Storytime Rhymes

Toddler Rhymes & Games


Tall as a Tree/Jack in the Box
Tall as a tree (arms in the air)
Wide as a house (arms out to the side)
This as a pin (arms down)
Small as a mouse (crouch down)

Jack in the box (still crouched down, hands over head like a lid)
So quiet and still
Will you come out?
Of course I will! (jump up)

Davy Davy Dumpling
Davy Davy Dumpling
Boil him in the pot (wiggle child)
Sugar him (tickle gently)
And butter him (stroke gently)
And eat him while he’s hot! (nibble child’s neck, ears, cheeks)

The Grand Old Duke of York  
(child can be lifted up and down by an adult, or move arms up and down independently)
The Grand Old Duke of York
He had ten thousand men.
He marched them up to the top of the hill
And he marched them down again!
And when they’re up, they’re up.
And when they’re down, they’re down.
And when they’re only half-way up,
They’re neither up nor down!

Two Little Birds Sitting on a Cloud 
Two little birds sitting on a cloud (index fingers held out in front)
One named soft and the other named LOUD
Fly away soft, fly away LOUD. (one index finger behind the back and then the other)
Come back soft, come back LOUD. (one index finger back in front and then the other)
Two little birds sitting on a cloud (index fingers held out in front)
One named soft and the other named LOUD

Two Little Blackbirds Sitting on a Hill
Two little blackbirds sitting on a hill
One named Jack and the other named Jill
Fly away Jack, fly away Jill
Come back Jack, come back Jill
Two little blackbirds sitting on a hill
One named Jack and the other named Jill

I’m a Little Teapot
I’m a little teapot, short and stout
Here is my handle and here is my spout
When I get all steamed up, hear me shout:
Just tip me over and pour me out!

​We’re Going to Kentucky
We’re going to Kentucky (clap)
We’re going to the fair
To see the senorita with flowers in her hair!
Oh, shake it, baby, shake it (shake)
Shake it if you can
Shake it like a milkshake
And pour it in a pan!
We rumble to the bottom (roll arms to the floor)
We rumble to the top  (roll arms up in the air)
And turn around, and turn around,
And turn around and STOP!

Tommy Thumbs Up
Tommy thumbs up
Tommy thumbs down
Tommy thumbs dancing all around the town
Dance them on your shoulders
Dance them on your head
Dance them on your knees
And tuck them into bed!

I Put My Arms Up High
I put my arms up high
I put my arms down low
I put my arms out to the side
And then I let them go!

Here is My Bunny
Here is my bunny with ears so funny
And here is his hole in the ground
When a noise he hears, he perks up his ears
And jumps in his hole in the ground

The Wheels on the Bus
The wheels on the bus go round and round (roll hands)
Round and round, round and round
The wheels on the bus go round and round
All through the town 
The people on the bus go up and down, etc
The wipers on the bus go swish, swish, swish, etc
The horn on the bus goes beep, beep, beep, etc.
The babies on the bus go wah, wah, wah, etc.
The parents on the bus go shh, shh, shh, etc.

Roly Poly
Roly poly, roly, poly
Up and down, up and down
Roly roly poly
Roly roly poly
Up and down, up and down!

Crawly Crawly Crawly
Crawly crawly crawly
Up the wally, wally, wally
Watch out little fly
Don’t you fally, fally, fally, fally, fally!

The Elephant
The elephant goes like this and that 
He’s terribly big
And he’s terribly fat
He has no fingers
He had no toes
But goodness gracious what a nose!

Hickory Dickory Dock
Hickory, dickory, dock
The mouse ran up the clock
The clock struck one
The mouse ran down.
Hickory, dickory, dock

The clock struck two
The mouse said, Boo!
The clock struck three
The mouse said, Whee!
The clock struck four
The mouse said, No more!

Open, Shut Them
Open, shut them, open, shut them
Give your hands a clap, clap, clap
Open, shut them, open, shut them
Put them in your lap, lap lap
Creep them, crawl them
Creep them, crawl them
Right up to your chin, chin, chin
Open wide your little mouth, but–
Do not let them in!

Teddy Bear, Teddy Bear
Teddy  bear, teddy bear, turn around
Teddy bear, teddy bear, touch the ground
Teddy bear, teddy bear, show your shoe
Teddy bear, teddy bear, that will do!
Teddy bear, teddy bear, climb into bed
Teddy bear, teddy bear, rest your head
Teddy bear, teddy bear, turn out the light
Teddy bear, teddy bear, say GOOD NIGHT!

Wake Up, Toes!
Wake up, toes! Wake up, toes!
Wake up, toes, and wiggle, wiggle, wiggle
Wake up, toes! Wake up, toes!
Wake and wiggle in the morning!

Wake up, feet…
Wake up, legs…
Wake up, arms…
Wake up, hands…
Wake up, head…
Wake up, me…

Doggie’s Got a Flea
1, 2, 3, doggie’s got a flea
Doggie’s got a flea
And now it’s on me!

It’s on my nose– it’s on my toes
It’s on my ear– it’s over here!
It’s on my thumb- it’s on my tum
It’s in my hair- it’s over there!

1, 2, 3, doggie’s got a flea, etc.

Hugs and Kisses
Nice hug, not too snug
Just right, not too tight
One kiss, just like this
Nose rub too,
I love you!

My Hands
On my head my hands I place
On my nose and on my face
My hands go UP
My hands go DOWN
My hands go round
and round and round!

Jump Like a Frog
Jump like a frog,
stretch like a cat
Hop like a bunny,
flap like a bat
Wiggle like a worm,
slither like a snake
Now be a wet dog 
and shake, shake, shake!

Skinnamarink
Skinnamarink-a-dinky-dink
Skinnamarink-a-do
I  LOVE  YOU!
I love you in the morning
and in the afternoon
I love you in the evening
Underneath the moon- OH
Skinnamarink-a-dinky-dink
Skinnamarink-a-do
I  LOVE  YOU!

1, 2, Buckle My Shoe
1, 2, buckle my shoe
3, 4, shut the door
5, 6, pick up sticks
7, 8, lay them straight
9, 10, a big fat hen!

Hop Hop Hop
Hop, hop, hop like a bunny
Run, run, run like a dog
Walk, walk, walk like a cat
Jump, jump, jump like a frog
Swim, swim, swim like a goldfish
Fly, fly, fly like a bird,
Then sit right down
And don’t say a word!

Shaker Time
(use a shaker toy or maraca)
Shake, Shake, Shake and STOP!
Shake, Shake, Shake and STOP!
Shake your shakers HIGH
Shake your shakers LOW
Shake your shakers FAST, FAST, FAST
And then you shake them SLOW

Wash the Dishes
Wash the dishes (rub tummy)
Wipe the dishes (rub hands)
Ring the bell for tea (tug ear)
Three good wishes (hold up 3 fingers)
Three good kisses (give 3 kisses)
I will give to thee!

I Have Ten Little Fingers
I have ten little fingers
And they all belong to me
I can make them do things
Would you like to see?

I can shut them up tight,
I can open them wide
I can put them all together,
And I can make them hide!

I can make them jump high,
I can make them jump low
I can fold them like this,
And hold them just so!

On My Face
On my face, I have a nose
And way down here I have ten toes
I have two eyes that I can blink
I have a head to help me think
I have a chin, and very near
I have two ears so I can hear
I have two arms to hold up high
And here’s my hand to wave bye-bye!

Tickle Rhymes


Round and Round the Garden 
Round and round the garden (trace circle on child’s tummy)
Like a teddy bear
One step, two steps, (walk fingers up chest)
Tickle you under there!

Criss Cross Applesauce
Criss Cross Applesauce (trace an “X” on child’s back)
Fingers crawling up your back
Cool breeze (blow on child’s neck)
Tight squeeze (give child a hug)
Now you’ve got the shivers! (tickle)

Round and Round the Butter Dish
Round and round the butter dish (trace circle on child’s tummy)
One, two, three! (walk fingers up chest)
A little here, a little there (tap one cheek and then the other)
As tasty as can be! (tickle)

Pizza, Pickle, Pumpernickel
Pizza, pickle, pumpernickel (trace circle on child’s tummy)
My little honey’s going to get a tickle!
One for your elbow,
One for your toes,
And one for your belly
Where the hot dog goes!

Round and Round the Haystack
Round and round the haystack (trace a circle on child’s head)
Creeps the little mouse
One step, two steps
Into his little house!

Crawly Crawly
Crawly, crawly, crawly
Up the wally, wally, wally
Watch out little fly
Don’t you fally, fally, fally, fally!

Little Mousie
See the little mousie
Creeping up the stairs
Looking for a warm nest
Right under there!

Wee Wiggy
Wee Wiggy
Poke Piggy
Tom Whistle
John Gristle
And old BIG GOBBLE
GOBBLE GOBBLE GOBBLE!

Here Is the Beehive
Here is the beehive
Where are the bees?
Hidden away
Where nobody sees
Watch as they come out of the hive
1, 2, 3, 4, 5
​Bzzzz!

Bouncing Rhymes


Andy Spandy
Andy Spandy, Sugardy Candy (slowly)
French Almond Rock
Bread and butter (faster)
For your supper’s
All your mother’s got! 

Trot Trot to London
Trot trot to London
Trot trot to Dover
Look out, honey
You might fall OVER! (tip child over)

Trot trot to Boston
Trot trot to Lynn
Look out, honey
You might fall IN! (let child fall between legs)

Father and Mother and Uncle John
Father and Mother and Uncle John
Rode to town one by one
Father fell off – whoooo!
Mother fell off – whoooo!
But Uncle John rode on and on and on!

And what kind of road did he ride on?
A smooth road, a smooth road
A rough road, a rough road
A bumpy road, a bumpy road
A HOLE! (let child fall between legs)

I Have A Little Pony
I have a little pony (slowly)
His name is Macaroni
He trots and trots and then he STOPS! (pause)
My silly little pony Macaroni! (faster)

To Market, To Market
To market, to market
To buy a fat pig.
Home again, home again, jiggety-jig

To market, to market
To buy a fat hog.
Home again, home again, jiggety-jog

To market, to market
To buy a plum bun.
Home again, home again,
Market is done!

Tommy O’Flynn
Tommy O’Flynn and his old gray mare
Went off to see the county fair
The bridge fell out and the bridge fell in (let child fall between legs)
And that was the end of Tommy O’Flynn, O’Flynn, O’Flynn

Bumping Up and Down in My Little Red Wagon
Bumping up and down in my little red wagon
Bumping up and down in my little red wagon
Bumping up and down in my little red wagon
Won’t you be my darling?

Front wheel’s off and the axle’s broken (tip child to one side)
Front wheel’s off and the axle’s broken
Front wheel’s off and the axle’s broken
Won’t you be my darling?

Icky Bicky Soda Cracker
Icky bicky soda cracker
Icky bicky boo
Icky bicky soda cracker
Up goes you! (lift child up)

Icky bicky soda cracker
Icky bicky boo
Icky bicky soda cracker
I love you! (give child a hug)

Horsey, Horsey
Horsey, horsey come ride with me
Across the land, across the sea
Horsey, horsey come ride with me
But do not let me fall! (tip child to one side)

I’m a Little Cuckoo Clock
I’m a little cuckoo clock (rock child back and forth on lap)
Tick tock, tick tock
Now I’m striking one o’clock
Cuckoo!  Cuckoo! (lift child in the air one time)

I’m a little cuckoo clock (rock child back and forth on lap)
Tick tock, tick tock
Now I’m striking two o’clock
Cuckoo!  Cuckoo! (lift child in the air two times)

Jelly on the Plate
Jelly on the plate
Jelly on the plate
Wibble wobble, wibble wobble (move child back and forth on lap)
Jelly on the plate

Candies in the jar
Candies in the jar
Shake them up, shake them up (gently shake child)
Candies in the jar

Candles on the cake
Candles on the cake
Blow them out, blow them out (blow on child’s neck)
Candles on the cake 

Rocking Horse
Rocking horse, rocking horse
Riding we’ll go!
Rocking horse, rocking horse
Giddyup! Whoa!

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?

What Kind of Road?
What kind of road?
A smooth road,
a smooth road
A rough road,
a rough road
A bumpy road,
a bump road
A HOLE!

Dump Truck, Dump Truck
Dump truck, dump truck
Rolling down the road
Spilling gravel as you travel
With your heavy load.
Bumpity bump, bumpity bump,
Dump, dump, DUMP!

Rickety Rickety
Rickety rickety rocking horse
Over the fields we go.
Rickety rickety rocking horse
Giddy up, giddy up, WHOA!

Toast in the Toaster
Toast in the toaster,
Getting very hot
Tick tock, tick tock
Up you POP!

Davy Davy Dumpling
Davy Davy Dumpling
Boil him in a pot
Sugar him
And butter him
And eat him while he’s hot!

From Wibbleton to Wobbleton
From Wibbleton to Wobbleton is 15 miles
From Wobbleton to Wibbleton is 15 miles
From Wibbleton to Wobbleton
From Wobbleton to Wibbleton
From Wibbleton to Wobbleton is 15 miles

Popcorn
Popcorn, popcorn
In a pot
Shake it, shake it
Pop! Pop! Pop!

Humpty Dumpty
Humpty Dumpty sat on a wall
Humpty Dumpty had a great fall
All the king’s horses 
And all the king’s men
Couldn’t put Humpty together again!

Seasonal & Weather Rhymes


Mr. Sun
Oh Mr. Sun, Sun, Mr. Golden Sun
Please shine down on me
Oh Mr. Sun, Sun, Mr. Golden Sun
Hiding behind a tree
These little children are asking you
To please come out so we can play with you
Oh Mr. Sun, Sun, Mr. Golden Sun
Please shine down on me

I Plant a Little Seed
I plant a little seed in the
dark, dark ground
Out comes the yellow sun,
big and round
Down comes the cool rain,
soft and slow
Up comes the little seed,
grow, grow, grow

Rain Is Falling Down
Rain is falling down- splash!
Rain is falling down- splash!
Pitter-patter, pitter-patter
Rain is falling down- splash!

Sun is peeking out- peek!
Sun is peeking out- peek!
Peeking here, peeking there
Sun is peeking out- peek!

Autumn Leaves
(to the tune of London Bridge Is Falling Down)
Autumn leaves are falling down,
Falling down, falling down
Autumn leaves are falling down,
Red, Yellow, Orange, and Brown

Take a rake and make a pile,
Make a pile, make a pile
Take a rake and make a pile,
Ready, set, JUMP and smile!

You Roll the Pumpkin Out
You roll the pumpkin out,
You roll the pumpkin in,
You make the pumpkin’s eyes and nose
You make the pumpkin’s grin
You roll the pumpkin out,
You roll the pumpkin in,
It’s that pumpkin time of year,
Let the fun begin!

I’m a Little Pumpkin
(to the tune of I’m a Little Teapot)
I’m a little pumpkin, short and stout
Here are my eyes and here is my mouth
When it’s Halloween and you are out
Just lift my lid and hear me shout
BOO!

Way Up High in the Apple Tree
Way up high in the apple tree
Two little apples smiled at me
I hook that tree as hard as I could
Down came the apples
Mmmmmm– were they good!

Scarecrow, Scarecrow
Scarecrow, scarecrow, turn around
Scarecrow, scarecrow, jump up and down
Scarecrow, scarecrow, arms up high
Scarecrow, scarecrow, wink one eye
Scarecrow, scarecrow, bend your knees
Scarecrow, scarecrow, flap in the breeze
Scarecrow, scarecrow, climb into bed
Scarecrow, scarecrow, rest your head

Snow Is Falling
(to the tune of Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star)
Snow is falling all around
On the rooftops
On the ground
Snow is falling on my nose
On my head and on my toes
Snow is falling all around
On the rooftops
On the ground

I’m a Little Snowman 
(to the tune of I’m a Little Teapot)
I’m a little snowman short and fat
Here is my broomstick and here is my hat
When the sun comes out I melt away
Down, down, down, down
WHOOPS!  I’m a puddle!

Especially for Babies


These Are Baby’s Fingers
These are baby’s fingers,
These are baby’s toes
This is baby’s belly button…
‘Round and ’round it goes!

Pat-a-Cake
Pat-a-cake,
Pat-a-cake,
Baker man!
Bake me a cake as FAST as you can!

Roll it, and pat it,
And mark it with a B,
And put it in the oven 
For Baby and me!

The Kissing Game
Up, up, up
in the sky like this,
Down, down, down 
for a great big kiss
Up like this,
Down for a kiss.
You’re very special!

The Touch Game
Touch your nose, touch your chin,
That’s the way this game begins. 
Touch your eyes, touch your knees,
Now pretend you feel a breeze!
Touch your hair, touch one ear,
Touch your two red lips right here.
Touch your elbows where they bend,
That’s the way this touch game ends!

Peek-a-boo Game
Touch your ears,
Pat your nose,
Tickle all your little toes.
Hide your eyes…
Where are you?
We are playing
Peek-a-boo!

Baby Hands Up
Baby hands up
Baby hands down
Baby hands dancing
All around the town!
Dance them on your shoulders
Dance them on your head
Dance them on your knees
And tuck them into bed!

Where Are Your Toes?
What a rurprise
Here are your eyes
And this I suppose is a nose!
And right under here
I’ve discovered an ear
But where, oh where are your toes?

Pease Porridge Hot
Pease porridge hot (clap 3x)
Pease porridge cold (tap knees 3x)
Pease porridge in the pot (clap 3x)
Nine days old! (tap knees 3x)

Some like it hot (clap 3x)
Some like it cold (tap knees 3x)
Some like it in the pot (clap 3x)
Nine days old! (tap knees 3x)

One Potato
One potato (arms or legs together)
Two potato (arms or legs apart)
Three potato (arms or legs together)
Boo! (play peek-a-boo)
Four potato (arms or legs together)
Five potato (arms or legs apart)
I love you! (give a big hug)

Two Little Eyes
Two little eyes
to look around
Two little ears
to hear each sound
One little nose
to smell what’s sweet
One little mouth
that likes to eat

Baby in the Cradle
The baby in the cradle
Goes rock-a-rock-a-rock
The clock on the dresser 
Goes tick-a-tick-a-tock
The rain on the window
Goes tap-a-tap-a-tap
And here comes the sun,
So we clap-a-clap-a-clap!

Kissy, Kissy Fingers
Kissy, kissy fingers,
Kissy, kissy toes
Kissy, kissy baby
On your kissy-kissy nose!

I love to kiss your fingers,
I love to kiss your toes
I love to kiss you, Baby
On your kissy-kissy nose!

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