Christine Kirker – författare

Storytime audiences grow ever more diverse, and it’s important that the materials used in programs reflect that richness of experience. Multiculturalism need not be an occasional initiative attached to particular holidays. In this book best-selling authors MacMillan and Kirker offer a new paradigm for multicultural programs, one in which diversity is woven into any and every storytime, no matter what the topic. Arranged thematically around dozens of popular storytime themes, the authors Present original and traditional resources from all over the world that will enrich storytimes for ages 2 through 5Offer concrete book recommendations, fingerplays, and other activities that can be integrated into existing storytimesInclude download links for flannelboard and stick puppet patterns, and illustrations of American Sign Language signs With numerous activities and programming suggestions, this book will seamlessly integrate and enhance cultural awareness for children all year round.

Whether you’ve been presenting baby story times for fifteen years or fifteen minutes, you probably already know that the first five years of life are key for brain development and early literacy. Many public libraries have instituted baby and toddler programs, but finding exciting materials for baby story time that go beyond nursery rhymes can be a challenge. Baby Storytime Magic is a treasure trove of new and exciting ideas for programs, all of which revolve around themes from a baby’s world. Inside this resource you’ll findFinger plays, bounces, flannel boards, activities with props, songs, American Sign Language activities, and more, with items arranged by type of materialTips for planning story times, with advice on logistical issues such as age grouping, scheduling, formats, and physical setupGuidance on involving caregivers in baby story times, including suggested scripts for explaining the benefits of each activity and how to use it at homeAge-appropriate book recommendationsInformation on the stages of early childhood development, plus an appendix of recommended additional resourcesA thematic index to find the right story time quicklyLinks to full-sized, downloadable flannel board patterns, craft patterns, and worksheetsPacked with ready-to-use activities, reducing prep time substantially, this book is a valuable early literacy tool for every children’s librarian.

MacMillian and Kirker’s knack for creating storytimes that engage and delight young ones have made their previous books bestsellers. Now they’re back with an all new assortment of original fingerplays, transitional rhymes, movement songs, flannelboards, sign language rhymes and other activities to spice up storytimes for ages two and up. This ready-to-go sourcebook for children’s librarians, early literacy specialists, and other adults who work with young children offers everything needed to plan and host quality storytimes, includingmore than a dozen thematic groupings of activities, featuring such fun topics such as “All About Me,” “Bugs and Insects,” “Fairy Tales and Castles,” and “People in my Neighborhood”; recommended storytime books for each theme, along with material lists, patterns for flannelboards and stick puppets, and illustrations of American Sign Language signs; andcoding for each entry indicating which Common Core State Standards for Kindergarten skills it supports. Using the guidance and activities contained in this book, storytimes will be more magical than ever!

With schools emphasizing STEM activities for children to meet curriculum goals for standardized testing, nurturing children’s artistic creativity is often given short shrift. Kirker’s fun resource aims to restore the balance, offering more than two dozen projects that will spark children’s interest in art and encourage creativity, collaboration, and critical thinking. Designed for kids aged 5-10, and flexible enough to use in either storytimes or classroom settings, the projects hereintroduce children to a variety of art techniques, from gouache and watercolor to collage and papermaking, using a curated selection of quality picture books;provide detailed directions for guiding children to experiment with these techniques to create their own projects; andinclude materials lists adaptable for any budget, capsule biographies of the picture books’ illustrators, programming tips, and links to additional resources.Kirker’s inventive projects will help library staff and educators reinforce learning, encourage experimentation, and build an appreciation for art and the creative process.