Saturday, February 6, 2010

Who's the Baker?

This activity is called "Who's the Baker?". I made this set about 15 years ago while I was student teaching. I had pulled the idea from a magazine and I would cite it, but I don't have any recollection of the source. The "Who's the Baker?" set is made up of pairs; each pair is a plastic cookie cutter (like the ones found at Michael's Craft Store) with a card stock "cookie" that has been traced, colored, cut and laminated for durability. The whole set can be individually sized to the number of plastic cookie cutters that you would like to use.

Ideas on how to use a "Who's the Baker?" set:
  1. Circle Time or Story Time Activity: Pair this activity with a cookie oriented book such as Mr. Cookie Baker by Monica Wellington. Give each child a cookie cutter and store the "cookies" in a bag or basket. Pull out each cookie one at a time and ask, "Who's the baker?". Have the children look at the cookie and determine if the cookie matches the shape of their cookie cutter.
  2. One on One or Small Group Matching Activity: Set out all the cookies on the floor in rows. Have each child one at a time choose a cookie and find its cookie cutter.
  3. Songs and Rhymes: Either while the children are choosing the cookies during one of the other activities or as a separate activity, sing a song or rhyme based on the cookie cutter. For example, a sunshine cookie cutter might remind you of the song "Mr. Sun" or the teddy bear cookie cutter might remind you of "Teddy Bear, Teddy Bear, Turn Around".
  4. Play-doh or Baking: You can always use the cookie cutters with play-doh or with real cookie dough!
To create a "Who's the Baker?" set, you will need the following supplies:
  • cookie cutters
  • card stock
  • markers and/or crayons
  • scissors
  • access to a laminating machine or clear contact paper

To make the set, trace each cookie cutter on card stock. Color and decorate the 'cookies' or you can have your children help you. Cut the shapes out and either laminate or cover in clear contact paper for durability.

While this activity isn't exclusively related to children's literacy, it lends itself well and can be teamed up with some great cookie or baking themed stories such as Walter the Baker by Eric Carle, If You Give a Mouse a Cookie by Laura Numeroff, and Who Ate All the Cookie Dough? by Karen Beaumont.

Wednesday, January 27, 2010

Some More Great Winter Reads

The Almost Librarian blog started almost one year ago today with a list of some "great winter reads". So to celebrate our first birthday, you'll find below some more great winter reads. Winter is the perfect time to curl up with some hot cocoa and a few good books. You should be able to find these titles at your local library. And don't forget to check back to last year's posting for the others. (Also, this Almost Librarian has graduated and will be an official youth services librarian beginning in February....now what to do about the blog title....)

The Three Snow Bears by Jan Brett
This story, filled with Brett's amazing and detailed illustrations, is an adaptation of Goldilocks and the Three Bears, but set in cold and blustery northern Canada. (Ages 4-9)
(Full bibliographic info: Brett, Jan. The Three Snow Bears. Putnam's Sons, 2007.)



The Biggest, Best Snowman by Margery Cuyler
Little Nell has been told time and again that she is too small to help with her BIG Mama and BIG Sisters. After spending time in the woods building a great big snowman with the help of some forest friends, Little Nell discovers that she is capable of some big and amazing things. (Ages 4-9)
(Full bibliographic info: Cuyler, Margery. The Biggest, Best Snowman. Scholastic, 1998.)


Kipper's Snowy Day by Mick Inkpen
Have you met Kipper yet? Kipper and Tiger spend a fantastically fun snow filled day together and especially love when they discover the snow sticks to Tiger's woolly clothes. (Ages 2-5)
(Full bibliographic info: Inkpen, Mick. Kipper's Snowy Day. Harcourt Brace & Co., 1996.)


Snow Sounds: An Onomatopoeic Story by David A. Johnson
This simple story of a very snowy day in a rural setting is brought to life through the gorgeous illustrations and the sound driven text. (Ages 3-9)
(Full bibliographic info: Johnson, David A. Snow Sounds: An Onomatopoeic Story. Houghton Mifflin Co, 2006.)



Snowflake Bentley by Jacqueline Briggs Martin
This Caldecott Award winning non-fiction book shares the biography of the scientist, Wilson A. Bentley who discovered that no two snowflakes are alike. (Ages 4-12)
(Full bibliographic info: Martin, Jacqueline Briggs. Snowflake Bentley. Houghton Mifflin, 1998.)




Poppleton in Winter by Cynthia Rylant
This book is an easy reader for the beginning independent readers, but it is also a set of winter themed stories featuring the fun to love Poppleton the Pig. Poppleton is the star of several books, so be sure to check out more titles! (Ages 3-9)
(Full bibliographic info: Rylant, Cynthia. Poppleton in Winter. Blue Sky Press, 2001.)



The Snow Day by Komako Sakai
This little bunny is experiencing a snowy day at home with his mother. (Ages 3-8)
(Full bibliographic info: Sakai, Komako. The Snow Day. Arthur A. Levine Books, 2009.)



Red Sled by Patricia Thomas
Simple, straightforward, rhyming word sets and action inspired illustrations take the reader on a sledding journey with a young boy and his dad. (Ages 2-5)
(Full bibliographic info: Thomas, Patricia. Red Sled. Boyds Mills Press, 2008.)


Thursday, January 14, 2010

Time to Get Dressed (or Not as the Case May Be)

One thing that all young children have in common is that they all spend time every day getting dressed and undressed. This simple activity is a significant part of their little world - it's an opportunity to potentially express individualism, a chance to practice developing fine motor skills (zipper, snaps and buttons), a moment of together time with a loving caregiver. You'll find below a selection of books all about getting dressed and wearing clothes and in some cases, this is very silly indeed. Also, check out This Is the Baby by Candace Fleming from a previous post.
Animals Should Definitely Not Wear Clothing by Judi Barrett
Brought to you by the author of Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs, Animals Should Definitely Not Wear Clothing is a silly and fun exploration about why a variety of animals' natural 'clothing' is right just the it is. (Ages 4-9)
(Full bibliographic info: Barrett, Judi. Animals Should Definitely Not Wear Clothing. Antheum, 1970.)


Blue Hat, Green Hat by Sandra Boynton
Boynton's lovable and quirky characters progress through the many articles of clothing in rainbow of colors. However each clothing item has an "oops" guaranteed to get your little ones giggling. (Ages 2-5)
(Full bibliographic info: Boynton, Sandra. Blue Hat, Green Hat. Little Simon, 1984.)


The Hat by Jan Brett
Poor Hedgie tangles himself with a stocking and it remains adhered to his prickles on his head much to the amusement of all the other animals. Why, don't they know a fashionable hat when they see one? (Ages 3-7)
Jan Brett's website
Amazon.com
(Full bibliographic info: Brett, Jan. The Hat. Putnam, 1997.)

Jesse Bear, What Will You Wear? by Nancy White Carlstrom
Lovable Jesse Bear is getting dressed in all sorts of clothes throughout his busy preschool aged day. Colorful illustrations and a lively rhyme carry the story. (Ages 2-5)
(Full bibliographic info: Carlstrom, Nancy White. Jesse Bear, What Will You Wear? Collier Macmillan, 1986.)



Ella Sarah Gets Dressed by Margaret Chodos-Irvine
If you've known a preschooler, then it's possible that you've known an Ella Sarah. She is bound and determined to dress herself in a particular (and not quite coordinated) set of clothes that she needs for her special playdate with friends. (Ages 2-5)
(Full bibliographic info: Chodos-Irvine, Margaret. Ella Sarah Gets Dressed. Harcourt, 2003.)

Muriel's Red Sweater by Dara Dokas
It's Muriel's birthday and she is distributing invitations to all of her friends and it becomes clear to them what she needs for her birthday - a new sweater! To replace the one that unraveled the whole day that she was out and about. (Ages 3-6)
(Full bibliographic info: Dokas, Dara. Muriel's Red Sweater. Dutton Children's Books, 2009.)

Shoes from Grandpa by Mem Fox
Set to the rhythm of "The House that Jack Built", Shoes from Grandpa progresses through a wardrobe of apparel that a young girl needs to go with her shoes from her Grandpa. (Ages 2-6)
(Full bibliographic info: Fox, Mem. Shoes from Grandpa. Orchard Books, 1990.)



Joseph Had a Little Overcoat by Simms Tabback
This award winning story is adapted from a Yiddish folk tale and tells how Joseph is able to use the fabric from his worn overcoat to make increasingly smaller items. (Ages 4-9)
(Full bibliographic info: Tabback, Simms. Joseph Had a Little Overcoat. Viking, 1999.)


Wednesday, December 30, 2009

Feeling a Little Grumpy Today?

Very young children are learning how to cope with their strong swings of emotion - one moment giddy, the next frustrated and crying. It takes lots of time and practice to learn about all these feelings and what to do with them. Find below a handful of books that involve a cranky or grumpy character as well as some resolution at the end. Also, please see back to a previous post for In the Rain with Baby Duck by Amy Hest. Don't forget to check your library's catalog for these titles!

I'm Not Cute! by Jonathan Allen
Baby owl is over-tired and encounters several folks who find him very 'cute'. Baby owl, however, does no
t consider himself cute, but rather believes himself to be a "huge, sleek, scary, sharp-eyed hunting machine". In the end, with help from his mom, baby owl is able to get some rest. (Ages 2-5)
Full bibliographic info: Allen, Jonathan. I'm Not Cute! Hyperion, 2006.)


When Sophie Gets Angry - Really, Really Angry... by Molly Bang
Sophie has a disagreement with her sister and gets so mad that she storms from the house to find
a quiet place in the woods to be alone. The illustrations which start out as an angry red slowly blend back into cool greens and blues as Sophie is able to work through her anger. (Ages 2-5)
Full bibliographic info: Bang, Molly When Sophie Gets Angry - Really, Really Angry... Blue Sky Press, 1999.)



Llama Llama Mad at Mama by Anna Dewdney
Llama Llama returns for a day of running errands with his mama. After long lines and boring shopping, Llama Llama throws a tantrum in the store, but ever so patient mama is able to help him work through it and recover the day. (Ages 2-5)
Full bibliographic info: Dewdney, Anna. Llama Llama Mad at Mama. Viking, 2007.)




Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak
This award winning children's classic about a boy who gets sent to his room after misbehaving takes us on his creative make-believe journey while he's in his room. (Ages 4-9)
(Full bibliographic info: Sendak, Maurice. Where the Wild Things Are. Harper, 1963.)



Grumpy Bird by Jeremy Tankard
Poor Bird is feeling grumpy today and has decided to walk instead of fly. All the other innocent forest animals ask bird about his travels and are met with an increasingly grumpy bird. In the end, the animals, who have followed bird in a row, are able to help bring bird out of his mood. Fantastic, bright illustrations join this simple, but meaningful story. (Ages 2-5)
(Full bibliographic info: Tankard, Jeremy. Grumpy Bird. Scholastic Press, 2007.)

Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day by Judith Viorst
Alexander is having a tough day that goes from bad to worse, but he gets some help from his mom who reminds him that some days are just like that - which is quite true. (Ages 5-9)
(Full bibliographic info: Viorst, Judith. Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day. Antheum, 1975.)

Below are two CD's that have songs about being grumpy or having a hard day. You can make more connections by joining these songs with any of the books - enjoy!

I'm So Mad by Jim Gill
From Jim Gill Sings the Sneezing Song and Other Contagious Tunes



Awfulish Day by Hans Mayer
From Just a Little Hug



Monday, December 7, 2009

The Power of Ten

You will find no shortage of counting picture books available today. And many of them are terrific and offer a wide range of themes so you can match your child's favorite interests to counting books to make the sharing and learning more enjoyable and meaningful. Below you'll find a grouping of counting books that all count up to the number ten. A few more have been touched on in other blog posts: Ten Tiny Tickles by Karen Katz, Ten Tiny Babies by Karen Katz, Ten Red Apples by Pat Hutchins, Ten, Nine, Eight by Molly Bang, Ten Little Fingers, Ten Little Toes by Mem Fox and 10 Little Rubber Ducks by Eric Carle.


Ten in the Bed by Jane Cabrera
A twist on the familiar rhyme, this version introduces some interesting occupations into the mix. (Ages 2-5)
(Full bibliographic info: Cabrera, Jane. Ten in the Bed. Holiday House, 2006.)



This Jazz Man by Karen Ehrhardt
To the familiar tune of "This Old Man", Ehrhardt introduces you to nine famous jazz musicians. (Ages 4-9)
(Full bibliographic info: Ehrhardt, Karen. This Jazz Man. Harcourt, 2006.)



Zin! Zin! Zin! A Violin by Lloyd Moss
Counting from one solo instrument up to a ten piece orchestra, the reader meets an array of instruments. (Ages 4-9)
(Full bibliographic info: Moss, Lloyd. Zin! Zin! Zin! A Violin. Simon and Schuster Books for Young Readers, 1995.)



Construction Countdown by K.C. Olson
For the trucks and construction enthusiasts, this book counts down from ten dump trucks down to two skid loaders. (Ages 2-5)
(Full bibliographic info: Olson, K.C. Construction Countdown. Henry Holt, 2004.)



Cookie Count: A Tasty Pop-Up by Robert Sabuda
If you are not familiar with Robert Sabuda's extraordinary artwork, then you are in for a treat. This pop-up book counts from one to ten as two mice are baking for the holiday season. The pop-ups are wonderful fun, but are delicate, so this is one to share together. (Ages 2-9)
(Full bibliographic info: Sabuda, Robert. Cookie Count: A Tasty Pop-Up. Little Simon, 1997.)


Over in the Garden by Jennifer Ward
Filled with lots of garden bugs, this variation of "Over in the Meadow" is sure to be a hit with those readers who love the great outdoors. (Ages 2-5)
(Full bibliographic info: Ward, Jennifer. Over in the Garden. Rising Moon, 2002.)




Ten Little Fish by Audrey Wood
The vibrant illustrations and simple rhyming text count a school of fish down from ten to one, but in the end you have ten little fish all over again. (Ages 2-5)
(Full bibliographic info: Wood, Audrey. Ten Little Fish. Blue Sky Press, 2004.)



How Do Dinosaurs Count to Ten? by Jane Yolen
A short board book, this counting book is for all those dinosaur fans out there. If you like Yolen's "How Do Dinosaurs..." series, this is another title to enjoy. (Ages 2-5)
(Full bibliographic info: Yolen, Jane. How Do Dinosaurs Count to Ten? Blue Sky Press, 2004.)


Thursday, December 3, 2009

Literacy Lava 3

Spread the word!  Literacy Lava 3 is now available. You can access this free resource by clicking here.  You will be taken to The Book Chook, Susan Stephenson's webpage where you simply download the pdf by clicking on its cover.

There you will find another great issue - exploding with tips for parents about ways to encourage literacy in family life. Find out what your local library has to offer, read ideas on making books with kids, sneak some learning into shopping, discover games that build literacy skills, develop imagination while playing Grocery Store, make writing part of your family’s life, read why picture books are so good for kids, and find out how literacy helped one child fight night terrors. Don’t forget to check out the Online Extras page, and the Writing Prompt activity page for kids.  

Don't forget that this is a free resource developed by children's literacy bloggers, so please share and spread the word about Literacy Lava!

Monday, September 28, 2009

Mother Goose Is in the House

Reading nursery rhymes and Mother Goose to babies and young children is an excellent way to provide an early literacy environment that will help children develop language and literacy.  The rhythm and bounciness of the text create a joyful mood and become familiar to the children with every reading.  And children, even babies, are so quick to learn the rhythms and sounds right along with you.  Because most the rhymes are the same from book to book, what sets aside many of the nursery rhyme collections are the fabulous illustrations that join with the words. You'll find below a short list of some favorite nursery rhyme books, but there are plenty more to enjoy!


Mother Goose Remembers by Clare Beaton
Illustrated in Clare Beaton's style of colorful and animated applique, forty-six rhymes are offered in this beautiful nursery rhyme collection.  This edition also includes an audio CD.  (Ages 1-5)
(Full bibliographic info: Beaton, Clare. Mother Goose Remembers. Barefoot Books, 2006.)

The Neighborhood Mother Goose by Nina Crews
Using distinctive illustrations that depict children in a current, relevant setting, this book of Mother Goose rhymes has been brought into the 21st century.  (Ages 2-5)
(Full bibliographic info: Crews, Nina. The Neighborhood Mother Goose. Greenwillow Books, 2004.)

Tomie dePaola's Mother Goose by Tomie dePaola
A nursery rhyme classic for almost 25 years, dePaola's Mother Goose contains over 200 rhymes.  Also, Tomie's Little Mother Goose.  (Ages 1-5)
(Full bibliographic info: dePaola, Tomie. Tomie dePaola's Mother Goose. Putnam, 1985.)


Animal Crackers Nursery Rhymes by Jane Dyer
This is a board book of rhymes with inviting water color illustrations. (Ages 0-3)
(Full bibliographic info: Dyer, Jane. Animal Crackers Nursery Rhymes. Little Brown, 1998.)



Mary Engelbreit's Silly Mother Goose by Mary Engelbreit
Mary Engelbreit has a large Mother Goose volume, Mary Engelbreit's Mother Goose: 100 Best Loved Verses and the Silly Mother Goose has rhymes and illustrations taken from that, but in a smaller, board book version.  Also, Mary Engelbreit's Merry Mother Goose, Mary Engelbreit's Happy Mother Goose, Mary Engelbreit's Funny Mother Goose, and Mary Engelbreit's Mother Goose Favorites.  (Ages 0-5)
(Full bibliographic info: Engelbreit, Mary. Mary Engelbreit's Silly Mother Goose. Harper Collins, 2005.)

Sylvia Long's Mother Goose by Sylvia Long
Over eighty rhymes are included in this volume of Mother Goose.  Sylvia Long's whimsical and detailed illustrations provide a lot for young readers to look at while enjoying the rhymes.  (Ages 1-5)
(Full bibliographic info: Long, Sylvia. Sylvia Long's Mother Goose. Chronicle Books, 1999.)

My First Mother Goose by Lisa McCue
This carry along treasury is a board book with a clip and handle.  The joyful, bright illustrations will have your child asking to read this one again and again.  (Ages 0-5)
(Full bibliographic info: McCue, Lisa. My First Mother Goose. Reader's Digest, 2009.)

Hickory Dickory Dock by Sanja Rescek
Twenty rhymes are included in this soft cover book that is perfect for little hands.  (Ages 0-5)
(Full bibliographic info: Rescek, Sanja. Hickory Dickory Dock. Tiger Tales, 2006.)

Three Little Kittens and Other Favorite Nursery Rhymes by Tony Ross
This collection of tales includes almost fifty well known as well as lesser known rhymes set to detailed and inviting illustrations.  (Ages 1-5)
(Full bibliographic info: Ross, Tony. Three Little Kittens and Other Favorite Nursery Rhymes.  Henry Holt, 2009.)

My Very First Mother Goose by Iona Opie and Rosemary Wells
No Mother Goose collection list would be complete without the Iona Opie and Rosemary Wells books.  In addition to this volume, is the Here Comes Mother Goose collection.  Rosemary Wells' illustrations, as always, are delightful and inviting to young children. (Ages 0-5)
(Full bibliographic info: Wells, Rosemary. My Very First Mother Goose. Candlewick Press, 1996.)