SAXTON B. LITTLE FREE LIBRARY
319 Route 87 Columbia, CT 06237
Phone: 860 228 0350 Fax: 860 228 1569 E-mail: staff@columbiactlibrary.org

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Speaking Volumes

Keeping you up-to-date on what's happening at your library. We invite you to join in the conversation!
SEPTEMBER 10, 2010
Favorite Read Alouds
Here at the Saxton B. we offer two Story Times a week; Tuesdays & Wednesdays both at 10:30. I usually read two picture books and then follow up with some sort of simple craft. Choosing what books to read each week isn’t always easy. The audience can range from infants to 5 and 6 year olds, all with varying attention spans and interests. Of course I do have my favorites to read aloud, and there are certain qualities that I look for when picking a Story Time book. Things I look for include; eye-catching illustrations, HUMOR, length (not too long, not too short), topic (trucks and sharks are popular with my regular crowd), rhymes and refrains (allow children to ‘read’ along with you), and choosing a story with characters that you can make funny voices for never hurts either.
 
Here is a short list of a few of my all time favorites:
 
I’m Dirty! By Kate and Jim McMullan

 
 
This one gets points just for being a book about a bucket loader – the majority of my storytimers can name the parts of the truck faster than I can read them out loud. The bucket loader picks up garbage and gets covered in mud, and as you read you can make all sorts of great truck sounds …. CLANK! RATTLE! CHOMP! And even a nice loud TIM-BERRRRRRRR!
 
Wild Boars Cook, by Meg Rosoff and Sophie Blackall

 
 
This follow up to Meet Wild Boars has it all – great pictures, funny premise, and the all important gross-out factor as the nasty boars cook a disgusting and massive pudding. Just take a look at that pudding:

  
 
Can I Play Too? By Mo Willems

 
 
Ok, I am a complete sucker for Mo Willems books. I love reading ALL his books at Story Time and they always get the crowd laughing. Can I Play Too? is the latest in the Elephant and Piggie series, and in it Piggie and Elephant meet a snake - a snake that wants to play catch. Very clever Mr. Willems, very clever indeed.
 
  

The Terrible Plop, by Ursula Dubosarsky
 
 
This one was recommended by another Children’s Librarian on an email listserv I belong to. The story begins when a bunch of cute little rabbits hear ‘a terrible plop’ and promptly panic, sending waves of terror through the forest animals, who later find out it was only an apple. The rhyming text is easy to read since it flows so nicely with an almost Dr. Seuss like cadence. PLUS, plop is just a funny word to say.
 
Of course as I wrap up this post more favorites are coming to mind, but I’ll just have to save them for another day!
 


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Comments

Mercedes said, on Sep. 21 at 6:50AM
We love Mo Willems books too and The Terrible Plop has been a favorite since you first read it to us. You always do a great job picking out books for storytime. Thanks!

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