Spring is here! Or around the corner if you’re like us and live somewhere where the skies are still filled with rain clouds. But sunny weather is ahead and with it brings our Spring 2018 YAACING column. This quarter we wrote about picture books that work great as felt stories. Don’t forget to check out the complete issue of YAACING, our provincial youth services newsletter filled with ideas for children and teen library staff. Want to catch up our column? Browse through the We’ll Link to That category on our Professional Development page. Now on to the post!
Are you getting tired of your tried and true felt story collection? Nothing rejuvenates a storytime quite like a freshly cut flannel! We’ve collected some new, or new-to-us stories which positively lend themselves to the felt board, now it’s up to you to bring them to life!
Stack the Cats by Susie Ghahremani
Trying to add more STEM elements to storytime? This cat themed counting book is perfect! The Lego Librarian has a version that looks identical to the book and includes a step-by-step guide to turning books into felts. Addition never looked so good.
Tickle Monster by Edouard Manceau
French author Manceau is a genius when it comes to shapes. Transform a monster into a friendly neighbourhood scene in this interactive felt story. We shared this one on Flannel Friday and the early literacy messages that go along with it are not to be missed.
Polar Bear’s Underwear by Tupera Tupera
This book is a surefire hit with the preschool crowd and the felt version would work just as well. Check our the different versions librarians have created so far on Storytime Station, The Buckeye Librarian, and Literary Hoots
A Good Day for Hat by T. Nat Fuller, illustrated by Rob Hodgson:
So we really like this book, could you tell?! But as Anna at Future Librarian Superhero notes it’s a perfect one to extend with flannel. She has created a simple bear for Mr. Brown and then captured the whimsy of his eclectic hat collection. Scale it up with accessories and other characters or just keep it simple with his hats- your choice!
Could You Lift Up Your Bottom? written by Hee-jung Chang, illustrated by Sung-hwa Chung
We had never heard of this book before but we saw it featured in Jen in the Library’s toddler shape storytime and then again on Storytime in the Stacks so we knew it must be good. It’s another story that includes hats and shapes and a bit of trickery. You could reuse a lot of pieces for other felt stories which is an added bonus.
Hooray for Hat by Brian Won
This book (and its subsequent siblings) is highly participatory and a delight to read and tell with felt. There are a few different versions and we love both: Miss Mary uses bright animals with neutral faces and some sneaky velcro while Laura at Library Lalaland gave each animal a grumpy face on one side and a cheered-up face on the other, so all you have to do is flip. Pure genius!
Night Animals by Gianna Marino:
This is a perfect storytime book, especially as summer approaches and families will be heading outdoors to hike or camp. Wendy at Flannel Board Fun has done an incredible job at adapting not just the animals but some of the effects which really sell this story.
Have you fallen in love with a new felt story? Send us an email at jbrary@gmail.com to tell us all about it!N
