by Kathy MacMillan and Christine Kirker. (ALA Editions, 2011)

This time-saving program planner for librarians and classroom teachers alike includes everything you need to get started—reading lists, flannelboard patterns, poems, songs, easy crafts, even take-home activities to extend the learning process. The many creative ideas packed inside include:

• Activities keyed to popular classroom themes, with one chapter for each week of the school year
• Lessons that reinforce skills in key learning areas such as reading, writing, and math
• American Sign Language and Spanish language activities that make diversity awareness a part of children’s learning
• Teachable concepts that can be mixed and rearranged for maximum flexibility, complementing classroom schedules

Both veterans and novices will find plenty to help make kindergarten days richer, more rewarding, and more fun. Order your copy today and pick up tips for your school, preschool and library!

The Australian Library Journal says: “Kindergarten Magic provides a time-saving, idea-promoting framework for kindergarten library lessons with an emphasis on fun and interaction…This book would be an excellent addition to a school librarian’s collection to complement lesson planning and allow for quick ideas when faced with a spontaneous lesson. In addition, public library children’s librarians would find this resource useful to assist in creative ways to build library skills into storytime sessions.” Read the full review.

Order now from the Deaf Camps, Inc. Online Bookstore (autographed copies that support a great cause!) or at the ALA Store.

Free storytime resources from Kathy MacMillan and Christine Kirker.

by Kathy MacMillan and Christine Kirker. (ALA Editions, 2009)

Enriching and supplementing storytelling programs with fingerplays, flannelboards, and other props will be a cinch thanks to this generous sampling of art and craft ideas, songs, sign language and action rhymes.

This time-saving resource includes:

• Thematic organization to make program planning easy
• Recommended books for each theme
• Easy-to-follow craft and flannelboard patterns
• Quick Tips boxes that enhance the early literacy component

A unique addition to the programming shelf, this treasure trove of storytime tools is designed to help veteran librarians refresh and enliven ongoing programs, while providing novice storytime planners what they need to get started!

The Australian Library Journal says: ”Organised into chapters based on 16 themes, it is easy for the reader to find a story and associated activity to bring storytimes to life. Although written for librarians, the chosen themes follow topics common to many units of work in early education, and the stories and activities could easily be adapted by teachers to enhance either an integrated or trans-disciplinary unit of work.” Read the full review.

Teacher Librarian says: “There are lots of ideas here on common themes both in the real world and the world of imagination.”

School Library Journal says: “Both new and veteran storytellers will appreciate this book.” Read the full review.

Reviewer Sarah Deringer says: “If you’re a school librarian or a children’s librarian in need of story time activities, this is a go-to book. It includes the advertised fingerplays and flannelboard as well as rhymes, sign language, lists of books to read with each story subject, lots of different themes / subjects, crafts, and more! If you ever need an idea for a story time, I highly suggest you read this book!” Read the full review.

Order now from the Deaf Camps, Inc. Online Bookstore (autographed copies that support a great cause!) or at the ALA Store.

Free storytime resources from Kathy MacMillan and Christine Kirker.

by Kathy MacMillan. (ALA Editions, 2009)

Children’s programming made easy. Really easy.

What librarian doesn’t dream of offering more and better children’s programs with less effort? In Maryland’s Carroll County, story boxes have made this impossible dream come true for twenty years. Now Kathy MacMillan outlines the proven story box system for sharing an array of successful programs. Including step-by-step instructions from concept through implementation and supplemented by programming tips, A Box Full of Tales also offers detailed plans for 50 great story boxes,including suggested books, fingerplays, songs, props, crafts, and sign language.

Library Journal says: “The idea of story boxes to share program resources is brilliant—so much so that it’s a wonder that it is not a more prevalent practice…Even children’s librarians who don’t work in multibranch systems will find this guide extremely valuable for its theme-based program outlines, whether or not they choose to create story boxes.” Read the full review.

Order now from the Deaf Camps, Inc. Online Bookstore (autographed copies that support a great cause!) or at the ALA Store.