This Week at the St. Louis Public Library (March 24-30th, 2013)

Basketball has nothing on this snowstorm in terms of March Madness! Despite the weather, the St. Louis Public Library is open and ready for business! Take some refuge from the last kicks of winter and join us for some great programs and activities.

Storytime:

• Monday at Barr Branch
• Monday at Kingshighway Branch
• Tuesday at Buder Branch (wear your pajamas!)
• Thursday at Central Library
• Friday at Central Library

…and don’t forget the parenting playdate on Thursday evening at Central Library!

Make something awesome:

• Create a Van Gogh inspired artwork Monday at Julia Davis Branch
• Bag Bunnies Tuesday at Carondelet Branch
• Egg-cellent Fun Tuesday at Kingshighway Branch
• Jewelry Making Wednesday at Central Library
• Duct Tape Pens Thursday at Kingshighway Branch

Up for a challenge? Try:

• Board Games Tuesday at Baden Branch
• Disney Scene It Tuesday at Schlafly Branch
• Xbox and Wii games Wednesday at Machacek Branch
• Xbox and Wii games Thursday at Julia Davis Branch
• Easter Egg Hunt Thursday at Schlafly Branch

Want to watch a movie? Sure! How about:

• Dr. Seuss’ The Lorax Tuesday at Julia Davis Branch
• Hop Wednesday at Kingshighway Branch
• Pirates! Band of Misfits Wednesday at Baden Branch or Thursday at Barr Branch
• How to Train Your Dragon Thursday at Carondelet Branch
• ParaNorman Friday at Walnut Park Branch

…And Don’t forget to stop by Baden Branch to vote for your favorite children’s books! Our Baden Madness Bracket is rolling towards the Sweet Sixteen Finalists!

Have a great week!

Baden Branch Madness-2013!

March Madness is here–the big dance starts Thursday!

How do you complete your bracket? Do you scrutinize each and every player, team and coach? Do you look to see who has the best color-combo uniforms or silliest mascot? Do you favor power conferences or have an innate distaste for perennial contenders? Whatever it is, bring your skills to the Baden Branch of the St. Louis Public Library and help decide our bracket!

We’ve put 64 of our favorite children’s books into a winner-take-all bracket, and we need your help to see which will advance. Each time you visit the Branch between now and April 8th, you will have a chance to view the books in the competition and vote for your favorite remaining titles as they seek to be crowned champion.

Visit often to ensure your favorites advance!

This Week at the St. Louis Public Library (March 17-23, 2013)

March Madness is in the air! Baseball is coming soon! April Showers have arrived early! It can only mean one thing… Spring is nearly here! Celebrate with us at your favorite Branch of the St. Louis Public Library:

Storytime:

• Monday at Baden Branch
• Monday at Kingshighway Branch
• Monday at Machacek Branch
• Thursday at Central Library
• Thursday at Schlafly Branch
• Friday at Central Library

Make something awesome:

• Spring Poppers Crafts Tuesday at Baden Branch
• Spring Eggs Tuesday at Barr Branch
• Pop-Up Eggs Tuesday at Carondelet Branch
• Peter Cottontail Crafts Tuesday at Kingshighway Branch
• Kites Wednesday at Buder Branch
• Monster Bookmarks Wednesday at Central Library
• Piggy Pocket Banks Thursday at Carpenter Branch

Get Competitive!

• Board Games Thursday at Julia Davis Branch
• Video Games Thursday at Baden Branch

Something else? How about:

• Wacky Wednesday at Walnut Park Branch
• Dr. Seuss’ ‘The Lorax’ Thursday at Divoll Branch

Have a great week!

Don’t Forget to Wear Your Green on Sunday

Whether you are going to be lounging about the house, or celebrating with the Ancient Order of Hibernians in Dogtown, make sure you have at least a pinch of green to wear!

If you are low on green in the wardrobe, here’s a simple accessory to help you out. Besides being worn in the hair, try attaching it to a pin to wear on your collar or lapel! Just click on the photo to get started:

Lá Fhéile Pádraig Sona Daoibh

St. Louis Public Library Reader Reviews!

Most Wednesdays we provide a brief summary of a book, or books, highlighted from our collection. Recently, we’ve been thinking–who wants to hear from a bunch of adults about books for CHILDREN? Let’s get some real experts in here!

Well, we are proud to provide you with our first round of book reviews written by, and for, actual patrons of the St. Louis Public Library–and not just any patrons… REAL KIDS! We’ll be posting more in the near future, and we would love to make it a regular part of our blog. Though that depends on all of you on the other end of cyberspace.

So… if you are a school-aged patron of the St. Louis Public Library, and you’d like to help us out, submit your book reviews to your nearest and dearest Youth Services Staff at your local SLPL location. We’d love to have your help!

Now, on with the reviews:

Holes by Louis Sachar

This book is about a boy named Stanley Yelnats who had a curse on his family because of his “No-good-dirty-rotten-pig-stealing” great great grandfather.  Stanley was sent to Camp Greenlake because he was caught with a pair of shoes belonging to a famous athlete that disappeared from a Children’s’ Home. The police assumed he stole the shoes, and sent him away. At Camp Greenlake, he and his new friend Zero run away, find treasure, and try to make their lives end up happily ever after.

–Joanne I.

The Last Girls of Pompeii by Kathryn Lasky

I picked out this book because I am interested in Greek and Roman gods. The book is about Julia and Sura. Even though their lives are completely different, they depend on each other. Sura is one of Julia’s family’s slaves and is helping with Julia’s older sister’s wedding. Julia is sick of wedding talk and preparations. The gods are not happy with the time of the wedding but Julia’s sister doesn’t know. Julia and her cousins’ lives are being decided for them and they aren’t happy with their future so they plan to run away during the wedding.  As the wedding begins, a volcano they thought was only a mountain erupts. Their town is destroyed and only Julia, Sura, and Julia’s aunt survive. I liked this book but wished a few more people survived.  The author gave wonderful descriptions of how things looked and how people felt. I’m glad I read it but I have other books I would rather read.

–Tessa D.

Everest: The Climb by Gordon Korman

When Dominic Alexis makes the Summit Quest Climbing Team, he expects to get out immediately. But when the legendary Cap Cicero tries to cut him, Dominic’s skills get in the way. On the final cut, Dominic just can’t get out of it and is sent home. Zoned out on the long ride home, Dominic learns the #1 climber on the team has quit and Dominic is on the team. The story is anything but predictable, and has a twist thrown in with it. Readers will feel as if they were there next to Dominic. This is recommended for ages 10 and up. It is totally worth the read. Four Stars.

–Henry S.

This Week at the St. Louis Public Library (March 10-16, 2013)

As usual, we have lots of great stuff this week! Drop by, pick up a few books, maybe some music of a movie, and stay for any of these great activities:

Storytime!

• Monday at Cabanne Branch
• Monday at Machacek Branch
• Monday at Barr Branch
• Wednesday at Buder Branch
• Wednesday at Julia Davis Branch
• Thursday at Central Library
• Thursday at Schlafly Branch
• Friday at Central Library

It’s almost St. Patrick’s Day! Celebrate with us:

• Tuesday at Cabanne Branch
• Tuesday at Kingshighway Branch
• Tuesday at Schlafly Branch
• Thursday at Buder Branch
• Thursday at Carondelet Branch

Make something awesome!

• Piggy Banks Tuesday at Carondelet Branch
• Jigsaw Puzzles Tuesday at Divoll Branch
• I Spy Bottles Thursday at Baden Branch
• Piggy Banks Monday at Cabanne Branch
• Cherry Blossom Paintings Thursday at Machacek Branch

Get Active!

• March Madness Balloon Pong Wednesday at Baden Branch
• Learn to Juggle Wednesday at Central Library

Ready For a movie? It must be Friday at Walnut Park Branch! Join us to watch The Avengers.

Have a great week!

 

 

St. Patrick’s Day is almost here! Watch out for Leprechauns!

Are you ready for St. Patrick’s Day?

Do you have your Leprechaun trap built?

No?

Well, GET  BUSY!

Gather up all things green and click on the photo to get started building your 2013 Leprechaun Trap:

Free Music!

Love keeping your MP3 player loaded with tunes but hate paying for individual songs? St. Louis Public Library has your answer!

Did you know, along with all the great books and movies we have available, that your St. Louis Public Library card is your source for free MP3s? AND THAT YOU NEVER HAVE TO RETURN THEM?!

Join us at the Schlafly Branch on Thursday, March 7th, at 4 pm and get started using Freegal Music Services–part of the Library’s GetitNow digital collection. Bring your favorite digital media device with you and learn step by step how to keep the music playing!

 

This Week at the St. Louis Public Library (March 3-9, 2013)

Lots of great stuff to do this week as we March into Springtime!

Join us for these great activities:

Storytime

• Monday at Baden Branch
• Monday at Kingshighway Branch
• Monday at Walnut Park Branch
• Monday at Carondelet Branch
• Monday at Machacek Branch
• Tuesday at Central Library (wear your pajamas!)
• Wednesday at Buder Branch
• Wednesday at Carpenter Branch
• Thursday at Schlafly
• Thursday at Central Library
• Friday at Central Library

Make something awesome:

• Windsocks at Central Library on Wednesday
• Library Art Petals Tuesday at Barr Branch
• Lunch Money Lockets Tuesday at Kingshighway Branch
• Canvas Artwork Tuesday at Walnut Park Branch
• Spring Flower Wreathes at Machacek Branch on Thursday

We’ll also have Xbox and Wii Gaming Thursday at the Baden Branch.

Have a great week!

Happy Birthday, Dr. Seuss!

Celebrate the birthday of Dr. Seuss with us at the Kingshighway Branch from 2:30-4:30 p.m. on Saturday, March 2nd!

Can’t make it? Celebrate on your own with these two great crafts! Click on either photo to get started.