Episode 10 - The Little Red Caboose

Episode 10:

WHAT WE TALKED ABOUT:  1. Picture Books 2. Fingerplays, Songs and a Story 3. Early Literacy Tip for Parents

EPISODE 10:

1. PICTURE BOOKS

	Cat Goes Fiddle-I-Fee Adapted and illustrated by Paul Galdone An old English rhyme names all the animals a farm boy feeds on his daily rounds.
	There's a Hole in the Log on the Bottom of the Lake  by Loren Long An adaptation of the traditional folk song, "There's a Hole in the Bottom of the Sea," by Sylvia Fine, with additional repetition and tongue twisters. Includes sheet music.

2. FINGERPLAYS, SONGS AND A STORY

  

3. EARLY LITERACY TIP FOR PARENTS

Cultural Literacy and History (There's a Hole in the Log on the Bottom of the Lake, illustration from the book, by Loren Long)      In Episode 10:  The Little Red Caboose, the Pre-Literacy Tip is on the importance of the history of our old songs. Many old songs have a history going back generations, a history that is sometime based in old stereotypes and prejudices or has been culturally appropriated.  Knowing a song’s true history allows it to live in truth in our heart, mind and spirit—encouraging ownership of all that we are, good or bad, light or dark. Only in knowing our past can we have a present and a future that is based in understanding and empathy and forgiveness.       When your child is old enough and, you feel they are ready, you can help them to understand a song by telling them the truth of its history.  For example, the Shortnin’ Bread song in episode 9 is believed by some to have been a plantation song of the slave or black American experience in the South.  However with further research, I found thatShortin’ Bread was written in 1900 by the white American poet, James Whitcomb Rileyfrom Indiana. Riley infused it with stereotypical dialect and imagery.  Through time, the song has been re-formed, the dialect and stereotype erased into a more family friendly and delightful song.      As I wrote in Episode 9: “If you are new to America and first experience this song as an adult, you are weaving the song into your own attachment to your new home and community and to your child’s growing up in our country.      Cultural literacy is having a knowledge base, a capital, a currency in the day to day popular songs and stories that connect us to one another.  A community, a country, is only as strong and healthy in what common threads of connection we all share, no matter our differences.”       No matter the history, whether dark or light, it’s our complex truth and what we are as Americans.                            See you at Storytime, Lauren    (There's a Hole in the Log on the Bottom of the Lake, illustration from the book, by Loren Long)

Storytime Seedlings Podcaster (and Children's Librarian):

Hi, I'm Lauren! I do the following storytimes:

Babies-- Baby Bouncers Lapsit, a program for infants with a caregiver.*   --- and --- Preschoolers-- 3's & 4's Budding Bookworms  (Stories and Songs  for 3, 4, and 5 year olds).*

​ **Evaluations needed: After you listen to episode 10 - please let us know what you think and  take this quick survey! Thanks! We appreciate your input.

Our thanks to the following resources for Episode 10: Free Music Archive and Scott Holmes (music)  Pete Seeger's American Folk, Game and Activity Songs for Children There's a Hole in the Bottom of the Sea, Sung by Danny Kaye  Little Red Caboose from "200 of the Greatest Nursery Rhymes" by  Sugar Kane Music Rock-A-Bye Baby from Little Children Sleep Well, Native American Lullabies You are My Sunshine by the Pine Ridge Boys, 1939  Little Red Caboose, Head Start Child Development Center,  Mississippi, 1967