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.


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.


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.


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


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:
Here are a few pictures of our entries:



| 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. |
| 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.
![IMG_6052[1]](https://librionyian.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/img_60521.jpg?w=161&h=215)
| 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:
![IMG_6052[1]](https://librionyian.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/img_60521.jpg?w=202&h=270)
| 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 My trunk has parts that bend and move I’m made of parts that bend and move |
| 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

| 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? 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 |
Craft: Source of Inspiration

| Introduction | Welcome |
| What’s in my Egg | Styrofoam Egg filled with different animals – Had the kids guess the different animals. |
| Book | Chickens to the Rescue by John Himmelman![]() |
| Flannel | Five Little Eggs There are five little eggs And what do we see They’re about to crack open “My goodness me,” said Mother Hen.The first egg cracks open And what do we see It’s a snappy little alligator Looking at me.The second egg cracks open And what do we see It’s a little purple dinosaur Looking at me. The third egg cracks open The fourth egg cracks open The fifth egg cracks open “Mommy!” said the chick.
|
| Book | Chicken Butt by Erica S. Perl![]() |
| Action Rhyme | If You’re a Chicken and You Know It (to the tune of “If You’re Happy and You Know It”) If you’re a chicken and you know it flap your wings: flap flap! (hands near armpits, elbows out, flap “wings” twice) If you’re a chicken and you know it flap your wings: flap flap! (hands near armpits, elbows out, flap “wings” twice) If you’re a chicken and you know it, and you really want to show it (hands near armpits, elbows out, flap “wings” twice) If you’re a chicken and you know it, flap your wings: flap flap!Other Verses: Fly up high: fly fly (jump up in air) Scratch with your feet: scritch scratch (drag one foot along ground, then other) Go peck peck: peck peck (Make a beak with hand, tap it on the other hand) Say bok bok: Bok! Bok! (say bok bok) Settle into your nest: settle settle (sit down and wiggle bottom) Source: Jen in the Library |
| Action Rhyme | This Is the Way the Chicken Moves This the way the chicken walks, chicken walks The chicken walks, the chicken walks. This is the way the chicken walks so early in the morning. (Bob the head, chin in front) This is the way the chicken stretches (flap wings) |
| Action Rhyme | Shake, Shake, Shake (Tune: Do your ears hang low?)Can you shake your egg up high? Can you shake your egg down low? Can you shake it side to side? Can you shake it by your toe? Can you shake it really fast? Can you shake it really slow? Can you shake your egg? Source: Storytimes and More |
| Dance Song | Put a Chicken on Your Head by Mr. Eric and Mr. Michael |
| Dance Song | Chicken Dance |
| Cool Down | ABCs, Count to 10 |
| Goodbye Song | It’s Time to Say Goodbye |
Craft: Chicken headband! Source of inspiration.
