What's On Your Head?

Want to make your storytime kids laugh?  Wear a funny hat.  Better yet-act like there is nothing strange about the cowboy hat, or pink fuzzy hat, or viking helmet that you are wearing.  This one is guaranteed to be a classic.

What’s on Your Head?

Opening Song:  Bendable, Stretchable by Georgiana Stewart

 

Opening Rhyme:  Dance Your Fingers

Dance your fingers up, dance your fingers down.  

Dance your fingers to the side, dance them round and round.

Dance them on your shoulders, dance them on your head.

Dance them on your belly, and now put them to bed. 

Book:  Imogene’s Antlers by David Small

Rhyme:  Do Your Antlers Hang High?

Do your antlers hang high?

Do they reach up to the sky?

Do they keep you up at night?

Do they make your way so tight?

Do they bump into the trees

Do they make it hard for knees?

Do your antlers hang high?

Book:  No!  That’s Wrong! by Zhaohua Ji and Cui Xu

Rhyme:  My Hat

My hat it has three corners

Three corners has my hat

And had it not three corners

It would not be my hat

Song:   Mexican Hat Dance

from Action Songs for Preschoolers by Georgiana Stewart

Book:  Three Hat Day by Laura Geringer

     It's a little long, but if you practice, it can work for younger ones.

Rhyme:    Silly Hat Song

On my head I wear my hat

It is such a silly hat

That my head will wiggle waggle to and fro

Where else can my silly hat go?

Book:  There is a Bird on Your Head by Mo Willems

Rhyme:  Little Bird

I saw a little bird go hop , hop, hop

I told the little bird to stop, stop, stop

I went to the window to say ‘How do you do?’

He wagged his little tail and away he flew!

Closing Song:  Thank You Clap

My hands say thank you with a clap, clap, clap

My feet say thank you with a tap, tap, tap.

Clap, clap, clap, tap, tap, tap

And now we say goodbye.  

Messy Messy Room!

I did a really fun program for children in grades 1-5 called Library Capers at my last library.  I didn't always have a huge attendance, but I always had a lot of fun.  The big tradition of Library Capers was the Secret Word.  My co-worker Kristi would select a secret word based on the subject matter and put it in an envelope that a teen volunteer would open and show the class.  Then, if I said the secret word, everyone got a treat at the end.  I usually had small prizes that fit the theme, but the kids would get so excited when I said the word!


So, I give you Library Capers:  Messy, Messy Room!

Open by talking about each child's messy room.  Are they messy with clothes, books, or toys?  Any leftover food or small animals living unnoticed in their room?  Basically, just build it up for the stories and games.

Then, show the Secret Word!  I would make the children raise their hands when I said the secret word.

Next, read What's With This Room by Tom Lichtenheld.  This is a great book about an out of control messy room that is sure to elicit screams of disgust and delight. 

Then on to games!  I prepped several Minute-to-Win-It style games.  The first was Hanger Hang-ups where the kids balanced one hanger on another off of a clothes rack.  They could balance up to seven hangers until they reached the floor.

Next was Separation Anxiety.  The kids had 60 seconds to separate a pile of beads into like colored bowls, with all the on-lookers screaming them on, of course.

Time to cool down with Diggy Dan by Daniel Kamish, a story of how a boy pretends to be many, many things simply by cleaning his room. 

We get moving again with Hamper Hoops.  Three strategically placed pop-open hampers, six sock balls and a tape line to make things interesting and the game is on!

A final activity for this messy program is a hidden picture hunt.  Pick up an old I Spy book and try to find as many objects as you can in those messy pictures.  Then, make your own seek and find from magazine clipping and design you own messy room.


For more Messy Room fun, invite children to check out Frankie Pickle and the Closet of Doom by  Eric Wight, the poems of Jack Prelutsky and Shel Silverstein, and more I Spy fun.  I always put out a selection of books for the children to look at before and after the program.  Most of the time they followed the theme, but sometimes they were just fun books.  Also, if a child wants to take home the book that you read in class, let them!  That's the best form of thanks!

Now don't forget to hand out those prizes for the secret word.  Like I said before, small prizes like pencils, notepads, or even leftover summer reading prizes work great.  And in this case, it's just another thing to add to their messy room.

The best programs for elementary school children were interactive and spontaneous.  Just go with the flow and let their imaginations lead you.

Happy Reading!

NetGalley Addiction

Hello, my name is Tiffany, and I have a raging addiction to NetGalley.

NetGalley is a social media site for librarians, teachers, reviewers, and bloggers to receive free advanced reader's copies as e-books.  They are available in PDF and most can be downloaded to a Kindle or Nook.  So, I get to read free books before anyone else.  That's what I call amazing!

Except that it is exactly like a galley grab at a national conference.  You load up on books that you know you won't read, that aren't worth your time, that take up way too much precious space in your luggage just because you can.  Then you end up with reader's guilt.

Reader's guilt is something that all book lovers have faced at some point in their lives.  You have a stack of unread books that call to you, but quite frankly, you don't want to read.  But isn't it the purpose of every book-to be read!  By ignoring these books, they aren't able to fulfill their destiny!  And if you don't read that little ARC, it might never realize it's dream of being a real, live book!

So, that was a little dramatic.  But it's true.  After a while, a true reader feels guilty about all the books that go unread.  But I believe that life is too short for lousy books, or books that don't speak to you, or books that (yes it's true) should have never been published in the first place.

Because that's the thing about galleys.  A publisher releases a galley for one reason-to create buzz.  Sometimes it's to create advance buzz for a book that is going to be amazing (Every Day-it comes out August 28 and trust me, you will want to be on this one from the beginning-it's incredible!).  Other times it's so a publisher can introduce a book early so it won't go completely unnoticed when published.  I honestly only have time for the amazing galleys, but I have become an e-book hoarder, clicking "Request Now" for nearly anything that doesn't look completely cliche and horrid.  But it must stop!

So, here is my pledge.  I, Miss Tiff, will remove half of the galleys from my Kindle.  I will not feel guilty about this decision.  It is for my reading sanity.  I will choose my requests more carefully and only request books that I feel deserve my time and attention.  I will make more time (and space on my Kindle) for books that I want to read, not books I feel an obligation to read.

I feel better already!  More free and weightless!  How liberating!

Happy Reading!

PS:
If you are a librarian, teacher, blogger, etc., I do still recommend NetGalley.  Like I said, I have found some amazing books on there. (See this post, this post, and this post), but I would honestly say for every great book, I read two that just weren't quite worth my time.  So, choose carefully.

What I Miss the Most

Lately, I've been missing library life.  Not the terrible hours, screaming children, tiger moms, or those kids that pee on the carpet and somehow, as the only children's librarian  without children, I ended up being the one to clean it up.  Nope, don't miss that at all.

I miss walking through the stacks and finding books at random to read.  I always have a to-read list going, but there is something really special about the right book just finding you.  I've missed that.  Yes, I have a library (although it makes me kinda sad-poor selection, poorly organized, dark, dingy, dungeon-like), but there's nothing like being in the stacks on a totally different errand and coming across a book that you think "huh, I kinda wanna read that" and then it's amazing!

I miss the stacks.  I miss the way you can feel totally alone and hidden when working in the stacks before the library opens.  Sometimes, even if someone called for me, I'd pretend that I didn't hear and just keep straightening my books.  (Yes, I compulsively straightened my collection, even though it was an act of futility.  My first library was crazy about straightening and it just stuck.  It was self soothing.  And yes, I'm seeing a therapist for my compulsive library issues).  I was in my own little world, just me and my books.

Here's my problem.  I like people, but I love books!  I was never that library czar that got really angry when a book was ruined since I've ruined my own fair share.  If a kid ruins a book, then it's kinda like a Christmas tree, it's lived it's life and served it's purpose.   As long as I can get a book in a kid's hand, it's a win.  But I've long felt that my dream job would be a children's library without the children.  Without the parents and the public.  Just a little archival hole somewhere, like solitary with a full book shelf.  I'd start to miss people and human interaction I'm sure, but it's Tuesday, and I've been yelled at a lot already this week, so let my have my dream!

My hubby is building a library in our basement.  No joke.  Well, it's a combination library and bar, but since we're 30 it will be more about good wine and good beer than keg stands and shots (although you know I like a good shot!).  It will be about relaxing with the good stuff.  And he's so sweet because my kids books get to share space with his engineering texts and non-fiction and Pulitzer Prize winners.  He's even going to let me shelve my Twilights down there!  That's love people!

Maybe someday soon I'll get be straightening the shelves of my own personal library (yes that will happen) and I'll happen upon a book I'd forgotten and think "huh, I kinda wanna read that".  Maybe I'll get that feeling back.  Until then, I'll have to settle for my to-read list and curling up at the end of the day with a book that I planned on reading and forgetting the world exists.

Happy Reading!

Success Part Two

You might remember this post from several weeks ago when I celebrated the success of convincing my book group to read When You Reach Me and Wrinkle in Time.  Well, we met up last week to discuss and the the verdict was:

Everyone loved When You Reach Me!

The overall opinion was that WYRM had an interesting plot, good characters, pretty exact setting, and a good plot twist.  Also, since it was a fantasy based in reality, it wasn't difficult to follow, although everyone admitted that thinking about the time travel made their head hurt.  We had a great discussion about Miranda and her mom, friends, the laughing man, the origin of the book, everything.  I was so happy and relieved.  Since this is one of my favorite books, I really hoped that it wouldn't get torn apart, but turns out, WYRM holds just as much interest for adults as for children.

On the other hand, Wrinkle in Time was met with lukewarm approval.

I read WIT as an adult, after reading WYRM actually, and I felt the same way about it now as I did a few years ago-it feels overly complicated, yet simplistic.  I feel like the characters lack depth but the whole thing with jumping planets and fighting the black thing is too complicated.  Also, when comparing WIT to WYRM, I will always choose the latter.  I care so much more about Miranda and her friends than Meg and her family.  Also, Charles Wallace is just a creepy little kid, whether he's possessed by IT or not.  Also, since WIT in true fantasy with very little reality, it's harder to follow.  Those that read it as children remember enjoying it, but they also admitted that this was the first piece of science fiction or fantasy that they had read.  Now, with the flood of children's fantasy available, this isn't quite measuring up.  

Part of the shortcoming of WIT could be that it is part of a larger series, so not all questions are addressed.  Like why is Charles Wallace so smart, why is Meg in the middle, what is the black thing?  I can only assume that the series takes on these questions and gives satisfying answers, whereas WYRM throws out questions and answers all in one book.  Also, children are more accepting of random plots.  If you tell a child in a book that the sun is purple, fine, in this world the sun is purple, but adults tend to want more explanation of that.  This makes me wonder if WIT is one of those books with an expiration date.  If you have not read it by 12 years old, there's just no bother.  I've felt that way about several books.  I can't understand the appeal because I am not in the right frame of mind.  The Book Expiration Date Hypothesis is a discussion for another day, so I'll put a pin in it.

But the exciting part is, this book club lead to a great discussion about all things children's and YA lit.  We touched on Hunger Games and Twlight (for a second) and how this is becoming a serious area for adult readers.  I'm excited.  I feel like I might have changed minds, at least a little, about children's and YA lit.

There was one funny moment.  I had been explaining about the whole background of the books, the Newbery award, their place in current reading trends, then mentioned how I do not read adult books.  One women asked me why I only read kid's books.  My friend decided to share the secret that I'm basically a weirdo that can't read, which got a big laugh.  Really, I'm just fan and love reading kids books, but it is funny to talk about with a bunch of literature snobs.  

I invite you to give it a try!  Be bold!  Read a kid's book!  Walk into the children's section of your library with your head held high and exclaim "I like Children's Books!"  But don't exclaim too loudly, or you might be shushed.

Happy Reading!

When Charity Meets Crazy

Excuse my snobbiness for a moment, but I went to a very exclusive charity event this past weekend.  Donors came from miles around to support the Lupus Foundation of America.

That's where the normalcy ends.

The event is Pub and Putt, the place is Calhoun County Illinois. 
See the tiny slice of a county.  That's Calhoun County.  It is quaintly nestled between the Mississippi River and the Illinois River.

There is no Walmart, McDonald's, or chain grocery store in Calhoun County.  That's remote!

Also, to get into Calhoun, your choices are a drawbridge, or ferry.















We opted for the ferry.

Enough background information-let's get to the event!

The 3rd Annual Team Kendall Pub and Putt!

Disclaimer-I am not an organized blogger, and I'm even worse at remembering to take pictures, and even worse at actually taking pictures, and when drinking is involved, forget it.  Let's just say that this post will make you curious for next year!  (Also, Doug and I are on our third camera since our wedding.  One fell in the ocean and another was maced by spray sunscreen.  Doug told me I could buy a nice camera if I wanted, but given our track record, I bought the cheapest one at Walmart, which was a bad idea.)

Pub and Putt is basically mini-golf, in bars.  And most of the holes are made out of plywood.  And one bar just makes a giant horseshoe shape and sets down industrial size cans of stewed tomatoes as obstacles.  I owned that hole!  Every team has four players and a caddy.  The caddy is your designated driver and signs a pledge not to drink until the event is over, and they wear a different color wrist band so the bartenders know not to serve them.  It's all about safety with Pub and Putt!

Then, your team takes off and hits up 10 bars all up and down the county.  We started about one o'clock and finished up around  eight.  It is not a sprint!  It's a marathon!  The first year we tried to drink at every bar and nearly died.  We were drunk by three and hung over by seven and we went and took a nap before the awards were given out.  We are all smarter people now.  (Not to mention old, but whatever).

And now, I give you Pub and Putt in Pictures!

Here I am with the girls-my sis-in-law Kristen, me (but you already knew that) and college girlfriends Laura (who you might remember from this post), Sara (who received a shout-out in this post) and Sam (I'll holler at you later!)

I would like to draw your attention to the shirts.  They say "I'd Tap That".  Now you can take that however you want, but part of the fun of Pub and Putt is the crude jokes.  Our teams were "I'd Tap That" and "I'd Tap That, Too", which I explained to people like this-not the number 2, but I would also like to tap that, please.  (If you want to be really cool, you can order this shirt from Donkey Tees on Etsy!  Just tell them Tiffany sent you.  (actually, they have no idea who I am, so don't say that!)).

So from registration and raffle entering, we hit the bars!

Here's Sara at our first hole at Last Call bar in Brussels.  Now, normally in golf, you want complete silence you so can concentrate, but that was freaking Sara out, so she asked us to talk about anything to distract her.  Which brings up a good  point.  Actual golf skills do not help in Pub and Putt.  Maybe Wii golf skills help, but not real skills.  Like all tailgating games, you actually get better with a couple beers, so golfers, two shots before you first hole will do wonders for your game!

Here I am teeing off at AJ's Bar in Brussels.  I only remember this bar because they had the best Apple Pie Shots!  Look close and you can see the ball flying over the obstacles.  I came in under par on this one!

Here's Doug playing the hole at Main Street bar in Hardin.  You have to get your ball through all the bar stools, and then face the blades of death!

Okay, so it's not exactly blades of death-it's a ceiling fan with two blades set on low, but that's still really fast!  This is not your friendly putt-putt windmill.  I was just trying to get my ball in the hole without losing my head!

Staying hydrated is very important during Pub and Putt, so Kristen and I took a minute for some shots at Straight Home.

This is a Pub and Putt tradition-Doug doing his famous between-the-legs-shot at The Old Fill-in Station in Batchtown.  He would like the record to show that his score was adversely effected by his choice of putting style.  Which really means-I BEAT MY HUSBAND IN PUB AND PUTT!!

Finally, here's Team I'd Tap That (the original) outside Longnecker's in Batchtown.  Happily everyone arrived safely with all limbs intact and ready to take on the night.  While we didn't win the coveted green vests (much like the green jackets for the Master's Tournament) or the equally coveted beer can trophy (for the worst score), we had a great time.

Remember, this was all for a cause!  If you want to learn more about Team Kendall and their quest for a cure, click here.  If you want to learn more about Lupus, check out the Lupus Foundation of America.  If you want to be on my Pub and Putt team next year, leave me a comment or email me at misstiffreads at gmail dot com.

Happy Reading (or putting!)

When Anthony Reads

Time for my views to skyrocket!

While I was going through my camera to find pictures for my post tomorrow, I ran across this great pic of Anthony reading to Grandma and Grandpa Tractor.

Anthony reading on the Kindle in July

Yes, he is reading on my Kindle.  No, not a children's book that would interest him.  I usually try to put it on Peter Pan, or something that does not have offense language.  My sister would kill me if I left it on Kitchen Confidential, even though he can't really "read".

Anthony loves to read!  And the funny thing is that he did the same reading-on-the-Kindle thing when we met him November, with one key difference.

 Anthony reading in November at my parent's house.

In November, Anthony started all of his reading with "Once'd apon'd a-time.." followed by a string of Anthony-ese that was way beyond comprehension.

Now, his stories go like this, "Dear God, thank you for Grandpa Tractor and Grandma Tractor and Aunt Wu, and Wucy and Mommy and Daddy.  The End"  Or some variation of this theme that just makes you want to cry and hug him. 

So, in only 8 months, not only can you actually understand 90% of what Anthony says, my sis and bro-in-law have shown him the incredible love of God, and he totally gets it!

Way to go little man!  You can read me a story anytime!

Anthony showing me how it's done!

Happy Reading!