October
Leland B. Jacobs 1907-1992 Early Childhood Education Pioneer & Author |
There Is A Land
By Leland B. Jacobs There is a land-- A marvelous land-- Where trolls and giants dwell; Where witches With their bitter brew Can cast a magic spell; Where mermaids sing, Where carpets fly, Where, in the midst of night, Brownies dance To cricket tunes; And ghosts, all shivery white, Prowl and moan. There is a land Of magic folks and deeds, And anyone Can visit there Who reads and reads and reads. |
November
Jack Prelutsky |
Ate Too Much TurkeyI ate too much turkey, I ate too much corn, I ate too much pudding and pie, I’m stuffed up with muffins and much too much stuffin’, I’m probably going to die. I piled up my plate and I ate and I ate, But I wish I had known when to stop, for I’m so crammed with yams, sauces, gravies, and jams that my buttons are starting to pop. I’m full of tomatoes And French fried potatoes, My stomach is swollen and sore, but there’s still some dessert, so I guess it won’t hurt if I eat just a little bit more. |
December
T'was the Night Before Christmas Poem
By Clement Clarke Moore (1822)
By Clement Clarke Moore (1822)
T’was the night before Christmas, when all through the house
Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse. The stockings were hung by the chimney with care, In hopes that St Nicholas soon would be there. The children were nestled all snug in their beds, While visions of sugar-plums danced in their heads. And mamma in her ‘kerchief, and I in my cap, Had just settled our brains for a long winter’s nap. When out on the lawn there arose such a clatter, I sprang from the bed to see what was the matter. Away to the window I flew like a flash, Tore open the shutters and threw up the sash. The moon on the breast of the new-fallen snow Gave the lustre of mid-day to objects below. When, what to my wondering eyes should appear, But a miniature sleigh, and eight tinny reindeer. With a little old driver, so lively and quick, I knew in a moment it must be St Nick. More rapid than eagles his coursers they came, And he whistled, and shouted, and called them by name! "Now Dasher! now, Dancer! now, Prancer and Vixen! On, Comet! On, Cupid! on, on Donner and Blitzen! To the top of the porch! to the top of the wall! Now dash away! Dash away! Dash away all!" As dry leaves that before the wild hurricane fly, When they meet with an obstacle, mount to the sky. So up to the house-top the coursers they flew, With the sleigh full of Toys, and St Nicholas too. And then, in a twinkling, I heard on the roof The prancing and pawing of each little hoof. As I drew in my head, and was turning around, Down the chimney St Nicholas came with a bound. He was dressed all in fur, from his head to his foot, And his clothes were all tarnished with ashes and soot. A bundle of Toys he had flung on his back, And he looked like a peddler, just opening his pack. |
His eyes-how they twinkled! his dimples how merry!
His cheeks were like roses, his nose like a cherry! His droll little mouth was drawn up like a bow, And the beard of his chin was as white as the snow. His eyes-how they twinkled! his dimples how merry! His cheeks were like roses, his nose like a cherry! His droll little mouth was drawn up like a bow, And the beard of his chin was as white as the snow. The stump of a pipe he held tight in his teeth, And the smoke it encircled his head like a wreath. He had a broad face and a little round belly, That shook when he laughed, like a bowlful of jelly! He was chubby and plump, a right jolly old elf, And I laughed when I saw him, in spite of myself! A wink of his eye and a twist of his head, Soon gave me to know I had nothing to dread. He spoke not a word, but went straight to his work, And filled all the stockings, then turned with a jerk. And laying his finger aside of his nose, And giving a nod, up the chimney he rose! He sprang to his sleigh, to his team gave a whistle, And away they all flew like the down of a thistle. But I heard him exclaim, ‘ere he drove out of sight, "Happy Christmas to all, and to all a good-night!" |
January
The Snowman
One day we built a snowman, We built him out of snow; You should have seen how fine he was, All white from top to toe. We poured some water over him, To freeze his legs and ears; And when we went indoors to bed, We thought he'd last for years. But, in the night a warmer kind Of wind began to blow; And Jack Frost cried and ran away, And with him went the snow. When we went out next morning To bid our friend "Good Day", There wasn't any snowman there... He'd melted right away! |
Snowball
by Shel Silverstein I made myself a snow ball as perfect as could be. I thought I'd keep it as a pet and let it sleep with me. I made it some pajamas and a pillow for it's head. Then, last night it ran away. But first -- it wet the bed. January by Leland B. Jacobs January opens The box of the year And brings out days That are bright and clear. And brings out days That are cold and gray, And shouts, "Come see What I brought today!" |
FebruaryI Love You More Than Applesauce
By Jack Prelutsky I love you more than applesauce, Than peaches and a plum, Than chocolate hearts, And cherry tarts, And berry bubble-gum. I love you more than lemonade, And seven-layer cake, Than lollipops, And candy drops, And thick vanilla shake. I love you more than marzipan, Than marmalade on toast; For I love pies Of any size, But I love you the most. |
I Made My Dog a Valentine
By Jack Prelutsky I made my dog a valentine, she sniffed it very hard, then chewed on it a little while and left it in the yard. I made one for my parakeets, a pretty paper heart, they pulled it with their claws and beaks until it ripped apart. I made one for my turtle, all he did was get it wet, I wonder if a valentine is wasted on a pet. |
March
March
When the rain is splashing down On the fields and in the town Singing winds begin to blow And the flowers start to grow How glad I am when I have seen Those tender leaves of gentle green They warm my heart and make it sing For now I know at last it’s spring Spring makes the world a happy place You see a smile on every face Flowers come out and birds arrive Oh, isn’t it grand to be alive. ~ Author Unknown ~ |
If School Were More Like Baseball
By Kenn Nesbitt If school were more like baseball we'd only have to play. We'd hang out in the sunshine and run around all day. We wouldn't have to study. We'd practice and we'd train. And, best of all, they'd cancel whenever there was rain. |
April
In Tune With Mother Nature
Author Unknown
If you listen for the songbirds
As they greet the summer sun, And love the way the wind can make The trees sings just for fun; If you like to hear the ocean As it drums upon the shore, And imagine all the whales out there, And hope they'll sing some more; If you think of all the animals As players in a band, Each with a lovely tune to play, All needed on the land; |
And know that as a boy or girl
A woman or a man You have a vital role to play In Mother Nature's plan; If you honor every living thing As a part of nature's treasure You're in tune with Mother Nature So let's all sing her song together. |
May
Bleezer's Ice Cream
By Jack Prelutsky
By Jack Prelutsky
I am Ebenezer Bleezer,
I run BLEEZER'S ICE CREAM STORE, there are flavors in my freezer you have never seen before, twenty-eight divine creations too delicious to resist, why not do yourself a favor, try the flavors on my list: COCOA MOCHA MACARONI TAPIOCA SMOKED BALONEY CHECKERBERRY CHEDDAR CHEW CHICKEN CHERRY HONEYDEW TUTTI-FRUTTI STEWED TOMATO TUNA TACO BAKED POTATO LOBSTER LITCHI LIMA BEAN MOZZARELLA MANGOSTEEN ALMOND HAM MERINGUE SALAMI YAM ANCHOVY PRUNE PASTRAMI SASSAFRAS SOUVLAKI HASH SUKIYAKI SUCCOTASH BUTTER BRICKLE PEPPER PICKLE POMEGRANATE PUMPERNICKEL |
PEACH PIMENTO PIZZA PLUM
PEANUT PUMPKIN BUBBLEGUM BROCCOLI BANANA BLUSTER CHOCOLATE CHOP SUEY CLUSTER AVOCADO BRUSSELS SPROUT PERIWINKLE SAUERKRAUT COTTON CANDY CARROT CUSTARD CAULIFLOWER COLA MUSTARD ONION DUMPLING DOUBLE DIP TURNIP TRUFFLE TRIPLE FLIP GARLIC GUMBO GRAVY GUAVA LENTIL LEMON LIVER LAVA ORANGE OLIVE BAGEL BEET WATERMELON WAFFLE WHEAT I am Ebenezer Bleezer, I run BLEEZER'S ICE CREAM STORE, taste a flavor from my freezer, you will surely ask for more. |