These are the programs I am offering this year for libraries. Since I know librarians are always looking for new ideas, I've included some program, craft and activity suggestions, as well as some good websites for more ideas.

Summer 2007 Program Suggestions

Riddle Me This, Riddle Me That!
All kids love riddles, regardless of their age! Riddle stories and songs invite the audience to participate in the solution. For all ages.

Suggestions for Librarians:
Library tie-ins: displays of riddle books
Bookmarks of Internet riddle and puzzle sites, books about making books (see attached list of suggested titles)
Craft: making an “Exquisite corpse” book—not as gruesome as it sounds! (see the flip book pattern at http://familycrafts.about.com/od/homemadebooks/ for instructions)

How and Why Tales
Pourquoi stories that explain why things are the way they are today! Stories about animals, weather, nature and more in a lively set with puppets, participation and fun. For all ages.

Suggestions for Librarians:
Library tie-ins: displays of animal books, folktales, and videos/DVDS about animals.
Bookmarks of Internet sites for folktale activities, books from your 398 section
Craft: animal masks, animal puppets

It’s a Mystery!
This program combines riddle stories and songs, “pourquoi” stories with audience participation, props and puppets, and Granny Sue’s Story Bag. Lively, interactive, and fun for all ages, participants stay involved because they have parts in the performance too! The Story Bag has been a hit with children everywhere as they delve into the bag and pull out an item that leads to the next story.
Suggestions for Librarians:
Library tie-ins: display riddle and animal books, puppetry books, folktales, children’s CDs and cassettes
Bookmark of Internet sites for puppetry, books from your 791.5 section.
Craft: Make a story bag, with canvas or paper bags

Mysterious West Virginia
A program for children ages 8 to 98, this program focuses on West Virginia’s mysteries, from the Greenbrier Ghost to Mothman. Includes handout, display, coloring sheets, and plenty of food for thought. A puppet pattern for the Flatwoods Monster can be included if requested.

Suggestions for Librarians:
Library tie-ins: display West Virginia children’s authors, ghost stories
Bookmark of websites featuring Mothman, Greenbrier Ghost and others; bookmark of books from your 001 section (paranormal).
Craft: make a Flatwoods Monster puppet


West Virginia Ghost Stories
Another program intended for elementary-age children to adult audiences, these stories are favorites of WV State Park visitors. Stories cover the timeline of WV history. Program includes Appalachian ballads.

Suggestions for Librarians:
Library tie-ins: display WV music, WV ghost stories
Bookmark of websites devoted to state’s best-known mysteries (Greenbrier Ghost, Wizard Clip, and others), books from your WV collection or WV children’s authors.
Craft: make a book to write your own ghost story.
Other: Libraries could set up tape recorder and let patrons record their own ghost stories. Could later transcribe and print; possible fundraiser?

Fee per program: $200, negotiable if you schedule more than one program per day in your region.

Length: Programs can be 30 minutes to an hour, depending on your scheduling needs. Price includes mileage. Lodging and meals may be required for locations over 2 hours from Jackson County, WV (except in Hardy and Grant counties region, or Fairmont/Morgantown region—I have family in those areas!)

For more information about these programs, call 1-866-643-1353 or email me at susannaholstein@yahoo.com







Suggested Books and Websites:

Making Books That Fly, Fold, Wrap, Hide, Pop Up, Twist, And Turn: Books for Kids to Make by Gwen Diehn 1999, Sterling. I have used this book in many craft programs with children. Often kids think of books as only being one shape or form. This book explodes that myth in with fun crafts to make and do.

Making Books by Hand by Paul Johnson, 1997. A. C. Black, publisher. From the cover: “Over 30 practical book making projects for children.”

The Everything Kids Riddles & Brain Teasers Book: Hours of Challenging Fun (Everything Kids Series) by Kathi Wagner and Aubrey Wagner, 2004. Adams. For older children.

Riddle Me This! Riddles and Stories to Challenge Your Mind By Hugh Lupton, 2003. Barefoot Books. A great collection of stories and riddles!

How the Animals Got Their Colors: Animal Myths from Around the World by Michael Rosen, 1992. Harcourt, Brace, Jovanovich.

Why the Possum’s Tail is Bare and Other Native American Myths by James Connolly, 1985, Stemmer.

Storytime Puppet Zoo: Simple storytime Puppets and Plays by Marilyn Lohnes, 2005, Upstart Books.

1-2-3 Puppets: Simple Puppets to Make for working with Young Children by Jean Warren, 1989, Totline Books.

West Virginia Children’s Authors: You can’t do better than Phyllis Moore’s website for a comprehensive listing: http://www.mountainlit.com/children.htm

Other Websites for this Summer:
For Riddles: LogicLand has puzzles, games and more. http://library.thinkquest.org/04oct/00723/

For Mysteries: Mystery Master is probably for older kids and adults who love a challenge. http://www.mysterymaster.com/

For Animal Stories: Endangered Species Picture Book is an online coloring book about endangered animals. It was fast to download when I tried it. Even little ones will like to color the pictures, and older children can learn about endangered animals here. http://www.epa.gov/espp/coloring/

Eight Animal Rascals, from National Geographic, so you know it’s good! http://www.nationalgeographic.com/ngkids/0404/

For Folklore and Myths: This website is kid-friendly, colorful and interactive. http://home.freeuk.net/elloughton13/theatre.htm

http://www.ipl.org/div/kidspace/storyhour/ for online folktales kids can read like the cassette-and-book sets, bit no sound on the site when I tried (maybe my computer?)

West Virginia Ghost Stories online:
www.wvghosts.com
http://www.americanfolklore.net/folktales/wv1.html
http://www.wvtourism.com/hauntings/credits.asp
http://www.prairieghosts.com/shue.html Story of the Greenbrier Ghost
http://olrl.org/stories/wizclip.shtml Story of Wizard Clipp