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- Description
- Table of Contents
- About the authors
Presenting a positively practical approach, this book's sensible silliness empowers "storytimers" to embrace opportunities, quash self-doubt, quiet disruptive behavior, and quell safety issues to provide authentic storytimes that genuinely connect with children and their families.
Early literacy — work with children aged five and under — isn’t about teaching kids to read. It’s about helping them see the value in reading by exploring the world of books. We’re feeding brains of hungry little caterpillars so they can fly twice as high when they emerge as readers. This foundational work sets children up for a lifetime love of learning, literacy, and library use. And as practitioners know first-hand, it isn’t always easy. How do you make magic while navigating challenges like personal inexperience, strained resources, and caregivers with different ideas? In this comprehensive guide, four seasoned storytimers write the book they wish they’d had in hand when they started. Sharing a bounty of whimsical wisdom, tips, and tools, their approach will guide you towards storytimes that are both authentic and actually fun. With this book’s help, you will
- learn to prioritize connection over perfection so you can focus on little ones and their caregivers having a good time — library joy is contagious;
- find out why the best storytime structures are flexible, responsive, incorporate routine, and include built-in breaks between books;
- embrace radical kindness to yourself and your attendees;
- gain guidance on making successful storytime reading selections, with lots of recommended books for inspiration;
- procure pointers for using props and puppets to provide visual cues;
- jumpstart your use of songs and action rhymes to engage little minds and support the bonds between child and caregiver, no matter your musical abilities;
- understand how to use inclusive language and behaviors to best serve your communities;
- cultivate healthy and productive interactions with adults and caregivers, and maintain professionalism even when things don’t go as planned;
- proactively develop a plan to ensure you follow your library’s policies and procedures;
- embrace a solidarity approach to early literacy through insights from storytime superstars Mr. Billy, Beth Ferry, Little Miss Ann (Ann Toralba), Heidi Rabinowitz, Ryan Dowd, Rose Lani, Sheridan Cesarez, Aya Khalil, Loryn Brantz, and Mychal Threets; and
- use streamlined aids such as “Quick Facts” summaries, planning worksheets, “Myth vs. Fact” text boxes, and other clear and consistent chapter components for to-the-point guidance.
Acknowledgments
Preface: Creative Collaboration
Chapter 1: The Value of Storytime: If You’re Silly and You Know It
Chapter 2: The Shape of Storytime: Play and Read by Number
Chapter 3: Finding Your Place in the Circle: Twinkle, Twinkle, You’re a Star
Chapter 4: Choosing Books for Storytime: If You Read a Child a Book
Chapter 5: Choosing Songs for Storytime: Wiggle Our Waggles My Way
Chapter 6: Structuring Your Storytime: The Little Library Worker That Could
Chapter 7: Talking and Transitions: Where the Storytime Ends
Chapter 8: Practical Considerations: Preventing No Good or Very Bad Days
Chapter 9: Adults at Storytime: The Day the Caregivers Quit
Chapter 10: Practice Makes Progress: The Chronicles of Stamina
Conclusion: The Message at the End of This Book
About the Authors