Alligator Story Time: April 1-2, 2019

Books:
Alan's Big Scary Teeth by Jarvis *
Alberto the Dancing Alligator by Richard Waring
Alligator Boy by Cynthia Rylant *
For Pete's Sake by Ellen Stoll Walsh
A Girl and Her Gator by Sean Bryan *

Craft: Paper Chain Alligator
This week's craft was inspired by the above picture with several changes.  Instead of gluing paper tubes together, the children make a three link paper chain out of green paper for the alligator's body.  A strip of cardstock was colored and then folded to make the alligator's mouth.  Two sequins were glued onto it for the eyes.  The head was then glued to one end of the chain for the head.  Four legs were colored and glued to the chain for the alligator's feet.

Extension Activities:
- This week we are focusing on the letter "A" for alligator.  Have your child point out all the "A"s in the book as you are reading.
- Learn more about alligators by checking out a book from the library.  There are several great nonfiction children's books about alligators.

Valentine's Day Story Time: February 12-13. 2018

Books:
Here Comes Valentine Cat by Deborah Underwood *
If You'll Be My Valentine by Cynthia Rylant *
Love Monster by Rachel Bright
Mr. Goat's Valentine by Eve Bunting
The Night Before Valentine's Day by Natasha Wing

Craft: Love Bug
The children colored a large heart as bug wings and glued to a used CD-rom.  An oval was decorated as the head and glued at the point of the heart.  Sequins could be glued on to decorate their love bug.

Literacy Extensions:
- Practice writing skills by having your child write out valentines.  Have them write their names and possibly "I Love You" or "XOXO".
- When reading If You'll Be My Valentine, turn it into a guessing game.  Have your child guess to whom the boy is giving the various valentines.


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Naughty or Nice? Pets Story Time: November 27-28, 2017

Books:
Backhoe Joe by Lori Alexander *
The Best Pet of All by David LaRochelle
Children Make Terrible Pets by Peter Brown
Henny, Penny, Lenny, Denny, and Mike by Cynthia Rylant *
My Rhinoceros by  Jon Agee
You DON'T Want a Unicorn by Ame Dyckman

Craft: CD Snail
This week's craft was based on the picture at left.  The children colored a cardstock body cutout.  They then glued tissue paper onto a recycled CD before gluing the body on also.

Literacy Extensions:
- Take a field trip to a pet store.  Discuss why or why not the various animals would make good pets for your family.
- Many pets names make great sight words to learn (i.e. cat, dog, fish, etc.).  Have your child point out those sight words when you are reading a book together.


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Fourth of July Story Time: July 5, 2016

Books:
America the Beautiful by Katherine Lee Bates
Fourth of July Mice! by Bethany Roberts *
Red, White, and Boom! by Lee Wardlaw
Tulip Sees America by Cynthia Rylant *
You're a Grand Old Flag by George M. Cohan

Craft: US Flag
Children glued on red stripes and a blue field onto a half sheet of white cardstock before sticking on either silver or gold star stickers.

Literacy Extensions:
- Explore the history of the United States with your child.  There are several great picture books that share historical tales of the early days and leaders of the country.
- Make sure to go over firework safety with your child before doing any fireworks together.

Valentines Story Time: June 13-14, 2016

Books:
The Ballad of Valentine by Alison Jackson
The Day It Rained Hearts by Felicia Bond *
If You'll Be My Valentine by Cynthia Rylant *
One Heart: A Valentine Counting Book by Maryann Cocca-Leffler
There Was an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Rose by Lucille Colandro *

Craft: Mr. Valentine (or Mrs. Valentine)
This week's craft is based on the picture above.  Children were given one large and four small cardstock hearts to color.  The large heart was decorated as either a Mr. or Mrs. Valentine with facial features.  The kids could either glue together the hearts with straight arms and legs or accordian-folded arms and legs.

Literacy Extensions:
- See how much your child can tell you about Valentine's Day (i.e. traditions, colors, symbols, etc.)
- Have your child practice drawing heart shapes.  If old enough, let them practice cutting them out with scissors.

Costume Story Time: March 21-22, 2016

Books:
Alligator Boy by Cynthia Rylant *
Hoot Owl, Master of Disguise by Sean Taylor *
Turtle's Penguin Day by Valeri Gorbachev *

Craft: Owl Headband
The craft is pictured at left.  The children colored an owl head and two wings cut from cardstock before gluing to 1" strips of paper to make into a headband.

Literacy Extensions:
- After reading Hoot Owl, come up with various costumes you might use to catch different types of animals.
- Like Little Turtle in Turtle's Penguin Day, try various activities to simulate the animal you are currently reading about.


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Scarecrows Story Time: October 15, 2013

Books:
The Little Scarecrow Boy by Margaret Wise Brown *
Scarecrow by Cynthia Rylant
The Scarecrow's Hat by Ken Brown
Shoo, Crow! Shoo! by Dana Meachen Rau *
The Shy Scarecrow by Mary Packard *
There Was an Old Lady who Swallowed Some Leaves! by Lucille Colandro

Craft: Paper Plate Scarecrow
Our scarecrow was very similar to this one.  The main difference is that is was made completely with paper.  We used the small paper plates for the face and the mouth was drawn on.  All the other pieces were cut out from cardstock for the kids to color and glue to the plate.

Literacy Extension:
- Have your children determine what could be used from around your house to make a scarecrow with (i.e. Shoo, Crow! Shoo!)
- Discuss situations with your child that makes them shy.  Talk about ways that their confidence might be boosted during those situations.  (i.e. The Shy Scarecrow)