All posts by Children's Staff
Talk With Your Child!
Read with humor and expression in your voice. 
Use different voices for different characters.
Toddler Storytime, Friday, December 16
We warmed up quickly today during Toddler Storytime with lots of movement and dancing, just what toddlers want to do! They were energetic today, moving all about and really enjoyed going after the bubbles.
We read the classic book, The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle. Lots of us left hungry! There are so many wonderful stories, with fabulous illustrations, by Eric Carle. Treat you and your child to some time to enjoy some of his books.
Storytimes resume in late January.
Baby Storytime, Friday, December 16
The weather was very cold outside, but inside we gathered for a warm and wonderful baby storytime together! We spent a lot of time sharing stories about the babies and finding out what is going on in everyone’s lives. It is always great to hear the milestones and struggles going on while caring for a baby all day!
We ended the story time session with a Sandra Boynton book, filled with great drawings, silly text and lots of fun. Check out any Sandra Boynton book and you are sure to get a smile on your face!
Storytimes resume at the end of January.
Play With Your Child!
Provide inexpensive props for your children to play with such as large boxes, old clothes, costumes for 
dress up, empty food containers, paper shopping bags and empty paper towel tubes.
Books for 4-6 year olds on Tuesday, December 13
It was a mixed bag at storytime today, as we read some books that were new to me, as well as some old favorites. Today was the last “big kid” storytime until next year! We will resume on January 24. Whichever December holidays you celebrate, may they be filled with family, friends, and of course– lots of stories!
Paul lives alone in his fish bowl, and he feels pretty bored until Bernadette arrives, and helps him to notice all the wonders he can see nearby. Bernadette’s whimsical explanations of everyday objects had us all giggling; and her enthusiasm and friendship for Paul make for a happy ending to the tale.
Gaston is also a story about friendship, and seeing yourself and the world in a different way. Gaston doesn’t look like his mother or sisters, but he works hard to be a “proper pooch”– and so he is. One day, at the park, Gaston’s poodle family meets a bulldog family; and it seems a terrible mistake has been made. So where does Gaston fit in, and where does he really belong? Read the story to find out!
Simms Taback’s short fable is one of my personal favorites. Vivid and colorful illustrations show Joseph as he turns his old overcoat into successively smaller items as each gets worn out. What happens when he has nothing left? Joseph’s cleverness and creativity in solving his problem can be appreciated by all.
Pete the Cat is back! In this story it’s bedtime, and Pete enjoys a twinkling star looking over him as he has his supper, takes a bath, and puts on his starry PJs. The text includes some verses of the song that most of us aren’t familiar with, and Pete serenades us right to the end. Good night, Pete!
Dads and Donuts, Saturday, December 10
Lots and lots of dads (and moms and grandparents and others) joined us today for a fun and spirited storytime, complete with books, songs and refreshments!
These are the books we read, with the catalog description of each story. You can click on the picture of each book to see if it is in at the library for you to check out and enjoy.
A very small mouse finds a very big chocolate chip, raspberry cream cupcake and must ask for help from his animal friends to get it home–all of whom agree in exchange for a little nibble. (BEWARE: You will definitely want to eat a cupcake when you are done with this story.)
A young boy tries to win a goldfish at the carnival and ends up with a far bigger prize. (With a sweet and lovely ending.)
After a day of playing, a young dinosaur needs help from Mama at bathtime before being tucked into bed. (What the catalog description does not tell you is that you will find you and your child laughing on each page!)
Three siblings come upon an elephant named Phil and decide to bring him home–and then they have to hide him from their parents. (With a warm and surprising ending!)
(After a show of hands to see who wished there was snow outside we read this book. All children raised their hands and not one grownup!) Animals fall off a speeding sled one by one until only a lonely caribou is left, chasing a giant snowball that has engulfed the falling animals.
Lots of stories, lots of songs, lots of fun at Dads and Donuts!
Toddler Storytime, Friday, December 9
Imagine over 20 toddlers (and their caregivers) all sitting on the rug listening intently to a story, so immersed in the text that you could hear a pin drop! That’s what a Sandra Boynton story will do until … everyone starts smiling and laughing and “mooing.” Today’s story, Barnyard Dance by Sandra Boynton, is one of many silly stories by her that will grab you and your child into a wonderful experience of enjoying a book together. If you are not familiar with Sandra Boynton, head over to the library to check some out and if you are familiar with her, be sure to check out all the different fun and engaging stories she has written. I guarantee it will put a smile on your face and a giggle in your body!
Baby Storytime, Friday, December 9
All the babies seemed to be having a great time today, with lots of smiles, giggles and laughs. Today’s story, The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle will carry you through many many years of reading and rereading. The story is beautiful in itself, with great repetition to allow a little one to eventually “read it” him/herself. This classic story will become a favorite for many of you! But for now, with the babies, it is simply an enjoyable story with lots of colorful pictures and various words to help you and your baby make connections with the world. If you are unfamiliar with it, try reading it and see if you like it. If you do like it, read it again and again to your baby!
Write With Your Child!
Have your child “write” a thank you 
note after receiving a gift. This can be a drawing, dictated words or your child’s own writing.
Books for 4-6 year olds on Tuesday, December 6
Have you ever had a grumpy day? A real out-of-sorts, frowny, unhappy day? A day where you’d much rather go back to bed and pull the covers over your head? Our storytime books today were all about being grumpy or cranky— and then figuring out how NOT to be! We enjoyed lots of expressive illustrations that let us know, without a doubt, how someone was feeling. The good news: being cranky does come to an end. Now that’s something to smile about!