"Please read me a story, please!"
a little person said.
"Or... maybe you could read a poem.
Yes, let's have that, instead."
I like the
way the poems sound
...the way the words all bounce around.
We say "mmm" when we say "mound"
and practice all the sounds we found.
And I see pictures when you read,
they're really bright and clear,
of lakes and sails and kitty cat tails
though it's only words I hear.
The next day when I'm out at play
(and it's ok to talk)
I say the poem right out loud
as I run and walk.
I'm glad so much is all around
to see and hear and do.
I'm glad we have TV and tapes
and books and poems, too.
Copyright © 2000 David
Austin
I like to play down on the floor
like I have my own grocery store.
"Would you like a can of peas?"
"I think I will. Yes, if you please."
"Do you have things to make things clean?"
"I think this might be what you mean."
"Now, how about some fruit cocktail?"
"Here it is! And it's on sale!"
Soon my mom has all she needs.
She even has some pumpkin seeds.
She says "You have a pretty store
down here on my kitchen floor."
Copyright © 2000 David
Austin
Today I don't feel very good.
In fact I feel real bad.
My mama says
my head feels hot
and little things make me mad.
We're going to the doctor soon.
I'll get my temperature checked.
The doctor, then, will check my blood.
A virus, she suspects.
I don't know what a virus is
but mama says the doc
will probably have some medicine
that will fix me up.
I think, you know, as I lay here,
hoping they'll be quick,
"Medicine doesn't taste too good
but it sure beats feeling sick."
Copyright © 2000 David
Austin
Getting
Dressed
46 sec., 93k Every day
when I get dressed
I always try to look my best.
I have my shirts, my pants and shoes
in reds and yellows, greens and blues.
My parents keep my clothes all clean.
They use a great big wash machine.
The clothes are wet but they get dried
in a drying machine or hung outside.
Now I will wear my nice clean jumper
(with a bunny named Thumper),
or my pants with the straps
and my shirt with the snaps.
I don't do well with buttons yet
but with some help I get all set.
Then I go out to work or play
clean and ready for the day.
Copyright © 2000, David Austin
My books and toys fill all the room
there's no place to get by
So now
my mamma says that I
should get in there and fly!
I pick up all the little things
that should be somewhere else
and put them where they ought to be:
my toybox or my shelf.
My picture books go in a stack
and on the shelf, then, back to back.
Then all my toys (except my bear)
I line up and put somewhere.
The big stuffed dog my brother won
and gave me back when I was young
goes on a BIG shelf by itself.
Then all my cars and planes and blocks
I put in my toy box.
And I say, "Hey mom! Come and see!"
Then she says she's so proud of me.
Copyright © 2000, David
Austin
Today I was a little mad
and someone said I'd done things bad.
But I
was sorry that I had
done the things to make them mad
so we made up and now we're glad.
Copyright © 2000, David
Austin
Rainy, Rainy, Rainy Day!
I wish I could go out to play
instead of
watching raindrops fall
into a puddle by the wall.
Copyright © 2000, David Austin
We're going to get into the car
and go to see my aunt.
We
will have Thanksgiving there
and eat until we can't.
Sometimes we will go pretty fast
sometimes we will go slow.
The wheels will turn a million times,
we have so far to go.
We'll pass McDonald's and the school
and places that I play.
Then we'll go on the Interstate
and ride for half a day.
I'll play with my aunt's little dog
and swing out on her swing
(that is if it's not raining out),
and when we're done, we'll sing.
Then I will climb up in the bed
and take a little nap.
When I wake up, before we go
I'll sit in my aunt's lap.
And we'll go back the way we came,
but then it will be night.
We'll look at stars but I'll be glad
when home is back in sight.
Copyright © 2000, David Austin
Today was
not
a Very Good Day
47 sec., 96k Today was not a very good day.
Sometimes they just turn out that
way.
When I got up I stubbed my toe.
Then I cried cause it hurt so.
Morning, noon and even night
not everything I did was right.
So now before I shut my eyes,
I will try to analyze.
I said a word I know was bad. . .
I pushed a friend and he got mad. . .
(someone pushed me and I was sad)
A real fun time we COULD have had.
Tomorrow I will try again,
to try and be a better friend.
Right now I'll close my eyes and sleep.
Too soon that old alarm will beep.
Copyright © 2000, David
Austin
Oh what a pretty sky I see.
It's such a pleasant blue.
It makes
me want to go outside
and find some things to do.
Maybe I can count the clouds
and watch which way they blow.
I know it is the wind up there
that tells them where to go.
Or I will look for birds I know
like redbirds, sparrows, ducks and crows,
And little robin redbreasts, too.
(They have such TEENY toes!)
I'll breathe the air that's fresh and clean,
and run and play and yell.
Then, when it's time to come inside
I'll have so MUCH to tell!
Copyright © 2000, David Austin
It's such a pleasant night out,
let's go outside and sit.
We'll
open up the folding chairs.
I'm glad I thought of it.
We hear a jet that's far away
but we can hear its roar.
We see some car lights and we know
the folks are home next door.
The crickets make their cricket sounds.
The frogs are making theirs.
The light behind me makes my shadow
sit out on the stairs.
Mom says "You're getting sleepy."
I say, "Yes, you are right."
Before we go inside, we turn
and tell the moon "Goodnight."
Copyright © 2000, David
Austin
I know a frog named Eloise
who fell out of a tree.
She
landed on my porch one day
and now she's friends with me.
Her favorite place is on a rock
a few feet from my chair.
When the sun shines it is warm.
I know she likes it there.
I tell her all about my day.
She looks so interested.
But all she says is "Brrrrrrripppp"
when I ask her what she did.
It's always in the afternoon
when she comes by to sit.
Not everybody knows a frog.
I like it quite a bit.
Copyright © 2000 David Austin
Let's look in the laundry room
to see what things we're out of.
Then when we go down to the store
we'll get the things we thought of.
First we'll get detergent.
It comes in a box.
Then we'll get the dryer sheets
that soften up my socks.
Bleach is something that we use
to help keep white things white.
I say "It is poisonous."
You say "You are right."
I am careful with my clothes
and try not to spill things.
Because it takes a lot of stuff
to keep me nice and clean.
Copyright © 2000, David Austin
Do you remember Eloise,
the friendly little frog?
She came
a little while ago
and we played with my dog.
The dog would come right to her
and Eloise would jump
sixteen inches, then she'd land
without the slightest bump.
Then I'd clap. My dog would bark.
And Eloise would bow.
We played for half an hour
till I said, "Let's stop now."
"I've got to go inside," I said,
"It's getting pretty late.
Maybe when you come next time,
we can go and skate."
Copyright © 2000, David Austin
I have three kittens at
my house
named Ginger, Tom and Tonya.
If you are sitting in a chair
they will jump right on ya'.
If you are standing, they will come
and rub your leg and purr.
It feels good for both of us.
I like to feel their fur.
Really, they're not kittens,
not like they were before.
And, really, since they've grown up now,
I like them even more.
They like to look at everything.
They like to sit and sun.
And then they come and look for me
to come and have some fun.
Copyright © 2000, David Austin
Foamy, soapy, bubbles I
must not get them in my eye.
We'll wash
them off but I will cry
if we don't get me quickly dry.
It's not my favorite thing to do
(to get my hair washed with shampoo).
I like to take a bath, it's true,
but not to get my hair washed, too.
Copyright © 2000, David
Austin
I'll take the chair
and put it there.
I'll watch the rain
fall in the
drain.
I'll see a fly
just passing by.
While Grandma goes
to get a hose.
The evening sun
said "I am done."
Then Grandma said,
"It's time for bed."
Copyright © 2000 David Austin
Eloise the frog, it seems,
comes only when she wants.
Because she
did not come today
she is in my thoughts.
Perhaps she's gone to town to sing,
or, maybe, get a hat.
Or maybe she's just staying home.
I hope that that is that.
I'll have to let her know that I
sure missed her here today.
I look forward to the time
she hops back down this way.
Copyright © 2000, David
Austin
Soon it will be summer.
I'll have my birthday then.
I will be a little older.
Someday I will be TEN!
I have a friend named Colin.
He says that he believes
when his birthday comes in the fall
we'll play out in the leaves.
My birthday is always hot
so we'll blow up my pool.
Then my friends will all jump in
and we'll be nice and cool.
They'll say "Happy Birthday!"
We'll have ice cream and cake.
And I'll think "What a difference
another year will make."
Copyright © 2000, David Austin
My mama says that I should play
a little while outside each day.
(Inside is where you have a floor.
Outside is out there through the door.)
I climb up and I climb down
on every little thing around.
(Except what I've been told not to.)
There really is so MUCH to do.
The cat goes out to chase a bee.
Then she comes running back to me.
But just as fast she rushes by,
for now she sees a butterfly!
Copyright © 2000, David Austin
Silly, silly, silly me!
Where am I supposed to be?
Should I be playing on the floor?
Or, maybe I should think some more.
(Of course you know this is pretend,
and pretty soon now it will end.)
I'm in my room. I'm in my bed.
I'll go to sleep once this is read.
Copyright © 2000, David
Austin
I like to take some cans of peas
and put them in a line.
Then I put some corn on top.
It stays there just fine.
On top of that I make a row
of chicken noodle soups.
(Right before I start to play
I put things out in groups.)
I take a little bitty can
(it's called tomato paste)
and put it in the middle, there,
and it completes the place.
Then you say, "Time to tear it down.
Put everything away."
So I do just what you say
and shut my store down for the day.
Copyright © 2000, David
Austin
Who has come to visit me?
Would you believe it's Eloise?
And she
has brought a little friend
to sit there with her by the trees.
They both look right straight at me
and I look back at them.
I try to think what kind of name
would be just right for him.
Maybe Charlie, or Green Pea,
or Alvin, Bill, or Fred'.
Yes, Fred the Frog, will be your name.
You like it? Nod your head.
Then Eloise and Fred hopped off
no time to play a game.
They had to go tell all their friends
about Fred's brand-new name.
Copyright © 2000, David
Austin
I say "Please" because it's nice.
And I say "thank you" sometimes twice.
I don't push and I don't fight
I always try to be polite.
I always show my smiling face
and don't go frowning up the place.
I wait my turn when I'm in line
and never take things that aren't mine.
When we are good so much gets done,
there's time for work and time for fun.
And now so I can feel my best
I will take a little rest.
Copyright © 2000 David Austin
The next day is tomorrow. . .
Today is this day now. .
.
The day before was yesterday
and now I'll take a bow.
Cause I know Sunday, Monday, too.
And Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday through.
Friday then and Saturday
when we have so much to do.
I know days turn into weeks
like hours turn into days.
Winter, Spring, then Summer and Fall
go passing by our ways.
A year is quite a little while
with many days and nights.
There is so much to think about
when mom turns out the lights.
Copyright © 2000 David
Austin
With a wiggly tail and a wrinkly nose
I see our cat Tonya out striking a pose.
I really do think she's pretending that she
is really a LION. It's funny to see.
And if something moves
she'll look and she'll stare
and become like a statue
just watching it there.
Copyright © 2000, David Austin
It seems I often have to go
to places I don't want to.
And sit up in some straight-back chairs
And wait just like grownups do.
Usually, they have magazines.
I like to look and see
if something in the stack there
just might interest me.
I'm really not allowed to fuss.
I must be very good.
So I will sit here quietly
and play just like I should.
Copyright © 2000, David Austin
Beside my house there is a hill.
I climb it with my collie, Bill.
He barks at squirrels up high in the trees.
But they just ignore him and do as they please.
I get to the top, then turn and go back.
One time I brought acorns home in a sack.
I'm always careful not to fall.
I'm playing outside and having a ball!
Copyright © 2000 David Austin
It's really quite pretty
to see the sun rise
as night becomes morning
in front of your eyes.
First there is that little glow
of orange in the sky.
The sun appears, the sky turns blue
and birds begin to fly.
And you can tell that folks are up
their kitchen lights come on
because another day has come
with something we call "dawn."
Copyright © 2000, David
Austin
The bath tub fills with water.
I get myself undressed.
I need some help with my T-shirt
but not with all the rest.
Not too hot
and not too cool,
not like at
the swimming pool.
I get in and play a while
with bath toys all around me.
When I get wrinkly it is time
to get my washcloth soapy.
When I'm fresh and dry and clean
I climb into my bed.
And then before I go to sleep
I get a story read.
Copyright © 2000 David Austin
I like to set the table.
(Well, really I just help.)
First I put the
plates around
that mom gets from the shelf.
Then beside each plate I put
a fork, a knife, a spoon,
a napkin and a glass of ice,
cause we'll be eating soon.
I get to cut a lemon
while mom cuts up a lime,
and then I get to go and yell
"Come on, it's supper time!"
Copyright © 2000,
David
Austin
Watch me as I stretch
and reach toward the sky.
Then I
stand on tippy-toes and ask
"How big am I?"
You point and you say "What it this?"
I say "It is my nose."
You point and I say "tummy,
" it's where my food all goes."
Then I say "fingers," "ribs" and "eyes"
and you say "Now show me
"your shoulders . . elbows . . ears . . and arms."
Then I point to
my knee.
Then you say "Bounce"
and you say "Bend."
Then you say
"Stand up straight again."
Copyright © 2000, David Austin
I'd like to drink some juice
in a red caboose.
I'd like to take a ball
and bounce it in a hall.
I may see a bee,
a cat that's fat,
a horse, of course,
and a hill that's flat (no way!)
It's nice to find some time to rhyme
and play all day. Time flies!
But sometimes it is best to rest
so I will shut my eyes.
Copyright © 2000, David Austin
T-shirts
Red shirts
Blue shirts
New shirts
Brown shoes
Black shoes
White shoes
Tight shoes
Short pants
Long pants
Sometimes
inside-out pants.
Copyright © 2000 David Austin
Going by our house each day,
I see the people pass our way.
There are cars, yes, lots of those,
going downtown, I suppose.
The mailman comes mid afternoon.
(Mom says he often comes too soon.)
He goes from our house to next door,
and then, I think, he goes some more.
The school bus goes by early.
(The driver's hair is curly.)
I see a fire truck going past.
It's really, really going fast.
Copyright © 2000, David Austin
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