• Activities

    Story Time Theme: Bunny Rabbits

    I know many librarians who cringe when they have to work around a “theme” for story time.  I find it easier to focus on a theme and find great books surrounding an idea, color, letter, number, or object.  Most of my themes this session really focus on spring and what…

  • Activities

    Story Time Theme – PA’s One Book, Every Young Child

    Each year, Pennsylvania highlights the importance of early literacy skills for children ages 3 – 6 by choosing a book that is then distributed to libraries, head start programs, child care centers, and preschools.  Author visits, a traveling trunk with fun manipulatives and toys and activities and booklists to share with families with…

  • Reviews

    Plant a Kiss

    Plant a Kiss by Amy Krouse Rosenthal and Peter H. Reynolds is an adorable story about the power of love.  Little Miss plants a kiss and to her amazement it turns into something so much bigger than she ever imagined.  With very simple sentences that span pages and adorable illustrations with just…

  • Activities

    Story Time Theme: The Color Green

    Story time is back in full swing here at my library and although I didn’t have a packed house on Monday (I’m blaming the holiday weekend), my Yoga Story Time was chock full with 14 out of 15 kids present.  I was very excited to hear one 4-year old boy,…

  • Activities

    1,000 Books Before Kindergarten

    If you do a search online a number of libraries around the country have created their own version of 1,000 Books Before Kindergarten program.  My boss came to me sometime in early January, I believe, and thought that this would be a great program for our library to offer.  After a…

  • Activities

    Story Time Theme: Clap, Tap, & Drum

    This was a new theme for me… Clap, Tap, and Drum and I was hesitant when I began planning this because I tried some new books and I wasn’t quite sure how they’d turn out.  I had a little trouble with my younger kids and the first book.  They did…

  • Reviews

    Do Crocs Kiss?

    This is an absolutely adorable story with lift-the-flaps and great rhymes!  Salina Yoon may be one of my new favorite children’s authors.  She also wrote Penguin and Pinecone which I fell in love with this winter and have use for multiple story times. Each page spread asks two questions about…

  • Activities

    Story Time Theme – Sniffles & Sneezes

    It’s that time of year when no matter how much orange juice I drink, if I take my vitamins religiously every day, and wash my hands constantly – I still get a cold.  I’ve had a sore throat (turned into a sinus infection) for a few weeks now and it…

  • Activities

    Story Time Theme – Penguins Everywhere!

    I absolutely adore penguins – they’re cute, fun to watch and make a great story time theme!  I chose to use penguins and focus on letter knowledge, after my first story time this week, I realized my error.  The letter “p” can look similar to “b”, “d”, and “q”.  I…

  • Activities

    Story Time Theme – Hugs & Kisses

    Being that Valentine’s Day is this week, I chose a “Hugs & Kisses” theme with some of my favorite stories about love.  I’ve already posted about a couple of these books this week, so to spare you, my story time plan is below.  I also gave the kids valentines this…