"At the moment that we persuade a child, any child, to cross the threshold, that magic threshold into the library, we change their lives forever, for the better."
I recently asked my former advisor on how I can increase my chances of getting a job working in a library and he suggested I use Linkedin. I've since then just updated my professional profile on LinkedIn to further highlight my job experiences and background. Connect with me and view my profile!
I'm also very excited that I'll be able to attend the ALA conference this year because it is in Chicago! This is the perfect chance to get more acclimated with the field of Library Science. I've decided that I'm also going to work on my Masters in Library Science! I filled out my FAFSA and now I'm going to finally apply to the colleges I'm interested in. Two of my former professors said they would write me reference letters and my former advisor said he would also write me one! I'm very excited about my future career as a Children's Librarian. I am definitely following my dreams and I could not be more happy.
Theme: Dinosaurs -- Dig Into Reading! Introduction Song: Open Shut Them Open, shut them, Open, shut them Give a little clap, clap, clap Open, shut them, open, shut them Lay them in your lap, lap, lap Creepy crawly, creepy crawly, Right up to your chin, chin, chin Open up your little mouth But do not let them in, in in
(Same song used in all of my storytimes. Repetition is good for young children!) Book #1 - Bones, Bones, Dinosaur Bones
This is such a neat book because it introduces children to dinosaurs and paleontologists in a simple way that makes it easy for children to understand. I especially love the part where it explains how paleontologists put together the bones to see what the real dinosaur once looked like. My favorite part is the surprise ending when it shows all the bones put together! The book is meant for preschool aged children but it is short enough that the toddlers can sit still and listen to it without a problem.
Dinosaur Fingerplay: Five Dinosaurs (Sung to the tune of “Five Little Ducks Went Out to Play”) Five dinosaurs went out to play (hold up five fingers) Over the hills and far away (move hand up and down) Mama dinosaur said “roar, roar, roar” (Roar!) But only four came running to the door (make a sad face and hold up four fingers) (Continue until no dinosaurs are left on the board. Then sing…) No dinosaurs went out to play… ALL the dinosaurs came running to the door!
Do the dinosaur, CHOMP, CHOMP! Do the dinosaur, ROAAAAAAAR
heh, I actually thought the song was "do the dinosaur, jump, jump" so I had the children jump. OOPS! "Chomp, Chomp" are the actual lyrics and you're supposed to move your arms up and down in a chopping motion like shown in the video.
This is me and the children all doing the Dinosaur Stomp! They really had a blast doing it!
Book # 2: Dinosaurs, Dinosaurs by Byron Barton
The Westmont Public Library has the big book version of this story and it's a really awesome one that introduces children about how ancient dinosaurs really are. The illustrations are very bright and it describes the many different characteristics dinosaurs have. For example, Some dinosaurs are described as fierce, scared, hungry, tired and sleepy. When I read about the sleepy dinosaurs, I of course, read it in a sleepy sounding voice which grabs the attention of the young children. This story also introduces children to the different names of dinosaurs like diplodocus, ankylosaurus, tyrannosaurus rex, and so on. I definitely recommend this book for any Dinsoaur themed storytime.
Fingerplay: Five Enormous Dinosaurs
Five enormous dinosaurs, letting out a roar,
(Cup hands to your mouth and let out a ROAR!)
Until one went away, and then there were four.
Four enormous dinosaurs, munching on a tree,
(Pretend to be munching on a tree)
Until one went away, and then there were three.
Three enormous dinosaurs were taken to the zoo,
(Pretend to run!)
Until one got away, then there were two.
Two enormous dinosaurs having lots of fun,
(Push both hands above your head)
Until a volcano blew right up, then there was one.
One enormous dinosaur, he must have weighed a ton
(Extend arms out to show how BIG he was)
Until the lakes dried up, and then there were none!
Song:Jumping and Counting by Jim Gill
This song is not dinosaur related by the patrons grew to really LOVE this song. The children would ask for this song if I didn't play it so I began playing it at every storytime. It's a really awesome song that is fun and teaches children essential counting skills. For the 0-3 age group, this is an excellent way to introduce math to them!
This book is pretty neat. The children had a lot of fun acting out the "ROAR" parts of the story and it seemed to help them pay attention. The story also talks about using an "inside roar" which helps teach children manners. I normally would be the one reading the story but my supervisor, Lynn, lead storytime on Thursdays which is when this picture was taken. I had lead a dinosaur storytime the day prior.
Song: Tyrannosaurus Rex
(Sung to: "Mary Had a Little
Lamb")
Dinosaurs
walked on this earth,
On
this earth, on this earth.
Dinosaurs
walked on this earth,
A
long, long time ago.
This song was short but I actually ended up singing it twice. I sung it at a regular volume at first, then I asked the audience to join in and sing it in a loud voice.
Song with shakers: Dinosaur Song
What a great story this is with awesome dinosaur sounds! This was a really perfect ending.
Me on the right with my Supervisor, Lynn, the Youth Services Librarian at the Westmont Public Library. The children really love playing with the shakers!
Closing Song (to tune of the Mulberry Bush) This is the way our hands say goodbye With a clap clap-clap Clap, clap-clap. This is the way our hands say goodbye With a clap, clap-clap ,clap-clap. This is the way our knees say goodbye With a tap tap-tap.Tap tap-tap. This is the way our knees say goodbye With a tap tap-tap, tap-tap. This is the way we wave goodbye Wave goodbye, wave goodbye This is the way we wave goodbye Goodbye until next time.
