Toddler & Preschool Reading Program

The Toddler & Preschool Reading Program "Discover the Treasures in Reading" is happening at the Bettendorf Public Library from October 5 - 31. Participants will receive a treasure chest log. One of twenty stickers will be placed on the log each time a book is read to your child. Return your completed log to the Children's Department Desk and receive a free prize book to keep. We encourage children up to 5 years old that are not in Kindergarten, babies and toddlers to join this reading program!

Baylea Ann Memorial Books

The Bettendorf Public Library has received several board books given in loving memory of a beautiful little girl named Baylea Ann. The first set of these books are showcased in the LibraryThing book shelf as well as the following 4 titles. We thank Baylea Ann's family for their generous donation to our board book collection.

Bear Learns to be Brave (Values and Nurturing)
Little Bear has trouble going to sleep because he is scared of the dark. Mommy Bear helps Little Bear overcome his fears.

The Frog Says "Ribbet" by Nancy Parent
Frog greets many friends that live in and near his pond.

Strawberries Are Red by Petr Horacek

In this tasty treat, Petr Horacek celebrates the lovely natural hues of six different fruits. Each right-side page, outlined in the shape of a mound of fruit, decreases in width, creating ever-growing layers of fruit on the left side, until the final page, which brings a delicious surprise.

Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star by Kate Toms
A beautiful new board book with hand-stitched collage illustrations. Based on the rhyme, it tells the charming story of a mouse dreaming about the stars.

Tree Books

A Tree for Me by Nancy Van Laan

Finding the right tree for playing is hard work, but this narrator has plenty of spirit, trying again and again. Enthusiasm abounds as he runs from tree to tree, only to find that each one is already inhabited.

A Tree Is Nice by Janice May Udry

This Caldecott award-winning book speaks of the many pleasures a tree provides.

Franklin Plants a Tree by Sean Jeffrey

In this Franklin TV Storybook, it's Earth Day and Mr. Heron is giving away free trees. Franklin can hardly wait to plant a big climbing tree in his backyard. But when Franklin gets to the village square, Mr. Heron hands him a tiny sapling. Disappointed, Franklin doesn't notice when the little tree falls off his wagon. On his search for the lost tree, Franklin discovers that even the very biggest trees in the village started out as something small.

Pie in the Sky by Lois Elhert

In this well-designed picture book, an unseen child wonders about what his father calls the "pie tree." The child observes the tree bear cherries for the birds and raccoons during the summer. A pie recipe is included in the book.

Welcome Back!

The Bettendorf Public Library has just begun our Fall Tummy Time sessions. It is wonderful to see our old friends return as well as the new faces! Tummy Time is scheduled on the second and fourth Mondays at 10:00 a.m. and the second and fourth Wednesdays at 6:30 p.m. The schedule is available in the Children's Department or on the website calendar of events.

Our blog has a new look to celebrate a new season together! Our first Tummy Time theme was about trees. The bookshelf has titles of books about trees. I will continue to add in websites, activities, and materials that you might enjoy sharing with your children. Stay tuned for more fun!

Summer Reading Program

Registration for the Bettendorf Public Library Summer Reading Program has begun! Children 2 years and older can participate in our "Be Creative at Your Library" program! Registration is at the Children's Desk. The Children, Teen, and Adult programs run from Monday, May 18 to Saturday, July 25. Come join the fun!

Rainbow Crafts

Find rainbow craft ideas at http://www.enchantedlearning.com/crafts.rainbow/

Rainbow Snacks

* Fruit Loop Necklace

* Rainbow Banana (die chunks of banana in colors with Jell-O)
* Rainbow Jell-O

* Rainbow Rice Cakes (use food coloring to tint)

Rolling Rainbows

Find colored bottles like in the photo or fill clear plastic soda bottles and drops of food coloring. Put mosaic tiles, beads, or plastic cubes in the bottles. Cover the caps with tape.

If you want to get fancy - Pour cooking oil in the bottle and then water. Sprinkle glitter into the mixture for fun!

Leading to Reading

Here's another great site for you and your children to explore! (Fisher Price site is still down... hopefully it will be fixed soon!) In the mean time enjoy these games, nursery rhymes, lullabies, stories, and finger plays! There are 3 categories: Babies/Toddlers, Preschoolers, and Info for Adults.

http://www.rif.org/leadingtoreading/en/babies-toddlers/

Five Green and Speckled Frogs

There are many versions of the song "Five Green and Speckled Frogs". You might want to make flannel board or magnet pieces to act out the song!

Frog Games

Leap Frog: Have your child squat down and yell "Ribbit" when jumping up and down.

Frog Match: Cut different shapes and colors of frogs for your child to match.

Lily Pad Jump: Place lily pads on the floor and jump for one to another.

Musical Lily Pads: Put lily pads on the floor in a circle. Have your child circle them like musical chairs. Listen to songs about frogs.

BABYFEST

In the mood for a road trip? Champaign Public Library is having a week long program called BABYFEST! It is happening this week (April 20-25).

BABYFEST:
Babyfest is an annual celebration of babies and books featuring a week full of events for babies, parents, and caregivers! Singer Jim Gill will be performing on Saturday, Apr. 25. You could attend his concert geared for families and/or participate in a 2-hour workshop for early childhood educators.

For more information go to http://www.champaign.org/

Fisher Price Online Games for Babies & Toddlers

I just found this website with fun computer games for

your little ones! Have fun exploring!

http://www.fisher-price.com/fp.aspxst=10&e=gamesLanding&mcat=game_infant,game_toddler,game_preschool&site=us

Chicks at John Deere Pavilion April 9-11, 2009

We are talking about Chickens this week at Tummy Time! GREAT timing with John Deere Pavilion! Visit the Pavilion to view the hatching of baby chickens on April 9-11 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The Pavilion is located at 1400 River Drive in Moline, Illinois. Their phone number is (309)765-1000.

Travel Potty Chair

A mom told us about a travel potty chair at our BABY TIME program this morning! You might be interested in this tool if you are potty training your child! "Potettes" manufactured by Kalencom are available at Toys R US according to the website. You might be able to find similar products with a wider search. The chair folds up and the liners are easily disposed. Happy potty training!

Give Away Website

Check out this website IF you have time!!! At "Give Away Today" you can enter to win everything ... from Disney on Ice tickets to bags from Bags that Fit to clothes from DownEast Home Clothing and so, so much more. Visit http://www.giveawaytoday.blogspot.com/ if you enjoy entering contests!

Weather Book Suggestions

The following titles are not located at the Bettendorf Public Library... however they are in the Prairie Cat System! You can place a hold for these books on our website or ask a staff member for assistance! http://www.bettendorfibrary.com/

Kipper's Rainy Day by Mick Inkpen

This is a "lift-the-flap" book where Kipper explores outside on a rainy to see which animals like rain as much as he does.

Kipper's Sunny Day by Mick Inkpen

Lift the flaps to discover all the fun Kipper has on sunny days.

My Red Umbrella by Robert Bright

A young girl's umbrella grows to accommodate an increasing number of animal friends.

Preschool Weather Kit

The Bettendorf Public Library has a collection of theme kits available for patrons to check out. The kits are located in our staff office so please ask a staff member for assistance if you are interested in checking these materials out! The Preschool Weather Kit contains the following items:

1. Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs Videocassette
2. Weather Whys (Book and Weather Wheel)
3. It's Raining, It's Pouring (Book)
4. The Itsy Bitsy Spider (Book)
5. Flash, Crash, Rumble, and Roll (Book and Cassette)
6. Flannel Board: What Should Weather Bear Wear?
7. 2 Thermometers
8. 4 Weather Puzzles (Rainy, Sunny, Windy, Snowy)
9. 1 red Tornado Tube
10. 1 Activity Folder

Weather DVDs

Backyardigans Mighty Match Up DVD
Pablo and Tyrone try to convince the Weather Goddess to stop the rain on Sports Day.

Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs DVD
Residents of the town of Chewandswallow, who receive meals daily from the benevolent skies, find their eating habits drastically changed when the weather takes a turn for the worse!

Smurfs Season 1 DVD
Disc 2 contains "Foul Weather Smurf"

Weather Activity Book

Preschool Science Garden Themes for Content-Area Learning: Garden, Ocean, Weather by Marie Cecchini is located in our Parent Shelf collection.

(PS 372.3 CE)

Weather - Usborne Beginners

Weather published by Usborne Beginners is located in the Bettendorf Public Library Board Book collection.

Easy Non Fiction Weather Books

Looking for easy fact books about the weather? Try: Let's Read About Sun by Susan Nations, Let's Read About Rain and Let's Read About Wind

by Kristin Boerger, and Let's Read About Snow by Suzi Boyett.

More New Board Books!

We have 43 new Rourke Board Books in English and Spanish!
Check out the new Usborne Board Books, too!

The Sun, The Moon, and the Stars

Tummy Time sessions were about The Sun, The Moon, and the Stars this week! We sang Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star with Raffi and listened to a version of You Are My Sunshine!