Hello, readers, and welcome to 2025! Do you ever have those weeks where it feels like everything is happening at once? It’s been like that for me lately. I have a couple of storytimes in the backlog to share with you soon, but today I figured I’d give a quick update on my Book Babies programs and the new songs and rhymes I’ve been using for the last few months.
You can see all my previous posts about Book Babies, which would include lots of rhymes and songs to do. I’ve gotten to the point that I’m recycling old plans, but I do still switch out activities here and there to keep it fresh for me, and to replace songs or rhymes that didn’t quite jive (or I’m just not in the mood for!) It’s fun to see what works with a particular group.
The books featured in the photos below are just some of the board books made available for individual reading.
See all the Book Babies plans here.
The general plan goes like this:
- Hello/Welcome song
- I use a puppet as well as singing each child’s name in the song
- Animal Hello
- Use several animal puppets, with animal noises incorporated in the song
- Body Song
- Fingerplay
- If too complex for babies (i.e., anything more involved than Pat-A-Cake), encourage grownups to do the motions as a kind of “puppet show” for babies.
- Bounce
- Lift
- Occasionally there’s a song that incorporates bounces and lifts, of course. Any combination will do, or one longer song with multiple verses may be substituted for both
- Lullaby
- I always play this on ukulele
- Reading time
- Currently doing individual reading for 2-3 minutes, but have read board books to the group before
- Tickle/On Your Back
- Often good for post-diaper change, usually uses leg motions
- Props or Dancing
- Include 3-4 songs and rhymes that go with the month’s prop
- Lifting Song – Zoom, Zoom, Zoom
- Consistent at each program
- Goodbye Rhyme
Here is an updated room setup, with the parachute out for babies to lay on/sit on. I started to put out round floor mats at each wedge/seat, with the caveat that anyone can pull up a chair to sit at if they don’t want to get down on the floor. My pink short chair is perfect for this – I can move easily from it to the floor if I want to demo one way or another. There’s a random board book at each place for them to use during our individual reading time.
I am happy to report that after a couple of years of having a “color the parachute” station during our outdoor summer storytime, it’s much more colorful and fun!
New since April 2024
Fingerplay
Fingerplay Rhyme/Tickle: This Little Train
This little train ran up the track (walk fingers up baby’s arm or leg)
It went Choo! Choo! (tap baby’s nose or belly button)
And then it ran back (walk fingers back down)
The other little train (other arm or leg) ran up the track
It went Choo! Choo! And then it ran back
Source: King County (WA) Library System
I have used this one for Hispanic Heritage Month themed toddler storytimes before, but this is the first time I’ve used this song for babies. I do have several Spanish-speaking families, so I was glad to include it!
Song: La linda manita
(flip hand back and forth)
La linda manita (What a pretty, tiny hand)
que tiene el bebé (the baby has!)
qué linda, qué bella (How pretty, how beautiful)
qué preciosa es (How precious it is!)
Source: traditional, watch: https://youtu.be/OWAunlWlMUI
Bounce/Lift
Bounce: Two Little Boats
(rock forward and back)
Two little boats went out to sea
All is calm as calm can be
(rock side to side)
Gently the wind begins to blow
Two little boats rock to and fro
(Bounce up and down)
Loudly the wind begins to shout
Two little boats they bounce about
STOP! (freeze) goes the storm, the wind, and rain
And two little boats sail on again (rock forward and backward)
Source: Intellidance
Bounce/Lift: Jelly on the Plate
Jelly on the plate, jelly on the plate (bounce)
Wibble wobble, wibble wobble (turn baby side to side)
Jelly on the plate (bounce)
Additional verses:
Sausage in the pan…Turn them out (lean baby outward)
Biscuits in the tin…Shake them up (wiggle and lift baby)
Sweeties in the jar…Pick them out (gently pinch belly)
Candles on the cake…Blow them out… (blow on neck or belly)
Source: Jbrary
I looked, and Lynn and Dover are indeed towns nearby Boston!
Bounce: Trot to Boston
Trot, trot to Boston,
Trot, trot to Lynn
You’d better be careful
Or you might fall in! (tilt or lean)
Trot, trot to Boston,
Trot, trot to Dover
Look out everyone
You might fall over! (tilt or lean)
Source: The Early Literacy Kit: A Handbook and Tip Cards by Betsy Diamant-Cohen & Saroj Ghoting
Lullaby
So many variations of this song, but Raffi’s is a sweet one. I remind caregivers that you can sing any name instead of “Irene,” and in fact I did try to go around the room and sing each child’s name in the chorus. Irene is repeated four times each chorus, so you can potentially get 12 names in as written, and of course you can repeat the chorus as many times as you need.
Ukulele Lullaby: Goodnight Irene
(Raffi’s version)
Foxes sleep in the forest
Lions sleep in their dens
Goats sleep on the mountainside
And piggies sleep in pens
Chorus: Irene goodnight, Irene goodnight
Goodnight Irene, Goodnight Irene
I’ll see you in my dreams
Whales sleep in the ocean
Zebras sleep on land
Hippos sleep by the riverside
And camels sleep on sand (Chorus)
Coyote sleeps in the canyon
And birdie sleeps in a tree
And when it’s time for me to rest
My bed’s the place for me (Chorus)
Source: Raffi, from the album The Corner Grocery Store and Other Singable Songs
Download a ukulele songsheet for Goodnight, Irene
Tickle/On Your Back
I converted this from one to do with arms to a leg rhyme and it works pretty well. I emphasized that they didn’t need any precision doing the different motions, but in, out, in, out, cha-cha works!
Leg Song: Knife, Fork, Spoon, Spatula
(tune of If You’re Happy and You Know It)
I’m a knife, fork, spoon, spatula – cha, cha, cha!
I’m a knife, fork, spoon, spatula – cha, cha, cha!
I’m a knife, fork, spoon, I’m a knife, fork, spoon,
I’m a knife, fork, spoon, spatula – cha, cha, cha!
Source: Jbrary
Another one I’ve converted to doing with legs! We also talked about whether to push and pull from baby’s perspective or caregiver’s – it could go either way!
Leg Action Rhyme: Roll, Roll, Sugar Babies
Roll, roll sugar babies, Roll, roll sugar babies (bicycle legs)
Push! Pull! Tap, tap, tap! (push, pull, tap feet together)
Roll, roll sugar babies, Roll, roll sugar babies
Push! Pull! Tap, tap, tap!
Roll up high, Roll down low
Roll real fast, Roll real slow
Roll, roll sugar babies, Roll, roll sugar babies
Push! Pull! Tap, tap, tap!
Can repeat and replace “push” and “pull” with “up and down” or “left and right”
Source: Jbrary
Props
Although I know I originally got this from Jbrary, I realize listening to the recording that I have morphed it and my version sounds a bit different! Perhaps sometime I’ll record a quick video of my version.
Shaker Song: We Shake and STOP!
We shake and we shake and we STOP
We shake and we shake and we STOP
We shake and we shake and we shake and we shake
And we shake and we shake and we STOP!
…tap, …wave, …clap, …tickle
Source: Jbrary
I think I was looking for a new peek-a-boo song. This one wasn’t really a fantastic improvement on the other ones I’ve done, so it may be left on the scrap pile.
Scarf Song: Where Is Baby?
(tune of Frère Jacques)
Where is baby? Where is baby?
Oh, so cute, Oh, so cute
Who’s behind this scarf?
Who’s behind this scarf?
Peek-a-boo! Peek-a-boo!
Source: adapted from Madison (ID) Library District
Scarf Rhyme: Mix the Batter
Mix the batter, stir the batter, (stir motion)
Shake the flour in (pour motion)
Mix the batter, stir the batter,
pour it in a tin (pat lap)
Sprinkle little raisins on, (wiggle fingers down)
Pop it in to bake (move scarf forward)
Open wide the oven door… (spread arms wide (w/out scarf)
and out comes a cake! (throw scarf in the air)
Nom, nom, nom (pretend to eat)
Source: Plano (TX) Library
This one could certainly be done with scarves, too.
Parachute Song: Leaves Are Falling
(tune of Farmer in the Dell)
The leaves are falling down,
The leaves are falling down
Red, yellow, green, and brown,
The leaves are falling down
The snow is falling down… (whispering)
Quiet, soft, float to the ground…
The snow is falling down
Source: Handley (VA) Regional Library System (verse 2 original)
Dancing (instead of props)
Dancing Song: Here We Go
(tune of Here We Go Looby Loo)
Here we go in, in, in
Here we go out, out, out
Here we go in, in, in
Then we turn ourselves about
Here we go uppity-up,
Here we go down-ditty down
Here we go uppity-up
Then we turn ourselves about
Source: The Early Literacy Kit: A Handbook and Tip Cards by Betsy Diamant-Cohen & Saroj Ghoting
Dancing Play: Washing Machine
Okay, babies, let’s do some laundry! (start low to the ground)
Can we put in the clothes? Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh! (arm motions in, or bounce slowly with sounds)
Shake in the soap! Ch-ch-ch-ch-ch! (shake hands or bounce baby quickly)
Fill up with water! Blub-ub-ub-ub-ub! (like water gurgling up) (wiggle baby while lifting up to standing)
Here we go! (hold baby securely)
Twist, twist, twist in the washing machine (twist torso back and forth with baby in arms)
Twist, twist, twist until we’re clean!
Spiiiiiiin and STOP! (spin in a circle, then stop)
Annd the water goes down! Blub-ub-ub! (gurgle water down) (wiggle baby while lowering)
Source: Intellidance
What are your favorite baby activities? Share in the comments!
Storytime with Ms. Emily Library 