Curtis Genereux and his helpful elves entertain at Reading with Friends

Guest reader Curtis Genereux, and his three helpful elves, entertained a full house of kids at Neighbor to Neighbor’s Reading with Friends on Friday, Dec. 14.

This month’s book was “The Night Before Christmas,” by Clement C. Moore.

His elves — grandchildren Matthew, Priscilla and Lucina Eubanks — provided visual and sound effects for Genereux’s reading. Their creative collaboration brought lots of laughs and applause from the kids and parents.

Since it was first published anonymously in 1823, “The Night Before Christmas” has enchanted children with the story of St. Nicholas climbing down the chimney and filling all the stockings before springing back to his sleigh.

Matthew, using aids such as a slide whistle and other mysterious items, brought the story to life down to the clatter of reindeer hooves on the roof.

The Reading with Friends story times for children 3 to 5 years old are on the second Fridays of the month and all begin at 10 a.m. at Neighbor to Neighbor, 103 E. Sixth St. Each session includes playtime and a snack for the children, plus each child will receive a free copy of that day’s book to take home.

There is a limit of 30 children per session so parents must register in advance. Call Neighbor to Neighbor at 785/262-4215 or email neighbortoneighbor@csjkansas.org.

The monthly program has been a part of Neighbor to Neighbor’s regular offerings since September 2012. The next Reading with Friends events will be Jan. 11.

This year’s Reading with Friends is made possible thanks to a grant from the Community Foundation for Cloud County.

‘The Night Before Christmas’ featured book at Reading with Friends

Neighbor to Neighbor has a very special book planned for this month’s Reading with Friends — “The Night Before Christmas,” by Clement C. Moore.

Since it was first published anonymously in 1823, “The Night Before Christmas” has enchanted children with the story of St. Nicholas climbing down the chimney and filling all the stockings before springing back to his sleigh. Many families read the poem every year, and this is an edition to treasure. The cherished verse is faithfully reproduced and accompanied by illustrator Charles Santore’s lavish illustrations.

Reading this most-loved poem is a classic family tradition and adds a magical component to every child’s Christmas!

The book will be read by special guest Curtis Genereux.

Story time will begin at 10 a.m. Friday, Dec. 14.

The story times for children 3 to 5 years old are on the second Fridays of the month and all begin at 10 a.m. at Neighbor to Neighbor, 103 E. Sixth St. Each session includes playtime and a snack for the children, plus each child will receive a free copy of that day’s book to take home.

There is a limit of 30 children per session so parents must register in advance. Call Neighbor to Neighbor at 785/262-4215 or email neighbortoneighbor@csjkansas.org.

The monthly program has been a part of Neighbor to Neighbor’s regular offerings since September 2012. The next Reading with Friends events will be Jan. 11.

This year’s Reading with Friends is made possible thanks to a grant from the Community Foundation for Cloud County.

 

“The Pout-Pout Fish” to be featured book at Reading with Friends

Swim along with the pout-pout fish at Neighbor to Neighbor as he discovers that being glum and spreading “dreary wearies” isn’t really his destiny.

Bright ocean colors and playful rhyme come together in Deborah Diesen’s fun fish story, “The Pout-Pout Fish,” that’s sure to turn even the poutiest of frowns upside down.

The book will be read by special guest Suzan Haver.

Story time will begin at 10 a.m. Friday, Nov. 9.

The story times for children 3 to 5 years old are on the second Fridays of the month and all begin at 10 a.m. at Neighbor to Neighbor, 103 E. Sixth St. Each session includes playtime and a snack for the children, plus each child will receive a free copy of that day’s book to take home.

There is a limit of 30 children per session so parents must register in advance. Call Neighbor to Neighbor at 785/262-4215 or email neighbortoneighbor@csjkansas.org.

The monthly program has been a part of Neighbor to Neighbor’s regular offerings since September 2012. The next Reading with Friends events will be Dec. 14.

This year’s Reading with Friends is made possible thanks to a grant from the Community Foundation for Cloud County.

‘Peterrific’ will be the featured book at Reading with Friends

Do you like to build things?
Then you might identify with the story of “Peterrific!” by Victoria Kann, this month’s featured book at Reading with Friends at Neighbor to Neighbor.
Kann is the New York Times best-selling author/artist of the “Pinkalicious” series of children’s books.
Story time will begin at 10 a.m. Friday, Oct. 12.
The story times for children 3 to 5 years old are on the second Fridays of the month and all begin at 10 a.m. at Neighbor to Neighbor, 103 E. Sixth St. Each session includes playtime and a snack for the children, plus each child will receive a free copy of that day’s book to take home.
There is a limit of 30 children per session so parents must register in advance. Call Neighbor to Neighbor at 785/262-4215 or email neighbortoneighbor@csjkansas.org.
The monthly program has been a part of Neighbor to Neighbor’s regular offerings since September 2012.
Upcoming Reading with Friends events will be Nov. 9 and Dec. 14.
This year’s Reading with Friends is made possible thanks to a grant from the Community Foundation for Cloud County.

Reading with Friends to start Sept. 14 at Neighbor to Neighbor

Have you ever moved to a new town or started a new school and had a hard timing making new friends?

Then you might identify with the story of “Peanut Butter & Cupcake!” by Terry Border, this month’s featured book at Reading with Friends at Neighbor to Neighbor.

Border, the photographer behind the “Bent Objects” project, wrote and photographed this hilarious and heartwarming story about fun, friendship and food. The bright, colorful pages will be displayed on the wall while the story is being read.

Story time will begin at 10 a.m. Friday, Sept 14. Sister Missy Ljungdahl will be the guest reader.

The story times for children 3 to 5 years old are on the second Fridays of the month and all begin at 10 a.m. at Neighbor to Neighbor, 103 E. Sixth St. Each session includes playtime and a snack for the children, plus each child will receive a free copy of that day’s book to take home.

There is a limit of 30 children per session so parents must register in advance. Call Neighbor to Neighbor at 785/262-4215 or email neighbortoneighbor@csjkansas.org.

The monthly program has been a part of Neighbor to Neighbor’s regular offerings since September 2012.

Upcoming Reading with Friends events will be Oct. 12, Nov. 9 and Dec. 14.

This year’s Reading with Friends is made possible thanks to a grant from the Community Foundation for Cloud  County.

‘Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day’

Ever have a terrible, horrible, no good, very bad day? Want to move to Australia?

Then you can relate to Alexander in the book, “Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day.” It will be the featured story at this week’s Reading with Friends at Neighbor to Neighbor.

Story time will begin at 10 a.m. Friday, March 9. Angela Eck will be the guest reader.

The story times for children 3 to 5 years old are all on the second Fridays of the month and all begin at 10 a.m. at Neighbor to Neighbor, 103 E. Sixth St. Each session will include playtime and a snack for the children, plus each child will receive a free copy of that day’s book to take home.

There is a limit of 30 children per session so parents must register in advance. Call Neighbor to Neighbor at 785/262-4215 or email neighbortoneighbor@csjkansas.org.

The monthly program has been a part of Neighbor to Neighbor’s regular offerings since September 2012.

This year’s Reading with Friends is made possible thanks to a generous donation from Betty Drake of Beloit.

Dancing polar bears entertain kids at Reading with Friends

“Did you know polar bears could dance?” asked guest reader Margo Hosie, quickly getting the attention of an active group of Concordia preschoolers. “Well they do in this book!”

The book was, “On the Night You Were Born” written and illustrated by Nancy Tillman. And the reading was Dec. 8 at Neighbor to Neighbor, as part of the ongoing Reading with Friends series. The book tells of all the wonderful, fanciful things that happen on the night a baby is born.

After reading the book with the children, Hosie shared a quilt that her mother gave her as an infant.

“I’m probably older than even your grandma,” Hosie said as she held up the quilt to giggles from the kids. “And this was given to me by my Mom on the day I was born.”

Reading with Friends offers story times for children 3 to 5 years old on the second Fridays of the month at 10 a.m. at Neighbor to Neighbor, 103 E. Sixth St. Each session includes playtime and a snack for the children, plus each child receives a free copy of that day’s book to take home.

There is a limit of 30 children per session so parents must register in advance. This was the third “Reading with Friends” program this fall. The monthly program has been a part of Neighbor to Neighbor’s regular offerings since September 2012. The next date will be Jan. 12, 2018.

To make reservations for January’s story time, call Neighbor to Neighbor at 785/262-4215 or email neighbortoneighbor@csjkansas.org.

This year’s Reading with Friends is made possible thanks to a generous donation from Betty Drake of Beloit.

‘Frederick’ to be featured book at Reading with Friends

Have a preschooler who would like to make friends with a field mouse?

Then bring your child to the next “Reading with Friends” to meet Frederick, the title character in a delightful book by Leo Lionni.

Story time will begin at 10 a.m. Friday, Nov. 10, and Jane Wahlmeier will be the guest reader.

The story times for children 3 to 5 years old are all on the second Fridays of the month and all begin at 10 a.m. at Neighbor to Neighbor, 103 E. Sixth St. Each session will include playtime and a snack for the children, plus each child will receive a free copy of that day’s book to take home.

There is a limit of 30 children per session so parents must register in advance. Call Neighbor to Neighbor at 785/262-4215 or email neighbortoneighbor@csjkansas.org.

This is the second “Reading with Friends” program scheduled this fall. The monthly program has been a part of Neighbor to Neighbor’s regular offerings since September 2012. Upcoming dates will be Dec. 8 and Jan. 12. In the new year, the program will continue through May 2018.

This year’s Reading with Friends is made possible thanks to a generous donation from Betty Drake of Beloit.

Guest reader delivers a good time and a Gruffalo

Ask any entertainer about how to capture an audience and they’ll tell you it’s all in the delivery. But having good material doesn’t hurt, either.

Ron Elniff, of Concordia, had both this morning as he took on the challenge of entertaining a room full of active preschoolers as the latest guest reader in the monthly Reading with Friends story time series at Neighbor to Neighbor in downtown Concordia.

Before the longtime school psychologist started in on the featured book, “The Gruffalo,” he gave the young readers tips on how to let books help them travel to distant and imaginary places.

“How would a mouse talk? High or low?” he asked the children. After a chorus of answers, Elniff advised the group, “You can make your story come alive if you use a different tone of voice for the different characters.”

“Like in animation?” one of the kids asked. Elniff agreed.

And he proceeded to do just that as he used  his voice to make the plucky mouse and the burly Gruffalo jump to life from the pages of the book. The story, by author Julia Donaldson with illustrations by Axel Scheffler, is an international best-seller with more than 13.5 million copies in print worldwide. It was voted England’s favorite bedtime story. The children received a free copy of “The Gruffalo” to take home.

The “Reading with Friends” story times are for children ages 3, 4 and 5. Each session includes playtime and a snack, as well as a book. Parents, grandparents and other caregivers may stay downstairs at the day center for women to enjoy coffee and snacks – but many choose to join their small charges upstairs to listen to the story.

The monthly program has been part of Neighbor to Neighbor’s regular offerings since September 2012. This was the final session for the 2016-17 school year. This year’s Reading with Friends series was funded in part by a grant from the Dane G. Hansen Fund, through the Community Foundation for Cloud County.

Sister Pat McLennon, a co-director of Neighbor to Neighbor, said that the group hopes to secure another grant to allow them to continue the popular program next year.

“We don’t have a grant yet,” she said. “But if we do get one we will start the program again in September.”

For more information on Reading with Friends, contact Neighbor to Neighbor at 785/262-4215 or email neighbortoneighbor@csjkansas.org.

 

Want to host a dragon taco party? Check this out!

 

When “Dragons Love Tacos” was published in 2012, it became an instant New York Times bestseller. Author Adam Rubin and illustrator Daniel Salmieri were described by one reviewer as “two of the weirdest, funniest guys working in kids’ lit today” — and their preschool audience responded to their silliness with giggles and delight.

Now preschoolers in Concordia will be introduced to Rubin and Salmieri’s how-to guide for would-be dragon taco party hosts.

Megan Nulf will read “Dragons Love Tacos” at the next “Reading with Friends,” set for Friday, Oct. 14, at Neighbor to Neighbor, 103 E. Sixth St., Concordia.

The “Reading with Friends” storytimes for children ages 3, 4 and 5 all begin at 10 a.m. Each session includes playtime and a snack, plus children receive a free copy of that day’s book to take home. Parents, grandparents and other caregivers are invited to enjoy coffee and snacks downstairs at the day center for women while the story is being read upstairs.

There is a limit of 30 children per session so parents need to register for each session in advance by calling Neighbor to Neighbor at 785/262-4215 or emailing neighbortoneighbor@csjkansas.org.

The monthly program has been part of Neighbor to Neighbor’s regular offerings since September 2012. The remaining sessions for the 2016-17 school year are Nov. 11, Dec. 9, Jan. 13 (2017), Feb. 10, March 10 and April 7.

“Reading with Friends” is funded in part by a grant from the Dane G. Hansen Fund, through the Community Foundation for Cloud County.

 

 

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