The Kiddo! Annual Giving Campaign kicks off this Friday! Don't forget to stop by the table in front of the school to make your donation for the 2012-13 school year. We're asking families to donate $1200 per child, but ANY contribution helps. Now more than ever, your support is essential to ensure that Kiddo! can continue to fund the programs, aides and teachers our students depend on!

May 4 is also Kiddo! Spirit Day. Flaunt your Kiddo! pride by dressing in red, yellow or black!

Posted by Dorothy Odonnell on May 2

Saturday, May 12 - Old Mill Creek Origami Boat Race. Kids and families are invited to attend a paper boat-making workshop with origami master Jeremy Shafer in the Creekside Room at noon. Boat makers will move outdoors to Old Mill Park to launch their vessels at 1 p.m. (All ages, no sign-up needed. Wear old clothes and rubber boots - there will be mud!)

A PeRL is worth more than gold! If you love books and need help deciding what to read next, a Personalized Reading List (PeRL) is just the ticket. Make an appointment to talk to a librarian about your reading preferences and we'll create a custom-made list of books just for you. (For kids in grades 4-8, Mill Valley residents only, call to make an appointment.)

Coming soon: Summer Reading 2012 - Chill Out & Read! Librarians will be visiting your school in late May or early June to tell you about our plans to keep you reading and having fun all summer long. Watch our website for updates.

Contact us: Mill Valley Public Library or 415-389-4292 x106.

Posted by Dorothy Odonnell on April 30

Tuesday, April 3, 3:30 p.m.: Rip the Page! Ring in National Poetry Month with poet Karen Benke, author of Rip the Page! Adventures in Creative Writing. Write poetry with "word tickets," engage in expressive word experiments, and help create the library's annual Poetry Wall. (Grade 3+, advance registration required, Creekside Room.)

Sunday, April 8, 11:00 a.m.: Sunday Special! Celebrate Spring, Passover, and Easter with New York recording artist Joanie Leeds. There's room to boogie in the Library's Main Reading Room, so don't miss this fun, festive concert for the whole family. (All ages, no sign-up needed, Main Reading Room.)

April 9, 10, 12, and 13: Spring Break Film Festival. Free family movies and popcorn for everyone! Films include The Muppets, The Adventures of Tintin, We Bought a Zoo, and Puss in Boots. Movies screen at 2:30 pm in the Creekside Room. (All ages.)

Wednesday, April 11, 2:30: Spring Break Game & Puzzle Day! Bring your family and friends to play board games, cards, or puzzles. We'll have lots of your favorites and some new ones, too! (All ages, no sign-up needed, Creekside Room.)

Wednesday, April 18, 2:30 p.m.: Earth Day with the Lizard Lady. Honor the Earth and enjoy a visit with the Lizard Lady's amazing reptiles. Find out why it's so important to take good care of our planet and all of its creatures. (Age 5 and up, no sign-up needed, Creekside Room.)

Save the date: Old Mill Creek Origami Boat Race on Saturday, May 12 at noon.

Contact us: Mill Valley Public Library, 415-389-4292 x106, www.millvalleylibrary.org.

Posted by Dorothy Odonnell on April 2

Hop into the season at the Strawberry Recreation District's annual Spring Faire! Play carnival games, decorate spring bags, ride the train and bounce in the jump house. Then follow the bunny to the candy hunt! The fun starts at 10 a.m., rain or shine! Fee: $8 per child (adults are free).

Posted by Dorothy Odonnell on April 2

The California State PTA supports a proposed initiative for the November, 2012 statewide ballot -- the Our Children, Our Future: Local Schools and Early Education Investment Act. This initiative will:

• Raise approximately $1,300 in per pupil new funding per year

• Allocate money on a per-student basis

• Establish accountability and transparency for how the money is used

• Provide approximately 85% of money to local K-12 schools and 15% to preschool and early education

• Include an additional allocation for English language learners and low-income students

• Generate additional revenues through a graduated increase to the personal income tax

Posted by Dorothy Odonnell on March 19

Join Marin County Parks, Marin Montessori and Marin Country Day schools for a hands-on, fun filled, educational outing focused on the plants of Marin at Ring Mountain Preserve in Tiburon. Naturalist David Herlocker and student educators will lead short nature hikes throughout the day. This event will be from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. and celebrates 40 years of preservation and recreation with Marin County Parks! Click here: Flyer_RingFling.pdf,for more details.

Posted by Dorothy Odonnell on March 19

Sunday, March 4 at 11:00 a.m.: Sunday Special! Anansi the Spider - Marin Theater Company's adaptation of an old African folktale puts a new spin on the adventures of Anansi, everyone's favorite eight-legged trickster. Learn about the legendary Sky God's world of magic in an updated live production filled with music, beats, and rhymes. (Ages 5 and up, no sign-up required, Main Reading Room.)

Thursday, March 22 at 3:30 p.m.: Children's Author Mac Barnett - Action! Adventure! Humor! Wildly popular writer Mac Barnett will read from one of his hilarious books (The Brixton Brothers series, Guess Again?, Billy Twitters and his Blue Whale Problem - to name a few), and tell us what it's like to be a children's author. Don't forget your Mac Barnett books, because he'd love to sign them after he speaks. (Ages 5 and up, no sign-up required, Creekside Room.)

Picture Books & More: Spaceships, Wings, and Other Flying Things - If you haven't registered your first or second grader for this exciting after-school series on Tuesdays or Wednesdays in March, do it soon - space is limited! Kids will enjoy cool stories, fun art projects, and scrumptious surprise snacks - it's a great way to nurture your child's love of literature. Call us for dates and times.

Save the date: Sunday, April 8 at 11:00 a.m.: Rock out with New York singer/songwriter Joanie Leeds in the library's Main Reading Room. Stay tuned for details about this high-energy live performance for kids of all ages.

Contact us: Mill Valley Public Library, 415-389-4292 x106, www.millvalleylibrary.org.

Posted by Dorothy Odonnell on February 22

Audubon at Home Spring Saturday Workshop Series

March 3: Introduction to California Native Plants
March 23: Wildlife Friendly Backyards (guest speaker from CA Native Plant Society)
April 14: Worm Bin Workshop ($40 includes starter worm bin, information packet & worms)
May 5: Water Wise Gardener (guest speaker from Marin Municipal Water District)

Richardson Bay Audubon Center & Sanctuary presents an Audubon at Home Spring Workshop Series focused on California native plants. Each of these two-hour interactive workshops will teach you the importance of native plants to our California ecosystem. You'll also learn how to design and care for your own native backyard that will attract beneficial wildlife, save water and help us all garden smarter rather than harder. Be ready to get your hands dirty as we explore plant adaptations, habitat zoning, water resource management and habitat construction!

All workshops are from 10 a.m.-12 p.m. They are geared to adults, but families are also welcome. Cost: $7 per person per event day, unless otherwise noted. Early registration is suggested--space is limited! For more information or to register call 388- 2524 ext. 150 or e-mail ccalkins@audubon.org.

Posted by Dorothy Odonnell on February 22

February 5 at 11:00 a.m.: Sunday Special! James Henry's House of Samba - Kick off Black History Month with drumming and dancing at the library. This interactive journey through the roots of African music will have you jumping for joy. (All ages, no sign-up needed, Main Reading Room.)

February 14 at 3:30 p.m.: Origami Hearts for Valentine's Day - Hear a sweet Valentine story and learn to make a folded heart necklace. (Ages 5 and up, advance sign-up required, Creekside Room.)

Coming in March: Picture Books & More - Spaceships, Wings, and Other Flying Things. Nurture your child's love of literature by signing up for this popular 4-part after school series featuring cool books, fun art activities, and surprise snacks. Library staff will be on campus the week of February 13th so watch for the bright green flyers in your child's backpack. (For 1st and 2nd grades only, advance registration required.)

Contact us: Mill Valley Public Library, 415-389-4292 x106, www.millvalleylibrary.org.

Posted by Dorothy Odonnell on January 23

Life in a Pond
Saturday, February 11, 10 a.m.--12 p.m.

When it rains, seasonal ponds suddenly come to life and become a valuable resource for local animals. Bring your sense of adventure, clothes and shoes that can get muddy/wet, and join us as we explore the micro to macro inhabitants of our seasonal pond. Appropriate for children ages 5-8 (younger children welcome, but must be accompanied by an adult). Program will be canceled if there are fewer than five participants. Cost: $7/participant. Advance registration required: 388-2524.

Sanctuary Night Hike
Saturday, February 18, 6 - 8 p.m.

Interested in some wild nightlife? Check out our sanctuary after the sun goes down! A naturalist will lead us on a hike through our grounds. And if the clouds cooperate, we'll explore the winter constellations. Children 10 and under must be accompanied by an adult. Cost: $7/participant. Advanced registration required: 388-2524.

Posted by Dorothy Odonnell on January 23