• Lists

    4th of July Books – Just to Get You Started!

    Here are five books for the 4th of July! Some I’ve used for storytime, others are just really fun read alouds and still others make great resources with lots of quality information that is easily accessible for elementary school students. These are not by far, the best or only books…

  • Lifestyle

    Concept Picture Books (or How to Make More Room!)

    In my library our pictures books are shelved around a large square with shelves around the inside and outside of the square.  It’s a really cool idea – leaving space for families and kids to read on the inside and is open so that adults can see over the shelves…

  • Activities

    Miss Laura's Favorites #6

    It is finally our last week of storytime (2 or 3 weeks longer than usual due to the weather) and I have two weeks off before starting back again for our spring session.  After six weeks of choosing “my favorites” rather than choosing theme-related books, I can say it was…

  • Activities

    Miss Laura's Favorites #4

    I focused this week’s books on very simple books that the kids could “read” with me.  It’s not too much of a theme, but the kids loved it!  I don’t know if the kids truly got Duck Duck Moose, but they loved shouting out duck and moose as we read…

  • Lifestyle

    Diversity Resources

    There’s a lot of talk about diversity in children’s literature, but it may be difficult to actually find information.  I’ve found a few valuable resources (I’m sure there are a bunch more!) that make finding information a whole lot easier! 1.) We Need Diverse Books An official campaign that began…

  • Lifestyle

    Youth Media Awards – Initial Reactions

    This is one of my favorite days as a children’s librarian.  I know there are those that don’t take much stock in the youth media awards, believing that many of the awards are given to quality literature, yet are not as interesting or accessible to the children reading them.  But,…

  • Lifestyle

    New Collection/Rebranding an Old Collection

    I’ve been posting about our progress as we rebrand one of our collections in the children’s department.  The collection is what we currently call the Bridging Collection, mostly picture books that are for an older audience as well as a catch-all location for materials that don’t fit easily into the…

  • Activities

    Sensory-Friendly Storytime: Favorites

    I visit 4 classrooms a few times of year at our Intermediate Unit (which for those of you outside of PA – is a state-wide program for young children with disabilities.  In the morning I see a three classrooms and in the afternoon I see four classrooms – each with…

  • Activities

    Mock Caldecott Program

    This is the first time I’ve ever done a mock award program at the library. I had planned on doing this program in December but changed my plans last minute in favor of a dance party right before the holiday season. So, I’m back at my Mock Caldecott program for today with…

  • Lifestyle

    Focused Collections & Weeding

    A co-worker and I are slowly working through some weeding projects in the library.  Our first project of the new year consists of a collection that our library titled “Bridging Collection.”  As in, bridging from easy readers to chapter books or picture books for elementary-age students.  Mainly focused on picture…