Blogging about Lego Clubbin and other library program ideas
Being in Wisconsin, I feel obliged to do a Farm storytime. As I mentioned in my other post Storytime–Stories about Farms, using animal sounds is a great way to work on phonic awareness. I stand by that storytime, but the activity I prepped (which you can see in the original post) was a little too... Continue Reading →
This is a storytime that I just designed a couple of months ago, and it's been a really big hit! It's really interactive, but also teaches some great skills like listening to instructions, both audibly and visually. Here's my plan: Opening Song "The More We Get Together"--I always open and close with this song for consistency. 1st... Continue Reading →
This piece was originally published on the ALSC Blog on August 1, 2024. Story time can be hectic, chaotic, and go off the rails at times. But the best times are when everything goes right, and a wizened grandmother comes up to you with a smile on her face and says something like, “you’re my grandson’s favorite” or... Continue Reading →
Yee-haw! I've always done an Animal storytime at least once a semester, but this is the first year I did a separate farm storytime. Learning about farm animals is really important for a few reasons. Animals sounds are the building blocks for language and complex phonic sounds, so that's important. But learning about farm life... Continue Reading →
I usually have trouble with finding good readaloud books that work in large groups for holidays. They usually tend to be really slow and wordy. Which is why I love "Frankenstein Doesn't Wear Earmuffs" by John Loren, it's now one of my go-to books for Halloween--it's quick and the pictures are large and gorgeous. Feel... Continue Reading →
Mike Boldt always has a great humorous touch to all of his books, and "Find Fergus" is no exception. In this book, Fergus the bear tries to hide from the viewer, only he's really bad at it. Based on the suggestions of the narrator, he tries to find a better hiding spot on the next... Continue Reading →
I heard about impact stories in passing while attending ALA Annual in July 2022. Since then, I feel it can be a game changer to how you not only handle story time, but also marketing, outreach, and just how you see yourself in the library. Think of impact stories as just a positive survey, or... Continue Reading →
Interactive books are so fun to do, since they're so easy to translate to storytime. "Don't Push the Button" is one of my favorites, and I usually bring it out at least once a semester. I usually don't like doing crafts after storytime, so I try to find alternatives for activities we can do after... Continue Reading →
After reading "Tiny T. Rex and the Impossible Hug" by Jonathan Stutzman, everyone got to make baby T-Rex Finger puppets! Kids can color their dinosaur however they want, then put their fingers through the holes, and practice giving T-Rex hugs!! You can download a copy HERE for FREE. For my storytime, I printed these on... Continue Reading →
Interactive picture books are AMAZING to read during a story time, since they get everyone up and moving and just make the whole experience unforgettable. In fact I compiled a list of my favorite ones that you can find here. "Crunch The Shy Dinosaur" by Cirocco Dunlap with artwork by Greg Pizzoli is another great... Continue Reading →
The Lego Librarian 