Do you love Basketball?

The Children's Services department has lots of good books about basketball. Ask any librarian to help you find some good ones!

Today, the Children's Services department also has some free tickets to tomorrow night's basketball game at the Memorial Coliseum; the Fort Wayne Mad Ants against the Anaheim Arsenal.The Mad Ants have given us five sets of 4 tickets to give away -- two grownups & two kids could go or one grownup and three kids could go. If your children have always wanted to go to a basketball game, or if you've always wanted to take them to a basketball game, call Children's Services now and see if any tickets are still available.

FREE Tickets to Allen Say Lecture

We have a limited number of tickets available for a very special author presentation on Monday, March 17th at 4:30 pm. Allen Say, the renowned children's book author, illustrator, and Caldecott winner, will give a short lecture at the Arts United Center followed by a reception and book signing at the Fort Wayne Museum of Art.

In addition to Mr. Say's lecture, all ticket holders will be able to view the current FWMoA exhibit "Works by Allen Say" at no charge. This program is for adults; librarians, teachers, and homeschool parents may be particularly interested in this presentation.

Interested? Come to the Children's Services department at the Main Library to pick up your free ticket. Remember that we have only a limited number of tickets. Check your schedule and stop in to pick up your tickets soon! (If you want, you can call before you come to make sure we still have tickets available. 421-1220)

A Child's Book Review: Yummy, YUCKY

Yummy, Yucky by Leslie Patricelli was reviewed by 3-year-old Robert:

This is a special book. I like the yummy parts. I don't like the yucky parts. I don't like worms.

Submit your child's book review to me via email and you may see it in a future "A Child's Book Review" blog post.

Homeschoolers! Don't forget the Sneak Preview this Friday!

This Friday, March 14th, the Children's Services department will be hosting the first annual Homeschooler's Sneak Preview at the Main Library in downtown Fort Wayne. Parking is easy and FREE if you remember to bring your Allen County Public Library card.

This is a program for the whole family; we will have information and activities for parents and their children from preschool through high school. Over twenty organizations will be at the Library to let you know how their organization can help your homeschooling family. You can register your family for the day between 9:00 and 9:30. The programs will end by 1:00; but you're still welcome to explore the Library which will be open until 6:00.

Participating organizations have also donated a variety of cool doorprizes -- including zoo passes, t-shirts, skate admissions at the MAC, gift certificates to Twice Sold Tales Bookstore, a Birthday Party for 10 children at Lindenwood Nature Preserve, and more -- which will be given away to lucky participants at the end of the day.

We hope to see your homeschooling family on Friday!

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.

A Day in Allen County 2008

Get out your cameras, Allen County! Take a photo of anything in Allen County between 12:00 midnight and 11:59pm today, Friday, March 7th. Photos will be displayed during National Library Week.



Click here for more information on A Day in Allen County 2008.


To see the photos from A Day in Allen County 2007, click here.