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...)

Mitten Rhyme

I heard this rhyme at a storytelling circle in Toronto last year, and made up the second verse based on the first. Hold up your hands and prepare to wiggle those thumbs and fingers!

Thumbs in the thumb place!

Fingers all together!
That's the rhyme that we all say
Because it's mitten weather!


Heels in the heel place,
Squish your toes together!
That's a song that we all sing
Because it's snow-boot weather!

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!

5 Scarecrows

This is sung to the tune of "5 Little Ducks" (Also known as the Elephant Song, about the elephant who played on a spider web)

5 Scarecrows

One scarecrow went out to play
In a farmer's field one day.
He had such enormous fun,
That he called another scarecrow to come.

Two scarecrows went out to play
In a farmer's field one day.
They had such enormous fun,
That they called another scarecrow to come.


Three scarecrows went out to play
In a farmer's field one day.
They had such enormous fun,
That they called another scarecrow to come.

Four scarecrows went out to play
In a farmer's field one day.
They had such enormous fun,
That they called one more scarecrow to come.

Five scarecrows went out to play
In a farmer's field one day.
They had such enormous fun,
That they played until the day was done.

10 Orange Pumpkins

I am back!

For the next while, I am planning to contribute fall and halloween themed story ideas.

Ten Orange Pumpkins

10 orange pumpkins were growing near a gate.
Two were picked, and then there were eight!

Eight orange pumpkins made quite a mix!
Two were picked, and then there were six!

Six orange pumpkins were sitting on the floor.
Two were picked, and then there were four.

4 orange pumpkins didn't know what to do!
2 were picked, and then there were two.

2 orange pumpkins, my oh my!
I picked them, and made a great big pie!

10 Little Fingers

Hold your fists high, and put your fingers up (then down!) throughout the song!


It's sung to the tune of Ten Little Indians.


1 little, 2 little, 3 little fingers!
4 little, 5 little, 6 little fingers!
7 little, 8 little, 9 little fingers!
10 little fingers on your hands!


10 little, 9 little, 8 little fingers!
7 little, 6 little, 5 little fingers!
4 little, 3 little, 2 little fingers!
1 little finger tucked a way!