York Woods District Blog

Saturday Family Time at Downsview

Saturday storycraft

Join us on Saturdays for our family time at Downsview Library! 

For the next few weeks we will be featuring our storycraft sessions.

Come in on Saturdays at 2:00pm to hear a good story, followed by a story themed craft. 

 

 

Have you ever been curious about carvings or the little stone Inuksuk made popular by the Vancouver Olympics?

As part of our Saturday family programming series, the Downsview Library is hosting the Museum of Inuit Art's curator to come and speak to children about the collection.

 

Come join the Museum of Inuit Art at Downsview Branch on Saturday May 11, 2013 to touch some museum artifacts from their hands-on collection, play traditional Inuit games and make your own piece of art.

 

This program will run from 2:00pm to 3:00pm and is open to children of all ages!

 

Please call 416-395-5720 to register

March Madness at Downsview

March Madness is in full effect at Downsview this March break with a full slate of children's programming.

 

 

Here's a full breakdown of the week ahead:

 

Saturday March 9 Dr. Seuss Storytime 11:00-12:00pm

Oh the stories you'll hear when we celebrate the one and only Dr. Seuss. And to Think I Heard It on Keele Street!

 

Monday March 11 Reptilia 2:00-3:00pm

Would you like to meet a Python? Join us on Monday March 11 for Reptilia!

    Reptilia features a wide variety of reptile from tortoises to alligators! Free limited tickets will be available 30 minutes before the start of the program

 

Tuesday March 12 The Secret Life of Arrietty 2:00-3:30pm

Based on the book The Borrowers, Arrietty and her parents are tiny people who live under the floor boards of a human house. Free limited tickets available 30 minutes before the start of the program

 

Wednesday March 13 Game-A-Ganza Day 1 2:00-3:30pm

Join Downsview Branch this March Break for some carnival type games.  See if you can beat the "skill" testing games. Win some prizes! Have some fun!  Free limited tickets available 30 minutes before the start of the program.

Thursday March 14 Game-A-Ganza Day 2 2:00-3:00pm

Thursday's event will feature a Wii-Archery competition. The tournament will be played round robin style and a prize will be awarded to the winner!  Free limited tickets available 30 minutes before the start of the program.

 

Friday March 15 Spectacle de Magic 2:00-3:00pm

Dans un spectacle hautement interactif que vous ne serez pas prêt d'oublier, vous tomberez sous le charme du seul et unique Jean Deshaies.Billets gratuits disponible 30 minutes avant le spectacle. All welcome but please note program is in French.

 

Saturday March 16 Seed Planting Program 11:00-12:00pm

Mary Mary quite contrary, how does your garden grow?  Visit us for storytime and find out!  Afterwards, children will be given seeds to plant in order to grow their own plant.

 

Come to Downsview for March Madness week.

 

  

 

What's new at the Downsview? February Spotlight

It is freezing cold outside but our children's programming slate is heating up this February!

Come in and join us at Downsview for one of our many upcoming programs. 

Join us on Mondays at 3:30pm for Minute To Win It

         An after school program for kids ages 8-13 featuring all sorts of activities and prizes. Activities range from the simple (blowing plastic cups off of a table) to video games and scientific experiments!

    

 Also on Mondays, beginning February 25, we will resume our legendary Chess Club at 6:30pm

 

           The chess club is open to beginners and experienced players alike and is for all children ages 7-13

 

On Tuesdays we have Baby Time at 1:30pm

Half an hour of bouncing, tickling, singing and laughter for parents/caregivers and their babies ages 0-18 months.

             On Thursdays we have Toddler Time at 11:30am

 

Join us for stories, rhymes and songs for parents/caregivers and their toddlers ages 18-48 months.

 

Finally on Saturday February 9th come join us for Valentine's Day Card Making and Stories from 11:00am - 12:00pm

Come and decorate fun Valentine's Day cards for your family and friends! Fun Valentine's Day stories before the craft.

  

 

Come on in and beat the cold this winter!

Too Much Fun at the Library!

Hey kids, I know you like having fun. A lot of fun. Maybe even too much fun! In January and February we challenge you to have too much fun at the library! Check out these programs at York Woods and show us how it's done.

 

On Mondays at 6:30pm join us for Pyjama Time!
Children ages 0 to 5 are welcome to join us for bedtime stories,
songs and activities with their parents or caregivers.

 

 

Pop in on Wednesdays at 4:30pm for our Afterschool Zone!
School aged kids can join us for stories, crafts and games!

 

 

 

Join us every Saturday at 2:00pm for a Family Storyime!
Take part in songs, stories, rhymes and crafts for the whole family!

 

 

The fun begins on January 7th! Click the pictures for more information.

Holiday Puppet Shows @ York Woods

See your favorite stories come to life on our puppet stage!

On Thursday December 27th join us for a stirring rendition of Robert Munsch's The Paper Bag Princess. Will Princess Elizabeth outsmart the dragon and rescue Prince Ronald?

On Thursday January 3rd one of your favourite tales will be retold. Which one will it be? You'll have to join us to find out!

ALL AGES DROP-IN!

York Woods Children’s Area

Thursday December 27th & Thursday January 3rd, 2:00-3:00pm

 

Place a hold on these classic stories today!

 

What Did You Read Today? We want to know!

It’s not too late to join the National Reading Campaign and share your love of reading! 

Jane/Sheppard branch is on board with the campaign and is asking library customers to share what they’ve been reading.

Jane/Sheppard branch's display highlighting the campaign

 

You can participate in person at any Toronto Public Library branch and online using Twitter.

Tweet your latest read to @readingcampaign with the hashtag #whatdidyoureadtoday?

You will be entered to win one of ten pre-loaded Kobo eReaders. The contest ends on December 31, 2012 so start tweeting! 

More information on contest rules and regulations are available here.      

Capoeira!

What's "capoeira" ?

  

Capoeira is a Brazilian martial art that combines elements of dance, music and game. What I love about capoeira is the physical conditioning all while singing, dancing and having some playful competition!

 

Marcio Mendes from Muiraquita Capoeira will be at the Downsview Branch on Saturday September 29^th, at 12:30 pm for a one-hour workshop to talk about the history and culture of capoeira. His students will demonstrate an energetic round of capoeira and teach everyone some basic capoeira moves!  

To give you a sneak peek of what to expect, here’s a short interview with Marcio!

D!ana: You mention on your website (http://www.muiraquitacapoeira.com/) that your first contact with capoeira was in a spontaneous way...could you tell me a bit about that experience?

Marcio: Everyone in Brazil tries capoeira at least once in their life and most people start like me… right on the streets! Capoeira is everywhere in Brazil. Every afternoon after school, my friends and I would hang out in this little soccer field to play soccer. Some of us imitated capoeira movements we would see capoeira players doing in the rodas (a circle formed by capoeira players when they practice the movements).

D: What inspired you to open a school in Toronto?

M: It was when I became a capoeira instructor in the early 90s! Capoeira was in every aspect of my life. Everything I did, I associated it with capoeira such as my course at university and my volunteer work at the YMCA and the Red Cross.

D: Do you have any memorable moments/experiences with capoeira?

M: Yes, a lot! But the two that are most important to me was when I met my capoeira master Mestre Bezerra and my first capoeira graduation.

D: There are so many great benefits to learning capoeira! What can someone new to capoeira hope to get out of it?

M: A sense of balance in life…not just physically, but spiritually and mentally!

Thank you Marcio for the mini interview!

 

A capoeira workshop + demonstration is not to be missed out on especially if you've never seen one before!

The workshop is FREE and open to everyone. Parents must accompany kids under 14 years of age. No registration required. Please call the branch for more information.

Want to learn more?

The Toronto Public Library has great books and DVDs about the history of capoeira, the philosophies behind the art and basic to advanced instructional material!

For more information about Muiraquita Capoeira, please visit http://www.muiraquitacapoeira.com/

For a listing of the Culture Days Programs at the Toronto Public Library, visit http://www.torontopubliclibrary.ca/programs-and-classes/featured/culturedays.jsp

For more information about Culture Days and the different activities, visit http://culturedays.ca/

 

*The first 10 people to post a response to this capoeira post will receive a special Culture Days treat! The treat will be sent to any Toronto Public Library branch you visit!  Post your response below about whether you'll be attending the capoeira program or which Culture Days program you'll be checking out! :)

Downsview Day is Coming!

Downsview Branch will be hosting its 3rd annual Downsview Day for kids. 

What is Downsview Day? 

In one sentence, Downsview Day can be described as an indoor branch party for kids! 

When is Downsview Day? 

Downsview Day will be on August 21, 2012 from 1:30 to 4:00.  Children can arrive any time after 1:30 but it is best to arrive early!

How does it work? 

Upon arrival, children will receive a passport.  Children will then participate in activity stations in order to collect "stamps" for their passports.  Activities include: Plinko, Math challenge and Mini Basketball.  For each stamp collected, children will receive a raffle ticket that gives them a chance to win one of the many prizes available.  There will also be contests for kids as well as several storytimes for children under 4 years of age.

Who is invited? 

Children of all ages.  Most of the children that have attend were from 4 to 11 years old.  This year we have activities for younger children as well.

Where is Downsview Branch? 

Downsview Branch is located near the intersection of Keele Street and Wilson Avenue.  Click on this link for more information on Downsview.  Feel free to contact us for more details!  

Why have a Downsview Day? 

It's a day to celebrate the end of the TD Summer Reading Club at Downsview.  It's also a day for children to be rewarded for reading and a day for the branch to give back to the kids!  Above all, it's about fun!

See you there!

Battle of the Books deadline extended!

 

 

If you haven’t voted yet in Downsview branch’s Battle of the Books, it’s not too late!

What is Battle of the Books, you ask? Here are some quick details:

Where:

The Children’s Department, Downsview branch

What:

Our 3^rd Annual Battle of the Books features two children’s picture books

 

Small Saul by Ashley Spires      A Flock of Shoes by Sarah Tsiang

                        
                          

How:

• Drop in to Downsview branch during our business hours
• Come to the main desk in the Children’s Department – we’ll find the books for you
• Read them – either at the library or borrow them to take home
• Decide which one you like best (you can only choose one!)
• Return to the main desk and complete a ballot by putting a check beside your favourite book
• Write your name and phone number on the back to be entered into a prize draw
• Pop your ballot in the box at the desk
• You’ll find out in early June which book won (and if you won a prize!)

When:

Whenever Downsview branch is open. Battle of the Books ends on May 31

Who’s Involved:

The Children’s Librarians at Downsview branch

Why:

Just for fun!

Click below to see our previous Battle of the Books:

2011

Big Bear Hug (winner)         vs.             Roslyn Rutabaga

 

                                    

                                                                
2010

Boy Soup (winner)                 vs.             Mattland

                                      

View our youtube video from last year:

 

Very Hungry Caterpillar Day

Did you know...?

 

...that this Tuesday, March 20, 2012 is Very Hungry Caterpillar Day!

 

Written by Eric Carle, the book follows a caterpillar as it eats through a variety of food items on its way to becoming a butterfly. The book has won numerous children's literature awards and has sold more than 30 million copies worldwide.

 

You can listen to Eric Carle read from the book here:

 

 

Visit your local branch to get your own copy to read at home.

You can check our holdings by clicking here.