Chugga chugga choo choo! All aboard as we explore trains this week!
#READ: The Goodnight Train Rolls On! by June Sobel
Use your library card or apply for an ecard here to access our digital library!
When a herd of poky sheep slows the Goodnight Train to a crawl, the Engineer's quick thinking (and counting!) has them rolling along in no time-until one tricky sheep sends the train and its sleepy passengers tossing and turning! The clickety-clack cadence of the poetic text is sure to lull listeners to sleep, but not before they take in the candy-colored landscapes full of delightful details. All aboard-next stop Dreamland!
Increase pre-literacy skills as you read together:
- When the repeated text "Chugga! Chugga! Shhhhhhh! Shhhhhhh!" appears on the page, run your finger under the words and encourage your little one to say them with you.
- As you read, ask your little one to look at the passengers on the train. What do they see? What are the passengers doing?
- On the page that says "97, 97, 99" count the 9 sheep with your little one. Then show them that the engineer counted all the way to 99.
#SING : Ride the Train
(Tune: Row Your Boat)
Ride, ride, ride the train
Quickly down the track.
Clickety, clickety, clickety clack
When will you be back?
Choo choo!
Ride, ride, ride the train
Slowly down the track.
Clickety, clickety, clickety clack
When will you be back?
Choo choo!
Ride, ride, ride the train
Quietly down the track.
Clickety, clickety, clickety clack
When will you be back?
Choo choo!
Ride, ride, ride the train
Loudly down the track.
Clickety, clickety, clickety clack
When will you be back?
Choo choo!
Ride, ride, ride the train
Up and up the track.
Clickety, clickety, clickety clack
When will you be back?
Choo choo!
Ride, ride, ride the train
Down and down the track.
Clickety, clickety, clickety clack
When will you be back?
Choo choo!
#EXPLORE: Railroad Lacing
Materials:
- Yarn
- Hole punch or scissors and pen
- Cereal box or paper plate or cardstock
- Tape
Instructions:
Caregiver Preparation:
- Cut the cereal box/paper plate/cardstock into a wide and long rectangle.
- Using a hole punch or scissors, punch 2 lines of holes along the long sides of the rectangle. If using scissors, push a pen through the hole to make it bigger.
- Cut a long piece of yarn.
- Fold a piece of tape over one end of the yarn to prevent fraying.
- Tape the other end of the yarn next to one of the holes on the back of the rectangle.
Play:
- Lace the end of the yarn with the folded piece of tape through the holes.
- Encourage little ones to lace the yarn in any design they want, going over areas and lacing through holes multiple times.
- If little ones reach the end of the yarn but want to keep going, tie another piece of yarn to it.
#JOIN: Come see us virtually or in-person for more train fun!
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 featuring Chugga Chugga Choo Choo by Emma Garcia and Freight Train by Donald Crews.
Little Readers
T is for train! This literacy-based program is for children from birth to pre-k and their families. We will sing, talk, read, write, and play together to develop the pre-literacy skills your little ones need to get ready to read and write. We will share Chugga Chugga Choo Choo by Emma Garcia and Freight Train by Donald Crews.
Virtual 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 Chugga Chugga Choo Choo by Emma Garcia and Down by the Station by Jennifer Riggs Vetter.
