Grateful for...Our Hands!

Young children learn using their senses - they are very much "hands on" people! We take advantage of this at storytime by sharing many fingerplays and action rhymes. It not only keeps the momentum going (and attentions focused), but it's also a great interactive way to learn all kinds of things. We share fingerplays about colors, counting, seasons, animals...and just about every theme imaginable! This morning at Infant Storytime, Youth Services Librarian Heidi shared part of the following action rhyme with the babies and parents in attendance. Try it out with your little one:

My Hands Wave Hello/Goodbye
My hands wave hello,
My hands wave hello,
Every time I see my friends.
My hands wave hello!

My face gives a smile,
My face gives a smile,
Every time I see my friends.
My face gives a smile!

My fingers blow a kiss,
My fingers blow a kiss,
Every time I see my friends.
My fingers blow a kiss!

My hands wave goodbye,
My hands wave goodbye,
Every time I leave my friends.
My hands wave goodbye!

My face gives a smile...
My fingers blow a kiss...

You could also pair this rhyme with a book or two about hands:

Here Are My Hands! by Bill Martin Jr. and John Archambault

The owner of a human body celebrates it by pointing out various parts and mentioning their functions, from "hands for catching and throwing" to the "skin that bundles me in." (summary courtesy of Syndetics, Inc.)

Hands Can by Cheryl Willis Hudson

Photographs and simple, rhyming text present different things that hands can do, such as hold things, mix things, and wave goodbye.

Valentine's Day Rhymes

Valentine Sock Monkey Image from Everything Monkeys

I'm a Little Valentine (to the tune of I'm a Little Teapot)

I'm a little Valentine,

red and white.
with ribbons and lace,
I'm a beautiful sight.
I can say I love you

on Valentines Day.
Just put me in an envelope

and give me away.

Five Pretty Valentines
Five pretty Valentines waiting at the store.
(name) bought one and then there were four.
Four pretty Valentines shaped like a "V."
(name) bought one and then there were three.
Three pretty Valentines said "I love you."
(name) bought one then there were two.
Two pretty Valentines, this was so much fun.
(name) bought one and then there was one.
One pretty Valentine sitting on the shelf.
I felt sorry for it, so I bought it for myself!

Love Bug
It begins with a grin (smile Broadly).
It turns to giggle (put both hands on mouth and giggle).
You start to laugh (throw head back and laugh out loud).
Your legs start to wiggle (put feet in the air and shake).
You look all around for someone to hug (move eyes back and forth).
What can you do (shrug shoulders).
You've caught the love bug (hug another child or yourself).
ACHOOO!

Brrr! Winter Rhymes for a Chilly Monday

It's cold outside!
With temperatures dropping and winter right around the corner, today is the perfect day to share a winter-themed rhyme with a child. Here are a few suggestions:

Five Little Snowmen
Five little snowmen standing in a row
Each had a hat and a big red bow
Out came the sun and it shined all day
One little snowman melted away
Four little snowmen...three little snowmen...two little snowmen...one little snowman.

Cup of Tea
Here's a cup
And here's a cup
And here's a pot of tea
Pour a cup
And pour a cup
And have a sip with me
Slurp - mmmmm!

Winter Dressing
Put on your coat and zip it up tight
Put on your left boot, put on your right
Put on your scarf and put on your hat
Put on your mittens and clap, clap, clap!

Go outside and play, play, play
Come back in and then we'll say:

Take of your coat that was zipped up tight
Take of your left boot, take off your right
Take off your scarf and take off your hat
Take off your mittens - then take a nap!

Chubby Little Snowman
A chubby little snowman
Had a carrot nose
Along came a bunny
And what do you suppose?
That hungry little bunny
Looking for his lunch
Ate that snowman's carrot nose
Nibble, nibble, crunch.

Jack Frost
Where did you get that little red nose?
Jack Forst kissed it I suppose
He kissed it once
He kissed it twice
Poor little nose it's as cold as ice!