Sixty children attended the two story times at the Van Alstyne Public Library last week.  Children’s Assistant Barbara Washington read “When the Rooster Crowed.” 

Children made stick puppets of roosters, using them to act out the story, and did the chicken dance. 

Mrs. Washington makes every story time a special time.  

Children of Van Alstyne have learned to expect creative activities and stories from her when they visit the library.  Thanks, Barbara, for your wonderful work with the children and their parents.

The library staff thanks Michelle Tarlton and Sharon Hayes for presenting fun activities with the story “Chicka Chicka Boom Boom”by Bill Martin this week.  “Over in the Meadow” will be the final story time of the spring series on May 26 and 27.

Summer children’s activities will kick off at 2:00 on Thursday, June 11, with a visit from Jeff Lee, Magician and Comedian, who delighted children last summer.  Get ready for an exciting summer of reading, with a visit from the Ringling Brothers Clown on Friday June 26 at 11:00 a.m.  The library will be open on that Friday just for the performance. 

Blanca Scroggins will provide a bilingual story time every Tuesday in June at 11:15, beginning on June 2.  We are looking forward to some exciting Spanish language learning experiences.  She recently presented a program for Cinco de Mayo at the library. Bethany Lewis has agreed to lead a book discussion group for middle school readers in June.  The reading group will meet on Tuesday mornings at 10:15.. 

Instead of having preschool story time on Tuesdays and Wednesdays, there will be two preschool story times on Wednesday, one at 10:15 and one at 11:15.  There will be a limit of 45 parents and children in the first session.  When that session is filled, others will be able to attend the second session.  If you want to attend the first session, come early and register early.  For details about the Summer Reading Program, pick up a calendar at the library.  Calendars should be ready by June 1. 

Thursday @ the Movies begins at 1:30 p.m. at the Van Alstyne Library on May 21.  The featured movie is made from the book “Secret Life of Bees” by Sue Kidd Monk.  Bring your own coke or tea and the library will provide the popcorn. 

The library needs volunteers to help with senior programming and with the local history collection.  We need a senior library committee to brainstorm some exciting programs for the older set.  Call Juanita Hazelton at 903-482-5991 if you’d like to be part of this planning committee. 

We also need a volunteer to work closely with local history Library Assistant Lillie Monk to improve our history files.  Computer experience is helpful because we’d like to provide some of Van Alstyne’s history on our library web page.