Fish jumpin' and apples thumpin',

Squirrels blatherin' and nut-gatherin',

Gardeners reapin'and cornstalks heapin',

Branches rattlin' and fires cracklin',

Pumpkins grinnin' and spiders spinnin',

Wind howlin' and goblins prowlin',

Pies bakin' and Papa's rakin',

Leaves fallin' and Mama's callin',

I'm runnin' and flyin' --wheee! crash!

 

And now I'm lyin' in a pile of leaves,

Rappin' and tappin' and finger-snappin'

On a walk through FALL.

 

Breath steamin' and icicles gleamin',

Scarves blowin' and candles glowin',

Mittens missin' and skaters kissin',

Sleigh bells jinglin' and fingers tinglin',

Sleds slidin' and some collidin',

Kids shakin' and angel-makin',

Papa's plowin' and dog's bowwowin',

Snow's fallin' and mama's callin',

Snowballs flyin' -- zing! oof!

 

And now I'm lyin' in a pile of snow,

Rappin' and tappin' and finger-snapin'

On a walk through WINTER.

 

Birds chirpin' and frogs burpin',

Creek's flowin' and flowers growin',

Crickets bouncin' and kittens pouncin',

Gardeners putterin' and butterflies flutterin',

Clouds bloomin' and storm's loomin',

Rain's fallin' and Mama's callin',

I'm slippin' and slidin' -- oops! yikes!

 

And now I'm glidin' in a puddle of mud,

Rappin' and tappin' and finger-snappin'

On a walk through SPRING.

 

Ducks cruisin' and turtles snoozin',

Flickers drummin' and honeybees hummin',

Kids berry-pickin' and ice-cream-lickin',

Ballplayers sweatin' andhot sun's settin',

Sprinklers sprinklin' and wind chimes tinklin',

Hot dogs roastin' and skaters coastin',

Papa's loungin' and dog's scroungin',

Night's fallin' and Mama's callin',

Fireflies flashin' --wheeee!  smack!

 

And now I'm spashin in our backyard pool,

Rappin' and tappin' and finger-snappin'

on a walk through SUMMER.

 

London, Jonathan.  2001.  Park Beat.  New York: Harper Collins Publishers.  ISBN  0688139957.

 

As an extension of this picturebook poem, have the children write something about their favorite season or about their favorite things in each season.  Encourage them to be descriptive like the poem.  Share writings as a group.