27 April 2019 WHO HAS WIGGLE-WAGGLE TOES? by Vicky Shiefman and Francesca Chessa, ill., Holiday House, January 2019, 40p., ISBN: 978-0-8234-3864-8

“Who has wiggle-waggle toes?

I do.

Who has flip-flop feet?

I do.”

The highlight of my long-ago coursework in early childhood education was a class in Music and Movement. There is such joy in participating in, and sharing, new and traditional songs, dances, and fingerplays with young children who are developing their gross motor and fine motor skills.

I just looked up a few of my old favorites:

There’s a sample here of the music I used for “The Shoemaker’s Dance”: https://edact.com/perceptual-motor-rhythm-games.html

and here’s a video of the movements I was taught and passed on to a generation of preschoolers: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hwBLi_VnXjM

This is almost the same as the version of “Doctor Dingle” that was shared with me by classmates in the Music and Movement class: https://wemrecords.bandcamp.com/track/doctor-dingle-doctor-wiggle-doctor-number-nine

And this is pretty much the same as “my” version of “Oats Peas Beans and Barley Grow”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yI4iQNpGP04

Of course, there’s always Raffi helping us “Shake Your Sillies Out”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eB5u9HKVJZw

WHO HAS WIGGLE-WAGGLE TOES? combines fine- and gross motor movements into a call-and-response movement activity. There’s great rhythm. There are fun mixed-media illustrations with predominantly white backgrounds, making it easy for children to see the multicultural cast of kids engaged in the same movements as they themselves can do during circle time.

“Can you flap your out-there elbows?

Yes, I can flap my out-there elbows.

Can you hide your peekaboo hands?

Yes, I can hide my peekaboo hands.”

There are not nearly enough movement-related books like this, one that every preschool program, kindergarten class, and home daycare program can make great use of on a regular basis. I recommend that you get a copy.

And in conclusion,

I must disclose,

That this reviewer

Has wiggle-waggle toes.

Richie Partington, MLIS

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