LM_NET: Library Media Networking
I'd like to thank everyone for their suggestions. Some of the titles I
can't use because they are part of the 2nd grade whole language curriculum.
I did get a lot of good ideas though. A couple of people asked for a hit,
so here it is.
1. I have seen Judith Viorst's Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No
Good,
Very Bad Day read to a large group with good effect. Maybe Dr. Seuss's Oh
the Places You'll Go would be good. It will be hard for them to see the
pictures.
2. Try Library Dragon, or Edward and the Pirates. If those are too long, try
Poppleton and really "ham" (no pun intended since Poppleton is a pig!) up
your voices for Poppleton and Cherry Sue.
3. I do have an idea for the presentation. Use a flex cam and hook it up to
a TV. That will
keep their attention.
4. My first graders really enjoyed "The Lost Tooth Club" by Arden Johnson.
First graders really love to talk about lost teeth. Also, "King Bidford Is
In the Bathtub" by Audrey Wood is a fun read and has wonderful
illustrations.
5. The Library Dragon is good!
6. I've had good luck with Officer Buckle and Gloria for that age group.
They get a kick out of watching what Gloria the police dog is doing
behind Officer Buckle as he gives safety tips.
7. I like to use We're Going on a Bear Hunt by Michael Rosen. You can do
all
kinds of sound effects with it and let the children do them with you.
8. I love reading Tikki Tikki Tembo by Arlene Mosel to new students. As the
story progresses, you can hear some of the students saying the boy's name
under their breaths. At the end of the story, I allow all the children to
say his name (I prompt them!). We all end up having a good time.
9. Do something fun that has audience participation--like the Old Lady Who
Swallowed the Fly.
10. Try "Purple, Green and Yellow" by Robert Munsch. It's about a
little girl who gets into trouble with magic markers & what kid hasn't?
It's funny and the kids sure enjoy it. Reading this book to first
graders has become an annual event here.
11. It would be hard to beat Lilly's Purple Plastic Purse or Chrysanthemum,
both by Kevin Henkes. Both have positive messages about school but are also
funny. Another good one would be Lunch Bunnies by Lasky. Main characters
are first grade bunnies encountering the school cafeteria for the first
time.
12. Have you seen Stella Louella and the runaway book by Lisa Campbell
Ernst? I think it would be great for your orientation and the children
could figure out the title of the missing book as you read. I saw Judy
Freeman insert her name in place of the librarian's name in the book (Mrs..
Graham, I think). I tried it that way with my kindergartners and first
graders and they loved it.
13. I would use a big book with this large of a group, or use a visual
presenter to present the illustrations, or tell a story w/o having to
use a book, maybe just props.
Eric Carle big books (the Very Hungry Caterpillar) and caterpillar
pointer would work well. Or make this circle story on a pizza round and
have a caterpillar puppet "chew" his way thought the story as you tell
it.
Robert Munsch stories are easy to tell aloud. The Mud Piddle is great
for spring and the whole group can say "Pee You" together over the
smelly soap. Then show the book at the end and tell them your library
has more of these stories waiting for them.
How about a felt story or a participation story. try telling It Could Be
worse having members of the audience act it out (give them props or
masks--cowbell, pig nose, granny and grandpa glasses or hats, a baby to
hold, pots to bang, puppets or stuffed animals or just pictures of
animals.
If you have Caroline Feller Bauer's storytelling book look inside for
lots of ideas. She includes stories to tell with props, magic, puppets,
costumes, etc. try a drawing story on a large chalk board--you draw as
you tell and keep the kids riveted s they try to figure out what you are
telling.
14. Read Monkey-monkey's Trick (by
McKissack,) having kids provide repeated lines & movements:
1. Hee hee ho (hand in front of mouth)
2. Chomp chomp chomp (hold hands like eating corn)
3. "I know someone who laughs that way...but who?" (put finger to chin &
give wondering look)
15. You could do similar things with Caps for Sale & familiar folktales that
have repetition.
16. My class loves the stories of Helen Lester. Just today I read, The
Wizard, the Fairy and the Magic Chicken. They love her sense of humor !
Me First, Fluffy the Porcupine and Princess Penelope and the Parrot are
favorites. You can't miss with a book of Kevin Henkes...Lily's Purple
Plastic Purse or Owen or Chrysanthemum are great, too.
17. There is a wonderful poetry book about school called "Lunch Money" it is
very good.
18. With that many kids, you can't really use a picture book : they won't
all be able to see the pictures.
So:
either make transparencies of the most important pictures, and
use the overhead projector.
OR'
just tell a story, instead of reading one.
BTW: Library Lil would be a good choice!
19. You might try "Thunder Cake" by Polacco. Have the students count with
you and make the thunder loud and wave your hands a lot. Be prepared to
hand out copies of the recipe which is in the back of the book. You might
even bake up the recipe in little cupcakes with a strawberry on top. I've
done the cake using plain canned tomato paste, it works just fine. It's
either Hunts or Heins and I find it with the tomato paste and sauce. the
recipe makes a nice 9x13 cake, I forget how many cupcakes.
20. Alistair in Outer space is always a great book to read. Alistair is
trying to return his library books when he is taken into outer space by
aliens. I think the kids enjoy the humor and It's great to show how
much Alstair cares for his library books.
*********************************************************************
Heidi Pedersen
Media Specialist
Thomas P. Hughes School
Berkeley Heights, NJ
hpedersen@hughes.bhs.k12.nj.us
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