Continue reading Loving our Hair

Since the library would be closed on the 25th, we had Chocolate Storytime on the 3rd Friday; and it was lots of fun. It was a cool and autumn afternoon. Once settled in, the kids chose 2 books to read.: “Lola Loves the Library” by Anna McQuinn and “Under and Over the Pond” by Kate Messner. The latter is a sweet story about a mother … Continue reading Exploring Nature

The 2020 Tournament of Roses president, Laura Farber was our special guest at Chocolate Storytime. She is the first Latina and third woman president of the Pasadena Tournament of Roses Foundation. Farber shared the Rose Parade theme, “The Power of Hope” and brought a poster to spoke about all of the special meanings behind each letter’s graphic in the word, hope. She shared about her story of … Continue reading Laura Farber Visits Chocolate Storytime

Miss Black Pasadena 2019, Eryn Pollard, was the special guest reader at February’s Chocolate Storytime. Pollard is a 17-year old junior at California School of the Arts. She read “I Am Enough” by Grace Byers and “Maggie Sinclair, Willi You Please Fix Your Hair?” by Hilary Grant Dixon. Guests began the afternoon with the singing of the Negro National Anthem, “Lift Every Voice and Sing” accompanied … Continue reading Celebrating 5th Year Anniversary with Miss Black Pasadena 2019

February is Black History Month and Chocolate Storytime’s 4th anniversary.  So this time of year is very special.  During this special month, Chocolate Storytime partners with the City of Pasadena Community Services Department supervisor, Jarvis Emerson, who recommends the special guest from the Black History Celebration Planning Committee. It was a multigenerational storytime at La Pintoresca Branch Library.  Chocolate Storytime opened up with “Lift Ev’ry … Continue reading 4th Anniversary of Chocolate Storytime

The holidays are here and we wanted kids to embrace and value their naturally kinky, curly, and coily tresses, so we read stories all about hair! A panelist of moms shared anecdotes promoting healthy hair-esteem and some of their hair styling and detangling routines. Visitors received the guide, “Decode Your Coils,” which includes various hair typing systems that are useful when matching products with hair … Continue reading Holiday Hair

Five minutes before Chocolate Storytime begins, the leader usually goes around giving a final call to the library patrons and to kids and parents outside in the park.  This time, a nice family who was in the park with their little children were invited to come. Surprisingly, the whole family agreed to visit, including 3 adults and several middle school boys. Once inside, the kids … Continue reading Oobleck Slime at Chocolate Storytime

It was an ordinary hot afternoon, so it was very nice to come into the library, where it was cool, quiet, and relaxing. Ms. Ayesha went out to the La Pintoresca Day Camp leader to ask if the younger kids could come in for a while to enjoy stories.  Usually, we read around 3 books, but because we were not going to do a craft, … Continue reading Ice Cream on a Hot June Afternoon

For the month of April, our Girl Scout Juniors (some of whom have attended and/or volunteered at Chocolate Storytime) went to San Francisco, California for the weekend to participate in the Golden Gate Bridging.  So our wonderful librarian, Rosa Cesaretti, led the reading for Chocolate Storytime!  Rosa has been at La Pintoresca Branch Library for 4 years, and we are fortunate to have her.  She has … Continue reading Read Aloud with Your Child Challenge