Mother Goose Time
Library Programs with Books and Babies

Guides/Manuals

Listed below are some of the major professional guides/manuals to direct the planning of Mother Goose Times:

Association for Library Service to Children. First Steps to Literacy: Library Programs for Parents, Teachers, and Caregivers. Chicago and London: American Library Association, 1990. ISBN 0838905218.

  • "A well thought out book that will be a great asset (& timesaver) to librarians everywhere."--Emergency Librarian
  • "Prepared by the ALSC Preschool Services and Parent Education Committee. Designed to assist children's librarians in planning, advertising, and conducting programs on children's literature for adults who live or work with young children."--American Library Association
  • Ordering information is available at http://www.ala.org/alsc/firststeps.html.

DeSalvo, Nancy. Beginning with Books: Library programming for Infants, Toddlers, and Preschoolers. Hamden, CT: Library Professional Publications, 1993. ISBN 0208023186.

  • This is a "presentation of the professional philosophy and practical logistics of library programming for children from infancy through the age of five...." It is "... a solid, eminently practical book filled with programming ideas that can be easily adapted to any library setting or budget. A variety of useful information is appended."--Booklist

*Writing in the forward of her latest work, the author of the following two texts states that they "work as companion books but can each stand alone":

Ernst, Linda L. Lapsit Services for the Very Young: A How-To-Do-It-Manual. New York: Neal-Schuman Publishers, Inc., 1995. ISBN 155570185X.

  • Ernst, a children's librarian from Washington State, wrote this, her first book, prompted by the need for a pathfinder to help librarians gain knowledge and expertise in their understanding of child development and selecting age-appropriate programs. In this book, she "tells how to plan and present library programs for very young children (babies and one-year-olds) and their parents and caregivers. She first tackles the question of why libraries should have such activities and then goes on to discuss such practical matters as who should do them and where (outreach or in-house), as well as how to plan and run these types of programs. The last chapter includes a number of sample theme related programs, including books, songs, finger plays, and suggestions for related activities to do at home. Libraries considering programming for babies and toddlers will find this a practical guide." --Booklist

Ernst, Linda L. Lapsit Services for the Very Young II: A How-To-Do-It Manual. New York: Neal-Schuman Publishers, Inc., 2001. ISBN 155703917.

  • "Six years after writing her first book on the topic, Ernst returns with new data on child development and updated resources. The introductory chapter recaps information of children's cognitive skills and assesses what has been learned and its impact on libraries. Subsequent chapters delve more deeply into identifying learning characteristics in children, especially ages 12 to 24 months, and addresses learning modifications for children in various family settings--from special needs to bilingual to teen parents. Most impressive are the many program ideas, extensive bibliographies, enhancements, and handouts. Ideas and resources--divided by subject, age, and presentation format (music, flannel boards, and puppets)--give librarians and parents a plethora of activities to enrich children's experience."--Booklist
  • " Ernst offers valuable explanations of the latest in brain-development research, stages in early-child development, and an excellent Webliography. This volume is rich with book suggestions, finger rhymes, songs, extension ideas, and other program resources. Thematic indexes and camera-ready handouts make it an essential tool for busy librarians trying to serve their youngest customers." --School Library Journal

Greene, Ellin. Books, Babies, and Libraries. Chicago and London: American Library Association, 1991. ISBN 838905722.

  • "As director and consultant to the New York Public Library's Early Childhood Project, {Greene} prepared this practical, informative compedium as a text for a graduate course in children's librarianship, and it should serve as a useful handbook in virtually every library." It includes an "overview of child development during the first three years." Greene also "augments her well-developed discussions with a wealth of sources, tables, sample forms, a list of recommended materials for children and parents, addresses of agencies, attractive photos, floor plans, and even her course syllabus." This is "a superb synthesis. Whether a library wishes to establish a full early childhood center or develop a modest collection and program, this offers valuable information."--Library Journal

Jeffery, Debby Ann. Literate Beginnings: Programs for Babies and Toddlers. Chicago: American Library Association, 1995. ISBN 0838906400.

  • Jeffery "begins with a section devoted to successful baby/toddler programming, including discussions of child development, program planning and presentation, tips for success, and suggestions for content. The main part of the book is made up of 52 program sheets (with instructions) that cover familiar themes from families to animals to holidays. Anyone designing programs for the youngest library customers will appreciate this book." --School Library Journal

Marino, Jane, and Dorothy F. Houlihan. Mother Goose Time: Library Programs for Babies and Their Caregivers. Bronx, N.Y.: H.W. Wilson Co., 1992. ISBN 0824208501.

  • This book "was inspired by a program designed by the authors, librarians ... who conducted 'Mother Goose Time' sessions for more than five years at the White Plains, New York, Public Library. These interactive sessions involved sharing songs and rhymes with babies and adults.... There are musical arrangements for the songs; bibliographies of picture books, display books, and resource books; an evaluation form; and various indexes categorizing the rhymes and songs by title, first line, and developmental level."--Journal of Youth Services in Libraries

Nespeca, Sue McLeaf. Library Programming for Families with Young Children: A How-to-Do-It Manual. New York: Neal-Schuman, 1994. ISBN 1555701817.

  • Nespeca "outlines the developmental characteristics of young children, providing book-sharing ideas for different age groups, sample family programs,...bibliographies of suggested titles, and places to write for for additonal information. Mutlicultural, intergenerational, institutional, and outreach programs are discussed separately, with suggestions for their implementation." --School Library Journal

Video/Manual Combos

Listed below are instructional videos, accompanied by manuals, to direct the planning of Mother Goose Times:

Lifton, Jeff, and Jim Golden. Born to Read: How to Nurture a Baby's Love of Learning. Towson, MD: ALA Video/Library Video Network, 1997. ISBN 156641041X.

  • The "Born to Read" project is the brainchild of the American Library Association's Association for Library Service to Children. This project "builds partnerships between librarians and health care providers to reach out to new and expectant 'at-risk' parents and help them raise children who are 'born to read'." --American Library Association
  • "A fully equipped package, developed by ALSC and the American Library Association/Library Video Network (ALA/LVN) that provides everything you need to know to become the 'Born to Read' center in your community. The kit includes two videos on one tape and a training manual. The first video is for taking out into the community to show local associations, civic leaders, and potential fund-raisers the important role that the library plays in building a healthy, literate community; the second video is for library staff, presenting ideas and proven techniques for successful programs for babies and their caregivers. The 200 page manual provides budget worksheets, step-by-step program planning, promotional activities, curriculum outlines, and tips on raising local funds. 29 minutes, closed captioned, 2 videos on one tape; planning manual."
  • More information is also available at http://www.ala.org/alsc/partnership.html.
  • To order call 1-800-441-TAPE.

Straub, Susan, Kate Purdy, and Andy Reichsman. Read to Me. Marlboro, VT: Ames Hill Productions, 2000.

  • The 'Read to Me' program was created to help teenage mothers in the New York City area establish the habit of reading to their babies as soon as possible. It "offers a hands-on series of activities and supervised practice sessions that guide teen parents and other moms to read with their babies. The purposes of 'Read to Me' are to: 1. Offer reading as a resource to young moms for pleasure, parenting tips, and psychological insights; 2. Stimulate imaginations and initiate early literacy education; and 3. Improve the potential for healthy parent-child relationships."--Read to Me Program
  • This documentary video/manual combo "chronicles a ground-breaking series of reading workshops for teen mothers sponsored by...the Teachers & Writers Collaborative 'Read to Me' program. Intended for professionals who work with new families,daycare providers, early childhood specialists, and children's librarians, the 30-minute video and 28-page guidebook provide readers with the necessary foundations to start their own 'Read to Me' programs. Includes practical suggestions on inspiring successful reading, making books for children, and finding guest authors and illustrators."
    --Teachers & Writers Collaborative
  • Ordering information is available through http://www.twc.org/pubs/. Once there, scroll down and click on the "Other T&W Titles" link.
  • The video is available for viewing online at http://www.education.wisc.edu/ccbc/readtome.htm.

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