Children have phonological awareness when they are able to think about how words sound, apart from what words mean. They can tell that ball rhymes with hall and the word "farmer" has two syllables. Preschoolers can make up silly words by substituting one sound for another and notice that serveral words all begin with the same sound (ball, Bob and bud).

A quick and easy way to find picture books that rhyme is to choose books that are children's songs. Down by the station by Jennifer Vetter is a great example of this. In this fun version of a song about trains, Vetter makes up new verses about trucks, boats, school buses, etc. In addition to the rhyme and rhythm, each section ends with the different sounds made by different vehicles. Vroom vroom!

Listen to Lew Dite sing the song on YouTube if you don't already know the tune!