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I am volunteering for my Summer Reading Program at my library this summer. The theme is "Every hero has a story."
I am trying to get a handler and a therapy dog to come and visit with the kids. I am also in search of any good children's books that you know of that have to do with therapy dogs or horses, search and rescue dogs, and any other helping animals for sick or handicapped people.
While we are at it I am also looking for any easy crafts that can be done with the children. I have a couple picked out but maybe there is something better.
Summer reading program begins next week and I'm surprised a library would be expecting a volunteer to schedule special events, especially this late. However, your best resource really is the Children's Librarian.
They should know who to contact for such an appearance including the cost and whether the budget will cover it. They will know what books on the subject are available for story time, usually separate from guest appearances. They should know what kind of craft would be good and can also tell you whether they have the materials or if there is budget to acquire what is needed.
If I were doing this with my child care children and wanted to keep with the theme of service I would focus on dogs and do something easy that any age could do for a craft, like a paper plate dog mask. As long as you have the time to do the prep beforehand, this can be a simple craft.
Our library does not do snack of any kind because it is cost prohibitive (with the exception of popcorn for saturday movie time). It has to be either store bought or made in a commercial kitchen, so you can't just make your own dog bone shaped cookies or 'Puppy Chow' (also known as muddy buddies) at home and serve it to the kids. If it were me with my group of kids, either one of those would be fine.
How does your library present Summer Reading Program?
Summer reading program begins next week and I'm surprised a library would be expecting a volunteer to schedule special events, especially this late. However, your best resource really is the Children's Librarian.
They should know who to contact for such an appearance including the cost and whether the budget will cover it. They will know what books on the subject are available for story time, usually separate from guest appearances. They should know what kind of craft would be good and can also tell you whether they have the materials or if there is budget to acquire what is needed.
If I were doing this with my child care children and wanted to keep with the theme of service I would focus on dogs and do something easy that any age could do for a craft, like a paper plate dog mask. As long as you have the time to do the prep beforehand, this can be a simple craft.
Our library does not do snack of any kind because it is cost prohibitive (with the exception of popcorn for saturday movie time). It has to be either store bought or made in a commercial kitchen, so you can't just make your own dog bone shaped cookies or 'Puppy Chow' (also known as muddy buddies) at home and serve it to the kids. If it were me with my group of kids, either one of those would be fine.
How does your library present Summer Reading Program?
I live in a small town and the kids don't have much here. I volunteered for the summer reading program last year. It ran for an hour each friday. We broke it down into 20 minute intervals. Reading and asking the children questions about the topic for the first 20. 20 minutes for two crafts(depending on time), and the last 20 for snacks and juice. We are allowed homemade snacks.
We already have our guest appearance scheduled. Mr. Bond the Science Guy is a great entertainer for the kids. That is the first week before summer reading., The dog person I may get in is because my partner that day may know of someone who can stop by. I imagine that will be as a favor to the community as she is local. That was just a last minute idea when I asked if I could do dog heroes. My day id the last week of July.
The library has the money to purchase the books and also our prizes and giveaways. We have 3 big tubs of craft supplies in the back room. Drinks and packaged cookies are also on hand. Since we are small we have no problem donating a little more money with our time if it is needed.
I saw the paper plate dogs and that might be a good one. I also like the peat pot horses if I can get a horse therapy book.
I like the puppy chow idea. The kids can either eat those or take them home if I bag them up.
I will learn more when I see the summer reading manual on Friday. I just like to have ideas ready.
Our reading program had an animal theme about 10 years ago (my kids are teens now). They made applesauce and peanut butter dog treats for the animal shelter. It was really cute. They also made chew toys for the shelter by tying knots in fabric strips. The fabric strips were made out of old t-shirts. The kids took a group photo with the goodies they baked and made. That photo ran in the newspaper.
Our reading program had an animal theme about 10 years ago (my kids are teens now). They made applesauce and peanut butter dog treats for the animal shelter. It was really cute. They also made chew toys for the shelter by tying knots in fabric strips. The fabric strips were made out of old t-shirts. The kids took a group photo with the goodies they baked and made. That photo ran in the newspaper.
That is wonderful. I love helping kids and animals.
Yay….we have a woman coming in with her 2 therapy dogs. The kids will love it.
That is wonderful. I love helping kids and animals.
Yay….we have a woman coming in with her 2 therapy dogs. The kids will love it.
That is great. Our library has a Reading to Rover program (it's not called that here, but it was in Metairie, LA where we first went to it). The kids love sitting down and reading to the dogs.
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