Who Has This Tail? and Who Has These Feet? by Laura Hulbert

I think the titles explain these two titles well.

What I thought about Who Has This Tail?: Where was this book when I was doing my animal antics pajama party? This title will go perfectly with What Do You Do with a Tail Like This? by Steve Jenkins & Robin Page. The illustrations are great. I love the use of white space on the question page and the full color two page spread that contains the answer. The mix of animals is great! (spider monkey, rattlesnake, shark, gerbil, horse, scorpion, peacock, arctic fox, beaver)

What I thought of Who Has These Feet?: Another great book by Hulbert & Brooks. I know my storytime kids will love guessing the animals. The illustrations are wonderful, especially the colors. I love the educational qualities of this book and its sequel. Another great mix of animals. (polar bear, tree frog, duck, ant, squirrel, parrot, desert lizard, sea turtle, kangaroo)

Storytime Themes: Guessing, Animals, Body Parts

(Illus. Erik Brooks. Henry Holt, 2012 & 2011

Monsters Love Colors by Mike Austin

These color-loving monsters explore primary and secondary colors.

What I thought: Monster Love Colors will be a fun addition to my monsters storytime theme. I like that the monsters mix colors. Lovely, bright illustrations with good use of white space.

Storytime Themes: Monsters, Colors, Art

(Harper, 2013)

#FlannelFriday: Five Bears

I used Mel's patterns to make these bears. I think they turned out nicely. I look forward to using the rhymes Mel came up with. When I have the time, I'd like to try to make a sun bear, spectacled bear, and sloth bear to add to this collection.

Katie has the round up this week.

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Our Flannel Friday Fairy Godmother is Mollie (@molliekay).

Flannel Friday: If You Give a...

I created this set to use for my Mouse & Friends Party (a celebration of Laura Numeroff's If You Give...book series).

The first 16 pieces (animals & desserts/fruits) go along with Laura's books. I had to do a little guessing for the animals that don't have books yet (fox, rabbit, snake). The pieces are mouse, cookie, moose, muffin, pig, pancake, cat, cupcake, dog, donut, fox, fudge, rabbit, raspberry, snake, and sundae.

The other 14 pieces are just combinations I came up with. I tried to focus in on forest and farm animals. The pieces are owl, orange, frog, fig, bear, brownie, goose, gingersnap, turtle, truffle, ladybug, lemon, horse, and honeydew.

I used this set in various ways. For the first 16 pieces, I'd place the animal and have the kids guess the dessert. This was fun because the majority of the kids were familiar with the books. The last 6 pieces were fun...hearing the kids' predictions for the fox, rabbit, and snake.

With the other 14 pieces, we continued the guessing/suggesting. I also used these pieces to inspire the writing of our own circular story. Something I didn't do was let the kids change the pairings. Starting with If You Give a Moose a Muffin, Laura Numeroff has been alliterating her animals and desserts, but as she didn't with the first book, I think mixing things up would be both acceptable and fun.

Amy has the round up this week.

Important Links:
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Our Flannel Friday Fairy Godmother is Mollie (@molliekay).

May B by Caroline Starr Rose

Her family needs the money so May is sent to help out on a neighbor's farm. The man is well meaning enough, but wife is not at all suited to frontier life. One day, she runs away and her husband goes after her. They don't return and May is left alone, away from home, and it's months before her father will come to fetch her. Can a young girl survive on her own as winter comes to the prairie?

What I thought: I read May B in one sitting. It was riveting. I felt like I was there with her. I could feel her desperation, cold, and hunger. This is an awesome book. Like most verse novels, it was a quick read. It's one of my favorites--right up there with Out of the Dust by Karen Hesse. May's struggle with reading is heart wrenching. I like that the author considered what life would be like for a child who suffered from dyslexia. Give this book to fans of Laura Ingalls Wilder's Little House series and Hattie Big Sky by Kirby Larson.

(Schwartz & Wade, 2012)

#FlannelFriday: Five Little Bears

These bears are crocheted magnets that I use with my small magnet board. I made up the pattern myself. They are made in two pieces, head and body. I added wiggle eyes and puff paint noses and mouths. I think they look a little like gummy bears. I used 5 different shades of brown.

Stay tuned in the following weeks for more bear themed Flannel Friday posts as I get ready for my Teddy Bear Picnic event.


Lisa has the round up this week.

Important Links:
Flannel Friday Blog
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Follow Flannel Friday on Twitter with the hashtag #FlannelFriday.
Our Flannel Friday Fairy Godmother is Mollie (@molliekay).

Pug & Other Animal Poems by Valerie Worth

Eighteen animal poems are paired with wonderfully detailed cut paper collage illustrations.

What I thought: Pug & Other Animal Poems will be a perfect addition to any animal themed storytime or event. I'm adding it to the lineup for my next Animal Poetry Break storytime and Animal Antics Pajama Party. My favorite poems are rabbits and dachshund. This is the first collection I've read by Valerie Worth and I like her style. Steve Jenkins illustrations are fabulous as usual.

(Illus. Steve Jenkins. Margaret Ferguson Book, 2013.)

Pirate Party

Hosting a boys only pirate party is beginning to be old hat. I did one in 2010, 2011, 2012, and now in 2013.

The boys (ages 4-8) are invited to come in costume. We start off with some pirate words. I ask them if they know any and then I share a few more.

After that, I read Henry & the Buccaneer Bunnies by Carolyn Crimi, share poems from Shiver Me Timbers by Douglas Florian, and talk about famous pirates as mentioned in Pirates by Greg Nickles, Bobbie Kalman, & Barbara Bedell.

After reading we play one or more group games: Tick, Tick, Tock (like duck, duck, goose, but with a nod to Peter Pan's Captain Hook), Sink the Ship (two teams lob paper balls at each other. The ship that takes the most hits loses.), and Musical Islands (page 63).

After the group games, the boys are free to make their own treasure map, play several games, and look at a display of pirate books.

 

Pin the Eye Patch on the Pirate

Treasure Chest Coin Toss

Walk the Plank

Pirate Duck Ring Toss

 

Treasure Island Board Game from The Great Pirate Activity Book by Deri Robins

 

As the boys left I gave them a Little Critter Pirate Paper Doll.

The Pet Project: Cute & Cuddly Vicious Verses by Lisa Wheeler

A young girl wants a pet. Her parents don't give her a definite answer, but they encourage her to research her options. The girl's research is interesting, eye-opening, and hilarious.

What I thought: Oh! I can't wait to share this with my 1st and 2nd graders when I do outreach storytime. They'll love it as I did. I laughed out loud several times while reading. My favorite poems are sheep (too true!), bunnies, and disappointments. I love the illustrations especially the bold black lines.

(Illus. Zachariah Ohora. Atheneum, 2013)

Hate That Cat by Sharon Creech

Another year. Jack is back and so is his poetry loving teacher. This year, Jack is still grieving for his dog and hates the stray cat in his neighborhood.

What I thought: A very quick read! I love Jack. His voice is so fresh and boyish. I can't believe I waited so long to read this sequel to Love That Dog. I wish I'd had a teacher like Jack has. I applaud her for introducing her students to such classic poems. I didn't study William Carlos Williams until college. My favorite part is the poets' day. It gives me an idea for a bulletin board to use for National Poetry Month.

(Scholastic, 2008)

#FlannelFriday: Five Little Monsters

 

These crocheted monster magnets are some of the first storytime props I created. I made up the pattern myself. The pompom noses give them a Sesame Street air.

 

I also created some rhymes to go along with them.

 

Five Little Monsters (Counting UP)

One little monster is lonely
Two little monsters are friends
Three little monsters are company
Four little monsters make a singing quartet
Five little monsters have quite a party
[Bridget R. Wilson]


Five Little Monsters (Counting DOWN)
Five little monsters dancing around
One fell down & then there were four
Four Little monsters running a race
One ran away & then there were three
Three Little monsters playing games
One lost his turn & then there were two
Two little monsters reading by firelight
One got scared & that left one
One little monster having no fun
He went home & then there were none!
[Bridget R. Wilson]

I like to use my monsters in October, but also when I do library themed storytimes or have school groups visit the library. With this in mind, I also wrote some monster rhymes library style.

 

5 Little Monsters (Library Style)

5 little monsters visiting the library

1 checks out a book of poems & that leaves 4
4 little monsters visiting the library
1 checks out a book about dogs & that leaves 3
3 little monsters visiting the library
1 checks out a book of fairy tales & that leaves 2
2 little monsters visiting the library
1 checks out a book about dinosaurs & that leaves 1
1 little monster visiting the library
He checks out a book of jokes & that leaves NONE!
[Bridget R. Wilson]

This Little Monster (Library Style)
This little monster says, “’one more story, please!”
This little monster likes books about rabbits.
This little monster says, “I’d rather read about ogres.”
This little monster likes books about dragons.
This little monster says, “Oh dear! There’s a dragon in the library!”
[Bridget R. Wilson]

A bonus this week! I have a recent library school graduate interning with me to gain more experience as she continues to seek a position. She recently went on an interview and didn't have a flannel board or any felt sets. She's using Mo Willems as her theme so I made  her a travel flannel board and a set of monsters and pigs. I used the patterns Erin at Falling Flannelboards so kindly posted. I changed up the colors a little. I'll be making a set for myself one of these days.

 

Kay has the round up this week.

 

Important Links:

Flannel Friday Blog
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Follow Flannel Friday on Twitter with the hashtag #FlannelFriday.
Our Flannel Friday Fairy Godmother is Mollie (@molliekay)

Grumpy Goat by Brett Helquist

Grumpy Goat is a grump. All the other animals give him a wide berth. One day, he spots a flower, a weed really--a dandelion. The sunny yellow flower brightens Grumpy Goat's life and improves his disposition.

What I thought: I need to plan a goat themed storytime. I loved this story. A great addition to all the other farm stories. Grumpy Goat may be grumpy, but he's got personality. My favorite illustrations are of Grumpy Goat and the flower.

Storytime Themes: Farm Animals, Goats, Flowers

(Harper, 2013)