By Jan
Pease
I’m trying something different at story times this
fall. We are repeating books. Friday Story Hour is finishing our
exploration of Leaf Man, by Lois Ehlert. Our crafts have included water color leaves,
dressing people in leaves, and finally we will make leaf creatures. Toddler Time, on Wednesdays, is reading It Looked Like Spilt Milk, by Charles G. Shaw. In both story times, the children seem to be
responding more and more to the familiar books, and there has been more interaction. I love to watch young children use their
words.
creatures.
I purchased a book by Betsy Diamant-Cohen and Melanie A.
Hetrick, Transforming Preschool Storytime. I also attended a workshop on this idea at
Camp Read-a-Lot in August. The workshop presenters, and the book both recommended
repetition of stories for preschoolers.
I was skeptical, but I’m trying it.
Another workshop presenter, and the book, also both suggested using a
puppet at story times. Again, I was skeptical, but decided to try. So a
raccoon that hides in a little garbage can now lives at the library. His name seems to be Ricky, he just whispers
in my ear because he doesn’t talk out loud, and the children love him. They say, “He’s a puppet,” but they want to
shake his paw or say goodbye. So cute!
Beth Cronk asked me to put on a different hat this
week. She needed to be in two places at
the same time, so she asked me to attend the Friends of the Litchfield Library
meeting. It was my privilege to sit with
these wonderful people as they discussed their concerns and the work they do
for the library.
I’m so grateful that they support children’s programming,
especially the Summer Reading Program. The incentives and books that we gave away
were all supplied by the Friends of the Library. They have also acted as the fiscal agent for
Born to Read which benefits young children in our area from birth to age five.
The local friends group is able to support programming,
in part, because of their monthly book sale.
If you step into
our delivery area, you will see books for the sale that are arranged like a
separate little library. If you’re
interested in helping with the book sale, let Beth Cronk know.
Jeanette Stottrup,
former head librarian, is now the president of the group. She is full of great ideas . She and the other members of the group have
decided that it’s time to attract new members to the group, which is a good
place to meet other people who love books and libraries. It’s also an organization that gives back to
the community by helping support the public library. Men are welcome too!
I’d also like to thank Hannah
and Lori from Early Childhood Family Education.
They are helping me at the Friday story times, giving me some extra
hands. Laurie did the bulletin board in
the children’s area, and she is incredible at craft and clean up time. They say this collaboration is fun for them,
and it’s helpful for me. See you at the
library!
