Spring Storytime Week 3: Big and Little

This week's theme, Big and Little, was inspired by an adorable book I just discovered, "Ernest, the Moose That Doesn't Fit".

This Week's Books:
Ernest, the Moose that Doesn't Fit, by Catherine Raynor
Little Gorilla, by Ruth Bornstein
Estelle and Lucy, by Anna Alter
Titch, by Pat Hutchins
I'm the Biggest Thing in the Ocean, by Kevin Sherry
A Very Big Bunny, by Marisabina Russo
Never Too Little to Love, by Jeanne Willis and Jan Fearnley
Wee Little Chick, by Lauren Thompson, ill. by John Butler

This Week's Music:
Bigger isn't Better, from Barnum, by Broadway Kids
I Wonder If I'm Growing, by Raffi
The Littlest Birds, by the Be Good Tanyas
Little Things, by Tony Bennett and Elmo

This Week's Action Rhymes:
Itsy Bitsy Spider

Five Little Peas

This is big, big, big
This is small, small, small
This is short, short, short
This is tall, tall, tall
This is fast, fast, fast
This is slow, slow, slow
This is yes, yes, yes
This is no, no, no.

This Weeks Art/Craft: A big/little bead bracelet

Spring Storytime, Week 2: Dance!

Oh we all have spring fever! Makes you just want to jump, jive, and wail (in other words, DANCE)!

This Week's Books:
Barnyard Dance, by Sandra Boynton
Moondance, by Frank Asch
Elephants Cannot Dance, by Mo Willems
Dance! by Ward Schumaker
Dancing Feet, by Lindsey Craig and Marc Brown
Harriet Dancing, by Ruth Symes, ill, by Caroline Church
Down by the Cool of the Pool, by Tony Mitton, ill. by Guy Parker-Rees
Hilda Must Be Dancing, by Karma Wilson, ill, by Suzanne Watts

This Week's Music:
Boogie Shoes, by K.C. and the Sunshine Band
Jump, Jive, and Wail, by the Brian Setzer Orchestra
The Chicken Dance, by D.J.'s Choice
Hokey Pokey, traditional

This Week's Action Rhymes:
Head, Shoulders, Knees, and Toes

I clap my hands, I touch my feet,
I jump up from the ground.
I clap my hands, I touch my feet,
And turn myself around.
I clap my hands, I touch my feet,
I sit myself right down.
I clap my hands, I touch my feet,
I do not make a sound. (Shhhh…)

This Week's Art: A dancing man

A Way to Help Japan

What's going on in Japan is such a huge crisis that
we often feel helpless. Here's something to do that
is perfect for those of us who love children's books and
libraries. It's called Children's Authors &
Illustrators for Japan and you can get in the
action by participating in an auction beginning
on Monday, March 21st. Go to the link below
and you can bid on great items donated by
authors, publishers and illustrators. The money
will go to the UNICEF U.S. Fund and be put to good use helping children specifically in Japan.
Ms Eileen
(Check out the photo of this Japanese Library - makes us feel grateful for RML!)
http://kidlit4japan.wordpress.com

Spring Storytime, Week 1: Elephants

Welcome back for Spring Storytimes! This week's theme: Elephants

This Week's Books:
Sam Who Never Forgets, by Sam Rice
I Dream of an Elephant, by Ami Rubinger
Splash, by Flora McDonnell
My Cat, the Silliest Cat in the World, by Gilles Bachelet
A Sick Day for Amos McGee, by Philip and Eric Stead
The Right Number of Elephants, by Jeff Sheppard, ill. by Felicia Bond
17 Kings and 42 Elephants, by Margaret Mahy, ill. by Patricia MacCarthy

This Week's Music:
Zousan, Little Elephant, by Elizabeth Mitchell
One Elephant, by Sharon, Lois, and Bram
Baby Elephant Walk, by Sounds of the Circus

This Week's Action Rhyme:
The elephant goes like this, like that
He's terribly big and terribly fat
He has no fingers
He has no nose
But goodness gracious, what a nose!

This Week's Art/Craft: Glittery elephants
Plus, "Five Blind Mice" flannel board story

Storytime Week 5: I Can Help

This Week's Books:
I Can Help, by David Costello
Hands, by Lois Ehlert
Little Owl Lost, by Chris Haughton
Oh Daddy! by Bob Shea
No No, Jo! by Kate and Jim McMullan
Clifford's Good Deeds, by Norman Bridwell
Chickens to the Rescue, by John Himmelman
You and Me, Little Bear, by Martin Waddell, ill. by Barbara Firth

This Week's Music:
Help! by the Beatles
The Work Song, from "Cinderella", Classic Disney
I Can Help, by Mr. Saxophone

This Week's Action Rhymes:
This is the way we sweep the floor
Sweep the floor, sweep the floor
This is the way we sweep the floor
So early in the morning

This is the way fold the clothes,
This is the way we scrub the pans
(And other chores)

This Week's Art/Craft: Helping Hand bouquets, plus help Ms. Patty and Ms. Eileen with our Spring display

And "The Little Red Hen" flannel board story.

Blog Contest Winner Announced!

Congratulations to Audrey & Maria Skorski of Marlborough! They win a copy of the book of their choice from any of the ones we reviewed in January on the blog. So keep reading, keep posting and thanks!

Ms Patty & Ms Eileen