Announcing Fall Performances!

Percussionist Rocky Maffit

 

 

September begins a new season for Prairie Breezes Mini Concerts for Kids.  This is a children's music series designed to introduce children to live, quality musical performances, most often occuring on the second Friday of the month from 4:15-5:00 p.m. in the Lewis Auditorium.  Percussionist Rocky Maffit will kick-off the season on Friday, September 14 with "The Rhythm is YOU!" featuring percussion instruments from around with world that can be shaken, struck, slapped or scraped.  Rocky interweaves playing and demonstration with song and audience participation.  In October, The Derek Cordoba Jazz Trio - Derick Cordoba (guitar), Olivia Flanigan (vocals) and Michael Meadows (acoustic bass) - brings swinging rhythms and irresistible melodies together for jazz favorites from the great American songbook.  As the weather turns colder, come inside to enjoy the warming tunes of the Big Bluestem String Band on Friday, November 9.  Bringing toe-tapping traditional American music to this concert will be Kathleen Everingham (fiddle), Rebecca Grosser (guitar), Jose Agusti (guitar), Drew Phillips (mandolin), Randy Cordle (banjo), and Todd Kinney (bass).  Then just in time for the winter holidays, join us on Friday, December 14 for a performance of harp music and Irish dance by the Caengal Harp Ensemble, an energetic group of youth harpists from the Next Generation School, and founded by Leila Ramagopal.  We hope you are excited as we are to hear these great performers.  We look forward to seeing you!  -Elaine B.

Meeting Children's Book Authors

Every year, the Children's Department hosts a five-week Children's Literature class from Millikin University's PACE program.  The PACE program utilizes a rigorous two-year night class format to prepare pre-service teachers for the classroom in local area schools.  One of the most exciting nights of class is when everyone shares a learning center, created to introduce K-8 students to a children's book author.  Here are just a few of the fun projects from the most recent class that ended in May: 

You might be interested to know that Nic Bishop, April Pulley Sayre, and Candace Fleming will be coming to town for the Youth Literature Festival next fall.  Everyone is invited to the free community day on Saturday, October 6, 2012 at the I-Hotel.  As a part of the festival, The Urbana Free Library will be hosting bilingual author Pat Mora on Thursday, October 4 - more details to follow.  -Elaine B.

Battle of the Books Club

 

Are you getting ready for the Urbana school's Battle of the Books?  Have you read all the books but want some practice, or do you want to hear about some of the books you haven't read? 

On January 13th from 11:00-12:00 every book battler is invited come discuss  Adventures in Cartooning, Bunnicula, Butterflies and Moths, Bad News for Outlaws, and The Mostly True      Adventures of Homer P. Figg.  We will take a look at the books and practice answering questions.  There will be snacks to help fuel our book brains.   - Lauren C.

Acting with Reader's Theater

Drama, drama, drama .
Have you ever wanted to be on stage or try acting?  Then come to the library Saturday, December 3rd.  From 10 a.m. - 11 a.m. in the Lewis Auditorium, there will be scripts and props for Reader's Theater.  With Reader's Theater no practice is necessary.  Children read from a script while they act.  There will be three different scripts to choose from and everyone can try multiple parts.  So bring your best actor voice and get ready to break a leg! For grades 3-5. - Lauren C.

Friday Afternoon Think Books & Music!

Starting today at 5 p.m. is the Friends of the Library Fall Booksale.  Thousands of books are available, including children's titles.  Most everything is priced 50 cents to a dollar.  It continues tomorrow (Friday - 9-5:30), Saturday (9-5:30) and Sunday (1-4:30), with a free giveaway Monday morning at 9 a.m. 

After you stop at the booksale, come on down to the Children's Department for a family concert by Grassroots Revival - an Americana/Bluegrass Duo from 4:15 - 5:00 p.m. on Friday afternoon.  Jones and JamieLou will share songs featuring vocals, banjo, guitar, autoharp, and more.  You might even want to take some home with you like the cd I Like Bluegrass Songs.  -Elaine B.

Doodle Dee Do!

There are different ways to tell a story.  Some books use words.  Other books use pictures.  Some of my favorite books use both.  Recently, a friend shared Doodlebug with me, a novel that is told with doodle pictures and words.  I thought it was so unusual - not exactly a graphic novel like Squish by Jennifer and Matthew Holm, and not exactly a journal like Amelia's Notebook by Marissa Moss.  Instead, the author/illustrator Karen Romano Young illustrates even the words - just like the cover on the left - to tell the story, filling each page completely. 

If you like to make up stories with words or pictures or both, don't miss Doodle Dee Do - a Write On! creative writing workshop for kids third through fifth grade.  We'll meet two afternoons next week to work on our own books and learn how Karen Romano Young creates her doodle stories.  You can register by calling 367-4069 or going to the library's e-calendar .  Hope to see you there!  -Elaine B.

Dog Days of Summer



Noodles listens patiently to Mo Willems' book Cat the Cat, Who is That?


Has your summer gone to the dogs?  Last Thursday, June 16 the auditorium was invaded by furry four-footed friends who were as excited to see as as we were to see them!  Mocha, Dash, Raven and Noodles listened to stories and enjoyed being the center of attention!  For this program, the library partners with local therapy dog teams and the Champaign County Humane Society.  Read to the Dogs is based on the idea that pairing a friendly, non-judgmental animal with the hard work of reading creates a relaxed and enjoyable atmosphere that supports learning.  Watch our fall calendar for another visit from our friends.  In the meantime, enjoy one or more of the fabulous thirty-seven programs on our July calendar!  We've got something for everyone! 
Ruff! -Elaine B.

Lights! Camera! Action!



Getting just the right picture



 During four Tuesdays in April, five groups of kids gathered in the Children's Department to work with Jeff Ginger and several volunteers from the Graduate School of Library and Information Science and Tap In Leadership Academy to make Stop Motion videos.   After learning about the process, each group wrote their own scripts, created scenes, took pictures and edited their results in Microsoft Movie Maker.  Follow these three links to see some of the great stories created by kids just like you!  A-maze-ing by James, Hanna & Sarah ; Penguin'Stuffed  by Nishant, Sage & Will ;  Princess May and the Evil Rosebud by Nick, Rebekah, Cara & Sadie ; and The Wrestling Match by Alayah, Jaylece & Amir.

Enjoy!   -Elaine B.


Setting the scene with wires



Rigging the stuffed star





Editing the photographs

Using the movie editing software



  

    































Mysterious Happenings

Do you like mysterious stories?  First, you will want to read Dying to Meet You by the fabulous sibling duo of Kate and M. Sarah Klise.  As they did with their first novel, Regarding the Fountain, the authors tell their story through a series of letters, notes, news articles and more.  Next, if you are in grades 3 and up, you will want to register for Write On!, a creative writing workshop led by librarian Elaine Bearden, beginning next Monday, October 18.  We will create our own mysterious stories during this four-day writing workshop.  You may sign-up through the library's e-calendar or by calling 367-4069.  -Elaine B.

Fall Programs Are in the Air

Fall is here. There's a chill in the air. So, come on over to the Urbana Free Library's warm, friendly, children's department. We have some great programs planned for October. You won't want to miss an Author Talk by local author Alice McGinty or our Fall Themed Toddler Time or the special Wee Love Music program.
In addition, there will be a week long session of Write On and a Mad Scientist Workshop for school age children. Also, bring a book to exchange at the Paperback Book Swap. See our October calendar for more fun programs. Hope to see you soon at the Urbana Free Library. Janet R.

Fun Programs in the Children's Department

It's been a wonderful summer filled with great programs here at the Urbana Free Library Children's Department. In July, over 1300 people attended our children's programs! And, there are more fun programs coming up in August including Bubble Blast, Sidewalk Chalk, Bedtime Toddler Time , Second Saturday Story Time, and Art Lessons for Children. Plus, our regular weekly programs continue such as our very popular Babies Lap Time on Tuesday mornings, Preschool Story Time on Thursday mornings, and Chess Club every Saturday afternoon. So, bring your kids to the Urbana Free Library Children's Department in August to join in the fun! Janet R.