Monday, December 15, 2008

My recent reads

Here are a few books from our fabulous children’s collection that I read recently and really enjoyed:




The Three Snow Bears by Jan Brett (Fairytale, Grades Preschool-2)
Set in the Arctic, this retelling of “Goldilocks and the Three Bears” replaces Goldilocks with a parka-wrapped Inuit girl named Aloo-ki and brown bears with polar bears that live in an igloo rather than a house in the woods. Aloo-ki samples the bears’ bowls of soup, tries on their boots, and naps in their fur cover blankets, all to the polar bear family’s surprise. Vividly illustrated in Jan Brett’s characteristic style, this beautifully re-imagined fairytale is sure to delight those familiar with the traditional story and new readers alike.




The Mysterious Benedict Society by Trenton Lee Stewart (Fiction, Grades 4-6)
Are you brave? Reynie Muldoon hopes he is. Gifted (he’s currently learning to speak Tamil) and kindhearted, Reynie is not your typical abandoned orphan. He knows he’s meant for something bigger and is drawn one day to a strange newspaper ad calling for gifted children “looking for special opportunities.” The ad leads to a mind-bending series of logic and character tests, all in the effort to assemble a team of intelligent and daring children to assist Mr. Benedict in a project of vital importance. Filled with tongue-in-cheek and dark humor, the Society finds itself in real peril and must overcome physically and intellectually demanding obstacles in order to prevail.





Stargirl by Jerry Spinelli (Fiction, Grades 7-9)
16-year-old Leo Borlock thinks he’s in for another run-of-the-mill school year at Mica Area High School—that is, until Stargirl Caraway comes along. Stargirl is as unique as unique can get, wearing prairie dresses and kimonos and serenading her classmates in the cafeteria while strumming a ukulele. At first, Stargirl stuns her fellow students into silence as they are caught off guard with her novelty and pure-spirited friendliness. But then, as always in the sometimes vicious high school world, individuality and conformity collide and Leo is forced to decide whose friendship he values more—that of Stargirl, or that of the rest of the school.

Monday, November 3, 2008

Fall 08 Storytime - Oct. 28 - HALLOWEEN


Books:
The Little Old Lady Who Was Not Afraid of Anything by Linda Williams
Bats at the Library by Brian Lies
Apples and Pumpkins by Anne Rockwell
This is the Pumpkin by Abby Levine
Boo, Bunny! by Kathryn Galbraith
What a Scare, Jesse Bear by Nancy Carlstrom
Space Case by Edward Marshall

Action Rhymes:
Scarecrow, Scarecrow Turn Around
The Great Big Spider
5 Little Pumpkins (Sitting on a Gate)
Way Up High in the Apple Tree

Puppet Story:
Go Away, Big Green Monster by Ed Emberley

Craft:
Halloween shape necklaces

Wednesday, October 22, 2008

Fall 08 Storytime - Oct. 21 - MICE


Books:
Mouse Paint by Ellen Walsh
The Napping House by Audrey Wood
Frederick by Leo Lionni
Does a Mouse Have a House? by Anne Miranda

Nursery Rhyme:
Hickory Dickory Dock

Flannel Song:
A' Hunting We Will Go

Flannel Story:
The Turnip

Craft:
watercolor mice

Tuesday, October 21, 2008

Fall 08 Storytime - Oct. 15 - POPCORN


Books:
Bear Snores On by Karma Wilson
Popcorn by Frank Asch
The Popcorn Shop by Alice Low
Popcorn by Alex Moran
Clara Ann Cookie, Go to Bed! by Harriet Ziefert

Action Songs:
Teddy Bear, Teddy Bear, Turn Around
Autumn Leaves are Falling Down

Flannelboard Songs & Story:
Teddy Wore His Red Shirt
The Three Little Pigs

Craft:
popcorn bowl

Tuesday, October 7, 2008

Fall 08 Storytime - Oct. 7 - PRINCES & PRINCESSES


Books:
The Fairytale Cake by Mark Sperring
Princess Smartypants by Babette Cole
King Bidgood's in the Bathtub by Audrey Wood
Princess Aasta by Stina Ordal
The End by David LaRochelle
The Princess and the Pea by Hans Christian Andersen, illustrated by Paul Galdone

Action Songs & Rhymes:
The Grand Old Duke of York
Where's the Prince? (tune: Where is Thumbkin?)
Here's a Cup

Flannel Rhyme:
Humpty Dumpty

Craft:
paper glitter crowns

Tuesday, September 30, 2008

Fall 08 Storytime - Sept. 30 - SCHOOL


Books:
Miss Smith's Incredible Storybook by Michael Garland
Crictor by Tomi Ungerer
The Kissing Hand by Audrey Penn
Lola at the Library by Anna McQuinn
Alphabet Under Construction by Denise Fleming
Maisy Goes to the Library by Lucy Cousins

Action Rhymes & Songs:
Five Apples Hanging in a Tree
Autumn Leaves are Falling Down
The Seals on the Bus

Drawing Story:
Bread and Honey by Frank Asch

Craft:
paper plate spiral snake

Saturday, September 27, 2008

Fall 2008 Storytime - Sept. 23 - AUTUMN & APPLES


Books:
All for Pie, Pie for All by David Martin
Red Leaf, Yellow Leaf by Lois Ehlert
The Apple Pie Tree by Zoe Hall
Every Autumn Comes the Bear by Jim Arnosky
Mouse's First Fall by Lauren Thompson
Who Stole the Apples? by Sigrid Heuck (a Rebus story)
Leaf Man by Lois Ehlert
Fall Leaves Fall! by Zoe Hall

Action Rhymes/Songs:
Autumn Leaves are Falling Down (tune: London Bridge)
Way Up High in the Apple Tree

Story:
The Apple Star Story

Craft:
paper plate leaf wreath

Wednesday, May 7, 2008

Spring 08 Storytime - May 6 - MOTHERS



Books:
A Mother for Choco by Keiko Kasza
Llama Llama Mad at Mama by Anna Dewdney
What Moms Can't Do by Douglas Wood
Does a Kangaroo Have a Mother, Too? by Eric Carle
Mother, Mother, I Want Another by Maria Robbins
Mama, Do You Love Me? by Barbara Joosse
My Mom by Anthony Browne
A Mouse Told His Mother by Bethany Roberts

Fingerplays & Action Rhymes:
Grandma's Spectacles
Give Mom a Kiss

Flannel Song:
Five Little Ducks Went Out One Day

Flannel Story:
Ask Mr. Bear by Marjorie Flack

Monday, May 5, 2008

Spring 08 Storytime - Apr. 29 - COLORS



Books:
Kid Tea by Elizabeth Ficocelli
Where is the Green Sheep? by Mem Fox
Frederick by Leo Lionni
Seven Blind Mice by Ed Young
It Looked Like Spilt Milk by George Shaw
White is for Blueberry by George Shannon
Cat's Colors by Jane Cabrera

Flannel Songs/Rhymes:
Teddy Wore His Red Shirt
Color Train

Song:
If You're Wearing Red Today

Nursery Rhyme:
Little Boy Blue

Craft:
watercolor sheep

Spring 08 Storytime - Apr. 22 - GARDENS



Books:
The Surprise Garden by Zoe Hall
Sunflower House by Eve Bunting
Planting a Rainbow by Lois Ehlert
Farm-Fresh Cats by Scott Santoro
In My Garden by Ward Schumaker
Butterfly, Butterfly by Petr Horacek (pop-up)

Fingerplays:
Five Fat Peas
Way Up High in the Apple Tree
My Garden
Here is a Beehive

Flannel Rhyme:
Here is a Nest

Flannel Stories:
The Turnip
The Gunniwolf

Craft:
magazine leaf paper plate tree

Tuesday, April 22, 2008

Storytime Spring 08 - Apr. 15 - SPACE


Books:
I Want to Be an Astronaut by Byron Barton
The Sun Is My Favorite Star by Frank Asch
How to Make a Night by Linda Ashman
What Next, Baby Bear! by Jill Murphy
Astro Bunnies by Christine Loomis
What the Moon Sees/ What the Sun Sees by Nancy Tafuri
The Moon Ring by Randy DuBurke
Papa, Please Get the Moon for Me by Eric Carle

Action Rhyme:
Bend and Stretch, Reach for the Stars

Flannel Rhyme:
Four Little Stars

Flannel Story:
The Rat's Daughter

Craft:
aluminum foil and ribbon comets

Wednesday, April 9, 2008

Storytime Spring 08 - Apr. 8 - PIGS



Books:
The Long-Nosed Pig by Keith Faulkner (pop-up)
The Pigs' Picnic by Keiko Kasza
Piggies by Audrey Wood
Annabel by Janice Boland
Cows in the Kitchen by June Crebbin
Punk Farm by Jarrett Krosoczka
Pigs Aplenty, Pigs Galore! by David McPhail

Nursery Rhyme:
This Little Piggie

Fingerplay:
Two Mother Pigs

Flannel Story:
The Three Little Pigs

Craft:
pig cookies

Friday, March 7, 2008

Storytime Winter 08 - Mar. 3 - DINOSAURS


Books:
Edwina, the Dinosaur Who Didn't Know She Was Extinct by Mo Willems
Find-a-Saurus by Mark Sperring
Hi, Pizza Man by Virginia Walter
Tyson, the Terrible by Diane Fox
Bones, Bones, Dinosaur Bones by Byron Barton
Dad's Dinosaur Day by Diane Hearn

Action Rhymes:
Pat-a-Cake, Pat-a-Cake, Pizza Man

Songs:
I'm Bringing Home a Baby Dinosaur

Craft:
coffee ground fossils

Saturday, March 1, 2008

Storytime Winter 08 - Feb. 26 - BEARS


Books:
Big Smelly Bear by Britta Teckentrup
The Three Bears by Byron Barton
Who Is it?: Lots of Fairytale Fun by Sally Grindley
Bear Snores On by Karma Wilson
The Little Mouse, the Red Ripe Strawberry, and the Big Hungry Bear by Don and Audrey Wood
Oh My Baby Bear! by Audrew Wood
Miss Smith's Incredible Storybook by Michael Garland

Action Songs:
The Bear Went Over the Mountain
Teddy Bear, Teddy Bear Turn Around

Flannel Song:
A-Hunting We Will Go

Flannelboard Story:
The Goat in the Turnip Field

Craft:
bear sponge painting

Tuesday, February 19, 2008

Storytime Winter 08 - Feb. 19 - PENGUINS, MITTENS & WINTER


Books:
The Mitten by Jan Brett
Tacky the Penguin by Helen Lester
Raindrop, Plop! by Wendy Lewison
Maisy Makes Gingerbread by Lucy Cousins
Snow Inside the House by Sean Diviny

Action Rhymes & Songs:
Five Red Apples
I Hear Thunder
Rain on the Green Grass

Nursery Rhyme:
Little Boy Blue

Flannelboard Story:
"Peace and Quiet" from The Flannel Board Storytelling Book by Judy Sierra

Wednesday, February 6, 2008

Storytime Winter 08 - Feb. 5 - VALENTINE'S DAY


Books:
Porcupining: A Prickly Love Story by Lisa Wheeler
If You'll Be My Valentine by Cynthia Rylant
Secret Valentine by Catherin Stock
Valentine Mice! by Bethany Roberts
The Ballad of Valentine by Alison Jackson
The Little Red Hen by Byron Barton

Flannelboard Rhyme:
I'll Make You a Valentine

Action Rhyme:
Way Up High in the Apple Tree

Song:
I'm Thinking of Something Red

Flannelboard Story:
"The Cucaracha Martina" from The Flannel Board Storytelling Book by Judy Sierra

Saturday, February 2, 2008

Storytime Winter 08 - Jan. 29 - SNOW SNOW SNOW!


Books:
Snow by Manya Stojic
Benjamin's Balloon by Alan Baker
Snowballs by Lois Ehlert
Snow Day! by Lester Laminack
Snowmen at Night by Caralyn Buehner
Froggy Gets Dressed by Jonanthan London

Flannel Board Rhymes:
Here is a Nest
Five Green & Speckled Frogs

Fingerplay:
Rain on the Green Grass

Songs:
Come Sing a Song of Winter
I Hear Thunder

Fold & Cut Story:
Will It Ever Snow? (from Fold and Cut Stories by Jerry Mallett and Timothy Ervin)

Friday, January 25, 2008

Storytime Winter 08 - Jan. 22 - BIRTHDAYS


Books:
The Secret Birthday Message/ Carle, Eric
Happy Birthday, Jesse Bear!/ Carlstrom, Nancy
It's MY Birthday!/ Hutchins, Pat
Surprise Party/ Carter, David (pop-up)
Spot's Birthday Party/ Hill, Eric
Happy Birthday, Sam/ Hutchins, Pat
The Very Hungry Caterpillar/ Carle, Eric
Lola at the Library/ McQuinn, Anna

Fingerplays:
Five Birthday Candles
Balloon

Flannelboard Rhymes:
Five Little Cupcakes
Color Train

Action Song:
If You're Wearing Red Today

Craft:
birthday banner