Born to Read toddler storytime rhymes and games

Rhymes | Tickle Rhymes | Bouncing Rhymes

Rhymes   

Tall as a Tree/Jack in the Box

Tall as a tree  (arms in the air)
Wide as a house  (arms out to the side)
This as a pin  (arms down)
Small as a mouse  (crouch down)

Jack in the box (still crouched down, hands over head like a lid)
So quiet and still
Will you come out?
Of course I will!  (jump up)

Davy Davy Dumpling

Davy Davy Dumpling
Boil him in the pot (wiggle child)
Sugar him (tickle gently)
And butter him (stroke gently)
And eat him while he’s hot! (nibble child’s  neck, ears, cheeks)

The Grand Old Duke of York 

(child can be lifted up and down by an adult, or move arms up and down independently)

The Grand Old Duke of York
He had ten thousand men.
He marched them up to the top of the hill
And he marched them down again!
And when they’re up, they’re up.
And when they’re down, they’re down.
And when they’re only half-way up,
They’re neither up nor down!

Two Little Birds Sitting on a Cloud

(storytime leader may wear bird puppets on hands)

Two little birds sitting on a cloud  (index fingers held out in front)
One named soft and the other named LOUD
Fly away soft, fly away LOUD.  (one index finger behind the back and then the other)
Come back soft, come back LOUD.  (one index finger back in front and then the other)
Two little birds sitting on a cloud  (index fingers held out in front)
One named soft and the other named LOUD

We’re Going to Kentucky

We’re going to Kentucky  (clap)
We’re going to the fair
To see the senorita with flowers in her hair!
Oh, shake it, baby, shake it  (shake)
Shake it if you can
Shake it like a milkshake
And pour it in a pan!
We rumble to the bottom  (roll arms to the floor)
We rumble to the top   (roll arms up in the air)
And turn around, and turn around,
And turn around and STOP!

Tommy Thumbs Up

Tommy thumbs up
Tommy thumbs down
Tommy thumbs dancing all around the town
Dance them on your shoulders
Dance them on your head
Dance them on your knees
And tuck them into bed!

I Put My Arms Up High

I put my arms up high
I put my arms down low
I put my arms out to the side
And then I let them go!

I’m a Little Pumpkin (to the tune of I’m a Little Teapot)

I’m a little pumpkin short and stout 
Here are my eyes and here is my mouth
When it’s Halloween and you are out
Just lift my lid and hear me shout – BOO!

I’m a Little Snowman (to the tune of I’m a Little Teapot)

I’m a little snowman short and stout
Here is my broomstick (hold arm out to the side with hand in a fist)
Here is my hat (tap head)
When the sun comes out (hands over head in a circle)
I melt away (bring hands down)
Down, down, down, down (slowly come down to the floor)
Whoops!  I’m a puddle!  (lay down on the floor)

Snow is Falling (to the tune of Twinkle, Twinkle)

Snow is falling all around (wiggle fingers to imitate snow falling)
On the rooftops (make a rooftop over head with hands)
On the ground (touch the ground)

Snow is falling on my nose
On my head and on my toes

Snow is falling all around (wiggle fingers to imitate snow falling)
On the rooftops (make a rooftop over head with hands)
On the ground (touch the ground)

The Wheels on the Bus

The wheels on the bus go round and round  (roll hands)
Round and round, round and round
The wheels on the bus go round and round
All through the town

The people on the bus go up and down, etc

The wipers on the bus go swish, swish, swish, etc

The horn on the bus goes beep, beep, beep, etc.

The babies on the bus go wah, wah, wah, etc.

The parents on the bus go shh, shh, shh, etc.

I’m a Little Cuckoo Clock

I’m a little cuckoo clock (rock child back and forth in lap)
Tick tock, tick tock
Now I’m striking one o’clock
Cuckoo!   Cuckoo!  (lift child in the air one time)

I’m a little cuckoo clock  (rock child back and forth in lap)
Tick tock, tick tock
Now I’m striking two o’clock
Cuckoo!   Cuckoo!  (lift child in the air two times)

Tickle Rhymes   

Round and Round the Garden

Round and round the garden  (trace circle on child’s tummy)
Like a teddy bear
One step, two steps, (walk fingers up chest)
Tickle you under there!

Criss Cross Applesauce

Criss Cross Applesauce  (trace an “X” on child’s back)
Fingers crawling up your back
Cool breeze  (blow on child’s neck)
Tight squeeze  (give child a hug)
Now you’ve got the shivers! (tickle)

Round and Round the Butter Dish

Round and round the butter dish (trace circle on child’s tummy)
One, two, three!  (walk fingers up chest)
A little here, a little there,   (tap one cheek and then the other)
As tasty as can be!  (tickle)

Pizza, Pickle, Pumpernickel

Pizza, pickle, pumpernickel,  (trace circle on child’s tummy)
My little honey’s going to get a tickle!
One for your elbow,
One for your toes,
And one for your belly
Where the hot dog goes!

Bouncing Rhymes   

Andy Spandy

Andy Spandy, Sugardy Candy (slowly)
French Almond Rock
Bread and butter  (faster)
For your supper’s
All your mother’s got!

Trot Trot to London

Trot trot to London
Trot trot to Dover
Look out, honey
You might fall OVER!  (tip child over)

Trot trot to Boston
Trot trot to Lynn
Look out, honey
You might fall IN!  (let child fall between legs)

Father & Mother & Uncle John

Father and Mother and Uncle John
Rode to town one by one.
Father fell off – whoooo!
Mother fell off – whoooo!
But Uncle John rode on and on and on!

And what kind of road did her ride on?
A smooth road, a smooth road
A rough road, a rough road
A bumpy road, a bumpy road
A HOLE!  (let child fall between legs)

I Have A Little Pony

I have a little pony  (slowly)
His name is Macaroni
He trots and trots and then he STOPS! (pause)
My silly little pony Macaroni! (faster)

To Market, To Market

To market, to market
To buy a fat pig.
Home again, home again , jiggety-jig

To market, to market
To buy a fat hog.
Home again, home again , jiggety-jog

To market, to market
To but a plum bun.
Home again, home again,
Market is done!

Bumping Up and Down in My Little Red Wagon

Bumping up and down in my little red wagon
Bumping up and down in my little red wagon
Bumping up and down in my little red wagon
Won’t you be my darling?

Front wheel’s off and the axle’s broken (tip child to one side)
Front wheel’s off and the axle’s broken
Front wheel’s off and the axle’s broken
Won’t you be my darling?

Icky Bicky Soda Cracker

Icky bicky soda cracker
Icky bicky boo
Icky bicky soda cracker
Up goes you!  (lift child up)

Icky bicky soda cracker
Icky bicky boo
Icky bicky soda cracker
I love you!  (give child a hug)

Tommy O’Flynn

Tommy O’Flynn and his old gray mare
Went off to see the county fair
The bridge fell out and the bridge fell in (let child fall between legs)
And that was the end of Tommy O’Flynn, O’Flynn, O’Flynn

Horsey, Horsey

Horsey, horsey come ride with me
Across the land, across the sea
Horsey, horsey come ride with me
But do not let me fall!  (tip child to one side)

Jelly on the Plate

Jelly on the plate
Jelly on the plate
Wibble wobble, wibble wobble  (move child back and forth on lap)
Jelly on the plate

Candies in the jar
Candies in the jar
Shake them up, shake them up  (gently shake child)
Candies in the jar

Candles on the cake
Candles on the cake
Blow them out, blow them out  (blow on child’s neck)
Candles on the cake