Y OU C AN F IND M E IN THE C LUB …T HE B OOK C LUB Book Clubs for Kids! Alyssa Morgan, MLS Morgan County Public Library

B OOK C LUBS FOR K IDS Why have book clubs for kids? How our library got started The changes we’ve made How you can get started Titles we’ve read and what we’ve done

W HY HAVE A BOOK CLUB FOR KIDS ? Encourages reading outside their comfort zone Above their level, genres/subjects they may not typically pick, etc. Gets kids talking about books Has helped a lot of my shy kids Another programming opportunity that gives staff more time to interact with kids Also gives staff a chance to interact with parents Give parents and kids another opportunity to read together (mostly with the younger book club) THEY GET A FREE BOOK!!!! (at least with my club)

H OW OUR LIBRARY GOT STARTED …. Inherited programs Curious About…. (ages 5-8) 21 st Century Readers (ages 9-12) The Program Sign up and get a free copy of that month’s book (copy also available for checkout). Did not have to read the book to participate. (ACK!!!) Books were purchased through Scholastic Literacy Partnership Program consisted of games, crafts, etc. End of Year Party Books were always gone but attendance was low Some months, no one came at all Siblings= multiple copies per family

G ETTING S TARTED, CONTINUED my first year Kept the same format (mainly for the sake of my sanity) Shared the 21 st Century Reader’s book club with the Teen Librarian Previous librarian had chosen books for the year; kept some titles, changed some Attendance started to grow, particularly with the younger book group NO CANCELLED PROGRAMS!!!!

T IME FOR A C HANGE ! Name Change (mid 2012) Curious About  The Page Turners 21 st Century Readers  inbeTWEEN the Lines

T IME FOR A CHANGE ! Big Changes in 2013 An Award Winning Year (75 th Anniversary of the Caldecott) One free book per family Ordered the audiobook for the collection (Tween selections) Reading Requirement Page Turners  Entire book inbeTWEEN  At least halfway through Clarification on ages and moving up/aging out Information forms The Book Hoarder A change in the December free book

2013- A N A WARD W INNING Y EAR No cancelled programs!!! The Page Turners Attendance is up!!! Lots of parent involvement (several dads start coming!) Younger siblings Fall Drop inbeTWEEN the Lines Attendance is steady…. Is everyone reading the book? The Sounds of Silence Girl’s Night November’s book= The Mystery Book

T HE M YSTERY B OOK

H OW CAN MY LIBRARY GET STARTED ? What type of book club will this be? Does everyone have to read the same book? What ages do you want to include? What about moving up to the next age level? Will you be buying the books? How many? Where will you get them? Will the kids get to keep the books? Don’t forget about the State Library and the Humanities Council! How often will you meet? Will you take any breaks? How will you select the books? Will you have a theme? What will you do at your club meetings?

H OW D O I S ELECT THE B OOKS ? I DO WHAT I WANT!!!! (kinda) Work with the Teen Librarian for inbeTWEEN the Lines Usually have selections made and books ordered by November What will the kids read? Various genres What kinds of activities can we do with this book? More important than you think…. Does this year lend itself to a theme? Indiana Books Summer Reading Program

W HAT DO WE TALK ABOUT ? Did you like the book? “No” is a perfectly acceptable answer! Did you have a favorite part? Questions Some from reading guides or lesson plans, some I make up Teaching Books through INSPIRE Author information Display other books by the author and/or books with similar themes Award information for 2013 Caldecott, Newbery, YHBA, Geisel, Pura Belpré, etc.

W HAT D O W E R EAD ? W HAT D O W E D O ? The Snowy Day (Curious About 2012) Mitten craft, snow dough, and hot chocolate! Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (21 st Century Readers 2012) Sorting Hat quiz and Duct Tape House Ties Make Way for Ducklings (The Page Turners 2013) Duckling figures Who Was Dr. Seuss? (inbeTWEEN the Lines 2014) Oobleck, Thing One and Thing Two Bookmarks How a Crayon is Made (The Page Turners 2014)

Drawing on the “wall,” just like David in No David!.

Renaming things throughout the library after reading Frindle.

W HAT I H AVE L EARNED You may never discover why the Very Hungry Caterpillar eats or why Skippyjon Jones has an identity crisis…. A lot of my book club kids are shy. Out of the mouths of Tweens…. Parents My favorite parent EVER What we “should” be reading (particularly with inbeTWEEN the Lines

W HAT ’ S N EXT ? Flying solo (for now) Bring in more kids!!! Classes I visit Kids choice Mystery Book is returning for 2015

Q UESTIONS ? C OMMENTS ? Alyssa Morgan ex.