Can you play an air guitar? Join us this week as we explore instruments, music, and sounds!
#READ – Pete The Cat: The Petes Go Marching by James Dean
Use your library card or apply for an ecard here to access our digital library!
In this version of the folk song "The Ants Go Marching," the Petes march along while the "groovy" one gathers instruments for a musical performance.
Increase pre-literacy skills as you read together:
- Sing the book to the tune of "The Ants Go marching" and clap your hands or march/stomp your feet to keep the beat of the song.
- Have your little one use their fingers to keep track of the number of Petes on each page.
- Ask your little one if they can tell the Petes apart. What makes them different from each other? Can they name the different shoe colors they are wearing?
#SING – The Finger Band is Coming to Town
[tune: Mulberry Bush]
The finger band is coming to town,
Coming to town, coming to town.
The finger band is coming to town
So early in the morning.
This is the way they strum their guitar,
Strum their guitar, strum their guitar.
This is the way they strum their guitar
So early in the morning.
This is the way the saxophone plays,
The saxophone plays, the saxophone plays.
This is the way the saxophone plays
So early in the morning.
This is the way they bang their drums,
Bang their drums, bang their drums.
This is the way they bang their drums
So early in the morning.
This is the way the piano sings,
The piano sings, the piano sings.
This is the way the piano sings
So early in the morning.
This is the way their cymbals clap,
Their cymbals clap, their cymbals clap.
This is the way their cymbals clap
So early in the morning.
#EXPLORE – Make Your Own Marching Band
Gather items you have at home to make instruments!
Home Instrument Ideas:
- Use pots, pans, empty containers, or boxes to make drums and use wooden spoons as drumsticks.
- Bang metal pot lids together like cymbals.
- Put dried pasta, rice, beans, or cereal into a container or bottle with a lid to make maracas.
Play:
- Take your instruments around the house or outside! Play music and march to the beat of a song or create your own steady beat to march to.
- Encourage little ones to play their instruments along to the rhythm of different music.
For more rhythm activities you can do at home, check out 101 Rhythm Instrument Activities for Young Children.
#JOIN – Keep your marching band going by joining our programs!
Pop-up Storytime
Join us for a storytime either outside of our library or in the community! Your child loves singing, dancing, playing and reading! Gather them around for a storytime they won’t forget! We’ll read rhythmic stories together and add songs and movements to make it a wonderful time for all.
- Monday, August 30 – 10:00 am– Highlands Regional Library Lawn- 1826 Dunn Ave, Jacksonville, FL 32218
- Tuesday, August 31 – 10:00 am– Klutho Park- Bandstand 204 W 3rd St, Jacksonville, FL 32206
- Thursday, September 2 – 10:00 am– Mandarin South Library Park - 12125 San Jose Blvd, Jacksonville, FL 32223
- Saturday, September 4 – 10:00 am– West Library Parking Area- 1425 Chaffee Rd S, Jacksonville, FL 32221
Little Explorers
Ears are for listening! This exploration-based program is for children from birth to pre-k and their families. We will use books to nurture curiosity, create, and discover the world around us. This week we will read Lost and Found What's That Sound? by Jonathan Ying and Bears in a Band by Shirley Parenteau. After investigating our theme through stories, songs, and a game we will conclude our program with a hands-on activity.
Little Movers & Shakers
Let’s get the wiggles out! This music-based program is for children from birth to pre-k and their families. Through books, songs, and movement activities we will build pre-literacy skills. Get moving with Play This Book by Jessica Young and Kat Keeps the Beat by Greg Foley.
