Main Library Programs in Children's Services
February, March & April 2010

Smart Start: Preschool Storytime

Wednesday mornings, 10:30 a.m.
Preschoolers and their families are invited to join Children’s Services librarians each Wednesday morning for 30 minutes of theme-based stories, fingerplays, and fun all designed to help your child get ready to read and to get excited about books.

Themes include:

Storytime for Preschools, Daycares, and Other Groups

Wednesday mornings, 9:30 a.m.
Preschools & Daycares are invited to join Children’s Services Librarians each Wednesday morning at 9:30 for 30 minutes of theme-based stories, fingerplays, and fun. Please call in advance (260-421-1220) to register your group.

Themes include:

Paws to Read

Thursdays through April, 6:30 - 7:30 p.m.
Come to the library and read a story to a book-loving dog. Trained therapy dogs will be here every week with their handlers - and they want to listen to you read! Research shows that children enjoy improving their reading skills by practice reading to animals. Morgan and Samantha and their handlers will have an hour to spend at the library - readers will take turns as time allows.

This program is designed to meet Indiana's Academic Standards; click here for more information.
--Children who want to practice their reading

Babies & Books and Toddler Time

Babies & Books: Friday mornings at 10:00 a.m. (Designed for babies from birth through early walking)
Toddler Time: Friday mornings at 10:30 and 11:00 a.m. (Designed for walkers through age 36 months)

Bring in those little babies and toddlers for a special time just for them, sharing books, rhymes, songs and interactive fun. All storytimes are based on early literacy research, and include tips and information for parents and caregivers. They're never too young to begin with books!
Babies and Books and Toddler Time are designed to support Indiana's Preschool Foundations.
--Babies from birth - 36 months and their parents/caregivers and siblings

Project READS

Mondays, 3:45 - 4:45 p.m., through April 2010, when Fort Wayne Community Schools are in session
Children in Kindergarten through Third Grade are invited to sign up for weekly tutoring sessions with trained volunteers from Project READS. Have fun practicing your reading and doing some creative learning activities. Registration for this special program is limited. Pick up a parental permission form at the Information Desk in Children’s Services.
Project READS is designed to support Indiana's Academic Standards.
--Children in Kindergarten through 3rd Grade

Library Connection

Weekdays through April, 10:00 a.m. to Noon and 2:00 - 3:00 p.m., by appointment
Teachers and Homeschool Parents: Plan a research project for your third, fourth or fifth grade students and allow us to help your children complete the research. In addition to using your home or school library, children can contact us virtually for additional information and resources. Please call Children's Services, 260-421-1220, for Connection Information.
Library Connection is designed to support Indiana's Academic Standards.
--Third, fourth and fifth grade students

Time 2 Chime Homeschool Handchime Choir

First and Third Tuesdays through March 2nd
Beginning Group: 2:00 - 3:00 p.m.
Advanced Group: 3:00 - 4:00 p.m.
Beginning and Advanced Groups meet twice each month to learn about music and practice ringing the chimes. No musical experience is necessary. Registration is required.
Time 2 Chime is designed to support Indiana's Academic Standards.
--Homeschoolers, ages 8 - 11

Princesses and Princes with the Fort Wayne Ballet

Thursday, February 25, 2:00 p.m., and again at 7:00 p.m.
Enjoy the dancing princesses and princes during this enchanting mini-performance.
--Families with children of all ages

Shark Adventures

Saturday, February 27, 2:00-3:00 p.m.
Join us for SHARK stories, a special guest, and crafts. We'll explore real facts about SHARKS and we'll laugh out loud at make-believe SHARK adventures.
--Pre-K through Grade 5

2nd Saturday Family Storytimes

Saturday, March 13, 11:00 - 11:30 a.m.: Waiting for Spring!
It's been a LONG, cold winter! Come to the Library today for stories and activities to get us ready for SPRING.

Saturday, April 10, 11:00 - 11:30 a.m.: Let's Get Moving!
Not all stories are written to be listened to while sitting down! Get ready to get up and move at this action-packed storytime.

Families – join us on the second Saturday of each month to share the fun of stories and reading. Adults and children of all ages are invited to attend together for 30 minutes of stories, games, and other activities. After storytime be sure to check out some books to share together at home!
2nd Saturday Storytimes are designed to support Indiana's Academic Standards.
--Families with children of all ages

Recycled Art Creations

Saturday, March 13, 2:00-5:00 p.m.
Families with children of all ages, pick through our amazing array of recycled objects and use them to create a work of Trash to Treasure art. Allen County residents can enter their creations in the Allen County Solid Waste Management District's Trash to Treasure Art Contest, which will be held on April 17th in the Great Hall of the Main Library.
--Families with preschool through elementary school-age children

Time 2 Chime Concert

Tuesday, March 16, 7:00 p.m.
Join us for an evening of music as our beginning and advanced handchime choirs take the stage to perform! Families with all ages of children are invited to enjoy the music.
--Families

Puppet-Palooza: A Workshop for Homeschoolers

Thursday, March 18, 2:00 - 3:30 p.m.
Homeschoolers are invited to attend this introductory workshop on the art of puppetry. We'll learn about the history of puppetry and find out how to plan and prepare for a puppet show. At the end of the program, we'll even provide the opportunity for some short performances!
--Homeschoolers in Grades 2-5

2010 Spring Preschool Puppet Show

Sunday, March 21, 2:00 p.m. (Dress Rehearsal)
Monday, March 22, 9:30 and 10:30 a.m.
Tuesday, March 23, 9:30 and 10:30 a.m., 1:30 p.m.
Wednesday, March 24, 9:30 and 10:30 a.m., 1:30 p.m.
Thursday, March 25, 9:30 and 10:30 a.m.

It’s time again for those zany Children’s Services puppeteers to present their Spring Puppet Show! It’s always fun when the puppets bring to life stories from our library book pages. Shows fill up quickly, so register your group early by calling Children’s Services at 260-421-1220; registration begins at 9:00 a.m. on Monday, February 22, 2010. Families do not need to register – just come and join in the fun!
--Preschool-age children and their parents/caregivers

Letter Play Days

Wednesday, March 31: Letter "R"

Wednesday, April 28: Letter "M"

Preschoolers: join the fun of Smart Start Storytime at 10:30; then grab your grown-up and spend some time exploring the Letter of the Day in the Early Learning Center. Activity stations designed for parent and child play will be set up and available for use throughout the day, until the Early Learning Center closes at 8:00 p.m.

Letter Play Days are designed to support Indiana's Preschool Foundations.
--Preschoolers and their caregivers

Topsy Turvy Thursday

Thursday, April 1, during Library hours
In celebration of April Fools' Day, Children's Services has a scavenger hunt for you to complete! Can you find all the wacky changes we've made in the Children's Services department? Stop in and show us that you can't be fooled!
--Families and children of all ages

Spring Break Tabletop Crafts

Monday, April 5 through Saturday, April 10, during Library hours
Spend some time at the library during spring break. We'll have a new tabletop craft each day. Supplies and instructions will be available for you to work at your own pace. All ages welcome, younger children may need assistance.
--Families and children preschool-age and older

Learn-It @ 3

Monday, April 5 through Friday, April 9, 3:00 p.m each day
Learn how to do some cool things on the computer. Every day of Spring Break at 3 pm, we'll have a Learn-It break with creative computer projects for everybody to do. This program is for kids 11 and younger and their grown-ups, children younger than 9 will probably need adult help.
--School-age children, up through age 11

ACPL LEGO Club

Tuesday, April 20, 3:30 - 5:00 p.m.
Do you like LEGOs? If so, come join a group of like-minded kids, sprawl on the floor and build with our LEGOs!!
ACPL LEGO Club is designed to support Indiana's Academic Standards.
--Children ages 5 - 12 years of age

Consuming Kids: The Commercialization of Childhood

Tuesday, April 20, 7:00 p.m.
From infancy children are bombarded with commercial messages for every conceivable product. Parents and grandparents will want to attend this informative viewing of segments of “Consuming Kids; The Commercialization of Childhood” by Media Education Foundation. There will be a brief time for discussion as well as time to browse some of the many library resources for commercial free family-friendly fun.
--Adults

Junie B. Jones at the Library

Tuesday, April 27, 9:30 a.m. and 1:00 p.m.
Wednesday, April 28, 9:30 a.m. and 1:00 p.m.
Storyteller and Drama Specialist Carol Knarr will bring to life the much-loved Junie B. Jones character from Barbara Parks' books. Junie will tell her stories and make you laugh in this interactive dramatic presentation. Due to space limitations, everyone must register by calling Children's Services at 260-421-1220. Registration for this special program begins at 9:00 a.m. on Monday, March 1st.
--Children ages 6 - 11

Mock Elections

• Mock Caldecott Election -- Picture Books for Children


• Mock Coretta Scott King Election -- Children's Books that Portray the African-American Experience


• Mock Geisel Election -- Beginning Reader Books for Children


• Mock Newbery Election -- Children's Literature


• Mock Sibert Election -- Non-Fiction Books for Children

Do you enjoy children’s books? Help us select the best works of children's literature published in 2010! The Children's Services department will offer 5 Mock Election programs: Newbery, Sibert, Geisel, Caldecott, & Coretta Scott King. Throughout the year, you are encouraged to participate in the Mock Election Blogs, listed above. The actual discussion and election programs will be held in January 2011.
--Adults interested in children's literature

Schedule YOUR Visit to the Main Library

Teachers! Now is the time to schedule your class visit to the Library! We'd be happy to arrange a tour and/or time in our Early Learning Center for your preschoolers, a library treasure hunt of the Children's Room for your primary level students, or a tour of the entire Main Library facility for your 3rd through 5th graders. (A minimum of ten students is required). Registration is limited. Tours are scheduled on Wednesday afternoons or Thursday mornings and afternoons during school months. Beginning in June, tours will be scheduled on Monday mornings and afternoons and on Tuesday mornings. Call now! 260-421-1220.
--Preschool and elementary level classes

Custom Collections

Parents, teachers, and students: With seven to ten days' notice, the Children's Services staff is available to prepare "Custom Collections" of Library materials to fill your needs. Books, computer software, magazines, videotapes, media kits, DVDs, or Playaways can all be included - depending on your needs! We may also have teaching material in our Parent Teacher Collection which you could use. This service is for you if...

• You are a teacher needing materials for an "Animal Habitats" or "Spring" or "Butterflies and Caterpillars" or "Indiana History" unit for your class
• You are a parent needing information on "Potty Training" or "Dinosaurs" for your child
• You are a college student needing information for a report about children's books
• You are a homeschooler needing support materials as you prepare your lesson plans