With schools emphasizing STEM activities for children to meet curriculum goals for standardized testing, nurturing children’s artistic creativity is often given short shrift. Kirker’s fun resource aims to restore the balance, offering more than two dozen projects that will spark children’s interest in art and encourage creativity, collaboration, and critical thinking. Designed for kids aged 5-10, and flexible enough to use in either storytimes or classroom settings, the projects here introduce children to a variety of art techniques, from gouache and watercolor to collage and papermaking, using a curated selection of quality picture books; provide detailed directions for guiding children to experiment with these techniques to create their own projects; and include materials lists adaptable for any budget, capsule biographies of the picture books’ illustrators, programming tips, and links to additional resources. Kirker’s inventive projects will help library staff and educators reinforce learning, encourage experimentation, and build an appreciation for art and the creative process.

This time-saving program planner for librarians and classroom teachers alike includes everything you need to get started- reading lists, flannelboard patterns, poems, songs, easy crafts, even take-home activities to extend the learning process. The many creative ideas packed inside include - Activities keyed to popular classroom themes, with one chapter for each week of the school year - Lessons that reinforce skills in key learning areas such as reading, writing, and math - American Sign Language and Spanish language activities that make diversity awareness a part of children's learning - Teachable concepts that can be mixed and rearranged for maximum flexibility, complementing classroom schedules Both veterans and novices will find plenty to help make kindergarten days richer, more rewarding, and more fun.

Storytime audiences grow ever more diverse, and it's important that the materials used in programs reflect that richness of experience. Multiculturalism need not be an occasional initiative attached to particular holidays. In this book best-selling authors MacMillan and Kirker offer a new paradigm for multicultural programs, one in which diversity is woven into any and every storytime, no matter what the topic. Arranged thematically around dozens of popular storytime themes, the authors Present original and traditional resources from all over the world that will enrich storytimes for ages 2 through 5 Offer concrete book recommendations, fingerplays, and other activities that can be integrated into existing storytimes Include download links for flannelboard and stick puppet patterns, and illustrations of American Sign Language signs With numerous activities and programming suggestions, this book will seamlessly integrate and enhance cultural awareness for children all year round.

Whether you've been presenting baby story times for fifteen years or fifteen minutes, you probably already know that the first five years of life are key for brain development and early literacy. Many public libraries have instituted baby and toddler programs, but finding exciting materials for baby story time that go beyond nursery rhymes can be a challenge. Baby Storytime Magic is a treasure trove of new and exciting ideas for programs, all of which revolve around themes from a baby's world. Inside this resource you'll find Finger plays, bounces, flannel boards, activities with props, songs, American Sign Language activities, and more, with items arranged by type of material Tips for planning story times, with advice on logistical issues such as age grouping, scheduling, formats, and physical setup Guidance on involving caregivers in baby story times, including suggested scripts for explaining the benefits of each activity and how to use it at home Age-appropriate book recommendations Information on the stages of early childhood development, plus an appendix of recommended additional resources A thematic index to find the right story time quickly Links to full-sized, downloadable flannel board patterns, craft patterns, and worksheets Packed with ready-to-use activities, reducing prep time substantially, this book is a valuable early literacy tool for every children's librarian.

Though the daily news is filled with reports of climate change, severe weather, environmental distress, and endangered species, children's librarians and educators might be uncertain how to incorporate these topics into their current curriculum. This handy resource offers an ideal solution, presenting more than two dozen ready-to-use projects on environmental topics that can be integrated into K-5 educational lesson plans and library programming for children aged 4-10. Starting with a representative picture book as a foundation, children are guided through each topic using a hands-on project that reinforces learning. Whether they're in the classroom or library, kids will feel excited and engaged as they explore such topics as honeybees, loggerhead turtles, mountain gorillas, polar bears, and other animals; environments like coral reefs, estuaries, and the Galapagos Islands; wildfires, hurricanes, and tornadoes; composting, gardens, seeds, and the farm to table movement; and garbage, recycling, renewable energy, water conservation, and Earth Day. Complete with detailed information about each topic, including sections that explore interesting related facts, this book will activate children's curiosity and appreciation for the world we live in.