Jennifer Sullivan

Youth & Family Services Manager

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Fearless Storytime�Ten Things You Should Not Be Afraid to Do As a Storytime Presenter

Sing

• Singing is an important early literacy practice
• Slows down language
• Breaks up syllables & sounds
• Helps develop listening skills
• Incorporates rhyme & rhythm
• Vocabulary
• Provides a good example for both kids and adults, encourages participation
• Kids don’t care if you can sing well! �(Neither can they )

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Don’t Be Afraid To…

Sing

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Don’t Be Afraid To…

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• Lots of repetition
• Use simple, familiar childhood tunes
• ABCs
• Use a variety of types & tempos
• Recorded music is OK, too; mix it up
• Jbrary.com
• Other storytime/library blogs
• YouTube
• Google

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Be Silly!

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Don’t Be Afraid To…

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• Laugh at yourself
• Dance
• Act goofy
• Use silly voices
• Wear costumes
• Read silly books

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Be Silly!

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Don’t Be Afraid To…

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Learn As You Go

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Don’t Be Afraid To…

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• Don’t have to know everything right away
• Don’t have to use every technique in beginning
• Read up on basics & observe others to start
• Keep it simple, start in your comfort zone
• Gain confidence, then experiment
• Gradually expand your repertoire & comfort zone

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Take Advantage

Don’t Be Afraid To…

• Draw inspiration from programs others have done�
• Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery�
• Don’t have to re-invent the wheel every time�
• OK to repeat, if the audience is different�
• Remember to give credit

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(of Others’ Knowledge & Experience)

Set Boundaries

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Don’t Be Afraid To…

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• Necessary for a successful storytime & your sanity!
• Be sure expectations are developmentally appropriate
• Begin storytime with a brief statement of expectations
• Addressing behavior can be awkward
• Be kind, compassionate, and calm; but firm
• Be sure your manager/director will back you up!
• Unfortunately, sometimes patrons do react badly

Change Gears

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Don’t Be Afraid To…

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• If it’s not working, then try something else!
• Extend beginning routine, redirect, move on, �just move, sing�
• In the middle of storytime�
• In the middle of a book�
• In the middle of your career!�
• Sometimes what used to work doesn’t work anymore, i.e. pre- and post-Covid, people are different

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Cut It Short

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Don’t Be Afraid To…

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• Some days nothing will work
• New or very young group
• Change of schedule
• Special event (holidays, parties, pool days)
• Just ‘something’ in the air
• Better to quit before everyone gets too frustrated
• End on a positive note
• “Sometimes it’s just a hokey-pokey day” – Toy Lancaster

Ditch Crafts

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Don’t Be Afraid To…

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• Focus is on following directions
• Often not developmentally appropriate
• Caregivers tend to take over
• Too much staff time spent pre-cutting everything
• Never know how many are going to show
• Materials wasted or rushing to prep more
• Often end up left behind or in the trash

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Product Driven

Ditch Crafts

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Don’t Be Afraid To…

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Focus on Child-Directed, Process-Driven

• Open-ended, “messy” art
• Loose parts play
• Building sets & manipulatives
• Busy boards
• Sensory bin, tubes, balls, and other toys
• Activities to build literacy, STEM, and socio-emotional skills
• Enhances problem-solving, creativity & confidence
• May have to gradually adjust expectations

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Fail

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Don’t Be Afraid To…

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• Fear of failure leads to rigidity & stagnation
• Need to continually experiment & try new things
• Stay flexible, open to new ideas
• We often learn more from failure than success
• No one ever died from a less than spectacular storytime!
• Supervisors/Managers/Directors, give your staff grace

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This Photo by Unknown Author is licensed under CC BY-SA

Image by ArtMonkey at Freepik.com

Fail

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Don’t Be Afraid To…

• "There are no failures, just lessons.“� - Pete the Cat�
• “Take chances, make mistakes, and get messy!” � - Ms. Frizzle�
• “Only those who dare to fail greatly can ever achieve greatly.” � - Robert F. Kennedy

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Find Your Own Style

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Don’t Be Afraid To…

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• No two people will present the same book in the same way
• We don’t all like the same books or music; �use what you genuinely like
• No two people do storytime the same way
• Many different structures, formats, and styles
• To theme, or not to theme
• ECRR2, Supercharged Storytimes, Mother Goose On the Loose
• The only “have to”s are sharing stories & supporting early literacy skills in some way
• Experiment; find what works for YOU & your audience!

Resources

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• Jbrary.com – THE storytime/youth services blog
• Storytime plans
• Book lists
• Videos for songs & rhymes
• Blogroll
• Discussions of various topics
• AdventuresInStorytime.com - My blog
• Storytime planning & plans searchable by theme
• Commentary
• STEM/STEAM for school age
• StorytimeKatie.com
• Storytimes by theme, flannels, songs & rhymes, resources

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Resources

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• Flannel Friday (Facebook group & Pinterest)
• Every Child Ready to Read
• Supercharged Storytimes (ALA book, WebJunction course)
• Mother Goose on the Loose
• Colorado Libraries for Early Literacy
• VIEWS2 studies
• Google
• Pinterest

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Resources

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• Best Resource Is Other Youth Services Staff!
• State organization & listserv
• Storytime Solidarity Facebook group
• Storytime Underground FB group (inactive, archived)
• Observe & network with other children’s librarians in your system & in surrounding counties
• Follow other libraries on Facebook

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Don’t Be Afraid To…

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1. Sing
2. Be Silly
3. Learn As You Go
4. Take Advantage of Others’ �Knowledge & Experience
5. Set Boundaries
6. Change Gears
7. Cut It Short
8. Ditch Crafts
9. Fail
10. Find Your Own Style

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Jennifer Sullivan

Youth & Family Services Manager

www.AdventuresInStorytime.com

AdventuresInStorytime@gmail.com

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