Books for Baby: I Am Train

This month's Scholastic book of the month for baby is I Am a Train.  You can also join us at Rhyme, Rhythm and Read for a live story time featuring this title.

I Am a Train

By Ace Landers

Multilayered, three-dimensional board book shaped like a train!

All aboard for this fun and sturdy board book shaped like a train. Read along as steam engines, freight trains, and passenger trains travel from town to town. With simple facts about trains and colourful illustrations, little engineers will love seeing these big machines in action!

For more great titles from our partners at Scholastic, visit them online at www.scholastic.ca, on Facebook, or Twitter @scholasticCDA #scholasticmomstown

Celebrating Family Literacy Day with Tales for Tots: Superworm

Hooray!  We're celebrating Family Literacy Day with this month's Scholastic book of the month - Superworm. Let's read...

Superworm

By Julia Donaldson   Illustrated by Axel Scheffler  

A wacky and fun new adventure from Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler, starring a truly unforgettable hero!

Toad in trouble? Beetle in a jam? Never fear — Superworm is here! And he's wiggling to the rescue! But when Superworm is captured by a wicked Wizard Lizard, will his friends find a way to help their favourite superhero escape?

From the creators of The Gruffalo and Room on the Broom, this is a super new adventure with a wriggly, squiggly hero you'll never forget.

Praise for Superworm

"The unlikely superhero with his googly eyes and winning smile will be hit, and the rhythmic rhyme will have audiences chanting along by the end of the story . . . Silly and slimy — superfun!"

 —Kirkus, starred review

For more great titles from our partners at Scholastic, visit them online at www.scholastic.ca, on Facebook, or Twitter @scholasticCDA #scholasticmomstown

And don't forget to join us each month for our Tales for Tots events!  Check out the calendar here.

Books for Baby (and beyond): Frosty the Snowman

Frosty the Snowman

by Steve Nelson and Jack Rollins

This month's featured board book from Scholastic was another holiday favourite, Frosty the Snowman.  Everyone already know the words, and wow if it wasn't hard to read the words rather than sing them!

While a board book suitable for the babies to take hold of, the older kids who knew the song had an appreciation for the story and took interest in the pages and words. 

Great addition to any collection of holiday books for kids.  

For more great titles from our partners at Scholastic, visit them online at www.scholastic.ca, on Facebook, or Twitter @scholasticCDA  #scholasticmomstown

December Tales for Tots: The Night Before Christmas

This month's Scholastic book of the month for Tales for Tots is a new version of a great holiday classic, illustrated by Toronto's own Barbara Reid. 

The Night Before Christmas

Barbara Reid

Beautifully illustrated and fun to read, the kids really enjoyed the book.  Check it out. 

For a video preview of the book, click here for a trailer by Barbara Reid.

For more great titles from our partners at Scholastic, visit them online at www.scholastic.ca, on Facebook, or Twitter @scholasticCDA #scholasticmomstown

Baby Basics - Books for Baby: Kiss Kiss Good Night by Kenn Nesbitt

Kiss, Kiss Good Night

by Kenn Nesbitt, illustrated by Rebecca Elliott

Snuggle up with this padded board book and find out how mommy animals say good night.

What happens when baby animals need to rest their little heads? Their mothers tuck them into bed, of course! Read along as baby bunnies, lambs, chicks, kittens, and cubs settle down for a good night's sleep while their mommies give them nuzzles, cuddles, and good-night kisses! A lulling, soothing bedtime poem perfect for getting little ones to settle down. 

For more great titles from our partners at Scholastic, visit them online at www.scholastic.ca, on Facebook, or Twitter @scholasticCDA #scholasticmomstown

Tales for Tots: Swamp Water by Robert Munsch

This month's Tales for Tots book is something exciting...a brand new Robert Munsch!   Hooray!

Swamp Water

by Robert Munsch
Victoria’s grandma takes her out for a very special, fancy birthday lunch. But how special can a restaurant be if it doesn’t serve hamburgers or tacos or PB & J? Victoria is about to find out!  

Also available in French: Un joyeux festin

For more great titles from our partners at Scholastic, visit them online at www.scholastic.ca, on Facebook, or Twitter @scholasticCDA #scholasticmomstown

Tales for Tots: Good Night, Sleep Tight by Mem Fox

Good Night, Sleep Tight
by Mem Fox, with illustration by Judy Horacek

A sweet good-night story by internationally bestselling picture book author Mem Fox!

Good Night, Sleep Tight reunites bestselling picture book author Mem Fox with illustrator Judy Horacek, following their collaboration on Where is the Green Sheep?

In this sweet story that's just perfect for bedtime reading, Bonnie and Ben's favourite babysitter tells them nursery rhymes at bedtime — including "It's raining! It's pouring! The old man is snoring"; "This little piggy went to market"; and more. Bonnie and Ben enjoy the stories so much that they don't want to go to sleep; they want to hear each one again! Instead the babysitter tells them new nursery rhymes until, finally, all three of them fall fast asleep.

ABOUT THE CONTRIBUTORS

MEM FOX is Australia's most highly regarded picture book author. Mem has written over 35 picture books for children, including Time For Bed, Wilfrid Gordon McDonald Partridge, and five nonfiction books for adults, including the bestselling Reading Magic, aimed at parents of very young children. Visit her online at www.memfox.com

JUDY HORACEK is an Australian cartoonist, artist, writer, and children's book creator. She is also sometimes a visiting artist for children and an after-dinner speaker for grownups. She is the illustrator of Mem Fox's Where is the Green Sheep? as well as the author and illustrator of seven other children's books. Her website is www.judyhoracek.com.au.

Praise for Good Night, Sleep Tight

*"Memorable and sweetly appealing . . . sure to be requested and welcome for lapsits and reciting together any time of day." —Kirkus, starred review

"This is one of those sneaky stories that starts out slight and unsurprising but is over far too soon." —Publishers Weekly

Check out author Mem Fox's 10 Read-Aloud Commandments and visit her site here

For more great titles from our partners at Scholastic, visit them online at www.scholastic.ca, on Facebook, or Twitter @scholasticCDA #scholasticmomstown

Baby Basics: Books for Baby - Giggle by Caroline Jayne Church

Giggle

by Caroline Jayne Church

Laugh out loud with this novelty sound book by Caroline Jayne Church!

There's no greater thing to do
Than laugh and giggle here with you!

With a press of a button an infectious giggle lovingly echoes through this ticklish board book, proving that laughter is, indeed, the best sound in the world. Accompanied by Caroline Jayne Church's bestselling toddlers, Giggle!is a book that will have children and parents laughing and loving out loud.

ABOUT THE CONTRIBUTORS

CAROLINE JAYNE CHURCH is a bestselling author and illustrator. Some of her bestselling titles include I Love You Through and Through by Bernadette Rossetti-Shustak, How Do I Love You? by Marion Dane Bauer, You Are My Sunshine by Jimmie Davis, and Good Night, I Love You. She lives in Surrey, England, but you can visit her at www.carolinejaynechurch.com.

For more great titles from our partners at Scholastic, visit them online at www.scholastic.ca, on Facebook, or Twitter @scholasticCDA

Tales for Tots: Fox and Squirrel by Ruth Ohi

Hey Moms!  Here's a our Scholastic Tales for Tots book of the month for September.

We've just signed up 2 awesome new partners, so watch for some exciting announcements about  bi-weekly Tales for Tots events in Leslieville and Mt Pleasant/Eglinton starting this October!

Fox and Squirrel

by Ruth Ohi

A big friendship triumphs over small differences in this irresistible story from the author and illustrator of Chicken, Pig, Cow!

When Fox and Squirrel get together, Squirrel can only see their differences. Squirrel is small and Fox is big; Squirrel lives in a nest and Fox in a burrow; Squirrel likes the day and Fox, the night. But as their friendship grows, Fox gently points out that their differences are good, and more than that, they have many things in common too. Even Squirrel begins to see that maybe they are not so different after all!

This irresistible story about the adventures of two lovable friends is told through expressive watercolour illustrations full of energy, humour, and warmth. The simple text and joyful art deliver a heartwarming tale with a subtle but profound message about friendship, acceptance, and working together.

ABOUT THE CONTRIBUTORS

RUTH OHI is one of Canada's premier illustrators and writers for children. She has illustrated over fifty books, including the Chicken, Pig, Cow series, which she also wrote. Her books have been nominated for many prestigious awards including the Governor General's Award, Mr. Christie's Book Award, the Marilyn Baillie Picture Book Award, and the Amelia Frances Howard-Gibbon Award. Ruth lives with her family in Toronto. Her website is www.ruthohi.ca.

Also available in French language:

Click here for some great activities based on the book from author Ruth Ohi!

For more great titles from our partners at Scholastic, visit them online at www.scholastic.ca, on Facebook, or Twitter @scholasticCDA

Tales for Tots explores literacy with Toronto preschoolers

D is for Duck!

D is for Duck this month! How cute is that little pond dwelling feathered friend? Perfect partner to go with our Pond theme this month and our book from Scholastic Canada, A Cuddle for Little Duck.

Curious to see other little momstown ducks in action? We thought we'd share with you some news from our sister chapters and what their kiddos thought of A Cuddle for Little Duck. Click on the links below to read their blogs with more description - everyone loved this sweet book!

momstown Oakville

Our momstown Oakville winner of the book this month.

momstown Ottawa

momstown Ottawa is a brand new chapter and works with Chapters/Indigo like momstown Toronto to promote literacy and momstown storytime together.

momstown Central Alberta

Friends in momstown Central Alberta (aka for us Toronto dwellers, that's Red Deer) created their own blue pond on the floor and coloured ducks, lily pads and fish to play with in the pond. Such fun!

momstown Brampton

momstown Brampton

momstown Brampton got really crafty with this theme! What cute duck mini puppets they made with the preschoolers and sweet goldfish handprints with the babies - everyone got in on the action after storytime!

momstown Barrie

momstown Barrie really got into the pond action feet first - literally! Using their feet to paint a blue "pond" and then gluing on yellow ducks - cute idea!

We hope to see your little ducks soon and play with your family in momstown Toronto!

P is for Popcorn at momstown Tales for Tots

P is for Popcorn! And at the circus - what's the best snack? Popcorn of course! What a fun craft AND snack!

Of course, P is also for Parachute and parachute we did! And dance. And sing. And jump. And yell. All the fun stuff you should get to do at momstown Toronto!

Clifford at the Circus - Book Review and Craft

Our theme this month is The Circus!  This book will be featured at Tales for Tots.  Click here for a book review and fun craft:  Clifford at the Circus - Book Review and Craft 

We had fun at our Tales for Tots this month at the Busy Genie. What child doesn't want to be as LOUD as a Circus Ringmaster? We helped with that by making fun megaphones for the budding circus announcers!

Circus megaphones for the Circus Ring master!

Kids loved this Clifford book at Tales for Tots this month!

Tales for Tots - momstown loves Munsch

momstown Toronto loves to read! And kids learn better when they're laughing - what better than to read a funny story? Robert Munsch always delivers great fun in his books.


This month, Scholastic Canada sent us We Share Everything by Munsch as our book of the month. It matched up, in a very silly way, to our "Mix & Match" February curriculum since the kids in the story swap clothes!


Many thanks to the Busy Genie for being our regular host of Tales for Tots - your space is a great one for storytime!

Come out and join us next time! Right now momstown Toronto has a free trial membership until April 30th, don't wait to sign up!

We had a ton of fun at our Construction Season Party!

We had a ton of fun at our Construction Season Party! The kids got a huge kick out of making D is for Dump Trucks, a craft Idea that we got from momstown arts and crafts!


We used construction paper, glue, and tea bags for the dirt in the dump truck! That got messy but the kids loved it.


We also read the Story, Hot Rod Hamster! Thank you to Scholastic Canada for providing that. The lucky winner from our draw to win the book today was Hayleigh and her mom Debbie. Congratulations!!


Take a peek at our party!

Do you know anyone that is looking to get out with their children and meet moms who are just like them? Sign her up here for her free trial.


For other momstown communities, Click here.

Tales for Tots: Reading and Crafts

We just added a Children's book club to our calendar, meeting every month. What a great way for your toddler to learn a love for books.

We will met at the library till the nice weather comes then we'll bring it outdoors. Each month a new book will be chosen and the playgroup the next day will include a craft that is based around that book, bring it all together!

This week in our playgroup we read the Story "The Carrot Seed", by Ruth Krauss - the storybook we named in our monthly newsletter and followed that up with a craft.

The kids had a ton of fun getting dirty filing up their biodegradeable planter with soil, then planting the seeds for their herb. We weren't without a chance to do some art as well, with the kids coloring the pictures of the Carrots!

Here are a few pictures from the playgroup. You can see all the pictures from the playgroup in our momstown moments slideshow in the right hand column of our blog.