Jbrary - Tune in for Storytime Success
Two children's librarians blogging about storytime and youth services. We share songs, rhymes, and program ideas for babies, toddlers, and beyond.| Jbrary
Two children's librarians blogging about storytime and youth services. We share songs, rhymes, and program ideas for babies, toddlers, and beyond.| Jbrary
Learn why singable picture books support early literacy and why you should use them with young children, especially in storytime.| Jbrary
After two years of working on special projects and acting as a manager, this August I am finally returning to my role as a children’s librarian. Am I excited? Yes. Am I a little scared? Also yes. I know some things will have changed, and some things will be exactly the same. One thing that... Continue reading Give Me Your Babytime Recommendations| Jbrary
Words matter. What we say and how we say it matters. I recently had a conversation with a district principal that gave me new words to use when I talk about how the library can support children entering school. Our conversation came about when the principal noticed a library program with the phrase “school readiness.”... Continue reading All Kids Are Ready for School| Jbrary
Tips and tricks for how to handle babies, toddlers, and preschoolers who tear down felts and flannels during storytime.| Jbrary
Ask Jbrary features a question from a youth services library staff and crowdsourced tips and tricks.| Jbrary
Do you work with toddlers? If so, there’s a very high chance that you’ve done the Little Mouse, Little Mouse, Are You in the (Colour) House? rhyme. Because it’s toddler gold. But maybe you’re a little tired of Little Mouse or maybe you’d like to model to caregivers how to adapt and evolve rhymes. Either... Continue reading Little Mouse, Little Mouse Renditions| Jbrary
Learn how to make felt stories for library storytimes with patterns by Flannel Board Fun. Featuring an ocean themed set.| Jbrary
The best 2024 picture books for sharing in storytime with groups of babies, toddlers, preschoolers, and school-age children.| Jbrary
Something magical happened to me. I stumbled my way into a ticket to the VERY LAST Eras tour show here in Vancouver. I’m still pinching myself. And making friendship bracelets. And wondering if I’ll freeze to death in my snake tights. And fretting about getting sick at the last minute and not being able to... Continue reading Random December Notes| Jbrary
Recommendations for welcome and hello songs to share at storytime with groups of small children.| Jbrary
A list of the best STEM toys and games for kids and teens to use in the library.| Jbrary
Learn how to run a teddy bear making workshop with kids that encourages making mistakes, getting hands-on with materials, and having fun.| Jbrary
Suggestions for how to engage parents and caregivers at library storytime programs who are distracted by devices.| Jbrary
I’d like to try something new! Over the years we’ve received hundreds of emails with questions about storytime. Sometimes I don’t have the capacity to respond as in depth as I would like, and sometimes I feel the question would be better answered by a group. That’s where you come in: I am so fortunate... Continue reading Ask Jbrary: Caregivers on Devices at Storytime| Jbrary
Sometimes when I talk to my academic librarian friends about the institutional support for professional development and research-related work they are guaranteed as part of their jobs I get a little green with envy. The paid flights and hotels! The time off teaching! The expectation to continuously learn and grow! The access to research locked... Continue reading Deep Work and Children’s Librarianship| Jbrary
How to share early literacy messages in storytime in a supportive way, and how to observe, wait, and listen when talking to young children.| Jbrary
Another year, another Summer Reading Club (but maybe one year, not!). Where I live kids still have another month of school which means all the youth services staff are gearing up for school visits to promote the bejeesuz out of SRC. Since I’m not doing any visits this year I thought I’d take this time... Continue reading I’m Done with Rules| Jbrary
Resources to learn about serve and return interactions and how to use them as early literacy messages in library storytimes.| Jbrary
A children's librarian recommends the best group read aloud picture books published in 2023 for babies, toddlers, preschoolers, and more.| Jbrary
Professional development and programming ideas to read about this summer for library youth service workers.| Jbrary
For the first time in a long time I took a vacation and completely disconnected from work. I’m talking didn’t check my email, didn’t worry about looming deadlines, didn’t wonder how programs were going, didn’t think about community partnerships. Just…didn’t.* And it was absolutely glorious. I’ve been thinking about why this is the first time... Continue reading Who Am I If Not a Children’s Librarian?| Jbrary
