As the end of the school year approaches, youth services staff is busy visiting schools to talk about the Summer Reading Program. This week I am visiting three different elementary schools and talking to students in Kindergarten through 5th grade. I explain how to sign up for the program, how it works, the programs, and, of course, the prizes. We also talk about how to sign up for a library card and what to do if you lose your card. After questions, I tell a short story. To the younger grades this year, I told “The Rolling Pancake,” a spinoff of “The Gingerbread Man,” in which a renegade pancake escapes seven hungry children and six hungry birds, but finally falls victim a devious fox. To the older grades, I told a scary story called “Who Will Keep Me Company?” in which a lonely old woman who longs for a visitor finally gets one. (I love making the kids jump!)

References

De Las Casas, D. & Lisette, S. (2009). Scared Silly: 25 Tales to Tickle and Thrill. Santa Barbara, CA: Libraries Unlimited.

De Las Casas, D. & Lisette, S. (2011). Tell Along Tales: Playing with Participation Stories. Santa Barbara, CA: Libraries Unlimited.