Nursery Rhyme Mini Books

Hearing and saying nursery rhymes help children develop early reading skills. Children who listen to nursery rhymes often have an easier time recognizing and sounding out the different sounds that make up a word. Plus, many nursery rhymes are just plain fun! Here's a family activity that will help promote this skill:

Print out all 24 nursery rhyme coloring pages, fold them into mini books, and have your child color them. Read them at home with your child or carry them with you in your bag to share with your child on the go! Early Literacy - To Go!

Toddler Storytime Today

What a fun storytime we had this morning! I shared the following books and rhymes this morning with the toddlers:

Big Bug Little Bug: a book of opposites by Paul Stickland (Scholastic, 2010)

Little bugs of all shapes and sizes show off their differences in rhyming text.

Two Little Sparkly Bugs Rhyme:

Two little sparkly bugs sitting on a hill

One named Beatrice and one named Bill

Fly away Beatrice, fly away Bill

Come back Beatrice, come back Bill.

The Big, Bigger, Biggest Book by SAMi (Blue Apple, 2008)

Unfold the flaps on every page and see what is the shortest, the fastest, the deepest, the tallest, the highest and the biggest.

Five Royal Penguins

One royal penguin, feeling very blue,

called for his brother, then there were two.

Two royal penguins swimming in the sea,

called for their sister, then there were three.

Three royal penguins waddle on the shore,

call for their mother, then there were four.

Four royal penguins learning how to dive,

call for their father, then they were five.

Giant Pop-Out Pets by Wendy Lui (Chronicle Books, 2008)

"With the help of simple clues-- in words and pictures-- young children can guess the pet that hides behind each flap. Then they can open the flap to find a great surprise: an animal friend that pops right out!"--P. [4] of cover.

Five Little Snowmen

Five little snowmen standing in a row,

Each had a hat and a big bow.

Out came the sun and it shone all day,

One little snowman melted away.

Four little snowmen standing in a row,

Each had a hat and a big bow.

Out came the sun and it shone all day,

One little snowman melted away....

Clip-Clop! by Nicola Smee (Boxer Books, 2006)

When Mr. Horse gives a ride to his friends, Cat, Dog, Pig, and Duck, they urge him to go faster and faster. (Super fun as a lap read!)

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!

CBCPL Kids' YouTube Channel

Check us out! We've uploaded our first two videos for you to watch. Youth Services Librarian Dana Campbell shares with us a paper-folding story she recently told during Preschool Storytime and sings "There Was an Old Woman Who Swallowed a Fly." We hope to add more videos soon featuring stories, favorite rhymes, activity ideas, and early literacy tips. Let us know what you think and watch for more videos to come!

http://www.youtube.com/user/cbcplkids

Today at Storytime: Infants

The books we shared:

Kisses by Barney Saltzberg

Cuddle up with this new book by Barney Saltzberg that celebrates kisses using touch-and-feel, pull tabs, lift-the-flaps, and sound.

You and Me, Baby by Lynn Reiser & Penny Gentieu

A delightful, and diverse group of babies and adoring parents are featured in this photographic celebration of a baby's day.

This Little Piggy by Moira Kemp

This traditional rhyme is perfect for sharing with babies and toddlers. Sing along and wiggle those piggies!

Guess Who? by Guido van Genechten

Engaging questions entertain children with comparing similarities between different animals in this lift-the-flap book for toddlers.

Where is Baby's Pumpkin? by Karen Katz (Amazon.com)

Karen Katz's adorable baby is back wearing a sparkly black cat costume in this lift-the-flap Halloween-themed board book for babies and toddlers.

A few of the rhymes we shared:

Here's a Ball

Here's a ball and here's a ball

And a great big ball I see!

Shall we count them? Are you ready?

One, two, three! (swing baby)

Pony Boy

Pony boy, pony boy

Won't you be my pony boy.

Don't say no, here we go

Right across the plain-oh

Carry me, carry me,

Ride away with you, oh!

Giddy up, Giddy up, Giddy up, whoa!

My pony boy!

Bullfrog

Down by the banks

of the hanky panky

Where the bullfrogs jump

from bank to banky

Goin' EEP, OPP, belly flop!

One missed the lily pad

and went KERPLOP!

A Bee is on My Toe

A bee is on my toe, 

A bee is on my toe,

Heigh-ho, just watch me blow,

A bee is on my toe.

....on my nose...on my tummy, etc.

Pick of the Week: I'm Big!

I'm Big! by Kate & Jim McMullan

Kate and Jim McMullan (I Stink!, I'm Mighty!, and I'm Dirty!) are back with I'm Big! for young dinosaur fans. In this book, a great big Sauropod searches for his herd who left him while he slept. Along the way, he meets both friend and enemy in this bold and dino-rific read.

Dinosaur Rhyme

I'm a mean old dinosaur

Big and tall

Here is my tail, here is my claw.

When I get all hungry,

I just growl

Look out kids, I'm on the prowl!

Transportation Theme

The following rhymes can be great for circle time, transitions, storytime, dramatic play, or just for fun! Sharing childhood rhymes is a great way to build early literacy skills, like phonological awareness. Phonological awareness is the ability to hear and manipulate the smaller sounds in words. Phonological awareness includes the ability to hear and create rhymes, to say words with sounds or chunks left out and the ability to put two word chunks together to make a word. (Most children who have difficulty in reading have trouble in phonological awareness, so getting a head start with encouraging this literacy skill is beneficial.

Transportation Theme Rhymes:

Engine On The Track
Here is the engine on the track (hold up thumb) 
Here is the coal car, just in back (pointer finger) 
Here is the box car to carry freight (middle finger) 
Here is the mail car. Don't be late. (ring finger) 
Way back here at the end of the train. (pinky finger)
Rides the caboose through the sun and rain.

Bus Driver, Bus Driver
Bus driver, bus driver, may I have a ride? (Hold up fist and wiggle thumb.)
Yes, yes, please step inside. (Hold up other fist and wiggle thumb.)
Put in some money. (Bend down first thumb.)
Step on the gas. (Bend down other thumb.)
Chug-a-way, chug-a-way, (Pretend to steer bus.)
But not too fast.

Get a Ticket
Get a ticket, ticket, ticket for the train
Get a ticket, ticket, ticket for the train
Don't stand out in the wind and the rain,
Get a ticket, ticket, ticket for the train.

Get a ticket, ticket, ticket for the bus
Get a ticket, ticket, ticket for the bus
Climb aboard, you can ride with us!
Get a ticket, ticket, ticket for the bus!

Get a ticket, ticket, ticket for the boat
Get a ticket, ticket, ticket for the boat
The water's too cold to swim or float
Get a ticket, ticket, ticket for the boat


Enjoy this video by Rebecca Frezza and Big Truck:

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!