Old Black Fly by Jim Aylesworth Age Level: Preschool and up
Synopsis: Rhyming text and illustrations follow a mischievous old black fly through the alphabet as he has a very busy bad day landing where he should not be. Note: Artfelt has an Old Black Fly felt board puppet set to accompany this book.

Flannel Board

	The Very Quiet Cricket by Eric Carle Age Level: Toddler and up
Synopsis: A very quiet cricket who wants to rub his wings together and make a sound as do so many other animals finally achieves his wish. The cricket's sound is reproduced at the end of the book.

Song

	Ten Little Ladybugs by Melanie Gerth Age Level: Toddler and up
Synopsis: One by one, ten tactile bugs disappear. Where did they all go? Young ones will love finding this out as they feel their way through the sturdy, colorful pages of this innovative book. The cute critters provide a hands-on learning experience and the rhyming text reinforces the counting concept.

Song

	Inch by Inch by Leo Lionni Age Level: Toddler and up
Synopsis: To keep from being eaten, an inchworm measures a robin's tail, a flamingo's neck, a toucan's beak, a heron's legs, and a nightingale's song.

Films

	The Magic of Anansi by Sugith Varughese Age Level: PreK-2
Synopsis: Tale of Anansi the Spider.

	The Bear and the Fly by Paula Winters Age Level: Pre-K-2
Synopsis: A bear tries to catch a fly with disastrous results.

	Why Mosquitos Buzz in People's Ears by Verna Aardema Age Level: Kindergarten-2
Synopsis: A retelling of a traditional West African tale that reveals how the mosquito developed its annoying habit.

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More Books to Read On Your Own

The Very Hungry Caterpillar
by Eric Carle
Age Level: Toddler and up
Synopsis: Classic story of a caterpillar's journey through eating from caterpillar to butterfly.

The Grouchy Ladybug
by Eric Carle
Age Level: Toddler and up
Synopsis: A grouchy ladybug, looking for a fight, challenges everyone she meets regardless of their size or strength.

The Very Lonely Firefly
by Eric Carle
Age Level: Toddler and up
Synopsis: A lonely firefly goes out into the night searching for other fireflies.

The Very Clumsy Click Beetle
by Eric Carle
Age Level: Toddler and up
Synopsis: A clumsy young click beetle learns to land on its feet with encouragement from various animals and a wise old beetle. An electronic chip with a built-in battery creates clicking sounds to accompany the story.

Itsy Bitsy Spider
by Iza Trapani
Age Level: Toddler and up
Synopsis: The itsy-bitsy spider encounters a fan, a mouse, a cat, and a rocking chair as she makes her way to the top of a tree to spin her web.
Note: Artfelt has an Itsy Bitsy Spider felt puppet set.

The Eensy Weensy Spider
by Mary Ann Hoberman
Age Level: Toddler and up
Synopsis: An expanded version of the familiar children's finger-play rhyme describing what the little spider does after being washed out of the water-spout.

There Was An Old Lady Who Swallowed A Fly
by Simms Taback
Age Level: Toddler and up
Synopsis: A cumulative folk song in which the solution proves worse than the predicament when an old lady swallows a fly.

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More Songs for at Home

Itsy Bitsy Spider
(Version 2)
Written By: Iza Trapani

The itsy bitsy spider
Climbed up the waterspout
Down came the rain
And washed the spider out
Out came the sun
And dried up all the rain
And the itsy bitsy spider
Climbed up the spout again

The itsy bitsy spider
Climbed up the kitchen wall
Swoosh! went the fan
And made the spider fall
Off went the fan
No longer did it blow
So the itsy bitsy spider
Back up the wall did go

The itsy bitsy spider
Climbed up the yellow pail
In came a mouse
And flicked her with his tail
Down fell the spider
The mouse ran out the door
Then the itsy bitsy spider
Climbed up the pail once more

The itsy bitsy spider
Climbed up the rocking chair
Up jumped a cat
And knocked her in the air
Down plopped the cat
And when he was asleep
The itsy bitsy spider
Back up the chair did creep
The itsy bitsy spider
Climbed up the maple tree
She slipped on some dew
And landed next to me
Out came the sun
And when the tree was dry
The itsy bitsy spider
Gave it one more try

The itsy bitsy spider
Climbed up without a stop
She spun a silky web
Right at the very top
She wove and she spun
And when her web was done
The itsy bitsy spider
Rested in the sun.

Shoo Fly

Shoo, fly, don't bother me
Shoo, fly, don't bother me
Shoo, fly, don't bother me
For I belong to somebody

I feel, I feel,
I feel like a morning star,
I feel, I feel,
I feel like a morning star.

Little Arabella Miller
(Tune: "Twinkle Twinkle Little Star")

Little Arabella Miller found a woolly caterpillar.
First it crawled upon her mother,
Then upon her baby brother;
All said, "Arabella Miller, take away that caterpillar."

Baby Bumblebee
(Version 2)

I'm bringing home a baby bumblebee
Won't my Mommy be surprised at me
[Cup hands together as if holding bee.]
I'm bringing home a baby bumblebee
Ouch, he stung me
[Shake hands as if just stung.]

I'm squishing up a baby bumblebee
Won't my Mommy be surprised at me
['Squish' bee between palms of hands.]
I'm squishing up a baby bumblebee
Squish, squish, squish
['Squish' bee between palms of hands.]

I'm licking up a baby bumblebee
Won't my Mommy be surprised at me
[Pretend to lick bee off hands.]
I'm licking up a baby bumblebee
Slurp, slurp, slurp
[Make slurping sounds.]

I'm throwing up a baby bumblebee
Won't my Mommy be surprised at me
[Stick tongue out and look 'sick'.]
I'm throwing up a baby bumblebee
Blech, blech, blech
[Make awful face.]

I'm sweeping up a baby bumblebee
Won't my Mommy be surprised at me
['Sweep' bee up with one hand into the other.]
I'm sweeping up a baby bumblebee
Swish, swish, swish
['Sweep' bee up with one hand into the other.]

The Grasshopper

There was a little grasshopper
[Make fist with index and middle finger out in front.]
Who was always on the jump
[Make your "grasshopper" jump.]
And because he never looked ahead,
He always got a bump.
[Run your "grasshopper" into your other palm.]

Wiggle Waggle Like a Spider

My arms go Up,
Or Down instead.
My arms go Round and round the web.
My fingers go Snap,
My toes go Tap,
My body goes Wiggle waggle,
Just like that. [Clap.]

First time, speak in normal voice while doing the actions. Second time, speak a little softer. Third time, whisper.
Fourth time, do only the actions.

High Hopes

Next time you're found with your chin on the ground
There's a lot to be learned so look around
Just what makes that little ol' ant
Think he'll move that rubber tree plant
Anyone knows an ant can't
Move a rubber tree plant

But he's got high hopes... he's got high hopes
He's got high apple pie in the sky hopes
So any time you're getting low
'Stead of letting go,
Just remember that ant.
Oops there goes another rubber tree plant.
Oops there goes another rubber tree plant.
Oops there goes another rubber tree plant.

When troubles call and your back's to the wall
There's a lot to be learned, that wall could fall.
Once there was a silly ol' ram,
Thought he'd punch a hole in a dam;
No one could make that ram scram,
He kept buttin' that dam

But he's got high hopes... he's got high hopes
He's got high apple pie in the sky hopes
So any time you're feeling bad
'Stead of feeling sad
Just remember that ram.
Oops there goes a billion kilowatt
Oops there goes a billion kilowatt
Oops there goes a billion kilowatt dam!

So keep your high hopes, keep your high hopes.
Keep your high apple pie in the sky hopes.
A problem's just a toy balloon
They'll be bursting soon
They're just bound to go POP!
Oops there goes another problem kerplop.
Oops there goes another problem kerplop.
Oops there goes another problem kerplop.
Kerplop!

Skip to My Lou

Skip, skip, skip to my Lou,
Skip, skip, skip to my Lou,
Skip, skip, skip to my Lou,
Skip to my Lou, my darlin'.

Fly's in the buttermilk,
Shoo, fly, shoo,
Fly's in the buttermilk,
Shoo, fly, shoo,
Fly's in the buttermilk,
Shoo, fly, shoo,
Skip to my Lou, my darlin'.

Skip, skip, skip to my Lou,
Skip, skip, skip to my Lou,
Skip, skip, skip to my Lou,
Skip to my Lou, my darlin'.

Cows in the cornfield,
What'll I do?
Cows in the cornfield,
What'll I do?
Cows in the cornfield,
What'll I do?
Skip to my Lou, my darlin'.

Skip, skip, skip to my Lou,
Skip, skip, skip to my Lou,
Skip, skip, skip to my Lou,
Skip to my Lou, my darlin'.

There's a little red wagon,
Paint it blue
There's a little red wagon,
Paint it blue
There's a little red wagon,
Paint it blue
Skip to my Lou, my darlin'.

Skip, skip, skip to my Lou,
Skip, skip, skip to my Lou,
Skip, skip, skip to my Lou,
Skip to my Lou, my darlin'.

Old Lady Who Swallowed a Fly

There was an old lady who swallowed a fly.
I dunno why she swallowed that fly,
Perhaps she'll die.

There was an old lady who swallowed a spider,
That wriggled and jiggled and wiggled inside her.
She swallowed the spider to catch the fly.
But I dunno why she swallowed that fly -
Perhaps she'll die.

There was an old lady who swallowed a bird;
How absurd, to swallow a bird!
She swallowed the bird to catch the spider
That wriggled and jiggled and wiggled inside her.
She swallowed the spider to catch the fly.
But I dunno why she swallowed that fly -
Perhaps she'll die

There was an old lady who swallowed a cat.
Imagine that, she swallowed a cat.
She swallowed the cat to catch the bird ...
She swallowed the bird to catch the spider
That wriggled and jiggled and wiggled inside her.
She swallowed the spider to catch the fly.
But I dunno why she swallowed that fly
Perhaps she'll die

There was an old lady who swallowed a dog.
What a hog! To swallow a dog!
She swallowed the dog to catch the cat.
She swallowed the cat to catch the bird ...
She swallowed the bird to catch the spider
That wriggled and jiggled and wiggled inside her.
She swallowed the spider to catch the fly.
But I dunno why she swallowed that fly
Perhaps she'll die.

There was an old lady who swallowed a goat.
Just opened her throat and swallowed a goat!
She swallowed the goat to catch the dog ...
The swallowed the dog to catch the cat.
She swallowed the cat to catch the bird ...
She swallowed the bird to catch the spider
That wriggled and jiggled and wiggled inside her.
She swallowed the spider to catch the fly.
But I dunno why she swallowed that fly
Perhaps she'll die.

There was an old lady who swallowed a horse -
She's dead, of course.

There Was a Bee-Eye-Ee-Eye-Ee

There was a bee-eye-ee-eye-ee
Sat on a wall-eye-all-eye-all
And there it sat-eye-at-eye-at
And that was all-eye-all-eye-all

Then came a boy-eye-oy-eye-oy
Who had a stick-eye-ick-eye-ick
And gave that bee-eye-ee-eye-ee
An awful luck-eye-ick-eye-ick

And so that bee-eye-ee-eye-ee
Began to sting-eye-ing-eye-ing
And hurt that boy-eye-oy-eye-oy
Like anything-eye-ing-eye-ing!

And then that boy-eye-oy-eye-oy
Let out a yell-eye-ell-eye-ell
And told that bee-eye-ee-eye-ee
To go someplace I will not tell

And then that bee-eye-ee-eye-ee
Gave one big cough-eye-off-eye-off
And one last smile-eye-ile-eye-ile
And he buzzed off-eye-off-eye-off

Think I'll Go Eat Worms!
(Tune: Polly Wolly Doodle)

Version I:

Nobody likes me, everybody hates me,
Guess I'll go eat worms,
Long, thin, slimy ones; Short, fat, juicy ones,
Itsy, bitsy, fuzzy wuzzy worms.

Down goes the first one, down goes the second one,
Oh how they wiggle and squirm.
Up comes the first one, up comes the second one,
Oh how they wiggle and squirm.

Version II:

Nobody loves me, everybody hates me
Think I'll go and eat worms
Long ones, short ones, fat ones, thin ones
See how they wriggle and squirm

I bite off the heads, and suck out the juice
And throw the skins away
Nobody knows how fat I grow
On worms three times a day
Ohh...nobody loves me.

Version III:

Nobody likes me, everybody hates me,
Think I'll go eat worms.
Big fat juicy ones,
Eensie weensy squeensy ones,
See how they wiggle and squirm.

Chomp off their heads and squeeze out the juice
And throw their tails away
Nobody knows how I survive
On worms three times a day.

Version IV:

Nobody likes me, everybody hates me
I'm goin' down the garden to eat worms
Long thin slimy ones, short fat fuzzy ones
Ooey gooey, ooey gooey worms

Long thin slimy ones slip down easily

Short fat fuzzy ones don't
Short fat fuzzy ones stick to your teeth
And the juice goes slurpin' (slurping noise) down your throat

Version V:

Nobody likes me, everybody hates me,
think I'll go eat worms...
big fat juicy ones, little slimy skinny ones,
hope they don't have germs!"

The Littlest Worm
(Echo Song)
(Tune: "Sippin' Cider Through a Straw")

The littlest worm
(The littlest worm)
You ever saw
(You ever saw)
Got stuck inside
(Got stuck inside)
My soda straw
(My soda straw)

The littlest worm you ever saw
Got stuck inside my soda straw

He said to me
(He said to me)
"Don't take a sip
("Don't take a sip)
'Cause if you do
('Cause if you do)
You'll get real sick."
(You'll get real sick.")

He said to me, "Don't take a sip,
'Cause if you do, you'll get real sick."

I took a sip
(I took a sip)
And he went down
(And he went down)
Right through my pipe
(Right through my pipe)
He must have drowned
(He must have drowned)

I took a sip and he went down
Right through my pipe, he must have drowned

He was my pal
(He was my pal)
He was my friend
(He was my friend)
There is no more
(There is no more)
This is the end
(This is the end)

He was my pal, he was my friend
There is no more, this is the end.

Now don't you fret
(Now don't you fret)
Now don't you fear
(Now don't you fear)
That little worm
(That little worm)
Had scuba gear
(Had scuba gear)

Now don't you fret, now don't you fear,
That little worm had scuba gear.

There's a Bug on Me

One, two, three,
There's a bug on me!
Where did it go?
I don't know!

Little Caterpillars

Let's go to sleep, the little caterpillars said
As they tucked themselves into their bed
They will awaken by and by
And each one will be a butterfly.