Brace yourselves: back-to-school season is here!  We’ve gathered some helpful resources on planning, orientation inspiration, and free printables to help you be ready.

Planning

• Free editable planning binder
• 26 Forward-Thinking Programs for Back to School from SLJ
• Free Library Lessons for the First Week of School (K-5)

Orientation ideas

• "I Have...Who Has...?" Library Media Center Orientation Game (Free printable)
• Library Lesson: Wild about Books!
• Be a Librarian game

​Free printables

• A variety of back-to-school free printables from Scholastic
• Over 50 free frames, backgrounds and borders
• Adorable free library signs from Jan Brett

 
As always, even more resources, including display ideas and fun non-orientation activities, can be found on our Back to School Pinterest page. Enjoy and best wishes as you leap once more unto the breach!

Fly Guy author Tedd Arnold has fun with his depiction of Vincent Van Gogh, giving him huge eyeballs. The kids will point out this silly Fly Guy feature with glee! Not sure what color to paint his house, Vincent decides on white, thinking "white is nice." But several other occupants of the house (the spider, the caterpillar, the beetle, and the bird) insist "This is my house!" and want their favorite color…so he paints it over and over again in a variety of different colors. Finally, Vincent says, "This is actually my house, and I like..." Can you guess how he painted it?
 
Childlike illustrations and repetitive language make this picture book a great read aloud story. Free activity sheets are available for download on the Holiday House website.

Passive programming is a great way for libraries, particularly smaller libraries with less staff or resources, to engage patrons without providing a formal, time-specific program. It especially appeals to children who spend free time at the library, and allows them to interact with librarians and each other in a casual, non-threatening way. Programs can be virtually anything - here’s a round-up of easy, low cost ideas. Enjoy!

• Passive maker programming
• Write a letter to Curious George
• Tons of fun passive games
• Joke station
• The distrAction jar
• Scavenger hunt passive program ideas
• Blackout poetry
• Check Out clubs

 
Check out our Passive Programming Pinterest board for even more ideas!

​This adorable picture book​ is about a chicken who lives a quiet life, until one day by a huge wind picks her up and blows her into the big city. The city is busy and a little frightening, but in the process of getting back home, she’s surrounded by a world of new opportunities and adventure which she takes in stride.

​Peggy notices things that children would notice, bringing the perspective down to their level. While she does eventually find her way home, she realizes that it’s fun to visit the city every now and then. With sparse text and beautiful, engaging illustrations, this is a great read for storytime or for those kids who love a quiet adventure.

By Kanisha Hines, Penworthy Representative