STEAM Storytime: Shapes

This fall I've been experimenting with STEAM Storytime, and this last week I did a shapes theme.

What I read:

Triangle by Mac Barnett

The kids laughed and had fun predicting what would happen next. I enjoyed sharing this story and seeing the expressions on the children's faces as I read it. It's kind of a trickster story.

My rating 4/5 stars

Friendshape by Amy Krouse Rosenthal

Both the children and the parents enjoyed this book. Everyone seemed to like the cute little puns spread throughout the story. Of course, this book may also be used with a friends theme. 

My rating: 4/5 stars

Between readings, we talked about shapes using cutout felt shapes on the felt board. Then we played a song using scarfs, and I asked what shape the scarf was (a square).

I ended the storytime using a variety of free play shape activities:

1. I printed, laminated, and cut out tangram shapes for the children to make things with
2. The littles played with shape sorters we have on hand for playgroup
3. I also borrowed shape puzzles from playgroup
4. I set out rubber bands and pegboards that I borrowed from my elementary STEAM Club - I also supervised and scaffolded this particular activity as stretching the rubberbands was new for the children

Picture Book Reviews 10-28-2017

Stolen Words by Melanie Florence
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This was a good book to bring awareness to true unsavory history. I liked the telling of the story, though I was kind of lost in the transition from past to present at times.

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Is There a Dog in This Book? by Viviane Schwarz
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

The cats are apprehensive about a new dog. They try to get close to the new dog. Then the cats realize the dog is also apprehensive about them.They want to be friends. This would be cute for my “hide and seek” story time!

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The Very Very Very Long Dog by Julia Patton
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

***I received an ARC from Netgalley for an honest review***

So stinking cute and funny! Bartelby is a long dog who isn't always quite sure where his bottom is. This becomes problematic, but in the end his owners find a solution.

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Book Review: Dragons Love Tacos/Dragones y Tacos

Dragons Love Tacos by Adam Rubin
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I've used this book in Amigos y Libros (bilingual storytime) twice now. Everybody loved it! Tacos are pretty awesome.

The first time I used this book I had the kids make paper tacos for our library's big stuffed dragon. The second time I did this story I had the kids make a paper bag dragon puppet. I'm looking for more open-ended activities in the future to do with this book though because I think it's very important for children to create their own experiences.

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Picture Book Review: Noisy Night

Noisy Night by Mac Barnett
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I enjoy using this book in storytime. Today I used it for a sound theme. I talked about the five senses, then focused on the sense of hearing. I used The Elevator Song (see video by Jbrary) to go with the book and we played with musical instruments at the end.

I also used this story for our summer reading theme "Build a Better World" because the book is about a tall building. I had the kids use cut-out shapes to build their own creation.

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Writing Picture Books

Onto the next big thing!

I dream of becoming a published author. I write picture books, juvenile fiction, and young adult fiction. I've finished a number of manuscripts for picture books and one first draft of a juvenile manuscript.

I devour picture books and juvenile fiction titles on a regular basis, it makes me want to publish a piece of work myself. I remember back in the day I wrote on the blog how I wanted to become a librarian... now I'm a librarian. Hopefully this can be the "making dreams come true" blog. It may have taken an embarrassingly long time to actually apply for library school from the time I stated I wanted to become a librarian, so who knows if I deleted that post!

Being a Youth Services Librarian is a lot of fun for me and I couldn't imagine not being a librarian. Even if I managed to make a descent living as a writer, I'd still like to work in a library full of books. The library is where I belong. Anyway, what's more charming than a librarian who's written a picture book?

All of this being said, it will definitely be a good idea to keep this blog updated and let you know if I've sent manuscripts to be edited (you may have noted that grammar isn't my strong point) or if I've sent to an agent. I also want to work on my craft here a bit, and a great way to do that is to write thoughtful book reviews.

You may also see other samples of my writing here from time to time. :)

Best,
A.C. Paige

PS I joined The Society of Children's Writers and Illustrators, I'm hoping to find writing challenges there.

Book Review: They're There on Their Vacation

They're There on Their Vacation by Brian P. Cleary
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

(I received an ARC from Netgalley to review)

I loved the pictures and the wackiness of the story in order to convey the meaning of three different words that sound alike.

My problem with the story was that the author tried too hard when making this a rhyming book. I say keep the story and take out the forced rhyming. It would make the book so much better!

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