On Thursday, August 16, 2012 at 3:30 PM, Santa Teresa Library will present "Boatful of Pennies". This personal favorite program of mine consists of kids creating a "boat" out of aluminum foil, and placing it in a bowl of water. Then we place pennies in the boat, one by one, until the boat sinks. The kids like the suspense of counting the pennies as the boat fills up with coin. We also have a salt water bowl to teach the kids the difference in buoyancy. The program will be jolly good fun.

Like most parents, I have already signed up my children for the summer reading program.  My soon to be second grader wants to know "what else is going on at the library where you work, Mom."  While I jot down a list of fun things for her and her little sister to do at the Tully Library, I thought I'd share it with the rest of the parents in this community.

At the top of my list is the For Goodness Snakes program.  I hosted this program last year and everyone was absolutely fascinated with these amazing creatures.  It was wonderful to see both children and adults interacting with these fearsome looking, but quite gentle animals.  This is one program that Natalie will not miss this year!

There are four more items on that list of mine.  For my youngest daugher, I have the Music & Movement program to keep her entertained.  I also include Monsters of the World just in case Natalie likes to be scared a little.  For the family, the Kids in the Kitchen and the Spectacular Smoothie programs will be fun and educational at the same time.  Hopefully, everyone will learn to make healthier snacks after these workshops.

If you haven't signed up for tons of activities for your children already this summer, please check out these fun and free programs at your local library.

Children and their families are invited to visit the Edenvale Branch Library to learn how to create two musical instruments using tongue depressors and surgical gloves. This fun program will take place on Friday, March 11, 2011 at 4:00 pm in the Edenvale Branch Library Community Room.

San Jose Public Library has a variety of books about music. Here are two books that contain instructions on how to make musical instruments from variety of cultures.

Musical Instruments written by Meryl Doney

The Kids Can Press Jumbo Book of Music written by Deborah Dunleavy and illustrated by Louise Phillips

Happy creating and playing!