Storytime: Pancakes

Tuesday, February 5th was National Pancake Day ... for IHOP. Free storytime at the library and free* pancakes at IHOP. It might be cold and snowy, but the price of free cannot be beat!

Welcome
Hello SONG from Dragon Tales: Dragon Tunes
American Sign Language signs for pancake and waffle
How to Make a Pancake by Dave Max (with mouse finger puppet)
Pancake Shapes flannel board

Pancakes are usually made in a circle, but not all the time. It is a silly refresher on basic shapes. These pancakes were made from pancake texture images, cropped to different shapes. The pictures were glued to yellow card stock and cut out with a wobbly edge to reflect the unevenness of actual pancakes.






The Shapes That Surround You SONG from Hap Palmer: Can a Jumbo Jet Sing the Alphabet?
Round is a Pancake by Joan Sullivan Baranski, illustrated by Yu-Mei Han
Poem: Pancakes? by Shel Silverstein from Where the Sidewalk Ends (with mouse finger puppet)



The mouse finger puppet was used twice at storytime. The first time, author Dave Max used mice as kitchen assistants, so it naturally fit to bring in the puppet. The mouse returned to recited a short poem for the audience. Bringing the puppet back is always enjoyable for the listeners. 

If you're nervous about using puppets or poetry in storytime, the combination of poetry with a puppet cannot be beat!


If You Give a Pig a Pancake by Laura Numeroff, illustrated by Felicia Bond
Announcements
Good-bye, So Long, Farewell, Toodle-oo SONG from Hap Palmer: Two Little Sounds Fun with Phonics and Numbers
Craft Project from Banta friends: P is for Pancakes book

*from the IHOP website: "Since beginning its National Pancake Day celebration in 2006, IHOP has raised more than $10 million to support charities in the communities in which it operates. On February 5, 2013, guests from around the country will once again celebrate National Pancake Day at IHOP and enjoy a free short stack of Buttermilk pancakes*. In return for the free pancakes, guests will be asked to consider leaving a donation for Children's Miracle Network Hospitals© ** or other designated local charities." http://www.ihoppancakeday.com/

Storytime: Challenge

2013 is a new year for storytime sessions, songs, books, and activities. Last year, I added my storytime books to GoodReads. This year I hope to add my storytime themes to the MissPippiReads blog. I hope you will find these reviews, agendas, and activities helpful. Happy reading, friends!

Review: Courting Cate

Courting Cate by Leslie Gould


Leslie Gould gives a Shakespearean theme a new twist! Shakespeare's Taming of the Shrew comes to Paradise Township in Pennsylvania. Elder sister Cate must marry before her sister Betsy. Cate baulks at the idea, but newcomer Peter Treger begins to turns her head.

I cannot recall the last Amish/Mennonite book I read. I picked up Courting Cate because the Shakespearean storyline peaked my interest. Gould shared a fantastic tale that interwove culture, Shakespeare, and faith. If you enjoy Shakespeare retellings or Amish stories, you will enjoy Gould's newest book. I look forward to see her next piece in the Courtships of Lancaster County series.

Time Period: Modern
Location: Paradise Township, Pennsylvania and New York, USA

Reviewed from a NetGalley copy. Thank you, Bethany House!

Review: Unrivaled

Unrivaled by Siri Mitchell

Lucy Kendall returns home to St. Louis from her grand European tour with her aunt and uncle. Her mother wanted her to become a lady and step into soceity. Lucy wanted to return to the candy business with her father. She even brought European treats to share and possibly generate new candies to help grow the business. Yet, when Lucy arrives home she is told her father is ill and the business needs to sold.

Charlie Clarke arrives in St. Louis at the bidding of his absent father. Clarke senior holds many regrets but he grew his candy business to one day pass on to his son. Charlie becomes Charles and a society introduction with a beautiful girl crumbles when he discovers the mystery girl is her father's candy rival - a Kendall.

Both young people want nothing more than to help their families. Lucy wants City Confections to and her father to live. Charlie seeks a father he never had growing up in Chicago. They are filled with dreams and schemes, but eventually someone needs to fold.

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Ms. Mitchell is a familiar author and I grabbed up her latest novel with abandon. I was so thrilled I never bothered to read the description. I jumped in with certain expectations and nearly stopped reading at page one. Mitchell's piece takes place at the turn of the century in St. Louise and the chapters switch between Lucy's and Charlie's first person perspectives. (My favorite century is the 1800's and I prefer the third person perspective.) Mitchell's theme of candy manufacturing really sold me on reading this book. Her characters are strong, likeable, and realistic. The historical tidbits are fascinating as well as the descriptions of creating treats. The faith aspect is pretty light, but it's a great read with many themes to reflect and savor - love, family, rivalry, business, society, expectations, truth, friendship, and sweets!

Reviewed from a NetGalley copy. Thank you, Baker Publishing Group: Bethany House Publishers!