February at the Cook Library Center

February is Black History Month, and the Tolly Time guest speaker at the Cook Library Center, Ms. Erica Millbrooks, told some fascinating stories about how quilts were used in the Underground Railroad to communicate secret messages. Many thanks to her for coming in and sharing these special quilts and telling such wonderful stories.

The Cook Library Center also held a chess tournament this month that was a little different than usual: This time, it was boys vs. girls. After heavy thinking and carefully executed moves, it came down to a championship match between Danny L. and Avelycia O. After battling it out, Danny was able to take the win for the boys.

Tolly Time at the Library

On Thursday, May 20th, Twink Frey came to the Cook Library Center to be our guest reader for our monthly Tolly Time storytime. Much to the delight of the children, Twink read "The Great Fuzz Frenzy" by Janet Stevens which is about a tennis ball landing in a prairie-dog town, which creates a crazy fiasco for the residents. Following the story, the students made an art project by stitching colorful threads on to fuzzy fabric. These pieces will be sewn together to make a blanket for Grandville Avenue Arts & Humanities' upcoming fundraiser, Dia del Sol, on June 17. Finally, at the very end of Tolly Time, each student received a free book to add to their own personal home library. Thank you to everyone who helped make the event a success and a great big thank you to Twink Frey for being our guest reader!

Grandville Avenue Arts & Humanities administers the programs of the Cook Library Center.

Tolly Time at the Cook Library Center

Every third Thursday of the month, the Cook Library Center hosts a Tolly Time storytime for children which includes a guest reader and at the end of the program each child is able to pick out a free book for his or her personal library collection. Our guest for the month of April was with Dietrich Roth. Dietrich immigrated from Germany after the war. He talked to the children about his life in Germany during the war and the struggles he and his family faced. He was an engineer who later started company with some partners called RoMan Manufacturing. His son Bob Roth is the current president of that company. Dietrich's telling of his personal history had the children hanging on his every word. Thank you, Dietrich, for being our April Tolly Time guest!

Notes from an Intern: Tolly Time at the Cook Library Center

Thursday was a bright day at the Cook Library because of the artistic instruction of Ms. Cat! The kids learned about chameleons, and they learned how to combine shapes to draw a chameleon of their own. Then they added scales with sponges and fingertips in shades of yellow and green, which they adored. Each depiction was unique and lovely! Ms. Cat joins us twice a month at the library, and will be taking the kids on adventures through time on Monday and Tuesday, from 1-3 pm the week of spring break in April!

-Ande Mustine is a senior at Calvin College majoring in English. She is interning at the Cook Arts Center and Cook Library Center this winter and spring.

Notes from an Intern: Tolly Time at the Cook Library Center

The kids at the library were VERY excited last Wednesday, when Lori Wilson came in to read a story for Tolly Time!
The kids chanted along as she read Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day. Afterward they used
invisible pen and colored paper to create letters and pictures for people THEY knew who had had bad days recently.
Then each child chose a book from the book table to take home as their very own. Miranda chose Rapunzel, while Isayra,
our animal lover, choose a colorful book about birds. Jesus proudly carried around his Mister Rabbit's Wish book.
What a lovely afternoon!

-Ande Mustine is a senior at Calvin College majoring in English. She is interning at the Cook Arts Center and
Cook Library Center this winter and spring.

Tolly Time at the Cook Library Center

The Cook Library Center had a very special Tolly Time guest this month. Yesterday Hank Meijer stopped by to read the book "Bunny Money" to a small but enthusiastic crowd. The book, with illustrations of fangs that glowed in the dark and cherry syrup that looked like blood, was a huge hit with the little boys in the group. In honor of Hank's visit, the tot alcove was converted into a Meijer store, complete with a Meijer sign, groceries on the shelves, a price check phone, and a cashier's station.

March 19 Tolly Time - Thanks AMWAY!

Specials thanks to the folks at Amway for joining us for this month's Tolly Time storytime program at the Cook Library Center! The students had a great time participating in the storytelling and making a birthday candle craft. The students even presented our readers with a birthday card to celebrate Amway's 50th birthday! After the program, the students enjoyed a popsicle, and received a free book to take home and keep.

Tolly Time with Fifth Third Bank

Michele and Jessica from Fifth Third Bank were guests at the Cook Library Center for this month's Tolly Time program. Michele and Jessica talked to the students about spending and saving money, and how to identify your money "wants" vs. your money "needs." Our students were great listeners! Together they completed worksheets, and received a snack and free book. Thanks for visiting, Michele and Jessica!