Pick of the Week & Crafting with Kids

I never thought I'd be a crafty mom or a crafty librarian, for that matter. I wasn't into crafts growing up. But something changed as I got older, and I started creating things. And guess what? I discovered that I love it! I certainly don't have the time to finish - or even start - many of the projects I'd like to, but I love finding inspiration (hello, Pinterest!). The blogging world is full of ideas for creating with children. Recently, I discovered Hand in Hand: 20 Top Bloggers Craft with Kids, compiled by Jenny Doh at the Corvallis-Benton County Public Library. It's my pick for Staff Picks this month.

If you're a crafty parent - or the parent of a crafty child - you might be interested in this week's Pick of the Week:

Create with Maisy: a Maisy First Arts-and-Crafts Book by Lucy Cousins (Candlewick Press, 2012)

Fun ideas for young children to create (with the help of an adult), like making a box house for Panda, vegetable printing, paper lanterns, vegetable characters, a sparkly crown for King Eddie, and more!

Bilingual Storytime Saturday

When Sheep Sleep by Laura Numeroff, illustrations by David McPhail (Abrams Books for Young Readers, 2006)

Spanish/English Bilingual Storytime: Make a Spring Lamb!
Saturday, March 10, 2012
11:00 a.m. - Noon
Corvallis Library Youth Activity Room
Join us for bilingual English/Spanish stories, songs, and a craft to make. Refreshments served. Free!

Venga y disfrute de la fiesta de su biblioteca! Un programa bilingüe cada més en la biblioteca. ¡Gratis! ¡Refrescos! Escucha cuentos y cante canciones. La sala de reunión.   

Storytime Craft this week!

Leaf Man by Lois Ehlert

After storytime this week, Peik-Kuan Lim will be leading us in an autumn-inspired craft. Children will be invited to make a leaf collage in the Storytime Room, following regular storytime. Thanks Peik-Kuan!

Need a Winter Break activity?

image source: andy castro on flickr

Winter Break has just begun for many in our community, but if you're already looking activities to engage and occupy your little ones at home, how about mixing up a batch of peppermint playdough? Check out this fragrant wintertime activity for children here: http://www.kinderthemes.com/peppermintplaydough.html. Even better, the recipe calls for glitter! Playing with playdough is not only fun and uses children's imaginations, but it can actually help build literacy skills as well! How about constructing letters out of playdough? What does your child's name look like in a three-dimensional form like craft dough? Many children learn better when they are using all of their senses, so adding the texture (and smell!) of peppermint playdough to your playtime activities can become a learning opportunity as well. Try molding different shapes and discussing their differences and similarities?