Summer Reading Carnival This Thursday–and Check out the Panthers Prowling Across the Street!

Summer Reading Club Celebration Carnival! (For all ages) Thursday, August 16th drop in anytime from 1-4pm No registration required. Step right up! Step right up...for an afternoon filled with games, prizes, and activities for children of all ages! Bring your family and friends for a fun-filled summer afternoon!


Wondering about the two panthers prowling about on the utility box across from the library?
Two Panthers in the Rain Forest is by Donna Ash, a Native American artist from Gloucester County. A fun note: It was designed specifically to pop into 3-D when viewed through ChromaDepth 3-D glasses. Coincidentally, some of the other featured artworks also pop into 3-D when viewed through the same glasses. (This is due to the juxtaposition of specific colors of the spectrum.) Why not get a pair of inexpensive cardboard ChromaDepth 3-D glasses and have some fun traveling around to look at each of the 21 other Artful Traffic Control Boxes up close to see if you can identify which of the artworks pop into 3-D?

Speaking of Rain Forests, ever wonder #667: Why Are Rainforests Important? Click to find out!





Buying "Back to School” Supplies for your children? Consider helping out another child at the same time. Here’s how.
And if your child will be starting school this September, check out our “Starting School” book display at the library and these titles from The Children’s Book Review.


House-cleaning? Want to make more room? The Friends of the Library are accepting book & media donations for their fall sale 9:30-8:30 Thursday August 23rd, 9:30-4:30 Friday & Saturday Aug. 24th&25th and 9:30-noon Monday August 27th.





Planning a daytrip in these last days of August before school resumes?
Borrow a MUSEUM PASS from the library and go FREE!




Programs @ the Bridgewater Library:

Summer Reading Club Celebration Carnival! (For all ages) Thursday, August 16th drop in anytime from 1-4pm No registration required. Step right up! Step right up...for an afternoon filled with games, prizes, and activities for children of all ages! Bring your family and friends for a fun-filled summer afternoon!

There’s still time to register and record minutes in our summer reading clubs. The clubs are open to preschoolers as well as school-aged children. Come by the desk to learn all about them! Last day to record minutes is Sept. 8th.




Just like adults, kids have natural preferences (and phases) toward fiction or non-fiction books. For those kids who love non-fiction, here are some new goodies. But for those kids who prefer fiction, help them expand their reading horizons. Because it’s important that readers practice reading and comprehending both fiction and non-fiction. Here are some suggestions from Imagination Soup!
How do you get your kids reading non-fiction?

1. Go with their interests.
2. Find a book with great photographs or illustrations.
3. Let your child pick. (As always.)
4. Read the book together.
5. Think outside the box — who is your child? what works for him or her?
6. Ask a librarian for additional suggestions!
7. 
   

Our summer Toddler Times and Baby Times have ended. Planning ahead? Fall dates & times will be available on our September Calendar or you can call us at 908 526-4016 x126.




Tween Party: After Hours (Grades 4-6) Friday, August 17 from 6:00 pm - 8:00 pm Registration begins August 3. Tweens, entering grades 4-6, get locked in the library after hours! We'll have a movie, video games, crafts and snacks! No admittance after 6:15 pm. Advance notice required if tween must leave the program early.



Talk It Up: 'Middle School, the Worst Years of My Life' by James Patterson (For students entering grades 5-8) Wednesday, August 22nd From 7-8 pm Registration begins August 8th. When Rafe Khatchadorian enters middle school, he teams up with his best friend, 'Leo the Silent,' to create a game to make school more fun by trying to break every rule in the school's code of conduct.


There are ADDITIONAL PROGRAMS at other system libraries for children & teens…find their online calendars under the “events/programs” tab on our home page.
If you have registered for a program and realize that you won’t be able to come, please call (908 526-4016x126) or email us (bwljuv@sclibnj.org) as early as possible so we can make someone on the waitlist very happy. Next time that waitlisted participant might be your child!


@ Bridgewater Library for Teens:


The Teen Summer Reading Program continues through Sept. 8th. Stop by anytime this summer to register or record your time.



Multi-Generation Movie: THE HUNGER GAMES (Rated PG-13) Open to all ages, but please note rating information: Rated PG-13 for intense violent thematic material and disturbing images - all involving teens. Movie length is 142 minutes. Saturday, August 18 1:00 PM - 3:30 PM, repeats Monday, August 20 6:00 PM - 8:30 PM Registration begins Friday, August 3rd for the Saturday showing & Monday, August 6th for the Monday showing. Every year in the ruins of what was once North America, the Capitol of the nation of Panem forces each of its twelve districts to send a teenage boy and girl to compete in the Hunger Games. Sixteen-year-old Katniss Everdeen volunteers in her younger sister's place and must rely upon her sharp instincts when she's pitted against highly trained Tributes who have prepared their entire lives. She must make impossible choices in the arena that weigh survival against humanity and life against love.

TAB (Teen Advisory Board) Meeting (Grades 6-8) Tuesday, Aug. 21st from 5:30-6:30pm TAB Meeting (Grades 9-12) (For students entering grades 9-12) from 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. meetings! Community service hours will be awarded for attendance and snacks will be served.

Talk It Up: 'Middle School, the Worst Years of My Life' by James Patterson (For students entering grades 5-8) Wednesday, August 22nd From 7-8 pm Registration begins August 8th. When Rafe Khatchadorian enters middle school, he teams up with his best friend, 'Leo the Silent,' to create a game to make school more fun by trying to break every rule in the school's code of conduct.


Open Mic Cafe Night (Ages 13+)
Thursday, Aug. 30th From 7:00pm – 8:30pm Registration Required to perform. Think you’ve got what it takes to get up on stage in front of your peers with nothing but your voice and guitar? Want to share your poetry, comedy, or original music? Then this is your night! Join us for this one of a kind experience, and help local musicians and writers get their voices heard. Depending on registration, artists will receive 10-15 minute slots to play music or recite poetry. Sign ups will be on a first-come, first-served basis. Please check back for more registration information. **You only need to register if you are interested in performing.**
Around the Community:




RVCC Planetarium Schedule All shows run approximately 40 minutes. Admission: $7 for one show, $12 for two shows on the same day. Call 908-231-8805 for reservations!

Solar System Odyssey Tuesdays through August 28 2:00 p.m.Go on a futuristic journey through our Solar System. With Earth's resources being rapidly depleted, a tycoon sends our hero, Jack Larson, on a mission to discover a new home to colonize. This character-driven show is perfect for middle school students! (recommended for ages 8-12)



Attack of the Space Pirates Tuesdays through August 28 3:00 p.m.Hidden somewhere in the vast reaches of space is an alien technology so powerful that it threatens the very galaxy itself. A gang of rogue pirates will stop at nothing to find that technology and unleash its awesome power against the rest of the universe. Now, only one valiant ship stands between the pirates and their total domination of space. It’s a race against time for the Starship Intrepid as it seeks to find the alien technology first while defending itself against the attack of the space pirates! (recommended for ages 8-12)


Magic Tree House: Space Mission
Wednesdays, July 11 - August 29 2:00 p.m. And Fridays, July 6 - August 24 7:00 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 Kids Wednesdays, July 11 - August 29
3:00 p.m. Our popular show has gotten a new song list. Songs include "The Lion Sleeps Tonight," "Supercalifragilisticsexpialidocious," and "Yellow Submarine," to name just a few. (recommended for ages 5 and older)


Space Shapes & Tycho to the Moon
Thursdays, July 5 – August 23 2:00 p.m.
Exploring shapes in space: are the Moon and its orbit "round" like a ball or a pancake? Play connect-the-dots with the stars to find triangles and squares and constellations. Meet Tycho, a dog who doesn't just howl at the Moon, but wants to go there. Blast off on an amazing ride. Learn about night and day, space travel, the phases of the Moon, and features of the lunar surface. Watch meteors shoot across the sky and see the Earth from space. (recommended for ages 5-10 accompanied by an adult)

SkyLights Thursdays, July 5 – August 23
3:00 p.m. Our youngest audience members can sing along with songs by Mr. RAY (Family Ride, Kalien the Alien) and Jane Murphy (Moon Rock Rock, The Planet Song). Some songs are illustrated with lasers and other songs feature video images. (recommended for ages 5-10)


FREE Summer Movies in Somerville. Bring a chair, or a blanket, bring your friends and kids, pack a snack for movie time, and head down to Division Street (now a plaza, not a street). Questions? Call 908.541.1600 or email dsa@findsomerville.com.
BACK TO THE FUTURE Aug. 22, 8:30 p.m. Rated PG
1980s teenager Marty McFly (Michael J. Fox) is transported back in time to 1955 where he accidentally changes the course of history through a series of comic misadventures and finds he must return things to the way they were, back to the future.
E.T. THE EXTRA-TERRESTRIAL Aug 29, 8:30 p.m.Rated PG
A being from outer space is accidentally stranded on Earth. In his search for refuge, E.T. wanders into a backyard where he is discovered by ten-year-old Elliott. Elliott assumes responsibility for E.T.'s safety while searching, in a race against time, for a way to reunite E.T. with his own kind in this heartwarming story of friendship and discovery.

Looking for Music in the Parks this summer? Check out the “Events – Summer Concerts” listings in the “Useful Websites” section on the right side of this newsletter. (If you are getting this as an email, click on the headline to open it up in the bookcase format and these will appear.)

KID-FRIENDLY ADAPTATION OF RAOLD DAHL CLASSIC

WILLY WONKA JR.
A kid-friendly adaptation of the Roald Dahl classic
WHEN: August 17 and 18 at 8 PM and August 19 at 2 PMWHERE: Jardine Academy, 61 Myrtle Street in Cranford
TICKETS: $12 apiece, and children under 5 will be admitted free.
WILLY WONKA JR. is a stage adaptation of CHARLIE AND THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY. It tells the story of a world-famous confectioner and his quest to find an heir. Dahl’s book was adapted by Leslie Bricusse and Timothy Allen McDonald, with a musical score written by Bricusse and his STOP THE WORLD collaborator, Anthony Newley. Among the many infectious tunes is “The Candy Man,” a song that became a huge hit record for another junior, Sammy Davis.
WILLY WONKA JR. is the sixth production for this educational program, which began in 2007 with a lively version of OLIVER! Children from 8 to 18 participate in a nine week workshop, culminating in a musical performance. Previous shows have included GREASE and THE WIZARD OF OZ. Please call 973.763.4029 for further information.

PAPER MILL PLAYHOUSE TEAMS UP WITH VSA-NJ TO OFFER CREATIVE DRAMA CLASS FOR STUDENTS WITH DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES

Paper Mill Playhouse in partnership with VSA-NJ will once again offer
Creative Drama Class for Students with Developmental Disabilities, Ages 8 to 12
WHEN: 6 Fridays from September 7 through October 26, 5:00–6:00 PM
WHERE: Paper Mill Playhouse, 22 Brookside Drive, Millburn
TUITION: $224 per student Space is limited, so register today.
If you are interested in registering for this program or would like more information about services for students on the autism spectrum, please call Mickey McNany, Theatre School Director at 973.315.1669 or e-mailmmcnany@papermill.org
Designed specifically for children with developmental disabilities, this new class will include theater improvisation, story telling,music, movement and visual art. The series will creatively address and include diverse learning styles and modes of communication. The drama class for children with disabilities is also open to their non-disabled siblings and parents or other caregivers. The classes will be held on-site at Paper Mill Playhouse, and will be instructed by Leslie Fanelli of VSA-NJ.
This class offering continues Paper Mill’s tradition of innovating new ways to bring theater to everyone. Paper Mill Playhouse has long provided a Theater For Everyone model and in 2011 the theater began offering a groundbreaking program, Sensory Friendly live theater performances for children with autism and other developmental disabilities. For more information about Paper Mill Playhouse programs for students on the autism spectrum, visit:http://lnk.nu/papermill.org/24c0.html


MEASURE FOR MEASURE AT SHAKESPEARE THEATRE
Here’s another thought-provoking play for teens (and their parents.) This mercurial masterpiece could have been written yesterday. An age-old tale of scandal, abuse of power and what happens when repression and profligacy get equally out of balance; it is a story for all times and its contemporary relevance is chillingly palpable. Tickets start at $32. The first Preview performance on Wednesday August 8th is Pay What You Can night and student Rush tickets are available 30-minutes before curtain for $10 with a valid student ID. For tickets, call the box office at 973-408-5600, visit www.ShakespeareNJ.org or email boxoffice@shakespearenj.org. Single ticket prices include a $2 facility fee not subject to discount.

Let Your Fingers Do MORE walking:

the world of Eric Carle TM  Eric Carle was recently interviewed by Nashville Arts Magazine. He speaks about how he stays inspired, encourages children to learn in their own way and feels humbled when teachers find his work valuable in the classroom.

 

We still have Bedtime Math calendars and nifty gold star stickers at the library. Stop by the Youth Services Reference Desk if you’d like them.  A new nifty problem is posted daily at www.bedtimemath.org.

Here’s a link to Bedtime Math's first TV appearance!  Q13 in Seattle did a live segment on the 5 o'clock news - check it out here. Two Parts Chocolate  Posted on August 15, 2012

A tasty problem for your “mathemagicians” to chew on:

If there’s one life truth we can all agree on, it’s that when you set out a bunch of desserts for people to eat, the chocolate options will run out first.  Whether you’re the type angling for the chocolate or avoiding it, you’ve probably seen this in action: the brownies go before the blondies, the chocolate chip cookies run out before the oatmeal raisin, and the hot fudge disappears before the caramel.  Of course, if you put some numbers to this, you can use the appropriate “Golden Ratio” to serve the right balance of chocolate vs. not-chocolate from the start.  Then you’d better get in line before they all run out completely.

Wee ones (counting on fingers): If the plate has 4 chocolate chip cookies and 5 impostor oatmeal raisin cookies, how many cookies are there in total?

Little kids: If on a tray of 12 Munchkin donut holes only 1/3 are chocolate, how many Munchkins are chocolate?  Bonus: If people eat the chocolate Munchkins as fast as all other flavors put together, how many of the 12 Munchkins should be chocolate so everything runs out at the same time?

Big kids: Based on scientific observation – basically hanging out at parties watching people eat – it appears that brownies get eaten twice as fast as blondies (those tan-colored squares with chocolate chips).  If you serve 15 pieces in total, how many should be brownies to have everything run out at the same time?  Bonus: If instead you serve only 8 brownies out of the 15, how many blondies are left when the brownies run out?

Thought-provoking article: 5 STEPS TO RAISING A CREATIVE CHILD from ImaginationSoup.net

CONDITIONS FOR CREATIVITY

Parents can create environments that encourage creativity. These environments include:

• down time
• failure
• play
• opportunities to invent and create

Blogger, Jillian Riley, suggests in her eBook, Raising a Creative Kid, that the environment include:

• open-ended toys
• pretend play
• creative art spaces

Creating Innovators author, Tony Wagner writes that creative innovators need:

• perseverance
• willingness to experiment and take calculated risks
• tolerance of failure
• the capacity for design thinking
• critical thinking

Sir Ken Robinson, in his famous TEDx talk, books, and articles, says that schools kill creativity. To encourage creative thinking, they’ll need to:

• celebrate curiosity
• provide ample opportunities for divergent thinking (divergent vs. convergent thinking explained here)
• nix so much standardized testing

 

ARTICLES ABOUT CREATIVITY

Still want to read more about creativity? Here are great online links to keep you busy thinking for awhile.
Creativity 101, Imagination Soup.
How Can You Encourage Your Child’s Creativity? Imagination Soup.
Video Games Help Creativity, USA Today
Do schools kill creativity?, Parenting.com
Top 50 Creativity Posts, My Creative Team
Raising a Creative Kid by Jillian Riley (eBook)
Tips on How to Be Creative by John Cleese (video)
Using Humor to Understand Creativity, Big Think
Read More from this excellent piece …

LAST PIECE OF ADVICE

Don’t worry about being creative. You already are. You don’t have to read any articles, any the books, do any exercises . . . you were born creative and still are. So are your kids. Just relax. Be. Create.
Now go have fun with your creative selves!
 

Finally, check out this fun idea --  Personalized paper doll set from rookiemoms.com.