Our annual Summer Reading Program will feature some wonderful sessions this year, with a combination of old favorites and new performers. Mark your calendars now for each Tuesday in June and the first four Tuesdays in July (June 4 through July 23) at 11 a.m., for our free and fun-filled celebrations.
June 4 - Back by popular demand to kick-off our line-up are the melodious Bandana Babes. These lovely ladies will lead us in a sing-along and show off their tuneful ukuleles and unique homemade instruments that include a washboard, a tub base and wooden spoons. You’ll be amazed at their clever lyrics, and you and your children will be inspired to join in and add your voices to their familiar songs.
Our kick-off event will be immediately followed by a special visit by Ollie the Otter, a life-size mascot who promotes booster seat safety and seatbelt use throughout the state of Tennessee. Ollie has been encouraging child passenger safety for 13 years, and audiences always find his presentations great fun, as well as instructive. The program is sponsored by the Tennessee Highway Safety Office and the Tennessee Road Builders Association and is coordinated statewide by Tennessee Tech University in Cookeville.
June 11 - The GPS Terpsichord Dancers, under the direction of teacher and dancer Laurel Zahrobsky, will instruct the children in dance and movement. Children are encouraged to come in tutus (or comfortable) attire and plan to be energized and engaged by the GPS dancers as they learn how to express themselves and their emotions by moving with the flow.
June 18 - Bill Haley from the Tennessee Aquarium will present “Insects Around Us.” This program will feature all sorts of creepy crawlies that children can find in their own yards. Kids will learn all about these critters and how to observe them, as well as see some live examples. The program also becomes interactive when some lucky participants get to dress up as their favorite bugs!
June 25 - Noah’s Little Ark Petting Zoo and Pony Rides will set up again in our yard with an amazing menagerie of animals. Children can wander among (or just watch) the friendly chickens, ducks, sheep, pigs, goats, and maybe a lama or alpaca. Also two ponies that children may ride up and down our back field will be nibbling our grass. Note that we are adding another pony this year, so the lines won’t be as long! This is one of our most well-attended events, so come early.
July 2 - The Signal Mountain Playhouse, our next-door neighbor, will again welcome children and their parents to a much-anticipated preview of their spectacular summer production, “Annie.” We will walk down the path from the Library to the Playhouse to enjoy a short performance by the talented players. Then the children will take a backstage tour of the facility, followed by some refreshments.
July 9 - Singer/songwriter Jennifer Daniels makes her first visit to the Signal Mountain Library this year. We are so excited that she can make time in her very busy schedule to entertain us with her beautiful music! Jennifer and her husband, Jeff Neal, have been making music together for 20 years, touring all over the country and abroad. When the couple recently had twins, they began to write music for children and now do shows for young people in classrooms and libraries. CDs of their music will be available for purchase after the program. Check Jennifer out at jenniferdaniels.com.
July 16 - Bill Haley from the Tennessee Aquarium makes a command appearance here with another fun program, “Ocean Adaptations.” This event focuses on the animals that live in the ocean and how they adapt to survive in often unfriendly habitats. Children can meet and touch several ocean animals, such as a sea star, crab and marine snail. Budding oceanographers will be enchanted!
July 23 - We will wind up our Summer Reading adventures with Mike Edwards, a magician and balloon artist. Mike appears locally, entertaining children and adults with his super balloon animals and his magic. If you attended the 2018 Fourth of July celebration at Althaus Park, you will remember the huge crowd gathered around him while he fashioned some amazing balloon creatures. This is his first time at the Signal Mountain Library, so please come and help us make him welcome!
Registration for the Children’s Summer Reading Program will begin after the 11 a.m. Toddler Storytime on May 28. All events are appropriate for children through rising fifth graders. Children must be accompanied by adults. For more information, call the Library at (423) 886-7323.
June 4 - Back by popular demand to kick-off our line-up are the melodious Bandana Babes. These lovely ladies will lead us in a sing-along and show off their tuneful ukuleles and unique homemade instruments that include a washboard, a tub base and wooden spoons. You’ll be amazed at their clever lyrics, and you and your children will be inspired to join in and add your voices to their familiar songs.
Our kick-off event will be immediately followed by a special visit by Ollie the Otter, a life-size mascot who promotes booster seat safety and seatbelt use throughout the state of Tennessee. Ollie has been encouraging child passenger safety for 13 years, and audiences always find his presentations great fun, as well as instructive. The program is sponsored by the Tennessee Highway Safety Office and the Tennessee Road Builders Association and is coordinated statewide by Tennessee Tech University in Cookeville.
June 11 - The GPS Terpsichord Dancers, under the direction of teacher and dancer Laurel Zahrobsky, will instruct the children in dance and movement. Children are encouraged to come in tutus (or comfortable) attire and plan to be energized and engaged by the GPS dancers as they learn how to express themselves and their emotions by moving with the flow.
June 18 - Bill Haley from the Tennessee Aquarium will present “Insects Around Us.” This program will feature all sorts of creepy crawlies that children can find in their own yards. Kids will learn all about these critters and how to observe them, as well as see some live examples. The program also becomes interactive when some lucky participants get to dress up as their favorite bugs!
June 25 - Noah’s Little Ark Petting Zoo and Pony Rides will set up again in our yard with an amazing menagerie of animals. Children can wander among (or just watch) the friendly chickens, ducks, sheep, pigs, goats, and maybe a lama or alpaca. Also two ponies that children may ride up and down our back field will be nibbling our grass. Note that we are adding another pony this year, so the lines won’t be as long! This is one of our most well-attended events, so come early.
July 2 - The Signal Mountain Playhouse, our next-door neighbor, will again welcome children and their parents to a much-anticipated preview of their spectacular summer production, “Annie.” We will walk down the path from the Library to the Playhouse to enjoy a short performance by the talented players. Then the children will take a backstage tour of the facility, followed by some refreshments.
July 9 - Singer/songwriter Jennifer Daniels makes her first visit to the Signal Mountain Library this year. We are so excited that she can make time in her very busy schedule to entertain us with her beautiful music! Jennifer and her husband, Jeff Neal, have been making music together for 20 years, touring all over the country and abroad. When the couple recently had twins, they began to write music for children and now do shows for young people in classrooms and libraries. CDs of their music will be available for purchase after the program. Check Jennifer out at jenniferdaniels.com.
July 16 - Bill Haley from the Tennessee Aquarium makes a command appearance here with another fun program, “Ocean Adaptations.” This event focuses on the animals that live in the ocean and how they adapt to survive in often unfriendly habitats. Children can meet and touch several ocean animals, such as a sea star, crab and marine snail. Budding oceanographers will be enchanted!
July 23 - We will wind up our Summer Reading adventures with Mike Edwards, a magician and balloon artist. Mike appears locally, entertaining children and adults with his super balloon animals and his magic. If you attended the 2018 Fourth of July celebration at Althaus Park, you will remember the huge crowd gathered around him while he fashioned some amazing balloon creatures. This is his first time at the Signal Mountain Library, so please come and help us make him welcome!
Registration for the Children’s Summer Reading Program will begin after the 11 a.m. Toddler Storytime on May 28. All events are appropriate for children through rising fifth graders. Children must be accompanied by adults. For more information, call the Library at (423) 886-7323.