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Crafts

Preschool ArtStart

Monday March 20, 2017: 10:30am to 11:00am
Pittsfield Branch: Program Room
Ages 2–5, Siblings Welcome

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Blog Post

PreK Bits - "T" is for Toys

by ryanikoglu

Ms. Rachel brought Toy Stories to Storytime @ Malletts Creek Library.
“I Can Take Care Of My Bear” … I’ll show you how.
"A Tooty-Tah" was our action rhythm AND it practices the "T" sound too!
PLAYTIME? … Nope! “Bedtime!" for Gorilla.

For more toy stories try these favorites:
The LINE UP BOOK … when Sam wants to line up his toys from his room to Mom.
TOY BOAT … takes a solo adventure on the high seas.
The MARVELOUS TOY … a boy gets a toy that his father got when he was young.
The "Marvelous Toy" is a song by Tom Paxton and is recorded on the CD GOOD MISCHIEF by Gemini.
The TOY FAIRY … where did the toys go?
HENRY And LEO … a Boy and his toy get separated.
BETTY BUNNY WANTS EVERYTHING … and the rule is “You can get one thing.”
LIVING WITH MOM And LIVING WITH DAD … a sweet reassuring story with precious toys in both homes.
TOO MANY TOYS … and which one to keep? By David Shannon.
TOO MANY TOYS! … with an action plan. By Heide Deedman.

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Blog Post

Family Books for All!

by evelyn

We have two new beautiful picture books celebrating diverse families.

A Family is a Family is a Family, written by Sara O’Leary and with illustrations by Qin Leng, is a wonderful meditation on how many different kinds of families there are. The narrator is a young girl who is nervous to tell her class about her family because they are different than other families. However, after each of her classmates describes their unique families, she feels comfortable talking about her own foster mom. The illustrations in this sweet book show all different families as they explore, play, eat, and most of all, love each other.

Home at Last is the last book by renowned children’s book author Vera B. Williams. Finished posthumously, with illustrations by Chris Raschka, this lovely book tells the story of Lester, whose adoption day has finally arrived. Although he already feels that he, Daddy Rich, and Daddy Albert are a family, he is nervous to sleep in his own bed at his new home. Luckily, their dog Wincka jumps in to help out. This book is great not only for adopted kids, but for any kids struggling with change or getting used to sleeping in their own big kid bed.

Want to find more great picture books about families? Take a look at this list!

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Blog Post

PreK BITS - "F" is for Fabulous FEAST

by ryanikoglu

Ms. Rachel brought stories of fabulous food to Storytime this week.
Bear found the right ingredients to make his favorite recipe ... UGLY PIE by Lisa Wheeler.
“Five Plum Buns In A Bakery Shop” is a counting rhythm/rhyme that we clapped out together as the rhyme was called out.
GREGORY The TERRIBLE EATER ... his parents found a way to solve his picky-eater issues. Now all are happy.

For a Feast of more Favorite Food Fables try the following:
STREGA NONA: An Old Tale by Tomie DePaola.
WOODPECKER WANTS A WAFFLE by Steve Breen.
WHO PUT The COOKIES In The COOKIE JAR? by George Shannon.
ELLA TAKES The CAKE by Carmela D’Amico.
MORE PIES! by Robert Munsch.
DRAGONS LOVE TACOS by Adam Rubin.
Happy Feast Day!

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Blog Post

PreK Bits - "G" is for Grandparents !

by ryanikoglu

“We are ThankFull for Grandparents!” was the Storytime theme @ Malletts Creek Branch this week.

HERE COMES GRANDMA is the story of all the transportation Grandma used to get to her Grandson … including sound effects for each mode.
“Walk, Walk, Walk Around The Block” was our activity song. We traveled in many modes as we sang.
You can find a recorded version of this song on the CD RISE And SHINE by Raffi and HONK HONK RATTLE RATTLE by Richele Bartkowiak.
In A FAR-FETCHED STORY … Grandma makes a “Story Quilt” out of the rags and stories the family brings home.

For more stories with GrandParents in them ... try these favorites:
The HELLO GOODBYE WINDOW … the window is at Grandpa and Grandma’s house.
TWO IS ENOUGH … to have family fun together.
GRANDPA’S GIRLS … love to visit his farm … and share memories.
HOW To TAKE YOUR GRANDMOTHER To The MUSEUM ... a guide book that can also relate to Grandfathers!
MR FRANK ... grandfather moves in with the family and he has a special talent!
The LINES ON NANA’S FACE … each set of wrinkles reminds a child of favorite things they have done together.
OUR GRANDPARENTS: A Global Album … a beautiful multi-cultural photo essay of grandparents with grandchildren around the world.
OR … choose stories from this PUBLIC LIST.

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Blog Post

PreK Bits - "S" is for sumptuous SOUP

by ryanikoglu

Harvest is coming in. Weather is turning cold.
'Tis the season for SOUP!

Ms. Rachel brought sumptuous Soup tales to Storytime at Malletts Creek Branch Library this week.
We pulled and pulled … The TURNIP ... and made soup enough for All.
We chopped the vegetables in “Chop, Chop, Choppity Chop” Gari Stein's SING WITH ME - WINTER FUN and threw what’s left into the pot!
The REAL STORY Of STONE SOUP … is a Chinese folk tale of how to make soup from finding the right stones.

For more SOUP tales, try these favorites:
STONE SOUP WITH MATZOH BALLS: a Chelm tale of Passover … a Russian Jewish version of stone soup.
FOX TALE SOUP … so many ways to tell a tale!
SOUP DAY … a nice snowy day spent making soup … recipe included.
SOUP For ONE … a silly tale of imagined ownership.
DUCK SOUP … Duck. Soup. Silly! ... All good!
GAZPACHO For NACHO … it’s the only soup Nacho wants to eat.
CHICKEN SOUP WITH RICE … a book of months with a song to sing, by Maurice Sendak. You can listen to the recording in this Book + CD Kit set.
THERE’S A GIRAFFE IN MY SOUP … uh-oh!
MARTHA SPEAKS … because she ate the alphabet soup …

For FUN in the KITCHEN (including SOUP), here are great cook books for children:
PRETEND SOUP And Other REAL RECIPES … Author from from Moosewood Cookbok fame.
COOL THANKSGIVING DINNER.
MAKE And EAT VEGETARIAN FOOD.
CHILDREN’S COOKBOOK … from Usborne Farmyard Tales.
MOMMY And ME START COOKING.
Or browse HERE for more more more ideas to make in the kitchen.

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Blog Post

Learn About Bees with Bee Present Honey!

by Beth Manuel

Join us Saturday November 12, 2016 from 1:00 pm to 2:30 pm in the Pittsfield Branch Program Room!

We'll learn about some of the health benefits of honey, learn a bit about beekeeping and make some Bee-utiful crafts. See what all the buzz is about Saturday!

This event is intended for grades 2-5

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Blog Post

Election Day Reads for Kids

by evelyn

Want to talk to your kids about election day and civic engagement? Look no further than your library!

For a basic primer on voting and democracy, check out Every Vote Matters or School House Rocks: Election Collection.

Help your little ones learn about the people who fought for the right to vote with these great titles. I especially recommend the beautiful and moving book Lillian’s Right to Vote, which is about the Voting Rights Act of 1965. With lovely illustrations and stirring text, this book will help kids learn understand how hard citizens have worked to earn the vote.

For even more books on voting and democracy, take a look at this list!

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Writing & Publishing

"Write On!" Story Contest Awards Celebration!

Sunday April 9, 2017: 2:00pm to 3:00pm
Westgate Branch: West Side Room
Grade 3 - Adult

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Blog Post

PreK Bits - "O" is for OWLS

by ryanikoglu

Ms. Rachel brought Owl stories to Storytime @ Malletts Creek Branch this week.
Baby Owl was lost and the forest animals helped find Mama in … LITTLE OWL LOST by Chris Haughton
Ms. Rachel led the action rhyme "Dr. Knickerbocker" which can be found on the CD SINGING ALL The WAY HOME by Liz Buchanan.
Banjo Betsy led the song "If You're Happy And You Know It" which can be found on the CD LAURIE BERKNER'S FAVORITE CLASSIC KIDS' SONGS.
All the forest animals tell Baby Owl “You are SO So cute! And fluffy!” but ... Baby Owl knows he’s a “huge scary hunting machine” in … I’M NOT CUTE! by Jonathan Allen.

Here are more of Ms. Rachel’s favorite owl stories:
OWL BABIES by Martin Waddell … also In SPANISH language and in FRENCH language. The illustrations are among my all time favorites.
OWL MOON1988 Caldecott Award Winner.
OWL SEES OWL … a book regarding reflection.
HOOT OWL: Master Of Disguise … a book regarding dinner plans.
NIGHT OWL … a book of sound effects.
TOO TALL HOUSES … a competitive housing project between Owl and Rabbit.
WINTER’S COMING: A Story Of Seasonal Change … winter is coming.
I ENJOY Owls!