Virtual Program: Let's Be Kind Storytime

For my February virtual program, I put on a kindness storytime. I wanted to do a different spin on Valentine's Day and I thought this theme fit very well.

The first book that was read was Be Kind by Pat Zietlow Miller. This really is a sweet book that shows all the ways you can make a person feel better just by being kind and showing empathy. This book really fit my theme and was a perfect introduction to kindness.

After we read our first book, it was time for a flannel board activity. Since we are so close to Valentine's Day, I decided to do a Valentine's Day flannel board using a rhyme and some different Valentines in the shape of hearts. 

Our following book was Finding Kindness by Deborah Underwood. I liked how this was another book that really explained being kind well. Both of these picture books allow children to understand all the different ways you can be kind to others.

For our sample craft to make at home, I used construction paper hearts and made a Valentine Bee that they could give to someone else for Valentine's Day to be kind. "Be kind and be my Valentine!"

Book of the Month: The Worry (Less) Book: Feel Strong, Find Calm, and Tame Your Anxiety

 

For February's Book of the Month, I chose a nonfiction children's book about worry and anxiety to help children who might be having trouble with our new normal because of Covid-19 or those that like me, tend to having worry and anxious tendencies. The Worry (Less) Book: Feel Strong, Find Calm, and Tame Your Anxiety! by Rachel Brian is our Book of the Month. I read a lot of self-help nonfiction for adults on worry and anxiety and wanted to see what we have out there for our children to read on the subject. 

Summary: Start worrying less and enjoying life with this book for people who worry or struggle with anxiety (so yeah--everyone)!

Ages: 6-10 years

"What this book can do: explain how your body reacts to worries. Help you recognize anxiety. Give you ideas for calming yourself. What it can't do: tell you how to worry. Pick up your dirty socks. Make all anxiety disappear."

In kid-friendly speak and fun comic illustrations, Rachel Brian presents a helpful book on worry and anxiety for children and like she says, "for everyone!" Particularly helpful is how she presents ways middle graders and adults can manage their stressful moments and how to understand their feelings better. This is a great book to explain worry to children and how there are good worries and being overly worried. 

The pictures really get emotions across that will help the reader understand even better. There's also valuable information explaining worry from a scientific and medical perspective. I also liked how the author pointed out the different ways you can recognize it's anxiety and how anxiety can get in the way of new opportunities and all the ways you can take care of you to avoid worry's ugly moments. 

This book is a great introduction on worry and how to alleviate them. 

Virtual Program: Penguin Storytime

 For my January virtual program, I was able to do a storytime about penguins. I have to remember just how many great penguin books and activities there are to do with little ones! For my virtual storytimes, I usually read two books tops and include a flannel board follow-along activity and a craft idea. I followed the same template for this program.

For our first book, I read Be Brave, Little Penguin by Rachel Elliot. This book tells the story of a cute, little penguin who wants to swim and play in the water despite being afraid, but pulls through and conquers his fear. I enjoyed how this book had a great message for kids and cute illustrations to go along with it.

After our second book, I did a short flannel board activity involving the concept of colors and different color penguins. Of course we counted our penguins too!

My last book was Little Penguin and the Lollipop by Tadgh Bentley. This is a fun book to read and hopefully got the kids at home involved by saying, "razzle dazzle lollipop!" Who doesn't love a story about penguins and lollipops?

For a sample craft to make at home, I showed viewers how to make a simple penguin out of construction paper or with any type of paper if the kids wanted to color. 

With all the picture books on penguins, it's no wonder they are one of everyone's favorite animals!

Book of the Month: I'm Sticking with You

I chose I'm Sticking with You by Smriti Prasadam-Halls and illustrated by Steve Small for January's Book of the Month. If you are looking for a picture book that is sweet and loving while teaching friendship this is a great choice to read.

Summary: It's wonderful to have good friends to see you through the good times and the bad. But sometimes, friends can also be a bit...well...overbearing. 

Ages: 4-8 years

"I'm ready to listen to all your ideas. Ready to be there to help you along...Even if sometimes it goes a bit wrong."

Rhyming words and simple pictures complete this book on friendship and love. Prasadam-Halls explains that friendship involves sticking together through the hard times and understanding that sometimes you'll need a break only to miss your friend. 

This is a great book for a frienship storytime because it is short and teaches the characteristics of friendship and love. 

Virtual Program: Cozy Cuddles Storytime

 For another December virtual program, I enjoyed putting on a Cozy Cuddles storytime. This storytime was for everyone to snuggle up together with their stuffed animals and get warm and cozy with some theme-liked books.

The first book I read was Penguin in Love by Salina Yoon. This is an adorable book about a penguin who finds a lost mitten and is trying to find its owner. The pictures are so cute and is a book that warms your heart.

The next book I read was appropriately called So Cozy by Lerryn Korda. I like this book because it's about a dog who is trying to get cozy and take a nap when other animals come along and want to join him. Perfect for kids to practice naming the animals in the book.

In between the two books, I did a quick flannel board activity using flannel mitten cutouts and a rhyme for those to follow at home to practice their colors. 

At the end of storytime, I suggested a simple mitten craft that kids can do at home using paper, glue, cotton balls, and string. 

Another great book to read for a cozy cuddle storytime is William's Winter Nap by Linda Ashman. Perfect selection to read right before bedtime.

Keep cozy!

Virtual Program: Make Your Own Wrapping Paper

 For my first virtual program for December, I filmed a "Make Your Own Wrapping Paper" program. It was for all ages and I showed three stamping techniques. 

These techniques were relatively easy and I chose these to have a very easy design and two other somewhat harder designs. I actually had two more other designs to show, but I thought the video was going to be too long. I can always save those for next time.

I started with using plain, white wrapping paper or brown craft paper depending on what would make the colors pop on the paper. 

For our first design, I showed how to make a string light design using red and green paint, a black marker, and finger prints or the cap of a glue stick to make the light bulbs. This is the most simple and still so very cute!

Our second design was making a gingerbread scene using cookie cutters, brown paint, and adding some holiday stamp designs to it. I also used some laser tape I found at the dollar store since it looks like ribbon, but is so easy to put on.

Our last design was a beautiful snowman design using the bottom of a glass or cup, white paint, and using markers to draw on our dried snowmen. I will say I liked this design the best because the circles turn out so clean and perfect and it's so adorable. 

Using finger prints, glue caps, cookie cutters, pre-made stamps, and the bottom of cups are some ways to create designs for wrapping paper. 

Of course there are a number of ways to add designs on your paper from making your own stampers out of potatoes or cardboard to just simply coloring on some blank wrapping paper. 

There's also really simple kid-friendly ways like the ones mentioned above to very elaborate skilled ways. 

Book of the Month: Night Wishes

Night Wishes, poems selected by Lee Bennett Hopkins, was chosen as my December Book of the Month. This book has been on various poetry lists for children and I can see why with it's gliding words and beautiful artwork by Jen Corace. 

Summary: How would a clock, nightlight, or teddy bear say good night? In this enchanting poetry collection, Lee Bennett Hopkins and thirteen other poets imagine the wishes whispering through a young girl's bedroom as she falls asleep. 

Ages: 4-8 years

"Night melts your room into shadows and ink. Think of my pages, O Dreamer, just think..." ~Excerpt of the poem Book by Joyce Sidman

This is the perfect poetry book for bed and encourages readers and listeners alike to make their own poems about what is in their bedroom and how would they imagine these things would say goodnight. 

Each poem will inspire imagination and calmness for the perfect nighttime slumber.