Still Time for T-shirts

Newport Library's summer reading shows in Literacy Park are over for another year, but young readers still have time to finish their reading goals and collect a yellow "One World, Many Stories" t-shirt.

If you have young readers at your house who're working on their reading goals, please remind them that they have until August 31st to finish and collect their reward.

Puppet Show in Literacy Park This Wednesday

Magic, music, dancing, laughter and stories have filled Literacy Park this summer. This week is the last show for our "One World, Many Stories" summer reading program and we're going to finish with puppets, just like we have for the past four years. Jason Ropp and his cast of characters from Dragon Theater Puppets will bring their show to Newport, Wednesday at 1:00.

This year’s show, "Rapunzel Redeems Rumpelstiltskin," is Dragon Theater Puppets original production written specifically for the library theme of “One World, Many Stories.”

Wednesday, August 3, Dragon Puppet Theater will be at Waldport Public Library (10 a.m.), Newport Public Library (1 p.m.), and Driftwood Public Library in Lincoln City (6:30 p.m.). On Thursday, August 4, they will be at Toledo Public Library (11 a.m.) and Siletz Public Library (1 p.m.).

The puppet shows are funded by Ready to Read grants from the Oregon State Library as well as support from Ross and Janis Neigebauer and Jeanette Hofer. Lodging is provided by La Quinta Inn and Suites of Newport and D’Sands Motel in Lincoln City.

Children attending the puppet show are urged to wear their yellow summer reading shirts for a photo session. I'll certainly be wearing mine!

Margaret Read MacDonald Tells Tales at Newport Public Library

One of my favorite storytellers and children's authors, Margaret Read MacDonald, visits our library this Wednesday, July 27, at 1:00 pm in Literacy Park. Part of the "One World, Many Stories" summer reading program, her show perfectly fits the theme. She travels all over the world to places like Mahasarakham, Kota Kinabalu, and Rio telling stories and collecting new ones which she then tells or turns into a picture book. All children and families are invited to come and listen to her tales.

MacDonald is a folklorist, storyteller, retired children's librarian, and the author of more than 55 books on folklore and storytelling. Most of her books are available from any Lincoln County library. Watch her tell a tandem tale with Thai storyteller Dr. Wajuppa Tossa on YouTube.

MRM, as she’s known in the storytelling world, has been a mentor to storytellers around the world. I’m included in that group. In fact, some of the most popular children's tales I tell have come from her. People attending her programs this week may well hear some of their favorite stories. They can also listen to her tale of A Fat Cat online.

MacDonald’s Lincoln County programs are funded by Ready to Read grants from the Oregon State Library and the Lincoln County Library District.

Chayag Plays Literacy Park

If you enjoy the beautiful sounds of the Andes Mountains, join us in Literacy Park this Wednesday for Chayag's show. Part of our "One World, Many Stories" summer reading program, the 1 p.m. show is open to everyone.

Alex Lluminquinga, a Chayag member for many years, promises an exciting program of Latin American folkloric music from the Andes Mountains, using a wide variety of authentic instruments, including the Charango (ten string lute), el Bombo (Andean drum), Quena (native South American flute), and panpipes. Chayag’s musicians bring the sounds of Latin America to life. Through folkloric music, they hope to inspire interest in those beyond our borders and provide audiences with new insights on Latin American culture. Appropriate for audiences of all ages, this performance is energetic, entertaining, enlightening, and very hands-on!

Wednesday, July 20, Chayaq will be at Waldport Public Library (10 a.m.), Newport Public Library (1 p.m.), and Driftwood Public Library in Lincoln City (6:30 p.m.). On Thursday, July 21, they will be at Toledo Public Library (11 a.m.) and Siletz Public Library (1 p.m.).

Chayag’s shows are funded by Ready to Read grants from the Oregon State Library and the Lincoln County Library District as well as funds from the Lincoln County Library District Board of Directors.

Drumming in Literacy Park this Wednesday!

Our summer reading program this week features the Oceana Family Literacy Bucket Drummers. This Lincoln City group of children and adults will be making music and teaching the audience how to drum on buckets. The show is at 1:00 p.m. on Wednesday, July 13.

If you’re planning to come you can either bring your own bucket (or drum) or use one of the empty ice cream, yogurt or coffee ‘buckets’ we’ve collected at the library. Thanks to Sharon Gordon of Flashbacks Diner in South Beach, we should have lots of ice cream buckets.

Oceana Family Literacy (OFL) in Lincoln City is a place that provides youth and adult students with learning opportunities and invites volunteers to be of service. They are an all volunteer community-based organization building community through literacy....including drumming! They share a commitment of providing education for all.

Vicki Menses, OFL program coordinator, tells us, “Our learners are native and non-native speakers of English. The learning center is located at 1426 NW 15th in Lincoln City. The learning environment is welcoming and encourages learning through the exchange of cultures and languages while allowing families to learn together. Children are welcome and have a room dedicated to their learning and play. Oceana was founded by dedicated educators, students, and community members committed to sustaining and supporting literacy services for our families in Lincoln City. We will be two years old in January!!”

“The Oceana Family Literacy Bucket Drummers are an inter-generational, multicultural community drumming group. Why music? I believe that music is an important component of learning and that it is integrated into speaking, listening, reading, and writing....language! Why a drumming group? Many things are learned and taught through a group activity with participants who are working together to achieve a common goal! Having an opportunity to share your accomplishments with an audience is an incredible opportunity for all. We use our drums to spread the word about Oceana and to create awareness about literacy,” adds Menses.

The OFL Bucket Drummers been playing together for a year. Their focus includes both found music (buckets) and traditional Mexican drum and bugle corps style drumming. When one of the volunteer moms vacationed in Mexico, she brought back eleven drums for the group to use. Those drums will be featured in some of the songs played in Literacy Park this Wednesday. Everyone is invited to come and drum, shake and clap at the park.

Bucket drumming will happen at all five Lincoln County libraries this week. Wednesday, July 13, the drummers will be at Waldport Public Library (10 a.m.), Newport Public Library (1 p.m.), and Driftwood Public Library in Lincoln City (6:30 p.m.). On Thursday, July 14, they will be at Toledo Public Library (11 a.m.) and Siletz Public Library (1 p.m.).

Cello Bop in Literacy Park

CelloBop is what Gideon Freudmann calls his own style of cello music, a fusion of blues, jazz, folk and much more. On Wednesday, July 6 at 1:00 p.m. you can hear what Cello Bop is when he plays in Literacy Park.

Freudmann has performed at The Montreal International Jazz Festival, The Prague Swing Jazz Festival and throughout the US. His music is also frequently heard on NPR's All Things Considered and on the TV show, Weeds. His creative workshops at schools, colleges and music camps, as well as his tunebook, New Music For Cello, have inspired cello choirs and string ensembles to perform his music from coast to coast. Gideon's original compositions have been commissioned for film, theatre and dance. His recent project has been performing live soundtracks for classic silent films. Gideon has 12 original CDs to his credit and has performed on dozens of albums by other musicians. Samples of Freudmann’s music are available online at http://www.cellobop.com/

Freudmann's Lincoln County shows feature music selected especially for children, providing them an introduction to the cello and the music it can make. His programs are funded by Ready to Read grants from the Oregon State Library and the Lincoln County Library District. His lodging is provided by La Quinta Inn and Suites in Newport and the D Sands Condominium Hotel in Lincoln City.

Cowboy Buck & Elizabeth Bring Comedy, Music and Ventriloquism to the County

One World, Many Stories, Newport Public Library's summer reading program, features Cowboy Buck & Elizabeth this week at 1:00 p.m. on Wednesday, June 22. All children and families are invited to attend this free program.

Cowboy Buck & Elizabeth promise to put on high energy shows that include interactive musical comedy with dancing, singing and ventriloquism. Cowboy Buck spent many years as a manager, singer and songwriter for the New Christie Minstrels. When he settled in the Pacific Northwest, he and his wife, Elizabeth, developed music education programs that let children write, sing and record their own songs. Their shows engage audiences, letting everyone sing, make jokes and wonder at Elizabeth's ventriloquist magic. Click here for a medley of their tunes.

Wednesday, June 22, the music, comedy and ventriloquism show will be at Waldport Public Library (10 a.m.), Newport Public Library (1 p.m.), and Driftwood Public Library in Lincoln City (6:30 p.m.). On Thursday, June 23, they will be at Toledo Public Library (11 a.m.) and Siletz Public Library (1 p.m.).

Their Lincoln County shows are funded by Ready to Read grants from the Oregon State Library and the Lincoln County Library District. Their lodging is provided by the Sylvia Beach Hotel in Newport and the D Sands Condominium Motel in Lincoln City.

For more information about Cowboy Buck and Elizabeth’s performances or other summer reading presentations, please contact your local library.

First show of the 2011 Summer Reading program

Newport Public Library's One World, Many Stories summer reading program features the Puckett Family Magic show on Wednesday, June 15 at 1:00. All children and families are invited to attend this free program in Literacy Park.

Puckett Family Magic provides a dynamic family illusion show for multigenerational audiences. Working together as a family, the Pucketts' award-winning talent combines flashy illusion, classy effects and humor for an unforgettable event. They have been featured on three continents and across the United States providing fun, family-friendly entertainment.

The Puckett Family’s Lincoln County shows are funded by Ready to Read grants from the Oregon State Library and the Lincoln County Library District. Their lodging is provided by La Quinta Inn and Suites in Newport and the D Sands Condominium Hotel in Lincoln City.

For more information about the Puckett Family performances or other summer reading presentations, please contact us at 541.265.2153.