Story Time Crafts - Dyed Pasta!

Miss Sue and I have both jumped into the world of dyed pasta for various children's programs, and it is always a hit! Dying pasta is inexpensive, easy to do, and really spices up those boring old macaroni necklaces!

Let's break it down - You'll need:
Pasta - any variety (not cooked)
Rubbing alcohol
Food coloring
Large plastic storage bags (like Ziploc)
A liquid measuring cup
A 1 cup measuring cup

These directions come from Real Life at Home, and are very easy to follow!

Pasta and measuring cup at the ready!

 

Either gel or liquid food coloring works just fine.

Step 1: Pour 1/4 cup rubbing alcohol into your gallon bag, and add several drops of food coloring.

Swish the bag around to mix well.

 

Step 2: Measure 1 to 2 cups of dry pasta and add to the bag.

(I used 1 cup for the elbows because they're smaller, and 2 cups for the rigatoni)



Swish some more to cover the pasta in dye!

 

Step 3: Zip up the bag (push the extra air out first) and lay it flat. Try to make sure the pasta is in a single layer.

I laid my bags in foil-lined pans, just in case any liquid leaked out (None did!).

 



Step 4: Flip the bags over about every half hour or so until they've reached the desired color. This is not an exact science - the world will not end if you don't flip them at exactly the 30 minute mark. (Or, say, if you happen to be a very sleepy, pregnant librarian who fell asleep after only flipping them once, and realized it the next morning. Whoops!)

 

 I made 6 different colors in about 30 minutes. Pink, orange, and yellow all dyed the fastest (within 2 to 3 hours), while blue and purple took quite a while longer (purple takes FOREVER).  Green was somewhere in the middle.

 

Step 5: Line those same pans with paper towels or newspaper, and dump your finished pasta onto them to dry. They will probably need to dry overnight.

 

Miss Sue and I each did this at home on our own time, but you could definitely do it at the library if you have somewhere to lay the bags where no one will mess with them. It sound messy but it really isn't at all.  You could even recruit some teen volunteers to help. It's kind of a fun science experiment!

 

 Think of all you can do with that glorious dyed pasta!

 

Rainbow necklaces!

This is great for practicing fine motor skills with preschoolers and Kindergartners!

 



It's also WONDERFUL for sensory play with babies and toddlers! Just make sure they don't eat it :o)

 

Now don't you want to go dye some pasta before your next story time? Try it out and let us know how it goes!

 

-Miss Kristen



Baby Story Time - Bubble Play!

Let's talk about Bubble Play in Baby Story Time! 

Around the end of the summer, I did some research, invested in some bubbles, and dove in to bubble play during story time!  We pull them out about once every other month (sometimes more often) and they are just so much fun!

I posed a question about using bubbles in story time to the Storytime Underground group on Facebook (Are you in this group? Such a great resource!), and the overwhelming response was to use Gymboree's Bubble Oodles Bubble Blower.

I headed straight to our local Gymboree store and picked up this small set for about $6.00.

They are MAGICAL!! The blower makes these teeny tiny bubbles that float and hang in the air for the longest time.  When they finally land, they don't pop! We've found them resting on bookshelves hours after story time has finished!

There are only two negatives: you have to put your mouth to the blower, so A) it's harder to sing a song while blowing the bubbles, and B) you wouldn't want to share the blower with your fellow librarians! (We're close, but not THAT close!)

A story time mom also brought me in a Fubbles Bubbles Mini Bubble Blaster (a bubble fan) which she got from Target, on clearance for about 75 cents! The bubbles are a little bigger and don't last as long, but it's small and quiet, and you don't have to use your mouth, so it's a great alternative!

So you've got some bubbles, now what?

Bubbles go great with themes like "Bathtime" or "Playtime" or just any time you feel like using them!

I went to YouTube in search of bubble songs and what do you know? Gymboree to the rescue, once again! They use bubbles in their classes and have posted some of the songs they use - check them out here and here!

Here are a few easy ones:

(Tune of "If You're Happy and You Know It")
There are bubbles in the air, in the air. (blow, blow)
There are bubbles in the air, in the air. (blow, blow)
There are bubbles in the air, there are bubbles everywhere,
There are bubbles in the air, in the air. (blow, blow)

There are bubbles way up high, way up high. (blow, blow)
There are bubbles way up high, way up high. (blow, blow)
There are bubbles way up high, there are bubbles in the sky,
There are bubbles way up high, way up high. (blow, blow)

There are bubbles way down low, way down low. (blow, blow)
There are bubbles way down low, way down low. (blow, blow)
There are bubbles way down low, there are bubbles on your toes,
There are bubbles way down low, way down low. (blow, blow)

(Tune of "Ten Little Indians")
One little, two little, three little bubbles,
Four little, five little, six little bubbles,
Seven little, eight little, nine little bubbles,
Ten little bubbles go POP! POP! POP!

You can also sing each child's name, blowing bubbles at them. Hint: Try to blow them just over the children's heads, not right into their faces!
(Tune of "Frere Jacques")
Bubbles for ______, bubbles for ______
Bubbles for ______, bubbles for ______
(just continue with the tune until you've done each child, ad lib to finish the tune)

You can also just have music playing while you blow bubbles. I recently used them with the first two songs on Hap Palmer's cd More Babysongs - "Rub-a-dub" and "My Baby." The music really complemented the gentle play, and allowed me the freedom to play with the babies and bubbles, rather than trying to juggle blowing bubbles and singing at the same time!

 

Maybe it's time you try bubbles in your baby or toddler story times! They are fun, inexpensive, and easy, and add an extra special touch to your program.  Give it a try, and let me know what works well for you and your babies!

Baby Story Time - Bathtime!

Rub-a-dub-dub, babies love the tub!

OPENING SONG: "The Hello Song" *

GREETING SONG: "Hello" (Name Song) *

WAKE-UP RHYME: "Bubbles, Bubbles" ("Teddy Bear, Teddy Bear" chant)
Bubbles, bubbles all around.
     (roll baby's arms)
Bubbles, bubbles on the ground.
     (lower baby to ground)
Bubbles, bubbles on my nose.
     (touch nose)
Bubbles, bubbles on my toes.
     (touch toes)
Bubbles, bubbles in my hair.
     (touch hair)
Bubbles, bubbles everywhere!
     (reach arms out)

1st Book: Tubby by Leslie Patricelli

"I'm naked! Wheee!!" What's not to love about this cute board book?

 

Action Song: Tiny Tim (from Dr. Jean Sings Silly Songs)

I learned this funny song from an early childhood teacher.  Just mime the actions in the song.

Sing it to the tune of "We're Going to Kentucky."

 

I had a little turtle, his name was Tiny Tim.

I put him in the bathtub to see if he could swim.

He drank up all the water, he ate up all the soap.
And now he's sick in bed with a bubble in his throat!

POP!

     (clap!)

 



Lap Bounce Song: "Row, Row, Row Your Boat" (from cd "Songs for Wiggleworms")
This song is so PERFECT to do with a baby in your lap! Get your hands on this cd if you don't already have it!

Row, row, row your boat, gently down the stream.
Merrily, merrily, merrily, merrily, life is but a dream.

2) Twist, twist, twist your boat...
3) Bounce, bounce, bounce your boat...
4) Sway, sway, sway your boat...
5) Wiggle, wiggle, wiggle your boat...
6) Tickle, tickle, tickle your boat...

2nd Book: Barnyard Bath! by Sandra Boynton

This is actually a water-proof book, made for the tub! We got out our washcloths (scarves) and followed the directions!

 

Since we had our scarves out, we did some more fun scarf activities:

 

Action Song: "This is the Way" (tune of "Here We Go Round the Mulberry Bush")

This is the way we wash our arms,

Wash our arms, wash our arms.

This is the way we wash our arms

When we're in the bathtub!

 

Keep scrubbing different body parts - try tummies, toes, nose, and hair!

 

Next we did some free play with the scarves.  A natural thing to do is play peekaboo! Since the scarves are see-through, this is a non-scary and gentle game for babies to play with their caregivers. Very sweet!

 

3rd Book: Noisy Peekaboo! Splash! Splash! by Dawn Sirett (from DK)

This is one of those books you can't really read aloud to a group, but the noises are too fun to resist. We just lifted the flaps and heard what each animal had to say.

 

 

CLOSING SONG: "If You're Happy and You Know It" *

GOODBYE SONG: "Babies, Bye-Bye" *

CLOSING RHYME: "Thank You" *



*Check out my Baby Story Time page for the words to all of my weekly songs and rhymes.

 

This was a very fun story time! Check out my next post to see how to incorporate BUBBLES into your next baby story time.  They go great with the "Bathtime" theme!

 



Baby Story Time - Valentine's Day!

Valentine's Day was all about hugs and kisses at Baby Story Time! Spending the morning with these little sweeties is the best Valentine's Day gift of them all!

OPENING SONG: "The Hello Song" *

GREETING SONG: "Hello" (Name Song) *

WAKE-UP RHYME: "Up, Up, Up!"
Up, up, up in the sky likes this!
     (lift baby up)
Down, down, down for a great big kiss!
     (lower baby and give a kiss)
Up likes this,
     (lift once more)
Down for a kiss,
     (down once more)
You're my special baby!
     (give baby a big hug!)

1st Book: Huggy Kissy by Leslie Patricelli

I love the silly baby who stars in all of Patricelli's board books - in this one he gives all different kinds of hugs and kisses.

 

FLANNEL BOARD SONG: "Five Little Valentines" (Sung to the tune of "Five Little Ducks")
(I adapted this from a song I found on Mel's Desk about five little cookies.)

Down around the corner at the Valentine shop
Were five little hearts with polka dots.
Along came Mommy with a nickel to pay
And she bought a Valentine and took it away.

 

 (Remove one heart from board, count how many are left, and keep counting down!)

 

LAP BOUNCE RHYME: "Acka Backa" (from Baby Rhyming Time by Linda Ernst)
Acka backa soda cracker, acka backa boo!
     (bounce baby)
Acka backa soda cracker, I love you!
     (bounce baby, then give a hug)

Acka backa soda cracker, acka backa boo!
     (bounce baby)

Acka backa soda cracker, UP goes you!
     (bounce baby, then lift in the air)

Acka backa soda cracker, acka backa boo!
     (bounce baby)
Acka backa soda cracker, I love you!
     (bounce baby, then give a hug)

 

2nd Book: I Love You Through and Through by Bernadette Rosetti-Shustak

This sweet and simple book reminds us of all the ways we love our little ones!

 

LAP BOUNCE RHYME: "One I Love You"
One I love you, two I love you, three I love you so!

     (Bounce baby)
Four I love you, five I love you, rock you to and fro!
     (Rock baby side to side)
Six I love you, seven I love you, eight you love me too!

     (Bounce baby)

Nine I love you, ten I love you, my bouncing buckaroo!
     (bounce really quickly!)

 

ACTION SONG: "Baby Hop" (to the tune of "The Bunny Hop" from the cd Diaper Gym)
(This song is a little corny but oh so cute! It's also really easy to follow the directions!)
 

Snuggle up together, baby's in your lap,
Snuggle up together, and clap, clap, clap.
Snuggle up together, don't you nap!

Snuggle up together, and tap, tap, tap.

 

You're working out together, baby don't stop,
You're working out together, so hop, hop, hop.

 

Snuggle up together, baby's in your lap,
Snuggle up together, and clap, clap, clap.
Snuggle up together, don't you nap!

Snuggle up together, and tap, tap, tap.

 

Now our song is over, get ready to stop.
Now our song is over, so hop, hop, hop!

3rd Book: Kisses by Barney Saltzberg



You can play the recording of the author singing this sweet lullaby, or just listen to it a few times and sing it yourself! This book has pull-out surprises on every page - it's a favorite of mine!

 

CLOSING SONG: "If You're Happy and You Know It" *

GOODBYE SONG: "Babies, Bye-Bye" *

CLOSING RHYME: "Thank You" *



*Check out my Baby Story Time page for the words to all of my weekly songs and rhymes.

We kept it simple this week without any instruments, but such a sweet and cuddly story time it was! Hope you had a Happy Valentine's Day!



Let's go on a StoryWalk®

About a year ago or more I saw some chatter about StoryWalks on Facebook.  I thought - "How cool is THAT?" but could not figure out how to get one at my current location.  Since then, I became a Head Librarian of a different location, one directly on the bike trail, and knew it was time to give it a try.

StoryWalk® is a trademarked program, and belongs to the folks at the Kellogg-Hubbard Library in Vermont.  This idea is *NOT* Library Village's idea nor do we take any credit or money for our Story Walks.  If you would like to learn about this amazing program's roots, Click HERE.  If you want to see some FAQ's on the program which will help you make your own, Click HERE.  Essentially, if you credit the creator properly, you are free to use the idea in a not-for-profit setting like a library.

Here's what the credit would look like:

The StoryWalk® Project was created by Anne Ferguson of Montpelier, VT and developed in collaboration with the Vermont Bicycle & Pedestrian Coalition and the Kellogg-Hubbard Library.

OK, essentially a StoryWalk® is a way for families to read together outside, promoting literacy and fitness.  The pages of a book are laminated and mounted on stakes and presented one at a time down a trail or throughout a park. They can be spaced as close or as far apart as needed.  Families can stroll from one page to the next, or you can encourage movement from one to the next like hopping or skipping.

For our first StoryWalk®, I laminated the pages of Duck on a Bike by David Shannon, mounted them on foam core with velcro, and then mounted those on wooden stakes.  We did not make the sets as sturdy as the ones listed on the Kellogg-Hubbard library but this is because our StoryWalk® is designed for use near the library and for only hours, so weather is not a factor.  With a little help from our Friends group, we have now done 3 StoryWalk®s and can easily make more.  I try to use books that are about the same size each time - and reuse the rest of the materials.

The approximate cost breaks down like this for us:

Two books from the used book store - $6

Velcro - $10

Wooden Stakes - 8 foot long cut in two - $15

Foam Core cut in half - $15

The response has been wonderful!  Families have said they love the books we choose, and love the idea.  We keep the library copies of the books on display and families like to take them home.  Our library has been asked to continue the program at all events, and other branches have asked to borrow our  StoryWalk®s for their events as well.

We have done three StoryWalk®s in 2014 in three different ways.  Duck on a Bike was at our Summer Reading Kickoff party with the story pages about 15-20 feet apart down our bike trail.  Next, at the end of the summer, we used The Little Mouse, the Red Ripe Strawberry, and the Big Hungry Bear at a festival in town.  We placed the pages around the perimeter of the festival.  Finally we did an indoor StoryWalk® at Christmas Time!  We used T'was the Night Before Christmas at an in-house and after hours event. No stakes or boards were necessary for this event.  Besides, our Duck on a Bike set was on loan to another library event at the time.  Once you have the first kit, adding books to your collection is a breeze.

Things we learned from our StoryWalk® program were: know your soil - the soil nearby struggled to hold the stakes, so we modified this by using buckets with the stakes secured inside.  Also, our lamination is standard for indoor use so rain will ruin the pages.  You can see below how one of our arrows had gotten wet over the summer. I'll be making more arrows soon.  Finally, Velcro is great for making the StoryWalk® reusable, but not great on a windy day.  Keep your weather and the direction of your stakes in mind.

For more information on StoryWalk®  please visit the Kellogg-Hubbard Library Page.  I'd be happy to answer any questions as well.  They are only limited by your imagination.

Thanks for stopping by!

Baby Story Time - On the Farm!

Welcome back to Baby Story Time! I did story times all summer, but didn't really have a chance to write about them, so I've got a lot of catching up to do! Let's jump right in with a fun Farm theme!

OPENING SONG: "The Hello Song" *

GREETING SONG: "Hello" (Name Song) *

WAKE-UP RHYME: "Mother and Father and Farmer John"
(traditional lap bounce; it's supposed to be "Uncle John," but I changed it to "Farmer John" to match the theme)
Mother and Father and Farmer John went to town, one by one.
     (bounce baby)
Mother fell off,
     (tip baby to one side)
And Father fell off,
     (tip baby to the other side)
But Farmer John went on and on and on and on...
     (bounce slowly and then get faster and faster!)

1st Book: Giant Pop-Out Farm from Chronicle Books

Simple nonfiction with wonderful, truly giant pop-up images! This book was perfect!

ACTION SONG: "Old MacDonald Had a Farm"

Old MacDonald had a farm, E-I-E-I-O.

And on that farm he had a cow, E-I-E-I-O.
With a "moo-moo" here, and a "moo-moo" there,
Here a "moo," there a "moo," everywhere a "moo-moo."
Old MacDonald had a farm, E-I-E-I-O.

I love using puppets with this song. These are the animals I used this week:

I love that beautiful chicken!

BABY PARADE: "Walkin' Old Joe" (from the cd Songs for Wiggleworms by Old Town School of Folk Music)

Old Joe, the horse, moseys, walks, and gallops! It's fun for parents to dance and bounce with their babies to this quick, energetic little song!

NURSERY RHYME: "One, Two, Buckle My Shoe"

(A classic, and one of my favorites! It's so important to pass classic nursery rhymes along to the next generation!)

One, two, buckle my shoe.
Three, four, shut the door.
Five, six, pick up sticks.
Seven, eight, lay them straight.
Nine, ten, a big fat hen!

I found this template in a book. I photocopied it onto card stock, colored it in, and stuck Velcro on the back! Voila!

2nd Book: Where Is My Baby? by Harriet Ziefert

Turn the flaps to find each baby animal. Great for making animal sounds, and Taback's illustrations are so engaging. We are lucky to have a class set of this book, so everyone could read along together.

ACTION RHYME: "Ten Fluffy Chickens" (borrowed from Mel's Desk - thank you!)

Five eggs and five eggs, that makes ten.

     (hold up both hands)
Sitting on top is Mother Hen.
Crack, crack, crack, crack! What do you see?

     (clap hands to "crack" eggs)

Ten fluffy chickens, yellow as can be!

This was 100% stolen from Mel's Desk. Her's are actually much more clever - they are eggs on one side and chicks on the other! I was in a super hurry so I just stuck tape on the backs of mine. I may remake this later in felt, though. It is super cute!

ACTION SONG: "Los Pollitos" (from the cd You Are My Little Bird by Elizabeth Mitchell)

(This is a traditional Spanish children's song. You could play the cd, or just sing it a capella.)

All the little chicks say, "Pio, pio, pio!"

When they are hungry, when they are cold.
Mama Chicken looks for corn and some wheat.
That will give them dinner, that will give them heat.
Under her wing, her chicks she'll keep,
Until the morning, the little chickies sleep.

We waved little chicks on craft sticks during this song. The tune is very simple, so a lot of the parents picked up on it and sang it with me the second time through.

3rd Book: Baby at the Farm by Karen Katz

We had to skip this one on Wednesday, they were a wild group! The Friday group heard it, though. There's not a lot to it, just another good opportunity to reinforce animal sounds.

CLOSING SONG: "If You're Happy and You Know It" *

GOODBYE SONG: "Babies, Bye-Bye" *

CLOSING RHYME: "Thank You" *



*Check out my Baby Story Time page for the words to all of my weekly songs and rhymes.

We had a great time on the farm! See you next time!

Flannel Friday - Five Little Babies

I came across this really cute "Five Little Babies" rhyme last week and was inspired to make some cute little felt babies to go with it! Thanks so much to King County Library System for the rhyme - watch the video to see how the actions are done!

I drew the pieces freehand, but based them off the ones on the cover of this adorable book:

Baby Parade by Rebecca O'Connell

One little baby rocking in a tree.

Two little babies splashing in the sea!

Three little babies crawling on the floor.

Four little babies banging on the door!

Five little babies playing hide-and-seek!

Keep your eyes closed, now,
Until I say, "Peek!"

I was really happy with how these cuties turned out! I even added a tiny bit of blush to give them "rosy" cheeks. Just dabbed it on with my finger.  They were actually really easy to make - I just used the same template for each one's body and head, and then just switched up the colors and clothing patterns, etc.

Voila! Cute babies - just what you need for your next story time, I bet! :o)

Happy Flannel Friday!

Thanks so much to Mollie at What Happens in Storytime for hosting this week! Flannel Friday is for anyone interested in finding and sharing great flannelboard ideas!  You can learn more about Flannel Friday and how to participate here.

Baby Story Time - So Big!

We started off summer with a really easy theme - Babies! This was a sweet and simple story time with lots of hugs and kisses. 

There was a big emphasis on the senses today - lots of tickles, touching body parts, and using scarves.  All of these activities help babies to understand their own bodies and how they fit into the world around them.

OPENING SONG: "The Hello Song" *

GREETING SONG: "Hello" (Name Song) *

WAKE-UP RHYME: "Acka Backa"
(from Linda Ernst's Baby Rhyming Time)
Acka backa soda cracker, acka backa boo!
     (bounce baby gently)
Acka backa soda cracker, I love you!
     (big hug!)
Acka backa soda cracker, acka backa boo!
     (bounce baby gently)
Acka backa soda cracker, up goes you!
     (lift baby into air)
Acka backa soda cracker, acka backa boo!
     (bounce baby gently)
Acka backa soda cracker, I love you!
     (big hug!)

1st Book: Baby Parade by Rebecca O'Connell

These adorable babies parade towards a picnic with their parents, wearing a rainbow of colors.

 

Action Rhyme: "Five Little Babies"

(from the King County Library System. There is a great video to watch!)

One little baby rocking in a tree.

     (rock baby back and forth)
Two little babies splashing in the sea!
     (clap hands)
Three little babies crawling on the floor.
     (tickle up baby's arm)
Four little babies banging on the door!
     (clap hands)
Five little babies playing hide-and-seek!
     (cover baby's eyes)
Keep your eyes closed, now,
Until I say, "Peek!"
     (uncover baby's eyes)

Check back next week for my Flannel Friday post about these cute babies!



Action Song: "Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes"
Head, shoulders, knees and toes, knees and toes.
Head, shoulders, knees and toes, knees and toes.
Eyes and ears and mouth and nose.
Head, shoulders, knees and toes, knees and toes!

Tickle Rhyme: "These are Baby's Fingers"
(from Linda Ernst's Baby Rhyming Time)
These are baby's fingers,
These are baby's toes.
This is baby's bellybutton, 'round and 'round it goes!
     (tickle!)

2nd Book: So Big! by Anna Hays

This Elmo book encourages a lot of participation - reaching high and low, touching nose, etc. And Elmo pops out on the last page!



Action Song: "I'm Very, Very Tall!"
(Not sure where I learned this originally. You can find it here.)
I'm very, very tall!
     (reach arms up)
I'm very, very small.
     (reach down)
Tall!
     (reach up)
Small!
     (reach down)
I'm very, very TALL!
     (reach up!)

Rhythm Time: Scarves!

Action Song: "This is the Way"
(to the tune: "Here We Go Round the Mulberry Bush")
This is the way we wash our arms,
Wash our arms, wash our arms,
This is the way we wash our arms,
When we're in the bathtub!
     (gently "scrub" baby with the scarf)

Try other body parts - toes, tummies, heads, noses, etc.

Action Song: "Where is Baby?" (to the tune: "Frere Jacques")
(from Linda Ernst's Baby Rhyming Time)
Where is baby? Where is baby?
There you are! There you are!
We're so glad to see you! We're so glad to see you!
Yes, we are! Yes, we are!
     (cover baby's head with scarf and then pull off - they love peek-a-boo!)

3rd Book: Tickle Time by Sandra Boynton

Her books are so tiny, but you can sing this one! Lots of tickles and giggles!

 



CLOSING SONG: "If You're Happy and You Know It" *

GOODBYE SONG: "Babies, Bye-Bye" *

CLOSING RHYME: "Thank You" *



*Check out my Baby Story Time page for the words to all of my weekly songs and rhymes.