Trick or Treat Story Time: October 26-27, 2015

Books:
The 13 Nights of Halloween by Guy Vasilouich
The Ghosts Go Haunting by Helen Ketteman
Los Gatos Black on Halloween by Marisa Montes
The Night Before Halloween by Natasha Wing *
The Shivery Shades of Halloween by Mary McKenna Siddals
The Spooky Wheels on the Bus by J. Elizabeth Mills *
We're Off to Find the Witch's House by Mr. Krieb *

Craft: Bat Trick or Treat Bag
This week's craft was based on the picture above.  About 2" of the top of a paper lunch bag was cut off to make the bat's body.  The children colored wings, feet, teeth, eyes, and ears and then glued them to the bag to make a bat.

Literacy Extensions:
- After reading The Shivery Shades of Halloween ask your child to come up with more Halloween items for the different colors.
- Talk about Halloween safety with your child before going trick or treating.


Notes:
I changed the words of The Spooky Wheels on the Bus to "The Halloween Bus goes . . . " to make it even more Halloween appropriate.
The children went trick or treating throughout the library after the story time.

Pumpkins Story Time: October 19-20, 2015

Books:
Five Little Pumpkins by Iris Van Rynbach
I Like Pumpkins by Jerry Smath
Plumply, Dumply Pumpkin by Mary Serfozo *
The Pumpkin Fair by Eve Bunting *
Pumpkin Trouble by Jan Thomas *

Craft: Jack-O-Lantern Picture
The kids were given a picture of a pumpkin to color.  They then made the jack-o-lantern's mouth and eyes by gluing on three pieces of black yarn (each about 9" long).

Literacy Extensions:
- Carve or paint a jack-o-lantern with your child.  As you are deciding on its features' discuss how different styles of features express different emotions.
- See how many different types of food your child thinks can be made with pumpkins.  If you have carved a pumpkin, save the pumpkin seeds to roast.

Leaves Story Time: October 13, 2015

Books:
Fall Is Not Easy by Marty Kelley *
Fall Leaves Fall! by Zoe Hall *
Leaf Man by Lois Ehlert
Leaves by David Ezra Stein *
When the Leaf Blew In by Steve Metzger *

Craft: Leaf Necklace
Children colored a cardstock leaf cutout before stringing it onto curling ribbon along with pony beads.  It was then tied into a necklace.


Literacy Extensions:
- After reading Leaves by David Ezra Stein, learn about hibernation and which animals hibernate during the winter.
- Make a leaf collage.  Pick up fallen leafs and see what kind of picture your child can make with those leaves.


Notes:
Story Time was not held on Monday as the library was closed for a Staff Development Day.

I like to use curling ribbon with the younger kids when making necklaces.  It is thick enough that the beads do not fall off after they are slid on.  Also, it is stiffer which makes it easier for the kids to handle and to thread on beads.

Apples Story Time: October 5-6, 2015

Books:
All for Pie, Pie for All by David Martin
Found an Apple by Harriet Zierfert *
Ned's New Home by Kevin Tseng
Tap the Magic Tree by Christie Matheson *
Ten Red Apples by Pat Hutchins *


Craft: Paper Plate Apple
Our craft this week was very similar to the picture at left.  The children chose either a red, green, or yellow sheet of paper to rip into pieces.  They then glued them to a large paper plate.  The final step was to color and then glue a stem and leaf onto the top of the plate.

Literacy Extensions:
- It's the season to go apple picking.  Learn about how apples are grown before going apple picking with your child.
- Explore a little math with your child by having them poll the people they know to see what their favorite color of apple is.  Then make a chart of the results.


Notes:
The book Found an Apple can be sung to the tune of "Oh My Darling Clementine".