Story Mix for Three to Six: ZANY ZOO ANIMALS: Big, Brown Bears!

We are continuing our theme of ZANY ZOO ANIMALS and this week is all about those big, brown bears!  We've also added a new animal onto our "All Through the Zoo" song!

Children will learn important concepts through repetition and singing, and making animal motions and movements. Making "growling" sounds like a bear will help children hear different syllables and learn new words and letters.  The two counting rhyme games are great for helping children learn numbers and sequence. 

All Through the Zoo Song (Sung to the tune of Wheels on the Bus)
The tiger in the grass says roar, roar, roar
Roar, roar, roar, roar, roar, roar
The tiger in the grass says roar, roar, roar
All through the zoo.

The Parrot in the leaves goes squawk, squawk, squawk
Squawk, squawk, squawk, squawk, squawk, squawk
The Parrot in the leaves goes squawk, squawk, squawk
All through the zoo.

The bear in the grass says growl, growl, growl
growl, growl, growl, growl, growl, growl
The bear in the grass says growl, growl, growl
All through the zoo.


5 Little Baby Bears
1 little baby bear  (hold up 1 finger)
Almost brand new       
Runs to get another one  (hand behind back)
Now there are 2  (hold up 2 fingers)

2 little baby bears
Climb up a tree  (pretend to climb)
Run to get another one  (hand behind back)
Now there are 3  (hold up 3 fingers)

3 little baby bears
Rolling on the floor  (roll one hand over the other)
Run to get another one  (hand behind back)
Now there are 4  (hold up 4 fingers)

4 little baby bears       
Eat honey from a hive  (rub stomach)
Run to get another one  (hand behind back)
Now there are 5  (hold up 5 fingers)

5 little baby bears
Think they might roam  (wiggle fingers to side)
“Come!” says Mama Bear  (clap hands)
And they all run home  (hand behind back)

5 Little Easter Eggs
Five little Easter eggs
Lovely colors galore
Mommy ate the blue one
Then there were 4

Four little Easter eggs
Two and two, you see
Daddy ate the red one
Then there were 3

Three little Easter eggs
Before I knew
Sister ate the yellow one
Then there were 2

Two little Easter eggs
Oh, what fun!
Brother ate the purple one
Then there was 1

One little Easter egg
See me run
I ate the very last one!

Check out these books we shared at this week's Story Mix!

My Favorite Bear by Andrea Gabriel
As Mama bear puts her child to bed, she shares a lullaby about bears of the world. 
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Milton the Early Riser by Robert Kraus
The first one to awake, Milton the Panda tries hard to wake all the other animals, but to no avail. 
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Panda’s Easter Basket by Tara Jaye Morrow
Panda has a delicious-looking Easter basket, with chocolate eggs, jelly beans, and a big chocolate bunny! But when he gobbles it all up at once, he gets a terrible tummy ache. 
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Ready to Listen at the Library

Look for the Ready to Listen section in the Early Learning Center.

Have you seen our special section in the Early Learning Center called "Ready to Listen"?  We've created this special area to designate books that are easy to read and share, with only one or two simple lines per page.  These books are also important because they help early learners get ready to listen to a book being read and teach the concepts of telling a story.

Why is it important to listen?  As children hear the story, they also hear new words and the sounds, speech and syllables those words make.  Learning new words helps children increase their vocabulary, language and communication skills. 

In today's post, we've pulled a selection of books from the Ready to Listen section to give you a sample of what you can find here.  All are available to check out at the library!


Can You Cuddle Like a Koala? by John Butler
Rhyming text describes how various animals move. 
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Mice Squeak, We Speak by Tomie dePaola
Illustrations and simple text describe the ways various animals communicate, such as "Owls hoot," "Pigs squeal," and "Bees buzz." 
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The Way the Storm Stops by Michelle Meadows
A mother soothes her child to sleep during a thunderstorm. 
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Baby Day by Susan Heyboer O'Keefe
In rhyming text, babies are described participating in activities, from laughing and crying to playing Pat-a-cake and Peek-a-boo. 
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The One and Only Me by Marilyn Singer
A child gains a sense of individuality but also enjoys being part of a family. 
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Red Light, Green Light by Anastasia Suen
A young boy creates an imaginary world filled with zooming cars, flashing traffic lights, and racing fire engines. 
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1, 2, 3 Go! Peppy Little Penquins

This week at 1, 2, 3 Go! we have rhymes and stories about those lovable creatures called Penguins!  In this week's rhymes and stories, children will also learn important concepts through repetition and singing.  Learning such words as 'wobbly' or 'shuffle' challenge children to learn new words, as well as learn the motions and movements.  Singing about clapping hands and stamping feet also helps children make connections between actions and thoughts.  Incorporating such activity helps children put together ideas in order to make connections and understand words in print so they can get Ready to Read!

I’m a Little Penguin Rhyme (sung to the tune of I’m a Little Teapot)
I’m a little penguin
Black and white
Short and wobbly
A real cute sight.
I can’t fly at all, but I love to swim.
So I’ll waddle to the water and dive right in.

Penguin Shuffle Rhyme
Penguins shuffle shuffle to the left, left, left
Penguins shuffle shuffle to the right, right, right
Give a little wiggle
Give a little hop
Waddle round the iceberg
Never want to stop.

What Do You See With? (sung to the tune of Frere Jacques)
What do you see with?
What do you see with?
Tell me now, tell me now.
These are what you see with,
These are what you see with,
These are your eyes!

What do you clap with?
What do you clap with?
Tell me now, tell me now.
These are what you clap with,
These are what you clap with,
These are your hands!

Repeat the rhyme with other actions such as stamping with your feet or hugging with your arms.


We read these Penguin books at 1, 2, 3 Go!   

Penguins by Liz Pichon
Penguins at the zoo have an exciting afternoon when one finds a camera left behind by a visitor.
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If You Were a Penguin by Wendell and Florence Minor
If you were a penguin . . . You could swim really fast and toboggan on ice. Sing a happy duet, once or twice.  You could live on land but dive under the sea.  There's a lot penguins can do, just like you and me!
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Story Mix for Three to Six: Snow!

Brrrr.  It's cold out there!  However, I bet your little one loves to play in the snow!  Include these rhymes in your outdoor playtime fun as you crunch your feet in the snow or slide down a hill!  Or take some of those winter elements and bring them indoors where it's warm with these great rhymes and stories.  Through the songs and rhymes, consonance and dissonance are incorporated in words such as 'crunch' and 'straps', which help children hear the sounds letters and words make.  This language technique builds language so that words like 'feathery' become part of a child's vocabulary.

Put On Our Mittens Rhyme
Let’s put on our mittens and button our coats
Wrap a scarf snugly around our throats
Pull on our boots and fasten the straps
And tie on tightly our warm winter caps
Then open the door and out we go
Into the soft and feathery snow

Crunch Crunch Sliding Rhyme
Crunch crunch crunch crunch up the hill so slow
Sliding, sliding, sliding, sliding down the hill we go

Crunch crunch crunch crunch up the hill so slow
Sliding, sliding, sliding, sliding down the hill we go

Have more wintertime fun when you read these books we enjoyed at Story Mix this week:

The Hat by Jan Brett
When Lisa hangs her woolen clothes in the sun to air them out for winter, the hedgehog, to the amusement of the other animals, ends up wearing a stocking on his head. 
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A Hat for Minerva Louise by Janet Morgan Stoeke
Minerva Louise, a snow-loving chicken, mistakes a pair of mittens for two hats to keep both ends warm.
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The Mouse that Jack Built by Cyndy Szekeres
Jack the bunny builds a wonderful snowmouse, decorating it with his own ragged hat and scarf, which he is able to leave on the snowmouse when his mother surprises him with a new hat and scarf.
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Please Let it Snow by Harriet Ziefert
New boots, new jacket, new hat, but no snow! The charmingly impatient boy in this book just wants winter to arrive. But, day after day, the sun keeps on shining, until one day...
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Story Mix for Three to Six: Penguins

We are having some wintertime fun at Story Mix!  Our winter theme this week is penguins.  To become skilled readers, children need rich language and broad vocabulary to understand messages conveyed in print.  Word knowledge can be developed through exposure to new words, such as 'snowflake' or 'penguin'.  Creative playtime included in the dress up rhyme helps children use those new words in their everyday speech. The more language experiences children have, the more words they learn. 


Snowflakes, Snowflakes Song
Snowflakes, snowflakes, dance around
Snowflakes, snowflakes, touch the ground
Snowflakes, snowflakes, on my nose
Snowflakes, snowflakes, on my toes
Snowflakes, snowflakes, twirl around
Snowflakes, snowflakes, touch the ground

Penguins Dress Up Rhyme
Penguins dressed up black and white
Really make a fancy sight
Sometimes I get dressed up too
I wear a __________ and look like new!  Use different items to dress up and fill in the blank

Penguins In the Snow Rhyme (sung to the tune of "I'm a Little Teapot")
I’m a little penguin in the snow
I slide on my tummy to and fro
I eat fish from the deep blue sea
I’m black and white, just look at me

For more Penguin fun, check out these books we read at Story Mix this week:

Turtle’s Penguin Day by Valeri Gorbachev
After hearing a bedtime story about penguins, Turtle dresses as a penguin for school and soon the entire class is having a penguin day.
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Tacky the Penguin by Helen Lester
Tacky the penguin does not fit in with his sleek and graceful companions, but his odd behavior comes in handy when hunters come with maps and traps. 
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If You Were a Penguin by Wendell and Florence Minor
Pictures and rhyming text present some of the many extraordinary things penguins can do. Includes facts about penguins as well as related websites. 
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Wonderful Ones: Time for Baby's Bath!

Singing and playing are two wonderful ways to incorporate early literacy skills into your baby's everyday life.  What better way to incorporate both but a bathtub full of bubbles and laughter!  Singing and rhyming together helps your baby enjoy bathtime more, and also helps with reinforcing sounds, counting, identifying body parts such as arms and legs, and actions babies do in the bathtub such as washing.  The combined movements and language helps babies hear and learn individual words and sounds for learning speech.  A fun environment will help baby wind down their day in a positive manner as well as create learning patterns in a comfortable space.

Splish Splash Water Rhyme (to the tune of Frère Jacques)
Splish, splash water, splish, splash water,
On your toes, on your toes,
On your fingers, on your tummy,
On your nose, on your nose.
Splish, splash water, splish, splash water,
On your hair, on your hair,
On your face, on your arms,
Everywhere, everywhere!

Slippery Soap Rhyme
Slippery, slippery, slippery soap,
Now you see it and now you don’t.
Slide it on the arms,
One, two, three.
Now your arms are slippery.
Slide it on the legs,
One, two, three.
Now your legs are slippery.

Slippery, slippery, slippery soap,
Now you see it and now you don’t.
Slide it on the arms,
One, two, three.
Now your arms are slippery.
Slide it on the legs,
One, two, three.
Now your legs are slippery.

This Is The Way We Wash Our Face Song
This is the way we wash our face,
Scrub our cheeks,
Scrub our ears,
This is the way we wash our face,
Until we’re squeaky clean.

This is the way we wash our face,
Scrub our cheeks,
Scrub our ears,
This is the way we wash our face,
Until we’re squeaky clean. 


Enjoy these bathtime books we read at this week's Wonderful Ones: 

Bathtime Peekaboo! by Dawn Sirett
Babies enjoy playing at bathtime. 
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Baby’s Bathtime by Fiona Watt
It's bathtime! Baby and his dog Fido enjoy a wonderful bath before being tucked into bed. 
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Story Mix for Three to Six: Blocks and Bunnies

Everyone at Story Mix loves toys!  This week's toys are those imaginative blocks and cuddly bunnies. Using motions and actual toys when singing the song and playing the game below, you'll be helping your child learn important concepts. Different kinds of playtime help children learn about language.   Playing also helps children understand that written words stand for real objects and experiences.  The more language experiences children have, the more words they learn.  So bring out those blocks and bunnies for a fun learning extravaganza!

The Goodnight Song
At night I see the twinkling stars
And a great big smiling moon.
My mommy tucks me into bed
And sings a good-night tune.   
     
The Block Rhyme Game (Using wooden blocks or another toy, you can make this an interactive song!)
1 block, 2 blocks, 3 blocks in a row
4 blocks, 5 blocks, 6 blocks – up they go
7 blocks, 8 blocks, 9 blocks going high
10 blocks, 11 blocks, 12 blocks – oh my!
Tumble! Rumble! Blocks in a jumble!    

Take a look at these books we read this week in Story Mix:

A Boy and His Bunny by Sean Bryan
One morning, a boy wakes up with a rabbit on his head and, although his mother is skeptical, he soon discovers that he can be fed, ride a bobsled, and even look cool with a rabbit on his head.
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Jack the Builder by Stuart J. Murphy
A story about blocks and building introduces the math skill of counting on, an important step toward mastering addition. 
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How Will I Ever Sleep In This Bed? By Della Ross Ferreri
A child's new bed feels big and lonely until it gets filled up with stuffed animals. 
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Knuffle Bunny by Mo Willems
After Trixie and daddy leave the laundromat, something very important turns up missing.
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Terrific Twos: The Color PURPLE

We continue our color theme this week at Terrific Twos with PURPLE! Remember all the great reasons to introduce colors to your young child:

• Colors can be useful
• Colors can be expressive
• Colors help children learn new words
• Colors help children identify objects and feelings
• Colors allow children to make visual connections with words

 Best of all, colors are a fun concept to help your child Get Ready to Read!


If You Like the Color Purple Song
If you like the color purple, clap your hands.
If you like the color purple, clap your hands.
If you like the color purple, if you like the color purple,
If you like the color purple, clap your hands. 
Stamp Your Feet and Shout Hooray!

Purple Pickle Song
If I had a purple penny or a purple nickle,
I'd go down to the purple store and buy a purple pickle.
Purple pickles, purple peas, purple pepperoni, purple pudding,
purple pie, and purple macaroni!

If I had a purple penny or a purple nickle,
I'd go down to the purple store and buy a purple pickle.
Purple pickles, purple peas, purple pepperoni, purple pudding,
purple pie, and purple macaroni!

Five Little Umbrellas (thanks to our friends at King County Library System)
Five little umbrellas by the back door,
The red one went outside & now there are four.
Four little umbrellas, pretty as can be,
The blue one was needed & now there are three.
Three little umbrellas, oh, they missed the blue,
So, the green one followed & now there are two.
Two little umbrellas, glad there was no sun,
The yellow one went into the rain & now there’s just one.
One little umbrella, all alone in the hall,
The purple one got picked up & that was all!

Stories we read in this week's Terrific Twos:

My Crayons Talk by Patricia Hubbard
Brown crayon sings "Play, Mud pie day," and Blue crayon calls "Sky, Swing so high" in this story about talking crayons.
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Purple is Best by Dana Meachen Rau
Sue's blue paint and Fred's red paint get mixed together and create purple, the best color of all.
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Check out these other books about the color PURPLE:

Harold and the Purple Crayon by by Crockett Johnson
Harold's purple crayon helps him create wonderful adventures as he walks in the moonlight. 
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Purple as a plum = Morado como una ciruela by Molly Dingle
Simple text and illustrations introduce the color purple and objects that bear that color. / Los cuadros y el texto dan los ejemplos de las cosas que son moradas.
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The Perfect Purple Feather by Hanoch Piven
Rhyming text and illustrations take the reader on a journey, in which a simple purple feather becomes a whisker for a cat, a pen for an owl, a quill for a porcupine, and more.
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Story Mix for Three to Six: Teddy Bears

Does your child have a favorite teddy bear?  This week at Story Mix, we have a whole post devoted to these lovable dolls.   Through the songs and rhymes, consonance and dissonance are incorporated, which help children hear the sounds letters and words make.  This language technique then improves vocabulary and builds language.  Children also develop creative thinking skills when using different words in the teddy bear book rhyme.  This skill also helps them increase their word knowledge and get Ready to Read! 


Teddy Bear Rhyme
This little teddy has a soft furry suit.
This little teddy is sweet and cute.
This little teddy is sassy and cross.
This little teddy thinks she’s the boss.
This little teddy likes berries and honey.
But when gets them on his face,
He looks very, very funny!

Teddy Bear Song (Sung to the tune of B-I-N-G-O)
There was a boy who had a bear
and Teddy was his name-O
T-E-D-D-Y, T-E-D-D-Y, T-E-D-D-Y
and Teddy was his name-O.
       
Teddy Bear Book Rhyme
Teddy reads a red book, red book, red book
Teddy reads a red book all day long!

Teddy reads his bear book, bear book, bear book
Teddy reads his bear book all night long!

Repeat using additional colors and objects such as "blue book" or "fish book."  Choose items you're child is interested.

We read these fun books at Story Mix this week:

Anna's Book by Barbara Baker
Anna loves her new book, so after her mother reads it to her three times, she starts reading it to her teddy bear.
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Book! by Kristine O’Connell George
Children's poetry about books and reading. 
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What Does My Teddy Bear Do All Night? by Bruno Hachler
A little girl spies all day to catch sight of her teddy bear's secret life. What child hasn't wondered what her teddy bear really does all day while she's away? This is a delightful story for anyone who's ever wondered what their toys really do when no one's home.
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Wonderful Ones: A Rainbow of Colors

Colors are a great way to introduce babies to the world around them.  Babies learn that there are many colors to represent different objects.  Games, such as the 'Baby Game' below, is also a great way for baby to learn new words.  By patting your nose, baby learns how to associate the spoken word for the physical object.   These skills then provide new opportunities for your child to learn new words and enhance vocabulary in order for your baby to develop a strong language.  A strong vocabulary and spoken language enhances early literacy skills and reading success later in childhood. 

If You’re Wearing Red Today Rhyme
If you’re wearing red today, (Clap)
Red today, red today,
If you’re wearing red today,
Please stamp your feet.

If you’re wearing blue today, (Clap)
blue today, blue today,
If you’re wearing blue today,
Please stamp your feet.

Repeat the rhyme using different colors such as pink, yellow, and green.

Here We Go Rhyme
Here we go – up, up, up,
Here we go – down, down, down,
Here we go – moving forward,
Here we go – moving backward,
Here we go round and round and round.

Here we go – up, up, up,
Here we go – down, down, down,
Here we go – moving forward,
Here we go – moving backward,
Here we go round and round and round.


Baby Game
Touch your ears, pat your nose,
Tickle baby’s little toes.
Hide your eyes,
Where are you?
Baby’s playing peek-a-boo!

Touch your ears, pat your nose,
Tickle baby’s little toes.
Hide your eyes,
Where are you?
Baby’s playing peek-a-boo!

Share a Book and Read Together:

Rainbow Colors Peekaboo! By Dawn Sirett
Play peekaboo with baby and learn different colors. 
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Terrific Twos: The Color YELLOW

This week at Terrific Twos, we continue with our color theme.  The bright and vibrant color of YELLOW will be presented to those terrific two year olds!  Colors are a great way to introduce the many facets of a storybook and its pictures.  Through visualization of colors in books, combined with the new word of the color, enables your child to connect the two ideas.  By saying the word aloud, it enhances the concept of learning new words through new sounds and syllables.    Together, all these skills will help you get your child, Ready to Read!

Little Baby Rhyme
This little baby is ready for his nap,
Lay him down on his mother’s lap.
Cover him up so he won’t peep,
And rock him, rock him till he’s fast asleep.

This little baby is ready for his nap,
Lay him down on his father’s lap.
Cover him up so he won’t peep,
And rock him, rock him till he’s fast asleep.

Star Light, Star Bright Rhyme
Star light, star bright, first star I see tonight,
Wish I may, wish I might, have the wish I wish tonight.

Star light, star bright, first star I see tonight,
Wish I may, wish I might, have the wish I wish tonight.

More books about Colors!  We read these at Terrific Twos:

Goodnight Goodnight Sleepyhead by Ruth Krauss
In simple rhyming text, a child says goodnight to the things around her.
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Carlo Likes Colors by Jessica Spanyol   
Carlo the giraffe sees many different colors in various places--red in the street, brown in the woods, white at a wedding, and orange at a cafe.
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In My New Yellow Shirt by Eileen Spinelli
A boy wears his new yellow shirt and is transformed in his imagination into a duck, a lion, a daffodil, a trumpet, and other things.
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Wonderful Ones: Happy Hands

Keep those little baby hands busy with these catchy and fun rhymes and books.  You'll be helping your baby learn hand-eye coordination while putting smiles on your faces.  This critical skill is also essential for your baby to learn new communication techniques, which in turn help them develop language skills.  Children involved in activity such as these games, tend to generate more language than just playing with toys alone.  Help your baby learn more language so they will be 'Ready to Read', by playing together!  

Open, Shut Them Rhyme
Open, shut them,
Open, shut them,
Give a little clap.
Open, shut them,
Open, shut them,
Put them in your lap.
Creep them, creep them,
Creep them, creep them,
Right up to your chin.
Open up your little mouth,
But do not let them in.

Two Green Apples Rhyme
Way up high
In a tree,
Two green apples
Smiled at me.
So I shook that tree
As hard as I could,
And down fell the apples.
Mmmm, they were good!

Way up high
In a tree,
Two green apples
Smiled at me.
So I shook that tree
As hard as I could,
And down fell the apples.
Mmmm, they were good!

One Potato, Two Potato Rhyme
One potato, two potato,
Three potato, four,
Five potato, six potato,
Seven potato, more!

One potato, two potato,
Three potato, four,
Five potato, six potato,
Seven potato, more!

Books we read at this week's Wonderful Ones include:

Bib on, Bunny! by Annie Kubler
Put your finger in the bunny's head and get talking about time to eat.
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Baby’s Mealtime by Fiona Watt
Baby and Fido get ready to have a meal. 
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Terrific Twos: The Color BLUE

Colors are a great way to introduce the many facets of a storybook and its pictures.  Picture books allow children to both hear and visualize the words as you read them together.  Through the use of colors, children will learn how to identify the aspect of the color to an object, such as 'the sky is blue.'   This then provides new opportunities for your child to learn new words, enhance vocabulary, and make connections between sounds and syllables.   Together, all these skills will help you get your child, Ready to Read!

Wiggle Rhyme
A wiggle, wiggle here,
A wiggle, wiggle there,
Wiggle your hands up in the air.

Wiggle your shoulders,
Wiggle your hips,
Wiggle your knees,
And move your lips.

Wiggle, wiggle, wiggle
And wiggle some more,
And now please sit down on the floor.

Color Rhyme
Red, green, blue
Orange, purple, yellow
I like all the colors, yes I do!

Red, green, blue
Orange, purple, yellow
I like all the colors, yes I do!

We also read these books at Terrific Twos:

One Little Blueberry by Tammi Salzano
An introduction to the numbers one to ten. Various insects see a blueberry fall to the ground and want to eat it. Which one will get the blueberry?
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Kitten's Autumn by Eugenie Fernandes
Autumn has settled on the farm, but fallen leaves aren't the only signs of the season. Find out what animals kitten sees preparing themselves for winter.
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More Fun Rhymes and Books About the Color BLUE:

Blue Chameleon by Emily Gravett
A lonely chameleon tries to change his color and shape to fit in with other animals, including the swirly snail, the pink cockatoo, and the green grasshopper, but he cannot find anyone that is just like him.
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Way Down Deep in the Deep Blue Sea by Jan Peck
A child explores the treasures of the deep blue sea from the safety of a bathtub.
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The Old Blue Pickup Truck by Candice F. Ransom
As a girl and her father run errands in their old blue pickup, she discovers how many different ways they can use their truck.
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Little Boy Blue Rhyme
Little Boy Blue, come blow your horn.
The sheep's in the meadow, the cow's in the corn.
Where is the boy that looks after the sheep?
He's under the haystack, fast asleep. 

Five Little Blue Birds (Use fingers to represent the birds.)
Five little blue birds, hopping by my door
One went to build a nest, and then there were four

Four little blue birds singing lustily
One got out of tune, and then there were three

Three little blue birds, and what should one do,
But go in search of dinner, leaving only two.

Two little blue birds singing for fun
One flew away, and then there was one.

One little blue bird sitting in the sun
He took a little nap, and then there was none.

Terrific Twos: Sleepytime

With this week's activities, your terrific two-year old will no longer dread bedtime!  Make sleepytime fun with these calming, yet entertaining rhymes and stories.  Share reading together during bathtime or while cuddling with a favorite toy to help your child enjoy quiet time. For children to become skilled readers, acquiring general knowledge, such as the elements of bedtime, is essential.  Word knowledge then becomes easier for them to grasp and makes it easier for the child to understand and remember what they learn.  

Three Birds Rhyme
We are three birds who sing a song,
And we sing and sing the whole day long.
But when night comes and it’s time to rest,
We go to sleep in our cozy, little nest.

We are three birds who sing a song,
And we sing and sing the whole day long.
But when night comes and it’s time to rest,
We go to sleep in our cozy, little nest.

  

Goodnight, Owl Story
Whoo! Whoo!
Who will sleep behind the tree?
Goodnight, Moose.

Whoo! Whoo!
Who will sleep in the pond?
Goodnight, Frogs.

Whoo! Whoo!
Who will sleep near the pond?
Goodnight Ducks, Goodnight Geese.

Whoo! Whoo!
Who will sleep in the forest?
Goodnight, Bear. Goodnight, Deer.

Good morning Sun!
Goodnight, Owl


 For more fun, take a look at these books we read in class today:

Animals are Sleeping by Suzanne Slade
The rhyming text provides information on the sleeping habits of animals that live on land, in water, and fly through the air. "For Creative Minds" section includes animals sorting cards and activities.
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Where to Sleep by Kandy Radzinski

Rhyming text explores different places a kitten might sleep, finally settling on a best friend's feet.
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Story Mix for Three to Six: Time to Say Goodnight

During our time in Story Mix, we have been exploring different times of the day.  This week, we will make bedtime fun for children with stories and rhymes! Through talking and reading, children learn different sounds and words.  Reading enables children to understand that printed words stand for spoken words, as well as, learn how a book works.  Conversation between you and your child is one of the best ways to help him or her learn new information and words.  Skills such as phonological awareness and letter knowledge are enhanced through reading and talking.  When integrated with activities such as the rhymes and stories below, sharing reading and talking plays an important role in vocabulary development and early reading success.

Little Baby Fingerplay Game
This little baby is ready for bed
Down on the pillow she lays her head
Cover her up so she won’t peep
And rock her rock her till she’s fast asleep   
       
My Kitten is Hiding Rhyme
My kitten is hiding under my chair
I looked and I looked for her everywhere
Under the table and under the bed
I looked in the corner
But when I said, “Come kitty, come kitty, here’s milk for you.”
My kitten came running, crying, “Mew, mew, mew.”
       
Two Little Hands Rhyme
Two little hands go clap, clap, clap
Two little arms lie in my lap
Two little feet go bump, bump, bump
Two little legs give one big jump
Two little eyes are shut so tight
One little voice whispers, “Good Night!”

Tick-Tock, Drip-Drop! by Nicola Moon
When Rabbit has trouble falling asleep because of various noises, Mole tries to help.
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Kitty Cat, Kitty Cat, Are You Going to Sleep? by Bill Martin Jr. and Michael Sampson
A young cat is distracted by many things while getting ready for bed at night.
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Bear Child’s Book Of Hours by Anne Rockwell
For each hour of the day Bear Child participates in a new activity, and as he does the reader sees the time on the clock.
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Terrific Twos: Galloping Horses

Kids love to play, especially Terrific Two Year Olds!  This week, our theme is horses.  Our selection of rhymes, songs and stories encourages active play and thoughtful fun for your little pony.  Children will also learn through repetition and consonance different sounds, syllables and words.   Repetition of letters helps children understand word construction and meaning based on sound.

To become skilled readers, children need rich language and broad vocabulary to understand messages conveyed in print.  Word knowledge can be developed through exposure to new words, such as 'gallop' or 'meadow', and also new experiences, such as pretending to ride a horse when playing. 
 
Giddy-Yup Horsie Rhyme
Horsie, horsie, please don’t stop
Let your feet go clippity clop.
Your tail goes swish and you say neigh,
Giddy-yup, giddy-yup, you gallop away.

Horsie, horsie, please don’t stop
Let your feet go clippity clop.
Your tail goes swish and you say neigh,
Giddy-yup, giddy-yup, you gallop away.


Five Little Ponies
Five little ponies all dapple gray,
Down in the meadow not far away.
The first one said, “come on, let’s run”
The second one said, “oh, that’s not fun”
The third one said, “I’m going to neigh”
The fourth one said, “I’d like some hay”
The fifth on said, “I want a treat”
So the five little ponies trotted off to eat.

Ride 'em Cowboy by Stefan Czernicki
There's more to life on the range than just ridin' and ropin', find out for yourselves.
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Clip Clop by Smee
When Mr. Horse gives a ride to his friends, Cat, Dog, Pig, and Duck, they urge him to go faster and faster.
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For more clippity-clop fun, try these stories available from the library:

Appaloosa Zebra by Jessie Haas
Moving through the alphabet, a girl ponders the many different kinds of horses she will have when she gets older, from Appaloosa to zebra.
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Are You a Horse? by Andy Rash
When Roy gets a saddle for his birthday, he goes in search of a horse.
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Giddy-Up! Let's Ride by Flora McDonnell
Describes ways people ride horses and other animals, such as the show jumper on her trrrit-trrrotting horse, the raja on his rumpetta-trumpping elephant, and the nomad on his lolloppy-plodding camel. 
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Story Mix for Three to Six: Playtime!

Children love to move their feet especially by active play!  This week's Story Mix offers ideas for children to embrace playtime!  The interactive foot movements in the rhymes below help children to think symbolically by connecting the motions with the words.  As children hear the spoken words, they begin to understand the meaning of the word through the playful movements.  Hopping, stamping and marching to rhythms allows children to hear syllables and also improves motor skills.   Introducing new words and sounds, together with the play, helps children learn new vocabulary and enhances comprehension. 


Helping's Fun Song
When I come in from outdoor play
I take my shoes off right away
I set them by the door just so
Then off my hat and jacket go
I hang them up when I am through
And put away the toys I’ve used
I’m a helper, don’t you see?
Helping’s fun, as fun can be

My Two Feet Rhyme
Watch my feet, they’re coming to play
My two feet are hopping today
Watch my feet, they’re coming to play
My two feet are tiptoeing today
Watch my feet, they’re coming to play
My two feet are stamping today
Watch my feet, they’re coming to play
My two feet are marching today
Watch my feet, they’re coming to play
My two feet are sitting today

For more playtime themed fun, check out these stories we read at this week's class:

Chicken Chickens by Valeri Gorbachev
On their first visit to a playground, two little chickens are afraid to play until a beaver helps them go down the slide.
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What Shall We Do When We All Go Out? by Shari Halpern
Words and illustrations depict the activities of the day as children go out to play.
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The Line Up Book by Marisabina Russo
Sam lines up blocks, books, boots, cars, and other objects, all the way from his room to his mother in the kitchen.
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Story Mix for Three to Six: Lunchtime Laughter

This week in Story Mix, our theme was lunchtime! Below are rhymes and stories we shared at this week's class.  Talking and sharing lunch with your child is a great way to start a conversation.  What does your child like to eat?  Has your family ever been on a picnic?  Is there anything you remember about lunchtime you can share with your child, like your favorite lunch box or snack?   Talking about food and the different mealtimes of the day, such as lunchtime, can help introduce new words to your child. 

To become skilled readers, children need rich language and broad vocabulary to understand messages conveyed in print.  Word knowledge can be developed through exposure to new words, such as 'lunchbox' or 'munch', and also new experiences, such as having a picnic.

Try these rhymes for lunchtime laughter that your 3-6 year old is sure to enjoy.  For even more fun, share them over a peanut butter and jelly sandwich.

Picnic Basket Rhyme
A-tisket A-tasket
Let’s pack a picnic basket
We’ll fill it up with food to munch
What should be in our lunch?

Little Mouse Rhyme  
(Sung to the tune of "Where is Thumbkin?")
Are you hungry?  Are you hungry?
Little Mouse, Little Mouse
It is time for lunch, It is time for lunch
Eat right now, Eat right now

Counting Baby Mice Rhyme
Where are the baby mice?
Squeak squeak squeak
I cannot see them
Peek peek peek
Here they come out of their hole in the wall
1,2,3,4,5, That’s all!


If you're hungry for more lunchtime laughter, check out these books we read at Story Mix.

Gladys Goes Out to Lunch by Derek Anderson
Gladys the gorilla is tired of eating nothing but bananas, until the day she smells something wonderful that lures her from the zoo in search of a new treat. 
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I Need a Lunch Box by Jeannette Caines
A little boy yearns for a lunch box, even though he hasn't started school yet. 
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Worms for Lunch by Leonid Gore
Easy-to-read text and die-cut illustrations allow various creatures to reveal what they like to eat. 
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