Blog Post
"W" is for Wiseguys and Whiskers
by ryanikoglu
Ms Rachel brought “Wise Guys and Whiskers” tales to Storytime.
Can you tell who the “Wise Guys” are?
In FLOSSIE And The FOX ... Flossie has to get her basket of eggs safely to Ms. Viola’s house.
Flossie doesn’t know what a fox looks like but she figures it out.
We went on a “Fox Hunt” together … looking for the cute fox with the bushy tail, pointy ears, fur coat and whiskers.
Finally .... we sang along with the GINGERBREAD GIRL … as she planned a more successful ending to the classic story of the GINGERBREAD BOY.
If you had fun on "The FOX HUNT" ... Here are more versions of this classic action story:
WE’RE GOING ON A BEAR HUNT ... same book written in Arabic and written in Tamil.
WE’RE GOING ON A LION HUNT.
WE'RE GOING ON A GHOST HUNT.
LOOKING FOR A MOOSE.
Especially for Halloween ... "Looking For Dracula" is one of my favorite versions!
It is found on the CD 10 CARROT DIAMOND by Charlotte Diamond.
Blog Post
"U" is for "Up" and "Under"
by ryanikoglu
Ms. Rachel told stories for concepts of up and under.
Mr. Rabbit tricks Mr. Bear with choices of TOPS and BOTTOMS … "Which part of the vegetable would you choose … uppers or unders?"
Banjo Betsy accompanied Bell Horses” and "Grand Old Duke Of York" … with ups and downs ... for our action songs!
These songs (and more) can be heard on the CDs SONGS & GAMES For TODDLERS and WHERE IS THUMBKIN?.
Mr. OWL at HOME … has problems with “Strange Bumps” … under the covers!
For more stories that have something underneath try the following titles:
UP In The GARDEN And DOWN In The DIRT
GOOSE GOES TO SCHOOL … but stays under Sophie’s desk.
OVER And UNDER The SNOW
THERE’S An ALLIGATOR UNDER MY BED
ALPHABET UNDER CONSTRUCTION
UNDER A PIG TREE ... a confusion of words.
UNDER My HOOD I HAVE A HAT
Blog Post
PreK Bits - "R" is for Russian stories
by ryanikoglu
Ms. Rachel brought Russian stories to Storytime this week.
“Naughty Rozalina” is an oral tradition story told with nesting matryoshka dolls.
Ms Sara played guitar and sang “May There Always Be Sunshine”. She even sang the first verse in Russian language!!
The song can be found on the CD GLOBALullabies and the CD SONGS Of Our WORLD.
The TURNIP: An Old Russian Folktale is a classic tale with Dedoushka, Babushka, Mashenka and the animals all pulling together.
Pierr Morgan's version is a favorite of mine for the illustrations and the simple telling.
Unfortunately it can no longer be replaced so we keep the last copy for story programs.
Fortunately there are more versions to borrow in this list.
For more favorite Russian folklore try the following titles:
BABUSHKA’S MOTHER GOOSE … nursery rhymes with Russian themes
AT The WISH Of The FISH … be careful what you wish for …
LUBA And The WREN … a version of the fisherman story illustrated and told by Patrica Polacco
GRANDMA CHICKENLEGS ... a traditonal Baba Yaga story.
The LITTLE SNOWGIRL … Pavel makes a snowgirl for his wife.
The LITTLEST MATRYOSHKA … teamwork saves the day.
MAY THERE ALWAYS SUNSHINE ... a poetically perfect song to grow with.
Blog Post
Dr. Wayne Dyer, Self-Help Guru, Motivational Speaker Has Died
by lucroe
The author, motivational speaker, and psychotherapist, Wayne Dyer, passed away this past Saturday at 75 years old after battling leukemia. He was born in Detroit, Michigan and graduated from Wayne State University where he received his doctorate degree in counseling. He was a self-help guru popular with a number of celebrities, like Oprah Winfrey and Ellen DeGeneres (whose marriage to Portia De Rossi he officiated). He believed that the power of positive thinking could lead to a healthier, happier life. His book, Your Erroneous Zones, is one of the bestselling books of all time.
Blog Post
PreK Bits - "O" is for Only One
by ryanikoglu
One is where you begin.
O is for one.
Ms. Rachel began with ONCE AROUND The BLOCK … a story about what to do while waiting … because waiting is hard to do ... for Beatrice.
Ms. Sara and Ms. Rachel led the action song "Walk, Walk, Walk ... Until We stop" which is sung by Raffi on the CD RISE & SHINE and by the Bartkowiak's on the CD HONK HONK RATTLE RATTLE.
SOUP FOR ONE … is perfect for one bug, ... at least until one (and one, and one ...) more arrive.
For more stories that begin with one, try the following favorites:
ONE BIG BUILDING ... begins with one big machine.
ONE DUCK STUCK … who will help?
ONE TWO THAT’S MY SHOE … counting one to ten with a puppy.
ONCE UPON A TIME, THE END … one imaginative bedtime story.
ONCE UPON AN ALPHABET … where every letter gets its own story.
YOU ARE (NOT) SMALL …. settling a bet once and for all.
ONCE UPON A MEMORY … a gentle journey of growth.
ONE WORD FROM SOPHIA ... sophia uses too many words until she finds the perfect "one".
Blog Post
PreK Bits - "K" is for kangaroos and Katy
by ryanikoglu
Ms. Rachel brought baby kangaroos to Storytime.
POUCH! has two baby kangaroos who are uncertain whether ‘tis better to be inside or outside mama's pouch.
Mr. Beau DeLoach played guitar while Ms. Rachel led the music & motion to "Walk, walk, walk ... until we stop!".
You can do this song with Raffi from the CD RISE And SHINE
KATY NO-POCKET was born without a pouch. Her baby Freddy keeps getting left behind. Katy sets out to solve the problem.
For more famous kangaroo stories try these favorites:
WHAT DO YOU DO WITH A KANGAROO?
BIG RED KANGAROO
A KANGAROO MOB and on DVD KANGAROO MOB
POCKET BABIES And OTHER AMAZING MARSUPIALS
WEIRD And WILD ANIMAL FACTS
Boing ... boing ... boing ... boing.
Blog Post
Ann Rule, true crime writer dies
by lucroe
Ann Rule, true crime writer of over 30 books and numerous magazine articles, passed away Sunday. She was most famous for her book, The Stranger Beside Me, about the serial killer, Ted Bundy, who was also her co-worker at a Seattle suicide hotline. She was born Ann Stackhouse in Lowell, Michigan in 1930 or 1931. As an adult she moved to Washington and became an officer in the Seattle Police Department. She came from a family with law enforcement and criminal justice backgrounds, both her grandfather and uncle were police officers in Michigan, her cousin was a Prosecuting Attorney and another uncle was the Medical Examiner. As a child, she would often visit her grandparents in Stanton, Michigan where she helped her grandmother prepare meals for prison inmates. Her life-long interest in the prison system and criminal behavior, as well as her career in law enforcement, helped to shape her into the writer she was to become.
Blog Post
PreK Bits - Stories-To-Go Kits 2015
by ryanikoglu
10 new STORIES-TO-GO themes have been added to the Collections in 2015.
These pre-selected kits are especially for families, childcare centers, preschools, classrooms, home schools with kids ages 2-7 years old.
The new themes are as follows:
FRIENDS How do you know you have a friend?
FAMILIES Who’s in your family?
OCCUPATIONS What do people do all day?
WORLD CULTURES A variety of world cultures are represented.
SAFETY TOWN Safe behaviors start young.
MAPS Maps and mapping activities are fun and interesting.
GRIEF When a pet or a person dies, how do you work out the grief?
DIVORCE When families separate, how do things work out?
POTTY TIME When it is time to consider using the potty.
HUMAN BODY What makes your body work?
The complete Stories-To-Go collection can be browsed here.
Blog Post
PreK Bits - "G" is for Girls, Goats and Gunniwolf
by ryanikoglu
Ms. Rachel told stories that had names that started with the letter "G" ... as in "Grubb" and "Gunniwolf".
The THREE SILLY GIRLS GRUBB is a re-tell of The THREE BILLY GOATS GRUFF. Three little girls skip over the bridge off to school. They missed the school bus. They had jelly donuts in their lunch boxes ... and someone is under the bridge.
Ms. Sara accompanied Ms. Rachel and the goat limberjack on a floating trip "Down The River" ... where you "can't jump", and you "can't turn around."
The "Jump Josie" song can be heard on the recording DANCE PARTY: movin' and groovin' songs for young children.
Then we went with a little girl to pick flowers for Mama ... until ... The GUNNIWOLF appeared !!
Here are a variety of re-tells. Be sure to get one of the traditional tells too:
The tale is told traditionally The THREE BILLY GOATS GRUFF by Janet Stevens and by Paul Galdone.
Get Rabbit Ears: The THREE BILLY GOATS GRUFF If you would like to watch the tale told on DVD.
The THREE CABRITOS is a Tex-Mex version told by by Eric Kimmel.
THREE SILLY BILLIES is a diverted version told by Margo Palatini.
THREE TRICERATOPS TUFF is a dinosaur version told by Stephen Shaskan.
You still need to deal with who is under the bridge !
Blog Post
Gorgeous New Country-Rock: Traveller
by eapearce
Chris Stapleton’s first solo album, Traveller, has earned critical acclaim, particularly from NPR Music. Featured on NPR earlier this month, Traveller has now been ranked in the top 25 albums of 2015 so far by the organization. I think this honor is more than well-deserved! Stapleton’s story is a fascinating one. Born and raised in Kentucky, Stapleton dropped out of college and was driving an ice truck and playing music locally in the evenings. After encouragement from friends and fellow musicians passing through, Stapleton finally bit the bullet and moved to Nashville, where he began working as a songwriter for artists like Kenny Chesney, Luke Bryan and Darius Rucker. One of the first songs that he wrote, “Nobody’s Fool,” was ultimately recorded by Miranda Lambert. Stapleton also lent his voice as backing vocals to many songs, but couldn’t seem to break out on his own as a solo act. He even recorded an entire album a few years ago, but his label declined to release it.
Traveller is the result of his final chance in the studio—or rather, what likely would have been his final chance if Traveller had proved a lesser album. Morgan Hayes, Stapleton’s wife, who sings harmony on the album, says that she can tell that Traveller came from a “deeper place” inside of Stapleton. The songs focus on common country themes: heartbreak, homesickness and hangovers, but the lyrics are well-crafted and, to borrow a line from one of the cover tracks, “as smooth as Tennessee whiskey.” Traveller is truly a beautiful album, and worth a listen even for those who don't usually enjoy country music.