This is my first year as a librarian. I spent 4 weeks to provide lessons about the library for every student in the school to review the expectations, checkout procedures, book-care, and to introduce myself. This dry, yet necessary, step to open the library for the school year needed to really connect with the younger students who are still learning more about the library as they get older. I chose several books to read aloud to them to engage their interest in the procedures of the library and to make it fun for second, first, and kindergarten.
A Library Book for Bear
For kindergarten, I chose to read A Library Book for Bear, by Bonny Becker. “Bear had never been to the library. He had seven very nice books at home …Bear was quite sure he had all the books he would ever need.” One day, Mouse came over to take Bear to the library. Bear roller -skated to the library with Mouse in his basket (I connected with this very entertaining and an endearing illustration.) to discover how extravagant the library was with all the books. Bear liked books about pickles, honeybees, and kings and queens. As Mouse tirelessly brought him books about canoes, rocket ships, and dancing pickles, they soon discover story time in the library and a new book for Bear. The two skated home with several new books to read including Bear’s new book entitled The Very Brave Bear and the Treasure of Pickle Island..
Becker, B. (2014). A Library Book for Bear. Somerville, MA: Candlewick Press.
The post activity for this book was to introduce Kindergarten to the library by walking around the possible books they could checkout in the future and look for books about pickles hiding in plain sight.
The Library Book
For first grade, I chose to read them The Library Book, by Tom Chaplin and Michael Mark. This book was illustrated to the words of a song that Tom Chaplin and Michael Mark wrote. My first read of the book without ever hearing the song, I noticed that this book could really show first graders how magical books could be with all their favorite characters making an appearance in this book. I downloaded the song from iTunes and played it as I flipped through the book for my second read. It is a very catchy tune that had me singing it again as I shelved books in the library. This book would not only show how books are magical, but it also touched on the universal procedures of a library in a song that students would be able to sing repeatedly.
Chaplin, T. (2017). The LIbrary Book. New York: Atheneum Books for Young Readers.
The Boy who was Raised by Librarians
For second grade, I read The Boy Who Was Raised By Librarians, by Carla Morris. Melvin is a boy who lives at the Livingston public library, not really, but he spends lots of time there as a kid and the reader will soon learn he spends a lot of time there as an adult. The reference librarians Marge, Betty, and Leeola greet him every day and throughout the years, Melvin brings in his various school projects to show them and they would help him identify, organize, and catalog. “They couldn’t help it. That’s how librarians are.” Melvin eventually graduates high school and goes off to college. He writes Margie, Betty, and Leeola about the books he is reading. This book comes full circle when another little boy named Sterling visits the library and is greeted by the Livingston Library’s newest librarian. Who do you think the new librarian is?
Second grade is a great year for students for they are well on their way to being good students. This is the year they move from learning to read to reading to learn. They are no longer the young kids of the school. They are already applying the procedures of the library and they understand how to take care of a book. It is time for them to understand that a library is a resource throughout their education and presenting it as an important resource into their adulthood.
Morris, C. (2007). The Boy who was Raised by Librarians. Atlanta, GA: Peachtree Publishers.
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