Happy Fourth of July!!

Hope everyone has a safe and happy 4th of July!See you all on Friday and keep reading!!


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Storytime for 2 and 3 yr olds-Big Truck Fun!!

For today's 2 and 3 yr old story time, we had some fun with some big construction trucks. We heard three books ( Construction Kitties by Judy Goodwin-Sturges, Kipper's Book of Opposites by Mick Inkpen, and On the Day the Tall Ships Sailed by Betty Paraskevas) and decorated some license plates with 4th of July stickers.

Here are some of the songs we did today-

Johnny Had One Hammer (song with motions) you have to be sitting down to do this song
While singing this verse make an up and down motion with one hand in a fist as if pounding a nail:

Johnny had one hammer, one hammer, one hammer, Johnny had one hammer then he had 2.
(Make same motion using both fists while singing this verse:)
Johnny had 2 hammers, 2 hammers, 2 hammers, Johnny had 2 hammers then he had 3.
(Continue with 3 hammers using both fists and one leg.)

Then 4 hammers using both fists and both legs.

For 5 hammers use both fists, both legs and head and sing:
Johnny had 5 hammers, 5 hammers, 5 hammers, Johnny had 5 hammers, then he went to sleep. (make a sleep motion as if laying your head on a pillow)

This is the Way ( Construction Worker Version)
This is the way we pound a nail
Pound a nail, Pound a Nail
This is the way we pound a nail
So Early in the morning

(Add whatever actions you want, like saw some wood, haul some bricks, etc.)

This is the Wiggles' version of Coming Around the Mountain ( We did the version from Laurie Berkner's Whaddaya Think of That? CD) Enjoy!

We have one more Storytime for 2 and 3 yr old on Monday, July 15 at 10 am and 11:30 am.

Due to the 4th of July holiday, we will be closing at 5pm on Wednesday, July 3. We will be closed all day on Thursday, July 4.We have normal business hours on Friday, July 5. We will still be doing a movie at noon, The Goonies. Patrons can bring a lunch or snack. No red or dark colored drinks!  It is open to all ages. (Children under the age of 7 must be accompanied by an adult age 18 or older.) No movie next Wednesday, instead we will have Ronald McDonald at 2 pm. ( Please visit Library Events for information and to register)

Happy 4th of July!! See you soon.

Dig into Reading-July Programming

Here are some programs that will happening next month in the Children's Dept at the Central Library. Please visit Library Events for information and to register.The last day to turn in books for  the Summer Reading Program is July 27.

Due to the 4th of July holiday, we will be closing at 5 pm on Wednesday, July 3. We will resume normal business hours on Friday, July 5 (9am-6 pm).

Mother Goose on the Loose - Tuesdays, July 2 and 16 at 10 am or 11:30 am
Audience: Infants 6-23 Months and caregiver.

Story Time for 2 and 3 yr Olds- Mondays at 10am or 11:30 am
July 1-Big Truck Fun!
July 15- Dino Stomp!
Audience:2 and 3 year olds and caregivers.

Story Time for 4 and 5 yr Olds- Tuesdays at 10 am or Wednesday at  6:30 pm
July 9 or 10-Buried Treasure!
July 23 or 24-We Dig Dino!
Audience: 4 and 5 year olds.

School-Age-Thursdays at 4pm.
July 11-Walk like an Egyptian
Audience: K to 5th grade and families



Family Movie Day ( Wednesday at noon)
Patrons can bring a lunch or snack. No red or dark colored drinks!
July 3-Goonies
July 17-Wreck it Ralph
July 24-We're Back: A Dinosaur Tale
Audience: All Ages.  Children under the age of 7 must be accompanied by an adult age 18 or older.

Other Programs:
Lego Club-Monday, July 15 at 4pm-Audience: Grades 2-6
Gaming Night-Wednesday, July 17 at 6pm-Audience: Teens 12-17
Board Game Fun- Wednesday, July 3 at 4pm-Audience: Grades 2-6
Ronald McDonald-Wednesday, July 10 at 2pm-Audience: All Ages
Down Under at the National Lakeshore-Thursday, July 18 at 2:30 pm-Audience: K-5
Book Exchange-Monday, July 22 at 10 am-Audience: All Ages
Silly Safari-Thursday, July 25 at 10 am-Audience: All Ages
Hope see everyone soon. Happy Summer!!

Storytime for 2 and 3 yr olds-Funny Bunnies

For today's 2 and 3 yr old story time, some funny bunnies came to the garden. We heard two stories ( You're Finally Here by Melanie Watt and When the World is Ready for Bed by Gillian Shields) and made a Funny Bunny paper bag puppet. We also did a few bunny activities, like the Bunny Pokey ( which is the Hokey Pokey, but with bunny actions).

Here are some of the songs we did today-

I’m a Little Tiny Bunny

Adapted by Sarah Northshield

(Sung to the tune of “I’ve Been Working on the Railroad”)

I’m a little tiny bunny (Form a fist and raise fore and middle fingers for bunny ears)

Digging underground (Imitate motion of dig­ging)

I’m a little tiny bunny

And I hardly make a sound (Pause and Shh!)

I’m so soft and cute and little (Pet “bunny” with other hand)

Digging like a mole (Imitate motion of digging)

Watch me scamper, scoot, and skittle and

Pop out of my hole! (Imitate motion of bunny jumping, or lift infant into the air)

Bunny Pokey added 3-18-01 Original Author Unknown

Sung to: "Hokey Pokey"

You put your bunny ears in
(Place hands on head to make ears)
You put your bunny ears out.
You put your bunny ears in.
And you shake them all about.
You do the Bunny Pokey
And hop yourself around,
That's what it's all about!

Additional verses: "You put your bunny nose in, You put your bunny tail in, You put your bunny paws in"

 

Our next Stortytimes for 2 and 3 yr olds will be:( Please register at Library Events  .)
Monday, July 1 at 10 and 11:30 am-Big Truck Fun!!
Monday, July 15 at 10 and 11:30 am-Dino Stomp!

This Wednesday at noon, we will be showing  Gnomeo and Juliet. Patrons can bring a lunch or snack. No red or dark colored drinks! It is open to all ages (children under the age of 7 must be accompanied by an adult age 18 or older) Please register at Library Events  .

See You Soon!

Book Review-Crankee Doodle-Tom Angleberger

 

Once about a time, there was a man named Yankee Doodle, who went to town on a pony to stick a feather in his hat and call it "macaroni". But what if after 200 yrs, Yankee became Crankee, and did not want to go to town because it was full of crowds that run around ringing bells and eating pies, and did not want to shop because everything is junk or call his feather "macaroni" but instead call it "lasagna" because it is a much fancier word (and noodle)? What if he doesn't want to ride Pony because... he smells?

This is a very funny and laugh out loud take on "Yankee Doodle" , with very vibrant and bright illustrations ( plus big cartoon bubbles!!!). We also get a very funny historical note explaining the meaning behind the song. A perfect read for the 4th of July ( or any time of the year!)

Crankee Doodle by Tom Angleberger
Age Range: 4-9
Rating: ***** ( 5 stars)

Bookworm List: Summertime!!

A big shout out of thanks to all who came to yesterday's Summer Reading Kick-off. We had a really good turn out, and everyone had fun with the crafts, stories, and games ( including Twister!!!). It's been a good first week, and there's more to come.  Our Family Movie Days start this Wednesday at noon (please register at Library Events ) , and is open to all ages ( children under 7 must be accompanied by an adult 18 yrs or older) and you can bring a lunch or a snack ( No red or dark colored drinks!!)

It's summertime ( or when I was little " Summer Break-out")! The weather's good ( somewhat colder than what  it should be) and it's time for lazy days and lemonade. Why not check out some books about summer? Here are some recommended titles:

• F is for fireflies : God's summertime alphabet by Wargin, Kathy-jo
• Dog Days( Diary of a Wimpy Kid # 4)  by Jeff Kinney
• Sun Dance, Water Dance by Johnathan London
•  A Couple of Boys have The Best Week Ever by Marlee Franzee
• Scaredy Squirrel at the Beach  by Melanie Watt

These and more books( including some books celebrating dads) can be found on display in the Children's Department.

Looking for more reads?Here are some suggested keywords:
Summer-Juvenile fiction
Summer-Juvenile literature
Beaches-Juvenile fiction
Vacations-Juvenile fiction
Ocean-Juvenile Fiction

Happy summer! Keep reading!!

Storytime for 2 and 3-How does Your Garden Grow?

This week begins our Summer Reading Program, Dig into Reading. For our first 2 and 3 of the summer, we spent time in the garden with two books (Fran's Flower by Lisa Bruce and Follow Me by Tricia Tusa) and made a craft where the children trace their hand and turned into a flowerpot. We also counted some speckled frogs and waltzed with Walter the Waltzing Worm.

Here is a video for the Five Little Speckled Frogs song, enjoy!

Our next storytime for 2 and 3 is Monday, June 17 at 10am and 11:30 am ( yes, during the summer, we do TWO sessions). Some funny bunnies will be visiting us.

 This Thursday, we have our Summer Reading Kick-off, from 2 -4 pm. It is open for ages 2-12 ( please register at Library Events ). We will celebrating the summer with games, crafts, and more!

See you soon!!

Book Review: Starring Jules ( as Herself) ( Starring Jules # 1)-Beth Ain

 

Meet Jules Bloom. She loves making up songs, creating lists and having lots of pizzazz. While showing her little brother how to make a fizzy ice cream shake ( which is milk with ice water and bubbles!!), a talent scout sees her and invites to audition for a commercial.  Jules is excited... until she learns the mouthwash is orange-flavored ( which she hates because of a past incident with an orange-flavored ice cream.) Not wanting to ruin her starring moment, Jules seeks help family and friends, including new girl Elinor and ex-best friend Charlotte.

This is very cute, quick read. Yes, she shares similar qualities to other girl series ( Junie B, Judy Moody, etc), but   unique and spunky in her own way. I especially love all the lists she makes  and how she talks to her parents ( she raises her hand and calls them " Mrs." or " Mr.".) The illustrations are cute and so is the ending (which is a bit of a surprise). I'm looking to the next book,  Starring Jules ( in Drama-rama).

Starring Jules ( as Herself) (Starring Jules # 1) by Beth Ain
Age Level: 7-10
Lexile: 760
***** ( 5 stars)

Book Review: The Watermelon Seed-Greg Pizzoli

 

Mr. Crocodile loves watermelon. He eats it everyday, from breakfast to dessert. But what happens when he eats a seed? Will his skin turn pink? Will he grows vines out of his ears or end up in a fruit salad?

A very cute colorful read for all ages. Really good for reading aloud to a group ( especially if you add sound effects and a dopey-sounding voice!)
The Watermelon Seed by Greg Pizzoli
Age Range: 3 and up
***** ( 5 stars)

For more information on the author and the book, see http://gregpizzoli.virb.com/watermelon

Dig into Reading-June Programming

Summer is just around the corner, and so is the library's summer reading program. Starting June 3th, and continuing until July 27th, children ages 2 to 14 can earn prizes by reading  library books. All they have to do is read one  book, magazine, or audio book and return to the Children's Department, where our teen volunteers will record each book read  on a special card, and eventually earn prizes by every 10 picture books or 500 chapter book pages read.

We will also be having programming during  the summer, too. Here are some programs that will happening next month in the Children's Dept at the Central Library. Please visit Library Events for information and to register.

Mother Goose on the Loose - Tuesdays, June 4 and 18 at 10 am or 11:30 am
Audience: Infants 6-23 Months and caregiver.

Story Time for 2 and 3 yr Olds- Mondays at 10am or 11:30 am
June 3- How Does Your Garden Grow?
June 17-Funny Bunnies
Audience:2 and 3 year olds and caregivers.

Story Time for 4 and 5 yr Olds- Tuesdays at 10 am or Wednesday at  6:30 pm
June 11 or 12-Stories in the Burrow
June 25 or 26-Sprouting with Books
Audience: 4 and 5 year olds.

School-Age-Thursdays at 4pm.
June 13-Ahoy Matey
June 20-Worms are Fun
Audience: K to 5th grade and families



Family Movie Day ( Wednesday at noon)
Patrons can bring a lunch or snack. No red or dark colored drinks!
June 12-Madagascar 3
June 19-Gnomeo and Juliet
June 26-Brave
Audience: All Ages.  Children under the age of 7 must be accompanied by an adult age 18 or older.

Other Programs:
Summer Reading Kick-off- Thursday, June 6 at 2pm-Audience: Ages 2-12
Lego Club-Monday, June 17 at 4pm-Audience: Grades 2-6
Gaming Night-Wednesday, June 19 at 6pm-Audience: Teens 12-17
Board Game Fun- Wednesday, June 5 at 6:30 pm-Audience: Grades 2-6
Merrillville Fire Department-Thursday, June 27 at 11 am Audience: All Ages
Hope see everyone soon. Happy Summer!!