In the Missouri Building Block nominee “Frog on a Log?” written by Kes Gray and illustrated by Jim Field, readers get to experience an oddball conversation between a frog and cat. The cat wants the frog to sit on a log, but the frog refuses, instead asking if he can sit on a mat. And this is where the conversation spirals into chaos! Only cats can sit on mats, only mules can sit on stools, only lions can sit on irons, and only parrots can sit on carrots! This book continues to get sillier and sillier as it continues, guaranteeing giggles and laughs from your readers, old and young alike.
After you’ve read the book, walk around your house with your child. Find different items, and come up with rhymes for what can sit on them. (For example, “Only pugs can sit on rugs!”) Make up the funniest rhymes you can imagine!
Once you have read at least five Missouri Building Block Picture Book Award nominees, help your child vote for their favorite.
Brrrr! Chilly temps and frozen precip are on the way! But for those of us who love to read, this is not a problem. Honestly, what could be better than a cozy chair and a good book? So, while making preparations for this time of year is a good idea – such as stocking up on woolly socks – equally important is stocking up on books!
This time of year is also the beginning of the long holiday season, so, holiday books are a real treat for young and old alike. Who doesn’t like to hear stories about family traditions, special foods and (of course!) gift-giving?
At DBRL we offer a wide assortment of wonderful holiday books to delight all ages! To start you off, here are a few suggestions that go particularly well with hot cocoa and a toasty fire. Enjoy!
Thanksgiving: November 23
The Bunny family comes home to find a bundled wolf baby on their front door. Oh, what joy! Mama and Papa are smitten with the baby, but their daughter, Dot, is not convinced. “He’s going to eat us all up!” she cries, but Mama and Papa are too busy taking pictures of cute little baby Wolfie to listen. Is Dot right? Is the Bunny family putting themselves in harm’s way by taking a newborn wolf into their home?
The Missouri Building Block nominee “Wolfie the Bunny,” written by Ame Dyckman and illustrated by Zachariah OHora, is a silly story with humor throughout. The pacing is excellent and is perfect for reading aloud, making it a real winner for storytime. It also features bunnies wearing cute outfits! What’s not to love?
Once you have read at least five Missouri Building Block Picture Book Award nominees, help your child vote for their favorite.
”Old MacDonald had a farm E-I-E-I-O. And on that farm he had an… Excavator?” Wait. I have never heard of an excavator in the Old MacDonald song before! If you love silly versions of this classic song, then the Missouri Building Block nominee “Old MacDonald Had a Truck” by Steve Goetz is the perfect book for you! See what other heavy machinery drive into this story as you figure out what Old MacDonald is building.
After you’ve read the book, try out this fun and simple fingerplay.
Where Are Trucks? (To the tune of “Where is Thumbkin?”)
Where is pickup truck? Where is pickup truck? (Hide your hands behind your back.)
Here I am. Here I am. (Bring out one hand, then the other.)
How are you today, sir? Very well, I thank you. (Wiggle one hand, then the other.)
Drive away. Drive away. (Drive one hand away, then the other.)
Insert different machinery in the rhyme, such as tow trucks, dump trucks, moving trucks or firetrucks.
Once you have read at least five Missouri Building Block Picture Book Award nominees, help your child vote for their favorite.
Reading to children can be one of the most special times a parent can have with their child. One of the very first books that my daughter started to read and request over and over again was “Counting Kisses,” by Karen Katz. From that point on, Katz was a staple on our bookshelves.
Katz is a talented author and illustrator of children’s books, and she mostly writes for babies and toddlers. However, her soft illustrations, warm words and simple stories are quick to bring a smile to readers of all ages. Here’s a short list of the books that were constantly in our bedtime rotation:
“Where Is Baby’s Yummy Tummy?”
This adorable book rhymes with consistent rhythm and is a great way to talk about individual body parts of your young one.
“Vroom, Vroom, Trucks!”
Have a little digger at home? Help your child explore the construction site by learning about bulldozers, dump trucks and other big vehicles!
“Baby’s Shapes”
This book shows off shapes in our everyday world. Again, it’s simple, straight-forward fun for your youngsters.
Need even more Karen Katz books? We’ve got plenty to choose from. Click here to visit our catalog and see all the books available to check out today!
Have you ever had trouble sharing? Or know of a certain little one who is in the midst of learning this important life skill? Author and illustrator Ross Collins has created the perfect read-aloud story, “There’s A Bear on My Chair,” that humorously tackles the emotions of sharing through the lovable characters Mouse and Bear.
Grumpy Mouse would much rather not have Bear in his chair, and he lets readers know this as he rhymes his way through the sharing dilemma. Enjoy bright, bold and simple full-page illustrations as Mouse tries his best to entice Bear out of his chair. Even with a pear, stare and scare, Bear will not budge from the chair.
Follow the links below to print out your own mouse and bear finger puppets! Encourage your little ones to help act out and retell the story.
Once you have read at least five Missouri Building Block Picture Book Award nominees, help your child vote for their favorite.
Have you ever found something weird in your food? Like a piece of lint or a hair? In the Missouri Building Block nominee “There’s a Giraffe in My Soup,” a little boy gets something even weirder in his bowl of grub–animals! First, the boy is surprised to find a giraffe in his soup. Aghast, the waiter runs to get him a fresh bowl. The silliness ensues with new animals in his soup each time, from alligators to ostriches. This lively, quirky book is sure to send your kiddos into fits of laughter.
A great rhyme that pairs well with this book is “The Yellow Giraffe.” Give it a try with your kids.
The yellow giraffe is as tall as can be (stand and reach up high)
His lunch is a bunch of leaves off a tree (pretend to grab leaves)
He has a very long neck (point to neck)
And his legs are long, too (point to legs)
And he can run faster than his friends in the zoo (run in place)
Once you have read at least five Missouri Building Block Picture Book Award nominees, help your child vote for their favorite.
Photo by Ross Burach on rossburach.com
“Marta! Big & Small” by Jen Arena is a fun book about a young girl named Marta who explores the jungle while describing different aspects of animals. This book is a great example of opposites and also incorporates Spanish!
To reinforce the theme of opposites, here is a call and response chant, courtesy of Miss Meg’s Storytime. Practice this with your child after you read the book.
I say fast and you say…SLOW!
Fast! Slow! Fast! Slow!
I say up and you say…DOWN!
Up! Down! Up! Down!
I say happy and you say…SAD!
Happy! Sad! Happy! Sad!
I say over and you say…UNDER!
Over! Under! Over! Under!
You can add as many verses as you would like! Continue reading “2017 Missouri Building Block Nominee: Marta! Big & Small”
Once every week, starting today, we will be writing about all ten Missouri Building Block Picture Book Award nominees for 2017! These award nominees encourage reading aloud to children and are selected annually by a group of children’s librarians from Missouri. The books nominated for this award make for exciting and engaging story times for any group of kids. First up, we have “Lion Lessons” by Jon Agee!
In this story, a young boy takes lessons to become a lion. It’s easy to get your Lion Diploma; just follow seven simple steps! But when our little protagonist tries to ROAR like a lion, his teacher isn’t impressed. When he tries to pounce like a lion, he is mistaken for a little kitty cat. Becoming a lion is a lot harder than it seems! Will he ever get his Lion Diploma?
As is typical with Agee, this book is filled with plenty of charm and humor. Kids will love acting out the steps to becoming a lion, including roaring, prowling and barring their teeth like a ferocious beast! Continue reading “2017 Missouri Building Block Nominee: Lion Lessons”
Recently, I have been sifting through the children’s nonfiction books, searching for damaged and outdated materials. This has led me to discover some great yet overlooked books hidden on bottom shelves. Some of my new favorite books from these low-lying shelves are about songs, and they are located in the E782.4216 section.
The books in this section often have gorgeous illustrations that accompany the lyrics of children’s songs and rhymes. These are great for parents and caregivers who can’t remember all the words to songs they want to share with their children, such as “Hush Little Baby” or “Canadian Lullaby” (a frequent story time favorite).
These books are also beneficial for those who don’t want to or can’t sing. When reading songs aloud, you can transform them into chants, which can be just as beneficial for little listeners. Chants break words into smaller parts, emphasizing individual sounds. Knowledge of these smaller parts and sounds can later help early readers sound out words.
Remember, this section is E782.4216. If you are unfamiliar with the early childhood nonfiction section, ask a library staff member; we will be more than happy to show you where it is.
