Counting to one is easy-peasy, right?  But which ONE do you count? This tricky book might have you accidentally counting more than one. (Don’t do it!)
There are lots of things to identify and count in this book. Have your child point to the pictures as they are counting, and talk about what is “one” (one duck roller-blading, for example) and what is more than one (five ducks in the picture). Then, go back and count ALL the things in the book
(hint: there are 100)!Â
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Rock and Roll
by Ruby Ray Thompson
"Strong" Rock and “soft” Roll are different but the same (in different ways), and they are very good friends. Rock even rolls and Roll rocks out!
Using toys or household objects, play a sorting game with your child. How are things alike, and how are they different?  A fork and a spoon are alike because they’re both silver, but they’re different because one is pointy and one is round. A red block is like a green block and like a red ball, but they are all different, too.
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The Snow Fox
by Rosemary Shojaie
When Nico the fox’s animal friends hibernate for the winter, he finds himself alone in the wintry woods. Is there another friend for him to play with?
Cut out hearts with your child, in all sizes and colors (or have your child color them). Then, see what animals and other things you can make out of them!
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Black History Month
Going Down Home with Daddy
by Kelly Starling Lyons
Little Alan enjoys a family reunion filled with everyone from great-grandma to lots of cousins, plus plenty of soul food, and finds the traditions and love shared by his “mighty family.”
Tell YOUR stories to your child. Kids love to hear stories about their grown-ups “back in olden times when you were small.” Family lore doesn’t have to be about the big things – tell about how you rode your very first (purple!) bike on the snow-covered street until the streetlights came on. Tell about Grandpa singing in the shower. Tell about cinnamon toast snacks and helping Grandma set the table for dinner.
It’s Storytime PLUS. Stories, songs, shakers AND a different play-based art activity each month!
Puffy-Paint Pictures
Using glue and shaving foam (not gel), you can mix up some fun home-made paint that dries puffy! Add food coloring to make different colors. Your child can use a spoon or craft stick to dab the paint onto cardboard or heavy paper to create a 3D work of art.
Early Literacy Tip
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Your child can experiment with mixing colors, making shapes, and letting their imagination run free. Â Manipulating the craft stick or spoon helps develop fine-motor skills useful for writing.
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Want to try this at home?
All you need are these supplies:
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get more
out of your library
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Board Games
hundreds of games to borrow
1 week checkout
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Early Literacy Tip
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Your family will have so much fun playing together, you’ll hardly register all the learning that’s happening!
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In addition to taking turns and following rules, board games often have counting, letter or pattern recognition, and problem-solving aspects that are important to early literacy. Fine-motor skills are reinforced by manipulating pieces, dice, and spinners.Â
