Ages 0-2.
Blog Post
Chicken Soup with Rice, so nice!
by PattySmith
In November’s gusty gale I will flop my flippy tail
And spout hot soup-I’ll be a whale!
Spouting once, spouting twice
Spouting chicken soup with rice!
There is a small collection of books that travels through life with me and comes out when I want the comfort of an old friend. The book Chicken Soup with Rice by Maurice Sendak is one of them and is almost always plucked from the bookshelf around the time the leaves near the end of their fall dance and coats and mittens become a part of my daily wardrobe. Written in 1962, it‘s part of a small collection of books Sendak called the Nutshell Library. (The other titles in the series are: Alligators All Around: an alphabet, One was Johnny: a counting book and Pierre: a cautionary tale.) Each book tells a different story in rhyme and covers topics like the months, counting and the alphabet. Chicken Soup with Rice covers the days of the month and you get the picture early on that the little boy in the book really loves chicken soup with rice! The book is delicious in its play with rhymes and the illustrations are true Maurice Sendak. A nice compliment to this little gem can be found on Carol King’s CD Really Rosie. She put the words to song and created a nice little ditty that will have you humming it for days.
Blog Post
Hilarious new BIRD picture books!
by eapearce
School is back in session, but not everyone goes to elementary school: little birdies have to attend flight school! Or at least, those little birdies do who are SUPPOSED to learn how to fly. When Penguin arrives for HIS first day of flight school, Teacher is taken aback.
"But you, dear, are a penguin," she says.
"Undeniable," Penguin replies, "but I have the soul of an eagle."
So begins the hilariously told and illustrated story of Penguin's attempts to learn to fly in Lita Judge's Flight School. And just imagine what happens when Penguin decides to bring his friend Ostrich along for a lesson!
If you're interested in other goofy bird books, The ABC of Fabulous Princesses, by Willy Puchner, is a must-read. Prince William must find a wife, and all of the bird empresses are eager to impress him. Some are big, some are small, some are quiet, some are loud... but they all come from different countries bearing a unique gift for Prince William. Puchner's illustrations and rhymes are funny and fantastic. This is a great book not meant just for folks first learning their alphabet!
Blog Post
PreK Bits - "D" is for DAY at the Farm
by ryanikoglu
Ms. Rachel brought Farm stories for Preschool Storytime this week.
In GOBBLE GOBBLE MOOoo TRACTOR BOOK by Jez Alborough ... Farmer Dougal did not get up one morning and the animals drove the tractor .... just pretend!
We sang "Farmer Brown Had 5 Red Apples" which can be found with other farm songs in the CD ABC and 123 Songs by Sharon, Lois and Bram...
Mr. Bingle needed help getting the last big apple from the top of his tree in APPLE PIE by Anne Wellington.
Both stories are fun, ... and unfortunately out of print, ... but you can still get copies through MelCat loans with your AADL card.
You can browse the webcatalog for farm stories or you can try some favorites listed below:
LITTLE APPLE GOAT by Caroline Church. The little goat who loves to eat apples ... unknowingly becomes the planter of the new apple trees.
CHARLIE And The NEW BABY by Ree Drummond, is a story of a new calf (with adorable pictures by Diane DeGroat) ... who needs extra attention while Charlie the dog is feeling neglected.
E-I-E-I-O: How Old MacDonald Got His Farm by Judy Sierra ... is a story that happens with the help of the Hen.
Henry is tired of an un-tidy farm so he creates HENRY'S MAP.
THESE BEES COUNT ... Farmer Ellen shows how to listen to the bees.
The NOISY FARM ... to practice lots of animal noises.
The YEAR At MAPLE HILL FARM ... an illustrated classic by Alice Provensen.
Blog Post
Furry Friends at the Tot Table
by StoryLaura
Check out all the furry forest friends at the tot table in the youth area of the Downtown Library. Possums dangle from the big tree and fawns curl up in their hidey hole. Raccoon chases squirrel through the log tunnel and watch out for those skunks! For real wildlife adventures make sure to visit Leslie Science Center or The Creature Conservancy or take a walk through Saginaw Forest while the beautiful weather holds!
Blog Post
And the cars go…
by manz
Author and illustrator William Bee is one to bookmark if you have a little one into THINGS THAT GO.
First there was And The Train Goes… and the newest one is And the Cars Go…. Both are such cute picture books!
The books are chock-full of amazing illustrations with sounds to make and read along with. BRRRMMM BRRRMMM, HONK HONK, POP POP POP, BANG BANG HISSSSS. Little ones will enjoy sitting on your lap and checking out the pictures, signs and THINGS THAT GO!
For further fun, check out Trains Go and Trucks Go by Steve Light. Super amazing big board books.
Blog Post
Sign Language for Infants and Toddlers
by prlhw
Saturday March 29 | 11:00 am to 11:45 am | Malletts Creek Branch
Event is intended for hearing babies ages 6 months - 2 years and their families (No older siblings, please)
Kathy Brady, Certified Instructor at Signing Smart in Ann Arbor, will be teaching families how to incorporate American Sign Language (ASL) into daily interactions with hearing infants and toddlers, ages 6 months to 2 years. ASL is commonly and successfully used to help babies speak their mind and better communicate their needs and wants. Kathy will teach common, everyday ASL signs through songs and play, making signing easy, fun, and successful!
Blog Post
PreK BITS - Owls
by ryanikoglu
Ms. Rachel invited Owls to tell their stories in StoryTime @ Malletts Creek Branch Library.
If you liked the stories and want to take home the book, here are the titles:
LITTLE OWL LOST by Chris Haughton
I'M NOT CUTE! By Jonathan Allen .... AND Jonathan Allen's Baby Owl has more stories to tell.
If you want to read more books about Owls here are some suggestions:
TOO TALL HOUSES by Gianna Marino
GOOD NIGHT, OWL! by Pat Hutchins
OWL BABIES by Martin Waddell
OWL WHO WAS AFRAID Of The DARK by Jill Tomlinson
LITTLE OWL'S NIGHT by Divya Srinivasan
Don't forget to browse the books with True Facts about Owls.
Build your knowledge of owl behaviors and science when you browse non-fiction J 598.7:
OWLS
OWLS: Whooo ARE THEY?
Blog Post
New Baby Board Books!
by manz
There are many funny, cuddly, silly, adorable, and beautiful new board books for grown-ups and children to dive into on the shelves at AADL. Board books are durable enough for the youngest hands to hold and often feature bright colors, simple stories, and basic concepts that are great for lap time.
A few beautifully illustrated books written by Jennifer Adams have some familiar titles! The BabyLit series “is a fashionable way to introduce toddlers to the world of classic literature.” Check out the board book versions of these classics:
Wuthering Heights: a weather primer
Sense & sensibility: an opposites primer
Alice in Wonderland: a colors primer
If you like these, be patient, we have more Babylit on order!
Blog Post
Baby Bits - SNOW
by ryanikoglu
It is blowing ... It is SNOWing ... flitter flutter snowflakes ... falling down ... On the ground ....
Baby PlayGroups take place as long as the Library building is open.
Find a good day and time, Bundle up the Baby, and come and play in a big room with other babies 0-2 years old (no older siblings please).
You can view the schedule here.
Here are some nice wintery items to take home and enjoy during a warm cuddle-up.
BITTY BABY LOVES The SNOW
Raymond Briggs' The SNOWMAN
IF IT'S SNOWY And YIOU KNOW IT CLAP YOUR PAWS!
YOU MAKE ME SMILE
OVER And UNDER The SNOW
A PERFECT DAY
TEN On The SLED
NO
SUPER SNOW DAY SEEK And FIND
STRANGER In The WOODS
... Now where ARE those mittens?
Blog Post
At the Art Table: Veterans Day Cards!
by manz
Next time you’re at the Downtown branch, stop by the art table in the Youth Department and create a Veterans Day card! We've got the supplies needed to make a SUPER STAR card for a Veteran. All cards collected in time will be delivered to the Ann Arbor VA hospital in time for Veterans Day on November 11.