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Read to a Dog - Fall 2010

Filed under: Programs & Events — Gregg - Library Associate at 11:45 am on Thursday, September 2, 2010

ABC News did a recent story about kids reading to dogs and the benefits of this experience for beginning and reluctant readers.  Watch the clip below.

The Olathe Public Libraries offer children the opportunity to read to a cuddly canine twice a month in our Read to a Dog program.  The complete schedule of dates, times, and locations are listed below.  Just come to the Children’s Desk upon your arrival and check in for a reading time.  The time slots are limited and will be available on a first come, first served basis.  No advance registration.   The dogs are trained therapy dogs provided by Pets for Life, Inc.  So come read to a dog on the following dates:

Saturday, September 4 - 1:30-2:30 p.m. @ the Indian Creek Branch
Saturday, September 18 - 1:30-2:30 p.m. @ the Main Library
Saturday, October 2 - 1:30-2:30 p.m. @ the Indian Creek Branch
Saturday, October 16 - 1:30-2:30 p.m. @ the Main Library
Saturday, November 6 - 1:30-2:30 p.m. @ the Indian Creek Branch
Saturday, November 20 - 1:30-2:30 p.m. @ the Main Library
Saturday, December 4 - 1:30-2:30 p.m. @ the Indian Creek Branch
Saturday, December 18 - 1:30-2:30 p.m. @ the Main Library

Butterflies at the Library

Filed under: Children's Dept. News — Gregg - Library Associate at 9:33 am on Monday, August 30, 2010

swallowtailcaterpillar1    ”Caterpillars” by Aileen Fisher

     What do caterpillars do?
     Nothing much but chew and chew.
     What do caterpillars know?
     Nothing much but how to grow.
     They just eat what by and by
     will make them be a butterfly,
     But that is more than I can do
     however much I chew and chew.

From the poetry book Cricket in a Thicket

Stop by either Olathe library and check out our displays of caterpillars in the Children’s Department.  We are anxiously watching and waiting for our caterpillars to transform into beautiful butterflies.  Our displays include monarchs and black swallowtails.  Each time you visit the library this fall, be sure to see if the caterpillars have grown, if they have formed chrysalises, or if they have emerged as butterflies.

One Million Checkouts

Filed under: Children's Dept. News — Gregg - Library Associate at 3:44 pm on Monday, August 23, 2010

1000000

According to David M. Schwartz’s book How Much Is a Million?, if one million kids stood on top of each other’s shoulders, they would form a tower over  757 miles tall!  (Mt. Everest is only 5½ miles tall.)  How long do you think it would take to count to one million?  Would you believe 23 days?  That’s right, 23 days of non-stop counting.

Now imagine checking out one million items at the library!  That’s how many items have been checked out from the Olathe Public Libraries so far this year.  Today we checked out our millionth item.  That is a lot of books, movies, CDs and games!  No wonder the library is always such a busy place.

Fall Storytimes

Filed under: Programs & Events — Gregg - Library Associate at 10:26 am on Monday, August 23, 2010

Registration for our fall Preschool Storytimes and Time for Two sessions begins on Tuesday, August 24.  Visit the Programs page of our website for more information and the complete schedule.  You may register at either Olathe library or by calling (913) 971-6874.  PLEASE NOTE: The libraries do not open until 10:00 a.m. so phones will not be answered until after 10:00.

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Summer Reading Finale

Filed under: Programs & Events — Gregg - Library Associate at 5:43 pm on Monday, August 16, 2010

pirateSchool is starting this week, but we still have one special event left before we say goodbye to summer.  Our Summer Reading Finale will be on Saturday, August 21, at 10:30 a.m. at Scarborough Elementary School.  Ventriloquist/illusionist Kevin Horner will be presenting “Walk the Plank with Pirate Frank!”  It is sure to be a fun-filled time.  Bring the whole family and celebrate all the reading you did this summer.  And don’t forget, the last day to return your summer reading folder to the library is Sunday, August 22.  Thanks to everybody who “made a splash” at the library this summer.  Have a great school year!

Return Your Summer Reading Folder!

Filed under: Programs & Events — Gregg - Library Associate at 1:52 pm on Friday, August 6, 2010

foldercover-smThe summer is coming to an end, and it’s time to return your Summer Reading Folder to the library.  Bring back your folder to either Olathe library between now and August 22 and chose your free paperback book!  Be sure to fill out the perforated tab on your folder.  We will tear that off when you receive your book and will then send it on to your school so they know you participated in the Summer Reading Program.

Congratulations on all the great reading you did over the summer.  We hope you’ll continue to visit the library throughout the school year and find more great books to read.

Drawing Contest Winners - 2010

Filed under: Children's Dept. News — Gregg - Library Associate at 6:14 pm on Wednesday, July 28, 2010

Thanks to everyone who entered our Summer Drawing Contest!  There was a lot of fun and creative artwork this summer.  After much deliberation, our judges have chosen the winners.  There was some stiff competition.

Winning drawings will be on display at the Main Library August 2-13 and at the Indian Creek Branch August 16-27.   The drawings on display may be picked up in September.  All other entries may be picked up at any time.  To see the winning drawings and all the entries, click here.

And the winners are:goodjobblueribbon

FIRST GRADE

1st place - Joel Moore
2nd place - Rowan Farha
3rd place - Isabel Robb

SECOND GRADE

1st place - Emily Burnett
2nd place - Irina Honc
3rd place - Jenna Lindsey

THIRD GRADE

1st Place - Aaron Chen
2nd place - LyLena Estabine
3rd grade - Dorina Cao

FOURTH GRADE

1st place - Mark Schermerhorn
2nd place - Olivia Laxton
3rd place - Christine David

FIFTH GRADE

1st place - Maria Caputo
2nd place - Alexandria Brandt
3rd place - Parker Erickson

Congratulations everybody!

Child & Parent Book Discussions

Filed under: Programs & Events — Gregg - Library Associate at 12:28 pm on Monday, July 19, 2010

It’s not too late to sign up for our final child & parent book discussions of the summer.  The book discussion group for kids going into 3rd & 4th grade will be on Wednesday, July 21 at 7:00 p.m. at the Indian Creek Branch Library.  The book being discussed is Misty of Chincoteague by Marguerite Henry.  The book discussion group for kids going into 5th grade will be on Tuesday, July 27 at 7:00 p.m. at the Main Library.  The book being discussed is Flush by Carl Hiaasen.   To register for either program call (913) 971-6874, but don’t wait too long so you have time to read the book!

Summer Drawing Contest

Filed under: Programs & Events — Gregg - Library Associate at 4:26 pm on Wednesday, June 30, 2010

Do you like to draw?  Are you going into 1st - 5th grade next year?  If you answered ”yes” to both of these questions, we hope you’ll enter our summer drawing contest.  Here are a few simple rules:

1.   Artwork must be drawn by hand.
2.   Drawing should be no larger than 9 x 12 inches.
3.   The entry deadline is Sunday, July 18.

The drawings will be judged by grades, and the winning drawings will be displayed at the libraries on the following dates:

August 2 - 13 @ Main Library
August 16 - 27 @ Indian Creek

For more information, pick up an entry form at either library or download it here.  To see some of the drawings already submitted, click here.

sundrawing

So get our your pencils and paper and start creating that masterpiece!

The Puppets Are Coming!

Filed under: Programs & Events — Gregg - Library Associate at 3:44 pm on Friday, June 25, 2010

piccadillypuppetsOn Wednesday, June 30 at 1:30 p.m. the Piccadilly Puppets will be presenting our first big program of the summer at the Bell Cultural Events Center on the MidAmerica Nazarene University campus.  This program is for kids going into 1st - 5th grade, but parents and siblings are also welcome.  No registration is required, but space is limited to 250 people.  Seating will be on the floor.  No food or drink of any kind allowed.

The Piccadilly Puppets will be presenting the show “Ottie the Lonely Sea Otter.”  Come find out what happens when a lonely sea otter stands up to a mean old shark.  It will be an underwater party of sea creatures!  For directions to the Bell Cultural Events Center, click here.  For more information, call (913) 971-6874.