Registration For Lil' Sparks Preschool Fireman Story Time is Closed to Further Registrants

The Lil' Sparks Preschool Fireman Story Time is closed to any further registrants due to popularity. We would like to thank everyone for their interest in this and all of our upcoming programs.

Candy Apple Corner Preschool Story time September 28th Story time Topic: Apples

Let's sit down criss cross applesauce to listen to a peck of perky apple tales,  enjoy an app-solutely funky numbered apple flannel board, and create a scrumptious green, red and yellow apple wreath craft during our September 28th Candy Apple Corner Preschool Story time Apple Extravaganza!

Registration is required for this story time program. Please call the Youth Services Reference Desk at 630-368-7734 to register. 

Apple of My Eye: Happy Birthday Johnny Appleseed!

Johnny Appleseed left an indelible mark on American history with his pioneer spirit, strength, and agricultural know-how which shaped the landscape of the nation. Hundreds of beautiful apple trees were planted  to feed weary settlers by this remarkable patriot who was born John Chapman in Leominster, Massachusetts on September 26, 1774. He is best known for the cooking pot that he wore as his chapeau, seed sack,  and his bare feet which helped carry him on his planting travels.

He operated many tree nurseries in the Midwest and Northeast. The states where his nurseries were located included Indiana, Illinois, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Kentucky.

Johnny Appleseed died in 1845 and is buried in a cemetery in Fort Wayne, Indiana.

The following is a picture of the grave site of Johnny Appleseed.

Picture Source: http://www.hmdb.org/marker.asp?marker=21560 (This is also a great site for more information about Johnny Appleseed).

Things to do to celebrate Johnny Appleseed's Birthday:

1. Go to the library and read books about Johnny Appleseed and apples.
2. Cook up some delicious applesauce or apple muffins. Check out allrecipes.com for some of the yummiest apple recipes ever.
3. Make a fantastic Johnny Appleseed character craft from  Janice's Daycare Johnny Appleseed Character and Coloring Sheets (See third row for Johnny Appleseed stand-up character)
4. Cut apple shapes out of paper and scatter them around the room and have an apple hunt!
5. Design your own Johnny Appleseed pot hat crafts from craft foam. Make A Foam Johnny Appleseed Hat
6. Cut an apple in half and dip in red, yellow or green paint to make apple prints on a piece of white or light-colored construction paper.
7. Retell the story The Little Red House with No Doors or Windows and a Star Inside using an apple. The Little Red House with No Doors or Windows and a Star Inside

Pumpkin Patch Parade Toddler September 26th Story time topic: Apples

To celebrate Johnny Appleseed's birthday, the beloved folk hero who planted apple trees to help feed many hungry pioneers in days of old, we are going to hear a bushel of apple stories, go on an apple hunt, and create a delightfully "crisp and crunchy" smiling apple craft. 

A Fiesta of Books for Hispanic Heritage Month (September 15th to October 15th)

We invite you to explore the rich diversity of  Hispanic culture and traditions through the glossy pages of our many multicultural  picture books, fables and biographies. You can choose to be enchanted by the life and musical style of Cuban Celia Cruz in the book, Celia Cruz, Queen of Salsa by Veronica Chambers or be dazzled by the beauty of  Adelita: A Mexican Cinderella Story by Tomie DePaola.


Drop on by and read the tapestry of stories which perfectly showcase the accomplishments and creativity of the Hispanic culture in our Youth Services Hispanic Heritage Month display.

Go Fish! Fishing Pole Game

During our Pumpkin Patch Parade Story time, we fished for colorful fish for our very hungry kitty cat pals!  This game certainly caused quite a splash.

Swimming along

Grab your fishing pole

The Library Really Grows on You!: Check Out Our Library Card Tree

Our library card tree is bursting with library card foliage during Library Card Sign-up month! Just take a look at some of the creative "library cards" that our young patrons have designed for our library card tree. This truly cements the statement that "the library really does grow on you"!

September 14th Candy Apple Corner Preschool Story time Topic: Cats

We're crazy about cats on Wednesday, September 14th at 4:30 pm. We'll read fabulous feline-themed books, create a kitty cat craft and and dance and shout to a Hot, Hot, Hot song that will get us moving and grooving to the music. 

Meow! Don't be such a Fraidy cat!



*Registration is required. Please call the Youth Services desk at 630-368-7734 to sign up for this story time. 

Pumpkin Patch Parade Toddler Story time September 12th Topic: Cats

Here, kitty kitty, what do you say? Can we have a story time about you today? Well, that's fine with me because on September 12th at 10 am our Pumpkin Patch Parade Toddler story time with be chock full of cat tales, bubbly songs, and festive dances. Scarves will be swirling and twirling to jazzy tunes and we'll even go "fishing" to find our feline friends a tasty treat during our colorful fishing pole game.  We will end this purr-fect story time with a cuddly kitten craft. 

*Registration is required. Please call the Youth Services desk at 630-368-7734 to sign up for this story time. 

Grin and Bear It: September 9th is Teddy Bear Day!

Do you have any warm reminisces of curling up with your favorite story book on a chilly fall day reading about the adventures of the cuddly and lovable Winnie the Pooh, Corduroy or Paddington Bear?

These beloved characters harken us back to a simpler time when our mother's kiss would soothe our fears and every problem could be solved with a generous helping of ice cream with hot fudge sauce. Winnie the Pooh, Corduroy, and Paddington Bear are timeless treasures.

Why not recapture your childhood by celebrating Teddy Bear Day on September 9th with one of the following activities? I warn you that these activities may really bring the bear out of you!

1. Have a teddy bear picnic. Grab a tablecloth or sheet and lay it down outside on the grass or in your rec room. Prepare picnic foods such as sandwiches, Kool-aid and fruit salad. Just make sure to bring your teddy along for the tasty retreat!
2. Recite the movement activity Teddy Bear, Teddy Bear Turn Around with your children. See the following link for two different versions:http://www.canteach.ca/elementary/songspoems18.html
3. Create a grab bag story about teddy bears and have your child tell the story as they pull out the items. Fill a grocery bag with the following items such as: a teddy bear, comb, toothbrush, storybook, and die cut moon for a bedtime themed teddy bear story or teddy bear, flip flops sun tan lotion, and shells for a beach story. 
4. Read one of the following childhood classics: Corduroy by Don Freeman, Winnie the Pooh by A.A. Milne or one of Micheal Bond's Paddington Bear books. 
5. Design your very own paper bag teddy bear using this DLTK template and instructions. Source: http://www.dltk-kids.com/crafts/teddy/mbearbag.html
6. Play Bear. Make up different actions for each letter of the word bear. For example, tell the children to bounce, bop, blow bubbles etc. for b and so on. 
7. Mix together a delicious Teddy Bear Snack Mix. 

Teddy Bear Snack Mix (Recipe Name changed from Friendship Snack Mix recipe within the book The Giant Encyclopedia of Monthly Activities Edited by Kathy Charner, Maureen Murphy, and Charlie Clark pg. 523)

Materials: 

Large bowl 

M&Ms 

Pretzels 

Chex cereal 

Small round cereal (Cheerios) 

Teddy-shaped grahams

Granola 

Raisins and dried fruit 

Goldfish crackers

Large spoon for stirring snack mix 

What to do: 

1) Stir ingredients in the large mixing bowl. Serve and enjoy as a snack. 

Lil' Sparks Fireman Preschool Story Time on October 5th at 4:30 PM

Your little ones will stop, drop, and roll for this fiery story time which will be held on Wednesday, October 5th, at 4:30 pm in the Program Room. Oak Brook Fireman Bob Robertson will read a smokin' tale, we'll create an adorable firehouse dog (aka Dalmatian) craft, and so much more. This will be one red-hot story time!

*Registration is required. Please call the Youth Services Reference desk at 630-368-7734 to sign-up for this story time. 

The Wonderful Book by Leonid Gore

I am currently in the process of revamping this blog. I am placing all my book reviews by date within the "Book Reviews" section of this site.


Please see the September 8, 2011 The Wonderful Book post under the tab "Book Reviews". 


Thank you for visiting the Oak Brook Public Library Blog!

Fall Story times Begin Next Week!

Our Fall story time sessions begin next Monday (September 12)! Join us for these innovative, interactive, and  developmentally-appropriate story times that help foster and develop early language, comprehension, and pre-reading skills.

Below you will find a list of our story times.

            Story times run from September 12 to October 22nd

Pumpkin Patch Parade for Toddlers on Mondays at 10 am.

Your little pumpkins will enjoy this animated story time which features super songs, fantastic fingerplays, marvelous movement activities, bountiful books, a simple craft and non-stop fun! Starts 9/12.

Candy Apple Corner for Preschoolers  on Wednesdays at 4:30 pm.

You’ll be the apple of your child’s eye when you sign them up for this whimsical story time  that contains spectacular songs, brilliant books, delightful dances and a cool craft. Starts 9/14.

Leaf It to Books for Kindergartners, 1st and 2nd graders on Tuesdays at 4:30 pm. It’s time to turn over a new leaf with this creative and interactive story time that is filled with snappy stories and a terrific art project. Starts 9/13.

Program for Older Children

Autumn Artists for 3rd, 4th, and 5th graders on Saturdays at 11 am.

You’ll “fall” in love with the awesome art projects that you will make in this hands-on craft program. Starts 9/17.

*Registration is required. Please call the Youth Services Reference Desk at 630-368-7734 to sign up for these story times/programs.