Five Little Ducks
Traditional

This traditional song is a staple of early childhood songs. It has been illustrated in wonderful picture books and makes a great felt board song. I like to do the song with the felt ducks, and then read and sing one of the picture books. They are wonderful for reinforcing the song and introducing children to different styles of illustrations. These counting songs work because of the repetition and clear demonstration of how numbers get smaller and larger.

And who doesn't love a mother duck and her ducklings?!

Five Little Ducks

Five little ducks went out one day,
Over the hills and far away
Mother duck said quack, quack, quack,
But only four little duckies came back

Four little ducks went out one day,
Over the hills and far away
Mother duck said quack, quack, quack,
But only three little duckies came back

Three little ducks went out one day,
Over the hills and far away
Mother duck said quack, quack, quack,
But only two little duckies came back

Two little ducks went out one day,
Over the hills and far away
Mother duck said quack, quack, quack,
But only one little ducky came back

One little duck went out one day,
Over the hills and far away
Mother duck said quack, quack, quack,
But none of the five little duckies came back

Sad mother duck went out one day
Over the hills and far away
Mother duck said quack, quack, quack,
And all of the five little duckies came back

Picture Books for "Five Little Ducks"

Five Little Ducks, by Raffi (has sheet music in the back and the last illustration provides a fun twist to the ending
Five Little Ducks, (classic book with holes) by Annie Kubler and Penny Ives
Five Little Ducks, by Pam Paparone (also available in Spanish)
Five Little Ducks, by Mary Gruetzke and Ivan Bates
Five Little Ducks, by Debbie Tarbett
Five Little Ducks, (Touch and Learn) by Laura Ferraro Close

There are many more version, so check your local library, purchase new from your local bookseller, or locate used on Amazon.com or AbeBooks.com