Gung Hay Fat Choy–Welcome Chinese Year of the Dragon!

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



@ Bridgewater Library: Programs

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.

Chinese New Year: Year of the Dragon (Ages 3+) Saturday, January 21st 10:30-11:30am Registration required Gung Hay Fat Choy! Happy New Year! Join us as we welcome in the Year of the Dragon with stories and crafts - a big dragon that everyone will help to decorate and a paper lantern for children to take home. Registration required.


Lego Club (Grades K-6) Monday, January 23rd 4:30-5:30pm Registration required 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. Registration required.
Lego Lovers, be sure to check out the Morris Museum exhibit below!


Rocket Readers: 'Mr. Putter and Tabby Write the Book' by Cynthia Rylant (Grades 1-3) Tuesday, January 24th 4:30-5:30pm Registration required Mr. Putter has always wanted to write a mystery novel - and Tabby is happy to help. So, during a big snow, Mr. Putter gets ready to write his book. But, who knew there would be so many delicious distractions along the way? Registration required.




Chapter Book Club: 'How Oliver Olson Changed the World' by Claudia Mills Wednesday, January 25th 4:30-5:30pm Registration required Oliver Olson's teacher is always saying that one person with a big idea can change the world. But, how is Oliver supposed to change the world when his parents won't let him do anything on his own - not his class projects of even activities such as the space sleepover at school! Afraid he will become an outsider like ex-planet Pluto, Oliver decides to take control of his corner of the universe! Registration required.

Winter Craftacular! (Ages 3-8) Saturday, January 28th 10:00am Registration required Put on your winter jacket, your warmest hat, scarf, and gloves, and join us at the library for a story and craft to celebrate the Winter season! Registration required.




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.



Pre-School of Rock (Ages 1+) Saturday, February 4th 10:30-11:30am Registration begins January 20. Had enough of the winter? Made your share of snowmen? Then come by the library and rock out with 'Preschool of Rock!' Your morning will be filled with this 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 begins January 23rd
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!

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:

Talk It Up (Grades 5-8) Wednesday, February 15th 7:00-8:00pm Registration begins Feb. 1st.
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. Daniel's father was an alien hunter, working his way through a fearsome 'most wanted' list of aliens intent on seeking control and wreaking devastation. His life has become dedicated to the mission. 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.

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!

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).

AT THE WARREN LIBRARY:

SAT/ACT COMBO PRACTICE TEST Saturday January 21, 2012 10:00 AM to 2:15 PM For Grades 9-12 Registration Required. Free.
Deciding between the SAT or ACT? This free 4 hour Combo Practice test is a great opportunity to experience both tests and decide which is right for you. Students will receive feedback from Kaplan Test Prep that compares their performance on sections of each test. Bring two #2 pencils and a calculator. Register in-person, online at www.somerset.lib.nj.us/warren or call 908-754-5554 ext. 23.   SNOW DATE: If cancelled due to inclement weather, the program will be held Saturday, February 4, 2012 from 10 am – 2:15 pm.

@ the Library: Displays:

Check out a Winner! – look for Caldecott and Newbery Award winning books on our display near the reshelving area.

Announcing the winners in the Bridgewater Library Mock Caldecott held on January 9th (Thanks to all who participated!)


Mock Caldecott Winner:
Mock Caldecott Honor Books:



Holiday Display -- Celebrate Martin Luther King’s Birthday – books atop the Holidays Section.
Introduce your children to this great man and the history of segregation in our country.






Let Your Fingers Do MORE walking:



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

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 January Calendar.

Thursday, January 19 - Let It Snow 4:00 PM - 5:30 PM Ages 4-6. $9 per child. Registration required.

Children will discover the wonders of frozen water by examining the different structures that make up snow.

Thursday, January 19 - Chain Reaction 4:30 PM - 5:00 PM Ages 7 to 9. $9 per child. Registration required.

Children will learn about the producers, the consumers and the decomposers that make up the food chain.

Saturday, January 21 - Story Hour 10:30 AM - 11:30 AM Ages infant to 5 with parent. Registration required. FREE

Children and parents will listen to a Naturalist read an environmentally-based story and enjoy a short walk on the trails of the EEC.

Saturday, January 21 - The Green Team 1:00 PM - 4:00 PM Ages 12-15. Registration required. FREE

Children who have to fulfill a community service requirement for school will enjoy the educational and fun activities at the EEC.
All programs register online at www.somersetcountyparks.org or call 908-766-2489.


Caryn Lin—an “electric violinist full of voltage”—will perform a Free Concert Sunday Jan. 22 at Three at the Bernardsville Library
As she plays, recorded snippets of her music play back in a continuous loop adding layer upon layer of sound over deceptively simple melodies. The result is music that is both otherworldly and catchy. Funded by the Friends of the Bernardsville Library. Doors open at 2:45 pm. Free. No sign-up is needed.

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 is an award-winning artist who creates large-scale sculptures using only toy building blocks: LEGO® bricks. See this touring exhibition, which focuses exclusively on LEGO as an art medium. Read more here.
Image: Yellow, Nathan Sawaya, brickartist.com

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).)
Just Announced! January 22 at 12 noon Meet LEGO® Artist Nathan Sawaya Box office: 973.971.3706

Be inspired by the artist who created the LEGO sculptures in The Art of the Brick® exhibition! Event includes: talk by the artist, followed by Q&A and book/poster signing (available for sale at the museum)
Tickets: Members $15;Non-members $20 (includes museum admission)

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.”

LOCAL ARCHITECT LEADS FAMILY LEGO® BUILDING WORKSHOPS @ MORRIS MUSEUM

Building Blocks Workshops
LEGO® Architectural Workshops for Families
WHEN: January 14, 19 and 28
WHERE: Morris Museum, 6 Normandy Heights Road, Morristown Families will come together when LEGO® blocks meet architectural history in Building Blocks Workshops at the Morris Museum in January 2012. In each of these two-hour workshops, 50 families will create 50 buildings, using over 50,000 LEGO building blocks.
Led by Livingston, NJ-based architect Stephen W. Schwartz, workshop participants can Build Historical Morristown on January 19, from 6-8 PM; or create Windmills and Wind Power on January 28 from 2-4 PM.
FEE: for each workshop is $40 per family (up to four members).
Space is limited to 50 families per workshop.Families can register for these workshops by visiting Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage, 211 South Street, Morristown, NJ 07960, M-F 9 AM – 6 PM, Sat-Sun 9 AM – 5 PM. (Payment by check payable to Morris Museum). For more information, call 973.971.3718 or –email programs@morrismuseum.org.
About Building Blocks Workshops Each two-hour Building Blocks program is a fast-paced, hands-on model building experience using LEGO building blocks. Building Blocks Workshops were developed by Stephen W. Schwartz AIA, Architect of SWS Architects, Livingston, NJ, who, says, “These programs are an opportunity to have fun, learn about the community’s architectural heritage and work in a large group to build structurally sound, interesting and whimsical models.”

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!
Magic Tree House: Space Mission
Saturdays, January 21, and 28
3:00 p.m.What would you do if you found a note with lots of question on it? "How many stars in the starry night sky? If we flew to the Sun, how long would we fly? Will we travel to planets and will it be soon? Will we ever be able to live on the Moon? How does it feel to journey through space? Why is our Earth so special a place?" From the authors of the best-selling novel series, join Jack and Annie as they discover the secrets of the Sun, Moon, planets, space travel, and more. Who can help them answer the mysterious "M's" questions? (recommended for ages 5 and older)

Laser Light Saturdays, January 21, and 28 4:00 p.m. Listen to songs by a variety of artists while lasers draw pictures on the dome overhead. (recommended for ages 6 - adult)

Winter Skies Saturdays, January 21, and 28 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.
Rockin' Rocket Ride Sunday, January 22, 2:00 p.m. Put on your space suit and blast off into outer space! Catchy songs teach us about the planets and moon rocks. We'll also discover what stars are in tonight's sky. (Recommended for ages 3-8 accompanied by an adult)


Sky Lights Sunday, January 22, 3:00 p.m.A laser and video concert featuring songs by mr. RAY (Kalien the Alien, ROY G BIV) and Jane Murphy (Moon Rock Rock, Is Anybody Else Out There?) as well as favorites like "ABC" by the Jackson 5 and Disney's "When You Wish Upon a Star." (Recommended for ages 4-8 accompanied by an adult)

A planetarium show for families with children on the Autism Spectrum or with other developmental disabilities. January 22, 2012 4:30 - 5:30pm
All ages are welcome to this one hour sensory-friendly program. The show will provide a comfortable and judgment-free space that is welcoming to all families. The doors will remain open so that children will be able to come and go. Lights will be left dim and audio will be lowered and at a consistent level. The sky show will include: music, laser lights, planets, stories, the Moon and constellations. Ticket Price: $5.00 per person

Tots on Tour at Grounds for Sculpture (Hamilton)
January 21, 2012 Admission: $12 (Adults); $10 (Students/Seniors); $8 (Children); Free for GFS Members
Bring your toddler to learn about sculpture through hands-on activities. Listen to a story, become park explorers, and make original works of art. Rain or shine! Lesson and theme change monthly. Instruction designed to meet learning needs of 3-5 year olds. Children ages 3-5 (only) must be accompanied by an adult. Space is limited and on a first-come, first-serve basis. Meets in the Visitor’s Center. Instructor: Joslyn Johnson. Free with park admission.

Saturday, January 28 - Build & Grow at Lowe's – Registration required – register online.
Build-a-saurus: Saturday 01/28/2012
Your child can build this cool dinosaur and then choose the stickers to make it a cartoon or a realistic dinosaur!


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

Keepsake Box  Kids can build this great 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. Workshops teach children do-it-yourself skills, tool safety and instill a sense of pride and accomplishment.
• All kids get to keep their craft and receive a FREE Kids Workshop Apron, commemorative pin and certificate of achievement.

ART CLASSES FOR KIDS, TEENS, YOUNG ADULTS @ THE ZIMMERLI

SPRING 2012 DRAWING CLASSES
Registration is now open!


ZAM SESSION: FOR TEENS AND YOUNG ADULTS
WHEN: Saturdays beginning February 25, 3 to 4:30 PM
WHERE: Zimmerli Art Museum, Hamilton & George Streets, New Brunswick
ZAM Session, a dynamic art program for teens and young adults, offers aspiring and accomplished artists the opportunity to develop their skills in a museum setting under the encouraging eye of a professional art educator. During these sessions, students draw from works in the Zimmerli's collection or, weather permitting, work outside on the grounds of the Rutgers campus. This is an inspiring environment for college-bound students.
For schedule, fee, and a registration form, visit their website.

DRAWING CLUB FOR YOUNG PEOPLE
WHEN: Wednesdays beginning January 25 / 4:15 to 5:45 PM (ages 6-8); Wednesdays beginning March 7 / 4:15 to 5:45 PM (ages 9-14)
Children discover the secrets of drawing when they participate in the Zimmerli's Drawing Club. Aspiring artists learn drawing techniques, including pencil and charcoal, and such genres as still life and portraiture. Freda Rhodes, head art teacher in the New Brunswick school district, and other professional educators address the needs of both beginners and advanced students.
For details and registration, use this link.

DEPRESSION TALE TO OPEN @ THE GROWING STAGE

MOTHER HICKSJanuary 19 to February 5 with performances Thursday and Friday evenings at 7:30 PM, Saturday and Sunday matinees at 4:00 PM.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, with group rates available. Thursday performances will also feature “Talk-Back Thursday” performances with a special opportunity to interact with the cast following the show. Tickets can be purchased by calling the TGS Box Office at 973.347.4946 or logging onto www.growingstage.com.
MOTHER HICKS is an evocative story of three outsiders that is richly realized through all of the resources of theater including poetry, character and story. 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.
The Growing Stage is committed to creating and presenting professional theatre for young people and their families. “Mother Hicks represents everything we strive to provide our young audiences—an intelligent, thought-provoking piece that is beautifully written with characters that not only come to life on the stage, but shine bright in our memories long past the lights onstage fade away,” states company director Steve Fredericks.

JOIN THE FUN WITH ASC IN UNREHEARSED READING OF BARDIC COMEDY

NO HOLDS BARD: MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING
WHEN: Thursday, January 26, 2012, at 7:30 PM
WHERE: NJCU’s West Side Theater, 285 West Side Avenue in Jersey City
ADMISSION: Free
Actors Shakespeare Company at New Jersey City University will present a special, free event on campus, No Holds Bard: Much Ado About Nothing, an unrehearsed, staged reading of William Shakespeare’s beloved comedy that will be open to the public. Audience members will be encouraged to join ASC artists onstage and play along for an evening of fun and surprise.
No Holds Bard: Much Ado About Nothing is meant to be an exploration of a witty, romantic comedy by William Shakespeare in which the professional company ASC at NJCU invites its local community to participate. "Join the Resident Artists of ASC for a fun-filled evening of out-loud, on-your-feet, seat-of-your-pants Shakespeare," said Colette Rice, ASC at NJCU Producing Artistic Director.
All ASC at NJCU shows begin with Bard Banter, a group discussion of the work about to be performed that is held in the lobby of the West Side Theater 30 minutes before curtain. On January 26, the Bard Banter will focus on how the evening will unfold. The fun begins at 7 o’clock.
For more information about No Holds Bard: Much Ado About Nothing, call ASC at NJCU at 201.200.2390 or visit www.ascnj.org.

PAPER MILL SEEKS ASPIRING PERFORMERS FOR SUMMER PROGRAMS

AUDITION NOTICE: 2012 Paper Mill Playhouse Summer Professional Training Programs
By appointment only on Saturdays, January 28 and February 4Kean 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.
For aspiring performers ages 10 to 18, Paper Mill Playhouse’s Professional Training Programs represent the ultimate opportunity to take your theatrical skills to the next level. Students participate in demanding classes in singing,acting, auditioning and dance as well as guest artist workshops led by professional actors, directors, and casting agents. Our programs build professional skills—so if you have the passion, talent, and drive it takes to be a performer, this is the program for you.


Let Your Fingers Do More Walking….
#471: Why Do You See Your Breath When It’s Cold? Check out this Wonderopolis entry to find out!

Bundle up! It’s cold in Wonderopolis today. Can you see your breath?
Have you ever wondered…

• Why do you see your breath when it’s cold?
• What is condensation?
• How cold does it have to be to be able to see your breath?

Did you know?
Brrr! It’s freezing this morning in Wonderopolis. We woke up to a thick blanket of frost on the grass. Be sure to bundle up as you head to the bus stop. You don’t want to get frostbite!

As you wait for the bus and talk with your friends, you may notice that you can see your breath. If you and your friends all exhale at the same time, you can make a big cloud in the air.

Did you and your friends suddenly turn into cloud-breathing dragons? Or is something else going on here? Why can you see your breath when it’s cold outside but not when it’s hot?

Believe it or not, there’s nothing magical about seeing your breath when it’s cold outside. It’s just science at work.
You may already know that when you breathe in, your body takes in oxygen from the air. When you breathe out, your lungs expel carbon dioxide back into the air. But the breath you breathe out contains more than just carbon dioxide.

When you exhale (breathe out), your breath also contains moisture. Because your mouth and lungs are moist, each breath you exhale contains a little bit of water in the form of water vapor (the gas form of water).

For water to stay a gas in the form of water vapor, it needs enough energy to keep its molecules moving. Inside your lungs where it’s nice and warm, this isn’t a problem.

When you exhale and it’s cold outside, though, the water vapor in your breath loses its energy quickly. Rather than continuing to move freely, the molecules begin to pack themselves closely together. As they do so, they slow down and begin to change into either liquid or solid forms of water.

This scientific process is called condensation. When you exhale when it’s cold outside, the water vapor in your breath condenses into lots of tiny droplets of liquid water and ice (solid water) that you can see in the air as a cloud, similar to fog.

When it’s warm out, though, the invisible water vapor gas stays invisible, because the warm air provides energy that allows the water vapor to remain a gas. As temperatures drop, it’s more likely that you’ll be able to see your breath.
There’s no exact temperature at which condensation will occur. Many environmental factors other than temperature can play a role in condensation, including relative humidity (the amount of moisture in the air). When it falls below 45° F, though, you can usually expect to be able to see your breath.

Try it out!


Ready to see condensation at work right before your eyes? It doesn’t matter whether it’s cold outside right now or not.
If it is cold out, head outside and breathe. Put your hands in front of your mouth. Can you feel how much warmer your breath is than the cold air around you? Does your breath make a cloud?

If it’s not very cold outside right now, try this fun experiment. Find a small mirror and put it in the refrigerator for an hour or so to make sure it’s really cold. When you’re ready, take out the mirror and get ready to breathe on it.

First, take a few deep breaths and notice that you can’t see your breath in the warm air around you. Then, breathe onto the mirror. Do you see how the mirror fogs up when you breathe on it? This occurs because the cold mirror cools the air right around it, which causes your warm breath to condense on the mirror as it hits the cold air. How cool is that?


Wonder words to know and use:

• bundle
• condensation
• frost
• frostbite
• oxygen
• carbon dioxide
• exhale
• moisture
• vapor
• molecule
• invisible
• humidity

Still wondering? Use Illuminations’ Every Breath You Take lesson to focus on problem solving, reasoning and communication skills or go to Wonderopolis.org for more fun facts and experiments!