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Squirrels Just Want to Have Fun
All Fun, Animals, Autumn, Natural World, Virginia Johnson, Wildlife
10/13/2009 - 6:32pm
How do you catch a squirrel?
Climb a tree, and act like a nut!

If you've got trees, you've probably got squirrels. Whether gray or black or red or white, all squirrels act pretty much the same. However, there are other animals which are close kin to squirrels which are a little shyer of people. Chipmunks and prairie dogs are cousins.

Farmyard Animal Friends
All Fun, Animals, County fairs, Farm Life, Natural World, Picture Books, Teacher Resources, Travel, Virginia History, Virginia Johnson
11/03/2009 - 2:22pm

This year's Fredericksburg Agricultural Fair runs from July 23 to August 2, 2009. There will be many things to see and do, but the farm animals, homebaked goodies, and homegrown vegetables are always popular.

Cherries Jubilee!
All Fun, February, Folklore, Fruit, Holidays, Presidents, Recipes, Virginia Johnson
10/30/2009 - 7:50pm

Tart or sweet, cherries are the berries! Well, they're not really berries. Cherries actually belong to the rose family. Cherry's rosy relatives include other stone fruits such as almonds, apricots, plums, peaches, and nectarines.

February is a terrific month to dig into cherries. For years, people have made cherry pies to celebrate George Washington's birthday. Why do we think of cherries when we think of our first president?

The Real Twelve Days of Christmas: Celebrating in the Old-fashioned Way
All Fun, Christmas, Colonial Virginia, England, Folktales, Holidays, Religion/Spirituality, Virginia Johnson
10/28/2009 - 7:31pm

It ain't over 'til it's over! Every year kids and adults build up a head of steam for the Christmas holidays. Then the magical day comes and goes too quickly, leaving scraps of wrapping paper and half-munched cookies all around the house, as well as the nagging feeling that someone special has been left off the greeting and gifting list.

An American Thanksgiving
Abraham Lincoln, All Fun, Christianity, FYI Articles, History, Holidays, Indians of North America, Massachusetts Colony, Pilgrims, Thanksgiving, Virginia History, Virginia Johnson
10/28/2009 - 6:50pm
An image of the Pilgrims and Indians at Thanksgiving

Everybody knows that the Pilgrims celebrated the first Thanksgiving, right? Well, probably not, but it was the Pilgrims' Thanksgiving that gave us our Thanksgiving holiday as we know it today.

Pah-Rum-Pum-Pum: Follow the Drum
Africa, All Fun, Christmas, Civil War - U.S., Crafts and Hobbies, Folklore, Indians of North America, Japan, Multicultural, Music, Music, Slavery, Teacher Resources, Virginia Johnson, Williamsburg
10/20/2009 - 7:18pm

As every baby who's ever beaten a spoon against her high chair knows, there's nothing more fun than the rhythm of a pounding drum sound. Fast or slow, loud or soft, people around the world use the drum to build community spirit.

Beautiful Butterflies
All Fun, Animal migration, Animals, Costumes, Crafts and Hobbies, Folktales, Indians of North America, Insects, Natural World, Spain, Teacher Resources, Virginia Johnson
10/20/2009 - 7:17pm

They flutter around the tall, bright flowers in springtime and summer, only stopping to drink sweet nectar or lay their eggs on green leaves. Who would believe a gorgeous butterfly could come from a homely caterpillar?

You can watch this miracle happen at your house. Grab a butterfly book from the library to learn how to find their eggs and raise them from creepy-crawlies into splendid winged beauties. While you wait for them to grow, try a butterfly folktale or two. People around the world have made up stories about butterflies!

Time Travel with Russell Freedman
Abraham Lincoln, All Fun, Autobiography and Biography, Civil Rights Movement, Dancing, Declaration of Independence, Frontier and pioneer life, History, Immigrants, Indians of North America, Newbery Award, Newbery Honor, October kids, Virginia Johnson
10/20/2009 - 7:09pm

Award-winning author Russell Freedman takes readers to important places and times with his true stories of courage in hard times. Pick up one of his books, and you may find yourself face to face with Abraham Lincoln, dancer Martha Graham, or Chinese philosopher Confucious. Talk about an excellent adventure!