FDL Book Talk (for Kids) – Planting Stories and Balloons over Broadway
Immigration, puppets, and dreams coming true in New York City… Haley shares two books that have all these things in common in today’s book talk! Planting Stories: The Life of Librarian and Storyteller Pura Belpré by Anika Aldamuy Denise and Balloons over Broadway: The True Story of the Puppeteer of Macy’s Parade by Melissa Sweet are both perfect for kids in Pre-K through 3rd grade who love learning about inspiring figures from history! Place them on hold or catch them in the Famous People & Events book bundle, available first come, first served!
We’re Hiring!
The library currently is hiring for two part-time positions: Youth Services Assistant and Reference Assistant. Please visit fondulaclibrary.org/about-us/jobs for more information, including job descriptions and qualifications.
Story Time (Online) – Gardens
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.
.
Song: Dance like Snowflakes
(Tune: Frere Jacques)
Dance like snowflakes,
Dance like snowflakes
In the air,
In the air
Whirling, twirling snowflakes
Whirling, twirling snowflakes
Everywhere, everywhere
Source: Songs4Preschool
.
Movement: Big Round Sun
Big round sun in the summer sky (hold arms in circle overhead)
Waved to a cloud that was passing by (wave)
The little cloud laughed as it started to rain (wiggle fingers downward)
And out came the big round sun again (hold arms up in circle again)
Source: Pasadena Public Library
Book: Grandpa’s Garden Lunch
Written by Judith Caseley and published by Greenwillow Books, an Imprint of HarperCollins Publishers.
.
Flannel Board: Out in the Garden
Out in the garden
growing in the sun
Were 5 pretty flowers
and my mommy picked one!
Out in the garden
growing in the sun
Were 4 pretty flowers
and my daddy picked one!
Out in the garden
growing in the sun
Were 3 pretty flowers
and my brother picked one!
Out in the garden
growing in the sun
Were 2 pretty flowers
and my sister picked one!
Out in the garden
growing in the sun
Was 1 pretty flower
and I picked that one!
Source: Pasadena Public Library
Book: Up, Down, and Around
Written by Katherine Ayres, illustrated by Nadine Bernard Westcott, and published by Candlewick Press.
.
Movement: Here is a Green Leaf – Story Time Scarf Rhyme
Here’s a green leaf, and here’s a green leaf (hold out left hand, then right)
And that you see makes two (hold up 2 fingers)
This is the bud that makes the flower (hold palms together)
Now watch it bloom for you (slowly separate palms)
Source: Jbrary
.
Flannel Board: Butterfly Colors
The first to come to the garden bed
Is a lovely butterfly of brilliant RED.
Then in comes another and that makes two.
Fly right in, my friend of BLUE.
“The garden is fine, the best I’ve seen,”
says the butterfly of softest GREEN.
Our garden needs a sunny fellow,
Fly on in, butterfly with wings of YELLOW.
Little friend of PURPLE, fly in too.
The garden is waiting for a color like you.
ORANGE, orange, you’ve waited so long.
Fly right in, where you belong.
Butterflies, butterflies, you’re such a sight!
Flying together – what a delight!
Source: Storytime Katie
.
Book: Counting in the Garden
Written by Kim Parker and published by Orchard Books, an Imprint of Scholastic, Inc.
.
Craft: Cupcake Liner Flowers
Craft kits are available from the Youth Services department or the drive-up window while supplies last.
Kit Supplies:
- Blue cardstock for the background
- Green cardstock paper for grass, stems, and leaves
- Cupcake Liners
- scissors
- glue
Directions:
- Press the cupcake liners out flat. Cut slits around each cupcake liner to make petals. Make sure to stop your cut at the center circle line of the liner. (This is great scissor practice for preschoolers. You might need to help hold the cupcake liner for your child if they are new to cutting.)
- Cut leaves and grass out of green paper.
- Glue the large cupcake liners to the blue cardstock paper.
- Glue the small cupcake liner inside the large cupcake liner.
- Glue the flower stems underneath the cupcake liner flowers.
- Glue grass to the bottom of the paper and the leaves to the stems.
Source: I Heart Crafty Things
Book: One Little Seed
Written by Elaine Greenstein and published by Viking, an Imprint of Penguin Random House.
.
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
5 Adventure Books Starring Cats
What do ninjas, robots, time travel, and outer space have in common with each other? Cats, of course! You can find books on all of these topics, and more, which feature cats as the main characters. It may sound a little silly, but stories like these are a great way to get kids excited about reading. One of the reasons some kids don’t like to read is because they have learned to associate books with boredom and frustration. A fun book about cats in space could be just the thing to help them realize that reading doesn’t always have to be a serious task and that there’s nothing wrong with enjoying something more for entertainment than its educational value. Skip the “normal” adventure stories, and read one full of cute kittens!
Cat Ninja by Matthew Cody
Catstronauts series by Drew Brockington
Professor Astro Cat series by Dr. Dominic Walliman
Cats Vs. Robots by Margaret Stohl and Lewis Peterson
Hello Kitty: It’s About Time by Jacob Chabot
– Cindy, Youth Services Assistant
Star Wars Writing Contest Winners
Thank you to those who entered our first ever Star Wars Writing contest during Star Wars Week!
Congratulations to Owen F. for winning the teen category!
Prompt: You were chosen to write an episode of The Mandalorian. Write a little about what the plot would be.
Episode: A World of Beskar Part 1
In the seemingly still quietness of space, there was a star system of what looks roughly like 6 or 7 planets. There was an asteroid belt around the outer edge. Suddenly, a star ship appeared out of nowhere along with two smaller ships, these ships seem to be fighting.
“I can’t shake them off,” said the Madalorian.
The bigger ship tried to knock the smaller ones in the asteroid field. Even though the asteroids got close to the ships, they still managed to evade the asteroids.
“The space is too crowded, I have to go up,” he said.
The pilots saw this coming and shot at the left thruster, thankfully the shot missed and they resumed to target the back of the ship. The bigger ship dodged and ducked, but when he tried to fire back, they moved accordingly. Out of nowhere, the Slave 1 appeared and shot the two smaller ships to an oblivion.
“You’re lucky that I arrived just in time, those pilots would have blown you to ashes,” said Boba Fett. ” There aren’t many pilots that are capable of that much skill.”
“I know, that’s what scares me.”
The two ships flew to the planet Gondoria. As they looked around the place that they landed, they noticed one thing, the blue liquid that they thought was water wasn’t water, but pure, hot molten metal. This surprised them as the appearance of lava was normally red or orange, but not blue.
“How in the world is this place hot enough for lava to turn blue?” asked Boba Fett.
“I don’t know, but I feel that we should get to what we came for” said the Mandalorian.
Far away, planets away, there was a squad of troops negotiating with a dealer on selling beskar, an almost indestructible metal.
“What do you mean there isn’t enough beskar to satisfy my bargain, it is perfectly reasonable to ask for that amount!”
He slammed his fist on the table that made a large dent in the polished surface, this fist belonged to the smallest of the bunch, yet he had the voice and anger of a dark leader, a tyrant.
“I’m sorry to tell you but beskar doesn’t appear out of thin air, it takes months, if not years to make, and a bunch of buyers have been coming in and out and have been draining our supply.” This seller’s voice was calm, and cool, without the slightest trace of anger behind it. The calm, soothing attitude only made the leader more furious with this matter.
“Is there at least a way to make it,” he said in a stern, cold voice, the effort of fighting his anger showed through him like synthetic glass, the anger and rage was astounding for how hard he tried to control himself.
“No, there’s not, I’m afraid-,” but this sentence was interrupted due to the fact that he was pulled right from the seat of his desk, as if the gravity from the masked leaders hand had intensified one million times more than normal, the room around him stared at him, with terror plastered on all of their faces, except for the squad, even if they had no masks covering their faces.
“There is a planet that is almost right next to us, there is some beskar there and you can satisfy your deal and far beyond that, more than you will ever need.” The person’s voice was filled with fear but it gave the leader what he wanted.
“Now, unhand me, you got what you wanted did you not?” His voice was filled with the slightest bit of hope, but his hope vanished immediately after he said this.
“Release you?” The voice of tyranny became a voice of mockery, he laughed.
“You’re going to go walking back, after what you said to me, no, you’re no use, and I don’t want you to be giving this information to anyone else.” The seller’s face became fearful once again.
“That is a two in one for me, good bye, glad that we could come up with an agreement that satisfies both our needs.” With this, he snapped the seller’s neck in half and threw his body across the room, his body landed with a crash and broke about one hundred desks in a row.
To be continued…
Congratulations to Rachael Steinbron for winning the adult category!
Prompt: If you had to live on one of the Star Wars locations, what one would you choose? Why?
Alderaan: A Rebel’s Top Pick![](https://fondulaclibrary.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/databank_alderaan_01_169_4a5264e2.jpeg)
Given all the worlds and scenes of the Star Wars saga, any true supporter of the rebels with a love for history would choose to live on Alderaan. Before The Disaster, the planet was a beautiful, earth-like place with a population of caring, intelligent people who valued education, democracy, and pacifism. It would have been a much more comfortable place than any sand or ice world. The architecture was also breathtaking, designed to showcase the beauty of the natural environment. Some may argue that a forest home like Endor would be equally as pleasant, but on Alderaan you would not only find fewer furry creatures with lice, but also more sophisticated technology and comforts, along with access to some of the Resistances most famous history and heroes.
The historic and cultural impact Alderaan had on the Rebellion is unmatched. General Leia Organa’s own mother once ruled as Queen but was also accessible as the minister of education, who taught about the culture and history of the world. Sitting in on one of her classes would be any Rebel’s dream! One of the founding members of the Galactic Republic, Alderaan was not only home to the Organa family, it also played a huge part in starting the Clone Wars, providing mutations to the Rebellion, and ultimately defeating the Empire.
Sure, the breathtaking planet was ultimately destroyed, but the knowledge the surviving Alderaanians possess is priceless. Not only would you be able to share the cultural and historic facts from your world to ensure the planet’s legacy, but bringing any date to the resulting asteroid field and sharing your story would ensure you would never have to drink your Juma Juice alone, if you know what I mean.
FDL Reads: One by One
One by One by Ruth Ware
Reviewed by: Katie Grant, Circulation Assistant
Genre: Suspense / Thriller
Age Group: Adult
What is This Book About? When the colleagues and investors of a highly successful social media app called Snoop decide to take a week long skiing retreat in the French Alps they are expecting rest, relaxation, and fun. However, quickly upon arrival things begin to deteriorate when an avalanche traps them inside the chalet with no electricity or phone reception. Stranded in the mountains with scarce resources and no signs of rescue, the group’s luck worsens when one of them is killed without warning or provocation. As the days go on it is clear there is a murderer among them as they are being killed one by one. Everyone is a suspect, and everyone has motive and opportunity.
My Review: I really enjoyed this thriller, it definitely was suspenseful the entire way through! Once everything fell into place I was surprised I didn’t put it all together sooner but throughout the story I was kept guessing the whole time. It is formatted in first person from two points of view. You follow Erin, one of the two employees at the ski chalet, and Liz, one of snoop’s investors. After finishing the novel I was very satisfied with the story. Sometimes when reading thrillers you are left with unanswered questions or conflicts with no resolution that leaves you feeling like the story was incomplete, but that was not the case with this novel. I would definitely recommend this book to any fan of suspense/thrillers or those who love a new take on an old classic!
Three Words That Describe This Book: Clever, Anticipation, Staggering
Give This a Try if You Like: The Turn of the Key by Ruth Ware, The Guest List by Lucy Foley, The Sanatorium by Sarah Pearce
Rating: 4/5
About FDL Reads
FDL Reads is a series of weekly book reviews from Fondulac District Library.