by Mrs. Clark

How many different signs have you seen around your neighborhood? Do you remember seeing signs printed in different lettering as you ride to or from school? Maybe you have tried to print notes in different styles. I know some kids enjoy making bubble letters. Others work to make their signature or their cursive first and last name look especially nice. Have you ever thought of giving calligraphy a try?

Calligraphy means beautiful writing. People doing calligraphy use special pens to help make their writing look special. When writing calligraphy one should sit up tall at a table or desk. Practicing the common strokes can make it easier to do your best work. After you practice try creating place cards for your dinner table. Calligraphy can be used to address an envelope or make an invitation look extra special. Maybe you can give calligraphy a try using an ordinary thin felt tip pen.

Here are some resources to check out:

• Calligraphy for Kids by Eleanor Winters (Y 745.61 W)
• Creative Calligraphy by Peter Halliday (J 745.61 H)
• www.calligraphycentre.com (Look for "calligraphy for beginners"; this site has lots of good information but please note it does offer lessons for a fee.)

by Miss Alicia

Who says we should go inside and hide when it’s raining? I say get a friend, your raincoat and rain boots and go outside and play in the rain. In case you are wondering what you can do while in the rain, well there is plenty, just use your imagination. When I was a child, one of my favorite things to do was to put on my rain boots and rain coat and go puddle-jumping. I remember enjoying the rain fall on my face as I would run around looking for the deepest puddles I could find while making the biggest splash possible. When I was done puddle-jumping, I liked to toss rocks into rain puddles to see how many times they would skip. My brother and I would have a contest to see who could skip their rock the most times. I also liked to walk around the side walk counting all of the earth worms that had appeared because of the rain; there were always a lot! Rain is so much fun and I think everyone should have a chance to enjoy it. What are some of your favorite things to do in the rain? Are they like mine or do have different traditions?

by Miss Hillary

April is National Guitar Month! You’ve probably heard lots of guitar music, but do you know where they came from? Stringed instruments were used thousands of years ago in Africa, India, and Central Asia, but our modern guitars were born in Europe much later.

Guitars are usually made with a few different kinds of wood, because the kind of wood used can actually change how the guitar sounds. The top is usually made from a different wood than the sides and back, and the neck of the guitar is also made of a different material. The strings are usually nylon, nickel, or steel. Learn more about how acoustic guitars are made here.

There are also electric guitars. These are not hollow on the inside like traditional or acoustic guitars. They depend on an electronic "pickup" that will translate the vibration of the strings to sound on a speaker, also called an amplifier.

You can learn how to play the guitar too! Learn from a teacher or teach yourself!

by Cindy

That’s right! Clifford the Big Red Dog is celebrating his 50th birthday! He’s had many fun adventures over the years. Mr. Norman Bridwell is the author of the Clifford books. The character Emily Elizabeth in the books is named after his daughter. She is all grown up now, but Clifford stays the same age so new kids can grow to love him. Click here if you like to color and do activity sheets about Clifford.

Mr. Bridwell says his favorite Clifford book is Clifford and the Grouchy Neighbors. Mine is Clifford’s Kitten. No, Clifford the Firehouse Dog. Wait a minute! I love Clifford the Small Red Puppy because he’s just so cute in that one! Which Clifford book is YOUR favorite? Click here to pet Clifford!

by Miss Hillary

Creating your own art can sometimes be hard. You might think, "I can’t do this!" You might see someone else’s art and think that it is better than yours. Nonsense! Anyone, even YOU can create great art, just ask the heroes in the Creatrilogy by Peter H. Reynolds.

In Dot, Vashti can’t think of anything to put on her paper in art class. When her teacher encourages her, she angrily stabs a dot on the paper. Then, Vashti decides that she can make even better dots. You’ll see how she grows as an artist!

In Ish, Ramon LOVES to draw. His brother then tells him that his painting doesn’t look like a vase of flowers at all. Ramon gets down on his art, crumpling it up. Ramon’s little sister Marisol, however loves Ramon’s paintings. What will happen next?

Sky Color is the last book in the Creatrilogy. Marisol loves to paint, and is very excited about her class’s mural project. She is especially excited to paint the sky. What happens when Marisol discovers that there is no blue paint to be found?

Everyone can create, even you! Next time you feel like you can’t make anything, give these books a read. They are available right here at the VCPL.

by Miss Alicia

Rhymes are everywhere! They are catchy to listen to and fun to write. One of the most famous children’s authors, Dr. Seuss, makes rhyming so cool. Sometimes, he will even make up words just to get them to rhyme. We use rhyming words more than we think; we use them in homework assignments and when we write songs and poems. I was searching the internet one day and found a really cool website, rhymezone.com. I would type in a word and then press the search button to then find tons of words that rhyme with the word I searched. I bet you don’t know how many words rhyme with the word alligator. I do: waiter, later, skater, tater and much more. What rhymes with gummy bears? Spice pears and pink chairs. I don’t’ know about you but I am ready to get out a pencil, paper and start writing some rhymes.

by Miss Hillary

You come to the library to get them, you read them at school, and you probably have some at home, but do you know what a book is for?

A book is for sharing stories and facts with other people. If you couldn’t read a book or write something down to show to someone, you would learn very differently than you do today.

Some places have stories from before they had words or letters to write down. They just had to remember the stories as best they could and tell them to other people. That would take some great memory, huh? People still remember stories and pass them on, but today, we can write them in a book to help us remember.

You can be a storyteller, too! Try to remember the next story you read or hear and then retell it to someone. It might take some practice, but you could even make up a story of your very own, write it in a book, and share it with the whole world!

by Cindy

How many times have your parents said this to you: "Go clean your room! It looks like a pig pens!" I just read about a pig farm in northern Indiana that has aid conditioned and heated, CLEAN pig pens! It’s called Fair Oaks Pig Adventure and starting next summer, it will be open for the public to come and watch how they care for the pigs in an environmentally friendly way. There will be lots of interactive activities for kids and parents. So if you’re interested in pigs, you might want to visit! If you like COWS — they also have a Dairy Adventure!

Note to Parents: The Fair Oaks Farms are located on 856 N. 600 E. in Fair Oaks, Indiana, off I-65 Exit 220, about an hour south of Chicago.

Books for kids on raising pigs:

• From Piglet to Pig by Jillian Powell (J636.4 P)
• Pot Bellied Pigs by Lynn M. Stone (J636.485 S)

by Mrs. Clark

Have you ever wondered why our calendar year ends on December 31 and a new year begins on January 1?

Our calendar is based on the sun and it was introduced by Julius Caesar in the year 46 B C. Julius was a very powerful man in the Roman Empire. This new calendar became known as the Julian calendar. Can you guess why? On this calendar the new year occurred on January 1. The previous calendar was based on the moon and over time had become very inaccurate. The Julian calendar was a big improvement.

Later, during a period in history called the Middle Ages certain leaders in Europe felt the celebrations that went along with the new year were too wild so some countries did not recognize January 1 as the beginning of the new year.

In the year 1582 another new calendar came into being. This Gregorian calendar restored January 1 as the first day of the new year. Since this calendar was created by Pope Gregory VIII most Catholic countries adopted it, but it was not adopted as quickly in countries that were Protestant. For example, the British Empire including the American colonies did not adopt the Gregorian calendar until 1752. That’s 170 years later. I cannot image having more than one calendar in the world. Can you?

Here’s a link for an online jigsaw puzzle to help you celebrate the arrival of 2013.

Source: A History of the New Year — Infoplease.com

by Miss Alicia

Winter is here! Although playing in the snow is so much fun, it can get VERY cold, and we find ourselves spending most of the winter bundled up inside. Why not make the most of your time spent inside and read? You might already have a few books in mind that you would like to read. If not, you can talk to your friends about books they have liked or you can ask a librarian to help you find a good book. Once you have a few good books, make sure you cozy up with a soft, warm blanket, and remember this Dr. Seuss quote; "The more you read, the more things you will know. The more that you learn, the more places you’ll go."

by Mrs. Clark

Here is a fun craft you can make with a few supplies and a little help from an adult! Once you’ve made one maybe you can help a younger brother of sister make their own. This decoration can be hung on a tree or used anywhere in your home and it will smell good. Does your pile of dirty laundry need your craft hanging nearby?

Things you will need:

• Sandpaper
• Scissors
• Cinnamon sticks

1. First cut the sandpaper into a shape of your choice. (star, tree, animal)
2. Use the cinnamon stick like a pencil to add a design to your shape.
3. If you are going to hang your craft, punch a hole in the top and string yarn or ribbon through the hole.
4. Hang and enjoy the pleasant fragrance.

Source: FamilyEducation