Friday Fun: Stuffed Animals “sleep over” at Princeton Public Library
August 13, 2010 at 2:50 pm Janie Hermann 16 comments
Posted by Janie Hermann
The youth services department at PPL hosted a “stuffed animal sleepover” last week — such a simple program that was much loved by the kids that participated so I had to share.
Here is how we advertised this program:
Bring your favorite stuffed animal or doll for a sleepover at the library. After a lively evening of stories, music and poems at Family Story Time, tuck the animals in and say goodnight. Come back the next day between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m. to pick them up and find out what mischief they got into during the night. This 45-minute program is geared to children ages 2-6 years
After the library closed, the real fun began when the animals roamed the third floor and found lots to do. Enjoy this adorable photo set of our mischievous stuffed friends romping through the library after dark!
Each child got photos of their stuffed animal to bring home as a souvenir. Hope other libraries will try this program and then post photos to share.
This is my favorite photo from the set:
Pokemon has fun on the photocopier
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Library Garden 
1.
John Klima | August 13, 2010 at 4:29 pm
You work at the most awesome place ever.
2.
Julie | August 14, 2010 at 10:31 am
I actually squealed out loud! What an awesome idea! Who came up with this? I want to give them a cookie!
3.
pamela groves | August 19, 2010 at 11:58 am
This wasn’t an original idea but once I heard about it I just had to do it! We had about 2 dozen people, children and parents attend the storytime. The participants had no idea what would happen to their furry friends overnight and that photos would be taken. I gave out one photo for each stuffed animal the next day when they came to pick up. Everyone was thrilled! I’m doing a similar one in the fall… A Night in the Haunted Library!
I’ll take that cookie, Julie!
Pamela Groves – Youth Services Librarian @ Princeton Public LIbrary
4.
Lisa Kelly | August 14, 2010 at 12:50 pm
This is adorable! It reminds me of Corduroy, and his adventures in the department store.
I’d enjoy seeing more pictures if other libraries hold similar sleepovers!
5.
Pam W. | August 14, 2010 at 2:32 pm
What a fabulous idea! We may have to borrow it, if you don’t mind!
6.
pamela groves | August 19, 2010 at 12:00 pm
Sure! Go ahead and do it! I borrowed it from others.
7.
Christine | August 14, 2010 at 4:34 pm
The library where I work, South Huntington Public Library on Long Island, just hosted a Teddy Bear Sleepover. I missed the program itself, but I was there working in the Children’s department the next morning. The kids were so eager to see their teddies and delighted at the photos of the teddies’ overnight mischief.
8.
Jessica | August 14, 2010 at 7:16 pm
This is such an amazing idea. I think my sister, who works at a Build-A-Bear Workshop, will also be delighted to hear about it.
9.
Janieh | August 14, 2010 at 8:02 pm
Glad to see that others like this idea. It looks like we adapted it from others — or else a lot of librarians have the same creative minds.
I found this awesome slide show from a sleepover last summer:
http://www.slideshare.net/elancolibrary/stuffed-animal-sleepover
And a blog post from about a 18 months ago about the same concept:
http://tinytipsforlibraryfun.blogspot.com/2009/03/stuffed-animal-sleepover.html
I love it when good ideas spread from library to library by word of mouth and by blogging.
We have done a Teddy Bears Picnic July 10th for several years (that is the official holiday, you can google it and verify). All the Teddy Bears are given an award (cutest, sofest, funniest, etc) and books are read, snacks served, etc. Here are pictures from when my own little guy attended when he was four: http://www.flickr.com/photos/janieh/2670291952/in/datetaken/
10.
Cynthia | August 15, 2010 at 9:19 am
Fantastic. What a terrific idea.
11. 子どものお気に入りのぬいぐるみが図書館で一夜を過ごす「お泊まり会」（米国） - k_miya@ぐるぐるじゃぱん | August 15, 2010 at 11:27 pm
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12.
Susan | August 16, 2010 at 4:02 pm
We’ve done a couple of stuffed animal sleepovers and they have been great hits. You can see our 2009 photos here:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/highlandparklibrary/sets/72157622658111369/
and 2010 here:
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=191476&id=201160058000
13.
Marge L-W | August 17, 2010 at 1:56 pm
We’ve been doing this for a few years- easy, outrageous fun that kids, parents and staff love. We learned about it about 4 years ago on pubyac and have delighted in it ever since!
14.
Dean Hacohen | September 15, 2010 at 8:32 am
So cute. Has anyone heard about the new animal picture book “Tuck Me In!”?
Toddlers turn pages to tuck in baby animals…and then get tucked in themselves.
It just came out this week.
15.
Estie | March 4, 2011 at 6:29 pm
I think this might work
16.
Estie | March 4, 2011 at 6:41 pm
Look cool