Books

Thorndyke Thoughts: Winter Wonderland

December 21, 2019 | Thorndyke
Close Up of Brown Bear with Black Hat Neatly Trimmed with Plaid Ribbon and Berries

 

Hey Kids,

It's that time of year when I really love watching snow fall in the courtyard outside, hearing all of the friendly patrons going about their business, and then when everyone goes home, curling up with a cozy book of my own. Some of my favorite are in the Easy Reader collection, and include lots of winter fun and friends. Read on for some suggestions of wintery reads.

Bear Hugs,

Thorndyke

Houndsley and Catina and the quiet time by James Howe

When the first snow of winter falls, Catina worries about all her plans for the day being ruined, so her friend Houndsley tries to help Catina let go of her worries and enjoy the quiet time of a snowy day.

Share a Story--Manners

December 14, 2019 | Michelle

With so much going on in December, sometimes we feel harried, rushed, and maybe not like our best selves. In Storytime we talked about what good manners were vs. naughty manners, and how we can make sure we use them all the time.  

Stories and Songs from Storytime

Look What's In Large Print: December 2019

December 13, 2019 | kasarak

New holiday titles, gripping non-fiction, and works by popular fiction authors were released in large print in December. Check out a few of the new titles below.

Christmas in Winter Hill [large print] by Melody Carlson
Also available in: print | e-book | e-audiobook

A CBA bestselling author Krista Galloway is not a fan of Christmas, due to bad memories of the holiday season during her childhood in multiple foster homes. But when she accepts a job as a city manager in the town of Winter Hill, Washington, Christmas is part of the deal. The small town is famous for its Christmasville celebration, which is coordinated by the city manager. As Krista tries to make her tiny new apartment feel like home for her and her eight-year-old daughter, Emily, she wonders if this move was a mistake. She doesn't always feel welcomed in the close-knit town. Can a friendly stranger and his family help restore Krista's Christmas spirit before the big day?

Elderhood [large print] : redefining aging, transforming medicine, reimagining life by Louise Aronson

As revelatory as Atul Gawande's Being Mortal, physician and award-winning author Louise Aronson's Elderhood is an essential, empathetic look at a vital but often disparaged stage of life. For more than 5,000 years, "old" has been defined as beginning between the ages of 60 and 70. That means most people alive today will spend more years in elderhood than in childhood, and many will be elders for 40 years or more. Yet at the very moment that humans are living longer than ever before, we've made old age into a disease, a condition to be dreaded, denigrated, neglected, and denied. Reminiscent of Oliver Sacks, noted Harvard-trained geriatrician Louise Aronson uses stories from her quarter century of caring for patients, and draws from history, science, literature, popular culture, and her own life to weave a vision of old age that's neither nightmare nor utopian fantasy--a vision full of joy, wonder, frustration, outrage, and hope about aging, medicine, and humanity itself. Elderhood is for anyone who is, inthe author's own words, "an aging, i.e., still-breathing human being."

Share a Story: Flowers Storytime

December 9, 2019 | strande

 

Did you miss our Flowers Storytime this week? Don't worry, here's what you missed, plus a few more suggestions so you can create your own blooming storytime at home, complete with songs and stories.

Don't need a full storytime? Borrow a rhyme when you need a short distraction, or check out these materials and spend a few minutes reading together.

Caterpillar and bean by Martin Jenkins

What's that wedged in a crack in the ground, small and hard and wrinkly and brown? A bean seed! Soon it develops roots and leaves. And whats that on the leaf? An egg! The egg hatches a caterpillar, and the caterpillar eats the leaves, getting bigger until it forms a chrysalis. Meanwhile, the plant grows, too: it develops flowers, then bean pods as it reaches up toward the sun. 

 

SNAP SNAP WENT THE VENUS FLY TRAP (inspired by jbrary)

Snap snap went the venus fly trap one day, snap snap went the venus fly trap.

Snap snap went the venus fly trap one day, and they all went snap snap snap. But…

We know fly traps go [clap] la de la de la [wavey arms]

[clap] la de la de la [wavey arms], [clap] la de la de la [wavey arms]

We know fly traps go [clap] la de la de la [wavey arms], they don’t go snap snap snap.

 

Buzz buzz went the bee on the flower one day, buzz buzz went the bee on the flower.

Buzz buzz went the bee on the flower one day, and they all went buzz buzz buzz. But…

We know flowers go [clap] rub a dub a dub [running arms]

[clap] rub a dub a dub [running arms], [clap] rub a dub a dub [running arms]

We know flowers go [clap] rub a dub a dub [running arms], they don’t go buzz buzz buzz.

.

Thorndyke Thoughts: The Cycle of Cuteness

December 3, 2019 | Thorndyke
Small Bear on Large Bear's Shoulder

 

Hey Kids,

I have a friend who created a guideline of cute animals, from most cute to least. Bears aren't on it, but I'd like to think we are somewhere between owl and elephant. So for those looking to read about adorable animals, look no further. Here are some suggested titles, beginning with the cutest. 

Bear Hugs,

Thorndyke

Itty bitty mice by Jay Moose

Share a Story: Laughing Storytime

December 2, 2019 | strande

 

Did you miss our Laughing Storytime this week? Don't worry, here's what you missed, plus a few more suggestions so you can create your own hilarious storytime at home, complete with songs and stories.

Don't need a full storytime? Borrow a rhyme when you need a short distraction, or check out these materials and spend a few minutes reading together.

From Storytime

The book with no pictures by B. J. Novak

In this book with no pictures, the reader has to say every silly word, no matter what.

Share a Story: Rainbow Storytime

November 25, 2019 | strande

 

Did you miss our Rainbow Storytime this week? Don't worry, here's what you missed, plus a few more suggestions so you can create your own colorful storytime at home, complete with songs and stories.

Don't need a full storytime? Borrow a rhyme when you need a short distraction, or check out these materials and spend a few minutes reading together.

From Storytime

Rainbow Stew by Cathryn Falwell

On a rainy day, three children and their grandpa pick vegetables in his garden and then cook and share a delicious meal of his famous Rainbow Stew. Includes recipe.

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