Flannel and magnetic storyboard programs help librarians save time and add spark to storytime sessions

(New York, NY) February 13, 2009- Developing children’s programming that is effective, engaging and educational can be a time consuming challenge for busy professionals. Teddy Bear Storytimes: Ready-to-go Flannel and Magnetic Storyboard Programs that Captivate Children, to be published by Neal-Schuman on March 1, 2009, is an enlightening, ready-to-use resource that will help librarians and educators build magical, interactive storytime sessions for young audiences through the use of flannel and magnetic boards.

Teddy Bear Storytimes is based on proven early childhood programming research that supports higher-level learning through familiar characters. Author LaDonna Yousha, an experienced children’s librarian and storyteller, creates “Teddy Bear”, an engaging central character whose continuing adventures are the basis for each story. The book begins with a thorough introduction to the benefits of and best practices for incorporating flannel and magnetic boards into storytime, and is followed by twenty fully-developed stories that are divided into separate chapters and organized by theme. Yousha’s inventive narratives inspire children to use their imagination as they travel with Teddy Bear to baseball games, the circus, and school; on pirate expeditions, picnics and vacation; and through holiday gatherings and outer space. Each of Teddy Bear’s adventures help librarians reinforce positive behavior and important lessons like learning to be a good friend, building self-esteem, telling the truth, working together and being thankful.

All twenty chapters also include storytelling guides, lists of characters and pieces to use during storytime, photographs that illustrate figure placement, and related books, activities and materials to further expand on its specific theme. Flannel board patterns for the characters, objects, and scenery are labeled by chapter and included in the appendix, as well as on the book’s accompanying CD-ROM so librarians can easily print, cut-out and re-use the figures across multiple storytime sessions.

Through vibrant tales and captivating storyboards, Teddy Bear Storytimes sets the stage for incorporating creative, convenient and complete programs into storytime programming.

Teddy Bear Storytimes: Ready-to-go Flannel and Magnetic Storyboard Programs that Captivate Children
ISBN: 978-1-55570-677-7.
2009. 6 x 9. 150pp. $55.00.

About the Authors
LaDonna Yousha has been a children’s librarian and storyteller for over ten years. She has worked at the Great Neck Library and in the busiest Central Branch of the Queens Borough Public Library, as well as most of the 62 other branches. She conducted countless storytimes, and presented workshops on flannel-board storytelling.

About Neal-Schuman Publishers
Neal-Schuman Publishers is a leading publisher of professional books for librarians and teachers including storytime guides, information literacy titles, and the highly acclaimed teens@thelibrary series. Founded in 1976, Neal-Schuman Publishers is based in New York City, with offices in London, UK.

For More Information and/or Cover Art
Contact Sarah Eisenberg
sarah.eisenberg@neal-schuman.com
100 William Street, Suite 2004
New York, NY 10038
212-925-8650
www.neal-schuman.com