SurLaLune Storytime: I'm Hungry

On top of spaghetti,
All covered with cheese,
I lost my poor meatball,
When somebody sneezed.

It rolled off the table,
And on to the floor,
And then my poor meatball,
Rolled out of the door.

It rolled in the garden,
And under a bush,
And then my poor meatball,
Was nothing but mush.

The mush was as tasty
As tasty could be,
And then the next summer,
It grew into a tree.

The tree was all covered,
All covered with moss,
And on it grew meatballs,
And tomato sauce.

So if you eat spaghetti,
All covered with cheese,
Hold on to your meatball,
Whenever you sneeze.

Peter, Peter, pumpkin eater,
Had a wife and couldn't keep her.
He put her in a pumpkin shell
And there he kept her, very well.

Little Miss Muffet, sat on a tuffet,
Eating her curds and whey;
Along came a spider,
Who sat down beside her
And frightened Miss Muffet away.

[Available in Little Folk Visuals Nursery Rhymes in Set #3 or the Complete Set.]

Little Jack Horner
Sat in a corner,
Eating a mincemeat pie.
He stuck in his thumb
And pulled out a plum,
And said, "What a good boy am I!"

	*Strega Nona* by Tomie dePaola Age Level: Pre-K-1 Running Time: 9 minutes
Synopsis: Big Anthony finds himself knee-deep in trouble and pasta when he uses Strega Nonna's magic pasta pot without her permission.

	Blueberries For Sal by Robert Mc Closkey Running Time: 9 Minutes
Synopsis: A little girl named Sal who goes up into the hills to pick blueberries with her mother and eats as many blueberries as she puts into her pail! She encounters a mother bear and her cub also picking blueberries; but, soon the little cub is trailing Sal's mother while Sal is trailing the mother bear.

More Books to Read On Your Own

Vegetable Garden
by Douglas Florian
Age Level: Toddler and up
Synopsis: Simple rhyming text describes how a family plants a vegetable garden and helps it grow to a rich harvest.

The Little Mouse, the Red Ripe Strawberry and the Big Hungry Bear
by Audrey Woods
Age Level: Toddler and up
Synopsis: The Big Hungry Bear is the story of a little mouse and you (you are the only one who speaks). What you try to do is trick the mouse into sharing his 'red, ripe strawberry' with you by making him think 'a big hungry bear' is chasing him, wanting to take it away.

Bear Wants More
by Karma Wilson
Age Level: Toddler and up
Synopsis: Bear finds some roots to eat, but that's not enough. He wants more! With his friends' help, he finds some berries, clover, and fish to eat, but that's not enough. Bear wants more!
Note: These characters also appear in Bear Snores On and Bear Stays Up for Christmas.

If You Give a Pig a Pancake
by Laura Numeroff
Age Level: Toddler and up
Synopsis: One thing leads to another when you give a pig a pancake.
Note: This character also appears in If You Give a Pig a Party.

Growing Vegetable Soup
by Lois Ehlert
Age Level: Toddler and up
Synopsis: A father and child grow vegetables and then make them into a soup.

Tops and Bottoms
by Janet Stevens
Age Level: Advanced Preschool and up
Synopsis: Hare solves his family's problems by tricking rich and lazy Bear in this funny, energetic version of an old slave story. With roots in American slave tales, Tops & Bottoms celebrates the trickster tradition of using one's wits to overcome hardship. It's all wonderful fun, and the book opens, fittingly, from top to bottom instead of from side to side, making it perfect for story-time sharing.
Note: This is a longer book, but keeps it usually keeps a younger group's attention.

Jamberry
by Bruce Degen
Age Level: Toddler and up
Synopsis: Hat and boot in hand, a boy and a bear set off on a delicious and raucous romp through Berryland. They frolic in strawberry fields forever, rumble and ramble in blackberry brambles, and topple their canoeberry with blueberries. Silly rhymes and a musical beat practically beg to be read aloud, preferably accompanied by dancing.

More Songs for at Home

A Peanut Sat on a Railroad Track

A peanut sat on a railroad track,
His heart was all a-flutter,

Round the bend came number ten.
Toot! Toot! Peanut butter!
SQUISH!

Found a Peanut
(Tune: "Clementine")

Found a peanut, found a peanut,
Found a peanut just now,
Just now I found a peanut,
Found a peanut just now.

Cracked it open, cracked it open,
Cracked it open just now,
Just now I cracked it open,
Cracked it open just now.

It was rotten, it was rotten,
It was rotten just now,
Just now it was rotten,
It was rotten just now.

Ate it anyway, ate it anyway,
Ate it anyway just now,
Just now I ate it anyway,
Ate it anyway just now.

Got a stomach ache, got a stomach ache,
Got a stomach ache just now,
Just now I got a stomach ache,
Got a stomach ache just now.

Called the doctor, called the doctor,
Called the doctor just now,
Just now I called the doctor,
Called the doctor just now.

Penicillin, Penicillin,
Penicillin just now,
Just now I took Penicillin,
Penicillin just now.

Operation, operation,
Operation just now,
Just now an operation,
An operation just now.

Died anyway, died anyway,
Died anyway just now,
Just now I died anyway,
Died anyway just now.

Went to heaven, went to heaven,
Went to heaven just now,
Just now I went to heaven,
Went to heaven just now.

Wouldn't take me, wouldn't take me,
Wouldn't take me just now,
Just now Heaven wouldn't take me,
Wouldn't take me just now.

Went the other way, went the other way,
Went the other way just now,
Just now I went the other way,
Went the other way just now.

Didn't want me, didn't want me,
Didn't want me just now,
Just now they didn't want me,
Didn't want me just now.

Was a dream, was a dream,
Was a dream just now,
Just now it was a dream,
Was a dream, just now.

Then I woke up, then I woke up,
Then I woke up just now,
Just now I woke up,
I woke up just now.

Found a peanut, found a peanut,
Found a peanut just now,
Just now I found a peanut,
Found a peanut just now.

I'm a Little Teapot

I'm a little teapot, short and stout.
Here is my handle, here is my spout.
When I get all steamed up,
Hear me shout!
Just tip me over,
And pour me out!

Does Your Bubble Gum Lose Its Flavor On the Bedpost Overnight?

Does your bubble gum lose its flavor on the bedpost overnight?
If your mother says don't chew it, do you swallow it in spite?
It catches on your tonsils, you're heaving left and right?
Does your bubble gum lose its flavor on the bedpost overnight?

Hot Cross Buns

Hot cross buns,
One a penny buns;
One a penny, Two a penny,
Hot cross buns.

Fresh, sweet buns,
Come and buy my buns;
One a penny, Two a penny,
Fresh, sweet buns.

Nice, light buns,
Buy my currant buns;
Come and try them,
Then you'll buy them,
Nice, light buns.

Pat-a-Cake

Pat-a-cake, pat-a-cake,
Baker's man!
Bake us a cake
As fast as you can,
(Alternate clapping baby's hands and yours)

Mix it and prick it
(Pretend to stir bowl, then prick cake)
And mark it with B,
(Make a 'B' in the air)
And there will be plenty
For baby and me.
(Alternate clapping baby's hands and yours)

Pat-a-cake, pat-a-cake,
Baker's man
So I will, master,
As fast as I can.
Pat it, and prick it,
And mark it with a "T"
And put it in the oven
For Tommy and me!

Humpty Dumpty

[Available in Little Folk Visuals Nursery Rhymes in Set #4 or the Complete Set.]

Humpty Dumpty sat on the wall,
Humpty Dumpty had a great fall.
All the king's horses
And all the king's men
Couldn't put Humpty Dumpty
Together again.

Sing a Song of Sixpence

FORMATION:
Divide children into two sets of equal numbers.
Have one set join hands and form a circle, the others
in the center of the ring, in crouching position.

Sing a song of sixpence,
A pocket full of rye;
(Children in circle skip to the left while singing)

Four and twenty blackbirds
Baked in a pie!
(Children in circle skip to the right,
then stretch arms up toward center to form the pie.)

When the pie was opened,
The birds began to sing;
(Children in circle bring arms back down
to waist level, then children in center of ring
begin to 'chirp' and 'tweet')

Wasn't that a dainty dish
To set before the king?
(Children in circle skip to the left;
children in center flutter about like birds.)

The king was in his counting house,
Counting all the money;
(Children in circle walk backward
four steps then pretend to count money;
children in center keep fluttering like birds)

The queen was in the parlor,
Eating bread with honey
(Children in circle walk forward
four steps, kneel and pretend to eat;
children in center keep fluttering like birds)

The maid was in the garden,
Hanging out the clothes;
(Children in circle pretend to pick up clothes,
then turn outward and hang them up.)

When down came a blackbird
Who snapped off her nose!
(Children in center flutter to, and run around,
those in the circle, one bird to one child, each snapping
off a nose. Those in the circle kneel and the birds each
hold up one finger to represent the nose.)

The Muffin Man

FORMATION:
Children form a circle with one person in the center. Those in the circle dance in a ring around the one in the middle, singing the first verse. They all stand still while the 'middleman' sings the second verse and afterward, he or she chooses one (or more) children to join him/her in the middle of the ring. Continue singing the verses until all children have been chosen. Then all sing the final verse.

Oh, do you know the muffin man,
The muffin man, the muffin man,
Oh, do you know the muffin man,
That lives on Drury Lane?

Oh, yes, I know the muffin man,
The muffin man, the muffin man,
Oh, yes, I know the muffin man,
That lives on Drury Lane.

Now two of us know the muffin man,
The muffin man, the muffin man,
Now two of us know the muffin man,
That lives on Drury Lane.

A few of us know the muffin man,
The muffin man, the muffin man,
A few of us know the muffin man,
That lives on Drury Lane.

Now we all know the muffin man,
The muffin man, the muffin man,
Now we all know the muffin man,
That lives on Drury Lane.

On Top of My Pizza
(Tune: "On Top of Old Smokey")

On top of my pizza
All covered with sauce
Could not find the mushrooms
I think they got lost

I looked in the closet
I looked in the sink
I looked in the cup that
Held my cola drink

I looked in the saucepan
Right under the lid
No matter where I looked
Those mushrooms stayed hid

Next time you make pizza
I'm begging you, please
Do not give me mushrooms
But just plain old cheese

Old Dan Tucker

Come to town the other night
Heard the noise and saw the fight
Watchman was a-runnin' 'round
Said "Old Dan Tucker's come to town."

So, git out the way, Old Dan Tucker
Git out the way, Old Dan Tucker
Git out the way, Old Dan Tucker
You're too late to come to supper.

Old Dan Tucker come to town
Ridin' a billygoat, leadin' a hound
Hound, he barked and the billygoat jumped
Throwed old Dan, he straddled a stump.

So, git out the way, Old Dan Tucker
Git out the way, Old Dan Tucker
Git out the way, Old Dan Tucker
You're too late to come to supper.

Old Dan Tucker was a fine old man
Washed his face in a frying pan
Combed his hair with a wagon wheel
And died with a toothache in his heel.

So, git out the way, Old Dan Tucker
Git out the way, Old Dan Tucker
Git out the way, Old Dan Tucker
You're too late to come to supper.

The Prune Song

No matter how young a prune may be
He's always full of wrinkles
People get them on their face
Prunes get 'em every place.

Baby prunes, just like their Dad
Wrinkled but not quite so bad
Their life's an open book,
For no matter how young a prune may be
He has a worried look!

Now every day in every way
The world is getting better
As time goes passing by
We've even learned to fly.

But pity the case of the poor old Prune
Who's always left alone,
For no matter how young a Prune may be
He has a heart of stone.

Goober Peas

Sittin' by the roadside on a summer's day,
Chattin' with my messmates, passing time away,
Lying in the shadow, underneath the trees,
Goodness, how delicious, eating goober peas!

(Chorus)
Peas! Peas! Peas! Peas!
Eating goober peas!
Goodness, how delicious,
Eating goober peas!

When a horseman passes, the soldiers have a rule
To cry out at their loudest "Mister, here's your mule!"
But still another pleasure enchantinger than these
Is wearing out your grinders, eating goober peas!
(Chorus)

Just before the battle, the Gen'ral hears a row,
He says "The Yanks are coming, I hear their rifles now"!
He turns around in wonder, and what do you think he sees?
The Georgia Militia -- eating goober peas!
(Chorus)

I think my song had lasted almost long enough,
The subject's interesting, but rhymes are mighty rough!
I wish this war was over, when free from rags and fleas,
We'd kiss our wives and sweethearts and gobble goober peas!
(Chorus)

Note: Goober peas are peanuts in Southern United States terminology

Sippin' Cider Through a Straw
(Echo Song)

The prettiest girl
(The prettiest girl)
I ever saw
(I ever saw)
Was sippin' ci-
(Was sippin' ci-)
Der through a straw
(Der through a straw)

The prettiest girl I ever saw
Was sippin' cider through a straw

I told that gal
(I told that gal)
I didn't see how
(I didn't see how)
She sipped that ci-
(She sipped that ci-)
Der through a straw
(Der through a straw)

I told that gal I didn't see how
She sipped that cider through a straw

Then cheek to cheek
(Then cheek to cheek)
And jaw to jaw
(And jaw to jaw)
We sipped that ci-
(We sipped that ci-)
Der through a straw
(Der through a straw)

Then cheek to cheek and jaw to jaw
We sipped that cider through a straw

And now and then
(And now and then)
That straw would slip
(That straw would slip)
And I'd sip some ci-
(And I'd sip some ci-)
Der from her lip
(Der from her lip)

And now and then that straw would slip
And I'd sip some cider from her lip

And now I've got
(And now I've got)
A mother-in-law
(A mother-in-law)
From sippin' ci-
(From sippin' ci-)
Der through a straw
(Der through a straw)

And now I've got a mother-in-law
From sippin' cider through a straw

The moral of
(The moral of)
This little tale
(This little tale)
Is to sip your soda
(Is to sip your soda)
Through a pail
(Through a pail)

The moral of this little tale
Is to sip your soda through a pail!

Pease Pudding Hot

Pease pudding hot,
Pease pudding cold,
Pease pudding in the pot
Nine days old.

Some like it hot,
Some like it cold,
Some like it in the pot
Nine days old.

Short'nin' Bread

Put on the skillet,
Slip on the lid,
Mama's gonna make
A little short'nin' bread.
That ain't all
She's gonna do,
Mama's gonna make
A little coffee, too.