52 Programs for Preschoolers: The Librarian's Year-Round Planner - Softcover

Children's librarians with little time to plan preschool programs will appreciate this volume. Briggs has outlined 52 programs in thematic units that include "Celebrations," "Multicultural Programs," "Animals," and "Hodge Podge." The program outlines suggest books, finger plays, rhymes, flannelboard patterns, videos, crafts, and songs. Full-text rhymes and musical chords are included. Particularly noteworthy are the program ideas for Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, which focus on stories and songs that deal with peace. The section on holidays includes ideas for more obscure holidays such as May Day and Groundhog Day. Other notable program outlines include: "Marvelous Marsupials," "I Love You, Dad," "Hawaiian Island Adventure," "Pirates and Parrots," and "Ride 'em Cowboy." The artwork for the flannelboard patterns is basic, but acceptable for making quick props. Book titles run from classic to contemporary. Appendixes include a full bibliography and discography. Some of the ideas here are similar to those found in Paula Sitarz's Picture Book Story Hours (Libraries Unlimited, 1987) and More Picture Book Story Hours (Libraries Unlimited, 1990), but Briggs's book contains more new titles and greater content in terms of finger plays, rhymes, music, and craft ideas. The Sitarz books provide more picture book titles for each theme and include more creative drama and activity ideas. Together, the three books complement each other. Public and school librarians should add the Briggs book to their collections not only for its program value, but as a reference tool for rhymes and songs and as an aid for generating themes. Brand new librarians will find it a godsend.?Kevin Wayne Booe, Boise (ID) Public Library
Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc.

This resource book, filled with ideas for every week of the year, will assist library staff in planning preschool programs. Each two-to five-page section includes a fill-in-the-blank publicity blurb, a short list of suggested books, and suggestions for activities such as action rhymes, songs, games, poems, flannel board stories, and crafts related to the theme. The amateurish line-drawing illustrations may put off some readers; however, those who persevere will find this a sound, useful guide to planning programs for preschoolers. Carolyn Phelan