New Books for the New Year!

Every New Year's Eve day the children's department hosts a storytime for families.  We call it, "New Books for the New Year".  Mrs. B and I select some of the newer books from our collection to share--reading aloud, booktalking, or showing book trailers.  Most years at least one of us chooses a book that is nominated later as a "Golden Sower" for the state of Nebraska!  [Last December Mrs. B read Creepy Carrots--in July the book was placed on the 2014-2015 school year Golden Sower list!!]  Let's see how we do this year!!

Chapter Book Trailers

Escape from Mr. Lemoncello's Library by Chris Grabenstein

Desmond Pucket: Makes Monster Magic by Mark Tatulli

I liked the publisher's book trailer, so I showed it instead of making my own.

Together Mrs. B and I read:

123 versus ABC  by Mike Boldt
Mrs. B was the letters and I was the numbers.  It was a very fun book to read aloud together!

Crankee Doodle by Tom Angleberger; illustrated by Cece Bell
Although this one has been out for a while I just had to share this hilarious book!  I read Crankee Doodle's part and Mrs. B read the pony's party.

I also quickly booktalked

Battle Bunny by Jon Scieszka and Mac Barnett; illustrated by Matthew Myers

Mrs. B shared these books:

Count the Monkeys by Mac Barnett

Dot.  by Randi Zuckerberg; illustrated by Joe Berger

Mrs. B also booktalked

Alpha Block (and other great board books for our youngest "readers")

The Fort that Jack Built, by Boni Ashburn; illustrated by Brett Helquiest

Check out the crowd we had!!  One of our biggest turn outs for this event!

After we read, booktalked, and showed the trailers we gave out BOOKS!!  Every child who attended received a book of their choice!

But the party wasn't over yet!!  10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1

"Happy New Year!"

Be sure to stop by the library and check out some great new books for the new year!!

L is for Ladybugs...and other insects!

Although it was nearly Christmas I decided to just continue on through the alphabet.  A few years ago I had done a "Christmas" theme for storytime...and one family got up and left and never came back.  So I steer clear of "holidays" for the most part.  Next year I am going to try to develop my alphabet storytime to incorporate more "seasonal" themes--which means I will not go in alphabetical order, but still make it through the whole alphabet.  (Such as P is for Pumpkins in October)

Any way, here is the storytime outline.  I'm glad I choose two short books because the kids were pretty wiggly with the holidays coming up!

Books

The Very Lazy Ladybug by Isobel Finn; illustrated by Jack Tickle

I Love Bugs!  by Emma Dodd

Songs/Rhymes/Fingerplays

Pretty Ladybug

(tune: Do you know the Muffin Man?)

Ladybug has zero black spots, zero black spots, zero black spots

Ladybug has zero black spots.  Pretty ladybug!

Ladybug has 1 black spot, 1 black spot, 1 black spot

Ladybug has 1 black spot.  Pretty ladybug!

Ladybug has 2 black spots, 2 black spots, 2 black spots

Ladybug has 2 black spots.  Pretty ladybug!

Ladybug has 3 black spots, 3 black spots, 3 black spots

Ladybug has 3 black spots.  Pretty ladybug!

Ladybug has 4 black spots, 4 black spots, 4 black spots

Ladybug has 4 black spots.  Pretty ladybug!

Ladybug has 5 black spots, 5 black spots, 5 black spots

Ladybug has 5 black spots.  Pretty ladybug!

Ladybug has 6 black spots, 6 black spots, 6 black spots

Ladybug has 6 black spots.  Pretty ladybug!

I used a magnet board for this activity.

Ladybug Song

(tune: There’s a spider on the floor; words by Tammy Henry)

There’s a ladybug in the air, in the air

There’s a ladybug in the air, in the air

There’s a ladybug in the air, she flies without a care,

There’s a ladybug in the air, in the air.

There’s a ladybug in my hair, in my hair

There's a ladybug in my hair, in my hair

There's a ladybug in my hair, try to catch her if you dare

There's a ladybug in my hair, in my hair.

There's a ladybug on my toes, on my toes

There's a ladybug on my toes, on my toes

There's a ladybug on my toes, she stopped to take a doze

There's a ladybug on my toes, on my toes.

There's a ladybug on my thumb, on my thumb

There's a ladybug on my thumb, on my thumb

There's a ladybug on my thumb, chewing bubble gum

There's a ladybug on my thumb, on my thumb.

There's a ladybug on my chin, on my chin

There's a ladybug on my chin, on my chin

There's a ladybug on my chin, it makes me stop and grin

There's a ladybug on my chin, on my chin.

There's a ladybug on my chest, on my chest

There's a ladybug on my chest, on my chest

There's a ladybug on my chest, time to take a rest

There's a ladybug on my chest, on my chest.

Repeat 1st verse

I have small felt ladybugs to use during the song.

Little Miss Muffet

Little Miss Muffet sat on a tuffet
Eating her curds and whey
Along came a spider, who sat down beside her
And frightened Miss Muffet away!

What other bug came to sit by Miss Muffet?  Would that bug scare you away?  Answers included:  Butterfly, grasshopper, bumblebee, ladybug

Enrichment Activities

Pattern Blocks with bug designs

Sorting Bug Counters ("jars" found here)

Caterpillar Name

P is for Presents

December Outreach Storytime to Welcome School (since they are a private preschool I had the liberty to actually do "Christmas")

Books

One Snowy Night by M. Christina Butler; illustrated by Macnaughton

Ten Little Christmas Presents by Jean Marzollo

Pip and Squeak by Ian Schoenherr

Song/Rhymes/Fingerplays

A quick song I made up to go along with the book "Ten Little Christmas Present" and to emphasize giving a gift (instead of just receiving)

1 little, 2 little, 3 little presents
4 little, 5 little, 6 little presents
7 little, 8 little, 9 little presents
10 little presents

I made a present for you
I made a present for you
I made a present for you
And you and you and you!

Hope you like the present I made you
Hope you like the present I made you
Hope you like the present I made you
It is from my heart!


Winter's in the Air  (Action cards from oopseydaisyblog)
(Sung to 1 little, 2 little, 3 little...)

Twist, twist, twist like a candy cane
Twist, twist, twist like a candy cane
Twist, twist, twist like a candy cane
Winter's in the air!

Run like the gingerbread man

March like a nutcracker

Twinkle like a star

Twirl like a snowflake

Melt like a snowman

G is for Gift-giving

December Outreach Storytime to Kindercare

Books

Rabbit's Gift by George Shannon; illustrated by Laura Dronzek

One Winter's Day by M Christina Butler; illustrated by Tina Macnaughton

Ten Little [Christmas] Presents by Jean Marzollo
Left out the words Christmas and Santa when I read this aloud.

Songs/Rhymes/Fingerplays

A Gift for Mommy (adapted from here)

I want to get a gift for Mommy
Let me think, what could I find?
I don't have any money to pay
Let's see what comes to mind...

I know she likes some fancy shoes
I bet she'd like them blue!

Maybe a fancy, party ring?
A purple one could be the thing!

A mug for coffee she likes to drink?
I know she likes the color pink!

Or a purse to carry all her stuff
A red one might be big enough!

An orange scarf, fresh and light,
With white polka dots, could be right!

I know what I can give to Mommy
I know that this won't miss!

I'll tell her, "Mommy, I love you"
With a great big hug and kiss!

Winter's in the Air  (Action cards from oopseydaisyblog)
(Sung to 1 little, 2 little, 3 little...)

Twist, twist, twist like a candy cane
Twist, twist, twist like a candy cane
Twist, twist, twist like a candy cane
Winter's in the air!

Run like the gingerbread man

March like a nutcracker

Twinkle like a star

Twirl like a snowflake

Melt like a snowman

K is for Kittens...and other baby animals

It has been cold here in Nebraska...so the kids have been cooped up inside...so they were very wiggly and talkative this week.  But we still had fun learning about the letter K and kittens...and other baby animals!

I did use a shorter first book on Thursday.  I will post both I used.

Books

Where's My Mommy? by Carol Roth; illustrated by Sean Julian

I decided this book was too long for my very wound up Thursday group...so I read A Kitten's Tale instead.

A Kitten's Tale by Eric Rohmann

Is Your Mama a Llama?  by Deborah Guarino; illustrated by Steven Kellogg

Songs/Rhymes/Fingerplays

I Like Baby Animals
(sung to Mary had a little lamb)

I like baby animals, animals, animals
I like baby animals, I'll name a few for you!

Kittens, puppies, chicks and cubs
Chicks and cubs, chicks and cubs
Kittens, puppies, chicks and cubs
I'll name some more for you.

Joeys, ducklings, lambs and calves
Lambs and calves, lambs and calves
Joeys, ducklings, lambs and calves
I like baby animals!

I made a magnet board using pictures of baby animals I found on Google.  For cubs I used a bear cub, a tiger cub, and a lion cub...and talked about how they are all called cubs.  For calves I used pictures cow, elephant, and giraffe--they are all calves!

Kitty Cat, Kitty Cat
Kitty cat, kitty cat turn around
Kitty cat, kitty cat sit on the ground.

Kitty cat, kitty cat lick your paws
Kitty cat, kitty cat show your claws.

Kitty cat, kitty stretch in the sun
Kitty cat, kitty run, run, run.

Kitty cat, kitty cat see the moonlight
Kitty cat, kitty cat say goodnight.

Visit this page for all of our repeating songs and chants!

Enrichment Activities

Puppets

I found lots of great activities at 1+1+1=1 Blog
Baby Animal Matching Cards
Strip Puzzle
Trace the lines between the baby animal and its parent

J is for Jungle

We traveled deep into the jungle to discover what lives there.  No, there are no lions or giraffes!  They live on the savannas.  But we did find tigers, monkeys, snakes, and an Asian elephant!

Books

Oh, No!  by Candace Fleming; illustrated by Eric Rohmann

Who is the Beast? by Keith Baker

Song/Rhymes/Fingerplays

Do You Know the Jungle Animals?

(Sung to: "The Muffin Man")

Do you know the long, green snake, the long, green snake, the long, green snake
Oh do you know the long, green snake that lives deep in the jungle?

Do you know the crocodile, the crocodile, the crocodile
Oh do you know the crocodile that lives deep in the jungle?

Do you know the playful monkeys, the playful monkeys, the playful monkeys
Oh do you know the playful monkeys that live deep in the jungle?

Do you know the slow, slow sloth, the slow, slow sloth, the slow, slow sloth

Oh, do you know the slow, slow sloth that lives deep in the jungle?

Do you know the colorful birds, the colorful birds, the colorful birds

Oh, do you know the colorful birds that live deep in the jungle?

Jingle Bells

Traditional

Nursery Rhyme  

A cat and a mouse and a bumble-bee

Started a-dancing, one, two, three.

They danced in the daytime,

They danced in the night,

They cared not whether it was dark or light.

What else did the cat, mouse and bumble-bee do?

Enrichment Activities

            Jungle scene

I found a jungle background coloring sheet then copied smaller coloring sheet jungle animals (tiger, crocodile, monkey, snake, parrot) and cut them out.  The children colored the jungle and added animals to the scene and colored them.

            Bug counters/sorters

            Jungle shape sorter  (from itsybitsyprintables.com)

            Puzzles

National Cookie Day!

December 4 is National Cookie Day!!  We invited children and families to visit the library after school to decorate...and eat...a cookie to celebrate!

We had six donated cookie sets to give away!

The Red Cross was using our large meeting room for a blood donation, so we set up in the children's area.

I think the kids had a "yummy" time!!  We'll do it again next year!