One World, Many Stories
Library Song for Summer Reading Programs
Steve Blunt
So many different places, all around the world,
So many different people, so many boys and girls.
The places all have stories, the people pass them down,
And as the children listen, the world is turnin’ ‘round. Oh...
CHORUS:
One world, many stories,
One world, many stories,
One world, many stories...
All around the world!
In Africa they tell about a spider playing tricks,
His name is Anansi, he’s clever and he’s quick.
In China there are stories of dragons who can fly,
They breathe fire, they breathe water—they rule the earth and sky.
Oh... CHORUS
In Mexico they tell about a bird whose name is Cu,
She gets some pretty feathers—but she gets in trouble, too.
In India, they tell how some blind men come to see,
That an elephant is more than it might appear to be.
Oh... CHORUS
Spoken:
Once upon a time, people told stories...
‘Cuz they didn’t have books or DVD’s,
No computers, and no TV’s.
The stories got around by word-of-mouth,
From the east to the west, from the north to the south.
From Constantinople to Zanzibar,
Folks told tales as they traveled afar:
The Himalayas, Hawaii, Haiti, Hong Kong.
The world’s too big for one little song.
We gotta keep on tellin’ stories today!
From Afghanistan to the USA,
‘Cuz all around the world, people have a dream,
And stories express this universal theme:
Through the good and the bad, the tears and the laughter,
We all just wanna live happily ever after.
In England there’s a hero of history and fable:
All hail King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table!
In Russia they tell stories about an evil witch,
Her name is Baba Yaga, and she’ll snatch you in a snitch.
Oh... CHORUS
In America they tell how this land first came to be,
When turtle carried mud up from the bottom of the sea.
In Persia long ago, they say, the king had a wife,
She told him a thousand stories, and she lived a good long life.
Oh... CHORUS
http://www.songsforteaching.com/readinglanguagearts/oneworldmanystories.htm
Read a Book
Song to Encourage Reading Words and Music by Marcy Marxer
Performed by Two of a Kind
If you're looking for adventure; you want to unwind
Pick up a good story; get out of that old grind, and
Chorus:
Read a book (read, read, read, read a book)
Read a book (read, read, read, read a book)
If you're looking for laughter, if fun is what you're after -
Read a book (read, read, read, read a book)
If you've got a question, something's on your mind
Reading is the answer, be a mastermind!
Chorus
There's a way to find out, don't leave any doubt
Daytime, night time, morning time, noon
Afternoon, bed time, any time is good to
Chorus
Don't you frown, just sit right down and
Now it is your bed time, you cannot fall asleep
Reading is the answer; why bother counting sheep?
Chorus
Pull the covers 'round, now, snuggle on down and read a book!
This song is available on Two of a Kind's Love Makes A Family
LET'S READ TOGETHER
Teaching the Importance of Reading Together by Jack Hartmann
There’s something special that I like to do.
When we’re together, you’re
with me, I’m with you.
We learn. We laugh. We dream special dreams.
We have lots of fun each time when we read.
We can read about animals that live in the sea.
We can read the alphabet up a coconut tree.
We can travel in a rocket so far out in space.
When we read together, we can go anyplace.
Chorus:
Oh, let’s read together. It’s such fun to do.
There are so many
stories for me and for you.
Oh, let’s read together. It’s special that way.
Let’s read together today.
We can read about people and learn what they did.
We can understand better the way that they lived.
When we read together, I learn so much.
About friendship and helping and things that I love.
And I love to talk about the stories we read
And I’m very thankful, the way you listen to me.
And I’d like you to know when I read with you.
It’s one of my favorite things that I do.
Repeat Chorus
Let’s read together today. I love to read every day.
This song is available on Jack Hartmann's Language Play & Listening Fun.
R.E.A.D.
Song to Encourage Reading by Susan HarrisonChorus:
R.E.A.D Read to me.
R.E.A.D. Read.
R.E.A.D. Read to me.
Read me a story everyday.
Verse:
Read me a story, tell me a tale.
Take my mind floating, it’s ready to sail.
Adventures and journeys, I’m waiting to go.
Open a book my mind wants to grow.
Chorus
Sometimes I like adventure, sometimes suspense,
Mysterious stories too.
But what I like most of all
are stories that are read by you.
Chorus
Fantasy, folklore, fiction and facts,
Legends and fables, myths re-enact.
Enchantment and wonder, magical dreams,
Colorful words paint imaginative scenes.
Chorus
This song is available on Susan Harrison's Once Upon a Rhyme.
THE LEPRECHAUN
Sung to "Oh Suzanna"
Oh, I saw a leprechaun
All dressed in green;
‘Twas the only leprechaun
I’d ever seen.
He had pointed, turned-up toes
And a pixie, turned-up nose;
Oh, I saw a leprechaun
All dressed in green.
Oh, I saw a leprechaun
All dressed in green;
‘Twas the only leprechaun
I’d ever seen.
If I watched him, I was told,
I might have his pot of gold,
So I watched that leprechaun
All dressed in green.
Oh, I saw a leprechaun
All dressed in green;
‘Twas the only leprechaun
I’d ever seen.
He had such a handsome beard;
When I blinked he disappeared;
Wait ‘til next year, leprechaun
All dressed in green!
This is a fun action song to help children learn about what happens In the Spring. Ask the students to go to sleep (like a hibernating bear) and to listen carefully to the song. They will do the actions of the animals and then grow like a tree or a flower.
IT'S SPRING
Bears and turtles
And squirrels wake up
From their winter sleep
Robins look for worms to catch
Her babies need to eat
Actions
Everyone wakes up
Everyone flaps wings
Pretend to feed babies
Rain and sunshine help things grow
Like the flowers and leaves on a tree
The snow melts away
And the grass grows green
It is spring.
Actions
Everyone grows tall
Keep moving branches
Robins look for worms to catch
Her babies need to eat
Bears and turtles
And squirrels wake up
From their winter sleep.
Actions
Everyone flaps wings
Pretend to feed babies
Ask everyone to wake up
At the end ask everyone to fly around and listen to the birds.
Rain and sunshine help you know
It is spring.
It is spring.
Everyone sings
Everyone sings
This song is available on Shari and Jerry's Songs For Every Season.
BABY CHICK
sung to "Are you Sleeping"
Are you in there, are you in there,
Baby Chick, Baby Chick?
When I get real close,
I think that I can hear a
Click-click-click, click-click-click.
Daddy, Daddy, come here quickly!
Help me check, help me check,
Do you hear what I hear?
Do you hear what I hear?
Peck-peck-peck, peck-peck-peck.
Breaking out now, very slowly,
First a head, then a beak
What’s that game you’re playing?
What’s that game you’re playing?
Hide and seek, hide and seek.
What is that I hear you peeping?
I think I have a clue.
“Happy, Happy Easter.”
“Happy, Happy Easter.”
Same to you. Same to you.
This song is available on Dr. Thomas Moore's "Sing a Song of Holidays"
Resources: http://www.songsforteaching.com/themeunits/marchsongs.htm
Library Song for Summer Reading Programs
Steve Blunt
So many different places, all around the world,
So many different people, so many boys and girls.
The places all have stories, the people pass them down,
And as the children listen, the world is turnin’ ‘round. Oh...
CHORUS:
One world, many stories,
One world, many stories,
One world, many stories...
All around the world!
In Africa they tell about a spider playing tricks,
His name is Anansi, he’s clever and he’s quick.
In China there are stories of dragons who can fly,
They breathe fire, they breathe water—they rule the earth and sky.
Oh... CHORUS
In Mexico they tell about a bird whose name is Cu,
She gets some pretty feathers—but she gets in trouble, too.
In India, they tell how some blind men come to see,
That an elephant is more than it might appear to be.
Oh... CHORUS
Spoken:
Once upon a time, people told stories...
‘Cuz they didn’t have books or DVD’s,
No computers, and no TV’s.
The stories got around by word-of-mouth,
From the east to the west, from the north to the south.
From Constantinople to Zanzibar,
Folks told tales as they traveled afar:
The Himalayas, Hawaii, Haiti, Hong Kong.
The world’s too big for one little song.
We gotta keep on tellin’ stories today!
From Afghanistan to the USA,
‘Cuz all around the world, people have a dream,
And stories express this universal theme:
Through the good and the bad, the tears and the laughter,
We all just wanna live happily ever after.
In England there’s a hero of history and fable:
All hail King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table!
In Russia they tell stories about an evil witch,
Her name is Baba Yaga, and she’ll snatch you in a snitch.
Oh... CHORUS
In America they tell how this land first came to be,
When turtle carried mud up from the bottom of the sea.
In Persia long ago, they say, the king had a wife,
She told him a thousand stories, and she lived a good long life.
Oh... CHORUS
http://www.songsforteaching.com/readinglanguagearts/oneworldmanystories.htm
Read a Book
Song to Encourage Reading Words and Music by Marcy Marxer
Performed by Two of a Kind
If you're looking for adventure; you want to unwind
Pick up a good story; get out of that old grind, and
Chorus:
Read a book (read, read, read, read a book)
Read a book (read, read, read, read a book)
If you're looking for laughter, if fun is what you're after -
Read a book (read, read, read, read a book)
If you've got a question, something's on your mind
Reading is the answer, be a mastermind!
Chorus
There's a way to find out, don't leave any doubt
Daytime, night time, morning time, noon
Afternoon, bed time, any time is good to
Chorus
Don't you frown, just sit right down and
Now it is your bed time, you cannot fall asleep
Reading is the answer; why bother counting sheep?
Chorus
Pull the covers 'round, now, snuggle on down and read a book!
This song is available on Two of a Kind's Love Makes A Family
LET'S READ TOGETHER
Teaching the Importance of Reading Together by Jack Hartmann
There’s something special that I like to do.
When we’re together, you’re
with me, I’m with you.
We learn. We laugh. We dream special dreams.
We have lots of fun each time when we read.
We can read about animals that live in the sea.
We can read the alphabet up a coconut tree.
We can travel in a rocket so far out in space.
When we read together, we can go anyplace.
Chorus:
Oh, let’s read together. It’s such fun to do.
There are so many
stories for me and for you.
Oh, let’s read together. It’s special that way.
Let’s read together today.
We can read about people and learn what they did.
We can understand better the way that they lived.
When we read together, I learn so much.
About friendship and helping and things that I love.
And I love to talk about the stories we read
And I’m very thankful, the way you listen to me.
And I’d like you to know when I read with you.
It’s one of my favorite things that I do.
Repeat Chorus
Let’s read together today. I love to read every day.
This song is available on Jack Hartmann's Language Play & Listening Fun.
R.E.A.D.
Song to Encourage Reading by Susan HarrisonChorus:
R.E.A.D Read to me.
R.E.A.D. Read.
R.E.A.D. Read to me.
Read me a story everyday.
Verse:
Read me a story, tell me a tale.
Take my mind floating, it’s ready to sail.
Adventures and journeys, I’m waiting to go.
Open a book my mind wants to grow.
Chorus
Sometimes I like adventure, sometimes suspense,
Mysterious stories too.
But what I like most of all
are stories that are read by you.
Chorus
Fantasy, folklore, fiction and facts,
Legends and fables, myths re-enact.
Enchantment and wonder, magical dreams,
Colorful words paint imaginative scenes.
Chorus
This song is available on Susan Harrison's Once Upon a Rhyme.
THE LEPRECHAUN
Sung to "Oh Suzanna"
Oh, I saw a leprechaun
All dressed in green;
‘Twas the only leprechaun
I’d ever seen.
He had pointed, turned-up toes
And a pixie, turned-up nose;
Oh, I saw a leprechaun
All dressed in green.
Oh, I saw a leprechaun
All dressed in green;
‘Twas the only leprechaun
I’d ever seen.
If I watched him, I was told,
I might have his pot of gold,
So I watched that leprechaun
All dressed in green.
Oh, I saw a leprechaun
All dressed in green;
‘Twas the only leprechaun
I’d ever seen.
He had such a handsome beard;
When I blinked he disappeared;
Wait ‘til next year, leprechaun
All dressed in green!
This is a fun action song to help children learn about what happens In the Spring. Ask the students to go to sleep (like a hibernating bear) and to listen carefully to the song. They will do the actions of the animals and then grow like a tree or a flower.
IT'S SPRING
Bears and turtles
And squirrels wake up
From their winter sleep
Robins look for worms to catch
Her babies need to eat
Actions
Everyone wakes up
Everyone flaps wings
Pretend to feed babies
Rain and sunshine help things grow
Like the flowers and leaves on a tree
The snow melts away
And the grass grows green
It is spring.
Actions
Everyone grows tall
Keep moving branches
Robins look for worms to catch
Her babies need to eat
Bears and turtles
And squirrels wake up
From their winter sleep.
Actions
Everyone flaps wings
Pretend to feed babies
Ask everyone to wake up
At the end ask everyone to fly around and listen to the birds.
Rain and sunshine help you know
It is spring.
It is spring.
Everyone sings
Everyone sings
This song is available on Shari and Jerry's Songs For Every Season.
BABY CHICK
sung to "Are you Sleeping"
Are you in there, are you in there,
Baby Chick, Baby Chick?
When I get real close,
I think that I can hear a
Click-click-click, click-click-click.
Daddy, Daddy, come here quickly!
Help me check, help me check,
Do you hear what I hear?
Do you hear what I hear?
Peck-peck-peck, peck-peck-peck.
Breaking out now, very slowly,
First a head, then a beak
What’s that game you’re playing?
What’s that game you’re playing?
Hide and seek, hide and seek.
What is that I hear you peeping?
I think I have a clue.
“Happy, Happy Easter.”
“Happy, Happy Easter.”
Same to you. Same to you.
This song is available on Dr. Thomas Moore's "Sing a Song of Holidays"
Resources: http://www.songsforteaching.com/themeunits/marchsongs.htm