Singing with young children is a fun activity that can be enjoyed by almost anyone, and entertainment value aside, studies show it can have a very positive effect on your young child’s development.  Songs provide parents and caregivers with a very special way of “talking” to young children, and aid in language acquisition and the development of good social and verbal communication skills.

Try singing traditional songs like “I’m a Little Teapot” or “The Itsy Bitsy Spider,” a nursery rhyme such as “Hickory Dickory Dock,” or just make up a song using things that interest your child.  Keep in mind, having a great singing voice is NOT a requirement.  If you’re off pitch, chances are, the audience won’t even notice!

Check out your local library’s collection of nursery rhyme books and children’s compact discs to help get you started!              

Here are just a few ideas:

The Neighborhood Mother Goose by Nina Crews

Hush, Little Baby by Brian Pinkney

The Wheels on the School Bus by Mary-Alice Moore

Raffi in Concert with the Rise and Shine Band

The Ladybug Music series by Patricia Maertens

Tags: Children's books, Pre-K, music

Young children can learn so much about their world through seasonal books and discussions.  With the change of the season just around the corner, why not visit your local library and check out all of our great winter-themed children’s books?  Whether you’re looking for something on snow, hibernation, a specific holiday, or just a fun story taking place in a winter setting, you’re sure to find some great reads to share with your child!  Here are just a few examples:

Winter by Ron Hirschi

Stunning photographs and lyrical language take you on a journey through nature.

Under the Snow by Melissa Stewart

Find out what happens to the animals in the woods, the insects in the garden and the creatures in the pond when the chilly weather arrives. 

Winter White by Christianne Jones

This book is part of a series on colors, and offers simplistic text, colorful illustrations, and a fun fact section.

In the Snow: Who’s Been Here? By Lindsay Barrett George

While walking in the snow, two children see signs of life all around them.

White Snow, Bright Snow by Alvin Tresselt

An oldie but goodie, this 1948 Caldecott Medal Winner takes the reader through a snowstorm from start to finish, highlighting different perspectives along the way.

The Hat by Jan Brett

On a cold, windy day, Hedgie finds himself a very interesting hat, which he shows to all of his animal friends. 

Snow by Uri Shulevitz

A little boy and his dog watch their town transform into a winter wonderland.

For many more choices, stop by your local branch today!

Tags: Children's books, Pre-K

Something scary is creeping up behind you… Getting closer every day… It’s HALLOWEEN! And if you’re anything like me, you’re putting off costumes until the last minute. Get some great, super-easy ideas for kids costumes at Kidspot. Make fairy wings in minutes! A no-sew magician’s cape!

And of course, don’t forget to share some creepy crawly books with your little ones. Here are a few of your Free Library Children’s Librarian tried-and-true favorites.

Creepy Carrots by Aaron Reynolds, illustrated by Peter Brown. The carrots that grow in Crackenhopper Field are the fattest and crispiest around and Jasper Rabbit cannot resist pulling some to eat each time he passes by, until he begins hearing and seeing creepy carrots wherever he goes.

Halloween Forest by Marion Dane Bauer, illustrated by John Shelley. A trick-or-treater ventures outside town only to find that the forest is full of spooky bones!

The Little Old Lady Who Was Not Afraid of Anything by Linda Williams, illustrated by Megan Lloyd. The classic holiday favorite about a clever old lady who assures a clomping pair of shoes and a wiggling pair of pants that she is not afraid of them.

Shake dem Halloween Bones by W. Nikola–Lisa, illustrated by Mike Reed. A rhythmic tale about different updated fairy tale characters who attend a hip-hop Halloween ball.

If You’re a Monster and You Know It by Rebecca and Ed Emberley. Clap your claws! Twitch your tail! Wiggle your warts!

In a Dark Dark Wood: An Old Tale With an New Twist by David A. Carter. In the dark, dark wood, there was a dark, dark house... Do you dare read till the end?

Tags: Children's books, Pre-K, early literacy

Is your little one feeling sniffly and sneezy? Come check out some of these books, and you'll be sure to feel better soon!

Bear Feels Sick by Karma Wilson, illustrated by Jane Chapman

Poor old Bear wakes up achy and stuffy, and his woodland friends make him feel better with tea, lullabies, and their kind company.

Pigs Make Me Sneeze! by Mo Willems

Oh no! Elephant is allergic to his best friend, Piggie! Call Doctor Cat!

I Hate to Be Sick! by Aamir Lee Bermiss, illustrated by Ken Wilson-Max

Being sick means staying in bed, missing school and playtime. Fortunately, the little boy in this sweet Easy Reader has daddy to make him feel better.

"Stand Back!" Said the Elephant, "I'm Going to Sneeze!" by Patricia Thomas, illustrated by Wallace Tripp

Speaking of sneezing elephants! All the animals try to convince elephant to hold in his sneeze, due to the disastrous effects of his last sneeze. (Hint: It scared the stripes off the zebras.)

Feel better soon!

Tags: Children's books, Pre-K, early literacy

The Free Library of Philadelphia is honored to host a special exhibition from the Philadelphia Holocaust Remembrance Foundation that highlights the power of the human spirit even in the face of egregious atrocities.

In 1941, Hitler and the Nazis opened an internment camp in Terezin (also known as Theresienstadt), Czechoslovakia.  According to the Jewish Virtual Library, 97,297 of the Jews imprisoned in Terezin died.  Of those that died, almost 15,000 were children.

The exhibition “Transcending Their Boundaries:  The Children of Terezin” is more than an acknowledgement of the viciousness of the Nazis.  It is a celebration of the lives of the Jewish men, women and children who were confined at Terezin.  Through the pictures, games, and toys that the children and their teachers made during their time there, the spirit of the people shines through.

Please join the Free Library community at the opening event featuring the film “Liga Terezin” on Wednesday, September 12, 2012 at 7:30 p.m. in the Montgomery Auditorium at the Parkway Central Library.  The exhibition is installed on the ground floor in front of the auditorium and runs through November 20, 2012.

As the exhibition features the artwork of the children of Terezin, our librarians have prepared a special booklist to help you should you wish to share information with your children regarding Terezin and the Holocaust.  These books, and many others, are all available in the Parkway Central Children’s Department.

Littlesugar, Amy.  Willy & Max:  a Holocaust Story.  (call # j)

Kushner, Tony. (Illustrated by Maurice Sendak.)  Brundibar.  (call # j782.13 K968b)

Abells, Chana Byers.  The Children We Remember:  Photographs from the Archives of Yad Vashem, The Holocaust Martyrs’ and Heroes’ Remembrance Authority, Jerusalem, Israel.  (call # j940.5316 Ab35c)

Rubin, Susan Goldman. Fireflies in the Dark: The Story of Friedl Dicker-Brandeis and the Children of Terezin. (call # j940.5318 D558r)

Smith, Frank Dabba.  (Photographs by Mendel Grossman.)  My Secret Camera:  Life in the Lodz Ghetto.  (call # j940.5318 G914m)

Perl, Lila and Marion Blumenthal Lazan.  Four Perfect Pebbles:  A Holocaust Story.  (call # j940.5318 L455p)

Leitner, Isabella.  The Big Lie.  (call # j940.5318 L536b)

Whiteman, Dorit Bader.  Lonek’s Journey:  The True Story of a Boy’s Escape to Freedom.  (call # j940.5318 L847w)

Rosenberg, Maxine B.  Hiding to Survive:  Stories of Jewish Children Rescued from the Holocaust.  (call # j940.5318 R723h)

Thomson, Ruth.  Terezín:  Voices from the Holocaust.  (call # j940.5318 T386t)

Tags: Children's books, Events at the Library, Exhibitions