A Visitors guide to a Scare-orrific Tour of your Local Library

SCAry THinGs

that aren't really all that scary

Librarians do tours. There is nothing I like more than to spend an hour with a school group. This is one such booktalk, book care discussion, and storytelling as told to a group of second-graders.

October Tour Ideas
Some books to Share others to Read

Who's afraid of spiders? Anyone?


Aaaarrgghh Spider by Lydia Monks
OPL Link

You are all much too big to be afraid of those teeny tiny itsy bitsy spiders, aren't you? You aren't afraid. Right? 
Right.




Aha, but a fly, now a fly has every right to be afraid of a spider

Spider and the Fly by Mary Howitt / illustrated by Tony DiTerlizzi 
OPL Link



Or, maybe it's BUGS you are afraid of? No? Maybe?

Not Beetle McGrady, she's not afraid of bugs. She EATS bugs.


Beetle McGrady Eats Bugs! by Jane Manning
OPL Link

As a matter of fact, the library has cookbooks that have RECIPES for eating bugs.






Oh, but Charlotte from Charlotte's Web certainly isn't afraid of bugs. I know they make Wilbur a little ill. But then, pig slop makes ME feel ill.

Or, even the

Wide Mouthed Frog by Keith Faulkner
OPL Link


He certainly loves bugs. No need to be afraid there.




What else do people think are scary?

The dark?

There's a Nightmare in My Closet by Mercer Mayer

OPL Link

  


Alfie Is Not Afraid by Patricia Carlin
OPL Link

Scary Times?

What about the first day of Kindergarten?

 

Mom, It's My First Day of Kindergarten! by Hyewon Yum

...author of 

I Broke My Butt! The Cheeky Sequel to the International Bestseller I Need a New Butt!

OPL Link

or

My Brave Year of Firsts by Jamie Lee Curtis
OPL Link 

Storms?

Thunder Cake by Patricia Polacco

p.s. there's a recipe in the back to bake as the storm approaches

OPL Link

Scary Stories?

Owl at Home by Arnold Lobel
OPL Link 

Bunnicula by James Howe

OPL Link 

Liza Lou and the Yeller Belly Swamp by Mercer Mayer
OPL Link





 


shhhhhh
or the super super scary . . .  

 

Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark by Alvin Schwartz

OPL Link 

Maybe just being different can be a little scary


Hooway for Wodney Wat by Helen Lester
A story of a Rat who can't say his R's and is teased.
OPL Link 

Ugly by Donna Jo Napoli

The story of the Ugly Duckling

OPL Link

Babe the Gallant Pig by Dick King-Smith
Do you kids know why Babe was different? What did he want to be? That's right, a SHEEPpig, a pig that herds sheep like a sheepdog. 
OPL Link

Leonardo the Terrible Monster by Mo Willems

a monster who can't scare anyone

OPL Link

... ah, but our friends help us through.
Friends like






Elephant and Piggie, My Friend is Sad by Mo Willems
OPL Link 


 

Frog and Toad are Friends by Arnold Lobel

OPL Link  

BabyMouse: Our Hero by Jennifer Holm
OPL Link 








 

Brave Squish Rabbit by Katherine Battersby

OPL Link

  



Jumpy Jack and Googily by Meg Rosoff

OPL Link




  





Bertie was a Watchdog by Rick Walton
OPL Link 





Maybe you have a favorite stuffed animal that gets you through tough times



Velveteen Rabbit by Margery Williams
OPL Link




A Bear Called Paddington by Michael Bond
OPL Link









But, of all the scary things out there, the scariest thing I was ever scared of as a kids was . . .
THE LIBRARIAN!

Yes. The Librarian.

I knew she knew I had a fine and she, in her all-knowing way she had, she also knew I didn't have a single penny to pay that .10 cent fine and because of that fine, I would not be allowed to check out a book. Not a single solitary book. . .  anyway . . .

Speaking of scary Librarians, the children at Sunrise Elementary School also had a problem,


The Library Dragon by Carmen Deedy
OPL Link

Whew, I'm so glad she turned out to be nice after all. I'm sure my librarian might have been nice after all, but I was too scared to ever find out.

That is why I, as a librarian, am determined to never ever be a scary librarian!






Now, there are a few things that do scare us librarians - - - 

DAMAGED BOOKS

(refer to the Rules as posted in Miss Lotty's New Kid Friendly Library)

Now that all of you kids know how to take care of your library books, and you also know how to check hurt books into the book hospital--I can trust you with the most fragile of all of our books--


POP-UP books like this one we saw earlier . . .



Wide Mouthed Frog by Keith Faulkner
(at this point the kids need a movement break--add actions, repetitive phrases and the like to this telling) OPL Link

mmm, do I trust you all yet? Maybe? Maybe not ;) 

(Let them opt for the flannel story, or the pop up, or even a telling with the puppets)

Once again, those flies need to really watch out, don't they? Not just for spiders, but frogs too!

Oh, dear. We haven't talked about the scariest of the scary yet . . .

MONSTERS!

Monsters lurking under the bed,

Monster Bed by Jeanne Willis
OPL Link 

Junie B Jones has a Monster Under her Bed by Barbara Park

OPL Link

or . . . maybe, maybe...


Monster Mama by Liz Rosenberg
( I know I turn into a Monster Mama after a certain time late at night!)
OPL Link







Ah, but those are just stories. Right?

I mean, as one of my favorite storytellers Bill Harley says, there are a lot of kids that think they have a monster that lives under their bed. But, really, it's just their imagination. 

 . . . except for Alicia, now Alicia really had a monster that lived under her bed . . .

Alicia and the Little Monster by Bill Harley
(as told on the CD One More Time)  
OPL Link

And last, but not least--

I know what scares Monster and Moms. Truly terrifies them . . .

it's, it's . . .

BLACK SOCKS!

(and sing it!) 

OPL Link to Bill Harley's Play it Again CD

Black socks, they never get dirty, the longer you wear them the stronger they get!

 
Now run on home, check under your bed, make sure there are no monsters, no hairy heebly jeebly creatures, and most importantly, no dirty socks left to rot under your bed--for you never know, you might just get a stinky sock-loving creepy crawly or two that happen to love BLACK SOCKS!

 Goodbye everybody and remember to check out lots of books!

Colors Count Too

Counting Colors! 

(updated 2016)

Color me PINK and PURPLE and BLUE and RED and YELLOW and GREEN and  . . . 




Do you know your colors?
hmmmm, let's see if you can help me find Mr. Ladybug's friend . . .



Ladybug Under a Rug
(a "do you know your basic colors" activity)
 
Hide one ladybug under a rug before storytime.
Depending on the age group, leave a bump under the empty rugs to fool the older kids.

Hold up the second ladybug up, and tell the kids his friend is hiding, and can they help you find the other ladybug--what color of rug do you think he's hiding under?

Have you ever had one 'One of THOSE days?'
No? 
(or course the kids will say no -- But the adults . . . :)

You are SO lucky!

But Dog here, he's had one of  THOSE days --let's see how it went--

Dog's Colorful Day  
by Emma Dodd
OPL Link












Paper is way too fragile for my energetic Lap and Storytimes. Felt is so much more durable--and it sticks relatively well to flannel boards. Flannel idea courtesy of Utah State Library Workshop



 Alternately, put the felt or flannel dots on YOURSELF! Wear white ;) -- a great idea from our volunteer storyteller, Amy C. Just don't jump at the end, you just do the counting, otherwise the dots would come off!




 Okay everyone, let's count the spots on Dog!
Stand up and let's jump for every spot.
 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5 - 6 - 7 - 8 - 9 - 10!


Uh-oh, it's bath time, we've got to count backwards!

Everyone TURN AROUND--- 

and . . . 10 - 9 - 8 - 7 - 6 - 5 - 4 - 3 - 2 - until there's only ONE spot left, the black one on Dog's ear.
 (dialogue idea courtesy of Orem Library's fabulous volunteer storyteller Amy C)



Everyone put your hand binoculars on --we're going to go looking for colors . . .


Teddy Bear Teddy Bear - Color Find
(form two circles with your hands and put them to your eyes)

Teddy bear, teddy bear,
Touch your head,
Teddy bear, teddy bear,
Find some . . . RED!
(let the kids start to guess it before giving it away)

Teddy bear, teddy bear,
Give a wink,
Teddy bear, teddy bear,
Find some . . . PINK!

Teddy bear, teddy bear,
Squeeze some glue,
Teddy bear, teddy bear,
Find some . . . BLUE!

Okay -- one last round

Teddy bear, teddy bear,
Touch the ground
Teddy bear, teddy bear,
Sit on the ground.
(another idea from our storyteller Amy C)



Do you like to paint with colors? 
What's your favorite color to paint with?

and when you paint -- do you ever have to STOP painting--
because you have to put your paints away . . . 

I Ain't Gonna Paint No More
by Karen Beaumont
OPL Link












uh-oh! I bet none of you would EVER do that . . .
Right?





Pete the Cat: I Love My White Shoes 
by Eric Litwin
OPL Link


Sing it with gusto!










________________

MORE . . . 

Where is the Green Sheep 
by Mem Fox
Hide the last little green sheep on your BACK. Don't read the last page, just shut the book, and start turning and looking around for it--the kids will LOVE this game of 'they see it, you don't' 

Yes this is another idea I learned from the great Librarians of Utah! Nothing beats a great get together with fellow Storytime enthusiasts:) 

Mix It Up
by Herve Tulle














Have an active storytime group? Need to keep their attention? Use Amy C's line:
"It only works if you watch"

The Snowball  
by Jennifer Armstrong
OPL Link
(great seasonal variation / add in counting or colors when you do a repeat telling)







And some MORE

Dino-Monsters, a colorific telling (I have drawings of a 'close relative', at least in the looks department, of these dinos, ie; yellingdactyl - pterodactyl etc. I found this idea in a copyshop’s files. Each is on a different colored cardstock... you will really want to abridge this if you've got a very young crowd)




Oh, first, who do we have… we have oh, could it be…

It’s an AnGREENosaurus 

This one is okay to be around if it’s in a good mood, but watch out if he gets angry or pouts, he can get pretty scary then. Just the littlest things will set this dinomonster off, things like when he thinks his mother is picking on him, or making him actually clean his room before he can go out and play! The angry-green-osaurus doesn’t ever have much fun, he’s too busy complaining. Do you know this dinosaur monster? Have you seen him?

Oh, dear… I see another dinomonster...
 
It’s the TurquoiseTattleochtodon

Better known as the Whineosaurus, this dinomonster is always pulling on her mother’s sleeve trying to tell her all about how all the other dinos are misbehaving or getting into trouble, they won’t share, they are calling me names, he hit me, or just telling everyone around how no one wants to play with her. Well, no wonder. Do you know a Tattleochtodon?

Duck everyone! There she goes, oh, now she’s gone again, but you can still hear her for miles and miles it’s the…

Yellow Yellingdactyl!

You almost always know where a yellingdactyl is, she flies in and out and in and out, around and around, always yelling. It’s easy to find this dinomonster, never a quiet moment, well until she gets in trouble. A yellingdactyl is known for it’s ability to wreck havoc on fragile lamps and other breakables that it bumps when it’s flying around and not paying attention to where it’s going.

Oh, what,
(someone is tugging on your sleeve for your attention)please wait. Yes, I know, but it’s just not your turn yet. Hm? You don’t care whose turn it is? Oh folks, we have a slight interruption. I think we have found the…

Blue But-inbrontosaurus

I better hurry and tell you about this dino, he tends to interrupt a lot. Whenever this bronto’s parents are on the phone, it’s just too much, this monster insists on butting in and talking so loud that no one else can be heard. It’s been known to take over whole conversations. You know, tt makes you wish that but-inbrontosaurus would just butt out.

Excuse me, please, I know you had to wait, but…. what, why, I never…Here we go, yet another terrible dinomonster, here, let me introduce you to…

Rudeosaurus Red Rex

This guy always wants to be the center of attention. A lot like our last dinomonster. The Rudeosaurus Rex never asks for permission, never says please or thank you. As a matter of fact, rudeosaurus pushes and shoves. He even burps real loud and he thinks it’s funny. There are no manners to be found in this monster. He better be careful or he will find that he has no friends at all. Have you seen Rudeosaurus Rex around your house?

Shhh, be careful what you say around our next dinomonster, this is the…

Purple Poutasaurus 

The poutasuarus gets her feelings hurt at every turn. She feels bad because she thinks she can’t draw very well. She is always discouraged and blue about something. No fun to be around at all. Poor poutasaurus, she’s not looking too well, such a sad frowning face she has. I don’t think she is ever happy. Have you seen a poutasaurus?

Hmm, where could this next dinomonster be? I wonder where she is? Hmm, must be running late again. Oh, finally, here she is…

Oh, dear, it’s Pink Pokeyceratops

What a slowpoke! Always late, always making people wait. Pokeyceratops is so slow that she is always behind. She likes to sleep late, ‘just one more minute mom, please’. She is the last one to breakfast, the last one out the door, and even then, she has to go back in while everyone waits because she forgot to brush her teeth. Poor pkeyceratops, we almost missed her on our hunt she was so slow.

Wow, what a sorry lot of dinomonsters today! Oh, look, there’s one last one, oh this one does not look like the others at all. Wow, this one is looking pretty good, I don’t know that I can even call it a monster, this one is, well too happy…

It’s a Hip-Hip Hooray HappyORANGEosaurus!

Wow, this is the best dinosaur anyone could possibly meet. This Happy-orange-osaurus has the biggest smile I’ve ever seen, never greedy, always courteous and sociable. This is the kind of dino you want for a friend. Even when this dino is happy and loud, Happyosaurus is always thinking of others that are around, never whiny never stingy or pouty. The Happyosaurus is so much fun to be with that I think we might just have to keep him around.

(a coloring handout is a great way to keep the Happy-orange-osaurus with you all day)''



---------
Special thanks to Annie E. of the Salt Lake County Library System (Millcreek Branch) and the Utah State Library (go Colleen!!!) for the awesome 'Storytime Spice-ups' workshop last month! I gathered a LOT of ideas from the sharing opportunity that Annie instigated. You will see some of these ideas--inspired by my fellow librarians--start to crop up in my posts over the next little while. WAY TO GO UTAH LIBRARIANS, YOU ROCK!

Monkey Face

Sometimes it's just feels good to take a much-loved, but out of print book, and still find a way to share it.

Monkey Face by Frank Asch is out of print. It is also not cheap at Amazon either. It's not outrageously expensive, but it's still about 20 bucks for a used copy.

So, although I only vaguely know the story, from an old flannel board story I was introduced to - (THANKS MICHELLE!), I decided that it would be a fabulous book to re-create as a new flannel board story. My apologies to Frank Asch - I have totally changed up the order of the story and have not even begun to use any of the original illustrations as guides, but here it is...












The gist of the story is that Little Monkey has drawn a picture of his mother.

On his way home to show the picture to his mother he is stopped, one by one, by his well-meaning friends who each seem to find some fault with his picture. "The ears are a bit small don't you think, says rabbit..".

At each turn Little Monkey cheerfully alters his picture to better suit his friends ideas.

At the end, left with a very bizarre looking picture, Little Monkey's mother says she loves the picture. "Just the way it is? Yes, just the way it is." and she puts it on the fridge so everyone can see it.

I have to say that now I have told the story a few times, I've found that the giraffe works PERFECT as the last friend.

By that time the kids have gotten the idea that if owl says the eyes are too small, then (I turn and kind of block the view of the flannel board with my body as I add the layers) 'Wallah!' Little Monkey's picture now has owl eyes.

At the end, when the giraffe is the friend, the older kids are trying to figure out how I'll magically make the picture have a long neck without having the whole conglomeration come crashing down off the flannel... well, I have glued the base of the giraffe's neck to the monkey's shoulders - just tug the body down and 'Tada!' surprise!

In the meantime, I'll just have to keep watching Amazon and see if Monkey Face ever gets reprinted - until then, well, I can still share a bit of Frank Asch - albeit, in my own way.