What Do You Do in the Summer Time?

	Summer Stinks by Marty Kelley Age Level: Preschool and up
Synopsis: In this rhyming alphabet book, a boy lists all his reasons for disliking summer, from the ants that ate his snack to the zapper he touched by mistake.

Song

Watermelon Song
(Tune: "Are You Sleeping?")

Watermelon, Watermelon,
[Make a circle with your arms.]
On the vine, On the vine,
[Curve hands and arms beside body.]
Sweet and red and juicy, Sweet and red and juicy,
[Rub your tummy.]
Please be mine! Please be mine!
[Palms together as though pleading.]
Watermelon, Watermelon,
[Make a circle with your arms.]
Thump, thump, thump,
Thump, thump, thump,
[Make a thumping movement with thumb and middle finger.]
I think you are ready- I think you are ready-
[Point, resting finger on your temple.]
Big and plump! Bug and plump!
[Make a circle with your arms.]

	Mouse's First Summer by Lauren Thompson Age Level: Preschool and up
Synopsis: Mouse experiences his first summer with his mother.

Flannel Board

There’s Something in My Garden

[Artfelt has a There’s Something in My Garden felt puppet set. Add as many animals as you want and the rhyming fun continues. Children love the suspense before the finger puppet is revealed.]

There’s something in my garden,
Now what can it be?
There’s something in my garden
That I can’t really see.
Hear its funny sound....
RIBBIT - RIBBIT - RIBBIT.
A FROG is what I found!
RIBBIT - RIBBIT - RIBBIT.

There’s something in my garden,
Now what can it be?
There’s something in my garden,
That I can’t really see.
Hear its funny sound....
THUMP - THUMP - THUMP.
A RABBIT is what I found!
THUMP - THUMP - THUMP

There’s something in my garden,
Now what can it be?
There’s something in my garden,
That I can’t really see.
Hear its funny sound....
SQUEAK - SQUEAK - SQUEAK.
A MOUSE is what I found!
SQUEAK - SQUEAK - SQUEAK.

There’s something in my garden,
Now what can it be?
There’s something in my garden,
That I can’t really see.
Hear its funny sound....
CAW - CAW - CAW.
A CROW is what I found!
CAW - CAW - CAW.

	Marshmallow Kisses by Linda Crotta Brennan Age Level: Preschool and up
Synopsis: Children and their family enjoy a variety of activities during a summer day.

Song

Sing a Song of Sunshine
(Tune: "Sing a Song of Sixpence")

Sing a Song of Sunshine,
Be happy every day
[Smile.]
Sing a Song of Sunshine,
Just chase the clouds away.
[Move hands as if pushing clouds away.]
Be happy every moment,
In everything you do
Just smile and smile and smile
A and let the sun shine through.
[Make round sun with fingers touching above head.]

	Come On, Rain! by Karen Hesse Age Level: Preschool and up
Synopsis: A young girl eagerly awaits a coming rainstorm to bring relief from the oppressive summer heat.

Song

I'll Plant A Little Seed
(Tune: "I'm A Little Teapot")

I'll 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!

When The Fireflies Come by Jonathan London Age Level: Advanced Preschool and up

Synopsis: This delicious depiction of the quintessential summer night opens with screen doors slamming, burgers sizzling on the grill, ice cream dripping, bare feet slapping on blacktop, and boys and girls playing baseball. Shadows lengthen, the first twinkling stars appear, and then . . . the fireflies come! The kids scramble to capture the blinking bugs in jars, only to set them free when it's time to go home. Crickets sing them to sleep, and still they play ball . . . in their dreams.

Films

	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

Summer: An Alphabet Acrostic
by Steven Schnur
Age Level: Preschool and up
Synopsis: Sandy beaches, juicy watermelons, and porch swings are just a few of the warm-weather delights featured in this inventive alphabet of acrostic poems about summer.

Summer Sun Risin
by W. Nikola-Lisa
Age Level: Preschool and up
Synopsis: An African American boy enjoys a summer day on his family's farm, milking the cows, fishing, and having fun.

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More Songs for at Home

My Garden

This is my garden
[Extend on hand forward, palm up.]
I'll rake it with care,
[Make raking motion on palm with three fingers of other hand.]
And then some flower seeds
[Plant motion.]
I'll plant in there.
The sun will shine
[Make circle with hands.]
And the rain will fall
[Let fingers flutter down to lap.]
And my garden will blossom
[Cup hands together; extend upward slowly.]
And grow straight and tall.