1000 Books Week Eleven

The summer just keeps fading away! Where did all the time go! It seems like only yesterday we started the 1000 Books program, and now we're gearing up for the summer's end party!

If your children are registered in the 1000 Books Before Kindergarten program, make sure to come down to the library on Saturday, August 18th at 1:00 for our 1000 Books Reading Party! Children get to participate in fun stories, great crafts, and have a delicious snack!

Last week's Book of the Week was "It's All About ME!" by Nancy Cote, a charming story about a young boy welcoming a new baby into the family.

Our eleventh book is "Library Lion", by Michelle Knudsen.

Miss Merriweather, the head librarian, is very particular about rules in the library. No running allowed. And you must be quiet. But when a lion comes to the library one day, no one is sure what to do. There aren't any rules about lions in the library. And, as it turns out, this lion seems very well suited to library visiting. His big feet are quiet on the library floor. He makes a comfy backrest for the children at story hour. And he never roars in the library, at least not anymore. But when something terrible happens, the lion quickly comes to the rescue in the only way he knows how. Michelle Knudsen's disarming story, illustrated by the matchless Kevin Hawkes in an expressive timeless style, will win over even the most ardent of rule keepers.



Congratulations to Evan and Lina for reaching 150 books! Bring back your filled out reading sheets to win great prizes!

Imagine! Summer Reading Club: 7-12s Week 5

These are the pirate activities we did this week for the 7-12 groups!

Activity: Treasure Hunt - Hide 6-8 clues that lead to a treasure.

Activity: Run Pirate Run - The pirates have to run from one end of the room to another without being tagged by the sea monster. If they get tagged, they become a sea plant. Sea plants have to sit where they were tagged and can tag people with their legs and arms. Variation: All the pirates have lost one leg and have to hop on one leg to get across.

Game: Band-Aid Tag - Each player has two Band-Aids (2 hands). When tagged by another person the player covers the tagged spot with a Band-Aid. If the player is tagged and has no more Band-Aids, he/she sits down. In this game all players with a free hand (available Band-Aid) are IT. When game starts, all players try to tag the others. The objective is to be the last standing player. You can introduce other variations (ways to administer 'first aid' to those sitting so they can re-enter the game, such as tapping on head, perhaps also saying the person’s name).

Craft: Pirate hat – Print a template, cut it out, decorate it, and staple it together.

Game: The Wind Blows Over The Sea - Have enough chairs for everyone except 1 person. The person in middle says something like “The wind blows over the sea for anyone who likes to swim.” or “The wind blows over the sea for anyone has been to Europe." Everyone who has done what is stated has to get off their chair and switch spots with someone who is not sitting right next to them.

Imagine! Summer Reading Club: 2-6s Week 5

The theme this week was pirates! We did these activities for the ages 2-6 groups:

Song: Pirate Pokey

Put your black beard in,

Put you black beard out,

Put your black beard in and shake it all about

Do the pirate pokey and turn yourself around

That’s what it’s all about (clap, ARRR!)

…hook hand

…tough fist

…peg leg

…big boot

…whole pirate

Stories: Pirate Pete Sets Sail by Jean-Pierre Jaggi

Penelope and the Pirates by James Young

Pirate Pearl by Phoebe Gilman

Pirates Go To School by Corinne Demas

Bubble Bath Pirates by Jarrett J. Krosoczka

Song: If You're A Pirate And You Know It

If you're a pirate and you know it, swab the deck (swish, swish)
If you're a pirate and you know it, swab the deck (swish, swish)
If you're a pirate and you know it, then you'll hear the sea winds blowin’.
If you're a pirate and you know it, swab the deck (swish, swish)

If you're a pirate and you know it, walk the plank (stomp, stomp)...
If you're a pirate and you know it, say ahoy Ahoy! (with arm movement)...

If you’re a pirate and you know it, wear a patch (make an eye patch with your hand)…

If you’re a pirate and you know it, draw your sword (make arm movement)…

Activity: Treasure Hunt (with 5 picture clues on a map)- Kids are given a map with pictures of objects in the room. There is a tiny pirate hidden at each spot on the map and they have to find each one. At the end, everyone searches together for the treasure chest.

Activity: Pirate Dance Freeze – Listen to some pirate tunes and dance! When the music stops, freeze!

Game: Shark Attack - Place 7 pieces of newspaper on the floor to represent dry land. The guests walk around the newspaper until “shark attack” is called, at which point the pirates run to the safety of the newspaper island. As each round progresses the newspaper is removed and then torn into smaller pieces until only one pirate remains. In the final rounds, pirates can hold onto each other and are still ‘in', as long at least one foot is on the newspaper, and no other parts are touching the ground.

Optional twist: At the call of shark attack, the “shark” tags people who are not on an island. Those who are tagged become sharks too.

Craft: Pirate hat – Print a template, cut it out, decorate it, and staple it together.

Telescope– Cover an end of an empty toilet paper roll with plastic wrap. Decorate.

Flag – Decorate a construction paper flag and glue on a popsicle stick for the flagpole.

Pirate Week at the Summer Reading Club

Get ready for pirate week at the Summer Reading Club!
1. Make a pirate beard and hat.

2. Color some pirates.

3. Print and assemble a pirate chest.

4. Make a treasure map to eat.

5. Make a pirate hook.

6. Set your lunch sailing on your plate.

7. Print some pirate coins to hide around the house for a treasure hunt.

8. Talk like a pirate.

1000 Books Week Ten

We're getting closer and closer to the end of summer break. Where has the time gone? It feels like summer's only just started! How did we get to ten weeks so fast?

We had lots of traffic in the 1000 Books program this week. 4 more little readers won prizes for reading books! Congratulations to Sonjia's day home kids and Kelsey for bringing back their reading sheets!

Last week's book of the week was a cute little board book called "Baby Loves Summer: a Karen Katz Lift-the-Flap Book".

Our tenth Book of the Week is "It's All About ME!", by Nancy Cote.

A boy describes all of the things that he can do – crawl, walk, and eventually run – and his parents tell him that he's the best. When a new baby comes along, he wonders why they wanted another child if he's the best. At first, he is jealous of his brother, but when the tot smiles at him, he decides that maybe the little guy can stay and they begin building a relationship. Then, another infant arrives, and the older sibling is very sympathetic about his younger brother's reaction to the new addition.

 If you haven't already read this touching family story, come check it out at the library!

Don't forget, our 1000 Books Party is on Saturday, August 18th, from 1:00 - 2:00 pm. Everyone registered in the program is welcome to come, regardless of where they're at with their reading. All they need to bring is their smile!



Imagine! Summer Reading Club: 7-12s Week 4

The 7-12s had a magical week learning these magic tricks and playing these magical games at the Summer Reading Club.

Magic Tricks

Jumping Rubber Band Trick - A rubber band quickly and mysteriously jumps from your pinkie and ring fingers to the first and middle fingers of the same hand, while another rubber band appears to block it.

Try this trick with 2 jumping rubber bands!

Sawing a Lady in Half Magic Trick – The magician inserts a paper doll into a paper tube. The spectators can see the doll's head and feet sticking out of both ends of the tube. The magician cuts the tube in half. When the doll is removed, it's fully intact.

Magic Tube - You show an empty tube and then magically produce items such as ribbons or silk handkerchiefs.

Escaped prisoner magic trick - An escaped prisoner appears to be back in the empty jail.

Games

Magic Carpet – Each team will be given a large piece of paper, towel, or rug as a magic carpet and all team members will be standing on it. You start out the game by telling teams the following: “You are on a magic carpet, thousands of feet up in the sky. But you're not going anywhere because your carpet is upside down. The object is to flip the carpet back upright without anyone falling off into the abyss. You can use your hands.” The team that reverses its carpet first without anyone stepping off is the winner.

Spin the Magic Wand - In advance write out lots of forfeits appropriate for the age of the guests and place in a large bowl. Sit the kids in a circle and spin a wand on the floor in the middle. You will need a smooth shiny surface such as a wooden or tiled floor or low wooden coffee table. Whoever the wand points to has to pull out a forfeit and act it out. To make it more fun, on some of the pieces of paper you could say "Win a prize" instead of giving a forfeit.

Sneaky Magician - In this child activity, you'll need to choose a kid to be the Sneaky Magician and let him/her sit in a chair blindfolded. Then place a special magical item beneath the chair (deck of cards, top hat, wand, magic eight ball, etc.) which the Sneaky Magician must protect from the thieves. Only one thief may try to steal from the Magician at any given time. Since the Magician is blindfolded he/she must use their sense of hearing and must listen closely for the thief. When they sense that the thief is around the Magician tries to touch the thief with their hands or feet before they steal the magical item. A thief who is caught then becomes the next Sneaky Magician. If the Magician does not catch the thief, then another thief can try and steal.

Imagine! Summer Reading Club: 2-6s Week 4

This week the 2-6s went on Imaginary Trips and Adventures at the Summer Reading Club. This is what we did.

Song: The Wheels on the Bus

The wheels on the bus go round and round, round and round, round and round.

The wheels on the bus go round and round all through the town.

The wipers on the bus go Swish, swish, swish…

The horn on the bus goes Beep, beep, beep…

The children on the bus go Chatter, chatter, chatter…

The people on the bus go Up and down…

The money on the bus goes, Clink, clink, clink…

The driver on the bus says "Move on back”…

The babies on the bus say "Wah, wah, wah…

The mommies on the bus say "Shush, shush, shush”…

Song: She’ll Be Coming Round the Mountain

She’ll be coming round the mountain when she comes (Toot! Toot!).

She’ll be coming round the mountain when she comes (Toot! Toot!).

She’ll be coming round the mountain, she’ll be coming round the mountain,

She’ll be coming round the mountain when she comes (Toot! Toot!).

She’ll be driving six white horses when she comes (Woah back!)…

Oh we’ll all go out to meet her when she comes (Hi babe!)…

She’ll be wearing pink pajamas when she comes (Scratch! Scratch!)…

We’ll all have chicken and dumplings when she comes (Yum! Yum!)…

We’ll have to stay at grandma’s when she comes (Move over!)…

Stories: Railroad Toad by Susan Schade & Jon Buller

It’s Funny Where Ben’s Train Takes Him by Robert Burleigh

Imagine Grover’s Magic Carpet Ride by Michaela Muntean

Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak

A Mighty Fine Time Machine by Suzanne Bloom

The Berenstain Bears On The Moon by Stan & Jan Berenstain

Song: Row, Row, Row Your Boat

Row, row, row your boat

Gently down the stream.

Merrily, merrily, merrily, merrily,

Life is but a dream.

Ride, ride, ride the train
Quickly down the track.
Clickety, clickety, clickety clack
When will you be back?

Drive, drive, drive your car,
Drive down the street
Merrily, merrily, merrily, merrily,
Life is such a treat!

Drive, drive, drive your car,
All around the town.
Merrily, merrily, merrily, merrily,
Up the hills and down.

 Turn, turn, turn the key,
 Make the engine roar,
 Merrily, merrily, merrily, merrily,
 Let's go to the store.

 Press, press, press the pedal,
 Give the engine gas,
 Merrily, merrily, merrily, merrily,
 Now we're going fast.

Turn, turn, turn the wheel,
 That is how we steer.
 Merrily, merrily, merrily, merrily,
 Make a turn right here.

 Push, push, push the brake,
 Make the car slow down.
 Merrily, merrily, merrily, merrily,
 Now we are in town.

Activity: Magical Musical Carpets - Played like musical chairs, but with carpets (one little carpet per child or one big carpet for everyone) instead of chairs. When the music plays, the children walk around the circle. When the music stops everyone sits on a carpet.

Game: Red Light, Green Light – Play a game of "Freeze Dancing" with them using traffic light information. While the music is playing, children dance fast to a green light or slow to a yellow light. When the music stops and a red light is held up, the children freeze.

Craft: Magic Carpets - Cut craft paper or fabric into a child-size carpet. Punch holes in the corners or edges to attach yarn tassels. Decorate.