Willow Glen Library is offering a variety of fun events for kids and families as part of our Summer Reading Celebration, "One World, Many Stories." Our special events are scheduled for Saturday afternoons at 2 p.m. Already we've enjoyed the magic and puppetry of Tony Borders and Latin American music from Colibri, shown in the video clip. If you missed these, don't despair; there are several more exciting events coming up! Mark your calendars for:

World Craft Day, Saturday July 2 at 2 p.m. Make a paper flower, an origami rabbit, a Chinese fan, and other crafts from around the world!

Monsters of the World craft and story, Saturday, July 9, at 2 p.m. Hear a folktale, make a paper collage monster, and learn how monsters can be found in folktales throughout the world.

Puppet Show, Saturday, July 16, at 2 p.m. Enjoy Caterpillar Puppets' new bilingual show, "Aztec Pinocchio."

Family Concert with Peter Apel, Saturday, July 23, at 2 p.m.  Singer-songwriter Peter Apel will delight even the youngest children with his quirky original songs and magic tricks.

All events are free. See you there!

As both May and the end of the school year draw to a close, hopefully many of you are starting to think about spending the summer at a San Jose library near you. We are celebrating our annual Summer Reading Celebration at all SJPL locations with many events and reading incentives for kids, teens, and adults. Our theme this year is travel and world culture, and for the kids, we are exploring "One World, Many Stories", so why not join us at West Valley Branch Library for a unique display of a fascinating culture?

All ages are invited to join us on June 18 from 1-2pm as we kick off the start of the Summer Reading Celebration in the West Valley Library Community Room with Celtic Day, an exciting and free celebration of Celtic music, dance, food, and culture. The Friends of the West Valley Libraryand the South Bay Scottish Societyhave teamed up to offer a fantastic lineup of performers, including young dancers from the San Jose School of Highland Dancing, folk singer and guitarist James McWhirter, Scottish pipers and drummers, and more! You will also be able to sample an authentic Scottish dish. Bring the family!

In the meantime, you can practice your Scottish greetings RampantScotland.com if you'd like: May the best ye hae ivver seen be the warst ye'll ivver see.

Thank you to the Santa Teresa High School Band! Meddle With Music: A Teen Library Invasion on Saturday, May 14 was a hit! We saw over 200 people watching and listening to the Santa Teresa High School Jazz Bands, Jazz Combos, Saxophone Ensemble and Ukulele Ensemble.

We were also happy to see so many teens in the Santa Teresa Branch Library. There were teens everywhere: checking out books; getting library cards; playing music; encouraging their friends in the band and in the children's area reminiscing over favorite picture books from childhood. We would love to have any or all of the band members back to play again in the Library.

The Library received many positive comments on the program from both staff and customers. Thank you Santa Teresa High School students and band instructors for making this such a special day at the Library!

San Jose Public Library services discussed in-between bands included:

• Tutor.com: Free, online tutoring and homework help
• Tuition Funding Sources: Scholarship database
• Learning Express: SAT (and other tests) preparation database
• teensReach: Year round volunteer opportunity
• Summer Reading Celebration Volunteers: Summer volunteer opportunity

The theme of the 2011 Summer Reading Celebration is One World, Many Stories! Starting June 18th, your local San José Public Library location will be having special events to celebrate.

Childhood is a great time to start learning a second language (or continue exposure to a first language). In the month of June, the San Jose Public Library will offer several performances that give you the opportunity to be entertained, while immersing your child& in Spanish.

Kids Concert:

Mariela Herrera

This  bilingual (Spanish / English) show will include songs, stories, music and fun for children age 1-6. 

Mariela will perform at the Cambrian Branch Library on Saturday June 18, 2011 at 2:00pm and at the Biblioteca Latinoamericana Branch Library on Friday July 1, 2011 at 3:00pm.

Puppet Show:

Aztec Pinocchio with Caterpillar puppets

This show tells the story of Maldo the Magician and how he brings to life his little marionette boy, using a butterfly for a heart.

This bilingual performance will take place at:

Hillview Branch Library on Wednesday June 22, 2011 at 6:30pm,

Biblioteca Latinoamericana Branch Library on Thursday June 23, 2011 at 3:00pm,

Dr. Cruz-Alum Rock Branch Library on Saturday June 25, 2011 at 2:00pm,

Family Concert:

Colibrí

Colibrí, Spanish for hummingbird, is a duo that presents lively, interactive musical journeys through Latin America. Using an exciting array of traditional folk instruments, Lichi Fuentes and Alisa Peres create a bridge linking children in the U.S. with those in the Spanish-speaking world.

You can enjoy the music of Colibrí at:

Willow Glen Branch Library on Saturday, June 25, 2011 at 2:00pm

Almaden Branch Library on Tuesday, June 21, 2011 at 3:00pm

Dr. Cruz-Alum Rock Branch Library on Saturday, June 18, 2011 at 2:00pm

The San José Public Library also offers a variety of Spanish/English bilingual books for children and parents to enjoy. Here are a few favorites:

• My Colors, My World = Mis Colores, Mi Mundo by Maya Christina Gonzalez
• Just a Minute by Yuyi Morales
• Uno, Dos, Tres; One, Two, Three by Pat Mora.

On Saturday May 21 from 2:00-3:00 pm Opera San Jose will be presenting their One-Act Touring performance of Hansel and Gretel at Vineland Branch Library. This condensed version of Engelbert Humperdinck's classic opera will feature fully costumed singers with live piano accompaniment.  Children will get a positive experience of an art form that may be new to them.  The production lasts approximately 45 minutes, including 10 minutes for Q&A.