It's Time to Be Screen Smart! (April 29th-May 5th)

According to The Early Years Institute, "Children, today, spend an average of more than 7 hours a day in front of screen media, with only 16 minutes every day playing creatively and only 4 to 7 minutes outside per day."

This week, join in the national celebration with children, families, schools and communities everywhere to reduce screen-based entertainment media and turn on life! Play, create, explore and spend time with family and friends.

Make the pledge to Be Screen Smart at: www.eyi.org/screenfree.

Check out our Programs page to find screen-free activities for your child! Register online, over the phone or in person with your child's library card.

Register Today for Children's Programs in May!

Registration for children's programs in May has begun. Click here or on the Programs tab above to view our May line-up. View our online Newsletter for more program details.

Register online, over the phone or in person with your child's library card.

Write Your Own Poetry for National Poetry Month!

April is National Poetry Month! Have fun with poetry at the Poetry Beats Studio. Write your own poems and put them to a distinctive beat! Save and share your creations with your friends and family!

Need help getting started? Learn from an expert poet like Jack Prelutsky. Reserve Pizza, Pigs, and Poetry: How to Write a Poem by Jack Prelutsky here.

Reduce, Reuse & Recycle for Earth Day!

Happy Earth Day!

Would you like to learn more about how to reduce your waste, use less energy and help save the environment? Read a book!

Click here to view a list of some Earth Day books in our online catalog.

By the way, have you seen our Website of the Month? Check out the Recycle City website for some great information, games and activities you can do at home!

Celebrate Reading & Libraries @ CPL this April!

Click here to check out the most recent article posted to our blog for parents and children on the Port Jefferson Patch to find out why we are celebrating reading and libraries throughout the month of April! Psst... it might have something to do with National DEAR Day, National Library Week and El Dia de Los Ninos.

Celebrate National Library Week!

It's National Library Week!  Enjoy a short video from this year's Honorary Chair, Caroline Kennedy.

Also, don't forget about our National Library Week Create a Bookmark Contest!  Click here to download an entry form now.  All submissions are due by April 24th.

Animal Poems for National Poetry Month

Roses are red,

Violets are blue,

In April we read poems,

And you should too!

In honor of National Poetry Month, check out our new Animal Poetry shelf theme on the Books page! All listed books can be placed on reserve from our online catalog.

Create a Bookmark Contest!

National Library Week (April 14th-20th) is approaching! In celebration we are holding a Create a Bookmark Contest for children of all ages and students through grade 12. 

Click here to download an entry form. Make sure to return it to a Librarian in the Children's Department by Wednesday, April 24th. Winners will be announced on Wednesday, May 1st. Check back here at the Children's Corner blog to view the winning designs!

Winning bookmarks will be reproduced and made available in the Children's Department @CPL for a limited time, beginning May 1st.

New Website of the Month! - Recycle City

Earth Day is April 22! Get ready by visiting Recycle City!

At this website, you can find out about reusing things and reducing waste where you live. There are games, activities, facts, and links for you and your family.

Students in grades K-6 can click on the colorful Main Map and explore ways to recycle all over the neighborhood. Students in grades 4 and up can play the Dumptown Game to find out more about recycling programs.

For "Planet Protector" activities, download the Trash and Climate Change Activity Book.

Attention Parents: Read our full review on the Parents page.

If You Liked the Wizard of Oz...

Check out these other books about strange, yet wonderful imaginary worlds filled with remarkable characters and creatures... (Click on the book title to read a description from the library's online catalog)

The Search for WondLa by Tony DiTerlizzi
The Phantom Tollbooth by Norton Juster
The Storm in the Barn by Matt Phelan

"Toto, I have a feeling we are not in Kansas anymore."

~from The Wonderful Wizard of Oz by Frank L. Baum