"Oohs, Aahs and Ha Ha Has"

An article on the front page Westville Weekly Times, Tuesday, June 16
by Mandi Goforth

Lessons, left brains and laughter were the products of this week’s fun at the John F Henderson Library this week. Native American Storyteller Will Hill performed on Monday for a special family program. Dressed in Native American costume, he told several stories that have been passed down from his grandparents. Mr Hill also began each story with beautiful flute music and a song. With his many voices and dramatic movements, he held the audience captive as he told diverting, moralistic stories featuring character favorites such as Rabbit, Skunk, and Buffalo.
Upside down artist Dana Helm came to show us how to turn off our right brains and enter into the realm of the left. She began her presentation with a musically timed upside down artwork that she later gifted to the library. She would periodically rotate her easel so the audience could see what her composition would look like once it was right-side up. Children and adults looked on in amazement as her sketch was completed. Then she turned the tables. “It’s your turn,” she said. “Everyone try. Even the adults!” Dana supplied a page of comic faces and instructed everyone to turn the paper upside down. “Turn off your right brain. The side that’s telling you that this is impossible, that you can’t do it. Yes, you can!” The amazing results to this difficult exercise are being displayed in the library’s hallway. Come and see your child’s left-brained masterpiece!
Harmless T Jester, a veteran entertainer who has toured all around the United States and even performed an opening act for the Smothers Brothers, left everyone with aching sides and laughter-induced tears. He told jokes and stories, did impersonations and funny faces. He juggled everything from little balls to sharp knives (they looked more like machetes). Three helpers tossed him bowling pins and he juggled those while perched on a board centered on a rolling cylinder. He then made everyone in the room raise their hands and swear a solemn oath that they would never, ever play with fire. Then he proceeded to juggle flaming torches and set his own bottom on fire. Almost. Well, it was close. In case anyone missed it, he did it again in slow motion. “I never laughed so hard in my whole life,” nine-year old Dusty said. “That was the funniest guy I’ve ever seen,” a mother added. Harmless ended his show by telling the kids of a prehistoric time before computers, DVDs and YouTube. Every trick he learned, he said, he learned by reading books. Needless to say, there was a stampede in the library later on as interested boys looked for books on rope tricks and juggling.
Next week promises to be just as fun when Robert Lewis, a Native American Storyteller comes Monday to enthrall us with more timeless lessons. Toddler Tuesdays are rolling around again with games, singing, reading and experiences guaranteed to expand the knowledge of your toddler (siblings too!). The much anticipated Critter Tales will be returning on Wednesday with live animals to touch and discover. Come a little early to get a good spot, as this presentation is always crowded. On Thursday, Kirsten Jackson, Queen of Theatre will be presenting another opportunity for your little Drama King or Queen to show their stuff. Acting, singing and dancing is all anticipated and encouraged. A teen drama workshop will also be held. Don’t miss this opportunity to let your inner diva loose!
The spectacular summer program is at the halfway point. It’s not too late to register or attend this inspiring and hilarious free entertainment. Don’t let this opportunity pass you by! Be creative at the John F Henderson Library. See you there!


Ian, Erin and friend Connor play during Toddler Tuesdays at the library

Wii Wii Wii, All the Way Home

No, that's not the name of the article, but I sure did have a fun time thinking of different ways to phrase it. hahaha. In the Wii Small hours?? hahahaha. Ok. I must be tired.
But here is the accompanying article, soon to be printed in the Westville Weekly Times:

"Wii Play, Do You?"

The John F. Henderson Library is once again showing its penchant for technology with the arrival of its newest addition, a Nintendo Wii (pronounced ‘wee’). For those of you who are intimidated by these new-fangled inventions, just think of it as a really safe way to do sports. Westville teens have already had a chance to break it in during their Wii Bowling Tournament. All you do is watch the tv, hold the controller (there are two buttons) and pretend like you’re really bowling. You don’t have to worry about dropping the ball and you don’t have to wear the swell shoes they make you wear at the bowling alley.
If bowling is not quite your cup of tea, there are plenty of other choices. The library has an entire sports collection including boxing, tennis, baseball and golf. Other games available are billiards, fishing, shooting range, tanks, table tennis and hockey. Where else can you simulate serious contact sports without sweating or a trip to the emergency room? The library will be offering these games as a service in the upcoming weeks, including the much coveted Wii Fit. Who knew you could exercise to a video game?
Everyone is invited to a special introduction to the Wii at the next Friends of the John F. Henderson Public Library meeting on Monday, August 25 at 5:00pm at the library, complete with snacks and endless opportunities for laughter.
If you’re too self conscious to play, at least come and watch everyone else do it. Or you can come try it while the kids are in school. It always helps when there’s not a ten year old playing after you who makes your highest score look like minimum wage. Bring your friends, your parents, even your grandparents. Come and see what all the excitement is about! Wii play, do YOU?

Reading Bug a Success

"Reading Bug A Success"
to appear in a future printing of the Westville Weekly Times

Did you “Catch the Reading Bug?” The numbers are in and 980 people attended the action packed programs at the John F. Henderson Library this summer. 369 of those were children who enthusiastically registered for the summer program and ‘Caught’ the Reading Bug. Every child who registered got a special bag filled with stickers, bookmarks, pencils, body art and a reading log to fill up. The first hundred children to register received a bug catcher, although we’re not sure how many were brave enough to catch bugs with it.
With entertainers from all over Oklahoma and Missouri, the diligence and hard work of our library and Friends of the Library certainly paid off. Every person who walked through the double doors of the library learned something new about the world around them...and about bugs. There were magic tricks, countless stories, real bugs to hold and examine, and mealworms to eat. Don’t worry; they tasted just like peanuts…sort of. There were puppets and ventriloquists, a book fair and a party, Critters to pet and a Big Magic Book. Vouchers for Tater Tots and ice cream from Sonic were handed out to eager participants. Children who were ambitious enough to read 55 books, completing their reading log, had their name entered for the end-of-program drawing for all sorts of prizes, including two brand new bicycles.
And that was just the children’s program.
Things really got cranked up during Teen Week in July. All of the teens received a backpack and bookmarks. There were movies and a pizza party and the debut of the library’s newest technology as the teens faced off in the library’s first Nintendo Wii Bowling Tournament. The winners of the bowling tournament received numerous prizes including autographed books by author Meg Cabot (“Princess Diaries”, anyone?).
The deadline for reading logs was the end of July. Children and parents waited in the library for the drawing. The last 2 minutes were so quiet, every tick of the clock echoed around the room. Little slips of paper were drawn and loud exclamations rang out as Sue Ann read the names. Morgan Alverson’s face beamed with shock and delight as her name was drawn for one of the grand prize bicycles. “Morgan, that’s you!” her mother, Jessica, exclaimed. All Morgan could do was smile. Lauren Cole’s name was chosen for the other grand prize bicycle. The girls got to choose their own bicycle from Wal-Mart in Stilwell. Other special prizes for readers whose names were in the bug catcher (some names were in there several times!) were t-shirts, bags, puzzles, bug lanterns and signed books.
How did this wonderful program come to be? The 2008 Summer Reading program would not be possible without the financial support of state and local sponsors. We would like to heartily thank the Institute for Museum and Library Services, the Oklahoma Department of Libraries, Sonic Corp., Eastern Oklahoma District Library, Adair County United Way, Friends of the John F. Henderson Public Library, Westville Sonic Drive-In and Stilwell Wal-Mart. We would also like to give a big round of applause and thanks to Adair County 4-H for volunteers (loved the face painting!), the Westville Town Council, the library patrons for all their support and the parents for bringing their children to the programs. If you and your children enjoyed catching the reading bug, let some of these fine people know. And if you’re sad you missed it, make sure you try those barbequed meal worms next time you’re at the Science Museum of Oklahoma. Tell them the John F. Henderson Library sent you.