School Age: Crayon Resist

On September 24th school age children heard a fall story and made crayon resist paintings.

The story read was The Little House by Virginia Lee Burton.



What you need: crayons, paper, water colors, brushes, and water.



First have the children draw pictures with the crayons. Have them make thick lines and press down really hard when they draw. To get the best effect use light colored crayons.



Second mix dark water colors with plenty of water to dilute them. Then have the children paint over their crayon drawings with the water colors. The crayon drawing will resist the water color and will show through the paint.



To find different variations on how to do crayon resist simply google crayon resist and you will get several ideas.

Toddler Story Time

On September 24, toddlers listened to music, stories, and made a craft.

Music used: It's Toddler Time, Toddler Tunes, Storytime, and Jim Gill Sings Do Re Mi.



Books used:

Finger Rhymes by Marc Brown
The Very Busy Spider by Eric Carle
Daisy's Favorite Things by Jane Simmons
Duckie's Rainbow by Frances Barry



Craft: Trees

On a piece of construction paper draw the base of a tree. Glue on pieces of tissue paper for the top of the tree. All the crafts turned out great.

Fall Pre-School Story Hour Begins

The six week pre-school story hour sessions began on September 22, 2009. Children 3 to 5 years old listened to music, stories, and made a really cool craft. I didn't get pictures of the pre-schoolers but the Toddlers did a similar craft and I have pictures of them to show.

Music used: Birthday Songs: Games & Fun for Your Party! and Classic Nursery Rhymes

Books used:

Black? White! Day? Night! A book of Opposites by Laura Vaccaro Seeger
Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs by Judi Barrett
Joseph Had a Little Overcoat by Simms Taback
Tuesday by David Wiesner

Craft: Trees

Popcorn Fun

Also on September 16 was a family program at 6pm. It was all about popcorn. Orville Redenbacher was born in Valparaiso Indiana. Every year Valpo has a popcorn fest. I went to the parade this year and it was really cool. In past years the floats had to be made out of popcorn but I don't think that rule applies anymore but some of the floats were made out of popcorn. I think September is National Popcorn month. I had Orville Redenbacher popcorn to taste test and it is very good. We also made popcorn hands.

I'm not sure where I originally found this idea but if you Google popcorn hands there are several websites to choose from. You need clear plastic gloves, I found these treat bags shaped like hands at the Dollar Tree. I liked these because they had the skeleton bones on them but if you use the gloves they are just as cute and they rip less easily. You need popcorn, candy corn, other candy such as M&M's, Skittles, or Reeses Pieces, yarn, and spider rings (optional).

To assemble I find it is helpful to have the popcorn and candy in bowls. I like to put a piece of candy corn or M&M's at the end of each finger tip. It makes it look like finger nails. Then stuff the glove with popcorn and candy until you reach the top. Tie it off with the yarn. I like to take spider rings, break the ring at the bottom, and place over a finger so your hand is wearing a ring. These are really fun to make for Halloween parties.

Pre-Teens: Yarn Art

On September 16 we made yarn art. We made bowls to be exact. All you need to make your own yarn bowl is a Styrofoam bowl, glue, scissors, and yarn. Cut the yarn into strips and glue the strips to the inside and the outside of the bowl. It's that easy. From the pictures below you can see that each bowl has a different pattern. These bowls turned out fantastic.

Toddler Story Time

September 10th at 10:30 was out toddler story time. Two to three year olds accompanied by a caregiver heard stories, sang songs, and made a simple craft.

Books Used:

Baby Colors by Rachel Hale
Maisy's Fire Engine by Lucy Cousins
Shhhhh! Everybody's Sleeping by Julie Markes

Action Rhyme/Songs:

I'm a Little Teapot from 52 Programs for Preschoolers

Nursery Rhymes:

Jack and Jill and Pat-a-Cake Pat-a-Cake from First Picture Nursery Rhymes by Usborne

Songs played:

Top of the Morning, If You're Happy and You Know It, and Teddy Bear from It's Toddler Time by Carol Hammett and Elaine Bueffel

Craft: Leaf Rubbings

Place a leaf under a piece of paper and then rub a crayon over where the leaf is. The pattern of the leaf will show on the paper.

Cool Kids Celebration

To help celebrate Cool Kids Have a Library Card Month we invited children of all ages and their families to come to the library to hear stories, make a craft, and eat cake. What's a celebration without cake?

The kids got to make bookmarks and book covers. We had a really good time.

I didn't have a chance to take a picture of the cake before it looked like this. So this is the half eaten Cool Kids cake that was enjoyed by all. It was very good cake.

Upcoming Programs in September

Toddler Story Time

Sept. 10&24 Thurs. at 10:30am. Toddlers, 2 to 3 year olds, accompanied by a caregiver will hear stories, songs, create finger plays, and make a simple craft in this 1/2 hour program please register.

Pre-Teens: Yarn Art

Sept. 16, Wed. at 4:30pm. Pre-teens, 9-14 year olds, will make bowls and pictures with yarn. This art form comes from Northwest Mexico. Please Register.

Popcorn Fun

Sept. 16, Wed. at 6pm. The whole family is invited to make popcorn treats and learn about Orville Redenbacher. Please Register.

Pre-School Story Hour

Sept. 22 through Oct. 27, Tues. at 1pm or 6pm. In this hour long program, pre-school age children, 3 to 5 year olds, will hear and participate in fall stories, songs, and finger plays. They will make fall crafts, and enjoy a Halloween party in the last session, when they can wear their costumes to parade through the library! Please Register.

School Age: Crayon Resist

Sept. 24, Thurs. at 4:30pm. School age children, kindergarten through 3rd grade, will hear a fall story and make crayon resist pictures. Please Register.

September is...

Cool Kids Have a Library Card Month!!! The American Library Association has designated September as National Library Card Sign-up month. Lake County Public Library is sponsoring a program called Cool Kids Have a Library Card which will continue through the month of September.

If you are a kid and already have a library card come to the circulation desk and show us your card. You will get entered into a drawing for a free book, get a prize, and a sticker put on your library card.

If you are a kid without a library card have mom, dad, grandma, grandpa, guardian, or relative over 18 bring you to the library with their picture ID that has the current address on it or picture ID with a piece of mail postmarked within the last 15 days. They fill out an application and you get your card that same day. You will get entered into a drawing for a free book, get a prize, and a sticker on your library card.

How Cool does that sound? So come in with your card or come in a get one. We are looking forward to seeing you all.