Computer Play for Little Ones!

Have FUN feeding the fish!

Have you scrolled down to the bottom of this page to see the two games? One of these games is great for little ones learning to click a mouse. Just point the mouse somewhere around the fish and click; the fish come to eat the food you've just left for them. Come often and feed the fish to develop great 'mousing' skills!

The second game and familiar to many, PACMAN, is also a great 'keyboard training' game. You must use the arrow keys to follow the trail and not get caught. This builds more computer skills and coordination, also.

Stop by the CMRLS KiDS blog often to see what's going on and to have some fun building computer skills with with your little one!

Holiday Crafts!



"My Dad really does rock!" she says.



I can't believe she snapped that picture!

We had a great time in our Holiday Crafts 4 Kids program!  We made 4 easy, inexpensive and cute crafts that you can make at home to use as gifts. 

We had tea candle holders, button bookmarks, rock paperweights and braided sachets!

We had lots of smiles and fun! 

Lots

        of

            serious

                       work,

                                 too.

Hopefully, you will get to come next time we have a craft program!   If you can't make it to Florence, several of the other branches have crafts, too;  just watch the CMRLS calender to know when and where the next one is.  We hope to see you soon and will leave you with couple of last glances of our Holiday Crafts 4 Kids 2011.....



Double take!





Isn't this great, I can't wait 'til next year to see what we will do then!  How about you?



Leaf Man

What a beautiful day at the Mendenhall Library! We were "blown away" by our Preschool Story Time when we learned that "Leaf Man's got to go where the wind blows". After reading Leaf Man by Lois Ehlert, we took a walk around the Library and found lots of different colored leaves so that we could make our own Leaf Man. And if that wasn't all, one of our little patrons asked if we could collect more leaves to make a "chicken". So Daisy and Mike made a doggie and a chicken too! Our exploration of leaves brought us to books like Why Do Leaves Change Colors by Chris Arvetis and Carole Palmer and Leaf Jumpers by Carole Gerber.

Fall Fest at the Pearl Public Library

This year's Fall Fest at the Pearl Public Library was a big success. We had over 80 kids attend! They enjoyed refreshments, games, crafts, and a costume contest!

Pearl Public Library's next big event will be our Holiday Open House on Thursday, December 15, from 6:00 pm to 7:30 pm. The Pearl Upper Elementary Choir will be performing holiday songs, and the Friends of the Pearl Public Library will provide delicious cookies and punch. We will also have holiday crafts for kids! The library will also be decorated just in time for Christmas and for Santa's arrival. Get your holiday picture taken with him! Please join us for this festive event!

Fall is here!

Fall may have begun back in September, but here in Mississippi we just started getting that cool weather!

At Brandon Public Library we decided to take advantage of the beautiful weather today. Normally our preschool friends end story time with a craft, but today we took a nature walk instead! Each of our friends had a brown paper bag to collect their findings (pine straw, leaves, acorns, etc.) We read, "Leaf Man" by Lois Ehlert and our friends were inspired to make their own creations at home from their findings. We can't wait to hear all about what they come up with!



One of our friends showing off one of the beautiful leaves he found!

November Crafts-4-Kids

It is that time again kids!  Yep, you got it!  Time to start your Holiday Gift planning.  It is hard to decide what to give to parents, grandparents, uncles, aunts and, yes, even teachers!  Well, come to Florence Public Library on Monday, November 7th  from 5 to 6 PM for some great gift ideas!  We will learn to make several items that you can make without spending all your allowance!  Here you can see the Braided Sachet and the Button Bookmark.  They are made with items that can be found in your home or can be bought without too much expense.  (Your grandmom might even have some of the supplies you need.)

Above you can see the Rock Paperweight and the Mini Candle Holder.  You will learn different ways to make these items on your own.  Won't all the adults on your Gift List be surprised when you tell them that your gift is custom made just for them! 

Come join the fun and take home the items you make! 

Halloween @ Brandon Public Library

We had a blast here at Brandon this Halloween. We stayed busy with parties, our annual pumpkin contest and a visit to "Under the Harvest Moon", an event hosted by Brandon Parks and Recreation in coordination with StoneBridge Elementary and Mayor Tim Coulter's Office.

Take a look at some pictures from our Halloween festivities!

Professional face painting was provided by Fabulous Fancy Faces.

Pete the Cat is Rocking and Rolling!

If you are not familiar with Pete the Cat, you should be. He is a lovable, blue cat who loves shoes!! This series of books is written by Eric Litwin, and is a joy to read.

Pete the Cat: I Love My White Shoes
Pete the Cat is a groovy kind of cat. He loves shoes, but he finds himself stepping in some big messes. His shoes change colors, but no matter what mess Pete gets into he just keeps singing his song and walking along! Check this out today at your CMRLS library!


Pete the Cat: Rocking in My School Shoes
Pete the Cat is back—and this time he’s rocking in his school shoes. Pete discovers the library, the lunchroom, the playground, and lots of other cool places at school. And no matter where he goes, Pete never stops moving and grooving and singing his song . . . because it’s all good. Coming soon to your CMRLS library!

A Fox Just in Time for Fall!

Who doesn't love a fox? Here are two new children's books about a fox! Enjoy!

The Fox in the Dark by Alison Green

Rabbit, duck, mouse and lamb are scared of the fox in the dark. They all decide to hide in rabbit's house in his tiny little bed. Rat-a-tat-tat! Could it really be the fox at the door. This is a wonderful, humorous story of being scared of something and then finding it out that it wasn't so scary after all.

Foxy and Egg: A Book by Alex T. Smith

Foxy Du Bois has plans for her friend Egg. She plans to fatten him up and eat him! However, Egg has a plan of his own as well. This is a very well written book that teaches kids that selfishness often bites you back in the end!

Pearl's Got Talent

Can you sing? Can you play an instrument? Why not show off your talent and possibly win a cool prize! The Pearl Public Library is sponsoring a "Pearl's Got Talent" contest as part of the New Harmonies exhibit at our library. This contest will be held on Saturday, July 23rd, at 1:00 at the City of Pearl Park. There will be a separate contest for adults and for children. Registration is required and there is a $10 entry fee per person. For more information, please contact Kimberly Coley at the Pearl Public Library. Also, join us on the same day for local music, food, face painting, games, and much more starting at 10:00 am! We hope to see you there!

Craft Night a Big Success at the Pearl Library

We had over 55 children come out to the Pearl Public Library on June 30th to participate in our Summer Reading Program Craft Night. We made African masks, boomerangs, and Chinese paper fans! We also gave away some great door prizes including books, t-shirts, and book bags. Join us for our last two programs including:

Scottish Storyteller--July 7 @ 6:00 pm

Finale Party with Jackson Irish Dancers & live band--July 14 @ 6:00 pm

Summer Reading Fun Continues in Forest

The storms didn't scare everyone away from our summer reading program today in Forest. We enjoyed Emily Baker from the Mississippi Symphony Orchestra as she shared fiddle music from around the world with us. At times we clapped along as the thunder drummed a beat for us outside. Next week we will continue our trip around the world at a special time. Our Scottish storyteller will be visiting us on June 28th at 5:30pm. See you there!

Minnie & Moo Books 'FLY' Off the Shelves

After a recent visit by Minnie & Moo (courtesy of the CMRLS puppet show), our shelves are empty of Minnie & Moo books. Young patrons returned yesterday requesting more Minnie & Moo adventures. Don't miss the CMRLS puppets this year at a library near you!

Inky the Clown came to the Pearl Public Library on Thursday night. We had a great time with Inky's jokes and magic tricks, and we even learned another language! We also gave out some great door prizes at the end including t-shirts, books, posters, and water bottles. Check out this schedule of events for the remainder of the program:

June 16 @ 6:00 pm-CMRLS Puppets

June 23 @6:00 pm-Zoo Mobile

June 30 @ 6:00 pm-Craft Night

July 7 @ 6:00 pm-Scottish Storyteller

July 14 @ 6:00 pm-Finale Party with Jackson Irish Dancers

SRP Week 1 @ Forest Public Library

We began our trip around the world this summer in Scotland. What a treat to have bagpiper Zoe Brumfield at our library! We got to hear all about the history of bagpipes as well as the clothing she was wearing. Our weekly winner joined our bagpiper for a picture before she left. We will be drawing for a T-shirt every week from all the children in attendance. Plus all the names will continue to go in the pot for our candy jar that we'll be giving away at the end of the summer. If you want to hear the bagpipes too, reserve one of these bagpipe CDS and have it sent to your local library.

The Pearl Public Library would like to thank the wonderful sponsors of our 2011 Summer Reading Program!

Mac N Bones Golf and Grill

Cinemark Tinseltown USA

Sonic

Friends of the Pearl Public Library

Bancorp South Bank

Trustmark Bank

McAlister's Deli

Little Caesars Pizza

Information and Quality Healthcare

Revell Ace Hardware

Walmart

Bumpers Drive-In

A Special Guest for Story Time

Hexie, our lovable Paw Pals therapy dog, was our special guest for Baby Bookworms and Preschool Story Time on Tuesday. Hexie is an American Staffordshire Terrier and a certified therapy dog. Her owner, Mary Jo Anderson of Pearl, expressed that Hexie is certified to interact with children and adults in hospitals, nursing homes, school, libraries, and other organizations. She is very lovable, calm, and loves attention! Hexie and her playmate, Liesel, can be found every first Saturday of the month at the Pearl Library at 10:30 am for Paw Pals. Liesel is a German Shepard owned by Betty Hutchinson of Pearl; Liesel is also a certified therapy dog. K-6 kids are invited to attend Paw Pals and build their reading skills by reading to Hexie and Liesel who love stories!

Lego Lab @ the Library

Lego Lab @ the Forest Public Library is always popular with boys and girls alike. It's such a treat to see what these K-6ers can come up with in an hour. We are always looking for Lego donations and we got a special treat this week. A local cub scout troop donated Legos as part of their community service. So not only did they get join in the fun for the evening, they also contributed to future fun for other Lego fans. We look forward to seeing everyone again on April 5th for our next Lego Lab.

Seussfest at the Pearl Public Library

It's Dr. Seuss' birthday! Join us at the Pearl Public Library on Wednesday, March 2 at 4:00 pm for Seussfest. We will have food, crafts, games, prizes and of course Dr. Seuss storytelling.

Chinese New Year Party

Due to the weather last Thursday, the Pearl Public Library has rescheduled its Chinese New Year Party to this Wednesday, February 9, at 4:00 pm. Join us for food, games, and crafts in celebration of the Chinese New Year!

Painting With Cocoa at the Pearl Public Library

Try out your cocoa painting skills! Join us on Thursday, January 20th, at

4:00 pm for Cocoa Painting at the Pearl Public Library for kids in grades kindergarten through sixth grade. Learn how to make a cool painting with hot cocoa, and enjoy a cup of hot chocolate and refreshments!

Knuffle Bunny Free

Perhaps one of the cutest series by a children's book author, Knuffle Bunny Free has hit the mark again. I fell in love with Trixie and Knuffle Bunny a long while ago with her "aggle flaggle" fits, and the mysterious switching of identical Knuffle Bunnies, and now she's grown into a lovely young girl who realizes the importance of sharing and that she is now a big girl. You may need a tissue because it's a bit of a tear-jerker. Check it out today! Click here for book availability.

Holiday Crafting Party

We are celebrating the holidays at the Pearl Public Library! Join us on Thursday, December 16th, at 4:00 pm for a Holiday Crafting Party. We will be decorating our own wrapping paper and decorating delicious sugar cookies! This program is for kids in kindergarten through sixth grade.

Pearl Peanuts

Join the Pearl Public Library as we celebrate Thanksgiving at Pearl Peanuts on Wednesday, November 17th at 4:00 pm. We will be performing "The Ugly Pumpkin" and creating a turkey craft almost good enough to eat! We will also be reading holiday stories just in time for Thanksgiving!

Pearl Fall Fest

Celebrate fall this Thursday (October 28th) at the Pearl Public Library! Join us for our Fall Fest at 4:30 pm. Wear your costume and enter our costume contest. Bring an appetite and enjoy our delicious treats. Bring your energy and excitement for games such as Spooky Charades, Pumpkin Patch, Mummy Unwrap, and Black Cat Treasure Hunt! Also, join us for pumpkin decorating. The whole family is welcome!

Race to the Last Chapter: Family Reading Challenge

We are halfway to the finish line of our Family Reading Challenge here at the Pearl Public Library! Our participants have been logging many reading hours. Here are the total hours for the last six weeks for each family: 1 2-229 3 4-183.5 5 6-85 7-81.5 8 9-40 10-8 11-145 12 13 14 15 16 17 18-83 19-117 Keep up the good work! Remember we are holding a Finish Line party on Thursday, December 2, at 4:00 pm. We will be announcing the grand prize winners and handing out prizes to all of our participants.

Knitting Without Needles

We had a great turnout for our first K-6 craft club. We learned the art of finger knitting thanks to the expertise of Lea Ann Ellis and her daughter Mallory and it was a hit. We learned how to make cool scarves just in time for the cooler weather. It really was so easy even a child (or a librarian) could do it. We hope you'll join us next month when we meet again on October 26th.

Family Reading Challenge @ Pearl

The Race to the Last Chapter Reading Challenge is underway at the Pearl Public Library! These are the total hours so far for Weeks 1-2. Keep reading! Our first drawing will be this Thursday...you may be the winner of two family movies! Family # Hours 1 2 112 hours 3 4 68.5 hours 5 6 46 hours 7 30 hours 8 9 10 11 9 hours 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 10 hours

Race to the Last Chapter: Family Reading Challenge

There are 14 families signed up for the Family Reading Challenge at the Pearl Public Library. Registered families, check out your competition! Family #1 #2--51. 5 Hours #3 #4--40 Hours #5 #6--8 Hours #7--30 Hours #8 #9 #10 #11 #12 #13 #14 Keep up the good work. Check back each week for more updates!

Lego Lab @ Forest Public Library

This was only our second Lego Lab, but already we've grown from two to ten! Everyone had fun digging into the Legos and seeing where their imaginations would take them. We hope you'll join us on October 5th for our next night of invention. Also if anyone has Legos they want to get rid of, we are accepting donations.

After School?

What's happening after school in September? Well, if you are in grades K-6 there are several opportunities to enjoy the library and meet new friends!

• After School Story Time at Sandhill Library is "FUN with books!" Sept. 16, 3:00 p.m.
• Kids Computer Class at Pearl Library is NEW! Sept. 16 and 23, 4:00 p.m. Call ahead to make sure there is room for you!
• Pearl Peanuts at Pearl Library is Sep. 22 and 29, 4:00 p.m.
• After School Story Time at Flowood Library is stories, crafts, and FUN! Sept. 21 and 28, 3:00 p.m.
• Backpackers at Brandon Library is Sept. 21 and 28, 3:30 p.m.
• After School Story Time at Richland Library is Sept. 21 at 3:30 p.m.

These are lots of FUN! Stop by your library after school!

Pearl Peanuts @ Pearl

Like to cook? Like to eat? The Pearl Public Library is proud to welcome Carol Ballard from the Mississippi Extension Service. She will be here on Wednesday, September 15, at 4:00 pm for Pearl Peanuts. Come enjoy stories and make a delicious treat!