SAIL (Summer Activities in the Library)

This past Thursday, my library hosted SAIL (Summer Activities in the Library) Night. This night (and two more like it) were planned by the teacher-librarians and literacy specialists in my district.  The purpose was to keep kids connected to books and reading during the summer months.

Our district already has a strong commitment to summer reading:  Three times a summer, our Mobile Library travels around the district, allowing students the opportunity to exchange summer reading books.

We desired the chance to increase the summer connections that we had with our students.  So we decided to open up our libraries three times this summer.  This, in addition to our Mobile Library,  would allow us to connect with our readers twice a month....So, SAIL was created.

SAIL was designed to open up our libraries and give families a chance to come together and share the  love of reading.  The library is open for 90 minutes.  During this time, families may read together, listen to stories, talk about books, watch book trailers,  make book-related crafts and eat book related snacks.

When families first came in, they chose some great books, found a comfy place and read together.  Teachers and librarians circulated to touch base and share in their reading.

We then gathered together and shared what we had been reading this summer.  I shared that I had just had the opportunity to meet author Josh Funk, and had been fortunate to get a sneak peek of his upcoming book Lady Pancake and Sir French Toast (illustrated by Brendan Kearney and published by Sterling Children's Books).  We watched the awesome book trailer and voted whether we were "Team Pancake" or "Team French Toast".  We are all very excited for this book to come out on September 1! (Make sure you pre-order it NOW!)

We had fun reading together Gemma Merino's The Crocodile Who Didn't Like Water and Bob Shea's Buddy and the Bunnies in:  Don't Play With Your Food!

Families then had time to do more reading and visit some reading activity stations:

• read The Watermelon Seed by Greg Pizzoli and have a watermelon snack, 
• read Mustache Baby by Bridget Heos and make a fun mustache, 
• read Pete the Cat books and do a Pete the Cat puzzle
• make Elephant and Piggie puppets to help read the Mo Willems favorites.

Students then gathered together again.  Carrie Davies (@readwithdavies) joined me to read two great books:  I Don't Want to Be a Frog! written by Dev Petty/illustrated by Mike Boldt and You Are (Not) Small written by Anna King/illustrated by Christopher Weyant. Both books were such fun to read aloud.

The remaining time was used to read more and finish up any activities.  

It was a great night of reading!!!!