Category Archives: Rhymes For Kids

Tony Funderburk’s rhymes and reasons to help you understand the power of God’s love. For kids from 1 to 101.

Peanut Butter And Honey

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Peanut butter and honey is better than peanut butter and jelly!

There. I said it…I meant it…and I know it’s true. Because I said so, that’s why. I’m just kidding…sort of. I happen to love honey on a sandwich instead of jelly. And here’s the thing…honey, when you get the kind that’s found close to where you live, is a natural antibiotic. That simply means, it helps you fight off germs inside your body.

How cool (and tasty) is that! The jellies you get in most stores won’t do that for you. So, you see…those little bees are watching out for you. They just think they’re gathering nectar for their hives. They don’t realize they were designed to help us humans have a better, longer life.

You’re probably saying “well, I’ll be hornswaggled, honey”. What? You’re not saying that? Well, maybe you’re saying, “Hey Tony. How do I know if the honey is from somewhere close to where I live?” That’s easy Captain Question. You just read the labels. Or get your mom or dad or someone who can read to read it for you. Here at the FunderRanch we get honey that’s either from locations on the front range or from the Western slope. Either way, it’s Colorado home grown and oh so delicious.

And we don’t actually do peanut butter and honey. We prefer almond butter and honey. Or cashew butter and honey. But it’s up to you. One more thing, though. If you choose peanut butter, be sure to look for organic without a bunch of sugar and other junk in it. Believe me…once you add the honey, you’ll never want sugar or jelly again.

Peanut Butter And Honey

Peanut butter and honey
Sittin’ on a slice of bread.
Peanut butter said “Honey…
You and me should wed.
We should be together
And nevermore be apart.
Honey, I really mean it,
And this comes from my heart.”
Honey said “Peanut butter,
We don’t need to get wed.
I’m just a natural sweetener.
You’re just a sandwich spread.
Let’s just stick together
Through every crunch and munch.
They’ll have us back on Tuesday.
The kids love us for lunch.

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Berries And Blooms

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I can still see the rich, plump black berries and blooms next to farmers’ fences in the hot, dry summers in Kansas. I remember picking the berries and hearing the first ones clunk when I dropped ’em into the metal bucket. And I could hardly wait to get back home to wash ’em and make some homemade ice cream. If you’ve never had homemade blackberry ice cream…what are you waiting for?

Children's writer, Tony Funderburk, shares some heartland memories about Berries And BloomsThere’s just something about the way vine ripe blackberries turn ice cream a dark purple-blue. Knowing they were picked from vines with your very own hands gives the dessert an extra burst of yummy. It’s awesome to walk under a warm, summer sun in the country, the warm breezes stirring all around you. You feel the leaves against your arms. Then, you smell the black berries and blooms of white flowers, grass, and other creekside plants.

All of this won’t get you any extra friends on Facebook, Twitter, Google, Instagram, or any other social media channels. But it will make you a richer person. It might even make you smile.

Berries and blooms by a country creek
In a place where people wave and smile.
They can bring you joy on a summer’s day.
You should get there soon and stay awhile.

You could make ice cream or bake a pie
Or spoon ’em out of a bowl of cream.
Eat ’em raw and turn your fingers blue.
You can decide which way is supreme.

Berries and blooms make memories nice
With colors and scents you’ll still recall,
When the years breeze by and start to fade.
Berries and blooms help you think of it all.

Stay tuned,

Tony Funderburk's signature can be found on almost all of his writing for kids.

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Read Me A Story

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When I was a little kid, I loved it when my mom or grandmother or basically any adult would read me a story. I had a vivid, colorful imagination (some things never change), and I could create whole movies inside my head. All I needed were the words to create pictures, and at that young age getting the words required the help of an adult.

Children's writer, Tony Funderburk, says "Read Me A Story" is an awesome opportunity to help build strong minds and brains.

Like I said…some things never change. Little kids still need an adult for the full reading experience. When a kid says “read me a story”, moms and dads and every adult should look at that as an opportunity to help build a strong mind and brain. When you have a chance to read to little kid, really put yourself into it. Use different voices for different characters. Use sound effects. It doesn’t matter if they’re any good or not. Little kids just like to see a grownup be silly.

And if being silly is all it takes to get young minds on a path of reading for life, it’s worth it.

Read me a story where the good guy wins…
And sails the ocean on a blue whale’s fins…
Where dreams come true and the world is right.
Read me a story and leave on the light.

Take me places where I’ve never been.
Open windows, and let the stars shine in.
I can see it all inside my head.
All I need tonight is a story read.

Read me a story, and I’ll fall asleep
And dream of mountain goats and bighorn sheep
That pull my wagon through a dream-filled night.
Read me a story and leave on the light.

Stay tuned,

Tony Funderburk's signature can be found on almost all of his writing for kids.

P.S.  I really appreciate your support here on my website. Here are some other awesome ways you can show your support, keep my words and music flowing, and keep me off the streets.
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Great Big Smile

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OK…whatever you’re doing right now (including reading my writing) take a few seconds and put a great big smile on your face. I don’t care if it feels weird. Just do it. C’mon, let’s see that great…big…smile.

Children's writer, Tony Funderburk, says even when you're feeling blue, put on a great big smile.

Ahh…there it is. I knew you could do it.

Now, I know there are times you just don’t feel like smiling. No worries. I’m the same way. But remember, we’re talking about feelings. And feelings change. And you can even help them change. You can drop the blue and get back to you…with a great big smile.

I remember, when I was about 12 or 13, my dad was really into running. He ran every evening after he got home from work. After I watched him do that for a while, I asked if I could run with him. He said, “Sure, get on your running shoes and let’s go.” So, we took off through the neighborhood and out past several blocks further than I typically went. I began to get a little out of breath, and he told me to loosen up my hands, breathe deeper, and put a great big smile on my face.

“Smile?!”, I replied with a confused tone in my voice.

“You bet,” he said. “You’ll be surprised at how much different you feel if you smile through it.”

So…I did. And you know what? He was right. So…

When you’re feeling blue,
Here’s what you can do…
And it’s easy, too…
Just smile.
Blues will go away
When you simply say
I just need to pray
And smile.
You would change your mood
And your attitude…
Oh, if only you’d
Just smile.
All those things you feared
Will have disappeared
Once you’ve volunteered
Your smile.
Before it’s too late
Please don’t make us wait…
Let us see that great
Big smile.

Stay tuned,
Tony Funderburk, THE writer-singer-illustrator for kids and life in Denver talks about his first 7 ebooks for kids.

P.S.  Get my ebooks for kids on Amazon.com
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How To Write Poems For Kids

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If you’ve ever wondered how to write poems for kids, then I have some serious, sage advice…don’t be so serious and sage.

Through all my years as a children’s writer, singer songwriter, and even illustrator I’ve observed kids and their funny ways. And because they have funny ways, I look for ways to put those funny ways into the rhymes I write. Poems for kids should be fun, funny, and full of imagination. Imagination filled with color, action, and rhythm. Word pictures should leap into those growing little minds. And I’m of the firm belief that poems for kids should help them have faith, hope, and love…with a smile.

Now, some writers prefer to go the route of realism…in other words…reflect the culture, in all its raw grit, in their poems and stories. I couldn’t disagree more. The way I see it…kids get enough reality in the real world. Just watching five minutes of a news program they can see how unsafe this world is. They don’t need to dive into a poem, or story, or ebook and find it there, too.

Is this providing “an escape”? You bet it is. Give a kid optimism about faith, hope, and love. The media they consume should nurture those feelings and show them the good guy wins…and dark days don’t last forever. Happy endings should abound.

There’s this incredible book…maybe you’ve heard of it? It’s called The Bible. It’s the best-selling book of all time. It’s a history book of the world, so there’s a lot of hard reality. But a big, big portion of it uses the technique I’ve laid out. It shows you how dark days won’t last forever, the good guy wins, and many people will love the happy ending.

No Other Person

Once upon a time you were one little cell
Living in your mom where you formed so well.
Then you were born and everyone knew
There was no other person who was quite like you.
You got bigger and you wondered why
A fish could swim and a bird could fly.
Every little thing was a fun, little game.
A dog was a friend, and you gave it a name.
A little more time, and you learned to read.
Each word was a friend that planted a seed
That formed an idea in your curious mind.
Then your need for knowledge left the kid behind.
That was well and good, and it had to be.
There was so much more in the world to see.
But please remember and don’t forget…
There are things in life that you might regret.
Don’t let love ever take a back seat.
Be willing to share it with whomever you meet.
Then, people might say, when you’re life is through…
There was no other person who was quite like you.

© 2013

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The Lonely Lily Pad

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Read the story of the lonely lily pad by children's writer-singer songwriter-illustrator, Tony Funderburk.

So, once there was a lily pad that no frog ever used.
You wouldn’t think a lily pad would get its feelings bruised,
But sure enough this lily pad cried to itself each night…
And each day did its very best to stay out of plain sight.

It watched the frogs spot other pads and jump on for a rest,
But no one seemed to want to be this lily pad’s first guest.
So what’s a lonely lily pad to do when no one seems to care…
And no one seems to notice as it floats from here to there?

Well, as it just so happened on a warm and muggy day…
A snake was chasing bullfrogs, but the bullfrogs got away
By jumping from the water onto places safe and sound.
They knew the snake would not pursue up on the solid ground.

But one poor bullfrog lagged behind because one leg was bad.
It accidentally landed on the lonely lily pad.
The lily pad was startled because this was all quite new.
It stared up at the bullfrog without knowing what to do.

The bullfrog said, “Don’t move…because a snake is swimming by.
It’s hungry for some dinner, and it loves a bullfrog pie.”
The lily pad was quiet and it didn’t move an inch.
It felt the snake brush by, and it was so hard not to flinch.

They held their breath and waited for the snake to disappear,
And when it did, they caught their breath. The coast was finally clear.
The bullfrog said, “Thank you so much. You really saved my skin.
With my bad leg you just don’t know the trouble I was in.”

The lily pad said, “Glad to help. I’ve been here all along,
But no frogs seemed to notice, and I’ve wondered what was wrong.
Am I not green like other pads? Am I too small to see?
Could you just take a minute to say what is wrong with me?”

The bullfrog croaked a throaty laugh and with a wink replied,
“You’re just as green as all the rest with lots of room to ride.
But you’ve been hiding from us in the grasses and the reeds.
We couldn’t even see you in the middle of the weeds…

Don’t be so shy and quiet that we don’t know when you’re here.
Come out and join us all, and you have nothing more to fear.
I’ll croak to all the others how you helped me with the snake,
And soon you’ll be the lily pad who’s lighting up the lake.”

And if you ever find that lake, you’ll see this story’s true.
The lily pad and bullfrog have remained the best friends, too.
Not everything works out this well, so aren’t you awfully glad
There was a happy ending for the lonely lily pad?

And here’s the Rhyme Time Podcast for the week:

Play

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Stay tuned,
Tony Funderburk, THE writer-singer-illustrator for kids and life in Denver talks about his first 7 ebooks for kids.

P.S.  Get my ebooks for kids on Amazon.com
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Reading The Raindrops

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We’re really having an unusual stretch of rainy weather here in Colorado. Typically we don’t have so much rainfall in so many consecutive days. We’re sort of spoiled on 300 or more days of sunshine a year. So, the poet in me was looking at our little front yard flower garden, and I saw lots of raindrops perched on petals and leaves. As I was waiting for water to boil I started to daydream about reading the raindrops as little notes from heaven.

Children's writer, Tony Funderburk, says Reading Raindrops is easy. You just need an open heart.

Once my green tea was brewed I immediately sat down at my trusty MacBook and began to type out my thoughts in verse. And this was one of those times writers love…the words mostly poured out of me. I didn’t strain to write a line or find a word. I guess my muse must have had an Americano for breakfast.

So, I hope you’re enjoying the weather, whatever it is, wherever you are. Remember…you’re only here on this planet for a short while. Love the moments before they’re memories…

~ Rhyme Time for Today ~

Little notes fall on the flowers in the garden
From a cloud that’s floating just above the trees.
I can hear the whole sky play
A little song for me today.
Reading the raindrops I can sing along with ease.

And the tympani is thunder pounding rhythm.
The conductor holds the lightning in his hand.
It’s a symphony, a song,
And it plays the whole day long.
Reading the raindrops I’m the singer in the band.

All the instruments are needed for the music.
It’s so beautiful that frozen hearts are thawed.
When I give up self-control,
It flows deep into my soul.
Reading the raindrops, little love notes, straight from God.

Stay tuned,

Tony Funderburk's signature can be found on almost all of his writing for kids.

P.S.  I really appreciate your support here on my website. Here are some other awesome ways you can show your support, keep my words and music flowing, and keep me off the streets.
Get my ebooks for kids on Amazon.com
Get my Podcast
Circle me on Google +
Like my fan page on Facebook
Follow me on Twitter
Watch my videos on YouTube
Get this blog