Early Literacy Fun!

Here are five simple, seasonal activities to do with your child to help him get ready to read.

1. Talk about holiday or seasonal traditions in your family.  What is your child's favorite tradition and why? 
2. Sing holiday songs together.
3. Read a holiday or winter book with your child.  Then, ask him to tell you what happens in the book.
4. Help your child write a card or letter, or draw a picture, for a family member or friend.  
5. Play a fun memory game together!  Select five seasonal objects (tree ornament, mitten, cookie cutter, etc.) and place them on the floor.  Have your child close his eyes while you remove one of the objects and hide it behind your back.  Then, ask him to open his eyes and guess which one is missing.  Take turns hiding and guessing. 

  

Reading Tips For Parents

A child's success as a reader begins much earlier than the first day of school. Reading, and a love for reading, begins at home. Reading Rockets' one-page parent tips offer easy ways for parents to help kids become successful readers. Although the tips are divided by age, many of them can be used with children at various ages and stages — you are encouraged to choose the ones that work best for your child.

To access tips on reading success in 11 languages and also for children with special needs, click on the following link: 

Reading Tips for Parents from Reading Rockets

Storytime Programs - Week One, Spring 2015

Welcome to our first week of storytime programs in Spring 2015.  We offer storytimes for babies from birth on up. Some of our programs require pre-registration, others are drop-in.  Please 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 you are able to join us and share in the fun!  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

Peekaboo!  Who Are You? - Birkett
Beautiful Babies - Wilson

Rhyme: Bumblee Buzz
Bumblebee, bumblebee, buzzing around,
Up to the sky and down to the ground.
Buzz in a circle, in a wiggly line too,
Then he buzzes right down and tickles you!

This is a simple rhyme to sing to your little one at home, not just at the library.  In storytime we use a colorful bumblebee puppet to add to the fun, but a tickling finger works just at well!  Did you know that we have puppets available for our customers to check out too?

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

Books
In the Spring - Brown
5 Busy Ducklings - Rookie Toddler

Rhyme: Rain on the Grass
Rain on the grass,
Rain on the tree,
Rain on the house top,
But not on me.

We are continuing to introduce some simple theme-related American Sign Language words in Wonderful Ones.  Did you know that there are several benefits to its use?  

• The child's ability to communicate decreases frustration.
• It increases a child's ability to recognize the world around him.
• It increases a child's vocabulary and verbal skills.
• It's an opportunity for bonding between parent and child.

 Adapted from Lifeprint.com

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

Books

The Pigeon Finds a Hot Dog! - Willems
In the Small, Small Pond - Fleming

Action Rhyme: Here's the Scoop
I eat it on a summer day (Fan self)
Ice cream!  Ice cream! (Pretend to lick cone)
I eat it any kind of way. (Hands up)
I love to eat ice cream.  (Pretend to use spoon)
Scoop it in a bowl. (Pretend to scoop in bowl)
Scoop it in a cup. (Pretend to scoop in cup)
Add some sprinkles to an ice cream cone, (Sprinkle)
And I'll eat the ice cream up. (Pretend to lick cone)

During spring storytimes our theme is Opposites.  This week we are talking about hot and cold.  Hot dogs, cold ice cream.....Can you and your child think of any more hot or cold things in your home?  Outside?  This could be an excellent opportunity for a mini age-appropriate safety lesson too.      

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

Books

Scoot! - Falwell
The Birthday Pet - Javernick (Presented as a puppet story)

Action Rhyme: Turtle, Turtle
Turtle, turtle moves so slow,
Crawling, crawling, watch him go.
At the pond he looks around,
See his head move up and down,
Turtle, turtle wants to swim,
Now he slides and dives right in!

Sing this rhyme at home with your toddler.  Can he move slowly like a turtle?  Can he move his head up and down?  Talk about other animals that live in water too.  Better yet, check out some books on this theme!


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

Books

Which Hat Is That? - Hines
My Doctor - Rockwell
Too Many Lollipops - Quackenbush

Rhyme: This Is The Way
(Tune: Mulberry Bush)
This is the way we wash our hands, wash our hands, wash our hands
This is the way we wash our hands, so early in the morning.

This is the way we eat our breakfast ...
This is the way we brush our teeth ...
This is the way we get dressed ...

Sing this rhyme at home with your preschooler.  Can he think of other "early morning" actions and add more verses?  What about some silly or mixed up ones?  Be creative!

This week's handout to the preschoolers included some information about an upcoming program here at the library - 1,000 Books Before Kindergarten.  Beginning April 18th, the Gail Borden Public Library is encouraging families to join this simple reading incentive program.  Stay tuned for more information!










 

Storytime Programs - Week Five, Winter 2015

Welcome to the fifth week of our winter storytime programs.  We hope you are finding us to be a warm and inviting place to spend some quality time with your child.  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
Big Little - Patricelli
Big And Little Things That Go - Rookie Toddler

Rhyme - This Is Big!
This is big, big, big, (hold arms out)
This is small, small, small.
This is short, short, short,
This is tall, tall, tall.
This is fast, fast, fast, (clap hands)
This is slow, slow, slow.
This is yes, yes, yes, (nod head)
This is no, no, no.

Acting out rhymes helps your baby learn about size and shape.  You can also develop your baby's vocabulary about these concepts by comparing the sizes and shapes of objects around the house.

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

Books
Emily Loves To Bounce - King
Bouncing Babies - Brownlow

Rhyme: I'm Bouncing
I'm bouncing, bouncing everywhere,
I bounce and bounce into the air.
I'm bouncing, bouncing like a ball,
I bounce and bounce and down I fall.

Bouncing and clapping rhymes are an effective way of listening to, and feeling, the rhythm of language.  Not only is the movement fun, but it introduces toddlers to the idea of rhythm--a fundamental component of language and reading.  Can you think of any other rhymes to bounce along to?  How about Humpty Dumpty or Jack and Jill Went Up The Hill?  Both of these nursery rhymes also include the action of "falling down" - sure to cause a giggle or two from your toddler!

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

There Was A Cold Lady Who Swallowed Some Snow! - Colandro
Three Little Kittens - Siomades
One Mitten - George

Action Rhyme:Today I Wore My Snow Suit
Today I wore my snow suit
That goes from heels to throat (point)
It closes with a zipper (zip)
And is much warmer than a coat. (hug self)
I wore a scarf around my neck (put on)
And a wooly cap bright red (put on)
It fitted snugly upon my ears (cover ears)
And covered my whole head (circle around head)
I wore boots with buckles (put on)
And mittens lined with fur (put on)
But just the same, when I went out (point to self)
I shivered and said, "Burr-rr-rr!" (shiver)

Does your toddler wear a snow suit when he goes outside?  A scarf and hat?  Gloves or mittens?  Next time you get ready to go somewhere, talk about what he must wear.  What color is his hat?  How many mittens must he wear?  Does his coat have a zipper or buttons?  The opportunities to have a conversation with your toddler during the day are endless!

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

Books

One Mitten - George
Three Little Kittens - Siomades

Action Rhyme: Warm Mittens
I wiggle my left hand,
I wiggle my right,
Inside of my mittens,
So warm and tight.
I wiggle my pinkie,
I wiggle my thumb,
So when I make snowballs,
My hands don't get numb!

Fingerplays help children develop and improve their fine motor coordination.  Toddlers learn how to manipulate their fingers independently of each other and strengthen the muscles in both hands. Developing fine motor skills is essential because it paves the way for activities such as writing, drawing, and cutting with scissors.  

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

Books  
Goodnight Sun, Hello Moon - Viola
Moon Sandwich Mom - Jacobson
On The Moon - Milbourne

Action Rhyme: Zoom, Zoom, Zoom
Zoom, zoom, zoom,
We're going to the moon.
If you want to take a trip,
Climb aboard my rocket ship.
Zoom, zoom, zoom,
We're going to the moon.
10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1
Blast off!
Zoom, zoom, zoom,
We're going to the moon.

This week StoryMix is all about crescents!  Draw some crescent shapes on a piece of paper. Together with your child add some other shapes and lines to make a picture.  Easy idea: a happy face

Fun Activities to Keep Your Preschooler Busy in the Early Learning Center

Even though we are on a break from our regular weekly storytimes, be sure to visit us over the holiday season. There are always plenty of fun activities to keep your preschooler occupied.  Some examples are:

• Themed "book bundles" 
• Books with activity sheets
• Literacy activity
• Science, or STEAM, activity

Also, do you ever sit at our craft counter with your child and help him complete the craft project of the week? This week's craft is an angel and involves tracing, cutting, coloring, and gluing.  In addition to the fun, quality time spent together, this involves many learning opportunities.  For example, learning to cut with scissors promotes fine motor development by exercising the muscles in the hands and honing hand-eye coordination.  

Just ask at the Help Desk in the Early Learning Center and we will be glad to give you more information.

Ten Summer Activities You Can Do Together: Vacation Ideas

Are you going on a vacation or trip this summer?  Is it somewhere adventurous, sunny and warm, or a staycation in your backyard?  No matter where you go on your summer journey, we have a group of  Ten Summer Activities You Can Do Together perfect for sharing with the whole family.  All of these activities are designed to be done while on a trip or while getting to your destination!  Don't forget to visit the library and check out some books to read while you're gone or discover some audio books to listen to on your journey.  Be sure you indicate on your Summer Reading log all the progress you make.  

1. Make a list of what to pack in your suitcase
2. Make a tent inside using blankets or outside with a tent and play camping
3. Draw a picture of you and your family swimming in a lake
4. Go on a hike or ride your bike at a forest preserve
5. Collect seashells or rocks and count them
6. Write a postcard and send it to Grandma or Grandpa
7. Play I spy with license plates or the traffic signs you see
8. Find the state or country on a map where a friend or relative lives
9. Read a book about your favorite vacation spot or a place you want to visit
10. Sing “Take Me Out To The Ballgame” (Get the lyrics from Bussongs.com)

Can You Say Hello in French or Vietnamese?

Have you visited the library this summer? 
Our Children Just Like Me exhibit is a hit with kids of all ages and is a fantastic way to embrace diversity with songs, rhymes and stories.  Be sure to pick up your passport at the information desk of the main entrance.You'll explore areas of the world including Vietnam, Mongolia, the Arctic Circle, Mexico, Aboriginal Australia, Egypt, the Amazon Rainforest, Moscow, Tanzania, India and Poland. 

Learn in a New Language and Embrace Diversity!
We want to share this fantastic website from our friends at the Burnaby Public Library in Burnaby, BC in Canada. This site's purpose is to help educate children and caregivers about cultural diversity and promotes inclusiveness.  There are songs, rhymes and video in over 15 languages!  There is also extensive information, including songs, rhymes and video, to help you and your child inspire sharing across cultures.

Embracing Diversity:  Sharing Our Songs and Rhymes (Burnaby Public Library in Burnaby, BC-Canada)

Ten Summer Activities You Can Do Together: Cars and Trucks and Planes and Trains OH MY!

 ZOOOOOOOOM and VROOOOOOM!  CHOO CHOO!  Select a book about cars, trucks or other moving objects such as an airplane or train from the library and read the story with your child.  Then, help reinforce the sounds, actions and names of the objects by trying one or all of these activities.  You can do these at the library, at home, at the park, at the pool, or wherever you find time together! 

1. Count all the blue (or red or green or brown, etc.) trucks you see
2. Sing Wheels On The Bus or Wheels on the Car
3. Draw a picture of the car you would like
4. Help Mom & Dad or Grandma & Grandpa wash the family car
5. Find a box and make a car
6. Use wheels and paint to make tracks on paper
7. Read a book about different types of trains
8. Use the lid of a pot as a steering wheel and pretend to drive a _(Choose car, truck, etc.)_ to the _(Choose a location such as the store)_
9. What words rhyme with car? What words rhyme with plane? What words rhyme with truck? What words rhyme with train?
10. Use small toy cars to form the 1st initial of your name

Ten Summer Activities You Can Do Together: Reading is SO Delicious!

Reading is SO Delicious!  Have you signed up for the Summer Reading Program at the library?  Children from birth through 35 months are encouraged to sign up to become a "Little Listener."  This is a great program for parents and caregivers to incorporate the 5 essential early literacy skills into your everyday routine!

Check out a book to read together and then share some delicious fun with these food games.  Don't forget to color in the shapes of your reading log when you complete the activity. You can do these at the library, at home, at the park, at the pool, or wherever you find time together!

1. Visit a grocery store
2. Make a list of your favorite foods
3. Pack and enjoy a picnic
4. Write a recipe for a sandwich
5. Make play dough or clay food
6. Spell out your name in cereal
7. Put a vegetable into a brown bag and let the grown up reach in and guess
8. Count the fruit at your house or a store
9. Try a new flavor of ice cream or dessert
10. Sing the "Ten Vegetables" rhyme (From our friends at King County Library System)

Ten Summer Activities You Can Do Together: All About ANIMALS

Bring the fun and silliness of animals into your day!  Select a book about animals from the library and read the story with your child.  Then, help reinforce the sounds, actions and names of the animals by trying one or all of these animal activities.  You can do these at the library, at home, at the park, at the pool, or wherever you find time together!

1. Visit a farm or petting zoo
2. Sing  a song such as "Old MacDonald Had a Farm" or "Farmer In The Dell"  (From our friends at King County Library System)
3. Count the legs on a cow
4. Make a list of animals you would see in a zoo
5. Count the geese at a pond
6. Make a parade of your toys/stuffed animals
7. What animals like bananas?
8. Make a lion mask
9. Walk like a penguin or gallop like a horse
10. Add an animal to the story you read and talk about:  What would they do? What sounds would they make?  What would they look like?

Wonderful Ones: Helping Baby Learn Speech and Vocabulary

Many parents and caregivers wonder, what can my baby do to learn speech and vocabulary? What does baby do to learn and how can I help? At Ready Set Read, we want learning to be fun, so that baby learns how fun reading can be as he or she grows.  In addition to the rhymes, songs, and books we provide in our postings and at classes, take a look at this list from the Association for Library Service to Children, which outlines suggested stages in learning vocabulary at various ages.

• Birth:  Cries, burps, sneezes, coughs.
• 2 months:  Vowel-like sounds: goo, aah, ooh, and others.
• 4 - 6 months: Babbling (“mammama”…“dada”).
• 9 - 12 months: Advanced babbling, with sentence-like phrasing and rhythm.
• 12 months: Around one year old, your child will say his or her first real word. He or she will start with single syllables, then may double some syllables, as in “wawa” or “mama.” Your child will continue to say only one word at a time for several more months.
• 18 - 24 months:  Between a year and a half and two years old, your child will begin to talk in
  “telegraphic speech.” This sounds like, “Want cookie” or “Me milk.” You can
  extend your child’s talk by saying, “You want a cookie?” or “You want me to give
  you some milk?” This will help increase your child’s vocabulary.

 We had fun at Wonderful Ones this week with these rhymes:

Five Fingers Rhyme
Five fingers on this hand,
Five fingers on that.
A dear little nose,
A mouth like a rose.
Two eyes, two ears,
And ten little toes,
And that’s the way the baby grows.


What Do We Do? Rhyme
What do we do when baby wakes up?
We laugh and play to start the day,
And clap, clap, clap our hands.
We clap, clap, clap our hands.
We clap, clap, clap our hands.
We laugh and play to start the day,
And clap, clap, clap our hands.


Books we read at Wonderful Ones:

Bouncing Babies by Mike Brownlow
Describes what various babies do from morning until night.
Check catalog availability

Baby Loves Hugs and Kisses by Michael Lawrence
After receiving wonderful hugs and kisses from his parents and grandparents, Baby tries to hug and kiss the family pets.
Check catalog availability

Story Mix for Three to Six: Trains and Games

It's our last week of Story Mix until the new year, and we want to share some fun holiday themed, as well as more toy themed, stories and rhymes.  Remember over the winter break you and your child can engage in many activities to help bring early literacy skills home.

• Read together!  Shared reading is valuable because your child has your full attention, and you are enjoying the experience together. 
• Sing and Rhyme together! Stories and songs in rhyme encourage new vocabulary, listening and oral language skills. 
• Talk and Play together! Talk and ask questions about what you and your child do during the day such as baking cookies or shopping for presents. 
• Write or Draw a picture together! Help your child draw a picture and write captions of your favorite snow activity to do together, such as making a snowman.  This helps connect the spoken words to the ideas, and creates a visual representation of your child's imagination to share.

Baby Mice Counting Rhyme
Where are the baby mice?
“Squeak, squeak, squeak”
I cannot see them
Peek, peek, peek
Here they come
Out of their hole in the wall
1,2,3,4,5 – that’s all!

This Little Train Christmas Rhyme
This little train – on the tree
Santa put it there for me
With a chug-chug, choo-choo
Rummy-tummy-tum
Christmas Day is so much fun.
Drum – boom-boom, rat-a-tat…
Doll – Ma-ma, Ma-ma…

We read these books at Story Mix this week:

Two Little Trains by Margaret Wise Brown
Two little trains, one streamlined, the other old-fashioned, puff, puff, puff, and chug, chug, chug, on their way West. 
Check catalog availability

Ten Play Hide-and-Seek by Penny Dale
A little boy and nine stuffed animals play hide and seek before going to bed.
Check catalog availability

What Am I? Christmas by Anne Margaret Lewis
Lift the flap to find a Christmas surprise on every page of this book. 
Check catalog availability

Terrific Twos: The Color PURPLE

We continue our color theme this week at Terrific Twos with PURPLE! Remember all the great reasons to introduce colors to your young child:

• Colors can be useful
• Colors can be expressive
• Colors help children learn new words
• Colors help children identify objects and feelings
• Colors allow children to make visual connections with words

 Best of all, colors are a fun concept to help your child Get Ready to Read!


If You Like the Color Purple Song
If you like the color purple, clap your hands.
If you like the color purple, clap your hands.
If you like the color purple, if you like the color purple,
If you like the color purple, clap your hands. 
Stamp Your Feet and Shout Hooray!

Purple Pickle Song
If I had a purple penny or a purple nickle,
I'd go down to the purple store and buy a purple pickle.
Purple pickles, purple peas, purple pepperoni, purple pudding,
purple pie, and purple macaroni!

If I had a purple penny or a purple nickle,
I'd go down to the purple store and buy a purple pickle.
Purple pickles, purple peas, purple pepperoni, purple pudding,
purple pie, and purple macaroni!

Five Little Umbrellas (thanks to our friends at King County Library System)
Five little umbrellas by the back door,
The red one went outside & now there are four.
Four little umbrellas, pretty as can be,
The blue one was needed & now there are three.
Three little umbrellas, oh, they missed the blue,
So, the green one followed & now there are two.
Two little umbrellas, glad there was no sun,
The yellow one went into the rain & now there’s just one.
One little umbrella, all alone in the hall,
The purple one got picked up & that was all!

Stories we read in this week's Terrific Twos:

My Crayons Talk by Patricia Hubbard
Brown crayon sings "Play, Mud pie day," and Blue crayon calls "Sky, Swing so high" in this story about talking crayons.
Check catalog availability

Purple is Best by Dana Meachen Rau
Sue's blue paint and Fred's red paint get mixed together and create purple, the best color of all.
Check catalog availability


Check out these other books about the color PURPLE:

Harold and the Purple Crayon by by Crockett Johnson
Harold's purple crayon helps him create wonderful adventures as he walks in the moonlight. 
Check catalog availability

Purple as a plum = Morado como una ciruela by Molly Dingle
Simple text and illustrations introduce the color purple and objects that bear that color. / Los cuadros y el texto dan los ejemplos de las cosas que son moradas.
Check catalog availability

The Perfect Purple Feather by Hanoch Piven
Rhyming text and illustrations take the reader on a journey, in which a simple purple feather becomes a whisker for a cat, a pen for an owl, a quill for a porcupine, and more.
Check catalog availability

Terrific Twos: The Color ORANGE

We are exploring the color ORANGE in this week's Terrific Twos program.  Orange is often a color associated with Thanksgiving, so we've provided themed rhymes and stories to help you celebrate.  Colors can be both useful and expressive ways for children to not only learn new words, but also identify objects and feelings.  Using such skills, children can begin to learn about colors in books and get ready to read!

These are two great resources to use for learning more about how colors help children learn and grow:
Purdue University College of Consumer and Family Sciences
Kennesaw State University Educational Technology Center

Two Little Turkeys Rhyme
Two little turkeys are we.
We sat all night in a tree.
When the Indians came around,
We were nowhere to be found,
And that’s why we are still here, you see.

Two little turkeys are we.
We sat all night in a tree.
When the Indians came around,
We were nowhere to be found,
And that’s why we are still here, you see.

Five Little Turkeys Song
Five little turkeys standing at the door,
One waddled off, and then there were four.
Four little turkeys sitting near a tree,
One waddled off, and then there were three.
Three little turkeys with nothing to do,
One waddled off, and then there were two.
Two little turkeys in the morning sun,
One waddled off, and then there was one.
One little turkey better run away,
For soon it will be Thanksgiving Day.

Visit the DLTK Kid's site for a fun craft to make with this song!

Colors of the Rainbow Song
Red, orange, yellow, green, blue, purple
Colors of the rainbow, colors so bright.
Red, orange, yellow, green, blue, purple
Colors of the rainbow, a colorful sight.

Orange is a pumpkin
Orange is a carrot
Orange is a salmon
Orange is a traffic cone
Orange is an orange
Orange is a sunrise.

Red, orange, yellow, green, blue, purple
Colors of the rainbow, colors so bright.
Red, orange, yellow, green, blue, purple
Colors of the rainbow, a colorful sight.

Sing verses for all the colors of the rainbow by visiting BusSongs.com

Enjoy these stories we read at Terrific Twos this week:

Thanks for Thanksgiving by Julie Markes
At Thanksgiving time, children express their gratitude for the people and things in their lives.
Check catalog availability

Pumpkin, Pumpkin by Jeanne Titherington
Jamie plants a pumpkin seed and, after watching it grow, carves it and saves some seeds to plant in the spring. 
Check catalog availability

Click here for more fun color songs and books in Ready...Set...Read!

Terrific Twos: The Color GREEN

We are continuing our color theme at Terrific Twos this week.  GREEN is the color of the environment, grass, leaves and nature.  It can also take on the meaning of growth.  When children are painting, and combine the colors YELLOW and BLUE,  they create the color GREEN.

Help your child learn the color GREEN using the great tactics of reading aloud, talking, singing, playing and writing.  Help Your Child Get Ready to Read!

• Read one of the books below about the color GREEN.
• Talk about the different images you see outside that are GREEN.
• Sing the rhyme below about the GREEN turtle.
• Play the game below about the GREEN stoplight.
• Have fun with finger painting or watercolors, and create the color GREEN.

The Turtle Rhyme
There was a little turtle – he lived in a box.
He swam in a puddle – he climbed on some rocks.
He snapped at a mosquito – he snapped at a flea.
He snapped at a minnow – he snapped at me!
He caught the mosquito – he caught the flea.
He caught the minnow – but he didn’t catch me.

There was a little turtle – he lived in a box.
He swam in a puddle – he climbed on some rocks.
He snapped at a mosquito – he snapped at a flea.
He snapped at a minnow – he snapped at me!
He caught the mosquito – he caught the flea.
He caught the minnow – but he didn’t catch me.

We read these books at Terrific Twos this week: 


Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See? by Bill Martin
In a question and answer game, a teacher and her group see a variety of animals, each one a different color.
En un juego de las pregunta respuesta, una maestra y su grupo ven una variedad de animales, cada un de color diverso.
Check catalog availability / En Espanol

Where is the Green Sheep? by Mem Fox
A story about many different sheep, and one that seems to be missing.  / Ésta es la oveja azul. Y ésta es la oveja roja. ¿Pero dónde está la oveja verde?
Check catalog availability / En Espanol

---

Check out these other fun rhymes and books about the color GREEN:

The Green Line by Polly Farquarson
A child takes a walk to and through a park and notices blossoms on a tree, flowers growing through a fence, a grassy hillside for rolling down, clouds in the sky, a friendly dog, rain splashing in puddles, and much more!
Check catalog availability

Green = El Verde by Sharon Gordon
Shows many different things that are green. / Muestra varios objetos verdes. 
Check catalog availability

Green by Anita Loughrey
Offers fun activities for early learners to find out about the color green.
Check catalog availability


Green Says Go Game! (From our friends at King County Library System)
Green says, “GO!” (hold up the color green)
Go! Go! Go! (march in place)

Yellow says, “Slow!” (hold up the color yellow)
Slow…sloooow…slooooow (march slowly)

And red says, “Stop!” (hold up the color red)
(freeze)

(Hold up Green) Go! Go! Go!

(Hold up Yellow) Slow…sloooow…slooooow

(Hold up Red) STOP! (everybody freeze!)

Tips for Reading to Babies

It’s never too soon to read to your baby.  The moments you share together can make a reader for life.  Start now!

Tips for Reading to Babies

• Share a book with your baby every day.  Even a few minutes makes a difference.
• Talk with your baby while you read, and show your baby that reading is fun.
• When you read, point to pictures, ask questions, and talk about what they’re seeing.  When they babble to you, listen, smile, and talk.
• Read the same books over and over again.  One to two year olds love to hear the same words again and again.
• Read when your baby is rested and in a good mood.  If your child gets restless, it’s okay to stop for now.
• Cuddle up and sing your favorite children’s songs.
• Use every moment you have.  At bath time, bedtime, bounce time, say nursery rhymes, sing lullabies, play pat-a-cake, count toes – and let your baby listen.