This is a great book to get your child moving along with the little monkey, with plenty of patterning in the repetition of words and movements. I like to go back and do them faster and faster and faster!Â
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What Pet to Get?
by Emma Dodd
Choosing a pet can be difficult, especially if the pet you want is too big, too scary, too hairy, too...extinct. Will Jack ever find the perfect pet?
Your child can identify the animals throughout the book. Talking about what problems each animal might pose, and what solutions your child might have is a great way to spark their imagination.
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The Wildest Thing
by Emily Winfield Martin
Eleanor “wanted to be noisy!/ She wanted to be free./ She wanted to be wilder/ than she was supposed to be.” The illustrations are beautiful, as Eleanor imagines herself surrounded by (and becoming) the forest animals she loves.
"Mr. Eric” is probably best-known for the early Pete the Cat books, which should be enough evidence to show that he knows what kids like. Groovy Joe is a rockin’ pup who loves a party, even when things get a little crowded.
With a catchy refrain (“Disco party bow-WOW"), and plenty of repeating lines (and some math sneakily thrown in), your child will be able to tell the story with you. You can even add some air guitar – or air tuba, or air saxophone – as you dance and sing with Joe and his buddies.
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Women's History Month
Go, Girls, Go!
by Frances Gilbert
With all sorts of cool vehicles, this is a fun book for every kid who loves things that go.
Have your child identify the vehicles, and the colors on the vehicles. Language development isn’t just about learning words, but about being able to classify things as same and different: these things are in the air, these things are on the land; these things are the same color, even though they aren’t shaped the same; some cars are red and some cars are yellow; etc. With older littles, you can talk about what each vehicle does, and where it might be going.
It’s Storytime PLUS. Stories, songs, shakers AND a different play-based art activity each month!
Sticker Stories
Using stickers, your child can “write” a story. Why is the princess riding the motorcycle? To escape from the dinosaur, of course!
Early Literacy Tip
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Storytelling is an important way for your child to develop vocabulary, sequencing (what comes next?), and their imagination! Peeling and sticking stickers is great fine-motor exercise for fingers that will learn to write. Using markers (or triangle/jumbo crayons to help train little hands and fingers to hold a pencil) to “fill out” their sticker scenes also develops those fine-motor pre-writing skills.
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Want to try this at home?
All you need are these supplies:
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out of your library
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Combine 'em!
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Pair Spunky Little Monkey with “Turtle Steps” from our Library of Things collection, and “Duck Duck Dance!” from our board games collection! – “Turtle Steps” has your kids move around an obstacle course and jump from stepping stone to stepping stone. “Duck Duck Dance!” is a fun dancing game that will have your kids (and you!) imitating actions of the ducks to complete the game.Â
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Early Literacy Tip
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Play is just so, so, so important for all aspects of early learning. From following directions, to problem-solving, to large-motor control (like balance, coordination, and concentration), games like these are a great way to get moving, have fun, and work in some early-literacy skills at the same time. Perfect for a rainy spring day!
