Hi, everyone! I wanted to share something that has been a fun addition to my summer library reading programs! I put together 4 "Creative Arts" classes and sent flyers to libraries around southern Minnesota. The classes included are: Ventriloquism 101, Puppetry Basics, Beginning Magic, and Balloon Sculpturing Basics. I wanted to give children an opportunity to experience these fun and Creative Arts! As of today, I have booked a total of 7 of these Creative Arts Classes! Some of them are in addition to my regular programming! The librarians are very excited about a different event other than a program only! I just wanted to share this with all of you. Maybe it's something you can add to your library event planning? I'd love to hear of anyone else who may be doing some similar things. I love this list...hope to post more! Thanks!

Shari

I kinda had the same idea. Last month I signed up our county library for two shows this month and then, in June, I'll do a show a week: 1-history /background of puppetry, ventriloquism; 2- creating/making puppets (with kits, socks and papier mache, 3-creating a show and 4 - the finale, a puppet show for the parents/public. The idea might catch on.

Those are great ideas! I really like the idea of making puppets with the kiddos. However, I don't have a great pattern and am not known to be very good at making my own puppets!! Giving the history of puppetry and vent is a great idea, too! Thanks for sharing!

Shari

My summer theme is also a workshop based theme. "Let's Create a Puppet Show". I offered it to the kids AND as a teen show, but didn't book any teen shows.

I did it in February because I only had one voice and couldn't do my regular show and the librarian liked it so well he asked me to come back this summer and do it again!

Here's something to consider. We have 32 libraries in our county system and nearly that number of children's librarians. I offered to teach the librarians in a workshop. I'm leaving in 15 minutes to do exactly that! It's free, but it puts me into their thoughts when they do booking. I'm bringing my snowman puppet as part of the show since they've already booked their summer speakers.

Shari, Oriental Trading has several types of puppet kits (8-12 puppets per kit) for $9.99. Some kits use glue, others are lace.... animals,etc.
check them out. They're partly what I'm using for my class. The papier mache is a whole nother ball game.

Tony,
I have never thought about offering something for the librarians. Did you teach them puppetry skills? I know our local librarian uses puppets with her story hours and I can see how learning puppetry skills would be a big help to her! I've performed for my local library, plus 2 other libraries for over 8 years. That's one reason I decided to offer the Creative Arts Classes. Something new for me...plus, giving children the opportunity to learn something new for themselves. It will be exciting to see in the future how some of them use the skills and take it further! Thanks again for sharing! I always appreciate your ideas and input!

Shari

I've done a handful of the library shows for the summer. It's not a big year for me but I'm really enjoying the topic, BE CREATIVE @ YOUR LIBRARY. My show is called, "Let's Create a Story" and I show different methods of telling a story.

1. Mime: Let your actions tell the story
I demo taking care of a baby and brushing my teeth, etc. Mime is simply imitating and exaggerating!
2. Feelings: I ask the kids for different feelings, then draw a very simple faces on paper plates to show happy, sad, mad, and scared. This can be done even better on the magic drawing board. As the board's feelings change then you change the look.
3. Facial expressions: Then I call up a row of volunteers and tell them to pretend they have an invisible remote control for the invisible tv they are watching. Ask them to act out what you are telling them. "You turn to the first channel and there is a scary movie on TV. It's just too scary! It's called the 10 o'clock news. Then you turn to another channel. It's a comedy. It's very funny! You are really laughing! Then you turn and see a sad, sad, sad movie. Then you turn and see two people kissing! So you finally turn the tv off and pick up a book to read.
4. Sock puppet: Quick demo of how to make a sock puppet.
5. Hand puppet:
6. Regular puppet:

I spend most of the time on puppets and do a story as a demo. I also do a song, pass out several puppets OR have a line of kids come up to use a puppet to a song.

Tony you are just great I just received from the UPS a large box from Axtell I got the Storyteller, The Duck, and the MDB...Can you get me started with a short program for each of them? I will be bringing one of them to the VH Con...I wished you lived in my area, I really need some one on one with a mentor, having trouble finding someone in my area. Delray Beach FL

I, too, have been already done quite a few library shows! I have also taught some basic magic (very simple, how to make, etc...) and basic puppetry skills. My show consists of Bubba, my Axtell alligator; Daisy, Axtell skunk; MDB and vaious illusions. Bubba and Daisy both share a 'dream' they have to be creative...Daisy is transformed into a magician (that's her dream!). She finds out that Dreams really DO come true! Her magic trick is to produce a silk out of the Dove Pan at the end of our show. I have modified her to have magnets in her left paw. The silk has a small magnet in one corner, so she is able to pull it out! I, or a helper, help her hold it up for the kids to read! It says "The End"! This is, of course, the ending to our show! Today, I spent an extra hour just chatting with the kids, talking to them about their dreams and how they can attain them to be more Creative! You're right, Tony...it's a fun theme this year! How much more creative can you be than a Ventriloquist, magician, etc.!! Love it! Of course, the Axtell puppets are awesome!! Thanks, Steve!!

I made a disc of the library theme "Be Creative At Your Library" and whenever I said "be creative" during the show, I had to stop and play the song. The kids got a kick out of it because I started trying to make outrageous substitutions for "be creative" and they'd scream, "Play the song" when I failed.