School Library Journal draws on a small but dedicated group of reviewers that spend hours exploring, comparing, and evaluating apps. I value their opinions and am always eager to hear how they are using apps in their libraries. Recently I asked Cindy Wall to to update me on her app programming. She and her colleague Lynn Pawloski, authors of The Maker Cookbook: Recipes for Children’s and ‘Tween Library Programs (Libraries Unlimited, 2014), responded. Even with three decades of experience between us, working in both school and public libraries, we’re always on the lookout for inspiration. For the past three years, iPads have provided a wellspring of ideas and enhanced our children's programming at the Southington Public Library in Connecticut. The following are three activities we have presented, each one designed for a different age group. Budding tween iPad and film enthusiasts will be fascinated by the opportunity to create a stop-motion film from still photographs in the tradition of Wallace and Gromit, Gumby, The Nightmare Before Christmas. With the Stop Motion Studio app they can work independently and control all aspects of their cinematic experiments (iPad camera, props, plot, dialogue, music, etc.). But be forewarned: this activity may require four to eight hours to produce a film longer than a few seconds. However, it's the perfect activity in a school library after a morning of testing or in an afterschool program, or in a public library over a weekend or holiday break. A Stop Motion Film Workshop should include an introduction to the history of the stop motion film technique—clips from related films, an explanation of visual storytelling and accompanying tools, such as storyboards or shot lists. [It's also a great opportunity to mention or booktalk Brian Selznick’s The Invention of Hugo Cabret (Scholastic, 2007) featuring film pioneer and inventor Georges Méliès.] The Stop Motion Studio app is intuitive and easy to use, but a live demonstration of its functionality is recommended. Devote the majority of the workshop to filming and kids are bound to come up with some unique productions. Consider capping the activity with a film premiere for faculty, friends, and/or family to showcase the children’s hard work and newly acquired skills. In addition to being creative and fun, the program is a great self-esteem and confidence-building activity. While the iPad is the star of the above workshop, it plays a supporting role in our iZen Garden Program. During this activity, children ages 7-10 will learn about Eastern culture while practicing the ancient art of relaxation through the arrangement and re-arrangement of garden elements. Media specialists might present the activity as a curriculum extension for a unit on Japan while public librarians might include it in their Maker offerings. The program should include an overview of what zen gardens are featuring a multimedia presentation of both traditional and contemporary styles, an exploration of the iZen Garden app, and the creation of tabletop gardens. The app allows users to create a virtual garden as they experiment with a variety of styles, compositions, and designs. It encourages exploration and provides choices such as fossils, plants, and butterflies. To create a physical tabletop garden, participants can use boxes or plastic containers; sand of various colors; and design elements such as stones, marbles, and aquarium beads. Tools, such as plastic fork rakes, will be helpful. Participants can keep their end products: sensory art projects that are reinvented each time the elements are repositioned. While Stop Motion Film and iZen Garden programming can be adapted for a range of ages, an “Our Maker Neighborhood” environment is just right for the youngest students and patrons. Transform your classroom or media center into a simulated community designed to encourage free play with stations representing local institutions. The elements of the environment may include a "Touch-a-Tech Station" consisting of iPads loaded with simple Maker apps; "the Museum," a table of basic art projects; "the Theater," incorporating costumes, puppets, and musical instruments; "the Garment District," comprised of activities for children learning to dress themselves (lacing, tying, buttoning, zippering); and a "Construction Junction" area for blocks, tools, and trucks. Together the stations provide developmental opportunities in motor and problem-solving skills, hand-eye coordination, spatial awareness, and language, as well as exercises in creative and divergent thinking, social play, perseverance, and concentration. There are a variety of Maker apps available for use with this target audience. Some of our favorites are: Grandpa’s Workshop, Grandma’s Kitchen, Toca Builders, Playart, Art Maker, ColAR, Leo’s Pad, Pettson’s Inventions (1 & 2), Morton Subotnick’s Pitch Painter, Play Lab, Sago Mini Doodlecast, Bamba Toys and Wombi Helicopter. New apps are released daily and we are constantly updating our lists. You can find our favorites for this and other programs on our dedicated Pinterest page. All of the apps mentioned in this post cost less than $5.00 and several are free. The number of iPads with which your school or library has access to impacts the way your programs should be planned and held. All of the above suggestions may be offered with one iPad that participants share or use in turn. Don’t let the number of tablets you own dictate whether or not you present any program; create class projects with one iPad, group projects with multiple iPads and individual projects with a 1:1 iPad to child ratio. Small details can derail an activity, so be sure to charge your iPads and install the relevant app(s) before the day of the lesson or event. The programs listed promote engaging, hands-on opportunities for learning, but preparation is the key to presenting an optimal experience. Step-by-step instructions are included in our book The Maker Cookbook: Recipes for Children’s and ‘Tween Library Programs (Libraries Unlimited, 2014). Cindy Wall is the Head of Children's Services at Southington Public Library in Southington, CT. Lynn Pawloski is a Children's Librarian with the Southington Public Library in Southington, CT. For additional app reviews, visit our Touch and Go webpage.