Mel’s Desk

OPENING SONG: Hello Song*

OPENING FINGERPLAY: Open Them Shut Them*

BOOK: What Will Fat Cat Sit On? by THOMAS
It’s always a good day when you can read a Jan Thomas book!

LITERACY TIP: Print Awareness
When you have a book like What Will Fat Cat Sit On? that has really big words, point to them every now and then when you read. You will start to help your baby make the connection between the words that you say and the print on the page.

FLANNEL SONG: Down Around the Corner
I use this song over and over again. We go to different kinds of stores and buy different things! Sing it to “Five Little Ducks.”

Down around the corner at my mom’s pet store
Were five little cats and not one more
Along came someone with a nickel to pay
And they bought a little cat and they took it away.

ACTION RHYME: I Have Fur
This is one of the first rhymes I wrote when I started trying to make up my own!

I have fur upon my back
Pat baby’s back
I have whiskers just like that
Trace whiskers on baby’s cheeks
I have ears–I flick them twice
Hold up the first two fingers of each hand on your head so baby can see your “ears” or touch baby’s ears
I have paws for catching mice!
Hold your hands in front of you like paws, then clap them together when you say “catching!”

FLANNEL SONG: A Hunting We Will Go*
Today we used cat/hat, parrot/carrot, fish/dish, and dog/log

BOOK: Doggies by Boynton
I made a homemade big book out of this favorite board book.

GUESSING GAME: Little Dog, Are You In the Green House?
Follow the link for more about this activity!

BOUNCE: Ride Away

Ride away ride away
Bounce baby on lap
Johnny will ride
He shall have a pussycat
Tied to one side
Slip baby to one side
He shall have a puppy dog
Tied to the other
Slip baby to the other side!
And Johnny will ride to see his grandmother

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!

Is your summer off to a good start? This storytime actually turned out to be a little too long, and at each session I wound up skipping one or two things. But I like everything so much I kept it all in for this post!

OPENING SONG: Hello Song*

OPENING FINGERPLAY: Open Them Shut Them*

BOOK: Buzzy’s Big Beach Book by ZIEFERT
This little picture book has two “chapters” in it. I read the second story, called “Brave Buzzy,” which starts, “Daddy says, ‘Okay Buzzy, let’s get wet.’ / But Buzzy isn’t ready yet!”

BOUNCE: Gonna Swim In the Ocean
I wrote this bounce a few years ago. I think it’s fun to play when you’re sitting with your baby on the edge of the wading pool. Bounce them on your lap, with your feet in the water, then dip their feet into the pool when you say “Wet!” In storytime you can just open your legs and dip babies between them.

Gonna swim in the ocean
Gonna fish with a net
Gonna wade in the water
And I’m gonna get WET!

PHOTO CARDS: Going to the Beach
Every once in awhile I show photos from clip art to the babies. Sometimes we sing a simple song, like today, other times we just talk about each photo. I think photo cards are a great way to model open ended questions for the grown-ups, and they help fill in a gap if you’re not finding a great book you want to share. Sing this to “The Farmer in the Dell.” Repeat for every photo, and stop and talk about each object before you go on. My photos are of red crabs, a seagull, a sailboat, a shovel and pail, and a seashell. I ended with the boat today so we could sing the rowboat song next!

I’m going to the beach
I’m going to the beach
I think I’ll see a seagull there
I’m going to the beach.

ACTION SONG: Splashin’ Up and Down
Sing to: “Bumpin’ Up and Down In My Little Red Wagon”

Splashin’ up and down in my little red rowboat
Splashin’ up and down in my little red rowboat
Splashin’ up and down in my little red rowboat
Won’t you be my darling?
Bounce baby on your lap

Lookin’ out to sea in my little red rowboat…
Shade eyes with your hand

Wavin’ to a whale in my little red rowboat…
Wave!

Don’t stand up or you might tip over!
Lean baby to right or left!

FLANNEL SONG: A Hunting We Will Go*
Today we started with goat/boat and bee/sea, then used bug/jug and frog/log, which hinted at our next book.

BOOK: Jump! by FISCHER
I included this book today because all the animals splash in the water at the end. Great way to cool off in the hot sunshine!

LITERACY TIP: Print Motivation
I’m still plugging our Baby and Toddler “Make a Splash!” Summer Reading Program for our literacy tip!

FLANNEL SONG: 5 Green and Speckled Frogs

FLANNEL: Summer Shapes
Read about this flannel over here!

SONG WITH RATTLES: Mr Sun
I handed out egg shakers and we shook, rattled and rolled while Raffi sang “Mr Sun”!

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!

Our Summer Reading Program starts this week! Our babies and toddlers have their own “Make a Splash” reading record!

OPENING SONG: Hello Song*

OPENING FINGERPLAY: Open Them Shut Them*

BOOK: There Once Was a Puffin by JAQUES
My mom used to read this poem to my sister and I when we were kids. It is still one of my all-time favorites to share!

FLANNEL SONG: 5 Little Puffins Flew Out One Day
Adapted from 5 Little Ducks, of course! The puffin in There Once Was a Puffin has tea with the fishes, so I added that in.

5 little puffins flew out one day
Over the cliffs and far away
Mama Puffin said, “Where can they be?”
But only four came back for tea!

SONG WITH PUPPETS: Did You Ever See a Fishy?
Sing to “Did You Ever See a Lassie?” I used several puppets and sang a few verses.

Did you ever see a fishy, a fishy, a fishy
Did you ever see a fishy swim this way and that?
Swim this way, swim that way, Swim this way, swim that way,
Did you ever see a fishy swim this way and that?

FLANNEL SONG: A Hunting We Will Go*
Today we used puffin/muffin, fish/dish, crab/cab, and whale/pail.

BOOK: Bedtime Kiss for Little Fish by GROVER
I discovered this on Readertotz!

BOUNCE: Fishes Swim
From Clare Beaton’s Playtime Rhymes

Fishes swim in water clear
Move hand up and down across body
Birds fly up in to the air
Flap arms
Serpents creep along the ground
Palms together for snake
Boys and girls run round and round!
Wiggle feet or stomp

LITERACY TIP: Print Motivation
Make sure to sign up your babies for our Summer Reading Program!

SCARVES: Octopus’ Garden by The Beatles
I handed out scarves and played Octopus’ Garden while we played with them!

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!