Peter McCarty

A new book in the library has captured my heart! "Henry in Love", by Peter McCarty is illustrated with such adorable characters that you'll want stuffed animal versions of each one. When Henry meets Chloe suddenly a field of flowers blooms around her. It's the perfect visual analogy of love at first sight. Henry then woos Chloe in a child-appropriate way. It's delightful.

Ms. Eileen and I are both big fans of Peter McCarty and his other books. "Hondo and Fabian" makes regular appearances at storytime with it's light, lovely illustrations and simple story of a cat and dog who are friends, share some things and have some separate interests, but come together at the end of the day. In "Moonplane", a boy takes a flight of imagination illustrated with McCarty's classic, elegant, gorgeous drawings. "Jeremy Draws a Monster", more colorful and plot-driven, is funny and sweet. In fact, I highly recommend all of Peter McCarty's books. We have several at the library so check them out.

Storytime Week Three: Eggs

This Week's Books:
Good Egg, by Barney Saltzberg
Mrs. Hen's Big Surprise, by Christel Desmoinaux
The Big Egg, by Molly Coxe Flap Your Wings, by P.D. Eastman
An Egg is Quiet, by Dianna Aston and Sylvia Long
The Egg, by Gallimard Jeunesse, ill, by Rene Mettler
Eggday, by Joyce Dunbar, ill. by Jane Cabrera
Webster J. Duck, by Martin Waddell, ill, by David Parkins

This Week's Music:
Cooking Breakfast for the Ones I Love, by Maria Muldaur
Eggs, by Tessarose
Have You Seen My Egg? by Tom Knight

This Week's Action Rhymes:
I'm a little chickie, ready to hatch
Pecking at my egg, scratch, scratch, scratch
When I crack it open, out I peep
Fluff up my feathers
Cheep, cheep, cheep!

Five eggs and five eggs that makes ten
Sitting on top is Mother Hen
Cackle, cackle cackle! Now what do I see?
Ten little chickens as cute as can be!

This Week's Art: Foil-dyed eggs

Fridays with Ms. Eileen

Ms. Eileen read books about robins today, including the very elaborately and beautifully illustrated new book by Jan Brett, "The Easter Egg". The kids made robins' eggs with glue, glitter, and tissue paper...always a recipe for fun and creativity! On a side note, a lot of kids came to storytime today with crazy hair for Crazy Hair Day at school. It made Ms. Eileen, Ms. Linda, and I think that we should have a crazy hair day at the library! Wouldn't that be funny!

(As a reminder, there is no storytime next Friday because the library is closed for Good Friday.)

Disney Music

I was viewing my nephew's blog this morning (he's an incredible artist/illustrator) (yes, I'm proud) and he had posted a quick sketch of one of his favorite Disney villains, Ursula from The Little Mermaid. It had me singing Pat Carrolls' (who voiced Ursula in the movie) version of "Poor Unfortunate Souls" all morning. This reminded me that we have all 5 volumes of Classic Disney tunes on CD in the children's department with every song you can imagine from every Disney movie ever. We're talking some really great music, much of it perfect for singing along. Check 'em out! And by the way, if you have any requests for CDs to add to our collection, let me know

Storytime Week 2: Relax, Take it Easy

No one knows how to stop and smell the roses like our children. This week's storytime theme is, perhaps, more of an encouragement to us, the grown-ups, to slow down a bit.

This Week's Books:
Hello, My Name is Bob, by Linas Alsenas
The Story of Ferdinand, by Monro Leaf, ill. by Robert Lawson
Hi, Harry! by Martin Waddell, ill. by Barbara Firth
Let's Do Nothing, by Tony Fucile
Slowly, Slowly, Said the Sloth, by Eric Carle
A Bear and His Boy, by Sean Bryan, ill. by Tom Murphy
Peaceful Piggy Meditation, by Kerry Lee MacLean

This Week's Songs:
59th Street Bridge Song (Feeling Groovy), by Simon and Garfunkel
Don't Worry, Be Happy, by Bobby McFerrin
Rainbow Connection, by Jason Mraz
Three Little Birdies, by Elizabeth Mitchell

This Week's Action Rhymes:
Slowly, slowly creeps the garden snail
Slowly, slowly up the wooden rail
Quickly, quickly goes the little mouse
Quickly, quickly, all around the house.

Grandma's/Grandpa's glasses

This Week's Art: The relaxing art of fingerpainting
Plus a bit of yoga

First Day of Spring!

Today is the first day of Spring and what a beautiful day it is! I'm here at the library, but I hope the rest of you can enjoy the weather and maybe even take a book and a blanket and soak in the sun while you read. Here are some spring-themed book suggestions for the littlest ones.

In Mouse's First Spring by Lauren Thompson, exuberantly illustrated by Buket Erdogan, a mouse and his mother experience the delights of nature on a windy day. In Bear Wants More, by Karma Wilson, illustrated by Jane Chapman, a bear wakes up hungry and is helped to find food by all of his forest friends. Cold Little Duck Duck, by Lisa Peters, sweetly illustrated by Sam Williams, tells the story of a little duck who arrives one spring to find his pond still frozen and waits for spring to arrive. Finally, in Signs of Spring, by Justine Korman Fontes, illustrated by Rob Hefferan, Lucy and her friends walk to school discovering all the natural signs that spring has arrived.

Of course, there are many many more great spring themed books here at the library.

Friday with Ms. Eileen

This Friday with Ms. Eileen, features a guest storytime lady: Me, Ms. Patty! Ms. Eileen is busy with her own little ones (Nora and Charlotte) this Friday, so I'll be sitting in the rocking chair for her. She's designed a very cool craft and picked out some wonderful stories in the "Sheep" theme for us to share. Be patient with me, though, because I'm not used to doing 5 year old crafts! It should be fun and some of the books we will share include "Red Berry Wool" by Robyn Eversole, illustrated by Tim Coffey, and "Russell the Sheep" by Rob Scotton.

Storytime Session II, Week 1: Green

We'll celebrate St. Patrick's Day with Green Stories.

This Week's Books:
Where is the Green Sheep, by Mem Fox and Judy Horacek
Green Eggs and Ham, by Dr. Seuss
The Luckiest St. Patrick's Day Ever!, by Teddy Slater, ill. by Ethan Long
Small Green Snake, by Libba Gray, ill. by Holly Meade
Green as a Bean, by Karla Kuskin, ill. by Melissa Iwai
Tweedle Dee Dee, by Charlotte Voake
Colors: Green, by Sharon Gordon

This Week's Music:
Green, Green, by The New Christy Minstrels
St. Patrick's Day, by William Coulter and Friends
Green Grass Grew All Around, by Pete Seeger

This Week's Action Rhymes:
Five Little Pea Pods
Green Grass Grew All Around

This Week's Art: Marble-painted shamrocks
Plus Five Green and Speckled Frogs flannel board

March Birthdays

Three of our favorite storytime book authors celebrate March birthdays.

Dr. Seuss, the icon whose birthday is regularly celebrated in schools and libraries, was born on March 2 (as Theodore Geisel, of course). My favorite Dr. Seuss books? "Mr Brown Can Moo, Can You?", "Green Eggs and Ham", and "And To Think That I Saw It On Mulberry Street". Mem Fox, author of one of my all-time favorites, "Where is the Green Sheep", as well as many other classics including "Wombat Divine", and "Shoes from Grandpa", celebrates her birthday on March 5.
Finally, Ezra Jack Keats, renowned and ground-breaking author of "The Snowy Day", "Whistle for Willie", and "Peter's Chair", was born on March 11.

The works of all three of these superlative authors are regularly shared in our storytimes. (In fact, I'll be sharing one Dr. Seuss and one Mem Fox book next week! Purely coincidentally, by the way.) Happy Birthday!

The First Singing Robin

This morning I saw and, importantly, heard a robin. (For those who wonder what a robin sounds like, HERE is a link.) This means spring has arrived or, at the very least, is just about to knock on the door.

I did some research because I know that robins are sometimes seen in the winter, so how exactly are they a sign of spring. What I found out is that robins do "wander" in the winter in search of food and may be seen here and there in the frozen north during the winter months. However, a robin will only sing when he/she is in home territory. In other words, a wandering robin in search of food won't sing, only the robin that has decided to stick around will give us his/her song. The first robin of spring is celebrated in Anne Rockwell's aptly named "My Spring Robin." It's an older book, but I love it's sweet, simple story and illustrations and share it at least once a year during storytime.

Not so coincidentally, Ms. Eileen's storytime theme last Friday was 'Wake-Up, It's Spring!" The adorable bears that the children made 5 weeks ago (and that were hibernating at their homes) are now dancing along the bulletin board in the childrens' section of the library to celebrate. Come see them, they are adorable.

A Book to Take Your Breath Away

"All the World", by Liz Garton Scanlon and Marla Frazee has just arrived in our library and, wow, is it a book that will take your breath away. Large, expansive, emotional, simple, and award-winningly illustrated; it's just the kind of book that you want to read each night. In many ways it reminds me of a guided imagery exercise, one that would help you relax and center yourself. No plot or characters, but sometimes a book doesn't need those things to be exceptional. I love it.

Storytime Week 5: A Colorful Day

This Week's Books:
My Many Colored Days, by Dr. Seuss
Mouse Paint, by Ellen Stoll
Windows to Color, by Julie Aiguer-Clark
Cat's Colors, by Jane Cabrera
My Color Book, by Patty Barber
Birds, by Kevin Henkes
White is for Blueberries, by George Shannon
Maisy's Rainbow Dreams, by Lucy Cousins
Color Zoo, Color Far, by Lois Ehlert

This Week's Music:
Des Colores, by Raffi
Sing a Rainbow, by the Wiggleworms
It's Not Easy Being Green, by Kermit and Tony Bennett

This Week's Action Rhymes:
Blue is the lake, yellow is the sun Silver are the stars when the day is done Red is the apple, green is the tree Brown is a cookie for you and me

If your clothes have any red, Put your finger on your head.
If your clothes have any blue, Put your finger on your shoe,
If your clothes have any green, Wave your hand so that you're seen.
If your clothes have any yellow, Smile like a happy fellow,
If your clothes have any brown, Turn your smile into a frown,
If your clothes have any black, Put your hands behind your back.
If your clothes have any white, Stamp your feet with all your might

This Week's Art/Craft: Playdough! (click here for the recipe)
Plus a flannel board game

Snapshot Day

A few weeks ago we spent a day or so taking pictures around the library. HERE is a link to a short slide show. We will also be putting some of the photos taken that day up at the library website (richmondlibrary.info). See anyone you know?