Sing a Story with the Ottawa Public Library

This month’s blog post is written by Charmaine Atrooshi, Acting Supervising Librarian at the Hazeldean Branch of the Ottawa Public Library.

The Hazeldean Children’s team believes in the importance of early literacy programming, and advocates for the importance of the five tenets of early literacy practice: talking, singing, reading, writing, playing (Every Child Ready to Read, 2022).

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In this post we will focus on the singing aspect of reading (as we love to sing!) and we will share some of our favorite singable stories!

Sweet Child O’ Mine by Guns n’ Roses and illustrator Jennifer Zivoin

Can you believe it has been 30 years plus since the song Sweet Child O’ Mine was released? This book portrays a young girl and her father as they enjoy nature, sing, and spend time together. A lovely story perfect for singing along and sharing the classics with a younger generation.

 
Singing in the Rain  by Arthur Freed

The only thing more fun than singing in the rain is...jumping in puddles in the rain! Sing-along to this classic adaptation celebrating rain clouds and song!

 
Every Little Thing by Cedella Marley and Bob Marley

Three little birds are accompanying this little boy on his adventure, and singing a sweet song, “Don't worry/ about a thing,/ 'cause every little thing/ is gonna be all right."  A wonderful story with beautiful illustrations that will have the readers humming along and searching for the original song to listen to.

(Sitting’ On) the Dock of the Bay by Otis Redding, Steve Cropper and Kaitlyn Shea O’Connor

A beautifully illustrated story featuring a cat, sitting on the dock of the bay, fishing, passing time, and making friends. Bright beautiful illustrations are sure to please the young, and familiar lyrics of Redding’s—the young at heart!

 
I Got the Rhythm by Connie Schofeld-Morrison

Join along with as this young girl discovers the rhythm of her neighborhood—from hearing the rhythm, catching the rhythm and looking at the rhythm, this picture book is sure to have you tapping, humming, and singing aloud.

We’re Not Gonna Take It by Dee Snider and illustrated by Margaret McCartney

Does anyone remember the Twisted Sister song of the same name? Well, this time it is the toddlers in this story who are taking a stand against bathtime, lunchtime and bedtime! A reimagined take on the classic song of empowerment, a fun read for adults and children alike.

All these great books are available to borrow from the Ottawa Public Library! For more books to sing along check out our Sing a Story list in BiblioCommons. Really love one of the titles and want to find something similar? Check out NoveList K-8 for read-alikes, recommendations, and more!

We also have a vast array of children’s e-books and audiobooks to borrow available through Overdrive. And don’t forget Tumblebooks—with read alongs for all ages including picture books as well as chapter books, and even songs!

For more information on early literacy and your child, please check out the Ottawa Public Library website for programs, blogs, and book lists! Examples include:

Preparing Your Child to Read (Staff Blog by Robin_library)

Children’s Programs

Reading and Parent’s Program (RAPP) Packs

Don’t have a library card yet? No problem, you can register online!

Easter Memory Making

Leading up to every holiday, I head to the basement and pull out the bin for that holiday. I have a bin for all the holidays - Christmas, Valentine's Day, St. Patrick's Day, Easter, Halloween. They started out as shoe boxes or a diaper box, but have evolved over the years to either Rubbermaid bins or clear plastic bins from IKEA or the dollar store.

Our Easter bin is not only full of decorations - a light purple table cloth covered in Easter eggs, glittery pastel eggs on sticks that we put in the front garden, a cute chick garland, and a bunny we hang on the front door - but other fun stuff. We also have plastic eggs in an old egg carton that the kids hide for each other over and over. We have the baskets they use Easter morning for the egg hunt, and plastic water bottles that get stored the rest of the year.

But the best part - and what I'm here to convince you to do - is definitely the crafts from years past. Kids make all sorts of things at daycare and then school, but what do you do with all those things? I've been known to toss some, but I'm so glad I've kept a lot of them. And what better way to store them than with the rest of the things for that holiday?

Every holiday, when we open the bin, we love pulling out all the things the kids have created over the years. I can't tell you how much my kids love this part of the holidays. They giggle over the ladybug craft my son made in kindergarten for Valentine's day with the crankiest picture of him ever! Or paper plate rainbows for St. Patrick's Day they painted as three- and four-year-olds, where the paint is all mixed together so the rainbow looks more like a brown blob than a colourful arc.

We proudly display these things and then they get stored away for another year, only to light up our faces again next year. This is one tradition that I'm so glad I started and we keep up. The trip down memory lane is worth it and so is that paper cup bunny from preschool and the suncatcher egg made with tissue paper.

Do you keep your kids' holiday crafts like me or toss it all? Any fun Easter traditions in your house?

Kamerine is a biologist and mom of two who tries to be organized, but it's hard with the craft chaos that is her life.

Easter activities in Ottawa

Easter is almost here! This is the first year that many venues are hosting in-person Easter activities, because our last two Easters have been spent in lockdown. So get hopping and reserve your tickets now!

Hop into Spring at the Cumberland Heritage Village Museum

From their website: “Spring has arrived and we’re ready to celebrate with a day of hands-on family activities inspired by the season! The Easter Bunny has been spotted at the museum—make your way through the hay bale labyrinth to learn about their rabbit friends and meet some baby bunnies. Don’t forget to say hi to our other furry and feathered visitors from the Heritage Livestock Club of Eastern Ontario too! Give natural egg dyeing a try, check out a vintage Easter treat cooking demonstration, and get set up to start growing your own herb garden at home. Special guests Junkyard Symphony will bring music and laughter with their four R’s of waste reduction: reduce, reuse, recycle, ROCK!”

Dates, times and cost: Saturday, April 16 from 10 am to 4 pm (last entry at 2:30 pm)

Cost: $25 per group. Click here for more information and to register

Easter Down on the Farm

From the website: “Easter activities include visiting all the farm animals (goats, sheep, cows, horses, alpacas, piglets, and of course bunnies ), kid's play areas, and an Easter egg hunt in the forest. keep an eye out, you just might catch a glimpse of the Easter Bunny himself!”
Dates and times: Friday April 15th to Sunday April 17th, 9AM to 4PM

Cost: $12.98 per person. Visit their website for more information and link to registration

Easter at the Canada Agriculture and Food Museum

From their website: “Hop over to the Canada Agriculture and Food Museum and celebrate the arrival of spring! After a long winter, the barns have come alive with the arrival of newborn animals. Welcome the soft, little lambs and kid goats, marvel at the rabbits’ silky fur, and observe the fluffy, newly-hatched chicks, turkey poults and ducklings.”

There will be chocolate celebrations, and egg station, and bunny craft!

Dates and times: Friday April 15th to Sunday April 18th, 9:30AM to 4PM\

Cost: Admission is $34 for a family of 6 or under. Grab your tickets here.

Valleyview Animal Farm

Easter egg hunts with hundreds of coloured eggs take place throughout Easter weekend at Valleyview Animal Farm. This farm is a great place for younger kids, who may want to stop and feed a goat or two while they hunt for eggs!

Dates and times: Friday April 15th to Sunday April 17th, 9:30AM to 4PM

Cost: Admission is $12 per person (kids under 2 are free) Get your tickets here.

Easter at the Estate

Billings Estate hosts an Easter egg hunt as well as other fun and educational Easter activities. For more information visit the Billing Estate Museum website by clicking here.

Date/time: On Saturday April 11th, 10AM to 4PM (timed entry)

Cost: $17 per group of 6 people and under. Get your tickets online.

Easter at the Bunker

Located in Carp, the Diefenbunker has held an easter egg hunt on Easter weekend for the past few years - this year it is on Friday April 15th. With hundreds of places to hide in the 100,000 square foot bunker, it makes for a fun Easter egg hunt for all ages!

Date/time: Friday April 15h, 10AM to 3PM.

Cost: $12 per person. For tickets, click here.

Three things to do this weekend in Ottawa (March 11 - 13)

Fire and Ice Winter Exhibit

This week the Bank Street BIA invites you to escape the winter blues by immersing yourself in a fantasy world where fire meets ice. The Fire & Ice Winter Exhibit will dazzle you with its array of projected cinematic visuals, stunning sounds and exciting interactive lighting displays.

It’s FREE and runs today through Sunday!

Queen’s Platinum Jubilee

In celebration of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II’s 70th anniversary on the throne, the Canadian Museum of Nature has created a special exhibit of Canadian currency, postage stamps, and platinum specimens from the museum’s mineral collection. The Platinum Jubilee display will remain on view throughout 2022.

Book your tickets online at the Museum of Nature!

Valentine’s Day Part Deux

OK, so not technically the weekend, but you should plan ahead for this one! Monday March 14th has been declared our second shot at Valentine’s Day by the City of Ottawa. Reserve seats at your favourite restaurant, visit a museum or just head down to the Byward Market for some browsing and shopping. Let’s show Ottawa businesses how much we love them!

Three things to do this weekend in Ottawa (March 5-6)

Sugarbush Season is in full ‘spring’!

This week we’d like to highlight The Log Farm, which begins its sugarbush experience on March 5th. They are located at 670 Cedarview Road in Nepean. There will be wagon rides out to the sugarbush to see how the syrup is made, walks through the trails and hands-on experiences of garthering sap (as long as weather cooperates). There is also access to the main farmyard with friendly animals, hay structures and sensory tables. Don’t forget to tour the pioneer farmhouse!

Purchase your tickets ahead of time to avoid disappointment!

Pacific Discovery Tank

The Canadian Museum of Nature has some new aquatic residents: live anemones, urchins, sea cucumbers, sea stars and more are now on view in a newly-unveiled interactive feature in the Water Gallery. The Pacific Discovery Tank is 14.6-feet (almost five metres) long and reveals the interesting creatures that inhabit tide pools (shallow pools of water along rocky shores that are exposed during low tide).

With transparent sides and installed at children’s eye-level, the tank is a window into the wonders of tide-pool life that’s easily accessible for all visitors. On weekends and Thursday evenings, museum interpreters will be at the tank, and the public will be able to touch some of the creatures under the educator’s guidance during those times. The tank will also be staffed during school breaks and holidays.

Outdoor rink at the Canada Agriculture and Food Museum

If you’re looking for an outdoor activity close by, the Ag and Food Museum has an outdoor skating rink under the Pavilion. Make sure to pack your skates and helmet! While you’re there you can also do a winter craft, check out the science of maple syrup and watch museum guides make delicious maple butter! Book your tickets in advance, and might I suggest Saturday if you want to use the outdoor rink? Sunday looks crazy warm and very rainy (but perfect for some indoor museum time!)