Storytime Props

Image by Kerstin Riemer from Pixabay

The most recent post from Jbrary 'Props I Want to Try in Storytime' by Lindsey Krabbenhoft caught my
eye, especially after the discussion we had at the Middaay Mingle about stretchy bands and other non-traditional storytime props (catch up on the Midday Mingle here). 

Krabbenhoft names stretchy bands, canopy scarfs, rings, pool noodles, and feathers as props to try in storytime and includes some context and/or embedded videos to demonstrate how each could be used.  I've seen the pool noodle dancing videos across my own socials recently and would love to give it a try. Looks like a cute option for a Music & Movement storytime! 

Stop here to see the full post. [Props I Want to Try in Storytime. Krabbenhoft, Lindsey. Jbrary. September 22, 2025.]

Have you used any of these props in storytime? Please share your experience and any tips/tricks that worked for you!

Discover Something New: Novel Effect

While perusing Storytime Underground awhile back, I saw multiple posts about a new app that added sound effects to stories.  Upon further investigation, I found out that it was free--score!--so the only risk was monopolizing some space on my phone, should I find it not to my liking.

On the screen, it sounded great and--of course--folks were raving about it.

Novel Effect is a FREE app that provides custom music and sound effects for over 100 stories.  The app works for both print and e-books and the library boasts a plethora of well-known classics and new favorites.  (The Tale of Peter Rabbit, Wolfie the Bunny, The Day the Crayons Quit, and Where the Wild Things Are are just a few of the available titles...and new ones are added every week.)

But, let's be honest, this needed a real-world test.  Rather than trying it for the first time in front of patrons, I decided to bust it out during bedtime stories with my daughter.  We read Bear Snores On by Karma Wilson - - and my daughter was enamored.  She loved hearing the forest critters chittering back and forth to one another, the sound of the fire, and the wind howling in the background.  Even my husband was intrigued; he kept asking questions about the app and how it worked.  The next night, my daughter requested the "neat sound thing again" for her bedtime stories.

It's not an app that I would use for every story, by any means, but it's definitely something I'll bust out for special story times or the occasional title.

Now, I know what you're thinking - - everyone has their own reading style/delivery/etc.  How will the app accommodate for that?  Never fear!  You don't need to tone down your own personal awesomeness in the slightest! (Nor should you.  EVER.) 

Novel Effect includes smart voice recognition, allowing the effects to sync with your reading style.  Pretty snazzy, no?

Plus, it's hands-free and will continue to work even if the screen goes to sleep, so no need to worry about having one more thing to juggle during your story times, should you opt to use it.

So, there you have it!  Even if you choose not to utilize it for your own purposes, it's certainly something worth mentioning to patrons looking for cool, free literary apps to incorporate into their home routines.

Novel Effect is available for free for iOS devices.  (Unfortunately, it isn't available on Android...yet...but they're in the process of changing that.)

Side note: If you just so happen to be heading to ALA Midwinter in a few days, you can stop by and chat with the Novel Effect folks in person! https://2018.alamidwinter.org/sites/default/files/inline-files/Novel_Effect.pdf

Favorite Conference Idea: Magic Origami House

Choosing toppings at the ice cream shop with the origami house

WLA Conference 2016 is upon us.  When I attend a conference, I hope to learn one great, simple idea, be inspired about our profession, and see colleagues.

One of my favorite great, simple ideas is from a Storytime Swap session at a WAPL conference a few years ago.  Beth Hayes from Ruth Culver Community Library in Prairie du Sac brought a paper folding story called "I Wish Today Was My Birthday!" from Stories to Play With: Kids' Tales told with Puppets, Paper, Toys, and Imagination by Hiroko Fujita and Fran Stallings (August House 1999).  Going to the conference was worth it when I learned how to tell this story and make the paper prop"

The prop for the story is made from a large piece of paper and is folded to look like a house. I call it my magic origami house.  You glue pictures related to the story onto four sections of the "house".  As you tell the story, you move the pictures around by folding the house in a certain way.

Kids think you are doing magic because the pictures are moving but they do not know how you are doing it.  I feel really awesome when I do these stories. You can easily make up a story.  I tell a simple story of going to the ice cream shop and choosing your toppings. 

Celebrate Authors Storytime Series: Jan Thomas

At my library, we have a theme for storytime.  We also noticed that we have better attendance at the monthly evening storytimes when we do something different than the daytime ones.  One month might be a puppet show with our big puppet stage.  Then another month the high school drama club will do a reader's theater skit for us.

This fall we are focusing on authors.  September focuses on one of my new favorites - Jan Thomas.  We are going to do a puppet show for Rhyming Dust Bunnies.  Natasha the Artsy Librarian has a great make your own dust bunnies if you not able to find the dusters from the Dollar Store.

Jan Thomas' website if filled with goodies.  We do a simple craft and sometimes an activity after the storytime.  This month we are doing both: rhyming activity with the dust bunnies and make your own fat cat puppets.  The rhyming activity is also great  for in-library use.  We printed off words that rhyme and the kids have to match them.

Props for Cool Props Workshop

Thanks to Jill Patchin of the L.E. Phillips Memorial Public Library (an institutional YSS member!) for the information for this blog post!

 

Happy participants, excited to go back to their classrooms and try these cool tools

Jill Patchin is the Story Prop Champion of Western Wisconsin.  She and her colleague, Jessi Peterson, presented a 2-hour session for childcare providers about story prop ideas.They provided a 45 minute presentation with ideas for props, how to use them, and how they could bring all 5 early lit practices into the classroom and make them even more fun than they already are. The rest of the time was devoted to creating materials--the library provided materials for them to make and take 3 of the props back to their classrooms.  

 The library worked with Western Dairyland Childcare Resource and Referral to promote, and also sent the flyer electronically and through the mail to Eau Claire area child care centers.  They had 20 sign ups the first morning!  At the final tally, they had 42 participants, all of whom were excited about all the ideas and having time set aside to create some things to take back to their workplace. 

Making!

The library also had a table showcasing the other resources they offer, including having Every Child Ready to Read and Growing Wisconsin Readers brochures available to take back to pass out to families.  

Library resources on display!