Closing Party- Astronaut Camp!

We're wrapping up the summer by shooting for the stars!  We had phenomenal turnouts for our Astronaut Camp yesterday, where kids got to explore life as an astronaut by visiting different learning stations.  They even got to sample authentic freeze-dried ice cream, just like the kind astronauts really eat in space!

Station #1: All kids got a chance to look like they were blasting off into space in our paper rocket ship.

Station #2: Testing our motor skills while wearing a clumsy "spacesuit".

Station #2: Testing our motor skills while wearing a clumsy "spacesuit".

Station #3: Dropping rocks in sand to simulate the way that asteroids make moon craters.

Station #4: Making paper tube rockets!

Station #5: A few of the finished rockets.

Station #5: Any child who completed Stations 1-4 got to sample Astronaut Ice Cream!

Keep reading!

Shaen

Summer Story Time #3- Wishes

The theme for the third and final week of summer story time was "Wishes"!  We read When Dinosaurs Came With Everything by Elise Broach and David Small (wouldn't you wish for a dinosaur for a pet?!), tried our skill at tossing coins in "wishing wells", and decorated magic genie lamp cutouts with markers and stick-on jewels. 

Our book choice for the week.

We tossed coins in "wishing wells" for our game.

Working on making our genie lamps.

Keep reading!

Shaen

Teresa T.- Magical Dreams!

Back by popular demand, magicianess, Teresa T., put on another great set of programs for Ozark Regional.  Teresa's show, Magical Dreams, incorporated theater, storytelling, puppets, miming, slapstick comedy, sleight-of-hand, and more.

Showing off her puppetry (and drama!) skills for a group at Ironton Headquarters.

Keep reading!

Shaen

Elsenpeter Marionettes: Hansel and Gretel

The last two days, Ozark Regional has hosted Richard Elsenpeter from Elsenpeter Marionettes at six of our branches.  Richard put on a great show- Hansel and Gretel- for the crowds, charming his audience with classic storytelling, handcrafted marionettes, special effects, and a rare, old-world style of puppetry that originally began in Elen, Germany.

Richard talking to the kids about puppetry at Ironton.

Stumbling upon the witch's gingerbread house at our Steelville branch.

And don't forget!  Back by popular demand, hilarious magician, Teresa T., will be visiting our Steelville, Ironton, Ste. Genevieve, and Fredericktown branches on Thursday and Friday.  You won't want to miss out!  Check the clickable July calendar image in the left-hand column of this blog for specific times.

Keep reading!

Shaen

Summer Story Time #2- Nocturnal Animals

"Nocturnal Animals" was the theme for our second week of summer story time.  We read Owl Moon by Jane Yolen and John Schoenherr, Owl Babies by Martin Waddell and Patrick Benson, and Bats at the Ballgame by Brian Lies.  The kids had a blast  inventing a silly summer adventure story together and painting glow-in-the-dark bats.

A couple of our book choices.

Adding yellow and green glow paint to our bats.

Some of the finished bats were smiley, instead of spooky.

Keep reading!

Shaen

Fancy Nancy Program

Our Fancy Nancy program was a smashing success!  Check out the pictures below to see all the fancy fun:

For those who weren't familiar with Fancy Nancy, we read the first book.

After raiding the library costume box, we got ready to play a game of Fancy Bingo.

Trying to get five-in-a-row in Fancy Bingo!

We made sparkly wands for our craft.

 

Each participant took home some yummy snacks.

Keep reading!

Shaen

Fancy Nancy Program- Sneak Peek!

I just thought I'd give everyone a sneak peek of the Fancy Nancy program we had at our Ironton Headquarters yesterday... more pictures are on the way!

We got creative with markers, glitter, and ribbon to make some fancy star wands!

Keep reading!

Shaen

July Contest Month

July Contest Month is here, and with it, the chance to win cool prizes and some recognition in your local newspaper!  Just stop by the library any time before July 31, pick up your contest sheets, and get creative!  Any 3-6 year olds can participate in the Coloring Contest, while the "My Favorite Book" Contest is reserved for 7-14 year olds. 

If you don't have time to stop by the library soon, you can also check out the rules and this year's coloring page below:

July 2012 Coloring Contest Rules Sheet.

July 2012 Coloring Contest Coloring Page.



July 2012 "My Favorite Book" Contest Rules.

Keep reading!

Shaen