July brings music, puppets and stories to the library

The melodic sounds of chamber music fills the room as a popular children’s story is read during the Teddy Bear Series hosted by the Orlando Chamber Soloists and the Rapid City Public Library. This partnership brings the musicians to both the downtown library and the North library at General Beadle Community School for several mornings in July.

Designed as an introduction to classical music with one or two instruments they set favorite children’s stories to popular classical music themes. Children are invited to bring their teddy bear with them as they enjoy the story time. After each performance the children have the opportunity to play child-sized instruments in a “Musical Petting Zoo.”  You can attend the special story times at 9:30 a.m. on July 12 and 19 at the Downtown library and July 15 at the North Library (inside General Beadle).

The summer schedule of story times starting at 9:30 a.m. in both locations includes the regular Tuesday and Thursday story times and the addition of Friday story times at the North Library (inside General Beadle) in the commons area. 

The Orlando Chamber Soloists will also have a Children’s Family Concert on July 20 starting at 5 p.m. at General Beadle featuring their music along with the Ateyapi Drum Group.  This concert is an interactive and informative concert where children participate in the performance. The theme for the program is “A Celebration of Nature Through Music.” Check their website, www.orlandochambersoloists.org, for additional information.

Later on in the month, Markie Scholz of Dragons are Too Seldom, will perform her latest show, “Dragon Stories,” on July 23 scheduled at 10 a.m. downtown and 2 p.m. at the North Library. Scholz writes the story and makes the puppets. This program is described as a puppet storytelling fantasy about Zed the Dragon and his best friend, Estelle the Mouse. It is an interactive show that is full of antics and dry humor and encourages the audience to help celebrate Zed’s birthday.

This program is part of the summer long celebration of “One World, Many Stories” the summer reading theme and all ages are invited to be a part of the fun.  Younger readers are invited to stop by or print off a reading log and fill in the globes when they read or are read to 15 minutes a day. There are 25, 50 and 75 log deadlines and with each log turned in a variety of prizes are given away as incentives.

Teens and adults are also included. Teens can read three books and enter a book review, a poem or a drawing about the book on the library’s Facebook page. They will be entered into a drawing for prizes of a NOOK eBook reader with Wi-Fi, an Apple iPod shuffle and an MP3 player.  Teens in grade 7-12 are eligible and the first 20 who enter the three reviews will receive a summer reading water bottle.

Adults can also post a review to Facebook and they will be entered into a drawing for a basket of special prizes.  Check www.rapidcitylibrary.org for more information.