Children's News & Events @ Berkeley Public Library
December 2015

There are many ways to ward off the darkness of December. Start with a flashlight. Make up a game of flashlight tag. Need some good flashlight stories? 

Try Lizi Boyd's wordless story, Flashlight. Jon Klassen illustrates Laszlo's flashlight slicing the darkness in Lemony Snicket's The dark. And who can ever forget John Schoenherr's illustration of an owl caught in the flashlight's beam in Owl moon, by Jane Yolen.
 

A warm book on a dark night is always good company.  A good family read aloud for winter is Cynthia Rylant's story about animal friends in an ice storm, Gooseberry Park.  For those in middle school who enjoy fantasy take a look at Rebecca Stead's First light set in Greenland.


December travel plans might include books and music from our elibrary. Alexander Street has seven million songs! Learn one million of them this vacation!  And Discover & Go has free passes to venues all over the Bay Area.  We offer fun events, too. The lights are shining at Berkeley Public Library, so come in and say hello!

December Fun for Kids!

Culinary Kid: Tamales with Chef Traci @Claremont
Saturday, December 12
3:00-4:00pm
Learn to make tamales! Chef Traci Hurlow from Culinary Jungle Gym leads kids in preparing this traditional Mesoamerican dish. Space is limited! Call 510-981-6280 to register. Ages 8-10.


Puppet Company's Puppet Circus @South
Monday, December 21
10:30am-11:00am
The Puppet Circus show features puppet clowns, a tightrope walking bear, elephants, lions, and a large opening circus parade! Ages 3-7.


Games Galore: Winter Break Edition @Central
December 21
4:00pm-5:00pm
You've waited long enough. It's winter break and time to relax and play games with Games Galore in the Library! Card games, board games, and Wii games on a movie screen! Ages 7-13. Third floor Community Meeting Room



Winter Magic: Mike Della Penna

@West
Tuesday, December 22
 3:00 - 3:45p.m.
@North
Tuesday, December 29
3:30 - 4:15 p.m.
The days are shorter, it's starts to get (a bit) colder, and we have magic for winter break with Mike Della Penna! He's silly, he's magically funny, and he'll make you go WOW! Ages 5 and up.


Board of Library Trustees Hires Interim Director

The Berkeley Public Library is excited to introduce Beth Pollard, recently appointed interim Director of Library Services by the Berkeley Board of Library Trustees (BOLT)

Pollard, the former  City Manager of Albany, served this past year as Interim Deputy City Manager for the City of Berkeley during the recruitment process for the Deputy City Manager position.

"Beth has just the right combination of strong management skills, leadership ability, and familiarity with Berkeley to help guide us during this transition," said Abigail Franklin, Board Chair. Read more.
South Branch Renaming Approved



On November 18, 2015 the Board of Library Trustees approved the naming subcommittee's recommendation to rename South Branch the Tarea Hall Pittman South Branch.The subcommittee will continue having open monthly meetings to plan next steps; including signage and a plaque or other piece inside the library recounting Ms. Pittman's significance to the community.

We are making plans to celebrate the renaming of the Branch with a series of programs celebrating and collecting the neighborhood's history.

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Special Thanks
Most free events at Central Library, South and West Branch Libraries are sponsored by the Friends of the Berkeley Public Library.

Events at North Branch Library are made possible by a generous gift from the Pace Trust, in support of the North Branch of the Berkeley Public Library.
In This Issue
May We Suggests?

B is for Bear: A Natural Alphabet
by Hannah Viano

This is not just any alphabet book. Elegant papercut art represents natural elements (C is for cloud, D is for dandelion, F is for fawn). Additional facts are included along with both the uppercase and lowercase of each letter, which any teacher or parent knows, is a very helpful feature in alphabet books.
 

Flop to the Top: A Toon Book
by Eleanor Davis and Drew Weing

Wanda is a natural born star - at least she thinks so! When she comes up with an idea to solidify her seemingly inevitable fame, it backfires, and her dog becomes famous instead. An entertaining and funny early reader that has a little lesson hidden within as well.
 

Exploring Kitchen Science: 30+ Edible Experiments and Kitchen Activities

From the minds of the people at the Exploratorium comes a way to learn about science and then get to eat the results! Have you ever wanted to make glow in the dark Jello? Have you ever heard of the Marshmallow wars? Did you know that pickles can be used as a power source? Find out about the unexpected science in your very own kitchen. Do try this at home!
 

The Toymaker's Apprentice
by Sherri L. Smith
 
The princess of Boldavia has been turned into a wooden doll by the vengeful Queen Mouse and the only thing that can save her is a rare nut that Stefan Drosselmeyer, journeyman toymaker, has been tasked to find. Based on the original inspiration for the Nutcracker ballet, a fast-paced fantasy tale of danger, revenge, magical curses, talking mice, and erudite squirrels.


How to Share with a Bear
by Eric Pinder

On a cold day, a young boy makes a cozy fort to read in, but then a bear appears. The boy tries to entice the bear away with things he knows the bear likes, but nothing will discourage the bear from wanting to be with the boy, until the boy finds the perfect solution.

Library Closures

All Berkeley Public Library locations
are closed

Thursday
December 24
&
Friday
December 25

All locations close
6:00pm
on
Thursday
December 31
and are closed
Friday
January 1, 2016