California Kids - February 2017 by Valley Community Newspapers

February 2017

www.valcomnews.com | ß CRAFTS, 4 | ß BOOK REPORT, 5 | ß WHO WROTE THAT, 8 | ß WHAT’S HAPPENING, 10

Do As I Say, Not As I Do. REALLY? By Danielle Lindner

e’ve all heard that old familiar phrase from our parents, “Do as I say, and not as I do.” We may have even used it a few times with our own children. If you think about what we are saying to our children, what message are we really giving them? Basically, we are saying do not learn by my example. Don’t hold me to a high standard of behavior. It doesn’t matter how I treat others as long as you follow my directive. I don’t really care about how I am perceived as long as you just listen to my rules of conduct. We are telling our children that although we might not treat others with respect and kindness, they should. We are telling our children that although we act like a bully or go on a tirade when things don’t go our way, they should not. We are telling our children that although we are really angry and nasty when we lose a game, they need to be good sports and be a team player. We are telling our children that good

behavior is not important enough for us to exhibit it, just something they should do because we say so. I often tell my two girls, when you start dating (after 40 hopefully!) it’s important for you to be with someone that is respectful to everyone. When you go out to a restaurant, see how they treat the staff. If they are rude, dismissive, or unkind to a waiter or waitress, they will one day be unkind to you. Showing disrespect, especially towards someone who is trying to help them, is more than telling. A person who does these things is likely someone who feels superior to others, someone who most likely was a schoolyard bully at one point in their life, and will remain that way unless something dramatic happens to change them otherwise. What do we do now as parents who want our children to grow up to be kind, caring, and empathetic individuals? We start by being one. We can’t expect our children to be considerate and caring of others, if they don’t have an example of someone to

emulate. Children are smart. If mom or dad doesn’t act kindly towards someone, they don’t feel the need to either. In fact, when children see a parent acting like a bully, they may in fact want to show dad or mom that they too can be nasty and forceful. Children love the approval of their parents. They may feel that their father or mother will be proud of them if they emulate their parents’ behaviors. While there are some exceptions, such as a child having a medical reason for struggling with empathetic behaviors, when children see their parents being a team player, being kind to others, showing empathy and embracing the diversities of others, they too will want to please their parents by acting in much the same way. And if you find your child taunting another child or being mean to someone else, address it immediately! If you child is very young, use puppets or dolls to roll play situations. Ask your child how they think the other child, who is being taunted, feels. Ask them how they would feel if someone was being hurtful to them.

If a child is older, sit down with them and let them know that you are not proud of their behavior. Tell them that you won’t tolerate it and will impose consequences if that behavior continues. The consequences should be something meaningful. For example, have them volunteer at a local charity for a few hours. Have them come up with their own community project to spearhead. Let them work with you to clean out closets and donate unneeded items to a group they feel excited about. Show them that you care about others and care about how other people are treated. And finally, catch your children being good. When they are acting nicely, when they are doing something kind, let them know how great that makes you feel and how proud you are of them. Danielle Lindner is an author, educator and founder of The London Day School. She is the creator of Miss Danielle’s Preschoolbuds Books and TV Series which can be seen on Amazon. com and on her YouTube Channel.

www.valcomnews.com Publisher: David Herburger Editor: Monica Stark Contributing Writers: Susan Roberts, Bitsy Kemper, Carmel Mooney Art Director: John Ochoa Graphic Designer: Annin Greenhalgh Advertising: Steve Crowley 916-429-9901 Cover photo courtesy Metro Newspaper Service California Kids! is published monthly and distributed to more than 1,000 locations in the Sacramento Valley, including all of Sacramento County, and portions of Yolo (Davis and Woodland), Placer (Rocklin and Roseville), El Dorado (Cameron Park, El Dorado Hills, Placerville) counties. Subscriptions are available for $30/year. Mail prepaid check or money order to California Kids!, 2709 Riverside Boulevard, Sacramento, CA 95818. Make sure to specify the person and address to which you wish issues to be mailed. Deadlines for advertising and calendar listings are the 25th of the month prior to publication. Calendar listings should be mailed to 2709 Riverside Boulevard, Sacramento, CA 95818, faxed to (916) 429-9906, or e-mailed to editor@valcomnews.com. Copyright 2017 by Valley Community Newspapers Inc. 2709 Riverside Boulevard, Sacramento, CA 95818. Phone: (916) 429-9901. Fax: (916) 429-9906. E-mail:calkids@valcomnews.com. ©2017 All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part without written permission is prohibited.

CALIFORNIA KIDS! Family Fun Guide • FEBRUARY 2017

River City Chorale to perform Disney favorites By Laura Winn

e their guest, be their guest. Put their voices to the test. On Saturday, March 4 and Sunday, March 5, River City Chorale will present “It’s A Small World,” a cabaret concert of Disney tunes at Serbian Hall in Fair Oaks. Clad in costume and accompanied by a combo band, the 60-member choir will perform each day at 4 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. for a crowd they hope includes many children enjoying the big medley, smaller chamber choir and solo arrangements. In classic cabaret style, singing servers will bring hors d’oeuvres to guests seated at themed tables and a full, nohost bar will be available. With songs spanning the decades from 1941’s “Dumbo” to 2013’s “Frozen,” the hour-and-a-half performance, which also includes an opening set from a Dixieland jazz band, is geared toward a younger audience, explained the event’s coordinator, Pam Adcock, 72. “I think it’s important for kids to hear live music and see it performed on stage,” she said. “It’s special for a younger audience to see people actually singing live rather than just listening to music over electronics.”

Board member and tenor singer Stan Muther agrees and emphasized the show is a fun way to introduce children to choir music – a style they might not otherwise experience. “One of the problems of chorale music is that it’s not being taught in schools like it used to be, and church choirs are changing into praise bands. Younger people are not as familiar with it,” he said. “But if kids see it, they’ll become more interested, try it and continue with it for years.” Longevity in the choir world is something Muther and River City Chorale know about. This year, River City Chorale celebrates its 40th year as a group and non-profit corporation. The members, who pay their own way to perform internationally, range in age with longtime singers in their 80s and newer voices in their 40s. Muther, who turns 74 next month, is one of the chorale’s most veteran members. He joined 23 years ago and has sang under the direction of three conductors and a number of accompanists. Muther says the current artistic director, Richard Morrissey, and accompanist, Dean Mara, are two of the best. “Dean is an

incredible piano player. He can do anything.” Morrissey, who also directed the Yuba-Sutter Symphony Orchestra and served as the Yuba City Unified School District Supervisor of Music, created his own arrangements for some of the Disney selections. Playing Disney music is familiar territory for Mara, whose resume includes recording artist for the background tracks heard at Disneyland’s Main Street, USA. For “It’s A Small World,” Mara will lead the band below a large stage, custombuilt by the choir. River City Chorale is in many ways a do-it-yourself operation, and finding a venue that met all of the group’s needs – space for the traveling stage, plus 26 to 28 eight-person tables

and kitchen storage for food and drink – was a challenge, according to Adcock, but “Serbian Hall is a wonderful venue that has everything.” The choir is also like a family, explained Adcock, who joined in 2016. “You get very close to the people that you sing with. We care about each other – not just in the music that we make, but also in how our lives go, how we interact,” she said. The members practice weekly and focus on harmonization and memorization. The latter is the more challenging part, according to Muther. “Memoriza tion gets harder as you get older,” he quipped. For the upcoming concert, Muther had to learn a lot of songs that were new to him, including the Oscar- and

Grammy-winning, “Let It Go.” In fact, Muther said he only watched “Frozen” for the first time a few weeks ago. “But my grandkids had seen it, of course. They knew all the songs,” he added. With numbers from “The Little Mermaid,” “The Jungle Book,” “Toy Story” and more, the group hopes children and adults alike will know all the words and hear their favorites in a new way. “It’s A Small World” is River City Chorale’s most popular concert and is expected to sell out. Seats are available by calling 331-5810 and by visiting rivercitychorale.org. Tickets cost $25 for general admission and $15 for children ages 5 to 12. Serbian Hall is located at 777 Sunset Ave. in Fair Oaks.

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FEBRUARY 2017 • CALIFORNIA KIDS! Family Fun Guide

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Make it yourself!

Beaded Ornament

Loveworm Bookmark

ake this loveworm bookmark craft for kids for Valentine’s Day - he’s cute, quick and fun and makes a sweet gift!

his beaded ornament is fun for kids to make for Valentine’s Day or Christmas - it looks very pretty hung on a tree or in the window - or you could even make a miniature version as a pendant!

You will need:

You will need: Craft wire Beads

Instructions: Bend your wire into a simple shape. Thread the beads onto the wire. Twist the ends together. Cut the wire so you are left with two over hanging pieces of wire. Twist the ends of these together to form a loop to hang.

Felt Heart Pillow

hildren can practice their sewing skills to make this pretty felt heart pillow - then decorate it with odds and ends to make it really special. Perfect for Valentine’s Day or Mother’s Day.

Strip of card 6 small craft foam hearts 1 large craft foam heart 2 tiny craft foam hearts chenille stem 2 small wiggle eyes red pen heart sticker glue

Instructions: Stick six of the small hearts in a column overlapping the top of one heart over the point of the heart above. This is the body. Stick the large heart on top. This is the head. Cut two short pieces of chenille stem. Stick these to the back of the head. Stick a tiny heart to the end of each piece of chenille stem. Glue on the wiggle eyes to the head, add a heart sticker for the nose and draw on a mouth.

Valentine Straw

You will need: 2 sheets of felt in pink or red Fabric glue Beads, sequins, fabric paint etc to decorate needle and thread Stuffing

Instructions: Cut two large hearts from the felt using one of our heart templates. Decorate the two hearts with anything that you can find in your craft cupboard. You may decide to decorate only one of the hearts, or you may prefer an all over design. When the fabric paint and glue is dry, use running stitch to sew the two hearts together. Leave a gap to stuff the pillow (we used fabric scraps but you could use toy stuffing). Sew up the gap and knot the thread securely.

ress up your Valentine’s Day with these fun Valentine drinking straws!

You will need: A drinking straw Craft foam Decorative bits and pieces Glue Paper rose

Instructions: Cut a heart from foam (or use a pre-cut one). Decorate the heart with stickers, gems and other bits and pieces. Twist the rose around the straw. Cover the wire by sticking on the decorated heart with a small dab of glue or double sided tape.

Crafts courtesy of: www.Activity Village.co.uk - Keeping Kids Busy 4

CALIFORNIA KIDS! Family Fun Guide • FEBRUARY 2017

THE BOOK REPORT

Counting books with more than numbers By Susan L. Roberts

ounting is never boring when numbers are disguised in a story readers find fascinating. Many parents love that books introduce numbers and other educational concepts at the same time. Whether the reader likes rollicking fun or likes to quietly pore over new concepts, there’s a counting book for everyone. Consider these fun, informative, creative, beautiful or “made for a princess” counting books! 10 Little Ninjas by Miranda Paul, illustrated by Nate Wragg (Alfred A. Knopf, ages 2-5) A counting book, a playful rhyme, a new imaginative scene on every page, a few new words introduced, bright colors, parents who love their children and fun on every page—a recipe for a perfectly fun read! Ten children sneak out of bed for a little fun. First, they pretend they are ninjas, then they take a trip in outer space as astronauts, then they race around the track and one by one the children begin to return to bed—sort of. Action lives on every page until all the children are finally in bed and asleep. With 10 lively imaginations, every reader is bound to find their favorite dream in the book. Illustrator Nate Wragg dramatized Miranda Paul’s perfectly rhymed story into a perfect read aloud. Written by a local author. FEBRUARY 2017 • CALIFORNIA KIDS! Family Fun Guide

Mousequerade Ball, A Counting Tale by Lori Mortensen, illustrated by Betsy Lewin (Bloomsbury, ages 2-5) With perfect rhyme woven into a complete story, this book teaches counting skills under a dashing cloak of fun! Award-winning Lori Mortensen and Betsy Lewin have another winner. We follow the crowd to the Mousequerade Ball and meet the entire cast of tidy mice who clean the rooms, blacktied mice who strum their lutes, baker mice who prepare fluff puff crumbs and silly jesters that do amazing tricks. UNTIL…a cat arrives. Then we count down as splendid ladies scatter across the floor, buccaneers scramble out the door and mice dash into sacks and cracks. UNTIL…they learn the cat came to dance! A fun story set in an elegant castle, perfect for young princes and princesses. Written by a local author. Swallow the Leader, A Counting Book, by Danna Smith, illustrated by Kevin Sherry (Clarion Books, ages 2-5) In perfect rhyme we follow the leader, swimming into coral caves, riding waves, flapping like a ray, and puffing like a blowfish. But as the school of fish grows, readers watch a shark swim nearby and become fish number ten! Suddenly the game turns into “swallow the leader”…but don’t despair, the surprise ending will delight children into peals of

laughter! They’ll want to read it again and again. Big, bold colorful fish swim through watercolor backgrounds making this a visual delight—an opportunity to practice both numbers and colors! Written by a local author. Tracks Count/ A Guide to Counting Animal Prints by Steve Engel, illustrated by Alexander Petersen (Craigmore Creations, ages 2-6) While it’s sold as a counting book— which it is—Track Counts is so much more. Each number, beginning with zero, includes a few educational words about a different animal, one to four short sentences early readers can practice reading on their own, and a richly rendered illustration of the animals belonging to the foot prints. The book includes an introduction, for the adults; a two-page spread showing the numbers 1-10 with their foot prints—for the kids; and a short description of each of the animals featured. A perfect book for early counters, children will have fun counting all the toes, claws and hooves of the animals—there’s a lot of counting going on in this book! Reviewers Pick of the Month One North Star, A Counting Book, by Phyllis Root, illustrated by Beckie Prange and Betsy Bowen (University of Minnesota Press, ages 2-6) One North Star is ever so much more than a ‘counting’ book. Its wood carv-

ings and rich color illustrations pull the reader into a wonderful poetic recounting that explores Minnesota’s North Star country. Readers roam through forest, bluffs, marshes, rivers, bogs, and prairies. And in each terrain, they are introduced to animals, birds, insects, and plants found there. So much to explore. Each page, rich in details, is a beauty to feast upon; readers will almost breathe in each terrain’s smells. Fortunately, the book includes a directory of each terrain and each item mentioned, as well as how to find the North Star. Susan L. Roberts (www.Books4theCuriousChild.com) lives in Sacramento, CA where she reads dozens of picture books each month and reviews the best to help parents and teachers find books that will inspire and develop a child’s curiosity and love of life.

Parties!

The Name Game

T Anagram Challenge

his is a very adaptable game, which can be fun at a party, mixed age gathering, a rainy afternoon or a plane journey! It takes a little preparation. Age: 6+

You will need: Letter tiles - lots! Use tiles from an existing game (such as Scrabble), make your own by cutting pieces of card into small squares and lettering them, or print out a set of our Letter Tiles or one of our fun Alphabets.

How to play: Depending on the number of players, you may want to divide the children into teams. If you have many more than 3 or 4 teams you will need an awful lot of tiles! Mix up the age groups if appropriate. Choose a collection of words for your challenge, which you believe that each child or team will be able to unscramble. Younger children will need simple words and fewer of them; older age groups can probably cope with 5 or 6 longer words at a time. You should try to theme each group of words.

For example: For young children, farmyard animals - duck, cat, dog and cow. For older children, farmyard animals - duck, cat, dog, cow, goose and chicken For mixed age groups, including adults, animals - goose, chicken, giraffe, lion, antelope Give each player or team a stack of the letters that will form their words, and a hint to get them started. Your hint could apply to the group (“you will find all of these on the farm”) or specific to one word (“it has two stomachs”). The first player or team to unscramble all their words wins.

Hints: This game can become quite addictive! Once children understand how to play, they can set each other challenges. Suggest they pick a 5, 6 or 7 letter word (as appropriate to their age) and find the correct letters, then simultaneously hand the letters to another player and see who can work out their anagram first. If a player makes another word - as long as it is correct - that still counts!

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his is probably my all-time favorite game, as it can be tailored for all occasions, works with all ages, breaks the ice when people don’t know each other, and causes much merriment even when played with the best of friends. Age: 8+

You will need: Some small sticky notes (post-its) A pen

How to play: Write the name of a famous person or character on a sticky note for each party-goer. Characters can be dead or alive, fictional or non-fictional, real or “cartoon”. Making sure that the player can’t see it, stick the note to their forehead. When everyone is named, expect a lot of giggling to start with! Then the players mingle and walk around the room asking the sort of questions that can be answered by “yes”, “no” and “not applicable” to try to work out who they are.

Example: (The character is “Hansel” from Hansel and Gretel) Am I a girl? No Am I alive? No Am I handsome? Not applicable Am I in history books? No Am I old? No Am I famous? Hmmmm. Yes, I suppose so. Am I real? No

Am I a film character? No Am I in story books? Yes Am I Pinocchio? No Am I nice? Yes Am I clever? Yes and so on..

Hints: Choose your names carefully so that all the party-goers will know the characters and be able to answer the questions. You can use characters which are particularly appropriate to the situation, such as the children’s headmaster or even the name of the party child. Be prepared to give hints if necessary. We used the example above recently and the child was completely stuck. In the end I suggested that the character had a sister who was just as famous as he was, and a wicked stepmother, and the correct answer was guessed. If you prefer you can pin a larger piece of paper on each players back rather than use sticky notes. This may be better on a hot day or when the children can’t be trusted to keep their sticky note on their forehead!

Variations: Use famous “pairs” (such as Prince Charming and Cinderella, Sherlock Holmes and Dr Watson). People not only have to guess their own identity but find their partner. You will need a much bigger number of players for this to work, as it becomes too easy to look at other people’s names and just ask straight out if you are their opposite number.

CALIFORNIA KIDS! Family Fun Guide • FEBRUARY 2017

Soak up some family fun at Grover Hot Springs By Carmel L. Mooney

rover Hot Springs in Alpine County, California is the only “clothing mandatory” hot springs location in the Sierra where a family can enjoy natural mineral-fed water while taking in spectacular snowy vistas and majestic backdrops in a safe, familyfriendly environment. You will most likely need a 4-wheel drive or chains for your excursion in the snow. Be sure to pack a beach towel and some water and snacks. After stopping for provisions in nearby Markleeville at the little general store, prepare to take the scenic four-mile jaunt to the hot springs for a soak amidst the snow. There will likely be plenty of it at about 5,900 feet elevation. Once you arrive in the gorgeous Grover Hot Springs State Park you’ll see an outcropping of buildings that house the magical hot springs across the open meadow. This geologic wonder is located on the east side of the Sierra at the edge of the Great Basin Province in an open pine forest with sagebrush and sweeping meadows. This is where Washoe Indians and early settlers once enjoyed these same waters for their curative and therapeutic properties. While a century ago it served as a resort for the Markleeville Hotel, this same sparkling and steamy oasis now offers a calm respite for visitors of all ages from around the world. The water at Grover Hot Springs, unlike most hot springs, contains hardly any sulfur, but rather a perfect mix of sodium carbonate, sulphate, and chloride to ease your weary muscles and calm frazzled nerves. A park ranger monitors both the therapeutic soaking pool and the mineral-fed swimming pool so there is no need to worry about inappropriate behavior or nudity. Two separate changing rooms for men and women are provided and cubbies outside by the pools offer a great place within sight to set your towels and valuables while you relax. From September through May the pool hours and days

of operation vary. It’s really best to call ahead for current operating hours. The number there is 530-694-2249. This may save you an unnecessary trip. Typical hours are from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., closed on Wednesdays. During the winter, when snow is covering the ground, the pool complex usually remains open. It may be closed during severe snow storms and blizzard conditions, or from high accumulations of snow on the roads. The road from Markleeville to the hot springs is generally well plowed during the winter, but it’s wise to always carry snow chains and a shovel when traveling in the Sierras during the winter. The day-use fee for the hot springs is $10 for adults and

$5 for children. Cash, checks (with I.D.), and credit cards are accepted. If you happen to visit when the snow has melted, before or after your soak, be sure to explore any of nearly a half dozen breathtaking walking trails starting at the springs. Some meander through forests of Jeffrey Pine, Ponderosa, Aspen and Sierra Juniper, along the Carson River and through meadows decorated with wildlife and flowers. There are some fantastic hiking trails for families right near the base of the hot springs where a family can see frozen waterfalls and other wintery nature scenes. Kids enjoy alternating between the hot springs and the warm pool where

kids tend to congregate and play while parents often opt for longer soaks in the hot springs. Lake Tahoe, Kirkwood, Hope Valley, and many other

family destinations are nearby which makes Grover Hot Springs State Park, a great family hang out after skiing or while embarking on a wintery road trip.

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FEBRUARY 2017 • CALIFORNIA KIDS! Family Fun Guide

Who wrote that?

Q. What was it like seeing your book come to life? A. Seeing the illustrations for the first time was quite emotional and amazing. I knew from the moment the publisher told me Doug Hansen was the illustrator that Oogie was in the best possible hands.

KIDLIT CREATORS WHO MAKE KIDS WANT TO READ An interview with with Karen J. Moore

(Editor’s Note: Published author Karen J. Moore is a wife, mother, and grandmother who lives in Northern California. She spent 17 years working with elementary school students as a literacy tutor and a Title 1 instructional aide. She has volunteered as a 4-H leader, and at Valley Children’s Hospital for almost four years. Not surprisingly, she loves reading and writing. Karen says she has a deep desire to inspire parents and children to read, read, read...which is exactly what you’d hope an author would say! She recently talked with fellow author Bitsy Kemper about her writing journey.) Q. Do you have a favorite writing place or process? A. I like to spend a little extra time in bed in the mornings to visit with my characters and explore plot points. I need to have most of a story worked through in my head before I begin to write. Q. Laptop, or pencil and paper? A. Typically, I write everything out on a yellow legal pad. It’s pretty messy. Then, I begin to type it out and tighten and edit. It’s a process. My Australian Shepherd, Shay, listens to me read my manuscripts out loud as I develop each character’s voice...no judgment. Q. Why do you create? A. I create because it’s part of who I am. I have a lot of interesting characters tromping around in my head with stories to tell, and I’m in the process of learning to tell them. (The only way to convince everyone I’m not just crazy.) Q. Do you have a standard source of inspiration? A. I have four grandchildren from 22 months to eight years.

By Bitsy Kemper

Q. What’s next for you? A. I hope to dig deeper and continue to grow as a writer and explore different genres, although picture books are where my heart is right now. I feel that picture books are for everyone; they can entertain the youngest and inspire the oldest. Who Wrote That? is a monthly column that profiles the talented authors and illustrators who bring children’s books to life.

Lisa M. Bakos

They are a constant gold mine of ideas. Some are pretty quirky, but you never know! Q. How do you know when an idea is right? A. When I began to write for children almost six years ago, I had no idea where to start. I found an experienced illustrator who helped me through the self-publishing journey, which culminated in my first picture book, Journey of the Knight. It wasn’t until I found SCBWI [Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators] that I really started to learn the craft. I also joined a Writing for Publication class. The generosity of the “kidlit” community has made all the difference for me. Q. Do you do much with other writers? A. I’m part of a critique group known as the Sassy Scribes. I’m continually inspired by this group of talented spirited ladies. We lift each other up. Q. Is being traditionallypublished different than being self-published? A. Good question. I learned a lot through the self-publish-

ing process that I wouldn’t have otherwise learned, so I’m grateful for that. When I was offered my first contract from a traditional publisher, it felt different, because someone else believed in my work enough to publish it. It was very humbling. Q. Are you still learning? A. Oh yes. I approach all conferences and workshops I attend with a hunger to learn all I can from those who know so much more than I do. I’m looking forward to attending SCBWI’s annual “Spring Spirit 2017” writing conference on April 1 in Citrus Heights; it’s open to anyone. They have classes for beginners as well as published writers. This will be my fifth year attending and I always learn so much and come away energized. The workshops and keynote speakers are top-notch. I also hope to attend the larger SCBWI conference in Los Angeles again this year. Q. Did any of that learning play a role in your books?

A. The ups and downs of learning the craft of writing for children led to Pen the Tale, Oogie. Oogie is a giant bear, who is a great and wonderful storyteller, until it comes to writing his stories down. He faces all the typical problems like writer’s block and of course, rejection. It’s a story of friendship, perseverance, and at the very heart of it, about being true to yourself.

Bitsy Kemper is author of 16 children’s books. You may have seen Bitsy on CNN, heard her on national radio, noticed her quoted in a range of places from Parenting magazine to Writing Children’s Books for Dummies, or seen her work in countless newspapers, radio and TV stations across the U.S of A. Busy with three kids (four if you count her husband), she happily finds time to present at schools and writer conferences from CA to NY. Find out more at www.BitsyKemper.com

LEARN MORE ABOUT KAREN J. MOORE Website: kcmonkeybug.com

Why “kcmonkeybug”? Karen’s nickname in high school was KC, and she called her son Monkeybug when he was little, so she put them together for a unique and memorable website name. “Learning to write for children is a deep, deep well, and I’ve only splashed the surface.”

BOOKS BY KAREN J. MOORE Pen the Tale, Oogie by: Karen J Moore Illustrated by: Doug Hansen Publisher: Barn Owl Media, an imprint of HBE Publishing Date of publication: November 30, 2016 Available on Amazon and barnesandnoble.com Helpful note: a Teacher’s Guide is included in the back of the book A Story for CleoCatra will be coming out mid-year, and Drots the Dragobotosaurus should be launching towards the end of the year.

CALIFORNIA KIDS! Family Fun Guide • FEBRUARY 2017

“Toxic stress” among children and infants get attention on a statewide level By Gavin Loveless

n late December, Assemblyman Kevin McCarty was named Chair of the Assembly Budget Subcommittee on Education Finance. For those who don’t know, Assemblyman McCarty will be overseeing California’s massive annual budget towards California education. In the past, billions of dollars have been invested in hundreds of K-12 programs as well as California’s community colleges, UC, and CSU systems. When McCarty was named Chairman he released a statement vowing to “close the educational opportunity and achievement gaps,” and “to improve affordability and accessibility for early education opportunities.” McCarty wants to invest more in early education than we already do. This is why he is committed to fixing the affordability problem for younger advanced education that we have in California. Earlier in the month as McCarty introduced “Assembly Bill 11” (AB 11) that enacts a child care intervention partnership that will help children and infants who suffer from a disease known as “Toxic stress”. Toxic stress has been known to affect younger children who have family members that go through series of hardships. Some of these hardships include physical, emotional or sexual abuse, mental illness, substance abuse, domestic violence or neglect. While suffering from this stress, the child’s brain is altered and the child is unable to learn and interact with others they way they normally would. McCarty believes that by introducing this bill, there will be more time and energy put into early education. This will come with hope that children who suffer from toxic stress can have that relieved. “Young children who suffer from toxic stress need a comprehensive and integrated support system that brings early learning, early intervention, health and family supports together to provide the strong foundation they need to begin to recover and eventually thrive,” said Scott Moore, Executive Director of Kidango, an early childhood education advocacy organization. Research has shown that investing your time in a young child’s education can go a long way to prevent things such as heart disease, substance abuse, and depression.

New law underway with child safety seats

uckling up is the single most effective thing you can do to protect yourself and your passengers in a crash. It is extremely important to make sure all children riding in your car be properly secured before every trip. Thousands of children are injured or killed every year because their child passenger safety seats are not installed properly. Remember, most collisions occur within a mile of the home – so buckle your child in a safety seat for every trip, no matter how short. If you’re not confident of how to properly secure your child in a safety seat, contact your local CHP Area Office, and ask to speak with a child passenger safety technician. As of Jan. 1, 2017, children under 2 years of age shall ride in a rear-facing car seat unless the child weighs 40 or more pounds or is 40 or more inches tall. The child shall be secured in a manner Photo courtesy that complies with the height and weight limits This Baby Trend’s PROtect Sport Convertible Car Seat can help California parents abide by the new specified by the manufacturer of the car seat. https://www.chp.ca.gov/programs-services/programs/child-safety-seats

laws and provide their young children with a safer car ride. The car seat can be used rear-facing for children weighing 5 to 40 pounds, and forward facing up to 65 pounds.

Heidrick Ag History Museum gears up for special March event

he California Agriculture Museum is home to the nation’s most unique collection of tractors and artifacts. Interactive exhibits tell the history of farm to fork, dating back to the Gold Rush era. Hear local storytellers boast of how California food producers did things bigger and better, evolving from horse drawn, to steam driven, to fuel powered machines, eventually becoming the state’s economic driver. Learn how farming brought a variety of heritages and cultures to one region, to prosper together in this bountiful land. Fun and educational for the entire family. The museum is dedicated to enhancing understanding and appreciation of California’s rich cultural heritage through the presentation of its collection and rotating exhibits. The museum’s core collection was established by Fred Heidrick Senior and consists of rare examples of tractors,

harvesters, trucks, autos, horse-drawn implements, and other artifacts that tell the California story. The museum continues to grow through the generosity of California growers and collectors. Join us at the California Agriculture Museum on March 18th from 10 am – 2 pm to see our fabulous collection of early California farm equipment and vehicles as well as several visiting engines and tractors. There will be music, demonstrations, a new exhibit, and we’ve expanded our kids’ corner for even more fun! Don’t miss a chance to climb on a Caterpillar 10! Event is free with regular admission. The cost is $10-$5 with discounts for seniors, students, and military. Kids under 5 are free. The museum is located at 962 Hays Lane in Woodland. For more information, call 530-6669700 or visit www.aghistory.org.

Ages 3½ thru adult Private piano instruction Over 30 years of teaching experience FEBRUARY 2017 • CALIFORNIA KIDS! Family Fun Guide

piano-cat@myway.com

(916) 238-8072

What’s Happening, Kids! WEDNESDAY, FEB. 1 WEE WEDNESDAY AT THE CROCKER MUSEUM: From 10:30 and 11 a.m. children ages 3-5 and their parents are invited on a journey through art! FREE for all member of the museum and FREE for all non members with general admission. Crocker Museum: 216 O St., Sacramento.

THURSDAY, FEB. 2 3RD ANNUAL CRAB FEED AND DESSERT AUCTION: From 6-8pm in Curtis Hall there will be an all inclusive Crab Feed and Dessert Auction. Fees include $50/ person and/or $450/table. Proceeds benefit the Sierra 2 Center and McClatchy High School academic clubs. Dinner is included with the fee as well as entertainment by Sac Prep Music Academy. Located at 2791 24th St.

SATURDAY FEB. 4 SACRAMENTO MUSEUM DAY: From 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Fairytale Town there will be a low cost cultural event for all ages! Admission is $2.88 for adults and children ages 2 or older. Children under the age of 1 are free! This is supposed to encourage all citizens of Sacramento to learn more about our history. Located at 3901 Land Park Drive, Sacramento.

SUNDAY, FEB. 5 LAND PARK SCHOOLS FOUNDATION CHILI COOK-OFF AND CORN BREAD SUPERBOWL EXTRAVAGANZA: From 3 to 8 p.m., The Land Park Schools Foundation will have its 4th Annual Super Bowl Sun-

day Chili and Cornbread Cookoff ! Enter your best chili or cornbread for a friendly competition, or a game day dish to share! Official Park Terrace Swim and Tennis Club, 5500 Parkfield Court.

MONDAY, FEB. 6 ALL ABOARD FOR STORY TIME: Every Monday from 11-11:30am at the California State Railroad Museum there will be story time! Fun for ages 2-5. Volunteers will read a different railroad related book every week! Cost is FREE with Museum admission. 125 I Street, Sacramento, CA 95814.

TUESDAY, FEB. 7 POP-UP BOOK SALE From 11am-5:30pm come on down to the Belle Cooledge Library to score some great books! The sale will be held at the entrance of the Belle Cooledge Library. All proceeds benefit Library programs. Held at 5600 South Land Park Drive.

SUNDAY, FEB. 12 I HEART SACRAMENTO ZOO!: All ages welcome to this Valentine’s Day themed experience! Sacramento Zoo teens will provide games and activities for all participants. General admission is required and the event will last from 9am4pm! 3930 West Land Park Drive, Sacramento.

SUNDAY FEB. 19 SCIENCE SUNDAYS AT THE SACRAMENTO CHILDREN’S MUSEUM: All day at the Sacramento Children’s Museum

join Team Leo for science activities! 2701 Prospect Park, Rancho Cordova.

LIBRARY EVENTS Arden-Dimick Library TEENS ONLY NIGHT – Come for free pizza, video games, movies, activities, crafts and more at this after-hours program. Open to teens in grades 612. Friday, Feb. 3 from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at Arden-Dimick Library, 891 Watt Ave., Sacramento. FRIENDS BOOK SALE – Join the library for a two-day Community Book Sale. Thousands of books will be available at low, low prices, including a nice selection of children’s books. Friends of the Library receive a 10 percent discount (except during bag sale) and membership information will be available at the sale. Proceeds go toward programs and materials at the Arden-Dimick branch of the Sacramento Public Library. Friday, Feb. 3 from 1:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. and Saturday, Feb. 4 from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. at Arden-Dimick Library, 891 Watt Ave., Sacramento. HEARTS AND CRAFTS – Join the library in making salt dough hearts, just in time for Valentine’s Day. Open to kids and their adults. Thursday, Feb. 9 from 4:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. at Arden-Dimick Library, 891 Watt Ave., Sacramento. Anti-Valentine’s Day Party – Un-celebrate Valentine’s Day at our party dedicated to being un-romantic, un-attached, and un-hung up on Valentine’s Day. Open to teens in grades 6-12. Friday, Feb. 10 from 4:00 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. at Arden-Dimick Library, 891 Watt Ave., Sacramento. TALES OF BR’ER RABBIT – Watch the traditional African American tales of Br’e r Rabbit brought to life with humor, large table-top puppets, a live banjo and singing! Br’e r Rabbit may be small, but he has his wits. That doesn’t keep him out of trouble, but does tend to get him out of it, once he gets into it. When he comes up against the likes of Br’e r Fox and Br’e r Bear, it turns out they are no match for the clever rabbit. All ages welcome. Thursday, Feb. 16 from 4:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. at Arden-Dimick Library, 891 Watt Ave., Sacramento. ANIME CLUB FOR TEENS – Join us for Anime, manga, gaming and crafts for teens in grades 6-12. Friday, Feb. 17 from 4:00 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. at Arden-Dimick Library, 891 Watt Ave., Sacramento.

MOVIE MADNESS: The Secret Life of Pets – It’s family movie night at the library! This month we’re showing The Secret Life of Pets. Free film, free popcorn! All ages welcome. Wednesday, Feb. 22 from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at Arden-Dimick Library, 891 Watt Ave., Sacramento. TEEN ADVISORY GROUP (TAB) MEETING – Want to have a say in what the Arden-Dimick Library does for teens? Want to earn volunteer credit for school? Then hang out with us, eat some snacks, and help us plan programs and events! TAB looks AMAZING on college/scholarship applications! Open to teens in grades 6-12. Friday, Feb. 24 from 4:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. at Arden-Dimick Library, 891 Watt Ave., Sacramento. BELLE COOLEDGE LIBRARY HOMEWORK ZONE – Teen and adult volunteer homework coaches will be available to assist students in grades K-8 with homework assignments. Please note: there will be no Homework Zone from Dec. 22, 2016 through Jan. 12, 2017, and ends on June 8, 2016. Space is available with coaches on a first-come, first-served basis. Wednesdays from 4:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. and Thursdays from 3:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. at Belle Cooledge Library, 5600 South Land Park Dr., Sacramento. SING ALONG WITH MISTER COOPER – Join neighborhood favorite Mister Cooper for 30 minutes of music time and freeze dancing for families. Saturdays from 11:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. at Belle Cooledge Library, 5600 South Land Park Dr., Sacramento. Elk Grove Library BABY STORYTIME – Looking for a fun, fabulous and educational program for you and your baby (ages 0-18 months)? Join us for stories, movement, and songs followed by stay and play. Tuesdays at 12 noon at Elk Grove Library. 8900 Elk Grove Blvd., Elk Grove, CA 95624. TODDLER STORYTIME – Toddlers aged 18 months-3 years are invited to enjoy stories, music and more! Wednesdays at 10 a.m. at Elk Grove Library. 8900 Elk Grove Blvd., Elk Grove, CA 95624. PRESCHOOL STORYTIME – Children aged 3-5 years old are invited to enjoy stories, music and more. Thursdays at 11 a.m.

at Elk Grove Library. 8900 Elk Grove Blvd., Elk Grove, CA 95624. VALENTINE’S CRAFTS – Join the library to make Valentine cards and more! All ages are welcome. Wednesday, Feb. 8 at 3:30 p.m. at Elk Grove Library. 8900 Elk Grove Blvd., Elk Grove, CA 95624. MOVIE MATINEE – Join us for a fun all ages movie matinee! Feel free to bring your own (non-messy) snack! For title information, check www.saclibrary.org. Wednesday, Feb. 15 at 3:30 p.m. at Elk Grove Library. 8900 Elk Grove Blvd., Elk Grove, CA 95624. FROM AFRICA TO THE AMERICAS WITH FENIX DRUM – Fenix Drum and Dance Company present a special all ages program to celebrate Black History Month. Travel from Africa to the United States and to the Caribbean through interactive music, dance, and storytelling! Wednesday, Feb. 22 at 3:30 p.m. at Elk Grove Library. 8900 Elk Grove Blvd., Elk Grove, CA 95624. FRANKLIN COMMUNITY LIBRARY TEEN ADVISORY BOARD (TAB) MEETING – Join the Teen Advisory Board (TAB). Through TAB, teens learn and develop leadership and teamwork skills, goal setting and management, select book titles and other materials, earn community service hours and have fun. This free program is hosted by the Franklin Community. Wednesday, Feb. 1 from 3:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. at Franklin Community Library, 10055 Franklin High Road, Elk Grove. FAMILY MOVIE NIGHT – Join us for a free movie and popcorn for all ages! February’s movie will be “Jump In,” a Disney channel original movie. Thursday, Feb. 2 from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at Franklin Community Library, 10055 Franklin High Road, Elk Grove. READ TO A DOG – Boost beginning reading ability by reading to a specially trained therapy dog! Dogs are accompanied by their trained adult volunteers. Bring a favorite book or select one from the library’s collection and enjoy reading to a furry friend. Saturday, Feb. 4 from 11:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. at Franklin Community Library, 10055 Franklin High Road, Elk Grove. CHOCOLATE TASTING PARTY FOR TEENS – Celebrate Valentine’s Day by sampling different kinds of chocolate and choose your favorite. Make cool cards, too! This free program for teens requires registration at www.saclibrary.org. Wednesday, Feb. 8 from 3:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. at Franklin Community Library, 10055 Franklin High Road, Elk Grove. FENIX DRUM & DANCE BLACK HISTORY MONTH CELEBRATION FOR ALL AGES – Celebrate Black History Month at the Franklin Community Library with Fenix Drum and Dance Ensemble. Travel from Africa to the United States and to the Caribbean through interactive music, dance, and storytelling. Friday, Feb. 10 from 4:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. at Franklin Community Library, 10055 Franklin High Road, Elk Grove. TEENS CELEBRATE BLACK HISTORY MONTH – Come paint with us in the style of Jacob Lawrence, an African-Amer-

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CALIFORNIA KIDS! Family Fun Guide • FEBRUARY 2017

What’s Happening, Kids! Continued from page 10

p.m. to 5:00 p.m. at Ella K. McClatchy Library, 2112 22nd St., Sacramento.

ican artist known for his powerful portrayal of African-American life. Wednesday, Feb. 15 from 3:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. at Franklin Community Library, 10055 Franklin High Road, Elk Grove.

AFRICAN PRINCESS (AND SUPERHERO) PARTY WITH FENIX DRUM AND DANCE COMPANY – Put on your best princess (or superhero) outfit and come celebrate Black History Month with us by joining us for this African Princess Party. Fenix Drum and Dance Company will entertain us with African stories, songs, dances, snacks and drumming for everyone! Family/All Ages. Saturday, Feb. 25 from 2:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. at Ella K. McClatchy Library, 2112 22nd St., Sacramento.

ISLETON LIBRARY MAKE AND TAKE SCENTED FABRIC HEARTS – Valentine crafting fun! Make fabric scented hearts that can be shared with your Valentine or kept for yourself. Or make colorful paper bookmarks. Valentine treats served. For Adults and Teens. Saturday Feb. 4, 10:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. Isleton Library, 412 Union Street, Isleton. BLIND DATE WITH A BOOK! – Don’t judge a book by its cover. Choose a book that you absolutely love from any genre then wrap it, tag it with clues, and bring it to our bookclub meeting for a white elephant style exchange. We’ll meet back at the table April 1 to discuss our blind date book. Valentine treats will be served. For Adults and Teens. Saturday Feb. 11 from 10:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. Isleton Library, 412 Union Street, Isleton. GETTING YOUR LICENSE? – Are you a teen getting ready to apply for your driver’s license? Come to our informative workshop and play games, do practice tests and learn what will happen at the behind the wheel exam. You’ll learn a lot in a fun, stress-free environment. Refreshments served. For Teens. Friday, Feb. 17 from 6:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Isleton Library 412 Union Street, Isleton. ELLA K. MCCLATCHY LIBRARY VALENTINE’S CARDS AND COOKIES – Make a Valentine’s Day card or a Valentine’s cookie for your favorite sweetheart– or make both! All materials, cookies and decorating items will be provided. School Age. Saturday, Feb. 4 from 2:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. at Ella K. McClatchy Library, 2112 22nd St., Sacramento. FAMILY STORYTIME – Please join us every Tuesday at 10:00 a.m. for books, songs, stories and fun. Miss Lindsey and her guitar always make this story time a fun event. Everyone is welcome to stay for our STEAM stay and play activity of the day. Recommended for ages 0-5. Every Tuesday from 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. at Ella K. McClatchy Library, 2112 22nd St., Sacramento. LEGO MANIA! –Like building with LEGOs? Join us for our monthly LEGO free-play afternoon! LEGOs and Duplo LEGOs will be provided. Family/All Ages. Saturday, Feb. 11 from 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. at Ella K. McClatchy Library, 2112 22nd St., Sacramento. TEEN BOOK CLUB – Join the library for a monthly teen book club meeting. Enjoy snacks and participate in a lively discussion of our book of the month. Copies of this month’s book will be available to pick up at the front desk. This month’s book: It’s Kind of a Funny Story by Ned Vizzini. For ages 13-18. Tuesday, Feb. 21 from 4:00

FEBRUARY 2017 • CALIFORNIA KIDS! Family Fun Guide

MCKINLEY LIBRARY SHAKESPEARE’S TWELFTH NIGHT – The San Francisco Shakespeare Festival presents their touring production of Twelfth Night. This heartfelt comedy follows the journeys of castaway twins who are separated in an unfamiliar land full of lovesick suitors and mischievous revelers. SF Shakes Education Director Carl Holvick stages this hour-long show, performed in Shakespeare’s original text. This fun-filled production includes walk-on roles where audience volunteers get into the act. Enjoy a post-show Q & A with the cast. Wednesday, Feb. 1 from 3:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. at McKinley Library, 601 Alhambra Blvd, Sacramento. READ TO A DOG – Read to a Dog is a fun and proven method for children to boost their reading skills by reading to a trained therapy dog. Children may bring their own books or borrow a book from the library’s collection. Tuesday, Feb. 6 from 3:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. at McKinley Library, 601 Alhambra Blvd, Sacramento. TEEN SPACE – Looking for something fun to do after school? Need a place where you’re free to hang out with your friends and have a snack? Come to the McKinley Library Teen Space, Wednesday, Feb. 8, 15 and 22 from 3:00 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. at McKinley Library, 601 Alhambra Blvd, Sacramento. VALENTINE’S CARDS & CREATIONS – Get ready for Valentine’s Day by making your own cards to give your special Valentines. Then make your own Valentine’s art out of buttons, pipe cleaners, pompoms and other fun decorations. This school-aged program takes place Friday, Feb. 10 from 3:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. at McKinley Library, 601 Alhambra Blvd, Sacramento. LEGO MANIA! – Like building with LEGOs? Join us for our monthly Lego free-play afternoon! LEGOs and DUPLO LEGOs will be provided for this family program. Friday, Feb. 17 from 3:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. at McKinley Library, 601 Alhambra Blvd, Sacramento. WHERE THE WILD THINGS ARE WITH THE SACRAMENTO PHILHARMONIC – Calling all wild things! Come join us as the Sacramento Philharmonic perform the classic story, Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak. Then stay to join the wild rumpus march, make wild things masks and monster slime, and view the different instruments used in the Philhar-

monic’s telling of this tale. Costumes are encouraged! This family program is Saturday, Feb. 18, 1:00 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. at McKinley Library, 601 Alhambra Blvd, Sacramento. MINECRAFT GAMING – Like building and creating new worlds in Minecraft? Come join us for an afternoon of Minecraft gaming! Each player will be given their own computer to battle with friends on our library server or build new creations and in creative, survival, or hardcore mode. Players of any level of experience are welcome to join. This is a school-age and teen program. Friday, Feb. 24 from 3:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. at McKinley Library, 601 Alhambra Blvd, Sacramento. SOUTH NATOMAS LIBRARY LEGO MANIA! – Come spend the afternoon playing and building with LEGO! This program is held on the first Wednesday of each month. Build something amazing and have your LEGO creation put on display at the library! LEGO blocks are for ages 5 and up; we will have Duplo blocks for kids 4 and under. Wednesday, Feb. 1 from 3:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. at South Natomas Library 2901 Truxel Road, Sacramento. CELEBRATE BLACK HISTORY MONTH – Local artist Elika Bernard will host a fun event for families featuring African-American storytelling, mask making, and drum playing! Afterward, magician Forrest Barnes will delight the crowd with his show featuring amazing inventions by African-American inventors. Saturday, Feb. 11 at 11:00 a.m. at South Natomas Library 2901 Truxel Road, Sacramento. SOUTHGATE LIBRARY STORYTIME @ SOUTHGATE – Toddlers and Preschoolers (18 months to 5 years) and their caregivers are welcome at this program of stories, songs, rhymes, and flannelboards. Every Wednesday, Feb. 1, 8, 15, 22 from 11:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. at Southgate Library, 6132 66th Ave., Sacramento. HOMEWORK ZONE – Drop-in homework help for elementary up to junior high school students. Volunteer homework coaches will assist students in grades K-8 with homework assignments. Every Thursday, Feb. 2, 9, 16, 23 from 4:00 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. at Southgate Library, 6132 66th Ave., Sacramento. LEGO MANIA @ SOUTHGATE – Calling all Lego builders and enthusiasts! We will provide the Legos and some ideas for building projects, if you come to the program ready to use your imagination and engineering skills. Friday, Feb. 3 from 4:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. at Southgate Library, 6132 66th Ave., Sacramento. SENSORY STORYTIME FOR FAMILY/ALL AGES – This inclusive storytime was developed for youth with autism and/or sensory disorders and their families/caregivers. It features songs, stories, sensory activities and interactive materials. The program is targeted for a developmental age of 2 to 6 years old. Behaviors

and/or noise are no problem. Siblings are welcome! Saturday, Feb. 4 from 10:30 a.m. to 11:15 a.m. at Southgate Library, 6132 66th Ave., Sacramento. SATURDAY STORYTIME – If you can’t make it to a storytime during the week, Join us every second Saturday for an afternoon storytime for the whole family. It’s designed for families and caregivers to enjoy books, songs, felt board stories, rhymes, and more. Saturday, Feb. 11 from 2:00 p.m. to 2:45 p.m. at Southgate Library, 6132 66th Ave., Sacramento. TEEN TUESDAYS, MINECRAFT @SOUTHGATE – Play Minecraft, an open world, adventure/ building game. You will gather materials to build the best creation you can imagine. We will have 12 laptops reserved for this special event, first come first served. Tuesday, Feb. 14 from 4:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. at Southgate Library, 6132 66th Ave., Sacramento. FRIDAY FAMILY FLICKS, FUN FOR ALL AGES – Join us for a fun family movie, “Storks.” Free popcorn will be provided. Friday, Feb. 17 from 4:00 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. at Southgate Library, 6132 66th Ave., Sacramento. AFTER SCHOOL SCIENCE CLUB – Do you like to investigate, create and get messy? Join the afterschool science club and explore fun hands-on science activities. Kids in grades K-8 welcome. Tuesday, Feb. 21 from 4:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. at Southgate Library, 6132 66th Ave., Sacramento. CELEBRATE BLACK HISTORY MONTH, AFRICAN MASKS – Led by an Instructor from the Crocker Art Museum, participants will make a mask inspired by African art. All ages. Saturday, Feb. 25 from 2:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. at Southgate Library, 6132 66th Ave., Sacramento. Sylvan Oaks Library SCIENCE CLUB: ATOMIC SCIENCE – Kids aged 8 to 12 and their families are invited to explore science concepts and create original projects with a variety of tools. This month, build a model of an atom out of a variety of materials while learning about atoms and their parts. Wednesday, Feb. 1 at 4:00 p.m. at Sylvan Oaks Library, 6700 Auburn Blvd, Citrus Heights. READ TO ROVER – Looking for a way to boost school-age reading skills? Children ages 2 through 12 can read aloud to a friendly therapy-trained dog (Molly the Miniature Poodle). We’ll have a special giveaway for you, too! No registration is required. “Read to Rover” at the library and make a new friend! Thursday, Feb. 9 at 4:00 p.m. at Sylvan Oaks Library, 6700 Auburn Blvd, Citrus Heights. LEGO MANIA! – Use our LEGOs and build to your heart’s content at the library. There will be plenty of bricks for everyone, so don’t be shy. Thursday, Feb. 23 from 3:30 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. at Sylvan Oaks Library, 6700 Auburn Blvd, Citrus Heights.