Let's Pretend: 50 Start-to-Finish Preschooler Programs for the Busy Librarian That Foster Imagination - Softcover

"Packed cover to cover with plenty of great ideas, Let's Pretend is great for any librarian with a flare for the dramatic and wants to rub a bit of that flare onto their younger patrons, a core addition to any library science collection." --Midwest Book Review, December 2010

"Bane is a master at coming up with ideas for props and materials made out of boxes, paper-towel rolls, construction paper, and other everyday objects...Her creations would work well for displays as well as storytimes." --School Library Journal, February 2011

"In this technology-oriented age, it is refreshing to find a book promoting imaginative free play. For each of the 50 programs detailed here, author Bane provides an overview; a list of materials, including props, books, and music; a step-by-step example program and 'final thoughts'...Children should have fun participating in the programs..." --Booklist, January 2011

"Creativity is the key here and this is the kind of thing that gets the younger set away from the television to use their own imagination rather than someone else's...whether you want to transport the children to a dance studio, the fair, the pumpkin patch, the airport, to the jungle, or under the sea, this is the book for you. Fun!" --Teacher Librarian, March 2011

"...any busy librarian responsible for children's storytime activities will greet [Let's Pretend] with pleasure. It's quite brilliant...Let's Pretend is a welcome timesaver for storytimes and can be equally applied to creating themed displays in children's libraries. This is a very valuable resource." --The Australian Library Journal, August 2011

"â ¦any busy librarian responsible for children's storytime activities will greet [Let's Pretend] with pleasure. It's quite brilliantâ ¦Let's Pretend is a welcome timesaver for storytimes and can be equally applied to creating themed displays in children's libraries. This is a very valuable resource." --The Australian Library Journal, August 2011

"...Bane's offering is a unique resource for librarians who wish to help children experience the benefits of imaginative play in literary and social experience at the library." --Public Libraries, September/October 2011

All of these programs contain standard storytime elements, such as picture-book read-alouds and fingerplay sharing, but also include time for structured imaginary play (e.g., the children and the leader go through "Pirate Training" in the pirate theme), and free play at the program's end. Bane is a master at coming up with ideas for props and materials made out of boxes, paper-towel rolls, construction paper, and other everyday objects (she uses a rubber glove to make the udders of a cow for the farm-themed program). Her creations would work well for displays as well as storytimes. Where her recipes fall short are in the book and music suggestions (only one or two books are recommended per program). Her "Step-by-Step Program Examples" are a little sketchy, and she gives no direction for dealing with issues these programs will produce, such as turn-taking, overly rambunctious play, and sharing. The preface has very little theoretical background on the importance of play in early childhood. Seasoned librarians with ample programming time will appreciate the creativity of this resource, but especially busy librarians and novice program planners may find themselves frustrated.-Rachel G. Payne, Brooklyn Public Library, NY (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.