Weekly blog from the Stillwater Public Library with books, songs and storytime activities for children of all ages
Monday, September 29, 2014
Thursday, July 17, 2014
Friday, July 11, 2014
Fizz, Boom, Read!
Get your two (or more) reading logs returned to the library by NOON on Wed. July 24th!
Thursday, June 26, 2014
Friday, April 25, 2014
Earth Day Storytime
Opening Song: The More We Get Together
Book: The Earth Day book by Todd Parr
Song: Picking Up Litter ("If you're happy and you know it")
If you see a piece of litter, pick it up!
If you see a piece of litter, pick it up!
It's an easy thing to do,
Takes a second, maybe two.
If you see a piece of litter, pick it up!
Book: Stuff! Reduce, Reuse, Recycle by Steven Kroll
Song: Reduce, Reuse, Recycle ("For He's a Jolly Good Fellow")
Reduce, reuse, recycle
Reduce, reuse, recycle
Reduce, reuse, recycle
Be kind to Mother Earth
Be kind to Mother Earth
Be kind to Mother Earth
Reduce, reuse, recycle
(Repeat the first four lines)
Book: In My World by Lois Ehlert
Craft: Ring toss out of recycle material. We used a paper towel roll as a stand with a base of cardboard. The children colored paper plates which had the center cut out. Put the two together and you have a carnival game!
Beyond Storytime: http://www.epa.gov/superfund/kids/earthday.htm
Other Books to Checkout:
Children of the Earth...Remember by Schim Schimmel
Each Living Thing by Joanne Ryder
Earth Day Birthday by Pattie Schnetzler (E 782.42 SCH)
The World is Waiting for You by Barbara Kerley (E 910 KER)
And for adults:
On a farther shore: the life and legacy of Rachel Carson by Souder, William (B CAR)
The Story of Stuff: How our obsession with stuff is trashing the planet, our communities, and our health-- and a vision for change by Leonard, Annie (306.4 LEO)
Eco-craft: Recycle-recraft-restyle by Wasinger, Susan (745.5 WAS)
*We sing and clap to our opening song. All Stillwater Public Library
story times start with this song and the children learn that song means
story time is starting.
Song: Picking Up Litter ("If you're happy and you know it")
If you see a piece of litter, pick it up!
If you see a piece of litter, pick it up!
It's an easy thing to do,
Takes a second, maybe two.
If you see a piece of litter, pick it up!
Book: Stuff! Reduce, Reuse, Recycle by Steven Kroll
Song: Reduce, Reuse, Recycle ("For He's a Jolly Good Fellow")
Reduce, reuse, recycle
Reduce, reuse, recycle
Reduce, reuse, recycle
Be kind to Mother Earth
Be kind to Mother Earth
Be kind to Mother Earth
Reduce, reuse, recycle
(Repeat the first four lines)
Book: In My World by Lois Ehlert
Craft: Ring toss out of recycle material. We used a paper towel roll as a stand with a base of cardboard. The children colored paper plates which had the center cut out. Put the two together and you have a carnival game!
Beyond Storytime: http://www.epa.gov/superfund/kids/earthday.htm
Other Books to Checkout:
Children of the Earth...Remember by Schim Schimmel
Each Living Thing by Joanne Ryder
Earth Day Birthday by Pattie Schnetzler (E 782.42 SCH)
The World is Waiting for You by Barbara Kerley (E 910 KER)
And for adults:
On a farther shore: the life and legacy of Rachel Carson by Souder, William (B CAR)
The Story of Stuff: How our obsession with stuff is trashing the planet, our communities, and our health-- and a vision for change by Leonard, Annie (306.4 LEO)
Eco-craft: Recycle-recraft-restyle by Wasinger, Susan (745.5 WAS)
Tuesday, March 25, 2014
Friendship Storytime
Everyday is a great day to celebrate friends!
Opening Song: The More We Get Together
Opening Song: The More We Get Together
*We sing and clap to our opening song. All Stillwater Public Library
story times start with this song and the children learn that song means
story time is starting.
Book: A Friend Like You by Tanja Askani
Rhyme: Friends at Play
Book: The Bear Who Shared by Catherine Rayner
Song: If You're Friendly... (sung to If you're happy and you know it)
Book: Make a Wish Bear by Greg Foley
Craft: Make a card to send to a friend. Our card showed a picture of two friends holding hands.
Beyond Storytime: Head to a playground around Stillwater and make a new friend.
Other Books to Checkout:
When No One is Watching by Eileen Spinelli
Waddles by David McPhail
How to Be Friends with a Dragon by Valeri Gorbachev
Chicken, Pig, Cow Horse Around by Ruth Ohi
And for adults:
The Friendship Crisis: finding, making, and keeping friends when you're not a kid anymore by Marla Paul (302.3 PAU)
How to start a conversation and make friends by Don Gabor (153.6 GAB)
Monday, March 10, 2014
Time/ Days of the Week Storytime
Opening Song: The More We Get Together
*We sing and clap to our opening song. All Stillwater Public Library
story times start with this song and the children learn that song means
story time is starting.
Book: Bats Around the Clock by Kathi Appelt
Song: Hickory Dickory Dock
Book: The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle
Song: Addams Family Days of the Week song
Book: One Lighthouse One Moon by Anita Lobel
Craft: Mouse ran up the clock- using a mouse on a string.
Beyond Storytime: http://www.timemonsters.com/
Other Books to Checkout:
And for adults:
Time management for dummies by Jeffery Mayer (658.4 MAY)
Monday, March 3, 2014
Dr. Seuss Storytime
Dr. Seuss is a very important author in children's literature. To celebrate Dr. Seuss and children's literature the National Educational Association promotes Read Across America. Learn more here.
Do you have a favorite Dr. Seuss book?
Opening Song: The More We Get Together
*We sing and clap to our opening song. All Stillwater Public Library
story times start with this song and the children learn that song means
story time is starting.
Extra: Explore the library's Dr. Seuss pop up book
Song: I'm gonna shake my sillies out
Craft: Create your own paper Dr. Seuss hat. The children can color the stripes in the Dr. Seuss hat and then attach a paper head band to create the hat.
Beyond Storytime: Find out more about Dr. Seuss and play games!
Other Books to Checkout:
Anything by Dr. Seuss! Look in the picture book and easy reader sections.
Biographies found under B SEU
And for adults:
The Secret Art of Dr. Seuss by Geisel, Theodor Seuss (759.13 GEI)
Monday, February 17, 2014
Valentine's Day Storytime
Happy Valentine's Day
Opening Song: The More We Get Together
*We sing and clap to our opening song. All Stillwater Public Library
story times start with this song and the children learn that song means
story time is starting.
Song: If you Love Me and You Know It (tune: If your happy and you know it)
If you love me and you know, Clap your hands....
Say I "I Love You"
Blow a kiss
Give a hug
Book: Sweet Hearts by Jan Carr
Finger Play: Make a Heart
I put my hands together,
this is how i start;
I curve my fingers right around
and I can make a Heart!
Book: Never Too Little to Love by Jeanne Willis (Storyhour book)
Craft: Heartful Pig. Using a large pink heart for the face, small pink hearts for the ears and nose create a pig face for a Valentine's card. "Hogs and Kiss for you!"
Beyond Storytime: http://www.readingrockets.org/calendar/valentine
Other Books to Checkout:
Will You Be My Valenswine? by Teresa Bateman
Monday, February 10, 2014
Olympic Storytime
Sochi 2014 is here and Stillwater Public Library is ready to cheer on all the Olympians! Have your child enroll in our Winter Reading Program. We are encouraging all our Olympic readers to make reading a daily habit.
Opening Song: The More We Get Together
*We sing and clap to our opening song. All Stillwater Public Library
story times start with this song and the children learn that song means
story time is starting.
Book: Ten on the Sled by Kim Norman
Song: At the Olympics (sung to "Did you ever see a lassie?")
Song:The Olympic Games (sung to "Mary had a little lamb")
Craft: Ice skates. Glue silver painted craft stick on to a paper cut out of an ice skate. Use yarn to lace up the skates.
Beyond Storytime:
Other Books to Checkout:
Tacky and the Winter Games by Helen Lester
Dream Big, Little Pig! by Kristi Yamaguchi
Good Sports: rhymes about running, jumping, throwing and more by Jack Prelutsky & Chris Raschka
Olympic songs via the fabulous http://storytimewithmissmollie.blogspot.com/2012/07/storytime-olympics.html
Tuesday, February 4, 2014
January Babytime Recap
Babytime is Tuesdays at 9:30am in the Storytime Room.
In January we emphasized Colors. While learning the colors will be an ongoing process for many years, using as lots of descriptive words while talking to your baby helps improve their vocabulary. As you get in the habit of pointing out objects and describing them,
When your baby begins to say a few words, repeat what she says and add to it. For example, if your baby says “dog,” respond with “Yes, that is a really big, brown dog.”
Books read this month:
Brown Bear Brown Bear what do you see? by Bill Martin
Colors by Roger Pare (E535.6 Pare)
Go!Go! Bobo: Colors by Simon Basher
Mouse Paint by Ellen Stoll Walsh
Cat's Colors by Jane Cabrera
Flappy waggy wiggly by Amanda Leslie (Storyhour Book)
Favorite Song: Baa Baa Black/White Sheep
What (usually) Happens in Babytime:
Start with our Welcome Song: The More We Get Together
Sing a nursery rhyme or other songs
Read a book
Do movement songs or action rhymes
Read a book or pass out a board book to each family. This time allows the parent to read with their child on their lap and create a safe and familiar space for the baby to explore a book such as holding it and turning pages.
Pass out scarves to play peek a boo
Repeat our welcome song
Bring out the bin of toys to play.
Parent Tip: http://www.zerotothree.org/child-development/play/playing-with-babies.html
Monday, February 3, 2014
Groundhog's Day Storytime
Punxsutawney Phil has predicted six more weeks of winter. Are you excited?
Opening Song: The More We Get Together
*We sing and clap to our opening song. All Stillwater Public Library
story times start with this song and the children learn that song means
story time is starting.
Fingerplay: Five Little Groundhogs
Fingerplay: Groundhog in his hole
Book: Bear's Shadow by Frank Asch (library copy of oversized book)
Craft: Pop-up groundhog. Use a Styrofoam cup as the burrow, decorate the outside like the woods. Attach an image of a groundhog on a straw. Poke the straw through the bottom of the cup and move it up and down to make the groundhog pop out of the burrow!
Beyond Storytime: http://www.groundhog.org/teachers/
Other books to checkout:
Groundhog Day! by Gail Gibbons (E 394.261 Gibbons)
Friday, January 17, 2014
Snow Storytime
Reminder the library will be closed Jan 19 & 20 in observance of Martin Luther King Jr Day.
On Tues., Jan 21st at 4pm we will be hosting Iditarod Tales
Opening Song: The More We Get Together
*We sing and clap to our opening song. All Stillwater Public Library
story times start with this song and the children learn that song means
story time is starting.
Rhyme: I'm a little snowman
I'm a little snowman, round and fat
Here are my buttons, here is my hat
When the sun comes up, I can not play
Because I slowly melt away
Flannel board: Five little snowflakes
Craft: Make a snowman using a white piece of paper wrapped around a toilet paper roll. Decorate with a hat, eyes, nose, scarf and buttons!
Beyond Storytime: http://www.notimeforflashcards.com/2014/01/snow-window-winter-activity-for-kids.html
Other books to checkout:
Tuesday, January 14, 2014
Hats & Mittens Storytime
Brr the Arctic chill is in the air, time to bundle up with warm hats and mittens!
Opening Song: The More We Get Together
*We sing and clap to our opening song. All Stillwater Public Library
story times start with this song and the children learn that song means
story time is starting.
Song: The Mitten by Jan Brett (tune: Farmer in the Dell)
The mitten on the ground.
The mitten on the ground.
Heigh-ho! It's cold outside.
The mitten on the ground.
The (mole) snuggles in.
The (mole) snuggles in.
Heigh-ho! It's cold outside.
The (mole) snuggles in.
[After the last animal, all pretend to sneeze and fall out of the mitten.]
Book: A Mountain of Mittens by Lynn Plourde
Flannel Board: Kitten's missing mitten
http://www.daycareresource.com/printables/flannelstories/kittensmittens.pdf
Book: Don't Worry, Douglas! by David Melling
Craft: Color hat and mitten pictures. Join the mittens together by punching a hole and tying a string.
Beyond Storytime: Coloring pages and activities to go with Jan Brett's books
Other books to checkout:
Pebble's Way by Simon VanBooy
Wednesday, January 8, 2014
Family Tree Storytime
We held a special storytime based on families in conjunction with the 'Caring for Family Treasure' Exhibit. Panels containing tips on how to preserve heirlooms such
as textiles, family videos, jewelry, clocks and watches, photographs,
paintings and paper items such as books, letters, certificates and
maps are on display. The exhibit, designed by collections care professionals, offers
helpful hints on the proper display, storage and handling of items, as
well as expert advice on things not to do. It will be available for
viewing during library business hours.
On Saturday, Jan. 4, at 1-3 p.m., DeLano and library volunteer Theo Yoast will present a class designed to help beginners learn how to start researching their family genealogy. The first part of the session will introduce participants to the resources available in the library, throughout town and on the web. The second part will introduce the library’s online genealogy databases, Heritage Quest and Ancestry.com.
On Saturday, Jan. 11 at 1 p.m., Aimee Bryant, director of the Sheerar Museum of Stillwater History, and Registrar Ashlie J. Hight will present “Family Heirloom Preservation.” The presentation will go into more depth on caring for the types of items displayed in the exhibit.
Opening Song: The More We Get Together
Book: Homeplace by Anne Shelby
Fingerplay: "Finger Family"
(Hands up, fingers pointing up)
This is my father (point to a finger for each member of the family)
This is my mother
This is my brother
This is my sister
This is the baby (Baby is the little finger)
Oh! How I love them all. (Clasp hands together, hold to chest)
Book: I am me by Karla Kuskin
Fingerplay: "Grandparents"
Here are Grandma's spectacles (circle eyes with thumb & index finger)
and here is Grandma's hat. (Circle hands on head)
Grandma claps her hands like this, (clap)
and folds them in her lap. (Lay hands in lap)
Here are Grandpa's spectacles(circle eyes with thumb & index finger)
and here is Grandpa's hat. (Circle hands on head)
Here's the way he folds his arms. (fold arms)
And takes a little nap. (lower head, close eyes, snore)
Book: Harris finds his feet by Catherine Rayner
On Saturday, Jan. 4, at 1-3 p.m., DeLano and library volunteer Theo Yoast will present a class designed to help beginners learn how to start researching their family genealogy. The first part of the session will introduce participants to the resources available in the library, throughout town and on the web. The second part will introduce the library’s online genealogy databases, Heritage Quest and Ancestry.com.
On Saturday, Jan. 11 at 1 p.m., Aimee Bryant, director of the Sheerar Museum of Stillwater History, and Registrar Ashlie J. Hight will present “Family Heirloom Preservation.” The presentation will go into more depth on caring for the types of items displayed in the exhibit.
Opening Song: The More We Get Together
*We sing and clap to our opening song. All Stillwater Public Library
story times start with this song and the children learn that song means
story time is starting.
Fingerplay: "Finger Family"
(Hands up, fingers pointing up)
This is my father (point to a finger for each member of the family)
This is my mother
This is my brother
This is my sister
This is the baby (Baby is the little finger)
Oh! How I love them all. (Clasp hands together, hold to chest)
Book: I am me by Karla Kuskin
Fingerplay: "Grandparents"
Here are Grandma's spectacles (circle eyes with thumb & index finger)
and here is Grandma's hat. (Circle hands on head)
Grandma claps her hands like this, (clap)
and folds them in her lap. (Lay hands in lap)
Here are Grandpa's spectacles(circle eyes with thumb & index finger)
and here is Grandpa's hat. (Circle hands on head)
Here's the way he folds his arms. (fold arms)
And takes a little nap. (lower head, close eyes, snore)
Book: Harris finds his feet by Catherine Rayner
Craft: Family Tree. We created family trees by gluing pictures of family members on a tree. At home you could make a similar tree using photographs of families members.
Beyond Storytime: http://kids.familytreemagazine.com/kids/default.asp
Other books to checkout:
Beginnings: How Families Come to be by Virginia Kroll
Shanghai Messenger by Andrea Cheng
When We're Together by Claire Freedman
When We're Together by Claire Freedman
Thursday, January 2, 2014
December Babytime Recap
Babytime is Tuesdays at 9:30am in the Storytime Room.
In December we emphasized clothing and body parts.
Songs that use body parts develop both gross motor skills and body self-awareness. We have a variety of songs and rhymes to point out body parts. You can use more then just your hands or fingers to identity those body parts for example we use scarves. Using a variety of items provides a new and engaging experience and makes old songs new and fun! All learning is best when it’s playful and fun.
Books we read this month:
Freddie Gets Dressed by Nicola Smee
How do I put it on? by Shigeo Watanabe
Ten Tiny Toes by Todd Tarpley
Here Are My Hands by Bill Martin Jr and John Archambault
Dream Snow by Eric Carle
Santa goes everywhere
Favorite Song: Wake up toes http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IrWNq3WGKzE
What (usually) Happens in Babytime:
Start with our Welcome Song: The More We Get Together
Sing a nursery rhyme or other songs
Read a book
Do movement songs or action rhymes
Read a book or pass out a board book to each family. This time allows the parent to read with their child on their lap and create a safe and familiar space for the baby to explore a book such as holding it and turning pages.
Pass out scarves to play peek a boo
Repeat our welcome song
Bring out the bin of toys to play.
Parent Tip:
From Playpen to Playground- The Importance of Physical Play for the Motor Development of Young Children
In December we emphasized clothing and body parts.
Songs that use body parts develop both gross motor skills and body self-awareness. We have a variety of songs and rhymes to point out body parts. You can use more then just your hands or fingers to identity those body parts for example we use scarves. Using a variety of items provides a new and engaging experience and makes old songs new and fun! All learning is best when it’s playful and fun.
Books we read this month:
Freddie Gets Dressed by Nicola Smee
How do I put it on? by Shigeo Watanabe
Ten Tiny Toes by Todd Tarpley
Here Are My Hands by Bill Martin Jr and John Archambault
Dream Snow by Eric Carle
Santa goes everywhere
Favorite Song: Wake up toes http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IrWNq3WGKzE
What (usually) Happens in Babytime:
Start with our Welcome Song: The More We Get Together
Sing a nursery rhyme or other songs
Read a book
Do movement songs or action rhymes
Read a book or pass out a board book to each family. This time allows the parent to read with their child on their lap and create a safe and familiar space for the baby to explore a book such as holding it and turning pages.
Pass out scarves to play peek a boo
Repeat our welcome song
Bring out the bin of toys to play.
Parent Tip:
From Playpen to Playground- The Importance of Physical Play for the Motor Development of Young Children