The BuNny HoP!
The bunnies, the chicks, the kiddos and the fun! The Faxon Branch Library hosted the Bunny Hop last week, during school vacation, and oh my, what fun!  
B is for Bunny!   b is for baby!
Kendra brought two beautiful bunnies from Westmoor Park and everyone had a chance to pet the bunnies.  We learned so much about them. They hopped around our story time room.  And all the while, little chicks were waiting for us.

We listened to the book Hurry Hurry by Eve Bunting while we carefully and gently...without shaking or peaking held little eggs in our little hands.  When the story was over...our eggs were ready to hatch.  Quietly, ever-so-quietly we opened our eggs to find little colorful chicks!  OMGoodness - it was too cute!

Our little birdies where on the flannel board heralding the arrival of the chicks and keeping a watchful eye.

We had a bunny wedding! (indeed) 

Bunny babies, three!

We made bunny ears!

We did the bunny hop..... hop, hop!!  

And no one spilled anything on our new Story Time Rug!

B is for Bunny, b is for bear!

bye- bye Bunnies!

Thanks for reading.

Flannel Friday ...before/after flannelization!

I recall Oprah Winfrey saying that the before/after shows were always her most popular.  No doubt you recall - she had stylists come in and a lucky audience member or two or three would have a make-over with the proper fitting clothes, new hair color, a cheeky new hair cut, trendy accessories, etc.  I would love a make-over this Spring...my entire closet needs a make-over as well.  I fear that I am slowly growing into a fashion "don't" <sigh>  With all this in mind and preparing for "The Flannel This, Puppet That!" presentation at the upcoming Connecticut Library Association Conference on May 7 & 8 with my colleague, Kari Ann, I took a look at some of my older flannel board stories and decided to try a Do-over!  A Make-Over!

As Oprah would say...let's take a look again at the BEFORE photos:
(But we need a little set-up)
Here is the 25 yr old Little White Duck and her friends at the Lily Pad.  
They used to be "regulars" in story time...but now they are in the back of the bin, hardly ever making an appearance.  Lacking confidence?  I don't know - maybe after doing this song for 15 years or so, I just changed things up.  I think they look pretty cute!

I drew these on paper, colored them with pencils and markers, and laminated them

...a long time ago!

And now, are you ready?  The big reveal!

Let's hear it for the flannelized version

I must say, flannel does make a difference!  The pieces are brighter and more importantly, they have depth and texture...they are warmer.  I am thinking they are even more fun!  

Please let me know what you think!  

thanks ~ piper & jane

Click here for the Little White Duck song!

P.S. (Piper Script) No flannel board pieces were injured in this make-over!

Where oh where are the promised Lift-the-Flap books?!

As promised...Piper and I have our posting, just a tad late!  These books are fun for all ages and make excellent gifts. This is one of Piper's fav's!  Night Night Baby by Kate Merritt.  Piper is ready with her blanket, her Mimi doll and her pacifier.  Now we will read it about 8 times, or maybe 12 times and then...she will be ready for bed!  Night Night Baby Piper xo!

You may want to know that these books beg for repetition.   "Again, again", they cry out!  And so will your children.  Really...you may want to have a plan.  When my daughter was little we had a last book.  Each night we read 3-5 books and the last book was always Pat the Bunny.  She loved this book and it signaled the end of our snuggly reading time.  
 

We adore all things Maisy and encourage you to join Maisy's Fun Club!  This series goes everywhere, covers all holidays, you can even learn French with Maisy.  C'est magnifique!

Here are two favorites from Story Time.  We have multiple copies and each child and adult partner set gets their own copy to read together.  So much fun!

 

We never tire of our all time favorite ~ Dear Zoo by Rod Campbell. The flaps are on the smaller side in this book and open from top, bottom and side to side.  This is not for Lift-the-Flap beginners!!!

More fun flaps at the Library including the ever popular Where's Spot by Eric Hill. 

 Multiple copy flap books from our Story Time collection include Cheryl Christian's Where's the Puppy and Where's the Kitten.  Along with Moira Kemp's Lift-the-Flap CHICK and Lift-the-Flap MOUSE.  For Beatrix Potter fans, don't forget Munch, Munch, Peter Rabbit.

If you have a Rocket Man little boy in your house the NUMBERS cover will be appealing, just note that the book is really about counting.  The "bright baby" Trucks book is a big success with the truck lovers, four trucks on every page, with their labels and one of them has a flap to lift. 

The American Library Association has a suggested book list for babies. You may link to it right here, Born to Read!  It is a great place to start for new moms and dads or new grandparents when planning to purchase or borrow from the library.  I do suggest using the cleaning wipes on board books in your home - they go into most babies mouths at some time no matter how careful we are.  We wipe them down here in the library too.  

P.S. (piper script) sometimes we don't even read the books, it is just fun to lift the flaps and find apples, babies, trucks, mice and more!