May is the time we all start thinking about our flower gardens. Display gardening and flower arranging books with pots and baskets filled with bright silk flowers. Here are ten more display ideas for May.
Get Caught Reading Month
Get Caught Reading is a nationwide campaign to remind people of all ages how much fun it is to read. It was launched in 1999 and is supported by the Association of American Publishers. On the website http://www.getcaughtreading.org, you can print or order free celebrity reading posters and download videos for your website that have been prepared by authors to inspire people of all ages to utilize the materials and opportunities their local and school libraries have to offer. Have students or patrons take selfies in their favorite reading spots and post them on a bulletin board.
May Day (May 1)
Around the world, May 1 is known as May Day. This is a simple holiday devoted to celebrating the joy of spring turning into summer. Lay out supplies for your patrons to make some simple May baskets. For ideas, go to http://tinyurl.com/q6kfwu5.
Children’s Book Week (May 4-10)
Established in 1919, Children’s Book Week is the longest-running national literacy initiative in the country. Go to http://bookweekonline.com/ to get your free posters and bookmarks. Click on Activities and find an amazing number of free games, coloring sheets, scavenger hunts, etc. that encourage children to read. Print a few different activity sheets for a passive program station in your children’s area.
Be Kind to Animals Week (May 3-9)
Display books about pets that explain how to take care of animals. You could even set up a donation box for things needed at your local animal shelter such as dog and cat food, blankets and towels, etc. Go to http://tinyurl.com/pjfqa34 for lesson plans on human-animal interactions. The American Humane Association is pleased to offer a series of informative, downloadable lesson plans designed to assist educators in incorporating current humane education topics into their everyday curricula. These materials are designed for use by classroom teachers, humane educators, home-school educators, after-school enrichment programs and more. There’s something here for children of all grades, from K–12!
Lewis and Clark Expedition Embarks (May 14, 1804)
Lewis and Clark began their expedition on this day in 1804. Display books about these explorers and their famous adventure. Don’t forget to include books about Sacagawea, too.
Frank Baum’s Birthday (May 15, 1856)
Frank Baum was the children’s author, playwright and journalist who wrote the American classic The Wonderful Wizard of Oz in 1900. Display his books with ruby red shoes (you could even glue on some red sequins—you know I hate glitter). The St. Louis Public Library prepared a wonderful 53-page book of activities center on his most famous story. Click here to see the free pdf file: http://tinyurl.com/q3j4vkv.
Mount St. Helens erupted (May 18, 1980)
This is the 35th anniversary of the eruption of Mount St. Helens. Display books about volcanos and prepare a demonstration that shows what a volcano eruption looks like. http://www.sciencebob.com/experiments/volcano.php
Janet Dailey’s Birthday (May 21, 1944)
Janet Dailey was born in Storm Lake, Iowa. She wrote more than 100 books. Her novels have been translated into nineteen languages and have sold more than 300 million copies worldwide. She died December 14, 2013. Place a sign in the stacks with her books to draw attention to them.
Memorial Day (May 25, 2015)
Honor the men and women who have died in war. Prepare a large display of fiction and nonfiction books about war and include DVDs, too. A display case could hold uniforms, medals, and letters written home from your local heroes. This display will get your patrons thinking about the Summer Reading theme, Every Hero has a Story.
Dracula by Bram Stoker Published (May 26, 1897)
Get ready for summer by displaying all your scary stories books around a pretend campfire. Share a few (appropriately) scary stories with your after school crowd or your teens.
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