KidSpace Blog

Archive for the ‘blogs’ Category

Thomas the Train & Friends have been favorites for many years. Whether or not your kids are familiar with these characters, they will enjoy these transportation themed poems!

 From Railway Rhymes original poems by R. Schuyler Hooke

Thomas 

 

Thomas is a tank engine

Who’s small and short and blue.

He sometimes causes mischief, but

His heart is good and true.

“Engines don’t have hearts,” you say.

And that is very smart.

But Thomas’ good nature proves

He doesn’t need a heart.

For those with hearts are good and kind.

They help when times are tough-

They stick by friends and those in need

And cannot give enough.

They listen when they’re spoken to

And try to do their best.

They know there’s time to work real hard

And time to play and rest.

So Thomas doesn’t have a heart,

But he is all of these-

Good, hard-working, smart, and kind.

He always aims to please.

And on his Branch Line, back and forth,

He’s loyal to the end.

And with his boiler he is still

A Really Useful Friend.

Poetry can be found anywhere. Even in the kitchen! Share these ‘mealtime rhymes’ with your kids and encourage them to make up their own rhymes about everyday things.

Mix a Pancake

Mix a pancake,

Stir a pancake,

Pop it in the pan;

Fry the pancake,

Toss the pancake-

Catch it if you can.

By Christina Rosetti

space

Send My Spinach

Send my spinach

Off to Spain.

Parcel post it

On a train.

Mail it,

Sail it

On a ship.

Just don’t let it

Touch my lip.

By Douglas Florian

space

Find these rhymes and more in Hot Potato: mealtime rhymes. Selected by Neil Philip.

The summer has gone by fast! We have had a record number of children and teens sign up for our summer reading programs. As we all know, it is so important to keep reading during the summer. Unfortunately a lot of children lose much of what they learned the previous year. But it’s not too late to stop the summer slide for your kids!

Summer reading list books have been flying off the shelves. But remember, the library has hundreds of other choices that will all help your child succeed at reading and school. Here are some great books we recommend: http://www.wpbpl.com/kids/books_we_love.htm

Keep reading!

Poetry written for children has been around for a long time! Don’t forget about the classics when sharing with you kids.

Bed in Summer

   
~Robert Louis Stevenson from A Children’s Garden of Verses published in  1885.
 

In Winter I get up at night
And dress by yellow candle light.
In Summer, quite the other way,
I have to go to bed by day.

space

I have to go to bed and see
The birds still hopping on the tree,
Or hear the grown-up people’s feet
Still going past me in the street.

space

And does it not seem hard to you,
When all the sky is clear and blue,
And I should like so much to play,
To have to go to bed by day?

Didgeridoo Down Under

Saturday @ 2pm

Auditorium

Hey everyone! Don’t miss out on the opening of Beezus and Ramona this weekend. A classic book that has been loved by generations is now a feature film. In her book titled, Beezus and Ramona, Beverly Cleary brought to life the unforgetable character of Ramona Quimby. A series about Ramona follwed, securing her in the hearts of children everywhere.

space

Check out the movie, check out the book!

 

space

You can also use this teaching guide to help bring these stories to your kids! http://www.beverlycleary.com/docs/beverlyclearyteachingguide.pdf

See, touch and learn about the wild animals

of McCarthy’s Wildlife Sanctuary.

space

Join us in the Auditorium!

Saturday, July 16 at 2pm

 

Go on , get creative!

The USCIS (U.S. Citizenship and  Immigration Services) is accepting artwork from kids, ages 5-12 from around the nation. 

Draw your answer to the question “People have come from all over the world to become Americans. Why does that make us great?”

 Check out their website for the complete requriments and information on how to submit your artwork.

Did you step into the story last week? Our artistic and imaginative librarians created a Wonderland of activities for children to explore based on Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll. Kids went through the rabbit hole, attended a tea party, made a Mad Hatter hat and more during last week’s program.

I recently read the original story and enjoyed the nonsense and imagination.  I wanted to explore further the poetry in the book. The poems Alice recites throughout are based on works that were once well-known by children and adults alike. The versions in the story are actually meant to be parodies. Unfortunately, the joke is lost on most modern readers, but I am providing the two versions here for your enjoyment. More poem comparisons can be found at this link: http://www.durrant.co.uk/alice/

How Doth The Little Crocodile
Lewis Carroll

How doth the little crocodile
Improve his shining tail,
And pour the waters of the Nile
On every golden scale!

How cheerfully he seems to grin,
How neatly spread his claws,
And welcome little fishes in
With gently smiling jaws!

 

Against Idleness And Mischief
Isaac Watts

How doth the little busy bee
Improve each shining hour,
And gather honey all the day
From every opening flower!

How skillfully she builds her cell!
How neat she spreads the wax!
And labours hard to store it well
With the sweet food she makes.

In works of labour or of skill,
I would be busy too;
For Satan finds some mischief still
For idle hands to do.

In books, or work, or healthy play,
Let my first years be passed
That I may give for every day
Some good account at last.


Follow

Get every new post delivered to your Inbox.