In addition to the programs below, Story Times (ages 2-6) are Tuesday at 10 & 1:30, Toddler Times (ages 18mo-3) Wednesday at 10 & 11 and Thursday at 10:30,
@ the Library: Programs
See a Magic Show!
Holiday Magic with Brian Richards (For families with children 3 and up) No registration required Saturday, December 4 at 10:30 am
Be amazed and delighted at the magic and comedy of Brian Richards.
Build a Model!
(For grades K - 5) Registration Required. Monday, December 6 from 4:30 pm - 5:30 pm
Here’s a club just for you! Get together with other Lego-maniacs, share ideas and tips on building,and have a great time! Library Legos will be available for building.
Come to a Party!
Saturday, December 11 at 10:30 am Registration Required
Bonjour! (That’s French for hello.) You are cordially invited
to a “Fancy Nancy” Party at the Bridgewater Library.
Come in your fanciest outfit (that’s fancy for clothes)!
Enjoy fancy stories and create fancy “accessories.”
Play With Shapes!
Monday, December 13 Registration Required
SHAPE UP! (For ages 2 - 6 at 10:00 am)
SHAPE UP! (For ages 4 - 9 at 4:30PM)
Join us as we share the new book 'Shapes that Roll'
then use pre-cut shapes to form original artistic creations!
@ the Library: Displays & Materials
The Vogage of the Dawn Treader, the third book in the “Chronicles of Narnia” series that began with The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe, will be coming out in theaters on December 10th. Get a head start on the movie by sharing the books with your kids -- they are located in the Juvenile Fiction Section under the author’s name “Lewis, C.S.” And, if you like this kind of fantasy, check out our “If You Like The Chronicles of Narnia” booklist for great reading suggestions!
Like to make things? Check out our display “THANKS & GIVING: MAKE SOMETHING SPECIAL FOR SOMEONE YOU LOVE” above the children’s magazine shelves. It has lots of ideas for homemade gifts your family can make and give!
Around the Community
Holidays Around The World
The Children’s Museum kicks off its 2010-2011 program schedule Sunday December 5th from 1-5 p.m. at the Somerset Valley YMCA (2 Green St. in Somerville) Holidays Around The World, a multi-cultural celebration designed to introduce children ages 3 to 9 to world holidays.
Crafts, food, music, dance and games from many countries and faiths will be featured including Mexican Poinsettias, African Masks, Chinese Dragon Kites, Jewish Dreidels, Kwanzaa Candles, Nepali Mandelas and Diwali Rakhi bracelets. In addition, there will be a live harp performance from 1-2 and ethnic music and dance performances from 2 to 4 p.m.
No registration required but a donation of $3 per child is requested (or canned food donations for local food banks.) The Children’s Museum is a nonprofit corporation. More information is available at www.childrensmuseum.org.
Liberty Hall Museum at Kean University celebrates the Yuletide season with a series of special events throughout the month of December. Designed for young children and their families, visitors to the museum will enjoy holiday activities in the historic Victorian mansion of New Jersey’s first elected governor, William Livingston. Here’s a sample, click here for more.
Gingerbread Workshop
WHEN: December 4 and 11, two sessions each day from 10:00 to 11:30 AM and from Noon to 1:30 PM.
WHERE: 1003 Morris Avenue in Union, New Jersey
TICKETS: $17 per child
Recommended for children ages 7 to 12. Children are provided with the materials and instruction to design and build their own edible houses of gingerbread, candy canes, gum drops and more.
A Christmas Tree Ornament Workshop
WHEN: December 5 from 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM
WHERE: 1003 Morris Avenue in Union, New Jersey
TICKETS: $10 per person.
Participants will create old fashioned ornaments to adorn the Christmas tree in the museum’s Great Hall. Guests will bring two decorations with them and leave two for display on the Liberty Hall tree.
Whoville Feast
WHEN: December 19th from 11:30 AM to 1:30 PM and from 2:00 to 4:00 PM
WHERE: 1003 Morris Avenue in Union, New Jersey
TICKETS: Admission is $20 for children and $25 for their adults.
Inspired by the beloved Dr. Seuss classic, “How the Grinch Stole Christmas,” Liberty Hall prepares a on Guests will dine on Grinchy grub that includes “roastbeast on a bun, Suess spuds and Cindy Lou Who cider.”
For LAURIE BERKNER BAND fans:
WHEN: Saturday, December 11, at 11 AM
WHERE: bergenPAC, 30 North Van Brunt Street, Englewood
TICKETS: $35, $25
For ticket information call the box office: 201.227.1030
Children’s music superstars and Nick Jr. channel favorites Laurie Berkner, Susie Lampert (keyboards), Adam Bernstein (bass) and Bob Golden (drums/ percussion) will perform old and new hits, including songs from 2008’s critically acclaimed CD, Rocketship Run.
The theme to this year’s concert is “A Live Birthday Party Concert!” Kids are encouraged to bring their favorite party hat, picture of a birthday cake from Laurie’s website and a stuffed animal for your head because animals have birthdays too!
Widely recognized as one of the most popular indie children’s recording artists in the United States, Laurie Berkner was at the forefront of the current progressive children’s music movement. Her intelligent songwriting, captivating vocals and infectious melodies have won not only legions of little fans, but also parents, who enjoy the music as much as their kids.
The Laurie Berkner Band has received tremendous critical acclaim. Time Magazine lauded Laurie as “a kind of sippy-cup Sheryl Crow…Berkner inhabits a kid’s curious perspective in her lyrics and pens folk-pop melodies that bear repeated—very repeated—listenings.” The Wall Street Journal called Laurie “one of the most popular children’s performer’s in America … Her music is distinctive because it speaks to kids without talking down to them, charming youngsters without boring grown-ups.” (By the way, the library has lots of their recordings!)
Thanks to Ruth Ross at njartsmaven.com for these listings. There are many more holiday happenings than can be listed here. Check out her website as well as the Macaroni Kid Hillsborough, Macaroni Kid Warren, and the RVCC Arts Calendar for more possibilities.
Let Your Fingers Do (More) Walking
Want to encourage your kids’ (or your own) curiosity? Check out the “Wonder of the Day” at the new Wonderopolis website. This site engages and inspires families in the pursuit of education and learning together.
Wonders of the Day will help you find learning moments in everyday life, ones that fit in with dinner preparations or carpool responsibilities or a stolen moment between breakfast and the bus. Each day www.wonderopolis.org presents Wonder of the Day™ - a simple activity to share and explore the wonders of everyday life - talk about what makes popcorn pop while preparing a snack for a movie, or go stargazing and explain shooting stars. Wonderopolis is presented by the National Center for Family Literacy, a not for profit supporting literacy and reading for children and families.
And, if you’d like to help your kids learn a bit more about the state where we live, check out New Jersey History for Kids
And to make the holidays a bit brighter for kids in NJ, please remember to bring in new-looking children’s and teen books to our Books for Kids Donation box in the lobby outside the Youth Services Room by December 8th. Thanks for your generosity!
Based on Louisa May Alcott's classic novel, Little Women follows the adventures of Jo, Meg, Beth and Amy March as they grow up in Civil War America. This timeless story deals with issues as relevant today as when they were written, wonderfully brought to life as an exhilarating musical filled with glorious music, dancing and heart. Little Women soars with songs of personal discovery, heartache and hope—the sounds of a young America finding its voice. 