Show me the Awesome!

Artwork by John LeMasney, lemasney.com

This week I am participating in a librarian Awesome-fest called, fittingly,  “Show Me the Awesome”. As you may have guessed, it is all about the awesomeness happening in libraries — because of the librarians! It was an idea hatched by Kelly, Liz, and Sophie; you can find links to all participating librarians on those blogs. You can spread the word by tagging your related posts with #30awesome on Twitter, Tumblr, Vine and/or Instagram if you’re liking what you’re reading and want to talk about it!

And now… my bit of Awesome.

I want to tell you about StoryWalk ™.  You can read all about how it works on the ALSC blog, on this post from June 2012.  Basically,  StoryWalk ™ is this:  a picture book is posted along a walking path. As you walk, you read the story. It can be that simple– just the pages of a book along a path. Or you can ramp it up and create signboards with replicated pages, and add some activities to go along with the walk. That’s how we did it. And it is awesome. Nothing like seeing a bunch of kids (and adults)  jumping, running, skipping, and reading at the same time.

But even more awesome, and what I wanted to share here, is the cooperation that happened in order for our   StoryWalk ™  to happen. first off, I had to get the publisher’s permission. The folks at Tundra were super nice and happy to work with me on this. The illustrator loved the project, and because he is a local guy (one of the reasons I chose this book!), he was around to help us with the launch. Kirsten Cappy at Curious City was fantastic in sharing her ideas and how-to tips. The local recreation departments helped me come up with the activities. The towns and park staff where we installed the story boards got everything done just right. Funding came from the Community Health Boards.

So yes, the kids love it. Parents love it. I get emails from people who stopped in on vacation and want to know how they can get one in their community. It is a feel-good project that makes for good press. And it only happened because of a Good Idea from Vermont, and a whole lot of people putting in some effort.  I organized the whole thing – I wrote the grant, I did the legwork in getting the boards designed and printed, I got permission from the publisher, etc. But I did not do all the work! Sharing & partnerships is where the awesome comes in.

Just like this idea of Show Me the Awesome — yes, we are promoting the cool and awesome things we’ve done. But I can guarantee that some librarian somewhere is going to read about another Good Idea as a result, and the awesome is just going to continue!

App of the Week: My A to Z

This is the best free app I’ve seen, maybe ever! More than a flash-card ABC app, this one allows for personalization that can be an excellent learning tool. Each letter of the alphabet is presented with simple clip art and a spoken word. No big deal, right? Plenty of apps do that. But with this one, from Night & Day Studios, you can make your own ABC flashcards! Record your own voice (or your child’s). Record the dog barking! Take it with you to the zoo and record some animals! Go on an alphabet hunt around your house, your yard, your town — and personalize the alphabet with your child!

It works on iPhone and iPad, so if you have one of those and a child between the ages of 3-6, you need to go get this app right now! And free is a very good price for something with such great learning potential.

Here’s a great way to use it: Start with A. With your child, go on a hunt for something that starts with A. Take a photo of it, and change the default apple picture! Now, record your voice, or your child’s, saying the word or making a sound. Then move on to B….  And once your child has learned all the words you find, you can start over, and add more vocabulary! And you don’t have to stick to English– customize it to help teach your child any language!

I just love this app. What a great way to share a technology tool with your child.

 

Books!

Here are a few new storytime books, plus a resource book for teachers, parents, and library staff.

Lullaby (for a Black Mother)  Poem by Langston Hughes

Lovely retro illustrations turn this poem from 1932 into a nice book to share at baby storytime. The rhythm of the words is soothing, as are the twilight-colored acrylic pictures. Add some poetry to storytime—after all, language is one of the main reasons we read to those babies!

Nugget and Fang by Tammi Sauer

Can a shark and a minnow be friends? In this undersea fantasy world, they sure can. A fun little tale of friendship just right for ocean-themed storytimes.

The Highway Rat by Julia Donaldson

From the creators of “The Gruffalo” come this picture-book rendition of the Alfred Noyes poem, the Highwayman (though the Highway Rat is not nearly as grim as the original). Rat steals from the woodland creatures until outsmarted by a duck. The poetic verse is a good way to add rhyme to your next rodent-theme storytime!

Ol’ Mama Squirrel b David Ezra Stein

Mama Squirrel defends her babies from predators with a Chook Chook Chook! Young nature lovers will enjoy chanting along with you and Mama Squirrel as she saves the day (and her babies).

 

 

Read, Rhyme, and Romp by Heather McNeil

This is a book all about reading aloud, with a whole bunch of ideas on early literacy skills and activities. Recommended for librarians, teachers, parents – anyone who works with young children.  Written by a storyteller, this book has lots of tips for using language and extending the picture book. Great resource!

New books!

Busy Busy Little Chick by Janice N. Harrington
It is so nice when a good story meets good illustrations! Harrington retells a Central African fable of a hen and her chicks who put off building a new home and eat worms instead. Except for one little chick, who gets busy and saves the day. Brian Pinkney uses brad brush strokes and a fluid line in watercolor and ink to portray the happy flock. Great to share in storytime, and a good choice for storytellers to learn as well.

Lazy Daisy, Cranky Frankie   by Mary Ellen Jordan
Not much to say about this one except “rhyming silliness down on the farm”.  Good filler for those FARM storytimes. Also a good choice for Pajama Storytime.

Exclamation Mark  by Amy Krouse Rosenthal
Too much fun to pass up! This little exploration of the exclamation might be over the heads of the preschool crowd, but will be just right for early elementary classes studying writing. Yeah!!

Take me out to the Yakyu by Aaron Meshon
In American and in Japan – baseball lovers unite. One little boys goes to a game in America and also one in Japan. We see the similarities in both. Bright colors and simple text make this a nice choice to add to storytimes, but a pronunciation guide would have been really helpful.

I dare you not to yawn by Helene Boudreau
Bedtime sneaks up on a little boy who gets caught yawning. His advice is to stay away from yawns! A nice little addition to Pajama storytimes, with fun, quirky illustrations. I dare you not to yawn when reading this.

It’s Monday, Mrs. Jolly Bones by Warren Hanson
Days of the week fly by with Mrs. Jolly Bones and her madcap antics. A nice little rhyme bounces the story along. Unfortunately, the illustrations are too busy for a large group, but a small crowd just may enjoy looking at the wild romp.

Peep & Ducky by David Martin
A baby bird and a duckling are friends. Not much story, but this pastel, rhyming play date is a nice addition to baby and toddler storytimes.

Perfectly Percy by Paul Schmid
Let’s end on a good note- Percy is the perfect choice. Percy is a little porcupine who loves balloons. But Percy’s prickly quills and the balloons do not always get along. Percy has to come up with an idea! Illustrated with simple lines that depict a lot of expression, this is a wonderful little story to share in storytime or one-one-one in a cozy chair.

App of the Week: Grow a Reader

Calgary Public Library has created a lovely app for parents.  I just can’t stop looking at this app and how amazing it is!

The app is called GROW A READER and it is free for iPhone and iPad. It has early literacy tips for parents in video form, it has mini-videos of rhymes and songs, and it suggests books, all within the Every Child Ready to Read  “Talk, Sing, Read, Play, Write” areas.  I love this app so much– I think I have a crush on Calgary Public Library!

Any parent with a young child and an iPhone or iPad should rush out right now and download this sweet app.  I’ll even make it easy for you. Just click HERE!

 

 

App of the Week: Bugs & Bubbles

App: Bugs & Bubbles                                               

Developer: Little Bit studio

Price: $2.99

Platform: iPad/iPhone

Educational Use:  colors, counting, letters, patterns, shapes, sorting

Age: 2-7

Why I like it:  Lots of games, different levels, and many ways to learn. Nice graphics, too.

There are 18 games in this app, so the $2.99 pricetag is pretty reasonable (and it looks great on the iPad, which is how I tested it).  Each game has levels, so the youngest can play and older kids will probably be interested as well.  It has soothing background music and  really nice graphics. And who doesn’t love bubbles? There are games for learning colors, counting, recognizing patterns, learning about opposites, vocabulary, matching, a game that uses “pinching” -(building those pincer muscles again),  a letter drawing activity, and several more! The games are entertaining enough to play more than once, and the skills that can be developed are many.

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App of the week: Chalk Walk

Welcome to my new feature, App of the Week! Each week,  I will showcase an app that I’ve tested and recommend.  Here’s my inaugural choice!    

App: Chalk Walk

Developer:  Mrs. Judd’s Games

Price: FREE

Platform: iPad

Educational Use: writing, fine motor skills

Age: 2-6

Why I like it:  fun and funky music, have to use 2 fingers to draw, which mimics the fine motor skills needed to use a pencil.

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There are two modes: Trace and Doodle. In trace, you follow a line that gives puzzle clues to spell words. In Doodle, you can, well, doodle – you can also change backgrounds,  save your pictures, and change the chalk color.  This is a good app for children who like to draw and write. Because you have to use the “pincer” muscles – the thumb and finger- it develops the same fine motor skills as holding a pencil. the Parents and Teachers section has some nice tips for extending and sharing this app with kids.  While it does have occasional notifications, I have not noticed any other annoying ads or in-app purchases. You can turn off the music, though it is really not bad.  Settings allow for right or left-handed users.

A few new books…

This week I only have a few books to recommend for storytime,  so I am also including a picture-book biography.

Monsters Love Colors by Mike Austin

Mix it up with this brash color book! Color theory and some fun rhymes give you plenty of opportunity to extend the book. Wiggle, mix, and be monstrous! Food coloring on coffee filters (or other such color-mixing activities) would go well with this book.

Construction Kitties by Judy Sue Sturges

Could be used for filler in Toddler storytimes – especially in transportation or construction themes. There’s not much to shout about here– not even rhymes- but it will likely be well received by young bulldozer lovers.

Old MacDonald Had a Dragon by Ken Baker

Alliteration, vocabulary, and a repeated phrase add early literacy skills to this funny take on the familiar song. Add a bit of dragon-fire to your next Farm storytime with this one!

 

 

And now, the book that I wouldn’t  really recommend for preschool storytime, but would be great for Primary- grade 3 classes.

Brave Girl: Clara Lemlich and the Shirtwaist Makers Strike of 1909 by Michelle Markel 

This is a short,  easy-to-read picture book biography and history lesson rolled into one. Clara Lemlich is just a girl when her family immigrates to New York,  seeking a better life. She ends up working in a factory, not going to school like she dreamed. Working conditions are less than ideal, and Clara finds ways to speak out. The illustrations are worth taking a look alone. Melissa Sweet uses watercolor, gouache,  and collage that really make the time period come alive. Bits of ribbon, fabric, and sewing machine stitches are used to remind us of the work Clara does. In the cityscapes, Sweet uses newspaper, checks, and ledger pages to reveal the other side of things. Many different perspectives provide a sense of scale and the colors also set the tone. Take a look!

 

 

Picture books!

I cleaned off my desk and found a whole stack of notes on books I read and never posted here! So here’s my stash of books that I think maybe you will enjoy…  

Sleep Like a Tiger by Mary Logue

There’s a reason the Caldecott committee noticed this book and gave it a silver medal. The lovely illustrations show a little girl who doesn’t want to go to sleep.  In metaphor and simile, her parents show her how all the other animals are sleeping. Share it any time, or as a great add to Pajama storytimes.

Grumpy Goat by Brett Helquist

All it takes is a flower and a little kindness to get goat out of the grump. An interesting story about moodiness that just might work at storytime.

Perfect Day by Carin Berger

Old-fashioned style illustrations grace this book that celebrates a perfect winter day. Snowy activities such as skating, sledding, angels, and snowmen are enjoyed by a gaggle of friends. Not much of a story, but good filler for winter storytimes.

Delia’s Dull Day by Andy Myer

Delia says nothing fun every happens – but she’s an incredibly unobservant little girl! The readers sees elephants walk by, scuba divers come out of the toilet, dinosaurs on the street, and more as Delia complains of her dull life. A fun observation story to share – lots of opportunity to ask questions on every page!

The Helpful Puppy by Kim Zarins

Pet storytimes will be sweeter when you share this little story of puppy love. Set on a farm, with puppy trying hard to help. a few rhymes will add to the early literacy aspect of the book.

Three Ninja Pigs by Cory Rosen Schwartz

Girls to the rescue! In this take-off on the 3 Little Pigs story, three siblings — 2 boys and 1 girl –got to Ninja School. Girl Pig studies hardest and saves the porker family from the Big Bad Wolf. Told in rhyme, this funny book will appeal to the older storytime crowd.

Little Tug by Stephen Savage

This  short little story about the daily activities of a tugboat will sit just right with transport-loving toddlers. Extend by looking for other things that start with the T sound.

Mousterpiece by Jane Breskin Zalben

A little mouse who lives in a museum tries her hand at painting like the masters.  Build an artsy storytime around this book. There are so many styles of painting, and plenty of information in the end-matter. Pair with Peter Reynolds’ classic, The Dot.

Squeak, Rumble, Whomp! Whomp! Whomp! by Wynton Marsalis

A fun romp through the sounds around us. Make lots of noise while reading this music-inspired book. Get the kids to create their own sounds!

It’s Duffy Time by Audrey Wood

Dog lovers will rejoice when they meet Duffy – the pug who enjoys a good nap and a story with his bestie. Lots of vocabulary.

Apple Cake  by Julie Pashckis

“A recipe for love” is the subtitle for this book, and it fits well. A sweet little offering that would fit nicely in a Valentine’s Day storytime. NOT pink and frilly!

The Schmutzy Family by Madelyn Rosenberg

Children will learn some Yiddish along with lots of rich vocabulary in this book. Follow the family who plays hard,  gets very dirty, and then cleans up for Shabbos.  Could be a fun addition to WORM storytime!

Make Magic! Do Good! by Dallas Clayton

Not a picture book — this one is poetry, but these poems would be great fun to share at storytime. Use a puppet to read them for extra added fun.

Hippospotamus by Joanne Willis

If you are looking for silly, you’ve found it! This one is pure craziness. Tons of made-up words and goofy ideas abound. Practise a few times before you share it as this British import has a few rhymes that only work when read with Anglicized fervor. Sheer fun.

Man from the Land of Fandango by Margaret Mahy

Joyful, delightful, and oh so much fun to read aloud! This silly little ditty will be a storytime hit. Charming illustrations and a rhyming, lilting text add just the right touch of silliness.

 

 

So many books!

For my first post in 2013, I have a huge stack of books to share. Here are some really fun books that just went out on our shelves!

Chu’s Day by Neil Gaiman

A little panda with a big sneeze is the premise of this fun little book. Play-on-words and quirky illustrations make this one a delight to share at storytime.

Squeak Rumble Whomp Whomp Whomp: Sonic Adventure by Wynton Marsalis

A noisy romp through the sounds around us. Make lots of sounds while reading this music-inspired book. Get the kids to chime in with their own sounds; make some shakers, drums, etc.  and get moving around the room!

I am So Handsome by Mario Ramos

The Big Bad Wolf is so full of himself that he does not even realize that his usual targets are afraid of him. This twist on the old icon is filled with wonderful language and great new vocabulary. Share along with a Red Riding Hood and 3 Pigs story, or pair with Jon Scieszka’s True Story of the Three Little Pigs for a wild wolf romp.

I’m NOT Sleepy by Jane Chapman

Little owl wants to play, but Grandma insists it is time for bed. She gives him a snack, tucks him in, and still he is wide awake. There’s not much new here in the plot line, but the illustrations are cute and the repeated phrase of “Hop, jump, flutter,  flump” will be fun to say with the kids. Teach them this phrase beforehand and add some TALKing to your early literacy storytime.

Polar Bear Morning by Lauren Thompson

Two little polar bear cubs meet and become friends. Short enough for toddler storytimes, and the illustrations are large and friendly. Good vocabulary builder for little ones. See also Polar Bear Night by same author/illustrator.

All the Awake Animals Are Almost Asleep by Crescent Dragonwagon

Not only do I love this author’s name, I love the alliteration in this book. It is a bedtime alphabet book chock full of letter sounds. Add in the big list of new vocabulary and David McPhail’s quiet illustrations, and you have a perfect addition to your next pajama storytime.  A big dose of early literacy!

 

 

The Reader by Amy Hest

A charming story of a boy, a dog, some snow, and a book. A gentle story to end storytime with.

Beach Feet by Kiyomi Knoagaya

Warm up your winter with a visit to this sunny beach. The illustrations are full of movement and, of course, feet.

Railroad Hank by Lisa Moser

Hank and his train are off to visit Granny Bett who is feeling blue. His misunderstandings send the whole gang up the mountain, along with some chickens, cows, apple trees and a pond. Of course Granny cheers up, and everyone has a grand time. The repeated refrain of “Chugga Chugga Chugga Chugga Woo Woo Woo” will get kids interacting with the story.

Mice  by Rose Fyleman

Lois Ehlert’s signature illustrations turn this slight poem into a fun picture book. The rhymes will reinforce phonological awareness, and the paper collage illustrations are just begging to be imitated. Would also make a great writing prompt book for early elementary classrooms.

About  a Bear by Holly Surplice

This simple ode to a bear is just right for baby and toddler storytimes, and would be a good book for those just learning to read. Bright, large pictures accompany this bouncy bear rhyme.

 

Ostrich and Lark by Marilyn Nelson

An original tale illustrated by artists in Botswana. Two bird friends in the African veld spend their days and nights together. Lark sings, but ostrich is silent, until he finds his voice. Simple story with bright folk-art paintings to spice it up. Pair with an ostrich sound and some African folk tales. Lots of new vocabulary here, too!

A Kiss Like This by Mary Murphy

Perfect for Valentine’s Day or any day of the year. A sweet little book about… kisses! Smooch it up for storytime with babies and toddlers.

Let’s Sing a Lullaby with Brave Cowboy by Jan Thomas

Not-so-brave cowboy gets distracted as he tries to serenade a couple of cows to sleep. As expected, Thomas delivers a fun romp, this time about bedtime.