It's Been a Circus Around Here!

Circus Time Illustrated by one of my faves, Tibor Gergely, was (and still is) one of my favorite books. I have vivid memories from childhood of the circus coming to town every summer. They arrived by train and paraded through town, right past my house, and then to the edge of town, where they set up the tents. One morning, at dawn, my mother came into my bedroom and told me to follow her. She helped me peek out the window and to my amazement, there was a parade of elephants, giraffes, camels, and circus people. I will never forget that magical memory.

 I have always loved any illustration by Tibor Gergley. I keep my copy of the book in my nightstand drawer and look at it often. Inspirations struck and I decided we could recreate a circus at our library to cheer up the families suffering from cabin fever.So..................................
we had a Big Top Breakfast this morning with cereal

                                                                       and juice

                              then we made clown shoes and blew bubbles and did clown dances

then we bouced some balls on a parachute!

Next week---------------
a Lion tamer Luncheon,
and a Three Ring Circus in the evening complete with snow cones and a clown.

Wish Tibor Gergely could have been here to enjoy it with me.

Summer Ice Idea

Last summer we did a program with a local business called Messes and Masterpieces. We collected plastic bottle caps for most of the summer and then had a wonderful afternoon in August making some beautiful mosaics.

This summer I might try ice sculpture. I used to make these with my children and it was so much fun. It would really be a fun way to cool off this summer.

Super Simple Sweet Teen Program

Holding an Un-Valentines Day Party has become an annual event for my T.A.B. group. This year we decided on candy sushi and it was a blast! So simple. Just researched the "recipes", purchased the goods, and when the day came, just laid the table and they went at it.

The perfect recipe for food, fun, creativity, something with sugar, and an opportunity to just let the program unfold. We will certainly do this again, as attendance was much larger than usual for a teen program. Sadly, there were no Twinkies left over for me (which was probably a blessing in disguise).

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.