Kids Events 
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Meet Simpkin, Barnaby, Gwenny, Charlie, Elizabeth and Honey! These cute critters recently visited the King Library Children's Room to star in their first video.
They meet the librarian, Ms. Violetta, and learn how kids can get a library card and use it responsibly. Ms. Violetta introduces them to the many services the library has to offer: like books and videos to check out, story times, events, homework help, and much more!
Stay away from that fish, Simpkin!
Enjoy a delightful puppet show based on multi-cultural folk legends, fables and stories on Wednesday, May 23, 2012 at 6:00 pm in the Edenvale Branch Library Community Room. Local artist Edgar Zancudo Sanchez will entertain the entire family with his interactive show. This event is made possible by the generosity of the Friends of the Edenvale Branch Library.
Summer Reading Celebration
You're Invited!
Sunday, June 3 from 1-4 p.m
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Library
The kickoff event invites people of all ages to participate in a scavenger hunt inside the King Library (Lower Level-4th Floor).
The scavenger hunt will be divided into three groups: families with small children, teens and adults. Each group will have their own set of clues and will have to search for hidden treasures inside the library to be eligible to win a prize.
Prizes include tickets to ...
- Great America
- Tech Museum
- Laser Quest
- Happy Hollow Park and Zoo
- Children’s Museum
- San Jose Giants
The kickoff event will also feature a community resource fair and plenty of live entertainment.
Downtown Parking:
Free parking in the street and the 4th and San Fernando Street Garage located across from the King Library
Summer Reading Celebration will begin June 1st. Sign-up online or at your local library. Read between June 1st-July 31st, and claim your prizes. Your email address is required to get the reminder for participation.
If you would like to receive academic assistance for your children, check out the Summer Tutoring programs below at Tully Branch Library:
Math and Reading Tutoring for K-5th. Pick up either English/Spanish or English/Vietnamese registration form at Information Desk and turn it in to the lead volunteer tutor, Ms. Huong Nguyen. The program takes place in Family Learning Center Classroom every Wednesday 3:30-5:00 PM.
A six-week Summer Reading Camp for ages 9-17 Monday-Thursday 11:30-2 PM, starting Thursday June 18, in our Family Learning Center. Sign up with Reading Ready Wizards organization on Thursdays from 2-4 PM.
For more information, contact Chieu Nguyen at chieu.nguyen@sjlibrary.org.
Storytimes are available to younger children at Tully Community Branch Library as scheduled below. Children can log the names of the books that they are read to during Summer Reading Celebration period for prize claiming purpose.
Inclusive Storytime with Stay and Play: 1st Tuesday 11:30-12:00 Noon in Storytime Area.
Bilingual Vietnamese/English Storytime: 2nd Thursday 10:30-11:00 AM in Storytime Area.
Preschool Storytime with Stay and Play: Every Thursday 10:30-11:30 AM except for 1st and 2nd Thursday.
Toddler Storytime with Stay and Play: Every Tuesday 11:30 AM-12:30 PM except for 1st Tuesday.
Stories with Ms. Kathy: Every Tuesday 6:30-7:30 PM in Storytime Area. The program is performed by our wonderful Storytelling volunteer, Kathy B.
If you haven’t been to our Tully Community Branch Library, come and check it out. Lots of fun programs and lots of materials to check out! DVDs nowadays can be checked out for three weeks. Valid library card and PIN are needed at checkout.
Check out these colorful story books. You don't have time to come to the library? No problem. You can read these story books with your kids Online.
Some titles are Ipad-compatable. To find these titles, go to "Story Books" and click on the GREEN button called "iPad Books" ... or use the TumbleSearch feature: type in "iPad" and hit GO.
You need to have a San Jose Public Library card to access these books. If you don't have a San Jose Public Library card, you can fill out the Online application today. Then stop by any San Jose Library within 30 days with photo identification and address confirmation to receive and activate your card. Electronic applications will be deleted after one month.
Hello, Holly! This gentle seven-year-old greyhound is quiet and sweet-natured. She loves people and other dogs. She is happy indoors, but she also likes to go camping. Holly is a brindle color, which means her fur is a kind of speckled blend of browns, reds, and black. She was never used for dog racing. Sherrlyn works for a greyhound rescue organization, and it was her job to find Holly a home. It turns out the perfect home was her own. Sherrlyn adopted Holly and they are both living happily ever after, right here in Willow Glen. Holly’s big brother, another greyhound named Gromit, lives with them. Holly loves people, so she and Sherrlyn are volunteers with Furry Friends pet-assisted therapy. Twice a month, Furry Friends come to visit the Library on Minnesota Avenue so kids can practice reading to the dogs.
If you want to meet Holly and her friends, come to visit Willow Glen Branch Library at 4pm on the second and fourth Thursdays of each month. For the next scheduled Furry Friends visit, as well as other events, see our calendar. See you at WG!
If you're ever looking for something to do with the family on a Saturday afternoon then the Children's Room of the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Library is the place to be. See what we have in store for the whole family in the month of May. Please note that our special Puppet Show is at 11:00AM.
May 5 @ 3:00PM: STUFF! An Arts and Craft Program for Children: Boys and girls will celebrate the month of May with 2 fun crafts; girls will make a beautiful hair garland and the boys will become kings for the day with their bejeweled crowns! Join us for this free, fun program.
May 12 @ 11:00AM: Puppet Show with Edgar "Zancudo" Sanchez: Let's celebrate Cinco de Mayo with a puppet show based on multi-cultural folk legends, fables and stories. Edgar Zancudo Sanchez, a local artist, will entertain the whole family with an interactive show. Don't miss this fun event.
May 19 @ 3:00PM: Games for Kids: Dream Big! This program is a preview of our Summer Reading Celebration which starts on June 1. Children will enjoy games and puzzles related to this summer's theme: Dream Big, Read! Learn more about our summer reading celebration and have fun too! Also if you would like a reminder about when our Summer Reading Celebration begins go to www.sjpl.org/summer.
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May 26 @ 3:00PM: ABC to Drawing: Did you know you could draw pictures using the letters of the alphabet and numbers? Our volunteer, Vidhi, will show us how it's done; children will be so proud of their masterpieces. Check out Vidhi's blogspot to get an idea of what she will be doing http://abc-to-drawing.blogspot.com/
It's a new month and that means new Friday Fun events in the Children's Room of the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Library. Our Friday Fun events always take place at 4:00PM, are free, are a great way to start off the weekend and of course are fun for children of all ages.
Here's what our May line-up looks like:
- May 4: Game On! Board Games: We will have a variety of board games and puzzles for children to enjoy.
- May 11: Mother's Day Craft for Kids: This craft is just in time for Mother's Day on Sunday, May 13. Make your mom feel like a "Queen for the Day," by creating a crown just for her. All materials will be supplied.
- May 18: Bella Umbrella Story and Craft: Did you ever want to meet a children's author? Well now you can! Author Marcus St. Marcus will be in the Children's Room to read and talk about his book Bella Umbrella. Children will then make their own umbrella craft. A fun program for children and adults!
- May 25: Make a Lei in May Craft: May 1 is Lei Day but anytime is great for making a Lei. Join us for this fun craft. All materials will be provided, just bring your imagination and creativity. For some added fun we'll dance the hula and pretend we're in Hawaii!
If you have a talent for creating comic/manga style illustrated short stories, you are invited to enter San José Public Library’s Graphic Novel Making Contest for all ages as part of our Summer Reading Celebration, 2012. This contest is sponsored by San José Public Library, Hijinx Comics, San José Museum of Art and TRY Japan Culture Group.
Here’s how to enter …
- Create your own comic book with a maximum length of 8 pages, including the cover page.
- Use letter-size paper (8.5 x 11) with black-and-white drawings and text on one side only
- Each submission must be the creative and original work of a single individual—the author/illustrator.
- Computer generated images are acceptable as long as they are your original work (no clip art)
- Consider submitting a photocopy that is an accurate reflection of the original (as submissions are non-returnable).
- San José Public Library reserves the right to reproduce your work. You can reuse all your work after the contest
- Be sure to print and complete the creative works release form. Include your Name, Age, Contact Information and Signature.
- Entries can be submitted to any San José Public Library location no later than 8p.m. on Tuesday, July 31, 2012. There is a limit of one entry per contestant.
Entries will be judged on content and illustrations by a panel of library staff and comic industry professionals. All cash prizes will be awarded as gift cards.
- Children (up to age 6): first place will receive Art Supplies
- Children (7-12): first place $40, second place $20
- Teens (ages 13-17): first place $100; second place $70; third place $50
- Adults (age 18 and above): first place $100; second place $70; third place $50
Winners will be announced and prizes awarded at a reception to be held at the Berryessa Branch Library on Saturday, August 25th at 2:00 p.m.in the Community Room. Check out the award winning entries from 2011 and 2010.
Learn how to make your own comic book, graphic novel or manga! Author Oliver Chin will be teaching this free workshop for teens at some San José Public Library branches.
San José Public Library staff members are ineligible to participate.
San José Public Library reserves the right to refuse submissions that are not appropriate for a general audience.
If you've every wondered what the name of a particular instrument is then we have the program just right for you and your children. Join us on Saturday, April 28 at 3:00PM at the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Library for the Instrument Petting Zoo! Nova Vista Symphony will demonstrate instruments of the ochestra and then allow children to touch and play many of them. Children will have fun hearing the story of these instruments and how they work together to produce a symphony.
After the program children may be interested in checking out books or DVDs where they can learn even more about musical instruments. You don't want to miss this fun event for children and their parents and remember it is FREE!
