Last Day of the Summer Reading Program

Today is the last day of the 2009 Be Creative at your library summer reading program. Be sure to bring your reading log to any Allen County Public Library by 6pm to pick up your gifts.

Keep reading!

Back to School -- for Teachers!

Teachers and Homeschooling Parents:

Plan now to attend our annual "Back to School for Teachers" program, and find out about the many resources available to you and your students here at the Main Library. We'll provide a brief presentation, an introduction to INSPIRE's Kids' Search, Indiana's online database for kids, a tour of the Main Library and Children's Department, and we'll answer any questions you may have.

All attendees will have the opportunity to enter door-prize drawings for gift cards to United Art and Education and other classroom resources.

It's all happening on Monday, August 3, from 2:00 to 3:30 p.m. in the Globe Room, at the entrance to Children's Services at the Main Library.

Tie Dye on the Plaza Saturday!

This Saturday, August 1st at 2:00, we are tie dying on the plaza!

Bring your own white t-shirt or white pillow case and enjoy a summer time tradition!

Children of all ages are invited to participate - we hope to see you there!

Adzooks!

Join us today for a wonderful performance from the traveling puppetry troupe, Adzooks.

This particular show, "The Circus of Imagination" features puppets made from found objects! Come and see what the troupe has come up with, and find out how you can build some puppets yourself!

Performance Times:
Today at 2:00 pm & 7:00 om


Click here to find out how this program supports Indiana's Academic Standards

Summer Reading Program Events

This week in Children's Services at the Main Library:

Monday, July 27th @ 11:30am - Team Read (registration required)
Tuesday, July 28th @ 2pm & 7pm - Adzooks Puppets!
Wednesday, July 29th @ 10:30am - SmartStart Preschool Storytime: Imagination and Make Believe
Friday, July 31st @ 10am - Babies & Books
Friday, July 31st @ 10:30am & 11am - Toddler Time
Saturday, August 1st from 8am to 12pm - Visit us at the Barr Street Market on the corner of Wayne & Barr Streets to dig dinosaurs.

Remember that the Summer Reading Program ends this week! Be sure to bring in your reading sheet by 6pm on Friday, July 31st.

The Snowy Day needs your help!

The Ezra Jack Keats Foundation is working to get a commemorative stamp celebrating the 50th anniversary of The Snowy Day. This book is not just an American classic, it is also the book the broke the color barrier in mainstream American children's book publishing.

Click here to let the U.S. Postage Stamp Citizen's Advisory Committee -- the group that decides what subjects are chosen for commemorative postage stamps -- know that families and educators would welcome this stamp. Help make the 50th anniversary of The Snowy Day a celebration of American children in all their diversity!

Barr Street Market: Fly Away with Butterflies

Barr Street Farmer's Market is open today from 8am to 12pm. The market is located at the corner of Barr Street & Wayne Street in downtown Fort Wayne. The market runs through Saturday, September 12th.

Visit the ACPL Children's Services booth to fly away with butterflies. See you there!

Bingo on the Plaza!

Join us tomorrow, Saturday, July 25th for a fun filled game of bingo at the library!

Weather permitting we will take this game out to the plaza to enjoy the summer sun and great prizes!

Don't forget the sunscreen!











Click here to find out how this program support the Indiana Academic Standards

Baby and Toddler Story Time

Dancing, singing, rhyming, finger plays, and of course, books!

Our story times are perfect for active babies and toddlers!

Baby Story Time 10:00 am

Toddler Story Time 10:30 and 11:00 am

Every Friday at the Main Library

Spend some quality, fun-filled time with your baby or toddler!

New Board Book: Chicky Chicky Chook Chook

Share the new board book version of Chicky Chicky Chook Chook by Cathy MacLennan with your baby today. It is chicky chock full of fun alliteration to read aloud!

Remember to read to your baby for 20 minutes every day. Is it hard to imagine reading for 20 minutes all at once? Don't even try! Just incorporate reading into your daily routine. To get your 20 minutes you can read for 5 minutes before naptime, 4 minutes after bathtime, 6 minutes at playtime, 2 minutes after lunch and 3 minutes in the line at the grocery store. It is easy and FUN!

Adzooks Puppets!

Join us at the Main Library to enjoy the "Imagination of Puppetry" presented by the puppetry troupe Adzooks.
Each program will be followed by an opportunity for the kids to "meet" the puppets!

Performance times:
Today, July 21st, 2009 @ 7:00pm
Tuesday, July 28th, 2009 @ 2:00pm & 7:00pm

Click here to find out how this programs supports Indiana Academic Standards

This is a Summer Reading Program performance, click here to see if the Adzooks Puppets will visit a branch near you!

--All ages of children and their families

Summer Reading Program Events

This week in Children's Services at the Main Library:

Monday, July 20th @ 11:30am - Team Read (registration required)
Monday, July 20th @ 2pm - Interactive Storytelling
Tuesday, July 21st @ 7pm - Adzooks Puppets!
Wednesday, July 22nd @ 10:30am - SmartStart Preschool Storytime: Piece By Piece
Wednesday, July 22nd @ 7pm - Babies, Books and Brain Development
Thursday, July 23th from 10am to 12pm, 2pm to 4pm & 6pm to 8pm - Wii Read
Friday, July 24th @ 10am - Babies & Books
Friday, July 24th @ 10:30am & 11am - Toddler Time
Saturday, July 25th from 8am to 12pm - Visit us at the Barr Street Market on the corner of Wayne & Barr Streets to fly away with butterflies.
Saturday, July 25th @ 2pm - BINGO on the Plaza

Chess Tournament

It is time to register for the annual Children's Summer Chess Tournament. The tournament takes place on Saturday, August 15th at the Main Library. Registration is limited so click here to register now.

This all day, unrated, "just for fun" chess tournament is the highlight of the summer. Don't miss this opportunity to have a fun day playing chess with friends old and new!

Barr Street Market: Grow a Paper Flower Garden

Barr Street Farmer's Market is open today from 8am to 12pm. The market is located at the corner of Barr Street & Wayne Street in downtown Fort Wayne. The market runs through Saturday, September 12th.

Visit the ACPL Children's Services booth to grow a paper flower garden. See you there!

Finger Painting was Fun!

Our "Finger Painting Fun" program last Thursday was a blast!


Not only did we paint, we read a messy painting story titled "I Ain't Gonna Paint No More" by Karen Beaumont, we learned about actual finger painting artist, and we also looked at some finger painting techniques!

Click here to see if the Finger Painting Program is coming to a branch near you!

Do You Lego?

Let the voting begin!


Be sure to stop into Children's Services at the Main Library between now and Saturday, July 25th to vote for your favorite Lego creations!



The winning picture will be made into an ACPL bookmark for everyone to enjoy!

Interactive Storytelling Photos

Great fun was had by all at our Interactive Storytelling Program in Children's Services! Kids were a-dancin' and a-singin', and some even had a chance to be a part of the stories!



If you missed this program, don't fret! We'll be repeating it at the Main Library next week on Monday, July 20th, at 2:00 p.m, or you can still catch it at some of our branch libraries -- click here to view the schedule.

Interactive Storytelling - Be a Part of the Story!

Kids of all ages and their families are invited to attend our Interactive Storytelling Program -- part of this year's ACPL Summer Reading Program for Children! At this event, participants will have a chance to listen and laugh and maybe even be part of the stories -- you never know what might happen with our zany storytellers! It's all happening in Children's Services at the Main Library, on the following dates and times:

• Thursday, July 16, 10:30 a.m.
  
• Monday, July 20, 2:00 p.m.

See you soon at the Library!

Silly Stories, Silly Fun!

Don't forget to join us tomorrow for Smart Start Preschool Storytime! Our theme will be...

Silly Stories, Silly Fun!

Be ready for all kinds of silly, wacky stories and rhymes and some crazy crafty fun, as well! It all starts at 10:30am, Wednesday morning, July 15th, in Children's Services at the Main Library.

Summer Reading Program Events

Monday, July 13th @ 11:30am - Team Read (registration required)
Tuesday, July 14th @ 7pm - Wii Love Games!
Wednesday, July 15th from 9am to 8pm - Letter 'S' Play Day in the Early Learning Center
Wednesday, July 15th @ 10:30am - SmartStart Preschool Storytime: Silly Stories, Silly Fun
Thursday, July 16th @ 10:30 am - Interactive Storytelling
Friday, July 17th @ 10am - Babies & Books
Friday, July 17th @ 10:30am & 11am - Toddler Time
Saturday, July 18th from 8am to 12pm - Visit us at the Barr Street Market on the corner of Wayne & Barr Streets to grow a paper flower garden.
Saturday, July 18th from 8am to 12pm - ACPL GT Wii Tournament (Mario Kart: ages 6-11) Preregister here.

Almost

Almost, by Rich Torrey, follows almost-six-years-old Jack through his day of activities. There are a lot of things that he can almost do! If you are almost-six-years-old, check out this new book and make a list of things that you can almost do.

Barr Street Market 2009

Barr Street Farmer's Market is open today from 8am to 12pm. The market is located at the corner of Barr Street & Wayne Street in downtown Fort Wayne. The market runs through Saturday, September 12th.

Visit the ACPL Children's Services booth to make your very own ACPL bookmark after you pick up some fresh produce. See you there!

One Tidy Little Pig!

"If you want to grow up to be a respectable pig, you must learn how to make a proper mess," says Little Oink's Dad. The trouble is, Little Oink likes to clean things up, not make messes!

Little Oink, written by Amy Krouse Rosenthal and illustrated by Jen Corace, is sure to leave you with a smile on your face! You might also like to try Little Pea and Little Hoot, both by the same author and illustrator.

Science in the Summer

Do you like Science? Try this website, Sci4KIDS (http://www.ars.usda.gov/is/kids/) to learn LOTS of interesting things about almost EVERYTHING! And if you want more information about a topic, ask a librarian and we'll be glad to help you.

Finger Painting Fun!

Join us tomorrow, July 9th, 2009 at 10:30 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. in Children's Services for some finger painting fun!
Make your very own masterpiece to take home and proudly display.

This program is part of our Summer Reading Program "Be Creative" Click here to see when this fun program might visit an ACPL branch near you!





Click here to find out how this program supports Indiana's Academic Standards

National Center for Children's Illustrated Literature

Fans of children's picture books will want to know about the website of the National Center for Children's Illustrated Literature. Not only will you find information about the museum, located in Abilene, Texas, but also a long list of artist biographies and a variety of children's art activities based on the artwork of well-known illustrators. It's definitely worth a look!

Summer Reading Program Events

This week in Children's Services at the Main Library:

Monday, July 6th @ 11:30am - Team Read (registration required)
Wednesday, July 8th @ 10:30am - SmartStart Preschool Storytime: I Ain't Gonna Paint No More
Thursday, July 9th @ 10:30 am & 2pm - Finger Painting Fun
Friday, July 10th @ 10am - Babies & Books
Friday, July 10th @ 10:30am & 11am - Toddler Time
Saturday, July 11th from 8am to 12pm - Visit us at the Barr Street Market on the corner of Wayne & Barr Streets to make an ACPL bookmark.

Where is the Mama Duck?

This mama duck built her nest on the grounds of the downtown library! She is camouflaged by mulch and is almost covered by daylily leaves. We have seen at least 3 eggs in her nest.

If you happen to spot her, please remember to watch her from a distance. She has important work to do!

Happy Independence Day!

Have fun this 4th of July! The library is closed today and will reopen on Monday, July 6th.

Library is Closed Today

All branches of the ACPL are closed today, but don't let that stop you from learning and exploring! Check out these links:

• Fun Links (from television to cool stuff, you are sure to find something you'll enjoy)
• Homework Help (not just for homework, these links will help you discover how products are made, identify the tree in your backyard and learn more about that bug you just found)
• Downloadable Audiobooks (download an audiobook to your computer, MP3 player or IPOD right now with your library card)
• Inspire Databases (read magazines, newspapers, find science experiments and more)

We'll see you when the library reopens on Monday, July 6th!

Do You Lego?

Show off your Lego skills by sending in or dropping off a photo yourself with your best Lego creation!
Photos will be accepted until Friday, July 10th, 2009 at 6pm. Photos will be displayed in Children's Services for two weeks (July 12th-26th) for voting.

Entries will be grouped into the following categories:
Grades K-2
Grades 3-5.

Winning photos will be made into bookmarks!

Click here for the official contest rules and entry information

Butterfly Release and Marks Ark Photos!

What a great time we had at the Main Library, making butterfly crowns...












learning cool stuff about caterpillars and butterflies with local butterfly expert Karie Divelbiss-Harding...









watching our Painted Lady butterflies fly off into the summer sky...












and then getting to enjoy more animal fun with Mark's Ark!


Click here to see more photos from our Mark's Ark and Butterfly Release Events.

For those interested in becoming more involved with our local butterfly population, Metea County Park is offering several butterfly events this summer; click here for more information.

A Child's Book Review: My Cat, the Silliest Cat in the World

Two-year-old Ada had these comments about My Cat, the Silliest Cat in the World by Gilles Bachelet:

That's elephant, that's not cat. Uh, oh, he's getting in trouble.

Submit your child's book review to me via email and you may see it in a future "A Child's Book Review" blog post.