CD Picks for Babies & Toddlers

This is Fun! (Caspar Babypants)

If you came to Infant Storytime this morning, you'll recognize the song "Bounce Your Baby" off of This is Fun! Musician Chris Ballew, once again, brings great beats and fun lyrics to the youngest of listeners. My personal favorites are "Googly Eyes" (check out the video for the song here), "All You Pretty Babies", and "Bounce Your Baby." 

Little Ditties for Itty Bitties (Michele Valeri)

Michele Valeri's cd contains catchy activity songs to share with babies and toddlers. This one will probably be spotlighted at Infant Storytime soon! You can preview the songs here. Do you or your children have any favorites?

Pick of the Week: The Loud Book

The Loud Book! by Deborah Underwood (Houghton Mifflin Books for Children, 2011)

Perhaps you've seen The Quiet Book by Deborah Underwood with Renata Liwska's illustrations of cuddly, cozy animals displaying the different ways "quiet" can exist throughout the day. Now we have The Loud Book, it's rightful companion with the same animals joyfully and exuberantly making all kinds of noise. There's loud like the noise of an alarm clock or someone snoring or the sounds of crickets chirping (and believe me, having lived in the Midwest, those crickets can be LOUD!). This one is sure to be a fun one to share with your child and explore the different ways you can be noisy or quiet.

Going Green

Earth Day (April 22) is coming soon. Is your family doing something special to celebrate? How do you incorporate "being green" into your daily lives? I'm sharing a "green" booklist in honor of Earth and all of its wonderful natural resources.

Gabby and Grandma Go Green by Monica Wellington (Dutton Children's Books, 2010)

Gabby and her grandmother spend the day doing things together that will help the environment. 

Arthur Turns Green by Marc Brown (Little, Brown, 2011)

When Arthur starts talking about the environmental school project involving a Big Green Machine, a confused D.W. begins to worry that something scary exists that will turn everyone green!

Fancy Nancy: Every Day is Earth Day by Jane O'Connor (HarperCollins, 2010)

When Fancy Nancy learns about Earth Day and "being green," her enthusiasm causes problems at home.

Miss Fox's Class Goes Green by Eileen Spinelli (Albert Whitman, 2009)

The students in Miss Fox's class help teach how making decisions like turning off lights, recycling, and taking shorter showers can help keep planet Earth healthy.

10 Things I Can Do to Help My World by Melanie Walsh (Candlewick Press, 2008)

Bold die-cut illustrations are great for teaching young children simple ways they can help the Earth.

Ants in Your Pants, Worms in Your Plants! (Gilbert Goes Green) by Diane deGroat (Harper, 2011)

Gilbert thinks he's the only one in his class unable to think of a good project for Earth Day.

Let's Get Ready for Earth Day by Lloyd G. Douglas (Children's Press, 2003)

A boy describes how his class prepares for Earth Day, by learning about the holiday from their teacher, preparing and hanging posters, and planting a tree. (Summary courtesy of Syndetics, Inc.)

Musical Performance TODAY at 1:00!

Arrieu Wind Quintet presents Musical Stories, Monday, April 18th, 1 p.m.

The Arrieu Wind Quintet will perform the musical stories of Peter and the Wolf, the Pied Piper of Hamlin, Aesop's Fables, and a Children's Book Suite on Monday, April 18th, 2011, from 1-2 p.m. in the Library's Main Meeting Room. All ages are welcome!

Early Literacy Skills Video

Check out this great video from Garden City Library (Garden City, Idaho) on developing the six early literacy skills every child needs to become a successful reader.

Pick of the Week: How to Teach a Slug to Read

How to Teach a Slug to Read by Susan Pearson, illustrated by David Slonim (Marshall Cavendish Children's, 2011

Living in the Pacific Northwest, you probably have a definite opinion regarding slugs. Love 'em or hate 'em, slugs can make for great characters in a book! Not convinced? Check out Susan Pearson's other picture book featuring slugs (Slugs in Love). In How to Teach a Slug to Read, Pearson tackles the important subject of teaching a child to read (and enjoy reading, I might add). She clearly outlines several important steps to take when teaching your slug to read. Of course, most of these same steps can be applied to children as well. :) This book contains bright illustrations with varying perspective and a lot of humor. And what is the value of teaching a slug to read? Well, so your slug can read to you!

Bunny Books

It's Spring! While it may still be chilly, wet, and gray outside, signs of spring are popping up everywhere. Bunnies are a perennial springtime favorite in children's books. This past year some great new picture books have been published featuring bunny characters. Click on a title to check our library catalog. Happy Spring!

Snow Rabbit, Spring Rabbit by Il Sung Na

While other animals migrate, hibernate, or stay busy all winter, a little white rabbit watches.

A Very Big Bunny by Marisabina Russo

Amelia is so big that she is always last in line at school and none of the other students will play with her, but a special new classmate teaches her that size is not always the most important thing.

Bunny Bunny Catkin by Cathy MacLennan

Longer days. . .then brighter days. Mellow, yellow sun rays, Blossom in the breezes…Birds chirping, butterflies fluttering, bunnies hopping, flowers blooming--spring is in the air! Discover all the delights of the season in this joyful new book from Cathy MacLennan, author and illustrator of the popular Chicky Chicky Chook Chook. MacLennan's bold, colorful art and rhythmic language chock-full of fun-to-imitate sounds make this a wonderful read-aloud. (Summary courtesy of Syndetics, Inc.)

Quiet Bunny's Many Colors by Lisa McCue

Quiet Bunny loves the beautiful colors of springtime in the forest so much, he wants to change his fur's winter colors.

Ribbit Rabbit by Candace Ryan

 Frog and Bunny are the best of friends, even though sometimes they get into fights.

Suki the Very Loud Bunny by Carmela & Steve D'Amico

Unlike most bunnies, Suki loves shouting and playing in the mud, but when she disobeys her mother and leaves the burrow one day, her loud voice is what saves her.

Getting Dressed with Lily and Milo by Pauline Oud

 Lily the rabbit and Milo the mouse are going to play outside, but first Lily must get dressed. Guess what Milo does while Lily is dressing. Check out the other Lily and Milo books!

Roslyn Rutabaga and the Biggest Hole on Earth by Marie-Louise Gay

Roslyn Rutabaga is a rabbit. One day she has a plan to dig the biggest hole on earth. Will she succeed?

(Book summaries courtesy of TLC / Syndetics, Inc.)

New - Parenting Collection Guide

Looking for resources on parenting? The Corvallis-Benton County Public Library has created an online parenting collection guide to help you navigate the parenting materials available to you at the library. We'll be regularly highlighting new parenting materials, as well as classics, and staff and patron favorites. Find downloadable audiobooks or ebooks on parenting subjects like discipline or child development. Peruse websites of local and national resources dedicated to parenting issues. Check back regularly to see new additions!