Heart Art
for preschoolers and their parents  

On Wednesday afternoons during the summer we offered a "Pop-Up" art program.  This program was intended for school age children but each week we had more and more preschoolers and parents crafting until our big kids surrendered the craft tables for Minecraft.  It really was just fine.  Everyone was happy.  

We had three Nepali families bringing 8 to the table, a family of four that only spoke Arabic and a few Spanish speaking families. But remember, we all laugh in the same language!  And creativity knows no bounds.

I selected a collage/ mosaic project from a worn out, loved-to-death discarded book.   Volunteers had cut up lots and lots of pages and we had old  painted paper on hand.  They all worked together on this 18 x 18 beauty!  Collaborative art work. It's mounted on foam core board.  

Now if you are anything like me...you are already thinking of all the possibilities.  Instead of a heart shape how about Froggy ...for London's froggy books.  Or a giant bear for Brown Bear Brown Bear, but he'll be all colors!  A silhouette of Madeline ...yes!  

Thinking Fall Saturdays will have some really pretty Pop-Up projects in our little branch.  Fine motor skill, glue sticks, taking turns, learning colors - I know you love it.

Thanks for visiting Piper Loves the Library.  Please let us know if you create something similar.  We'd love to see.  ~ Piper and Jane  

P.S. (Piper Script) Please visit Flannel Friday for great ideas.

Tween Programming that works!

Creative Arts in our little branch.  Wow!

We run our Summer Reading Programs in the afternoon.  Traditionally they are all drop in programs so we never know just how wild things might be.  But this summer I knew that all those growing Tweens and Teens needed a place to hang and stay out of trouble , a place of their own among the afternoon offerings. 

I planned a program, TWEEN GALLERY- Eat your Art!, just for them. It was advertised for ages 10 through 14 with registration required.  I knew I had to hold firm to saying NO younger siblings, and no to the "my child is very mature" etc., requests from insistent parents.  I wanted to provide our older crowd a place to draw, paint, talk, play "their" music and enjoy their library.  Registration was put in place for my control of the group as well as allowing me to budget materials.  Because as the name of the program indicates: FOOD would be a big part.

I've recognized over the many years of working with the older group that too often we allow the younger students to join in and the entire dynamic changes. We tend to make this decision because the program hasn't filled - we feel it's best to fill the program but I now say NO to that as well!   When we do accept younger students into a tween or teen program this often leads to the older students dropping out because it's just not their's any longer. It's been "younged down".  This summer our TWEEN GALLERY was not full by week one and I held firm.  By week two we were full and by week three we had to turn teens away.  The tweens and teens spread the word.  Amazing! Our tweens and teens need age specific programs.   I mean really - I can't book talk Teen books with an 8 yr old in the room!  And you know I must just have to promote books whenever I have a captive audience!  All of these students completed their summer reading requirement.  YAY!

TWEEN GALLERY - Eat your Art    Week #1: Donuts
Buy the donuts
sketch the donut
draw the donut
paint the donut (water colors)
create a background for the donut! (scrap book paper)
EAT THE DONUT!!!  (they each got two donuts!)
Followed by Sugar Rush - which I had not even considered!  Live and learn.

Week #2 was cupcakes and #3 brought us fruit and sunflowers.  We ate oranges, strawberries and sunflower seeds!  I love the sunflowers.  They loved the sunflowers!  Chalk pastels with black glue outline.

 The intention in the title TWEEN GALLERY is that we'll display their art through September.  We are a very colorful library currently.

Yesterday was our last date and I think our rowdiest day!  The students had divided into boy's table and girl's table and the boy's were unbelievably talkative.  I know!  I sat at their table! 

Week #4 Ice cream cones - a challenging project!  We started with sketches of Baymax, (Big Hero 6),to practice cross hatching.  Our only ode to the Super Hero Summer!

I've not yet had a chance to add these to the gallery.  So it's one Baymax and one chocolate cone for now - stay tuned for the gallery photo shoot!

P.S. (Piper Script): I nap in the afternoons. 

Thanks for visiting Piper Loves the Library.  We'd love to hear about your arts program in the comments.  Flannel Friday brings creativity and community to our blog and my career.  Visit Flannel Friday here 

  

Yoga for 2

Bringing Yoga to Preschool Story Time!

Two words: mindful parenting

Mindful parenting is the driving force for bringing yoga to story time. 

The world around us is big and fast and full. Levels of anxiety and stress have skyrocketed. In order to work successfully with an ever-changing group of patrons, libraries provide training for their staff.  Thankfully the entire country is becoming more educated in the field of mental health. In children's services we continue to be concerned about screen time and all things that children are sensing in their environment.  

How can I help?  Mindful parenting.  How can I do that?  Mindfulness in movement, bring the calm, thoughtful, grateful, peaceful way.  Yoga for 2.  (preschool child with an adult)

I found an on-line program to become certified to present preschool yoga.  This was outstanding for me.  I needed to learn a child's approach to yoga poses and then add my flannel stories to create something unique. I did a tremendous amount of reading on the subject of yoga for infants, toddlers, preschoolers and elementary level children.  I am all about child development - it's my world

Many children do not recognize when their bodies or minds are stressed.  Learning to provide opportunities to draw your child's awareness away from the overwhelming chaotic world is a valuable skill.  Hopefully something we are all developing with deep breathing, mindful movement, nature and a calm space in the library on Thursday mornings.  

Truth be told I was extremely nervous when the program began this week.  Thank heavens for a gracious group of children and adults. I brought in a little bit of nature from my garden. (my garden always calms me)

The bell chimes for Mountain Pose and the "Magic Mist" is for everyone's feet.  Yes!  We have mindful feet...I love it

The program began with a few familiar songs and props because I needed a quick assessment on just what words and motions the children knew.   We did a flannel story about Turtles awakening before the sun comes up...and they slowly stretch and walk one way and then the other until the sun rises and they stand to greet her.  Good morning sun!  This is our very modified sun salutation - we all welcomed the sun!

We practiced our yoga poses becoming quiet mountains, barking dogs, neighing horses, mooing cows, meowing cats and roaring lions!

  

We used our scarves for breathing exercises and later collected pom poms with our toes.  We had wonderfully calming music for child's pose and happy baby!

I shared a detailed, very mindful, flannel story of going for a nature walk on a beautiful day with the warm sun on my arms and feeling the breeze on my face.  I felt happy.  I discovered three little caterpillars that day with little tiny legs and they wiggled when they walked!  And of course we went into butterfly pose for the end of the story.  

I had a wonderful time in this program. It was a full house - yoga mat to yoga mat across the room! We asked families to bring their own mat or a towel.  FYI: I purchased 6 mats just in case and they were all used.  Mindful planning!

The meaning of mindfulness for my program is this: the ability to attend to the present moment with curiosity and no judgement.  I clearly see this as a skill, a life skill, that promotes well being, concentration, resilience, empathy and self-regulation.

Flannel Friday is a creative, supportive place to explore and try new ideas in children's services.  For information please visit the official blog

Thanks for visiting Piper Loves the Library   ~ Namaste ~

Super Hero on Friday

Storytime is Miss Christy's Super Power!

Piper and I are visiting grandchildren in North Carolina and today is library day. YAY!  We attended story time at the North Regional Library in Raleigh.  And by "we" I mean my daughter, my two grandchildren and me.  Piper stayed home with Maggie the dog.  This was a very good plan because this sort of orange crab...is so not her thing.

Miss Christy, standing tall in her Superhero shirt, welcomed a full house to preschool story time.  The fact that almost every preschooler had a toddler sibling did not slow her down in the least.  She was completely prepared and ready for her families.

Opening story time with the familiar ABC echo song made all those preschoolers comfortable and I loved the idea of adding the visual ABC.  Reinforcement, yes! (Thinking Piper and I may just have to bring that idea to our big screen in Connecticut. Yep!)  With the building blocks of Every Child Ready to Read, Miss Christy rocked 100 % participation.  Books, singing, dancing, rhymes, counting, laughing, jumping and flannels!  S as the letter of the day blasted off into space.  The flannel?  Rocket ships, just like the one on Storytime Katie's blog  This one would be perfect as well: Zoom Zoom Zoom to the Moon   And the snazzy planet here with the template  will get you flannelizing!

Following a fantastic story time we discovered many new books to borrow. One grandchild so willing to help with checking-out and the other so happy to be a cling-on leg hugger! 

Behold!  Our treasure.  

When we arrived home Cole and I each selected a book to read together before nap time.  My choice: The Line Up Book because Marisabina Russo's Sam is just like my little guy!  I've loved this book forever and was pleased to find a shiny new copy.  Bravo North Regional!  We read it again at bedtime.

And Cole's choice: A Violin for Elva.  Probably because of this...my music man!

The North Regional Library in Raleigh is bright, welcoming, friendly and Miss Christy shares her super power with joy!  Go visit.  I may have to return tomorrow with Piper - sneak her in past that Super Crab!

Thanks for visiting Piper Loves the Library. Ms Kelly at the Library is today's host for Flannel Friday.  Check out her blog!  For more info check out Flannel Friday's Official Blog.  

Reading is my Super Power!

Super Readers in West Hartford 

Here's how it happened This past April while attending the Connecticut Library Association Conference I had a conversation with a library director about lawn signs.  She had recently approved the purchase of lawn signs for a library promotion.  My brain went into instant overdrive.  Honestly!  I am not being dramatic here!  

POW!

At this very same time....in an alternate universe the script was written, the roles assigned, rehearsals were about to start for our annual Summer Reading Show - where a talented troupe of librarians travel to eleven elementary schools promoting summer reading.  This year's show: Every Hero Has a Story - Be your own Hero! While practicing my lines and my dance moves ...well, I was seeing lawn signs with superhero shields on them.  Yep! Visions of superheroes dancing in my head! 
HOLY SMOKES! 

Approval from management came quickly.  My colleague, Joe Molnar, a graphic artist when he's not at the library desk, designed our Super Reader signs. And then the fun began!  BOOM!

A week after school ended about 60 families in town awakened to find a Super Reader sign on their lawn.  How did this happen?  Did superheroes come to West Hartford while we were sleeping?  The next morning ... 40 more lawn signs were decorating the town.  And this morning, another 40.  The excitement is wonderful.  The community is talking, Facebook is buzzing, our phones are ringing. And we're still sticking with our story of Superheroes! 

Carol Waxman, Head of Children's Services and Interim Director of the West Hartford Public Libraries sat down for an interview today.  We'll post it on our Facebook page soon.  Mrs W needed to come clean with just how these signs are landing on the lawns. 
BUSTED!

Here's the scoop: Each night, under cover of darkness the West Hartford League of Librarians fly across town in their gold capes delivering lawn signs to families committed to summer reading.  Our League includes staff from every department -many thanks to Amy McCue.  We are a team!  Now that you know this...well we may have to...HUSH! You see what I did there, right?  Librarians...Hush? 

Thanks for visiting Piper Loves the Library.  She's had a quiet week on the home front.  Programs begin in July - we'll be busy.  We're ready.  Piper wants a gold cape.  I'm thinking...yes!  I better give Dee Williams a call.  She makes Superhero capes.  Shhhh!  

P.S. (Piper Script) Girls ruled the top shelf in graphic novels for about 5 minutes today!

Flannel Friday rocks our world with both support and inspiration.  Visit the official blog for more info.   Have a great summer!  Questions and comments are always welcome.  

Common Ground with the Common Core

Helping young families prepare for the Common Core 
Just what we needed.


Piper and I talk about our incredible library community quite often.  We work in an international neighborhood and we love it.  The diversity of culture provides an amazing environment for learning and we believe our little library is one of the best places in town to meet-up, share and learn.  Story time, Party like a Preschooler, Prime Time, Science Matters, Pop-up Maker Space...we've got it but it's the families that BRING IT!  We are here for them.

Almost three years ago I presented the idea of Common Ground Kits for circulation for our library system.  We have many kits designed with themes for educators, parents, grandparents, English language learners and children - it's a format that works in our town.  I wanted to add one more.

The Common Core State Standards were new in our schools three years ago and families were struggling. Many families across the nation struggled with this rigorous approach to learning.  My plan - let's create something that helps families understand just what's ahead of them. Let's work together - find the common ground.

What are the expectations for pre-k, K and first grade? What books should we be reading?  How can we prepare our children when we don't know what's to come?  Now think about that and learning English and American life all at the same time - YIKES!  This is what I was experiencing in the library.  And this is how I realized we were the common ground...families came to us, educators came to us...we just needed to listen.

And there you have it...the Common Ground Kits based on our town/state standards, using books and concepts from the town's website to introduce families, especially my neighborhood families, to the educational adventure their children were about to experience.

Now, I am not going to debate education...I am here to support our families, our schools, our teachers and that's what we do in the library...without judgement.

So here's two of the kits - so adorable!

And inside the monkey you'll discover:

Four books, three from the Common Core State standards

Bears for sorting, parading and playing!

Alphabet recognition, matching and manipulating!

These amazing multi-lingual cards.  Thank you God.

Piper's friend - a nice dog! 

Aren't these perfect for a multi-lingual community!  SCORE!

Piper wants to know...Who let the dogs out?  

This photo from my recent visit to the Charter Oak Family Resource Center.  

I brought ten new kits with me and they were all checked out.  YES!

The world shifted with the addition of these kits to our library.  We are intentionally reaching out to foreign born families of preschoolers and giving them a boost into the American school system. It is a delight to outreach with these kits. We sing, dance, do flannels and I introduce the kits.  And always - I return to the library with no kits!    

P.S. (Piper Script): It's all good.  Thank you Mrs Waxman and Mrs Stone for believing in this.  

#SummerReadingPrograms

Every Hero Has A Story

and a city!

They're back - Summer Reading Programs and The Summer Reading Show!  

It's that time of year!  Libraries across the country are ready to roll out summer reading programs.  In our town - this is a production.  Seriously.  We create a script, make a set, sew costumes, seek out props, pull together music and take our summer reading show on the road - to all eleven elementary schools!  We are a traveling troupe of children's librarians and more!  

You see that city up there?  We built that city..on rock and roll! (Now if you don't understand that reference you are just too young!) We actually ordered our city on-line and it arrived looking like this:

We create our set with foam core board - it's light weight.  When you set it up and break it down in all of those eleven schools, weight matters.   Our incredible IT department worked to make that giant screen part of this year's show.  (We were thinking TED Talks all the way back in January and they made it happen for us!)  We transport the giant portable screen and the incredible sound system along with a "tech" from IT to all of those schools.  We borrow a van from "the Town". You see, it takes a village and that's the way it should be!  

We join forces to find supplies, paint, and eat!

Super-sized fries, anyone? 

Every Hero Has A Story, the national summer reading theme, inspired our very own story about Heroes Headquarters Academy!  Every kid wants to be a super hero and we, the League of Librarians, are happy to provide tips!  Our Academy's Headmistress is Miranda Kent, known around the world as Super Ninja Book Girl!  Here's Miranda Kent rehearsing 

This photo's from the school stage this afternoon.  BOOM!

Well done Miranda Kent and the League of Librarians, well done!  Five shows down and six to go.  The audiences have been incredible.  Thank you.

P.S. (Piper Script) Remember to read!  Super Heroes always read!

If you liked this #SummerReadingProgram post you may like this one as well, biggest flannel pieces we ever made!  Check it out

You'll find a great super hero craft right here

Flannel Friday keeps us inspired, creative and passionate.  Visit the official blog for info on joining -click here  Visit the FF pinterest page for ideas!

Change the World, Bring it! CLA 2015

Ignite! 
Connecticut Library Association Annual Conference 2015
Change the World!

(made during a creative-break and given-away)

Every spare minute over the past two months has been all about preparing for CLA 2015.  Planning a presentation with two friends and NOT about flannels - OMGolly! And we were challenging ourselves to present in a brand new format - the IGNITE style.  Tell a story to get your message across, make it personal and do it with 20 slides within 5 minutes.  Yikes!

We each did 2 Ignites. Kari Ann St Jean, my usual partner in crime was very brave and courageous offering the first Ignite done at a CLA conference...ever!  (applause!)  

Kari Ann, Head of Children's Services - Avon Free Library and a natural born storyteller, presented "What's your bus?" and "The Moment" both providing insight into personal growth and a successful, caring management style.  

Michelle Kaminsky, Head Librarian, Children's Services East Hampton Public Library is new to our troupe and dug deep into her past to present "Transition" - you know, all the jobs you've had and all the skills you've gathered to finally land the job you've wanted for so long! Her second Ignite was "Creativity" - learning the strengths of your staff through the common thread of creativity.  

(best badges ever!  thank you CLA 2015)

My first Ignite was "Diversity & Inclusion where I addressed the immediate need for diversity in our books and materials in our collections due to the fact that 2014 is the first year in U.S. history where the minority became the majority in babies under the age of one.  My second Ignite was "Mother Goose saved my life" a personal reminder to find focus and know why you do what you do in your core programs.  

Favorite quote of the morning from long time librarian friend, Heather Baker, "Always get in your room as soon as you can to set up".  Yep, we had technical difficulties despite having a rehearsal just days before "with everything working smoothly".  Heather came to our rescue. Thank you again and again Heather Baker.  

Best surprise of the day...Miss Meg from Miss Meg's Storytime ! Flannel Friday friends met in the real world and hugged!  So nice to spend time with librarians Meg and Stefanie - the younger generation.  They gave me confidence - the world is in good hands.   

While we presented in the Mystic Marriot on the Connecticut shore...Piper stayed in the rolling hills of Glastonbury with a life long friend.  I picked her up the next day and just wanted to stay.  Doesn't that hammock shout READ BOOKS HERE?  Thank you SMG.