Flannel Friday--Naptime Chickens

I am SO excited to share this one. Last fall I asked my colleague Tami to share some of her flannels for a presentation I was working on, and she shared her Naptime Chicken with me. IT'S SOOOO CUTE. I finally made my own version, and here it is:

It's a full hand puppet, with a set of finger puppets that attach with velcro. Tami found the pattern online a few years ago, and saved the image, but no amount of Googling or reverse image searching led us to the original source. I'm afraid the blog she found it on was taken down. We searched diligently for the original source, but this is too cute not to share!

“Come little chickens,” calls Mother Hen (beckoning motion)

“It’s time to take your nap again.”

And under her feathers the small chicks creep. (velcro chick onto palm part of hen puppet)

And she clucks a song til they fall asleep (fold fingers to cover chicks, and make rocking motion while clucking a lullaby).

My favorite part about this is clucking the lullaby at the end. I made a Vine to give you the idea, but since there's sound I will link to it instead of embedding it. Check it out here. I love songs and rhymes like this that give us a good opportunity to be silly. I like clucking, "Rock a Bye Baby" or "Brahms Lullaby" for maximum silliness. For some reason, this is one that parents really get into too--score!

Themes: Farm, sleep/night, dinosaurs (closest living relative!), birds, singing. 

I took the liberty of creating a template for this flannel set. If you'd like it, please email me and I will send you a PDF.  My gmail address is opinionsbyanna.

And finally, if you know where this came from originally, please let me know!

This week's Flannel Friday Roundup is hosted by Katie at Storytime Secrets. To participate in upcoming roundups, or just find out what's what, check out the Flannel Friday Blog. 

Elephant & Piggie's EXCELLENT Summer Vacation

Since starting my new job, one of the things I'm most proud of is "Elephant & Piggie's EXCELLENT Summer Vacation," a program I managed to get implemented system-wide.

It started with these guys:

Last year I got a second set for Christmas and, as much as I love E&P,  even I don't need two sets.

This was around the time that that article about the library that was lending out an American Girl doll was going around, and I thought, "What if we had Elephant and Piggie for kids to check out?"

I was really invested in this idea for several reasons:

• The program, while fun, would be tied to books and reading rather than something commercial. E&P don't have a TV show, but they are hugely popular and recognizable BECAUSE OF BOOKS. Hello circ boost.
• The program encouraged families to interact together outside the library--playing, writing, talking, reading, (and yes, even singing!)--and gave them a concrete framework to accomplish those goals while having a LOT OF FUN.
• Beyond initial set-up, the program was basically no work--and you know how I love THAT sort of thing. Stealth programs FTW!

E&P were available for checkout for a about a week at a time (not cataloged). A parent had to be there for checkout (since we did have a replacement fee involved). E&P traveled in a blue drawstring backpack, and came with a special scrapbook that explained the program and had lots of prompts for writing, drawing, and sharing pictures.

The results were impressive. E&P went on first plane rides, and visited California and Niagara Falls. They participated in all sorts of real-life summer fun like family reunions, trips to the cabin, plays, picnics and restaurants (think of all those real-life conversations started by E&P). They met a former MN state Senator in the Skyway, and went swimming A LOT. They read bedtime stories, had dance parties, and played dress-up.

Ziplock baggie: #LOLForever

This program completely surpassed my hope for it in terms of at-home learning and PLAY. The level of 'buy-in' from patrons was truly amazing.

Some of my favorite submissions:

"We ate some tasty seaweeed!"
"We read books and snuggled"
"When we got homesick, we visited the Little Free Library"
"Piggie slept in a special place (hand-drawn picture of an exersaucer)."
"Grampa and I read a book to them. It was about them! I read the pink words and Grampa read the grey words"

You Are My Baby: Farm by Lorena Siminovich

Have you seen this book?

You Are My Baby: Farm by Lorena Siminovich

When I ordered this book I failed to notice this amazingly ADORABLE design feature:



It's a tiny book! Within the book! You can mix and match the animals and their babies! I need a lot of exclamation points to express my excitement! I was completely squee over this when it came in at the library.

This is great conceptual design (whether it is sturdy design is another question, but it seems like it will hold up as well as a touch-and-feel book/better than a lift-the-flap or popup). The format of the book reinforces the concept of the book, and both work together in perfect harmony. This is what good design is all about, people.

I reviewed Siminovich's picture book, "Monkey See Look at Me" last year, and while I ultimately recommended it, I was not blown away by the text/plot of the book despite my love for the illustrations.  Her art is really fantastic; full of soft lines, bright harmonious colors, and rich with patterns without becoming busy or visually assaulting. That was a hard book for me to review, so it's wonderful to see something so knock-it-out-of-the-park successful from this talented artist.

This book is making me EVEN SADDER that I don't have a baby storytime, and that's very sad.

There's also a Safari version:

You are My Baby: Safari by Lorena Siminovich

 

Now We are Eight

My husband and I have a very strict gift tradition for the eighth birthday of our nieces and nephews. We fill a mailing tube with candy and a few trinkets--but mostly candy--decorate it and mail it out.

An.Entire.Mailing.Tube...Full.of.candy.

Take a moment and consider the impact that would have made on you at age eight. Something like this or this. And for those of you who relate better to cats than humans: this

When my husband and I were first getting to know each other, I started to notice that a suspicious amount of his childhood stories started with, "When I was eight..." This quickly became an inside joke for us--man, a lot sure happened when you were eight! How old were you when that happened? Eight? Eight was a big year!

I have a memory from my childhood about being eight that stands out very clearly in my mind though I wasn't eight when it happened. While walking with my cousin Katie, my cousin Shawn rode past on his bike and did that thing where he slammed on the brakes and kind of slid around so that by the time he stopped he had swung around to face us. I was SO IMPRESSED by his mad bike-riding skillz. I asked Katie how old he was and she said he was eight. Eight! I was in awe of eight. I couldn't WAIT to be that big and be able to do all the things an eight year old can do. Why did that moment have such an impact on me? I have no idea, but since Shawn is almost four years older than me, it is one of my earliest memories.

I have so many indelible childhood memories like that, though most of them I can't put a date to so precisely. I love hearing other people's stories from childhood, and sorting through those moments that manage to stand out amid the hazy blur of memories we carry into adulthood.

One of the things I love about my job is that I can often see that I'm part of making those standout moments in kids' lives. We forget so so so much of what happens to us when we're young. Our childhood memories are strange and random and unpredictable. But as a children's librarian I feel like I get to occupy a special place in the lives of my storytimers. I'm outside their daily life; I don't scold or punish or make them eat their peas. I'm silly and fun and every memory we make together is full of joy. Reading, singing, playing. I see it in their eyes when they see me outside of storytime, I hear it in the stories parents tell me about their children "playing storytime" at home. And I have no doubt that we're making memories that will stick.  Someday when they are adults they'll talk about that one time at the library--probably when they were eight.

Library Love--Get Outside your Bubble

My favorite Valentine was a letter from a Storytimer at my old library

I am feeling the library love today! It's so wonderful to visit other libraries and get ideas, insight and just experience something different. I highly recommend making the effort to get out of your bubble and visiting libraries outside your system.

Yesterday I took a trip to visit Marge (Tiny Tips for Library Fun) and Sara (Bryce Don't Play)* at their library a few hours away. It was awesome to get a behind-the-scenes look at all the cool things they're doing at their library. It's always so refreshing to talk to Marge--five minutes talking to her can literally change my whole outlook on something.

Sara and I are presenting together this April with Anne (So Tomorrow), so part of the purpose of my trip was to get some work done on our presentation,** but I also got to sit in on one of Sara's fantastic Elementary-age programs (I warned her I would be creepin' on her, so it wasn't like this***).

I totally admire Sara's talent for school-aged programming, and she's planning to blog about the program I attended, "Wild Record Wednesdays." It was another great, simple program idea that WORKS. But more than the program idea, I really appreciated the ability to see how she runs her programs. From when to call a no-show (which it looked like at first), to dealing with non-ideal behavior, to seeing her style of interacting with the kids and conducting the program, it made me feel really invigorated to actually *see* someone else doing what I do and how she does it.

Today I stopped by the library closest to my house, which is in a different system from the library where I work. I just spent about ten minutes strolling around and looking at how they do things. What kinds of displays do they have? How are they communicating with their patrons? What kinds of programs are they doing? In this case it was really interesting because I could see different ways this library was implementing the same programs that my library does since we're in the same consortium.

It's definitely worth the effort to get out and see and celebrate what others are doing.

Superfluous cute story:

My favorite moment was walking past an early literacy installation, which happened to be a bus complete with a steering wheel, the little girl 'driving' the bus invited me to, "Hop in!" Being a good children's librarian, I naturally complied. When I asked where we were going she said, "To college." There was an interactive magnetic map inside the bus, and a little boy came up and started arranging our route. He informed me very seriously that if we were good at the bank, hospital, church, and post office THEN we could go to the park. You're never off the clock if you work with kids!

*pro-tip: her blog title is a lie--she's totally fun

**After Anne read the work we did on the outline she tweeted this gem: "When you plan a conference presentation with @opinionsbyanna and @PLSanders, the outline specifies where GIFs will go. #themoreyouknow

***or was it?

All kinds of Impact

One of the huge outreach programs that my library does is the Kindergarten Party. Basically we visit every Kindergarten in the county and send home library card applications. Every application that is returned equals an invitation for that child to attend the Kindergarten Party where, with great pomp and circumstance, we present them with their very own library card (among other fun things for them to do that day at the library).

I personally presented to a total of about 250 kids during November to promote the program. Most of the classes were strapped for time so we sang one silly song, read Bark, George by Feiffer, and then I told them about the party.

In one class, after we finished and I was packing up my stuff there was one little boy at the back of the room who was sitting criss-cross with his hands clasped in his lap. "I just really want to tell you a secret," he said to me, agonized. "Sure, come on up." I said, and bent over to his level. After he carefully and fastidiously parted my hair so that there was nothing in front of my ear, he whispered with great intensity, "I just love you SO MUCH."*

_________

This month, my coworker was doing a search for a young boy. When she asked for his card, his dad joked, "We'll be back in three weeks then." I knew that the Kindergarten party was three weeks away, so I asked the boy if he was going to attend. He looked at me in that super-suspicious way that kids do when they suspect adults are messing with them. "How did you know that?" I said, "It was probably me who visited your class and told you about the party, what school do you go to?" After he told me what school and I knew that it was I who had visited I said, "Yeah! It was me who came to your class--don't you remember when we read Bark, George?" Friends, his whole face just lit up as soon as I mentioned Bark, George. "I know you!" he said with a huge grin.

_________

I believe I made a difference in those kids' lives, however briefly.  I believe that Jules Feiffer himself would have been proud of how I hammed up the reading of his book. I believe that that book will have a special place in many of those kids' hearts from now on. I believe in what we do.

*And then I melted into a puddle of goo on the floor.

Library Picnic

I've been working really hard to revamp the play area since I started at my new library (there was almost a full year with no children's librarian at my branch). 

Sometimes you just don't know if what you do makes a difference or has an effect. So it's unbelievably awesome to come across a scene like this: 

And a half hour later when I came by again? Everything was neatly put away where it belonged. 

So worth it.

Convincing Reasons to Never Leave Your Job

 From the adorable beyond words file, I received this in the mail today:

As many of you know and others may suspect, I left my job at the end of September. My husband got a transfer with his job, and we are excited to be back in the place where we consider home. As happy as we were personally, it was a difficult time for me, leaving my library and all the relationships I had there. I am beyond lucky to already have a job as a Children's Librarian in our new place, but things have been crazy busy with the move and re-settling. Everything--and I mean everything--is new and different and unsettled right now. But it's getting better.

As it happens I DO have a nose piercing.

I am also known for wearing heels

I'm so thankful for the time I spent at my old job, and so humbled by the impact that I had on all my my little people there. I am sorry to have left them, but I'm totally looking forward to writing some sticker-filled letters very soon!

xoxo,
Ms. Anna

posted from Bloggeroid

Storytime Power

I give out hand stamps at storytime, and when kids stop by to see me in my office. They are VERY IMPORTANT to my kids.

During most of the T-ball season, L had a temporary tattoo of a dragon which he credited with his fast running. Last night he didn't have it, and Coach H. asked him if he'd be slow since he didn't have his dragon. He said, "No! I've got a new one!" and he showed off the SLP "READ" stamp that I had given him. Coach H (who is a regular ST parent) asked if L got the stamp at storytime. L said yes, and that he'd run super fast with storytime power! And he did indeed run super fast to first base after his hit, fueled by storytime power.

Storytime Power!

An Exercise in Futility

At the Head Start Center

I walk in. At first, I am unnoticed.
Then one child inevitably looks up, and recognition slowly dawns. That child proceeds to lose his/her ever-loving mind and starts shrieking, "The Library! The Library is here!" Soon there is a chorus of children yelling, "Hi Library!" and running around the room like I am a shot of espresso they've just mainlined.

Me: "Hi Friends! Does anyone remember my name?"

Them: "The LIBRARY!!!!!!!1!!!"

Me: "I work at the library. But my name is Ms. Anna. What's my name?"

Them: *blank stares* "...LIBRARY!!!!!!!!!!11!!!OMGBBQ!!!!!!!!"

fin.

Keepin' It Real with the Kiddos

I had another Teddy Bear Sleepover this past week, and did a "Cat Mouse Dog" theme. We read Kitten's First Full Moon by Henkes, Bark, George by Pfeffer, and Mouse Count by Walsh. We acted out Mouse Count with the props I made previously, and it was great. I always read the first part of the book, then switch over to the props when it's time for the snake to enter and find the jar.

When I held up the book I said, "This book is called Mouse Count. What do you think it will be about?"

"Mouse!" No, Mice!"

"Yes," I replied and pointed to the cover, "Here are some mice. Who else do you think will be in the story?"

"BROCCOLI!"

Kids are so amazing.

Milk Carton Igloo!

So cute I have to share!

The 4K class that I visit twice per month made this amazing igloo in their classroom out of milk jugs! Today I had storytime there and I stopped by their room afterwards to see the igloo. Being a lover of tiny hidden places I, of course, crawled inside--much to the starstruck delight of the three littles already in there. The girl said to one of the boys, "The library is in here!" and then they all giggled. When I asked them a question, they all giggled like they were talking to a celebrity and were too shy to answer. Way to make a fairly cranky day more delightful, kids.

What a cool project (no pun intended)--and they incorporated the project into math, science, and social studies as well. Bravo to those teachers.

http://www.antigo.k12.wi.us/

Teddy Bear Sleepover Pictures

Just had to share a few shots of the fun we had at the Teddy Bear Sleepover. Yesterday I posted what we did in storytime for this event. After storytime for the craft, each of the kids drew a picture of his/her stuffed animal on a piece of regular sized blank paper. They also filled in their Teddy's name, age, favorite color, and favorite book.

Then they said good night and tucked their teddies in.

Tucked In

After all the kids were gone, my student worker and I took pictures of the animals frolicking all around the library. We had a great time :)

Once I had all the pictures, I put together two 'scrapbook pages' with captions. One page was the same for all the animals, and the second page I customized with pictures highlighting the animal whose book it would be. I took the really large construction paper--12x18?--and folded that in half. On the front I taped the page the kids filled out with the drawings of their animals,  and on the inside I taped the two 'scrapbook' pages full of pictures. When the kids came in the next day to retrieve their friends, they got a memory book with pictures of what happened while they were away. It was a smashing success and I can't wait for the next one!

Snack Time

Ooh, the Book Drop!

Shelving Cart Races

Taking over the Library Van

Overheard in Storytime

Man, just when I think storytime kids can't get cuter I find out from two unrelated adults that the kids they bring to storytime love to play storytime at home and take turns being Miss Anna (and yes, one of them is a boy).

Overheard in Storytime

Reading Grumpy Bird, which has a variety of woodland animals, and identifying the different creatures. There was a beaver, and I identified it as such, which prompted one little boy to correct me vehemently, "No, it's called a JUSTIN Beaver."