Tails & Tales at Florida Public Library opens June 28

Florida Public Library’s annual Summer Reading Program, Tails & Tales, begins with a very special event.

On Monday, June 28, from 1-7 p.m. join us for our very first Animal Adoption Day. Kids of all ages are invited to make their own stuffed animal, create a special token to place inside, name it, and give it a home! Send us pictures of you and your new pet at the park, on vacation, or just hanging out in your backyard and we’ll post them on our Facebook Page (Florida Public Library).

Photos can be sent to bverblaauw@rcls.org. Patrons must sign up for a specific time slot so please visit our website at www.floridapubliclibrary.org. When you have finished creating your new pet, make sure to pick up your Decoder Sheet for our Village of Florida Scavenger Hunt. The whole family can have a blast locating different animal tales in the windows of local businesses in the Village of Florida. Decipher the secret message and return your Decoder Sheet to the library by the end of July to be entered into our grand prize drawing.

Virtual and in-person programs

The summer will feature a mix of virtual and in-person programs. Marcia the Musical Moose Puppet Show will premiere every Monday morning beginning at 9 a.m. on our Facebook page. Also, on Mondays at 4 p.m., Miss Beth will lead Books & Beyond, on the deck for children in Grades K-2. Enjoy discovering a new animal habitat each week while playing games and creating cool crafts. Our Tuesdays on the Deck for Tweens & Teens program (Grades 3 and up) will meet at 5 p.m. every Tuesday and will feature fun, interactive activities including cooking, tie dying and painting an animal silhouette. Guiding Eyes for the Blind will join us on Tuesday, July 27, at 3:30 p.m. with a special program.

On Wednesdays, Miss Maria will continue her Zoom Rhymetime program. Infants & toddlers (age 12-35 months) will meet at 11:00 a.m. for stories, songs and games. Miss Beth’s Preschool Storytime program (age 3-5) will be held outside on the deck on Thursdays at 10:30 a.m. Preschoolers will learn about different animals, share stories and make some fun crafts. Also, on Thursdays at 4 p.m., our Pokémon Card Club returns with weekly tournaments for children in Grades 3-5. On Friday, July 9, 16, & 30, kids in Grades 4 and up can join us for Video Games on the Deck.

Page Turner Virtual Animal Adventures

Special events include Page Turner Virtual Animal Adventures which will run throughout the entire summer; a “Duck on a Bike” Rodeo for kids of all ages on Friday, July 2; two outdoor movies scheduled for Friday, July 2 and 23; a visit from horse trainer, harness race driver, and author Amber Sawyer who will share her new book Love to Race with us on Tuesday, July 6; Tricky Critter Tales and ice cream on Thursday, July 8; Peacock Tails & Tales on Saturday, July 10; and Florida resident and author Ed Finnerty is back at the library to discuss his new book, Marvin the Magnificent, and share some magic tricks on Saturday, July 17.

Our 25th Annual Campfire Storytime at Glenmere Lake on Thursday, July 22 will feature a marshmallow roast and members of the Black Dirt Storytelling Guild sharing stories for the whole family.

Adult and family programs

Adult and family programs will take place on Wednesday and Thursday, including our weekly Understanding Technology class on Wednesday afternoons; Hummingbirds in the Garden with Pamela Golben on July 1;

Family Game Café on July 14; and Farm to Table-Pickles, Salsa & Pesto on July 24. Beth Verblaauw returns with another Wood Sign Craft Class on Thursday, July 15.

FPL continues a weekly outreach program on Thursday afternoons for the Village of Florida’s summer recreation program. These sessions will feature books, games, and crafts related to the summer theme. Miss Maria will also continue her weekly Zoom Storytime program with Florida ABCD bringing a bilingual “Tails & Tales” summer program to Spanish-speaking preschoolers.

Book clubs

Our two adult book clubs will also continue to meet in the summer on the deck. The Mystery Book Club will meet on July 9 at 1 p.m. to discuss A Borrowing of Bones by Paula Munier. The Page Turner’s Book Club will discuss The Dutch House by Ann Patchett on July 29. A complete schedule of programs for all ages can be found on our website at www.floridapubliclibrary.org and on our Facebook page.

Patrons can also register for the summer reading clubs that run through the month of July. Children read on their grade level and earn prizes. Registration is required for both the summer reading club and all summer programs which are open to residents of the Florida Union Free School District. Residents from outside the district may register for programs as space allows and will be placed on a waiting list as necessary.

Essential information

The library is located at 4 Cohen Circle, behind Florida Village Hall, and is open Monday -Thursday 10-8, Friday and Saturday 10-5, closed Sunday during the summer. Wi-Fi is available on our rear deck anytime. Call (845) 651-7659 for information on programs and services.