The Abilene Public Library in Abilene, Texas presents ideas and suggestions to aid in creating dynamic and fun storytimes including literacy aspects and further activities.

1. DYNAMIC
STORYTIMES
Presented by Darla Casella
Children’s Librarian
Mockingbird Branch Library
Dynamic Children’s Programming Workshop
Abilene Public Library – www.abilenetx.com/apl
March 17, 2014

2. STORYTIMES ARE ESSENTIAL!
Attract children and adults
 Create relationships between children and the
library
 Allow parents and caregivers to interact
Get children excited about books and
reading
Encourage the development of essential
pre-reading skills

3. DYNAMIC STORYTIMES:
DEFINITION
Imaginative storytimes that captivate
audiences using practical, yet creative ideas.

4. KEYWORD FOR
DYNAMIC STORYTIMES
FLEXIBILITY

5. PLANNING CONSIDERATIONS
FOR DYNAMIC STORYTIMES
 Logistics
 Elements
 Structure
 Literacy

6. STORYTIME LOGISTICS
 Who?
 What?
 When?
 Where?

7. STORYTIME ELEMENTS
 Books
 Music
 Fingerplays
 Rhymes
 Puppets
 Props
 Crafts
 Activities

8. STORYTIME STRUCTURE
(EXAMPLE)
1. Opening Songs/Fingerplays/Rhymes
 Generally the same every time
2. Story
3. Short Story
4. Movement
5. Story
6. Song or Game or Activity
7. Story
8. Ending Stand Up Songs
 Generally the same every time
*Should last about 30 minutes

9. LITERACY IN STORYTIMES
Purpose
Components
Implementation

10. PURPOSE OF LITERACY
IN STORYTIMES
Provide literacy support for parents,
caregivers, and schools
Provide a foundation of the English
language
Provide pre-literacy skills before children
go to school
Provide parents/caregivers confidence
and skills necessary for teaching their
children

11. COMPONENTS OF
PRE-LITERACY
Vocabulary Building (I know words)
Phonological Awareness (I hear words)
Letter Knowledge (I know my ABCs)
Print Motivation (I love books)
Print Awareness (I see words)
Narrative Skills (I tell stories)

12. IMPLEMENTING LITERACY
INTO STORYTIMES
Books
Music
Rhymes
Fingerplays
Initial sounds
Clapping
Rhythm

13. WHAT WORKS WELL:
RHYMES AND FINGERPLAYS
Tell-A-Story Nursery Rhyme Kit
Five Monkeys Glove Puppet Set
Three Little Speckled Frogs
Whoops, Johnny!

14. WHAT WORKS WELL:
INITIAL SOUNDS
Letter of the Week
Alphabet signs
Fish cutouts
Phonics books

15. WHAT WORKS WELL:
PROPS AND BOOKS
The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle
 Storytelling Kit
 Caterpillar/Butterfly Puppet
Go Away, Big Green Monster by Ed
Emberley
 Storytelling Puppet
 Storytelling Kit
Owl Babies by Martin Waddell
 Felt Board Storytelling Kit
The Wide-Mouthed Frog by Keith Faulkner
 Puppet

16. WHAT WORKS WELL:
SONGS AND MUSIC
The Wheels on the Bus and props
Cows in the Kitchen and CD
Five Fat Turkeys Are We
Bells and songs (in handout)
Homemade CD

17. RESOURCES
Cobb, Jane. I’m A Little Teapot! Presenting Preschool Storytime.
Vancouver: Black Sheep Press, 1996.
Ghoting, Saroj Nadkarni and Pamela Martin-Diaz. Early Literacy
Storytime @ Your library: partnering with caregivers for
success. Chicago: American Library Association, 2006.
Lincycomb, Kay. Storytime…Plus! New York: Neal-Schuman
Publishers, Inc., 2004.
Totten, Kathryn. Family Literacy Storytimes: readymade
storytimes suitable for the whole family. New York: Neal-
Schuman Publishers, Inc., 2004.