The Van Alstyne Public Library was invaded by would be actors and their paparazzi on Tuesday and Wednesday last week.  During story time, children portrayed Papa Bear, Mama Bear, Wee Little Bear, and Goldilocks, complete with wigs and bear ears.  The script was a short version of a rhythmic reader’s theater play for children, including a chorus decked out in sunglasses. 

The kids also went on a “Bear Hunt” with both a book and CD version to act out.  Everyone got in the act, shy ones as well as drama kings and queens.  The special bear treat was “ants on a log”, pirouette cookies spread with honey and peanut butter and sprinkled with “ants” - raisins.

Betty Evans arrived Thursday afternoon to teach children about beading.  She created special hammered wire sun catchers which children decorated by stringing colorful beads on copper wire.

Stories to accompany the craft were “Earrings” by Judith Viorst and “Iris and Walter Lost and Found.” 

Betty’s new shop Bead Fever opens June 20.  It is located at 111 E. Jefferson Street. Betty’s granddaughter Jessica Galloway, who volunteers at the library, will provide classes and supplies for scrap bookers at her mother’s shop.

Chess, Anyone? will continue each Tuesday at 2:00 – all ages invited. Be sure to pick up a calendar of events from the circulation desk so you won’t miss a single event at the library this summer.  Read and earn lots of prizes and free Ringling Brothers Circus tickets.  This event ends July 1 and a new reading program will begin featuring books as prizes. 

Members of the Teen Council have been reading lots of books this summer.  Here are a couple of reviews they’ve written.  Ellen Thompson recommends Skin by Andrea Vrettos for older teens. “This is a story of an anorexic chick told through her brother’s perspective.  It is a great book that makes you think.”  Ellen says the unique thing about this book is the different perspectives used.

Steven Thompson reviewed An Abundance of Katherines by John Green. “This romantic comedy takes place where a prodigy of youth sets out for a long [road trip] after he just got dumped by Katherine number 19.  Yes, Colin Singleton only picks Katherines.  Colon hopes to make a theorem of predictability of Katherines.  Oh, and he’s an anagramming machine.”  Steven says he would recommend the book to his friend Katherine and to his sister, although it is “not really the type of book I would read.”

Book Reviewer Rosemary Rumbley entertained more than fifty guests at the Book Review scheduled by the Friends of the Library on Saturday at the Grayson County Community College South Campus.  Rosemary is always a delight to hear, and her review of Eric Weiner’s The Geography of Bliss evoked a lot of laughter.  Guests were treated to tea and pineapple pie after the book review.

The Friends invite you to attend their community breakfast on Friday, July 4, from 7-10 am in the Community Center.  The breakfast has been changed from Saturday to Friday this one time only, because of the Independence Day activities in Van Alstyne on Friday. 

Come for breakfast and stay for a full slate of excitement all around town.