story time hecklers

No doubt about it I love my story time hecklers.  Now, you wouldn't think that a simple and sweet activity like story time would draw the hecklers but it does and I love it.  My hecklers are under 5, and  are as sweet and innocent as they come, but that doesn't stop them from shouting out the truth, as they see it.    Yesterday, my heckler, 5 year old Emily who has been coming to story time for three years, drew her eyebrows together and exclaimed, "This is nonsense!" I loved it, her mom was mortified and whipped her out of the building as soon as story time was over.

Now, let me set the scene.  It is preschool story time and the theme is "Farms"-so many fun books to read and flannels but at the time of the heckling we were just finishing  the song and flannel to Old MacDonald.  While we sing along to the song I put up the flannels of different animals and Emily is having a fine time all through it.  But the end of the song brought the knitted brows and look of disgust.  At the end there is a "great big tickle bug" so I shoo the kids off to tickled their moms, dads, grandparents etc and it was fun with laughter and giggles all around.  Emily, being an only child, likes calm and she is firmly planted in reality.  She didn't even like the book The Cow Loves Cookies, because cows don't eat cookies.  So before the song is even over she has had enough and firmly declares, "This is nonsense!"  I laughed and every adult in the room laughed except Emily's mom.  I can laugh because she isn't my child but I have been there. 

The gift

So I returned to work on Monday hoping that all my little story time friends would be beating down the door to see me and take part in my magical story times.  Well, that wasn't the case.  Darn it!.  Just as I was about to leave for the day one of my regular little story time guys walks in with what looks like a piece of his art work.  I walked over to talk to him and ask about his art work when he pushed it towards me as a gift!  Ahhh, someone missed me-Yippee!  He was just pleased as punch to hand me the gift wrapped in green tissue paper with skeleton stamps all over it.  I unwrapped, and unwrapped and unwrapped, he was a very enthusiastic wrapper, to find a penguin stamp.  How cute is that!  I always give two stamps to all of my story time friends after the last rhyme and bubbles and he added to my collection.  I was missed...

So I finished Catching FireCatching Fire tonight and now I am going to rip Mockingjay out of my daughters hands.  Is Peeta dead?  District 12-where are you?  It is amazing that Katniss can be ruthless about killing but still be so endearing.  Obladee-life goes on...

Spring Break

Since I am on spring break I decided to read a grown up book-a book written for adults-and I really enjoyed it.  Emily and Einstein by Linda Francis Lee is heartwarming without being sappy-I didn't want to put it down.  Emily's husband, Sandy, is killed in an accident, but takes the form of a dog to-basically- wrap up his life.  In Emily's grief she adopts a dog whom she names Einstein, but who happens to be Sandy.  Einsteins's job is to help Emily through her grief which also includes cleaning up some of the mistakes Sandy made in their marriage and in life.  Of course her wack-a-doodle sister returns from South America to soothe Emily in the process causing more trouble.  Of course, there is a handsome, but somewhat troubled younger man who intrigues her, but is she ready to end her grief and move on?  The ending is satisfying without being too sugary sweet-really another installment would be great.  Definitely worth reading.

Now, I can't put down Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins.   Yippee!!!  It's spring break!

Emily and Einstein
Catching Fire 

Read the Book-again

When will I ever figure this out-stop talking and read the book!  Always from the 3 year old peanut gallery but they know what they want.  It's not like I am getting heckle from the same kid-it's always a different kid.  Alright-already, I'll stop talking!

I have the cutest book for you-picture book-Cowlick, by Christin Ditchfield.  Have you ever gone to bed with perfect hair, smooth and clean, only to wake up to hair that looks like a cow has licked your bangs to a new high?  If you lived through the teased and sprayed bangs of the 80's-this book is irresistible.  Two little boys go to bed with perfect smooth hair and sleep through the nighttime visit from their playful cow.  The story time kids loved this book and the parents chuckled at the sophisticated cowlick humor.  So cute!

Here's the link to WorldCat.org so that you can check your local library for a copy.
Cowlick!

school libraries

Improving Literacy Through School Libraries, is a federally funded program which helps LEAs improve reading achievement by providing students with increased access to up-to-date school library materials; well-equipped, technologically advanced school library centers; and professionally certified school librarians.

This program has been running since 2002 and is one of the few programs to demonstrate positive literacy/reading improvements in schools.  The 2011 Federal budget called for a consolidation of the funds for the Improving Literacy Through School Libraries program, which takes the funds out of reach for most school libraries.

It is VITAL that you contact Senator Rob Portman (202-224-3353) to tell him it is crucial to support maintaining level funding for the Improving Literacy Through School Libraries program. 

For some additional talking points and information, click here for a Google doc, but first and foremost:

-          Call 202-224-3353

-          Tell Senator Portman that you want him to support maintaining level funding for Improving Literacy Through School Libraries program

-          Cut and paste these instructions and post, blog and email to your colleagues (school librarians, teachers, administrators), parents, friends and family

-          Elected officials listen to voters. Make sure the message is clear:

Support maintaining level funding for Improving Literacy Through School Libraries program.

Follow this link http://capwiz.com/ala/issues/alert/?alertid=31143501&PROCESS=Take+Action if you would also like to send an automatic email.  PLEASE CALL first and foremost and send an email in addition.

Young Adult Lit.

I found this list of 100 Young Adult Books for the Feminist Reader.  Don't let the title scare you off.  I bet you have read a of few of these books which mainly have strong female characters.  Take a look-you won't know which book to read first. I'm going with a fluff read-nice escape-Dreamland by Sarah Dessen (#28).  If you are looking for something amazing-especially since it will soon be a movie- try The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins (#23).  This book and series crosses all age lines and can be read and enjoyed by everyone in your family.

100 young adult books
Dreamland
The Hunger Games

Picture books

It's the nature of my job-but I do read a lot of picture books.  I read at least six per day on a story time day and I am always searching for some great new picture books to add to the story time themes.  This week my theme was silly books.  As you can imagine there are lots to choose from and I read some fun books this week.  One book that went really well was Duck! Rabbit! by Amy Krouse Rosenthal, illustrated by Tom Lichteheld (Chronicle Books, 2009).  The illustrations are amazing.  Depending on how you look at the illustrations you may see a form of a duck or the form of a rabbit.  The author goes from one voice  claiming the form is a duck and the other voice claiming the form is a rabbit.  The toddlers and preschoolers that I read this book to were mesmerized and I could tell they were trying to discern the forms as I read.  Even the parents were intrigued which always leads me to believe that the book is a winner.  I could hear the oohs, aahs and chuckles of the parents as I read.  I love when a story time book is a hit!

This image was taken from Amazon-follow this link to take a look inside.
http://www.amazon.com/Duck-Rabbit-Amy-Krouse-Rosenthal/dp/0811868656/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1299945360&sr=1-1

Just read a book -will ya'

So it's babytime this morning and we had just finished going through our first set of songs and rhymes-Skinnamarink, 10 little fingers and Ladies Ride-and I stood up to start the flannel counting.  From the back of the room one of my story time regulars, he's about two,  shouted "Read a Book!". He was tired of all the nonsense that we had to go through just to get to the book. I laughed as well as everyone else in the room.  The pressure was on-I hope I didn't disappoint him.

In the toddler story time one of my regulars-a three year old boy-didn't want to stand up for "Jump and Count" because his shoes didn't work. They looked fine to me but I let him know that he could just watch.  Well, we got to three and he was up-he said his shoes were now working.  Certain songs kids can not resist-"Wheels on the Bus" and "Jump and Count".

The story time lady is about to start

Why? You ask.  Why do you have to blog too?  And I say...Why not?  Maybe it will just be fond reminders of my days as the story time lady, and maybe no one will enjoy it as much as I do-but here goes. 

I have performed, and yes that is the term for story times, seven story time per week for three years, and I have to admit it is the best job in the world.  Nothing starts my workday better than a two year old who sees me come around the corner with an armful of books, flannels and some rockin' story time music to see her face light up with happiness.  She shouts  "Brown Bear"  with a big smile then goes on to request "Old MacDonald" and tells me "good job" as I go along.  Ahh, the simple pleasures of childhood and combine that with a rockin' story time it is an awesome day.

"Hey, the story time lady is about to start-go seat down and listen to the books."