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updated: 2/19/2019 5:27 PM
The apple tree / Here is a tree with
leaves so green
The bird’s nest
The earth needs the raindrops
The oak tree
The owl and the brownies
The rainbow
The snake charmer
The sun it rises
The waves on the sea
There was a hungry hunter
This little mountain
This little tiger is very wild
Three little owlets
Tiny little bird
Tiptoeing in the dark
These songs are nursery rhymes and
other traditional songs compiled,
illustrated and music arranged by
Dany Rosevear.
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To listen to music from these songs click on 🔊
To watch the
author sing a song click on the title at:
©
Dany Rosevear 2013 All rights
reserved
You are free to copy, distribute,
display and perform these works under the following conditions:
· you must give the original author credit
· you may not use this work for commercial purposes
· for any re-use or distribution, you must make clear to
others the licence terms of this work
· any of these can be waived if you get permission from the
copyright holder
Your fair use and other rights are
no way affected by the above.
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The apple tree / Here is a tree 🔊
A simple hand play
for Autumn for the very young. 1. Put forearms together and spread hands. 2. Make hands
into fists. 3. Move hands like the wind and fists tumble down with rolling
arms. 4. Make a basket with hand, pick up apples and put them in the basket. |
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Here is a tree with leaves so green. Here are the apples that hang in between. When the wind blows the apples will fall, And here is a basket to gather them all. |
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The bird’s nest 🔊
A Froebel hand play
for Spring. Music arranged by
Dany Rosevear to a German nursery tune, ‘Little John’. 1. Palms up. 2. Open and close thumb and forefinger, cup
palms. 3. Hold up two fingers put in nest. 4. Hands to cheek. 5. Thumb up, hand to ear.
6. Two fingers poke through curled fist. 7. Hand to ear, open and close forefingers and thumbs. 8.
Hands to heart, open and close forefingers and thumbs. |
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Here upon the leaves at rest, A little bird has built her nest. Two tiny eggs within she’s laid, And many days beside them stayed. Now she’s happy; listen well! Two baby birds break through the shell. Don’t you hear them? “Peep! Peep! Peep! We love you, mother, “Cheep! Cheep! Cheep!” |
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The earth needs the raindrops 🔊
A
hand play to remind us we are all dependent on each other and the world
around us. Words
by J. Kartsch and music by A. Wagner . Verse 1. Draw a large circle with
hands, make rain fall with fingers. Shade eyes. Hands open and close. Put
hands to cheek. Verse 2. Arm and hand make a tree. Cup hand on thumb. Put
crossed hands to heart. |
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The earth needs the raindrops, The day needs a light, And heaven needs little stars When the day turns to night. The tree needs a little branch Where the bird builds her nest, And we need a little heart To love and to trust. |
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The oak tree 🔊
This song
can be found in ‘Sing a song’ published in 1978. Written by David Dyer, I
have accompanied it with a simpler tune and slightly adapted the words to
accommodate the new music. Verse 1. Show small with thumb and forefinger, point to another child and
self. Repeat. Fingers fall downwards. Lift up arms, hold hand above head. 2.
As before. Put finger through hand and grow into a tree. 3. Hold hand above
head, point to another child and self. Repeat. With hands stretch move as on
a windy day. |
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Smaller than you, smaller than me, Smaller than you, smaller than me, The tiny acorn falls from the oak tree, Great big oak tree, so much bigger than me! Smaller than you, smaller than me, Smaller than you, smaller than me, The tiny acorn grows into an oak tree, Great big oak tree, so much bigger than me! Bigger than you, bigger than me, Bigger than you, bigger than me, Now there’s a great big spreading oak tree, Great big oak tree, so much bigger than me! |
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The owl and the brownies 🔊
How quiet
can you be? Written
by Maude Burnham from ‘Rhymes for
little hands’ published 1906. The music is by Lucille F. Wood and can be
found in the classic ‘Singing Fun’ published in 1966. Here it is adapted and arranged by
Dany Rosevear. Line 1. Place two fingers thumb of hand. 2. Put finger to lips. 3.
Place thumb and forefingers round eyes. 4. Look around then shake finger. 5.
Fingers run up arm. 6. Put finger to lips 7. Two forefingers make beak. 8.
Fingers jump off arm, fly and hide behind back. 9. Place two fingers on the
other arm. 10. Put finger to lips. |
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An owl sat alone on the branch of a tree, He was as quiet as quiet could be; ‘Twas night and his eyes were open like this! He looked all around; not a thing did he miss! Some brownies crept up to the branch of the tree, And sat there quietly as still as could be; Said the wise owl, “Too-whoo, Too-whoo!” Then up jumped the brownies and away they all flew! An owl sat alone on the branch of a tree, He was as quiet as quiet could be. |
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The rainbow 🔊
Appreciate
the wonder of our world - how a rainbow is made. Sing cheerfully. Another from the words of Emilie Poulsson, music by Eleanor Smith. Line 1. Make a big round shape, wiggle fingers downward. 2. Put hand to
mouth. 3. Point upwards. 4. Make rain as before and wiggle fingers up for the
sunshine. 5. Hands move outwards. 6. Sweep hands overhead. |
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Sun shining, rain falling, And everyone calling, Oh! Look at the glorious sky! For shower and shining, In beauty combining, A rainbow have painted on high. |
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The snake charmer 🔊
This
familiar piece of musicis associated
with belly dancing and has a number of titles including ‘The streets of
Cairo’; you can also find children’s verses with inappropriate words! These
words come from flute and piano tutors. 1. Hand and arm make a basket. 2. The
other hand rests on arm through hole made. 3.Play pretend flute. 4. Snakes
head rises, looks around, bends and sways. |
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In a place I know, A magician has a show; In his basket deep Lies a cobra fast asleep. When the master plays a haunting sound, It rises up and looks around, It bends and sways While the master’s music plays. |
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The sun it rises 🔊
A gentle had
play to calm everyone or before bedtime. Discuss where the sun rises. Can also be sung as a round. Line 1. and 2. While sitting lift arms from lap in a rounded shape and
move slowly from low left, overhead and then gently down on the right side.
3. and 4. Bring rounded arms up in front, open arms and wiggle fingers
downwards in front to settle in lap. |
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The sun it rises in the day, And in the evening slips away. The moon it comes up in the night, And fades away in the morning light. |
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The waves on the sea 🔊
All at sea.
A great one for accompanying with percussion as well as for actions, and you
can easily add your own marine verses. Line 1. Wave hands up and down. 2. Place hands together and swish from
side to side. 3. Open and close hands. 4. Roll arms round each other. 5. With
hands face down wiggle fingers. 6. Hands and arms make a leaping motion. 7.
Pull an imaginary lever for each toot. |
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The waves on the sea go up and down, Up and down, up and down. The waves on the sea go up and down, All day long. The fish in the sea go swish, swish, swish, Swish, swish, swish, swish, swish, swish, The fish in the sea go swish, swish, swish, All day long. The sharks in the sea go snap, snap, snap, Snap, snap, snap, snap, snap, snap, The sharks in the sea go snap, snap, snap, All day long. The seals in the sea roll round and round, Round and round, round and round, The seals in the sea roll round and round, All day long. The jellyfish in the sea go wibble, wobble, wibble, Wibble, wobble, wibble, wibble, wobble, wibble, The jellyfish in the sea go wibble, wobble, wibble, All day long. The dolphins in the sea they dip and dive, Dip and dive, dip and dive, The dolphins in the sea they dip and dive, All day long. The boats on the sea go toot, toot, toot, Toot, toot, toot, toot, toot, toot, The boats on the sea go toot, toot, toot, All day long. |
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There was a hungry hunter 🔊
This humorous and alliterative hand
play is from ‘Acting rhymes’ by Clive Sansom published in the 1960s where it
is suggested that a bear speaks line 5 and 6. The author is unknown. Dany
Rosevear added the tune and the handplay below. 1-4. Rub tummy, put circled thumb and forefingers to eyes. Hold up fore
finger and middle to make ears. 5-6. Rub tummy and look fierce. 7-8. Roll
arms over each other and make two fingers run. |
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Went hunting for a
hare, But where he hoped the
hare would be He found a hairy bear! “I’m very very hungry: I get hungry now and then.” The hunter turned
head-over-heels And hurried home
again. |
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This little mountain
This hand play is from John M. Feierabend’s
collection ‘Wiggles and tickles’ published 1999. It can be played with baby
wiggling fingers and drawing sun on palm or tummy, dotting rain with fingers
and so on; or as below with older children. Line 1. Touch thumb and make circle with thumbs and forefinger. 2.
Touch forefinger and make rain fall with fingers. 3 .and 4. Touch middle
finger then shade eyes and peer. 5. Touch ring finger then put hands to
cheek. 6. Make a pointed cap above head. 7. And 8. Point to little finger and
shape tree with palms together. This little mountain finds the sun, This little mountain drinks the rain, This little mountain shades its eyes And looks across the plain. This little mountain is ready for bed With a white cap on top of its head; And this little mountain is up to its knees, In so many wonderful
Christmas trees! |
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This little tiger is very wild 🔊
Not too scary! Tune by Dany Rosevear. Start with the thumb and touch each finger in sequence. 1.Growl like a
tiger. 2. Kiss second finger. 3. Draw stripes on middle finger. 4. Bend finger
down. 5. Wiggle finger, circle round the palm of the other and sniff. Bite
left hand with right. |
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This little tiger is very
wild, This little tiger is a
loving child. This little tiger has
big black stripes, This little tiger is
tucked up for the night. This little tiger
likes to prowl and smell, But his teeth are too
small to bite quite well. |
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Three little owlets 🔊
From ‘A
Child's Own Book of Verse’ by Ada Skinner. Music by
Dany Rosevear. 1. Raise three fingers then fingers to eyes, cuddle self put fingers
together. 2. Make moon with thumb and forfingers, spread dew. Flap crossed hands.
3. Use thumb and forefinger to make beak, repeat 1. 4. Raise two forefingers to mouth to make curved beak. |
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Three little owlets In a hollow tree, Cuddled up together Close as could be. When the moon came out And the dew lay wet, Mother flew about To see what she could get. She caught a little mouse, So velvety and soft, She caught a little sparrow, And then she flew aloft To the three little owlets In a hollow tree, Cuddled up together Close as could be. "Tu-whoo!" said the old owl, "Isn't this good cheer!" "Tu-whit!" said the owlets, "Thank you, mother dear!" “Tu-whit, tu-whit, tu-whit, Tu-whoo!” “Tu-whit, tu-whit, tu-whit, Tu-whoo!”. |
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Tiny little bird O
A Turkish song for winter, ‘Mini
Mini Bir Kus’, melody and words by Saip Eguz. Move
thumb and forefinger like beak. Perch bird on other hand. Cup hands. Cover
hand and open and close beak. Cross hands to make wings, flap and move
upwards and away. Throw out hands and
look sad. |
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Tiny, little bird was frozen stiff, Sitting on my window sill. Gently did I cradle him, To make him warm and hear him sing. Suddenly he flapped his little wings, Off he flew in the wind and snow. Mini Mini Bir Kus
Donmustu Pencereme konmustu Aldim onu iceriye Cik cik cik cik
otsun diye Pir pir ederken canlandi Ellerim bak bos kaldi… |
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Tiptoeing in the dark 🔊
This
spooky hand play would work well at Halloween! It
could also be played as an action rhyme; pairs of children holding hands
creep in and out of each other, when the candle is blown out they huddle
together for reassurance. The
words came from a collection of nursery
rhymes.
Music
and game by Dany Rosevear. Point up, point down, place finger
to mouth – Shhh! Fingers creep forward, finger moves
round, make a roof shape. Fingers creep forward and about. Move hands like
the wind and shake head, put finger up like a candle, blow out flame – Phwooh! |
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Upstairs, downstairs, quiet as a mouse; Shhhh! Tiptoe, tiptoe, all around the house. Tiptoe, tiptoe, creep and creep about; I hope the wind won't come along and blow my candle out! Phwooh! |
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