Over the next few months, this column will feature some storytime themes that go along with the Be Creative @ Your Library summer reading program theme for 2009. To me, creativity can be many things, especially anything to do with fine arts or the imagination.

This month, we will celebrate : Acting, Singing and Photography.

A storytime featuring characters that love to act on stage can invite a lot of participation. Do at least one story that involves the audience - have them act out a folktale such as The Enormous Turnip. For a craft, everyone can make paperbag puppets relating to one of the stories so they can act out the story at home. An easy paperbag puppet can be made to resemble the monster in Ed Emberley's Go Away Big Green Monster.

Emberley, Ed. GO AWAY BIG GREEN MONSTER.
   The audience can help you act out this story by calling out the repeated phrases. Available as a puppet with Velcro parts.

Domanska, Janina. THE TURNIP.
   Just one version of this popular Russian folktale - any version will do. Get volunteers from the audience to play the farmer, his wife, the dog, cat, etc. and have them act out the folktale while you narrate what is happening.

Rosen, Michael. WE'RE GOING ON A BEAR HUNT.
  Available as a Big Book, this story has lots of repetition and the whole crowd can help act this out.

Leedy, Lauren. THE BUNNY PLAY.
   The bunnies put on a musical version of Little Red Riding Hood.

Lithgow, John. MARSUPIAL SUE PRESENTS THE RUNAWAY PANCAKE.
   A kangaroo and friends put on a play.

Best, Cari. SHRINKING VIOLET.
   A clever teacher finds a role in the school play for Violet, who has stage fright.

Lester, Helen. TACKYLOCKS AND THE THREE BEARS.
  That eccentric penguin Tacky stars in the school play.

Waber, Bernard. EVIE AND MARGIE.
   Best friends try out for the same role in the school play.

Hazen, Lynn. CINDER RABBIT.
   Zoe is excited to play the lead in the school play but is afraid of making a fool of herself.

McCully, Emily Arnold. THE EVIL SPELL.
   The first time Edwin gets a lead role in his family's theater company, he forgets his lines.

Charlip, Remy. MOTHER, MOTHER, I FEEL SICK.
  This humorous story, about a doctor who removes lots of strange things from someone's stomach, is illustrated as a shadow play.