Comedy Club, Hot Air Balloon Workshop, and a Code Breakers" Discussion Top The New York Public Library's Free July Events for Children and Teens"

In a summer series led by comedy writer Tara Tandlich, young adults will learn the art of stand up comedy in free programs at the Van Nest Branch on July 13 and 17 and the 115th Street Branch on July 23. Children can create and test their own hot air balloons at “Up, Up and Away!”, at the West Farms Branch on July 15, the Aguilar Branch on July 21, and the Muhlenberg Branch on July 23. And children 5 to 12 years old can discover the mysteries of code making and breaking at “Code Breakers”, at the Van Cortlandt Branch on July 16. The Library presents more than 20,000 free public programs throughout its 87 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.

Highlights of July Programs for Children at The New York Public Library Branches

The Comedy Club with Tara Tandlich

Thursday, July 3, 3:00 p.m., Van Nest Branch, 2147 Barnes Avenue, Bronx

Thursday, July 17, 3:00 p.m. Van Nest Branch, 2147 Barnes Avenue, Bronx

Wednesday, July 23, 4:00 p.m., 115th Street Branch, 203 West 115th Street, Manhattan

What's so funny, anyway? Young adults learn how to tell a joke and perform comedy in this special workshop on stand-up comedy with comedy writer Tara Tandlich. For ages 12-18.

“How the Elephant Got its Trunk”

Tuesday, July 8, 10:30 a.m., Sedgwick Branch, 1701 Martin Luther King, Jr. Boulevard, Bronx

A puppet show based on the story by Rudyard Kipling, set in Africa, and accompanied by live African percussion. A celebration for the participants of Assembly Member Daniel O'Donnell's and The New York Public Library's Community Reading Challenge. Presented by Talking Hands Theatre. Recommended for ages 3 to 8 years old.

R.E.A.D. with Mudge

Wednesday, July 9, 11:00 a.m., Huguenot Park Branch, 830 Huguenot Avenue, Staten Island

Tuesday, July 15, 4:00 p.m., Hamilton Fish Park Branch, 415 East Houston Street, Manhattan

Thursday, July 17, 7:00 p.m., Hamilton Fish Park Branch, 415 East Houston Street, Manhattan

Monday, July 28, 4:00 p.m., Mulberry Street Branch, 10 Jersey Street, Manhattan

Children read aloud to a registered therapy dog and licensed handler. This program is designed to encourage a love of reading in a fun and warm environment. Recommended for ages 6 to 11. Preregistration is required.

Favorites from the Treasure Chest: Storytelling and Puppets

Wednesday, July 9, 3:00 p.m., Grand Concourse Branch, 155 East 173rd Street, Bronx

Thursday, July 17, 2:30 p.m., Kingsbridge Branch, 280 West 231st Street, Bronx

Wednesday, July 23, 2:00 p.m., Ottendorfer Branch, 135 Second Avenue, Manhattan

Thursday, July 24, 2:00 p.m., Chatham Square Branch, 33 East Broadway, Manhattan

An introduction to traditional puppets from Europe and featuring the Mexican folktale Senor Coyote Acts as a Judge, the Japanese classic The Robe of Feather, a Japanese Kamishibai performance of Momotaro, the Peach Boy, and a puppet performance of the Italian Tarantella with audience participation. Presented by Toni Gustafson. For ages 4 to 12.

Meet the Authors: J.M. Steele!

Wednesday, July 9, 4:00 p.m., 96th Street Branch, 112 East 96th Street, Manhattan

Young adults are invited to welcome the dynamic duo, J. M. Steele, co-authors of The Taker and The Market, snarky stories of popularity, backstabbing, fashion and obsession! J. M . Steele is the pseudonym for two New York entertainment industry professionals who suffered varying degrees of unpopularity in high school. For ages 12 to 18.

On Top of Spaghetti

Thursday, July 10, 3:00 p.m., Richmondtown Branch, 200 Clarke Avenue, Staten Island

Staten Island children can help a dashing plumber in his breathtaking battle with a most extraordinary leak; they’ll learn to never, never, NEVER put the kitty in the bathtub and they’ll take a trip to the moon and back again with a runaway meatball! Presented by the Paper Bag Players. Recommended for ages 4 to 9.

Get Food Smart with Conscious Cravers!

Thursday, July 10, 3:30 p.m., Tompkins Square Branch, 331 East 10th Street,Manhattan

Friday, July 11, 4:00 p.m., Baychester Library, 2049 Asch Loop North, Bronx

Friday, July 18, 3:00 p.m., Eastchester Library, 1385 East Gun Hill Road, Bronx

Friday, July 25, 3:30 p.m., Grand Concourse Branch, 155 East 173rd Street, Bronx

Young adults can find out if they really are what they eat in this special, organic cooking series with Elizabeth Johnson and Ludie Minaya. All materials will be supplied. For ages 12 to 18.

Children’s Worm Composting Workshop

Thursday, July 10, 4:00 p.m., Aguilar Branch, 174 East 110th Street, Manhattan

Monday, July 28, 4:00 p.m., Countee Cullen Branch, 104 West 136th Street, Manhattan

Children are invited to take waste reduction to the next generation! By using red wiggler worms, kids can compost indoors and help nature recycle its nutrients, while reducing the amount of waste they produce. Children 5 and older can explore the stages of decomposition, as well as how the worms help the process along. Each participant will have the chance to make and bring home their own mini worm-bin, allowing them to follow this process through its different stages. Presented by Lower East Side Ecology Center.

Up, Up, and Away!

Tuesday, July 15, 3:00 p.m., West Farms Branch, 2085 Honeywell Avenue, Bronx

Monday, July 21, 2:00 p.m., Aguilar Branch, 174 East 110th Street, Manhattan

Wednesday, July 23, 4:00 p.m., Muhlenberg Branch, 209 West 23rd Street, Manhattan

Kids can make and test their own hot air balloon as they explore early flight. Participants will discover the wonders of man’s first attempts at flight, from the invention of kites to the development of blimps, hot air balloons and gliders. Presented by the Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum. Recommended for children ages 5 to 12 years old. Preregistration is required.

Code Breakers

Wednesday, July 16, 3:00 p.m., Van Cortlandt Branch, 3874 Sedgwick Avenue, Bronx

Children can develop their own secret code while discovering the mysteries behind various forms of secret communication, in particular nautical codes such as Morse Code and signal flags. Kids will use code-breaking techniques to decipher a scavenger hunt and find hidden treasure. Presented by the Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum. Recommended for children ages 5 to 12 years old. Preregistration is required.

Turn It Up at The Library with James Murdock!

Wednesday, July 23, 4:00 p.m., 96th Street Branch, 112 East 96th Street, Manhattan

Wednesday, July 30, 4:00 p.m., 96th Street Branch, 112 East 96th Street, Manhattan

Teens can let the public know what is going on in their world by creating their own podcast, a radio-like sound documentary that one can listen to online. Participants can interview a friend, or tell their own story. James Murdock, a freelance radio and print journalist for Public Radio's Marketplace, Architectural Record magazine, and other publications, explains it all. All materials will be provided. For ages 12 to 18.

The Hip Hop Habit! With The Manhattan New Music Project

Thursday, July 24, 3:00 p.m., Francis Martin Branch, 2150 University Avenue, Bronx

Teens should bring their ideas and an open mind to this fun and interactive hip hop workshop to record and lay their own tracks! Participants can get their hands on GarageBand and create hip-hop beats to accompany their own rhymes. Preset pieces of music will be easily combined and molded to create whatever their imagination desires. Participants should come prepared with some lyrics and ideas and be ready to record their songs on a finished CD! For ages 12 to 18.

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 87 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 16 million patrons who come through its doors annually and another 25 million users internationally, who access collections and services through the NYPL website, www.nypl.org.

###

Contact:L. Brady Bender| 212.592.7712 | communications@nypl.org

lbb: 6.26.08:nypl46