Virtual Programming galore!

We're super excited to offer a plethora of virtual programming this summer! 

There's bound to be something for everyone.

For the most updated schedule, click HERE to access our eventkeeper

Click HERE for a PDF flyer of ALL our summer programs.

Below is list of some of the amazing virtual programs for children and their families happening this summer:

Classic Chapters—Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland — Saturdays, June 13—August 29 @ 1:30 pm
Join Ms. Dani for a special new video series where we'll explore children's classics one chapter at a time! This summer, we'll be reading Alice's Adventures in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll. Watch for a new video on our Facebook page and YouTube channel every week with a new chapter.

VIRTUAL Fairy Tale STEAM—Videos & Make-n-Takes— Mondays, June 15—August 17 @ 1:30 pm
Join Ms. Dani on our Facebook page and YouTube channel for a story and video STEAM challenge based on fairy tales and folklore. Take-home kits will be available at the Library that week (while supplies last). To reserve your kit, please call the Library at 412-655-2424 or email Ms. Dani at danylod@einetwork.net
     June 15—Jack and the Beanstalk need a parachute!
     June 22– Rapunzel needs to get out of her tower!
     June 29—Gingerbread Man needs a boat!
     July 6—The Three Bill Goats Gruff need a bridge!
     July 13—Goldilocks wants to build a new bed!
     July 20—Robin Hood needs a new bow & arrow!
     July 27—Cinderella needs a new carriage!
     August 3—Build your own dragon!
     August 10—Musical Instruments from folklore!
     August 17—Flying & more super powers!

Virtual PJ Family Storytime on Facebook LIVE—Mondays, June 15, July 6 & August 3 @ 7:00 pm
Join Ms. Dani on our Facebook page* for stories, songs, and a fun craft activity that the whole family can enjoy! Take-home kits will be available the week of storytime (while supplies last). To reserve your kit, please call the Library at 412-655-2424 or email Ms. Dani at danylod@einetwork.net 
     June 15—Racing folklore from around the world!
     July 6—Three Little Somethings
     August 3—Fairies & Gnomes

Rhyme Time Tuesdays —Tuesdays, June 16—August 18 @ 1:30 pm
Check out our Facebook page and YouTube channel every Tuesday for videos filled with favorite rhymes, songs, and fingerplays for babies, toddlers, and their caregivers! Watch these videos when they premiere or whenever works best for you!

Wonderful Wednesdays: Facebook LIVE virtual Family Storytime—Wednesdays, June 17—August 12 @ 1:30 pm
Join Ms. Dani on our Facebook page* for stories, songs, and a fun craft activity that the whole family can enjoy! Take-home kits will be available the week of storytime (while supplies last). To reserve your kit, please call the Library at 412-655-2424 or email Ms. Dani at danylod@einetwork.net

Virtual Tail Waggin’ Tutors — Wednesday, June 17 @ 6:00 pm
Practice your reading skills with trained therapy dogs on Zoom! Please select a short book or story to read ahead of time. Recommended for children ages 5 and up. Registration required to receive Zoom invite. To register, please email Ms. Dani at danylod@einetwork.net

Book Party Fridays — Fridays, June 19—August 21 @ 1:30 pm
Not sure what to read next? Join us on our Facebook page for virtual reader’s advisory! Each week will feature a theme of materials — new stuff, shelf discoveries, staff favorites, and more!

Sharing Sundays — Sundays, June 21—August 30
Make sure to join our special Facebook group — Pleasant Hills Library SRC Imagine Your Story – to share in the fun that is Summer Reading! Every Sunday we’ll highlight our favorite pictures, videos, and more from our group and around the web!

*You do NOT need a Facebook account to view our live events! You can view them by visiting our Facebook page: facebook.com/pleasanthillslibrary

We have outdoor programs scheduled for August! Check them out below:

Bug Hunt & Nature Hike @ Pleasant Hills Arboretum — Saturday, August 1 @ 10 am
Join Chad Gore, local entomologist, at the Arboretum to learn and search for specific bugs while enjoying a nature hike! Make sure to wear comfortable walking shoes! Masks are suggested. The Pleasant Hills Arboretum is located at 181 West Bruceton Road. All ages program—weather permitting! Registration requested. To register please call the Library at 412-655-2424 or email Ms. Dani at danylod@einetwork.net

Campfire @ Round Hill Park with the Allegheny County Park Rangers — Tuesday, August 4 @ 7:30 pm
Join Park Rangers at the Harmony House Shelter inside Round Hill Park for an awesome campfire with a presentation about nocturnal animals—complete with s’mores! Round Hill Park is located at 651 Round Hill Rd, Elizabeth, PA 15037. The Harmony House Shelter is the last shelter on the main road. Family program—weather permitting. Registration is highly limited! To register please call the Library at 412-655-2424 or email Ms. Dani at danylod@einetwork.net

Bird Walk @ Round Hill Park with the Allegheny County Park Rangers — Wednesday, August 19 @ 2:00 pm
Join Park Rangers at the Harmony House Shelter inside Round Hill Park for a bird nature walk! Round Hill Park is located at 651 Round Hill Rd, Elizabeth, PA 15037. The Harmony House Shelter is the last shelter on the main road. Family program—weather permitting. Registration is highly limited! To register please call the Library at 412-655-2424 or email Ms. Dani at danylod@einetwork.net

Questions? Concerns? Suggestions? Call the Library at 412-655-2424 or email Ms. Dani at danylod@einetwork.net 

EQT Children's Theater Festival @ HOME!

The COVID-19 pandemic has changed life as we know it across the world. Schools have been moved to remote learning, libraries and other public institutions have closed their physical doors while throwing their virtual ones wide open, and events and festivals have been cancelled or postponed. It's easy to get discouraged with so much changing, but there's still lots of things to look forward to like the 34th annual EQT Children's Festival happening May 14 - 17, 2020!

The EQT Children's Theater Festival has decided that instead of cancelling this year, they're going to move their awesome annual festival online! They are working with featured performing artists, local artists and organizations, and more to bring us a re-imagined version of the festival that can enjoyed from anywhere! There will be digital engagement opportunities that amplifies the work of local organizations that are creating and distributing content for young audiences and their families! You can expect virtual learning activities, opportunities to engage with featured performing artists, special performances from local performers, and more fun surprises! The festival runs from May 14 - 17, 2020 but you can start the fun now with the Frog Stop Scavenger Hunt!

Click HERE to see a list of festival events!

Click HERE to learn more about the Frog Stop Scavenger Hunt!

May the 4th Be with You!

May 4th is known across the galaxy as Star Wars Day! 

How do you plan to celebrate?

Need ideas? Check out this awesome article features on StarWars.com for awesome craft, food, and activity ideas! CLICK HERE for ideas!

Some of your favorite actors from the Star Wars franchise have read their favorite Star Wars picture books for you to enjoy! Check out Joonas Suotamo (Chewbacca), Anthony Daniels (C-3PO), Ashley Eckstein (Ahsoka Tano), and Daisy Ridley (Rey Skywalker) reading to you and your family this Star Wars Day!

So many FREE resources from publishers!

Many publishers, both big and small, are posting educational content for FREE using social media AND on their websites. Check to see if the publisher of your favorite book is on the list!

Click HERE for a complete list of publishers, authors, and illustrators sharing resources.

HarperCollins Children’s Books is sharing daily story times, learning materials, and activities with readers via social media channels for different age groups. HarperKids is on Instagram for little readers, the YouTube channel Shelf Stuff is for middle grade readers, the Epic Reads Twitter feed is for teens, and HarperStacks—also on Twitter—has resources for educators, parents, and caregivers.

Simon & Schuster has many resources available on social media and for download on its website. There is an online hub for educators, booksellers, and librarians called The Book Pantry. In addition, Simon & Schuster authors are taking to social media to share readings and drawing lessons. Debbie Ridpath Ohi is teaching art lessons while fellow author Aaron Reynolds has started “The Aaron Reynolds Stay-At-Home Show,” both on YouTube.

HMH Books for Young Readers is creating free activity guides, coloring pages, and videos by authors and illustrators—including Kwame Alexander, Chloe Bristol, Lois Lowry, Lori Mortenson, and Kim Smith—which are e-mailed each week to support families and educators. Along with the e-newsletter, the HMH Books for Young Readers Resource Library contains free downloads and content.

DK’s new Stay Home Hub is a dedicated website that includes activity packs and coloring sheets for children. In addition, DK is encouraging children and educators to turn to DKfindout!.com, an encyclopedic platform where children, parents, and educators can explore subjects in-depth and use them for online classes.

Above are just a few of the publishers participating. Click HERE for a complete list of publishers, authors, and illustrators sharing resources. This list, curated by Publisher's Weekly, is updated frequently so make sure to check back.

Even more choices for read-alouds!

While we may all be stuck at home, there's no shortage of amazing authors and celebrities reading aloud for your listening pleasure!

Alison Arngrim, a Canadian-American actress and author known for her portrayal of Nellie Oleson on the NBC television series Little House on the Prairie, is reading selections from the Little House on the Prairie series on her Facebook page. Follow her here to get updates on her live readings!

LeVar Burton, the amazing actor of Star Trek and Reading Rainbow fame, is moving his podcast to Twitter three times a week to read to different age groups. His podcast, LeVar Burton Reads, is normally just for adults but with all the craziness going on in the world, LeVar wanted to get back to his roots and read stories aloud for children and young adults. Monday's books will be geared towards children and will be read live at 12 pm eastern. Wednesday's stories will have a young adult audience in mind and be read at 6 pm eastern. Friday's at 9 pm will be an adult geared storytime. Head over to Twitter starting today (April 3) to catch these awesome live readings!

Dolly Parton, country-western star and literary advocate, has started reading bedtime stories on her Imagination Library YouTube page. You can check out "Goodnight with Dolly" weekly at 7 pm!

Join Ms. Dani for LIVE storytime (or watch it later!)

Ms. Dani is doing a LIVE storytime on our Facebook page every weekday at 1:30 pm! 

If you can't join us live, you can watch them later too! Make sure to LIKE and FOLLOW the Pleasant Hills Library Facebook Page to get notifications for our newly added content.

https://www.facebook.com/pleasanthillslibrary

Watch these storytimes from earlier this week:

Monday, March 30th

Tuesday, March 31st

Also, make sure to check out our new YouTube channel! 

We'll be posting various craft tutorials, STEAM activities, and additional storytimes you can watch whenever you want! 

Subscribe to get notifications for new content!

Virtual Storytime links

Ms. Dani is hard at work getting some virtual storytimes planned and prepped for you! We hope to go LIVE on Facebook next week at 1:30 pm Monday - Friday (March 30 - April 3, 2020). 

In the meantime, please check out some of these amazing online resources of celebrities, astronauts, and authors reading aloud just for you!!

Storyline Online offers a huge selection of celebrities reading a wide variety of amazing books. The illustrations are often animated, making for a fun video read-aloud experience! 

https://www.storylineonline.net/

Story Time From Space features astronauts currently in orbit on the International Space Station. While in space, the astronauts film themselves reading books to the children of Earth. These videos are then edited and placed under the "Story Time Videos" tab on their website. This website also includes other educational activities, experiments, and demonstrations. Definitely worth checking out!

https://storytimefromspace.com/

#OperationStorytime is a growing movement of authors reading their books on various platforms and sharing with you. This list is not exhaustive so make sure to search your favorite social media outlet for more! For example, Oliver Jeffers (one of Ms. Dani's favorites!) isn't on this list but can be found on Instagram Live. While many of these are live recordings, many of the authors are leaving them up on their pages for a period of time or posting them to their websites. 

https://coolprogeny.com/2020/03/operation-storytime/?fbclid=IwAR0EsIB5W0NTQz5iWArRqvwjdqSe1vvvcdjrAXEWyD80kpCNg4tuBZR73NI

**We'll update again soon with more!**