Tag Archives: fingerplay

Storytime: Baby Bounce or Movement Rhymes

Baby Bounce Rhymes are a staple of Baby Storytime. Our baby storytimes are designed for ages 0-2, so my example videos often show a little bit more movement than may make sense for a little one you are holding in your arms (especially a little one that needs head support). Many of these baby bounce rhymes can also be adapted for walking babies, who could jump instead of bounce. When little ones have started walking, I encourage grown-ups to do the baby bounce rhymes themselves, even if their little one is standing nearby and doesn’t want to be confined to a lap anymore.

I sometimes refer to baby bounce rhymes as “movement rhymes” instead of bounces because there are many activities that encourage the same behavior as bounce rhymes but instead focus on swaying (or other, similar, full body movements). Regardless of what I call them, when introducing this section of storytime, I always use these activities as an early literacy moment, explaining to parents how bouncing or moving little ones to the rhythm of words helps them hear the small parts of words and builds phonological awareness skills.

Looking for more storytime tools? Check out our Storytime Resources page for links to more content.

Baby Bounce Rhymes

1, 2, 3, 4, 5 I Caught a Fish Alive

1, 2, 3, 4, 5 (bounce)
I caught a fish alive! (hug)
6, 7, 8, 9, 10 (bounce)
Then I let him go again! (tickle)

Acka Backa Soda Cracker

Acka backa soda cracker,
Acka backa boo.
Acka backa soda cracker,
I love you! (hug)

Acka backa soda cracker,
Acka backa boo.
Acka backa soda cracker,
Up goes you! (lift)

Andy Pandy

Andy Pandy Sugar and Candy
All pop down.

Andy Pandy Sugar and Candy
All pop up.

Andy Pandy Sugar and Candy
All pop in.

Andy Pandy Sugar and Candy
All pop out.

Bounce and Stop

We bounce and bounce and bounce and stop!
We bounce and bounce and bounce and stop!
We bounce and bounce and bounce and stop!
Now bounce that baby to the top!

Bouncing, Bouncing

Bouncing, bouncing,
Let’s go bouncing!
Up and down,
All around.

Bouncing, bouncing,
Let’s go bouncing,
Whoops!
Don’t fall down!

The Bouncing Song

Bouncing, bouncing, bouncing, bouncing,
Bouncing, bouncing, STOP!

Bouncing, bouncing, bouncing, bouncing,
Right up to the top!

Continue with: Rocking, Clapping, Tapping, Tickling

A Bouncing We Will Go

A bouncing we will go,
A bouncing we will go,
Hi ho the derry o,
A bouncing we will go.

Continue with: rocking, tickling

Did You Ever See a Baby?

Did you ever see a baby, a baby, a baby?
Did you ever see a baby go this way and that?
Go this way and that way, and that way and this way?
Did you ever see a baby go this way and that?

Dump Truck

Dump truck dump truck, bumpin’ down the road.
Spillin’ out gravel as you travel with your load.
Bumpety, bumpety, bump, bump, bump!
Dump truck, dump truck, dump truck,
DUMP!

Five Little Riders

Five little riders on a nice fall day,
Jumped on their ponies and rode far away.

They galloped in the meadow.
They galloped up a hill. (lift)
They galloped so fast,
That they all took a spill. (tip over)

Giddy Up

Giddy up, giddy up, ride to town.
Giddy up, giddy up, UP and DOWN (lift).
Giddy up fast!
Giddy up slow!
Giddy up, giddy up, giddy up, WHOA! (tilt)

Gregory Griggs

Gregory Griggs, Gregory Griggs,
Had 27 different wigs.
He wore them up,
He wore them down.
To please the people of the town.
He wore them east.
He wore them west.
But which one did he love the best?
This one!

Here We Go Bumpy Boo

Here we go bumpy-boo
Here we go bumpy-bye
Here we go bumpy-bee
All on top of my knee.

I bounce you to the left.
I bounce you to the right.
I bounce you up and down.
I bounce you out of sight!

Here we go bumpy-boo
Here we go bumpy-bye
Here we go bumpy-bee
All on top of my knee.

I bounce you very fast.
I bounce you very slow.
I bounce you up and down.
And back we both do go!

Here We Go Up, Up, Up

Here we go up, up, up!
Here we go down, down, down,
Here we go back and forth,
And here we go round and round!

Here’s a Little Pumpkin

Here’s a little pumpkin bouncing on the vine.
Roll it left, and roll it right,
And bounce it bounce it down the line!

Continue with:
Medium pumpkin…medium bounces
Great big pumpkin…great big bounces

Hippity Hop

Hippity hop to the candy shop,
To buy ourselves some candy.
Some for you and some for me,
And some for sister Mandy!

A Hippopotamus

A hip, a hip, a hippopotamus
Got on, got on, got on a city bus,
And all, and all, and all the people said,
You’re squishing us! (hug)

A cow, cow, a cow got on the bus,
And all, and all, and all the people said,
Moooooooooove over (tilt to side)

A sheep, a sheep, a sheep got on the bus,
And all, and all, and all the people said,
Baaaaaaaaaaccckkkk up (lean back)

Humpy Dumpty

We rock and rock and rock on the wall, (sway)
We rock and rock, I hope we don’t fall!

Humpty Dumpty sat on the wall,
Humpty Dumpty had a great fall! (tilt sideways)

All the king’s horses and all the king’s men (bounce)
Couldn’t put Humpty together again!

I’m Bouncing

I’m bouncing, bouncing everywhere.
I bounce and bounce into the air.
I’m bouncing, bouncing like a ball.
I bounce and bounce and then I fall.

Jelly on a Plate

Jelly on a plate, jelly on a plate,
Wibble wobble, wibble, wobble, jelly on a plate.

Candy in a jar, candy in a jar,
Shake ’em up, shake ’em up, candy in a jar.

Candles on a cake, candles on a cake,
Blow ’em out, blow ’em out, candles on a cake.

Old Grey Mare

Clip, clip, clippety clop,
Clippety, clippety, clop.
The old grey mare goes up and down,
Until it’s time to stop!

Popcorn, Popcorn

Popcorn, popcorn sizzle in the pan.
Shake it, shake it, bam, bam, BAM!

Popcorn, popcorn now it’s getting hot!
Shake it, shake it, pop, pop, POP!

Ride That Horsey

Ride baby ride, ch ch ch ch ch!
Ride that horsey ride, ch ch ch ch ch!

Ride baby ride, ch ch ch ch ch!
Ride that horsey ride, ch ch ch ch ch!

Repeat in a whisper.
Repeat really loud!

WHOA!

Rocking Horse

Rocking horse, rocking horse, to and fro,
Side to side and away we go,
Rocking horse, rocking horse, front and back,
Don’t fall off just like that.

Woah!

Snuggle Up

Snuggle up together,
Baby in your lap.
Snuggle up together,
And clap, clap, clap!

Snuggle up together.
Don’t you nap!
Snuggle up together,
And tap, tap, tap!

We’re working out together.
Baby don’t stop.
We’re working out together,
So hop, hop, hop!

Now our song is over,
Get ready to stop!
Now our song is over,
So stop, stop, stop!

Tick Tock

Tick, tock, tick, tock,
I’m a little cuckoo clock.
Tick, tock, tick, tock,
Now it’s almost one o’clock.
Cuckoo! (lift)

Tiny Little Babies

Tiny little babies love bouncin’ bouncin’,
Tiny little babies love bouncin’ so.
Tiny little babies love bouncin’ bouncin’
Tiny little babies love bouncin’ yeah.

Bounce to the left,
Bounce to the right,
Now hug that baby nice and tight.

Toast in the Toaster

I’m toast in the toaster.
I’m getting very hot.
Tick tock, tick tock,
Up I pop! (lift)

Two Little Boats

(rock front to back)

Two little boats went out to sea.
All is calm as calm can be.

(rock side to side)

Gently the wind begins to blow.
Two little boats rock to and fro.

(bounce)

Loudly the wind begins to shout!
Two little boats they bounce about.

(freeze then rock front to back)

STOP goes the storm, the wind, and rain.
Two little boats sail on again.

Zoom Down the Freeway

Zoom down the freeway!
Zoom down the freeway!
Zoom down the freeway!
FAST! (tickle)

Up goes the drawbridge
Up goes the drawbridge
Up goes the drawbridge
A ship is going past.

Down goes the drawbridge
Down goes the drawbridge
Down goes the drawbridge
The ship has passed at last.

Zoom down the freeway!
Zoom down the freeway!
Zoom down the freeway!
FAST! (tickle)

Zoom, Zoom, Zoom

Zoom, zoom, zoom,
We’re going to the moon.
Zoom, zoom, zoom,
We’ll get there very soon.

In 5, 4, 3, 2, 1…
BLAST OFF!

Storytime: Fingerplays

Fingerplays are awesome! Fingerplays are especially fantastic for toddlers and preschoolers, allowing them to practice controlling their fingers in specific ways while building those finger muscles they will need for writing. I sometimes include fingerplays in baby storytimes, but I’ve been able to explore fingerplays more since I’ve started presenting toddler and preschool virtual storytimes.

Looking for more storytime tools? Check out our Storytime Resources page for links to more content.

Problems with 10 Littles

Ten Little Indians. I’ve heard librarians use it (with those original words). For a while, I used adapted fingerplays to the same tune with different words, but I’ve stopped. I may attempt to avoid dehumanizing Indigenous people by not counting Indians like they are toys, but the few times I used this fingerplay, some caregiver would often mess up my new words and loudly use the original words because they are so associated with the tune.

At the beginning of virtual storytimes, I shifted to a different counting tune I found while watching other library storytimes (I have one, I have two, I have three little fingers). I adapted this a lot virtually because it was a quick, easy fingerplay that was just…easy to adapt.

But. Not everyone has 10 little fingers. Or 10 little toes. Or 5 little fingers. I’ve made storytime videos using ten fingers that I am not highlighting below. I’m including fingerplays that count up to five, though I want to eventually phase those out to or make videos where we count to five using two hands instead of always just using one. How do you think about inclusivity in your fingerplays and overall storytime plans? What other elements to this am I not thinking about?

Fingerplays

Thinking about some of the inclusivity lessons I mentioned above, plus that some kids can’t bend their fingers one at a time, I’m also including action rhymes that focus on hand motions.

Bananas Unite

Bananas unite!

Peel bananas.
Peel, peel bananas.
Peel bananas.
Peel, peel bananas.

Continue with: Chop, Mash, Eat

GOOOOOO BANANAS!

Bubble, Bubble Pop!

One little red fish
Swimming in the water,
Swimming in the water,
Swimming in the water.

One little red fish
Swimming in the water,
Bubble, bubble, bubble, bubble (roll arms)
POP! (clap)

Clap Them

Clap them, clap them, clap them so.
Clap them high!
Clap them low.
Clap them left.
Clap them right.
Clap them, clap them, out of sight!

Continue with: roll them, shake them

Cool Cat

Hey there everybody, you’re a real cool cat.
You got a lot of this,
And you got a lot of that.
So come on in
And get down (ch ch ch ch ch ch)
To the left (ch ch ch ch ch ch)
To the right (ch ch ch ch ch ch)
Up in the air (ch ch ch ch ch ch)
And get down (ch ch ch ch ch ch)

Dance Your Fingers Up

Dance your fingers up.
Dance your fingers down.
Dance your fingers side to side.
Dance them all around.

Dance them on your shoulders.
Dance them on your head.
Dance them on your tummy.
And put them all to bed.

Five Fat Peas

Five fat peas in a peapod pressed.
One grew, two grew,
And so did all the rest.

They grew, and they grew,
And they wouldn’t stop.
They grew, and they grew,
Until they popped! (clap)

Five Green and Speckled Frogs

Five green and speckled frogs
Sitting on a spaced log.
Eating the most delicious lunch,
Yum, yum!

One jumped into the pool
Where it was nice and cool
Then there were four green and speckled frogs
Ribbet, Ribbet.

Continue with: 4, 3, 2, 1

Five Little Caterpillars

Five little caterpillars wiggling on a leaf,
One falls off, goes to sleep.
Close her eyes and wait a week,
Up come a butterfly floating on the breeze.

Repeat with: 4, 3, 2, 1, None

Five Little Hot Dogs

Five little hot dogs
Frying in a pan.
The grease for hot,
And one went BAM!

Continue with: 4, 3, 2, 1

Five Little Pumpkins

Five little pumpkins sitting on the gate
The first one said, “Oh, my it’s getting late.”
The second one said, “There are witches in the air.”
The third one said, “But we don’t care!”
The fourth one said, “Let’s run and run and run.”
The fifth one said, “Let’s have some fun!”
Ooooooooo went the wind, and out went the light.
And five little pumpkins rolled out of sight.

Five Little Snowmen

Five little snowmen went out one day!
Rolling through the snow
They played and played.

Out came the sun,
And it shined so bright,
One little snowmen melted out of sight!

Repeat with 4, 3, 2, 1

Funky Spunky Monkeys

Funky spunky monkey
Climbed up the coconut tree
Down came the coconut
And bonked him on his knee
Along came his mama
And kissed away the pain
And the funky spunky monkey
Climbed up the tree again.

Here is the Beehive

Here is the beehive,
But where are the bees?
Hidden away where nobody sees.
Watch and you’ll see them come out of the hive…
1, 2, 3, 4, 5…They’re alive!
Buzzzzzzzzz

Here’s a Llama

Here’s a llama!
There’s a llama!
Llama Llama Red Pajama!
Fuzzy llama!
Funny llama!
Llama, llama, duck!

I Built a Little Snowman

I built a little snowman.
He had a carrot nose!
Along came a bunny,
And what do you suppose?

The hungry little bunny
Looking for his lunch,
Ate the carrot nose…
Nibble, nibble, crunch!

Itsy Bitsy Spider

The Itsy Bitsy Spider
Went up the water spout.
Down came the rain and
Washed the spider out.
Out came the sun and
Dried up all the rain
And the Itsy Bitsy Spider
Went up the spout again.

Itsy Bitsy Spider (Audiation)

The Itsy Bitsy Spider went up the water spout.
Down came the rain and washed the spider out.
Out came the sun and dried up all the rain.
And the Itsy Bitsy Spider went up the spout again.

Leaves on the Trees

The leaves on the trees turn orange and red,
Orange and red,
Orange and red.
The leaves on the trees turn orange and red, all around the town.

The leaves on the trees come twirling down,
Twirling down,
Twirling down.
The leaves on the trees come twirling down, all around the town.

The leaves on the ground go swish, swish, swish,
Swish, swish, swish,
Swish, swish, swish.
The leaves on the ground go swish, swish, swish, all around the town.

Little Mousie Brown

Little Mousie Brown
Little Mousie Brown
Climbed up the big, white candlestick
And couldn’t get back down.

So she called to her Grandma,
“Grandma! Grandma!”
But Grandma was not around.
So she curled into a little ball,
And rolled herself back down.

Mix a Pancake

Mix a pancake.
Stir a pancake.
Pop it in a pan.
Fry a pancake.
Toss a pancake.
Catch it if you can!

My Garden

Here is my garden.
Rake it with care.
And then, some seeds
We’ll plant in there!

The sun will shine,
The rain will fall,
And then my garden
Will grow big and tall.

Open Shut Them

Open, shut them.
Open, shut them.
Let your hands go clap, clap, clap!

Open, shut them.
Opem, shut them.
Drop them in your lap, lap, lap!

Walk them, walk them,
Walk them, walk them,
Right up to your chin, chin, chin!

Open up your little mouth,
But do not let them in!

Point to the Ceiling

Point to the ceiling.
Point to the floor.
Point to a window.
Point to the door!

Point to your elbow.
Point to your knee.
Now sit down,
And point at me!

Put Your Claws

Put your claws in the air.
Put your claws on the ground.
Put your claws in the middle,
And wiggle them around.

Put your claws to the side,
And pretend to soar!
Put your claws to your mouth,
And give a big ROAR!

Rain Is Falling Down

The rain is falling down splash (clap)
The rain is falling down splash (clap)
Pitter-patter, pitter, patter
The rain is falling down splash (clap)

The sun is peeking out peek
The sun is peeking out peek
Peek-a-boo, Peek-a-boo
The sun is peeking out peek

Roll Roll Sugar Babies

Roll roll sugar babies,
Roll roll sugar babies,
Push and pull
And clap, clap, clap!

Roll roll sugar babies,
Roll roll sugar babies,
Push and pull
And clap, clap, clap!

Roll up high!
Roll down low.
Roll real fast!
Roll real slow.

Roll roll sugar babies,
Roll roll sugar babies,
Push and pull
And clap, clap, clap!

Shapes

A circle is a shape that is round
A circle is a shape that is round
A circle is round, no corners can be found
A circle is a shape that is round

A triangle has three sides, three sides, three sides
A triangle has three sides, 1, 2, 3
A triangle has three corners, three corners, three corners
A triangle has three corners, 1, 2, 3

I am a square. A lovely square!
I have four sides. They are all the same!
I have four corners, four lovely corners.
I am a square, and square is my name.

Slowly, Slowly

Slowly, slowly, very slowly,
Creeped the garden snail.
Slowly, slowly, very slowly
Up the wooden rail.

Quickly, quickly, very quickly
Ran the little mouse.
Quickly, quickly, very quickly,
Round about the house!

Snowflakes and Icicles

Snowflakes float so smoothly to the ground
Smoothly to the ground
Smoothly to the ground
Snowflakes float so smoothly to the ground
Twirling round and round.

Icicles are sharp and cold
Sharp and cold
Sharp and cold
Icicles are sharp and cold
Sparkling like gold.

These Little Fingers

These little fingers go
Wiggle, wiggle, wiggle,
Wiggle, wiggle, wiggle,
Wiggle, wiggle, wiggle
These little fingers go
Wiggle, wiggle, wiggle
And now they’re on my…HEAD!

Continue with: tummy, feet

There Was a Crocodile

There was a crocodile,
An orangutan,
A flying eagle,
And a silvery fish.

A bunny,
A beaver,
A crazy elephant,
Da na na na na na
Da na na na na na

This is Big

This is big big big.
This is small small small.

This is short short short.
This is tall tall tall.

This is fast fast fast.
This is slow slow slow.

This is yes yes yes yes.
This is no no no no.

Tiny Tim

I have a friendly frog.
His name is Tiny Tim!
I put him in the bathtub,
To see if he could swim.

He drank up all the water!
He ate up all the soap!
And now he’s home sick in bed,
With bubbles in his throat!

Bubble bubble bubble
Bubble bubble POP!
Bubble bubble bubble
Bubble bubble POP!

Repeat with tiny frog and giant frog.

Two Little Friends

Two little friends sitting on a hill,
One named Jack and one named Jill.
Run away Jack! Run away Jill!
Come back Jack. Come back Jill.

Two little friends sitting on a cloud.
One named soft and one named LOUD.
Run away soft! Run away loud!
Come back soft. Come back loud.

Two little friends sitting down below.
One named fast and one named slow.
Run away fast! Run away slow.
Come back fast! Come back slow.

Two Little Pigeons

Two little pigeons sittin’ on a hill
One named Jack and one named Jill.
Run away Jack, run away Jill.
Come back Jack, come back Jill.

Two little pigeons sittin’ on a cloud.
One named soft and one named loud.
Run away soft, run away loud.
Come back soft, come back loud.

Two little pigeons sittin’ down below.
One named fast and one named slow.
Run away fast, run away slow.
Come back fast, come back slow.

Two Little Llamas

Two little llamas sitting on a hill,
One named Jack and one named Jill.
Run away Jack! Run away Jill!
Come back Jack. Come back Jill.

Two little llamas sitting on a cloud.
One named soft and one named LOUD.
Run away soft! Run away loud!
Come back soft. Come back loud.

Two little llamas sitting down below.
One named fast and one named slow.
Run away fast! Run away slow.
Come back fast! Come back slow.

Zoom, Zoom, Zoom

Zoom, zoom, zoom,
We’re going to the moon.
Zoom, zoom, zoom,
We’ll get there very soon.

If you want to take a trip,
Climb aboard my rocket ship.
Zoom, zoom, zoom,
We’re going to the moon.

In 5, 4, 3, 2, 1…
BLAST OFF!