I know very well the sentimental attachment some kids (and some adults too!) have to their favorite outfit… and how distressing it can be when that piece of clothing becomes too small or too shabby to wear any longer. In the new picture book I had a favorite dress by Boni Ashburn, it is Mama’s creativity and talent for sewing that comes to the rescue when a little girl’s favorite pink dress first gets too small to wear and thus becomes a shirt. The shirt then goes on to become a tank top, which then turns into a skirt, and then a scarf, and then a pair of socks, and finally a hair bow. But when even the hair bow is reduced to a few scraps, this time it is the girl herself who knows what to make out of the scraps… a picture of herself wearing all of the different forms of her dress. Readers who are familiar with the 2000 Caldecott Medal winner Joseph had a Little Overcoat by Simms Taback will recognize the repurposing theme of this updated version. This new tale also cleverly weaves in the concepts of the days of the week and the change of the seasons.

The Edenvale Branch Library will host a monthly Origami Club on Friday February 4 at 4:00 PM. Our wonderful volunteer chooses new origami designs each month to teach to children, teens and adults. Everyone is welcome!

On Saturday, February 5, at 1:00 PM, Arclight Repertory Outreach will present a Puppetry Workshop especially for children ages 6 and up at Edenvale Branch Library. Participants will create their own unique puppets and learn how to give them life and character through voice and movement. Younger children are also welcome to attend this workshop and create puppets with help of their parents/caregivers.

If you can’t make it to either of these programs, here are some fun books you can check out:

Easy Origami

Not-quite-so-easy Origami

Sort-of-difficult Origami

Difficult Origami

Origami for Fun! (also available in eBook format)

How to Make Puppets with Children

Finger Folk

The San José Public Library has several other books about origami and puppet making, and puppet plays.

On January 22, 2011 at 3:00PM a new program is coming to the Children's Room of the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Library called "STUFF"! "STUFF" is a program designed for children of all ages. It's about the stuff we keep around and all the different "Stuff" we can create from it. We'll be using found materials in creative, and most of all fun ways. Some projects will include making murals for decorating the Children's Room, creating masks to celebrate Mardi Gras and much much more!