FDL is now offering Book Bundles by request! This means that you can request a book bundle for your kids at any time, with more than 20 topics to chose from! Each bundle contains 5 library books that share a theme for a specific age group, along with a toy or activity to keep. (Please note the books are checked out using your library card and must be returned.) Bonus bundles will still be announced on the library’s Facebook and Instagram pages each month, but the bundles on our website are available all the time. Visit the Book Bundles page, located under the Library of Things tab from the main menu, to see the list of available topics and the online request form. Book bundles can also be requested by email or phone, and you’ll be notified when your bundle is ready to pick up from the drive-up window or the atrium. Ask a librarian for more information, and try a book bundle today!

Welcome to story time! I’m Miss Sharon and today’s story time is about YOU! Before we start we’re going to talk about how everybody is unique, meaning there is only one you. The special talents and abilities that help to make you who you are. Everyone is unique in their own way. Maybe you have a name no one else has, and that makes it unique. Or you’re great at drawing while someone else likes to dance. When you feel special you have confidence in yourself, believe you can do anything, and feel proud of the things you do. Think about what makes you unique.

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!

Source: Supersimple A Place To Learn and Grow

Book: Be You!

Written and illustrated by Peter H Reynolds, and read with the permission of Scholastic.

Song: If You’re Happy and You Know It

If you’re happy and you know it, Clap your hands

If you’re happy and you know it, Clap your hands

If you’re happy and you know it and you really want to show it.

If you’re happy and you know it, Clap your hands

If you’re happy and you know it, Stamp your feet

If you’re happy and you know it, Stamp your feet

If you’re happy and you know it and you really want to show it.

If you’re happy and you know it, Stamp your feet

If you’re happy and you know it, Shout hurray

If you’re happy and you know it, Shout hurray

If you’re happy and you know it and you really want to show it.

If you’re happy and you know it, Shout hurray

If you’re happy and you know it do all three,

Clap your hands, stamp your feet, shout hurray

If you’re happy and you know it do all three,

Clap your hands, stamp your feet, shout hurray

If you’re happy and you know it and you really want to show it.

Clap your hands, stamp your feet, shout hurray.

Book: The World Needs More Purple People

Written by Kristen Bell and Benjamin Hart, illustrated by Daniel Wiseman, and read with the permission of Penguin Random House.

Flannel Story: How Kind!

Based on the book How Kind by Mary Murphy

HEN gave PIG an EGG.
“How kind!” said PIG.
PIG kept the egg safe and warm.
“HEN is so kind,” he thought. “I would like to do something kind too.”

PIG gave RABBIT a CARROT.
“This is for you,” said PIG.
“How kind!” said RABBIT.
“PIG is so kind,” thought RABBIT. “I will do something kind too.”
He picked some flowers.

“These flowers are for you, COW,” said RABBIT.
“How kind!” said COW.
“RABBIT is very kind, thought COW. “How can I be kind too?”

COW gave CAT some milk.
“How kind!” said CAT.
“COW is so kind,” thought CAT. “I want to be kind too.”

She looked for DOG.
“Let’s play your favorite game, DOG,” said CAT.
“How kind!” said DOG.
They chased around… and around.
“CAT is so kind,” thought DOG. “I want to be kind too.”

DOG fetched a stick. He scratched PIG’s back
“How kind!” said PIG. “Would you like to see my egg, DOG?”
PIG showed where he was keeping the egg. But the egg was gone!
In its place was a CHICK.
“Hello you pretty little chick!” said PIG and DOG.

They brought the chick back to Hen and Hen said, “How kind!”

Source: Totally Toddler

Craft: “Me” Mobile

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

Kit Supplies:

• Rainbow Template
• Clouds Template
• Hot Air Balloon Template
• Yarn Pieces (8)

Supplies you will need from home:

• Scissors
• Crayons, Colored Pencils, or Markers

Directions:

• Color the rainbow, clouds and hot air balloon templates. Rainbow colors are Red Orange Yellow Green Blue Indigo (dark blue) Violet
• Cut out the templates.
• Write on each cloud and hot air balloon how you are unique.
• Using the yarn, hang the clouds and hot air balloons from the rainbow.

NOTE: The yarn will have to be cut to size.

Closing Song: Thanks for Coming

(Tune: Oh My Darling Clementine)
Thanks for sitting, thanks for listening,
Thanks for coming here today!
Now that story time is over
Hope you have a lovely day!

Source: Literary Hoots

Join Miss Kris next week for a story time about YARN!

– Sharon, Youth Services Specialist

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:  Snow Day!

Written by Lauren Stringer and published by Harcourt, Inc.

Fingerplay: Chilly Day

When the day is chilly (shiver)

And I don’t know what to do,

Mama gives me my sweater (mime putting on sweater)

I put it on and say, “Thank you.”

But when I am still chilly (shiver)

From the snowy winter storm,

Mama puts a blanket over me, (mime pulling up a blanket)

But still I’m not quite warm.

So, when I am still chilly, (shiver)

I know just what I should do.

I say, “Mama, please, I’d like

warm cuddles from you!” (give yourself a hug, or hug a friend or parent)

Source: Storytime Stuff

Flannel Board: Colorful Mittens

(Sung to the tune of “Six Little Ducks”)
Colorful mittens for me and you
Red ones, yellow ones, blue ones too.
But the one pair of mittens
that rhymes with fellow,
They’re my favorite mittens,
they’re the color yellow!

Continue with rhymes pairs for each color:
bed/red
shoe/blue
bean/green
crown/brown
sink/pink
track/black

Source: Hadley Regional Library System

Literacy Tip: Warm & Cozy Reading Tips

Associating pleasurable things with reading helps kids who may not LOVE reading see that it can be fun. This is not a new idea, we can do this every day by making a cozy reading nook for kids to read in and creating opportunities where reading is pleasurable. Book choice is a huge help with this too. During this winter season, you might choose a summery book, a heartwarming book, or revisit old favorites. Some other cozy suggestions include: reading in bed, cuddle with a pet, wrap up in a cozy blanket, sit by the fireplace, curl up in a big rocking chair or wear fuzzy socks.

Source:  The Literary Phoenix and Adventures in Literacy Land

Rhyme: Fuzzy Blanket

I have a fuzzy blanket
To snuggle in at night
I wrap it all around me
And pull it warm and tight!

Source: Sunflower Storytime

Book: William’s Winter Nap

Written by Linda Ashman, illustrated by Chuck Groenink, and published by Disney Hyperion.

Flannel Board: Quilts Galore

5 colorful quilts with patterns galore,

1 covered Rabbit and then there were four.

4 colorful quilts as snuggly as can be,

1 covered Raccoon and then there were three

3 colorful quilts with dots red and blue,

1 covered Fox and then there were two.

2 colorful quilts made just for fun,

1 covered Bear and then there was one.

1 colorful quilt left out in the sun,

It covered Owl and then there were none.

Source: Flannel Board Fun

Movement: Hat and Mittens

(to the tune of “Head and Shoulders”)
Hat and mittens, coat and boots, coat and boots,
Hat and mittens, coat and boots, coat and boots,
Scarf and snow pants, warm socks too,
Hat and mittens, coat and boots, coat and boots!

Source: Hadley Regional Library System

Book: Winter Is The Warmest Season

Written by Lauren Stringer and published by Harcourt, Inc.

Song: Hot Chocolate

(Sung to the tune of Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star)

Pour some milk into a pot.

Stir it ‘till it’s nice and hot.

Take the chocolate – give a squeeze!

Add marshmallows, if you please.

Wrap yourself up nice and snug.

Drink hot chocolate in a mug.

Source: Ignite Learning

Craft: Hot Chocolate

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

Kit Supplies:

• Printout of a Mug
• Stickers
• Cotton Ball
• Little White Balls

Home Supplies:

• Crayons, Markers, Paint
• Glue

Instructions:

1. Color the mug and hot chocolate.
2. You can cut out the mug if you want to.
3. Decorate the mug with the stickers.
4. Stretch the cotton ball to look like whip cream
5. Glue the little white balls on the hot chocolate for marshmallows.

Source: Crafty Morning

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

Why do so many kids love unicorns? A lot of the time, they’ll say it’s because unicorns are pretty and sparkly or because they can do magic. Maybe they like that unicorns are often portrayed as being special and different from other creatures. Whatever the reason, unicorns are really popular, and there are all kinds of stories about them. If you know someone who’s a big unicorn fan, it might be fun to introduce them to some of the not-so-magical unicorns that have been appearing in books lately. These books are great for teaching kids that it’s okay to not be perfect and sometimes feel grumpy or act silly. Even kids who don’t love unicorns will find something to like about these books. Check out these examples:

Kevin the Unicorn: It’s Not All Rainbows by Jessika Von Innerebner

Grumpy Unicorn Hits the Road by Joey Spiotto

Unicorns are the Worst by Alex Willan

Xander Stone and the Rainbow-Barfing Unicorns by Matthew K. Manning

Unicorns 101 by Cale Atkinson

For more unicorn-related fun, print and fill in this mystery coloring page from Woo! Jr. or make a recipe from one of these colorful cookbooks:

Unicorn Food by Cayla Gallagher

Unicorn Food by Sandra Mahut

– Cindy, Youth Services Assistant