STEP into Storytime: Using StoryTime Effective Practice to Strengthen the Development of Newborns to Five-Year-Olds

by Saroj Nadkarni Ghoting, Kathy Fling Klatt

Story Time Effective Practice (STEP), developed by the authors, is an approach that articulates the link between child development theory and storytimes. This important resource shows how presenters can use STEP to craft a storytime that is effective for mixed-age groups and adheres to best practices for emotional, social, physical, and cognitive support. In this book, early literacy experts Ghoting and Klatt offer more than 30 complete ready-to-use storytimes appropriate for newborns to children age 5, along with extension activities. They include preparation, planning, and performance tips, plus guidance for interacting with parents and caregivers.

Genres: Nonfiction, Professional Development, Librarianship, Storytime, Adult, Reference

356 pages, Paperback

First published May 29, 2014

Reviews

[Morgan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really good resources, especially the sample storytimes that make up the last half of the book and the breakdown of stages of child development from birth to age five. This is a minor annoyance, but so many of the new lyrics written to adapt familiar kids songs and rhymes to particular storytime themes throw rhythm and meter out the window and force words that really don't fit.

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a good overview of child development for librarians, which is most likely not covered in library school.

[Maeve · Rating 3 out of 5]

A guide for youth librarians to incorporate emotional, social, physical, cognitive, and language development into storytime for a wide range of ages. Includes many examples of storytimes.

[Paula · Rating 2 out of 5]

The text uses the concept of STEP (story time effective practice) as a tool for library staff to implement during story time. Several step-by-step guidelines for how to run effective and enjoyable story times are offered. The text discusses the appropriate story time activities for varying ages and also tackles the challenge of conducting a story time with a mixed aged group of children from babies to preschoolers. The importance of story time as it relates to children’s cognitive development is discussed, as well as its significance as an early literacy tool. There are also dozens of story time scripts a presenter may follow, including songs, activities and book recommendations. The text offers advice on presenting a story time with intention in mind as well as fun. Annotation ©2014 Ringgold, Inc., Portland, OR (protoview.com)

[Tracey · Rating 5 out of 5]

nonfiction/professional development (childcare workers, early educators and librarians--especially those who have mixed age storytimes, whether intentionally or not). Parts 1 and 2 provide background (great info if you aren't familiar with early childhood development already); part 3 (which makes up 2/3 of the book) translates these principles into how-to steps in your mixed-aged storytimes, including loads of sample parent patter to practice, TONS of sample themed storytimes for mixed ages (including a ton of different songs and rhymes, as well as examples of how you can integrate (and start the conversation with parents about) early literacy-friendly digital content and apps.

[Allison · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. I think the ability to appeal to a wide range of audiences at a storytime is a hard skill to learn. I felt the literacy tips were perfect and a great idea to use them in storytimes -- or at least have general knowledge of why it is important that we do specific elements at our storytimes. I don't think the layout of the storytimes would work in my libraries -- inviting different ages to leave at specific times and leveling up the material as the storytime continues -- but all-in-all a great resource to use!

[Abby · Rating 4 out of 5]

I wanted to use a highlighter but it was a library copy. Awfully pleased how many of these practices I am using already, but it would be great to be even more intentional--I especially love the Storytime examples where the parent tip is referenced several times in different ways during the Storytime.

[Salsabrarian · Rating 3 out of 5]

Great professional resource that clearly shows how storytimes aid children's early development and how story presenters can be more intentional about providing program experiences that benefit young children and their parents.

[A. Kuhlii]

Great resource for storytime/ early literacy science and theory.