Flutterby Bits

April Showers…..

Spring is finally here!!  It has been a long, dreary winter. 

April has been a full of fun programming.  Story Time and Rhyme Time featured Easter egg hunts for the little ones.  There were plastic eggs filled with sweet treats hidden in the children’s story book shelves.  After sharing a few books and a few rhymes, each child was encouraged to see what they could find.  Hunting for colorful eggs is always a great activity for children. 

This past Monday, many kids enjoyed making their own superhero masks.

Our last Adventures in Nature program with the ISU Extension office, and Ashley Sherrets, was “Earth Day.”  We learned about recycling and upcycling.  Ashley guided us in exploring what can be done to upcycle items (change a discarded item into a usable item). We made bird feeders out of discarded plastic bottles and beautiful necklaces were created from old magazines or discarded paper. 

May 11^th the Adventures in Nature theme is “Insect Inspection.”  It starts at 6 pm.  I won’t bug you to join us, but it will be a buzzing good time.

Upcoming events will start to get us closer to the 2015 Summer Reading Program, “Every Hero has a story”.  A prequel and sequel are in the planning stages for this year.

The summer reading program begins June 1^st, so please watch the website for further information. 

We are always happy to see you. Join us soon.

Vonnie

Remember -

Story Time is on Wednesday mornings at 9:30am for the 2-5 year olds and

Rhyme Time is on Thursday mornings at 9:30am for the 0-2 year olds.

Flutterby Bits

Noodles, Forts, Wii and Flying!

There is never a dull Moment! 

I had a great time Monday evening with flying noodles and the ISU Extension Office “Health Hearty Snacks” program.

The ISU Extension office has been presenting “Adventures in Nature” programming on the second Monday evening of the month in the Community Room.

The last one was on “Health Hearty Snacks”.  It involved plenty of eye opening information on portion control, snack/sugar content and the unusual activity of flinging a wet noodle!  (Food Fight!)  It was not the norm per program….but you never know. 

It has been a great experience to be teaming up with these women.  The programs are open to children of all ages, but the activities are geared to those in grades K-5.  The next program is March 9^th at 6 pm.  There won’t be any noodles, but eagles will be the topic!

Friday Feb 20, from 5-7 PM, after hours, we will have Family Fort night.  Bring the blankets, sheets, and pillows to build your own family fort.  I’ve never had the experience of having my own fort in the library!  Not many can say that they have.  Now will be your chance!

Wii Games in the Community Room are on Feb 23 from 1-4 pm.  This is on a no school Monday, and all ages are welcome.  Form teams, have mini-tournaments and bring your friends.  I had the opportunity to try Wii dancing one afternoon – what a sight!  It is great fun and demands plenty of energy.

Flying?  Sure.  The summer reading program is in the works.  “Every Hero has a Story” is the theme this summer.  We are all heroes, flying or not.   Plenty of fantastic programming is planned for Summer 2015.  (Dan Wardell will be here to see us!) Watch for further information.

I am more than a little excited! 

Noodles, games, flying & forts can all be found at the Library. 

Check it during “Love your Library month!”

See you soon

Vonnie

Flutterby Bits

Early Literacy

During Rhyme Time, the Itsy Bitsy Spider is a favorite finger rhyme.

Talking, singing, reading, writing and playing are fun, easy ways to build early literacy skills.  I get to practice these activities with great helpers that know all about fun (and they are approximately 3 feet tall- or less).   These are some of my favorite times!!   And I get to spend a few hours doing this every week! 

What a lucky girl I am!!

All of these activities start to build and strengthen early literacy skills in the youngest of us all.

Talking helps to build oral language, one of the most critical early literacy skills.  Singing &/or rhyming increases children’s awareness to the sounds in words.  Writing begins with scribbles and helps children to understand that print represents words.

Give your child plenty of playtime.  This is when children use their imaginations.  It encourages development of narrative skills and the understanding that stories and books have a beginning, middle, and end. 

Reading together or shared reading is probably most effective way to help your child become an accomplished reader.

These skills all build on each other! Besides being fun, they are some of the benefits of Story Time and Rhyme Time.

What better door can we help to open for our young?  This doorway will be used for entire an lifetime. 

Story Time for the 2-5 year olds is on

Wednesday mornings from 9:30 to 10AM. 

 Rhyme Time for the 0-2year olds is on

Thursday mornings from 9:30 to 10AM.

  Give your child the beginning steps for reading, writing, and learning, the foundation and skills to help boost literacy.

Always great to see all the smiles, I hope to see yours soon. 

 

  Vonnie

  Children Services

Flutterby Bits

 Seasons Greetings!

Flying Reindeer?  What makes Reindeer Fly?  I've been curious about that. 

The Library had our Make n’ Take with Santa program on the 13^th of December; this is where some pretty good answers to the flying question were found.  I ask several of the attendees what they thought.  There were many great suggestions like magic, dust, Santa, reindeer food and Christmas spirit.  All great thoughts. 

I also wanted to know what Santa’s favorite cookie might be, and there were many good thoughts on this question, too.  The most popular answer was good old chocolate chip, of course.  Other popular ideas included chocolate, frosted cutout cookies with sprinkles, and hot cookies.  I did get a reliable hint that Santa has a sweet tooth for all cookies but has a special spot for molasses ginger cookies.  I think this grand fellow likes a tasty snack just like the rest of us. 

We had a wonderful time Saturday and hope you were able to join the fun.  Santa and Mrs. Claus were here to chat with all.  There were three crafts to be made.  We really had a nice turn out and plenty of huge smiles! (My favorite!)

However you celebrate the Holidays, I sincerely hope that they are filled with health, family, the spirit of Christmas, and maybe a good book!

  

See you soon!

Vonnie

Children’s Services 

PS:  Remember January Children’s Programming

Story time on Wednesday Mornings @ 9:30 for the 2-5 year olds

Rhyme time on Thursday Mornings @ 9:30 for the 0-2 year olds

And “Animal Trackers” with the Extension office on Monday Jan 12^th @ 6:30