Tips and Info from DPI's April 16, 2026 Youth Services Newsletter

Jeni Schomber's DPI Youth Services Weekly Reminders and Resources is an email newsletter chockfull of great resources we've come to rely on. If you are a WI youth library staffer and you don't receive this weekly missive in your email inbox, please contact Jeni (jennifer.schomber@dpi.wi.gov) to be placed on the list!

Here is the April 16, 2026 edition:

 

Weekly Resources & Reminders

 

Hello All,  Check out these Youth Services Resources and Reminders!

National Games and Learning Project: Call for Participation  Are you passionate about games-based programs and collections in public libraries? Are you a motivated Wisconsin library staff member with experience offering games-based library services? If so, you can help us shape the future of Games-based Library Services nationwide! The National Games and Libraries Fellowship is seeking 5-6 enthusiastic Wisconsin public library staff members to participate in a yearlong fellowship. Visit the Call for Participation for more information and access to the application.  WiLS Ideas to Action Fund  The WiLS Ideas to Action Fund provides grants of up to $5,000 so member organizations can bring their project ideas to life. The Fund encourages partnerships and collaborations among WiLS members and with community partners, supports innovative and exploratory new work, and seeds the development of processes, methods, or resources that can be used by other WiLS members. Visit the WiLS Ideas to Action  page for more information. WLA Youth Services Section Midday Mingle: Collection Complications Join the Wisconsin Library Association (WLA) Youth Services Section (YSS) Midday Mingle on Monday, April 20, 2026, at 1:00 p.m. to talk about troubleshooting collection development at your library. You do not have to be a WLA or YSS member to participate. The Monday Mingle is open to all! Join using the Zoom link.   Collaborative Summer Library Program (CSLP) Social Media Toolkit  The CSLP 2026 Unearth a Story Social Media Toolkit is now available as part of the CSLP Manual. Template links to the Canva Social Medial Toolkit, along with ready-to-use PNG versions, when you login with your CSLP Manual Code. You can access all the images by downloading a ZIP file, or by individually saving images. Please check with your Library System Youth Services Consultant for the Manual access code.   Bluey Storytime Month  Celebrate Bluey Storytime Month this July with fun activities like book bingo, word match, word scramble, and more. Download your free activity kit and printable event poster now.   BadgerLink Bulletin Celebrate Earth Day with Britannica. Check out these Britannica resources, interactive media, and activities. View the Full Story.

Jeni Schomber Public Library Consultant The DPI Bureau of Libraries does not sponsor or endorse external resources or events.  Contact: jeni.schomber@dpi.wi.gov

Midday Mingle: Collection Complications

The next Midday Mingle is on the horizon!  

Join us on Monday, April 20 at 1:00 PM as we talk about troubleshooting collection development:

• Taking flak from patrons about books you’ve weeded?
• Having trouble finding new sources since Baker & Taylor closed?
• Desperate for tips on dealing with difficult, yet popular, collections?

Whatever collection problems you’re dealing with, come share them and we’ll brainstorm solutions together!

Youth Services Section Midday Mingle: Collection Complications

Monday, April 20, 2025 at 1:00 PM

Zoom link  

You do not have to be a YSS or WLA member to participate. The Midday Mingle is open to all!

Midday Mingle - All About Teens

The next Midday Mingle is coming up quickly!

Image by cottonbro studio from Pexels

We are calling all youth services folk across the state serving the niche (sometimes elusive) but oh-so rewarding audience of teens. Many of us are flying solo in teen services, let's get together to program swap and connect!

Join us on Monday, February 23 at 1:00 PM (Zoom Link) to chat about teen services - specifically

 programming.  We will round table topics like:

• What's working for you
• Most successful program in the last year
• Upcoming program you are excited about
• What was a bust
• Back pocket program (programs you have ready to go if needed)
• Passive programs/activities
• Teen spaces
• set up/what's available
• rules
• do you work/program in them
• And anything else you'd like to discuss - the conversation will be driven be the attendees and go wherever is most useful to you!

Anyone is welcome at the Midday Mingle! You do not have to be a member of YSS or WLA.

 

Time: Feb 23, 2026 01:00 PM Central Time (US and Canada)

Zoom Link 

 

Can't wait to chat with you all! 

Midday Mingles happen quarterly – expect to see several throughout 2026! Do you have suggestions/requests for our next topic? Let us know in the comments or email yss

Midday Mingle Alert - Teens!!!

Image by cottonbro studio from Pexels

We've got another Midday Mingle on the horizon! We are calling all youth services folk across the state serving the niche (sometimes elusive) but oh-so rewarding audience of teens. Many of us are flying solo in teen services, let's get together to program swap and connect!

Join us on Monday, February 23 at 1:00 PM (Zoom Link) to chat about teen services - specifically programming.  We will round table topics like:

• What's working for you
• Most successful program in the last year
• Upcoming program you are excited about
• What was a bust
• Back pocket program (programs you always have ready to go if needed)
• Passive programs/activities
• Teen spaces
• set up/what's available
• rules
• do you work/program in them
• And anything else you'd like to discuss - the conversation will be driven be the attendees and go wherever is most useful to you!

Anyone is welcome at the Midday Mingle! You do not have to be a member of YSS or WLA.

 

Time: Feb 23, 2026 01:00 PM Central Time (US and Canada)

Zoom Link 

 

Can't wait to chat with you all! 

Midday Mingles happen quarterly – expect to see several throughout 2026! Do you have suggestions/requests for our next topic? Let us know in the comments or email kalford@menomonee-falls.org.

Chat, Network, and Commiserate at the Midday Mingle!

Get together with other Youth Services staff on Zoom to cover the great debates of our field: craft or no craft, theme or no theme, registration or walk-ins, YA or teen, cardigan or hoodie. Dare I ask - coffee or tea?

Mark your calendar:

Topic: This or That? 

Date: Monday, November 10

Time: 1:00 – 2:00 PM

Zoom Link

Catch up on our last Midday Mingle here! 

These informal meetups happen quarterly and are hosted by the Youth Services Section of WLA. However, you do not need to be a member to attend. Be on the lookout for another one after winter holidays!  Got a suggestion for a topic? Let us know in the comments or email kalford@menomonee-falls.org.

Let's Mingle!

Our next Youth Services Section Midday Mingle is coming up!

Get together with other Youth Services staff on Zoom to cover the great debates of our field: craft or no craft, theme or no theme, registration or walk-ins, YA or teen, cardigan or hoodie. Dare I ask - coffee or tea?

Mark your calendar:

Topic: This or That? 

Date: Monday, November 10

Time: 1:00 – 2:00 PM

Zoom Link

Catch up on our last Midday Mingle here!

These informal meetups happen quarterly and are hosted by the Youth Services Section of WLA. However, you do not need to be a member to attend. Be on the look out for another one after winter holidays!  Got a suggestion for a topic? Let us know in the comments or email kalford@menomonee-falls.org.

Miss the Midday Mingle?

The first YSS Midday Mingle was a blast as we chatted all things storytime with colleagues sharing their top 3 books, songs, tips for first-timers, and more. 

Go ahead and mark your calendar for our next Midday Mingle a lively 'this or that' session covering the great debates of our field: craft or no craft, theme or no theme, registration or walk-ins, YA or teen, cardigan or hoodie.

Topic: This or That? 
Date: Monday, November 10
Time: 1:00 – 2:00 PM
Zoom Link

But worry not friends – I've got a recap of our storytime mingle to catch you up and tide you over! 

Image by Lubos Houska from Pixabay

Favorite Storytime Books

• Shh…. We Have a Plan by Chris Haughton
• Misunderstood Shark by Ame Dyckman
• Almost anything by Ame Dyckman
• DinoGro by Matthew Myers
• About a dinosaur that grows in water, and grows and grows and grows
• Lena’s Shoes Are Nervous by Keith Calabrese
• Great for right before school is back in session, about being anxious for the first day of school
• Pig the Pug by Aaron Blabey
• Any Jan Thomas Books
• Roo Knows Blue by Renee Treml
• about a kangaroo
• Don’t Trust Fish by Neil Sharpson
• 100 Mighty Dragons all Named Broccoli by David LaRochelle
  
• Great bit for WI peeps with the knowledge that this is written by a Minnesota author
• Entertaining, silly way to introduce math
• Bob Not Bob by Liz Garton Scanlon
• Great for winter when everyone is sick, about being congested/stuffy, perform it with a stuffy voice, kids find it hilarious
• Bear has a Belly by Jane Whittingham
• Bad Dog by Mike Boldt
• Case of mistaken identity, birthday gift was a pet dog (holds up cat), laments that Rocky does not do things like other dogs (again Rocky is a cat), kids are delighted by it
• Seals on the Bus by Lenny Hort
• Lots of chances for animal noises
• Can You Do This? by Megan Roy
• Book has questions that prompt interactive activities for the storytime crowd – can you touch your toes, hop like a bunny, dance, etc. lots of options for movements and getting the sillies out – may need to spread out a bit for some of the actions
• Groovy Joe Ice Cream and Dinosaurs by Eric Litwin
• Teach the song and dance afterwards, good for a music and movement storytime, teaches about sharing with friends, and has ice cream and dinos! Perfect

Image by Moondance from Pixabay

Favorite Storytime Songs

• Tootie Tot
• Icky Sticky Bubble Gum
• Susan Salmador
• Shiny New Shoes Album but also everything
• Jim Gill
• Silly Dance Contest
• Hammer & Saw – has the sounds of those tools
• Laurie Berkner
• Monster Boogie – has a book to go with it
• Rocket Ship Run
• P-I-Z-Z-A to the tune of Bingo
• using a felt pizza and removing a piece with each letter to help the kids keep track

Tonight we have my favorite food.

Yes, friends, we're having Pizza

P-I-Z-Z-A, P-I-Z-Z-A, P-I-Z-Z-A, yes friends we're having Pizza!

• Fruit and Veggies Unite!
• Good active movements song, and chance to be silly – go bananas, go bananas
• Good chance for early literacy tips to caregivers - We’re going to sing a song now about fruits and vegetables. This song has lots of great action words in it like peel, mash, shuck, pop, slice, and squeeze.  Today when you eat lunch or dinner, try using these words again or introducing new words about the foods you’re eating with your child

Image by Martine den Engelsen from Pixabay

Favorite Non-Traditional Props

• Water explorers storytime
• Jar of water, shaving cream, blue food coloring
  
• Thinking how else to incorporate STEM into storytime props 
• Water, sink and float, experiment, guess if it will sink or float
• Bag of water, stick pencils into
• Farmers Market Storytime
• props, costumes, a lot of books with dialog, spray bottles to spray at crowd, hats for interrupting chickens, penguin hats, crow and pitcher costumes
• Rainbow stew
• bowl/pot and the felt veggies and fruit, spoon
• Magic Envelope
• different ingredients or parts of theme, put the stuff in and on the other side is the end product (i.e. pics of seed, water, soil, and on the other side of the envelope is a flower, have them guess what you are making before revealing
• A bus!
• Had a Pigeon storytime and had a person in the Pigeon costume roll up in a bus (not driving though!)
• Discussion of Stretchy Bands
• One participant did not like them, used them once, hard for kids to hold the tension correctly, got a bit wild
• One loves them
• Used at the beginning of music and movement when caregivers and kids are coming in, has them immediately grab the bands and start participating – sets the tone for the rest of the storytime – caregivers as active participants 
• Great for Row Row Row Your Boat, Wheels on the Bus, etc.

Favorite Rhymes

• My Two Hands

My two hands go clap, clap, clap

My two feet go tap, tap, tap

My two hands go thump, thump, thump

My two feet go jump, jump, jump

My one body turns around

and it quietly sits down

• Dinosaur Dinosaur

Dinosaur, Dinosaur

Dinosaur, Dinosaur stomp your feet.

Dinosaur, Dinosaur show your teeth.

Dinosaur, Dinosaur swing your tail.

Dinosaur, Dinosaur show your scales.

Dinosaur, Dinosaur show your claws.

Dinosaur, Dinosaur snap your jaws!

Dinosaur, Dinosaur give a ROAR!

Dinosaur, Dinosaur sit on the floor.

• I'm a Tiny T-Rex

I'm a tiny T-Rex, hatched from my egg

I’ve got tiny arms, and big, stompy legs

I want to make a sound, like a big dinosaur

Are you ready? Here it comes! 1-2-3 …

Meow. 

                    [Repeat with other noises for as long as you like]

You've totally guac this. Image by Katie Alford.

Tips for First Timers

• Keep it simple
• You don’t have to do it like the person who was there before you, make it your own, do what makes you comfortable
• You don’t have to be a great singer, you don’t even have to sing at all, you could exclusively use recorded music
• Remember its about the little people, your audience is the kids, don’t get nervous about the adults in the room, just pretend its all kids and lean into the silly fun time
• Slow down – slow your reading down, take your time, any story can be made interactive, use open ended questions, read a sentence and blank out the last word, have the kids fill in the blank on how the sentence ends
• Find an opening and closing song you love and repeat repeat repeat

Unexpected Storytime Happenings

• Color Our World Storytime – red theme, can you name red things, kids call out the usual things –  apple, fire truck, etc. But one kid calls out BLOOD
• Fire alarm pulled
• Child took their first steps
• Showing off injuries and then everyone wants to show and tell
• This could be incorporated into the story time start – check-in time, everyone show their ouchies, and then its done and you can move on

Books You'd Never Read Again

• Issues reading the Book with No Pictures, seemed like it’d be great, watched B.J. Novak do it, but in reality it went terrible and wouldn’t do it again
• Seconded – overthinking the pronunciations and tripping myself up trying to read it

It's almost time for the Midday Mingle!!

Calling all Youth Services fold to join us tomorrow Monday,  August 25 from 1:00 - 2:00 PM for our first Youth Services Section Midday Mingle!

We're talking about one of our favorite topics—storytime! We'll be chatting about our top 3, from a variety of categories (see below), as we share, laugh, and commiserate about a staple of youth services work. 

Here are the categories we'll be discussing (no pressure to have 3 items for all of the categories—come with whatever you've got!):

• Storytime books
• Songs
• Rhymes
• Storytime outfits
• Books you'd never read again
• Surprising things that happened
• Non-traditional storytime props
• Tips for folks doing their first storytime

Anyone is welcome at the Midday Mingle! You do not have to be a WLA member to attend. Just click the Zoom Link. We can't wait to hear everyone's storytime wins, misses, tips, and mishaps! Everyone has a storyime story!

Another Midday Mingle will be coming in October/November! Do you have suggestions/requests for our next topic? Let us know in the comments or email kalford@menomonee-falls.org.

Share, Laugh, and Commiserate at the Midday Mingle

Calling all Youth Services folk!  Join us  Monday,  August 25 from 1:00 - 2:00 PM for our first Youth Services Section Midday Mingle!

We're talking about one of our favorite topics—storytime! We'll be chatting about our top 3, from a variety of categories (see below), as we share, laugh, and commiserate about a staple of youth services work. 

Here are the categories we'll be discussing (no pressure to have 3 items for all of the categories—come with whatever you've got!):

• Storytime books
• Songs
• Rhymes
• Storytime outfits
• Books you'd never read again
• Surprising things that happened
• Non-traditional storytime props
• Tips for folks doing their first storytime

Anyone is welcome at the Midday Mingle! You do not have to be a WLA member to attend. Just click the Zoom Link. We can't wait to hear everyone's storytime wins, misses, tips, and mishaps! Everyone has a storyime story!

Another Midday Mingle will be coming in October/November! Do you have suggestions/requests for our next topic? Let us know in the comments or email kalford@menomonee-falls.org.