March 1, 2016 • Page 12 shop online at www.missourivalleyshopper.com Books Make Great Easter Gifts for Kids (StatePoint) Alongside all those delicious sweet treats this Easter, think about surprising your little ones with new books. They make an exciting addition to baskets, and are a fun find on egg hunts. “Books are the perfect gift for young children on any occasion, but in an Easter basket, they can be an extra special surprise,” says Nancy Ellwood, Editorial Director at DK, a publisher of adult and children’s books. For preschoolers, consider these titles, which are nice fits for the spring season. Make Noise Babies love reading with parents. And infants especially love books that encourage them to make noise. Guide babies in making fun, silly sounds with “Baby Cheep! Cheep!” Colorful pictures of favorite animals and rhyming text keep babies engaged and help them learn about the world around them. Fluffy Bunny With padded covers, simple images and a range of textures, “Baby Touch and Feel: Bunny” is a great choice for Easter. Part of the classic “Touch and Feel” se- Upcoming Opportunities in the... n CATS From Page 11 cost. What we could do and can do isn’t always the same thing.” Some of the donors ries designed to capture the include Jim and Celia Miner attention of budding readers, and the Johnson Miner the book’s textured format Marlow Woodward & Huff promotes sensory learning. law firm. People interested Simple visuals and labels in contributing can give their encourage recognition and donation to the YHS Drama naming of objects. Boosters. Despite needing the asHands-On Learning sistance of donors, Miner wouldn’t have chosen to do Help preschoolers dethe musical any other way. velop fine motor skills with “Follow the Trail: Farm.” “If we were doing it the The book encourages little way it was written, we would ones to use their fingers to have a cast of 18,” she said. follow the shiny trails. DK’s “I’m lucky to work with new “Follow the Trail” series people who believe the best includes colorful photogway for kids to learn is to do raphy and activities that something.” teach children about shapes, The large number of cast sorting, and matching, as members gives everyone an well as developing hand-eye coordination and pre-writing opportunity to contribute to the show, from singing in skills. the ensemble, running the With trails that let todstage lights, managing the dlers circle the wheel of a microphones or making the tractor, explore around the costumes. farm, and connect farm ani“It’s a way to get a lot mals and the products they of kids involved and have give us, this title provides them discover talents they hands-on learning. might not have recognized Educational Firsts in themselves,” Miner said. “It’s a way to celebrate the Packed with information wonderful little beings our and eye-catching images, children are.” “My First Tractor” is part of With a musical this big, the re-launch of the iconic there are many opportunities “My First” series. This refor talent to be showcased. vamp includes updated pho“This show has singing tography, contemporary design, and a modern approach leads, dance leads and serious acting roles,” Miner said. to engaging preschoolers -- excellent for reading alone “It gives us a way to highlight all kinds of students in differor with an adult. ent ways.” With clear labels and 16 The actors will also be spreads of tractor images, able to stand out through the book builds vocabulary and language skills. Kids also their costumes, which will learn about different types of be made from pantyhose, tractors and their uses. The sweaters, spandex unitards book includes counting and and wigs made out of yarn. color-matching activities. Some of the cat costumes More kids’ book ideas for will include suits and skirts. Easter can be found at www. Kallis wants to make sure dk.com. no two costumes are the To treat children to same. special Easter surprises they “We want each cat to can enjoy beyond the holihave their own personality,” day, consider giving a book. she said. “We don’t want to have a massive wash of spandex onstage.” With 87 cats to dress, Kallis is making her own rules on the costume styles while also staying true to the species on which the musical is based. “The costumes will all have cat colors,” she said. “So even if they’re wearing a suit, there will be no purples, blues or greens; there will be black, gray, orange and white, any colors you’d see on a cat.” Other colors will come from the set. “We have all kinds of colors from the junk that we can do whatever we want with,” Kallis said. That type of variety will also be found in the musical’s dance style. According to choreographer Kathryn Reimler, the types of dance will include ballet, jazz and modern dance. “I first started looking at steps that looked cat-like,” she said. “Then I realized that if they were changed, they can all look cat-like.” “There are different styles because there are different kinds of music,” Miner added. Though “CATS” is a popular musical, Miner doesn’t want to do the show the same way it has been done in other productions. “We have our own style, so it’s fun to say ‘How is dance going to work with this selection?’” Miner said. She’s happy to have a team that will work with her on these ideas. “One of my favorite parts of my job is working with these creative people,” she said. The crew’s passion for the musical seems to have rubbed off on the cast. Kallis, who is also a Spanish teacher, said that some students rehearse their dance steps before class begins. At a recent rehearsal, the cast practiced their dance routines in the YHS halls when the theatre was unavailable. Stop at Kayton International, Inc. For ALL your DEF Needs... (Diesel Exhaust Fluid) • Salute To Guardians Runs Monthly • March For Meals Deadlines March 10 Publishes March 15 • Ag Guide Deadlines March 3 Publishes March 15 Watch for these upcoming promotions in the Missouri Valley Shopper or if you wish to have your business or service featured please call 665-5884 today. CNH DEF is BEST VALUE per Gallon Good Through March 11, 2016 CNH Diesel Exhaust Fluid (DEF) - DEF is a nontoxic solution made up of purified water and pure automotive grade urea. DEF is not a fuel or fuel additive. • Stable, colorless and non?polluting • Not?hazardous by any published EPA guidelines • Non?toxic and non?flammable • Meets ISO Standards 22241 for purity and composition • Is an American Petroleum Institute (API) certified diesel exhaust fluid. These are the highest quality and safety standards in place to ensure optimum SCR performance. • Does not require special handling KAYTON INTERNATIONAL, INC. 319 Walnut St., Yankton www.missourivalleyshopper.com Web Site: www.kaytonint.com 2630 State Hwy. 14, Albion • 402-395-2181 • 800-248-2215 1211 W. 2nd, Crofton • 402-388-4375 • 800-798-4376 West Hwy. 275, Neligh • 402-887-4118 • 800-247-4718 Missouri Valley Shopper presents donation to Crofton FFA Chapter Pictured is marketing representative Caryn Chappelear presenting a donation to the members of the Crofton FFA. Each year the Missouri Valley Shopper publishes a special section honoring all FFA chapters during National FFA Week. This section is supported by area businesses generous sponsorships and a portion of these proceeds are then donated to an area FFA Chapter. Last year the Bon Homme FFA chapter was the beneficiary of this donation. The Missouri Valley Shopper would like to congratulate all area FFA Chapters on the fine work they do and also thank the area businesses that sponsored this special section. “It’s been so much fun these past few days,” said cast member Sophie Drotzmann. “I can only imagine how good the show’s going to be after getting more rehearsal time in.” Fellow cast member Dani Dvorak shared the sentiment. “This cast has a lot of potential to make this show really big and wonderful,” she said. “It will be a great performance the school will remember for probably forever.” The show’s cast and crew definitely will. “It’s a wonderful community-building experience where every kid has the chance to create something meaningful to the group and then celebrate the others’ contributions,” Miner said. “We will have made a little family by the time this is all said and done.” For more information, visit the Yankton High School Drama Presents CATS Facebook page. The CATS! List: Cast: Munkustrap- Logan Haak; Coricopat- Abbie Rehurek; Bombalurina- Mikayla Trenhaile; Tantomile- McKenzie Schroeder; DemeterMaddie Smith; Quaxo- Jeryka Goble; Jellylorum- Kyra Liebig; Bustopher JonesManny Valadez; Rum Tum Tugger-Avery Brockberg; Macavity- Ted Anders; Grizabella- Sophie Drotzmann; Skimbleshanks- Kelsey Westerman; Jemima- Lauryn Perk; Mungojerrie- Jenna Trail; Asparagus (Gus)- Dylan Klimisch; Rumpleteazer- Cate Perakslis; JennyanydotsTaylor Wesseln; Mr. Mistoffelees- Rachel Frick; Old Deuteronomy- Brett Pardy; Cassandra-Hailey Wagner; Victoria- Piper Mikkelsen; Etcetera- Rachel Rucker; VictorDylan Rausch; Electra- Kami Cornemann; Bill Bailey-Owen Phillips; Carbucketty- Tori Cass; Alonzo- Dakota Barnes Ensemble Roles: Pouncival- Sydney Ingalls; Tumblebrutus- Ashley VanMeeteren; Griddlebone- Kylee Duncan; Plato- Guthrie Scoblic; Admetus- Andrew Peitz; AugustusMichael Drotzmann; Pitterpatter- Zoie Lee Marcotte; Mrs. Cunningham-Haylee Heinemeyer; Tweedle- Kaitlyn Steffen; Kerplunk- Abby Cuka; Ticktock- Anne Knoff; Sillabub- Sophie Bisgaard; Bibbidi- Alexis Rezac; BobbodiLauren Rezac; Boo- Kristen Rezac; Smudge- Alexis Sejnoha; AbbyTabby- Miranda Winterringer; Amethyst- Amanda Haas; Madame ButterscotchLily Fedde; Beowulf- Michael Haas; Cuthbert- Jeffrey Koller; Catastrophe- Abby Oien; Dandelion- Cameryn Specht; Excalibur- Blake Wieseler; Edward- Jordan Kuipers; Fancypants- Alleysia Ugofsky; Catsby- Ryan Knight; InkspotZoey Bertsch; Icicle- Grace Tolliver; Licorice- Maddy Schaefer; Lilylongtail- Jenna Koenigs; Mergatroid- Allyson Trenhaile; Marmalade- Holly Hicks; Nefertiti- Kimberly Alvarado; Pockets- Lindsay Dickman; Pattycake- Mary Schmidt; Raspberry- Presley Pasco; Silhouette- Dani Dvorak; ShaggyShirleyStephanie Kizziah; Tiddlywink- Ciara Kulhavy; Tiptoes- Erin Luken; WinifredEmily Paulsen; Alfred- Cody Crisman; Ballyhoo- Grace Adam; Friar John- Nick Harris; Grubbly Plank- Cole Schlaefli; Parsnip- Kellie Geigle; Corduroy- Courtney Zimmerman; Pinstripe- Emily Kolker; Tuppence- Sophia Vyborny; Humbug- Kierra Schaffer; ArgyBargy- Lilly Purzol; CandyFloss- Tori Henning; Codswallop- Sophie McKee; Dodgems- Ashley Schweitzer; Kerfuffle- Rachel Burns; Nosy Parker- Lois Bottin; Persnickety- Steffani Arrigo; OdetteWilla Reimler; Babykins- Margaret Reimler The Entire Orchestra PitNatalie Ferris Costumes and Wigs/ Tails: Marielle Logue, Gavin Wick, Hunter Blake, Robyn Schramm, Sky Nockels, Jackie Holman, Cheyenne Winterringer-Ahlgrim, Ben Tellus, Talitha Greaver, Ashley Eskins, Michael Haas, Erin Olson, Abby Oien Set/Lights/Sound: Joe Zoeller, Michael Maldonado, Lauren Schild, Kimberly Alvarado, Haley Schild, Storrm Yaggie, Ethel Flores, Kaisee Murphy, Jessica Muehlbeier, Lily Fedde, Ty Hawkins, Hailey Wagner, Mat Jensen, Levi Zimmerman, Tanner McCuin Follow @ReillyBiel on Twitter.