Cookies, cookies, cookies!

If there was one thing I really enjoyed eating as a kid (and still do in fact), it was cookies.  Most children do, right?  Not only are cookies yummy, they make an awesome story time topic!

Whether you like the classic Who Stole the Cookies From the Cookie Jar? or are looking for something new such as The Cow Loves Cookies, we have oodles of books about the tasty treats.  The list below contains some of our favorites!

Cookies Booklist (Word Document/.doc file)

Don’t forget to include some rhymes to go with those great books!  And why not sing some songs to go along with your story time?

• “C” Is For Cookie (All kinds of cookie songs!)
• Camp Lisa (Songs: The Cookie Jar Chant & The Cookie Jar Song)
• Buzz Buzz (Song: The Cookie Bakers of the Night)

And finally, you can go bake some cookies with your kids or try one of these awesome crafts!

• Fortune Cookies
• Cookie Magnet
• Cookies on a plate
• Cookie Jar Craft

Of course, you can try a craft and bake cookies, too!

Enjoy!

The Underland Chronicles by Suzanne Collins
From Miss Jennie at Ontario

So everybody 6th grade and older is either reading or has read The Hunger Games Series by Suzanne Collins.  But did you know that before The Hunger Games, there were The Underland Chronicles?  This five-book series came out several years ago and revolves around a young boy named Gregor.  This is one of my favorite book series of all times, and is always one of my go-to series for kids 4th grade and older, especially boys!

Gregor is a very quiet 11-year-old boy who lives in an apartment in New York City with his grandma, mom and baby sister, Boots.  While doing laundry in the basement of his apartment building, Boots happens to fall through an air vent behind the dryer and Gregor, following his little sister, ends up in the Underland.  The Underland is a world under the earth with 6 foot tall talking rats, cockroaches bigger than cows, huge spiders, bats big enough to ride, and a whole race of humans.

Gregor just wants to go home, but discovers that his arrival in the Underland is foretold in a prophecy about an Overlander who will be sent to save them from the rodents that are invading their city; the same rodents that kidnapped his father three years ago.  With a new determination to save his father, Gregor embarks on an adventure like no other!

Each of the books describes Gregor’s quest to fulfill the prophecy and save the Underland.  Full of action, adventure, suspense and unexpected friendships, The Underland Chronicles will leave you cheering out loud and begging for more!

If that doesn’t get you excited, watch this cool book trailer for the first book in the series, Gregor the Overlander!

Here are the books in order (all are available from the library as print books or audiobooks):

1. Gregor the Overlander
2. Gregor and the Prophecy of Bane
3. Gregor and the Curse of the Warmbloods
4. Gregor and the Marks of Secret
5. Gregor and the Code of Claw

Other Web Resources:

• Be sure to visit Scholastic’s author study page on Suzanne Collins, with links to booktalks and discussion guides.
• Here are three good reasons you should read this outstanding series.
• Look no further than this tumblr page dedicated to The Underland Chronicles!
• How well do you know The Underland Chronicles?  Take this ridiculously difficult quiz to find out!
• Get to know Suzanne Collins better in this New York Times magazine article.

Celebrate Children’s Book Week May 7 – 13, 2012

 Children’s Book Week is a lot of things – a celebration of literature for children and teens, a nationwide reading and literacy initiative, and most importantly, a huge campaign to draw attention to the power of reading and its importance in the lives of children and youth.  Plus, you can’t deny the legitimacy and power of a movement that’s been around since 1919.

And this “week” just relegated to the knowledge of teachers, librarians and parents anymore.  The power of the internet, and in particular, blogs and social media, are spreading the word about this great celebration far and wide.

So that’s why we’re celebrating the power of reading!  Won’t you join us?

There are some great ways to support reading and literacy for youth, and it starts with getting involved!  Any child or teen can vote for the Children’s Choice Book Awards.  (Teachers and librarians, you can enter votes batch votes for the children in  your care.)  Make your selections known, then explore the rest of the great info and resources the Children’s Book Week site.  You can order this year’s poster, illustrated by David Weisner, from the CBW for free to hang in your school or library.  Or print off the hilarious commemorative bookmark from Lane Smith (no really, it IS a bookmark!)

Try out some of these fun activities

• Why not print off a rhyming mini book from Crayola for your child or classroom?
• Check out a lesson plan on how to write and read for toddlers
• Help your child create an alternate book cover for their favorite book, or give one of the books up for the Children’s Choice Book Awards new art!
• Read some of the nominated books together and talk about them – why do you think they were nominated for the Children’s Choice Book Awards?

But don’t forget that social media lets you get involved in a whole new way!

• Follow the Children’s Book Council (who is responsible for the Children’s Book Week and awards) on Twitter or Facebook.
• Sneek a peek at the CBC’s Pinterest boards
• Show your support for Children’s Book Week on Twitter with a Twibbon
• Use the Digital Toolkit to show your support on your blog or in your email signature AND get great ideas for fun activities at home and in the classroom

Congratulations to all the winners!  And to all those children who entered poems, your creativity and hard work made deciding winners very difficult.  Thank you for bringing your poems to us for this annual event.

First Grade Category, First Place

“Fancy Flowers”
by Halen Sansom

The rainbow colors of flowers,
Like daffodils orange and yellow,
Or daisies pretty white and pink,
Like a bouquet of jiggling Jello.

When I walk into a garden,
My nose says, “Can you smell
The lovely collection of flowers?”
And I say, “Why yes, perfectly well!”

I like to pick them for my mom.
I choose tulips, lilies and rosies.
I hope she says, “Thank you, Sissy
For my beautiful, blooming posies!”

First Grade Category, Second Place

“The Accident”
by Sean Putt

I went down the slide too fast.

The end of the slide went past.

I looked at my knee

Lots of blood dripping I see.

But no stitches, I’m lucky at last!

Second Grade Category, First Place

“The Creek”
by Connor O’Brien

Alone in a big creek

Fish are tickling my feet

Wind passing by me.

Second Grade Category, Second Place

“Brothers” (An Acrostic Poem)
by Aidan Balas

By my side

Really respectful to others

Only one forever

Tough to hurt him

Helpful to me

Encourages my soccer playing

Rough to say good bye

Someone special…my little bro

Third Grade Category, First Place

“Cats”
by Jalen Jacocks

Cats

funny small

hissing pouncing purring

Africa, Asia, zoo, pet shop

growing chasing scratching

big mean

Dogs

Third Grade Category, Second Place

“Zebras”
by Pamela Manning

Zebras are the stripes of Africa

All the way through the savannah

Running, jumping in the grass

Baby zebras play in the light

Zebras are the streaks of Africa

All the way through the savannah

Parent zebras stay awake

Watch for predators in the night

Fourth Grade Category, First Place

“When the Sun Will Rise”
by Maria Antonia Villegas

When the sun will rise

a surprise might come your way

after happiness

When the sun will rise

What will be that great surprise

Sadness goes away

When the sun will rise

let love and light show the way

Count your blessings then

Fourth Grade Category, Second Place

“The Alamo”
by Bryce Dix

On March 6th the wind did blow, at the fort, the Alamo.

The men did defend, until the very end.

They fought and fought evermore, as scores of men did hit the floor.

As cannons roared and muskets fired, the men were very, very tired.

Crockett, Bowie, Travis, and Neill, the troops had eaten their last meal.

Fifth Grade Category, First Place

“I Am”
by Tsion Davis

I am Dapper but yet a Fiasco
I wonder who to glide across the sky like a bird
I hear a rain drop fresh from the sky
I see 1,000 fish swimming around the lost part of the Titanic
I want a millionaire life that’s good and free
I am Dapper but yet a Fiasco

I pretend to be the world’s greatest hero and save the world
I feel the beat of my heart pounding in my chest
I touch the top of the sky then fall in the sea
I worry about my lifespan and how far I can take it
I cry about the death of my relatives
I am Dapper but yet a Fiasco

I understand the way of life in order to survive
I say you can’t say what you can’t do
I dream I’ll make it as a professional football player for the Steelers
I try to ready myself for the life I have ahead
I hope one day all these things come true
I am Dapper but yet a Fiasco

Fifth Grade Category, Second Place

“Library”
by Sophie Mowry

O library how I love you

I can read about trains that go choo! choo!

I can read about great heroes in wars

I can stay in there till you close your doors

I love diaries of royalty

That have friends with loyalty

The books teach me about history

You also have great mysteries

I have a thirst of books about adventure

And when I spend time with you, you are my quencher

O library till I return

From the books I have much to learn

April 30th marks the 15th year of a celebration known as “El día de los niños/El día de los libros,” or “Día” for short.  Día emphasizes the importance of advocating literacy for children of all linguistic and cultural backgrounds.

Author and poet Pat Mora developed Día as a way to celebrate children and books. What better way to spend a day than with a stack of books and a room full of children?

According to the American Library Association (ALA) Día website, “Día isn’t just April 30—it’s every day of the year, and it honors every child. Día’s goals include a daily commitment to honor children and childhood; to promote literacy, the importance of linking all children to books, languages (all languages), and cultures; to honor home languages and cultures; to involve parents as essential members of the literacy team; and to promote library collection development that reflects our plurality.”

Do you want to try it for yourself? The Día website resources show how you can host your own version of Día at home with your family or a group of friends!

• Choose a craft book and make a Mexican paper flower from tissue paper or fold paper into origami cranes.
• Select an international cookbook for kids and make mouthwatering recipes from Brazil, India, Spain or Thailand with your child.
• Check out music from around the world and dance in the kitchen while playing instruments made from pots and pans.
• Read award-winning books written by authors about life in other countries or from cultures different from your own.
• Celebrate holidays like Chinese New Year’s, Thanksgiving, Day of the Dead or Kwanzaa. Talk about how these holidays are the same or different from those celebrated in your home.

Enjoy your celebration of  Children’s Day/Book Day on April 30th … and every day!

More Web Resources

• Día resource guide for librarians and teachers
• Resources for parents and children
• Children’s Day/Book Day book list, plus websites for more information
• Celebrating Children and Books (ALA)

Elephant Talk:  The Surprising Science of Elephant Communication by Ann Downer
From Miss Amanda at Main

Did you know elephants can talk?  Well, maybe not talk like we understand and know humans do, but like many species of animals, elephants have their own form of communication.  With a mixture of vocalizations, movements, and chemicals (particularly pheromones), elephants can let each other know where food and water are located, if there’s danger nearby, and greet friends.

Elephant Talk is a fascinating look at the way these mammals communicate to keep each other safe in the wild and raise their young.  Downer explores the way researchers are learning about elephant communication and what the many sounds and movements actually mean - they’re building an elephant dictionary, so to speak.  Every snort, scream, trumpet, head shake, forehead flutter, and chirp (among other behaviors and sounds) is studied in attempts to understand the language of elephants.  Elephants (as shown in the video above) even communicate through their feet!

This book is intended for older nonfiction fans so if you know a child 5th grade and up who loves animals, I would bet they will really enjoy this book.  Pair this book with The Elephant Scientist by Caitlin O’Connell and Donna M. Jackson for an even better understanding of the secret language of these huge land mammals.

Resources:

• Save the Elephants.org
• International Fund for Animal Welfare – Elephants
• National Geographic for Kids – African Elephants
• San Diego Zoo Kids – Elephant video

It’s a guest post from Miss Mary at Main!

When it’s cold or rainy outside, why not set up a craft table in your kitchen for your children?   Here are four very simple crafts that any child can do with just a little assistance.  All of the materials are inexpensive and available at your local discount or craft store.  These directions are just a guide to follow.  Let the kids be creative in their artwork!

Springtime Bunny Hat

 (toy elephant not included)  

All it takes is a hat to turn a toddler into a bunny! Here are directions for a simple bunny hat:

Materials Needed:

• scissors
• construction paper
• ¾” sticker dots in blue and black
• stapler

Directions

1. Create a pattern for a bunny head, bunny teeth, 2 bunny ears and 2 bunny ear liners.
2. Trace head & ears on grey or tan paper. Cut out.
3. Trace ear liner on pink paper. Cut out.
4. Glue ear liner to ear, staple to top of head.
5. Put blue sticker dots for eyes & a black sticker dot for nose. Draw whiskers & nose.
6. Trace teeth on white paper, cut out. glue below the nose line.
7. Cut 2” X 12” grey or tan headband and staple bunny to headband. Fit to head

If you want to print a bunny hat pattern, go to DLTK’s site for a great template.
This hat is very easy to make.

Frosty Paper Plate Snowman

This craft is a paper plate snowpal!

Materials needed

• Construction paper for hat, boots and mittens
• Pattern for hat, mitten and boot
• Small white paper plate
• Large white paper plate
• Orange chenille pipe cleaner
• Buttons or small dot stickers
• 15” length of ribbon or yarn
• Markers
• Glue
• Scissors
• Tape
• Hole Puncher

Directions:

1.  Trace the hat once and the boot twice onto black construction paper.  Then trace the mitten twice onto red or blue construction paper.  Cut out all the shapes.

2.  Glue the hat onto the small plate to create the snowpal’s head.

3.  Draw eyes and a mouth on the face; then poke one end of the chenille piece through the plate to represent a carrot nose.  Bend and tape inserted end to the back of the head.

4.  To make the body, glue the mittens and boots onto the large paper plate.  Then glue buttons onto the body.  Small round stickers also will work.

5.  After the glue dries, punch a hole near the bottom of the head and one near the top of the body.  Tie the two sections together with the ribbon or yarn.

(Taken from January Arts and Crafts Mailbox Magazine C2000 by the Education Center Inc. Preschool-Kindergarten Edition)

Sunny Times Ladybug Magnet

Use this on the refrigerator, file cabinets, or any magnetic surface that needs a touch of summer!  Very easy to do!

Materials needed:

• Red sheet of craft foam
• Black sheet of craft foam
• Scissors
• 2 slightly different sized circular objects to trace
• Glue
• 2 magnetic strips with adhesive backs
• 2 small wiggly eyes (optional)
• Several black 3/4” round color labels for the ladybug’s spots

Directions:

1.  Trace around the smaller object on the black craft foam.  Cut out.

2.  Trace around the larger object onto the red craft foam.  Cut out.

3.  Cut the red circle in half.

4.  Cut a shape for the head  (see photo)

5.  Glue the pieces together using the photo as a guide.

6.  Put black sticker spots on the red foam for the ladybug’s spots.

7.  Glue two wiggly eyes on the ladybug head.

8.  Put two adhesive magnetic strips on the back of the ladybug

9.  Let dry completely before using it.

 Whoo!  It’s a Paper Bag Owl!

Materials Needed:

• paper lunch bag
• crayons or markers
• scissors
• glue
• printer
• paper for the printer
• large wiggly eyes  (optional)

Print the Template:      http://www.dltk-kids.com/animals/mbagowl.htm

Print out the template of choice (color or b&w)

Color and cut out the template pieces

Assembling the Owl:

The smooth side of the paper bag is the back of the owl.The folded down part of the paper bag is the front.  This will be the head.  The rest of the front of the paper bag is the body of the owl.

1.  Glue the large triangle to the top of the head.

2.  Glue the eyes onto the head.  Large wiggly eyes will also work.

3.  Glue the beak under the eyes.  Make sure you do not glue the mouth shut.

4.  Glue the second beak into the mouth.  When the mouth is closed you shouldn’t see this. (When the mouth is open, you will!)

5.  Glue the wings into the flap.

6.  Glue the feet onto the bottom of the body.

7.  Glue the tail onto the back

8.  Glue the chest onto the front of the body.

We hope you have a blast crafting with your kids!

Ahh, spring!

Tiny little buds are appearing on trees and bushes, lawns have gotten green, and the sound of birds fills the air.  Critters that hibernate are beginning to awake and enjoy the warm sunshine.  Frogs and toads would be a perfect topic for your spring story time!

Whether you are a fan of the Froggy books by Jonathan London (we have more than 20 titles available!) or if you love the classic Frog and Toad stories by Arnold Lobel, we can help you find the best books for story time.

We have done all the hard work for you, so just pick which books you want, link to the rhymes, and check out the tunes.  You’ll be ready for story time in no time!

Then you’ll have plenty of time to enjoy spring, too!

Frog & Toad booklist (Word Document/.doc file)

Check out these fabulous frog rhymes, just right for toddlers and preschoolers.

Songs from our children’s music collection include:

• This Is Fun!  (Song: The Frogs)
• Five Little Monkeys  (Song: Five Little Frogs)
• It’s Toddler Time  (Song: The Little Green Frogs)

Crafts you’ll flip for include:

• Talking Frog Card
• Hopping Frog
• Frog on a Log

Before you go, be sure to watch this animated video of a story time favorite, “The Wide-Mouthed Frog”.

Enjoy!

The Poetry of Shel Silverstein
From Miss Amanda at Main

There is something to be said about a poet – a children’s poet, nonetheless – whose work has lasted beyond his lifetime and still continues to inspire children, parents, and teachers.  I have distinct memories of reading Where the Sidewalk Ends as a kid and listing my favorite book as The Giving Tree.  Upon working with kids at the library, I rediscovered Shel Silverstein, and like a long lost friend, greeted his work with new enthusiasm and fond remembrance.

Silverstein’s newest book, Every Thing On It, came out late last year.  The second posthumous publication since the author’s death in 1999, Every Thing On It doesn’t deviate in any way from the sideways humor and gentle poignancy that readers have come to expect from Silverstein’s work.  In fact, because of the nature and timing of its publication, this book in particular is rather touching and just a little bit sad.  The first poem in the book, “Years From Now”, is the perfect opener to this collection.

Although I cannot see your face
As you flip these poems awhile,
Somewhere from some far-off place
I hear you laughing – and I smile.
(Every Thing On It by Shel Silverstein, p. 9)

The book’s title poem, “Every Thing On It”, is the second poem; classic Silverstein humor is resplendent in the accompanying illustration of a young man who asked for a hot dog “with everything on it” and receives a hot dog topped with a parrot, a goldfish, a fiddle, and other various objects.

One of my favorite Silverstein poems, “Spaghetti”, found in Where the Sidewalk Ends, has a great follow-up poem in this collection.  ”Twenty-Eight Uses for Spaghetti” imagines all the ways spaghetti can be used in rather unconventional methods (a jump rope? a tennis net? reindeer reins?).  But Silverstein reminds readers at the end that spaghetti is, first and foremost, something you can eat.

And of course, reading this book will mean reading Silverstein’s other works and enjoying the wide variety of issues he tackles within them.  I encourage parents to read these poems to and with their children and talk about them.  It doesn’t matter if they’re silly or serious, happy or sad.  What does matter is sharing these great books and gaining a respect, if not love, for poetry.

Listen to Shel Silverstein read (sing?) his poem “Ickle Me, Pickle Me, Tickle Me Too”

Resources on the Internet

• Shel Silverstein’s website (lots of great resources and activities!)
• A list of Shel’s books from publisher HarperCollins
• Shel Silverstein/Poetry Month printable kit (PDF)
• Tons of resources provided by Reading Rockets (including more animated poems!)
• Find Shel Silverstein’s works in our catalog

This time of year gets us thinking about spring, rebirth, and being good stewards of the earth.  One of the best examples of someone who lives her life to help better the rest of the world is Dr. Jane Goodall.  As a very young child, Jane was always fascinated with animals, and she has gone on to become a champion of the earth, endangered animals (especially chimpanzees), and impoverished peoples.

Join us in wishing Jane a very happy birthday today, April 3rd!

There are numerous books written about and by Jane Goodall available at the library.  Two of the more recent biographies, Me … Jane by Patrick McDonnell, and The Watcher by Jeanette Winter, are phenomenal reads.  Me … Jane even received a Caldecott honor in 2012.

Find all the books and movies about and by Jane Goodall in our catalog.  Be sure to check them out to learn more about this amazing and inspiring woman!

Other Links to Explore

• Get to know more about Jane Goodall
• Watch “Jungle Jane”, a music video
• See the new Disneynature Film, “Chimpanzee” beginning April 20th!
• View a preview from Disneynature

Watch the director and Jane Goodall herself talk about “Chimpanzee”:

Arbor Day – what do you picture when you read or hear those words?  For many people, the thought of trees would probably be first and foremost.  Celebrated on the last Friday of April, Arbor Day is a special day set aside for planting trees.    Started in 1872, Arbor Day puts national and worldwide focus on the importance of trees.

Have you celebrated Arbor Day recently?  When I was a kid, Arbor Day in my hometown meant the planting of trees in the middle of the square and elementary school children reading their poems about trees to an audience of parents, teachers, and onlookers.  Those trees that were planted when I was little are now tall and stately, a constant reminder that trees are more than just beautiful, but necessary.

So celebrate this holiday all month long by reading about Arbor Day and trees (the story of Wangari Maathai, who planted trees all over Africa and enlisted thousands of women to do the same is truly amazing!), making tree crafts, and most importantly, by planting a tree or two!  Any type of tree will do!  You will be amazed at how quickly they grow!
Want to read about Arbor Day and trees?  Check out this list of great books!

• Arbor Day Square by Kathryn Galbraith
• Arbor Day by Mir Tamim Ansary
• Wangari’s Trees of Peace by Jeanette Winter
• Wacky Trees by D.M. Souza
• A Kid’s Guide to How Trees Grow by Patricia Ayers
• Celebritrees:  Historic and Famous Trees of the World by Margi Preus
• The Happiness Tree by Andrea Alban Gosline
• We Planted a Tree by Diane Muldrow
• Curious George Plants a Tree by Monica Perez
• …and lots more!

How about some great tree crafts?

• Plant a tree, then water it with this plastic jug watering can
• Observe how leaves change colors with this changing seasons tree
• Celebrate spring by making a cherry blossom tree craft
• Try your hand at making a twisty paper bag tree
• Pick a tree coloring page!

Summer is coming! What are you going to do all day? Read A Stick is an Excellent Thing and you will find all kinds of fun you can have outside on a summer’s day. This book is truly a celebration with joyous poems that capture the fun children have when they play outside.

Whether it’s a game like hide-and-seek: “One, two, three, uh-uh, you can’t see me behind this willow tree”, or an activity like running through the sprinkler: “Let that spray head your way. Get wet! Jump out! And always SHOUT!”, each poem will make you want to go outside and join in the fun.

The poems begin early in the day with “First One Out” about a boy playing with his dog, going throughout the day with activities and games enjoyed by kids of all ages, and end with “Stargazing” about a child and her dad looking at the stars before bed. The pictures remind you of a simple summer day with all the kids you know playing together in the neighborhood.

So if you are looking for some summer fun, read this book, then go outside and play!

More from the Web

• Visit author Marilyn Singer’s website
• Check out all of Marilyn Singer’s books at the library
• Stop by LeUyen Pham’s interactive website
• See what LeUyen Pham books are available to check out

(Please go here if the video does not load)

Happy Birthday, Kate DiCamillo!

Kate DiCamillo’s birthday is today!  Kate is a Newbery – award winning author whose first published work, Because of Winn-Dixie, has become a childhood and classroom staple.  The book was named a Newbery Honor book in 2001 and later became a movie.  (I bet a lot of you have watched it!)

Showing an exemplary talent for storytelling, Kate’s work usually features kids and animals who go on adventures, learn important life lessons, and more often than not have rather interesting names.  The Tale of Despereaux, DiCamillo’s highly lauded book about a small, brave mouse who loves a princess, received the Newbery Medal in 2004 and was recently made into an animated motion picture.

Great Links to Explore:

• Check out all of Kate DiCamillo’s books in our catalog
• Explore her website, including the interesting FAQ section
  
• Watch the rest of the Reading Rockets interview (featured at the top of the post) with this author
• Visit Kate DiCamillo’s Facebook page
• Celebrate her birthday with ReadWriteThink.org

Sure, crafts can be messy and fun, but for us, simple is best.

One thing we love to include at the end of story time is a craft for our little ones to work on that reinforces the theme and helps get their creative juices flowing.  Some of our favorite crafts go along with a particular story we’ve read.  This allows the children to retell the story by themselves at home.

We all have our favorite crafts and craft sites, but here are a few of the best ones — ones that we go to over and over again for craft ideas and for coloring pages.  There’s even a Pinterest board featuring awesome crafts that work well for libraries!

• Artists Helping Children Arts and Crafts
• Coloring Pages from Grandparents.com
• Crayola Crafts and Coloring Pages
• DLTK’s Printable Crafts
• Family Fun Crafts
• Kids Craft Weekly

If you’d like to get your hands on the official artwork from whatever story you’re reading, try going to the author, illustrator, or publisher websites.  Often there will be featured coloring pages and printable and online activities.  Jan Brett has some awesome printables on her website to go along with each of her books.

One of Miss Melanie’s most recent monthly craft programs here at the library was called Tricked Out Trinket Boxes.

You can do this yourself!  Here’s how:

• Get a variety of recycled items like yogurt cups, baby wipe containers, small cardboard boxes with lids, Altoids tins, coffee cans, ring boxes, etc.
• Gather supplies for decorating and embellishing like glitter, beads, buttons, stickers, foam letters or shapes, wrapping paper, ribbon, puzzle pieces, silk or plastic flowers, fabric scraps, and google eyes.
• Working with craft glue or a hot glue gun, arrange items on top of or around the sides of the box or container.

Now you are ready to put all your treasures and trinkets in your own *tricked out* box!

Narrowing down the books on farm animals to just a handful is tough (since there are so many good ones) but we managed to pick some of our favorites and feature them.  Have fun reading about pigs, cows, horses, chickens, sheep, and the odd goat or two!

Farm Animals booklist (Word document/.doc file)

And what would a Story Time be without some fun crafts?

• Footprint Horse
  
• Handprint Chicken
• Animal Finger Puppets
  
• Fingerprint Sheep

How about some barnyard sing and dance alongs?

• Crazy About Silly Barnyard Songs  (Several of the songs on this CD feature barnyard animals!)
• 50 Fun Songs for Kids  (Song:  Old MacDonald Had a Farm)
• Juice Box Heroes  (Song:  Farm)

And make sure you get in some great fingerplays and rhymes!

• Songs and Rhymes about Farms and Farm Animals
• Farm Rhymes and Poems

And we couldn’t resist this animated version of “Old MacDonald Had a Farm”!