Favorite Picture Books of 2025 -- 12/30/25

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 month's virtual Story Time.

Calling All Bears! by Diana Murray
The Bear and the Hare at the Fair by Em Lynas

Books:
Bear Feels Sad by Karma Wilson
The Bear Out There by Jess Hannigan
Oh Dear, Look What I Got! by Michael Rosen
On All Fours by Gaetan Doremus
Short Dog, Long Dog: A Book of Opposites by Anna Hrachovec


Craft: Bear Headband
- Print template onto cardstock or heavy paper
- Cut out pieces (face/ears and 2 extra strips)
- Color pieces
- Glue, tape, or staple strips together to fit child's head


Extension Activities:
- Learn about different types of bears.  Check out one of the nonfiction bear books from the library or visit the zoo.
- Take a field trip to a local amusement park.  What rides do you like?  What rides do you not like?

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Virtual Story Time: Bear Snores On -- January 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 month's online Story Time.

Bear Snores On by Karma Wilson

Books:
The Big Snow by Berta Hader
Cold Turkey by Corey Rosen Schwartz
Counting Winter by Nancy White Carlstrom
If It's Snowy and You Know It, Clap Your Paws! by Kim Norman
When Winter Comes by Nancy Van Laan


Extension Activities:
- Read more of the Bear books by Karma Wilson including Bear Can't Sleep and Bear Wants More.
- Learn about animals and hibernation.  There are several great nonfiction books at the library.  Or watch this National Geographic Kids video.
- Hold a party like in the book Bear Snores On.  Enjoy snacks such as hot tea, popcorn, etc.

Bears -- 11/28/23

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 this month's virtual Story Time.

Every Autumn Comes the Bear by Jim Arnosky
Hugless Douglas by David Melling
Bear's Big Breakfast by Lynn Rowe Reed

Books: 

Bear Is a Bear by Jonathan Stutzman

Bear Wants More by Karma Wilson

A Beginner's Guide to Bear Spotting by Michelle Robinson

The Curious Cares of Bears by Douglas Florian

Don't Eat That by Drew Sheneman

Find Fergus by Mike Boldt

Hush Up and Hibernate! by Sandra Markle

It's the Bear! by Jez Alborough

Craft: Bear Scene

- Cut a small paper plate in half and color as the background of the scene (grass, sky, cave, mountain, etc.)

- Print out template at left and cut out pieces (bear, tree)

- Color pieces

- Glue bear and tree to paper plate background scene

Extension Activities:

- In Bear's Big Breakfast, Bear is looking for something to eat that starts with the letter "B".  Practice phonics and letter recognition by asking your child to come up with foods that start with specific letters.

- Learn more about hibernation and what animals hibernate throughout the winter.  Visit the library to find books on the topic.

Bears Story Time: July 6, 2021 (Virtual)

Outdoor Story Times are held weekly on Monday mornings at 10:00 am and 11:00 am.  (Registration is required to attend.)  Online Story Times will be posted weekly on Tuesday mornings at 10:00 am.  (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 & Hare: Where's Bear? by Emily Gravett
Bears in Beds by Shirley Parenteau

Books:  

A Bear and His Boy by Sean Bryan

The Bear Came Over to My House by Rick Walton

Bear Wants More by Karma Wilson

Every Autumn Comes the Bear by Jim Arnosky

I Am Bear by Ben Bailey Smith

My Friend Bear by Jez Alborough

Old Bear by Kevin Henkes

Polar Bear Night by Lauren Thompson

A Visitor for Bear by Bonny Becker

Where Is Bear? by Jonathan Bentley

Craft: Bear Card

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

- Fold bear in half so face is showing on top.

- Color bear's face and ears.

- Glue ears to top back of card.

- Optional: Glue pompom (nose) and googily eyes onto bear's face.

- Optional: Write a message on the inside of the card and give to someone.

Extension Activities:

- Visit the zoo to see the different kids of bears making sure to read the plaques and learn about them.

- Make a "Bear in His Cave" snack treat to eat.  Using icing, assemble three graham crackers into a standing triangle.  Then place a standing teddy graham into the cave with icing.  (https://www.pre-kpages.com/going-bear-hunt-snack-preschool/)

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Bears Story Time: November 5-6, 2018

Books:
Bear & Hare: Where's Bear? by Emily Gravett *
The Bear Came Over to My House by Rick Walton
Hugless Douglas by David Melling *
Make a Wish Bear by Greg Foley
My Friend Bear by Jez Alborough
Old Bear by Kevin Henkes *

Craft: Bear in a Cave
This week's craft was based on the picture at left.  A brown paper lunch bag was cut so it stood about 4" standing up.  A door was cut into one side.  The bag was opened and then the edges of the sides glued in front to make a cave.  Kids colored a tree and bear cutout before gluing them to the cave as they like.

Literacy Extensions:
- Several of this week's book touch on hibernation.  Briefly explain what hibernation is and ask your child to identify animals that do and do not hibernate during the winter.
- Bear & Hare: Where's Bear? includes counting practice by playing "hide and seek".  Have some fun with your child's counting practice by doing the same.


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B - Bears & Books: January 12-13, 2015

Books:
Bears in the Bath by Shirley Parenteau *
Emily's Balloon by Komako Sakai
Hello, Bicycle! by Ella Boyd *
Waiting for Wings by Lois Ehlert *
The Wonderful Book by Leonid Gore

Craft: Bugs
Our craft this week was based on the picture to the left.  We changed it to make it out of cardstock.  So the bodies were strips of cardstock that were colored and glued into loops.  Kids then also colored two cardstock wings to glue onto the body.

Literacy Extensions:
- Practice letter recognition by having your child point out the "B"s as you read the book.
- Learn about your favorite type of bug.  Is it an insect or a spider?

Forest Story Time: November 25-26, 2013

Books:
At the Edge of the Woods: A Counting Book by Cynthia Cotten *
Bear Says Thank You by Karma Wilson
Bear Wants More by Karma Wilson
It's the Bear! by Jez Alborough *
The Wonderful Book by Leonid Gore *

Craft: Circles Bear
Children glued various sized circles together to make a bear.  Circles - one 4" body, one 3" head, four 1-1/2" paws, one 1-1/2" snout, and two 1" ears

Literacy Extensions:
- Discuss how animals prepare and spend the winter (i.e. foraging, migration, hibernation, etc.)
- Talk about how to take care of books based on The Wonderful Book.