Farm Animal Storytime, Friday, November 3 @ 10:30.

        

Books

• Old MacDonald pop-up book in Children's Storytime Reference.
• Moo by David LaRochelle has exactly two words -- but what great two words! 
• Old Mikamba Had a Farm by Rachel Isadora is about a game preserve in Africa. I love teaching the idea of farms being something besides acreage in the US. Besides, its nice to read a book for this storyhour theme that isn't all mooing and quacking -- lots of lions roaring!
• Stanley the Farmer by Bee. It was fun explaining to the kids what manure was.
• Dinosaur Farm by Frann Preston-Gannon.  There was manure in this one too.

Going to Sleep on the Farm  by Lewison I picked this out because it's very short but has a little nice information about how animals sleep -- standing up, lying down, cuddling like piggies, etc.  The kids had kind of lost it by this time, however.
Horseplay! by Karma Wilson.  What are those horses doing all night? Not sleeping, that's for sure!

Minerva Louise by Janet Morgan Stoeke  is not a very smart chicken, but the kids find her booboos hilarious. It's a good book for engaging readers -- everytime Minerva Louise makes a mistake, you can make your astonished face at the kids. Like how can even a chicken be so confused.
The Cow That Went Oink by Bernard Most is about a cow who needs to learn to moo and a pig who doesn't know how to oink.  They get together; again, a great chance to make noise. 

On the Farm by David Elliott is illustrated with wonderful woodcuts that immediately catch your eye and draw you in. The real miracle for me is that the book is composed of short poems written about each of the farm animals. Now I love readaloud books that jingle and rhyme, but I usually steer of true poetry for the kids. But these short, fun verses are an enrichment that evoke the animals brilliantly. A real addition to the language.

Tractor by Craig Brown is simple and beautifully written about farm machinery.

Mandy Archer's Driving Series has four books and the kids love them.  Action packed, these animal drivers are always there for every emergency. Just like we like to be. 

Next time: Gobble Gobble MOOO Tractor Book by Jez Alborough. Kinda perfect: farm animals imitating tractor noises.

Songs

For Older Children

• Beatrice's Goat 
• Click, Clack, Moo
• Giggle, Giggle, Quack

Craft

We made fingerprint leaves on a tree template. If I had been brave enough, I might have had them plant seeds. But I wasn't.