Baby/Toddler Story Time (Yellow Theme), 7/31/12

Opening Song: Hello, how are you?

Rhyme: Blue is the Lake

 

Book: This is the Sunflower by Lola M. Schaefer, illustrated by Donald Crews (2000)

When the nannies find a book boring, they choose not to listen. This was such a book. I've tried this one a couple of times, and it is not something I'll use in this story time again. 

Song (with ukulele and flannel board): Oh Yellow Flower

Song: Head and Shoulders, Baby

Rhyme:  Here is the Earth

I needed a simple night-themed rhyme, so I wrote this one:

Here is the earth so big and round.

Here is the moon so bright.

And here are the stars that sparkle and shine

all through the night. 

Book: The House in the Night by Susan Marie Swanson, illustrated by Beth Krommes (2008) 

Rhyme: Lemon Tree
This rhyme from Everything Preschool was actually very well-received. The kids didn't do it themselves, but watching me do the motions seemed to really entertain them. 

Book: School Bus by Donald Crews (1984)

Song (with ukulele): The Wheels on the Bus 

What a disaster. The adults know this song better than any other, but unless I do the motions, they won't do them, even when I demonstrate the motion before each verse. I won't do this one with the ukulele again.

Book: Five Little Ducks by Ian Beck (1993)

Song: Sunny Day by Elizabeth Mitchell 

Song: Chickadee

Goodbye Song: We Wave Goodbye Like This

Summer Baby Lap Time #3, 7/27/12

Since I was out doing story time at another branch, I once again missed the Thursday session of Baby Lap Time last week, but I was back for Friday. I did mostly old favorites, with just one or two new things thrown in.

Opening Song: Please Tell Us Your Name

Rhyme: Cheek Chin

Song: Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star

Song: Dance Your Fingers

Book: Whose Toes are Those? by Jabari Asim, illustrated by LeUyen Pham (2006)

Song: Head and Shoulders, Baby

Book: Goodnight, Owl by Dwell Studio (2011)

Song: Two Little Owls
This is an old song by Burl Ives that I found on YouTube. It has many more verses  than I used, but the owl verse is really cute and easy to learn.

Song: Mrs. Moon (based on Mr. Sun)

Song: If You're Happy and You Know It 

Rhyme: Hey, Diddle Diddle

Song with Shaker Eggs: ABCs

Song with Shaker Eggs: Can You Shake Your Egg With Me? 

Song with Shaker Eggs: Shake My Sillies Out 

Goodbye Song: Shaker Egg Goodbye Song

6 New York City Novels for Tweens & Teens

	The New York Four by Brian Wood and Ryan Kelly An NYU Freshman gets comfortable in New York City in this YA graphic novel.
	Bright Young Things by Anna Godbersen In May 1929, three young women arrive in New York City, set on making their dreams come true, but soon discover the harsh truth of making it on their own.
	Wonderstruck by Brian Selznick Though they are initially strangers living far apart in time, Ben and Rose both find their destiny in the Big Apple.
	Suite Scarlett by Maureen Johnson In her family's struggling hotel, Scarlett's job is to look after the needs of their sole guest, an eccentric woman named Mrs. Amberson.
	Secret Society by Tom Dolby Students at a prep school are tapped for a secret society, but they're not prepared for the grueling initiation.
	The Darlings Are Forever by Melissa Kantor Three best friends try to survive their separation as high school begins and each one attends a different school.

Baby/Toddler Lap Time (White Theme), 7/27/12

I continued my color-themed series yesterday with a story time all about the color white.

Opening Song (with ukulele): Hello, how are you? 

Rhyme: Blue is the Lake

Book: The Snowy Day by Ezra Jack Keats (1962)
This book is too long for toddlers. I didn't think so, but I was wrong.

Song (with stick puppets): Dance Like Snowflakes 
I didn't look up the words prior to story time so I changed the last "in the air" to "everywhere." It worked just as well. 

Song: Head and Shoulders, Baby

Rhyme: Hop Your Bunnies
This worked so well for settling the kids at the main library the other day, I gave it another try. It didn't have quite the same calming effect, but the kids did enjoy doing it. 

Book: Little White Rabbit by Kevin Henkes (2011)

Song: If You're Happy and You Know It

Book: It Looked Like Spilt Milk by Charles G. Shaw (1988)
I was shocked at how much everyone - adults and kids - paid attention to this book. It's so simple and yet, they were nearly silent and clapped loudly at the ending. 

Song: I'm a Little Teapot

Song (with ukulele and flannel board): Mary Had a Little Lamb
At the last minute, I decided I wanted to use the new set of sheep I made for Baa Baa Black Sheep, so I adapted the words of this song as follows:

Mary had a little lamb,

little lamb, little lamb
Mary had a little lamb
His fleece was... 

...white as snow

...red as a rose

...green as grass

...blue as the sea

...black as night

Book: Pete the Cat: I Love My White Shoes (2010) by Eric Litwin and James Dean
I have read this book several times to this group, and finally, they have started saying "Goodness no!" along with me. 


Song: One Little Finger 

Songs (with ukulele): ABCs / Twinkle Twinkle
Next time, I'll include Baa Baa Black Sheep in this medley too.

Goodbye Song: We Wave Goodbye Like This