"W" is for Wet and Windy Weather

Wed, 08/10/2016 - 2:11pm by ryanikoglu

Ms. Rachel brought stories of wet and windy weather to Preschool Storytime.
“The Wind And The Clothes” and … “Spring Showers” are two stories in the beginning reader WAITING For SPRING by Bethany Roberts.
WAITING For SPRING is out-of-print and the AADL copies are worn out =-(
You can still borrow it through MelCat.
The stories are as charming as Arnold Lobel’s beginning reader tales with Frog & Toad and Mouse Tales and the pictures are also charming for lap-time..

Here are more favorite weather stories:
The “Mouse And The Winds” is a story in MOUSE TALES by Arnold Lobel.
THUNDER CAKE and BOAT RIDE With LILLIAN TWO BLOSSOM by Patricia Polacco.
TOAD WEATHER by Sandra Markle.
MR GUMPY'S MOTOR CAR by John Burningham.
RAINDROPS ROLL by April Pulley Sayre.
BOOM! BOOM! by Sarvinder Naberhaus.

And if you are into "crazy" ... here are some "crazy" weather stories to try:
CLOUDY WITH CHANCE Of MEATBALLS by Judi Barrett.
BARTHOLOMEW And The OOBLECK by Dr. Seuss.

GIRL Sleuths for KIDS in grades 1-6

Mon, 08/08/2016 - 5:00pm by ryanikoglu

Teachers, Parents and Kids ask ... "Where are the girl detectives?"
Here is a Public List of GIRL Detectives for KIDS grades 1-3 to get you started.
Here is a Public List of GIRL Detectives for KIDS grades 4-6 to keep you going.
Many titles are one in a series, so follow the author links to find more in the series.
If you like the character you can find more stories she is pursuing.

Heart-tugging Fantasy Book from Newberry Winning Author

Sat, 08/06/2016 - 11:06am by mansii

Fans of Karen Cushman--Newberry winner for The Midwife’s Apprentice, and author of a lifetime of other beloved historical fiction novels--will be absolutely enthralled by her latest novel, Grayling’s Song. Without leaving behind her usual depth and heart-tugging characters, Cushman brings a new world to life with a pinch of magic.

Confronted with a task far larger than she feels capable of managing, Grayling—an ordinary girl with a magical mother—grows in maturity and compassion through the choices she must make. Despite her sense of inadequacy, when an unknown evil steals the Grimoire (their book of spells) and roots her mother to the ground, Grayling must go out alone to rescue her mother and the book. With each new magical friend she meets along the way, Grayling’s hopes rise that they will be the one to conquer the evil. She meets a weather witch, a complaining helpless ward, an enchantress, and a diviner of cheese. But though each have “bits and pieces” of usefulness, making a team of unlikely heroes, only Grayling can lead the way. Only she can sing a song that beckons an answering tune from the Grimoire which they must find.

Through a series of circumstances that stretch her heart till she almost has nothing left to give, Grayling gradually becomes the hero she never imagined she could be. Rather than leaving us with the wish to escape to another reality where magic makes hardship better, Grayling’s world reminds us that in winning our battles what we need is not the extra talent of another that we so easily envy. Instead, what triumphs in our trials is the strength of character that builds itself by small choices in the right direction. This precious story inspires an overflowing heart, and hope in the journey that’s it’s adding up to something worth every scab.

PreK Bits - "V" is for Very VALUABLE

Wed, 08/03/2016 - 10:57am by ryanikoglu

Ms. Rachel brought stories of valuable things to Preschool Storytime @ Malletts Creek Branch Library.
SOMETHING From NOTHING … is from Jewish oral tradition. Grandfather makes a beautiful blanket when Joseph is born.
The baby gift turns into something even more valuable ... a family story.
In BUNNY MONEY … Max and Ruby set out to buy a birthday present for grandmother and they manage successfully.

For more valuable stories try these favorites:
The TWO TIMS … friendship is valuable.
LITTLE BITTY FRIENDS … the value of backyard nature.
BEAR And HARE SHARE … sharing is valuable.
TOO MANY CARROTS … the value of carrots.
The BEAR And The PIANO … talent is valuable … and home is too.
YOU And ME … the value of serendipity.
WHAT A WONDERFUL WORLD … the world is valuable.

PreK Bits - "U" is for UP (and under)

Wed, 07/27/2016 - 1:17pm by ryanikoglu

Things went UP in Storytime this week with Ms. Rachel and Ms. Betsy.
COME BACK BEN … Ben floated UP with his red balloon.
“The Grand Old Duke of York” … marched UP and Down the hill!
COYOTE And The LAUGHING BUTTERFLIES … a tricky flight.

For more stories with something UP, try these:
UP In The GARDEN And DOWN In The DIRT.
LITTLE HOME BIRD … UP in his nest.
SECRET TREE FORT … “just look UP, please.”
BEAR Is NOT TIRED … so he is still UP when he should be hibernating.
WHEN I GROW UP … says little bear to big bear …
SWEEP UP The SUN … a photographic and textual poem of birds UP in flight.
The TURNIP by Jan Brett … Who can pull it UP ?!!
CIRCLE … bird’s eye view from UP … is in this book.
FALLING UP: Poems and Drawings by x">l&sort=newest">Shel silverstein.

PreK BITS - "T" is for "troubles"

Wed, 07/20/2016 - 10:55am by ryanikoglu

Ms. Rachel was visited by “troubles” at Storytime at Malletts this week.
There were bug troubles in SOUP For ONE … spiders are NOT trouble … unless you’re a bug (or afraid of spiders) ... or in the soup!
Ms. Betsy and Ms. Rachel helped the kids chase “Fireflies” ... as sung by Lena on the CD HAPPY AS CLAMS.
Fireflies are fun, but it’s troublesome to have to let them go.
We took a walk ONCE AROUND The BLOCK. Beatrice had a “troubled” afternoon until she took a walk … “once around the block”.
This book is out of print and AADL has no copies left. That's trouble.
BUT ... the resolution is … You can still find a copy by Kevin Henkes and Victoria Chess and borrow it through Melcat.

For more stories of “troubles” (and “resolutions”) try some of these suggestions:
LEOPARD’S DRUM by Jessica Souhami.
COYOTE And The LAUGHING BUTTERFLIES by Harriet Peck Taylor.
VERY TRICKY ALFIE ATKINS by Gunilla Bergstrom.
THREE BILLY GOATS GRUFF by Janet Stevens.
JUST In CASE: A Trickster Tale And Spanish Alphabet Book by Yuyi Morales.
FLOSSIE And The FOX by Rachel Isadora.
The GRUFFALO by Julia Donaldson.
COUNTING CROCODILES by Judy Sierra.
TORTUGA In TROUBLE by Anna Whitford Paul.
Can you tell what the trouble is?
Can you tell what the resolution was?
Try it.

PreK Bits - "S" is for SILLY

Wed, 07/13/2016 - 1:04pm by ryanikoglu

Ms. Rachel brought Anansi to storytime especially to tell his story about ANANSI And The MOSS-COVERED ROCK.
Of course he did NOT get to keep the fruit, and of course he WAS tricked in the end. Anansi is SO Silly !!
"We Went Floating Down The River" with Ms. Betsy and her ukulele for our action song ... since the "silly one" standing in the boat really needs to "Sit Down!"
In the story BLUE HAT GREEN HAT by Sandra Boynton ... the animals are getting dressed and Turkey is the "silly one"

For more Silliness please try these favorites:
MOO! by David LaRochelle.
SILLY SUZY GOOSE by Petr Horacek.
I'M STILL HERE IN The BATHTUB: Brand New Silly Dilly Songs by Alan Katz.
OOPS! ... poems by Alan Katz.
The SNEECHES And Other STORIES by Dr Seuss.
SILLY SALLY by Audrey Wood.
The SEVEN SILLY EATERS by Mary Ann Hoberman.
A CAMPING SPREE WITH MR MAGEE by Chris Van Dusen.
WARNING! DO NOT OPEN THIS BOOK! by Adam Lehrhaupt.
SIX SHEEP SIP THICK SHAKES: and Other Tricky Tongue Twisters by Brian P. Cleary.
Now you can be silly too!

Sign Language Storybook Craft

Saturday September 24, 2016: 2:00pm to 3:00pm
Malletts Creek Branch: Program Room
Grades K-3

Kid Bits - 10 NEW themes in STORIES To GO collection for 2016 !!

Wed, 07/13/2016 - 11:16am by ryanikoglu

ATTENTION Parents, Teachers, and Child Care Providers !
NEW sets are ready for YOU !

STORIES To GO are themed sets of materials ... especially designed for use with Preschool and young Elementary children ages 2-7.
Each set includes 6-10 books, 1-2 DVDs, and an Activity Folder with suggested finger plays, songs, crafts, etc. related to the theme.
Just grab a theme and go.

10 NEW Themes for 2016 are available NOW. Here they are:
ANN ARBOR for introducing and exploring our community.
FAIRIES for those who enjoy the local fairy doors.
BIG MACHINES for those with a passion for wheels and work.
SIZE and MEASUREMENT: Math Readiness.
OUTER SPACE for those who like to explore the universe.
BABY SIGNS for people learning signing with their babies.
FEELINGS for exploring different types of young drama.
LIBRARIES ... and sharing.
SEEDS To PLANTS for early science discovery.
MONSTERS for those who want to explore Monsters!

You can browse the rest of the themes in STORIES To GO
HERE

Mini Clay Figures: Star Wars!

Thursday July 28, 2016: 2:00pm to 3:30pm
Malletts Creek Branch: Program Room
Grades K-5