Library Storytime

Bubbles Storytime!

2010-06-16T09:41:00.000-07:00

Do your own children's storytime about Bubbles!!! Great to talk about water, the coean, or just taking a bath!

TO THE TUB. Anderson, Peggy.

In this sequel to Time for Bed, the Babysitter Said, froggie won't take his bath.

THE DIRTY LITTLE BOY. Brown, Margaret Wise.
A new, illustrated version of Wise's story, where a little boy copies the bathing practices of various animals. I like this one a lot!
STREGA NONA TAKES A VACATION. DePaola, Tomie.
Strega Nona sends home candy and bubble bath while on vacation, and Big Anthony get stuck with too many bubbles! Get a great audio CDof it here.

THING! Inkpen, Mick.
Kipper finds a gadget that blows bubbles. Very whimsical and fun!

DAD'S CAR WASH. Sutherland, Harry.
Dad makes bathtime fun when he pretends it is a car wash for kids.

SHOW AND TELL. Woodruff, Elvira.
Andy brings magic bubbles for show and tell.

TUBTIME. Woodruff, Elvira.
Two sisters share an unusual bubble bath full of animals.

NO BATH TONIGHT! Ziefert, Harriet.
A little boy stalls at bathtime by wondering if various animals are hiding in the bath.

Ocean Life Storytime

2010-06-16T09:33:00.000-07:00

Sometimes changing up your storytimes ideas is great. Here's a list of great books for a storytime about ocean life!
BIG AL. Clements, Andrew.
Big Al the blowfish is teased for being ugly, but when he helps the other fish who are caught in a net, they see beyond his appearance and become Al's friends.

FIVE LITTLE SHARKS SWIMMING IN THE SEA. Metzger, Steve.
A counting book patterned after the fingerplay “Five Little Monkeys Jumping on the Bed.”

PEG AND THE WHALE. Oppel, Kenneth.
Peg is raised on a ship and is a great fisherman. She sets her sights on catching a whale.

DORY STORY. Pallota, Jerry.
The ocean's food chain is explored in this simple story of a boy's imagination.

INTO THE A, B, SEA: AN OCEAN ALPHABET. Rose, Deborah Lee. .

Twenty-six ocean animals are featured in this entertaining alphabet book.

HELLO, OCEAN! Ryan, Pamela Munoz.
Using her five senses, a girl describes how she experiences the wonders of the ocean.

I'M THE BIGGEST THING IN THE OCEAN. Sherry, Kevin.
A giant squid brags about being so large until he meets someone bigger!

WHAT THE SEA SAW. St. Pierre, Stephanie.
A rhyming story about sea inhabitants.

SOMEWHERE IN THE OCEAN. Ward, Jennifer.
A counting book in rhyme, showing ocean creatures and their young.

TEN LITTLE FISH. Wood, Audrey.
A counting book with a story of fish who one by one leave the ocean reef.

Surfing and Swimming Storytime

2010-06-16T09:22:00.000-07:00

You might be setting up a storytime over the summer about the beach or swimming - and expecially surfing is a "most excellent" topic. Here's a quick bibliography of great read alouds for your surfing and beach filled storytime. Surf's up!

GET SET! SWIM! Atkins, Jeannine.

A girl learns to be proud of herself due to her accomplishments at a swim meet. With a Latina main character.

GIRL VS. WAVE Bass, Scott. Ruby overcomes her fear and learns how to surf.

D.W. ALL WET. Brown, Marc. Arthur's bratty little sister learns to swim at the beach.

MAKE THE TEAM, BABY DUCK! Hest, Amy. Grandfather encourages Baby Duck at the pool.

FROGGY LEARNS TO SWIM. London, Jonathan. Froggy's mother (wearing a snorkel and flippers) teaches him how to swim.

THE GREAT WHITE MAN-EATING SHARK. Mahy, Margaret. A boy likes to swim in the cove without others crowding him, so he disguises himself as a shark.

RHINOS WHO SURF. Mammano, Julie. Surfer lingo brightens up this look at rhinos who surf!

SERGIO MAKES A SPLASH. Rodriguez, Edel. Sergio the penguin is afraid to swim in deep water. One of the best for sure!

The Hunger Games

2010-06-07T13:21:00.000-07:00

Everyone at my office is going gaga for The Hunger Games series. They are all good for young adult, about grade 7 - well, and obviously Children's Librarians. Sort of a Gladiator meets The Lottery type thing.

Book one is just called The Hunger Games. Book two is called Catching Fire. And the newest book, which ships soon and you should order now, is called Mockingjay.

Now you can't say you didn't hear about the awesome series yet!

Going fast!

2010-06-07T12:50:00.000-07:00

Yeah, it's not really storytime information for you. This is just a heads up that kids (and parents) will be rushing you at the reference desk asking for this book. The Short Second Life of Bree Tanner: An Eclipse Novella, is the newest book by Stephenie Meyer. It was popular before. And now that the movie came out - forget it.

A Storytime About April Showers!

2010-06-07T12:42:00.000-07:00

Or a storytime for any rainy time actualy. There is no avoiding all those beautiful flowers coming up! "April showers bring May flowers."

My Red Umbrella, by Robert Bright. As in years past, I like to start with our flannel board version of this simple story with lots of opportunities for animal identification and counting.

Rabbits & Raindrops, by Jim Arnosky. Short and gentle, his is a lovely, realistic book about wild rabbits taking shelter during a rain shower.

Thirsty Thursday, by Phyllis Root, illustrated by Helen Craig. This is a cute and silly fantasy about a girl tickling clouds to make them rain. Very short, there's not much to it, but it was fun to flesh out the program.

Move Over, Rover! , by Karen Beaumont, illustrated by Jane Dyer. Cumulative, patterned story about animals crowding into a dog house during a storm. Good for animal identification.

Mother's Day Storytime

2010-06-07T12:38:00.000-07:00

Mother's Day honors those loving moms and grandmothers that we cherish. To celebrate this special day, We are recommending books about animal moms and their babies. Animal babies are reunited with their moms in the reassuring book, Where Is My Mommy?, by Julie Downing. In Kiss Kiss, by Margaret Wild, a baby hippo forgets to kiss his mom goodbye but remembers to do this after watching other baby animals kiss their parents. A child pig works hard to make her mother feel special on Mother's Day by making her food, etc. but she makes messes for her mom to clean up as well in A Special Day for Mommy, by Dan Andreasen.

Kids will always enjoy singing along to the classic nursery rhyme "Mary Had a Little Lamb."

Colors Storytime!

2010-06-07T12:30:00.000-07:00

Today was very colorful! We looked at colors all around us, and read stories about mixing them into new colors!

Song - Shake My Sillies Out
Song - I Ain’t Gonna Paint No More (song with puppet)
Book - Blue Goose – Nancy Tafuri
Song - Down By the Bay
Song - Five Green and Speckled Frogs
Book - My Many Colored Days – Dr. Seuss
Song - Baby Bumblebee
Felt Story- Mouse Paint
Book - Patrick Paints a Picture – Saviour Pirotta

Earth Day Storytime!

2010-06-07T12:27:00.000-07:00

Earth day is an excellent theme so for storytime! I think you could even use that theme whenever you want!Talk about how we can help protect our Earth, on Earth Day and everyday.

List of activities

Song - Shake My Sillies Out

Song - Five Green and Speckled Frogs

Book - Michael Recycle – Ellie Bethel

Book - On Meadowview Street – Henry Cole

Song - Down By the Bay

Song - Head and Shoulders

Book - The Earth Book – Todd Parr

Some New Favorite Storytime Books

2010-06-07T12:19:00.000-07:00

It get's old fast right? You sort of get stuck in the rut of the same tried and true classics. Well, I've got some new storytime favorites to share. These have all made great readalouds in the past month.

Hilda Must Be Dancing by Karma Wilson. I start this one by asking what kind of animal is on the cover. At least one kid will know that it's a hippo and I then ask if a hippo is a big animal or a small animal. Hilda is a hippo who loves to dance. And when Hilda is dancing, everyone knows it from the booms and crashes that echo across the jungle. Hilda's driving everyone crazy and they all try to find her new hobbies, to no avail. This book's got a great rhyme scheme and lots of good vocabulary and sound words (like boom, crash, splish, etc.). Great for phonological awareness. Plus, it's an entertaining story and has big, bright pictures.

Tip Tip Dig Dig by Emma Garcia. Brightly colored machinery shows just what we can do with a dirty old lot... turn it into a beautiful park! Each machine does something different and you can have the audience motion along with you as you read. The mixer mixes, the bulldozer pushes, etc. The very simple text makes this one great for a younger crowd. At the end of the book, the whole sequence of movements is repeated and I like to go through them super fast at the end!

If I Were a Lion by Sarah Weeks. Mama's put her in the corner, but this little protests that she can't possibly be wild... Wild is claws and fangs and biting and scratching! As the book continues we get plenty of hints about why her mother might call her wild. Spilled cereal and drawings on the wall are just the first of many hints at the beginning of the book. Nice rhyming text and detailed illustrations showing the girl's powerful imagination make this a great choice for older preschoolers or maybe even lower elementary students. I had success with it at storytime, but it would be great for one-on-one reading, too, because there are lots of details in the illustrations that might be missed in a group reading.

Dinosaurs, Dinosaurs by Byron Barton. What little kid doesn't like dinosaurs? The simple text of this book about dinosaurs makes it easy to add your own words and get the kids' input. For example, you can count the baby dinosaurs on the first page. When the dinosaurs are fierce you can get the kids to show you their fierce faces. When the dinosaurs are scared you can ask the kids why they might be scared. Although the text is simple, there's lots to talk about in this book and the subject is sure to hold their interest.

Hide and Seek Storytime

2010-06-07T12:01:00.000-07:00

Another great theme for storytime is Hide and Seek. It's amazing how many picture books there are about looking for something that's lost; it was hard to choose! These were the books I decided on:

Where's Spot?, by Eric Hill. A lift-the-flap book. The big book version is especially nice for large groups.

Where's My Darling Daughter?, by Mij Kelly, illustrated by Katharine McEwen. A new picture book about a silly daddy who searches his farm high and low for his daughter, who is riding piggyback the whole time.

Little White Dog, by Laura Godwin, illustrated by Dan Yaccarino. The flat-color illustrations make this book. Little White Dog blends perfectly into the snow, Little Blue Bird into the sky, etc. Nonetheless, children can still make out the animals by using clues: eyes, feet, wings, and so on. A fun take on camouflage.

You can also sing "Where Is Thumbkin?" and do my favorite fingerplay:

Here is the beehive, but where are the bees? [make a fist, with your thumb tucked inside]
Hidden inside where no one can see.
Watch them now come out of the hive.
Five bees: one-two-three-four-five! [unfurl your fingers, one by one]
Fly away bees! BZZZZZ! [fly your fingers around]

Work Machines Storytime!

2010-06-07T11:59:00.000-07:00

Little boys are known for their fascination with those grumbling, rumbling machines that dig up roads, crush concrete, and stretch way into the sky, but little girls like them, too! This program program on big work machines is especially fun for everyone.

I'm Dirty!, by Kate & Jim McMullan. A smart, funny book from the perspective of a very dirty backhoe loader, with bold, cartoonish illustrations and plenty of sound effects. It's basically perfect.

Dig!, by Andrea Zimmerman and David Clemesha; illustrated by Marc Rosenthal. Mr. Rally and his dog Lightning have five digging jobs today -- count them!

Hush, Little Digger, by Ellen Olson-Brown; illustrations by Lee White. A new take on the familiar song, full of every work machine imaginable and very clever rhymes to accommodate names such as "bulldozer" and "auger drill."

We also do our "Little Red House" flannelboard.
"Once upon a time, there was a little red house. And inside the little red house was a little green house..." Kids name each successive color and are amazed as the houses get smaller and smaller, until the tiny smiling face inside the white house is revealed.

Thanksgiving Storytime

2010-06-07T11:56:00.000-07:00

We did a lot of talking this week. What are the occasions that we say "thank you"? What good things in life do we have that we are thankful for? What do we do to celebrate Thanksgiving? And what are our favorite Thanksgiving foods?

Our choice of storybooks for Thanksgiving:

- Thank You, by Kelly Doudna. A concept book about the occasions we might say "thank you."
- Thanks for Thanksgiving, by Julia Markes, illustrated by Doris Barrette. A list poem of things children might be thankful for.
- 1, 2, 3 Thanksgiving, by W. Nikola-Lisa, illustrated by Robin Kramer. A counting book about a large family preparing and cleaning up after Thanksgiving dinner.

Songs and Fingerplays:

- "If You're Thankful and You Know It" - Sing it just like the old favorite, but in the third verse sing, "If you're thankful and you know it, say 'thank you!'"

- Rhyme #1
I am a turkey, big and fat (make a big stomach with your arms)
I spread my tail (spread arms), and I walk like that (waddle side to side)
Each day's corn I will not miss (rub stomach)
And when I talk (point to mouth), I sound like this: (point to ear)
Gobble! Gobble! Gobble!

- Rhyme #2
The turkey is a funny bird (hook thumbs and spread fingers like a turkey)
His head goes wobble wobble (wobble your head)
And all he knows is just one word (hold up one finger)
Gobble! Gobble! Gobble!

Pizza Storytime!

2010-06-07T11:54:00.000-07:00

Who loves pizza? Everybody! Or just about. Our pizza theme was a hit with the kids the week.

Our picture books:

- Pizza at Sally's, by Monica Wellington. Sally the pizza maker has a busy day. This book has bright, friendly illustrations with lots of details.
- Hi, Pizza Man!, by Virginia Walter, illustrated by Ponder Goembel. How do you greet the pizza man? Or a pizza kitty? Or a pizza dinosaur? Can you say audience participation?
- The Little Red Hen (Makes a Pizza), by Philemon Sturges, illustrated by Amy Walrod. A new take on the familiar tale. I paraphrased a lot for the sake of brevity.

We sang a pizza-making song to the tune of "Here We Go 'Round the Mulberry Bush." Here are some verses. You can, of course, improvise as you like!
1. This is the way we mix the dough, mix the dough, mix the dough
This is the way we mix the dough to make a pizza pie.
2. This is the way we knead the dough...
3. This is the way we roll the dough...
4. This is the way we toss the dough...
5. This is the way we spread the sauce...
6. This is the way we sprinkle the cheese...
7. This is the way our pizza bakes, pizza bakes, pizza bakes
Take it out and eat a slice, our yummy pizza pie!

We also played with the scarves again, pretending to make a pizza. Mix, knead, stretch, toss and twirl the dough (scarf)! Then add sauce, cheese, and toppings. Put in the oven and count to 10. Then take it out, cut yourself a slice, and try it! How's that taste?

If you like Lemony Snicket.....

2010-06-07T11:38:00.000-07:00

Did you like the humorous darkness of the Lemony Snicket series? Then you might enjoy some of these...

Emmy and the Incredible Shrinking Rat by Lynne Jonell
When Emmy discovers that she and her formerly loving parents are being drugged by their evil nanny with rodent potions that can change people in frightening ways, she and some new friends must try everything possible to return things to normal.

The Fall of Fergal or, Not so dingly in the Dell by Philip Ardagh (first in The Unlikely Exploits series)

When Le Fay McNally becomes a finalist in the "Tap 'n' Type" typewriting competition, she and her four unusual siblings stay at the Dell Hotel, where they encounter joy, tragedy, and a variety of interesting characters.

Holes by Louis Sachar
As further evidence of his family's bad fortune which they attribute to a curse on a distant relative, Stanley Yelnats is sent to a hellish correctional camp in the Texas desert where he finds his first real friend, a treasure, and a new sense of himself.

Matilda by Roald Dahl

Matilda applies her untapped mental powers to rid the school of the evil, child-hating headmistress, Miss Trunchbull, and restore her nice teacher, Miss Honey, to financial security.

AND MANY MORE BY ROALD DAHL!!!

The Mysterious Benedict Society by Trent Lee Stewart
After passing a series of mind-bending tests, four children are selected for a secret mission that requires them to go undercover at the Learning Institute for the Very Enlightened, where the only rule is that there are no rules.

Pure Dead Magic by Debi Glori

When their father is kidnapped and danger looms, the Strega-Borgia children, their mysterious new nanny, and a giant tarantula use magic and actual trips through the Internet to bring peace to their Scottish castle.

Rare Beasts by Charles Ogden (first in the Edgar & Ellen series)
The sinister siblings, twins Edgar and Ellen, kidnap the pets of Nod's Limb's youngest citizens and turn them into "rare beasts" in hopes of making money to finance future pranks.

The Willoughbys by Lois Lowry

The four Willoughby children set about to become "deserving orphans" after their neglectful parents embark on a treacherous around-the-world adventure, leaving them in the care of an odious nanny.

The Wooden Mile by Chris Mould (first in the Something Wickedly Weird series)

Eleven-year-old Stanley Buggle discovers, soon after arriving in the seemingly peaceful village of Crampton Rock, that along with the house he has also inherited some sinister neighbors, a talking stuffed fish, and a host of mysteries surrounding his great-uncle's death.

And, of course, other books by Lemony Snicket....

The Composer is Dead by Lemony Snicket

There's dreadful news from the symphony hall, the composer is dead! If you have ever heard an orchestra play, then you know that musicians are most certainly guilty of something. Join the Inspector as he interrogates all the unusual suspects. Then listen to the accompanying audio recording. Hear for yourself exactly what took place on that fateful, well-orchestrated evening.

Horseradish: Bitter Truths You Can't Avoid by Lemony Snicket

Lemony Snicket's work is filled with bitter truths. It is for all of life's ups and downs, its celebrations and its sorrows, here is a book to commemorate it all – especially for those not fully soothed by chicken soup. It is witty and irreverent.

You've Seen the Movie, Now Get the Book!

2010-06-07T11:34:00.000-07:00

These little picture books made it BIG on the silver screen.

Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs by Judi Barrett

Life is delicious in the town of Chewandswallow where it rains soup and juice, snows mashed potatoes, and blows storms of hamburgers--until the weather takes a turn for the worse.

Curious George by H. A. Rey

The curiosity of a newly-captured monkey gets him into continual trouble.

A Day with Wilbur Robinson by William Joyce (aka Meet the Robinsons)

While spending the day in the Robinson household, Wilbur's best friend joins in the search for Grandfather Robinson's missing false teeth and meets one wacky relative after another.

Shrek! by William Steig

Horribly hideous Shrek leaves home and terrifies everyone he encounters in his search for his equally ugly bride.

Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak
A naughty little boy, sent to bed without his supper, sails to the land of the wild things where he becomes their king.

Dr. Seuss has been a film favorite with adaptations of the following;

The Cat in the Hat
Two children sitting at home on a rainy day are visited by the cat in the hat who shows them some tricks and games.

Horton Hears a Who

A city of Whos on a speck of dust are threatened with destruction until the smallese Who of all helps convince Horton's friends that Whos really exist.

How The Grinch Stole Christmas

The Grinch tries to stop Christmas from arriving by stealing all the presents and food from the village, but much to his surprise it comes anyway. Could Christmas be more than presents?

Chris Van Allsburg's works make for great movies. Adaptations include:

Jumanji
Left on their own for an afternoon, two bored and restless children find more excitement than they bargained for in a mysterious and mystical jungle adventure board game.

The Polar Express

A magical train ride on Christmas Eve takes a boy to the North Pole to receive a special gift from Santa Claus.

Zathura
Left on their own for an evening, two boisterous brothers find more excitement than they bargained for in a mysterious and mystical space adventure board game.

Our Favorite Superheros! ... you've never heard of..

2010-06-07T11:29:00.000-07:00

You've heard of Batman and Superman... but how about Noodle Man? Check out our list of all the heroes you've never known and be introduced to a whole new world!

Baron von Baddie and the Ice Ray Incident by George McClements

When Baron von Baddie defeats his nemesis, Captain Kapow, he discovers that it is not as much fun to create chaos and engage in bad behavior if no one tries to stop him.

Kapow! by George O'Connor
Truth, justice, and the American Eagleway! A young boy realizes what it really means to be a superhero.

Noodle Man : the Pasta Superhero by April Pulley Sayre
Al Dente's invention of a portable pasta machine turns him into a superhero and helps to save the family's fresh pasta business.

Sumo Mouse by David Wisniewski
When an evil toy store owner brings crime to the city of Tokyo, only a mysterious, and large, hero is able to defeat the villain.

Superdog : the Heart of a Hero by Caralyn Buehner

Tired of being overlooked because he is so small, a big-hearted dog named Dexter transforms himself into a superhero.

SuperHero ABC by Bob McLeod
Humorous SuperHeroes such as Goo Girl and The Volcano represent the letters of the alphabet from A to Z.

Superhero Max by Lawrence David
A second-grade boy has trouble fitting in at his new school, until he wears his Captain Crusader costume for Halloween.

Supersnouts! by Steve Björkman

Hamlet the piglet joins Snoutbuster and Kernel Hog in a flying confrontation with two burglars on Farmer Frank's farm.

Traction Man is here! by Mini GreyTraction Man, a boy's courageous action figure, has a variety of adventures with Scrubbing Brush and other objects in the house.

And for older readers....

The Adventures of Captain Underpants : an Epic Novel by Dav Pilkey

When George and Harold hypnotize their principal into thinking that he is the superhero Captain Underpants, he leads them to the lair of the nefarious Dr. Diaper, where they must defeat his evil robot henchmen.

The Adventures of Super Diaper Baby : the First Graphic Novel by George Beard and Harold Hutchins by Dav Pilkey

Irrepressible friends George and Harold create a new comic book superhero, Super Diaper Baby.

The Caped Sixth Grader : Happy Birthday, Hero! by Zoe QuinnJust after her twelfth birthday, Zoe Richards, daughter of a police officer and a social activist, learns that her family tree holds an inheritance even more exciting.

The Extraordinary Adventures of Ordinary Boy: The Hero Revealed by William Boniface

Ordinary Boy, the only resident of Superopolis without a superpower, uncovers and foils a sinister plot to destroy the town.

The Great Cape Rescue by Phyllis Shalant

Upon entering fourth grade, Fin and his friends think they must stop playing superheroes, until they discover that their game might become real through a magical cape, and the Society of Secret Superheroes is born.

Horace Splattly, The Cupcaked Crusader by David LawrenceHorace is the shortest 10-year-old in the town of Blootinville. When his taller, smarter, younger sister makes him eat her experimental cupcakes and wear a purple costume, he becomes a superhero.

Melvin Beederman, Superhero: The Curse of the Bologna Sandwich by Greg Trine

After graduating from the superhero academy, Melvin Beederman heads for Los Angeles, where he unexpectedly teams up with Candace Brinkwater, school play actress, to nab the evil McNasty Brothers

Shredderman: Secret identity by Wendelin Van Draanen

Fifth-grader Nolan Byrd, tired of being called names by the class bully, has a secret identity--Shredderman!

Black History Month!

2010-06-07T10:50:00.000-07:00

Celebrate Black History month through books! This reading list highlights African American authors and illustrators.

Picture Books:

Amazing Grace by Mary Hoffman - Although a classmate says that she cannot play Peter Pan in the school play because she is black, Grace discovers that she can do anything she sets her mind to do. Grace also has chapter books! Check out other books by Mary Hoffman to see Grace as she grows.

Marc Just Couldn't Sleep by Gabriela Keselman - Marc can't sleep because he's scared. He tells his concerns to his mother, who attempts to help him get to sleep by using creative solutions such as making him mosquito-proof pajamas!

Peekaboo Morning by Rachel Isadora - A toddler plays peek-a-boo throughout the day with family and friends.

This Jazz Man by Karen Ehrhardt - An adaptation of This Old Man presents an introduction to jazz music and nine well-known jazz musicians, set to the rhythm of the traditional song, "This Old Man." Includes brief facts about each musician.

Welcome Precious by Nikki Grimes - Illustrations and text welcome a new baby to some of life's delights, from "the glistening mystery of soap bubbles" to "the swish of leaves in the breeze."

Chapter Books:

Drita, My Homegirl by Jenny Lombard - When ten-year-old Drita and her family, refugees from Kosovo, move to New York, Drita is teased about not speaking English well, but after a popular student named Maxie is forced to learn about Kosovo as a punishment for teasing Drita, the two girls soon bond.

A Friendship for Today by Patricia McKissack - In 1954, when desegregation comes to Kirkland, Missouri, ten-year-old Rosemary faces many changes and challenges at school and at home as her parents separate.

Junebug by Alice Mead - An inquisitive young boy who lives with his mother and younger sister in a rough housing project in New Haven, Connecticut, approaches his tenth birthday with a mixture of anticipation and worry.

Last Summer with Maizon by Jacqueline Woodson - Eleven-year-old Margaret tries to accept the inevitable changes that come one summer when her father dies and her best friend Maizon goes away to a private boarding school.

Poetry:

Brothers & Sisters : Family Poems by Eloise Greenfield - Brothers and sisters. Full, half, step, old and young, close in age and far apart. The bond between all siblings is powerful and special. Celebrate the love of brothers and sisters everywhere with award-winning author Eloise Greenfield in this poignant collection of poems for and about families.

Hey you! C'mere : a poetry slam by Elizabeth Swados - A collection of free-verse, rap-style poems. The selections explore the urban setting, the dynamics of group friendships, and the awkwardness and joys of being a kid.

In Daddy's Arms I Am tall : African Americans celebrating fathers / illustrated by Javaka Steptoe - A collection of poems celebrating African-American fathers by Angela Johnson, E. Ethelbert Miller, Carole Boston Weatherford, and others.

Life Doesn't Frighten Me by Maya Angelou - Presents Maya Angelou's poem illustrated by paintings and drawings of Jean-Michel Basquiat. Features biographies of both the author and artist.

The Palm of my Heart : poetry by African American children edited by Davida Adedjouma - A collection of poems written by Afro-American children celebrating what it means to be Black.

Why War is Never a Good Idea by Alice Walker - Simple, rhythmic text explores the destructiveness of War, which has grown old but not wise.

The Birthday of Dr. Suess!

2010-06-07T10:42:00.000-07:00

Happy Birthday, Dr. Seuss! Well, not quite yet and not quite today - but planning ahead for your library activities is always a great idea! March 2nd is Dr. Suess's birthday! Will you you party in a box, will you party with a fox? Will you party here or there, will you party anywhere? =)

Check out a few of our favorite Seuss works to help you get in the party spirit.

The Cat in the Hat - Two children sitting at home on a rainy day are visited by the cat in the hat who shows them some tricks and games. Classic!

Horton Hears a Who - A city of Whos on a speck of dust are threatened with destruction until the smallest Who of all helps convince Horton's friends that Whos really exist.

The Lorax - The Lorax comes to speak for the trees that are being cut down because of greed.

My Many Colored Days - This rhyming story describes each day in terms of a particular color which in turn is associated with specific emotions.
Oh, The Places You'll Go - Advice in rhyme for proceeding in life; weathering fear, loneliness, and confusion; and being in charge of your actions.

St. Patricks Day Storytime!

2010-06-07T10:36:00.000-07:00

May the luck o' the Irish be with you as you plan your storytime event for St. Patricks day! Check out some cool books to celebrate the holiday. Learn more about the day with these books for your storytime!

Shamrocks, harps, and shillelaghs: the story of the St. Patrick's Day symbols by Edna Barth - Explores the origin and meaning of the symbols and legends associated with St. Patrick's Day.

St. Patrick's Day by Brenda Haugen - Briefly discusses the history and customs connected to the celebration of St. Patrick's Day.

If you are a crafty librarian and having an art program I couldn't suggest more this book.

St. Patrick's Day Crafts by Carol Gnojewski

Provides information about the origin and customs of St. Patrick's Day, ideas for celebrating this holiday, and directions for making such crafts as an Irish shamrock, a Blarney Stone, Celtic jewelry, and Wee Ones puppets.

And here is my favorite Irish Folktale...

Mrs. McCool and the Giant Cuhullin: An Irish Tale by Jessica Souhami - The very clever Oona saves her husband, the giant Finn McCool, by outwitting Cuhullin, who seeks to prove that he is the strongest giant in the world by beating Finn.

Springtime Books!

2010-06-07T10:26:00.000-07:00

March 20th was the beginning of Spring!

Check out these cool books showing the joys of the new season!
Especially great for Children's Librarian's doing storytime!

Splish, Splash Spring has the best illustrations and rhyming text for describing some of the delights of spring.

Hopper Hunts for Spring by Marcus Pfister
While looking for spring, Hopper the little hare, meets some new animal friends.

Fletcher and the Springtime Blossoms by Julia Rawlinson
When Fletcher the fox finds the ground covered in white, he rushes to warn the other animals that spring snow has fallen, but when they follow him back to the meadow they find something much more fun.

Spring Things by Bob Raczka
Winter melts into spring with the sights and sounds of hopping and skipping, sowing and mowing, and blading and lemonading.

My Spring Robin by Anne Rockwell
Before finding the robin she is searching for, a child discovers other interesting fauna and flora in her backyard.

Mouse's First Spring by Lauren Thompson
A mouse and its mother experience the delights of nature on a windy spring day.

STOP Game for Kids

2010-04-09T13:33:00.000-07:00

Here’s a great game to play with a 2nd to 5th grade school age group. It’s a good activity to do towards the end of your program - or just last, since it gets pretty crazy sometimes.

Print out two full page letters for S, T, O and P. They should be big so the audience can read them. Having one set of different colored paper helps to distinguish teams. You can laminate these if you plan on doing this game often.

Starting this game by saying “Lets, see who is smarter, boys or girls…” always gets them talking and excited.

Ask for volunteers, 4 boys and 4 girls. You can say you need four of the smartest boys / girls. You’ll have them line up front next to their teamates – ie. four girls then four boys. Pass out the letter cards, one to each person on each team. Have them hold the cards facing out. Make sure you have the teams and audience quiet as you explain the rules. You’ll be paying the most attention to the teams, so mention to the audience that they need to listen too so they understand the game.

As you call out various words, each team will move it’s members around (holding the letters) to spell the word. They need to spell it from left to right so the audience can read it. To explain this humorously, you can read whatever the team has already spelled out – pronoucing whatever funny nonsensical word being created. “For example, right now the boys are spelling tsop.”

Ask for a volunteer to keep score as well – “Who here can count to a million?” or “Who has more than ten fingers?” etc

Go through each of the words, having the team spell the words you call out. The words are SPOT, TOPS, STOP, POTS, and OPTS. Tell them you’ll only say each word once. You can build up alot of suspense right before you say the word – such as. “The next word is…….” You can also ask them to spell eskimo or cabbage, and see them First team to spell each word gets a point. Have the scorekeeper reiterate the score after each word each time. You may have to quiet everyone down each time by yelling in sportcaster voice “scccoooorreeeeekeeeeeeeeeper – whats the score!?”. Refer to the teacher for tiebreakers on “who spelled it first?” situations.

After going through those words, announce the bonus word round. Make up a silly large number of how many points this will be. Then have them spell “DOTS.” The person on each team holding the “P” will eventually figure out they need to turn their letter upside down, either on their own, or because every kid in the room will be yelling “turn the P upside down!”

Have the scorekeeper announce the new crazy score.

Now we all know who is smarter!

Hi - My Name is Joe

2010-04-09T13:32:00.000-07:00

This activity is sure to get any group from 1st to 5th grade moving and having fun.

Tell the kids to do as you do. They’ll pick up on the words quickly.

“Hi. My name is Joe.
I have a wife and three kids and I work at the button factory.
One day,
my boss came to me and said,
“Joe, are you busy?”
I said “No”
He said,
“Push the button with your right hand.”"
(make the motion with your right hand)

You repeat this with…
…Push the button with your left hand.
…Push the button with your right foot.
…Push the button with your left foot.
…Push the button with your forehead.
…Push the button with your hips.
…Push the button with your bottom.

And then the next time he says…
”Joe, are you busy?”
You shout – “YES!”

Pizza Taste Off Program

2010-04-09T13:29:00.000-07:00

Every Saturday afternoon our branch has a “Saturday Surprise” program. The responsibility for the idea and execution rotates between all the children’s staff. A few Saturday’s back I had one called a “Pizza Taste Off!” The program idea is very simple, and how the program goes depends on your resources, time and how you advertise it. Basically you have kids each a bunch of pizza and vote on which one is best. It is a blind taste test. The kids voted on categories such as Most Cheesiest (ha! right?), Best Sauce, Best Crust, and Best Overall Slice. You can tie this into themes such as recipes, food, Italy, voting, or in this case – descriptive writing.

First, I booked our multipurpose room. Then, I called every pizza place within a ten minutes driving distance of my branch. I explained the program and asked them for a donation of two large cheese pizzas each for the day of the program. I got in touch with local grocery stores and got about 150 cans of soda donated, as well as 40 Capri Sun drinks. Then I made flyers with all the pertinent information – time, place, etc. Somewhere on there was also “EAT FREE PIZZA – donated by over 5 local pizzerias” and “wash it all down with FREE SODA.” I’d like to think that had something to do with attendance.
Rather serendipitously, the teen department had on ongoing pop art program and they let me borrow this giant slice for the day.

The room was set up with tables and chairs, and on each table was a plate for every child and 6 other plates in the middle. These plates were numbered 1-6 and would have on them the corresponding pizza type. Each place setting had plenty of napkins, a golf pencil, and a form with blanks to fill in on pieces 1-6.

That day I drove to 6 pizzerias, filling my car with 12 large pizzas and leaving my “Ah – I wish I ate my breakfast” stomach in severe pain as I drove all over downtown smelling only pizzas. I got back to the branch to see a HUGE LINE of parents and hungry kids. Luckily, everything was ready except that these pizzas had to cut into much smaller pieces. Even with my coworkers helping me, that took a while. As did pouring the drinks – we used cups with ice, as handing out full cans of soda could be a waste and anger some parents.

After all 120 people got a drink and sat down, we talked about descriptive words for pizza.

Then I had them all try a piece off the pizza number 1 plate. Afterwords, we all wrote down a description for it. This continued until all the pizzas plates were empty. I handed out the voting form. We went over our notes and voted on which was the best in each category. I took as show of hands for each category and number of pizza. We announced winners and everyone had a great time. I had certifcates made for the winning pizzerias, and mounted themm on posterboards. As the kids left they signed and wrote on the boards. The next day I gave the awards to the winning pizzerias.

Monster Storytime

2010-04-09T13:28:00.000-07:00

I love this time of year. Storytimes about monsters rule, hands down. We can do things about fall and the weather all season long – but don’t waste those last two weeks of October on that! Kids love monsters. I’ll have some more monster programming things up soon. But for now, here are some goulish fingerplays and songs for your younger franken-kids.

Ten Little Monsters
One little, two little, three little, Monsters
Four little, five little, six little, Monsters
Seven little, eight little, nine little, Monsters
Ten Monsters can’t scare me.

Ten little, nine little, eight little, Monsters
Seven little, six little, five little, Monsters
Four little, three little, two little, Monsters
One Monster can’t scare me.

Monster, Monster
Monster, Monster, turn around
Monster, Monster, touch the ground
Monster, Monster, show your shoe
Monster, Monster, How old are you?
Monster, Monster, reach up high
Monster, Monster, blinks you eyes
Monster, Monster, slap your knees
Monster, Monster, sit down please.

If you ever see a Monster
(it’s easy, you just make faces with the kids)
If you ever see a Monster
A big ugly monster
If you ever see a Monster
Here’s what you do!
Make this face…
And this face…
And this face…
And this face…
If you ever see a monster
Make sure you shout BOO!!!

What Do Monsters Do?
What do monsters do?
They stretch and touch their toes.
What do monsters do?
They comb their purple hair.
What do monsters do?
They stick out their green tongues.
What do monsters do?
They brush their teeth with a broom.
What do monsters do?
They rub their yellow eyes.
What do monsters do?
They wiggle their orange ears.
Boy, am I glad that I’m not a monster!

Turkey Display

2010-04-09T13:25:00.000-07:00

We have these sets of giant wooden cubes in our department. Every month or so they need to be reinvented into a display with some relation to a program coming up, or in this case, a holiday. My co-worker Stephanie Miller did this turkey display, and before it was even done I was asking her if I can get photos of it for my blog.

This is definitely one of the better displays that has come from these cubes. It’s creative and obvious what it is, but also simple and allows for plenty of room for the books to be displayed. Incorporating bookends into the displays helps to ensure it is always well stocked with Thanksgiving favorites.

Storytime about Food

2010-04-09T13:24:00.000-07:00

Food. Everyone loves it!

…Or used to love it at one point. Often, as we’re growing up, we’re told a lot about ‘what to eat’ – followed rather quickly by, ‘what not to eat.’ These two lists grow more complex and lengthy with every passing year.

Fortunately the innocence of children perseveres in this world of diet fads and scientists quietly retreating from the lipid hypothesis**. And teaching them a few simple rules about food will surely do more good than harm. Last Thursday led me to do just that.

Here are some quick and easy activities I use for this theme.

After I introduce a new vegetable to the pot we sing this song. We talk about vegetable names, colors and I tell them my favorites (typically tubers). This song is sung over and over until the soup is done. Have the children make a stirring motion. If you have a favorite puppet you use, have them try the finished product.

The Soup Is Boiling Up
The soup is boiling up,
The soup is boiling up,
Stir slow around we go,
The soup is boiling up.

This apple tree song is pretty basic. A flannel board of a tree and five apples is a good visual, but you don’t have to have it. I put visual instructions after each phrase in parenthesis.

Way Up High In the Apple Tree.
Way up high in the apple tree, (point up high)
Five little apples smiled at me, (show five fingers and smile)
So I shook that tree as hard as I could, (act like you are shaking a tree)
Down came an apple…Mmm, it was good! (motion an apple falling to the ground, and rub you tummy)

**A small footnote book recommendation for a small book with small ideas but big execution - ”In Defense of Food” by Michael Pollan. If you eat food, I can’t recommend this book enough. “Eat food. Not too much. Mostly plants.” Clear, fresh and compelling writing, with a flair for balancing witticism and eye-opening facts. Other books I love by him (yes, I’ve read them all) are “The Omnivore’s Dilemma” and “The Botany of Desire.” Let us to begin to have our storytimes reflect not just fun and education, but also ourselves.

Using Props in Storytime

2010-04-09T13:22:00.000-07:00

Bringing in props is a great way to spice up your storytime. After a while the most enthusiastic blend of puppets, songs, and new fingerplays may seem stale – either to you as the presenter, or the caregiver’s parents. Simple things you take for granted in your household fascinate children (and sometimes parents). Start bringing these into the storytime arena.

Here are some examples of some simple props and what to do with them.

Apples – You can do a storytime about apples, or if you need a broader topic fruit or food. Bring in a variety of colors. You can play games sequencing the apples; placing them in a row thusly – red, red green, red, red, green, red, red… and asking which one comes next. Use other sequences too! Big to small. You can also talk about how some apples are the same and some are diffeent. You can slice them in half and talk about the seeds, and how they make a tree. At the end of storytime, every child can take home one apple. Remember to remind them to wash it before eating!

Records / Record Player – I have a big record collection, and in my kitchen at home I have an old record player. I listen to music when I’m cooking and eating breakfast in the morning. Well the morning before my “Shapes” storytime was happening I was eating breakfast and DUH - “records are circles!” And perfect for musical storytimes. I brought in the record player and a kids record I had. We did the “Hokey Pokey” from it, and talked about how records and CDs are different and the same.

Musical Instruments – I play a few different instruments- and they always make good props (even if you can’t play them well). Whatever you play well can be used with songs you sing. Anything else can be used for comparing and contrasting. Remember to talk about the different sounds! I’ve brought in acoustic guitars, electric guitars and a banjo. Next week I’m bringing in my drum set for my advanced guitar class. I’ll keep them at the library an extra day and then use them for my Toddler Power Hour. We’ll be talking comparing them, talking about the sounds of big drums and small drums (and cymbals!) and every child will get to play them.

Songs About Ducks

2010-04-09T13:12:00.000-07:00

I had a Little Ducky
I had a little ducky,
He lived in a box.
He swam in a puddle,
He climbed on the rocks.
He snapped at a mosquito,
He snapped at a flea,
He snapped at a minnow,
And he snapped at me!
He caught the mosquito,
He caught the flea,
He caught the minnow,
But he couldn’t catch me!

Five Little Ducks Went Out to Play
Five little ducks went out to play
Over the hills and far away.
Mama duck said,
“Quack, quack, quack, quack.”
And only four little ducks came back.

The Ducks on the Bus
The ducks on the bus went quack quack quack.
Quack quack quack, quack quack quack.
The ducks n the bus went quack quack quack.
All through the town.

The ducks on the bus went flap flap flap….
The ducks on the bus went waddle waddle waddle.