๐๐ง๐ On this World Environment Day (June 5) and upcoming Oceans Day (June 8), we present our book of the month, FLOTSAM. In this extraordinary Caldecott Medal winner and New York Times bestseller by David Wiesner, a beach day is the springboard to a wildly imaginative exploration. Click on the image to access our resources.
ย We are delighted to announce our volunteer of the month for May 2024- Isabel Shaw who has been volunteering in our library. Here is what she has to say about her experience:
“Each time I process a new book, I put myself in a child’s shoes and try to imagine what parts of this story would capture my imagination. Would it be funny? Would a storytime animator be able to show off the pictures? Would a five-year-old recognize this character? Working from the library, I get to see all the books flowing in and out to reach kids in the community. Beyond the fun challenges of cataloguing new books, I am just happy to be involved. This unique library offers so much to children with storytime, both local and virtual, and the free lending programs to partners. One of my favorite parts is seeing the stories and characters I knew as a child going out and coming back with new creases on their pages.”
Our suggested reading this ๐๐ฎ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ง๐ญ๐๐ซ๐ ๐๐ง๐๐ซ๐๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง๐๐ฅ ๐๐๐๐ค is GRANDPA TOAD’S SECRETS byย Keiko Kasza! As Grandpa Toad and Little Toad are taking a walk in the forest, Grandpa shares his secrets for dealing with the hungry enemies that may await them. An exciting storytime favourite for all ages! Click on the photo to access our resources- includes reading activity plan with jumping frog origami instructions.
As part of National Teachers’ Day and Quebec Family Week, coming up on May 13th to 19th, we present our book of the month, “Our Classroom is a Family” by Shannon Olsen. Family isn’t always your relatives.ย It’s the ones who accept you for who you are.ย Teachers do so much more than just teach academics. They build a sense of community within their classrooms, creating a home away from home where they make their students feel safe, included, and loved.ย With its heartfelt message and colorfully whimsical illustrations, โOur Class is a Familyโ isย an excellent book choice to celebrate our valued teachers and classroom unity. Click on the image to access our resources, including suggested activities, such as creating a portrait of your teacher.
Announcing our newest volunteer of the month for April, Alexander Slack. Congratulations and thank you for volunteering with us as a storytime animator. Here is what Alex has to say about his experience:
“Volunteering with minibiblioPLUS has been incredibly enriching and fun! I think both the kids and I were a little nervous at the beginning, but now they greet me with bright smiles and excitement over the new books I bring to each storytime. Spreading the love of reading and supporting literacy is deeply important to me, so I am grateful that minibiblioPLUS facilitates this opportunity. Not only that, but the team goes above and beyond in support! It is a joy to be able to contribute a little bit of my time to make a difference, inspire children to engage with books, and make connections within my community.”
As part of World Autism Awareness Month, we present our book of the month, Meesha’s Makes Friends by Tom Percival.ย A warm and affectionate story about the joys and difficulties of building and maintaining friendships and relating to others. Meesha Makes Friends helps young readers find their place in the world. Click on the photo to access our resources.
๐๐คฉย Congratulations to our latest volunteer of the month for March 2024, Joan Poll, a precious volunteer who adores animating storytime.ย Hereโs what she has to say about her volunteer experience:
“During my many years as an early childhood educator, reading to the children was always an enjoyable activity. Reading is such an important part of a child’s day, as it stimulates the mind and opens up the world around them. Reading aids in the developmental aspect of language, which goes a long way to expanding social interactions. Joining minibiblioPLUS has given me the opportunity to continue reading to children and savour the satisfaction that those interested faces convey. It is certainly a win-win situation.”
Each Peach Pear Plum’ is a classic picture book and was awarded the Kate Greenaway Medal in 1979. A playful and poetic read, the rhymed text and illustrations invite the reader to play ‘I spy’ introducing the very youngest of readers to a variety of Mother Goose and other folklore characters. Click on the photo to access our resources.
In honor of Reading Month, why not make this March break a reading week? We challenge you to keep track of all your reads with a book tracker – click on photo to access the template. Feel free to read whatever you like. Here are some fun suggestions: https://www.scholastic.ca/books/seasonal/marchbreak/ Who will read the most? Share your progress with us at the end of the week. Happy reading week!
We are delighted to announce our volunteer of the month for February 2024- Ursula Voss who has been volunteering with us since September 2023! The children absolutely adore her weekly storytime animations! Here is what she has to say about her volunteer experience:
“The best parts of reading to children are when I have their attention and I see their little faces looking up at the pictures, fully engaged in the story, and waiting to hear what happens next. When the story is over, they reach out wanting to hold the book, carefully turn the pages, and go over the pictures again. I cannot overstate the importance of books and literature in all our lives, and I am thrilled to be able to promote literacy, even in a small way. minibiblioPLUS is a very important institution and must be supported!”
