Slightly Spooky Storytime

The Saturday before Halloween we had a "Slightly Spooky Storytime" where kids could wear their costumes and we could read Halloween books and do some Halloween crafts

Mother Ghost:  Nursery Rhymes for Little Monsters

by Rachel Kolar; illustrated by Roland Garrigue

Boys and Girls Come Trick-or-Treat

Zombie Miss Muffet

Twinkle, Twinkle, Lantern Jack

Wee Willie Werewolf

The Little Old Lady Who Was Not Afraid of Anything

by Linda Williams, illustrated by Megan Lloyd

Click, Clack, Boo!

by Doreen Cronin and Betsy Lewin

Activities

Witch's Brew

Song (tune: Farmer in the Dell)
The brew is boiling up
The brew is boiling up
Simmer, stew, this nasty goo
The brew is boiling up.

First we'll add the ___________
First we'll add the ___________
Simmer, stew, this nasty goo
The brew is boiling up.

Now we'll add the __________
Now we'll add the __________
Simmer, stew, this nasty goo
The brew is boiling up.

Bat Poop--Coco Puffs
Dried Flies--Chocolate chips
Drops of Dragon's Blood--M&Ms
Fish Guts--Goldfish crackers
Ghost Boogers--Mini-marshmallows
Cat Claws--Candy Corn

Scavenger Hunt

"Eyeball" Race

Spin a Spider Web

Bean Bag Toss 

Paper Plate Ghosts

Mr. Rogers

Internal Blog Post

With a newly published book “The Good Neighbor” and the recent documentary “Won’t You Be My Neighbor?” I have been thinking about Mr. Rogers and the impact and influence he has had on the education of young children and the example he has set for those of us who work with children. 

I remember watching Mr. Rogers as a preschooler and then off and on again with my younger siblings.  One of my favorite parts of the show was when he would use Picture, Picture so I got to see how things were made, such as colored constructions paper and crayons.  Those real life things fascinated me!  So I enjoyed when we went on a “field trip” with him too.

As I have reflected on Mr. Rogers and his television show I have come to truly admire him and thought about how I can emulate some of his traits during my own storytimes.

1. Slow  Mr. Rogers was never in a hurry.  He took his time—his speech was slower, his words in his song were slow and clear, he took his time showing us something. I never felt rushed during my time with Mr. Rogers.
2. Pause  Mr. Rogers would pause.  He would make a statement and pause so it could “sink in”.  He would ask a question and he would pause, waiting for me to respond.  He would pause while he was showing us something.
3. Quiet  Mr. Rogers wasn’t afraid of letting it be quiet for a few moments.  He didn’t fill every moment with action or talk, which goes right along with slowing down and pausing. 
4. Eye Contact  Mr. Rogers would talk to me and look straight in my eyes.  He would pause and look at me and wait. 
5. Words  Mr. Rogers put feelings and thoughts into words.  He acknowledges feelings—sometimes you feel angry, sad, or confused.  He taught me that those feelings are not wrong or bad but instead to learn to acknowledge those feelings and learn how to express them appropriately.  Mr. Rogers didn’t talk down to me.  He used clear, concise language but never in a demeaning way.  He also “narrated” what he was doing or thinking.  “Let’s feed the fish.”  He also expressed words of affirmation to each child—“You are special” and “I like you just the way you are”.

How can we apply some of these principles as we conduct storytime at the library? 

Two ways I am going to follow Mr. Rogers’ example:

1.       Slow down during storytime.  Give the children time to digest the story or song.  I’ll try not rush from one book, song, activity to another.  Enjoy the moment of learning!

2.       Be more attentive to children by looking them in the eye and pausing to let them say what they would like to say.  This may be easier during play and learn if the storytime is large.

How has Mr. Rogers had an influence on your own interactions with children?

Big Books and Babybug

To mix things up a bit I did a four week series called "Big Books and Babybugs", in which I read aloud a big book from our staff collection and the babies and adults read Babybug magazines together.

Songs/Rhymes/Bounces

Clap Your Hands (from Baby-O CD)

Good Morning

When Cows get up in the Morning

This is Me!

2 little eyes to look around

2 little ears to hear each sound

1 little nose to smell what’s sweet

1 little mouth that likes to eat!

Toast

The Grand Old Duke of York (from Baby-O CD)

The Wheels on the Bus

Head Shoulders Knees and Toes

The Elevator Song (from Baby-O CD)

May There Always be Sunshine (from Jim Gill's Irrational Anthem)
At Jim Gill's workshop I attended in August he talked about using this song and putting in the names of the children.  I'm not the best singer, so I didn't like doing that without some music.  But I'm glad I gave it a try!

Read Aloud Big Books

What's the Shape?

by Judy Nayer

I like the big, sharp photographs in this book

Where's Spot?

by Eric Hill

I Love Animals

by Flora McDonnell

Time for Bed

by Mem Fox

Shared Reading

A variety of Babybug Magazines

Pigs

Books

Hogwash

by Karma Wilson; illustrated by Jim McMullan

The Three Little Pigs

by Ed Byran

Flannel

Five Little Pigs

Five little pigs rolled in the mud
Oh, my goodness!  They need a scrub!
The farmer took one piggy out
"Oink, oink, oink!" that pig did shout.

Continue counting down

The farmer turned his back and then...
Five little pigs rolled in the mud again!