Check this out! Jim Gill HERE Tomorrow!

Jim Gill will be at the main library, performing on the plaza for four shows:
Friday July 23 2:00pm AND 7:00pm
Saturday July 24 11:00am AND 1:00 pm

Music at the Library

"I worked hard. Anyone who works as hard as I did can achieve the same results." ~ Johann Sebastian Bach

Cat Tales

Join us for Smart Start Preschool Storytime today at 10:30 a.m. to listen to a few Cat Tales. If you can't make it today, you can always pick up some cat books the next time you visit. Check out Drat That Fat Cat! by Pat Thomson, Kitten's First Full Moon by Kevin Henkes, A Kitten Tale by Eric Rohmann or If You Give a Cat a Cupcake by Laura Numeroff.

If you like to sing about cats, check out "Three Little Kittens" on Wee Sing Nursery Rhymes and Lullabies by Pamela Beall, "I Bought Me a Cat" on 100 Sing-Along-Songs for Kids, V. 2 or Classic Animal Songs.

Get Moving!

Tired of sitting around in the house on these COLD winter days? Here are some fun titles to get you and your children a-movin' and a-shakin'!

Sock Monkeys Do the Monkey Monkey
by William B. Winburn









Bearobics: A Hip-Hop Counting Story
by Vic Parker










Or, check out some children's music CDs...Jim Gill and Greg and Steve are popular children's musicians who sing fun action songs.

Alphabet Books

Looking for some good alphabet books to share with your child or classroom? Check out our recently updated Alphabet booklist. Not only do we have a great & varied list of alphabet books, we also have a list of books that will help children learn the alphabet. If you prefer non-print alphabet resources, try this list or check out our list of alphabet websites.

If you don't care to look through a list of books, you can always fill out a custom collection form and librarians will pull alphabet books to meet your needs.

All We Need Is Love...and The Beatles

All Together Now: Beatles stuff for kids of all ages is a CD & book set celebrating the fab four. The songs on the CD are respectably covered and some even include children singing backup vocals, which adds a fun, child-friendly feel. The Bangles make a fantastic guest appearance to cover "Good Day Sunshine".

The book includes poems & child-like illustrations inspired by the songs on the CD, plus Beatle facts to give new fans background information.

My mother filled our house with the scratchy sound of The Beatles on LP and as a second generation fan, I welcome this effort to connect yet another generation with a wonderful sound. Check it out!

Justin Roberts in Concert

Justin Roberts in Concert!
Friday, November 7th at 10:30 a.m. & 1:00 pm.

Theater, Main Library

Preschoolers and families: Popular children's musician, Justin Roberts and his 4-piece band will present a rousing performance of songs from his many sound recordings. Seating is limited; tickets will be available in Children's Services beginning at 9:00 a.m. on Friday, November 7th. Classes should call Children's Services at 421-1220 to register for the 1:00 p.m. performance.

To learn more about Justin and hear some of his music online, click here. To find a CD to check out, click here.

Jim Gill Family Room Concert

Almost 300 people attended the Jim Gill concert on Monday night! It was a jumping, dancing, clapping, singing good time! If you missed it, you can still enjoy Jim's music - check out a CD today. Or dance along with this great video.

Let's Make Music

Let's Make Music this morning at 10:30 a.m. during Smart Start Preschool Storytime. We'll read and sing our way through some great picture books like Punk Farm by Jarrett Krosoczka, Do Your Ears Hang Low? by Caroline Church, and There Was a Bold Lady Who Wanted a Star by Charise Harper.

We'll sing and dance with musicians like Jim Gill, Hap Palmer and Raffi.

Music is a fun and entertaining way to teach kids important skills and information. During storytime today, we'll talk about the early literacy skill phonological awareness, which is the ability to hear the smaller sounds in words. Singing songs is an awesome way to practice phonological awareness with preschoolers.

If you are a teacher looking for ways to bring music into the classroom, check out our music across the curriculum booklist. Music is not just for preschoolers!

Silly Dance Contest

Before you hit "play" on this video call your children into the room and get ready to dance. Jim Gill's playful music is so much fun that you won't be able to sit still! If you like what you see here, check out one of Jim's CDs and dance some more.

If you would like to see Jim Gill LIVE AND IN PERSON, plan to visit the Main Library Theater on Monday, September 22nd at 6:30 pm for a fabulously fun family concert!

Ballet Dreams Storytime

This morning's Ballet Dreams storytime was so much fun! We read Angelina Ballerina by Katharine Holabird, Over in the Meadow at the Big Ballet by Lisa Shulman, and Ballerina! by Peter Sis. We danced the entire List of Dances with Jim Gill and we Put Our Hands Up in the Air with Hap Palmer. After the stories and songs, Lucia Rogers from The Fort Wayne Ballet taught us the five ballet positions, showed us jumps, leaps and arabesques. She also answered all of our questions about ballet and then she posed for photos with us. See the rest of the ballet-tastic photos here!

Babies and Toddlers: Growing Up!

Tomorrow morning at Babies and Books and Toddler Time we will be reading about growing up!

If you can't make it to the storytime, but want to explore the topic of "Growing Up" with your baby or todder you can read the book When Poppy and Max Grow Up by Lindsey Gardiner and listen to the song "I Wonder If I'm Growing" on the CD Singable Songs for the Very Young by Raffi.

Babies and Books: Friday mornings at 9:15 a.m. (through April)
Toddler Time: Friday mornings at 10 a.m. and 10:45 a.m. (through April)

Please note that starting in May the times for Babies and Books and Toddler Time will change. Call Children's Services for details @ 421-1220.

At Your Library! sung by Bill Harley

Bill Harley's songs and stories are engaging, energetic, and excellent for parents and children to listen to together. Ask your librarian to help you find some of his CDs.

Here's a fun song all about libraries performed by Bill Harley. Make sure your computer has speakers, turn up the volume, and enjoy! At Your Library by Bill Harley © 2005 Round River Records, used with permission http://www.billharley.com/