Grumpy Goat by Brett Helquist

How does it feel to be grumpy? The other animals at Sunny Acres Farm want to befriend Goat, but he does everything he can to push them away. Only a yellow dandelion in the field can turn Goat’s mood around, showing him that there is always something sunny blooming on the farm.

This book’s rich illustrations bring the farm to life and also depict the mood changes in Goat. Talk with your child about being grumpy. Acknowledge that everyone feels grumpy sometimes, and ask what Goat could do to let the animals know how he’s feeling. Look at pictures of faces in other books or magazines, and talk about ways faces can show feelings. Visit a flower shop or greenhouse together and pick some flowers for a neighbor or friend. Talking with your child helps build vocabulary skills and is a great way to get ready to read!

This article originally appeared in our Early Lit Bits eNewsletter. Read the most recent issue online or sign up to receive this monthly update highlighting early literacy tips and resources for parents and caregivers.

KDL swings for the fences with this lineup!  To view 10 of the most popular adult and kids Baseball Nonfiction titles at KDL, click on the link to the KDL Top Ten List!

Gifts that Grow

Spring is in the air and it’s time to think about planning a summer garden. Here is a fun craft children can make as a gift for others or keep and plant in the family garden this summer. The tearing and squeezing can be done by small children and will help develop the muscles in the hand that they will need to hold a pencil and write when they begin school.

Materials

• Newspaper
• Seeds (wildflower seeds work well)
• Cookie cutters
• A blender
• Sieve

Directions

Have children tear the newspaper into small pieces. ADULT: Put the paper pieces in the blender a couple of handfuls at a time. Add some water. Blend the newspaper pieces and water until it becomes a mushy pulp. Work in batches, transferring the pulp you make into a sieve resting over a bowl. Have children squeeze out as much liquid as they can. Add the seeds to the squeezed pulp and mix. Fill cookie cutter shapes with the seed mixture. Stand the cutters on some paper towel to absorb any liquid that will be squeezed out. Push the pulp down very firmly. Carefully push the shaped pulp from the cutter and leave it on some wax paper to dry.

To Use

Store your “seed cookies” in a cool dry place until you are ready to give them away as gifts or plant them in your own garden.

Other Ideas

Talk about how plants grow from seeds and teach children the names of various plants. The garden is an excellent place for young children to learn about colors, numbers and shapes. Consider planting seeds in a letter pattern to spell out a child’s name, or planting edible herbs for young children to taste and smell.

This article originally appeared in our Early Lit Bits eNewsletter. Read the most recent issue online or sign up to receive this monthly update highlighting early literacy tips and resources for parents and caregivers.

Find your next heavenly read at KDL!  To view 10 of the most popular Adult Inspirational Fiction titles at KDL this year, click on the link to the KDL Top Ten List!

Can’t get enough basketball? Get an assist from KDL! We’ve got documentary films, training materials and books on all your favorite buzzer-beaters. To view 10 of the most popular Basketball Nonfiction titles at KDL, click on the link to the KDL Top Ten List!

Looking for some new music that will get your kids moving, singing and laughing? Check out musician and author Jim Gill. His background as a child development specialist with a special emphasis on the study of play has made his music a combination of silly, fun and enriching. His music encourages participation through movement and singing with interactive instruction that has helped make him a favorite of teachers, librarians and parents alike. Check our catalog to borrow one of his albums today.

This article originally appeared in our Early Lit Bits eNewsletter. Read the most recent issue online or sign up to receive this monthly update highlighting early literacy tips and resources for parents and caregivers.

Kent District Library has a great selection of picture books for you to browse at your local branch, but sometimes it’s nice to have some recommendations. Check out the PLAY-GROW-READ! section of the KDL website (found under the “Parents & Kids” tab).

Reader’s advisory lists for our pint-sized patrons can be found under the heading “Books for Early Literacy.” There are a variety of lists found here, from “Funny Stories” to “Numbers & Counting” to “Books for Bedtime.” There’s also a list that focuses on each of the Early Literacy Practices. Conveniently, the books on the these lists link directly to our catalog. You can immediately see where they are on the shelf and place a hold to have a title sent to your home library.

Looking for something local to do this spring break? Explore Michigan with travel books from KDL. From the scenic Grand River in our own backyard, to wild destinations for family adventure, have fun discovering everything Michigan has to offer!

Click on the link to this week’s Top Ten List to view 10 of the most popular Michigan Travel titles at KDL!

Do you have a favorite nearby destination for family fun?  Please share your ideas below!

A Kiss Like This by Mary Murphy

Kisses, kisses, everywhere! Each animal has its own way of smooching in this large, lift-the-flap book. Share this book one-on-one with your child, and imitate the noises each animal makes when they kiss their little ones. Blow kisses back and forth with children when reading to a group, and then have them pretend to be each animal. Talk about other animals not mentioned in the book and ask how they would kiss their babies. The illustrations are similar to Lucy Cousin’s Hooray for Fish, and the two books would pair well together.  Listen to Laurie Berkner’s song, Blow a Kiss, and sing along!  Talking and singing with your child helps boost vocabulary and are great ways to get your child ready to read!

This article originally appeared in our Early Lit Bits eNewsletter. Read the most recent issue online or sign up to receive this monthly update highlighting early literacy tips and resources for parents and caregivers.

What a group!  Looking for a unique way to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day?  Then check out one of the titles from this rather eclectic Top Ten list.  These are ten of the most popular items at KDL featuring Ireland, or something Irish, this year!

Do you have a favorite book, movie or album highlighting something Irish?  If so, please share below.