May Activity Calendar and Facebook Contest!

Throughout the month of May Tammy and I will be encouraging our patrons and blog readers to use the specially-designed activity calendar that we are offering in place of our usual library activities.  While she and I prepare for our Summer Reading Program, we invite you to find fun ways to interact every day with your child.  The calendar provides suggestions - but you probably have some great ideas, too!
You are also invited to visit the library's Facebook page to participate in a contest.  Adults are encouraged to leave a comment about any of the activities, a photo of your child taking part in an activity, an anecdote of something he/she said, or your child's reaction to an activity. There will be a weekly drawing from among those who post something relevant on Facebook.  Below are pictures of the prizes available to those who win:

Pink browsing bag, box of Princess Glitter Stickers, set of 4 plastic nesting bowls

Red browsing bag, 8 plastic hard hats, 8 Bob the Builder Party Bags & 

Bob the Builder Birthday Banner

Black browsing bag, metal safe with key and combination, spy watch

Blue browsing bag, 2 plastic bags for sack races, swim goggles & Silly Shotz toy

Blue browsing bag, junior golf set, water pistol

Yellow browsing bag, glittery jump rope, plush monkey with velcro hands and feet,
set of 2 ice cream bowls and spoons

Blue browsing bag, watering can and plastic garden tools, 
bathtub toy boats, 2 rubber ducks

Red, white & blue browsing bag, swim goggles, water pistol
and ball and glove set

Blue browsing bag, bathtub toy boats, 4 rubber ducks

Purple browsing bag, set of 2 ice cream bowls and spoons,
hedgehog key ring, Ice Pop ring molds

Orange browsing bag, watering can and plastic garden tools, 
"Wild Animals" Baby Touch and Feel board book

New Books for April!

This Toddler Storytime was presented at Bellevue Public Library on Wednesday, April 2, 2014.

Books:

My Octopus Arms by Keith Baker

Nighty-Night, Cooper by Laura Numeroff, illustrated by Lynn Munsinger

Songs:

Everybody Say Hello!
(tune: "London Bridge")

Everybody say hello, say hello, say hello,
Everybody say hello, hello Wesley!

(Wesley is my turtle puppet who pops out of my apron pocket whenever we sing this song.  Then he sits quietly on his rock and listens to the stories and sings along with us.  At the end of storytime he says goodbye to the children, gives them high fives, eats pretend food from their hands, blows kisses, and plays hide and seek!)


Library News: 
We have just TWO more weeks of morning storytimes before we go on hiatus until the start of our summer reading program, "Fizz, Boom, READ!"   I encourage our storytime families to continue doing many of the same things we enjoy at storytime:  read stories together, sing, pretend, say silly rhymes, play with puppets or stuffed animals, write and draw, etc.  These activities are so important for your child's physical, emotional and intellectual development.  And, perhaps just as importantly, these activities provide opportunities to hug, snuggle, and hold your little one.  What better way to say to your child: "I love you!", "I love being with you!", I think you are wonderful!"

Our Summer Library Program begins on Tuesday, May 27, with registrations beginning on Monday, May 19.

Each Toddler Storytime includes activities that support one or more of the five early literacy practices identified as essential in helping your child develop the skills they need before they can learn to read. The five practices – singing, talking, reading, playing and writing –were developed for Every Child Ready to Read®, an initiative of the Association for Library Services for Children (ALSC) and the Public Library Association (PLA).

Every Child Ready to Read^® @ your library^®, PLA and ALSC logos are registered trademarks of the American Library Association and are used with permission.

Baby & Me Storytime ~ April 1 & 3, 2014

This Baby & Me Storytime was presented at Bellevue Public Library on April 1 & 3, 2014.

Book:
Rain, Rain, Go Away! by Caroline Jayne Church

Songs:

Let's Shout Hooray!
(tune: "Old MacDonald")

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



These Little Fingers
(tune:"The Wheels on the Bus")

These little fingers go wiggle, wiggle, wiggle,
wiggle, wiggle, wiggle, wiggle, wiggle, wiggle,
These little fingers go wiggle, wiggle, wiggle,
And now they're on my...head!

There are endless possibilities when singing this song with your wee one!  For example:

Your fingers can go pat, tickle, rub, clap, wave, tap...
on your baby's feet, back, head, tummy, knees, cheeks...

Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star

Twinkle, twinkle, little star

How I wonder what you are.

Up above the world so high,

Like a diamond in the sky,

Twinkle, twinkle little star

How I wonder what you are!

Rhymes:

Dance Your Fingers Up

Dance your fingers up,
Dance your fingers down.
Dance your fingers to the side,
And dance them all around.

Dance them on your shoulders,
Dance them on your head.
Dance them on your tummy,
And put them all to bed.

Since the babies had been playing with shakers and bells as they waited for storytime to begin, we adapted this song, replacing the word "fingers" with "shakers".

As I Went Walking to Town One Day

(Underlined words and syllables represent the 
stressed beats in this rhyme.)

As I went walking to town one day,

Oh, it was a sunshiny day!

As I went walking to town one day,

I met a cow along the way!

And what do you think that cow did say?

Mooooo!

What other animals could you meet along the way? 

What sounds do they make?

Our activity this week was Board Books!
We enjoyed meeting new friends Allison and Layla on Tuesday!

Library News: We have just TWO weeks of Baby & Me Storytime remaining before my assistant and I go on hiatus.  Our break time will be spent preparing for our Summer Reading Program: "Fizz, Boom, READ!"  Be watching my blog, the library's website and our Facebook page for more information in the coming weeks!

Each Baby & Me Storytime includes activities that support one or more of the five early literacy practices identified as essential in helping your child develop the skills they need before they can learn to read. The five practices – singing, talking, reading, playing and writing –were developed for Every Child Ready to Read®, an initiative of the Association for Library Services for Children (ALSC) and the Public Library Association (PLA).

Spring is Here!

This Outreach Storytime was presented at Golden Hills Head Start classes on Monday, March 31, 2014.

Books:

Jo MacDonald Had a Garden by Mary Quattlebaum, illustrated by Laura J. Bryant

Rabbits & Raindrops by Jim Arnosky

Songs:
I'm a Little Bunny
(tune: "I'm a Little Teapot")

I'm a little bunny, my name is Joe.
I hop fast...and I hop slow.
Whenever I get sleepy, my ears droop low,
But after my nap, back up they go!


Rhyme:

Open, Shut Them

Open, shut them,
Open, shut them,
Give a little clap, clap, clap!

Open, shut them,
Open, shut them,
Lay them in your lap, lap, lap!

Waving, waving, waving, waving,
High up in the sky, sky, sky.
Wave to me...I'll wave to you.

Now let's all say goodbye, bye, bye.

Each Outreach Storytime includes activities that support one or more of the five early literacy practices identified as essential in helping your child develop the skills they need before they can learn to read. The five practices – singing, talking, reading, playing and writing –were developed for Every Child Ready to Read®, an initiative of the Association for Library Services for Children (ALSC) and the Public Library Association (PLA).