1.0ALSC Bloghttps://www.alsc.ala.org/blogKatie Salohttps://www.alsc.ala.org/blog/author/katie-salo/rich600338<blockquote class="wp-embedded-content" data-secret="9yq9TYdFWn"><a href="https://www.alsc.ala.org/blog/2011/06/shaking-up-storytime/">Shaking Up Storytime!</a></blockquote><iframe sandbox="allow-scripts" security="restricted" src="https://www.alsc.ala.org/blog/2011/06/shaking-up-storytime/embed/#?secret=9yq9TYdFWn" width="600" height="338" title="“Shaking Up Storytime!” — ALSC Blog" data-secret="9yq9TYdFWn" frameborder="0" marginwidth="0" marginheight="0" scrolling="no" class="wp-embedded-content"></iframe><script> /*! This file is auto-generated */ !function(d,l){"use strict";l.querySelector&&d.addEventListener&&"undefined"!=typeof URL&&(d.wp=d.wp||{},d.wp.receiveEmbedMessage||(d.wp.receiveEmbedMessage=function(e){var t=e.data;if((t||t.secret||t.message||t.value)&&!/[^a-zA-Z0-9]/.test(t.secret)){for(var s,r,n,a=l.querySelectorAll('iframe[data-secret="'+t.secret+'"]'),o=l.querySelectorAll('blockquote[data-secret="'+t.secret+'"]'),c=new RegExp("^https?:$","i"),i=0;i<o.length;i++)o[i].style.display="none";for(i=0;i<a.length;i++)s=a[i],e.source===s.contentWindow&&(s.removeAttribute("style"),"height"===t.message?(1e3<(r=parseInt(t.value,10))?r=1e3:~~r<200&&(r=200),s.height=r):"link"===t.message&&(r=new URL(s.getAttribute("src")),n=new URL(t.value),c.test(n.protocol))&&n.host===r.host&&l.activeElement===s&&(d.top.location.href=t.value))}},d.addEventListener("message",d.wp.receiveEmbedMessage,!1),l.addEventListener("DOMContentLoaded",function(){for(var e,t,s=l.querySelectorAll("iframe.wp-embedded-content"),r=0;r<s.length;r++)(t=(e=s[r]).getAttribute("data-secret"))||(t=Math.random().toString(36).substring(2,12),e.src+="#?secret="+t,e.setAttribute("data-secret",t)),e.contentWindow.postMessage({message:"ready",secret:t},"*")},!1)))}(window,document); //# sourceURL=https://www.alsc.ala.org/blog/wp-includes/js/wp-embed.min.js </script> While we all love books and reading to children, let’s face it — storytime is not just about the books! I use everything and anything at my disposal to grab my audience’s attention, and I’m willing to bet that you do too. Here are some of my favorites: 1. Flannelboards Flannelboards are what really got me into storytime when I took over the preschool programming at my library. For my patrons, flannelboards are a very effective tool to practice vocabulary, and the interactivity allows the kids a chance to really participate and have a discussion in-between books. I often have kids ask me when we’re doing the “magic board” again. Even though I have a limited budget, felt only costs about a quarter per sheet and I really enjoy making my own flannels instead of purchasing them. Need more flannelboard ideas? A group of librarians (me included) post ideas and...http://storytimekatie.files.wordpress.com/2010/09/biggestthingintheocean1.jpg