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.

Crayons are more effective and age-appropriate for preschoolers than markers; crayons help them develop fine motor skills since they need to put pressure on a crayon. There are several great picture books using crayons as a theme. For an art project, there is a wealth of ideas at the Crayola Crayon website: www.crayola.com

Johnson, Crockett. HAROLD AND THE PURPLE CRAYON. A classic, Harold draws simple lines and shapes with a purple crayon, and the drawings come to life.

Freedman, Deborah. SCRIBBLE.
Lucie ruins Emma's picture by scribbling on it - the picture becomes a fairyland that Lucie falls into and tangles with a cat and a princess.

Hubbard, Patricia. MY CRAYONS TALK.
Each crayon sings about what they can depict with their colors.

Rusch, Elizabeth. A DAY WITH NO CRAYONS.
Because she wrote on the wall, a little girl cannot use her crayons for the rest of the day. She discovers other ways to exercise her artistic nature.

Porto, Tony. GET RED!
A boy's red crayon is a great help at school.

Gilliland, Judith Heide. NOT IN THE HOUSE, NEWTON!
Whatever Newton draws with his magic red crayon comes to life.

Van Allsburg, Chris. BAD DAY AT RIVERBEND.
With dramatic illustrations, the sheriff realizes the town is being taken over by someone with crayons!

Ryan, Pamela Munoz. THE CRAYON COUNTING BOOK.
A simple board book that uses crayons to count.