Merrily We Roll Along…

The Busy Bees were quite involved this week learning about different forms of transportation. When asked how they could get from one place to another, there were excited cries of “Car!”, “Truck!”, “Airplane!” as well as “Police Car!” and “Fire truck!”.

One story we read was about a little boy who went on a walk. We all kept our eyes wide open, trying to figure out what animals the boy was seeing from the tiny clues in the illustrations.  In another story, bunnies traveled in numerous ways in rollicking rhymes about cars, trucks, hot air balloons, trains, airplanes, and even a wagon. The children liked trying to figure out the next mode of travel from the rhyming pattern.

My favorite story this week was about a trip to the lake on a hot, hot, hot day in a car that was less than reliable. The children in the story were clever indeed, supplying a beach ball for a flat tire, a thermos of soda for a missing gas tank, a surfboard as replacement for a floor that fell off, and a paddle-wheel boat for an engine left by the side of the road! From the steady “brum, brum, brum” of the key being turned by papa to the sticking power of the chocolate marshmallow fudge delight, the Bees were delighted as I by the rattletrap car…and their “wheel” snacks.

The Terrific Tigers traveled across America this week.  They went with Ike LaRue , a dog with a penchant for stretching the truth, on a car trip with Mrs. LaRue and two temporarily orphaned cats. Ike wasn’t happy that he was missing out on a planned cruise. He was even more upset that he had to share his trip with felines, so he wrote to the cats owner explaining his plight and begging for her help (which never came).  The Tigers also went from Ohio to Oregon with a young man and his dog, Tulip. They saw the rolling fields in Iowa, felt the vast, dark skies in Nebraska, and waited for the ocean to appear to them in Oregon. Finally, the children saw Hong Kong while playing the travel game with a young boy and his favorite aunt. The travel game? Grab a globe and a picture book of the world---the children can tell you the rest or grab a copy of the book and find out the rules for yourself.  The children finished by coloring copies of their favorite mode of transportation.

The World Travelers learned about North America this week. They listened to a folktale from Mexico called “The Three Sillies”. They also heard a Native American Cinderella tale that reinforced that being kind and caring is the best way to live a happy life. We traveled with a boy and his favorite aunt to Hong Kong just like the Tigers. To close, we talked about “accidental” inventions like Post-it notes, Velcro, potato chips, and Toll House cookies. The travelers then worked on a transportation mural while nibbling chocolate chip cookies.

Week Two was a rousing success.

Next week…Australia, mate.

 

Rattletrap Car by Phyllis Root Bunnies on the Go by Ricky Walton	I Went Walking by Sue Williams The Travel Game by John Grandits	Tulip Sees America by Cynthia Rylant LaRue Across America by Mark Teague
The Rough Face Girl by Rafe Martin	The Three Sillies (a Mexican folktale)

Old McDonald Had A Car

Old McDonald had a car Go, go, go, go, go. And on that car he had a horn. Go, go, go, go, go. With a beep beep here And a beep beep there Here a beep, there a beep, Everywhere a beep, beep. Old McDonald had a car, Go, go, go, go, go. (steering wheel-quick turn; gas pedal-vroom, vroom; seat belt- click, click; brake pedal- stop, stop)

We’re Off!

The first week of summer reading has gone off with a quack…and a cluck…and a woof!

The Busy Bees listened to animal stories. One was about Rosie, a hen who went for walk all the while being followed by a fox. All turns out well for Rosie who makes it home in time for dinner. The fox, however, has a more troublesome adventure! We also learned that a doghouse can be a very crowded place during a thunderstorm…unless, of course, you are a skunk.  Our last story was called Mung, Mung, which is the sound dogs make in Korea. We learned that animals around the world make different sounds and you can hear a number of them at http://www.bzzzpeek.com/ Interestingly, everywhere the cow says moo.

The Terrific Tigers learned about Anansi the spider man from African folktales and the clever Mouse Deer from Asian and African trickster tales. We were all surprised to learn that the mouse deer is a real animal with a body like a deer and a head like a mouse. This cat-sized animal is found in the jungles of Africa and Asia.

The children then made Anansi spider crafts with symbols included in hopes they would be able to retell the story.

The World Travelers started summer reading on the continent of Asia. We read a story called White Tiger, Blue Serpent where a young boy learns the value of hard work and an evil, greedy queen discovers that greed won’t get you what you want.

We then tried using chopsticks to eat steamed dumplings and fried rice which produced a lot of giggles. We drank green tea (unsweetened) and fried donuts. Finally, the children learned the legend of the koi (how they swim up the Yellow River their entire lives.; at the mouth of the river is a waterfall and if the koi make it up the waterfall, they are turned into glorious dragons). The children decorated their own koi with beautiful, overlapping scales.

All said, the first week was quite successful! I can hardly wait for next week.

 

Move Over, Rover! by Karen Beaumont and Jane Dyer

Rosie's Walk by Pat Hutchins

Mung-Mung! by Linda Sue Park and Diane Bigda

Anansi the Spider: A Tale from the Ashanti by Gerald McDermott

White Tiger, Blue Serpent by Grace Tseng

Abracadabra!

What a wonderful opening celebration for the Summer Reading Program! Forty-four people attended a fantastic magic show presented by Steve Haberman. Steve took us on a tour of the world as he performed tricks related to each country. There was much ooohing and aaahing and giggling galore as tables floated, cut ropes were mended, and pizzas disappeared. I was every bit as amazed as the children to see a bowling ball fall from a paper tablet with a drawing of the ball on it!

Steve wowed us for 45 fun-filled minutes and sent us off covered with the feeling of magic dust sprinkled magic all over our summer reading .

Just a few minutes of the program for your enjoyment:

 

ABRACADABRA!

 

If you haven’t registered yet for the Summer Reading Magic Show, call the library today!

Steve Haberman will present a magical program for children of all ages on Thursday, June 9th  from 6:45 to 7:30PM. .

You can watch a few minutes of one of his performances at http://www.schoolshows-r-us.com/school_show_r_us_website_019.htm

It’s going to be a wonderful event…see you there!

Oh, We are Going to Have Fun!

The Monday morning Busy Bees program is filled! There are still spots available for Thursday afternoons. The Terrific Tigers groups are filling as well. Both of the World Travelers groups, the program for 9 to 12 year olds , have plenty of openings. I really have a lot of interesting books and neat activities planned for this group…take a chance and spend an hour with me each week!

 

If you are planning to attend, please be sure to register at the library BEFORE THE FIRST PROGRAM. I will make a decision about the viability of a program at the end of next week and post any changes here.

Enjoy the weekend!