Introduction and how to use the book
In this book, we’ve given traditional nursery rhymes a Manchester twist to inspire you to chat and sing with your baby and introduce them to new sounds and words.
Children love songs and rhymes but singing together does so many other amazing things for your little one:
- It makes them happy
- It helps grow their brains
- It teaches them new words
How to use this book
Your child loves hearing your voice! The more words they hear the easier it is for them to recognise words in the future. Have a go at singing or saying the rhymes together when you’re out and about or at home. Don’t forget to have lots of eye and try some of our actions: this all helps children to learn.
the Tiny Happy People (Manchester edition) nursery rhyme book.
Original: Row, row, row your boat
Row, row, row your boat
Gently down the stream
Merrily, merrily, merrily, merrily
Life is but a dream
Action: Sit your baby gently on your lap and rock back and forth to pretend to row a boat together
Manchester version: Ride, ride, ride the tram
Ride, ride, ride the tram
Off to Market Street
Happily, happily, happily, happily
Let’s go get a seat
Action: Sit your little one gently on your knee and point out the stops as you them on the tram
Original: Five little ducks
Five little ducks went out to play
Over the hill and far away
Mummy duck said, ‘Quack, quack, quack, quack’
And all of the five little ducks came back!
Action: Try making a duck’s beak with your hands for the ‘quacks’
Manchester version: Five little ducks
Five little ducks went out one day,
On the canal they splash and play,
Mummy duck said ‘Come back by dark!’
And off they went to Heaton Park
Action: Swap the park name for the one you visit most with your little ones!
Original: Twinkle, twinkle, little star
Twinkle, twinkle, little star
How I wonder what you are
Up above the world so high
Like a diamond in the sky
Twinkle, twinkle, little star
How I wonder what you are
Action: You could show the twinkly star by opening and closing your hands together
Manchester version: Twinkle, twinkle, little star
Twinkle, twinkle, little star
On the bus or in the car
Lots of places we can go
Eccles, Trafford or Milnrow
Twinkle, twinkle, little star
On the bus or in the car
Action: Pretend to drive the bus or the car!
Original: Hickory dickory dock
Hickory dickory dock
The mouse went up the clock
The clock struck one
The mouse ran down
Hickory dickory dock
Action: Turn your hand into a mouse and run it up your little ones arm
Manchester version: Hickory dickory dock
Hickory dickory dock
The bee flew up the clock
The clock struck one
The bee was gone
Hickory dickory dock
Action: Use your hands to form the bee flying up and down the clock tower.The Bee is a very special symbol for everybody in Manchester, watch our specially written nursery rhyme being performed by a Manchester parent
Original: Round and round the garden
Round and round the garden
Like a teddy bear
One step, two step
Tickly under there!
Action: Tickle your little one on their tummy or under their chin and arms!
Manchester version: Buzzing round the Arndale
Buzzing round the Arndale
Like a busy bee
One buzz, two buzz
Lots of things to see
Action: Holding your little ones hand, gently trace a circle around their hand and pretend to be the buzzy bee
Original version: The wheels on the bus
The wheels on the bus go round and round
Round and round
Round and round
The wheels on the bus go round and round
All day long
The wipers on the bus go swish, swish, swish
Swish, swish, swish
Swish, swish, swish
The wipers on the bus go swish, swish, swish
All day long
Action: You can ‘swish’ by waving your arms together
Manchester version: The wheels on the tram
The wheels on the tram go round and round
Round and round
Round and round
The wheels on the tram go round and round
All through town
The doors on the tram go open and shut
Open and shut
Open and shut
The doors on the tram go open and shut
All through town
Action: Use your hands to show bus actions such as opening and shutting the doors.
Original: Roses are red
Roses are red
Violets are blue
Sugar is sweet
And so are you
Manchester version: United are Red
United are red
City are blue
We all love Manchester
And so do you!
