Monthly Archives: December 2012

Favorite Picture Books of 2012

Posted on December 31, 2012 by Melissa

I’m wrapping up 2012 with ten of my favorite picture books of the year. These aren’t picks for the Caldecott, or the Zolotow, or for storytime, or for any set of criteria except that I fell in love with each … Continue reading →

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Posted in Book Lists | 1 Comment

Favorite 2012 Non-Fiction Picture Books

Posted on December 28, 2012 by Melissa

Well, I did not read NEARLY as much non-fiction picture books as I meant to this year; I am going to have to seriously step up my game for 2013. From the books I did see, these are my favorites … Continue reading →

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Posted in Book Lists | 4 Comments

New Books for Baby Storytime

Posted on December 26, 2012 by Melissa

Everyone’s baby storytimes are different–some of us have separate groups for walkers and crawlers (jealous!); some of us use books, some of us don’t–so any “baby storytime” book list is going to be highly variable! These are eight 2012 books … Continue reading →

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Posted in Book Lists, My Baby Storytime | 8 Comments

A Few Books for Inspiration

Posted on December 20, 2012 by Melissa

At the beginning of the school year I had a teacher ask for help finding more books like, “Oh The Places You’ll Go!” There are actually quite a few, but I have to admit I have always dismissed them as … Continue reading →

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Posted in Book Lists | 2 Comments

Early Literacy Storytime: Print Props

Posted on December 18, 2012 by Melissa

A critical milestone in a child’s reading life is when they realize that print is all around them–the lit-up names on stores and the street signs and menus and in books–and that print carries meaning. When we show children that … Continue reading →

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Posted in Early Literacy Storytime, Uncategorized | 2 Comments

Flannel Friday: Coconut Tree & Monkeys

Posted on December 14, 2012 by Melissa

Can’t resist a tree full of monkeys! I made these felt sets for my recent ABC Baby Storytime. First I made a Chicka Chicka Tree, with different shaped coconuts: You could make a dozen of each shape coconuts, and hand … Continue reading →

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Posted in Flannelboards | 5 Comments

Creating Literacy Activities and Messages for Storytime

Posted on December 12, 2012 by Melissa

(Sheesh. Sorry about that post title!) One of my favorite things about baby storytime is being able to give literacy tips and encouragement to the parents and caregivers. For the past five years or so, my library has been using … Continue reading →

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Posted in Early Literacy Storytime, Training and Mentoring | 2 Comments

Baby Storytime: ABCs

Posted on December 10, 2012 by Melissa

I also talk about age-appropriate ways to build Letter Knowledge in my Shapes and Colors Storytimes. OPENING SONG: Hello Song* OPENING FINGERPLAY: Open Them Shut Them* BOOK: Chicka Chicka ABC by MARTIN, Jr This is the board book version, that … Continue reading →

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Posted in My Baby Storytime | 4 Comments

What I’m Reading: Fine Motor Skills

Posted on December 6, 2012 by Melissa

Each month this year I’ve been writing some early literacy support materials for our storytime staff, to provide background information about how the five practices of reading, writing, singing, talking, and playing support the development of early literacy skills. By … Continue reading →

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Posted in Web Resources | 2 Comments

Early Literacy Storytime: Going on a Bear Hunt

Posted on December 4, 2012 by Melissa

Reading is more than just sounding out words–it’s also understanding what those words mean. Comprehension skills are important not just in and of themselves, but because if a child doesn’t understand what they are reading, they will get frustrated and … Continue reading →

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Posted in Early Literacy Storytime | 4 Comments