Children's books in Story times

This week has been a lot. I started working again since I am home and have been doing youth services for my local library virtually. Because we can’t do as much in person anymore our director has chosen this time for us to learn, so that means I have been reading many many things on library services. Which, I’m not going to lie, are kind of interesting. I had to watch one on developing story times for younger kids and it gave a cool insight into how the gatekeeping end works for children’s books.
Since we are adults picking books to read to children, and story times are places meant to expose children to literature and help teach them reading. In this reading, the criteria for choosing a children’s book for story times were to have large illustrations. This is so kids sitting far away can see the pictures. Also, to have interactive books, ones that rhyme ask the kids questions. Most of the kids in story times don’t know how to read, and are kids, so keeping their focus isn’t the easiest thing to do. So, having an interactive story helps them feel involved. I remember one book my bosses have used in multiple story times. I can’t remember the exact title, but the whole premise of the books was for the kids to guess what was behind a shadow. The catch was that the shadow was nothing what it looked like. It would start out with a rhyme like “Who is that drinking milk on the mat? Oh, it must be my…” there would be a shadow that looked very obviously like a cat, so all the kids would scream “CAT”. We turn the page and it would be a strange looking old man, and the words would read “Uncle jim”. The kids loved it, not only were they involved in the telling of the story, but they found these jokes to be hilarious. The thing about story times is that we are meant to make the kids enjoy themselves and then they want to start reading themselves. So, getting them involved in a story is the best way to do that. I found it really interesting with what we were discussing last week, children’s books aren’t meant to be condescending, and kids totally pick up on that. They are very honest with you if they don’t like a book. So, keeping things light and interactive in kids book always makes them like it better.
Another thing I learned about in that reading was wordless picture books. I had never heard about them before, but they tell the story through just the pictures. The way they are used in story times, is the librarian will show the pictures and ask the kids “What do you think is happening in this picture?”. They do this for every page and the kids actually write the story. It sounds like a really cool idea, and gets kids thinking and being creative!