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Upcoming youth programs at JCL

3 min read

Join us at our upcoming youth programs. Registration is not required for most programs by recommended, which can be done on our website at www.juniatalibrary.org, by calling (717) 436-6378 or in person at the library.

Winter Storytimes

(Jan. 22 to Feb. 23)

Mondays at 10 a.m.: Preschool group (children ages 3 and over) – Includes stories, songs, rhymes, flannel-board activities, crafts and lots of fun.

Fridays at 10 a.m.: Toddler group (children ages 18 months through 2 years) – 20-30 minutes of stories, songs, rhymes, flannel-board activities and movement, followed by 30 minutes of playtime.

Homeschool Hangout (1st Thursday of the month at 10 a.m. from October to May): Open to homeschool families.

Feb. 1: Math Mania (grades K-3) – Friend of the library Rose Massie will bring some fun math activities and also incorporate reading.

March 7: Art Appreciation "Making with Monet" - Judy Mummau will join us for a fun art lesson about artist Claude Monet and we will create artwork using his famous techniques.

April 4: Hands Only CPR and Lifesaving Skills (grades 3+ only) - Taught by my Community Health and Wellness Educator from Evangelical Hospitals. Note: Registration is required for this program.

May 2: To be announced

Family Saturdays: Join us for one Saturday each month for a fun family program for all ages.

Feb. 10 at 10:30 a.m.: Board and card games - Bring your own favorite board or card games, drop-in and play.

Visit our website and social media pages (Facebook and Instagram) for up-to-date info on our programs and to see photos of all the fun.

Book of the week!

If you are going to read one book, give this one a try...

Welcome to the Neighborwood by Shawn Sheehy

(New kids nonfiction: science & nature, animals, ecosystems) ~ 32 pages for ages 6-9

In a nutshell: Seven big, multileveled pop-up versions of animal-built homes or other structures highlight nature's interconnectedness.

Sheehy creates his illustrations using mostly sturdy earth-toned papers collaged with occasional bits of acetate or string. He opens with a flamed tiger snail's striped spiral shell, then follows up with other constructions that include a beaver's den and the nurseries of a potter wasp and a three-spined stickleback. In simply phrased accompanying notes, he identifies each animal, describes each structure's materials and techniques, then closes with a segue--noting, for example, that the nest of a ruby-throated hummingbird (that "Master of Craftsbirdship") is partly made of sticky silk "provided by her eight-legged neighbor..." the garden spider, whose "Loom of Doom" is featured on the next spread. The animal architects all gather for a closing 3-D group portrait over the observation that we too are "part of the neighborwood."

Bottom line: An auspicious debut, imparting a worthy message in playful language and harmonious, sophisticated paper design.

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Vince Giordano has been the librarian and director of the Juniata County Library since 2015.

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