Now @ MPL...

Calling all families! Feel like kicking up your heels and singing along to some fiddlin' good music? Want to learn about bats, meet and greet live snakes, turtles and toads? How about pick out a pumpkin and decorate it to take home?

Then come to Harvest Fest at Central Library on Saturday, October 6 from 10:00 a.m. until 1:00 p.m.!

Other activities include learning the secrets of making applesauce, decorating pumpkin cookies, fun crafts, games and more!

Here is a schedule of the day's events:

10:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m.
Sing along with Douglas Udell

11:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
Nature in the Parks Bat Presentation

12:00 p.m. - 1:00 p.m.
Sing along with Fox and Branch

Check out the Children's Calendar for more information as well as a schedule of additional Harvest Fest celebrations at our neighborhood libraries.

What city was Winnie the Pooh named after?

How Winnie the Pooh got his name is a very interesting story that starts at the opening of World War I. In 1914, the 2nd Canadian Infantry Brigade left the city of Winnipeg, Manitoba. The train had stopped in a remote Northern Ontario community and Lieutenant Harry Coleburn noticed a man sitting at the train station with a bear cub tied to the bench he was sitting on. The man was a hunter who had shot the female bear cub's mother. Harry Coleburn bought the cub from the hunter and took her with the brigade to England.

By the time they reached England, the little bear had been named Winnipeg after Coleburn's adopted city, and was affectionately known by the rest of the brigade as "Winnie".

(Original Winnie the Pooh stuffed toys. Clockwise from bottom left: Tigger, Kanga, Edward Bear (aka Winnie-the-Pooh), Eeyore, and Piglet.)

Winnie became the mascot of the 2nd Canadian Infantry Brigade. However, when the brigade was sent to France in December of 1914, Coleburn decided that it would be too dangerous for the little bear cub, and donated her to the London Zoo. She became a popular attraction there, so much so that when Coleburn returned from the war, he decided to leave her in London, though he would continue to visit her throughout her life.

Author A.A. Milne took his son Christopher Robin to the zoo, and Winnie became a fast favorite of his. He named his own bear Winnie after the bear, and Pooh after a swan at the London Zoo.

Homework Help is offered at the Central Library and four
neighborhood libraries for elementary school aged children.
Volunteers listen, guide and advise children with their
homework needs. Hours are generally weeknights from
4 to 7 p.m. Please call one of the following libraries for specific dates and times:

Atkinson Library 286-3068
Center Street Library 286-3090
Central Library 286-3091
Forest Home Library 286-3083
Martin Luther King Library 286-3098

The Children's Department is launching a new family reading program on November 10th called 'Time to Read with Curious George and Friends.' This program will encourage reading to and with your children. It's a great bonding experience, and it helps your children gain a lifetime love of reading.

We'll be kicking off 'Time to Read with Curious George and Friends' Saturday, Nov. 10, at Central Library, 10:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. with music in the main rotunda, tap dancing in the gray rotunda, a reading nook, learning stations, crafts and cookie decoration.

Celebrate Children’s Book Week with Bookmaking

Artist Robin Kinney will teach children how to create unique handmade books. Every child will create at least one book, journal or scrapbook.

Call the library to register.

Capitol - 286-3006
Monday, November 5, 6:00-7:00 p.m.

Central - 286-3091
Tuesday, November 6, 6:30-7:30 p.m.

Martin Luther King - 286-3098
Wednesday, November 7, 5:00-6:00 p.m.

Zablocki - 286-3055
Saturday, November 10, 2:00-3:00 p.m.

Villard Avenue - 286-3079
Monday, November 12, 5:00-6:00 p.m.

East - 286-3058
Tuesday, November 13, 6:00-7:00 p.m.

Center Street - 286-3090
Wednesday, November 14, 5:30-6:30 p.m.

Tippecanoe - 286-3085
Saturday, November 17, 10:30-11:30 a.m.

Bay View - 286-3019
Saturday, November 17, 2:00-3:00 p.m.

The Central Library will be holding its annual Mock Newbery and Caldecott Discussion in Centennial Hall Tuesday, December 11 from 1:00-4:00 p.m.

Meet with other adults and librarians to discuss the best children's books published in 2007.

The Newbery Medal is named for John Newbery who was an 18th century publisher of children's books. It is awarded once a year by the Association for Library Service to Children. It was first awarded in 1922.

The Caldecott Medal is named for Randolph Caldecott, a 19th century English illustrator. It is also awarded annually by the Association for Library Service to Children. It was first awarded in 1938.

Registration is required, so go to our Events Calendar to do so.

This month several of MPL's neighborhood libraries will be offering Chess 4 Life Skills for children ages 8-14. Participants will learn to play chess while discovering how to be effective decision makers. Quan Caston, President of Chess Academix, Inc., will help students use the game of chess as a thinking tool.

Call your library to register. Walk-ins are welcome if space is available.

Atkinson Library, Wednesday, December 26, from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Capitol Library, Wednesday, December 26, from 4:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
Martin Luther King Library, Thursday, December 27, from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
Center Street Library, Thursday, December 27, from 2:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.
Villard Avenue Library, Friday, December 28, from 10:00 a.m to 2:00 p.m.
Mill Road Library, Friday, December 28, from 2:15 p.m. to 4:45 p.m.
Zablocki Library, Saturday, December 29, from 10:00 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
Forest Home Library, December 29, from 1:45 p.m. to 4:45 p.m.

Unfortunately, our Mock Newbery Caldecott Awards Program was cancelled due to the weather.

Our children’s librarians still want to get the word out on the best books of 2007. We’ll be posting our comments here so be sure to check back often for a look at all the good books you might have missed. Feel free to add your comments as well if you’ve read a great children’s book this year that you can’t wait to talk about.

When is Kwanzaa?

Kwanzaa begins on December 26th and continues through January 1st. It is an African American celebration of family, culture, and community. This holiday has roots in ancient African celebrations of the first harvest. In fact, the term Kwanzaa comes from the Swahili phrase "matunda ya kwanza" which means "first fruits." Dr. Maulana Karenga, an African American scholar and activist, held the first modern Kwanzaa celebration in 1966. Learn more about Kwanzaa at the holiday's official Website.

Looking for a fun way to celebrate Kwanzaa? Today, Thursday, December 27, children ages 6-12 can come to Atkinson Library from 2:00-3:00 p.m. or Martin Luther King Library from 2:00-3:00 p.m. to make a Kwanzaa craft to take home.

The Milwaukee Bucks Reading Challenge for 3rd through 10th graders begins today!

Earn one point for each page you read from a book, magazine, or newspaper. Read 500 pages to earn 500 points by Friday, February 22 to become an All-Star Reader and receive a voucher for a free ticket to a Milwaukee Bucks game! You can pick one of two games to attend, either Sunday, March 9 at 12:00 p.m. or Friday, April 4 at 7:30 p.m. All-Star Readers also have the opportunity for friends and family to purchase additional tickets for the game at a discounted price. And there are special opportunities for "Overtime" readers who read 750 pages or more! Talk to your local Milwaukee Public Library children's librarian for more information and to sign-up for the Bucks Reading Challenge.

Preschoolers are invited to 45 minutes
of stories, songs, finger plays and crafts.
Child care centers are welcome.

Forest Home Library
Thursdays, December thru February,
10:30-11:15 a.m.

Zablocki Library
Wednesdays, January 9 thru May 14,
10:30-11:15 a.m.

Horas de cuentos bilingües para niños preescolares

Los niños preescolares están bienvenidos
a 45 minutos de cuentos, canciones y
juegos con los deditos, seguidos por 15
minutos de manualidades. Se extiende
también la invitación a los centros
infantiles.

Forest Home Library
Los jueves de diciembre a febrero,
10:30-11:15 a.m.

Zablocki Library
Los miércoles del 9 de enero al
14 de mayo, 10:30-11:15 a.m.

World Book Kids is the latest addition to the database collection at MPL. It is the online version of the popular encyclopedia that is designed especially for children. World Book Kids features simple navigation, easy-to-read content, and bright colors and graphics. Divided into broad topical categories, thousands of articles are enhanced by colorful illustrations, photographs, diagrams, and interactive maps. Four categories of fun activities (Think It!, Be It!, Make It!, and Teach It!) provide great ideas for parents and teachers. You can log on to World Book Kids in any City of Milwaukee library, as well as from your home computer using your library card.

Join the Milwaukee Public Library in celebrating the Week of the Young Child, April 13-19!

The Week of the Young Child is an annual national celebration designed to recognize the critical role of early childhood educators in fostering learning skills and social development of young children. The library is celebrating with special entertainment for preschoolers at every MPL location. A craft and snack will be part of each program. (Child care and school groups – please call your local library to register.)

For times and locations, check out the Library Events Calendar or the Children's Calendar.

This interactive children's program features Dr. Hal Kacanek demonstrating instruments from all over the world. The program will be at Capitol Library and East Library.

Capitol's program starts at 9:30am on 4/16/08
3969 N 74st
East's Program starts at 7pm on 4/17/08
1910 E. North Ave