Libraries Rock!: 2018 Summer Library Program: Fun For All Storytime!

Fun For All Storytime is held on Thursday mornings from 10:15-10:45 AM during the Summer Library Program at Bellevue Public Library.
It is open to all children, although it is most appropriate for toddlers and preschoolers.

Our Summer Library Program theme, "Libraries Rock!", affords some great opportunities to explore and celebrate the music that is around us and within us!

Our weekly Fun For All Storytime themes and their accompanying songs are:

May 31: We Love Music! ("If You're Happy and You Know It")
June 7: Let's Sing! ("You'll Sing a Song And I'll Sing a Song")
June 14: Let's Move! ("Shake My Sillies Out")
June 21: Let's Make Some Music! ("The Noise Song")
June 28: Let's Sing a Story! ("The Wheels on the Bus")
July 5: Let's Listen! ("Are You Sleeping?")
July 12: Whoo Likes Moo-sic?! ("Old MacDonald Had a Farm")
July 19: Let's Dance! ("The Hokey Pokey")

You can click on each date (above) to be directed to that week's post featuring the books, songs, rhymes and activities presented that week.


The theme song I have chosen for these storytimes is "Let's Make Some Noise" by Raffi.
You can listen to it here.

If you would like to listen to the weekly songs before coming to Storytime, you can check out my Fun For All Storytime SLP 2018 playlist

I hope to see you and your child at one of our upcoming storytimes!

Libraries Rock!: 2018 SLP: Playing With Puppets

I have always loved this sweet exchange between Kermit the Frog and a little girl, on the PBS show Sesame Street.


Most children are fascinated by puppets:

"What's that thing on Daddy's hand?""It's talking to me!""I can talk to it!"
Children also enjoy the chance to "be the puppet" which gives them the wonderful opportunity to practice their storytelling skills, use their imagination, and learn more about the fine art of conversation.  

The library has an assortment of hand puppets available for creative play while you are in the Children's area.

Puppets can be purchased at many toy and department stores as well as online.  They can also be found locally at teacher supply stores.  If you feel crafty you can also make your own puppets from a variety of materials.  Here is a post I wrote several years ago on how to easily convert a stuffed animal to a puppet.

The Children's collection includes these titles which might get your creative juices going!:

The Muppets Make Puppets by Cheryl Henson 

Make Your Own Puppets by Anna-Marie D'Cruz

Donna Wilson's Creative Creatures by Donna Wilson

Ashley Bryan's Puppets: Making Something From Everything by Ashley Bryan

A search on YouTube will produce an abundance of tutorials for making puppets out of socks, construction paper, foam, paper plates, wooden and plastic spoons, bottles, paper tubes, egg cartons, paper cups, and more!

For more on the benefits of puppet play, here is a short article from playandgrow.com.

Libraries Rock!: 2018 SLP: Creating Tents and Other Hideaways

Children seem to be drawn to small spaces: hideaways, tents, forts... any area that brings a child's large, looming world into closer proximity. You may find that your child is naturally drawn to small spaces: the area behind a couch, the space under the dining room table, the corner of a closet, an empty box or laundry basket.  You can support their curiosity by making small spaces accessible to your little ones.  Youngsters love the idea of inviting you into their special space.  A few extra pillows, a blanket, a flashlight, or some stuffed animals can give their hideaway a homey feel.

Here is a great article from Junior Magazine on why children love secret hiding places!

For more inspiration, here are 10 fort ideas from lifeasmama.com.

I hope you'll be inspired to try making a tent at your house! 

Libraries Rock!: 2018 SLP: Rhymes and Rhyming Games to Play With Toddlers & Preschoolers

 Jack be nimble,

Jack be quick.

Jack jump over the candlestick!

Hickory dickory dock,

The mouse ran up the clock.

The clock struck one, 

The mouse ran down.

Hickory dickory dock.

Rhymes are all around us.  Poems, slogans, jingles, and songs frequently use rhymes to get their message across. Identifying rhyming words is an important skill as children develop their understanding of language.

Playing a modified version of "I Spy" can help your child hear the similarities of rhyming words.

For example:
"Tonight for supper we are having tacos and something that rhymes with NICE." (rice)
"It's time to do laundry.  Would you help me match some things that rhyme with CLOCKS?" (socks)
"Let's go to the park and play on something that rhymes with THINGS." (swings)

As your child grows, he may ask YOU for the rhyming words!  This may have humorous results, as when he says, "Mom!  Can you find a color that rhymes with SPLORANGE?!" (orange)

Here are some easy rhymes and songs that you can share with your youngster. This extensive collection of videos is provided by the awesome Children's Librarians at Jbrary.

Here are some other great tips from a blog on Scholastic.com.

Here are some simple ways to play rhyming games at home.  They are provided by the University of Virginia and, while written for use by classroom teachers, can be used by parents and caregivers!

Libraries Rock!: 2018 SLP: Using Wordless Books

Have you used wordless books with your child? If not, this might be a great time to give them a try!  At first glance you may think, "How do I read this?  There are no words!  How do I figure out what's going on?  And how do I put that into a story for my child?"

When you read a book with words you can stop every few pages to ask your child about the story ("Do you think he will find his way home?  What color do you think she'll decide to paint her playhouse?  Why do you think the puppy was so sad?", etc.).  Oftentimes, however, we may just breeze through the story, with little time spent talking about the book with our child. The great thing about wordless books is that they give you an opportunity to engage in extended conversations with your child. Every page offers the chance to look at the pictures together, point out interesting things you see, talk about what is happening, ask questions about things that are unclear, make predictions about what may happen, etc.


Below are some of my favorite wordless books, all of which are available at the Bellevue Public Library:

I Got It! by David Wiesner
Bee & Me by Alison Jay
Spot, The Cat by Henry Cole
Where's Walrus? by Stephen Savage
Hank Finds an Egg by Rebecca Dudley
Bluebird by Bob Staake
Chalk by Bill Thomson
The Lion & the Mouse by Jerry Pinkney
Flotsam by David Wiesner
Sidewalk Circus by Paul Fleischman
Time Flies by Eric Rohmann


To search the library's catalog use the subject search term "Stories Without Words".

Would you like more suggestions on how to "read" wordless books?

Here is a great article from childrens-books-and-reading.com

Libraries Rock!: 2018 SLP: Helping to Expand Your Child's Vocabulary

From a child's very first cry, he is learning to communicate!  Parents quickly learn that their child has more than ONE cry!   There's the "I'm scared" cry, the "My diaper needs changing" cry, the "I'm hurt" cry, the "I'm frustrated" cry,  and many more!  Your responses to Baby help form his understanding of the power of communication.  When he is developmentally ready, words will take over as the primary way to communicate.

We are all aware of the complexity of our language and the nuances that allow us to express ourselves clearly.  There is much we as parents can do to encourage language development in our youngsters.  Modeling good language use and sentence structure are easy ways to support our child's language development.

* Instead of correcting your child, try rephrasing your child's response:
Child: "I seed a rabbit in the yard!
Parent: "Oh really?!  You saw a rabbit in our yard?!"

* Be a color commentator:
Child: "Pretty flower!"
Parent: "Yes, that is a pretty flower!  It grew from a tiny seed buried in the ground.  It has 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 yellow petals!"

* Have fun with words:
Point out words that rhyme as you and your child talk.
Preschoolers love silly words :
Parent: "Are you sure that block is purple?  I think it's GLURPLE!"
Child: "Or maybe it's SURPLE!!"

Here is an article on helping toddlers expand their language skills.


Here is a short article from the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association.


And here's one more, from ReadingRockets.org

Libraries Rock!: 2018 SLP: Books Based on Songs for Toddlers & Preschoolers

There are plenty of books that are meant to be read aloud.

And there are some books that can be read aloud, but why would you, when you can SING them!




Below are just a few of the books at Bellevue Public Library that are based on familiar songs.  Some titles include a music CD, allowing you to listen/sing along as you enjoy the illustrations.  The rest invite you to use your own voice to make the book come alive.  Sing loud!  Sing proud!

Singing in the Rain by Arthur Freed, illustrated by Tim Hopgood
Old MacDonald Had a Farm by Gris Grimly
Footloose by Kenny Loggins, illustrated by Tim Bowers
Old Macdonald Had a Truck by Steve Goetz, illustrated by Eda Kaban
There Was an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Frog! by Lucille Colandro, illustrated by Jared Lee
Deck the Walls!: A Wacky Christmas Carol by Erin Dealey, illustrated by Nick Ward
Jo MacDonald Hiked in the Woods by Mary Quattlebaum, illustrated by Laura J. Bryant
The Wheels on the Bus by Jeanne Willis
The Wheels on the Bus by Jane Cabrera
The Croaky Pokey by Ethan Long
This Little Light of Mine by Raffi, illustrated by Stacey Schuett
Yankee Doodle by Mary Ann Hoberman, illustrated by Nadine Bernard Westcott
Mary Had a Little Lamb by Mary Ann Hoberman, illustrated by Nadine Bernard Westcott
Little White Duck by Walt Whippo, illustrated by Joan Paley
The Seals on the Bus by Lenny Hort, illustrated by G. Brian Karas
The Eensy Weensy Spider by Mary Ann Hoberman, illustrated by Nadine Bernard Westcott
Morning Has Broken by Eleanor Farjeon, illustrated by Tim Ladwig

Libraries Rock!: 2018 SLP: Baby Rhymes

Reciting simple rhymes is a wonderful way to spend time with your infant!  Baby loves being close to you, listening to your voice, watching the expressions on your face, and reacting to your silly voices and laughter!  


Below are two simple rhymes that are used in Baby & Me Storytimes at Bellevue Public Library.

Here is Baby ready for a nap.        
I'll lay you down here in my lap.
I'll cover you up so you won't peep,
And rock you 'til you're fast asleep.

Where, oh where are baby's fingers?

Where, oh where are baby's toes?

Where's the baby's belly button?

'Round and 'round it goes!

Where, oh where are baby's ears?

Where, oh where is baby's nose?

Where's the baby's belly button?

'Round and 'round it goes!

To search for more Baby & Me Storytime rhymes on this site:
Click on "Baby and Me Storytime" under "Labels", along the right side of my blog

One of my favorite sources of Storytime rhymes and songs is Jbrary, a site developed by two Children's Librarians from Vancouver, British Columbia.  Here is the link to their YouTube Playlists.  I hope their videos will inspire and encourage you to try some new rhymes with your little one!!

Libraries Rock!: 2018 SLP: Using Actions When Singing Songs to Baby

Most parents are familiar with the hand actions that can be used while singing songs such as "Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star" and "I'm a Little Teapot", but may be hard pressed to remember many more!

If you'd like some suggestions of ways to incorporate simple actions, here is a wonderful collection of 41 songs and rhymes from the ladies at Jbrary.

Libraries Rock!: 2018 SLP: Choosing Board Books

Board books!
What a great invention!

While not completely indestructible, board books are designed to stand up to the rough treatment received at the hands of youngsters who are just beginning to learn how to grasp and turn pages.  















Bellevue Public Library offers a large assortment of board books for use by our patrons and visitors:

Here are just a few titles that are sure to delight your little one!


Heads & Tails by Carli Davidson

My First Peek-a-Boo Animals by Eric Carle

Roar: A Big-Mouthed Book of Sounds! by Jonathan Litton

Here is an interesting look at board books, taken from Horn Book Magazine.  It includes ideas on what to look for when choosing board books to read to your little one.

Libraries Rock!: 2018 SLP: Songs and CDs for Toddlers & Preschoolers

Toddlers and preschoolers typically LOVE music and singing! 

Often times as I sit at my desk at the Bellevue Public Library I hear snippets of singing coming from youngsters in the Children's area.  Sometimes it's a well-loved classic ("Twinkoh, twinkoh, widdoh stah, how I wonder what yooo ah.") while other times it's a made-up-on-the-spot song sung to no particular tune at all ("My car goes dowwwwn the road.  Uh-oh, here comes a truck! Bang!  They crashed!  Let's go for a ride!")

For many children, singing seems to be as natural as breathing.  Activities such as singing songs, listening to music, and clapping along/dancing to music are beneficial to children, as they encourage listening skills, introduce vocabulary, support the development of motor skills, spark imagination,  and help youngsters hear the individual sounds that make up the words in our language.

You can support and encourage these activities by making music a part of your household.  Children don't tend to be too critical of someone's singing voice.  They are just happy that they are singing!!  I encourage you to sing often to your child, even if you don't feel particularly good at singing!

When I am searching for songs to use for Storytimes at BPL, I try to pull from a variety of sources.  Classic children's songs such as these are available on YouTube and can be especially helpful if you have forgotten the words or can't remember the melody.  There are also many popular children's songs being composed in a wide variety of musical styles by current singers and songwriters.
The two Children's Librarians who are the authors of Jbrary have this extensive playlist library on YouTube.

Bellevue Public Library has a large selection of music CDs that are geared to young children.  My favorite artists' CDs feature fun, engaging songs, inventive lyrics, and a variety of music styles representing cultures from around the world.

You might like to check out CDs by:
Raffi
John McCutcheon
Tom Chapin
Joanie Bartels
Greg & Steve
Parachute Express

BPL also has a wide variety of Disney movie soundtracks, holiday and seasonal music, classical music for kids, lullabies, world music, and much more!

Libraries Rock!: 2018 SLP: Using Parentese

Have you heard of parentese?

Perhaps you don't know the term, but you're probably familiar with what parentese sounds like. 
Here, in this entertaining 60-second spot from ParentingCounts.org, is a great example of parentese.











Parentese is a way of talking that helps Baby focus on our speech.  Parentese often is characterized by speaking in a higher pitch, lengthening words and phrases, and putting added emphasis on certain words.

Here is a short video interview with Dr. Patricia Kuhl, an expert on early language acquisition.


Here is one of the best articles I have read on the practice and use of parentese.  It comes from the Center for Early Literacy Learning.

Libraries Rock!: 2018 SLP: Songs to Sing to Baby

Let's face it.
Not everyone is a natural-born singer.

Not everyone loves to sing.

And for many adults, singing while someone is listening is even more terrifying!










If you count yourself among those for whom singing does not come naturally...
Take Heart!

The good news is that Baby loves to hear your voice, no matter how poorly you think you sing. The time you spend face to face singing to Baby is priceless.  Just as Baby responds to being held while you talk and read, singing allows Baby to study your face while listening to one of the most beautiful sounds there is: your voice!

Many of my favorite songs to sing to babies have been incorporated into Baby & Me Storytimes at Bellevue Public Library.  You can search Baby and Me Storytime under Labels (along the right side of the blog) to learn more about some of the songs we use.

If you need some help with the words or melodies, you can find a plethora of songs on YouTube.  However, you probably already know a nice assortment of tunes, such as...
Row, Row, Row Your Boat
The Itsy, Bitsy Spider
Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star
The Wheels on the Bus
Old MacDonald
If You're Happy and You Know It
The More We Get Together
London Bridge


Bellevue Public Library carries a large selection of music CDs that might help you in singing to your little one.  Click here to read my post! 

Need more convincing about the importance of singing to your baby?  Here are 10 great reasons, from a short article written by Cathy Fink and Marcy Marxer for the National Association for the Education of Young Children.

Libraries Rock!: 2018 SLP: Music CDs for Baby

From the time they are first able to hear Mommy's voice and pulse while in the womb, babies are drawn to sound, music, and rhythm.  The steady beat of a heart, the rise and fall of Mommy's voice, the speed at which sounds are detected...these are literally music to Baby's ears!  Is it any wonder most babies react positively to music?

We often think of music for babies taking the form of lullabies: slow, quiet, soothing sounds meant to calm or lull Baby to sleep.  But babies are also known to enjoy some good old rock & roll, as seen in this YouTube video of a dad singing and playing guitar for his baby!

The Bellevue Public Library has many music CDs that are appropriate for babies.
Here are just a few suggestions.  I invite you to discover your own favorites!

Lullaby Classics: A Soothing Collection of Music for Bedtime

More Songs From Pooh Corner

Putumayo Kids Presents Dreamland: World Lullabies & Soothing Songs

Rhymes From 'Round the World

Brilliant Beginnings: Music for Your Baby's Brain

Over Easy: Quiet Songs for Quiet Times

Hello World!

Early Childhood Classics: Old Favorites With a New Twist

One Light, One Sun