Top Secret Adventures
Books to Share
- Bookstore Burglar by Barbara Maitland.
- Julian Secret Agent by Ann Cameron.
- Robbery at the Diamond Dog Diner by Eileen Christelow.
- Secret in the Dungeon by Fernando Kahn.
- Where Do Balloons Go? by Jamie Lee Curtis.
Books to Show and Booktalk
- Kidnap at the Catfish Cafe by Patricia Reilly Giff.
- Galileo's Treasure Box by Catherine Brighton.
- Junie B. Jones and Some Sneaky Peeky Spying by Barbara Park.
Bulletin Board
Can You Keep A Secret?
Cover the bulletin board in a bright colored paper. Make a large book from a poster board and add the slogan, "Can You Keep a Secret?" to the front of it. On the inside of the poster board book, write information about Storytime or other upcoming programs at the library.
Display
Top Secret Book
Decorate a box with bright paper question marks. Cut slits to let in light on the top of the box and a peephole on one side. Inside the box, place a book. Change the book weekly. Surround the box with mystery books that may be checked out.
Puppet Fingerplay
Could It Be?
(Repeat this traditional rhyme twice. The second time through, hide a finger puppet on your thumb and surprise the children!)
Here is a box (Make fist on one hand)
Put on a lid (Cover fist with other hand)
I wonder whatever inside it is hid.
Could it be? (Peek in)
Yes, without a doubt (Peek in again)
Let's open our box and let it come out (Open fist and pop out thumb)
Action Rhyme
Balloons
(Traditional. If the alternate ending is used, follow this rhyme by reading the book, Where Do Balloons Go? by Jamie Lee Curtis.)
Five little balloons, going up, up, up. (Sail fingers upward)
One little balloon popped (Clap hand loudly)
Then there were four.
Four little balloons, going up, up, up...
Three little balloons going up, up, up...
Two little balloons going up, up, up...
Then there was one little balloon (Sail one finger sadly up)
That little balloon popped
And then there were none. (Palms up and shrug)
Alternate ending:
Then there was one little balloon (Sail up one finger)
Who sailed away (Place hand over eyes and look up)
Which brings me to the great mystery…
Where do balloons go? (Shrug shoulders up)
Story
Tell "The Chase" from Mystery Fold: Stories to Tell, Draw, and Fold by Valerie Marsh.
Craft
Top Secret Puzzle
Materials
- Blank puzzles
- Markers
Directions
Let each child create a top-secret message or picture on a blank puzzle.
Activities
I Spy Word Search
Let the children find and circle the words with the help of an adult.
I SPY WORD SEARCH |
||||||||
Find the words listed above by looking in each line. |
||||||||
CAT |
DOG |
SPY |
||||||
TOP |
BAT |
BALL |
||||||
|
C |
A |
T |
H |
B |
A |
T |
|
B |
S |
B |
A |
L |
L |
P |
||
T |
O |
P |
X |
S |
P |
Y |
||
U |
V |
Y |
D |
O |
G |
M |
Professional Resource
Mystery Fold: Stories to Tell, Draw, and Fold by Valerie Marsh.