Art programs for kids at the library

We have two art programs returning to the library in February and March. The first is Book Party, which was a successful storytime and craft program that ran last year during the spring, and is returning February 20th. Our first session was actually yesterday, and participants had a great time hearing two of Mo Willem’s pigeon books (Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus and The Pigeon Wants a Puppy).After the stories, each child made a set of fingerpuppets (a pigeon, duckling and Mad Cow) from the new activity book from the series: http://www.amazon.com/Dont-Pigeon-Finish-This-Activity/dp/1423133102/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1358462532&sr=8-1&keywords=dont+let+the+pigeon+finish. The kids had a blast coloring in their puppets and making them as “crazy” looking as they could.

Upcoming dates for future Book Party programs are: February 20th, March 20th, April 17th and May 15th. We meet in Fukaya Room A (with the exception of March, when we will be in the storytime theater). Program meets from 4-5 pm. All ages are welcome, but the stories and crafts are geared towards children ages 5-7 years old. Young children should have an adult helper present.

Our other returning program is Fun with Origami, run by our teen volunteer, Vanessa. Vanessa prepares two-three new origami projects each session and shows the kids how to fold them. Beacuse of the limited supply of paper, classes will be limited to 20 students, ages 8-10 years old. There is no registration for these classes, but you must pick up your free ticket at the Children’s Desk beginning at 3:45 pm the day of each program.

Origami Classes are on Thursdays, February 7th & 21st and March 7th & 21st. Classes are 4-5 pm in Fukaya Room A.

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My Infinity, Loop, Infinitely Loopy Scarves

                                              Pickles       Brian Crane     November 17, 2012

© Brian Crane, dist. by The Washington Post Writers Group – All Rights Reserved.  November 17, 2012 from www.gocomics.com

I don’t knit, but I crochet.  When my younger daughter recently voiced a wish to have one of those loop or infinity scarves, I quickly offered to crochet her one.  It has been decades since I last held a hook or completed a crochet project, but I still know how to make a few stitches and I figured a simple scarf would require just the basic ones.  Even better, I figured these scarves would not require turns to start each succeeding row.  Years ago I gave up on my last crochet project because, while I followed the pattern closely, I unknowingly kept adding stitches each time I started a new row and the work in progress no longer resembled any throw/table runner/bedspread (I forget) I was hoping to create.

After collecting the yarn and crochet hook and without the benefit of a pattern, I started the foundation chain and promptly lost count.  My daughter assured me that the foundation was just the right length, so I continued to add one row of single crochet, followed by several rows of double crochet stitches as time allowed.  I started with the black worsted yarn and finished one scarf.  Then I thought I could do better and started another one using navy blue chunky yarn.  See the finished scarves, each shown looped once.  I might as well be Opal in the comic strip.  If my daughter won’t use either scarf, then I’ll keep myself really warm with them.  Next time I will be smarter and follow a pattern I can manage.  I’ll search library shelves and the library’s online Hobbies and Crafts database, as well as its digital magazines.  And here’s wishing you all kinds of warmth this winter.

Black fleck infinity scarf, worsted

 

Navy blue infinity scarf, chunky

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Attention!! Diary of A Wimpy Kid’s Fans!!!

Greg Heffley is coming back to you in different ways now.

The third movie, Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Dog Days, landed in theaters on August 3.  The movie picks up the story where 2011′s Rodrick Rules left off and incorporates plot elements from the third and fourth titles (The Last Straw and Dog Days) in the book series.  In preparation for the theatrical release of Dog Days , Twentieth Century Fox Consumer Products has launched a national retail campaign, carrying a full range of Wimpy Kid products – bookmarks, book lights, and a prank kit (moldy cheese and flies in ice ~~ Yuck!!) in one of the nation-wide chain stores.   This makes it seem like Greg is everywhere around you.

The newest and seventh book, The Third Wheel, is scheduled to be published on November 13, with a first printing of more than 6.5 million copies.  It will be published nearly simultaneously in seven countries in Europe, Australia, and Asia.  If you would like to know whether Greg gets a date for the Valentine’s Day dance, you won’t want to miss this book.

The Wimpy Kid series has sold more than 75 million copies worldwide and is available in more than 41 countries so far. The two previous films based on the books have grossed nearly $150 million globally.  This is how popular Greg has become.

So now you know why you often couldn’t find him in the library.  If you want to meet him, hurry up and reserve your copy here.  Be aware that the waiting list is getting longer and longer now.  After you reserve it, just be patient and wait for your old friend to come back and meet with you.

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Dancing – with books

Just  for  fun

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Computer Age – the Good, the Bad and the Ugly

Well, I think we do come to this age of Computer.  Yes, there are so many things we can do on the computers; sometimes even more than what we can think of.  But - ever had days like these?? 

Don't you just hate the Technical Support lines??

Run for your life and your COMPUTER!

C'mon, go get a life!

Lol... poor kitty

You think you can control it? No way!

This is exactly how it looks under my desk !!

What a handy set up

I hope this hasn't happened to you yet .....

Been there, done that?  Yes, No, Maybe so??  I do hope these are not quite true for you.  Try to wean yourself from your computer for a while and come visit your library.  You’ll find treasures here. 

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Scavenger Hunt @ the Library

Can you find this in the Fremont Main library?

Can you figure out why it is where it is?

Those who submit a correct reponse by October 29th have a chance at a small prize!

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My favorite time of year is here…

       I love the changing seasons and Fall has always been my favorite season of them all. Fall is in the air and on my mind after a recent trip to the Dell’ Osso Family Farm in Lathrop. I spent a fun filled night with friends looking for that perfect pumpkin, getting lost in a corn maze and shooting mini pumpkins with their pumpkin blasters. I love the way Halloween always makes me feel like a kid again! I also love the creativity that abounds this time of year. I look forward to the fantastic costumes, yummy homemade treats, and of course the incredible pumpkin carving. I’m currently searching through library books to find new ideas for Halloween decorations and pumpkin carving. It’ll be hard to top my clown jack o’ lantern pictured above (yep, I carved that!) but I’m sure going to try. The library has quite a good selection of Halloween materials. If you would like to see what we have, take a look below:

Halloween costumes

Halloween decorating

Halloween cooking

 Pumpkin carving

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I never skip the comics page

Almost without fail, I read the newspaper in the morning.  I start with the front page and work my way through the different sections, at least skimming the articles beneath the headlines and always saving the comics page for last.  I never skip the comics page because there I find profound truths and observations. 

Uncover profundities in the library by browsing where the call numbers start with 741.5.

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Donald Duck

 Happy Birthday Donald Duck!

My favorite short-tempered duck made his debut on this day in 1934 in the Disney Silly Symphonies cartoon called The Wise Little Hen. According to Disney cannon June 9th is Donald’s official birthday. So let’s celebrate Donald Duck by watching his first movie below.

If you would like to learn more about Donald Duck check out the Disney Wiki page about him here.

Be sure to check out the Library’s collection of Donald Duck books and movies here.

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National Hamburger Day!

Here we are at the start of the Memorial Day Weekend, the unofficial start of summer.  What could be more appropriate at this time of year than to celebrate National Hamburger Day?  Break out your grill, and fire it up.  While you are waiting for those coals to get ready, you might want to read a little bit about the history of the hamburger.  According to several sites I looked at, the invention of the hamburger is clouded in some confusion, and, of course, controversy. Most of the information in this article can be found on About.com’s  Barbeques and Grilling site hosted by Derrick Riches.  Here is the link to the site if you want to read more:http://bbq.about.com/cs/hamburgers/a/aa070597.htm

The origin of the hamburger goes all the way back to Medieval times, when the Tartars used to put beef slabs under their saddle which would tenderize it while they rode, and then they would eat this meat raw.

In the 19th century, German immigrants brought a dish they called Hamburg style beef to the U. S. This may be the origin of the name hamburger.  The modern hamburger is thought to go back  to the late 19th century.  Who made the first  hamburger as we know it is where the controversy comes in. One story says that a Louis Lassen made the first hamburger somewhere around 1895 for a hurried customer at his restaurant.  Others claim it was Charles Nagreen or the Menches brothers who made the first hamburger around 1885 at local fairs.  Who knows? Fast food distribution of hamburgers started in 1921 with White Castle burgers. In 1934, WimpyBurgers appeared.  Then in the late 30′s Bob’s Big Boy introduced the double burger. Hamburgers became more popular with the introduction of the drive-in reataurant.

Hamburgers have become an American obsession, right along with Mom and apple pie.   According to the article in About.com,  most Americans eat 3 hamburgers per week.  And McDonalds has sold an amazing 12 hamburgers for every person in the world!

So no matter how you like them: with relish or mayonaise, mustard or cheese or ketchup, broiled or grilled, with or without the bun, enjoy that hamburger this weekend!

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