I've Got Rhythm!

	Giraffes Can't Dance by Giles Andreae Age Level: Preschool and up
Synopsis: Gerald is a giraffe that can't dance. Try as he might, his long, spindly legs buckle whenever he starts to boogie. Every year he dreads going to the Great Jungle Dance--until one night he finds his own special music.

Song

We Can Jump, Jump, Jump

We can jump, jump, jump.
We can hop, hop, hop.
We can clap, clap, clap.
We can stop, stop, stop.
We can nod our heads for yes.
We can shake our heads for no.
We can bend our knees a little bit.
And we can sit down slow.

	Dream Dancer by Jill Newsome Age Level: Preschool and up
Synopsis: Lily loves to dance, but after she hurts her leg in an accident, she wonders if she will be able to dance again--until she finds encouragement in a gift from her grandmother.

Song

Father Abraham

Father Abraham had many sons
Many sons had Father Abraham
I am one of them and so are you
So let's all praise the Lord.
Right arm!

Father Abraham had many sons
Many sons had Father Abraham
I am one of them and so are you
So let's all praise the Lord.
Right arm, left arm!

Father Abraham had many sons
Many sons had Father Abraham
I am one of them and so are you
So let's all praise the Lord.
Right arm, left arm, right foot!

Father Abraham had many sons
Many sons had Father Abraham
I am one of them and so are you
So let's all praise the Lord.
Right arm, left arm, right foot, left foot!

Father Abraham had many sons
Many sons had Father Abraham
I am one of them and so are you
So let's all praise the Lord.
Right arm, left arm, right foot, left foot,
Chin up!

Father Abraham had many sons
Many sons had Father Abraham
I am one of them and so are you
So let's all praise the Lord.
Right arm, left arm, right foot, left foot,
Chin up, turn around!

Father Abraham had many sons
Many sons had Father Abraham
I am one of them and so are you
So let's all praise the Lord.
Right arm, left arm, right foot, left foot,
Chin up, turn around, sit down!

Actions:

Right arm: Clench fist, bend and extend arm upward repeatedly throughout song
Left arm: Add left arm in same motion as right
Right foot: Add right foot stepping up and down
Left foot: Add left foot stepping up and down
Chin up: Add head nodding up and down
Turn around: Add turning in place while continuing other motions
Sit down: Sit down

	Dancin' in the Kitchen by Wendy Gelsanliter Age Level: Toddler and up
Synopsis: With music from the radio to liven things up, a family all enjoys helping to prepare dinner at Grandma's house.

Song

If You're Happy and You Know It

If you're happy and you know it,
Clap your hands
If you're happy and you know it,
Clap your hands
If you're happy and you know it,
Then your face will surely show it
If you're happy and you know it,
Clap your hands.

If you're happy and you know it,
Stomp your feet
If you're happy and you know it,
Stomp your feet
If you're happy and you know it,
Then your face will surely show it
If you're happy and you know it,
Stomp your feet.

If you're happy and you know it,
Shout "Hurray!"
If you're happy and you know it,
Shout "Hurray!"
If you're happy and you know it,
Then your face will surely show it
If you're happy and you know it,
Shout "Hurray!"

If you're happy and you know it,
Do all three
If you're happy and you know it,
Do all three
If you're happy and you know it,
Then your face will surely show it
If you're happy and you know it,
Do all three.

	When the Wind Bears Go Dancing by Phoebe Stone Age Level: Toddler and up
Synopsis: Who hasn't wondered what's going on when the wind outside your window blows and howls all night long? In this magical explanation for stormy weather, one small child joins the wild and wooly Wind Bears as they cavort in the moonlit sky to music performed by the stormy night band.

Song

Hokey-Pokey

You put your right foot in,
You put your right foot out;
You put your right foot in,
And you shake it all about.
You do the Hokey-Pokey,
And you turn yourself around.
That's what it's all about!

You put your left foot in,
You put your left foot out;
You put your left foot in,
And you shake it all about.
You do the Hokey-Pokey,
And you turn yourself around.
That's what it's all about!

You put your right hand in,
You put your right hand out;
You put your right hand in,
And you shake it all about.
You do the Hokey-Pokey,
And you turn yourself around.
That's what it's all about!

You put your left hand in,
You put your left hand out;
You put your left hand in,
And you shake it all about.
You do the Hokey-Pokey,
And you turn yourself around.
That's what it's all about!

You put your right side in,
You put your right side out;
You put your right side in,
And you shake it all about.
You do the Hokey-Pokey,
And you turn yourself around.
That's what it's all about!

You put your left side in,
You put your left side out;
You put your left side in,
And you shake it all about.
You do the Hokey-Pokey,
And you turn yourself around.
That's what it's all about!

You put your nose in,
You put your nose out;
You put your nose in,
And you shake it all about.
You do the Hokey-Pokey,
And you turn yourself around.
That's what it's all about!

You put your tail in,
You put your tail out;
You put your tail in,
And you shake it all about.
You do the Hokey-Pokey,
And you turn yourself around.
That's what it's all about!

You put your head in,
You put your head out;
You put your head in,
And you shake it all about.
You do the Hokey-Pokey,
And you turn yourself around.
That's what it's all about!

You put your whole self in,
You put your whole self out;
You put your whole self in,
And you shake it all about.
You do the Hokey-Pokey,
And you turn yourself around.
That's what it's all about!

	Frank Was a Monster Who Wanted to Dance by Keith Graves Age Level: Toddler and up
Synopsis: Frank the monster indulges his love of dancing by strutting his stuff on stage until his head unzips, his brains flop out, and he continues to lose body parts.

Films

	The Tender Tale of Cinderella Penguin by Janet Perlman Age Level: PreK-2
Synopsis: An adaptation of the traditional tale of Cinderella with penguins rather than humans as characters. (Why is this under the dance theme? Because Cinderella goes to a ball!)

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More Books to Read On Your Own

My Mama Had a Dancing Heart
by Libba Moore Gray
Age Level: Preschool and up
Synopsis: A ballet dancer recalls how she and her mother would welcome each season with a dance outdoors.

Hop Jump
by Ellen Stoll Walsh
Age Level: Toddler and up
Synopsis: A frog gets tired of hopping and decides to dance instead.

Duncan the Dancing Duck
by Syd Hoff
Age Level: Preschool and up
Synopsis: Duncan becomes famous as a dancer, but longs to return home to his mother.

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More Songs for at Home

The Chicken Dance and The Bunny Hop are also great songs for this theme.