Hello Song:
(sung to the tune of "The Farmer in the Dell")
Put your hands on your head,
Put your hands on your knees,
Put your hands behind you now,
If you please.
Put your hands on your tummy,
Put your hands on your toes,
Put your hands upon your cheeks,
Put them on your nose.
Put your hands in the air,
Put your hands on your hair,
Clap your hands, one, two, three
Then fold them on your knees.
Credit: The Very Ready Reading Program
Book: What Pet Should I Get? by Dr. Seuss
Activity Rhyme/Song:
If you're a doggy and you know it bark out loud.
If you're a doggy and you know it bark out loud.
If you're a doggy and you know and you really want to show it
If you're a doggy and you know it bark out loud.
Additional Verses: sit and beg; wag your tail; shake your head; do all fourCredit: 1,000 Fingerplays & Action Rhymes by Barbara A. Scott
Participation Book: When the Silliest Cat Was Small by Gilles Bachelet
Unaware that his pet cat is actually an elephant, the author describes how he selected his "kitten" and recounts their first days together at home.
Song/Hand Rhyme:
1 elephant went out to play upon a spiderweb one day
He had such enormous fun that he called for another elephant to come,
"Hey, Elephant!" (cup hands around mouth and holler; then tap legs for the elephant coming)
Continue to five then...They had such enormous fun that they stayed all day until the day was done.
Credit: Unknown
Book: Rita's Rhino by Tony Ross
When Rita's mother refuses to get her a pet, Rita goes to the zoo and returns with a rhinoceros--but keeping a pet rhino a secret proves to be much trickier than she ever imagined.
Song/Hand Rhyme: (Tune: "My Bonnie Lies Over the Ocean")
My puppy chewed up my new sneakers,
My puppy chewed up my new pants.
My puppy made a puddle in the kitchen.
Oh he tries to be good but he can't.
Oh please, oh pleas,
Help my puppy be good, be good
Oh please, oh please,
Help him learn clothes are not food.Credit: 1,000 Fingerplays & Action Rhymes by Barbara A. Scott
Visual Props Story/Song: Bark George by Jules Feiffer
Our local public library has a George puppet with all of the other animals that you can pull out of his mouth.
A small dog has a difficult time barking and instead makes a variety of other animal sounds. His problem is discovered when his mother takes him to the Vet and the cause of his unusual sounds makes for a fun read-aloud.
Closing Song: (Tune: "The More We Get Together)
The more we read together, together, together
The more we read together,
The happier we'll be.
Big books and small books (reach arms out big then small)
Short books and tall books (reach arms down low then high)
The more we read together
The happier we'll be.
Credit: Unknown