Hello Mrs. Customer.
How are you today?
I'm glad you
came to my play-store.
Is everything okay?
We have a special on green beans
and peaches in a can
We have good crisp potato chips
and things for scrubbing
pans.
We play for 20 minutes
then put them all away
right back where we
found them
and say "That's all today."
Copyright ©2000 David Austin
Today we had to hurry up
'cause we were running late.
We had no extra time to play.
We had to compensate.
I went faster, getting dressed,
and did not dress up my doll.
Then I waited patiently
while Mama made a call.
We got into the car,
and turned on the radio.
I was quiet as we drove,
we had a ways to go.
There was lots of traffic.
We had to drive with care.
But we were calm and then my mom
said "Hey, we're almost there."
Copyright ©2000 David Austin
We went to a movie.
We waited in a line.
We waited to buy
tickets
and then we went inside.
Lots of people walked around
inside a waiting room
with pictures from some movies
they said were coming soon.
You could smell the popcorn!
And hear its funny noise!
They had bags and great big boxes
for great big girls and boys.
We all got very quiet
when they turned off the lights.
Then right up there was Thumbelina
and lots of pleasant sights.
There was lots of music, too!
It went on and on.
I had no trouble sitting still
though it was very long.
Now I can remember it
like I'm still sitting there.
It was my first movie,
a happy tale to share!
Copyright ©2000 David Austin
Rain is falling on the deck.
I see it through the glass.
Lots of
clouds are overhead
quickly blowing past.
Drops fall and bounce
and hop around
then plop in puddles
on the ground.
Oh, the racket that I hear!
a-rat-a-tat....a-tat.
Very fast, then slower
and it's over, just like that.
Copyright ©2000 David Austin
Are you afraid of lightning?
It is a sight to see.
Of course you go inside, you know
don't stand out by a tree.
There comes a FLASH and BOOM!
The sound is thunder.
Will the lightning come again?
I wait, I wonder.
Then for a moment night is gone
and it's as bright as day.
I ask, "Will it hurt us?"
You say, "We're okay."
My brother, Tim, said "Awesome!"
Then we went to my room
and watched out of the window there
a stormy night in June.
Copyright ©2000 David Austin
N-A-P
43 sec., 86k There is a word I do
not like
my Gramma says to me.
I know it has three letters
and they are N-A-P.
I say "but I'm not sleepy."
And you say, "yes you are."
"But Gramma, please, I want to play
and stay out where you are."
She puts the tape in that I like.
I close my eyes and think.
And pretty soon I'm waking up.
I could have slept a week!
They say you really need a nap
they help to make you grow.
It seems I never want to,
but I like it, don't you know.
Copyright ©2000 David Austin
"Goodnight everybody,
it sure was good to see you.
And so you'll watch tomorrow's show
I'll give you a preview."
"We'll have a lady on to tell
all about her cat.
Then she will talk about her dolls
and other things like that."
"We'll see how they make cakes and rolls
in a bakery.
Then we will go where they make toys!
You must tune in to see!"
Copyright ©2000 David Austin
I know that I am growing
a little bit each day.
I drink my milk and
get my rest
and run and jump and play.
When I was a baby
I had such teeny feet!
And on my baby bed we had
a teeny-weeny sheet.
They used to have to feed me
but now I do it well.
Of course now I can dress myself.
I'm growing, I can tell!
Copyright ©2000 David Austin
I have a friend named
Jeanne
and her last name is Smith.
She lives across the street from me
and she's fun to play with.
When we have pretty weather
we can play outside
out in her yard or in mine.
We both like to slide.
Sometimes we take her with us
when we go to the store.
Sometimes I sleep at her house.
You ought to hear her snore!
I'm careful with her toys
and she takes care of mine.
When we both cooperate
our time is really fine.
Copyright ©2000 David Austin
My Dog
32 sec., 97k My dog is brown
and he goes around
and around and around
before he finally
lays down on the ground.
He pants and wants to dance,
at least it looks that way.
Sometimes he flips his water dish
and shows he wants to play.
He does it with the looks he gives
and the way he runs around.
He'll give you a big sloppy kiss
if you don't tell him "Stay down!"
Copyright ©2000 David Austin
I have a little raincoat.
It rolls up in a bag
so it's there when I need
it.
My name is on a tag.
We also have umbrellas
that open up SO wide
they make a great big cover
and keep the rain outside.
Copyright ©2000 David Austin
I think I heard a click.
It happened very quick.
Next time I'll listen quicker
and then I'll find that clicker.
Copyright ©2000 David Austin
I know words that rhyme with jump,
like bump and stump and dump.
I know words that rhyme with blue,
like shoe and glue and you.
I know words that rhyme with tree,
like bee and me and yessiree.
Add S to tree and you have trees.
That word rhymes with sneeze and please.
I'd like to rhyme some words some more
but now it's time to do a chore.
Later, if we have the time,
perhaps we'll find more words to rhyme.
Copyright ©2000 David Austin
Can you draw an elephant?
Can you draw a fly?
Can you draw a
dinosaur?
When you're through, let me try.
I hold the pencil in my hand
and make a squiggly line.
I say "It doesn't look like much."
You say "You're doing fine."
Then I pick up a crayon.
(You'd never, ever eat one.)
I make a circle with some dots
and say, "It is a pizza!"
Copyright ©2000 David Austin
A time of day that can't be beat
is when my folks call "Come
and Eat."
You never have to tell me twice
'cause being late just isn't nice.
The kitchen usually smells so GOOD.
The best smell in the neighborhood!
I watch the steam rise in the air
as I put out the silverware.
We bow our heads and ask a blessing.
Thanks to God we are expressing.
We pass some bowls around the table
where I sit now that I am able.
Corn and peas and carrots, too,
I eat because they're good for you.
And for dessert there's something sweet
Then our dinner is complete.
Copyright ©2000 David Austin
You never saw so many stores!
So much to see, and all indoors!
There's never time to see it all,
that giant place they call the mall.
When we are there I take your hand
(that is a rule I understand)
and I never wander off
'cause you'd be scared if I got lost.
We see coats hung up on racks
and shirts with pictures front and back.
Last time we bought two striped neck ties
to give Granddad a nice surprise.
Sometimes we don't spend a dime.
We look around 'cause we have time.
We may see people that we know
and talk until it's time to go.
Then we go out and look a lot
until we find our parking spot.
In the car, we buckle in
and pretty soon we're home again!
Copyright ©2000 David Austin
Uh Oh!
Time to go!
Looks as though
I've been too slow!
Copyright ©2000 David Austin
A is for apple
and B is for bat.
Then after that
comes C is for cat.
D begins dog
and E begins ear.
F begins fear
and G begins gear.
How about that?
The things I can tell.
Learning to spell
and doing it well.
Copyright ©2000 David Austin
Some people wear glasses
and some people don't.
Some
people behave
and some people won't.
Some sit in wheelchairs
while others can walk.
Some people make signs.
Some people can talk.
Copyright ©2000 David Austin
Ducks
33 sec., 67k I really like to see the ducks
that live down at the lake.
They swim
around a little while
then they get out and shake.
They squawk and walk
and peck the ground
and eat popped corn
we toss around.
They waddle so funny
and have orange feet!
I'd like to have one
mom says they're not neat.
She says they are messy,
and yes it is so.
When you walk around ducks
you must watch where you go.
Copyright ©2000 David Austin
We have a great big
flashlight
that stays plugged in the wall.
If rain storms knock our power out
it lights up our front hall.
We also have a little one.
It doesn't shine so bright.
We always take it with us
when we go walk at night.
I like to flash it down the road
and blink it at the trees.
But we don't do it just for fun,
it wastes the batteries.
Copyright ©2000 David Austin
The wind is blowing,
I do declare!
See how my hair
points up in the air!
Sometimes the trees wiggle.
Sometimes their limbs shake
and I say "Goodness sake,
I hope you don't break!"
Before, it was hot
but now it is cooler.
I'm not a fooler,
I'm just a new schooler!
I learn so much
just by looking around
and hearing the sounds,
oh, the things I have found!
Copyright ©2000 David Austin
When I was
Sick
89 sec., 175k One time I got very
sick
and we went to the doctor quick.
I was really glad we had
'cause I was feeling very bad.
I was feeling very hot
and my tummy hurt a lot.
The doctor said, "For what you've got,
you'll really have to have a shot."
"Do I have to, Doctor Mike?
It's something I don't really like."
"Yes, you must, you're very ill
and you will get sicker still."
"Okay," I said, "let's do it fast,
if we do then the pain won't last."
The doctor said, "Relax." I did.
And into me the needle slid.
It was kind of interesting
even though I felt a sting.
I didn't like it, not a bit,
I knew soon I'd be over it.
We went home, I went to bed.
You brought me toasted raisin bread.
I sipped soup from my Barney cup.
You told me I must not get up.
Then you put in my story tape,
my very favorite story tape,
the one where all the stories rhyme.
And that was how I spent the time.
Well, finally I did get well
(it's not a pleasant tale to tell).
From now on, it's understood,
I'm thankful when I'm feeling good.
Copyright ©2000 David Austin
Did I leave it on the chair?
Did I put it over there?
I must think
where I used it last...
I really need to find it fast.
I guess I did not pay attention.
(That I do not need to mention.)
Now I need to use my mind.
Sometimes things are hard to find.
Next time when I'm done with play
I will put it back away,
and I won't have to spend the day
finding things that I mislay.
Copyright ©2000 David Austin
Flitter, flutter, butterfly,
wingy, stingy wasp,
busy baby
bumblebee...
Careful, don't get lost!
Precious pretty kitty cat,
Flipping, flopping frog,
squeaking, squealing guinea pig,
daffy digging dog.
Creeping, crawling creatures,
happy, hopping hares,
in the nearby neighborhood
many things are there.
Copyright ©2000 David Austin
I like
24 sec., 48k I like to swing.
I
like to slide.
I like to walk,
and I like to ride.
I like to dress up,
and I like my old clothes.
I like some of these.
I like some of those.
I like to work
and I like to play.
I like a lot,
wouldn't you say?
Copyright ©2000 David Austin
"Can we stay up late
tonight?
Please, please, please, please?
Surely it will be alright.
Please, please, please, please?"
"Sorry, you must get your rest.
No, no, no, no, no.
Staying up won't be the best,
no, no, no, no, no."
"Let's get our bath and get in bed."
"Okay, okay, okay. . .
Then can we get a story read?"
"Okay, okay, okay."
Copyright ©2000 David Austin
When we go to the grocery store
I'm big so I walk on the floor.
Little people like to ride
up in the cart, their legs outside.
The first part they have leafy things
and apples, pears and tangerines,
bananas and potatoes, too,
three kinds of grapes: red, green and blue.
Then, it's where it gets real cold.
It's where the frozen food is sold.
Corn and carrots, beans and peas,
and a bunch of broccolies.
(Be careful not to run around.
You might knock somebody down.
We do not run and do not jump
someone could get an awful bump!)
You pick out all the things you need
and all around the store we speed.
Then we wait a little time
standing in the check-out line.
People put our things in bags
once they check the pricing tags.
Then we pay for what we got
and you say "My, we spent a lot."
Copyright ©2000 David Austin
Shoes
36 sec., 72k Do you like to kick the dirt?
Careful or your toe will hurt.
And you
won't like the way it feels
if you kick it with your heels.
Shoes we wear protect our feet.
We don't go barefoot in the street.
Also we wear things called socks.
They help with padding all the knocks.
One time I said "They don't feel right."
You said, "Yes, they are too tight.
We just can't get your shoes to last.
You are growing very fast."
Copyright ©2000 David Austin
"Abu . . abu . . abu . . dee"
is what a girl said close to me.
She was
such a little thing.
Funny how she tried to sing.
She waved her arms and kicked her legs.
"She is a wiggle worm," you said.
And she was looking all around
and played with everything she found.
You said "You were once that small,
back before you learned to crawl."
I think as I drink from my cup,
"Does she know she is growing up?"
Copyright ©2000 David Austin
We have pictures on
our walls,
up and down our middle halls.
In my room I have a plaque,
a cocker spaniel painted black.
Pictures are of everyone,
serious and having fun!
There are pictures there of me
taken back when I was three.
Pictures are in every room.
One was woven on a loom!
Posters all about baseball
cover up my brother's wall.
I have two up that I like.
One is Big Bird on a trike.
The other one I like to see:
the picture of our family.
Copyright ©2000 David Austin
We go to a rest-au-rant
where we order what we want.
A
boy or girl comes by to say
"What can I bring you today?"
A high chair or a booster seat
puts little folks where they can eat.
I listen while the grownups talk
and watch some people on the walk.
Pretty soon they bring our food.
It puts me in a happy mood.
I eat and do not make a mess,
at least I try my very best.
Copyright ©2000 David Austin
Dishes to be done, I think.
Water's running in the sink.
"I'm going to get some help I hope,"
you say as you squirt out some soap.
Copyright ©2000 David Austin
Do you know which way is up?
Do you know which way is down?
Do you know near? Do you know far?
Do you know square and round?
Do you know hot? Do you know cold?
Do you know warm and cool?
And inside, outside, over there?
Do you know house and school?
Yessiree sir, sure I do!
And I can tell you more!
I can even tell you now,
after and before!
Copyright ©2000 David Austin
I just HAVE to remember
to put my things away.
I musn't leave things on the floor
when I am through each day!
Last night, my very favorite toy,
that I left on the floor,
got broken in an accident . . .
I don't have it any more.
So now I am more careful
and think before I leave.
Neatness-Neatness-Neatness COUNTS."
Ask me! I believe!
Copyright ©2000 David Austin
Sometimes you can
run around.
Sometimes you must sit.
Sometimes you can laugh and sing.
Sometimes you are qui-et.
Copyright ©2000 David Austin
My Dog
49 sec., 99k My dog is lying in the sun.
He looks around to see
the squirrels
that run across our yard
and live in our big tree.
Sometimes, it seems, they make him mad.
I really don't know why.
But, it seems he always barks
when ANYTHING goes by.
I know he watches out for us
and barks and makes a show.
It's his way of telling us
there's something we should know.
Some people cannot have a dog,
they have no place to play.
And some, I know, have allergies
like my poor Uncle Ray.
I can go and pat my dog
any time I please.
But not my poor old Uncle Ray,
he'll sneeze and sneeze and sneeze.
Copyright ©2000 David Austin
After breakfast, after
lunch,
after supper, too,
I pick my little toothbrush up
and cover it with goo.
The goo is stuff they call toothpaste.
You put it on the brush.
(Careful not to squeeze too hard
or you will get too much.)
Back and forth and up and down
left side, right side,
top side, bite side,
inside, outside.
Then I spit it out and rinse,
and brush a little more,
then rinse and spit it out again
like I just did before.
Copyright ©2000 David Austin
Somebody got in trouble.
I'm glad it wasn't me.
I will not do what they did.
I try to act nice-ly.
You must not go and push someone
or do things to be mean.
And you never treat your bed
like it's a trampoline.
Things get broken really fast
if you don't pay attention.
But you know that I try my best
...it's something I will mention.
Copyright ©2000 David Austin
Tell me what you think of dreams.
I have them every night.
After I have gone to sleep
it's like I see a sight.
Sometimes I dream I am at play
or visiting someone
or talking to a friend of mine
or getting something done.
One time I dreamed I had a bike
and I could ride it well.
"Will it come?" I asked, you said,
"Only time will tell."
Copyright ©2000 David Austin
Oh what a messy place I see.
I must put things away.
My mom says I must tidy up
before I go to play.
I'll get the covers for my bed
and spread them back in place.
Then I will pick up all my toys
and I will really race.
For there are things I want to do
like go outside and swing.
So I can't talk...............I've got to go
and pick up everything!
Copyright ©2000 David Austin
Which book do you like the best?
Number one or two?
I think I like the poetry
just as much as you.
When I'm riding in the car
or resting in my bed
or if I'm in the playroom
or I'm outside instead...
every time I hear it
I learn something new.
So thank you, Mister Austin,
it's something fun to do.
Copyright ©2000 David Austin
Do you think a fish
ever makes a wish?
Do you think that
dogs
can hop around like frogs?
Do you think our cat
should wear a purple hat?
Do you think a lot?
That is what I thought!
Copyright ©2000 David Austin
Which one of my T-shirts
should I put on today?
First, I'll
have to go and see
what's clean and put away.
On one there is a picture,
on two there are some words.
One has a hundred puppies.
One has a flock of birds.
I also have some button-ups
mixed colors, solids, too,
a sweatshirt with a motto:
"Make this day count for you!"
That's the one I think I'll wear.
It is white and blue.
Now I must pick out some pants.
It is NEXT thing to do.
Copyright ©2000 David Austin
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