A Thousand Cranes

Z's  performance weekend was this past weekend for the play titled A Thousand Paper Cranes which was based on the book we just finished up reading at book club, Sadako and the Thousand Paper Cranes by Eleanor Coerr.

The performance played three nights, and each time I cried. It was breathtaking, emotional and the kids did a wonderful job putting on a play and telling a story that held so much meaning.

Z's parts included being in the chorus which consisted of no singing, but counting (the number of paper cranes Sadako was able to make before she died) and some small narrations throughout. She was also a Kabuki Fire Dancer and was so beautiful on stage! She truly looked the part of fire when she was dancing.

 

 

It's been a long three weeks of theatre camp!! She kept saying towards the end that she couldn't wait for it to be over so she could have some "free" time again, though now that the shows are over she says she is going to miss it and she can't wait again for next summer.

The money from the tickets sold and any donations given will go to the charity that the kids chose which was UNICEF. The kids also created over a 1,000 paper cranes which they are donating to The Children's Peace Monument in Peace Memorial Park, Hiroshima, Japan.

Sadako and the Thousand Paper Cranes - July's Library Book Club Meeting

I am the youth librarian at our library and this month's book club book was Eleanor Coerr's book Sadako and the Thousand Paper Cranes. I chose this book for this month since our local children's theater group is putting on a play adaptation of the book. I thought it would be a great way to support the community and tie in some learning while we're at it! Since Z is in the theater group we are counting all of this for homeschooling too. Score!

I have a GREAT, solid group of kiddos this summer for our book club...mostly due to having the support of the parents. This wouldn't be happening without them driving their kids to the library! Here is a picture of some of them from tonight's meeting. Yes, we have one brave boy in a sea of girls. He's a trooper!

After we discussed the book and had some snacks we learned how to make origami paper cranes and spent the remainder of the evening crafting them.

This weekend is the production of the play...can't wait!

Making Lip Balm, Lotion Bars and Sugar Scrubs using Natural Ingredients

This afternoon at the library we had a wonderful program where kids ages 11 and up could learn and create natural beauty products. Two naturalists from our area discovery center came and shared their knowledge with us when it comes to using essential oils, beeswax, shea butter, vitamin E oil, honey and more to create some wonderful products to use or to give away as gifts. 

I snapped some pictures of the stations that were set up and of Zoey and her friends working on their products. Zoey loved everything about this!!

She started off by making her sugar scrub. 

Then enjoyed making two different scented lotion bars. One was lemongrass and the other was a mint bar.

For her lip balm she chose a mint oil as well. I got to make one too and chose lemongrass. Mmmm!

I snapped a couple of pictures of the simple recipes too in case we want to try and make these at home for Christmas gifts or for ourselves in the future!

This was such a great library program! Educational, meaningful and fun too!