Misadventures of the Monster Librarian

As I may or may not have mentioned before, as a Children's Librarian, working your first Summer Reading program is sort of like an initiation of sorts. The process begins months in advance and ends with the final end of summer reading party. This year's Summer Reading program was short, only 5 weeks, which have flown by and leave me astonished with the fact that this weekend is August! Thinking about the end of this most crazy of summers, I thought I would share some interesting things I experiences this summer at the library. An Entymologist , who brought in bugs, alive and dead. I was dissapointed that she did not bring any bugs that could be taken out of their cages. We had had one come to a previous job and I was able to hold a giant millipede and a tarantula (not one of my finer moments, as I am terrified of spiders). Obviously there were too many kids to do that, but it would have been cool if she had some bugs she could have held up for the kids to see. Bug Predato...

Today was my second "weekly session" of Summer Reading, since we had July 4th week off. My boss' group (earlier this week) had nearly doubled in size from the last meeting to this one, so I figured that my group size might also increase. Since my first two classes totaled over 110 kids, I thought that I would plan for at least 125 kids this week. That would normally be fine, because it would usually mean that I might have made some extra art projects which I would just put out as take-home extras, but this week was yummy bugs, where we got to make and eat insects...which means LOTS OF EXTRAS!! It was a really fun day. After playing "Hot spider (based on "Hot potato") my kids made oreo spiders (recipe below) and then we all sat down and enjoyed "Dirt cups and Worms," (recipe below--I winged it a little) which I had made yesterday. We finished by playing "I spy with my bug eye," and "Red light, green light." It was a great day....

As mentioned in this post, I am steadily reading; working my way through folklore and fairy tales alike--focusing on the stories that originate from specific regions around the world. This will benefit my Fall group...I hope. Yesterday's three were: The Hunterman and the Crocodile by Baba Waque Diakitre A Coretta Scott King Award Winner for its working together peacefully solution...which I was not expecting. Would have been more exciting had the crocodile eaten the hunterman. The Gingerbread Man by Jim Aylesworth I loved the pictures in this book. Also, I liked how this book ended in true folktale fashion with the last page of the story containing a rhyming moral. Cinderella by Charles Perrault, modern retelling and pictues by Loek Koopmans and Anthea Bell I was not really impressed with this retelling or the pictures--Cinderella and the prince looked like they were about 10 years old. I think I prefer the Grimm Brothers Cinderella story better. Still gear...

Roomie M and I finally joined the new millenium and got internet at home. I am sitting in the living room watching Little House on the Prarie reruns and typing. It is Sunday night and I find my case of allergies...and the grumpies...over. As always, that miserable feeling that comes with sickness has passed and it is like I was never even sick. I feel like the weeks have been flying by, probably due to the fact that I have had a lot of planning to do for Summer Reading 2008; since my boss, and another co-worker and I had agreed to have some of the Bibliographic aspects and handouts for the kids done by this coming Friday. Time might also be flying by because I have been working at least one twelve hour shift a week for the past month, and also subbing extra hours on top of that at Library Y. This week is no different. Tomorrow I have a 9 hour shift at Library X (Toddler Storytime, followed by 6 hours of Reference) and then I am off to meet up with a few of the other librarians of Libra...

Had our Dr. Seuss Birthday party this weekend. We had a really great turn out for our Dr. Seuss' Birthday party, which was held this past weekend. We had 56 people of all ages come out for an hour spent reading Dr. Seuss books, Dr. Seuss themed art projects: create the cat in the hat, decorate red fish and blue fish, and create Horton's egg, and we also sang "Happy Bitrthday Dr. Seuss," complete with a Cat in the Hat cake. My Mom and sister A1 brought Monster Niece S and Nephew A. It was totally adorable--when they walked in Monster Nephew A walked up to me while I was reading our first story, McElligot's Pool , and said, "Monster," (using my real name of course) and just grinned at me. Such a sweet child and talking so much these days. We also read Horton Hears a Who! since I know that people will be taking their kids to that blasted movie!! Is anyone else dissapointed to see that a book which takes all of ten minutes to read is being turned into a mov...

Another weekend is upon us. It seems that the weeks are flying by and Spring is around the corner. Though we received another 7.5 inches of the fluffy white stuff the other day Spring is definitely in the air. The temperature while still clinging in the 20s-30s has been surprisingly gentle with the sun making its first appearances--from behind grey cloud--in what seems like the first time in centuries. Amazing how winter can be so awe inspiring at times; that first snow is delicate and welcomed, but Jesus, by the end I am willing to beat up my old neighbors for even a glimmer of sunshine. This week went by mercifully fast after those long days. This week I had my weekly Babies and Toddler storytimes as well as one of my Afternoon groups were the kiddies come in and we read a few books and do art projects. This weeks theme was the ocean so I read a book called 100 things you should know about the Ocean or something like that, and my kiddos (had 8 this week--my biggest batch for this ...