Words! Words! Words! New Please Touch Discovery Center

From the website Days of the Year:

Lost for words? Before falling back on your standard, boring vocabularly, why not consider using taking advantage of Thesaurus Day and looking up an exciting alternative?

Words! Words! Words!

January 18th is Thesaurus Day. Thesaurus Day celebrates the birthday of the author of Roget's Thesaurus, Peter Roget, who was born on this day in 1779. To celebrate the library plans on offering special programming to share our favorite juicy words and discover original fresh words.

As we get ready for the day we created a new Please Touch Discovery Center to provide hands on activities for children and their families as an introduction to grammar and to learn more about synonyms.

The center explores just three parts of speech: nouns, verbs and adjectives and we also introduced synonyms. We found the games on Pinterest, a wonderful site that acts as a virtual bulletin board.

The roll a dice game can be found on the blog First Grade Parade. This is a favorite for children in first grade and beyond! The Verb and Noun Town and Synonym Match Up games were found on the on the website The First Grade Sweet Life.

Books added to the display were picture books and several from Brian Cleary's collection and from Capstone's If You Were a series. We also found picture books filled with juicy words. There are some worksheets available to extend the activities introduced. (I apologize! These were from several sources and I did not take note of the website.)

Below are some pictures of the station. We hope you enjoy!
-r

Make a silly sentence with a
 noun, verb and adjective!

File Folder Game found online

Match up found on Pinterest

Take homes to extend the activities

It's Talk Like a Pirate Day!

Aargh!

Today is Talk Like a Pirate Day and the Book Bunch celebrated early with treasure maps!

On Thursday for our opening greeting, members were invited to share their pirate name and the name of the vessel. I was Cap'N aRrrrrr (get it?) and sailed on ye Olde Lansdonwe Ship. Other pirates included Pirate Feather and Captain Jack.

We read the book Pirates Don't Change Diapers by Melinda Long, illustrated by David Shannon and then we created treasure maps.

Our book and a map to treasure!

A map in progress

Getting inspiration

More maps

Some 'gold' coins

The Book Bunch meets Thursdays at 4:00 PM and is for children ages 4-7.

April is...

...Poetry Month!
What's your favorite poems?

We love poetry and wanted to share some with you. Today is also April's Fools Day and we found this funny poem from Gregory K that celebrates poetry AND the 'foolingest' day of all: April's Fools Day. Gregory's blog is call GottaBook; he shares his original poems as well as works by other writers.

The

APRIL FOOLS by Gregory K.


Someone took my toothpaste tube and filled it up with jam.
Someone changed my sandwich into fluffernut-and-ham.
Someone laced my sneakers so they tie down by my toes.
Someone changed the vacuum so it doesn't suck, it blows.
Someone poured the sugar out and filled the bowl with salt.
Someone messed up all the clocks and made it seem my fault.
For me today, I have to say, it's nervousness that rules....
Since all that happened yesterday and now it's April Fools'!
 
To learn more about the history of April's Fools Day check out this link we found at info please
To learn more about Poetry Month check out the ideas on the Scholastic web page.
 
 
Did you get fooled today?
-r

Pirate Week Day 5

The fairer sex!
Men were not the only ones who plundered and sailed!
Name two female pirates and when they sailed.
Bonus:
Name a fictional female pirate.

Today, December 26th, we share...

...books about Kwanzaa.

Habari Gani!

Kwanzaa is a 7 day festival celebrating the African American people, their culture and their history. It is a time of celebration, community gathering, and reflection. A time of endings and beginnings. Kwanzaa begins on December 26th and continues until New Years Day, January 1st.
Share a book about the seven principles of Kwanzaa! We like Seven spools of thread : a Kwanzaa story by Angela Shelf Medearis ; illustrated by Daniel Minter.


The seven principles are:

The Seven Principles (Nguzo Saba) of Kwanzaa are:
Umoja (oo-MOH-jah): Unity
To strive for and maintain unity in the family, community, nation and race.

Kujichagulia (koo-jee-chah-goo-LEE-ah): Self-Determination
To define ourselves, name ourselves, create for ourselves and speak for ourselves.

Ujima (oo-JEE-mah): Collective work and responsibility
To build and maintain our community together and make our brother's and sister's problems our problems and to solve them together.

Ujamaa (oo-jah-MAH): Collective economics
To build, maintain, and support our own stores, establishments, and businesses.

Nia (NEE-ah): Purpose
To make our collective vocation the building and developing of our community in order to restore our people to their traditional greatness.

Kuumba (koo-OOM-bah): Creativity
Using creativity and imagination to make your communities better than what you inherited.

Imani (ee-MAH-nee): Faith
To believe with all our heart in our people, our parents, our teachers, our leaders and the righteousness and victory of our struggle.


Like Christmas, Kwanzaa has its own customs and traditions. Kwanzaa Recipes will have any class cooking and sampling unique foods for the season. Find a handful of ideas for activities your students will enjoy at Kwanzaa Activities at this site. Learn about the holiday, create holiday stationery, and bring the celebration to your computer desktop with Kwanzaa Fun from Billy Bear.
Re-create the Kwanzaa kinara, or candle holder, on paper with the pattern from Kwanzaa Craft.

Happy Kwanzaa from our family to yours!
-r

Today, December 21st is...

...the first Day of Winter! (brrr!)



Jack Frost comes nipping at our noses as we welcome winter! The official change of season begins today. Read "Duck at the door" by Jackie Urbanovic.

In Duck at the Door, Max the duck decides to stay behind when his flock flies south so Irene invites him to stay with her for the winter.

If you do not know how to celebrate the first day of winter, The Winter Solstice has some terrific suggestions. You can take quizzes about winter traditions and Build Your Own Stonehenge! Winter Fun has downloads, games, and printable word searches.

-r

Today, December 20th, we share...

...The snowbelly family of Chillyville Inn by Cheryl Hawkinson; illustrations by Mike Esberg.

In our area, there is a threat of a snowstorm. What better way to celebrate an upcoming snowstorm than to read about snowmen?!?

In our featured book, the Snowbelly Family prepares their inn for frosty holiday travelers. In our tale. the bustling preparations this season go a little differently than planned.

We also have available:
Snip, Snip, Snow by Nancy Poydar
In this book, Sophie wants it to snow and anxiously awaits a predicted snowstorm. Included are instructions for making paper snowflakes.

Snowballs by Lois Ehlert
Some children create a family out of snow. Includes labeled pictures of all the items they use, as well as information about how snow is formed.

All You Need for a Snowman by Alice Schertle ; illustrated by Barbara Lavallee.
Lists everything that one needs to build the perfect snowman, from the very first snowflake that falls.

These books and more are available for checkout.
If it doesn't snow, don't pout. Have an indoor snowball fight using lightly crumpled paper.
-r

Today, December 19th, we share...

...books about The Nutcracker!

On this day in 1892 the first performance of the ballet was held as a double premiere together with Tchaikovsky's last opera Iolanta at the Imperial Mariinsky Theatre in St. Petersburg, Russia.

Listen to an online audio clip of the Nutcracker Suite Overture by Tchaikovsky. The Official Nutcracker Site has music and a description of the story. Kids Domain offers the Nutcracker tale and midi files of many of the tunes on The Nutcracker Story and Music page.

The library offers several versions of the book. Borrow one today!
-r

Today, December 18th, we share...

...I want a hippopotamus for Christmas. Words and music by John Rox ; illustrated by Bruce Whatley.

This book is based in a song originally sung by Gayla Peevey. Ms. Peevey was a regional child star of the Oklahoma City area. When released nationally by Columbia Records, the song shot to the top of the charts and the city zoo acquired a baby hippo named Matilda.
A popular legend holds that this 1953 hit had been recorded as a fund-raiser to bring the city zoo a hippo; but in a 2007 radio interview with Detroit-based WNIC radio station, Peevey clarified that the song was not originally recorded as a fundraiser. Instead, a local promoter picked up on the popularity of the song and Peevey's local roots, and launched a campaign to present her with an actual hippopotamus on Christmas.
The campaign succeeded, and she was presented with an actual hippopotamus, which she donated to the city zoo. The hippopotamus lived for nearly 50 years.
Gayla Peevey later recorded as Jamie Horton, scoring the Billboard Hot 100 charter "My Little Marine" in 1960.

-r
Information for this post was found on Wikipedia and Mistle Tunes.

Today, December 17th, we share...

...Books made into Movies!



Today we present books that have been made into movies. We also use this as an opportunity to tell you about our brand new program Based on the Book Movie Festival*.
This list was made possible by our friends Brandi, Erin, Tina, Margie, Colleen, Amy, Mary, Rachel, Sue and Ann. Thank you ladies for all of your help!


A Christmas Memory by Truman Capote
How the Grinch Stole Christmas by Dr. Seuss. There is a live action as well as animated version!
The Polar Express by Chris van Allsburg. CGI at it's best!
A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens. Take your pick! Mickey, Barbie, Alistair Cooke. Live action or animated!
Miracle on 34th Street by Valentine Davies.
The Best Christmas Pageant Ever by Barbara Robinson.
The six mean Herdman kids lie, steal, smoke cigars (even the girls) and then become involved in the community Christmas pageant.

Yes Virginia, There is a Santa by Francis P Church.
Eight-year-old Virginia O'Hanlon tries every source to find out if there is a Santa Claus and finally writes to the editor of the New York Sun for her answer. For elementary grades.

A Christmas Story which is adapted from Jean Sheppard's In God We Trust, All Others Pay Cash, and Wanda Hickey's Night of Golden Memories and other disasters.

The Year Without Santa by Phyllis McGinley. The animated version features Mr. Heat Miser!

There are many, many many wonderful books for you to share. Stop by for more recommendations or to check out some of these great finds.

-r

*Based on the Book Movie Festival
Beginning on January join us monthly for movies adapted or based on best selling books. Check out and read the book (which will be available at the circulation desk) and then join us for a monthly screening of the movie. Light refreshments will be served.
You may drop in for either the book or the movie or enjoy both!
Attendees under 13 may need parental consent for some titles. Please see Miss Rachee for more
details

Today, December 15, we share...

...Books for babies!

One of the best gifts you can give your child is a love of reading. Babies, toddlers, and preschoolers learn to love reading when they equate it with loving attention and a happy time of sharing. The best place to start with young children is with board books since they enjoy being able to handle books themselves. A board book is a type of book published on a hard cardboard. This cardboard is used for the cover as well as the pages, unlike a typical book with cardboard binding and paper pages, and is intended to be more durable. These books are intended for small children to use and play with, as well as luxurious editions of regular books, are often boarded.

Enjoy one of these books with the smallest book lovers!
From Usborne's Touchy Feely collection:
That's Not My Santa or That's Not My Reindeer
This series features delightful touchy-feely book with simple, repetitive text. There are bright, colourful illustrations with textures to touch and feel on every page.

From Tomie DePaola:
Tomie's Little Christmas Pageant.
From Publishers Weekly:
Tomie dePaola adapts his 1978 The Christmas Pageant for the board book Tomie's Little Christmas Pageant, in which the boy narrator winningly tells the story of Christmas: "Welcome to our play. It is about a baby who was born many, many years ago on the very first Christmas. This is how it all happened." Ages 2-5.

From e.e. cummings:
Little Tree
Inspired by a poem by E.E. Cummings, this is the story of a little tree that finds its own special place in the world as a much-loved Christmas tree.

Enjoy these and other board books for little readers.
-r

December 13 we shared...

...Zigazak! : a magical Hanukkah night by Eric Kimmel; illustrated by Jon Goodell.

Two evil spirits wreak havoc on the town of Brisk's Hanukkah celebration, until the town's wise rabbi puts a stop to their mischief.

Stop by the library to make your own dreidel!

-r

December 12 (was)...

...Poinsettia Day!

The poinsettia is a beautiful plant with a nasty reputation that is not deserved! Previously thought to be poisonous, the poinsettia is actually safe. Although people are not encouraged to eat the plant, it is not harmful to children and animals. Read about the background of this staple of the holiday season at Poinsettia History. Read The Facts About Poinsettia online.Coloring Fun has a printable coloring sheet of the Poinsettia.

Share Tomie Depaola's The Legend of the Poinsettia.

Information for this day was taken from Education World Website.

-r

Today, December 11th we share...

...Snowmen at Christmas!

We found out what they do at night, now let's see how they celebrate Christmas. In Caralyn and Mark Beuhner's beautifully illustrated picture book, find out the Christmas Eve festivities that the snowmen practice. They hold a party in the center of town and celebrate with food, music and dancing, and presents.


Make your own tasty snowmen!
Pretzel sticks and marshmallows can be a sweet treat to enjoy while reading this book.
Using three marshmallows to create a body, take a small pretzel stick to hold them together. Stick two more pretzels into the sides of the stack to form arms, and press on candy bits for facial features and buttons.
Munch and enjoy!

-r

Today, December 10th, we share...

...Dream Snow by Eric Carle!

From Kirkus Review:
The venerable and prolific Carle (Hello, Red Fox, 1998, etc.) offers a quiet Christmas story with a little music at the end. A farmer lives alone on a small farm with so few animals that he calls them One, Two, Three, Four, and Five. Oh, he also has a tree named Tree. One night near Christmas he falls asleep in his favorite chair after his peppermint tea, and dreams that he is covered in a white blanket. On successive pages, One the horse, Two the Cow, Three the sheep, and so on are each covered in a snowflake blanket, accomplished by an acetate page of flakes and an amorphous shape that when turned reveals the animal. When the farmer awakes and finds it has snowed for real, he dresses himself warmly, decorates Tree, and strews gifts for all five animals under it. When he shouts "Merry Christmas to all!" he pushes a button that children can push, producing a lovely Yuletide tinkle. The pictures are in Carle's trademark richly colored and textured collages that capture the snowy magic of Christmas. Adults may be charmed to see that Carle dedicates the book to Barry Moser, who modeled for the farmer, although from the photo on the back cover Carle and Moser could pass for brothers with their shiny pates and neat white beards.


Use this wonderful teaching plan found on the Scholastic Website to extend this wonderful book.
-r

Today, December 9th, we share...

...some of the staff favorites!

Miss Rachee chooses as one of her favorites: Pearl S. Buck's Christmas Day in the Morning.
Share this wonderful tale of a young boy giving the gift of time to his hard working father.

Ms. Luzille chooses Dr. Seuss's How the Grinch Stole Christmas

Look for more coming soon!
-r

Today, December 8th, we share...

...A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens!

It's been adapted by many in print, plays and on screen: Mickey Mouse, Mr. Magoo, Divas and Bill Murray to name a few. Why not revisit the original Dickens' tale this time of year? There are plenty to choose from in print form. Borrow one from the library today and get ready to read the tale of a miser who learns the true meaning of Christmas when three ghostly visitors review his past and foretell his future.

Think Scrooge's story of redemption is familiar? Check out Dr. Seuss' How the Grinch Stole Christmas and compare!
-r

Today, December 7th is...

...Cotton Candy Day!

To prepare for the numerous holiday guests why not bake a batch of Cotton Candy Sugar Cookies?

We also present Cynthia Rylant's The Cookie Store Cat to share. Read the story of the wonderful life of a cat who lives in the back of a cookie store. This book also has three recipes available for making more sweet treats!

Other books to share:
Messy Bessey's holidays by Patricia and Fredrick McKissack ; illustrated by Dana Regan.
Bessey and her mother bake cookies for Christmas, Kwanzaa, and Hanukkah, and after cleaning up the kitchen, they distribute the treats to their neighbors.


Cook-a-doodle-doo! by Janet Stevens and Susan Stevens Crummel ; illustrated by Janet Stevens.
With the questionable help of his friends, Big Brown Rooster manages to bake a strawberry shortcake which would have pleased his great-grandmother, Little Red Hen.


Enjoy!
-r

Today, December 6th is...

...Mitten Tree Day.

When Nicki loses his new snow white mitten and it becomes the home for a mole, rabbit, badger and a host of other forest creatures!
Will they all fit? Find out by reading today's book, The Mitten adapted and illustrated by Jan Brett.

If you stop in the library, help decorate the Family Room. Color a mitten and leave it for Miss Rachee. She'll add it to the display of mittens already hanging throughout the Family Room

Other books to share about clothes:
Simms Taback's Joseph Had a Little Overcoat
Wonder how you can make something out of nothing? Be inspired by Joseph as he transforms his shabby overcoat into a jacket, vest and other objects.

Have fun with this title!
Design your own vest: Using a brown paper bag cut it into the shape of a vest. Using marker, crayons, or other art supplies design the vest.

Talk about recycling.

Margaret Chodos-Irvine's Ella Sarah gets dressed
Are you a wild and wacky dresser? Mix your stripes with plaid? Join Ella Sarah as she ignores family advice while dressing for a tea party

Have fun!
-r

Today, December 5th, we share...

...our book pick is Mrs. Greenberg's Messy Hanukkah by Linda Glaser; illustrated by Nancy Cote. Get ready for Hanukkah with as while reading about Rachel and her friend, Mrs. Greenebrg's attempts to make latkes.

The Jewish holiday Hanukkah literally lights up the home. The eight-day, 2,000-year-old holiday, also called the Festival of Lights, celebrates God's glory, an ancient victory of the Jews over their enemies, and the freedom Jews enjoy today.

Learn more about this ancient tradition with these titles:

For children age 3-6, try the imaginatively illustrated picture book Hanukkah!, written by Roni Schotter and illustrated by Marilyn Hafner (Little, Brown, 1990). A winner of the National Jewish Book Award, the book tells the simple but compelling story of how a family celebrates Hanukkah.

For children age 7-9, The Story of Hanukkah, written by Amy Ehrlich with paintings by Ori Sherman (Dial, 1989), is a good choice. The text is direct and poetic; the paintings are sumptuous, conveying powerful emotions.

For ages 9 and up, the chapter book Light Another Candle, written by Miriam Chaikin and illustrated by Demi (Clarion, 1981), has a great deal of fascinating detail and puts the story into historical perspective.

Try your own latkes!
Make your own using this link from All Recipes or find one of your own!
Hanukkah begines on Friday, December 11th.