Big Changes!

First off I'd like to apologize that I have not posted in quite some time. I have changed the line-up of programs for children at the Temple Terrace Library to better reflect the needs and ages that have attended. I have always tried to provide the best programs and so I saw that there was a need to change things.

Tuesday nights we had a "Family Story Time" at 7pm but attendance was only 3-6 children. So now we are having "Lego My Library" on Tuesdays at 6pm a 45 minute program for ages 6-12 that helps teach creativity, problem solving, and team work using Lego blocks.

Our Toddler Time and Preschool Story Time have merged and changed to what we are simply calling for now "Story Time" but it is based on the internationally used "Mother Goose on the Loose" program. This program helps develop early literacy skills, social skills, motor skills development, self-confidence and so much more. We use 4 picture books each week along with songs, finger plays, puppets, bells, bounces, tinkle rhymes, and more. I will try to post the names of the books each week. The Story Time program is 10:30am each Wednesday and is 30 minutes long (actually has been more like 35-40).

After School Art is still taking place 3:30pm on Wednesdays. We read a picture book and do a related craft.

After many requests we have decided to make Baby Time every week on Friday mornings at 10am , instead of only twice a month.

Our special event for September was Dora Day on Saturday, September 8. Our next two special events take place in October, a puppet show: The Golden Goose on Thursday, October11 at 3pm {When the youngest of three sons sets off to cut wood in the forest, he shares what little food he has with an old woman. As a result of his kindness, he finds a golden goose. Witness how the goose helps him make his fortune, win the hand of the princess, and inherit the kingdom. Follow this journey as actors and puppets use the help of the audience to unfold the story.} On Saturday, October 13 at 10am is Temple Terrace Reads! it takes place behind our library on Flotto Avenue and is a city-wide celebration of reading that brings together all the area schools, Parks & Recreation, Temple Terrace Fire Department, Temple Terrace Junior League, and many more. It will be an exciting day of fun and books.

As promised, our books for Story Time:

September 5th 2012 :
Chicka chicka boom boom /by: Bill Martin Jr
and John Archambault
The Very Quiet Cricket /by: Eric Carle
Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See? /
by: Bill Martin Jr
I Went Walking /by: Sue Williams

September 12th 2012:  
If You Give a Mouse a Cookie /by: Laura Numeroff
Faces /by: Shelley Rotner and Ken Kreisler
Chicka chicka 1,2,3 /by: Bill Martin Jr
and John Archambault
Baby bear, Baby bear, What do you see? /by: Bill Martin Jr
                                   

Toddler Time, Preschool Story Time, and After School Art

This Week's Theme:

Penguin Palooza

Word of the day:

PENGUIN / penguin

Books for Toddler Time, Wednesday

{5/23/2012} 10:15am:

I Am Small /by: Emma Dodd

Penguin's Snowy Day /by: Salina Yoon

Some Things Change /by: Mary Murphy

Splash! A Penguin Counting Book 

/by: Jonathan Chester and Kirsty Melville

Books for Preschool Story Time, Wednesday

{5/23/2012} 10:45am:

 10 Little Penguins /by: Jean-Luc Fromenthal

Bath Time /by: Eileen Spinelli

Sergio Makes a Splash /by: Edel Rodriguez

Please Say Please! Penguin's Guide to Manners

/by: Mary Cuyler

Penguin and the Cupcake /by: Ashley Spires

After School Art - Wednesday at 3:30pm

30 minute program that has a story and related art or craft project

Toddler Time, Preschool Time, After School Art, and Baby Time

This week's theme:

Yada, Yada, Yada

The word of the day:

HOUSE / house

Books for Toddler Time {5/16/2012}

Wednesday, 10:15am:

The Bridge Is Up! /by: Babs Bell

Smile, Maisy! /by: Lucy Cousins

I Went Walking /by: Sue Williams

I'm as Quick as a Cricket /by: Audrey Wood

Books for Preschool Story Time {5/16/2012}

Wednesday, 10:45am:

Aunt Lucy Went to Buy A Hat /by: Alice Low

Stuck in the Mud /by: Jane Clarke

The Napping House /by: Audrey Wood

Clip-Clop /by: Nicola Smee

The Flea's Sneeze /by: Lynn Downey

After School Art

30 minute program Wednesdays at 3:30pm

a story with related art or craft project

Baby Time

10am Friday {5/18/2012} 

15 minutes of board books, bounces, and bubbles

Toddler Time, Preschool Time, and After School Art

This week's theme:

Babies

Word of the day:

BABY / baby

Books for Toddler Time, Wednesday

{5/9/2012} 10:15am:

Mommy Mine /by: Tim Warnes

Ten Tiny Babies /by: Karen Katz

How Do You Make a Baby Smile? /by: Philemon Stuges

My Baby & Me /by: Lynn Reisser & Penny Gentieu

Books for Preschool Time, Wednesday

{5/9/2012} 10:45am:

Brand-New Baby Blues /by: Kathi Appelt

Pumpkin Baby /by: Jane Yolen

The Boss Baby /by: Marla Frazee

Such a Silly Baby /by: Steffanie & Richard Lorig

Baby Says "Moo!" /by: JoAnn Early Macken

After Achool Art

Wednesdays 3:30pm - 30 minute program that features a picture book with related art or craft activity

Toddler Time, Preschool Story Time, and After School Art

This Week's Theme:

Food Glorious Food

Word of the Day:

FOOD / food

Books for Toddler Time, Wednesday

{4/25/2012} 10:15am:

Eats /by: Marthe Jocelyn and Tom Slaughter

Chew, Chew, Gulp! /by: Lauren Thompson

What's for Lunch? /by: Ann Garrett and Gene-Michael Higney

Lunch /by: Denise Fleming

Books for Preschool Story Time, Wednesday

{4/25/2012} 10:45am:

Crunch Munch /by: Jonathan London

Mouse Mess /by: Linnea Riley

Bread Bread Bread /by: Ann Morris

Burger Boy /by: Alan Durant

Chicks and Salsa /by: Aaron Reynolds

After School Art

30 minute program: that has a story with a related art or craft activity

Toddler Time, Preschool Time, Afterschool Art, and Baby Time

This week's theme:

Quackers


Word of the Day:
DUCK / duck

Books for Toddler Time, Wednesday,
{10/5/2011} 10:15am:
Just Ducky /by: Kathy Mallat
10 Rubber Duckies /by: William B. Winburn
Daisy's Hide-and-Seek /by: Jane Simmons
Goodnight, My Duckling /by: Nancy Tafuri

Books for Preschool Storytime, Wednesday
{10/5/2011} 10:45am:
I'm A Duck!/by: Teri Sloat
Duck Tents /by: Lynne Berry
Ducks Don't Wear Socks /by: John Nedwick;
illus. Lee White
The Odd Egg /by: Emily Gravett
Dick in the Truck/by: Jez Alborough

After School Art - Wednesday 3:30pm
15 minutes of arts and crafts with a story

Toddler Time and Preschool Story Time

This week's theme:

Dinosaurs
Word of the day:
DINOSAUR / Dinosaur

Books for Toddler Time, Wednesday 9/22/2010 at 10:15am:
Dinosaur Stomp! /by: Paul Strickland
Bones, Bones, Dinosaur Bones /by: Byron Barton
How Do Dinosaurs Say Good Night? /by: Amy Yolen & Mark Teague
Dinosaur vs. Bedtime /by: Bob Shea

Books for Preschool Story Time, Wednesday 9/22/2010 at 3:30pm:
T for Terrible /by: Peter McCarthy
Zoom! /by: Diane Adams;
illus. Kevin Luthardt
Edwina The Dinosaur Who Didn't Know She Was Extinct
/by: Mo Willems
If the dinosaurs came back /by: Bernard Most
Trouble at Dinosaur Cafe /by: Brian Moss;
illus. Gary Parsons

Toddler & Pre-School Story Time

This week's theme: It's Dino Time!

This week's word:

DINOSAUR / dinosaur

For Toddler Time {April 15th @ 10:15 AM} we will enjoy:

Dinosaur Roar! /by: Paul & Henrietta Stickland

ZOOM! /by: Diane Adams; illus. Kevin Luthardt

Dinosaur Stomp! /by: Paul Stickland

Dinosaur, Dinosaur /by: Kevin Lewis

.

For Pre-School Story Time {April 15th @ 3:30 PM} we will enjoy:

My Dinosaur /by: Mark Alan Weatherby

Trouble At The Dinosaur Cafe /by: Brian Moses; illus. Garry Parsons

Dinosailors /by: Deb Lund; illus. Howard Fine

Edwina The Dinosaur that Didn't Know She Was Extinct /by: Mo Willems

.

Early Literacy Skill: Narrative Skills

There are several ways to help your child build their narrative skills. Asking them open-ended questions about the pictures in story books. Ask them to tell about their day or to create a story about their favorite book or television character. This allows them to use their vocabulary, imagination, and helps with sequencing. The toughest part as parents / caregivers can be having the patience to let them think and use their words; instead we get frustrated and ask more questions or try to help. Pick a time when you are both relaxed and have time to let the stories come.