Little Learners: Whale Tales

It's week four of Summer Reading! Get ready for some BIG fun this week as we share whale tales. Don’t forget to visit the library for a bookmark to track your summer reading and earn prizes!

#READ: Whole Whale by Karen Yin

Whole Whale Book Cover

Use your library card or apply for an ecard here to access our digital library!  

One hundred unusual animals try to squeeze into the pages of this raucous rhyming tale. But will there be room to fit a whole blue whale? The humorous ending features an expansive double gatefold and educational endnotes list the 100 animals in the book. 

Increase pre-literacy skills as you read together: 

  • Ask your little one to point to the various animals as you read them. Help introduce your little one to animals they may not already know such as a qual or a mink.
  • Encourage your little learner to join in when reading, "But can we fit a WHOLE BLUE WHALE?"
  • Turn to the last page of the book that says, "Can you find all 100 animals?". Go on a hunt through the book to find some, or all of the animals. Follow your child's interest to know how long to play this game. 

READ

#SING: Slippery Fish

Slippery fish, slippery fish, sliding through the water, 
Slippery fish, slippery fish,  

Gulp, Gulp, Gulp! 
Oh, no! It’s been eaten by an… 

  

Octopus, octopus, squiggling in the water 
Octopus, octopus,  

Gulp, Gulp, Gulp! 
Oh, no! It’s been eaten by a… 

 

 

Tuna fish, tuna fish, flashing in the water, 
Tuna fish, tuna fish,  

Gulp, Gulp, Gulp! 
Oh, no! It’s been eaten by a… 

  

Great white shark, great white shark, lurking in the water, 
Great white shark, great white shark,  

Gulp, Gulp, Gulp! 
Oh, no! It’s been eaten by a… 

  

Humongous whale, humongous whale, spouting in the water, 
Humongous whale, humongous whale, 
Gulp! Gulp! Gulp!  

#EXPLORE: Blowhole Painting

Blowhole Painting

Breathe like a whale! Create your own blowhole painting using a straw.

Materials: 

  • Paper 
  • Pin or needle
  • Drinking straw
  • Liquid watercolors or watered-down tempera paint
  • Paper 

Instructions: 

  1. Talk with your little learner about whales. Explain that whales breathe through a hole or two holes at the top of their heads called a blowhole. Whales swim to the surface and air spouts out of their blowholes.
  2. Use pin or needle to poke a hole in the middle of the straw. This will help keep the paint from being sucked up through the straw.
  3. Put some paint on the paper.
  4. Allow little one to blow at the paint using the straw. Encourage them to try moving the straw in different directions.
  5. Repeat with additional colors.

Check out The Artful Parent by Jean Van’t Hull for this activity and more!

#JOIN: Attend a program virtually or in person!   

View all early childhood programs and events offered this week.  

For virtual programs, registration is required to receive the Zoom link. Use the link in the program information to register. 

For in person programs, registration is required. If space allows, walk-ins will be admitted. Use the link in the program information to register. 

#KEEP READING: Check out these whale tales. 

 

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