Witch Book

I gave our volunteer several options to create a book display. She really liked the Witch Book display and ran with it. This was our primary Halloween book display.

mummies

mummies books

Spooky-Good Reads

Another awesome creation by our volunteer. I gave her my general vision and she brought it to life. We did a mixture of spooky, thriller, and Halloween books for this display.

Spooky-good

spooky good full

Feast on Delicious Books

Thanksgiving/Food Book Display created by our wonderful volunteer who took my vision and made it come alive.

Posterboard display

Full Display

Gross-Out Cook-Off

Our library really enjoys doing cooking programs for the public. We have started getting in the habit of doing a cook-off at least once a year, and this past year we did a Gross-Out Cook-Off for children in grades 4-12th grade. This was a collaboration between the children’s department and the teen department.
Here were the rules:

Children and teens in grades 4-12 may enter “Gross-Out Cook-Off.” Prizes will be awarded in three grade categories: 4-6, 7-9, and 10-12.
Registration is required for entry into “Gross-Out Cook-Off.”
Each contestant may enter only one entry, and it must be an individual entry. No teams will be accepted.
Entries can be sweet or savory and must include a copy of the recipe (which includes any changes you made to the recipe). Also provide information on where the recipe came from (name of blog, cookbook, website, etc.). Include your name and grade with the recipe.
The dish will be judged based on the following categories:
- Appearance –How gross it looks on the plate and the presentation. The grosser, the better!
- Creativity –Types of ingredients used in the recipe.
- Taste—How the ingredients work together and the overall taste. It should look and sound gross, but taste amazing!

Here are a few pictures of our entries:
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American Girl – Cécile Rey

Introduction	I’ve been really wanting to do a Cécile Rey program for a while now but did not really know what theme I wanted to focus on. Flipping through her books, I came across the yellow fever! I am a total sucker for morbid information, and I figured the subject was fair game if it was in her books. For my opening remarks, I gave the kids information about New Orleans during Cécile’s time, and how yellow fever was rampant. I provided all the kids an 1853 map of the United States, and they had to color in Louisiana and pinpoint New Orleans.
Symptom Checker/ Nursing Activity	After we talked about New Orleans, we started talking about the yellow fever. I gave the symptoms of yellow fever, and the kids colored and marked a human body chart with each of the symptoms. I also emphasized that this was a time where the community would tend to their neighbors if they were sick. I gave each kid a packet of gauze and they could either wrap their dolls or another person.
Masquerade Masks	I honestly could not not do masquerade masks. I outreached to a fellow librarian who lives in New Orleans, and she said that masquerades happen all the time. I figured that my participants would enjoy making their own masks.
Mosquito Spray	Finally, I decided to do a modern twist on the yellow fever. Why not make our own mosquito spray? I researched the different options and picked a kid-safe/toddler-safe spray recipe. I notified the parents about testing the spray first on clothing. I had an assembly line set-up and the kids moved down the table.

Ghosts – Preschool

Introduction	Welcome
Book	How to Scare a Ghost by Jean Reagan
Action Rhyme	Ring Around the Pumpkins Ring around the pumpkins Pocket full of spiders Boo! Boo! We all fall down! The ghosts are in the meadow Drinking witches brew Boo! Boo! We all stand up! Source: Awesome Storytime
Books	Ghosts in the House by Kazuno Kohara
Action Rhyme	Tonight is Halloween Tune: Do You Know the Muffin Man!Did you hear a ghost say, “Boo!” A ghost say, “Boo!,” a ghost say, “Boo!” I think I just heard him too— Tonight is Halloween! Have you tasted Goblin Stew, Goblin Stew, Goblin Stew? I wouldn’t taste it if I were you— Tonight is Halloween! Did you see that bat fly through That bat fly through, that bat fly through? I’d run home if I were you— Tonight is Halloween! Source: The Mailbox
Action Rhyme	Ghost Chant Ghost so scary, Ghost so white, Don’t scare (child’s name) On Halloween Night Source: Piggyback Songs: Seasons & Holidays
Action Song	The More We Boo Together The more we boo together, together, together, The more we boo together the scarier we’ll be. ‘Cause my boo plus your boo will make goblins boo-hoo. The more we boo together the scarier we’ll be. Source: King County Library System
Dance Song	Put Your Fingers in the Air by Miss Carole
Closing Songs	ABC, Count to 10
Goodbye song	It’s Time to Say Goodbye

Craft: A big ghost and a little ghost.
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Ghosts – Toddler

Introduction	Hello Everybody, Yes Indeed
Books	Five Silly Ghosts by Hilli Kushnir
Action Rhyme	The Ghost I saw a ghost (fingers circle eyes) He saw me too (point to yourself) I waved at him (wave your hand) But he said “BOO!” (try to scare person next to you) Source: Preschool Education
Book	Pop-Up Haunted House
Traditional Rhyme	This is Big, Big, Big/Clap Clap Your hands I have started incorporating sign language into “This is Big, Big, Big” rhyme.
ASL	Ghost
Nursery Rhyme	Little Miss Muffet Little miss Muffet she sat on her tuffet, Eating her curds eating and whey Along came a spider who sat down beside her And frightened miss Muffet away.
Action Song	Baby Ghost Baby ghost, baby ghost Flying through the air. (Move puppet back and forth in front of toddler.) Baby ghost, baby ghost Touching your hair. (Have ghost touch toddlers hair.) Baby ghost, baby ghost Flying down low. (Bring hand with puppet down low.) Baby ghost, baby ghost Touches your toe. (Bend down and touch ghost to toddlers toe.) Baby ghost, baby ghost Flying up high. (Raise ghost puppet up high.) Baby ghost, baby ghost Touches your eye. (I had the kids hide behind their puppets and then we all shouted “Boo!”) Source: Preschool Express
Action Song	Two Little Ghosts A very old witch was stirring a pot (make a stirring motion) Ooo-oooo! Ooo-oooo! Two little ghosts said, “What has she got?” (shrug shoulders) Tippytoe, tippytoe, tippytoe…(“walk” fingers up arm or tiptoe in circle) Boo! (Clap hands loudly) Source: Storytimes for Two-Year-Olds by Judy Nichols
Dance Song	Wiggle Walk by Carole Peterson
Traditional Song	ABC, Count to 10
Goodbye Song	Say Goodbye

Craft:

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Skeleton – Preschool

Introduction	Welcome
Book	Dem Bones by Bob Barner
Flannel Rhyme	Build a Skeleton With the older kids, the kids had to tell me how to build the skeleton. I would make them be very specific. For example, if they said the hand went on top, I put the hand on top of the head. They had to tell me the hand went at the end of the arm. Template: Skeleton
Book	Skeleton for Dinner by Margery Cuyler
ASL	Skeleton
Action Rhyme	Skin and Bones There was an old woman all skin and bones, O-o-o-o! She lived down by the old graveyard O-o-o-o! One night she thought she’d take a walk, O-o-o-o! She walked down by the graveyard, O-o-o-o! She saw the bones a laying around, O-o-o-o! She thought she would seep the old church house, O-o-o-o! She went to the closet to get a broom, O-o-o-o! She opened the door and Boo! Source: Bus Songs
Action Rhyme	They’re Necessary! Tune: My Bonnie Lies Over the Ocean I have lots of bones in my body, (hug self) They help me to stand straight and tall. (stand tall) ‘Cause if there were no bones inside of me, (throw arms out to sides) My body would crumple and fall! (crumple to the floor) I need bones! (stand and point to self) They help me to stand and to move, (march) You see. I need bones! (point to self) My bones are important to me! (march) Source: The Mailbox
Action Rhyme	Parts that Bend Sung to: “B-I-N-G-O” My arms have parts that bend and move Every time I use them. Shoulder, elbow, wrist and hand. Shoulder, elbow, wrist and hand. Shoulder, elbow, wrist and hand. And this is how I move them! My legs have parts that bend and move Every time I use them. Knee, ankle, heel and foot Knee, ankle, heel and foot Knee, ankle, heel and foot And this is how I move them! My trunk has parts that bend and move Every time I use them. Neck, back, waist and hips Neck, back, waist and hips Neck, back, waist and hips And this is how I move them! I’m made of parts that bend and move Every time I use them. Shoulder, elbow, wrist and hand.. Knee, ankle, heel and foot. Neck, back, waist and hips And this is how I move them! Source: Preschool Education
Game	Simon Says
Dance Song	Funny Bone Blues by Greg & Steve
Dance Song	Un Poco Loco by Coco
Cool Down	ABCs, Count to 15
Goodbye Song	It’s Time to Say Goodbye

Craft: Source of Inspiration

Skeleton – Toddler

Introduction	Hello Everybody, Yes Indeed
Book	Skeleton Hiccups by Margery Cuyler
Nursery Rhyme	This Old Man This old man, he played one, (hold up finger) He played knick-knack on my thumb; (show thumb) With a knick-knack (clap clap) paddywhack, (slap knees) Give the dog a bone, (pat knees) This old man came rolling home. (roll hands)
Book	Skeleton Meets the Mummy by Steve Metzger
ASL	Skeleton
Flannel	Recognize the Body Parts Template: Skeleton
Action Rhyme	Bones in My Body There are bones in my body And they keep me upright If I had no bones That would be a fright! Bone in my….feet! That wiggle and jiggle For ME-e-e-e (Do different body parts) Source:SLC Book Boy
Action Rhyme	What’s Inside of Me? Tune: Row, Row, Row Your BoatWhat’s inside my (arm) Where I cannot see? Strong bones are inside of my (arm). Right inside of me!Hand, leg, foot, hip, chest, neck and head Source: The Mailbox
Action Rhyme	I Went to the Dentist I went to the dentist and this is what she said: “Brush your teeth with your hand on your head!” Brush-a, brush-a, brush-a, brusha-a, Brush-a, brush-s, brush!I went to the dentist and this is what she said to me: “Brush your teeth with your hand on your knee!” Brush-a, brush-a, brush-a, brusha-a, Brush-a, brush-s, brush!I went to the dentist and this is what she said “Oh dear! “Brush your teeth with your hand on your ear!” Brush-a, brush-a, brush-a, brusha-a, Brush-a, brush-s, brush!I went to the dentist and this is what she said something funny: “Brush your teeth with your hand on your tummy!” Brush-a, brush-a, brush-a, brusha-a, Brush-a, brush-s, brush! I went to the dentist and what do you suppose? “Brush your teeth with your hand on your nose!” Brush-a, brush-a, brush-a, brusha-a, Brush-a, brush-s, brush! Source:Storytime Magic: Fingerplays, flannelboards, and Other Activities by Kathy Macmillan
Dance Song	The Skeleton Song by Super Simple Songs
Dance Song	Do the Skeleton Scat! by The Wiggles
Cool Down	ABCs, Count to 10
Goodbye Song	Say Goodbye