More Pre-K Class Visits, 4/12/12 and 4/13/12 (National Library Week)

I repeated my National Library week story time from Wednesday morning for two more groups this week. Both were Pre-K classes in the neighborhood public schools. I didn't vary the routine at all, but I did have somewhat different experiences with the same material.

The Thursday morning visit was held at my library, since the school is right next door. The group was split about evenly between kids who are four and kids who have recently turned five. They must be used to longer books because they told me my stories were short. Their favorite book, by far, was Otto the Book Bear, though they were also pretty excited to read D.W.'s Library Card. They didn't know D.W. stood for anything, but they did know that Arthur was her brother. They also loved the Laurie Berkner song so much, they asked to do it a fourth time - which, of course, we did!

The teacher was lovely, and we're already working on planning more visits for the rest of this school and the start of next. She also told me I have a nice singing voice, which is always such a nice thing to say to someone who has to sing in front of groups every day. It was a great experience.

The Friday morning visit was also great. The kids were a little more free with their comments, which is the style I usually prefer, and they got into the "I'm Going Down to the Library" song much more than either of the other two. A little boy noticed right off that we missed the hen in I Took My Frog to the Library so I wound up having to confess that I skipped the card catalog page. The kids were mostly forgiving. They also enjoyed Otto the Book Bear, and unlike the Thursday group, they guessed right away that the building Otto enters was the library. Both groups, interestingly, were sure Otto would find his original book again at the library, which I have to say would have been a pretty nice ending, even if it was predictable. This group did know D.W.'s name, mostly because of the television show, and they were much more invested in her story than in any of the others.

At the end of my session, the classroom teacher introduced me to her colleagues in the same hallway who also wanted to schedule visits, so I'll be heading back to that school in the next couple of weeks for more story time. I love it when things work out so well - I think I will call National Library week a success!

All New Top 100 Picture Book and Chapter Book Polls: My Top 10 Chapter Books

Betsy Bird, the New York Public Library's Youth Materials Collections Specialist, and the writer of School Library Journal's Fuse #8 blog, is hosting The All New Top 100 Picture Book and Chapter Book Polls. Like her 2009 Picture Book Poll and 2010 Chapter Book Poll, this new one will compile responses from bloggers, librarians, teachers, and other bookish folks, to highlight the top 100 books in both categories. I am really excited that she has taken on this project again, because I missed the picture book poll the first time around, and I have never really been satisfied with the list I submitted for chapter books last time, either.

Lists are being accepted until 11:59pm on Sunday night (April 15), so there's still time to get your votes in. In the meantime, here is my chapter book list. I will share my picture book list here on the blog next Friday.

	1. Swallows and Amazons by Arthur Ransome (Click for my review.)
	2. Ballet Shoes  by Noel Streatfeild (Click for my review.)
	3. Jennifer, Hecate, Macbeth, William McKinley and Me, Elizabeth by E.L. Konigsburg
	4. A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L'Engle
	5. Blubber  by Judy Blume
	6. Because of Winn-Dixie by Kate DiCamillo
	7. When You Reach Me by Rebecca Stead (Click for my Goodreads review.)
	8. The Penderwicks by Jeanne Birdsall (Click for my review.)
	9. One Day and One Amazing Morning on Orange Street by Joanne Rocklin (Click for my review.)
	10. The Trouble with Chickens by Doreen Cronin (Click for my review.)