This Week at the Library

This is the type of weather that is so beautiful outside, and gets so uncomfortable inside. Inside our "community room," that is. It's cool enough outside that the building's air conditioner doesn't come on. Yet those wonderful huge windows that face the morning sun make the room a greenhouse and it gets really warm sometimes. Dress in layers when you come!

Preschool Storytime

In preparation for Halloween, we had a "Monsters" theme. Some of these books are big favorites of mine.

There's a Nightmare in My Closet, by Mercer Mayer. The dreaded monster in the closet! Actually he's a big crybaby.

Go Away, Big Green Monster!, by Ed Emberly. Yay! Nobody cried when the kids screamed "Go away!" I think this book is very empowering.

The Very Worst Monster, by Pat Hutchins. It's kind of fun to think being really, really bad is good!

The fourth book I read was different on Tuesday and Wednesday. Tuesday's book was:

Jeremy Draws a Monster, by Peter McCarty. Jeremy is the ultimate introvert, and when he draws a monster that comes to life and behaves badly, Jeremy ends up having to go outside and join the real world.

Wednesday's book was:

No Such Thing, by Jacki French Koller. I LOVE this book. Again, it's so empowering to a child to be able to prove he's right and the grownups are wrong. This book allows that in a humorous, respectful way, plus has the added benefit of showing that even if there is a monster under your bed, he's probably a playmate in the making.

We had a great time acting out the story of the Three Billy Goats Gruff. We learned how to tell/act out the story at home with the Horrible Mean Troll saying "Who's that trip-trapping over my bridge?" and "I'm coming up to eat you!"

Toddler Time

Good singers on Thursday! I love it when parents really get into the songs and fingerplays. Our books this week were:

Spots, Feathers and Curly Tails, by Nancy Tafuri. The kids love this guessing-game book.

Dinosaur Roar, by Paul Stickland. This is a genius of a book, combining dinosaurs, fun pictures and opposites.

Baby Time

Today four of the five babies were there for the first time. Plus we had a dad! Lots of smiles and wide eyes at the bubbles.