Egg-stra, Egg-stra Read All About It: Minerva Louise and the Colorful Eggs by Janet Morgan Stoeke and Simple Plastic Easter Egg Craft Ideas for Easter

Minerva Louise strikes again in this egg-trodinary addition to this delightful series, Minerva Louise and the Colorful Eggs. 


Minerva Louise has found quite a marvelous discovery, brilliantly colored eggs in the farmyard! What's this chick to do, but speedily race back to the hen house to tell the doubting hens. 


The hens interest is piqued as Minerva Louise describes the lovely blue egg she has found and persuades the persnickety poultry to follow her to the scene of her discovery, but to her chagrin the egg is nowhere to be found. 


That's when Minerva and the hens go on a mission to learn the truth about this egg hoopla. 


Minerva Louise stories are a hit at preschool storytime. The children always chuckle at this silly chicken's wacky antics. 


I give this tale 4 eggs up!  


After reading such an egg-stra special story you need to make these fun plastic Easter egg crafts! Many of these art projects are perfect for children with some help from an adult. 

• Print out a non-decorated egg coloring sheet on heavy light-colored card stock. Have children dip open plastic eggs (rim portion showing) into paint. Have them stamp the plastic eggs onto the lightly-colored card stock. The result will be perfectly shaped circles that will decorate your your very pretty card stock egg. 
• Use brightly-colored duct tape and stickers to decorate the outside of the eggs. 
• Place a small treat within the eggs and hide them around your home or yard and have an old-fashioned Easter Egg Hunt. 
• Shake it up! Make egg shakers by placing rice or buttons inside the eggs and sealing the seam with duct tape. *Adult supervision is required for children*
• Create a color matching game. Print out pictures of various flowers, animals, or fruits and vegetables and place on index cards to create flash cards. Have the children match the correct color image to the matching egg color. Example includes pink egg=pink pig. 
• Place a small item such as a rubber eraser under the bottom half of one of the plastic Easter eggs on a table. Have several plastic Easter eggs in a row next to the plastic egg you placed the eraser or other item under.  Tell the child to close their eyes and move all the plastic egg bottoms around. Instruct the child to open their eyes and choose which egg bottom they believe the eraser is under. 
• Design a plastic Easter egg wreath. Spray paint or cover a large Styrofoam wreath with fabric or felt. Arrange and glue the plastic Easter eggs onto the wreath in an attractive design. Leave a space to tie a decorative bow for a cheery look. 
• Follow this Familyfun.com link to create your very own eggimals! http://familyfun.go.com/crafts/a-herd-of-eggimals-675231/

Have a safe and happy Easter!

Book-i-ful Ideas for Damaged Books: Super Arts and Crafts Ideas

I'm determined to save that water-damaged, dog-eared, book with several pages missing from the junk pile. What should I do?


Why not design a variety of easy to somewhat challenging projects that will make your home look like a show house featured on Home and Garden TV!


I've searched the web and found some dynamic, stunningly stylish, and breathtaking ideas that will give you inspiration to become a book-a-nista.


Watch this YouTube video to learn how to make a recycled book purse!

Cut out illustrations in picture books for scrap booking to create a unique, kitschy, and vintage appeal.

Make paper mache items by ripping out the pages. 

Frame beautiful illustrations or book covers for one-of-a-kind decor. 

Create a book wreath, clock, and more!

http://www.writtenword.com/turn-old-musty-books-to-art-and-other-cool-things/ 

Make a stacked books Lamp 

http://www.hgtv.com/accessories/stacked-books-table-lamp/page-2.html

Can't get much cooler than this! Design your own Christmas tree, desk, or building out of glorious volumes!

http://www.neatorama.com/2011/04/27/cool-non-literary-uses-for-books/

So What's It Like Working In a Library?: Why I Work In Youth Services

In the Youth Services department, I perform many duties including developing quality children's programming, creating book lists called bibliographies, shelving books, answering reference questions and much more.


My favorite part of my job is working with the children. You get such a sense of accomplishment when you know they enjoyed their time at the library and that simply blowing bubbles at the end of storytime or reading a cherished book made them squeal happily and giggle with uninhibited joy.


One of the main reasons I work in a library is to show children that reading can be fun. Too often you find children want to shy away from reading because they feel frustrated by the challenging words or boring storyline.


That's where I step in to show them that reading can be more fun than playing video games or going on the computer.


Reading can open your eyes to new and exciting possibilities (either fantastical or real)  such as becoming an astronaut when you grow up, fighting off mutant aliens in a fantasy novel, or laughing it up while reading a joke book.


Creating bibliographies is one of the ways I can enhance children's reading repertoire by pinpointing their interests (such as mystery novels or dinosaurs) and searching for great titles which can be written down within a small pamphlet.


Bibliographies save children and parents precious time which is better devoted to reading that all-important story. 


The library is a treasure trove of information, so come on down and grab that gem of a book or enjoy an awesome program!

The Book Bare Necessities: Essential Books You Need on Your Bookshelf

You can always count on the library to find pertinent information through reference materials, databases, and books within the regular collection, but what about in your home?

The following is a list of the most essential and practical books to have on your home bookshelf: 

• Dictionary: Need to look up how to spell aardvark? Crack open this tome to find out!
• Thesaurus: Perfect place to find a synonym for the word beautiful or any word under the sun. 
• Cookbook: Find one basic, general use cookbook which will help you master a quiet dinner for two or a feast for fifty. 
• Phone Book: This is the place to look if you would like to order takeout from your favorite  Chinese restaurant or call your local florist. 
• Medical Pharmaceutical Dictionary: This resource allows you to look up the side effects, appearance of, and uses of prescription drugs when the pharmacy is closed. 

Are You a Poet and You Know It? April is National Poetry Month and Why I Love This Artform!

Poetry speaks to all of us in such a personal way. The lilting words can lift our spirits, remind us of past and current troubles, reinvigorate our constitutions, and make us challenge our beliefs. Poetry has always had a large impact on my life. I feel it allows a person to collect their thoughts and arrange them in an artistic manner of expression. Please take a moment to read the poem I have written to describe the impact poetry has on an individuals way of thinking.


Poetry 

Lyrical language set to verse

whispers the voice of the spirit unheard

cascading thoughts, forgotten dreams

sonnet of the soul penned by one hand

to elicit emotion in the hearts of all.

There are many forms of poetry to release these musings such as shape poetry (written within a shape such as a football or words arranged to look like the shape), bio poems (poems about you which contain your fears and traits), and Japanese haiku. These examples beautifully represent the essence of language set to verse and can also be found in full length volumes called novels in verse. One of my favorite book-length narrative poem novels is Three Rivers Rising by Jame Richardson surrounding the events leading up to the The Johnstown Flood in Johnstown, Pennsylvania. The story is resplendent in its use of realism and historic events to tell the story of love between two social classes in a by-gone era. The use of many character's stories developed a strong emotional tie to the reader for the hope of the character's well-being. I found myself unconsciously rooting for the safety of the characters and feeling their pain and loss of devastation at the hands of the watery monster (eventual flood that destroyed the town). Below I have gathered some very valuable web resources which will allow readers to explore poetry through hands-on activities and information.

Discover Many Forms of Poetry and See Examples

http://www.kidzone.ws/poetry/index.htm
Kindergarten Art Projects on the Subject of Poetry (Make sure to click on the links titled "Poetry Pebbles" and "Poetry Cards" to view these examples)

http://www.ehow.com/list_7225256_kindergarten-art-projects-poetry.html
Creative Ways to Display Poetry
http://www.hsclassroom.net/2012/03/celebrating-national-poetry-month-with-hands-on-poetry-projects/

Tippy-Toe Chick, Go! by George Shannon

Tiny, but mighty is the perfect description for this yellow, fluffy chick with chutzpah to spare!

Tippy-Toe Chick and his family are on a mission for some tasty delicacies, but are sidetracked by a large, growling canine with quite an attitude. 

Each one of the plucky poultry is determined to be rid of this menacing fellow, but are unable to scare him into submission. 

Tippy-Toe Chick snaps into action as his family cowers in fear in this delightful tale which shows that even the littlest sprites can be up for a challenge. 

Will Tippy-Toe Chick save the day? Read on to find out!

Children will be inspired to be the best they can be and defy the odds in this self-esteem boosting book which teaches determination and self-confidence in one's self and their abilities. 

Laura Dronzek's illustrations add a sweet simplicity to the story with their use of bold, acrylic paints and heavy brushstrokes. 

This story would be best read to preschoolers to kindergartners who are learning about baby/farm animals, character traits such as self-esteem, and family love. 

A story worth "peeping" about to all your friends. 

Grandma Drove the Snowplow by Katie Clark

The holiday season is already a busy time of year, but imagine if you are grandma, who is the owner of the garbage and snow removal service.

The story opens with grandma busily baking cookies with her grandson while listening to the radio. Suddenly, a blizzard alert is heard on the radio.


Grandma snaps into action and sends her sons to remove the snow from the roads. There is a special event called the Carol Sing happening that day. 

Grandma then receives phone calls from her sons saying they cannot plow the roads because their plows are stuck in the snow.

It's grandma to the rescue! Read on to see what happens next! 

Children will love the rich and brightly colored paintings that fill the pages. Hilarious moments will leave children laughing.