WEBVTT 00:00:21.070 --> 00:00:24.649 Hello, I'm Patrick Adams. And I'm Caroline Legere. 00:00:24.960 --> 00:00:28.239 And this is Librarians of Littles, a podcast 00:00:28.239 --> 00:00:32.520 where we discuss books, give ideas for makerspace 00:00:32.520 --> 00:00:35.820 activities, and give tips and tricks for working 00:00:35.820 --> 00:00:41.289 in the library with our youngest learners. Today 00:00:41.289 --> 00:00:45.869 we will be discussing two of the Texas 2x2 books. 00:00:46.289 --> 00:00:50.210 The Texas 2x2 list is a list created each year 00:00:50.210 --> 00:00:52.829 by the Texas Library Association. It's a list 00:00:52.829 --> 00:00:57.490 of 20 books that are excellent for children between 00:00:57.490 --> 00:01:01.710 the ages of two and second grade. And so this 00:01:01.710 --> 00:01:04.469 week we've selected two of those books off of 00:01:04.469 --> 00:01:07.390 that list and I think we picked some really good 00:01:07.390 --> 00:01:13.260 ones. The first book is the book called Lefty, 00:01:13.480 --> 00:01:18.200 a story that is not all right. It is published 00:01:18.200 --> 00:01:22.079 by Union Square Kids in 2024. And the author 00:01:22.079 --> 00:01:25.519 is this guy that I don't I don't know how well 00:01:25.519 --> 00:01:27.260 he's going to do. I don't know if his name is 00:01:27.260 --> 00:01:31.540 going to get out too often. It's written by a 00:01:31.540 --> 00:01:35.280 gentleman named Mo Willems. I don't know if you've 00:01:35.280 --> 00:01:39.120 heard of him before. Mo Willems. Yeah, we'll 00:01:39.120 --> 00:01:43.939 see if he if he has any longevity in this industry, 00:01:44.079 --> 00:01:49.879 we'll see. Also, the illustrator is Dan Santat. 00:01:50.439 --> 00:01:54.219 And so the list of awards for this book, this 00:01:54.219 --> 00:01:56.680 book is on the Junior Library Guild selection 00:01:56.680 --> 00:02:01.799 for 2025. And as stated, it is a Texas two by 00:02:01.799 --> 00:02:07.359 two list book for 2025. And so yes, our author 00:02:07.359 --> 00:02:12.030 is Mo Willems. Super famous, obviously. He's 00:02:12.030 --> 00:02:14.789 an American writer, animator, voice actor, and 00:02:14.789 --> 00:02:17.530 children's book author. And the fact that children's 00:02:17.530 --> 00:02:19.949 book author is fourth on that list should tell 00:02:19.949 --> 00:02:23.229 you something about how successful this gentleman 00:02:23.229 --> 00:02:27.930 is. He was born in Illinois, raised in New Orleans, 00:02:28.110 --> 00:02:31.550 and graduated from New York University's Tisch 00:02:31.550 --> 00:02:35.469 School of the Arts. He started his career as 00:02:35.469 --> 00:02:38.960 a writer and animator for Sesame Street. and 00:02:38.960 --> 00:02:42.740 he just happened to win six Emmy Awards there. 00:02:43.580 --> 00:02:48.599 And from there, his career has exploded. And 00:02:48.599 --> 00:02:51.280 because our book is about being left -handed, 00:02:51.400 --> 00:02:54.060 we just need to point out that Mo, he's right 00:02:54.060 --> 00:02:59.560 -handed. Some of the books that has made Mo Willems 00:02:59.560 --> 00:03:03.539 famous include the amazing Elephant and Piggy 00:03:03.539 --> 00:03:08.460 series, the Pigeon series, the Nuffle Bunny series. 00:03:09.120 --> 00:03:12.400 And then some individual books include Leonardo 00:03:12.400 --> 00:03:15.740 the Terrible Monster, Goldilocks and the Three 00:03:15.740 --> 00:03:21.520 Dinosaurs. That is not a good idea. And many, 00:03:22.240 --> 00:03:28.460 many more. And for illustrator history, Dan Santat 00:03:28.460 --> 00:03:31.340 is a Caldecott award -winning artist who grew 00:03:31.340 --> 00:03:33.819 up in Southern California and graduated from 00:03:33.819 --> 00:03:37.400 the Art Center College of Design. He is the creator 00:03:37.400 --> 00:03:41.300 of the animated series, The Replacements. Dan 00:03:41.300 --> 00:03:44.300 lives outside of Los Angeles with his wife, two 00:03:44.300 --> 00:03:48.419 kids and many, many pets. And you all need to 00:03:48.419 --> 00:03:53.259 know, he is a proud lefty. Some of his other 00:03:53.259 --> 00:03:57.000 books include, Drawn Together written by Minh 00:03:57.000 --> 00:04:01.520 Le, Endlessly Ever After by Laurel Snyder, Lift 00:04:01.520 --> 00:04:05.889 by Minh Le, A New Day by Brad Mell. Meltzer. 00:04:06.330 --> 00:04:09.509 The Misfit series by Lisa Yee. No More Poems 00:04:09.509 --> 00:04:11.949 a Book and Verse That Just Gets Worse by Rhett 00:04:11.949 --> 00:04:15.349 Miller. Oh No or How My Science Project Destroyed 00:04:15.349 --> 00:04:18.889 the World by Mac Barnett. Dude by Aaron Reynolds. 00:04:20.170 --> 00:04:23.790 And Ricky Ricotta's Mighty Robot series by Dave 00:04:23.790 --> 00:04:26.810 Pilkey. Some of the books that he has written 00:04:26.810 --> 00:04:29.870 and illustrated are A First Time for Everything, 00:04:30.529 --> 00:04:32.769 The Adventures of Beagle the Unimaginary Friend, 00:04:33.000 --> 00:04:36.459 and after the fall how Humpty Dumpty got back 00:04:36.459 --> 00:04:42.660 up again and many many more. And so this book, 00:04:42.740 --> 00:04:46.399 The Summary, it is a brief history of left -handed 00:04:46.399 --> 00:04:51.139 people throughout history. It includes the previous 00:04:51.139 --> 00:04:55.579 thoughts of being left -handed, some famous people 00:04:55.579 --> 00:04:58.420 who were left -handed, and the important message 00:04:58.420 --> 00:05:01.959 that no matter whether you are left or right 00:05:01.959 --> 00:05:07.019 -handed You are you and that is important. And 00:05:07.019 --> 00:05:09.439 this book, I really enjoyed it. I wasn't sure 00:05:09.439 --> 00:05:11.399 if I was going to actually like this one, not 00:05:11.399 --> 00:05:15.240 because like clearly anything that Mo Willems 00:05:15.240 --> 00:05:19.139 or Dan Santat does is amazing, but this was just 00:05:19.139 --> 00:05:22.779 kind of a, it's kind of a unique book for them 00:05:22.779 --> 00:05:27.319 to do. Um, which is a little bit more off the 00:05:27.319 --> 00:05:29.399 beaten path than what I'm used to them doing. 00:05:29.480 --> 00:05:31.819 And so I was like, I was hesitant when I first 00:05:32.029 --> 00:05:34.410 grabbed it off the shelf to look at it. But it's 00:05:34.410 --> 00:05:39.110 actually really cute. Always illustrations are 00:05:39.110 --> 00:05:43.310 amazing. And then Mo's sense of humor is right 00:05:43.310 --> 00:05:46.089 there on the page the entire way through the 00:05:46.089 --> 00:05:49.089 book. But it's also just really cool because 00:05:49.089 --> 00:05:51.370 they do bring in a lot of the history of like 00:05:51.370 --> 00:05:54.290 the attitudes that people had towards left handed 00:05:54.290 --> 00:05:57.560 people. And the fact that, you know, there were 00:05:57.560 --> 00:06:00.019 left -handed people that were very famous and 00:06:00.019 --> 00:06:01.379 were able to do lots of things, but you know 00:06:01.379 --> 00:06:02.959 what? Not every left -handed person is gonna 00:06:02.959 --> 00:06:05.540 do that. And you know what? Not every right -handed 00:06:05.540 --> 00:06:07.300 person is gonna do that either. And so just kind 00:06:07.300 --> 00:06:14.079 of like pointing out some of the glaring misconceptions 00:06:14.079 --> 00:06:20.899 that were there in history and just kind of like 00:06:20.899 --> 00:06:25.279 pointing it out, counterbalanced by right -handedness 00:06:25.279 --> 00:06:30.300 and how really, that shouldn't matter. And so 00:06:30.300 --> 00:06:32.699 it was just a really cute book. I think that 00:06:32.699 --> 00:06:35.620 the characters, the little hands telling the 00:06:35.620 --> 00:06:38.240 story and having the conversations will be a 00:06:38.240 --> 00:06:42.540 lot of fun for our young readers. I think it's, 00:06:43.100 --> 00:06:45.579 I think that that will help keep their attention. 00:06:45.699 --> 00:06:48.699 I think that the length of the book and some 00:06:48.699 --> 00:06:53.569 of the topic might. Be a little bit harder for 00:06:53.569 --> 00:06:55.930 them to necessarily understand this book might 00:06:55.930 --> 00:06:59.430 I think The best audience for this book is probably 00:06:59.430 --> 00:07:03.129 gonna be like first or second grade That doesn't 00:07:03.129 --> 00:07:05.589 mean kinder pre -k and kinder can't enjoy it. 00:07:05.589 --> 00:07:08.209 I think it's just maybe aimed at a little bit 00:07:08.209 --> 00:07:11.730 older But I think it's really fun. It's really 00:07:11.730 --> 00:07:15.250 entertaining the hand puppet characters are silly 00:07:15.250 --> 00:07:19.769 The the information in it is awesome. I really 00:07:19.769 --> 00:07:23.480 enjoyed it a lot And so I think that I would 00:07:23.480 --> 00:07:27.319 give this, if I'm using it with pre -K students, 00:07:27.800 --> 00:07:29.639 I think I'd give it a four out of five. If I'm 00:07:29.639 --> 00:07:32.259 using it with first and second grade students, 00:07:32.360 --> 00:07:34.579 I think five out of five. I think it really just 00:07:34.579 --> 00:07:36.439 depends on the audience that it's being used 00:07:36.439 --> 00:07:40.600 with and the goals that you have for it. And 00:07:40.600 --> 00:07:43.480 so I think it's a solid book. I loved it a lot. 00:07:43.639 --> 00:07:47.920 It was like, and again, I don't want to say it's 00:07:47.920 --> 00:07:51.680 surprising, but it was, pleasant at how amazing 00:07:51.680 --> 00:07:55.720 the book was. I agree with all of those things. 00:07:56.180 --> 00:07:59.379 I think with pre -k in general, because their 00:07:59.379 --> 00:08:04.139 sense of time isn't there yet, anything with 00:08:04.139 --> 00:08:08.740 history is just, it's just not developmentally 00:08:08.740 --> 00:08:11.300 appropriate. And that's okay. Everything that 00:08:11.300 --> 00:08:14.250 has happened in the past for like, A three or 00:08:14.250 --> 00:08:17.430 four year old literally happened yesterday yesterday. 00:08:17.430 --> 00:08:19.589 I got up and went to school yesterday. Also, 00:08:19.610 --> 00:08:22.350 the dinosaurs existed. And also yesterday, George 00:08:22.350 --> 00:08:24.709 Washington was president. All these things happened 00:08:24.709 --> 00:08:27.490 just yesterday. Like that's when it happened. 00:08:27.750 --> 00:08:30.850 And same with tomorrow. Tomorrow, I'm also going 00:08:30.850 --> 00:08:33.149 to go to school tomorrow. I'm also going to go 00:08:33.149 --> 00:08:34.649 grow up and get a job. And tomorrow I'm going 00:08:34.649 --> 00:08:36.649 to get married and have my own kids. It's all 00:08:36.649 --> 00:08:39.649 happening tomorrow. Like their their sense of 00:08:39.649 --> 00:08:43.840 time is just like doesn't It's just not there. 00:08:43.879 --> 00:08:47.320 They haven't lived long enough to like really 00:08:47.320 --> 00:08:51.460 have a good sense of how long things take and 00:08:51.460 --> 00:08:54.440 what, you know, a hundred years ago when people 00:08:54.440 --> 00:08:57.340 were discriminated against because of being right 00:08:57.340 --> 00:09:02.200 or left handed, like that, that doesn't, it just 00:09:02.200 --> 00:09:04.220 doesn't. It's not developmentally appropriate, 00:09:04.240 --> 00:09:07.639 not because the book is bad, but because they're 00:09:07.639 --> 00:09:10.399 not ready to learn about history yet. And it's 00:09:10.399 --> 00:09:12.659 not that you shouldn't teach about history at 00:09:12.659 --> 00:09:17.440 all. Just do it knowing that they're not really 00:09:17.440 --> 00:09:20.980 gonna get it because literally everything happened 00:09:20.980 --> 00:09:24.279 yesterday. Everything. That's just some time 00:09:24.279 --> 00:09:26.580 in the past. That's what that word means to them 00:09:26.580 --> 00:09:29.120 right now. And that's okay. They're just not 00:09:29.120 --> 00:09:32.860 100 % ready for it yet. I also really like this 00:09:32.860 --> 00:09:35.679 book and kind of going into that concept because 00:09:35.679 --> 00:09:40.940 I think discrimination against left -handed people, 00:09:41.740 --> 00:09:46.960 maybe that's the only discrimination that I can 00:09:46.960 --> 00:09:50.580 think of off the top of my head that has truly 00:09:50.580 --> 00:09:56.500 like is gone from our society in general right 00:09:56.500 --> 00:09:59.059 now. I think every other form of discrimination 00:09:59.059 --> 00:10:02.019 is probably is still there to some extent, whether 00:10:02.019 --> 00:10:04.919 we realize it or not, it's kind of subtly there, 00:10:04.919 --> 00:10:07.820 you know, like we don't have slavery anymore, 00:10:07.899 --> 00:10:11.659 obviously, but like, there's still, you know, 00:10:11.779 --> 00:10:13.940 that kind of the echoes of that are still kind 00:10:13.940 --> 00:10:18.639 of present in our culture. And this one with 00:10:18.639 --> 00:10:20.700 the discrimination against left handed people 00:10:20.700 --> 00:10:24.519 like that was a thing. in a big way in the past 00:10:24.519 --> 00:10:26.120 and like the book kind of covers that a bit. 00:10:26.679 --> 00:10:29.460 And I just think that's an interesting one to 00:10:29.460 --> 00:10:32.240 kind of look at a little bit because that's probably 00:10:32.240 --> 00:10:36.419 the only area that I truly think we as a culture 00:10:36.419 --> 00:10:41.559 like have overcome completely 100 % and it doesn't 00:10:41.559 --> 00:10:44.419 exist anymore. And I think that might be a good 00:10:44.419 --> 00:10:47.179 one to kind of learn a little bit about so that 00:10:47.179 --> 00:10:49.840 the kids can kind of be aware of like you can 00:10:49.840 --> 00:10:53.200 overcome, you know, types of discrimination, 00:10:53.200 --> 00:10:55.399 like we can, we can do it and we've got some 00:10:55.399 --> 00:10:59.919 work to go, you know, as a culture, like we're 00:10:59.919 --> 00:11:03.659 not done yet in other areas by any means. And 00:11:03.659 --> 00:11:08.120 this is kind of an, a good way to, um, kind of 00:11:08.120 --> 00:11:11.820 teach that a little bit, I guess. Also, have 00:11:11.820 --> 00:11:15.700 you seen Mo Willems workshop? Yes. On YouTube? 00:11:16.240 --> 00:11:19.460 Yes. I feel like if Mo Willems is on here, we 00:11:19.460 --> 00:11:24.090 need to, yeah, that is all. Last year being split 00:11:24.090 --> 00:11:27.470 onto campuses and having to teach in full specials 00:11:27.470 --> 00:11:30.669 rotation, full time, like halfway through the 00:11:30.669 --> 00:11:33.830 year. I like Mo Willems workshop has only been 00:11:33.830 --> 00:11:36.389 there for like a year. Yeah. I think like right 00:11:36.389 --> 00:11:41.549 now a year and, um, it's newer. And so like halfway 00:11:41.549 --> 00:11:44.629 through last year, I found it. And that was like 00:11:44.629 --> 00:11:46.470 my lesson plans for the rest of the year. And 00:11:46.470 --> 00:11:49.009 it made me happy because I had to do sub plans 00:11:49.009 --> 00:11:55.620 all year. long. And it's kind of amazing for 00:11:55.620 --> 00:12:01.039 extra extensions for Mo Willems everything. Absolutely. 00:12:02.340 --> 00:12:06.820 So cool. And so yeah, a makerspace activity for 00:12:06.820 --> 00:12:10.500 this. Since it's about left and right hands, 00:12:10.639 --> 00:12:15.419 I thought it would be fun to get paper and some 00:12:15.419 --> 00:12:19.740 kind of art utensil, crayons, colored pencils, 00:12:19.980 --> 00:12:23.000 markers, whatever, and have the students draw 00:12:23.000 --> 00:12:27.419 a self portrait, but have them use their non 00:12:27.419 --> 00:12:31.100 -dominant hand. So have the righties use their 00:12:31.100 --> 00:12:33.559 left hand, have the lefties use their right hand 00:12:33.559 --> 00:12:37.759 to try and draw, just to, for a lot of reasons. 00:12:37.820 --> 00:12:41.019 First off, I think it'd be fun to see, I enjoy 00:12:41.019 --> 00:12:47.190 seeing students struggle over little things, 00:12:47.549 --> 00:12:49.509 because this isn't for grade, this isn't for 00:12:49.509 --> 00:12:54.830 like, this in the end is just a fun activity 00:12:54.830 --> 00:12:59.029 to try. So like, little struggles like that are 00:12:59.029 --> 00:13:02.970 where you get to see a lot of kids kind of push 00:13:02.970 --> 00:13:05.870 themselves to move past that. And I think doing 00:13:05.870 --> 00:13:08.909 little struggles where they have to think differently 00:13:08.909 --> 00:13:10.629 and try something that they know is going to 00:13:10.629 --> 00:13:13.870 be hard in simple settings like this, where there's 00:13:13.870 --> 00:13:16.799 no like, it's not for a grade, you're not gonna 00:13:16.799 --> 00:13:19.600 get in trouble if you're not super successful 00:13:19.600 --> 00:13:22.159 with it. Like I think having those safe ways 00:13:22.159 --> 00:13:24.700 to let the students struggle is always kind of 00:13:24.700 --> 00:13:28.120 fun and kind of cool to see them grow. But I 00:13:28.120 --> 00:13:33.700 also think that the images that we get for a 00:13:33.700 --> 00:13:35.539 self -portrait when they're using their non -dominant 00:13:35.539 --> 00:13:41.259 hand would be amusing to see as well. And I just 00:13:41.259 --> 00:13:43.360 think like at the same time, it's also helping 00:13:43.360 --> 00:13:46.639 with like that Cross connections and the brain 00:13:46.639 --> 00:13:49.399 and the left and right brain and using different 00:13:49.399 --> 00:13:51.399 side part halves of your body and all that kind 00:13:51.399 --> 00:13:54.539 of stuff or crossing that midline and I just 00:13:54.539 --> 00:13:57.899 think all of that ends up being So useful for 00:13:57.899 --> 00:14:00.440 our students and so having them do kind of activities 00:14:00.440 --> 00:14:03.539 like this where they have to try something with 00:14:03.539 --> 00:14:06.539 their non -dominant hand would be Interesting 00:14:06.539 --> 00:14:08.360 and so just drawing a self -portrait see what 00:14:08.360 --> 00:14:13.840 that comes to would be fun Mm -hmm. I love that 00:14:13.710 --> 00:14:16.409 I love it a whole lot. And that's also kind of 00:14:16.409 --> 00:14:19.750 a safe way to do it too, because everybody's 00:14:19.750 --> 00:14:22.029 doing it at once. So everybody's is going to 00:14:22.029 --> 00:14:24.669 look goofy. So nobody's going to be singled out 00:14:24.669 --> 00:14:28.090 or anything. For sure. I love it. Yeah. Yeah. 00:14:29.289 --> 00:14:31.590 That'd be a really good one. That'd be a whole 00:14:31.590 --> 00:14:34.850 lot of fun. And I, you know, that's one of those 00:14:34.850 --> 00:14:36.669 ones where I would do it too. And I would make 00:14:36.669 --> 00:14:38.429 sure that mine looks pretty terrible to be like, 00:14:38.429 --> 00:14:41.990 look, it's not my strong hand. You wouldn't have 00:14:41.990 --> 00:14:45.840 to. No, but like, I would be up there just being 00:14:45.840 --> 00:14:50.620 like, look, here's mine. I didn't do the best. 00:14:50.879 --> 00:14:54.899 It's okay not to have it be perfect. Let the 00:14:54.899 --> 00:15:00.799 kids know that it's okay and that it's just one 00:15:00.799 --> 00:15:04.419 of those activities to try at. It's a safe place 00:15:04.419 --> 00:15:08.740 to struggle. We're all going to be bad at it 00:15:08.740 --> 00:15:15.659 together. Let's go. Yeah, I like it. All right, 00:15:15.919 --> 00:15:19.740 for our Library of Littles management tip today, 00:15:19.740 --> 00:15:23.820 we are going to talk about having parent volunteers 00:15:23.820 --> 00:15:27.879 in the library. I have been kind of fortunate 00:15:27.879 --> 00:15:30.379 in the past and am again this year with getting 00:15:30.379 --> 00:15:34.179 parent volunteers for the past five years that 00:15:34.179 --> 00:15:38.320 I've been at Pre -K only campus. And for those 00:15:38.320 --> 00:15:41.840 years, I usually, even though it's Pre -K, with 00:15:41.840 --> 00:15:44.970 Pre -K it's... harder to get, especially on a 00:15:44.970 --> 00:15:50.970 pre -K only campus. Our schools kind of historically 00:15:50.970 --> 00:15:53.309 struggled with getting some parent volunteers, 00:15:53.470 --> 00:15:57.789 mostly because with pre -K, all of the parents 00:15:57.789 --> 00:16:00.929 are, for the most part, I mean, some of the kids 00:16:00.929 --> 00:16:04.049 have older siblings, but for the most part, everybody, 00:16:04.669 --> 00:16:07.240 including parents, is learning school. for the 00:16:07.240 --> 00:16:10.240 very first time. And usually when you're starting 00:16:10.240 --> 00:16:12.440 something for the very first time, you don't 00:16:12.440 --> 00:16:14.899 really want to add to your responsibilities and 00:16:14.899 --> 00:16:18.200 you don't really want to try something brand 00:16:18.200 --> 00:16:20.179 new because you're already trying something brand 00:16:20.179 --> 00:16:22.080 new with because you're starting this thing for 00:16:22.080 --> 00:16:24.860 the first time. So it's a little bit harder to 00:16:24.860 --> 00:16:28.460 get parent volunteers for that in general. But 00:16:28.460 --> 00:16:33.799 I was always able to get at least a couple. of 00:16:33.799 --> 00:16:36.240 parent volunteers, not a ton, but I usually got 00:16:36.240 --> 00:16:40.799 a couple that came in to help with book fairs 00:16:40.799 --> 00:16:44.940 in particular. Book fairs and we had a couple 00:16:44.940 --> 00:16:48.240 of really big school -wide events that I organized 00:16:48.240 --> 00:16:51.379 in the past that I got a few parent volunteers 00:16:51.379 --> 00:16:55.220 for. And with all of those, the way I got parent 00:16:55.220 --> 00:16:59.570 volunteers was... our counselor. She was kind 00:16:59.570 --> 00:17:05.750 of amazing, and with Meet the Teacher, she created 00:17:05.750 --> 00:17:10.930 a volunteer sign up sheet for all the parents 00:17:10.930 --> 00:17:14.490 that went home with the student information packet 00:17:14.490 --> 00:17:18.009 that teachers handed out with each class. So 00:17:18.009 --> 00:17:20.170 the parents would fill out, if they were interested 00:17:20.170 --> 00:17:23.390 in volunteering at the school, the parents would 00:17:23.390 --> 00:17:26.569 fill out a sheet with their contact information, 00:17:26.849 --> 00:17:29.150 the dates and times they were available, if they 00:17:29.150 --> 00:17:31.250 were available regularly or if they just wanted 00:17:31.250 --> 00:17:33.109 to be contacted, if there was a special event 00:17:33.109 --> 00:17:36.009 or something and kind of things like that. And 00:17:36.009 --> 00:17:40.720 then she had a list of events that. she put that 00:17:40.720 --> 00:17:42.220 would happen throughout the school year that 00:17:42.220 --> 00:17:45.759 we would like parent volunteers for. And if they 00:17:45.759 --> 00:17:48.140 checked and Book Fair was one of those things. 00:17:48.140 --> 00:17:50.720 And then the other big events that I organized 00:17:50.720 --> 00:17:54.059 were also on there. And if they checked those 00:17:54.059 --> 00:17:57.480 boxes, then she gave me a copy of their contact 00:17:57.480 --> 00:17:59.640 information and I just kept them in a file. And 00:17:59.640 --> 00:18:02.660 then when it was time for that event, that was 00:18:02.660 --> 00:18:05.299 when I contacted them. And that was a pretty 00:18:05.299 --> 00:18:09.529 great way for us to get like school -wide volunteers 00:18:09.529 --> 00:18:13.990 to kind of come in and for at that pre -k only 00:18:13.990 --> 00:18:17.650 campus we didn't have a PTA or anything because 00:18:17.650 --> 00:18:20.930 again because the kids it was pre -k only so 00:18:20.930 --> 00:18:22.730 you know the kids are only there for one year 00:18:22.730 --> 00:18:25.410 so it wasn't like we had a whole lot of parents 00:18:25.410 --> 00:18:28.509 that were you know repeat customers or anything 00:18:28.509 --> 00:18:31.529 they would since the parents the kids and parents 00:18:31.529 --> 00:18:34.170 were only there for one year it was it wasn't 00:18:34.170 --> 00:18:36.089 like we could have like the fifth grade parents 00:18:36.089 --> 00:18:37.990 who had been there for a minute and trained the 00:18:37.990 --> 00:18:41.029 kindergarten parents who were incoming or anything. 00:18:41.750 --> 00:18:44.490 So PTA didn't work, but we were able to do a 00:18:44.490 --> 00:18:50.789 few parent volunteers that way. This year, we 00:18:50.789 --> 00:18:54.910 didn't have anything school -wide like that. 00:18:54.910 --> 00:18:57.289 There is a PTA though. I haven't really been 00:18:57.289 --> 00:19:01.269 in contact with the PTA and I don't really know 00:19:01.269 --> 00:19:05.829 if they're, You know involved with I'm sure they 00:19:05.829 --> 00:19:08.349 are involved with volunteering and I will contact 00:19:08.349 --> 00:19:12.529 them when it is time for Big school events to 00:19:12.529 --> 00:19:14.690 see if there's anybody additional who wants to 00:19:14.690 --> 00:19:17.369 come and volunteer in the library But what I 00:19:17.369 --> 00:19:21.170 did instead on my own was at meet the teacher 00:19:21.170 --> 00:19:26.450 again this year our specials team which consists 00:19:26.450 --> 00:19:31.769 of me the librarian our PE coach our Art and 00:19:31.769 --> 00:19:34.150 music teacher and our computer teacher like we 00:19:34.150 --> 00:19:37.769 all had our own table like at the front of the 00:19:37.769 --> 00:19:42.670 school That had we all had kind of matching all 00:19:42.670 --> 00:19:44.670 about me sheets that we just kind of laminated 00:19:44.670 --> 00:19:47.950 and put up like as a sign So it was like this 00:19:47.950 --> 00:19:50.210 big poster board with like all these kind of 00:19:50.210 --> 00:19:52.210 matching sheets or whatever that were like We 00:19:52.210 --> 00:19:54.089 made it look all pretty and everything so that 00:19:54.089 --> 00:19:56.549 parents could read a little bit about us if they 00:19:56.549 --> 00:19:59.650 So desired and they could come chat with us since 00:19:59.650 --> 00:20:02.640 we are their children's teachers as well. And 00:20:02.640 --> 00:20:05.339 then on that table with all of those things, 00:20:05.539 --> 00:20:10.440 I also had just a sheet to sign up for library 00:20:10.440 --> 00:20:13.160 volunteers. I haven't really given people, I 00:20:13.160 --> 00:20:16.099 didn't put any information out at that night 00:20:16.099 --> 00:20:20.019 and I didn't have anybody ask about what specific 00:20:20.019 --> 00:20:23.940 events I would need for parent volunteers. But 00:20:23.940 --> 00:20:28.200 I did, I was lucky and I got five people to sign 00:20:28.200 --> 00:20:32.259 up. for to come volunteer in the library. And 00:20:32.259 --> 00:20:37.279 then last week I emailed all of them with just 00:20:37.279 --> 00:20:39.980 a blanket. Thank you for, you know, volunteering. 00:20:40.140 --> 00:20:43.599 So excited to have you. I would definitely love 00:20:43.599 --> 00:20:46.400 regular help with shelving. If anybody can come 00:20:46.400 --> 00:20:50.980 on a, you know, consistent, you know, day of 00:20:50.980 --> 00:20:54.180 the week or time consistent day or time of the 00:20:54.180 --> 00:20:57.190 week, that would be wonderful. Or we've got, 00:20:57.190 --> 00:20:59.069 you know, DOT Day is going to come up and we're 00:20:59.069 --> 00:21:00.990 going to need help with decorating the school 00:21:00.990 --> 00:21:04.470 for that. And we'll have a book fair later in 00:21:04.470 --> 00:21:06.829 November that you can volunteer with. And all 00:21:06.829 --> 00:21:09.009 of them have emailed me back with two of them 00:21:09.009 --> 00:21:11.509 want to do regular shelving. So I'll have a regular 00:21:11.509 --> 00:21:16.930 volunteer Fridays during my conference and Mondays 00:21:16.930 --> 00:21:21.539 during my conference. to just help with shelving. 00:21:21.759 --> 00:21:25.000 And then the other ones are going to come help 00:21:25.000 --> 00:21:28.599 decorate the school for dot day, when our art 00:21:28.599 --> 00:21:33.259 teacher is going to create or help students create 00:21:33.259 --> 00:21:36.519 dots to decorate the school with. And they're 00:21:36.519 --> 00:21:39.339 also going to come back for book fair. So I'm 00:21:39.339 --> 00:21:41.589 very excited this year. I haven't None of them 00:21:41.589 --> 00:21:43.950 have gotten to come into the library yet. That's 00:21:43.950 --> 00:21:47.250 going to start actually this coming Monday when 00:21:47.250 --> 00:21:51.230 students start returning their library books. 00:21:51.250 --> 00:21:53.309 That's when my first volunteer is going to come. 00:21:53.369 --> 00:21:58.450 So we'll see how it goes after that. But yeah, 00:21:58.450 --> 00:22:00.150 that's how I've gotten my parent volunteers in 00:22:00.150 --> 00:22:02.490 the past. And I've I think I've been fairly successful 00:22:02.490 --> 00:22:06.430 with it with the demographics that I've had to 00:22:06.430 --> 00:22:10.950 work with. And you know, I just I've worked with 00:22:10.910 --> 00:22:14.950 uh, families in the past who are lower socioeconomic 00:22:14.950 --> 00:22:17.529 status, who maybe work multiple jobs that you 00:22:17.529 --> 00:22:21.490 don't typically get as much, um, volunteer with, 00:22:21.509 --> 00:22:23.910 but I have been fortunate and I've gotten some. 00:22:24.150 --> 00:22:27.750 So that's how I've done it before. I think it'll 00:22:27.750 --> 00:22:30.730 work again this year. Yeah. Looking forward to 00:22:30.730 --> 00:22:33.829 it. Yeah, that's, that's another area that I 00:22:33.829 --> 00:22:36.710 need to work on. I never get a ton, a ton of 00:22:36.710 --> 00:22:40.740 volunteers. Um, So I need to, I need to work 00:22:40.740 --> 00:22:42.880 on that. I like the idea of having like a signup 00:22:42.880 --> 00:22:45.119 sheet right there for me, for like open house 00:22:45.119 --> 00:22:46.900 and meet the teacher night and that kind of thing. 00:22:47.880 --> 00:22:49.380 I'm going to try that in this year and see if 00:22:49.380 --> 00:22:51.039 maybe I can get a couple more volunteers. Cause 00:22:51.039 --> 00:22:53.980 I always, the big thing that I need volunteers 00:22:53.980 --> 00:22:56.079 for is like helping out with book fair because 00:22:56.079 --> 00:23:00.900 being part of the rotation. So running the book 00:23:00.900 --> 00:23:03.980 fair while also having a class in the library 00:23:03.980 --> 00:23:09.710 is just so challenging. That's hard. So having 00:23:09.710 --> 00:23:14.509 at least one extra pair of hands that can like 00:23:14.509 --> 00:23:18.049 run the cash register for me while I'm trying 00:23:18.049 --> 00:23:22.609 to get 25 kids to do an activity or something. 00:23:23.509 --> 00:23:27.170 That's always the big thing. And so I like that 00:23:27.170 --> 00:23:31.410 idea. We have our curriculum nights and our meet 00:23:31.410 --> 00:23:33.609 the tea, like our open house nights coming up. 00:23:33.930 --> 00:23:38.259 So I think having a sign up sheet. to volunteer 00:23:38.259 --> 00:23:41.319 for the library is I'm going to try it out. I'm 00:23:41.319 --> 00:23:42.799 going to see how that works because I like that 00:23:42.799 --> 00:23:47.319 a lot. Yeah, try it. I mean, it can't hurt. Can't 00:23:47.319 --> 00:23:50.279 hurt. Yeah, absolutely. Yeah. If you get no one, 00:23:50.400 --> 00:23:53.200 that's the same as what you got now. Yep. So 00:23:53.200 --> 00:23:55.880 for sure. So yeah, going to try it out. Well, 00:23:55.920 --> 00:23:58.039 hopefully it'll be successful and I'll get some 00:23:58.039 --> 00:24:01.640 help because that would be real nice. Yeah. Let 00:24:01.640 --> 00:24:05.880 me know how it goes. Yeah. All right. For the 00:24:05.880 --> 00:24:07.859 next book that we're going to talk about that 00:24:07.859 --> 00:24:11.579 was on the two by two, it's Go and Get with Rex. 00:24:11.980 --> 00:24:15.680 It was published by Penguin Random House in 2024. 00:24:16.400 --> 00:24:21.339 The author is David LaRochelle and the illustrator 00:24:21.339 --> 00:24:25.380 is Mike. How do you say his last name? Do you 00:24:25.380 --> 00:24:31.220 know? I believe it's Wanookka. Wanookka. Wanookka. 00:24:32.039 --> 00:24:34.079 Wanookka. Wanookka. Wanookka. Wanookka. Wanookka. 00:24:34.099 --> 00:24:40.039 Yes. there you go yes just say yes okay uh this 00:24:40.039 --> 00:24:44.539 book was on quite a few lists it's a ccbc selection 00:24:44.539 --> 00:24:48.259 for 2025 alsc notable children's book commended 00:24:48.259 --> 00:24:52.079 list 2025 junior library guild pre -kinder selection 00:24:52.079 --> 00:24:57.099 2025 state and the state lists it's on are colorado 00:24:57.099 --> 00:25:01.509 c -l -e -l Bell Picture Book Awards for Early 00:25:01.509 --> 00:25:06.210 Literacy Shortlist Read 2025, Iowa Bridge to 00:25:06.210 --> 00:25:10.309 Reading Award 2025, Oklahoma Red Bud Read Aloud 00:25:10.309 --> 00:25:14.190 2025, Pennsylvania Baker's Dozen 13 Best Books 00:25:14.190 --> 00:25:18.150 for Family Literacy 2025, and of course, the 00:25:18.150 --> 00:25:23.549 Texas 2x2 List 2025. For the author history, 00:25:24.210 --> 00:25:26.549 David La Rochelle was born and raised in Minnesota. 00:25:26.670 --> 00:25:30.609 He graduated from St. Olaf College in 1983. He 00:25:30.609 --> 00:25:32.710 wanted to be a cartoonist or an illustrator of 00:25:32.710 --> 00:25:34.750 homework cards, but became an elementary school 00:25:34.750 --> 00:25:38.309 teacher. A friend convinced him to submit a story 00:25:38.309 --> 00:25:40.710 he had written to a local publisher, and his 00:25:40.710 --> 00:25:43.190 first book, A Christmas Guest, was published 00:25:43.190 --> 00:25:46.349 in 1988. He is the recipient of the Theodore 00:25:46.349 --> 00:25:52.170 Seuss Geisel Award, the Sid Fleshman Humor Award, 00:25:52.670 --> 00:25:55.509 Multiple Children's Choice Awards, and a four 00:25:55.509 --> 00:25:58.700 -time winner of the Minnesota Book Award. David 00:25:58.700 --> 00:26:01.160 still visits many classrooms around the Midwest 00:26:01.160 --> 00:26:04.000 and the world each year, talking with students 00:26:04.000 --> 00:26:09.359 about books, writing, and illustrating. Some 00:26:09.359 --> 00:26:14.119 of his other books are The Best Pet of All, illustrated 00:26:14.119 --> 00:26:20.400 by Hanako Wakayama, How Martha Saved Her Parents 00:26:20.400 --> 00:26:23.240 from Green Beans, illustrated by Mark Fearing, 00:26:24.119 --> 00:26:27.240 See the Cat. Three Stories About a Dog, illustrated 00:26:27.240 --> 00:26:32.539 by Mike Wanucca. Monster and Son, illustrated 00:26:32.539 --> 00:26:36.579 by Joey Chow. It's a Tiger, illustrated by Jeremy 00:26:36.579 --> 00:26:40.099 Tankard. The Haunted Hamburger, illustrated by 00:26:40.099 --> 00:26:44.200 Paul Maisel. And How to Apologize, illustrated 00:26:44.200 --> 00:26:46.799 by Mike Wanucca. I haven't read that one, but 00:26:46.799 --> 00:26:49.599 I think I should. That sounds great. I want to 00:26:49.599 --> 00:26:52.480 read a book called How to Apologize. Anyway. 00:26:54.230 --> 00:26:57.210 And so our illustrator, we're going to refer 00:26:57.210 --> 00:27:05.730 to him as Mike, because yeah. Yep, do that. Mike 00:27:05.730 --> 00:27:09.009 grew up in Minnesota and always wanted to be 00:27:09.009 --> 00:27:12.650 an artist. And a high school art teacher encouraged 00:27:12.650 --> 00:27:15.769 him to follow his dream. With this encouragement 00:27:15.769 --> 00:27:18.509 and a scholarship, Mike attended the Savannah 00:27:18.509 --> 00:27:21.230 College of Art and Design, where he graduated 00:27:21.230 --> 00:27:26.079 with a with a BFA in illustration. He has since 00:27:26.079 --> 00:27:29.019 illustrated over 30 books and he has written 00:27:29.019 --> 00:27:33.299 and illustrated many books as well. So some of 00:27:33.299 --> 00:27:37.519 the books that he has illustrated include Davy's 00:27:37.519 --> 00:27:40.619 Blue -Eyed Frog written by Patricia Harrison 00:27:40.619 --> 00:27:45.759 Easton, Can't Sleep Without Sheep by Susan Leonard 00:27:45.759 --> 00:27:51.279 Hill, Hanukkah Bear by Eric A. Kimmel, Stay Close 00:27:51.279 --> 00:27:56.500 to Mama by Tony Buzio. That's what we're gonna 00:27:56.500 --> 00:28:00.839 say, Buzio. Just Like My Papa by Tony Buzio. 00:28:01.359 --> 00:28:05.960 This is Not a Cat by David La Rochelle. See the 00:28:05.960 --> 00:28:09.339 Dog, Three Stories About a Cat by David La Rochelle. 00:28:09.720 --> 00:28:12.180 And See the Cat, Three Stories About a Dog by 00:28:12.180 --> 00:28:14.740 David La Rochelle. Books that he has written 00:28:14.740 --> 00:28:19.079 and illustrated include Croc and Turtle. the 00:28:19.079 --> 00:28:24.279 bestest friends ever croc and turtle snow fun 00:28:24.279 --> 00:28:28.660 ups and downs a book of emotions little puppy 00:28:28.660 --> 00:28:32.779 and the green monster the big green monster and 00:28:32.779 --> 00:28:43.000 dad's first day um i think these two also have 00:28:43.000 --> 00:28:45.799 another book in the see the dog series called 00:28:45.799 --> 00:28:51.000 see the ghost And it's about, I really like it 00:28:51.000 --> 00:28:54.759 and I forgot about it until right now. I had 00:28:54.759 --> 00:28:58.759 it on my order list at my old library and I wasn't 00:28:58.759 --> 00:29:00.920 allowed to order it for a very long time, but 00:29:00.920 --> 00:29:02.920 I'm going to need to order it now because it 00:29:02.920 --> 00:29:05.339 was all about unseen things. It was like, one 00:29:05.339 --> 00:29:08.779 was like the wind and one was, it was anyway, 00:29:09.680 --> 00:29:13.460 I digress. No, that's cool. It was really cool. 00:29:13.579 --> 00:29:18.680 It was all unseen. Yeah. It was a very cool book. 00:29:19.099 --> 00:29:23.700 Anyway, I would like to read it again. Anyway, 00:29:24.059 --> 00:29:29.079 in this book, an unseen narrator asks a boy, 00:29:29.319 --> 00:29:32.660 a girl, and a dog named Rex if they would like 00:29:32.660 --> 00:29:35.940 to play a game called Go and Get. After saying 00:29:35.940 --> 00:29:38.819 yes, the narrator tells them to go and get things 00:29:38.819 --> 00:29:41.160 that start with a specific letter. The boy and 00:29:41.160 --> 00:29:44.119 girl both find something obvious every time. 00:29:44.279 --> 00:29:49.640 But Rex repeatedly gets things that aren't quite 00:29:49.640 --> 00:29:54.160 right at first glance. But then once he explains 00:29:54.160 --> 00:29:56.359 it in his little doggie language, I guess, he 00:29:56.359 --> 00:29:59.759 only says woof. But he kind of explains to the 00:29:59.759 --> 00:30:05.359 narrator like, no, it's right. And kind of the 00:30:05.359 --> 00:30:08.059 narrator tells you how it's right. So I loved 00:30:08.059 --> 00:30:11.859 this book. I think this this, you know, author 00:30:11.859 --> 00:30:15.140 illustrator pair, like they write some really 00:30:15.140 --> 00:30:22.680 great, very simple, funny books that I think 00:30:22.680 --> 00:30:25.039 really connect really well with the youngest 00:30:25.039 --> 00:30:27.940 readers. I especially loved this one because 00:30:27.940 --> 00:30:32.259 it's all about alliteration and it's just a really, 00:30:32.259 --> 00:30:37.119 really great book to teach all kinds of phonological 00:30:37.119 --> 00:30:42.299 awareness skills. It's I think it's exceptionally 00:30:42.299 --> 00:30:45.279 engaging because like it has I think the first 00:30:45.279 --> 00:30:48.079 one is like go and get something that starts 00:30:48.079 --> 00:30:51.500 with the letter F And there's like a frog and 00:30:51.500 --> 00:30:54.579 there's a fish and then he goes and gets a duck. 00:30:54.579 --> 00:30:58.099 No, it's my friend There you go. So and that's 00:30:58.099 --> 00:31:00.920 how it kind of connects to the letter F. So I 00:31:00.920 --> 00:31:04.900 think it was just I think it would make kids 00:31:04.900 --> 00:31:09.319 laugh it really pulls them in and It's got really 00:31:09.319 --> 00:31:12.220 simple, that simple illustration style with the, 00:31:12.220 --> 00:31:14.700 you know, mostly white background with just the 00:31:14.700 --> 00:31:18.700 pictures on it. Um, or just the very simple pictures 00:31:18.700 --> 00:31:21.279 on it. There's no like scenes in the background 00:31:21.279 --> 00:31:23.700 or anything. So it's easier for the kids to focus 00:31:23.700 --> 00:31:28.539 on whatever the picture is. Um, yeah, this one's 00:31:28.539 --> 00:31:32.200 easily a five out of five. I loved it. It's this 00:31:32.200 --> 00:31:35.440 pair just has amazing work and it was another, 00:31:35.440 --> 00:31:40.319 you know, fantastic book for pre -k kids agreed 00:31:40.319 --> 00:31:44.240 i love it i loved how clever the dog was to come 00:31:44.240 --> 00:31:48.779 up with unique ways to to find those the letter 00:31:48.779 --> 00:31:51.759 sounds and that kind of thing um it was a lot 00:31:51.759 --> 00:31:54.440 of fun and i can just i haven't read this book 00:31:54.440 --> 00:31:56.819 with my students yet but i'm i'm going to this 00:31:56.819 --> 00:32:00.200 year and i can just already hear the conversations 00:32:00.200 --> 00:32:02.259 that we can have like, oh, what can you think 00:32:02.259 --> 00:32:04.700 of that starts with this letter and let the kids 00:32:04.700 --> 00:32:06.440 give some ideas. And then we read and find out 00:32:06.440 --> 00:32:09.440 what the characters in the book thought of that 00:32:09.440 --> 00:32:10.700 start with that letter and that kind of thing. 00:32:10.799 --> 00:32:13.660 And so I think it'll be a very engaging story 00:32:13.660 --> 00:32:16.660 and I look forward to using it because like you 00:32:16.660 --> 00:32:19.440 said, the story and the pictures, they just work 00:32:19.440 --> 00:32:24.240 so well together to be just so much fun for the 00:32:24.240 --> 00:32:27.049 students. And so. Being able to have those conversations 00:32:27.049 --> 00:32:31.109 in addition with that to make some good Discussions 00:32:31.109 --> 00:32:33.930 will be fun. I look forward to using it. I totally 00:32:33.930 --> 00:32:37.069 agree five out of five and It it just it takes 00:32:37.069 --> 00:32:40.910 a concept. That's really pretty dry, you know 00:32:40.910 --> 00:32:44.269 just listing words that start with the same sound 00:32:44.269 --> 00:32:49.849 like okay, that's you know, it's I mean, it's 00:32:49.849 --> 00:32:52.109 an important skill. It's something that you work 00:32:52.109 --> 00:32:56.039 on and pre -k like throughout the whole year 00:32:56.039 --> 00:33:01.059 anything to do with letter sounds and Any kind 00:33:01.059 --> 00:33:03.960 of phonological awareness skill really like you 00:33:03.960 --> 00:33:08.180 you really do that all Year long and it can it 00:33:08.180 --> 00:33:11.440 can get kind of boring. So it's a really fresh 00:33:11.440 --> 00:33:16.519 new way to kind of make it fun for kids and Get 00:33:16.519 --> 00:33:17.960 a little giggle out of them while you're doing 00:33:17.960 --> 00:33:22.480 it Yeah, and I think for a makerspace activity 00:33:22.480 --> 00:33:25.839 really you could do anything with alliteration 00:33:25.839 --> 00:33:28.819 or Phonological awareness you could use this 00:33:28.819 --> 00:33:32.059 book as your hook to get them like sucked in 00:33:32.059 --> 00:33:36.240 get them engaged and then introduce Really, whatever 00:33:36.240 --> 00:33:39.359 you need to teach in the classroom for this one. 00:33:39.359 --> 00:33:45.119 I would probably because it's so good with Teaching 00:33:45.119 --> 00:33:47.119 phonological awareness, I would probably work 00:33:47.119 --> 00:33:50.460 with the teacher and see what they've done in 00:33:50.460 --> 00:33:53.299 the classroom so far and if there's any activities 00:33:53.299 --> 00:33:58.539 that they think we should pair with it and to 00:33:58.539 --> 00:34:00.500 kind of build on what they're already doing in 00:34:00.500 --> 00:34:03.240 the classroom. If I wasn't going to talk to the 00:34:03.240 --> 00:34:06.619 teacher, I would probably just create a collage 00:34:06.619 --> 00:34:11.360 or have kids draw things that start with a specific 00:34:11.360 --> 00:34:16.659 letter to work on those phonological skills even 00:34:16.659 --> 00:34:20.039 more. If I was going to do this in the classroom 00:34:20.039 --> 00:34:23.000 as a teacher, I think I would do this to introduce 00:34:23.000 --> 00:34:27.219 a year -long activity where once a week kids 00:34:27.219 --> 00:34:33.199 would bring in something small that starts with 00:34:33.199 --> 00:34:34.780 whatever letter of the week that we're working 00:34:34.780 --> 00:34:38.780 on. In the library, I wouldn't do that in the 00:34:38.780 --> 00:34:40.619 library because we don't have enough time for 00:34:40.619 --> 00:34:43.559 that and that would like literally be our whole 00:34:43.559 --> 00:34:46.199 lesson every time and that's Not something I 00:34:46.199 --> 00:34:48.239 would I wouldn't be willing to give up that much 00:34:48.239 --> 00:34:51.519 time for that in the library But as a classroom 00:34:51.519 --> 00:34:53.599 teacher, I think that's what I would do But as 00:34:53.599 --> 00:34:56.019 a librarian, I think I would primarily work with 00:34:56.019 --> 00:34:58.599 the teacher and see whatever Just because there 00:34:58.599 --> 00:35:03.059 is so much that I know that those pre -k teachers 00:35:03.059 --> 00:35:05.619 have to cover with phonological awareness, I 00:35:05.619 --> 00:35:07.280 would probably work with them to see whatever 00:35:07.280 --> 00:35:09.239 they think is best. But like I said, if I wasn't 00:35:09.239 --> 00:35:11.400 gonna do that and I just wanted to do it on my 00:35:11.400 --> 00:35:14.179 own, I think I would create a collage of things 00:35:14.179 --> 00:35:15.820 that start with a specific letter so that the 00:35:15.820 --> 00:35:19.780 kids could still look for things and be thinking 00:35:19.780 --> 00:35:22.199 about things that start with a certain letter 00:35:22.199 --> 00:35:25.340 and kind of do that work on their own. And as 00:35:25.340 --> 00:35:28.369 far as a collage goes, you could either... That 00:35:28.369 --> 00:35:29.909 would be something that I think they would need 00:35:29.909 --> 00:35:31.550 to do either later of the year where they've 00:35:31.550 --> 00:35:33.230 already learned how to use scissors in their 00:35:33.230 --> 00:35:37.449 classroom, or you could work on, honestly work 00:35:37.449 --> 00:35:40.130 on tearing skills because that's a really good 00:35:40.130 --> 00:35:44.949 fine motor skill. Tearing, if you tear paper 00:35:44.949 --> 00:35:48.710 the right way, ideally you're only using your 00:35:48.710 --> 00:35:51.949 index finger and your thumb, which really is 00:35:51.949 --> 00:35:55.550 a good prerequisite skill for using scissors. 00:35:57.239 --> 00:35:58.780 I don't know how much you want to do that in 00:35:58.780 --> 00:36:00.099 the library cause you don't want them tearing 00:36:00.099 --> 00:36:04.000 up too much. But yeah, I think that's what I 00:36:04.000 --> 00:36:05.659 would go with if I wasn't going to work with 00:36:05.659 --> 00:36:09.659 the teacher. And I think that's a great idea. 00:36:09.659 --> 00:36:12.019 I love it. I love the idea of having the kids 00:36:12.019 --> 00:36:16.480 practice tearing because after this first full 00:36:16.480 --> 00:36:18.820 week of school, I've spent it in the cafeteria 00:36:18.820 --> 00:36:25.000 for a lunch duty with some grade levels and the 00:36:25.000 --> 00:36:28.150 grade level that I'm in the cafeteria for most 00:36:28.150 --> 00:36:30.190 of the time is second grade and the number of 00:36:30.190 --> 00:36:35.429 kids who can't use those pointer and thumbs to 00:36:35.429 --> 00:36:39.989 tear like chip bags open and stuff like that. 00:36:40.409 --> 00:36:42.909 Like that is this I don't and it's not anything 00:36:42.909 --> 00:36:44.849 against the kids. I think it's honestly a skill 00:36:44.849 --> 00:36:49.349 that isn't practiced nearly as much anymore to 00:36:49.349 --> 00:36:52.070 build that that dexterity and the strength in 00:36:52.070 --> 00:36:55.289 those fingers. So doing little things Clearly, 00:36:55.289 --> 00:36:58.489 if you're tearing little pictures out of magazines 00:36:58.489 --> 00:37:02.369 or little paper, it's not using the muscles a 00:37:02.369 --> 00:37:05.130 ton, but it is building that dexterity, and it 00:37:05.130 --> 00:37:09.110 is using those skills. I just don't think it's 00:37:09.110 --> 00:37:12.630 done a lot anymore, and so I think it's a great 00:37:12.630 --> 00:37:16.150 thing to do with the younger students, for sure. 00:37:16.150 --> 00:37:18.929 I agree. I think in kindergarten now, they just 00:37:18.929 --> 00:37:21.650 jump right into, this is how you use a pencil. 00:37:23.780 --> 00:37:26.440 That not not saying that shouldn't be done. They 00:37:26.440 --> 00:37:28.639 should do that They need to use how to learn 00:37:28.639 --> 00:37:30.340 how they need to learn how to use the pencil 00:37:30.340 --> 00:37:32.039 But there's other prerequisite skills that come 00:37:32.039 --> 00:37:35.500 before that That they're really not addressing 00:37:35.500 --> 00:37:38.300 they go straight into this is how you use scissors. 00:37:38.340 --> 00:37:42.039 This is how you use Pencil, but there's all those 00:37:42.039 --> 00:37:43.800 skills before that that they really actually 00:37:43.800 --> 00:37:47.900 should be you learning at home. They're not Because 00:37:47.900 --> 00:37:50.920 they're you know, our culture has kind of moved 00:37:50.920 --> 00:37:53.340 away from that in general, and parents aren't 00:37:53.340 --> 00:37:55.000 working on skills at home. They don't really 00:37:55.000 --> 00:37:56.860 know how to work on those skills at home. They 00:37:56.860 --> 00:37:58.820 probably don't recognize that that's an important 00:37:58.820 --> 00:38:04.440 thing to do. And yeah. So anyway, I agree. I 00:38:04.440 --> 00:38:06.940 think those are good skills for us to practice 00:38:06.940 --> 00:38:13.760 elsewhere. So yeah. All right. Well, thank you 00:38:13.760 --> 00:38:16.039 all for joining us today on this episode of Librarians 00:38:16.039 --> 00:38:17.960 of Littles. And we hope you found some fresh 00:38:17.960 --> 00:38:20.780 ideas for inspiring our young readers. Please 00:38:20.780 --> 00:38:22.780 be sure to subscribe and connect with us on social 00:38:22.780 --> 00:38:25.659 media. Happy reading. Thank you for listening 00:38:25.659 --> 00:38:28.900 to this episode of Librarians of Littles. We 00:38:28.900 --> 00:38:31.239 hope that you've enjoyed it. Check back each 00:38:31.239 --> 00:38:35.400 Wednesday for a new episode. Librarians of Littles 00:38:35.400 --> 00:38:38.380 is a podcast produced and hosted by Patrick Adams 00:38:38.380 --> 00:38:42.579 and Caroline Legier. Editor Patrick Adams. Our 00:38:42.579 --> 00:38:45.820 theme song is performed by JD Adams. You can 00:38:45.820 --> 00:38:49.119 follow us on Instagram at Librarians of Littles. 00:38:49.539 --> 00:38:53.360 You can follow us on BlueSky at littleslibrarian 00:38:53.360 --> 00:38:57.960 .bsky .social. And you can send us your emails 00:38:57.960 --> 00:39:02.360 at librarianoflittlespodatgmail .com.