Squeak! Rumble! Whomp! Whomp! Whomp! A Sonic Adventure by Wynton Marsalis (Toddler, Preschool) This interactive book is a fun romp through onomatopoeia and New Orleans jazz. It shows how music can come from instruments and from everyday objects like a screen door or water faucet. ▸ Get it at the Library Monster Boogie by Read More
Parent Center
Activities with Music
Ever wonder how librarians learn so many rhymes and songs? Their secret weapon is the Jbrary YouTube channel, created by two Canadian youth services librarians. Try out their Fingerplays and Tickles or Body Parts Songs, Fingerplays, and Tickles playlists that are great for babies, toddlers, and preschoolers. They have so many songs – one of Read More
Ways to Make Music
It is easy to make music a part of your daily life. Even if you don’t like the sound of your singing voice, remember that your child will love it. Sing whenever you have a chance. Make specific songs correspond to routines during the day (bath time, diaper changing, bedtime) – this will help make Read More
Let’s Make Music
Have you ever thought about how perfect the song Head Shoulders Knees and Toes is? It’s been a childhood favorite for a long time! Perhaps you heard this version of it on Mr. Rogers. In any language, this super short song packs so much learning in less than a minute: vocabulary, physical movement, and pointing Read More
Books You’ll Love About Family
Stella Brings the Family by Miriam B Schiffer (Preschool) At her school, Stella’s teacher announces that they will have a Mother’s Day celebration, but Stella doesn’t have a mother to bring. She has two daddies and many other relatives who care for her instead. How will Stella solve the “problem” of whom to invite to the Read More
Activities for Families
Play House: Dramatic play is an essential part of early childhood. Watching children play at being a family reveals what they see, hear, and feel in their day to day life. Playing house is one of the most popular themes for young children. Possible props can be dolls, keys, stuffed animals as pets, and other Read More
Ways to Celebrate Family
Six Ways to Celebrate Family Look through family photos together. As you talk about them, make sure to point and name everyone. Help your child draw a picture of your family. Alternatively, you could work on any kind of craft project and give it to a family member. Write a letter/postcard to someone in your Read More
Learning With Family
Ever heard the saying that parents are their child’s first teacher? Your family, whether it’s made up of two or twenty members, is the best place for your young child to learn about the world. If you add siblings, cousins, grandparents, aunts, uncles, best friends, foster siblings, and step family, then there are even more Read More
Books You’ll Love for On the Go
Backseat A-B-see by Maria Van Lieshout (Toddler, Preschool) This fun version of the classic alphabet book uses many different kinds of street signs that your little one may see from their point of view in the backseat. Can you guess what sign would work for L? Hint: it’s the place you can find this book! ▸ Read More
Ways You Can Help Your Child with Literacy on the Go
There are so many great ways you can engage your kiddos while you’re out and about. Here are a few suggestions: Keep books in the car Make up silly songs about what you’re doing together Talk about your day together using your five senses to describe new places and experiences Listen and sing along to Read More
