, a cranky duck dares children to tickle his soft stomach, his hairy armpit, his rubbery foot-and reacts uproariously each time.

Ten Tiny Tickles by Karen Katz

Family members awaken a baby with tickles, from one little tickle on a lovely sleepy head to ten tiny tickles on the toes.

Songs, Rhymes, and Fingerplays

Two Little Eyes

Tune: Five Little Ducks
Two little eyes to look around,
Two little ears to hear each sound,
One little nose to smell what’s sweet,
One little mouth that likes to eat.

Variation:
Two little eyes to see all around,
(gently stroke around baby’s eyes in a circle)
Two little ears to hear each sound,
(stroke around ears)
One little nose that smells what’s sweet, (softly pat nose with finger)
And one little mouth that likes to eat!
(circle around mouth, then bounce near it with finger)

-The Baby’s Game Book by Isabel Wilner

The Wheels on the Bus (Tickle Version!)

The wheels on the bus go round and round
Round and round, round and round
The wheels on the bus go round and round
All over town

The horn on the bus goes beep beep beep…
The babies on the bus go bounce bounce bounce…
The parents on the bus go tickle tickle tickle…
The babies on the bus go hee hee hee …

Melissa.depperfamily.net

I Bounce You Here

I bounce you here
I bounce you there
I bounce you, bounce you everywhere!

I tickle you here
I tickle you there
I tickle you, tickle you everywhere!

I hug you here
I hug you there
I hug you, hug you everywhere!

Melissa.depperfamily.net

On My Toe There is a Flea

On my toe there is a flea.
Now he’s climbing on my knee.
Past my tummy, Past my nose,
On my head where my hair grows.
On my head there is a flea,
Now he’s climbing down on me.
Past my tummy, past my knee,
On my toe. Take that you flea!

– Kathyreidnaiman.com

Additional Books

Grandmas Are for Giving Tickles by Harriet Ziefert

 

Lift the flaps to see all the fun things a grandma does.

Tickle by Leslie Patricelli

Watch out! Here comes Tickle Monster! Good thing this baby is NOT ticklish. Well, maybe just the feet, hee hee! And the tummy. And, oh no, not the armpits!

The Lost Laugh by Michelle Preen

Hyena has lost his laugh and can’t find it anywhere. Luckily there’s still a tickly monkey friend to help him find it!

More Book Babies

NOVEMBER Book Babies + Toddler Time: Duck, Duck, Goose

“Play is serious business when it comes to a child's health and development. From peek-a-boo to pat-a-cake and hide-and-seek to hopscotch, the many forms of play enrich a child's brain, body and life in important ways.” HealthyChildren.org. When reading books with...

OCTOBER Book Babies + Toddlers: Horses & Ponies

This is how the ladies ride… clippity-clop, clippity-clop. This is how the gentlemen ride… giddy-up, giddy-up. This is how the cowboys ride… Yee haw! Ride ‘em cowboy!! There are many rhymes and songs about horses which encourage parent and child communication,...

SEPTEMBER Book Babies + Toddlers: Feelings

Ah, emotions… however big or small, can be difficult to manage for everyone, especially children. There are, however, tips and tricks you can use to help your child learn how to recognize and regulate their feelings, and you can start early, even with an infant. The...

JULY Book Babies + Toddler Time: Adventures in the Dark

At the end of the day, it’s a great time to establish a routine to help your child prepare for bed. Some of the activities in your routine could include reading a book, taking a bath, singing a song, picking up toys, or perhaps doing a knee bounce. When you follow the...

JUNE Book Babies + Toddler Time: Adventures in Imagination

Did you know that imaginative or pretend play contains the building blocks of developing critical thinking skills, following directions, expressive language, and even managing emotions? So, grab those sheets, boxes, mud, dishes, and anything you can think of to help...

APRIL Book Babies + Toddler Time: Walking Together

As you look forward to the first steps of your infant, don’t forget the benefit of walking outside with your child. Not only is it a great self-care activity for you as a caregiver, but it opens up the world to your child as they develop and find themselves in a...

MARCH Book Babies + Toddler Time: Eric Carle

If you haven’t discovered the bold, colorful world of Eric Carle, you are in for a enchanting experience. “Eric Carle (1929-2021) was the creator of The Very Hungry Caterpillar. But that’s not the only reason why he received nearly 10,000 fan letters every year. Carle...

FEBRUARY Book Babies + Toddler Time: Music & Movement

Music and movement can improve a child’s mood and help to reduce stress all while stimulating the formation of important brain connections. So, sing those lullabies, dance in the kitchen, play an instrument, and sing a book with your baby each and every day! ​ ​ Book...

JANUARY Book Babies + Toddler Time: Dinosaurs

Dinosaurs, dinosaurs, we love you! We love the way you stomp! We love the way you chomp! We love the way you soar! And, we especially love the way you, ROAR! There are so many things to do with your budding dinosaur. ​Book Babies: Wednesday @ 9:30am in Community Room...

NOVEMBER Book Babies + Toddler Time: Under the Sea

Glub! Glub! Glub! went the slippery little fish! Children love “diving” under the sea and meeting all the different creatures who reside in the deep blue ocean. In addition to the activities listed below, try filling a large container with water, possibly tinting it...

Book Babies: Wiggle Worms

Book Babies: Wiggle Worms

Book Babies: Wiggle Worms

Is your toddler a wiggle worm? They might have fun reading and learning about “real” wiggle worms. Try some of these activities and books which are just for the little wiggle worms in our lives.

Join us live Wednesdays at 10:00 AM  – Online on Facebook

Ages 2-5

Welcome Songs

Here We Are Together

Here we are together, together, together! Oh, here we are together in our library. There’s (sing names)… Here we are together in our library!

Hello Everybody

Hello everybody let’s clap our hands*, clap our hands, clap our hands. Hello everybody let’s clap our hands today! *pat our head, stretch up high, wiggle our fingers, tickle our knees, kick our feet, bounce up high!

S, T, R, W, P

(Sing while pointing to each finger on your child’s hand.) Sing, talk, read, write, play! Sing, talk, read write, play! Sing, talk, read, write, play! Sing, talk, read, write, play each day!

Sing, Talk, Read, Write, Play

Tip

Books like “Cuckoo Can’t Find You,” which have lists of activities or items are great for babies because there’ isn’t a strong narrative. That makes it easy to read as many or as few pages as keep your baby’s interest. Stopping books when babies are done listening is a great way to keep your book sharing experiences positive and not stressful.

Activity

Find a book with a simple narrative, but vibrant pictures. Then explore and talk about the illustrations with your baby. Most picture books have a “traveling” character which moves through the book. Play “Look and Find” for this character as you and your baby turn each page.

Books Presented

Ten Wriggly, Wriggly Caterpillars by Debbie Tardett

Follow the adventures of these bright, bold caterpillars in this peek-through counting book!

Cuckoo Can't Find You by Lorianne Siomades

Each animal has lost an object that rhymes with its name and the hidden item is concealed within the pages.

Inch by Inch by Leo Lionni

To keep from being eaten, an inchworm measures a robin’s tail, a flamingo’s neck, a toucan’s beak, a heron’s legs, and a nightingale’s song.

Songs, Rhymes, and Fingerplays

Fingerplay: Wiggle Worms

 Here are some worms who are, oh, so sad.
They’ve lost all the wiggles that they once had.
They wonder if you, just for today
would lend them your wiggles so they can play.

Wiggle them up and wiggle them down
Wiggle the worms around and around
Wiggle them high and wiggle them low
Wiggle them fast and wiggle them slow
Wiggle them over your shoes and your socks
Then wiggle them back into their box.

Hushlander.wordpress.com

Bounce: Trit Trot to Boston

Trit, trot to Boston, (bounce baby on your knees)
Trit, trot to Lynn,
Take care, Baby, (substitute child’s name for “Baby”)
Don’t fall IN!
(on “IN,” part knees and let baby slip through)

– Childhood

Scarf Song: Scarf Wiggle

You put your scarf up. You put your scarf down. Your put your scarf up.
And you shake it all around,
You wiggle on your knees and you wiggle on your toes.
You’re doing the scarf wiggle!

You put your scarf out. You put your scarf in. You put your scarf out.
And you shake it all around.
You wiggle on your head and you wiggle n your nose
You’re doing the scarf wiggle!

You put your fingers up. You put your fingers down. Your put your fingers up.
And you shake them all around,
You wiggle on your knees and you wiggle on your toes.
You’re doing the finger wiggle!

You put your fingers out. You put your fingers in. You put your fingers out.
And you shake them all around.
You wiggle on your head and you wiggle n your nose.
You’re doing the finger wiggle!

– Adapted from the “Hokey Pokey” song

Bounce or Manipulative Play: Wally the Worm

Wally the Worm went up and down
(lift baby up & down)
Up and down,
Up and down.
Wally the worm went up and back into the ground.
(let baby slip through knees)

Additional Books

Owl and Wormy: Friends All Aflutter! by Andy Runton

Good friends Owly and Wormy are disappointed when their new plant attracts fat, green, bug-like things, instead of butterflies, until a metamorphosis occurs.

Ten Little Caterpillars by Bill Martin Jr.

Illustrations and rhyming text follow ten caterpillars as one wriggles up a flower stem, another sails across a garden pool, and one reaches an apple leaf, where something amazing happens.

Wiggle, Jiggle by Book Dash

A little Caterpillar loves to wiggle!

Danger Worm by Andrea Kaczmarek

Little Worm wants nothing more than to leave his cosy home. But there are so many dangers!

More Book Babies

NOVEMBER Book Babies + Toddler Time: Duck, Duck, Goose

“Play is serious business when it comes to a child's health and development. From peek-a-boo to pat-a-cake and hide-and-seek to hopscotch, the many forms of play enrich a child's brain, body and life in important ways.” HealthyChildren.org. When reading books with...

OCTOBER Book Babies + Toddlers: Horses & Ponies

This is how the ladies ride… clippity-clop, clippity-clop. This is how the gentlemen ride… giddy-up, giddy-up. This is how the cowboys ride… Yee haw! Ride ‘em cowboy!! There are many rhymes and songs about horses which encourage parent and child communication,...

SEPTEMBER Book Babies + Toddlers: Feelings

Ah, emotions… however big or small, can be difficult to manage for everyone, especially children. There are, however, tips and tricks you can use to help your child learn how to recognize and regulate their feelings, and you can start early, even with an infant. The...

JULY Book Babies + Toddler Time: Adventures in the Dark

At the end of the day, it’s a great time to establish a routine to help your child prepare for bed. Some of the activities in your routine could include reading a book, taking a bath, singing a song, picking up toys, or perhaps doing a knee bounce. When you follow the...

JUNE Book Babies + Toddler Time: Adventures in Imagination

Did you know that imaginative or pretend play contains the building blocks of developing critical thinking skills, following directions, expressive language, and even managing emotions? So, grab those sheets, boxes, mud, dishes, and anything you can think of to help...

APRIL Book Babies + Toddler Time: Walking Together

As you look forward to the first steps of your infant, don’t forget the benefit of walking outside with your child. Not only is it a great self-care activity for you as a caregiver, but it opens up the world to your child as they develop and find themselves in a...

MARCH Book Babies + Toddler Time: Eric Carle

If you haven’t discovered the bold, colorful world of Eric Carle, you are in for a enchanting experience. “Eric Carle (1929-2021) was the creator of The Very Hungry Caterpillar. But that’s not the only reason why he received nearly 10,000 fan letters every year. Carle...

FEBRUARY Book Babies + Toddler Time: Music & Movement

Music and movement can improve a child’s mood and help to reduce stress all while stimulating the formation of important brain connections. So, sing those lullabies, dance in the kitchen, play an instrument, and sing a book with your baby each and every day! ​ ​ Book...

JANUARY Book Babies + Toddler Time: Dinosaurs

Dinosaurs, dinosaurs, we love you! We love the way you stomp! We love the way you chomp! We love the way you soar! And, we especially love the way you, ROAR! There are so many things to do with your budding dinosaur. ​Book Babies: Wednesday @ 9:30am in Community Room...

NOVEMBER Book Babies + Toddler Time: Under the Sea

Glub! Glub! Glub! went the slippery little fish! Children love “diving” under the sea and meeting all the different creatures who reside in the deep blue ocean. In addition to the activities listed below, try filling a large container with water, possibly tinting it...

Book Babies: Green is Great!

Book Babies: Green is Great!

Book Babies: Green is Great!

Green is great! We celebrated everything green for St. Patrick’s Day today. There were green frogs, green peas and of course… green shamrocks. For more books about the color green, check out some of the additional titles listed below.

Join us live Wednesdays at 10:00 AM  – Online on Facebook

Ages 2-5

Welcome Songs

Here We Are Together

Here we are together, together, together! Oh, here we are together in our library. There’s (sing names)… Here we are together in our library!

Hello Everybody

Hello everybody let’s clap our hands*, clap our hands, clap our hands. Hello everybody let’s clap our hands today! *pat our head, stretch up high, wiggle our fingers, tickle our knees, kick our feet, bounce up high!

S, T, R, W, P

(Sing while pointing to each finger on your child’s hand.) Sing, talk, read, write, play! Sing, talk, read write, play! Sing, talk, read, write, play! Sing, talk, read, write, play each day!

Sing, Talk, Read, Write, Play

Tip

“I wonder what would happen if…” seems to be the constant unspoken question in toddlers’ minds. They have discovered that they can make things happen. This is actually the beginning of logical thought: action A causes response B.

- Things to Do with Toddlers and Twos by Karen Miller

Activity

Secure a cardboard mailing tube to a stair railing and place a box or basket at the bottom. Give your toddler a ball to feed through the top of the tube. They will love watching the ball go in one end and come out of the other. Talk about why this happens with your toddler. Don’t be afraid to use “large” terms like gravity. It might help to clap out the syllables as you say the word. Then have fun with the tube and balls!

Books Presented

Baby's First St. Patrick's Day by Dawn Sirett

Featuring a soft padded cover and rounded edges, a board book celebration of the Irish holiday depicts the bright and colorful objects associated with its traditions, from costumes and rainbows to four-leaf clovers and pots of gold.

Green by Laura Vaccaro Seeger

Illustrations and simple, rhyming text explore the many shades of the color green.

The Wide-Mouthed Frog by Keith Faulkner

From the Okefenokee Swamp comes a frog with a wide mouth that he just loves to use. Until one day, he meets a big green animal with lots of teeth who finds wide-mouthed frogs simply delicious.

Songs, Rhymes, and Fingerplays

Five Green and Speckled Frogs

 

Five Green and Speckled Frogs
sat on a speckled log
Eating some most delicious bugs.
Yuuuuuuuuummmmmmmmm…yuuummm!

One jumped into the pool,
where it was nice and cool.
Then there were four green speckled frogs,
Glub glub.

Four green and speckled frogs…
Three green and speckled frogs…
Two green and speckled frogs…
One green and speckled frog…
…Then there were no green speckled frogs!
Glub glub, glub, glub

-Songsforteaching.com

Bounce: Bumping Up and Down in My Little “Green” Wagon

Bumping up and down in my little green wagon,
Bumping up and down in my little green wagon,
Bumping up and down in my little green wagon,
Won’t you be my darling!

– adapted from Pewaukeelibrary.org

Flannel Board: Over on the Hill

Over on the hill in the grass so green
Were the five biggest shamrocks than I’ve ever seen
Along came someone on St Patrick’s Day
And they picked a shamrock and took it away.

– Melissa.depperfamily.net

Fingerplay: Five Fat Peas

Five fat peas in a pea pod pressed,
(have your child hold their hand in a fist)

One grew, two grew, so did all the rest.
(have your child release their fingers one at a time)

They grew and grew,
(have your child wiggle their open hand)

And did not stop,
(have your child wiggle their open hand)

Until one day,
(have your child wiggle their open hand)

The pod went POP!
(have your child clap their hands for the POP)

– Grandmasnurseryrhymes.com

Little Green Frog

All-a-gump! Went the little green frog one day.
All-a-gump! Went the little green frog one day.
All-a-gump! Went the little green frog one day.
And the little green frog went All-a-gump! All-a-gump! All-a-gump!

– Traditional

Additional Books

Little Green Peas by Keith Baker

Little green peas make their way into collections of objects of many different colors, from blue boats, seas, and flags, to orange balloons, umbrellas, and fizzy drinks.

The Tiny Tadpole by Judith Nicholls

Follows the life of a tadpole from spawn to frog.

Nighty Night, Little Green Monster by Ed Emberley

Invites young children to explore colorful die-cut spreads depicting an adorable yellow-eyed monster who gets ready to go to sleep as the stars begin to appear in the night sky.

Where is the Green Sheep? by Mem Fox

A story about many different sheep, and one that seems to be missing.

More Book Babies

NOVEMBER Book Babies + Toddler Time: Duck, Duck, Goose

“Play is serious business when it comes to a child's health and development. From peek-a-boo to pat-a-cake and hide-and-seek to hopscotch, the many forms of play enrich a child's brain, body and life in important ways.” HealthyChildren.org. When reading books with...

OCTOBER Book Babies + Toddlers: Horses & Ponies

This is how the ladies ride… clippity-clop, clippity-clop. This is how the gentlemen ride… giddy-up, giddy-up. This is how the cowboys ride… Yee haw! Ride ‘em cowboy!! There are many rhymes and songs about horses which encourage parent and child communication,...

SEPTEMBER Book Babies + Toddlers: Feelings

Ah, emotions… however big or small, can be difficult to manage for everyone, especially children. There are, however, tips and tricks you can use to help your child learn how to recognize and regulate their feelings, and you can start early, even with an infant. The...

JULY Book Babies + Toddler Time: Adventures in the Dark

At the end of the day, it’s a great time to establish a routine to help your child prepare for bed. Some of the activities in your routine could include reading a book, taking a bath, singing a song, picking up toys, or perhaps doing a knee bounce. When you follow the...

JUNE Book Babies + Toddler Time: Adventures in Imagination

Did you know that imaginative or pretend play contains the building blocks of developing critical thinking skills, following directions, expressive language, and even managing emotions? So, grab those sheets, boxes, mud, dishes, and anything you can think of to help...

APRIL Book Babies + Toddler Time: Walking Together

As you look forward to the first steps of your infant, don’t forget the benefit of walking outside with your child. Not only is it a great self-care activity for you as a caregiver, but it opens up the world to your child as they develop and find themselves in a...

MARCH Book Babies + Toddler Time: Eric Carle

If you haven’t discovered the bold, colorful world of Eric Carle, you are in for a enchanting experience. “Eric Carle (1929-2021) was the creator of The Very Hungry Caterpillar. But that’s not the only reason why he received nearly 10,000 fan letters every year. Carle...

FEBRUARY Book Babies + Toddler Time: Music & Movement

Music and movement can improve a child’s mood and help to reduce stress all while stimulating the formation of important brain connections. So, sing those lullabies, dance in the kitchen, play an instrument, and sing a book with your baby each and every day! ​ ​ Book...

JANUARY Book Babies + Toddler Time: Dinosaurs

Dinosaurs, dinosaurs, we love you! We love the way you stomp! We love the way you chomp! We love the way you soar! And, we especially love the way you, ROAR! There are so many things to do with your budding dinosaur. ​Book Babies: Wednesday @ 9:30am in Community Room...

NOVEMBER Book Babies + Toddler Time: Under the Sea

Glub! Glub! Glub! went the slippery little fish! Children love “diving” under the sea and meeting all the different creatures who reside in the deep blue ocean. In addition to the activities listed below, try filling a large container with water, possibly tinting it...

Book Babies: Up n’ Down

Book Babies: Up n’ Down

Book Babies: Up n’ Down

You only have to go as far as a book to visit the zoo with your baby or toddler! When you read a book with your child, make animals noises and sing nursery rhymes about the animals you find in your “zoo” book . You can find some of these books and rhymes below.

Join us live Wednesdays at 10:00 AM  – Online on Facebook

Ages 2-5

Welcome Songs

Here We Are Together

Here we are together, together, together! Oh, here we are together in our library. There’s (sing names)… Here we are together in our library!

Hello Everybody

Hello everybody let’s clap our hands*, clap our hands, clap our hands. Hello everybody let’s clap our hands today! *pat our head, stretch up high, wiggle our fingers, tickle our knees, kick our feet, bounce up high!

S, T, R, W, P

(Sing while pointing to each finger on your child’s hand.) Sing, talk, read, write, play! Sing, talk, read write, play! Sing, talk, read, write, play! Sing, talk, read, write, play each day!

Sing, Talk, Read, Write, Play

Tip

Setting up achievable tasks for young children and clearly recognizing their successful completion helps to build children’s confidence in themselves and their abilities. Children who feel good about themselves and believe that they can accomplish things are more likely to tackle new tasks with a positive attitude. Research suggests that children who are self-confident and believe that they can successfully complete tasks do much better in school.

- Lambert

Activity

Using a flannel story of “The Itsy Bitsy Spider,” recite the rhyme with your child. When the spider gets “washed out”, pull the spider down so it falls off. When you’re finished with the rhyme, invite your child to manipulate the spider. As he does so, clap your hands, give him a hug, and congratulate him saying, “Good job, ______! You did it!”

Books Presented

Up, Up, Up, Down by Kimberly Gee

Illustrations and easy-to-read text follow a baby and father through a day filled with ups and downs, ons and offs, and plenty of fun.

The Itsy Bitsy Spider by Iza Trapani

In this expanded version of a popular song, the itsy-bitsy spider’s climbing is interrupted by a fan, a mouse, a cat, and some dew before she makes her way to the top of a tree to spin her web.

Baby Up, Baby Down by Molly Magnuson

Look at all the babies. Find the babies who are near and far, messy and clean, quiet and noisy. Learn all about opposites!

Where's Baby? by Anne Hunter

Papa Fox is looking for Baby Fox, who is just out of his sight … but not ours! An adorable, interactive read-aloud for fans of Are You My Mother.

Songs, Rhymes, and Fingerplays

Bounce: Dickery Dickery Dare

(to the tune of Hickory Dickory Dock)

Dickery dickery dare,
The pig flew up in the air, (woo!)
The man in brown, brought him back down,
Dickery dickery dare!

-Pasadena-library.net

Bounce: 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.

And when they were up, they were up,
And when they were down, they were down,
And when they were only half-way up,
They were neither up nor down

– Allnurseryrhymes.com

Itsy Bitsy Spider

The itsy bitsy spider crawled up the water spout.
Down came the rain, and washed the spider out.
Out came the sun, and dried up all the rain,
and the itsy bitsy spider went up the spout again.

– Allnurseryrhymes.com

Jack and Jill

Jack and Jill went up the hill
To fetch a pail of water.
Jack fell down and broke his crown,
And Jill came tumbling after.
Then up got Jack and said to Jill,
As in his arms he took her,
“Brush off that dirt for you’re not hurt,
Let’s fetch that pail of water.”
So Jack and Jill went up the hill
To fetch the pail of water,
And took it home to Mother dear,
Who thanked her son and daughter.

– Allnurseryrhymes.com

Additional Books

Yummy, Yucky by Leslie Patricelli

A toddler finds out that spaghetti is yummy, but worms — and blue crayons, and sand, and other things too gross to mention — are definitely yucky when tasted.

Odd One Out: Big and Small by Guido Van Genechten

Some of these animals are not like the others…. Who’s the odd one out? And who’s ready to go to a parry? Come along and find out!

Bears are Big by Douglas Florian

Meet pairs of animals and discover how they’re different. The pairs include bears/bees, shrews/giraffes, rhinos/tigers, turtles/snails, sloths/cheetahs, eels/tree frogs, hippos/butterflies, and ravens/doves.

More Book Babies

NOVEMBER Book Babies + Toddler Time: Duck, Duck, Goose

“Play is serious business when it comes to a child's health and development. From peek-a-boo to pat-a-cake and hide-and-seek to hopscotch, the many forms of play enrich a child's brain, body and life in important ways.” HealthyChildren.org. When reading books with...

OCTOBER Book Babies + Toddlers: Horses & Ponies

This is how the ladies ride… clippity-clop, clippity-clop. This is how the gentlemen ride… giddy-up, giddy-up. This is how the cowboys ride… Yee haw! Ride ‘em cowboy!! There are many rhymes and songs about horses which encourage parent and child communication,...

SEPTEMBER Book Babies + Toddlers: Feelings

Ah, emotions… however big or small, can be difficult to manage for everyone, especially children. There are, however, tips and tricks you can use to help your child learn how to recognize and regulate their feelings, and you can start early, even with an infant. The...

JULY Book Babies + Toddler Time: Adventures in the Dark

At the end of the day, it’s a great time to establish a routine to help your child prepare for bed. Some of the activities in your routine could include reading a book, taking a bath, singing a song, picking up toys, or perhaps doing a knee bounce. When you follow the...

JUNE Book Babies + Toddler Time: Adventures in Imagination

Did you know that imaginative or pretend play contains the building blocks of developing critical thinking skills, following directions, expressive language, and even managing emotions? So, grab those sheets, boxes, mud, dishes, and anything you can think of to help...

APRIL Book Babies + Toddler Time: Walking Together

As you look forward to the first steps of your infant, don’t forget the benefit of walking outside with your child. Not only is it a great self-care activity for you as a caregiver, but it opens up the world to your child as they develop and find themselves in a...

MARCH Book Babies + Toddler Time: Eric Carle

If you haven’t discovered the bold, colorful world of Eric Carle, you are in for a enchanting experience. “Eric Carle (1929-2021) was the creator of The Very Hungry Caterpillar. But that’s not the only reason why he received nearly 10,000 fan letters every year. Carle...

FEBRUARY Book Babies + Toddler Time: Music & Movement

Music and movement can improve a child’s mood and help to reduce stress all while stimulating the formation of important brain connections. So, sing those lullabies, dance in the kitchen, play an instrument, and sing a book with your baby each and every day! ​ ​ Book...

JANUARY Book Babies + Toddler Time: Dinosaurs

Dinosaurs, dinosaurs, we love you! We love the way you stomp! We love the way you chomp! We love the way you soar! And, we especially love the way you, ROAR! There are so many things to do with your budding dinosaur. ​Book Babies: Wednesday @ 9:30am in Community Room...

NOVEMBER Book Babies + Toddler Time: Under the Sea

Glub! Glub! Glub! went the slippery little fish! Children love “diving” under the sea and meeting all the different creatures who reside in the deep blue ocean. In addition to the activities listed below, try filling a large container with water, possibly tinting it...

Book Babies: Let’s Go to the Zoo!

Book Babies: Let’s Go to the Zoo!

Book Babies: Let’s Go to the Zoo!

You only have to go as far as a book to visit the zoo with your baby or toddler! When you read a book with your child, make animals noises and sing nursery rhymes about the animals you find in your “zoo” book . You can find some of these books and rhymes below.

Join us live Wednesdays at 10:00 AM  – Online on Facebook

Ages 2-5

Welcome Songs

Here We Are Together

Here we are together, together, together! Oh, here we are together in our library. There’s (sing names)… Here we are together in our library!

Hello Everybody

Hello everybody let’s clap our hands*, clap our hands, clap our hands. Hello everybody let’s clap our hands today! *pat our head, stretch up high, wiggle our fingers, tickle our knees, kick our feet, bounce up high!

S, T, R, W, P

(Sing while pointing to each finger on your child’s hand.) Sing, talk, read, write, play! Sing, talk, read write, play! Sing, talk, read, write, play! Sing, talk, read, write, play each day!

Sing, Talk, Read, Write, Play

Tip

Watching a light dance across the ceiling, walls, and toys strengthens your baby’s ability to visually track objects. Seeing the light disappear and reappear over and over will delight her.

- "Baby Play" by Dr. Wendy S. Masi & Dr. Roni Cohen Leiderman

Activity

Stretch a brightly colored tissue paper or a sheer scarf across a flashlight and attach firmly with tape or a rubber band. Then play the colored circle across the ceiling, baby’s toys, and on the wall. Try turning the light on and off quickly, drawing shapes with the beam, or moving the light slowly back and forth bewtween two objects. Talk as you play, saying, “Where did the light go?” and “Oh my gosh, there it is!” and “It’s on the ball.”

- "Baby Play" by Dr. Wendy S. Masi & Dr. Roni Cohen Leiderman

Books Presented

Dear Zoo by Rod Campbell

Answering a child’s request, the zoo keeps sending a wide assortment of animals until they find the perfect pet. On board pages.

Peek-A-Boo Zoo! by Jane Cabrera

Join in the fun with curious Lemur and see who’s hiding behind the cut-out holes. A pair of eyes peeks through each page as Lemur finds out who’s hiding, including a panda, a parrot, a kangaroo, and a monkey.

I Thought I Saw an Elephant! by Lydia Nichols

Push and pull the sliders to find the elephant hiding in the pond, on the slide, and in the tree house.

Songs, Rhymes, and Fingerplays

You Can Hear the Lions Roaring at the Zoo

(to the tune of “If You’re Happy and You Know It”)

You can hear the lions roaring at the zoo, ROAR! ROAR!
You can hear the lions roaring at the zoo, ROAR! ROAR!
You can hear the lions roaring, you can hear the lions roaring
You can hear the lions roaring at the zoo! ROAR! ROAR!

(Elephants trumpeting, zebra braying, monkey eeking)

-Pasadena-library.net

Going to Kentucky

Oh, we’re going to Kentucky, we’re going to the zoo,
To see the baby animals and watch what they can do.
Oh shake it, shake it, shake it,
Shake it if you can.
Shake it like a milkshake,
And do the best you can!
Oh, wobble to the bottom, wobble to the top,
And turn around and turn around until it’s time stop!

– Libraryvillage.blogspot.com 

Three Little Monkeys

Three little monkeys swinging from the tree,
(hold up three fingers)
Teasing Mr. Crocodile, “Can’t catch me!”
(wag index finger)
Along came Mr. Crocodile, quiet as can be,
(slowly swim one hand over)
And SNAPPED that monkey right out of that tree!
(clap hands together on “snapped”)
Two little monkeys…
One little monkey…
No little monkeys swinging from the tree,
I’d better watch out or he might catch me!

– Libraryvillage.blogspot.com

We Wiggle and Wiggle and Stop!

We wiggle and wiggle and stop
We wiggle and wiggle and stop
We wiggle and wiggle and wiggle and wiggle
and wiggle and wiggle and stop

Can work with egg shakers: shake, pat, roll.

– Alsc.ala.org

Five Little Monkeys

Additional Books

Roar, Roar, Baby! by Karen Katz

Young readers are invited to lift flaps to reveal such zoo animals as giraffes, hippos, pandas, and tigers.

Good Night, Gorilla by Peggy Rathmann

An unobservant zookeeper is followed home by all the animals he thinks he has left behind in the zoo.

1-2-3 ZooBorns by Andrew Bleiman

Attention, animal lovers! It’s time to count along with a whole new crew of adorable zoo babies. Featuring irresistible animal photos, bouncy text, and a fact-filled glossary, this just might be the cutest counting book ever to hit the shelves!

Animal Antics ABC! by Jade Maitre

Learn your ABCs with Storyberries’ free alphabet book, filled with animal antics!

More Book Babies

NOVEMBER Book Babies + Toddler Time: Duck, Duck, Goose

“Play is serious business when it comes to a child's health and development. From peek-a-boo to pat-a-cake and hide-and-seek to hopscotch, the many forms of play enrich a child's brain, body and life in important ways.” HealthyChildren.org. When reading books with...

OCTOBER Book Babies + Toddlers: Horses & Ponies

This is how the ladies ride… clippity-clop, clippity-clop. This is how the gentlemen ride… giddy-up, giddy-up. This is how the cowboys ride… Yee haw! Ride ‘em cowboy!! There are many rhymes and songs about horses which encourage parent and child communication,...

SEPTEMBER Book Babies + Toddlers: Feelings

Ah, emotions… however big or small, can be difficult to manage for everyone, especially children. There are, however, tips and tricks you can use to help your child learn how to recognize and regulate their feelings, and you can start early, even with an infant. The...

JULY Book Babies + Toddler Time: Adventures in the Dark

At the end of the day, it’s a great time to establish a routine to help your child prepare for bed. Some of the activities in your routine could include reading a book, taking a bath, singing a song, picking up toys, or perhaps doing a knee bounce. When you follow the...

JUNE Book Babies + Toddler Time: Adventures in Imagination

Did you know that imaginative or pretend play contains the building blocks of developing critical thinking skills, following directions, expressive language, and even managing emotions? So, grab those sheets, boxes, mud, dishes, and anything you can think of to help...

APRIL Book Babies + Toddler Time: Walking Together

As you look forward to the first steps of your infant, don’t forget the benefit of walking outside with your child. Not only is it a great self-care activity for you as a caregiver, but it opens up the world to your child as they develop and find themselves in a...

MARCH Book Babies + Toddler Time: Eric Carle

If you haven’t discovered the bold, colorful world of Eric Carle, you are in for a enchanting experience. “Eric Carle (1929-2021) was the creator of The Very Hungry Caterpillar. But that’s not the only reason why he received nearly 10,000 fan letters every year. Carle...

FEBRUARY Book Babies + Toddler Time: Music & Movement

Music and movement can improve a child’s mood and help to reduce stress all while stimulating the formation of important brain connections. So, sing those lullabies, dance in the kitchen, play an instrument, and sing a book with your baby each and every day! ​ ​ Book...

JANUARY Book Babies + Toddler Time: Dinosaurs

Dinosaurs, dinosaurs, we love you! We love the way you stomp! We love the way you chomp! We love the way you soar! And, we especially love the way you, ROAR! There are so many things to do with your budding dinosaur. ​Book Babies: Wednesday @ 9:30am in Community Room...

NOVEMBER Book Babies + Toddler Time: Under the Sea

Glub! Glub! Glub! went the slippery little fish! Children love “diving” under the sea and meeting all the different creatures who reside in the deep blue ocean. In addition to the activities listed below, try filling a large container with water, possibly tinting it...

Book Babies: Walking, Walking

Book Babies: Walking, Walking

Book Babies: Walking, Walking

Learning to walk can be both fun and frustrating for your little one, but there are things you can do to encourage him. Try wrapping a scarf or blanket around your baby’s chest and under his arms, then stabilize him with the blankets as he learns to balance himself with his free hands. For more fabulous activities and ideas, go to www.teachinglittles.com. And, of course, try out some of the books and activities below!

Join us live Wednesdays at 10:00 AM  – Online on Facebook

Ages 2-5

Welcome Songs

Here We Are Together

Here we are together, together, together! Oh, here we are together in our library. There’s (sing names)… Here we are together in our library!

Hello Everybody

Hello everybody let’s clap our hands*, clap our hands, clap our hands. Hello everybody let’s clap our hands today! *pat our head, stretch up high, wiggle our fingers, tickle our knees, kick our feet, bounce up high!

S, T, R, W, P

(Sing while pointing to each finger on your child’s hand.) Sing, talk, read, write, play! Sing, talk, read write, play! Sing, talk, read, write, play! Sing, talk, read, write, play each day!

Sing, Talk, Read, Write, Play

Tip

Moving to music, dancing, swaying, running, and jumping help young children feel rhythm and begin to understand how their bodies work. Such movements also help them gain muscle control and improve balance. All of this contributes to a child’s gross motor development.

- Lambert

Activity

Sing “Walking, Walking” with your child with your child as you walk outside or around the house while modeling how to “Stop!” at the end of the rhyme.

Books Presented

I Went Walking by Sue Williams

During the course of a walk, a young boy identifies animals of different colors.

Wiggle Waggle by Jonathan London

Fish swim in the water and birds fly in the air, and some animals walk on the ground, just like you. Jonathan London and Michael Rex invite you to hop, flop, and wiggle in an animal parade that will make you want to jump out of your seat and bounce along, too!

Walk On! A Guide for Babies of All Ages by Maria Frazee

Trying something new is never easy. Like walking, for instance. With useful tips, common pitfalls, and Marla Frazee’s adorable illustrations, this book is perfect for anyone–from a baby to a graduate to a grown-up–who’s about to take a scary first step.

Ten Little Fingers and Ten Little Toes by Mem Fox

Rhyming text compares babies who, although born in different places and in different circumstances, each have ten little fingers and ten little toes.

Songs, Rhymes, and Fingerplays

Walking, Walking

 

Walking, walking,
Walking, walking,
Hop, hop, hop!
Hop, hop, hop!
Running, running, running,
Running, running, running,
Now let’s stop!
Now let’s stop!

Mamalisa.com

As I Went Walking

As I went walking to town one day
I saw a ____ along the way!
And what do you think that ____ did say? ____

– Adapted from Macaronisoup.com

The Horses Are Walking

The horses are walking*, they’re walking along, walking along, walking along.
The horses are walking they’re walking along. Whoah! Whoah! Whoah!

*Trotting, running, walking

Adapted from Jbrary

Additional Books

Walk and See 123 by Rosalind Beardshaw

Join an autumnal adventure through the countryside with lots to see and count – all the way to twenty.

Little One Step by Simon James

As three duckling brothers cross forest and field to return to their mother, the older ones encourage the youngest by teaching him a game that earns him the name of Little One Step.

More Book Babies

NOVEMBER Book Babies + Toddler Time: Duck, Duck, Goose

“Play is serious business when it comes to a child's health and development. From peek-a-boo to pat-a-cake and hide-and-seek to hopscotch, the many forms of play enrich a child's brain, body and life in important ways.” HealthyChildren.org. When reading books with...

OCTOBER Book Babies + Toddlers: Horses & Ponies

This is how the ladies ride… clippity-clop, clippity-clop. This is how the gentlemen ride… giddy-up, giddy-up. This is how the cowboys ride… Yee haw! Ride ‘em cowboy!! There are many rhymes and songs about horses which encourage parent and child communication,...

SEPTEMBER Book Babies + Toddlers: Feelings

Ah, emotions… however big or small, can be difficult to manage for everyone, especially children. There are, however, tips and tricks you can use to help your child learn how to recognize and regulate their feelings, and you can start early, even with an infant. The...

JULY Book Babies + Toddler Time: Adventures in the Dark

At the end of the day, it’s a great time to establish a routine to help your child prepare for bed. Some of the activities in your routine could include reading a book, taking a bath, singing a song, picking up toys, or perhaps doing a knee bounce. When you follow the...

JUNE Book Babies + Toddler Time: Adventures in Imagination

Did you know that imaginative or pretend play contains the building blocks of developing critical thinking skills, following directions, expressive language, and even managing emotions? So, grab those sheets, boxes, mud, dishes, and anything you can think of to help...

APRIL Book Babies + Toddler Time: Walking Together

As you look forward to the first steps of your infant, don’t forget the benefit of walking outside with your child. Not only is it a great self-care activity for you as a caregiver, but it opens up the world to your child as they develop and find themselves in a...

MARCH Book Babies + Toddler Time: Eric Carle

If you haven’t discovered the bold, colorful world of Eric Carle, you are in for a enchanting experience. “Eric Carle (1929-2021) was the creator of The Very Hungry Caterpillar. But that’s not the only reason why he received nearly 10,000 fan letters every year. Carle...

FEBRUARY Book Babies + Toddler Time: Music & Movement

Music and movement can improve a child’s mood and help to reduce stress all while stimulating the formation of important brain connections. So, sing those lullabies, dance in the kitchen, play an instrument, and sing a book with your baby each and every day! ​ ​ Book...

JANUARY Book Babies + Toddler Time: Dinosaurs

Dinosaurs, dinosaurs, we love you! We love the way you stomp! We love the way you chomp! We love the way you soar! And, we especially love the way you, ROAR! There are so many things to do with your budding dinosaur. ​Book Babies: Wednesday @ 9:30am in Community Room...

NOVEMBER Book Babies + Toddler Time: Under the Sea

Glub! Glub! Glub! went the slippery little fish! Children love “diving” under the sea and meeting all the different creatures who reside in the deep blue ocean. In addition to the activities listed below, try filling a large container with water, possibly tinting it...

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