Storytime Programs - Winter, 2016 - Week Four

Welcome to the fourth week of winter storytime programs.  In addition to our weekly storytimes, there are numerous special events happening so be sure to check our Events Calendar http://gailbweb.gailborden.info/evanced/lib/eventcalendar.asp, give us a call, or stop by the desk in the Early Learning Center if you would like more information.  We hope that you'll be joining us.   Below you will find some of the books, rhymes, and fingerplays we are presenting this week.

Baby Rhyme Time (For babies 0-11 months and a caregiver)

Books
Hide-and-Peek by Winburn 
Round and Round the Garden by Kemp

Action Rhyme: A Bear is on my Toe 
A bear is on my toe,
A bear is on my toe,
Heigh-ho just watch him go,
A bear is on my toe.
(Nose, head, ear, etc.)

Repeat this rhyme with a bear at home for even more fun.  There's so much to learn!

Wonderful Ones (For babies 12-23 months and a caregiver)

Books
I Hear by Isadora 
Whose Ears Are These? by Belmont

Action Rhyme: Choo-Choo Train
This is the choo-choo train,
Puffing down the track.
Now it's going forward,
Now it's going back.
Now the bell is ringing,
Now the whistle blows.
What a lot of noise it makes,
Everywhere it goes.

This is a fun rhyme to act out with your toddler at home.  Use your arm as the track.  Show your child what the words "forward" and "back" mean, and make all the noises as well.  What a lot of interesting vocabulary here!  

Terrific Twos (For toddlers 2-3 years and a caregiver)

Books
A New House for Mouse by Horacek 
The Little Mouse, The Red Ripe Strawberry, and The Big Hungry Bear by Wood

Action Rhyme: The Quiet Mouse 
Once there lived a quiet mouse, (hold up finger)
In a quiet little house (cover finger with other hand)
When all was quiet as can be,
Out popped he!

Toddlers love rhymes and games that involve hiding and popping out in surprise!  Hide a stuffed animal behind your back, count to five, and make him jump out.  Show your child how to play a simple game of peekaboo.  

1, 2, Go!  (For children 1-3 years and a caregiver)

Books
The Lonesome Polar Bear by Cabrera 
Polar Bear and The Rainbow by Butterfield
Polar Bear, Polar Bear, What Do You Hear? by Martin (Shown as a YouTube video.  Click on the arrow on the image below to watch again!)

Action Rhyme: Five Little Polar Bears
Five little polar bears down the hill sled,
One fell off and bumped his head!
Mama called the doctor and the doctor said,
"No more polar bears falling off the sled!"
...4, 3, 2, 1, 0

Practice counting down with your toddler.  Use a line of toys, cheerios at breakfast, anything that you have on hand.  It's an easy way of reinforcing this concept.

StoryMix For 3 to 6 (For children 3-6 years without caregiver)

Books
The Three Little Pigs by Seibert
A House in the Woods by Moore 
Raise the Roof! by Suen

Action Rhyme: My House 
My house has a roof, so big and wide, (form a roof over head with hands)
With a window like this, to look inside. (make window with hands)
Here is my door, (hold hand up straight)
And here is my key, (use finger to unlock)
Come knock on my door, and play with me! (use hand to knock on door)

How else can you describe where you live?  Roof, windows, doors, what else?  Draw a picture of your home.

Family Jam (For families with young children)

Books
Three Little Kittens by Galdone
The Mitten by Brett (shown as a prop story)
Baa, Baa, Black Sheep by Cabrera
The Hat by Brett (shown as a DVD) 

Action Rhyme: Old Boots, New Boots
Old boots, new boots,
We are wearing black boots.
One, two, three, four,
Now we stomp them on the floor!

What color are your boots?  Repeat this rhyme at home using other describing words, or adjectives, in place of "black".  Be sure to count to four before stomping as loudly as you can!