Christmas Story Time -- 12/20/22

Story Times are held weekly on Monday and Tuesday mornings at 10:00 am.  Online Story Times will be posted weekly on Tuesday mornings.  (The video is available to watch for one week before a new one is uploaded.)

Click HERE to view this week's Story Time video.

Cookiesaurus Christmas by Amy Dominy

The 12 Days of Christmas by Jane Cabrera

Books:

Christmas Parade by Sandra Boynton

Little Santa by Jon Agee

Six Snowy Sheep by Judith Ross Enderle

Snowmen at Christmas by Caralyn Buehner

Vegetables in Holiday Underwear by Jared Chapman

Craft: Dino-ROAR-mus Tree

- Print template onto heavy paper or cardstock

- Cut out pieces (tree, dinosaur)

- Color pieces

- Place glue onto tab of tree, roll into cone, and glue in place

- Glue dinosaur to top of tree

Extension Activities:

- Have a family carol sing-along.  Sing each family member's favorite holiday song.

- Make and decorate holiday cookies with your children.

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Our Favorite Picture Books of 2022 -- 12/13/22

Story Times are held weekly on Monday and Tuesday mornings at 10:00 am.  Online Story Times will be posted weekly on Tuesday mornings.  (The video is available to watch for one week before a new one is uploaded.)

Click HERE for this week's Story Time video.

Hamsters Make Terrible Roommates by Cheryl B. Klein
I'm a Unicorn by Helen Yoon
I Am a Baby by Bob Shea

Books:

Knight Owl by Christopher Denise
Moonlight by Stephen Savage

Craft: Hamster

- Print template on cardstock or heavy paper

- Cut out pieces (body, arms, legs)

- Color pieces

- Glue body into tube so ears on outside

- Fold tube at bottom so hamster will stand

- Glue arms to sides of hamster

- Glue feet to bottom of hamster

Extension Activities:

- After reading Hamsters Make Terrible Roommates, discuss with your child(ren) things they have in common with each other and you and things that are different.  Talk about compromise and how that works in your family.

- Ask your child their favorite book and why.  Then have them poll their friends and family as to their favorite books.  If you are unfamiliar with any of the books, check with the library to see if they are available to check out and read.

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Our Favorite Books of 2022 -- 12/6/22

Story Times are held weekly on Monday and Tuesday mornings at 10:00 am.  Online Story Times will be posted weekly on Tuesday mornings.  (The video is available to watch for one week before a new one is uploaded.)

Click HERE to view this week's Story Time video.

One Blue Gnu by Danna Smith
Color the Sky by David Elliott

Books:

Five Hiding Ostriches by Barbara Barbieri McGrath

Skip to My Moo by Iza Trapani

Walter Had a Best Friend by Deborah Underwood

Craft: Party Crown

- Print template at left onto heavy paper or cardstock

- Cut out template plus additional strips as needed

- Decorate pieces with colors, sequins, pompoms, etc

- Glue pieces into crown shape to fit child's head

Extension Activities:

- Play a game of Color I Spy.  Ask your child to find items of certain colors.

- Ask your child to make their own counting story.  

Fox Story Time -- 11/29/22

Story Times are held weekly on Monday and Tuesday mornings at 10:00 am.  Online Story Times will be posted weekly on Tuesday mornings.  (The video is available to watch for one week before a new one is uploaded.)

Click HERE for this week's Story Time video.

Where's Baby? by Anne Hunter
That Is NOT a Good Idea! by Mo Willems

Books:

Fox: A Circle of Life Story by Isabel Thomas

Fox Forgets by Suzanne Bloom

Fox in Socks by Dr. Seuss

The Fox on a Swing by Evelina Daciute

Foxy and Egg by Alex T. Smith

My Lucky Day by Keiko Kasza

Oh No! A Fox! by Janet Morgan Stoeke

The Rooster and the Fox by Helen Ward

Craft: Fox

- Print out template on cardstock or heavy paper

- Cut out pieces

- Color pieces

- Glue small hearts to rounded part of large heart for ears

- Glue half hearts onto large heart so points are at bottom

- Glue circle onto point of large heart for nose

Extension Activities:

- Have fun with rhyming.  See how many rhyming words your child can come up with for "Fox".

- Play a game of hide and seek like the characters in Where's Baby? do.

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Squirrels Story Time -- 11/22/22

Story Times are held weekly on Monday and Tuesday mornings at 10:00 am.  Online Story Times will be posted weekly on Tuesday mornings.  (The video is available to watch for one week before a new one is uploaded.)

Click HERE for this week's Story Time video.

Ol' Mama Squirrel by David Ezra Stein

Books:

Acorns Everywhere by Kevin Sherry
Bear and Squirrel Are Friends . . . Yes, Really! Yes, Really! by Deb Pilutti

Bob & Rob Love Corn on the Cob by Todd McQueen

Earl the Squirrel by Don Freeman

Nuts to You by Lois Ehlert

Scaredy Squirrel by Melanie Watt

The Squirrels Who Squabbled by Rachel Bright

Where Are My Books? by Debbi Ridpath Ohi

Craft: Squirrel

- Print template onto heavy paper or cardstock

- Cut out pieces (body, tail, ears)

- Color pieces

- Glue body into a tube

- Glue ears to top of body

- Glue tail to back of body

Extension Activities:

- Go on a nature walk in the woods and look for acorns.  See how many you can gather.

- Play a game of "Pin the Tail" on a squirrel.

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Owls Story Time -- 11/15/22

Story Times are held weekly on Monday and Tuesday mornings at 10:00 am.  Online Story Times will be posted weekly on Tuesday mornings.  (The video is available to watch for one week before a new one is uploaded.)

Click HERE for this week's Story Time video.

Good Night Owl by Greg Pizzoli

Books:

Baz & Benz by Heidi McKinnon

Hooray for Today! by Brian Won

Hoot Owl, Master of Disguise by Sean Taylor

Little Hoot by Amy Krouse Rosenthal

Craft: Owl

- Print out template on heavy paper or cardstock

- Cut out pieces (body, 2 wings) and color

- Glue wings to either side of body

Extension Activities:

- After reading (or watching) Good Night Owl, ask your child what in the story was not true about owls.  Explain how owls are nocturnal.  They sleep during the day and are awake at night.

- Take a visit to the Wild Bird Sanctuary to learn more about owls.

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Moose Story Time -- 11/8/22

Story Times are held weekly on Monday and Tuesday mornings at 10:00 am.  Online Story Times will be posted weekly on Tuesday mornings.  (The video is available to watch for one week before a new one is uploaded.)

Click HERE to view this week's Story Time video.

Looking for a Moose by Phyllis Root
Ernest, the Moose Who Doesn't Fit by Catherine Rayner

Books:

Duck, Duck, Moose! by Sudipta Bardhan-Quallen

If You Give a Moose a Muffin by Laura Numeroff

It's a Moose by Meg Rosoff

A Moose That Says Moooooooooo by Jennifer Hamburg

Moose Tracks! by Karma Wilson

Thidwick, the Big-Hearted Moose by Dr. Seuss

This Is a Moose by Richard T. Morris

Craft: Moose

- Print template onto heavy paper or cardstock and cut out

- Cut paper plate into quarters

- Color pieces of moose (one paper plate piece, two eyes, two antlers, one nose)

- Glue nose to point of plate

- Glue antlers to curved edge of plate

- Glue on eyes in middle of plate

Extension Activities:

- After reading through Looking for a Moose, go through it a second time trying to find all the hidden moose.  Practice counting by counting how many moose are on each page.

- Practice rhyming with your child by seeing how many words they can come up with that rhyme with "moose".

Template -- (makes two moose)

Bedtime for Monsters -- 11/1/22

Story Times are held weekly on Monday and Tuesday mornings at 10:00 am.  Online Story Times will be posted weekly on Tuesday mornings.  (The video is available to watch for one week before a new one is uploaded.)

Click HERE for this week's Story Time video.

Bedtime for Monsters by Ed Vere

Books:

Creepy Monsters, Sleepy Monsters by Jane Yolen

Leonardo the Terrible Monster by Mo Willems

Love Monster by Rachel Bright

The Monsters' Monsters by Patrick McDonnell

Sally and the Some-Thing by George O'Connor

Thelonius Monster's Sky-High Fly Pie by Judy Sierra

We're Going on a Goon Hunt by Michael Rex

When a Monster Is Born by Sean Taylor

Craft: Monster Bags

- Print template onto paper and cut out pieces (eyes, horns, teeth/hair)

- Color brown lunchbag as monster's body/head

- Color facial pieces and glue to bag to make a monster

*** Craft can be made so can be a puppet or a treat bag

Extension Activities:

- Play a game of pin the features on a monster.  Tape the outline of a monster's head onto the wall.  Then blindfold the kids and have them tape the different monster facial features to the head.

- Make some monster toast.  Place a few drops of food coloring into a small amount of milk.  Then paint a monster onto a piece of bread.  Lightly toast the bread before eating.

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Ghost in the House -- 10/25

 Story Times are held weekly on Monday and Tuesday mornings at 10:00 am.  Online Story Times will be posted weekly on Tuesday mornings.  (The video is available to watch for one week before a new one is uploaded.)

Click HERE for this week's Story Time video.

Ghost in the House by Ammi-Joan Paquette

Books:

Gustavo, the Shy Ghost by Flavia Z. Drago

Hardly Haunted by Jessie Sima

How to Haunt a House by Carolyn Crimi

Leo: A Ghost Story by Mac Barnett

The Little Ghost Who Lost Her Boo by Elanie Bickell

Ten Timid Ghosts by Jennifer O'Connell

Craft: Ghost

- Print out template on heavy paper or cardstock and cut out

- Color ghost's features (eyes and mouth)

- Cut out strips of white paper and glue to bottom of ghost

- Curl or fold strips

Extension Activities:

- Make a Boonana for a snack.  Peel a banana and cut in half.  Stick three chocolate chips onto the top half of the banana for eyes and a mouth. 

- Ghost in the House introduces several different types of monsters.  Have your child act out how those monsters would walk, dance, speak, etc.

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Skeleton Hiccups -- 10/18/22

Story Times are held weekly on Monday and Tuesday mornings at 10:00 am.  Online Story Times will be posted weekly on Tuesday mornings.  (The video is available to watch for one week before a new one is uploaded.)

Click HERE for this week's Story Time video.

Skeleton Hiccups by Margery Cuyler

Books:

Black and Bittern Was the Night by Robert Heidbreder

Bonaparte Falls Apart by Margery Cuyler

The Bones of Fred McFee by Eve Bunting

Give Me Back My Bones by Kim Norman

Samira and the Skeletons by Camilla Kuhn

Skeleton for Dinner by Margery Cuyler

The Skeleton in the Closet by Alice Schertle

Craft: Skeleton

- Print skull onto regular white paper

- Print skeleton guide onto colored paper making sure to leave room for skull to fit at top

- Cut white paper into small strips for bones

- Glue bones onto colored paper using the guide

- Glue skull to colored paper on top of bones

Extension Activities:

- Learn about the human body and the skeletal system.  Check out one of the nonfiction skeleton books from the library.

- Continue the skeleton craft fun by printing out some simple animal coloring sheets.  Then have your child draw or glue on white bone strips in what they think would be its skeletal system.

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Socksquatch -- 10/11/22

Story Times are held weekly on Monday and Tuesday mornings at 10:00 am.  Online Story Times will be posted weekly on Tuesday mornings.  (The video is available to watch for one week before a new one is uploaded.)

Click HERE for this week's Story Time video.

Socksquatch by Frank Dormer

Books:
The Boy Who Cried Bigfoot! by Scott Magoon

Don't Squish the Sasquatch by Kent Redeker

Elwood Bigfoot: Wanted, Birdie Friends! by Jill Esbaum

Not Yeti by Kelly DiPucchio

On Top of Old Smoky by B.A. Hoena

Yeti, Turn Out the Light! by Greg Long

Craft: Socksquatch

- Color template of Socksquatch

- Cut black yarn into 1" pieces (you'll need about 20 pieces)

- Glue pieces of yarn to Socksquatch for fur

Extension Activities:

- Make a game out of matching socks together.  Ask your child to find the matching socks.

- Make a sock puppet out of an old socks.

Where the Wild Things Are -- 10/4/22

Story Times are held weekly on Monday and Tuesday mornings at 10:00 am.  Online Story Times will be posted weekly on Tuesday mornings.  (The video is available to watch for one week before a new one is uploaded.)

Click HERE for this week's Story Time video.

Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak
The Monster at the End of This Book by Jon Stone

Books:  (Monsters)

Beware the Monster! by Michael Escoffier

Eat Pete! by Michael Rex

Monster Boogie by Laurie Berkner

The Monster on the Bus by Josh Lieb

Monsters Love Colors by Mike Austin

The Most Terrible of All by Muon Van

Quit Calling Me a Monster! by Jory John

Craft: Grover

- Print template, color, and cut out pieces (eyes, nose, mouth)

- Tear blue paper or tissue paper into about 1" pieces

- Glue blue paper/tissue paper onto a recycled cd-rom or cut out 4-1/2" circle to make Grover's head

- Glue eyes, nose, and mouth onto head to complete face

Extension Activities:

- Discuss common fear with your child (i.e. dark, monsters, storms, etc).  Then discuss ways to deal with those fears (i.e. night light, comfy to snuggle, etc.)

- After reading Where the Wild Things Are, have a Wild Rumpus with monster dancing, snacks, and games.

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Building Block Award Nominees -- Week 4: 9/27/22

Story Times are held weekly on Monday and Tuesday mornings at 10:00 am.  Online Story Times will be posted weekly on Tuesday mornings.  (The video is available to watch for one week before a new one is uploaded.)

Click HERE for this week's Story Time video.

Wolfboy by Andy Harkness
Sharky McShark by Alison Murray

Books: (2022 Building Block nominee books)

Bear Can't Wait by Karma Wilson

Don't Hug Doug (He Doesn't Like It) by Carrie Finison

Find Fergus by Mike Boldt
It Is (Not) Perfect by Anna Kang

One-osaurus, Two-osaurus by Kim Norman

Roar: A Book of Animal Sounds by Katerina Kerouli

Sharky McShark by Alison Murray

Something Stinks by Jonathan Fenske

Swim, Swim, Sink by Jenn Harney

Wolfboy by Andy Harkness

Craft: Shark

- Fold a small paper plate in half and color as shark's body making sure to draw on mouth and eyes

- Cut out a fin and tail from heavy paper or cardstock and color

- Glue fin to top fold of paper plate and tail to back to complete shark

Extension Activities:

- Learn more about sharks by checking out a nonfiction children's book from the library or visiting an aquarium.

- Click HERE to vote for your choice for the 2022 Missouri Building Block Picture Book Award.  

Building Block Award Nominees -- Week 3: 9/20/22

Story Times are held weekly on Monday and Tuesday mornings at 10:00 am.  Online Story Times will be posted weekly on Tuesday mornings.  (The video is available to watch for one week before a new one is uploaded.)

Click HERE for this week's Story Time video.

Bear Can't Wait by Karma Wilson
Roar! by Katerina Kerouli
One-osaurus, Two-osaurus by Kim Norman

Books: (2022 Building Block nominee books)

Bear Can't Wait by Karma Wilson

Don't Hug Doug (He Doesn't Like It) by Carrie Finison

Find Fergus by Mike Boldt
It Is (Not) Perfect by Anna Kang

One-osaurus, Two-osaurus by Kim Norman

Roar: A Book of Animal Sounds by Katerina Kerouli

Sharky McShark by Alison Murray

Something Stinks by Jonathan Fenske

Swim, Swim, Sink by Jenn Harney

Wolfboy by Andy Harkness

Craft: Dino Headband

- Print template onto heavy paper or cardstock and cut out

- Color pieces of headband

- Glue pieces together to fit child's head

Extension Activities:

- Practice animal sounds other than those found in Roar.  See how many different animal sounds your child can do.

- Play some games of hide and seek or Simon Says together.

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Building Block Award Nominees -- Week 2: September 13, 2022

Story Times are held weekly on Monday and Tuesday mornings at 10:00 am.  Online Story Times will be posted weekly on Tuesday mornings.  (The video is available to watch for one week before a new one is uploaded.)

Click HERE for this week's Story Time video.

Swim, Swim, Sink by Jenn Harney
It Is (Not) Perfect by Anna Kang
Something Stinks by Jonathan Fenske

Books: (2022 Building Block nominee books)

Bear Can't Wait by Karma Wilson

Don't Hug Doug (He Doesn't Like It) by Carrie Finison

Find Fergus by Mike Boldt
It Is (Not) Perfect by Anna Kang

One-osaurus, Two-osaurus by Kim Norman

Roar: A Book of Animal Sounds by Katerina Kerouli

Sharky McShark by Alison Murray

Something Stinks by Jonathan Fenske

Swim, Swim, Sink by Jenn Harney

Wolfboy by Andy Harkness

Craft: Skunk

- Print out template on heavy paper or cardstock and cut out pieces

- Cut out a 4" x 2" rectangle from heavy paper or cardstock as skunk's body

- Color pieces (body, head, paws, tail)

- Glue head to top of body

- Glue tail to side of body

- Glue paws as desired

Extension Activities:

- As we do not live by a beach, have your child build a "sandcastle" out of Lego or other building bricks.

- Do a smell test.  Ask your child to identify various scents with their eyes closed.  Possible scents could be food, perfumes, etc.

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Building Block Award Nominees: Week 1 -- 9/6/22

Story Times are held weekly on Monday and Tuesday mornings at 10:00 am.  Online Story Times will be posted weekly on Tuesday mornings.  (The video is available to watch for one week before a new one is uploaded.)

Click HERE for this week's Story Time video.

Don't Hug Doug (He Doesn't Like It) by Carrie Finison
Find Fergus by Mike Boldt

Books: (2022 Building Block nominee books)

Bear Can't Wait by Karma Wilson

Don't Hug Doug (He Doesn't Like It) by Carrie Finison

Find Fergus by Mike Boldt
It Is (Not) Perfect by Anna Kang

One-osaurus, Two-osaurus by Kim Norman

Roar: A Book of Animal Sounds by Katerina Kerouli

Sharky McShark by Alison Murray

Something Stinks by Jonathan Fenske

Swim, Swim, Sink by Jenn Harney

Wolfboy by Andy Harkness

Craft: Bear

- Print out template on heavy paper or cardstock

- Color template (arms, legs, head) and cut out

- Cut a piece of heavy paper or cardstock into quarters.  Color one quarter as the bear's body.

- Roll quarter sheet and glue into a tube

- Glue legs around bottom back of the tube

- Glue arms around center back of the tube

- Glue head to top of the tube

Extension Activities:

- Take a poll of your friends and family to see what their preferred greeting is -- hug, handshake, high five, etc.

- Play a game of Hide & Seek with your bear.

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More Learning Concepts: 8/30/22

Story Times are held weekly on Monday and Tuesday mornings at 10:00 am and Tuesday evenings at 6:00 pm.  Online Story Times will be posted weekly on Tuesday mornings.  (The video is available to watch for one week before a new one is uploaded.)

Click HERE for this week's Story Time video.

Same Same by Marthe Jocelyn
Oops, Sorry: A First Book of Manners by Richard Morgan

Books:

Bear in a Square by Stella Blackstone

Hap-pea All Year by Keith Baker

Is Mommy? by Victoria Chang

Shout! Shout It Out! by Denise Fleming

Triceratopposite by Bridget Heos

Up, Down, and Around by Katherine Ayres

Which Is Round? Which Is Bigger? by Mineko Mamada

Yoo-Hoo, Ladybug! by Mem Fox

Craft: Animals Match

- Print out template at left onto heavy paper or cardstock

- Color the matching animals as similar as you can

- Cut the sheet apart on the straight lines to create twelve cards

- Play a game of Memory Match using the cards

Extension Activities:

- Throughout the day, ask your child to come up with how different items are the same.  (ex. peas and carrots, boots and shoes, etc.)

- Have some fun with measuring.  Give your child a tape measure and ask them to measure different items to see which are bigger and smaller.

Numbers: 8/23/22

Story Times are held weekly on Monday and Tuesday mornings at 10:00 am and Tuesday evenings at 6:00 pm.  Online Story Times will be posted weekly on Tuesday mornings.  (The video is available to watch for one week before a new one is uploaded.)

Click HERE for this week's Story Time video.

Warthogs in the Kitchen by Pamela Duncan Edwards
Count the Monkeys by Mac Barnett

Books:

Bear Counts by Karma Wilson

Chicka Chicka 1,2,3 by Bill Martin Jr.

Construction Countdown by K.C. Olson

Fish Eyes by Lois Ehlert

Mouse Count by Ellen Stoll Walsh

One Big Pair of Underwear by Laura Gehl

The Right Number of Elephants by Jeff Sheppard

Soup for One by Ethan Long

Ten Little Caterpillars by Bill Martin Jr.

Ten Pigs: An Epic Bath Adventure by Derek Anderson

Craft: Flower Count

- Print out template (at left) on heavy paper or cardstock

- Color and cut out at least 15 circles

- Color stems on sheet

- Glue the number of circles onto the stems as indicated

Extension Activities:

- You can practice counting almost anywhere throughout the day.  Examples include counting how many times you chew your food during lunch, how many commercials are shown during a tv show you are watching, or how many steps it takes to walk down a hallway.

- Practice number recognition by asking your child to find certain numbers around you.  They could be on a clock, signs, etc.