We're taking a small break for New Years!

We have no children's or teen events this week, but please feel free to stop by the library to get your books, magazines, DVDs, and more! Ms. Tegan is taking a small break and Miss Michelle's Story Guitar Time is on break this week.


Please note we do have special hours this week:

• Tuesday, December 31, 2013 - Library closes @ 3 PM.
• Wednesday, January 1, 2014 - Library is closed for New Years Day! Happy New Year!
• Thursday, January 2, 2014 - The library is open regular hours.

Events will resume the week of January 6. See you then!

For future events and more, visit our Kids Page here! Or follow on Twitter @WVPLYouth

Winter Party Wrap-Up!

Merry Winter to you and yours! This is a wonderful season for snuggling in blankets with a good book, and with hot chocolate (which many of our attendees said they LOVED). There were around 30 adults and kids at our Winter Party Event! Below is a recap about what we read, what we did, and what we made (with photo!).

What We Read
(The titles will take you to the catalog to request the book.)

•  Snow Party by Harriet Ziefert ; illustrated by Mark Jones. - JJ ZIE
• It's the first day of winter and the snowmen, snow women, and snow children have gathered to celebrate and open a big box. What's in the box?
• Snowmen All Year by Caralyn Buehner ; pictures by Mark Buehner.:  - JJ BUE
• What if your snowman could live all year? A child imagines all the fun things he'd do with his snowman if only his snowman was made of magic snow.
•  Frozen Noses by Jan Carr ; illustrated by Dorothy Donohue.: - JJ CAR
• Winter is so much fun! We'll go sledding and build snowmen and keep warm. This was especially fun to read because of the enthusiasm for hot chocolate!

What We Did

•  Sang my favorite opening and closing songs: "If You'd Like to Hear A Story" and "The More We Read Together."
• Recited "The Five Little Snowmen."
• Recited "I'm a Little Snowman" which is similar to "I'm a Little Teapot."
• Sang and danced the "Snowkey Pokey."

What We Made
 
We had a craft too. "Name" Snowmen! This was a great activity for children to practice writing and letter knowledge (early literacy skills!). Everyone made awesome snowmen. Here's my example (That reads "Ms. T."):

December 2013 Lego Club Photos!

Lego Club met three times this month and we had a great time building anything on December 12 and 26, and anything winter on December 19.

Normally, Lego Club meets 2 times a month. Lego Club generally meets on the 2nd and 3rd Thursday of the month at 4:30 PM. Our next sessions will be January 9 and January 16, 2014 at 4:30 PM.

Since it has been a busy month, I've added all the photos into one Flickr set for you to take a look at. Check out the slideshow here:

If you'd like a specific photo of your child's creation, please feel free to contact me! Use our Contact Us form here and select "Youth." Please let me know which photo.

Hope to see you in January! Please feel free to bring a friend.

The event is open to those ages 3-12. Ages 3-5 must attend with a trusted adult. Those ages 6-12 may attend alone, but a trusted adult must remain in the library during the event. The library provides the Duplos and Legos.

Children's Events - Week of December 23

Here's what's coming up this week:

Monday, December 23

• No Events Today. Check out books and movies for Winter Break!

Tuesday, December 24 & Wednesday, December 25

• Closed for the Holiday!

Thursday, December 26

• An Extra Lego Club Session at 4:30 PM

 Friday, December 27

• Winter Party at 11 AM at Blue Bell. Sign up if you want to make the craft. No registration for  hearing the stories!
  

Saturday, December 28

• Art with Miss Laura at 10:30 AM at Ambler. Sign up at Ambler.
• Tween/Teen Crafternoon: Duck Tape! At Blue Bell at 2 PM. Please register.
  
  
  

For these events and more, visit our Kids Page here! Or follow on Twitter @WVPLYouth

Cookie Decorating Photos!

Once again, WVPL hosted our (so far) annual Holiday Cookie Decorating for Kids! We had a good turnout this year. Here are the photos of the decorated cookies!

Our next events of interest coming up are:

• Lego Club, Thursday, December 26 @ 4:30 PM (this is a special session! Ages 3-12. No registration.)
• Winter Party, Friday, December 27 @ 11 AM (Ages 2-6. Register for the craft!)
• Tween/Teen Crafternon: Duct Tape! Saturday, December 28 @ 2 PM (Ages 11-17. Registration required)

Children's Events - Week of December 16

Here's what we have happening this week:

Monday, December 16

• Story-Guitar Time with Miss Michelle at Blue Bell at 10:30 AM.

Tuesday, December 17

• Holiday Story-Guitar Time with Miss Michelle at Ambler at 10:30 AM. 

Wednesday, December 18

• Story-Guitar Time at 4:30 PM with Miss Michelle at Blue Bell.
• Middle School Book Group at Ambler at 4:30 PM. For those in grades 6-8. Learn more and register here.

Thursday, December 19

• Story-Guitar Time at 4:30 PM with Miss Michelle at Ambler.
• Blue Bell Lego Club at 4:30 PM at Blue Bell.

Friday, December 20

• Story-Guitar Time with Miss Michelle at Blue Bell at 10:30 AM.

Saturday, December 21

• Art with Benita at Ambler at 10:30 AM. Register at Ambler.
• Holiday Cookie Decorating at Blue Bell at 11 AM. Learn more and register here.

For these events and more, visit our Kids Page here! Or follow on Twitter @WVPLYouth

December 12 Lego Club Photos!

We had a small group at Lego Club this past Thursday. The theme for this session was: ANYTHING. Here's what was built:

Our next sessions are:

• Thursday, December 19 @ 4:30 PM
• Thursday, December 26 @ 4:30 PM (an extra special session this month!)

Baby Story Time - December 12 - What Was Read

Tuesday's snow was the perfect backdrop to our Baby Story Time today! We read books and recited rhymes about winter and snow! It is perfect to be able to go out from story time and talk about the snow that was in our books today.


Baby Story Time at Blue Bell is a story time session geared specifically toward babies (ages 6 months to 18 months). We'll read stories, sing songs, chant rhymes, and play with baby! Baby Story Time is also an event for parents and caregivers to learn about early literacy skills to help prepare baby for reading as well as to help foster a love of reading. Our next session is January 9, 2014 at 10:15 AM. Drop in to check out how it works and you can sign up to be reminded of future sessions.

What Was Read

• Three Little Kittens Illustrated by Paul Galdone.:- JJ GAL
• This traditional rhyme in book form is a fun one to read to baby or toddlers.
•  Welcome Winter by Jill Ackerman ; illustrated by Nancy Davis.:- JJ BOARD ACK
• This little book talks about what happens in winter with interactive parts.
• Winter by Chris L. Demarest.:  - (request)
• Another little board book that introduces winter with two word phrases.

What We Did

• Sang my favorite opening and closing songs: "If You'd Like to Hear a Story" and "The More We Read Together." 
• Sang "Heads, Shoulders, Knees, and Toes."
• Recited a rhyme about "Five Little Snowmen."
• Recited the bounce rhyme "I bounce you here, there, everywhere." (Source)  

 Early Literacy Tip

• Phonological awareness is the ability to hear the rhythm of language and the smaller sounds within words. This ability is helpful to our babies when they start talking and reading. Researchers have found that it "helps children sound out words when they learn to read."
• The Holiday season is here and a great way to work on phonological awareness is to sing! Sing to baby any time of the year and make up songs or adapt.
  

Children's Events - Week of December 9

Here's what we have happening this week:

Monday, December 9

• Story-Guitar Time with Miss Michelle at Blue Bell at 10:30 AM.
• Make Holiday Ornaments at Ambler at 4:30 PM. Register at Ambler.

Tuesday, December 10

• Story-Guitar Time with Miss Michelle at Ambler at 10:30 AM. 
• Juggling Show at Blue Bell at 7 PM.

Wednesday, December 11

• Story-Guitar Time at 4:30 PM with Miss Michelle at Blue Bell.

Thursday, December 12

• Story-Guitar Time with Miss Michelle at Ambler at 4:30 PM.
• Blue Bell Lego Club at 4:30 PM at Blue Bell. 

Friday, December 13

• Story-Guitar Time with Miss Michelle at Blue Bell at 10:30 AM.

Saturday, December 14

• 2nd Saturday, Family Matinee Movie at 1:30 PM at Blue Bell.

For these events and more, visit our Kids Page here! Or follow on Twitter @WVPLYouth

Baby Story Time - December 5 - What Was Read

Today, I our theme was counting! Everyone enjoyed the stories and the rhymes.

There is one more session of Baby Story Time on December 12 at 10:10 AM! Drop in to see what it is about.

Baby Story Time at Blue Bell is a story time session geared specifically toward babies (ages 6 months to 18 months). We'll read stories, sing songs, chant rhymes, and play with baby! Baby Story Time is also an event for parents and caregivers to learn about early literacy skills to help prepare baby for reading as well as to help foster a love of reading.

What Was Read

• Ten Tiny Babies by Karen Katz.:- (Request)
• Readers start with one baby and we count up to ten! 
•  Counting Kisses: by Karen Katz - JJ KAT
• Time for fussy baby to go to bed! Let's count down our kisses.
•  Butterfly Colors and Counting by Jerry Pallotta ; illustrated by Shennen Bersani.:- JJ BOARD PAL
• Simple words and text show us 10 different types of butterflies and their colors.

What We Did

• Sang my favorite opening and closing songs: "If You'd Like to Hear a Story" and "The More We Read Together." 
• Recited a rhyme that started with: "Two Little Eyes to Look Around."
• Recited "Two Little Black Birds" (Traditional)
• Two little blackbirds (touch shoulders or hold out fingers)

  Sitting on a hill.

  One named Jack

  One named Jill.

  Fly away Jack. (Send hand away)

  Fly away Jill. (Send hand away)

  Come back Jack. (Return hand)

  Come back Jill. (Return hand) 
• Recited the bounce rhyme "I bounce you here, there, everywhere." (Source) 

Early Literacy Tip

• In the beginning I talked about print awareness in regards to books. Today, print awareness is about recognizing symbols. Just like pointing out a word in a book, pointing out how many on a page and the number symbol can help build recognition for a baby. We’re not teaching them to learn numbers, just introducing it.
• Talk and play help with the awareness of symbols! If you point to one and say “one” or point to a “one,” baby will see that. Counting is an opportunity to bring in all of the activities from writing in the sand, to point to a block with a number, to talking about how many of something there is.

Baby Story Time - November 21 - What Was Read

It seems I forgot to post the November 21st Baby Story Time (as I write this in December)! Oops! Here it is now. I hope you had a lovely Thanksgiving with family and friends alike and baby enjoyed Thanksgiving as well.

There is one more Baby Story Time on December 12 at 10:10 AM and that is when I'll announce how to sign up for future sessions.

Baby Story Time at Blue Bell is a story time session geared specifically toward babies (ages 6 months to 18 months). We'll read stories, sing songs, chant rhymes, and play with baby! Baby Story Time is also an event for parents and caregivers to learn about early literacy skills to help prepare baby for reading as well as to help foster a love of reading.

What Was Read

• Thanksgiving Cats / by Jean Marzollo ; illustrated by Hans Wilhelm.:  - JJ MAR
• These cats are getting ready for Thanksgiving! What are those kittens doing?
•  Family by Helen Oxenbury.- (Request)
•  A simple book of words of common family members.
• Fall by Chris L. Demarest.:- (Request)
• Simple words about things we can do in fall.

What We Did

• Sang my favorite opening and closing songs: "If You'd Like to Hear a Story" and "The More We Read Together."
• Recited a flannel rhyme "Five Little Pumpkins." (Source)
• Recited "My Turkey" with a turkey puppet! (Source: Delaware County Library System)
• Recited the bounce rhyme "I bounce you here, there, everywhere." (Source)

Early Literacy Tip

• The holiday season is a great time to build vocabulary. Babies can hear a variety of words from the food on the table to family members to decorations around the house. You are their teacher for new vocabulary, words and meaning, so your gestures and facial expressions will help teach them what the word is.
• Talk to baby! At the holidays, family members can also talk to baby, or you can take baby around and talk. Introduce family members or say “There is Uncle/Aunt!” Point to decorations, food, and elaborate and repeat. “Did you like the peas? Would you like more peas?” You, parents, caregivers, are their first teacher.

What Was Read - Morris Arboretum - December 3

Welcome December! What that means for the Morris Arboretum is lights and trains! (I took a small walk after Story Time this week). You know December also means? The beginning of winter! We read stories about snowmen and doing snow things!

What Was Read

• Snowmen All Year by Caralyn Buehner ; pictures by Mark Buehner. - JJ BUE
• What would you do if you could have a snowman all year? One boy talks about all of his plans if only his snowman would be made of some magic snow...
• Snowballs by Lois Ehlert. - JJ EHL
• Collect things and when snow falls, make a snow family!
• Frozen Noses by Jan Carr ; illustrated by Dorothy Donohue - JJ DON
• What do you do on a winter day? These frozen noses go through their snow day.

What We Did

• Sang my favorite opening and closing songs: "If You'd Like to Hear a Story" and "The More We Read Together."
• Recited "Five Little Snowmen."
• Sang "Make a Snowball" with actions.
• Sand and danced the "Snowkey Pokey."

Children's Events - Week of December 2

Here's what we have coming up this week:

Monday, December 2

• Story-Guitar Time with Miss Michelle at Blue Bell at 10:30 AM.

Tuesday, December 3

• Story Time at Morris Arboretum with Ms. Tegan at 10:30 AM. Register with Morris Arboretum. 
• Story-Guitar Time with Miss Michelle at Ambler at 10:30 AM. 

Wednesday, December 4

•  Story-Guitar Time at 4:30 PM with Miss Michelle at Blue Bell.

Thursday, December 5

• Baby Story Time with Ms. Tegan at Blue Bell at 10:10 AM.
• Story-Guitar Time at 4:30 PM with Miss Michelle at Ambler.

Friday, December 6

• Story-Guitar Time with Miss Michelle at Blue Bell at 10:30 AM.

Saturday, December 7

• No events planned today.

For these events and more, visit our Kids Page here! Or follow on Twitter @WVPLYouth