Program Guide

Patti Sinclair

Join the fun! It’s a way for libraries to interest to families—on parenting; kid-friendly crafts
welcome and encourage families to become regular and projects; parental concerns, such as saving for col-
library users by celebrating and showing what they have lege, autism, and home schooling; etc. Here are some
to offer. Connecticut librarians Nadine Lipman and other things you can do:
Caitlin Augusta initiated the first Take Your Child to the
• Create a Welcome poster in several different languages,
Library Day on February 4, 2012. This annual celebra- including those spoken by residents in your communi-
tion will take place on the first Saturday in February. ty. You can find several examples online when search-
Read on for engaging ways to celebrate this day in your ing “welcome poster in different languages.”
library. For more information on the program, visit the
Take Your Child to the Library homepage at http://www. • Post photos of all library staff around the library.
ctlibrarians.org/?page=Take. You can also visit our Pinter- • Decorate a table or the circulation desk where patrons
est page at https://www.pinterest.com/upstart/take-your- apply for library cards. If you expect large crowds,
child-to-the-library-day/ for additional programming and consider a costumed character or barker to proclaim
activity ideas. “Get Your Library Cards Here.”

• Invite participants to write their names on die-cut rab-

Setting the Scene bit shapes. Hang them from the ceiling.

• Provide bookmarks (available from Upstart at

Make sure your library is in tip-top shape—clean www.demco.com/goto?BLS188994&ALL0000&
and tidy with attractive book and media displays, es=20151214125933138157) as well as handouts, etc.
updated bulletin board, and plenty of staff on duty for parents on Early Literacy. If your library or state
to welcome families. Decorate with the Take Your doesn’t have materials, you can easily get handouts
Child to the Library poster (available from Upstart online (one good source is www.earlylit.net/booklists/
index.shtml).
at www.demco.com/goto?BLS188992&ALL0000&
es=20151214125933138157), and make a special dis- • Provide a Spanish (or other language) speaker/
play of seasonal books (Black History Month, Ground- interpreter if needed.
hog Day, presidents, winter weather, sports and activi-
ties, Valentine’s Day, Susan B. Anthony Day, National • Celebrate February children’s book creators with
displays of their books and a birthday cake to share.
Girls and Women in Sports Day). Also display books of

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 February author/illustrator birthdays include: Trivia. Reproduce the trivia sheets, “Children’s Book
Trivia” and “Know Your Fairy Tales & Nursery Rhymes,”
űűFeb.1 Jerry Spinelli on pages 8–9, and distribute them. Or, play a trivia
űűFeb. 2 Judith Viorst, Eve Rice, Mary Casanova,
Rebecca Caudill game using the questions. These are very easy trivia
űűFeb. 3 Joan Lowery Nixon games and would be easy to update in future years.
űűFeb. 4 Russell Hoban
űűFeb. 5 David Wiesner Library Bingo. See pages 10-11. You can make up
űűFeb. 7 Laura Ingalls Wilder, Shonto Begay several cards in advance and play the game when you
űűFeb. 8 Anne Rockwell
űűFeb. 9 Dick Gackenbach have enough families present. Cut out a set of BINGO
űűFeb. 10 Mark Teague, Lucy Cousins, images/words to use for calling out. Play several rounds,
E.L. Konigsburg, Stephen Gammell and offer a small prize to winners.
űűFeb. 11 Jane Yolen
űűFeb. 12 Judy Blume, Chris Conover, David Small Book Memory Game. Make copies on
űűFeb. 13 Eleanor Farjeon, Simms Taback, Janet
Taylor Lisle cardstock of the memory game on page
űűFeb. 14 Paul O. Zelinsky, Brian Lies, Jamake 12. Place them at a table with scissors for
HOP
Highwater parents and young children.
űűFeb. 15 Doris Orgel
űűFeb. 16 Nancy Ekholm Burkert Library Game. Reproduce The Library
űűFeb. 17 Robert Newton Peck, Sarah Beth Pfeffer, Hop
Andre Norton Game on page 13. Give to attendees to
űűFeb. 18 Barbara Joosse complete. Families who complete the sheet
űűFeb. 19 Louis Slobodkin may get a small prize or put their name in for
űűFeb. 21 Jim Aylesworth, Patricia Hermes a drawing.
űűFeb. 23 C.S. Adler, Walter Wick, Laura Geringer
űűFeb. 24 Wilhelm Carl Grimm
űűFeb. 25 Cynthia Voigt Hare and Tortoise Relay Race. You will need a large
űűFeb. 26 Sharon Bell Mathis, Colby Rodowski space for this game. Make pairs of construction paper
űűFeb. 27 Uri Shulevitz hares and tortoises, one hare or tortoise per player. On
űűFeb. 28 Lemony Snicket (Daniel Handler), each pair (one hare and one tortoise), write an activity:
Megan McDonald, John Tenniel, walk, hop, skip, jump, walk sideways, backwards, crawl,
Donna Jo Napoli
etc. You will have two identical sets. Mix up each set.
Form two teams of players. Place a long piece of string
Treats
• Rabbit-shaped cookies on the floor. Line up each team behind the string and
• Sheet cakes to celebrate authors’ February birthdays put a stack of hares across the room from one team and
• Coffee, hot chocolate a stack of tortoises across from the other team. On “Go,”
the first player on each team runs up to a pile and takes a
Shelf Talkers hare or a tortoise. Each player then returns to the end of
Print and cut out the rabbit-themed shelf talkers on page the line while doing exactly what the paper says. When
7. Fill in with brief comments for books you want to the first players get back to their teams, the next players
highlight and have them peeking out of books. go. The team that finishes first wins.

Games Activities & Special Events

How many books in the bag? Fill a clear trash bag or Track Library Visits. Reproduce the tracking sheet on
large box with books, and have attendees guess the num- page 21 and give one to each participant. Put a sticker
ber of books. Offer a small prize, and post the winners at or draw a picture on the sheet each time the child visits
the end of the day. the library. (Stickers featuring the rabbit art are available
from Demco at www.demco.com/goto?BLS310391&ALL0
How many books in the library? Have participants 000&es=20151217131008528185.)
guess how many books the library owns.
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Find the Bunny. Hide a picture of a rabbit somewhere in features or an interesting backstory? Does your library
sight in the library, and challenge visitors to locate it. Give offer any new services or materials, such as lending out
a bookmark or other small reward to those who find it. eReaders? Share with families.

Have your picture taken with the librarian. Set up a Teen Volunteers. Do you have a teen advisory board
spot in the children’s section for kids or families to have or teen volunteers who can help? Ask them to assist
their pictures taken with the children’s librarian. Print at a craft table, perform a skit or puppet show, serve
them out, and send them home with families. refreshments, or direct families to activities or areas of
the library. Invite them to brainstorm ways they might
Photo Shoot Set up a photo shoot spot with patrons help out.
standing below a sign that says “I love my library.” If you
can, locate some wings and a toy bow (and an oversize Dads & Dinosaurs. Have a special program for dads
pair of boxer shorts decorated with hearts for more dar- and kids with a dinosaur-themed storytime (page 6).
ing patrons) to wear and hold while having their picture Make dinosaur shoes (page 15).
taken. Perhaps your library director or other staff can
have pictures of themselves taken in advance and post Truck on in. Arrange with the city, county, or a
them by the photo shoot. construction company for a large fire truck or farm
or construction vehicle to come to the library, allowing
Or, set up a photo shoot corner with the Take Your patrons to tour/touch the truck. Add a truck-themed
Child to the Library poster. Add a special chair or storytime with a guest construction worker to read
library- themed props (books, magazines, earphones) a story.
or just fun props (crowns, clown nose, funny glasses,
etc.). Post the photos after the program. Of course, you Fun Zone. Create a section for crafts, Legos, games, and
can simply have a roving photographer take photos of puzzles. Provide construction paper and other materials
families involved in activities at the library on this day. for making bookmarks and other crafts.

Children’s Performer. Invite a singer, a magician, Reading Zone. Create a comfortable area for students
puppeteers, a storyteller, or other family-friendly and parents to read books silently or to each other.
performers to do a performance during the day.
Scavenger Hunt. There are lots of ways to do library
Special Guests. Invite the mayor, the head of the board scavenger hunts. One suggestion: Fill a decorated box or
of education, the library director, local authors, and/or large container with questions. Each attendee or fam-
other community leaders to read stories to families. ily reaches in and selects a slip of paper with a question
or instruction to follow. Examples include: Where is
Storybook Character Costumes. Welcome families the cookbook section in the library? Find the storytime
while in costume—your own or a rented storybook room. Find out the library’s policy on lost library books.
character like Waldo, Lilly, Curious George, or Lyle Where can you find a newspaper from the day you were
the Crocodile. Many publishers make book character born? Where are the fairy tales? (Dewey numbers or
costumes available to libraries for shipping or shipping/ location. ) You can make duplicates of questions.
dry cleaning expenses only. For more information, visit
costumespecialists.com/rentals/childrens-book-characters/. When a question is answered, participants take another
slip and continue until they have answered three ques-
Library Orientation. Share Read It, Don’t Eat It! by Ian tions. They then put their name in for a drawing. (Solicit
Schoenherr with the group or We’re Going on a Book prizes from the community—gift certificates, books,
Hunt by Pat Miller. Follow with a tour of the library, chocolate, journals, movie tickets, etc.)
highlighting various sections, computers, the checkout
and reference desks, and the programs and services you Movies. With your movie public performance rights
offer for families. Does your library have any unusual license, schedule a family-oriented film to show.

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Sing Along. Have an old-fashioned sing-along with classic • Wild About Books by Judy Sierra. Also available in
folksy tunes like “Go Tell Aunt Rhody,” “She’ll Be Comin’ Spanish as Que locura por la lectura!
Round the Mountain,” “How Much Is That Doggie in Songs
the Window?”, “Hokey Pokey,” “Oh Susanna,” “Yellow “The More We Get Together”
Submarine,” etc. Provide copies of the lyrics for families. The more we get together, together, together
The more we get together, the happier we’ll be
Library Poems. Display a variety of poetry books. Set For your friends are my friends and my friends are your
out paper, pencils or pens, and crayons. Invite children friends
and their families to write poems about libraries or read- The more we get together, the happier we’ll be.
ing and illustrate their poems. Suggest haikus, limericks,
or acrostics. Paper could be large die-cut shapes or plain “Cuanto más juntos estemos”
white paper. Post poems on a bulletin board. Cuanto más juntos estemos
Estemos, estemos,
Library Book Sale. Coordinate with your library friends Cuanto más juntos estemos
group to have a small book sale of children’s books and Tanto más felices seremos.
materials in the library.
Pues tus amigos son mis amigos
Y mis amigos son tus amigos
Family Storytimes Cuanto más juntos estemos
Tanto más felices seremos.
Library-Themed Storytime
“The More We Read Together”
Books to Share The more we read together, together, together,
• Bats in the Library by Brian Lies. Also available in
Spanish as Murciélagos en la biblioteca. Visit www. The more we read together, the happier we’ll be.
brianlies.com/Bats_at_the_library_activities.html for For these books are good books and we all enjoy books.
extension activities with this book. The more we read together, the happier we’ll be!
• Beatrice Doesn’t Want To by Laura Numeroff Fingerplays
• Beverly Billingsley Borrows a Book by Alexander Stadler “Here is My Book”
Here is my book, (hold hands together as if a book)
• Book! Book! Book! By Deborah Bruss. I open it wide, (open hands)
To see all the pictures
• But Excuse Me That Is My Book by Lauren Child. Also That are inside.
available in Spanish as Perdona, pero ese libro es mio.

• I Took My Frog to the Library by Eric A. Kimmel Craft

Craft Stick Bookmark
• Library Lion by Michelle Knudsen. Also available What you need:
in Spanish as Un leon en la biblioteca. Visit • Colored craft sticks, 3/8" × 4 ½"
www.candlewick.com/book_files/0763622621.kit.1.pdf • Foamie flowers
for a story hour guide and activity kit for this book. • Buttons
• Glue sticks
• Lola at the Library by Anna McQuinn. Also available What you do:
in Spanish as Lola en la biblioteca.
1. Place materials on a table covered with newspaper.
• Maisy Goes to the Library by Lucy Cousins. 2. Have children make bookmarks by gluing foamies
Also available in Spanish as Maisy va a la biblioteca. and buttons to the craft sticks.
• Miss Smith and the Haunted Library by
Michael Garland

• We’re Going on a Book Hunt by Pat Miller

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Bunny Storytime long enough to go around a child’s
After Storytime, play the Hare and Tortoise relay game head. Secure with staple or tape. If
on page 2. using a stapler, be sure the ends are on
the outside, so they won’t get caught
Books to Share in hair.
• A Boy and His Bunny by Sean Bryan 2. Cut out and color or decorate the
rabbit ears on page 14. Staple or tape
• Carrot Soup by John Segal
them to the headband.
• Duck! Rabbit! by Amy Krouse Rosenthal 3. Fit the headband around the child’s
and Tom Lichtenheld head and staple.

• Little White Rabbit by Kevin Henkes Valentine’s Day Storytime

• “The Tortoise and the Hare” (your favorite version)
Books to Share
• Who’s in Rabbit’s House? by Verna Aardema • Froggy’s First Kiss by Jonathan London

• Happy Valentine’s Day, Mouse! by

Music and Movement Laura Numeroff
Funny Bunny Hop
Funny little bunny goes hop, hop, hop! • If You’ll Be My Valentine by Cynthia Rylant
Funny little bunny please stop, stop, stop!
• Love, Splat by Rob Scotton
Wiggle your ears and crinkle your nose.
Then wiggle, wiggle, wiggle • My Heart Is Like a Zoo by Michael Hall
right down to your toes.
• Roses Are Pink, Your Feet Really Stink
Bunny Hokey Pokey by Diane deGroat
You put your bunny ears in, • The Valentine Express by Nancy Elizabeth Wallace
You put your bunny ears out,
You put your bunny ears in and you wiggle all about. • Will You Be My Valenswine? by Teresa Bateman
You do the bunny-pokey,
and you hop yourself around. Song
That’s what it’s all about! Print the words to this song and give to families.

Other verses: “Skidamarink”

You put your bunny paw in… Skidamarink a dink a dink,
You put your bunny tail in… Skidamarink a doo,
You put your bunny nose in…. I love you.
You put your whole self in… Skidamarink a dink a dink,
Skidamarink a doo,
Craft: Bunny Hats I love you.
What you need:
• White and pink construction paper I love you in the morning
• Staplers or tape And in the afternoon,
• Scissors
• Markers (optional) I love you in the evening
What you do: And underneath the moon;
1. Cut white construction paper into two- or three- Oh, Skidamarink a dink a dink,
inch-wide strips to form the headband. You may Skidamarink a doo,
need two strips stapled together to make a strip I love you!

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Fingerplay Dinosaur Storytime
A Kiss Have a Dinosaur Romp on Take Your Child to the
There’s something in my pocket, Library Day.
Could it be a moose?
Could it be a train with a bell and a caboose? Books to Share
Could it be a snake or some sticky glue? • Dinosaurumpus by Tony Mitton
Right here in my pocket is a KISS from me to you! • Dinosaur Roar! by Paul and Henrietta Stickland
Craft • Saturday Night at the Dinosaur Stomp
Heart-y Mouse by Carol Diggory Shields
This easy mouse can serve as a bookmark or just a little
• How Do Dinosaurs Say Good Night? by Jane Yolen
friend to tuck away in a pocket and remind children of
their visit to the library.
Song: If You’re a Dinosaur
If you’re a Dinosaur and you know it roar like this:
What you need:
• Colored construction paper, approximately 5" square Roar! Roar!
• Yarn, about 6" long If you’re a Dinosaur and you know it roar like this:
• Crayon or markers Roar! Roar!
• Scissors If you’re a Dinosaur and you know it and you really
• Glue want to show it
What you do: If you’re a Dinosaur and you know it roar like this: Roar!
1. Fold the paper in half, and draw a half a heart Roar!
along the folded edge. Repeat, substituting “Stomp! Stomp!”
2. Cut the heart out. This is the body of the mouse.
3. Cut two small half-heart shapes on folded scraps of Activity
paper for the mouse’s ears. Make the Dinosaur Feet on page 15, and practice the
4. Draw an eye on each side of the mouse and color dinosaur stomp.
in the nose.
5. Glue the small folded ears on either side of the More Crafts
mouse’s head. Doorknob Holder
6. Place the yarn along the inside fold for the tail. Reproduce copies of the doorknob holder on page 16
7. Glue the heart closed. If you like, add construction and invite patrons to color and take them home.
paper whiskers.
Origami Hearts
The Mitten Storytime There are dozens of ways of folding paper hearts. Visit
February is a good time for sharing Jan Brett’s The
www.origami-resource-center.com/origami-hearts.html
Mitten, a retelling of a Ukrainian folktale. After reading
and print out directions for several folded hearts with
the story, invite families to make Brett’s “Put the
different levels of difficulty so that patrons of all ages
Animals in the Mitten” craft, which you can find and
can participate. Try the very easy Super Simple Heart
print out at http://janbrett.com/put_the_animals_in_the_
and more advanced heart bookmarks or 3-D hearts. Or
mitten.htm. Brett also offers related coloring pages and
check out the book Valentine’s Day Origami by Ruth
other “mitten” activities that you can download and
Owen. Supply directions and paper at a table. Teens or
print at her site.
someone proficient at origami might assist.

Make Valentines
Supply paper, stickers, glitter, doilies, foamies and other
craft materials, plus scissors and glue sticks, for families
to make valentines.

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 Shelf Talkers
Print and cut out these rabbit-shaped shelf talkers, and fill them in with a few comments about books you want to
feature or showcase. Place them in books you’ve displayed on tables or shelf tops or in books on shelves with covers
out (as often seen in bookstores).

I “cotton” to this tale because I “cotton” to this tale because

_____________________ _____________________
____________________ ____________________
____________________ ____________________

Hare’s a Hoppin’ Good Tale: Hare’s a Hoppin’ Good Tale:

_____________________ _____________________
____________________ ____________________
____________________ ____________________

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 Children’s Book Trivia
Complete the following:

1. Mike Mulligan and His _____________________ is a book by Virginia Lee Burton.

2. Who wrote the Betsy-Tacy books? _________________.

3. What color is the dog named Clifford in the books by Norman Bridwell? ___________.

4. How does Max get to the island of the Wild Things in the book by Maurice Sendak? ____________

5. Where does Winnie-the-Pooh live? ___________________________.

6. What phrase does the Little Engine keep repeating? ______________.

7. Curious George has many adventures with the __________________.

8. What did the very hungry caterpillar eat on Monday? _____________.

9. What did the cat, the dog, and the mouse keep saying to the Little Red Hen when she asked for their
help? _____________.

10. Little Miss Muffet

Sat on a _________________.
Eating her _______________________.

Bonus question: The story Make Way for Ducklings by Robert McCloskey is set in what city?
_______________________________________.

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 Know Your Fairy Tales
& Nursery Rhymes

1. Little Red Hen a. Eaten by a fox

2. Brer Rabbit b. A trickster

3. Red Riding Hood c. Marched his men up the hill

and down again
4. Bremen Town Musicians
d. Fell off the wall
5. Three Little Pigs
e. Visited Grandma
6. Three Billy Goats
f. Had tarts stolen
7. Humpty Dumpty
g. Got no help from the farm
8. Queen of Hearts animals

9. Noble Duke of York h. Drove the robbers away

10. Johnny Cake i. Threatened by a troll

j. Built houses

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 Library Bingo
Cut out the squares below. Glue each one to a different space on
the BINGO board on page 11, and you’ll be ready to play.

Books Magazines Music Audio Books

eBooks Newspapers Movies Storytimes

Summer Children’s
Reading Puppet Shows Info Desk Area
Program

Teen Space Programs Librarians Computers

10
Library Bingo Board

11
 Book Memory Game
Cut out the books on two sheets. Flip the books over, and see how many matches you can make.

Where Where Harold

the the Charlotte’s and the
Sidewalk Wild Purple
Things Web
Ends Crayon
Are

The Goodnight Harry the

Runaway Moon Madeline Dirty Dog
Bunny

Harry Mercy
Potter Diary of Watson
Peter Pan and the a Wimpy
Sorcerer’s to the
Kid Rescue
Stone

Winnie- The Very

The Cat Three Hungry
in the Hat the-Pooh Little Pigs Caterpillar

12
 The Library Game
Name___________________________________

1. Complete six of these activities.

2. Get this sheet punched/stamped for each completed activity.
3. Turn this in for a surprise!

Draw a Get a
Write a Make a picture of library card
poem. craft. a favorite (or show
book or your library
book card).
character.

Tour the Complete

library. an activity
sheet.

Read a Dr.
Seuss book Check out
to a child, a book or
parent, or other
sibling. library item.

13
 Rabbit Ears Template
Cut out the rabbit ears; then color and staple the ends to the completed headband.

14
 Make Dinosaur Feet
Use two copies of the pattern. Cut along outside lines; then cut along inside lines.
Slip over feet. Roar like a dinosaur!

15
Make Doorknob Holders
Color and cut out doorknob holders.

Art © Nancy Elizabeth Wallace

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 Resources
Books
Aardema, Verna. Who’s in Rabbit’s House? Puffin, 1992. 32 p. (978-0140547245, pap.) Based on a Masai folktale,
this is the story of Rabbit, who has been locked out of her house by someone who won’t let her in.

Bateman, Teresa. Will You Be My Valenswine? Albert Whitman, 2005. 24 p. (978-0807591956) A sad piglet named
Polly searches the pasture, forest, and barnyard for someone to love her, only to discover that her valenswine has been
there all along.

Brett, Jan. The Mitten: A Ukrainian Folktale. Putnam, 1989. 32 p. (978-0399219207) In this retelling, when
Nicki loses his mitten in the snow, it becomes a refuge for several animals.

Bruss, Deborah. Book! Book! Book! Arthur A. Levine, 2001. 40 p. (978-0439135252) When the children go back
to school, the animals on the farm are bored, so they go into the library in town trying to find something to do.

Bryan, Sean. A Boy and His Bunny. Arcade Publishing, 2011. 32 p. (978-1611450231) One morning, a boy wakes up
with a rabbit on his head, and, although his mother is skeptical, he soon discovers that he can be fed, ride a bobsled,
and even look cool with a rabbit on his head.

Child, Lauren. But Excuse Me That Is My Book. Dial, 2006. 32 p. (978-0803730960) When Lola’s favorite book is
not on the library’s shelf, her older brother, Charlie, tries to find another book she will enjoy. Also available in Spanish
as Perdona, pero ese libro es mio. Lectorum, 2006. (978-8484882480)

Cousins, Lucy. Maisy Goes to the Library. Candlewick, 2009. 32 p. (978-0763643713, pap.) Maisy goes to the
library in search of a book about fish and a quiet place in which to read it.

deGroat, Diane. Roses Are Pink, Your Feet Really Stink. HarperCollins, 1997. 32 p. (978-0688152208, pap.)
On Valentine’s Day, Gilbert brings a tin of homemade cookies and his original nice or nasty poems to school.

Fleming, Candace. Muncha! Muncha! Muncha! Atheneum, 2002. 32 p. (978-0689831522) After planting the
garden he has dreamed of for years, Mr. McGreely tries to find a way to keep some persistent bunnies from eating
all his vegetables.

Garland, Michael. Miss Smith and the Haunted Library. Dutton, 2009. 32 p. (978-0525421399) When Miss
Smith brings her students to the public library, they meet not only Virginia Creeper, the librarian, but also a host of
frightening creatures that emerge from the pages of the “Incredible Storybook” as Ms. Creeper reads her favorite tales.

Hall, Michael. My Heart Is Like a Zoo. Greenwillow Books, 2009. 32 p. (978-0061915109) This story depicts in
rhyming text how love can be many different things, such as eager as a beaver, steady as a yak, or silly as a seal. The
story features twenty animals made from shapes, including hearts. Directions for making lions are on the back cover
of the book.

Henkes, Kevin. Little White Rabbit. Greenwillow, 2011. 40 p. (978-0062006424) As he hops along, a little rabbit
wonders what it would be like to be green as grass, tall as fir trees, hard as rocks, and to flutter like butterflies.

Kimmel, Eric A. I Took My Frog to the Library. Turtleback, 1992. 28 p. (978-0833580870, lib. bdg.)
A young girl brings her pets to the library—with predictably disastrous results.

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 Resources
Knudsen, Michelle. Library Lion. Candlewick, 2009, reprint ed. 48 p. (978-0763637842, pap.) A lion starts
visiting the local library but runs into trouble as he tries to both obey the rules and help his librarian friend. Also
available in Spanish as Un leon en la biblioteca. Lectorum, 2007. (978-1933032306) Visit www.candlewick.com/book_
files/0763622621.kit.1.pdf for a story hour guide and activity kit for this book.

Lies, Brian. Bats in the Library. Houghton Mifflin, 2008. 32 p. (978-0618999231) Bored with another normal, inky
evening, bats discover an open library window and fly in to enjoy the photocopier, water fountain, and especially the
books and stories found there. Visit www.brianlies.com/Bats_at_the_library_activities.html for extension activities with
this book. Also available in Spanish as Murciélagos en la biblioteca. Juventud, 2009. (978-8426137258)

London, Jonathan. Froggy’s First Kiss. Viking, 1998. 32 p. (978-0670870646) As Valentine’s Day approaches, Froggy
thinks that he is falling in love with the new girl in class, but his feelings change when she gives him his first kiss.

Miller, Pat. We’re Going on a Book Hunt. Upstart Books, 2008. 32 p. (978-1602130074) Adapted from the chant
“We’re Going on a Bear Hunt,” the story features animals that show how to quietly select a book that’s just right and
use good book etiquette along the way.

McQuinn, Anna. Lola at the Library. Perfection Learning, 2006. 16 p. (978-1580891424, lib. bdg.) Every Tuesday,
Lola and her mother visit their local library to return and check out books, attend story readings, and share a special
treat. Also available in Spanish as Lola en la biblioteca. Charlesbridge, 2008. (978-1580892148, pap.)

Mitton, Tony. Dinosaurumpus! Scholastic, 2009. 32 p. (978-0439395168, pap.) A rhyming tale of Triceratops,
Brontosaurus, and even Tyrannosaurus gathering at the swamp to dance.

Numeroff, Laura. Beatrice Doesn’t Want To. Candlewick Press, 2008, reprint ed. 32 p. (978-0763638436, pap.)
Beatrice doesn’t like books or libraries until on one forced visit to the library with her brother, she discovers the
children’s room.

Numeroff, Laura. Happy Valentine’s Day, Mouse. Balzer & Bray, 2009. 24 p. (978-0061804328) Mouse
celebrates Valentine’s Day with all his friends.

Owen, Ruth. Valentine’s Day Origami. Powerkids Press, 2012. 32 p. (978-1448879243, pap.) Step-by-step
instructions for making Valentine’s Day origami crafts.

Rosenthal, Amy Krouse and Tom Lichtenheld. Duck! Rabbit! Chronicle Books, 2009. 40 p. (978-0811868655)

Rylant, Cynthia. If You’ll Be My Valentine. HarperCollins, 2005. 32 p. (978-0060092719, pap.) In this story, a little
boy gives Valentines out to friends and family.

Scotton, Rob. Love, Splat. HarperCollins, 2011. 40 p. (978-0062077769) Splat the cat has a special valentine for a
certain someone in his class.

Segal, John. Carrot Soup. Margaret K. McElderry, 2006. 32 p. (978-0689877025) Two unseen characters argue about
whether the creature they are looking at is a rabbit or a duck.

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 Resources
Shields, Carol Diggory. Saturday Night at the Dinosaur Stomp. Candlewick, 2008. 32 p. (978-0763638870, pap.)
When it’s rock ’n roll time during the prehistoric era, many different kinds of dinosaurs gather to twist, twirl, and
tromp at a Saturday night party.

Schoenherr, Ian. Read It, Don’t Eat I! Greenwillow Books, 2009. 32 p. (978-0061724558) Rhyming advice on how to
take care of a library book.

Sierra, Judy. Wild About Books. Knopf, 2004. 40 p. (978-0375825385) A librarian named Mavis McGrew introduces
the animals in the zoo to the joy of reading when she drives her bookmobile to the zoo by mistake. Also available in
Spanish as Que locurapor la lectura! Lectorum, 2006. (978-1930332850)

Stadler, Alexander. Beverly Billingsley Borrows a Book. Harcourt, 2002. 32 p. (978-0152025106) Beverly is thrilled
to finally check out a book with her own library card, but when she accidentally keeps the book too long she worries
that she’ll have to pay a huge fine or go to jail.

Stickland, Paul and Henrietta Stickland. Dinosaur Roar! Puffin, 2002. 32 p. (978-0140568080, pap.) Wonderful
illustrations and a brief rhyming text celebrate all kinds of dinosaurs.

Wallace, Nancy Elizabeth. The Valentine Express. Marshall Cavendish, 2008. 32 p. (978-0761454472, pap.) Minna
and Pip make Valentine’s Day gifts for their neighbors after learning about the history of the holiday at school.

Yolen, Jane. How Do Dinosaurs Say Goodnight? Blue Sky Press, 2000. 40 p. (978-0590316811) Mother and
child ponder the different ways a dinosaur can say goodnight, from slamming his tail and pouting to giving a big
hug and kiss.

Websites

Brian Lies. Bat Activities. www.brianlies.com/Bats_at_the_library_activities.html. This site offers activities to go with
Bats at the Library.

Candlewick. Library Lion. www.candlewick.com/book_files/0763622621.kit.1.pdf. Library Lion Story Hour Guide and
Event Kit.

Costume Specialists. www.costumespecialists.com/rentals/childrens-book-characters/. Information on renting storybook

character costumes from book publishers.

DLTK. www.dltk-holidays.com/valentines/mcrown.htm. Directions for making a simple Valentine’s Day crown or hat.

Jan Brett. http://janbrett.com/put_the_animals_in_the_mitten.htm. Print and make the “Put the Animals in the Mitten”
craft.

Origami Resource Center. www.origami-resource-center.com/origami-hearts.html. Directions for making a variety of

origami hearts.

Saroj Ghoting. Handouts and Activity Sheets. www.earlylit.net/booklists/index.shtml. Links to downloadable early
literacy materials.

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 Resources
Answers
Children’s Book Trivia
1. Steam Shovel
2. Maud Hart Lovelace
3. Red
4. Boat or sails
5. Hundred Acre Wood
6. I think I can.
7. man with the yellow hat
8. one apple
9. Not I!
10. tuffet; curds and whey
Bonus question: Boston

Know Your Fairy Tales and Nursery Rhymes

1. g
2. b
3. e
4. h
5. j
6. i
7. d
8. f
9. c
10. a

Art © Nancy Elizabeth Wallace

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 Visit Tracker
Here’s a fun way to keep track of library visits. Place a sticker or draw
a picture in a circle each time you visit the library.

Date:_____________
Date:_____________

Date:_____________

Date:_____________

Date:_____________

Date:_____________

Date:_____________

Date:_____________

Date:_____________
Date:_____________

Art © Nancy Elizabeth Wallace

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