Saturday, January 31, 2015

We Love Fruit!

This Toddler Storytime was presented at Bellevue Public Library on January 29, 2015.

Books:
What Am I? Looking Through Shapes at Apples and Grapes 

by N.N. Charles, illustrated by Leo & Diane Dillon




Baby Food by Saxton Freymann and Joost Elffers 





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!)


Apples and Bananas

(a modern classic sung by the beloved singer, Raffi)

I like to eat, eat, eat, apples and bananas.
I like to eat, eat, eat, apples and bananas.

I like to ate, ate, ate, ape-ples and ba-nay-nays...
I like to eat, eat, eat, ee-ples and ba-nee-nees...
I like to ite, ite, ite, i-pples and ba-ni-nis
I like to oat, oat, oat, o-pples and ba-noh-nohs...
I like to oot, oot, oot, oo-pples and ba-noo-noos...




Magic Pre-Sliced Banana Trick
I can't resist sharing this fun trick with children and adults each year during a storytime.
Here is the link to an earlier post which includes a video of my banana "trick"! 



Playtime Activities:




What's in the Green Box?
(tune: "Sally Wore a Red Dress")

What's in the green box,

The green box, the green box?
What's in the green box
For us to play?


Creative Picnic Basket Play:





Fruit Match Activity Sheets:

For children who would benefit from finding the matches between the fruit on the bottom and the fruit along the top.  Children could use a crayon or pencil, or their finger, to draw a line to connect the matches.

For children who would benefit from practice in developing eye-hand coordination. Children could use a crayon or pencil to trace the pre-printed lines connecting the matching fruit.



Rebus Story:  

Children enjoy feeling a sense of ownership!  A rebus story allows the child to contribute key parts of the story by "reading" the pictures!  The adult reads the word, pausing to allow the child to interject the word represented by the picture.  The first few sentences of this story, "So Hungry", (with the child's contributions in parentheses) reads:
"I'm so hungry.  What can I eat?, (Ryan) asked.  Have a (banana) or an (apple), (Mom) said. I'm tired of (bananas and apples, Ryan) said.









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.

Pop! Pop! Pop-Up Books!

This outreach storytime was presented at Welcome School on January 30, 2015.

This was a fun selection of books!  I don't recall ever doing a storytime comprised solely of pop-up books.  I loved watching the children's faces as I showed them the various beautifully engineered designs!  In order to have a little fun with words, I arrived at Welcome School with a bottle of pop (for those in the East: "soda"; for those in the South: "coke"!), saying that I was happy to "pop in and share a few stories".  I also shared with the children a fun action rhyme called "Popcorn".
My life-long fascination with words, plays on words, puns, etc. dates back to my adolescence, when my mom would often lead me through a process in order to decode words I did not know.  A typical conversation might go something like this:

Me: Mom, what is a mariner?
My mom: Did you find it in a sentence?  Can you tell from the way it's used in the sentence?
Me: No, not really.
Mom: Can you see any clues in the word?
Me: Is it someone who gets married?  A "marry-ner"?
Mom: No.  Do you see M-A-R-I-N?  How about marina?
Me; Where they keep boats!

Once the "light came on" and I understood the root word, I would call out other words that came to mind such as aquamarine (the blue-green color of seawater) and submarine (under the water), then go on to "sub", as in subway, submerge, etc.  I strongly encourage parents to play these types of word games with their children!  Keep a dictionary handy so that you can look up any words you or your child encounter that you don't know.  Ever since my children were young, we have kept a dictionary in the dining room so that we can refer to it as we eat and talk about our day's experiences.
I also gained a great deal of insights into the fascinating world of language by watching a wonderful tv show that aired in the late 1900s (1971-1976!) called "Make a Wish".  Here is a clip from the show!


Books:

Animal Opposites by Petr Horácek 





Dinosaur Stomp by Paul Stickland



















Mighty Machines by Terry Burton






Making Colors by James Diaz




Rhyme:

Popcorn!

Pop!     Pop!    Pop!
(clap)  (clap)  (clap)
Pour the corn into the pot.
(Rub palms together quickly)

Pop!  Pop!  Pop!
(clap)  (clap)  (clap)
Take and shake it 'til it's hot.
(Rub palms together quickly)

Pop!  Pop!  Pop!
(clap)  (clap)  (clap)
Lift the lid, what have you got?
(Rub palms together quickly)

Pop!  Pop!  Pop!
(clap)  (clap)  (clap)
Popcorn!!
(Jump up and raise hands in the air!)







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).



Wednesday, January 28, 2015

Papa Bear & Me

This Papa Bear & Me Storytime was presented at Bellevue Public Library on Tuesday, January 27, 2015.

Books:

I decided to change things up a bit tonight.  Instead of focusing on books that feature a strong male character or some kind of bear, I chose titles from our newly arrived book order. There are so many great titles that I couldn't resist sharing a few of them!

Don't Turn the Page by Rachelle Burk, illustrated by Julie Downing




Daytime Nighttime by William Low




Meet the Parents by Peter Bently, illustrated by Sara Ogilvie






Each Papa Bear & 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).

Tuesday, January 27, 2015

Baby & Me Storytime ~ January 27 & 29, 2015

This Baby & Me Storytime was presented at Bellevue Public Library on January 27, 2015.

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




Songs:
Hello, Friends!
(tune: "Goodnight Ladies")

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


Skinnamarink

Skinnamarink-a-dink-a-dink
Skinnamarink-a-doo
I love you!
Skinnamarink-a-dink-a-dink
Skinnamarink-a-doo
I love you!

I love you in the morning
And in the afternoon.
I love you in the evening
And underneath the moon, oh,

Skinnamarink-a-dink-a-dink
Skinnamarink-a-doo
I love you!


Clap, Clap, Clap Your Hands

Clap, clap, clap your hands,
Clap your hands together.
Clap, clap, clap your hands,
Clap your hands together.


Hands Up High
(tune: "London Bridge")

First we wave our hands up high,
Hands up high, hands up high.
First we wave our hands up high,
Then we clap them!

Then we shake our hands down low,
Hands down low, hands down low.
Then we shake our hands down low,
Then we hide them!


Rhymes:

Slowly, Slowly

Slowly, slowly, very slowly creeps the garden snail.
Slowly, slowly, very slowly up the wooden trail.

Quickly, quickly, very quickly runs the little mouse.
Quickly, quickly, very quickly 'round about the house! 



Pudding on the Plate

Pudding on the plate,
Pudding on the plate,
Wibble wobble,
Wibble wobble,
Pudding on the plate.
(Sway gently from side to side as your child enjoys the ride!)

Candies in the jar,
Candies in the jar,
Shake them up,
Shake them up,
Candies in the jar.
(Bounce gently with your child in your lap!)

Candles on the cake,
Candles on the cake.
Blow them out,
Blow them out,
Candles on the cake.
(Gently blow toward your child's face each time you say "cake"!)

Our activity this week was Jigsaw Puzzles!

















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).

Toddler Storytime ~ Penguins

This Toddler Storytime was presented at Bellevue Public Library on January 14, 2015.

Books:


Puffins Climb, Penguins Rhyme by Bruce McMillan








If You Were a Penguin by Wendell and Florence Minor





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!)



I'm a Little Penguin 


I'm a little penguin, black and white.
Stout and fluffy, what a sight!

I can't fly but I love to swim.
So I'll waddle to the water and dive right in!



Playtime Activities:




What's in the Green Box?
(tune: "Sally Wore a Red Dress")

What's in the green box,

The green box, the green box?
What's in the green box
For us to play?

Feed the Penguin:
Numbered penguins on laminated cards tell us how many goldfish crackers to place on each one's belly!

Flannel Stories: 
"Five Little Penguins"

Penguin Tattoos were handed out to those who wanted them!








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 ~ Jan 20 & 22, 2015

This Baby & Me Storytime was presented at Bellevue Public Library on January 20 & 22, 2015

Book:
I Love You Through and Through/ Te Quiero, Yo Te Quiero 
by Bernadette Rossetti-Shustak, illustrated by Caroline Jayne Church





Songs:
Hello, Friends!
(tune: "Goodnight Ladies")

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


Skinnamarink

Skinnamarink-a-dink-a-dink
Skinnamarink-a-doo
I love you!
Skinnamarink-a-dink-a-dink
Skinnamarink-a-doo
I love you!

I love you in the morning
And in the afternoon.
I love you in the evening
And underneath the moon, oh,

Skinnamarink-a-dink-a-dink
Skinnamarink-a-doo
I love you!



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.




Clap, Clap, Clap Your Hands

Clap, clap, clap your hands,
Clap your hands together.

Clap, clap, clap your hands,
Clap your hands together.

Pat your knees...
Tap your feet...
Jump up high...
Give a hug...
Blow a kiss...

Wave hello...


Rhymes:

Jelly on My Head

Jelly on my head,
Jelly on my toes.
Jelly on my shirt and
Jelly on my toes.

Laughin' and a-lickin'
Havin' me a time,
Jelly on my belly
But I like it fine!


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!

This is a great wake-up chant to enjoy with your baby as he/she is getting diapered and dressed in the morning!  Your baby will love the rhyming words and the wonderful beat of this chant.
Enjoy introducing your young one to different body parts, such as knees, hips, ribs, shoulders, chin, etc.



Our activity this week was Musical Instruments!
















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).

Friday, January 23, 2015

The Soupremes Seek to Raise Funds for the Children's Department

Have you heard the BIG ANNOUNCEMENT?

Everyone's favorite pop group, The Soupremes, have come out of retirement for a special limited engagement!  Prior to providing the halftime entertainment during this year's Super Bowl, the ladies will be stopping in Bellevue for this weekend's Souper Sunday event!  They will be entering their famous Chicken Enchilada Soup in the competition which will benefit Bellevue's Police and Fire Departments.  Come out to enjoy some delicious soups, chat with friends, neighbors, and City officials, enter your bids in the Silent Auction, vote for your favorite soup (perhaps the Chicken Enchilada Soup???) and get your picture taken with The Supremes!  The ladies have pledged any prize money they receive to the Bellevue Library Foundation for use in purchasing books and other materials for the Children's Department!   
Click here for all the details!