Baby Storytime: Songs!

Our early literacy skill at my library this month is Phonological Awareness, so I created a storytime all about songs. Singing to children is an amazing way to build their literacy skills.

OPENING SONG: Hello Song*

OPENING FINGERPLAY: Open Them Shut Them*

BOOK: Over in the Meadow by OLIVE WADSWORTH illus by DAVID A. CARTER.
I have the big book! I sing this book rather than “read” it.

SONG: Did You Ever See an Owl?
Sing to: Did You Ever See a Lassie? I sang this three times, with three bird puppets: an owl, an eagle, and a raven.

Did you ever see an owl, an owl, an owl
Did you ever see an owl fly this way and that?
Fly this way, fly that way
Fly this way, fly that way
Did you ever see an owl fly this way and that?

FINGERPLAY: Two Little Blackbirds

Two little blackbirds, sitting on a wall
hold up pointer fingers
One named Peter, one named Paul
wiggle one finger, then the other
Fly away Peter! Fly away Paul!
tuck one hand behind back, then the other
Come back Peter! Come back Paul!
bring one hand back to front, then the other

LITERACY TIP: Phonological Awareness
Singing songs with babies is a fabulous way to build their phonological awareness skills! This skill is all about hearing the smaller sounds in words. This is a big help when kids start to sound out words when they read. Songs break down words into syllables and give them each their own note, which makes it easier for kids to hear how words can “come apart.”

BOOK: Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See? by BILL MARTIN JR
Today I sang this book, too! Bill Martin Jr sings his own tune, but I follow Betsy Bird’s lead and use “Twinkle Twinkle Little Star.”

FLANNEL SONG: A Hunting We Will Go*
Today I used animals from “Brown Bear”: bear, frog, duck, and fish

BOOK: FIve Little Ducks by RAFFI
Yes, I sang this one too!

FLANNEL SONG: Down Around the Corner
I wish I could remember where I picked up this flannel song, because I use it ALL THE TIME. We go to different stores (pizzaria shop, general store) and buy different things (umbrellas, teddy bears). I sing it to the tune of “Five Little Ducks” and today I told the parents it was okay to make up songs to the same tune over and over again!

Down around the corner in the bakery shop
Were five sugar cookies with sprinkes on top
Along came someone with a nickel to pay
And they bought a sugar cookie and they took it away.

Down around the corner in the bakery shop
Were four sugar cookies…

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!