Happy Halloween

Everywhere I turned last week there seemed to be an unending parade of ghastly ghouls, lovely princesses, wicked witches, superheroes, and zombies. Scary stuff until you remember that Halloween is right around the corner.

Halloween in our neck of the woods usually means those wonderful costumes are hidden under winter coats, warm gloves and hats. Such is the price we pay for treat bags full of chocolate bars and gummy worms. I think it’s worth it…

Story times last week were chockful of Halloween stories. The children (and the adults, I think) really enjoyed them. As quoted in one book, “it’s fun being scared when you know it’s just pretend”.

Below is a list of the stories and songs from last week. I hope you use them today and file them away for next year.

Happy Halloween!

 One Dark Night by Lisa Wheeler

Go to Bed, Monster! By Natasha Wing (This is especially fun!)

The Little Old Lady Who Was Not Afraid of Anything by Linda Williams

Inside a House that is Haunted by Alyssa Satin Capucilli

Halloween Night by Elizabeth Hatch

A Visit to the Haunted House (a pop-up book)

 The Hallow-Weiner by Dav Pilkey

Here They Come! by David Costello

The Haunted House (Tune of "Wheels on the Bus")
The ghost in the house goes "Boo! Boo! Boo!"
"Boo! Boo! Boo!, Boo! Boo! Boo!"
The ghost in the house goes "Boo! Boo! Boo!"
On Halloween.
The steps in the house goes "Creek, creek, creek..."
The cats in the house go "Meow, meow, meow..."
The mice in the house go "Squeak, squeak, squeak.."
The people in the house go "Eek, eek, eek..."

TRICK OR TREATING  (Tune: Are You Sleeping?)
Trick or treating, trick or treating.
BOO BOO BOO!
BOO BOO BOO !
Trick or treating, trick or treating.
I scare you, I scare you.

One Little Bug

So, my daughter came home from college on Friday. I cannot tell you how happy that made me! She brought her schoolwork, her laundry, and a little bug. A germ actually. And that germ made a cozy home for itself in me. So please accept my apologies for having to cancel the library story times today. I love to share stories and songs and my love of reading with you. I thought this little germ should stay with me. I am on the mend and looking forward to seeing everyone next Monday.

Dinosaurs Roar!

The children certainly were “digging the dinosaurs” Monday at our first after-school program.

Five children attended. We read one dinosaur book that discussed the names of dinosaurs. We all agreed that some of the names are very difficult to pronounce! We also talked about how scientists learn about dinosaurs and how  they sometimes make mistakes. Be sure to ask your child about the iguanodon's “nose”!  We also discussed how fossils are made.

The children decorated their dinosaur research folders, chose a dinosaur to research, and examined all the packets in their folders. We already have a plan for next week and the children seemed very excited!

I am really looking forward to working with this group. They are interested in the topic and very enthusiastic. I can't wait for us to make fossils of our very own!

Such Busy Bees

Our first official “Bees Knees” story time was Monday afternoon. There were 12 children present, and they were a wonderful group! Thanks to all the parents and caregivers for helping to keep your children interested in the stories and fingerplays. Your active involvement makes all the difference. Children definitely mimic adult behaviors so keep up the enthusiasm you showed. Because the youngest children were so involved, we will try to include them for 20 minutes next week!

I will list the stories and songs we do each week on this site so you can refer back to them. Although it can drive an adult to distraction, children thrive on repetition. We will return to the same songs and fingerplays at various times throughout the year.

Remember to check in at the Junior Room when you arrive. Any books you need to return may be returned there. I will come downstairs about 12:55 PM to collect everyone. When we get upstairs, please check your child’s name on the attendance sheet and look for any parent newsletters (on the same table). There will definitely be one this coming Monday about our Halloween party! Also look for your child's name tag. We will use them until I learn everyone's name. It shouldn't take too long!

Thanks again for making this story time so much fun!

 

Story Titles:

Across the Stream by Mirra Ginsberg

Have You Seen My Duckling? By Nancy Tafuri

Do Like a Duck Does by Judy Hindley

Nine Ducks Nine by Sarah Hayes

 Fingerplays:

Little Ducks (The Wheels on the Bus) 

All the little ducks go quack, quack, quack 

quack, quack, quack; quack, quack, quack

All the little ducks go quack, quack, quack 

All around the pond.

(splash, splash, splash; waddle, waddle, waddle)

I’m a Duck (Are You Sleeping?)

I’m a duck, I’m a duck

Watch me waddle, watch me waddle

Hear me when I talk, hear me when I talk

Quack, quack, quack, quack, quack, quack.

Ready, Set, Begin

Monday will be the first day of story times at the library. Once the Busy Bees and the After-School program are in place, I will be conducting 17 story times per week. It is a wonderfully hectic schedule and I am enjoying every minute of it!

I recently did several programs with stories about colors. After we read, the children really enjoyed playing the color game:

If you can see some red, shake your head.

If you can see some red, shake your head.

If you can see some red and you know what I said,

If you can see some red, shake your head!

I then added: blue/touch your shoe (you know what to do); pink/give me a wink (you know what I think); green/look real mean (the favorite) (like a lima bean); white/dance all night (it will be all right); any color/ shout hurray (then you know what to say)

You can make up your own verses. Don’t mind if they seem silly or don’t rhyme exactly. The children love it!