Storytime Programs - Fall II, 2015 - Week Two

Welcome to the second week of our storytime programs.  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.   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
It's Pumpkin Day, Mouse! - Numeroff
Where Is Baby's Pumpkin? - Katz

Rhyme: Here's A Little Pumpkin
Here's a little pumpkin, (make circle with thumb and finger)
Here's a bigger one too, (make circle with hands)
Here's a great big pumpkin, (make circle with arms)
Just for you!
I kept the little pumpkin,
I kept the bigger one too,
But I saved the biggest pumpkin just for you!

Acting out rhymes such as Here's A Little Pumpkin helps your child learn about size.  You can also develop baby's vocabulary about this concept by comparing the sizes of objects around the house.

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

Books
Two At The Zoo - Smith
Itsy Bitsy Spider - Egielski

Rhyme: Itsy Bitsy Spider
The itsy bitsy spider climbed up the water spout.
Down came the rain, and washed the spider out.
Out came the sun and dried up all the rain,
And the itsy bitsy spider climbed up the spout again.
The itsy bitsy spider climbed up into the bath.
Along came a rubber duck and made the spider laugh.
Out came the water and washed him down the drain,
So the itsy bitsy climbed up the spout again.

Learning how to move fingers independently of each other is a crucial pre-writing skill.  Repeat this well-known rhyme at home with your toddler and demonstrate the finger and hand movements.  Have you ever heard the silly, second verse featuring the duck?        

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

Books

I'm The Scariest Thing In he Castle - Sherry
What's In The Witch's Kitchen? - Sharratt

Rhyme: Two Little Bats
Two little bats sitting on a stick,
One named Slow, the other named Quick.
Fly away Slow, fly away Quick,
Come back Slow, come back Quick.

This rhyme is a good introduction to opposites for your toddler. Show your child the meaning of slow and quick by playing a fun game!  Can you clap slowly, clap quickly?  Walk slowly, walk quickly? What other slow and quick activities can you both think of?

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

Books
Little Owl's Day - Srinivasan
Owl Howl - Friester
Owlet's First Flight - Modarressi

Rhyme: Jack-O-Lantern Song
I like a pumpkin with a happy face
Happy face, happy face
I like a pumpkin with a happy face
Glowing in the night
(Scary/sad/angry)

Talk to your child about different emotions.  Can your child make a happy face?  What might make him happy?  Can your child make a sad or angry face? What might make him sad or angry?  What could he do if he wanted to feel better?    

Family Jam (For families with young children)

Books
It's An Orange Aardvark! - Hall
Plumply, Dumply Pumpkin - Serfozo

Rhyme: Orange (Tune: The Wheels On The Bus)
The pumpkins in my garden are orange, orange, orange
O-R-A-N-G-E
The oranges on my tree are orange, orange, orange
O-R-A-N-G-E
The carrots on my plate are orange, orange, orange
O-R-A-N-G-E
The leaves on my tree are orange, orange, orange
O-R-A-N-G-E
The crayons in my box are orange, orange, orange
O-R-A-N-G-E

Repetition is key when it comes to learn anything new!  Sing this rhyme again and again and see if you can teach your child how to spell the color orange.  Next, see if he can write it while repeating the letters out loud.  Show him the connection between the spoken and written word.