Wee Read - Ducks

Our Baby Storytime (now called Wee Read) is on Wednesdays from 10:30 to 11:00 for ages 0 months to 18 months with an adult.

I had more than usual for Baby Storytime today, some new faces, and they had lots of energy! But they made it through and I was very proud of them. Before beginning storytime, I taught them the sign for duck: place your hand in front of your mouth and join your thumb to your fingers, giving the appearance of a duck bill.

1. "Good Morning" (Toddler only)
Good morning, good morning,
Good morning to you.
Good morning, good morning,
and how do you do?

2. "Hello, How are You?"
Verse 1: Hello, how are you? x3
How are you today?

Verse 2: I am fine, how about you? x3
How are you today?

Repeat Verse 1.

It's good to see (1st child's name) here.
It's good to see (2nd child's name) here.
It's good to see (3rd child's name) here.
How are you today?
(repeat this verse until all children have been named.)

Repeat Verse 1.

3. "Up, Down, Turn Around"

Up, down, turn around.

Touch the sky, and touch the ground.

Tickle your tummy, tickle your nose,

Blow a kiss and wave, "Hello!"

-- borrowed from Jim Thomas

4. "Open, Shut Them"
Open, shut them, open, shut them,
Give a great big clap.
Open, shut them, open, shut them.
Put them in your lap.

Creep them, creep them, to your chin.
Creep them, creep them,
But do not let them in!

(repeat first verse, substituting little clap)

5. I Can Help by David Hyde Costello

6. "Head and Shoulders"

Head and shoulders, 

Knees and toes, knees and toes.

Head and shoulders,

Knees and toes, knees and toes.

Eyes and ears and a mouth and nose.

Head and shoulders,

Knees and toes, knees and toes.

7. "Little Ducks"

To the tune of "London Bridge"

Little ducks go quack, quack, quack.

Quack, quack, quack.

Quack, quack, quack.

Little ducks go quack, quack, quack,

In the springtime.

-- borrowed from Preschool Education

8. "Peek-a-Boo"

To the tune of "Are You Sleeping?"

Peek-a-boo, peek-a-boo.

I see you, I see you.

I see your button nose, I see your tiny toes.

Peek-a-boo. I see you.

-- borrowed from Jim Thomas

9. Dimity Duck by Jane Yolen

We were able to get through half of this book; luckily there's a good breaking point when the frog joins the duck. 

10. "One Little Duck"

One little duck went out one day,

Over the hills and far away.

Mother duck said, "Quack, quack, quack, quack."

And two little ducks came waddling back.

(continue to five little ducks)

I used die cut felt ducks to do this song.

11. "Blue Bird, Blue Bird"

Blue bird, blue bird on my window,

Blue bird, blue bird on my window,

Blue bird, blue bird on my window,

Oh, Mommy, I'm tired.

-- borrowed from Jim Thomas

For this song, I use different color birds cut from foam (by the generous Dr. Thomas), blue, red, yellow, and green. While holding the bird in my left hand, I sign with my right. This song incorporates eight signs: each color, bird, window, Mommy, and tired.

12. Read Together - Touch and Feel Baby Animals by Julie Aigner-Clark

I'm lucky enough to have several copies of different board books. At this point in the program, each baby receives a board book. I read the book aloud once, then give the caregivers time to explore the book with their child.

13. "The More We Get Together"
The more we get together,
Together, together,
The more we get together,
The happier we'll be.

Because your friends are my friends,
and my friends are your friends.
The more we get together,
The happier we'll be. 

14. Play Time!

I allow between 10 and 15 minutes of free play for the children. This also allows the caregivers to interact with each other, giving them time for Adult Talk.