Silverwing by Kenneth Oppel

I read this book, and the second one in the series called Sunwing, over and over again as a kid. I loved the way the author wrote about sound and how the bats in this story view the world in a silvery echo of the echolocation they use to see at night. I loved how the hero of the story, a young bat named Shade, discovers his own unique talent for using sound on his journey to reunite with his colony after being separated from them in a storm, and sets in motion events that will forever change the way the bats are forced to live.

Howliday Inn by James Howe

This book is actually the second book in the series called Bunnicula, but I read this book before I read the first one. The author of these stories claims the dog named Harold drops these manuscripts off to him, after each of these interesting and disturbing events has occurred. I love how the story is told, from Harold’s point of view of course. Harold lives with the Monroe family and shares their affections with a cat named Chester, who he considers a friend, and as you discover in the first book, a bunny named Bunnicula. In Howliday Inn, Harold and Chester spend some time in a place called Chateau Bow-Wow while their human family go on vacation. It takes no time at all for Chester and Harold to get wrapped up in a mystery, when the strange howling starts the night they arrive.

Stellaluna by Janell Cannon (Vox Book)

I loved the pictures in the this book!  I loved how cute Stellaluna is with her big eyes and cupped ears. Stellaluna is a story of a baby bat who becomes separated from her mom and falls into a bird’s nest. She is raised by the mama bird and told to behave like a bird, even though she is a bat. It is just a great story about being different and finding your place, but still loving those that are different from you.

– Cassie, Youth Services Assistant

Good morning, and welcome to story time! I’m Miss Kris, and I’m glad you’re here for some fun with polar bears! The books we’re reading today are stories about polar bears, but we also have lots of nonfiction books with facts about polar bears at the library. Let’s get started with our opening song.

Song: Clap and Sing Hello!

We clap and sing hello.
We clap and sing hello.
With our friends at story time.
We clap and sing hello!
(Wave and sing hello; stomp and sing hello.)

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Fingerplay: The Itsy Bitsy Spider

The itsy bitsy spider,

Went up the water spout.

Down came the rain,

And washed the spider out.

Out came the sun,

And dried up all the rain.

And the itsy bitsy spider,

Went up the spout again.

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Book:  Polar Bear Morning

Written by Lauren Thompson, illustrated by Stephen Savage, and published by Scholastic Press.

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Flannel Board: Five Little Polar Bears

Five little polar bears down the hill sled (ZOOM! down with your arms)

One fell off and bumped his head! (hold head)

Mama called the doctor and the doctor said: (pretend to talk on phone)

“No more polar bears falling off the sled!” (shake finger)

Four… Three… Two… One…

Source: Literary Hoots

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Literacy Tip: Writing

Encourage your child to draw and write by allowing access to pencils, crayons, markers, chalk, and a variety of paper. Activities to develop the muscle strength needed to be able to write successfully include: playing with play dough, tearing and crumpling paper, scooping and pouring, using Lego blocks, sticking stickers, and using tongs. Help your child send a letter or write an important list.

Source:  Project Enlightenment Early Childhood Program

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Book:  Polar Bear Night

Written by Lauren Thompson, illustrated by Stephen Savage, and published by Scholastic Press.

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Movement: Polar Bear, Polar Bear

Polar Bear, Polar Bear turn around.
Polar Bear, Polar Bear touch the ground.
Polar Bear, Polar Bear bend down low.
Polar Bear, Polar Bear touch your toe.

Polar Bear, Polar Bear slide on the ice.
Polar Bear, Polar Bear spin around, twice.
Polar Bear, Polar Bear reach up high.
Polar Bear, Polar Bear touch the sky.

Source:  Preschool Express

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Book: A Splendid Friend, Indeed

Written by Suzanne Bloom and published by Boyds Mills Press.

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Craft: Polar Bear Finger Puppet

Craft kits are available to pick up from the drive-up window or the atrium while supplies last.

Kit Supplies:

• 1 – 4” circle
• 1 – 2 1/2” circle
• 2 – 1/2” circle
• 2 – googly eyes
• 2 – glue dots
• 1 – small black pompom

Home Supplies:

• black marker or crayon
• glue stick

Directions:

1. Glue the 2 1/2-inch circle onto the 4-inch circle to make the polar bear’s head and body. Then glue the ears onto the back of the head.
2. Finish your polar bear finger puppet by gluing on your googly eyes, small black pompom, and drawing on a mouth with your black marker or crayon.
3. Put two of your fingers into the holes for your polar bear’s feet and now your cute little guy is all ready for play.

Source: I Heart Crafty Things

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Song: We Wave Goodbye like This

We wave goodbye like this.
We wave goodbye like this.
We clap our hands for all our friends.
We wave goodbye like this.

(Repeat)

– Kris, Youth Services Specialist

What kid doesn’t love learning about volcanoes? Sure, some may think it’s kind of scary to imagine a volcano going off near them, but a lot of kids still find it exciting to learn about explosions and magma coming from inside the Earth. We have tons of books available that will help you teach children about the science behind volcanoes as well as related topics like geology and natural disasters. If you’re having trouble getting your child or student interested in non-fiction, try starting them off with a story like Journey to the Volcano Palace from Tony Abbott’s Secrets of Droon series. Whether they just want to see cool pictures of lava flying everywhere or need to do research for a school project, kids will have a blast with these books:

Amazing Volcanoes Around the World by Simon Rose

Eruption!: Volcanoes and the Science of Saving Lives by Elizabeth Rusch

Volcanoes! by Anne Schreiber

Help, I’m in Hot Lava! by Geronimo Stilton

The Magic School Bus Blows Its Top by Gail Herman

Vacation Under the Volcano by Mary Pope Osborne

Science Project Idea: You can make a pretend volcano at home using baking soda and vinegar. Use Play-Doh or papier-mâché to decorate the outside of a small cup so it looks like a volcano, making sure to keep a hole open at the top. Put 3 tablespoons of baking soda in the cup, then slowly pour in ¾ cup of distilled white vinegar or apple cider vinegar to set off your volcanic eruption. Try adding a little food coloring and dish soap inside to make the “lava” colorful and extra foamy.

– Cindy, Youth Services Assistant

Good morning, and welcome to story time! Since Thanksgiving is next week, we going to read books about pie today! Let’s get started with our hello song.

Song: Clap and Sing Hello!

We clap and sing hello.
We clap and sing hello.
With our friends at story time.
We clap and sing hello!
(Wave and sing hello; stomp and sing hello.)

Fingerplay: The Itsy Bitsy Spider

The itsy bitsy spider,

Went up the water spout.

Down came the rain,

And washed the spider out.

Out came the sun,

And dried up all the rain.

And the itsy bitsy spider,

Went up the spout again.

Book: Apple Pie ABC

Written by Alison Murray and published by Hyperion Books.

Flannel Board: I Can’t Wait for Pumpkin Pie

5 little pumpkins on a vine, (hold up 5 fingers)
5 little pumpkins that are mine! (point to self)
I pull one off and then I sigh, (dramatically pull one off)
“I can’t wait for pumpkin pie!” (dramatically sigh)

4 little pumpkins on a vine,

4 little pumpkins that are mine!

I pull one off and then I sigh,

“I can’t wait for pumpkin pie!”

3 little pumpkins on a vine,

3 little pumpkins that are mine!

I pull one off and then I sigh,

“I can’t wait for pumpkin pie!”

2 little pumpkins on a vine,

2 little pumpkins that are mine!

I pull one off and then I sigh,

“I can’t wait for pumpkin pie!”

1 little pumpkins on a vine,

1 little pumpkins that are mine!

I pull one off and then I sigh,

“I can’t wait for pumpkin pie!”

No little pumpkins on a vine,

No little pumpkins that are mine.

But I don’t have to make a sigh

Because it’s time for pumpkin pie!

Source: Preschool Powel Packets

Literacy Tip:

Make books available to your child all over your home. Keep books near their toys to demonstrate that reading is a playful activity.

Source:  Virginia Beach Public Library

Book: All for Pie, Pie For All

Written by David Martin, illustrated by Valeri Gorbachev, and published by Candlewick Press.

Flannel Board: Yummy Pies

Tune: “Three Blind Mice”

Pies, pies, pies,
Pies, pies, pies.
Yummy pies,
yummy pies.
Strawberry, blueberry, and cherry, too.
Apple and Key lime to name a few.
Chocolate, lemon, how about you?
I love pie!
That’s no lie!

Source: Toddler Tales Fun

Book: Pie in the Sky

Written by Lois Ehlert and published by Harcourt, Inc.

Craft: Slice of Pie

Kits are available to pick up from the atrium or the drive-up window while supplies last.

Kit Supplies:

• 2 – Pie pieces
• Tissue paper or Crinkle Paper (Orange, Blue, Red, Yellow, or Brown)
• Cotton Ball

Home Supplies:

• Glue

Directions:

1. Glue the two pieces of pie together
2. Form the crust by gentle folding up the wide end of the pie, and pinch it together 3 times
3. Glue the Crinkle paper onto the pie crust
4. Glue the cotton ball on top of the pie as whip cream

Source: Webb Weekly

Song: We Wave Goodbye like This

We wave goodbye like this.
We wave goodbye like this.
We clap our hands for all our friends.
We wave goodbye like this.

(Repeat)

– Kris, Youth Services Specialist

Welcome to story time! I’m Miss Sharon, and today’s story time is all about pirates, ARRR! But first let’s start with a song!

Opening Song: It’s Time to Hear a Story

(to the tune of The More We Get Together)

It’s time to hear a story, a story, a story.

It’s time to hear a story. I’ll read it to you.

So sit on the carpet, get ready to listen.

It’s time to hear a story. I’ll read it to you.

Book: Are Pirates Polite?

Written by Corinne Demas & Artemis Roehrig, illustrated by David Catrow, and read with the permission of Orchard Books.

Song: If You’re a Pirate and You Know It

(to the tune of If You’re Happy and You Know It)
If you’re a pirate and you know it, swab the deck (swish, swish)
If you’re a pirate and you know it, swab the deck (swish, swish)
If you’re a pirate and you know it, then you’ll hear the sea winds blowin’.
If you’re a pirate and you know it, swab the deck (swish, swish)

next rounds:
the plank (stomp, stomp)
look for treasures (look through spyglass)
say ahoy Ahoy! (with arm movement)

Book: Pirate Nell’s Tale to Tell: A Storybook Adventure

Written and illustrated by Helen and Thomas Docherty and read with the permission of Sourcebooks Jabberwocky.

Song: Pirate Song

(to the tune of This Old Man) 

This old pirate, has a hat

Where a skull and crossbones sat.

With an Ar, Ar, Ar, and an Ay Matey!

This old pirate sailed the sea.

This old pirate had a patch

Sailed the sea without a scratch.

With an Ar, Ar, Ar and an Ay Matey!

This old pirate sailed the sea.

This old pirate has a hook,

uses it to hold a book.

With an Ar, Ar, Ar and an Ay Matey!

This old pirate sailed the sea.

This old pirate has a map,

keeps it handy in his lap.

With an Ar, Ar, Ar and an Ay Matey!

This old pirate sailed the sea.

This old pirate has a bird,

barely knows a single word.

With an Ar, Ar, Ar and an Ay Matey!

This old pirate sailed the sea.

This old pirate has a ship,

travels the world in a single trip.

With an Ar, Ar, Ar and an Ay Matey!

This old pirate sailed the sea.

This old pirate looking for treasure,

more than anyone can measure!

With an Ar, Ar, Ar and an Ay Matey!

This old pirate sailed the sea.

Book: Pirates Love Underpants

Written by Claire Freedman, illustrated by Ben Cort, and read with the permission of Aladdin.

Craft: Pirate Scene Fun

Your kit includes assorted fun foam pieces and a foam background to make your very own pirate scene! Kits are available from the Youth Services Department and the drive-up window while supplies last.

Closing Song: The More We Get Together

The more we get together, together, together,
the more we get together, the happier we’ll be.
‘Cause your friends are my friends,
and my friends are your friends,
the more we get together the happier we’ll be!

– Sharon, Youth Services Specialist