Flannel Friday: Hats, Cats, & Bats

I was inspired by Jbrary's post about Little Mouse, Little Mouse Renditions to make my hats, cats, and bats. I decided to make both cats and bats so I could use the set at different times of year and with different themes. I used free clipart from clker as my patterns. I made 10 hats, 9 cats, and 9 bats. When we're looking for the cat, bats will be under nine of the hats and vice versa. I made them small so I can also use just five hats with my smaller flannel board. There are no puff paint details and the cats and bats were very finicky to cut out. Before I start the game, we count the hats and identify the colors. 

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An Ambush of Tigers: A wild Gathering of Collective Nouns by Betsy R. Rosenthal

The first page sets this story up: "Do you ever wonder what animals do when they gather in groups of more than two?" Using collective nouns, Rosenthal creates a fun story about animals.

Thoughts: While you do learn collective nouns in the reading of this book, it's more of a story book  than an informative book. If I use this book again with kids, I'll read it through and then go back and point out the collective nouns. The glossary in the back will help with this. Like A Curious Menagerie, this book has the potential to be a story starter. Jago's digital illustrations have the texture of paintings or fabric. The colors are bright and inviting. My favorite illustrations are a shiver of sharks, a sleuth of bears/a murder of crows, and a troop of kangaroos.

Themes: Animals, Names Elementary

(Illustrated by Jago. Millbrook Press, 2015.)

A Curious Menagerie by Carin Berger

A monkey and a cricket serve as your guides as they introduce you to numerous collective nouns for groups of animals.

Thoughts: I've been intrigued by collective nouns or animal group names since I was a child. This book is great. The dialogue format is engaging and informative. I love the extra collective nouns of the end papers and the extra information at the end of the book. I shared this book with first and second graders and I started with that extra information first so they would understand what collective nouns were. After reading A Curious Menagerie I read An Ambush of Tigers: A Wild Gathering of Collective Nouns by Betsy R. Rosenthal. A Curious Menagerie would be a great book to use as a story starter with kids. For example, write me a story about a gaze of raccoons. The illustrations are colorful and interesting. My favorites are a tower of giraffes, a flamboyance of flamingos, and a barrel of monkeys.

Themes: Animals, Names, Elementary

(Greenwillow, 2019.)

Old MacDonald Had a Boat by Steve Goetz

In this sequel to Old MacDonald Had a Truck, the farmer and his wife are doing a little building with all sorts of tools and help from the farm animals.

Thoughts: Just as fun to read as the first book. Some day I'd like to read these together making them the focus of a storytime. This is a great book to share during a summer or construction themed storytime. Again, it would be nice to read the book right through to the kids and then go back and focus on the pictures.

Themes: Boats, Construction, Summer, Farm

(Illustrated by Eda Kaban. Chronicle Books, 2018.)

Old MacDonald Had a Truck by Steve Goetz

You know how it goes...
Old MacDonald had a farm E-I-E-I-O and on that farm he had a ...

This is a new take on a classic. The animals are still on the farm, but they take second stage to various construction vehicles and machines.

Thoughts: This is such fun to read. The kids love all machines that appear. I read this pretty quickly to keep up the song rhythm, but it would be nice to go through it again and draw attention to the pictures. Old MacDonald Had a Truck would also be a great choice for taking a picture walk through an easy book. Farm animals + singing + construction = storytime gold!

Themes: Books You Can Sing, Farm, Construction, Things That Go, Races

(Illustrated by Eda Kaban. Chronicle Books, 2016.)

Trolls Party 2020

In anticipation of Trolls World Tour coming to theaters in April, I decided to host Trolls parties in March. Sadly, due to the COVID-19 madness, I only got to host one of the four parties I had planned.

Check out my 2018 party here.

Here's my party agenda:

Play: Trolls Bingo
I bought these Bingo cards from Etsy as I needed at least 30 unique cards. Find them here.

Read: a story from Trolls 5-Minute Stories

Make: Troll Hair Headband
I found this craft for free on Teachers Pay Teachers from Peachie Speechie. Find it here.

Find: Trolls Scavenger Hunt 

I purchased clipart from Etsy as I couldn't find enough variety in the free clipart I could find. Find the clipart I used here.

Take Home: Coloring Sheets & Troll Printable Craft (Find them here and here.) 

Teen Lego Night

Teen still enjoy building with Legos. This was an easy event to host in February when I'm never sure what the weather will be doing.

I took inspiration from the following posts: 

• Makerspace Moments: Creativity and Science with LEGOs (TPiB Lego Challenge Ideas) by Karen Jensen on Teen Librarian Toolbox 
• LEGO Programming for Teens by Brandy Walton on Teen Services Underground 
• LEGO Night for Teens by Jenni Frenchman on Teen Services Underground

Teens completed the following challenges

• 1 Cup Challenge (What can you build with a random cup of Legos? You don't have to use them all, but you can't get anymore.)
• Challenge Cards
• Lego Animal Charades

There were snacks, Legos, and lots of building.