Listen, Learn, and Limber Up

Picture books are more than colorful images paired with words. Great picture books insist that the reader and the listener actively play and talk. Learning is made dynamic when you add dancing, imagination, and verbal responses. Movement makes literacy fun!

Let’s develop our motor, social, language, and cognitive skills while having a blast! Supporting mental and physical activity is satisfying, so integrate movement and conversation into your daily reading time.

Take a peek at these interactive titles certain to get kids (and adults!) moving:

Movement

From Head to Toe by Eric Carle – What animals can you move like – a penguin, a giraffe, a buffalo, a monkey, a seal, a gorilla, a cat, a crocodile, a camel, a donkey, or an elephant?

Barnyard Dance by Sandra Boynton – Dance with the animals! Can you bow, twirl, bounce, and strut?

Jump! by Scott Fischer – A bug, a frog, a cat, a hound, a crocodile, and even a shark leap as new animals appear.

Hop Is Up by Kristy Dempsey – Hop, bend, spin, jump, and learn directions such as up, down, around, and over. This book shows you how to make these fun moves.

The Croaky Pokey! by Ethan Long – Right hand, left hand, right foot, left foot, head, backside – WHOLE SELF – this frog knows what it’s all about!

Wiggle by Doreen Cronin – Can you wiggle out of bed? Wiggle your hair? Wiggle your shadow? Wiggle like gorillas, fish, bears, and snakes?

Dance, Dance, Dance! by Ethan Long – Freeform dancing, high kicking, learning robot dance moves – a joyous invitation to “turn off the frown” and “start getting down”!

Duck & Goose, Let’s Dance! by Tad Hills – Let’s learn the unique dance created by Duck and Goose. Jump to the front, to the back, spin, quack, shake your tail, shake your whole body, and there’s more! Add to the fun by making up your own dance moves.

Kitchen Dance by Maurie J. Manning – Read this fun story and then put on some music to get the whole family dancing!

Dance With Me by Charles R. Smith, Jr. – Bop along with this fantastic picture book and show everyone your best moves.

Pretending

Jump by David M. McPhail – Get ready to jump – by yourself or with your friends. Can you jump like a bug, a frog, a rabbit, a kangaroo, a cow, and a hippo?

We’re Going on a Bear Hunt by Michael Rosen – Grass, river, mud, forest, snow and more will not stop the active hunt – come along, if you dare.

I Believe in Me by Lorie Ann Grover – Zoom, dance, clean, eat, spin, cry, and sing – this book shows you how to do them all! Try it together.

Plant the Tiny Seed by Christie Matheson – Plant a seed, add water, sun, and rain, shoo away the bugs – but not the bees, and watch the magic bloom.

Bunny Slopes by Claudia Rueda – Can we shake the book and create snow? Can we tap the book and pack the snow? Can we tilt the book for a downhill trek? Help Bunny ski with this interactive title.

Let’s Play Monsters! by Lucy Cousins – Want to pretend you are a monster with scary teeth? With horns like a cow? Sharp claws? Smelly feet? What about one that gobbles toes! You get to decide.

You Are A Lion! And Other Fun Yoga Poses by Tae-eun Yoo – Pose like a lion, a butterfly, a dog, a snake, a frog, a cat, and a mountain in this great introduction to yoga.

Call and Response

I Got the Rhythm by Connie Schofield-Morrison – Use your ears, eyes, nose, mouth, hands, fingers, and hips to sound out all the musical beats.

Dancing Feet by Lindsey Craig – Ladybugs, elephants, ducks, caterpillars, and more – imagine the varied sounds of their feet as they dance to their own beats.

Moo, Moo, Brown Cow, Have You Any Milk? by Phillis Gershator – Repeat “yes, sir, yes, sir” and we take inventory of sheep’s wool, goose’s down, hen’s eggs, and bee’s honey as we visit the farm.

Crunch the Shy Dinosaur by Cirocco Dunlap – Talk to our dinosaur friend! Say “hello,” sing the “Happy Birthday” song, share your name, say “good night”... can you coax the dinosaur out of hiding with your voice?

Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle – Read this classic aloud and have fun echoing “but he was still hungry!” throughout.

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