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photo by Paige Bentley-Flannery

As I participated in Kindergarten Round Up at Sisters Elementary School last week and recognized 90 percent of the families in the audience, I was reminded of the amazing connection the public library and the school have. This made me smile. Last year, my Get Ready for Kindergarten story time at the library had the largest attendance in years!   This was only possible with the support, time and enthusiasm of Stephanie Jensen, Title I Teacher and Becky Stoughton, Principal at Sisters Elementary School.  They talked with new families at the school, sent out an email and a voice recording to all families with students attending kindergarten in the fall.  The voice recording was amazing!  But this connection didn’t happen overnight.

For the past six years, I’ve watched our relationship grow. What started out as a once or twice a year school visit or classroom(s) visit to the library has turned into a regular monthly connection.    I have an amazing connection with all of the teachers but I have to give a huge shout out to Stephanie, reading specialist and overall extraordinary woman.   Our weekly discussions at the public library when she was returning or checking out piles and piles of books turned into reading programs and the programs turned into parent meetings and the meetings turned into Book Bingo, family reading nights and more!  Together with the encouragement and wonderful communication from Principal Becky, we created a new atmosphere of collaborating ideas.   The connection grew and so did the events.  Sometime the ideas were extreme – creating a live version of The Dot by Peter Reynolds and sometimes quite simple-open house-setting up a table of library information, iPad sharing our website and free giveaways-stickers, book marks, etc.  Overall, each event connected families to books, education and fun!

Parent Information Night
photo by Stephanie Jensen

“The positive partnership established between Deschutes Public Library and the Sisters School District highlights the power of coming together to support students and families with local resources. Our schools, families and community benefit and thrive as a result of working together and connecting families with meaningful and engaging materials to support learning at home.” –Stephanie

By now you’re thinking, this is great! We do this every day too. But for me it’s been a goal to strengthen our relationships with our schools and community.   A goal to see our public library filled with families excited about information and books, making the library part of their weekly routine, making the library their space:  connecting families with new books and new resources.  After each event, school visit or family night, I recognize more and more families in the library.  Maybe it’s the following day and a young boy is getting a library card for the first time or maybe it’s a week later and a family attends a LEGO Block Party program.   All of the above make me smile.   I realize we still have a long way to go but I’m excited about the possibilities.  I feel extremely lucky and appreciate all of the Sisters Elementary School staff’s time, excitement and energy.  Parents too! – So many amazing parent/guardian volunteers.

“The Sisters Library provides added support and helps our kids engage in a different type of learning outside our school walls.” Principal Becky

Top 3 favorite connections and collaborations:

Book Bingo and Newsletter photo by Paige Bentley-Flannery

Book Bingo: A bingo card filled with library and school activities-weekly prizes and a free book after completing bingo.  Activities are completed at home, in the classroom and at the library.

Sisters Parent Teacher Community meetings:  A variety of morning or afternoon meetings to discuss reading nights, open houses, programming, special events, share new library books and library information. The meetings turn into task groups, special event planning and so many great discussions.

Family Reading Nights at Sisters Elementary School: A night filled with interactive stories, activities and information.  A different theme each month.

Book Bingo display photo by Paige Bentley-Flannery

And more:
School Monthly Newsletters
Teacher Requests
Book Lists
Book Displays in the Library
Kindergarten Round Up
After School Programs
Interactive Story Activities
School Displays in the commons area
Poetry Palooza
Silly Stories
Classroom visits to the library
Summer Reading promotion
Common Core Reading Night
School Open House
Listen: Audio Books before the holidays
Art Gallery at the library and school

Please share your collaboration stories in the comments below.

Paige Bentley-Flannery is a Community Librarian at Deschutes Public Library. For over fifteen years–from Seattle Art Museum to the New York Public Library to the Deschutes Public Library-Paige’s passion and creative style for art, poetry and literature have been combined with instructing, planning, and providing information. Paige is currently serving on the ALSC Notable Children’s Book Committee, 2015 – 2017. She is a former Chair of the ALSC Digital Content Task Force and member of the ALSC Great Websites Committee.  

The post School and Public Library Collaborations appeared first on ALSC Blog.

Poetry School Visit photo by Paige Bentley-Flannery

Do you have poems swirling in your head?  Do you have one poem memorized that you share every day with someone new in the library?   Do you dress up during poetry month?  Have you created a poetree display? There are so many amazing fun things to do during poetry month!  This year, I switched up my school visits a bit and added a poetry timeline. The poetry timeline works great with 1^st, 2^nd, and 3^rd graders.

Below are two options for adding poems to your timeline-Movement: Day 1 and Historical Events.

Historical Events Poetry Timeline: Before your school visit, create your poetry timeline on a huge piece of colorful paper using makers or paint. Select a series of interactive poems that match up with a specific date. For example, Velcro by Maria Fleming invented in 1955. Start with a really really early date and end with 2016.  Add between 7-12 poems with a variety of dates. (This will change depending on your school group size and how much time you have.)

Sample Historical Poetry Timeline:
1753 Liberty Bell by Linda Sue Park in Amazing Places Selected by Lee Bennett Hopkins
1912 Fenway Park by Charles Waters in Amazing Places Selected by Lee Bennett Hopkins
1958 Art Kane’s famous photography Harlem, 1958 in Jazz Day: The Making of a Famous Photography by Roxane Orgill

Recommended Poetry Books for Historical Events:
28 Days: Moments in Black History that Changed the World by Charles R. Smith Jr., Shane W. Evans (Illustrations)
Amazing Places by Lee Bennett Hopkins (Editor), Chris K. Soentpiet (Illustrator), Christy Hale (Illustrator)
Side by Side: New Poems Inspired by Art from Around the World by Jan Greenberg
Pritelli (Illustrations)Rutherford B.,
Who Was He?: Poems About Our Presidents by Marilyn Singer, John Hendrix (Illustrations)
World Rat Day: Poems About Real Holidays You’ve Never Heard Of  by J. Patrick Lewis, Anna Raff  (Illustrations)
Voice of Freedom: Fannie Lou Hamer, Spirit of the Civil Rights Movement. By Carole Boston Weatherford. Illus. by Ekua Holmes.
Voices : Poetry and Art from Around the World by Barbara Brenner
Edgar Allan Poe’s Pie: Math Puzzlers in Classic Poems by J. Patrick Lewis, Michael Slack (Illustrator)

Day 1 Poetry Timeline:

Day 15 – walk, crack, dance, pop, and fly. photo by Paige Bentley-Flannery

Hold your school visit either in the classroom or wing/meeting space, use a white board or bring in big pieces of butcher paper.  Have the classroom or group select a day-Day 1, Day 22, Day 245, or Day 6,780. Have fun selecting the number.  Let’s start with Day 1.  Have the teacher assist with writing the poems on the timeline after you read them.  Students will select (yell out) where the poem will go and what time of day the poem should happen. For example, after reading the poem “A Smoothie Supreme,” students might select the poem to start at 6pm.  Write the poem and time on your timeline-6pm A Smoothie Supreme by Deborah Ruddell.  After-this is the best part! – read together and act out each motion-Slither, Run, Crunch, Flap, Slurp, Aaaaa (roller coaster noises while pretending to ride a roller coaster up, down and around.) Hooray, yells the group together.

Tell your group the name of the poem again and remind them what the action is that matches up with each poem and book.  This is a great way to introduce new poets like Deborah Ruddell, Julie Paschkis, Bob Raczka and more!  The poetry timeline creates interaction and movement.  You will be loud, be silly and be smiling.

 Day 1 Poetry Timeline
8:30 a.m. – Snake by Julie Paschkis (Slither-ssssss)
9:00 a.m. –The New Running Shoes by Fran Haraway (Run!)
11:00 a.m. –21 Things to Do with an Apple by Deborah Ruddell, (Crunch)
12:00 p.m. –A Bird in the Bird Feeder by Judith Viorst-Spring Haikus (Flap!)
6:00 p.m. –A Smoothie Supreme by Deborah Ruddell (Slurp!)
7:00 p.m. –Roller Coaster by Joan Bransfield Graham (Aaaaa!)
8:00 p.m.-Arrival of the Popcorn Astronauts by Deborah Ruddell (Hooray!)

Poetry Timeline Popcorn photo by Paige Bentley-Flannery

Have fun with each timeline by adding illustrations-markers, pencil drawings or cut-out magazine collages.
You can also create a seasonal poetry timeline-fall, winter, spring and summer or theme poetry timelines-Sports, Animals, Food-so many options.
For more poetry ideas, explore past Poetry Paige ALSC blog posts.
Please share your school visit ideas and photos below (especially, if you dress up during poetry month.)

The post Poetry Timeline: Slither, Run, Crunch, Flap, Slurp, Aaaaa, Hooray! appeared first on ALSC Blog.

photo by Paige Bentley-Flannery

Do you share poems at your story time? Have you danced to a poem?  Pretended you were a fish writing a poem in the ocean? Or maybe you crunched and munched along with a noisy food poem?While yelling out words and acting out the poem, poetry at story time incorporates the Early Literacy Skills and encourages families to be silly together.  Add one or two poems to your story time theme each week.

photo by Paige Bentley-Flannery

Poetry Pocket Song: (Tune: Old MacDonald Had a Farm)
Here’s my poetry pocket with something inside.
What could it be?
I’ll open it up and take a look.
Tell me what you see?
(Possible felt items: A Pizza!  A Penguin!  A Ball! A Fish! A Kite!)

How it works: 
Sing the poetry pocket song, at the end of the song pull out a felt shape, have everyone yell out what it is, (It’s a kite!).  Then share the title of the poetry book and author.  Have everyone stand up.  Are you ready?  Explain what the movement or word they will say then read the poem.  For example: In the book Lullaby & Kisses Sweet: Poems to Love with Your Baby Selected by Lee Bennett Hopkins, read the poem, ‘Up in the Air’ by J. Patrick Lewis, have everyone act out each object-A leaf, a kite, a ball, a bird, a cloud and a swing.  “A bird on a the wing,” (flap your arms and fly like a bird).  Depending on the poem have everyone repeat the words after you or act out the poem while you’re reading it.
Read the poem twice.

Supplies:  Felt board (big or small), Big felt pocket shape-any color, multiple felt objects and children’s poetry books.

Sheila Grier, Librarian at Deschutes Public Library created a big blue felt poetry pocket for me.  The song is originally from Heather McNeil, Public Services Manager-Here’s my bag with something inside. (I switched it to here’s my poetry pocket with something inside.)  Thank you Sheila and Heather!

Some of the children in your audience might be hearing the word poetry for the first time.  Invite parents/guardians and more to explore the poetry section after story time.  Create several mini-displays during the month of April highlighting poetry books to read at home for ages 0-5.

Explore Poetry Paige’s Pocket Story Time book list on Rifflebooks.

The following photos are a collection of my favorite poetry books, each flannel object matches up with a poem that invites interaction-making poetry come alive.

Story Time Poems: White, Blue, Red, Orange and Purple by Joyce Sidman.
photo by Paige Bentley-Flannery

Story Time Poems: Snake, Heron and Whale by Julie Paschkis.
photo by Paige Bentley-Flannery

Story Time Poems: Snack Time, Spaghetti, Up in the Air, Slide and Bath Time.
photo by Paige Bentley-Flannery

Story Time Poems: Barnyard Talk, When Pigs Could Fly, Heading Home, No Rest, Chuck’s Duck and Love by Susan Pearson. photo by Paige Bentley-Flannery

Story Time Poems: The Dolphin, The Starfish and The Blue Whale by David Elliot.  photo by Paige Bentley-Flannery

Story Time Poems: 21 Things to Do with an Apple, Menu for a Gray Day and Arrival of the Popcorn Astronauts by Deborah Ruddell. photo by Paige Bentley-Flannery

Hopefully, you will be inspired to find your own favorites, yell out new words, and develop new ways to make poems jump out of books.

A few past ALSC Poetry Paige blog posts.

• Poetry Ideas
• Poetry Blogs
• School Poems

Please share your favorite poems for story time in the comments below.

Paige Bentley-Flannery is a Community Librarian at Deschutes Public Library. For over fifteen years–from Seattle Art Museum to the New York Public Library to the Deschutes Public Library-Paige’s passion and creative style for art, poetry and literature have been combined with instructing, planning, and providing information. Paige is currently serving on the ALSC Notable Children’s Book Committee, 2015 – 2017. She is a former Chair of the ALSC Digital Content Task Force and member of the ALSC Great Websites Committee.

The post Poetry Paige’s Pocket appeared first on ALSC Blog.

photo by Paige Bentley-Flannery

Did you offer a Caldecott art program at your library?  As soon as the winner was announced, I started thinking about outreach art programs.  Yellow paper! Bears!  Zoo maps! Diamond shapes! So many possibilities.

Whether you have five minutes or 45 minutes, below are a few ideas and resources to get you started.

A pop-up school outreach Caldecott program with Finding Winnie. Place the book on display, create a huge bear picture on yellow poster paper or keep the yellow paper blank and have each child draw their own bear.  If you have 15-20 minutes, read Finding Winnie by Sophie Blackall and ask questions about the drawings.  For example: What kinds of materials did Sophie Blackall use in her illustrations?

Imagination time!  What if you had a pet bear?  What would you name your bear?  Favorite food? What would you teach your bear?  Favorite game to play with your bear?  Draw out each answer on yellow poster paper for display.  For a longer visit, 30-45 minutes, use the resources below to add history, black and white photographs, science, art and more!

photo by Paige Bentley-Flannery

Supplies: photographs of bears, yellow, white and black paper, pencils, black markers, crayons (watercolor paints if available), bear puppet, tablet to share youtube and audio, one big piece of yellow poster paper.

Resources:

• Lindsay Mattick
  “Learn more about Lindsay’s new book, Finding Winnie, and view images of Harry & Winnie from the Colebourn family archive.” Remember the real Winnie through photos, videos, and exhibits.

• Sophie Blackall
  Discover the research Blackall did and how she made the illustrations for Finding Winnie from her blog “The Making of Finding Winnie-Part 1-4.”

• Finding Winnie: The True Story of the World’s Most Famous Bear
  A short video of Lindsay Mattick sharing how she created Finding Winnie. Created by Little Brown Books for Young Readers.

• Seven Impossible Things Before Breakfast: One Picture-Book Roundtable Discussion Before Breakfast #4: Featuring the Women of Finding Women
  Julie Danielson’s post discusses the process of creating Finding Winnie, the research, the stories and more.

• Finding Winnie on NPR
  Listen to the true story of Winnie the Pooh and her pal, Christopher Robin.

• Educator’s Guide Finding Winnie: The True Story of the World’s Most Famous Bear
  Little Brown Books for Young Readers created an amazing and detailed teacher’s guide for sharing, learning and discovering more about Finding Winnie. Includes a biography and sections on Social Studies, Language Arts, Art, Science, and Math.

• The Guardian: The Story of How Winnie the Pooh was inspired by a real bear-in pictures
  Explore the diary, real photos and more that inspired Finding Winnie by Lindsay Mattick.

• The Horn Book: Calling Caldecott-A tale of two Winnies 
  Explore the Calling Caldecott posts including “A tale of two Winnies” and various other blogs about Finding Winnie by Lolly Robinson.

• Review of the Day: Finding Winnie by Lindsay Mattick
  A Fuse #8 Production writer, Elizabeth Bird reviews Finding Winnie: The True Story of the World’s Most Famous Bear by Lindsay Mattock illustrator Sophie Blackall

“Some of the best stories are true stories.” Lindsay Mattick.

photo by Paige Bentley-Flannery

The post Caldecott Library Programs with Finding Winnie: The True Story of the World’s Most Famous Bear by Lindsay Mattick, illustrated by Sophie Blackall appeared first on ALSC Blog.

photo by Paige Bentley-Flannery

Do you know which president got the ball rolling for National Women’s History Month? It was Jimmy Carter who did (although it started as only one week) by saying that while both men and women worked together to build America, “Too often the women were unsung and sometimes their contributions went unnoticed.”  President Carter called on “libraries, schools and community organizations” to focus their observances on leaders who struggled for equality.

So in that spirit, I’m sharing several interesting resources to find material for your activities in March.

Amelia Bloomer resources: 
When I start planning programs and book talks for Women’s History Month, the first thing I think about is The Amelia Bloomer Project.  Born in 1818, she was a women’s rights advocate, a writer and she even invented “bloomers” or loose pants that were controversial in their day.  A project of the ALA’s Feminist Task Force of the Social Responsibilities Round Table, this group creates an annual booklist of the best feminist books for young readers, ages birth through 18.

This website if filled with information for celebrating women, creating amazing book lists and sharing educational ideas. I review their suggested criteria and questions with the books I’m planning on using for book talks and programs.   For example, when considering a book for their list they ask, “Do females blaze new trails for themselves and those who follow them?”

Lists from 2002-2016 are available online. They are organized from Early Readers-Fiction, Early Readers Non-Fiction, Middle Grade-Fiction, Middle Grade-Non-Fiction, Young Adult-Fiction to Young Adult-Non-Fiction.

More Amelia Bloomer resources:

• 2016 Amelia Bloomer Top Ten
• Printable brochures and posters

Have you been to the Girl Museum online? 
“Girl Museum is the first and only museum in the world dedicated to celebrating girls and girlhood. Established in March 2009, we believe girls are the key to a brighter, better future and that girls deserve to have a museum of their own.”

Explore past blog posts, book lists, and resources which include “How to Handle Bullying” and ”empower girls” organizations. My favorite section is under “Learn” where the reader can join a girl’s book club, take a girl quiz and use amazing educational resources.

photo by Paige Bentley-Flannery

ALSC Notable Children’s Books:  The 2016 ALSC Notable Children’s Books Committee discussed over 200 books at ALA Midwinter in Boston and ALA Annual in San Francisco. The nominee list included many women in history children’s books:
• Queen of the Diamond: The Lizzie Murphy Story by Emily Arnold McCully
• One Plastic Bag: Isatou Ceesay and The Recycling Women of the Gambia by Miranda Paul
• Swing Sisters: The Story of the International Sweethearts of Rhythm by Karen Deans
• The House That Jane Built: A Story About Jane Addams by Tanya Lee Stone
• My Name is Truth: The Life of Sojourner Truth by Ann Turner
• Rad American Women A-Z: Rebels, Trailblazers, and Visionaries who Shaped Our History…and Our Future! by Kate Schatz

The ALSC Notable Children’s Books complete list.

More Women’s History Month Links:

• KidLit Celebrates Women’s History Month
• TIME for Kids: Women’s History Month
• Scholastic: Women’s History Month
• National Education Association: Women’s History Month for the classroom
• ALSC Great Websites for Kids: Women

My favorite non-fiction books before 2015: 
• Amelia and Eleanor Go For a Ride by Pam Munoz Ryan
• My Name is Georgia: A Portrait by Jeanette Winter
• Viva Frida by Yuyi Morales
• Temple Grandin: How the Girl Who Loved Cows Embraced Autism and Changed the World by Sy Montgomery
• When Marian Sang: The True Recital of Marian Anderson by Pam Munoz Rya

Amazing Women in History riffle book list.

What are your favorite books to talk about during Women’s History Month?  Please share in the comments below.

Paige Bentley-Flannery is a Community Librarian at Deschutes Public Library. For over fifteen years–from Seattle Art Museum to the New York Public Library to the Deschutes Public Library-Paige’s passion and creative style for art, poetry and literature have been combined with instructing, planning, and providing information. Paige is currently serving on the ALSC Notable Children’s Book Committee, 2015 – 2017. She is a former Chair of the ALSC Digital Content Task Force and member of the ALSC Great Websites Committee.

The post Get ready to celebrate wonderful women appeared first on ALSC Blog.

photo by Paige Bentley-Flannery

A Pilot! A Voice! An Artist! An Explorer! 
Turn your library school visits into a game show or host a “Name that Person” event at your school library during lunch time.  Meet a room full of amazing people through books.

Set-up:  Display children’s biography books on one table.  Arrange strange, silly and fun items that match up with the book on another table.  Two chairs/stools facing each other with a buzzer in the middle (or have your two volunteers stand up with a buzzer on a stool between them.)  Use a variety of new and favorite children’s biographies about people from all over the world or focus on biographies on a specific subject.  For example: poets, presidents, authors, musicians, explorers.

Name that Person!
Use two volunteers with a buzzer between them or have your whole group ready to guess.  Place an object in front of them or share a few important facts about that person.  The first person to ring the buzzer guesses.  If no one knows the answer, let your whole group guess by raising their hands and when you’re done sharing the information, everyone yells out the name of the person.  (Use your television game show voice.)

Fun objects-photo by Paige Bentley-Flannery

Strange and Fun Objects: 
Baseball
Airplane puppet
Monkey puppet or Barrel of Monkeys
Campbell’s Tomato Soup
Paint brush
Map of the world or globe
Top hat
Guitar or toy stuffed guitar
Typewriter
Sunday’s comics
Bunny ears
Ocean creatures (water toys)
Bugs
Cooking items (spatula, measuring cups, etc.)

Do you know the person that matches up to each object above?

A list of new and favorite children’s biographies! https://read.rifflebooks.com/list/185569

Are you ready?  Name that Person! 
Who made the first flight in Australia on March 16, 1910? (Airplane puppet)

Houdini-photo by Paige Bentley-Flannery

Answer: Houdini!    Did you say Amelia Earhart or the Wright Brothers.  This is a great way to introduce Escape! The Story of the Great Houdini by Sid Fleischman and Amelia Lost: The Life and Disappearance of Amelia Earhart by Candace Fleming.  (Or picture book biographies about Amelia Earhart, the Wright Brothers and Houdini)

Name that author! photo by Paige Bentley-Flannery

A few other options:

• Display a collection of fiction books that match up with biographies about that author.  Make sure to cover up the author’s name on the cover.  Ready? Name that author!
• Pull out different puppets or objects from a big cloth bag and have your audience name the person that matches up with each puppet or object.  Then share the biography-fun illustrations or a unique fact about that person.
• Speed round-Name that President! (by number-#3,#16, #35, and #44)

Through children’s biographies discover someone new!

One of my favorite ways to share biographies with children is “Name that Person!” What are some of your favorite ways to share children’s biographies?  Please share in the comments below.

Paige Bentley-Flannery is a Community Librarian at Deschutes Public Library. For over fifteen years–from Seattle Art Museum to the New York Public Library to the Deschutes Public Library-Paige’s passion and creative style for art, poetry and literature have been combined with instructing, planning, and providing information. Paige is currently serving on the ALSC Notable Children’s Book Committee, 2015 – 2017. She is a former Chair of the ALSC Digital Content Task Force and member of the ALSC Great Websites Committee.  

The post Name that Person! appeared first on ALSC Blog.

Are you planning a family painting day, an art scandal mystery event or turning your children’s room into an ancient Egyptian maze? Finding new ways for creative kid programs are just clicks away at your favorite museum.

You might be surprised by a new update, an added blog, or an interactive art activity.

I recently followed an alien through the MoMA, popped yellow and red balloons through the Met and discovered William the blue hippo from Egypt is not very friendly.  (All of this online.)  Be part of art history through interactive museum websites.  The Smithsonian, J. Paul Getty Museum, Museum of Modern Art, and the National Gallery of Art are just a few amazing art websites filled with kids, family and teacher resources.

My new favorite art museum website to explore is #metkids at The Metropolitan Museum of Art.  MET Kids is a new feature launched in September with multi-media content aimed at 7 to 12 year olds.  The Met says kids from New York City and around the world “helped to shape the content, design, and user experience of the website. It is truly “Made for, with, and by kids.”

#metkids map photo by Paige Bentley-Flannery

Walk around the museum online with the Map, get in a Time Machine and travel to different centuries or watch a new art video made by kids today.

• Map: touch a yellow or red balloon to learn about different art pieces.  (The directions say yellow or red pin but every time I see them I think of the balloons from You Can’t Take a Balloon into the Metropolitan Museum by Jacqueline Preiss Weitzman.) Learn about a sculpture, a new artist or a room by Frank Lloyd Wright.  Have you seen the “Celestial Globe with Clock Work” from 1579?
• Time Machine: Push the red “push” button to explore different time periods all around the world.  “Program your destination to explore worlds of art.”  From 8000-2000 BC to 1900-present, get in the time machine and discover, learn and create.  Listen to an art curator talk about the selected piece or discover a “fun fact.”   The time machine is filled with ideas and questions for children to think about.
• Video: The videos are separated into four different sections-Create, Made by Kids, Q&A and Celebrate.  Watch an original animation film about Degas’ dancer in “Made by Kids” and go behind the scenes in the animation lab.  “Jumping into the Met” is filled with great ideas-connecting famous paintings with stories and film.  Click on the “Create” section and follow step by step instructions to learn how to make scratch art, symmetrical prints, collage and more.

What amazing art resources! For more art websites, check out the ALSC Great Websites for Kids-The Arts

Please share your favorite museum website in the comments below.

For a selection of fun art books to use in your next museum program, explore my art shelf on shelfari.

Paige Bentley-Flannery is a Community Librarian at Deschutes Public Library. For over fifteen years–from Seattle Art Museum to the New York Public Library to the Deschutes Public Library-Paige’s passion and creative style for art, poetry and literature have been combined with instructing, planning, and providing information. Paige is currently serving on the ALSC Notable Children’s Book Committee, 2015 – 2017. She is a former Chair of the ALSC Digital Content Task Force and member of the ALSC Great Websites Committee.  

The post Create a Kids Art Program with Inspiration from Museum Websites appeared first on ALSC Blog.

Goodbye Summer Reading!  Hello School Time!

My cape is tucked away and our library super hero readers are almost off to school!

Laura Purdie Salas’s poem captures the summer reading theme of “Every Hero Has a Story” with imagination and books just as our super readers return to class.

SuperReaders
Her cape is sewn from favorite pages
He battles bullies, beasts, and crooks
Their weapon is another world–
the world they choose–
inside of books

—Laura Purdie Salas, all rights reserved

I picture students just like Salas’s poem with flying capes made out of book pages, backpacks filled with school supplies and lunches ready to eat.

School supplies ready! photo by Paige Bentley-Flannery

Let’s start off the school year with some poetry noise. From Messing Around on the Monkey Bars: and Other School Poems for Two Voices by Betsty Franco to Shout!: Little Poems that Roar by Brod Bagert.  Sharing school poems is the perfect way to start the school year out.

Favorite school poetry books created on Riffle.

School Poetry Activities:

• Listen to Amy Ludwig VanDerwater’s poem, “New School New Year.”  After record your own.  Start out with the same word, “School.” Have everyone say it together, “SCHOOL!” Then go around the classroom and have the whole classroom share one word.  Maybe it’s their favorite subject in school, maybe it’s what school smells like or maybe it’s a favorite time like recess.  Go around the classroom having each student share one word then again faster and louder.  End the poem with everyone saying the word “school” together.
• Create a School Poetry Display with your favorite school poems and school supplies. (If you have a school poetry display already created please share in the comments below.)
• Attach a long piece of butcher paper in the shape of pencil on the back of a classroom or library door.  Invite students throughout the day to write what the pencil might say if it could talk.  Then read the poem, “Things To Do If You are a Pencil” by Elaine Magilano.
• Write a school bus concrete poem or shape poem-Draw a HUGE school bus, add school bus noises and things students might say on the way to school.
• Write a separate poem on “How are you getting to school?” Read “The Very First Day of School” by Deborah Ruddell.  Have the students use their imagination and create their own vehicle or way to get to school.  Examples: Flying chair, jumping shoes, rainbow wings…
• Find an unusual object in the classroom and write a concrete poem.  Stuffed hedgehog, cuckoo clock on the wall, pink velvet chair—what unusual object do you see in the classroom? Describe it! Use butcher paper, crayons, pencils, markers and make it BIG or use colorful sticky notes and make a tiny concrete poem.  Display them around the room.
• Write a list poem about what the desk, chair or chalk board (smart board) are saying when children are in the room.  One word after the other-Ouch! Thud!  Write another poem about the same object but when the classroom is empty. What do they when everyone has gone home?
• Read “On Menu for School Today” by Rebecca Kai Doltish then write a quiet and LOUD poem about a pencil sharper and create new sounds! Thud! Clank!  The first word is in lower case and is quiet and then the second word is in all caps and is LOUD. Continue with one quiet word and then one loud word.
• Act out “Kids Rule” by Brod Bagert.  Everyone up!  Tell everyone, we are going to do three things (hold up three fingers) and we are going to do those three things three times.  The three things are Run, Chew and Read! (act out)  Practice the three things. Run three times while saying run, run, run.  Pretend to eat your lunch while saying chew, chew, chew.  Hold up your hands like a book and read, read, read. At the end of the poem, have everyone shout out together, “Kids Learn!” “Kids Rule!”  Ready?

Explore more school poems and poetry ideas with Laura Purdie Salas, Amy Ludwig VanDerwater and Betsy Franco.

• 7 poems about school by Laura Purdie Salas
• School Poems from The Poem Farm by Amy Ludwig VanDerwater
• Read Anatomy Class by Betsy Franco.
• Classroom tips from Messing Around on the Monkey Bars:  and Other School Poems Written in Two Voices by Betsy Franco

photo by istockphoto and poem by Deborah Ruddell

Enjoy and share, “The Very First Day of School” by Deborah Ruddell.   Check out her new book, The Popcorn Astronauts. 

Paige Bentley-Flannery is a Community Librarian at Deschutes Public Library. For over fifteen years–from Seattle Art Museum to the New York Public Library to the Deschutes Public Library-Paige’s passion and creative style for art, poetry and literature have been combined with instructing, planning, and providing information. Paige is currently serving on the ALSC Notable Children’s Book Committee, 2015 – 2017. She is a former Chair of the ALSC Digital Content Task Force and member of the ALSC Great Websites Committee.

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Super Turtle (photo by Paige Bentley-Flannery)

Capes are flying in the air at the Deschutes Public Library!

Crayons, paper, pencils are scattered around the room, children are sitting on the floor sharing stories and ideas.  The theme, Super Animals!  What is your Super Animal?  What is your Super Animals’s super power? How will it save the day?

Super Speeding Turtle (photo by Paige Bentley-Flannery)

As part of  the summer reading program, “Every Hero has a Story,”  children of all ages have been creating Super Animals and bringing them to the library to share.  I love hearing about their super animal power! The Super Turtle is speedy.   The Super Elephant has super water powers and the Super Rainbow Puppy makes mean people nice.  Every day, I receive a new piece of art.  This makes me smile all day long.  The children’s enthusiasm when they share each super animal power and how they will save the day is amazing.  I also love hearing how they created each piece.  Did they use glue? Magazine cut-outs? Paint?  Found objects? Nature? One child created a Super Rainbow Puppy and included flowers, leaves and grass on her canvas.

Super Bunny (photo by Paige Bentley-Flannery

One child added beads for eyes and a pipe cleaner for the mouth-Super Bunny!

I hosted weekly summer school visits and after hearing a silly story, learning about a new section of the library and checking out books, children created their own Super Animal at the library.  After, the art committee added foam core to each art piece, making them easier to hang in the meeting room.

The call out in the library event guide was open to everyone in any art form and in any size.  What other animals will appear? Maybe a HUGE Super Giraffe?

Super Rainbow Puppy (photo by Paige Bentley-Flannery)

The art work goes up Saturday, August 1st and will be on view in the library meeting room the month of August.  We will also be part of the 4th Annual Friday Art Stroll, handing out popsicles while families, children and everyone enjoy looking at the children’s super animals pieces.  You can also create your own Super Animal with chalk outside the meeting room.  Super Bird to the rescue!

Super Bird! (photo by Paige Bentley-Flannery)

I look forward to doing more art programs in the library and having art work displayed throughout the library.

Where do you display your art work in the library?  Do you have an art or craft room? Please share in the comments below.

Explore a few art inspired picture books for your next art program at the library.  Draw! Paint! Create! 

Paige Bentley-Flannery is a Community Librarian at Deschutes Public Library. For over fifteen years–from Seattle Art Museum to the New York Public Library to the Deschutes Public Library-Paige’s passion and creative style for art, poetry and literature have been combined with instructing, planning, and providing information. Paige is currently serving on the ALSC Notable Children’s Book Committee, 2015 – 2017. She is a former Chair of the ALSC Digital Content Task Force and member of the ALSC Great Websites Committee.

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Look! In the library! Is it a librarian? Is it a book? Faster than a reading turtle! Able to carry books taller than a giraffe’s neck! Wilder than a monkey checking out library materials! It’s SUPER ANIMALS!

photo by Paige Bentley-Flannery

Imagine if all of your favorite Super Animals from picture books, chapter books and graphic novels arrived at the library to…Save the Day!  HeroBear and the Kid by Mike Kunkel, Ready Rabbit Gets Ready by Brenna Maloney, Extraordinary Warren, A Super Chicken by Sarah Dillard, Superworm by Julia Donaldson, Fashion Kitty and the Unlikely Hero by Charise Mericle Harper, Super Fly Guy by Tedd Arnold, Superfab Saves the Day by Berengere Delaporte, Turbo the Hamster in Captain Awesome Takes a Dive by Stan Kirby, all of the Super-Pets in the DC Super-Pets series, and a brand new book, Super Fly: The World’s Smallest Superhero! by Todd H. Doodler.  Picture it!  Now we are ready to create comics at the Super Animals! summer reading program at the library.

Read Superworm by Julia Donaldson (or one of your favorite super animal books.)

Create your own comic book:

• Draw a Super Animal. Supplies for each table include colored 8 x 11 paper, white paper, pencils, markers, glue sticks, and scissors.
• Draw Big! Draw one Super Animal in action with your group of kids. (If you have more time, have everyone draw one BIG Super Animal and display them around the room. Supplies: colored pencils and butcher paper.
• Talk about your Super Animal.
• Describe your super animal. A Super Frog? A Super Flamingo?
  

  Super Flamingo! by JC and P. Photo by Paige Bentley-Flannery

• What is their super power? Check out the Big Book of Superheroes by Bart King for super ideas.
  

  photo by Paige Bentley-Flannery

• Share a story idea.
  One story idea:  The children’s chapter books are disappearing from the library! They start to re-appear a month later in the outside reading garden in the shape of animals.  First, a HUGE penguin book sculpture appears, the following week, a HUGE zebra.  Every Saturday after Book Buzz, another new chapter book disappears.  Who is taking the books out of the library?   Is it Sneaky Snake?  Or Master Mouse?  And why are they making animal sculptures out of children’s chapter books?
• Who will save the day?
• Continue to share Super Animal powers around the room.
• Create a comic with six frames and dialog bubbles so kids can tell their animal’s story: intro to your super animal, where? what? how? and an ending.  (You can always add more.)
• ZAP! Act out your Super Animal comic book.  (If you have time.)
  

  photo by Paige Bentley-Flannery

Explore more Summer Reading programs at Deschutes Public Library.

Check out some of the other SUPER animal summer reading programs:
Wildlife Superheroes at NYPL
Be a Hero, Save a Butterfly at Arnolds Park Library
Great Stuffed Animal Superhero Sleepover & Storytime at Belvedere Tiburon Library
Animal Superhero Show at Mason Public Library

Comic Book Websites:
www.makebeliefscomix.com/Comix/
artroche.com
www.mykidsadventures.com/create-comic-strip-kids/
http://www.toon-books.com

The fabulous Dana Horrocks and Lindsey Krabbenhoft share four Superhero and Hero songs to get us ready for Summer Reading at the library! Thank you, Dana and Lindsey. 

Are you ready for Every Hero Has a Story at your library? My library cape is on…SHAZAM! 

Happy Summer Reading!

Super Animals! by JC and PF photo by Paige Bentley-Flannery and the ComicBook! app.

Please share your comic book and super animal ideas or photos in the comments below.

Paige Bentley-Flannery is a Community Librarian at Deschutes Public Library. For over fifteen years–from Seattle Art Museum to the New York Public Library to the Deschutes Public Library-Paige’s passion and creative style for art, poetry and literature have been combined with instructing, planning, and providing information. Paige is currently serving on the ALSC Notable Children’s Book Committee, 2015 – 2017. She is a former Chair of the ALSC Digital Content Task Force and member of the ALSC Great Websites Committee.

The post Super Animals! appeared first on ALSC Blog.

Have fun this month by reading poems aloud, over and over!  Let’s yell out some words together to get ready for poetry month.  I’ll say the words first and then you repeat after me, ready? Me: POETRY! You: POETRY!  Me: 811! You: 811!

Let’s go up, up, up with “Oak Tree” by Georgia Heard from Falling Down the Page: A Book of List Poems Edited by Georgia Heard. Ready? Me: One!….

April is National Poetry Month! Whether you’re offering a poetry program at your library, visiting schools with interactive poems or creating a poetry display, April is the perfect month to share poems, read a poem at story time and introduce children’s poets including children’s poet laureate, Kenn Nesbitt to children of all ages.

This year, my interactive poetry school visits are focused on writing art inspired poems with 5^th and 6^th graders and writing a couplet, circle, animal and BIG poems with K-4^th.   At the end of the month, the library will host a Poetry Fest at our local bookstore where students have an opportunity to share their art inspired poems.  I’m also looking forward to our Animal Poetry Party for families.  Puppets, poems and play!

Here are a few amazing poetry blogs (from three amazing children’s authors) with perfect “Poem-A-Day” projects that you can do in your library, classroom or share with children, parents, teachers and more!

photo by Laura Purdie Salas

Laura Purdie Salas: National Poetry Month and Poetry Tips for Teachers
A poem and new poetry tip each day!
Click on the “Educator’s” link for more great ideas. I love Laura’s “Things to Do if You Are a Bumblebee…” poem written with students on a school visit.  Write your own “Things to Do if…” poem.  Read, listen, write and connect with the poem!  (Read one of her new poems “Spaghetti”)

Irene Latham: Live Your Poem…ARTSPEAK

photo by Irene Latham

A Poem-A-Day Project for National Poetry Month 2015 writing from images found in the online collections of the National Gallery of Art and focusing on dialogue, conversations, what does the piece say.
My favorite art poem so far is from day #9.  Irene gave me permission to share her “Boat in Pond” poem.  Follow her blog, listen to her poems and write your own art inspired poem!

Amy Ludwig Vanderwater: The Poem Farm and National Poetry Month 2015-Sing That Poem!
Explore a game called “Sing That Poem” A new poem each day matched to a song. Guess which song and sing along!  Tuesday’s poem will be titled “Librarian’s Song.”
Also, from 2012, Dictionary Hike (I love this!)

Photo by Amy Ludwig Vanderwater

Amy wrote a poem from each letter of the alphabet!

A few more favorite poetry blogs/websites:

• A Year of Reading: PO-EMtions 30 Days 30 Poems —Anger to Zest by Mary Lee Hahn
• Joan Bransfield Graham: Poetry Links, resources and more from Children’s Authors Network
• Miss Rumphius Effect by Tricia Stohr-Hunt: National Poetry Month 2015–Jumping into Form.
• Janet Wong-Poetry Suitcase
• Poetry Plus! The Poetry Friday Anthology for Celebrations Edited by Sylvia Vardell and Janet Wong
• Patrick Lewis (New poetry book, Bigfoot is Missing!)

Check out a few new children’s poetry books: 
Bigfoot is Missing! by J. Patrick Lewis and Kenn Nesbitt, Lullaby and Kisses Sweet: Poems to Love with Your Baby Edited by Lee Bennett Hopkins, Hypnotize a Tiger:  by Calef Brown, How to Draw a Dragon by Douglas Florian by Paul B. Janeczko and Jumping Off Library Shelves Edited by Lee Bennett Hopkins (September 8, 2015)

Children’s Poetry Book Lists:

• Children’s Poet Laureate Books: 2006 – present
• Art and Poetry
• Animal Poetry Party

Past ALSC Poetry Blog posts

Enjoy Amy Ludwig Vanderwater’s poem “Library Book.” 

I love hearing about poetry projects from other librarians.   Please share in the comments below.  Happy National Poetry Month!

Paige Bentley-Flannery is a Community Librarian at Deschutes Public Library. For over fifteen years–from Seattle Art Museum to the New York Public Library to the Deschutes Public Library-Paige’s passion and creative style for art, poetry and literature have been combined with instructing, planning, and providing information. Paige is currently serving on the ALSC Notable Children’s Book Committee, 2015 – 2017. She is a former Chair of the ALSC Digital Content Task Force and member of the ALSC Great Websites Committee.  

The post Poetry Paige appeared first on ALSC Blog.

A new highly interactive early literacy storytime featuring instrument exploration, songs, fingerplays, dance and books for ages 3 and up.

Chandra and Sheila playing the drums.
photo by Paige Bentley-Flannery

Created by Community Librarians Sheila Grier and Chandra vanEijinsbergen, Music, Movement, and Stories (MnMS for short) is one of my favorite new children’s programs for ages 3-5 at Deschutes Public Library.  The music cd’s, books, and musical instruments circulate between all six branches.  The program includes two stories and lots of dancing, singing and playing musical instruments.

I joined Sheila and Chandra in our Early Learning Space at the Downtown Bend Library and we made some noise!   We talked about the most asked about questions and shared favorite books and ideas.

How did MnMS start?

“Music Movement and Stories started when I began to read about doing a music program at our library and wondered why most music programs at libraries do not include the great books we have about music, dancing or sing-along books.  We can feature these books along with our cd collection,” says Sheila.

Do you use a different theme each week?  (scarves flying around…)

Chandra vanEijinsbergen, Community Librarian
photo by Paige Bentley-Flannery

Chandra VanEijinsbergen says, “Some of the librarians do.  Like with regular story time, I like the idea of using themes in MnMS.   Some themes came together naturally, for example farms.  Easy to find both books and songs about farms and farm animals.   Food was more difficult- books were easy and songs to use with shakers or musical instruments, were sort of easy.”

When do you offer MnMS?

“We do MnMS on a different day than our regular story times, Baby Steps, Toddlin Tales and Preschool Parade,” says Sheila

 What is your story time structure?

• Welcoming/Hello song
• Listening song
• Two movement songs
• Story (book or felt board)
• Two musical prop songs – ribbons, scarves, bean bags, hoops, etc.
• Story (book or felt board)
• Two musical instrument songs
• Goodbye song

Ideas for handing out and getting materials back?

“Sing a song”, says Sheila.  For example, Kathy Reid-Naiman’s “I’m Passing Out the Sticks” & “Time to Put Away”.  “Talk about the instrument or prop as you are handing them out.  Put a container in the middle of the room, they will happily return items.”

Any great tips to share?

Sheila Grier, Community Librarian
photo by Paige Bentley-Flannery

Sheila’s tip:  Telling the parents that it’s ok to look silly and dance it’s a must, their child, grandchild will think they are wonderful and mimic what the adult is doing.  I love seeing the dads and grandpas dancing.

Chandra’s tip:  Remove chairs from the story time space.  This encourages caregivers to sit and participate with their child.  If you have a smaller group, sitting in a circle is nice.

Paige’s tip:  Take over the whole story time room.  Wiggle, shake, shimmy, jump and march across the room backwards.

Thank you Sheila and Chandra!  Check out their recommended books and music below!

 Traditional Song Picture Books

• Down by the Station by Will Hillenbrand
• Hush Little Baby by Sylvia Long
• Old MacDonald by Jessica Souihami
• On Top of Spaghetti by Paul Johnson
• Over in the Meadow by Jill McDonald
• Pete the Cat Wheels on the Bus by James Dean
• Ten in the Den by John Butler
• Twinkle Twinkle Little Star by Sylvia Long

By Jane Cabrera

• Twinkle Twinkle Little Star
• Here We Go Round the Mulberry Bush
• Row Row Row Your Boat
• If You’re Happy and You Know It
• Ten in the Bed
• Wheels on the Bus

by Iza Trapani

• Baa Baa Black Sheep
• The Bear Went over the Mountain
• Here we Go Round the Mulberry Bush
• How Much is that Doggy in the Window
• Itsy Bitsy Spider  *
• I’m a Little Tea Pot
• Row Row Row Your Boat
• Shoo Fly
• Twinkle Twinkle Little Star

MnMns
Photo by Tina D.

Scarves or Ribbons

• Wiggle Song by Dragon Tales from Dragon Tales-
• Freeze by Michael Plunkett from Shakin the Chute
• Fast Slow by Laura Berkner from the Best of
• Parachute (or ribbons)
• Got the Wiggles by Michael Plunkett from Ribbons and Rhythms
• Long Ribbons by Michael Plunkett from Ribbons and Rhythms
• Shake Your Reader Ribbons by Pam Schiller  from Leaping Literacy
• Ribbon Dance by Michael Plunkett from Rhyme and Rhyme movement

Bean Bags

• Beanie Bag Dance by Greg and Steve  from Kids in Action
• Bean Bag Boogie by Learning Station from Me and My Bean Bag
• Bean Bag Rock by Georgiana Stewart from Action Songs for Preschoolers
• The Bean Bag by Hap Palmer from Can a Jumbo Jet Sing the Alphabet

Dancing/Movement Stories

• Baby Danced the Polka by Karen Beaumont
• Croaky Pokey by Ethan Long
• Dance with me by Charles Smith Jr.
• Dancing Feet or Farmyard Beat by Linda Craig
• Dancing in my Bones by Sylvia Andrews
• Down by the Cool of the Pool by Tony Mitton
• Hilda Must be Dancing by Karma Wilson

Listening and Free Dance Songs 

• Wiggle Walk by Georgiana Stewart from Toddlerific
• Jump Jump by Lolly Hollywood from Go! Go! Go!
• March Around by Lolly Hollywood from Go! Go! Go!
• Put Your Little Foot by Carole Peterson from Dancing Feet
• My Energy by Laura Berkner from Under a Shady Tree
• Jump Up by from Imagination Movers
• The Wiggle Song by Carole Peterson from Sticky Bubblegum
• Rock and Roll Freeze Dance by Hap Palmer from So Big
• Clap Your Hands by Singalong Kidz from Singalong Kidz
• Parachute (or ribbons)
• Clap Your Hands by Kathy Reid Naiman from Preschool Songs 1
• Walking Walking by Ann Marie Akin from Songs for Wiggleworms
• Put Your Finger On by Parachute Express from Feel the Music
• Stretch!  by Dragon Tales  from Dragon Tales
• Clap Clap Clap Your Hands by Carole Peterson from Sticky Bubble Gum
• Statues by Georgiana Stewart from Action Songs for Preschoolers
• Hands are for Clapping by Jim Gill from Jim Gill Sings the Sneezing Song and other contagious tunes
• Twist Stop Hop by Ronno from Jump Start Action Songs
• I Can Do It by Patty Shukla from I Can Do It
• Say & Rhyme by Pam Schiller from Leaping Literacy
• I Can Dance by Ronno from Jump Start Action Songs
• Spaghetti Legs by Jim Gill  from Jim Gill Sings the Sneezing Song and other contagious tunes
• Warm Up Time by Georgiana Stewart from Action Songs for Preschools
• The Freeze by Steve and Greg from We All Live Together
• The Airplane Song by Laura Berkner from Whaddya Think of That
• I have a little scarf by Eine Kleine NachtMusick from Moving with Mozart
• Dancing Scarf Blues by Carole Peterson from Dancing Feet      

   Bells

• Bell Horses by Kathy Reid Naiman from I Love to Hear the Sounds
• Tideo By Kathy Reid Naiman from More Tickle Tunes
• Oh children ring your bells by Kathy Reid Naiman from I love to hear the Sounds
• Ring them on the Floor by Kathy Reid Naiman from I love to hear the Sounds     

Rhythm Sticks

•  Nursery Rhyme Tap  by Pam Schiller from Leaping Literacy
• Tap your Sticks By Hap Palmer from Rhymes on Parade
• When the Saints Come Marching in by Georgiana Stewart from Rhythm Sticks Rock
• Sticks on the Move by Georgiana Stewart from Rhythm Sticks Rock
• Rhythm Stick March  by Michael Plunkett from Rhythm Stick Rap and Tap
• Chim, Chimmy Chimpanze By Pam Schiller from  Leaping Literacy

 Shakers

• Milkshake by Anne– Marie Akin from Songs for Wiggleworms
• We’re going to the Market by Kathy Reid-Naiman from I Love to Hear the Sounds
• Shaker Hop by Carole Peterson from Dancing feet        

For more great MnMS recommendations, please email Sheila Grier at [email protected]

Paige Bentley-Flannery is a Community Librarian at Deschutes Public Library. For over fifteen years–from Seattle Art Museum to the New York Public Library to the Deschutes Public Library-Paige’s passion and creative style for art, poetry and literature have been combined with instructing, planning, and providing information. Paige is currently serving on the ALSC Notable Children’s Book Committee, 2015 – 2017. She is a former Chair of the ALSC Digital Content Task Force and member of the ALSC Great Websites Committee.  

The post Music, Movement and Stories appeared first on ALSC Blog.