Librarian Diana Shull reads Fiesta Babies
Did you notice little children and stuffed animals in the library this past Friday? Did a disco ball catch your eye? It’s no surprise! Twenty-eight children from ages 6 weeks to 9 years visited Andersen Library on April 7, 2017, to participate in the library’s fifth Annual Stuffed Animal Sleepover and celebrate the Week of the Young Child, along with the Children’s Center and Early Childhood Education Program Conference. The children, from the families of UW-Whitewater students, staff, faculty, and the Children’s Center, participated in dance party fun followed by a story time.
Elementary Education students Alexis and Jordan read to the children and their stuffed animal friends
Parents, grandparents and caregivers helped the children make name tags for their stuffed animal friends and design dance wands for the party. With crafts complete, the children joined in dancing with Rockin’ DJ Ben who got the children and their stuffed animals dancing with toe-tapping Happy by Pharell Williams, the Pointer Sisters boppin’ rendition of the Number Song, and Bobby Pickett’s ghoulish Monster Mash. Ready for a rest, the children then enjoyed story time with Librarian Diana, and Elementary Education students, Lexie and Jordan.
Anyone can make a dance wand!
Before heading home, the children tucked their stuffed animals into bed in a dark group study room. Do you think they stayed in bed? Not a chance! The stuffed animals stayed up all night exploring the library after hours, reading more stories, dancing on the tables, boogying on the bookshelves, and taking photos in the photo booth set up for them. The event volunteers created laminated photo memories of the children’s animals, which the children kept as mementos.
A big thank you to the volunteers that helped make the event a success! We are so grateful for the many student workers and staff members involved behind the scenes, blowing up balloons and creating photo booth props. Two students from the College of Education and Professional Studies, Alexis and Jordan, assisted in leading the big kids’ story times, and stayed late to assist in completing the photo memories. We couldn’t have done it without you all.
Curious about what was read during story time? Here’s a list. Check them out and read your favorites again at home.
Bigger Kids:
- Evangeline! the Dancing Holstein by Cheryl Kirking ; with illustrations by Jason Jolda
Goofy Darth was a force on the dance floor
- Boogie Monster by Josie Bissett ; illustrated by Kevan J. Atteberry
- Giraffes Can’t Dance by Giles Andreae ; illustrated by Guy Parker-Rees
Infants & Toddlers:
- Dancing Feet! by Lindsey Craig and Marc Brown
- Fiesta Babies by Carmen Tafolla, illustrated by Amy Cordova
- Twist with a Burger, Jitter with a Bug by Linda Lowery, illustrated by Pat Dypold
If this sounds like fun for a little one you know, keep your eyes peeled for next year’s event!
Another awesome Sleepover event! You librarians ROCK!! Student helpers, too!
Thank you, Ronna!