Interesting and reasonable ways of displaying books for Early Years

[KatyMac]

Anyone got any good ideas?

I am short of wall space and money - OFSTED think we need to think more imaginatively & I'm all out of imagination, please inspire me?

Bookshelves that are built into low tables or benches? Shouldn't be too tricky to make from MDF/wood with a day's handyman labour.
Make a loop of ribbon (round central page spine) and use it to hang large books/story sacks from hooks behind doors or on walls.
Make story sacks from pillow cases, with puppets, props and extension activities to supplement each book.

We woud have to get rid of existing furniture so I don't think that will work

Love the ribbon idea - but we just removed all our hooks/door handles as they were at eye level - we can put some higher hooks in maybe

Story sacks - in use and much loved (supplied by the library on a rota)

Thanks - Great ideas

What furniture do you have already?

Do you not have any book boxes?

We have paper mache boxes (nappy ones) and then got the kids to paint it, and put a selection of books in the different boxes.

Hang rope between two hooks and hang the books over them!!

We have book shelves - but apparently they are boring (which I kind of agree with but.....space - it's always space)

Not really boxes - I have some cloth hanging bits & books stood up on window ledges etc

when you say book shelves do you mean cases? or book rack display thingy's?Have met many an Ofsted inspector with a dislike of shelves! what about a pop up 'reading' tent with a treasure box of special books?

No room

We have a basket of books that travels, but space is my problem

I need to move to a bigger place

I have:
a rainbow row of 'That's not my' books
2 low boxes with board books in (spine showing) I can't turn them so there is a box with spine uppermost as there is a piano/keyboard on top of them
3 high shelves with paper books on
Tub with mini books in
Low shelf with board books (spine showing)
2 cloth shelves with books face showing

& it is unimaginative

Some nice ideas here but most require some wall space.

Or how about some of those hanging canvas storage things, something like this

<a class="break-all" href="http://www.google.co.uk/imgres?q=kids+book+storage&hl=en&sa=X&biw=1280&bih=685&tbm=isch&prmd=imvns&tbnid=hHR-DRPL_rAWAM:&imgrefurl=www.mumzheaven.co.uk/store/tidy-books/83-tidy-books-tidy-box-storage-natural.html&docid=1RnPta0AaHve1M&imgurl=www.mumzheaven.co.uk/store/83-277-thickbox/tidy-books-tidy-box-storage-natural.jpg&w=600&h=600&ei=QkDeT-mfHMqO8gOv-rTGCw&zoom=1&iact=hc&vpx=852&vpy=185&dur=1963&hovh=225&hovw=225&tx=121&ty=106&sig=109806528314826933236&page=2&tbnh=162&tbnw=175&start=18&ndsp=24&ved=1t:429,r:16,s:18,i:181" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">This is cute

In <a class="break-all" href="http://www.google.co.uk/imgres?q=kids+book+storage&hl=en&sa=X&biw=1280&bih=685&tbm=isch&prmd=imvns&tbnid=c7j-4R3qPkCv8M:&imgrefurl=rightfromthestart.wordpress.com/2011/10/23/childrens-book-display-and-storage-from-big-book-little-book/&docid=GPvR9SRrEpj-_M&imgurl=rightfromthestart.files.wordpress.com/2011/10/wp_0007971.jpg&w=2592&h=1944&ei=QkDeT-mfHMqO8gOv-rTGCw&zoom=1&iact=hc&vpx=188&vpy=267&dur=4120&hovh=194&hovw=259&tx=119&ty=149&sig=109806528314826933236&page=3&tbnh=149&tbnw=195&start=42&ndsp=24&ved=1t:429,r:0,s:42,i:208" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">trays

If you are <a class="break-all" href="http://www.google.co.uk/imgres?q=homemade+kids+book+storage&hl=en&biw=1280&bih=685&tbm=isch&tbnid=Tc2mqI1MBBtjMM:&imgrefurl=www.inspiredwhims.com/2012/05/kids-room-organization-storage.html&docid=xMDWNYEyzQhfzM&imgurl=3.bp.blogspot.com/-UmJFabqxRM4/T7VtGyf9FuI/AAAAAAAACiM/gmp7QkQ0Vdo/s1600/storage%252Bidea%252B4.jpg&w=475&h=713&ei=4EDeT5OKCojh8APeo4SlCw&zoom=1&iact=hc&vpx=348&vpy=120&dur=1726&hovh=275&hovw=183&tx=104&ty=151&sig=109806528314826933236&page=1&tbnh=156&tbnw=104&start=0&ndsp=18&ved=1t:429,r:1,s:0,i:73" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">handy

OK, OK so I googled all of that, but for my own crackpot innovative idea could you do something with strips of velcro on the wall/spare space, attaching the 'other' side of the velcro to some books - depends if you are precious about keeping books pristine.

they are all really great

I think my problem is that I don't want to get rid of anything else to make more book storage

We have lots of books, they are stored, the children access them constantly

Continual provision is a bummer

Goodness - how resistant to change am I?

My mind-set needs to change - any ideas how?

You're already doing it Katy, just by thinking about this problem.

Me, I'm all burnt out and considering a career change...

I cut my books back a lot and use more library books. Less storage and more excitement. I did have to sell it to Ofsted, but they liked it in the end. More recently I was given a big pile of books and they are kept in boxes on the floor, for the children to dig through as they please.

was it a written recommendation? you could always ignore! but i also find a visit to other settings helps me feel inspired.

Each room in our setting has a book box/area/rack that the children have free access to books to. The 3-5 rooms have the larger book bags (clear ones that hang on a rail) with big books in and also some smaller ones, they also have a table that has two tape players on, a basket full of story tapes and head phones and the children have free access to this. They also have soft cushions in the book area so the children can look at books in "comfort".

The 2-3 room has a moveable book box that has three tiers, and it usually sits in the middle of the room, it has shelves in the back which also holds books. They have the smaller clear bags on hooks in the room, these hold books and teddies linked to the story.

The 1-2's have cosy book space, and a very low lying book rack.

The babies, have a book area that is decorated with book worms and front covers of books, the area is really cosy and has lots of teddies and cushions in it. The book box is divided into 4 and is mixed with soft books, textured books and hard books, and in the black and white area there are b/w books, hanging off the baby gates are a selection of books, as well as the portable books attached to the pushchairs.

Well I changed a lot today & then changed a whole load back

Not written (well at least I haven't had it yet so I don't know)

I have issues with keeping paper books away from babies & I don't approve of 'book corners' as books should be distributed throughout the setting so children can see they are everyday and normal, not that you have to visit a special place to get them

I'll down load some photos - now I have taken them I see they look tired

The pics are on now & they don't look good

Remember I have 1 room for 9 children from 4 months up to school age (the out of school children have their books in a different room)

BTW - we took the scarves down from the ceiling as someone went on a course and 'natural' is better

I liked the scarves

Hmmmmm i thought ofsted liked scarves!!

I like scarves

The ceiling is well boring without them

We got told to hang things recently from the ceiling!! So its odd that the advice is take it down. Although they wanted stuff hanging in the sleep room!!. I'll take a photo of what we did (no budget) and post it tomorrow!! It really brightened up the place :)

I think they may go back up

The books don't look good do they?

OK - the changes I have made yesterday have made a difference but it still needs work

Where do I go from here?

I have added some labels
"These are our ?special? books; we share them with an adult. This is because:
? They have lots of words.
? Adults help us to understand.
? The pages can be ripped easily."

&

"This is our Library area; our books are on shelves like a real library.

We know where to find our favourite stories and if we can?t reach them an adult will pass them to us or read them."

What do you think?

Add laminated pictures of children and adults using the area nicely, to show the children positive images of behaviour around books.

Oh I like that idea; I'll look for some now