The Children's Room

Bedtime Stories

Mark your calendars! Our �Bedtime Stories� program, which usually takes place on the first Monday evening of the month will take place on the second Monday in September � September 13. That�s because the first Monday is Labor Day, and the Library is closed. So come on September 13 to enjoy our monthly program of songs, rhymes and stories. No registration required; this program is perfect for babies through preschool age.

French Circle Time

__ Bienvenue � Madame Marie is back! Our French Circle Time, which takes place on the second and fourth Saturdays of each month, returns in September. As always, Madame Marie will lead participants in French rhymes and songs, making it easy and fun for little ones to learn a bit of French. French Circle Time is a half-hour program that will take place on Saturday, Sept. 11 and Saturday, Sept. 25 from 10:30 a.m.- 11 a.m. No registration required.

Builder Bee Kids

On Saturday, Sept. 11 at 3:15 p.m., children ages 14 months to kindergarten and their grown-ups are invited to a preview of a new Takoma Park Recreation Department program that teaches basic architectural concepts through play. Called �Builder Bee Kids,� the program is the brainchild of Amanda Faye Dowd, an architect and mother of a one-year-old. Amanda will give parents and kids a taste of the program at the Library on September 11, helping kids to create their own architectural designs with boxes and other items. Participants are encouraged to bring small boxes with them; Amanda also will have a supply of boxes on hand. Registration required; to register please go to Library Program Registration - Takoma Park Maryland Library or call us at 301-891-7259.

Summer Quest Party

Come celebrate another record-breaking Summer Quest program on Wednesday, Sept. 15 at 7 p.m. This year, we had more kids register and read more books than ever before! Our celebration will begin with a discussion of the books you most enjoyed reading during Summer Quest, as well as those you didn�t enjoy. Kids also will have a chance to show off what they learned to make or do in following Summer Quest Challenge No. 9, and we�ll discuss possible themes for next year�s Summer Quest. We�ll finish the evening with snacks and drinks and everyone will go home with a free book or two, courtesy of the Friends of the Takoma Park Maryland Library. Registration is required so we can be sure to have enough food and books; to register, please go to Library Program Registration - Takoma Park Maryland Library or call us at 301-891-7259.

Moliere Is On!

The show goes on! The storm has passed and the performance of The Learned Ladies by Moliere will take place as scheduled tonight at 7:30 p.m. in the newly-renovated City Auditorium. Come enjoy the antics of a group of middle school students, part of the Traveling Players Ensemble, as they perform a play by the French dramatist. No registration is required for this performance, which is free and perfect for those ages 6 up.

Dav Pilkey's Newest

Captain Underpants author Dav Pilkey has just published his first book in four years. Titled The Adventures of Ook and Gluk, the book is actually done in the comic book format -- not the hybrid mixture of text and illustrations that Pilkey uses in Captain Underpants. Instead, it's akin to Pilkey's other purely comics book, The Adventures of Super Diaper Baby. Like Pilkey's other comic and hybrid books, The Adventures of Ook and Gluk is allegedly written by two kids named George Beard and Harold Hutchins. As a result, the book is filled with misspellings, bad grammar, barf jokes and lowbrow but hilarious humor. It's sure to be a hit with kids, which is why we have 10 copies available for checkout.

Limited Parking

Just a reminder that ongoing work in the parking lot of the Takoma Park Maryland Library (101 Philadelphia Ave.) makes parking extremely tight. So those folks who are coming to one of our two Circle Times on Tuesday August 10 (10-10:30 OR 11-11:30) should plan on walking or finding alternate parking. It's not clear when work will be finished, so parking could still be tight on Thursday, August 12, when we offer our weekly Spanish Circle Time at 10:30 a.m.

Some of the streets near the Library require resident parking passes, while parking is limited on other streets. One suggestion: there is a parking lot at the end of Darwin Ave., which is very close to the Library. If you park there, there is a set of stairs right off the parking lot. At the foot of the stairs, turn right, continue past the shelter and playground, then down the path and you will end up at the corner of our parking lot. If you park at the Darwin Ave. lot and have a stroller and so can't use the stairs, just park and then walk back down Darwin to where it meets Grant and Holly. Take a left onto Grant and you'll end at the Community Center/Library complex.

Circle Time Parking

This week, a new sidewalk is being installed along the parking lot side of our Library. The sidewalk will be a vital component in keeping elementary school students safe as they walk to and from school past the Library.

As a result of the sidewalk work this week, however, the already-limited number of parking spaces in our lot will be practically non-existent. So, if you're coming to Library programs -- Circle Time on Tuesday at 10 a.m. OR 11 a.m., or Spanish Circle Time on Thursday at 10:30 a.m. -- you'll want to plan your trip carefully.

Some of the streets near the Library require resident parking passes, while parking is limited on other streets. One suggestion: there is a parking lot at the end of Darwin Ave., which is very close to the Library. If you park there, there is a set of stairs. At the foot of the stairs, turn right, continue past the shelter and playground, then down the path and you will end up at the corner of our parking lot. If you park at the Darwin Ave. lot and have a stroller and so can't use the stairs, just park and then walk back down Darwin to where it meets Grant and Holly. Take a left onto Grant and you'll end at the Community Center/Library complex.

We apologize for the parking challenges this week. and thank you for your patience and understanding as we try to ensure safe sidewalks for all.

Moliere for Kids

Kids ages 6 and up -- and their parents -- are invited to a special performance of The Learned Ladies, a play by French dramatist Moliere, on Thursday, August. 12 at 7:30 p.m. in the newly-renovated City Auditorium. No registration is required for this program, so just come if you can. The play will be performed by middle school students who are part of the Traveling Players group this summer. You may have seen one of the group's distinctive purple buses parked behind the Library.

]]> In The Learned Ladies two young people who are in love must overcome a major obstacle -- the attitude of girl's family -- in order to marry.
The girl's family, particularly three of her female relatives (the learned ladies) want her to marry someone else, a poet who is a rather pretentious know-it-all.

Board Games Canceled

Our Board Game-O-Rama, scheduled for this Saturday, July 24, has been canceled. Check back in September for a rescheduled program.

Board Games

We're hosting our second Board Game-O-Rama for kids ages 4-8 on Saturday, July 24 from 1-3 p.m. We'll be playing games like Jenga and Blokus, and kids will have a chance to sample different games. It's lots of fun, and a great way to try out some new games! Space is limited, so please register by going to: Event registration - Takoma Park Maryland Library

Campfire Time

It's time for our annual Summer Quest Campfire, which will be held at the Library on Monday, July 19 at 7 p.m. No -- we won't really be building a campfire! But we will be doing campfire-type activities. We'll start with a craft or two, then gather around our log-and-tissue-paper-fire to sing camp songs and hear some stories. Everyone will leave with the makings for s'mores. Because some of the stories might be scary, this event is aimed at children ages 5 up. Younger children are welcome with full adult supervision. To ensure we have enough craft materials and s'more makings, we are encouraging people to register by going to: Event registration - Takoma Park Maryland Library

Comix Jam Postponed

Our Comix Jam program, which was scheduled to take place on Wednesday, July 14 at 3 p.m., has been postponed until Wednesday, July 21 at 3 p.m. No registration is required for this program, at which we read comics together using our special ELMO projector and a big screen.

Mockingbird at 50

An American classic, To Kill a Mockingbird , turns 50 this year. Here's a story on the book, its cultural impact and 50th birthday celebrations from USA Today. Karen MacPherson, the Library's children's and teen librarian, is quoted in the article:
'To Kill a Mockingbird': Endearing, enduring at 50 years - USATODAY.com

No August Twosies

Our Twosies program will take a hiatus in August because of staff vacations. We will, however, re-schedule the Twosies for September, bumping our Baby Time program to October. Sign-up for the September Twosies will begin on August 1; sign-up for Baby Time will begin September 1.

]]> Our Twosies program will take place every Wednesday morning in September from 11-11:30 a.m. In each program, we'll sing songs and rhymes, learn some fingerplays and finish with a simple craft. Children must be between the ages of 24 months and 36 months.

Our Baby Times program will take place every Wednesday morning from 11-11:30 a.m. While babies are our focus, it's the grown-ups who learn the songs, fingerplays and rhymes, and learn what makes a good book for the youngest readers. For this program, babies must be between the ages of birth through 12 months.