Children's & Parents' Services Department eNews
Week of June 10
With the Children's and Parents' Services Department
Make sure to follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube for lots of story times, links, resources, and activities to share with your families.

Keep an eye on our library web program calendar for upcoming virtual programs. Click HERE to view.
Upcoming Programs
Family Game Night
Friday, July 10, 6:00-7:00 p.m.
For Families

Join Ms. Hillary on Zoom in this virtual program. We will be playing Drawasaurus (like Pictionary.) No registration necessary. Join us using Zoom by clicking HERE or use the Meeting ID: 897 7740 4027  
Kahoot: Around the World Books
Friday, July 10 to Sunday, July 12 at 9:00 p.m.
Test your knowledge and see how you rank. Fun for the whole family and will spark a discussion to come up with the answers.

Try it out HERE
Crafts-To-Go will be offered ongoing as part of the way that you can Summer With Us .

We will be celebrating World Emoji Day , next Friday, July 17. Pick-up a mixed variety pack kit to create your own one-of-a-kind emoji. Get creative! These kits will be available Monday, July 13 to Friday, July 17.

Crafts-To-Go can be picked up in the Children’s Dept. when you visit the library or requested by phone (631-399-1511 ext. 262) for curbside pick-up. WHILE SUPPLIES LAST!
Sports Book and Activity Bundle
Monday, July 13 to Saturday, July 18.

Register beginning Friday, July 10, by clicking the links above, or call 631-399-1511 ext. 262, or come visit us to reserve your book bundle. You will be notified when the book bundle is ready for curbside pickup. Limited supplies, WHILE SUPPLIES LAST!

Entering Kindergarten to Grade 1: Register HERE
Entering Grades 2-4: Register HERE
(Separate registrations for age groups.)
It's "Around the World" Week for Summer With Us !  

Our friends at Page Turner Adventures have shared some amazing videos including a fun, adventure filled short film and wonderfully creative crafts from other nations that you can easily make from home! 

Check out our Facebook page next week (week of July 13) for these postings!  
Crafts & Activities
SOMETHING YUMMY
The Healthy Kids Cookbook by Team Nutrition USDA. Available on the Libby app or Overdrive by clicking HERE

This week it’s dinner time!!! One of my favorite foods in the entire world is PASTA. This week we are going to make chicken alfredo! Alfredo sauce is one of my all-time favorite sauces to put over my pasta. Add some chicken and I will eat it all!! The best part is if you enjoy vegetables, you can add some broccoli or other vegetable! Now let’s dive in! --Miss Casey 
Chicken Alfredo with a Twist (Makes about 4-6 servings)
Total Time: 30 minutes

Ingredients:
  • 2 ½ Cups pasta
  • 2 Cans of cream of chicken soup
  • 1 1/3 Cup half and half
  • ¼ teaspoon pepper
  • 1/8 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1/3 cup grated parmesan cheese
  • 3 cups of cooked diced chicken 
 
Directions:
  1. First step is to cook your pasta.
  2. In a large pot mix soup, half and half, pepper, garlic powder, parmesan cheese, and chicken stirring over 165 degrees.
  3. Once combined and warm, add pasta and a vegetable you like and serve!
  4. ENJOY with those around you.

Are you missing our cooking classes with Chef Rob? Check out our Facebook page for his newest cooking demonstrations and recipes and you can bring him right into your own kitchen.

No registration necessary!
SOMETHING FOR PARENTS
HELP FOR PARENTS!

For the next three weeks, Monday through Friday, Camp Read Aloud will be releasing plans for each day with a book, craft and some physical activity to get your little one moving. Even though week one has already begun, you will still be able to view it today. You can access the Camp Read Aloud materials from our  Downloads page
This is an easy, stress-free way to provide fun activities for part of the summer with the bonus of it being completely FREE! Pick what you like, set your own schedule and keep the kiddos busy and safe
QUARENTUNES
What pet do you prefer? Cats or Dogs? Or both? Watch and sing along to this video by Best Coast from their children's album 'Best Kids' . An uplifting tune about friendship and pets.

Watch HERE
BABY CORNER
Ice Sensory Play
Hope you all enjoyed the Fourth of July holiday- it was a hot weekend and it got me to thinking about some more summer time activities you can do with your baby during the hot days of summer. This activity couldn’t be any easier or less expensive! All you will need is a bowl and some ice cubes!

**Just a reminder that you always want to be supervising and make sure no ice cubes get put into their mouths. Ice is a choking hazard**
If your baby or toddler is ready to go beyond hands, add in these fun tools:
  • wooden cooking spoons
  • measuring spoons
  • measuring cups
  • other bowls
  • baby-safe toys to seek and find
 
If you want to add some color and make it colored ice sensory play you just have to make the ice ahead of time.

Supplies:
  • Ice tray
  • Food coloring

Instructions:
Just add food coloring to the ice tray before filling with water to get the color evenly disbursed.
Have fun! --Miss Tara R.
Miss Kathy fans, make sure to watch our Facebook page Friday mornings for her weekly baby and toddler programs. Babies and Toddlers class starts at 10:00 a.m. and class for 2-3-year olds starts at 10:30 a.m. No registration necessary!
PRESCHOOL PLACE
Hi Parents, summer is here but you can keep the learning going in fun ways.

Help your preschooler understand beginning word sounds while building a silly ice cream cone! Using pieces of a small paper bag and bits of junk mail, or whatever else you’d like, help your child “build” an ice cream cone, cutting and gluing the parts down. Then brainstorm together over what words have the same beginning sound as your child’s name.
 
If he/she is not ready for this skill, offer choices and see if your child can distinguish the matching sound then. For example, “Which word starts with the same sound as Ben? Is it Blueberry or Apple?” Come up with as many as you’d like, and add to the ice cream cone if necessary. (Doesn’t hurt to finish the activity with some real ice cream, if that’s something you all enjoy!
--Ms. Debbie D.)
CATCH THE READING BUG
Ann M. Martin's beloved books get a modern update in the Netflix series that follows a group of girlfriends and their homegrown babysitting business. Season 1 is available now.
 
The original book series is available for download  HERE   or on the Libby app. Search ‘Baby-sitters Club’.
The new Baby-sitters Club graphic novel series is available at your library or downloadable HERE   
NATURE CORNER
Backyard Safari

Fun Fact: Did you know that the Virginia Opossum is the only marsupial living in the United States?

It’s Opossum Week in the Nature Corner. Check out our sixth in-depth Backyard Safari Spotter’s Guide on the MMS Community Library Facebook page to learn all about these shy, fuzzy marsupials. We’ll be giving you everything you want to know, including where to spot them, what to look for, and plenty more fun facts!
Garden Crafts

Is your driveway or patio looking a little bare? Do you need to scale up your home art projects? Why not make your own chalk paint and show the neighborhood your artistic side? All you need are some big sticks of colored chalk, zip lock bags, some water, and a hammer. Look at the tutorial at Simple Fun For Kids for more details. Take it a step further and post your colorful new paintings online to create an impromptu art show.
At Home Learning

There is no shortage of things to be concerned about these days, but it’s important that our children stay informed. If you want your kids to know more about the environment and how we can work to preserve the natural world, head on over to the National Environmental Education Foundation website, specifically their page dedicated to environmental education at home. They have links to free activities and projects, both from NEEF themselves and from various other science education-related organizations.
407 William Floyd Parkway, Shirley, NY 11967 |  (631) 399-1511