Tag: BookBabies

As mentioned in my previous post, this year I’m tweaking my age groups and looking to offer something a little different for pre-walking babies and their caregivers. Book Babies is for ages twelve months and under, with a concentration on pre-walkers (so kiddos over twelve months but still not walking are welcome, too.)

I’ve advertised this program as a themeless session, letting them know that we’ll be repeating a lot of our activities, songs, and rhymes. This lets me keep the same schedule most of the weeks, rotating out one or two songs per month and changing props when it seems like the right time to try something new. It eases the prep time for an extra program, while still allowing some flexibility. Time always seems to be a sticky point for me. I only have 20-30 minutes for this group due to back-to-back programming, so I had to take a breath and NOT include all that I wanted to.

Before splitting the under-ones from their older counterparts, I worried about using props like the parachute with runners and walkers with the crawlers, so having them on their own makes it easier to make sure no one is getting hurt. I also have limited this class to 10 babies, so it’s easier for everyone to fit on the parachute and be close to each other and their little one.

Early Literacy Tip: Let your baby take the lead when it comes to books. Even if they sit still for only a minute or two, don’t give up! Keep books a positive time, and engage them with pictures and words, even if they aren’t the words written in the book. When they get fussy or seem finished, set it aside and try again later.

Here is our room setup, with the parachute out for babies to lay on/sit on, with a few chairs for those who prefer them to 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. I wish our parachute was colorful – I think the original idea was that you can write on it. There are some names on there from years ago that are probably grown with their own children by now.

Trying a new/old welcome song! This is the one my predecessor passed on to me, that I stopped using in favor of a quicker “Hello, Friends.” With a smaller group of babies, though, I like the slower pace of this one. For this and the next song, I use puppets to greet everyone.
Welcome/Puppet Song: Hello, Everybody
(tune of Skip to My Lou)
Hello, everybody and how are you?
Hello, everybody and how are you?
Hello, everybody and how are you?
How are you today?

Hello, [name 1], how are you?
Hello, [name 2], how are you?
Hello, [name 3], how are you?
How are you today?

I start this one with the same puppet as above, my floppy-eared dog, Scout. Then I’ll bring out one or two other puppets to say hello.
Welcome/Puppet Song: When Animals Get Up in the Morning
When dogs get up in the morning
They always say hello!
When dogs get up in the morning
They always say hello!
“Woof, woof, woof, woof,” That is what they say
“Woof, woof, woof, woof,” That is what they say
Source: King County (WA) Library System

This is a hit with every group I try it in, and the babies are no exception!
Bounce: Toast in the Toaster
I’m toast in the toaster,
I’m getting very hot
Tick tock, tick tock,
UP I pop!
Source: Jbrary

I feel that a body part song is an important part of baby programming. This one can be repeated with any body parts, and I started jotting down some different options to do each time. I’m currently doing three verses, always starting with “nose.”
Body Song: Hello, Everybody, Can You Touch Your Nose?
Well, hello, everybody,
Can you touch your nose?
Touch your nose,
Touch your nose?
Well, hello, everybody,
Can you touch your nose?
Touch…your…nose!

Other verses:
Touch your toes, rub your tummy, pat your back, touch your chin, touch your ears, squeeze your knees, touch your hands, pat your head, clap your hands, tickle your neck, etc.
Source: Jbrary

I learned this one as “roll it and pat it,” but I like the physicality of “stretch it” better. I found some videos by Intellidance showing some different ways of interacting with an infant for several traditional nursery rhymes, which was really great for offering different options for lap babies, laying down babies, and standing babies. Check out their channel for additional videos.
Fingerplay Rhyme: Pat a Cake
Pat-a-cake, pat-a-cake,
Baker’s man
Bake me a cake
As fast as you can
Roll it, And stretch it
And mark it with a “B” (can substitute first initial and name)
And put it in the oven
For baby and me!
Source: traditional

Let’s go on a little trip!
Bounce: A Smooth Road
A smooth road! (x4)
(slowly, and sway baby gently back and forth)
A bumpy road! (x4)
(a little faster, bouncing gently up and down)
A rough road! (x4)
(even faster, bouncing slightly harder and adding erratic swaying)
Oh, no! A hole!
(tip baby over, lift up, and/or let them fall safely through your knees)
Source: Jbrary

After all that excitement, let’s slow it down with a lullaby. Holding your baby close to your chest lets them hear your heartbeat, which is what they heard before they were born. It’s soothing and reminds them they are safe.
Ukulele Lullaby: Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star
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
Source: traditional

Download a Ukulele Songsheet here!

These first two times I read aloud to the group, but I plan to intersperse that with a couple minutes of individual reading. I may also use regular picture books in the future, but I’m starting by modelling board books.
Read: choose an age-appropriate board book such as:
Read, Read, Baby! by Anna W. Bardaus & Christine Grove
Whose Toes Are Those? by Jabari Asim & LeUyen Pham
BIG Little by Leslie Patricelli
Where’s Ellie? by Salina Yoon

Are you ready for a tickle? I’m ready for a little laughing! Let’s try this rhyme about bees.
Tickle Rhyme: Here Is the Beehive
Here is the beehive, but where are all the bees? (make fist)
Hidden away where nobody sees
Watch and you’ll see them come out of the hive:
1, 2, 3, 4, 5 (open fingers)
They’re alive! Buzz, buzz, buzz! (tickle)

Prop Songs
For the first month, we’ll do the same ones, with the parachute. Later I’m thinking I’ll keep the parachute for the program setup (as a “mat” of a sort), but switch to other props like scarves and shaker eggs.

Parachute Song: The Itsy Bitsy Spider
The itsy bitsy spider went 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
Source: traditional

Parachute Song: Come Under My Umbrella
tune of Did You Ever See a Lassie?
Come under my umbrella, umbrella, umbrella (lift up)
Come under my umbrella, it’s starting to rain (shake)
With thunder and lightning, and lightning and thunder (big shakes!)
Come under my umbrella, it’s starting to rain
Source: King County (WA) Library System

Parachute Song: Dance Like Snowflakes
tune of Frère Jacques
Dance like snowflakes, dance like snowflakes
In the air, in the air
Whirling, twirling snowflakes
Whirling, twirling snowflakes
Everywhere, everywhere
Source: Jbrary

Parachute Song: Parachute Fly
tune of Skip to My Lou
Up, up, up it goes
Down, down, down so low
Raise our parachute to the sky…
Count to 3 and watch it fly!
Spoken:
Up on 1…
Down on 2…
Up on 3, and Fly!
Source: Gymboree

To adapt this for babies, we bounce or clap rather than scraping our hands past each other, and walk fingers up and down baby’s body, arms, or legs for the “if you want to take a trip” part.
Lifting Song: 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!
Source: Jbrary

I find it really helpful to finish with a rhyme that definitively says that storytime is over. This one is short and sweet.
Goodbye Rhyme: Hands Up High
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)
Source: Pasadena Public Library

And that’s it! We don’t have time for free play at the end, but I encouraged grownups to take a little time in the children’s department to play and socialize together.

Suggested books are a little different on my handout since at my library board books are not able to be held if they’re checked out. My handout says:
Check out our board book selections – they cannot be held or requested, so see what’s available anytime you visit the library! Here are some other titles that *can* be requested:
All of Baby Nose to Toes – Victoria Adler & Hiroe Nakata
Brown Baby Lullaby – Tameka Fryer Brown & AG Ford
Nose to Toes, You Are Yummy! – Tim Harrington
Kitty’s Cuddles – Jane Cabrera
I Love You, Baby Burrito – Angela Dominguez
Up, Up, Up, Down – Kimberly Gee
“More More More,” Said the Baby – Vera B. Williams

This storytime was presented in-person on 1/9, 1/16, & 1/23/23.

Storytime Handout: