Day 15: Hide a Few Fun Surprises
One of the best parts of reading is discovering something unexpected.
- A surprising plot twist.
- An unforgettable character.
- A fascinating fact you never knew before.
Why not bring a little of that same sense of discovery into your library? Today’s Quick Win is all about creating small moments of delight for your students.
- Not expensive rewards.
- Not elaborate contests.
- Just a few simple surprises tucked into places where students least expect to find them.
Sometimes the smallest gestures leave the biggest impressions.
Why It Matters
Students remember experiences. Long after they’ve forgotten which books they checked out in September, they may remember …
- Opening a favorite novel and finding an encouraging note inside.
- Or discovering a bookmark waiting just for them.
- Or finding a golden ticket tucked between the pages of a mystery book.
Those unexpected moments communicate something important: “Someone thought about making this library special.”
Little surprises…
- Create smiles.
- They spark conversations.
- They encourage exploration.
Most importantly, they help students associate the library with curiosity, joy, and discovery.
Your 20-Minute Challenge
Choose two or three simple surprises to hide around your library. They don’t have to be elaborate. In fact, the simpler they are, the easier they’ll be to repeat throughout the year.
Here are a few ideas.
Bookmarks
Slip colorful bookmarks into a handful of books.
Some might include:
- Reading tips
- Fun facts
- Book recommendations
- Seasonal designs
- Encouraging messages
Students love discovering something extra when they open a book.
Positive Notes
Write a few handwritten notes such as:
- Happy Reading!
- I’m so glad you chose this book.
- I hope this story makes you smile.
- Enjoy your adventure!
- You picked a great one!
Tuck them inside random books where they’ll be discovered naturally.
Golden Tickets
Create a few simple paper “golden tickets.”
Students who find one might receive:
- The chance to be first in line to check out books.
- A bookmark.
- A library sticker.
- A chance to recommend the next display theme.
- The opportunity to choose the library read-aloud for the day.
The prize doesn’t have to be expensive.
The excitement comes from the discovery.
Tiny Surprises
Consider hiding:
- Library stickers
- Book-themed pencils
- Encouraging quotes
- Mini reading challenges
- Book trivia cards
- Fun facts related to nonfiction books
A little creativity goes a long way.
Try This Today
Hide just five surprises before students arrive. Not fifty. Just five.
Place them where students are likely to discover them naturally:
- Inside popular books
- On a display shelf
- Near the checkout desk
- In a library scavenger hunt
- Beside a reading chair
Then enjoy watching students discover them. Sometimes the best part is seeing the smile before they say a word.
Bonus Tip
Change your surprises throughout the year. During different seasons, you might include:
- Fall-themed bookmarks
- Winter reading challenges
- Spring kindness notes
- Summer reading reminders
- Birthday bookmarks for your library’s birthday month
- Notes celebrating National Library Week or Read Across America
Students will begin to wonder what they might discover next. That sense of anticipation keeps the library feeling fresh and fun.
As librarians, we spend much of our time thinking about circulation statistics, lesson plans, schedules, and budgets. Those things matter. But so do moments of joy.
You may never know which small surprise brightens a difficult day for a student.
- A bookmark.
- A handwritten note.
- A kind message tucked inside a favorite book.
Those tiny acts of encouragement remind students that libraries are more than rooms filled with books. They’re places filled with people who care. And that’s something worth discovering.
Reflection Question
Think back to your own childhood.
Did a teacher, librarian, or another caring adult ever surprise you with a small act of kindness?
How might you create that same feeling for one of your students this year?
For more in the August in the Library series, click here.
For more Library Administration posts, click here.
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