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Saturday, October 24, 2015

Bridgewater Library Blog–Halloween Week Edition. Halloween MakeUp Danger. Mindfulness Monday, Halloween Hootenany, Anne Frank Play, and a Great KidLit Website.

 

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Having trouble viewing this email?  Read it online.
(You will also find links to great websites for families there.)

 

ALERT: Is Halloween Makeup A Danger To Our Kids?

By ASSOCIATED PRESS OCT 18, 2015  ALBANY (AP) Sen. Charles Schumer is calling for federal authorities to routinely test and require full disclosure of components in Halloween makeup.

CREDIT NPR.ORG

Schumer says novelty makeup and face paint are often made in China and can contain metals that could pose a danger to children wearing them.

According to Schumer, the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics found all 10 face paints it tested contained lead and six contained nickel, cobalt and/or chromium.  Lead is banned from makeup in Canada and Europe, but not in the U.S.

The federal Food and Drug Administration doesn't conduct routine testing of novelty cosmetics and needs to do more to enforce required disclosures of ingredients.  He says parents should check what glitter, lipstick and other cosmetics go on their children's faces this Halloween.

 

@ the Library

Parent / Teacher Workshop: Mindfulness Moments: Daily Mindfulness Practice for Youth, Parents & Caregivers Monday, October 26, 2015  7:00 PM - 8:30 PM Registration required.  Maria Usewisk, a pediatric occupational therapist at Anchored Minds and Bodies with over 20 years experience, will discuss the science, research and many benefits of daily mindfulness practice for youth and parents. 1.5 professional development hours will be awarded to attendees.

clip_image002  Drop-In Craft:
Build Your Own Monster!

Cut, Curl, Fold & Paste Paper
Into a Wonderful Creature
Inspired By
Rebecca & Ed Emberley’s Book.

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Note:  Storytimes, Toddler Times, & Baby Times are on break  – they will resume November 3rd.  Storytimes (Tues. 10 & 1:30), Toddler Times (Wed. & Fri. 10), and Baby Times (Thur. 9:30) 
No registration required.

 

Around the Community:

Halloween Hootenany at Hunterdon Farmer’s Market

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Join Librarian “Miss Carol” for an outdoor Halloween Hootenany at the Hunterdon Land Trust Farmers’ Market  Oct. 25 from 10 a.m. to noon. 

Story teller Carol Simon Levin will be sharing interactive Halloween tales & songs from 10 a.m. to noon.  The Hunterdon Land Trust Farmers’ Market is open this Sunday, Oct. 25 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.  It’s located at the Dvoor Farm off the Route 12 circle in Raritan Township (111 Mine Street  Flemington, NJ 08822).   Phone: 908-237-4582. More info here.

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Downtown Somerville is Spooktacular for Halloween

On Friday, October 30th, there’s fun for the young and the young-at heart at downtown Somerville’s Halloween Spooktacular featuring trick-or-treating at local stores and restaurants and a Halloween Boo-gie on Division Street from 3:00 – 6:00 p.m. Presented by the Downtown Somerville Alliance and community partner Empower Family Success Center, the family-friendly event will feature master pumpkin carving demonstrations, a free photo booth (thanks to Zen Image Studio and Gems & Stems), a Halloween Passport for treats, a DJ dance party, along with lots of surprises!

www.morrisparks.net

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See many more Halloween ideas here.

Powerful theater for your teens:
ANNE FRANK’S DIARY COMES TO LIFE @ STNJ  Review by Ruth Ross

STNJ_Anne 2Of the 1.5 million children who perished in the Holocaust, none is as well known as teenaged diarist Anne Frank who, by chronicling her two years hiding from the Nazis, has become a symbol of life cut short before it could reach its artistic potential.

Now, the Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey's poignantly powerful production brings Anne Frank's unforgettable life to the stage, just as the world is experiencing a new wave of refugees fleeing war and seeking sanctuary—something the folks in the Secret Annexe were unable to do. Written by Frances Goodrich and Albert Hackett as a play in 1956 (and adapted in 1997 by Wendy Kesselman after original text deleted by Otto Frank was restored to the diary), The Diary of Anne Frank certainly is, as Variety claimed, "one of the 20th century's most remarkable and enduring pieces of literature."  Read MORE of this review.  Anne Frank may have been but one child in 1.5 million murdered, but she is a fine representative of what the world has lost in their passing. The Diary of Anne Frank reminds us and calls us to never let it happen again.

The Diary of Anne Frank will be performed at the F.M. Kirby Shakespeare Theatre, 36 Madison Ave., Madison (on the campus of Drew University) through November 21. For information about performance times and special events and to purchase tickets, call the box office at 973.408.5600 or visit www.NJShakespeare.org online.

Photo © Jerry Dalia, The Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey, 2015.

Looking ahead:

www.morrisparks.net

Let Your Fingers Do (More) Walking:

Interested in children’s books & reading, explore the Kidlit.tv website:

KidLit.TV
Helping parents and educators explore the world of children’s literature.

Best of the web articles about children's literature, gathered and delivered to KidLit Kibbles each and every day!

Pumpkin Literacy Activities for Kids

Pumpkin Literacy Activities for Kids

Tis the season for pumpkins! Celebrate literacy and creativity with this hands-on collaborative story-book pumpkin activity.  Make one for your… Read more »

5 Very True Tales of Book Censorship12 Children’s Books About Refugees (Picture Books)

  • If you aren’t sure how to talk to your kids about the current refugee crisis, start with a book. The…Read more »

And check out more author interviews.

 

 

Subscribe at kidlit.tv or look for it on the permalinks on our website under “author interviews & more – kidlit.tv”

Friday, October 16, 2015

Late-Breaking Weekend Activities–Meet Illustrators and Get a Head Start on Halloween…

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Having trouble viewing this email?  Read it online.
(You will also find links to great websites for families there.)

Bring Cans for the Food Bank and Meet Real-Live Authors & Illustrators in Metuchen this Sunday:

TOUCAN PARTY!! 1

Plus Special Needs Workshop at the Bridgewater Library this Saturday:

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And Halloween Fun on Monday:

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HALLOWEEN FUN COMING UP IN MORRIS COUNTY

www.morrisparks.net

FALL FAMILY FUN @ LIBERTY HALL MUSEUM IN UNION

WHERE: Liberty Hall Museum, 1003 Morris Ave, Union, NJ

Apple Harvest Time:

Stroll our orchard and pick your own apples. You don’t have to travel far for some fun fall, shop local! Subject to Supply.  Please call 908-527-0400 to ensure the apples are ripe to pick!
ADMISSION: Apple Picking Fee: $5 per person. Apple Bag Fee: Small Bag: $8; Large Bag: $10. Monday - Saturday, 10 am - 4 pm.

Ghost Tours:

Join us for a spine-tingling tour of Liberty Hall Museum, after hours! Museum staff will share their own paranormal experiences with you before embarking on a guided, candlelit tour of the museum. Perhaps you'll even come away with your own ghost stories! Light refreshments will be served; space is limited and fills quickly, so make your reservation today! Friday, October 23 at 7pm or 9 pm.
ADMISSION: $20 for adults; $18 for LHM Members/Kean Alumni/Students; $13 for children (16 years and younger). Reservations required, please call 908-527-0400

Pumpkin Patch Day:

Join us for our Annual Pumpkin Patch day – a fall tradition for so many families! Enjoy a day filled with pumpkin picking, hayrides, pumpkin carving and painting, crafts and much more! Saturday, October 24 (Rain date; October 25) from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
ADMISSION: Children: $12.00, Adults: $6.00, Under 3: Free,  Additional charge for pumpkins; lunch available for purchase from vendor.  Reservations suggested; please call 908-527-0400

A Day in the Life of American Girl Samantha Parkington:

Experience a day in the life of American Girl Samantha Parkington! Treat that special girl in your life to an authentic Victorian afternoon, featuring a turn-of-the-century tour of Liberty Hall, hands-on activities and crafts Samantha herself might have enjoyed, and a Victorian-era tea party! Recommended for ages 6 – 12.Saturday, November 14 from 1-3 pm.
ADMISSION: $20 per child & one adult; $15 for LHM Members. Reservations required; please call 908-527-0400 

NJ Familypresents:

Looking for events and ideas to make your Halloween a spine-chilling sensation? We've got you covered—from farm fun, including pumpkin-picking in NJ and pick-your-own apples to Halloween tricks and treats like freakishly delicious Halloween Witches’ Brooms and a Cookie Monster jack o' lantern.

So get crafty and head outside to enjoy the gorgeous fall weather with our following list of things to do in NJ with kids this spooky holiday season. Enjoy!

Jerz O' Lantern: Free Pumpkin Carving Stencil

Free Halloween pumpkin stencil of your home state—New Jersey!

Haunted Halloween Attractions In NJ

Add some kid-friendly frights to your Halloween this year by planning a trip to one of these haunted attractions.

How to Manage the Leftover Halloween Candy

Consider these sweet-stuff strategies before hitting the trick-or-treat trail this Halloween.

Farm Fun in NJ

Hay rides, corn mazes, and more!

Pumpkin-picking in NJ

Fall would not be complete without a visit to your local pumpkin patch.

Pick-Your-Own Apples in NJ

Get your apple recipes handy!

DIY Halloween Costumes for Families

Get the whole family decked out in these easy, homemade looks.

Easy Cat and Dog Costumes
Don't forget to dress up your pets for the holiday! 

Real Haunted Houses of NJ
Are you brave enough to visit one of NJ's real haunted locations? 

DIY Halloween Costumes

Make these budget-friendly costumes for your kids.

No-Carve Pumpkin Ideas

These are no-fuss, no-muss ideas that don't involve scooping out pumpkin seeds.

Pumpkin-Carving Ideas

Inspiration for creating that one-of-a-kind jack o' lantern

Halloween Parties

Celebrate your birthday, or Halloween, on a farm or at home with these party ideas.

5 No-Cost Halloween Decorations

5 No-Cost Halloween Decorations

There are plenty of ways to decorate for the season without spending a dime.

Halloween Treats

Simple, and simply delectable, eats

Things to Do in NJ in the Fall

Looking for more inspiration? NJ moms and dads weigh in on their favorite things to do in the fall.

Wednesday, October 14, 2015

Parent-Teacher Workshops, Halloween Programs & Other Fall Fun inside and outside the library….Museums, Planetariums, Theaters all offer great activities for families.

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Having trouble viewing this email?  Read it online.
(You will also find links to great websites for families there.)

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Around the Community:



'Project Warm Your Heart' in Somerset County Collects Winter Clothes for Kids

Donations accepted through Oct. 30...

Read more

Fun ways to explore the Garden State in the fall...

Best New Jersey Hiking Trails to See Leaves Change Color

See the fall leaves change color with these hikes, which put the best of New Jersey fall foliage on display   BESTOFNJ.COM

More fun things to explore in the Garden State!

Here Are The 12 Best Kept Secrets In New Jersey

New Jersey has a treasure trove of delightful secrets, just waiting to be discovered.  ONLYINYOURSTATE.COM

5 Halloween Attraction to Hit Near Basking Ridge

Halloween is right around the corner and the kids are ready to celebrate. Need ideas? Check out this list of attractions near you...Read more


20th Annual International Festival Moves from Basking Ridge to Somerville YMCA, Oct. 18  Through music, dance, costume, cuisine and games, the festival celebrates many diverse cultures...

Read more

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An Imagination Celebration!   REALLY ROSIEROSIE2RGB

Book and Lyrics by Maurice Sendak
Music by Carole King
October 2 – 18, 2015

Fridays at 7:30PM

Saturdays and Sundays at 4:00PM

Rosie, the sassiest kid on her block of Brooklyn’s Avenue P, entertains herself and her friends by acting out show biz fantasies, notably directing and starring in an Oscar winning movie. Written by the author and illustrator of Where the Wild Things Are and other popular children’s books, Really Rosie is a jewel for children and adults. PURCHASE TICKETS

 

 


Students Meet the Arts
Did you know the State Theatre offers students special discounts on tickets to select upcoming performances?!

Click here  to take advantage of some of the best deals in town >
Get discounts on tickets to shows like Munich Symphony Orchestra, Hal Holbrook in “Mark Twain Tonight!,” Compañia Flamenca Jose Porcel, Cirque de la Symphonie with the NJSO, Peking Dreams, and more! For a complete list visit: StateTheatreNJ.org/students

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Special Events

* Astronomy Day - October 17
* Skies over Hogwarts - October 30
* 3M Observatory
* The Sky Above - a program for those with autism or other developmental disabilities.

 

www.statemuseum.nj.gov

Planetarium News: 

Laser Halloween!

Oct. 17, 18, 24, 25 & 31     1:00 pm

Planetarium, lower level

NJSM is horrified to premiere its new Laser Halloween show!

This terrifyingly fun laser experience will send chills up your spine as you witness prowling vampires and haunting demons. Dazzling lights jump out from the darkness in fun renditions of seasonal music such as Purple People Eater and Monster Mash. Laser Halloween is a ghoulish way to celebrate the Halloween season... if you dare! To print a coupon valid for $1 all public shows and for complete show  descriptions, click here

Special Event: International Archaeology Day

Oct. 17    10:00 am - 4:00 pm

Immerse yourself in New Jersey archaeology! Enjoy a full day featuring activities for all ages. Older children and adults will enjoy a gallery tour in the New Jersey's Original People exhibit, where you'll discover what life was like for prehistoric inhabitants, their tools, and more. 

Stop by the A Much Moved People exhibit, where you can watch the film "Raritan Landing, A Road to the Past," the story about the first port in the New Brunswick area and how it was re-discovered through archaeology. 

Visit the Imagination Studio where children of all ages can participate in a pottery "reconstruction" activity, a scavenger hunt, and a sandbox archaeology program. And get hands-on while you talk with experts at a prehistoric artifact identification table. For a complete schedule, visit our website.

 

Storytime: How The Dinosaur Got To The Museum  Oct. 17 & 18     2:00 pm

Imagination Studio, lower level

In celebration of Earth Science Week (October 11-17), this fascinating story explains how many people it takes to find, excavate, prepare and mount a dinosaur for exhibition.  

Did you know? The first nearly complete dinosaur skeleton was found in Haddonfield NJ! The Hadrosaurus foulkii became the New Jersey State Dinosaur in 1989. Visit the Paleo Lab to see real fossils collected by our working scientists in the field and ask questions. Make a dinosaur craft to take home.   Join us on the 3rd weekend of every month for a story and a craft activity. Storytime is designed for families with children ages 4 to 8.

 

Special Event:   NJSM's Halloween Spooktacular!

Oct. 31     10:00 am - 3:00 pm

It's a Creepy Crawly Halloween! Celebrate Halloween with a day of fun activities at the Museum, including a children's costume contest, stage show, and free Planetarium show!  For a complete schedule of events click here.

 

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Important Play at Shakespeare Theater of NJ 

Performance & Ticket Information at the Shakespeare Theater of NJ.

FALL FAMILY FUN @ LIBERTY HALL MUSEUM IN UNION

WHERE: Liberty Hall Museum, 1003 Morris Ave, Union, NJ

Apple Harvest Time:

Stroll our orchard and pick your own apples. You don’t have to travel far for some fun fall, shop local! Subject to Supply.  Please call 908-527-0400 to ensure the apples are ripe to pick!
ADMISSION: Apple Picking Fee: $5 per person. Apple Bag Fee: Small Bag: $8; Large Bag: $10. Monday - Saturday, 10 am - 4 pm.

Ghost Tours:

Join us for a spine-tingling tour of Liberty Hall Museum, after hours! Museum staff will share their own paranormal experiences with you before embarking on a guided, candlelit tour of the museum. Perhaps you'll even come away with your own ghost stories! Light refreshments will be served; space is limited and fills quickly, so make your reservation today! Friday, October 23 at 7pm or 9 pm.
ADMISSION: $20 for adults; $18 for LHM Members/Kean Alumni/Students; $13 for children (16 years and younger). Reservations required, please call 908-527-0400

Pumpkin Patch Day:

Join us for our Annual Pumpkin Patch day – a fall tradition for so many families! Enjoy a day filled with pumpkin picking, hayrides, pumpkin carving and painting, crafts and much more! Saturday, October 24 (Rain date; October 25) from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
ADMISSION: Children: $12.00, Adults: $6.00, Under 3: Free,  Additional charge for pumpkins; lunch available for purchase from vendor.  Reservations suggested; please call 908-527-0400

A Day in the Life of American Girl Samantha Parkington:

Experience a day in the life of American Girl Samantha Parkington! Treat that special girl in your life to an authentic Victorian afternoon, featuring a turn-of-the-century tour of Liberty Hall, hands-on activities and crafts Samantha herself might have enjoyed, and a Victorian-era tea party! Recommended for ages 6 – 12.Saturday, November 14 from 1-3 pm.
ADMISSION: $20 per child & one adult; $15 for LHM Members. Reservations required; please call 908-527-0400 


Big Apple Circus

Big Apple Circus Embraces Autism  
Sun, November 8, 2015 at 2pm & 5pm
Ladies and gentlemen! Step right up and see the greatest, most amazing show in town! Created by New York’s Big Apple Circus especially for audiences on the autism spectrum, this crowd-pleasing performance features world-class artists and acts, with incredible feats of juggling, balancing, plate spinning, and aerials…  and—of course—the Ringmaster!  More details HERE.

More Autism-Friendly Performances available.

Thanks to Ruth Ross at http://www.njartsmaven.com/ for some of these listings.

Let Your Fingers Do More Walking…the Power of Imaginative Play

from  kateywrites

Outdoor Imaginative Play: Telling a Story with Nature  POSTED OCTOBER 10, 2015

FILED UNDER IMAGINATION, INSPIRATION, OUTDOOR PLAY,PARENTING, STORY IDEAS

There are days when I wonder if my kids have bubble gum for brains. They live in a house full of books, toys, craft supplies and prime hide-and-seek real estate. They have bikes and scooters, hula hoops and jump ropes, balls of every shape and size in the garage. There’s a swing set in the backyard and a garden in the front. The options for fun are everywhere, and yet they whine and complain. “I’m BO-RED! I can’t think of ANYTHING to do.”

Then there are days like today, when I watch my kids play in the most amazing ways. And I remind myself that a house and yard full of toys can’t compete with the magic of a fall day in a forest. Maybe they are, in fact, bored. Maybe what they need is a little change of scenery, so their imaginations can be freshly inspired. I certainly need that when I’m writing.

This morning my two younger daughters (7 and 6) came with me to drop their big sister (10) at the theater class she takes at a nearby community college. Since it doesn’t make sense to leave and come back for a 75 minute class 20 minutes from our house, I came prepared with books, paper and markers to entertain them.

I shouldn’t have bothered.

The minute the girls saw the forested area near the theater building, turning gold and brown and russet in the October air, they had their own plans. Fallen leaves, pine cones, acorns and twigs called to them – and they entered into an ecstasy of imaginary play.

The pictures probably tell a better story than I would. (Please pardon the picture quality – I didn’t come prepared to document shadowy play, and these are all off my phone.)

The fun starts with gathering supplies.

The fun starts with gathering supplies.

Good thing we brought a basket!

Good thing we brought a basket!

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The girls imagine animals left without a home when their tree blew down, so they build a tent of sorts.

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Make a table and benches…

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and pine needle beds with stick pillows and leafy blankets

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Somebody gets concerned that the ground floor might get crowded…

So she builds an attic.

So she builds an attic. “But just for very light guests. Like moths, and crickets.”

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“What if it rains?” The girls build walls with the help of an imaginary team of ants and a monkey named Bananas. (By no small coincidence, I am sitting nearby, eating a banana.)

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Time for finishing touches! What good is a guest cabin if the guests can’t get there?

The stories these girls create – and build and enact – continually amaze me! Children’s capacity for invention is so vast! I hope I can capture half their imagination and drama and fun in the stories I’m working on right now. In the meantime, I’d love to hear from you. What inspires the storyteller in your kids? Be it nature, or Legos or baby dolls. please share your experiences in the comments below.

Have a great week! And don’t forget that play is a huge part of #RaisingReaders!