2011 ACPL Mock Sibert Award

The 2011 ACPL Mock Sibert Award goes to:

Kakapo Rescue: Saving the World's Strangest Parrot
by Sy Montgomery, photographs by Nic Bishop




Three honor books were named:

They Called Themselves the KKK: The Birth of an American Terrorist Group
by Susan Campbell Bartoletti

The Extraordinary Mark Twain (According to Susy)
by Barbara Kerley, illustrated by Edwin Fotheringham

Ubiquitous: Celebrating Nature's Survivors
by Joyce Sidman, illustrated by Beckie Prange

Congratulations to our mock winners, and thanks to everyone who participated in this year's program!

Poetry Contest Awards Ceremony

This morning at 11:00, family, friends, teachers, and librarians celebrated the winning poets in the 28th annual Library Poetry Contest. Kids and young adults in Kindergarten through Grade 12 participated.

Over 900 kids and teens entered the Happy, Mad, Sad: Poems About Feelings Poetry Contest.

Congratulations to all the winners!

More Letterboxes!

Letterboxing is a hobby that will exercise your treasure hunting and artistic abilities. This fun and exciting activity can be enjoyed by the whole family. Letterboxes are hidden all over the world and each one contains a unique stamp. Find letterboxes and collect stamps in your personal journal and leave your personal stamp in the letterbox's visitor book.

We have several letterboxes hidden in the Children's Services department, making this a perfect cold weather activity for your family. Most of our boxes contain beautiful hand carved stamps and if you aren't careful you might learn something about how to find books in the library while you solve the clues. Our trail name is ACPL Kids, click here to find the clues. You can also ask at the Ask Here desk in Children's Services for a folder with EVEN MORE clues!

Science Explorers Experiment With Photography

Science Explorers Experiment With Photography - slideshows

ACPL Science Explorers used Children's Services at Main Library as a Learning Laboratory last week when they took pictures of the department, staff, and each other. The topic was Light, Sight and Cameras. Science Explorers will meet next on February 22 at 2 p.m.

Science Explorers

Homeschoolers, don't forget to come to Science Explorers at the Main Library, Tuesday, November 23, at 2:00 p.m. Explore LIGHT, SIGHT, and CAMERAS with experiments, books and activities. Science Explorers is designed for students at K-5 grade levels. Be curious! Think - Do - Learn!

Games, Games and More Games

Just one week ago over 100 people enjoyed playing all sorts of games in Children's Services at the downtown library. We took part in National Game Day @ Your Library. Results of the "What's Your Favorite Game" Poll prove that Monopoly is the number one Fort Wayne favorite. Close behind were Cranium, Chess, Scrabble and Battleship. All of the following received at least one vote each: Candy Land, Sorry, Connect Four, Clue, Boggle, Trouble, The Game of Life, Hungry Hungry Hippos, Trivial Pursuit, Settlers of Catan, Bowling, and Hannah Montana Monopoly. The favorite video game played that day appeared to be Mario Kart.

Gun Safety With Eddie Eagle

Did you know that Federal officials estimate that there are over 200 million firearms in the United States? Studies suggest that guns are kept in approximately half of all U.S. households.

What should a child do if they see a gun? STOP! Don't Touch. Leave the Area. Tell an Adult.

The Children's Services department at the downtown library will offer the Eddie Eagle Gun Safety Program tomorrow and Saturday, November 19 and 20, at 2:00 pm. This program is designed for children in Pre-Kindergarten through Grade 3 and their parents.

The Eddie Eagle Program has no agenda other than accident prevention -- ensuring that children stay safe should they encounter a gun. We hope you'll join us for this important safety program.

Lincoln Visits the Library

Wow! Is that the REAL Abe Lincoln? It sure seemed that way to area students who visited the Main Library Theater downtown on Wednesday afternoon. Come and find out for yourself -- he will return tonight at 7 p.m. And we all thank the ACPL Friends of the Library for sponsoring this special visit from Abraham Lincoln/Fritz Klein!

Mock Newbery Election -- for Kids!

Hey, kids -- have you ever wished the grown-ups would ask YOU which books should win the big book awards each year? Well, here's your chance to be heard! Join us for the
Mock Newbery Election for Kids,
coming up on Sunday, December 12, 2010
from 2:00-4:00 p.m. at the Main Library.

Children in 3rd - 6th grade are invited to attend. Simply read the books from the list below, add your comments to the Mock Newbery Blog, and attend the program on December 12 to discuss which book was the best children's book of the year! Advance registration is required.

Here is this year's reading list:
A Nest for Celeste by Henry Cole
The Night Fairy by Laura Amy Schlitz
Dark Emperor and other Poems of the Night by Joyce Sidman
Mirror, Mirror by Marilyn Singer
Countdown by Deborah Wiles

We'll have refreshments, door prizes, and a great discussion!

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.

Movin' to the Music: An Early Literacy Workshop for Adults

Parents and caregivers of young children -- make plans to attend our next early literacy workshop, Movin' to the Music.

We'll talk about what researchers have to say about song, music, and rhyme, and how these activities help young children develop language skills. We'll also introduce you to some of the wonderful resources available at the library, and you'll take home a music CD chock-full of rhymes and songs.

Movin' to the Music: An Early Literacy Workshop for Adults
Monday, November 15, 2010
7:00 - 8:00 p.m.

Day of the Dead

Visit Children's Services this Saturday and Sunday between 2 and 4pm for the

Day of the Dead Open House

Learn about this joyful Mexican holiday that celebrates the lives of the departed. Decorate your own sugar skull to take home, add your memories to the community memory board, make marigolds & masks, taste bread of the dead and more!

Superhero Photos

Thanks to all who attended our Superhero Party, here in Children's Services on Saturday, October 23rd! As you can see, we all had a super-fun time!

Super Hero Party!

Kids of all ages -- join us tomorrow for our super-duper Super Hero Party! We'll have super-stories, super-games and super-crafts for you to enjoy. And, of course, we'll have plenty of super-books for you to read here at the library, or to check out and take home with you.

Costumes are welcome, but not necessary.

Super Hero Party at the Library
Saturday, October 23
2:00-3:00pm

Music Fun for Everyone!

Join us tomorrow, Saturday, October 16, to make MUSIC at the library!

The whole family is invited to a toe-tapping, hand-clapping, good time at 11:00 AM in the Globe Room.

Poetry Contest for Kids

Kids and young adults in Kindergarten through Grade 12: Have you written a poem for the annual poetry contest yet?

This year's theme is "Happy, Mad, Sad - Poems about Feelings."

The deadline for entries is Monday, November 1st.

The winning poets will be honored at at Award Ceremony in December and the winning poems will become a permanent part of the ACPL book collection.

The complete rules are available here.

We look forward to reading your poetry!

Meet Abe Lincoln's Friend!

Storyteller Doyne Carson shares tales of Abraham Lincoln's growing-up years in Indiana. Join us for performances Wednesday, October 13, at 9:45 and 12:45 in the Main Library theater!

Special Opportunity for Homeschoolers!

Tomorrow, Thursday, October 7th, at 10:00 in the morning, homeschoolers will have a special opportunity to visit the Main Library's Rare and Fine Book Room. Have you ever wondered what is kept behind lock and key in the Rare Book Room of the Allen County Public Library?

Maybe it's some papyrus from the 9th or 10th century.



Maybe it's an original letter signed by General Anthony Wayne. -->



Kids in 3rd through 6th grade -- and their families -- will meet in Children's Services at 10:00. We will all head downstairs for a behind-the-scenes look at some of the items kept in this special climate-controlled, temperature-controlled room.

What do YOU think you'll find?

Science Explorers

About 50 kids had a oozy, gooey time creating some mysterious mixtures this week at the first session of Science Explorers, a new program for homeschoolers at the Main Library. Next session is scheduled for 2 p.m., Tuesday, October 26th.