This program for tweens was presented by the Space Foundation as part of All Pikes Peak Reads 2009. 10 kids ages 9 – 12, and parents as well, had loads of fun designing and building a lander similar to NASA’s Altair lander that would absorb enough shock to protect its three astronauts (in this case, three mini-marshmallows). Altair is the proposed Lunar lander that will land astronauts on the moon. It is being built by NASA as part of the Constellation program.

A hapless inventor (world-class clown Jim Jackson of the Manitou Arts Theater) dreams of traveling to space and sets out to build a rocket ship in A Nose for Space. The “Rube Goldberg” rocket Machine will be constructed on stage as the show explores all of the necessary and not so necessary items needed for space travel. Benjamin Pratt will provide lively space age music for this All Pikes Peak Reads 2009 program.

For audiences in grades K – 5, with scientific content about space, solar system, the moon, and astronauts.

• Sat., Sept. 26 at 1:30 p.m. – Ruth Holley Branch, 685 N. Murray Blvd.
• Sun., Sept. 27 at 1:30 p.m. – Sand Creek Branch, 1821 S. Academy Blvd.
• Sat., Oct. 10 at 1:30 p.m. – Monument Branch, 1706 Lake Woodmoor Dr.
• Sun., Oct. 11 at 2 p.m. – East Library, 5550 N. Union Blvd.
• Sat., Oct. 17 at 1:30 p.m. – Cheyenne Mountain Branch, 1785 S. 8th St.
• Sun., Oct. 18 at 2 p.m. – Penrose Library, 20 N. Cascade Ave.

Join Mitchell High School’s Science Department and PPLD’s Children’s department as they present folktales shown and told as you have never heard them before. Enjoy such tales as Her Seven Brothers, a Cheyenne tale about the origin of the Big Dipper and The Colossal Pumpkin, an African tale about the origin of the stars and moon. Storytelling will be open to school-age children. This program is part of All Pikes Peak Reads 2009.

• When: Wed., Oct. 21 at 6:30 p.m.
• Where: Mitchell High School, 1205 Potter Dr.

Tweens! Check out our Read-it-Before-You-See-It programs this fall. When a new movie about a children’s or tween book comes out in the theatres we celebrate with Read-it-Before-You-See-It programs. Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs is coming out Sept. 18, so we will highlight the book (it’s short so we’ll read it together and talk about it) with games, activities, crafts, and food. Will the movie be as good as the book?? Look for Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs at these library branches:
Sept. 11, 4-5 pm at Fountain Branch
Sept. 18, 4:30-5:30 pm at East Library
Sept. 23, 4:15-5:15 pm at Monument Branch
Sept. 25, 4-5 pm at Briargate Branch

You can watch a preview for the Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs movie by clicking here.