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.

Children's Events - Week of November 25

Here's what's coming up this week:

Monday, November 25

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

Tuesday, November 26

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

 Wednesday, November 27

• NO Story-Guitar Time today.
• WVPL closes at 5 PM.

Thursday, November 28

• WVPL is closed .
• Happy Thanksgiving!

Friday, November 29

• NO Story-Guitar Time.
• Money Magic Show with Craig Collis at 4:00 PM at Blue Bell.

Saturday, November 30

• Check out the Teen Blog for the Teen Event today.
  
  
  

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

Children's Events - Week of November 18

Here's what's coming up this week:

Monday, November 18

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

Tuesday, November 19

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

 Wednesday, November 20

• CANCELLED - 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, November 21

• Baby Story Time with Ms. Tegan at 10:00 AM. Learn more here! Registration is full.
• Blue Bell Lego Club at 4:30 PM at Blue Bell.
• Thanksgiving Party at 4:30 PM at Ambler. (This event is full).
• Be sure to check the Teen Blog for a special teen event!

Friday, November 22

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

Saturday, November 23

• Art with Miss Laura at 10:30 AM at Ambler.
• Tween/Teen Crafternoon: Wrap It Up! Gift Wrap Crafts at 2 PM at Blue Bell. Learn more and register here.

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

International Games Day 2013!

Happy  International Games Day where libraries around the world host gaming at the library! We had our own little version right here in Blue Bell. We had families trying out some new games and our Xbox. Here are a few of the highlights in photos:

Playing Candy Land

Young Jedis training on the Xbox 360

Conquering the world with Heroes of the World. (Many thanks to the family who shared this!)

A young Jedi in training.

Mom teaching her daughter how to play.

 We offer gaming programs occasionally throughout the year, but be sure to look for the next International Games Day in November 2014.

Baby Story Time - November 14 - What Was Read

Baby Story Time is going through some changes! Please be patient as I try out some new things.

This week, we had a great crowd attending for our theme on Opposites! Again, we're not teaching the concept, but working to introduce the concept and words to your baby.

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 We Read

• Tickle Time by Sandra Boynton - JJ BOARD BOY
• This little song inside a book is a perfect activity and opposite book to share from infant all the way up to toddlers! The words lend themselves to a beat.
•  Opposites In My House by Kristin Eck - JJ BOARD ECK
• One word a page, but each page spread shows the opposite being represented. A full photograph is show against a white background. A wonderful concept book for baby.
•  Happy Dog, Sad Dog by Sam Lloyd - JJ BOARD LLO
• When I read this, I added "We have..." and repeated that phrase for the book. You can also just read the words of this opposite book.

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 called "5 Clean & Squeaky Pigs." I adapted this from a longer version I used this summer.
• Sang a song similar to "Row, Row, Row Your Boat" but made it into an action activity where we clapped our hands, patted our knees, and hugged a friend.
• Recited the bounce rhyme "I bounce you here, there, everywhere." (Source)

Early Literacy Tip

• In order to better understand their world, babies need to develop background knowledge. Background knowledge is similar to laying a foundation. We’re not forcing them to learn a concept, but introducing it, maybe with books, maybe with play, helps ready your child for success in learning.
• Play is a great way to build literacy! Babies explore through their world, so play is a great opportunity to reinforce and introduce concepts for their background knowledge. When you are playing with baby, mention how something is hard or soft, light or dark, baby is up and now baby is down.

Baby Story Time - November 7 - What Was Read

Baby Story Time is in full swing again and we had a lovely group to enjoy stories. As one caregiver guessed, we read about Cats & Dogs 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.

What Was Read

• Animal Friends –by Maya Ajmera & John D. Ivanko - JJ BOARD AJM
• Animals are our friends. Learn how they fit into our world.
• Up Dog byHazel Hutchins – JJ BOARD HUT
• A messy little puppy enjoys a bone, but also learns the consequences. 
• Doggies by Sandra Boynton – (request)
• A counting book of dogs!

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 Kittens" Rhyme. 
• Recited Action Rhyme "I Have Fur." (Source)
• Recited rhyme "Leg Over Leg" (Source)
• "Leg over leg,
  The dog went to Dover.
  When he came to a wall,
  He jumped right over."
• Recited the bounce rhyme "I bounce you here, there, everywhere." (Source)

Early Literacy Tip

• Print awareness includes knowing how books are held and read. Researchers say that it is important that children know how to handle a book, and it is a step to reading. Books also show babies how important print is to convey ideas. This may seem like an abstract concept to baby, but is part of the foundation we’re building. 
• When you read with your child, take a moment to point out words on the page, especially if you are reading a “word” book that has one word on the page. Don’t ask them to repeat it, just point to it, read it, and continue reading. If you have a book that has a repeating phrase, such as our Up Dog, you can point out "Up." This helps inform babies that books aren’t just about pictures, but they are about words and ideas.
  

What Was Read - Morris Arboretum - November 5

Can you believe it is November all ready? The clocks have been set back, the leaves have turned brilliant colors, and I'm sharing Thanksgiving stories! We had a small group at Morris Arboretum's Story Time, but we had fun nonetheless!

What Was Read

•  Ten Turkeys In the Road by Brenda Reeves Sturgis - JJ STU
• Ten crazy turkeys disappear one by one as a farmer watches.

• The Firefighters' Thanksgiving by Maribeth Boelts - JJ BOE
• The firefighters are getting ready to make a feast, but just as they get ready, a call comes in. When a fellow firefighter is hurt, what happens to Thanksgiving?
• Thank You Thanksgiving by David Milgrim - JJ MIL
• A little girl is sent out to pick up some last minute supplies and says thank you to things she passes by.

 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 Turkey (Rhyme found here)
• " The turkey is a funny bird.
  Its head goes wobble, wobble.
  And all it knows is just one word:
  "Gobble, gobble, gobble." "
  
• Sang and danced the Turkey Trot! (To the tune of the Hokey Pokey)

Children's Events - Week of November 11

Here's what's coming up this week:

Monday, November 11

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

Tuesday, November 12

• Story-Guitar Time with Miss Michelle at Ambler at 10:30 AM. 
• CANCELLED Middle School Book Group at Blue Bell at 4:30 PM. For those in grades 6-8.

 Wednesday, November 13

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

Thursday, November 14

• Baby Story Time with Ms. Tegan at 10:00 AM. Learn more here! Registration is full.
• Story-Guitar Time at 4:30 PM with Miss Michelle at Ambler.
• Blue Bell Lego Club at 4:30 PM at Blue Bell.

Friday, November 15

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

Saturday, November 16

• International Games Day! 11 AM to 1 PM. Drop in, play some games with the family.

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

Children's Events - Week of November 4

Here's what's coming up this week:

Monday, November 4

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

Tuesday, November 5 (Today is election day! Blue Bell is a polling place!)

• 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, November 6

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

Thursday, November 7

• Baby Story Time with Ms. Tegan at 10:00 AM. Learn more here! Registration is full.
• There is NO Story-Guitar Time today due to...
• Meet the Geeks at 4:30 PM at Blue Bell. This is  where you can find Miss Michelle today.

Friday, November 8

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

Saturday, November 9

• Art with Benita  at 10:30 AM at Ambler.
• 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

Children's Events - Week of October 28

Here's what's coming up this week:

Monday, October 28

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

Tuesday, October 29

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

 Wednesday, October 30

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

Thursday, October 31

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

Friday, November 1

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

Saturday, November 2

• No events this weekend

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

Children's Events - Week of October 21

Here's what's coming up this week:

Monday, October 21

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

Tuesday, October 22

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

 Wednesday, October 23

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

Thursday, October 24

• Story-Guitar Time at 4:30 PM with Miss Michelle at Ambler.
• Juggling Show and Halloween Party at 7:00 PM at Ambler.

Friday, October 25

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

Saturday, October 26

• Art with Laura at Ambler at 10:30 AM.

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

Baby Story Time - October 17 - What Was Read

We've wrapped up the first Fall Baby Story Time session for 2013 with an almost full house! Our second Fall session starts November 7th. At the moment, the session (5-weeks) is full, but please do sign up on our waiting list as spots do open up.

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.

Busy Busy Babies was our theme today! Vroom! Zoom!

What Was Read

• Where is Baby's Belly Button? : a lift-the-flap book by Karen Katz.:
• Where are baby's hands, belly button, feet, and more? See where they are hiding.
• Llama Llama Zippity-Zoom by Anna Dewdney.: - JJ BOARD DEW
• Llama Llama of Red Pajama Fame is out and about with his friends, zooming and vrooming and whoosing!
• Busy Chickens by John Schindel and Steven Holt.:  - JJ BOARD SCH
• Chickens are busy doing lots of things! Some things baby can do, while other things are what chickens do 

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 "Head, Shoulders, Knees, and Toes" while pointing to the body part.
• Sang "The Wheels on the Bus."
• Recited a bounding rhyme titled "I'm Bouncing!"

 Early Literacy Tip

• One topic we have not covered is letter knowledge. At this age, letters are worth introducing, but it will take time for your child to recognize the letter. Letter knowledge is the ability to identify the first letter in his/her name and to find it in books. Use letter toys as you play, or point out letters as you read, which is today’s tip. 
•  Try to read every day, a few minutes here, a few minutes there. As your baby grows older, s/he will sit for longer stories and start to understand how to use a book. Point out pictures, letters. Gently trace the letter with their finger.

Children's Events - Week of October 14

Here's what's coming up this week:

Monday, October 14

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

Tuesday, October 15

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

 Wednesday, October 16

• 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, October 17

• Baby Story Time with Ms. Tegan at 10:00 AM. Learn more and sign up here!
• Story-Guitar Time at 4:30 PM with Miss Michelle at Ambler.
• Blue Bell Lego Club at 4:30 PM at Blue Bell.

Friday, October 18

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

Saturday, October 19

• No events this weekend.

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

Baby Story Time - October 10 - What Was Read

I'm getting over a cold, which I talked about before we started. I talked about how I couldn't smell because of my cold and guess what? Today's theme was SENSES!

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

• Show me! by Tom Tracy ; pictures by Darcia Labrosse.- JJ BOARD TRA
• Not necessarily a senses book, but Mom points out on baby all the wonderful parts that make up baby. A great interactive book too in that you can mimic the actions in the story.
• I Hear by Helen Oxenbury - (Request from another library)
• What does Baby hear on this particular day?
• I See by Helen Oxenbury. - JJ BOARD OXE
• What does Baby see on this particular day?
• I Touch by Helen Oxenbury. - JJ BOARD OXE
• What does Baby touch on this particular day?
• Baby Happy, Baby Sad by Leslie Patricelli. - (Request for another library)
• Things that make baby happy or baby.

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 about how two eyes see, two ears hear, one nose smells, and one mouth eats yummy treats.
• Sang "Head, Shoulders, Knees, and Toes" as we pointed to each part.
• Recited a bounce rhyme called "Trot, Trot to Boston."

Early Literacy Tip

• 
  
  

  Background Knowledge: Children are learning through their sense from day 1 and all of that learning is setting up a foundation for them as they grow older. This background knowledge is important for child. While it may not seem they understand the concept of senses, they do recognize that the floor feels different (carpet vs. wood) and that something looks different. Talk to them about their world. Talk about what they may be hearing, seeing, or touching (“Oh, that feels soft”). The descriptors you use help lay the foundation for reading and understanding their world.
• Talk! Talk! Talk! Talk to your baby. Narrate the day or talk about what is going on or think out loud as you make a meal and they watch. Use “I feel,” “I hear,” as jumping off points to introduce new words and reinforce old ones. Talk in specifics in an attempt to identify things. Baby doesn’t always know that “it” means the chair or phone.