Category: Storytimes

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Storytime Manual now available from Saroj Ghoting

Such exciting news from Saroj Ghoting: 

Hi One and all,  Please excuse cross postings–

I am happy to share with you a Storytime Manual developed for East Albemarle (NC) Regional Library System, through funding of an IMLS grant. You are welcome to use it under the Creative Commons License #4A.   http://www.earlylit.net/s/EARLSStorytimeManual.pdf

I am grateful to Laura Salmons, the Assistant Director of EARLS, the project contact and facilitator, as well as to Jonathan Wark, EARLS Director. The children’s specialists at branches of the EARLS libraries were instrumental in offering direction as well as content. You will see that, while some of the information is generally applicable, there are also notations for local resources and perspectives.

I am grateful to CiKeithia Pugh, Early Learning Program Manager, Seattle (WA) Public Library and to Jessica Bratt, Youth Services Manager, Grand Rapids (MI) Public Library for their resources and input regarding issues of equity, diversity, and inclusion.

This Manual is meant to be used as part of a “kit” that includes some print and online resources:
Books:
1.Storytimes for Everyone! Developing Young Children’s Language and Literacy by Saroj Ghoting and Pamela Martin-Diaz. ALA. 2013
2.STEP into Storytime: Using StoryTime Effective Practice to Strengthen the Development of Newborns to Five-Year-Olds by Saroj Ghoting and Kathy Klatt. ALA, 2014.
3.Supercharged Storytimes: An Early Literacy Planning and Assessment Guide by Kathleen Campana, J. Elizabeth Mills, and Saroj Ghoting. ALA. 2016
4.Baby Rhyming Time by Linda Ernst. Neal-Schuman, 2008.
5.Mother Goose on the Loose Updated by Betsy Diamant-Cohen. ALA. 2019.

Websites:
1. WebJunction Supercharged Storytimes Self-Paced course  https://learn.webjunction.org/course/view.php?id=394

2. New York Public Library Raising the Bar Training  https://nypl.teachable.com/courses

And of course Jbrary is noted numerous times for great demonstrations and thoughtful advice. Thank you Lindsay Krabbenhoft and Dana Horrocks!

This Manual is a culmination not only of my own experiences being a front-line storytime provider, but also of the wonderful ideas and perspectives I have learned from my colleagues and participants in my in-person and online trainings over the years.

I hope that you will find some valuable information and a structure to help all who wish to do storytimes.

Saroj

Saroj Ghoting

88 South Turnpike Road

Newfoundland, PA  18445

570-676-8613 landline

540-250-7413 cell

www.earlylit.net

sghoting@gmail.com

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Resources for still engaging with families during a pandemic:

Library Storytimes during COVID-19 – a Different Kind of Connection
Saroj Ghoting with Brooke Doyle and Betha Gutsche / 05 May 2020
Library Storytimes during COVID-19 – Connecting with Families
Saroj Ghoting with Brooke Doyle and Betha Gutsche / 14 May 2020
Getting Started with Virtual Storytimes
Tuesday, June 16, 2020 ◆ 3:00 pm Eastern / 12:00 pm Pacific ◆ 90 minutes
Registration: https://www.webjunction.org/events/webjunction/getting-started-with-virtual-storytimes.html
Many libraries are moving their storytimes online, to be able to engage with families during times of social distancing. If you want to launch virtual storytimes at your library, but don’t know where to start, this webinar is for you! This comprehensive introduction to virtual storytimes will include book selection and copyright, technology and social media tools, strategies for accessibility and inclusion, early literacy activities, and ideas for promotion. Learn lessons on how to create a dynamic and engaging online presence and building a rapport with your virtual audience.
Presenter: Renee Grassi, Youth Services Manager, Dakota County Library (MN)

CSLP Re-imagining your summer library programs and more Newsletter

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What if someone challenges this picture book?

Last week the 2019 Ladybug Award nominee titles were announced. The list consist of ten books where illustration and text work together to form an interactive method of conveying some great big ideas. It is a diverse list with fun animals and stories that have us looking into what life is like in other parts of the world.

Julian is a Mermaid by Jessica Love is a beautiful book that challenges society’s idea of how a boy should look and act. Recently a librarian asked about possible challenges to this book being used specifically in a school setting. In response to that concern:

When planning to use book award nominee titles in your school or story times, having administrator buy-in is important. Presenting the titles to administrators, trustees, staff and other teachers before using them in lessons is a great way for everyone to be familiar with the books and help you to think of connections. In addition, be prepared. Know your book challenge policies. Have the appropriate forms for reconsideration available. Here is the intellectual freedom brochure from AASL. Creating a culture for open communication is crucial. Remember the way we talk about sensitive topics can make all the difference in others being open to our message.

A school librarian recently gave a good reminder to adults about perspective.  When read to children, a picture book is seen through the eyes of a child. To them it may simply be a book about dressing up in costume. Perhaps like Julian, they may have a loving relationship with their Grandmother or Abuela. It may be a book that gives them permission to dream and express themselves creatively.

I am working on and very excited about the resource sheets for all of the Ladybug Award nominees. They will be released one a week on the NH Center for the Book blog  this summer and a complete guide at the end before the new school year begins. Ladybug Award information can be found Here. I would like to remind everyone about the Youth Services blog as well.

I would also like to suggest We Need Diverse Books. Diverse books promote respect and empathy. Everyone deserves to see themselves in books. Shall we open a book, our hearts and good conversations.

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Blogs for the Busy Librarian

All of you are busy librarians, and I know you can’t spend much time online perusing blogs in search of practical information that would help you do your jobs more effectively.  Today, I took some time and looked for blogs that offered some programming ideas and book reviews for children’s and teen librarians.  Here is what I came up with:

Abby the Librarian–This site includes lots of children’s book reviews as well as a section on storytime themes.

ALSC Blog–I’ve written about this before, but the American Library Services for Children blog is definitely worth another reminder.  Many children’s librarians contribute to this blog and offer good ideas about storytime as well as other aspects of youth services.  Search for the entry “Another Year of Toddler Storytime” with some good tips about rules for behavior management. It will also point you to another good blog Miss Merry Liberry.

GreenBeanTeenQueen–This blog bills itself as “A Teen and Tween Librarian’s thoughts on books, reading and adventures in the library,” but it also offers ideas for younger children’s programming.

The Lupine Librarian–I think this blog will speak to many librarians in NH since it is written by a children’s librarian in a small town in Maine.  It includes book reviews and programming ideas as well as other topics.

Mel’s Desk–This site has links to many storytime sites, many flannelboard postings and lots of content on early literacy programs.

Reading Nook–This is another blog I’ve mentioned previously, but it doesn’t hurt to plug it again, especially as it is written by a NH YA librarian.  It includes lots of great YA book reviews.

Stacked–This is not specifically a youth services library blog, but it does offer many YA reviews as well as some children’s reviews.  Reviews include other formats like audiobooks and graphic novels.

Storytime Land–Visit here for many ideas for storytime.

Youth Services Corner–This blog presents resources for librarians and others who work with tweens and teens. Look here for book reviews, box office previews and links of the week.

Please share any blogs you find useful!

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Dream Big READ Storytime

Are you looking for storytime ideas that tie into the “Dream Big READ” theme?  BayNews  from the Association of Children’s Librarians of Northern California has some ideas for thematic storytimes.  The 11 “night”-related storytimes include book and craft suggestions

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Early Literacy

If you received your packet of summer reading manuals for 2012, I hope you took notice of the Early Literacy Program manual.  The manual helps you develop a thematic summer program for children who are not yet readers, or in some cases, not yet talkers.  In the children’s librarian world, this early literacy focus is one of the hot issues.  Because so many children are in preschool, more families are looking for library programs geared to infants and toddlers.  Libraries can attract this audience during the summer reading program, too.  Most early literacy programs target the parents and caregivers by helping them understand the early literacy skills that children need to acquire before they are ready to learn to read.

If your library wants to reach out to parents and help them with resources for early literacy development, you may want to feature some of the books and activities highlighted on the Pennsylvania Center for the Book.  They offer a series of lists called “Baker’s Dozen,” which represent their top picks of books that promote early literacy.

And, take a look at your Early Literacy Summer Reading manual!  Even if you don’t use it for summer reading, you may find some useful activities that you can use in storytime the rest of the year.

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Storytime Ideas

If you are looking for ideas for storytimes, visit the Perry Public Library’s Storytime Theme page.  This page offers thematic storytimes with suggestions for books, songs, and in many cases, early literacy activities.  There are several winter-themed storytimes, so you can try one out today.