New Books for the New Year!

Presented at Bellevue Public Library on Monday, December 31, 2012.

Featured Books:

Hippospotamus by Jeanne Willis, illustrated by Tony Ross

I'm Bored by Michael Ian Black, illustrated by Debbie Ridpath Ohi

Pete the Cat and His Four Groovy Buttons by Eric Litwin, illustrated by James Dean

Creepy Carrots by Aaron Reynolds, illustrated by Peter Brown

Princess in Training by Tammi Sauer, illustrated by Joe Berger

Earthling by Mark Fearing

Explorer: The Mystery Boxes edited by Kazu Kibuishi

The Three Ninja Pigs by Corey Rosen Schwartz, illustrated by Dan Santat

The Hero's Guide to Saving Your Kingdom by Christopher Healy

Miss Tammy and I had a great time sharing books today - some of which were read in their entirety and some were booktalked using Animoto book trailers!  Today's attendance was the second highest in the ten year history of this event!

10...9...8...7...6...5...4...3...2...1...

I wish you all a very happy, blessed New Year!

  ~ Mrs. B.

Baby & Me Storytime

Presented at Bellevue Public Library on Wednesday, December 19, 2012.

Book:

Knees and Toes by William B. Winburn

Songs:

Let's Shout Hooray!
(tune: Old McDonald)

At storytime we have (child's name) today.
We're so glad, let's shout hooray!


  

Clap Your Hands
(tune: "This Old Man")

Clap your hands,
One, two, three!
Play a clapping game with me!
Now your hands have gone away.
Bring them back so we can play!
(last time: “We’ll play this game another day!”)



Activities:

Good Morning Toes

Good morning toes,
Good morning toes
And how are you today?
I trust you had a good night’s sleep
And now you’re ready to play.
 
Good morning knees…
Good morning tummy…
Good morning hands…
Good morning cheeks…
(lay child in front of you and touch each of baby’s body parts)

Icka Backa Soda Cracker

Icka backa soda cracker,

Icka backa boo.
Icka backa soda cracker
Up goes you!
(bounce baby side to side, then lift up on “up goes you”)

Icka backa soda cracker,
Icka backa boo.
Icka backa soda cracker
I love you!
(bounce baby side to side, then hug on “I love you”)



Our Hands Say Goodbye

Our hands say goodbye with a clap, clap, clap.
Our feet say goodbye with a tap, tap, tap.
Clap, clap, clap,
Tap, tap, tap.
We roll our hands around and say... "Let's do it again!"

Our hands say goodbye with a clap, clap, clap.Our feet say goodbye with a tap, tap, tap.
Clap, clap, clap,
Tap, tap, tap.
We roll our hands around and say... "Goodbye!"


Our ExploreTime Activity this week was BEAN BAGS!


Special Announcement:
Beginning in January, the Bellevue Public Library will be offering TWO Baby & Me Storytimes each week!  We have recently experienced the "problem" of having very large groups for our Wednesday storytimes, so we have added Tuesday mornings at 9:15 AM. Wednesday's event will be a repeat of Tuesday's program.  You do not need to let me know which session you will be attending - and you can even switch back and forth between Tuesday and Wednesday as the need arises.

I wish all my Storytime families a wonderful, blessed Christmas!
   ~Mrs. B.

Papa Bear and Me Storytime

Presented at Bellevue Public Library on Tuesday, December 18, 2012.

Books:

My Dad is Big and Strong, But... by Coralie Saudo, illustrated by Kris DiGiacomo

Emily's Christmas Gifts by Cindy Post Senning and Peggy Post, illustrated by Steve Bjorkman

My Dad by Steve Smallman, illustrated by Sean Julian

Song:

Jingle Bells

Jingle bells, jingle bells,
jingle all the way.
Oh, what fun it is to ride in a
one-horse open sleigh! (2x)

Dashing through the snow
In a one-horse open sleigh
O'er the fields we go,
Laughing all the way!
Bells on bobtail ring,
Making spirits bright.
What fun it is to ride and sing
A sleighing song tonight!

Tonight's Papa Bear Storytime activity was Candy Cane Mice.  They are very easy to make using colored craft felt, wiggle eyes, pompoms, candy canes, and a little glue!
Here is a pattern and instructions for making the mice:
http://www.skiptomylou.org/2008/12/02/candy-cane-crafts-for-a-crowd/

Here are pictures of some of our creations:

Our next Papa Bear Storytime will be at 7 PM on Tuesday, January 22, 2013!

I wish all my Papa Bear Storytime families a wonderful, blessed Christmas!

      ~ Mrs. B.

Fairy Tales!!

Presented at Miss Jenny's and Miss Amy's Golden Hills Head Start classes on Monday, December 17, 2012.

Books:

The Princess and the Pea by Rachel Isadora

Will Princess Isabel Ever Say Please? by Steve Metzger, illustrated by Amanda Haley

Songs:

Five Green and Speckled Frogs

Five green and speckled frogs sat on a speckled log
Eating some most delicious bugs -- YUM YUM! (rub tummy)
One jumped into the pool where it was nice and cool
Then there were four green and speckled frogs. (ribbit, tibbit, ribbit, ribbit!)

Four green and speckled frogs sat on a speckled log
Eating some most delicious bugs -- YUM YUM! (rub tummy)
One jumped into the pool where it was nice and cool
Then there were three green and speckled frogs. (ribbit, tibbit, ribbit!)

Three green and speckled frogs sat on a speckled log
Eating some most delicious bugs -- YUM YUM!  (rub tummy)
One jumped into the pool where it was nice and cool
Then there were two green and speckled frogs. (ribbit, tibbit!)

Two green and speckled frogs sat on a speckled log
Eating some most delicious bugs -- YUM YUM! (rub tummy)
One jumped into the pool where it was nice and cool
Then there was one green and speckled frogs. (ribbit!)

One green and speckled frogs sat on a speckled log
Eating some most delicious bugs -- YUM YUM! (rub tummy)   
One jumped into the pool where it was nice and cool
Then there were no green and speckled frogs.

I had so much fun visiting Miss Jenny's and Miss Amy's classes this morning!  At the end of each storytime I joined in singing several songs with the children, including "Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star", "If You're Happy and You Know It",  "The Itsy Bitsy Spider", and "The ABC Song" .

Baby & Me Storytime

Presented at Golden Hills Early Head Start on Thursday, December 13, 2012.


Book:

Jesse Bear's Tum-Tum Tickle by Nancy White Carlstron, illustrated by Bruce Degen

Songs:

Hello Friends!
(tune: "Goodnight Ladies")

Hello friends.
Hello friends.
Hello friends.
We're glad you came today!

(After singing the song through once we repeat it, substituting "friends" with the name of one of the children.  We do this until all the children have been serenaded!)


Jingle Bells

Jingle bells, jingle bells,

jingle all the way.

Oh, what fun it is to ride in a

one-horse open sleigh! (2x)

Dashing through the snow

In a one-horse open sleigh

O'er the fields we go,

Laughing all the way!

Bells on bobtail ring,

Making spirits bright.

What fun it is to ride and sing

A sleighing song tonight!

 

The Baby in the Cradle

(tune: Here We Go 'Round the Mulberry Bush")

The baby in the cradle goes rock-a-rock-a-rock (4 times)
(With baby on your lap, gently rock from side to side)

2. The clock on the dresser goes tick-a-tick-a-tock (4 times)
(lift baby under her arms and make gentle tick-tock motion)

3. The rain on the window goes tap-a-tap-a-tap (4 times)
(gently tap your fingers on baby's head, cheeks, nose, etc.)

4. Here comes the sun so we clap-a-clap-a-clap! ( 4 times)

Activities:

A Flea on My Toe

On my toe there is a flea.
Now it's climbing past my knee,
Past my tummy,
Past my nose,
On my head where my hair grows.

On my head there is a flea.
Now it's climbing down on me,
Past my tummy,
Past my knee,
On my toe,
Take that, you flea!

Our parents seem to especially enjoy this one during storytime!    You can creep your fingers up and down your child's body, stopping at each mentioned part.  On the last line, you can tickle or kiss your child's toes, or help them gently shake their leg!

Bounce, Tickle and Kiss!

I bounce you here ...

I bounce you there ...

I bounce you, bounce you everywhere!

I tickle you here ...

I tickle you there ...

I tickle you, tickle you everywhere!

I kiss you here ...

I kiss you there ...

I kiss you, kiss you everywhere!

 
Our Hands Say Goodbye

Our hands say goodbye with a clap, clap, clap.
Our feet say goodbye with a tap, tap, tap.
Clap, clap, clap,
Tap, tap, tap.
We roll our hands around and say... "Let's do it again!"

Our hands say goodbye with a clap, clap, clap.
Our feet say goodbye with a tap, tap, tap.
Clap, clap, clap,
Tap, tap, tap.
We roll our hands around and say... "Goodbye!"

Christmas

Presented at Welcome School on Friday, December 14, 2012.

Books:

Llama Llama Holiday Drama by Anna Dewdney

A Star So Bright by M. Christina Butler, illustrated by Caroline Pedler

Flannel Story:

"Spider's Christmas Surprise" adapted from a German folktale by Jean Warren
(C) Jean Warren www.preschoolexpress.com.  To see the text of this wonderful story click here.




Songs:

Jingle Bells

Jingle bells, jingle bells,
jingle all the way.
Oh, what fun it is to ride in a
one-horse open sleigh! (2x)

Dashing through the snow
In a one-horse open sleigh
O'er the fields we go,
Laughing all the way!
Bells on bobtail ring,
Making spirits bright.
What fun it is to ride and sing
A sleighing song tonight!
 

Way Down in Bethlehem

There was a little baby, O my Lord,
There was a little baby, O my Lord.
There was a little baby, O my Lord,
Way down in Bethlehem,
Way down in Bethlehem.

They laid Him in a manger...
The shepherds came to see Him...
The star shone high above them...
They named the baby Jesus...

Wesley and I thoroughly enjoyed our visit to Welcome School today!  Wesley was a little disappointed that the children could not see all the Christmas decorations he had put up in his house.  There just wasn't enough room for everyone inside his shell!  Our very impatient friend Llama Llama came with us and enjoyed meeting the children - and eating their snacks!

I loved learning a new song again this month - the children always have such fun songs to teach me!  Now I know how to sing "I'm a Little Christmas Tree"!

To the wonderful students and staff of Welcome School I wish a very merry, blessed Christmas!
   ~Mrs. B.

Toddler Storytime - The Animals' Christmas

Presented at Bellevue Public Library on Thursday, December 13, 2012.

Books:

Minerva Louise on Christmas Eve by Janet Morgan Stoeke

Jingle-Jingle by Nicola Smee
(The children and adults helped me with this one...shaking their jingle bells whenever the animals took off on their sleigh ride!)

Lunch by Denise Fleming
(I did a Christmas-themed retelling of this story, using the puppet and props I made for use with this story.  See my post on Denise Fleming for more information!)

Songs:

Jingle Bells

Jingle bells, jingle bells,
jingle all the way.
Oh, what fun it is to ride in a
one-horse open sleigh! (2x)

Dashing through the snow
In a one-horse open sleigh
O'er the fields we go,
Laughing all the way!
Bells on bobtail ring,
Making spirits bright.
What fun it is to ride and sing
A sleighing song tonight!

The Reindeer Pokey

(tune: The Hokey-Pokey")

You put your reindeer hoof in,

You put your reindeer hoof out.

You put your reindeer hoof in,

And you shake it all about.

You do the Reindeer Pokey

And you turn yourself around.

That’s what it’s all about!

You put your red nose in…

You put your antlers in…

You put your tail in…

 

Storytime Has Ended
(tune: "Did You Ever See a Lassie?")

Storytime has ended, has ended, has ended.
Storytime has ended 'til we meet again.

(Children wave to each other as we continue)
'Til we meet, 'til we meet, 'til we meet, 'til we meet.
Storytime has ended 'til we meet again.

Activities:

Our Hands Say Hello!

Our hands say hello with a clap, clap, clap.
Our feet say hello with a tap, tap, tap.
Clap, clap, clap,
Tap, tap, tap.
Turn around and take a bow.
Sit right down. It's Storytime now!

Throughout the month of December I have been sharing some insights with parents and caregivers about the importance of talking to and with their children. This month will offer many opportunities to introduce rich vocabulary as you describe some of what your child is seeing, hearing and experiencing: "crispy, crunchy snow" (if and when it comes!), "twinkling lights", the deep resonating "Ho! Ho! Ho!" of Santa at the mall, the "stiff, prickly pine needles on the tree", etc. Children will delight in the sights, sounds, smells and tastes of the holidays, especially when they experience it with you!

Next Thursday, December 20 will be our last Toddler Storytime for the year.  We will resume on January 10, 2013!

Getting to know...David Catrow!

I had the opportunity to visit Thomas Elementary School in Gretna on October 24 and see one of my favorite illustrators, David Catrow!  The first thing I learned is that I have been mispronouncing his name.  (It's pronounced KA-tro.)

You are probably familiar with David Catrow's work - he is very prolific!  The Bellevue Public Library has 45 titles that have been written or illustrated by him!

Here are some of my favorites:

Our Tree Named Steve by Alan Zweibel, illustrated by David Catrow

I Ain't Gonna Paint No More by Karen Beaumont, illustrated by David Catrow

The Boy Who Looked Like Lincoln by Mike Reiss, illustrated by David Catrow

Don't Say That Word by Alan Katz, illustrated by David Catrow

My School's a Zoo! by Stu Smith, illustrated by David Catrow

Where's My T-R-U-C-K? by Karen Beaumont, illustrated by David Catrow

I Wanna New Room by Karen Kaufman Orloff, illustrated by David Catrow

Monster Mash illustrated by David Catrow

Have Fun, Molly Lou Melon by Patty Lovell, illustrated by David Catrow
(This is David's most recent book, published this fall!)

Here is David at Thomas Elementary drawing two characters for the students.

Here David is showing the students how he might draw a dog. He started his drawing by writing the word D-O-G.  Can you see those letters in his drawing?!

Drawing a dog, using the letters D-O-G, is one thing... but do you think he can draw a
D-R-A-G-O-N??

Let's see how he's doing on that dragon...

(Could you still see all the letters and how he incorporated them into his drawing?!)


I really enjoyed seeing the artist "at work" and getting a little sense of what he's thinking about as he creates his art.  I hope you will check out some of David Catrow's books from the library and share them with those you love!
I'd love to hear from YOU!  What is YOUR favorite David Catrow book?!

Keep reading!
  ~ Mrs. B.

Baby & Me Storytime

Presented at Bellevue Public Library on Wednesday, December 12, 2012.


Book:

Jesse Bear's Tum-Yum Tickle by Nancy White Carlstrom, illustrated by Bruce Degen

Songs:


Welcome to Storytime!
(tune: Old McDonald)

At storytime we have (child's name) today.
We're so glad, let's shout hooray!


Jingle Bells

Jingle bells, jingle bells,

jingle all the way.

Oh, what fun it is to ride in a

one-horse open sleigh! (2x)

Dashing through the snow

In a one-horse open sleigh

O'er the fields we go,

Laughing all the way!

Bells on bobtail ring,

Making spirits bright.

What fun it is to ride and sing

A sleighing song tonight!

The Baby in the Cradle
(tune: Here We Go 'Round the Mulberry Bush")

The baby in the cradle goes rock-a-rock-a-rock (4 times)
(With baby on your lap, gently rock from side to side)

2. The clock on the dresser goes tick-a-tick-a-tock (4 times)
(lift baby under her arms and make gentle tick-tock motion)

3. The rain on the window goes tap-a-tap-a-tap (4 times)
(gently tap your fingers on baby's head, cheeks, nose, etc.)

4. Here comes the sun do we clap-a-clap-a-clap! ( 4 times)

Activities:

One Little Baby Rocking in a Tree

One little baby rocking in a tree.
(gently rock child)
Two little babies splashing in the sea.
(adult/child make "splashing" motion)
Three little babies crawling on the floor.
(move hands in "walking" motion in front of child)
Four little babies knocking at the door.
(make a fist and "knock" in the air)
Five little babies playing hide and seek.
(cover eyes with hands)
Don't look!  Don't look!
Until I say...PEEK!
(uncover eyes)

Bounce, Tickle and Kiss!

I bounce you here

I bounce you there,

I bounce you, bounce you everywhere!

I tickle you here,

I tickle you there,

I tickle you, tickle you everywhere!

I kiss you here,

I kiss you there,

I kiss you, kiss you everywhere!



Our Hands Say Goodbye

Our hands say goodbye with a clap, clap, clap.
Our feet say goodbye with a tap, tap, tap.
Clap, clap, clap,
Tap, tap, tap.
We roll our hands around and say... "Let's do it again!"

Our hands say goodbye with a clap, clap, clap.Our feet say goodbye with a tap, tap, tap.
Clap, clap, clap,
Tap, tap, tap.
We roll our hands around and say... "Goodbye!"

Our ExploreTime Activity this week was Puppets!
It was great fun to enjoy puppets with our little ones today! Animal puppets can meow, oink and bark, they can crawl, swim and hop, and they come in every color of the rainbow! 

Throughout the month of December I have been sharing some insights with parents and caregivers about the importance of talking to and with their children. This month will offer many opportunities to introduce rich vocabulary as you describe some of what your child is seeing, hearing and experiencing: "crispy, crunchy snow" (if and when it comes!), "twinkling lights", the deep resonating "Ho! Ho! Ho!" of Santa at the mall, the "stiff, prickly pine needles on the tree", etc. Children will delight in the sights, sounds, smells and tastes of the holidays, especially when they experience it with you!

Next Wednesday, December 19 will be our last Baby & Me Storytime for the year.  We will resume on January 9, 2013!

Pajama Storytime

Presented at Bellevue Public Library on Tuesday, December 11, 2012.

Books:

All the Awake Animals Are Almost Asleep by Crescent Dragonwagon, illustrated by David McPhail

Bedtime for Monsters by Ed Vere

Snowmen at Work by Caralyn Buehner, illustrated by Mark Buehner

Snowbear's Christmas Countdown by Theresa Smythe

Tonight we made chocolate spoons to take home as a gift for someone special.  The children and adults also received instructions on how to make more chocolate spoons at home.  They make wonderful gifts and they are especially fun and quick to create!

http://www.allfreecrafts.com/christmas/chocolate-covered-spoons.shtml

For those who enjoy evening storytimes at the Bellevue Public Library - just a reminder that our monthly Papa Bear & Me Storytime will be held next Tuesday, December 18 (since the 4th Tuesday this month falls on Christmas!)
I hope to see many of you there!
   ~ Mrs. B.