Early Bit Lits
April,  2011Issue No . 13
KDL Blue
 
In This Issue
KDLville Ribbon Cutting Parties
Nursery Nook
Learning with Crafts
Book Review
Disney Digital Books
KDLville Parties

Celebrate with Katie L. the elephant as she cuts the ribbon and welcomes you to KDLville, KDL's new early literacy play space! Party and learn with crafts, games, balloon animals, face painting, dance party fun, and a KDLville cake. 

 

In May, ribbon-cutting parties will be held in Lowell and Rockford.  Other branches with KDLville spaces include Alpine, Alto, Byron Center, Caledonia, East Grand Rapids, Walker and Wyoming

 

Stop by a KDLville branch today to see all the fun and interactive ways to learn early literacy skills.

Nursery Nook 

Twinkle Twinkle

Twinkle twinkle little star

How I wonder what you are

Up above the world so high

Like a diamond in the sky

Twinkle twinkle little star

How I wonder what you are

 

Directions: Baby can be on the floor or in your lap. You can "twinkle" baby's hands or your hands while you sing this lullaby. This is a great song to sing in the middle of the night as you try to get baby back to sleep.

 

A lullaby can communicate feelings from adult to baby as well as calm and comfort baby. Humming the lullaby may be especially soothing.

 

Greetings!

The Kent District Library is here to provide you and your child with the skills needed to succeed in school and in life. KDL's Early Lit Bits newsletter is full of FUN and simple activities that will help foster that growth.  For more information regarding the skills your child needs before he or she learns to read, visit the Play-Grow-Read section of the KDL website.  You can also stop by any KDL branch in order to speak with one of our helpful youth librarians. We hope to see you soon!

Learning with Crafts
Play-Grow-Read

 

Spring is a great time of year to get out and interact with nature. While outside, observe the many colors, smells, shapes, and textures that provide opportunities for discussion. It's a great way to increase your child's vocabulary and appreciation of nature. One outdoor experience you can get your child involved in is planting a garden. You can discuss with them the type of plants you are going to grow, show them pictures, and then have them help you make garden tags for each plant. When you make the tags, include the name of each plant with the picture to help increase their print awareness as well as their vocabulary.

 

What you need:

  • Pictures of what you are planting (look in magazines, seed packages or online)
  • Contact paper or a laminator
  • Craft sticks
What to do:
  • Print or glue pictures on paper about 5 to 6 inches square
  • Have your child help you write the name of the plant or glue the name from the packaging under the picture
  • Laminate each picture then attach them to craft sticks
  • Place the tags in the garden
Book Review

Little Chicken's Big Day by Katie and Jerry Davis 

 

Katie and Jerry Davis collaborate for the first time on this brilliant new picture book for toddlers and preschoolers.  Little Chicken and his mama,  Big Chicken are having a big day out.  As Big Chicken gives instructions, Little Chicken responds, "I hear you cluckin', Big Chicken".  This refrain is given throughout the book and your own child will be saying it after the first reading.  The energetic chicken is a character that children will be able to empathize with, from being strapped in a car seat to feeling the security of a bedtime story and snuggle.  The simplicity of the text and illustrations are perfect for young children.  Reading books such as this one with your child will encourage 

Narrative Skills, an Early Literacy skill that inspires a child's understanding of how stories work.

 

Little Chick

Free Interactive Disney Digital Books

As part of our OverDrive eBooks subscription, Kent District Library now offers you access to almost 700 Disney Digital Books. Enjoy unlimited use of new and classic Disney books with just an internet connection and KDL library card! These interactive online books are both entertaining and educational for children. Features allow readers to "Look and Listen" to hear titles read out loud, find definitions in the dictionary, and have fun with Trivia Challenges.

 

Disney 

 

Check out this exciting new service today! 

 

Girl Coloring