by Mark Weltner . This song/fingerplay was inspired by the book A Fish Out of Water. When I introduce the song, I sometimes tell the story of the book first, how the boy bought Otto the fish from Mr. Carp, who said not to feed it more than a spot, or something may happen, you never know what. Then the boy gives all the food to Otto, who grows to the size of a swimming pool. Mr. Carp has to come to the rescue, diving into the swimming pool with a mysterious kit with which he brings Otto back to size. But we never find out what’s in his kit.
Don’t jump into an alligator pit snap arms open and shut like an alligator
Unless you have an alligator kit make a rectangle with fingers
Scissors that go snip snip snip make a scissors motion with arms
And a sponge for alligator spit. wipe floor with imaginary sponge
If you want to make him small hold palms close together
Open up his giant jaw hold arms open like jaws
Put a wad of giggle gum hold imaginary gum with finger and thumb
On his giant tongue put gum on imaginary tongue, then stick out
your own tongue and say “Ahhhh.”
His legs will shrink, his arms will shrink bring knees up to chest, then arms close, too
Until he’s smaller than a sink act like you’re rocking a baby in your arms
Then close the kit, wipe the spit clap hands together, wipe the floor
Climb out of the alligator pit…Quick! walk fingers up arm, and kind of jump
on the word “Quick!”
Don’t jump into an alligator pit snap arms open and shut like an alligator
Unless you have an alligator kit make a rectangle with fingers
Scissors that go snip snip snip make a scissors motion with arms
And a sponge for alligator spit. wipe floor with imaginary sponge
If you want to make him small hold palms close together
Open up his giant jaw hold arms open like jaws
Put a wad of giggle gum hold imaginary gum with finger and thumb
On his giant tongue put gum on imaginary tongue, then stick out
your own tongue and say “Ahhhh.”
His legs will shrink, his arms will shrink bring knees up to chest, then arms close, too
Until he’s smaller than a sink act like you’re rocking a baby in your arms
Then close the kit, wipe the spit clap hands together, wipe the floor
Climb out of the alligator pit…Quick! walk fingers up arm, and kind of jump
on the word “Quick!”
