Librarian Ginny

Storytime: Apples!

This theme is sure to be on any daycare’s curriculum! It’s one of the most requested topics on our daycare deliveries in the Fall and after seeing all the great books on apples, I can see why!

Homlessness in Kidlit Booklist

Home stability and fair housing has long been an issue here in America and with current events, it has only gotten worse. People experiencing homelessness are often characterized as drug addicts, criminals, lazy and not deserving of respect or kindness. Here’s a list of books to explain the importance of kindness, understanding, and representation of houseless people as people equal and deserving of love, respect, and human rights.

Storytime: Storms!

I live in the Midwest and we get some crazy and amazing storms here. I’m one of those people who absolutely LOVES a good thunderstorm. In fact, we’re supposed to get one later today! When I was little, maybe 4 or 5 and probably even before that, my dad would gather up blankets and pillows and take me out to our covered porch during thunderstorms. We spent many summer evenings, cuddled up out there on a porch swing with pouring rain, lightning and thunder raging all around us. I never felt unsafe or afraid because my dad was right there with me, humming, watching the storm.

Storytime: Wind!

I love doing themes on slightly abstract subjects in our world that people take for granted. Wind is a great example of this! Often, we don’t even really notice the wind unless it’s more extreme, so pointing it out and looking at how it interacts with everyday things is really fun. There’s also so much potential to work in math and science concepts into this theme!

Storytime: Nature!

There’s so much about nature to be appreciative of: clouds, trees, bugs, animals, plants, hiking in the forest, the sky, sun, and moon! Each one of these can be their own separate theme, but I also like doing the broader topic of Nature. Typically, I’ll do this storytime the same day we do our Preschool Math and Science: Observing Nature program.

Adoption and Foster Care Booklist

Adoption and foster care are topics that our parents and caregivers seem to ask for on a regular basis in my town. Whether they’re adopting a child and need to prepare a sibling, adopting a child and wanting them to know they belong and are loved right where they are, or someone not adopting at all, but is trying to show their child different world views and experiences. All these reasons, and so many more, are valid and valued in our community. Further than that, I wanted to showcase some titles meant for slightly older kids. Maybe a kid who wants to see themselves or their experience validated and represented in a book.

Storytime: Wolves!

Wolves are my favorite non-domesticated animal (bet you can guess my favorite domestic animal)! They’re a weird mix of mysterious, playful, and powerful that I just find fascinating. I visited a wonderful animal sanctuary in Northern Indiana semi-recently that had a pack of wolves and they were just beautiful and playful! I spent almost an hour watching them!

Storytime: (My Amazing) Body!

Learning about bodies is super important for kids and it makes for a fun storytime of movement! Kicking, stomping, jumping, wiggling and waggling! The things our bodies can do are amazing.

Storytime: Sun!

Sunshine! I do love the sun and always feel terrible when I’ve had three (or more) days of rain or during Winter when sun can be hard to come by. But this storytime theme isn’t just good to celebrate the sun and all it brings with it –Life, plants, beach visits, picnics, etc — but it’s a great STEAM subject! A lot of preschoolers don’t know what the sun really is or that it doesn’t go away or cease to exist when it’s nighttime. So, come on! Let’s go open their minds together!

Storytime: Gardens!

Spring and Summer means it’s time to garden! I love planting my garden and seeing things grow, and even more than that I love eating all the yummy produce it creates!