Happy Valentine's Day

The theme for this morning's storytime was "Hugs and Kisses" and featured four books, 3 songs 2 fingerplays and a flannelboard counting song. We had a record thirteen kids of all ages and they were all engaged and participatory. Lots of smiles, which makes it really a joy for me! There was even something of a major victory today - one of my regulars usually sits near the back with his mom and is a bit hesitant to participate - this morning he walked in a bit late, and I welcomed him and invited him to sit in the circle of kids...or he could pull up a chair, the choice was his...after hesitating a bit, he came right into the circle. I even caught him singing a long a little! We made Valentine's Day cards for our craft. Easy, inexpensive and the kids (and adults) got very creative with some paper doilies, heart shapes cut from scrapbook paper I'd probably never use, rickrack, ribbon and, of course, glitter.

Here is what we read:
The Kissing Hand by Audrey Penn
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Chester the raccoon is off for his first day of school, and he isn't sure he wants to leave his friends and his toys and his mother. When he asks her, "Please can't I just stay here with you?" this mom shares a great secret (which I wish I had known when my kids were starting school!) She kisses the palm of his hand and assures him that whenever he wants to feel close to her, he can simply hold the palm of his hand to his cheek and he will be able to feel her love. Such a touching and charming story, with lovely pictures. But wait there is more...as Chester is leaving for school, he gives his mom a kissing hand so that she will always be able to feel his love, too. The theme for today's storytime was "hugs and kisses" but this book would work just as well as a Mother's Day book or first day of school read.

How Do You Hug a Porcupine? by Laurie Isop
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This is a charming book, told in rhyme advising the reader on how to hug all sorts of animals (even a yak!). The phrase "But how do you hug a porcupine?" is repeated several times and the kids at storytime would say it with me, taking their cue from the rhyming word on the page before. The illustrations are very cute. In the end the reader does learn exactly how to hug a porcupine.

Something Special by Terri Cohlene
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

On each page of this delightful, mysterious book the reader is given a clue about what was in the mysterious present frog receives when the book opens. It contains something special, but what is it? It can be silent, or loud, planted, blown,,,is best when given away....sugary ones come from Grandma and sticky ones from little brothers. Can you guess? The kids today at storytime had great fun offering up special things, cookies, soccer balls and strawberries... which usually worked fine for a clue or two but then it was clear that this something special was something else. We reviewed each clue for each suggested object, and the kids would chime in yes or no depending on whether the item fit or not. Great storytime read, this book very naturally becomes very interactive and very engaging even with a group.

The Ballad of Valentine by Alison Jackson
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This is a book that is a fun, rhyming story or a song to the tune of "Clementine." I didn't want to subject my audience to more of my singing voice, so I just read this book, about a girl named Valentine and her suitor. Her suitor is one unlucky man - who tries desperately to send her a Valentine, but is thwarted at every turn. The mail train gets derailed, a tornado blows away his smoke signal message and it goes on and on. The rhyme and rhythm of this book make it fun to read out loud and the pictures and text are filled with humor.