On June 24, parents and children waited patiently in the Gilroy Library activity room, which had been magically transformed into a miniature stage to host a production of “The Magical Moonshine Theatre.”
Minutes later, Michael and Valerie Nelson, co-creators of the theater group, took center stage accompanied by puppets, and the performance began. “Coyote Sings,” a show the Nelsons wove together from four different short Native American folktales, was the day’s selected performance, just one of over a dozen programs in their repertoire. The troupe has performed “Coyote Sings” countless times over the past 25 years, Valerie Nelson said, and it enjoys every performance.
“Coyote is this wonderful hero, he’s kind of an anti-hero,” she said. “He’s a trickster; he fails more often than he succeeds.”
Sharon Kelly, Gilroy library’s supervising librarian, said the troupe’s programs are magical.
“There’s a combination of story, and sometimes folk tale, sometimes myth, sometimes song, and this is a bilingual show,” she said.
The Nelsons’ traveling show fits with the library’s Summer Challenge theme of “Every Hero Has A Story.”
“Our storytellers are our priceless artists,” Kelly said. “They inspire all of us to want to read and discover and learn and imagine.”
Natalie Martinez and her children Nadia and Mia Sanchez thought the show was “great, really creative.” Martinez and her children visit the library weekly during the summer. “It’s so much a part of their routine,” Martinez said.
Abrem Estorga, his son Seth, 6, and daughter Selah, 3, who recently moved back home to Gilroy, stopped by the library for books and decided to stay for the performance.
“It was a total flashback. I was born and raised in Gilroy,” Estorga said. “And I remember going to these at the old library, when I was these guys’ age. We’re going to try and do this on a weekly basis, at least.”
For more information about special events and free weekly activities at the Gilroy Libary go to sccl.org/gilroy.
Morgan Hill Lego Club helps children build creativity
Doesn’t everyone love Legos? All the children who attend the weekly Lego Club at Morgan Hill library sure do. Each week children and parents file into the library’s activity room and make a beeline for the numerous colorful tubs filled to the brim with every size, shape and color of Lego blocks.
“We had been talking about doing a Lego club here for some time,” said Nichole King, teen librarian. “Legos are a great tool for kids to learn about engineering and construction in a fun and creative way. It also crosses all genders, so it seemed like a great fit for the library.”
The library solicited donations from the community and received a good number of Legos. Those donations and additional Legos purchased by the Friends of the Library and a grant from the Rotary Club of Morgan Hill helped start the club.
Alma Torres started bringing her son Steven Moya, 6, to Lego Club after seeing it promoted in a library flyer months ago. Now they attend every week. “He gets to use his imagination and build whatever he wants,” Torres said.
Each child’s finished piece, complete with a title given by its creator, is displayed in the children’s section of the Morgan Hill library along with the child’s name.
Pacifica resident Isabel Christensen and her granddaughter Miranda Christensen, 6, discovered the Lego Club when they visited the library. Holding up a piece to show her grandmother, Miranda explained she was building “something.” The two planned to return the next week.
Gilroy residents Cassi Young, her daughter Harper, 2, and her son Maddux, 7, are regular attendees of Lego Club. Maddux said he likes that the meetings have suggested themes, such as the June 26 theme of boats.
“We love it…we like to come every week; it’s part of our weekly routine,” said Cassi Young, adding that her son also enjoys seeing his creations on display.
Lego Club will continue through the end of the year, and there is hope it will return next year.
“I consider this program to be incredibly successful,” King said. “We have kids from ages 2 and up attending, and the attendance ranges from 60 (children) to a high of almost 120 last week.”
For more information about the Lego Club and other free events offered at the Morgan Hill Library go to sccl.org/morganhill/.
