Kate's blog

New Dimensions in Bead and Wire Jewelry by Margot Potter

New Dimensions in Bead and Wire Jewelry brings shaping and beading wire together to create stunning sculptural designs. From necklaces and bracelets, to rings, earrings and tiaras, jewelry maven Margot Potter shows you how to coil, wrap, weave and sculpt 30 wire-based projects. In addition, inspirational variations on the projects provide even more reason to get wrapped up in wire.

The Bead Jewelry Bible by Dorothy Wood

Discover this indispensable guide to making bead jewelry covering all the essential beading techniques, from choosing colors and designing jewelry, to bead stringing, making findings and bead embroidery. Author Dorothy Wood features nine technique-focused chapters, including a chapter on how to make your own beads, and a tenth chapter containing step-by-step instructions for 12 brand new bead jewelry projects. Easy-to-follow step-by-step instructions, clear diagrams and stunning photography combine to create a must-have resource for expert and beginner beaders alike.

100 Beaded Flowers, Trinkets & Charms by Amanda Murr-Hinson

It's been a great fall! We rocked our last 2's and 3's storytime of 2011.

Pete the Cat Rocking in My School Shoes by Eric Litwin

Pete the Cat is back—and this time he’s rocking in his school shoes. Pete discovers the library, the lunchroom, the playground, and lots of other cool places at school. And no matter where he goes, Pete never stops moving and grooving and singing his song . . . because it’s all good

I Went Walking by Sue Williams

Join a young boy for a playful stroll with a colorful parade of farm animals.

This week our books all had bear cubs in them.  What do bears think of the changing seasons?  What happens when they hibernate? 

Leaves by David Ezra Stein

It's a young bear's first autumn, and the falling leaves surprise him. He tries to put them back on the trees, but it doesn't work. Eventually, he gets sleepy, and burrows into the fallen leaves for a long nap. When he wakes up, it's spring—and there are suddenly brand-new leaves all around, welcoming him.

Baby Bear, Baby Bear, What Do You See?  by Bill Martin Jr / Eric Carle

Illustrations and rhyming text portray a young bear searching for its mother and meeting many North American animals along the way.

Halloween Night by Elizabeth Hatch

On a dark Halloween night, a little mouse is transformed as an assortment of visitors, including a costumed child, a slick black cat, and a swooping owl, do their part to make the night a magical event for their tiny friend!

We're Off To Find The Witch's House by Richard Krieb

It's Halloween night, and as the moon rises, four children set off to find the witch's house. on their way they encounter a host of silly, spooky characters, from a skittle-skattling skeleton to a shirking, lurking Dracula. Can they make it all the way to the witch's house? or will their fears get the best of them? this humorous take on a favorite holiday begs to be read aloud again and again.

Creepy Monsters, Sleepy Monsters by Jane Yolen

Creep, gurgle, crawl, tumble! Meet two young monsters who are far from scary - they’re too busy having fun. They go to school, play outside with their friends, and eat after-school snacks. But they also have a bedtime, whether or not they’re ready for it! Young children and parents alike will find much to identify with as they follow these lovable little monsters getting ready for bed. With wildly colorful illustrations full of whimsy and warmth, Kelly Murphy brings Jane Yolen’s gently rhyming tale to rambunctious life.

Go Away Big Green Monster! by Ed Emberley

Caldecott Award-winning author-artist Ed Emberley has created an ingenious way for children to chase away their nighttime fears. Kids can turn the pages of this die-cut book and watch the Big Green Monster grow. Then, when they're ready to show him who's in charge, they'll turn the remaining pages and watch him disappear! This lavish reissue features dramatic die-cut eyes and sparkling foil on the cover.

This week we read two new books about colors and animals.  These books have a lot of similarities as well as differences.  One explores creativity by painting animals in unusual colors.  One presents a color and a clue and we can guess what animal will be on the next page.  Both books have beautiful illustrations.

The Artist Who Painted a Blue Horse by Eric Carle

Every child has an artist inside them, and this vibrant new picture book from Eric Carle will help let it out. The artist in this book paints the world as he sees it, just like a child. There's a red crocodile, an orange elephant, a purple fox and a polka-dotted donkey. More than anything, there's imagination. Filled with some of the most magnificently colorful animals of Eric Carle's career, this tribute to the creative life celebrates the power of art.  Includes biographical information about the German painter Franz Marc, who created unconventional animal paintings in the early 1900s.

I Spy With My Little Eye by Edward Gibbs

Have you ever played the I-spy game? Debut artist Edward Gibbs takes the game to a whole new level in this picture book with spy holes. Peeking through the pages, children will be able to spot a different colored animal every time, and guess what it is using a simple, factual clue. Bold illustrations and die-cut holes will absorb young readers as they learn about colors and animal names.

This week the 2's and 3's read a new book about caterpillars, plus an old favorite!

Ten Little Caterpillars by Bill Martin Jr.

Ten little caterpillars are out and about in our big wild world—come join them! You never know what you might find....A butterfly, perhaps?

Illustrations and rhyming text follow ten caterpillars as one wriggles up a flower stem, another sails across a garden pool, and one reaches an apple leaf, where something amazing happens.

The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle

Follows the progress of a hungry little caterpillar as he eats his way through a varied and very large quantity of food until, full at last, he forms a cocoon around himself and goes to sleep. Die-cut pages illustrate what the caterpillar ate on successive days.The beginning reader may watch a hungry caterpillar eat his way to the cocoon stage, when he hibernates for two weeks to emerge as a beautiful butterfly 

What reminds you of fall? Today we read stories about apples and squirrels.

Ducking for Apples by Lynne Berry

The five little ducks can’t wait to ride their bikes. Will they use their training wheels? No way! Teetering, swerving, tottering, curving, they ride full-steam until two ducks spy trees with ripe red apples on top. Those yummy apples will be perfect for pies and cakes, if only the ducks can reach them . . .

The Busy Little Squirrel by Nancy Tafuri

The leaves have started to fall. The air is cold. Squirrel needs to get ready for winter. He cannot nibble with the mice. He does not have time to hop with the frogs or run with the dogs. But there is one thing he can do!

Fall is For Friends by Suzy Spafford

Suzy Ducken and her best friend Emily Marmot are having a hard time waiting for the leaves to fall. They try everything to encourage them to drop, from cheerleading to singing. There isn't much these two best friends can't do when they use their imaginations.

Fall Leaves Fall by Zoe Hall

When fall comes, two brothers enjoy catching the falling leaves, stomping on them, kicking them, jumping in piles of them, and using them to make pictures, in a story with a description of how leaves change through the year.

When Autumn Falls by Kelli Nidey

Observes the aptly named fall season, characterized by falling leaves, falling apples, falling players on the football field, and falling temperatures.

What a great day to kick off Terrific 2's and 3's Storytime!

These are the books we read this week.

Wake Up Big Barn! by Suzanne Chitwood

Suzanne Chitwood's show stopping, eye-popping art style is bound to be the buzz of the season. Drawn in a classical style and "painted" in papers and other materials from top-secret sources, Suzanne's mud-bathing piggies, wiggling weather vanes, be-bop frogs, and groovy owl appear to emerge from the pages of the book. And her musical text features onomatopoeic sounds and funky rhythms that make this book perfect for reading aloud.

The Very Busy Spider by Eric Carle

The farm animals try to divert a busy little spider f rom spinning her web, but she persists and produces a thing of both beauty and usefulness.