Story Time, Toddler Time, and Book Babies Now Live
Story Time, Toddler Time, and Book Babies Now Live
Story Time Now Live
Story Time, Toddler Time, and Book Babies are now LIVE in our Community Room starting June 15th!
Story Time, Toddler Time, and Book Babies are now LIVE in our Community Room starting June 15th!
We love to laugh! Ha, ha, ha, ha! Laughing begins with the letter “L”. It’s good for the spirit, and it’s just plain fun! So have a little fun with these books, songs, and activities. And perhaps, you might yourself laughing out loud, too.
Ages 2-5
“A daily dose of laughter from reading funny books is good for the soul — and great for growing readers. Naturally, most children enjoy reading and listening to humorous stories. As parents, we can use this interest in silly books to boost literacy skills.”
“Grab a stack of funny books and let your child’s love for reading grow one giggle at a time!” You can find humorous books in our online catalog here.
Hop the Croakey Pokey
As flies buzz all around,
Right in the froggy’s mouth!
Don’t miss the froggy fun in this hopping and bopping version of a favorite traditional song and game.
Daddy did a funny dance, what’ll I do?
Daddy did a funny dance, what’ll I do?
Daddy did a funny dance, what’ll I do?
I’ll laugh and chuckle and giggle
*Chorus:
Ha ha, ha ha ha
Ho ho, ho ho ho
Hee hee, hee hee hee
It’s fun to laugh together
Mommy’s gonna tickle me, what’ll I do?
Mommy’s gonna tickle me, what’ll I do?
Mommy’s gonna tickle me, what’ll I do?
I’ll laugh and chuckle and giggle
*Chorus
Brother made a silly face, what’ll I do?
Brother made a silly face, what’ll I do?
Brother made a silly face, what’ll I do?
I’ll laugh and chuckle and giggle
*Chorus
Sister blew some bubblegum, what’ll I do?
Sister blew some bubblegum, what’ll I do?
Sister blew some bubblegum, what’ll I do?
I’ll laugh and chuckle and giggle
*Chorus
Baby made a funny noise, what’ll I do?
Baby made a funny noise, what’ll I do?
Baby made a funny noise, what’ll I do?
I’ll laugh and chuckle and giggle
*Chorus
– Storybots, Netflix Jr.
Print out this coloring page!
A collection of humorous poems such as “The Dancing Hippopotami,” “You Can’t Make Me Eat That,” “My Father’s Name is Sasquatch,” and “Dear Wumbledeedumble.”
Hola! Hoy hablamos de llamas, or… Hello! We talked about llamas today! We love llamas and their cousins like alpacas and camels. We also love to speak Spanish which is the language they speak in Chile and Peru, where you can find both llamas and alpacas. If you’d like to have more fun with llamas and Spanish, try some of these books and songs.
Ages 2-5
Children love singing. A great option to encourage not only reading, but also singing, is to read books that can be sung. These can include nursery rhymes, books that promote singing, or books that can be sung to a specific tune.
Find or checkout a book with your child such as “Llamas in the Field,” then read and sing the book together. Check out these other books you can sing in our catalog.
Marcha marcha marcha
Marcha marcha marcha
Marcha marcha marcha
Deja de marchar
Salta salta salta
Salta salta salta
Salta salta salta
Deja de saltar
Baila baila baila
Baila baila baila
Baila baila baila
Deja de bailar
– Adapted from “Una Papa, Dos Papas” by Super Simple Español
Print out this coloring page!
We used some llama cutouts (link below) made for holding scraps of yarn and then made a 3D llama by combining 2, taping the face, and folding out the legs in front and back.
Did you know… Ladybugs don’t have have their black spots when they hatch? Or, they hibernate or “sleep” through the winter like a bear? Or, they are one of the most “helpful” bugs in our garden? Not only are ladybugs cute, they are awesome! What else can you and your child discover about ladybugs? Try some of these activities, books, and videos to find out.
Ages 2-5
Young children are able to absorb an amazing amount of information on topics of interest to them. They become experts, often knowing more than we do on some subjects. By taking advantage of their eagerness to learn, you can build their scientific knowledge at an early age.
Choose a factual book on a topic related to science, such as “Are You a Ladybug?” or another book about bugs in the garden. Read the book with your child, however, you need not read it from cover to cover. Pick out a few interesting facts and illustrations, then talk about them with your child. To extend the book, go outside and find a few ladybugs!
Let’s play a ladybug color game, I’ll give you rhyming clues
If you know it, say the name of each color that I use!
The first color for our buggy fellow
Is the color of sunshine – it’s the color yellow.
Frogs in the pond and a fresh snap bean
Did you guess the color green?
The sky above and the ocean too
Such a beautiful color, it’s the color blue.
Strawberry ice cream, come on now, think.
You are right! It’s the color pink!
Grapes for jelly on a P B & J
Purple is the color we say!
Pumpkins or basketballs rolling by
Orange is the color that we now spy.
Fluffy clouds and the moon at night
Did you say the color white?
Roses that grow in a garden bed
Are this beautiful color, the color red.
Ladybug, ladybug up in the sky
Thanks for the fun and now we say, “Goodbye!”
Ladybug has 1 black spot,
1 black spot, 1 black spot;
Ladybug has 1 black spot,
Pretty ladybug!
(Continue until there are 6 spots.)
Sung to: “Three Blind Mice”
Fly, fly, fly
Ladybugs fly
Fly over here
Fly over there
They fly up high and they fly down low.
Around and around and around they go.
They fly fast, and they fly slow.
Oh, ladybugs fly.
– Sesame Street
Print out this coloring page!
We love this little ladybug craft. Read the assembly instructions at the site that inspired ours, and download our template here.
It’s National Library Week! We love our library and everyone who comes to visit. Try doing a scavenger hunt at the library to find all the different items you can check out such as movies, easy CD picture books, graphic novels, magazines, informational books, and so much more.
Ages 2-5
When your children have happy experiences, they want to repeat them. Starting kindergarten can be seen as an extension of informal library “classes.” Children who have joyful experiences in the public library often approach school with a positive attitude, ready and excited to learn.
Sing “If You’re a Reader and You Know It!” with your child. Don’t forget to “do all three” at the end!
(Sung to the tune of Farmer and the Dell)
Chorus:
Come and take a look
In my storybook.
There are friends galore
And so much more
In my storybook.
Verse 1:
You might find three little pigs,
And a wolf who’s bad and big.
A tortoise, a hare,
A family of bears
In my storybook.
Verse 2:
You might find three billy goats
A girl with a red-hooded coat,
A gingerbread man,
Or Peter Pan
In my storybook.
Five little books at the library,
Five little books as great as can be.
Along comes (name) with her library card
To take one home and read.
Continue to zero.
If you’re a reader and you know it, clap your hands
If you’re a reader and you know it, clap your hands
If you’re a reader and you know it and you really want to show it
If you’re a reader and you know it, clap your hands
(shoot hooray, read a book)
– Sesame Street
Print out this coloring page!
Miss Merriweather, the head librarian, is very particular about rules in the library. No running allowed. And you must be quiet. But when a lion comes to the library one day, no one is sure what to do.
Children love to explore the world, especially when something is a little bit unusual. Use these books and activities to help them see the world through all of their senses, even if they say, “Ew! That’s gross!” Because gross things can be fun!
Ages 2-5
Young children are naturally curious about the world around them and often use their senses to explore and learn. By taking advantage of this eagerness to learn, you can help build their scientific knowledge.
Play this Mix ‘n Match game in your kitchen with your child. Wear a blindfold and try to guess what something is by its smell, taste, or touch. Show your child how to describe something with words before taking off the blindfold. You can also make crazy concoctions together and practice describing your creations using all five senses.
Five pairs of smelly socks
On my bedroom floor
Mom washed the BLUE pair
And then there were four
Four pairs of smelly socks
They belong to me
Dad washed the PINK pair
And then there were three
Three pairs of smelly socks
What’s a kids to do?
Brother washed the PURPLE pair
And then there were two
Two pairs of smelly socks
I wear them when I run
Sister washed the GREEN pair
And then there was one
One pair of smelly socks
One and only one
I guess I’ll wash the ORANGE pair
And then there will be none.
No more pairs of smelly socks
We washed them all today, But wait until tomorrow
More are on the way!
Icky, sticky, sticky, sticky bubble gum, bubble gum, bubble gum.
Sticky, sticky, sticky, sticky bubble gum, bubble gum.
Makes your hands stick to your knees.
And you pull ’em,
and you pull ’em,
and you pull’ em away.
(Head… Belly… Mouth… Nose… Elbows)
– David Landau
Print out this coloring page!
Describes the odors that some animals have developed to stay safe and thrive in their environments, including the striped skunk, the bombardier beetle, and the honey badger.
The Earth is awesome! It starts with the letter “E”. And it’s the only place we have to live, so we better take care of it. Try talking with your child about some of the small things he can do to help take care of the Earth such as turning off the water while brushing his teeth, picking up garbage outside, or even recycling the bottle from the juice he drank for lunch. You might find some other ideas in the books and rhymes below.
Ages 2-5
It’s fun and easy for children to learn about topics that are relevant to them. For instance, songs about everyday experiences, body parts, senses, and their environment help children make sense of the world we live in.
Sing “We’ve Got the Whole World” with your child and then change the lyrics to things in your home or outside. For example, “We’ve got yummy bananas to eat…” or “We’ve got the chirping birds in the trees…” or “We’ve got a playful puppy who loves to bark…” Then read a book about the Earth and sing the song with the illustrations.
(Tune: “Itsy Bitsy Spider”)
Once there was a litter bug
Who went from town to town,
Throwing out his garbage,
That landed on the ground.
The garbage grew so high
That when he turned around,
The litter bug got buried
And he was never found!
(Sung to: “99 Bottles of Beer on the Wall”)
Five bottles of juice on the wall,
five bottles of juice.
Put one in the recycling bin.
Four bottles of juice on the wall.
Continue until there are no more bottles left.
Print out this coloring page!
A love letter to the Earth shares striking photographic images from around the world that introduce such concepts as nature and science. Water, air, light. Patterns, curves, shapes, colors. Things that crawl, fly, float, run, bloom, ripen. Think of everything Earth gives us. What are you most thankful for? Includes notes from the author about related activities and resources.
Eggs are totally “egg”ceptional, and a lot of children don’t realize the differences and similarities between eggs of different species. Some children also think that the eggs we purchase in the store will eventually hatch. Have fun with your child as you explore the “egg” in it’s many forms and possibilities. Below you will find activities and books to aid you and your child in this exploration.
Ages 2-5
Preschoolers thrive on lots of love and language. Reading together is fun and easy, and it prepares children to be successful and happy in school.
Read together with your preschooler for 20 minutes every day this week. Try two familiar books and one new book each time. You can keep track of how many books she reads on a 1,000 Books Before Kindergarten circle chart. You can find these at the Children’s Reference Desk. When your child has filled in all the circles, bring it to the Circulation Desk for a free sticker sheet or book.
Once there was a little egg
That jumped down to the floor
It started rolling all around
Then rolled right out the door.
Little egg, roll, roll, roll,
Roll all around
Little egg roll, roll, roll
All across the ground.
– Jeninthelibrary.com
Chickens hatch from eggs, but what about other animals? Explore PBS’ book to learn about a variety of animals from spiders to platypuses that start their lives as eggs.
(Tune: Happy & You Know It)
If you like your eggs scrambled, clap your hands
If you like your eggs scrambled, clap your hands
Yes, they’re yummy and they’re yellow
So you’ll be a happy fellow
If you like your eggs scrambled, clap your hands
If you like your eggs fried, jump up high…
If you want bacon with your eggs, wiggle your legs…
If you want toast instead, nod your head (Mmm-hmm)…
– Laurie Berkner
Print out this coloring page!
A beautifully illustrated work which introduces young naturalists to more than 60 types of eggs and an array of egg facts.
“There’s an alligator in the elevator! Ahhh!” Riding in an elevator can be a great counting activity for your child, but it’s even more fun when you and your child engage your imaginations and “guess” where you might end up or who you might meet on each floor. Try some of the songs below as you have fun pushing the buttons on an elevator, imaginary or real.
Ages 2-5
There are so many wonderful benefits to reading interactive stories with your kids. In addition to the entertainment you can get from them, they can make your reading time more productive, create cherished memories, and even help teach your kids to read.
Next time, when your child feels too energized for reading, try and interactive book such as “Press Here” or “The Button Book,” and do the actions indicated in the books. This will make story time extra fun for your preschooler. Find more interactive books at this link.
Oh the city is great and the city is grand
There’s a whole lot of people
on a little piece of land
And we live way up on the 57th floor
and this is what we do when we go out the door.
We take the elevator up and the elevator down,
take the elevator up, take the elevator down
Take the elevator up and the elevator down
and we turn around.
– Jbrary.com
There’s an alligator in the elevator.
I can’t believe what I see.
There’s an alligator in the elevator
And it’s making eyes at me.
Alligator (clap clap) please push (clap clap)
Number (clap clap) one.
I’m going up to the first floor.
Would you care to join me for some fun?
There’s an alligator in the elevator.
I can’t believe what I see.
There’s an alligator in the elevator
And it’s making eyes at me.
Alligator (clap clap) please push (clap clap)
Number (clap clap) two.
I’m going up to the second floor.
Gee, I’d like to make friends with you.
There’s an alligator in the elevator.
I can’t believe what I see.
There’s an alligator in the elevator
And it’s making eyes at me.
Alligator (clap clap) please push (clap clap)
Number (clap clap) three.
I’m going up to the third floor.
Would you care to have some lunch with me?
There’s an alligator in the elevator.
I can’t believe what I see.
There’s an alligator in the elevator
And it’s making eyes at me.
Alligator (clap clap) please push (clap clap)
Number (clap clap) four.
I’m going up to the fourth floor.
Tell me what are your big teeth for?
There’s an alligator in the elevator.
I can’t believe what I see.
There’s an alligator in the elevator
And it’s making eyes at me.
Alligator (clap clap) please push (clap clap)
Number (clap clap) five.
I’m going up to the fifth floor.
And I’d like to make it there alive.
There’s an alligator in the elevator.
I can’t believe what I see.
There’s an alligator in the elevator
And it’s making eyes at me.
– Rick Charette
Print out this coloring page!
A young girl dreams of flying above her Harlem home, claiming all she sees for herself and her family. Based on the author’s quilt painting of the same name.
When they go to the city to see the sights, Curious George gets separated from his friend and has many adventures before they are reunited.