Upcoming Programs in January

Programs in January start off with the first Family Movie Matinee on January 3rd from 2-4pm.

PAWS for a Story is on January 6th from 4-5pm.

Storytime starts back the week of January 13th, on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays from 10:15-11:00 for the 2 and 3 year olds, and Fridays from 1:15-2:00 for the 4 and 5 year olds.

Wimpy Kid Journal Making is on Saturday, the 17th of January from 1-2pm. It appeals to the older tween in the family.

Rockband will be starting up again on Sunday, the 25th of January from 3-4:30pm.

Call or come in to register, 403.887.2130

Christmas Cheer

Christmas Cheer was a rollicking success.
Over 72 kids and parents enjoyed making Christmas Trees from ice cream cones and copious amounts of green icing and then decorating them with sprinkles and licorice, m+m's, kisses and froot loops. We also make Paper Clip Angel Necklaces. We had many activities throughout the library. There was The Reindeer Toss, The Mitten Munch Race, Pin the Star on the Tree, Christmas Trivia and A Christmas Card Toss. Brenda and Melanie provided carols for us all to sing along with in the cafe, where we also drank hot chocolate with marshmallows and munched on snowball timbits, thoughtfully sponsored by Tim Hortons. Shannan, Heather, and teen helper Tyler handed out sweet treats, while each family got to take home a small gift to celebrate the holiday season! Thanks to everyone who came and everyone who helped out. Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays.

Christmas Storytime

Christmas
Age 2’s and 3’s, 4’s and 5’s
45 minutes


1. Storytime – Welcome Song
Storytime is starting, starting, starting.
Storytime is starting, come and listen to me.

2. Read first story "Peek-a-Boo Christmas"

3. Song: Hat and Whiskers, Belt and Boots
Hat and whiskers, belt and boots, belt and boots, belt and boots.
Hat and whiskers, belt and boots,
Twinkling eyes and a cherry red nose.

4. Read second story "Merry Christmas, Big Hungry Bear" or "Harold at the North Pole" or "When Cows Come Home for Christmas".

5. Song: Rudolph
Rudolph, the red nosed...... (hands up like antlers)
Had a very shiny....(point to nose)
And if you ever saw it...(wooo, wooo!)
You would even say it....(hands out around face "glowing")
All of the other...(hands up like antlers)
Used to laugh and call him...(make "raspberries" with mouth)
They never let poor Rudolph...(boo, hoo...use hands to wipe tears while saying it)Join in any reindeer games...(slap legs, clap, hands out, clap)
Then one foggy Christmas eve,Santa came to say: (we use deep voices now)Rudolph with your nose so bright, Won't you guide my sleigh tonight?
Then all the ...(hands up for antlers) loved him
As they shouted out with...(rah-rah, ziss-boom-bah!)
Rudolph the red nosed (hands up for antlers)
You'll go down in history!

6. Craft: Choose a Craft
Choose to make one of the ornaments/crafts - door hanger, tree, foam ornaments.

Train Storytime

Theme Trains
Age 2’s and 3’s, 4’s and 5’s
Duration 45 minutes

1. Storytime – Welcome Song
Storytime is starting, starting, starting,
Storytime is starting come listen with me.

2. Read first story "Terrific Trains" or "Freight Train"

3. Song: Peanut Sat on the Railroad Track (sung to: Polly Wolly Doodle)

Oh, the peanut sat on the railroad track
His heart was all a flutter
Along came the 615
Toot, toot, …peanut butter
Oh, the lemon sat on the railroad track
Her heart was all a flutter
Along came the 615
Toot, toot, …lemonade
Oh, the grapes sat on the railroad track
Their hearts were all a flutter
Along came the 615
Toot, toot, …jelly
Oh, the apples sat on the railroad track
Their hearts were all a flutter
Along came the 615
Toot, toot, …applesauce
Oh, the strawberry sat on the railroad track
Its heart was all a flutter
Along came the 615
Toot, toot, …berry jam

4. Read second story "And the Train Goes" or "Train Song" or "Window Music"
5. Fingerplay: Choo-Choo Train

This is a choo-choo train, (Bend arms at elbows)
Puffing down the track. (Rotate forearms in rhythm)
Now it's going forward, (Push arms forward, continue motion)
Now is going back. (Pull arms back using same motion)
Now the bell is ringing. (Pull cord with closed fist)
Now the whistle blows. (Hold fist near mouth and blow Toot, Toot)
What alot of noise it makes. (Cover ears with hands)
Everywhere it goes. (Stretch out arms)

6. Craft: Train
Colour and cut out shapes to make own train. Glue to construction paper and add tracks and smoke.

MOB and PAWS for a Story

Monday, December 1st will be the last meeting of the MOB -Moms on Books at the Sylvan Lake Library. We will be meeting in the cafe of the library from 10:30-11:30 am. Bring the kids, what your reading and yourself and have a coffee with me. We'll discuss what we've been reading and have a snack with the kids.

Tuesday, December 2nd from 4-5pm the Sylvan Lake Library will be hosting PAWS for a Story. For all those kids who want to practise their reading, Peek-A-Boo the Pug will be ready for you! Held in the cafe, drop in and spend some quality time with a furry friend!

Junior Book Club

Optical Illusions are everywhere! We spent Thursday afternoon reading Chapter 4 of The Legend of Spud Murphy. Then we made an optical illusion Dog, where his eyes follow you wherever you go. Finally we ventured to the computers to check out some optical illusion sites and try to boggle our eyes.

The last Junior Book Club Game On! is next week. It is our Chocolate Tasting Party!!
We will be looking at different crosssections of chocolate bars and trying to identify them. Then there will be the blind taste testing. Finally there will be the chocolate bar personality test. AND we will be finishing "The legend of Spud Murphy".

Hippo Storytime

Hippopotamus


1. Storytime – Welcome Song
Storytime is starting, starting, starting,
Storytime is starting come listen with me.

2. Read first story "Hippo Goes Bananas" or "Sophie and Sebastian"

3. Sing: Hippo Hop HokeyPokey

You put your clean foot in

You take your dirty foot out

You put your clean foot in

and you squish it all about

You do the Hippo Hop and you hop down in the mud (pretend to squat in the mud)

That's how a Hippo cools off

Other Verses...HandsHeadsRight footLeft footElbows

4. Read second story "Grandma, Where Are You?" or "Hilda Must be Dancing"

5. Finger play: Jungle Animals

This is the way the elephant goes (clasp hands together, extend arms, move back and forth). With a curly trunk instead of a nose.
The buffalo all shaggy and fat

has two sharp horns in place of hat (point fingers out from forehead).
The hippo with his mouth so wide-
Let's see what's hiding inside (hands together and open wide and close them).

The wiggly snake upon the ground

Crawls along without a sound (weave hands back and forth).

But monkey see monkey do

is the funniest animal I ever knew! (place thumbs in ears and wiggle fingers).

6. Craft Project Directions: Construction Paper Hippo

For your hippo, you will need some gray construction paper and another piece of colored paper to place your hippo on the templates, cut out a hippo body, head, ears, and legs. Glue or tape these to the background piece of paper creating a hippo. Next add a tail and face for your hippo with crayon and other materials. If you have time add a setting surrounding your hippo.

Christmas Cheer

Christmas is coming.
Help kindle the spirit of Christmas by joining us, here at the library, on December 10th, from 7-8 pm. We are hosting our annual Christmas Cheer program.
There will be activities and crafts, as well as, snacks, music and friends.
This is a free, family event.
Please call to register as soon as possible, @403.887.2130.

Junior Book Club

Junior Book Club is now half over!
So far we have played Wii twice, were challenged to make an animal, real or imaginary, from candy, straws and toothpicks. We undertook Banana Jousting which made some very squishy bananas.
This last week was in honour of Anne of Green Gables. Tammy, one of our library techs who is from PEI, made raspberry cordial and gingersnaps from an Anne of Green Gables Cookbook for all of us to try. Then we made thaumatropes, which are a type of toy.
There are two weeks left in Game On! Junior Book Club. The next session is focused on Optical Illusions and finally the last week will feature CHOCOLATE. Tasting, personality types etc.
Book Club is on Thursdays from 4-5 pm.
I have been posting all the photo's from book club on our facebook site but I will be starting to post them here as well. I hope you enjoy them.

Classic Children Stories

Classic Children Stories

2’s and 3’s, 4’s and 5’s
45 minutes

1. Welcome Song
Storytime is starting, starting, starting,
Storytime is starting, come listen to me.

2. Read first story "Where the Wild Things Are".

3. Sing: Head and Shoulders, knees and toes

Head and shoulders, knees and toes,

Knees and toes. Knees and toes.

Head and shoulders, knees and toes.

Eyes, ears, mouth and nose.

4. Read second story "Panda Bear, Panda Bear, What do you see?" or "Millions of Cats" or "The Story of Ferdinand" or "Harold and the Purple Crayon".

5. Finger play: Where is thumbkin?

Where is thumbkin?, Where is thumbkin? Here I am. Here I am.

How are you today, sir? Very well, I thank you.

Run away. Run away.

Where is pointer? Where is pointer? Here I am. Here I am.

How are you today, sir? Very well, I thank you.

Run away. Run away.

Where is tall man? Where is tall man? Here I am. Here I am.

How are you today, sir? Very well, I thank you.

Run away. Run away.

Where is ring man? Where is ring man? Here I am. Here I am.

How are you today, sir? Very well, I thank you.

Run away. Run away.

Where is pinkie? Where is pinkie? Here I am. Here I am.
How are you today, sir? Very well, I thank you.

Run away. Run away.

Where is the family? Where is the family? Here we are. Here we are.

How are you today, sir? Very well, we thank you.

Run away. Run away.

6. Craft: Crazy Quilt – like Anne of Green Gables would have made and used.
Using bits and pieces of paper, make a crazy quilt by gluing them on a piece of construction paper.

Big Changes in the New Year!

There will be some big changes in the new year at the library. We will be closed on Mondays starting in January. The library will also close at 8 instead of 8:30 on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays. There will be increases in library yearly memberships also, from $15 to $20 for regular membership and from$10 to $12.50 for seniors. More updates will be coming with the arrival of our new librarian, Shannan Sword, near the end of November.

Cookies Storytime

Theme Cookies
Age 2’s and 3’s, 4’s and 5’s
Duration 45 minutes

Procedure
1. Storytime – Welcome Song
Storytime is starting, starting, starting,starting.
Storytime is starting come and listen to me.

2. Read first story "Who ate the Cookie Dough?" by Karen Beaumont

3. Sing: C is for Cookie
C is for cookie, that's good enough for me (3X)

Oh, cookie, cookie, cookie starts with C!

4. Finger play: Making Cookies
I am making cookie dough. (hold out arms in a circle, like a bowl)
Round and round the beaters go. (roll hands)

Add some flour from a cup. (shake a pretend cup)
Stir and stir the batter up. (stirring motion)

Roll them, cut them nice and neat. (rolling pin motion)

Put them on a cookie sheet. (place pretend cookies)
Bake them, count them 1-2-3. (counting motion)

Serve them to my friends for tea. (take a bite!)

5. Read second story "The Best Mouse Cookie" by Laura Joffe Numeroff and "Cookie Count" by Robert Sabuda

6. Craft: Cookie Monster Toilet Paper Roll Craft

Colour (where appropriate) and cut out the template pieces.
Glue the large rectangular piece on first to cover the tube.
Glue the head onto the front of the tube.
Glue on the arms and legs.
Glue the cookie into one of the hands.

Play with play dough and make pretend cookies with Cookie Monster.

Foxes Storytime

Theme Foxes
Age 2’s and 3’s, 4’s and 5’s
Duration 45 minutes


1. Storytime – Welcome Song
Storytime is starting, starting, starting,
Storytime is starting come listen with me.

2. Read first story Dinnertime! by Sue Williams ; illustrated by Kerry Argent or The rooster and the fox retold & illustrated by Helen Ward.

3. Sing: TEN LITTLE FOXES
One little, two little, three little foxes,
Four little, five little, six little foxes,
Seven little, eight little, nine little foxes,
Ten little foxes in their den.

4. Read second story Hungry hen by Richard Waring ; illustrated by Caroline Jayne Church. Or Rosie's walk by Pat Hutchins.

5. Sing: FOX HAS GOT A LONG RED TAIL
Fox has got a long red tail,
Shake that tail, shake that tail!
Fox has got a long red tail,
Shake that tail now!

Fox has got a pointy nose,
Wiggle that nose, wiggle that nose!
[Etc., Fox has two front paws, two pointy ears, two bright eyes, long pointy teeth etc.]

6. Craft: Fox Tail/Fox Mask
If you're looking for a unique craft, make fox tails and masks. Cut out of construction paper. Let the kids color, add googly eyes, whiskers, and a nose. Glue the tail on the back of the fox face.

Game On! Junior Book Club

This is now the second week of Junior Book Club. This week is ice cream and granola bars. We will also be choosing our novel. Then we have a halloween candy challenge. Take any five pieces of candy, 5 toothpicks and 2 straws. Make an animal, real or imaginary. After all this taxing mental stimulation we will definitely need to play the Wii. I think it will be Mario this week.

Storytime and Junior Book Club Has Started!

A new session of Storytime has started, it runs until the second week of December. There is still room in most of the sessions to register!

Game On! Junior Book Club has also started. This is a fabulous after school program that runs weekly on Thursdays for 6 weeks. The theme this time is Game On! We started by playing Jenga on the Wii as well as reading "Frankenstein Makes a Sandwich" which was very funny especially the parts about the Phantom of the Opera.
This upcoming week we will be using the Wii also, and starting on the chapter book we will be reading. Following weeks will include food fights -sword fighting with bananas, chocolate tasting, mind games, and a special Ann of Green Gables Day to celebrate Canadian Children's Book Week. There will be a reading by Ann, cordial and cakes.

Both of these programs require registration by calling the library.

Moms On Books and PAWS for a Story

Moms (and Dads) On Books has its next meeting Monday, November 3. It is held in the cafe of the library. We chat about what we have read, show and tell is great, drink a little tea and have a little snack with the little ones.
It is only for an hour from 10:30-11:30.
We really hope to see you there!!!

PAWS for a Story is on Tuesday, November 4th. This is a great time for kids to practise their reading. They get to read one on one with a dog (usually) in the cafe area of the library. Kids can bring their own reading material or use one of the many books we have here. PAWS starts at 4 and runs until 5 pm.

Both of these programs are drop-in, no registrations are required.

Halloween Party A Success!

WOW!
We had at least 100 ghosts and goblins come to our Halloween Trick or Treat Party. We bobbed for marshamllows, played with playdough (thanks to Tara), made Monster Hands, and ventured into a mad scientists laboratory to see what was hiding there. Spooky.
It was an excellent time.

Halloween Storytime

Halloween
2’s and 3’s, 4’s and 5’s
45 minutes

Storytime – Welcome Song

Storytime is starting, starting, starting,
Storytime is starting come listen with me.

Read first story

Sing: Five Little Ghosts
Five little ghosts flying through the door, One flew away and then there were four.
Four little ghosts spooky as can be, One flew away and then there were three.
Three little ghosts drinking Halloween brew, One flew away and then there were two.
Two little ghosts having lots of fun, One went home and then there was one.
One little ghost's a real superhero, Went to help a friend and then there were zero!

Read second story

Sing: Three Little Witches (tune: Ten Little Indians)

One little, two little, three little witches, (hold up fingers)
Fly over haystacks, fly over ditches, (make hands fly high in the air)
Slide down moon beams without any hitches, (hands glide downward)
Hi-ho! Halloween's here! (clap hands two times on "Hi-ho!)

Horned owl's hooting, it's time to go riding, (hold hands for ears)

Deep in the shadows are black cats hiding, (make cat face)

With gay little goblins, sliding, gliding, (slide and glide hands)

Hi-ho! Halloween's here! (clap hands two times on “Hi-ho”)

Stand on your head with a lopsided wiggle, (touch head and wiggle)

Tickle your little black cats till they giggle, (tickles and laugh)

Swish through clouds with a higgedy, piggle, (fly hands)
Hi-ho! Halloween's here! (Clap hands two times on hi-ho”

Cut and Tell Story-The Little Orange House by Ms. Stangl

Craft: Spooky Hands
Directions: - Trace the child's hands on black paper with chalk, extending the drawings of the fingers to look long and pointy. Let them cut the hands out and decorating them with markers, stickers, paints, etc. Can make bones on hands with the chalk.

Halloween Trick or Treat Party

Halloween is coming!
On October 31st we will celebrate with a Trick or Treat Party from 3-4:30 pm. Drop-in any time and participate in the happenings.
There will be Marshmallow Dunking, a Doughnut on a String Eating game, Mummy Bowling, Pin the Face on the Pumpkin, Ghost painting, and some Mad Scientist Examinations. There may also be some candy.
Call ahead so we know how many goblins to expect!!

Game On!

Junior Book Club is starting again on October 30th. Game On! is our theme for this session. It runs for 6 weeks, every Thursday from 4-5pm.
For those who have never attended, Junior Book Club is a program for 7-12 yr olds.
Since the kids are coming to the library right after school if out, we give them a snack and I read to them while they munch.
Sometime I choose the novel and sometimes we have a vote. After the snack, which usually takes about 30 minutes, we do an activity or craft.
Since the theme this time is Game On! most of the activities will be game related.
Themes for each week include: banana jousting, chocolate tasting, video games, board games, and mind games. We may also do a role playing game like Runescape.
There is no charge for this program but it does require registration.

Extreme Wii and Crafts

The second session of Rockband and Wii will be held on October 27th from 6-8pm. This free program is for kids aged 10+. We will also be making some origami mummies to coincide with Halloween Week.

The last Rockband we held was very well attended with over 25 kids singing and munching popcorn. We made pop-up cards that proved to be more difficult than anticipated and even required us to read the directions!!

Change in dates

The first fall session of storytime will be ending on October 17th, there will be a new session starting the week of October 27th. This session will run for 7 weeks instead of the usual 6 weeks. Call to register 403.997.2130.

Pumpkins Storytime

Pumpkins
Age 2’s and 3’s, 4’s and 5’s
Duration 45 minutes

Storytime – Welcome Song
Storytime is starting, starting, starting,
Storytime is starting come listen with me.

Read first story "Sheep Trick or Treat" by Nancy Shaw.

Sing: Five Little Pumpkins
Five little pumpkins sitting on a gate

The first one said, "Oh, my it's getting late."

The second one said, "There are witches in the air".
The third one said, "But we don't care!"

The fourth one said, "Let's run and run and run".
The fifth one said, "I'm ready for some fun!"
Wooooo, went the wind
And out went the light
And the five little pumpkins rolled out of sight!


Read second story "This is not a pumpkin" by Bob Staake, then "Spot's Halloween", and finally "Plumply, Dumply, Pumpkin"



Sing: Five Little Pumpkins

Five little pumpkins at my door,

A neighbor took one and then there were four.

Four little pumpkins under a tree,

Along came a farmer and then there were three.

Three little pumpkins that looked so new

I gave one away and then there were two.

Two little pumpkins out in the sun,

Mother made a pie and then there was one.

Of all the pumpkins, there was just one.

So I made a jack-o-lantern, and that was fun!

Sing: Pumpkin, Pumpkin

Pumpkin, Pumpkin
sitting on a wall,
Pumpkin, Pumpkin
tip and fall,
Pumpkin, Pumpkin
Rolling down the street
Pumpkin, Pumpkin
Trick or treat


Craft: Jack-o’-lantern pumpkin patch

Directions: Foam pumpkins and faces stickers. Make own pumpkin patch for Halloween.