Toddler Nature Storytime: Bears & Owls

It's Natural Areas Celebration Week (May 4th - 12th, 2013)

In the spirit of learning about and exploring our natural world, we had a nature-themed toddler storytime this week. Here's how it went:

We opened storytime by "shaking our sillies out," which is our weekly routine. I had never heard this song before I began working at this library, but it's definitely one of the favorites with our youngest patrons. Both Raffi and Bob McGrath (from Sesame Street fame) have great renditions of the song on their albums. There is even a sing-along book by Raffi.

Into the Wild by Lerryn Korda (Candlewick, 2010)

The illustrations are very cute and toddler-friendly in this book. Little Nye, Nella, and Lester would like to go exploring into the wild with Gracie, but she cautions them: You need to be brave! It could get dark outside! There might be grizzlies! Luckily Gracie decides to let them join her on exploring the wild patch at the end of the backyard garden.

We walked, jumped, danced, and sang together to "I Like to Walk" by Grenadilla. This is a very sunny, danceable album for children.

With the aid of owl puppets, I shared the story of owl siblings Sarah, Percy, and little Bill who are missing their mother in this classic book on dealing with separation anxiety:

Owl Babies by Martin Waddell (Candlewick, 1992)

We got up and moved to this rhyme from Librarian Lisa's blog (which also contains more classic, movement-oriented rhymes):

Once I Saw a Little Bird
Once I saw a little bird
Come hop, hop, hop:
So I cried, "Little bird,
Won't you stop, stop, stop?"

I was going to the window
To say, "How do you do?"
But he shook his little tail,
And away he flew!

We sang "Clap Everybody and Say Hello" by Kathy Reid-Naiman from her album Sally Go Round the Sun:

Sally Go Round the Sun (Kathy Reid-Naiman)

Next we shared:

Baby Bear, Baby Bear, What Do You See? by Bill Martin Jr. (Henry Holt, 2007)

A young bear sees a variety of animals from North America in this picture book illustrated by Eric Carle. We saw everything from a mule deer to a blue heron to a rattlesnake!

There is so much you can see just in your backyard or at a park around town! I shared with the group that I had seen several of nature's treasures in my garden over the weekend: a garden snake, earthworm, hummingbird, dragonfly, and even a roly poly. Toddlers are so naturally curious, this is a great age to start exploring the outdoors together.

One of my favorite songs to use with toddlers and preschoolers is "Stand Up, Sit Down" that I was introduced to years ago when I worked at another library in Washington state. This song is simple, but requires listening to directions and exercising a bit of self-regulation. The song is from this album by William Janiak, a music therapist:

Songs About Me by Bill Janiak

One of my all-time favorite authors and illustrators for sharing with young children is Nancy Tafuri:

Mama's Little Bears by Nancy Tafuri (Scholastic, 2002)

Mama's little bears are learning to fish, but curiosity leads them to explore the world around them. They meet spiders, river otters, and even an owl family up a tree. Luckily, mama bear is never far from these newly independent bears.

We explored the difference between big and small with our next rhyme and song. I love the "This is Big" rhyme from Mel's Desk (thank you, Melissa!). Of course, we had to sing Itsy-Bitsy Spider, too.

The last book I shared was:

In My Tree by Sara Gillingham & Lorena Siminovich (Chronicle Books)

This is a board book with an owl finger puppet integrated into the book. The illustrations are among my favorites and since I have a small obsession with owls, I couldn't resist featuring this one in storytime. Interactive books are great for toddlers, especially one-on-one. It helps hold their interest in the book and makes the story come alive through their senses. 

I try to end with the same rhyme every week:

Tickle the Clouds
Tickle the clouds
Tickle your toes
Turn around and
Tickle your nose

Reach down low
Reach up high
Storytime is over
Wave "goodbye!"

Happy Natural Areas Celebration Week!

Pick of the Week: All Kinds of Kisses by Nancy Tafuri

All Kinds of Kisses by Nancy Tafuri (Little, Brown, c2012)

I shared this book at Toddler Storytime this morning and I just loved it! Nancy Tafuri's illustrations are perfect for group readings and individual settings with toddlers and preschoolers. The simple text illustrates the variety of kisses found on the farm - saving the very best kiss for last!

Pick of the Week: Itsy-Bitsy Babies

I am a fan of Jan Ormerod's illustrations, especially ones of babies, so when I learned of a new book collaboration between Margaret Wild and Ormerod, I was excited. When the library received copies of Itsy-Bitsy Babies, published by Little Hare Books, I was definitely not disappointed. This book was featured in Infant Storytime this morning and is a great one to read aloud with babies and toddlers. Rhyming text and adorable illustrations feature the things babies love to do - peekaboo, clapping, and playing.

Itsy-Bitsy Babies by Margaret Wild and Jan Ormerod

Pick of the Week: "Shwatsit!"

Shwatsit!: No one knows just what it means by Christin Ditchfield, illustrated by Rosalind Beardshaw (Golden Book, 2009)

This little baby girl knows just what she wants, but no one else in her family can figure it out. She eats breakfast,  sees her brother off to school at the bus stop, goes shopping with Mom, heads to the park, and more. All the while, her family is trying to guess just what "shwatsit" means! Young children will love trying to figure out what it means, and once they do, it's fun to look back through the book at the clues given. Parents and older siblings will appreciate what it's like to try to decode a baby's or toddler's first word attempts.

Pick of the Week: It's Me, Parsnip

 

It's Me, Parsnip by Sue Porter (Mathew Price, 2008, c. 2006)

Somebody has left a muddy puddle, who could it be? Follow along the trail of footprints in this gentle, lift-the-flap story that's perfect for sharing with toddlers.

New Book Series for Toddlers

Meet Tilly and Friends - a new picture book series by Polly Dunbar (author/illustrator of Penguin, Down the Back of the Chair, and Dog Blue). Tilly and her friends all live in a yellow house. Tilly is an adorable little girl with a toddler friend named Hector - a very cute pig. These picture books are full of sweet, whimsical illustrations and sing-song text sure to please toddlers (Rooty-toot-toot! and Whump! Bump! Whoops!). In the first book of the series, Hello Tilly, Tilly and her friends have fun playing in their yellow house - making music, dancing, enjoying a "feast", and reading stories. In Happy Hector, all of the other animals want to play with Tilly. This leaves Hector a bit unhappy until he realizes there's a way he can have fun even if he doesn't have Tilly all to himself. Additional Tilly and Friends titles coming soon: Pretty Pru, Where's Tumpty? Doodle Bites and Good Night, Tiptoe.

Pick of the Week: How Do You Say Good Night?

How Do You Say Good Night? by Raina Moore (HarperCollins, 2008)

How do you say good night? What is your child's bedtime routine? A cuddle and a story? A snack and a snuggle? Brushing teeth, a bath, then rocking together? In How Do You Say Good Night? by Raina Moore, different animal characters share they way they get ready for bedtime together in this predictable, rhyming picture book. The illustrations are delightful and just right for a cozy bedtime read with your toddler or preschooler.

Pick of the Week: My Baby & Me

My Baby & Me by Lynn Reiser and Penny Gentieu (Alfred A. Knopf, 2008)

What can a little baby do? Maybe not everything their older brother or sister can do, but they can do plenty! This is a great book for sharing with either babies or toddlers. They'll each get something different out of the book - whether they identify with the baby or the older sibling in each layout. Lynn Reiser's rhyming text and Penny Gentieu's fabulous photographs are the perfect match for a picture book to share with the very youngest of children. Great for one on one or even group storytime sharing!

Pick of the Week: Hello, Day! by Anita Lobel

Hello, Day! by Anita Lobel (Greenwillow Books, 2008)

Finding a beautifully illustrated picture book that works well as a read-aloud to babies and toddlers is a real treat. Anita Lobel's book, Hello, Day!, hits the mark. With vibrantly painted illustrations of farm animals awaking on a sunny morning, each animal greets the day in its own unique way. The simple plot concludes with the sun setting and an owl appearing to say goodnight. A great morning or bedtime read!

Books and Toddlers Class this Spring

Beginning soon...

Toddle On Over Today (Reading is Fun!):
a fun parent/child class to encourage reading and literacy play with your toddler.

Join a small group of parents, caregivers and toddlers for a five-week series of early literacy activities for your active 12- to 24-month old child. Learn fun and easy ways to incorporate the six early literacy skills of Every Child Ready to Read through discussion, stories, music, and play. Participants receive a book each week and great ideas to share with their toddler.

Meets at the Corvallis-Benton County Public Library Storytime Room (645 NW Monroe Ave.).

Mondays, March 31 - April 28th from 10:00 - 11:00 a.m.
or
Mondays, May 5 - June 9th from 10:00-11:00 a.m. (class does not meet May 26)

Cost: $37 for 5 weeks. To register, call LBCC at (541) 917-4949.

Instructor: Kristin, Youth Services Librarian

Brought to you by the Corvallis-Benton County Public Library and Linn-Benton Community College Parenting Education Department.