2017 Missouri Building Block Nominee: There’s a Bear on My Chair

Posted on Monday, October 23, 2017 by Amy

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.There's a Bear On My Chair book cover

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.

2017 Missouri Building Block Nominee: There’s a Giraffe in My Soup

Posted on Monday, October 16, 2017 by Kristy

Illustration from "There's a Giraffe in My Soup"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

Pumpkin Contest Winners

Posted on Saturday, October 14, 2017 by Kristy

Photo of Pumpkin Parade winners

On October 10, the Columbia Public Library had its first ever “Pumpkin Parade.” Teens and adults carved or painted pumpkins based on the themes of reading, libraries or book characters. We invited kids to the library to judge and vote for their favorites. There were 12 book-inspired pumpkin submissions, and 217 folks came by to view them!

The three winners were “Where the Wild Things Are,” “Cinderella” and “Charlotte’s Web.” Congratulations!

Books Soon to Be Movies!

Posted on Thursday, October 12, 2017 by Katie

Wonderstruck movie posterAs both a book lover and library employee, it is my duty to encourage everyone to read the books that movies are based on. Some folks like to read before they watch, while others watch then read. Either way, I’ve put together a list of movies that will be released this fall or winter that are based on well-known children’s books.

If your family wishes to read (or reread) the books before watching the movies, click on the titles below for their link to our catalog.

2017 Missouri Building Block Nominee: Marta! Big & Small

Posted on Monday, October 9, 2017 by Erin

Book cover of Marta! Big & SmallMarta! 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”

2017 Missouri Building Block Nominee: Lion Lessons

Posted on Sunday, October 1, 2017 by Josh

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!

Picture of character in "Lion Lessons"

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”

Life Lessons From Dr. Seuss

Posted on Thursday, September 21, 2017 by Molly

Image of land from Dr. Seuss books

On September 24, 1991, the world mourned the loss of beloved author, Theodore Seuss Geisel. Better known as Dr. Seuss, Geisel published more than 60 children’s books, the majority under the Dr. Seuss pseudonym (with more than a dozen as Theo LeSieg and one as Rosetta Stone).

Known for his whimsical characters, Geisel’s rhyming, sing-song approach to storytelling continues to delight young and old alike. Geisel’s books are fun to read, yet the messages within the pages are equally important.

Many of Geisel’s books address common childhood issues, such as fitting in and bullying, while others deal with political and social issues, such as taking care of the environment. As Geisel’s characters work through these issues, they learn valuable life lessons.

Here is an excerpt from the book “The Sneetches: And Other Stories,” where the author teaches children about tolerance and acceptance. Continue reading “Life Lessons From Dr. Seuss”

Rhythmic Reads

Posted on Monday, September 18, 2017 by Katie

photo of a child playing a guitarRecently, 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.

Book Lists for Kids

Posted on Thursday, August 31, 2017 by Kristy

photograph of teddy bear readingDid you know that we have book lists for children from infancy to sixth grade? Library staff maintains these lists, making sure there’s a good mix of classic and new titles. We also choose books that are age-appropriate and the right reading level for your young readers.

Click on the links below to peruse these hand-picked book lists. You can also stop by your library or bookmobile to pick up a printed version. Happy reading!

Get Ready for Snack Time

Posted on Thursday, August 24, 2017 by Mitch

Pinwheel snackIt’s back-to-school season, which means it’s important to be ready with some quick and healthy after school snacks for your kids. Here’s some suggestions (from one parent to another).

  • Cut apples, bananas, celery and/or carrots into spears or slices, and dip them into creamy peanut butter. Try mixing vanilla yogurt into the peanut butter to transform it into a soft dip!
  • Grab some of your favorite bite-sized foods like nuts, dried fruits, cereals, pretzels and crackers, then mix them into a homemade trail mix. Make some ahead of time, and portion them into individual plastic bags for several days of snacks.
  • Take a tortilla and layer cold cuts, cheeses, greens and vegetables. Roll it up tight and then cut into small circles to make chilled pinwheel sandwiches.
  • Slice bagels sideways into thin circles. Brush the tops with melted butter, and bake for 10 minutes at 325 degrees. Remove from oven, flip it and top with a little more butter. Add toppings like cinnamon, sugar or garlic and cheddar cheese. Place them back in for another 10 minutes. When you’re done, you’ve got a crunchy bagel chip.
  • Try freezing bananas or small drops of flavored yogurt on wax paper to for a frozen treat to cure the bus ride blues.

Happy snacking!