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

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!

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.

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.

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!

Let's Go Outside!

As children get older and more socially active, it becomes
harder and harder to come up with stimulating outdoor activities that
appeal to them and allow them to connect with the whole family.
Let's Go Outside by Jennifer Ward
is full of great ideas to get the 8 to 12 crowd away from the electronics and enjoying the last few months of good weather!

Tie Dye on the Plaza Slide Show!

Check out these photos from our Tie Dye program held on the plaza last Saturday!

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

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!

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!

Father's Day Craft Tomorrow!

Children of all ages are invited to stop by the Children's Department at the Main Library to create a portrait of their special someone for Father's Day.

We will have several art stations set up between the hours of 9:00 am and 6:00 pm on Saturday, June 20th.

We will also have many books honoring fatherhood available for checkout.

ACPL at Freimann Family Night!

Be sure to visit the Children's Services table at Freimann Family Night tomorrow night (Thursday, June 4th, 2009) from 6pm-9pm.

Don't miss out as Freimann Square will be transformed into a fun filled flurry of activity that is sure to delight the child in all of us.

Local vendors will provide a variety of activities for the little ones along with live music, food from local restaurants and of course - the annual balloon launch!

Admission to this event is free.

Japanese Cherry Blossom Festival

Cherry Blossom Festivals are held all over Japan in spring every year. Hanami is the Japanese word for cherry blossom viewing parties. At hanami parties, people have fun, drinking, eating, and singing during the day or night. It is like a picnic under the trees. Usually, people bring food, do BBQ, or buy food from vendors for hanami parties.

People of all ages are warmly invited to attend a Japanese Cherry Blossom Festival right here at the Main Library, May 31st from 12:00 - 6:00 PM.
There will be Japanese food, traditional dance, a bonsai exhibit and a karaoke competition among other activities.

Positive Discipline

Adults! Join is on Monday, May 18th, 2009 at 6:00pm at the Main library in Meeting Room A for some positive parenting tips from S.C.A.N ( Stop Child Abuse and Neglect).

This presentation will include ways of managing stress in a busy household during tough economic times by incorporating positive discipline techniques and healthy forms of communication.

-Parents and other adults who work with children

Have Fun With Words

Take advantage of every opportunity to play with words!

Playing "I Spy" with your children is a great way to increase vocabulary in a fun and interactive way.
You can play it anywhere - the grocery store, the doctor's office or the carpool line. Not only will your children learn, but it will make waiting and shopping more fun for everyone!

This Week in Children's Services

This is a week full of events in Children's Services at the Main Library:

• Today at 2pm and 6:30 pm Fairies and Other Dancing Forest Creatures with the Fort Wayne Ballet. Bring the entire family to this free mini-performance by the Fort Wayne Ballet featuring selections from A Midsummer Night’s Dream. Look for fairies and other forest creatures during this magical presentation.
• Wednesday, March 4 at 10:30 a.m. Smart Start Preschool Storytime: Colors! Colors! Colors!
• Wednesday, March 4 at 1pm and 2:15pm Elements of Music with the Fort Wayne Philharmonic. Learn about the elements of music and hear them demonstrated by members of the Fort Wayne Philharmonic. Instrument demonstrations will include the Bass, the Harp, and the Xylophone.
• Thursday, March 5 @ 10:30am Disney on Ice Presents: Mickey & Minnie's Magical Journey. Come hear the story of Peter Pan followed by a special meet and greet with the stars from Disney On Ice presents Mickey and Minnie's Magical Journey. The first 100 children will receive a Peter Pan pennant. Tickets are required for this free event. Pick up your free tickets in Children's Services after 9am on Thursday, March 5th.
• Thursday, March 5 @ 6:30pm Paws to Read. Come to the library and read a story to a book-loving dog.
• Friday, March 6 @ 10am Babies and Books: Peek-A-Boo!
  
• Friday, March 6 @ 10:30am and 11am Toddler Time: Peek-A-Boo!
  
• Friday, March 6 @ 2pm Fabulous Fridays Homeschool Book Club: Early Reader Roundup (Grades K - 2): Cowgirl Kate and Cocoa, by Erica Silverman & Reading Rocks! (Grades 3 - 5): Frindle, by Andrew Clements

Fairies and Other Dancing Forest Creatures

The Fort Wayne Ballet will be returning to the ACPL on Monday, March 2nd at 2:00 pm and 6:30 pm to present a mini-performance of selections from A Midsummer Night's Dream. Look for fairies and other forest creatures during this magical performance!

Performances will be held in the Main Library Theater.

Meet Abe Lincoln's Friend!

As a celebration of Lincoln’s 200th birthday, storyteller Doyne Carson will present a special storytelling program called “Meet Abe Lincoln’s Friend.”

In this program, students will meet Abigail Gollaher, one of Abraham Lincoln’s childhood friends, who tells them the story of the childhood adventures of young Abe Lincoln.

Seats for the 6:30p.m. performance on Wednesday, February 25th are still available.

Curriculum connections include United States Indiana history, history, and social studies. This program is designed for students fourth grade and up.

Please register by calling 421-1220

Click here to see our Abraham Lincoln booklist!

Dental Health Month

Celebrate Dental Health Month by attending the Children's Dental Health Fair at the Main Library on Saturday, February 21st from 1 to 3pm. The fair will be presented in the Globe Room by Isaac Knapp Dental Hygienists' Association and will feature games, prizes, dental health and nutritional information and brushing and flossing instruction.

You can also celebrate by checking out a book about dentists or dental health. Check out The Dentist From the Black Lagoon by Mike Thaler.

Fitness for Kids

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has released the 2008 Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans, which for the first time includes guidelines for kids. Did you know that children and adolescents should participate in 60 minutes or more of physical activity DAILY? So be sure to run, jump, skip and play today!