Teen game night, a special Dr. Seuss storytime, a visit with “Clifford the Big Red Dog� and Saturday storytime at the Northport Branch are some of  the upcoming events hosted by the Fargo Public Library this week.

First, teens are invited to the community room at the Dr. James Carlson Library for Rock Band® and Wii® starting at 4:30 p.m. on Thursday, March 5. Contact Teen Librarian Bree Schmidt at 476-5978 or bschmidt@cityoffargo.com for details.

Kids who love Dr. Seuss stories can join us Friday, March 6 to celebrate “Read Across America� at the Dr. James Carlson Library from 1 to 2p.m.  During this special storytime event, radio personalities from local radio station MoJo 104.7 will read classic Dr. Seuss stories and kids can even create their own Dr. Seuss characters.  No registration is required. For more information, call the Children’s Librarian at 241-1495.

Our “Read Across Americaâ€� event also includes a children’s book drive. New or gently used children’s books can be dropped off at the Dr. James Carlson Library (or any Fargo Public Library location) now through March 6. Books will be considered for the library collection or donated to area non-profit organizations in an effort to provide kids access to books and reading opportunities.

On Friday, March 6, youngsters will have a chance to meet “Clifford the Big Red Dog� at a starting at 2 p.m. community room of the Dr. James Carlson Library. No registration required for this storytime event. This program is geared for kids age 6 and under. For more information, call Children’s Services at 241-1495.

On Saturday, March 7, the Fargo Public Library is offering Saturday Storytime starting at 10 a.m. for preschoolers and toddlers at the library’s Northport Branch ( 2714 N. Broadway). No registration is required. Contact Children’s Services at 241-1495 for information.

Finally, the National Federation of the Blind of North Dakota will offer a “Braille Readers are Leaders� event to introduce the community to the services, resources and materials available to all ages. This event is open to the public; no registration is required. Contact Melisa Duncan at 476-4076 or email mduncan@cityoffargo.com for details.

Fargo Public Library events are free and open to the public. Adults must accompany children 10 and under.

People with disabilities who plan to attend Fargo Public Library events and need special accommodations should contact Beth Postema at 701-241-8198 or TDD at 241-8258. Please contact us at least three business days in advance of the event to give our staff adequate time to make arrangements.

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Crafts for teens and the Kids’ Book Club are some of  the upcoming programs at the Fargo Public Library.

First, teens are invited to the library to make “marble magnets� on Thursday, Feb. 12 starting at 4:30 p.m. in the community room at the Dr. James Carlson Library (2801 32^nd Ave. S.). Space is limited; pre-registration is required. For details or to register for this teen craft event, contact the Teen Librarian at 476-5978 or at bschmidt@cityoffargo.com, or check out the Teen Services page .

Next, all interested readers in grades four through six can join us for “Kids’ Book Clubâ€� on Saturday, Feb. 14 from 1 to 2 p.m. at the Dr. James Carlson Library. This month’s featured title is Chasing Vermeer by Blue Balliett. Space is limited; pre-registration is required. Call Children’s Services at 241-1495 or email askchildrens@cityoffargo.com to register. More information can also be found at the Children’s Services page.

Fargo Public Library events are free and open to the public. Adults must accompany children 10 and under.

People with disabilities who plan to attend Fargo Public Library events and need special accommodations should contact Beth Postema at 701-241-8198 or TDD at 241-8258. Please contact us at least three business days in advance of the event to give our staff adequate time to make arrangements.

starting Saturday, Feb. 7, the Fargo Public Library will begin monthly Saturday Storytimes on the first Saturday of every month starting at 10 a.m. for preschoolers and toddlers at the library’s Northport Branch ( 2714 N. Broadway). No registration is required. Call the Children’s Librarian at 241-1495 for information.

Next, kids who love stories and big trucks can enjoy both when Max D, driver of the monster truck “Maximum Destruction”, visits the Dr. James Carlson Library on Friday, Feb. 6. During this special storytime event, Max D will talk about monster trucks, sign autographs and read a story or two about trucks. This event will begin at 11 a.m. in the community room of the library. For more information, call the Children’s Librarian at 241-1495. This unique storytime event is geared for kids up to six years old.

Also on Friday, Feb. 6, youngsters will have a chance to meet “Corduroy Bear” at a special storytime and visit starting at 2 p.m. community room of the Dr. James Carlson Library. No registration required. This storytime event is geared for kids age 6 and under. For more information, call the Children’s Librarian at 241-1495.

Discovering new hobbies, reading therapy dogs and movies for teens are the focus of upcoming events hosted by the Fargo Public Library.

First, kids in grades kindergarten through 6^th grade will have a chance to improve their reading skills when the library welcomes certified therapy pets from Therapy Dogs of the Red River Valley on Saturday, Jan. 17 from 1 to 3 p.m. in the community room at the Dr. James Carlson Library. Pre-registration is required, and kids can sign up to read to one of the therapy pets for 20 minutes. Children can bring their own book to read or choose from a selection of library books. To register, visit the Dr. James Carlson Library’s Reference Desk or call 476-5980.

Interested in trying a new hobby? The Fargo Public Library is celebrating National Hobby Month with an event for kids of all ages entitled “Hobby Day @ your library�. The hobby open house is scheduled for Monday, Jan. 19 from 2 to 4 p.m. at the Dr. James Carlson Library at 2801 32^nd Ave. S. Learning stations featuring card making, guitars, cartooning, cross country skiing and more will be set up throughout the library. For more information, call the children’s librarian at 241-1496.

Starting next week, teens at the Fargo Public Library can enjoy their own “teen movie night� which will be held on the fourth Thursday of every month at the Dr. James Carlson Library. Join us for a showing of “Get Smart� (rated PG-13) on Thursday, Jan. 22 starting at 4:30 p.m. in the community room at the Dr. James Carlson Library (2801 32^nd Ave. S.). Free popcorn will be served. For details, contact the Teen Librarian at 476-5978 or at bschmidt@cityoffargo.com.

    Fargo Public Library events are free and open to the public. Adults must accompany children 10 and under.

    People with disabilities who plan to attend Fargo Public Library events and need special accommodations should contact Beth Postema at 701-241-8198 or TDD at 241-8258. Please contact us at least three business days in advance of the event to give our staff adequate time to make arrangements.

Kids ages 8 and under have a chance to win a family 4-pack of tickets to the Friday, Dec. 12, Disney Live! production at the FargoDome. Just read a Winnie the Pooh story and draw or paint your favorite character. Then drop your creation by any Fargo Public Library location by Dec. 11 and we’ll draw a winner from all the entries. (Pictures cannot be returned - one entry per child.) A limited number of books are available through the library, or you can visit the Disney Website for an online story. Good luck!Don’t forget to come meet Winnie and Tigger at the “Winnie the Pooh… and Tigger Too” storytime next Thursday, Dec. 11 at 2 p.m. at the Dr. James Carlson Library.

A series of events centered around the theme “created equal” will be held during Constitution Week at the Dr. James Carlson Library. These events are part of an introduction to a bookshelf of 21 books recently awarded to each of the three Fargo Public Library locations by the National Endowment for the Humanities, in cooperation with the American Library Association.  All events are free and open to the public.

• The Ugly Duckling by Hans Christian Andersen will be the theme for preschool and toddler storytimes from September 15-18 (also held at the Northport Branch).
• Smith Stimmel - A Living History will be performed by Steve Stark on Wednesday, September 17 at 6:30 p.m. Stark portrays Smith Stimmel, a Fargo attorney who served as one of President Abraham Lincoln’s bodyguards.
• Culture of Equality: A Panel Discussion will take place Thursday, September 18 at 6:30 p.m. Community leaders from Fargo-Moorhead will discuss the concept of “created equal” in modern American society. 

 The Fargo Public Library recently received an award of three “We the People Bookshelves” from the American Library Association and the National Endowment for the Humanities.

The titles we’re receiving can been seen on the We the People site. The Bookshelf contains titles for ages kindergarden to grade 12.

The Bookshelf award is part of a program of events with the Bookshelf’s theme, “Created Equal”, that’s occurring during Constitution Week this September. The program includes a storytime featuring the Ugly Duckling, a living history presentation with a local actor and a panel discussion.

Congratulations to Brian C. and Anabelle M. for winning a copy of The Nixie’s Song, the first book in the new children’s fantasy series, “Beyond the Spiderwick Chronicles,� by Tony DiTerlizzi and Holly Black.  Brian and Anabelle won the books at The Spiderwick Chronicles Event held at the Dr. James Carlson Library on December 28, where kids celebrated the original five “The Spiderwick Chronicles� books and the upcoming February release of the movie based on them.  Attendees at the event played games, made a Wood Elf mask, and watched a fencing demonstration by Mike Anson, coach of the UND Fencing Club; Bob Bianco, coach of the MSUM Fencing Club; and Jason Schoenack, student of Mr. Bianco.

Join us for upcoming children’s events including Hobby Day at Your Library on Monday, January 21 in honor of National Hobby Month.  Beat the winter blahs by learning how to crochet, play guitar, start a collection, create with LEGO® toys, and more!  For kids in grades K-12, the event is free and will be held as an open house at the Dr. James Carlson branch of the Fargo Public Library from 2:00-4:00 p.m.

And the annual Winter-Read-a-Thon begins January 7. Kids (and adults) complete booklogs to keep track of their reading and become eligible for prizes. The event lasts through February 29. Booklogs can be picked up beginning Monday, January 7 at the check-out desk at all three Fargo Public Library locations.

Kids who made ornaments for the Christmas Tree at the Dr. James Carlson Library during our December Trim-a-Tree event can now pick up their ornaments at that location, if they’d like to keep them.

From The Ant Bully to Zathura, from picture books to novels, children’s literature has long been a rich source of material for Hollywood filmmakers. Over the years, several classics such as Charlotte’s Web, Heidi, and Charlie and the Chocolate Factory have been put on film multiple times.  But as the recent controversy surrounding the novel The Golden Compass by Phillip Pullman demonstrates, parents differ as to what is appropriate for their own children to read and see. 

During the remainder of December and throughout 2008, nine different children’s books are slated for release as movies. Read the books first and decide for yourself whether they’re movies you’d like your kids to see.

The Water Horse by Dick King-Smith - due out December 25, 2007

The Spiderwick Chronicles by Tony DiTerlizzi and Holly Black - due out February 15, 2008

Horton Hears a Who! by Dr. Seuss - due out March 14, 2008

Inkheart by Cornelia Funke - due out March 19, 2008

Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian by C.S. Lewis - due out May 16, 2008

Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak - due out October 3, 2008

The City of Ember by Jeanne DuPrau - due out October 10, 2008

Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince by J.K. Rowling - due out November 21, 2008

The Tale of Despereaux by Kate DiCamillo - due out December 19, 2008