Penguins Story Time: January 13-14, 2020

Books:
Baby Penguins Everywhere! by Melissa Guion
If You Were a Penguin by Wendell Minor *
Little Penguin Gets the Hiccups by Tadgh Bentley *
A Penguin Story by Antoinette Portis
Tacky the Penguin by Helen Lester
Waddle! Waddle! by James Proimos *

Craft: Folded Penguin
Kids colored a penguin face/belly before gluing it to a larger blue circle to make the penguin body.  They could then glue on a strip of orange paper for a scarf if they liked.  The sides of the circles were then folded in to make the penguin's wings.  (Note: If you want a chubby penguin, don't fold in the wings.)

Extension Activities:
- Practice letter recognition by asking your child to point out all the letter "P"s on the page as you are reading.
- Visit the Penguin and Puffin House at the zoo.


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Animals in Winter Story Time: January 6-7, 2020

Books:
Bear Snores On by Karma Wilson
First Snow by Bernette Ford
Moon Glowing by Elizabeth Partridge
Sleep, Big Bear, Sleep! by Maureen Wright *
Snow Rabbit, Spring Rabbit by Il Sung Na *
When Winter Comes by Nancy Van Laan *

Craft: Winter Animals Picture
The kids colored a winter animals coloring sheet.  They then glued on snowflake sequins.

Extension Activities:
- Add some interaction into your reading of stories.  Ask your child what they think will happen on the next page.  Ask them to find items in the pictures as you read.
- Take a nature walk in the winter.  See what animals, plants, etc. you can spot on your walk.  Discuss with your child how things look different on winter walks vs. summer walks.

Merry Christmas! Story Time: December 23, 2019

Books:
Click, Clack, Ho! Ho! Ho! by Doreen Cronin
Dinosaur vs. Santa by Bob Shea *
Merry Christmas, Big Hungry Bear! by Don & Audrey Wood *
What Could Be Keeping Santa? by Marilyn Janovitz

Craft: Christmas Tree
This week's craft was based on the picture at left.  The children glued four strips of paper to a jumbo craft stick to make a Christmas tree.  (4-1/2"x1", 3-1/2"x1", 2-1/2"x1", 1-1/2"x1")  They then glued on a large star sequin to the top and could glue on sequins for ornaments.

Extension Activities:
- There are many traditions at Christmas.  Explore the different traditions with your child.  Learn the meaning behind the traditions and how Christmas is celebrated around the world.  (There are several books available at the library on these topics.)
- Go on a Christmas light scavenger hunt.  Drive through various neighborhoods to view the Christmas lights keeping track of different displays you see (i.e. snowflakes, stars, nativity, snowman, blow-up, etc.)

Our Favorite Books of 2019: December 9-10, 2019

Books:
I Can Only Draw Worms by Will Mabbitt *
Llama Destroys the World by Jonathan Stutzman *
What Does an Anteater Eat? by Ross Collins *

Craft: Llama
The kids colored a cutout llama and a rectangle that was folded and glued onto the llama's back for a blanket.  They could then decorate the llama with sequins.  They could also turn it into a holiday ornament if they liked.


Extension Activities:
- After reading What Does an Anteater Eat?, learn true information about anteaters including what they really eat.
- After reading a book, see if your child can illustrate it drawing only worms like in I Can Only Draw Worms.


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Our Favorite Books of 2019: December 2-3, 2019

Books:
I Am a Tiger by Karl Newson *
Most Marshmallows by Rowboat Watkins *
Piranhas Don't Eat Bananas by Aaron Blabey *
Truman by Jean Reidy

Craft: Paper Plate Piranha
An approximate 3" triangle was cut from a small paper plate.  The kids colored the plate (body), triangle (tail), and a top fin cutout before gluing them all together.  Four small triangles were glued on as teeth.

Extension Activities:
- I Am a Tiger has a mouse naming animals based on just a few characteristics.  See if your child can name items from just a few characteristics.  (i.e. - small tail, large feet and ears = elephant, underwater, lots of arms = jellyfish, etc.)
- Most Marshmallows encourages kids to dream big.  Ask your child about their biggest dreams.