It’s been a hot minute, but the new issue of YAACING is here! It’s a mix of spring and summer, hence sprummer. YAACING is the newsletter produced by the Young Adult and Children’s Services division of the British Columbia Library Association. I write a column in it called “We’ll Link to That!” where I share my favourite resources related to youth services. See the Professional Development page for a complete list of the columns.
Spring is in the air! This quarter I’m sharing some of my favourite things to do in storytime to celebrate the season.
- Be a Seed: This short and simple rhyme is great for stretching and doubles as a short oral story perfect for babies and toddlers.
- Kite Matching Activity: Adventures in Storytime shared a wonderful pattern matching activity using kites that have been cut in half. If you have a small group, pass out half a kite to each kid and practice matching them to the correct colour and design.
- Mud Sensory Activity: If you do a craft or include sensory elements in your storytime, grab a ziplock, dirt, and water and you are good to go! Sunflower Storytime shares the questions she asks kids as they feel the mud and then let them use the mud to paint.
- 5 Spring Flowers Rhyme: This felt rhyme is easy to recreate, even for those with limited felt artistic ability like myself! Miss Mary explains how she talks to kids about the colours and where they are located – inside or outside – before jumping into the rhyme. A spring version of 5 Little Pumpkins.
- Abracadrabra, It’s Spring! by Anne Sibley; illustrated by Susan Gal: I love reading this book in May when the magic of spring is really making itself known. I have the kids pretend we all have wands and then we say the magic words together. The lift-the-flap element adds to the surprise.
- Wind Chime Craft: If you do crafts after storytime I highly recommend this wind chime using recycled keys, string, and branches. It’s easy to make and a great way to upcycle something that would have otherwise ended up in the trash.
- Five Little Kites Rhyme: Storytime Katie’s colourful kites are perfect to showcase on a windy storytime day. You get to practice counting, but you also get to encourage families to spend time outside together having fun.
- 10 Fuzzy Chicks: I love this rhyme because you can have caregivers use their hand and their child’s hand to make the eggs and hen. A great way to encourage a positive, loving interaction centered around an oral story.
- Everybunny Dance and Everybunny Count by Ellie Sandall: If you don’t want to go full on Easter in your storytimes, these bunny-filled books are a great choice! Sandall is a master at rhythm and both of these get the audience participating.
- Spring Scavenger Hunt: Okay, this one isn’t for the storytime but it’s too good not to share. Download our book character bunnies, hide them around the library, and you’ve got a scavenger hunt in the bag. Perfect for Pro D days and holiday weekends when you’ve got school-age kids looking for a fun activity.
Got any great ideas for a spring storytime? I’d love to hear about them! Shoot me an email anytime at jbrary@gmail.com