Making Slime & Elephant Toothpaste during Super Science Saturday

Kids learned about chemical reactions by making slime and elephant toothpaste during Super Science Saturday at Mentor Library.

It's easy to make science intimidating. After all, dihydrogen monoxide sounds terrifying until you realize it's just another way to say water.

But it's not difficult to make science fun too.

For example, kids can create their own chemical reactions and perform their own experiments when they make elephant toothpaste and monster slime like we did at the Mentor Library during our most recent Super Science Saturday.

Fair warning: these experiments can get messy.

Elephant toothpaste is an old classic. You can find ingredients and instructions here. In the experiment, yeast catalyzes a chemical reaction and causes hydrogen peroxide to release its oxygen.

In other words, you can make foam that comes flowing out of whatever you container you mixed your materials in. It's a lot of fun, easy to do and your kids will laugh every time the foam bursts through the top of its bottle.

Monster slime is even easier. You combine starch, glue and food coloring to make a slimy, stretchy concoction that your kids will love playing with. (PBS Kids offers a great, easy-to-follow recipe on its website.)

Throw in some glitter glue if you really want to make your slime shine.

By the way, we have more fun science coming to our Mentor Headlands Branch.

You can join Mentor Marsh Naturalist Rebecca Donaldson to learn about monarch butterflies at 2 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 29. She'll be talking about the butterfly's life cycle and how important our community is to its migration path.

The program is free and open to everyone. You can register for it on Mentor Library's website.

Learn about Monarch butterflies at Mentor Library's Headlands Branch on Aug. 29.

For more photos from our Super Science Saturday, visit Mentor Library's Facebook page.

Mentor Library lets loose the reptiles for Summer Reading Finale Party

Emma and Sophia pet the bearded dragon from Herps Alive, a rescue refuge for reptiles.

Mentor Public Library celebrated the conclusion of one of its biggest summers ever by inviting pythons, boas, tortoises, skinks and more to a party at its Read House.

More than 300 kids and adults met, touched, learned about and even held the rescued reptiles and amphibians from Keith Gisser’s Herps Alive during the library’s Summer Reading Finale Party on Thursday, Aug. 6.

Grant dons his cape during the Summer Reading Finale Party at Mentor Library.

This summer, Mentor Library celebrated all kinds of heroes including the literary, local and caped varieties. The library had special story times with teachers, firefighters and nurses, as well as programs dedicated to Captain America, Captain Underpants, Pete the Cat, Junie B. Jones and more.

More children than ever before—1,485, to be exact—signed up for Mentor Library’s summer reading program. And they read or were read to for 18,416 hours. (Also, a record high for the library.) And 608 kids earned library champion signs by reading or being read to at least 15 hours this summer.

“It's great knowing the kids in the area are reading over the summer,” said Kim Sidorick, the children’s services manager at Mentor Library. “Our goal is for kids to continue reading over the summer; and, you can see by the numbers, they are.”

Eleven kids help hold the python from Herps Alive at the Summer Reading Finale Party.

Additionally, more than 500 teens and adults sign up for summer reading at Mentor Library, and they read more than 3,200 books.

"We want to thank everyone who participated in our summer reading program this year,” said Amanda Densmore, the reference manager at Mentor Library. “We hope you read something that stimulated your curiosity or taught you something new, and we hope that you had as much fun as we did."

While summer reading may be finished, there are always more programs and events coming at Mentor Library. To see what’s happening next, visit the our website, www.mentorpl.org.

Sydnee becomes superhero Squidnee when she wears her mask.

For more photos from the Summer Reading Finale party, visit Mentor Library's Facebook page.

To a Super Summer at Mentor Library

Kids take flight during Marvelous Monday at our Read House.

That was a super summer!

Together, we auditioned as Minions, joined the Ninja Turtles and trounced Turbo-Toilet 2000. We celebrated local and literary heroes. And most of all, we did a lot of reading.

Precisely 1,485 kids signed up for our Summer Reading program, Every Hero Has a Story, and they read (or were read to) a total of 18,416 hours. That's the most kids and most reading in Mentor Library history!

And more than 500 teens and adults signed up for our summer reading program, as well. Together, they read more than 2,200 books this summer!

Congratulations to everyone who joined us this summer for our summer reading program and events. And we have two things to say to you:

1. Never stop reading or learning.

2. The party isn't over yet!

Families can also join us for our End of Summer Reading party from 6 to 8:30 p.m. on Thursday, Aug. 6, at Mentor Public Library’s Read House.

Kids can meet animal superhero Keith Gisser and the rescued reptiles of Herps Alive. There will also be games, crafts and kids can see if they won one of the prizes from Mentor Library’s summer reading program.

See you at the party!

This adorable leopard gecko is just one of the many rescued reptiles from Herps Alive. Meet more this Thursday!

Tra-La-Laa! Captain Underpants at Mentor Library

Angelina soars through the air!

Tra-La-Laa!

We dedicated our final Marvelous Monday—our summer-long celebration of heroes—to Captain Underpants and his "creators" George Beard and Harold Hutchins.

Kids made capes with their own Professor Poopypants-endorsed monikers. (For example, I'm Chim-Chim Banana Brain.) They also used toilet-paper rolls to stop the nefarious Turbo-Toilet 2000 and completed a Captain Underpants-approved obstacle course.

Chase lofts a roll at the dreaded Turbo Toilet 2000.

This may have been the final Marvelous Monday, but everyone still has until Saturday, Aug. 1, to log their summer-reading hours and books. (On that note, please remember to log your hours if you're a kid or books if you're a teen or adult at any of our branches by this Saturday. We want to make sure you get credit for all the reading you did!)

And we still have fun programs coming up:

• If you're feeling crafty, you can make Comic Book Coasters featuring your favorite superheroes this Thursday, June 30, at our Mentor-on-the-Lake Branch.
• Celebrate science during our final Super Science Saturday of the Summer on Saturday, Aug. 1. We'll be making slime and elephant toothpaste!

Families can also join us for our End of Summer Reading party from 6 to 8:30 p.m. on Thursday, Aug. 6, at Mentor Public Library’s Read House. Kids can meet animal superhero Keith Gisser and the rescued reptiles of Herps Alive. There will also be games, crafts and kids can see if they won one of the prizes from Mentor Library’s summer reading program.

Ms. Amy gives Sierra her superhero cape.

For more photos from our Captain Underpants Marvelous Monday, visit Mentor Library's Facebook page.

Cowabunga! Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles at Mentor Library

Angelina, Sofia, Olivia, Marko and Kristian strike a radical pose during our TMNT-themed Marvelous Monday.

No need to be shell-shocked. We just dedicated this Marvelous Monday to four adolescent, reptilian, martial-arts enthusiasts.

Yes, that's right. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles!

Kids made their own shells, domino masks and balloon katana at the Read House on Monday and the results were—I have to say—radical!

Aven and Bryn look ready to knock out some Foot Clan lackeys.

They also demonstrated their ninja bonafides by completing an obstacle course and perfecting the art of tossing sewer lids.

When they were finished, they chowed down on—what else?—pizza.

Owen grabs a snack (with a little help from his mom.)

We've had a great summer of Marvelous Mondays, and there's still one left. Join us at 1 p.m. on July 27 at the Read House for games and crafts. This week's hero is none other than Captain Underpants.

No registration is required. Just come out and have a good time.

Violet and Roman try to decide which color mask they want.

And there’s still time to join the more than 1,400 kids who have signed up for summer reading at Mentor Public Library.

For every hour a child reads or is read to, they receive a raffle ticket that can help them win one of dozens of cool prizes—from telescopes and microscopes to Lego sets and Superhero Barbie. The more someone reads, the better chance they have of winning.

If a child reads 20 hours by Aug. 1, they will be entered into a special raffle to win one of two $50 gift certificates from Toys ‘R Us.

Mentor Library also has a summer reading program (and prizes) for teens and adults, as well. For more information about summer reading, call 440-255-8811 or visit Mentor Library’s website.

Colton decorates his shell shield.

For more photos from Marvelous Mondays, visit Mentor Library’s Facebook page.

Comics scholar will discuss the women of 'Avengers' at Mentor Library

We've been talking about heroes all summer long, so it's no surprise that we have a program dedicated to the hottest heroes of the summer (give or take Ant-Man or Chris Pratt.)

Comics scholar Valentino Zullo will present on the history and impact of one of comics' most influential group of superheros, The Avengers, at 6:30 p.m. this Thursday, July 23, at Mentor Library's Main Branch.

Zullo will pay special attention to the increased roles that superheroines now play in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

"As Marvel’s cinematic universe continues to expand, so does its sense of diversity," Zullo said. "In particular, the representation of women has become ever more prominent in the Marvel Cinematic Universe both on the big screen and on TV."

Zullo's discussion will trace a brief history of the superheroine in comics from early representations at the onset of World War II to our current era with Black Widow and Scarlet Witch on the big screen in Avengers: Age of Ultron, as well as Marvel’s embrace of a feminist worldview in their TV shows Agent Carter and Agents of Shield.

He will explore the ways that women in comics have been presented, from the complicated and often critiqued hypersexuality, to the current representation of more realistic, powerful women.

"Together we will discuss the evolving state of feminism in the Marvel cinematic universe and consider the changing comics world through the figure of the superheroine," Zullo said.

Zullo is a doctorate student in the English department at Kent State University. He also holds a Master of Arts in English and Women’s Studies from Bowling Green State University and a Master of Science in Social Administration from Case Western Reserve University.

His talk is free and open to everyone. You can register for it on Mentor Library's website.

'Bark'-ing up the right tree with Paws to Read

Teah reads to our newest Paws to Read dog, Hattie.

Looking for a way to encourage your kid to read? If they like dogs, then Paws to Read at Mentor Library is the perfect program for them.

Paws to Read pairs young readers (between the ages of six and 12 years old) with therapy dogs, who listen to the children as they read.

The dogs make an ideal audience—supportive and adorable—and all they ask for in return is the occasional ear scratch.

Claire touches Kody's paw as she reads to her about Horrible Harry.

Registration for our next sessions start Aug. 5. There will be two 30-minute sessions on Aug. 19 at our Main Branch; one beginning at 6:30 p.m., the next at 7 p.m. We only have so many therapy dogs; so, unfortunately, there’s a limit on how many kids can participate each month.

Furthermore, those spots tend to fill up fast, so contact the children’s department at Mentor Public Library soon if you think you child would enjoy Paws to Read.

Diva listens as Braden reads to her about the president.

By the way, there’s still time to join the more than 1,400 kids who have signed up for our summer reading program.

For every hour a child reads or is read to, they receive a raffle ticket that can help them win one of dozens of cool prizes—from telescopes and microscopes to Lego sets and Superhero Barbie. The more someone reads, the better chance they have of winning.

If a child reads 20 hours by Aug. 1, they will be entered into a special raffle to win one of two $50 gift certificates from Toys ‘R Us.

Mentor Library also has a summer reading program (and prizes) for teens and adults, as well. For more information about summer reading, call 440-255-8811 or visit Mentor Library’s website.

Ruckus and Taylor share a good book.

You can find more Paws to Read photos on Mentor Library's Facebook page.

Lifting off with Super Science Saturdays

Kids made hoop gliders during the most recent Super Science Saturday.

We took to the skies during the most recent Super Science Saturday at our Headlands Branch.

First, kids made hoop gliders that floated through the air. Then, they made rockets that exploded that were powered by a chemical reaction that produces carbon dioxide.

You can even make your own rocket by following these instructions:

We have another Super Science Saturday coming this summer at our Headlands Branch.

On Aug. 1, we’ll be making slime and “elephant toothpaste.” Kids (entering kindergarten through fifth grade) are free to join in the fun.

And while you’re at the library, you can sign up for summer reading. For every hour a child reads or is read to, they receive a raffle ticket that can help them win one of dozens of cool prizes—from telescopes and microscopes to Lego sets and Superhero Barbie. The more someone reads, the better chance they have of winning.

If a child reads 20 hours by Aug. 1, they will be entered into a special raffle to win one of two $50 gift certificates from Toys ‘R Us.

Mentor Library also has a summer reading program (and prizes) for teens and adults, as well. For more information about summer reading, call 440-255-8811 or visit Mentor Library’s website.

Getting ready to let it fly!

Teens have a Minute to Win It this Saturday at MPL

Teens can compete in a series of 60-second competitions during the Mentor Public Library’s version of Minute to Win It at 2 p.m. this Saturday at the Read House, which is next door to the library’s Main Branch at 8215 Mentor Ave.

Children who are 12 and older will compete in several different challenges, depending on what time allows. The challenges include:

• Face the Cookie, in which people need to move a cookie from their foreheads to their mouths, using only the muscles in their faces.
• Dicey, in which teens will balance as many vertically stacked dice as they can on a popsicle stick. Not difficult enough? They will be holding the Popsicle stick in their mouth.
• the Cookie Unicorn, where teens will balance as many cookies as they can on their forehead without letting them fall.

And participants will only have 60 seconds to complete each challenge.

The competitors who win the most challenges will receive prizes.

You can sign up for the competition on Mentor Library's web site.

Try to balance as many cookies as you can on your forehead while competing in Cookie Unicorn.

While you’re at the library, you can sign up for summer reading too.

For every book you read or library program you attend between now and Aug. 1, you get a raffle ticket and a chance to win cool prizes like Captains Tickets or gift cards to Panera, Target, Amazon and more. You can even register online.

See you at the library.

Don't drop your dice or things can get... dicey.

Feeling patriotic at a Captain America-themed Marvelous Monday

If the theme of the party is "Captain America," you have to know the captain (who sometimes goes by Oliver) is going to show up.

We had another Marvelous Monday earlier this week at the Read House.

This time, our theme was Captain America. So kids tested their aim—have to be handy with a shield, after all—as well as their intelligence.

And there were some patriotically themed snacks too!

We have two more Marvelous Mondays left. The theme is Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles on July 20 and Captain Underpants on July 27.

The games, crafts and activities start at 1 p.m. at our Read House. No registration necessary. Just come over and have fun!

Maddie only needs a single shot to knock the villains out.

And there's still time to join the more than 1,400 kids who have signed up for our summer reading program.

For every hour a child reads or is read to, they receive a raffle ticket that can help them win one of dozens of cool prizes—from telescopes and microscopes to Lego sets and Superhero Barbie. The more someone reads, the better chance they have of winning.

If a child reads 20 hours by Aug. 1, they will be entered into a special raffle to win one of two $50 gift certificates from Toys ‘R Us.

Mentor Library also has a summer reading program (and prizes) for teens and adults, as well. For more information about summer reading, call 440-255-8811 or visit Mentor Library’s website.

Colton grins while completing Captain America's intelligence test. Kids had to figure out what each box concealed.

For more photos from Marvelous Monday, visit Mentor Library's Facebook page.

Get in the game with Clashing Controllers

Teens face off in the finals of our Mario Kart 8 tournament during our last Clashing Controllers session.

Call me old fashioned, but I prefer to actually share the room with people I'm gaming with (or against.)

Don't get me wrong. Online gaming is incredible, but I like to see the look on someone's face when my Charizard burns their, well, face off.

If you're game, our next Clashing Controllers tournament is 6:30 p.m. this Wednesday, July 15, at Mentor Library's Mentor-on-the-Lake Branch.

We’ll be playing Super Smash Bros Wii U and you’re invited.

There's no buy-in or anything like that. We bring the console, game and snacks. You just need to show up and play.

If you win, you get bragging rights and a Certificate of Awesomeness.

While you’re here, you can sign up for summer reading too.

For every book you read or library program you attend between now and Aug. 1, you get a raffle ticket and a chance to win cool prizes like Captains Tickets or gift cards to Panera, Target, Amazon and more. You can even register online.

So if you’re going to play video games, you might as well play with friends and possibly win something for playing.

See you at the library.

Ahh, to live in a world where Mega Man, Sonic and Mario can just fight it out over who's the best, as opposed to just arguing about it over the lunch table.

Recycling Story Time at Mentor Library

Bonnie and Beth talk about recycling during their Community Hero Story Time on Thursday.

Our Local Hero Story Time series continued Thursday with Bonnie Rice from the city of Mentor and Beth Bollas from the Lake County Solid Waste District. (You may remember them from our Trashy Tuesdays.)

They talked to the kids about recycling and read them Michael Recycle and I Stink (which is about a garbage truck, not an odoriferous person.)

Then, the kids made necklaces using recycled wood and glass beads.

Kids pick which beads to put on their necklaces.

Join us for more Community Hero Story Times. Each week, we’ll be joined by a different local hero:

• Policewoman Marilyn, July 16
• Naturalist Leslie, July 23
• Yoga instructor, July 30

If you can’t join us Thursday evening, we also offer several other story times at all three of our branches.

Annabelle threads the recycled beads onto her necklace.

And there's still time to join the more than 1,400 kids who have signed up for our summer reading program at Mentor Public Library.

For every hour a child reads or is read to, they receive a raffle ticket that can help them win one of dozens of cool prizes—from telescopes and microscopes to Lego sets and Superhero Barbie. The more someone reads, the better chance they have of winning.

If a child reads 20 hours by Aug. 1, they will be entered into a special raffle to win one of two $50 gift certificates from Toys ‘R Us.

Mentor Library also has a summer reading program (and prizes) for teens and adults, as well. For more information about summer reading, call 440-255-8811 or visit Mentor Library’s website.

Preston shows off his finished necklace.

For more photos from our Community Heroes Story Time, check out our Facebook page.

Meet the Minions at Mentor Library

Claire makes a minion while dressed as a minion during our Minions program at Mentor Library. (It's a motif.)

If you have a child or grandchild younger than 12, there's a good chance that you already know about the upcoming Minions movie.

We're even getting caught up in the Minions-mania at Mentor Library.

Minions-in-training descended Wednesday upon our Read House to practice their mischief-making. If they completed six not-so-evil tasks, evil mastermind Gru would accept them in his employ.

The tasks included bowling...

Teagan tries to bowl the minions over...

Singing the Banana Song...

The kids accompanied themselves with some party horns...

Making minions of their own...

Lillian and Ross show off their finished minions...

...and more.

If the completed all six tasks, they received a Certificate of Achievement as well as the sweet spoils of minion-hood.

Trenton shows off the aforementioned sweet spoils.

By the way, there’s still time to join the more than 1,400 kids who have signed up for summer reading at Mentor Public Library.

For every hour a child reads or is read to, they receive a raffle ticket that can help them win one of dozens of cool prizes—from telescopes and microscopes to Lego sets and Superhero Barbie. The more someone reads, the better chance they have of winning.

If a child reads 20 hours by Aug. 1, they will be entered into a special raffle to win one of two $50 gift certificates from Toys ‘R Us.

Mentor Library also has a summer reading program (and prizes) for teens and adults, as well. For more information about summer reading, call 440-255-8811 or visit Mentor Library’s website.

Annaliesse celebrates after completing all six tasks.

For more photos from our Minions program, check out Mentor Library's Facebook page.

More Marvelous Mondays at Mentor Library

Jamison soaks villains during Marvelous Monday at Mentor Library.

It's hard to believe, but these sweet summer days are already waning.

There are only three Marvelous Mondays left! Then again, to phrase it more positively, there are three more weeks of Marvelous Mondays coming.

And you're invited to all of them. No registration is necessary. Just come to our Read House from 1 to 2 p.m. and have fun!

Each week has a different theme with different games, crafts and activities:

• July 13, Captain America
• July 20, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles
• July 27, Captain Underpants

Rowan shows off the Batman paper puppet she made.

And there's still time to join the more than 1,400 kids who have signed up for summer reading at Mentor Public Library.

For every hour a child reads or is read to, they receive a raffle ticket that can help them win one of dozens of cool prizes—from telescopes and microscopes to Lego sets and Superhero Barbie. The more someone reads, the better chance they have of winning.

If a child reads 20 hours by Aug. 1, they will be entered into a special raffle to win one of two $50 gift certificates from Toys ‘R Us.

Mentor Library also has a summer reading program (and prizes) for teens and adults, as well. For more information about summer reading, call 440-255-8811 or visit Mentor Library’s website.

Vincent (with some help from Maria) plays a matching game, trying to pair heroes with their archnemeses.

For more photos from Marvelous Mondays, visit Mentor Library’s Facebook page.

Become a Library Champion this summer

Become a Super Reader like Kyle during our summer reading program, Every Hero Has a Story.

You probably noticed our Library Champion signs popping up in yards in and around Mentor this summer. And when you saw them, you may have thought, “That’s a snazzy sign. How can I become a Library Champion?”

The bad news is that these signs aren’t for grownups. However, the good news is that, if you’re a kid, you already possess the innate potential to be a Library Champion.

Every child that signs up for our Summer Reading Program and reads (or is read to) for 15 hours gets a Library Champion yard sign.

And that's just one of the prizes you can get for participating in our summer reading program, Every Hero Has a Story.

For every hour a child reads or is read to, they receive a raffle ticket that can help them win one of dozens of cool prizes—from telescopes and microscopes to Lego sets and Superhero Barbie. The more someone reads, the better chance they have of winning.

If a child reads 20 hours by Aug. 1, they will be entered into a special raffle to win one of two $50 gift certificates from Toys ‘R Us.

Mentor Library also has a summer reading program (and prizes) for teens and adults, as well. For more information about summer reading, call 440-255-8811 or visit Mentor Library’s website.

And when you get your awesome Library Champion sign, take a photo of yourself looking heroic with it and share it with us.