Chug, chug, chug, chug, toot, toot!

Do you hear that? It’s the sound of the 6th Annual Polar Express  heading to the West Palm Beach Public Library!  We can’t wait for it to reach our station! The magic begins this Friday, December 4th at 5:30.  Catch a train to the North Pole where you can meet Santa, listen to a good reindeer joke, and play reindeer games!  While you’re there don’t forget to decorate a yummy cookie and warm your insides with a cup hot cocoa!  Join the fun in the West Palm Beach Public Library, City Center Courtyard.  

If you have a little extra to spare this season, help us fill Santa’s sack with your donation of new unwrapped toys for needy children and spread some holiday cheer! Call the Children’s Library at 561-868-7703 for additional information!

We can’t wait to see your merry faces this Friday!

KidSpace Staff

I walked in and there they were…colorful, diverse, unique, and full of adventure.  New books!  I get so excited and joyful when we get a cart full of books.  And how can I forget how curious I am when they arrive.  I want to curl up in a corner and spend quality time with each, getting to know them one by one, so when you come along looking for your perfect book, I can recommend it with the experience of having read it.  Here is just a taste of the new books that recently arrived:

Why? The best ever question and answer book about nature, science and the world around you by Catherine Ripely

Family fun nights: 140 activities the whole family will enjoy by Lisa Bany-Winters

Insectigations!: 40 hands-on activities to explore the insect world by Cindy Blobaum

The Christmas sweater by Glen Beck

Buying, training & caring for your dinosaur by Laura Joy Rennert

Fancy Nancy splendiferous Christmas by Jane O’Connor

Babies don’t eat pizza: the big kid’s book about baby brothers and baby sisters by Dianne Danzig

The case of the gasping garbage: and other super scientific cases by Michele Torrey

20 things adoptive parents need to succeed by Sherrie Eldridge

The hound of Rowan: book 1 of the tapestry By Henry H. Neff

Baby signing 123: The easy-to-use illustrated guide to every stage and every age by Nancy Cadjan

Stay in the loop about the new books entering the West Palm Beach Public Library’s KidSpace by checking out our Featured Item Lists on the right-hand column of our Catalog’s home page.

Until we meet again,

~Remember, Reading is Awesome!

Did you know November is National Opera Month?  The West Palm Beach Public Library is bringing Opera to your front door with an opportunity to meet The Great Poochini!

On November 15, The Palm Beach Opera will be here to celebrate National Opera Month! They will be reading from the children’s book, “The Great Poochini” by author, Gary Clement. Join us in the Children’s Program Space for this free event! No registration is required.

Check out these great items on Opera:

The random house book of opera stories by Adele Geras

Aida by Leontyne Price

Classic cartoon favorites and extreme music fun by Disney (DVD)

P.S. you’ll get to meet Poochini in person, so bring your cameras and excitement to KidSpace.

Until we meet again,

~Remember, Reading is Awesome!

Animal Antics is taking over the West Palm Beach Public Library’s KidSpace, yet again!  Animal Antics is a fun, interactive, natural history series provided in part by the Arthur R. Marshall Foundation and presented by their cool Education Director, Eric Gehring.  If you are in K-3, join us on for this FREE program on November 17 & 24 @3:45pm.  Get crazy again for Animal Antics! Check out last year’s Animal Antics here!

This year’s Animal Antics program is inspired by the book chosen for Families Reading Together Palm Beach County.  The title of this book is going to remain a secret, so shhhhhhh, until the November 7 “Kick-Off” of this county wide, month long, awesome literacy event!

For additional information, ask me or call the children’s library at 561-868-7703.  See you there!

Until we meet again,

Remember, Reading is Awesome!

Oh my! The Palm Beach Zoo will bring live animals…live animals for an interactive, educational program for families!  On November 8 at 2pm bring the whole bunch to be a part of this special event specialized just for you.  The program is FREE, parking is FREE, and there is no registration! What an awesome opportunity.

Be sure to check out some cool zoo books at the West Palm Beach Public Library’s KidSpace before you meet the animals:

Zoo animals by Philip Dowell

1, 2, 3 to the zoo by Eric Carle

The alphabet zoo: fun ways to learn letters and phonics (DVD)

Dear zoo by Rod Campbell

Madagascar

Another great educational opportunity is the  Zoo Adventure Stroller Safari.  This is an opportunity for you to bring your infant or toddler to the Zoo for an exciting stroller safari adventure!  Registration is required and fees include 1 adult and 1 child.  Members: $10.00 Non-members: $15.00.

Be sure to stay tuned here for more Sundays @ 2 for families.

Until we meet again,

~Remember, Reading is Awesome!

I am so excited that our November/December 2009 calendar of events is available.  Be sure to stop by the West Palm Beach Public  Library’s  webpage and take a peek.  We have some cool events that will surely get you up, out, and moving! One of the events that I am particularly fond of is Monday Night Movies.  It’s a great family fun event that can become a tradition.  All movies are not suitable for the young ones, but if you have a few children that are in different age groups, you can always  spend time alone with each seeing a great FREE movie suitable for them.  Here are the list of movies for November/December2009:

Transformers (PG-13)   Nov. 2

Ice Age 3 (PG)  Nov. 9

Buffy the Vampire Slayer (PG-13) Nov. 16

Polar Express (G)  Nov. 30

Star Trek (PG-13)  Dec. 7

Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (PG-13)  Dec. 14

My Sister’s Keeper (PG-13)  Dec. 21

G-Force (PG)  Dec. 28

It’s always better to read the book first, so be sure to check them out at the West Palm Beach Public Library or reserve them online through our Catalog.

Until we meet again,

~Remember, Reading is Awesome!

In 1999 NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month) was founded by Chris Baty, who thought it would be awesome to use the Internet to make novel writing fun for everyone.  After a successful few years and teachers wanting their classrooms to be a part of this creativity, the Young Writers Program was founded and is booming.  In 2008, more than 22,000 young writers (17 years and younger) participated! 

NaNoWriMo for Young Writers takes place every November; from November 1-30 you will be challenged to write a novel in just 30 days.  Yes, I said 30 days!  So if you are 17-years-old or younger, take advantage of this great opportunity to share your creativity with others.  It’s not about quality, but quantity! There’s no limit so on November 1st begin to write, write, and write some more! 

Sign up and get started, the time is almost here for young writers to take over NaNoWriMo with their “great frantic novel!”

Don’t forget to visit the West Palm Beach Public Library’s KidSpace to tell me all about your experience and share it with your family.

Until we meet again,

~Remember, Reading is Awesome!

Picture on right from NaNoWriMo’s website.

Hope you’re visiting the West Palm Beach Public Library’s KidSpace this Wednesday, October 28, 2009 at 11am!  Why? 

There will be a FREE pre-school “not-so-spooky” Halloween play brought to you by the Library Zoo!  Come meet Frog, Giraffe, Penguin, Panda, Kangaroo, and Cat and parade with them around the Library.  It’s going to be exciting and fun to sing and “trick-or-treat” with your favorite animal. Be sure to dress up too, the animals enjoy seeing your creative side in costume!  See you at the Library Zoo Preschool Halloween Play & Party.

Don’t forget to learn some great facts about your favorite animal:

Frogs by Time for Kids

Giraffes by Emelie Lepthien

Penguins by Seymour Simon

How Many Baby Pandas? by Sandra Markle

Kangaroos by William John Ripple

Big Cats by Sarah Walker

Until we meet again,

~Remember, Reading is Awesome!

As a child, my mother and I would spend our Sunday afternoons at our local bookstore’s book fair.  It was always a wonderful surprise to find books from and about all different places and an adventure to see what “new” books I might come across during my hunt. 

I was reminded of this moment when my sister librarian, Ms. Jenn, handed me a flyer about Family Central’s Resource Library’s annual Scholastic Community Book Fair.  You can visit the fair October 17-24, 2009; Monday – Thursday 9am-7pm and Saturday 10am-2pm (Closed Fridays).  

P.S. Book Fairs are awesome opportunities to pick up some great gifts for friends and family and to build your library collection at home.

Be sure to stop by and tell me about your favorite find.

Until we meet again,

~Remember, Reading is Awesome!

The City of West Palm Beach Department of Parks and Recreation: Howard Park Community Center wants to take you and your kids to another level with some awesome opportunities to get up and get out, while your kids are busy having a great time!  Here is how:

Date Night gives parents a chance to go out and drop their kids (3-10 years old) off at Howard Park for dinner and organized activities.  Dates: Friday, October 16, November 20, and December 18 from 6:00pm – 9:00pm.  The cost for this is $12 Residents and $15 Non-residents

Mix It Up is a great time for your young one (5-12 years old) to enjoy cooking and crafting with others.  Dates: Saturday, October 3, November 7, and December 5.  The cost for this is $13 Residents and $16 Non-residents.  ($2 supply fee to be paid on day of the program).

Be sure to take advantage of an opportunity to get up!

Please pre-register one week in advance due to limited space.  For more information about these programs, please contact the Howard Park Community Center: 561-804-4950

Check out some great ideas for crafting with your young one at the West Palm Beach Public Library’s KidSpace:

All Girl Crafts by Kathy Ross

50 Greatest Kid Concoctions (DVD)

Art from Many Hands: Multicultural Art Projects by Jo Miles Schuman

Creative Crafts for Kids: Over 100 Fun Projects for Two to Ten Year Olds by Sterling Pub. Co. 

Until we meet again,

~Remember, Reading is Awesome!