What We Read in Baby Story Time on November 6

What is Baby Story Time? It is a special story time designed for babies and caregivers that includes books, rhymes, and songs. We meet for about 15 minutes and have a little playtime afterward. Baby Story Time happens Thursdays at 10:15 AM. Next session is November 13 at 10:15 AM. See you then!

Our Theme: Food!

Early Literacy Tip and Activity: Food provides a rich learning opportunity. Add to their vocabulary by looking at their food with all five senses (when possible) and using descriptive words.

What We Read

• Where is Baby's Yummy Tummy? : a Karen Katz lift-the-flap book by Karen Katz.:- JJ BOARD KAT
• Baby has such a "yummy tummy" and "toes good enough to eat" but where are they hiding?
• I Smell Honey by Andrea and Brian Pinkney.  - JJ BOARD PIN
• The mother and child are cooking in the kitchen. What are they making?
• Yummy Yucky  by Leslie Patricelli
• Some foods are yummy and others are yucky. This baby tells you what s/he finds yummy and yucky.

What We Did

• Sang  my favorite opening and closings songs: "If You'd Like to Hear a Story" and "The More We Read Together."
• Sang "Head, Shoulders, Knees, and Toes."
• Recited "This Little Cow."
• Sang "Do You Know the Muffin Man?"
• Recited "Pat-a-cake, Pat-a-cake."

What We Read for Toddle Time - June 28

We had a great group for Toddle Time today! We listened to stories and tried out some new things.

Toddle Time meets on Saturdays in the summer. We'll take a break next weekend for the Fourth of July, but we'll be back July 12 at 11:15 AM. Hope you'll join us next time!

Theme: Food! (Right before lunch time)

What We Read

• Lunch / written and illustrated by Denise Fleming.:- JJ FLE
• This little mouse is HUNGRY. What does he eat?
  
• My teeth: - JJ BOARD MY
• A counting book about teeth!
• Brownie & Pearl grab a bite / by Cynthia Rylant ; pictures by Brian Biggs.: - JJ RYL
• It's lunchtime. What would make a good lunch (or snack time)?

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 "Pat-a-cake, pat-a-cake."
• Sang "Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes."
• Sang "Do you know the muffin man?"

We hope to see you next time!

Baby Story Time - What Was Read - May 1

"April showers bring May flowers!" That best described April 30. I saw someone suggest that all of the rain for April happened in that one day. We'll have to see about the flowers, but wow! The first day of May was a lovely, sunny, and warm day!

Here's what we read.

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. We meet Thursdays, at 10:15 AM.

Theme: Colors!

What Was Read:

• Flaptastic Colors  [text, Charlie Gardner ; U. S. editor, Jennifer Quasha].:  - JJ BOARD GAR
• One bright object! What is its color? Flip the flap and you'll find the color as well as a few more objects in that color!
•  Play Baby Play! by Marilyn Janovitz.: - JJ BOARD JAN
• Baby is with friends and will get to decide what to play with...until baby gets tired...
•  Orange Pear Apple Bear by Emily Gravett.:- JJ GRA
• This book is a play on words as bear becomes and then eats the fruit in the title.

What We Did:

• Recited "Baa, Baa, Black Sheep" and had black and white sheep.
• Sang "Heads, Shoulders, Knees, and Toes."
• Recited "Bumping up and down in my little red wagon." Then blue, then green wagon.
• Sang my favorite opening and closing songs: "If You'd Like to Hear a Story" and "The More We Read Together." 

Early Literacy Tip

• Color books are a great way to introduce books to children and bring about print awareness. Use books to show them familiar things and mention what color they are. Talk about colors throughout the day!

Baby Story Time - What Was Read - March 20

Finally! It is the first day of Spring! During Baby Story Time, we read stories about Spring and only thought about warm weather, the flowers, rain, and more.

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. We meet Thursdays, at 10:15 AM.

Theme: Spring!

What Was Read:

•  Baby Loves Spring! by Karen Katz- JJ BOARD KAT
• In this lift the flap book, a baby dressed in a rain coat and rain boots explores the sights and sounds of spring. What's that?
•  Welcome Spring - illustrated by Nancy Davis ; written by Jill Ackerman. - JJ BOARD ACK
• Another baby dressed in a rain coat and boots explores sights and sounds of spring. Instead of flaps, this book has parts for baby to feel like a squishy flower.
•  Butterfly Colors and Counting by Jerry Pallotta ; illustrated by Shennen Bersani. - JJ BOARD PAL 
• Count up to 10 with ten different butterflies or just talk about the colors of the butterflies.

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 starts with "I saw a little bird, hop, hop, hop."
• Recited a rhyme about "Two Little Black Birds" named Jack & Jill.
• Recited a rhyme about going "Up-up-up" and "Down-Down-Down."

 Early Literacy Tip

• Ah! Spring! The weather is changing and we'll be outside a lot soon! Spring is a great time to introduce more background knowledge, especially through play! Play in the dirt as you garden. Have baby check out the tools you use (supervise them, of course). The more they learn, the more they know.

Baby Story Time - What Was Read - February 27

Wow! It has been a month since I've been able to host Baby Story Time due to the weather or other plans. Even though something is predicted in the weather for next week, hopefully we can all get back on schedule for Baby Story Time and enjoy stories in the cozy library.

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. We meet Thursdays, at 10:15 AM.

Our Theme: Bedtime!

What We Read

• Nighty Night Little Green Monster by Ed Emberley.:  - JJ EMB
• A little monster is getting ready for bed! The reader gets to point out the parts that make a face then say goodnight to each part. A great bedtime story to say "nighty-night."
• Jack-- it's bedtime by Rebecca Elgar  - JJ BOARD ELG
• Jack is getting ready for bed in this lift-the-flap, counting book.
•  Hush, Little Baby, Don't Say a Word.:- JJ BOARD HUS
• The popular nursery rhyme and song gets a story book treatment with lovely pictures of soft items.

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 "Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star."
• Sang "Heads, Shoulders, Knees & Toes."
• Recited "5 Little Monkeys" as a bounce rhyme.

Early Literacy Tip

• Talk, talk, talk to your baby. Pick a night and narrate their bedtime routine. You'll be reinforcing the background knowledge, but you'll also be teaching them that stories follow a sequence of events.

Baby Story Time - What Was Read - January 30

BRR! It has been so cold lately that some of us have been thinking about going to a certain special place: THE BEACH. All of our stories today featured the beach and warm thoughts!

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. We meet Thursdays, at 10:15 AM.

Our Theme: Beach!

What We Read

• Brownie & Pearl Take a Dip by Cynthia Rylant ; pictures by Brian Biggs.: - JJ RYL
• It's a hot day and perfect for a little swim. Brownie and Pearl head outside but what happens when Pearl (the cat) falls into the little pool (hint: cats normally don't like water!)? 
• Beach Day! by Anahid Hamparian ; illustrated by Kristin Sorra.:  - JJ BOARD HAM
• What do you do when you go to the beach? Say hello to everything of course!
•  At the Beach by Salina Yoon.:- JJ BOARD YOO
• Check out the shiny things at the beach from fish to shells to swimsuits! A word book to help build knowledge of the beach.

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 sea and boat rhyme.
• Sang "Row, Row, Row Your Boat."
• Recited the bouncing rhyme: Trot Trot to Boston.

Early Literacy Tip

• Singing is a great way to introduce phonological awareness. Babies need to hear many, many words and also hear how those words are broken down into syllables. Singing is perfect for this and sing as much as you can (or recite).

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."):

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.
  

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.

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 - 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.

What Was Read - Stories in the Park - Week of July 22

Let's talk about this weather. Somehow, this week, we finally got some really nice weather for Stories in the Park. It was fantastic! Although, Thursday was a little too chilly for some of us. We enjoyed stories either way! Here's what we read about EARTH.

What Was Read

• On Earth by G. Brain Karas - JJ KAR: A simple, scientific explanation of the Earth just for preschoolers.
• An Island Grows by Lola M. Schaefer ; illustrated by Cathie Felstead.: - JJ SCH - How does an island grow? It can't grow like a little boy or girl grows. Here's how an island grows.
• The World Is Waiting For You by Barbara Kerley.:- JJ KER - A beautifully photographed book takes readers around the world! See if you can guess everyone's favorite part.

What We Did

• Sang "Five Bottles of Juice on the Wall."
• Sang and acted out "The Earth Goes Round and Round."
• Sang "Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star."
• Sang my favorite opening song: "If You'd Like To Hear a Story" and closing song: "The More We Read Together."

July 30 at 10:30 AM is the LAST time we'll be meeting at Wentz Run Park so stop by! We will meet at Oxford two more times.

What Was Read: Stories in the Park, Week of June 24

Summer Events are in full swing here at Wissahickon Valley Public Library! We started our Stories in the Park Series on the week of June 24. Ms. Tegan is going to two parks this year!

• On Tuesdays at 10:30 AM until July 30, I'll be at Wentz Run by the playground.
• On Thursdays at 10:30 AM, until August 1, I'll be at Oxford Park by the playground.

 What We Read (note: you can count these titles in the summer reading log if your child attended).

• One Dark Night by Lisa Wheeler ; illustrated by Ivan Bates - JJ WHE - On a dark night, when the moon disappears, Mouse and Mole get lost and hear something! What could it be?
• Let's Dig and Burrow by Anna Nilsen ; illustrated by Anni Axworthy - (Request) - What animals like to "Dig and Burrow" in this story?
• Underground by Denise Fleming. - JJ FLE - Under the ground, there is lots to see. What do you see?
• Monday The Bullfrog - This puppet is a book! The book is in his mouth! Monday the Bullfrog is a hungry frog and he eats lots of yummy-to-him things.

What We Did

• Sang my favorite opening and closing songs: "If You'd Like to Hear a Story" and "The More We Read Together" 
• At Wentz Run, I shared a little rhyme about a Little Mouse who hides behind a rock, tree, hedge and hill. We played two rounds, but had to stop because the wind kept winning.
• At Oxford, we sang "Ten Little Earthworms" to the tune of a popular song.
• We acted like little mice with a rhyme called "Walk Little Mouse."

Join us at the parks this summer where we'll sing songs and read stories!

*Please note, on July 9, I will be at Morris Arboretum, but Miss Sally will be there to read stories!

What Was Read: Morris Arboretum - June 11

On Tuesday, June 11, I made my way to Morris Arboretum. It was a beautiful day for walking around and to enjoy stories! We were inside though because the outdoor seats were still wet. This was my second story time there. If you've been to one of my "Stories In the Park," it is very similar to that, only at Morris Arboretum.

Our theme for the day was BUGS to celebrate their large bugs that are hanging out at Morris Arboretum. If you go to Morris Arboretum to check out the giant bugs, spend some time talking with your child. Help created background knowledge by talking about the giant bugs and facts or experiences with the real bug. Example: Are ants really that big? Do they go in rows? Remember when there were ants in the kitchen and we watched them?

What We Read

• The Very Busy Spider by Eric Carle. - JJ CAR - The wind blows spider to a fence post and she begins building a web. The farm animals ask her to join them, but can she?
•  Ten Little Caterpillars by Bill Martin Jr. ; illustrated by Lois Ehlert- JJ MAR - Ten very different caterpillars are doing ten very different things. Check out the caterpillars featured in this book as well as what kind of butterfly or moth they become!
• I love Bugs! by Emma Dodd. - JJ DOD - Big bugs, little bugs, slimy bugs, bouncy bugs. This little boy LOVES bugs and he'll tell you all about them, including his favorite bug.
• Can You Make a Scary Face? by Jan Thomas- A bug asks us to play pretend, so I asked the crowd to participate with us!
• Monday The Bullfrog - This puppet is a book! The book is in his mouth! Monday the Bullfrog is a hungry frog and he eats lots of yummy-to-him things.

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 the "Itsy Weentsy Spider" 3 times, normal, squeaky, and low voices.
• Recited "Here is a Beehive" and I had five bees fly from my hands to my board.
• Acted out Can you Make a Scary Face?

I'll be at Morris Arboretum again on July 9 at 10:30 AM*! (Stories in the Park at Wentz Run will be with Miss Sally that day).

*Please note if you want to attend this story time, you must register in advance and you may need to pay an admission fee (unless you are a member). We do have a Morris Arboretum pass available to check out of the library.  I am there once a month and another librarian from Montgomery County is there on the other Tuesday.

Baby Story Time - May 9 - What Was Read

BRRRR. WHIRR. CLUNK! SQUIRM! Underground and moving dirt was our theme during Baby Story Time on Thursday, May 9.

Baby Story Time at Blue Bell is a story time session geared specifically toward babies (ages 6 months to 23 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

•  Underground by Denise Fleming.
• Brightly colored and illustrated work that follows a robin and a family planting a tree.
• Trucks by Debbie Powell
• Whir! Brr! What are those construction vehicles doing?
• Dig it, dump it, push it! by Holly Karapetkova
• Construction vehicles at work!

What We Did

• Sang "Heads, Shoulders, Knees, & Toes" and pointed to the body part
• Recited the bouncing rhyme "Bouncing up and down in my little red wagon..." while bouncing baby faster and faster
• Recited a peek-a-boo rhyme: "Where is Baby?"
• Sang my favorite opening and closing songs: "If You'd Like to Hear a Story" and "The More We Read Together"

Early Literacy Tip

• Print Awareness – This includes how to handle a book and read a book. For a Baby, a book is something to test out like a toy. Reading to a child from the beginning is very important. You don’t have to finish the book right away. If Baby gets uncomfortable, just put the book down and pick up again later. Also, help the child explore the book. They may turn pages (board books are perfect for Babies).
• Example: This summer we’ll have a summer reading club. Babies are allowed to participate in this as well! You can count what you read to baby toward the goal. Keep track of the books you finish reading, even if it takes two sittings. Every little bit helps.