Rhymes and Songs for Babies and Toddlers

Rhymes and Songs
for

Babies and Toddlers

Compiled by the staff at the Pewaukee Public Library.

Why Try
Rhymes and Songs?

Rhymes and songs provide a wonderful way for you to bond with your child.
Your child will love being able to spend time with you in this way.

Saying rhymes and singing songs is fun! Your child is naturally drawn to the beat,
and you might be impressed to see how well your child bounces or dances to the

rhythm of a favorite song or rhyme.

Rhymes and songs are great tools for helping your child explore the fun and
beauty of language. The rhythm that your child naturally finds so appealing also
helps your child to hear all of the individual sounds that make up the words. This
is important for helping children learn to speak when they are very young. As they

grow older, it will help them learn to read on their own.

Rhymes and songs allow your child to experience language with many senses. For
example, your child may enjoy a rhyme with his/her ears (hearing), body (moving
or bouncing), and/or with touch (tickles) all at the same time. The more senses a

child uses, the stronger the activity’s impact will be.

We have tried to include a wide variety of different kinds of rhymes and songs in
this collection. We hope that you and your child enjoy trying some of these out

together!

Pewaukee Public Library

210 Main Street Pewaukee, WI 53051

(262) 691-5670 www.pewaukeelibrary.org

Nursery Rhymes

Look for books full of more great nursery rhymes at the library under the
call number J 398.8.

Humpty Dumpty Little Bo Peep

Humpty Dumpty sat on a wall. Little Bo Peep has lost her sheep
Humpty Dumpty had a great fall. And doesn’t know where to find them.
All the king’s horses and all the king’s men, Leave them alone and they’ll come home
Couldn’t put Humpty together again. Wagging their tails behind them.

Old Mother Hubbard Little Miss Muffet

Old Mother Hubbard went to her cupboard, Little Miss Muffet sat on her tuffet,
To fetch her poor dog a bone. Eating her curds and whey.
But when she got there the cupboard was bare, Along came a spider who sat down beside her,
And so her poor dog had none. And frightened Miss Muffet away.

Pussy Cat, Pussy Cat Mary, Mary, Quite Contrary

Pussy cat, pussy cat, where have you been? Mary, Mary, quite contrary,
I've been to London to see the fair Queen. How does your garden grow?
Pussy cat, pussy cat, what did you there? With silver bells and cockle shells,
I frightened a little mouse, under her chair.  And pretty maids all in a row.

Hey Diddle Diddle It’s Raining, It’s Pouring

Hey Diddle Diddle, the cat and the fiddle, It's raining; it's pouring.
The cow jumped over the moon, The old man is snoring.
The little dog laughed to see such fun, He went to bed and bumped his head,
And the dish ran away with the spoon. And he wouldn't get up in the morning. 

Higglety Pigglety Pop Old King Cole

Higglety pigglety pop. Old King Cole was a merry old soul,
The dog has eaten the mop. And a merry old soul was he.
The pig’s in a hurry, He called for his pipe, and he called for his bowl,
The cat’s in a flurry, And he called for his fiddlers three.
Higglety pigglety pop!
Wee Willie Winkie
Little Boy Blue
Wee Willie Winkie runs though the town,
Little boy blue, come blow your horn, Upstairs, downstairs in his nightgown.
The sheep’s in the meadow; the cow’s in the corn. Tapping at the window, crying through the lock,
Where is the boy who looks after the sheep? Are the children in their beds? For now it’s eight o’clock.
He’s under the haystack fast asleep.

Bouncing Rhymes

Just about any rhyme can be a bouncing rhyme, but these are especially built for it.

From Wibbleton to Wobbleton Icka Bicka Soda Cracker

From Wibbleton to Wobbleton is fifteen miles. Icka bicka soda cracker,
From Wobbleton to Wibbleton is fifteen miles. Icka bicka boo.
Wibbleton to Wobbleton, Icka bicka soda cracker,
Wobbleton to Wibbleton, Up goes you!
From Wibbleton to Wobbleton is fifteen miles.
Icka bicka soda cracker,
Rock or bounce baby from side to side. Icka bicka boo.
Icka bicka soda cracker,
Zoom, Zoom, Zoom I love you!

Zoom, zoom, zoom, Bounce as you say this rhyme. Lift
We’re going to the moon. your child at the end of the first verse.
If you want to take a trip, Huge your child at the end of the
Climb aboard my rocket ship. second verse.
Zoom, zoom, zoom,
We’re going to the moon. Moses Supposes
5, 4, 3, 2, 1 – Blast off!
Moses supposes his toeses are roses,
Babies can be lifted up at the appropriate time But Moses supposes erroneously,
during this rhyme. Older toddlers can “blast For nobody’s toeses are posies of roses,
off” themselves. As Moses supposes his toeses to be.

Little Red Wagon Bounce your baby, or tap your baby’s
feet/toes to the beat of this rhyme.
Bumping up and down in my little red wagon,
Bumping up and down in my little red wagon, Jack Be Nimble
Bumping up and down in my little red wagon,
Won’t you be my darling! Jack be nimble, Jack be quick,
Jack jump over the candle stick!
Bounce your child as you say this rhyme.
Bounce your child as you say this rhyme,
Giddyap! lifting your child at the end.

Giddyap, giddyap, ride to town, Trit Trot to Boston
Bounce baby on knees, facing forward
Trit trot to Boston,
Giddyap, giddyap, up and down. Bounce baby on knee
Giddyap fast,
Trit trot to Lynn,
Bounce quickly Trit trot over the bridge,
Giddyap slow,
Lift up
Bounce slowly But don’t fall in!
Giddyap, giddyap, giddyap, WHOA!
Drop through legs, or tip to side
Dip baby backwards gently

Tickle Rhymes

Get ready for lots of giggles when you say these rhymes together.

Round and Round the Garden These Are Baby’s Fingers

Round and round the garden, These are baby’s fingers,
Went the teddy bear, These are baby’s toes,
One step, two steps, Here is baby’s belly button,
Tickle you under there! Round and round it goes.
Jump fingers up baby’s arm. End
with a tickle. Point out your child’s respective body
pars as they are mentioned in this
Arabella Miller rhyme. If you like, substitute your
child’s name for the word “baby.”
Arabella Miller had a fuzzy caterpillar.
Make a caterpillar with your finger This Little Piggy

First it climbed upon her mother, This little piggy went to market.
Put it on your hand This little piggy stayed home.
This little piggy had roast beef.
And then upon her baby brother. And this little piggy had none.
Tickle up baby’s arm This little piggy cried “Wee, wee, wee!”
All the way home.
They said, “Arabella Miller! Put away your caterpillar!”
Count off “piggies” on your baby’s fingers
Hickory Dickory Dock or toes. Tickle your baby when you reach
the last piggy!
Hickory dickory dock,
The mouse ran up the clock. Here is the Beehive

Tickle up your child’s arm Here is the beehive,
The clock struck one, the mouse ran down, Hold up fist

Clap once, tickle down your child’s arm Where are the bees?
Hickory dickory dock! Shrug

...The clock struck two, and down he flew, Hidden away where nobody sees.
Watch as the bees come out of the hive,
...The clock struck three, the mouse said “Wheee!” 1, 2, 3 , 4, 5.

There Was a Little Mouse Count on fingers
Buzzzzz!
There was a little mouse,
Looking for his house. Tickle
Not here,
Not here, This rhyme is both a tickle rhyme and a
But here, here, here! fingerplay all in one! It is especially great
Gently tickle baby in different places, for older toddlers and preschoolers, who
ending with belly. will enjoy the extra interaction.

Fingerplays

These rhymes have small actions that children can do with their hands.

Way Up High in the Apple Tree I Had a Little Turtle

Way up high in the apple tree I had a little turtle.
Hold arms up high Put one hand on top of the other, sticking out thumbs

Two red apples looked down at me. He lived in a box.
Make fists for apples Draw a square with finger

I shook that tree as hard as I could, He swam in a puddle.
Shake the tree Swim

And down fell the apples He climbed on the rocks.
Hands to ground Climb

Mmmm, were they good! He snapped at the mosquito,
Take bite, rub your tummy Clap

Two Little Blackbirds He snapped at the flea,
He snapped at the minnow,
Two little blackbirds sitting on a hill, And he snapped at me.
One named Jack, the other named Jill.
Fly away Jack! Fly away Jill! Clap, point to self
Come back Jack! Come back Jill! He caught the mosquito,
He caught the flea,
Two little blackbirds sitting on a cloud, He caught the minnow,
One named soft, the other named loud. But he didn’t catch me!
Fly away soft! Fly away loud!
Come back soft! Come back loud! Clap, point to self and shake head

Two little blackbirds sitting on a stick, Five Little Monkeys
One named slow, the other named quick.
Fly away slow! Fly away quick! Five little monkeys jumping on the bed.
Come back slow! Come back quick! Hold up five fingers and make them bounce.

One, Two, Three, Four, Five One fell off and bumped his head.
Tap own/baby’s head.
One, two, three, four, five
Count on fingers Mama called the doctor and the doctor said,
Hold fingers like a telephone.
Once I caught a fish alive.
Clap hands together “No more monkeys jumping on the bed!”
Shake finger as if scolding.
Six, seven, eight, nine, ten.
Count on other hand Repeat, taking away one finger/monkey each time
until no more “monkeys” remain.
Then I let him go again.
Open arms wide Here is a Bunny

Why did you let him go? Here is a bunny with ears so funny,
Hands on hips Hold up two fingers

Because he bit my finger so. And here is his hole in the ground.
Which finger did he bite? Make a circle with fingers
The little finger on the right.
When a noise he hears,
Grab and wiggle pinky finger He pricks up his ears,
And jumps in his hole in the ground!

Make your bunny jump into the hole

Action Rhymes

These rhymes are especially great for older toddlers and preschoolers, who will
enjoy doing the actions along with the words.

The Itsy Bitsy Spider With Our Hands

The itsy bitsy spider climbed up the water spout. With our hands we clap, clap, clap.
Walk fingers upward With our feet we stamp, stamp, stamp.
We jump three times as high as can be.
Down came the rain and washed the spider out. Then we say, “Hey, look at me!”
Wiggle fingers downward
Suit actions to words.
Out came the sun and dried up all the rain
Put arms in a circle I Put My Arms Up High

And the itsy bitsy spider climbed up the spout again. I put my arms up high,
Walk fingers upward I put my arms down low.
I put them straight out to the side,
One, Two, Buckle My Shoe And then I let them go.

One, two, buckle my shoe. Suit actions to words.
Pretend to tie shoe
Ring Around the Rosie
Three, four, shut the door.
Clap hands Ring around the rosie,
Pocket full of posies,
Five, six, pick up sticks. Ashes, ashes, we all fall down!
Pretend to pick sticks up
Hold hands and walk in a circle.
Seven, eight, lay them straight. Everyone sits down at the end.
Move arms in a “smoothing” motion
The Grand Old Duke of York
Nine, ten, a big fat hen.
Use arms to create a round belly Oh, the grand old duke of York,
He had ten thousand men;
Pat-A-Cake He marched them up to the top of the hill,

Pat-a-cake, pat-a-cake, March in place
Baker’s man, And he marched them down again.
Bake me a cake as fast as you can. And when they were up, they were up,

Clap in rhythm as you say this verse Stretch up
And when they were down, they were down,
Roll it, and pull it,
Roll hands Crouch
And when they were only halfway up,
And mark it with a “B”
Tickle your child’s belly Bend knees
They were neither up nor down.
And put it in the oven for Baby and me!
Clap in rhythm Stretch up and crouch low, quickly

Feel free to substitute your child’s name for
“baby” in this song when you say this rhyme.

Action Songs

These songs are especially great for older toddlers and preschoolers, who will
enjoy doing the actions along with the words.

Row, Row, Row Your Boat Where is Thumbkin?

Row, row, row your boat, Where is thumbkin? Where is thumbkin?
Gently down the stream. Here I am! Here I am!
Merrily, merrily, merrily, merrily, How are you today sir?
Life is but a dream. Very well, I thank you,
Run away! Run away!
Rock, rock, rock your boat,
Gently to the shore. Bring out and hide thumbs as appropriate.
If you see a lion there, Repeat if desired for more fingers.
Don’t forget to roar!
If You’re Happy and You Know It
Row, row, row your boat,
Gently down the stream. If you’re happy and you know it, clap your hands.
If you see a crocodile, If you’re happy and you know it, clap your hands.
Don’t forget to scream! If you’re happy and you know it,
And you really want to show it,
Sit with your child on your lap. If you’re happy and you know it, clap your hands.
Rock together as you sing this song.
…stomp your feet.
I’m a Little Teapot …shout, “hooray!”
…do all three.
I’m a little teapot short and stout.
Here is my handle, here is my spout. Suit actions to words.

Put one hand on hip. This Old Man
Stick the other arm out to the side
When I get all steamed up hear me shout, This old man, he played one,
“Tip me over and pour me out!” Hold up one finger
Lean to the side.
He played knick-knack on my thumb.
I’m a very special pot it’s true. Tap your thumb
Here let me show you what I can do.
I can change my handle and my spout. With a knick-knack, paddywhack,
Give a dog a bone,
Arms switch positions This old man came rolling home.
Tip me over and pour me out!
Roll hands
Lean to the side
This old man, he played two,
Head, Shoulders, Knees, and Toes He played knick-knack on my shoe…

Head and shoulders, knees and toes, knees and toes. This old man, he played three,
Head and shoulders, knees and toes, knees and toes. He played knick-knack on my knee…
Eyes and ears and mouth and nose.
Head and shoulders, knees and toes, knees and toes! This old man, he played four,
He played knick-knack on the floor…
Point to each body part as you say it. Repeat as many
times as desired, doing it faster and faster each time.

Songs

Remember, your child doesn’t care if you have perfect pitch or not. S/he only
cares that you are spending time together. Sing away!

If you’re looking for more great music to listen to, check out a CD of children’s
music from the library. We have lots to choose from!

Old McDonald The Wheels on the Bus

Old McDonald had a farm. E-I-E-I-O! The wheels on the bus go round and round,
And on that farm he had a cow. E-I-E-I-O! Round and round, round and round,
With a “moo, moo” here, and a “moo, moo” there, The wheels on the bus go round and round,
Here a “moo,” there a “moo,” All though the town.
Everywhere a “moo, moo!”
Old McDonald had a farm. E-I-E-I-O! The horn on the bus goes beep, beep, beep…
The wipers on the bus go swish, swish, swish…
Pig…oink The lights on the bus go blink, blink, blink…
Goose…honk The babies on the bus go, “Wah, wah, wah”…
Dog…woof The mommies on the bus say, “I love you”…
Cat…meow
Sheep…baa Baa Baa Black Sheep
Hen…cluck
Horse…neigh Baa, baa, black sheep, have you any wool?
Yes sir, yes sir, three bags full.
Are You Sleeping? One for my master, and one for my dame.
And one for the little boy who lives down the lane.
Are you sleeping? Are you sleeping? Ball, ball, black sheep, have you any wool?
Brother John? Brother John? Yes sir, yes sir, three bags full.
Morning bells are ringing. Morning bells are ringing.
Ding, ding, dong! Ding, ding, dong! Five Little Ducks

Rock-a-Bye Baby Five little ducks went out one day,
Over the hills and far away.
Rock-a-bye baby, in the treetop. Mother duck said, “Quack, quack, quack, quack!”
When the wind blows, the cradle will rock. But only four little ducks came back.
When the bough breaks, the cradle will fall.
And down will come baby, cradle and all! Four little ducks…
Three little ducks…
Twinkle Twinkle Little Star Two little ducks…
One little duck…
Twinkle, twinkle little star,
How I wonder what you are. So sad mother duck went out one day,
Up above the world so high, Over the hills and far away.
Like a diamond in the sky. Mother duck said, “Quack, quack, quack, quack!”
Twinkle, twinkle little star, And all of the five little ducks came back!
How I wonder what you are.