Counting and Clapping Rhyme Books - Part IV

One, two, buckle my shoe,

Three, four, knock at the door,

Five, six, pick up the sticks

Seven, eight, lay them straight

Nine, ten, a big fat hen. . .

This is the very first rhyme I choreographed for my first DVD. I jazzed it up a bit, but, it's essentially the same. We set it to tap and I love it. I thought what is more perfect than the rhythm of tap to compliment the rhythm of counting. I mean, counting is where music begins. 

Counting. It's so basic, and after "Mama" and "Dada" and " 'mo pease" it's one of the first things we teach our babies. It's so fun. And dear. And very useful.

There are so many ways to teach counting. You wanna know some of them? Here are a few ways to make the journey of going from 1 to calculus a little easier.

1. Counting-Out Rhymes; A Dictionary

            Edited by Roger D. Abrahams & Lois Rankin

2. Eenie, Meenie, Minie, Mo and Other Counting-Out Rhymes

            Collected by Carl Withers

            Illustrated by Elizabeth Ripley

3. The Counting-Out Rhymes of Children: Their Antiquity, Origin, and Wide Distribution

            "A Study in Folklore"

            By Henry Carrington Bolton, New York, 1883

            D. Appleton & Co.

After we get the counting thing down, we have to learn to clap right? And that leads to all kinds of chaos. Just try keeping up with some of the clapping games that kids do these days! I've tried it and I kind of like it. A lot! 

4. Hand Clap!

By Sara Bernstein, 1994

(Miss Sara was 12 when she wrote it! Which is perfect; can you imagine an adult writing a hand clapping book? Yikes. Comedy would surely ensue.)

Lastly, here a few miscellaneous books that a worthy of a look-see:

5. Cakes and Custard; Children's Rhymes

Chosen by Brian Alderson

Illustrated by Helen Oxenbury, 1975

6. Alphabet Dreams

            Adapted and Illustrated by Judith Gwyn Brown (This is beautiful!)

7. Doctor Knickerbocker and Other Rhymes

            Selected by David Booth

            Illustrated by Maryann Kovalski, 1993

This concludes the list of books I borrowed from Tom Dalzell, but, it certainly doesn't conclude my search for incredible children's books. That will never end.

To be continued. . .