The library will be closed on Wednesday in observance of Juneteenth.

Upcoming activities for youths and teens

The library has several upcoming events for youths of all ages.

On Friday we’ll be heading to Italy! Youths will get to enjoy Italian foods, stories, music and crafts.

The party starts at 4 p.m.

Then at 10:30 a.m. Saturday we’ll have the Great Book Chase. This activity is geared toward youths ages 4-12 years old. It’s going to be like Indiana Jones meets the library! We’ll have a variety of activities, puzzles and obstacles to conquer in grand adventure style.

Lastly, we need teens to help solve a murder mystery at 6 p.m. June 24. This special event involves the fictional murder of a Dr. Larry Doom and figuring out how he met his demise. Are you up to the task? Interested teens need only register for the program by calling the library at 913-845-3281.

It’s free to attend.

Horticultural Muck and Mysticism

Do razor blades and other metal objects in the soil provide nutrients?

Does playing music help your plants grow?

Can gardening myths cover up a murder?

Mystery writer Agatha Christie loved to employ plants within her stories, and this is the perfect program to dig deeper into the subject. We’ll be investigating a wide ranging survey of the history and usage of plants in human societies with presenter Brian Boyce at 6:30 p.m. June 25. It might just challenge what we know and what we think we know about plants. Brian is a long time plantsman and career horticulturist working in the northeast Kansas area where he is an instructor at Johnson County Community College.

This program is part of the One Book Many Neighbors Adult Summer Reading program at the library, but anyone interested in plants is welcome to attend!

Musical Story Adventure

Award-winning singer and songwriter, Karla Bauer, will be sharing her book and singing songs during this musical storytime at 10:30 a.m. June 28.

“Be Still: A Mother’s Lullaby” was a Christian Independent Publishing Awards Finalist for Best Picture Book and was inspired by Karla’s own lullaby song.

The lyrical tale begins with Mary singing a sweet lullaby to her baby boy as she closely holds him in her arms.

— Kim Downing is circulation coordinator at Tonganoxie Public Library. She can be reached at kimd@tonganoxielibrary.org or 913-845-3281.