There’s still time to enjoy the outdoors, explore local parks, and level-up your picnic style this fall! These recipes, stories, yard games, and more will inspire new family fun for all ages. Place a hold online or discover more at FDL.
– Laura, Adult Services Manager
Button, button, who’s got the button? I do! This story time is all about buttons! We will read a couple of books, sing a few songs, and play a game. There is also a button craft kit that you can pick up in the Youth Services department or at the drive-up window while supplies last.
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.)
Open, shut them, open, shut them,
Give a little clap, clap, clap.
Open, shut them, 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 up your little mouth,
But do not put them in.
Source: (jbrary.com)
Written by Charise Mericle Harper
Published by Hyperion Books for Children
Five Little Buttons on my shirt
One popped off and rolled away….
Four Little Buttons on my shirt
One popped off and rolled away…
Three Little Buttons on my shirt…
One popped off and rolled away
Two Little Buttons on my shirt…
One popped off and rolled away
One little button on my shirt…
It popped off and rolled away
No more buttons on my shirt!
Oh no I need another shirt!
Source: LIBRIONYIAN
Remote Control Says…
Dance
Jump up and down
Sit
Make a silly face
Turn in a circle
Clap your hands
Stomp
Run in place
Reach to the ceiling
Source: LIBRIONYIAN
On the move! Movement for children of all ages is important. From tummy time for babies to crawling and walking for toddlers to running and jumping for preschoolers, movement help children develop both large and small muscles. Children develop their large muscles through movements like: reaching, crawling, climbing and walking, which lead to the development of small muscle movements like holding a spoon or using a crayon… and buttoning a button! So rhymes that use motions, like the “Itsy Bitsy Spider,” acting out the stories that we read, such as “We’re Going on a Bear Hunt” and playing games, like “Button, Button, Whose Got the Button?” help support your child’s development.
Source: Zero to Three
Written by Eric Litwin and James Dean
Published by Harper
Supplies:
Directions:
Hang on the refrigerator!
Source: The Best Ideas for Kids
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
Mini pies are a fun and easy treat to make at home! The hardest part is picking a pie filling… Watch this video to learn how to make your own mini pies and be sure to pick up a recipe card and a mini whisk from the Youth Services department while supplies last!
Ingredients:
Makes 12 servings
Steps:
Inspired by the recipe at tablespoon.com.
– Mikaela, Youth Services Assistant
Our Reading Garden is absolutely buzzing with life this time of year! Come take a walk, smell the flowers, and see if you can find all the plants and critters listed on our Nature Walk Scavenger Hunt board.
If you still want to explore outside but need some new ideas, head into the library and check out one of the books below for inspiration.
– Haley, Youth Services Assistant
Welcome to story time, friends! My name is Miss Sharon, and I am so happy are joining us. Today we are going to be learning about the alphabet!
Let’s start with our good morning song!
Good morning, friends (big wave)
What do you say? (cup hand around mouth)
It’s going to be (bring arms above head into circle
A beautiful day! (bring arms down)
So clap your hands, (clap hands)
And stomp your feet. (stomp feet)
Jump up and down (jump up and down)
And have a seat. (slowly sit down)
Written by Tara Lazar and illustrated by Ross McDonald
Published by Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
A-B-C-D-E-F-G
H-I-J-K-LMNOP
Q-R-S
T-U-V
W-X
Y and Zee
Now I know my “ABCs”
Next time won’t you sing with me?
Written and illustrated by Mo Willems
Published by Hyperion Books for Children
A told B and B told C,
“I’ll meet you at the top of the coconut tree.”
“Whee,” said D to E, F, G,
“I’ll beat you to the top of the coconut tree.”
Chicka Chicka Boom Boom,
Will there be enough room?
Here comes H up the coconut tree.
And I and J and tag-along K—
All on their way up the coconut tree.
Chicka Chicka Boom Boom,
Will there be enough room?
Look who’s coming—it’s L, M, N, O, P,
And Q, R, S, and T, U, V. Still more—W and X, Y, Z.
The whole alphabet’s up the…
Oh! No! Chicka Chicka Boom Boom!
Skit, scat, scoodle-doot,
Flip, flop, flee.
Everybody running to the coconut tree.
Mamas and papas and uncles and aunts
Hug their little dears
Then dust their pants.
Pick up a craft kit from the Youth Services department or the drive-up window to make your own alphabet tree! Available while supplies last. Your kit includes a paper towel tube, 4 construction paper leaves, and foam alphabet letters. You will need scissors for this craft.
Instructions:
Now you have a Chicka Chicka Boom Boom tree!
– Sharon, Youth Services Specialist
Did you know there are more than 70 books connected to the popular Warriors series? And there are still more being written! Kids can check how many they’ve read so far by looking at this list at warriorcats.com/books, or move on to Erin Hunter’s other three series: Bravelands, Survivors, and Seekers. If it’s time for something a little different, these books also feature adventurous animals and magical worlds:
Wings of Fire by Tui Sutherland
The Familiars by Adam J. Epstein
The Spirit Animals by various authors
Guardians of Ga’hoole by Kathryn Lasky
Bears of the Ice by Kathryn Lasky
Fablehaven by Brandon Mull
Redwall by Jacques Brian
Swordbird by Nancy Yi Fan
Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of Nimh by Robert C. O’Brien
– Cindy, Youth Services Assistant
Welcome, friends! My name is Miss Laura, and I am so happy are joining us for Story Time (Online). Today we are going to be talking all about owls! Did you know that there are over 200 types of owls in the world? The ones you might see in a tree in your yard are barn owls, screech owls, or the great horned owl, which we call hoot owls! Let’s give a hoot!
Before we start reading about owls, let’s get ready for story time by dancing our fingers. Can you dance your fingers along with me?
Dance your fingers up!
Dance your fingers down
Dance your fingers side to side
Dance them all around
Dance them on your shoulders
Dance them on your head
Dance them in the trees!
And put them into bed
Credit: Early Literacy Storytimes @ Your Library by Saroj Nadkarni Ghoting, Pamela Martin-Diaz
By Divya Srinivasan
Published by Penguin Random House
Thanks to Penguin Random House for permission to read this book!
Books like this that have descriptive words like this are great to support reading. The more words kids hear, the more words they learn, which will help them develop as readers.
(tune of: If You’re Happy and You Know It)
If you want to be an owl, flap your wings
If you want to be an owl, flap your wings
If you want to be an owl, then your wings will surely show it
If you want to be an owl flap your wings
If you want to be an owl, say hoo, hoo!
If you want to be an owl, say hoo, hoo!
If you want to be an owl, then your “hoo” will surely show it
If you want to be an owl, say hoo, hoo!
Credit: http://www.preschoolexpress.com/
Five hoot owls, sitting in a tree
The yellow one flew away! How many do you see?
One, two, three, four
Four hoot owls, sitting in a tree
The blue one few away! How many do you see?
One, two, three
Three hoot owls, sitting in a tree
The green one few away! How many do you see?
One, two
Two hoot owls, sitting in a tree
The pink one flew away! How many do you see?
One
One hoot owl, sitting in a tree
The purple one flew away! How many do you see?
No more hoot owls, left in the tree
No more left to count except you and me!
By Tim Hopgood
Published by Macmillan
Thanks to Macmillan for permission to read this book!
When you are at home or talking a walk, talk to your kids about what they see, like colors or shapes. Talking about colors and shapes early and often, like asking them about the difference between objects, will help prepare your kids to red!
There’s a wide-eyed owl (circle your eyes with your hands)
With a pointed nose (make a beak with your fingers)
Two pointed ears (make ears with your fingers)
And claws for toes (wiggle your toes)
He lives way up in the tree (point way up)
And when he looks at you (point to children)
He flaps his wings (flap your wings)
And says, “Hoo! Hoo!” (say “hoo”)
Credit: Wilmette Public Library
Pick up a craft kit at the library drive-up window or in the Youth Services department! Available while supplies last.
Supplies included in the kit:
You will need:
Instructions:
Thank you so much for reading and talking about owls with me today! I thought it was a hoot, and I hope you did, too. Let’s say goodbye with a rhyme called “tickle the clouds.”
Tickle the clouds
and tickle your toes
Clap your hands
and tickle your nose
Reach down low
And reach up high
Story time’s over —
Wave bye-bye
Credit: King County Library System https://kcls.org/content/tickle-the-clouds/
Hoot Owl: Master of Disguise by Sean Taylor, illustrated by Jean Jullien
Good Night Owl by Greg Pizzoli
Little Owl Lost by Chris Haughton
I’m Not Scared! by Jonathan Allen
Owl Sees Owl by Laura Godwin & Rob Dunlavey
The Littlest Owl by Caroline Pitcher and Tina Macnaughton
Whoo Goes There? by Jennifer A. Ericsson, illustrated by Bert Kitchen
The Little White Owl by Tracey Corderoy, illustrated by Jane Chapman
– Laura, Youth Services Manager
Library cards are the first step on the path to academic achievement and lifelong learning, and every student should have one! The school year is going to be very different this year, but regardless if your classes are taking place in-person or online, the library still has resources available to help students reach their goals. Librarians can help with research or finding materials (even through online chat), and our online databases can help with language, reading, math, testing, news and journal articles, sociology and geography, and even life skills. Computers and study rooms are currently available by reservation for brief periods. The library also has a variety of homeschooling resources for families who are trying that route. And don’t forget Mango, our free, award-winning language learning app! Stay tuned for updates as we hope to announce the availability of more services and programs throughout the school year!
Hi kids and welcome to story time! Today we’re going to read some books about cooking! How many of you have helped mom or dad in the kitchen? Think about it, what was your favorite thing to cook?
Book: Cook-A-Doodle-Doo! 
Written and illustrated by Janet Stevens
Published by HMH Books for Young Readers
Flannel Board: Five Little Ducks
5 little ducks went out one day, over the hill and far away,
When the Mother duck said “Quack, quack, quack,”
Four little ducks came running back.
Repeat the rhyme substituting the following for 5 little ducks went out to play:
4 little ducks went out one day
3 little ducks went out one day
2 little ducks went out one day.
1 little duck went out one day
But when the Father duck said
“QUACK, QAUCK, QUACK!”
Five little ducks came running back!
Book: Duck Soup
Written and illustrated by Jackie Urbanovic
Published by HarperCollins Children’s Books
Craft: Nellie Bellie Tissue Paper Chef Hat
Pick up a craft kit at the library to make your very own chef hat, available in the Youth Services Department or from the drive-up window while supplies last. 
source: nelliebellie.com/paper-chefs-hat/
– Sharon, Youth Services Specialist
Use a simple threading technique and pony beads to make a lizard keychain! Hang it on your backpack, in your room, or as a keychain for your library card. Pick up a craft kit in the Youth Services Department or at the drive-up window, available while supplies last. Recommended for ages 6 and up.
In this kit:
You will need:
Directions:
Ta-da! You now have a lizard keychain!
– Laura, Youth Services Manager