I'm in Love ...

New books for me to LOVE ...

Amy Krouse Rosenthal does it again! This book is so clever ....

Blue Balliett is back .... Can't wait to read this one.

OMG! Love this book. So cute and clever.

Burnham Bunch: Chicks and Rabbits

It's Rabbit Season (No! It's Chick Season!)

Read: Five Little Chicks by Nancy Tafuri and 10 Hungry Rabbits by Anita Lobel

Flannel board: 10 Hungry Rabbits - I used clip art for pictures of the food: cabbage, onions, peppers, tomatoes, potatoes, carrots, mushrooms, blueberries, peas and pepper. I also found a picture of a basket. As I read the story, I asked the children to put their food "into" the basket.

Craft: Crayon-resist Easter Egg

Need: White craft paper, white crayon, watercolor paint and paint brushes

• Prior to storytime, I cut out an egg shape out of the white craft paper. I then made random designs on each paper with a white crayon.
• At storytime, we placed a tray with an egg at each craft seat as well as a handy paint palate-tray. 
• We explained that the easter bunny created a secret on each of their eggs .... and the paint will reveal the message.
• So pretty!

Burnham Bunch: Spring Flowers

Let's bring in a bit of Spring ...

Read: Skunk's Spring Surprise by Leslea Newman and Wake Up, It's Spring by Lisa Campbell Ernst

Flannelboard: Five Little Daffodils inspired by Fun With Friends at Storytime

Craft: Flower Pots found from La classe della maestra Valentina. Seriously check out this blog. Her classroom is AMAZING! Unless you speak Italian, you may have a bit of a problem reading her posts. But, I am so inspired by creativity!

Need: Brown, green and yellow construction paper. Cupcake liner.

• Prior to storytime, we cut out our craft pieces: brown = flower pot, green = stem and leaves, yellow = flower center. I also used blue copy paper and printed "Spring" on the top.
• Kids glued the pieces and DONE! 

I have no idea how to make rotate this! But, you get the picture ...

Burnham Bunch: St. Patrick's Day

The Luck of the Irish!

Read: There Was an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Clover by Lucille Colandro

Flannel board: There Was an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Clover

Craft: Shamrock
Need: Fingerpaint paper, yellow and blue paint, paper plates and paint brush.

• Prior to storytime, cut out a shamrock shape out of the paper. 
• At each craft seat, place one cut shamrock. Squeeze a dollop of yellow and blue paint onto a plate. 
• Explain to each child that when you mix the two colors a magically surprise awaits them.
• That's about it ....

Burnham Bunch: Dr. Seuss

Happy Birthday, Dr. Seuss!

Read: Mr. Brown Can Moo! Can You? and 10 Apples Up On Top! (writing at Theo. LeSieg)

Flannel board: Using 10 Apples Up On Top, I placed numbered apples (1-10) on the board ... prompting kiddos to count as we read along.

Craft: 10 Apples Up On Top!
Need: White and red craft paper, a "head," and glue sticks.

• Prior to storytime, I cut white craft paper in half ... to make two narrow sheets. I also cut-out apples (10 per kiddo) using our Silhouette cutting machine. AND, I printed out a head image for the apples to sit upon.
• At each craft seat, I placed white paper, 10 apples, 1 head and a glue stick.
• I instructed the kiddos to glue down their head and the 10 apples.
• For the older kiddos, I asked them to mark each apples from 1 to 10.
• Easy peasy, lemon breezy!