Mel’s Desk

Vroom! Vroom! Families are busy this time of year going all sorts of places to shop and to visit.

OPENING SONG: Hello Song*

OPENING FINGERPLAY: Open Them Shut Them*

BOOK: Tip Tip Dig Dig by EMMA GARCIA

FLANNEL SONG: A Hunting We Will Go*
Today we did duck/truck, rocket/pocket, sheep/jeep, and ended with goat/boat

BOOK: Boats by BYRON BARTON

FLANNEL SONG: My Big Blue Boat
Sing to: Mary Had a Little Lamb
Follow the link for a photo of this simple flannel!

I’m sailing in my big blue boat,
big blue boat, big blue boat,
I’m sailing in my big blue boat, on the deep blue sea.

My blue boat has a purple mast…
My blue boat has two red sails…
My blue boat has a yellow flag…

LITERACY TIP: Print Motivation
Books make fantastic holiday gifts! Ask us if you need fresh ideas!

BOOK: Train Leaves the Station by EVE MERRIAM

TICKLE: This Little Train

This little train ran up the track
Trail fingers up baby’s arm from fingers to shoulder
It went Choo Choo!
Tap baby’s nose!
And then it ran back.
Trail fingers back down baby’s arm.

The other little train ran up the track
Trail fingers up baby’s other arm from fingers to shoulder
It went Choo Choo!
Tap baby’s nose!
And then it ran back.
Trail fingers back down baby’s arm.

SONG: Down at the Station

Down at the station early in the morning
See the little pufferbellies lined up in a row
See the engine driver pull his little handle
Puff Puff Choo Choo! Off we go!

ACTION RHYME: This is Big Big Big*

CLOSING SONG: Sneeze Game*

*Check out the My Baby Storytime page for the words and/or citations for these weekly activities!

Get your wiggle on, babies!

OPENING SONG: Hello Song*

OPENING FINGERPLAY: Open Them Shut Them*

BOOK: This Little Piggy illus by ANNIE KUBLER

ACTIVITY: This Little Piggy

FLANNEL SONG: A Hunting We Will Go*
I tried to use a few wiggly things today: We did the pig because of This Little Piggy, then also Ants, Bug, and Mouse.

ACTIVITY: See The Little Mousie

See the little mousie
Walk fingers up baby’s tummy
Walking up the stair
Looking for a warm nest
There, oh there!
Tickle baby’s armpit!

GUESSING GAME: Little Worm, Where Are You?

Little Worm, are you behind the blue flower? etc.

BOUNCE: I’m a Little Beetle
I wrote this for a bugs storytime a couple years ago.

I’m a little beetle and I wiggle all day
Bounce or rock baby on your lap
But if you get too close to me I’ll FLY away!
On “fly,” lift baby up!

I’m a little ladybug…
I’m a little bumblebee…

STORY: Mr Wiggle and Mr Waggle
I learned this story first at a Pam Schiller workshop, but it’s also in “What’ll I Do With the Baby-O?” by Jane Cobb

BOOK: Clap Hands by HELEN OXENBURY

LITERACY TIP: Print Motivation
Books like these, which have lists of activities or lists of items, are great books for babies because there’ isn’t a really 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.

ACTION SONG: If You’re Happy and You Know It

ACTION RHYME: This is Big Big Big*

CLOSING SONG: Sneeze Game*

*Check out the My Baby Storytime page for the words and/or citations for these weekly activities!