2011 Summer Reading Program

One World, Many Stories

Start your adventure here.

This summer’s reading theme is “One World, Many Stories”, and it will explore different cultures and peoples from around the globe.  Expand your horizon through reading about different cultures, lands, and people from those who have either traveled or lived there, as well as enjoy music, dance, games, and stories of other cultures through our summer long series of performers here at the library. 

How the Summer Reading Program will be structured:

1) First, the children must create their reading contract…

Make a promise or contract for summer reading with your “reading coach” (parent, other adult or older sibling) and set your reading goal for the summer.  Be as creative as you like!  Here are some ideas to get you started:

• Number of books I will read each week
• Number of pages I will read each week
• Minutes I will spend reading each week
• Number of books parent/other will read to me (for little ones)

2) Get Your Prizes…

Every week during the Summer Reading Program (starting Fri. 7/1), you can enter for a chance to win a prize!  Just visit the Children’s Room Desk and show us your progress in your reading log, and you can submit an entry into our weekly raffle.

3) Come to the Final Party!

• Wednesday, August 17^th at 11am
• The Great Baldini will perform magic and tricks from around the globe
• If you’ve completed your Reading Contract, you can receive your reading certificate and prize bag!

Scheduled Performers and Dates:

• July 6^th at 2pm: Diane Edgecomb, storyteller.  “Around the World Folktales”
• July 11^th at 11am:  Christopher Kavi. “Andiamo Tutti!” Celebrating Italy in Story and Song
• July 14^th at 11am: Greg Cooney, musician.  “One World, Many Stories, Songs and Smiles”
• July 20^th at 11am: Michelle Bach-Coulibaly.  “Stories from Mali (West Africa) Through Dance and   Music”
• July 25^th ay 2pm: Loreen Spears.  “Narragansett Stories of My Grandmothers”
• August 2^nd at 2pm:  Dave Marchetti.  “Animal Experiences from Around the World”
• August 9^th at 11am:  Ronald McDonald, “Ronald McDonald’s Reading Adventure Show!”
• August 17^th at 11am: Thomas Holmes, The Great Baldini.  “Magic Around the World 

 

Read to Feed.  

Q: Who is Heifer International? 

A: Heifer International is a global nonprofit with a proven solution to ending hunger and poverty in a sustainable way. Heifer helps empower millions of families to lift them out of poverty and hunger to self-reliance through gifts of livestock, seeds and trees and extensive training, which provide a multiplying source of food and income.

We can help feed the world!  Here’s how it works:

Every time you visit the library to fill out your Reading Contract, you will be given a token to put into a jar of your choosing of a “living gift”, such as a “Hive of Bees”, “Flock of Geese”, or a “Flock of Chicks”.  Your votes will help us choose which living gift to donate to Heifer International, which will then send our “living gifts” to people who can then use these gifts to make a living.

www.heifer.org for more information

The statewide Rhode Island Summer Reading Program is supported by the RI Office of Library and Information Services with funds from the Institute of Museum and Library Services, McDonald's Local Owner/Operators of Rhode Island, the Pawtucket Red Sox, Citizens Bank and Pepsi. Local support includes RI Children's and Young Adult Librarians, and the Friends of the Middletown Public Library.

New in the Children's Room

The new arrangement of the children's room

Whew!  We have been busy the past couple of months updating and adding new features to the children's room for our patrons to enjoy.  Some of the changes include:

• A new slatwall display area for new books, with another full slatwell display in the works to be installed in the coming months.  

• Our DVD collection has grown by leaps and bounds with the addition of over 100 new DVD's that have been purchased and donated, and we have also started an educational DVD collection, with such titles as Bill Nye the Science Guy, Disney Science Imagineering, Eyewitness, and Baby First.  

• A Spanish Language/ Bilingual collection has also been started for those who already speak Spanish or who are looking to learn the language.
• The room has been rearranged to be a more open and accessible space for patrons to move through while searching for their favorite books.

Both of our Toddler Time and Playful Preschoolers story time sessions are in full swing, and registration for the next sessions will soon be open.  Story times are scheduled until the end of the school year (June 28th) with drop-in story times continuing through the summer months of July and August.

The new slatwall display for newly purchased children's books

The first week of July will also kick-off our summer reading program, "One World, Many Stories", which will run from July 1st through August 17th.  More information on this fun summer program will soon be posted!

One of our story time sessions in the children's room

Children's artwork on display

If you haven't already stopped in to see all the changes taking place, please visit!

Paper Pilot Contest Awards

The Paper Pilot Contest Awards have been announced!  The winners were...everyone!  That's right, the 19 children who entered our Paper Pilot Contest received an award certificate and a $5 gift certificate redeemable for ice cream at Frosty Freez!



After looking at all of the entries, and recognizing all the effort that each child had put into their creations, we could not decide who would win.  So, we made the decision to reward every child who submitted a flying machine.  

This would not have been possible without the generous support of the Friends of the Library who stepped in and paid for the gift certificates.  Thank you, Friends!


All of the entries are now hanging on display in the Children's Room, visit us to see the creativity of all who entered.

School Vacation Week Events

Middletown Public Library Director, Theresa Coish, announces school vacation week programs and open-mike poetry event.  All events are free.

Where: 700 West Main Road, Middletown, RI.

For Children: Contact Candise Prewitt, 401-846-1573

 

Date: Tuesday, April 19, 2011, Time: 11AM

Science Magic, presented by the Boston Museum of Science. Tickets are available in the Children’s Room.

           

Date:  Friday, April 22, 2011, Time: 11AM

Earth Day storytime and craft, presented by author/illustrator, Wendy Taylor, who will be reading her new book, The Flower.  Books will be available for purchase and signing. Tickets are available in the Children’s Room.

Date:  Saturday, April 23, 2011 Time: 11AM

Rescheduled from last week - Paper Pilot Contest Awards Party. Sponsored by the Friends of the Middletown Public Library

For All Ages: Contact Theresa Coish, 401-846-1573

In Celebration of National Poetry Month – Readings by Ocean State Poets, followed by an open-mike.

            Date:  Saturday, April 23, 2011 Time: 1PM

Acclaimed poets Carol Anderhaggen, Heather Sullivan, David Dragone, and silent lotus will read their poems, followed by an open-mike session for all age groups.

Earth Day for Kids!

Copyright: Wendy Taylor

Local children's author and illustrator Wendy Taylor will be visiting the Middletown Public Library for a special story time of her book, "The Flower".  Following the story time there will be a special Earth Day craft of planting sunflowers to take home!

Beautifully illustrated, "The Flower" is a picture book of a lonesome flower who eventually finds many new friends.  This book will also be available for purchasing and autographing by the author.

Date: Friday, April 22

Time: 11:00 am

Ages: 4 and up

This program is free.   

Tickets are required for this program.  

To pick-up your tickets, please visit the Children's Room.

For more information, please call the Children's Room at 846-1573

Copyright: Wendy Taylor

Science Magic for Kids

Ever wonder how magic tricks really work? This program from the Boston Museum of Science investigates the science behind the "magic" of several classic magic tricks.  You might learn how to snatch a tablecloth without disturbing the items on top, make a balloon fireproof, and use electro magnetism to defy gravity.  For the grand finale, an educator will demonstrate how science can make it safe to lie down on a real bed of nails!

Date: Tuesday, April 19th

Time: 11am

Where: Middletown Public Library Meeting Room

This program is FREE!

Tickets are required 

Please pick up tickets in the Children’s Room

Call the Children’s Desk at 846-1573 for more info

Toddler Time

Toddler Time is designed for children 18-36 months who attend with a parent or adult caregiver.  In addition to stories, there are engaging finger plays, songs, simple crafts, and movement activities.  Following the story time, there are snacks and playtime for the toddlers, while parents and caregivers can socialize with one another. 

 

When: Thursdays at 11 am

 

This 4 week session begins on April 28th and runs til May 19th 

Limited to 15 toddlers, so please call or visit the Children’s Room at 846-1573 to register for this free program!