Hot Dog - A Poetry Break

INTRODUCTION

So, it's baseball season again! This poem isn't necessarily about the classic American sport, but what you can :: eat :: during a ball game.... hot dogs! Yum! This poetry break requires some delectable hot dogs to eat - complete with all the trimmings! This poem would also work for a picnic session too.

POEM

Hot Dog
by Mordicai Gerstein

Dear hot dog..........................with relish and a blanket
snug as a puppy.....................of crimson ketchup.
in your bready bun,.............. .You are so fragrant,
I love you.............................. .I could
mustard..................................eat
up and down........................ ..you
your ticklish tummy,............  ..up!
and cover you up

EXTENSION

• Have the children deck out a hot dog and eat it up (it's a must!)
• Encourage the children to share what they love about hot dogs.
• For the baseball season, have the children share what they like about the sport and what they eat at a game.

BIBLIOGRAPHYY

Gerstein, Mordicai. 2011. Dear Hot Dog. Illus. by Mordicai Gerstein. NY, NY: Abrams Books for Young Readers. ISBN: 9780810997325.

Arbor Day - A Storytime Outline

In celebration of Arbor Day (April 28 or any last Friday of April),  I focused on trees for my last spring storytime. I had a great group of toddlers and a school group visit in my preschool program. We definitely had a lot of fun. Despite being a good number of books about trees, there was not many for the toddler age group. Thus, I focused also on birds.

T = Toddler Storytime
P = Preschool Storytime

BOOKS

Little Robin Redbreast: A Mother Goose Rhyme illustrated by Shari Halpern (T)
I chose this book cause it was great and simple. One little boy was super excited to see a kitty cat in the pictures!

Chicka Chicka Boom Boom written by Bill Martin Jr. and John Archambault and illus. by Lois Ehlert (T)
How can you :: not :: go wrong with this classic! One girl would say that we had to save the letters after they fell out of the coconut tree. We then had to go straight into singing the Alphabet Song.

The Busy Tree written by Jennifer Ward and illus. by Lisa Falkenstern (P)
This is a nice book about what type of animals live in a tree. The illustrations are a little dark in color so it did make it a little difficult to see small details. 

Mighty Tree written and illus. by Fick Gackenback (P)
This is a good book for the preschoolers and school kids. Trees can be used for products like paper and can be used for a Christmas tree, but it has a far more important job as being a home.

Fall is Not Easy written and illus. by Marty Kelley (P)
The children thought that this was hilarious!

SONGS & RHYMES

Open, Shut Them (T, P)
follow actions
Open, shut them
Open, shut them
Give a little clap
Open, shut them
Open, shut them
Lay them in your lap
Creep them, creep them up to your chin
Open your mouth wide, but don't put your fingers in!
Open, shut them
Open, shut them
Give a big clap
Open, shut them
Lay them in your lap.

Alphabet Song (T)
tune: Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star
A, B, C, D, E, F, G,
H, I, J, K,
L, M, N, O, P,
Q, R, S,
T, U, V,
W, X, Y, and Z.
Now I know my ABCs,
Next time won't you sing with me.

Way Up High in the Apple Tree
Way Up High in an Apple Tree
An apple smiled at me
I shook the tree as hard as I could
Down fell the apple
Mmmmm it was good

Additional verbs:
frowned, winked, laughed, blew a kiss, etc.
Inspiration source: King County Library System

Five Little Monkeys Swinging From a Tree (P)
Five little monkeys swinging from a tree (hold up five fingers and swing your arm)
Teasing Mr. Crocodile, "You can't catch me!" (but your hands to your ears like antlers!)
Along come Mr. Crocodile, (but your hands together and swim them around slowly)
As hungry as can be
And SNAP! (make your whole arms into a large crocodile mouth and snap your hands together like a big gulp!)

Four little monkeys swinging from a tree
Teasing Mr. Crocodile, "You can't catch me!"
Along comes Mr. Crocodile,
As hungry as can be
And SNAP!

Countdown to one monkey

One little monkey swinging from a tree
Teasing Mr. Crocodile, "You can't catch me!"
Along comes Mr. Crocodile,
As hunger as can be (still!)
And SNAP!
Along go Mr. Crocodile as fat as can be!

Touch Your Nose (T, P)
follow actions

Touch your nose

Touch your chin

That's the way this game begins

Touch your eyes

Touch your knees

Now pretend you're going to sneeze!

Aaachooooo!

Touch your hair

Touch one ear

Touch your two red lips right here

Touch your elbow where it ends

And that's the way this touch game ends.

FLANNEL BOARD

Way Up High in the Apple Tree (T)
I created a large tree to cover my flannel board by making a simple looking trunk and a fluffy tree canopy. For the rhyme I simply placed the number of needed apples to the tree top. While reading the rhyme I tried to promote the "one at a time / taking turns" side of fun by pointing at each toddler to get them to come up and pick and apple. It was mildly successful! The toddlers loved putting the apples back on the tree too at the end of the rhymes.

Five Little Monkeys Swinging in a Tree (P)
The children had a lot of fun doing this fun, especially during the SNAP! portion of the rhyme! I used a flannel board monkeys for this rhyme.

ACTIVITIES

Puppet Petting (T)
My library owns the Baby Birds in Nest puppet from Folkmanis. I walked around the group of toddlers so that they had an up close encounter with the birdies. Each one got to put the little heads. One precocious little girl kept on asking where the mommy bird was. It was super cute!

Eggs Shakers (T)
I pulled out the egg shakers one of my little regulars shout and jumped up. He loves the shakers!

CRAFTS

Tree Coloring Page (T)
The toddlers got another coloring page. In addition, they also had strips of green tissue paper to glue to the tree canopy. There was also a birds nest, to which I had a lot of questions about where the mommy bird was. They had to draw her in.

Miniature Trees (P)
The preschoolers got to make their own miniature tree from a toilet paper roll and construction paper. To make the green canopy stay up right all you have to do is cut two slits on either "ends" of the tube, and you just slip the paper right in. The children also got to add in a birds nest and a squirrel so that we highlighted the roll as tree=home to animals.

PICTURES

Way Up High in the Apple Tree, flannel board,
created by Dorothy WP-CC, 2012

Tree coloring page, Toddler Storytime Craft,
created by Dorothy WP-CC, 2012

Miniature Tree, Preschool Storytime Craft,
created by Dorothy WP-CC, 2012

MORE BOOKS

Leo's Tree written by Debora Pearson and illus. by Nora Hilb (T, P)
If I Were a Tree written by Dar Hosta (T, P)
A Tree for Me written by Nancy Van Laan and illus. by Sheila White Samption (P)
A Tree is Nice written by Janice May Udry and illus. by Marc Simont (P)
A Tree for Emmy written by Mary Ann Rodman and illus. by Tatjana Mai-Wyss (P)
The Apple Pie Tree written by Zoe Hall and illus. by Shari Helpern
Our Tree Named Steve written by Alan Zweibel and illus. by David Catrow (P, SA)
The Alphabet Tree written and illus. by Leo Lionni (P, SA)
Tree Ring Circus written and illus. by Adam Rex (P, SA)

Earth Day and Arbor Day

Spring has sprung. The weather is getting nice (with the few exceptions of storms). It's time that we appreciate the world we live in. Granted, we should be doing this all year long, but April 22 (Earth Day) and April 27 (Arbor Day) are the signified days to focus on the Earth and its beautiful trees.

Here are some books to look over, whether at your library (hey, think how green a library is!) or to own in your own home-library:

EARTH DAY BOOKS

• I Had a Favorite Dress written by Boni Ashburn and illus. Julia Denos
• The Curious Garden written and illus. by Peter Brown
• Biscuit's Earth Day Celebration written by Alyssa Satin Capucilli and by Back Lane Studios
• We Are Extremely Very Good Recyclers written and illus. by Lauren Child  
• Love Your World: How to Take Care of the Plants, the Animals, and the Planet written by D. K. Pulishing
• The Lorax written and illus. by Dr. Seuss
• Recycle!: A Handbook for Kids written and illus. by Gail Gibbons
• It's Earth Day! written and illus. by Mercer Mayer
• Fancy Nancy: Every Day is Earth Day written by Jane O'Connor and illus. by Preiss Glasser
• The Earth Book written and illus. by Todd Parr
• The Green Mother Goose: Saving the World One Rhyme at a Time written by Jan Peck and David Davis and illus. by Carin Berger
• Curious George Plants a Tree written and illus. by Margaret & H. A. Rey
• Compost Stew: An A to Z Recipe for the Earth written by Mary McKenna Siddals and illus. by Ashley Wolff
• Gabby and Grandma Go Green written and illus. by Monica Wellington
• Try This At Home: Planet Friendly Projects for Kids by OWL Magazine

ARBOR DAY BOOKS

• Mighty Tree written and illus. by Dick Gackenback
• Fall is Not Easy written and illus. by Marty Kelley
• Chicka Chicka Boom Boom written by Bill Martin Jr. and John Archambault and illus. by Lois Ehlert
• The Busy Tree written by Jennifer Ward and illus. by Lisa Falkenstern
• Leo's Tree written by Debora Pearson and illus. by Nora Hilb 
• If I Were a Tree written by Dar Hosta
  
• A Tree for Me written by Nancy Van Laan and illus. by Sheila White Samption
• A Tree is Nice written by Janice May Udry and illus. by Marc Simon
• A Tree for Emmy written by Mary Ann Rodman and illus. by Tatjana Mai-Wyss
• The Apple Pie Tree written by Zoe Hall and illus. by Shari Helpern
• Our Tree Named Steve written by Alan Zweibel and illus. by David Catrow 
• The Alphabet Tree written and illus. by Leo Lionni 
• Tree Ring Circus written and illus. by Adam Rex 

Which books do you share with your kids?

Pineapple - A Poetry Break

INTRODUCTION

It’s time for a funny “holiday” poetry break! April 20^th is National Upside Down Pineapple Cake Day! Yes, there is actually a day for this delectable dessert, and now I am able to pull a haiku poem from Pat Mora’s Yum! Mmmm! Que rico!: Americas’ Sproutings book! Share this poem and have a some fresh pineapples for tasting!

POEM

Pineapple

by Pat Mora

A stuff, spiky hat

on thick prickly skin, inside

hide syrupy rings.

EXTENSION

• Have the children help bake a upside down pineapple cake in the kitchen with plenty of adult supervision.
• If you have fresh pineapple for eating, have the children prep the tops for growing a new pineapple plant.
• Let the children share what they like and don’t like about the fruit.

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Mora, Pat2007. Yum! Mmmm! Que rico!: Americas’ Sproutings. Illus. by Rafael Lopez. NY, NY: Lee & Low Books, Inc. ISBN: 9781584302711.

T. Rex Tag - A Poetry Break

INTRODUCTION

Have you ever thought what dinosaurs did for fun? What games did they play? Which other dinosaurs did they play with? If they ate their friends? Yes, ate them. This poem is a lot of fun to read. Before you share the poem ask the children if they have played tag and what do you do when you do play the game. Then ask if they think dinosaurs could play tag back in the day.

 POEM

T. Rex Tag
by Robert Weinstock

I didn't mean to eat my friends,
But...Yum...I munched them all.
They came to quite delicious ends-
So tasty, sweet, and small!

I gobbled Fern eight hours ago,
And chomped Earl yesterday.
I can't recall when I ate Flo.
Now no one's left to play.

I never knew a game of tag
Alone would stink this bad.
I'm always "It"! It's such a drag,
I snarfed the friends I had.

EXTENSION

• Ask the children what they thought of the poem. Was it silly and funny?
• Have the children imagine other outdoor games dinosaurs could've played and let them share their ideas.

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Weinstock, Robert. 2010. Can You Dig It? And Other Poems. Illus. by Robert Weinstock. NY, NY: Disney-Hyperion Books. ISBN: 9781423122081.

Poetry & Rhyme - A Storytime Outline

April is National Poetry Month!

In celebration I chose to do a Poetry & Rhyme storytime theme. Even thought it probably would not have mattered much, but I had the big goal of using books that were actually poem picture books and not just nursery rhymes. This could have been a daunting task, and it was in the beginning, because you have hunt through your nonfiction 811 poetry collection and your picture book collection to find your treasure.

There are a good number of poetry picture books that can be used for storytime, and there are a good number of regular poetry books that you can share a poem or two from with the preschoolers. It all depends on your storytime group. My preschool group were on the younger side so I opted to not pull out the regular poetry books and decided to just stick with picture book format.

All in all, it was excellent!


T = Toddler Storytime
P = Preschool Storytime

BOOKS

Big is Big (and Little, Little): A Book of Contrasts written by J. Patrick Lewis and illus. by Bob Barner (T)
This book is brightly colored with big pictures of animals. The poem by known children poet J. Patrick Lewis is simple that can be read through it quickly before the toddlers move on. The toddlers do love the pictures and the animals!

Wynken, Blynken, and Nod written by Eugene W. Field and illus. by David McPhail (T)
I grew up with the poem and wanted to read it. David McPhail's illustration shows the fisherman three as sailor bunnies, and one little girl loved pointing them out!

What Does the Wind Say? written by Wendi Silvano and illus by Joan M. Delehanty (T)
This is another simple question and answer poem. The children loved the pictures and loved pretending to go peek-a-book like the moon or sway in the wind.

Sailor Moo: Cow at Sea written by Lisa Wheeler and illus. by Ponder Goembel (P)
How have you ever seen a cow on a boat at sea? This is a silly poem about a dairy cow who had aspirations of being a sailor and followed her dream. One child said cows live on a farm and in a barn and not on a boat!

Good Night Dinosaurs written by Judy Sierra and illus. by Victoria Chess (P)
This is similar to Jane Yolen's How Do Dinosaurs Say Goodnight?. I wish the pictures were bigger though.

Rain Song written by Lezlie Evans and illus. by Cynthia Jabar (P)
This was the "abstract" poem picture book as it described the sounds of a rain storm coming and going, but the children liked nonetheless, especially when they pointed out umbrellas, rain boots, cat and dog.

Ten Rosy Roses written by Even Merriam and illus. by Julia Gorton (T, P)
I used this counting poem/rhyme for our flannel board activity for both programs.

SONGS & RHYMES

Opening Rhyme: Open, Shut Them (T, P)
follow actions
Open, shut them
Open, shut them
Give a little clap
Open, shut them
Open, shut them
Lay them in your lap
Creep them, creep them up to your chin
Open your mouth wide, but don't put your fingers in!
Open, shut them
Open, shut them
Give a big clap
Open, shut them
Lay them in your lap.

Head and Shoulders (T)
follow actions
Head and shoulders, knees and toes
Knees and toes
Head and shoulders, knees and toes
knees and toes
Eyes and ears and mouth and knows
Head and shoulders, knees and toes
Knees and toes.

If You're Happy and You Know It (P)
follow actions
If you're happy and you know it
Clap your hands (clap your hands!)
If you're happy and you know it
Clap you hands (clap your hands)
If you're happy and you know it
Then your hands should surely show it
If you're happy and you know it
Clap your hands!

If you're happy and you know it
Stomp your feet (stomp you footsies!)
If you're happy and you know it
Stomp your feet (stomp!)
If you're happy and you know it
Then your feet should surely show it
If you're happy and you know it
Stomp your feet.

Continue with
"shout hooray!... then your voice should surely show it..."
"do all three (clap, stomp, hooray!)... then you should surely show it..."

Closing Rhyme: Touch Your Nose (T, P)
follow actions

Touch your nose

Touch your chin

That's the way this game begins

Touch your eyes

Touch your knees

Now pretend you're going to sneeze!

Aaachooooo!

Touch your hair

Touch one ear

Touch your two red lips right here

Touch your elbow where it ends

And that's the way this touch game ends.

FLANNEL BOARD

Ten Rosy Roses (T, P)
I created ten red roses to go with this poem. The children LOVED coming up to take a flower off the flannel board. The toddlers were super excited that more than one child took a flower at on point so we went through the poem a lot quicker!

CRAFTS

Wood Shoe Coloring Page (T)
I created a coloring page inspired by the poem Wynken, Blynken, and Nod using a wooden shoe clip art on the computer. I also drew the sail for the shoe. The toddlers got to glue on their moon and their two stars. It was just right for the age.

Sleeping D is for Dinosaur (P)
I did the classic D is for Dinosaur craft where you use an uppercase letter D as the dino body. I used the cut from the letter to make the feet (cut it in half), a circle die cut to make the head, cut out triangles for spikes and a wiggly strip for a tale. Super cute, and the kids loved him!

PICTURES

Ten Rosy Roses, flannel board,
created by Dorothy WP-CC, 2012

Wynken, Blynken, and Nod coloring page, Toddler craft
created by Dorothy WP-CC, 2012

Sleeping D is for Dinosaur, Preschool craft,
created by Dorothy WP-CC, 2012

BOOKS

Here are some more poetry books that could work for a program!
Potato Joe written and illus. by Keith Baker
The Camel's Lament written by Charles Edward Carryl and illus. by Charles Santore (T, P)
Book! written by Kristine O'Connell George and illus. by Maggie Smith (T, P)
Swirl by Swirl: Spirals of Nature written by Joyce Sidman and illus. by Beth Krommes (T, P)
All the World written by Liz Garton Scanlon and illus. by Maria Frazee (P)
The Owl and the Pussycat written by Edward Lear and illus. by Anne Wilson (P)
A City Is written by Norman Rosten and illus. by Melanie Hope Greenberg (P)
In the Sea written by David Elliot and illus. by Holly Meade (P)
Moon Bear written by Brenda Z. Guiberson and illus. by Ed Young (P)
Who Bop? written by Jonathan London and illus. by Henry Cole (P)

Bibliographies - aka - Reading Lists

Here is a running list of recommended Bibliographies (aka Reading Lists) for you to explore!

Just click on a link to find the list. Remember to check back often to see what's new!

E = Easy Picture Books
JF = Juvenile Fiction
JNF = Juvenile Nonfiction 
YAF = Young Adult Fiction
YANF = Young Adult Nonfiction

Fun Reads

• So You Like The Hunger Games? (Read Alikes) JF and YAF
• Can You Survive? (Books on Survival) - JF
• Lunar New Year Books - E
• Thankful Feasting (Thanksgiving) - E
• Cool Summer Reads - E, JF  
• Earth Day and Arbor Day - E with a little of JNF 
• New to Chapter Books - JF 
• Recommended Chapter Books for Girls - JF
• Recommended Chapter Books for Boys - JF

Award Reading Lists

• 2012 Youth Media Awards
• 2012 Texas 2x2
• 2012 Texas Bluebonnet Award
• 2010 Youth Media Awards

Decisions, Decisions - A Poetry Break

INTRODUCTION

This is an excellent poem to share on various topics like President’s Day (February 18), Thomas Jefferson’s Birthday (April 13), and Inventors Day (November 9). Today we’re celebrating Thomas Jefferson’s 269th birthday.

 

POEM

Decisions, Decisions

(Thomas Jefferson, 1801-9)

 by Susan Katz

Thomas Jefferson designed

a rope apparatus that shifted his bed

…up to the ceiling

Or down to the floor;

a two-faced clock that he could see

…inside the house

or outside the house;

a swivel chair so he could swirl

…to his right

or to his left;

a dumbwaiter that hauled his drinks

…down to the cellar

or back upstairs;

a door on a pivot that he could swing

…open to the dining room

or open to the passage;

a revolving stand so he could read

…five books

…at one time.

A cleverer man you couldn’t find,

…but somewhat unable

to make up his mind.

EXTENSION

• Share more fun facts about this founding father.
• Have the children pick facts that they like about Jefferson and have them create a list poem.

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Katz, Susan. 2012. The President’s Stuck in the Bathtub: Poems About the Presidents. Illus. by Robert Neubecker. NY, NY: Clarion Books. ISBN: 9780547182216.

EXTRA TIDBIT

Here is the footnote that accompanied this poem:

Thomas Jefferson played role in the design of many inventions, often improving upon other people’s ideas. His contributions included an octagonal house, a polygraph machine for writing several copies of a letter simultaneously, a ladder that folded up into a pole, and a wheel cipher for using secret codes (a version of which was used until World War II, nearly a century and a half later).

You've Got Mail - A Storytime Outline

It's always exciting when you get something in the mail (yes, parents, I mean the non-bill letters!). I had a small, small, small toddler storytime this week, but it didn't dampen are fun! The preschoolers liked the the program as well. They got a little distracted after small episode involving an upset child, but they really enjoyed our flannel board activity and the craft!

T = Toddler Storytime
P = Preschool Storytime

BOOKS

Dear Zoo: A Lift-the-Flap Book written and illus. by Rod Campbell (T)
This is such an adorable book! My library only had a copy of this in the board book collection, but it was just right for the toddlers that came to the program that morning!

Send It! written and illus. by Don Carter (T)
This is a very cute book that could even work for a transportation storytime or even a days of the week storytime.

Millie Waits for the Mail written and illus. by Alexander Steffensmeier (P)
Millie the cow is so funny and the kids loved the book!

The Jolly Postman Or Other People's Letters written and illus. by Janet and Allan Ahlberg (P)
This is such a creative book. This would better with school age children, however. 

SONGS & RHYMES

Opening Rhyme: Open, Shut Them (T, P)
follow actions
Open, shut them
Open, shut them
Give a little clap
Open, shut them
Open, shut them
Lay them in your lap
Creep them, creep them up to your chin
Open your mouth wide, but don't put your fingers in!
Open, shut them
Open, shut them
Give a big clap
Open, shut them
Lay them in your lap.

Six Little Valentines (T, P)
Six little Valentines were sent to my house,
The first one said, "I love you, From Mouse."

Five little Valentines in my mailbox,
The second one said, "Be mind, Love Fox."

Four little Valentines full of love,
The third one said, "You are sweet, from Dove."

Three little Valentines just for me,
The fourth one said, "Be my honey, Love Bee."

Two little Valentines mailed with care,
The fifth one said, "Here's a hug, from Bear."

The last little Valentine, from my friend Jay,
This one said, "Happy Valentine's Day!"
Source: Busy Crafting Mommy

Five Little Letters (T, P)
Five little letters lying on a try,
Mommy came in and took the first away.
Then Daddy said, "This big one is for me."
I counted them twice, now there were three.
Brother Bill asked, "Did I get any mail?"
He found one and cried, "A letter from Gail!"
My sister, Jane took the next to last,
And I ran upstairs to open it fast!
As I can't read, I'm not able to see,
Whom the last one's for, but I hope its for me!
Source: Bayviews Storytime Ideas

Closing Rhyme: Touch Your Nose (T, P)
follow actions

Touch your nose

Touch your chin

That's the way this game begins

Touch your eyes

Touch your knees

Now pretend you're going to sneeze!

Aaachooooo!

Touch your hair

Touch one ear

Touch your two red lips right here

Touch your elbow where it ends

And that's the way this touch game ends.

FLANNEL BOARD

Six Little Valentines (T, P)
See the Activity below!

ACTIVITY

Egg Shakers (T)
This has become a great weekly activity in my Toddler Storytime where we do the same thing (reach for the sky, shake it down low by our toes then knees and etc.) but the children LOVE IT!

Six Little Valentines (T, P)
I used the rhyme for inspiration for the children to interact with letters and a mailbox. I made the flannel board and handed out the letters, which came out of an amazingly cool homemade mailbox that I created. The children opened the letters to find a picture of an animal on it. I read the rhyme and the children had to bring up their envelope (which would stick to the flannel board) and place the picture in the mailbox (the paper would stick to the flannel board). The children loved it, especially the preschoolers.

CRAFT

Postcards (T, P)
What craft should you do when having fun about getting something in the mail? You have to make something that can be sent in the mail, of course! Mom-blogger Maggie from Smashed Peas and Carrots shared a template for amazing adorable postcards. They can be sent in the mail as long as you print the template out on heavy duty cardstock! Brilliant! For storytime the children tapped into their artistic side and they created their own picture for the postcard. One girl made one for her dad (who was there in storytime) and the other was for a grandma that will be sent in the mail! So cute and awesome!

PICTURES

Six Little Valentines flannel board,
created by Dorothy WP-CC, 20102

Example postcard artwork,
created by Dorothy WP-CC, 2012

Mailbox made from cereal boxes,
created by Dorothy WP-CC, 2012

MORE BOOKS

Bibkleby's Birdbath written by Andrea Perry and illus. by Roberta Angaramo (T, P)
Like Me and You written by Raffi and illus. by Lillian Hoban (T, P)
Meerkat Mail written and illus. by Emily Gravet (P)
A Letter to Amy written and illus. by Ezra Jack Keats (P)
Bunny Mail written and illus. by Rosemary Wells (P)
Tortoise Brings the Mail written by Dee Lellegard and illus. by Jillian Lund (P, SA)

Twindependent - A Poetry Break

INTRODUCTION

Today (April 10) is National Siblings Day. Some may have an older/younger brother or sister or both. Some may not. Some may be from a set of multiples. J. Patrick Lewis and Jane Yolen created a new poetry book that celebrates those who are twins. In fact, J. Patrick Lewis is a twin himself! Sometimes people think that twins are similar in many ways. That can be but, then again, it may not. This poem is about the differences between the twins. You can share this poem with other ones from books like Kristine O’Connell George’s Emma Dilemma: Big Sister Poems.

POEM

Twindependent

By J. Patrick Lewis and Jane Yolen

I am I,

I am not you.

I live apart.

Do you live, too,

With dreams and hopes

That are your own?

We will be two

When fully grown?

I want to be

an astronaut.

You want to live

Where it is hot.

I long for silence,

You for noise.

You play with dolls,

Planes are my toys.

I am I,

A thing apart,

Although we share

Our mother’s heart,

Our father’s , too,

And in our way

Our genes and all

Our DNA.

But in each

Personality

We are as one

As we can be.

EXTENSION

• Have the children who share their differences and similarities between them and their siblings. If a child is an only child have them imagine the differences and similarities that he or she would share if there was a sibling.

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Lewis, J. Patrick and Jane Yolen. 2012. Take Two!: A Celebration of Twins. Illus. by Sophie Blackall. Somerville, Mass: Candlewick Press. ISBN: 9780763637026.

There Isn't Time! - A Poetry Break

INTRODUCTION

Everyone, of all ages, would understand the concept of running out of time or just not enough time at all to anything that you really want to do. Adults know. Kids know it.

POEM

There Isn’t Time!

By Eleanor Farjeon

There isn’t time, there isn’t time

To do the things I want to do,

With all the mountain-tops to climb,

And all the woods to wander through,

And all the seas to sail upon,

And everywhere there is to go,

And all the people, every one

Who live upon the earth, to know.

There’s only time, there’s only time

To know a few, and do a few,

And then sit down and make a rhyme

About the rest I want to do.

EXTENSION

• Have the children share what they would love to do if they had all the time in the world. They can make a collage or list (regular or poetic), and present it to everyone else.

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Hopkins, Lee Bennet (sel.) 1993. It’s About Time! Illus. by Matt Novak. NY, NY: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers. ISBN: 0671785125.

Hatbox - A Poetry Break

INTRODUCTION

In my opinion Abraham Lincoln is my favorite president and has been since I was real little. Thus, I could not resist creating a poetry break for him. Plus, the poem’s subject is fascinating! This would be perfect to read for Lincoln’s birthday (February 12), President’s Day (February 18), a fun session on hats or concrete/shape poems! Make sure you have pictures of the stovepipe hat to show!

POEM

Hatbox

(Abraham Lincoln, 1861-65)

By Susan Katz

... …Abraham Lincoln wore

... …a hat as tall and skinny

.. .…as he was. More than

... …ornament for his head,

... …this president used is

... …hat instead for carrying

... …papers-his letters, bills,

... …or legal documents like

... …will. Messy fragments

... …spilled everywhere, his

... …written scraps tumbling

... …over his hair. Wasn’t it

apt-for thoughts that set the world

ablaze to be store in a stovepipe hat!

EXTENSION

• Share other concrete/shape poems with the children, and have them try out writing their own.
• Share more information about Abraham Lincoln, and have the children share what they like about the president, especially in poetic form!

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Katz, Susan. 2012. The President’s Stuck in the Bathtub: Poems About the Presidents. Illus. by Robert Neubecker. NY, NY: Clarion Books. ISBN: 9780547182216.

EXTRA TIDBIT

Here is the footnote that accompanied this poem:

To avoid losing his papers, Abraham Lincoln stuffed them into his hat. A Story is told that he once bought a new hat and forgot to answer a letter because he’d left it in his old hat. When Lincoln’s actual stovepipe hat was sent to Chicago for an exhibit of Lincoln artifacts in 1997, it was considered so valuable that it arrived no only carefully padded and crated but accompanied by an armed escort.

So You Like The Hunger Games?

I don't know about your library, but mine can't keep The Hunger Games Trilogy on the shelves for a split second! To help feed the hunger (sorry, had to do that pun!) here are are some read alikes for those who are still on the wait list for the real deal!

JUVENILE FICTION

• The City of Ember written by Jeanne DuPrau (Ember series)
• The People of Sparks, book 2
• The Prophet of Yonwood, book 3
• The Diamond of Darkhold, book 4
• Dark Life written by Kat Falls (Dark Life series)
•  Rip Tide, book 2
• Among the Hidden written by Margaret Peterson Haddix (The Shadow Children series)
• Among the Imposters, book 2
• Among the Betrayed, book 3
• Among the Barons, book 4
• Among the Brave, book 5
• Among the Enemy, book 6
• Among the Free, book 7

YOUNG ADULT FICTION 

• Enclave written by Ann Aguirre (Razorland series)
• Outpost, book 2 - coming Sept. 4, 2012
• Horde, book 3 - to be announced
• Ship Breaker written by Paolo Bacigalipi (Ship Breaker series)
• The Drowned Cities, book 2 - coming May 1, 2012
• Fahrenheit 451 written by Ray Bradbury   
• The Pedestrian written by Ray Bradbury  
• this is a short story, but is really good! Bradbury even stated once this short story leads straight to Fahrenheit 451
  
• Ender's Game written by Orson Scott Card (The Ender's Game series)
• Speaker of the Dead, book 2
• Xenocide, book 3
• Children of the Mind, book 3
• Ender's Shadow, book 4
• Shadow of Hegemon, book 5
• Shadow Puppets, book 6
• Shadows of the Giant, book 7
• A War of Gifts, book 8
• Ender in Exile, book 9
• Shadows in Flight, book 10
• Graceling written by Kristin Cashore (The Seven Kingdom Series)
• Fire, book 2
• Bitterblue, book 3 - coming May 1, 2012
• Matched written by Ally Condie (Matched Trilogy)
• Crossed, book 2
• The Maze Runner written by James Dasher (The Maze Runner Trilogy)
• The Scortch Trials, book 2
• The Death Cure, book 3
• Incarceron written by Catherine Fisher (Incarceron series)
• Sapphique, book 2
• Gone written by Michael Grant (Gone series)
• Hunger,  book 2
• Lies, book 3
• Plague, book 4
• Fear, book 5
• The Eleventh Plague written by Jeff Hirsh
  
• Epic written by Connor Kostick
• Legend written by Marie Lu
• The Declaration written by Gemma Malley (Declaration series)
• The Resistance, book 2
• The Legacy, book 3
• Delirium written by Lauren Oliver (Delirium series)
• Pandemonium, book 2
• 1984 written by George Orwell
• Divergent written by Veronica Roth
• Insurgent, book 2 - coming May 1, 2012 
• Fever Crumb written by Philip Reeve
• A Web of Air, book 2 
• Scrivener's Moon, book 3
  
• The Forest of Hands and Teeth written by Carrie Ryan (Forest of Hands and Teeth series)
• The Dead Tossed Waves, book 2
• The Dark and Hollow Places, book 3
•  Ashes, Ashes written by Jo Treggiri
• Blood Red Road written by Moira Young (Dust Lands series)
• Rebel Heart, book 2 - coming Oct. 30, 2012
• The Bar Code Tattoo written by Suzanne Weyn 
• The Bar Code Rebellion, book 2
•  Empty written by Suzanne Weyn
  

 

What are your favorite dystopian/post-apocalyptic books?

Waggle Dance - A Poetry Break

INTRODUCTION

Honeybees are amazing creatures, and Florian’s new poetry book hits all the fun facts. One of the coolest facts (other than honey is technically bee vomit… no, I’m not kidding!) is that the bees do a little jig to tell others in the hive that there is pollen to harvest.  This poem is perfect for a science/nature lesson about bees. The poem could be even paired with others from the book to talk about the cycle of flower pollination. Additionally, if you could show a video show the bees’ dance will it would be great!

  

POEM

Waggle Dance

By Douglas Florian

We dance. We prance.

            We waggle. We wiggle.

Come glance at our stance

            While we jiggle and wriggle.

Our dance round and round

            Shows where flowers are found.

And our figure eights

            Show where pollen awaits.

EXTENSION

• Have the children share what they would do if they were bees and found pollen. Would they dance too?
• Have the children describe their favorite facts about bees, and offer the option for them to write it in poetic form.

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Florian, Douglas. 2012. UnBEElievables: Honeybee poems and Paintings. Illus. by Douglas Florian. NY, NY: Beach Lane Books (Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing Division). ISBN: 9781442426528.

Questions - A Poetry Break

INTRODUCTION

When, how, and why? There are so many questions in the universe. Sometimes there are answers and sometimes there are not. Sometimes they make sense (even if there isn't an answer) and sometimes they are nonsensical. This poem is all about questions. Though the reader or listeners may not know the entire purpose of this poem, this one is still great in the fact that it begins to make you think and... question!

POEM

Questions
by Stephen Mitchell


How many inches in a year?
What makes a zero disappear?
And which is older: there or here?


How long must circles spin around?
What stars are in the lost-and-found?
Why can't a mirror make a sound?


What language is the letter Y?
Who taught the hummingbird to fly?
When you are dreaming, where am I?

EXTENSION

• After reading this poem have the children try to answer any of the questions that were presented. It will be a great display to share to see what everyone came up with (Parents' Night, anyone?!)
• Have the children come up with their own question(s) and have them write a poem about it.
• Have the children come up with their questions but then see if anyone else can help find the answers.

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Mitchell, Stephen. 2003. The Wishing Bone and Other Poems. Illus. by Tom Pohrt. Cambridge, Mass: Candlewick Press. ISBN: 0763611182.

Honeysuckle Hunting - A Poetry Break

INTRODUCTION

Did you ever have a favorite plant in your backyard or neighborhood? A plant that was edible? I had honeysuckle and mint. Sounds lovely, yes? This poem could go well with a session on flowers and as well as food. To prep for this poem reading make sure you have pictures of honeysuckle to show the children!

POEM

Honeysuckle Hunting
by Heidi Mordhorst

It could be anywhere.
We stand stock still and sniff
the green breathing of daisy, vine and leaf.

Ears pricked and noises high,
we listen for the drowsy hum
of yellow golden honey.

There, on the fence!
We'll steal it from the bees,
pluck a tiny trumpet blossom,

pinch the end with finger and thumb,
like biting the vanilla-dripping tip
of an ice-cream cone.

Slowly, slowly, draw it out-
pull the stamen through, tongue poised
to catch one crystal drop of sweetness.

EXTENSION

• Ask the children if they have a plant like a honeysuckle.
• If possible, have honeysuckle available in the room or if you could go to a park where there are some for the children to taste.
• If you were doing a flower or garden food program, have a lovely picnic with fruits and edible flowers salad. Be adventurous!

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Mordhorst, Heidi. 2005. Squeeze: Poems from a Juicy Universe. Photographs by Jesse Torrey. Honesdale, Penn: Wordsong. ISBN: 1590782925.

Can You Survive?

Inspired by recent weather events in the area and a friend and fellow blogger The Librarian's Assistant here is a list of books that are based on survival! Good luck!

FICTION

• The Pirates of Crocodile Swamp written by Jim Aronsky
• Robinson Crusoe written by Daniel Defoe
• Incident at Hawk's Hill written by Allan W. Eckert
• My Side of the Mountain written by Jean Craighead George
• Far Side of the Mountain written by Jean Craighead George
• Julie of the Wolves written by Jean Craighead George
• Tree Castle Island written by Jean Craighead George
• Wild Man Island written by Will Hobbs
• Earthquake Terror written by Peg Kehret
• The Secret Journey written by Peg Kehret
• The Zombie Chasers written by John Kloepfer (you must always have a book about zombies!)
• Shipwreck!: A Survive! Story written by Jake Maddox
• Walkabout written by James Vance Marshall
• Island of Blue Dolphins written by Scott O'Dell
• Hatchet written by Gary Paulsen
• Brian's Winter written by Gary Paulsen 
• Brian's Return written by Gary Paulsen
• The River written by Gary Paulsen
• Wild River written by P. J. Petersen
• Nation written by Terry Pratchett
• Floodland written by Marcus Sedgwick
• The Sign of the Beaver written by Elizabeth George Speare
• The Cay written by Theodore Taylor
• The Swiss Family Robinson written by Johann David Wyss

NONFICTION

• The Worse-Case Scenario Survive-o-Pedia: Junior Edition written by David Borgenicht
• Pioneering written by Boy Scouts of America (You can always rely on the Scouts!)
• Wilderness Survival written by Boy Scouts of America
• Pocket Guide to the Outdoors written by Jean Craighead George
• Survivor Kid: A Practical Guide to Wilderness Survival written by Denise Long
• Survive in the Mountains with the U.S. Rangers and Army Mountain Division written by Chris McNab

Rabbits on an Egg Hunt - A Storytime Outline

It's that time of year again! This year I tried to focus on the rabbit or bunny portion of the Easter themed storytime compared to the egg part. It worked out beautifully! The children and guardians loved it all!

T = Toddler Storytime
P = Preschool Storytime

BOOKS

What Does Bunny See? written by Linda Sue Park and illus. by Maggie Smith (T)
I love this book due the simplicity, the naming of colors, and the adorable bunny in it.

We're Rabbits! written by Lisa Westberg Peters and illus. by Jeff Mack (T)
Another great bunny book that I just discovered. Just right for Toddlers.

Minerva Louise and the Colorful Eggs written and illus. by Janet Morgan Stoeke (T)
OK, so Minerva Louise isn't a rabbit or bunny, but it's full of colors, which is love!

The Story of the Easter Bunny written by Katherine Tegan and illus. by Sally Anne Lambert (P)
I started out with this book so the children had at least one possible story about the Easter Bunny. This book does mention Church Bells, but you can change it to Town Bells instead if you're worried about it.

Here Comes T. Rex Cottontail written by Lois G. Grambling and illus. by Jack E. Davis (P)
Moving on from the traditional rabbit, we have a T. Rex replacing the Easter Bunny! You must ask the children if they have ever seen a T. Rex dressed as an Easter Bunny hopping down their street!

The Night Before Easter written by Natasha Wing and illus. by Kathy Couri (P)
A great and simple rhyme to read at the end of the program.

SONGS & RHYMES

Opening Rhyme: Open, Shut Them (T, P)
follow actions
Open, shut them
Open, shut them
Give a little clap
Open, shut them
Open, shut them
Lay them in your lap
Creep them, creep them up to your chin
Open your mouth wide, but don't put your fingers in!
Open, shut them
Open, shut them
Give a big clap
Open, shut them
Lay them in your lap.

We Can Hop (T)
follow actions
We can jump, jump, jump.
We can hop, hop, hop.
We can clap, clap, clap.
We can stop, stop, stop.
We can nod our heads for yes.
We can shake our heads for no.
We can bends our knees a tiny bit,
And sit down slow.
Source: Yorba Linda Public Library (this will open as a PDF)

The Colorful Egg Hunt (T, P)
The colorful egg hunt has begun,
Easter Bunny is ready for fun.
So listen well and play this game.
Bring your egg when you hear its name.

Easter Bunny has been looking around,
For a lovely egg of the color brown.

That surely makes him a happy fellow,
Now look around for an egg that's yellow.

Brown and yello, that makes two.
But how he'd like an egg that's blue.

"Blue is finem" the bunny said,
"But now  need an egg that's red."

An orange egg would make his day,
So bring an orange without delay.

Orange is, indeed, wuite a sight.
Now let's find one as black as night.

Purple, purple, where's that one?
Why, here it is; oh, this is fun!

He needs an egg that's just plain white,
And yours is just so very right.

These are the loveliest eggs I've seen,
But bunny needs an egg that's green.

The egg collection will be fin, I think,
 Once we find the egg that's pink.

How many eggs have you shared with me?
Let's take a count and we will see!

count how many you have.
Source: unknown 

Five Little Bunnies (P)
use your fingers to count the bunnies or a flannel board
One little bunny,
Wondering what to do.
Another bunny came along,
Then there were two.

Two little bunnies,
Hopping like me.
Another bunny came along,
Then there were three.

Three little bunnies
Jumping around outdoors,
another bunny joined them,
Then there were four.

Four little bunnies,
So fluffy and alive.
Another bunny joined them,
Then there were five. 

Five little bunnies,
Ready for some fun,
Hopped away in the
Warm, spring sun.

ask home many bunnies are there after they hopped away (answer: none! ... yes, it rhymes!)
Source: SurLaLune Storytime

Closing Rhyme: Touch Your Nose (T, P)
follow actions

Touch your nose

Touch your chin

That's the way this game begins

Touch your eyes

Touch your knees

Now pretend you're going to sneeze!

Aaachooooo!

Touch your hair

Touch one ear

Touch your two red lips right here

Touch your elbow where it ends

And that's the way this touch game ends.

FLANNEL BOARD

The Colorful Egg Hunt

This was a rhyme that I found when I first started working a as a Children's Librarian and cannot remember the original source (ack!). For my first ever Easter storytime I made this flannel board to go along with the rhyme. The Toddlers and the Preschoolers LOVED it!

CRAFTS

Giant Easter Egg (T)
The Toddlers got to decorate a giant construction paper Easter egg with large strips of color construction paper. To create the egg I used a jumbo oval die cut, and for the strips I cute the scrapes into 0.5x3 inch strips. The children got to clue and color all they wanted and loved it.

Miniature Easter Basket and Eggs (P)
My library has a die cut that you can fold up and create a Chinese take-away box! How cool is that?! To create a basket instead, after rolling the paper through the die cut machine, I  cut of the top flaps that formed the lid. All the children and guardians had to do was fold and glue the basket together and thread some yarn in pre-made holes to create a handle. Super easy. The children also got three ovals that served as their eggs to decorate and place in their basket. Everyone loved it (guardians oohed and awwed) and the children carried their basket on their wrists. Awesome!

PICTURES

Giant Easter Egg, Toddler Storytime Craft,
Created by Dorothy WP-CC, 2012

Miniature Easter Basket with Eggs, Preschool Storytime Craft,
Created by Dorothy WP-CC, 2012

The Colorful Egg Hunt flannel board,
created by Dorothy 2010

MORE BOOKS

Bunny Fun written by Sarah Weeks and illus. by Sam Williams (T) 
Easter Parade written by Irving Berlin and illus. by Lisa McCue (T, P)
A Bunny for All Seasons written by Janet Schulman and illus. by Meilo So (T, P)
10 Easter Egg Hunters written by Janet Schulman and illus. by Linda Davick (T, P)
Ollie's Easter Eggs written and illus. by Olivier Dunrea (T, P)
10 Hungry Rabbits: Counting & Color Concepts written and illus. by Anita Lobel (T, P)
Little White Rabbit written and illus. by Kevin Henkes (T, P)
Looking for Easter written by Dori Chaconas and illus. by Margie Moore (P)
Peter Rabbit's Happy Easter written by Grace Maccarone and illus. by David McPhail (P)
The Easter Bunny that Overslept written by Priscilla and Otto Friedrich and illus. by Donald Saaf (P)
The Easter Chick written by Geraldine Elschner and illus. by Alexandra Junge (P)
The Easter Party written and illus. by Lucy Su (P)
Queen of Easter written and illus. by Mary Engelbreit (P)