Welcome to story time! My name is Miss Kris, and I am so happy you are watching at home today. What is more fun than bikes and trucks and cows and ducks? Today we’re going to mix them all up and read some stories and sing some songs!

But first, let’s get ready for story time by clapping and singing hello!

Movement: Clap and Sing Hello!

We clap and sing hello,
We clap and sing hello,
With all our friends at story time,
We clap and sing hello!

(Wave and sing hello; stomp and sing hello.)

Movement: Open, Shut Them

Stretch your finger out and shut them up tight! Are you ready?

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 wide your little mouth,
But do not put them in.

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.

Credit: jbrary.com

Book:   Little Blue Truck

Written by Alice Schertle and illustrated by Jill McElmurry

Published by Harcourt, Inc.

Fingerplay: 5 Little Pigs

5 little piggies rolled in the mud, (hold up 5 fingers)

Squishy, squashy, squishy, squashy it felt good (roll hands around each other)

The farmer took one piggy out, (wave one thumb over your shoulder)

Oink, oink, oink! That piggy did shout! (open and close fingers and thumbs on oinks)

*

(repeat the verse counting down from 4 – 1)

*

No little piggies rolled in the mud, (hold out hands to gesture none)

They all looked so clean and good, (frame face with hands and smile virtuously)

The farmer turned his back and then, (wag finger in warning)

Those piggies rolled in the mud again! (wave arms around madly!!)

(sung to the same tune as Five Little Ducks)

Credit: Let’s Play Music

Book: Duck on a Bike

Written by David Shannon

Published by The Blue Sky Press, An Imprint of Scholastic Inc.

Movement: I Have a Little Bicycle

I have a little bicycle (hold hand together for little)
I ride it to and fro. (roll hands)
And when I see the light is green
I know it’s time to go. (roll hands fast)
I have a little bicycle (Hold hand together for little)
I ride around the town. (roll hands)
And when the light is yellow
I know it’s time to slow down. (Roll hands slowly)
I have a little bicycle (Hold hand together for little)
I bought it at the shop. (roll hands)
And when I see the light is red
I know it’s time to stop! (freeze)

For babies: place your baby on your knees and pump them up and down, alternating left and right. Or peddle baby’s feet fast, then slow, then stop.
For older children: pump your legs and hold up one of 3 circles (green, yellow, red) while you sing; then repeat song).

Credit: King County Library System

Movement: Old MacDonald Had a Band

You’ll need some props for this song:
Shaker – I used a bowl with paper clips inside, you can use beans or rice!
Rhythm Sticks – I used wooden spoons
Scarf – I used a scarf from my closet, but you could use a towel or some socks
Bells – I used Christmas bells, but you can use any bell that you have

Old MacDonald had a band, E I E I O
And in this band he had some shakers, E I E I O
With a shake, shake here and a shake, shake there
Here a shake, there a shake, everywhere a shake, shake
Old MacDonald had a band, E I E I O

And in this band he had some rhythm sticks, E I E I O
With a tap, tap here and a tap, tap there
Here a tap, there a tap, everywhere a tap, tap
Old MacDonald had a band, E I E I O

And in this band he had some scarves, E I E I O
With a wave, wave here and a wave, wave there
Here a wave, there a wave, everywhere a wave, wave
Old MacDonald had a band, E I E I O

And in this band he had some bells, E I E I O
With a ring, ring here and a ring, ring there
Here a ring, there a ring, everywhere a ring, ring
Old MacDonald had a band, E I E I O

Credit: jbrary.com

Craft: Cow Puppet

Pick up a craft kit at the library, available in the Youth Services Department or from the drive-up window while supplies last. Cut out the pieces. Color some details if you want. I colored the ears, and gave my cow some spots. Glue the pieces together, including the stick and you have a cow puppet. You can find patterns for more animals here. You can find instruction to make a puppet theater, here. You’ll have a barnyard full of farm animals.

Credit: make teaching sparkle

Literacy Tips:

How do you read a book, when your child won’t sit still?  Here are some (hopefully) helpful hints.

• Just keep reading! Let your child get up and walk around while you read. Give them some crayons and paper to draw or even scribble. Let them play with blocks or other toys.
• Read while you have a captive audience — while they’re is sitting in the high chair at dinner, when they’re in the car seat while you are riding (not driving), or in the crib at nap or bedtime.
• Let your children help choose the books that you read. It’s okay if they choose the same book over and over. (We read The Night Before Christmas until July one year!)
• Switch up the location! Go to the park and sit under a tree. Take a book to the restaurant and read while waiting for your order or while waiting at the dentist or doctor’s office.
• Make a mini story time by adding some songs, fingerplays, and dancing.
• If your child is really restless, just read a couple of pages and save the rest for later.
• Have some board books handy so that your child can look at by herself.

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.

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

– Kris, Youth Services Specialist

This month we’re highlighting all our cookbooks for kids! We have books and recipes for toddlers all the way to middle schoolers, from Star Wars to American Girl and more! Get the scoop with Cassie, and come check out your next family food adventure!

Is your little one obsessed with PJ Masks?  Can’t pull them away from Peppa Pig? There are plenty of books featuring those popular cartoon characters, but if you’re looking to introduce the children in your life to something a little different, we can help. Below you’ll find a list of books that have similar content or characters to some of today’s most popular shows for preschoolers. There are sure to be a few here your kid will love, but if you need even more recommendations, feel free to chat with us or use our FDL Match service.

For PJ Masks fans:

Ten Rules of Being a Superhero by Deb Pilutti

Way Past Bedtime by Tara Lazar

Super Narwhal and Jelly Jolt by Ben Clanton

For Paw Patrol fans:

Busy Builders, Busy Week! by Jean Reidy

Emergency Kittens! by Jody Jensen Shaffer

Rapid Responders by Finn Coyle

For Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood fans:

A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood: The Poetry of Mister Rogers by Fred Rogers

The Color Monster: A Story About Emotions by Anna Llenas

The Most Magnificent Thing by Ashley Spires

For Peppa Pig fans:

Olivia by Ian Falconer

Maisy Goes to Preschool by Lucy Cousins

Meet Babar and His Family by Laurent de Brunhoff

– Cindy, Youth Services Assistant

Crazy About Cookies!

Welcome to story time! My name is Miss Laura, and I am so happy you are watching at home today. Did you know that August 4 was National Chocolate Chip Cookie Day? National Chocolate Chip Cookie Day is a day celebrating ooey gooey and crispy crunchy chocolate chip cookies. It is never too late to celebrate cookies, so we are going to be reading stories and talking all about cookies for story time today!

But first, let’s get ready for story time by dancing our fingers. Can you dance your fingers along with me?

Movement: Dance Your Fingers Up

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 COOKIE JAR!

And put them into bed

Credit: Early Literacy Storytimes @ Your Library by Saroj Nadkarni Ghoting, Pamela Martin-Diaz

Book: If You Give a Mouse a Cookie written by Laura Numeroff and illustrated by Felicia Bond

Published by Harper Collins. Thanks to Harper Collins for permission to read this book!

Now, I have five chocolatey cookies. Let’s pretend to frost them and then do a flannel board rhyme starring Cookie Monster!

Flannel: Five Chocolate Cookies

Five chocolate cookies, with frosting galore

Cookie Monster ate the pink one, then there were four.

Four chocolate cookies, two and two, you see,

Cookie Monster ate the green one, then there were three.

Three chocolate cookies, but before I knew,

Cookie Monster ate the blue one, then there were two.

Two chocolate cookies, oh, what fun!

Cookie Monster ate the purple one, then there was one.

One chocolate cookie, watch me run!

Cookie Monster ate the red one, then there were none.

Credit: Verona Story Time

Literacy Tip:

Grownups, did you know that baking cookies actually involves a lot of skills kids need for reading and writing? While you’re baking cookies together, run your finger over each step in the recipe to show that you are working in order. Stirring will help develop the motor skills needed for writing. Asking questions like, “What will happen when I put this in the oven?” broadens critical thinking skills.

For now, we are just going to pretend to bake cookies and say a cookie version of patty cake together.

Movement: Patty Cake

Patty cake, patty cake, baker’s man (clap hands together)
Bake me a cookie as fast as you can
Stir it (make a stirring motion with hands)
And Pat it (pat hands on your lap)
And mark it with a “C” (for cookie!) (draw a letter C in the air)
And it in the oven (mime putting tray in oven)
for you (point out)
and me! (point to yourself)

Let’s do that one more time!

Credit: North Mankato Taylor Library Storytime

Book: The Cow Loves Cookies written by Karma Wilson and illustrated by Marcellus Hall

Published by Simon & Schuster. Thank you to Simon & Schuster for permission to read this book!

Craft: Mouse & Cookie Puppet

Pick up a craft kit at the library, available in the Youth Services Department or from the drive-up window while supplies last.

Supplies needed:

– Scissors

– Black marker or crayon

– Glue stick or glue

Included in the kit from the library:

– Pieces to cut out for the mouse’s overalls, ears (pink and brown pieces), nose, hands, tail, and cookie

– Brown paper bag

Instructions:
      1. Cut out all of the pieces in your kit.

2. Use the marker or crayon to color chocolate chips on the cookie piece.
3. Glue the mouse’s overalls onto the brown paper bag. I put the overall straps a little bit underneath the flap of the bag.
4. Glue the cookie onto the overalls, then glue the mouse’s hands on the cookie so that it looks like the mouse is holding it.
5. Glue the pink part of the ears onto the brown part of the ears.
6. Glue the ear pieces to the top of the paper bag. You can glue them to the back of the flap or to the front.
7. Glue the mouse’s pink nose to the middle of the bag’s flap.
8. Use the marker or crayon to draw on the mouse’s eyes, mouth, and whiskers.
9. Glue the mouse’s tail to the back of the bag.
10. Have fun!

Literacy Tip:

Make the letter C your letter for the day! What else starts with the letter C? As you go throughout your day, notice how many things you see start with the letter C and celebrate whenever you find something.

Thank you so much for being crazy about cookies with me today! Let’s say goodbye with a rhyme called “tickle the clouds”—another word that starts with C!

Goodbye: 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 

Extra sweet books to read:

The Duckling Gets a Cookie by Mo Willems

The Cookie Fiasco by Dan Santat

A Big Mooncake for Little Star by Grace Lin

Maisy Makes Gingerbread by Lucy Cousins

Cookies: Bite-Size Life Lessons by Amy Krouse Rosenthal

Ma I Please Have a Cookie? By Jennifer E. Morris

Making Cookies by Meg Gaertner

Find a recipe for making cookies together in one of these books:

Sweet Cookies and Bars by Kari A. Cornell

Chocolate Chip Cookies by Joanne Mattern

Let’s Explore Cookies! By Jill Colella

Super Simple Classic Cookies by Alex Kuskowski

– Laura, Youth Services Manager

Caution: This program is intended for kids ages 4-14, but there are magnets, beads, and small fabric mushrooms that may present a choking hazard to children under the age of 4.

Take Home Mushroom Hunt

Meditation is a way to strengthen your concentration, and and a fun way to work on that focus is by having a mushroom hunt! There is a packet to pick up in the Youth Services Department (or from the drive-up window) with all different types of mushrooms – magnets, stickers, felt, beads, 3D printed mushrooms – all shapes and sizes. Grab your pack, have an adult (or a sibling!) hide the mushrooms, and have fun finding them all!

When you suddenly look at your familiar surroundings in a new way – in this case by trying to find hidden things – it works your attention muscles by focusing your attention on a specific detail of your surroundings. When you are on the hunt for something, you suddenly have to pay attention to all the parts of your environment to find the thing that doesn’t belong there. I chose mushrooms in this case because another wonderful mindfulness activity to try is to take a walk in the forest and search for mushrooms. Since we couldn’t go take a walk in the forest, why not bring the mushrooms to you?

I’ve also included a guided meditation from Insight Timer in this post. It is a short 3 minute guided practice to help introduce kids, or even adults, to meditation. Try it before the mushroom hunt, try it after, try it when you feel like it!  There really isn’t a right or wrong way to explore these concepts.

Guided mindfulness meditation from Insight Timer for kids: (takes about 3 minutes)

https://insighttimer.com/freya/guided-meditations/a-mindful-moment-with-kind-thoughts-for-kids

More to Explore:

Any of Susan Verde’s books that you can borrow on hoopla are beautiful stories that work well with meditation.

I Am Human has a simple loving-kindness meditation practice.

I Am Peace has a wonderful mindfulness meditation.

I Am Love has a beautiful heart meditation practice as well as a few heart-opening yoga poses to practice with your kids!

I Am Yoga has a section in the back with all the poses that she uses throughout the book if you wanted to do few of them with you kids!

I love these books by Miriam Gates, too!

Breathe with Me is especially great for introducing meditation!

Dinosaur Yoga is just adorable!

Sweet Dreams is especially great for kids who have trouble getting to sleep – but it’s a wonderful way to share a bedtime routine with any child!

– Cassie, Youth Services Assistant

This week, we encourage you to stop and smell the flowers! Have you ever wondered why daisies are white and roses are red? If you watch our video read-aloud of Sara Levine’s book Flower Talk: How Plants Use Color to Communicate, a sassy cactus will let you in on the secrets behind the colors of different flowers.

Discover more books about flowers on hoopla, including:

Sunflowers by Robin Nelson

Forever Flower Fun by Susan Yoder Ackerman

Dandelions: Stars in the Grass by Mia Posada

One way we can enjoy flowers all year round is to flatten and dry the petals and leaves between the pages of a heavy book. This is called “pressing flowers.” Keep reading to learn more about the different crafts you can make with pressed flowers! Adult supervision is recommended.

How to Press Flowers

You will need:

• Flowers, greenery, leaves, etc.
  • Note: We recommend flowers and greenery that can be easily flattened, so nothing too bulky. Certain flowers also dry faster than others, so we recommend pansies, violets, daisies, snapdragons, and roses.
• A heavy book (or any book and a heavy object to place on top)
• Any kind of thin, absorbent paper (e.g. parchment paper, tissue paper, newspaper, notebook paper, printer paper, paper towels, etc.)
• Time (three to five weeks)

Steps:

1. Open your book to its last few pages and lay down one sheet of paper inside the book on the right hand side.
2. On top of the paper, lay your flowers in the position you want them to stay in once they are dry.
3. Carefully lay a second piece of paper on top of your flowers. These papers will protect your book from being damaged by the moisture in the flowers.
4. Close the book. If the book is not very heavy, carefully place a heavy object on top of the book.
5. Wait approximately three to five weeks before checking your flowers to see if they are dry. If they still appear wet, check again in one week. Try not to disturb them often.
6. Once the flowers are dry, they can be used for crafting projects immediately or stored safely in manila envelopes. You can also store them by spreading them out on a piece of acid-free card stock and placing the card stock in a plastic sleeve.

Tips and Craft Ideas:

• If you would like to have multiple pages of pressed flowers, make sure each pressing is at least 50 pages away from the others.
• Once your flowers are dry, they will be very fragile and easy to break. It is best to handle them with a pair of tweezers or by gently sliding them from one paper to another. 
• The crafting possibilities for these pressed flowers are endless! You can make bookmarks, birthday cards, sun catchers, a flower journal, and so much more! Just use a thin layer of glue to stick the flowers onto paper and display your creation.
• To protect your flower creations, you can seal them to the paper with contact paper or clear packing tape.
• Check out these 40 creative pressed flower crafts at coolcrafts.com/pressed-flower-art/ for inspiration and detailed instructions.
• Explore more ideas by reading The Art of Pressed Flowers and Leaves by Jennie Ashmore.

Take a look at the images below for inspiration!

Sources

“40 Stunning Pressed Flower Art Ideas.” CoolCrafts.com, Cool Crafts, 20 June 2016, www.coolcrafts.com/pressed-flower-art/. Accessed 25 July 2020.

Uyterhoeven, Sonia. “Tip of the Week: Techniques for Pressing Flowers.” NYBG.org, New York Botanical Garden, 1 June 2010, www.nybg.org/blogs/plant-talk/2010/06/tip-of-the-week/tip-of-the-week-techniques-for-pressing-flowers/. Accessed 25 July 2020.

Uyterhoeven, Sonia. “Tip of the Week: Using Pressed Flowers.” NYBG.org, New York Botanical Garden, 24 May 2010, www.nybg.org/blogs/plant-talk/2010/05/tip-of-the-week/tip-of-the-week-using-pressed-flowers/#:~:text=Designing%20with%20Pressed%20Flowers&text=Use%20white%20PVA%20glue%20such,make%20it%20easier%20to%20apply. Accessed 25 July 2020.

– Haley, Youth Services Assistant

Travel back in time with us to investigate and explore dinosaurs! Below you’ll find activities that will let you dig deeper into paleontology, fossils, and more. Be sure to stop by the library to pick up your Way Back in Time activity kit with a dinosaur tattoo, dinosaur egg, and additional activities, and follow along with our scientific StoryWalk in the Reading Garden! (Kits available while supplies last.) These activities are intended for children ages 4-14.

What is Paleontology?

Paleontology the study of the history of life on Earth from dinosaurs to prehistoric plants, mammals, fish, insects, fungi, and even microbes. Fossils are the remains of plants, animals, fungi, bacteria, and single-celled organisms that have been preserved in rock. Studying fossil evidence reveals how organisms changed over time and what our planet was like long ago.

Are you interested in finding out more information about dinosaurs? For facts, games, crafts, and videos, check out this website, PaleontOLogy: THE BIG Dig, from The American Museum Of Natural History!

What Do You Know About Paleontology?

Can you identify this object? Click on the picture to take the quiz and test your knowledge!

How to Make Dinosaur Eggs

Learn how to make dinosaur eggs or treasure stones that you smash open to reveal a surprise toy. The best part is that you probably already have all the ingredients in your kitchen. (From the Ultimate Book of Kid Concoctions by John E. Thomas and Danita Pagel.)

1 C. Flour
1 C. Used coffee grounds
1/2 C. Salt
1/4 C. Sand
3/4 C. Water

Mix all dry ingredients in a bowl. Slowly add water and knead mixture until it holds together. Take a handful of dough and flatten it out, place a toy dinosaur or treasure in the middle. Add more mixture and form an egg/stone shape. Let the eggs/stones air dry for 2-4 days or until hard or bake in the oven on a cookie sheet at your oven’s lowest setting (150˚F-170˚F) for 15-20 minutes. Makes 4-5 stones.

Dinosaur Hall Virtual Tour – Natural History Museum Of Los Angeles County (NHM)

Missing visits to museums? Virtually step inside NHM’s award-winning dinosaur hall and discover the age of dinosaurs from the comfort of your home. Learn how museum scientists study our ancient past through a variety of fossils and get an up-close look at a one-of-a-kind T. Rex growth series.

DINO DIG Game from tvokids

Hey, dinosaur hunter! Travel the world to dig up cool dinosaur fossils!

DIY DIG From Dig School.org.uk

Dig school is about learning new ways to see, think, and do – inspired by archaeology anywhere and everywhere. In DIY dig students learn how to carry out their own new mini ‘test pit’ excavation in your own yard, using the same methods, tools, and safety measures as real archaeologists. Students will also practice the recording and drawing skills needed, because paleontology and archaeology aren’t just about digging!

Discover Dinosaur Books in the FDL Collection

Practice searching for dinosaur and paleontology books (fiction and non fiction), videos, and graphic novels available at the library and in our online collection from hoopla, Axis 360, ADML OverDrive, and Tumblebooks. (You’ll need your library card number and pin to check out some of these on your phone, tablet, or computer.)

Knights Vs. Dinosaurs

The Big Book of Dinosaurs

What the Dinosaurs Did Last Night

In the Time of Dinosaurs

Crafts for Kids Who Are Learning About Dinosaurs

Crafts for Kids Who Are Wild About Dinosaurs

We’re Going on a Dinosaur Dig

Dinosaur Explorers Series (Graphic Novels)

StoryWalk in the Reading Garden

Paleontologists and archaeologists are scientists who study the history of the earth through fossils and human artifacts. We think all scientists are pretty cool, so please enjoy our Ada Twist, Scientist StoryWalk through the Reading Garden! And don’t forget to pick up your activity kits from the Youth Services Department!

Ada Twist, Scientist by Andrea Beaty

Illustrated by David Roberts

Published by Abrams

Or enjoy the Read Along version on hoopla!

The StoryWalk Project was created by Anne Ferguson of Montpelier, VT, and developed in collaboration with the Kellogg-Hubbard Library. StoryWalk is a registered service mark owned by Ms. Ferguson.

– Kris and Sharon, Youth Service Specialists