Squirrel Appreciation Day

For the past two years our library has celebrated Squirrel Appreciation Day. Yes, there is such a national celebration every year on January 21. We have highlighted the occasion by handing out informative squirrel bookmarks, which are always a hit.

This year we decided to kick things up a notch. That’s right – a READ TO A SQUIRREL event with the goal of promoting reading.

In addition to the bookmarks, this year we added squirrel stickers which were a hit.

To enhance efforts to increase reading for pleasure, this day long Read to a Squirrel Event was offered to students on a Friday.

Students who sat in our back area (Fiction Section) with a book to read were offered hot cocoa and a plush squirrel they could read to or just cuddle while reading.

Morning announcements and signs created a buzz in advance of the activity. Students were quite excited. More surprisingly was that staff members were equally excited.

Teachers reading to squirrels!

We had a surprise visit with Fredo and Enzo, Chilean ground squirrels. Thanks to a science teacher, Fredo and Enzo got to spend the day in the library.

Overall the day was successful – students read, staff read, all associated reading as a fun experience. Based on the feedback received we’re wondering who we should read to next!

Happy reading!

You Can Have your Book and Eat it too!

img_2692I love to read. And I love to eat – the sweeter the better.  So a hidden passion of mine is to combine the two whenever possible.

This year  Curious George turns 75; my great-nephew, Nate, turned two. So there was no better idea than to combine these two special birthdays into one celebration. We had a Curious George themed birthday party. Like I did for his first birthday, I made Nate’s cake.  I’ve been baking for Nate since before he was born – starting with The Giving Tree baby shower cake.

When my kids were little, I made a point of celebrating their birthdays – activities, goodie bags, cakes – all themed. We focused mostly on sports or action charaters (ie Power Rangers). Granted there were the ocassional literay themed parties and cakes. Like Harry Potter’s Hedwig in a birdcage cake, Quiddictch broom cookies, and magical invitations. The Wizard of Oz with Emerald City cake resplendent with yellow brick road, poppy field, and adorned with ruby slippers was another of my favorite creations. Yes, I know the shoes should have been painted silver…

I enjoy designing and making cakes, but it’s the literary themed ones that are truly special to me. I see my favorite books and characters develop in all their sweet goodness. Like reading a book, it is a delicious experience.

Bon Apetit!

PS – Happy Birthday Nate the Great! (that’ll be a cake someday…)

*You can have your art masterpieces, too!