Penguins Story Time: July 28-29, 2014

Books:
Baby Penguins Everywhere by Melissa Guion
Lost and Found by Oliver Jeffers *
Penguin by Polly Dunbar *
Tacky the Penguin by Helen Lester *
A Penguin Story by Antoinette Portis


Craft: CD Penguin
This was a variation of the craft pictured above.  We made ours on old CDs that no longer worked.  We also had all the hearts cut out (body, wings, feet) so all the kids had to do was color the pieces before gluing them to the CD.  They could also add a magnet to the back if they liked.

Literacy Extensions:
- Learn more about penguins and their habitats.  There are several great books on penguins at the library. 
- Use the book Lost and Found to discuss with your child what they should do if they are lost.

Rabbits Story Time: July 21-22, 2014

Books:
The Black Rabbit by Philippa Leathers *
A Boy and His Bunny by Sean Bryan *
It's Not Easy Being a Bunny by Marilyn Sadler
Peek-A-Boo Bunny by Holly Surplice *
What Does Bunny See? A Book of Colors by Linda Sue Park *

Craft: Bunny Mask
The center was cut out of a 9" paper plate.  Two bunny ears were glued to the top of the plate.  A jumbo craft stick was glued / taped to the bottom of the plate.  Cotton balls could be pulled apart and glued around the edge of the plate and the ears to make the bunny fuzzy.  The mask is held up so that you can see the child's face in the center of it.

Literacy Extensions:
- Practice rhyming using A Boy and His Bunny.  See if your child can come up with more activities they can do "with a bunny on their head" making sure to rhyme with "head".
- Explore shadows.  Discuss how shadows are created and then play with making shadows. (i.e. The Black Rabbit)

Moose Story Time: July 14-15, 2014

Books:
Ernest, the Moose Who Doesn't Fit by Catherine Rayner *
If You Give a Moose a Muffin by Laura Joffe Numeroff
Looking for a Moose by Phyllis Root *
Moose on the Loose by Kathy-Jo Wargin
Moose Tracks by Karma Wilson
This Is a Moose by Richard T. Morris *

Craft: Moose Head
Children glued handprint cutouts to a moose head and colored.

Literacy Extensions:
- Explore the differences between a moose, deer, and reindeer with your child.
- Practice rhyming.  See how many words your child can rhyme with "moose".

Snakes Story Time: July 7-8, 2014

*** Miss Amy is on vacation this week.  Story Times were led by Ms. Cathy. ***




Books:
Can I Play Too? by Mo Willems
Class Two at the Zoo by Julia Jarman
The Greedy Python by Richard Buckley
I Need a Snake by Lynne Jonell
Mouse Count by Ellen Stoll Walsh
My Snake Blake by Randy Siegel

Craft: Paper Chain Snake
Kids glued multi-colored strips into a paper chain.  A larger loop was used for the head.

Literacy Extensions:
- Use the paper chain snake to practice counting.
- Use the paper chain snake to practice color identification.

Bugs Story Time: June 30-July 1, 2014

Books:
Aaaarrgghh! Spider! by Lydia Monks
Can You Make a Scary Face? by Jan Thomas *
Some Bugs by Angela DiTerlizzi
Soup for One by Ethan Long
Tiny Little Fly by Michael Rosen *
The Very Clumsy Click Beetle by Eric Carle
Waiting for Wings by Lois Ehlert

Craft: Bug Headband
The headbands we made were very similar to those pictured at left.  The main difference is that we had paper strips for the antennae instead of pipecleaner.

Literacy Extensions:
- Discuss with your child the life cycle of a butterfly (i.e. Waiting for Wings)
- See how many different kinds of bugs your child can name (i.e. Some Bugs)