Mice Are Nice!

There are so many good picture books about mice! This week's story time session began with the popular children's favorite If You Give A Mouse A Cookie by Laura Numeroff. Next read was a book by Alison Murray about a girl whose mother calls her Little Mouse, even though the child thinks she is as tall as a giraffe, as strong as a bull, and as brave as a lion. 

Our final book was Cat & Mouse by Tomek Bogacki, about a small mouse and a young cat who become friends. 

 

Children made this simple paper finger puppet with a string tail, then used it when we recited this poem:

Here's a little mousie

Peeking through a hole.

(Poke index finger of one hand through fist of the other hand.)

Peek to the left. (Wiggle finger to the left.)

Peek to the right. (Wiggle finger to the right.)

Pull your head back in, (Pull finger into fist.)

There's a cat in sight! 

We played with another great puppet this week - a tiny box filled with three wiggly mice! Join us next Thursday for more Story Time fun!

 

Squeak!

Time for Apples!

Have you and your family been to the orchards yet? It's that time of year! Our Story Time theme this week was apples. We read two books: Ten Red Apples by Pat Hutchins and Ten Apples Up on Top by Theo LeSeig. Here's a link to a video version of our second book. For our apple craft, children chose a large or a small paper plate, colored it red, and glued all sorts of "reds" to it - like crepe and tissue papers, foam shapes, and glittery foil paper. With a stem and a leaf, the take-home project was beautiful!

We also learned this poem and took turns sharing our apple puppet as we acted it out and recited it.

Apple, apple

Juicy and round

I found you lying on the ground. 

I picked you up

And what did I see?

A big fat worm looking back at me!

Our Children's Story Time is growing! Welcome to this week's new young patrons and their families. If you would like to join us all next week, Story Time is held on Thursdays from 10:45 to 11:45 and is repeated from 12:45 to 1:45.

Crickets!

Today's NHCS "StoryCrafters" group heard a story about individuality, friendship, and appreciating one's own gifts. I Wish I Were A Butterfly by James Howe is the story of a small cricket who doubts his beauty and worth until he is counseled by a wise friend.

After discussing the heartwarming message of this story, children cut, folded, decorated and assembled this tiny paper cricket cage. The group agreed that this cage would be temporary housing only for a cricket, for purposes of observation, and that crickets are much happier when they are out in their natural environment!

I Wish I Were A Butterfly is a beautifully illustrated picture book that's available at both The Gordon-Nash Library and in NHCS's own school library. Additionally, there's a video version of it here, one that unfortunately lacks the gorgeous illustrations of the book itself. So, if you like the story, be sure to "check out" the book!

Ninjago!

 

Brand new books at the Gordon-Nash Library! 

Masters of Spinjitzu - using their skills to save the world!

Freight Train and More!

Story Time this week was all about trains! Freight Train by Donald Crews names the colored cars on a freight train as it races through a city, into a tunnel, and over a trestle until it's ....gone! Terrific Trains by Tony Mitton told about lots of different types of trains. And the Train Goes by William Bee was full of sights and sounds heard at a station and on a train. A few more train books were also on hand for this popular subject!

Our craft was a color & cut engine that stood on its own two cardboard wheels. A puff of cotton served as the smoke from the train's smokestack. 

Some of us made a different train - a simple egg cup and pipe cleaner creation that mimicked the cars on a train all coupled together. "Choo-choo" and "woo-woo" could be heard as this little train scooted around the table top!

Of course, there was time for puzzle and stuffed animal play! Storytime is held every Thursday from 10:45-11:45 and is repeated from 12:45-1:45. Join us!

(Note: Look! There's an app for Freight Train!)

NHCS "Story Crafters"

The Gordon-Nash Library is now partnering with Project Promise at the New Hampton Community School. For the next several Tuesdays, as part of its after-school offerings for students, Project Promise will be hosting a one-hour story & craft club run by Gordon-Nash staff. 

For our first session, several familiar Pete the Cat picture books were displayed for the cross-age group, with a spontaneous and fun choral reading of one of them. Later, children traced, cut, and drew to make a small model of Pete, duplicating the sort of craft that is available weekly in the children's room of the library itself. Sadly, there was no time for the second offering - selections from the book Catwings by Ursula K. Le Guin. Our hour flew by and we're eagerly looking forward to next week!

Pete the Cat: I Love My White Shoes

Shoes and colors were the focus at Story Time this week! We read Pete the Cat: I Love My White Shoes by Eric Litwin, and laughed as Pete's new white shoes changed colors as he walked down the street. We sang and danced along with the audio version of the story (and song!) online. Click here to listen yourself! Some of us colored and cut one of Pete's shoes to take home and some of us made a small version of Pete the Cat himself, wearing his white shoes.

We also read Shoe-La-La by Karen Beaumont and Cleo's Color Book illustrated by Carolyn Mockford. And, of course, we had time for some play, some visiting and for choosing a book to take home - and for getting a stamp from Michelle. Join us for Story Time next Thursday from 10:45-11:15 or 12:45-1:45!