Trick or Treat Story Time: October 27-28, 2014

Books:
Little Goblins Ten by Pamela Jane *
Monster Mash by David Catrow
Monster Parade by Shana Corey
The Night Before Halloween by Natasha Wing *
One Witch by Laura Leuck *
Wild Witches' Ball by Jack Prelutsky

Craft: Frankenstein Trick or Treat Bag
Our craft this week was based on the picture above.  We made our trick or treat bags out of brown lunch bags that the kids colored green.  They then glued on eyes and strips of black paper for the hair and neck bolts.  They could then add a mouth, nose and scars if they liked.

Literacy Extensions:
- Write your own version of "Over in the Meadow" using monsters (i.e. Little Goblins Ten)
- Discuss safety tips for trick or treating.

Notes:
We went trick or treating through the library after the story times this week.

Skeleton Hiccups Story Time: October 20-21, 2014

Books:
Bedtime for Monsters by Ed Vere
The Skeleton in the Closet by Alice Schertle *
Skeleton Hiccups by Margery Cuyler *
Thelonius Monster's Sky-High Fly Pie: A Revolting Rhyme
              by Judy Sierra
Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak

Craft: Skeleton Picture
Children glued cut out bones and a skull to paper with an simple line-drawing skeleton.

Literacy Extensions:
- Talk about why people have / need bones.  Check out a nonfiction, informational book about skeletons and look at the pictures of the different bones in the body.
- Pick a simple recipe and make it with your child - discussing the various steps as you do them (i.e. Thelonius Monster's Sky-High Fly Pie)

Notes:
This story time is not for children with fears of monsters.  While the children found Skeleton Hiccups funny, several of the children were scared by The Skeleton in the Closet and Bedtime for Monsters.  I suggest reading the books yourself before sharing with your children.

Ghost in the House Story Time: October 14, 2014

Books:
Ghost in the House by Ammi-Joan Paquette *
Go Away, Big Green Monster by Ed Emberley *
Love Monster by Rachel Bright *
Ten Creepy Monsters by Carey F. Armstrong-Ellis
Yeti, Turn Out the Light! by Greg Long *

Craft: Ghost
Our craft this week was based on the craft pictured to the left.  Each child was given a piece of white cardstock that had been cut in half longways that they colored a face onto.  They then glued on pieces of white crepe paper along the bottom before gluing the cardstock into a cylinder.

Literacy Extensions:
- Have you child come up with their own counting rhyme featuring monsters (i.e. Ten Creepy Monsters or Ghost in the House)
- Talk about body parts by having your child describe the various features of the characters in the book your reading (i.e. Go Away, Big Green Monster)

A Monster in the Book Story Time: October 6-7, 2014

Books:
Don't Squish the Sasquatch by Kent Redeker
Five Ugly Monsters by Tedd Arnold *
If You're a Monster and You Know It by Ed Emberley *
Leonardo, the Terrible Monster by Mo Willems *
The Monster at the End of This Book by Jon Stone *

Craft: Monster
The kids decorated a cardstock cutout monster with cryaons and sparkles.

Literacy Extensions:
- Discuss common fears with your child -- monsters, dark, storms, etc.  Then talk about ways we can deal with our fears.  (i.e. The Monster at the End of This Book)
- Revise common rhymes and songs to include monsters (i.e. If You're a Monster and Five Ugly  Monsters)