This Week @ Story Time

What we read:

Little Listeners:

Monkey Truck written and illustrated by Michael Slack
Red Light, STOP Green Light GO written and illustrated by Andrew Kulman
Car Wash written by Sandra Steen, Susan Steen and illustrated by G. Brian Karas




Story Time:
Duck! Rabbit! by Amy Krous Rosenthal, illustrated by Tom Lichtenheld
Little White Rabbit by Kevin Henkes
Duck on a Bike by David Shannon

Cupcake Fake-Out Pictures

We had a great time! Thanks to everyone who participated.

Book Buzz, April 2012

Small As An Elephant
by Jennifer Richard Jacobson
Jack Martel wakes up the first morning of his camping trip with his mother in Maine to find she is gone! At first he thinks she has just gone to get food, but as the day goes by, there is still no sign of her. He does his best, exploring and keeping busy, expecting she will be back soon. She doesn’t come back. So he tries to find her without letting anyone know he is alone. He makes his way south toward his home in Boston, so when she does come back he will be there for her. She has done this before, but never when he can’t get home. He knows he will have to ask for help, but he is afraid of being taken away from his mother. What will Jack do?  
Kristin (J Fiction)

Bad Kitty For President by Nick Bruel
That wild and crazy cat is back, and this time he is out to win. Kitty learns that the Neighborhood Cat Club is in need of a President. How hard can that be? Well, with Bad Kitty, it is never easy! In this silly tale, we learn all about what steps you need to take to win an election. From a primary, to endorsements, to campaigning, and media, we follow our dear friend Kitty down to election night. Will Bad Kitty have what it takes to be the president? You must read this Nick Bruel book to find out.  Jacquie (J Fiction)

Eight Keys by Suzanne Lafleur
Elise is excited to start middle school, but soon realizes that her best pal, Franklin, is a liability. In addition to being teased by a bully for babyish ‘playing’ with Franklin, Elise is struggling with newfound responsibility and falling impossibly behind on her school work. Just when she thinks things can’t get any worse, she finds a key that unlocks one of eight locked rooms in her aunt and uncle’s barn. The puzzle of the rooms seems to have been left by her father, who lost a battle with cancer when Elise was three. This is a great realistic fiction read about friendship, family, and deciding who you want to be. Meghan (J Fiction)

The One and Only Stuey Lewis
by Jane Schoenberg
Meet Stuey Lewis, second grader extraordinaire! This school year may bring many challenges but Stuey doesn’t give up! Whether it’s learning to read, dealing with trick-or-treating restrictions, or putting up with the most annoying girl on the planet, Stuey keeps trying to make it work! You’ll want to read all about Stuey and his friends (and that annoying girl too!) This funny collection makes a great beginning chapter book. Alia (J Fiction)

30 Poems in 30 Days: April 4

Today, we have a very short poem about a very long animal.  Read The Boa by Douglas Florian here.

30 Poems in 30 Days: April 3

Because April is also Dog Appreciation Month, today's poem is:

Mother Doesn't Want a Dog
by Judith Viorst

Mother doesn't want a dog.
Mother says they smell,
And never sit when you say sit,
Or even when you yell.
And when you come home late at night
And there is ice and snow,
You have to go back out because
The dumb dog has to go.


Read the rest of the poem here.

30 Poems in 30 Days: April 2

April 2 is International Children's Book Day, in honor of the Danish fairy tale writer Hans Christian Anderson's birthday. Celebrate International Children's Book Day with today's poem: Instructions by modern fantasy writer Neil Gaiman.

 

Touch the wooden gate in the wall you never

saw before.

Say "please" before you open the latch,

go through,

walk down the path.

Read the whole poem here

Stop by the library and and pick up these Neil Gaiman poems turned into Picture Books:

Crazy Hair by Neil Gaiman, illustrated by Dave McKean
It's an ode to wacky hair! In a series of increasingly ridiculous rhymes, the crazily coiffed narrator tells of all the things that can be found in the hair upon his head.
  

Blueberry Girl by Neil Gaiman, illustrated by Charles Vess
Written for his friend musician Tori Amos, Blueberry Girl imagines a much-loved baby who grows into a blessed young woman.  Beautiful illustrations!

30 Poems in 30 Days: April 1

April is National Poetry Month! To celebrate, we are challenging ourselves to scour the internet for great poetry and collect and post 30 poems, one for each day of the month of April. Please join us in this celebration of poetry and check back often to read the featured poem of the day.

Since today is April Fool's Day, it's only fair we start with a humorous poem and no one makes kids laugh more than Shel Silverstein.  His poem "Sick" is always a storytime crowd-pleaser.

It starts...

"I cannot go to school today,"
Said little Peggy Ann McKay.
"I have the measles and the mumps,
A gash, a rash and purple bumps.
My mouth is wet, my throat is dry,
I'm going blind in my right eye. 

Click here to read the whole poem. 

And come by the library to check out the latest Shel Silverstein book, Every Thing On It, a collection of  previously unpublished poems.