CRYPTOZOOLOGY

MASSILLON PUBLIC LIBRARY PRESENTS

“CRYPTOZOOLOGY”

PRESENTED BY THE MASSILLON MUSEUM

On Thursday, August 2, at 2:00 p.m., the Massillon Public Library Children’s Department presents “Cryptozoology,” for children in grades K-6. Guest presenter, Jill Malusky of the Massillon Museum, will introduce children to the world’s most popular mythical animals.

 

PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS:

1. Children attending this program will learn about Cryptozoology which, from the Greek, means “the study of hidden animals,” or the search for animals whose existence has never been proven. This study includes looking for living examples of animals that are considered extinct, such as dinosaurs, or animals whose existence lacks physical evidence, but which appear in myths and legends.

2. While exploring this science (or pseudoscience), children will examine examples of “cryptids” like Big Foot and the Loch Ness Monster. They will even make their own monster tracks to take home!

3. Presenting an opportunity for children to view unusual objects in a unique way, this program allows children to catch the mood prevalent in the Massillon Museum’s current exhibit, “The Odditorium.”

Children will revel in the knowledge this program offers—hovering somewhere between intrigue and education!

INFO: No registration is required for this free program; however, space is limited and children will be admitted on a first come, first served basis. For more information, please call the Massillon Public Library Children’s Department 330.832.5037 or log onto the library’s website: www.massillonlibrary.org.

The Massillon Public Library Auditorium is located at 208 Lincoln Way East. Free parking is available directly across Second Street from the library’s ground-level entrance, which is handicapped accessible.

If all of that sounds fascinating to you, check out some of our library books on this subject:

 

Monster Hunt: Exploring Mysterious Creatures

by Jim Arnosky. Hardcover, English. ISBN: 9781423130284.

Find this book in our catalog: http://ds1.starklibrary.org/search~S25?/tmonster+hunt%3A+explorign/tmonster+hunt+explorign/-3%2C0%2C0%2CB/frameset&FF=tmonster+hunt+exploring+mysterious+creatures&1%2C1%2C/indexsort=-

 

"Arnosky, beloved by children and teachers for his friendly nature hikes in book form, presents real monsters of the past and gigantic prehistoric animals that have survived to the present; tells stories of mythical monsters, such as dragons and the kraken; and invites readers to join him in wondering what else could be out there. Illustrations. Legendary creatures such as Bigfoot and the Loch Ness Monster hold endless fascination for people around the globe. Do these creatures really exist? Countless eyewitnesses say yes, and scientists are discovering new animal species every year, so perhaps it isn't impossible. But how would such large animals survive? Where would they live, and what would they eat?"

Bigfoot Caught on Film: And Other Monster Sightings!

by Michael Teitelbaum. Paperback, English. ISBN: 9780531175316.

 

Find this book in our catalog: http://ds1.starklibrary.org/search/?searchtype=t&SORT=D&searcharg=bigfoot+caught+on+film&searchscope=25

"Forget about blood, bones, and corpses! There's no telling what you'll uncover if you dare to investigate some of the world's most fascinating unsolved mysteries - from Bigfoot to lost civilizations to UFOs and more!"

 

Artful Living Program is now on Facebook

The Artful Living Program is now on Facebook! You can "like" their page by typing in "The Artful Living Program" in the search box at the top of your Facebook page or by following this link: The Artful Living Program sponsored by the Massillon Museum.

 

Have you heard about The Artful Living Program yet? The Massillon Public Library's Children's Department is involved in an interesting outreach program once a week. Every Wednesday we visit the preschool classes in Franklin Elementary to provide a literature lesson, also known as "story time."

The Artful Living Program believes that fine arts immersion enhances creativity, increases academic performance, and stimulates leadership characteristics. You can read more about it  on the Massillon Museum's website here: Artful Living Program.

The Artful Living Program (a collaboration of Massillon Public Library, the Massillon Museum, Canton Symphony, Ananda Center, Massillon City Schools, and Ashland University) was initiated in one preschool classroom at Franklin School in December 2008 and has now grown to EIGHT classes. A provider from each of the first four groups listed visits classes one day per week to present programs that support the preschool's curriculum.  A Massillon Public Library's Children's Programming Specialist prepares stories, songs, and fingerplays that tie in with the topics that are being currently taught in the preschool. Once a year in December, the preschoolers take a field trip to the library to see our Children's Department Christmas puppet show. Of course, we often see these preschoolers bring in their families throughout the year to use the library, and it's nice to see them showing their parents the books that they've read in Artful Living!

A few weeks ago, Franklin Preschool invited all their preschool dads, grandpas, and special friends to an early Father's Day program held in the school gym. After showing the dads their favorite songs and hearing a couple stories about dads, we were able to talk 10 dads into dressing up and helping me retell the story, Dr. Jean's "My Mother is a Baker."  The kids loved seeing their dads dressed as dogs, cats, a cowboy, a baby, and more. Tom Roehlig, one of the preschool dads, is pictured below as a cat.

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The second part of The Artful Living Program is a Family Component. The evening Family sessions meet at locations in Massillon, such as the Salvation Army. Currently 36 parents and children attend. After a meal, the kids play games while the parents can participate in educational sessions. One month the families took home a packet of family games to share, while another month they received art books and the children got their own hardback book chosen by the library.

 

The best part of Artful Living each week is hearing what the children have to say. One day, after finishing a literature lesson, one little boy smiled big and said, "You know what? You're awesome!" So are the kids!

Artful Living Program weekly in-class lessons are currently funded through a yearly grant from the PNC Foundation and the Marsha Holden Jennings Foundation. The Family component is funded by an Aultman Foundation grant. We are grateful for the opportunities they have provided for us to bring the arts to Massillon preschoolers.

Parent Tip: Musical Egg Shakers

Wait! The candy may be long gone, don't throw away all those plastic Easter eggs that are in your basket. Upcycle them into musical egg shakers! They fit perfectly into small hands and kids love to make music with them.





It's easy to make: take a plastic egg and fill one half with rice or beans. Using a glue gun, pipe a line of glue along the inside edge of the egg and another line of glue along the outside of the egg where the two halves meet. Then close the egg tightly. We use a little colorful duct tape to seal the eggs together and make sure they are safe from choking hazards.

We often use musical egg shakers in our storytimes here. You and your children can sing some of their favorite storytime songs while using their egg shakers. Here's a few of our favorite songs to use with egg shakers:

"Egg Shaker Song" (got this from librarian Gailene Hooper)

A-Shake shake shake, A-Shake shake shake, (shake eggs)

A-Shake shake shake shake --- STOP! (freeze)

If you have a pink egg, shake your egg, shake your egg

If you have a pink egg, shake your egg (repeat with different colors)

Eeybody shake your egg. Shake, shake, shake your egg. Everybody shake your egg.

Shake, shake, shake your egg

Shake, shake, shake, shake,

shake, shake, shake, shake

Shake your egg, shake your egg!

"Popcorn" from Barenaked Ladies Snack Time cd (which has a lot of great kids' songs on it!):

          Mama put the popcorn kernels in the pot.

          She turned up the heat, now the pot is getting hot.

          And then those popcorn kernels start to pop, pop, pop, pop, pop.....POPCORN!

         (Shake slowly to start and then a little bit faster and faster as the popcorn pops)

"Milkshake Song" from the Songs for Wiggleworms cd by Old Town School of Folk Music:
(This is a very popular one with my storytime kids. They love being "stirred" up as they bounce around after we pretend to turn on the blender.)

You take a little milk…Pour some milk.

(Pretend to pour milk)

And you take a little cream…Pour some cream.

(Pretend to pour cream)

You stir it all up.

(make a stirring motion)

You shake it and you’ll sing.

(shake egg lightly)

ONE TWO THREE FOUR

Milkshake, milkshake, shake it up, shake it up.

Milkshake, milkshake, shake it all up!

Repeat last two lines

(Shake eggs for “milkshake”)

"Shake Your Sillies Out" from Raffi's More Singable Songs cd:

Gotta shake, shake, shake my sillies out (shake egg along to the music)

Shake, shake, shake my sillies out

Shake, shake, shake, shake my sillies out

And wiggle my waggles away.

Gotta jump, jump, jump my jiggles out...

Gotta yawn, yawn, yawn my sleepies out... (slower pace)

Gotta shake, shake, shake my sillies out...  (faster pace)

So finish up that Easter candy and get shaking with your little ones!

       

Happy Birthday Dr. Seuss!

READ ACROSS AMERICA

"You're never too old, too wacky, too wild, to pick up a book and read to a child."

In honor of Dr. Seuss's birthday on Friday, March 2nd, our library wants to get the word out about the importance of children's literacy! The National Education Association (NEA) is holding a "Read Across America" day on March 2nd to encourage readers, young and old, to celebrate reading.

"Motivating children to read is an important factor in student achievement and creating lifelong successful readers. Research has shown that children who are motivated and spend more time reading do better in school." (from http://www.nea.org)

If you plan to read with your own children, or at school or your library, you can sign the pledge form here: Read Across America. You can also get some good ideas of what other schools and libraries will be doing that day.

Read Across America is only one special day,

But you can join in whenever you may.

On Windsday or Funday or even on Glumday.

Come on--join in the fun!

'Cause you're never too old and you're never too young.

You're never too serious, too wacky, too wild,

To pick up a book and read with a child!



Happy Birthday Dr. Seuss (Theodor Seuss Geisel 1904-1991)! Have a piece of cake in his honor----or maybe some GREEN EGGS AND HAM?

Take the Reader's Oath!

I promise to read

Each day and each night.

I know it's the key

To growing up right.

I'll read to myself,

I'll read to a crowd.

It makes no difference

If silent or loud.

I'll read at my desk,

At home and at school,

On my bean bag or bed,

By the fire or pool.

Each book that I read

Puts smarts in my head,

'Cause brains grow more thoughts

The more they are fed.

So I take this oath

To make reading my way

Of feeding my brain

What it needs every day.

From the National Education Association's Read Across America.

Words by Debra Angstead, Missouri-NEA. http://www.nea.org/readacross 

Dr. Seuss's "The Lorax"

While you're waiting to see the new movie, "The Lorax," based on the Dr. Seuss book, you might want to check out these cool websites: The Lorax Project, which has lots of games and activities for kids, and The Lorax movie, which is the official movie website. The movie will be out in theaters tomorrow, Friday, March 2nd, which is also Dr. Seuss's birthday. If you want to read the book, you can find it at the Massillon Public Library or check our catalog for The Lorax.

Read online to donate a new book to a child in need

Here's a fun & free way to read a picture book online with your kids and help another child receive a new book. For every book you read on their website, The We Give Books organization, part of the Pearson Foundation, will donate one new book to children in need around the world.

"We Give Books is a free website that enables anyone with access to the Internet to put books in the hands of children who don't have them, simply by reading online."

Simply go to wegivebooks.org and choose the charity you want to read for and then pick the books that you want to read. For every book you read online, they will donate a book on your behalf to that charity. As soon as you finish the book, click on the button "Give a Book." It's very easy. Then once a month, they send the new books out to the charities. To date, 839,577 books have been donated.

You can re-read your favorite books or try something new every time. It's free, and they offer picture books from Penguin and DK for children up to around the age of 10 years old, including non-fiction animal books.

Right now their charities include World Vision, Tinga Tinga Tales Early Childhood Development Programme (books for children in Africa), and Support My School India (building libraries in over 100 rural schools in India).

You can also follow We Give Books on Twitter and Facebook to read online there. And look---there's a button on the right side of this blog too!

This is not only something that can be read at home, but would work great in a classroom on the smart board or in a library storytime!