My name is Ashley Larsen, and I am a librarian in Pacifica, California. You can read how I became the Loudest Librarian in SHHHHHH! Confessions of the Loudest Librarian in the World.
As a children’s librarian, I’m always hunting for new books and craft ideas, and I’m grateful for the many children’s craft sites available on the Internet. I also value book recommendations and reviews, especially when people share how well a picture book works for kids of different ages.
I created this blog as I way to share the books, crafts, songs and rhymes I use for storytime, and what the kids’ reactions were to each. I hope that it will help other librarians plan storytimes and other library events, as well as parents looking for new books to share with their kids.
I make an effort to credit the many web sites and people who give me new ideas. I’m always on the lookout for craft, song, and book recommendations, so please share your favorites!
I also enjoy writing children’s songs based on picture books and storytime themes (you can listen to some of them on my Original Songs page). If you have a request for a book or theme you’d like a song for, please let me know. I’m always looking for new ideas.
Happy Reading!
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The Loudest Librarian! 
Hello Ashley
I was happy to see your blog and your list of children’s books. I hope you will check out my children’s books on my website, was.susanvontobel.com. I have three books that deal with adoption, disruption in adoption, and diverse families. I would love to be a part of your list if you feel my books are a good fit.
Thank you so much for your consideration. Happy holidays.
Susan Von Tobel, MA
Thank you, Susan! That does sound like a good fit. I was actually going to add a section on adoption and different types of families. I’ll take a look at your site.
Great! Thank you Ashley
Just added you to our blogroll! Lovely to find another west coast librarian.
Thank you! Glad to learn about your web site too! It looks wonderful.
Hello Ashley–I’m pretty sure we met this afternoon @ the Jones Library Uke Jam, right?
Yes! That was me. It was so great to chat with you. We’ve talked about visiting Amherst for years, but have never managed to make it happen, so it was fun to feel like I was taking a class there, even though it was virtual.
did u hear abt the jam on the Jones website?
Yes! It was funny, because I had just proposed doing a virtual uke class for our library system, but wasn’t sure how to manage showing the lyrics and chords
Or, sorry, now that I think about it, it was actually from the Jones Library Facebook post
that’s great to know–we’ve been thinking a lot abt the library’s social media presence. I’m planning
send an email to the whole staff relating the story of how we connected, thinking that it probably wouldn’t have happened if we had not been practicing social distancing
I was thinking that too. It’s also been a good kick in the pants for us to try broadcasting programs online–something we’ve talked about for over a decade. I’m hoping that’s something we can continue to offer even when things go back to normal.
Lace remembers you & says hi, & Seth remembers you & told me of another connection that you & I share: I graduated from Amherst College in 1976,. What year are you?
Oh, that’s great! I miss them both. I graduated in 1997 (English major–no surprise there). Wonder if we had any of the same professors.
I was a psych major but in hindsight would have been happier in Women’s & Gender Studies and/or Theater. For the record, I don’t have an MLS–I stumbled into my job @ the Jones when my 9 year career as a massage therapist ended after I pulverized my left wrist in 1998.
Ouch! Sorry about your wrist! But I can’t think of many better places to end up than the Jones. I only took one Psych class at Amherst (with Professor Weigel) but I loved it.
yes, I feel really lucky to be @ the Jones. one of the percs of being an alum is/was that during my lunch breaks I’d walk over to the Alumni Gym & use their facilities for a great workout. & that’s funny, Weigel was my advisor…I took one Eng.class with G. Armour Craig (& was in way over my head) & a great pass/fail Shakespeare class with Ben DeMott
Oh, I loved Professor Weigel–his was one of the classes I remember the most. I never had Craig or DeMott. But that’s great that you get to use the gym. My husband Eric graduated from Amherst too (Computer Science), and for a long time we used to talk about moving back there. We loved the town.
Hi Ashley, I just found your site and am really enjoying it! Would I have permission to use one of your songs in a story time at my public library?
Thanks, Trish! That means a lot. And yes, of course, you are welcome to use any of my songs. Thanks for asking!