Family Storytime: Superheroes

This was another fun storytime theme. There are a lot of superhero books to choose from, but more importantly for storytime, there's enough short superhero books to choose from. The group seemed to enjoy John Rocco's book, Super Hair-O and the Barber of Doom and it's pictures, liked the Batman book Bedtime for Batman by Michael Dahl, and were still engaged for Super Jumbo by Fred Koehler, which I think was my favorite.

We started off storytime with a bean bag song, jumped into our first story, and then did our So Many Colored Capes color flannel. I handed out stars so each child could add a star onto the flannel board since they love putting anything up on the board.

After reading Bedtime for Batman, I played the Batman theme song and we danced along to it with our scarves. This was a short enough song (less than one minute) and thankfully it started to play after giving it a few tries. It played on the computer, but didn't want to play at first on the boombox. After this, we did a movement activity, "Super hero, super hero, turnaround." They did wonderful with following along to this and I was glad to see every child participate.

Once we read our last story, we made our capes and masks for a craft. I handed out letters for their first names during their craft time and the kids all enjoyed showing me their costumes.

Other Books:

Ten Rules of Being a Superhero Deb Pilutti

Hero Mom Melinda Hardin

The Day I Lost My Superpowers Michael Escoffier

Princess Super Kitty Antoinette Portis

Super Bugs Michelle Meadows

Sweet Dreams, Supergirl Michael Dahl

Other Activities:

Silly Super hero flannel story

If You're Happy and You Know It

Laurie Berkner Superhero Track #1

Koo Koo Kangaroo song

Doodle Art Journaling

Everyone really enjoyed this program and I had every child registered show up. This was an absolute pleasure to instruct and the kids had a great time doodling. Each participant were able to grab a journal from the table to start and to keep.

I started our one hour program by presenting a Power Point on journaling tips and journal page examples. The group learned more about the journaling process, got tips on what to do to be inspired, and were shown journal page examples that were filled with information and doodles. Each were given copies of the Power Point and it was mentioned that they could use the doodling examples on those pages for inspiration as well. Most of my info came from Nancy Loewen's It's All About You book. It offered simple explanations and tips on the journaling process. I also encouraged those to start doodling while I was explaining.

After we went over the Power Point, I presented some slides that showed journal page ideas. They seemed to have gotten really inspired to create some of these neat journal page ideas. Quite a few tried to copy a few of the pages presented, while others free-styled, which was also encouraged.

Once this part of the program was over, the group had a half hour to continue doodling and writing. There were books in the middle of the tables for reference, worksheets to copy/trace from, and various journaling supplies such as rulers, markers, pens, pencils, and colored pencils.

During this time, everyone was super quiet and focused. I played some soft music in the background. Quite a few shared their pages. Some copied the ideas presented, some used the books, and some came up with their own ideas. It was fun to see how perfect they mimicked the examples and how creative their original ideas were.

I had one girl who made a "cat names" journal page for all the names she was thinking of naming her new pet kitten. I also had another child mention her emotions and how she wanted to have a journal to write them down in. Quite a few other boys and girls showed their artistic abilities.

A few wanted to know when the next writing program was and I told them that we will be writing and creating our own mythical creatures next, but they definitely wanted more journaling programs. Writing programs mixed with art has been accepted well, even over the writing games concept. 

Other books I used for inspiration and for display were doodling books by Stephanie Corfee, doodling books by Carolyn Scrace, Journal Sparks by Emily K. Neuburger, Draw Your Own Animal Zendoodles by Abby Huff, and Writing Radar: Using Your Journal to Snoop Out and Craft Great Stories by Jack Gantos. 

Family Storytime: Rainbows!

This was a great turnout for storytime and the group had great energy. They did very well with movement activities and with their rainbow craft. They liked pointing out the illustrations with both books and enjoyed playing with the scarves and singing "If You're Happy and You Know It". They also enjoyed guessing the shapes of the clouds in "It Looks Like Spilt Milk" flannel but couldn't wait to get to the craft. 

I had my regulars there and also some new families that I've noticed visit the library, but haven't attended storytimes so it was good to see them participate. This was a good start to storytime.

Our books were Ned's Rainbow by Melanie Walsh and Maisy's Rainbow Dream by Lucy Cousins. I liked how Walsh's book was all about rainbows and how Lucy Cousins incorporated colors into her story. Maisy's Rainbow Dream was also a great pick because the book was larger and perfect for a storytime setting.

Activity 1: Rainbow Dancers scarves movement activity

Activity 2: It Looked Like Spilt Milk Flannel

Activity 3: If You're Happy and You Know It

Craft:Rainbow Cloud Craft using colored strips of paper, cloud die-cut, and cotton balls

Other Books:

Wow! Said the Owl Tim Hopgood

Duckie's Rainbow Frances Barry

Moonbear's Skyfire Frank Asch

Two Rainbows Sophie Masson

The End of the Rainbow Liza Donnelly

Little Cloud Eric Carle

What Does Bunny See? Maggie Smith

The Rainbow Book Kate Ohrt

My Rainbow Surprise

Little Pip and the Rainbow Wish Elizabeth Baguley

The Greedy Rainbow by Susan Chadler and Sanja Rescek

Bamboo & Friends: The Rainbow by Felicia Law

Wow! Said the Owl Tim Hopgood

Ned's Rainbow Melanie Walsh

A Rainbow of My Own Don Freeman

Planting a Rainbow Lois Ehlert

Maisy's Rainbow Dream Lucy Cousins

Duckie's Rainbow Frances Barry

Red, Yellow, Blue and You Candace Whitman

Other Activities:

Rainbow Stew Activity

Crayon Colors Interactive Flannel

The Color Game by Jim Gill Scarf Song

Mouse Paint Flannel

Mushroom in the Rain Flannel
Walter the Waltzing Worm song

Toddler Art: Paint Like Picasso!

This was the first Toddler Art theme I have done using an artist theme. It was a bit more challenging, but I was able to come up with ideas that were easy for toddlers and challenged them a little bit at the same time.

I read a board book, Oooh! Picasso by Mil Niepold and Jeanyves Verdu. It has pictures of some of Picasso's work and a message of imagination with art.

After reading, I explained our two crafts for the day. For our first craft, I supplied everyone with sponges and clothespins with pom poms to paint with primary colors. The little ones had fun mixing their colors and it was good practice for them. When finished, they slid their paintings into plastic covers that had a Picasso-like face on them.

For our second craft, the kids glued different eyes, ears, noses, and mouths to their faces to make a unique, Picasso-like portrait. I heard a lot of parents going over the different parts of the face to get their child to understand body parts. I was happy to hear this because I was hoping the parents would use this craft as an opportunity to explain parts of their face. They also had the option to color their pictures.

Afterwards, we had some playtime so the group could interact with each other.

Other Books:

Painting With Picasso board book by Julie Merberg and Suzanne Bober

Preschool Picasso: Paint Like Picasso!

I had a great turnout for this program and it was a fun, unique theme. It was a little bit more of challenge to come up with ideas for Picasso that weren't too hard and books that weren't too long, but there was enough to make it work and a success.

I read Picasso's Trousers by Nicholas Allan. I paper clipped some pages together to make the book even shorter and avoid some of the pictures of Picasso's famous art since it might be too "adult" for the kids.

For our first Picasso inspired craft, we made Picasso faces using paint primary colors and cutouts of different eyes, mouths, noses, and ears. In the book, it is explained that Picasso painted portraits from both the side and the front of faces at the same time, so we did that with our paintings with the help of what I cut out.

For our second craft, we did a Picasso inspired guitar art project using patterned paper squares, a cut out guitar, some string, and a circle. This was a simple cubism art project to focus on Picasso's cubism technique.

A few of the group stuck around to paint some more and I reminded everyone of our time change for next month.

Book of the Month: She Made a Monster

It’s been awhile since I read a biography picture book and authors are writing so many good ones, that I decided to seek out one to review. I chose She Made a Monster: How Mary Shelley Created Frankenstein by Lynn Fulton. The author tells the story of Mary Shelley the writer and how she got the idea for her Frankenstein character and book.

Summary: You know the monster. But do you know who made him?...Mary Shelley would go on to write the most enduring story of our time, on that has been scaring readers for generations. Now Lynn Fulton and Felicita Sala introduce new readers to the legend of Mary’s monster.

Ages: 4-8 years

“All around her she felt the power of words, and she hoped that someday she too would write something important. Something that would hit the world like a bolt of lightning splitting the night sky.”

The way the story is told is both inspiring and educational. I love how Shelley’s passion for writing was showcased and how the life and ideas around her inspired her classic book. I also enjoyed how she sought inspiration and courage from her mother. The way her whole story came to life is fascinating and this book is perfect for future writers, young girls, and anyone who is looking for a great picture book biography. The illustrations are dark and creative in itself and compliments Fulton’s take on Shelley’s life perfectly. What an inspirational book!

Road to Reading