READ, CONNECT, PROTECT

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READ, CONNECT, PROTECTTABLE OF CONTENTS

Early Literacy: Babies .............................................................................................................................177

Early Literacy: Toddlers .........................................................................................................................181

Early Literacy: Preschool ......................................................................................................................185

Recycling Olympics (children) .............................................................................................................191

Scrub a Dub Dub (children) ..................................................................................................................194

Wild Jeopardy (children/teens) ...........................................................................................................196

Endangered Species Stop Motion Animation (children/teens) ..............................................198

No Animals Here: Vegan Cookbook Club (teens) .......................................................................202

Endangered Species Bookends (teens) ..........................................................................................205

Backyard Animal Farming (adults/multigenerational) ..............................................................207

Pet Expo (multigenerational) ...............................................................................................................210

CHAPTER 5

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BABIES

READ

In English10 Little Rubber Ducks (2010) by Eric Carle. A wonderful counting read-aloud about little ducks going overboard.

Barnyard Dance (1993) by Sandra Boynton. Another new classic with lively rhymes and wacky characters. Guaranteed to get everyone stomping their feet.

Clip-Clop (2007) by Nicola Smee. Farm animals ride a horse in this rhythmic bounce-along. Will going faster and faster lead to disaster? With lots of action, this book is as much for toddlers as it is for babies.

Countablock (2014) by Christopher Franceschelli. Peek-through counting book of things and creatures that transform, including eggs to chicks and caterpillars to butterflies.

Early Bird (2015) by Toni Yuly. Early bird seeks breakfast in this fun read-aloud that emphasizes action words.

Is Everyone Ready for Fun? (2011) by Jan Thomas. This book invites babies and toddlers alike to jump, dance, and wiggle along with unexpected cow visitors.

Moo, Baa, La La La (1982) by Sandra Boynton. Board book collections are likely to include this rendition of classic animal sounds. Images redrawn since the original 1982 release.

Peek-a Moo! (2017) by Nina Laden. Read the clue, repeat the rhyme, giggle, and repeat! Caregivers can join right in and sound along.

Who Eats Orange? (2018) by Dianne White and Robin Page. A fun read-aloud for exploring colors and animals’ favorite foods.

Bilingual/SpanishLittle Chickies/Los pollitos (2016) by Susie Jaramillo. A bilingual nursery rhyme based on “Los pollitos dicen,” one of the most popular songs in the Spanish-speaking world. Comes with a free sing-along app. (Bilingual)

Mamá Goose: A Latino Nursery Treasury (2005) by Isabel Campoy and Ma-ribel Suarez. Songs from all over the Spanish-speaking world, with English translations opposite. Chapters are divided by finger games, lap games, and song games, making this book an easy-to-use resource for baby and toddler programming. (Bilingual)

Who Hops?/¿Quién salta? (2006) by Katie Davis. Humorous read-aloud in both languages, with a refrain that older children love to join. (Bilingual)

BABIESSTORYTIME TIP: For small groups, invite caregivers to introduce their babies to the group with their names and ages. If time, you can also ask them to add a recent developmental milestone or favorite animal. This helps you learn names and build community.

EARLY LITERACY TIP: Even though animal sounds are not “real” words, they help babies learn and communicate the sounds of their language.

EARLY LITERACY TIP: To babies, nursery rhymes are musicalizations of caregiver tenderness. Along with lullabies, they develop auditory localization, the ability to pinpoint where a sound is coming from.

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SINGBounce: I Went to a Farm Repeat rhyme with any farm animals that suit your theme.

I went to a farm the other dayAnd I saw a horse across the wayCan you guess what I heard him say?Neigh, neigh, neigh, neigh.1, 2, 3, 4 (slap thighs or tap baby’s leg)1, 2, 3, 4 (slap thighs or tap baby’s leg)

Bounce: Fuí a una Granja El otro día a una granja fuíY a través del camino un caballo ví¿Puedes adivinar lo que decir le oí?Jiii, jiii, jiii, jiii.1, 2, 3, 4 (slap thighs or tap baby’s leg)1, 2, 3, 4 (slap thighs or tap baby’s leg)

Bounce: The Horses Are WalkingA great song for walking babies around a circle in one direction, then the other, at different speeds. Older children can trot themselves around the circle. See video from Jbrary here: https://bit.ly/2WJ8hgm

The horses are walking, they’re walking along,Walking along, walking along The horses are walking, they’re walking along. Woah, woah, WOAH!

Verses: Trotting, galloping The horses are walking, they’re walking back home, Walking back home, walking back home The horses are walking, they’re walking back home. Woah, woah, WOAH!

Bounce: Horsie on Our WayHorsie, horsie on your way (bounce slowly up and down)We’ve been together for many a day. (bounce a little faster)So let your tail go swish (move baby from side to side)And the wheels go round. (lift baby in a circle)Giddyup! We’re homeward bound. (one big bounce)

English/Spanisha farm = una granja

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Bounce: Trot to London Trot, trot to London (bounce baby up and down)Trot, trot, to Dover.Look out, baby, or you might fall over! (tilt baby sideways)Trot, trot to BostonTrot, trot to LynnLook out, baby, or you might fall in! (tilt baby down)

Movement: La Vaca LolaSee video from King County Library System here: https://bit.ly/2WHG7T3

La vaca lola, la vaca lola (clap hands in rhythm)

Tiene cabeza y tiene cola (move your head and your tail)

Y hace así: Muuuuuu!! (cup hands around mouth)

(Repeat these three lines)

Song: Los PollitosA traditional Latin American song. Bounce chicken puppets for extra fun. See video version in Spanish and English from Moore Memorial Public Library: https://bit.ly/3g00Itp

Los pollitos dicenPio, pio, pioCuando tienen hambreCuando tienen fríoLa gallina buscaEl maíz y el trigoLes da su comida¡Y les presta abrigo!

PLAY / TAKE HOMEMother Hen Object Permanence BoxBabies drop plastic eggs in a top hole and retrieve them from the open side. This activity refines babies’ motor control and practices object permanence, which is the idea that an object still exists even when it is out of sight.

To make the box, cut an egg-sized hole in the bottom of a shoebox; tape around the perimeter of the hole to smooth the edges. Then cut a large square hole in the short side of the box. Flip the box over so the lid is on the bottom (and the egg hole on top), and tape the lid to the box. Decorate with

TIP: Remember the classic farm animal fingerplay “This Little Piggy.” Caregivers tickle babies’ toes, and the little piggies go “wee, wee, wee all the way home.”

Spanish/Englishla vaca = cow

Spanish/Englishchicks = los pollitos

Image source: CSLP

TIPS: If you have chicken puppets, let caregivers use them to “lay” eggs on top of the box. To engage toddlers, ask them to put eggs of a certain color in the box.

English/Spanishhen = una gallina

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colored paper if desired. You could also put a few beans in each egg to make egg shakers (hot glue or superglue to secure!).

Worm PullCover a shoebox with brown paper and draw worm silhouettes on the box. Poke round holes in the lid, and thread thin rope through the holes. Knot the rope at each end so it does not come all the way out when babies pull. Do not tape the lid because you will need to remove it to pull the worms back down into the “dirt.”

Farm Animal SoundsEnlarge and laminate silly farm animals and their sounds (see Printables). You can show these during storytime or give caregivers printed copies to take home. See also Bilingual Animal Sounds from Chapter 01: Babies.

RESIZABLE DOWNLOAD(SEE ONLINE MANUAL OR USB)

What Do the Farm Animals Say?

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TODDLERSIn EnglishBlack Bird Yellow Sun (2018) by Steve Light. A delightful journey through a black bird’s colorful world.

Do Cows Meow? (2012) by Salina Yoon. Simple rhythmic lines encourage children to join in on the animal sounds. Good for preschool as well.

Dragons Love Tacos (2012) by Adam Rubin and Daniel Salmieri. Kooky new classic about a taco party. For a silly food theme.

Duck and Goose Go to the Beach (2014) by Tad Hill (or any Duck and Goose book). A comic friendship adventure.

Farmyard Beat (2012) by Lindsey Craig and Marc Brown. A toe-tapping farmyard dance-a-thon about animals who just cannot sleep.

Five Fuzzy Chicks (2020) by Diana Murray and Sydney Hanson. Baby chicks on a farm have some hijinks before bed.

Old MacDonald Had a Baby (2019) by Emily Snape and K-Fai Steele. A two-dad family and a humorous cast of animals in this fun, contemporary take on the classic rhyme.

Otis (2009) by Loren Long. A fun-loving tractor saves a young calf.

Peep and Egg: I’m Not Hatching (2016) by Laura Gehl and Joyce Wan (or any Peep and Egg book). The book’s refrain of “I’m not hatching” will be a winner at toddler storytime. Simple shapes and spot-on facial expressions.

Rosie’s Walk (1968) by Pat Hutchins. A classic of slapstick toddler humor.

What Does an Anteater Eat? (2019) by Ross Collins. A silly story sure to elicit giggles from toddlers.

Bilingual/SpanishLa oruga muy hambrienta (2002) by Eric Carle. (Spanish; also available in English)

Little Quack/Cauquito (2003) by Lauren Thompson and Derek Anderson. A little duck out of water. (Bilingual)

Señor Pancho Had a Rancho (2014) by, René Colato Laínez and Elwood Smith. A lively barnyard fiesta of animal sounds in Spanish and English. An abundance of onomatopiea to encourage children to sing along. Good to pair with any alternative version of “Old MacDonald Had a Farm.” (English with Spanish words)

STORYTIME TIP: Toddlers are still learning how to use proper volume when speaking, so books that run the gamut of noise level (from whispers to screams, for example) are fun teaching tools.

EARLY LITERACY TIP: Making animal sounds helps children connect meaning to the sounds they hear and practice the sounds they will use in their language.

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SINGFingerplay: Five Eggs and a Hen Five eggs and five eggs, (hold up two hands)That makes tenSitting on top is the mother hen. (fold one hand over the other)Crackle, crackle, crackle, (clap three times)What do I see?Ten fluffy chickens, (hold up 10 fingers)As yellow as can be.

Movement: ¡El Pollo!Lots of fun movement in this song as children act out the parts of a chicken. Sing multiple times: At normal speed, in slow motion, and extra fast. See video from Story Blocks here: https://bit.ly/2X9xSht

Eeeeeeeeeeeeel Pollo (arms wide back to front; clap hands in front) El pollo con una pata (step forward with one foot) El Pollo con la otra pata (step forward with the other foot) El pollo con el piquito (nod head up and down) El pollo con las alitas (flap elbows like wings) ¡El Pollo con la colita! (turn around and shake behind)

Song: La Gallina TurulecaLa gallina! Turuleca!Es un caso singular.La gallina! Turuleca!Está loca de verdad.La gallina turulecaHa puesto un huevo, ha puesto dos, ha puesto tres.La gallina turulecaHa puesto cuatro, ha puesto cinco, ha puesto seis.La gallina turulecaHa puesto siete, ha puesto ocho, ha puesto nueve.Donde está esa gallinita,Déjala a la pobrecita, déjala que ponga diez.

PLAY / TAKE HOMEFeed the Animals Drop Toddlers practice fine motor skills by feeding animal faces. To make each ani-mal, glue a face to a lid and cut out a large hole for the mouth (see Printables for resizable farm animal faces). Make several animal containers to match your theme. Decorate the sides as desired, and set out pom-poms, popsicle

EARLY LITERACY TIP: The first three years of a child’s life have the fastest rate of brain development, and by age three, their brains are 80% developed! Keeping babies and toddlers engaged is important for lifelong literacy.

TIP: For another fun farm animal song, see “Farm Animals Introduce Themselves” in Animal Shenanigans (2015) by Rob Reid. This song introduces simple rhymes that toddlers have success with right away.

Spanish/EnglishLa gallina turuleca = the silly hen

STORYTIME TIP: To orient Spanish-speaking caregivers, translate a few words and phrases from your storytime songs and display them on a felt board.

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sticks, or laminated food shapes for toddlers to feed into animal “mouths.” Modify to help preschoolers practice colors, numbers, letters, or rhymes.

Image(s) source: Alice Mackey of Marysville Public Library

Fingerprint Animal ArtToddlers dab painted fingers on printed worksheets to make fingerprint animals (see Printables). You will need paint, hand wipes, and covered tables, or simply give caregivers worksheets to take home.


Round Farm Animal Faces

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PRINTABLE

Fingerprint Animals

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PRESCHOOL

READ

In EnglishCarnivores (2013) by Aaron Reynolds and Dan Santat. Funny text about a lion’s place in the food chain. A favorite for rowdy read-alouds.

Food Chains and Webs (2016) by Abbie Dunn. Simple introduction to food chains; includes learning activity for preschool and up.

Good Night, Little Blue Truck (2019) by Alice Schertle and Jill McElmurry (or any Little Blue Truck book). Farm animals take a bedtime joyride; a fun ad-venture story for a stormy day.

Hogwash (2011) by Karma Wilson. Bouncy rhyming verse about dirty pigs who love their mud.

If You Plant a Seed (2015) by Kadie Nelson. A bunny and mouse plant a gar-den; fresh yet timeless.

Leap Frog (2020) by Jane Clarke and Britta Teckentrup. Forest creatures in their favorite spots. Onomatopoeic text and vibrant pictures work well in storytime.

Mother Bruce (2015) by Ryan T. Higgins. Everyone’s favorite grumpy bear adopts baby geese but cannot get them to fly south. Good for storytime laughs.

Old MacDonald Had a Truck (2016) by Steve Goetz. Great for storytime, this book gives a new twist on a song preschoolers are sure to know.

Piranhas Don’t Eat Bananas (2019) by Aaron Blabey. Quick, jaunty rhymes make for an engaging read-aloud.

The Thing About Bees: A Love Letter (2019) by Shabazz Larkin. A tribute to bees that pollinate the food we eat.

When a Wolf Is Hungry (2017) by Christine Naumann-Villemin and Kris Di Giacomo. A darkly humorous tale great for read-alouds.

Bilingual/SpanishEl camioncito azul (2008) by Alice Schertle and Jill McElmurry. (Spanish; also available in English)

¡El gallo que no se callaba! / The Rooster Who Would Not Be Quiet! (2017) by Carmen Agra Deedy and Eugene Yelchin. A rooster sings for freedom in a too-quiet town. (Bilingual)

I Got a Chicken for My Birthday (2018) by Laura Gehl and Sarah Horne. A disappointing birthday gift turns out to be not so bad. (English with Spanish words)

PRESCHOOL

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PRESCHOOL

La oruga muy impaciente (2019) by Ross Burach. A STEM-friendly book about a caterpillar’s metamorphosis. (Spanish; also available in English)

The Piñata that the Farm Maiden Hung (2019) by Samantha R. Vamos and Sebastià Serra. Farm animals craft a surprise birthday party in this colorful and festive story. Cumulative verse gives Spanish words for animals intro-duced on the previous page. (English with Spanish words).

La vaca que se subio a un arbol (2015) by Gemma Merino (Spanish; also available in English)

¡Vamos! Let’s Go Eat (2020) by Raúl the Third. A riotous tour of food trucks peppered with Spanish words. Recommended across the board. (English with Spanish words)

SINGRhyme: Five Angry Ants See video from Jbrary here: https://bit.ly/3g3uf5d

Five hungry ants were marching in a line (bounce five fingers) They came across a picnic Where they could dineThey marched across the sandwich, (walk fingers)They marched across the cake, (walk fingers)They marched across the pepper, (walk fingers)That was a mistake! Ah-choooo!

Add verses by counting down to one ant (optional)

Song: Six Little Ducks Lead this song standing up, and have children follow you around in a circle repeating “quack, quack, quack.”

Six little ducks that I once knew,Fat ones, skinny ones, fair ones too.But the one little duck with the feather on his back,He led the others with his quack, quack, quack!Quack, quack, quack! Quack, quack, quack!He led the others with his quack, quack, quack!Down to the river they would go,Wibble wobble, wibble wobble, to and fro.But the one little duck with the feather on his back,He led the others with his quack, quack, quack!Quack, quack, quack! Quack, quack, quack!He led the others with his quack, quack, quack.

TIP: For more farm animal songs, share classics “B-I-N-G-O” and “The Farmer in the Dell.”

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Song/Movement: B-I-N-G-O (Spanish)To the same tune as “B-I-N-G-O.” Begin each verse by calling out the movement.

Había un granjero que tenía un perroy se llamaba Bingo.B-I-N-G-O x 3Y se llamaba Bingo.

Verses: (¡Aplaudan!) …(B)-I-N-G-O x 3 ... Clap on silent “B”(¡Toquen sus piernas!) …(B-I)-N-G-O x 3 … Tap legs on silent “B-I”(¡Toquen su estómago!) … (B-I-N) G-O x 3 … Tap belly on silent “B-I-N”(¡Toquen su cabeza!) …(B-I-N-G) -O x 3 Tap head on silent “B-I-N-G”(¡Salten!) (B-I-N-G-O) x 3 … Jump on silent “B-I-N-G-O”

Song: El Viejo JuanchoTranslation of “Old MacDonald Had a Farm” by Paola Ferate-Soto, adapted with “rancho” instead of “granja.”

El viejo Juancho tenía un rancho, iai, iai, oo.Y en su rancho tenía un marrano, iai, iai, oo.Con su oink, oink aquí, con su oink, oink allí,Aquí oink, allí oink, en todos lados oink, oink.El viejo Juancho tenía un rancho, iai, iai, oo.

Verses: Vaca: Mu, muPollito: Pío, píoCaballo: Neigh, neighOveja: Bee, beePerro: Guau, guauGato: Miau, miau

PLAY / TAKE HOMEAnimal Food Matching Download and laminate pictures of animals and their food, and have chil-dren match up the cards. They could also arrange and attach the cards to baking sheets with magnets. See Printables for resizable images, or print them onto one page for a take-home version.

Spanish/Englishun marrano = pig

una vaca = cow

un pollito = chick

una oveja = sheep

un perro = dog

un gato = cat

EARLY LITERACY TIP: When preschoolers practice sorting, they develop their ability to notice, process, and categorize the world around them.

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Animal SortingChildren sort animals into one of two labeled bins (e.g., furry/scaly, tame/wild, small/big, land/water, etc.). To prepare, print pictures of 5 to 10 animals and laminate them for durability (or use storytime felts). Modify categories to suit your program and children’s ages.

Help Animals Find FoodChildren trace different types of lines that lead from animals to their food. This activity helps them to remember what animals eat and strengthens their hand muscles for learning to write letters. You could also give this worksheet to caregivers as a take-home activity.


Cute Animal Icons

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PRINTABLE

Animal Food Matching

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PRINTABLE

Help Animals Find Food

CHILDREN

191READ, CONNECT, PROTECT

GAME/ACTIVITY | OUTDOORS | OUTREACH

RECYCLING OLYMPICSAGESChildren 8+ years

PROGRAM DESCRIPTIONRun a weekly program in a local park or forest! Families meet to hear sto-ries about animals and ecosystems, to engage in fun recycling games, or to clean up the trail or area. If you can partner with a park, have a park ranger or volunteer give talks about local wildlife and environmental concerns. The program can also be adapted to a cleanup walk near the library if a local park is not an option.

Recycling game ideas include a sorting race, a water bot-tle toss, and a litter relay, all well-suited for teams of five players or fewer. You might also make simple modifications to these games to suit your local environment. For example, if wetland turtles in your area can choke on plastic bags or rings, set up the relay with those items instead of paper. Suggested runtime: 90–120 minutes

MATERIALS AND PREPARATIONFor the recycling race, each team will need:

• Assorted recyclables • Three recycling bins (paper, plastic, and cans)

The first team to sort correctly wins.

For the water bottle toss, you will need:

• Silicone or steel reusable water bottles • Water• A target (rope, spray paint, or poster board)

Fill the water bottles with water (fill only partway for young children). You can make the target out of interlocking circles of rope or spray paint, or draw the circles on poster board. Each player tries to hit the target on the ground; award points based on proximity.

Image source: Shutterstock

TIP: You can also create instructions for crafts made out of recycled materials for participants to take home. See Chapter 04: Backyard Habitats for some ideas.

CHILDREN



For the trash relay, each team will need:

• A reusable shopping bag• Five scraps of paper or other recyclables• Two traffic cones to mark the start and end lines (optional)

To play, the first team member runs to the end line, picks up one piece of paper and puts it in the bag, then runs back to the start line. Repeat until all team members have gone. The first team to finish wins.

For the park or neighborhood cleanup, you will need:

• Plastic gloves• Trash bags• Buckets for sharp objects• Water• Insect repellent• First aid supplies

For the program overall, you could add:

• A whistle• Prizes such as reusable bags and water bottles• Certificates of achievement

UNIQUE SPACE AND PERSONNEL NEEDSIf possible, partner with a local park for access to local habitat information and activities adapted to your specific ecosystem.

RESOURCESBooksPicture Books Bathing in the Forest (2020) by Marc Ayats and Nívola Uyá (NF) Mother Earth’s Lullaby: A Song for Endangered Animals (2018) by Terry Pierce and Carol Heyer (NF)A Peek-Through Pages Book of Endangered Animals (2019) by Tim Flach (NF) Room on Our Rock (2019) by Kate Temple et al. (F)

Early ReadersJoin the No-Plastic Challenge!: A First Book of Reducing Waste (2019) by Scot Ritchie (NF)

APP SUGGESTION: Try JouleBug, a free sustainability game by Cleanbit Systems (12+ years).

CHILDREN



Middle GradeAll that Trash: The Story of the 1987 Garbage Barge and Our Problem with Stuff (2018) by Meghan McCarthy (NF)Earth-Friendly Earth Day Crafts (2019) by Veronica Thompson (NF) Me and Marvin Gardens (2017) by Amy Sarig King (F) Trash Revolution: Breaking the Waste Cycle (2018) by Erica Fyvie (NF)What a Waste (2017) by Claire Eamer and Bambi Edlund (NF)

YACast Away: Poems for Our Time (2020) by Naomi Shihab Nye (F) Tracking Trash: Flotsam, Jetsam, and the Science of Ocean Motion (2010) by Loree Griffin Burns (NF)The Wondrous Workings of Planet Earth: Understanding Our World and Its Ecosystems (2018) by Rachel Ignotofsky (NF)

CHILDREN


GAME/ACTIVITY | SOLO-LIBRARIAN FRIENDLY | STEM | OUTDOORS

SCRUB A DUB DUBAGESChildren 4+ years

PROGRAM DESCRIPTIONOil spill sensory play! Discuss pollution and demonstrate an “oil spill,” fol-lowed by a cleanup effort to clear the polluted water. This is a great way to show how our actions affect the environment, including animal habitats. Another activity demonstrates how polar bears stay warm in water. Chil-dren stick their bare fingers in ice water, then dip their fingers again after coating them in Crisco. Discuss how blubber keeps polar bears warm.

MATERIALS AND PREPARATIONFor the ocean sensory bin, you will need:

• One plastic tub filled with water• Plastic aquatic animals, seashells, and toy boats• Cocoa power• Cooking oil• Small jars or bottles for sample• Coffee grounds (optional)• Shredded plastic (optional)

During the program, take a sample of the clean water. Add toy boats and cocoa power mixed with oil. You can also add coffee grounds and shreds of plastic for more gritty water. Compare a sample of the dirty water with the clean water.

ADAPTATION: If you live near water, consider a field trip!

TIP: For older children, show some examples of ingenious environmental cleanup: https://bit.ly/2z91Fin


CHILDREN


GAME/ACTIVITY | SOLO-LIBRARIAN FRIENDLY | STEM | OUTDOORS

For the “oil spill” cleanup, you will need:

• One plastic tub filled with clean water• Latex gloves (one pair per child) • Cotton balls and sponges• Toothbrushes and soap• Coffee filters

Children try to extract the oils from the sensory bin. Untangle the animals and scrub them with toothbrushes and soap over a bin of clean water. If you used coffee grounds, you can also filter the water using a coffee filter. After-wards, the sample bottle from the filtered water will show that messes we leave can make irreversible damage to aquatic habitats (i.e., the water is still not clear).

UNIQUE SPACE AND PERSONNEL NEEDSThis potentially messy program is a good one to take outdoors.

RESOURCESBooksPicture BooksHey, Water! by Antoinette Portis (2019) (NF)

I Can Save the Ocean! (2010) by Alison Inches and Viviana Garofoli (NF)

If Polar Bears Disappeared (2018) by Lily Wiliams (NF)

Save the Arctic (2019) by Bethany Stahl (NF)

The Pout-Pout Fish Cleans Up the Ocean (2019) by Deborah Diesen and Dan Hanna (F)

Save the Ocean (2019) by Bethany Stahl (NF)

Sea Bear: A Journey for Survival (2019) by Lindsay Moore (NF)

What’s That Noise? (2020) by Naomi Howarth (F)

Early ReadersMr. Popper’s Penguins (1938) by Richard Atwater and Florence Atwater (F)

River Rescue (2019) by Jennifer Keats Curtis and Tammy Yee (NF)

What a Waste (2019) by Jess French (NF)

TIP: In case of latex allergies, purchase vinyl gloves for children to wear.

TIP:See also Chapter 06: Preschool for more water sensory bin ideas.

CHILDREN TEENS


GAME/ACTIVITY | LOW COST | SOLO-LIBRARIAN FRIENDLY

WILD JEOPARDYAGESChildren 6+ yearsTeens

PROGRAM DESCRIPTIONRun a game of Jeopardy using a free online template! You can adapt the questions for any age group or animal theme. The rules follow the tradition-al TV game show, and contestants get points for every correctly answered question. Remember prizes for the winning teams. Suggested runtime: 60 minutes

MATERIALS AND PREPARATIONYou will need:

• PowerPoint template• Laptop and AV equipment• Jeopardy theme song• Buzzers or handheld signs• Prizes

Download the free PowerPoint template and fill in the blanks with age-appropriate questions related to your animal theme. On game day, set the tone by play-ing the Jeopardy theme song as contestants arrive. Divide them into teams, and give each team a buzzer (or sign).

UNIQUE SPACE AND PERSONNEL NEEDSOnly one staff member is needed operate the game, read the questions, and keep score. Add more staff for larger groups. This game can get loud, so it is best to run it in an enclosed meeting room.

TIP: For a premade bookish beasts-themed Jeopardy game for teens, see https://bit.ly/2TgBTjd (password: summer)

ADAPTATION: For younger children, you can use the animal silhouettes as the “question” and ask them to answer with the name of the animal.

TIP: To even the playing field, you can also ask teams to write and hold up their answers at the same time and award points to every team with the correct answer.


TIP: Introduce the game like Alex Trebek: “Thank you all very much ladies and gentlemen, on behalf of all of us, welcome to America’s favorite answer-and-question game, Jeopardy!” Just like in the TV show, give each contestant exactly 30 seconds to tell the most interesting story or fact about themselves.

CHILDREN TEENS


GAME/ACTIVITY | LOW COST | SOLO-LIBRARIAN FRIENDLY

RESOURCESWebFree Jeopardy PowerPoint template: https://bit.ly/2zbS5LzYouTube tutorial on how to use the template: https://bit.ly/2TgC91F10 easy animal trivia questions: https://bit.ly/3dWyvBN15 animal questions from Useful Trivia: https://bit.ly/3bN3NcJ30 science trivia from Science Kids: https://bit.ly/2TeniEMAnimal trivia for teens from Pub Quiz Questions HQ: https://bit.ly/36bA8Jb

Animal Fact Books Humanimal: Incredible Ways Animals Are Just Like Us (2019) by Christopher Lloyd and Mark Ruffle (middle grade) Terrific Tongues! (2018) by Maria Gianferrari and Jia Liu (picture book)The Surprising Lives of Animals: How They Can Laugh, Play, and Misbehave (2020) by Anna Claybourne and Stef Murphy (middle grade)

ANIMAL TRIVIA BOARD GAMES TO TRY: • The Animal Trivia

Challenge Game from MindWare: https://amzn.to/2Xa06c4

• Brainbox: A Box of Animals: https://amzn.to/2z8Pimt

TIP: For more children’s nonfiction about weird and/or amazing animals, see Chapter 06: Axolotl and Other Weirdos and Chapter 06: Terrific Tardigrades.

CHILDREN TEENS


GAME/ACTIVITY | STEM

ENDANGERED SPECIES STOP MOTION ANIMATIONAGESChildren 10+ yearsTeens

PROGRAM DESCRIPTIONIn this two-part program, teens create simple stop motion videos about en-dangered animals. Ask them to advocate for their animals through their vid-eos, such as by showing habitat destruction and how to help; alternatively, adapt this program for any animal theme. In the first part, show stop motion animation clips and discuss basic storyboarding. Teens choose and/or create their animals and backgrounds, and plan their shot lists (see Printables). In the second part of the program, teens learn how to use Stop Motion Studio (a free app) and begin production. Screen everyone’s videos at the end of the program. Suggested runtime: 120 minutes

MATERIALS AND PREPARATIONFor backdrops:

• Premade backdrops

OR

• 11x14” paper and coloring supplies

For endangered animals:

• Photos and reference material • Animal figurines

OR

• Animal-making materials (Legos, • modeling clay, pipe cleaners, • or construction paper and brads)

For stop motion animation:

• Sample stop motion videos • Storyboarding worksheets (see Printables)• Tablets or smartphones with the Stop Motion Studio app• Multiple tripods or book stands to hold devices in place

TIP: What is stop motion animation? It is a video made from photos played in quick succession. Five frames (photos) per second is a good starting point.

TIP: Remember to get permission to post some of these videos on your library’s social media!

TIP: If you combine these sessions into a single program, you may want to limit video lengths (a 30-second video x 5 frames per second = 150 frames!). To save time, you can also provide animal figurines and backdrops instead of asking teens to make their own.

TIP: For a longer, more involved program, combine with Chapter 01: Animal Character Design, Chapter 04: Create a Creature, or Chapter 06: Break It, Remake It. Children or teens make stop-motion videos out of the creatures they created.

ADAPTATION: For the endangered species component, have younger children choose animals from a deck of printed endangered animal photos. Then discuss what each animal needs to survive (e.g., habitat, specific food) and what makes it endangered.


CHILDREN TEENS



Gather endangered species reference materials, stop motion animation clips to show, art supplies, and storyboarding worksheets. Teens draw simple backgrounds and make their endangered animals out of Legos, modeling clay, pipe cleaners, or torn construction paper (with articulated limbs fas-tened with brads). Be sure to play around with the Stop Motion Studio app before the program so you can help troubleshoot any problems. Encourage teens to use their own devices, but you will also need tablets with the app that others can share.

RESOURCES

WebSpecies directory (World Wildlife Federation): https://wwf.to/2Ti689wEndangered species (National Wildlife Federation): https://bit.ly/3bKo7f5Endangered species (Animal Welfare Institute): https://bit.ly/36bzefKPhoto Ark by Joel Sartore (National Geographic): https://bit.ly/2Zn4R4u

Stop Motion VideosBasic stop motion tips: https://bit.ly/2WKWH4x

Endangered Species NonfictionMiddle GradeCondor Comeback (2020) by Sy Montgomery and Tianne Strombeck (2020) The Great Penguin Rescue: Saving the African Penguins (2017) by Sandra Markle Sea Otters: A Survival Story (2020) by Isabelle Groc A Wild Child’s Guide to Endangered Animals (2019) by Millie Marotta

YABack from the Brink: Saving Animals from Extinction (2018) by Nancy F. Castaldo The Race to Save the Lord God Bird (2010) by Phillip Hoose Wild Ocean: Sharks, Whales, Rays, and Other Endangered Sea Creatures (2014) by Matt Dembicki

Adult100 Heartbeats: The Race to Save Earth’s Most Endangered Species (2011) by Jeff Corwin Cat Tale: The Wild, Weird Battle to Save the Florida Panther (2020) by Craig Pittman The Last Elephants (2019) by Don Pinnock and Colin Bell

TIP: Turn off auto exposure to avoid a flicker when the movie plays back.

TIP: Remember tripods or book stands for recording. The camera should not be moved in between shots. For this reason, be sure that teens sharing a device have extended turns and are not passing it back and forth.

TIP: For professional stop motion videos, try Wallace and Gromit, Shaun the Sheep, or Corpse Bride.

CHILDREN TEENS



The Photo Ark Vanishing: the World’s Most Vulnerable Animals (2019) by Joel Sartore and Elizabeth KolbertRare (2010) by Joel Sartore The Seabird’s Cry: The Lives and Loves of the Planet’s Great Ocean Voyages (2018) by Adam Nicolson

Stop Motion NonfictionAnimation Lab for Kids (2016) by Laura Bellmont and Emily Brink (2016) (YA) Brick Flicks (2014) by Sarah Herman (YA) Filming Stop-Motion Animation (2018) by Zöe Saldana (early reader) Sarafi Claymation (2016) by Sarah Herman (middle grade)Stop Motion Filmmaking: The Complete Guide to Fabrication and Animation (2019) by Christopher Walsh (YA)

CHILDREN TEENS



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TEENS


GAME/ACTIVITY | PASSIVE

NO ANIMALS HERE: VEGAN COOKBOOK CLUB AGESTeens

PROGRAM DESCRIPTIONWhen teens decide to stop eating animal products and go vegan, they usually have to learn to cook for themselves. Start up a vegan cookbook club to help them along! This can be run in several different ways. Teens can gather to discuss and swap their favorite recipes or, if your library has a kitchen, get basic cooking lessons. You could also make this into a passive program: Record yourself making simple recipes and promote the videos/recipes as part of your teen programming. Alter-natively, teens might want to create and share videos of themselves making their favorite vegan foods. Suggested runtime: 90 minutes

RESOURCESVegan CookbooksBOSH!: Simple Recipes, Amazing Food, All Plants (2018) by Ian Theasby and Henry David Firth (or any BOSH cookbook)

Eating Vegan: A Plant-Based Cookbook for Beginners (2020) by Dianne Wenz

Fuss-Free Vegan: 101 Everyday Comfort Food Favorites, Veganized (2017) by Sam Turnbull

Isa Does It: Amazingly Easy, Wildly Delicious Vegan Recipes for Every Day of the Week (2013) by Isa Chandra Moskowitz

Living Lively: 80 Plant-Based Recipes to Activate Your Power and Feed your Potential (2020) by Haile Thomas

The Oh She Glows Cookbook (2014) by Angela Liddon

The Plant-Based Diet for Beginners (2019) by Gabriel Miller

Vegan for Everybody (2017) by America’s Test Kitchen

TIP: Consider combining with Chapter 06: Animal Zines. Teens collaborate on putting together a zine of their favorite vegan recipes; each teen gets a copy to take home.

COPYRIGHT NOTE:Individual recipes cannot be copyrighted in the U.S., but this only applies to the list of ingredients and basic instructions. Be sure that teens do not reproduce images or descriptions from published books (i.e., they can retype the recipes but must describe and/or illustrate them themselves).

TIP:Remember the vegan cookbook display!

TIP:If sharing food in the library, be sure to label dishes for allergens (gluten, soy, corn, etc.).


TEENS



Vegan Recipes in 30 Minutes (2014) by Terr Ann Nelson-Bunge

Vegetable Kingdom (2020) by Terry Bryant

Whole Food Vegan Baking (2020) by Annie Markowitz

Vegan NonfictionEating Animals (2009) by Jonathan Safran Foer

Generation V: The Complete Guide to Going, Being, and Staying Vegan as a Teenager (2008) by Claire Askew (YA)

Joyful Vegan (2019) by Colleen Patrick-Goudreau

More Plants, Less Waste: Plant-Based Recipes + Zero Waste Life Hacks with Purpose (2020) by Max La Manna

Some We Love, Some We Hate, Some We Eat (2010) by Hal Herzog

Voices for Animal Liberation: Inspirational Accounts by Animal Rights Activists (2020) by Brittany Michelson

Fiction with Vegan CharactersMiddle GradeAmanda the Teen Activist: Feathers & Freedom (2016) by Catherine Kelaher

YAThe Bees (2014) by Laline Paull (YA)

The Humans (2013) by Matt Haig (YA)

PopCo by Scarlett Thomas (2005) (YA)

Vegan Teenage Zombie Huntress (2014) by G.G. Silverman (YA)

AdultFates and Furies (2015) by Lauren Groff (adult)

The Lives of Animals (1999) by J.M. Coetz (adult)

Oryx and Crake (2003) by Margaret Atwood (adult)

The Vegetarian (2016) by Han Kang (adult)

TEENS



PRINTABLE Vegan Food Pyramid

TEENS


CRAFT | OUTDOORS | SOLO-LIBRARIAN FRIENDLY

ENDANGERED SPECIES BOOKENDSAGESTeens

PROGRAM DESCRIPTIONTeens choose from endangered animal figurines to create book-ends to take home (or leave for the library’s teen shelves). Include quick facts and/or videos about endangered animals, and remember the endangered species book display! Approximate runtime: 60–90 minutes


• Wood, rocks, bricks, or spare metal bookends• Acrylic paint, paint brushes, and paper plates• Newspaper or brown craft paper to protect tables• Hot glue gun and glue sticks• Hammer and nails (if using wood)• Large plastic animal figurines

Set out animal figurines from which teens choose two to paint. While the first coat of paint dries, discuss endangered animals, give quick facts, or show video clips. After the second coat of paint dries, hot glue the painted animals to the bases.

UNIQUE SPACE AND PERSONNEL NEEDSAdd staff for tween audiences and/or large groups. You will need access to electrical outlets for the final step of hot gluing.


TIP: If you use wood, precut the pieces or ask a local carpenter or hardware store to cut it for you.

TEENS


CRAFT | OUTDOORS | SOLO-LIBRARIAN FRIENDLY

RESOURCESEndangered Species FictionMiddle GradeThe Invention of Hugo Cabret (2007) by Brian Selznkick

The True Blue Scouts of Sugar Man Swamp (2013) by Kathi Appelt

YAChomp (2012) by Carl Hiaasen

Endangered (2012) by Eliot Schrefer

Flashpoint (2011) by Sneed B. Collard III

The Highest Tide (2006) by Jim Lynch

The Last Mile (Lithia Trilogy Book #3) (2018) by Blair Richmond

Not a Drop to Drink (2014) by Mindy McGinnis

Scat (2012) by Carl Hiaasen

Skink (2015) by Carl Hiaasen

Stakeout (2011) by Bonnie Doerr

Trail of Lightening (2018) (The Sixth World #1) by Rebecca Roanhorse

Watership Down (2012 [1972]) by Richard Adams

Where Things Come Back (2012) by John Corey Whaley

Wolf Girl: Finding Myself in the Wild (2010) by Doniga Markegard (NF)

Wolves, Boys, and Other Things That Might Kill Me (2011) by Kristen Chandler

TIP:For endangered species nonfiction, see Chapter 05: Endangered Species Stop Motion Animation.

TIP: Do your teens know about Cli-Fi? The teen fiction list on this page includes climate fiction titles featuring animals and habitats.

CHILDREN TEENS ADULTS


LOW COST | OUTDOORS | OUTSIDE PRESENTER | SOLO-LIBRARIAN FRIENDLY

BACKYARD ANIMAL FARMINGAGESAdultsMultigenerational

PROGRAM DESCRIPTIONA guest speaker teaches participants how to care for backyard animals such as chickens, rabbits, ducks, goats, or bees. If possible, they bring live creatures for demonstration. Check with local regulations (zoning, animal welfare, public health, and nuisance laws) to confirm what types of back-yard animals are allowed within your municipality or county. Remember the book display on small animal farming and/or homesteading! Suggested runtime: 90–120 minutes


• Hand sanitizer• Copies of local laws and regulations • Containment methods for guest animals

UNIQUE SPACE AND PERSONNEL NEEDSTo find someone knowledgeable about small-scale animal farming, consider local farmers, 4H groups, agricultural colleges, or educational associations, such as the American Poultry Association.

RESOURCESWeb4H group locator: https://4-h.org/find/

American Poultry Association: http://amerpoultryassn.com/

American Beekeeping Association: https://www.abfnet.org/

The Honeybee Conservancy: https://thehoneybeeconservancy.org/

TIP: Provide hand sanitizer to patrons before and after handling live animals.

ADAPTATION: For farming communities, you might consider more technical presentations on the best methods for raising larger animals.




Homesteading NonfictionThe Backyard Homestead Book of Kitchen Know-How: Field-to-Table Cooking Skills (2015) by Andrea Chesman

The Encyclopedia of Country Living, 50th Anniversary Edition: The Original Manual for Living off the Land and Doing It Yourself (2019) by Carla Emery

Start Your Farm: The Authoritative Guide to Becoming a Sustainable 21st Century Farmer (2018) by Forrest Pritchard and Ellen Polishuk

Livestock NonfictionThe Backyard Goat (2011) by Sue Weaver

The Beginner’s Guide to Raising Chickens (2019) by Anne Kuo

How to Speak Chicken: Why Your Chickens Do What They Do and Say What They Say (2017) by Melissa Caughey

A Kid’s Guide to Keeping Chickens (2015) by Melissa Caughney (middle grade)

Smart Ass: How a Donkey Challenged Me to Accept His True Nature and Rediscover My Own (2018) by Margaret Winslow

Storey’s Guide to Raising Chickens, 4th ed. (2017) by Gail Demrow

Temple Grandin’s Guide to Working with Farm Animals: Safe, Humane Livestock Handling Practices for the Small Farm (2017) by Temple Grandin

Bee and Pollinator NonfictionYABees: An Up-Close Look at Pollinators Around the World (2015) by Laurence Packer and Sam Droege

False Knees: An Illustrated Guide to Animal Behavior (2018) by Joshua Barkman

Where Have All the Bees Gone?: Pollinators in Crisis (2020) by Rebecca Hirsch

AdultAttracting Birds, Butterflies, and Other Backyard Wildlife (2019) by David Mizejewski

The Bee Book: Discover the Wonder of Bees and How to Protect Them for Generations to Come (2016) by DK

The Beginner’s Guide to Beekeeping, 2nd ed. (2019) by Samantha Johnson and Daniel Johnson

TIP:For children’s pollinator nonfiction, see Chapter 04: Backyard Habitats




Beekeeping for Beginners: How to Raise Your First Bee Colonies (2019) by Amber Bradshaw

Buzz: The Nature and Necessity of Bees (2018) by Thor Hanson

Feed the Birds: Attract and Identify 196 Common North American Birds (2019) by Chris Earley

Handmade Bird, Bee and Bat Houses (2018) by Michele McKee Orsini

Mason Bee Revolution: How the Hardest Working Bee Can Save the World One Backyard at a Time (2016) by Dave Hunter and Jill Ligthtner

Our Native Bees: North America’s Endangered Pollinators and the Fight to Save Them (2018) by Paige Embry

The Pollinator Victory Garden: Win the War on Pollinator Decline with Ecological Gardening (2020) by Kim Eierman



LOW COST | OUTDOORS | OUTSIDE PRESENTER | PASSIVE

PET EXPOAGESMultigenerational

PROGRAM DESCRIPTIONPet expo day at the library! This great family program is for anyone who has ever wanted a pet. Invite local rescue organizations to bring adoptable pets and local experts to give pet care tips. You could also modify this pro-gram to focus on the care of unusual pets (such as reptiles or birds), and ask patrons to bring in their unusual pets for show and tell. For an expo-style event, guest organizations set up information tables for participants to pe-ruse at their leisure; they could also give short presentations. You can tailor the program to focus on adoption tips, pet health and nutrition, pet first aid, and/or pet training. Suggested runtime: 120 minutes

For a passive version, work with local shelters to make summer reading mascots out of pets who need new homes. Promote the mascots on a li-brary bulletin board or on your library’s social media.

MATERIALS AND PREPARATIONYou may need:

• Vendor tables• A projector and AV equipment for presentations• Audience chairs • Poop bags

UNIQUE SPACE AND PERSONNEL NEEDSFor an adoption component with live pets, you will need an outdoor space or a tiled indoor room. The expo-style event could also be held outdoors if you will not be utilizing AV equipment. Partnership opportunities to consider:

• Pet rescue organizations and shelters• Pet care experts such as veterinarians, trainers, groomers• Pet stores• Animal control officers• Therapy animal organizations

TIP:Ask local rescue organizations and veterinarians for leads on reliable pet care experts.

TIP: If adoptable animals will be present, consider using a concierge strategy in which you only allow in a certain number of participants to interact with them at a time.

TIP:If hosting a presentation on animal therapy or assistive pets, hold the presentation away from the noise and crowds of adoption and vendor events.




LOW COST | OUTDOORS | OUTSIDE PRESENTER | PASSIVE

RESOURCESWebPet ownership guidelines from AVMA: https://bit.ly/2ye6KFL

Pet care from ASPCA: https://www.aspca.org/pet-care

Search animal welfare groups on Petfinder: https://bit.ly/2LGEI92

Tips for successful adoption events: https://bit.ly/3cIwsBj

Heart Speak Foundation (Petco) https://heartsspeak.org

Pet Care NonfictionPicture BooksOur Very Own Dog: Taking Care of Our First Pet (2019) by Amanda McCardie and Salvatore Rubbino

May I Pet Your Dog? (2007) by Stephanie Calmenson and Jan Ormerod

Early ReadersHumphrey’s World of Pets (2013) by Betty G. Birney

Something’s Fishy (2017) by Kevin McCloskey

Middle GradeEllie’s Story (2015) by W. Cameron Bruce (or any Dog’s Purpose book)

Smiley: A Journey of Love (2017) by Joanne George

YAAnimal Welfare 101: How to Raise Unique Pets Such as Amphibians, Cats, Dogs, Fish, Reptiles, and More from A To Z (2019) by Jessica Child

Ethical Pet Ownership (2019) by Lucy K. Shaw

Misunderstood: Why the Humble Rat May Be Your Best Pet Ever (2016) by Rachel Toor

AdultThe Animals Among Us: How Pets Make Us Human (2017) by John Bradshaw

Cat Sense: How the New Feline Science Can Make You a Better Friend to Your Pet (2013) by John Bradshaw

Dog Is Love: Why and How Your Dog Loves You (2019) by Clive D.L. Wynne

A Dog’s Purpose (2010) by Cameron W. Bruce

How to Be a Good Creature (2018) by Sy Montgomery and Rebecca Green

Inside Animal Hearts and Minds (2017) by Belinda Recio



LOW COST | OUTDOORS | OUTREACH | OUTSIDE PRESENTER

The Lion in the Living Room: How House Cats Tamed Us and Took Over the World (2017) by Abigail Tucker

Lucky Dog Lessons: Train Your Dog in 7 Days (2016) by Brandon McMillian

Marley and Me (2005) by John Grogan

Our Dogs, Ourselves: The Story of a Singular Bond (2019) by Alexanda Horowitz

Total Cat Mojo: The Ultimate Guide to Life with Your Cat (2017) by Jackson Galaxy

The Trainable Cat: A Practical Guide to Making Life Happier for You and Your Cat (2016) by John Bradshaw and Sarah Ellis

Training the Best Dog Ever: A 5-Week Program Using the Power of Positive Reinforcement (2012) by Dawn Sylvia-Stasiewicz and Larry Kat

Unleashing Your Dog: A Field Guide to Giving Your Canine Companion the Best Life Possible (2019) by Marc Bekoff and Jessica Pierce

Unlikely Friendships: 47 Remarkable Stories from the Animal Kingdom (2011) by Jennifer S. Holland

Unlikely Friendships: Dogs: 37 Stories of Canine Compassion and Courage (2016) by Jennifer S. Holland

Wag: The Science of Making Your Dog Happy (2020) by Zazie Todd

Where the Lost Dogs Go: A Story of Love, Search, and the Power of Reunion (2019) by Susannah Charleson

Zak George’s Dog Training Revolution: The Complete Guide to Raising the Perfect Pet with Love (2016) by Zak George and Dina Roth Port

TIP:For pet fiction (all ages), see Chapter 04: We Rate Pets

Documents

READ, CONNECT, PROTECT