Week of November 15 & November 22, 2009
THANKSGIVING
Thanksgiving marks the start of the holiday season. Sometimes we tend to skip over Thanksgiving in the holiday rush. Take a breath and read a few Thanksgiving books, make a craft and talk with children about what you truly are thankful for.

Share a few good books:

Let’s Get Ready for Thanksgiving by Joanne Winne
This book explores Thanksgiving traditions.

Sometimes it’s Turkey, Sometimes it’s Feathers by Lora Balian
A delightful book that teaches the meaning of friendship.

Over the River: A Turkey’s Tale by Derek Anderson; based on the song by Lydia Maria Child
A funny take on an old song that guarantees giggles.

A Comfy, Cozy Thanksgiving by Kiki Thorpe
Celebrates Thanksgiving with Bear in the Big Blue House.

Turkey Riddles by Katy Hall
A must read—but don’t read too many at one time!!!

Look for craft suggestions in Thanksgiving Day Crafts by Arlene Erlbach

Songs and fingerplays to share:

Five Little Turkeys
Five little turkeys by the barn door, one waddled off, then there were four. Four little turkeys out under the tree, one waddled off, then there were three. Three little turkeys with nothing to do, one waddled off, then there were two. Two little turkeys in the noonday sun, one waddled off, then there was one. One little turkey- better run away! Soon will come Thanksgiving Day.

Thanksgiving Song (sung to Twinkle, Twinkle)
Let's be thankful for this day. For our friends and for our play. Let's be thankful; lets be glad. For the food and things we have. Let's give thanks for you and me. And our home and family.

Gobble, Gobble (Sung to "If You're Happy & You Know It")
"Gobble, gobble, gobble, gobble", says the bird "Gobble, gobble, gobble, gobble", says the bird. Mr. Turkey gobble-gobbles And his head goes wobble-wobble "Gobble, gobble, gobble, gobble", says the bird

Week of November 8, 2009
Football!
The leaves are falling, the weather is getting cold and it’s football time! There are many enjoyable books to share with children that are about football: how to play it, well known football player and even football jokes. Share a few of  these books for fun:

Football Jokes and Riddles by Matt Christopher
Hooray for Fly Guy! by Ted Arnold
Touchdown! Dear Dragon by Margaret Hillert
Touchdown! You Can Play Football by Nick Fauchald

Activity:
Take five bushel baskets or laundry baskets (boxes work too) lay them out about five feet apart and have children run with the football and try to drop the ball into the furthest away basket. You could assign scores to each basket and see who wins.

Craft to Make:
Cut out football helmet shape out of construction paper or a paper bag and decorate with crayons to make it look like your favorite team helmet.

Week of November 1, 2009
Fall is a wonderful time to reconnect with nature. Visit your local park and watch the squirrels and chipmunks get ready for winter. Read a few books about fall and visit a pumpkin farm!

There are many books about fall fun. Share Busy, Busy Squirrels by Colleen Stanley Bare. Anne Rockwell has a nice story about apple picking, Apples and Pumpkins. Mouse’s First Fall by Lauren Thompson is full of fall colors and fun.

Fall is a perfect time to create crafts from nature (leaf pictures, chestnut animals, etc...). Check out Kathy Ross’ Step-By-Step Crafts For Fall for some great fall project ideas. 

Finally, share these songs about fall:

10 Little Pumpkins (Sung to "10 Little Indians")
1 little, 2 little, 3 little pumpkins,
4 little, 5 little, 6 little pumpkins,
7 little, 8 little, 9 little pumpkins,
10 little pumpkins in the Pumpkin Patch!

Crows in the Corn Field (sung to Skip to My Lou)
Crows in the corn field, shoo crows, shoo
(make shooing motion)
Crows in the corn field, shoo crows, shoo
Crows in the corn field, shoo crows, shoo
What'll you do, poor farmer?

Falling Leaves (sung to Mary had a Little Lamb)
Leaves are falling on the ground
On the ground On the ground
Leaves are falling on the ground
Red, yellow, green and brown.

Week of October 25, 2009
A common childhood fear is monsters and other strange things hiding in the closet or under the bed. There are several books that may calm those fears. Here are some fun ones to share:

I’m Coming to Get You by Tony Ross.
A horrible monster gets a big surprise when he finds the little boy he was going to eat is bigger than him.                                                  

There’s an Alligator Under My Bed by Mercer Mayer.
A young boy finds a novel way to get rid of a pesky alligator under his bed.

Go Away Big Green Monster by Ed Emberley.
Turning each page reveals more of a monster, but keep turning and the monster disappears.

Snip Snap!: What's That? by Mara Bergman.
Three young children turn the table on a very scary alligator.

Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak.
A young boy, after being sent to bed without supper, sails to the land of the wild things and become their king.

An activity that may help overcome a fear of monsters is called monster in the closet. First fold a sheet of paper or construction paper in half. On the inside, staple or glue a half-sheet of white paper to one side. On the front, write "There's a monster in my closet”. Next have the child draw a picture of a monster on the inside half of folded paper. Now the child can close the door on the monster in the closet.

Go, Monster, Go! is another activity that may help overcome monster anxiety.

Go, Monster, Go
Monster, monster under the bed
(cup hands around mouth)
You should go somewhere else instead!
(Shake finger)
Go, monster, go!
(stamp feet slowly)
Go, monster, go!
(stamp feet faster)
Go, monster, go!
(stamp feet very fast)

-from the book Storytime Crafts by Kathryn Totten                    

Week of October 18, 2009
October is National Art & Humanities Month. An indoor activity, as the weather gets cooler, is visit a museum. Milwaukee is home to many museums. Prices vary but a visit to the Milwaukee Art Museum can cost you nothing. Simply go to Central or your neighborhood library and check out the book A is for Art [with Art Aloud Family Pass]: An Alphabetical Tour of the Milwaukee Art Museum by Marjorie Nelson Moon. The pass included with this book entitles you and your family to free admission at the Milwaukee Art Museum. Note: you do need to take the book with you. While there make a game of looking for things that start with different letters of the alphabet. For example, for the letter “b” look for paintings with birds in them.

ABC themed books:
26 Letters and 99 Cents by Tana Hoban
Black and White Rabbit’s ABC by Alan Baker
Chicka Chicka Boom Boom by Bill Martin, Jr.
The Turn-Around, Upside-Down Alphabet Book by Lisa Campbell Ernst

Other indoors activities to do when the weather is too chilly to go outdoors are Simon Says, Hokey Pokey, Head, and B-I-N-G-O—but instead of clapping substitute jumping. These movements can be done with or without music. These are activities that will teach listening skills, coordination, rhythm and children are exercising to boot!

The following CDs contain the above activities:
101 Toddler Favorites
Early Childhood Classics: Old Favorites with a New Twist by Hap Palmer
Sing with Glee!
Sticky Bubble Gum and Other Tasty Tunes by Carole Peterson  

Week of October 11, 2009
Most of us remember Mother Goose from our childhood. In the 10 Tips for Raising a Reader one tip encourages you to “Share Mother Goose rhymes and poetry with your children. Sing songs and make up silly word games. Children enjoy playing with the sounds of words and this develops their phonological awareness.”  Rhyming encourages playing with sounds. Here is a list of Mother Goose books with a twist:

Black Mother Goose Book arranged by Elizabeth Murphy Oliver.
Mother Goose: Numbers on the Loose illustrated by Leo and Diane Dillon.
Move Over, Mother Goose!: Finger Plays, Action Verses, & Funny Rhymes by Ruth I. Dowell.
The Neighborhood Mother Goose pictures by Nina Crews.
Out Came the Sun: A Day in Nursery Rhymes illustrated by Heather Collins.

Share this traditional rhyme:

Noble Duke of York
Oh, the noble Duke of York
He had ten thousand men
(raise arms high with fingers outstretched)
He marched them up to the top of the hill and
(pretend to march)
Marched them down again
(bend knees and touch ground)

And when you're up, you're up
(stand up)
And when you're down, you're down
(bend knees and touch ground)
And when you're only half way up
You're neither up nor down
(bend knees slightly)

Week of October 4, 2009
It’s fall and to celebrate the season your neighborhood libraries will host specials program throughout the month of October. During harvest time one of the things that most people think of is apples. Books about apples can be used to boost narrative skills — the ability to describe things and events, and to tell stories. Encouraging children to make up stories to go with the pictures in a book or asking them what they think happened next are other ways to enhance narrative skills. Enjoy the following books about apples and the harvest:

Russ and the Apple Tree Surprise by Janet Elizabeth Rickert.
Russ, who has Down syndrome, picks a basket of apples and helps his mother and grandmother make a pie.

Apples by Gail Gibbons.
Book gives us a colorful way to learn about apples.

The Seasons of Arnold's Apple Tree  by Gail Gibbon.
This book illustrates Arnold’s apple tree through the four seasons. It gives a home to birds, shade to Arnold, and of course apples.

Autumn is for Apples by Michelle Knudsen.
A family goes apple picking for a snack that’s “juicy, red, and round …comes with a crunchy sound.”

 Apple Songs:

The Apple Tree
Sing to the tune of “Rock-a-bye Baby”
Here is a tree with leaves so green
(Arms together, elbows to elbows, wrists to wrist, hand spread)
Here are the apples that hang between.
(Clinch fist for apples)
When the wind blows the apples will fall.
(Wave arms in the wind and let apples fall suddenly)
Here is a basket to gather them all.
(Make a basket with both hands, fingers interlocked)

~From I’m a Little Teapot compiled by Jane Cobb

Apple song
I Like Apples
(sing to the tune of Frere Jacques)
I like apples, I like apples.
Nice and sweet. Nice and sweet.
Crunchy, crunchy, crunchy.
Munchy, munchy, munchy.
Good to eat. Good to eat.

Week of September 27, 2009
Playing with rhyme and the sounds of language is fun, and an important first step in learning to read. Here are some delightful examples of books that do both:

Chicky Chicky Chook Chook by Cathy MacLennan
Hop! Plop! by Corey Rosen Schwartz & Tali Klein
In the Tall, Tall Grass by Denise Fleming
One Duck Stuck by Phyllis Root
Jazz Baby by Carole Boston Weatherford

Week of September 20, 2009
Fall is a great time of year to take a walk with your toddler, collect some pretty leaves, and talk about their shapes and colors. There are many charming books for children with autumn themes.

Mouse’s First Fall by Lauren Thompson
Autumn Walk by Ann Burg
Red Leaf, Yellow Leaf by Lois Ehlert
Leaf Man by Lois Ehlert
When Autumn Falls Kelli Nidey

Week of September 13, 2009
All children should have library cards! Check with your local library about what you need to do to obtain library cards for your child. Libraries open the door to learning, knowledge and fun!  There is no better way to celebrate Library Card Sign-up Month than to obtain this free “passport” to adventure! Share these books about libraries:

Lola at the Library by Anna McQuinn
Bats at the Library by Brian Lies
It’s Library Day by Janet Morgan Stoeke
The Boy Who Was Raised By Librarians by Carla D. Morris
Library Mouse by Daniel Kirk

Week of September 6, 2009
With many children returning to school, child care centers, and preschool, what better way to remind them to treat others with respect and kindness during Children ’s Good Manners Month! All of us should treat others the way we want to be treated. Below are some titles that deal with children and manners.

My Manners Matter: A First Look At Being Polite by Pat Thomas
Children Around The World by Donata Montanari
Let’s Find Out About Manners by Valerie Pitt
Manners by Aliki
Manners Can be Fun by Munro Leaf

Week of August 23, 2009
Sometimes it’s frustrating for parents and caregivers to deal with “read-it-again-itis”. That’s when a child asks you to read the same book over and over and over again. While it may be boring to you, we encourage repeated readings of the same book.  Repeated readings help a child build many important literacy skills. Print motivation is important to a young reader, so we should encourage a child’s interest in books at every turn. One strategy for dealing with the frequently requested book is to make a recording of the book at your next reading. The next time the child requests the book you can set the tape up and play it for the child while they turn the pages themselves. Another tip is to find other books by the same author and see if you can expand the child’s interest just a little bit. And, remember, eventually children will move on to other favorites and you can start the process all over again!

Week of August 16, 2009
Fables are usually short, interesting stories that can be use to teach children about character. Many fables feature animal characters and young children often find the stories interesting for that reason. Fables are didactic; that is, they try to teach the reader a lesson about the world. Fables are useful because they can get young people to think and talk about behavior and conduct. Perhaps the most famous source for fables is Aesop, a storyteller from ancient times whose stories have been passed on and still survive today.

Books that feature fables:
There is a Wolf at the Door by Zoë Alley
The Lion and the Mouse: And Other Aesop's Fables Retold by Doris Orgel
Birds of a Feather and Other Aesop's Fables Retold in Verse by Tom Paxton
Feathers and Tails: Animal Fables from Around the World Retold by David Kherdian
The Boy Who Cried Wolf by Tony Ross

Week of August 9, 2009
An enriched vocabulary is one of the six skills that we try to encourage and develop at the Milwaukee Public Library. Make a special point to highlight new and interesting words when you encounter them in the reading that you do with children. Repeat the word several times and talk about its meaning. A good idea is to start a new word log. You could use a note book or journal or you could even write the new words down on 3 by 5 cards or slips of paper and keep them in a brightly decorated “new word box”. Review the words regularly and reinforce with children the importance of having a strong, enriched vocabulary.

Week of August 2, 2009
Many Milwaukee children have been busy this summer with Milwaukee Public Library’s summer reading program. Families all over the city have been setting aside time to read together. Thirty minutes a day, fifteen minutes a day; regular reading is a good idea. Since school is about to begin it could be helpful to include books about school success. Here are a few titles that can stimulate a conversation with children about going back to school and what to expect when they get there:

I Love School! by Philemon Sturges
Bullies Never Win by Margery Cuyler
Know and Follow Rules by Cheri J. Meiners
Wow! School! by Robert Neubecker
Amelia Bedelia Goes Back to School by Herman Parish

Teach children this back-to-school rhyme:
HEY, HEY, WHO'S IN TOWN?
(Great for getting to know names and having some fun)
Hey, Hey, Who's in Town? Everybody look around. Say your name and when you do We will say it back to you! (point to a student, they say their name, the class then says "Hello _____" and start again until everyone has a turn) *find a clapping beat to go with the words*  ~ From: www.alphabet-soup.net

Week of July 26, 2009
Hopefully the only mice that have managed to make it into your house are the many wonderful mice characters featured in children’s books. Add some finger plays and crafts featuring mice for even more fun. 

Books:
The Little Mouse, the Red Ripe Strawberry, and the Big Hungry Bear
by Don and Audrey Wood
Mouse Paint by Ellen Stoll Walsh
Chester’s Way by Kevin Henkes
If You Give a Mouse a Cookie by Laura Numeroff

Fingerplays:
Hickory-Dickory Dock
Hickory-Dickory dock (Run fingers up arm)
The Mouse ran up the clock (to the top of the head)
The clock struck one (tap head once)
And down he run (run fingers down other arm)
Hickory-Dickory dock

Little Mousie
Here's a little mousie,
Peeking through a hole,
(Poke index finger of one hand through fist of the other hand)
Peek to the left,
(Wiggle finger to the left)
Peek to the right,
(Wiggle finger to the right)
Pull your head back in,
(Pull finger into fist)
There's a cat in sight!

Craft:
To make this craft project you will need an egg cup from an egg carton, a pink pipe cleaner, markers, glue, scissors, a small pink pom-pom, and pink construction paper. To begin trim your egg cup so it sits straight and level. Next poke a hole in the edge of egg cup and insert a piece of pink pipe cleaner to create your mouse's tail. Next add a pink pom-pom nose with glue. Cut out and attach pink ears with glue and then use your markers to add whiskers. Enjoy!

Week of July 19, 2009
Summer is a great time to share books and talk about bugs since there are so many creepy, crawly wriggly things outside. When you’re done reading, go outside on a bug safari and search for the real thing!

Books:
Hi! Fly Guy by Tedd Arnold
The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle
Beetle Bop by Denise Fleming
I Love Bugs! by Philemon Sturges

Fingerplays:
Beehive Five
Here is a beehive (make a fist)
But where are the bees (shrug shoulders)          
Hiding inside where nobody sees (point to fist)
Soon they’ll come out
Of their hive
1,2,3,4,5 (open fingers one at a time)
BUZZZZZZZ! (fly fingers and tickle a friend!)

Fuzzy Wuzzy Caterpillar
Fuzzy Wuzzy Caterpillar Into a corner will creep (creep fingers)
He'll spin himself a blanket
And then fall fast asleep (rest head, close eyes)
Fuzzy, wuzzy caterpillar
Very soon will rise (wake up)
And find he has grown beautiful wings
Now he's a butterfly!

Craft:
Bug Zoo
Set out materials such as empty yogurt containers, toilet paper tubes, egg cartons, pipe cleaners, yarn, pompoms, googly eyes, paper scraps, paint, and glue. Then invite the children to use the materials to make "bugs." Display their creations together as a Bug Zoo.

Week of July 12, 2009
Phonological Awareness is important for learning how to read.   It teaches children to recognize sameness, difference, number, and order of speech sounds.  When children develop phonological awareness, they are able to think about how words sound, apart from what the words mean. For example, they appreciate that the word “table” has two spoken parts (syllables), that the word “bear” rhymes with “chair,” and that the words “carrot” and “king” begin with the same sound.

Games and songs are often used to help develop children’s phonological awareness. The following are some examples of games and songs that can be used in the classroom:

(Sit in a circle)
Bubble gum, bubble gum, in a dish
How many pieces do you wish?
(Stop at that person and ask for a number and then you count it out one-potato two-potato style)

The following game helps direct the children’s attention to similarities and differences in the sounds of words.

Willaby Wallaby
Willaby Wallaby Wusan,
An elephant sat on Susan
Willaby Wallaby Wark,
An elephant sat on Mark

The book titles below all help children develop phonological awareness (but are so much fun, the kids will never know!)

Miss Mary Mack by Mary Ann Hoberman
Shoo Fly by Iza Trapani
Down by the Bay by Raffi
Take Me Out of the Bathtub & Other Silly Dilly Songs by Alan Katz

Week of July 5, 2009
Summertime is a great time to get preschoolers excited about reading. Here are just a few of the many titles you can use. Invite the children to bring beach towels to school to sit on during story time and lay on during rest time.

To the Beach! by Linda Ashman
Out of the Ocean by Debra Frasier
Spot Goes to the Beach by Eric Hill
Sea, Sand, Me! by Patricia Hubbell
At the Beach by Anne and Harlow Rockwell

Add in fingerplays and songs for even more fun:

Five Little Seashells
Five little seashells sleeping on the shore
(Hold up five fingers, bending down one for each verse)
Swish! went a big wave, and then there were four
(Move arms to make the waves)
Three little seashells pearly and new
Swish! went a big wave, and then there were two
Two little seashells having great fun
Swish! went a big wave and then there was one.
One little seashell lying in the sun
Swish! went a big wave and then there were none.
Five little seashells gone out to sea,
(Point out to sea)
Wait until morning and they’ll return to me.
(Point to self)

I’m a Little Fishy
(to the tune of “I’m a Little Teapot)
I’m a little fishy
Watch me swim
Here is my tail
Here is my fin
When I want to have fun with my friends
I wiggle my tail and dive right in

Fishy Pokey
(to the tune of the Hokey Pokey)
Put your left fin in, take your left fin out
You do the fishy pokey and you turn yourself around, that’s what it’s all about
Put your right gill in, take your right gill out (etc.)

Follow it up with a game of Fish, Fish, Shark!
Play just like duck, duck, goose!

Week of June 28, 2009
I scream you scream we all scream for ice cream! Try these stories on a hot day:

Curious George goes to an Ice Cream Shop by H.A. Rey
The Candystore Man by Jonathan London
Make Mine Ice Cream by Melvin Berger
Wemberly’s Ice Cream Star by Kevin Henkes

Rhyme: Spider's Ice Cream
LITTLE MISS MUFFET
SAT ON HER TUFFET
EATING A CHOCOLATE ICE CREAM
ALONG CAME A SPIDER
WHO SAT DOWN BESIDE HER
AND SAID, "GIVE ME SOME OR I'LL SCREAM."

Eighteen Flavors by Shel Silverstein
Eighteen luscious, scrumptious flavors
Chocolate, lime and cherry,
Coffee, pumpkin, fudge banana
Caramel cream and boysenberry.

Rocky road and toasted almond,
Butterscotch, vanilla dip,
Butter brickle, apple ripple,
Coconut and mocha chip,

Brandy peach and lemon custard,
Each scoop lovely, smooth and round,
Tallest ice cream cone in town,
Lying there (sniff) on the ground.

Week of June 21, 2009
Beach Day! It is the first week of summer so have some fun in the sun with these sandy stories:

Rhyming text describes all of the items essentials for fun at the at the beach in All You Need for a Beach by Alice Schertle.

On a night when the moon can grow no fatter, bats pack their moon-tan lotion and baskets of treats and fly off for some fun on the beach in Bats at the Beach by Brian Lies.

A baby and his mother spend a day at the beach. Spanish words are interspersed in the rhyming text in Bebé Goes to the Beach by Susan Middleton Elya.

Finger play:
HERE IS THE SEA
HERE IS THE SEA, THE WAVY SEA (Wave your hands from side to side)
HERE IS MY BOAT, (cup your hands like a boat)
AND HERE IS ME. (point to yourself)
ALL OF THE FISHES (wiggle your fingers)
DOWN BELOW (point downward)
WIGGLE THEIR TAILS (wiggle your fingers)
AND AWAY THEY GO (wiggle your fingers behind your back)

Take Me Out to the Ocean
(to the tune of: Take Me Out to the Ball Game)

TAKE ME OUT TO THE OCEAN,
TAKE ME OUT TO THE SEA,
THERE GOES A STARFISH AND SAND DOLLAR,
I'M HAVING SUCH FUN,
I'VE JUST GOT TO HOLLER
OH, IT'S SWIM, SWIM, SWIM, UNDERWATER
CATCH A RIDE ON A WHALE,
DON'T FEAR, FOR THE SEA ANIMALS ARE OUR FRIENDS
LET'S GIVE A GREAT BIG CHEER!

Week of June 14, 2009
LAUGH IT UP THIS SUMMER!
Summer is a time to relax and smell the roses. Put smiles on your toddlers’ face with these stories:

Silly Sally by Audrey Wood
Five Little Monkeys Jumping on the Bed by Eileen Christelow
The Pigeon Finds a Hot Dog! by Mo Willems
Green Eggs and Ham or anything by Dr. Seuss
I’d Really Like to Eat a Child by Sylviane Donnio

Toddlers will enjoy these tongue twisters while having fun with sounds:

Moses Supposes
MOSES SUPPOSES HIS TOESES ARE ROSES,
BUT MOSES SUPPOSES ERRONEOUSLY,
FOR NOBODY'S TOESES ARE POSIES OF ROSES,
AND MOSES SUPPOSES HIS TOESES TO BE.

Fuzzy Wuzzy
FUZZY WUZZY WAS A BEAR
FUZZY WUZZY HAD NO HAIR,
FUZZYWUZZY WASN'T VERY FUZZY... WAS HE???

Don’t forget to add the books you’ve read to your Super Reader Folder and collect your prizes!

Week of June 7, 2009
Your little ones will enjoy the great outdoors so put on their hiking shoes, pack a picnic lunch and go on a picnic. As you hike to your picnic site, demonstrate Narrative Skills; talk with your toddlers about any plants, animals, or other objects you see along the way. 

To get toddlers excited about going on a picnic, read We’re going on a Picnic! by Pat Hutchins. Children will love the anticipation and the repetition in the story. To create an adventurous mood, read Jump Frog Jump! by Robert Kalan. Follow the adventures of Duck as she gathers her animal friends to find the perfect picnic spot in Click Clack, Quackity-Quack: An Alphabetical Adventure by Doreen Cronin

Songs are a good way to play with the word sounds and build Phonological Awareness. Try out Five Green and Speckled Frogs:

FIVE GREEN AND SPECKLED FROGS
SAT ON A SPECKLED LOG
EATING SOME MOST DELICIOUS BUGS
YUM, YUM!
ONE JUMPED INTO A POOL
WHERE IT WAS NICE AND COOL
THEN THERE WERE FOUR SPECKLED FROGS.
(then go to four, three, two, one, and none)

Don’t forget to sign your little ones up to be Super Readers this summer at your Milwaukee Public Library! It is a great way to spend time reading with your child and win prizes too!

Week of May 31, 2009
Many classes are visiting the zoo this month. It’s a great opportunity for enriched vocabulary. Teach the children about some new animals that they might see. You might also try to teach them about the difference between fiction books (made up stories) and non-fiction books (about real things). These non-fiction books are in a picture book format and can easily be shared with little ones.

Bold and Bright, Black and White Animals by Dorothy Hinshaw Patent
Fabulous Fishes by Susan Stockdale
Flamingo Sunset by Jonathan London
Vulture View by April Pulley Sayre

Fish Fingerplay
1,2,3,4,5
I caught some fish alive
6,7,8,9,10
I caught some fish again
Why should you let them go?
Because they like to swim, you know
I'll let them swim away,
So I can fish another day
10,9,8,7,6,5,4,3,2,1

Fish Craft
Fold a paper plate in half and staple front half.
Use construction paper to make fins and a tail.
Put tail between back halves of plate and staple.
Glue on fins.
Use crayons to make eyes and to color the fish.

Week of May 24, 2009
Birthdays are celebrated all year long but in spring when everything is new again, it seems like the perfect theme. For letter knowledge talk about the letter B and find the word Birthday in all of these fun books. Maybe they could pretend to blow out a candle each time they see the word.

A Birthday for Cow! by Jan Thomas
Hello! Is This Grandma? by Ian Whybrow
The Birthday Box by Leslie Patricelli —this one repeats the word Box often—another B word
Snail’s Birthday Wish by Fiona Rempt
Where is Baby’s Birthday Cake?: A Lift-the-Flap Book by Karen Katz

Birthday fingerplay
Today I have a birthday

I'm four years old you see
(hold up 4 fingers)

And here I have a birthday cake
(make circle with arms)

Which you may share with me
(point to group)

First we count the candles

Count them every one

One, two, three, four
(hold up fingers one by one)

The counting now is done

Let's blow out the candles

Out each flame will go
(pretend to blow)

As one by one we blow
(bend fingers down one at a time)

Week of May 17, 2009
Summer Reading sign up begins this week at all Milwaukee Public Libraries. Be sure to stop by and register the children in your care. Since we will need their names, this might be a good week for stories that promote letter knowledge.

Chicka Chicka Boom Boom by Bill Martin Jr.
The Big, Bigger, Biggest Book by Sami
Monster Mess by Margery Cuyler
Grump Groan Growl by Bell Hooks
A Child’s Day: An Alphabet of Play by Ida Pearle

Fingerplay for the letter “M” - Merry Mice                                          
Five merry mice were born in May.                 
(Show five fingers.)                                
The first one said, “In the Mud, let’s play.”   
(Touch thumb.)
The second one said, “No way, Hosea”!      
(Touch index.)
The third one said, “In the middle I must stay.”  
(Touch middle.)
The fourth one said, “ I am mad today.”        
(Touch ring finger.)
The fifth one said, “Our Mom we must obey.”      
(Touch little finger.)

Mouse Craft
Cut out 6 ovals. 1 for body, 1 for head, 2 for ears and 2 for feet (use different sizes). Glue and color.

From: http://www.first-school.ws/t/craft/mouse-ovals-b.htm

Week of May 10, 2009
This week is National Children’s Book Week so pick up some of your year round favorites for some print motivation or try some of ours. Schedule a visit to the library this week so the children can pick out their favorites too.

Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See? by Bill Martin Jr.
No David! by David Shannon
How Do Dinosaurs Say Goodnight? by Jane Yolen
Who Took the Cookies From the Cookie Jar? By Bonnie Lass

Fingerplay by Jean Warren
I am a librarian,
I check out all the books (pretend to scan or stamp books)
Come and visit me real soon
And give my books a look.

All the boys and girls can come.
And check out books for free (hold out hands like an open book)
I help them find the books they want
At the library.

Week of May 3, 2009
Show how the simplest things can mean the most this Mother’s Day by reading some of these stories about children and their moms. Then ask the children to tell the story back to you. These sequential stories are great for narrative skills:

Mother, Mother, I Want Another by Maria Polushkin Robbins
T. Rex and the Mother’s Day Hug by Lois G. Grambling
A Present for Mom by Vivian French
No Time for Mother’s Day by Laure Halse Anderson

Rhyme - Mother's Day (to the tune of Are You Sleeping)        
We love mothers, we love mothers        
Yes, we do yes, we do                          
Mothers are for hugging                     
Mothers are for kissing                      
We love you yes, we do!   
                  
Craft (from Enchantedlearning.com)
Trace and cut out child’s handprint.
Paste just palm onto another paper.
Draw green lines across palm (stems).
Decorate stem ends with flowers.
Fold fingers over stems and glue.

Week of April 26, 2009
Jazz up your time together! The weather outside may be rainy and cold, but you can keep warm inside dancing to some cool jazz. Enjoy the rhythm and rhyme of scat or relax to smooth blues. 

Check out these books about jazz:
Jazz on a Saturday Night by Leo & Diane Dillon
Jazz Baby by Lisa Wheeler
This Jazz Man by Karen Ehrhardt
Mush's Jazz Adventure by Daniel Pinkwater

Or enjoy some children's jazz music on CD:
Baby Loves Jazz Greatest Hits. Vol. 1 & 2
Nicky's Jazz for Kids: Sing, Clap, Wiggle and Shake

Tap your toes or clap along with beat to work on listening skills and pattern recognition with your child – or exercise in a creative way by dancing along. Anything goes!

Week of April 19, 2009
Relax, it's Stress Awareness Month. Time to put your feet up and let your hair down.  Exercise is a great way to work off your stress. Here are some fun books that will have you and your child jumping and down, stretching down to touch your toes, and maybe even doing a little Yoga:

Week of April 12, 2009
Libraries help us open doors to new worlds and uncover secrets about our own.  Celebrate National Library Week by exploring everything libraries have to offer children, parents, and... bats? Here are a few great books about libraries:

It's Library Day by Janet Morgan Stoeke
Bats at the Library by Brian Lies
I Like the Library by Anne Rockwell
The Best Book to Read by Debbie Bertram & Susan Bloom
Beverly Billingsly Borrows a Book by Alexander Stadler

What is a Book? by Lora Daunt
A book is pages, pictures and words
A book is animals, people and birds
A book is stories of queens and kings
Poems and songs-so many things!
Curled in a corner where I can hide
With a book I can journey far and wide
Though it's only paper from end to end
A book is a very special friend.

Week of April 5, 2009
April is National Humor Month, and the best way to chase away those Spring rain clouds is with laughter and silliness. It’s National Poetry Month, too, and a great time to enjoy the funny poetry of Jack Prelutsky, Shel Silverstein, and X. J. Kennedy. While you read the poems with your child, you can play with rhyming words while working on phonological awareness.

More silly stories to enjoy:
Apples & Oranges: Going Bananas with Pairs by Sara Pinto
Each Peach Pear Plum by Janet and Allan Ahlberg

And don’t forget the master of fun, Dr. Seuss!

Week of March 29, 2009
As the weather gets warmer, spring cleaning begins. Reinforce the idea that spring is the time to clean away some of the dust and dirt that has built up over winter by having a “Spring Clean Up” story time. Then provide some gloves and bags and take the kids to a nearby park or just a walk around the block to pick up trash. Below are some great stories about cleaning inside and outside:

Clifford’s Spring Clean-up by Norman Bridwell
How Do Dinosaurs Clean Their Rooms by Jane Yolen
Maisy Cleans Up by Lucy Cousins
Max Cleans Up by Rosemary Wells
Rhyming Dust Bunnies by Jan Thomas
The Great Trash Bash by Loreen Leedy
Trashy Town by Andrea Griffing Zimmerman and David Clemesha
I Stink by Kate & Jim McMullan

Week of March 22, 2009
Think green for spring! Celebrate the first full week of spring by highlighting the color green. Some fun activities could be a “wear green day”, adding green food dye to rice crispy treats, or improving vocabulary skills by teaching children the names for different shades of green (lime, celadon, olive, emerald, etc.).

Stories About Green:
Little Blue and Little Yellow: A Story for Pippo and Ann and Other Children
by Leo Lionni                          
Go Away, Big Green Monster! by Ed Emberley
Little Green by Keith Baker
Where is the Green Sheep? by Mem Fox
The Whole Green World by Tony Johnston
Way Up High in a Tall Green Tree by Jan Peck

Song About Green:
Green  
(Sung to the tune of Bingo)

There is a color we all know                            
Can you guess what it is?

G-R-E-E-N
G-R-E-E-N
G-R-E-E-N

Green is what that spells.
The grass and leaves outside
Are green as green as they can be.

G-R-E-E-N
G-R-E-E-N
G-R-E-E-N

Week of March 15, 2009
March 20th is “Very Hungry Caterpillar Day” in honor of the 40th anniversary of the beloved children’s classic. The Very Hungry Caterpillar can be used as counting book, a science book about the life cycle of caterpillars or just a great read aloud. Celebrate the day by reading some of Eric Carle’s other fun stories or plan a caterpillar story time! For more activities and ideas for celebrating the day, see the official website: http://us.penguingroup.com/static/pages/yr/pdf/caterpillar.pdf

Other Books by Eric Carle:
The Mixed-Up Chameleon
The Grouchy Ladybug
The Very Busy Spider
The Very Clumsy Click Beetle
The Very Quiet Cricket

Caterpillar Stories:
Bob and Otto by Robert O. Bruel
Don't Worry Bear by Greg Foley
Farfallina & Marcel by Holly Keller
Gotta Go! Gotta Go! by Sam Swope

Week of March 8, 2009
Spring forward with daylight saving time this week. Introduce children to the concept of time and explain how clocks work. Some of the following books include a clock with moving hands to help demonstrate telling time and build Print Motivation:

Bats Around the Clock by Kathi Appelt
Hickory Dickory Dock by Keith Baker
I.Q., It's Time by Mary Ann Fraser
Telling Time with Big Mama Cat by Dan Harper
Big Hand, Little Hand by Judith Herbst
Maisy's First Clock by Lucy Cousins

Teach children to recite this classic rhyme:
Hickory-Dickory Dock
Hickory-Dickory dock (Run fingers up arm)
The Mouse ran up the clock (to the top of the head)
The clock struck one (tap head once)
And down he run (run fingers down other arm)
Hickory-Dickory dock
From: www.thebestkidsbooksite.com

You can also try this great clock craft-
http://www.dltk-teach.com/rhymes/hickory/morbit-clock.htm

Week of March 1, 2009
March 2nd is Dr. Seuss’s 105th birthday. Celebrate at any of the Milwaukee Public Library’s many fun-filled programs or throw your own celebration. Dr. Seuss’ picture books and beginning readers are filled with imaginary worlds and memorable characters and can encourage children to create their own worlds and improve their narrative skills. Seuss’ rhythmic text and word play is great for phonological awareness.

Dr. Seuss Classics:
The Cat in the Hat
Green Eggs and Ham
The Sneetches and Other Stories
Horton Hears a Who!
Oh, the Places You’ll Go

Seuss Activity:
Read Bartholomew and the Oobleck and use the directions below to make your own Oobleck.

You will need:
2 cups of cornstarch
1 cup of water
Green food coloring
Sheet of wax paper

Mix together the cornstarch, water, and food coloring in a bowl. Pour a little onto the wax paper so you can play with it. Roll it between your hands and it feels solid, but let it sit and it becomes a gooey liquid. What is it, solid or liquid? How would it feel if this stuff fell from the sky?
From: www.kckpl.lib.ks.us/ys/crafts/crafts.htm

Week of February 22, 2009
Penguins are so silly and lovable that it makes them popular with old and young alike.  Winter is the perfect time to enjoy some penguin stories about our arctic friends:

Penguin by Polly Dunbar
Penguins, Penguins, Everywhere! by Bob Barner
Playful Little Penguins by Tony Mitton
Quickly, Quigley by Jeanne M. Gravois
Tacky the Penguin by Helen Lester

These stories help children with Print Motivation and building a child’s interest in and enjoyment of books. Children who enjoy books will be more likely to want to know how to read.

A Penguin
A penguin, when he goes somewhere
(Waddle from side to side)
Will walk or swim; here’s why
(Waddle first, then swim)
Although he has two bird-like wings,
(Hold up two fingers)
He simply cannot fly!
(Tuck hands into armpits and flap wings)

5 Little Penguins Swam the Ocean Floor by Nancy Smith
5 Little penguins swam the ocean floor,
One saw a whale, and then there were 4.
4 Little penguins twirled around, wheeeee!
One spun off, and then there were 3.
3 Little penguins with nothing to do,
One went fishing, and then there were 2.
2 Little penguins having lots of fun,
One slid away, and then there was only one.
1 Little penguin, when day was done,
Went home to sleep, and then there was none.

Week of February 15, 2009
February is National Laugh-Friendly Month. Time to share some fun rhyming books with children! Rhyme helps build Phonological Awareness and who doesn’t like a good laugh? 

The Best Book to Read by Debbie Bertram & Susan Bloom
The Great Pancake Escape by Paul Many
Chicka Chicka Boom Boom by Bill Martin, Jr.
Bath Time by Eileen Spinelli
The Bear Came Over to My House by Rick Walton
Bear Snores On by Karma Wilson

Here’s a silly song to that will make you giggle:
The Peanut Song
A peanut sat on a railroad track
(Rub your two sets of fingers together, one on top of the other,
Like your signing railroad track)
His heart was all a flutter.
(Pat your hand over your heart like it’s beating fast)
Along came train number 915,
(Move your arms like the wheels on the train)
Choo, choo, choo, peanut butter
(Pull the handle about your head, and then clap your hands
Together on peanut butter)

Week of February 8, 2009
Valentine’s Day is February 14th. This is a perfect time to talk to children about love and friendship. Here are some Valentine books to share. While you are reading, ask children to respond to the illustrations. This will involve children in the story and help them build important narrative skills as they answer your questions and respond. 

Be Mine, Be Mine, Sweet Valentine by Sarah Weeks
Hugs and Hearts by Toni Trent Parker
Rhyme Time Valentine by Nancy Poydar
The Day It Rained Hearts by Felicia Bond

A Mailbox Valentine Finger Play:
When you look in your mailbox,
What do you think you’ll see? (Children pretend looking in mailbox)
It might be a Valentine,
And it might be from me. (Children point to themselves)

From: Finger Frolics:

Week of February 1, 2009
Children need to stay active during cold winter weather. The library can help with fun CDs so you can sing and dance and get moving! Moving to the rhythm in songs also helps build phonological awareness as children dance along to the beat they are learning about syllables and how words work. Explore these titles:

All-Time Favorite Dances
Hot! Hot! Hot! Dance Songs
Kids Dance & Play

And here are some suggestions for books about dancing:
Cha-cha Chimps by Julia Durango
Dancing Larry by Daniel Manus Pinkwater
Happy Feet: The Savoy Ballroom Lindy Hoppers and Me by Richard Michelson
Harriet Dancing by Ruth Symes
Hilda Must Be Dancing by Karma Wilson

Have fun while you get up and move and shake away the winter blues!

Week of January 25, 2009
The middle of winter finds us also in the middle of cold and flu season. This is a good time to remind children about the importance of staying healthy by using good hygiene and hand-washing. Introduce your children to some books that feature characters who are under the weather and talk about how we get better when we’re ill.

Bear Feels Sick by Karma Wilson.
Bear is too sick to play, so his friends come to his cave and make him soup and tea.

Solomon Sneezes: A-choo by Marilyn Singer.
This zany story shows the hilarious consequences of a sneeze that shakes the world.

Felix Feels Better by Rosemary Wells.
Felix feels bad and does not want to eat or play, so his mother takes him to Doctor Duck, who makes everything better.

CRAFT
Help children trace their hand on tagboard and cut it out. Draw a face on a paper plate. Attach the hand cut-out to the plate and a facial tissue to the hand. You can bend the hand in and cover “mouth” with tissue. Encourage children to describe why it is important to use a tissue. This will not only teach good hygiene, but encourages Narrative Skills, too!

SONG - WASHING YOUR HANDS SONG
Wash, wash, wash your hands,
Wash your hands today.
Rub and scrub, and scrub and rub,
And germs go down the drain.

From: http://www.bayviews.org/storytime

Week of January 18, 2009
On Tuesday, January 20, 2009 we will witness the inauguration of the 44th President of the United States when Barack Obama takes office. Take this opportunity to talk with your children about the presidency and teach some new vocabulary at the same time.  New words to discuss include inauguration and oath. Share these books to help set the stage:

Arthur Meets the President by Marc Brown
Duck for President by Doreen Cronin
Grace for President by Kelly S. DiPucchio
Otto Runs for President by Rosemary Wells

As a follow-up, ask your children to tell you what they would do if they lived in the White House. What would they take with them from home to help them ease the transition?   Write a class letter to President Obama’s daughters sharing their thoughts and ideas.   

Week of January 11, 2009
To celebrate Dr. Martin Luther King’s birthday and reinforce his message of peace, read these books about peace:

Can You Say Peace? by Karen Katz
Talk Peace by Sam Williams
The Alphabet Tree by Leo Lionni
The Peace Book by Todd Parr
What Does Peace Feel Like? by Vladimir Radunsky

Here is a short poem that will reinforce Dr. King’s message as well as building narrative skills: 

            Martin Luther King, they say (nod head)

            Thought of friendship every day.  (clasp hands together)

            He always wants you and me (point to others, then self)

            To live together peacefully.  (join hands with others)

Ask your children what they think peace means and record their responses in a classroom book. Add illustrations to complete the activity.

Week of January 4, 2009
Making a resolution to spend 20-30 minutes a day reading to young children could be the best resolution you’ll ever make. Reading to children helps to build language skills and stimulates the imagination. Check out these new titles to start the New Year right!

Maybe a Bear Ate It! by Robie Harris
Rabbit’s Gift: A Fable from China by George Shannon
Toot Toot, Beep Beep by Emma Garcia
Sheep Blast Off! by Nancy Shaw

Week of December 28, 2008
This week, teach your children about Kwanzaa. Kwanzaa is an African-American holiday celebrated from December 26th to January 1st each year. The holiday was established in 1966 to help African Americans remember and celebrate their heritage. The word "Kwanzaa" comes from the Swahili language and means "first fruits". Each day of the seven days is dedicated to one of "The Seven Principles of Kwanzaa", which are:

Unity (Umoja)
Self-Determination (Kujichagulia)
Collective Work and Responsibility (Ujima)
Cooperative Economics (Ujamaa)
Purpose (Nia)
Creativity (Kuumba)
Faith (Imani)

A candle is lit each day on a special candlestick, to represent the seven principles. The candlestick is placed on a straw mat, and one ear of corn is also placed on the mat for each child in the family. A fruit basket, called a "mazao", is also displayed, along with a special "unity" cup, out of which everyone drinks. Gifts, known as "zawadi", are given on the last day of Kwanzaa. The colors of the African flag: red, black and green also represent Kwanzaa.   

Kwanzaa Books:
The Seven Days of Kwanzaa by Melrose Cooper
My First Kwanzaa by Karen Katz
Celebrate Kwanzaa by Carolyn Otto
Kwanzaa Kids by Joan Holub
Let’s Get Ready for Kwanzaa by Joanne Winne

Craft - Kwanzaa Corn Shaker:
Flatten a cardboard toilet tissue tube and staple one end closed. Let your child drop a few dried corn kernels into the tube.Then staple the other end closed and tape both ends securely. Have your child decorate the tube shaker with paint and ribbon streamers. Then invite your child to dance and shake his or her shaker to music.
From: www.preschoolexpress.com

Week of December 21, 2008
Welcome the Winter Solstice and the first official day of winter on December 21 by sharing books about winter. Discuss with children the seasons and changes we observe in winter. Take your digital camera the next time you go on a walk and capture pictures of the great outdoors in winter. Share the pictures and ask children to describe what they see in each photograph.    
                                           
Winter Books to Share:
Diamond in the Snow by Jonathan Emmett
Ready for Winter by Marthe Jocelyn
The First Day of Winter by Denise Fleming
What Happens in Winter? by Sara L. Latta
When It Starts to Snow by Phillis Gershator
Winter Lullaby by Barbara Seuling
Winter Trees by Carole Gerber
Winter: An Alphabet Acrostic by Steven Schnur

Walking in the Snow
Let's go walking in the snow
Walking, walking, on tiptoe
Lift your one foot way up high
Then the other to keep it dry
All around the yard we skip
Watch your step or you might slip.

Week of December 14, 2008
Share with children the tradition of Las Posadas. The traditional Mexican celebration of Las Posadas, (“lodgings”) begins on December 16 and lasts for nine days, until Christmas Eve. Each night, the children and their families walk from house to house asking for “shelter at the inn.” When the designated host for the evening answers the door and invites the procession in, the families are treated to a party where the highlight is a brightly colored piñata. The older children take turns being blindfolded and trying to hit the piñata with a stick until the piñata breaks and the small gifts and sweets inside fall to the ground. Then it’s time for all the children to scramble around and gather up the goodies. From: www.preschoolexpress.com

Books to learn about Las Posadas:
N is for Navidad by Susan Middleton Elya & Merry Banks
The Night of Las Posadas by Tomie dePaola
Uno, Dos Tres, Posada!: Let’s Celebrate Christmas by Virginia Kroll

Continue your exploration of another culture and build enriched vocabulary by sharing some of the foods introduced in N is for Navidad such as bunuelos (pastries), quesadillas, and tamales. Encourage children to talk about the new tastes and whether or not they enjoyed the new foods. Always make sure to check with parents for food allergies before introducing new foods to children. 

Week of December 7, 2008
The anticipation of Christmas provides a perfect opportunity to talk with children about the concept of numbers and counting. Doing this will help children develop narrative skills. Help children keep track of the number of days until Santa comes by making a count-down calendar. Each day model for your children how to count the number of days until the 25th!  Practice counting from 1-10 and then down from 10 to 1. These books help reinforce the concept of numbers and counting:
           
Christopher Counting by Valeri Gorbachev
Counting by Chuck Murphy
Counting Christmas by Karen Katz
Merry Christmas, Mouse! by Laura Numeroff
Ten, Nine, Eight by Molly Bang
Up All Night Counting by Robin Koontz

Week of November 30, 2008
Thanksgiving is done and the Christmas shopping season is in full swing. It’s a good time to get the kids into the shopping mood by setting up a shop or grocery store for them to play in. Reenacting shopping scenarios through play is a great way to teach problem solving, sharing, basic number skills, print awareness, letter knowledge and narrative skills. Some fun books about shopping are:

Bunny Money by Rosemary Wells.
The money that Max and Ruby have to spend on presents for Grandma is disappearing fast when Max and Ruby go shopping by themselves.

Bebé Goes Shopping by Susan Middleton Elya.
Rhyming text describes a grocery shopping trip for Mama and Bebé. The Spanish words interspersed throughout are a great introduction to another language.

Llama Llama Mad at Mama by Anna Dewdney.
Mama makes Llama very angry when she makes him go shopping with her.

Week of November 23, 2008
Celebrate the holiday with some fun Thanksgiving tales:

Run, Turkey, Run! by Diane Mayr.
It’s almost Thanksgiving and Turkey tries to disguise himself as other farm animals but only the warning cry of “Run, Turkey, Run” keeps him out of the farmers clutches.

One is a Feast for Mouse: A Thanksgiving Tale by Judy Cox.
When everyone falls asleep after Thanksgiving dinner, a mouse wants just one pea from the leftovers, but with so many wonderful foods to choose from he picks up some other trimmings too.

The Firefighters’ Thanksgiving by Maribeth Boelts.
The firefighters at Station 1’s Thanksgiving preparations keep getting interrupted by emergency calls so the people of the town show their appreciation by bringing Thanksgiving to them.

The Ugly Pumpkin by Dave Horowitz.
After Halloween, the only pumpkin left at the farm is the strangely shaped “ugly” pumpkin who goes in search of a home and discovers his true identity on Thanksgiving Day.  

Setting the Turkeys Free by W. Nikola-Lisa.
A young artist creates beautiful handprint turkeys, but when a sly fox threatens his creations, he must find a way to keep them safe. This book celebrates the inventiveness of children and will build narrative skills.

My Turkey
(To the tune of: I'm a Little Teapot)

I have a turkey, big and fat.

He spreads his wings
(fan hands at hip).

And walks like that.
(strut back and forth).

His daily corn he would not miss,
(pretend to eat corn).

And when he talks, he sounds like this
( gobble, gobble).

From: www.thebestkidsbooksite.com

Week of November 16, 2008
As bears prepare for their long winter sleep, now would be a great time to introduce children to the world of bears. Here are some great new bear books for preschoolers:

Leaves by David Ezra Stein.
The story of a young bear that is at first startled by the changes autumn brings and then learns to follow his natural inclinations.

Just Like You by Emma Dodd.
A great bear story in which a baby bear declares in simple, large text that would work well for print awareness, his ambition to grow up to be just like his parent.

Big Smelly Bear by Britta Teckentrup.
Big Smelly Bear discovers that taking a bath not only gets rid of his horrible itch but also makes it much easier to make friends. 

Very Hairy Bear by Alice Schertle.
This story follows a very hairy bear through the four seasons. The rhyming, repetitive text will encourage phonological awareness.

Teddy Bear, Teddy Bear
(Do the motions suggested by the rhyme)
Teddy Bear, Teddy Bear,
Pat your head.
Teddy Bear, Teddy Bear,
Point to red.
Teddy Bear, Teddy Bear,
Slap your knees.
Teddy Bear, Teddy Bear,
Count to three. 1, 2, 3!
Teddy Bear, Teddy Bear,
Touch your shoe.
Teddy Bear, Teddy Bear,
Point to blue.
Teddy Bear, Teddy Bear,
Touch your chin,
Teddy Bear, Teddy Bear,
Count to ten.
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10!
Teddy Bear, Teddy Bear,
Give a wink.
Teddy Bear, Teddy Bear,
Point to pink.
Teddy Bear, Teddy Bear,
Point to the door.
Teddy Bear, Teddy Bear,
Count to four. 1, 2, 3, 4!
Teddy Bear, Teddy Bear,
Turn around.
Teddy Bear, Teddy Bear,
Point to brown.
Teddy Bear, Teddy Bear,
Don’t be late.
(tap a pretend “watch”)
Teddy Bear, Teddy Bear,
Count to eight.
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8!

Week of November 9, 2008
In honor of Thanksgiving, Milwaukee Public Library is celebrating America's ethinic diversity through a series of fun and free programs during the month of November. This might be a good week to celebrate with children the ways that we are different and the same.

It’s Okay To Be Different by Todd Parr.
A book that celebrates the idea that everyone is different and that is what makes us all the same. Simple colorful illustrations and large text will be great for print awareness.

You and Me Together: Moms, Dads and Kids Around the World by Barbara Kerley.
Beautiful photographs of families from all over the world enjoying each others company.

Grandparent’s Song by Sheila Hamanaka.
In rhyming verse, a young girl describes the four corners of the world that her grandparents came from.

Whoever You Are by Mem Fox.
Despite our differences, the hearts, smiles, and tears of children all over the world are the same.

Round Like A Ball by Lisa Campbell Ernst.
A cleverly designed book, sure to encourage print motivation, which reminds us about the importance of the planet we all live on.

I Am Different
I am different from my head to my toes
(point to self then to head and toes)
I am different from my eyes to my nose
(point to self then eyes and nose)
I come from a place that is far and wide
(point to self then spread arms wide open)
A place where we all smile instead of cry
(act like you are tracing your lips into a smile
and bring hands down eyes as if you were crying)
I am very different as you can see
(point to self then at a friend)
But I still have a lot of love in me!
(point to self place hand over the heart 
then hug yourself)

From: http://www.preschoolrainbow.org/multicultural.htm

Week of November 2, 2008
It’s election week and preschoolers will be wondering what all the fuss is about.  Introduce children to the concept of the presidency by showing them a map of the United States and pictures of the president, the candidates and the white house. Teaching new words like ballot, president, and voting will improve vocabulary skills. Hold an election, allowing them to vote for which snack or drink they would like. Make up ballots with pictures of what they are voting for. Some examples: “milk carton vs. juice box” or “pretzels vs. graham crackers”. To improve print awareness, write the names of each candidate underneath the picture. Get the children even more involved by encouraging parents to take them along to the polls to watch democracy in action.

Duck for President by Doreen Cronin
Grace for President by Kelly Dipucchio
Otto Runs for President by Rosemary Wells
Hillary Rodham Clinton: Dreams Taking Flight by Kathleen Krull

Books2Go - Renewing Service to Preschoolers is funded by an LSTA grant administered through the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction and the
Federal Institute of Museum and Library Services.