Shake boredom with summer happenings at the library

The Superior Public Library is launching into summer filled with reading, programs, crafts and fun. Everyone is invited to take part in the free summer events, which take place at the 1530 Tower Ave. For more information call (715) 394-8866.

June

Summer reading programs begin Monday. This year’s theme is “Dream Big Read!” for children in preschool through fifth grade. The Teen Read program’s theme is “Own the Night” for grades six and above. Prizes and books will be awarded for reading. These programs run through Aug. 4. Pick up your reading log at the service desk in the Children’s Room beginning Monday.

Laura Wagenschutz will be the guest reader for Summer Story Time at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday.

Duluth Superior Zoo staff will visit the library’s meeting room from 2-3 p.m. Wednesday with some of their animal friends to give children a hands-on learning experience.

Members of the Superior Kiwanis Club will read stories to children ages 3-6 beginning at 10:30 a.m. June 19 in the children’s room. No registration is necessary for this summer story time session. Story time continues on Tuesdays through July 31.

How do the flute and violin make music? Join Betty Braustein and Steve Highland as they explore the connection between sound and science with items like a tuning fork, slinky and beaker of water from 2-3 p.m. June 19 in the meeting room. “The Sound of Science” includes hands-on demonstrations, computer animations and live music to show why music to your ears is also music to your brain.

Collage artists from the Superior Council for the Arts will be showing children how to create whimsical postcards about a great trip from 2-3 p.m. June 20 in the meeting room. Bring an old map, your imagination, and a beat-up traveling shirt or wear old clothes — you will be messing around with paper and glue. Your postcard creations will be exhibited at the North End Arts Gallery in the Red Mug building where everyone can enjoy them. Then, they travel back to you. Before you come, find Pokegema Bay on a map!

Members of the Superior Kiwanis Club will be the guest readers for Summer Story Time, which begins at 10:30 a.m. June 26.

Car enthusiast Kim Culp presents “Henry Ford and the Model T Car” from 2-3 p.m. June 26 in the library meeting room. Culp will show a short video about old cars and life in the early 20th century where transportation went from horse and buggy to the horseless carriage and how this changed the world. Afterwards, children will have an opportunity to ask questions. Bring your camera to have your picture taken in a 1915 Tin Lizzie.

Boy Scout Troop 202 will give a demonstration on various knot-tying techniques from 2-3 p.m. June 27 in the library meeting room. This will be a hands-on event.

July

Guest readers from the Superior Kiwanis Club will read to children beginning at 10:30 a.m. July 3 and July 10 in the children’s room.

Superior’s very own magician Jacob Roeber returns to the library meeting room for more than an hour of fun-filled magic and illusion from 2-4 p.m. July 10. This show for the whole family features Las Vegas-style illusions, state of the art lighting and sound, as well as live animals. All ages welcome.

Create your own dream catcher using all natural materials from 2-3 p.m. July 11 in the library meeting room. CeCe Caribou will be assisting children with their artwork.

Superior Kiwanis Club members will read to children during Summer Story Time at 10:30 a.m. July 17, 24 and 31 in the children’s room.

Chess players of every level can learn something from chess expert Dane Mattson July 18. From 2-3 p.m., he will teach basic chess strategy. Participants must know basic chess moves. From 3-4 p.m. Mattson will teach advanced strategy to experienced players. All are welcome.

Learn about the exotic history and culture of henna, as well as how we can use it to create beautiful and lasting stains on the skin from 1-3 p.m. July 24 in the library meeting room. There will be a short demonstration of how to mix, store, apply and care for henna before participants are given hands-on henna cone practice with guidance from an experienced artist. In addition, participants will receive a henna design applied by the artist. Parental approval needed for those under the age of 18. Download permission forms from our Children’s Room website.

Come and join the Wisconsin Nutrition Education Program and Douglas County 4-H for hands-on activities with food, nutrition, and fun from 2-3 p.m. July 25 in the library meeting room. Participants will learn about nutritious snacks, how to make them and then try them out. They will also learn how to be safe with foods, check out the new Nutrition Plate, and try some new, fun activities people can do at home. Youth will also be able to find out how they can participate in other local 4-H programs. This program is designed for youth in grades kindergarten and up and there is no cost to participate. Bring your appetite and be ready for “Food, Fun, and 4-H.”

August

Make beautiful 3-D butterflies from 2-3 p.m. Aug. 1 in the library meeting room. Katherine Schulz will teach participants how to layer simple shapes created by tracing and cutting a variety of colored papers. In just minutes, participants will have an entire flock of fantastic butterflies to decorate their homes. Perch them on a tabletop, tuck them into a bouquet of flowers or hang them in a window so they flutter in the air like real butterflies.

Amy Stangland will teach participants how to craft their own mobiles using recycled or found objects from 2-3 p.m. Aug. 2 in the library meeting room.

Children can read to Bailey the Therapy Dog from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Aug. 4 in the children’s room.

Reading logs from the “Dream Big Read!” and “Teen Read Own the Night” reading programs are due Aug. 4.

In addition to the programs and events, which are all free and open to the public, library visitors can enjoy the talent of local artists whose works are on display in the lobby. Al Gagne’s woodcarving will be featured in June. In July, Dan Dunbar’s woodworking pieces will be displayed. Fiber art by Karen Thompson will be shown during August.

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