Ways To Go Storytime

Storytime for 1-1/2 to 3 year olds:

• Opening - Skinnamarink, Sticky Sticky Bubblegum
• Book #1 – Ways To Go by Dana Meachen Rau, illustrated by Jane Conteh-Morgan
• Activity – A Walking We Will Go (action song, an adaptation to "A-hunting We Will Go")

A walking we will go
A walking we will go
Hi ho the derry oh
A walking we will go
(do actions accordingly; do other actions words in place of walking)

A hopping...
A jumping...
A running...
A stomping...
A sitting...

• Flannelboard - Hippopotamus on Skates (I got this one from King County Library System)

You see:
Wheels on a car,
And on a train,
Wheels on a truck,
And a jumbo plane.
You see:
Wheels on a van,
A bike, a bus,
But you don't see wheels on a hippopotamus...
UNLESS SHE'S ROLLERSKATING!

• Book #2 - Maisy Drives the Bus by Lucy Cousins***
• Activity – Wheels On the Bus (fingerplay/action song from Rise and Shine by Raffi)
• Closing - Tamborines using "Kookaburra" from Where Is Thumbkin?: Action Songs for Every Month by Kimbo
• Craft – Graham cracker traffic light (spread frosting on a graham cracker and then place a red, yellow, and green M&M on the frosting to resemble a traffic light)

***Parent enhancement: Songs have different notes for different syllables. This is one way we help children hear the parts of words... and it's fun too!

Firefighters Storytime

Storytime for 1-1/2 to 3 year olds:

• Opening - Skinnamarink, Sticky Sticky Bubblegum***
• Book #1 – Fire Fighter Piggywiggy by Christyan and Diane Fox
• Activity – I'm a Little Firefighter (action song to the tune of "I'm a Little Teapot," I originally found this rhyme at http://www.perpetualpreschool.com but have since found it elsewhere)

I'm a little firefighter on the go
Here is my helmet (put hands on head)
Here is my hose (put hands at side as if holding a hose)
When I see a fire hear me shout
Turn on the water and put the fire out! (move hands back and forth)

• Flannelboard - Five Firefighters (found in Mailbox Preschool, Oct./Nov. 2007 page 40)
• Book #2 - Maisy's Fire Engine by Lucy Cousins (board book)
• Activity – Drive the Fire Truck (action song from Songs for Wiggleworms)
• Closing - Tamborines using "Kookaburra" from Where Is Thumbkin?: Action Songs for Every Month by Kimbo
• Craft – Color firefighter hat cut-outs with color marker pens

***Enhancement: Children learn by repetition. The more stimulation they receive from their environment (what they hear, see, touch, taste, and smell) the more connections they make between brain cells. After awhile there are so many connections that the ones not being used are pruned. It is repetition that keeps these connections between brain cells and make them strong.

Silly Journeys Storytime

Storytime for 1-1/2 to 3 year olds:

• Opening - Skinnamarink, Sticky Sticky Bubblegum
• Book #1 – Mr. Grumpy's Outing by John Burningham (BIG BOOK)
• Activity – Noble Duke of York (action song)
• Flannelboard - A-hunting We Will Go (song)

A-hunting we will go,
A-hunting we will go,
We'll catch a fox
And put him in a box,
And then we'll let him go.

Other verses:
Mouse...house
Frog...log
Goat...boat
Bear...chair

• Book #2 – Silly Sally by Audrey Wood
• Activity – Shake My Sillies Out (action song from More Singable Songs by Raffi)
• Closing - Tamborines using "Kookaburra" from Where Is Thumbkin?: Action Songs for Every Month by Kimbo
• Craft – Coloring sheet

Gear School (the graphic novel)

The last time the Teen Librarian went shopping at the comic book shop I got the chance to go with her. We both brought back plenty of comics and graphic novels for the library. The comic shop owner suggested the purchase of Gear School by Adam Gallardo. I checked it out as soon as it was ready and loved it! Futuristic high school, fighting robots, and a war with aliens...

The story focuses on Teresa, a student at the futuristic military academy called “Gear School,” where all of the students are learning how to operate ballistic robot weapons. Unfortunately, she is best known for her spectacular flameout crashes in the flight simulator. During her first flight in a real “Gear” an alien spacecraft appears in her airspace. What’s a girl to do? Should she defend her classmate and best friend? And how can she do this? She can barely pass the simulator test and her robot has no weapons. The full color graphics and the short length made this book a fun graphic novel to read. I hope this book becomes a full-fledged series soon.