How Many Librarians Does It Take To Make A Splash ?

Yesterday was our systemwide Summer Library Program Workshop. One of the fun and interesting activities was to make a wave and a splash with a trifle bowl full of water. Wet your fingers, and then press on the rim of the bowl as you circle around the rim until you see vibrations, and then---SPLASH!

We also made waterpark "machines" using people. One person chose a movement and did it continuously, and then one by one others "hooked on" with their own movement idea.

There was an activity that incorporated creative dramatics, symbolism, painting, and drawing. Some of the results were beautiful.

Now it's time to start planning for summer in earnest. I have an amazingly creative and energetic new assistant named Cynthia. I just can't wait to brainstorm and create some wonderful new ways to make our library a welcoming and exciting place.

P.S. Isn't this umbrella jellyfish just the coolest thing ever?

Magic Sand Castles

Magic Sand Castles
Originally uploaded by anotherfaceinthecrowd

I thought it might be fun to make sand castles this summer for our water theme. You can make sand castles that will last forever if you use my recipe!

Forever Sand Castle Sand

2 cups of sand from the beach or garden center
1 cup of water
1 cup cornstarch
Pans
Spoons
Stove

Mix the ingredients over low heat until it thickens. When the mixture cools it can be molded into shapes---think monsters, sea creatures, just imagine. Allow your creations to dry and voila...........forever and ever sand scupture.

Now......if I could just be on a beach in a place with sunshine...........ahhhhhh.

All Kinds of Princess

                                   A princess comes in many different shapes, sizes, and colors.

                                                Some wheel in automatically on their throne,

                                                             some are full of jumping beans,

                                                                     others are quiet.
                                                                            
          We had a variety of princesses at the T.A.B. sponsored Disney Princess Party last night.

They arrived in time to enjoy being bejewleld by the T.A.B. girls. Everyone was then treated to a class in princess etiquette and enjoyed playing a game with Cinderella's slipper.

                                             Refreshements fit for royalty were served.

                                      Apple slices, sparkly magic wands made out of pretzels,

and mice made of cheese with tails of chive.

Everyone danced until the clock struck eight and all the tired royalty went home to bed, with dreams of a fairy tale fun evening, shared with friends.

My Beautiful Kazoo

As a child I spent many, many, maybe too many, hours humming with a comb covered with wax paper. My early musical education came from three important influences. First: I was an enthusiastic student of Miss Frances Ding Dong School (yes---that was really the name) and she taught me to hum. Second: My father was a talented musician and played in a drum and bugle corp for the first six years of my life. I acted as both roadie AND groupie. Third: Our local high school band practiced marching and playing in the field behind our house which I found quite inspirational.The band director, Mr. Sabaka, was amazed that I was able to learn the entire Rock Around the Clock field routine before I entered school. I marched along side the band until I was old enough for kindergarten and was forced to give up both the comb and my field side band rehersals.

Today we celebrated National Kazoo Day for our Early Out Program at the library.The high school band director and a few of his students taught the audience of elementary school students, along with some parents and siblings, how to kazoo. It was loud, noisy, giggley, and tons of fun. I suspect there will be lots of humming in homes around town tonight.

As for me, I plan on perfecting Flight of the Bumblebee and Beethoven's Fifth Symphony. I will be available for weddings, funerals, receptions, or events of any kind.

Ready? Hummmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm

* when I was able to join the high school band in an official capacity, Mr. Sabaka was still the band director and we still did the Rock Around the Clock routine which ( of course) I already knew, after logging all those preschool hours.

Snow Business on Monday

Monday is usually a rough day for me...........you know.........the much anticipated weekend is over too quickly, it is frigid winter weather, and now it is M-O-N-D-A-Y. I used to be a Monday grouch.....think Garfield. I changed my Monday grouch to a wonderful start to the week by scheduling my Baby Walker Storytime on Monday's at 10:00. Having happy babies and their grateful parents makes Monday morning better.

Today I set up play stations with snow ( it looked rather odd to see me with a shovel scooping up snow to bring INdoors, but he staff is used to seeing me do unusal things), rice with sand toys, Duplos, an igloo, shaving cream to fingerpaint, flannelboard,and toys that promote skills.

We enjoyed refreshments in a little cafe' I set up in the storytime room. Yummers!

I loved the idea of these tortilla snowflakes! Just warm the tortilla to make it pliable, then fold like you would if you were making a paper snowflake. Cut out a design and then crisp it on a griddle and sprinkle powdered sugar or cinnamon and sugar on the tortilla.

Today was a very good Monday.