Rainbow Songs

August 1, 2019 by Storytime Ukulele

My city celebrates Pride mid-summer, so all the rainbow (and love and family) songs I know are dancing through my mind. Much credit for this goes to the amazing storytimers I work with who are so generous in sharing their knowledge and creativity. Thank you Suzy for the multicolour sheep idea, Jamie for inventing the rainbow verse in Rain is Falling Down, and Lindsey for introducing Colours Over You and Rainbow Dancers.

Rainbow Dancers is from Dr. Pam Schiller’s 2006 album Start Smart Songs for 1s 2s and 3s, and you can listen to a clip here. I think this song uses the tune of The Paw Paw Patch, but you can also chant it as per Jbrary. I’m posting a shortened version with just a few verses. For more directions and movements to try at your program see the lyrics at Storytime ABCs.

I usually sing Rain is Falling Down a capella so I can lead the hand gestures, but I’ve fumbled a couple chords that would work if you feel like strumming along. For this post, links in the song titles take you to Jbrary versions of the songs.

Rain is Falling DownC                    (stop) Rain is falling down. Splash! C                    (stop) Rain is falling down. Splash! G7 Pitter patter, pitter patter C    (stop) Rain is falling down. Splash!
Verses Sun is peeking out. Peek!... Peeking here, peeking there...
Rainbows everywhere. Wow!... Rainbows here, rainbows there...

Colours Over You
Tune: Twinkle Twinkle Little StarC              F          C Red and green and yellow and blue F    C       G7   C These are the colours over you C            F    C    G7 Red like an apple, green like a tree C    F     C    G7 Yellow like the sun and blue like the sea C    F         C Red and green and yellow and blue F    C G7 C These are the colours over you

Rainbow Dancers
Tune: Paw Paw PatchC Rainbow dancers let’s get ready G7 Hold your scarves nice and steady C You’ll hear the colours of the rainbow G7 C (stop) Listen for your time to go
Shake red… Shake orange… Shake yellow… Shake green… Shake blue… Shake purple…
C Rainbow dancers, dance around G7 Scarves swirl up and down C Overhead and on the ground G7    C Rainbows flying all around

Make a Rainbow
Tune: Skip to My LouC
Take a strawberry, put it in a pot G7 Stir it, stir it, stir it a lot C Take it out and what'll it be? G7    C The prettiest red you ever did see
Verses Other food felts/colours until the rainbow or flag is complete

Felt Story Extensions
I made arc and flag rainbows for Make a Rainbow so I could use this set in different ways, and I paired it with the rainbow foods I made for Aiken Drum. Most versions of this story use fruits for all the colours.

If your preschoolers are as rainbow-enthralled as mine, consider enhancing familiar colour-themed songs and rhymes with bonus felts. I haven’t made my Little Mouse a rainbow house yet, but here are my felts for Take Me for a Ride in your Rainbow Car and Baa Baa Rainbow Sheep.

Farmer Brown Had Five Green Apples (and variations)

August 31, 2017 by Storytime Ukulele

This mathematical harvest song was requested by my colleague Kate, the author of the pumpkin variation below. I’ve made a couple simple felts to use alongside, as a visual aid is particularly helpful when adding or subtracting with little ones (or reminding distracted adults whereabouts in the song we are). My friend Francesca encourages discussion and emotional awareness when she sings this, asking the children how else they might eat their apples (excitedly, quickly, sadly, etc).

If you’d like to de-Halloween the pumpkin version, sing “cooked” instead of “carved.” Then generate a little thought by asking what that pumpkin might be cooked into. You can listen to it via our song inspiration, Sharon Lois and Bram.

Farmer Brown Had Five Green ApplesC G7 C Farmer Brown had five green apples hanging on a tree G7 C Farmer Brown had five green apples hanging on a tree F C G7 C Then s/he plucked one apple and s/he ate it hungrily G7 C Leaving four green apples hanging on the tree...

Farmer Brown Had Three Orange Pumpkins
Farmer Brown Has Three Orange PumpkinsC G7 C Farmer Brown has three orange pumpkins sittin’ by a tree G7 C Farmer Brown has three orange pumpkins sittin’ by a tree F C G7 C So s/he grabbed one pumpkin and s/he carved it happily G7 C Leaving two orange pumpkins a sittin’ by the tree...

For more storytime felting ideas, see this week’s Flannel Friday roundup at One for the Books

More Halloween Songs

October 6, 2016 by Storytime Ukulele

Last year I collected a great big round up of slightly spooky songs, and I’ve come across a few more fun ones that I wanted to share.

For all these songs, you can click the song titles to see my sources. I altered the first song a little (green ghosts didn’t match my felts, and kids seem more rambunctious than delicious). Scroll down to the bottom for more about the felts.

5-grey-and-spooky-ghosts
Five Grey and Spooky Ghosts
Tune: Five Green and Speckled FrogsG Five grey and spooky ghosts C Doing what they love most G D Scaring some most rambunctious kids (Boo! Boo!) G One flew into the sky C Where it was nice and dry G D G Now there are four grey spooky ghosts (Boo! Boo!)

4... 3... 2... 1...

haunted-barn
Old MacDonald Had a Haunted House
Tune: Old MacDonaldC F C G7 C Old MacDonald had a haunted house, E - I - E - I - Boo! F C G7 C And in that house there was a bat, E - I - E - I - Boo! C With a flap flap here, and a flap flap there C Here a flap, there a flap, everywhere a flap flap F C G7 C Old MacDonald had a haunted house, E - I - E - I - Boo!

Verses Owl... hoot... Mouse... squeak... Spider... creep... Cat... meow... Ghost... boo...

The Spooky Pokey
Tune: The Hokey PokeyC You put your foot bones in, you take your foot bones out G7 You put your foot bones in, and you shake them all about G7 You do the spooky pokey, and you turn yourself around C That’s what it’s all about!

Verses Hand bones... Funny bone (elbow)... Back bones... Neck bones... Skeleton...

Felt Story Extensions
The ghost felts are cut freehand, while Old MacDonald is an extension of the Old MacDonald guessing game. Owl, bat, and mouse templates are from Pattern Universe. I’d like to make a set of haunted houses as well, but for now we’ll sing it as “haunted barn.”

You can also use the barn/animal set with the rhyme, “Little ghost playing hide and seek… Are you in the orange barn? Let’s take a peek.”

For more Halloween felt ideas, check out this week’s Flannel Friday round-up over at Thrive After Three.

Love Me Tender (and variations)

January 21, 2016 by Storytime Ukulele

Love Me Tender isn’t one of my usual storytime songs, but it would be a fun one to try. And I do have two sweet variations on the tune. Dennis Lee‘s Rock Me Easy is one of my favourite lullabies for babytime. When I sing it, it soothes me too.

I’ve only recently learned You’re My Rainbow from my colleague Kelly, and I patterned most of my felt story on hers (which she in turn received from another children’s librarian [thanks Tess!]). The pie and rainbow are the exceptions, based on Open Clipart images.

Love Me Tender is by Elvis Presley and Ken Darby (who is sometimes credited as Vera Matson), and I’ve found the chords in a number of different keys. C was the easiest for me this time, and although I’ve simplified it slightly it’s still a little trickier than most of the songs I post here due to the key change in the middle. If you don’t like that E7, you might want to try playing in F (as posted on Doctor Uke).

Love Me TenderC D7 Love me tender, love me sweet G7 C Never let me go C D7 You have made my life complete G7 C and I love you so E7 C Love me tender love me true F C All my dreams fulfilled D7 For my darling I love you G7 C And I always will

Rock Me EasyC D7 Rock me easy, rock me slow G7 C Rock me where the robins go D7 Rock the branch and rock the bough G7 C Rock the baby robins now E7 C Rock me up and rock me down F C Rock me off to sleepy town D7 Rock me gently up the stairs G7 C To snuggle with my teddy bears D7 Rock me easy, rock me slow G7 C Rock me where the robins go

You’re My Rainbow C D7 You’re my rainbow, you’re my star G7 C You’re my bright red cookie jar D7 You’re my goldfish, you’re my pie G7 C You’re the apple of my eye E7 C You’re my rainbow, you’re my star F C You’re my bright red cookie jar D7 You’re my daisy, you’re my vine G7 C You’re my own true Valentine

This is the third in a series of love-the-littles songs.

Jingle Bells

December 10, 2015 by Storytime Ukulele

If you only sing one holiday song at your storytime, it’s likely to be Jingle Bells, so here’s a nice simple version that I expect will be getting a lot of play in my own programs this month. If you prefer to play your songs with 3 chords or less, you can skip the D7. I assure you, the kids won’t notice.

And if you’re feeling playful, try Walter Minkel’s delightfully silly Jungle Bells. I’ve been meaning to play this one at my own storytimes for ages, and this might just be the year for it.

Jingle Bells is such a perennial favourite that we often forget to credit it, but I’d like to note that this was written in the 1850’s by James Lord Pierpont.

Jingle Bells C F Dashing through the snow in a one horse open sleigh G7 C O'er the fields we go laughing all the way F Bells on bob tails ring making spirits bright G7 C What fun it is to laugh and sing a sleighing song tonight G7 C Oh, jingle bells, jingle bells jingle all the way F C (D7) G7 Oh, what fun it is to ride in a one horse open sleigh C Jingle bells, jingle bells, jingle all the way F C G7 C Oh, what fun it is to ride in a one horse open sleigh

Jungle Bells C F Dashing down the river, dashing down the Nile G7 C Dashing down that river, on the back of a crocodile F Hear hyenas laugh, hearing lions roar G7 C When you ride for a while on a crocodile, you’ll want to ride some more G7 C Oh, Jungle bells, jungle bells, jungle all the way F C (D7) G7 Oh, what fun it is to ride on a crocodile today (hey!) C Jungle bells, jungle bells, jungle all the way F C G7 C Oh what fun it is to ride on a crocodile today

Must Be Santa

December 3, 2015 by Storytime Ukulele

For a few reasons (program timing, inclination, community) I don’t sing a lot of Christmas songs in my library. But if you do, this one is a fun cumulative, call and response that can also be extended with a felt story.

The songwriters are Hal Moore and Bill Fredericks, and it was first recorded in 1960, although if you’re a storytimer you’re probably more familiar with Raffi’s recording. This is a slightly simplified version (no bridge, fewer transitions), and I’ve transposed it into an easy ukulele key. If you like to sing/play in G, try it as G/D/C.

Must Be SantaC G7 Who's got a beard that's long and white? C Santa's got a beard that's long and white G7 Who comes around on a special night C Santa comes around on a special night C Special night, beard that's white F C Must be Santa, must be Santa, G7 C Must be Santa, Santa Claus

Verses Who wears boots and a suit of red / long cap on his head... Who's got a big red cherry nose / laughs this way HO HO HO... Who very soon will come our way / eight little reindeer pull his sleigh...

Felt Story Extension
Here are a couple photos of my version (complete Santa, and component pieces). I used clip-art for the sleigh, and my colleague Linda’s reindeer pattern, but otherwise it’s original. The base Santa is adapted from a paper doll pattern.

This week’s Flannel Friday is hosted at What Happens in Storytime, so check them out for more winter and holiday ideas.

Halloween Ukulele Songs

October 8, 2015 by Storytime Ukulele

Rather than the usual single-song-plus-piggyback variations, I’ve selected a handful of Halloween-related ukulele songs appropriate for preschool and toddler storytimes. Most of the songs I’ve included are played to those same familiar tunes that I’ve already posted on this blog, and lyrics that are new-to-me are linked to sources on Tell Me a Story.

Flutter Flutter Little Bat
Previously posted in: Twinkle Twinkle/Baa Baa/ABC

The Haunted House
Tune: Wheels on the BusC The ghost in the house goes, Boo! Boo! Boo! G7 Boo! Boo! Boo! Boo! Boo! Boo! C The ghost in the house goes, Boo! Boo! Boo! G7 C All through the night.

Verses Skeletons... clatter... Werewolf... awoooo... Witch... hee hee hee...

Horns and Fangs
Tune: London Bridge
F Horns and fangs, knees and claws C7 F Knees and claws, knees and claws F Horns and fangs, knees and claws C7 F Eyes, ears, tail and paws

If You Ever See a Monster
Tune: Did You Ever See A Lassie C G7 C If you ever see a monster, a big ugly monster G7 C If you ever see a monster, then here’s what you do G7 C G7 C Make this face... And this face... And this face... And this face... G7 C If you ever see a monster… be sure to shout BOO!

If You’re A Monster
Tune: If You’re Happy and You Know It C G7 If you’re a monster and you know it, wave your arms C If you’re a monster and you know it, wave your arms F C If you’re a monster and you know it, and you really want to show it G7 C If you’re a monster and you know it, wave your arms
Verses ... show your fangs... ... stomp your feet... ... growl out loud...

Once I Had a Pumpkin
Tune: Did You Ever See A LassieC G7 C Oh, once I had a pumpkin, a pumpkin, a pumpkin G7 C Oh, once I had a pumpkin with no face at all G7 C G7 C With no eyes and no nose and no mouth and no teeth G7 C Oh, once I had a pumpkin with no face at all C G7 C So I made a jack-o-lantern, jack-o-lantern, jack-o-lantern G7 C So I made a jack-o-lantern with a big funny face G7 C G7 C With big eyes and a big nose and a big mouth and big teeth G7 C So I made a jack-o-lantern with a big funny face

Pumpkin on the Ground
Tune: Twinkle, Twinkle Little StarC F C Pumpkin, pumpkin on the ground F C G7 C How’d you get so big and round? C F C G7 Once you were a seed so small C F C G7 Now you are a great big ball C F C Pumpkin, pumpkin on the ground F C G7 C How’d you get so big and round?

Spider on the Floor
Previously posted in: If You’re Happy and You Know It

Other Halloween Songs Include
The More We Boo Together (Tune: Did You Ever See a Lassie)
The Roly Poly Pumpkin (Tune: Itsy Bitsy Spider)
Sometimes I Like to Walk in the Dark (Tune: Pop Goes the Weasel)

Felt Story Notes
The pumpkin is based on one my wonderful colleague Kelly made. The jack-o-lantern’s face is not glued on. Sing the first verse with the plain pumpkin, then add its face before the second verse (if you’re strumming while you sing).

For more Halloween felt story ideas, see the rest of this week’s Flannel Friday roundup. Happy Halloweening!