Food Baby Storytime
Yummy, yummy, yummy, food in baby’s tummy! Choose one of the following food-themed baby storytime books and pair it with a couple of these songs and playtime ideas for more engagement and fun in your next Baby Storytime. I recommend repeating many of your rhymes and movement songs each week (repetition is key for cognitive development!), but sprinkling in new thematic songs and activities will keep things fresh and exciting. Visit The Youth Desk’s Baby Storytime page for more detailed guidance.
Food Baby Storytime Books
Food Baby Storytime Movement Songs
There are so many great food-themed movement songs and rhymes for babies! Enjoy these favorites and encourage caregivers to gently move their baby’s hands, arms, etc.
Acka Backa Soda Cracker
Acka backa soda cracker (bounce to rhythm)
Acka backa boo (lean forward on “boo”)
Acka backa soda cracker (bounce to rhythm)
I love you! (kiss baby’s head or hug baby)
Acka backa soda cracker (bounce to rhythm)
Acka backa boo (lean forward on “boo”)
Acka backa soda cracker (bounce to rhythm)
Up goes you! (lift baby up)
Apples and Bananas by Raffi
Sing it or play the song during playtime!
I like to eat, eat, eat apples and bananas
I like to eat, eat, eat apples and bananas
I like ate, ate, ate epples and benenes
I like ate, ate, ate epples and benenes
I like to eat, eat, eat eepples and beeneenees
I like to eat, eat, eat eepples and beeneenees
Green Zucchini
Such a fun song for both caregivers and little ones! Plus, you can swap out green zucchini for whatever your group likes: red apples, yellow bananas, etc. See Jbrary for the tune and movement ideas.
Green zucchini, I like green zucchini
Green zucchini, that’s what I like best.
Do you like it on your head?
Yes I like it on my head.
On your head?
On my head.
Oooooohhhhhh
…On my shirt…On my socks…
Mix a Pancake
Credit: Jbrary
Mix a pancake (hold baby’s hands and pretend to “stir” with a big spoon)
Serve a pancake (Continue stirring)
Pop it in a pancake (Pretend to pop in pan)
Fry a pancake (Hold hands like holding a panhandle)
Toss a pancake (toss hands up or lift baby)
Catch it if you can! (pretend to catch or lower and hug baby)
Pat a Cake
Pat a cake, pat a cake, baker’s man (clap babies hands)
Bake me a cake as fast as you can (clap babies hands)
Roll it, and pat it, and mark it with a B (roll baby’s hands, pat baby’s legs, draw “B” on baby’s back)
And put it in the oven for baby and me (move baby’s hands forward then give a big hug)
Pizza Pizza Pumpernickel
Pizza pizza pumpernickel
Baby girl shall have a tickle (Tickle baby)
One for her nose (Touch baby’s nose)
One for her toes (Touch baby’s toes)
And one for her tummy where the hot dog goes (Tickle tummy)
Pizza Baby
Knead the dough
Pizza baby, pizza baby, pizza baby (Knead baby’s tummy)
Spread the sauce
Pizza baby, pizza baby, pizza baby (Smooth hand on baby’s tummy)
Sprinkle the cheese
Pizza baby, pizza baby, pizza baby (Tap fingers on baby’s tummy)
Eat it up
Nom, nom, nom, nom, nom! (Pretend to eat baby’s neck or tummy)
Popcorn!
Popcorn, popcorn, sizzling in the pan (Wrap arms around baby)
Shake it up, shake it up (Shake baby)
Bam! Bam! Bam! (Bounce or lift baby high)
Popcorn, popcorn, now it’s getting hot (Wrap arms around baby)
Shake it up, shake it up (Shake baby)
Pop! Pop! Pop! (Bounce or lift baby high)
This Little Piggy
This little piggy went to market
This little piggy stayed home
This little piggy had roast beef
This little piggy had none
This little piggy cried “Wee! Wee! Wee!”
All the way home
Toast in the Toaster
Toast in the toaster
Getting very hot
Tick tock, tick tock (rock baby side to side)
Up you pop! (Raise baby)
Food Baby Playtime
Ending storytime with free play is an excellent way for babies and caregivers to socialize and observe others. You don’t need anything fancy. Simply setting out blocks, musical instruments, or puppets would suffice, but here are some food-themed ideas to further enhance your program.
Citrus Sensory Bin
Slice oranges, lemons, and/or limes and place them in a bin. Add a splash of water for extra fun and let baby play! Ask caregivers to set aside slices baby nibbles on.
Color Sorting Fruit and Vegetables
This Learning Resources Farmer’s Market Color Sorting Set, available from Amazon, is a favorite at my library and home! Little ones love holding, carrying, and identifying the fruits and vegetables. While kiddos under age two may not be able to sort them, it’s an excellent opportunity for caregivers to begin introducing colors and encouraging kiddos to identify them. We set the baskets out and let the kiddos take it from there.
