Summer Reading is just ONE WEEK away!

School's almost out, and you know what that means: Summer Reading's almost here!!

In just one week on Monday, June 24 we will kick off this year's Summer Reading program!  Be sure to come to the library at 3:00pm for our sign-up bash, and you'll get to be among the very first kids in Watertown to log your hours!

Can't make it Monday?  Don't worry, you'll be able to sign up and get your very own reading log anytime after the kick-off party starts, so come in anytime during our open hours and start recording those hours!

Just like last year, you'll get your very own reading log here at the library.  Every time you visit us, you'll get to stamp your log for every 15 minutes you've read since your last visit.  We'll keep track of all of our hours together, and when we reach certain goals we'll make donations to Heifer International.

Just like last year we'll keep track of our hours on the wall.  BUT instead of a thermometer, this year we'll keep track on a LLAMA!  If we reach our top goal of reading 2500 hours, we'll donate a llama to Heifer International, and so we'll do all of our hour tracking on our brand new Llama-mometer!

And of course, we'll have tons of awesome programs for kids of all ages!  Come in to the library to pick up a brochure, or check our online calendar of events to find out what's going on for kids your age!

We've also partnered with the Watertown Public Schools again to provide lists of Suggested Summer Reading Books for each grade.  We've got tons of copies of the books, so you should have plenty to keep you busy all summer.  Your teacher might give you a copy before school's out, or you can stop in at the library or find the lists online.

What else is going on?  Check out our Summer Reading Website to find out more about our reading program, Heifer International, and all of the fun events we've got planned!

And be sure to come to the library on Monday, June 24 at 3:00pm to be one of the first to sign up for Summer Reading!

Come play with our newest iPads!

The next time you stop in at our computer area, you'll notice something new: iPads!

Our new iPads are loaded with lots of great apps for kids to enjoy!  They're both fun and educational, covering art, literature, math, and more.  And of course, kids are developing their technological and small motor skills through play.

You don't need to register or sign-up to use the iPads, they're on a first-come first-served basis.  Kids of all ages can use them, though we've loaded them with apps that are best for preschool and up.  Of course, all literacy activities are better when they're interactive, so sit down with your child and play through the apps together!

Hang out with some adorable pups!

School's getting close to ending, and your last chance to participate in our Dog B.O.N.E.S. Reading Program before summer break is this week!

Kids in grades K-5 and can sign up to practice their reading (and ear-scratching) skills by reading to certified therapy dogs.  We only have two sessions left of this wonderful program before our volunteers take a break for the summer:

Friday, June 7 at 3:00 p.m.
Saturday, June 8 at 2:00 p.m.

Kids can register for a fifteen-minute session where they get one-on-one time reading with a sweet, cuddly pup.  They're also getting a chance to improve their reading fluency by reading aloud, and therapy dogs have been shown to build reading confidence with their non-judgmental listening.

You do need to register, so call or stop in today and sign up for your fifteen-minute time slot!

Early Lit Tip: Hand-Eye Coordination and Writing Skills

Yes, literacy is about learning how to read, BUT it's also about learning how to write!  Writing is not a skill that just miraculously happens.  Rather, children need to start developing their writing abilities with activities that help them build up their small motor skills, strengthen their hand muscles, and improve their hand-eye coordination.

How do we do this, you ask?

There are lots of fun, simple activities you can do with your child to help their brains and hands be ready to write!

You can start developing these skills right away with infants and babies by doing fingerplays together.  Sing songs or say rhymes while moving your hands and fingers in front of little ones.  Move and clap their hands and, as they get older, encourage them to copy your movements.  Need ideas for rhymes and songs to do together?  Come to one of our Nursery Rhyme Time programs on Tuesday mornings, or check out a book of nursery rhymes.  We've got tons of them.

As children get older, the most simple and clearly connected writing practice is coloring.

When your child is first learning how to scribble or color (a precursor for writing), start with fat writing utensils.  Sidewalk chalk is great, or thick crayons.  Writing utensils that require the use of pressure (i.e. crayons, chalk, pencils) do a better job strengthening hand muscles than markers or pens that you don't have to push on at all.  Your child will probably start by drawing large shapes and, as your child's skill increases, you can encourage him or her to draw smaller shapes to help hone in on specific movements.

Another excellent pre-writing activity is lacing.  We just did a lacing craft at this morning's Family Story Time that encouraged hand-eye coordination.  The theme of our stories and songs was clothes, and so we strung little paper "clothes" on a clothesline.  You can do this easy activity at home by making holes in paper or cardstock (either with a hole punch or by poking a hole with a pencil or pen) and having your child pass a string through the holes.  This is such a specific, targeted movement that it is excellent at developing your child's hand muscles and coordination.

As children get a little older, tracing is another excellent way to develop writing skills.  You can find printable tracing sheets online, and there are wonderful apps available that you can download to your tablet or smartphone.  Try out Little Writer (free, by Innovative Mobile Apps) or abc PocketPhonics ($3.99, by Apps in My Pocket Ltd).  These make it possible for your child to work on their writing skills while you and your family are on the go!

Interested in finding out more?  Just stop in and speak with one of our children's librarians!  Try some of these activities, and your child will be ready to write at just the right age!

The Library was Overrun with Barn Animals!

On Monday, May 20, adorable baby farm animals visited the library!

Barn Babies Traveling Petting Zoo, originally scheduled to visit us on April 19, was rescheduled for this past Monday, and they generally donated additional time so even more Watertown families could meet these cute critters!  All afternoon, kids and caregivers got to pet and hold a wide variety of baby farm animals!

Over the course of the day, 347 people came through.  Kids got up close and personal experiences with a goat (complete with a diaper!), a pig, puppies, kittens, ducklings, and chicks.

We'd like to send a big THANK YOU to Barn Babies for their generosity!

And make sure to check out our Facebook page for more pictures of all the fun that was had!

The Science of Slime

We've got another awesome (and kind of gross!) science program for kids in grades 3-5!  This month, it's SLIME!  On Thursday, May 16 at 3:00 p.m. kids can learn about slimy polymers and then try their hand at making their own.  You can even bring home the slime you create!

This program does require registration, but there are still spots left!  So stop in or call 617-972-6435 to register!

This is part of our Science is Everywhere grant, which is administered by the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners, the Library Services and Technology Act, and the Institute of Museum and Library Services.

Go INSIDE a Whale!

How big IS a whale, really?  Have you ever wondered what it would be like to go inside one?

This Saturday, YOU have the opportunity to find out!

We will be getting a visit from Niles, a life-sized, inflatable, humpback whale!  Niles will be accompanied by Cynde McInnis, a scientist who will tell you all about whales and lead you through our giant inflatable friend.

Kids in grades K-5 will get to hang out with Niles on Saturday, May 4 at 10:00 a.m.  You do need to register, so stop in or give us a call at 617-972-6435 and let us know you'd like to come!

Want to find out more?  Check out Cynde's website at http://www.thewhalemobile.com/TheWhalemobile.html!