Old MacDonald Had a Truck by Steve Goetz

You know how it goes...
Old MacDonald had a farm E-I-E-I-O and on that farm he had a ...

This is a new take on a classic. The animals are still on the farm, but they take second stage to various construction vehicles and machines.

Thoughts: This is such fun to read. The kids love all machines that appear. I read this pretty quickly to keep up the song rhythm, but it would be nice to go through it again and draw attention to the pictures. Old MacDonald Had a Truck would also be a great choice for taking a picture walk through an easy book. Farm animals + singing + construction = storytime gold!

Themes: Books You Can Sing, Farm, Construction, Things That Go, Races

(Illustrated by Eda Kaban. Chronicle Books, 2016.)

Trolls Party 2020

In anticipation of Trolls World Tour coming to theaters in April, I decided to host Trolls parties in March. Sadly, due to the COVID-19 madness, I only got to host one of the four parties I had planned.

Check out my 2018 party here.

Here's my party agenda:

Play: Trolls Bingo
I bought these Bingo cards from Etsy as I needed at least 30 unique cards. Find them here.

Read: a story from Trolls 5-Minute Stories

Make: Troll Hair Headband
I found this craft for free on Teachers Pay Teachers from Peachie Speechie. Find it here.

Find: Trolls Scavenger Hunt 

I purchased clipart from Etsy as I couldn't find enough variety in the free clipart I could find. Find the clipart I used here.

Take Home: Coloring Sheets & Troll Printable Craft (Find them here and here.) 

Teen Lego Night

Teen still enjoy building with Legos. This was an easy event to host in February when I'm never sure what the weather will be doing.

I took inspiration from the following posts: 

• Makerspace Moments: Creativity and Science with LEGOs (TPiB Lego Challenge Ideas) by Karen Jensen on Teen Librarian Toolbox 
• LEGO Programming for Teens by Brandy Walton on Teen Services Underground 
• LEGO Night for Teens by Jenni Frenchman on Teen Services Underground

Teens completed the following challenges

• 1 Cup Challenge (What can you build with a random cup of Legos? You don't have to use them all, but you can't get anymore.)
• Challenge Cards
• Lego Animal Charades

There were snacks, Legos, and lots of building. 

Frozen Party 2020

On the heels of Frozen 2 premiering in theaters I decided to host another round of Frozen parties at my libraries. 

We started by making paper snowflakes with coffee filters and scissors. The beauty of using coffee filters is that you fold three times and you're ready to go. 

We read An Amazing Snowman by Barbara Jean Hicks. 

We went ice skating indoors on the carpet using wax paper. 

To finish we went on a Frozen Scavenger Hunt. I used free clipart I found here. 

I sent the kids home with Frozen II coloring sheets that I found here. 

I had 187 kids and adults attend five parties. Back in 2014 and 2015, I had 244 attend. Is Frozen less popular now than it was a few years ago? Or are people just busier? 

Holiday Movie Night 2019

After the success of my 2018 Holiday Movie Night, I decided to repeat the experience in 2019.

I picked a movie that was less than an hour long.

We made the same beaded pipe cleaner ornaments with jingle bells that we did in 2018. I still had enough supplies and I couldn't find a craft that was simple enough to match the movie.

We went on a Christmas Green Things Scavenger Hunt in honor of the Grinch. I found the images via various free Christmas clipart on Teachers Pay Teachers.

We had less people attend the movie nights this year...77 compared to 91 in 2018. I'm considering turning the event into a holiday movie matinee this year and having them at 4:00 or 4:30 instead of 6:00.

Teen Paint Night Fall 2019

My teens enjoyed our Galaxy Craft Night so much that they wanted to have another paint night. It's a simple event with a lot of creativity.

I provided canvas, paint, brushes, and other miscellaneous supplies.

I also put out some painting ideas from Step by Step Painting if they need inspiration.

Monster Party 2019

Monsters are one of my favorite storytime themes and this past October I decided to use that them to plan a library party for kids. 

We read a book. I had a couple of options. 

We also did some monster rhymes on the flannel board. See my monsters here and here. 

We made monster stick puppets. I found a template on Teachers Pay Teachers. 

We had an Eyeball on a Spoon Relay Race. I found the idea here.

Of course we had to go on a monster scavenger hunt. I used free clipart I got from The Price of Teachers on Teachers Pay Teachers. 

Winnie-the-Pooh Party 2019

 Another book to movie inspired party for kids that I planned and hosted during the summer last year.

I did a little storytelling from chapter 1 of Winnie-the-Pooh by A. A. Milne using crocheted beehive and bear hand puppets.

Then I read one or two oft he following: Winnie-the-Pooh’s ABC,  Winnie-the-Pooh’s Colors,  or Winnie-the-Pooh’s Opposites.

We made Pooh puppets that came from a Pooh Party Kit from the publisher.

We did some Winnie-the-Pooh Exercise.

We had two games: Pin the Tail on Eeyore and a scavenger hunt of hunny pots, characters, and bees.

The kids took home some coloring sheets. Find them here and here.

This party was easy to plan using my own formula (read, make, play, and hunt). The kids enjoyed themselves and it went smoothly.

Night Animals Need Sleep Too by Gianna Marino

Nocturnal animals sleep during the day. This can be a problem as it's often bright in the daytime. Will Possum and Skunk ever find a good place to sleep?

Thoughts: Too funny! This will be a great addition to my nocturnal animals storytime. I love that all the talking occurs in speech bubbles. I also like that each possible place to sleep adds another animal to the group. The illustrations are colorful and realistic. I like the lack of outlines.

Themes: Nocturnal Animals, Sleep, Forest Animals

(Viking, 2020.)

Night Animals by Gianna Marino

Possum is hiding from night animals when Skunk comes along. It's not long before they're joined by Wolf and Bear. Everyone is scared of night animals, but should they be?

Thoughts: Too funny! I see a nocturnal animals storytime in my future. I think even first and second grade kids would enjoy the subtle humor in this book. I like the speech bubbles. This would adapt easily into a reader's theater script.

Themes: Nocturnal Animals, Forest Animals

(Viking, 2015.)

Up on Bob by Mary Sullivan

Bob the dachshund has important work to do. He clears the bed, clears the nightstand, and basically wrecks the whole bedroom. But now he can nap all day. Or can he? Someone is watching him.

Thoughts: Too funny! This will be a great storytime book. The illustrations are great. I especially like Bob's and the cat's expressions. My favorite illustrations are hard work (for the cat) and perfect (cat cuddled up to Bob). Up on Bob has inspired me to plan a cats and dogs storytime using books that feature both at the same time.

Themes: Cats, Dogs, Cats & Dogs, Pets, Friends

(Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2020.)

Swim Swim Sink by Jenn Harney

Three new ducklings. One can't swim. What's a duck to do?

Thoughts: So much fun! The ending is a great surprise. This book begs to be read aloud. I may use it for my spring storytime later this month. The illustrations are colorful and engaging. I love the worm. I also love the mad duck face when the duck sinks.

Themes: Ducks, Spring, Swimming, Pirates

(Disney Hyperion, 2020.)

The Button Book by Sally Nicholls

Buttons to press are everywhere. What happens when you press one?

Thoughts: I can't wait to use this book in storytime. The opportunities to make it interactive are too good to pass up. The Button Book is filled with beeping, clapping, singing, raspberry blowing, bouncing, hugging, and tickling. The illustrations are colorful and fun. I especially like all the animals. This would pair well with The Good for Nothing Button by Charise Mericle Harper & Mo Willems and Don't Push the Button by Bill Cotter. 

Themes: Press the Button, Interactive, Animals 

(Illustrated by Bethan Woollvin. Tundra, 2019.)