Trains for Babies
Storytimes for babies and toddlers offer an opportunity to model great read-aloud techniques for parents and gives them the confidence to read to their children every day. A baby-toddler storytime can be followed by an extra 20 to 30 minutes of playtime, which encourages parents to talk to each other and for the young children to learn to play with others. It also demonstrates the importance of play to parents.
Welcome song: “Hello Everybody, Yes Indeed”
Mother Goose Rhyme: “Peanut Butter”
Get ready song: “Open, Shut Them”
First book: Big Choo by Stephen Shaskan. Little Choo wants to climb the steep mountain but needs motivation. Filled with onomatopoeia.
Fingerplay: “Here Are Grandma’s Glasses”
Stretching song: “Good Morning, Good Morning”
Second book: Steam Train, Dream Train by Sherri Duskey Rinker. In this rhyming story, a train is loaded with lots of fun animals in the middle of the night.
Fingerplay: “The Little Red Train Going Down the Track”
Movement song: “Head, Shoulders, Knees, and Toes”
Third book: Freight Train by Donald Crews. Colors are demonstrated in this Caldecott Honor book.
Song: “Down by the Station”
Extra book if needed: Trains Go by Steve Light. Various trains are introduced in this book filled with sound effects.
Board book for parents: Chugga Chugga Choo Choo by Emma Garcia. With lots of repetition, a little red train travels from seashore to the city.
Closing song: “The More We Get Together”