Touch-a-Truck | Bus for Us Recap!

On a windy, yet sunny day, I traveled out from the library to visit Lower Gwynedd Township to share our wonderful PA One Book, Every Young Child selection: The Bus For Us. There were four vehicles to check out at the township building and then you could travel the "Book Trial" to the end for a free copy of the book and to learn about our new Home Energy Audit Kits we have for check out. Later in the day, our Trucks did go down to one, but it was still a fun event!

Learn more about the PA One Book and what it is all about here.

Baby Story Times - April 25 - What Was Read

Cluck! Cluck! Cluck! We were busy, busy animals in this session with animal stories and songs. Let's check out what was read on April 25!


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

•  Whose toes are those? / words by Sally Symes ; pictures by Nick Sharratt.
• A fun lift the flap book that asks whose toes are those? 
• Busy chickens / John Schindel and Steven Holt. 
• Those chickens are up to something. What are they doing to keep busy?
• Up dog / by Hazel Hutchins ; art by Fanny.: 
• A little dog digs up a bone and then chews it on the couch! Uh-OH! 

What We Did

• Sang "Heads, Shoulders, Knees, & Toes" and pointed to the body part
• Sang "Old MacDonald"
• Recited the bouncing rhyme "This is the way the baby/farmer/jockey rides..." while bouncing baby faster and faster
• Sang my favorite opening and closing songs: "If You'd Like to Hear a Story" and "The More We Read Together"

Early Literacy Tip

• Phonological Awareness – It is very important that children hear the various syllables that form the basis of words. Talking, reading, and singing are all ways to introduce words with different syllables to Baby. Having this skill in place helps a child later when s/he starts to read and practices sounding out words. 
• Singing brings phonological awareness to life for a child. Songs break down syllables and break down words for Baby to hear. It also provides an opportunity to make sounds that match syllables Baby will encounter.

Baby Story Time - April 18 - What Was Read

VROOM! Babies and caregivers drove to the library to listen to fun stories and sing songs in our first four week baby story time session. This session's theme was inspired by a new board book from the Llama Llama books! ZOOM!

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

• Go Baby Go! by Marilyn Janovitz. - JJ BOARD JAN
• When Baby wakes up, Cat and Dog are there to join in Baby's adventures outside!
• Llama Llama Zippity-Zoom by Anna Dewdney. - JJ BOARD DEW
• Llama Llama and friend play and move outside. Zoom!
• The Babies On the Bus by Karen Katz. - JJ KAT
• The familiar tune gets a different spin in this tale of babies riding the bus to school.

What We Did

• Sang "Heads, Shoulders, Knees, & Toes" and pointed to the body part
• Performed Actions to the book The Babies on the Bus
• Sang my favorite opening and closing songs: "If You'd Like to Hear a Story" and "The More We Read Together."

Early Literacy Tip

• Background Knowledge/Narrative Skills – The more Baby knows, the more Baby grows. This is more about putting things into place for Baby when s/he learns to read. As Baby interacts with the world, help introduce items by explaining what they are, but also encouraging play and exploration. The more background knowledge of the world baby gets, the easier it will be for him/her to understand the world. 
• How to support: Play! Talk about how Baby is playing. “You are rolling the ball!” Tell mini-stories that describe what baby is doing. “We are riding in the car, going to story time.” As Baby gets ready for sleep, tell or read stories, maybe even your own. When Baby starts babbling, start asking questions and have them help tell stories when they talk.

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

Egg Hunt 2013 Recap!

On March 23, WVPL hosted our annual Egg Hunt in the Library! We had lots of families come in to check out the Egg Hunt! Check out the pictures below to get an idea of 2,000-3,000 Eggs in our Children's Area.

The Empire Invades WVPL!

On March 2, 2013, the Wissahickon Valley Public Library in Blue Bell was invaded by The Empire from Star Wars! The library welcomed 10 characters including Darth Vader, Storm Troopers, an Imperial Officer, Boba Fett, a functioning R2D2, and others from the Garrison Carida Chapter of the 501st Legion for this 2-hour event. During the event, children and parents participated by answering trivia questions, asking questions of the guests, and, most importantly getting pictures with their favorite characters! The characters took some time to explore our library as well. Some highlights included Storm Troopers trying to find the droids in the library catalog, Darth Vader behind the circulation desk, and dancing with R2D2, Storm Troopers and anyone in the library by the main entrance. A great time was had by everyone who attended.*

Look for The Empire to return in March 2014!

Check out the pictures below!

 

 

*This article also appeared in our Spring 2013 newsletter coming soon.

Baby Story Time -Feb. 28, 2013 - What Was Read

Moo! Moo! Baby Story Time met for the second time in February, on Thursday, February 28 at 10:30 AM with Ms. Tegan (that's me!) and a small group. A fun time was had by all as we explored the theme of Animals! For a short time after Story Time, I opened up Play Place and everyone had some time to play and chat.

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.

Our next session will be Thursday, March 21 at 10:30 AM. Be sure to sign up to save your seat as spaces are limited (10 babies max).

What We Read

• Are You a Cow? by Sandra Boynton. - JJ BOARD BOY
• The narrator wants to know what you are. What are you though?   
• Noisy Beasties by Neecy Twinem. - JJ BOARD TWI
• Animals make lots of noises. Who makes what noise?
• Country Animals by Lucy Cousins. - JJ BOARD COU
• Animals you find in the country or woods.
• Gossie & Gertie by Olivier Dunrea.: - JJ DUN
• Gossie & Gertie are the best of friends and do everything together. Or do they?

What We Did

• Recited the rhyme "Leg, over Leg, the Dog Went to Dover" with motions
• Sang "Heads, Shoulders, Knees, & Toes" and pointed to the body part
• Recited the bouncing rhyme "This is the way the baby/farmer/jockey rides..." while bouncing baby faster and faster.
• Sang my favorite opening and closing songs: "If You'd Like to Hear a Story" and "The More We Read Together."

Early Literacy Tip

• Support phonological awareness by introducing sounds, which help with hearing the smaller sounds in the words. When you play or read or when you are out or about, say the animal sounds, car or vehicle sounds, house sounds, or any other sounds. If your child is starting to talk, have them repeat the sound with you (if they can).