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As we bid goodbye to 2025, I think we can all agree that it has been a doozy.
Here is an episode of some of my favorite songs, rhymes, and readings. Remember, over this season, make time to read, sing, and talk to your little ones.
"When books are opened, you discover you have wings."
Transcript Excerpts
Baby Wordplay (00:41)
Hi, I'm Miss Pam, children's librarian, trained teacher, and founder of Baby Wordplay,
Baby Wordplay (02:19)
You can put your little one on your knee or you can just stand and bounce your bodies up and down. Have fun!
Baby Wordplay (02:30)
Bounce upon my knees. Here's a fun bouncing and rhyming one.
I had a little mouse who never would eat her cheese.
All she ever wanted to do was bounce upon my knees.
Bounce upon my knees. Bounce upon my knees. All she ever wanted to do was bounce upon my knees. Let's do that again.
I had a little mouse who never would eat his cheese.
All he ever wanted to do was bounce up on my knees. Bounce up on my knees. Bounce up on my knees.
All he ever wanted to do was bounce up on my knees. Let's try another rhyme. I had a little cat who never would say please. All she ever wanted to do was bounce up on my knees. Bounce up on my knees. Bounce up on my knees.
All she ever wanted to do was bounce up on my knees.
Let's try another rhyme. I had a little dog who never would scratch her fleas. All she ever wanted to do was bounce up on my knees. Bounce up on my knees.
Bounce up on my knees. All she ever wanted to do was bounce up on my knees. Last one. I had a little monkey who never would climb the trees. All she ever wanted to do was bounce up on my knees.
Baby Wordplay (04:29)
For the wheels on the train, put your hands by your side and make them go round and round
Baby Wordplay (04:35)
Clackety clack, clackety clack. The train goes around the railroad track. Engine in the front, caboose in the back. Clackety clack, clackety clack. The train goes around the railroad track.
Show me those wheels going round and round. The wheels on the train go clackety clack, clackety clack, clackety clack. The wheels on the train go clackety clack. Town after town, the whistle on the train goes toot, toot, toot. Pull that whistle down. Toot, toot.
The whistle on the train goes...
The people on the train fall fast asleep. Shh! Town after town.
Show me your wheels! The wheels on the train go clackety clack, clackety clack, clackety clack. The wheels on the train go clackety clack. Town after town.
Mama's little baby loves dancing, dancing.
Baby Wordplay (09:56)
Listen for the B sounds. Betty Butter bought some butter. But she said, the butter's bitter. If I put it in my batter, it will make my batter bitter. Hmm. But a bit of better butter, that would make my batter better. So she bought a bit of butter.
Baby Wordplay (11:35)
This little light of mine, I'm gonna let it shine. This little light of mine, I'm gonna let it shine. This little light of mine, I'm gonna let it shine. Let it shine, let it shine, let it shine. Everywhere I go, I'm gonna let it shine.
Everywhere I go, I'm gonna let it shine. Everywhere I go, I'm gonna let it shine. Let it shine, let it shine, let it shine. Sing with me. All around the world, I'm gonna let it shine. Yes, all around the world.
Baby Wordplay (13:04)
Make one hand into an open fist and push the other hand through. As you're pushing your hand through, open all five fingers, let your fingers grow. Sign language for grow.
Baby Wordplay (13:23)
Put your hand on your heart to begin this song.
Baby Wordplay (13:28)
Love grows
Baby Wordplay (13:31)
Sign language for grow.
We have had such fun today. Lift your hands up to the sky. Raise them, raise them way up high. Bring them down right to your sides. Now it's time to say goodbye. Until the next time, hasta luego! Ciao!
Listen with your child and join in the fun. Do the gestures, make up verses, play with words for early literacy fun!
Warmly,
Miss Pam
Want the whole shebang?
Subscribe on Apple Podcast.
Look for the BLUE thumbnail..
Baby Wordplay (00:00)
Here's another mini episode for you.
This is Baby Wordplay and this is Miss Pam.
Baby Wordplay (00:15)
Your fingers are going to be your candles. Stick up your fingers, wiggle your fingers. And we're going to blow out the candles two by two. Okay, here we go.
Baby Wordplay (00:34)
You
should have eight fingers up and two fingers down.
Now you should have eight fingers down and how many up?
Two.
Let's do that again.
When you blow out the candles, make sure to put your fingers down two by two.
Baby Wordplay (01:29)
10 little candles on a birthday cake.
Puff, puff. Now there are eight. Eight little candles on candle sticks. Puff, puff. Now there are six. Six little candles and not one more.
Puff puff, now there are four. Four little candles for me and for you. Puff puff, now there are two. Two little candles shining bright like the sun.
Now there are none.
Zero.
We’re so glad you’re here. Warmly, Miss Pam
🇯🇲 🇯🇲JAMAICA ON MY MIND 🇯🇲 🇯🇲
Since Hurricane Melissa landed on Oct. 28, 2025, I have no words.
Here is my gift, a little balm for our broken hearts. Share it with the children in your life.
Some of the songs are from Jamaica or the Caribbean. This is the first of 3 special episodes devoted to the Caribbean.
Subscribe to Miss Pam's Podcast for Babies and Toddlers: Baby Wordplay. *Over 1.3 million downloads & over 400 positive reviews.
- Supercast (listen anywhere)
With Love and Gratitude,
Miss Pam
Children's Librarian, Trained Teacher
❣️ ❣️ ❣️
For more information:
"We help families engage with their babies and toddlers in ways that support cognitive and social development. And we have fun!"
Episode Content:
Peanut butter marmalade and jam. Let's say hello! Hola, Konichiwa, Ciao! Jambo!
Flutter Flutter Butterfly
10 Little Candles
Tingalayo
Color Song
*Wings of a Dove and
*Whole World
*Go Down Emanuel Road
*with Mama Marcy Francis and Ms Jan Jeffries - percussionists extraordinaire!
And more.
Enjoy and share.
🇯🇲 🌄🇯🇲 🇯🇲 🌄🇯🇲
Knife! Fork! Spoon! Spa-tu-la! Cha - cha - cha!
WATCH Maya and the children do it in their kitchen! You'll be doing this one before every meal, trust me! 🔉Listen to author Atinuke read an excerpt of “L is for Love”
My grandchildren - and their parents - especially my son-in-law, who is British-Nigerian!) love Atinuke’s books.
📚
“L is for Love” is about a family travelling into Lagos to sell lemons at the market. There is a lizard 🦎 lurking on each page, which Arinze was excited to bash.
We love this book. Your little one will too! Thank you Atinuke!
INSIDE THIS EPISODE:
📚The Rice In the Pot Goes Round and Round at the table where my family gathers round! by Wendy Wan-Long Shang
📚Whole World - Barefoot Books - an excerpt.
🎵 Shake, shake that mango tree!
🎵 It was under the coconut tree!
SUBSCRIBE for access to 100+ episodes of BABY WORDPLAY including Toddler Phonics!
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*15 minutes - for babies and toddlers and the grownups who love them!
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**For other subscription options head to: https://misspamsbabypodcast.supercast.com/
to subscribe to our premium feed of all episodes
Repetition is the key to learning, however, no two episodes are the same!
*Why a podcast for babies?
Get your baby cooing, babbling and talking - micro-steps to language. A mix of songs, rhymes and simple stories, is a joyful, educational tool to use every day for 12 minutes of intentional read, rhyme and singing - early literacy and numeracy skill building.
REPERTOIRE gives you and your baby a shared repertoire of songs, stories, rhymes and more.
Once your child is familiar with a few episodes it's helpful to ease FUSSY MOMENTS
*Find Themed Playlists On Spotify
*SEASONS 1 to 3 are geared to newborn to age *SEASON 4 is geared to ages to 2- 4+ years. All seasons are fun for all ages!+Please *Rate and *Review!*
THANKS Questions? Send me an email info@babywordplay.com🌺
Warmly, Miss Pam Formerly of Princeton Public Library, Princeton, NJ, USA
+TESTIMONIAL: "I love the podcast. My daughter got excited as soon as she heard the first song. Thank you so much."
🌺 For more information Baby Wordplay www.babywordplay.com
WELCOME TO a new season from Miss Pam - TODDLER PHONICS!
In this season Miss Pam uses rhythms and rhymes, games, songs, stories, movement and more to help you feel confident in supporting your toddler's reading path and build their strong oral language skills.
I created Toddler Phonics to help your older toddler build the foundational skills that are essential for learning to read:
Teaching young children these foundation skills early on, helps them have longer to practice.
TIPS:
🦋 Keep it light and interactive
🙃 Keep it playful and fun
🐢 Keep it slow-paced and relaxed.
HOW TO USE THE PODCAST
1. Listen to just two episodes (2 letter sounds) each week and listen to them on repeat, multiple times during the week. 2. Use your environment to practice sounds. For example, point out words on street signs, billboards etc. that can help to reinforce the sound.
3. Play games such as "I spy something with my two little eyes that begins with the sound /s/"
Short, interactive episodes to keep your mover and shaker interested!
Transcript
Baby Wordplay (00:43)
We rely on listeners to support this production. Thank you.
Baby Wordplay (00:49)
This is Toddler Phonics and this is your host, Miss Pam. Thank you for being here.
Baby Wordplay (00:58)
Howdy-doo, kangaroo. Looking fine, porcupine. Hello, hello, buffalo. Glad to see you, spotted cheetah. Stay a while, crocodile. Hey, hi, penguin. Let's begin, penguin.
Hello, hola!
hello, hello. And how are you?
You say, I'm fine. I'm fine.
And I hope that you are too. Now everybody clap.
Clap your hands, clap your hands, clap your hands everybody clap your hands, come on and clap your hands.
Baby Wordplay (01:53)
Let's welcome our first guest. /s/
Can you say that with me?
Put your teeth together and keep that tongue behind your teeth. Let me hear you say
Baby Wordplay (02:15)
/ss/ so nice to hear you. Hello, ss, so nice to hear you.
Baby Wordplay (02:27)
Sss, as in snake.
The snake is in the grass. Sss, the snake is in the grass. Sss.
Hi ho the dairio, the snake is in the grass.
Baby Wordplay (02:48)
Sit, said Sam.
Stand, said Sally.
Stop, said Samira.
Sing, said Sita.
/s/ said snake.
Let's do that again. You can do the actions to match the words.
Sit, said Sam. Stand, said Sally. Stop, said Samira. Sing, said Sita.
Sssss, said Snake.
Baby Wordplay (03:43)
I'm Sadie the slimy slug.
You might think that I am, but I'm not a bug.
You might think that I don't, but I do like hugs.
I'm Sadie the slimy slug.
Say that with me. Sadie the slimy slug. Sssss
I'm Sadie the slimy slug.
You might think that I am but I'm not a bug.
You might think that I don't but I do like hugs.
I'm Sadie the slimy slug.
I'm Sadie the slimy slug.
(Song used with permission from Nancy Stewart)
Socks and shoes, socks and shoes, stripes and spots, reds and blues, boots for rain, boots for snow, slip them on and off we go!
Let's do that again.
Socks and shoes, socks and shoes. Stripes and spots, reds and blues. Boots for rain, boots for snow. Slip them on and off we go!
Sally Square has just four sides, just four sides, just four sides.
Sally Square has just four sides, one, two, three, four.
Sally Square has just four sides, just four sides, just four sides.
Sally Square has just four sides, and they are all the same.
👂🏽 What did you hear? What did you hear?
What did you hear? Ssss.
𖧵 Remember to put your teeth together and keep that tongue behind your teeth.
Let me hear you say sss/
See you later, alligator. Got to go, buffalo. Toodle-oo Kangaroo
Ciao now, brown cow!
Wave goodbye, butterfly!
(Resource list upon request)
Hey Toronto, CA - I'm in your neighbourhood. Want to join a storyplay event? 🥰
[a MiNi Toddler Phonics episode is 3 minutes - zip in and out... includes a song and a language activity for you to do with your toddler and preschooler]
=x=x=x=x=x=x=
"What would you do if you were a...
Conversation starter with your little one.
"If I was a...." (what animal?)
and say one thing they would do.
Warmly,
Miss Pam
For access to all 100+ episodes - please subscribe:
*Authors Stephanie Cohen (My First Learn-to-Talk Book) and Jorg Muhle (Poor Rabbit) join Miss Pam to read excerpts of their books on this episode that is all about feelings - BIG feelings!*Remember to rate and review - that really helps us! Thank you!
This is a mini taster of the episode: Bilingual bebés - Español y English
🌺 We rely on subscribers to make the show. If you and your baby like what you hear - head this way ➡️ SUPERCAST
➡️ ➡️ APPLE PODCAST
SPOTIFY
Head to website: www.babywordplay.com for research, booklists & to meet the Baby Wordplay family.
❣️
IN THIS SHORT:
*New opening to learn:
Huevos, plátano, tomate y pan X 2
(Eggs, banana, tomato and bread)
Me gusta desayunar (I like to have breakfast) Me gusta almorzar ( I like to have lunch)Me gusta cenar (I like to have dinner)
👋🏽 Diez Deditos - They all belong to me!*
*Follow the words with your actions.
Make eye contact. Smile!
Use your vocal range -- high and low and in between.
1.2.3 UNO-DOS-TRES! Count with me.
*Subscribe for full episode and 100+ more!
www.babywordplay.com
SHOWCASING EPISODE #1!
Begin here to familiarize yourself with the best way to get the most out of the podcast. There are over 120 episodes available! That's a whole lot of early literacy fun!
To subscribe to the complete catalog:
+APPLE $2.99 PER MONTH no ads
+SPOTIFY $2.99 PER MONTH no ads
**For other subscription options or if your region doesn't allow Spotify or Apple subscriptions, head to https://misspamsbabypodcast.supercast.com/ to subscribe to our premium feed of all 100+ episodes
.From Miss Pam, Children's Librarian and Early Literacy Expert with over 35 years of experience.
Repetition is the key to learning, however, no two episodes are the same!
*Why a podcast for babies?
Get your baby cooing, babbling and talking - micro-steps to language. A mix of songs, rhymes and simple stories, is a joyful, educational tool to use every day for 12 minutes of intentional read, rhyme and singing - early literacy and numeracy skill building.
Once your child is familiar with a few episodes use it to ease those fussy moments or to get a 12 minute break! :)
*SEASONS 1 to 3 are geared to newborn to age 4. *SEASON 4 is geared to ages to 2- 4+ years. *Find Themed Playlists On SpotifyAll seasons are fun for all ages! +Please *Rate and *Review!*
THANKS Questions or problems? Send me an email info@babywordplay.com
🌺 Warmly, Miss Pam Formerly of Princeton Public Library, Princeton, NJ, USA
+TESTIMONIAL: "I love the podcast. My daughter got excited as soon as she heard the first song. Thank you so much." 🌺 For more information @BabyWordplay www.babywordplay.com
Short excerpts read aloud from:
HELP YOUR CHILD LOVE READING
by Alison David
[Begin in utero!]
"A practical guide for parents in the real world!" published by Farshore.
KEY POINTS
There are so many things that reading brings to children == Reclaim quiet time==Make a commitment to reading every day.
REMEMBER
+Play is the work of children, from birth. It is through play that babies learn about the world—themselves and others. Every episode of Baby Wordplay podcast is a screen-free invitation to play with words and language.
SUBSCRIBE ON APPLE or SPOTIFY $2.99/month or SUPERCAST $3.99/month
Thank you so much Ashley Causey-Golden for joining us - creator of Afrocentric Montessori - HERE
*Did you know that there are two Emancipation Parks that I know of? In Houston, Texas and Kingston, Jamaica.
June 19, 1872, was the day that the enslaved people of Texas learned they were free legally- long after (2 years!) the Emancipation Proclamation was signed by President Abraham Lincoln: The holiday became known as Juneteenth in the US.
"Black people freed themselves"
"According to Britt Hawthorne "Enslaved Black folks did fight back. They resisted captivity through various actions such as escape, organized rebellions, planned revolts, abolition, self-education and more.
The first official Juneteenth celebrations were held on June 19, 1866, in Galveston Bay Texas.
Black Americans especially in Texas, often celebrate with community festivals, but education and civic engagement -- like registering to vote -- are also central to Juneteenth's commemoration."
+ from Britt Hawthorne, Best selling author and speaker.
| | | | | | | | | | |
This episode was inspired by "They Built Me For Freedom: The Story of Juneteenth and Houston's Emancipation Park" by Tonya Duncan Ellis and Jenin Mohammed, illustrator.
| | | | | | | | | ||
ANOTHER EMANCIPATION PARK - Kingston, Jamaica
The Park was created to be a symbol of Freedom to Hope, to Excel and to Be.
The Emancipation Act was passed on July 31, 1834 in the British West Indies at midnight.
However, full freedom to over 300,000 enslaved Africans was not granted until four years later by Queen Victoria of England on August 1, 1838.
The opening of Emancipation Park in July 2002 is a significant milestone in the journey of the nation.
Thank you so much, for reading and for tuning into me and your baby!
Gather around! It's storytime with Miss Pam!
Geared to 6 months - 5 years and... for all ages!
Pay for 10 months and get a full year's subscription!
From Miss Pam, Children's Librarian and Early Literacy Expert with over 35 years of experience.
- 100+ episodes each 15 minutes - for babies and toddlers and the grownups who love them!To subscribe to the complete catalog of over one hundred episodes:
**Other options
SUPERCAST https://misspamsbabypodcast.supercast.com/ Subscribe to our premium feed of all episodes.
Storytime! Get cozy with your little one as Librarian Miss Pam takes you on a 15 minute music and language adventure for Black History Month.
Remember research shows that young children don’t learn language through video or audio alone - so join in and model how much fun it is to learn!
THIS EPISODE:
Rhyme, sing, gesture and move along to:
🎵 A familiar rhyme with a new twist : 👀
Eyes can do so many things. Get ready to open your eyes and shut your eyes!
Open, shut them. Open, shut them. Give a little blink, blink, blink. Open, shut them. Open, shut them. Give a little blink, blink, blink
Open, shut them. Open, shut them. Now let's try to wink. Wink with one eye, then wink with the other.
📚 Please, Puppy, Please! by Spike Lee and Tonya Lewis Lee - practice those /p/ sounds with this playful puppy!
🎵 Sweet Honey In The Rock - I Love to Laugh!
I love to laugh. I love to giggle from my head to my toes. It makes me feel so good. A real feel good song that you makes you want to giggle!
...second verse.... aaah, you'll have to listen to the episode!
🎵Ashley Causey-Golden creator of Afrocentric Montessori sings for us!! A sweet, sweet song. Listen to the end where she talks about why she wrote it!
📚 I Got the Rhythm Connie Schofield Morrison
📚The Idea in You. A picture book by Questlove.
"Are you with me? Reach up into the sky and unhook a star. Did you get that star?"
- "Books" a poem by Eloise Greenfield
-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.
Baby Wordplay is a wonderful gift to give to new parents.
You can also find us on Instagram and Facebook at Baby Wordplay and sign up for our newsletter at our website.
www.babywordplay.com.
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I am delighted to share the audio stage with
NY Times Bestseller and Caldecott Award winning author of "When the Mountain Meets the Moon"and "A Mooncake for Little Star" and
Maria Adcock https://biculturalmama.com/
author of "It's Chinese New Year, Curious George!"
+++++
INSIDE THE EPISODE
1: Xīn Nián Kuài Lè (新年快乐)
Pronounced: shin (like above your ankle) nian (knee-yen). kuai (like the bridge over the river kuai). le (luh ).
2: Chopsticks, noodles, tea and tofu.
3: The lyrics and the music of the song "Gung Hay Fat Choy" was written by Nancy Stewart from Sing With Your Kids:
Gung Hay Fat Choy – Chinese New Year Song (wishing you good fortune and happiness)
CHORUS: (Keep a rhythm patting hands together one hand up, then the other)
Gung Hay Fat Choy, Gung Hay Fat Choy
Sing Happy New Year, Gung Hay Fat Choy
The new moon tells us, exactly when
(hold up hand in C shape for crescent moon)
To celebrate with family and friends
(clap hands in rhythm)
Clean up the house and get out the broom
Sweep out the old year, bring in the new
(pretend to sweep)
Bring out the apples, the oranges too
(hold out one fist, then the other)
Their colors bring us joy and good luck too
The dragon dances, the lanterns light
(place hands together, and snake around )
The firecrackers light up the night
(alternate right and left fist with fingers opening quickly to mimic shooting fireworks).
4: I added a tune to a few of the pages of the book Dragon Dance by Joan Holub, illustrated by Benrei Huang to make the song about the awesome color 'red'.
🐍 Thanks Amber for your New Years' greetings straight from China!
and MASSIVE THANKS to
🐍 Grace Lin and to
🐍 Maria Wen Adcock
2025 Year of the Snake
+++++