Hugo the Dog Reads HUGO

Hugo the dog wants to read Brian Selznick's magical book, "The Invention of Hugo Cabret". What are you reading?

Many wonderful young adult (middle school) books are made into movies. This is one of them. The story takes place in Paris, and is about the early days of motion pictures. The book is mostly intricate drawings by Brian Selznick, as is his newest book "Wonderstruck".

As with other Big Eye Readers, Hugo appears on miniature bookmarks. These are handy as due date reminders, collectables, prizes, a part of a gift package for a fundraiser or appreciation event, a thank you card enclosure, or a hundred other uses. Keep a handful handy as conversation starters. 

Visit the bookmark page at http://tinyurl.com/minibookmarks

Sammy Squirrel Reads

For the past three years, I've been taking graphic design classes. In order to practice, I invite middle school students at Borel Middle School to recommend character ideas and which book the character will be reading. The characters were added to a collection of 1" x 4.25" bookmarks.  Kids could use the back of the bookmarks for jotting down due dates when borrowing a book. Or, they simply collected the characters. The bottom line is that my Adobe Illustrator skills improved thanks to those students!

There are now three types of characters: people with heads and books, animals with heads and books, and (most recently) whole body characters. One of the most challenging animal characters was Sammy Squirrel, requested by my friend who specified a question mark-shaped tail and glasses.

In addition to using the characters to practice my craft, they come in handy in two ways:

• Free bookmarks that include the message "Strong Libraries, Strong Students". A carry a half dozen or so with me as conversation starters.
• Images available on the Library Advocacy Store and DesignClass sites, thus providing a small revenue stream to the California School Library Foundation.

KangaRoo Reader

Six years ago, the State Library of Western Australia contacted the California School Library Association web 2.0 team for permission to use the online tutorial, School Library Learning 2.0.  I came across this information when searching my correspondence for the word "Australia" because a friend's daughter moved there for a year and so the country and its animals have been on my mind.  

Knowing my friend likes to use a combination of online and postal service letters and care packages to stay in touch, I designed KangaRoo Reader for her.  Kanga bookmarks are available as free downloads at http://tinyurl.com/minibookmarks. Kanga is also on a number of items at cafepress.com/DesignClass

Yellow Ducky Reads Dr. Seuss

Advocate for environment and reading with the newest design recommended by teen girls: a yellow ducky reading The LORAX.  

"Duck, Duck, Book" is available on mini bookmarks.  Just download, print on card stock, trim and hand out with each book checked out at the library. Bookmarks are available at no charge at http://tinyurl.com/minibookmarks. Matching gift items are available at cafepress.com/DesignClass.

Pirate and Witch Promote Reading

"Yo Ho Ho and a Book to Read" shouts this treasure-hunting pirate. Our Pirate Captain promotes reading on "Talk Like A Pirate Day" (September 19) and throughout the month of October, when Halloween is on the minds of kids of all ages. Yo Ho Ho!

Our popular Halloween witch looks right at you and says "Trick or Read!" Be careful! She may put a spell on you.

How do people use these characters? The first and primary use is for mini bookmarks for my local school students. I make a pdf of each set of bookmarks and make them available to librarians and friends at no cost -- each bookmark includes an advocacy message, "Strong School Libraries, Strong Students."  PDF download

The characters are also loaded onto the California School Library Foundation online store at cafepress.com/csla and cafepress.com/DesignClass. The two stores provide a small revenue stream for library advocacy. Support Strong School Libraries! To learn more about the crisis in school libraries, see librarycampaign.csla.net and make some noise!

Big Eye Reader Mini-Bookmarks

Collect them all!  Entertain young readers with fun mini-bookmarks that feature Big Eye Reader characters. The bookmarks are available through the California Campaign for Strong School Libraries, a project of the CSLA Foundation.


There are eleven characters so far, but how many more will join the others this year? Tweet about your favorite character or suggest one @4Libraries

Library Quotes

The American Library Association's advocacy site, "I Love Libraries" includes access to a database of library quotes and tips on how to effectively use the quotes. One of the suggestions is to use them for making bookmarks.  Recommendation:  add a link to bookmark templates for WORD and for Adobe Illustrator.


The site also links to its partners, including its "Authors as Advocates" program.  Thanks go to 2010-2011 ALA President Roberta Stevens!  This is a great legacy. The author videos in support of public libraries are well done, with an emphasis on employment resources for the public.  Wish a few videos specifically addressed the plight of school libraries at every level: elementary, middle, high, and higher education.  Hope each new ALA president will keep growing and enhancing the "Authors as Advocates" program.

Book Marks and More - Library Media & PR

Looking for book mark designs that you can print yourself rather than buy from a library vendor?  For example, want a fun Friday-the-13th book mark that says "Get Lucky!  Check out a good book!"?  Or put "Boo" in book mark with Halloween book marks.


There is a series of Library Lovers Month book marks that have catchy statements that would be fun for daily Tweets such as:

• My love speaks volumes
• We're like book-ends
• Your the best chapter of my life
• and many more...

Some websites stay relevant for decades.  One really useful one is the Library Media & PR site by Stephanie Stokes Design.  The tag line is "Strategies, Techniques, Resources, Tips and Tools for Library Communications.

Stephanie is the creative genius behind "Library Lovers Month" (February).