Pumpkin Story Time: October 21-22, 2019

Books:
Five Little Pumpkins by Iris Van Rynbach *
Piggies in the Pumpkin Patch by Mary Peterson
Plumply, Dumply Pumpkin by Mary Serfozo *
Pumpkin Trouble by Jan Thomas *

Craft: Paper Plate Pumpkins
The kids were given a paper plate.  They drew a jack-o-lantern face in the center of the plate.  Orange squares of paper were glued around the edge of the plate.


Extension Activities:
- Visit a pumpkin patch.  Ask your child to describe the various pumpkins as they are in Plumply, Dumply Pumpkin.  (i.e. large, squat, sumptuous, etc)
- Decorate a pumpkin.  If your child is too young to carve the pumpkin, use finger paints or Sharpie markers.

Fall Story Time: October 7-8, 2019

Books:
Every Autumn Comes the Bear by Jim Arnosky
Fall Is Not Easy by Marty Kelley *
In the Middle of Fall by Kevin Henkes
Red Are the Apples by Marc Harshaman *
When Autumn Falls by Kelli Nidey

Craft: Paper Plate Leaf Wreath
The children were given a paper plate ring with a piece of yarn tied around it for a hanger.  They could glue small fall-colored die-cut leaves on the wreath.  They were also given 5 larger white die-cut leaves to color and glue on.  They could make it into a family wreath by writing the names of their family members on the larger leaves.

Extension Activities:
- Red Are the Apples talks about the different colors seen in the fall.  Play a game of I Spy using fall colors as you go on a fall walk.
- Create a leaf collage.  Collect various fallen leaves and glue them onto paper to make pictures.

Turkey Story Time: November 21-22, 2016

Books:
10 Turkeys in the Road by Brenda Reeves Sturgis
I'm a Turkey! by Jim Arnosky *
A Plump and Perky Turkey by Teresa Bateman
Run, Turkey, Run! by Diane Mayr *
Turkey Day by Grace Maccarone

Craft: Paper Plate Turkey
Children colored a small paper plate before gluing on a beak, waddle and eyes to the center of the plate.  They then glued on orange, yellow, and red feathers to the back of the plate to finish the turkeys.  They could then either write their name on the feathers of things they were thankful for.

Literacy Extensions:
- After reading Run Turkey Run!, have your child come up with how they would avoid becoming Thanksgiving dinner if they were a turkey.
- Ask your child what things they think of when you say Thanksgiving (i.e. types of food, parade, football, pilgrims, etc.)


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Birds Story Time: April 25-26, 2016

Books:
Birds by Kevin Henkes *
Early Bird by Toni Yuly *
I Hatched! by Jill Esbaum
Mama Built a Little Nest by Jennifer Ward
There Is a Bird on Your Head! by Mo Willems *

Craft: Bird in Nest
The craft we made is based on the picture at left.  The children were given a paper bird cutout to color and then glue to a paper plate.  They then glued on strips of brown paper to make its nest.

Literacy Extensions:
- Learn more about birds.  Pick a bird you want to know more about and find a book about it at the library.
- The St. Louis Zoo has a wonderful bird exhibit.  Visit the birds at the zoo and learn more about them.


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