The 2012 Summer Reading Program theme “Dream Big - Read” offers a wide variety of ideas for summer storytimes. We will cover a few each month, beginning with this issue, and continuing through February and March to give you plenty of time to prepare. Be sure to check out the themes Camping, and Bedtime, which are already listed.

Also check out the website for summer reading maintained by the California Library Association: www.cla-net.org/displaycommon.cfm?an=1&subarticlenbr=330 . They have the powerpoint presentations and handouts from a workshop on the 2012 SRP theme, held in November at the CLA conference. The children's presentation is listed first. Be sure to download the handout - it is 25 pages long so it takes a minute, but it is worth it. They have listed several storytime themes with craft ideas.

There are several "dreamy" stories that you can read aloud. Also, talk about day dreaming. Have the audience shut their eyes and dream of something special - their favorite foods for example. For a craft, make simple dream catchers like the ones shown here: www.dltk-kids.com/world/native/dreamcatcher.html or the dream catcher show here www.enchantedlearning.com/crafts/Dreamcatcher.shtml .

Appelt, Kathi. COWBOY DREAMS.
   The western night sky and this rhyming verse will lull any young cowpoke to sleep.

Banks, Kate. CLOSE YOUR EYES.
   A mother tiger lulls her child to sleep by describing what you can see with your eyes closed.

Blackstone, Stella. I DREAMT I WAS A DINOSAUR.
   In this rhyming story, a child dreams of being a dinosaur, living with other dinosaurs.

Chapman, Nancy K. DOGGIE DREAMS.
   Dogs have both simple and elaborate dreams in this rhyming tale.

Cousins, Lucy. SWEET DREAMS, MAISY.
   Maisy the little white mouse gets ready for bed after a busy day.

Ginsburg, Mirra. ACROSS THE STREAM.
   A hen and chicks are saved from a bad dream by a duck family.

Gorbechev, Valeri. NICKY AND THE BIG, BAD WOLVES.
   A rabbit has a bad dream about being chased by wolves, but his mother has a solution to the problem.

Henkes, Kevin. OLD BEAR.
   Old Bear dreams he is a cub again, and enjoys the four seasons.

McCain, Becky. GRANDMOTHER'S DREAMCATCHER.
   Kimmy learns to make a dreamcatcher from her Ojibwa grandmother.

Pilkey, Dav. WHEN CATS DREAM.
   What do cats see when they dream?

Smith, Lane. BIG PETS.
   A girl explores a dream world where giant pets play with small children.

Wood, Audrey. SWEET DREAM PIE.
   Pa helps Ma make her special sweet dream pie for the whole neighborhood.