Balls Baby Laptime - July 14, 2011

This week we talked about balls!

Our Baby Laptime Lineup included:
Song - Baby Hop from Diaper Gym
Flannel - A Little Ball
Book - The Ball Bounced by Nancy Tafuri
Rhyme - Up the Railroad Track
Song -This Is The Way the Ladies Ride from Songs for Wiggleworms
Book - Maggie's Ball by Lindsey Barrett George
Flannel Story - Where Is Baby's Ball? from the book by Karen Katz
Song - Walking Old Joe from Songs for Wiggleworms

Song - Skinnamarink from Great Big Hits by Sharon, Lois, and Bram

Up the Railroad Track

(adapted from Brain Games for Babies, Toddlers, and Twos by Jackie Silberg)
Choo choo choo choo,
Up the railroad track.
Choo choo choo choo,
Then we'll come right back.

First we'll go to Megan's house,
And then we'll go to Sarah's house,
Then we'll go to Elisa's house,
And then we'll come right back.

Choo choo choo choo,
Up the railroad track.
Choo choo choo choo,
Then we'll come right back.

Dogs Storytimes - Week of July 11, 2011

This week we talked about dogs at storytime!

Our Toddler Storytime lineup included:
Song - Fingerpopping from Preschool Aerobic Fun
Introduction to the letter D for Dog
Book - Please, Puppy, Please by Spike Lee and Tanya Lewis Lee
Flannel Story - Come Back, Puppies
Song - Jumping and Counting from Jim Gill's Irrational Anthem
Book - Maggie's Ball by Jessica Barret George
Song with props - Storytime Dogs (dogs on sticks)
Song - Happy and You Know It from Songs for Wiggleworms
Puppet Story - Why Dogs Chase Cats

Our Preschool Storytime linup included:
Song - Walking, Walking from Songs For Wiggleworms
Introduction to the letter D for Dog
Flannel Story - All the Lassies
Song - Drive the Firetruck from Songs for Wiggleworms
Book - Don't Lick the Dog by Wendy Wahman
Song with props - The Storytime Dogs (dogs on sticks)
Story - The Pigeon Wants a Puppy by Mo Willems
Puppet Story - Why Dogs Chase Cats

Our Ready to Read Skill: Print Awareness (Using Books)

Print Awareness means noticing print, knowing how to handle a book and knowing how to follow the words on a page. Some great ways to practice this skill with your child include letting your child hold the book and showing them which way to turn the page, using your finger to follow along with the text on the page, and pointing out words and letters on signs when you are out and about. Books we used this week that highlight the use of text are Maggie's Ball, where the shape of the text mimics the ball's movements, and The Pigeon Wants a Puppy, which uses bubbles to show all of the pigeon's dialogue. If you are worried that your child is too young to use books without tearing the pages, try using cloth or board books that are more durable. Don't forget that the library has books that are sturdy enough for all ages!

Babies Themed Baby Laptime - July 7, 2011

This week we talked about babies!

Our Baby Laptime Lineup included:
Song - Baby Hop from Diaper Gym
Book - The Big Book of Beautiful Babies by David Ellwood
Rhyme - Up the Railroad Track
Song - Little Red Wagon from Songs for Wiggleworms
Book - Ten Tiny Tickles by Karen Katz
Rhyme - Here Are Baby's Fingers
Flannel Story - Five Little Babies Jumping on the Bed
Song -This Is The Way the Ladies Ride from Songs for Wiggleworms
Book - You and Me, Baby by Lynn Reiser
Rhyme - One I Love You, Two I Love You
Song - Skinnamarink from Great Big Hits by Sharon, Lois, and Bram

Rhymes:

Up the Railroad Track
(adapted from Brain Games for Babies, Toddlers, and Twos by Jackie Silberg)
Choo choo choo choo,
Up the railroad track.
Choo choo choo choo,
Then we'll come right back.

First we'll go to Megan's house,
And then we'll go to Sarah's house,
Then we'll go to Elisa's house,
And then we'll come right back.

Choo choo choo choo,
Up the railroad track.
Choo choo choo choo,
Then we'll come right back.

Here Are Baby's Fingers
Here are baby's fingers.
Here are baby's toes.
Here is baby's belly button,
Round and round it goes.

Here are baby's elbows.
Here are baby's knees.
Here is baby's chin,
Tickle if you please.

One I Love You
One I love you, two I love you,
Three I love you so.
Four I love you, five I love you,
Rock you to and fro.
Six I love you, seven I love you,
Eight you love me too.
Nine I love you, ten I love you,
You're my bouncing buckaroo!

Tools Storytimes - Week of July 4, 2011

This week at storytime we talked about tools!

Our Toddler Storytime Lineup included:
Song - Fingerpopping from Preschool Aerobic Fun
Introduction to the letter H for Hammer
Tool Belt
Book -Tap Tap Bang Bang by Emma Garcia
Action Rhyme - Pound Pound Pound
Song - Little Red Wagon from Songs for Wiggleworms
Book -Building a House by Byron Barton
Flannel- Old MacDonald Built a House
Book - Tip Tip Dig Dig by Emma Garcia
Song - Happy and You Know It from Songs for Wiggleworms

Our Preschool Storytime Lineup included:

Introduction to the letter H for hammer
Paddington Bear's Tool Belt
Book -Tools by taro Miura
Flannel- Old MacDonald Built a House
Book -I Love Tools by Philemon Sturges
Action Rhyme - Baking Tools
Prop Story - Growing Vegetable Soup from the book by Lois Ehlert


Ready to Read Skill: Words (Vocabulary)
Vocabulary means knowing the names of things. Knowing many words will help your child recognize written words and understand what he or she reads. Some great ways to work on this skill include talking to your child about what is going on around you, speaking clearly and using short sentences, and pointing out pictures in books when you say certain words. All the books we looked at this week that are great for building vocabulary- not only the names of the tools, but also the actions they require.