National Game Day

Come downtown and play at the Main Library today. Wii will be available in Children's Services from 10-Noon and 2-4 p.m. Board games will be available too. Vote for your favorite board game and check the blog next week for the results.

Tomorrow is National Game Day!

Join us downtown in Children's Services at the Main Library, as thousands of libraries throughout the country host special game events to celebrate National Game Day@your library. We'll have Wii games from 10-Noon and 2-4 p.m. Board games for all ages will also be available.

Wii READ today!

Actually, we hope that you read everyday! But today is Wii READ in the Children's Services department of the Main Library.
This is game day at the library~the format is easy...read for 20 minutes and receive a ticket to play Wii for 20 minutes. Not enough? Read for another 20 minutes and receive another ticket to play Wii for another 20 minutes!
Board games will also be available. It is a fun-filled, game-filled day at the library!

Come see us today!
Wii Read!
10:00 am - 12:00 noon 2:00- 4:00 pm

Photo Riddle Books

We just received a GREAT new series! In Mystery Animal Tracks, there is a photo of the animal tracks & a riddle - you figure out the answer. Here is one of the riddles:

Sneaky Stalker
On shadowed trails I sneak and prowl.
A creature comes near, a tasty snack.
I press my wide paws to the ground.
I pounce! I grab! I drag it back.
WHO AM I?
(from Mystery Animal Tracks: A Photo Riddle Book by Kelly Barnhill, page 19)

Also check out, Camouflage Clues: A Photo Riddle Book by Megan Cooley Peterson & What's That Shadow? A Photo Riddle Book by Christopher Harbo.

Winterbells

Kids and adults alike will enjoy playing this lovely winter-themed online game: Winterbells. After clicking on the giant snowflake, simply maneuver the rabbit through the snowy sky and touch as many bells as possible -- I hope you'll have as much fun as I did!

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!

Environmental Games Online

There are a variety of fun games about the environment for kids online. In this game, "The Great Garbage Caper" you have to solve a mystery of trash and help to reduce waste. For more games on this topic click here.

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

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.

Wii Love Games! Today!

Wii love games -- ALL kinds of games. Join us from 2 to 3:30 this afternoon in the Globe Room at the Main Library. We will have Wii games on the Big Screen, Disney Dance Dance Revolution for Wii on the TV Screen and lots of Board Games for you and your friends or family to enjoy. Wiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii! Don't miss it!

Thomas the Tank Engine Game Helps Kids with Autism

Check out the interactive "Emotions Game" developed by Autism Spectrum Australia in partnership with Thomas and Friends, Australia designed to help kids learn to identify emotions.

Can you tell if Emily is Angry or Thomas is Happy? Can you tell who is Sad, Surprised, or Scared?

(Thanks to SLJ's Extra Helping for the heads-up on this great game.)

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!

Only YOU Can Prevent Forest Fires!

Want to learn more about how forest fires start and how they can be controlled? Smoky Bear Kids is a website that helps kids learn more about forests and the fires that can destroy them. Take a look at this website for information and fire-fighting games.

Fun ways to work on spelling & reading skills

Do you enjoy fun, online games?

Check out Anagram Sleuth for a spelling game. You'll need to rearrange the letters to spell new words that will solve the puzzle of a rock star's disappearance.

Or go to The Big Escape 3 for a treasure hunt style reading game. Both games are great fun and work on spelling and reading skills.

Have fun!

Play with Spot online!

What preschooler doesn't love the the Spot books by Eric Hill? Now you can read Spot books, play Spot games, and color with Spot online. Click on "Fun with Spot" to start playing.

Click here to find out which Spot books are available at the library. We have over 100 Spot books, videos, and board books. We even have some in Vietnamese, German, Spanish, and other languages!

Entertainment Software Rating Board

Are you planning to purchase a computer game or video game soon? You might like to check it out at the library first. Or click here to visit the Entertainment Software Rating Board website. When you do a search for the game, you will find a rating and the reasons for the rating, as well as a list of the platforms for which the game is available. There is a lot of additional good information there for gamers and their families.

Computer Software at the Library

Did you know that you can check out computer software at the library? We have tons of titles to choose from, for all kids of all ages.


You can practice your keyboarding skills with SpongeBob...






...land on Mars...







...and even learn a new language!






Stop by Children's Services today to browse the software collection and take a few home.

Do you enjoy playing chess?

If you are in 5th grade or under, there's still time to register for our annual Chess Tournament for kids. The tournament will be held on Saturday, August 16th at the Main Library in downtown Fort Wayne. Call the Children’s Services department at 260.421.1220 for more details, or just use this online form to register. Advance registration ends on Friday, August 8th.

Wanna read more about chess? Here are some resources for you to check out.

Great Games: A Family Day!

Saturday, April 26,
10:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
and 2:00 - 4:00 p.m.

Bring the family to the Library for a fun day of gaming. We'll have Wii and Playstation set up for families. You can bring your Gameboy and/or DS and/or Leapster to try out some library games. And for those who want to cut down some screen time, we'll have board games for all.

At 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. we'll have a Yankee Game Swap -- bring an electronic or board game that you're tired of and want to trade, then take home something new-to-you.