September Storytimes

Fridays from 10:30 a.m. - 11 a.m. Wee Ones Storytime for children 2 and under.

Saturdays from 10:30 a.m. - 11 a.m. Wee Ones Storytime for children 2 and under.



   

 SEPTEMBER EVENTS

For a downloadable September calendar, click here.

Sunday, September 5, 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m. -Meet author/illustrator Darren Farrell, creator of Doug-Dennis and the Flyaway Fib.  

When best friends Doug-Dennis and Ben-Bobby go to the circus, something terrible happens. Doug-Dennis eats all of his best friend's popcorn, and then tells a fib (It wasn't me!), which grows and grows (Maybe monsters ate it!), carrying Doug-Dennis away.  As the lie gets bigger, Doug-Dennis flies higher, until he's floating in a land of lies--some of them big, some small, and some just downright weird. Doug-Dennis misses his best friend and realizes there's only one way to come back down: by finally telling the truth.  This charming sheep is sure to become a favorite. (And that's the truth.) Ages 3 and up.

CONTEST ALERT!!!  Stop by Hooray For Books! Children's Bookstore and enter to win a drawing by the author/illustrator of Doug-Dennis and the Flyaway Fib -- just make up your own whopper, write it on a piece of paper with your name & e-mail address, and you're entered in the contest!  Darren Farrell will select the winner on Sunday, September 5, when he visits the store.

Friday, September 17, 7-8 p.m. -- Family Fun Game Night

Today's children face very different obstacles than we did growing up... the world is changing faster and faster.  The folks at ThinkFun believe that the most important thing we can do is teach our children to be great thinkers and competent problem solvers. They believe that the best way to help children become successful problem solvers is to teach them the language of problem solving.
And to make it fun!  Join us each month as we play games and learn at the same time!  Call 703-548-4092 or e-mail to reserve your spot!

Saturday, September 18, 10 a.m.-1 p.m. -- Alexandria Story Festival

Details of the First Annual Alexandria Story Festival, brought to you by Wright to Read and Hooray For Books! Children's Bookstore, are below. Admission is free for this day of family fun.  In addition to the authors listed below, local authors Sharon Hickey, Tamatha Hollingsworth, and Captain Brandon Barnett will read in tents to small groups and lead children in activities related to art, recycling, and exercise.  Books will be available for purchase, and the authors will be happy to autograph their books! There will be food for sale at low prices.  Every attendee will receive a raffle ticket for a chance to win one of the many books that will be given away. 

10:15 a.m. Sandy Pugh

Sandy creates crazy, colorful creatures called Peepers:
  A Peeper in My Pocket uses these zany creatures to guide children on a lyrical journey through their ABCs in quatrain rhymes.
   I Say...You Say... makes opposite words and concepts jump right off the page and into a child's vocabulary.
   Meet Me at the Masterpiece takes its readers on an adventure, from da Vinci to Degas, Whistler to Wood, Rodin to Renoir. The Peepers feel it's never too early to appreciate great art.
   All three books make learning a lot more fun while broadening a child's vocabulary and encouraging lively dialogue between the child and reader.

10:40 a.m.  Lezlie Evans
"From dawn till after day is done, Mama loves her little one."
In Lezlie Evans' latest book, Who Loves the Little Lamb?, a fussy lamb is crying, so her mama dries her tears. A noisy bird is chirping, so his mama gently sweetens his song. A sleepy kangaroo is fading, and her mama carries her in her safe, cozy pouch. Even when kids are not at their best, mothers love their little ones. Lezlie Evans' warm, rhyming text delivers this reassuring message, and David McPhail's charming watercolors of baby animals and their mamas strike the perfect tone: safe, sweet, and playful.

11:10 a.m.  Nick Bruel
The cantankerous cat is back, and her claws are out in Bad Kitty vs. Uncle Murray. Uncle Murray, who has appeared in previous books to give his "Fun Facts" about cats, is here to "pet sit" Bad Kitty and and Poor Puppy. The feline is not happy with this arrangement and gives Uncle Murray a horrible time, skittishly jumping out at him when he least expects it. When Murray pulls out the dreaded vacuum cleaner, Bad Kitty bolts out the door and into the street. By the end of the pet-sitting arrangement, a ragged, dirty, glazed Murray keeps repeating wistfully, "fish don't bite or scream or chase you around the house...."

12:15 p.m. Melissa Thomson
Sassy, fun-loving Keena Ford always tries to do the right thing, but somehow, she just keeps making things worse. Keena left her journal at Tiffany Harris's apartment by mistake, and now Tiffany won't give it back unless Keena does everything she says. Too bad nothing turns out quite the way she plans . . .
This laugh-out-loud series by local author Melissa Thomson has short chapters and lively illustrations, making it perfect for beginning readers.

12:40 p.m. - Christylez Bacon
(pronounced: chris-styles) is a GRAMMY Nominated Progressive Hip-Hop artist and multi-instrumentalist from Southeast, Washington, D.C. As a performer, Christylez multi-tasks between various instruments such as the West African djembe drum, acoustic guitar, and the human beat-box (oral percussion), all while continuing the oral tradition of storytelling through his lyrics.

Avast great masses o' landlubbers! Oooh-aargh! Join our swashbuckling, rambunctious Pirate Captain Patrick as we read pirate stories, sing pirate sea songs, create pirate crafts, and learn pirate lingo. Pirate garb is encouraged. Pick up a Treasure Map and visit participating merchants to collect your Pirate Booty. For more information, visit the Potomac Riverboat Company Web site at www.potomacriverboatco.com.

Sunday, September 19, 1:30-3:30 p.m. -- Author Audrey Vernick and illustrator Daniel Jannewein

Friday, September 24, 7-8 p.m. -- Pajama Storytime

Saturday, September 25, 10 a.m. - 5 p.m.  Silhouettes by Anne Leslie

Another chance to make a lifetime memory! Anne Leslie makes beautiful hand-cut silhouettes -- shadow portraits that capture the unique personality of children.  She's one of only 75 silhouette artists in the United States, and she'll be at Hooray For Books! Children's Bookstore on September 25 to put your child at the center of a work of art.  Shadow portraiture is an old art form, and this is a wonderful opportunity for you and your children to see this artist at work!  You can see examples of Anne's work here.  Call 703-548-4092 or e-mail to reserve your spot.

To read or not to read - it's your choice. But what if you didn't have a choice because of a ban on certain books? Celebrate your freedom to read during Banned Books Week, September 25th - October 1st. Each day, beginning at 5 p.m. (3 p.m. on Sunday, Sept. 26), we'll read from a book that has been banned from a school library and celebrate our First Amendment rights with a game or craft. The readings and activities are for elementary school ages and up

Sunday, September 26, 12-2 p.m.  My Kissing Hands by Jennifer Stackpole

Jennifer Stackpole creates custom ceramic pieces which feature the impression of a child's hand or foot.  Each is carefully hand-finished to become a beautiful keepsake that you will treasure forever.  Visit the website to find out what's available, and then e-mail or call us to make your appointment (703-548-4092).

Tuesday, September 28, 6:30-7:30 p.m. -- Young Adult Book Club

Our September book will be The Half Life of Planets, by Emily Franklin & Brendan Halpin.  Liana Planet, 17, an aptly named aspiring astronomer, has a meteoric encounter with 17-year-old Hank in a hospital ladies' restroom.  Their developing friendship is described in alternating chapters.