Frogs

Everything frogs today!

Welcome songs

Book: I See a Frog

Book: Ah Ha! by Jeff Mack

Fingerplay: 5 Green and Speckled Frogs. I made this: 

and i tore off a frog as we counted down.

Book: 999 Tadpoles by Ken Kimura

Lilpad Hop - I laid out lilypads with numbers on them and we jumped and counted. I would say, "We're going to jump and count to THIS number and then so-and-so can draw an action card." The action cards said things like count it out, tongue flips, hugs, claps, stomps, hops, jumps, etc. We would then do that action as many times as the lily pad we were on. LOTS of movement happened! It was a good time!

This guy was waiting for us and drew the last action card.

Book: Leap Back Home to Me by Lauren Thompson

Goodbye Songs

Next week, we'll read about ROBOTS!

Marshmallows!!

To promote April's Afterschool Library Club, we sent a picture home with each Fall Creek School District elementary student. They were asked to complete the picture and bring it back to the Public Library by March 20. Normally, I try not to have this type of competition, but every once in a while it can be fun and....

We had 31 entries!!!

And the winners are....

Congratulations to 1st graders Lydia Williams and Carson Ziegler, 3rd grader Megan Johnston, 2nd grader Maissy Nall, and 5th grader Isaiah Kaufman for winning a free book and king size candy bar! Their marshmallow pictures are highly creative and are leaving the Fall Creek Public Library staff hungry and excited for next month's Afterschool Library Camp!

Winners can pick up their book and candy bar this Thursday-Saturday.

Congratulations and well done, everyone, for creating such unique pictures!

Registration is now open for our April 7-10 Afterschool Library Camp for K-5th graders. Each child must be registered each day they will be participating. Please call or stop in to register! 715-877-3334. Space is limited!

Up In the Air Storytime

Today, we focused on things we can find in the sky and in the air.

Hello Songs

Fingerplay: 10 Little Birds

10 little birds high up in the sky (repeat).
1 flew away and now there are 9.

9 little birds fly to a gate (repeat).
1 flew away and now there are 8.

8 little birds avoid a fox den (repeat).
1 flew away and now there are 7.

7 little birds out gathering sticks.
7 little birds out gathering sticks.
1 flew away and now there are 6.

6 little birds start to dance and jive (repeat).
1 flew away and now there are 5.

5 little birds pecking on a dirt floor. (repeat).
1 flew away and now there are 4.

4 little birds sleeping in a tree (repeat).
1 flew away now there are 3.

3 little birds cheep, chirp, and coo (repeat).
1 flew away and now there are 2.

2 little birds in a pond having fun (repeat).
1 flew away and now there is 1.

1 little bird dozing in her nest so cozy (repeat).
Her eggs all hatched and now there are plenty!

Book: Egg Drop by Mini Grey

With Ribbon Wands: Twinkle Twinkle Little Star by Jack Hartmann

Book: Fred and Ted Like to Fly by Peter Eastman

Book: It Looked Like Spilt Milk

Bubble time

Activity: I put a blob of white paint in the middle of a blue piece of construction paper. They smushed it in half, opened it up, and figured out what it looked like. Then I helped them write down what it looked like.

Reminder: NO storytime on March 26.

Cow Storytime

Due to car issues last Wednesday, I decided to postpone last week's theme to today. Here is what we did:

Welcome Songs

Fingerplay: 1 little 2 little 3 little cows 4 little 5 little 6 little cows 7 little 8 little 9 little cows 10 cows standing in the field. 10 little 9 little 8 little cows 7 little 6 little 5 little cows 4 little 3 little 2 little cows 1 cow laying in the barn.

Book: Chilly Milly Moo by Fiona Ross


















Then we put together a cowboy picture I cut up ahead of time. It was a group puzzle. Each kid was given a piece of the puzzle, with a number written on the back. When I called their number, they came up and put their piece on the other ones. Then we talked about and acted out different things cowboys do (boots, chaps, rope, riding a horse.)

The activity led directly into the song You're a Young Cowboy by Cathy Bollinger. We danced and acted like cowboys and horses.

Book: Moo! by David LaRochelle










Sorting Activity: What Comes From Milk? I had laminated pictures of both dairy (chocolate milk, ice cream, cheese, etc.) and non-dairy items (robot, fishing pole, oranges, etc). Using our flannel board, I made two sections using a picture of a cow (dairy items) and a picture of a cow with a big old red X over top (non-dairy items). Each child picked a picture out of my bucket and then placed their picture under the correct cow/ crossed out cow. I had enough pictures for each child to do this two times. It was great for discussing dairy products, following multi-step directions, and taking turns.

Book: There's a Cow in the Cabbage Patch - they helped me with the sounds.

















Goodbye songs and bubbles.

The kids got to then choose to make a paperbag cow puppet or take it home.

This Saturday is our next Family Storytime at 10:15am! Next Wednesday, we'll read about things that are Up In the Air!

Pete the Cat Party

This was a fun program! We really only did a few activities compared to what I normally offer, but I think everyone had a good time.

First, we read Pete the Cat: Play Ball and Pete the Cat and His 4 Groovy Buttons. Then the kids got to vote which book was their favorite by placing a marker in the correct bucket. At last count, 4 Groovy Buttons is the winner! Next week, I plan to turn this into an interactive display and let patrons vote, as well.

Then we had a Pete the Cat snack - we frosted a graham cracker and added M&M buttons to make it look like Pete's coat. YUM! Big hit!

Before we began!

Then (my favorite and thank you somebody I saw on Pinterest for the idea!!!): we listened the the recorded version of Litwin's Pete the Cat: I Love My White Shoes as we acted the story out with buckets of "strawberries," "blueberries," "mud," and water (actually water). FUN FUN!

Oh no! Pete stepped in a large pile of strawberries!

A color trail!

We will be having another Pete the Cat party AS SOON AS POSSIBLE! So much fun!

Storytime Setlist.... FINALLY!

I finally have the time to let you know what we have been up to at Storytime this year! Forgive me, but there are not photos of the stories. And nowwww......


January 15 - Animals In Winter
Hello, How Are You?

Hands Go Up:
Hands go up and
Hands go down.
I can turn myself around.
I can stand up
On one shoe.
I can listen,
So can you.
I can sit. I'll show you how.
Storytime is starting now.

Book: Footprints in the Snow

Song: I'm a Little Snowflake by Laurie Berkner (it's a sweet and short song, so we played it twice)

Book: Over and Under the Snow by Kate Messner

Movement activity: Draw a card and act it out. I had cards for The Mitten. Each child took turns drawing one of the cards, then the group acted out how that animal sounded and/or moved.

Book: Bear Snores On

Book: The Mitten feltboard

See You Later
See you later, alligator.
Give a hug, ladybug.
Hit the road, hoppy toad.
See you soon, raccoon.
Out the door, dinosaur.

It is time to Say Goodbye
Bubble Song with bubbles

After storytime today, i covered the tables and chairs and brought out our play tunnel. The kids could pretend to be animals hiding under the snow and hibernating.

January 22 - New Friends

Hello, How Are You?

Hands Go Up

Fingerplay: Little Friends with number line
1 little 2 little 3 little friends 4 little 5 little 6 little friends 7 little 8 little 9 little friends 10 friends all around us. 11 little 12 little 13 little friends 14 little 15 little 16 little friends 17 little 18 little 19 little friends 20 friends all around us.

Book: Who is a Friend?

Box Song:
Oh i wish i had a little red box to put my glad friends in.
I'd take them out and go (hug, hug) and put them right back in.
Oh I wish I had a little green box to put my new friends in.
I'd take them out and go HIGH FIVE and put them right back in.
Oh I wish i had a little blue box to put my sad friends in.
I'd take them out and go KISS KISS and put them right back in. 
Oh I wish I had a great big box to put all my friends in.
I'd take them out and say YOU'RE GREAT! and put them right back in.

Book: The Monster's Monster by Patrick O'Donnell

Book: Little Beauty by Anthony Browne

Song: Make New Friends on Air Guitar by Cathy Fink and Marcy Marxer (with shakers)

Puppets: Big Mean Dust Bunny with feather dusters

Goodbye Songs & Bubbles

After storytime, they could play with my dust bunny puppets. Each child also got to take a new friend (a book) home to keep.

January 29 - Owls

Welcome Songs

Finger Play: 5 Little Owls on paper towel roll

Book: A Book of Sleep by Il Sung Na

Song: If You Ever See an Owl on the CD Terrible Twos - danced with scarves

Book: Baby Owl by Aubrey Lang

Song: Do the Owl by The Wiggles - first we discussed and acted out how owls move their bodies and make sounds and then we danced around like owls

Book: Owl Howl by Paul Friester - the kids got to cry loudly throughout the story

Poem: Who on page 66 in a Owl Poem Book (forgot the book title!)

Goodbye Songs

After storytime today, the kiddos played with playdough and playdough toys.

February 5 - Oh! No!

Welcome Songs

Counting poem with number line

Book: Oh! No! by Candace Fleming and Eric Rohman

Music: Shake and Stop - we shook instruments and made movement to the fingerplay. We used our listening ears and followed directions.

Book: Perfectly Percy

Movement Activity: Each child took turns shaking the larger dice - animals on one and movements on the other. For example: dance like a kangaroo or jump like a fish :)

Story: Bossy Bear by Dacid Horvath - anytime bossy bear did something bear, say "oh! no!" and put your thumbs down

Goodbye Songs and Bubbles

I forget what we did after storytime today. Oops!

February 12 - Vrooooom!

Welcome Songs

Homemade book Fingerplay: 3 Loud Trucks

Book: In the Driver's Seat by Max Haynes

Music Activity: Riding in Our Cars

Book: Night Light

Vehicle Guessing Game Rhyming Homemade Book

Song: Rockin and Rollin Wheels on the Bus

Story: Toot Toot Zoom!

Story: Mitchell's License

Goodbye Songs and Bubbles

After storytime, the kids got to draw with cars (markers taped to matchbox cars). See Facebook for some pretty cool artwork :)

Family Storytime on February 15 - I Spy

Welcome Songs

Game: I Spy (pre-made rhyming guessing game with things found in the children's area)

Book: There is a Bird on My Head by Mo Willems and read by Kim Peach

Activity: Rainbow Around Me with ribbon wands

Book: Track that Scat

Parachute Games

Book: The Dark by Lemony Snicket

Feltboard Story: Mouse in the House

Goodbye Songs & Bubbles

After storytime, the kids got to finish google eye pictures (2-3 eyes preglued on paper and they could finish the picture) and an I Spy game, complete with laminated magnifying/detective glass.

February 19 - Uh! Oh!

Welcome Songs

Book: Bark, George!

Music: Beanie Bag Dance by Greg & Steve - used beanie baby animals instead of bags

Book: Ding-Dong Gorilla by Michelle Robinson

Book: Don't Play with Your Food by Bob Shea

That is Not a Good Idea by Mo Willems - whenever the little baby chicks came into the story, we said "uh! oh!" together

Goodbye Songs & Bubbles

After storytime, I used up the rest of the google eye pictures for this storytime, too. "Uh! Oh! What is missing in this picture? I see eyes... you draw the rest!"

February 26 - Hair!

Welcome Songs

Fingerplay: Jenna's Ponytails - I hid 10 ponytails under my hat and then we counted them before doing 1 little 2 little 3 little pontails... on Jenna's head. Then we counted backward as i took them out then we did 10 little 9 little 8....

Book: The Dirtiest Hair in the World by Bob McAllen

Music: Fixin' My Hair from a Sesame Street CD - we made our hair dance in different ways

Book: Where Did Daddy's Hair Go? by Joe O'Connor

Book: Baghead by jarrett J Krosoczka

The kids we paying such close attention during stories, that I decided to forego "Tangle in My Hair" by Dana McCarthy on the CD Chocolate Mike and we did more stories (I always have at least one backup.)

Acted out "Stephanie's Ponytail" by Robert Munsch

Goodbye Songs & Bubbles

After storytime, I brought out Mouse in the House for families and kids to play with.

Next week, we will be reading about COWS!

Valentines Dance & Fundraiser + Candy Guessing Jar

Stop in now through February 12 to make your guess!

Thank you to everyone who has helped get this Dance & Fundraiser off the ground. Snacks will be available by donation. We will play Mini Minute to Win It, offer crafts & activities, have dance contests, and more! Come dressed up or dressed as you are!

Questions? Contact Jenna at 715-877-3334 or jgilles@fallcreekpubliclibrary.org