Storytime Programs - Summer 2015, Week Three

Welcome to the third week of summer storytimes.  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.  Below you will find some of the books, rhymes, and fingerplays we are presenting this week.

Tiny Tales  (For babies 0-23 months and an adult caregiver)

Books
One Hot Summer Day - Crews

Action Rhyme: Summer Dance

Hop like a bunny
Fly like a bee
Twirl like the wind round the apple tree
Open like a daisy in the morning sun
Pretend you're a river
And run, run, run!

We read and sang about summer this week - sun and rain, and many things you associate with the season.  When you are outside with your little one be sure to point out some of the things you see, hear, touch, and smell.  Do you see any animals, insects, plants?  Use descriptive words and  phrases.

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

Books
Jump Up! - Zanes

Jump - Fischer

Action Rhyme: See How I am Jumping
See how I am jumping, jumping, jumping
See how I am bouncing like a ball
You didn't know I could jump so high!
You didn't know I could sit so still
See how I am jumping, jumping, jumping
When I am tired, down I fall

Toddlers are full of energy and there's no better way to use it than by running and jumping around.  Visit your local park and encourage your toddler to run around. Help him by making up games you can play together. For example, you could play at being different animals. See if your toddler can run like a dog, pounce like a cat, or slither like a snake.

Tots' Tunes (For toddlers 18-36 months and an adult caregiver)

Books
Big Red Barn - Brown

Are You a Cow? - Boynton
Shake It Up Baby! - Katz
Barynard Dance! - Boynton

Rhyme:This Little Cow
This little cow eats grass (wiggle pinkie finger)
And this little cow eats hay (wiggle ring finger)
This little cow looks over the fence (wiggle middle finger)
And this little cow runs away (wiggle pointer finger)
And this BIG cow does nothing but sit in the fields all day (wiggle thumb)
We'll chase her, we'll chase her, we'll chase her!  (run fingers up child's arm)

Be sure to check out some books and other materials if you'd like to learn more about farm animals.  In addition to stories many of our books for preschoolers contain factual information and are a great resource for you.  Please ask us if you'd like help finding some of them.

Preschool Story Time with the Readership (For children 3 years - Kindergarten)

Books
Green/Verde - Schuette

Open Very Carefully - O'Byrne
Wide-Mouthed Frog - Faulkner
The Very Hungry Caterpillar - Carle

Rhyme: Green
There is a color we all know
And Green is its name-o
G-R-E-E-N, G-R-E-E-N, G-R-E-E-N
And Green is its name-o

After this week's storytime your child is sure to recognize the color green!  Does he know his other colors?  Does he recognize the color words?  There are so many fun ways to help  your child learn his colors - using crayons, playing board games such as Candy Land, talking about the colors of the fruits and vegetables in a grocery store.....

Sing Me A Story (For children 2 years -Kindergarten with adult caregiver)

Books
Five Little Monkeys Jumping On the Bed - Christelow

Dancing In My Bones - Andrews

Storytime features lots of great music and rhymes.  If you love dancing to Jim Gill's List of Dances during the program, check out the YouTube link below to see Jim Gill performing his song in concert! 

List of Dances on Jim Gill Makes It Noisy In Boise, Idaho by Jim Gill

Like most preschoolers, your child probably already loves music and has favorite songs.  This may have happened with little encouragement from you beyond simply playing music on long car trips. Kids who grow up hearing music, singing songs, and moving to the beat are enjoying what experts call "a rich sensory environment."  They are exposed to a wide variety of  sounds.  Research shows that kids who are actively involved in music (who play it or sing it regularly): 

- do better in reading and math when they start school
- are better able to focus and control their bodies
- play better with others and have higher self-esteem

(Adapted from an article at www.kidshealth.org)

Remember, you can check out many more of Jim Gill's CD's at the library!