One way that you can keep the conversation going is to ask them to tell you a story about what is going on in the picture. Want to keep it going even further? Write down that story in nice big easy to read letters. It lets them see that 1. what they are saying is important enough to write down and 2. What they are saying can become "pictures" on paper.
Why not try and see?
Have a great safe day everyone. Try and enjoy the snow!

Just watched this video by two graphic novel writer/illustrators and it made me rethink how I read graphic novels vs novels. They spoke about how illustrators block panels to make you see things a certain way. Things that are called gutters, which are the things that break panels up, can make things more intense if they are dark rather than white. They can also cause fear if they are not in a straight line, but rather a squiggly line.
While novels can take a long time describing things, graphic novels can do the same thing in a few panels.

By creating it that way, it encourages the reader to have certain feelings depending on how he has laid it out. We own this new book, so check it out!
I will not even start to talk about manga. That makes you think in completely different ways: the culture, the language (even though its in English, it is sometimes worded differently) and since the Japanese write from right to left, the books are "backwards". This makes kids think in a totally different way which, in my opinion, is amazing.
Please check out our graphic novels. I may be a little biased since I buy them, but I think we have a pretty sweet collection!

I feel bad sometimes because I find these crazy things that I want us to do at the library and I manage to make Miss Jill's hair stand up on end. I really do have the best of intentions, but sometimes ... well I get started and then I just the temptation gets too great.
This is how I'm feeling right now with podcasting and video storytelling. I went to a library conference where librarians are sharing all of the things they are doing at their own libraries ... and there were two that I KNEW I wanted us to do.
This video below is the first of what I want to do.

I would love to have kids or teens come up with either book that they would like to recreate, or their own original piece of work. Then I would love it if they created the artwork and narrated their stories using the equipment that would also be used for podcasting.
Lots of learning would be required, from learning to use image editing software, powerpoint, voice over software, and an assortment of other things, however, I think this could be a great experiment for all of us ... including Miss Jill. :)

Saw that a fellow librarian had suggested getting this in an old email. They're called Circuit Scribe. Wow. How fun do these look? What do you think? Maybe a new thing to add to the Chili Makerspace? They are pretty old (like maybe three years! GASP!) however, how cool to be able to combine technology AND art! WOW! My head just exploded! :) What do you think you would create with them?

 ... is officially here. We've almost started story times, you've almost started school. We've also started an official Thursday evening program that involves technology, crafts and a variety of other craziness at at 5:45pm. Just enough time to eat dinner and make your way here.

1st Thursday: Legos
2nd Thursday: Robots/Computers
3rd Thursday: Art
4th Thursday: Technology
5th Thursday: Its a Mystery!

Our first adventure we had so much fun. Who doesn't have fun with legos? I can't wait to see what happens next!

If you haven't been at our past two "Explore Your Imagination" programs, shame on you! We had a blast!
On the 19th, we had paper airplane wars.  There are an amazing amount of types of airplanes and we have the paper to prove it! There are some very helpful websites that have awesome and have very detailed directions. The one I really liked was Fold N Fly. I wish I had taken pictures, because there were a massive amount of airplanes in the room, but I was afraid I would get attacked. We also made helicopters, and with a little paper and a paper clip, WALLAH! A helicopter. You can get the templatehere.

On the 26th, we had chalk games. But not just ANY chalk games, we had crazy stuff going on in here! Thanks to our guest Katie, who is a library student. In her own words:
I had a really great time watching the children construct their Mini Chalk Bots.  (I was blown away by their designs and not surprised at all that their creations worked WAY better than the examples I made the night before.) 
You guys should be so proud of your creativity!
She had so many awesome ideas! It was tremendous to have her fresh new ideas. She is welcome here again ANYTIME!  Here were just a few of her ideas:

​Week 1: Today we had explored our imagination with building. ​
We used a bunch of brand new legos that I had to buy because there were pink and purple ones. We had a group of ladies who especially liked those. Two girls and their three adults made awesome creations. 
Totally jealous that I was helping everyone else and couldn't play too.  We got some new Lego people as well. Plus some pretty creepy looking snowmen. 
Just after the program we got these cool things called little bits and I CANNOT wait to use them with the legos!
I will, of course, be needing some help, because these look super crazy. :)

Explore away this summer!

week 1: building
week 2: robots
week 3: airplane wars
week 4: Chalk Games
week 5: Mazes
week 6: Doodling and Henna