Libraries offer summer programs

The Thousand Oaks and Newbury Park Branch Libraries will present a series of creative programs for teenagers and young adults this month.

Elementary-age children are invited to a free storytime series beginning today and continuing on Thursdays, July 14, 21, and 28 at the Thousand Oaks Library, 1401 E. Janss Road, Thousand Oaks. Children in grades one through three meet at 10:30 a.m. and youth in grades four and up meet at 1:30 p.m. Children will hear stories, participate in fun activities and make a craft to take home.

Professional storyteller Rebecca Martin will spin yarns about folk and fairy-tale heroes of England, Scotland and Ireland, including giants, princesses, fairies and dragons, at 9:30 a.m. and repeated at 1 p.m. Sat., July 9 at the Thousand Oaks Library. This free program is for children age 3 and older.

“Super Hero Storytime” offers children age 3 to 5 stories, songs, rhymes, fingerplays and a craft project to take home. The 30minute program meets 1:30 p.m. Tuesdays, July 12, 19, 26 and Aug. 2 at the Newbury Park Branch Library.

A “Perfect for Preschoolers” storytime meets at 10:30 a.m. Tuesdays, July 12, 19 and 26 at the Thousand Oaks Library. Children ages 3 to 5 will participate in stories, songs, rhymes, fingerplays and visual tales. Parents and caregivers are also welcomed.

Professional caricaturists Max and Ruben will lead a “Super Heroes Drawing Workshop” at 11 a.m. Wed., July 13 at the Thousand Oaks Library, to be repeated at 2 p.m. at the Newbury Park Branch Library, 2331 Borchard Road, Newbury Park.

Max and Ruben will show participants how to create a cartoon hero and then how to make that creation come alive. Anne Landon, the library supervisor for Children’s and Young Adult Services, advises participants “to come with lots of superhero ideas and to be ready to draw.”

Children ages 6 through 10 can enjoy a superhero experience at storytimes at 1:30 p.m. Thursdays, July 14 and 28 at the Newbury Park Branch Library. The free program includes stories, crafts and social time.

An activity program titled “Learning to Make Folding Scrapbooks” will be presented at 2 p.m. Wed., July 20 at the Newbury Park Branch Library and repeated at 7 p.m. at the Thousand Oaks Library.

Participants in this hands-on workshop will learn how to make a miniature journal, photograph album or book of mementos. During the program they will complete one folding scrapbook and take away instructions for creating others at home.

At 11 a.m. Sat., July 30 at the Thousand Oaks Library and again at 2 p.m. at the Newbury Park Branch Library, Mr. Gilbert, producer and host of television’s “The Cartoon Factory,” will explain all aspects of cartooning, including how to create a winning cartoon and how to find places to sell it. At this “Explore Cartooning as a Profession” program, participants are invited to bring along and show their own drawings to Mr. Gilbert for his comments and advice.

All of these programs are free, but seating may be limited. For more information, call the Thousand Oaks Library at (805) 4492660, ext. 213, or the Newbury Park Branch at (805) 498-2139.