Friday, April 24, 2015

Train Travels and Twisted Tales!

T is for teddy, tasty, telephone, time, top, tough, tread, turtle, twister, Tonka truck, triangle, and train!

We had a terrific story time with tricky letter T!

We played Twister on the coloured story time mat!



 



We read:

Two Tough Teddies, by Kilmeny Niland


"When two teddies, Tilly and Gruffy, are abandoned in a box of unwanted toys, they decide to face the world and find someone else to love them. They practice being loud so that they will be noticed, but they only frighten away some cats. They practice being brave and bold, but they scare away a dog. Then, just at the point of giving up, a little girl discovers them and takes them home." - Little Hare Books

All Aboard the Dinotrain, by Deb Lund


"They stoke the boiler, stow the luggage, and when hills are steep, they even get out and push. That's right, the thrill-seeking daredevil dinosaurs from Dinosailors are back, and now they're riding a train. But this train is more like a roller coaster--up, down, and faster and faster, until the dinos realize the brakes are out!

Laughs and thrills abound in this rip-snorting tale of reckless reptiles and their runaway train." - HMH Books for Young Readers


Tap to Play! by Salina Yoon 


"In this interactive video-game-inspired picture book perfect for fans of Press Here and Tap the Magic Tree, Blip needs to reach the bar to win his game—but he needs the reader’s help. If he wins, he gets a surprise!
Tap, tickle, and shake Blip.
Tilt, turn, and bounce Blip.
Help Blip win the game in this spirited interactive book, perfect for reading—and playing—again and again!" - Balzer and Bray


Too Much Stuff! by Robert Munsch


"In 2003 I was on a flight from Toronto to Edmonton. Across from me was a mother with a 5 or 6 year old daughter. The daughter opened her backpack and proceeded to unpack an army of dolls. She put them on her seat, she attached them to the seat in front of her and even had them attached to the roof with tape.
Clearly a story waiting to be written.
I decided to write it.
So I got out a tablet and wrote down TOO MUCH STUFF pretty much as it was published except that it was called DOLLS and the little girl was just “little girl” because I did not know her name. When I was done I asked the mother if the “little girl” would like to hear a story about her dolls.
The little girl turned out to be Temina Girod from Cold Lake, so the name of the story changed to TEMINA’S DOLLS.
When I decided to publish it in 2010, we changed the name from TEMINA’S DOLLS to TO MUCH STUFF because Scholastic was afraid that a book that had ‘DOLLS’ in the title might not sell to boys.
The other big change in the story was dropping soldiers at the x-ray machine. I had this idea for an illustration with Temina and her dolls being confronted by soldiers with guns. That idea did not survive the initial editing session.
And when I wanted to publish, I could not find Temina. We finally found her in Germany!
And once the book was out, I ran into a lady at the mall who came up to me and said “TOO MUCH STUFF is perfect for me because I have too much stuff. I did not think of it as an adult book, but maybe it is." - Robert Munsch

Tippy-Toe Chick, Go! by George Shannon


"Ruff-Ruff-Ruff-Ruff-Ruff!
There is a big grumpy dog blocking the way to the garden! What can Hen and her three chicks do? The sweet itty-bitty beans and potato bugs (this family's favorite treat) are in the garden. And Hen and her chicks are Hungry!
Hen, Big Chick, and Middle Chick are no match for Dog. And Little Chick? Well, Little Chick is too little. Or is she?
When you are small, you can also be brave and fast and resourceful, and -- as Little Chick discovers -- sometimes your family depends on you!" - Greenwillow Books

Tiny's Big Adventure, by Martin Waddell


"
Tiny sees things he has never seen before when his sister Katy Mouse takes him up the knobbly tree, along the top bar of the gate and to the corn field for the first time. There are snails, spiders, rabbits, pheasants, an old boot - and even a tractor." - Walker Books Ltd.


After stories we did a train ride throughout the Library! Sometimes Miss Corrie was the leader, sometimes the kids led the train! What a blast!

We created some Twisted Tales!


"I was fishing in a pond when I caught a fish. It bit my fish hook on the rod and got away. I went to see my mom and grandma and they said I had a fish, My dad said we needed a bowl, so mom went to buy one at Wal-Mart. I ate some mixed up hot dogs while we waited. After, I made mixed up sandwiches with my mom." - Monday 4s and 5s group

"Once upon a time there was a puppy who lived in a shoe. He was as tall as a tree and smelled like watermelon. He wore a hat on his head and rubber boots on his feet. He hopped with his feet and smiled like a little guy. His name was Zeus, but we always called him Zeusy Pooch. He liked to play balls and toys." - Tuesday 2s and 3s group

 "At the park I saw a train wearing a green coat. He told me he was from a garden and had 8 sisters and 5 brothers. He liked standing on his choo-choo and chewing corn. We drove a train and raced to the park. When we got there we ate cookies with pickled mustard. It was so hot. Then we had a nap by the park with an apple named Frank." - Wednesday 2s and 3s group

"When I was 5 years old I saw a swan by the dinosaur. I said hello and asked if she wanted to play. We went to the park and played with the slide for 15 hours. After, we ate Sheppard's pie for supper and watched a t-rex hop across the lawn. At night we camped in the car and roasted marshmallows and hot dogs. It was so delicious." - Thursday 2s and 3s group

"When I lived by the ocean I met a swimming turtle named Bob. He was as tall as a big turtle and smelled like fish. He liked to drive a car wearing a big hat and a pink shoe. His favourite food was turtles and he drank it with coconut. My mom thought he was crazy." - Friday 2s and 3s group

"I went swimming with a dog when I saw a kid named Brenna. It looked like a elephant with blonde hair. It lived by the giraffe and walked like a dog. I shared some spaghetti and we went to play at outside. We raced on trucks for 5 hours. For lunch we ate leaves with pasta. Then we went to the store to have a hot dog." - Friday 4s and 5s group
 
We sang: 

I've Been Working on the Railroad

 
I'm a Little Teapot


Twinkle Twinkle Little Star


For our craft, we made Trains using the letters of our names.











For snack, we ate tasty raspberries!

Next week we're doing some Underwater activities for Unusual letter U!

Friday, April 10, 2015

You've Got Me in Stitches!

S is for sun, silly, seal, saw, sandbox, show, strike, sail, sour, something, sorrow, slippery, shark, and Stitch!

We read:

The Hair of Zoe Fleefenbacher Goes to School, by Laurie Halse Anderson





"Zoe Fleefenbacher has one blue eye and one green eye and bright red hair that goes on . . . forever. Her hair has always been unruly, but now she is in first grade and according to her teacher, Ms. Trisk, “first grade has rules.” It takes countless barrettes and scrunchies to finally hold Zoe’s hair. But when it can help with an uncooperative science lesson, will Ms. Trisk let Zoe’s hair free? Acclaimed author Laurie Halse Anderson and vibrant illustrator Ard Hoyt style a hair-raising story that is sure to be a ‘do!" - Simon and Schuster Books for Young Readers


Cat Secrets, by Jef Czekaj


"I'm sorry—this book is not for you. This book is for CATS ONLY.
What's that you say?
You are a cat?
Okay . . . get ready to prove it!" - Balzer and Bray



Circle Square Moose, by Kelly Bingham


"Moose loves shapes!
Circles! Squares! Triangles!
Hooray!
So when Moose mysteriously finds himself in a shape book (oh, please don't ask) he is the very picture of a happy Moose. Life is great! Until, well, until he wrecks everything. Now, don't you worry! Zebra will handle it. Zebra always fixes Moose's messes. And what thanks does Zebra get? Really . . . does anyone ever think about Zebra?" - Greenwillow
 
Hide and Seek, by Il Sung Na



"
As Elephant counts from one to ten, all the animals find special places to hide. When it's time to seek, will he be able to find everyone . . . even Chameleon?

Like Na's previous books, Hide & Seek offers rich illustrations, bright colors, and a simple, spare text—all wrapped up in a beautiful kid-friendly package. Elephant counts from one to ten in big, bold numerals, and there's an additional butterfly on each spread, giving readers something to count as the story goes along. Kids will also love spotting the camouflaged chameleon on every page!" - Knopf Books for Young Readers


Reviews from Il Sung Na's website



The images' wildly shifting perspectives make a trip through these pages a kind of visual roller-coaster ride - New York Times

Featuring a predominantly pastel palette, the delicate art incorporates a range of intricate patterns and textures - Publishers Weekly

Ready or Not! Here comes a book worth finding - Kirkus Reviews



Something Special, by Terri Cohlene


"Terri Cohlene’s imaginative picture book will bring a smile to your face and a furrow to your brow as you challenge your mind with this playful puzzle. Whimsically illustrated by Doug Keith, Something Special will be enjoyed again and again, no matter how many times you solve this sweet mystery." - Terri Cohlene's website

"Slowly, Slowly, Slowly," said the Sloth, by Eric Carle


“With a preface by Jane Goodall, an emphasis on Amazon rain forest animals and Carle’s bright, trademark collages, this book is sure to find a wide audience. All the animals in the rain forest watch as the sloth ‘slowly, slowly, slowly’ crawls along a tree branch or ‘slowly, slowly, slowly’ eats a leaf. ‘Why are you so slow?’ they ask, ‘…so quiet, …so boring?’ The sloth does not answer until the jaguar asks why he is lazy. In the volume’s densest chunk of text, the sloth replies with an unexpected barrage of adjectives, admitting that, while he is ‘sluggish, lethargic, placid, calm, mellow, laid back and, well, slothful,’ he is ‘not lazy…that’s just how I am. I like to do things slowly,/ slowly,/ slowly.’ The narrative’s use of simple repeated phrases requires readers to ape the protagonist—the text compels them to slow down. Colorful endpapers name all of the animals introduced in Carle’s signature collage illustrations, with a setting particularly well-suited to his jewel-like palette. Children will readily identify with the hero’s need to move at his own pace. The sweet, moss-covered sloth will especially appeal to rushed families who will find in Carle’s attractive book a brief respite from their hurried lives.” - Publisher’s Weekly, July 1, 2002

Check out Eric Carle's website here:

Today I Feel Silly & Other Moods That Make My Day, by Jamie Lee Curtis


"Today I feel silly. Mom says it's the heat.
I put rouge on the cat and gloves on my feet.
I ate noodles for breakfast and pancakes at night.
I dressed like a star and was quite a sight.
Today I am sad, my mood's heavy and gray.
There's a frown on my face and it's been there all day.
My best friend and I had a really big fight.
She said that I tattled and I know that she's right.

Silly, cranky, excited, or sad--everyone has moods that can change each day. Jamie Lee Curtis's zany and touching verse, paired with Laura Cornell's whimsical and original illustrations, helps kids explore, identify, and, even have fun with their ever-changing moods.

Here's another inspired picture book from the bestselling author-illustrator team of Tell Me Again About the Night I Was Born and When I Was Little: A Four-Year-Old's Memoir of Her Youth." - Brenda Bowen

We sang:

The Waves at the Beach (tune: the Wheels on the Bus)

The waves on the beach go up and down, 
Up and down, 
Up and down.
The waves at the beach go up on down, 
All day long. 
The crabs at the beach crawl back and forth,
Back and forth,
Back and forth. 
The crabs at the beach crawl back and forth, 
All day long. 
The lobsters at the beach go snap, snap, snap!
Snap, snap, snap! 
Snap, snap, snap! 
The lobsters at the beach go snap, snap, snap! 
All day long. 
The clams at the beach go open and shut, 
Open and shut,
Open and shut. 
The clams at the beach go open and shut, 
All day long. 

Then we got really silly ...

The crocodiles at the beach go chomp, chomp, chomp!
Chomp, chomp, chomp!  
Chomp, chomp, chomp! 
The crocodiles at the beach go chomp, chomp, chomp! 
All day long.
The turtles at the beach go swim, swim, swim, 
Swim, swim, swim,
Swim, swim, swim. 
The turtles at the beach go swim, swim, swim, 
All day long.  
The toys at the beach they dig, dig, dig.
Dig, dig, dig. 
Dig, dig, dig. 
The toys at the beach they dig, dig, dig.
All day long. 

Five Little Fishies

Five little fishies swimming in the sea, 
Teasing Mr. Shark, "You can't catch me!"
Along comes Mr. Shark ...
Quiet as can be ... 
And SNAP! 

Four little fishies ... etc.   





ABCs

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!  

We had some friends from the Town of Sylvan Lake outside during our story time - they were digging two holes for some benches we will be getting soon!


After our stories, we watched a little bit of Disney's Lilo and Stitch.




For our craft, we made Stitch!



 Above photo by Sophia

Above photo by Rowan







What an out of this world craft! We had such awesome weather this week, too!

Remember, this is the last week for this session of story time. We're off next week, and will return for the spring session Monday, April 20th. 

If you want to request any of the books we read for story time, just click on the link in the title, and it will take you to our catalogue where you can place the hold.

Monday, April 6, 2015

Rascally Raccoons!

R is for run, red, right, rambunctious, rope, rules, rascal, rabbit, rover, room, and raccoon!

Our story time crews had an absolute riot with our week of letter R! We crawled, sniffed, scoured, and prowled like raccoons, including swishing our raccoon tails to much hilarity!

We read:

Rex, by Ursula Dubosarsky


"Rex, a tiny chameleon, is the class pet. Every day someone gets to take him home, along with a notebook for recording his adventures. How cool is that?
But what's really cool about Rex--the book--is that those exploits are depicted as though each classmate has actually done the artwork. In the course of 32 pages, Rex manages to go for a swim, fall out of a window, and get dressed up as Malibu Barbie. And at the end, readers are encouraged to invent their own adventures with Rex. . . .
How cool is that?" - Roaring Book Press

Rumble in the Jungle, by Giles Andreae





"There’s a rumble in the jungle, there’s a whisper in the trees; the animals are waking up and rustling the leaves!” Join this rhyming safari and meet everyone from the elphing elephant to the gangly giraffe, and maybe even the terrible tiger!" - Tiger Tales

 

Raise the Roof! by Anastasia Suen


"Here is a picture book that has done a remarkable thing—the author has reduced the steps of building a new home, from blueprint to welcome mat, to its bare essentials and written the story in jaunty rhyme that very young readers will both understand, and enjoy."-  Children's Literature

Railroad Toad, by Susan Schade and Jon Buller


"Illustrated in full color. In this sequel to the critically acclaimed Toad on the Road, Toad joyfully takes to the tracks with his freewheeling spirit, carefree humor, and new motto, "Give me a ticket to go anywhere! The farther the better, I don't care!" - Random House Books for Young Readers

Rooster Can't Cock-a-Doodle-Doo, by Karen Rostoker-Gruber 


"Rooster has a sore throat and can't cock-a-doodle-doo. Farmer Ted is sleeping, and there's no one to gather the eggs, milk the cows, sheer the sheep, and feed the pigs. Rooster needs help—and fast. Working together, Rooster and the other animals come up with some madcap but effective ways to wake Farmer Ted and complete the day's chores. But can they do it all before sunset? A barnful of laughs is guaranteed in this fun-filled book about friendship and cooperation." - Puffin 

We sang:
Shake Your Sillies Out!

Shake your arms! Shake your legs! Shake your bum! Shake your nose! Shake your feet! Shake your head! Shake your hands! And shake your bum again!
Turn around! Now the other way! Shake your whole body! Now sit down!

I'm a Little Raccoon (to the tune of I'm a Little Teapot) 

I'm a little raccoon, prowling around (use hands like little paws and make cautious, prowling motions)
I hunt for food without a sound. (look left and right, sniffing around)
A mask on my face and a bushy tail (point to your eyes, then swish one arm behind you like a tail)
Let's see if you can spot my trail! (gaze around the floor like you're looking for pawprints)

I'm a Ra-Ra-Ra-Raccoon

I'm a ra ra ra raccoon.
And I'm gonna sing you a tu tu tune!
Under the sun or the mo-o-oon,
I'm a ra ra ra raccoon! 

My eyes have circles,
My tail has rings.
I'm so special because, 
I'm a ra-raccoon that sings! 

I'm always looking for things to eat, 
People chase me 'cause not so neeeaaattt! 

For snack we had some yummy apples!









And for our craft, as requested by one of our crew, we made raccoons!










So much fun! Next up for letter S, we're making Stitch!