PJ Party Storytime

Storytime was AMAZING today! I wish you had been here :)

Hello, How are You? by Dr. Jean

Thomas's Snowsuit by Robert Munsch

Snowflake, Snowflake by Carole Peterson on her CD Highly Useable Music All Year Long We used ribbons and followed along to the music.

Then we had a snow and ice scavenger hunt! Using tools and manners, we hunted for prizes in the snow and dug them out!

We did have to take a break to have a snack.

Then right back to the snow and ice!

Look at some of the prizes we found!

For a special holiday gift, each child got to pick out their own book to take home.


Stop in to the Library over the holidays! We won't have storytime until the middle of January, but there are still lots to do! Check out the amazing haircuts we've made at the Library Playtable:

GoodSearch

We discussed goodsearch.com at the Board meeting on Tuesday and Alyson received confirmation the other day that the library is signed up.  

GoodSearch is a Yahoo-powered search engine similar to Google or Bing. Fifty percent of the revenue generated from the sponsored search advertisers on GoodSearch is shared with FCPL.  

This translates to a penny per search earned for the library!  If you're going to conduct searches anyway, might as well earn us some cash. 

If 50 supporters conduct 2 searches per day, the library can earn $375/year.  I don't know about you, but I do a lot more searching than that on a daily basis.

How to sign up: 

1.  Go to goodsearch.com.

2.  Register as a patron and designate Fall Creek Public Library as your cause. 

3.  Go to your email inbox to confirm your participation.

That's it!  Type the word or phrases you're interested in searching in the search box at the top of the page.  Repeat.  Repeat.  Repeat... you get my point.  Again, every search generates a penny for the library. 

As of today, eleven people are signed up and over one dollar has already been raised!

Thank you for your support!

Read a New Book Month Storytime

This was my favorite and most difficult storytime to plan because there were SO many amazing books and CDs published in 2012. I ended up adding an extra story and going over our time by about 5 minutes, but they sat very well and enjoyed them.

Next week is our final Storytime of 2012. Wear your pajamas for our PJ Party :) We'll read a story or two, dance to some music, then have some winter snacks. I also plan to have an incredibly exciting game for us to play. Each child will also go home with a special gift, just for coming to storytime this year. I hope to see many kiddos next Wednesday!

And now for today's set list....

Hello, How are You?

Green by Laura Vaccaro Seeger














Step Gently Out by Helen Frost and Rick Lieder











Next, we pretended to be bugs to the song "Rocking the Uke" on Cathy Finkle and Marcy Marxer's CD of the same name. This is an instrumental and worked very well. These are the insects we pretended to be: butterflies, spiders, ants, grasshoppers, mosquitos, and the we repeated.









A Home for Bird by Philip C. Stead












Nature's Lullaby sung by Maria Alley on the CD La Bella Stella. We kept time by clapping hands, stomping feet, then waving arms. We danced how we wanted to for a while before clapping and stomping at the same time.

I'm Bored by Michael Ian Black (LOTS of laughter from this story, which i highly expected)











"The Donkey Brothers" from If You Were a Chocolate Mustache by J. Patrick Lewis. This poem, on page 106, is about two donkeys having a tug of war. The last line is about how donkeys should not share dental floss. As i read this last line, I opened my hand and let a long white string extend from my hand to the floor.






It's a Tiger by David LaRochelle. I printed off tiger masks for each child. As I read the story, children could raise their masks when they saw the tiger and shout with me "It's a tiger!"











This is Not My Hat by Jon Klassen. This is my absolute favorite picture book from 2012. By far. This book also got laughs, of course!






Goodbye Songs: It is Time to Say Goodbye and
Wave your arms goodbye.
Wave your eyes goodbye.
Wave your chin goodbye.
Wave your foot goodbye.
Wave your belly goodbye.
Wave your hands and say "goodbye."

Win a Free Signed Copy of Losing It by Erin Fry

Grades 4, 5, 8, and 10 have the chance to win a free SIGNED copy of Erin Fry's Losing It. She generously donated a copy of her novel to be given away at our Pizza & Game Night these grades earned. HOW EXCITING!

The Pizza/Game Night is scheduled for December 27 6-730pm. "Formal" invitations will be sent home via school later this week.

Students in grades 4, 5, 8 and 10 must RSVP for this event.

The first 19 students to sign up and arrive will receive a free signed bookmark from Erin Fry!

We'll have loads of pizza, many games available, the Wii set out, and other snacks and activities. Thank you again for voting during our voting program and we'll see you for pizza!

Bears Storytime November 28

Today was all about bears! Teddy bears, panda bears, polar bears, cubs, and more!

Hello, How Are you? by Dr. Jean

Bears by Carey Molter
(nonfiction)











Baby Bear, Baby Bear, What Do you See? by Bill Martin, Jr.

Song: I See a Barefoot Bear on Brent Holmes' CD Bear Tunes for Kids. I have felt squares with numbers on them. I laid 0-10 in a circle. We started out standing on one number, then walking around in the circle, changing direction, dancing in the middle, jumping around the circle, and more. I styled it a bit like a square dance of sorts.






Bear in Love by Daniel Pinkwater

Teddy Bear (I acted this out while holding a puppet)
Teddy Bear, Teddy Bear, turn around.
Teddy Bear, Teddy Bear, touch the ground.
Teddy Bear, Teddy Bear, show your shoe.
Teddy Bear, Teddy Bear, that will do.
Teddy Bear, Teddy Bear, go upstairs.
Teddy Bear, Teddy Bear, reach in the air.
Teddy Bear, Teddy Bear, turn around.
Teddy Bear, Teddy Bear, sit on the ground.


It's the Bear by Jez Alborough

Then we acted out the song/book "Going on a Bear Hunt." We went AROUND our puppet tree, AROUND a "mountain" (chairs), THROUGH a river (blue felt tied to bookshelves that one can crawl under/through), INTO a cave, saw the bear, and went back.






Bears by Ruth Krauss & Maurice Sendak

Poem: Polar Bear on page 17 in William Jay Smith's Bear in Mind: A Book of Bear Poems

Goodbye Songs: It is Time to Say Goodbye and
Wave your feet goodbye.
Wave your knees goodbye.
Wave your hips goodbye.
Wave your shoulders goodbye.
Wave your hands and say "goodbye."

We ran out of time for Copy Me, Copycub by Richard Evans. I had expected this, however.


NEXT WEEK we will read and dance to some of Jenna's favorites that were published in 2012.

Winter Frequent Reader Club! Coming Soon!

Fall Creek Library Amazon Wishlist

One of my favorite parts of my job is seeing how the community comes together to support one another. Another is seeing how little gifts of time, money, and supplies greatly and positively impacts our Library, community, and patrons.

During this holiday season, please keep Fall Creek Public Library in mind as you shop sales in the stores and online. Almost any item on the following list could be found at another store or gently used. Your donations are incredibly appreciated. If you do not see an item on this list but you think it should be included, feel free to contact Alyson (for general library needs and adult programming) or Jenna (for youth programming and supplies). We can be reached at 715.877.3334.

Many thanks!

http://www.amazon.com/gp/registry/registry.html?ie=UTF8&id=2LB3TCP4Z8M3S&type=wishlist  

Casting Call for Puppet Show

Are you interested?

Please email Jenna at jgilles@fallcreekpubliclibrary.org, stop by the Library, or call 715.877.3334.

We had LOADS of fun last year and I can't wait for our second show. If you plan to be in the show, please be sure you can commit to attending practice at least four times before the February show. Practices will be held after school, Saturdays, and some evenings December through February.

BONUS: You won't need to memorize lines!

Llama Storytime November 14

Hello, How are You? by Dr. Jean

Then we looked at the llama in Teruyuki Komiya's Life-Size Farm and looked at the pictures in a non-fiction juvenile book about llamas.

Llama Llama Time to Share by Anna Dewdney

On Hullabaloo, there is a song called Mama Llama. We danced with Llama Llamas (libary's and the kids had their own!) and scarves.

Jenna's Llama Book Using Brown Bear, Brown Bear language, i made up different colored llamas - including Llama with a tie, chickenpox llama, dancefloor llama, etc - and the kids helped me "read" the story as we came to a new colored llama. I used this coloring page picture and just printed on colored sheets of paper. For the fun llamas, i drew in the pictures.






I found this goofy llama song on the internet, but instead of watching the never-ending looped video, i printed off llama images and sang the song slower. The words are:

Here's a llama, there's a llama
And another little llama.
Fuzzy llama
Funny Llama
Llama, llama, llama
Duck.

Here are some of the images i used:

Is Your Mama a Llama? by Deborah Guarino. We listened to the book on CD.

My aunt visited South America a few years ago and brought back socks and a hat made from llama fur. We compared these items to our own clothes. (Thank you, Kathy!)

Llama Llama Misses Mama by Anna Dewdney

It is Time To Say Goodbye & Wave Your Hand and Say Goodbye

Due to Thanksgiving, we will not have storytime next week. The Library will be closed Wednesday - Friday. I look forward to seeing you on November 28 (Bears!) if not before.

Around the World Storytime November 7

This was a fun one! I had a large map from National Geographic magazine taped on my felt wall. I also had a globe nearby, that we usually keep in the adult area shelving. After singing our good morning song, we talked about the map (thanks, Dora), the globe, and where we are located on both of them.

Hello, How are You?

The Big Trip by Valerie Gorbachev

Where Do We Come From? with Tom Pease and Stuart Stotts - egg shakers and hip shaking during this song!

Hush! A Thai Lullaby by Minfong Ho Before reading, I pointed out where we are and where Thailand is on the map and globe. The children joined me when i said "Hush" and put my fingers to my lips.









Penguin Song (a favorite from when i worked at Camp) Before singing, we pointed out where penguins live.
Chorus: Have you ever seen a penguin come to tea?
Take a look at me a penguin you will see.
Penguins attention.
Penguins begin.

Right arm (flap arm up and down on your side)
Chorus.

Left arm (flap both)
Chorus.

Right leg (move leg to side a bit and down and still arms)
Chorus.

Left leg (add left leg to the mix)
Chorus.

Bob your head (do all)
Chorus.

Walk around (walk around like a penguin)
Chorus.

Instead of saying "penguins begin" end with "penguins sit down."

Lost and Found by Oliver Jeffers

The Story of Grandfather Bear, told aloud (Native American traditional)

Roll the globe to the song Walk Tall from Ziggy Marley & Paul Simon (We used a cloth globe as we took turns rolling the globe to one another.)

Who is the Beast? by Keith Baker

Goodbye Songs








Next week we will read books about Llamas! Don't forget, we will be closed the Wednesday immediately before Thanksgiving.

Harvest Time October 31 Storytime

Hello, How Are You (good morning song)

Tractor Day by Candice F. Ransom

Fall Harvest from Pebble Books

Peanut Butter & Jelly by Greg & Steve on their CD Fun & Games

Plant a Little Seed by Bonnie Christensen

The Apple Tree by Carole Peterson on her CD Highly Usable Music H.U.M. All Year Long (It is a short song, so I had it on my playlist twice in a row.)

Pumpkin, Pumpkin by Jeanne Titherington We read the story then each child got a felt piece of the story to put in sequence on our felt.

Boo! To the tune of "5 Little Duck," I passed out cotton balls that we pretended were spiders. We moved the spiders to the different part of our bodies.
5 little pumpkins I once knew-
Scary ones, happy ones, sad ones too.
But te one in the front with a spider on it's shoe,
It led the others with a boo, boo, boo!
Boo, boo, boo! Boo, boo, boo!
It led the others with a boo, boo, boo!
4...ear...snear.
3...eye...cry.
2..calf...laugh.
1...shoe..."I love you."

The Enormous Potato retold by Aubrey Davis

Goodbye Songs:
It is Time To Say Goodbye by Dr. Jean
Wave your ear goodbye.
Wave your nose goodbye.
Wave your knee goodbye.
Wave your shoulder goodbye.
Wave your foot goodbye.
Wave your chin goodbye.
Wave your hand and say "Goodbye."

Pizza & Game Night!!!

Because of the HUGE response from Fall Creek youth, we are inviting FOUR grades - two from the elementary school and two from middle/high school.

The results are in....

Elementary:

In 7th place, 3rd grade
6th place, PreK
5th place, 2nd grade
4th place, Kindergarten
3rd place, 1st grade
2nd place, 4th grade
1st place, 5th grade

Middle/High School:

In 7th place, Seniors
6th place, Freshman
5th place, Juniors
4th place, 6th grade
3rd place, 7th grade
2nd place, Sophomores
1st place, 8th grade

Well done! Look for your pizza & game night invitation and tickets in December :)

Let the Youth Speak...and their voices were heard!

Over the past few months, adults have been exercising their right to think and tomorrow they will have the chance to vote.

Over the past few WEEKS, Fall Creek youth have been able to make THEIR voices heard. We sent ballots home through school for all ages to vote on favorite Public Library programs, movies & books from 2012, kinds of pizza, things we should purchase for them to have access to in the Library, and more! 

We had a great turn-out! Thank you to the Fall Creek School staff, parents, and ESPECIALLY the youth who voted! 

And now...

the results....

PreK-3 Graders voted for:

Favorite Library Program: Art Club

Favorite 2012 book: Pete the Cat and his four groovy buttons

Favorite 2012 movie: The Lorax

Favorite Pizza: Cheese

Items they want to see in the Library: A puppet theatre (More LEGOS came in a VERY close 2nd)

Favorite cartoon on TV: Tom & Jerry

4th-6th Grader voted for:

Favorite Library program: LEGO Club

Favorite 2012 book: TWO-WAY TIE for Mark of Athena and Geronimo Stilton

Favorite 2012 movie: Hunger Games

Favorite Pizza: Pepperoni

Items they want to see in the Library: backjack chairs (Wii attachments came in a very, very close 2nd)

Favorite TV show: THREE WAY TIE for AFV, Adventure Time, and Good Luck Charlie

7th - 9th Graders voted for:

Favorite Library program: Wii

Favorite 2012 book: Losing It by Erin Fry

Favorite 2012 movie: Hunger Games

Items they want to see in the Library: Backjack chairs (Wii attachments came in a distant 2nd)

10th-12th Graders voted for:

Favorite Library program: Wii

Favorite 2012 book: Divergent

Favorite 2012 movie: Hunger Games

Items they want to see in the Library: backjack chairs (graffiti wall came in a VERY close 2nd - I will offer a graffiti wall off and on throughout the year)

Next year, the Fall Creek Public Library plans to purchase backjack chairs, more LEGOs, and Wii attachments. If you would like to help our youth and the Library, your donations are always appreciated!

Thank you to the many voters! Your voice has been heard and please don't wait for the next election to tell us what you like and what you would like to see at your Public Library :)

Oh... I ALMOST forgot...the two grades with the highest voter turn-out (percentage) will earn a pizza and game night at the Library. These results will be posted tomorrow :)

Share Autumn with Us

What is your favorite autumn activity? 

Please share your favorite story, tradition, or photo with us! You can post on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/pages/Fall-Creek-Public-Library-Youth-Programs/58453676221 or e-mail Jenna at jgilles@fallcreekpubliclibrary.org

The top 5 will be shared via Facebook, blogpost, and our bulletin board.

You have from now through October 30 to share!

Our favorites will be posted on October 31.

Have fun and good luck :)

Gaudy Day Storytime & Up, Up and Away Storytime

Due to last week's conference, I did not get to posting last week's storytime, Gaudy Day. So today you can read all about TWO storytimes :)

October 17: Gaudy Day

Good Morning Song: Hello, How Are You

 My Dress-Up Box by DK Readers

Then I got gaudy! I put on a wig then sang "I Know an Old Lady who wore a..." I put on some awful 1980s parachute pants, mismatched socks, an awful purple robe, and a big hat. I stayed that way through most of the storytime!

I'm All Dressed by Robie H. Harris

"Shake your scarves" by Johnette Downing. Yes, we shook our scarves.

Chamelia by Ethan Long

The Clothing Chant from Ready to Go Storytimes CD - used felt pictures from clipart and we did actions similar buttoning, zipping, snapping, hooking, and tying.

Pete the Cat and His Four Groovy Buttons by Eric Litwin

"Will you wear red, oh my dear, oh my dear? Will you wear read, Jenny Jenkins?" Started out with a red felt figure then added different clothes in different colors, including a black umbrella, so it looked like Jenny Jenkins is ready for rain.

Goodbye Songs: It is Time to Say Goodbye (& then)

Wave your elbow goodbye.

Wave your bellybutton goodbye.

Wave your nose goodbye.

Wave your ear goodbye.

Wave your foot goodbye.

Wave your chin goodbye.

Wave your hands and say, "Goodbye."

Then we played dress up - I had three boxes of hats, shirts, dresses, masks, Halloween costumes, vests, and more! Good times!

October 23: Up, Up, and Away Storytime

Goodmorning Song: Hellow, How are You? by Dr. Jean

Harvey Potter's Balloon Farm by Jerdine Nelson. I did not read it word for word due to the young audience.

Using ribbon wands, we pretended to float like balloons as I sang part of a favorite camp song of mine, Red Balloon. Words are: 

Give me a red balloon on a long black string,

I can whistle and I can sing

With my red balloon on a long black string.

I am richer than any king.

Chorus (i sang it twice in a row):

Laughs are many and tears are few.

Life's exciting and always new

In a world of girls and boys,

In a world of simple joys.

Then I repeated the first verse.

Balloons Balloons Balloons by Dee Lillegard

Then we moved to the Village Hall where we played parachute games with the balloons on the parachute.

After putting the parachute away, we danced around with our balloons while listening to The Backyardigans' "Hold On Tight" and Colleen and Uncle Squaty's "Shake it Down, Turn Around."

Goodbye Songs: It is Time to Say Goodbye (and then:)

Wave your foot goodbye.

Wave your knees goodbye.

Wave your elbow goodbye.

Wave your backside goodbye.

Wave your nose goodbye.

Wave your balloons goodbye.

Wave your hands and say "Goodbye."

Each child went home with a balloon.

Next week: Harvest Time