Storytime Programs - Fall I, 2015 - Week One

School is back in session and we are so excited to welcome your children to the start of fall storytimes this week!  In addition to our weekly storytimes, there are numerous special events happening so be sure to check our Events Calendar http://gailbweb.gailborden.info/evanced/lib/eventcalendar.asp, give us a call, or stop by the desk in the Early Learning Center if you would like more information.  We hope that you'll be joining us and make a visit to the library part of  your year-round routine.   Below you will find some of the books, rhymes, and fingerplays we are presenting this week.

Baby Rhyme Time (For babies 0-11 months and a caregiver)

Books
Hey Little Baby! - Leigh

Baby Love - Di Terlizzi

Rhyme: If You're Bouncy and You Know It (Tune: If You're Happy and You Know It)
If you're bouncy and you know it, give a bounce
If you're bouncy and you know it, give a bounce
If you're bouncy and you know it, then your bounce will surely show it
If you're bouncy and you know it, give a bounce
(If you're wiggly/If you're cuddly)

When you bounce and sing along to rhymes such as this one your baby both feels and hears the rhythm of language.  Sing other "bouncy" rhymes that you may know too - Humpty Dumpty, Bumpin' Up and Down in my Little Red Wagon etc.

Wonderful Ones (For babies 12-23 months and a caregiver)

Books
Animal Sounds - Carpenter
The Cuddle Book - Genechten

Rhyme: The Hug Song (Tune: Row Your Boat)
Clap, clap, clap your hands
Stomp, stomp, stomp your feet
Give your mom a great big hug
Because she is so neat
Clap, clap, clap your hands
Stomp, stomp, stomp your feet
Give your mom a great big hug
And then you take your seat

What toddler doesn't love a rhyme with big actions and big sounds?  Show him how to clap and stomp loudly.  Then show him how to clap and stomp quietly.  

Terrific Twos (For toddlers 2-3 years and a caregiver)

Books
I Love Trains - Sturges

Down by the Station - Stockham

Action Rhyme: This is a Choo Choo Train
This is a choo choo train
Puffing down the track
Now it's going forward
Now it's going back
Now the bell is ringing
Now the whistle blows
What a lot of noise it makes
Everywhere it goes!

This is a fun, active rhyme to repeat at home with your toddler!  Can he pretend to be the train in the rhyme?  Show him the meaning of  "forward" and "backward".  Can he jump forward and backward? Crawl?  Walk?     

1, 2, 3, Go! (For children 1, 2, and 3 years and a caregiver)

Books
Ten Little Caterpillars - Martin

The Very Hungry Caterpillar - Carle

Prop and Action Rhyme: Caterpillar, Caterpillar
Caterpillar, caterpillar, nose so red
Pat your legs and nod your head
Caterpillar, caterpillar,  nose so blue
Touch your knee and then your shoe
Caterpillar, caterpillar nose so white
Clap your hands with all your might
Caterpillar, caterpillar, nose so green
Jump up like a jumping bean
Caterpillar, caterpillar, nose so yellow
Wiggle like a funny fellow
Caterpillar, caterpillar, nose so black
Touch your tummy and then your back
Caterpillar, caterpillar nose so pink
Make your eyes go blink, blink, blink

The toddlers enjoyed this rhyme with a green velcro caterpillar and colored pom poms in storytime but you can certainly repeat this one at home.  Practice the actions, find something in your home for all of the colors, talk about the rhyming words.  Have fun with this educational rhyme!


StoryMix For 3 to 6 (For children 3-6 years without caregiver)

Books
Look! - Lewin
Splash! - McDonnell
Sam Who Never Forgets - Rice

Action Rhyme: The Elephant
The elephant has a great big trunk (Pretend arm is trunk)
That goes swinging, swinging so (Swing trunk)
He has tiny, tiny eyes that show him where to go (Point to eyes)
His huge long ears go flapping, flapping up and down (Pretend hands are ears)
His great big feet go stomping, stomping on the ground (Stomp with feet)

Talk with your preschooler about elephants.  Has he seen them at the zoo?  If yes, what does he remember about his visit?  Does he remember any of the things mentioned in our books during storytime?  What words would your child use to describe elephants?