The Shelf Marker Song
by Jackie Mims Hopkins
(from Story Enrichment Ideas for her bookThe Shelf Elf from Upstart Books)
 .Lessons Learned:
The "Shelf Marker Song" (or "The Bookie Lookie," as some students call it) is more than just a fun sing-a-long. The words and actions reinforce lessons learned about how books are classified and a recognition that there is a system for organizing the library.
 Students learn that each book has a special place where it belongs -- standing upright and with the spine facing out. A book that isn't put in its proper place is a lost book. We emphasize that it is everyone's responsibility to help keep the books in the right place. Every child can be a Shelf Elf and help out!
Pictured is a photo of our current Shelf Markers from Upstart Books. This is a set of 30 markers featuring real animals in a variety of colors. The entire school uses this single set. ..
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Lyrics
(sung to the tune of the Hokey Pokey) |
Actions |
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You put your shelf marker in. |
Put right hand and arm forward. |
| You pull a book right out. |
Pull right hand and arm back. |
You look through the pages
to see what it's about. |
Touch hands together like an open book.
Left hand closes on top of right hand and then back open
as if you are turning the pages of the book. |
You do the bookie-lookie
And you see if it's just right. |
Continue to hold hands like an open book. |
| That's what it's all about. |
Slap hand on thighs twice, clap hand twice,
open and extend hands on the word about.. |
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You do the bookie-lookie!
You do the bookie-lookie!
You do the bookie-lookie!
That's what it's all about.
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Hold hands in the air and shake them like Hokey Pokey hand motion.
Repeat, shaking hands in the air.
Repeat, shaking hands in the air.
Slap thighs twice, clap twice, open hand on the word about. | |
Each week, we evaluate that students understand this lesson by having students use a shelf marker to mark the place on the shelf where they removed a book from and return the book to that spot if they do not want to check it out. They give the librarian their shelf marker when they go to check out their book(s).
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