Monday, May 23, 2011

Dark Tales for Teens

Mentalist and motivational speaker Robert Halbrook will bring his teen-oriented program “Dark Tales of Mystery and Intrigue” to the library on Thursday evening, June 26, at 6:30 p.m. Audience participants will experience strange phenomena such as telekinesis and mindreading. Macabre objects such as an Inquisitor’s box will be on display. The program draws from works by authors such as Stephanie Meyers (author of the “Twilight” series) and Edgar Allan Poe. If you are in middle school or senior high, join us for a heart pounding and fascinating journey into the unknown.

Wednesday, May 4, 2011

Harp adventures kicks off summer fun

Musician Christina Cotruvo will present Harp Adventures, a program full of travel, harps and music at 10:30 a.m., Thurs., June 9, at the Cloquet Public Library.

The program is free of charge and open to the public.

The program, based on the book, Harp Mouse Adventures, will introduce the inner workings of harps and provide an opportunity to play one and enjoy music from many nations following the travels of Harp Mouse. The author of the book is Diane E. Dunn.

Cotruvo’s appearance is part of the Library’s program of summer activities for youth. This year’s theme is “One World, Many Stories.” Children will travel the globe exploring places from Oceania to Russia through stories, crafts, music, games and other activities.

The Library’s Summer Reading Challenge is open to young people, preschool through young adult, with programs, prizes, story hours and special events. Additional performances will include African Drums, Dazzling Dave and his Yoyos and popular musician Robi Meyerson. All children are eligible to participate in the summer reading challenge. Preschoolers will receive credit for books read aloud to them.

Registration officially begins on Mon., June 6. To participate, children fill out a Reading Log by listing books or pages read and present it to the children’s librarian for credit. Incentives will be awarded as readers make progress.

Story Times for preschool (ages 3-5) children will be at 10 a.m., Wednesdays, June 15 through August 3. LapSit Story Times (ages 0-2) will be at 10 a.m., Thursdays, June 16 through August 4.

Tween and teens will learn the basics of Haiku (a form of Japanese poetry with three phrases) writing through imaginative exercises, games and fun examples during a two-day workshop at 1 p.m., Thursday, June 16 and 23. Interested youth must preregister by calling the library before the class begins.

This year, children will answer the question, “Where’s Jacques?” as they search weekly for the roving yet cuddly polar bear puppet. An end-of-the-summer drawing will determine who takes Jacques home. Children can also look forward to weekly scavenger hunts. For more information, call the Library at 879-1531.