June 25th Snickerdoodles, June 26th, and June 27th Cutie Pies Storytime: Food Trip: Germany

Guten Tag! (Hello)

We'll need to grab our food passports and hop on an "imaginary" plane next week as we sample the mouth-watering delights of Germany during our Snickerdoodles (Toddlers) and Cutie Pies (Preschool) Storytimes! We'll learn about tasty German delicacies such as hot dogs, listen to German tunes, see foods which are the colors of the German flag, and make a towering hamburger collage!

Until we meet again, I'd like to say Auf Wiedersehen! (Goodbye)

Wee Read Books Bunch for Preschoolers Begins Fall 2012!

Does your little bookworm enjoy listening to stories read by you? If so, this would be the perfect opportunity to join our new Wee Read Books Bunch for preschoolers beginning this fall! Read the following description to learn more about this fundamental and educational pre-reading experience.

Wee Read Books Bunch for Preschoolers (3-5 yrs) 

Help your little ones catch the reading bug by joining our monthly parent/caregiver/child book club! This book club allows you and your child to read a pre-selected picture book which is developmentally- appropriate for their age range.

Once a month, Miss Jennifer will re-read the story, take the children on a picture walk of the book, talk about the book through a simple question and answer session, and encourage young readers by showcasing other picture books on the month's topic!

*Please note that parents/caregivers must be present during the discussion so that they can interact with their children during this early learning/communication experience. 

Limit 8 children with caregivers. 

Registration for this book club begins in the fall. 

Miss Jennifer's Ice Cream Storytime Template

Reading is so Delicious, nutritious, and fun (especially during library storytime). Join Miss Jennifer on her food-themed toddler and preschool summer reading programs. Below you will find our first Reading is So Delicious Summer Reading storytime, Ice Cream.

June 11, 12, and 13 Toddler and Preschool Ice Cream Storytime

Books
Should I Share My Ice Cream? by Mo Willems
The Ice Cream King by Steve Metzger

Dance
"Let's Clap Our Hands For Ice Cream" (Tune: "Did You Ever See a Lassie?")
(Source: http://www.preschoolexpress.com/theme_station05/jun05_icecream.shtml)

Ice Cream Chart
The kids decided which ice cream flavor they liked the best: vanilla or chocolate.

Song
"Take Me Out for Some Ice Cream" (Tune:"Take Me Out To the Ballgame")
(Source: http://www.childcarelounge.com/general-themes/ice-cream.php)

Flannelboard
Ice Cream Sensation (Source of flannelboard story: The Best of Totline Flannelboards by Totline Productions pg. 258 Cutouts: Cricut Simply Charmed)

Craft
Ice Cream Cone

Introducing Miss Jennifer's Picture Book Parade!

I'd like to introduce a brand-new feature called Miss Jennifer's Picture Book Parade to this blog and Oak Brook Public Library's newsletter, The Beacon.

Every month, I will select a picture book which has been recently acquired by the library to review. All of the books I choose will spotlight the many beautiful new picture books we have on our "New Picture Books Shelf". This shelf can be found next to the concept and holiday books in the Youth Services area.

Miss Jennifer's Picture Book Parade  

Scary Mary by Paula Bowles
JE Bowles (New Picture Books Shelf)

Scary Mary is quite a curmudgeonly hen who "vants to be alone" at all times. There is no budging no matter how hard the other farm animals try to persuade this persnickety poultry to play with them. She rules the barnyard and makes it perfectly clear to all the animals that she is not a "chick" to be messed with.

In order to curb the other animals' kindly actions, Scary Mary puts up all types of roadblocks, including signs and a very foreboding- looking fort. To Scary Mary's chagrin, these precautionary measures arouse even more interest in the friendly livestock. Everyone wants to play!

Scary Mary proceeds to get her feathers in a twist and her explosive temper scares all the other animals away. Will Scary Mary enjoy her "me" time or find out being alone isn't all its cracked up to be?

Read this charming tale which illustrates the importance of pro-social behavior and the true meaning of friendship. Children will enjoy the carefree renderings of sweet-faced farm animals and the bold use of primary colors which make this a true picture gem. I give this story 2 "eggs" up!

Snickerdoodles (Toddlers) and Cutie Pies (Preschoolers) June 18th, 19th and 20th Storytime: Italian Food

Buon Giorno!

We're taking a  food trip to experience the glorious sights and tastes of Italy! We'll find out all about Italian and American foods in our Italian and American Foods Match-up Game, dance to a perky pizza song, read Oodles of Noodles by Diana Hendry, and make a piping hot pizza craft.

Everyone registered for this storytime will receive their very own "food trip passport" as they "journey" to this food-friendly country!

Ciao!

Snickerdoodles (Toddlers) and Cutie Pies (Preschoolers) June 11, 12, and 13th Storytime Topic: Ice Cream

Ooey-gooey, oh so yummy sweet treat for my tummy! Ice creams the word during our June 11, 12, and 13th storytimes for toddlers and preschoolers. We'll graph our favorite ice cream flavors to see which one we like the best, read ice-cream themed stories such as Mo Willem's Should I Share My Ice Cream? and The Ice Cream King by Steve Metzger, treat ourselves to an Ice Cream Sensation flannelboard story and whip up a sassy little ice cream cone craft!

Miss Jennifer's Reading is So Delicious Crafts!

Who knew reading could taste this good? I'd like to share a few of my upcoming crafts for our food-themed Reading is So Delicious Storytimes (which start next week). We'll be exploring Italian food by making a pizza, learning about German delicacies by creating a hamburger collage, designing  a totally sweet ice cream cone, and making a lunch that will chase your tummy grumbles away.



You scream, I scream, we all scream for ice cream!



Grab a slice of pizza!

What a hamburger!

                                 

Time for lunch!

                                          

Check Out our Tasty Reading Is So Delicious Bulletin Board Display!

I think I'm getting hungry!

Preparation for our Summer Reading Program, Reading is So Delicious is in full swing at the library!

Toady I created this bulletin board display in honor of the crispy, salty, savory, and sweet flavors of  the food we will be discussing in our upcoming storytimes and programs.

Let's Get Cooking! Reading is So Delicious and Eating is Too! Try Out These Tasty Cookbooks!

Imagine the decadent smells of exotic dishes wafting through the air like spicy fried dumpling-like morsels such as Akkra from Jamaica or savory Stuffed Green Peppers and Potatoes from Hungary as they busily cook away on your stove top. You could also choose to reminisce of a simpler time by devouring a bowl of a colonial American breakfast favorite, Hasty Pudding.

All these recipes and more can be found in the many cookbooks lining our shelves. From homespun Italian dishes to romantic and elegant French delicacies, the Oak Brook Public Library will have you taste buds tingling for one of these meals.

The following cookbooks will leave you "hungry" for more wonderful cooking experiences and tasty treats!

The Spatulatta Cookbook by Isabella and Olivia Gerasole (J 641.5 GER)

The Colonial Cook by Bobbie Kalman (J 641.5 KAL)  (Hasty Pudding recipe p. 19)

Cooking the Caribbean Way by Cheryl Davidson Kaufman (J 641.5 KAU) (Akkra recipe  p. 52)

The Mix-It-Up Cookbook: Make More Than 100 Dishes from 18 Basic Recipes! Published by American Girl Library (J 641.5 Mix)

Cooking the Hungarian Way by Magdolina Hargittai (J 641.594 HAR) (Stuffed Green Peppers with Potatoes recipe  p. 54)

                         

Reading Is So Delicious! Registration for Summer Reading Programs Starts Today

Our yummy selection of programs and storytimes look good enough to eat! Please register for our toddler through 2nd grade storytimes, special events, and teen programs today (May 14)!

May 14th is the registration date for Oak Brook residents and registration for non-residents starts on June 4th for our summer programs. 

You can register by calling the Y.S. Reference Desk at 630 -368-7733 for these sensational and savory activities!

Make sure to register early before all the spots for your preferred storytime are gobbled all up!