Dots and Storytime

We really like to create connections between our programs and our displays. This allows us to draw our patrons in on many levels. Currently our favorite kind of display is the collaborative art project. We loved the gratitude tree experience, we are trying to repeat it in as many manifestations as we can.  Here is our growing dot collage. Using the die cut machine we made a stack of rainbow dots and are encouraging our patrons to design them and put them up in the window. (We do keep the tape at the desk because tape and three year old's are a bad combination) 

                                                            

To help launch our dot display, I hosted a preschool storytime focusing on creativity and imagination. 

We started with Maybe Something Beautiful by Isabel Campoy. It is a little long, but with some quick edits, it worked as the first book. 

Also included were Lots of Dots by Craig Frazier, The Dot by Peter Reynolds, and Not a Box by Antoinette Portis.

We did songs about art (This is the way we paint the wall) and the hokey-pokey with scarves. 

For my flannel board I just cut out many colored flannel dots and encouraged the children come up and help create a design with dots. Mostly they just wanted to put a flannel piece up, but we did get one lovely flower, a stop light, a mouse, and a car. 

For our craft I put out paper plates with three dots of poster paint (red, yellow, and blue) and put out paint brushes and q-tips for dot painting. I brought in some window dots, and a few of the children painted them and put them up in the window! The next thing we are going to add to our window display is some pictures of artrisits who use dots, and some books that families could use 

Littles and How They Grow

Littles and How They Grow by Kelly DiPucchio

I just read this new book in Babytime and I really enjoyed it because it shows diversity among the families.  It was a tad long for Babytime, but I'm sure there is a way to make it shorter. 

Teddy Bear Storytime

Teddy Bear Storytime

I love doing a bear storytime.  I love it even more when I mix Teddy Bears into my storytime.  I have a huge bin of Teddy Bears that I use for songs with the children at the end.  If you ever want to borrow my big bin of bears, please let me know.  I've been collecting teddy bears throughout my career and they are all different and unique and some not-a-bear teddy bears.  I always talk about how it's winter time and the bears are now hibernating (great word to boost their vocabulary) before the reading books.  It's so much fun!  

 Bedtime for Bear by Brett Helquist

This was the favorite for storytime this morning.  Poor bear is so tired, but his friends, two raccoons, really want him to play in the snow with them before he sleeps all winter long. 

 Spring is Here by Will Hillenbrand

This was a fun one to read.  It's spring and Mole wants his friend Bear to watch up.  He tries everything and it's not until makes him a big pancake breakfast before Bear wakes up.  Poor Mole is so tired from trying to wake up Bear that he gets back to sleep at the end. 

Where's My Teddy?  by Jez Alborough

I really like this story.  Poor Eddie has left his teddy in the woods, when he goes to find Eddie he finds that his teddy is now HUGE.  

Songs I use doing my teddy bear storytime:

Two Little Brown Bears, Sitting on a Hill, One Name Jack and One Name Jill

Run away Jack....

Two Little Brown Bears, digging in the Snow, One Name Fast and One Name Slow

Run away Fast....

Two Little Brown Bears feeling quite proud, one name Quiet and one name Loud

Run away Quiet...

Teddy Bear Playhouse by Hap Palmer "So Big" CD

Dance With Your Teddy Bear by Greg & Steve "Jumpin & Jammin" CD

Dance with your Teddy Bear!