Wednesday, March 20, 2019

Crafty Story Times ~ by Christy Mihaly

Before my picture book came out last fall, I assumed that a writer's job description consisted more or less entirely of ... writing. 
This is me, not writing.
I was wrong.
In the months leading up to the release of Hey, Hey, Hay!, I embarked on a round of unfamiliar activities: designing bookmarks, arranging blog tours, setting up signings and school visits. Reading my book aloud to the mirror. 


"I'm reading in a frigid hay barn,
and now I need a CRAFT?"
I can do this, I told myself.
But then they said: you need crafts. 
What? 

Yes, friends. Crafts and other book-related activities are a popular element of book readings for kids--whether you're reading your own book or a favorite from the library shelves.  Librarians and educators know this. But many writers find the craft thing a little daunting. 

I have evolved from craft-skeptic to craft fan. I've created different crafts for bookstore readings, story times, classroom events, and a book festival, and learned a lot along the way. So I thought I'd share some tips and photos from my travels and from some picture-book-creator friends. 

Why crafts? 

This energetic class shows off
their drawings, or "readers' responses,"
to my reading

  • Engagement: Kids get antsy when you ask them to sit and listen. You already know this. But if you haven't experienced a roomful of kids wiggling as you attempt to read to them, you may not fully appreciate it. I experimented with songs, participatory readings, etc. These are good. But, put a crayon in a kid's hand, and watch what happens.
  • Fun: Kids like to create things. And you want them to have fun! One of my HAY audience favorites was a simple craft in which kids cut out tractor wheels and fastened them onto a paper tractor, then colored in the background.
    Displaying a completed
    craft after a reading
  • Senses: Crafts use multiple senses, and the smells and feels help engage your audience. (One  feature of my HAY readings was a "sniff box" full of hay--kids loved smelling the hay.) 
    Jen Betton's Hedgehog Hat to go with
    Hedgehog Needs a Hug
  • Skills: Crafting helps teach motor skills, problem-solving skills, and social skills. What's not to like?
  • Souvenirs: A craft gives listeners a souvenir to take home and share. 

Tips for Crafts:

Sock Puppet Kipling for Love Mama
  • Book Link: Link your craft to your story. Kids loved the tractors in my book, so I went with tractor crafts. Author-Illustrator Jeanette Bradley created an adorable sock puppet craft to go with Love, Mama, her picture book about a little penguin whose mama goes away on a trip. Directions and a description are here
    A Monster Drawing,
    for Maximillian Villainous
  • Keep it Simple. Make it easy to explain. Margaret Greanias provided a blank frame on a coloring sheet for readings of Maximillian Villainous, her picture book about a young monster attempting to fit in. This was brilliant for the preschool set. Kids could invent and draw their own monsters--with googly eyes! Similarly, for Jen Betton's book, Hedgehog Needs a Hug, kids could cut out a hedgehog hat and color it in (photo above). See more hedgehog crafts and activities here.
  • Allow room for creativity. Assure kids that there's no one right way to do it. Jessie Oliveros created a drawing project to go with her lovely picture book, The Remember Balloons. Children could draw their own memories.
  • Make it fun, and maybe educational. Focus first on the fun. But if your craft or activity teaches something related to your book, that's a bonus. Author Hannah Holt's picture book for older readers, The Diamond and the Boy, describes how diamonds are created. She brought a crystal-growing activity to her school visits, and left it in the classroom so the students could watch the crystals grow.
Ingredients for Crystal Growing, an activity to go with
Hannah Holt's The Diamond and the Boy
Hannah Holt grew crystals on eggshells


💥Note that some books, especially those for older children, may be less conducive to crafts. In those cases, consider an art activity, allowing your audience free rein to draw or paint reactions to your reading. Or, try a readers' theater or skit or song or science experiment or other interactive activity. 

Are you a writer, educator, or librarian with craft ideas? Please share them in the comments! Thanks to all.



26 comments:

  1. This is a great post, Christy. I amen good at crafts, but now I know I need to try!

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    1. Thanks, Kathy. I just know that you would be a wonderful and enthusiastic kid-craft person.

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  3. Love these awesome and kid-friendly crafts.

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  4. Such fun craft ideas! Thanks for sharing!

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  5. Wonderful, inspiring ideas of all those EXTRAS an author needs to think about for their book launch and engaging with readers, small and big, Christy! Love your tractor crafts. :)

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  6. great post! Thanks for sharing these great ideas, and reasons, for engaging kids in crafts.

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    1. Thanks to you, Sue! I hope you are working on your fly-eating crafts.

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  7. Chris! Literacy & art make for an excellent combination.

    As an educator, students always enjoy creating & discovering through enrichment activities that tie in with books and stories. These lessons are fun AND educational.

    At our local indie bookstore, Afterwords Books, creative craft activities follow the read alouds during storytime. I love everything about your post!

    Sharing some fun storytime projects: https://www.walkingbytheway.com/blog/giant-list-of-story-art-projects/

    Suzy Leopold

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    1. Thanks, Suzy, yes, I've been learning about bookstores doing this all over the country!

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  8. What great ideas, Christy! I understand your hesitancy — I am right there with you getting ready for “The Heart Changer” debut. Now you’ve given me more food for thought. Thanks! And congrats on “Hey, Hey, Hay!” Love the title. ☺️

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    1. Thanks, Jarm, and good luck with your launch -- and with whatever crafts and activities you design!

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  9. As a teacher of young children, oh boy do I know the craft part! Doing something with what listeners learned/heard during the book reading part is a fabulous way to connect text to life. Each little thing we do adds hooks to information that sticks in minds. Fun ideas! That's one of the reasons I love themes. All those extra activities tie together books, learning, and real life. Great photos!

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    1. Thanks, Angie, and you make some great points.

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  10. Great post....I love crafts so this is right up my alley! Thank you, Christy.

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    1. Thanks, Mona, it took me a while but I do appreciate crafts more now.

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  11. A whole new level of engagement to think about while writing. Thanks so much.

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    1. Don't think about it too much until after you've got the book contract, LOL.

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  12. Wow! Great post filled with ideas. Personally, I'm fond of making things, so this is going to be a fun part of readings....if I ever get a book published, LOL. Thanks for all of the ideas!

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  13. And those crystal egg shells are super cool....reminds me of geodes.

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  14. Thanks for the great ideas, Christy. I'm having kids make giraffe finger puppets at my book signing on Saturday.

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  15. I love crafting and I have involved crafts with my stories before. Show and tell is another good thing to do when reading your stories. Bring items that pertain to your story to show, pass around and talk about.

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  16. Oh this is a great idea for books! I love the egg idea. I want to do that one with my kids!

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