Omaha Gives 2015: Thank You!!

The Bellevue Library and Bellevue Library Foundation extend their gratitude to all who contributed to the Foundation during the OmahaGives24 nonprofit fund-raising event and the "I Love My Library" raffle (winners in the raffle were notified as of June 1). Our thanks to: Antiques on Franklin; Bedouin Star Dance Company; the Bellevue East High School AFJROTC members and Lt. Donna Brown; Bob's Gym; Charkay Salon; Chick-fil-A; Dairy Queen; Drizzles Bakery; Erwin's Jewelers; the Fab 3 band members; Famous Dave's Barbeque; Fin-Tastic Fish; Hairmasters; Hiland Dairy; JoAnn's Fabrics & Crafts; Mama Kelly's; Mangelsen's; Marathon Ventures; Mary Peterson (and Paws dog Cooper); Merchandise It Up; Mi Casa Mexican Restaurant; Nebraska Parrot Rescue; No Body's Perfect; Omaha Bee Club; Phyllis Bonds (and Paws dog Brody);  Rachel Bielstein; Runza (Galvin Road); Skate City; Victoria Edwards, Pampered Chef consultant; Village Inn; and Westlake Ace Hardware. Here is a short video of the Library expressing our "thanks" for all our business and community support.

The Soupremes Seek to Raise Funds for the Children's Department

Have you heard the BIG ANNOUNCEMENT?

Everyone's favorite pop group, The Soupremes, have come out of retirement for a special limited engagement!  Prior to providing the halftime entertainment during this year's Super Bowl, the ladies will be stopping in Bellevue for this weekend's Souper Sunday event!  They will be entering their famous Chicken Enchilada Soup in the competition which will benefit Bellevue's Police and Fire Departments.  Come out to enjoy some delicious soups, chat with friends, neighbors, and City officials, enter your bids in the Silent Auction, vote for your favorite soup (perhaps the Chicken Enchilada Soup???) and get your picture taken with The Supremes!  The ladies have pledged any prize money they receive to the Bellevue Library Foundation for use in purchasing books and other materials for the Children's Department!   

Click here for all the details!

Momaha Storytime

Presented at Bellevue Public Library on Thursday, February 6, 2014, in partnership with Momaha, The Omaha World-Herald's online community for moms.

Books:

The Princess and the Packet of Frozen Peas by Tony Wilson, illustrated by Sue deGennaro

Falling For Rapunzel by Leah Wilcox, illustrated by Lydia Monks



The Princess and the Pea written and illustrated by Rachel Isadora

Snow White: A Three-Dimensional Fairy-Tale Theater by Jane Ray

Our Momaha Storytime began with a short introduction to the works of Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm who published their first book of fairy tales in 1812.  While everyone has heard of such tales as Hansel and Gretel, Cinderella, Rumpelstiltskin and Rapunzel, few in our audience were familiar with some of their more obscure tales such as Donkey Cabbages, The Ear of Corn, The Three Army Surgeons, and The Nightingale and the Slow Worm.  I read two fractured fairy tales that were based on stories by the Grimms brothers : "The Princess and the Packet of Frozen Peas" and "Falling for Rapunzel".  I also briefly showed some other examples of authors' treatment of Grimms tales: The Princess and the Pea" and "Snow White: A Three-Dimensional Fairy-Tale Theater.  Then I introduced J.D. Cottrell, a Junior at Bellevue West High School, who wrote a short story in German, as an assignment for Frau Amanda Messerschmitt's German language class.  He read his story in German, translating each page into English for those of us who do not speak fluent German!  I thank J.D. for visiting the library and sharing his story with us!

"Rapunzel! Rapunzel! Throw down your hair!  She thought he said..."

(You'll have to read the book to find out what she thought he said!)

Grimm's Fairy Tale stories available for checkout.

"On top of the pea, the prince piled twenty mattresses.  
And on top of that, he piled 20 down comforters!"

Now it's time for everyone to say, "Hi" to J.D. Cottrell.

J.D. read his original story, entitled Der Lama, Der Uhu, und Die Ente.

At the end of Storytime we offered a Rapunzel-themed craft 

to make at the library or take home to make later.

Our guests also enjoyed cookies and milk provided by The Cake Specialist, which has sponsored the first six months of our Momaha Storytimes.  I'd like to thank Jayme and Ryan at The Cake Specialist for their generous support of Bellevue Public Library's newest collaborative program.

J.D. made himself available after Storytime to answer questions 

and let our guests get a close-up look at his story.

Our next Momaha-Bellevue Storytime will be held on Thursday, March 7th at 7 PM, when our guest will be local author Bruce Arant.  I hope to see you there!

  ~Mrs. B.

December's Momaha-Bellevue Story Time!

Presented at Bellevue Public Library on Thursday, December 5, 2013, in partnership with Momaha, the Omaha World-Herald's online community for moms.

 

As children arrived for Story Time they joined in a sing-along!  We all grabbed some jingle bells and sang... "Jingle Bells"!  Some of us got in the spirit by putting a red dot on our nose as we sang "The Reindeer Pokie"!

Since I know you'll ALL want to sing this at home, here are the words:

The Reindeer Pokie
(tune: "The Holie Pokie")

You put your antlers in,
You put your antlers out.
You put your antlers in
And you shake them all about.

You do the reindeer pokie
And you turn yourself around.
That's what it's all about!

You put your hooves in...
You put your fluffy tail in...
You put your red nose in...
You put your reindeer self in...


We called another audible this month and changed our Storytime theme.  We were very pleased to welcome Kathryn Stahl, an actress and teacher at The Rose Theater!
 

Our audience was a little smaller than usual, probably because of the low temps and wind chill.  Brrrrrrrr!


Here are the 3 wonderful stories Kathryn shared with us:

My Red Balloon by Eve Bunting, illustrated by Kay Life

 

Henry the Christmas Cat by Mary Calhoun, illustrated by Erick Ingraham

~ and ~





Into The Forest written and illustrated by Anthony Browne

 



Kathryn brought along 2 sets of 2 tickets to the Rose Theater's current production of "Narnia: The Musical", which were given as door prizes.  Our congratulations to the families who won the tickets!  Perhaps after you attend the show you can leave a review on this blog post!!

As children were getting ready to go back out into our frigid Nebraska evening they each picked an item from our door prize table:

We ended our evening with milk and 3 varieties of delicious cookies, provided by The Cake Specialist.  We thank Jayme and Ryan from The Cake Specialist for their generous support!

Here are a few photos and a video clip from the event:

Our next Momaha-Bellevue Storytime will be held on Thursday, January 3rd at 7 PM. 

 

I hope to see you there!

 

  ~Mrs. B.

Ticket Blitz!

Here is your chance to win 2 tickets to The Rose Theater's current production of Knufflebunny!

This play is an adaptation of the popular book by Mo Willems.  The tickets are valid for one of the following shows:

Friday, September 13^th at 7pm

Saturday, September 14^th at 2pm and 5pm

Friday, September 20^th at 7pm

Saturday, September 21^st at 2pm and 5pm
Sunday, September 22^nd at 2pm.

 

Two winners of 2 tickets will be drawn this Thursday, Sept. 12.  Winners will be announced on Facebook and on my blog at 9:00AM on Thurs.

 

To be entered in the drawing:

Find the post on my blog in which I mention this guy by name:
                                                                         

Leave a comment at the end of that post, including your first and last name, and you will be entered!

You can also get a second chance at the drawing by visiting the library's Facebook page and leaving a comment under the picture of Knufflebunny! 

Please: 1 entry/site/household.

Good luck!!

  ~ Mrs. B.

 

Momaha Storytime featuring ... Knuffle Bunny!

Presented by Kelsey Celek at The Bookworm Bookstore on Friday, August 30, 2013.

Books:

Knuffle Bunny by Mo Willems

 

 

 
Oh So Tiny Bunny by David Kirk

 

 Don't Let the Pigeon Stay Up Late! by Mo Willems

These stories were read by Kelsey Celek, who works as an actress and puppeteer for The Rose Theater.  Here are some photos and videos from her storytime:

Kelsey reading Knuffle Bunny

Reading Oh So Tiny Bunny

Introducing...Pigeon!

I had a fun time meeting Kelsey and watching her as she shared stories with the audience.  Isn't she a great reader?!  If you haven't read these stories before I encourage you to share them with your family.  If you've already read them...why not read them again?!

  ~ Mrs. B.

Saturday Storytime at the Bookworm Bookstore!

This morning I attended Saturday Story Time - and had an awesome time!  The Bookworm Bookstore hosts these weekly events presented by Scott Kurz and Patty Driscoll of the Brigit Saint Brigit Theater Company.  Scott and Patty took turns reading picture books related to the theme of "Crazy Pets".  Here are the stories they read:

Oliver and His Alligator by Paul Schmid

Splat the Cat by Rob Scotton

If All the Animals Came Inside by Eric Pinder, illustrated by Marc Brown

Skippyjon Jones by Judy Schachner

Those Darn Squirrels and the Cat Next Door by Adam Rubin, illustrated by Daniel Salmieri

Fritz and the Beautiful Horses by Jan Brett

Memoirs of a Hamster by Devin Scillian, illustrated by Tim Bowers

Here are some photos and video clips of Scott and Patty reading stories:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



 

Scott's just being modest... I give this program TWO thumbs up!  I hope you and your wee ones will take advantage of this great, FREE program offered by The Bookworm and Brigit Saint Brigit Theater Company!
Perhaps I'll see you there some Saturday morning!

   ~ Mrs. B.