Toddler Music Program

Yesterday I got to observe the second of four classes in the Toddler Music class series we’re trying in the Southwest region. When I asked for program funds, the formal summary I entered on the program form describes the classes thusly:

Nancy Kubo from Musikgarten and John Ackermann from Sunshine Music Together will present two 4-session series of music classes for families with toddlers ages 18 months to 3 years. These programs will be offered at weekend and evening times and will be marketed to families who typically face time and financial barriers to these kinds of experiences.

Basically, toddlers and parents come to the library to get free access to music/movement classes. Which many families get doses of when they come to our story times. But the idea here is that these comprehensive music and movement classes are hitting a different audience than our story times reach – partners who work during weekday morning programs and toddlers who haven't experienced the developmental benefits of a full 30 minutes of music and movement. The families also get a music CD and a scarf to use at home.

Oh! The joy and the wonder of actually seeing it in person! Luckily I took pictures! 

Nancy does a welcoming song

CD player, scarves, egg shakers, bells, rhythm sticks, and other fun toys!

  

It's time to make sounds like horse hooves to the rhythm of the sticks

Evalina and Dylan shake their eggs together

Samantha plays the bells

Time to dance with the scarves!

Beckham gets into the rhythm!

The class series is also being offered at SWT in April. The registration is already full with families being added to a waiting list!

Favorite Books for Toddlers (as of this posting!)

Here is a list of some of my all-time favorite books for reading to Toddlers!
When I choose a book to read aloud at Toddler Story Time I consider books that have:

• Large, colorful pictures of easily recognizeable objects
• Few words per page
• Opportunities to speak in funny voices! (ex. as a squeaky mouse, as a growling bear, etc.)
• Interactive elements (ex. do you see the bear? what does a bear say?) or repeating phrases
• Fun elements! (ex. lift-the-flap, text that can be spoken or sung, pop-ups, fold-outs, etc.)

 From Head to Toe by Eric Carle, features Interactive elements (can you turn your head, kick your feet, etc.) as well as opportunity to do fun voices as different animals!

 Dinosaur Parade byShari Halpern, Early literacy tips: book is great for reading the bigger "story" and also talking about names of dinosaurs, colors, shapes, etc. Also models how we can play with toys to enhance the story (take plastic dino toys and have a parade!)

 Blue Hat, Green Hat bySandra Boynton

 Who Hops? byKatie Davis,

Kids can do the actions while book is read - hop, crawl, slither, fly, swim. Silly element each time the animal that doesn't "hop" etc. is mentioned- "cows hop...NO THEY DON'T!"  Peek-a-who? byMoira Butterfield, Also works really well for baby story time - captured their attention and gave opportunity to talk about animal noises.   I Spy With My Little Eye byEdward Gibbs  Little White Duck byWalt Whippo, Bernard Zaritzky, Joan Paley (Illustrator), can sing the entire book - music score in the front.  Can You Make a Scary Face? byJan Thomas, Great interactive book!   Little Beauty byAnthony Browne  Panda Bear, Panda Bear, What Do You See? byBill Martin Jr., Eric Carle (Illustrator), do voices of animals and have kids do the actions of each (swinging, charging, flying, etc.)  Let's Play In The Forest While The Wolf Is Not Around byClaudia Rueda, I sing "let's play in the forest while the wolf is not around" and all the kids/parents say with me "wolf, are you there?"   ARE YOU MY DADDY? (POP-UP) byDijs Are You My Mommy?: A Pop-Up Book byCarla Dijs  Down by the Station byWill Hillenbrand, Krista Marino (Editor), Fun to sing this book, although a bit long for younger toddlers in a story time setting. Jump, Frog, Jump! byRobert Kalan, Byron Barton (Illustrator)  Clip-Clop (Mr. Horse) byNicola Smee, kids can stomp feet like they're the horse and say "clip-clop, clippity-clop!"  Here Are My Hands byBill Martin Jr., John Archambault, Ted Rand (Illustrator), Kids can point to various parts of their body when mentioned in book - even very young children can do this.   Ten, Nine, Eight byMolly Bang  I Went Walking bySue Williams, Julie Vivas (Illustrator), Simple, lots of repetition, can make animal sounds for each animal.  Mighty Dads byJoan Holub, James Dean (Illustrations), Toddlers love to point out the "baby" vehicles!  Wheels on the Bus byJerry Smath, Classic wheels on the bus for singing or reading. Interesting illustrations with lots happening for kids to look at.  Pete the Cat: I Love My White Shoes byEric Litwin, James Dean (Illustrator), Kids love to sing along, interact by saying what Pete stepped in and what color that turned his shoes, and when storyteller says "Did Pete Cry?" they say "Goodness, no!"  The Napping House byAudrey Wood, Don Wood, After you say "...where everyone is sleeping" have the kids go "shhhhhhh!". Also make noises when animals and people wake up.  Wiggle byDoreen Cronin, Scott Menchin (Illustrations), great for storytimes, kids can wiggle and move around while you read!  Up, Down, and Around byKatherine Ayres, Nadine Bernard Westcott (Illustrator), Perfect for actions while reading. Kids can go "up, down, and all around" when you talk about it in the book. Parents can hold babies up, down, and swing them around for baby storytime.  Dinosaur Rescue! byPenny Dale, Few words, opportunity to make sounds of the different vehicles. Plus, dinos doing people things!  Where's My Teddy? byJez Alborough, short, holds kid' interest, easy to intearct wtih them and ask them questions about what's happening (what was the difference between the teddy bears, how do you think they got switched, etc.)  If You're Happy and You Know It! byJane Cabrera, can sing this book and it has lots of actions.  Walking Through the Jungle byJulie Lacome, actions, easy to get kids to interact and guess what the animals are.  My Bus byByron Barton, great for early math-building skills. Simple, colorful bright pictures, can get kids to interact by counting.  Baby's Got the Blues byCarol Diggory Shields, Lauren Tobia (Illustrations), Very cute, parents liked it a lot. Can speak or sing elements of the "blues" text.  The Babysitter Sings byPhillis Gershator, depicts people with various different skin tones and much of the text can be sung "lullaby" style.  The Croaky Pokey! byEthan Long, singing book with movements - fun alternative words to well known song plus chance to talk about what the animals are doing.  Ten in the Bed byJane Cabrera, singing book - interesting take on old classic, chance to talk about which animals are falling out of the bed  Snip Snap! What's That? byMara Bergman, Nick Maland (Illustrations), use with an alligator puppet, have the kids yell "you bet they were!" every time you say "where the children scared?"  I'm The Biggest Thing in the Ocean byKevin Sherry   The Big Woods Orchestra byGuido Van Genechten, when reading this to the little ones, you can get them to help you make the bird sounds too.  Sing byJoe Raposo, Tom Lichtenheld, parents and kids sing along!  Punk Farm byJarrett J. Krosoczka  Tanka Tanka Skunk! bySteve Webb, repetitive, catchy, gives kids a chance to yell "tanka, tanka" again and again!