Children and Young Adults to Have Whale of a Time at The New York Public Library's Free November Programs

Children and Young Adults will explore underwater cities and 13th century castles; learn about the evolution of whales; and dance with the Annabella Gonzalez Dance Theater in free November programs at the branches of The New York Public Library. Also this month, Teen Central welcomes the finalists of the 2006 National Book Awards for Young People's Literature. The Library presents more than 20,000 free public programs throughout its 86 branches in the Bronx, Manhattan, and Staten Island annually, complementing its broad collections and other services. A complete listing of events is available at www.nypl.org/events.

Highlighted November Programs in The New York Public Library Branches for Children and Young Adults

The Art of Comics With Alex Simmons
Wednesday, November 1, 8 & 15, 4:00 p.m., Donnell Library Center, 20 West 53rd Street, Manhattan
Teens will create their own unique comic characters and learn to draw them like a pro in this special master comic-drawing class! Artist, writer, journalist Alex Simmons is the co-author of an exciting new mystery novel based on the adventures of Sherlock Holmes called The Raven League, and he has collaborated on many comics including Blackjack, Race Against Time, and Scooby Doo. For ages 12 to 18. SmARTZ events for teens are made possible by a generous grant given in memory of Charlotte Howard Porter.

Fast And Furious: Shakespeare To The Quick Theatre
Thursday, November 2, 9 & 16, 4:00 p.m., St. George Library Center, 5 Central Avenue, Staten Island
Young Adults ages 12 to 18 will learn amazing stage combat techniques while hurling their favorite Shakespearean insults! Heather Drastle and her troupe of actors explain it all. For ages 12 to 18. Funded through the generous support of The Wallace Foundation.

Underwater Cities
Thursday, November 2, 3:30 p.m., Parkchester Branch, 1985 Westchester Avenue, Bronx
Children will explore the fascinating world of coral reefs and all the different and fascinating creatures that live in them. They will also create their own coral reef art. For ages 6 to 12. Presented by the Aquarium for Wildlife Conservation. Funded through the generous support of The Wallace Foundation.

Gross Biology: Germs
Friday, November 3, 4:00 p.m., St. Agnes Branch, 444 Amsterdam Avenue, Manhattan
Children will learn about microorganisms, use the microscope to look at a few, and explore how germs spread by making mucus. Presented by the Children's Museum of Manhattan for ages 6 to 12. Preregistration is required. Funded through the generous support of The Wallace Foundation.

Monotypes
Tuesday, November 7, 4:00 p.m., Seward Park Branch, 192 East Broadway, Manhattan
Children will learn about monotypes and the process of making them. They will also create their own monotypes while learning about the uniqueness of each print. For ages 6 to 12. Preregistration is required. Presented by the Children's Museum of Manhattan. Funded through the generous support of The Wallace Foundation.

Creeps, Crawls, Etc: Create Your Own Horror Zine With Nina Malkin
Tuesday, November 7 & 14, 4:00 p.m., Wakefield Branch, 4100 Lowerre Place, Bronx
Calling all vampires, witches, warlocks, ghosts, ghouls, and other heebie-jeebie-inducing creatures! Scare, or be scared, is the name of the game in this special horror zine writing workshop with Nina Malkin, freelance journalist and author of the hot 6X series. Teens will Write! Draw! Compose! Design! Shriek! For ages 12 to 18. Funded through the generous support of The Wallace Foundation.

Dance! With The Annabella Gonzalez Dance Theater
Tuesday, November 7, 14, 21 & 28, 4:00 p.m., Inwood Branch, 4790 Broadway, Manhattan
The Annabella Gonzalez Dance Theater's 30th anniversary is this season and the company is coming to the Inwood Branch Library to celebrate. Young Adults will learn the basics of Latin dance in this special four session workshop! For ages 12 to 18. This program was generously funded through the Cultural After School Adventure Program by New York City Council Member Miguel Martinez and The City of New York.

Create A Unique Journal With Susan Hale
Wednesday, November 8, 4:00 p.m., Bloomingdale Branch, 150 West 100th Street, Manhattan
Psst! Teens will create their own private journal! They will get to choose the materials, colors, and supplies! Secrets, dreams, hopes and wishes are optional! Susan Hale explains it all. For ages 12 to 18. This program was generously funded through the Cultural After School Adventure Program by New York City Council Member Melissa Mark Viverito and The City of New York.

Meet the Author presents Jane Alberdeston
Wednesday, November 8, 4:00 p.m., 96th Street Branch, 112 East 96th Street, Manhattan
Teens are invited to join the 96th Street Branch Teen Advisory Group in welcoming Jane Alberdeston, poet and one of the three authors of Sister Chicas, a new novel about three teenaged Latinas growing up, falling in and out of love, friendship and more! For ages 12 to 18.

Castle Life
Thursday, November 9, 4:00 p.m., New Dorp Branch, 309 New Dorp Lane, Staten Island
Children will discover the art and design of 13th century castle life and make their own project. Presented by the Staten Island Museum. Recommended for children ages 6 to 12, preregistration is required one week before program. Funded by The Wallace Foundation.

Dive to the Deep
Friday, November 10, 3:30 p.m., Van Nest Branch, 2147 Barnes Avenue, Bronx
Children ages 5 to 12 will learn about mysterious creatures that live where there is no light. Presented by the Aquarium for Wildlife Conservation. This program was generously funded through the Cultural After School Adventure Program by New York City Council Member James Vacca and The City of New York.

Sponges and Patterns
Tuesday, November 14, 4:00 p.m., Seward Park Branch, 192 East Broadway, Manhattan
Children will make sponge stamps and create a print focusing on patterns and design. For ages 6 to 12. Preregistration is required. Presented by the Children's Museum of Manhattan. Funded through the generous support of The Wallace Foundation.

Caricatures
Tuesday, November 14, 4:00 p.m., Huguenot Park Branch, 830 Huguenot Avenue, Staten Island
Children will learn to draw caricatures of their favorite celebrities and friends with Mark Z-man. Recommended for ages 7 to 12. Preregistration is required. This program was generously funded through the Cultural After School Adventure Program by New York City Council Member Andrew J. Lanza and The City of New York.

Meet the Finalists of the 2006 National Book Awards for Young People's Literature
Tuesday, November 14, 10:30 a.m., Donnell Library Center, 20 West 53rd Street, Manhattan
Young Adults ages 12 to 18 are invited to join in welcoming the finalists for the 2006 National Book Award for Young People's Literature! They will talk up close and personal with some of the country's most celebrated writers for youth! For ages 12 to 18. Registration required; space is limited.

Meet the Author presents Jimmie Briggs
Tuesday, November 14, 4:00 p.m., Donnell Library Center, 20 West 53rd Street, Manhattan
Jimmie Briggs, journalist and author of Innocents Lost: When Child Soldiers Go To War, will come to the Donnell Library Center to introduce and discuss the exciting new documentary, Invisible Children, a film about three young Americans from California who journey to Africa. For ages 12 to 18. Funded through the generous support of The Wallace Foundation.

Tales for Toddlers
Tuesday, November 14, 21 & 28, 11:00 a.m., Kingsbridge Branch, 280 West 231st Street, Bronx
A special early literacy series to introduce young children to the wonderful world of books! Stories, songs, seasonal poems, fingerplays, and felt board illustrations that make books come alive, will be featured each week. Presented by Jeannette Ornstein. Recommended for ages 18 months to 3 years old with their parent or caregiver. Preregistration is required. Funded generously by the Library Services and Technology Act Funds awarded to the New York State Library by the Federal Institute of Museum and Library Services.

Create An African Mask With Susan Hale
Monday, November 27, 4:00 p.m., Fort Washington Branch, 535 West 179th Street, Manhattan
Teens will design their own African mask using beads, leather, and other unique materials. Artist Susan Hale explains it all. For ages 12 to 18. This program was generously funded through the Cultural After School Adventure Program by New York City Council Member Miguel Martinez and The City of New York.

A Whale of a Tale
Wednesday, November 29, 3:30 p.m., Morrisania Branch, 610 East 169th Street, Bronx
Children ages 6 to 12 will explore the fascinating evolution of whales. They will examining evidence of earlier forms by looking at bones of a variety of cetaceans. They will also learn about the two major groups of whales, baleen, and toothed. Funded through the generous support of The Wallace Foundation.

Mad Hatter Magic: Volume
Thursday, November 30, 4:00 p.m., Inwood Branch, 4790 Broadway, Manhattan
Children will discover how sodium polyacrylate, a special chemical compound, absorbs more than its own volume in water. Use 'magic snow' to find out how much water it can absorb. For ages 6 to 12. Preregistration is required. Presented by the Children's Museum of Manhattan. Funded through the generous support of The Wallace Foundation.

About The New York Public Library
The New York Public Library was created in 1895 with the consolidation of the private libraries of John Jacob Astor and James Lenox with Samuel Jones Tilden Trust. The Library provides free open access to its physical and electronic collections and information, as well as to its services. It comprises four research centers – the Humanities and Social Science Library; The New York Public Library for the Performing Arts; the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture; and the Science, Industry and Business Library – and 86 Branch Libraries in Manhattan, Staten Island, and the Bronx. Research and circulating collections combined total more than 50 million items, including materials for the visually impaired. In addition, each year the Library presents thousands of exhibitions and public programs, which include classes in technology, literacy, and English as a second language. The Library serves some 15 million patrons who come through its doors annually and another 15 million users internationally, who access collections and services through the NYPL website, www.nypl.org.

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Contact:   Nadia Riley  212.704.8600   | Nadia_Riley@nypl.org

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