Fall Storytime Week 5: Apples and Pumpkins

We'll end Session I of our fall storytimes with that classic fall theme: Apples and Pumpkins.

This Week's Books:
Spot's Harvest, by Eric Hill
Dappled Apples, by Jan Carr, ill. by Dorothy Donohue
Piggies in the Pumpkin Patch, by Mary Peterson and Jennifer Rofe
Apple Farmer Annie, by Monica Wellington
Red Are the Apples, by M. Harshman, C. Ryan, ill. by W. Zahares
The Pumpkin Path, by Elizabeth King

This Week's Songs:
Apple Tree, by Justin Roberts
Pick a Bag of Apples, by Liz Buchanan
Apples and Bananas, by Raffi

This Week's Action Rhymes:
Five little pumpkins sitting on a gate
The first one said, "oh my it's getting late"
The second one said, "we don't care"
The third one said, "there are leaves in the air"
The fourth one said, "I'm ready for some fun"
The fifth one said, "Let's run and run"
Whoosh went the wind
Out went the light
And the five little pumpkins rolled out of sight.

This Week's Craft: Apple Printing

Fall Storytime Week 4: In the Kitchen

We've been to the woods and the farm with our new storytime friends, so now let's head into the kitchen!

This Week's Books:
Apple Pie ABC, by Alison Murray
In the Night Kitchen, by Maurice Sendak
All for Pie, Pie for All, by David Martin, ill. by Valeri Gorbachev
Mouse at Night, by Nancy Hall, ill. by Buket Erdogan
Meeow and the Pots and Pans, by Sebastien Braun
Cows in the Kitchen, by June Crebbin, ill, by Katharine McEwen
Dancin in the Kitchen, by W. Gelsanliter, F. Christian, ill. by M. Priceman

This Week's Music:
Cooking Breakfast for the Ones We Love, by Maria Muldaur
The Cookie Bakers of the Night, by Laurie Berkner
Shoo Fly Pie, by Andrew and Polly

This Week's Action Rhymes:
Pat-a-cake, pat-a-cake
Baker's Man
Bake me a cake
As fast as you can.
Roll it and pat it (Roll and clap hands)
And mark it with a B (Trace B on palm)
And put it in the oven (extend both hands)
For baby and me (point to Baby and Self)

Two fat sausages sizzling in a pan
One went pop! And the other went bam!

Mix a pancake, stir a pancake
Pop it in a pan
Fry a pancake, toss a pancake
Catch it if you can!

This Week's Art/Craft: Playdough!

New Books Thanks to the Grange

We have an influx of wonderful new books in the children's area thanks to the generosity of the Marlborough Grange. These books help us celebrate Marlborough's rural and farming roots, just as the Grange celebrates its agriculture heritage while working to strengthen communities and families. Our local Grange has been extremely supportive of our library through the years and, as these books educate and delight, I know I speak for the entire library staff and patrons when I say "THANK YOU!!!"

Here's a sampling of some of the many fine books paid for by the Grange:

"An Edible Alphabet: 26 Reasons to Love the Farm" by Carol Watterson, ill, by Michaela Sorrentino: Facts, farm lore, games, and gorgeous illustrations make this a perfect book for your child who is always wanting to know more. Why are egg yolks yellow? How do bees and ladybugs help farmers? What about those ants? Use the book as a storybook and then read it again for all the great facts. Find this book with the children's new non-fiction, JE 630 Watterson.

"Meow Said the Cow" by Emma Dodd: Not just another farmyard sound book! A mischievous, magical cat turns the barnyard upside down and confuses the other animals when the "wrong" sound comes out of their mouths. A silly, comically-illustrated book that's fun to read, you'll find this with the new picture books, JE Dodd.

"Grandpa's Tractor" by Michael Garland: With gorgeous illustrations and a touching story, I love this picture book as a grandfather shows his grandson what used to be. The grandfather relates his memories before houses were built on the old farm and when the rusty tractor in the weeds was once the star of the farm. A treasure of a book, you'll find it with the new picture books, JE Garland.

"Jobs on a Farm" by Nancy Dickmann: I shared this lovely non-fiction book in storytimes last week and the kids loved it. With great, clear photographs and simple text, children are introduced to the many jobs on a farm from taking care of animals, to planting, to fixing buildings, and using big machines. A terrific overview of the work of farming. Find this with the new non-fiction, JE 630 Dickmann.

Fall Storytime, Week 3: Into the Woods

All of this week's stories take place in the woods.

This Week's Stories:
Animal Tracks, by Arthur Dorros
Big Bear Hug, by Nicholas Oldland
Blackberry Banquet, by Terry Pierce, ill. by Lisa Downey
Owl Babies, by Martin Waddell, ill, by Patrick Benson
Looking for a Moose, by Phyllis Root, ill. by Randy Cecil
Good Job, Little Bear, by Martin Waddell, ill. by Barbara Firth
Every Autumn Comes the Bear, by Jim Arnosky
Mama's Little Bears, by Nancy Tafuri

This Week's Music:

This Week's Action Rhymes:
Little Bunny Foo Foo

Here is our world, our big round world
Here are the mountains high
Here are the fish that swim in the sea
And here are the birds that fly
Here is the sun, the bright warm sun
And here are the leaves that fall
All in our world, our big round world
Go explore and see it all!

This Week's Art: A woodland picture with sponge brushes
Plus a flannel board game