Program Spotlight—My First Book Club

Every Tuesday at 10 a.m., the four-and-under set gathers for My First Book Club. For this program, guests hear a story (this week, I read the spectacular If You Give a Pig a Pancake--we're big Laura Numeroff fans here at CMOM) and make a craft based on the story (we made pig puppets, as seen above). Then, the kiddies have a healthy snack. Next week, we’re reading the very funny I’m Not Santa. Hope to see you there. My First Book Club is for kids four years old and under.

Chicka Chicka Boom Boom!

Today for Book Worms, we read Chicka Chicka Boom Boom. Then we made our own coconut trees using markers and foam alphabet letters. While doing the craft we listened to "Chicka Chicka Funk" (a fun little rendition of the story). It was a blast! Next week for Book Worms, we're reading Clifford, the Big Red Dog. See you there!

Introducing Tamara!

Meet Tamara is our new Program Specialist.

Tamara is a Memphis native who received her Bachelors and Masters degrees in English from the University of Tennessee at Knoxville. Be sure to say hello when you see her around the museum. You can catch her during the week at Super Sing-a-Long (Tuesday afternoons at 1pm), Around the World (Wednesdays at 3:30), R&R Storytime (Wednesdays at noon), Fabulous Fine Art (Fridays at 10am), Saturday Art (Saturdays at 11am), Okie Dokie Karaoke (Saturdays at 1pm), Celebrate CMOM (Saturdays at 2pm through the end of August), and Super Science (Saturdays at 3pm).

I <3 Saturdays!

SUPER SATURDAY AT CMOM!

(Because who doesn't love Saturdays?)

So, I love Saturdays in general, especially at CMOM, but this Saturday (tomorrow, September 26) is going to be super exciting because we've got programs going on ALL DAY!

• 10:00-12:30 Kids in the Kitchen Join our special guests in the group entrance (in front of the Malco) to learn about eating and cooking healthy and enjoy some special snacks.
• 11:00 Animal Art Come get creative and make something wild! Choose between a cute panda, a silly hippo, or a wise owl!
• 12:00 & 12:30 Music Makers Join our friends from the Memphis Youth Symphony as we jump in to the world of music. Hear a young musician play a famous instrument, learn about its sounds, and get the chance to play it yourself!
• 1:00 Building Brainstorm Workshop Ever wondered what it's like to be an architect? Come help us celebrate the arrival of our new "Building Brainstorm" exhibit with an educational--and fun!--activity using toothpicks and marshmallows.
• 3:00 Eco Kids Club Yay planet Earth! Explore and investigate the world around us! Learn about the migration of monarch butterflies and find out when you can see them fly through Memphis!

See why I'm so excited? Hope to see you tomorrow! (And don't forget...next Saturday is another reason to celebrate: CLIFFORD IS COMING TO CMOM!)

I'M BACK...and just in time for Clifford!

Meet Clifford the Big Red Dog!

Saturday, October 3 11am-2pm

Hey, guys! I'm back from my 3-month stint in Europe, and super excited about the upcoming events in store here at the museum...especially meeting Clifford the Big Red Dog! Join us Saturday, October 3, for pictures with Clifford, fun crafts, giveaways and other dog-related activity stations. It'll be a doggone good time!

Yummmmm...

Come Tour the Jelly Belly Bus!

Friday, May 8, 11am-3pm

The Jelly Belly Bus is making a stop at The Children's Museum! The bus will be on the parking lot, and visitors may take a FREE tour inside the vehicle to see how their favorite jelly beans are made. You can win cool prizes, too! Bring your sweet tooth and see the fascinating facts on this American icon!

(A little side note...Friday is also my birthday, and I KNOW you all want to come celebrate with me! I'll be the one wearing the princess tiara and the big silly grin on my face!)

Can we fix it? YES WE CAN!

MEET BOB THE BUILDER!

The Orpheum Theatre is bringing Bob the Builder back to the museum on Friday, June 5, 11am-1pm, to meet children and promote his show coming to Memphis June 5-7. Visitors will be able to take photos with Bob, have fun at several activity stations, receive Bob the Builder giveaways and register to win tickets to his show as well as other cool prizes. "Bob the Builder Live!: Spud's Big Mess" is part of The Orpheum Theatre's Family Series. The event at the museum is included with regular admission.

CMOM's New Reading Room

Hey!

Today, the CMOM Reading Room officially opened.

I am quite aware that the name is kinda lame--That's why I'm looking to you for help! Do you have a great name for the reading room??? If you do, you could win PRIZES! Exciting prizes like this Malco Gift card that is sitting on my desk! Or a CMOM prize basket! Send me your suggestions at Loni.Wellman@cmom.com! OR you can stop by the museum and place them in the amazing voting box!

Either way, the room needs a great name!!! Unfortunately the following names have already been denied:

Lonski's Reading Emporium

Loni Rocks

Loni is Awesome

The Loni Wellman Reading Experience

Here are some before and after pictures. The room is located next to Your House, My House--right next to the slide! We'll see ya there!

Friday the 13th

BOO! (Ok, I realize it’s March, but I miss Halloween…give me a break!)

I’m Lauren, and I’m the most recent addition to the CMOM Program Staff—that means I’m definitely giving Lonski a run for her money when it comes to the museum’s most awesome employee (just kidding…or am I?)! I’m super excited to be a part of this place—I remember loving CMOM as a kiddo myself, and being back in Memphis after a 3-year adventure in New York City, I’m thrilled to return to Tennessee as part of the best Children’s Museum ever! I promise to do my best keeping “y’all” (oh, how I’ve miss using such a great Southern word!) updated on CMOM’s latest programs and events.

CMOM's current traveling exhibit, "Children of Hangzhou: Connecting With China" (open through May 31) is an awesome way for kids and adults to learn about both traditional and modern Chinese culture through the eyes of 4 children living in Hangzhou. Every Saturday, I'll meet all you guys for a hands-on activity (think fun crafts or traditional games played by Chinese children) in our "China & You" program. Check out CMOM's website for even more information on all the cool stuff you can discover in this super exhibit. (http://www.cmom.com/?q=traveling) But hurry! It's only here until the end of May!

Come celebrate St. Patty's Day tomorrow (Saturday, March 14) the authentic way with our guest visitors--traditional Irish dancers! They'll be performing in the Malco at 1pm- you definitely don't want to miss it!

Don't forget to check out the online Calendar of Events (http://www.cmom.com/?q=Calendar) to keep up with all the fun stuff we're doing here at CMOM! See ya soon!

Meet the CMOM Program Staff!!! (oh, & Education)

Hey All!

So, CMOM's Art Smart Studio became a tad more colorful today! We've just added a staff wall. I cut out all the circles myself! Ok, a machine kinda helped me! It was something that I was inspired to do while at the Association of Children's Museum's conference in Denver.

BTW, the ACM conference was GREAT! Emily, the Education Manager, and myself learned a whole slew of new things. It really re-energized us!!! The momentum that we brought back will keep going and going until...well we don't have an end date just yet. Check back later!

Anywho, next time you're at the Museum, come by Art Smart and see our Staff Wall. Who knows, you just might learn a little something about us! I sure did! I never knew Josh (or J-Rock as he is known around here) was clumsy. Ok, I kinda knew that. :) Here are our dossier's.

And that's it for this Friday. Come visit us this weekend. Here's the low down on what's happening here this Saturday:

11am Bloomin' Art

12 noon R&R Storytime

1pm Kid Karaoke

3:30pm Home Grown Science: Slime and Ooze!

Hope to see ya!

Oh and I almost for got my useless triva for this post. It'll be brief. Here goes: The dot over the letter "i" is called a tittle. Now you know

Have a great weekend!