Oklahoma Librarian

What is Penny Pinchers' Party? This is an event from ALA as part of Thinking Money for Kids . Kids get to plan a party with a budget of $100. They take turns to choose items from a party warehouse.  Event description provided by ALA: Ever dreamed of throwing the ultimate bash? Now’s your chance! Kids become party planners with a budget to create the most epic celebration. Choose decorations, snacks, and surprises from our party warehouse, then pitch your plan to your group. Will your party be the most fun, creative, and budget-friendly? Let’s find out—there might even be a Party Champion crowned at the end! Kids will need to use their addition and subtraction skills to stay within budget and make smart party planning choices! Advanced Planning I stuck to the regular plan for this event. I did purchase individual bags of chips as a prize for them if they didn't go over budget. We had a few matching tablecloths we used last year that I snagged. I also made paper party hats with r...

What is a take home kit? A take home kit is where we put together crafts for guests to take and do at home. A library program in a bag with instructions if you will. These kits can range widely from soap-making for teens to gluing colorful streamers to a cloud for toddlers. I aim to make kits for elementary-aged kids from 6 - 11 years old. Below, I have the poster (if any), description, and instructions. I find that I rarely get feedback on kits but I'll mention it if there was any. Feel free to copy any of these!  The Kits   We had an event over the summer where adults could make these fun keychains. It's fairly easy and you can do many different designs. This design was picked because it has significance in Native American culture. I printed off a page for the kit from the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma that explained that Eastern Diamondback Rattlesnakes are animals of great strength and power, but they do not attack without provocation. Beading is a tradition that has be...

I am on a quest to Read and Reduce my TBR list! I will pick out a few books at a time to give my attention to and decide if my passion for the book burns bright or has fizzled out. I will share my decisions and hopefully inspire others to add or cull it from your lists. The last post I did had me at 557 books, and I've been reading a lot recently!  I'm starting with  546 books  on my list.  I. The Dead of Summer by Ryan La Sala Horror, Young Adult, Queer - 400 pages - Published in 2025 Two days before... Ollie Veltman is finally coming home to the quaint island of Anchor's Mercy after a year away while his mom battled cancer. It should be a celebration -- his mom is cancer free, and she's determined to have the best summer ever -- but Ollie's (now ex) best friends think he abandoned them, and he's returning with a lot questions. Because for a place that's perfect on the outside, a secret rots inside. A secret that could explain his mom's illness, and th...