Programming Tips

Dual language/bilingual storytimes.

A book pairings book club for upper elementary/middle grade. Here are some sample pairings:

• Press Here and Help! We Need A Title! by Hervé Tullet, The Book With No Pictures by B.J. Novak, and This Book Just Ate My Dog by Richard Byrne. These books all provide a humorous take on reading and encourage the reader to interact with the book itself.
• Bronze and Sunflower by Cao Wenxuan and The War That Saved My Life by Kimberly Brubaker Bradley. These two books focus on friendships and family during difficult times. They both feature main characters who are differently-abled, who are taken in by other families in the countryside, and who persevere through unthinkable circumstances with the support of loved ones that aren’t biologically related, but no less family.

A week-long display of international youth literature during the first week of April for International Children’s Book Day (ICBD), which falls on April 2. I plan to have storytellers throughout the week who will read stories in their home language/English (or have me read/summarize in English if they’re not comfortable doing it themselves).

Book Bingo/Scavenger Hunt (active & passive).

Quick translation practice.

Virtual international youth literature storytime playlists (passive programming when there isn’t an active event) based on different continents.

What pairs well with international youth literature? Everything… food, arts, festivals, bilingual author talks, culturally diverse panels, guest speakers and so much more.

Passive programming ideas…

“Global penpals” but within your own community. What happens when you pair up patrons who may have never interacted by anonymously beginning a month-long (or however long) correspondence sharing about their lives at their culturally diverse homes? You just may discover how much you have in common, and how interesting the differences are. Sharing recipes, traditions, sayings, and what goes on in the regular day-to-day lives of strangers. This works for nearly all age groups… and would be especially sweet with intergenerational pairings.

Paper crafts like the art of folding origami; or taking old magazines, cutting them into strips and rolling them to create beautiful beads to make necklaces or bracelets; or writing down a positive message for the year ahead, folding that up, putting it in a container and sharing those messages on a wall of “Good tidings.”

Book-related crafts… for example, in Tanna’s Owl by Rachel and Sean Qitsualik-Tinsley, Tanna has to take care of an injured owl but she doesn’t think she can handle it. Children can create an owl out of puff balls and googly eyes and care for their own owl.

Bigger event programming ideas…

Food tastings, but important to clearly label ingredients and address possible cross-contamination such as eggs, nuts, dairy, et. al. Maybe hosting one specific food to try a month or more…

Have many foods from a region throughout the week or month… or think bigger.

Have people from many different backgrounds show off their best family traditional recipes to try…

Cooking demonstrations… it is harder to stick your nose up when the smell is oh sooo enticing.

Food programming not on the library’s menu? Not a problem! Music, poetry, dance, and other arts can be the way! By inviting in the community to showcase what makes their culture so beautiful and influences so much around them, we are opening a window for people who may not have had opportunities to experience other cultures in a positive light.

Local dance troupes, music groups, or artists are always looking for ways to share their art. Libraries and artists can make beautiful pairings that help build and heal communities!

The best part about the arts is that they reach all ages! And allergies don’t come into play!

STEM/STEAM Design Thinking Programming can be passive or extended:

Put a book on display that people can read while waiting to use the computers, and create a table-top sign that indicates a problem the character faces. Patrons need to come up with ways in which the character can resolve the issue.

Although this is nearly always geared towards youth, this would once again be an incredible way to bring about intergenerational bonding, grandma/pa and children work together to draw up different ideas to save the day….

Take it one step further by putting out recyclable materials people can use to build physical models of their solutions. Make this into a week-long challenge, and then display the entries, for a chance to win… recognition, a printed certificate, or a blue ribbon or whatever your budget can allow.

You would be surprised with who gets drawn in to this activity: people who may come across as quiet, introspective or even standoffish. When given the right circumstances, these people can really shine.

Additional ideas:

Facilitate youth activism — for example, with the protagonist of Uma Krishnaswami’s Book Uncle, Yasmin, as a model, tweens can brainstorm ideas to improve their community.

Book tastings – set the table for international books!

Pair international reads with geography/culture lessons.

Encourage student exchanges and read-alouds.

Invite bilingual speakers for author talks.

Host cultural celebrations and reading events.