1000 Books Week Thirteen

We're finally into the last week of August. The time just flew by!

Last week's Book of the Week was "Jazz Baby" by Lisa Wheeler, a groovin' story about a baby who gets his whole family doing some jazzy tunes.

With Jazz For Kids behind us, it's time for the Medieval Demo at the library! If you're in town today, stop by the library at 2:30 to take part in this awesome demonstration.

In honor of our Medieval Demo, our thirteenth Book of the Week is "The Castle", by Claude Millet.

 

"Rush across the drawbridge, duck under the portcullis, and burst into the courtyard. Wander through the hall and kitchen and admire the knight’s bright armor."

Starting next week, we'll be selecting a "Star Reader of the Week". Your child could get an honorable mention in the library for all the fantastic reading they've been doing! Keep up the good work!

Thank You For Donating!

A special thanks to these businesses for donating food and prizes to the summer reading program.

The End of the Summer Reading Program

The Imagine TD Summer Reading Program is done for the summer. Thanks to everyone who participated and we hope to see you all next year! Don't forget to enter the final draw for the Summer Reading Club, which will be made on August 24 at 4 pm. While you are waiting for the school year to begin again, here are some activities to enjoy during the last days of summer holidays.

1. Have a picnic and design your own picnic plates.

2. Read a book together as a family.

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3. Make playdough.

4. Sell lemonade or iced tea at your own stand.

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5. Make homemade ice cream.

6. Make your own bubble wands.

7. Create an art gallery on your sidewalk using your own homemade chalk.

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8. Run through the sprinkler and try some fun sprinkler games.

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9. Have a dance party... in the living room... in the backyard...or at the beach.

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10. Learn some new games for tossing around a ball.

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11. Start a band with your own homemade instruments.

12. Create a bug zoo in a jar and start bug watching.

13. Master the skipping rope and some rhymes.

14. Write a story about your summer adventures. Don't forget to include pictures (either photographed or drawn).

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15. Pretend to be a tourist in Sylvan Lake.

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Imagine! Summer Reading Club: 7-12s Week 6

The final week of the TD Summer Reading Program ended with the theme of Knights, Maidens, & Dragons. These are the activities we enjoyed in the 7-8 and 9-12 groups.

 
Activity: Stepping Stones Relay - Imagine the floor is made of lava. Each player/team is racing from one end to the other without touching the ground. Each player is given 2 pieces of cardboard/paper to cross the lava and come back. As each player moves along, he/she picks up the last stepping stone and puts it to the front so he/she can step forward.

Game: Catch the Dragon Tail – 8-10 people line up with hands on the shoulders of the person in front on them. The last person tucks a scarf in the back of their pants (the tail). The dragon begins to chase his tail. The person at the head tries to snatch the dragon tail. The head then becomes the new tail. Play continues until all players have been the head and the tail.

Game: Cross the Moat - Pick one player to be the "dragon" of the "moat," and have this player stand in the middle of the play area. The other players are "princes" and "princesses," and they should stand behind one of the lines marking the play area. To start the game, the dragon yells, "Try and cross!" All of the princes and princesses must then try to run across the moat, past the opposite line without being tagged by the dragon. Any prince or princess the dragon tags must become part of the dragon's tail by joining hands with the dragon or any other players in the dragon's tail. All players that have become part of the tail must run with the dragon to catch the remaining players. The last player to be caught is the winner and can be the next dragon.

Game: Catapult - Divide your guests into two teams, and place one team on each side of the line. Give each team a blanket, and have the players position themselves around the blanket's edges. The players should hold their team's blanket by its edge, pulling it tight between them. Place 10 of the rocks on one team's blanket. When you yell, "Fire!" the team with the rocks should catapult them over the line to the other team by releasing the tension on the blanket and then snapping it taught again. The receiving team should catch as many rocks as they can on their blanket, and, in turn, catapult them back across the line. Play continues until all the rocks have fallen to the ground. The team with the fewest rocks on its side of the line wins. Alternative: This game may also be played tournament-style by grouping the players into teams of two. Give each team a large bath towel or beach towel instead of a blanket. Cut the number of rocks down to five. Have a series of mini-battles, and have the winners of each battle play each other until, ultimately, only one team has won and rules the land with its King!

Activity: Dragon Egg Hunt – Hide eggs around the room. Each egg is filled with some kind of treat. Hunt around the room until all the eggs are found.

Craft: Knight mask (http://www.thebestkidsbooksite.com/craftdetails3.cfm?CraftID=1672) or Crown- Print off a template. Cut it out and decorate with sequins, jewels, and crayons.

Craft: Sword - Turn newspaper into a sword.

Imagine! Summer Reading Club: 2-6s Week 6

Last week was the final week for the TD Summer Reading Program and the theme was Knights, Maidens, & Dragons. We did these activities.

Song: I’m a Little Dragon

I’m a little dragon, strong and stout.

Here is my tail and here is my snout.

If I get all steamed up, you better watch out.

I can give you something to shout about! ROAR!

Song: Did You Ever See A Dragon?

Did you ever see a dragon, a dragon, a dragon?

Did you ever see a dragon breathe hot fire and smoke?

Breathe hot fire and grey smoke?

Breathe hot fire and grey smoke?

Did you ever see a dragon breathe hot fire and smoke?

Did you ever see a knight ride on a horse?...

Did you ever see a prince with a crown all aglow?...

Did you ever see a princess dance on her toes?...

Did you ever see a princess curtsey just so?...

Stories: The Knight and the Dragon by Tomie de Paola

The Knight Who Took All Day by James Mayhew

If I Had A Dragon by Tom & Amanda Ellery

Kitty Princess and the Newspaper Dress by Emma Carlow & Trevor Dickinson

Song: If You’re a Dragon and You Know It

If you’re a dragon and you know it, breathe hot fire.

If you’re a dragon and you know it, breathe hot fire.

If you’re a dragon and you know it, and you really want to show it.

If you’re a dragon and you know it, breathe hot fire.

If you’re a dragon and you know it, swish your tail…

If you’re a dragon and you know it, roar out loud…

Activity: Knights & Dragons  - Divide your group into Dragons and Knights.  Have the dragons turn their backs and have the knights creep up on them.  Yell "Watch out for the knights!".  The dragons then turn around and try to catch the knights.  Those that are caught become dragons.  Reverse the game having the dragons sneak up on the knights and the knights try to catch them. 

Activity: Dragon Egg Hunt – Hide eggs around the room. Each egg is filled with some kind of treat. Hunt around the room until all the eggs are found.

Craft: Crown - Print off a template. Cut it out and decorate with sequins, jewels, and crayons.

Craft: Clothespin Dragon - Turn a clothespin into a dragon.

1000 Books Week Twelve

We're coming into the last weeks of August. School will be starting up soon. Our lives will be hectic once more. Are you enjoying the last of your summer?

I think most of our 1000 Books Before Kindergarten kids were enjoying the warm summer afternoon at the beach yesterday - we only had four kids at the 1000 Books Party! Still, those that were there had a riot with our excellent readers, and got to make their very own special book to take home!

Big thanks to Jeri Wolf, Sean McIntyre, Raina Varty, Shannan Sword, and Barry Sigurdson for taking time out of their day to read to our 1000 Books kids! They loved it!

Last week's Book of the Week was "Library Lion", by Michelle Knudsen, a sweet tale about a loving lion who learns the rules of the library, and how sometimes it's okay to break them.

With the Jazz Festival upon us, our twelfth Book of the Week is "Jazz Baby", by Lisa Wheeler.

"With a simple clap of hands, an itty-bitty beboppin' baby gets his whole family singing and dancing. Sister's hands snap. Granny sings scat. Uncle soft-shoes--and Baby keeps the groove. Things start to wind down when Mama and Daddy sing blues so sweet. Now a perfectly drowsy baby sleeps deep, deep, deep."

I hope everyone enjoys the rest of their summer, and keeps up with their reading! We've got some new, exciting prizes for kids who bring back their reading sheets! 

Knights, Dragons, Princesses, & Princes

In preparation for Knights, Dragons, Princesses, and Princes week at the Summer Reading Program, try these activities:

1. Print your own stationary.

2. Color these pages.

3. Create a cereal castle.

4. Design your own shield.

5. Make a catapult.

6. Have a jousting match.

7. Assemble a knight helmet.