Libraries are for Babies Too

As a Youth Services Librarian focused on early literacy, I hope that I can influence more parents to bring their babies to the library through promoting our baby programs and displays of baby books. If we can get some grant money, I am also hoping that we can put together some baby-friendly kits, similar to Boston County Public Library's Baby Booster Kits. These kits contain board books on early learning concepts like colors, shapes, community leaders, healthy eating, and more. They also include a music CD and a parent resource book. I think this is such an excellent idea.
Another kit I have been curious about is the Baby Brain Box created by the New Directions Institute, a program of Arizona's Children Association. Founded in 1998, their mission is to share important messages about brain development so that parents could take advantage of the critically important window of opportunity that occurs in infancy. 
These Brain Boxes are unique patented educational products for caregivers to use with children from birth to 5 1/2 years old. Each box contains activity guides and all the materials needed for adult-child interaction that encourages healthy brain development.
I did inquire about the price and they cost $2,000 for the Brain Boxes and they also provide training to staff. We unfortunately don't have that in our budget, but it is definitely a product to consider in the future if we were to have extra funds to go towards early literacy materials.

I started to think more about the perception that libraries aren't meant for babies and after doing some research, I found this wonderful article from publiclibrariesonline.org that discusses a lot of the challenges of bringing babies and toddlers to the library. I never thought deeply about it until now, but it makes sense why some parents might find it daunting to bring their young child to the library. Parents might find it embarrassing if their toddler begins screaming and babies can be incredibly unpredictable too. Parents might also not realize that the library even has baby programs and board books specifically aimed at infants.

So what can a library do? Well there are a lot of ways that the library can make the environment more baby/toddler friendly. Not only can we have a vast array of board books and baby-friendly kits, storytimes aimed specifically at infants, we can also make changes to the environment. There are many changes that can be made to the library's play area, like creating a clean and dedicated early learning space of the library where we invite and encourage caregivers to bring their young ones. Such a space should help to contain the noise and fluster of activities which is better for all patrons. The space should also include developmentally appropriate reading materials, open ended toys that encourage creative free play, appropriate and comfortable furniture for parents, caregivers, and children to sit on (maybe even a glider for nursing mothers), and posters/signs that remind parents that this space is for them.
As I read on this article, "The Case for Making Libraries Full of Games and Toys", games and toys are an important aspect of early learning for children. "In a study with 70 six-year olds, psychologists at the University of Colorado found that the children who engaged in more free play had a 'more highly developed self-directed executive function' than those who had spent more time in 'structured activities,' that were adult-led rather than child-initiated."

This is one of the reason why I am excited to lead my Imagination Station Storytime in October. Open ended free play is very important in the lives of young children.

With regards to programming for young children, a worthy program is 1000 Books Before Kindergarten. This is an excellent program that many libraries across the world are participating in. Learn more about it here: http://1000booksbeforekindergarten.org. Demco also has a lot of great resources and some are free too!: http://www.demco.com/goto?1000_books
I will be launching 1000 Books Before Kindergarten at Messenger Public Library where I work in just a few days so I am thinking A LOT about the ways in which libraries can promote early literacy practices to caregivers! Look for a blog in the next week where I will talk in detail about how the program works. :)
While I am very excited, I have already begun to notice a lot of parents don't think their babies should participate but are interested in signing their toddler or preschooler up. I noticed this with the Summer Reading Program too! It seems as though a lot of caregivers don't realize the importance of reading to children the minute they are born. I hope that I can encourage people to not just sign their 2 or 3 year old up, but their infant as well! Babies need books too. It is truly never too early to start reading to babies. Don't believe me? Check out this NPR article which presents a strong case for reading to infants, citing research and advice from pediatricians.
What do you do to promote library services to babies?

Being a Children's Librarian.... Why I Love My Job

Random thoughts, keeping me awake at night: 


I have over $3,000 worth of books that I want to order for the library. I spend a huge chunk of time going through every single book, making sure that it's a good purchase, making sure that it's age appropriate, in the right section it should be in, then making sure all the technical details are correct on our book supplier's web page so that the book is processed correctly with the right spine label and in the right account. I love ordering books but the computer work you have to do in order to get the books to the library is really a very complicated job. I don't think anyone really knows how hard librarians really work to manage library collections unless they are a librarian themselves or work in a closely related field. 

For the non-librarians reading this, did you know that at every public library, there is at least one, if not several, librarians working incredibly hard, reading book reviews, scouring the internet for book recommendations and book lists, thoroughly reviewing award lists, and reading book review journals, all to find the best books for their community? This is often on top of helping patrons at the reference desk, answering computer questions, creating programs for patrons, and so much more!

As for me personally, I also do special programs like the Cardboard Box Challenge, Campfire Tales, Curious Kids, Preschool Pals, Lapsit Storytime, Saturday Stories & Songs, Sensory Playtime, Animal Hospital, Minute to Win It, etc. I am also a computer wizard, handing out computer passes left and right - at times 20 passes in a matter of hours. It has become insanity at the Youth Services Department, kids lining up for their turn on the computer, just to play the latest online computer game.

I also have the beautiful job of managing a play area which we recently added a light table and Magna-Tiles to. It is incredibly exciting. Kids have been begging me to see their Magna-Tile creations while the next day, gifting me with beautiful drawings they proudly made. I have a collection of lovely drawings from the many children I have worked with. I usually tape them to my workroom window to remind me of the kids who so eagerly show their appreciation.

I also get the glory of sending kids home with books they want to read, their faces beaming with excitement as they exit the library. 

Let me tell you. I do A LOT!!! It can be overwhelming, multitasking in the most unbelievable ways. But every morning, I am happy to say that I do not dread going into work. I am so lucky to have a job that brings this special type of satisfaction. Working with children is simply the best! No matter how many "To-do" lists I have running through my brain, I wouldn't trade it for the world. I am so lucky to be a Children's Librarian and feel so happy to provide services to children and families on a daily basis!

This shout out goes to all the librarians out there - even if you don't always feel appreciated, your work is important and meaningful. This is your reminder! :) 

Lapsit Storytime : Birds!

This storytime is aimed at 0-24 months. At the beginning of each storytime I usually introduce some of our puppets. This gets children out of their shell a little. It also helps to calm any fears they may have about coming to storytime! I make sure every child gets the chance to pet the puppets if they'd like :) 

Here are the Folkmanis puppets I introduced at this storytime:

Snowy

Woodpecker Family (also makes noise!)

Baby Bird in Egg

1. Opening Song: Open Shut Them

Open, shut them,

Open, shut them

Give a little clap, clap, clap

Open, shut them, open, shut them

Lay them in your lap, lap, lap

Creepy crawly, creepy crawly,

Right up to your chin, chin, chin

Open up your little mouth

But do not let them in, in in

2. Book:  What a Hoot by Fran Preston-Gannon

This book is large and on the heavier side but I love that it's big because it's perfect to read to a group! Most board books are small which can make it hard to share with an audience. The illustrations are adorable and the book has short and simple texts, making it perfect for the 0-24 month olds. It describes many common opposites that young toddlers and babies are becoming familiar with (loud and soft, clean and dirty, alseep and awake, for example) and then the book, of course, has silly illustrations such as an owl who really likes to bake! 

3. Fingerplay: Two Little Lovebirds - a classic fingerplay! 

Two lit­tle love­birds sit­ting on a hill

One named Jack, one named Jill

Fly away Jack, fly away Jill

Come back Jack, come back Jill.

*kiss* muah!

Two little lovebirds sitting on a cloud

One named Soft, one named Loud

Fly away Soft

Fly away Loud

Come back Soft, come back Loud 

*kiss* muah!

4. Shaker Song - Sung to the tune of “London Bridge”

"Shake your shakers, shake, shake, shake,

Shake, shake, shake, shake, shake, shake

Shake your shakers, shake, shake, shake,

Shake your shakers!

Other Verses:

Shake your shakers high, high, high,

Shake your shakers  low, low, low,

Shake your shakers  fast, fast, fast,

Shake your shakers  slow, slow, slow"

I actually sing this song every week! It really is awesome to see the young toddlers getting acclimated to it. After the kids have gone to enough storytime sessions, it almost becomes second nature to them! :) 

5. Book: Little Bird Biddle Bird by David Kirk 
Love this book! It's a wee bit long but the kids seemed to enjoy it. I love the illustrations and the sing-song flow the book has. Plus, it's just fun to say "little bird, biddle bird." It's a great read-a-loud and also shows all the early science words associated with birds that young children should be learning: feathers, nests, eggs, and worms!

6. Song: Fleas, track 24 on More Tickles & Tunes by Kathy Reid-Neiman
Creep your fingers up and down baby, touching the named parts as you go. 

On my toe there is a flea  Now it's climbing on my knee
Past my tummy, past my nose
On my head where my hair grows
On my head there is a flea 
Now it's climbing down on me 

Past my tummy, past my knee
On my toe, take that, you flea!  

7. Book: In My Nest by Sara Gillingham  & Lorena Siminovich

I absolutely LOVE these books with the little finger puppet attached by Sara Gillingham. They seriously get an infant or toddler's attention! I used to bring a bunch of these books over to the 10 month old I was babysitting and he would immediately be attracted to them. 

Early literacy tip:
At this age, it's more than fine if a child doesn't sit and actually listen to you read the book. Simply getting a child to be interested in books is the goal here. Young children can only sit for a few minutes for a story, but as they grow, they will be able to sit longer. Let your child decide how much (or how little) time you spend reading. And you don’t need to read every page. You may find that your child has a favorite page or even a favorite picture. She may want to linger there for a while, and then switch books or activities. Babies may just want to mouth the book! That’s okay. When you let your child explore books in the ways that interest her, the reading experience will be more meaningful. 

Source: Zero to Three, How to Introduce Toddlers and Babies to Books

8. Baby Bounce: I’m a Little Cuckoo Clock!

"Rock babies gently back and forth on your lap as you say the verse. Then lift them up in the air for each “Cuckoo!” Source: Mel's Desk

Tick tock, tick tock
I’m a little cuckoo clock
Tick tock, tick tock
It’s one o’clock!
CUCKOO!

Tick tock, tick tock
I’m a little cuckoo clock
Tick tock, tick tock
It’s two o’clock!
CUCKOO! CUCKOO!

9. Book: Bring on the Birds by Susan Stockdale

This is a very colorful board book about birds! The story features several different types of birds with simple text and colorful illustrations. The book is on the small side though if you're reading it to a larger group. 

After storytime, I bring out a few toys and let children play for about 15-20 minutes. 

Hope you enjoyed this bird storytime for babies and toddlers, 0-24 months!

STEM: Olivia the Orangutan Folder Story

This is a fun animal science folder story that I wrote myself. There are many facts incorporated into this story about rainforest animals and when I told the story, the preschoolers were totally mesmerized! I had them join in with me and say "oooo oooo oooo ooo oooo!" and twirl their finger as they were saying the main verse. I was very inspired by the Scat the Cat folder story which I blogged about a few months ago and so I wrote this, using the same theme of an animal changing colors! I also paired it with the story Orangutan Baby (I Love Reading) by Monica Hughes. It's short and perfect for preschoolers!

Instructions for making this:

I printed out a coloring sheet of an orangutan. I used this one.

Then I cut out the orangutan out and paperclipped it to a folder (one that was enclosed on 3 sides).

I then cut around the orangutan so that there was a cut out of the body. 

Then I placed the different colored sheets of paper inside the folder. 

I then drew the faces on each sheet of paper (making sure the different pieces of paper were lined up). 

Then when you tell the story you can pull the colored paper out to reveal the next color! :)

Olivia the Orange Orangutan
by Sarah Prokop

Once upon a time there was an ORANGE haired orangutan named Olivia. Olivia had a very special talent - she could change her color by twirling around and singing a little rhyme. All she had to sing was:

"I'm Olivia the Orangutan
Through the branches I swing
and I can change colors
if I twirl around and sing! (Oooo-oooo-ooooo-ooooo-oooooo!)"

One day, Olivia walking through the forest floor when she spotted a beautiful blue frog! She thought it might be fun to be a bright blue color like the frog so she said...

"I'm Olivia the Orangutan

Through the branches I swing
and I can change colors
if I twirl around and sing! (Oooo-oooo-ooooo-ooooo-oooooo!)"

Suddenly Olivia wasn't orange anymore. She was a beautiful shade of BLUE! However, the frog didn't like someone impersonating him so he made an "EEE EEE EEE" sound. (for added effect you could play a short video or sound clip of a blue poison dart frog here)

Olivia knew that sound... it was the sound of a blue poisonous dart frog!! Olivia got scared. She knew that she could easily get poisoned by that frog so she ran to a clearing in the rainforest where she saw a brown anteater!

"What a funny looking snout he has!" said Olivia. (The giant anteater uses his snout to consume more than 30,000 insects, mainly termites, every day!) Olivia decided it would be hilarious to impersonate such an odd looking creature so she twirled around and sang:

"I'm Olivia the Orangutan
Through the branches I swing
and I can change colors
if I twirl around and sing! (Oooo-oooo-ooooo-ooooo-oooooo!)

An in a snap, Olivia turned BROWN, like dirt, like chocolate, and what else? She rushed to the canopy of the rainforest to show her friends but they were not there. Instead, she found a gray sloth sleeping upside down from a tree branch!

She laughed and thought, "why would anyone sleep upside down?!" Then she thought how fun it would be to impersonate the gray sloth so she stood on the tree branch and said,

"I'm Olivia the Orangutan

Through the branches I swing
and I can change colors
if I twirl around and sing! (Oooo-oooo-ooooo-ooooo-oooooo!)"

Just like that, Olivia turned GRAY, just like the sleeping sloth. She was sure that the sloth would get a huge kick out of this but instead the sloth did not move. The sloth did not say a peep! Olivia, looking as gray as the sky, twirled around many times but nothing got the Sloth’s attention. The sloth just kept on sleeping… (and sloths can sometimes sleep up to 18 hours a day!)

Olivia was starting to feel lonely. No one seemed to be amused by her color changing ability which made her feel sad. She decided it was time to find someone who would care!

She swung through many trees until she finally came upon an Emereld Tree Boa snake that was lime green! Whoa, Olivia thought. What a beautiful shade of green!

(Baby Emereld Tree Boa snakes are usually red-brown, orange or yellow, but at about 6 months of age they become the beautiful emerald green adult color!)

Olivia wanted to be this beautiful color so she twirled around and sang:

"I'm Olivia the Orangutan
Through the branches I swing
and I can change colors
if I twirl around and sing!” (Oooo-oooo-ooooo-ooooo-oooooo!)"

Olivia suddenly turned bright GREEN, like a lime! Wow! They could surely see her now! Olivia was excited about her bright new color. She went to play with the other apes, but they all laughed at her. “Whoever heard of a lime green orangutan?!” No one played with her & she felt so sad.

“I don’t want to be lime green anymore. I don’t want to be gray like the sky, brown like the mud and I don’t want to be blue like the water. I want to be orange again, just like my brothers and sisters and friends. I’d like to have a lot of orangutans to play with so she said:

"I'm Olivia the Orangutan
Through the branches I swing
and I can change colors
if I twirl around and sing!” (Oooo-oooo-ooooo-ooooo-oooooo!)"

Olivia changed back to ORANGE and that night, her and her friends danced under the orange sunlight for the rest of the day. Ever since this day, she has been very happy just being herself. 

(Then I talk again about the message – We should just be happy being ourselves and not try to be someone we’re not. Olivia was happiest just being who he was: an orange haired orangutan.)

More Fun Facts:

Q) Why are orangutans orange?

A) Their coloring helps them blend in. The water in peat swamp forests, where orangutans live, tends to be a muddy orange. Sunlight reflected off this water can give the forest an orange cast, making orangutans hard to see in the light!
Many of their nests, up in the forest canopy, contain orangey-brown dead leaves, and some trees have reddish leaves when young.

Ground-based predators would only see orangutans in the canopy as a mere silhouette. (Mark Harrison, orang-utan Tropical Peatland Project. David Chivers, reader in Primate Biology, Cambridge University)

Q) Where do orangutans hang out in the rain forest?

A) Orangutans may be perfectly adapted for swinging through trees, but new observations suggest they also spend a surprising amount of time hanging out on the ground.

Source: https://www.newscientist.com/article/dn23803-tree-loving-orang-utans-hang-out-on-the-forest-floor/ 

Please credit me and link back to my blog if you use this in a storytime!

Best Books of 2015 for Grades 4-8

Award Winners and Top Books from the Past Year

(book summaries pulled from www.worldcat.org)

Juvenile Fiction 
The War That Saved My Life - Kimberly Brubaker Bradley

A young disabled girl and her brother are evacuated from London to the English countryside during World War II, where they find life to be much sweeter away from their abusive mother.

Stella by Starlight - Sharon M. Draper 

In 1932 North Carolina, Stella feels the effects of a Klan cross burning, segregation, voter registration, and a major house fire in a story of change in a close-knit community.

George - Alex Gino. Scholastic.

George identifies as a girl; if only the rest of the world would too. With the help of best friend Kelly, George takes the first steps to becoming Melissa, her true self.

Lost in the Sun - Lisa Graff

In his efforts to make a fresh start in middle school, Trent struggles to put a traumatic event behind him. Fallon, the class outcast, strives to help Trent let go of his guilt.

Blackbird Fly - Erin Entrada Kelly

Bullied at school, eighth-grader Apple, a Filipino American who loves the music of the Beatles, decides to change her life by learning how to play the guitar.

Full Cicada Moon - Marilyn Hilton

Set during the year of the first lunar landing, this free verse novel follows Mimi Oliver, a half Japanese, half African American girl who learns about fitting in and beIng strong.

Fish in a Tree - Lynda Mullaly Hunt

With the help of an insightful teacher and quirky friends, Ally discovers how smart she really is in spite of being identified as dyslexic.

The Nest - Kenneth Oppel
When wasps come to Steve in a dream offering to fix his sick baby brother, he thinks all he has to do is say yes. But yes may not mean what Steve thinks it means

Adventures with Waffles - Maria Parr

Whether sledding with chickens or boating with cows, there’s never a dull moment when Norwegian neighbors Lena and Trille are together.

Echo - Pam Muñoz Ryan 

This original fairytale intertwines with historical fiction to explore music and its power to save, heal, and set free.

The Blackthorn Key - Kevin Sands

In 1665 London, Christopher, an apothecary’s apprentice, and his best friend Tom attempt to uncover the truth behind a mysterious cult.

Fuzzy Mud - Louis Sachar

Taking a shortcut through the off-limits woods to avoid a bully, Tamaya and Marshall encounter fuzzy-looking mud that unleashes a medical and environmental disaster.

The Marvels - Brian Selznick

Two seemingly unrelated plots—Billy Marvel’s wordless, illustrated story set in 1776; and Joseph Jervis’s prose story set in 1990—come together in a tale of mystery, adventure, friendship, and family.

Hoodoo - Ronald L. Smith
In 1930s Alabama, twelve-year-old Hoodoo Hatcher is the only member of his family who seems unable to practice folk magic, but when a mysterious man called the Stranger puts the entire town at risk from his black magic, Hoodoo must learn to conjure to defeat him.

Murder Is Bad Manners - Robin Stevens.

At an English boarding school in the 1930s, crime-solving friends Hazel Wong and Daisy Wells struggle to find an exciting mystery to investigate until Hazel discovers the dead body of Miss Bell, the science teacher.

Gone Crazy in Alabama - Rita Williams-Garcia

Sisters Delphine, Vonetta, and Fern travel to rural Alabama to visit Big Ma during the summer of 1969, where they find out about southern culture, animal rights, & family history.

Juvenile Nonfiction

Enormous Smallness: A Story of E. E. Cummings - Matthew Burgess  

From an early age, poet E. E. Cummings loved words. Burgess’s text, enhanced by Di Giacomo’s collage illustrations, explores Cummings’ life and career as a poet.

Tricky Vic: The Impossibly True Story of the Man Who Sold the Eiffel Tower - Greg Pizzoli
At the turn of the twentieth century, Czechoslovakian Robert Miller became a con artist. Calling himself Vic, he started with small schemes, working his way toward selling the Eiffel Tower.

Mesmerized: How Ben Franklin Solved a Mystery That Baffled All of France - Mara RockliffFollow along as Ben Franklin applies the scientific method to a new mysterious phenomenon Dr. Mesmer has been spreading across France. 

Terrible Typhoid Mary: A True Story of the Deadliest Cook in America  - Susan Campbell Bartoletti

Known as a carrier of the deadly typhoid fever, Mary Mallon was also a victim of civil rights violations. Her biography reveals the complexity of her case.

Juvenile Graphic Novels
Roller Girl - Victoria JamiesonAstrid falls in love with roller derby and learns how to be tougher, stronger, and fearless in this dynamic graphic novel. 

Sunny Side Up - Jennifer Holm
Sunny Lewin is sent to live with her grandfather for the summer in Florida, where she befriends Buzz, a boy completely obsessed with comic books, and faces the secret behind why she is in Florida in the first place.

Lunch Witch - Deb Lucke 

When Grunhilda the witch is forced to find a new job, she finds a new job as a school lunch lady, where she enjoys scaring the children, until a little girl with thick glasses named Madison comes along and sees through her act.
Lost in NYC: A Subway Adventure - Nadja Spiegelman

After getting separated from his teacher, his classmates, and his trip partner during an outing to the Empire State Building, Pablo, the new kid in school, learns to navigate the New York City subway system as well as his own feelings towards making new friends and living in a big city.

Phoebe and her Unicorn: A Heavenly Nostrils Chronicle -  Dana Simpson
One day a girl named Phoebe skipped a rock across a pond and hit a unicorn in the face. Improbably, this resulted in a lasting friendship between Phoebe and the unicorn, one Marigold Heavenly Nostrils. Come along for the unicorn ride with Phoebe, as she deals with the usual burdens of childhood .

Hamster Princess: Harriet the Invincible - Ursula Vernon

In a spunky graphic novel retelling of Sleeping Beauty, Harriet, a hamster princess, embarks on many wild adventures until the curse on her backfires and she needs to save her parents.

Letter D Storytime

This is my storytime that I put together which introduces children to the letter D! 

1. Book:  Lazy Dave by Jarvis

This is SUCH a cute book that we recently got at work. A review on School Library Journal said that the phrasing is awkward but I completely disagree. The review also said that the the dog and human inhabitants of the story fall flat and inexpressive but I disagree with that also! I found this book to be a really great read aloud and the preschoolers absolutely loved it! The kids enjoyed the retro style illustrations and laughed at many of the pages (especially when Lazy Dave trips and stops the diamond thief!). They were entranced by it as I read it and I definitely don't understand how this could have received a poor review at all!

2. Fingerplay:

Dancing Fingers

We’re going to dance our fingers up
And dance our fingers down
We’ll dance them to the side
Let’s dance them all around
And we’ll dance them on our
shoulders
And we’ll dance them on our head
Let’s dance them on our tummy
And we’ll put them all to bed!

I usually extend this and also dance fingers on our knees, ankles, etc. I also go quickly from knees to toes and back to knees because it makes it more fun for children. Preschoolers are easily amused by these simple action rhymes. 

3. Song: Ducks Like Rain by Raffi

Kids of all ages get a huge kick out of this song. There is also a Carol Peterson version which is great. For the action part, I have the kids use their hands to make a duck mouth sing as the song goes "Quack, quack, quack, quack, quack." I also have the kids stomp around as if they're a duck that is splishin' and splashin' in the rain. This song also greatly amuses any parents in the room!

4. Book: Dog Loves Drawing by Louise Yates

5. Flannel Board: Five Donuts

Down around the corner in the bakery shop

Were five yummy donuts with sprinkles on top

Along comes a dog with a dollar to pay

She buys a donut and takes it away

Down around the corner in the bakery shop

Were four yummy donuts with sprinkles on top

Along comes a dog with a dollar to pay

She buys a donut and takes it away

Down around the corner in the bakery shop

Were three yummy donuts with sprinkles on top

Along comes a dog with a dollar to pay

She buys a donut and takes it away

Down around the corner in the bakery shop

Were two yummy donut with sprinkles on top

Along comes a dog with a dollar to pay

She buys a donut and takes it away

Down around the corner in the bakery shop

Was one yummy donut with sprinkles on top

Along comes a dog with a dollar to pay

She buys a donut and takes it away

Down around the corner in the bakery shop

Were zero yummy donuts with sprinkles on top

Along comes a dog with a dollar to pay

But she so stuffed that she passes out along the way!

Adapted words to fit the D concept from a flannel board story found on Storytime Katie. For a hilarious element, use a dog puppet to "eat" the donuts. I also had the dog let out a little burp after eating each  donut and the kids were dying of laughter. At the end, I show the dog slumped over the flannel board snoring! Kids commented that the dog must be "really fat" after eating all those donuts! 

6. Book: A Dog Wearing Shoes bu Sangmi Ko

This book is absolutely endearing as well! :) I love that it talks about a lost dog and what happens when you find a dog without an owner. It teaches a good moral to children and also discusses where a dog should be adopted (at a shelter rather than a pet store). One preschooler commented in a disappointing sounding voice that the "pictures were black and white."However, as soon as I started reading, he had no trouble paying attention! The kids also got a huge kick out of the fact that the dog wore shoes and that the dog that girl adopted at the end wore a yellow tutu, just like the little girl. This is the type of book that you will need to have the children look closely at the illustrations. Definitely a great read-a-loud and perfect for any dog storytime. 

7. Song: Dinosaur Dinosaur Move Your Body (from YouTube)

How could I have a Letter D storytime and not mention dinosaurs?!  Kids enjoyed acting out all the motions in this song! I also like that it's short enough to get some wiggles out but not too long where it takes away from the main purpose of storytime (reading great stories)!  

8. Book: Dog Loves Drawing

This is another spectacular dog book. I think this is my new favorite book in fact! The way the drawn animals move through the illustrations are very humorous. The kids laughed so hard. This book was also great for getting the children to make predictions about where the story was going to go. For example, on one page it says "Then the dog decided to draw a..." and then on the next page it shows what the duck drew (a monster).  I also love that it shows children that they too could create their own stories with a pencil and let their imaginations go wild through illustrations. 

9. Song: Jim Gill - Silly Dance Contest 

Kids are obsessed with this song and it is the perfect song to get shy preschoolers out of their comfort zone!