One of the most popular children’s songs in the world is the classic “Itsy Bitsy Spider.” Its first reference in print was in a book in the USA in 1910, but if you’re wondering why we sometimes hear “Eensy Weensy” or “Incy Wincy” it’s because of the song’s popularity in […]
Youth Services FTPL
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One of my all-time favorite stories is the Three Billy Goats Gruff. It has the classic plot of good outwitting evil, plus lots of interesting and rhythmic language. The predictable plot helps new readers make guesses about what will happen next, reinforcing reading comprehension skills. It’s one of the best […]
Did you know that at one time folklorists had counted over 2,000 Cinderella stories from cultures around the world? The earliest known version is believed to be the story of Rhodopis, a Greek slave girl who married an Egyptian king, which was recorded early in the 1st century. A Chinese […]
Hey Diddle Diddle is a nonsense rhyme that first appeared in print in London in Mother Goose’s Melody in 1765. It’s filled with silliness, from the image of a cat playing a fiddle, or violin, to the cow jumping over the moon – if you’re “over the moon” then you […]
Many of you have attended the Library’s printmaking classes and used the Gel Press with paint and stencils to make abstract art. If you have a Gel Press at home, you can take a creative break from your homeschooling and create something – but did you know that you can […]
Have you heard the birds? Every morning, there are lots of them singing outside my window. I can’t always see them, but I can hear them! What do you think they are singing about? Here are some ideas that I had: “Wake up, everybody, the sun is here!” “I am […]
Did you know that the oldest American picture book still in print is Millions of Cats by Wanda Gag? It was published almost 100 years ago, in 1928. The story is about a lonely couple who decide to adopt a cat – but unfortunately, the husband can’t make up his […]
Baking soda is a cool thing, and most people have some hanging around in their kitchens. Sometimes it’s used to absorb odors in the refrigerator. Lots of times it’s used to make quick breads that don’t use yeast. You use it when making cakes and cookies “from scratch” and can […]
Nursery Rhymes offer great skills for early learning, from babies and toddlers through age 8 years. Have your older children act out some of their favorite nursery rhymes for the little ones, or put on a show for parents after supper! You can find “new to you” nursery rhymes on […]
When you can’t get to the library, let the stories come to you! The SAG-AFTRA Foundation’s award-winning children’s literacy website, Storyline Online, streams videos featuring celebrated actors reading children’s books alongside creatively produced illustrations. Click below to check it out:https://www.storylineonline.net/ If that site isn’t working, you can also watch Storyline […]