Let's Play!

 This week, we're sharing picture book stories about playing.  Here's a few of our favorites . . . .

Corduroy by Don Freeman

Corduroy has been on the department store shelf for a long time. Yet as soon as Lisa sees him, she knows that he's the bear she's always wanted. Her mother, though, thinks he's a little shopworn -- he's even missing a button! Still, Corduroy knows that with a bit of work he can tidy himself up and be just the bear for Lisa. And where better to start than with a quick search through the department store for a new button!

My Friend Rabbit by Eric Rohmann

Something always seems to go wrong when Rabbit is around, but Mouse lets him play with his toy plane anyway because he is his good friend.

Invasion of the Unicorns by David Biedrzycki

Secret agent Bubble07 has an undercover mission: to infiltrate the home of an Earthling Family and decide whether an army of alien unicorns should invade planet Earth. Danger follows in the form of dog slobber, tea parties, and show-and-tell. Will Bubble07 be forced to give up and call for backup? Or will this fluffy alien's heart be won over by story time and snuggles.

Where Is Bear? by Jonathan Bentley

A little boy and his best friend, an actual bear, go on a search for a teddy bear before bedtime.

Found by Salina Yoon

Upon finding a toy rabbit in the forest, Bear tries his very best to return it to its home but by the time its owner appears, Bear has become attached to Bunny.

More Books --

The Boy Who Wouldn't Share by Mike Reiss

Crybaby by Karen Beaumont

Dino-Grow by Matt Myers

Doll-E 1.0 by Shanda McCloskey

Don't Lose Mr. Cuddles! by Dav Petty

Eat Pete! by Michael Rex

The Epic Adventures of Huggie and Stick by Drew Daywalt

A Fire Engine for Ruthie by Leslea Newman

I Love You, Blue Kangaroo by Emma Chichester Clark

Knuffle Bunny by Mo Willems

Lilly's Purple Plastic Purse by Kevin Henkes

Little Whistle's Dinner Party by Cynthia Rylant

Louis by Tom Lichtenheld

Miss Mouse's Day by Jan Ormerod

Monkey and Me by Emily Gravett

Puppy Truck by Brian Pinkney

Mr. Wuffles by David Wiesner

Ten Rules of Being a Superhero by Deb Pilutti

Toys Galore by Peter Stein

Toys Meet Snow by Emily Jenkins

Traction Man by Mini Grey

The Velveteen Rabbit by Margery Williams Bianco

What the Dinosaurs Did Last Night by Refe & Amy Tuma

Ocean -- 4/14/26

Story Times are held weekly on Monday and Tuesday mornings at 10:00 am. A monthly virtual Story Time is posted the first Tuesday of the month on the library's Facebook page.  It is available to view for one month before the next video is posted.

Click HERE for this month's virtual Story Time.

Secret Seahorse by Stella Blackstone
I'm the Biggest Thing in the Ocean by Kevin Sherry
I Need Pants! by Susan Sweet

Books:
How to Put an Octopus to Bead by Sherri Duskey Rinker
I'm the Best Artist in the Ocean by Kevin Sherry
Milo Is Missing Something by Vern Kousky
Ocean Animals from Head to Tail by Stacey Roderick
Sharky McShark by Alison Murray

Craft: Squid

- Print template onto cardstock or heavy paper

- Cut out squid's head

- Cut four 5" pieces of crepe paper and one 4" piece of crepe paper

- Cut all five strips of crepe paper in half longways

- Glue strips to bottom of squid's head as tentacles

Extension Activities:

- Secret Seahorse includes a hidden seahorse in each spread to try to find.  Hold an ocean scavenger hunt by hiding ocean animal stuffies or printing our pictures of ocean animals to tape up.  Then have your child(ren) find the ocean animals.

- I Need Pants! imagines a fish and octopus in clothes.  Discuss which clothes would best fit the different ocean animals.  Draw pictures of what that would look like.

Template --

National Poetry Month

Every April we celebrate National Poetry Month by sharing poetry books.  This April, read one of these great novels in verse for teens . . . .

Keesha's House by Helen Frost

Seven teens facing such problems as pregnancy, closeted homosexuality, and abuse each describe in poetic forms what caused them to leave home and where they found home again.

Spin by Rebecca Caprara

Arachne is ostracized by all but her family and closest friend, Celandine. Turning to her loom for solace, Arachne learns to weave, finding her voice and her strength through the craft. After the tragic loss of her family, Arachne challenges Athena, and a fateful weaving contest ensues, resulting in an exposé of divine misdeeds, a shocking transformation, and unexpected redemption.

Miles Morales: Suspended by Jason Reynolds
Miles Morales is still just your average teenager. He has unexpectedly become totally obsessed with poetry and can never seem to do much more than babble around his crush. Nothing too weird. Oh! Except, just yesterday, he used his spidey superpowers to save the world (no biggie) from an evil mastermind called The Warden.


More Novels in Verse for Teens --

19 Love Songs by David Levithan

Ariel Crashes a Train by Olivia Cole

Facing the Enemy by Barbara Krasner

Identical by Ellen Hopkins

Jazz Owls by Margarita Engle

The Most Dazzling Girl in Berlin by Kip Wilson

Nothing Burns As Bright As You by Ashley Woodfolk

Ode to My First Car by Robin Gow

One Step Forward by Marcie Flinchum Atkins

Song of Freedom, Song of Dreams by Shari Green

Voices: The Final Hours of Joan of Arc by David Elliott

Wave by Diana Farid

We Are All So Good at Smiling by Amber McBride