12/28, 12/29 Story Hour

Theme: The New Year
Book: Twelve Hats for Lena by Karen Katz
Activity: Practice numbers by counting down from 10 to 0. Be sure to yell "Happy New Year" at the end! We made extra noise using musical instruments.
Craft: Make a 2010 calendar. Children glued a calendar to cardstock and added a loop of yarn so they can hang it up at home. Everyone had their picture taken which was then printed and glued above the calendar. Now they can remember library Story Hour every day of the new year. Have your child color in their birthday as well as other special days they look forward to.

Note the upcoming schedule change:
Story Hour will only be held on Mondays from 10:30-11:30 beginning Monday, January 11th. We will resume programs on Mondays and Tuesdays starting Monday March 1st, 2010.

Story Hour with Santa

Theme: Christmas
Book: The Night Before Christmas by Clement Moore
Song: Jingle Bells
Activity: Share what you want for Christmas
Activity: Have your picture taken with Santa Claus. Pictures were then printed at the library for children to take home.
Craft: Make a candy cane ornament to decorate your tree.

12/14, 12/15 Story Hour

Theme: Santa Claus
Rhymes: Shake Your Sillies Out and the letter "G"
Book: What Santa Can't Do by Douglas Wood
Activity: Share what you want for Christmas
Song: Jingle Bells
Craft: Make your own stocking. Decorate a paper stocking with cotton balls, stickers, yarn, and pictures cut from old Christmas cards. Don't forget to hang it from your chimney with care!

Next week, Santa will be visiting Story Hour on Monday and Tuesday from 10:30-11:30 and on Tuesday from 6-7PM. Hope to see you then!

12/7, 12/8 Story Hour

Theme: Reindeer
Book: Olive the Other Reindeer by J. Seibold
Song: Practice Jingle Bells to perform when Santa visits Story Hour on 12/21 and 12/22
Activity: Pin the nose on Rudolph
Craft: Make magic reindeer food. Mix oats, birdseed, sugar, and sprinkles in a baby food jar. Top with festive fabric and a tag with instructions-
"Sprinkle on the lawn at night. The moon will make it sparkle bright. Santa's reindeer fly and roam, this will guide them to your home!"

Next week we will read a book about Santa Claus and make stockings. Santa will join us for Story Hour on Monday and Tuesday, 12/21 and 12/22 from 10:30-11:30. He will also make an appearance at our 6:00PM Story Hour on Tuesday, December 22nd.

11/30 Story Hour

Theme: Winter Clothes
Book: The Mitten by Jan Brett
Song: The Winter Pokey
Sing using winter clothing such as hat, mittens, boots, and scarf
Flannelboard: Match the mittens
Each child gets a mitten and has to place it with it's match on the flannelboard
Craft: Make a mitten ornament for your Christmas tree. Kits can be purchased from Oriental Trading or make your own at home using construction paper and collage materials.

11/23, 11/24 Story Hour

Theme: Thanksgiving

Book: I Know an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Pie by Alison Jackson

Flannelboard: Gobble, Gobble, Turkey

Song: Pumpkin Pie (to “Peanut Butter and Jelly”)

First you take the pumpkin and you pick it, you pick it, you pick it, pick it, pick it.

(Chorus in Deep voices) Pumpkin, Pumpkin Pie-Yummy! Pumpkin, Pumpkin Pie-Yummy!

Then you take the pumpkin and you carve it, you carve it, you carve it, carve it, carve it.

Chorus

Next you take the spices and you mix it, you mix it, you mix it, mix it, mix it.

Chorus

You put it in the oven and you wait, you wait, you wait, you wait, you wait.

Humming Chorus while tapping foot

You take it out the oven and you bite it, you bite it, you bite it, bite it, bite it (sing like mouth full)

Sing chorus like your mouth is full

Activity: Play Duck, Duck, Turkey

Activity: What are you thankful for? Add it to the Thankful tree

Craft (targets Fine Motor Skills): Make a placemat to use at your Thanksgiving feast! Make a picture with magazine cutouts or trace your hand and decorate it like a turkey. Use a laminator or contact paper to turn your artwork into a surface you can eat on!

For Further Reading:

Arthur’s Thanksgiving by Marc Brown (E)

The Best Thanksgiving Ever by Nancy Inteli (E)

Five Little Turkeys by William Boniface (E)

Happy Thanksgiving by Margaret McNamara (E)

The Night Before Thanksgiving by Natasha Wing (E)

11/16, 11/17 Story Hour

Book: I'm A Turkey by Jim Arnosky

Flannelboard: Make a turkey

"The turkey is a funny bird (flap arms like wings). His head goes wobble wobble (roll head in circles). And all he knows is just one word (hold up one finger), 'Gobble, gobble, gobble! (hold hands at mouth like a beak and open/close with each gobble)"

Activity: Play Duck, Duck, Turkey

Activity: What are you thankful for? Add it to the Thankful tree

Craft (targets Fine Motor Skills): Make a turkey centerpiece for your Thanksgiving table.

Try this at home by tracing your child's hand and decorating it with feathers to look like a turkey!

For Further Reading:

I Am the Turkey by Michele Spirn E

One Tough Turkey by Steven Kroll E

A Turkey for Thanksgiving by Eve Bunting E

Try at Home:

• Take a walk and gather fall leaves. Cut out two circles from grocery bag about 5 or 6 inches across. On the head glue eyes beak and waddle cut from construction paper. Glue the leaves to the outer edges of one of the circle with most of the leaf sticking out over the edge. Glue the other circle on top. Add two legs from construction paper.

11/9, 11/10 Story Hour

Theme: Leaves

Targeted Early Literacy Skills: Narrative skills (sequencing events, telling stories)

Book: Fletcher and the Falling Leaves by Julia Rawlinson

Flannelboard: 5 Little Leaves

5 little leaves in the autumn breeze tumbled and fluttered from the trees. The first leaf said, “I am red. I shall sleep in the flower bed.” The second leaf, all purple, said, “pick me up, I’m cold and wet!” The third leaf said, I’m yellow, a happy go lucky fellow. The fourth leaf said, I’m green, as I was in the summer sun. The fifth leaf said, I’m brown and I shall blow all over town.

Song: Autumn Leaves (to “Ring Around the Rosie”)

All the leaves, come here

Summer’s gone ‘till next year

Autumn, autumn, we all fall down!

Activity: Scarecrow, Scarecrow

Activity: Add your name to the Thankful Tree

Craft (targets Fine Motor Skills): Paint a leaf. Craft supplies used:

Leaves from Discount School Supply

Liquid Watercolors (could also substitute water with food coloring)

Plastic Eye Droppers

For Further Reading:

Arthur Jumps into Fall by Marc Brown (E)

The Apple Pie Tree by Zoe Hall (E)

Fall, Leaves Fall! by Zoe Hall (E)

Fall Leaf Project by Margaret McNamara (E)

Leaf Man by Lois Ehlert (E)

Try at Home:

· Take a nature walk and collect leaves, acorns and seeds. Make artwork with them when you get home!

11/2, 11/3 Story Hour

Theme: Monsters

Book: Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak

Song: Monster Stomp

If you want to be a monster, now’s your chance, 'cause everybody’s doing the monster dance. You just stomp your feet, wave your arms around. Stretch ‘em up, stretch ‘em up, then put them on the ground. ‘Cause you’re doing the monster stomp! That’s right, you’re doing the monster stomp!

Activity: Monster dress up and wild rumpus dance

Craft (targets Fine Motor Skills): Make a crown for the King of the Wild Things

For Further Reading:

Go Away, Big Green Monster by Michael Emberley (E) No Such Thing by Jackie Koller (E) Billy Monster’s Daymare by Alan Durant (E) Go to Bed, Monster! by Natasha Wing (E) Jeremy Draws a Monster by Peter McCarty (E) Monster Stew by Mitra Modarressi (E)

Try at Home:

• Design your own monster paper plate mask.

• Look at the wild things carefully. They are all so different. Some of them have horns or claws. Others have hair or feathers, toe nails or bird beaks. Draw yourself as a "Wild Thing."

• Max tames the Wild Things by staring into their yellow eyes without blinking. Get a clock or a watch and time how long you can go without blinking.

10/26, 10/27 Story Hour

Theme: Halloween

Targeted Early Literacy Skills: Print motivation (enjoying books and reading)

Book: The Halloweiner by Dav Pilkey
Fingerplay: Itsy Bitsy Spider
Fingerplay: Five Little Pumpkins
Song: Autumn Leaves (to “Ring Around the Rosie”)
All the leaves, come here
Summer’s gone ‘till next year
Autumn, autumn, we all fall down!
Activity: Practice trick-or-treating and show off your costumes
Craft (targets Fine Motor Skills): Decorate goodie bags that you can use on Halloween.
For Further Reading:
Boo! By Robert Munsch (E)
Big Pumpkin by Erica Silverman (E)
The Halloween Cat by Christine Ricci (E)

Halloween Pie by Michael Tunnell (E)

Sheep Trick or Treat by Nancy Shaw (E)

10/19, 10/20 Story Hour

Theme: Witches

Targeted Early Literacy Skills: Phonological Awareness (understanding words are made up of smaller parts and can rhyme)
Book: Room on the Broom by Julia Donaldson
Song: 5 Black Bats (to “Frere Jacques”)
Bats are sleeping, bats are sleeping
Upside down, upside down
Waiting for the night to come
Waiting for the night to come
Then they fly around!
Then they fly around!
Fingerplay: Five Little Pumpkins
Craft (targets Fine Motor Skills): Make a magical brew with blood drops (Red Hots), werewolf teeth (candy corn), owl’s eyes (M&Ms), bat bones (pretzel sticks), cat claws (sunflower seeds), dead flies (raisins), ghost noses (mini marshmallows), and spider eggs (popcorn).

Fingerplay: Itsy Bitsy Spider. Do this fingerplay in a whisper for the Itsy Bitsy spider, regular voice for Medium Mama spider, and yell for Great Big Daddy spider!
Activity: Play Musical Brooms! Whoever holds the broom when the music stops gets to fly around the circle!
For Further Reading:
10 Trick or Treaters by Janet Schulman (E)
By the Light of the Halloween Moon by Caroline Stutson (E)
Fright Night Flight by Laura Melmed (E)
The Great Pumpkin Strikes Again by Justine Fontes (E)

Halloween Rescue! by Cynthia Stierle (E)

10/13 Story Hour

Theme: Boo!

Targeted Early Literacy Skills: Narrative skills (sequencing events, telling stories)
Book: The Little Old Lady Who Was Not Afraid of Anything by Linda Williams
Flannelboard: Make a Jack-o-Lantern
Fingerplay: Five Little Pumpkins
Activity: Practice saying “Boo!” with pumpkin mask
Craft (targets Fine Motor Skills): Make a tissue paper pumpkin
For Further Reading:
Boo! By Robert Munsch (E)
Big Pumpkin by Erica Silverman (E)

Sweet and Spooky Halloween by Melissa Lagonegro (E)
Two Little Witches by Harriet Ziefert (E)

Halloween or Bust by Jane O’Connor (E)
The Berenstain Bears Go On a Ghost Walk By Stan and Jan Berenstain (E)

10/7 Story Hour: Fall Reading Week

Theme: Pumpkins

Story: Mrs. McMurphy’s Pumpkin by Rick Walton
Flannelboard: Five Little Pumpkins

"Five little pumpkins sitting on a gate (one arm held horizontally with other hand sitting on it, fingers pointing up).

The first one said, 'Oh my, it's getting late!' (hands to cheeks)

The second one said, 'There's a chill in the air!' (arms crossed on chest, pretend to shiver)

The third one said, 'But we don't care!' (arms out at sides, shake head sideways)

The fourth one said, 'Let's run and run and run' (pump arms at sides like running)

The fifth one said, 'We're ready for some fun!' (dance in place)

Then oooooohhhhh went the wind (wiggle fingers through air)

and OUT (clap) went the lights

and five little pumpkins rolled out of sight! (roll arms over each other)"

Flannelboard: "Carve" a Jack-o-Lantern using felt pieces
Activity: Try eating pumpkin seeds
Craft: Decorate a mini pumpkin

10/5, 10/6 Story Hour

Theme: Trains
Targeted Early Literacy Skill: Narrative skills (sequencing events, telling stories)
Story: The Little Engine That Could by Watty Piper
Song: I’ve Been Working on the Railroad
Kids helped by playing their train whistles when the song called for the train to blow it's horn.
Fingerplay: Here is the Choo-Choo Train
Here is the choo choo train rolling down the track (pump arms at sides like running).
Now it's going forward (arms stretch ahead)
Now it's going back (arms stretch behind).
Now the bell is ringing (ring pretend bell)
Now the whistle blows (make whistle noise)
What a lot of noise it makes (cover ears)
everywhere it goes (yell "All Aboard!")
Craft: Train stamp pictures

9/28, 9/29 Story Hour

Theme: Fire Trucks

Targeted Early Literacy Skill: Vocabulary
Book: Firebears, the Rescue Team by Rhonda Greene
Fingerplays: Fireman Number 8

"Fireman, fireman, number 8 (make 8 with hands).

Bumped his head upon the gate (tap head).

The gate swung in (prayer hands swing one way),

the gate swung out (prayer hands swing the opposite way).

And that's how they put the fire out (swing hands back and forth quickly).

Emergency, emergency, 911! (repeat 3 times while stomping feet to the beat)"
Song: I’m a Firefighter

"I'm a firefighter, here's my hose. (extend arm out)

I put out fires as everyone knows. (tap head with finger)

When I see a fire, I put it out. (arm out, wiggle fingers)

'Thank you! Thank you!' people shout." (clap to the beat)
Activity: Stop, Drop, and Roll
Craft: Fireman Dress Up using fire cheif badges and hats.

We loved our visit with the Meade County Fire Department! Kids tried on fireman clothes, learned about the equipment, and climbed aboard the fire engine!

9/21, 9/22 Story Hour

Theme: Fire Safety

Targeted Early Literacy Skills: Vocabulary (knowing the names of things)

Rhyme Dice: Baby Bumblebee and the letter "F"

Book: Firefighters! Speeding! Spraying! Saving! by Patricia Hubbell

Song: I'm a Firefighter (sung to "I'm a Little Teapot")

I'm a firefighter (point to self)

Here's my hose (outstretch arm with finger pointed).

I put out fires as everyone knows (tap head with finger).

When I see a fire (hand over brow)

I douse it out (outstretch arm and wiggle fingers).

"Thank you! Thank you! people shout" (clap hands).

Fingerplay: Fireman Number 8

Fireman, fireman number eight (make 8 with hands)

Bumped his head upon the gate (tap head with hand).

The gate swung in (swing prayer hands one way)

The gate swung out (swing prayer hands the other way)

That's how they put the fire out (swing hands both ways).

Emergency, emergency, 911 (marching, say 3 times getting faster).

Activity: practice Stop, Drop, and Roll

Activity: color butcher paper like smoke, then crawl under it.

Craft: Watercolor art

Next week we will be visited by the Meade County Fire Protection District. Come meet the firefighters and see a fire truck in person!

9/14, 9/15 Story Hour

Theme: Safety
Rhyme Dice: Shake My Sillies Out and the letter "A"
Story: Officer Buckle and Gloria by Peggy Rathmann
Flannelboard: What’s an emergency: talk about different scenarios that warrant a call to 911 (lost toy vs. an injured parent, someone not sharing vs. a house fire)
Activity: Dial 911 Jump Game: numbers 0-9 are laminated and taped to the floor in the arrangement found on phones. Kids can jump on the numbers 911 or any other numbers to practice counting. They also practiced numbers with phones that had been unplugged.

Craft: Phone number craft found here. Write child's name at the top of the phone and write phone number in spaces provided below. Then have child cut out matching numbers and glue them over the ones you wrote. A good way to reinforce numbers and safety principles!

Next week we will be learning about fire safety to get ready for our visit from the Meade County Fire Protection District. Barring an emergency, they will be bringing the fire truck and firefighters to Story Hour on September 28th and 29th.

9/8 Story Hour

Theme: Grandparents Day

Rhyme Dice: Shake Your Sillies Out and the letter "D"

Book: I Already Know I Love You by Billy Crystal

Activity: Family Bingo

Craft: Make cards and tissue paper flowers for your grandparents

Thanks to all our grandparents who joined us today! Next week we will begin our safety unit with a lesson on Emergencies!

MCPL Now on Twitter!

Follow the Meade County Public Library on Twitter! Just click http://twitter.com/meadereads to read the latest library news. Links to articles on books, crafts, and more are posted daily.

8/31, 9/1 Story Hour

Theme: School Bus

Rhymes: 5 Little Hot Dogs and the letter "B"

Book: The Little School Bus by Carol Roth

Song: The Wheels on the Bus

Flannelboard: 5 Little School Busses

"5 little school busses driving down the street.

The first one says, "New kids I get to meet!"

The second one says, "Let's drive off to school!"

The third one says, "Riding quietly is a rule."

The fourth one says, "I like to speed ahead."

The fifth one says, "I stop when lights are red."

Then "beep" went the horns, and green went the light

and five little busses drove out of sight."

Activity: Red light, green light

Craft: Color a school bus, fill it with passengers (faces from magazines), and add wheels that go round and round (fastened with brads).

There will be NO STORY HOUR on Monday, September 7th due to Labor Day. We will celebrate Grandparent's Day on Tuesday, September 8th. Grandparents are welcome to join us!

8/24, 8/25 Story Hour

Theme: Back to School

We learned about the many similarities between kindergarten and Story Hour.

Rhyme Dice: Button Factory and the letter "F"

Story: Llama Llama Misses Mama by Ana Dewdney

Activity: Practice the Clean Up Song

"Clean up, clean up, everybody, everywhere!

Clean up, clean up, everybody do your share!"

Flannelboard: Story Hour timeline

Craft: Make an apple for the teacher! An at-home version can be found here.

Kindergarten readiness principles taught: scissor skills, colors, name writing/recognition

Join us next week to learn about school busses!

8/10, 8/11 Story Hour

Theme: Cows

Rhyme Dice: The Button Factory and the letter "B"

Book: Click Clack Moo by Doreen Cronin

Activity: Animal Charades (act out different animals and guess whether they live on a farm, at the zoo, or are kept as pets)

Activity: Make butter and try it on bread and crackers. Recipes can be found here. Helpful hint: let the heavy whipping cream sit at room temperature for several hours to make butter in just a few minutes. The process can also be sped up if you add a marble to the jar or bag you are shaking. Just be sure to take it out of your butter before eating!

Craft: Make cow masks using the template here. Decorate with black or brown spots.

Next week we will be learning about pigs! Ms. Megan will be on vacation, but come ready to give Ms. Donna your best "oink!"

8/3, 8/4 Story Hour

Theme: Horses and Cowboys
Rhyme Dice: Baby Bumblebee and make the letter "C"
Story: Cowboy Camp by Tammi Sauer
Song: I’m a Little Cowboy (to the tune of I'm a Little Teapot)

"I'm a little cowboy (point to self)

here's my hat (pat head).

Here are my spurs (touch feet)

and here are my chaps (hands hit thighs).

I wake up in the morning (stretch and yawn)

and I work all day (pretend to shovel hay).

I get on my horse and ride away (pretend to ride in place)."
Activity: Use a lasso, wear a cowboy hat, and get your picture taken in saddle. Ride stick horses.

Craft: Color a bandana

Next week we will be learning about cows, making butter, and decorating cow masks. Hope you enjoy this next trip to the farm!

NEW EXTENDED LATE LIBRARY HOURS!!!

Effective August 1, 2009 we will be open LATER hours to better serve you!!

Monday 9:00 am to 8:00 pm

Tuesday 9:00 am to 8:00 pm

Wednesday 9:00 am to 8:00 pm

Thursday 9:00 am to 8:00 pm

Friday 9:00 am to 5:00 pm

Saturday 9:00 am to 3:00 pm

Sunday CLOSED

7/27, 28 Story Hour

Theme: On the Farm

Book: Big Chickens Fly the Coop by Leslie Helakoski

Flannelboard: Old MacDonald

Craft: Make a farm picture frame

Activity: Pet one of the chickens that came from the farm to visit us today!

Next week, saddle up for a story hour about cowboys! Try your skills at roping, sit in a saddle, and make a cowboy bandana to take home.

7/20, 21 Story Hour

Theme: County Fair

Book: Minerva Louise at the Fair by Janet Stoeke

Activity: Kids "judged" their own fair categories such as horses and vegetables.

Craft: Make a blue ribbon pin

Activity: Play fair games like a beanbag toss.

Hope you all enjoyed the Meade County Fair and were able to stop by the library's booth!

Summer Reading: Drama Lesson for ages 3 - Grade 2

We used our imaginations to "visit" a farm this week and got ready for next week's County Fair with this lesson based on Charlotte's Web. We also talked about drama, pretending, and movies based on books.

Wiggler: Baby Bumblebee, Shake Your Sillies Out

Book: Celestine, Drama Queen by Penny Ives
Read scene from Charlotte’s Web by E.B. White and watch clip from the movie. Discuss how books inspire movies and name examples.

Visit the Library: while one group went, the other made hand puppets and played with the puppet theater

Craft: Paint a pig with "mud!" Using cardstock with a picture of a pig, children colored their pig and then added chocolate pudding to make their pig muddy.

Activity: Make ice cream. Kids partnered up to make and decorate their own ice cream.

Recipe:

1 tablespoon sugar
1/2 cup milk or half and half
1/4 teaspoon vanilla
6 tablespoons rock salt (or regular salt if you can’t find rock salt)
1 gallon size Ziploc bag
1 pint size Ziploc bag
Ice
Fill the gallon size bag (the larger bag) with ice about half way and add the salt and seal it.
Mix the sugar, milk and vanilla in the small pint sized bag and seal it.
Open up the large bag and put the small bag inside and seal the large bag again.
Shake the bag and you’ll see your mixture in the small bag turn into ice cream! (It will take about 5 minutes of shaking) Open up the small bag and enjoy!!

Games: Spider web toss and egg races

Activity: Do the chicken dance!

Thank you all for participating in Summer Reading! If you couldn't attend our weekly programs it's still not too late, as we will be offering more activities for the rest of the summer. Join us to celebrate your accomplishments at Summer Reading with a Family Fun Night at Riverfront Park from 5-9PM on Friday, July 17th. SRP participants and their families can receive a free dinner (hot dog, popcorn, and drink) from 5:30-6:30PM and extra meals will be available for purchase. We will be announcing contest winners, enjoying a band, inflatables, games and more, so be sure to stop by!

Summer Reading: Dance Lesson for ages 3-Grade 2

Wiggler: Shake Your Sillies Out

Book: Hilda Must Be Dancing by Karma Wilson

Activity: Dance the limbo, play Twister to get loosened up for our dance instruction!

Activity: Dance class lead by Kim Myers of Dancetime Studio, Brandenburg

Preschoolers learned a dance to "We're Going to the Zoo" and Grades 1-2 learned steps to "Yankee Doodle Dandy." The children also learned about the history of dance, it's styles, and more.

Craft: Dance streamers. Each child received a paper plate with the center cut out and they added different color streamers around the sides. These look lovely when waved while dancing!

If you liked our dance unit, you'll love Dance Day! This event will be held on Friday, July 10th at David T. Wilson Elementary from 1-3 and features the Wulfe Brothers and Dancetime Studio Dancers. Crafts and dance activities will follow the performances. Hope to see you there!

Summer Reading: Music Lesson for ages 3-Grade 2

Today we learned all about musical instruments! Have fun trying these activities!

Wiggler: Flap your arms, turn around, run in place, now sit right down. Put your finger on your nose, and wiggle it around, Put your finger on your lips, and make this sound, Shhhh….

Book: The Remarkable Farkle McBride by John Lithgow

Kids helped tell this story by demonstrating the instruments Farkle played in the book. We also discussed the instrument families, how different sounds are made, and how music can portray a character.

Activity Stations: Instrument petting zoo where kids played...

· Piano, Music Tree, bongo drums
· Violin, flute, clarinet
· Tambourine, trombone, sax
· Xylophone (experiment with water levels), trumpet, tambourine

Crafts: paper plate maracas and cards for Conrad Music. To make the maracas, put a few handfulls of dried beans on a paper plate. Staple another plate to the top. Add hole punches for ribbon, yarn, or jingle bell decorations. Color, add stickers, and personalize your artwork. The thank you cards were for Conrad Music of Corydon, IN who loaned many of today's instruments. The kids added pictures of their favorite instrument, what animal it sounded like, and drew themselves playing with them.

Can't get enough music? Join us on Friday, 7/3 from 1-3 at David T. Wilson Elementary for a performance by Marie Augustine's Garbage Can Band. We will be making instruments to take home after the show.

Next week we will be learning about dance and enjoying a presentation from Kim Meyers of Dancetime Studio! Hope to see you there!

Summer Reading: Art Lesson for Ages 3-2nd Grade

This was our program for sessions 1-4 (ages 3-5 and grades 1-2) for the first week of Summer Reading. Hope you can use this information at home if you were unable to attend or would like to try parts of it again!

Wiggler: Flap your arms, turn around, run in place, now sit right down. Put your finger on your nose, and wiggle it around, Put your finger on your lips, and make this sound, Shhhh….

Book: I Ain't Gonna Paint No More by Karen Beaumont

Slideshow: Going to an art gallery

Together we looked at pictures of famous artwork and how the artists created them. It was fun to see the different styles and methods of artists such as Pollock, Michelangelo, Monet, and the Surrealists.

Activity Stations:

· Sistine Chapel (need: butcher paper, crayons)- replicated by putting butcher paper under the table and letting kids lie on their backs to color. The papers have now been hung on the Annex ceiling!
· Impressionists (need: q-tips, washable paint, picture templates)- kids made art with "Dots" by filling in patterned circles to make a picture. Check out the Children's Library for examples of their work. This can be done at home without templates since it's fun to see what they create on blank paper!

· Bubble paintings (bubble solution, food coloring, bubble wands, cups, butcher paper)- stand over the paper and blow bubbles. When dry, this makes a great "splatter painting" like Jackson Pollock created!

· Surrealists- exquisite corpse (paper, crayons, markers) and crazy faces (face outline on paper, collage materials- Click here for directions on how to make an Exquisite Corpse. This is a great group activity! Younger children made crazy faces with collage materials and had their faces painted!

Visit the Library: Readers picked a prize out of the treasure chest if they checked out 5 books. Bring them back the following week and feed the "Shark" in the Children's Library. Parents should check their child's bag for important handouts and coupons for local attractions.

Be Creative at Your Library!

Join us for Summer Reading 2009 for 4 weeks of programs for children age 3 through teens in Grade 12! Check out the schedule and stop by the Library to register:
All sessions begin the week of June 22nd and end on Friday, July 17th.

Session 1: Mondays from 9:30-11:30 for children entering grades 1-2 (Waitlist only)
Session 2: Mondays from 1:30-3:30 for children entering grades 1-2 (Waitlist only)
Session 3: Tuesdays from 9:30-11:30 for children ages 3-6 (Waitlist only)
Session 4: Tuesdays from 1:30-3:30 for children ages 3-6 (Waitlist only)
Session 5: Wednesdays from 9:30-11:30 for children entering grades 3-4
Session 6: Wednesdays from 1:30-3:30 for children entering grades 3-4
Session 7: Thursdays from 9:30-11:30 for children entering grades 5-6
Session 8: Thursdays from 1:30-3:30 for children entering grades 5-6

Session 9: Friday evenings for teens in grades 7-12. Enjoy a Twilight program with a presentation by someone who worked on the set of the first film, have fun at a concert, and make Japanese cards. Reading program available all summer so start checking out books soon- you could win a Nintendo DSI, iPod, or $25 gift card. See Library calendar for schedule.

Do the sessions not fit with your busy schedule? Even if you are not registered for Summer Reading, you are welcome to attend our Friday programs at David T Wilson. No sign-up required, just bring your friends and family!

Friday, June 26th from 12-4: Art Day featuring the Game Krazy Video Game Van
Friday, July 3rd from 1-3: Music Day with a performance by Marie Augustine's Garbage Can Band
Friday, July 10th from 1-3: Let's Dance! Don't miss this concert from the Wulfe Brothers and production by Dancetime Studio.
Friday, July 17th from 5-9 at Riverfront Park, Brandenburg: Celebrate your success at Summer Reading with a Family Fun Night featuring inflatables, food, and games.

Feel free to call the library at 422-2094 for additional information on these programs.

6/2 Story Hour

Theme: Owls
Rhyme: Baby Bumblebee
Book: Owl Babies by Martin Waddell
Song: The Owl in the Tree (See previous week for lyrics)
Flannelboard: 5 Little Owls
Craft: Owl puppets made out of paper bags

Story Hour will continue to be held on Mondays and Tuesdays at 10:30 until Summer Reading begins on June 22nd. The programs will pick back up on Monday, July 20th.

5/26 Story Hour

Theme: Birds
Book: The Best Nest by P.D. Eastman
Song: The Owl in the Tree
"The owl in the tree goes who, who, who,
Who, who, who,
Who, who, who,
The owl in the tree goes who, who, who,
Who, who, who are you? (point to child who says name)"
Craft: Make a birdfeeder with a pinecone, peanut butter, and birdseed.

Great Websites for Children

Check out this resource of many outstanding websites for kids. The list is organized by theme to help you find just what you're looking for!

5/19 Story Hour

Theme: A Very Hungry Storytime

Rhyme Dice: 5 Little Hot Dogs

Book: The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle

Activity: Feed the caterpillar using cutouts of his favorite foods!

Activity: Act out the story by turning into an egg, caterpillar, coccoon, and butterfly!

Craft: Tissue paper butterflies

Remember, next week is Summer Reading Sign-Up! Stop in the library during regular hours on Tuesday May 26-29th and from 10-2 on Saturday, May 30th to register!

5/12 Story Hour

Theme: Bugs

Days of the Week Song

Rhyme Dice: Shake Your Sillies Out

Book: The Very Ugly Bug by Liz Pichum

Fingerplay: The Itsy Bitsy Spider (do this verse in a whisper, followed by Medium Mama Spider in a regular voice, then Great Big Daddy Spider at a shout!)

Fingerplay: Baby Bumblebee

Craft: Bug Catchers (click here for online bug craft ideas)

Children's Poet Laureate Presents

Click here to see Children's Poet Laureate, Mary Ann Hoberman, reading from her own work, as well as from favorite collections of classic children's poetry.

5/5 Story Hour

Theme: Mother's Day

Rhyme Dice: Button factory, 5 Little Hot Dogs

Song: Days of the Week

(to the tune of "The Adams Family")

"There's Sunday and there's Monday,

There's Tuesday and there's Wednesday,

There's Thursday and there's Friday,

and then there's Saturday.

Days of the week (clap clap)

Days of the week (clap clap)

Days of the week, days of the week, days of the week (clap clap)."

Story: Llama Llama Mad at Mama by Anna Dewdney

Flannelboard: Mother and baby animal puzzle

Song: Happy Mother's Day to You

(to the tune of "Happy Birthday")

"Happy Mother's Day to you, Happy Mother's Day to you! Happy Mother's Day dear Mommy, Happy Mother's Day to you!"

Activity: Mama Says (like Simon Says)

Craft: Make a hug for mom!

Directions: Let the child hug you. Then measure the hug with a piece of string. Put the string on the long paper and cut. Trace the child's hands and attach on either end of the paper. Let them decorate with bingo markers or whatever. Add a small heart in the middle with the poem:

Here's a great big happy hug

From your little cuddlebug.

May smiles and kisses come your way

With Lots of Love on Mothers Day!

Happy Mother's Day to all our moms and gradmas!

4/28 Story Hour

Theme: Derby Party!
Book: Are You a Horse? by Andy Rash
Flannelboard: Horse race counting game
Book: Look at pictures of horses from the Ultimate Horse Book. Count their height in hands to see who is the biggest!
Activity: Try on horse racing equipment like a helmet and goggles and ride stick horses.
Craft: Design your own horse
Activity: Enjoy horse snacks- carrots, apple juice, and oatmeal bars.

Next week we will celebrate Mother's Day! Come listen to Llama Llama Mad at Mama!

4/21 Story Hour

Theme: Earth Day

Book: Dora Celebrates Earth Day

Activity: Practice recycling by sorting through newspaper, bottles, and cardboard.

Craft: Decorate grocery bags that will be given out at Kroger on Earth Day

Activity: Plant a seed to take home

4/14 Story Hour

Theme: Rabbits

Book: Milo the Really Big Bunny by Stephen Krensky

Rhyme: 5 Little Rabbits
Five little rabbits under a log

This one said "Shh! I hear a dog!"

This one said "I see a man!"

This one said "Run while you can!"

This one said "I'm not afraid!"This one said, "Let's hide in the shade!"

A man and his dog went hurrying by,

And you should have seen those rabbits fly!
Action rhyme: Little Bunny Foo Foo
Dance: Bunny Hop

Craft: Bunny ears

4/7 Story Hour

Theme: Easter

Rhyme Dice: Shake My Sillies Out

Story: The Story of the Easter Bunny by Katherine Tegen

Activity: Do the Bunny Hop

Song: Little Bunny Foo Foo

Craft: Easter bunny ornament

Activity: Egg hunt in the library!

Thanks to those who brought treats to share with the group! Happy Easter!

Prom Preview Party

Join us this Saturday, April 4th from 2-4PM for a Prom Preview fashion show and dress swap. Come see the latest fashions from Geno's Formal Affair in our fashion show at 2:30. Then find a dress or accessories to wear at Prom, make jewelry to complete your outfit, or learn how to do your own hair and makeup. Win prizes and bring your friends!

We are currently seeking donations of gently-used formal attire and accessories to give away at this event and the 2010 Prom Preview Party. Items can be dropped off at the front desk.

3/31 Story Hour

Theme: Librarian for a day

Rhyme Dice: Shake My Sillies Out

Book: Mr. Wiggle's Book by Paula Craig

Activity: Look at damaged books and learn how to handle books from the library

Craft: Make a bookmark

Activity: Take a "behind the scenes" tour of the library. Check out your own books and help Ms. Megan shelve DVDs!

Next week we will be celebrating Easter with an egg hunt and appearance by baby chicks!

3/24 Story Hour

Theme: Bus Driver

Rhyme Dice: 5 Little Hot Dogs

Book: Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus by Mo Willems

Sign Language: drive, stop, caution

Song: The Wheels on the Bus

Activity: Red Light, Green Light

Activity: Learn how to cross the street. Remember to:

"Think first! (finger taps head)

Stomp your feet (stomp feet)

Look to the left (point left)

Look to the right (point right)

Look to the left (point left)

and listen (hand to ear)."

If you don't hear or see any cars coming, look over your shoulder before walking across the street. If you hear a car, take a big step back from the side of the road and try this all again!

Craft: Create a stop light with paper plates. Make a hole on each side of 3 plates, tie together with string, and color!

St. Patrick's Day Story Hour

Theme: St. Patrick's Day

Rhyme Dice: Button Factory

Book: The Luckiest St. Patrick's Day Ever by Teddy Slater

Activity: Dance an Irish Jig

Rhyme: Do Your Ears Point Up?

Do your ears point up? (make ears pointy with fingers)

Do you have a lot of luck? (cross fingers)

Can you dance an Irish jig? (dance)

For a pot of gold you'd dig (dig)

Do you toss gold o'er your shoulder (throwing motion over shoulder)

Like a giant throws a boulder (throwing motion)

Craft: Shamrock rainbow ornaments

Activity: Rainbow hand tracings for the Children's Library

Laundry Soap Making

Laundry Soap Making
Monday, April 20th
6:00 p.m.
Library Annex

Learn how to make laundry soap. Participants will get to take some home. Space is limited. Sign up today!

Healthy Living Series

Healthy Living Series
Monday, April 13th
6:00 p.m.

The Meade County Public Library presents LaDonna Frantz from Harmony and Health. Join us to learn all about the importance of wellness for quality of life and disease prevention.

Topics covered include:
* Lifestyle habits
* Stress Management
* Steps to natural health
* Intestinal health.

Sign up at the front desk. For more information contact the library at 422-2094.

Name Our New Pet!

A new pet is coming to live at the Meade County Public Library. Start thinking up good names for a hamster! Stop by the Children's Library, write down your favorite name, and leave it in the fishbowl on the Librarians' desk. The winner will not only name and meet the hamster, but also get their picture sent to the newspapers!

We're excited to hear your ideas!

3/10 Story Hour

Theme: Restaurant

Rhyme Dice: Baby Bumblebee

Book: Minnie's Diner by Dayle Ann Dodds

Craft: Make a "pizza" using cut-out ingredients. A big thanks to Mr. Gatti's for donating the boxes.

Activity: Enjoy a slice of real pizza!

See you next week for our St. Patrick's Day party! Remember, Monday sessions of Story Hour will begin on 3/23.

3/3 Story Hour

Theme: Construction Workers

Rhyme Dice: Button Factory

"Hi, my name is Joe. I've got a wife and two kids and I work in a button factory. One day my boss came up to me and said 'Joe, are you busy?' I said 'No.' 'Then push the button with your right hand.'" Repeat with both hands, feet, head, etc. On final time, when the boss asks if he is busy, Joe yells YES!

Book: Curious George and the Dump Truck by Margaret and H.A. Rey

Sign language: hammer, nail, restaurant

Craft: The kids decorated cardboard construction hats and foam hammer bookmarks.

Activity: They used their new hammers to "build" a restaurant we will visit next week. An outline of the restaurant was drawn on butcher paper on the wall and they colored the picture and drew in things they thought the cafe should have. Kid-friendly tools were also available for them to play with. One of the big hits was styrofoam blocks they could drive plastic nails into. We also had fun measuring each other and playing with a 100' tape measurer.

Join us next week to visit the MCPL Cafe! Hear a story, make a "pizza," and enjoy a slice of the real thing!

Because Story Hour has experienced a growth in popularity, we will now be offering 2 programs a week to better fit your schedule. Starting on March 23, Story Hour will be held on Mondays in the Annex at 10:30 in addition to our regular time on Tuesdays. Hope this makes it easier for everyone!

2/24 Story Hour

Theme: At the Vet's Office

Rhyme Dice: 5 Little Hot Dogs

"5 little hot dogs in a frying pan.

The grease got hot and one went BAM (clap)!

repeat with 4, 3, 2, 1

No little hot dogs in a frying pan.

The grease got hot and the pan went BAM (clap)!

Story: Sally Goes to the Vet by Stephen Huneck

Activity: Daisy, our puppet friend, visited us and shared her fears about going to a vet. But after talking with the children who helped her "think happy thoughts," she got a shot without even noticing! Now Daisy is no longer afraid of the vet or the boys and girls at story hour!

Activity: Play veterinarian with stuffed animals and doctor supplies.

Craft: Make a puppy puppet! At-home directions can be found here.

Next week, we will continue our careers theme and be construction workers for a day. We will be playing with tools and building a restaurant we will "visit" the following week!