Sunday, August 19, 2012

Storytimes for Little Ones Begin this Week


School will have already started when this column reaches you.  For those of you with children, that means changing gears in your household from the pace of summer to a more set routine.  Here at the library the official end of summer programming came with our summer reading tee shirt claim which took place on Friday, August 10.  Youngsters who had earned shirts came to pick them up and enjoyed ice cream sundaes as well.  Those who were unable to claim their shirts last Friday will need to pick them up by August 25. 

If you didn’t come to  Bettman & Halpin Acoustic Duo at the library on the 7th, you missed out on a great concert.  Watch our website for the next concert event.

 Fall programming at the library always means the start of our story times for little ones.  This year a change has been made in the schedule.  The day is still Thursday, but now the Lapsit Storytime will start off the morning.  It will begin at 9:15 and end at 9:35.  This age group is birth to 19 months.  Toddle-In Storytime, for children 19 months up to age 3, will begin at 9:55 and end at 10:15.  Our 3 to 5 year old Preschoolers will have the final slot, which begins at 10:30 and goes until 11:15.  Dates for the story times are August 23, 30, and September 6, 13, 20, and 27.  Patrons may call ahead to sign their child up, or may do it at the first session.  If you have never been to story time, why not give it a try?


The Southwest Kansas Library System, of which Memorial Library is a part, will be launching a new early literacy initiative next week entitled 6 x 6 Ready to Read.  It involves six skills that children should know in order to be ready to read at about age six.  Since parents are a child’s first and best teachers, there is valuable information in 6 by 6 for them.   Be watching for forthcoming information about this program.

For you older youngsters, see if you are familiar with the following authors and illustrators who are celebrating their birthdays this week.  Ogden Nash, author of The Tale of Custard the Dragon, whose birthday is the 19th; On the 20th, Margaret Bloy Graham, illustrator of the Harry the Dirty Dog books, and Belinda Hurmence, author of A Girl Called Boy.  Claudia Mills and Arthur Yorinks have birthdays the 21st.  Mills authored Mason Dixon: Fourth Grade Disasters.  Yorinks is probably best known for Hey, Al, winner of the 1987 Caldecott Medal.  Moving on to August 23, children’s science topic author, Melvin Berger will celebrate.  Ian Falconer who is both author and illustrator of the Olivia titles shares August 25 with Charles Ghigna, author of early reader books like Mice Are Nice, and Lane Smith, illustrator of Jon Scieszka’s  hilarious book The True Story of the Three Little Pigs.        Why not come on down to the library and check out one of these titles, don your party hat, and celebrate the author’s and/or illustrator’s special day?

The Library will be continuing with its journey into outer space in September and October. Learn about the wonders of space and NASA programming at the Library through a series of fun and educational events, which will include speakers, demonstrations, and activities.  Watch the Library’s web page and in-house postings for further details. 

Speaking of NASA, there is a lot of excitement surrounding the Mars Rover Curiosity.  Fifteen- year- old Kansas high school sophomore Clara Ma is responsible for the name ‘Curiosity’.  If you would like to follow the progress of Curiosity, check it out at www.nasa.gov.  That site also contains some interactive things for young people.  If you scroll down, there is a section entitled Participate, following your curiosity.  It contains educational games, landing videos, and much more.   

 Don’t forget to pick up your summer reading shirt and plan to attend our NASA activities in September and October.  See you at Memorial Library!

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