Some kids need a little direction to get the creative juices flowing. I gleaned the following from PUBYAC contributors. If you're a member, check out the archives for 10-2010, Programming for K-3rd Graders. Please add YOUR comments. Your colleagues would appreciate hearing what works, and what didn't!

See also: Book Clubs

• 45-minute K-3 program at times throughout the year that's called it Book Magic and bill it as a "literature-sharing program."  It's generally patterned after Storytime, with books, felt stories, maybe a song or game, and a craft -- all following a specific theme. 
• We do a 3-week series in November, a 4-week series in Feb., a 6-week series in the summer (Summer Magic), and a one-time program in December (Winter Magic, formerly Holiday Magic)
• Because it is sometimes hard to come up with an EASY craft that can be done in 15 minutes for a specific theme, we are always keeping our eyes open for good crafts and keep them on file, even if we don't have a specific program to use it with just yet.  And sometimes we work backwards - I found a really cute whale craft, so I went looking for some good whale stories to create a program.
• The craft is the big draw with that age - as soon as the kids walk into the Program Room, the first thing they ask is "What is the craft today?" 
• So for the program, we start with 3-5 "books," mix in some riddles, and end with the craft.  
• And ALWAYS provide lots of activity sheets to fill in when they finish the craft early and to take home. 
• Have a display of other nonfiction books on the topic available for them to check out.  You can make up cutesy titles:  Hot Diggity Dogs, Whale of a Tale, Jungle Safari, When the Cows Come Home, Wild  Wild West, ...  Some favorite general themes are:  royalty, colors, elephants, bugs, clothes (shoes, hats), Disney, fractured fairy tales, food, pizza, etc. 
• You can really go beyond picture books for this age group too.  This program is a great way to highlight your non-fiction, poetry, and magazine collections.