Crafty Ideas for the 4th of July!

Are you looking for some festive decorations to make with your children for the 4th of July? We have some books in our collection with patriotic crafts presented that would be fun to make for the holiday.

Try looking at Star-Spangled Crafts by Kathy Ross or Independence Day: Birthday of the United States by Elaine Landau for some inspiration.

To further spark your patriotic creativity, while you are surfing the internet, take a look at Fourth of July Arts and Crafts Ideas for Kids where you will find many unique projects to choose from.

While you are enjoying the holiday, don't forget to watch the Des Plaines parade, and go to the ice cream social and fireworks on July 4th. You can check out more information on where to be at the City of Des Plaines website.

Have Fun Preparing for the 4th! Enjoy the festivities!

Relay For Life

Don't know what to do with your kids this weekend? From 6p.m. Friday June 26th to 6 a.m. Saturday June 27th, members of the Des Plaines and Park Ridge communities will be walking around the Maine West High School track to raise money and awareness for the American Cancer Society.

This year's theme is 'Carnival of Hope', and they have some tricks up their sleeves. Stop by for some cotton candy, popcorn, and fun carnival games. There will be a D. J., clowns, and a juggler. It should be a lot of fun! All of the proceeds from the carnival go to the American Cancer Society.

Exploring Art This Summer

Art Appreciation! While senses awaken to nature's beauty this summer, take some time out to expand creativity by exploring Art with your children.

If you have the opportunity to take a field trip soon, we are fortunate to have nearby the Art Institute of Chicago which is known to be one of the 10 Best Art Museums for Kids in the country. The Des Plaines Public Library has an excellent resource to check out to read before your trip titled Behind the lions: a family guide to the Art Institute of Chicago.

Two other books from the library collection to consider sharing with your children are Seen Art? by Jon Scieszka and Artful Reading by Bob Raczka. Both of these books present art masterpieces to children in an enjoyable and educational way.

On July 1 from 2-3:30 p.m., as part of our Read On The Wild Side Summer Reading Club, we are offering an artful hands-on learning experience for kindergarten - 2nd graders called Wild About Eric Carle. You can phone Youth Services at 847-376-2839 to sign up or register online for this program.

Looking for some websites to enjoy Art with your children? Click here for some good choices.

Creative Explorations await you!

Celebrating Dad

Socks. And Soap on a Rope. And Old Spice. These are the gifts that my dad graciously accepted every Christmas, Birthday and Father's Day as I was growing up. I just knew that he would love a well wrapped package of socks because often I would see his big toe peeking out of his old socks. And there was always a soap on the rope hanging in the shower (maybe because dad got a new one three times a year) so I was sure that would be a winner. And Old Spice. Who could resist those red gift boxes?

As I got older I realized that there was so much more than socks, cologne and soap to my dad. It turns out he is a gardener, a music lover, a traveler and a reader. At least once a month my dad and I have lunch together, talk about our lives, current events, whatever comes to mind. It's from these conversations that I gain inspiration for my dad's gifts nowadays. Maybe this Father's Day I'll get him a book about the gold rush in Montana, a CD of Frankie Valli songs or a planter of flowers for his patio. Or maybe, just for old times sake, I'll give him a pair of socks.


On Father's Day take a couple of minutes with your children to think about all of the roles that their father plays in their lives, then see how many of those are mentioned in 33 Uses for a Dad.

It’s always fun to spend the day with Dad. Help your children get some ideas from Little Bear in Me and My Dad and a young boy in Papa and Me as they spend some time with their fathers.

It's Raining, It's Pouring!

With all the rain in the forecast, it's time to sing it away.

Try singing one of my favorite rain songs, "Rain, rain, go away, come again another day!" next time you're looking out the window with your kids. You can find the song on the Wiggleworms Love You CD, by Chicago's own, Old Town School of Folk Music.

Don't know what to do until the sun shines again?

-Bring out the craft box and the creativity in The Rainy Day Book

-Make rain sticks and other Nifty Thrifty Music Crafts for a musical concert.

-Try out your folding skills with Origami 1-2-3

-Rain all weekend? Over 40 ideas such as "hallway bowling", how to make a "couch fort"and more in Zainy Rainy Days. Also look through Rainy Days & Saturdays, to learn how to write using invisible ink, amaze your family with magic tricks and other indoor adventures.

Remember, 'The Sun Will Come Out Tomorrow'!

Are You Ready for DTV?

Are you ready for the switch to DTV(digital television)? Ready or not, the last day for television stations to broadcast in analog is Friday, June 12. People who have an analog television will need a digital-to-analog converter box to continue to watch broadcast television on that set, and to see the additional channels that local stations are offering. Help is available at www.dtv.gov or 1-888-CALL-FCC (1-888-225-5322).

If you already have a digital television that relies on an antenna, you should to a double rescan on June 13 (the day after the transition) to make sure you are getting all the available channels.

Follow these four steps:
1. Unplug the antenna from the converter box.
2. Scan for channels.
3. Plug antenna back into the converter box.
4. Rescan for channels.

If you subscribe to cable service, the DTV transition should not affect you. Since reports indicate the switch is more likely to affect senior citizens, this is a great opportunity for families to help older neighbors or relatives. Children love to help others and they also love technology, so this is a win-win for everyone.

If the transition leaves you without a working TV, my advice is not to be too worried. You are always welcome to use the library to find great materials to entertain and inform your entire family. Here are a few TV related suggestions:

Inventing the Television
Richter, Joanne
J 621.388 RIC

Movie Acting
Horn, Geoffrey M.
J 791.43028

So You Want To Be a Film or TV Director?
Dunkleberger, Amy
J 791.430233 DUN

Michael J. Fox: Courage for Life
Kramer, Barbara
J 791.43028 FOX, MICHAEL J.

Shirley Temple
Bankston, John
J 791.43028 TEMPLE, SHIRLEY

Meet The Blob
Murdico, Suzanne J.
J 791.437 BLO

Summer Reading Club

Summer Reading Club starts on Sunday, June 7th at 1 p.m. and runs through Sunday, August 2nd. Stop in to sign up for the club and gather information on all of the other fun (and free) things we have going on here at the library.

Have a kid between the ages of 2 and 5? Bring your family in for a wild time of music, movement, and rhythm on Wednesdays at 11 a.m.

Your children a little bit older? We have plenty of programs for all different ages including face painting, pop-up card making, mosaic art, and DVD games.

We also have our weekly board game room on Fridays at 2 p.m. and on Mondays we have drop in movies and Wii games for children in grades 3 to 8.

You could also join us for our Monday night Family Storytime, which will be on June 22nd, July 6th, and July 20th at 7 p.m. in the storytime room.

With so much going on this summer at the library, we are looking forward to seeing you and your families here! While you are here, take some books home with you and enjoy them with your family. Remember that we also have audio books to take home for those long car trips and family vacations.

The Taste of Des Plaines

Looking for fun this weekend? Come to the Taste of Des Plaines Friday, June 5^th through Sunday, June 7^th. Enjoy great food, musical performances, live entertainment and more activities for the whole family.

We'll be there too! Visit us at the Library Tent near the History Center for a magic show, wild stories and songs and a chance to win a giant stuffed lion.

While at the Taste on Sunday, you can walk into the library and sign your child up for the Summer Reading Club, Read on the Wild Side! They will receive a reading log, a bookmark, and a library card holder for joining and more prizes along the way including a backpack when they finish their reading goal! And you will have peace of mind knowing that you've helped your child maintain and grow their reading skills over the summer!

See you at the Taste!