School Holiday Specials
School Holiday Specials with Librarians!
Emotions
Making emotions masks!
Materials needed:
- Paper plates
- Ice cream sticks
- Crayons
- Tape
- Scissors
Download full instructions for this craft.
Recommended Books
Title: What are Feelings?
Author: Katie Daynes & Christine Pym
Publisher: London : Usborne Publishing, 2019.
This thoughtful book explores happiness, sadness, anger, fear and worry in a friendly and approachable way. Adorable animal characters experience different emotions, while imaginative flaps answer important questions such as ‘Why don’t I feel happy all the time?’ and ‘How can I cheer up my friend?’ Introduces useful ways to counter stress and anxiety. The flaps are perfect for inquisitive young children. Other titles in the series include Why do we need bees?, How do flowers grow?, How do I see?, Why does the sun shine? and How do animals talk?
Title: I’m Happy-Sad Today!
Author: Lory Britain, Ph.D.
Illustrator: Matthew Rivera
Publisher: Minneapolis, MN : Free Spirit Publishing Inc., [2019]
Happy, and also sad. Excited, but nervous too. Feeling friendly, with a little shyness mixed in. Mixed feelings are natural, but they can be confusing. There are different kinds of happy–the quiet kind and the “noisy, giggly, jump and run” kind. And there are conflicting feelings, like proud and jealous, frustrated and determined. With gentle messaging and charming illustrations, a little girl talks about her many layered feelings, ultimately concluding, “When I have more than one feeling inside me, I don’t have to choose just one. I know that all my feelings are okay at the same time.” A special section for adults presents ideas for helping children explore their emotions, build a vocabulary of feeling words, know what to do if they feel overwhelmed, and more.
Title: Fergal is Fuming!
Author: Robert Starling
Publisher: London : Andersen Press, 2017.
A dragon with a short temper is not a good combination, as Fergal’s family and friends soon find out. He burns the dinner (literally), reduces the football goal to ashes and absolutely cannot play a nice, quiet board game. It is only when he starts to notice other animals have clever tricks to calm down that Fergal begins to win back his friends, especially when he discovers dragons can cool off in a very handy way.
Title: After the Fall: How Humpty Dumpty Got Back Up
Author: Dan Santat
Publisher: New York, New York : Roaring Brook Press, 2017.
OverDrive Link: https://nlb.overdrive.com/media/3375799
From the New York Times –bestselling creator of The Adventures of Beekle: The Unimaginary Friend comes the inspiring epilogue to the beloved classic nursery rhyme Humpty Dumpty. Everyone knows that when Humpty Dumpty sat on a wall, Humpty Dumpty had a great fall. But what happened after? Caldecott Medalist Dan Santat’s poignant tale follows Humpty Dumpty, an avid bird watcher whose favorite place to be is high up on the city wall—that is, until after his famous fall. Now terrified of heights, Humpty can longer do many of the things he loves most. Will he summon the courage to face his fear? After the Fall (How Humpty Dumpty Got Back Up Again) is a masterful picture book that will remind readers of all ages that Life begins when you get back up.
All synopses taken from the respective publishers. The book covers are the copyright of the respective publishing companies.
Flutter Butterfly
Making a flutter butterfly!
Materials needed:
- A piece of cardbord
- A piece of coloured tissue paper
- A piece of coloured paper
- Pencil
- Scissors
- A pair of googly eyes
- Pipe cleaners
- Glue
- Balloon
Download full instructions for this craft.
Recommended Books
Title: The Truth About Butterflies
Author: Maxwell Eaton III
Publisher: New York : Roaring Brook Press, 2020.
©2020
This guide to the majestic butterfly walks you through its unique lifecycle and offers anything you ever wanted to know about the colourful insect.
Title: A Butterfly Is Patient
Author: Dianna Hutts Aston
Publisher: San Francisco, Calif. : Chronicle Books, 2011.
©2011.
OverDrive Link: https://nlb.overdrive.com/media/1377064
The creators of the award-winning An Egg Is Quiet and A Seed Is Sleepy have teamed up again to create this gorgeous and informative introduction to the world of butterflies. From iridescent blue swallowtails and brilliant orange monarchs to the worlds tiniest butterfly (Western Pygmy Blue) and the largest (Queen Alexandra’s Birdwing), an incredible variety of butterflies are celebrated here in all of their beauty and wonder. Perfect for a child’s bedroom bookshelf or for a classroom reading circle!
Title: My Butterfly Bouquet
Author: Nicola Davies
Publisher: London : Wren & Rook, an imprint of Hachette Children’s Group, 2020.
©2020.
With breath-taking illustrations and a touching story, this dazzling picture book introduces young readers to one of nature’s most magnificent and essential insects: the butterfly. See how a little girl recovering from poor health finds wonder in nature and delights in planting a garden with her father to attract a fascinating array of butterflies. Exploring the life stages of butterflies, their importance to our ecosystems and the revitalising power of nature, this book is a heart-warming information story for children who love the outdoors and all its incredible creatures. At the back of the book, discover tips on how to create your own wildlife garden to attract butterflies!
Title: Señorita Mariposa
Author: Ben Gundersheimer
Publisher: Penguin Young Readers Group, 2019.
OverDrive Link: https://nlb.overdrive.com/media/4470769
A captivating and child-friendly look at the extraordinary journey that monarch butterflies take each year from Canada to Mexico; with a text in both English and Spanish. Rhyming text and lively illustrations showcase the epic trip taken by the monarch butterflies. At the end of each summer, these international travelers leave Canada to fly south to Mexico for the winter—and now readers can come along for the ride! Over mountains capped with snow, to the deserts down below. Children will be delighted to share in the fascinating journey of the monarchs and be introduced to the people and places they pass before they finally arrive in the forests that their ancestors called home.
All synopses taken from the respective publishers. The book covers are the copyright of the respective publishing companies.
Love Our Home
Making a butterfly pencil holder!
Materials needed:
- Coloured paper
- Toilet roll
- Scissors
- Glue
- Googly eyes
- Coloured markers
- Pencil
Download full instructions for this craft.
Recommended Books
Title: Professor Astro Cat’s Deep-Sea Voyage
Author: Dr Dominic Walliman
Publisher: London ; New York : Flying Eye Books, 2020.
Despite covering over 70% of the Earth’s surface, the ocean is still roughly 95% unexplored. Join Professor Astro Cat and the gang as they take a deep dive from the sea shore all the way to the darkest depths of the ocean floor to find out more about this mysterious watery world. From coral reefs to deep-sea vents, there’s so much to discover on this Deep-sea Voyage.
Title: Busy-Eyed Day
Author: Anne-Marie Pace
Publisher: New York : Beach Lane Books, [2018]
©2018
OverDrive Link: https://nlb.overdrive.com/media/3441443
There are so many intriguing eyes out in the world…and so many amazing things for those eyes to see! From a big-eyed bug and a stalk-eyed slug to a side-eyed frog and a wide-eyed dog, the family in this book doesn’t miss a single sight during their busy-eyed day the park.
This rhyming and richly illustrated picture book is a clever and unusual celebration of being observant and keeping an eye out for magic in the everyday world that surrounds us.
Title: Let’s Recycle!
Author: Jenna Lee Gleisner
Publisher: North Mankato, Minnesota : Jump!, [2019]
©2019
Reduce. Reuse. Recycle. We hear it all the time, but what does it mean, and how can we do it? Let’s Recycle! shows early fluent readers why it’s important to produce less waste with fun and easy ways they can do it every day.
Vibrant, full-color photos and carefully leveled text will engage young readers as they learn specific ways they can be environmentally friendly. An activity provides step-by-step instructions for a specific, larger project. Children can learn more about recycling using our safe search engine that provides relevant, age-appropriate websites. Let’s Recycle! also features reading tips for teachers and parents, a table of contents, glossary, and index.
Title: Earth Hour: A Lights-Out Event for Our Planet
Author: Nanette Heffernan
Publisher: Watertown, MA : Charlesbridge, [2020]
OverDrive Link: https://nlb.overdrive.com/media/4857429
Click flashlights, light lanterns, and get ready to turn electric lights out to celebrate Earth Hour! Wherever you are, you can help our planet.
Kids around the world use electric energy to do all kinds of things–adults do, too! From cleaning the clothes we play in, to lighting up our dinner tables, to keeping us warm and toasty when the weather is cold, electricity is a huge part of our lives. Unfortunately, it can also have a big impact on our planet.
Earth Hour–a worldwide movement in support of energy conservation and sustainability–takes place each March and is sponsored by the World Wildlife Fund for Nature (WWF). During Earth Hour, individuals, communities, and businesses in more than 7,000 cities turn off nonessential electric lights for one hour. Across each continent–from the Eiffel Tower to the Great Wall of China to the Statue of Liberty–one small act reminds all of us of our enormous impact on planet Earth.
All synopses taken from the respective publishers. The book covers are the copyright of the respective publishing companies.
Under the Sea Adventure
Making a paper jellyfish!
Materials needed:
- Scissors
- Coloured marker
- Coloured paper
Download full instructions for this craft.
Recommended Books
Title: The Pout-Pout Fish and the Bully-Bully Shark
Author: Deborah Diesen
Publisher: New York : Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 2019.
©2017.
OverDrive Link: https://nlb.overdrive.com/media/3338352
Oh no! There’s a misbehaving shark at the playground! Swim along with the pout-pout fish as he confronts the challenge of bullying. He just might discover the strength of his community–and the power of his own voice.
Title: Samson: The Piranha Who Went to Dinner
Author: Tadgh Bentley
Publisher: New York, NY : Balzer + Bray, An Imprint of HarperCollinsPublishers, [2017]
Wanting to try new things, Samson aspires to sample fine cuisine at fancy restaurants before discovering that the new restaurants in his corner of the sea are not exactly welcoming to customers with big teeth and scary smiles.
Title: What if You Could Sniff like a Shark?: Explore the Superpowers of Ocean Animals
Author: Sandra Markle & Howard Mcwilliam
Publisher: New York : Scholastic Press, 2020.
©2020.
OverDrive Link: https://nlb.overdrive.com/media/5437531
What if you woke up one morning, and you suddenly had the superpower of an ocean animal? With zany illustrations and amazing true facts, What If You Could Sniff Like a Shark? Launches a brand-new series from bestselling creators Sandra Markle and Howard McWilliam.
All synopses taken from the respective publishers. The book covers are the copyright of the respective publishing companies.
Amazing Animals
Making a cute paper owl!
Materials needed:
- Paper
- Scissors
- Tape
- Googly eyes
- Marker
Download full instructions for this craft.
Recommended Books
Title: Platypuses
Author: Sara Louise Kras
Publisher: Mankato, Minn. : Capstone Press, [2019]
©2019.
Platypuses live only in Australia. Learn all about these unusual, duck billed divers and their habitats in Platypuses. Bring augmented reality to your students by downloading the free Capstone 4D app and scanning for access to an online article, video, and discussion questions. This item is a Capstone Duo and includes both a hardcover and Capstone Interactive eBook edition of the title.
Title: 10 Reasons To Love a Penguin
Author: Catherine Barr
Illustrator: Hanako Clulow
Publisher: London, England : Lincoln Children’s Books, [2018] ©2018.
Penguins are the cutest birds! Did you know that they go on incredible journeys? Or that they toboggan on their stomachs? Discover ten reasons why penguins are amazing and five ways you can show they love them in this gorgeous picture book. A must for any young animal enthusiast and a fantastic introduction to environmental issues.
Title: Emperor Penguins
Author: Jody S. Rake
Publisher: North Mankato, Minnesota : Pebble, a Capstone imprint, [2020] ©2020.
Emperor penguins are known as the largest of all penguins. Find out more about this flightless, but quick swimming bird.
Title: Snowy Owls
Author: Rita Santos
Publisher: New York : Enslow Publishing, 2020.
The nomadic snowy owl is among the Arctic’s most graceful predators. It makes its home in the frigid north, relying on its heavy feathers and snowy white appearance for survival in the subzero temperatures. With full-color photographs and accessible text, this book examines how the snowy owl’s life cycle, body structure, and behaviors have adapted to its challenging environment. Fun facts will engage young readers, and a final activity encourages them to use what they’ve learned to create a food web based on the snowy owl.
All synopses taken from the respective publishers. The book covers are the copyright of the respective publishing companies.
Volcanoes And Rocks Rock!
I lava reading card!
Materials needed:
- 1 sheet of A4 sized drawing block
- Brown, yellow and orange poster or acrylic paint (ensure that it is safe for skin)
- Paintbrush
- Markers
Download full instructions for this craft.
Recommended Books
Title: A Trip to The Top of The Volcano With Mouse: A Toon Book
Author: Frank Viva
Publisher: New York, NY : TOON Books, [2019]
©2019.
A boy and a mouse trek to the top of a volcano, taking in soaring trees, lunar landscapes and snow-capped peaks, then return to the ancient city at the bottom.
Title: Old Rock (Is Not Boring)
Author: Deb Pilutti
Publisher: New York, NY : G.P. Putnam’s Sons, [2020]
©2020.
OverDrive Link: https://nlb.overdrive.com/media/4716401
Tall Pine, Spotted Beetle, and Hummingbird are certain that being a rock is boring until Old Rock shares what he has seen and done since he first flew out of a volcano.
Title: Spenser And The Rocks
Author: Lawrence F Lowery
Publisher: Arlington, Virginia : NSTA Kids, National Science Teachers Association, [2013]
©2013.
The heart of the story is a young boy named Spenser and his interests, curiosity, and thoughts. Through the story, the reader is introduced to scientific procedures such as classification, research, and reclassification. Spenser’s interest in rocks increases as he learns more about them by sorting the rocks, asking questions, and reading reference books.
Title: A Rock Can Be…
Author: Laura Purdie Salas and Violeta Dabija
Publisher: Minneapolis : Millbrook Press, [2015]
OverDrive Link: https://nlb.overdrive.com/media/2077338
Rocks may seem like boring, static objects–until you discover that a rock can spark a fire, glow in the dark, and provide shelters of all shapes and size. Learn how rocks decorate and strengthen the world around them.
All synopses taken from the respective publishers. The book covers are the copyright of the respective publishing companies.
Safari Adventure
Make your own lion paper crown
Materials needed:
- Lion paper crown template
- Scissors
- Coloured pencils
- Pencil
- Double-sided tape
Download full instructions for this craft.
Try this: Make paper crowns of your favourite animals!
Recommended Books
Title: Oh, No!
Author: Candace Fleming & Eric Rohmann
Publisher: New York : Schwartz & Wade Books, 2012.
©2012.
OverDrive Link: https://nlb.overdrive.com/media/3015120
Young children will delight in repeating the refrain “OH NO!” as one animal after another falls into a deep, deep hole in this lively read-aloud. This simple and irresistible picture book by hugely popular picture book creators – Candace Fleming and Caldecott medallist Eric Rohmann – feels like a classic-in-the-making. Fans of Rohmann’s Caldecott Medal-winning My Friend Rabbit will be thrilled to see a new book created in the same expressive and comical style.
Title: My Book of Animals
Author: Nik Afia
Publisher: New York, NY : Windmill Books, 2019.
©2019.
The Animal Kingdom is a wild place. It’s home to enormous blue whales and fluttery butterflies, spotty leopards, and wriggly jellyfish. In this engaging book, readers will meet a menageries of adorable creatures in all shapes and sizes. They’ll explore pages of stunning illustrations as they learn basic animal words. Fun, simple questions engage readers and foster confidence. Learning will feel like a game as beginning readers peruse his zoo of animals. This high-interest topic and playful design will intrigue even reluctant readers, making it a valuable addition to any library or classroom.
All synopses taken from the respective publishers. The book covers are the copyright of the respective publishing companies.
Colourful Garden
Make your own vegetable garden
Materials needed:
- Big paper plate
- Watercolour paint
- Paintbrush
- Scissors
- Foam papers (white, green, orange and brown)
- Transparent tape
- Hole punch
- Brown yarn
Download full instructions for this craft.
Recommended Books
Title: My Busy Green Garden
Author: Terry Pierce
Publisher: Thomaston, Maine : Tilbury House Publishers, [2017]
Takes a close look at a garden, describing the plants, insects, and birds and their activities throughout the day.
Title: Caterpillar and Bean
Author: Martin Jenkins
Publisher: Somerville, Massachusetts : Candlewick Press, 2019. ©2018.
What’s that wedged in a crack in the ground, small and hard and wrinkly and brown? A bean seed! Soon it develops roots and leaves. And what’s that on the leaf? An egg! The egg hatches a caterpillar, and the caterpillar eats the leaves, getting bigger and bigger until it forms a chrysalis. Meanwhile, the plant is growing, too: it develops flowers, then bean pods, as it reaches up toward the sun. Side by side, plant and insect grow . . . and grow . . . and grow throughout the year, until they come full circle.
All synopses taken from the respective publishers. The book covers are the copyright of the respective publishing companies.
Zoom into Space
Make your own Solar System mobile
Materials needed:
- Long chopstick or wooden dowel
- White stock paper or drawing block paper
- Tape or white glue
- Thread
- Colouring materials
- Scissors
Download full instructions for this craft.
Try this: Replace the planets with stars in different sizes and you’ve got a star mobile!
Recommended Books
Title: Aliens Love Underpants
Author: Claire Freedman
Publisher: London Simon & Schuster, 2017. ©2007.
OverDrive Link: https://nlb.overdrive.com/media/3303412
With wacky illustrations and hilarious rhyming text, Aliens Love Underpants is already a favorite among toddlers, beginning readers, teachers, parents, big brothers, big sisters, grandparents, and essentially anyone else who cracks open this super-silly book. When little aliens fly down to Earth, they’re not visiting because they want to meet the Earthlings. They simply want to steal everybody’s underpants!
Title: It Started with a Big Bang: The Origin of Earth, You and Everything Else
Author: Floor Bal
Publisher: Kids Can Press, 2019.
OverDrive Link: https://nlb.overdrive.com/media/5018465
An accessible and engaging primer on the history of the universe and life on Earth. In this delightful book, kids can follow the fascinating story of how we got from the beginning of the universe to life today on the “bright blue ball floating in space” called Earth. They’ll learn about the big bang theory, how our solar system and planet were formed, how life on Earth began in the oceans and moved to land, what happened to the dinosaurs and how humans evolved from apes to build communities all over the planet … and even travel to space!
All synopses taken from the respective publishers. The book covers are the copyright of the respective publishing companies.
Magical World
Make your own Dragon book corner
Materials needed:
- Origami paper of at least 15cm by 15cm, or cut out any paper (e.g. construction paper or wrapping paper) to the same size.
- Scissors
- Glue or tape
- Colouring materials
Download full instructions for this craft.
Try this: Make book corners based on your favourite magical creatures!
Recommended Books
Title: I’m Casting a Spell! : Meet a Fairy-Tale Witch
Author: Lisa Bullard
Publisher: Minneapolis : Millbrook Press, [2015]
OverDrive Link: https://nlb.overdrive.com/media/1907919
Meet Hex. She’s a fairy-tale witch! Hex has magic powers. She likes to fly around and play tricks on people. But don’t worry. Hex is not real. She’s one of the monsters you meet in stories. She just wants to tell you about fairy-tale witches. Learn how a witch scares villagers. Meet different kinds of witches around the world. And find out where witch tales come from. You’ll have a creepy time with this monster buddy!
Title: The Paper Bag Princess
Author: Robert Munsch
Publisher: Toronto ; Berkeley : Annick Press, [2018] ©2018
OverDrive Link: https://nlb.overdrive.com/media/965094
Princess Elizabeth is excited to marry dreamy Prince Ronald, but then a dragon attacks the castle, kidnaps her prince, and burns all her clothes. In resourceful and humorous fashion, Elizabeth dons a paper bag, finds and outsmarts the dragon, and recues Ronald – who is less than pleased at her unprincesslike appearance. What’s a modern-day princess to do? Read this delightful tale to find out.
All synopses taken from the respective publishers. The book covers are the copyright of the respective publishing companies.