Since I always forget to post the dates - and they are introuvables on the library's website - I'm posting all the 2013 storytime dates here. For once and for all...at least until June.
We are trying to do thematic storytimes and I'll add in more songs since, let's face it, "Head Shoulders Knees and Toes" is getting really really old!
Come one, come all!
Saturday, 12 January at 10:30
Wednesday, 6 February at 15:30
Saturday, 16 February at 10:30 (Valentine's Day)
Wednesday, 6 March at 15:30
Wednesday, 3 April at 15:30
Saturday, 13 April at 10:30
Wednesday, 15 May at 15:30
Saturday, 25 May (to be confirmed) Poids Plume
Saturday, 15 June at 10:30
(Lecture bilingue anglais-français "storytime". gratuit et amusant!)
For a fairly complete list of books we've read in the past, you can check out my amazon list.
Tuesday, 8 January 2013
Storytime 2013
Friday, 8 June 2012
June storytime
June storytime is around the corner...tomorrow, Saturday June 9th at 10:30 am at the Wazemmes library. While I'm reading books, my daughter will be having her tooth drilled so this will be a happy distraction.
A second storytime will be held on June 20th at 3:30pm.
I had a comment on my blog a few weeks ago from germanintheafternoon, an American who started a German bilingual storytime in Pennsylvania. She left a comment about her son's reaction to her reading stories to other kids. I have to say that it struck home. I've found myself in terribly awkward situations while reading to groups of kids. How do you handle it when your almost 3 year is climbing on your lap and your 6 year old is climbing on your back while you read to a group of kids? Reading has always been an intimate moment for me and the kids, since the moment they were born. It has been my way of insuring that they have some English in their French filled day. Reading means mommy time. Add to that the fact that many of the books I read are theirs! So, it's quite understandable that their animal instincts take over. But it takes everything I have to not yell at them...
At the storytime in May, at the book fair, the director of the main library came to introduce herself to me. And then I received an email from the branch's director with someone else in copy - who I assume to be one of the head honchos - asking me officially if I would continue doing the bilingual storytime and if we could do a special Halloween edition for Lille Fantastic 3000, the Lille festival that begins in the fall.
Woohoo! Now I just need to figure out how to get paid for this...
Tuesday, 7 February 2012
Story time : exciting times!
February story time will take place on Wednesday, February 8th at 3:30 and Saturday, February 25th at 10:30.
Tomorrow's edition will feature a new book and a slightly new format. The library director will be taking on the French reading since my usual counterpart, Marie, is off skiing. Marie has some great ideas so hopefully we'll have lots of little people to help us out!
My mother, a retired children's librarian, will be our guest star at the February 25th reading. My mom, once known for reading bedtime stories in her pajamas at the public library, has lots of surprises up her sleeves. She will be fully clothed.
If you would like to sign up or have any questions, please contact me here or get in touch with the Wazemmes branch of the Bibliothèque Municipale de Lille.
Now some French for the French search engine:
Lecture gratuite anglais-français à la médiathèque de Wazemmes (Lille) aura lieu mercredi 8 février à 15h30 et samedi 25 février à 10h30. Pour touts renseignements, laissez-moi un commentaire ou contactez la médiathèque de Wazemmes .
Monday, 23 January 2012
story time: the rebirth
Story time is finally coming to life! I didn't realize the beginning would be so rough...or that the rough period would last so long. We are celebrating a whole year.
Since the new director arrived at the library, everything's been looking up! My counterpart librarian and I have a rhythm and a solid and fun repertoire now so the readings are smooth. Last Saturday, there were 2 new families; last Wednesday, there were 2 returning families (plus my friends who have been endlessly supportive of this endeavor!).
The head librarian has been answering emails that were left untouched for months, among them a request for Saturday "camp" to come to the readings (20 kids!). We also have dates booked through June, including a reading at the Gare St. Sauveur during the Braderie des Livres. The Gare St. Sauveur is an unused freight train station transformed into an amazing cultural space in Lille.
People have been coming to me saying they have seen the posters up around town, including Story time with Rebecca (et l'équipe jeunesse de la bibliothèque). It's all very exciting.
But the best part ? It's the kids...My kids really appreciate the language play, where we intermingle French and English in the same story. It reinforces their own bilingualism. As for the monolingual kids, it's showing them that language is fun and accessible. They really enjoy the stories and the new words! An, of course, discovering new books like, The Thing/ Le Machin, is always good.
I'll continue to post future dates here. Come one, come all!
