Not a flannel Firefly

Firefly July

At the beginning  of time of the month I saw fireflies in North Carolina and knew I wanted to create a community art project with fireflies back in my Connecticut library.   I was looking at Kevin Henke's award winning book - Kitten's First Full Moon for a different library program, when  suddenly I knew. Here's the firefly idea!    It's wonderful when the moon aligns with Jupiter and Mars and the idea is just there.  There!  Here!

I started with a large piece of gorgeous blue paper from the fantastic Jerry's Art-orama, the neighborhood art store.  I recycled, (and who doesn't love some free-re-cycle?) a piece of black foam board for the backing.  I had a big fat black sharpie on hand and some great colored chalk pastels.  I drew the moon, the fireflies and some flowers with the black sharpie and placed the piece on display.  

Our patrons, old and young alike, were invited to color one firefly.  And they did.  On the first day we had lots of bright yellow fireflies and a couple of yellow flowers.  We titled the piece "Be a Reading Bug and Light The Night"  In one week's time the mural was done.  Look at all the colors!  And all the fireflies!  It's magical...and our community loved being invited into the artwork.

Are you a reading bug?

P.S.(Piper Script): Enjoy your summer reading...and watch for fireflies!  We'll be looking to the heavens for inspiration for the next community art project.  

Gossie & Friends

.....it's time to meet Ollie...

Olivier Dunrea's characters in the Gossie & Gertie series are just too darling.  They lend themselves perfectly to being created in felt.  And for almost a year they've been whispering my name...they've wanted to be on my flannel board!

Alas, on Wednesday of this week - Gossie & Friends debuted at 1,2,3 Read with Me. (outreach) A perfect story including math and nature and everyone loved the little baby!  They"ewed and awed" when Ollie appeared, as if on cue!  Some moments are truly priceless.  

Gossie jumped up onto the flannel board, I introduced her to the kids and then we checked the big book, Gossie & Friends, to see what Olivier Dunrea, the author and illustrator, wrote about this character.  The traits of each character are cutely tucked behind flaps.  And really, who doesn't love a lift-the-flap book?

Next was Gertie...how many goslings now?

Followed by Boo Boo...what color???  How many goslings?

Then Peedie, he wears what??  what color?

Let's check the big book and learn about Peedie!

How many goslings are marching? And what did they find?

Can we get that egg to open?  Honk your beak!  Stamp your feet!

We did it!  Meet Ollie!

4 goslings plus one more equals ?

Let's count, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5

There's more about Gossie & Friends on last week's post. 

 Click here to take a look and link to Olivier Dunrea, the very talented author and illustrator.  

P.S. (Piper Script): We're taking the Goslings with us for another outreach visit today.  I hope they behave in the car!  Michele, would you like to come along? We know you love them.  

Thanks for visiting Piper Loves the Library.  

We love Flannel Friday too. 

The More We Get Together the Happier We'll Be.

New friends: Piper & Daniel!

Recently, Piper heard that she had a "fan" in North Carolina.  And she was all ...wimper wimper, jump, jump, and kiss, kiss, kiss!  This is her way to let me know she's happy.  Honestly, we both love our fans but you don't see me wagging and jumping and wimpering! (fist bump here!)

While packing and planning my trip to visit my grandchildren in NC a request came from my daughter, "will you please bring Piper too?"  You can only imagine how excited Piper was to hear that she was coming along on the airplane to visit her family and meet her new "fan" friend.  Now she was all... "If you're happy and you know it wag your tail...stomp your feet, jump in the seat..." I think you get the picture.  Oh my!

 Piper is an excellent traveler.  She loves airplane rides as long as she gets the window seat!  She'll always fall asleep on a train.  She rides in the car everyday with me.  Like I said, excellent traveler.  And a very speedy packer!  Everything in the top picture travels with us: two books, one Twinkle fairy and an orange ball.  Piper is ready to roll all the time!

Here's Twinkle up close!

 We always sing Twinkle Twinkle Little Star with her.

While staying in North Carolina, Daniel and his Dad came across the Friendship bridge  (Yes,  It's a real bridge...now, don't you want to live in NC?)  I know... it sounds like it's right out of a story book.  Anyway they came across the bridge to meet Piper.  Alison, Cole and Brie were there to introduce us.   Piper was very gentle...and so was Daniel and so was Daniel's daddy.  We all sang "Where is Piper?" and she played her tricks and games to the delight of the children.  

Of course Twinkle made an appearance and we sang for her.  We shared both books - David A Carter's If You're Happy and You Know It as well as A.Delaney's The Gunnywolf.  We love reading together.  Piper got a little silly after that.  She threw her ball around and found a stinky, smelly sock *yuck* which made everyone laugh.

Daniel went home for a nap after he patted Piper goodbye.  Sooo sweet.   Daniel and his Dad planned to be up late for fireworks.  Piper doesn't like fireworks, too loud for her. 

  

This is what Daniel and his Daddy look like.

We all know that Piper loves the library ...so, here are some suggestions for picture books to find in your library and read together.  We say, "Read with a friend and the fun never ends".  Try these titles:

                           Be Gentle by Virginia Miller

                           Sammy and the Dinosaurs by Ian Whybrow

                           Digger Man by Andrea Zimmerman

                            Maisy Goes to the Museum by Lucy Cousins

                            Beetle Bop by Denise Fleming

                            In the Small Small Pond by Denise Fleming

                            The Underwear Book by Todd Parr

                            This is My Hair by Todd Parr

                            Gossie & Friends by Olivier Dunrea

P.S. (Piper Script): Here's a song for all my friends...click it and sing along!  Thinking about my new friend Daniel and his mom and dad and brother and sisters.  xo 

Thanks for visiting Piper Loves the Library.  She loves comments too!

The Friendship Bridge

Gossie & her Flannel Friends

Let me tell you 'bout my best friends!

Okay, here's what you need to know...Piper and I consider these Olivier Dunrea characters to be among our very best friends!  We wish we created them.  This evening I got to put on my  Dunrea's, cap and draw these adorable, loving goslings to begin the process of making them in felt.  This is something I've wanted to do for a long time.

But the funny thing is...phone calls from friends and family kept coming in tonight and this project was delayed and delayed.  It makes sense...my sisters and my friends were calling and chatting  - I do like chatty days with friends!  Friends on the phone...friends on the table! I finally sat at the table, drawings are now done. The taping and cutting has begun. The big reveal will be next week...but look...just look at what's happening! 

 

And here they are in felt

Do you know Peedie?

....and this is Boo Boo with bubbles

Now look at this...the plot thickens!

Come back next week to meet Ollie

(hmm, wonder how Olivier Dunrea came up with that name?)

If you would like to learn about Olivier Dunrea, who just happens to love dogs, (obviously why Piper is so very fond of him and his characters), please click here.  And this is a fantastic page on Gossie and Friends and the Horn Book Cover 2008!  

 While you wait for next Friday, watch Gossie on Smartkids E Library  Very cool!   

P.S. (Piper Script): We discovered a beautiful family read aloud book.  I Love You Just Enough by Robbyn Smith van Frankenhuyzen.  It's a Hazel Ridge Farm Story,  please click to learn more.  What would you do if you found a duckling?  

Thanks for visiting Piper Loves the Library.  We love to read and we always read your comments.

Reading Beatrice's Goat Together

How it all started 

...with a little help from my friends

 Andrew Eder & Diane W. Frankenstein

A number of months ago I attended a Conversational Reading Workshop lead by Diane W. Frankenstein, author of Reading Together  Everything You Need to Know to Raise a Child Who Loves to Read.  The seminar provided a day of stimulating conversation about every librarian's favorite subject - READING GREAT BOOKS.  The attendees of this workshop received a $500. grant made possible by the generosity of Andrew Eder as well as a copy of Diane W. Frankenstein's book.  Our task: to implement conversational reading.

So, that's how it started.  

Now you must consider the fact that everyone...in the world of books, was talking about diversity at this time.  Shouting "cultural diversity" from the hill tops to the publishing houses.  Our books, our library collections and our programs must reflect our community.  That, my friends, is the honest to goodness truth.  Ask Piper, she knows.  

Okay...  I bet you know what we did.  Yes we did!  

We took conversational reading added cultural diversity and discovered that the sum of these two was far greater than we could have imagined.  A wonderful story was about to unfold in our little library in Connecticut. 

On page #29 in Diane Frankenstein's Reading Together you'll find the title Beatrice's Goat written by Page McBrier.  This book, based on the true story of an African girl with dreams of an education AND an income-producing goat, provided by Heifer Project International was selected for our program.  We have African families in our library's diverse community.   This book appeared to be a good match, we owned it and we liked the additional message of empowerment, the "contribute to create a better world feeling."  

In April while the Association for Library Services to Children adopted  The Importance of Diversity in Library Programs and Material Collections for Children we were submitting book orders to enhance our collection and purchasing new baby dolls.  We planned the program, "Diversity in Action, Conversational Reading" advertised on the library's FB page and Piper tweeted out on #colormyshelf.

And then...after all this...we discovered that Beatrice Biira, the real girl from Uganda, the girl in the book, came to the United States to continue her education.  She came to Connecticut -she graduated from Connecticut College.  We're one of those tiny states, so this was pretty cool.  Oh, there's more...the Heifer Project International funds that brought the goats to Kisinga, Uganda, Beatrice's village, came from a little village in Connecticut - Niantic.  This just happens to be my village - where Piper and I spend our family holidays each year.  We didn't know this - incredible!

Needless to say, we did a fair amount (read: tons) of research on Beatrice and her family.  We posted photos of Beatrice as a child and as a young adult in our program room.  Fascinating!   We discovered that Beatrice learned to weave when she attended school in Kisinga - so we weaved!

Our program was alive and colorful.  It felt like "ours" The program had a grander meaning because Beatrice was connected to our home of Connecticut.  We connected with Beatrice, the 9 year old little girl in Uganda.  Beatrice was one of our kids on June 25th, 2014.  It felt that way, it surely did!  The conversation flowed.  The families shared.  We learned about each other.  We talked about school and houses and family and food.  We discovered how someone's life could change with the gift of a goat.  Who knew?   Oh!  We had goat's milk...we had to...Beatrice drank it!

Although some of us had popsicles... because... it's all good!

We are very thankful to Andrew Eder for the generous gift he provided many Connecticut Libraries this year.  At the Faxon Library we have 40 new, culturally diverse children's books.  We have beautiful new baby dolls that are being loved and loved and some crazy colorful paper for an assortment of Diversity in Action crafts.  Many thanks to Mr Andrew Eder and to Diane W Frankenstein for her inspiration, enthusiasm and endless energy.  

P.S. (Piper Script): loved the goat's milk!  

UPDATE 7.20.14  After publishing this post Piper and I heard from Diane Frankenstein.  She asked to include us in her blog, Diane's Musings, we're so very flattered!  And here's the link to Diane Frankenstein's Musings.   Click it, you'll like it!  

FIZZ, BOOM, READ People!

Full S.T.E.A.M. Ahead!

The past 5 weeks have been all about "The Summer Reading Show."  This is an annual event for my library.  We perform 11 shows - one in each of our elementary schools.  We are the cast and crew, but you knew that -children's librarians wear so many hats!

Following a brainstorming meeting in January, "we" write the script.  At the end of April, "we" gather together to ask the Lord's blessing,  meet to review and revise the script.  We do that repeatedly...it's our penance. "We" make drawings for the set and the costumes.  "We" create lists of props and send ourselves home to hunt our attics and basements for good stuff.

A couple of visits to Jerry's Artarama and we have our supplies.  Using foam core board, tempera paint, velcro and book tape...we create the set.  Sometimes there are a number of costumes to sew...and sometimes, when "we" are really lucky - there is only one!  (the rest come together from all that good stuff we find or order on-line!  Thank you Disney T-shirts!) 

Here's the one and only ...fancy, dancy.
                                                ..costume this year...a ROBOT...

                                                                                          ....and she's made of felt!

The kids adore her.  She is the first character on stage and the only one who's on stage for the entire show....she's great!  The costume is made of black glitter felt, cut and stitched into a little a-line jumper.  (she wears a silver sweater under the jumper)  Detailing is done with assorted sticky-back foil papers and duct tape.  Battery operated lighting is held in place with black duct tape. The robot has a goggle-eye-look, because I'm sure you can tell - she's a S.T.E.A.M.-Punk Robot!

Our cast of characters:

Two fans of Disney's Frozen, one funky robot, and two totally Steampunk librarian/scientists

And here is the inside of the bookdrop where these rockin' librarian scientist live:

Of course "we" live in the bookdrop.  It's so much bigger on the inside!!

This is a ridiculous amount of work for any library's staff.  But "we"are quite memorable to the kids in town.  Yes, we'll pull out all stops to get you to read this summer!  It's Full S.T.E.A.M. Ahead, people!!

P.S.  (Piper Script):  You may like the felt costumes from the show with the Reading Birds!  

Reading Super Stars!

I "FELT" like a Super Hero!

And this is how I did it!

It's all in the cuffs...really.

We did this project in the library well over a year ago but I never posted our felt super hero wrist bands/cuffs.  So here they are.  And look at the simple construction:

I visited my local  and very friendly Starbucks 

where they willingly provided about 60 of these. 

I had middle school volunteers helping the younger kids.

We used some simple clip art for patterns.

(stars, rainbows, smiley faces, moons,etc.)  

Lots of felt remnants.  Of course some 

of us kids used glitter!  Glue your design right 

onto the cardboard.  And there you have it.

This one size fit every kid and all of the middle schoolers.  

Warning: This Starbucks cup holder does not fit all adults! 

 Improvise because it is so much fun to walk around the library

 wearing super hero cuffs, or just to have them on your desk 

when the kids come up.  You can say....

Shhhh!  I am a librarian by day and...SUPER HERO AT NIGHT!

You may want to visit Lisa at Thrive After Three.  She's been posting some wonderful super heroes for story time on her blog.  And she's also the host for this week's round up.

Piper and I are happy to say that Flannel Friday keeps us creative.  Thanks to all!  

P.S. (Piper Script) I keep my super hero cuffs in my bed, under my pillow...just in case! 

Yes I Want to Build a...

                               Snowman!

Need I say more?  O.M.Gosh.  We love this guy.  He begged to be flannelized this past Monday.  I kid you not!  On the last day of March many parts of Connecticut woke up to a crazy snow storm.  Big fat flakes brought three inches of snow and everyone was singing the very popular song, Do You Want To Build a Snowman?, from Disney's hit movie - Frozen.  

Our Main Library had shown Frozen over the weekend to a packed house.  When I arrived at the little branch library on Monday with that new fallen snow I knew I had to do something with Olaf.  I "Google-imaged" him.  (Whoa, that's the strangest verb I ever wrote).  And I found that Disney had created a cut and paste Olaf...for free.  Yippee!  And thank you very much!

Disney's directions say "pose him however you want, there's no wrong or right way to build a snowman!"  

You know I love that freedom for the kids.  Okay, I confess, this one's mine!

I printed up 25 copies for our Prime Time with Mrs Breen and Piper, we already owned the music...so, let me just tell you...it was magic in the library.  Yup, yep, yes-sir-ree!  As the families entered the story time room at 6:30 pm the soundtrack was playing and twenty Olafs were on the craft table.  I decided to start with the craft - "yikes!  that's crazy, Mrs Breen!", I heard from one of the little ones!  We never do that!  While crafting, (I'm making up verbs tonight), they sang, "let it go..."  Yes,  I was in heaven!  Piper too.  We love it when the universe aligns for story time.  

Now just look at the snowman's parts - are they not made for Piper and Jane? This is how I make my felt pieces - in pieces!   So, I did it, I flannelized him today.  And I sang the whole time!  

I took the following photo with hopes that you could see the black backing on the white .  I did not back-up the branches, (arms and hair) with black. 

The very coolest part of this comical character in flannel is that he can be posed again and again and again.   You know I will the kids will just love that.   It's all good here at the library! 

We tried to sing head shoulder knees and toes...maybe, not so good! 

We'll practice!

We thank you for visiting our blog.  Here's another blog to check out:  from whole cloth witten by my niece, Cate.  Talk about the universe aligning...she made kid-sized Anna and Elsa capes and posted them on that same snowy Monday!  Total surprise for me...but you know, great minds run in a family think alike!  

Comments are always welcome ~ Piper & Jane

Maisy! Maisy! Maisy!

Off We Go!

     And yes...I'm talking heads.  If you caught last week's post - you'll get it!  Maisy's friends have heads that come off!  That's the only way they could get on the bus!  So here they are looking cute.  I generally back my pieces with black flannel, so once I thought about it ...I realized I could take their heads off.  Lucy Cousins creates her characters with bold black lines which lend themselves perfectly to this stained glass style I use in flannel.

To be clear, I didn't cut off their heads, rather, I never glued them on.  This means the heads are removable!  Pretty cool, huh? 

headless friends

And now take a look at the heads rolling along on the bus! 

...the heads on the bus go bump bump bump!

Here's the whole gang!  Note: removable bus door

                                              removable heads

                                              removable numbers for the bus stop post

I used these flannels three times this week and only once did someone say, "why did you do that?" I was placing Tallulah's head on the bus while quickly moving her body out of sight when a front row little guy, who was paying very close attention, caught the trick!  Busted!  So, I showed everyone, (kids and parents), how I created the pieces to fit on the bus.  It was genius.  It was perfect!

I tell this story with the bus in a hill-filled town!  I move the bus stop up or down on the flannel board when I change the number of the stop.  And then we... brrmm brmmm... the bus or eeek, eeek the breaks!  Oh, you may have noticed that Maisy's tail gets caught in the door - I decided to let that happen and see if it played out as funny.  Shall I say...daring creative risk here?!!  Just so you know - it was hysterical!  They loved saying "Ouch, my tail!" each time Maisy closed the bus door.  

P.S. (Piper Script): Since there's a Little Black Cat...maybe we can add a  Little Black Dog to the story?  

Maisy Drives the Bus!

                                 Oh Maisy!

It's Flannel Friday and Maisy is making her first appearance here at Piper Loves the Library.  So much fun!  Lucy Cousin's Maisy and all of her pals maintain their popularity with the preschoolers in the library.  It always helps that Piper is a fangirl!  

This week I ordered lots of Maisy books.  I had to replace the worn, torn and loved-to-death copies plus buy new titles because....big announcement here....tah-dah.... Maisy is on our summer reading list for the pre-k kids! *squee*

Right now...Maisy is on the coffee table and the cozy couch.  Look!

Maisy makes things fun.  Her pals are easy to remember ...Cyril, Tallulah and Little Black Cat! 

I'm taking my time with this project...I think the friends will have detachable heads!  Sounds awful but they'll look really cute in the bus!  Stay tuned! 

P.S. (Piper Script): Maisy has her own Fun Club with interactive games and coloring pages.  This link will take you there...I'm sending you to the page with all her books.  It's incredible!  Have fun!

Update on Maisy:  click here to see the removable heads!

Flannel Friday! They Say It's Your Birthday!

Happy Birthday Flannel Friday!

from My Storytime Life and Piper Loves the Library!

And yes! We're wearing flannel!

Piper and I are celebrating with fellow FF'ers this week by sharing our favorites.  If you want to visit Flannel Heaven - visit the Flannel Friday Pinterest Page - click here!

My personal flannel ah-ha moment arrived when I discovered storytimekatie and flannel bandaids for her puppy.  Eyes wide open to connecting my puppets to the flannel board.   Sadly I had no idea who storytimekatie was or where to find her inspiring blog again until I discovered Mel's Desk and it all came together.  Many thanks to storytimekatie for the inspiration and helping Piper be ever-so-dramatic!

Please check out storytimekatie

Piper has tons of bandaids now and her "intro" story is a flannel song!  

Take a look at Piper's girl

Picture book flannels have been the mainstay of my collection and here are some that have inspired me from FF:

http://cfkidslibrarian.blogspot.com/2012/05/boo-hoo-bird-flannel-story.html

http://busycraftingmommy.wordpress.com/2013/01/11/first-day-of-winter-felt-board-flannel-friday/

http://mystorytimelife.blogspot.com/2012/03/flannel-friday-hippity-hop-part-2.html

http://libraryvillage.blogspot.com/2014/03/flannel-friday-rainbow-stew.html

http://librarystorytimeabcs.blogspot.com/2013/05/flannel-friday-dont-let-pigeon.html

http://thriveafterthree.com/2013/02/07/this-is-not-a-box/

http://sarah-readrabbitread.blogspot.com/2011/12/flannel-friday-what-color-is-bears.html

http://mystorytimelife.blogspot.com/2012_04_01_archive.html

And here are a couple of mine:

http://piperlovesthelibrary.blogspot.com/2013/02/hi-ho-flannel-friday.html  

http://piperlovesthelibrary.blogspot.com/2013/02/flannel-feathered-flock-friday.html


I am a big fan of flannel rhymes and songs, here are some of my 'favs"

http://storytimekatie.com/2012/07/13/flannel-friday-four-little-rockets/

http://loonsandquines.blogspot.com/2013/01/flannel-friday-five-currant-buns-with.html

http://missmaryliberry.wordpress.com/2012/12/07/flannel-friday-sorting-socks-game/

http://piperlovesthelibrary.blogspot.com/2013/03/snow-snow-snow-it-is-undeniably.html

This is one of the best stories in a box I have ever witnessed.  Watching Kari Ann do this is very dear, sweet and loving.  The audience loves it and her in this story.  Maybe some day I will make it.  But for now, I can borrow hers!  Amen to that.
http://mystorytimelife.blogspot.com/2012/01/flannel-friday-time-for-cake.html

Here's my favorite new thing learned on FF!
http://lessordinarylibrarian.blogspot.com/2014/03/i-spy-colored-rice.html

And this is a one-of-a-kind amazing project that brings tears to my eyes.  xo
http://www.sotomorrowblog.com/2012/06/flannel-friday-very-special-delivery.html

Let's get this party going!  

P.S. (Piper Script):  I'll get the bubbles!