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Tip of the Week

Week of May 11, 2008
The wind often blows steady in May so that means it’s the best time of the year to fly a kite. A few good kite stories to read to children that will help them increase their print awareness (noticing print and following the words on the page) are Lucky Song by Vera B. Williams and Someone Bigger by Jonathan Emmett. Here’s a fun and easy finger play to do with these stories:

Come Fly a Kite
Come fly a kite
And watch it sail (Hold hands high)
Across the sky
Waving it’s tail (Wave hands back and forth)

By Jean Warren from 1001 Rhymes & Fingerplays from Totline Publications.

Week of May 4, 2008
It’s cool and crisp outside during the first week of May but many of Wisconsin’s birds have now returned from the south. Some great bird stories that will help instill print motivation (a love of books) in preschoolers include Feathers for Lunch by Lois Ehlert, Whose Chick Are You? by Nancy Tafuri and Grumpy Bird by Jeremy Tankard. After reading about birds try out this finger play about the month of May:

May is Here
I see daisies, pretty daisies,
Bloom in May, bloom in May (cup hand above eye and look around.)
May’s the month of flowers,
Goodbye, April showers, (Wave goodbye.)
Hello, May! Hello, May! (Wave hello.)

By Betty Silkunas from 1001 Rhymes & Fingerplays from Totline Publications.

Week of April 27, 2008
It’s spring and everyone is antsy. Use these books and let them get their wiggles out. Teddy Bears, Teddy Bears by William B. Winburn, Wiggle by Doreen Cronin or Cha-Cha Chimps by Julia Durango. For some other movement ideas, check out The Wiggle & Giggle Busy Book by Trish Huffner in the parent/teacher collection.

In and Out the Doors
Step in and out the front door
            (take a step forward, then back)
Step in and out the front door.
Step in and out the front door.
Then make a doorbell sound.

Jump in and out the back door
            (jump backwards, then forwards)
Jump in and out the back door.
Jump in and out the back door.
Bend down and touch the ground.

Slide in and out the side door.
            (slide to one side, then to other)
Slide in and out the side door.
Slide in and out the side door.
And then turn all around.

Step in and out the front door.
Jump in and out the back door.
Slide in and out the side door.
Then sit yourself right down.
                                   ---from Sing a Song of Storytime by Susan M. Dailey

Week of April 20, 2008

It’s Turn off the TV Week, a perfect time to get out those great tried and true books for a little print motivation. Try Move Over, Rover! by Karen Beaumont, What Will Fat Cat Sit On? by Jan Thomas, or Daisy’s Hide and Seek by Jane Simmons.

IF YOU’RE HAPPY AND YOU KNOW IT
If you’re happy and you know it, clap your hands (clap, clap).
If you’re happy and you know it, clap your hands (clap, clap).
If you’re happy and you know it, then your face will surely show it.
If you’re happy and you know it, clap your hands (clap, clap).
*Other verses:
Stomp your feet
Nod your head
Turn around

Shout hurray!

Week of April 13, 2008
It’s the Week of the Young Child and the theme this year is “Bring Communities Together for Children—Children Bring Communities Together.” Read some stories about community helpers this week like Firefighters! : speeding! spraying! saving! ByPatricia Hubbell, Which Hat is That? By Anna Grossnickle Hines, or Bruno the Carpenter by Lars Klinting.

It’s a great week to sneak in some enriched vocabulary. Most children know a policeman or fireman, but what about a carpenter or a chef or a beautician? Sing this song and add your favorite careers.

The People in Your Neighborhood 
A song from Sesame Street
Oh, who are the people in your neighborhood
In your neighborhood
In your neighborhood.
Oh, who are the people in your neighborhood,
The people that you meet each day.
Oh, the fireman is a person in your neighborhood,
In your neighborhood, in your neighborhood.
The Fireman is a person in your neighborhood,
A person that you meet each day.

Add verses with other people in the neighborhood; grocer, mail carrier, shoemaker etc.

Don’t forget to attend the special Week of the Young Child events at your local library this week too!

Week of April 6, 2008
April showers bring May flowers or so the saying goes. Who Likes Rain by Wong Herbert Yee, Rain Song by Lezlie Evans, Rain Romp by Jane Kurtz and Bumpa Rumpus and the Rainy Day by Joanne Reay are all great picture books that celebrate the rhythm of the rain. They are great for phonological awareness. To add to the fun, the children can shake along with the rhythm with these easy to make rainsticks. The craft can be found at http://www.enchantedlearning.com/crafts/music/rainstick/ or borrow our Rhythm & Movement Storytime Kit which also includes instruments.

You can try your rainstick with this easy song:

RAINDROPS (sung to "Frere Jacques")
Raindrops falling,
Raindrops falling,
From the sky,
From the sky.
Put up an umbrella,
Put up an umbrella,
Nice and dry,
Nice and dry.
Showers over,
Showers over,
Sun aglow,
Sun aglow.
See the pretty flowers,
See the pretty flowers,
In a row,
In a row.

By Jean Warren from Totline Magazine, April 1993

Week of March 30, 2008
Here in Wisconsin it seems like there are many words one can use to describe the weather. Learning about the weather around us is a wonderful way to enrich a child’s vocabulary. Words like meteorology and cumulus are as much fun to say as they are to learn about! A fun activity for young meteorologists is keeping a weather diary. Draw a picture of the weather each day for a week and write a “weather word” on each page. This will increase print awareness as well as letter knowledge. Some fun weather books include: Who Likes the Wind? by Etta Kaner, Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs by Judi Barrett, Weather Everywhere by Denise Casey and Clouds by Marion Dane Bauer. A perfect choice for snuggling in on a rainy afternoon is Patricia Lakin’s Rainy Day.  Enjoy the season!

Blow, wind, blow!
 Blow, wind, blow
(move arms back and forth)
All through the town
Blow, wind, blow
(move arms around)
Up and down
(move arms up and down)
Blow, wind, blow
From the left to the right
(move arms left and right)
Blow, wind, blow
All through the night

Week of March 23, 2008
“Time for a little something.”  - Winnie the Pooh

Cook up some fun this week to celebrate National Nutrition Month. Together you can learn about healthy eating from some of Milwaukee Public Library’s wonderful cookbooks for children. It’s a great opportunity to help your pre-readers with enriched vocabulary, print awareness, and narrative skills as you read recipes and communicate while you cook together. Some great books to get you started include: What Food is This? by Rosemarie Hausherr, Green Eggs and Ham Cookbook: Recipes Inspired by Dr. Seuss! by Georgeanne Brennan, Kids’ Fun & Healthy Cookbook by Nicola Graimes, Gregory, the Terrible Eater by Mitchell Sharmat, and I Will Never Not Ever Eat a Tomato by Lauren Child.

Have some fun practicing letter recognition with this fun recipe from Salad People and More Real Recipes: a New Cookbook for Preschoolers & Up by Mollie Katzen.

Counting Soup
2 cups peas, fresh or frozen
2 cups corn, fresh or frozen
2 cups diced tofu
2 cups grated carrot
1/3 pound green beans cut into 1 inch pieces, steamed lightly
2/3 cup cooked alphabet noodles (2/3 cup uncooked, boiled until tender and drained)
4 cups vegetable broth, heated

If using frozen peas or corn, place them in a colander and run warm water over them until thawed. Drain thoroughly and transfer to separate bowls.

Place all ingredients except broth in separate bowls. Arrange them on the table in the following order: tofu, carrots peas, corn, green beans, and noodles. Place a regular dinner spoon (nothing larger) in each bowl.

Let the children go through the lineup with a medium sized soup bowl, counting in spoonfuls of each ingredient. Ladle warm broth over the top, and eat.

Yield: 4 to 6 servings

Week of March 16, 2008
Whew! It looks like spring may finally be on it’s way. Keep your eyes open for that first robin of the year. Why not take this opportunity to learn about our feathered friends? It’s fun to learn about things in nature you can see and Birds by Jill Bailey and David Burnie is a wonderful introduction to the birds you’ll be seeing. Reading non-fiction books with children is a great way to enrich vocabulary. Try Lois Ehlert’s book Feathers for Lunch for a fun look into the world of birds. An Egg is Quiet by Dianna Hutts Aston offers a delightful look at eggs as is First the Egg by Laura Vaccaro Seeger. For a little silliness try Mo Willems’ There is a Bird on Your Head!

 A fun bird fingerplay:

Five Little Chickadees

Five little chickadees sitting on a door (hold up hand)
One flew away and then there were four (hold up four fingers)
Four little chickadees sitting in a tree
One flew away and then there were three (hold up three fingers)
Three little chickadees looking at you
One flew away and then there were two (hold up two fingers)
Two little chickadees sitting in the sun
One flew away and then there was one (hold up one finger)
One little chickadee sitting all alone (hold up one finger)
He joined his friends
And then there were none.

Week of March 9, 2008
Early March is a wonderful time to go to the beach—even if your trip is between the covers of a book. Plan a trip to the “beach” with some fun beach books and this fun fingerplay. Bats at the Beach by Brian Lies is a wonderful book to help your pre-readers hone their phonological awareness and letter recognition skills. Here are a few other books that will take you to the beach: To the Beach by Linda Ashman, Because Your Daddy Loves You by Andrew Clements, and Shells! Shells! Shells! by Nancy Elizabeth Wallace.

I Went to the Beach Fingerplay

I went to the beach
And what did I see? (make binoculars with hands over eyes)

A gull on the sand
Looking at me. (make bird beak with hand over nose)

I went to the beach
And what did I see? (binoculars)

A fish in the water
Splashing at me. (imitate fish splashing with wiggling hand)

I went to the beach
And what did I see? (binoculars)

A shell in the sand
Sparkling at me. (wiggle fingers for splashing fish)

I went to the beach
And what did I see? (binoculars)

A crab in his shell
Waving at me! (wave hands from side to side)

Week of March 2, 2008
There is fun to be done!  Celebrate print motivation and the birthday of Dr. Seuss this week by inviting Horton, the Cat in the Hat, some Sneeches and other amazing Seuss creations into your reading time. Just for fun find a Dr. Seuss book on tape and follow along in the book. Thankfully one can never be too old to be delighted by these classics. Be sure to visit the fun birthday activities taking place at your local library. Here are some favorites:

Cat in the Hat
Daisy-Head Mayzie
Dr. Seuss’s ABC
The Foot Book
Fox in Socks
Hop on Pop
Horton Hears a Who

From there to here,
From here to there,
Funny things are everywhere.
(From One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish)

Week of February 24, 2008
As the days are slowly getting longer it is a nice time to talk about the difference between night and day.  You can discuss when many animals and many people sleep in the nighttime and what goes on in an animal or persons daytime hours.  Here are some books to share together that will demonstrate print motivation:

Goodnight Moon by Margaret Wise Brown
What the Sun Sees, What the Moon Sees by Nancy Tafuri
City Night by Eve Rice

A song to sing together – Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star
Twinkle, twinkle little star,
How I wonder what you are.
Up above the world so high,
Like a diamond in the sky.
Twinkle, twinkle, little star
How I wonder what you are.

Week of February 17, 2008
In these cold months we like to keep children active.  Talk about the things they like to do or things they find interesting during the winter time.  This can span from indoor activities like dancing or coloring to outdoor activities like making a snowman or sledding.  Here are some suggestions for books to read about what other children like to do: 

The Snowy Day by Ezra Jack Keats
Dance, Tanya by Patricia Lee Gauch
Olivia by Ian Falconer

These books can spark their imagination and encourage narrative skills.

Here is a fingerplay you can do together called Sledding

Crunch, crunch, crunch, crunch,
Up the hill, so slow. (March fingers up arm.)
Sliding, sliding, sliding, sliding,
Down the hill we go! (Slide hand down arm.)


Week of February 10, 2008
Valentine’s Day is a good reason to talk to your child about feelings.  This is an opportunity to discuss the importance of giving, sharing, friendship and loving the people in the child’s life.  Here are some good books to help enjoy this special holiday and show examples of print awareness and narrative skills:   

Bee My Valentine by Miriam Cohen
One Zillion Valentines by Frank Modell
Little Mouse’s Big Valentine by Thacher Hurd
Mouse's First Valentine by Lauren Thompson
Counting Kisses by Karen Katz

A fun fingerplay to share together:

I love you, you love me, (Point to other person, then to self.)
We’re as happy as can be. (Smile.)
Here’s a great big kiss (Blow a kiss.)
And a hug from me to you. (Make hugging motion.)
Won’t you say you love me too? (Tilt head to one side.)

Week of February 3, 2008
February is Dental health month which is a perfect reason to talk to children about their mouth and the importance of taking care of their teeth.  A visit to the dentist is a new experience for young children. Here is a listing of some books that are a good example of enriched vocabulary:

Does a Lion Brush? by Fred Ehrlich
Going to the Dentist by Melinda Beth Radabaugh
Teeth are not for Biting  by Elizabeth Verdick
Mouth by Cynthia Fitterer Klingel 

These new words will help children understand basic dental hygiene and what happens at a visit to the dentist.

This is a good fingerplay to share together:

Of all the things around the town,
A toothbrush is just right. (Hold up pointer finger.)
Brush up and down and all around, (Make brushing movements with finger.)
To keep your teeth so white. (Show teeth in a smile.)

Week of January 28, 2008
Do you like to monkey around?  Kids sure do!  Being descriptive when naming things is part of enriched vocabulary – ten naughty little monkeys.  Enjoy some books about monkeys:

Monkey Do! by Allan Ahlberg
Tall by Jez Alborough
A Hippo’s Tale by Lena Landstrom
What Time is it, Mr. Crocodile? by Judy Sierra
Ten Naughty Little Monkeys by Suzanne Williams

Monkeys in a Tree
Five little monkeys
Sitting in a tree
Teasing Mr. Crocodile –
“You can’t catch me.”
“You can’t catch me.”

Along comes Mr. Crocodile
As quiet as can be –
SNAP!!!!

(Continue until all monkeys are gone)
Finish with –

Away swims Mr. Crocodile
As full as he can be!!!!

From Mitt Magic: Fingerplays for Finger Puppets by Lynda Roberts

Week of January 21, 2008
Saying nursery rhymes is a great way to help kids getting ready to read.  Playing with the sounds in words is part of phonological awareness that helps kids hear the rhyme.  The library has many Mother Goose books to help get you started.

Dan Yaccarino’s Mother Goose
Favorite Mother Goose Rhymes
The Neighborhood Mother Goose
This Little Piggy: Lap songs, Finger plays, Clapping games, and Pantomime rhymes

Week of January 14
January 15th is the birthday of Martin Luther King, Jr.  We celebrate his birthday and remember him as a man of peace.  By helping children be aware that letters have different sounds they increase their letter knowledge.  Some books for preschoolers include:

My Brother Martin: a Sister Remembers Growing up with the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. by Christine King Farris
Make Someone Smile … and 40 More Ways to Be a Peaceful Person by Judy Lalli
Be Gentle! by Virginia Miller
What Does Peace Feel Like? by Vladimir Radunsky

Week of January 7
It’s winter in Wisconsin!  Time to enjoy the snow and some books for the season.  After reading one of the stories you can ask children to tell it in their own words.  By using narrative skills children are getting ready to read.

Snowmen at Night by Caralyn Buehner
Snow Friends by M. Christina Butler
Do Like Kyla by Angela Johnson
The Snowy Day by Ezra Jack Keats
Margret & H. A. Rey’s Curious George in the Snow
The Jacket I Wear in the Snow by Shirley Neitzel
Max and Ruby’s Snowy Day by Rosemary Wells

From The Complete Book of Rhymes, Songs, Poems, Fingerplays, and Chants

Snowman
I made a little snowman,
I made him big and round.
I made him from a snowball,
I rolled upon the ground.
He has two eyes, a nose, a mouth,
A lovely scarf of red.
He even has some buttons,
And a hat upon his head.
Melt, melt, melt, melt
Melt,  melt, melt, melt

Week of January 1
Can you think of a toy that brings more comfort to a child than a Teddy Bear?  By sharing books that excite a child’s interest, you help them develop print motivation which is one of the foundations for developing a love of reading. 

Enjoy some teddy bear stories and plan a Teddy Bear Picnic where children can bring in their favorite teddy bear.  Put a tablecloth on the floor and sing the "Teddy Bears' Picnic" and enjoy a simple snack.

Where’s My Teddy? by Jez Alborough
Teddy Bear, Teddy Bear: A Traditional Rhyme by Timothy Bush
Baby Cakes by Karma Wilson – Board Book
The Teddy Bears’ Picnic by Jimmy Kennedy
Teddy Bears, Teddy Bears by William B. Winburn 
  
Shake, Rattle & Rock (sound recording) by Greg & Steve

Week of December 30
The library has many, many terrific picture books that involve mice, including the Maisy books by Lucy Cousins, Chester’s Way, Wemberly Worried, Lilly’s Purple Plastic Purse and others by Kevin Henkes, and If You Take a Mouse to School by Laura Numeroff. 

Mother Goose Rhymes help children learn to play with the sounds in words, developing their phonological awareness.  When reading books to your kids about mice take a break and do the following Mother Goose Rhyme:

Hickory Dickory Dock

Hickory dickory dock. Swing arms.
The mouse ran up the clock. Run fingers from toes up to head.
The clock struck one,  Clap.
And down he run,  Run fingers back down to your toes.
Hickory, dickory, dock. Swing arms.

Week of December 23
Sleep is an important part of everyone’s life.  Getting enough sleep is especially important for children.  Talk to your kids about how important it is to take naps and get enough sleep at night.  The following books can help with the discussion and help your kids transition into naptime and bedtime: Goodnight Moon by Margaret Wise Brown, Time for Bed by Mem Fox, and The Napping House by Audrey Wood.  Then share the following fingerplay:

Before I Jump Into My Bed
Before I jump into bed at night,   Jump.
Before I dim the light,  Switch out the light.
I put my shoes together,  Hands together.
So they can talk at night.  Hands talk.
I’m sure they would be lonesome
If I tossed them here and there,  Toss hands left and right.
So I put them close together,  Place hands together.
For they’re a friendly pair.

Week of December 16
Toys are a big part of children’s lives and play is an important part of healthy development.  There are some great childrens books about toys that you can share with your kids.  A few titles to get you started are: Corduroy by Don Freeman, Alexander and the Wind-Up Mouse by Leo Lionni, and Ira Sleeps Over by Bernard Waber. 

My Red Balloon
I had a little red balloon
            Make a ball with two hands.
And I blew and blew and blew
            Blow into it three times.
Until it grew and grew and grew.
            Stretch hands apart.
I tossed it in the air
            Tossing motion
And never let it drop.
            Shake head.
I bounced it on the ground
            Bounce with one hand.
Until it suddenly went, “POP!”
            Clap hands for a pop

Week of December 9
Music is a big part of the holiday season, so it’s a wonderful time to share stories about music.  Some titles to share include: Thump, Thump, Rat-a-Tat-Tat by Gene Baer, Musical Max by Robert Kraus, and Drummer Hoff by Barbara Emberley.  “The Finger Band is Coming to Town” is a nice finger play to use with Thump, Thump, Rat-a-Tat-Tat.

The Finger Band
            Start with fingers behind back.  Sing to the tune of “The Mulberry Bush”.

The Finger Band is coming to town,
Coming to town, coming to town.
The Finger Band is coming to town,
So early in the morning.
            Speak softly, then louder as you bring fingers to the front.

This is the way they wear their hats…
            Hands on head to show hats.
This is the way they wave their flags…
            Waving motion with hands.
This is the way they beat their drums…
            Beating motion with hands.
This is the way they blow their horns…
            Hands to mouth in blowing motion.

The Finger Band is going away,
Going away, going away,
The Finger Band is going away,
So early in the morning.

Week of December 2
The holiday season is upon us and if your kids are going to be making holiday art projects, why not read books about art too?  Some quality titles are: Let’s Make Rabbits by Leo Lionni, Mouse Paint by Ellen Stoll Walsh, and The Art Box by Gail Gibbons.  Follow them up with a song:

If You’re Wearing Red Today
            Sing to the tune of “Mary Had a Little Lamb.”

If you’re wearing red today,
Red today, red today,
If you’re wearing red today,
Please stand up.

If you’re wearing blue today,
Blue today, blue today,

            …and so on.

Week of November 25
With the colder weather that fall brings, it’s a good time to talk to kids about sheep and how their wool can be made into clothing.  Some fun books to share are: Charlie Needs a Cloak by Tomie De Paola, Sheep in a Jeep by Nancy Shaw, and Pete the Sheep-Sheep by Jackie French.  Then share the following nursery rhyme:

Baa Baa Black Sheep
            Sung to the tune of “Twinkle Twinkle Little Star”

Baa, Baa, Black Sheep,
Have you any wool?
Yes, sir, yes, sir,
Three bags full.
One for my master,
One for my dame,
And one for the little boy
Who lives down the lane.
Baa, Baa, Black Sheep,
Have you any wool?
Yes, sir, yes, sir,
Three bags full

Week of November 18
Thanksgiving is Thursday, November 22.  Some wonderful Thanksgiving books to share with your kids are Sometimes It’s Turkey, Sometimes It’s Feathers by Lorna Balian, Thanksgiving at Our House by Wendy Watson, and Over the River and Through the Wood by Lydia Maria Child.  Add the following fingerplay:

Mr. Turkey
Mr. Turkey’s tail is big and wide.  Spread fingers.
He swings it when he walks.  Swing hands.
His neck is long.   Stretch neck.
His chin is red,  Stroke chin.
And he gobbles when he talks. Open and close hands, and gobble.

Week of November 11
Fall is a great time to talk to kids about clothing since they have to start bundling up more with the colder weather.  One really fun book about clothing is Froggy Gets Dressed by Jonathan London.  There’s also The Mitten by Jan Brett and Animals Should Definitely Not Wear Clothing by Judith Barrett.  A song that you could also share is:

This is the Way We All Get Dressed
            Sing to the tune of the “Mulberry Bush” and act I out.

This is the way we all get dressed,
All get dressed, all get dressed,
This is the way we all get dressed,
So early in the morning.

This is the way we put on our socks…
            …our pants
            …our shirts
            …our shoes
            …our coats
            …our hats
            …our mitts

Week of November 4
Now that it’s getting cold outside, it’s a great time to talk to kids about how birds fly south for the winter to avoid the winter cold.  Why not read some books to your kids about ducks and geese?  There’s Silly Goose by Jack Kent, and the classics Make Way for Ducklings by Robert McCloskey, and Angus and the Ducks by Marjorie Flack.  Follow them up with the following fingerplay:

Stretch Up High
Stretch, stretch, away up high;
            Reach arms up high.
On your tiptoes, reach the sky.
            Stand on tiptoes and reach.
See the bluebirds flying high.
            Wave hands.
Now bend down and touch your toes;
            Bend to touch toes.
Now sway as the North Wind blows;
            Sway back and forth.
And waddle as the gander goes!
            Walk in a waddling motion.

Week of October 28
Enjoy a spooktacular week of sweets, pumpkins, and costumed adventures. Help create a festive mood with these not-so-scary stories available at the library: Peek-a-Boooo! by Marie Torres Cimarusti, Skeleton Hiccups by Margery Cuyler, and What a Scare, Jesse Bear by Nancy White Carlstrom.

Have fun teaching children this rhyme:

Black cat, black cat,
Up in the tree. (look upward)
Black cat, black cat,
Staring at me. (form circles around eyes with fingers)
Black cat, black cat,
Come down from there. (beckon with hand)
Black cat, black cat,
You gave me a scare!
Boo!

By Karen M. Smith from 1001 Rhymes & Fingerplays by Totline Publications

Week of October 21
The fall palette is in its prime right now. Leaves color the landscape with yellow, brown, purple and red. Teach children their colors while raking with them and have them jump into the pile of leaves. Then jump into a good book about leaves at your library with these titles that celebrate this time of year: Leaf Man by Lois Ehlert, Fall Leaves Fall by Zoe Hall, and Fall Leaf Project by Margaret McNamara. Enrich the children’s vocabulary by using different words for colors. For example, a leaf can be scarlet, or crimson, instead of just red.

Week of October 14
Plan some quiet time with children and some good books. These beautifully illustrated books evoke peace and serenity using simple text. Find these titles at your local library: An Egg is Quiet by Diana Hutts Aston, A Little Peace by Barbara Kerley, and Imagine a Day by Sarah L. Thomson.

Encourage children to get their wiggles out before your quiet time with this action rhyme:

 “I wiggle, wiggle, wiggle my fingers,
I wiggle, wiggle, wiggle my toes.
I wiggle, wiggle, wiggle my shoulders,
I wiggle, wiggle, wiggle my nose,
Now no more wiggles are left in me,
(shake head)
So I will be as still as I can be.
(Sit still.)

from 1001 Rhymes & Fingerplays by Totline Publications

Week of October 7
Teach children about our urban wildlife by reading some stories about squirrels. Children love to watch these clownish creatures with all their quirks. Odds are they’ll love these titles available at your library: Nuts to You by Lois Ehlert, The Busy Little Squirrel by Nancy Tafuri, and A Good Day by Kevin Henkes.
Ask children to retell each of these very simple stories to strengthen their narrative skills.

Week of September 30
It’s the time of harvest. Prepare for Harvest Fest beginning October 6 at the library. Some nice nonfiction titles for older children are: We Gather Together: Celebrating the Harvest Season by Wendy Pfeffer, and What Happens in Fall? by Sara L Latta. A nice story for younger children is Carrot Soup by John Segal. Remember to join us for music and activities for all ages at Harvest Fest coming to your branch of the Milwaukee Public Library.

Week of September 23
We all wake up on the wrong side of the bed sometimes. These books point out how a friend can make you smile even when you’re grumpy. Reading funny books that you enjoy to children helps instill print motivation, or a love of books, in even the grumpiest young children. Look these titles up at your local library: Grumpy Bird by Jeremy Tankard, Mr. Pusskins: a Love Story by Sam Lloyd, and I Love it When You Smile by Sam McBratney.

After you read, singing “If You’re Happy and You Know It” with the children will reinforce a good mood as well as their phonological awareness.

Week of September 16
What’s green and scaly with shiny white teeth? Alligators! Not all alligators are scary, you’ll find when reading such titles as: Alligator Boy by Cynthia Rylant & Diane Goode, SNIP SNAP! What’s That? by Mara Bergman, or the very funny I’d Really Like to Eat a Child by Sylviane Donnio.

Act out the following rhyme with the children:
“Alligator, Alligator”

Alligator, alligator,
Long and green.  (mimic jaws with arms and teeth with hands)
Alligator, alligator,
Teeth so mean.  (open and close arms like jaws)
Snapping at a fly,
Snapping at a bee.  (clap hands)
Snapping at a frog,
But you can’t catch me!  (continue clapping, and shake head)

By Jean Warren from 1001 Rhymes & Fingerplays from Totline Publication

Week of September 9
Fall weather offers so many refreshing sights and smells. Read some books to children explaining their senses and enriching their vocabularies. Some helpful titles are: My Five Senses by Aliki, Five for a Little One by Chris Raschka, and My First Book About the Five Senses by Kama Einhorn. Next take the children on a nature walk in a park and ask them to explain what they can see, hear, smell, touch and taste during this time of change.

“Sensing the Forest”
I love the sounds of the forest.  (Cup hand behind ear)
The water, the birds, and the leaves.
I also love the silence
That fills my world of trees.

I love the smells of the forest.  (Sniff air)
The pines and the flowers so sweet.
I love the smells of the forest,
They smell so fresh to me.

I love the feel of the forest.  (Pretend to touch with hands)
The moss, the ferns, and the trees.
I love the feel of the forest,
It feels just right to me.

I love the sights of the forest,  (lick lips)
The berries, the honey from bees.
I love the tastes of the forest
At breakfast, dinner, or tea.

By Jean Warren from 1001 Rhymes & Fingerplays by Totline Publication

Week of September 2
Almost everyone loves animals. Read to children about some strange cats in these humorous titles available at your local library: My Cat, the Silliest Cat in the World by Gilles Bachelet, Mrs. Crump’s Cat by Linda Smith, and I Don’t Like Gloria! by Kaye Umansky.

Try this fingerplay:
Kitty Cat
I have a kitty cat named Puff. (hold up one thumb)

He's round and soft as a ball of fluff. (make a circle with both hands)

Each day he laps up all his milk.
And his fur is soft as silk.  (stroke thumb with other hand)

When he's happy you will know,
For his fluffy tail swings to and fro. (swing little finger back and forth)

From http://www.thebestkidsbooksite.com/funfingerplay.cfm

Week of August 26
School is just around the corner. Get children excited about the upcoming school year by reading books with them. Some great titles include Preschool to the Rescue by Judy Sierra, Arthur’s Back to School Surprise by Marc Brown, and Spot Goes to School by Eric Hill.

Get children used to quiet time and sitting still by doing this action rhyme before reading to them:

“Tap your head,
Tap your toe.
Turn in a circle,
Bend down low.
Tap your nose,
Tap your knees.
Hands on your shoulders,
Sit down, please.”
 
From 1001 Rhymes & Fingerplays by Totline Publications

Week of August 19
Children love to learn about dinosaurs. Read some books to the future paleontologists in your care and enrich their vocabularies. Toddlers will enjoy Bones, Bones, Dinosaur Bones by Byron Barton. Preschoolers will enjoy Can I Have a STEGOSAURUS, Mom? Can I? Please!? by Lois G. Grambling. Slightly older children who are interested in dinosaurs will appreciate the non-fiction title Dinosaurs by Gail Gibbons. Also, many of the Milwaukee Public Libraries house the rhyming pop-up book Dinosaur Stomp! by Paul Strickland. Have fun reading this book to children during your next library visit.

Week of August 12
Have a teddy bear picnic with the children. Read some titles that encourage print motivation with cute and cuddly characters. Some books about bears available at the library are: One Ted Falls Out of Bed by Julia Donaldson, and Please DO Feed the Bears by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor. Have children act out the commands in Teddy Bears, Teddy Bears with photos by William B. Winburn.

Here’s a simple fingerplay to try with young children:

“One little teddy bear, finding things to do.
Along came another. Then there were two.
Two busy bears, climbing up to see.
Along came another. Then there were three.
Three lively teddy bears liked to explore.
Along came another. Then there were four.
Four hungry teddy bears, eating honey from a hive.
Along came another. Then there were five.
Five tired honey bears had fun today.
They’ll be back tomorrow, and you can see them play.

Rhyme by Lynda Roberts from Gryphon House Inc. copyright 1985

Week of August 5
Summer is when some friends get to spend all day together. Other friends separate for their own adventures at summer camp or on a family vacation. Read about how some of these friends spend their summers in these books available at the library:
Earth to Audrey by Susan Hughes, Danitra Brown Leaves Town by Nikki Grimes, and Louie’s Goose by H.M. Ehrlich.

Here's a Cup of Tea
Here's a cup, and here's a cup
(make circles with thumbs and index fingers on each hand and extend arms)

And here's a pot of tea.
(make fist with one hand, extend thumb for spout)

Pour a cup, and pour a cup
(tip fist to pour)

And have a drink with me.
(make drinking motions)

-from The Best Kids Book Site

Week of July 29
Celebrate summer while it’s at its peak. Reading poetry with children speaks to the beauty of the season and teaches phonological awareness with rhyme and promotes print awareness with playfully displayed text. Try these titles available at your library: Sun Dance, Water Dance by Jonathon London, and Lemonade Sun: and Other Summer Poems by Rebecca Kai Dotlich. Try some poems in Spanish with Francisco X. Alarcon’s From the Bellybutton of the Moon and Other Summer Poems. Here’s a sample of what you can find on page 5 of From the Bellybutton of the Moon and Other Summer Poems:

“Green Grass”              “Hierba verde”
we love                        nos gusta
to go shoeless               andar descalzos
on green grass              entre la hierba verde

Mother Earth                a la Madre Tierra
loves to tickle               le encanta hacernos
our bare feet                 cosquillas en los pie

Week of July 22
Talk to children about all the wonderful things happening in nature over the summer.
Read to them about how a caterpillar changes into a butterfly in Jack Kent’s The Caterpillar and the Polliwog and enrich their vocabulary with Lois Ehlert’s Waiting for Wings. Children also love to learn about color in Petr Horacek’s Butterfly, Butterfly.

Try this spin on the classic action rhyme “Teddy Bear, Teddy Bear:"

“Butterfly, Butterfly”
Butterfly, butterfly, turn around,
Butterfly, butterfly, touch the ground.
Butterfly, butterfly, fly up high,
Butterfly, butterfly, touch the sky.
Butterfly, butterfly, swoop down low,
Butterfly, butterfly, please don’t go!      

Week of July 15
It’s the dog days of summer and everyone is looking for ways to cool off. Come to the library to enjoy our cool air and some books about the heat. Some great titles to check out are Hot City by Barbara Joosse, and Think Cool Thoughts by Elizabeth Perry. While you’re at the library, you can work on children’s phonological awareness with the poetry from Summersaults: Poems and Paintings by Douglas Florian.

Week of July 8
It’s time for popsicles and ice cream! Whether you prefer strawberry or chocolate, you’ll love these books about the summer treat that you can’t get enough of. Some titles available include: Root Beer and Banana by Sarah Sullivan, Ice Cream Larry by Daniel Pinkwater, and try the oversized book Make Mine Ice Cream by Melvin Berger to sweeten a story time.
Teach children this rhyme:

Ice Cream Colors
We have ice cream, the best in town,
Let’s begin with chocolate brown.

Now, let’s scoop up some bubble-gum pink,
It’s sweet and yummy, the best, some think.

Here is ice cream minty and green,
It’s the creamiest I’ve ever seen.

Yellow ice cream is lemony and tart,
We like its taste from the very start.

Scoops of blueberry would make my day,
Look at all this ice cream, hip, hip hurray!

Red ice cream is a strawberry delight,
All these scoops are a heavenly sight.

Vanilla white is a popular flavor,
It tastes very good to an ice cream craver.

Purple ice cream really gives me a kick,
Good and yummy to the very last lick.

Ice cream, ice cream, what a cool sensation,
We love ice cream in any combination!

-from 1001 Rhymes & Fingerplays by Totline Publications

Week of July 1
This week is when we celebrate Independence Day. Read a book to get children in the mood for our nation’s birthday celebration. Some great titles for young children at your public library are: Happy 4th of July, Jenny Sweeney! by Leslie Kimmelman, Hats Off for the Fourth of July! by Harriet Ziefert, and Apple Pie 4th of July by Janet S. Wong.

Try this action rhyme as an accompaniment:

Happy Independence Day
Wave the flag, red, white, and blue,  (pretend to wave flag)
Our country belongs to me and you.  (Point to self, then to others.)
So all together, let us say,  (cup hands around mouth)
“Happy Independence Day!” 

By Barbara Paxson from 1001 Rhymes & Fingerplays by Totline Publications

Week of June 24
Letter knowledge is one of the six skills of early literacy.  Letter knowledge is realizing the difference between how letters look, their names, and their sounds.  Have some fun with the following titles: ABC: a Child’s First Alphabet   by Alison Jay, Eating the Alphabet: Fruits & Vegetables From A to Z by Lois Ehlert, All Aboard ABC by Doug Magee and Robert Newman, The Alphabet Tree by Leo Lionni. 

“A, B, C”
A is for apples we love to eat,  (Form circle with hands.)
B is for boots we wear on our feet,  (Point to feet.)
C is for candy that tastes so sweet.  (Lick lips.)

By Elizabeth McKinnon from 1001 Rhymes & Fingerplays by Totline Publications

Week of June 17
Celebrate the official start of the summer season on June 21. Take your favorite books outside and read.  Don’t forget about the reading programs at your local libraries. Children will enjoy these titles: One Hot Summer Day by Nina Crews, Senses at the Seashore by Shelly Rotner, and All You Need for a Beach by Alice Schertle.

Summer Day
The summer sun shines overhead, (Form circle with arms.)
And clouds float calmly by. (Float hands in air)
We lie down on a meadow bed, (Lay one hand on top of the other.)
And watch birds fly in the sky.  (Gently flap hands.)

By Beverly Qualheim  from 1001 Rhymes & Fingerplays by Totline Publications.

Week of June 10
Take time out this week and read some titles about Dads.  Father's Day is Sunday, June 17th.  Daddy Goes to Work by Jabari Asim, Building With Dad by Carol Nevius, My Dad by Anthony Browne, and A Father’s Day Thank You by Janet Nolan.

Love
Love, love it’s all around, (Gesture left, then right.)
It will grow with you. (Slowly move arms outward.)
Show it, tell it, (Hold palms out, then point to mouth.)
Feel it, share it. (Hug self, then hold hands out, palms up.)
Make it part of you. (Point to others)

Week of June 3
Get out of the house and enjoy nature.  Explore the outdoors and see what types of bugs can be found in the back yard or at the park.  I Love Bugs by Philemon Sturges, Buzz by Janet S. Wong, Bugs! Bugs! Bugs! by Bob Barner, and Butterfly, Butterfly by Petr Horarek.  Try out the following finger play:

Fuzzy Wuzzy Caterpillar
Fuzzy wuzzy caterpillar
Into a corner will creep, (Creep hand)
She’ll spin herself a blanket
And then go fast asleep.  (Close eyes)

Fuzzy wuzzy caterpillar
Will wake up by and by, (open eyes)
To find that she has grown two wings,
Now she’s a butterfly!  (Wave arms at sides)
           
            Adapted from 1001 Rhymes & Fingerplays  by Totline Publications

Week of May 27
Safety is a good topic to discuss with toddlers anytime of year, but especially in warm weather when children are outside playing.  Read the following titles:  I Read Signs by Tana Hoban, Mr Gumpy’s Outing by John Burningham, and Officer Buckle and Gloria by Peggy Rathmann.  Here are some traffic safety rhymes to try:

Traffic Light
The red light means stop, (Stand still.)
The green light means go, (Walk forward.)
The yellow light means caution. (Walk in place.)
This you should know.

By Betty Silkunas

Red Means Stop
Red means stop.
Green means go.
Yellow means watch out,
You’d better go slow!

By Judy Hall

From 1001 Rhymes & Fingerplays by Totline publications

Week of May 20
One of the six skills of literacy is print motivation - getting children excited about books.  This can be accomplished by re-reading favorite titles and using rhymes to get children interested in books. Try these titles: Over in the Meadow by Louise Voce, Old Black Fly by Jim Aylesworth, and Hilda Must Be Dancing by Karma Wilson.  A fun movement rhyme to try is as follows:

I clap my hands, I touch my feet,  (Do actions as rhyme indicates)
I jump up from the ground.
I clap my hands, I touch my feet,
And turn myself around.

Adapted Traditional from 1001 Rhymes & Fingerplays by Totline publications

Week of May 13
Spring time means planting and warmer weather, but it also means different types of construction.  When walking or driving around town various forms of construction can be found.  This is a good time of the year to share some titles on construction work: books to share are Dig, Dig, Digging by Margaret Mayo, Get To Work Trucks by Don Carter, Machines At Work by Byron Barton, and At a Construction Site by Don Kilby.  Add the following finger play on building a house.

Building a House
Building a house is lots of work, (Wipe brow.)
First, you dig up lots of dirt. (Pretend to dig.)
Then you pour a concrete floor, (Touch floor.)
And pound up boards with nails galore. (Pretend to hammer.)
Doors and windows go in fast,  (Draw squares in air with finger.)
Now your house is done at last. (Clasp hands together above head.)

By Diane Thom in 1001 Rhymes & Fingerplays compiled by Totline Publications

Week of May 6
In the month of May our thoughts turn to gardening as the days get warmer.
Read Busy in the Garden by George Shannon, Planting a Rainbow by Lois Ehlert, and The Carrot Seed by Ruth Krauss. Then try this finger play:

Making a Garden (adapted Traditional)

Dig, dig, dig (Do actions as rhyme indicates)
Rake just so,
Plant the seeds,
Watch them grow.

Chop, chop, chop,
Pull up weeds.
Sun and rain
My garden needs.

Up, up, up,
Green stems climb,
Open wide,
It’s blossom time!