Main Library Programs in Children's Services
January, February, March & April 2012

Smart Start: Preschool Storytime

Wednesday mornings, 10:30 a.m.
Join us for 30 minutes of stories, fingerplays, early literacy activities, and fun for your 3 to 6 year old child!
*There will be NO STORYTIME on JANUARY 18TH OR JANUARY 25TH to allow librarians to bring stories and books to area preschools.
*On February 15, we'll have an extra-special I Love Dogs storytime. Morgan, one of our Paws to Read dogs, will be joining us!
Smart Start Storytime is designed to support Indiana's Preschool Foundations.
--Preschool children (ages 3 to 6) and their families

Storytime for Preschools, Daycares, and Other Groups

Wednesday mornings, 9:30 a.m.
Preschools & Daycares are invited to join Children’s Services Librarians each Wednesday morning at 9:30 for 30 minutes of theme-based stories, fingerplays, and fun. Please call in advance (260-421-1220) to register your group.
*There will be NO STORYTIME on JANUARY 18TH OR JANUARY 25TH to allow librarians to bring stories and books to area preschools.
*On February 15, we'll have an extra-special I Love Dogs storytime. Morgan, one of our Paws to Read dogs, will be joining us!
Smart Start Storytime is designed to support Indiana's Preschool Foundations.
--Preschoolers in groups (daycares, preschools, etc.)

Babies & Books and Toddler Time

Babies & Books: Friday mornings at 10:00 a.m. (Designed for babies from birth through early walking)
Toddler Time: Friday mornings at 10:30 and 11:00 a.m. (Designed for walkers through age 36 months)
Bring in those little babies and toddlers for a special time just for them, sharing books, rhymes, songs and interactive fun. All storytimes are based on early literacy research, and include tips and information for parents and caregivers. They're never too young to begin with books!
*NO STORYTIME on JANUARY 20 or 27 to allow librarians to bring stories and books to area preschools.
*NO STORYTIME ON FEBRUARY 10. All library locations will be closed due to Staff Development Day.
Babies and Books and Toddler Time are designed to support Indiana's Preschool Foundations.
--Babies from birth - 36 months and their parents/caregivers and siblings

Paws to Read

Thursday evenings, 6:30 - 7:30 p.m.
Come to the Library and read a story to a book-loving dog. Trained therapy dogs will be here every week with their handlers -- and they want to listen to you read! Research shows that children enjoy improving their reading skills by practice reading to animals. Morgan and Samantha and their handlers will have an hour to spend at the Library -- readers will take turns as time allows. Paws to Read is designed to support Indiana's Academic Standards.
--Children who want to practice their reading

Project READS

Mondays, through April, 4:00 - 5:00 p.m.
Children in 1st through 3rd grade who are reading below grade level may register for weekly help from trained tutors from 4:00-5:00 p.m. on Mondays in Children's Services at the Main Library. This program is offered in partnership with the Allen County Education Partnership and will meet weekly when Fort Wayne Community Schools are in session. Applications are available in Children's Services. Project READS is designed to support Indiana's Academic Standards.
--Children in first through third grade

Storytellers on the Move -- Book Deliveries and Storytimes at Your Preschool

Times are tough; we know it’s difficult to load your whole preschool into vans and bring the little ones to the Library. But we all agree it’s important to have books in the hands of preschoolers, so we’re going to bring the Library to your preschool! Call now (421-1220) to schedule a time for us to visit and share a special storytime. We’ll also be happy to bring a box of books for you to use at your center until we can visit again! Sharing books with kids is important!

Waiting for Spring

Saturday, January 28, 2:00 p.m.
It’s a LONG time until Spring! Let’s enjoy stories and activities together to make the wait go faster. You will even get to take home something special to make spring come sooner at your house.
--Preschool and school-age children and their families

Meet Abe Lincoln's Friend

Tuesday, February 7, 9:30 a.m. and 1:00 p.m.
Wednesday, February 8, 9:45 a.m. and 12:45 p.m.
Storyteller Doyne Carson returns for this dramatic presentation about Abe Lincoln's youth. Her storytelling is geared toward fourth grade level. Pre-registration begins on Monday, December 5, 2011 and is necessary because of space limitations in the theater. Please call Children's Services (421-1220) to pre-register.
--School-age children and their grown-ups

Mail Art!

Thursday, February 9, 2:00 p.m.
Thursday, March 8, 2:00 p.m.
Thursday, April 5, 2:00 p.m.
The Children’s Services department is partnering with friends at the Rochester Public Library in Minnesota for this engaging and far reaching project! Mail Art is a fun and exciting way to get, give and dive into art. Homeschoolers, let’s see what you can create!
--Homeschoolers, ages 6 to 11

Children's Services LEGO® Club

Saturday, February 11, 2:00 - 4:00 p.m.
Wednesday, March 14, 1:30 - 3:30 p.m. and 6:00 - 8:00 p.m.
Wednesday, April 18, 1:30 - 3:30 p.m. and 6:00 - 8:00 p.m.
Do you like LEGOs®? If so, come join a group of like-minded kids, sprawl on the floor and build with our LEGOs®!!
ACPL LEGO® Club is designed to support Indiana's Academic Standards.
--Children ages 6 - 11 years of age

Letter Play Days

Wednesday, February 15: Letter J
Wednesday, March 14: Letter O
Wednesday, April 18: Letter D
Preschoolers: join the fun of storytime, then grab your grown-up and spend some time exploring the Letter of the Day in the Early Learning Center. Activity stations designed for parent and child play will be set up and available for use throughout the day, until the Early Learning Center closes at 8:00 p.m.
Letter Play Days are designed to support Indiana's Preschool Foundations.
--Preschoolers and their caregivers

"I Love Dogs" Storytime

Wednesday, February 15, 9:30 a.m. (for preschool and daycare groups) and 10:30 a.m. (for families)
Join us for an extra-special storytime. Today we will have a special visitor! Morgan, one of our Paws to Read dogs, will be joining our storytime as we talk about dogs.
--Preschool-age children and their grown-ups

Inkblots and Imagination

Wednesday, February 15, 2:00 p.m. (especially for homeschoolers) and 6:30 p.m. (for families)
Accidental art can be exciting! We'll test out different inkblotting techniques, explore some inkblot art, and let our creativity go to turn what looks like an "Oops!" into a "Wow!"
--Children ages 6 to 11 and their grown-ups

Puppet-palooza! A Puppetry Workshop for Homeschoolers

Thursday, February 16, 2:00 p.m.
Homeschoolers in grades 2 to 6 are invited to attend this introductory workshop on the art of puppetry. We'll have fun learning about the history of puppetry, different types of puppets, and the process of planning and preparing for a puppet show. At the end of the program, we’ll even provide the opportunity for some short performances!
--Homeschoolers, ages 6 to 11

Cyber Adventure Group

Tuesday, February 21, 2:00 p.m.:
Bring your digital pictures and we'll learn to put them into an online slideshow. We'll talk about Flickr, Slideoo, Animoto, Screenshots and digital copyright.

Tuesday, April 17, 2:00 p.m.:
Learn the basics of word processing so that you can create excellent reports. Learn how to import pictures from Internet resources and give proper credit to the owner.


Homeschoolers are invited to learn about having fun while safely exploring the cyber world of the Internet. Pre-registration is necessary because of space limitations in the computer lab. To register, please call Children’s Services at 421-1220.
This program is designed to meet Indiana’s Academic Standards.
--Homeschoolers ages 6 through 11 and their grown-ups

Fort Wayne Ballet Presents:
Selections from Peter Pan

Thursday, February 23, 7:00 - 7:30 p.m.
Watch the classic children's book Peter Pan dance to life during this FREE mini-performance by the Fort Wayne Ballet. Seating is limited; doors open at 6:45.
--Families and children of all ages

Science Explorers

Tuesday, February 28, 2:00 p.m. -- Hear Here!
Kindergarten through 5th grade homeschoolers are invited to have fun exploring the science of SOUND.

Tuesday, March 27, 2:00 p.m. -- Creature Feature
Come explore the fascinating creature world with special guests.

Tuesday, April 24, 2:00 p.m. -- Is It Science or Magic?
Demonstrate your super abilities as a scientist and a magician with amazing experiments.

Be curious! Think -- Do -- Learn.
--Homeschoolers ages 6 to 11

Newspaper Tower Challenge

Tuesday, March 6, 2:00 p.m. (especially for homeschoolers) and 6:30 p.m. (for all families)
Kids! Your goal is to create a skyscraper that has the strength and stability to hold more weight than any of the others. Your supplies: Newspaper. Some tape. Lots of brain-power. Come join the fun!
--Children ages 6 to 11

Preschool Puppet Show

Monday, March 19, 9:30 a.m., 10:30 a.m., and 1:30 p.m.
Tuesday, March 20, 9:30 a.m., 10:30 a.m., and 1:30 p.m.
Wednesday, March 21, 9:30 a.m., 10:30 a.m., and 1:30 p.m.
Wednesday, March 22, 9:30 a.m., 10:30 a.m., and 1:30 p.m.
The Children's Services Puppeteers are happy to present their annual Preschool Puppet Show, this year being performed in the Theater at the Main Library. We hope you'll join us as we help the puppets bring to life stories from our library book pages. Registration is required for groups, and begins at 9:00 a.m. on Monday, February 6, 2012. To register, please call Children's Services at 260-421-1220. Families do not need to register -- just come and join in the fun!
--Preschool-age children and their grown-ups

WrestleMania

Saturday, March 31, 2:00 p.m.
Wrestling fans! Bring your family to the library to meet Fort Wayne Superstars, the Indiana Tech Wrestlers and their Head Coach Mike Ester. Learn about wrestling and join our Smackdown Tournament of Clothespin Wrestlers. YOU could be the Intercontinental Clothespin Champion. (Tournament fully sanctioned by the WCWF -- Worldwide Clothespin Wrestling Federation).
--Children ages 6 to 11

April Fools!

Sunday, April 1, 2:30 - 3:30 p.m.
Come celebrate the zaniest, silliest, ridiculous and FUNNIEST day of the year! We could tell you what we'll do in this program, but it's just too FOOLISH. Here's a hint: Why did the elephant cross the road?
--Families with children of all ages

It's a Poetry Party!

Tuesday, April 10, 2:00 p.m.
Homeschoolers, let's celebrate National Poetry Month together! Stop by Children's Services for a mini-workshop where we'll talk about all things poetry. We'll learn about great poets and prompts and write some poems of our own.
--Homeschoolers, ages 6 to 11

Schedule YOUR Visit to the Main Library

Teachers! Now is the time to schedule your class visit to the Library! We'd be happy to arrange a tour and/or time in our Early Learning Center for your preschoolers, a library scavenger hunt of the Children's Room for your primary level students, or a tour of the entire Main Library facility for your 3rd through 5th graders. (A minimum of ten students is required). Registration is limited. Call now! 260-421-1220.
--Preschool and elementary level classes

Custom Collections

Parents, teachers, and students: With seven to ten days' notice, the Children's Services staff is available to prepare "Custom Collections" of Library materials to fill your needs. Books, computer software, magazines, videotapes, music CDs, DVDs, or Playaways can all be included - depending on your needs! We may also have teaching material in our Parent Teacher Collection which you could use. This service is for you if...

• You are a teacher needing materials for a "Poetry" or "Science Experiments" or "Native Americans" unit for your class
• You are a parent needing information on "Potty Training" or "Trucks and Trains" or "Fun Books for My Two-Year-Old" for your child
• You are a college student needing information for a report about children's books
• You are a homeschooler needing support materials as you prepare your lesson plans