So the Fourth of July is just two days away, and that means great fireworks (don’t miss Davenport’s extraordinary display dubbed Red, White & Boom!), boisterous barbecues, and fun times with the family.  School’s out and lots of us get an extra day off work, so take some of that free time (when you’re not wolfing down a hot dog or singing a rousing chorus of “You’re a Grand Ol’ Flag”) and reacquaint yourself with what this awesome holiday is all about.

The Fourth of July commemorates the United States declaring independence from England in 1776 on (of course!) the 4th of July.  Founding father and future president Thomas Jefferson was the principle author of the document that formally severed ties with England called (appropriately) the Declaration of Independence.  This declaration contains what has got to be about one of the best summaries of human rights on the planet — you’ve probably heard it before, but since it’s nearly the 4th it’s high time to hear it again:

“We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.”

So there’s no doubt that the Declaration of Independence is an amazing and incomparably important document in American history.  Undoubtedly, you want to learn more about it.  Right? … Right??? ……. Well, even if you’d rather be swimming or jumping on a trampoline or reading a comic book, give some love to the Declaration of Independence this Fourth of July by learning a little something about this extraordinary treatise.  Here’s how:

Take a virtual gander at the original Declaration by checking out the online exhibit created by the National Archives.  It’s chock full of interesting articles about the Declaration, and you can look at a digital image of the original document.  Coolest of all, you can sign the Declaration!  Choose your quill style, type your name, and see it appear along side other famous patriots on the document that started it all.

Or if you prefer to go old school, check out the historical & hilarious book The Journey of the One and Only Declaration of Independence written by Judith St. George and illustrated by Will Hillenbrand.  It tells the lively and surprisingly entertaining history of the Declaration, with loads of little-known facts, cheerful illustrations, and a generally upbeat love for American history.  It’s fantastically written, fantastically illustrated, and just plain fantastic.

FYI: the Davenport Public Library will be closed for the holiday on Saturday July 4th.  We’ll re-open on Monday July 6th.  Happy Fourth of July!!

Carl Hiassen is a long time investigative journalist for the Miami Herald and more recently author of excellent “environmental thrillers,” mysteries that center around environmental themes like endangered animals or destructive property development. After having success writing these types of novels for adults, Hiassen started writing for a younger audience and has produced three wonderfully exciting children’s mysteries, first Hoot, which garnered Newbery Honors, then Flush, and most recently Scat.  Perfect for fans of the earth and fans of mystery, Hiassen’s books are as amazing for kids as they are for adults.  Here Tamra reviews his kid’s books.  Check one out for your budding environmentalist today! — Sam

Hoot – Roy is the new kid in school, trying to fit it.  But before he knows it, he’s involved with the class trouble-maker who’s trying to save a colony of endangered burrowing owls.  Soon our twelve year old heroes find themselves dealing with greedy developers, corrupt politicians and clueless cops as they strive to save the little owls that they’ve befriended.  This hilarious mystery by Carl Hiaasen is indeed a hoot.

Flush – Noah’s dad has a little problem with anger control.  He tried to stop the Coral Queen casino boat from illegally dumping raw sewage into the bay by trying to sink the boat.  Now Noah’s dad is in jail and the Coral Queen is still dumping sewage into the bay, but no one can prove it.  Then Noah comes up with a way to prove that his father was right and with the help of a very strange cast of characters he succeeds.  Check out Carl Hiaasen’s book “Flush” and find out how toilets work and how bad guys get caught with their pants down.

Scat – Carl Hiaasen does it again with his latest book “Scat”.  This is the third of Carl Hiaasen’s “eco mysteries” for kids.  In this story the school’s biology teacher disappears during a field trip to Black Vine Swamp.  As our two heroes, Nick and Marta, investigate the mystery they discover that the swamp is being threatened by oil prospectors.  They also discover that there may be an endangered Florida Panther lurking in Black Vine Swamp.  The excitement builds as all these unlikely characters converge in Black Vine Swamp. 

– Tamra

The Summer Reading Program kicked off with a vengeance on June 13th, with one of the biggest programs of the year at the Davenport Public Library.  More than 1000 people attended the kick-off, which included workshops on music, magic, puppetry & illustration. 

In case you missed the big event, here’s your chance to enjoy Ellis Kell’s seminar on making recycled musical instruments, Rick Eugene’s guide to card magic tricks, David Houk explaining the art of illustrating, and Ollie DePriest shepherding in a new generation of puppeteers.

Here’s Ellis Kell getting green and groovy:

And here’s Rick Eugene teaching kids the ins and outs of great magic:

Here’s illustrator David Houk helping kids create their own stories & illlustrations, plus Ollie DePriest giving kids a lesson in good puppeteering:

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We’ve still got more than 6 weeks of awesome Summer Reading programs in store for you, including weekly craft programs, loads of matinees with free popcorn, Dan Wardell on July 13th, multiple performances by Davenport’s own Junior Theatre, and outdoor storytimes at both VanderVeer and Fejervary Parks. Check our calendar for the dates and times.

Stay cool in the crazy heat at the library!