The First Snow

Today as storytime ended at 1:45, the kids and I emerged from the storytime room to see falling SNOW! Of all things! In October! To mark the occasion, I present two books. In "The First Snow, written and beautifully illustrated by David Christiana, Mother Nature is a little girl who loves summer, but is soon charmed by Winter with the first snowfall. The similarly named "First Snow" by Bernette Ford has charming soft illustrations by Sebastien Braun and features adorable bunnies as they explore the first snowy night of winter.

It's fun to have a first snow, but let's hope our second snow doesn't come til after Thanksgiving.

Owls! Storytime Week 5

This Week's Music:
Owl Song, by The Bossy Frog Band
How an Owl Says Howdidoo, by Jim Stolz
Return to Pooh Corner, by Kenny Loggins

This Week's Books:
Owl Babies, by Martin Waddell
I'm Not Cute, by Jonathan Allen
Owliver, by Robert Kraus, ill. by Jose Aruego and Ariane Dewey
Good Night Owl! by Pat Hutchins
Olivia Owl, by Maurice Pledger
Whoo-oo Is It? by Megan McDonald, ill. by S.D. Schindler
Who Hoots? by Katie Davis
The Owl Who Was Afraid of the Dark, by Jill Tomlinson, ill. Paul Howard

This Week's Action Rhymes:
1 There's a wide eyed owl with a pointed nose,
Two pointed ears, and claws for toes.
He lives in a tree and when he looks at you
He flaps his wings and he says "Whoo Whoo!"

2 To whit, to whoo, he stares right through
whatever he looks at, maybe YOU!
And so whatever else you do
Don't, ever, ever, be a mouse
Or if you are, stay in your house!

3 Whooo, said the owl in the dark old tree
Whee, said the wind with a howl, wheeee
Whoo-hoo, whee-whee
They didn't scare each other,
But they sure scared ME!

This Week's Art: A Paper Plate Owl
This is the last storytime for this session. Don't forget to sign-up for Session II.

New Stuff

The Sally books are here! I mentioned Stephen Huneck's "Sally" books a bit earlier on this blog and, happily, we now have a full compliment of Sally books, including "Sally Goes to the Vet", and "Sally Goes to the Farm". They all have the wonderfully beautiful wood-cut illustrations along with a sweet, funny story of Sally the Labrador Retriever's adventures.

Also new in the library, several Halloween themed items including a Kidz Bop CD of Halloween tunes, the creative Lois Ehlert's collage-illustrated "Boo to You!" picture book, and the newest monster book by Ed Emberly, creator of the classic "Go Away Big, Green, Monster". The new one is called "There Was an Old Monster". As always, if these items are currently out to another patron, you can put a "Hold" on them and we'll call you when they come in.

Mittens, we need Mittens

It's getting chilly and we here at the library have been thinking about mittens. We have an idea and you can help us.

First, we need your SINGLE mittens, y'know, ones that have lost their pairs. We will be putting up a bulletin board display with them at the beginning of November.

Second, if you have mittens or gloves that are too small we will happily collect them and donate them to a local charity.

So as you get out your cold weather gear keep us in mind. (There will be two boxes in Ms. Eileen's office where you can put PAIRS and SINGLES.) Thanks.

Whoo Whoo Who Whoo!

Both Ms. Eileen and Ms. Patty are talking about owls these days. Today Ms. Eileen's storytime kids made very beautiful owls out of just circles, ovals, and triangles and read books such as "I'm Not Cute" by Jonathan Allen, and "Owliver" by Robert Krauss. Ms. Patty's kids will be up to some owl-y fun next Thursday and the following Monday. So, in honor of our feathered friends, we thought you might appreciate this link to the Owlcam which highlights several seasons in the life of a pair of Barred Owls and their family in Eastern Massachusetts. It's fascinating.

Pie! Storytime Week 4

Today's Music:
Making Pie, by Kira Willey
Peggy's Pie Parlor Polka, by Ralph's World
Shoo Fly Pie, traditional, by Andrew and Polly

This Week's Books:
The Apple Pie Tree, by Zoe Hall, ill. by Shari Halpern
Pie in the Sky, by Lois Ehlert
All for Pie and Pie for All, by David Martin, ill. by Valeri Gorbachev
The Apple Pie that Papa Baked, by Lauren Thompson, ill. by Jonathan Bean
A Apple Pie, by Kate Greenway
Blueberry Mouse, by Alice Low
Where is the Apple Pie, by Valeri Gorbachev

Today's Action Rhymes:
I see an apple, big and round
It falls from the tree onto the ground
I pick up and wash it and cut it in two
Half for me, and half for you.

Five little pumpkins sitting on the ground The first one said, "I'm big, orange and round!" The second one said, "I'm fresh off the vine!" The third one said, "I taste divine!" The fourth one said, "I'm ready to be tasted!" The fifth one said, "Bake my seeds so they're not wasted!" Someone from the kitchen picked them up and we know why.... The five little pumpkins all became Pumpkin Pie.

Blueberry, blueberry, blueberry pie
If I don't get some, I think I'm going to cry
You can take away the grass
You can take the sky
But don't take away my blueberry pie!

Today's Craft: Pie Playdough!

Kevin Henkes

Kevin Henkes is one of those rare childrens book authors whose picture books can take your child from diapers to first grade. From Kitten's First Full Moon to Lilly's Purple Plastic Purse, his books are beautifully illustrated, and often poignant. The books for older kids have lovely stories of being brave, and being yourself and his books for younger kids are sweet and beautiful. We have 29 items by Kevin Henkes in the library, so check one out today.

Snakes! Storytime Week 3

This Week's Music:
Don't Ever Step On a Snake, by Don Spencer
Sammy the Snake, by Sesame Street
Spiders and Snakes, by Jim Stafford

This Week's Books:
Hide and Snake, by Keith Baker
Mouse Count, by Ellen Stoll Walsh
Help! by Holly Keller
I Need a Snake, by Lynne Jonell, ill. by Petra Mathers
Crictor, by Tomi Ungerer
Slithery Jake, by Rose-Marie Provencher, ill. by Abby Carter

This Week's Action Rhymes:
I'm going to slither like a rattlesnake Over the rocks and under the tree I'm going to slither like a rattlesnake And see what a rattlesnake sees! (Cha-cha-cha!)

Here comes a bright green garden snake Making the grass shiver and shake He raises his head, and looks around Then slithers away to his hole in the ground.

Plus a beaded snake craft and a rattlesnake sing-a-long. Ssssssssssee you there!

Orange Pear Apple Bear

Ms. Eileen's storytimers had a fun morning talking about apples and, taking a cue from Emily Gravett's "Orange Pear Apple Bear", the kids made their own Blue Cat Apple Hat stories. She provided cut outs of cats, apples, and hats, plus colors, and asked the kids to make a collage and tell their own story based on the words. Ms. Eileen tells us that this fun (and educational) activity will work seasonally using words such as: Ghost Leaf Orange Pumpkin White Witch Black Cat Spider Newt, combined with rhyming words like Cat and Hat, or Bear and Pear. Have fun. And check out "Orange Pear Apple Bear". Beautifully illustrated and destined to become a classic.

Stephen Huneck's "Sally"

I grew up with Labrador Retrievers and love them, so imagine my delight when I happened upon Stephen Huneck's "Sally" books. In this series of brilliantly illustrated books, Sally the lab takes us through her day and adventures. I shared "Sally Goes to the Beach" at storytime this week and we all loved it. Sadly, that is the only Sally book in our collection...but hopefully not for long.