Weekly Storytimes - Fall I, 2015 Week Five

Welcome to the fifth week of storytimes.  In addition to our weekly storytimes, there are numerous special events happening - check our Events Calendar at  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 join us and make a visit to the library part of  your year-round routine.   Below you will find some of the books, rhymes, and fingerplays we are presenting this week.

Don't forget to count the books read to your child during storytime on your 1000 Books Before Kindergarten sheets! If you haven't yet joined our reading program, ask at the Help Desk for more information. 

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

Books
Baby Loves Fall! - Katz
Fall Leaves - Slegers

Action Rhyme: Little Leaves (Tune: Ten Little Indians)
One little, two little, three little leaves,
Four little, five little, six little leaves,
Seven little, eight little, nine little leaves,
Ten little leaves fall down.

Children learn counting by repetition so sing this one and other counting rhymes again and again.  Count fingers while baby is sitting in his high chair, count toes while changing a diaper, count toys as you put them away....   

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

Books
Hello Puppy! - Cowen-Fletcher

Peek-a-Pet - Cimarusti

Action Rhyme: Shaker Song (Using shaker instruments)
Shake it high and shake it low,
Shake it high, shake it low,
Shake it high and shake it low,
This is how the shaker goes.
Shake it fast and shake it slow,
Shake it fast, shake it slow,
Shake it fast and shake it slow,
This is how the shaker goes.

Repeat this rhyme at home with your toddler using a rattle or other toddler-safe item that will make a noise.  Playing an instrument while singing will enable your toddler to hear clearly the rhythm of spoken language. 

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

Books
Who Is Driving? - Timmers
Tip Tip Dig Dig- Garcia

Action Rhyme: Drive, Drive, Drive Your Car (Tune: Row, Row, Row Your Boat)
Drive, drive, drive your car,
All around the town,
Merrily, merrily, merrily, merrily,
Up the hills and down.
Press, press, press the pedal,
Give the engine gas,
Merrily, merrily, merrily, merrily,
Now we're going fast.
Turn, turn, turn the wheel,
That is how we steer,
Merrily, merrily, merrily, merrily,
Park your car right here!

Many rhymes contain vocabulary that you wouldn't use in everyday life.  Not only do children need to hear new words but they also need to hear them used in different contexts.  Children with large vocabularies are more able to understand what they read later on. 

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

Books
Mother, Mother I Want Another - Polushkin (presented as a prop story)

YouTube Video
Llama, Llama Sing Along (based on Llama, Llama Red Pajama - Dewdney)

Activity: Ring-a-Round the Rosie (hold hands with child to make circle)
Ring-a-round the rosie,
Pocket full of posies,
Ashes, ashes,
We all fall down.

Playtime is a crucial part of learning in your child's day.  Activities like Ring-a-Round the Rosie help children with physical development, increase their vocabulary, and improve their social skills.  Make time to play with your child - you'll both be glad you did!   

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


Books
Two At the Zoo - Smith
My Favorite Bear - Gabriel
Nobody Listens to Andrew - Guilfoile (presented on storycards)
Dear Zoo - Campbell (presented as a prop story)

Action Rhyme: Trip to the Zoo
I went to the city zoo                      
We walked along two by two
Saw a jumping kangaroo
Animals are so funny!

Zoo, zoo, trip to the zoo
Zoo, zoo, trip to the zoo
Zoo, zoo trip to the zoo
Animals are so funny!

I looked up at the tall giraffe
Watched a hippo take a bath
And the monkeys made me laugh
Animals are so funny!

Zoo, zoo, trip to the zoo
Zoo, zoo, trip to the zoo
Zoo, zoo trip to the zoo
Animals are so funny!

Talk with your child about all the animals you might see at the zoo.  Does he have a favorite animal he'd like to know more about?  Check out some animal books from our "Fun Facts" shelving near the Help Desk in the Early Learning Center, or ask for some suggestions.