The Power of Parenting

Become a Family Day STAR!

I commit to:

S- Spend time with my kids by having dinner together

T- Talk to them about their friends, interests and the dangers of drugs and alcohol

A- Answer their questions and listen to what they say

R- Recognize that I have the power to help keep my kids substance free!

To find out more about this national movement to inform parents that the parental engagement fostered during frequent family dinners is an effective tool to help keep America’s kids substance free, visit the website click here

This Friday -- Fabulous Fridays Homeschool Book Clubs!

Homeschoolers - this Friday, October 2, from 2:30-3:30, our Fabulous Fridays Book Clubs will be meeting. It's so much fun to talk about books!

Early Reader Round-up - Grades K-2 - will be discussing Little Bear, by Else Holmelund Minarik.









Reading Rocks! - Grades 3-5 - will be talking about Poppy, by Avi.










Do you have other books that are your favorites? Bring them along and share your ideas with the group. Parents are invited too!

Princes and Princesses at the Library

Boys and girls enjoyed learning about Royalty at a special Prince & Princess program last Saturday.

FotoViewr - Create your 3D photo gallery

Want to learn more about Princesses? Check out this booklist!

27th Annual Poetry Contest!

I Love it when...

Entries are being accepted for the 27th Annual Poetry Contest now through Monday, November 2nd. The contest is open to all children in grades kindergarten through five and young adults in grades six through twelve. For more information click here.

Cybils 2009

It is almost time for nominations for the CYBILS (Children's and Young Adult Bloggers' Literary Award)! The award is presented in several categories with new panelists & judges being announced now on the CYBILS blog. I am happy to serve as an Easy Reader judge for the second year with a wonderful group of bloggers. Nominate your favorite book in each category (easy readers & short chapter books, graphic novels, non-fiction picture books, non-fiction middle grade & young adult, fiction picture books, middle grade novels, young adult novels, fantasy & science fiction, and poetry) after October 1st!

I Love My New Toy! by Mo Willems was the winner of the 2008-09 CYBILS easy reader award.

Read a Banned Book!

Celebrate your freedom to read during Banned Books Week (September 26th to October 3rd)!

You are invited to stop by the Children's Services department to pick up a banned or challenged book from our display or click here for a list of books challenged and banned in 2008-2009.

Milton Meltzer 1915-2009

Please stop by the Children's Department and check out our display highlighting
author Milton Meltzer.

In the fall of 1956 Milton published his first book, A Pictorial History of the Negro American, co-written with Langston Hughes.

Four of Milton's books went on to become National Book Award Finalists. He has written books on topics ranging from the history of the potato to a biography of George Washington.

Join us in honoring and remembering this great author.

The Barn is Back!

If you're a regular visitor to our Early Learning Center, you may have noticed that our

BIG RED BARN

has been missing. I'm happy to tell you that it's back, along with a farmyard of animals, and ready to play!

Valerie Tutson - Storyteller Extraordinaire!

We are thrilled to present internationally renowned storyteller, Valerie Tutson!
Valerie will be performing Tales from Around the World Thursday, October 22.
The first performance will be at 10:30 am.
The second performance will be at 1:00 pm.
Do not miss this one of a kind opportunity!
Registration is required for this FREE event - contact Children's Services 421-1220.
Seating is limited - Call today!

Happy Autumn Equinox!

Today, the day and night will be equal length: 12 hours each. What will you do with your 12 hours of daylight? Plan to stop by the Children's Services department to tell us your favorite thing about fall and pick up a few books to read.

Welcome the new season with joy!
Happy Autumn Equinox!

Art Out of the Box: Art Cars III

The Art Cars were beautiful! Check out photos from the program here.

Make it last, don't waste it, use it differently

Calling all kids!
Must be curious. Like to have fun. Oh yes, and interested in saving the planet.
Sound like you? Good! Because you can make a big impact on the Earth's future in small ways.
Check it out!

Today and Sunday

Johnny Appleseed Festival

35th ANNIVERSARY!

September 19th & 20TH, 2009

Saturday 10:00AM - 6:00pm

Sunday 10:00am - 5:00pm

There is NO admission fee!
Celebrating the life and times of Johnny Appleseed.

It's Autumn in the Children's Department

We love autumn and all of the gifts it brings...pumpkins, birthdays, apples, raking and jumping in the leaves.
Stop by and visit our 'apple tree' and tell us what your favorite thing about autumn is.

Plant the Seeds of Citizenship!

Today is National Citizenship Day!
To be a responsible citizen is the cornerstone of our democracy.
Today is a perfect day to talk with your child about voting, volunteering and other ways to fulfill the obligations that come with being part of a community.

It's Letter H Playday!

Visit the Early Learning Center today with your preschooler and celebrate the Letter H! You can make a hand-flower, like the one in this photo, decorate a giant Letter H, and do other activities that are not only fun for you and your children, but also reinforce early literacy skills. For Letter H activities to do at home, click here.

Hats! Hats! Hats! will be our theme at Smart Start Storytime, from 10:30-11:00 a.m. Hope to see you today at the Library!

Early Learning Center Mailbox

Isn't this a wonderful story about a girl who loved to read. What do you think happens next?


Visit the Early Learning Center today with your preschooler to work on early literacy skills together. Writing stories is a great way to develop narrative skills.

The Early Learning Center is open:

Monday through Thursday 9am-8pm
Friday and Saturday 9am-6pm

Tomorrow is Letter H Play Day in the Early Learning Center!

Bats, Beautiful BATS!

EcoKids Club meets today at 2pm. This month you can meet a REAL LIVE BAT (or two) and hear all about the many ways that bats benefit the environment from Bob Walton, local bat rehabilitator.

Kids Experience Stress and Anxiety, Too

Anxiety-Free Kids offers parents strategies that help children become happy and worry free, methods that relieve a child's excessive anxieties and phobias, and tools for fostering interaction and family-oriented solutions. Using a unique companion approach that offers two books in one-a practical, reader-friendly book for parents and a fun workbook for kids-this solutions-oriented guide utilizes the cognitive-behavioral approach to therapy by integrating the parent in the child's self-help process.

Family Storytime Today!

Don't miss family storytime at the Main Library at 11 a.m! Today we will be reading about Library Land.

You can also visit the Children's Services department at Barr Street Market from 8am to 12pm to create some pasta jewelry. We will also have a booth at the Lutheran Children's Hospital 10th birthday party at Foellinger theater from 10am to 3pm today where you can play the Very Hungry Caterpillar game and pick up a gift.

Should your child stay home?

How can you tell if your child is too sick to go to school, to the Library, or to other events outside the home?

Click here for advice from Dr. McMahan of the Fort Wayne-Allen County Board of Health.

Español

Homeschoolers: Paint a Car Tomorrow!

Art Out of the Box: Art Cars - Friday, September 11th 2pm to 4pm
Discover art cars and create a collaborative piece with your friends on the Library Plaza. Then you can create a car of your own to take home. Dress to paint!

vroom! toot! brum!

Adorable animals drive by in vibrantly colored vehicles in this beautifully illustrated new board book.
Stop by and check out our collection
of board books - perfect for babies!

Great Websites for Kids

If you're looking for fun, kid-friendly websites for your kids, take a look at this: ALSC (Association for Library Service to Children) has recently updated their list of recommended sites: Great Websites for Kids.

You'll find it's organized by subject and by age-level, and chock-full of interesting things to explore. There's even a section for parents, caregivers and teachers!

Happy Labor Day!

The Library is closed today in observance of Labor Day, but will re-open on Tuesday, September 8.

Visit the Zoo in a Book!

The claim to fame for this oversize collection of animal portraits is that each animal is shown at actual size. The striking photographs, taken at Japanese zoos, provide a rare opportunity to see animal faces up close. The elephant, alone, is not to be missed. My favorite is the armadillo! If you have a child who loves animals - this book is one that must be checked out!

Fancy Nancy Tea Party

Join us Today at 2:00 p.m. for a Fancy Nancy Tea Party!



Arrive in your dress-ups and get ready for a fancy afternoon!. Be prepared to enjoy a fancy book, create some fancy crafts, and snack on some fancy treats with your fancy friends at the library!

I spy with my little eye...

Please stop by the Children's Department and check out
our display case of search and find books!

Wash your hands!

Here's a friendly reminder as we head into cold and flu season....

Embroidery for the Beginner

Inside Embroidery for Little Miss Crafty are easy-to-use templates for each design and step-by-step instructions that make every project fun and simple. From do-it-yourself wardrobe makeovers and handmade gifts to framed masterpieces, you'll learn tons of creative ways to personalize your world with embroidery. Stitching has never been easier!

It's Library Card Sign-up Month!

Now is the perfect time to sign up for a Library Card if you don't already have one. To sign up, or for more information on how to get a library card, click here.

Families are also invited to celebrate the Library at our 2nd Saturday Family Storytime on September 12th, starting at 11:00 a.m. There will be fun for kids of all ages -- and their grown-ups, too. Mark it on your calendar now!

Here are a couple of new library-related books you may enjoy:

Read It, Don't Eat It!
by Ian Schoenherr










A Book
by Mordecai Gerstein










See you soon at the Library!

Sing, Sing a Song!

Kids 3 to 6 years old, and their families, are invited to join Children's Services librarians for a special half-hour of book-related fun at 10:30 tomorrow morning. Our storytimes introduce a love of literature and specific early literacy skills; tomorrow's storytime is all about stories and songs. After storytime, children and their grown-ups are invited to use our Early Learning Center to share in play-time that emphasizes pre-literacy skills.

Join us tomorrow - Wednesday - at 10:30 for Sing, Sing a Song Smart Start Storytime!