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!

Philomath Storytime Changes!

The last Starlight Storytime at the Philomath Community Library will take place on Tuesday, April 30^th.

In May we are launching our first Philomath Community Library Baby Storytime! This is something the public and various community organizations have asked for and we are super stoked to finally be able to try it out.

Baby Storytime will be held on the first and third Monday of each month at 10:00 am. The content will be appropriate for babies ages 0-12 months with a parent or caregiver. 

We'll still be offering the Rise and Shine Storytime on Wednesdays at 10:00 a.m.  Come join us for storytime fun!

For more Philomath Community Library events, head here. Questions? Call 541-929-3016. Keep up with us on our Facebook page, too!

Saturday Events

Man in the Yellow Hat Storytime
Join us on Saturday, February 2nd, at 11:00 a.m. in the Youth Activity Room at the Corvallis-Benton County Public Library (645 NW Monroe Ave., Corvallis) for a special storytime for dads (or father figures) and their little ones!

 
 36th Annual Family Fun Day at LBCC
Families are invited to the 36th Annual Family Fun Day at Linn-Benton Community College will be held on Saturday, February 2nd, from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. in the Activities Center gym on the Albany campus.

Everyone is invited to this inexpensive, fun-filled event.  Children ages one to six will enjoy activities such as play dough, an obstacle course, crafts, puppet show, bounce house, face painting, maze and much more.  All proceeds from this event go to provide tuition grants for some of the nearly 2000 parents in Linn and Benton Counties who participate in Parenting Education classes each year.

It's Storytime: Come on Down!

Join us for storytime at the Corvallis Library! We love sharing stories, rhymes, and songs with the children and families in our community.

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.   

Toddler Storytime Today

What a fun storytime we had this morning! I shared the following books and rhymes this morning with the toddlers:

Big Bug Little Bug: a book of opposites by Paul Stickland (Scholastic, 2010)

Little bugs of all shapes and sizes show off their differences in rhyming text.

Two Little Sparkly Bugs Rhyme:

Two little sparkly bugs sitting on a hill

One named Beatrice and one named Bill

Fly away Beatrice, fly away Bill

Come back Beatrice, come back Bill.

The Big, Bigger, Biggest Book by SAMi (Blue Apple, 2008)

Unfold the flaps on every page and see what is the shortest, the fastest, the deepest, the tallest, the highest and the biggest.

Five Royal Penguins

One royal penguin, feeling very blue,

called for his brother, then there were two.

Two royal penguins swimming in the sea,

called for their sister, then there were three.

Three royal penguins waddle on the shore,

call for their mother, then there were four.

Four royal penguins learning how to dive,

call for their father, then they were five.

Giant Pop-Out Pets by Wendy Lui (Chronicle Books, 2008)

"With the help of simple clues-- in words and pictures-- young children can guess the pet that hides behind each flap. Then they can open the flap to find a great surprise: an animal friend that pops right out!"--P. [4] of cover.

Five Little Snowmen

Five little snowmen standing in a row,

Each had a hat and a big bow.

Out came the sun and it shone all day,

One little snowman melted away.

Four little snowmen standing in a row,

Each had a hat and a big bow.

Out came the sun and it shone all day,

One little snowman melted away....

Clip-Clop! by Nicola Smee (Boxer Books, 2006)

When Mr. Horse gives a ride to his friends, Cat, Dog, Pig, and Duck, they urge him to go faster and faster. (Super fun as a lap read!)

Grateful for...Our Hands!

Young children learn using their senses - they are very much "hands on" people! We take advantage of this at storytime by sharing many fingerplays and action rhymes. It not only keeps the momentum going (and attentions focused), but it's also a great interactive way to learn all kinds of things. We share fingerplays about colors, counting, seasons, animals...and just about every theme imaginable! This morning at Infant Storytime, Youth Services Librarian Heidi shared part of the following action rhyme with the babies and parents in attendance. Try it out with your little one:

My Hands Wave Hello/Goodbye
My hands wave hello,
My hands wave hello,
Every time I see my friends.
My hands wave hello!

My face gives a smile,
My face gives a smile,
Every time I see my friends.
My face gives a smile!

My fingers blow a kiss,
My fingers blow a kiss,
Every time I see my friends.
My fingers blow a kiss!

My hands wave goodbye,
My hands wave goodbye,
Every time I leave my friends.
My hands wave goodbye!

My face gives a smile...
My fingers blow a kiss...

You could also pair this rhyme with a book or two about hands:

Here Are My Hands! by Bill Martin Jr. and John Archambault

The owner of a human body celebrates it by pointing out various parts and mentioning their functions, from "hands for catching and throwing" to the "skin that bundles me in." (summary courtesy of Syndetics, Inc.)

Hands Can by Cheryl Willis Hudson

Photographs and simple, rhyming text present different things that hands can do, such as hold things, mix things, and wave goodbye.

Silly Storytime

We had a fun, active group of preschoolers for our silly-themed storytime this morning. Several of my favorite giggle-inducing stories were shared:

Pete the Cat: Rocking in My School Shoes by Eric Litwin, illustrated by James Dean

 Pete the Cat is back - and still singing along, wearing his feel-good shoes. This time he visits school and experiences the library, the lunchroom, playground, and all of the various activities of a typical school day.

Mrs. McNosh Hangs Up Her Wash by Sarah Weeks, illustrated by Nadine Bernard Westcott

Silly Mrs. McNosh hangs up her wash - and pretty much everything else, including a lamp and the dog - on Mondays.

Rhyming Dust Bunnies by Jan Thomas

Ed, Ted, Ned, and Bob are dust bunnies that like to rhyme all the time. The problem is, Bob's not rhyming today...but is he trying to tell the others something important??

Silly Sally by Audrey Wood

Silly Sally is walking to town...backwards and upside down.

No, David! by David Shannon

Poor David, he hears the word "no" a lot. He may have a tendency to do things he's not supposed to and to get in trouble; but don't worry, this story ends with a hug and reassurance that his mom still loves him.