Early reviews are in, and it’s a hit!! Once Upon a Time, Exploring the Land of Fairy Tales is in place at ImaginOn, and since the ribbon cutting on Saturday, January 13, thousands of children have ridden in Cinderella’s coach, slid down a beanstalk, and crawled through a mole hole! ImaginOn is the first stop on a national tour for Once Upon a Time, which was developed by the St. Louis Public Library and the Magic House Children’s Museum, with a grant from the Institute for Museum and Library Services.

View a complete description of this exhibition, a program guide, information about bringing a group, and resources about fairy tales for parents and teachers.

Spangler Library will be hosting some special guests from the Charlotte Ballet on February 4th. The dancers will present a short, informal performance and then allow children to try on real shoes and tutus – we hope to see you there!

Teens at ImaginOn were invited to create the first-ever video public service announcement for the 2007 Teen Summer Reading Program for the Collaborative Summer Library Program. The 30-second video will serve 42 states, and will air in libraries, schools, on television and more – including on the jumbo-tron at a San Diego Padres game! This summer’s theme is YNK! You Never Know @ Your Library! and the script for both the audio PSA and the video PSA were created around the idea of film noir. In addition to casting and directing, talented teens – and Studio-i regulars – Rachel and Rebekah Rust wrote the script and composed original music. Kevin Shimko and Jessica Lit star in the PSA, and both are members of the Children’s Theater of Charlotte’s Ensemble, a pre-professional group of teen actors.

This PSA is truly representative of the partnership between the Public Library of Charlotte & Mecklenburg County and the Children’s Theater of Charlotte.

Get a sneak peek.

This December, the Spangler Library was alive with the sounds of music! In a two-part program called Holiday Music From Around The World, kids learned to play Boomwhackers® - a wonderfully simple music instrument that our participants learned to play in an hour! On December 27th the Boomwacker® Band held a holiday concert to show off what they’d learned. Over 50 people enjoyed rousing Boomwacker® renditions of Do-Re-Mi from the Sound of Music, Stille Nacht, I Have A Little Dreidle and Jingle Bells. We are interested in continuing our Boomwhacker® music series! If you and your children are interested in participating please contact Spangler Library by phone at (704) 973-2720 or via e-mail.

You just never know who you’ll run into at ImaginOn! On Monday, January 8th two clowns from Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey Circus visited ImaginOn, preparing for their show at Charlotte’s Cricket Arena. They delighted the crowds with magic, juggling, and a hysterical reading of the Dr. Suess classic, If I Ran the Zoo. Look for this book and other great circus titles next time you visit the Library!

Holes (Mar 2-18). Poor Stanley Yelnats is always in the wrong place at the wrong time. But if he has to serve time for a crime he didn’t commit, going to Camp Green Lake is better than going to jail. Or is it? For ages 8 and up.

The Tarradiddle Players will begin the new year in the Wachovia Playhouse with New Kid (Feb. 2-11). Themes of dealing with feeling “left out” and making new friends come to life as a young boy adjusts to his new home country of America.

There’s something for everyone coming up this season, and productions are selling quickly! Purchase tickets online, by calling the Box Office at (704) 973-2828, or by visiting us at ImaginOn (M-F, 10-5).

It’s never too early to start thinking about summer camp! Children’s Theatre of Charlotte offers imaginative week-long camp programs for ages 3-18 in classroom spaces at ImaginOn and at satellite locations all around town. Registration begins on February 12, so be sure to secure your spot.

Get class descriptions and more information.

Both the Public Library and Children’s Theatre of Charlotte were honored this month to receive two important awards.

The Public Library of Charlotte & Mecklenburg County was recognized for long-term commitment to public service through innovative programs and community partnerships by the Institute of Museum and Library Services. Library Director Charles Brown traveled to Washington, DC to accept the award from First Lady Laura Bush at the White House…along with 12-year-old library volunteer and ImaginOn regular Surya Swilley. When asked what she would do without ImaginOn, Surya replied, “I couldn’t imagine.”

Children’s Theatre of Charlotte is a recipient of the 2007 “Financial Excellence in Culture Award” presented by Stanford Group Company in partnership with the Arts & Science Council (ASC). This unique initiative provides grants to recognize and reward cultural organizations that demonstrate exemplary financial management. The Theatre was honored to receive both a $30,000 cash award and a work of art commissioned by local artist Brian Sykes. Photo Credit: Curtis Wilson.

Kudos to both partners!

The next time you return a book at ImaginOn, be sure to introduce yourself to Trunkles. That’s right, our new elephant book drop has a name! ImaginOn visitors of all ages submitted hundreds of name suggestions, and “Trunkles” was selected. The name was submitted by Nora Webb, age 14, who lives in Charleston, SC. Honorary mentions went to Ethan Corbett, age 5, who suggested “Zebbie,” and to Cora Gilbreath, age 11, who submitted “Booker.” And a motto was submitted by Margaret C. Lostetter, age 5: “An elephant never forgets…to return books!” We’ll be making a sign with this motto to hang beside Trunkles.

Thank you to all for so many imaginative suggestions!