All the Worlds a Stage…and your Child can be an Actor Today (Wednesday 2/1) at Bridgewater Library!

Programs at the Bridgewater Library, other libraries in the Somerset County Library System and around the community…


@ Bridgewater Library: Programs


Calling all actors (and audience members!)
Join us this afternoon at 4:30 p.m. for us for some silly Reader's Theater to chase away the winter doldrums.  Plays by Mo Willems (The Pigeon Finds a Hot Dog), Dav Pilkey (Dog Breath) and John Scieszka (The True Story of the Three Little Pigs by A. Wolf) will have you rolling in the aisles!

After-School Program: 'The Play's the Thing!' (Grades K-6) Wednesday February 1, 2012 4:30 PM to 5:30 PM Registration required
Do you like to perform? Join us for some silly Reader's Theater to chase away the winter blues. Both actors and audience members are welcome.  (Audience members do not have to register.)

Pre-School of Rock (Ages 1+) Saturday, February 4th 10:30-11:30am Registration required – FULL. Had enough of the winter? Made your share of snowmen? Then come by the library and rock out with 'Preschool of Rock!' – a great music class where children will discover, improvise, perform, and have fun!


Carol's Creative Chocolatez Saturday February 4, 2012 2:00 to 4:00 PM Registration Required. Come and learn about chocolate, get to taste lots of delicious samples, take a look at some of Carol's award winning edible chocolate paintings! Carol will be making some delicious chocolate nut bark and other delectable delights, and everyone is welcome to attend. Bring family and friends for a fabulous time.

Stuffed Animal Sleepover (Ages 3-8) Monday, February 6th 7:00-7:30pm. Registration required –FULL. Wear your pajamas and bring your stuffed animal or doll (but not the one you need to sleep with!) to the library for a bedtime story during Monday night's PAJAMA STORYTIME!
Leave your stuffed animals overnight for a fun-filled slumber party. Pick your stuffed animals up Tuesday after 12:00pm and receive a special souvenir from their library sleepover! Remember: this is a sleepover for your stuffed animals only!

Won't You Be My Valentine? (Ages 4-11) Thursday, February 9th 4:30-5:30pm Registration required. Join us as we share fun Valentine stories then create a variety of Valentine crafts (including woven paper hearts) for our family and friends! 


Mo Willems' Birthday Celebration (Ages 3-8) Saturday, February 11th 10:30-11:30am Registration begins January 27.Happy Birthday Mo Willems! Join us as we celebrate the author of some of our favorite books, such as Knuffle Bunny, Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus, the Elephant and Piggie books, and many more. We'll have stories, games and crafts inspired by our favorite characters!


Rocket Readers (Grades 1-3) Tuesday February 21, 2012 4:30 PM to 5:30 PM 'Frog and Toad are Friends' by Arnold Lobel Registration begins February 7.
When Frog is unhappy, who is there to cheer him up? Toad! When Toad is sick, who brings him tea? Frog, of course! Frog and Toad share five short stories of friendship to which everyone can relate.


Chapter Book Club: 'Stuart Little' (Grades 3-4) Wednesday February 22, 2012 4:30 to 5:30 PM Registration begins February 8th. Stuart Little is a shy little mouse with a big heart and a taste for adventure. Barely two inches tall, Stuart sets forth into the world with some mighty big plans: to ride a Fifth Avenue bus, to win a sailboat race in Central Park, and to teach school for a day. But Stuart's greatest adventure is to find his best friend, Margalo, a pretty little bird who once lived in a fern pot in the Little's house in New York City. Stuart Little is a timeless tale that speaks to all of us.

Lego Club (Grades K-6) Thursday, February 23rd 4:30-5:30pm Registration begins February 9. Hey LEGO fans, 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, so you do not need to bring your own. Lego Lovers, be sure to check out the Morris Museum exhibit below!

Mad Science presents 'Wacky Science' (Ages 5-12) Saturday, February 25th 10:30am-Noon Registration begins February 10. Who knew that while we were all busy checking out the coolest books there were secret, 'mad scientists' lurking throughout the library? Well, today, they won't be a secret any longer. In fact, they want you to join them in their latest 'wacky science' experiments! Be prepared to have great fun and maybe even learn a thing or two.

Indoor Sports Party (Grades 4-6)  Monday, February 27th  4:30-5:30pm Registration begins February 13.  Tweens, get your game face on!  It's an outdoor sports afternoon at the library.  Join us for hula hooping, limbo, relay races, a paper airplane derby and more!



Children's Dental Health (Ages 2-6) Tuesday February 28, 2012  10:00 AM and 1:30 PM  No registration is required for this event. **Please only attend ONE dental health event**  Story Well
It’s that time of year again to celebrate National Children’s Dental Health Month. The Children's Dental Center has designed a special presentation  to show proper brushing and flossing techniques as well as a nutritious snack game.  We will also provide a goodie bag for each child!

Join us each week for stories, songs, finger plays, and a short film. Family Story Time (ages 2-6) Tuesdays at 10 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. Toddler Time (18 mo.-3) Wednesdays at 10 & 11 a.m. and Thursdays at 10:30 a.m. Clapping and singing, rhymes and books….introduce your toddler to the beginnings of story time! Infant Lap Sit (birth to 18 months) Thursdays at 9:30 Clap your hands and stamp your feet and let you baby feel the beat of stories, songs and rhymes. No registration required. Winter session programs run through February 16th.  Programs will resume the week of March 4th.

There are LOTS OF PROGRAMS at other system libraries for your children & teens…check out their online calendars under the “events/programs” tab on our home page for more information.

@ the Library – for Teens:

Make a Difference @ the Library! (Grades 5-6) Wednesday Feb. 8th 7:00-8:00pm Registration required. STUDENTS IN GRADES 5 AND 6: Here is your chance to make a difference by volunteering at the library!

Talk It Up (Grades 5-8) Wednesday, February 15th 7:00-8:00pm Registration required.. If you love to read and talk about books, you are cordially invited to an hour of book talk and friendly company. The Dangerous Days of Daniel X by James Patterson
Daniel X works alone. Having watched from the shadows as the brutal events of the murder of his own parents unfolded before him, he has been forced to make his own way in a dark and unforgiving world with a heavy task handed to him. Every day has been transformed into a terrifying hunt, watching each step he takes for danger awaits around every corner and lurks within the shadows.

Teen Advisory Board (For Students in Grades 6-8) Tuesday February 21 5:30-6:30pm
Teen Advisory Board (For Students in Grades 9-12) Tuesday February 21 6:30-7:30pm Registration required
Do you want to make a difference at your library? Do you have suggestions for programs, new books, movies, or video games? Then come to one of our upcoming T.A.B. meeting! Community service hours will be awarded for attendance and snacks will be served!

Teens, looking for more volunteer hours this winter? – check out the teen volunteer opportunities at the Children’s Museum & the Environmental Education Center – details in the Around the Community Section of this newsletter (below).

@ the Library: Displays:

New Year, New You – health & fitness books atop the magazine section.

Presidents' Days -- above the Holiday Books.

Around the Community:

Here are just a few events from listings in various calendars & online newsletters including njartsmaven.com, Hillsborough, Branchburg, Somerville Macaroni Kid, and Warren Macaroni Kid. If your family is looking for things to do, take a look at these sites, as well as many other area event listings in the “useful websites” section on the right side of this blog (if you are getting this via email, just click on the headline to see them listed.)

The Children’s Museum– interactive activities most typically suitable for children ages 3 to 9 Sunday February 5 from 10-2:30 Science Magic Day (with the annual fruit rolling competition!
Families can arrive and leave at any time. Parents and/or caregivers are expected to stay with children during the museum visit. Please use discretion in bringing very young children, as the museum is NOT baby-proof (some craft items are small and could present a choking hazard).
Location: The PeopleCare Center, 120 Finderne Avenue, Bridgewater, NJ 08807 (parking and entrance are in the rear of the building).
Cost: A $3/ per child donation is suggested for those who can afford it. For more information: somersetcminfo@gmail.com or call 908-595-0001.

TEENS, LOOKING FOR VOLUNTEER HOURS?? – Check here for volunteer opportunities at The Children’s Museum this winter. For more info. contact: Tom Davidson, volunteer coordinator 908-725-4677 tadavidson@gmail.com

RVCC PLANETARIUM SHOWS FOR KIDS
All shows run approximately 40 minutes. Admission: $6 for one show, $11 for two shows on the same day Call 908-231-8805 for reservations!
The Little Star that Could  Saturdays, February 4, 11, 18, 25
3:00 p.m.  Join Little Star, an average yellow star, as he meets other colorful stars in our galaxy during his quest for a name and a planet to call his own.  Imagine his surprise when he discovers planets already orbiting him.  (recommended for ages 6-12 accompanied by an adult)


Laser Kids Saturdays, February 4, 11, 18, 25  4:00 p.m.Listen to songs such as "Fireflies" and "Twist and Shout" while lasers draw pictures on the dome overhead. (recommended for ages 6-12 accompanied by an adult)
Winter Skies  Saturdays, February 4, 11, 18, 25, 7:00 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. 
Laser Coldplay  Saturdays, February 4, & 18  8:00 p.m.
Laser Zeppelin  Saturdays, February 11, & 25  8:00 p.m.

Home Depot. Saturday, February 4, 2012 9 a.m. – 12 p.m.
Build. Learn. Create. Have fun with Kids Workshops!

Keepsake Box

• Make a personalized box to hold private treasures
• Give it as a gift for Valentine’s Day  FREE hands-on workshop at all Home Depot stores. designed for children ages 5 – 12. All kids get to keep their craft and receive a FREE Kids Workshop Apron, commemorative pin and certificate of achievement.

The Environmental Education Center 190 Lord Sterling Rd. Basking Ridge, NJ 07920
has lots of activities for kids this winter including dinosaurs, whales, and maple sugaring. Events require registration. Here’s some events from their February Calendar.

At the Morris Museum 6 Normandy Heights Road | Morristown, NJ 07960 Lego Lovers, Check out The Art of the Brick® On View through February 20, 2012

Nathan Sawaya’s The Art of the Brick features over 25 awe-inspiring and thought-provoking large-scale sculptures created out of LEGO^® bricks. This popular exhibition will be on view through February 20, 2012. While the exhibition is on view, a special area has been set up where visitors, inspired by Sawaya's work, can build their own fantastic LEGO creations. For more information about The Art of the Brick and Nathan Sawaya’s artwork, visit www.brickartist.com. (Above: Nathan Sawaya in his studio with sculptures and LEGO containers in background.)

Morris Museum also has a fascinating ongoing exhibit of Mechanical Musical Instruments and Automata (think of the mechanical man Hugo is trying to fix in the move “Hugo” (based on the book “The Invention of Hugo Cabret.”)

Tuesday, February 7 - Lego Build LEGO Store Bridgewater Commons Mall 5:00 PM - 7:00 PM   Ages 6- 14  show up early!  Free

One day each month you can learn how to build a cool LEGO mini model, and take it home – for free! Quantities are limited and offer is good while supplies last only. A new model will be available every month and will be specially themed to that month – ask a Store Associate for details! Models are not for sale and cannot be purchased. One free per child. Event is open to children aged 6 to 14 only. Check with your local LEGO Store for dates and times.   February - LEGO Hockey Player  For more info: http://stores.lego.com/en-us/StoreEvents.aspx

Build & Grow at Lowe's   Lowe's 315 US Highway 206 Hillsborough, 08844 10:00 AM - 11:00 AM  Children up to age 12 FREE!!! 

Valentine Card Creator: Saturday 02/11/2012 Valentine's Day is right around the corner! Your child will love making their own personalized cards!

Rumblin' Race Car: Saturday 02/25/2012

Your child won't want to miss this Jimmie Johnson #48 race car! This kit comes with stickers and rumblin' race car sound effects.

Due to high demand, please register online at: http://www.lowesbuildandgrow.com/Home.aspx  For more info: www.lowesbuildandgrow.com 908-904-6140

Each participant will receive a free apron, goggles, a themed patch, and a certificate of merit upon completion of their project.

DEPRESSION TALE TO OPEN @ THE GROWING STAGE

MOTHER HICKS Through February 5 with performances Thursday and Friday evenings at 7:30 PM, Saturday matinee at 4 PM and Sunday matinee at 1:00 PM.  There will be a special interpreted performance on Saturday Feb. 4th.
The Growing Stage, The Children’s Theatre of New Jersey, located in the Historic Palace Theatre on Route 183 in Netcong
TICKETS: $18 for adults, $14 for children and seniors. www.growingstage.com.
Set in southern Illinois, during the great Depression, this play is about three outsiders—a foundling girl known only as Girl; a deaf boy, eloquent in the language of his silence; and an eccentric recluse, Mother Hicks, who is suspected of being a witch. The tale, told with poetry and sign language, chronicles the journeys of these three to find themselves, and each other, in a troubled time.

PAPER MILL SEEKS ASPIRING PERFORMERS FOR SUMMER PROGRAMS
For aspiring performers ages 10 to 18, AUDITION NOTICE: 2012 Paper Mill Playhouse Summer Professional Training Programs
By appointment only on Saturday February 4 Kean University in Union, New Jersey.
E-mail summer@papermill.org for more information and to be placed on our Education mailing list to receive a brochure. Click here to learn more.



Also at Papermill Playhouse:   Charlotte's Web Saturday, February 18, 2012. 10 a.m. Ages 5 & up TheatreworksUSABased on E.B. White's loving story of the friendship between a pig named Wilbur and a little gray spider named Charlotte, this endearing tale explores the true meaning of friendship. Orchestra & Box $20 or $15, Mezzanine $12.

4-WEEK-LONG WINTER FESTIVAL IN NEW BRUNSWICK

State Theatre presents the 6^th Annual
HUB CITY CARNIVALE:A Winter Festival for Families and Kids
WHEN: January 27 - February 24, 2012
WHERE (unless otherwise noted): STATE THEATRE, 15 Livingston Ave, New Brunswick Ticket Office: 732-246-SHOW (7469) www.StateTheatreNJ.org
Here’s a sampler from the 6th annual Hub City Carnivale, a four-week winter festival For a complete list of events and prices, visit www.StateTheatreNJ.org/HubCity.

WHEN: Sat, February 4 at 3 PM and 8 PM; come early for some Lord of the Rings trivia. TICKETS: $15-35 / Take5 price: $10-35
An energetic one-man recreation of the entire Lord of the Rings trilogy, performed by Charles Ross, the mastermind behind the world-wide smash hit show One-Man Star Wars.

Glen Burtnik & Friends The British Invasion Concert
WHEN: Sat, February 11 at 8 PM; At 7 PM, come early for the Thomas Sweet Chocolate Tasting and a lobby concert by singer/guitarist Lisa Bouchelle.
TICKETS: $20-45 / Take5 price: $20-45 A tribute to classic rock bands of the explosive 60s—including The Kinks and The Rolling Stones

Fiddler on the Roof  Fri, February 17 at 8PM; Pre-Performance Insights at 7 PM at the United Methodist Church; Sat, February 18 at 2 PM and 8 PM, Pre-Performance Insights at 1 PM at the United Methodist Church TICKETS: $32-67 / Take5 price: $25-67

“FAMILY DAY on PRESIDENTS’ DAY”  Mon, February 20 On the State Theatre stage…

• Dan Zanes & Friends WHEN: 10:30 AM
  TICKETS: $10-20 / Take5 price: $5-20
• The Bindlestiff Family Cirkus WHEN: 1 PM and 3:30 PMClowns, wire walking, a sword swallower, acrobatics, and live music. Hosted by Ringmistress Philomena.
  TICKETS: $10-15 / Take5 price: $5-15

On the Crossroads Theatre stage…

• New Jersey Tap Dance Ensemble WHEN: 10 AM & 2 pm
  TICKETS: FREE Come and meet the dancing feet of these talented hoofers, in a high-energy, interactive program.
• Princeton Symphony Orchestra “Meet the Percussion”
  WHEN: 11 AM & 1 pm TICKETS: FREE
  The Princeton Symphony Orchestra introduces the wide range of percussion instruments in their lively interactive program.
• Diane Macklin, storyteller WHEN: 12 & 3 PM
  TICKETS: FREE Celebrating the African American storytelling tradition, Diane's folktales are interactive fun for the entire family.

For information and a listing of Family Day workshops visit:www.StateTheatreNJ.org/FamilyDay

Coppélia in HD, Bolshoi Ballet Captured Live at the Bolshoi Theatre
WHEN: Wed, February 22 at 7 PM; Pre-Performance Insights at 6:30 pm in the theater. TICKETS: $22 / Take5 price: $15-20 Presented in HD on the State Theatre’s 46’ screen.
The Pink Floyd Experience WHEN: Fri, February 24 at 8 PM
TICKETS: $22-52 / Take5: $20-50

Let Your Fingers Do More Walking….Contests & More!

Create a Story tube! What is a StoryTube? It is a 2-minute or less "my favorite book" video project. Kids and teens (grades K-12) can make a short video to promote their favorite book… …and they can learn about other great titles by watching other entries. Prizes will be awarded to the winners. Here are the details & rules. For more information: http://www.storytubes.info/drupal/ Deadline: February 20, 2012

Doodle 4 Google 2012: If I could travel in time, I'd visit...

Between now and March 23, 2012, students in grades K-12 can enter the
Google Doodle contest to have their art featured on Google's homepage.
Parents, teachers, or after school programs may submit doodles on behalf
of their child or student as long as they are accompanied by a completed
and signed entry form --- limit one doodle per child. Maybe someone would like to make a library themed Doodle! One lucky student artist will see their artwork appear on the Google homepage and take home some cool prizes--and the winning artwork will also appear on a limited edition of Crayola's iconic 64 box! Details are here: http://www.google.com/doodle4google/

Want to Nurture Creativity in Your Kids?…author Peter Reynolds has 10 suggestions.

 

And speaking of creativity, check out this interview with author Chris Raschka, who won the Caldecott last week for A Ball for Daisy.

 

 

Wonder of the Day #484: Can Germs Be Good for You?
If you think all germs are bad, think again!  Wonderopolis shows how good some germs can be.

Can germs be good for you?
What are the four major types of germs?
What are probiotics?
Find out more here.