2015 Building Block Award Nominees Story Time: September 28-29, 2015

Books:
Digger Dog by William Bee *
I'm My Own Dog by David Ezra Stein *
Naked! by Michael Ian Black *

Craft: Digger
The children colored and then glued together cardstock pieces to make a digger.  The template can be found at the bottom of this entry.

Literacy Extensions:
- After reading Digger Dog, talk about being a paleontologist who searches for dinosaur fossils.
- After reading I'm My Own Dog, learn about dog training.  Several books are available at the library on dog training.


Notes:
Attendees at this week's story times were able to vote for their choice for the Missouri Building Block Picture Book Award.  You are still able to vote even though you didn't attend by visiting the Kansas City Public Library's online voting at http://www.kclibrary.org/kids/missouri-building-block-2015 or by voting at the Arnold Branch during the month of December.

Template for Digger Craft

2015 Building Block Award Nominees Story Time: September 21-22, 2015

Books:
Bear Sees Colors by Karma Wilson *
Hooray for Hat! by Brian Won *
This Book Just Ate My Dog! by Richard Byrne *

Craft: Sun Visor
Our craft this week was based on the picture at left.  Children colored and then glued sparkles to a paper plate crescent that had holes punched at the triangle ends.  After the plate was decorated, a cut rubberband was tied through the holes.


Literacy Extensions:
-  Extend the book Bear Sees Colors by going on a nature walk with your child and asking him / her to name items of particular colors.
- Talk about feelings emotions.  What makes you grumpy?  What helps to make you feel better?

2015 Building Block Award Nominees Story Time: September 14-15, 2015

Books:
Down by the Barn by Will Hillenbrand *
Row Row Row Your Boat by Jane Cabrera *

Craft: Scarecrow
The kids were given a gingerbread man die cut, overalls, and a hat cut from cardstock to color.  They were then glued together along with yellow construction paper strips for straw.


Literacy Extensions:
- Extend Row Row Row Your Boat or Down by the Barn by adding more verses for additional animals.
- Pick an animal to learn more about.  Books are available at the library on most animals for children.


Notes:
As there was no Monday Story Time last week due to the Labor Day holiday, this week's Monday story time included the books from both this week and last week.

2015 Building Block Nominees Story Time: September 8, 2015

Books:
Buddy and the Bunnies in Don't Play with Your Food by Bob Shea *
Oh So Brave Dragon by David Kirk *

Craft: Bunny
This week, we made a bunny by coloring and then gluing two ears to a bunny cutout.  We then glued a pompom to the back for a tail.





Literacy Extensions:
- After reading Don't Play with Your Food, talk about different things we can do with our friends.
- After reading Oh So Brave Dragon, discuss why being with someone helps us feel brave.


Notes:
This is the first week of the 2015 Building Block Award nominees story times.  The last week of the month, children will be able to vote for their choice for the award.

Story Time was not held on Monday due to the library being closed the Labor Day holiday.  Next Monday's story time will contain all four books from this week and next week's Tuesday story times.

Days & Months Story Time: August 31-September 1, 2015

Books:
Chicken Soup with Rice: A Book of Months by Maurice Sendak
Fortune Cookies by Albert Bitterman *
Twelve Hats for Lena: A Book of Months by Karen Katz *
The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle *
When Lucy Goes Out Walking: A Puppy's First Year by Ashley Wollf

Craft: Very Hungry Caterpillar
This week for our craft we made a variation on the Very Hungry Caterpillar. (The template is below).  The children colored a circle head, seven oval body pieces, and short pieces of paper for legs and antennae.  The oval body pieces had the days of the week printed on them.  The children were to put them in order before gluing the caterpillar together.  After they were finished they could get a clothespin to mark which day of the week it is.

Literacy Extensions:
- Explain the calendar to your child.  Have them fill out a calendar template by writing in the month and the days of the week.  See if they can remember what they do on different days of the week.
- Talk about the various holidays that can be found during each month.

Template for Very Hungry Caterpillar