L.L. Bear Goes to the Farm

Dear Friends,
There's a Big Red Barn in the Children's Story Room, with horses, goats, sheep, and ducks, just like in the book Margaret Wise Brown wrote! The Olympics are over, so all the displays from China are gone. Now I can pack away my Emperor's hat, find a good straw hat to go with my denim overalls, and get ready for a whole new bunch of stories and activities that relate to the farm!

Since I grew up in the woods of Maine, I missed out on life on the farm. Even though I spent many years living in Mrs. Herbst's classroom and traveling around the world, I never spent any time on a real farm. I am so excited that now I can learn about food that is grown on a farm, animals that live on a farm, machinery that is used to help the farmers, and see the seasons change. Maybe I can help pick apples and find the perfect pumpkin for a jack-o-lantern!

On Saturday, October 4th, there will be a big Peanut Festival here in Aubrey. Many years ago there were big peanut farms because the soil around Aubrey is sandy, perfect for growing peanuts! But, gradually the peanut farms were sold to horse ranchers. They like the sandy soil, too, as a good cushion for their horses hooves. People still like to remember the "Old Days" and have an all day celebration to honor their heritage! There will be a parade, a pet show, all kinds of food and craft booths, games for kids, music, fun contests...Wow! I hope there will be hot roasted peanuts to eat!

I hope you will join me for Toddler Time on Tuesdays at 10:15 or for Story Time on Wednesdays at 11:15. I know our time together will be special as we hear lots of stories, sing songs, learn rhymes, move to music, and for the older children do crafts or do some easy "cooking." I can bearly wait to meet you!!!

Your friend and buddy,

L.L. Bear

The Great Wall of China!

(also introducing our new mascot L.L. Bear!)

L.L. Bear welcomed the children into the story room to see the "Great Wall of China," painted especially for the Olympics! Bear is wearing a little hat he bought while traveling around China. His special hat reminds him of the emperors that ruled over China. We have a display of artifacts to accompany all the wonderful story books and informational books about China. Bear will have his photo album of China for all to see. We hope you will visit and peruse the exhibit...and stay for story time!

This week the children heard the classic tale of Five Chinese Brothers, by Claire Bishop. This amusing tale highlights the gifts of each brother and demonstrates how they cleverly used their gifts to preserve each other.

We tied in some basic geography...continents, countries, oceans...so the children will become familiar with our world as they watch the Olympics.
Each child made an "Olympic torch" and then participated in some active, fun games! Olympic gold medals (gold-foil wrapped chocolate coins on red yarn necklaces!) were awarded to all our winners!

Next Week: more stories, songs, rhymes, crafts, and Olympic games! We'll learn more about China along with learning some Chinese words and phrases.

I Scream, You Scream, We All Scream for Ice Cream!

No screaming, but we did applaud for all the library friends who accomplished their reading goals for the summer! Those who turned in their reading logs were honored before their parents, grandparents and friends with reading certificates and coupons for free goodies. Everyone enjoyed ice cream sundaes...mmm, chocolate sauce, caramel sauce, peanuts, gummi bears and M&Ms!

Over 900 books were read by those who participated. All the children who checked out books and read them, or had others read to them were the winners! Think of all the new adventures they heard or all the new vocabulary words that were introduced to them! Think of all the new ideas or new places they learned about through those books. Think about all the funny stories or amusing characters that they will remember! If you read to your child, think about the precious time you and your child spent with each other. Good picture books are rich with various artistic styles and art media that stimulate the creativity and imagination. And, if you are checking out your own books, think about the stellar example you are setting for those who see you immersed in your reading! Happy reading to one and to all!

Encourage your own children to write their own stories and get out the markers, watercolors, or crayons and encourage them to illustrate. Right brain, left brain...it's all being actively utilized!

Special thanks to Sonic for all the ice cream certificates; thanks to Judy Nelson at Lights-N-Motion for free admission certificates; thanks to Judge Darlene Witten for her donation for our Ice Cream Party; thanks to Dwight Mikkelson of Allstate for the bowling coupons. We appreciate your generosity in rewarding our young readers!

We leave our summer reading program, with some photos of a few of our favorite books along with our book companions...L.L. Bear, Cowboy Bear, and their buddies. ...see y'all on the trail to the library...

~JMH

We Welcome the Creature Teacher

How many opportunities do we have to see, in person, 8 unusual animals from all over the world? Our library friends attending today's program, The Creature Teacher, had that opportunity! Robin Wheeler brought in mammals, reptiles, invertebrates, insects and a bird; she spent several minutes sharing information about each one.

The pygmy hedgehog was every bit as cute as author Jan Brett's illustrations in Hedgies Surprise! Did you know that the chinchilla has 80,000 hairs per square inch and that 300-400 chinchillas are used for one coat? The parrot has the intelligence of a 5 year old, and has the ability to mimic environmental sounds such as the "ding" of a microwave and knocking on a door.
A Hissing Cockroach does not have the same warm and fuzzy feel as a chinchilla, but we learned that cockroaches can live anywhere (!)...even in Antarctica and are capable of eating anything! How interesting to know that the Rose Haired Tarantula will eat her own molted skin! The Giant Black African Millipede does not have 1000 legs, but rather 200-300. This creature likes to stay very still underground for prolonged periods, during which time mold grows on its body. To keep the millipede healthy, microscopic mites live on his body and devour the mold! The last two animals were the chameleon, whose sphere-like eyes act independent of each other and the bearded dragon whose coloring is a perfect camouflage for his desert habitat.

As a special conclusion, the entire audience was invited up to gently touch the little chinchilla!

Our curiosities were piqued by all the intriguing information! Thank you Creature Teacher!


Congratulations to these readers who completed their reading logs: Aleksis, Kelly, Morgan, Kaitlynn, Alicia, Alex, and Abigail. We are so proud of all of you!!

Reading logs need to be turned in by Friday, July 25.

Next Week: Tuesday, July 29 @ 11:15...
Celebrate Reading with an Ice Cream Party!! We will pass out Reading Certificates.

jmh

Learn While Laughing with Brett Roberts

Brett Roberts likes to describe his show as a party, a celebration of reading! His energy and enthusiasm certainly entertained the crowd of 200 as they marveled at his magic tricks, laughed at his silly antics, and happily went along with his comedic actions. Mr. Roberts used a cleverly designed book worm puppet to review the basic elements of a story: characters, setting, plot, and conclusion. Throughout the entertaining, he continually referred to different books and encouraged the children to read, imagine, pretend, invent, create! It was a fun way to learn!

More of our library friends have completed reading logs! Congratulations to Ashlynn, Maddox, Cayden, Kylie, Jase,
Amelia, Eli, Audrey, Frida, Hannah, Breanna, Hayden, and Kelly.

Please remember to turn in your reading logs by Friday, July 25! We love to see all those books being checked out and read!!

Tuesday, July 22 @ 11:15: The Ceature Teacher brings several interesting animals

Tuesday, July 29 @ 11:15: Our last summer program...ice cream party and reading certificates

jmh

Stories and Music with Cowboy Chuck

Cowboy Chuck strummed his guitar by his "campfire" as the children gathered around to hear his jokes, stories, and music. What a fun time everyone had, laughing over the antics of cows typing on old typewriters in the story, Click Clack, Moo, Moo, participating in creating a "pizza" over the campfire, or guessing which animal puppet would put in a surprise appearance! We learned a traditional cowboy song, Home on the Range, and sang some silly songs.

When it was time to bid farewell to Cowboy Chuck, he invited all his new friends to come up and strum the guitar and visit his puppets. Everyone had a great time!!

More of our library readers are completing their logs: Joseph, Elora, Hayden, Breanna, Jamie, Erika, Quincy, Hope, Amelia... Surely you will want to add your name to the list!

The last day to turn in logs will be Friday, July 25! Our Ice Cream and Certificate Party is July 29.


Next Week: Magician Brett Celebrates Stories!! Tuesday, July 15 @ 11:15

Texas Critters Visit the Library!

Thanks to the Heard Museum, our library friends were able to see and TOUCH visiting Texas critters. The three-toed box turtle generously kept his little head out (the better to see all the children), as the boys and girls gently touched his hard, plated shell. The salamander's ecologically sensitive skin alerts scientists to environmental changes. These amphibians are among those in the endangered category. But it was the albino corn snake that elicited the ooh's and aah's as he gracefully slithered around the handler's arm, sensing the environment with his tongue. Everyone lined up to touch the snake's dry, smooth scales. This was a first for many of our young friends...to feel a real, live snake!

Thank you Heard Musum for a valuable, interesting program!

Next Week: Tuesday, July 8

Cowboy Chuck and his guitar bring us fun and music!

Wednesday, July 2...

During our story time today we celebrated our country's birthday with the story of Betsy Ross and her contributions to our young country. We learned about our flag and the many changes it has gone through to be the flag we have today...50 stars and 13 stripes.

Everyone created a red, white and blue tri-corner hat, embellished with stars and feathers, to wear as we paraded to grand march music! All that marching whetted our appetites for cupcakes that we decorated with...what else!...red, white, and blue sprinkles and stars!

Yummy!

Happy Birthday to Madison who celebrates her birthday on July 4th!

jmh

Slappy and Monday Pay Us a Visit!

Popcorn, balloons, and clown noses were all part of the fun when Slappy and Monday, Ringling Brothers Circus clowns, entertained 200 children and adults today! Their humorous antics elicited laughter and great delight as the two clowns played off one another. They invited several children to participate by playing musical bells, while Slappy and Monday showcased their own musical talents by playing the concertina and the saw! We especially appreciate the encouragement the two entertainers gave to READING!!

Certificates for free admission to Lights-N-Motion were awarded to five attendees. Thank you to owner Judy Nelson for her generous contributions to our Summer Reading Program.

~jmh

Next Week: Heard Museum: Texas Critters

Tuesday, July 1 @ 11:15 am

The Science of Spin

A rainy morning brought 120 library friends to learn about and enjoy yo-yos and spin tops! Valerie Oliver, one of the foremost yo-yo champions, captivated her audience with a dazzling display of virtuosity with this classic toy. In addition to the tricks she performed, she gave a brief history of the yo-yo and explained the laws of physics that applied to each display. Children and adults alike expressed amazement as Mrs. Oliver spun, flippped, and twirled her yo-yos with practiced dexterity. It was a program we will not soon forget!!

Five fortunate children received yo-yos from our weekly drawing! We predict many summer hours devoted to dribbling, spinning, flipping and twirling those yo-yos!

Next Week: Thursday, June 26 @ 10 am...Reading with the Ringling Brothers!

jmh

Week 2 - Sandy and Friends Puppets

Our second week of our Summer Reading Rodeo was as exciting as the first! Over 100 library friends attended and enjoyed a fun program with Sandy and her puppets. The fractured fairy tale of Goldilocks and the Three Bears was a resounding hit with all the youngsters and their parents! Even the grandparents guffawed with the little ones!

Remember to keep reading all those wonderful books for your book logs! Congratulations to Amelia D. who has already finished 25 books! Who will be our next library friend to have accomplished that goal?

If you have not yet joined our Summer Reading Rodeo, stop in the library to pick up your free book bag and bookmarks.

See y'all next week, June 17th @11:15, when we'll host:

"Whirled on a String...Yo-yos & Spin Tops."

-JMH

Summer Reading Kick Off

Texas Tom, Teller of Tall Tales

The Aubrey Area Library Summer Reading Program is off to a fun, enthusiastic start!

About 80 children and 30 adults gathered as Jim Progar, dressed as Texas Tom, Teller of Tall Tales, related the story of The Contest at Cowlick. Texas Tom captivated his audience with the tale of a clever youngster who outwitted a group of bandits. Therese Progar then led the children in an energetic song to wrap up the program.

The children will participate in the Summer Reading Rodeo by tracking the books they choose to read over the summer or by tracking the minutes they read each day.

Each child received a book bag, book marks, and book logs. Each week throughout June and July, the library will host a special Summer Reading program to encourage our young readers.

Come and join us for an enriching summer on Tuesdays @11:15!

Traditional Story Times on Wednesdays @ 11:15.

-kg

Wow, A Whole Year

I see that it has been a year since our last post...Stay tuned...we are going to be providing updates and introducing some of the fun stuff happening at your local library! kg