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Question or Suggestion? Contact cslevin59 (at) gmail.org.

Thursday, February 24, 2011

Celebrate Reading -- Contest!! Enter to Win by Monday February 28

Winter Read Like a Champion Program


The New Jersey State Library, local libraries and school libraries from across the state have partnered with the New Jersey Sports & Exposition Authority to encourage readers to “Read Like a Library Champion” by giving them the opportunity to win tickets to IZOD Center events by logging in the books they read at www.njlibrarychampions.org.

For a chance to win a family four-pack of tickets to see the Ringling Brothers and Barnum and Bailey Circus March 2 - 13, send an email to bwljuv@sclsnj.org with the subject "Contest," and in the body of the email include your name, the town where you live and your phone number. A winner will be drawn on March 1.  Discount tickets for select IZOD Center family shows are also available at www.IZODcenter.com, by using the code LIBRARY.

Library Champions is a community based public awareness campaign featuring role models from the sports, entertainment and literary fields designed to encourage reading and educate the public about the important role New Jersey libraries have in transforming the lives of their customers. Celebrity Library Champions include Eagles defensive end Trent Cole, Harlem Globetrotter Blenda Rodriguez, Devil’s forward Zach Parise, Giant’s defensive end Justin Tuck, Net’s guard Devin Harris and best-selling author and New Jersey native, Judy Blume.

The Library offers many other ways to help every member of your family “Read Like a Champion” throughout the year – Check these out:


E-Books


This winter, The New York Times wrote E-Readers Catch Younger Eyes and Go in Backpacks and the Children’s Book Review explored the The Potential of Interactive Children’s Books on e-Readers. 

SCLS libraries have thousands of e-books and downloadable audio books available for loan 24/7 free of charge.   Check out the list of supported devices and our quick start guide or just start searching for a title.  (This section of our catalog can be reached from the SCLS home page by selecting the “Digital Media” tab on the right hand side.  The “Digital Media” option is also available on most catalog search screens.)

Incidentally, the library has many of our Test Practice Books in this Format.  We also offer online test practice as well.   All you need is a computer and a library card to be prepared for NJASK, SAT, and more!

If you have further questions, Reference Librarians are happy to help.  (Or come use the “plug and play station” adjacent to the adult reference desk.)

Book Suggestions


Looking for a good title to read?  Ask Us!


SCLS Librarians are delighted to make suggestions – in person, by email, or by phone (908 526-4016 x126)


Like to do it yourself? – These databases & websites are available 24/7:


Novelist K-8 Plus   (From the SCLS home page, select the tab on the right side marked Electronic Resources then toggle “journal title” to “database name” and type in “Novelist.”   You can also find it by choosing the subject Children’s Resources or Literature and then scroll down to select “Novelist K-8 Plus” --  either way you will be prompted for your barcode & PIN to get started.)


There are many ways to use Novelist K-8 Plus but the easiest is to type in the title of a favorite book, click on the title of the book in the results…then look to see the other books that Novelist K-8 recommends (they are located on the right hand side of the page.)  There may also be a tab marked “lists & articles” with additional suggestions.  If you see a title you want, you can click on the purple book labeled “Check the library catalog” to see if we own it & place it on reserve.   There are also LOTS of other things you can do with Novelist K-8 Plus (and the adult version, Novelist Plus as well), feel free to ask a librarian to give you a guided tour or check the online tutorials.


Also, be sure to check out the many Book Lists, Reading Websites, and Characters & Author Links on the Good Reads Tab atop the SCLS Kids Home Page. We have many web-based book suggestion sites your kids may want to use --one of our favorites is James Patterson's Read Kiddo Read! (Author James Patterson and ex-Van Holten School Librarian Judy Freeman  select books for babies through age 10 and up. Author interviews too!).   A Book and A Hug offers lots of great suggestions as well.


Looking for ways to make sure your young child is ready to read when s/he starts school?



SCLS libraries are committed to early literacy activities.  We emphasize the Six Skills for Early Literacy in our Story times, Toddler Times, and Baby Lap Sits.  Come join us! Research has shown that exposure to these skills during the preschool years directly correlates to reading success when children start school so try these reading tips at home.  Habla EspaƱol? These tips are also available in 15 other languages.








Let Your Fingers Do More Walking:


From National Public Radio: For Kids, Self-Control Factors Into Future Success
Social scientists say three things matter for success in life: IQ, family's socioeconomic status and one thing that's easy to influence: self-control. A child's self-control in preschool helps predict possible health, substance abuse and financial problems later in life, researchers found.

Programs:


Correction: We inadvertently left out the date of this program in our last blog. 
“KIDS IN THE SYNDROME MIX”     Thursday, March 10 7 to 8:30 p.m.  Fuld Auditorium, Somerset Medical Center  Registration Required. Call 908-203-6234 or online at somersetmedicalcenter.com/events.   
Do you have a nagging feeling that your child’s behavior seems more  extreme than the other kids at school?  Could it be autism,  ADHD, Asperger’s syndrome, anxiety or some other disorder?  Parents and teachers may have trouble solving the problem because it’s a combination of each occurring with its own degree of intensity.
Presented by Martin Kutscher, MD, author of  “Kids in The Syndrome Mix”     This free program is presented in conjunction with Somerset County Office of Youth Services and the Arc of Somerset County.                 
 
A  reminder, Story Times, Toddler Times, and Baby Lap Sit will resume the week of March 8th.  For a list of March programs in the library and around the community, please see our previous blog.

Tuesday, February 22, 2011

Saying "Sayonara" to February & "Hello" to March!

@ the Library: Programs



Family Story Time continues on Tuesday 2/22 at 10 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. There is NO Toddler Time and Baby Lap Sit this week.  Family Story Time on Tuesdays at 10 a.m. and 1:30 p.m., Toddler Time on Wednesdays at 10 & 11 a.m. and Thursday at 10:30 a.m. and Baby Lap Sit on Thursdays at 9:30 all resume the week of March 8th.  For full details on this and other programs, see the Bridgewater Library Online Calendar.


Fun with Math! (For families with children 4 and up)Wednesday February 23, 2011 7:00 PM to 8:00 PM  Hands-on Activities where Parents and children explore & learn together with engaging center-based Math activities.  Registration Required.



Speaking of Math, February 20-26 is National Engineers Week.  Check out these fun engineering ideas!


Build a cardboard slide that takes three seconds to roll down. http://mixinginmath.terc.edu/activities/rideonaslide.cfm
Build the highest tower you can out of recycled materials. http://mixinginmath.terc.edu/activities/soaringtowers.cfm
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Mixing-in-Math/106528062702847


(And don’t forget to take a look at our continuing display of Math books above the Picture Book section – there are lots of fun and fascinating books to help your children understand & enjoy mathematics.)

Volunteer Opportunities for entering Grades 5 - 6 Registration Required Thursday February 24, 2011  7:00 PM to 8:00 PM   Make a Difference @ the Library.  Attention students in grades 5 and 6, here is your opportunity to make a difference by volunteering at the library.  Volunteer hours will be limited to the above listed date and time.

Singing with Carol (Families with children ages 3 - 10) No registration required.  Saturday February 26, 2011   10:30 AM to 11:30 AM  Happy Birthday Dr. Seuss!   Join us for a musical, Seussical Saturday as we celebrate Dr. Seuss's Birthday in song & story!



African Folktales and Mask Craft (For ages 4-10)   Monday February 28, 2011  4:30 PM to 5:30 PM Registration required.  In celebration of Black History Month we’ll listen to African folktales then create our own masks to take home.






“Over Here Molly Pitcher!” (For families with children grades 3 and up) Saturday, March 5 at 2:00 pm. This performance is meant to be enjoyed by elementary school aged patrons. No registration required.  Celebrate Women’s History Month (and get a little New Jersey history, too!) when you meet “Molly Pitcher” and she tells you of her adventures during the Revolutionary War.




Storytimes, Toddler Times & Baby Lap Sits resume the week of March 8th.  See our schedule for dates & times.
Evening Storytime Tuesday March 8, 2011  7:00 PM to 8:00 PM  For all ages.  Join us for family drop-in storytime  and hear stories, songs and more!No Registration Required.


Storytime with Spence  (For children in grades 1 - 5) Saturday, March 12 at 10:00am.  Registration begins February 25.  Come meet Spence, an English Labrador Retriever and certified therapy dog. Spence and his owner, Brielle will be here to share some stories and talk about one-on-one reading sessions to dogs in a comfortable, loving environment.


December BWL Lego ClubLego Club (For Grades K - 2) Saturday March 12, 2011  1:30 PM to 2:30 PM Registration Required
Lego Club (For grades 3-6) Saturday March 12,  3:00 PM to 4:00 PM  Registration Required
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.See previous creations at:http://www.flickr.com/photos/bwljuv/
 
Chapter Book Club  (Limited to grades 3 - 4) Wednesday March 16, 2011 4:30 PM to 5:30 PM  Registration required  Calling all 3rd and 4th graders who enjoy books. Parents or caregivers of participants are welcome to join in the discussion.  Check with the youth services librarian at the desk to get your book or ask questions.  Amelia Earhart : the legend of the lost aviator by Shelley Tanaka ; illustrated by David Craig  Other biographies of Amelia Earhart may be read as a substitute for this title.Wednesday, March 16 from 4:30 pm - 5:30 pm On July 2, 1937, aviatrix Amelia Earhart mysteriously vanished. This biography follows Earhart from her first sight of an airplane at the age of 10 to the last radio transmission she made before she disappeared.


The Music of Clara Schumann performed by “Clara Schumann” Saturday March 19, 2011 2:00 PM to 2:45 PM  (For families with children in grades 2 - 8)   No registration required. Join us and “Clara Schumann” for an interactive, educational, musical experience of classical music. This performance is meant to be enjoyed by elementary school aged patrons.



 
And don’t forget – you can attend programs at any of our NINE member libraries – just click on the “Events/Programs” tab at the top of our home page (or on the right side of our children’s home page) for schedules and information.

@ the Library -- Displays:

There is still time to take a look at our Black History Month display in the adjacent bookshelves which include some of our favorite African-American Historical Fiction Picture Books and Chapter Books. 



Also on display this month:  Great Family Read-Alouds for a snowy day (or any day) on the Youth Services Reference Desk and Fast Cars for NASCAR above the magazines.




Around the Community:


46 Circus Acts in 45 Minutes: C!RCA
WHEN: Friday, Feb. 25, and Saturday, Feb. 2,6 at 7 PM
WHERE:
The Theatre at RVCC, 118 Lamington Road , Branchburg
TICKETS: $25  908.725.3420  rvccArts.org
From Brisbane, Australia, comes a bold new vision of contemporary circus. A blending of bodies, light, sound and skills. A place where acrobats and movement meld into a seamless whole. A celebration of the expressive possibilities of the human body at its extremes. Since 2006 C!rca has toured 18 countries across 5 continents. Critics have raved about its shows calling the work “stunning...exquisite... heart‐stopping” and “electrically charged.”
Wherever C!rca has taken its breathtaking, heart-stopping show, audiences have flocked to see the impossible happen. Watch as intrepid acrobats battle the clock. Marvel at the astounding ways they bend, fly, juggle and balance. Be dazzled by their skills. C!rca is Australia’s most innovative circus and 46 Circus Acts in 45 Minutes is its all-time favorite family show. Fast, furious fun for everyone. Set to upbeat music and featuring four multi‐skilled performers, this is circus without the boring bits.
The combination of acts—some unbelievable, others humorously naff or botched—together with likeable performers, audience participation and breathless pace, made for a greatly entertaining and highly-recommended family show. —THE ARGUS, BRIGHTON

Free Family Circus Skills Workshop
Run away and join the circus—at least for a day! Twist, turn, balance, bend, juggle, wiggle and spin your way around the circus ring. Trainers from C!RCA will share tricks of the trade at a FREE workshop Saturday, February 26, from 2-3 PM.  Grab your spot for a fun intro to hula hoops, scarf juggling and acrobalance. Mom and Dad can join in or watch from the sidelines. (Recommended kids ages 7 and up.)   To register, e-mail cindy@rvccarts.org or call 908.231.8801


Circa is also performing a longer show on Friday 2/25 at The State Theatre of NJ in New Brunswick.  Info here. $13 discount tickets are available.



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The Children’s Museum’s annual train program, titled Westward Ho! A Train Extravaganza, will be held on Saturday February 26th from 1 to 4 PM in the Cafeteria of The PeopleCare Center, 120 Finderne Ave., Bridgewater. Activities for the program include a ‘design your own’ engineers cap, train buttons, a visit to the Wild West (with Lincoln Logs), several model train sets for assembly and playing, train books and videos, and our popular painted cardboard boxes, waiting to be turned into train cars by young and old alike. Several generic science exhibits, including our audio-kinetic sculpture, Bernoulli blower, and bubble machine, will also be on hand. Each program has interactive activities suitable for children ages 3 to 9.  Suggested donation is $3 per child. More info is available at 908-595-0001 or www.childrensmuseumnj.org.   The full schedule is in the useful websites section of this blog. http://bwlibys.blogspot.com.
 

3rd annual Seed Swap & Gardening Gathering!    Mar 8, 2011, 7:00 PM at the Bridgewater Library. Hosted by Holistic Moms Network of Somerset County.
Come share gardening tips, browse vegetable and flower seed catalogues, swap seeds, explore CSAs (Community Supported Agriculture), talk composting, discover local Community Gardens, discuss and share ideas!  This is for gardeners of all levels, from ultra-experienced to newbie, organic or otherwise, for those willing to share their knowledge, to those who want to learn and have questions.  Dads, grandparents and children are always welcome!  More info.
 
 
Drawing Club at the Zimmerli Art Museum in New Brunswick
Drawing Club
Ages 9-14   SPRING SESSION: Wednesdays, March 9 - April 6 Time:4:15 to 5:45pmFee per five-week session:   Zimmerli members: $20 per five-week session Non-members: $25 per five-week session
Aspiring artists apply the full gamut of drawing techniques, including pencil and charcoal, to various genres such as still-life and portraiture. Teachers include Freda Rhodes, head art teacher in the New Brunswick school district, Alan Lazare, M.F.A. (Mason Gross School of the Arts), and other professional educators who address the needs of both beginners and advanced artists.
Spring registration opens on November 8 for members and November 15 for non-members. For ages 9-14, you may print out the SPRING registration form.

Looking for something else to do with your kids?  Check out this daily guide from njfamily.com. (A permanent link is available in the "Useful Websites for Families" on the right side of this blog under "Events - NJ Family.")


 
Let Your Fingers Do the Walking:


Amy Chua’s new book, Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother  has ignited a storm of parenting controversy.  Here’s the New York Times response: http://parenting.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/01/14/raising-happy-imperfect-children/?src=tptw

Friday, February 11, 2011

Happy Valentine’s & Presidents’ Days

 
PLEASE NOTE: On Monday February 21st, Bridgewater Library will be open 9-5.  The other libraries in the system will be CLOSED.
@ the Library: Programs


Family Story Time continues on Tuesdays at 10 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. (NOT at 1 p.m. – there is an error in our printed calendar) through February 22nd, Toddler Time is on Wednesdays at 10 & 11 a.m. and Thursday at 10:30 a.m. and Baby Lap Sit is on Thursdays at 9:30 through February 17th.  For full details on this and other programs, see the
Bridgewater Library Online Calendar

book jacket image - click for card catalog entry
Chapter Book Club Wednesday, February 16 from 4:30 pm - 5:30 pm  (Limited to grades 3 - 4 Parents or caregivers of participants are welcome to join in the discussion.) Registration required.   Niagara Falls, Or Does It? by Henry Winkler and Lin Oliver Fourth-graders Hank, Ashley, and Frankie are excitedly preparing for a magic show at the Rock 'N Bowl when Hank's creative alternative to an English essay lands him in detention and was grounded the week of the show. Copies of the book will be available at the Youth Services Reference Desk.

Elephant and Piggie Craftacular (For ages 3 - 6)Registration begins February 4.  Saturday February 19, 2011  10:00 AM to 11:00 AM  Do you enjoy reading Elephant and Piggie books by Mo Willems?  Join us for a story, activity, and a craft based on this fun duo!




book jacket image - click for card catalog entry
Rocket Readers (Limited to grades 1-3) Registration begins February 8 Tuesday February 22, 2011 4:30 PM to 5:30 PM An exciting program for brand new readers!  At each program we will discuss a book, play some games or create a “book-tiful” craft related to the story. Students should read the book prior to the program. Copies of the book will be available at the Youth Services Reference Desk.  Minnie and Moo: Will You Be My Valentine? by Denys Cazet.  Dressed up like two Cupids, the two friends set out to deliver Valentine's Day poems to everyone on the farm.


book jacket image - click for card catalog entry
Talk It Up Book Discussion Group Tuesday February 22, 2011 7:00 PM to 8:00 PM (Limited to students in grades 5 – 8)  Registration Required   If you love to read and talk about books, you are cordially invited to an hour of book talk and friendly company. Parents and parent substitutes are welcome to join in the discussion. The Wright Three  by Blue Balliett. Spring semester at the Lab School in Hyde Park finds Petra and Calder drawn into another mystery when unexplainable accidents and ghostly happenings throw a spotlight on Frank Lloyd Wright's Robie House, and it's up to the two junior sleuths to piece together the clues. Stir in the return of Calder's friend Tommy (which creates a tense triangle), H.G. Wells's The Invisible Man, 3D pentominoes, and the hunt for a coded message left behind by Wright, and the kids become tangled in a dangerous web in which life and art intermingle with death, deception, and surprise. Copies of the book will be available at the Youth Services Reference Desk.

Fun with Math! (For families with children 4 and up)Registration begins February 9th Wednesday February 23, 2011 7:00 PM to 8:00 PM  Hands-on Activities where Parents and children explore & learn together with engaging center-based Math activities.

Volunteer Opportunities for entering Grades 5 - 6 Registration Required Thursday February 24, 2011  7:00 PM to 8:00 PM   Make a Difference @ the Library.  Attention students in grades 5 and 6, here is your opportunity to make a difference by volunteering at the library.  Volunteer hours will be limited to the above listed date and time.


@ the Library: Displays
Just in time for Valentine’s Day -- Extend your hand in friendship (and make a wish for the the world) by decorating a hand for our Bulletin Board behind the reference desk.  
While you are there, take a look at our Black History Month display in the adjacent bookshelves which include some of our favorite African-American Historical Fiction Picture Books and Chapter Books.  Check them out!

Also on display this month:  Great Family Read-Alouds for a snowy day (or any day) on the Youth Services Reference Desk and Fast Cars for NASCAR above the magazines.




And don’t forget to take a look at our continuing display of Math books above the Picture Book section – it is a great way to help your children understand & enjoy mathematics.   Speaking of math – try “Mixing in Math” with this month’s holidays with these ideas:



How Many in a Minute to your heart’s content for Valentine’s Day -- With How Many in a Minute, children estimate how many of an activity they can do in a minute, try it, and then compare estimates and results. For Valentine’s Day, use hearts.  Make a group graph and explore the results with some questions. For an exercise break, extend this activity to the human heart. Have children take their pulse before and after jumping up and down as many times as they can in a minute.  Compare heart rates before and after.


Or try this exercise on President’s Day – Ask adults and kids “How many presidents have there been in your lifetime?” – then graph the results.  (It is more challenging than you might think – here are some parents’ remarks “Wait a minute, I need to think about this. I can’t just divide my age by 4, because what if a president was 2 terms?”  “I was born in 1960, and the new president wasn’t sworn in until 1961, so there’s an extra. …” One mom said, ‘You’re 9, so how many elections is that?’ The girl knew Bush, 2 terms. She thought about it and said that’s two 4’s, that’s 8, so one more president from before Bush, 2, and now Obama makes 3.

Madeline Wishes You a Happy President's Day



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    Just in time for President's Day, John Bemelmans Marciano, the grandson of Madeline’s original creator, brings out a new book Madeline at the White House in which Madeline arrives at the White House and quickly befriends the president's lonely daughter.  Along the way, they encounter a magician, celebrate Easter, play dress up, share stories and take a magic ride in the night sky.
    “The idea for sending Madeline to the White House was my grandfather’s and grew out of his friendship with Jacqueline Kennedy,” John explains.  “In a series of letters from late 1961 and early 1962, my grandfather sounded out the First Lady on ideas for the book, which he proposed calling Madeline visits Caroline, with text from Mrs. Kennedy herself. My grandfather died before the book was finished.”





  • Around the Community:  There's always something to do in Somerset and neighboring Counties!
    Saturday, 12 February, 2011 starting  at 11:00 AM  Tory Jack Day - Songs of the South
    Joe Becton
    To celebrate Black History Month, the Abraham Staats House, in South Bound Brook, will present Songs of the South.Following the program, the public is invited to tour the historic Abraham Staats House and view an exhibit on slavery and the contributions of blacks to our national heritage, presented by local historian and Women’s Guild member, Mrs. Joyce Smith. Tours will end at 4 pm.  FREE



    Maple SugaringSaturdays & Sundays  February 12- 27 - Maple Sugaring at the Somerset County Park Commission’s Environmental Education Center 2011 People of all ages are invited to see this Native American tradition brought to life at the Environmental Education Center, Basking Ridge. You will see how trees are tapped, view sap-collecting methods past and present, and see the boiling process that produces delicious New Jersey maple syrup. This 90-minute program is conducted at our Sugar Shack, which is a ½ mile hike from the EEC. Please arrive at the EEC 20-30 minutes before the program start time.  (The EEC and Somerset County Park Commission have many more programs for children & families -- check out their offerings here.)This special event program is free and for all ages.  February  12, 13, 19, 20, 26, 27, 2011
    10:00am, Noon, and 2:00pm

    tunnel into planetariumSaturday, February 12-26 - SETI – the Search for Extra Terrestrial Intelligence at RVCC Planetarium
    The prospect that we may not be alone in the universe is taken as a fact by the movies, writers, and a great many scientists.  As yet, we have no hard evidence of another living thing outside Planet Earth. S.E.T.I. – The Search for Extra Terrestrial Intelligence – is a show that explores all sides of this topic, from the planets we are finding around other stars, to the feasibility of traveling to the stars, and what aliens might actually be like, to the possibility that UFOs have been visiting and the various methods that scientists are using to get in touch. RVCC Planetarium, Branchburg. 3:00 PM  Ages 10+  Call 908.231.8805 for reservations. Cost: $6

    Also available:  Winter Skies 7 p.m.  The brightest stars of the year are clustered in the winter night sky.  Learn how to use Orion as a guide to finding other stars and constellations this season.

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    Saturdays - Art For Families at the Princeton Art Museum Drop in anytime between 10:30 a.m. and 1 p.m. and enjoy a self-guided, interactive tour followed by a related art project. Each week has a different theme. Come for fifteen minutes or two hours--whatever your schedule allows. All ages are welcome. Free: No tickets or reservations needed.


    Saturday, February 19 through Saturday, March 12 - Cabin Fever Kids at Duke Island Park Explore the Universe: Winter Arts & Music Series.  Ages 6-10. Cabin Fever Kids is a 4 week program that meets on Saturdays in Duke Island Park.  Cost: $45 for the 4 week series or $15 for individual sessions.  Visit http://www.somersetcountyparks.org/ to download application form.




    Family Fun Day on February 21st at the State Theatre

    February 21st is Family Day at the State Theatre. Families can spend the holiday enjoying dozens of performances, workshops, and hands-on activities—many of them free—plus costumed characters, the Philadelphia Zoo’s Zoo on Wheels, face painting, balloon animals, a live deejay, food, and more.
    The main stage event at the State Theatre for Family Day is The Very Hungry Caterpillar and other Eric Carle Favorites, a delightful black-light puppetry performance by Mermaid Theatre of Nova Scotia.  Performances are at 10:30am, 1:00pm and 3:30pm.


    Let Your Fingers Do the Walking:


    Six Going on 16? Why Experts Warn Against Aging Up
    Too Sexy Too Soon?  In our sexed-up society, can a new pro-girl movement help your daughter resist the call to be too sexy, too soon?  This article from Commonsense Media profiles this movement and offers tips to parents trying to resist this trend and includes Tips for Parents of Young Kids and Tips for Parents of Pre-Teens and Teens. Also check out their Recommended lists Positive Role Model TV for Girls, Best Smart Movie Girls, Girl Books: Heroines and Girl Detectives, Girls' Video Games

    Sunday, February 6, 2011

    BWL Book sale and a Slew of Educational Community Events for Parents & Children

    @ the Library:


    PLEASE NOTE: On Friday February 11th and Monday February 21st, Bridgewater Library will be open 9-5.  The other libraries in the system will be CLOSED those days.


    Teen Advisory Board Meeting (For students in grades 6 - 12) Registration Required   Tuesday February 8, 2011  6:30 PM to 7:30 PM.  Do you want to make a difference in your library?  Do you have suggestions for programs, books and movies? Come to our T.A.B. meeting and share your thoughts!Community service hours will be awarded for your attendance.


    Evening Storytime (For families with children 3 and up) Tuesday February 8, 2011 7:00 PM to 8:00 PM. "Soup's On!"  Join us for fun family drop-in storytime with stories, puppets, songs and more! No Registration Required



    Friends of the Library Book sale  February 9 - 13, 2011
    Book sale prices are as follows:
    Adult hardcover books $ 2.00/ea.
    Children’s hardcover books $ 0.50/ea.
    All other softcovers $ 0.50/ea.
    Pocket Size softcovers $ 0.25/ea.
    CD audio books, music CDs and DVDs $ 1.00/ea.
    Videos and Cassettes $ 0.25/ea.
    LPs $ 0.10/ea.
    The Friends of the Library accept only cash for purchases and payment of entry fees.  Book sales are held at the Bridgewater Library, 1 Vogt Drive, Bridgewater, NJ. 
    HOURS: Wed. Feb. 9, 4-8:30 p.m. –$20 Pre-Admission.                                   Thurs. 9:30 a.m.-8:30 p.m., Fri. & Sat: 9:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m.                        Sun. BAG SALE: 1:30-4:30 p.m.
    Representatives of non-profits & educational institutions may come to take leftovers starting at 3:30 on Sunday.


    Family Story Time continues on Tuesdays at 10 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. (NOT at 1 p.m. – there is an error in our printed calendar) through February 22nd, Toddler Time is on Wednesdays at 10 & 11 a.m. and Thursday at 10:30 a.m. and Baby Lap Sit is on Thursdays at 9:30 through February 17th.  For full details on this and other programs, see the Bridgewater Library Online Calendar.
    A reminder: the full month’s library events were listed in last week’s blog “Hopping into February.”



    Around the Community: Some Special Events for Parents


    “RACE TO NOWHERE”-7:00pm–For middle & high school students and parents.  Ridge High School Performing Arts Center, Basking Ridge, NJ
    Basking Ridge PTO is sponsoring the film “Race to Nowhere” --  made by a concerned mother turned filmmaker about the high-stakes, high-pressure culture in our schools and our children’s lives, creating unhealthy, disengaged, unprepared and stressed-out youth. For more information or to order tickets, click here


    “CHALLENGING CHILD?-CHALLENGING NO MORE!” a workshop for Parents (and educators, clinicians, case managers, everyone!)
    Collaborative Problem Solving – Sponsored by the Somerset County Office of Youth Services. 7:00pm Thursday February 17, 2011    Somerset County Vo-Tech  D Bldg, Performing Arts Center Bridgewater, NJ
    This presentation will show why traditional methods of intervention don’t work for so many challenging kids and what does work - from the perspective of a parent who’s been there.
    “Collaborative Problem Solving” is a model designed by highly-regarded authority, Ross Greene, PhD, Associate Clinical Professor of Psychiatry at Harvard Medical School and  author of “The Explosive Child” and “Lost at School”.   This  revolutionary and innovative model is  compassionate, effective, respectful and is gaining widespread, international attention!
    featured speaker:  Alicia Stevenson Certified CPS mentor, NAMI Basics National Trainer NAMI (the National Alliance on Mental Illness)  Alicia is the proud parent of a child with early-onset mental illness and learning disabilities.

    “KIDS IN THE SYNDROME MIX”
    Do you feel your child’s behavior is more extreme than others? Sponsored by the Somerset County Office of Youth Services and ARC of Somerset County. 7:00-8:30pm. Registration Required.
     
     





    Around the Community: Things to Do with Kids


    THE CENTER FOR CONTEMPORARY ARTin Bedminster offers  Winter Classes for children, teens & adults.
     
     
     
     




      Below are some local community events courtesy of
    Macaroni Kid
    Hillsborough Branchburg Somerville.  Check out their calendar for more events – you can sign up for weekly updates.  Macaroni Kid also has a Warren version. Between them, they cover our area pretty well.  Both are listed on the “useful websites for families” section of our blog.


    Family Fun Day on February 21st at the State Theatre

    February 21st is Family Day at the State Theatre. Families can spend the holiday enjoying dozens of performances, workshops, and hands-on activities—many of them free—plus costumed characters, the Philadelphia Zoo’s Zoo on Wheels, face painting, balloon animals, a live deejay, food, and more.
    The main stage event at the State Theatre for Family Day is The Very Hungry Caterpillar and other Eric Carle Favorites, a delightful black-light puppetry performance by Mermaid Theatre of Nova Scotia.  Performances are at 10:30am, 1:00pm and 3:30pm.


    SCPCPrograms at the Environmental Education Center (complete schedule available through the“useful websites for families” section of this blog) at 190 Lord Stirling Rd, Basking Ridge, NJ • 908 766-2489
    Snowy Day (Ages 4-6)
    Come to the Environmental Education Center for a snow day! Through the course of this program you will learn how animals use the snow to their advantage while hiking, make animals in the snow, and create some neat snowy crafts! Note: even if it is not a snowy day, the program will still take place.  $9 per person  Course Code: 51640  EEC-1  Thursday, February 10  4:00pm-5:30pm
    Captivating Critters! (Ages 7-9)
    Come and see some truly cool critters and learn what helps them to survive in nature. Our guest list includes magnificent millipedes, Rosie the red rump tarantula, a gorgeous gecko named Gil, hissing cockroaches from Madagascar, and a special surprise guest. Join a Naturalist to learn what makes each animal special and important. $9 per person Course Code: 51009 EEC-9 Thursday, February 10  4:00pm-5:30pm
    Sleeping Trees (Ages 4-6)
    There are no leaves on our trees! Are the trees dead? Are they asleep? Trees may appear to be dull and boring this time of year, but there is a lot going on inside the tree! Find out what dormancy means and get to know your winter trees!  $9 per person  Course Code: 51638  EEC-1  Tuesday, February 15 4:00pm-5:30pm 
    Backyard Birding for Beginners  (Ages 7-9)
    Ever wonder about the birds in your backyard? Join a Naturalist and spend some time learning the basics of backyard bird watching. You will learn how to find birds with binoculars, basic identification skills, what to feed backyard birds, and where to place their feeders in your yard. $9 per person Course Code: 51573 EEC-4  Tuesday, February 15  4:00pm-5:30pm
     
    The Velveteen Rabbit - Friday, February 18 through Sunday, March 6 -
    Families will enjoy this rendition of the classic tale of a child's love for a toy and how it cannot be broken.  Friday evening performances begin at 8pm.  Saturday and Sunday performances at 2pm.
    Where: Somerset Valley Players, 689 Amwell Road, Hillsborough  Cost: $12/ticket
    Saturday, February 19 through Saturday, March 12 - Cabin Fever Kids
    Cabin Fever Kids is a 4 week program that meets on Saturdays in Duke Island Park.  Kids will explore arts and nature. Ages 6-12  Visit http://www.somersetcountyparks.org/ to download application form. Cost: $45 for the 4 week series or $15 for individual sessions.
     
    Let Your Fingers Do More Walking – courtesy of Macaroni Kid:
    Go Red for Women in February! Heart Disease Awareness Month

    Did you know...
    That heart disease is still the No. 1 killer of women, taking the life of 1 in 3 women each year?
    Did you know…
    That heart disease claims the lives of over 433,000 American women each year?
    The American Heart Association’s Go Red For Women® works every day to fund research and fight this killer so that more women can be saved. If you would like more information on how you can become more heart healthy, or to find out how you can make a donation to this cause, please visit GoRedforWomen.org.
    Black History Month

    Black History Month celebrates contributions made by African Americans. It was started by a man named Dr. Carter G. Woodson in 1926.  Then, it was called Negro History Week and was celebrated the second week of February.  It is now celebrated for the entire month of February in the United States and Canada, and the month of October in the United Kingdom.
    Black history month is the ideal time to recall and reflect upon the contributions and sacrifices that African Americans have made to our society.
    Check out our online book lists African-American Historical Fiction Picture Books and Chapter Books and our Black History Month display in the bookshelves behind the Youth Services Reference Desk.  Many children don’t realize that equal rights for Black Americans were only achieved (relatively) recently when their parents (or grandparents) were children and get confused between the Civil War and the Civil Rights Movement.  Stories are a great way to help kids understand and develop empathy.  Not at the library? -- Here are some links recommended by Macaroni Kid that you can also share with your children!
    Nick Jr.
    TIME for kids
    Fact Monster

    Finally, an interesting story from National Public Radio suggesting  we may be keeping our girls TOO clean!  Why Keeping Little Girls Squeaky clean could make them sick.