For Kids - Fondulac District Library | East Peoria, IL

Story Time (Online) – Playing with Snow / Jugar con la nieve

Hi, everyone! My name is Miss Haley, and I’m so happy you’re joining me for our bilingual story time today. Bilingual means more than one language, so I’ll be reading and singing songs in both English and Spanish. Today’s bilingual story time is going to be all about playing in the snow. It might not be snowy where you are just yet, but we’re going to have lots of fun singing songs and reading books about building snowmen, making snow angels, sledding, and more. First, let’s get started with our welcome song.

Song: Good Morning / Buenos dias

Tune: Frère Jacques or Are You Sleeping?

English Lyrics:

Good morning

How are you?

Very well, thank you

Very well thank you

And you?

Spanish Lyrics:

Buenos dias

¿Como estas?

Muy bien, gracias

¿Y usted?

Credit: Jack Hartmann Kids Music Channel

Great job with that song! Next, we’ll sing a song that will help us get our sillies out so we can focus on story time. Hold your hands out wide like this and follow along with me!

Song: Open, Shut Them / Abre, cierra

English Lyrics:

Open, shut them

Give a little clap, clap, clap

Open, shut them

Put them in your lap, lap, lap

Creep them, crawl them,

creep them, crawl them

right up to your chin, chin, chin

Open wide your little mouth, but…

Do not put them in!

Credit: Jbrary YouTube Channel

Spanish Lyrics:

Abre, cierra

Da una palmadita, -ta

Abre, cierra

Mantenlas juntitas, -tas

Sube, sube, sube, sube

Hasta la barbilla, -lla

Abre la boquita pero…

¡No metas los dedos!

Credit: NCO Bilingual Storytime

Book: The Snowy Day / Un dia de nieve

Written and illustrated by Ezra Jack Keats and read with the permission of Penguin Young Readers Group.

Literacy Tip:

Before we move on to our next activity, I wanted to share a quick early literacy tip with caregivers. There are six early literacy skills we want to help kids build between the ages of zero and five to get them ready to read and write. One of those is narrative skills, or the ability to tell a story and understand story structure. One way to help your child develop narrative skills is to read a book with them and then ask them to retell the story back to you, another family member, or even their favorite toy. They will get better and better at recalling and sharing details the more you do this with them. So maybe later today after you watch this story time, ask your child to tell you the story of The Snowy Day and ask them questions if they get stuck. You could ask, “What did the little boy do after he climbed all the way to the top of the snowy hill?”

Song: I’m a Little Snowman / Soy un muñeco de nieve

English Lyrics:

I’m a little snowman, look at me

These are my buttons, one, two, three

These are my eyes and this is my nose

I wear a hat and scarf

Brrr, it’s cold!

Spanish Lyrics:

Soy un muñeco de nieve, mírenme

Estos son mis botones, uno, dos, tres

Estos son mis ojos y esta es mi nariz

Uso sombrero y bufanda

¡Brrr, hace frío!

Credit: Super Simple Español – Canciones Infantiles Y Más

Book: Max and Sarah Build a Snowman / Max y Sarah hacen un muñeco de nieve

Written by Harriet Ziefert, illustrated by Ekaterina Trukhan, and read with the permission of Blue Apple Books.

Mango Languages App:

Did you know that we have an app available to FDL cardholders that can help you and your child learn a new language? It’s called Mango, and you can sign up for free using your library card number. I just started using it myself since I’m still learning Spanish, and I love that it lets you practice having conversations and gives you notes on the cultural and grammatical context for different words and phrases. You can even record your voice and compare it to native speakers. This could be a great tool for you to use at home to learn a new language together with your child. Check it out by clicking here!

Craft: Glitter Snow Angel (Ángel de nieve brillante)

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

Supplies needed at home:

Liquid glue
A tray or plastic grocery bag to catch glitter

Included in kit:

Blue cardstock paper
Foam snow angel
Bag of glitter snow
Two glitter glue pens

Instructions:

Place your paper on a tray or a plastic grocery bag that’s been cut open to increase its size. This will be our workstation and will help catch the glitter for easier cleanup.
Glue the foam snow angel to the middle of the blue cardstock paper. The paper orientation can be portrait or landscape.
Next, use your liquid glue to “draw” wing shapes on each side of the snow angel and fill the wings in with glue.
Use a spoon or your fingers to sprinkle snow glitter onto the wings and completely cover the glue.
If you would like to add glitter snow anywhere else on the page, do so now. Then gently press the glitter into the glue with a spoon or your hands to help it stick.
Carefully bring your paper over to a garbage can and gently shake your paper over the can to get rid of the excess glitter. Or you can do this over a paper towel or paper plate and reuse the glitter.
Take your paper back to your work station and use the glitter glue pens to create any designs you want.
Once you’re happy with your work of art, leave the paper on a flat surface overnight so the glitter glue can dry completely. You now have a sparkly snow angel!

More Spanish-English Books about Playing in Snow:

Bilingual Books:

Baby Donald Makes a Snowfriend: A Book About Shapes / Bebé Donald hace un amigo de nieve: un libro sobre las formas by Macarena Salas
- Ages 1-3
Marco Flamingo / Marco Flamenco by Sheila Jarkins
- Ages 4-8
Polar Slumber / Sueño polar (Wordless Edition) by Dennis Rockhill
- Ages 4-8
Iguanas in the Snow / Iguanas en la nieve by Francisco X. Alarcón
- Ages 6-9

We’re just about done, so thank you all for joining me today! I hope I’ll see you at our next bilingual story time on Thursday, February 4^th, and you can join us again next week for another fun story time. Let’s sing one more song together to say goodbye for now. This one is a call and response song, so when I point to you, just repeat after me, okay? Here we go! ¡Ahí vamos!

Song: The Goodbye Song (Spanish and English)

English Lyrics:

Goodbye

So long

To you

My friend

Stay well

And fine

Til we meet

Again

Spanish Lyrics:

Adios

A ti

Mi amigo

Cuídate

Muy bien

Nos vemos

Otra vez

Credit: Burlington Specials

– Haley, Youth Services Assistant

Beth Weimer2020-12-29T11:50:33-06:00December 29th, 2020|

Story Time (Online) – Holiday Story Time

Good morning and welcome to story time! I’m Miss Kris, and today we’re going to read stories about Christmas! 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: The Wheels on the Bus at Christmas

Illustrated by Sarah Kieley and published by Doubleday Books for Young Readers

Flannel Board: Rudolph, Rudolph

Rudolph, Rudolph, what will you do?
You can’t guide Santa’s sleigh if your nose is BLUE.

Rudolph, Rudolph, you’re such a silly fellow
Who will know it’s you if your nose is YELLOW.

Rudolph, Rudolph, your way cannot be seen,
Through the wintry weather if your nose is GREEN.

Rudolph, Rudolph, Santa gave a wink
But what will he say if your nose is PINK?

Rudolph, Rudolph, it’s time to fly at night
But you can’t get through the snow if your nose is WHITE.

Rudolph, Rudolph, it’s time to go to town
But you can’t help Santa if your nose is BROWN.

Rudolph, Rudolph, what a groovy glow
Your nose looks little like a RAINBOW.

Rudolph, Rudolph, the children are in bed
And now we can get on our way because your nose is RED.

Source: Library Village

Literacy Tip: Create a Story Area!

Christmas lights and cozy blankets can help construct a special space where you and your child can escape into the world of books.

Source: Lexplore

Book: Snowmen at Christmas

Written by Caralyn Buehner, illustrated by Mark Buehner, and published by Dial Books for Young Readers.

Flannel Board: Five Candy Canes Hanging on the Tree

Five little candy canes hanging on the tree

Mmmm, they are so yummy

I hope there’s one for me

Along came my brother and snatched one off the tree

I guess that candy cane was not the one for me.

Four, Three, Two…

One little candy cane hanging on the tree

Mmmm, it’s are so yummy

I hope this one’s for me

I ran and took the last one off the Christmas Tree

Hurrah, the last candy cane was just the one for me.

Source: Felt Board Magic

Book: The Night Before Christmas

Poem by Clement Moore, illustrated by Jan Brett, and published by G. P. Putnam’s Sons.

Craft: Christmas Tree Ornament

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

Kit Supplies:

2 craft sticks 4.5″
1 craft stick about 2.5″
1 craft stick about 1.25”
1 foam star sticker
1 piece of ribbon about 6″ long
2 Rainbow Gem Strips (self-stick)
1 sparkly chenille stem (pipe cleaner)

Home Supplies:

Glue

Instructions:

Glue the colored craft sticks in a triangle to make the Christmas tree.
Glue the tan craft stick onto the tree to make the trunk.
Glue the ribbon onto the top of the back of the tree as a hanger.
Set aside and let the glue dry.

Decorate!

Put the star on the top of the tree.
Wrap the Chenille stem around the tree for tinsel,
Glue the beads or pompoms onto the tree as ornaments.
Set aside and let the glue dry.
Write your child’s name and the date on the back of the tree.
Hang your ornament on your Christmas Tree!

Source: One Little Project

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

Beth Weimer2020-12-22T11:34:02-06:00December 22nd, 2020|

Take & Make: Gift Boxes

Make and decorate your own small gift box! These simple templates from krokotak.com make for a fun, simple way to make your own gift boxes! Just cut out the template, fold it up and decorate it any way you choose! If you love it so much when you are done, you could even make it an ornament and hang it on your tree!

Included Materials:

3 gift box templates
2 glitter glue pens
1 piece of ribbon
1 bow

Instructions:

Cut along the outside of the box template.
Fold the lines of the middle square (which will make up the sides of the box)
Glue the small tab to the inside of the fourth square.
Fold in the two smaller tabs for the bottom.
Fold in the two larger tabs.
Glue the large bottom tab to the other large bottom tab.
Cut along the dotted line of the top two tabs (with the gingerbread cookie, tree or ornament), making sure not to cut that picture off entirely.
Fold the small top tabs in.
Fold the large top tabs in, connecting the cookie, tree or ornament using the small section you cut.
Finish decorating your gift box!

– Cassie, Youth Services Assistant

Beth Weimer2020-12-21T11:51:01-06:00December 21st, 2020|

Make Your Own Self-Esteem Journal

Practice being kind to yourself by making this customized Self-Esteem Journal and using the writing prompts to explore all the things you like about being you. Journal kits are available at the library while supplies last.

Kit Supplies Provided:

Notebook
Brown cardstock
Hexagon stencil
List of writing prompts (on back of instruction sheet)

Home Supplies Needed:

Liquid glue
Scissors
Paper images (see step 1 below)

Instructions:

Hunt! Look around your house for paper images that you won’t mind you cutting up. Check with your family members before cutting up any images you find around the house. You can use old photos that you have multiple copies of, pages of old magazines, images you find online and print out at home, pages from old books, etc. Try to find images that remind you of yourself, the things you enjoy doing or looking at, or things that just plain make you feel good about yourself and excited to write in your journal.
Trace! Use the hexagon, or six-sided, stencil in your craft supply kit to trace shapes onto your chosen images. To figure out how many images you will need, you can use the stencil to trace hexagons onto the brown paper in your desired pattern. You can also choose to leave spaces blank to create your own drawings with marker or colored pencil, glue a non-hexagon-shaped image, or write text on your notebook cover, like your name. The possibilities are endless!
Cut! Cut out your images.
Glue! Glue each of your images to the brown paper, then glue the brown paper to the front of your notebook and let everything dry. To make sure your images and notebook cover dry nicely without any air bubbles, you can read the below instructions for how use the glue or watch the video for this craft to see a demonstration.
- Best way to apply glue:
  - Shake the glue bottle upside down to get the glue into the tip of the bottle.
  - Tilt the glue bottle at a 45 degree angle and squeeze gently onto the center of the paper.
  - As the glue starts to come out, make small circle motions with the glue bottle to spread the glue evenly around the surface of the image. Stop applying glue about 1/8 of an inch from the edges of the paper to prevent glue from seeping out on the sides.
  - Smooth the paper down with your hands using firm pressure to get rid of any air bubbles.

Write! This journal can be used for any writing or drawing projects you would like, but we wanted to include some self-esteem writing prompts if you want this to be a Self-Esteem Journal. These prompts are designed to help you remind yourself of the many reasons you have to be proud of who you are. Whenever the urge to write strikes you, flip this instruction sheet over to find the writing prompts and let those creative juices flow!

25 Self-Esteem Journal Writing Prompts

Credit:

Journal Buddies – 52 Journal Prompts for Kids on Self Esteem & Confidence
Very Special Tales – Writing Prompts for Kids: 45 Gratitude, Self-Esteem & Confidence, and Creative Writing Prompt Ideas
Positive Psychology – Self-Esteem Journals, Prompts, PDFs and Ideas

What is your greatest talent?
List ten things you love about yourself.
Write about a time when you did something you were afraid to try. How did you feel afterward?
Dream about your perfect day. But make it somewhat realistic. Describe what you would do, who you would be with, and what it would feel like.
How do you feel when someone gives you a compliment?
Write down five things that define who you are, listing them as “I am ____,” statements. Take a few minutes to think about each one. Which quality feels the best?
Write about a person you admire. What qualities do you have in common with this person?
What is your favorite thing to do? How do you feel when you work on this activity?
What types of things make you feel confident? How can you help others feel more confident?
Do you spend time worrying about what other people think? How does this feel? What does it feel like when someone recognizes something you worked hard to do?
What do you do when you see a classmate struggling with something?
Write a poem that describes the feeling of confidence.
Write about three things that make you happy. How can you spend more time on these things each day?
Write about your greatest success.
Why is it important to congratulate people who do well?
Write a letter to your future self.
List five things you have done and are proud of.
Think of something that you would like to do better. How can you work to improve?
Write about a time when you made a great choice.
Why is it important to spend time with people who appreciate your best qualities?
List three things in your life that you are grateful for and provide details about why. How have they impacted you physically, mentally, or emotionally?
Self-esteem is not just about success. It’s also about realizing our efforts, determination, dedication, and persistence are part of the process and great attributes to develop. Think of a recent challenge you were faced with and how you persisted despite the outcome.
Reflect on people in your life that truly matter. Think about the relationship you have with them and why it is meaningful. Write about how they have impacted you as well as how you have affected them.
Write about qualities that make you unique. This is often harder than focusing on our strengths. But reflect on this and provide examples.
Write about your ideal future and achieving goals. Include attributes, skills, and resources you have that will help make this possible.

– Haley, Youth Services Assistant

Beth Weimer2020-12-18T16:02:14-06:00December 18th, 2020|

Story Time (Online) – Books!

Good morning, and welcome to story time! I’m Miss Kris, and today we’re going to read stories about our favorite thing at the library: books! 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: I Like Books

Written by Anthony Browne and published by Alfred A. Knopf.

Flannel Board: Five Little Books

Five little books, sitting on a shelf.

Look inside, and see a little elf.

Four little books, all in a row.

Look inside, and see it start to snow.

Three little books, still on the shelf.

Can you take one, and read it to yourself?

Two little books, left on the pile.

Find one now, and read it with a smile.

One little book, all that is there.

Found itself a reader, who was happy to share.

Source: Jen in the Library

Literacy Tip: Create Books Together

Make photo books of family members. Cut pictures out of magazines or catalogs to make word books. Make a color book by having fun with crayons, markers, and paints. As your child gets older, have him or her dictate a story to you and then draw pictures to go with the words.

Source: Zero to Three

Book: A Perfectly Messed-Up Story

Written by Patrick McDonnell and published by Little, Brown, and Company.

Flannel Board: Five Little Books

Five little books at the library
Five little books as great as can be
Along comes Sophia with her library card
To take one home and read

Four little books at the library
Four little books as great as can be
Along comes Oliver with his library card
To take one home and read

Three little books at the library
Three little books as great as can be
Along comes Liam with his library card
To take one home and read

Two little books at the library
Two little books as great as can be
Along comes Ava with her library card
To take one home and read

One little books at the library
One little books as great as can be
Along comes Noah with his library card
To take one home and read

Source: Pasadena Public Library

Book: Interrupting Chicken

Written by David Ezra Stein and published by Candlewick Press.

Craft: Bookworm Bookmark

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

Kit Supplies:

2 Googly Eyes
2 Glue Dots
6 Cardstock Circles

Home Supplies:

Glue (Liquid or Stick)
Marker or Crayon

Instructions:

Decide on your pattern for the circles.
Glue the circles together. You can use a wavy or straight pattern.
Use the glue dots to attach the two googly eyes onto the circle farthest right.
Draw a smile, using the marker or crayon.
Let it dry for a few hours, and ta-da – you have a beautiful Bookworm Bookmark!

Source: Learn In Color

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

Beth Weimer2020-12-17T12:22:07-06:00December 17th, 2020|

Celebrate National Cupcake Day

Want to add a little sweetness to your day? National Cupcake Day is December 15^th, and FDL is going to show you where to read all about these fun treats and learn how to make some yourself. The most popular way to celebrate this holiday is by eating cupcakes, but there are also other things you can do. Try following along with a new recipe from one of the many cupcake cookbooks available, or help the little ones make a craft like the one outlined below. Here are some book recommendations to get you in a baking mood:

Little Mouse and the Big Cupcake by Thomas Taylor

Pinkalicious and the Cupcake Calamity by Victoria Kann (also available on hoopla)

Babymouse: Cupcake Tycoon by Jennifer L. Holm

The Big Book of Cupcakes by Betty Crocker (also available on hoopla)

Enjoy Life’s Cupcakes for Everyone by Betsy Laakso (also available on hoopla)

.

Paper Cupcake Craft

Supplies Needed:

2-3 pieces of paper (use different colors, if you like)

markers/crayons

scissors

glue

Instructions:

Set aside one piece of paper to use as a base.
Using your remaining paper, draw a trapezoid and a cloud, then cut out those shapes. Try to make the shapes smaller than half a page.
If you are using white paper, decorate the shapes you cut out. The trapezoid shape will be the cupcake wrapper, and the cloud shape will be the frosting.
Glue the two shapes onto the base sheet of paper you set aside at the beginning.
Use your remaining paper scraps to cut out sprinkles and a cherry to glue on top.

– Cindy, Youth Services Assistant

Beth Weimer2020-12-14T16:18:35-06:00December 15th, 2020|

#FDL: Easy Holiday Craft Books

Get crafty at home this year! We have a wide variety of craft books at our library. These are actually just a few from our holiday craft collection. Create easy, trendy crafts from items found in nature or around your house to cheer up your home this holiday season.

Place one or more of these books on hold and pick them up through our drive-up window or the atrium.

‘Tis the Season to be Felt-y

Included are over 40 whimsical felt crafts to celebrate Christmas with handmade style. Create pretty ornaments like Beaded Star Baubles, Sparkly Icicles, a Shining Star Tree Topper (and a partridge in a pear tree) to a pink poinsettia wreath, Yule log, snow bunny tree skirt, and lots of stockings to hang by the chimney with care.

Christmas and Hanukkah Origami

Even novice folders will be able to create some of the simple projects in these volumes, although more-experienced enthusiasts will find little in the way of challenges. These are solid sources for some basic objects: heart, egg, small basket, star, pinwheel, etc. Introductory pages outline tips for success and offer inspiration in the form of pictures of advanced origami by master folders.

I’m Dreaming of a Green Christmas: Gifts, decorations, and recipes that use less and mean more

This holiday season, Anna Getty chef, mother, organic living expert, environmental advocate, and writer helps families save money and reduce their carbon footprint without sacrificing style or tradition. She shares favorite holiday recipes for organic appetizers and homemade craft ideas such as pinecone wreaths and recycled sweater pillows.

Christmas Joys: Decorating, Crafts, and Recipes

Make this Christmas the best and brightest yet, with hundreds of gorgeous decorating ideas and delicious recipes. From holiday house tours and ways to deck the halls to handmade gifts and festive feasts, this beautiful book will help you celebrate Christmas in Country Living style. Create stunning wreaths, turn saltshakers into sparkling snow globes, craft Advent calendars from tiny envelopes, bake gourmet-store-worthy cookies, and more to make a truly happy holiday.

The Big Book of Holiday Paper Crafts

Major holidays and all the seasons are the focus of more than 450 paper crafted cards, gift bags, boxes, wall hangings, mini albums, journals, frames, party d’cor and more. This jumbo book from the editors of Paper Crafts magazine has hundreds of ideas for not only Christmas, Valentine’s Day, and Halloween, but also Easter, Thanksgiving, and New Year celebrations. Seasonal themes (spring, summer, fall, and winter) are also covered, plus a special section with ideas to show patriotic pride.

Christmas at Home: Holiday Decorating, Crafts, and Recipes

This book has decorating ideas, recipes, and crafts, plus tips galore. Stunning photos show festive table settings; splendidly decorated trees; fun and easy Christmas projects, from wreaths to no-sew stockings; gifts from the kitchen; and gourmet-worthy recipes like Turkey Roulade with Sausage-Cornbread Filling, Brown Butter Mashed Potatoes, Slow-Cooker Apple Cider, and sweet treats like Red Velvet Snowballs and Chocolate & Cranberry Fudge.

*Annotations adapted from publishers

Post by Susie Rivera, Reference Specialist

#FDL is a weekly update on all things Fondulac District Library and books.

Susie Rivera2020-12-14T12:02:04-06:00December 11th, 2020|

Story Time (Online) – The Gingerbread Man

Welcome to story time! I’m Miss Kris, and today we’re going to read about the Gingerbread Man! But first let’s start with a song!

Song: It’s Time to Hear a Story

(sing 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: The Gingerbread Man Loose In the School

Written by Laura Murray, illustrated by Mike Lowery, and read with the permission of Penguin Young Reader’s Group.

Song: The Gingerbread Man

(sing to the tune of The Wheels on the Bus)
The gingerbread man ran through the town,
Through the town, through the town.
The gingerbread man ran through the town,
Singing, “You’ll never catch me.”

He ran away from a cow, cow, cow

Cow, cow, cow. Cow, cow, cow
He ran away from a cow,
Singing, “You’ll never catch me.”

He ran away from a sheep, sheep, sheep

Sheep, sheep, sheep. Sheep, sheep, sheep
He ran away from a sheep without a peep,
Singing, ” You’ll never catch me.”

He ran away from a dog, dog, dog

Dog, dog, dog. Dog, dog, dog
He ran away from a dog,
Singing, “You’ll never catch me.”

Then he came to a fox, fox, fox

Fox, fox, fox. Fox, fox, fox
The fox sat on a box and said,
“You can trust me”.

Then the fox ate him, yes sir–ee!

Book: Gingerbread Man Superhero!

Written by Dottie Enderle, illustrated by Joe Kulka, and read with the permission of Pelican Publishing Company.

Flannel Board: 5 Little Gingerbread Men

5 Little gingerbread men on the tray,
One jumped up and ran away.
Catch me, Oh catch me, Oh catch me if you can!
I’m pretty fast, I’m the gingerbread man!

4 Little gingerbread men on the tray,
One jumped up and ran away.
Catch me, Oh catch me, Oh catch me if you can!
I’m pretty fast, I’m the gingerbread man!

3 Little gingerbread men on the tray,
One jumped up and ran away.
Catch me, Oh catch me, Oh catch me if you can!
I’m pretty fast, I’m the gingerbread man!

2 Little gingerbread men on the tray,
One jumped up and ran away.
Catch me, Oh catch me, Oh catch me if you can!
I’m pretty fast, I’m the gingerbread man!

1 Little gingerbread man on the tray,
One jumped up and ran away.
Catch me, Oh catch me, Oh catch me if you can!
I’m pretty fast, I’m the gingerbread man!

No little gingerbread men on the tray
I will have to bake more on another day!

Craft: Gingerbread Man

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

Kit Supplies:

Gingerbread Man template
Googly Eyes (2)
Beads (3)
Ric Rac Strips (4 white, 1 red)
Assorted Jewels

Supplies from home:

Scissors
Glue

Directions:

Cut out the Gingerbread Man template.
Using the kit supplies, design your very own Gingerbread Man!

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 and Kris, Youth Services Specialists

Beth Weimer2020-12-10T12:51:03-06:00December 10th, 2020|

Take & Make: Glitter Magnets

Take home this fun little craft from the drive-up window while supplies last! This kit is appropriate for ages 5+ and adult assistance is recommended.

Beth Weimer2020-12-08T16:48:26-06:00December 8th, 2020|

Browsing from Home

We know that one of the best things about coming to the library is looking at all the books and taking a big stack home. While we can’t do things exactly like we used to, there are plenty of ways for you to figure out what to put on hold next and always have something for you or your kids to read. Try any of these options if you’re wondering how to select books from home.

Let Us Do It for You

Do you usually like to ask a librarian to help you find books for you or your kids? You can still do that! We are still here to help you find the books you want and/or need, and there are multiple ways for you to get in touch with us. One option is to submit an FDL Match request through our website. Simply tell us some of the books you or your child currently likes, and we will pick out five new books for them to read.

You can also call the Adult Services department (ext. 2251 or option 1) or the Youth Services department (ext.1291 or option 2) or contact us via live chat during service hours. Let us know what kind of books you are looking for, and we will place some on hold for you. We’ll notify you when your books are ready, and you can pick them up from the drive-up window or the in the Atrium.

Use the Online Catalog

Do you normally find books by coming in to the library and browsing the shelves? You can still look at everything we have through our online catalog!

Start by going to the catalog and logging in with your library card and pin number. Use the carousel feature on the home page of the catalog to browse recently added titles. Select from the drop down menu to see categories like fiction or nonfiction for adults and children, DVDs, music – even NYT Bestseller lists! Then place a hold and pick up!

You can also search books similar to those you’ve already enjoyed by using the brand new Unbound Content feature in the catalog. Search for a book you like, click on the book, then go to the Unbound Content tab in the middle of the page. From this tab, you can do all kinds of browsing. You can see what other books that author has written, a list of books in the same reading level, and other works in the same genre. You can also read excerpts, reviews, and more. Keep scrolling to the bottom of the page to the Browse Shelf section, select the See Full Shelf button, and you can literally see what’s on the shelf around that book and explore by selecting the book covers or using the arrow tabs.

There’s so much information available in the catalog; you may be surprised at how easy it can be to discover new books on there. Then all you have to do is click the Place Hold button for each book you want to get, and you’ll be notified when it’s ready for pickup. The RSAcat Mobile app is another great option for exploring our catalog when you’re on the go. It links directly to your account so you can search, place holds, and even scan any book’s barcode to see if it’s available at FDL.

Search Our Digital Collections

Your FDL library card gives you access to tons of children’s eBooks and eAudiobooks – even graphic novels, movies, TV shows, and music from hoopla. Download and log in to the Axis 360, Libby, and hoopla apps on your preferred device, filter for adults or children, and start browsing. The items on these apps are organized for browsing by new releases and genres in a similar way to Netflix and other streaming services, or you can search by format, title, author, and subject. These collections are also linked on our website under the Digital Collections tab so you can browse and search these collections using a tablet or computer. Some titles will be available immediately but some may require placing a hold. If you’re unfamiliar with the library’s apps, Susie has provided a great overview of the options here, or you can call the library for assistance getting started.

Find Recommendations Online

Another way to figure out what to check out next is by reading blogs and online reviews. We regularly provide book recommendations here on the FDL website in our weekly FDL Reads blog, Book Talk videos, and more. You can check our Kids’ Corner or Teen Space for recommendations and content specific to kids and teens. We also post New and Upcoming Titles by popular authors quarterly under the Books & More tab so you know when to expect the latest Patterson or Perry release. Some other places to find book lists, reviews, and recommendations online include:

New York Times Bestseller Lists

American Library Association Award Winners

What Do We Do All Day

When you find a book online that you’re interested in, you can even use Google to find the book in our online catalog! Search for the title with Google, and on the right side of the search results where it shows general information like author and publication date, it now also shows if the book is available to borrow from your local library! Select the Borrow link to head directly to our catalog to place a hold.

– Cindy, Youth Services Assistant

Beth Weimer2020-11-30T14:31:49-06:00November 30th, 2020|