Check out the latest form Mike Schneider of Pint Size Polkas:


I hope you had a great summer despite the unusual circumstances!

If you are in need of a fun off-season program any time between now and April 30, 2021, I’m offering a standardized version of my prerecorded virtual show for just $50 per library for reservations made between now and September 30, 2020! If you’d like to host a live stream or in-person event, please contact me for a free quote. My shows are filled with polka music, magic and comedy, making a great fit in September and October for Oktoberfest season; January for National Polka Month; or any time some spirit-lifting fun is in order.

If you’re looking ahead to summer 2021, I have some big excitement in store for the “Tales and Tails” reading theme. We’ll have some musical fun with Paul Bunyan and Babe the Blue Ox; talk a little bit about chickens and do the ever-popular “Chicken Dance;” and learn about Able and Baker, the first monkeys to successfully return to Earth after spaceflight. Whether you need an in-person show (inside or out) or will be going all virtual in 2021, I would be thrilled to bring some musical joy back to the good people of Green Bay! Please visit www.pintsizepolkas.com/library for details and a brief showcase video.

Would you be interested in including my Pint Size Polkas show in your 2020-21 programming plans? Please let me know at your earliest convenience.

Thank you as always for your consideration, and wishing you all the best in these turbulent times.

P.S. Check out my “Scrub, Scrub, Scrub (COVID-19 Edition)” MP3 song and music video (below).
If your young patrons need a little extra encouragement in the hand washing department, hopefully this will help. Thank you!

Mike Schneider
(414) 431-4683
P.O. Box 126
Clinton, WI 53525
www.pintsizepolkas.com
Six-Time Polka Hall of Fame Inductee

"I am “Mr. Lincoln”, a professional first-person historical presenter of our nation’s 16th President based in the Chicago area, with a very strong resemblance to Mr. Lincoln and a very extensive knowledge of his life and times. 
​
This is to let you know that I now offer programs via various forms of virtual programming (in addition to old-fashioned in-person programming!):

•  video conferencing via Zoom;
• live-streaming via Facebook Live or YouTube Live; and
• pre-recorded videos available online via YouTube.

Note that when I do a “live” virtual program, I also authorize the recording of it so that it can be made available online for a period of one week; pre-recorded videos likewise may be made available for one week.

Nestled in Oconomowoc, Wisconsin, the Wildlife In Need Center (WINC) is a non-profit organization that provides free medical care for our sick, injured, or orphaned wild neighbors with the intention of returning them to their natural habitat. WINC offers virtual educational programming, as its program may be a fun fit for members of the library community! ​

WINC's virtual programs allow participants to meet its live Animal Ambassadors very up close and personal as you learn about their unique stories, species ecology and ways to promote Wisconsin native wildlife from its educators. The program provides an interactive experience through the use of polls, visual display, and an open platform for questions. What better way is there to learn about wildlife than from the animals themselves?! 
 
WINC's programs can be hosted on its Zoom platform or staff can work with you if you have another platform you prefer. In addition, its team can assist you in advertising your program and organizing the list of participants to ensure a safe online experience. 
 
The cost of WINC's virtual program is $100, and can last anywhere between 30 and 60 minutes, depending on your needs. For more information, please visit its website at http://www.helpingwildlife.org/educate/wildlife-education/ 
 
Please do not hesitate to contact the WINC Education Team with any inquiries. They hope to work with you and share their knowledge of native Wisconsin wildlife!

For educators, families, students and any who loves the Great Lakes, Wisconsin Sea Grant staff have created coloring sheets to celebrate our great watershed.
​
When your work of art is finished, they would love to see it! You can:

• Send a picture of it to askwater@aqua.wisc.edu
• Tweet it to @WiscWaterLib and @UWiscSeaGrant. 
• Post your masterpiece on the @WiscWaterLib or @UWiscSeaGrant Facebook pages.

Be sure to tag your image #ColorTheGreatLakes

Download the full booklet and let the colors flow!

See also: Explore Lake Sturgeon

The video is 30 minutes long and is:

• for all ages
• available through BensBubbleShow.biz
• a condensed version of his indoor entertainment show with a bit of an educational slant

The cost is $250 per library. No deposit or contract required.

Each library will be given a password to share with their patrons. Go to the website and enter the password to see the video. It will be continuously available for two consecutive days,  starting at 9AM on Wednesday, June 24, 2020 and will stop at 9PM on Thursday, June 25, 2020.

Patrons can view it as much as they like during the two days.

Ben will also be offering more individualized times and dates as requested. Feel free to share this information with any other libraries, schools, etc.

Please contact Ben Jimenez with any questions or to participate: 773-499-6782 or info@bensbubbleshow.biz.

Magician Daniel Lusk here.  Wow!  What a time we are living in.  I know that all of your worlds have been turned upside down like ours have.  I also know that you all have been doing your best to continue to provide content to your patrons.  THANK YOU!

We have been working hard to still provide the world with MAGIC!  I hope you all got a chance to see and use our free Covid-19 safety video with Twinky the Rabbit and our magic tricks (below).

We have FINALIZED our new ONLINE SUMMER READING MAGIC SHOW PROGRAMS PACKAGE.  We have worked very hard on making sure we are offering the best show and content you can provide to your patrons.  We have spent many hours with librarians and other entertainers working out the best way to deliver content to libraries across the country this year.  Here is a quick bullet point of what we discovered and what the best program would be . . .

Pint Size Polkas is available for virtual programming this summer, whether you’re looking for a live stream event or something that’s prerecorded and personalized for your patrons.  Mike would be glad to take questions and answer them during the course of my presentation. People are often very curious about the accordion and polka music, two important parts of our Wisconsin musical story!

For your adult patrons, Pint Size Polkas offers an educational and entertaining program on the History of Polka Music, and would be very happy to answer any questions they might have, as well.

Each workshop features a fun mix of shadow skits, artist guidance, and simple at-home activities presented in brief, readily accessible videos that children can easily navigate. These workshops are appropriate for children aged 7-11, but may also be enjoyed by younger children who are assisted by an adult. The total length of each workshop is approximately 30 minutes.

I am also able to host live webinars of artist talk-backs, performances, and extended activities for up to 100 participants at a time. If you think this might meet your libraries needs at this time, don't hesitate to contact me if you have any questions.
 
Best Wishes and Stay Well,
Matt
sandbankshadowfactory.com

If you're looking for fun ways to expand your youth programming this spring, Girls Who Code Clubs are a great option for 3rd-5th and 6th-12th grade girls to join a sisterhood of supportive peers and use computer science to change the world. Our Mini-Club Plan is only 10 meetings long, there's no coding experience needed to run the club, and every club can receive a $300 Club Fund to supplement their activities!
​
This academic year, we've grown the Girls Who Code community to over 200 Girls Who Code clubs across Wisconsin, and we'd love for your library to join the movement! However, if you're not sure about filling out our Clubs Application just yet, or if you have questions about Girls Who Code, Megan Cindric, the Girls Who Code Partnership Coordinator for Wisconsin, is here to help! If you'd like to schedule a time to talk more about Girls Who Code, feel free to schedule a call using this link. Thank you, and we hope you will join the movement!

Megan Cindric
Regional Partnership Coordinator - WI, MN
Email: megan.cindric@girlswhocode.com
Appointments: https://calendly.com/megan-cindric/
Catch us in Olay's Superbowl ad! & start a Girls Who Code Club here

See more about coding resources at https://www.nfls.lib.wi.us/ideas/category/coding.

Nickey Fynn is a family entertainer specializing in comedy magic shows for performances at libraries throughout Wisconsin from April to July, 2020.

2020 rate is $300 for a 45 minute show plus travel ($0.50 per mile to and from Stoughton, WI).  The program is for ages 5 and up, lots of audience participation, heavy on the sleight of hand comedy magic with spoken routines as well as routines played to music. ​

​Find out why Nickey Fynn is a two time runner up world champion of street magic and repeatedly booked for libraries and school shows worldwide!

Hello,
 
My name is Lori Orlinsky, and I have recently been published with Mascot Books.  I'm writing to ask if you might consider offering my featured title in your library. I am a Chicago author and was just featured in the Chicago Tribune. 

“Being Small (Isn’t So Bad After All)” (ISBN: 978-1643071275) is a picture book about a little girl who doesn’t want to go to school because she’s the shortest kid in class. Through rhyming verse and beautiful illustrations, she eventually learns to celebrate her differences.

David Stokes is a Wildlife Educator in Hales Corners, Wisconsin who has been doing presentations in the Milwaukee Area since 1985. He is an award winning Naturalist/Educator/Entertainer in Wisconsin. David does programming throughout the Midwest and offers library programs for families and children. 

​A Universe of Animals…Bio-Diversity
David uses songs, live animals and things to touch.
He also includes puppets, artifacts, riddles, sign-language and humor.

David is a Wisconsin Association for Environmental Education Teacher of the Year and an “Aldo Leopold” award winner. The Northshore United Educators (WEAC) honored David for educational excellence.

Find out more about his knowledge of Nature, the programs he offers to schools and other institutions, his press kit, and his schedule.