Blog Post
PreK Bits - "D" is for DOG
by ryanikoglu
Ms. Rachel and Ms. Betsy brought all dog songs and stories to Storytime.
Stuffed dogs acted-out the story and the audience barked along with the dogs in DOGGIES by Sandra Boynton.
We sang “B-I-N-G-O” ... which can be found on youth CDs SONGS & STORIES For KIDS, BABY BOOST: 48 Interactive Sing-a-longs For Your Little One and LITTLE PEOPLE: Songs From The Farm.
In the story KATIE LOVES the KITTENS ... it is hard to stop bouncing and barking and the kittens keep running away.
For more famous DOG stories try the following favorites:
RAGWEED’S FARM DOG HANDBOOK by Anne Vittur Kennedy ... Learn From The Best!
HARRY The DIRTY DOG and NO ROSES For HARRY ... old dog classics by Gene Zion.
BUDDY And EARL and BUDDY And Earl And The GREAT BIG BABY ... new dog classics by Maureen Fergus.
MISS MOON: Wise Words From A Dog Governess by Janet Hill ... wise words for All with beautiful illustrations!
ZORRO GETS AN OUTFIT and MR BUD WEARS The CONE by Carter Goodrich ... a pitch-perfect dog point-of-view.
BARK GEORGE by Jules Feiffer... a dog fantasy.
The DOGHOUSE ... critters go in but they don't come out. Surprise?
For screen-time try the DVD BARK GEORGE And More Doggie Tails by Weston Woods Studios.
WOOF! ... snooff snurff ... doggie treat, Please.
... pant ... pant ...
Woof.
Blog Post
PreK Bits - "C" is for COOKIE!
by ryanikoglu
Cookie Monster says, "C is for Cookie!"
That's good enough for Ms. Rachel in Storytime too!
IF YOU GIVE A MOUSE A COOKIE is a cautionary tale that takes you in a circle right back where you started from.
Banjo Betsy and Ms. Rachel led the action song "Gonna Walk, Walk, Walk" ... until we need to "Sit Down."
This action song can be found on the the following recordings ... HONK! HONK! RATTLE! RATTLE! and RISE And SHINE.
The WOLF’S CHICKEN STEW is a Chef's kitchen story. The Wolf is fattening up Ms. Chicken for his stew ... but there is a surprise.
All of his cooking is successful in a new way!
If you like cookies, you may enjoy more favorite "Cookie" stories as follows:
B. BEAR And LOLLY: Catch That Cookie!
WATCH The COOKIE!
OLIVIA VENDE GALLETAS
The GINGERBREAD MAN LOST IN SCHOOL … and many more versions of the Gingerbread characters.
The COW LOVES COOKIES
The DOORBELL RANG
The DUCKLING GETS A COOKIE
SUGAR COOKIES: sweet little lessons on love
WHO TOOK The COOKIES FROM The COOKIE JAR
NO MORE COOKIES!
FABULOUS FOOD … a recorded CD full of songs and rhythm including “Who Stole The Cookies”!
And don't forget to play with Cookie Monster in C Is For COOKIE!
YUMMO!
Blog Post
PreK BITS - “W” is for WINTER Wonderland
by ryanikoglu
Ms. Rachel presented stories of WINTER outdoor PLAY at Storytime this week.
UNDER MY HOOD I WEAR A HAT … a dressing story of sequence.
“Hat, Jacket, Pants and Boots” … an action song that speeds up. It is sung to the tune of “Head, Shoulders, Knees And Toes” recorded on the CD SINGIN’ And GROOVIN’: 25 Best Sing-Along Songs
10 On The SLED … a sledding story to count on.
For more stories of WINTER try these favorites:
KATY And The BIG SNOW … a classic by Virginia Lee Burton.
NANUK The ICE BEAR … a polar bear family story.
The WINTER TRAIN … all aboard!
WALKING IN A WINTER WONDERLAND … you can sing while you read.
LEMONADE IN WINTER: A Book About two Kids Counting Money …
OVER And UNDER The SNOW … secret worlds can be found.
IF IT’S SNOWY And YOU KNOW IT CLAP YOUR PAWS … another sing-along book.
RED SLED ... an almost wordless adventure in pictures! YOU tell the story.
SUPER SNOW DAY SEEK And FIND … a picture puzzle book of snow day fun.
Be sure to wear two pairs of mittens and two pairs of pants!
The more it snows tiddley-pom, the more it goes tiddley-pom,... the more it goes tiddley-pom on snowing.
Blog Post
PreK Bits - "G" is for Grandparents !
by ryanikoglu
“We are ThankFull for Grandparents!” was the Storytime theme @ Malletts Creek Branch this week.
HERE COMES GRANDMA is the story of all the transportation Grandma used to get to her Grandson … including sound effects for each mode.
“Walk, Walk, Walk Around The Block” was our activity song. We traveled in many modes as we sang.
You can find a recorded version of this song on the CD RISE And SHINE by Raffi and HONK HONK RATTLE RATTLE by Richele Bartkowiak.
In A FAR-FETCHED STORY … Grandma makes a “Story Quilt” out of the rags and stories the family brings home.
For more stories with GrandParents in them ... try these favorites:
The HELLO GOODBYE WINDOW … the window is at Grandpa and Grandma’s house.
TWO IS ENOUGH … to have family fun together.
GRANDPA’S GIRLS … love to visit his farm … and share memories.
HOW To TAKE YOUR GRANDMOTHER To The MUSEUM ... a guide book that can also relate to Grandfathers!
MR FRANK ... grandfather moves in with the family and he has a special talent!
The LINES ON NANA’S FACE … each set of wrinkles reminds a child of favorite things they have done together.
OUR GRANDPARENTS: A Global Album … a beautiful multi-cultural photo essay of grandparents with grandchildren around the world.
OR … choose stories from this PUBLIC LIST.
Blog Post
Fabulous Fiction Firsts #619 Spotlight on UK Mystery Debuts
by muffy
Referencing the New Testament parable, The Trouble with Goats and Sheep * by Joanna Cannon is set during the scorching summer of 1976 when 10 year-olds Grace and Tilly take it upon themselves to look for their neighbor, friendly Mrs. Creasy who disappears without a trace.
As the girls go door to door in search of clues (and God), the neighborhood starts to give up its secrets. "In a masterfully constructed plot, Grace—who sniffs out the lies told by her adult neighbors—learns a lesson about loyalty and true friendship, as secrets born of shame are gradually revealed. This understated, somewhat quirky debut novel is remarkable for its structure, characterizations, pitch-perfect prose, touches of humor, and humanity. Cannon, a psychiatrist, is an author to watch." (Booklist) Will appeal to fans of the Flavia de Luce series by Alan C. Bradley.
The House Between Tides by Sarah Maine, is an atmospheric psychological mystery set on Muirlan Island in Scotland’s Outer Hebrides, where Londoner Hetty Deveraux hopes to turn Muirlan House, inherited from a distant relative, into a luxury inn. The shocking discovery of the century-old remains of a murder victim plunges her into an investigation of Theo Blake, the acclaimed painter and his troubled marriage to Beatrice who vanished from the island in 1910.
"Maine skillfully balances a Daphne du Maurier atmosphere with a Barbara Vine–like psychological mystery as she guides the reader back and forth on these storylines... The setting emerges as the strongest personality in this compelling story, evoking passion in the characters as fierce as the storms which always lurk on the horizon." (Kirkus Reviews)
I Let You Go * * by Clare Mackintosh, "a twisty, psychological thriller with an astonishing intensity” ~ (U.K) Daily Mail opens with the hit-and-run death of 5 year-old Jacob on a rainy afternoon in Bristol. Shortly afterward, Jacob's mother disappears.
Wrecked with guilt, sculptor Jenna Gray relocates to the isolated Welsh village of Penfach. Back in Bristol, Det. Insp. Ray Stevens and detective constable, Kate Evans are frustrated with the lack of results in their investigations but push on despite official orders. Their persistent efforts eventually pay off.
"Mackintosh, a former police detective and journalist, weaves a complex tale out of seemingly straightforward circumstances." (Publishers Weekly). "But her real skill is in the way she incorporates jaw-dropping, yet plausible, plot twists into the already complex story-line." (Kirkus Reviews). A new author to watch for fans of Tana French, Paula Hawkins, S.J. Watson and A.S.A. Harrison. I particularly enjoyed the audio format, beautifully read by Nicola Barber and Steven Crossley.
* = starred review
* * = 2 starred reviews
Blog Post
PreK BITS - "M" is for Mother ... and "moo", "mouse", "more" and "me" ....
by ryanikoglu
Ms. Rachel's Storytime theme this week was bedtime on the Farm.
GOBBLE GOBBLE MOO TRACTOR ... Everyone is NOT asleep.
Banjo Betsy and Ms. Rachel's action song “Wake Up You Sleepy Heads!” is recorded on the CD SING IT! SAY IT! STAMP IT! SWAY IT! by Peter and Ellen Allard.
We also sang 'Skinnimarink" which is recorded on the CD ONE ELEPHANT DEUX ELEPHANTS by Sharon, Lois and Bram.
In the story MOTHER MOTHER I WANT ANOTHER ... Baby Mouse needs something more.
Can You find the Mama Mouse, the young Mouse, or the “Moo” in these stories?
WHERE’S MOMMY?
MOO!
HERMELIN The DETECTIVE MOUSE
The LITTLE MOUSE, The RED RIPE STRAWBERRY, and The HUNGRY BEAR
ALEXANDER And The WIND-UP MOUSE
LITTLE RABBIT WHO LIKED To SAY MOO
MOO! SAID MORRIS
A LITTLE BIT Of LOVE
MMMmmmmm Good!
Now everybody ... "Go to sleep!"
Blog Post
MELODY ELLISON's 1960s History List
by ryanikoglu
"I Heard it Through The Grapevine" ...
American Girl's MELODY ELLISON Doll arrives in Detroit August 2016 !!
You can jump into Melody Ellison's world of the 1960s in Detroit, MI. and experience more stories of Motown Music and African-American Civil Rights Movements.
Here is MELODY ELLISON's 1960s History List especially chosen for kids in grades 2-6.
The list includes multiple formats.
You will find historical fiction Books, CD recordings of Motown Songs, informational and poetry Books, and DVD Movies for children in Elementary and Middle School.
Add some adult interpretations and family stories to the mix.
Your child can experience a significant era in US History, just because of the launch of a new doll.
"Ain't No Mountain High Enough".
It's a fun way to go.
"I'll Be There"!
Blog Post
Brilliant Band Biography: Trouble Boys: the true story of The Replacements
by eapearce
There’s no doubt in my mind that the Replacements are one of the most fascinating rock’n’roll bands of the 80s (maybe of the entire last century), first and foremost because—despite their talent—they never really got that famous. I myself am not a lifelong fan; but after being introduced to the ‘Mats earlier this summer, I haven’t stopped listening to them, and just had to read their recently published biography. Trouble Boys, by Bob Mehr, is an intricately researched book about the band that explores not only the roots of all the band members, but carries readers through their years together, breakup, and ultimate reunion in 2012.
The four original band members—guitarist and lead singer Paul Westerberg, guitarist Bob Stinson, bassist Tommy Stinson and drummer Chris Mars—are all Minnesota natives with troubled childhoods that haunted them throughout their careers. The band formed in Minneapolis in 1979 and began performing locally, gaining attention not only for their sound but because bassist Tommy was only 12 years old at the time. Alcoholism and mental health issues plagued the band, and Paul is quoted as once saying that “there isn’t a high school diploma or a drivers’ license among us,” but that didn’t stop them from rising up within the underground rock scene of the early 80s. One of the best things about the Replacements is the drastic dichotomy in the types of songs they wrote. Their second album, Hootenanny, opens with a song of the same name involving a seemingly drunken Westerberg yelling only “It’s a hootenanny” over and over, accompanied by vaguely coherent drums and guitar. On the same album though, is a deeply sensitive song called “Within Your Reach.” A fan favorite song is “Alex Chilton,” a tribute to the lead singer of Big Star, whom the Replacements were heavily influenced by and worked with at various points. The band inexplicably decided to name their first major-label album Tim, which was well-received but lead to a disastrous performance on Saturday Night Live, after which the Replacements were banned from ever playing the show again. Time marched on, Bob Stinson was fired dramatically, more albums were made (including the beautiful Pleased To Meet Me), the band broke up, and then the Replacements finally set out on a reunion tour in 2012 that concluded with their supposed “final show ever” in Portugal on 2015.
Trouble Boys tells this wild story and more of it in much greater, more vivid detail and draws on hundreds of interviews from the band members themselves, and others who knew them and worked with them over the past decades. Reading it, it’s hard not to have a soft spot for these, indeed, troubled boys from the Midwest who just wanted to play music and drink beer, but perhaps did both of those things a little too well.
Want to hear some of the Replacements’ music before reading? Try Let It Be, Tim or Pleased To Meet Me.
Blog Post
Fabulous Fiction Firsts #610
by muffy
One of Bon Appetit's 8 New Food Novels to Read This Year - The City Baker's Guide to Country Living is a debut novel by Boston pastry chef Louise Miller.
Running away is what thirtysomething Livvy (Olivia) Rawlings does best. After her Baked Alaska sets fire to Boston's exclusive Emerson Club, she packs up and heads north to Guthrie, Vermont where her childhood (and only) friend Hannah lives. Luck would have it, the Sugar Maple Inn needs a pastry chef, a job that comes with a charming little cottage - the Sugarhouse.
Margaret Hurley, the cantankerous and demanding inn owner puts Livvy through her paces but is soon won over by Livvy's creations, along with the guests and the town-folks. Before long, Livvy finds herself immersed in small town life and intense scrutiny when she gets involved with Martin McCracken, a prodigal son who has returned to tend his ailing father.
After a Rockwell-worthy Thanksgiving, a funeral, and a surprise visitor shake things up, Livvy must decide whether to do what she does best and flee--or stay and finally discover what it means to belong.
This August Indie Next and LibraryReads pick, will appeal fo fans of Kitchens of the Great Midwest by Ryan Stradal; South of Superior by Ellen Airgood; novels by Erica Bauermesiter and the Little Beach Street Bakery series by Jenny Colgan.
Blog Post
PreK BITS - "T" is for "troubles"
by ryanikoglu
Ms. Rachel was visited by “troubles” at Storytime at Malletts this week.
There were bug troubles in SOUP For ONE … spiders are NOT trouble … unless you’re a bug (or afraid of spiders) ... or in the soup!
Ms. Betsy and Ms. Rachel helped the kids chase “Fireflies” ... as sung by Lena on the CD HAPPY AS CLAMS.
Fireflies are fun, but it’s troublesome to have to let them go.
We took a walk ONCE AROUND The BLOCK. Beatrice had a “troubled” afternoon until she took a walk … “once around the block”.
This book is out of print and AADL has no copies left. That's trouble.
BUT ... the resolution is … You can still find a copy by Kevin Henkes and Victoria Chess and borrow it through Melcat.
For more stories of “troubles” (and “resolutions”) try some of these suggestions:
LEOPARD’S DRUM by Jessica Souhami.
COYOTE And The LAUGHING BUTTERFLIES by Harriet Peck Taylor.
VERY TRICKY ALFIE ATKINS by Gunilla Bergstrom.
THREE BILLY GOATS GRUFF by Janet Stevens.
JUST In CASE: A Trickster Tale And Spanish Alphabet Book by Yuyi Morales.
FLOSSIE And The FOX by Rachel Isadora.
The GRUFFALO by Julia Donaldson.
COUNTING CROCODILES by Judy Sierra.
TORTUGA In TROUBLE by Anna Whitford Paul.
Can you tell what the trouble is?
Can you tell what the resolution was?
Try it.