I Love The Mountains (and Variation)

I Love the Mountains as a camp song dates back to at least the 1950s, and borrows elements from 1938’s Heart and Soul by Hoagy Carmichael. I haven’t used it in storytime, but it could be a nice toddler/baby calming song. There’s also a nature/history version some folks may recall from a TV station ad.

The variation below was written by my dear friend Francesca, and I wish I had live babytimes happening these days just so I could share it with my neighbourhood families. It’s sweet, funny, and a great rhythm to bounce and sway a baby to.

Try playing in C (as below) or G (as in the TV ad link).


I Love the Mountains
C           Am       Dm          G7
I love the mountains, I love the rolling hills
C          Am      Dm          G7
I love the flowers, I love the daffodils
C           Am      Dm       G7
I love the fireside when the lights are low
C               Am            Dm             G7
Boom-de-ah-da, boom-de-ah-da, boom-de-ah-da, boom-de-ah-da
C               Am             Dm            G7
Boom-de-ah-da, boom-de-ah-da, boom-de-ah-da, boom-de-ah-da


I Love You Baby
C           Am        Dm           G7
I love your snuggles, I love your little coos
C            Am          Dm            G7
I love your strong legs, stop kicking off your shoes
C            Am         Dm              G7
I love your eager eyes, watching all the world

C               Am             Dm               G7
Baby, you're my baby, you're my baby, you're my baby, oh
C                Am             Dm              G7
Baby, you're my baby, you're my baby, you're my baby

C           Am        Dm           G7
I love your toenails, I love your every lash
C           Am            Dm              G7
I love your sweet smiles, even if they're only gas
C           Am                 Dm                G7
I love you when you laugh, and when you're howling too
Chorus

C           Am    Dm        G7
I love you, baby, I love to sing to you
C                Am       Dm                G7
I'll change your diapers, even when they're full of poo
C         Am             Dm              G7
I love to be with you, I love to see you grow
Chorus

I Love…

The original I Love… is a 1973 country song by Tom T. Hall. I found it via this sweetly gentle cover by the band Low, which sounds half like a lullaby already. I’ve been dreaming of writing it some babytime lyrics for years.

These are my own words, with direct influences from the original lyrics. I was aiming for a mix of lullaby-sweet and parent-relatable. There is so much potential for adapting this song to suit different ages, families, and children, and I’d like to invite you all to share any verses you might write for your own community.

If C isn’t a good key for your voice, try with D – G – A.


I Love…
C       F          C
I love little baby toes
F              C
Kisses on the nose
G7                         C
Sudden joyful laughs, and baths
         F               C
I love books we've read before
     F             C
The baby sign for more
G7                             C
Songs with made-up words, and birds
    F   G7      C
And I love you too

C       F             C
I love sleep without tears
F                 C
Friends who live near
G7                              C
Sunshine through the trees, and bees
        F                 C
I love laundry when it's clean
F                C
Band-aids and vaccines
G7                          C
Coffee when it's hot... or not
    F  G7      C
And I love you too

Rainbow Songs

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 Down
C                    (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 Star
C                  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 Patch
C
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 Lou
C
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.

Pig on Her Head

This silly song has immediate toddler appeal. Throw a puppet up on your head while singing, and you’ll be golden. Pig on Her Head is by Laurie Berkner, from her 1998 album Buzz, Buzz. She plays this song with E/B7/A (as she’s kindly shared on her site), and I’ve transposed into our standard easy-ukulele chords. Head over to her site to read the rest of the original lyrics.

A couple of my creative and talented storytiming friends have been using this song in their programs, and now I’m keen to try it out myself. It could match well with Sean Bryan’s Girl and Her Gator/Boy and His Bunny books or Mo Willems’ There is a Bird On Your Head. If you have some felt hats (perhaps a set for little cat, little cat, are you in the ____ hat), then combine them with a face or two to make a great felt story (I’ve included my own felt & sharpie version below). Try the action song at the end if you need a challenge for school-aged kids. Thanks to Kate L. for thinking up the first two variations below, and Gina G. for the 3rd.


Pig on Her Head
C              G7
Laurie's got a pig on her head
               C
Laurie's got a pig on her head
               F
Laurie's got a pig on her head
     G7                C
She keeps it there all day


Baby Dressing Song
C            G7
Arjun has a sock on his foot
             C
Arjun has a sock on his foot
             F
Arjun has a sock on his foot
    G7                 C
He keeps it there all day

Verses
... toque on his head...
... a diaper on his bum...



Hats on Their Heads
  C                  G7
A builder wears this hat on her head
                      C
A builder wears this hat on her head
                      F
A builder wears this hat on her head
    G7                  C
She keeps it there all day

Verses
Princess, Chef, Ball Player, Pirate, Fire Fighter...


Movement Challenge Song
C                        G7
Yasmine can hop with a narwhal on her head
                         C
Yasmine can hop with a narwhal on her head
                         F
Yasmine can hop with a narwhal on her head
    G7                  C
She keeps it there all day

Verses
Dance, Skip, Twirl, Jump...

Row Row Row Your Boat

This selection of songs has flexible storytime uses. Travelling, Travelling would be perfect with a set of vehicle felts, Row It All Around with puppets, Rock Your Boat as a baby bounce, and Drive Your Truck as an action-bounce along the lines of Hurry Hurry Drive the Fire Truck.

For repetition-with-variation, try a few different versions during your storytime session or introduce a book like Jane Cabrera’s animal-themed Row Row Row Your Boat. Known sources are linked in titles.


Row Row Row Your Boat
C
Row, row, row your boat
C
Gently down the stream
C
Merrily, merrily, merrily, merrily
G7             C
Life is but a dream


Rock Your Boat
C
Rock, rock, rock your boat
C
Gently to and fro
C
Look out, give a shout
G7                 C
Into the water you go!


If You See a Crocodile
C
Row, row, row your boat
C
Gently down the stream
C
If you see a crocodile
G7              C
Don't forget to scream!


Row It All Around
C
Row, row, row your boat
C
Row it all around
C
If you see a ______
G7             C
Make a ______ sound


I’m a Submarine
C
Row, row, row your boat
C
Underneath the stream
C
Ha ha, fooled you
G7          C
I'm a submarine!


Drive, Drive, Drive Your Truck
C
Drive, drive, drive your truck
C
All around the town
C
Merrily, merrily, merrily, merrily
G7                C
Up the hills and down

Verses
Turn...the key/Make the engine roar...Let's go to the store
Press...the pedal/Give the engine gas...Now we’re going fast
Turn...the wheel/That is how we steer....Make a turn right here
Push...the brake/Make the truck slow down...Now we are in town


Travelling, Travelling
C
Row, row, row your boat
C
Gently round the lake
C
Travelling, travelling on the water
G7                  C
Boats are what you take

Verses
Drive...your car/Have a merry cruise... on the road/Cars are what you use
Fly...your plane/High up in the air... through the sky/Planes will get you there
Chug...your train/Chug along the track...on the rails/Trains go there and back
Stamp...your feet/Stamp them on the ground...on the paths/Walk to get around


Other Variations Include
Dino Dinosaur
Hug Your Bear
Ocean Row Row Row
Ride Your Sled
Shake Your Eggs

Frere Jacques variations (with felts)

There are so many variations on Frere Jacques that I split these two felt-adapted songs into their own post. If you have clip-art or felt images that fit the descriptors, I Am Hungry can be nicely participatory, and encourage some discussion around foods we eat. I’m hoping to add more options to this set over time.

This translation and transliteration of Two Tigers is via Embracing Diversity, the Burnaby Public Library’s fantastic multilingual song and rhyme repository. I practiced singing the Mandarin words for over a week so I could attempt a semi-reasonable pronunciation, and posted the words in both languages at storytime so the grown-ups in attendance could sing along with me. Listen to it here. 

For felters, this free colouring sheet is the pattern for my tigers.  And  for beginner players, remember you can ignore the chords here entirely and just strum away on C the whole way through.



I Am Hungry
C  G7 C         G7  C
I am hungry! (I am hungry)
      G7      C           G7      C
What should I eat? (What should I eat?)
           G7         C                G7         C
Think I’ll have some pizza (Think I’ll have some pizza)
        G7   C            G7   C
Without any meat (Without any meat)

Verses
Borscht... with purple beets
Cocoa... with lots of heat
Fresh Fruit... for a treat
Ice Cream... cold and sweet
Sandwich... on whole wheat
___________(any food)... that sounds neat



Liăng Zhī Lăo Hŭ / Two Tigers
C     G7   C            G7   C
Liăng zhī lăo hŭ, liăng zhī lăo hŭ
    G7  C        G7  C
Păo de kuài, păo de kuài
       G7      C              G7      C
Yì zhī méi yŏu ěr duo, yì zhī méi yŏu yĭ ba
     G7  C         G7  C
Zhēn qí guài, zhēn qí guài!

C G7 C        G7 C
Two tigers, two tigers
  G7 C      G7 C
Run fast, run fast
        G7   C            G7    C
One without ears, one without a tail
   G7 C        G7 C
How strange, how strange!

Frere Jacques (and variations)

There are dozens of songs based on Frere Jacques, and these are the ones I’d be most likely to use at storytime. Click the titles to see my sources, and stay tuned for a couple related felt stories next post.

Some of my favourite variations are better with hand gestures (Roly Poly, Fruit Salad), actions (Walking, Walking), shakers (Popcorn Kernels), scarves (Make a Circle), or felts (Two Tigers, I Am Hungry), so I’d be inclined to introduce many of these without the ukulele the first time we sing them in a storytime series.

Note that while this version includes a lot of transitions, you can also play the entire song strumming a single chord.  It’s the easiest song ever.  Try it with C.


Frere Jacques
C  G7  C          G7  C
Frere Jacques, Frere Jacques
    G7  C        G7  C
Dormez-vous? Dormez-vous?
       G7      C            G7    C
Sonnez les matines, sonnez les matines
     G7    C          G7   C
Ding dang dong, ding dang dong


Bear is Sleeping
C    G7  C             G7 C
Bear is sleeping, bear is sleeping
      G7   C           G7   C
Bird flew south, bird flew south
             G7      C                   G7      C
Squirrel is storing acorns, squirrel is storing acorns
   G7  C         G7  C
In her mouth, in her mouth


I Hear Thunder
C  G7   C         G7   C
I hear thunder, I hear thunder
      G7    C         G7    C
Hark don’t you? Hark don’t you?
        G7     C                 G7     C
Pitter patter raindrops, pitter patter raindrops
    G7   C          G7  C
I’m wet through, so are you!

C  G7  C            G7   C
I see blue skies, I see blue skies
    G7  C        G7  C
Way up high, way up high
      G7     C               G7     C
Hurry up the sunshine, hurry up the sunshine
       G7   C          G7   C
We’ll soon dry, we’ll soon dry


Peek-A-Boo
C   G7  C       G7  C
Peek-a-boo, peek-a-boo
   G7  C      G7  C
I see you! I see you!
            G7     C                G7   C
I see your button nose, I see your tiny toes!
    G7  C     G7   C
Peek-a-boo! I see you!


Popcorn Kernels
C  G7   C            G7   C
Popcorn kernels, popcorn kernels
   G7   C      G7   C
In the pot, in the pot
            G7           C
Shake them, shake them, shake them
             G7           C
Shake them, shake them, shake them
      G7   C         G7   C
Till they pop! Till they pop!


Roly Poly
C G7  C      G7 C
Roly poly, roly poly
   G7 C      G7 C
Up up up, up up up
      G7   C          G7   C
Roly roly poly, roly roly poly
      G7   C          G7   C
Down down down, down down down

Verses
In/Out...
Fast/Slow...
Left/Right...


Walking Through the Forest
C        G7          C               G7          C
Walking through the forest, walking through the forest
     G7    C         G7    C
What do I hear? What do I hear? (hiss)
          G7     C                 G7      C
I think I heard a snake, I think I heard a snake
      G7   C          G7   C
Hiss hiss hiss, hiss hiss hiss

Verses
Other animals and their sounds


Walking Walking
C  G7   C            G7   C
Walking walking, walking walking
    G7   C       G7   C
Hop hop hop, hop hop hop
         G7      C                G7      C
Running running running, running running running
    G7  C        G7  C
Now we stop, now we stop

Similar: Run run run


Where is the Letter
C     G7  C         G7  C
Where is “A?” Where is “A?”
      G7 C         G7  C
There it is, there it is
           G7          C                     G7         C
What’s the sound that “A” makes? What’s the sound that “A” makes?
    G7  C        G7  C
Aah aah aah, aah aah aah

Verses
Other letters and their sounds


Where is Baby
C     G7  C            G7  C
Where is ______? Where is ______?
       G7    C          G7    C
There she/he is! There she/he is!
          G7      C                 G7     C
We’re so glad to see you! We’re so glad to see you!
    G7 C        G7 C
Peek-a-boo! Peek-a-boo!


Where is Thumbkin
C     G7  C              G7  C
Where is thumbkin? Where is thumbkin?
    G7 C       G7 C
Here I am, here I am
        G7     C             G7      C
How are you today sir? Very well, I thank you
    G7 C      G7 C
Run away, run away


Other Variations Include
Fruit Salad
Leaves are Twirling
Tops and Bottoms Handwashing Song
I Am Popcorn
Let’s Go Riding
Make a Circle
Shapes
Snowflakes Falling
Where is Puppet

Farmer Brown Had Five Green Apples (and variations)

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 Apples
C                                  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 Has Three Orange Pumpkins
C                                       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

Take Me Out to the Ball Game (and variations)

I’d never thought of Take Me Out to the Ball Game as a storytime song, but colleagues of mine have convinced me otherwise. As only the chorus is well known, that’s all I’ve included here. Song credits belong to Jack Norworth and Albert Von Tilzer from 1908.

I learned These are the Toes of My Baby way back in library school, and have sung it at many happy baby and toddler storytimes. It’s tickly and playful, and makes everyone smile. Jbrary has it too, if you’d like a little inspiration. Take Me out of the Bathtub is from one of Alan Katz’ books of humorous piggyback songs. The complete song is longer than I would use at storytime so this is just the first verse, but you can listen to it all here.

These chords are slightly simplified from the Bytown Ukulele songbook. You can also play in A or C, or ignore the 7s if you prefer standard chords.


Take Me Out to the Ball Game
G                   D7
Take me out to the ball game
G                     D7
Take me out with the crowd
E7                       A7
Buy me some peanuts and Cracker Jack
                   D7
I don't care if I never get back
        G                       D7
Let me root, root, root for the home team
    G                      C
If they don't win, it's a shame
                          G7
For it's one, two, three strikes, you're out
        A7  D7   G
At the old ball game


These are the Toes of My Baby
G                        D7
These are the toes of my baby
G                         D7
These are the toes of my guy/gal/child*
E7                              A7
These are their feet and their tiny knees
                       D7
I can’t help it, I’ll give them a squeeze
            G                     D7
And they've got two arms just for hugging
     G                   C
And hands that clap and wave
                            G
But it’s their eyes, ears, nose and their chin
      A7     D7      G
That really draws me in

*vary pronouns as appropriate, male, female, or neutral


Take Me Out of the Bathtub!
G                   D7
Take me out of the bathtub
G                   D7
Take me out of the suds
E7                            A7
I've been here soaking since half past two
                     D7
I feel so sudsy and wrinkle-y too
      G                  D7
Oh, I washed all over my body
   G                   C
My head, my toes, in between
                  G
I used one, two, three bars of soap
        A7      D7  G
Take me out... I'm clean!


Other Variations Include
Take Me Out to the Barnyard by Judy Hall
Take Me Out to the Ocean

Down on Grandpa’s Farm (and variations)

Yes, it’s another song about animals and their many sounds (like Old Macdonald, When Ducks Get Up in the Morning, I Love My Rooster, or Little Cat). There sure seem to be a lot of these around, and they’re mostly about farms. Of course, you can switch things up to sing about animals in other places (ie Grandpa’s beach, Grandpa’s forest, Grandpa’s desert). You can listen to Grandpa’s Farm via KCLS.

Going for a Walk is based on a song my colleague Marilyn wrote to promote BC Summer Reading Club, the province-wide reading program here in British Columbia. I added a few more verses to explain SRC when I promote it at elementary schools this month. So far the kids think it’s funny. I tell them that I can’t remember how SRC works, but I have a song to remind me, and then I stop between each verse, “remembering” more details to share with them. If you repeat “going for a walk” instead of “walking on the wild side,” in the first verse and tweak the prize line as appropriate, then you could probably use this with similar reading incentives in your own geographic area.


Down on Grandpa’s Farm
C
We're on our way, we're on our way
                        G7
We're on our way to Grandpa's farm

We're on our way, we're on our way
                         C
On our way to Grandpa's farm

C                                  G7          C
Down on Grandpa's farm there is a wooly white sheep
                                   G7         C
Down on Grandpa's farm there is a wooly white sheep
                                  G7
The sheep, it makes a sound like this, Baa baa
                                 C
The sheep, it makes a sound like this, Baa baa

(Repeat Chorus)

Verses
Grandpa's farm: Farm animal names and sounds
Grandpa's beach: Ocean animal names and sounds
Grandpa's woods: Forest animal names and sounds


Going for a Walk
(for BC Summer Reading Club 2017)
C
Going for a walk, going for a walk
                    G7
Going for a walk today

We're walking on the wild side
                  C
At our local library

C
Going to get some books, going to get some books
                           G7
Going to get some books today

And magazines and comics
                  C
At our local library

C
Going to play some games, going to play some games
                            G7
Going to play some games today

And maybe even win a prize
                  C
At our local library

C
Going to read a bit, going to read a bit
                    G7
Read a little every day

So I can win a medal
                   C
From my local library

Repeat 1st verse