2026 Missouri Building Block Award Nominees: Week 1 -- 11/3/26

Story Times are held weekly on Monday and Tuesday mornings at 10:00 am. A monthly virtual Story Time is posted the first Tuesday of the month on the library's Facebook page.  It is available to view for one month before the next video is posted.

Click HERE for this month's virtual Story Time.

I Hate Everything! by Sophy Henn
E-I-UFO by Zach von Zonk

Books:
Broken by X. Fang
Every Monday Mabel by Jashar Awan
Go, Go, Dodo! by Huw Lewis Jones
Let's Be Bees by Shawn Harris
The Man Who Didn't Like Animals by Deborah Underwood
Pop! Goes the Nursery Rhyme by Betsy Bird
Rory the Remarkable Dragon by Kathryn Rammell
Shmoof by Heidi  McKinnon

Craft: UFO
- Print template onto cardstock or heavy paper

- Cut out pieces (body, head)

- Color pieces

- Fold alien in half along dotted line.

- Glue head to folded edge of body.

- Fold outward along the bottom dotted lines and glue to CD.

- Optional: Glue sparkles to CD for additional decoration.

Extension Activities:

- Make a simple ghost out of a coffee filter.  Color the coffee filter with markers before spraying it lightly with water to make the colors bleed.  Place a battery tea light in a small votive candle holder.  Then drape the coffee filter over the candle holder.

- Play alien themed versions of party games (ex - Pin the Spaceship in Outer Space, Shooting Star Toss, Alien Bowling, Star Hopscotch, etc.).

Template --

Virtual Story Time: Gather Grateful -- November 2026

Each month, Miss Amy records a virtual Story Time that goes along with the monthly theme.  It will be posted monthly in the morning of the first Tuesday of the month.  (The video is available to watch for one month before a new one is uploaded.)

Click HERE for this month's virtual Story Time.

Gather Grateful by Meg Litwin

Books:

Finding Grateful by Dianne White

How to Say Thank You by Jean Reagan

Simple Thanks by Deborah Wiles

Thank You: Saying Thanks to . . . Everything by Jarvis

Thankful by Eileen Spinelli

Thanks for Thanksgiving by Julie Markes

We Give Thanks by Cynthia Rylant

Extension Activities:

- Make a Grateful Wreath.  Cut out construction paper leaves.  Write things you are grateful for on the leaves.  Glue the leaves around a paper plate with the center cut out.

- Write thank you cards.  Direct your child(ren) to write a thank you letter to someone that did something for them or gave them something.  If they are unable to write yet have them draw a thankful picture.

- Go on a Gratitude Search.  Have your child(ren) point on out things that make them happy and talk about why they appreciate them.

Halloween -- 10/27/26

Story Times are held weekly on Monday and Tuesday mornings at 10:00 am. A monthly virtual Story Time is posted the first Tuesday of the month on the library's Facebook page.  It is available to view for one month before the next video is posted.

Click HERE for this month's virtual Story Time.

Ten Orange Pumpkins: A Counting Book by Stephen Savage
Pumpkin Trouble by Jan Thomas

Books:
Here a Creak, There a Shriek! by Kelly Conroy
I Love You, Boo! by J.D. Forester
There Was an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Bat! by Lucille Colandro
Wee Witches' Halloween by Jerry Smath
We're Off to Find the Witch's House by Mr. Krieb
What the Dinosaurs Did on Halloween by Refe Tuma

Craft: Halloween Garland

- Print template

- Cut out pieces (cat, ghost, Frankenstein, vampire, jack-o-lantern)

- Color pieces

- Glue pieces into cylinders

- Cut out strips of colored paper

- Connect Halloween pieces by sliding colored strips between two characters and gluing colored strips into loops to make a garland

Extension Activities:

- A popular "trick" for trick-or-treating in St. Louis is to tell a joke for your treat.  Practice telling different jokes with your child.  There are several joke books for kids available for checkout at the library.

- If you make a jack-o-lantern, bake the pumpkin seeds for a snack.

Template --

Fall Leaves -- 10/20/26

Story Times are held weekly on Monday and Tuesday mornings at 10:00 am. A monthly virtual Story Time is posted the first Tuesday of the month on the library's Facebook page.  It is available to view for one month before the next video is posted.

Click HERE for this month's virtual Story Time.

Fall Leaves Fall by Zoe Hall
Fall Is Not Easy by Marty Kelley

Books:

The Last Leaf by Ali Pye

Leaf Jumpers by Carole Gerber
Leaf Man by Lois Ehlert

Leaves by David Ezra Stein
The Secret of Fall by John Coy

A Very Big Fall by Emmy Kastner


Craft: Leaf Necklace

- Cut out leaf shapes from cardstock or contruction paper

- Color leaves if needed

- Punch a hole into ends of leaves

- Cut a piece of curling ribbon

- String leaves onto curling ribbon

- Optional: Add pony beads to necklace between leaves

Extension Activities:

- Go on a leaf hunt.  How many different types of leaves can you find?  What color of leaves can you collect?  Sort the leaves by color, shape, size, etc.

- Practice scissor skills by having your child cut leaves.

Animals in Autumn -- 10/13/26

Story Times are held weekly on Monday and Tuesday mornings at 10:00 am. A monthly virtual Story Time is posted the first Tuesday of the month on the library's Facebook page.  It is available to view for one month before the next video is posted.

Click HERE for this month's virtual Story Time.

Every Autumn Comes the Bear by Jim Arnosky
The Busy Little Squirrel by Nancy Tafuri

Books:

Hedge Hog! by Ashlyn Anstee

Hedgehog and the Log by Pam Fong

Hide and Seek, Nuts to Eat by Tracy C. Gold

Molly, Olive, & Dexter: Who's Afraid of the Dark by Catherine Rayner
Where's Baby? by Anne Hunter
Whooo Is Still Awake? by Brigette Barrager

Craft: Owl Headband

- Print template onto cardstock or heavy paper

- Cut out pieces (owl, strip)

- Color pieces

- Glue pieces together to make a headband

Extension Activities:

- Go on a nature walk to see which animals you can spot.

- Help feed the birds and animals this winter by putting out birdseed or other animal friendly food for them to eat.

Template --