Friday, May 16 will mark a highly anticipated day at Lakewood Public Library’s Main Library with the return of Family Weekend Wonders. Library construction forced the popular drop-in story time to go on hiatus last spring, although the program continued as usual at the Madison Branch.

Beginning May 16, Family Weekend Wonders will be offered at the Main Library in the newly-constructed Activity Room, a two-story area highlighted by floor to ceiling windows with plenty of natural light. This beautiful space is sure to be bustling, due to the popularity of the program which has served approximately 10,000 children and parents annually since 1990.

"It’s the best bargain in town," says Lakewood resident Julie Warren. "You get music, dancing, stories, crafts, and it's all free. My children thoroughly enjoy it."

Family Weekend Wonders is open to the entire family, regardless of age or ability level. It’s also a non-registered story time, which makes it an attractive option for parents and caregivers looking for a spontaneous activity to enjoy with their children.

"Before Family Weekend Wonders,” says library director, Kenneth Warren, “I would often get a call from a grandparent looking for a weekend library event to enjoy with grandchildren. All we had were story-times that required registration in advance. So we needed to create a new approach to both creative content and flexible schedules."

While fun and flexibility are essential to the success of Family Weekend Wonders, so are education and enlightenment. In recent years, Lakewood librarians have worked to incorporate specific early literacy skills into the program. "Studies show that over one-third of Ohio's children enter kindergarten unprepared to succeed as learners," says Andrew Harant, the Children's and Youth Services Manager. "The library is in a perfect position to partner with families to help change that statistic."

As a part of Family Weekend Wonders, librarians offer explanations to help parents and caregivers understand how children benefit from the story time activities, and how they can build on those activities at home. When children are encouraged to be active participants in stories, they learn new words, gather information about the world around them, learn written language, see the connection between spoken and written language, and much more.

Each Family Weekend Wonders story time lasts approximately 45 minutes and features books, fingerplays, movements, songs and a craft. Upcoming themes will include “Read Me a Story,” “Safari Stomp,” Bear-y Happy Readers,” and “Creepy, Crawly Critters.” A complete list of Family Weekend Wonder themes is available in the Spring/Summer 2008 Lakewood Public Library Program Guide and online at http://www.lkwdpl.org/youth/fwwcalendar.htm.

"As I look back to the many caring and creative staff members who have helped to make Family Weekend Wonders such a great program,” says Director Warren, “I am filled with deep gratitude and pride for the realization and sustained delivery of a magnificent children's programming achievement every weekend of the year."

Come find out what all the buzz is about! Family Weekend Wonders is held every weekend of the year on Fridays at 10:30, 2:00 and 7:00; Saturdays at 10:30, 2:00 and 4:00; and Sundays at 2:00.

For additional information, please call the Children’s and Youth Services Department at (216) 226-8275, extension 140 or the Madison Branch at (216) 228-7428.