Virtual Story Time: Jewish American Heritage Month -- May 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 virtual Story Time.

Whistle for Willie by Ezra Jack Keats
Chicken Soup with Rice by Maurice Sendak

Books:
The Giving Tree by Shel Silverstein
How Do Dinosaurs Say Goodnight by Jane Yolen
It Could Always Be Worse by Margot Zemach
Ketzel, the Cat Who Composed by Leslea Newman
The Snowy Day by Ezra Jack Keats
We're Going on a Bear Hunt by Michael Rosen
Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak


Extension Activities:
- Have a whistling contest.  Who can whistle the loudest? longest? like a bird?
- Make a pot of chicken soup with rice (or noodles).
- Visit jewishamericanheritage.org for activities for Jewish American Heritage Month for all ages.

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.

Template --

Facebook Story Time: Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak - 6/2/20

This is part of a series of weekly story times offered on Facebook due to the current health crisis.  Each Tuesday, a recording of a story will be posted on Facebook.  It will be available to view for a week before a new story is posted.

Go to www.facebook.com/JeffCoLibMo and click on Videos to view the latest story.


Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak

Books:
Boy Soup by Loris Lesynski
Frank Was a Monster Who Wanted to Dance by Keith Graves
Monster Hug! by David Ezra Stein
          * Books available on Tumblebooks through www.jeffcolib.org.

Craft:  Paper Plate Wolf
- Draw child's face in center of paper plate
- Cut two tall triangles out of white paper and glue onto top of plate for wolf ears
- Cut or tear white tissue paper into small squares
- Glue tissue paper pieces to edges of plate to make wolf suit
- Glue black yarn or paper strips onto cheeks for wolf whiskers



Extension Activities:
- Ask your child what a "wild rumpus" is.  Then have a monster dance party.  Try dancing like different types of monsters (i.e. Frankenstein, werewolf, ghost, etc.)
- Have a discussion of behavior and consequences.  Ask what they think Max did to deserve being sent to his room.
- Watch the movie version of "Where the Wild Things Are".

Skeleton Hiccups Story Time: October 20-21, 2014

Books:
Bedtime for Monsters by Ed Vere
The Skeleton in the Closet by Alice Schertle *
Skeleton Hiccups by Margery Cuyler *
Thelonius Monster's Sky-High Fly Pie: A Revolting Rhyme
              by Judy Sierra
Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak

Craft: Skeleton Picture
Children glued cut out bones and a skull to paper with an simple line-drawing skeleton.

Literacy Extensions:
- Talk about why people have / need bones.  Check out a nonfiction, informational book about skeletons and look at the pictures of the different bones in the body.
- Pick a simple recipe and make it with your child - discussing the various steps as you do them (i.e. Thelonius Monster's Sky-High Fly Pie)

Notes:
This story time is not for children with fears of monsters.  While the children found Skeleton Hiccups funny, several of the children were scared by The Skeleton in the Closet and Bedtime for Monsters.  I suggest reading the books yourself before sharing with your children.