Book of the Month: Unicorn Day

Unicorn Day by Diana Murray, illustrated by Luke Flowers, is such a cute, fun book with the message of acceptance. Of course, I also love how this book rhymes perfectly!

Summary: The unicorns are celebrating their favorite day of the year, complete with rainbows, cupcakes, butterflies, and all sorts of joyful things. But when it's revealed there's an impostor in their midst, the party comes to a screeching halt...

Ages: 4-8 years 

"Sunshine, flowers, fairy wings, today's a day for joyful things! Neigh, neigh, neigh! Dance and play! Happy, happy Unicorn Day!"

This book has it all! Vibrant, beautiful illustrations, rhyming, fun, and a lesson. Any unicorn lover will enjoy reading this picture book! A message of acceptance is inter-woven in the book that is important and can be applied to your child's life as a reminder to friendly welcome others and an understanding to include everyone. This was such a cute one!

Free Online Resources for Teaching and Learning

Recently, School Library Journal posted a list of wonderful resources for parents to use during this time with having to stay home and quarantine due to the coronavirus and I wanted to pass this along. 

Stay healthy everyone.

Toddler Art: Curious George

We started off Toddler Art with our Curious George board book story, Curious George and the Bunny by H.A. Rey. The toddlers were having a little trouble paying attention, but we got through the story quickly and had craft time.

We had the usual two crafts, but I used two crafts from Preschool Picasso since I had leftovers and thought they were easy enough for toddlers.

There was a paper plate craft where the toddlers had to paint with a big paintbrush or clothespin pom pom brown to make Curious Georges' face.

The other two crafts were those  taken from Preschool Picasso. We made The Man in the Yellow Hat's tie and the hand print craft.

The parents enjoyed having these options and the kids had fun playing with our toddler toys after our crafts.

Preschool Picasso: Curious George

I had an extra big group for Preschool Picasso: Curious George since we had a mom's group attend, as well as my regulars. It was so nice to see everybody and they got to see me as "The Man in the Yellow Hat."

We started off with the story, Curious George: Librarian for a Day by Julie Tibbott. This was a shorter Curious George story to read that was just the right length, was about the library, and taught about how we arrange the books in the library.

After talking a little bit about the book and how we put books back in the library, it was time to introduce our Curious George crafts.

Our first craft was a painting craft using their handprints to make Curious George's body, green paint for the vines he was hanging off of, and to glue on Curious George's face to their handprint. They used brown and green paint, watercolor paint brushes for their leaves and vines, and had practice gluing.

Our next craft was to make a Man in the Yellow Hat tie. They had a fun time using stickers and markers to decorate their tie and wear it around the library.

The kids really do love Curious George!

Spring Displays!

Book of the Month: Yoga Storytime

Yoga Storytime by Miriam R. Aventos is a simple picture book that explains how yoga began in India and gives easy instruction on how to start yoga, the poses, and what is so beneficial about practicing it.

Summary: Discover the basics of practicing yoga by tracing the story of its beginnings in India, showing how its earliest practitioners observed things in nature, such as trees, cats, snakes, and lions, and then imitated their poses. 

 Ages: For children of all ages

"Just breathe, nothing more."

The illustrations were as calming as the subject and this can be a very interactive book with your child. Poses can be tried, breathing exercises can be done, all while learning about the subject and India. 

I would recommend this book for any parents interested in introducing yoga to their child or practicing yoga together. 

Family Storytime: Australian Animals

We ended winter storytime on the theme of Australian animals. We read books about koalas and kangaroos and then made a cute, koala craft.

To start off storytime, we participated in our bean bag dance song and then we read The Koala Who Could by Rachel Bright. This books rhymes perfectly and is great for this theme. It is on the bit of the longer side, but this book rhymes so well and kept the kids' attentions.

After our first book, we used the flannel board to do an alphabet activity. We fed the alligator alphabet pieces and everyone had a chance to put their pieces on the board.

Our next book was Don't Call Me Bear! by Aaron Blabey. This is such a silly, fun book about a poor koala who keeps getting called a bear. The kids laughed at how bothered he was by being called a different animal.

We ended up reading two more books since the kids were paying attention so well. Noni the Pony Rescues a Joey by Alison Lester and Bubbles by Kit Chase were perfect fits for this theme.

After our bubble story, we blew some bubbles and started making our construction paper koala craft. They each took times coloring their koala and adding leaves on to their "K" branch.

Other Books:

Eee-Moo! Annika Dunklee

The Koala Who Could Rahcel Bright

Koala and the Flower Mary Murphy

Over in Australia Amazing Animals Down Under Marianne Berkes

Two Tough Crocs David Bedford

Bubbles Kit Chase

A Hungry Lion Lucy Ruth Cummins

Oh No, Bobo! You're In Trouble Phil Gosier

Run, Run, Koala! Erica David

Platypus and the Lucky Day Chris Riddell

If I Were a Kangaroo Mylisa Larsen

Does a Kangaroo Have a Mother, Too? Eric Carle

Who are you, Baby Kangaroo? Stella Blackstone

The Koala Who Could Rachel Bright

Other Activity: Kookaburra Song