What Was Read: Morris Arboretum Story Time - May 28

On a wet and rainy Tuesday (May 28), I made my way to Morris Arboretum for my first every story time* there! We've started a new partnership with Morris Arboretum where I'll be visiting once a month to read stories, sing songs, and perform action rhymes. If you've been to one of my "Stories In the Park," it is very similar to that, only at Morris Arboretum.

Despite the rain, we had a good crowd from all over to hear stories, sing songs, and act like a train! Our theme that day was trains since the garden railway opened just before my story time.

What We Read

• Trouble on the Tracks by Kathy Mallat. - JJ MAL - Everything is in order for the train to travel the route it has traveled many times before. Wait! What is that on the tracks? There are two large green eyes! Oh no!
• Two Little Trains by Margaret Wise Brown ; pictures by Leo and Diane Dillon. - JJ BRO - Two little trains are heading west. One little train is a real train traveling across the country while another is crossing the house. This is a fun story for the juxtaposition of the pictures and use of imagination to find the similarities in the differing situations.
• And The Train Goes--:- JJ BEE - Here comes the train! See all the colorful train cars as they travel down the track. A fun one for making silly sounds with your child.

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 song called "Clickety-clack, Clickety-Clack" and counted the lovely trains.
• Sang an echo song called "Down by the  Station" From SurLaLune Story Time
• Recited a rhyme called "This is a Choo-Choo Train" where we acted like trains! From SurLaLune Story Time
• Sang The ABCs!

*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.

The Library Goes Back In Time! #NLW13

On Tuesday, April 16, at 7 PM, students came back to school at the library. This wasn't just any ordinary school. The school night featured lessons and artifacts from a class from 100 years ago!

The Wissahickon Valley Historical Society and the Historical Society of Whitpain came to the library to teach students about class from the late 1800s. Students learned how teachers taught multiple classes in one room, how students got to school, what they wore, and were able to check out items from the collections.

Students had a great time at the event! From my observation, the toy table was probably a big hit. Kids 100 years ago did not have electronic devices, so what did they play? Students enjoyed rolling a hoop, throwing hoops, and creating their own games with the items available. One student did say he'd probably like to go to school 100 years ago.

Check out the slideshow below. Once again, a HUGE thank you to the Wissahickon Valley Historical Society and the Historical Society of Whitpain for visiting the library and presenting a wonderfully informative event!

 

#NLW13 = National Library Week 2013

How to Talk To Children & Useful Books Following a Tradgedy - A List from WVPL

We are saddened by the tragedy that that happened in Newtown. Our hearts go out to the families of the victims.

Here are resources to help explain or on how to comfort your family.

Books

Library Books to Help Kids Cope with Newtown Tragedy From Galley  Cat
A list of books that are linked to WorldCat so that you may find the library closest to you in locating the books.

Why Did It Happen? Books to Help Kids Cope With Tragedy from  School Library Journal.
A listing of books with reviews that can help parents and educators to explain the tragedy or to offer hope to children.

Comfort Books from Shelf Awareness
About how now is the time to grab books that comfort us from old favorites to books that allow us to process what happened in our a child's own way.

Talking and Coping

What is Child Traumatic Stress? from National Child Traumatic Stress Network (via PA Department of Education)

Helping Your Children Manage Distress in the Aftermath of a School Shooting from American Psychological Assication (via PA Department of Education)

The Best Resources on Talking With Children About Tragedies from Larry Ferlazzo's Websites of the Day (via Twitter)
A collection of links for parents and educators on talking with children.

Helping Kids Cope With Tragedy from Dr. David Walsh
This was actually published for a different tragedy (the post is now updated). The information is broken down a child's age (Preschool, Elementary, etc).

There are lots of resources available online at this time. If you see something that should be included, leave it in the comments to be evaluated for this list. Some links my overlap.