Any youth services librarian can attest that storytime programs, a favorite of young children and their caregivers, can require hours of planning for less than an hour of program. Luckily, resources such as Roginski’s compilation of program plans work like Hamburger Helper for librarians: additional ingredients and prep time may be necessary, but nearly everything you need is in the package.

Roginski’s ready-to-use primer is divided into four chapters. First, the “Littlest Learners” chapter offers tips on programming for babies, followed by four baby storytime templates. Roginski recommends repeating each program for an entire quarter because repetition helps infant brain development, and she provides a list of titles so that books may be alternated while rhymes remain the same. In “Toddling into Kindergarten,” Roginski provides twenty-four themed, seasonally appropriate storytime programs for toddlers through preschoolers. Most program plans offer templates for flannel or magnet boards, available for download through ALA Editions. “Young Readers” offers titles, plans, and discussion questions for beginner reader book clubs. Finally, “Special Features” suggests one evening program per season, such as a teddy bear themed party or parachute play session, complete with program plans for each.

Although Roginski does not directly mention Every Child Ready to Read, her program plans are founded in current research and include early literacy asides to share with caregivers. Her suggested titles are a mix of older favorites and hits published two to four years ago. Perhaps most importantly, she has tested these titles, rhymes, and activities with children in order to give the busy librarian a fast and proven storytime plan. As a resource for new youth librarians as well as those strapped for time or wearing multiple hats, this collection may be a lifesaver. However, librarians interested in incorporating new media, maker, or science activities into storytime will have to come up with their own supplements to the program plans, which all follow the traditional book/rhyme/flannel board pattern. Likewise, librarians who incorporate themed crafts will not find suggestions in the text. Still, Roginski’s lessons make a nice companion to Saroj Nadkarani Ghoting and Pamela Martin-Diaz’s Storytimes for Everyone! (ALA Editions, 2013).