On the Farm!

Who doesn't love a good old fashioned FARM storytime?! And sometimes, the easiest crafts can be the most fun. In this case, not really a craft either. Just fun rollin' the playdough!

Some of our favorite FARM stories include:
Piggies in the Pumpkin Patch - Mary Peterson
Sally Goes to the Farm - Stephen Huneck
Farmer Brown Goes Round and Round - Teri Sloat
The Cow Loves Cookies - Karma Wilson
The Big Red Barn - Margaret Wise Brown
Piglets Belong to Pigs - Scholastic Rookie Preschool
Old MacDonald Had a Woodshop - Lisa Shulman
Barn Dance - Bill Martin 

Yes, the tractors got stuck in the 'mud' and some animals needed to be put behind a fence. But we also saw a snake farm, had an entirely green farm, and witnessed alot of sharing.

And had to do my favorite farm song of course:

All Around the Barnyard

All around the barnyard, the animals are fast asleep (kids pretend to sleep)
Sleeping cows and horses, sleeping pigs and sheep. (you can snore, etc)
But here comes that cocky rooster, to sound his daily alarm...
"Cock-a-doodle-doo!" Wake up sleepy farm! (act like a rooster and yell really loud so they all wake up!)

Awesome New Books!

Ms. Eileen must have been very busy reading reviews, journals, and children lit blogs, because she has ordered a bumper crop of new picture books for the library (Like the harvest time reference?)  The other day a big order came in and we were beside ourselves with giggles, and "check this out!", and "Oh, so pretty!", and so forth.  Here are some of those that we can't wait to get into the hands of young readers and their families:

"Crankee Doodle", by Tom Angelberger:
Those familiar with Tom Angelberger's work on the "Origami Yoda" series will recognize the author's quick wit.  This book is silly in the best way possible, with the perfect illustrations by Cece Bell.  Crankee Doodle feels too bored and too grumpy to go into town which he feels is too noisy, people are ringing bells and eating pies, for goodness sakes.  But his cheerful pony won't give up; "you could buy a hat!",  he suggests.  The book ends with a historical note on the familiar, nonsensical song. 
 
"Tap the Magic Tree", by Christie Matheson:
You know a book is good when Ms. Eileen and I design an entire storytime around it!  This interactive book takes the reader on a journey through the year of a tree with bright, simple, and cheerful illustrations.  We think kids will love it and enjoy interacting with the story.  It's like the classic "Pat the Bunny" for the next generation.



"Fall Ball" by Peter McCarty:

We are big fans of Peter McCarty's illustrations here at the library; his "Hondo and Fabian" is a storytime regular and "Henry is Love" was one of my favorites of 2012.  "Fall Ball", is a story of playing outside on a fall afternoon that will resonate with children and their parents.  While looking through it I was immediately taken back to my own childhood and those wonderful days when the air is cool, the sun is warm, and being with your friends in your own backyard is like heaven on earth.   

 

Our Top 10 Picks for Halloween!

I am officially in the Halloween mood today! So I thought I would share a list of what Ms Patty and I consider some of the very best choices for Halloween that we have at RML. Maybe after this, you will be in the Halloween mood too! (You know the kiddies already are!)

1. Janet Schulman's cute counting book is perfect for us in storytime, and who can resist the adorable circle-headed trick or treaters?

2. I have a soft spot in my heart for anything Ed Emberley ever did or will do. This is a favorite. Check out his website for some Halloween fun:

Ed Emberley's Website

3. We both love Scaredy Squirrel. Here's his newest offering - more of a safety guide than a story, but fun to share with the kids or just let them pour over. Check out the link below for a video of Scaredy and his Halloween Safety Public Service Announcement. 

Just to be safe.

Scaredy's Halloween Safety PSA

4. I am also a big fan of Wendell Minor, and Pumpkin Heads! is always perfect for the season. This is one I own at home and must break out with the girls every October. (FYI -There's a great Christmas tree one too!) Really beautiful illustrations.

5. hist whist is a poem by e.e. cummings that I LOVE for Halloween. Unfortunately, our picture book copy at RML has either disappeared or fallen apart over the years, and is no longer in print. However, you can check out our friend Mary Jo Maichack's CD, Howlarious Halloween, and listen to her read the eerily fabulous poem. Or go here to listen:

cdbaby

6. When I asked Ms Patty for her recommendations over the phone, she practically read me this whole book. I think she really likes it! It has lyrical writing and beautiful illustrations and was originally written in 1949. Good stuff stands the test of time.

7. I try to read this one in storytime every year. It's got goblins and creepies that try to grab your tootsies! Got the willies yet?

8. This one isn't necessarily a Halloween story, but I always think of it this time of year. It's super cute for really little ones because it's just 2 girls at their costume birthday party who happen to look almost exactly alike. A Pat Hutchins classic.

9. What can I say? I'm a child of the 70s.
Here's a link to some interesting facts about the animated TV special:
7 Things You Don't Know About the Peanuts Special 

10. If you don't read or hear these stories as a child, your parents and librarians are doing you a grave disservice. Really. Ms Patty made me stop telling the Jennie with the Green Ribbon story because I told it too much. THIS is Halloween, people.

And there you have it. Up for discussion, but these are some of our very favorite Halloween stories. What are yours?

Whoooo's in Storytime?

Ms Patty was just DYING to do an owl storytime. Whoooo am I to argue when we get to read a storybook like this:

 Yes, the little owl falls out of his nest, only to eventually be reunited with his mother with help from a purple squirrel and a band of other kooky characters. It just doesn't get better than this.

Here's some of the kiddos with their handprint owls:

Storytime Update!

I wanted to share what Ms Patty and I have been doing in storytime for the past 2 weeks! We kicked off Session I with a bit of a mish-mash. We wanted to welcome our storytime friends back, but we also wanted them to help us create this display board as the Library transitioned from Summer Reading to Autumn:

 So we ended up having them create these cute "leaf friends" with faces - yes, we can stretch a theme like nobody's business.

For the second week, we went with the tried and true Apple Storytime. Ms Patty loves Apple Farmer Annie by Monica Wellington (for the adorable girl with her own business!) and I always enjoy All for Pie and Pie for All by David Martin.

 We found a cute craft on Pinterest by the blog, Sturdy for Common Things - thanks! It was a little difficult to do with multiple kids who needed help lacing, etc but we let them do the best they could and either staple or fix what wasn't attached. They loved the smell that filled the air!
Apple Pie Craft

 And of course we had to bust out the apple flannel board and play "Hide the Wormy". A few versions of that piece-o-flannel worm have walked away because the kids just think he's so darn cute!

 Action Rhymes:
Way up high, in a tree
Two red apples smiled at me
So I shook that tree as hard as I could-
Down came the apples - yum, they were good!

I see an apple red and round
It fell from a tree, on to the ground.
Pick it up
Wash it
Cut it in two
Half for me
and half for you!

Ms Patty also has a great "Apple" CD to have on in the background during the craft - I still can't get "I like to eat, eat, eat, a-pples and ba-nay-nays"  out of my head...

New Picture Books We Love!

If you've ever come in the Library when Ms Patty and I have just received a UPS shipment of new books, you have seen that we look a lot like children on Christmas morning. This is definitely one of the most exciting times of the day.
Here's a look at some of the latest picture books we've ordered for RML - come find them and see for yourself!

 

Mr. Tiger Goes Wild by Peter Brown

Ms Patty and I drooled over the artwork on this one. I adore Peter Brown - I have a poster he signed for my daughters hanging in their room of one of my favorites, Children Make Terrible Pets.

You can read more about this one at the book blog, Seven Impossible Things Before Breakfast - follow the link below.

Seven Impossible Things Debuts Mr. Tiger Goes Wild

You can also get a free downloadalbe poster of Brown's book, The Curious Garden at his website:

 

Free Downloadable Curious Garden Poster

 This adorable illustration is from the new picture book by Hope Vestergaard and David Slonim, called Digger Dozer Dumper. If you have a mini truck fan in your house, this collection of 16 rhyming poems is needed in your house! And just to drive you moms more crazy, here's link to a YouTube video with the most annoying music, that your child is sure to love:

 YouTube Does Diggers Dozers and Dump Trucks

 

 Next up, totally awesome book by debut author Courtney Dicmas. Harold Finds A Voice is about a flashy red parrot looking for his own distinct sound. This one is all about the adorable bird and gorgeous illustrations. Check out the animated book trailer below:

'Harold' Book Trailer

 

 Locomotive by Brian Floca

And finally, something that is called a non-fiction picture book because it is chock-full of information, following a steam-powered train as it crosses to the West in 1869. It's more than the train though - it's also about the passengers and the journey. I'm stressing about where to put this one, but I think Non-Fiction is going to win. See the whole review by Kirkus in the link below:
“Nothing short of spectacular, just like the journey it describes.” — Kirkus Reviews (starred review)

Kirkus reviews Locomotive 

Continuing Gnome Adventures...

Ms Patty and I are so glad that everyone had such fun with our Traveling Gnomes this Summer! The Summer Reading decorations may have come down, but 2 of our Gnomes are not quite ready to settle down yet.

Through the wonders of Facebook, we have hooked up with the Olton Library in Solihull, England - they were willing to have one of our Gnomes come visit! They thought George the Curious Gnome would be a perfect fit, so he was shipped off last week and recently arrived in good health! (We sent him with another traveling companion because we just didn't think the postal services could handle him without an adult chaperone!) Here he is:

So stay tuned for updates on the great places that George gets to visit in the U.K.!  They are a very creative and clever bunch at the Olton Library (I hope George comes home with one of their lovely crochet creations, hint hint.)
Here are some of the characters he may encounter over the 'pond':

Check Out These New Titles at RML!

Here's a look at some of the newer books for children that have recently arrived at RML:

Elvis and the Underdogs by Jenny Lee

Fashion Fairies series by Daisy Meadows

Get Into Gear, Stilton!: (Geronimo Stilton #54)



I Survived the Japanese Tsunami, 2011 (I Survived #8) by Lauren Tarshis

Something New (Confectionately Yours #4) by Lisa Papademetriou

                                     Thing About Luck by Cynthia Kadohata

 The Watermelon Seed by Greg Pizzoli

Yoo-Hoo, Ladybug! by Mem Fox

Blog Contest Winners & Summer Pics!

Thanks to those who commented on here (and I even gave you credit for commenting on the facebook page) and won some great prize books! The winners were:

Elaine Castro & Skylar

Pam Montstream

Deb Dalton

Traci D'Amico

Things are winding down with summer reading here at RML - time to cram in those last vacations before the start of school! If you need some books to keep the kiddos busy in the car, check out our display:

This Friday we will have a drawing for all the children who completed 6 weeks of reading with the 'Dig Into Reading' program. They are automatically entered in the drawings if they have reached 480 hours in the Evanced system.

Here are some pictures from our 'Rock' programs last week. We had The Denison Pequotsepos Nature Center from Mystic come by for a great program on rocks and minerals - especially those in Connecticut. Ms Patty had the kids 'pan for gold' afterwards - believe me when I tell you she worked really hard on making that 'gold' look real! 

 Exploring things like amber, fool's gold, mica, granite, and even dinosaur poop!

Here's the prospectors looking for gems and gold:

And here's Ms Patty's relative, William Kulju, who actually made a claim at the Klondike Gold Rush! She shared some history with us (which explained her obsession with making these 'gold' nuggets above!) Notice the gold pocket watch chain:

And finally, a picture just for fun - our Director Nancy Wood's new puppy addition to her family:

LIZZIE!