Get Real with Storytime

Book excerpt: This is a complete, year-long programming guide that shows librarians how to integrate nonfiction and poetry into storytime for preschool children in order to build literacy skills and overall knowledge. The right nonfiction titles—ones with colorful photographs and facts that are interesting to young imaginations—give librarians an opportunity to connect with children who are yearning for "true stuff." Presenting poetry in storytime encourages a love of language and the chance to play with words. Written by authors with a combined 25 years of experience working with children and books in a library setting, Get Real With Storytime: 52 Weeks of Early Literacy Programming goes far beyond the typical storytime resource book by providing books and great ideas for using nonfiction and poetry with preschool children. This book provides a complete, year-long programming guide for librarians who work with preschool children in public libraries and school librarians who run special programs for preschoolers as well as parents, childcare providers, and camp counselors. Each of the 52 broad storytime topics (one for each week of the year) includes a sample storytime featuring an opening poem; a nonfiction title; picture books; songs, rhymes, or fingerplays; and a follow-up activity. Early literacy tips that are based on the authors' extensive experience and the principles of Every Child Ready to Read (ECRR) are presented throughout the book.