Book Babies + Toddler Time: Trains

Book Babies + Toddler Time: Trains

Book Babies + Toddler Time: Trains

Children find trains fascinating. It could be its speed and motion as it moves on the track. Or perhaps it’s the unique sounds that it makes as it passes by. What ever it is, trains wake up excitement, curiosity, and creativity in a child’s mind. So, with plenty of “Choo, choo’s,” have fun with these books and activities.

Book Babies: Wednesday @ 9:45am in Community Room

Ages 0 – 10 months

Toddler Time: Monday & Tuesday @ 9:45am in Community Room

Ages 11 – 23 months

Welcome Songs

Here We Are Together

Here we are together, together, together! Oh, here we are together in our library. There’s (sing names)… Here we are together in our library!

Hello Everybody

Hello everybody let’s clap our hands*, clap our hands, clap our hands. Hello everybody let’s clap our hands today! *pat our head, stretch up high, wiggle our fingers, tickle our knees, kick our feet, bounce up high!

S, T, R, W, P

(Sing while pointing to each finger on your child’s hand.) Sing, talk, read, write, play! Sing, talk, read write, play! Sing, talk, read, write, play! Sing, talk, read, write, play each day!

Sing, Talk, Read, Write, Play

Tip
When your children have happy experiences, they want to repeat them. Starting kindergarten can seem as an extension of informal library classes. Children who have had joyful experiences in the public library often approach school with a positive attitude, ready and excited to learn.

- Lambert

Activity

Help your toddler make an “egg carton” train like this one: What Can We Use Egg Cartons For? Make a Train. Then sing some songs and rhymes about trains.

Books Presented

Choo Choo by Petr Horáček

What could be more fun than an old-fashioned train ride? Off go the passengers, past the town, into the woods (Shhh, Shhh), over the bridge (Clack, Clack), into the tunnel (Toot, Toot), and back out into the sunshine. Who could guess that the destination is–a day at the seaside?

Freight Train by Donald Crews

Brief text and illustrations trace the journey of a colorful train as it goes through tunnels, by cities, and over trestles

I'm Dirty by Kate and Jim McMullan

A busy backhoe loader describes all the items it hauls off a lot and all the fun it has getting dirty while doing so.

Songs, Rhymes, and Fingerplays

Engine, Engine Number 9

Engine, engine number 9
Coming down Chicago Line
If the train goes off its track
Do you want your money back?
Yes? (sway to the side)
No? (sway to the other side)
Maybe so? (sway back and forth)

Chugga-Choo Freight Train

Chugga- chugga choo choo goes the freight train,
Chugga- chugga choo choo goes the freight train,
Chugga- chugga choo choo goes the freight train,
Uuuuuuup the hill!
Doooown the track!

The Wheels on the Train

Tune to “Wheels on the Bus”

The wheels on the train go clackety clack
Clackety clack, clackety clack
The wheels on the train, go clackety clack
All along the track.

More verses:
The whistle… goes whoo, whoo, whoo
The conductor… says, “All Aboard”
The people … go bumpety, bump

This Little Train

This little train ran up the track
Trail fingers up baby’s arm from fingers to shoulder
It went Choo Choo!
Tap baby’s nose!
And then it ran back.
Trail fingers back down baby’s arm.

The other little train ran up the track
Trail fingers up baby’s other arm from fingers to shoulder
It went Choo Choo!
Tap baby’s nose!
And then it ran back.
Trail fingers back down baby’s arm.

Flannel Board: Down by the Station

Down by the station early in the morning
See the little puffer trains all in a row
See the engine driver turn the little handle
Puff puff, chuff chuff, off we go! (remove one train, and count)

Baby Sign Language

“More”

“All Done”

Additional Books

The Little Engine That Could by Watty Piper

 Although he is not very big, the Little Blue Engine agrees to try to pull a stranded train full of toys over the mountain.

Trains Chug by Rebecca Stromstad Glaser

There’s a lot of building going on in Playtown! There is so much to explore, learn, and discover inside this busy, busy book – diggers are digging holes, materials are being delivered, and roads are being laid. On every page there are fun flaps to lift which tell children more about the picture above, and at the back of the book is a big page to fold out that reveals a bustling construction scene

Steam Train, Dream Train by Sherri Duskey Rinker

Cuddle up with the beloved animal friends from the bestselling Steam Train, Dream Train and count on lots of fun! Little train enthusiasts will love counting from one to ten along with the dreamy train cars!

Who Takes the Train

Naledi is taking the train to the beach with her Mum – and there is so much to see!

More Book Babies

SEPTEMBER Book Babies + Toddlers: ABCs

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APRIL Book Babies + Toddler: Birthdays

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MARCH Book Babies + Toddlers: Lambs

Many of us grew up with classic nursery rhymes like Mary Had a Little Lamb and Baa, Baa, Black Sheep. As you teach those songs to your child, consider incorporating these additional activities to expand both your and your baby's nursery rhyme repertoire.Book Babies:...

March Programs for Kids ‘n’ Tweens

Story TimeGet ready for March magic with our early literacy programs! Book Babies – Wednesdays at 9:30 AM for babies not yet walking and their grown-ups. Enjoy songs, stories, baby sign language, movement, and sensory activities. Toddler Time – Mondays & Tuesdays...

FEBRUARY Book Babies + Toddlers: “C” is for Counting

One, two, three, count with me. It’s as easy as can be! Teaching numbers at an early age can be great fun! Here are some fun ways to introduce numbers to your infant or toddler: ? 0-1 Year (Introduction to Numbers) Talk & Count: Count fingers, toes, and everyday...

JANUARY Book Babies + Toddlers: S is for Soup

Making and eating soup can be a sensory explosion for you and your child, especially when you make it together. Look for ingredients with a variety of colors, textures, and scents, then talk about where they came from, or count the pieces you’ve cut. Here are some...

Programs for Kids ‘n’ Tweens

Old School PoetryThis February, let love take center stage! Stop by our special collections area to type out a heartfelt poem on our vintage typewriter—whether it’s for a dear friend or your favorite pizza. Drop your masterpiece into the submission box nearby if you'd...

NOVEMBER Book Babies + Toddler Time: Duck, Duck, Goose

“Play is serious business when it comes to a child's health and development. From peek-a-boo to pat-a-cake and hide-and-seek to hopscotch, the many forms of play enrich a child's brain, body and life in important ways.” HealthyChildren.org. When reading books with...

OCTOBER Book Babies + Toddlers: Horses & Ponies

This is how the ladies ride… clippity-clop, clippity-clop. This is how the gentlemen ride… giddy-up, giddy-up. This is how the cowboys ride… Yee haw! Ride ‘em cowboy!! There are many rhymes and songs about horses which encourage parent and child communication,...

SEPTEMBER Book Babies + Toddlers: Feelings

Ah, emotions… however big or small, can be difficult to manage for everyone, especially children. There are, however, tips and tricks you can use to help your child learn how to recognize and regulate their feelings, and you can start early, even with an infant. The...

Book Babies + Toddler Time: Construction Site

Book Babies + Toddler Time: Construction Site

Book Babies + Toddler Time: Construction Site

Having fun and learning in the construction zone!

Book Babies: Wednesday @ 9:45am in Community Room

Ages 0 – 10 months

Toddler Time: Monday & Tuesday @ 9:45am in Community Room

Ages 11 – 23 months

Welcome Songs

Here We Are Together

Here we are together, together, together! Oh, here we are together in our library. There’s (sing names)… Here we are together in our library!

Hello Everybody

Hello everybody let’s clap our hands*, clap our hands, clap our hands. Hello everybody let’s clap our hands today! *pat our head, stretch up high, wiggle our fingers, tickle our knees, kick our feet, bounce up high!

S, T, R, W, P

(Sing while pointing to each finger on your child’s hand.) Sing, talk, read, write, play! Sing, talk, read write, play! Sing, talk, read, write, play! Sing, talk, read, write, play each day!

Sing, Talk, Read, Write, Play

Tip: Singing to your children is very important, and it doesn’t matter if you sing in English or another language. In one scientific study, babies as young as one week could distinguish their mother’s voice from a group of other female voices. Children love being sung to by their parents, and such singing helps to trigger their speech development. So, sing aloud to your children at home in any language you like.

- Lambert

Activity

Create a “Favorites” or core nursery song list to sing with your child every day, then you can add other songs that match with books you like to read together.

Books Presented

Construction by Sally Sutton

Hoist the wood. Hoist the wood. Chain and hook and strap. Swing it round, then lower it down. Thonk! Clonk! Clap! Build the frame. Build the frame. Hammer all day long. Make the stairs and floors and walls. Bing! Bang! Bong!

Goodnight, Goodnight, Construction Site by Sherri Duskey Rinker

As the sun sets behind the big construction site, all the hardworking trucks get ready to say goodnight. One by one, Crane Truck, Cement Mixer, Dump Truck, Bulldozer, and Excavator finish their work and lie down to rest—so they’ll be ready for another day of rough and tough construction play!

I'm Dirty by Kate and Jim McMullan

A busy backhoe loader describes all the items it hauls off a lot and all the fun it has getting dirty while doing so.

Five Trucks by Brian Floca

Five different trucks do five different jobs to get an airplane ready for takeoff.

Songs, Rhymes, and Fingerplays

Bumpity Bumpity Goes the Dump Truck

Bumpity, bumpity goes the dump truck
Bumpity, bumpity goes the dump truck
bBumpity, bumpity goes the dump truck
Dump out the load.

Dump Truck

Dump truck, dump truck
Bumping down the road,
bounce baby on lap
Spilling gravel with our heavy load!
rock baby back & forth on lap
Dump truck, dump truck
Bumping down the road,
bounce baby on lap
Spilling gravel,
rock baby back & forth on lap
And now it’s time to DUMP!
tip baby backward, or lift in air

Scoop and Dump

Tune to “Skip to My Lou”

Scoop! Goes ditch digger in the dirt.
(Bend low, raise arms high)
Scoop! Goes ditch digger in the dirt.
Scoop! Goes ditch digger in the dirt.
Scoop up all the dirt!
Reach up high with the crane.
(Cup hands, hold high)
Reach up high with the crane.
Reach up high with the crane.
Hold the dirt up high!
Dump the dirt into the truck.
(Reach high, drop hands to knees)
Dump the dirt into the truck.
Dump the dirt into the truck.
Haul it all away!

Hello Bubbles

Hello bubbles, hello bubbles
come and land, come and land
right in the middle, right in the middle
of my hand, of my hand.
Goodbye bubbles, goodbye bubbles
time to go, time to go
I will help you, I will help you
with a blow, with a blow.

Rainbows in My Bubbles

Tune to “She’ll Be Coming ‘Round the Mountain “

I’ve got rainbows in my bubbles, yes I do.
I’ve got rainbows in my bubbles, yes I so.
When I blow up towards the sun,
They have rainbows, every one.
I’ve got rainbows in my bubbles, yes I do

Baby Sign Language

“More”

“All Done”

Additional Books

Vroom, Vroom, Trucks! by Karen Katz

 

In this book “little ones can lift the flaps at the construction site to reveal bulldozers, dump trucks, and more things that build!”

Construction: a Lift the Flap Book by Roger Priddy

There’s a lot of building going on in Playtown! There is so much to explore, learn, and discover inside this busy, busy book – diggers are digging holes, materials are being delivered, and roads are being laid. On every page there are fun flaps to lift which tell children more about the picture above, and at the back of the book is a big page to fold out that reveals a bustling construction scene

Roadword by Sally Sutton

Rhyming text and illustrations show how a road is made, from planning to moving dirt, laying asphalt, putting up signs, and landscaping.

Where Do Diggers Sleep at Night? by Brianna Caplan Sayres

Discover what bedtime looks like for the snowplows, dump trucks, giant cranes, and more that dot the pages of this irresistible construction story. Just like you and me, the vehicles in this story get tuckered out after a long day of hard work and need to quiet down and settle in for sweet dreams. Young readers will surely identify as these trucks ask for one more story while their parents sing them a goodnight song and send them off to bed

More Book Babies

SEPTEMBER Book Babies + Toddlers: ABCs

Let’s learn the ABCs! Did you know that babies are already learning to read? Through visual exposure to colorful books and alphabet toys, seeing letters repeatedly helps them become familiar with their shapes and forms. Pair that with a familiar song and rhyme, and...

APRIL Book Babies + Toddler: Birthdays

It’s my birthday! Did you know that birthdays aren’t just fun and exciting for children—they’re also a great learning opportunity? Looking forward to and celebrating a birthday helps children understand traditions, family gatherings, and the joy of giving and...

MARCH Book Babies + Toddlers: Lambs

Many of us grew up with classic nursery rhymes like Mary Had a Little Lamb and Baa, Baa, Black Sheep. As you teach those songs to your child, consider incorporating these additional activities to expand both your and your baby's nursery rhyme repertoire.Book Babies:...

March Programs for Kids ‘n’ Tweens

Story TimeGet ready for March magic with our early literacy programs! Book Babies – Wednesdays at 9:30 AM for babies not yet walking and their grown-ups. Enjoy songs, stories, baby sign language, movement, and sensory activities. Toddler Time – Mondays & Tuesdays...

FEBRUARY Book Babies + Toddlers: “C” is for Counting

One, two, three, count with me. It’s as easy as can be! Teaching numbers at an early age can be great fun! Here are some fun ways to introduce numbers to your infant or toddler: ? 0-1 Year (Introduction to Numbers) Talk & Count: Count fingers, toes, and everyday...

JANUARY Book Babies + Toddlers: S is for Soup

Making and eating soup can be a sensory explosion for you and your child, especially when you make it together. Look for ingredients with a variety of colors, textures, and scents, then talk about where they came from, or count the pieces you’ve cut. Here are some...

Programs for Kids ‘n’ Tweens

Old School PoetryThis February, let love take center stage! Stop by our special collections area to type out a heartfelt poem on our vintage typewriter—whether it’s for a dear friend or your favorite pizza. Drop your masterpiece into the submission box nearby if you'd...

NOVEMBER Book Babies + Toddler Time: Duck, Duck, Goose

“Play is serious business when it comes to a child's health and development. From peek-a-boo to pat-a-cake and hide-and-seek to hopscotch, the many forms of play enrich a child's brain, body and life in important ways.” HealthyChildren.org. When reading books with...

OCTOBER Book Babies + Toddlers: Horses & Ponies

This is how the ladies ride… clippity-clop, clippity-clop. This is how the gentlemen ride… giddy-up, giddy-up. This is how the cowboys ride… Yee haw! Ride ‘em cowboy!! There are many rhymes and songs about horses which encourage parent and child communication,...

SEPTEMBER Book Babies + Toddlers: Feelings

Ah, emotions… however big or small, can be difficult to manage for everyone, especially children. There are, however, tips and tricks you can use to help your child learn how to recognize and regulate their feelings, and you can start early, even with an infant. The...

SEPTEMBER Kid and Tween Activities

SEPTEMBER Kid and Tween Activities

SEPTEMBER Kid and Tween Activities

 FAMILY FRIENDLY FILM NIGHTS ARE BACK!

Madison Library District is bringing FAMILY FRIENDLY FILM NIGHT back!

Every Tuesday @ 4pm in the Community Room.

SCHEDULE:
September 7th: Raya and the Last Dragon
September 14th: Peter Rabbit
September 21st: Spirit: Untamed
September 28th: Luca

Children under 12 must be accompanied by someone 14 or older.

 

 

 TWEEN FALL KICKOFF FOR BOOK CLUBS

Books for Boys + Mother-Daughter Book Club will be meeting together to celebrate FALL! 

Come SEPTEMBER 9TH at 6:30pm to have fun crafts, treats, and activities. Meet in the Community Room

Ages 8-11 with accompanying adult.

 

 

 

 KID + TWEEN STEAM KITS

For ages 6-11. Every 1st and 3rd Monday of the month.
Pick up at the Front Circulation Desk.

September 7th: Why Do Cats’ Eyes Glow?
September 20th: Why Do Frogs Not Freeze?

 

 

 

STORYTIME – LIVE IN COMMUNITY ROOM

STORYTIME
Tuesdays & Wednesdays at 10:30am
Tuesdays at 6:30pm

TODDLER TIME:
Mondays & Tuesdays at 9:45am

BOOK BABIES:
Wednesdays at 9:45am

Take n’ Go Kits will be available during Storytime. Any extras will be distributed at the end of the week at the Children’s Reference Desk.

 

 

 

September Activities for Kids ‘n’ Tweens

Story Time and Early Literacy Dive into tales, tunes, and tiny triumphs at our Early Literacy programs in the Community Room—tailored for babies, toddlers, preschoolers, and their grown-ups! Story Time (ages 2–5 + adult) Tue 10:30 AM & 6:30 PM (Activity Room) |...

August Programs for All Ages

Teen Action CouncilThe Teen Action Council gathers to discuss plans and come up with ways for the Library to serve teens. Ages 13-18 are invited to join us Wednesday, August 6 in the Community Room at 4 PM!Crafty Corner Join us for Crafty Corner, an informal meet-up...

July Programs for Kids ‘n’ Tweens

Summer Reading is Here! You can sign up now for Summer Reading: Color Our World! With Beanstack you can sign up online, or you can visit us at the Library and track your reading on paper. Check out our Summer Reading page for our prize schedule and more details.Story...

June Events for Kids ‘n’ Tweens

Summer Reading is Here! You can sign up now for Summer Reading: Color Our World! With Beanstack you can sign up online, or you can visit us at the Library and track your reading on paper. Check out our Summer Reading page for our prize schedule and more details.Story...

May Kids ‘n’ Tween Programs

Books For Boys & Great Reads for GirlsMeet Princess Cimorene—a princess who refuses to be proper. She’s everything a princess shouldn’t be: headstrong, tomboyish, smart… And bored. So bored she runs away to live with Kazul, one of the most powerful dragons around!...

April Kids ‘n’ Tween Programs

Story TimeGet ready for April celebrations with our early literacy programs! Book Babies – Wednesdays at 9:30 AM* for babies not yet walking and their grown-ups. Enjoy songs, stories, baby sign language, movement, and sensory activities. Toddler Time – Mondays &...

March Programs for Kids ‘n’ Tweens

Story TimeGet ready for March magic with our early literacy programs! Book Babies – Wednesdays at 9:30 AM for babies not yet walking and their grown-ups. Enjoy songs, stories, baby sign language, movement, and sensory activities. Toddler Time – Mondays & Tuesdays...

Programs for Kids ‘n’ Tweens

Old School PoetryThis February, let love take center stage! Stop by our special collections area to type out a heartfelt poem on our vintage typewriter—whether it’s for a dear friend or your favorite pizza. Drop your masterpiece into the submission box nearby if you'd...

January Programs for Kids ‘n’ Tweens

Story TimeJanuary Story Time is serving up something soup-er! Book Babies (infants/babies not yet walking and their caregivers) meet Wednesdays at 9:30 AM with songs, stories, and sensory fun for our "Soup’s On!" theme. (Library Closed Jan. 1) Toddler Time (walking...

December 2024 Programs for All Ages

Winter Safe DrivingFirst time driving on snowy winter roads? Madison Library District is partnering with the Idaho Department of Transportation and the Idaho State Police to keep you safe this winter! Learn strategies to stay on the road, deal with slipping and...

Book Babies + Toddler Time: Bird Tails

Book Babies + Toddler Time: Bird Tails

Book Babies + Toddler Time: Bird Tails

Cheep, cheep! Tweet, tweet! Quack, quack! Oh, how babies love the sounds of our feathered friends. Help your child explore the world of birds with the following activities.

Book Babies: Wednesday @ 9:45am in Community Room

Ages 0 – 10 months

Toddler Time: Tuesday @ 9:45am in Community Room

Ages 11 – 23 months

 

Welcome Songs

Here We Are Together

Here we are together, together, together! Oh, here we are together in our library. There’s (sing names)… Here we are together in our library!

Hello Everybody

Hello everybody let’s clap our hands*, clap our hands, clap our hands. Hello everybody let’s clap our hands today! *pat our head, stretch up high, wiggle our fingers, tickle our knees, kick our feet, bounce up high!

S, T, R, W, P

(Sing while pointing to each finger on your child’s hand.) Sing, talk, read, write, play! Sing, talk, read write, play! Sing, talk, read, write, play! Sing, talk, read, write, play each day!

Sing, Talk, Read, Write, Play

Tip

Did you know that “singing” a book instantly engages a child’s brain? Because music affects multiple regions of the brain, when a child is listening to a book being sung, both hemispheres are working. One side of the brain processes the words while the other processes the music.

Musically Minded

 

Activity

Find a “singing” book which has an accompanying fingerplay such as “Five Little Ducks.” Then “sing” the book and do the fingerplay with your child! Remember to model the finger movements for your child; never force them to do it.

Books Presented

Five Little Ducks

A duck with a feather on his back leads his siblings with a “quack, quack, quack.” End notes list the benefits of children’s poems and songs.

This is a Book of Shapes by Kenneth Kraegel

First comes the circle. Then the square and the triangle. Then the . . . emu pushing a pancake wagon down a hill? What begins as a concept book about everyone’s geometric favorites soon defies expectations with a series of funny and imaginative twists.

Songs, Rhymes, and Fingerplays

Two Little Bluebirds

Two little bluebirds
(Hold up thumbs)
Sitting on a wall
One named Peter
The other named Paul
Fly away, Peter!
Fly away, Paul!

Bird in the Egg

Bird in the egg sits so still.
Will he come out?
Yes, he will!

There’s a Bird in the Air

There’s a bird in the air, in the air
There’s a bird in the air, in the air
There’s a bird in the air, now he’s flying in my hair

There’s a bird on my leg, on my leg
There’s a bird on my leg, on my leg
There’s a bird on my leg and he is pretty big

There’s a bird on my hand, on my hand
There’s a bird on my hand, on my hand
There’s a bird on my hand but now he is my friend

Scarf Song: Popcorn Kernels

Tune of Frere Jacques

Popcorn Kernels
(wave scarves overhead)
In the pot
(tell the kids to make their scarves ‘disappear’ by bunching them up in their fists)
Shake them shake them shake them
(shake)
’til they POP
(toss scarves up into the air)

Five Little Ducks

Five little ducks went out one day
Over the hill and far away
Mother duck said, “Quack, quack, quack, quack”
But only four little ducks came back
1, 2, 3, 4

Four little ducks went out one day
Over the hill and far away
Mother duck said, “Quack, quack, quack, quack”
But only three little ducks came back
1, 2, 3

Three little ducks went out one day
Over the hill and far away
Mother duck said, “Quack, quack, quack, quack”
But only two little ducks came back
1, 2

Two little ducks went out one day
Over the hill and far away
Mother duck said, “Quack, quack, quack, quack”
But only one little duck came back
1

One little duck went out one day
Over the hill and far away
Mother duck said, “Quack, quack, quack, quack”
But none of the five little ducks came back

Sad mother duck went out one day
Over the hill and far away
Mother duck said, “Quack, quack, quack, quack”
And all of five little ducks came back

Five little ducks went out to play
Over the hill and far away
Mother duck said, “Quack, quack, quack, quack”
And all of the five little ducks came back!

Five Little Birds

One, Two, Three, Four, Five.
Five little birds went flying one day,
Over the hills and far away.
When Mother bird said, “Tweet, tweet, tweet,”
Only four birds came to the tree.
One, Two, Three, Four.

Four little birds went flying one day
Over the hills and far away.
When Mother bird said, “Tweet, tweet, tweet,”
Only three birds came to the tree.
One, Two, Three.

Three little birds went flying one day
Over the hills and far away.
When Mother bird said, “Tweet, tweet, tweet,”
Only two birds came to the tree.
One, Two.

Two little birds went flying one day
Over the hills and far away.
When Mother bird said, “Tweet, tweet, tweet,”
Only one bird came to the tree.
One.

One little bird went flying one day
Over the hills and far away.
When Mother bird said, “Tweet, tweet, tweet,”
No little birds came to the tree.

Sad Mother bird went flying one day
Over the hills and far away.
When Papa bird said, “TWEET!”
All the birds came flying to the tree!

Additional Books

Ten Little Bluebirds by Emily Ford

A rhyming counting book that features ten bluebirds that disappear on each page as they decide to fly away to play.

Quick Duck by Mary Murphy

Over and under, around and down–where is he going in such a hurry?

My Nest is Best by PD Eastman

Mr. and Mrs. Bird search for a place to build a new nest only to discover their old one is better.

Small Bird's Big Adventure

Small Bird escapes his cage… and discovers a whole big world outside.

More Book Babies

SEPTEMBER Book Babies + Toddlers: ABCs

Let’s learn the ABCs! Did you know that babies are already learning to read? Through visual exposure to colorful books and alphabet toys, seeing letters repeatedly helps them become familiar with their shapes and forms. Pair that with a familiar song and rhyme, and...

APRIL Book Babies + Toddler: Birthdays

It’s my birthday! Did you know that birthdays aren’t just fun and exciting for children—they’re also a great learning opportunity? Looking forward to and celebrating a birthday helps children understand traditions, family gatherings, and the joy of giving and...

MARCH Book Babies + Toddlers: Lambs

Many of us grew up with classic nursery rhymes like Mary Had a Little Lamb and Baa, Baa, Black Sheep. As you teach those songs to your child, consider incorporating these additional activities to expand both your and your baby's nursery rhyme repertoire.Book Babies:...

March Programs for Kids ‘n’ Tweens

Story TimeGet ready for March magic with our early literacy programs! Book Babies – Wednesdays at 9:30 AM for babies not yet walking and their grown-ups. Enjoy songs, stories, baby sign language, movement, and sensory activities. Toddler Time – Mondays & Tuesdays...

FEBRUARY Book Babies + Toddlers: “C” is for Counting

One, two, three, count with me. It’s as easy as can be! Teaching numbers at an early age can be great fun! Here are some fun ways to introduce numbers to your infant or toddler: ? 0-1 Year (Introduction to Numbers) Talk & Count: Count fingers, toes, and everyday...

JANUARY Book Babies + Toddlers: S is for Soup

Making and eating soup can be a sensory explosion for you and your child, especially when you make it together. Look for ingredients with a variety of colors, textures, and scents, then talk about where they came from, or count the pieces you’ve cut. Here are some...

Programs for Kids ‘n’ Tweens

Old School PoetryThis February, let love take center stage! Stop by our special collections area to type out a heartfelt poem on our vintage typewriter—whether it’s for a dear friend or your favorite pizza. Drop your masterpiece into the submission box nearby if you'd...

NOVEMBER Book Babies + Toddler Time: Duck, Duck, Goose

“Play is serious business when it comes to a child's health and development. From peek-a-boo to pat-a-cake and hide-and-seek to hopscotch, the many forms of play enrich a child's brain, body and life in important ways.” HealthyChildren.org. When reading books with...

OCTOBER Book Babies + Toddlers: Horses & Ponies

This is how the ladies ride… clippity-clop, clippity-clop. This is how the gentlemen ride… giddy-up, giddy-up. This is how the cowboys ride… Yee haw! Ride ‘em cowboy!! There are many rhymes and songs about horses which encourage parent and child communication,...

SEPTEMBER Book Babies + Toddlers: Feelings

Ah, emotions… however big or small, can be difficult to manage for everyone, especially children. There are, however, tips and tricks you can use to help your child learn how to recognize and regulate their feelings, and you can start early, even with an infant. The...

Book Babies + Toddler Time: Frog and Toad Tails

Book Babies + Toddler Time: Frog and Toad Tails

Book Babies + Toddler Time: Frog and Toad Tails

Ribbit, ribbit… HOP! Enjoy learning about tiny tadpoles to big frogs with these books and songs. 

Book Babies: Wednesday @ 9:45am in Community Room

Ages 0 – 10 months

Toddler Time: Tuesday @ 9:45am in Community Room

Ages 11 – 23 months

 

Welcome Songs

Here We Are Together

Here we are together, together, together! Oh, here we are together in our library. There’s (sing names)… Here we are together in our library!

Hello Everybody

Hello everybody let’s clap our hands*, clap our hands, clap our hands. Hello everybody let’s clap our hands today! *pat our head, stretch up high, wiggle our fingers, tickle our knees, kick our feet, bounce up high!

S, T, R, W, P

(Sing while pointing to each finger on your child’s hand.) Sing, talk, read, write, play! Sing, talk, read write, play! Sing, talk, read, write, play! Sing, talk, read, write, play each day!

Sing, Talk, Read, Write, Play

Tip

The use of small percussion instruments such as bells, rhythm sticks, shakers and drums helps with muscular development and coordination

 

- Lambert

Activity

Sing “Going to Kentucky” or another egg shaker song with your child. While shaking the egg, experiment with different rhythms, stopping and starting, and high or low!

Books Presented

Big Frog Can't Fit In by Mo Willems

Big Frog is big. Quite big. So big this book can’t hold her. But with a lot of help from some good friends, Big Frog will fit in just fine! Filled with exciting and unique pops constructed sturdily, and perfectly suited for little hands, this vibrant new pop-up book will appeal to Mo fans old and new.

Songs, Rhymes, and Fingerplays

Knee Bounce: Dickery Dickery Dare

Dickery Dickery Dare,
(bounce baby on lap)

A pig flew up in the air!
(lift baby up into air)

The man in brown
Soon brought him down.
(bring baby back down)

Dickery Dickery Dare.
(bounce baby on lap)

Knee Bounce: To Market, To Market

To market, to market to buy a fat pig
Home again, home again, jiggity jig!
To market, to market to buy a fat hog
Home again, home again, jiggity jog!

Shakers: Going to Kentucky

I was going to Kentucky, going to the fair,
To see the senorita with the flowers in her hair.
Oh, shake it, shake it, shake it,
Shake it if you can,
Shake it like a milkshake,
And do the best you can.

Oh, wobble to the bottom,
Wobble to the top,
And turn around and turn around until you make a stop!

Five Green and Speckled Frogs

Five Green and Speckled Frogs
sat on a speckled log
Eating some most delicious bugs.
Yuuuuummm…yuuummm!

One jumped into the pool,
where it was nice and cool.
Then there were four green speckled frogs,
Glub glub.

Four green and speckled frogs…
Three green and speckled frogs…
Two green and speckled frogs…
One green and speckled frog…
…Then there were no green speckled frogs!
Glub glub, glub, glub

Baby Sign Language

“Bed”

 

“Tired”

 

“Sleep”

 

Additional Books

Frog's Summer Journey by Anita Loughrey

Frog is looking for somewhere new to live. Near the ducks is too loud, under the willow tree is too dark, will Frog find the perfect place to live? This delightful picture book about friendship and the changing seasons is perfect for reading with your child in summertime. Learn about what happens in summer and then explore the activities, crafts and discussion points at the back of the book, to further develop your child’s understanding of the natural world.

Tad by Benji Davies

Meet Tad. She’s the smallest tadpole in a big pond. And she’s not frightened of Big Blub. Not. At. All. But when her tad brothers and tadsisters start to get bigger and disappear, Tad worries that she’ll be left all alone. All alone in the dark, with Big Blub. Growing up might take longer when you start at the bottom, but sometimes tiny hearts have the biggest dreams.

One Frog Sang by Shirley Parenteau

As the night becomes still, one big frog lets out his croaking song, followed by two tiny friends, until groups of as many as ten frogs have all joined in, in voices of all sorts, but when a car passes near, all songs are silenced.

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This is how the ladies ride… clippity-clop, clippity-clop. This is how the gentlemen ride… giddy-up, giddy-up. This is how the cowboys ride… Yee haw! Ride ‘em cowboy!! There are many rhymes and songs about horses which encourage parent and child communication,...

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Book Babies + Toddler Time: Pig Tails!

Book Babies + Toddler Time: Pig Tails!

Book Babies + Toddler Time: Pig Tails!

Many of us can remember, “This little piggie went to market, this little piggie stayed home…” Try expanding your “piggie repertoire” for your little one with these books, songs, rhymes, and fingerplays.

Book Babies: Wednesday @ 9:45am in Community Room

Ages 0 – 10 months

Toddler Time: Tuesday @ 9:45am in Community Room

Ages 11 – 23 months

 

Welcome Songs

Here We Are Together

Here we are together, together, together! Oh, here we are together in our library. There’s (sing names)… Here we are together in our library!

Hello Everybody

Hello everybody let’s clap our hands*, clap our hands, clap our hands. Hello everybody let’s clap our hands today! *pat our head, stretch up high, wiggle our fingers, tickle our knees, kick our feet, bounce up high!

S, T, R, W, P

(Sing while pointing to each finger on your child’s hand.) Sing, talk, read, write, play! Sing, talk, read write, play! Sing, talk, read, write, play! Sing, talk, read, write, play each day!

Sing, Talk, Read, Write, Play

Tip

When your children have happy experiences, they want to repeat them. Starting kindergarten can seem as an extension of informal library classes. Children who have had joyful experiences in the public library often approach school with a positive attitude, ready and excited to learn.

 

- Lambert

Activity

After you attend Book Babies or Toddler Time, sing the songs that were presented. You can find the words and links on this blog post. Then talk about how much fun you had at the library.

Books Presented

Peekaboo

Who’s that hiding beneath the flap? With textured patches to touch, feel, and explore, this bright and beautiful lift-the-flap book will engage both babies and toddlers

Moo, Baa, La La La! by Sandra Boynton

Turn the board pages to see what different sounds animals make.

Songs, Rhymes, and Fingerplays

Knee Bounce: Dickery Dickery Dare

Dickery Dickery Dare,
(bounce baby on lap)

A pig flew up in the air!
(lift baby up into air)

The man in brown
Soon brought him down.
(bring baby back down)

Dickery Dickery Dare.
(bounce baby on lap)

Knee Bounce: To Market, To Market

To market, to market to buy a fat pig
Home again, home again, jiggity jig!
To market, to market to buy a fat hog
Home again, home again, jiggity jog!

Fingerplay: Two Mother Pigs

Two mother pigs lived in a pen (show thumbs)
Each had four babies, and that made ten (show fingers & thumbs)

These four babies were black as night (thumb in palm, wiggle fingers)
These four babies were black and white (switch hands, repeat)
But all eight babies loved to play

And they rolled and rolled in the mud all day (roll hands)
At night, with their mother, they curled up in a heap (clasp hands)
And squealed and squealed till they fell fast asleep.

Five Clean and Squeaky Pigs

Five pigs so squeaky clean
Cleanest that you’ve ever seen
Wanted to outside and play (IN THE MUD)
One jumped into the mud
Landed with a great big thud
Then there were four clean squeaky pigs (Oink, oink!)

Baby Sign Language

“Bed”

 

“Tired”

 

“Sleep”

 

Additional Books

Is That Wise Pig? by Jan Thomas

Mouse and Cow are making soup, but Pig keeps trying to add strange ingredients

Ten Pigs: an Epic Bath Adventure by Derek Anderson

One pig looks to take a relaxing bath in private, but he is soon joined by another pig, then another, until there are ten pigs–and number one has to come up with a plan so that he can actually enjoy his bath.

Little Pookie by Sandra

Pookie’s mom lists ten things she knows about Pookie.

The Three Little Pigs by Emily Bolam

Retells the story of the three little pigs who leave home to find their fortune, only to meet up with the big bad wolf.

More Book Babies

SEPTEMBER Book Babies + Toddlers: ABCs

Let’s learn the ABCs! Did you know that babies are already learning to read? Through visual exposure to colorful books and alphabet toys, seeing letters repeatedly helps them become familiar with their shapes and forms. Pair that with a familiar song and rhyme, and...

APRIL Book Babies + Toddler: Birthdays

It’s my birthday! Did you know that birthdays aren’t just fun and exciting for children—they’re also a great learning opportunity? Looking forward to and celebrating a birthday helps children understand traditions, family gatherings, and the joy of giving and...

MARCH Book Babies + Toddlers: Lambs

Many of us grew up with classic nursery rhymes like Mary Had a Little Lamb and Baa, Baa, Black Sheep. As you teach those songs to your child, consider incorporating these additional activities to expand both your and your baby's nursery rhyme repertoire.Book Babies:...

March Programs for Kids ‘n’ Tweens

Story TimeGet ready for March magic with our early literacy programs! Book Babies – Wednesdays at 9:30 AM for babies not yet walking and their grown-ups. Enjoy songs, stories, baby sign language, movement, and sensory activities. Toddler Time – Mondays & Tuesdays...

FEBRUARY Book Babies + Toddlers: “C” is for Counting

One, two, three, count with me. It’s as easy as can be! Teaching numbers at an early age can be great fun! Here are some fun ways to introduce numbers to your infant or toddler: ? 0-1 Year (Introduction to Numbers) Talk & Count: Count fingers, toes, and everyday...

JANUARY Book Babies + Toddlers: S is for Soup

Making and eating soup can be a sensory explosion for you and your child, especially when you make it together. Look for ingredients with a variety of colors, textures, and scents, then talk about where they came from, or count the pieces you’ve cut. Here are some...

Programs for Kids ‘n’ Tweens

Old School PoetryThis February, let love take center stage! Stop by our special collections area to type out a heartfelt poem on our vintage typewriter—whether it’s for a dear friend or your favorite pizza. Drop your masterpiece into the submission box nearby if you'd...

NOVEMBER Book Babies + Toddler Time: Duck, Duck, Goose

“Play is serious business when it comes to a child's health and development. From peek-a-boo to pat-a-cake and hide-and-seek to hopscotch, the many forms of play enrich a child's brain, body and life in important ways.” HealthyChildren.org. When reading books with...

OCTOBER Book Babies + Toddlers: Horses & Ponies

This is how the ladies ride… clippity-clop, clippity-clop. This is how the gentlemen ride… giddy-up, giddy-up. This is how the cowboys ride… Yee haw! Ride ‘em cowboy!! There are many rhymes and songs about horses which encourage parent and child communication,...

SEPTEMBER Book Babies + Toddlers: Feelings

Ah, emotions… however big or small, can be difficult to manage for everyone, especially children. There are, however, tips and tricks you can use to help your child learn how to recognize and regulate their feelings, and you can start early, even with an infant. The...