Celebrating 150 Years of Origin

The children’s room at Takoma Park Library is proud to honor Charles Darwin as we celebrate his classic work On the Origin of Species by Means of Natural Selection. The book was first published on November 22, 1859. London publisher John Murray printed an initial run of 1250 copies which were priced at 15 shillings per copy. All copies sold out that very same day. The book immediately ignited a firestorm of public and private discussion. The word evolution did not appear until the 1872 edition.

Charles Robert Darwin (1809-1882) was an English naturalist who composed a thoughtful and compelling theory to explain that all species of life have evolved over time from common ancestors. His evidence to that effect illustrates a pattern of evolution that is made possible by a specific process called natural selection. While many members of the scientific community accepted Darwin’s theory in his lifetime, it was not until the 1930’s-1950’s that a broad consensus developed which accepted natural selection as the fundamental mechanism of evolution. Darwin’s discovery is one of the most essential unifying theories in the life sciences as it helps explain the expansive diversity of life this planet has seen since the first organisms.

I have taken some time to create a bulletin board and book display featuring Darwin, Origin, evolution, and the natural world. If you have questions about what books we are featuring or would like to learn more about how Takoma Park Library is celebrating this important milestone please contact me in the children’s room at (202) 576-7486.

Today is National Gaming Day

The Takoma Park Library is participating in National Gaming Day today from 1-4. Please join us for board games, cards, chess, puzzles, and of course, we will set up the wii for sports. Also, today is Crafternoon, so in addition to games, we will be making turkey crafts for the bulletin board in the children's room. We have fun for all ages this afternoon and we hope to see you there!

40 years of Fun and Learning!

40 years later and children are still asking "will you tell me how to get, how to get to Sesame Street?" Today is the 40th birthday of the popular children's educational show. Designed to teach children beginning social and academic concepts, the show has flourished and reached many people over the past four decades. A delight for children and a blessing for teachers, librarians, and parents who recognized it as an important learning tool, I'm sure many of us can say the show played a role in our early years. I know I have many fond memories watching the show on the CBC when I was a preschooler. My favorite characters were the Count and Bert. Who were yours?

Also, just so you know, different volumes of Elmo's World, a popular spinoff show featuring arguably the most popular Sesame Street character, are available on DVD at Takoma Park Library. We also have films featuring other characters. Check the shelf, ask a librarian, or browse the catalog to find a film, book, or CD to celebrate this milestone birthday for a great children's program.

History Night it Tonight

This is just a friendly reminder that tonight the library will host a historical talk at 7:00 pm. I will discuss my recent grant project to preserve, catalog, and exhibit the Takoma Park History file. The first exhibit from this project is a glimpse at the library entitled "Takoma Park Library Through the Years." The display is a random assemblage of interesting tidbits from the history of the library since it opened in 1911. I plan to run a new exhibit every two months. I hope to see you tonight for a great look at our past.

This is a DC Community Heritage Project and was made possible by a grant from the DC Humanities Council, which is affiliated with the DC State Historic Preservation Office.

Special Events This Week at Takoma Park

Sorry for the lag in posting. I have been on vacation. I'm happy to announce some wonderful special events this week at Takoma Park Neighborhood Library. Our regular Wednesday morning story time will have a special theme this week. As part of the Kids Euro Festival, which is a celebration of European art and culture by EU embassies and local partners, the Takoma Park Library will dedicate their Pre-K story time to celebrating the country of Finland. I am almost 100% Finnish so when I was told of this opportunity to partake in this festival I jumped at the chance. Please join me tomorrow morning for Finnish stories, folktales, a felt craft, and traditional Finnish pulla bread, or Nisu, for a snack. The program will start at 10:30 am tomorrow.

Another great special event this month is History Night at the library. I recently received a grant to properly store and exhibit the Takoma History File, a small archival vertical file of clippings, photos, articles, and other ephemera. I will discuss the work I did as part of this grant project and highlight the collection. Please join me as I open the Takoma History File Exhibit and introduce the newly indexed collection. History Night is Thursday, October 22 and the program will begin at 7:00 pm. This project was made possible by a grant from the DC Humanities Council which is affiliated with the DC State Historic Preservation Office.

Spook City USA

Just in time for the season, the library has been receiving some new shipments of spooky books for the month of October and Halloween. One precious book takes the idea of the old woman who swallowed a fly and turns it into a monster who eats many strange and squiggly treats, one more bizarre than the next. We have a lot of great Fall and Halloween books on display above the mantle so please come in and check them out today!

NEW ARRIVALS

Haunted Party - by Iza Trapani

There Was And Old Monster - by Rebecca, Adrian, & Ed Emberley

Hush, Baby Ghostling - by Andrea Beaty

And Then Comes Halloween - by Tom Brenner

Hours Change

As of October 5th, all neighborhood libraries will be closed on Sundays. We apologize for this extreme inconvenience. Due to the fiscal situation for this coming year we are unable to keep our Sunday hours in effect. If you have comments or questions please contact one of the librarians at Takoma Park Neighborhood Library. Also, remember you can "visit" the library all day and all night every single day by checking our website at http://www.dclibrary.org/. You can browse the catalog, read feature articles, get library news and updates all with the click of a mouse!

Special Guest Author - Carolivia Herron

This morning, instead of our regular preschool story time, we are proudly presenting local Takoma Park author Carolivia Herron, author of Nappy Hair and other children's books. She will present a story session this morning at 10:30. We hope to see you there!

October Book Announced!

Hi everyone,
We had a great first meeting for our adult book group at the library. We will be discussing The Sister by Poppy Adams on Thursday, Oct. 15 at 7 pm.

All are welcome to attend, even if you missed tonight's initial meeting. Place your own hold on the book or call 576-7252 and we'll order you a copy. Hope to see you there!





Check out this review from Publishers Weekly:

"Estranged sisters Ginny and Vivien Stone reunite after 50 years, releasing a flood of painful memories in Stone's eerie, accomplished debut. Ginny and her younger sister Vivien lead an idyllic childhood in West Dorset, England, until Vivien nearly dies in an accident (the aftermath of which takes decades to unravel) when Ginny is 11 and Vivien is eight. Later, after the pair is expelled from school, a 15-year-old Vivien moves to London, and Ginny stays behind, covering up her mother Maud's alcoholism while trying to assist her father, Clive, with his research on moths and butterflies. After Maud's death and Clive's subsequent dementia, Ginny lives alone in the massive house, a brilliant but increasingly reclusive scientist whose insular world is cracked open when Vivien announces her desire to return and live out her days with Ginny. Long-buried secrets float to the surface as Ginny narrates with scientific precision her life's slow disintegration. Though the lepidopterological jargon and asides can slow things down, Adams expertly captures Ginny's voice and the dynamics of a deeply troubled family as the book barrels toward its chilling conclusion."
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

This Week at Takoma Park Library

We have a busy week this week at Takoma Park Library, not to mention an exciting one. Our adult book club debuts on Thursday and we also have our regular programming. This week is the last week to sign up for the Silver Screen book club (September Session).

Also, please note, we are getting new books in adult and children's so please stop by to see the new book shelves today.

Monday September 14

Program: Resume Workshop

Time: 10:30-11:30 am

Age: Adults

Description: Join Adult Librarian Jeanne Lauber for a career building workshop which will show you how to master the art of resume creation. This is an essential skill for adults of all ages.

Wednesday September 16

Program: Preschool Story Time - Feelings Theme

Time: 10:30 am

Age: 3-5

Description: Join us in the children's room for stories, rhymes, songs, and activities.

Program: Art in the Afternoon

Time: 3:30 pm

Age: 6+

Description: Take part in art discussion using the "Picturing America" series and join in the drawing contest after school.

Thursday September 17

Program: Teen Games

Time: 4:00 pm

Age: 12-17

Description: Teens are welcomed to come play games, from WII to board games to Playstation.

Program: Book Club

Time: 7:00 pm

Age: Adults

Description: This is the intial meeting of the adult book club. Come and join us to discuss the scope and format of this new book group. We will also brainstorm title selections.

Celebrate Roald Dahl!

For all of you fans of silly and fun children's fiction, come in and celebrate Roald Dahl month. September is dedicated to the amazing and imaginative storyteller. He was born on September 13th so it is only fitting for that day to be known as Roald Dahl day.

To celebrate this special author, the Takoma Park library is doing a few things. Our first installment of the Silver Screen Book Club is featuring a book by Dahl. We will be doing a book discussion and a film screening relating to Dahl's book about a boy and a magic peach. There is still time to sign up. The film screening and book talk will take place on Tuesday, September 22 at 6:00 pm. Popcorn and drinks will be provided. Come into the library or call the children's room (202) 576-7486 for more details.

For Roald Dahl day on September 13th, I've set up a display over the mantle in the children's room featuring all things Dahl. Come and check out your favorite title for some rainy day reading this weekend. If you are interested in finding out more about Roald Dahl and his work please check out his website at http://www.roalddahl.com/.

This Week at Takoma Park Library

Here is our weekly events calendar for the upcoming week. Also, please remember that we are closed for Labor Day on Monday, September 7th.

Wednesday, September 9th
Program: Preschool Story Time - Furry Friends Theme
Time: 10:30 am
Ages: 3-5
Description: Join us for stories, songs, rhymes and more!

Thursday, September 10th
Program: Teen Game Night
Time: 4 pm
Ages: 12-17
Description: Play games, sing songs, dance, draw.

Saturday, September 12th
Program: Crafternoon
Time: 2 pm
Ages: 6+
Description: Join us in making a simple story inspired, seasonal, or fun and funky craft.

New Arrivals! Books in Spanish for Children

We received a new shipment of children’s books in Spanish today. We have a few new board book titles, picture books, and nonfiction books in Spanish. These titles will be a great addition to our bilingual section. Please come in to check them out today! When my Spanish skills get a little better we will have a bilingual story time. I promise!

New Board Books
El pequeno Edu no se aburre nunca by Linne Bie
Que’ esconde el pequeno Edu by Linne Bie
El pequeno Edu va al pediatra by Linne Bie
Juana y los Colores by Ana Maria Gil
Juana y los Posiciones by Ana Maria Gil
Juana y los Tamanos by Ana Maria Gil

New Picture Books
Pomelo es Feliz by Ramona Badescu
Garbancito by Olalla Gonzalez
La Mejor Familia del Mundo by Susana Lopez
El Rino Realmenta Rudo by Jeanne Willis

New Nonfiction Books
I do India by Prodeepta Das
Oh, los Colores by Jorge Lujan
P de Piramides by Lali Sandiumenge

This Week at Takoma Park

Fall is finally starting to show itself, even if just a smidge! This pleases me immensely, as I am quite fond of Fall weather (not to mention Fall fashion.) I hope the changing season finds you in good spirits as well. We have a few upcoming events this week at the library, including our weekly Pre-K story time for 3-5 year olds as well as the new Teen Gaming Club. Our story time this week will focus on shapes and colors. I have a great flannel board planned as well as some interesting concept books. Our Young Adult Librarian, Miss Heather, has some great ideas for game night.

Also, dont' forget about our new book clubs for adults and children. The first informational session of the Adult Book Group will take place on Thursday the 17th. Additionally, it is not too late to sign up for the Silver Screen Book Club. We are reading a fantastic book by Roald Dahl. Our book group will meet on the 22nd and is designed for children 9-14. We will discuss the book to be immediately followed by a film screening. We hope to see you at a library event soon!

September 2, 2009
Program: Preschool Story Time - Color and Shape Theme
Time: 10:30 am
Ages: 3-5
Description: Join us in the children's room for stories, songs, rhymes, and more!

Program: Art in the Afternoon
Time: 3:30 pm
Ages: 6+
Description: Join us for art discussion using artwork from the "Picturing America" series to be followed by art techniques and an art contest.


September 4, 2009
Program: Teen Game Night
Time: 4:00 pm
Ages: 12-17
Description: Play games, sing, dance, draw. Be your loud silly selves!

The Sundance Worked!

Despite warnings of a looming thunderstorm, the sun peaked out at 11:00 and our summer reading roundup party went off without a hitch! It was a great event to celebrate the accomplishments of all of our summer readers. We had a duck pond, a ball toss, sidewalk chalk art, kites, and refreshments. We had over 75 people attend! It was a great afternoon. I would like to give a special thanks to the Friends of the Takoma Park Library, the library staff, and last, but certainly not least, our awesome customers! Thanks for making today so special.

This Week at Takoma Park Library

Since it is the first week of school, the library is taking a little breather from programming during this week. We only have one regular program scheduled. However, we do have our Summer Reading Roundup Party this weekend. All of those summer readers who completed the program (read 6 books or more and turned in their reading lists to a librarian) are invited to attend our party. There is no rain date for this party, so if we have rainy weather the party is canceled. This celebration is just for those participants that registered at Takoma Park.

Wednesday, August 26

Program: Preschool Story Time

Time: 10:30 a.m.

Ages: 3-5

Description: Joins us in the children's room for stories, songs, rhymes and more!

Saturday, August 29

Program: Summer Reading Round Up - Summer Readers Party

Time: 11:30-1:00

Ages: Summer Readers of All Ages who completed the Summer reading Program

Description: Celebrate your summer reading achievements with games, cake, and fun. We will have a duck pond, sidewalk chalk art, a ball toss, cake, and of course, prizes! We hope to see you there!

I Collect Spores, Molds, and Fungus...

Its that time of the year again when teachers are getting their classrooms ready and children are getting all those school supplies together. September is just around the corner. You know what that means! Wait...did you say back to school? Well, yeah, it means back to school. But, really, what I was going to say, is that when I think September, I think MUSHROOMS!

That's right, mushrooms! September is National Mushroom Month. Not only are mushrooms a great addition to sauces, salads, and stews and make a great topping on pizzas, but they also provide plenty of imagery in literature. Stories about magic, folklore, fairy tales and picture books all have their share of mushrooms and toadstools. During September we encourage you to come in and scope out our wide array of vegetarian cookbooks to find some great mushroom themed recipes. After you give the recipes a try, be sure to check out some after dinner reading as well. May we recommend Unexpected Magic by Diana Wynne Jones, Alice's Adventures in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll, Mushroom in the Rain by Mirra Ginsburg, or any of our wonderful non-fiction books for those interested in finding out more about mushrooms and other fungi!

This Week at Takoma Park Library

Here is our weekly events calendar at the Takoma Park Library. We hope to see you stop in this week!

Tuesday, August 18th
Event: PJ Story Time
Time: 7:00 pm
Ages: 0-6 with and adult
Description: Snuggle up with stories, songs and snacks. Feel free to wear your pjs and bring your stuffed animal or lovey.

Wednesday, August 19th
Event: Preschool Story Time - Back to School Theme
Time: 10:30 am
Ages: 3-5
Description: Join us in the children’s room for stories, songs, rhymes, and more.

Event: Art in the Afternoon
Time: 3:30 pm
Ages: 6+
Description: We discuss art from the picturing America Series, practice art techniques, drawing, and sketching. After each session we have library staff and customers vote for their favorite masterpiece of the afternoon.

Saturday, August 22
Event: Crafternoon
Time: 3:30 pm
Ages: 6+
Description: Join us in making simple story inspired, seasonal, or fun/funky crafts.

The Library Rocks

We will be having guitar hero today for teens at 2:00. It seems only fitting to have a guitar hero event this weekend in honor of guitar legend and genius inventor Les Paul's passing. Les Paul, one of the quintessential influences in the guitar world, is known not only as an early innovator of the solid body guitar and the world famous Les Paul model of Gibson guitars, but also because he was just a freaking awesome good guitar player. To read a tribute article, go over to Guitar World magazine.

If you are interested in guitars, guitar playing, and some awesome rock and roll, feel free to come into the library or check the online catalog. We have guitar instruction books, a huge assortment of CDs, from the Beatles to the Rolling Stones, AC DC to ZZ Top. We not only have classic rock, but also a good selection of new rock as well. No matter what, we want to get the community to not only read, but to rock.

How Puzzling

It's a lovely day in the library and we have children coming out of our ears. To get those hands busy I spilled out a 1000 piece puzzle. We started at 1:00. Do you think we will finish by the end of the day? If you stop into the library today come and give us a hand. Let's see if we can get the pirate ship sailing before closing time!

This Week at Takoma Park

Its that time of the summer where we are ready to announce the winners of the summer reading prize packs. We will be pulling a winner (randomly) from the raffle box this week. There will be three prize pack winners for the Be Creative program for kids 0-14, one in each category: 0-5 yrs, 6-8 years, and 9-14 years. We will call the winners later this week. For those who don't win the prize packs, you can still continue to read and earn prizes until the end of August.

Here are the programs coming up this week at Takoma Park Library.

Wednesday, August 12
Program: Preschool Story Time - Fox Theme

Ages: 3-5

Time: 10:30

Description: Join us for stories, songs, rhymes and more.

Thursday, August 13
Program: Young Adult Art Contest

Ages: Teens

Time: 7:00

Description: Come in and take part in a manga/comic drawing contest.

Saturday, August 15

Program: Expressin' Out Teens

Ages: Teens

Time: 2:00

Description: Join Miss Heather for a creative program (theme to be determined).

Two Great Teen Programs in August

Thursday, August 13 @ 7 pm
Manga Drawing Contest
Winner receives a pizza giftcard from Dominos!











Saturday, August 15 @ 2 pm
Guitar Hero Contest
Come break in the library's new Guitar Hero set!









Programs for teens ages 12 - 17

Scary As You Like It

I just wanted to share the news that I am collaborating with another coworker on a different type of blog. Nick Hirsch, from Watha T. Daniel Library, started a blog dedicated to fun and freaky books that walk on the dark side. I will be co-authoring the blog with him, and perhaps others in the future.

Spooky Books For Strange Children is dedicated to all things strange. It is for "the strange at heart, children and adults, who share a love of books bizarre, scary, terrifying, odd and, well, spooky!" We will post reviews for children and teens in different genres, with our main focus being on horror, sci-fi, and fantasy. It is our intention to create a blog that looks at scary and odd books from picture books, to easy readers, to chapter books and everything in between. We will compile subject and age-specific reading lists, post book reviews, and we look forward to discussion.

Go check it out today and start following our posts. Stay Scary!

This Week at Takoma Park!

Registration for summer reading is now closed, but that doesn't mean there is no reason to come into the library! Those who already enrolled can still read and earn prizes throughout August. For those who didn't enroll, feel free to come in and enjoy some of our weekly programming, check out some books, or surf the Internet.

This week, we have a few upcoming programs:

Wednesday August 5th
Program: Preschool Story Time - Elephant theme!
Time: 10:30
Ages: 3-5
Description: Join us in the Children's Room for stories, songs, rhymes, and more!

Program: Art in the Afternoon
Time: 3:30
Ages: 6+
Description: Join us for art techniques, art book exploration, art discussion, drawing, and sketching. This program now features a new piece from the "Picturing America" series each week. After each session staff and customers vote for their favorite artistic masterpiece.

Thursday August 7th
Program: Daniel Barash - Puppeteer
Time: 1:30
Ages: 4-8
Description: Learn the art of shadow puppetry & watch a puppet show.

Saturday August 8th
Program: Be Creative Saturday
Time: 2:00
Ages: 6-12
Description: Join me for an afternoon of amazing arts and crafts. This week we will be making bird masks. We'll look at birds in picture books and nature books to get inspired, and then we will create our own feathered-friend personas through the art of mask making. Let's get glued and feathered!

This Week at Takoma Park

This is an exciting week at Takoma Park Library. Just a reminder that it is the last week to sign up for summer reading at your library. We will close registration for the summer reading program on July 31st. Those enrolled can continue to read and earn prizes into August, but new registrants will not be allowed after July 31st.

We have some wonderful programs coming up this week, the headliner being the ever popular Mr. Derby! Continue reading for some amazing news on upcoming events.

Wednesday July 29

Program: Mr. Derby's Jam Session

Time: 10:30 am

Ages: 4-8
Description: Sing and dance to classic nursery tunes performed live with keyboard accompaniment.

Wednesday July 29

Program: Art in the Afternoon

Time: 3:30 pm

Ages: 6+

Description: Join us for sketching, drawing, art techniques, and art book exploration. Participants will have a chance to win a small prize bag if their artwork is the favorite of the afternoon.

Thursday July 30

Program: O. Dibinga - Poet

Time: 4:00

Ages: Teens

Description: Come enjoy an afternoon with a creative spoken word poet.

Book Spotlight: If You Give A Mouse A Cookie

What happens if you give a mouse a cookie? We found out tonight at the Takoma Park Library. If you don't know what happens, you may want to consult the book. "If You Give a Mouse a Cookie" by Laura Joffe Numeroff is a funny book that shows the snowball effect if you give a hungry traveler mouse a snack. The young boy has a lot to deal with when it comes to his guest, but young readers and listeners will take delight in the mouse's antics. We have a copy available for checkout at the library. There are also mutliple copies system wide so feel free to place a hold with your library card and pin number at http://www.dclibrary.org/. If you have questions on how to place a hold, please call the information desk at (202) 576-7764 or the children's desk at (202) 576-7486.

PJ Story Time Tonight: Other Great Events this Week

Just a reminder that PJ story time is tonight at 7 pm. Children ages 0-6 (with an adult) are encouraged to attend to enjoy stories, songs, coloring, and snacks. Feel free to bring your stuffed animal or lovey and enjoy the story time! We hope to see you tonight.

There are also some other great events taking place this week. Summer reading registration closes at the end of this month, so if you haven't enrolled and want to win prizes, please come in to one of our events and sign up for summer reading this week!

Tonight, July 21

Program: PJ Story Time

Age: 0-6

Time: 7:00

Description: Snuggle up with stories, songs & snacks. Feel free to wear your pjs & slippers and bring your stuffed animal or lovey.

Wednesday, July 22

Program: Kathy McMillan - Children's Story Teller

Age: all ages

Time: 10:30

Description: explore American Sign Language through music and stories.

Program: Art in the Afternoon

Age: 6+

Time: 3:30

Description: Join us for art techniques, art book exploration, drawing, and sketching. Each participant has a chance to win a small prize bag if their artwork is voted the 'favorite' of the afternoon session by staff, customers, and other participants.

Saturday, July 25

Program: Crafternoon

Age: 8 and up or below 8 with an adult

Time: 2:00

Description: Come in and make a simple story-inspired or seasonal craft. There will aslo be drawing paper for those who would rather sketch and color.

Upcoming Events: This Week at Takoma Park

We have a busy week this week at Takoma Park Neighborhood Library. Summer reading programs are in full swing, not to mention we are still offering our Wednesday Preschool Story Time. In addition to special and regular programming we are delighted to offer a new program that will take place on Wednesday afternoons. I will be hosting "Art in the Afternoon" every Wednesday for the rest of this month. I will demonstrate art techniques, highlight our art book collection, and let participants free style sketch, draw, and/or paint for each afternoon session. At the end of the afternoon, staff and customers will vote for their favorite piece of art and the winner will receive a prize bag. Each participant will get a free prize from the summer reading prize box as well. We hope to see you at one, or more, of our many great programs this week.

Tuesday July 14th

Program: Lyn Dancing

Time: 6:30

Ages: Teens

Wednesday July 15th

Program: Preschool Story Time

Time: 10:30

Ages: 3-5 year olds

Description: Join us in the Children's Room for stories, songs, rhymes and more!

Wednesday July 15th

Program: Art in the Afternoon

Time: 3:30

Ages: 6+

Description: Join us for art techniques, drawing, art book exploration, and sketching. One artist will be voted the top winner for that day and they will receive a small prize bag.

Thursday July 16th

Program: Fast Freddy the Clown

Time: 1:30

Ages: All Ages

Description: Join us as we host Fast Freddy the Clown and his comedic and artistic magic.

Saturday July 18th

Program: Expressin' Out Teens

Time: 2:00

Ages: Teens

Description: Join YA Librarian Heather Petsche while she hosts a project runway contest. Bring in a t-shirt which you can then learn how to reshape and style into a whole new look.

Be Creative Saturday This Afternoon

Just a reminder that we will have a Be Creative event in the children's room this afternoon. One of my colleauges from another branch had his crafters make craft stick puppets. They turned out quite precious so I thought, why not? We have piles of jumbo craft sticks downstairs in the art supplies cupboard and this is a perfect way to use them. If you don't want to make a popsicle stick puppet, you are welcome to do some drawing or writing. I will have some art books pulled for your enjoyment! See you today at 2:00 in the children's room!

Summer Reading Continues!

The 4th of July is over, but there is still plenty of time to rock out at the Takoma Park Library. Children and teens are able to sign up for the summer reading program until the end of July. The summer reading programs "Be Creative @ Your Library" for children and "Express Yourself" for teens have some great performers and special events coming up in July and August. If you match the reading goal of six books you can earn some fun incentive prizes and also get your name entered in the raffle for the big award at the end of the summer.

Small prizes for children include inflatable guitars (which my lovely niece Amelie is showing off in the photo), sports balls, stuffed animals, light up pens, puppets, and many other things. Small prizes for teens include glitter lamps, light up pens, MP3 players, flash drives, and art sets. These cool trinkets and prizes could be yours and all you have to do is read! So whether you're into Very Hungry Caterpillars, Lions, Witches, and Wardrobes, or teenage vampires, you can earn some fun awards. Stop by the library today to sign up!

Also, for those interested, here are some upcoming events at the library this week:

Tuesday July 7th at 1:30: Janice the Griot - Storyteller for children

Wednesday July 8th at 10:30: Preschool Story Time for children 3-5

Friday July 10th: Young Adult program at 1:30

Saturay July 11th: Be Creative Saturday at 2:00 for children 8+ or younger with an adult

Preschool Story Time Tomorrow!

Just a reminder that we will be hosting our neighborhood Preschool Story Time tomorrow at 10:30 a.m. This regular story time session is intended for children ages 3-5 and includes stories, fingerplays, poems, songs, flannel boards and MORE stories! We will have a sand and surf beach theme tomorrow! We hope to see you there.

Silver Screen Book Club coming this Fall

This Fall I will be starting a Silver Screen Book Club for children and teens ages 10-14. There is a huge assortment of wonderful books that have been made into films and we will explore some of those. This will be a very enriching experience, noting differences between the way a story is told in the two formats and also seeing the benefits of each type of media.

This program will start in late September but right now we are looking for suggestions. If you have a favorite book that was turned into a film and it is appropriate for this age group (reading level wise and content wise) please let us know. I will be reading books and screening films throughout July and August so any suggestions would be helpful!

Art in the Afternoon

Its a beautiful day outside, but that shouldn't stop you from coming into the library! If you need to take a break from playing basketball, riding your bike, or playing video games, come over to the library for an impromptu session of Art in the Afternoon!

At 3:30 today I will set up the back table in the children's room with markers, crayons, pencils, and drawing paper. Use one of our many wonderful drawing books or come up with some sketching idea of your own and make some art. The artwork voted number one by today's artists and library customers will receive a small prize bag at the end of the day!

Teen and Children's Programs Tomorrow!

For those of you looking for something fun to do tomorrow, come check out what's going on at the library. You can sign up for summer reading and participate in our fun and creative programs. The Young Adult Librarian will be hosting karaoke for teens and I will be hosting an arts and crafts session for ages 4+.

Karaoke and Arts and Crafts (Crafternoon), both start at 2:00. Singing will be downstairs in the programming room and Crafternoon activities will be on the main floor in the children's section. We hope to see you then. Don't forget to bring in your completed reading logs for prizes or sign up for Summer Reading if you haven't done so already!

Be Creative Saturday!

Today starting at 2:oo pm we will have our "Be Creative Saturday" for June. For those feeling crafty we will be making pinwheel pencils. This craft is easy for children of all ages, but for those under 5, please make sure they are with an adult.

For those who don't feel like crafting but would rather draw or sketch, come check out our awesome assortment of drawing books. We recently received some new manga how to draw books as well as some books on drawing wizards, witches, and fantasy creatures. It will be a fun afternoon so stop on by for arts, crafts, and snacks.

Boardbook Spotlight: Mommy, Mama, and Me

With all the books that come across my desk on a daily basis, sometimes they all start to look the same. Covers blur. Storylines jumble. It's all a big bookish haze! Today however, a seemingly unassuming little boardbook jumped across my desk this afternoon with a big message. Love comes in all shapes and sizes. It comes from all types of people from all different places. Love is so beautiful in its simplicity.

Mommy, Mama, and Me by Leslea Newman is a boardbook about a little boy who receives lots of help, love, attention, and encouragement from his parents; Mommy and Mama. By removing all the hype around the oft discussed issue of same sex relationships we can see the most basic element that brings families of all sorts together -- love. Reading this with your child, I'm sure you will relate to many of the experiences the characters go through, from play time, to bath time, to sleepy time. These two parents are attentive and provide a strong sense of security for their little one, as I'm sure you strive to do. The text and phrasing, which relies on a simple cadence and rhyming scheme, make it a great book to work on your child's phonological awareness, which is their ability to recognize the sound structure, or phonological structure, of spoken words. Overall, this is a wonderful little book with a wonderful big message.

New YA Titles

Fresh out of the UPS box, get 'em while they're still free of mysterious residue!




Jumped by Rita Williams-Garcia

High school drama: one girl dissed a tough female basketball player, and now there's going to be a cat fight after school. Told from three girls' points of view in the course of one school day.




Once Dead, Twice Shy by Kim Harrison

Madison died at her prom, but the Grim Reaper botched the job - she's still wandering earth and trying to find a way to come back to life. Maybe her guardian angel can help her.




Willow by Julia Hoban

Willow's parents were killed in a car accident - when Willow was behind the wheel. How can she live with herself after what's happened? A new guy at school might be able to help her deal.





The Rock and the River by Kekla Magoon

Sam's father is a Civil Rights leader. His older brother is a member of the Black Panthers. Which one of them is Sam going to join?





The Sorceress by Michael Scott

The third book in the Nicholas Flamel series.






Royal Blood by Ellen Schreiber

The latest in the Vampire Kisses series.

Summer Reading Special Performance Tomorrow

Tomorrow, as part of our Summer Reading Program, we will be hosting a special performance by Susan McNells. Her show, entitled "Oh Susannah!" encourages children to sing, clap, and tap along with her award-winning songs and guitar playing. Her show is an eclectic mix of the Waltz, Polka, Twist, and Charleston dances along with the musical sounds of Zydeco and bluegrass.

Program: Oh Susannah!
Date: Wednesday, June 10th
Time: 10:30 am
Ages: 4-9

Crafternoon Today!

I forgot to post a reminder yesterday...oops! I will be hosting crafternoon today at 2:00 as part of our "Be Creative @ Your Library" Summer Reading Program. Children 8+ and younger children with an adult are encouraged to attend. We will be making accordion comic books today! I will have the basic comic book frame pre-constructed so children of all ages are encouraged to attend. You can change it up if you like and make a flip book, picture story, or found art piece if you don't want to do a comic book. Art is flexible, you know? We have a huge assortment of drawing books and art books that will be available for check out.

I hope to see you today at 2:00!

Summer Reading Book Spotlight "The Art of Eric Carle"

I’m sure many of you are familiar with the magical and classic work of Eric Carle. Author and illustrator of many beloved children’s books, including The Very Hungry Caterpillar, The Very Busy Spider, and The Grouchy Ladybug, to name a few, Carle’s work has been a story time staple, a bed time story favorite, and an altogether timeless presence in the field of children’s literature.

With a summer reading theme focused on the arts and personal creativity, I highly recommend the book The Art of Eric Carle. This book is a wonderful glimpse and exploration into Eric Carle’s life and work. With more than sixty full-color illustrations, artwork from his student days, and very personal anecdotes, essays, and stories, this book is a shining testament to the masterful art and endless creativity of Eric Carle.

This book is a great way to learn more about Carle. A nice idea is to borrow some of Eric Carle’s picture books and then before or after reading them, share some segments from this biographical piece with your children, your students, or whomever you like. This book is a great celebration of a classic author and it fits in perfectly with our “Be Creative” theme. I hope you will find it truly inspiring.

This Week In The Children's Room

We have some fun programs coming up this week in the children's room. Stop by if you have a chance! Also, don't forget to sign up for summer reading. If you have already signed up, please start reading and fill out your reading logs to win some fun prizes. :)

Wednesday, June 3rd
Program: Preschool Story Time
Time: 10:30 am
Ages: 3-5 year olds
Description: Join us in the Children's Room for stories, songs, rhymes & more!

Saturday, June 6th
Program: Crafternoon
Time: 2:00 pm
Ages: any, younger children should be accompanied by an adult
Description: Join us in making a fun seasonal or story inspired craft.

Calling All Shutterbugs!

I just found out about a really cool photo contest being sponsored by DCPL. To celebrate some of the wonderful images of the DC Metro area put up on the DCPL Flickr Commons, the public library system is hosting a photo contest.

To enter, simply:
1. Browse photos at the DCPL Commons and look for buildings or locations still around today

2. Photograph a building or locale in a fun or interesting way

3. Add your photographs to the DC Then & Now group on Flickr. You are free to represent the content in anyway (collage form, black and white, etc)

4. In the description of your photo you must include a link to the original photo from the DCPL Commons.

5. Assign a Creative Commons license to your entry. An easy way to do this is under “Additional Information” on your photo’s page.

Photos must be submitted by July 3rd. On July 10th the winners will be announced!

There are some great prizes for the winner, first, and second runners up, including a Flip MinoHD Camcorder, Wireless SD Card, and a Holga Starter Kit! This a fun way for adults and kids to be creative this summer using resources from DCPL.

Teen Book Making and Journaling Workshop

On Thursday, June 4 at 1:30 pm, we're hosting our first Teen Summer Reading Guest!
Adjoa Burrowes, local author and illustrator, will present a workshop on paper making, book making, and journal writing. Join us for "Beyond Just Words." For ages 11 - 17.

Birds and Other New Picture Books

We are getting some great new picture books in the children's room. Some titles are perfect for our summer reading theme (Be Creative @ Your Library) and some are just perfect for other reasons. One great new book I think everyone should check out is Birds.

Birds, written by Kevin Henkes and illustrated by Laura Dronzek, is a wonderful new picture book just in time for bird watching weather. The wondrous simplicity of this book and the bold illustrations make it a perfect introduction to the carefree world of our feathered friends. Concepts such as color, size, and amount are worked into the text. Told from the perspective of a littler girl, the observations of bird behavior are fresh and imaginative. For example, when describing a flock of black birds perched in a tree, Henkes writes “If there are lots of birds in one tree and they all fly away at the same time, it looks like the tree yelled,” and when you turn the page, “SURPRISE!” as the illustration shows the black birds taking flight. This is definitely a delightful book to share with your young ones. Find it on the new books display today!

Here are some of the other new titles we've received this week:
Can You Hear It - by William Lach
Muriel’s Red Sweater - by Dara Dokas
The Travel Game - by John Grandits
I Know a Shy Fellow Who Swallowed a Cello - by Barbara S. Garriel
Belinda and the Glass Slipper - by Amy Young
Which Puppy - by Kate Feiffer
Froggy Plays in the Band - by Jonathan London

(Image courtesy of the Kevin Henkes website)

NEW: Text Message Holds Notification

As you may already know, if you provided your e-mail address when you signed up for your Library Card, you can receive e-mail notifications from DC Public Library when a reserved item becomes available or when you have overdue items.

A new feature DCPL is offering also allows you to receive a text message notification (in addition to your e-mails) when your reserved items are ready for pickup and/or when you have overdue items.

To enroll simply go to the on the enrollment page on the DCPL website and complete the following steps:

1.) Enter your Customer ID or your Onecard/License#.
2.) Enter your PIN.
3.) Enter your mobile phone number.
4.) Choose your carrier.

That's all it takes! If you have questions, please ask a librarian.

Preschool Story Time Tomorrow

Just a reminder that we will be offering our neighborhood Preschool Story Time tomorrow morning. We hope to see you there.

Program: Preschool Story Time

Date: May 20

Time: 10:30 a.m.

Ages: for 3-5 year olds

Description: Join us for stories, songs, rhymes and more!

Coming Up in the Children's Room

We have some great events coming up in the Children's Room this week. Children's librarian Miss Rachel will host the ever popular PJ story time and dont' forget weekly preschool story time.

Next Monday, as part of the special events schedule for Summer Reading, we will host a special performance by Nicolo Whimsey.

Program: PJ Story Time
Date: May 12

Time: 7:00 p.m.
Ages:0-6 w/an adult
Description: Snuggle up with stories, songs, & snacks. Feel free to wear your pjs and slippers and bring your stuffed animal or lovey.

Program: Preschool Story Time
Date: May 13
Time: 10:30 a.m.
Ages: for 3-5 year olds
Description: Join us for stories, songs, rhymes and more!

Program: The Nicolo Whimsey Show

Date: May 18

Time: 10:30 a.m.

Ages: 4-9
Description: This show combines juggling, music, poetry, and storytelling. Nicolo emphasizes language skills and encourages children' to discover and voice their creativity.

(Image courtesy of About Faces Entertainment)

Be Creative @ Saturday Crafternoon

This past weekend our "Be Creative Saturday", which is one of many Summer Reading activities, was a huge success. Inspired by picture book art, children used a variety of media to make their own story book characters. Birds and Dogs were a popular theme.

Just a note that our Crafternoon and Be Creative events will take a brief hiatus for the rest of May. We will pick up again with 2 Crafternoons and 1 Be Creative Saturday in June. The dates for arts and crafts in June will be the 6th, the 13th, and the 20th. Stay tuned for future detail.