Miss Carol's Best Book Finds of 2018 -- Picture Books

Every year I spend the last few weeks of the year compiling my favorite book finds of the year.  They are not always new books.  Just books I discovered for the first time and really, really liked.

PICTURE BOOK DISCOVERIES FOR 2018:

  

Abigail by Catherine Rayner

Abigail the giraffe wants to count the spots on her animal friends, Ladybug, Zebra, and Cheetah, but when they move too fast for counting, Abigail comes up with a new plan.

Bird Builds a Nest by Martin Jenkins, illustrated by Richard Jones

It's time for Bird to build her nest! Follow her as she pulls a worm out of the ground, lifts some twigs that are just the right size, and pushes the twigs into place. After a day of hard work, Bird's nest is ready and waiting.

Charlotte theScientist is Squished by Camille Andros, illustrated by Brianne Farley

Charlotte, a serious scientist bunny, uses the scientific method to solve her problem: being squished by her many brothers and sisters.

  

I Walk with Vanessa: A Story About a Simple Act of Kindness by Kerascoёt

An elementary school girl witnesses the bullying of another girl, but she is not sure how to help.

Jabari Jumps by Gaia Cornwall

Jabari is definitely ready to jump off the diving board. He's finished his swimming lessons and passed his swim test, and he's a great jumper, so he's not scared at all. A sweetly appealing tale of overcoming your fears.

Julia’s House for Lost Creatures by Ben Hatke

Julie welcomes all lost and homeless creatures into her house, whether they be cats or trolls, ghosts or dragons, but soon realizes that each must have a chore in order for the arrangement to work.

 

Mae Among the Stars by Roda Ahmed, illustrated by Stacia Burrington

Mae wanted to be an astronaut. She dreamed of dancing in space. She imagined herself surrounded by billions of stars, floating, gliding, and discovering. Her parents encouraged her, saying, "If you believe it, and work hard for it, anything is possible." This encouragement, along with Mae's own curiosity, intelligence, and determination, paved the way for her to become the first African American woman to travel in space.

Stack the Cats by Susie Ghahremani

Cats of all shapes and sizes scamper, yawn, and stretch across the pages of this playful counting book. And every now and then, some of them pile into the purrfect cat stack!

Miss Carol's Favorite Book Finds of 2018 -- Middle Grade Books

Miss Carol's Favorite Book Finds of 2018 - Non-fiction Children's Books

Minecraft Build Competition: Winter Break Edition

Theme: Ice roller coaster

Hosted another successful Minecraft Build Competition during the holiday break. (To read how I run my Minecraft program, please read my past post on the topic.) This program is a lot of fun to offer. 

This was an interesting theme. It was fun watching the children work out how to place snow and fire next to each other. Also, many of the children found creative ways to add blocks that looked like snow but wasn't ice blocks.  I even had a dad join in the fun. He sat next to his son and challenged himself to create something for our theme.  

December Library Lady

It was fun visiting the ECEAP classes this month.  I had to use more songs and movement activities during my visits since they were more squirrly than usual. 

  

The Cow Loves Cookies by Karma Wilson, illustrated by Marcellus Hall
Dinosaur Stomp: A Monster Pop-Up Book by Paul Stickland (pop-up)
Mama Cat Has Three Kittens by Denise Fleming

  

Pete the Cat and His Four Groovy Buttons by Eric Litwin, illustrated by James Dean
This Book Is Magic by Ashley Evanson
What Can Rabbit Hear? by Lucy Cousins (lift-flap)

Great Galactic Gifts & Goodies

This program was created to be a craft program and a gift making program.  We made two items: Celestial spheres (aka bath bombs) and nebulae jar necklaces.

Nebulae jar necklaces
These turned out beautifully.  They take an amazing amount of cotton to look good.  I strongly suggest using the jars that have the necklace hooks already on them.  They are worth the extra cost. 

Instructions:

1. One squirt of water with your pipette into the jar. 
2. One squirt of paint into the jar.
3. Optional: One pinch of glitter.
4. Mix this all together with the handle of a paintbrush.
5. Add bits of cotton balls until all the liquid paint-water is absorbed, pressing down with the handle of the paintbrush.
6. Another squirt of water.
7. Another squirt of paint.
8. Optional: Another pinch of glitter.
9. Add bits of cotton balls until all the liquid is absorbed. 
10. Repeat steps 6-9 until the jar is filled to the top, leaving some room in the neck for the cork.
11. Place a dot of hot glue inside the neck of the jar.
12. Press the cork firmly into place.
13. Wrap some cording around the neck of the jar and tie into place.
14. Run a loop of necklace length cording through one or two rapped circles. Tie a know to create your necklace.  

There are plenty of resources on the web on how to make nebulae jars.  I found the one at PBS Parents especially helpful.  

Celestial Spheres Bath Bombs

These turned out terribly.  The first recipe a coworker found for me did not work.  I took it home to try with my own kids and we were getting all sorts of goop.  I did some research and bought supplies for a different recipe.  But I didn't have time to try this one before hand.  We were getting some interesting chemical reactions.  Plus, I think we were using way too much water.  Instead of bath bombs we made these ever expanding balls of glop.  Pretty interesting in their own right, but not what we were trying for.  I had some pretty forgiving parents and children at the program.  They just laughed it off.  Lesson learned: If you have a program that requires a certain chemical reaction to occur (or not to occur, as was my case), be sure to test it with plenty of time for retesting.  

Magical Fun Storytime

Storytime for 1 to 3 year olds:

• Opening - Skinnamarink, Sticky Sticky Bubblegum

 

 

• Book #1 – The Magic Hat by Mem Fox, illustrated by Tricia Tusa

• Stand-up Activity – "Boots" action song from Victor Vito by Laurie Berkner

• Bridge - Open, Shut Them (fingerplay)

Open, shut them
(open and close hands)
Open, shut them
Give a little clap (clap)
Open, shut them

Open, shut them
Put them in your lap
(put hands in lap)

Creep them, creep them
Under your chin
(creep fingers up chest)
Open your mouth, but don't put them in
(do as words say)

Open, shut them
Open, shut them
Give a little clap
Open shut them
Open shut them
Put them in your lap 

• Flannelboard - Five Magic Rabbits (a counting down rhyme I found on the Harris County Public Library Story Time website)

• Letter of the Day - "H" is for hat

• Book #2 – The Little Band by James Sage, illustrated by Keiko Narahashi

• Activity – Two Little Legs Go March, March, March (action chant I found many, many, many years ago)

(Suite actions to words)

Two little legs go march, march, march.

Two little hands go clap, clap, clap.

Two little feet go tip-toe, tip-toe.

Two little fists go thump, thump, thump.

Two little legs go jump, jump, jump.

One little body turns around,

And everyone sits quietly down.

• Closing - Egg shakers to the song "I Know a Chicken" from The Best of the Laurie Berkner Band by Laurie Berkner 

 

• Art Experience – Coloring pens (I used the Mr. Sketch scented pens) on white "magical" slap bracelets

Mythbusting at the Library

Combining the scientific method with some mess making is a good formula for a great library program.  To get everything started I had a list of seven myths at the front of the room.  The children used dot stickers on the list itself to indicate their hypothesis.  Then we all stepped outside for the first myth.

Myth #1 - Don't mix Mentos candy and Diet Coke soda in your mouth.


After this demonstration, I handed out a paper listing all of the myths, the steps needed to complete the inquiry process, and a place to mark their results.  Just like in the Mythbusters television show, the kids could mark if the myth was confirmed, plausible, or busted.  The children were then sent to the tables to get to work.  Each table was set up with all of the supplies that were needed.  (Except for Myth #5, which had its own table for this experiment.)


Myth #2 - Pop rocks explode in  your stomach.

1. Use a funnel to pour 1 packet of pop rocks candy into a balloon. 
2. Carefully place the balloon over a bottle of Coke without the candy falling into the bottle. 
3. Now tilt the balloon so the candy falls into the bottle and let go. 
4. What is happening to the balloon?  (Hint: It may take a few minutes for anything to happen.)

Myth #3 - If you drop two objects of different weights from the same height, the heavier object will hit the ground first.

1. Look at and feel the Beanie Baby animal and the tennis ball.  Which one is heavier?  Which one is lighter?
2. Choose one team member to stand on a chair with an animal in one hand and a tennis ball in the other hand.  Hold both objects at the same height.  
3. The person holding the objects drops them onto the ground at the same time.
4. The other team members watch the ground.  
5. Repeat as many times as needed.
6. Which object hit the ground first?

Myth #4 - A substance can be a liquid and a solid at the same time.

1. Pour 2 cups cornstarch into the pan.
2. Add 1 cup water to the pan.
3. Use your hands to combine the two ingredients.
4. When mixed you should be able to press a handful of the substance (a.k.a. oobleck) into a ball in your hand; when you release the pressure, the ball should "melt" back into a liquid-like form.
5. If your oobleck is too watery, add a couple spoonfuls of cornstarch and mix.  If your oobleck is too flaky or solid, add a couple small splashes of water and mix.
6. Is this creation a liquid or a solid?

Myth #5 - A tablecloth can be pulled out from under stuff on a table and the stuff will stay (mostly) in place.

1. Go as a team to the designated table for this experiment.
2. Make sure all the dishes and flatware are set up properly on top of the tablecloth. 
3. Choose someone on your team to yank on the tablecloth.
4. The tablecloth yanker pulls downward and out very quickly on the edge of the table. 
5. Is it possible to pull off the tablecloth and leave everything on the table? (Hint: The key is the quick, downward motion. Also, try to keep the cloth parallel to the edge of the table top so it comes off all at once along the edge.)

Myth #6 - One piece of paper can support a stack of books one inch off a flat surface with no hands touching it.  

1. Each team member takes one sheet of paper and attempts to fold it in a way that will hold the stack of books one inch off the table. 
2. Experiment with different types of folds. (Hint: There is no need to cut the paper.)
3. Is it possible for a single sheet of paper to hold up a bunch of books?

Myth #7 - Smell does not affect taste.

1. Use the clothespin to cover your nose (or pinch your nose with your fingers). Eat an apple slice with your nose covered. How does it taste?
2. Take off the clothespin. Eat an apple slice with your nose uncovered. Is the taste different?
3. Repeat Step 1 with a potato slice. How does the potato taste with your nose covered?
4. Repeat step 2 with a potato slice. Does the potato taste different?
5. How does the sense of smell affect taste?

Of course, I used a bunch of websites to help me research and figure out how to do this program:

How to Make Oobleck at Babble Dabble Do

Whip Off the Tablecloth Trick at Steve Spangler Science

Coke and Mentos at Mami Tales

Balloon Pop Rocks Experiment at Entertain Kids On a Dime

Soda Geysers & Film Canister Rockets at The Mad Scientists Club at Cheshire Public Library

The Return of Candy Experiments at The Mad Scientists Club at Cheshire Public Library

I Want Candy at The Mad Scientists Club at Cheshire Public Library

National Cookie Day

December 4th is National Cookie Day. It is a fun celebration in the month of December. It feels like a holiday program without any December holidays actually needing to make an appearance.  My library has been celebrating Cookie Day for all ages for a couple of years now.  We created an easy to follow program formula that works for one librarian in a large or small crowd.

 

Start off with a story!
There are plenty of books and traditional stories out there that feature cookies.  Here are the books I chose to use this year:
Fortune Cookies by Albert Bitterman, illustrated by Chris Roschka
The Cow Loves Cookies by Karma Wilson, illustrated by Marcellus Hall

Now frost some cookies and make a craft!  The story(ies) are followed by two stations. 

 

One of the stations is a craft station.  We try to change this up every year.  This year we created paper fortune cookies to go with the Fortune Cookies book.  Decorate a paper circle.  Fold it just so (this can be a bit tricky). Then add a tiny dab of glue to hold the two ends together.  Fortunes are optional. I also put out small food take out boxes to be decorated and for carrying the paper fortune cookies. 

The other station is for frosting cookies. We find the cheapest non-frosted, non-decorated cookies we can find at the local grocery store. This year we found some store brand generic shortbread cookies to use. We also purchase a few tubs of pre-made frosting and tons of sprinkles.  We place two cookies on a small paper plate.  Use a knife to scoop up a gob of frosting.  The children then use the knife to spread the frosting onto their cookies. The sprinkles are at a special table with their own bowls and spoons ready to be "sprinkled" onto the frosted cookies. Now the cookies are ready for eating (of course)!

We learned several years ago that the children really do not care about the cookie itself.  So do not knock yourself out trying to get the perfect cookie. Really, it does not matter.  The high-point of this library event is the frosting and sprinkles. Everything else is just bonus material. 

November Library Lady

The ECEAP classes I visit are definitely improving their attention spans.  I need to remember this when I gather my books next month.  Here is what I read to them in November:

Apples, Apples by Salina Yoon (lift-flap)
Bears On Chairs by Shirley Parenteau, illustrated by David Walker
The Book with No Pictures by B.J. Novak

   

Don't Push the Button by Bill Cotter
Kipper's Rainy Day inspired by Mick Inkpen (lift-flap)
Maisy's Book of Things that Go by Lucy Cousins (pop-up)

Magical Imagination Preschool Storytime

Storytime for 3 to 5 year olds:

• Opening - "A Tooty Ta" from Dance Like This by Mr. Al

• Literacy activity - Baby Dragons Playing with Letters (flannelboard song to the tune of "Do You Know the Muffin Man" written by Carol Hopkins)

I was inspired by a flannelboard rhyme I found at Storytime In the Stacks to write my own dragon flannelboard rhyme.  I passed out one baby dragon to each child.  The dragons have one of 5 letters on them.  The children bring their dragon up to the board when I say their letter.  

Now we have baby dragons, baby dragons, baby dragons, 

Now we have baby dragons, 

Trying to blow bubbles.

(Bubbles starts with the letter "B")

Now we have baby dragons, baby dragons, baby dragons, 

Now we have baby dragons, 

Blowing kisses to their mom.

(Kiss starts with the letter "K")

...Flapping their tiny wings.

(Wings starts with the letter "W")

...Jumping with a rope.

(Rope starts with the letter "R")

...Trying to breathe fire.

(Fire starts with the letter "F")

Now we have loud dragons, loud dragons, loud dragons,

Now we have loud dragons,

Giving out a roar!

(Everyone roars)

  

  

  

• Book #1 - Extra Yarn by Mac Barnett, illustrated by Jon Klassen 

• Stand-up activity - "If You're Happy and You Know It" action song from Wee Sing Children's Songs & Fingerplays by Wee Sing 

• Sit down activity - This Is the Boat, The Magic Boat (fingerplay I found in the book What'll I Do with the Baby-O? by Jane Cobb 

• Book #2 - This Book Is Magic by Ashley Evanson

• Book #3 - Little Color Fairies by Mara Van Fleet (pop-up) 

• Closing - Egg shakers to the song "I Can Shake My Shaker Egg" from Rockin' Red from the Learning Groove by Mr. Eric and Mr. Michael 

 

 

• Art experience - Create "magical" bracelets by sliding colorful pony beads onto a pipe cleaner

Hickory Dickory Mouse Storytime

Storytime for 1 to 3 year olds:

• Opening - Skinnamarink, Sticky Sticky Bubblegum

 

 

• Book #1 – Lunch by Denise Fleming

• Stand-up Activity – "I'm a Little Teapot" action song from This Little Piggy: Lap Songs, Finger Plays, Clapping Games, and Pantomime Rhymes by Adam Stemple, Jane Yolen, et al. 

• Bridge - Open, Shut Them (fingerplay)

Open, shut them
(open and close hands)
Open, shut them
Give a little clap (clap)
Open, shut them

Open, shut them
Put them in your lap
(put hands in lap)

Creep them, creep them
Under your chin
(creep fingers up chest)
Open your mouth, but don't put them in
(do as words say)

Open, shut them
Open, shut them
Give a little clap
Open shut them
Open shut them
Put them in your lap 

• Flannelboard - Little Mouse House (from Mailbox Preschool magazine, Aug./Sept. 2009, page 25)

• Letter of the Day - "M" is for mouse

• Book #2 – Maisy's Tractor by Lucy Cousins (board book)

• Activity – Hickory Dickory Dock (traditional fingerplay)

Hickory dickory dock 
(clapping) 
A mouse ran up the clock 
(one hand run up the other arm) 
The clock struck 1 
(clap once) 
The mouse ran down 
(one hand run down the other arm) 
Hickory dickory dock 
(clapping) 

Hickory dickory dock 
A mouse ran up the clock 
The clock struck 2 
(clap twice) 
The mouse said "BOO!" 
(try to tickle child) 
Hickory dickory dock 

Hickory dickory dock 
A mouse ran up the clock 
The clock struck 3 
(clap three times) 
The mouse said "Wheee!" 
(one hand slide down the other arm and the down to the floor as if on a slide) 
Hickory dickory dock 

Hickory dickory dock 
A mouse ran up the clock 
The clock struck 4 
(clap 4 times) 
There is no more 
(shake head, show empty hands) 
Hickory dickory dock.

• Closing - Egg shakers to the song "I Know a Chicken" from The Best of the Laurie Berkner Band by Laurie Berkner 

 

 

• Art Experience – Glue noodle whiskers onto a mouse drawing