Nashville, TN

Looking for something interesting to do this summer? Here’s a list of events happening this summer at various public library branches around Nashville.

Bordeaux Branch Library, 4000 Clarksville Pike, 862-5856
10:30 a.m. Tuesday, June 12, Pardners Are Prepared

Preschoolers – 2nd Grade

Join our friends from the Nashville Fire Department and Flashy the Fire Dog for a special program on safety that includes delightful books, upbeat music and cheerful puppets. Everyone will take home a fire hat and a coloring book.

1 p.m. Wednesday, June 13, Native American Craft Day

Grades 2 - 5

Play games and make crafts inspired by various Native American traditions and learn about a rich part of our nation’s heritage at this special craft session.

10:30 a.m., Tuesday, June 19, Mad Science Roundup

Preschoolers – 6th Grade

Saddle those ponies and join us for a whoopin’, hollerin’ good time as we lasso some wild West experiments. You may just strike it rich and walk away with fool’s gold.

10:30 a.m., Tuesday, June 26, Daring Desert Dwellers

All Ages

Robin Harkins from the Nashville Zoo will be our guide on a visit to the fascinating desert environment. Prepare for a sun-baked wild animal adventure.

1 p.m., Wednesday, June 27, Papermaking

5th Grade and up

Create a piece of real handmade paper and learn about the many benefits of paper recycling.

Goodlettsville Branch Library, 106 Old Brick Church Pike, 862-5862

2 p.m., Monday, June 11, Reading Rodeo

All Ages

Cool your spurs, hang up your bandana, sit back a spell and prepare to be amazed and bamboozled by Mr. Bruce Amato’s flying feats of Western magic.

2 p.m., Monday, June 18, Rompin’ Stompin’ Reading Fun

All Ages

Stop by for some exciting cowboy fun with Lori and Christian Kissinger, who will present Western stories and songs using musical instruments that would have been heard in the old wild West.

2 p.m., Monday, June 25, Once Upon a Garden

All Ages

Once Upon a Garden is an outdoor exhibit of beloved children’s stories told in landscape, now showing at Cheekwood Botanical Garden and Museum of Art. Join Lisa Ward-Smith of Cheekwood as she reads from one of the featured stories, and create an art project related to this exhibition.

Hadley Park Branch Library, 1039 28th Ave. N., 862-5865

1 and 2 p.m., Thursday June 7, Rompin’ Stompin’ Fun

School Age

Janice Hayslett of the 4-H Club brings a Western-themed craft to this rompin’ stompin’ storytime.

10 a.m., Monday, June 11, Sign Language Storytime with Mr. Andrew

Preschoolers

Learn some signs, sing some songs and enjoy a story of the Wild West with Andrew Thompson from Library Services for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing.

11 a.m., Tuesday, June 12, Wild About Wildlife

Preschoolers

Meet a special critter and learn about the animals you might find on your urban home on the range with Denise Weyer of Walden’s Puddle Wildlife Rehabilitation Center in Joelton.

11 a.m., Thursday, June 14, Clowning Around with Ronald McDonald

Preschoolers

Ronald makes a visit to the library to read a book and dazzle us with magic tricks.

1 and 2 p.m., Thursday, June 14, Fire Truck

School Age

Sirens will be wailing and lights will be flashing when a real fire truck from the Nashville Fire Department appears at the library.

10 a.m., Monday, June 18, Flashy & Friends

Preschoolers

Don’t miss Flashy the Fire Dog driving his very own fire truck through the library. The new Nashville Fire Department mascot and his puppet friends will teach fire safety through stories and songs.

11 a.m., Tuesday, June 19, Cool Off with SnowBird

Preschoolers

SnowBird, Channel 4’s weather mascot, visits the library with a penguin story and other cooling surprises.

11 a.m., Thursday, June 21, Once Upon a Garden

Preschoolers

Once Upon a Garden is an outdoor exhibit of beloved children’s stories told in landscape, now showing at Cheekwood Botanical Garden and Museum of Art. Join Lisa Ward-Smith of Cheekwood as she reads The Tale of Peter Rabbit, and create an art project based on the exhibition.

10 a.m., Monday, June 25, A Visit from the Tooth Fairy

Preschoolers

Mary McClean from the Metro Public Health Department shows children how to take good care of their teeth.

11 a.m., Tuesday, June 26, Batter Up

Preschoolers

Ozzie, the Nashville Sounds mascot, reads a book about summer’s best-loved sport, baseball.

11 a.m., Thursday, June 28, Recycling Roadshow

Preschoolers

Learn all about reading and recycling with Julie Berbiglia from Metro Beautification.

1 and 2 p.m., Thursday, June 28, Paper Pizzazz

School Age

Make a piece of homemade paper and learn about the many benefits of paper recycling with help from Julie Berbiglia from Metro Beautification.

Looby Branch Library, 2301 Metro Center Blvd., 862-5867

10 a.m., Thursday, June 7, Clowning Around with Ronald McDonald

All Ages

Join us in the Looby Recreation Center Gym, where Ronald McDonald will use his special brand of magic to tell us a story.

4:30 p.m., Wednesday, June 13, Crafty Little Wranglers

Preschoolers

Cowboys and cowgirls need to look the part. Get ready for ropin’ on the range by making cowboy vests and ten-gallon hats in this crafty program for little wranglers.

4:30 p.m., Tuesday, June 19, Tall Tales and Happy Trails

School Age

Join us as we spin yarns around the “campfire” and tell stories and sing Western songs.

10:30 a.m., Wednesday, June 27, Sheriffs of the wild West

Preschoolers

Every Western town needs a lawman, and every lawman needs a badge. Make your own sheriff’s badge with all materials provided at this special craft time just for young ‘uns!

Madison Branch Library, 610 Gallatin Pike, 862-5868

10:30 a.m., Wednesday, June 6, Summer Reading Kickoff

All Ages

It’s time for the Rompin’ Stompin’ Reading Roundup: Summer Reading 2007 at the Madison Branch Library. Be the first to sign up for the reading program that awards cool prizes, and bring your friends. Enjoy treats and special guests.

10:30 a.m., Monday, June 11, Ropin’ and Readin’ with The Singing Cowboy

Preschoolers/Early Elementary

Joel Reese, the Singing Cowboy, and his puppet sidekick, Buster Bronco, lead little wranglers down an imaginary trail for some rip-roaring musical adventures. Grab a hat and get ready to sing along, laugh and dance.

10:30 a.m., Wednesday, June 13, Wild About Wildlife

All Ages

Meet a special critter and learn about the animals you might find on your urban home on the range with Denise Weyer of Walden’s Puddle Wildlife Rehabilitation Center in Joelton.

6 p.m., Thursday, June 14, Step Show

All Ages

Stepping is the exciting, high-energy dance form featured in the movies Stomp the Yard and Drumline. Don’t miss this step show performance by amazing, talented, inspiring MTSU students.

10:30 a.m., Wednesday, June 20, Flashy and Friends

Preschoolers/Early Elementary

Children will learn about fire safety through puppets, stories and songs with the Nashville Fire Department and its new mascot, Flashy the Fire Dog. Each child will take home a fire hat and a coloring book.

2 p.m., Monday, June 25, Reading Rodeo

All Ages

Cool your spurs, hang up your bandana, sit back a spell and prepare to be amazed and bamboozled by Mr. Bruce Amato’s flying feats of wild West magic.

10:30 a.m., Wednesday, June 27, Peter Rabbit in the Garden

Preschoolers/Early Elementary

Once Upon a Garden is an outdoor exhibit of beloved children’s stories that come to life in the meadows and trees at Cheekwood Botanical Garden and Museum of Art. Join Lisa Ward-Smith of Cheekwood as she reads The Tale of Peter Rabbit, and create an art project related to this fabulous exhibition!

2 p.m., Thursday, June 7, Vintage Button Rings

Teens

Make a cute and completely unique ring out of a selection of colorful vintage buttons at this simple, fun craft session. Snacks and all materials provided.

2 p.m., Thursday, June 14, Do You Stack Up?

Teens

It’s been featured on The Tonight Show and it’s in the Guinness Book of World Records. Find out how you stack up in our mini cup-stacking tournament. Winner takes the prize and snacks will be provided.

2 p.m., Thursday, June 21, Mexican Popsicles

Teens

Challenge your taste buds and cool off on a hot summer afternoon with authentic Mexican Popsicles in traditional flavors.

2 p.m., Thursday, June 28, Bottle Cap Necklaces

Teens

Recycle old bottle caps by turning them into necklaces in this eco-friendly craft program with all supplies provided.

Inglewood Branch Library, 4312 Gallatin Road, 862-5866

10 a.m., Wednesday, June 6, Cowboys Love Their Hats

Preschoolers/School Age

Wear your favorite hat to this special storytime about cowboys and their distinctive hats.

10 a.m., Wednesday, June 13, Home On the Range

Preschoolers

Let’s pretend we’re out West, and sing a few cowboy songs.

1 p.m., Wednesday, June 20, Ropin’ and Readin’ with The Singing Cowboy!

Preschoolers/School Age

Joel Reese, The Singing Cowboy and his puppet sidekick, Buster Bronco, lead little wranglers down an imaginary trail with some rip-roaring musical adventures. Grab a hat and get ready to sing along, laugh and dance.

10 a.m., Wednesday, June 27, wild West Dinosaurs

Preschoolers

Did you know that dinosaurs lived out West, too? We’ll explore that ancient time on earth, and may even find a few dinosaurs ourselves.