Alphabet Song!

In a recent discussion on the American Library Services to Children email list, some librarians asked for other tunes that the alphabet can be sung to, to get away from using the "Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star" melody.

I recommend three other melodies.

1) Row, Row, Row Your Boat. Just make sure to sing the "m" where you would normally sing the word "stream" in the song.

2) London Bridge is Falling Down.

3) Frere Jacques/Where is Thumbkin? 

"Dressing for the Cold" Song

I had a lot of fun writing the words to this song. You can say it as a rhyme, but it was meant to be sung to the tune of "A Bushel and a Peck" from the musical Guys and Dolls. Get the parents/caregivers to touch the area on the child as it is named (or as you do the actions).

I'm dressing for the cold!
I wear a hat upon my head,
A scarf around my neck,
And two mittens that are red!

My snowpants warm my legs
And my jacket makes me glow.
Two boots go on my feet,
Yes they'll help me keep the heat
In the snow!

Spoken -- Oh no! Now that I'm dressed, I know I'll need a rest. Let's sit down for another (story/rhyme/song...)

Rolling Snowballs Song

Another season of story times starts!

This song is sung to the tune "Where is Thumbkin?"

Roll your fists together while singing the word "rolling". Wiggle your fingers while singing the world "melting".

Rolling snowballs!
                         Rolling snowballs!

                         Thick, thick, thick! (hold your hands widely)
                         Thick, thick, thick!

                          Melting, melting snowballs!
                          Melting, melting snowballs!
                          Thin, thin, thin!     (hold your hands together)
                          Thin, thin, thin!

                          Rolling snowballs!
                                                               Rolling snowballs!
                                                               Tall, tall, tall!        (Roll/stretch up high)
                                                               Tall, tall, tall!

                          Melting, melting snowballs!
                          Melting, melting snowballs!
                          Small, small, small!  (Roll/stretch down low)
                          Small, small, small!

Roly Poly

This is a wonderful song to sing for a babytime or toddler time. Caregivers can move the baby's hands throughout the song, according to the actions that are modeled by the singer.

Sung to the tune of "Where is Thumbkin?"

Roly poly, (roll baby's hands in a forward circle, stomach/chest height)
Roly poly (continue rolling)
Up up up! (roll hands up)

Roly Roly Poly! (roll hands once more at chest height)
Roly Roly Poly!
Down Down Down! (roll hands downwards)
Down Down Down!

Roly poly, (roll baby's hands in a forward circle, stomach/chest height)
Roly poly (continue rolling)
Out out out! (move hands outwards, stretching away from the chest)
Out out out!

Roly Roly Poly! (roll hands once more at chest height)
Roly Roly Poly!
In in in! (move hands in)
In in in!

Flying over Markham

This is a song that involves lots of action for babies and toddlers!

To the tune of: "Going to Kentucky"

I'm flying over Markham! (Lift child)
I'm flying over Vaughan! (Lift child)
I'd love to have some grape juice,
but I see that it is gone!

Flying to the left! (Lift to the left)
And flying to the top! (Lift child again)
Sit down on the ground! (Lower child)
Now it's time to stop!

Where is Duckling?

This song can be sung with a variety of puppets -- especially cone puppets. Some Dollarama locations carry inexpensive cone puppets in spring time. Feel free to twist the straw at the bottom of the cone puppet so that the puppet is "speaking".

Sung to the tune of "Where is Thumbkin?"

Where is Duckling?
Where is Duckling?

Here I am! (pop puppet into sight or out of the cone)
Here I am!

How are you today, Duckling?
Very well, I thank you!

Run away! (puppet hides, either behind you or in the cone)
Run away!

Tommy Thumb

Tommy Thumbs are up (make thumbs up sign)
Tommy Thumbs are down (thumbs down)
Tommy Thumbs are dancing all around the down (shake your thumbs)

Dance them on your shoulders,
And dance them on your head.
Dance them on your knees,
Then tuck them into bed.

(in the last line, tuck your thumbs under your arms, and flap your new wings).

Zoom Zoom Zoom!

Zoom, Zoom, Zoom
(rub hands together, while pointing them up in the air)

We're going to the moon.
(Hold hands in circle above your head)

Zoom, Zoom, Zoom
We're going to the moon.

If you want to take a trip,
Climb aboard my rocket ship.

Zoom, Zoom, Zoom
We're going to the moon.

5, 4, 3, 2, 1,
(hold 5 fingers up and count down)

Blast off!
(lift child up gently in the air)