Winter Afterschool Programs: Week #2 of Painting Sampler Platter Photos

Each participant in Week #2 of the Painting Sampler Platter had the opportunity to check out a variety of art-related books, as well as take home additional information about the artists on whom we focused.

Lots of great art books!

This week's artists included Frida Kahlo and Henri Matisse.

Then we got to business with our own interpretation of each artist's hallmark style.

First, we tried our skills at drawing self-portraits with colored pencils.

The results were unique and beautiful!

More self-portraits at Fredericktown.

Some fantastic landscapes were created, as well.

An amazing product from PSP!

After self-portraits, we created Matisse-like paper collages.

Some kids thought seasonally...

While others adopted a more abstract, but equally eye-catching, approach.

A collaborative collage-in-progress at Ste. Genevieve.

Keep reading!


Shaen

Winter Afterschool Programs: Week #2 of Painting Sampler Platter!

Hopefully, the weather will cooperate with us a bit more this week than last, as we continue our exploration of art in Week #2 of our Painting Sampler Platter Afterschool program!  This week, we'll learn about Henri Matisse and Frida Kahlo and make colorful paper collages and self-portrait sketches.

A complete schedule can be found in the left-hand column of this blog, or you can call or visit the front desk of your local library to register and get more details.  All afterschool programs are recommended for grade schoolers, grades 1 through 5, although you can check with a library staff member if you have a younger or older child who might like to attend.

And if your Ozark Regional branch isn't included in the program schedule, don't worry!  You can pick up a craft kit at your convenience just by visiting the front desk of your library branch any time during the month of December.

Call your library with any questions, or send us an email through the Youth Department blog!

Keep reading!

Shaen

Winter Afterschool Programs: Week #1 of Painting Sampler Platter Photos

Artists referenced for the first week of the Painting Sampler Platter included Pablo Picasso and Jackson Pollock.  Kids could visit the information table for artist bios and art-related take-home activities, as well as for drawing and crafting books to check out.

After a brief introduction to both artists and their style of work, everyone got busy creating!

A Cubist masterpiece.

More wacky fun with Cubism.

Another Picasso-esque piece.

And another gem.

At the Pollock station, kids tried their hands at action painting by flinging, smearing, and dripping paint on their cardstock canvases.

A work in progress.

Look at the gorgeous use of space and color!

Works of art waiting to dry.

A few more creative pieces.

Referencing a different artist, does anyone see shades of a Starry Night...?

And a few more from our Annapolis branch.

This one is called "Messy Cat" :)

Look at the great texture!

Keep reading!

Shaen

Winter Afterschool Programs: Painting Sampler Platter

Come on out of the cold!  Join us for our upcoming Winter Afterschool programs, happening at the Ironton, Ste. Genevieve, Fredericktown, and Annapolis libraries over the first two weeks of December!  This season, we're hosting a Painting Sampler Platter, in which kids learn about different artists and then create their own imitative masterpieces.  The first week of December, we'll explore the techniques of Pablo Picasso and Jackson Pollock, and during the second week, we'll learn about Henri Matisse and Frida Kahlo.

A complete schedule can be found in the left-hand column of this blog, or you can call or visit the front desk of your local library to register and get more details.  All afterschool programs are recommended for grade schoolers, grades 1 through 5, although you can check with a library staff member if you have a younger or older child who might like to attend.

And if your Ozark Regional branch isn't included in the program schedule, don't worry!  Your library will be receiving a giant box of craft kits in the next few weeks.  You can pick up your craft kit at your convenience just by visiting the front desk of your library branch any time during the month of December.

Call your library with any questions, or send us an email through the Youth Department blog!

Keep reading!

Shaen

Belleview School Tour

We've been on break from story time this week, but that doesn't mean that we're not keeping busy here at the library!  Yesterday, the Ironton library staff enjoyed a visit from the Belleview school district's kindergarten through third grade classes (plus a few parents and teachers!).  After a fun (and noisy!) opening song and a brief tour of the library and children's collection, we all headed back to the conference room to read the ever-popular Pete the Cat: I Love My White Shoes...

and then used our imaginations and coloring skills to craft some cool kicks, just like Pete.

We Love Our Library Shoes!

Don't forget!  We're back for week 5 of story time, starting Monday, and we'll be focusing on polar bears (and going ice fishing for our game!).  Miss Pat and I will look forward to seeing you then!


Keep reading!

Shaen

Juvenile Fiction Picks

Looking for a good book?

Book cover images and summaries from Goodreads.

A Hero for WondLa by Toni DiTerlizzi- Eva Nine has finally found what she has always been looking for: other human beings. Having been rescued by Hailey, Eva couldn't be happier, and now Hailey is taking Eva and her friends to the human colony New Attica, where humans of all shapes and sizes live in apparent peace and harmony. But all is not as idyllic as it seems.

Ungifted by Gordon Korman- The word gifted has never been applied to a kid like Donovan Curtis. It's usually more like Don't try this at home. So when the troublemaker pulls a major prank at his middle school, he thinks he's finally gone too far. But thanks to a mix-up by one of the administrators, instead of getting in trouble, Donovan is sent to the Academy of Scholastic Distinction (ASD), a special program for gifted and talented students.

The Miniature World of Marvin & James by Elise Broach- In this Masterpiece Adventure from bestselling author Elise Broach, James is going on vacation for a week. His best friend, Marvin the beetle, has to stay at home. Without James to keep him company, Marvin has to play with his annoying cousin, Elaine. Marvin and Elaine quickly find themselves getting into all sorts of trouble—even getting trapped inside a pencil sharpener! But more importantly, will James still be Marvin's friend when he gets home or will he have found a new best friend?

Keep reading!

Shaen

Picture Book Picks

Looking for a good book?

Book cover images and summaries from Goodreads.

Creepy Carrots! by Aaron Reynolds- The Twilight Zone comes to the carrot patch in this clever picture book parable about a rabbit who fears his favorite treats are out to get him.

I Need My Own Country! by Rick Walton- When in the course of childhood events, it becomes necessary for one (small) person to create a separate and equal hiding spot to which the laws of growing up entitle them, the truth will be self-evident: they should declare their very own country!

Each Kindness by Jacqueline Woodson- Chloe and her friends won't play with the new girl, Maya. Maya is different--she wears hand-me-downs and plays with old-fashioned toys. Every time Maya tries to join Chloe and her gang, they reject her. Eventually, Maya plays alone, and then stops coming to school altogether. When Chloe's teacher gives a lesson about how even small acts of kindness can change the world, Chloe is stung by the lost opportunity for friendship, and thinks about how much better it could have been if she'd shown a little kindness toward Maya.

Keep reading!

Shaen

July Contest Winners for Ironton Headquarters

Congratulations to all of the kids and teens who participated in our July Contest Month!  For the Ironton Headquarters, winners were as follows:

Coloring Contest (age 3-6 category):
1st place- Braeden Oberle
2nd place- Braelyn Turnbough
3rd place- Knox Beard
Honorable Mention- Connor Oberle

"My Favorite Book" Contest (age 7-14 category):
1st place- Chelsie Rice
2nd place- Hanna Rice

Branch winners will be announced next week.

Keep reading!

Shaen

Ironton Back to School Fair

What a great time Miss Pat and I had at today's Back to School Fair at Ironton!  Over the course of about four hours, we registered 47 new library cards!  Check out a sampling of pictures below!

We had a selection of giveaway books for participating families.

The event brought in a steady stream of activity.

Miss Pat and Miss Shaen getting ready for the next round of kiddos!

Registering patrons for new library cards.

Registering patrons for new library cards.

Keep reading!

Shaen

Closing Party (Use Your Senses, Scientist!)

Check out all the fun pictures from Monday's Closing Party!  Our fledgling scientists conducted experiments on the five senses: sight, smell, touch, taste, and hearing.

In this hearing game, one kid (in the center of the circle) was dubbed "the listener".  He had to close his eyes and then identify which friend in the circle was clapping.  After he identified a few, he had to repeat the experiment with one ear covered.  Without the use of both ears to hear, it was much tougher to identify the direction the clapping was coming from.  We learned that our ears work in tandem.

Holding our nose while tasting dried fruit to see how how sense of taste and smell work together (or in this case, don't work together!) to create what we call "flavor".

Crafting paper thaumatropes.

Crafting paper thaumatropes.

The thaumatropes feature a bird on one disc and a birdcage on the opposite.  When we spin the discs, our eyes are tricked into seeing an optical illusion: the bird is suddenly in the cage!

We practicing throwing and catching with our eyes open, and then with one eye closed.  Guess what?  Our depth perception was affected and we missed more tosses with one eye shut!

Kids tried to identity objects in the drawstring bag by touch only and no visual.

Keep reading!

Shaen

Back to School Fair TODAY!

After lots of prep work this week, we're ready for the Ironton Back-to-School Fair!  The Fair will be at First Baptist Church of Ironton and run from 10-2:30 pm today.  Stop by and see Miss Pat and me- we'll be signing families up for new library cards, handing out giveaway books, and passing out goody bags to the kids!

A view of the library conference room yesterday.  We now have 150 goody bags ready to go!

Keep reading!

Shaen

Story Time #3- The Science of Nature

This week's story time session focused on nature!  We learned all about interesting and unusual animals of the ocean, jungle, and forest; played a jumping click beetle game; and wove paper plate spider webs for our craft. 

A few book selections for the week.

Jumping clothespin "click beetles".  The clothespins make the same clicking noise and somersault motion that the beetles do!

More click beetles!

Working on weaving.

Craft at Cuba.

Craft at Ste. Genevieve.

Finished spider webs (and teensy plastic spiders!) at Ironton.

We finished up our Ironton session with puzzle fun!

Keep reading!

Shaen