Winter Storytime

Snow was in the air for yesterday's Winter Storytime. We had a great time with the stories and songs and crafting SNOWGLOBES! Chosing books to read was difficult this time through, because there're so many great winter stories. I'm thinking later this week the honorable mention winter books will have to make an appearance.

Winter Storytime Lineup:

Snowey Pokey

You put your right mitten in, You take your right mitten out,

You put your right mitten in and you shake it all about.

You do the Snowey Pokey and you turn yourself around.

That's what it's all about!

Continue with additional verses:

You put your left mitten in

You put your scarf in

You put your right boot in

You put your hat in

you put your snowself in

The First Day of Winter by Denise Fleming

I read this book to the tune, "The Twelve Days of Christmas".

It was such a fun read.

Over and Under the Snow by Kate Messner, illustrated by Christopher Silas Neal

Ahhhhhh!!! I love Christopher Silas Neal's work. And I've been waiting and waiting for the perfect time to read this book. It's easily one of my favorite picture books of the year.

Snowflakes

To the tune: "Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star"

Snowflakes, snowflakes,

Dance around.

Snowflakes, snowflakes,

Touch the ground.

Snowflakes, snowflakes,

In the air.

Snowflakes, snowflakes,

Everywhere!

Snowflakes, snowflakes,

Dance around.

Snowflakes, snowflakes,

Touch the ground.

Snowmen at Night by Caralyn Buehner, illustrated by Mark Buehner

An instant comedy act.

I Built a Snowman

I built a little snowman. (make circles with arms)

He had a carrot nose. (point to nose)

Along came a bunny (hold up two bent fingers)

And what do you suppose? (shrug)

That hungry little bunny, (make bunny again)

Looking for his lunch, (hop bunny around)

Ate the snowman's nose. (grab nose with fingers)

Nibble... nibble... CRUNCH! (pretend to eat carrot nose)

Winter is the Warmest Season by Lauren Stringer

I've had my eye on this book since the summertime. And I'd have to agree...

Snow by Manya Stojic

This book is good for all ages, but especially the toddlers and preschoolers.

Winter Storytime Craft:

Snowglobes!!!

Will and I have been saving jars in our house since October for this craft. Peanut butter jars, olive jars, pickle jars, jelly jars, sauce jars, mustard jars, bouillon cube jars, any kind of jar. With the help of a couple co-workers too, I had just enough for the entire storytime gang yesterday.

The directions I used for this craft were from a doctor's office magazine, but also found inspiration here and here.

When I found birds for the snowbird craft I also picked up miniature trees and miniature wintry animals from the craft store. I also found ceramic ornaments from the thrift store. All the non-holiday ones were used by the kids yesterday.

To start, we secured florist clay to the inside of the jar lid. The kids picked one or two figurines, depending on how big their lids were, and pushed them into the clay. If they could press more clay to stabilize their figure, they held their place in water a lot better.

After they were finished with that step, they came over the the "Snow Station" where I finished off their snowglobes. On a small cart I had a few pitchers of water, glycerin (which can be found in the face/beauty section of a drugstore), and glitter.

SIDE STORY: When I went to get glycerin at our local drug store, I thought it might be a soap ingredient but didn't know where to find it. So, I asked the pharmisist and her reply was, "You mean suppositories?"

me: "Ummm... no. I don't need to poop. I'm looking for glycerin?"

pharmacist: "I think it's with the laxatives."

me: "Are you thinking of mineral oil, because I'm not looking for mineral oil. I'm looking for glycerin."

pharmacist: "I don't think we have that. Let me ask the cashier."

We walk over to the cashier and ask.

cashier: "Yeah... it's with the face wash."

pharmacist: "I thought it might be there."

Right.

So back to Snowglobes...

At the "Snow Station", I poured water into the jar until it was almost full. Added 3-4 drops of glycerin and then depending on how big or small the jar was, about a spoonful of glitter.

Fastened the jar lid to the jar.

And let the snow fall.

A dad mentioned they did this a couple years ago as gifts to grandparents from his children. Today, I made this Santa snowglobe one for a friend.

*All songs and hand rhymes were adapted from Everything Preschool

**image sources: Over and Under the Snow, First Day, Over and Under, Snowmen at Night, Winter is the Warmest Season

Seeing Red

... and white... and pink.... and speckled cream.

LBD and I venture over to Sunrise Garden Center on a weekly basis to visit their resident doves and on one October morning, it was hard not to notice the huge shipment of poinsettias the center had received. Rows and rows of green with only brief hints of red and white reveling the plant's true identity.

I've been documenting their transformation.

October

November

December

We have one on our dinning room table. It's name is Elmo.

Now, can anyone tell me why that isn't a classic already?

Have a great weekend!

Castles: Moving, Growing, and Forgotten

There has been a building trend in my reading recently. I'm repeatedly drawn to stories about castles. Completely coincidental and each book extremely different from the next. Well, except for the whole castle part.

Howl's Moving Castle

By Diana Wynne Jones

Recommended Reading Age: 10 & Up

Published: April 1986, Eos

Will has been trying to get me to watch the movie with him for awhile now, but I didn't want to watch it until I read the book. It's been on my to-read list for a long, long time and I've been dragging my feet until a co-worker started reading it which finally inspired me to finally follow through. And I'm very glad I did so, because it was charming, and bizarre, with clever characters, and felt I was in a delightful dream when reading it. I don't even know how I begin to describe it. Maybe it's a cop-out, but you have to read it for yourself. It's a charming tale.

Tuesdays at the Castle

By: Jessica Day George

Recommended Reading Age: 8 & Up

Published: October 2011, Bloomsbury

I want to start out by saying, I feel really bad for Tuesdays at the Castle. I read it right after I read Howl's Moving Castle in which there is no comparison. If I had read it before, it might of had a good chance chance to receive a higher rating from myself, but I didn't and in the end it was merely "a cute story". Just didn't have the panache Howl did.

That doesn't mean it wasn't good. It's actually a really good book for 3rd and 4th graders.  I loved the concept of the castle transforming every Tuesday, playing favorites of those who lived or visited there, especially when the good of the royal family is concerned. Princess Celie, the youngest of the royal siblings living at Castle Glower, has a relationship with Castle Glower unlike anyone can recall since Castle Glower was built. As if they understand each others thoughts and wishes. If I read this as a girl, I would have adored it.

Castle Waiting

By Linda Medley, Introduction by Jane Yolen

Recommended Reading Age: 13 & Up

Published: June 2006, Fantagraphics Books

An adult book!! Well, sorta. It's classified as an adult graphic novel in our library, which is exciting for me because I haven't read an adult book in quite awhile. A short vacation from kiddoland reading.

Before this book I tried reading graphic novels, but couldn't quite get into it. At first it was as if reading a foreign language and my patience was lacking. But I kept trying and lo and behold I finally got into it with Castle Waiting. Interestingly enough, it was my gateway into youth and teen graphic novels of which I've been checking out every week since.

Have you read any of these books? Do you have any castle recommendations of your own?

image source: castle pic, howl, tuesdays, castle waiting

Snow Bird Storytime

Some birds have left for the south and some are here to stay for the winter months. During yesterday's Sunday Storytime session we read books about both.

Snow Bird Storytime Line-up:

Three Little Birds

Song by Bob Marley, Adapted by Rebecca Dunn

Woke up this mornin', (arms over head to make a sun)

Smiled with the risin' sun, (point to smile)

Three little birds (flap arms like a bird)

By my doorstep (point down to the ground)

Singin' sweet songs (hold hands by mouth as if shouting)

Of melodies pure and true, (hold hands by mouth as if shouting)

Sayin', "This is my message to you-ou-ou:" (point out to person in front of you)

Singin' don't worry about a thing, (shake finger out in front)

'Cause every little thing gonna be all right. (shoulder shrug, palms up)

Singin' don't worry about a thing, (shake finger again)

'Cause every little thing gonna be all right. (shoulder shrug, palms up)

Marco Flamingo by Shelia Jarkins

"What's snow?," asked Marco.

"You don't want to know," replied Goose.

And so Marco's adventure begins when one tropical bird decides to fly north for the winter.

Round Robin by Jack Kent

I had never heard of this book, until I started looking for snow bird books. Had the kids giggling the whole time I read it.

Birds by Keven Henkes, illustrated by Laura Dronzek

Oh, so lovely. Especially the illustrations.

Little Bird, Little Bird

Song by Elizabeth Mitchell

Little bird, little bird,

Fly through my window,

Little bird, little bird,

Fly through my window,

Little bird, little bird,

Fly through my window,

Fine molasses candy.

Through my window,

My sugar lump,

Fly through my window,

My sugar lump,

Fine molasses candy.

(Repeat replacing "Little bird" with: "Chickadee", and then"Jaybird", and then "Whip-poor-will")

You can listen to Elizabeth Mitchell's version of this popular song here.

George Flies South by Simon James

A new book I decided to try out. Originally, I decided not to use it for storytime because I thought it was a book that was better reading one-on-one. But Will encouraged me to read it Sunday and I'm glad he did.

No Two Alike by Keith Baker

Two birds flying around a winter wonderland learning about similarities and differences.

Snow Bird Craft:

I found this craft a couple months ago and it became my inspiration behind an entire storytime devoted to snow birds. Now, I was a little concerned about the younger kids being about to do it, but even the toddlers successfully made one with no trouble.

The prep was easy. I just cut and glued this birch tree clip art to toilet paper rolls.

I picked up these cheap, but cute artificial birds and some fake wintertime greenery at a craft store. The greenery was cut into small branches. After that, everything was ready for storytime.

The kids assembled their birds and branches with craft glue. Anything you have on hand will work. We used an all-purpose glue.

Here's the fun part. I created a "glitter station" which had translucent glitter, paint brushes, and cups with small portions of glue on the bottom of the cups. When the kids were done gluing their birds and branches, they could go to the glitter station, brush glue on their birch logs and birds with paint brushes, and then glitz up their snow birds with a glittery, finishing touch.

Easily, one of my favorite crafts we have done so far.

This last part isn't entirely necessarily, but it does help keep the bird upright. In snack sized baggies filled with 3-5 peppermints, we rolled the bags up and placed the sugar booty in the birch logs.

There you have it. A sweet, little, winter bird decoration.

image sources: marco flamingo, round robin, birds, george, no two alike,

December

December, December, how is it already December?

Found the above chalkboard at the Habitat for Humanity restore. We had lots of fun with it for Nacho Normal Thanksgiving...

Thanksgiving was just the right amount of chaos to take us away from our usual chaos. Lots of family. Lots of friends. Lots of love.

Before Thanksgiving I was such a grinch about the holidays, but since last weekend's visits, the surprise Christmas tree I found in our living room from the cowboy when I got home from work Sunday evening, and the hour spent dancing to music with my daughter today could lift any gray clouds lurking overhead.

It was time to get in the spirit and dress the house in holiday attire.

Like the chalkboard, this light-up Victorian house was another thrift store find.

Look at that... The house aglow and all Christmasey.

Feels like the most wonderful time of the year.