Merry Christmas -- 12/23/25

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 year's Christmas online Story Time.

Red & Green by Lois Ehlert
Click, Clack, Ho! Ho! Ho! by Doreen Cronin
Merry Christmas, Big Hungry Bear! by Don & Audrey Wood

Books:
Don't Let Pigeon Drive the Sleigh! by Mo Willems
The First Christmas by Will Moses
I Want a Hippopotamus for Christmas by John Rox
The Little Drummer Boy by Ezra Jack Keats
Merry Whatmas? by Eoin McLaughlin
Silent Night by Lara Hawthorne
The Twelve Days of Christmas by Emma Randall

Craft: Christmas Tree Ornament
This week's craft was a kit purchased from Oriental Trading.  Kids assembled the Christmas Tree Ornament be placing sticker ornaments and star onto tree before tying on a hanger.

Extension Activities:

- Merry Christmas, Big Hungry Bear! encourages sharing Christmas presents with those less fortunate.  Participate in a Giving Tree or Toy present drive.

- Have a family Christmas movie marathon by watching your favorite holiday movies and specials.

Virtual Story Time: Merry Christmas! -- December 2025

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 year's Christmas online Story Time.

What the Dinosaurs Did the Night Before Christmas by Refe & Susan Tuma

Books:
Candy Corn Christmas by Jonathan Fenske
Don't Let Pigeon Drive the Sleigh! by Mo Willems

How Carrot and Cookie Saved Christmas by Erica S. Perl
Santa Claus vs. the Easter Bunny by Fred Blunt
Santa Jaws by Bridget Heos
Vegetables in Holiday Underwear by Jared Chapman





Extension Activities:
- Read the original poem that inspired our story time's book -- The Night Before Christmas by Clement Clarke Moore.

- Bake and decorate cookies for Santa.

- Track Santa online to make sure you don't get tricked by a fake Santa at your house -- www.noradsanta.org.

Merry Christmas! -- 12/23/24

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 year's Christmas online Story Time.

Decorate the Tree by Amanda Jane Jones
Cookiesaurus Christmas by Amy Fellner Dominy
Relish the Season by Katie Vernon

Books:
Christmas Cookies: Bite-Size Holiday Lessons by Amy Krouse Rosenthal
Christmas Parade by Sandra Boynton
Dinosaur vs. Santa by Bob Shea
Mother Hubbard's Christmas by John O'Brien
Snowmen at Christmas by Caralyn Buehner
The Twelve Days of Christmas by Emma Randall

Craft: Gingerbread House

This week's craft was a purchased craft kit. 
Kids colored a gingerbread house and then folded it like a Chinese takeout box.  It was tied closed.

Extension Activities:

- After reading Cookiesaurus Christmas, make sure to add some dinosaurs to your holiday.  Make and decorate dinosaur Christmas cookies, add a dinosaur ornament to your tree, etc.

- Discuss with your child about their (and yours) favorite parts of the holidays.  What do they look forward to the most?  What do they dislike?

Virtual Story Time: Merry Christmas! -- December 2024

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 year's Christmas online Story Time.

We Disagree About This Tree by Ross Collins
Relish the Season by Katie Vernon

Books:
The Christmassy Cactus by Beth Ferry
Decorate the Tree by Amanda Jane Jones
Is This . . . Winter? by Helen Yoon
Red & Green by Lois Ehlert
Santa's First Christmas by Mac Barnett
We're Going on a Present Hunt by Goldie Hawk


Extension Activities:
- Let your child help you decorate a Christmas tree.  Don't have a tree for them?  Make a simple tree out of construction paper taped to the wall and let them make paper ornaments to decorate it.
- Make holiday cards for family and friends.
- As you read through Relish the Season have your child give their reasons for the ways they would choose to celebrate.

Naughty or Nice: Christmas -- 12/19/23

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 a virtual Christmas Story Time.

Don't Let Pigeon Drive the Sleigh! by Mo Willems
Deck the Walls: A Wacky Christmas Carol by Erin Dealey
Merry Christmas, Gus by Chris Chatterton

Books:

I Want a Hippopotamus for Christmas by John Rox

The Little Drummer Boy by Ezra Jack Keats

My Christmas Wish for You by Lisa Swerling & Ralph Lazar

Red & Green by Lois Ehlert

Samurai Santa by Rubin Pingk

Santa Duck by David Milgrim

Craft: Pigeon & Sleigh

- Print template onto cardstock or heavy paper

- Cut out pieces (pigeon, hat, sleigh)

- Color pieces

- Glue hat to pigeon's head

- Glue pigeon either inside "driving" the sleigh or outside being "nice"

Extension Activities:

- As you read various Christmas books, have your children point out the "nice" and "naughty" behavior.

- Make Christmas cards to give to friends and families.

Template --

Virtual Story Time: Merry Christmas! -- December 2023

Enjoy this extra virtual Story Time for the holidays!

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 the 2023 virtual Christmas Story Time.

Red & Green by Lois Ehlert
My Christmas Wish For You by Lisa Swerling & Ralph Lazar

Books:

And Then Comes Christmas by Tom Brenner
A Christmas Goodnight by Nola Buck

Christmas Parade by Sandra Boynton

The First Christmas by Phillips Brooks

This Is Christmas by Tom Booth

Was That Christmas? by Hilary McKay

Extension Activities:

- After reading My Christmas Wish For You, make a family list of things you would like everyone to experience this holiday season.

- Make a simple Christmas tree to decorate.  Fold a piece of green construction paper in half longways and then cut it into a triangle from the top folded corner to the opposite diagonal corner.  Unfold to have a Christmas tree.  Have your child decorate it with crayons, sequins, pompoms, etc.

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.

Template --

Virtual Story Time: Merry Christmas! -- 12/21/21

Join us weekly on Tuesdays for an online Story Time featuring books read by Miss Amy.  The video will be available to view for a week before a new online is uploaded.

Click HERE for this week's Story Time video.

The Twelve Days of Christmas by Jane Cabrera
Have You Been Naughty or Nice? by Ethan Long

Books:  
5 More Sleeps 'Til Christmas by Jimmy Fallon

Click, Clack, Ho! Ho! Ho! by Doreen Cronin
Dinosaur vs. Santa by Bob Shea

Five Little Monkeys Looking for Santa by Eileen Christelow

The First Christmas by Phillips Brooks

Harold at the North Pole by Crockett Johnson

Mooseltoe by Margie Palatini

The Night Before Christmas by Clement Clarke Moore

The Three Bears' Christmas by Kathy Duvall

What the Dinosaurs Did the Night Before Christmas by Refe Tuma

Craft: Cone Santa

- Print template onto cardstock or heavy paper

- Color Santa

- Cut out colored cone with tab

- Glue along the tab before rolling into cone.  You may want to tape to reinforce the glue.

- Optional:  Glue pieces of cotton ball or tissue paper on Santa's beard

Extension Activities:

- Make Christmas cards for family and friends.  This allows your child to both practice their writing and be creative artistically.

- Go on a scavenger hunt for Christmas related items (ex - candy canes, ornaments, star, etc.).

Template --

Virtual Story Time: Christmas -- 12/22/20

Join us weekly for an online story time featuring a book read by Miss Amy on Tuesdays at 10:00 am.  The video is available to watch for one week before a new one is uploaded.

Click HERE to view the latest video. 

Christmas Is Joy by Emma Dodd

The Night Before Christmas by Clement C. Moore

I Want a Hippopotamus for Christmas by John Rox

Books: (Christmas)

Christmas Cookies: Bite-Size Holiday Lessons by Amy Krouse Rosenthal

Christmas Parade by Sandra Boynton

Click, Clack, Ho! Ho! Ho! by Doreen Cronin

Cookiesaurus Christmas by Amy Dominy

How Do Dinosaurs Say Merry Christmas? by Jane Yolen

Jingle Bells by Susan Jeffers

Listen to the Silent Night by Dandi Daley Mackall

Minerva Louise on Christmas Eve by Janet Morgan Stoeke

This First Christmas Night by Laura Godwin

Three French Hens by Margie Palatini

Craft: Christmas Hippo

- Print out template on heavy paper and cut out.

- Color pieces of hippo and Santa hat.

- Glue together as shown in picture.

Extension Activities:

- Bake and/or decorate holiday cookies together.  Share family stories and memories if it is an old family recipe.

- Sing Christmas carols together.  Email aheld@jeffcolib.org for a YouTube playlist of Christmas carols with lyrics.

Template --

Merry Christmas! Story Time: December 23, 2019

Books:
Click, Clack, Ho! Ho! Ho! by Doreen Cronin
Dinosaur vs. Santa by Bob Shea *
Merry Christmas, Big Hungry Bear! by Don & Audrey Wood *
What Could Be Keeping Santa? by Marilyn Janovitz

Craft: Christmas Tree
This week's craft was based on the picture at left.  The children glued four strips of paper to a jumbo craft stick to make a Christmas tree.  (4-1/2"x1", 3-1/2"x1", 2-1/2"x1", 1-1/2"x1")  They then glued on a large star sequin to the top and could glue on sequins for ornaments.

Extension Activities:
- There are many traditions at Christmas.  Explore the different traditions with your child.  Learn the meaning behind the traditions and how Christmas is celebrated around the world.  (There are several books available at the library on these topics.)
- Go on a Christmas light scavenger hunt.  Drive through various neighborhoods to view the Christmas lights keeping track of different displays you see (i.e. snowflakes, stars, nativity, snowman, blow-up, etc.)

Merry Christmas Story Time: December 17-18, 2018

Books:
Christmas Parade by Sandra Boynton *
Click, Clack, Ho! Ho! Ho! by Doreen Cronin
Decked Out for Christmas! by Ethan Long *
Here Comes Santa Cat by Deborah Underwood
How Do Dinosaurs Say Merry Christmas? by Jane Yolen
Snowmen at Christmas by Caralyn Buehner *

Craft: CD-Rom Wreath
Children glued crumpled pieces of tissue paper to a used cd to decorate as a wreath.  They could then tie on a piece of string so it could be hung on a tree if they liked.

Literacy Extensions:
- How Do Dinosaurs Say Merry Christmas? is a great addition to the manners books by Jane Yolen.  (There is also How Do Dinosaurs Say Happy Chanukah?.)  Talk about etiquette for the holidays as well as throughout the year.
- After reading Snowmen at Christmas, ask your child to come up with stories for various holiday objects to celebrate the holidays (i.e. ornaments, candy canes, Santa, etc.)

I Want a Hippopotamus for Christmas (Christmas) Sing-Along Story Time: July 23-24, 2018

Books:
Bear Stays Up for Christmas by Karma Wilson *
The 12 Days of Christmas by Jane Cabrera
I Want a Hippopotamus for Christmas by Jon Rox *
Minerva Louise on Christmas Eve by Janet Morgan Stoeke *

Craft: Hippo with Santa Hat
The children colored hippo pieces (circle body, head, two feet) and a Santa hat before gluing them all together.


Literacy Extensions:
- After listening to the song I Want a Hippopotamus for Christmas, read an informational book on hippos.  Have your child give reasons why a hippo would or would not make a good pet.
- See if your child can remember the words and sing various Christmas songs.  (i.e. Jingle Bells, Away in a Manger, Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, etc.)


Template --

Christmas Story Time: December 18-19, 2017

Books:
Christmas Parade by Sandra Boynton
Dinosaur vs. Santa by Bob Shea *
The Night Before Christmas by Clement Clarke Moore
The Three Bears' Christmas by Kathy Duval *
What Could Be Keeping Santa? by Marilyn Janovitz *

Craft: Triangle Santa
This week's craft is based on the picture at left.  The children were given a large triangle to color as Santa's hat / body.  They were also given half a small paper plate to color as Santa's face.  They could cut slits into the edge of the plate for Santa's beard if they liked.  The paper plate was glued to the triangle for Santa's head and cotton ball glued to the tip of the triangle of his hat.

Literacy Extensions:
- Do a Christmas countdown with your child.  Each day, count the days on a calendar until Christmas.
- The Three Bears' Christmas is a holiday version of Goldilocks and the Three Bears only with Santa as the visitor.  Have your child try to "retell" other folk/fairy tales with a Christmas twist.

Christmas Story Time: December 19-20, 2016

Books:
Babushka by Sandra Ann Horn
Bear Stays Up for Christmas by Karma Wilson *
I Want a Hippopotamus for Christmas by John Rox
Minerva Louise on Christmas Eve by Janet Morgan Stoeke *
Monster Needs a Christmas Tree by Paul Czajak *

Craft: Candle Wreath
This week's craft was based on the picture at left.  The children colored a candle cutout before gluing it to a small paper plate with the center cut out.  Die cut holly leaves and large sparkles for berries were also glued onto the plate.

Literacy Extensions:
- Minerva Louise is a chicken that is confused about the different symbols at Christmastime.  Have your child identify different Christmas symbols and talk about what they mean (i.e. star, Christmas tree, Santa, angels, etc.)
- Christmas is a great time to give back to those who are less fortunate.  One great way is to have your child donate a toy to a charity for each new toy they get at Christmastime.


Candle Template:

Christmas Story Time: July 25-26, 2016

Books:
Bear Stays Up for Christmas by Karma Wilson
Click, Clack, Ho! Ho! Ho! by Doreen Cronin *
Dinosaur vs. Santa by Bob Shea *
How Do Dinosaurs Say Merry Christmas? by Jane Yolen
Snowbear's Christmas Countdown by Theresa Smythe *

Craft: Christmas Tree
This week's craft is pictured at left.  The children colored a large triangle before lacing red yarn for garland.  They then glued on sequins and star for a topper.

Literacy Activities:
- After reading Snowbear's Christmas Countdown discuss different things you do to prepare for Christmas.  Maybe make a list of things to do together as a countdown for your family.
- Talk about things you might want to give as presents to friends and family for Christmas.  Maybe come up with some gifts you can make together.

Christmas Story Time: December 21-22, 2015

Books:
Bear Stays Up for Christmas by Karma Wilson
Christmas in the Barn by Margaret Wise Brown
Dinosaur vs. Santa by Bob Shea
Merry Christmas, Big Hungry Bear! by Don & Audrey Wood *
Samurai Santa: A Very Ninja Christmas by Rubin Pingk *
The Three Bears' Christmas by Kathy Duval *
What Could Be Keeping Santa? by Marilyn Janovitz

Craft: Lace-Up Candy Cane
Children colored a cardstock candy cane cutout that was hole punched all down the center.  They then laced white yarn through the holes to make stripes.  A cardstock bow was then colored and glued onto the candy cane.  (Template below)

Literacy Extensions:
- Practice "writing skills" with your child by having them "write" thank you cards for their Christmas presents.  This can be as simple as drawing a picture of what they got and then writing their names.
- Learn about how different people celebrate Christmas.  There are several books available at the library about how Christmas is celebrated around the world.


Notes:
The candy canes could be laced in many different ways.  Each kid did it differently.  Some sewed it straight up the center.  Some alternated stripes from the different sides.  Any way they did it, it was great hand-eye coordination practice.

Templates --

 

Christmas Story Time: December 22-23, 2014

Books:
Dinosaur vs. Santa by bob Shea
Have You Been Naughty or Nice? by Ethan Long *
Minerva Louise on Christmas Eve by Janet Morgan Stoeke *
Snowmen at Christmas by Caralyn Buehner *
Star Bright: A Christmas Story by Alison McGhee
The Twelve Days of Christmas by Jane Cabrera

Craft: Standing Christmas Tree
Our craft was based on the picture at left.  Children colored a cardstock triangle before gluing on a star topper and sequins ornaments.  A clothespin was clipped at the bottom as the stand.

Literacy Extensions:
- Talk about your family's holiday traditions.  Explain the history and the meaning behind them to your children.
- See if your child can come up with his own version of "The Twelve Days of Christmas" like Jane Cabrera did in her book.

Christmas Story Time: December 23, 2013

Books:
Babushka by Sandra Ann Horn
Dinosaur vs. Santa by Bob Shea *
Have You Been Naughty or Nice? by Ethan Long *
How Do Dinosaurs Say Merry Christmas? by Jane Yolen
Minerva Louise on Christmas Eve by Janet Morgan Stoeke
Snowmen at Christmas by Caralyn Buehner
The Three Bears' Christmas by Kathy Duval *

Craft: Triangle Santa
The craft we did was based on the picture above.  It was fairly simple to make.  Our version was flat and did not stand up although that would have been very cute.  The other main difference is that we used cotton balls for the beard and hat trim.

Literacy Extensions:
- Write a letter to Santa with your child explaining any bad misdeeds (i.e. Have You Been Naughty or Nice?)
-  Try to come up with Christmas versions of popular fairy and folk tales (i.e. The Three Bears' Christmas)