Mother Nature must be playing a lovely trick. It's March, but it's winspring ( winter-spring, sounds more magical than spinter) where it's sunny and bright but cold and white. The children heard three stories ( When Will it Be Spring? by Catherine Walters,Over in the Meadow by Jane Cabrera, and Snowmen all Year ( the blog's first post!!!) by Caralynn Buehner). We also played with scarves, counted some frogs, and make a snowflake flower ( brightly-colored snowflake turned into a flower by way of a stem and leaf.)
Here is a video of the Five Little Speckled Frogs. Enjoy!:
Our next Story-time for 2 and 3 yr olds will be ( all at 10am):
Monday, March 17
Monday April 7
Monday April 21
May-TBD
By the way, we are back!!! in the Children's Program room ( with a big surprise!!!!)
It's the third week before Christmas. How's everyone doing? ( I got most of my shopping done, now have to wrap gifts, get the tree up, and make cookies. And hopefully my sister and the cat will make it home for the holidays.)
One of the biggest part of the holiday season, besides reading The Night before Christmas or watching the holidays specials and movies ( Hallmark Channel has the best movies for the holiday season, and this weekend is It's A Wonderful Life on NBC) is holiday music, whether by the radio stations or CD. Some of us may prefer sacred, traditional carols like " Silent Night" or golden standards by Crosby, Williams, or Como. Some of us may prefer popular artists like Mariah or Kenny G. And some of us may prefer the wacky and wonderful ( like this year's oddity, Duck the Halls from the cast of Duck Dynasty.)
For this blog entry, I decided to list a few of my holiday CDs I have used for programs ( or owned), both from children's and the regular AV dept (and don't worry, they stay out all year around , so if you need a little Christmas in March or July, go ahead.) Most tend to repeat songs ( I think everyone seems to favor covering " The Christmas Song", " White Christmas", " Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas" and most recently, Joni Mitchell's " River"), so I decided to list the album by type of music to expect, some songs, and similar albums. Enjoy.
(Note- Bold means regular AV)
Radio Disney Holiday Jams-Various Artists: Kid-friendly holiday songs from Disney's radio station ( which in the Midwest is 1300 AM, but very hard to get). Features "Santa Claus is Coming to Town" by Jackson 5, " Jingle Bells" by the Barking Dogs, and " Last Christmas" by Doctor Who star Billie Piper ( apparently was a teen pop star before TV and film). Similar albums: Radio Disney Jingle Jams Volumes 1 and 2, Disney Channel Holiday Playlist, Disney Channel Holiday
Phineas and Ferb Holiday Favorites-Various Artists: Holiday songs from the characters of Phineas and Ferb . Features original songs like " I Really Don't like Christmas" and "That Christmas Feeling" plus holiday classics like " Let it Snow" . Similar albums- see the suggestions of Radio Disney Holiday Jams
Now That's What I Call Christmas series-Various Artists: Holiday completion albums from the Now That's What I call Music series. Currently there are about seven ( including one that is all songs by country-western artists.) Mixture of holiday songs from the past to today, most tend to repeat tracks. Similar albums-A Very Special Christmas, Time-Life Treasury of Christmas Songs, Ultimate Christmas, Let it Snow, Hotel Cafe presents Winter Songs
Cool December -Various Artists: Winter, non-Christmas songs from artists of the 40s-60s. Includes " Let it Snow " by Doris Day and "Warm December" by Julie London. Great use for programs involving winter and/or snowmen. Similar albums-In the Christmas Mood-Glenn Miller, Snowfall-Tony Bennett,Christmas Classics
Polar Express Original Motion Soundtrack-Various Artists: Music from the 2004 animated movie. Includes original songs like "Believe" and " Hot Chocolate" plus classic Christmas songs and score by Alan Silvestr. Similar Albums: Love Actually soundtrack, Elf soundtrack, A Very Ally McBeal Christmas, Nick at Night's Classic Cartoon Christmas, Glee Christmas 1-3
40 Years--A Charlie Brown Christmas-Various Artists: Jazzy anniversary tribute to A Charlie Brown Christmas, featuring artists like Vanessa L. Williams, Toni Braxton, and Dave Koz. Similar albums: December Makes Me this Way by Dave Koz, any Kenny G holiday album, any Harry Connick Jr. holiday album, Christmas by Michael Buble, The Season by Jane Monhait
Noel-Josh Groban: Pop-classical artist, features mix of original and classic Christmas songs, such as " I'll be Home for Christmas ( which features holiday messages from soldiers stationed overseas). Similar albums: My Christmas by Andrea Bocelli, These are the Special Times by Celine Dion, The Gift by Susan Boyle
The Ultimate Relaxation Christmas Album-Various Artists: Instrumental, relaxing mix of sacred and secular Christmas music. Similar Albums: Ultimate Relaxation Christmas Album 2, A Windham Hill Christmas,any Mannheim Steamroller holiday album
December-Kenny Loggins: Very gentle Christmas album from 70s'-80s' singer/songwriter Loggins (who's first solo single in 1978 " Celebrate Me Home" has over the years become a unofficial holiday tune.) Features original and classic Christmas songs, such as " White Christmas" and " Walking in the Air". Similar Albums: Wintersong by Sarah McLachlan, James Taylor at Christmas by James Taylor, Christmas Spirit by Richard Marx
Dr. Demento Presents the Greatest Christmas Novelty Album of All Time-Various Artists: For those looking for an offbeat Christmas, this is a good album to go with ( and clean!) Contains favorite novelty songs like " I Want a Hippopotamus for Christmas" " The Chipmunk Song" and "Grandma Got Ran Over by a Reindeer. Similar Albums: Grandma Got Ran Over by A Reindeer by Dr. Elmo, Twisted Christmas by Twisted Sister, Meowy Christmas by The Jingle Cats, Holidays in Dementia, and Duck The Halls by the Robertson Family.
I would list more, but then this post would never end. So instead I'm going to end with a fun tune off the the Phineas and Ferb Christmas album, " Let It Snow" . Enjoy!
It's snowing outside and it's snowing in Children's. Okay,it's not literally snowing in the department but we have winter and snowman books on display for you to check out.
Here are some recommended titles-
The Snowman by Raymond Briggs- When his snowman comes to life, a little boy invites him home and in return is taken on a flight high above the countryside.
Snowmen All Year by Caralyn Buehler- A child imagines what it would be like if a snowman, made of magical snow, could be a companion throughout the year.
A Kitten Tale by Eric Rohmann- As four kittens who have never seen winter watch the seasons pass, three of them declare the reasons they will dislike snow when it arrives, while the fourth cannot wait to experience it for himself.
Snow by Manya Stojic- As snow approaches and begins to fall, Moose, Bear, Fox, and other forest creatures prepare for winter.
Winter Lullaby by Barbara Seuling- Depicts the ways various animals spend the cold months of winter, from bats sleeping in caverns to fish swimming deeper in lakes where the water is warmer.
Want more? Here are some keywords to use on our catalog ( or ask a librarian):
Winter
Snowmen
Snow
Seasons
Correction- For those signing up for next month's events ( and I think I mention in the comments next to the posting about January programs), we have a new calender.Click on Library Events and check it out ( and come to the programs!!)
With spring just a few days away, it is most likely that the tales of Frosty and Raymond Briggs's The Snowman will be sitting on our shelves until December. But what if there was a book about a snowman staying all year? In Snowmen all Year by Caralynn Buehner and illustrated by her husband, Mark Buehner (their previous work includes Snowmen at Night and Snowmen at Christmas), a young boy wishes his snowman were magic and stay all year instead of melting at winter's end. What follows are whimsical and charming pictures of the boy and the snowman playing at the beach, watching fireworks, and trick-or-treating. The pictures are bright and kid-driven ( what kid wouldn't dream of playing chess while having slushies with a snowman?) and it's written in simple rhymes. I'm actually thinking about using for next week's 2 and 3 year-old program as we say goodbye to winter and welcome the sights and sounds of spring.
Snowmen all Year by Caralynn Buehner
Age level- 3 and up
Lexile: 750 Rating- ***** ( 5 stars)
