This year's statewide summer theme is "Get Creative." Check the 2009 New Jersey Summer Reading website for some great artsy and creative storytime, craft, and other program ideas!
Some of the following program ideas will work great in a public library setting, and others might be more suited to school library and/or classroom situations. Please modify these programs accordingly. Let everyone know what works for you by leaving a message on the OBNJ Message Board.
Explore Art Workstations
Set up exploration stations with different art activities at each table. Blot painting, marble painting, sand paper art, jell-o art, for example, and let parents and children move from station to station exploring different art techniques and mediums.
Art Scribble Board
Set up an area in the library where kids can create art through scribbles or doodles. Create an "art gallery" of their creations. You could turn this into a contest by displaying the art and then having it judged.
Art Look-Alike Contest
Have kids come dressed to look like Art in the book, and bring with them a sample of their art work.
Pollack Art-Athon
Using very large sheets of paper, let each child add their own splatters of color, and create an over-size Jackson Pollack look-alike art to display in the library. Let the kids use the "splatter technique." You will need to protect the walls or floor, or this could be done as an outdoor event.
Art's Art Contest
Draw a simple doodle, photocopy and give out with directions that each contestant must create their own drawing around the doodle. Entries could be judged on originality, complexity, use of color, etc. This could also be a great activity as part of a program by giving kids a set amount of time to work on their picture, all starting from the same basic doodle and then just having each child display what they create.
