Stuffed Animal Sleepovers

Last week at the Lake and Forest branches we had some fun animal adventures. We had our first stuffed animal sleepovers. We enjoyed a bed time story time and then we tucked all the animals in and had a bed time snack before we went home for the night. Apparently, the animals had other ideas though. They did all kinds of exciting things while we were gone and read a lot of good books too. Apparently, they got their paws on a camera as well, so we thought we would share what we found when we got back to work. Those silly animals have quite an imagination. We just might have to do this again next year.

1000 Page Challenge

The Pearl Public Library partnered with O'Charley's Restaurant in Pearl for a reading program---1000 Page Challenge. The program challenged kids to read 1000 pages in the course of 14 weeks. Twenty-two children registered for the program and read a total of 51,551 pages. Twelve children stepped up to the challenge and read a combined total of 49,306!!!

Kathy B., Cecelia S., and I met the 12 children who completed the challenge on Wednesday, December 16, at O'Charley's. At the restaurant, the children ordered anything they wanted from the children's menu. While we waited, we had a recognition ceremony. Every child received a certificate and a wrapped $5 gift. Our Friends of the Library donated the prizes for all the children. Additionally, the top reader won 1000 pennies (which was donated by one of our Library Friends-Judy W.) in a fish bowl. Connor B. of Pearl was our top reader with over 10,000 pages.

Again, I would like to thank O'Charley's Restaurant, Pearl Friends of the Library and my library coworkers. This program was FANTASTIC!!! All the children were winners. I couldn't have been a more proud librarian that day!

The Rankin Ledger will run an article about this story in the January 5th edition.

Miss Mara's Top 10 Holiday Picture Books

Needs a good read for the holidays? Try one of my favorites! They may be checked in a library near you. Check out the catalog.

1. Too Many Tamales by Gary Soto
2. How the Grinch Stole Christmas by Dr. Seuss
3. If You Take a Mouse to the Movies by Laura Numeroff
4. Christmas Cobwebs by Odds Bodkin
5. Auntie Claus by Elise Primavera
6. My Penguin Osbert by Elizabeth Kimmel
7. Mim's Christmas Jam by Andrea Pinkney
8. The Latke Who Couldn't Stop Screaming: A Christmas Story by Lemony Snicket
9. The Night Before Christmas by Clement C. Moore
10. The Polar Express by Chris Van Allsburg

Are You Looking for Santa?

There is still time to see Santa @ your Library! Saturday, Dec. 12, 4:00 p.m. - Sebastopol Library will have Santa and Library Friends taking pictures for $1 at the Bishop Park in Sebastopol (across the road from the Library). Pictures will be made on Saturday and can be picked up at the Library beginning Dec. 16. Proceeds go to the Sebastopol Public Library Friends. Monday, Dec. 21, 6:00 p.m. - Brandon Public Library will have a wonderful family story time and a visit from Santa! See you @ the Library!