storytime katie

For an overview of the Book Bundles and Parenting Packs early literacy kits, please visit the original post. The cost listed is the list price of each item, regardless of whether or not we got it on sale/discount. The activity sheets amount was calculated by cost of binder clip + lamination sheets.

Itemized List

• Can You Say Peace? by Karen Katz ($7.99) — Baker & Taylor
• Global Babies by Global Fund for Children ($6.95) — Baker & Taylor
• Same, Same But Different by Jenny Kostecki-Shaw ($17.99) — Baker & Taylor
• Barefoot Books “Children of the World” Memory Game ($15.99) — Amazon
• Constructive Playthings Magnetic Global Children ($39.99) — Constructive Playthings
• Constructive Playthings World Buildings ($69.99) — Constructive Playthings
• Mesh Bag (1) & Vinyl Bags (2) ($9.97) — The Container Store
• Activity Sheets ($2.55) — created in-house

Total: $178.81

Choosing books for this Bundle was a delight. The Global Babies series is one of my favorite all-time board books. While we own all of them at the library, I went with the original offering for this Bundle. I wanted to include a book that used language and Can You Say Peace? did so in a global setting. And Same, Same But Different is a great title that needs more recognition for sure.

The Barefoot Books “Children of the World” memory game focuses on the word hello in many languages, hooray!

Constructive Playthings Magnetic Global Children is a way for children to match different items with the children. The pieces are also swappable, so kids can blend the children to make a multicultural child. And the Constructive Playthings World Buildings are a great way to pack the world into a Bundle. (Though I do wish it was a bit less Europe-centric.)

This Bundle has gone out six times in the two months since its release.

For an overview of the Book Bundles and Parenting Packs early literacy kits, please visit the original post. The cost listed is the list price of each item, regardless of whether or not we got it on sale/discount. The activity sheets amount was calculated by cost of binder clip + lamination sheets.

Itemized List

• I Got the Rhythm by Connie Schofield-Morrison ($16.99) — Baker & Taylor
• Music Class Today! by David Weinstone ($17.99) — Baker & Taylor
• Zin, Zin, Zin, a Violin! by Lloyd Moss ($7.99) — Baker & Taylor
• Lakeshore True Tone Xylophone ($21.99) — Lakeshore Learning
• Melissa and Doug Band-in-a-Box ($21.99) — Amazon
• Mesh Bag ($3.99) — The Container Store
• Activity Sheets ($2.55) — created in-house

Total: $100.88

I wanted to show three different kinds of ways to experience music and I have to say, I think I nailed it. Everyday life = I Got the Rhythm; kids can make music and find rhythm anywhere! At the library = Music Class Today!; kids can make music and dance at the library. Classical = Zin, Zin, Zin, a Violin!; kids can listen to music performed by others.

And of course, I wanted to allow the kids the chance to create their own music and that’s really all this kit needed. I choose both the Lakeshore Learning xylophone and the Melissa and Doug band-in-a-box. These provide lots of opportunities to play music and caregivers can return it to the library once their ears need a break!

This Bundle has gone out six times in the two months since its release.

For an overview of the Book Bundles and Parenting Packs early literacy kits, please visit the original post. The cost listed is the list price of each item, regardless of whether or not we got it on sale/discount. The activity sheets amount was calculated by cost of binder clip + lamination sheets.

Itemized List

• My House by Byron Barton ($7.99) — Baker & Taylor
• Noisy Night by Mac Barnett ($16.99) — Baker & Taylor
• This is Our House by Hyewon Yum ($16.99) — Baker & Taylor
• Lakeshore Learning Home Sweet Home ($29.99) — Lakeshore Learning
• Lakeshore Learning House Building Engineering Center ($49.99) — Lakeshore Learning
• Three Little Pigs Puppets ($9.99) — Amazon
• Mesh Bag & Vinyl Bag ($6.98) — The Container Store
• Activity Sheets ($2.55) — created in-house

Total: $148.86

First and foremost, I wanted to make sure that this Bundle represented both houses & apartments. But there is a sore lack of books about apartments, and an even worse lack of toys. World, get on this!

I chose a very simple book about houses, My House that would be sure to reach the toddlers checking this book out and then I chose a most sophisticated book about houses, This is Our House. In particular, I thought that This is Our House provided a great representation of a familial home, that I know many patrons in our community are living in.

The Lakeshore Learning Home Sweet Home soft book focuses on animal homes and is machine washable — a huge plus when you’re talking about cleaning these kits in-between uses.

I fell in love with the Lakeshore Learning House Building Engineering Center. Rest assured, it includes more kinds of homes, rather than just houses. I also held back some of the pieces to use as replacement pieces for the future. (Which is excellent librarian planning, if I say so myself!)

Finally, what Bundle about houses & homes would be complete without Three Little Pig puppets? (I will admit that these are not the ones I originally planned on buying — I had originally planned on the Manhattan Toy ones, but I’ve been happy with these.)

This Bundle has gone out five times in the two months since its release.

For an overview of the Book Bundles and Parenting Packs early literacy kits, please visit the original post. The cost listed is the list price of each item, regardless of whether or not we got it on sale/discount. The activity sheets amount was calculated by cost of binder clip + lamination sheets.

Itemized List

• Five for a Little One by Chris Raschka ($17.99) — Baker & Taylor
• Hooray for Hoppy! by Tim Hopgood ($16.99) — Baker & Taylor
• I Hear a Pickle by Rachel Isadora ($16.99) — Baker & Taylor
• Constructive Playthings Teachable Touchable Texture Squares ($29.99) — Constructive Playthings
• Lakeshore Learning Play & Learn Sensory Tubes ($29.99) — Lakeshore Learning
• Activity Sheets — ($2.55) created in-house

Total: $121.89

Picking books for this theme was really fun! I immediately knew that I wanted to include I Hear a Pickle since I had used it in a storytime to great success. I love the different ways that each page represents different senses. Such a great way to start discussions with kids.

Hooray for Hoppy! has a rabbit that uses all of its senses to come to one conclusion and I chose this book to illustrate how our senses work together. Five for a Little One does a great job of introducing the senses and then reinforcing them with bunny’s parents. (I didn’t realize until this moment that these are both bunny/rabbit books…)

Constructive Playthings Teachable Touchable Texture Squares have been rebranded on their website since I bought them (they’re now called Bag of Fabric Feelies) and I think they are a fabulous addition to using touch with this Bundle. Kids and caregivers can describe them, match them, and more.

The Lakeshore Learning Play & Learn Sensory Tubes are a fun exploration of sight and sound, perfect for this Bundle!

This Bundle has gone out four times in the two months since its release.

For an overview of the Book Bundles and Parenting Packs early literacy kits, please visit the original post. The cost listed is the list price of each item, regardless of whether or not we got it on sale/discount. The activity sheets amount was calculated by cost of binder clip + lamination sheets.

Itemized List

• Inside-Outside Dinosaurs by Roxie Munro ($17.99) — Baker & Taylor
• Touch and Feel Dinos by Scholastic ($6.99) — Baker & Taylor
• We are the Dinosaurs by Laurie Berkner ($17.99) — Baker & Taylor
• Discovery Kids Rumble With the Dinosaurs ($12.99) — Amazon
• Melissa and Doug Dinosaur Dawn Puzzle ($10.99) — Amazon
• Pretex Dinosaur Figures ($29.99) — Amazon
• Mesh Bags (2) ($7.98) — The Container Store
• Activity Sheets ($2.55) — created in-house

Total: $114.86

It occurred to me shortly after launching the Animals Book Bundle that I had only included still-living animals. I had missed dinosaurs! Lucky for me, there’s more than enough material to create an entire dinosaur themed Bundle.

I wanted to have a non-fiction book, a picture book, and a board book in this Bundle and made my decision easily once I went to the shelf to see which books were in the worst condition and needed replacements. (That means they’re the most loved!)

When it came time to decide what toys, I knew that I wanted to include a noisy, frustrating toy that caregivers might only want to have in their homes for a short while. And that was the Discovery Kids Rumble With the Dinosaurs. I can just imagine kids pressing all the buttons simultaneously to hear ALL the dinosaur sounds at once.

Patrons often request more circulating puzzles and I was happy to include the Melissa and Doug puzzle in this Bundle. It’s larger than any of the puzzles that we have here in the library and definitely more challenging for older preschool kids/early school-age kids.

I also wanted to encourage imaginative play and I thought that the dinosaur figures from Pretex were perfect. I hope that they are being constantly used at home, with lots and lots of roaring along.

This Bundle has gone out five times in the two months since it was released.