Story Time Rhymes

Practicing rhymes with your children at home will go a long way towards their confidence and participation in our story times here at the library.

Toddler and Family Rhymes

Good Morning
One day I saw a downy duck with feathers on his back;
I said,"Good morning downy duck,"
And he said, "Quack, quack, quack."

One day I saw a scarlet bird, he woke me from my sleep;
I said, "Good morning scarlet bird,"
And he said, "Cheep, cheep, cheep."

One day I saw a happy child coming to story time;
I said, "Good morning happy child,"
And the child said, "Hi, hi, hi."


Reach for the Ceiling
Reach for the ceiling, touch the floor,
Stand up again, let's do it some more.
Touch you head, then your knee,
Up to your shoulders, like this you see.
Reach for the ceiling, touch the floor,
That's all for now, there isn't any more.

This is My Right Hand
This is my right hand, I raise it high.
This is my left hand, I touch the sky.
Right hand, left hand,
Roll them round and round.
Right hand, left hand,
Pound, pound, pound.

Clap Your Hands
Clap your hands 1, 2, 3,
Clap your hands, just like me.
Roll your hands 1, 2, 3,
Roll your hands, just like me.
Pat your hands 1, 2, 3,
Pat your hands, just like me.

The Wheel Around the World
If all the world's children wanted to play holding hands,
they could happily make a wheel around the sea.
What a beautiful chorus we would make
singing around the earth, if all the world's children
would circle holding hands.

Hello Hands
Roll, roll, roll your hands, as slowly as can be;
Roll, roll, roll your hands, do it now with me.
Roll, roll, roll your hands, as fast as fast can be;
Roll, roll, roll your hands, do it now with me.

Clap, clap, clap your hands, as slowly as can be;
Clap, clap, clap your hands, do it now with me.
Clap, clap, clap your hands, as fast as fast can be;
Clap, clap, clap your hands, do it now with me.

Ten Little Fingers
I have ten little fingers and they all belong to me.
I can make them do things, would you like to see?
I can shut them up tight
Or open them wide.
I can put them together
Or make them all hide.
I can make them jump high,
I can make them jump low,
I can fold them up quietly
And hold them just so.

Here We Go Up
Here we go up, up, up.
Here we go down, down, down.
Here we go forward.
Here we go backward.
Here we go round, round, round.

Busy Hands
Hands on shoulders, hands on knees,
Put them behind you, if you please.
Raise hands high in the air,
Down at your sides, now touch your hair.
Hands at sides now you may place.
Touch your elbows, now your face.
Raise hands high as before, now you may clap 1, 2, 3, 4.
Now sit down, hands folded once more.
Eyes to the front, feet on the floor.

Reach for the Ceiling
Reach for the ceiling, touch the floor,
Stand up again, let's do some more.
Touch you head, then your knee,
Up to your shoulders, like this you see.
Reach for the ceiling, touch the floor,
That's all for now, there isn't any more.


Wee Ones Rhymes

Hi, Hello and How are You
     (to the tune of London Bridges)
Hi, hello, and how are you?
How are you?
How are you?
Hi, hello, and how are you?
How are you today?

Here We Go Up, Up, Up
Here we go up, up, up
Here we go down, down, down.
Here we go up, up, up,
Here we go down, down, down.

Eyes, Nose, Cheeky, Cheeky, Chin.
Eyes, Nose, Cheeky, Cheeky, Chin.
Eyes, Nose, Cheeky, Cheeky, Chin.
Eyes, Nose, Cheeky, Cheeky, Chin.
Cheeky, Cheeky, chin, nose, eyes.

Round and Round the Garden
Round and round the garden,
Goes the teddy bear.
One step,two step.
Tickle under there.

Pat-a-Cake
Pat-a-cake, pat-a-cake,
Baker's man.
Bake me a cake
As fast as you can.
Roll it and pat it,
And mark it with a B.
And put it the oven
For baby and me!

Away Up High
Away up high in the apple tree.
I saw a little baby staring at me.
I shook the tree as hard as I could.
Down came baby.
Mmmm, he/she was good.

Star Light
Star light, star bright,
First star I see tonight,
I wish I may, I wish I might,
Have the wish I wish tonight.

Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star
Twinkle, twinkle little star,
How I wonder what you are.
Up above the world so high,
Like a diamond in the sky.
Twinkle, twinkle little star,
How I wonder what you are.

Open Them, Shut Them
Open them, shut them.
Open them, shut them.
Give them a little clap.
Open them, shut them.
Open them, shut them.
Put them in your lap.
Creep them, creep them,
Right up to you chin.
Open up your little mouth,
But do not let them in. (say this last line fast)

Good-bye Rhyme
My hand says thank you with a clap, clap, clap.
My feet say thank you with a tap, tap, tap.
Hands clap, clap, clap.
Feet tap, tap, tap.
Roll your hands and wave goodbye.

Hidden Classic #5: Trouble In Bugland

Ask anyone to name a famous private detective, and their first response will undoubtedly be "Sherlock Holmes." More tributes, sequels, spinoffs, and parodies have been written based on the works of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle than on any other mystery and detective writer. Personally, I'm a big fan, and I look forward to any twist that a current author cares to put on the stories I have loved since I was about ten years old.

Which brings us to Trouble in Bugland: A Collection of Inspector Mantis Mysteries by William Kotzwinkle. Kotzwinkle keeps the basics: the Victorian setting; the fast-paced action; the master detective with a brilliant mind and finely-tuned deductive reasoning; and the ever-faithful and valuable sidekick. There is, however, one major change from the original: all of the characters are...insects.

This creative choice adds many twists to the tales that Doyle fans know so well. The brilliant detective is a praying mantis with super-sensitive antennae and an iron grip. His partner is a grasshopper who is an accomplished long-jumper (and it is he, not his mentor, who is the accomplished violinist). A bookworm absorbs top-secret naval plans when he mistakenly ingests a coded message. Butterflies are kidnapped, their wings are stripped for their "jewels," and their bodies are tapped for the poisons they excrete in self-defense.

The best part of this book is that the stories are delightful both for readers new to Holmesiana (or to detective stories in general) and for fans of Holmes who will appreciate the full range of the cleverness and humor that Kotzwinkle brings to these stories. He never talks down to his readers, yet the stories remain accessible to a wide audience. And I can't wrap up this review without mentioning the spectacular color plates and pen-and-ink drawings throughout. "Profusely illustrated by Joe Servello," promises the cover, and it does not lie. Nearly every page features beautifully detailed examples of insects, all amusingly rigged out in Victorian costume.

This book is tragically out of print, as happens with many wonderful children's books, but it is available at a few libraries, and used copies are readily available for purchase online, most for under $10. If you or anyone you know loves good detective stories, Sherlock Holmes stories in particular, or even stories about bugs, don't miss this one!

Stuffed Animal Sleepover

Have you ever wondered what happens in the library when we close for the evening and we turn out the lights? A few new friends spent the night in the library and we have the pictures to prove that there is a lot going on after hours. Check out our photo album on facebook to see what happened when stuffed animls slept over at the library. Stuffed Animal Photo Album

Anyone willing to part with their beloved stuffed animal for an evening was invited to enjoy a story time and a take home craft. (We made really cool foam photo frames.) Next, kids said goodbye to their stuffed animal. Everyone returned the next day and was given a photo showing what their stuffed animal was doing over night. The photo fits right in their hand made foam photo frame. This event was so much fun we will be sure to host a stuffed animal sleepover again.