Michael Pollan

Why am I talking about Michael Pollan in my Librarian blog? Why not? I like what he has to say. Here's an article from the April 20th 2008 issue of New York Times Magazine titled "Why Bother?"

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/04/20/magazine/20wwln-lede-t.html?pagewanted=1&ei=5070&en=4b8f85b0f7e2157a&ex=1209441600&emc=eta1

Planning Story Time Tips

I asked the Children's Librarians at Bellevue what resources they use to plan their story times. Here's what they gave me:

Erin Ostrander said she relies heavily on internet resources. She said she usually will try to find one poem/song/fingerplay in the theme she's working on, then put a part of the first line in to google in quotes. That will get her (usually!) to a results page listing things from other libraries and preschools and she can then pull ideas from those.
Resources for rhymes and things:

http://www.earlyliterature.ecsd.net/resources1.htm
http://www.answerpoint.org/teachers_place/preschool/themes.asp
http://www.preschooleducation.com/topic.shtml
http://www.wcls.org/kids/kidspdf/pssthandbook.pdf
http://www.preschoolrainbow.org/book-themes.htm

http://www.surlalunefairytales.com/storytime/index.html
http://abc.net.au/children/play/grownup/txsched.htm


http://www.perrypubliclibrary.org/Kids/Programs/Storytime%20themes%2006.htm

http://www.sclibrary.ab.ca/kids/framesets/preschoolersf.htm


Pam Dodson said that when she's looking for themes for story time she'll go to a children's dictionary to look for ideas. Her themes are based on the alphabet so when she gets to a tough letter like Q, U, X, or Y she finds great theme ideas like Quilt, Umbrella, eXercise, and Yoga.

She also gave me a list of books:
The Complete Book of Rhymes, Songs, Poems, Fingerplays, and Chants - Jackie Silberg & Pam Schiller
Creating Readers - Pam Schiller
The Big Book of Stories, Songs, and Sing-Alongs - Beth Maddigan
Musical Games, Fingerplays, and Rhythmic Activities for Early Childhood - Marian Wirth
Lapsit Services for the Very Young - Linda Ernst
Babies in the Library - Jane Marino


I found these titles in the KCLS catalog:
More simply super storytimes : programming ideas for ages 3-6 -Castellano, Marie.
Toddler Storytime Programs - Briggs, Diane.
I'm a Little Teapot! Presenting Preschool Storytime - Cobb, Jane.

Children's Reference May 16th

I subbed at the Bellevue Children's Desk on May 16th. Here are some of the notes I took:


Kindergardner who liked Magic Tree House and Magic School Bus needed books that are at a higher reading level but age appropriate.
I went to the series section to look for series that featured history and science. I found
Geronimo Stilton (had maps and mysteries)
Arthur (good for emotional education/ making friends, etc.)
Star Wars (he liked the star wars cross section books, Caveat- there are several series within the Star Wars name)
My Name is America (history from the perspective of children - this series profiles boys. Another series "Dear America" profiles girls)
Also went to the non-fiction section. We got books on earthquakes because the earthquake in China is in the news right now.


Illustrated version of the Grimm's fairytale "The Fisherman and His Wife" She had a version in a colleciton of Grimm's but it wasn't illustrated. We found several versions.Remember that Grimm's tales often have different titles!

George Shannon is coming to do a school visit and a woman wanted to check out his books. George Shannon has a website with a bibliography - useful! http://www.georgeshannon.org/


Father came in for his 12-year old son who is starting at a new school. He wanted a sort of "How to Win Friends and Influence People" for teenagers. I found "Life lists for teens : tips, steps, hints, and how-tos for growing up, getting along, learning, and having fun / Pamela Espeland." A lot of the teen material included information on dating which he didn't really want.
Other books for teens making friends:
The 6 most important decisions you'll ever make: a guide for teens / Sean Covey
Don't sweat the small stuff for teens: simple ways to keep your cool in stressful times / Richard Carlson.
Don't be shy : how to fit in, make friends, and have fun--even if you weren't born outgoing / Claude Clément with Melissa Daly ; illustrated by Christian Quennehen.
I found these under the subject: Teenagers Conduct of Life

Maple Valley Interview May 12th

I had my interview for the teen services position at the Maple Valley Library of the King County Library System on May 12th. They called me the next day to offer me the position! One of the interviewers said that my enthusiasm for teen services really showed in my interview. That made me feel very good.

As part of the interview I booktalked two graphic novels and a non-fiction book:
Fullmetal Alchemist - Hiromu Arakawa
Crossing Midnight - Mike Carey
Left for Dead - Pete Nelson

The amazing thing about the interview was that I was the least nervous I had ever been since I started interviewing (and I had been through many already...)

North Bend Story Times - May 6th

My second round of story times at North Bend I had little help from any other children's librarians. It really made me realize how much time they put into all the details that add value to the story time. Things like the action rhymes and coloring sheets. As a sub I don't have any time to plan these details so I much prefer when the librarian I'm subbing for leaves me booklists, rhymes & songs, and handouts. On the flip side, planning my own story time made me feel more involved!

Toddler Story Time
Opening: Nametags and story basket.
Opening Song and Sign Language: The More We Get Together

First Story: “We’ve All Got Bellybuttons” – Martin, David

Activity: Song: “Do Your Ears Hang Low” Church, Caroline Jayne

Second Story: “I Like Me” – Carlson, Nancy (Big Book)

Activity: Bean Bag song/game “Easy Does It: Activity Songs for Motor Skill Development” - Palmer, Hap

Hand out a bean bag to all the kids AND parents. Play the Bean Bag song on CD.

Third Story: “Whose Nose?” – Rowe, Jeannette

Very few words in this story – play game where you guess the wrong nose.

Activity: “Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What do you See?” – Martin, Bill

Closing Song: If you’re happy and you know it
…pull your ears
…touch your nose
… touch your bellybutton
… say Goodbye!

Dump the story basket on the floor and ask the children to retrieve their names.

Preschool Story Time

Opening:
Hi, Hello, And How Are You?
Song and Sign Language: The More We Get Together

First Story: Harry the Dirty Dog - Zion, Gene

Action Rhyme:
Take me out of the Bathtub - Katz, Alan

Second Story: Mr. Gumpy’s Outing – Burningham, John

Action Ryhme: Row, Row, Row Your Boat (once together, then in a round)

Third Story: (Big Book) Pig in the Pond – Waddell, Martin

Fourth Story: Trout, Trout, Trout - Sayre, April Pulley

Closing Song: If you’re happy and you know it

… take a bath
… row your boat
… splash around
… say goodbye!

North Bend Story Times - April 29th

I subbed at the North Bend Library as a Children's Librarian and did two story times: one for toddlers (2-3 yrs) and one for pre-schoolers (3-5 yrs).

The Children's Librarian at Bellevue helped me put together the toddler storytime:

Toddler Story Time

Opening: Nametags and story basket. The purpose of nametags is for your 2-yr old to be able to identify their first name. Hand out blank nametags and have parent write the child’s name. Then you ask the child to drop their name in the story basket. At the end of storytime the child comes to the basket to find their name and they take it home with them.

Opening Song and Sign Language: The More We Get Together
Interesting note: The mom's really got into the sign language aspect.

The more (sign for “more”)
We get together, together, together (sign for “together”)
The more (sign for “more”)
We get together(sign for “together”)
The happier we’ll be (sign for “happy”)

‘Cause my friends (sign for “my” and “friends”)
Are your Friends (sign for “your” and “friends”)
And your friends (sign for “your” and “friends”)
Are my friends (sign for “my” and “friends”)
(repeat first part)

First Story: “Cosmo Zooms” – Howard, Arthur

Activity: “Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What do you See?” – Martin, Bill

I’m Brown Bear, and all the animals are taped around the room.

I say “Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What do you see? I see a blue cat looking at me!” And then go to the cat taped on the wall and stick it on one of the children. And then “Blue cat, Blue cat, What do you see?” etc. Until you get to “Mother, Mother what do you see? I see a room full of beautiful children looking at me!” Children, children, what do you see? A brown bear, blue cat… and a mother looking at us. That’s what we see!

Second Story: “I Like Me” – Carlson, Nancy

Activity: Bean Bag song/game game “Easy Does It” - Palmer, Hap

Hand out a bean bag to all the kids AND parents. Play the Bean Bag song on CD.

Third Story: “Hi Pizza Man” – Walter, Virginia

Closing: If You're Happy and You Know It

Dump the story basket on the floor and ask the children to retrieve their names.

Preschool Story Time:

Children's Librarian Pam Dodson from Bellevue helped me put together the preschool story time. She gave me the two action rhymes and a vegetable coloring sheet that the kids loved.

Music CD: Rhythm of the Rocks with Nancy Stewart

Welcome Song: Hi, Hello, and How Are You (to London Bridges

Song and Sign Language: The More We Get Together

First Story: I will Never Not Ever Eat A Tomato – Child, Lauren

Action Rhyme:

Vegetable Song (Tune “Old MacDonald Had a Farm”)

Vegetables are good for me, EE-I-EE-I-O
And so I eat them happily, EE-I-EE-I-O
With a carrot here, and a carrot there, here a carrot
there a carrot, everywhere a carrot, carrot.
Vegetables are good for me, EE-I-EE-I-O

(green peas, potato, tomato, etc.)

Second Story: The Wolf’s Chicken Stew – Kasza, Keiko

Action Ryhme:

We Are Vegetables (tune: Mary had a little lamb)

We are pumpkins big and round, big and round, big and round.
We are pumpkins big and round, We like Halloween.

We are broccoli short and stout, short and stout, short and stout.
We are broccoli short and stout, Growing in the ground.

We are corn tall with ears, tall with ears, tall with ears.
We are corn tall with ears, See our yellow glow.

Third Story: The Turnip - Morgan, Pierr

Fourth Story: Jamberry – Degen, Bruce

Closing: If You're Happy and You Know It

Children's Reference

After the Infant Storytime on April 22nd, I had my first shift at the Children's Reference Desk at Bellevue Library. Bellevue Children's is unique at KCLS in that it is a seperate section, so all the quesitons you get are from children or adults on behalf of children. This helps me familiarize myself with the children's collection more quickly than if I was answering a combination of children's and adult questions.

Here are the questions that came up the first day:

1.) A woman holding her 12-month old baby girl asked what movies would be appropriate for her daughter. I recommeded the Reading Rainbow and Weston Woods collections. I wanted to say that movies are not appropriate for a 12-month old, but I didn't know how to say it. I talked about it with the other children's librarian afterward. She said that situation is an opportunity to educate parents about early literacy and suggested saying, "watching movies is not helpful for children under 24 months. Studies have shown that they are not developmentally ready to focus on a screen. Another solution would be to check out a music CD to play in the background while the child plays with toys & board books on a blanket on the floor." If the parent really wants to take home a video, Reading Rainbow and Weston Woods, which feature readings of picture books, are a good choice.

2.) A mother came to the desk and said that her son who is in 4th grade (8-9 yrs old) is reading the Guardians of Ga'Hoole series. One of the books referenced Fahrenheit 451 and she was wondering if it was appropriate for a 4th grader to read. Fahrenheit 451 is not age appropriate for a 9-year old because they haven't experienced the world to the extent that they would understand the meaning of the story, even if they had the reading level to understand the words. This is the essence of age appropriate book advisory and seems to be the crux of children's collections services. I remember when I was in 5th grade I read Shakespeare because I had read everything else in the house and I needed something to read. I didn't understand any of it and I hate Shakespeare to this day. Maybe if I approached Shakespeare with a clean slate today, I could enjoy it, but that early exposure did nothing for my appreciation. I looked for other books with a book-burning theme that would be age appropriate. I found one called "I Believe in Unicorns" by Michael Morpurgo, but the reading level was not challenging enough. I ended suggesting the "Gregor the Overlander" series by Suzanne Collins - not for a censorship angle, just because it's good adventure for a 4th grader!