Here are some ideas for your puppets:

In 2010 most states in the U.S.A. will be promoting a water theme for the summer reading program. Make a Splash: READ. Many Axtell puppet photos will help you to sell your show to librarians. Be sure to send a letter out in mid to late January and have a quality show, which starts with quality props. Axtell puppets that fit the theme are the dolphin, shark, pelican, penguin or polar bear. (Please add others you think of.) You can also pick up a pirate outfit for one of the Axtell people puppets this week during the Halloween sales.

You could dress up like a pirate yourself and go as Captain Book! At church you'd be Captain Good Book!

There are some great painted muslin backdrops on ebay with ocean themes for whatever you do. It may not fit in some libraries so think ahead.

An EASY but effective approach is to check your county libraries for books that have a dolphin character, penguin, etc. and then have each one tell about the book and why it is their favorite. You'll want to buy your own copies (check Amazon) but you have the time to start looking.

If you do songs then try to think of songs others won't do as well. For example, "My bonnie lies over the ocean" will be a favorite with musical talent, so skip it or make it into a funny routine. You could focus on Hawaii! Find paradise at your local library! Put a grass skirt on your Diva puppet and use the fried chicken or Axtell pig for a luau.

Hey, everyone! I didn't use my Axtell Elephant during this past summer's reading program, because I knew I would want to use her for the 2010 theme. I would like to figure out how she can balance a beach ball on the end of her trunk! Wonder if it could be magnetic, or something like that? Just a thought. Any other thoughts would be greatly appreciated!!

Thanks!

I have been using an elephant puppet who appears to be confused about who he is. He comes out and stands on the ventriloquist's table and says, "I'm a butterfly. You can see my wings.
I tell him that those are not wings, even though they look like wings.
Are they flyswatters? No. But sometimes you use them to chase the flies away.
What are they?
Boys and girls what are these things? (EARS!)
E: What do I use them for? (LISTENING) Oh! That's right! I LOVE to listen to stories.

(It's a fun, short intro. to a skit about a story.)

Wow, I usually send out my Library Summer Reading adverstising the first week in January. Been getting calls (and bookings) from librarians throughout October asking "where's my postcard of Steve's new show?"

Over the last few years there has been a switch to a consortium that creates the theme and related materials for Library Summer Reading. Now over 40 states are using the theme, and the materials are sent out to the libraries by November or earlier.

Is this happening to Tony Borders and others who do a substantial number of library programs?

Axtell Shark and Slippy the Seal are coming out of storage for this year's Splash theme.

You guys rock!

Tony suggested a Mermaid outfit for our Diva... what do you think?

Also... Shari does your elephant have the squirting feature? If it doesn't you could have a magnet installed inside the trunk for the gimmicked ball balance just like our seal http://www.axtell.com/seal.html

If it does have squirter... You could put some double sided tape (clear) on the trunk so a beach ball would stick.

I might suggest a sock for the puppets nose, especially if he has a squirter. He could squirt (not inside a library unless you've got great aim) and them say that he has a "runny nose". You offer him a sock for a nose warmer. Possibly a few jokes about being able to tell whose foot the sock was on! The sock would have a magnet sewn inside so that when it is placed on his nose you're ready for the beach ball trick.

Steve, I wish I could say that I get calls early, but they focus on the librarians showcase for much of their programming. One popular puppet team states on their website that they start taking calls at 10 am on Jan. 10th or so to book libraries. They won't give you first choice on dates because they do their best to double or triple book dates in the Los Angeles area.

We have so many performers in Northern California that we only get to be in the showcase once every four years! Amazing! This year will showcase about 30 people new to the library (perhaps very experienced at performing) and a handful of others. I performed last in 2007 so I have to wait yet another year! It really makes a difference! BUT I think I'll use my down time in November to make a short DVD of the summer show, say 5 minutes, and send it to libraries throughout Northern California!

Steve, yes, I do have the squirter option! Wouldn't be a REAL elephant without one, right??? I will have to try the double-sided tape idea. I was wondering how a magnet would work with the squirter. Thanks...

Tony, I love the idea of using a sock!! By the way, I do squirt in libraries! Thankfully, it isn't a downpour!! What I usually do, is 'scout' the area where I'm thinking I will be squirting...excuse me...SWEET PEA will be squirting. Then, I help her with her aim! By using a sock with a magnet sewn in it, this would open up so many directions for routines!! I can't wait to get started!!

For the question of earlier bookings for libraries, my local librarian told me that she'd better get me booked. I asked her if people were already booking libraries, and she responded that she had already booked 3 for next year!! I was shocked! Here in Southern Minnesota, though, it is USUALLY around the end of January, beginning of February.

Now, for another 2010 Theme question: Besides using my elephant, I'm stumped as to what direction to go with this Splash theme. Does anyone have any 'nudges' for my imagination????

Thanks everyone!!

Shari

Splashin' Safari
Surfin' USA
The World's Biggest Splash (thus the elephant)
Making Waves at Your Library
Puppet Beach Party (This is probably what I'll push since I have a photographer's beach backdrop)
Cannonball Splash Pirate Show!
Splashing at Mermaid Lagoon
How Much Would an Elephant Splash in the Bath?
(Come and find out at the library.)
I SHORE Do Like the Library!
Come SEA the Puppet Beach Party!
Don't be a crab! Join the Puppet Beach Party!
Elephant Stories and Lobster Tales
Reading River
The Book Birds Beach Show

For an elephant I really like the idea of "Ride the Reading River". You could do animals that are seen along the riverbanks, water tricks, plant tricks, and Kiplinger's Animal Stories such as "How the Elephant Got His Trunk". Rivers have elephants, snakes, birds, crocodiles, hippos, and people whom you might see. You could have some African music playing in the background.

Tony, you've done it again! I've thought about some of the 'expected' themes, such as: beach, tropical, etc., but have been wanting to do something very different. And, this African theme would be just it! I have the Axtell alligator, too! Bubba would really hate to be left out!

Thanks

Shari

Check out the different themes at Axtell for background, royalty-free music. There may be something with an African sound.

SPLISH SPLASH TAKING A BOOK TO THE BATH (A WATERPROOF BOOK)
DOWN BY THE SEASIDE EARLY IN THE MORNING (READ ABOUT SEA CREATURES)
WALKING ON WATER (READING THE GOOD BOOK)
RAINING ON A CLEAR DAY (BOOKS ABOUT WEATHER)

THIS IS MY FEW IMPUTS THERE WOULD BE MORE BUT I AM BRAIN DUMB AT THIS TIME SO HELP ME FILL IN THE BLANKS

A platypus is a VERY unusual animal that lives in the water... Egg Laying Mamal with a Duck's bill.. We'll have a P-P-Platypus coming out soon..

From where (website?) do folks get each years summer reading theme?

To find out your state's reading theme type in the search engine. Ex. California 2010 summer library reading theme. It should come up. Keep in mind that different counties get to make their own choice so if you focus on particular counties ask the children's librarians. They have similar but slightly different program themes for teens, and often the art work is done by a popular illustrator which gives you books you can push.

The national theme is found by doing a search for National 2010 summer library theme. There are basically two companies that sell bookmarks, posters, bags, t-shirts, etc. to fit the national theme. Because California is so hot I tend to buy the t-shirt as my show shirt for the summer. Nice and comfy and fits the show!

I just got off the telephone with a wise friend who recommended that I be a River Boat Captain for 2010. Hats are available at www.elope.com or probably at your local party store. For America I could do the story of Huckleberry Finn (played by Axtell's "Huckleberry Hound"?). I could do songs like Old Man River with the Old Man. It would be completely different from what I had planned so I may pass, BUT I like the idea.

I finally settled on my 2010 Summer library theme. Wow! It took a lot of thought! I decided to go with props I have now as well as my most visual backdrop, which is a beach scene.

My theme will be "ADVENTURES ON PUPPET ISLAND!" I set up my beach scene background, put a dolphin, dodo, and pirate on stands and put myself in the picture as well. My wife snapped a few shots. I threw a Hawaiian lei on the dolphin and the dodo and wore a Hawaiian flowery shirt myself.

Then I had a second shot of me pulling a pirate card trick out of a small "magic treasure chest". I'll try to put these pics on my library page at www.tonyborders.com really soon as well as a description of the show.

I really liked the Reading River theme, but knew I'd have to invest in some more props. I also thought about dressing like a pirate myself and doing a pirate theme, but we 30 days of triple digit temperatures (fahrenheit) every summer. I decided that I would love to wear sandals, shorts, and a Hawaiian shirt! I feel so smart!

In British Columbia, our summer reading club theme is going to be Reading Rocks. I have already sent out my first flyers to all the regional librarians.

In my area at least I don't need to mail to each individual library as the regional office does all the booking. I covered the whole province with a dozen mailouts.

We have some counties that do all the booking for their county as well. However, individual branches can request a performer or a particular show so I still send the flyer to each branch.

Hello all,

about the summer reading program, there are some states that use the same theme, Here in texas, they choose that fits Texas and if it looks like a match for the rest of the country, so be it.

However, I do want to alert you on something important, not all libraries use the state theme.
this is especially true here in texas, last year it was "Deep in the Heart of Texas" go to my website at www.mrpuppet.com and click the library link, you will see last years show.

I showed up at 3 libraries and they were NOT using the theme but something else, they did not tell me so most of my act had to be re-written in my head so as not to look like a doofus and doing something totally different than what this library was doing. This is a word of caution.

I have been doing library shows now for 11 years and do I come up with a totally NEW library show each year. Between you and me, the answer is NO. if I did that I would go crazy writing new routines that are only used for that year. I rotate puppets about every 3 years, where I can mix and match.

Yes, the librarians will know my puppets every 3 years but the audience won't. What I have found out from experience is that the average age at a library show is 4 years old.

so keep it simple, short and sweet and you'll be loved and asked back year after year