Last week the Library story time was focused on animals/ insects who live underground. These ranged from furry rabbits to roly poly bugs. It lead to several story interruptions for kids to tell about snakes found in neighbors’ yards, who has pet rabbits, and other interesting underground tales capturing the preschool minds of our neighborhood.
The movie was actually a film on a real film projector. Damon told me they had a film projector the one time he took Fuller to story time, but it was the first time I had seen it used. The film was about Krtek, a Czechoslovakia cartoon mole. He was “helping” a gardener who didn’t really like Krtek’s help. While it was fun to check out the film projector, with the magic of You Tube, you can see Krtek’s adventure right here!
This week we checked out six books, two actually picked out by Fuller.
Martha and Skits - This book is one in a series of Martha Speaks books, which is the basis for a new PBS television show out this season. Fuller enjoys Martha Speaks on TV (though I think it is a little old for him) so it seemed natural he would like the book. Like was an understatement, since I think I have the book memorized now. It tells the story of how Skits came to live with Martha and the family and how Skits can’t talk like Martha. This book was long enough to make the waiting time at the doctor’s office bearable, and Fuller now recognizes the words “Bad dog.”
Lost! - This book wasn’t exactly what I was hoping it would be. We have been looking for books to help us explain to Fuller what to do when you get separated from your parents. Instead this book had a kid helping a bear through the streets of Boston, looking for the bear’s natural habitat. Not once did they ask a grown-up for help. Still, the illustrations were beautiful. Fuller liked the story, but it didn’t live up to my expectations.
Maisy Goes to the Library - Since heading the library is one of our favorite things to do, this book was fun to read and reinforce for Fuller. While it was as repeat a performer at Martha and Skits, it was still fun for Fuller to know Maisy enjoys reading by herself and looking at fish.
Looking After Little Ellie - Again, in my quest to ready Fuller for the new sibling, I picked out a book about taking care of a “baby.” This baby was an elephant and she was being babysat by six mice. Fuller was lost on the joke of how hard it is for six mice to look after an elephant, but we did get to talk about things babies need us to do for them.
Garden Animals - This is one of the two books Fuller insisted on checking out. It is a simple board book with recognizable pictures. Fuller was able to pick out all the animals himself, basically reading me the book. I love that aspect and plan on looking for more this week.
Puppy’s Games - The second book Fuller insisted on bringing home. It actually was a good book to talk about all the times we might go to the playground and not find any friends to play with. He liked “reading” the “woof! woof!” parts of the book, making it more interactive for us both.
Looking forward to today’s story time. Since Fuller is going out of town tomorrow, we might not check out as many books.
Fuller is already asking when we will go to the library today. I have to hold him down until around 10 a.m. which isn’t an easy task.
Image via Wikipedia Last week the theme was caterpillars and butterflies. One of the highlights for Fuller was the reading/ acting out of The Very Hungry Caterpillar. We already have that book here, so in addition to the books we checked out, Fuller often brought me our copy of this classic so he could relive his acting experience (he was the leaf with the egg on it).
We had these books this week:
No Dragons for Tea - This was one of Fuller’s favorites this week. While it does teach fire safety, Fuller was much more interested in the Dragon and his fire spewing nostrils. We took the opportunity to discuss the smoke detector we have in our house and what we should do in case of fire. While I would love to tell you Fuller is completely ready in the event of a fire, I would feel more confident telling you our dogs know exactly what to do. But it was a great way to open the door to talking about the subject.
Fire Fighters (In My Neighborhood) - We also checked out this book, which also discusses fire safety. It wasn’t my intention to make this week fire safety week, but it worked out that way. This book is much longer, with actual detail on what it means to be a fire fighter. Next door to our library is our fire station, so this book made it more real for Fuller. Fuller preferred the Dragon book, but this was resourceful as well.
Every Autumn Comes the Bear - This is a book short on words but great in art. Fuller was able to grasp the story and repeat it to me several times. The artwork was fun to look at and reminded Fuller of our own backyard landscape- Lookout Mountain. We discussed hibernation, which intrigued Fuller who really doesn’t enjoy sleeping past 7:30 in the morning.
Fannie in the Kitchen - I picked this book out thinking it would be a fun story about a kid learning to cook. But it was so much more! It tells the story of Fannie Farmer, who is credited with inventing the modern recipe. Precise measurements and looking at cooking as art and science where her methods, which are used in kitchens today. I loved this book as much as Fuller because of the sweet history lesson. Fuller liked the book because of the pictures and the story of how Marcia, Fannie’s charge, learned how to cook.
Welcome, Little Baby - Ok, I picked this out too. I’m trying to be conscious about getting Fuller informed of what it will be like to have a baby in the house. He thinks it will be able to walk and talk after he/ she has been extracted from my belly button. This simple story shows how small babies are, and how much they will need to learn. Fuller enjoyed it, probably because of the simple words. We talked about the pictures and he asked several times for it to be read.
I’m looking forward to today’s library adventure, and judging on how fast Fuller got dressed while I wrote this, he is too.
Hello Crumley Family log readers! My name is Tiffany. I know Alli through high school. I had a blog and mrscrumley was the reason I had started blogging. Sadly, I no longer blog but am facing a parenting dilemma I would like you as readers to give your opinion and thoughts on.
I have an almost 6 year old little girl. For 2 years she has asked play soccer. I am a softball person, I know a little bit about basketball, and have never really been a fan of soccer, mainly because I don’t know anything about it. I tried to steer her into other things sports related (she is a dancer, something she asks to do). Finally I gave in and signed her up for soccer. We have played three games.
My daughter she is small, she is not much of a runner. But playing soccer is something she loves. We go to every practice that doesn’t interfere with her one night of dance, and she is excited about practice and games.
Now here is what is all new to me. The parents are competitive. Even at practice they are yelling at their kid to “go get that ball” or “don’t let them pass you” and various other things. I agree with no horseplay, you are out there to learn and to practice, but the other stuff at practice?????
The games are 10 times worse. Last week’s game was the worst. It was a rival coach’s team (notice I said coach) he had to win. Our team won but at the expense of not letting a few of the kids play or if they did play is was for about 3 minutes. These kids were heartbroken and my daughter was part of that group.
Last night’s game really ticked me off. These parents that I speak of, the ones that yell in practice, well, they root for the “good” players on the team. They get upset when their kid is sent out of the game so others can play or are ticked when their kid is sent to play defense. These are 5 and 6 year olds, people. They did not try out for this team. My nieces are in sports (one of which is 15) and this is the first time I have been exposed to this type of competitive nature. Is it just soccer? Is it just my town?
And now the heart wrenching part: My sister was very good in sports. I was not into it as much as she was but I loved to play softball. I was made fun of. My daughter, I think is in that category. I don’t think she is going to be very good at sports, unless she does something that doesn’t involve running (could be a good long distance runner maybe, she paces herself).
So HOW as a parent do you watch as your daughter(child) is looked down upon or made fun of because she is not as good as the others? How do you handle the hurt when she is having a good time and loves it but doesn’t get to play?
Are you a soccer parent? What kind are you? Do you cheer for the whole team or just the good ones? Do you get upset if your child is taken out? Has another parent ever confronted you about your attitude or child? Are you an any other sport parent? Is this type of sportsmanship in every young sport?
Last week’s story time was Spanish themed. The books had Spanish words, the kids did a ring around the rosy/ Mexican Hat Dance, and the movie was Pueblo Pluto. Fuller had a blast making a fake pinata. He got to pick out the tissue paper for the outside and I was convinced he would get all green tissue paper (his favorite color!), but instead he wanted to make a duplicate of the demo pinata. I thought it was so cute.
I picked out most of the books this week and they were all pretty much a hit. Here is what we read:
Danny and the Dinosaur go to Camp - Fuller really liked the first Danny and the Dinosaur and he was interested in the concept of the same characters being in a new book.
Andrew’s Amazing Monsters- this book was a hit because Andrew was using his imagination to create Monsters! And the Monsters! were colorful, silly, and had a party. The Monsters! were a big hit with Fuller. If your kid likes monsters, this book is full of them.
Spicy Hot Colors: Colores Picantes- this is one of the books Miss Halley read during story time. Being able to check out one of the books read during story time reinforces the concept she was trying to demonstrate. Fuller got really excited to have that book, remembering it from the library and enjoying learning the Spanish words for colors. His favorite Spanish color is amarillo (yellow). I thought it would be verde, but apparently favorite colors work differently in Spanish.
Just Me & My Dad - this book has beautiful artwork and imagination. Fuller liked it ok, but it wasn’t a repeat performer during our reading time.
I Read Symbols - this is a picture book of street signs and common icons found in our everyday world. Fuller loved telling me what each sign meant. The back of the book gives the correct answers in case parents forget their driver’s ed training manuals. This was a great book to have Fuller read to me.
Tacky the Penguin - Fuller has a love of penguins mainly because of our frequent visits to the aquarium. This book teaches being different isn’t a bad thing, and can sometimes help people think outside the box. This was a book Fuller enjoyed sitting down and looking at on his own.
Mr. Putter & Tabby Row the Boat - this book is actually a book on CD. I wanted to introduce Fuller to the concept of the books on CD because I think they are neat. And he was equally impressed. He got the concept of turning the page when the CD “dinged” and enjoyed following the different chapters. The story wasn’t too memorable, but Fuller liked the experience.
Today is Thursday, so we will pick up another round of books later. I’m so happy Fuller still enjoys this part of our week. And I like how it is free!
I was happy to learn Damon kept one part of Fuller’s routine when I was gone- they both went to story time at the local library branch.
Tonight I went through the books they checked out and Fuller was enthusiastic about all of them. I might need Damon to help Fuller pick out books more often, the ones I get aren’t always so awesome.
It is our usual routine to head to storytime and then afterward we pick out up to five books to read during the coming week. I thought it would be fun to share what we read from week to week.
Danny and the Dinosaur - Fuller enjoys dinosaurs and has seen this book at the Creative Discovery Museum. He gets a kick out of a kid riding a dinosaur and wonders when he can do the same.
Little White Dog - this is a very visual book, challenging the kids to find the animals in the pictures. Fuller did this very easily, and thought it was fun.
Go Away, Big Green Monster! - As you turn the pages the monster appears. And after getting to the midway point, it starts to go away. It is rather silly and apparently has been loved by many, as the ripped cutouts can attest. It was Fuller’s favorite, according to Damon.
Tuba Lessons - The story is told in pictures, allowing for you or Fuller to narrate, explaining how the boy is late to the tuba lesson due to his imagination and interaction with animals. Fuller kept returning to a picture of a bear, which he later imitated when he gave me a bear hug. Any book that gets me a hug gets my thumbs up.
Tractor - Kids who like tractors will like this book for the artistic pictures and the explanation of how the machinery is used during the life cycle of sweet corn. Fuller liked learning what each thing did and wanted to know when we could have corn.
I love the variety of books Fuller enjoys and look forward to helping him pick out more tomorrow. If you want some other great kid book reviews, check out Read to Me, Dad. It’s a blog by my friend Drew who reviews books and keeps us up to date on his darling daughter, Eva.
Before we took our trip to Alabama, Damon saw the Auburn Raptor Center was now offering demonstrations of its rehabilitated raptors every Friday before a home game. He suggested that Grandma and I take Fuller to see the show on Friday, and I thought it sounded pretty good.
The Auburn Raptor Center does their demonstrations at the SRC Amphitheater. For some reason, it never occurred to me amphitheater = outdoors. So when we arrived there and saw the outdoor seating, I had a slight panic. No sunscreen, no hat for Fuller, and I didn’t bring my water bottle.
Fortunately, the admission stand ($5 per person for the show) had cold bottled water for $1.15. Damon said $1.15 for cold bottled water was much better than the $4 a bottle we would pay the next day at Jordan-Hare Stadium.
The demonstration was really amazing. We saw owls, hawks, falcons, a vulture and an eagle. The handlers showed us how the raptors fly, hunt, and eat. Some of the raptors are tethered when they fly and others are trained so well they are not tethered.
Fuller learned one bird call, which at the moment he can’t duplicate, but when he did… it was cute!
In case you are not aware, Auburn’s war cry is “War Eagle!” Part of the legend has a Golden Eagle circling the football field when Auburn was playing Georgia, causing the fans to yell “War Eagle!”
As part of the pre-game ceremony at Auburn home games, an eagle is released to circle above Jordan-Hare Stadium and flies down to the field. They swap out the eagles, and currently Spirit, a Bald Eagle, is being used in the early games of 2008-2009 season. However, in the tradition of War Eagles, War Eagle VII, aka Nova, is the Golden Eagle we were able to see up close last Friday. He will fly later in the season at home games. We were able to see him released and fly around the amphitheater once.
It really was a fun experience. Damon was able to join us, so it made it easier on me to take pictures and for Grandma to enjoy herself as well. While it was hot, we stayed hydrated and happily fanned ourselves with complimentary fans to keep a bit cooler. If you are ever in Auburn on a home game Friday, make plans to see the raptors. It really is an awe inspiring event.
Last week the Library story time was focused on animals/ insects who live underground. These ranged from furry rabbits to roly poly bugs. It lead to several story interruptions for kids to tell about snakes found in neighbors’ yards, who has pet rabbits, and other interesting underground tales capturing the preschool minds of our neighborhood.
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