At a later date these songs will be available with others to buy in book form at the Gryphon’s Garden website. In the meantime....

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Books I have written.htm

Samples taken from ‘Hop, skip and away we go’ Book 3

Compiled, adapted and illustrated by Dany Rosevear

© Dany Rosevear 2008 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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To listen to the music from these songs click on O

Kangaroo Brown O

This simple rhythm encourages energetic jumping. Try singing at different speeds with leisurely long jumps for a tired kangaroo or fast little ones as Kangaroo Brown hurries off to town.

Younger children can move individually to the music. Later they could synchronize their actions with a partner.

Jump, jump, Kangaroo Brown!

Jump, jump, jump off to town!

Jump, jump, uphill and down!

Jump, jump, Kangaroo Brown!

Hop, hop, Hippetty Hare!

Hop, hop, hop up in the air!

Hop, hop, hop here and there!

Hop, hop, Hippetty Hare!

Bounce, bounce, Wallaby Woo!

Bounce, bounce, to Kalamazoo!

Bounce, bounce, we can come too!

Bounce, bounce, Wallaby Woo!

Wind, wind sugar baby O

Familiar in English nurseries as ‘Wind the bobbin up’ and in the France as ‘Enroulez le fil’ (wind the thread, unwind the thread) this singing game originates from Denmark where it is known as ‘The shoemaker’s dance’. Toddlers in the USA move their arms to the first verse with big windmills - first one way then the other, then strong push and pulls followed by three claps.

To begin form two circles one inside the other, with partners facing each other. Continue this game by moving other parts of the body.

Wind, wind sugar baby, Wind, wind sugar baby, Push, pull, clap, clap, clap! Refrain Face to face then back to back, Shoemaker this is your chance, Face to face then back to back, You can teach us how to dance. Roll, roll, roll our shoulders x2 Push, pull, clap, clap, clap! Roll, roll, roll our tummies x2 Push, pull, clap, clap, clap! Roll, roll, roll our legs x2 Push, pull, clap, clap, clap! Roll, roll, roll our bodies x2 Push, pull, clap, clap, clap! Do-si-do

Roll arms in one direction then the other. Push and pull each other’s hands in a sawing motion and then make three claps on their partner’s hands. Do-si-do: walk round partner with one arm resting on the other. Keep eyes on a spot in front. Right then left shoulders pass. Return to face one another. Skip round with crossed hands. Repeat actions. Before the next verse the inside circle steps once to the left so they stand in front of a new partner. Roll shoulders one way and then the other. Repeat the refrain sequence. Roll tummy one way and then the other. Repeat the refrain sequence. Roll leg one way and then the other. Repeat with second leg then repeat the refrain sequence. Hold hands with partner, swing hands over head and pass through one way then the other. Repeat the refrain sequence.

The more we get together O

This cheerful little song is sung to the old German tune ‘Oh my little Augustine’.

The lyrics remind us of the value of friendship and teamwork – another verse goes:

‘The more we share together, together, together,

The more we share together, the happier we will be.

For sharing is caring and caring is sharing.

The more we share together, the happier we will be.’

Try this song using the names of children in each group in the third line:

‘There’s Lois and Georgia and William and Dylan’

The more we get together, together, together, The more we get together, the happier we will be. For your friends are my friends, And my friends are your friends. The more we get together, the happier we will be.

Facing partner hold hands. Swing arms and feet from side to side. Still holding hands swing arms over heads and turn around and through to face partner. Join hands with a second pair and skip round in a circle, left then right. Swap partners to make a new pairing. Continue game.

Knees up Mary Muffet O

This traditional playground ring game is a variation of ‘Knees up Mother Brown’ sung to the tune of ‘My old man’s a dustman’.

For the very youngest it can be used as a nappy changing song substituting a child’s name for Mary Muffet and adding ‘Toes up / fingers up/ arms up’. This idea is suggested at www.jackiesilberg.com , a great site with good ideas for promoting child development.

Begin the game in a large circle side by side with a partner.

Knees up Mary Muffet, Knees up Mary Brown, Knees up Mary Macaroni, Let’s dance round the town. Swing them by the right hand, Swing them by the left, Swing them by the right again, Then let them have a rest. In and out the houses Round and round the town, Knees up, knees up, don’t let the fleas up, Bless you Mother Brown.

Circle to the left skipping with high knees in skating position with a partner – face the same direction, right hands joined above and left below Right hand turn once Left hand turn Right hand turn, finish in original place Get ready to weave La chaine anglaise Partners face each other and then move round the circle in a passing motion, one clockwise the other counter clockwise. They offer a left hand to their partner, pass by and offer their right hand to the next and so on round the circle. Finish with a new partner at the end of the verse.