Putting on a Tea-Rex Party

What's better than a tea party? Why a Tea-Rex party complete with royalty and dinosaurs. I talked to Youth Services librarian Tricia Wehrenberg, Youth Services Librarian at the Winona (MN) Public Library (once youth librarian at Amery Library in IFLS) about the fun and this is what they did.

The seed for the program came from Tea REX, Molly Idle's 2013 book. Tricia and Marcia, her library associate, hatched the idea of doing a family evening program that would be attractive for girls and boys and many ages. I mean who doesn't like dinosaurs and royalty?

Kids were invited to wear royal or dinosaur costumes. Fliers, Facebook, telling storytime caregivers and awesome patron word-of-mouth were all that was needed. Kids from tots to early elementary-aged came to enjoy the fun with their families.

On the night of the program, Marcia was the princess host and Tricia was her silent t-Rex partner (the fan in in the costume to keep it inflated prevented talking). The princess began the soiree with a story, Crunch the Shy Dinosaur (Cirocco Dunlap, 2018). Next she knocked at a door and out came the T-Rex to "help," through mime, with the featured Tea Rex book., a hilarious take on tea party etiquette lessons for a dinosaur.

The rollicking fun continued with dinosaur stretches, and songs (I'm a Little Tea Pot) that had the families laughing as the T-rex attempted the actions with those oh-so-tiny T-rex arms. As Tricia said, "I did alot of dancing and tail shaking for sure!"

Activities included a paper hat-making station and dinosaur mask-making with accessories like mustaches and jewels for the royally-inclined. Lemonade was served in plastic cups (with handles to fancy them up) and mini-cupcakes completed the treats.

For more pictures of the party, head to Winona's Facebook page. If you want more info on the party, contact Tricia. Thanks for sharing!

Photos courtesy of Winona Public Library