Storytime: The Mitten

This week at the library, we read The Mitten, the classic wintertime story based on a Ukrainian folktale about a child who loses a mitten in the snow and the animals that try to squeeze into it for warmth. There are many versions of this tale - at Thursday Storytime, we read this one by Jim Aylesworth. 

We also scanned the pictures in the Jan Brett version of The Mitten and talked briefly about what was the same and what was different in the two versions of the same story. 

Then the children decorated a paper mitten using foam shapes, colored paper dots, crayons, and cotton balls. They left with some cut-out animals to put into their mitten to retell and reenact the story of The Mitten at home. 

Later in the day, students came for Storytime from the local Saplings Nature School. We read the same two versions of The Mitten and compared and contrasted in more depth. After we briefly discussed the concept of symmetry, students fashioned their own matching pair of card stock mittens. 

As students worked, we found and watched a third version of The Mitten, this one published in book form in the 1960s. We wondered how many other versions there were of this old folktale!

We decided to write our own unique version of the story! Here's how it begins: 

There was once a child who went on a wintertime adventure to a frozen pond. He wore his bright, colorful mittens so he could find them if he took them off. And took them off, he did - to tie his skates! He forgot his mitten as he was skating away.

We also brainstormed a list of animals and chose some action verbs to go with some of them. I can't wait to continue our folktale next week! Check back here for the rest of the story!

MARCH of the Animals: Elephants!

March of the Animals month continues, this week with elephants! I love this week's story, Elmer by David McKee. It's about a very different elephant who gets tired of his looks and what happens when he tries to change his appearance.  Such a cute story!

All the elephants of the jungle were gray except Elmer, who was a patchwork of brilliant colors - until the day he got tired of being different and making the other elephants laugh.

I'm always so interested to watch authors reading their own books. They know exactly how they wanted their writing to sound! And David McKee has a wonderful British accent! Check it out!

I also wanted to find some elephant facts and video, since elephants are so magnificent to watch. I wanted to be sure to link to an expert, and have decided that World Wildlife Federation is it. Here's the link to their elephant information: https://www.worldwildlife.org/media?page=2&species_id=elephant

And here is this week's craft - it's a black & white Elmer, to color as your child sees fit, and it's seen here with some of the other Elmer books we have in the Children's Room. Give us a call if you want an Elmer book and a coloring paper or click here to print out Elmer at your house!

Read-Aloud: The True Story of the Three Little Pigs

During Week 4 of our Summer Program, there have been lots of at-home activities involving the story of The Three Little Pigs - the engineering video, the LEGO challenge, the puppet show...  I knew I wanted this week's read-aloud to be a retelling of that same story, but from a different perspective or with different details. After a lot of thought (and a lot of reading!), I finally decided on this version, The True Story of the 3 Little Pigs, a book which has been around for about thirty years. The author's name is Jon Scieszka, he used to be a second grade teacher, and he's written lots of other books since this one. The story is also very different, but look for similarities. 

I've been having issues recording this and am getting a little frustrated and worried that I won't get a read-aloud posted in time. So, who better to read the book than the author himself? He does a much better job than I do, and I hope you like the story and the illustrations! Leave me a comment below if you want!

For Independent Learning: Kourtney LaFavre's If Sun Could Speak

Kourtney LaFavre was a much-loved first grade teacher at the New Hampton Community School for many years. She still lives locally with her husband and four kids, and is now a writer. This year, she came back to the New Hampton Community School with her soon to be published book, If Sun Could Speak, and she read her story to students. Mrs. LaFavre helped kids understand the placement of the Sun and planets in the Solar System by acting as planets themselves. She answered questions about her work. She presented the audience with a quick writing challenge and worked with students individually to get them started on their own writing.

If Sun Could Speak has since been published and is now available through links on Kourtney's website at https://kourtneylafavre.com/. In the "Book Activities" section of this website is a recording of Kourtney reading her book. She has also posted activities for kids to have fun and to experiment with the power of the Sun. Additionally, there's a link to her Pinterest board for more ways to have fun with the sun.

A great way to learn - with a wonderful website, a fascinating STEM story, and lots of exciting and fun activities to do during these warm Spring and Summer months. Check it out!! https://kourtneylafavre.com/

Online Resources for Families

It's been only a the few days since schools have closed, many businesses have shuttered, and we've all begun to practice "social distancing", but in that short time period so many online resources have become available for children! It's amazing!

These are in no particular order and may move around on the page. I'm checking and adding more links as I find them. 

Stay tuned. 

~Chris

Lauren Tarshis reads aloud her book, I Survived the Sinking of the Titanic

Good Night with Dolly
Dolly Parton of the Imagination Library reads books, "all carefully chosen for their appropriate content at this moment in time."

Read-Along with PBS Kids

Read, Wonder, and Learn! Favorite Authors & Illustrators Share Resources for Learning Anywhere – Spring 2020

Storyline Online

The Big List of Children’s Authors Doing Online Read Alouds & Activities

Eric Carle reads "A Very Hungry Caterpillar"

Educational Resources & Activities for Kids Ages 6 – 8

The Parents Guide to Google Classroom

Lunch Doodles with Mo Willems

Draw Everyday with Jarrett J. Krosoczka

Storytime from Space

Jarrett Learner's Activities

Scholastic Learn at Home

Engineering Activities for Kids (when Under Quarantine)

Unite for Literacy: e-books for beginning readers

Bedtime Math

Mystery Science

Science Mom & Math Dad

Brainpop Videos

Time for Kids

Squam Lakes Association's "SHARE LEARN ADVENTURE"

Learning at Home Resources While Social Distancing from The Genius of Play

Skybrary by Reading is Fundamental - free one month membership, $4.99 monthly thereafter

Magic Tree House Printables and Activities


Finally, I'm passing along this little song. I love it, and I bet kids would, too.

Local Writers' Science Fiction!

Fourth and fifth Grade writers from the New Hampton Community School have their science fiction work on display at the Gordon-Nash during our "Universe of Stories" Summer Reading Program. In early June, students were challenged to compose an original piece, then illustrate it by drawing a book cover. The last week of school, an assembly was held, with each contributor receiving a certificate for their work and first place prizes of a free book.

Fourth grade writing is on the bulletin board at the landing of the rear staircase. Fifth grade writing can be found in a basket in the periodical section. Please take a few minutes to a look at this creative and imaginative work by our local student writers!

Special thanks to NHCS teachers Melissa Markey and Angie Bergholm for working with us this year and in the past. Thanks to the Friends of the Gordon-Nash Library for sponsoring this program and providing wonderful science books as prizes. Kudos to Gretchen Draper - resident, “Friend”, and teacher-consultant for the National Writing Project in NH - for organizing this yearly collaborative program with our local school.

Storytime Saturday: Author Stephen Miller

Author Stephen Miller visited the Gordon-Nash for this month's Storytime Saturday and to read his latest children's book, The Adventures of Fabina and Friends: Wishes Granted. The story is about Fabina, a flamingo princess, and her adopted sister Polly Pig. Fabina is missing her enchanted sunflower and is unable to grant wishes without it. Polly comes to her rescue and learns many valuable lessons along the way. 

After he read, Stephen took questions from the audience about his inspiration and method for writing. He hinted that there may be sequels to this story some day!

While Stephen signed copies of his book for adults, the children made a paper plate sunflower with three foot tall straw stems. They also planted sunflower seeds for their gardens at home, reminders of the story of Fabina.

Thank you for joining us on Storytime Saturday, Stephen Miller!

2014 Great Stone Face Winner

Last week I was at a Children's Librarian's conference with lots of other librarians from New Hampshire. One of the speakers there was M. H. Herlong, who accepted the trophy for writing the book that won this year's Great Stone Face Award. Ms. Herlong lives in New Orleans, which is also the setting of her award-winning book, called Buddy. 

Tyrone "Li'l T" Roberts meets Buddy when his family's car accidentally hits the stray dog on their way to church. Buddy turns out to be the dog Li'l T's always wished for--until Hurricane Katrina comes to New Orleans and he must leave Buddy behind. After the storm, Li'l T and his father return home to find a community struggling to rebuild their lives--and Buddy gone. But Li'l T refuses to give up his quest to find his best friend... This is a powerful story of hope, courage, and knowing when to let go.

Ms. Herlong spoke about her family's experiences during Hurricane Katrina, when they were told to leave their home and move to safety for just two days. But the two days became many months because the hurricane was so bad. She said lots of people in New Orleans left their pets behind because they thought they would be gone only for a very short time. This is one of events that inspired Ms. Herlong to write Buddy.

The Great Stone Face Award is voted on by 4th, 5th, and 6th graders in schools in New Hampshire. We did not have this book at our library, so I bought it for you. When I asked Ms. Herlong to autograph it, she wanted to know if New Hampton kids like to read. I said "YES!!!" - and she wrote this:

Miss Jessica!

Artist, Author, and illustrator Miss. Jessica L. Fligg joined the children at the Gordon Nash Library this morning. Although the children missed Mrs. Hunewell this morning, while she is on vacation, the children enjoyed their time with Miss. Jessica. They listened to one of Miss. Jessica’s original stories titled Susie’s Painting Adventure! A very colorful story about a young girl and her dog. Susie is a little girl who loves to paint. In the story Susie and her dog Rufus help teach the children about mixing colors and learning which colors to mix to achieve the color that is desired. After the story Miss. Jessica guided the children in a project where they had fun recreating Susie’s masterpiece from the story. The children were very excited to complete this project and have a masterpiece of their own to take home with them! 

Miss. Jessica L. Fligg would like to invite the children and their families to come back to view her Artwork on display in the Gallery. The Gallery is located on the lower level of the Gordon Nash Library. This display will remain up through the end of August. If you are interested in Jessica's children's stories check her author spotlight page here!

Guest Reader: Jessica Fligg

Next week, for our Thursday morning Storytime, we will have a special guest reader. New Hampshire artist and author Jessica Fligg, who is displaying her beautiful artwork downstairs in the gallery, will be reading Susie's Painting Adventure and will have a special art activity for the children. Brandi will be there, too! Please come and welcome Jessica Fligg to our library! I'm excited to think about what she will create with the children!

Babymouse, Mad Scientist

Don't you just love Babymouse? In book #14, Babymouse gets interested in science as she works on projects that she hopes to enter in her school's science fair! As she's working, she makes an amazing discovery. She hopes it's big enough to win first prize - but it's definitely big enough to have its own story (hint!). If you'd like to read this graphic novel, it's in the Juvenile section under H for Holm, along with the other Babymouse books we have.

You know, Babymouse isn't the only one who loves science! Here's three-time Newbery Honor winner Jennifer L. Holm, the author of Babymouse, sharing her top five reasons why science is cool!

Dr. Seuss

Happy Birthday, Dr. Seuss! Because his birthday was last week, during March we'll have a large display of his books on top of the shelves. How well do you think you know his books? I took pictures of details on several of the covers. Can you name the books that they come from? Answers in the comment section, please! The winner will get a package of colored fish - I can't promise they'll be Red Fish or Blue Fish, but there will definitely be more than One Fish, Two Fish!

Marty Kelley

Yesterday afternoon, I saw NH author Marty Kelley give a talk to New Hampton Community School's third, fourth, and fifth graders about what it's like to write and illustrate books. I have read most of his picture books, but I was very interested in hearing him talk about how long and hard he had to work to write and illustrate his first chapter book, Fame, fortune, and the bran muffins of doom. If you want to read all about Marty Kelley's talk, check out Mr. McCann's Fourth Grade blog post here. If you want to view the book trailer for Fame, fortune, and the bran muffins of doom, or read the first chapter, links are here, on the main character's blog page. And if you want to read Marty Kelley's new book, I bought it and it's here - in our library! Well, it's not really here - someone borrowed it as soon as we opened the doors this morning! But we have it now in our collection, so call us and we'll save it for you!

A Good Read: Flora & Ulysses-The Illuminated Adventures

Flora & Ulysses is this year's Newbery Award winning book. Written by author Kate DiCamillo, it's part chapter book and part graphic novel. Flora is a girl whose favorite book is Terrible Things Can Happen To You and she believes it! She saves a squirrel from death by a runaway vacuum cleaner and names him Ulysses when the tiny creature shows remarkable strength and amazing super powers after being revived.

Ulysses can type! He can fly! And he's a writer! But Flora's mother doesn't like her daughter having a rodent for a friend, and she wants Flora's dad to get rid of him. There are sad and funny moments in this book.

There are sixty-eight chapters in this book! Don't worry, though - you can read it very quickly! This is a good book for ages 10 and up.

One More Award!

We have a brand new book that just arrived the week before the awards were announced - and it won the Robert F. Sibert Informational Book Award for most distinguished informational book for children! It's called Parrots Over Puerto Rico, written by Susan Roth and Cindy Trumbore. The book's cover is beautiful! Just look at those parrots!

2014 Winners!

National book awards were announced today!! I love this day! Every January, the American Library Association names the best children's and young adult books of the year and bookstores immediately sell out of those titles. That's how well-known the awards are! Fortunately for you, our library already has many of the books that won awards today - and you won't have to buy them to read them!

As you read about each award-winning book, click on the book's title for book trailers or reviews.

The Newbery Award is given to the best children's book published the year before and usually goes to a "chapter book". This years award winner is Flora & Ulysses: The Illuminated Adventures, written by Kate DiCamillo (who also wrote Because of Winn Dixie, The Tale of Despereaux, and The Marvelous Adventures of Edward Tulane - you know who she is, right?) What an unusual book this is - part chapter book, part graphic novel! You can find Flora and Ulysses in the juvenile section of the Children's Room!

Runners-up for the Newbery Award are called Newbery Honor books. This year, four books were named Honor books and our library has two of them: Doll Bones written by Holly Black and Paperboy by Vince Vawter. They are also in the juvenile section of the library. 

The Prinz Award is for literature for Young Adults. We have this year's winner - Midwinterblood, by Marcus Sedgwick, as well as two of the Honor books: Eleanor & Park, a love story written by Rainbow Rowell, and Navigating Early written by Clare Vanderpool, who won the Newbery Award a few years ago. These books are in the Young Adult section of the library.

Finally, my favorite award is the Caldecott Medal - given for illustrations in a children's book! This year's winning book has been standing up on top of a shelf in the Children's Room for months! It's called Locomotive, illustrated by Brian Floca. Two Caldecott Honor books are also in the picture book section of the library: Journey written and beautifully illustrated by Aaron Becker and Mr. Wuffles! written and illustrated by David Wiesner, who already has three Caldecott Medals!  

So grab your card and get a ride to the Gordon-Nash, where we have great taste in books!

Author & Illustrator: Jan Brett

Have you ever noticed how many books by author and illustrator Jan Brett have winter time for a setting? Jan Brett must love winter! She has also illustrated many books with a Christmas theme. Here are the ones we have in the Children's Room:

• Christmas trolls
• Home for Christmas
• The twelve days of Christmas
• Who's that knocking on Christmas Eve?
• The wild Christmas reindeer
• The mitten : a Ukrainian folktale

Jan Brett also has a fabulous website, here. Click on Hedgie's Holiday Workbench for lots and lots of Christmas activities you can do at home!