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WHO ARE STORYRIDERS?
Storyriders are preschool program specialists who come to your local library to perform preschool story hours. They engage the youngest patrons and their caregivers in a unique public library outreach. The three Storyriders are part-time professionals with backgrounds including early childhood education, storytelling and library work.
WHAT DO STORYRIDERS DO?
Storyriders make libraries fun! In libraries all over Berks County, Storyriders get preschoolers excited about literature by conducting interactive storytimes. Programs include stories and songs, games and giggles, a simple craft and lots of good times.
Storyriders are conspicuous. You can easily spot or hear one in the library. She is the one wearing the silly socks or blowing bubbles or shaking “shakey eggs." Talking with a puppet, jumping through hoops or leading fun fingerplays is all part of her repertoire.
The Storyrider ‘s bag is full of goodies to engage the children and their caregivers in the love of language and literature. The bag may include:
- Scarves, hoops, beanbags, crafts
- Large bright colorful books, flannelgraph and draw-n-tell stories.
- CDs, song sheets, shakey eggs
- Puppets, costumes, and bubbles
WHAT HAPPENS AT A STORYTIME?
Anything can happen at a storytime. Storytimes vary according to a child’s age. In general, infants will have a shorter time which incorporates more repetitive songs, rhymes and gentle actions done with the caregiver. As age increases, so does the storytime length and the use of stories, books and action rhymes for the child to learn.
The target audiences for these storytimes are age and developmental stage specific:
- Infants/ Prewalkers (baby lapsits)
- Toddlers/ Walkers (12 mos. - 3 years)
- Older preschoolers (3-5 years)
MEET THE BERKS COUNTY STORYRIDERS!!!
Denise Curran comes from an elementary teaching background. She is an active library board member and public education advocate. The secret to her boundless energy is chocolate! Miss Denise has been a Storyrider since February 2002.
Barbara Hughes is a former elementary and preschool teacher. She is a member in good standing of the Reading Choral Society. She owns a kitty that likes to ride a kitchen chair like a race car. Miss Barbara has been a Storyrider since February 2002.
Joy Newswanger is a storyteller, writer and creative communicator. She has practically lived in libraries all her life because she LOVES books. Her husband is worried that her collection of children’s books may overtake the house someday. Miss Joy has been a Storyrider since January 2003.
WHERE AND WHEN CAN I SEE THE STORYRIDERS?
Starting the week of January 12, 2010, Berks StoryRiders can be found in the following Berks County Public Libraries. Please contact the libraries for specific schedule and age of intended audience. This winter and spring we’ll be teaching the youngest patrons important early literacy skills while celebrating creativity using the following themes: • Dressed for Fun • Community Helpers! • Please and Thank you • Get Movin! • Three Little Pigs • Shazam! • Parts of Me • Perfectly Purple • Tool Time • I Hear • Quack! Quack! • Pirates Ahoy! • Yummy, Yummy in My Tummy • Look Who’s Hatching • From Tadpole to Frog • Raccoons
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TUESDAY morning: Brandywine Morgantown Womelsdorf
TUESDAY afternoon: Kutztown |
WEDNESDAY morning: Birdsboro Exeter Fleetwood Hamburg Mifflin
WEDNESDAY afternoon: |
THURSDAY morning: Robesonia Spring Township Wernersville
THURSDAY afternoon: |
WHAT ARE LIBRARY PATRONS SAYING ABOUT STORYRIDERS?
“One day I looked into my three-year-old son’s room to see why he was being so quiet. There he was on the floor with a picture book. All his stuffed animals were lined up on the bed. He was reading the truck book to them, pointing to the pictures, just like Miss Barbara."
“Sshhh!" said the ninety year old man as he held the library door for his great grandchildren. Miss Joy shuddered. If he didn’t like noise, a Storyrider story hour was not a good place for him to be. But soon he was the noisy one singing, waving scarves, clapping. “That was great. Thank you so much,” he said as he led the children out the door humming “Let’s all fly a kite.”
If you have questions or want to give us some feedback about the Storyrider program at your library, please feel free to contact us at storyriders@berks.lib.pa.us .