Finding some letter "q" stories is always a treat, but we managed it!
Our 2s and 3s read:
Little Quack's New Friend, by Lauren Thompson
"One day when Little Quack is playing in the pond, he hears the strangest noise in the distance. He listens closely along with his siblings, Widdle, Waddle, Piddle, and Puddle, only to find that it's a frog in their pond. The other ducklings aren't so sure about taking this new guy under their wings, but Little Quack is determined to make a new friend, no matter how different he may be! In no time at all, everyone is squishing in the mud, splunking on lilypads, and quacking up a splash in the spirit of friendship in this board book edition perfect little ones!" - Little Simon
The Birthday Queen, by Audrey and Don Wood
"Birthdays are the most exciting day of the year, and the Birthday Queen knows exactly how to make them wonderful!
From decorating your home with balloons and streamers, to baking your favorite cake, the Birthday Queen does not forget a thing! Visit the Queen in her Birthday Palace. Meet the clowns that are funny (and those that are not). Find out why the four Birthday Bakers are not happy. Prepare to laugh. If It's not your birthday now, it will be soon!!
Happy Birthday from the Queen! - Audrey Wood
Q is for Duck: an Alphabet Guessing Game, by Mary Elting and Michael Folsom
"This contemporary classic, celebrating its twenty-fifth year in print, is no ordinary alphabet book. Why is “Q” for “Duck”?
Because a duck quacks, of course. Even the youngest readers will delight in the riddle-like text and lively, humorous illustrations.
Now in vivid full color for the first time, this interactive treat is sure to be enjoyed by a whole new generation of readers." - Clarion Books
Dawdle Duckling, by Toni Buzzeo
"Dawdle Duckling won't follow dutifully behind Mama Duck like his three siblings do. He's too busy preening and playing, splashing and spinning, dunking and dipping . . . and always, always dreaming. But he's in for a surprise: There's a crocodile waiting for a duckling lunch to swim by. When Mama quacks a warning, suddenly Dawdle Duckling isn't such a dawdler after all!
A cheerful, reassuring tale of youthful rebellion and parental protection-perfect for Easter, Mother's Day, and every day." - Dial Books Young Rrds.
Jeremy Quacks, by Bruce Balan and David Scott Meier
"Jeremy is a pretty individual kind of duck. Though Father Duck, Mom Duck, Grammy Duck and Gramps Duck all want Jeremy to come in the pond for a swim, Jeremy thinks it's more fun to hang out with the horses, cows, dogs and pigs. He's pretty good at sounding like his new friends as well. But, when the neighborhood cat shows up, Jeremy decides it's a good time to be in the pond with his family." - http://brucebalan.com/jeremy.htm
Click, Clack, Quackity-Quack, by Doreen Cronin and Betsy Lewin
"Animals awake beneath blue blankets
Clickety-clack!
The cows on Farmer Brown's farm are typing again. Duck can't wait to show everyone their latest note. Just what are they up to this time? Duck's not telling, but if you follow the alphabet one letter at a time, you'll find out. And you'll have as much fun as the animals are going to have, and learn your letters, too!
This alphabetical adventure for the very youngest fans of Duck brings alphabet books to a whole new level -- click, clack, quackity-quack!" - Antheneum Books for Young Readers
In between stories, we took some time to watch the trains go by, honking their big horns!
We sang:
Ten Little Quails (to the tune of Ten Little Indians)
One little, two little, three little quail (count on fingers)
Four little, five little, six little quail
Seven little, eight little, nine little quail
Ten little quail run quick, quick, quick! (run around room in a circle)
Quickly, quickly, very quickly! (keep running)
Quickly, quickly, very quickly!
Quickly, quickly, very quickly!
Ten little quail run quick, quick, quick!
Spoken: Come back to your next, little quail! It's time for a nap!
Quietly, quietly, very quietly (tiptoe to the middle of the circle)
Quietly, quietly, very quietly (lie down)
Quietly, quietly, very quietly (pretend to sleep)
Ten little quail settle down for a nap.
Spoken: Shhh! They're sleeping!
...
Wake up, wake up, little quail! It's time for Mama quail to count her babies! (count heads, then sit down for the next story.)
Twinkle Twinkle Little Star
Twinkle twinkle little star,
How I wonder what you are.
Up above the world so high,
Like a diamond in the sky.
Twinkle, twinkle little star,
How I wonder what you are.
Mary Had a Little Lamb
The Itsy-Bitsy Spider
The itsy-bitsy spider climbed up the water spout,
Down came the rain and washed the spider out.
Up came the sun and dried up all the rain,
And the itsy-bitsy spider climbed up the spout again.
The Farmer in the Dell
We started this song the usual way, but it quickly got silly! The dog took a pig, the pig took a cat, the cat took a window, and the window took a duck!
Next, we did some Q-Tip painting!
And for our snack, we munched on some tasty apples!
Our 4s and 5s read:
I.Q. Gets Fit, by Mary Ann Fraser
"It's going to be an active month in I.Q.'s classroom--it's Health Month! And when the school announces that those who pass the fitness test will get a gold ribbon, I.Q. knows right away that he wants to win one. Will I.Q.'s hard work pay off as he goes for the gold?" - Walker Books
Baabaasheep Quartet, by Leslie Elizabeth Watts
"After moving to the city, four sheep companions try in vain to find acceptance in the human world. But when they enter a barbershop quartet competition in the mistaken belief they'll be meeting other sheep, they discover that they don't have to blend in to belong." - Fitzhenry and Whiteside
Stella, Queen of the Snow, by Marie-Louise Gay
"Stella's little brother, Sam, wonders if fairies are invisible. Stella, who has seen hundreds of them, leads Sam across meadows and streamlets to the forest where fairies live. Will they see one?" - Groundwood Books
We sang:
Twinkle Twinkle Little Star (original, and Daddy Bought a Motor Car)
(Daddy Bought a Motor Car Version)
Twinkle twinkle little star,
Daddy bought a motor car.
Push the button,
Pull the choke.
Off we go in a puff of smoke!
Twinkle twinkle little star,
Daddy bought a motor car.
Ten Little Quails (to the tune of Ten Little Indians)
One little, two little, three little quail (count on fingers)
Four little, five little, six little quail
Seven little, eight little, nine little quail
Ten little quail run quick, quick, quick! (run around room in a circle)
Quickly, quickly, very quickly! (keep running)
Quickly, quickly, very quickly!
Quickly, quickly, very quickly!
Ten little quail run quick, quick, quick!
Spoken: Come back to your next, little quail! It's time for a nap!
Quietly, quietly, very quietly (tiptoe to the middle of the circle)
Quietly, quietly, very quietly (lie down)
Quietly, quietly, very quietly (pretend to sleep)
Ten little quail settle down for a nap.
Spoken: Shhh! They're sleeping!
...
Wake up, wake up, little quail! It's time for Mama quail to count her babies! (count heads, then sit down for the next story.)
And for our craft, we did some Q-Tip paintings!
Our 4s and 5s group had some tasty apples as well!
We'll see you next week, for rascally letter R!
