2012 Summer Reading Program - Highlights

The results for Summer 2012 are in - over 100 library performances and 20 tween/teen workshops in 9 different states. Our home state of North Carolina hosted us for the largest number of programs with Pennsylvania coming in a close second. We were excited to also add Massachusetts and Virginia to our summer tour schedule. Many thanks to all of these libraries for inviting us to their communities and helping to make this our most successful summer yet.

Keeping with the tradition we started many years ago, we created a video with highlights from Dream Big - READ! performances. Even if you didn't get to see Paul's show this summer, you'll be sure to get a laugh from the comical ways in which he tries to get the attention of his "mom."

[vimeo]http://vimeo.com/48325339#at=5[/vimeo]

We are currently booking for the 2013 Dig into Reading Summer Reading Program. Visit FlowCircus.com/library for more information on our programs.

Grounded for Good - Book Trailer Contest

In Grounded for Good, the debut book of author Dawn Daria, Derek Dawson is forced to "volunteer" at a local library as punishment for a prank he pulls on the last day of eighth grade. A colorful crew of kids and a librarian unlike any other adult Derek knows help him uncover hidden talents including juggling and performing.

Flow Circus Press wants to help readers tap into their hidden talents this summer and Own The Night! The winning entry will win juggling equipment for the creators and their public library. It's simple - create a book trailer for Grounded for Good and enter it in our contest by August 17th. If the trailer is selected, the team members will each get a signed copy of the book and a set of juggling balls. Their library wins a Flow Circus Juggling Kit which contains instructional materials, 20 sets of juggling balls, and other juggling equipment. Your library will have what it needs to start a juggling club that can meet throughout the year. For more information about the kit contents, visit our Teen Kit page.

Grounded for Good - Now Available

Grounded for Good, the debut book by Flow Circus Education Director Dawn Daria, is now available in paperback. Visit Flow Circus Press for more information on how to purchase it or download the e-book.

 

Sleeping late. Hanging with friends. Freedom.
Ah, Summer…
Derek Dawson couldn’t wait to finish middle school. Unfortunately, a heroic attempt to impress his classmates on the last bus ride home sends him right back to the principal’s office. He’s been in trouble before, but nothing like this.

Working for free. Musty books. Grounded.
Summer Ruined!
Derek’s summer leaves him stuck at home, working at the family store, and “volunteering” at a library. Torture, until he meets a colorful crew of kids in the next town that help him uncover his hidden talents. Will Derek finally be able to prove to his parents that he’s more than just a trouble-maker?

I’ve never fit in before. Football’s not my thing, video games aren’t my thing.
But now…now I’ve found my thing.

Take the Stage...Own the Night: Free Teen SRP Resources

As we thought about Own the Night, the 2012 Teen Summer Reading Program theme, we figured many of you would go with the popular zombie, vampire, creatures of the night idea. We struggled at first with how to connect what we do with the theme because you don't usually see juggling zombies! But when we refocused on our goal of helping kids discover new interests and skills that empower them, a variation on the theme seemed obvious: Take the Stage...Own the Night. Why not have teens learn new skills that provide them with the confidence and self-esteem to Own the Night.

We have compiled a variety of resources that start with teaching teens to juggle including DIY juggling balls that you can make with them on a shoe-string budget. But that's just a starting point. Why not engage folks in your community to come in a do demonstrations on music, dance, storytelling, or other skills. We've also included ideas for showcasing teen talents from using them as opening acts for your SRP programs to a full talent show event. The materials have been developed with libraries in mind, but can easily be adapted for camps and afterschool programs.

All of these resources and more can be found at FlowCircus.com/OwnTheNight. Video contest coming May 1st. Join our mailing list to get details when available.

You can run these programs without us, but Flow Circus is available for family performances and teen workshops. Visit FlowCircus.com/library for more information.

Summer 2012 Tour Schedule

We have been busy fielding calls and emails about Summer 2012 and our tour schedule is taking shape. Paul is still working out the details for his Dream Big - READ! performance to fit this summer's theme, but you can be sure that it will inspire children of all ages to discover new skills and interests at their library. To see how Paul used storytelling, juggling, and magic to highlight past SRP themes, visit our video gallery. We also offer engaging hands-on tween/teen workshops that will help Own the Night. For more information about these workshops, visit flowcircus.com/library.

Summer 2012 Tour Schedule:

Week of 6/4: Alabama

Week of 6/11: Western NC & Upstate SC

Week of 6/18: Pennsylvania

Week of 6/25: New York & Northern New Jersey

Week of 7/2: North Carolina

Week of 7/9: New Jersey & Pennsylvania

Week of 7/16: North and South Carolina

Week of 7/23: TBD (Available for a library tour of 10+ shows)

Week of 7/30: New Jersey & Pennsylvania

Week of 8/6 & 8/13: Northeast (NJ, NY, & CT)

Contact Dawn@FlowCircus.com to check availability for specific dates/times. The schedule above may change as we move forward with planning so feel free to contact us with your requests.

 

New Skill Toy Loaner Kit Available for 2012

Last spring, Flow Circus offered a Skill Toy Kit Giveaway to interested libraries looking for innovative tween/teen programming. We were amazed by the over 300 entries! We wish we could have given away kits to more people. As a result, we have decided to create a Skill Toy Kit Loaner Program for public and school libraries for 2012.

• Twelve libraries in the continental US will be selected to host the Skill Toy Kit for 1 month each.


• The only cost to host libraries will be shipping the kit to the next location on the last day of the month (approximate cost $20-50).


• Interested libraries should complete this form by December 2nd.


• The sites selected to host the loaner kit will be contacted by December 9th.

The Skill Toy Kit includes 20 skill toys, instructional materials, and a program guide to help you run skill toy sessions at your library. For more information about the Skill Toy Kit and its contents, visit www.FlowCircus.com/teenkits or contact Dawn@FlowCircus.com.

November 2011 Newsletter

Greetings from Flow Circus
Read Across America, Teen Tech Week, & National Library Week
Team Work
'Tis the Season
Summer Reading Program 2012
Upcoming Tours