CHECK IT OUT

From Sunday through April 7, the Newport Beach Public Library will

join institutions across America in commemorating National Library Week

-- a time to celebrate libraries as centers for learning, information and

entertainment. Special programs for children and adults will mark the

occasion, the nationwide theme of which is “Read! Learn! Connect! @ the

Library.”Throughout the week, city leaders will be guest storytellers at

Central Library story times. Featured tales will include Gene Zion’s

“Harry the Dirty Dog” and Maurice Sendak’s “Where the Wild Things Are,”

during Pajama Storytime with library trustee Catherine Saar Kranzley at 7

p.m. Monday.

At 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, the tiniest listeners can join library trustee

Patrick Bartolic at Books & Babies for readings of Bill Martin Jr.’s

“Brown Bear, Brown Bear What Do You See?” and Eileen Christelow’s “Five

Little Monkeys Jumping On the Bed.”

City Manager Homer Bludau will be on hand at Preschool Storytime,

10:30 a.m. Thursday, for renditions of Eric Carle’s “From Head to Toe,”

Amanda Leslie’s “Flappy Waggy Wiggly” and Byron Barton’s “Three Bears.”

At 10:30 a.m. April 7, Mayor Gary Adams will read “Duck in the Truck” at

Family Storytime.

Fun for kids also will be the 10th Annual American Girls Tea at 3 p.m

Wednesday. Children in first grade and above are encouraged to dress as

their favorite American Girl heroine for the party. Options include

coming as Kit, a resourceful 9-year-old facing tough times during the

Great Depression, introduced in the newest volumes of the historical

fiction series.

Kids can get into the act at a magic show with funny man Jeff Martin

at 7 p.m. Wednesday. The curly-haired comic promises to dumbfound the

audience with disappearing animals and other paraphernalia.

For all interested in cinema, “The Collaborative Art of Filmmaking,”

from noon to 4 p.m. Sunday, will include presentations about special

effects and music in film. The series will conclude that day with

“Starting Out in the Filmmaking Industry,” for those looking to break

into the business.

Armchair adventurers may be drawn to William Least Heat-Moon’s account

of his journey across America’s waterways at 7 p.m. Tuesday. General

admission is $10 for this foundation-sponsored presentation by the author

of “River-Horse, Across America by Boat.” For reservations, call (949)

717-3890.

The study of buildings that evoke harmony will be the focus of

“Architecture of the Spirit” with Charles Bernstein at 7 p.m. Thursday.

The acclaimed architect designed a Corona del Mar residence named one of

six homes that exemplifies “cutting edge architecture for the new

millennium” in the January 2000 issue of House & Garden.

Beyond special programs, there’s another reason to visit any Newport

Beach Public Library during the week. From Sunday through April 7, the

first 10 customers to check out materials will receive a free rental

video. Titles include recent comedies, dramas and documentaries, all

available for overnight loan.

* CHECK IT OUT is written by the staff of the Newport Beach Public

Library. This week’s column is by Melissa Adams, in collaboration with

Gina Moffitt. All titles may be reserved from home or office computers by

accessing the catalog at o7 https://www.newportbeachlibrary.org.f7