Art Out of the Box: Traditional Crafts

Homeschoolers in grades 2 to 6, join us for Art Out of the Box: Traditional Crafts on Thursday, March 13th at 2 p.m.

You will have the chance to interact with pieces of art, talk about art techniques, learn about a few artists and hear about some great books. Then you can create a piece of art to take home.

Art Out of the Box meets every second Thursday of the month at 2 p.m. through May 2008.

Future topics:

April: Wood Art

May: Photography

For more information about this program send an email or call Children's Services at 421-1220.

Early Reader Roundup: Amelia Bedelia

Yesterday the Early Reader Roundup book club met to discuss Amelia Bedelia by Peggy Parish. We talked about silliness, misunderstandings and words that sound the same, but mean different things.

Then we dressed chickens and made big, floppy, Amelia Bedelia inspired hats. See more photos of the wonderful hats here.

Homeschoolers in Grades K to 2: Join us on Friday, April 11th @ 1:30 p.m. to discuss I Am Invited to a Party! by Mo Willems.

Homeschoolers in Grades 3 to 6: Join the Reading Rocks group on Friday, April 11th @ 1:30 pm. to discuss Half Magic by Edward Eager.

Fabulous Fridays Homeschool Book Club

The Fabulous Fridays Homeschool Book Club will meet again on Friday, March 7, from 1:30 - 2:30. Our titles will be:

• Early Reader Roundup (Grades K to 2): Amelia Bedelia by Peggy Parish
• Reading Rocks (Grades 3 to 6): Nory Ryan's Song by Patricia Reilly Giff

Pick up your copy in Children's Services today!

Fort Wayne Ballet presents selections from Giselle

On Tuesday, March 18th @ 1:00 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. the Fort Wayne Ballet will present a family friendly mini-performance featuring beautiful dancing and music from Giselle. Seating is limited for this FREE performance. All groups (such as schools and daycares) must pre-register.
Don't miss this exciting program!

The Reading Rainbow Young Writers and Illustrators Contest

Kids in Grades K to 3 - enter the Young Writers and Illustrators Contest by March 7, 2008. For official rules and more information click here.

Art Out of the Box: Mail Art

Check out photos from the Art Out of the Box: Mail Art program on Flickr.

You can see the art pieces that kids from across the country sent to ACPL and the response pieces that the kids from ACPL sent back.

Early Reader Roundup: Hi, Fly Guy!

Yesterday the Early Reader Roundup (Grades K to 2) kids met for our Fabulous Friday Homeschool Book Discussion. We talked about pests and pets as we discussed the book Hi, Fly Guy! by Tedd Arnold. We each made our very own Shrinky Dink pet to take home. Then we created awards for our pets, because every pet is special and deserves an award!

Check out the creative pets and pet awards that we created on Flickr.

Join us on Friday, March 7th at 1:30p.m. to discuss Amelia Bedelia by Peggy Parish. Stop by Children's Services to pick up your copy of the book.

Art Out of the Box: African American Art

Yesterday afternoon the Art Out of the Box kids met to discuss African American artists. The art box contained a variety of beautiful and interesting art pieces.

After looking through the box, we talked about African American picture book artists and looked at many picture books. Ashley Bryan's Beautiful Blackbird was the inspiration for our collage project.

To see more pictures of the program, including all of the collages, visit Flickr.

Pet Photo Contest Winners!

The winners of the 2008 Your Reading Pet photo contest are:

Ginger

1st place
0-5 age group

submitted by:

Jadon I.

Starlight

1st place tie

6-12 age group

submitted by:

Sarah H.

Putt-Putt

1st place tie
6-12 age group

submitted by:
Jacob S.

Scout

1st place
18+ age group

submitted by:
Megan F.

The winning photos will be on ACPL bookmarks, which will soon be available in the Children's Services department.

Congratulations to the winners!

Art Out of the Box: African American Art

Homeschoolers in grades 2 to 6, join us for Art Out of the Box: African American Art on Thursday, February 14th at 2 p.m.

You will have the chance to interact with pieces of art, talk about art techniques, learn about a few artists and hear about some great books. Then you can create a piece of art to take home.

Art Out of the Box meets every second Thursday of the month at 2 p.m. through May 2008.

Future topics:

March: Traditional Crafts

April: Wood Art

May: Photography

For more information about this program send an email or call Children's Services at 421-1220.

Pet Photo Contest - Vote Now!

There's still time to vote for your favorite pet photo contest pictures! Visit the Children's Services department at the Main Library by 5 p.m. Sunday, February 10th to view all the entries and cast your vote.

A Date with Coretta Scott King

In honor of Black History Month 2008, Condra Ridley will portray champion of human rights, Coretta Scott King, the wife of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

She will share stories of her childhood, education, marriage, work in the Civil Rights Movement and lifelong nonviolent activism after Dr. King's death.

This portrayal will reveal a woman of strength and grace who kept "the Dream" alive. You know the great man: now meet the great woman who stood beside him - Mrs. Coretta Scott King.

Wednesday, February 13th at 2:00 p.m. for homeschoolers and 7:00 p.m. for families. Both performances are FREE and open to the public. Join us at the Main Library in Fort Wayne, Indiana.

HOMESCHOOLERS! Mark this date on your calendar, now!

We are excited to announce that on Friday, March 14th, we will have the first (hopefully annual) Homeschoolers' Sneak Preview so you can learn more about some of the amazing educational (and fun) resources and programs available from area organizations.

Dozens of organizations will be represented, including The Allen County Public Library, Science Central, Fort Wayne Children's Zoo, Harold W. McMillen Center for Health Education, The Lincoln Museum, and many, many more. The program will begin at 9:00 am at the Main Library in downtown Fort Wayne. Parking is easy and FREE if you have an Allen County Public Library card.Publish Post

Many organizations will have tables with information for you to browse explaining their services and resources. Many will also offer 20 minute interactive "sneak previews" for the whole family. The program is free and all participants will be eligible to receive a door prize offered by participating organizations.

Tell your friends! We hope to see you there!

Teachers! Now is the time to schedule a visit to the Library!

Teachers! Homeschoolers! Do you want your students to learn more about the resources available at the Main Library? Now is the time to schedule your year-end class visit to the Library!

We'd be happy to arrange a storytime or visit to our Early Learning Center for your preschoolers, a treasure hunt of the Children's Services department for your primary level students, or a tour of the entire Main Library facility for your 3rd through 5th graders.

Registration is limited. Call now! 260-421-1220.

Your Reading Pet

We are getting some great entries in the Pet Photo Contest!

If you haven't submitted your picture yet, don't worry, you still have time! Pictures must be received by 6 p.m. on Friday, February 1st. Click here for additional rules.

Fabulous Fridays Homeschool Book Club

Today, our two AWESOME Homeschool Book Clubs met for some fun discussion and activities!


Our Early Reader Roundup attendees, in Grades K - 2, had a fun time talking about Frog and Toad Are Friends, by Arnold Lobel. Here are some of the things we did...

• We decided that Frog and Toad are good friends.
• We thought that good friends should be nice and funny.
• We designed our very own buttons!

The Reading Rocks! Homeschool Book Club, for Grades 3 - 6, had a great discussion about Chasing Vermeer, by Blue Balliett. Some of the things attendees liked about this book were...

• it was a great mystery!
• it had puzzles to solve
• they liked the characters, especially Mrs. Sharpe
• they learned a lot about art

To learn more, check out these websites:
http://www.scholastic.com/titles/chasingvermeer/index.htm
http://www.kidsreads.com/reviews/0439372976.asp

The Fabulous Fridays Book Club will meet again Friday, February 15, from 1:30 - 2:30. Our titles will be:

• Early Reader Roundup: Hi, Fly Guy!, by Tedd Arnold

• Reading Rocks!: The Water Horse, by Dick King-Smith

Art Out of the Box: Fiber Art

Homeschoolers in grades 2 to 6, join us for Art Out of the Box: Fiber Art on Thursday, January 10th at 2 p.m.

You will have the chance to interact with pieces of fiber art, talk about different ways to make fiber art, learn about a few artists and hear about some great books. Then we will all work together to create a work of fiber art to donate to a child in need through Project Linus.



Art Out of the Box meets every second Thursday of the month at 2 p.m. through May 2008.

Future topics:
February: African American Art
March: Traditional Crafts
April: Wood Art
May: Photography

For more information about this program send an email or call Children's Services at 421-1220.

Fabulous Fridays Homeschool Book Club

Homeschoolers in grades K to 6: Every month we will get together and talk about a different book. We'll also have book related activities, food and fun! Pick up your copy of these titles to participate in the January meeting:

Early Reader Roundup (Grades K to 2): Frog and Toad Are Friends by Arnold Lobel

Reading Rocks (Grades 3 to 6): Chasing Vermeer by Blue Balliett

The meeting will be held: Friday, January 11th 1:30 to 2:30 p.m.

The Time 2 Chime Homeschool Handchime group was wonderful in their
Holiday Concert today. Nearly 100 people enjoyed the afternoon concert
in our art gallery.



Above you can see the beginner group playing a selection entitled "Found My Notes."

Below, the advanced group plays "Jingle Bells."



Thank you Time 2 Chime! The music was beautiful! We look forward to enjoying your music even more when your group reconvenes at the Library in January.

Time 2 Chime Live: Holiday Handchimes

The Library's homeschool handchime choir, Time 2 Chime, will be performing a holiday handchime concert in the Great Hall of the Main Library on Tuesday, December 18th at 2:30 p.m. Come and enjoy the wonderful music of our talented homeschoolers!