Pinky's Please Touch Museum

Healthy and Safe Halloween Month presented by PECO!

2011-10-14T13:55:00.014-04:00

Hey Everybody!
It's been awhile, but I'm so excited to write to you again because we've got some exciting stuff going on here at the Museum during the month of October! All of the activities this month are sponsored by PECO. From Monster Mash and Boo Boulevard to trick-or-treating on Halloween day, they're right on board with us!

I had the opportunity to sit down with one of PECO's Energy Guzzling Monsters earlier this week to talk about ways that kids and families can help save energy. Don't worry, he's not the scary kind of monster, he had some really helpful tips!

Pinky: We are so excited that PECO is sponsoring the entire month of October here at the Museum, please tell me more about PECO’s longstanding relationship with Please Touch Museum and why PECO feels it’s important to support area institutions such as PTM.

Energy Guzzling Monster (EGM): We are excited too Pinky! At PECO, we know that area children are the regional leaders of tomorrow. That’s why we support institutions like Please Touch Museum that help children of all ages and backgrounds experience and appreciate the cultural treasures in our region.

Pinky: It’s getting chillier and chillier outside, does PECO have any energy saving tips for families?

EGM: Old Man Winter is right around the corner and now is the time to get ready! There are a few things families can do to save energy during the chilly months. Be sure to cover or remove window air conditioners and adjust outdoor light timers for length of day and/or daylight savings. It’s also time to remove screens from windows and install storm replacements.

I’m sure grownups would also love help putting caulk and/or weather-stripping on all doors and windows, and checking locks on windows to make them tighter so that air can’t get inside. Finally, making sure the proper amount of insulation is in the attic, basement and outside walls helps a lot too. Insulation helps reduce air leaks—in floors, walls, ceilings, ducts, fireplaces, doors, and vents helping the warm air stay inside.

Pinky: What can kids do to help their parents save energy all year long?

EGM: There are definitely things kids can do by themselves to save energy any time of year! Open the curtains on sunny days to let the sun warm the room. Be sure to turn the lights out when everyone leaves a room. Turn off the TV when no one is watching it, computers, radios and stereos too. And don't keep the refrigerator door open any longer than needed. Close it to keep the cold air inside!

Pinky: Why is it important to save energy?

EGM: Saving energy helps families save money on monthly energy bills. Using less energy, also reduces the amount of bad things in the air, saving the environment! For more information on saving energy and the environment, visit my website www.peco.com/SmartIdeas

Pinky: Wow! Those are some really great ways kids can make a difference! So, what kind of fun things are you doing this Halloween?

EGM: Well, Pinky I’ll definitely be coming to see you at Please Touch Museum! I wouldn’t miss all the cool things going on like the Boo Boulevard Halloween exhibit or trick-or-treating throughout the Museum!

Happy Summer: Sandy Seascapes

2011-07-11T10:22:00.009-04:00

Happy Summer from your friend Pinky! Who doesn’t love summer, the beach AND sand?! Our Arts Coordinator, Nora gave me this great idea on how to bring the sand home from the beach without having to pull out the vacuum:

Sandy Seascapes:
Materials:
• Piece of fine sand paper or white construction paper (any size- up to 9” x 11”)
• Oil Pastels or crayons

Instructions:
o Invite your child to create their own seascape by drawing on the paper with oil pastels or crayons. A seascape is a representation of a scene of the sea or a body of water (ocean, rivers, lakes or the beach). Encourage them to think about the different people and objects that they see on or near the water.
o Inspire their drawing process and the different means of representation by asking open-ended questions: What is the best thing about summer? Who are your favorite people to spend the summer with? What kinds of things do you see in the summer? At the beach? Can you represent the beach using specific colors? Does yellow mixed with orange remind you of a sunny day in July or does blue mixed with green remind you of being by the ocean?

Find a great place in your house to display your child's artwork- in doing this you express appreciation that the work is being shared with you!

You're invited to Please Touch Museum's Elaine Wideman-Vaughn Program Room to create some artwork with us!

Rainforest Rhythm All Summer Long!

2011-06-24T13:56:00.003-04:00

Hey Everybody!

I wanted to make sure that everyone knows about the super cool exhibit we've got up at Please Touch Museum right now, Rainforest Rhythm! You can beat conga drums, turn rain stick logs or climb into a canoe and pretend to head down river. There are all kinds of fun things to explore when you're making music in a rainforest. There's even a life-sized elephant that will hold the congas while you drum!

Music is such a fun way to play and express yourself. You can dance to a friend's cool beats or work together to create a full blown band! Don't forget to check out the Storybook Cottage where you can pretend to be Goldilocks (or in my case Pinkylocks) and try out the three bears' beds, chairs and porridge bowls!

How many instruments can you spot hidden in the tree in this picture? You can play all of them at Rainforest Rhythm!

Rainforest Rhythm is on display now until September 6, 2011.

My Trip to the ACM Annual Conference

2011-05-23T16:57:00.001-04:00

Well friends, I’m back! I had an amazing time at the 25th annual Association of Children’s Museums conference in Houston, Texas. I am so excited to tell you what I learned there.

On Saturday morning I heard Lisa Henson speak! Ms. Henson talked about all kinds of wonderful children’s television programming and how her company strives to make sure that their programs support lots of fun and educational content. It was so exciting!

After Ms. Henson’s presentation, it was time for the session: Theatrical Play is Child’s Play. Alice Gonglewski, my puppeteer, let me help with the workshop! We were joined by our friend Hyla Crane. Hyla is the Director of Education at Stepping Stones Museum for Children in Norwalk, Connecticut. Hyla and Alice worked together to demonstrate ways that our museums use theater to enhance the daily museum experience—including Playhouse shows, Reader’s Theater, creative dramatics, character interactions, and last (but not least) PUPPETS!!

Theater (especially puppets -- my favorite!) sparks children’s imaginations and encourages creative thinking and problem solving skills. We hope that moving forward, every children’s museum in the world will use theater techniques to create engaging, delightful, and magical experiences for children and families.

Pinky is going to Houston!

2011-05-11T16:48:00.000-04:00

Hey Everybody! Pinky here, I’m so excited! I’m going to the 25th annual Association of Children's Museums conference from May 19-21st in Houston, Texas. This year’s theme is “Innovation is Child’s Play” and will focus on play in the 21st century. ACM says, “Our institutions are innovators of free-choice learning opportunities that focus on building children's 21st century skills through play, exploration, and discovery. We are the inventors and tinkerers who develop opportunities that inspire children's imaginations.” This means that these are the people who make it possible for us to play, have fun, and learn in new and exciting ways! I can’t wait to meet keynote speakers Lisa Henson, CEO of The Jim Henson Company and Milton Chen, Executive Director Emeritus of The George Lucas Educational Foundation. I’ll also be getting a chance to visit the Children's Museum of Houston, I can’t wait to check out their new exhibit, “My Home, Planet Earth!" Check back soon to hear about my trip to ACM!

National Children's Mental Health Awareness Day: Tuesday, May 3

2011-04-28T15:01:00.005-04:00

We are so excited to welcome back our friends from the Delaware Valley Art Therapy Association! Volunteers from DVATA will present a program called "Free to Be Me" to celebrate National Children's Mental Health Awareness Day in the Program Room from 10:00am-4:00pm on Tuesday, May 3, 2011.

Mental Health is how we think, feel, and act when facing life’s situations. Like physical health, mental health is important at every stage of life. Children experience a wide range of feelings every day. This activity will give families the opportunity to express themselves through art!

Let's Sing!

2011-03-17T09:16:00.008-04:00

Please Touch Museum’s Family Choir aims to provide families with a time to sing, play and learn together. The choir is an introductory ensemble and a fun way to experience making music in a group setting. The Family Choir is open to all ages and experience levels.

Sound like fun? It is! Here’s some more information:
The Family Choir will meet weekly on Thursday evenings from 5:30 to 6:30. Each semester consists of 10 sessions and a special performance at Please Touch Museum.

Prices for the Please Touch Museum Family Choir are as follows:
• Member price: $40 per child for the semester ($10 for each additional child)
• Non-Member price: $50 per child for the semester ($10 for each addition child)
Parents are encouraged to attend with no additional cost. Each family will also receive an audio recording of the songs to be performed during the semester. This provides the opportunity listen to outside the rehearsals.

The Spring semester will begin rehearsal on March 31th, 2011 at 5:30!

To register contact Carin Johnson at 215-581-3173. For additional questions contact Ann Goering, Music Coordinator, at agoering@pleasetouchmuseum.org.

Wheelchair Art: Everyone Creates!

2011-03-08T11:17:00.008-05:00

We had a ton of fun with our friends from Independence Arts Studio (IAS) on Art-Reach day in the Program Room! Artists who use wheelchairs to create art came in to show the kids their distinctive art form. Carlton Sanders, Tim Taylor and Barbara Gregson along with the staff at IAS creatively utilized old wheelchairs and wheelchair parts to paint with. They painted the wheels of the chair using rollers and washable tempera paint then moved around the canvas with the wheelchair. Young children were able to test out the wheelchair art for themselves by giving the grown-ups directions on where to move around the canvas. Thanks to Independence Arts Studio, Art-Reach and all of our visitors for participating- hope you enjoy the slideshow!

Pinky and Puppet Celebration Month!

2011-03-02T11:10:00.005-05:00

Hi Everybody! Pinky here, and I’m soooo excited that it’s March! March is my favorite month here at Please Touch museum because it’s Puppet celebration month, and I just love puppets! There are puppets everywhere all over the museum, so make sure to come and visit and join in the fun. Here are the special guest puppet performances occurring on Saturdays at 11:00, 1:00 and 3:00 and Sundays at 1:00 and 3:00 all month.

Mlanjeni Magical Theatre March 4th and 5th
Mlanjeni Magical Theatre combines storytelling and puppetry based in East African traditions. Hosted by storyteller Mlanjeni duma, the imaginative show introduces young audiences to traditional African folk music, dance, magic and stories.

Dave Fiebert March 11th and 12th
Dave Fiebert has performed with the Segal Puppet Theater Company since 1987 and is also an actor with the Iron Age theatre. This performance will feature Bartholomew Bear's Moon Misadventure. Take a fanciful flight through the seasons in an interactive puppet show based on the book Mooncake by beloved children’s author Frank Ash.

Steve Abrams March 18th and 19th
Steve Abrams, a professional puppeteer for over 25 years, has given more than 4,000 performances. He started Pan's Puppets in Philadelphia, and his one man show has traveled all over the country including and the Library of the Performing Arts at Lincoln Center in New York, the Orlando Science Museum, Longwood Gardens, The Olana Historical Site, the Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh, The Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts, The Philadelphia Zoo, and WHYY-TV. This performance will feature Aesop’s Fables: Puppet Theater Inside Out.

Tucker’s Tales March 25th and 26th
Tucker’s Tales Puppet Theater, the Performing division of Puppet Perceptions, Inc., is a Philadelphia area based performing company founded in 1981. Co-directors Marianne and Tom Tucker have performed at puppet, folk, ethnic and street festivals, theaters and schools around the country. Audiences from small children to senior citizens have enjoyed the variety of styles skillfully displayed in their interesting programs. This performance will feature the adventures of Mr. Furr E. Wolf including Three Little Pigs, Br'er Rabbit & The Wolf, Red Riding Hood.

During the week, join us for a Please Touch Playhouse favorite, There’s Something Under My Bed opening on March 7th. Please Touch Museum is happy to announce that the shows on this day will also provide American Sign Language interpreted performances at 11:00, 1:00 and 3:00 as part of Art-Reach day here at PTM.

On your visit, be sure to stop by the Program Room to make your very own paper bag puppet! You can even put on a show in the CD Playcorner puppet stage, and test out a variety of handy dandy puppets from finger puppets to rod puppets. Don’t forget that puppets make terrific gifts, and all puppets in The Kids Store are 20 % off (30% for members) the entire month! Keep your peepers peeled for the puppet hide and seek of the week, and be on the lookout for my PTM puppet pals throughout the month including Winston, Pickle, Shaggy, Lily and many more including yours truly, me myself and I, Pinky! I’ll be looking out for you, too! You won’t have to go far to find a funny (and sometimes furry) puppet friend in the museum this month.

We Made Art this Weekend!

2011-02-22T17:09:00.006-05:00

What story does your artwork tell?
Artist in Residence, Ananda Connolly presented her printmaking program called Paint It! Press It! Print It! Ananda's artwork will display a unique Please Touch Museum Newspaper based on stories collected from our visitors in the Story Castle. She used these children's stories as inspiration for her woodblock prints. We invite you to meet Ananda, learn about printmaking, her art making process and make some of your own original artwork to take home. Below are some photos of our visitors creating their own foam printing plates, pulling prints alongside Ananda and showing off their new printmaking skills!

Ananda will be in the Program Room on Saturday, February 26 from 10:00-4:00 and on Sunday, February 27 from 12:00-4:00. For more info. on upcoming education programs, please visit our Online Calendar.

Pinky meets the Artist: Chris Gage

2011-02-10T14:19:00.016-05:00

TODAY is the last day for Artist-in-Residence Christopher Gage's exhibit, YOU-TV and he wanted to share more about his experience at Please Touch Museum (PTM). Below is a video of his process that was the inspiration for his residency. Here’s Pinky's interview with Chris:

Pinky: Hi Chris- Did you know I am an ARTist too? As a fellow artist can you tell me a little bit more about your experience at Please Touch Museum and YOU-TV?

Chris: YOU-TV began when I was an art student, as a one-person project to combine what I was interested in about painting and video. Since I began working with Please Touch Museum it has become much more. This has been such an exciting month for me because it is the first time I have been able to adapt my own working methods to a large audience.

Pinky: WHOA! Painting and video all in one- I’ve never tried that out before. How does YOU-TV help kids to learn through play?

Chris: In YOU-TV, I wanted to provide a unique and, I hope, unforgettable experience with a familiar artistic activity. As a painter, I find drawing and painting to be very familiar activities. I think children are also often familiar with the joy I find in drawing, the joy of making marks on things without worrying about "good" or "bad". I like to use image and sound projection as a way to increase my self-awareness and access ideas I would normally miss. With microphones, visitors can hear the amplified sounds their brushes make on the canvas, and with video projection they can see what they are doing as they do it.

Pinky: Learning through play is my favorite! What kinds of things did you learn about through your own experimentation and play at PTM?

Chris: I learned so many valuable and interesting things while working with Please Touch Museum. I learned about how important the museum's mission is so that different museum departments, such as Exhibits, Education, Technology and Collections, can work together and craft cohesive, immersive exhibits for its visitors. I learned about how ideas can morph and change to cater to the many different age groups and abilities of visitors. Most importantly, I have had a wonderful time being there to see children and adults learn and have fun at the same time!

Pinky: Awesome! Do you think I can come see YOU-TV this weekend?

Chris: Of course Pinky! I will be in the Program Room TODAY, Sunday, February 13 from 12:00-4:00. Hope you have a chance to stop by and play!

Our next Artist in Residence, Ananda Connolly will be visiting the Program Room this upcoming weekend (February 19 and 20). For additional Artist in Residence appearances throughout Art from the Heart Month please visit our Online Calendar.

Artist in Residence- Christopher Gage

2011-02-08T14:09:00.005-05:00

Art from the Heart Month- February 2011

Artist in Residence, BFA from Rhode Island School of Design , Christopher Gage presents YOU-TV! The Program Room will be transformed into a YOU-TV studio and the star of the show is…you! This experimental video experience will allow kids to create props, take part in a painting production and interact with a broadcast. Kids are encouraged to take this opportunity to meet a talented Philadelphia artist and work alongside him. Here are some photos from this past weekend in the Program Room. We had a lot of fun!
You can join in on the art experience this upcoming weekend:

Saturday, February 12
10:00-12:00
&
12:30-4:00
Sunday, February 13
12:00-4:00

Meet Melita

2011-02-07T12:46:00.003-05:00

Pinky and viewers meet PTM's newest puppet pal, Melita.

Access/ABILITY

2011-01-28T14:47:00.012-05:00

We just opened a new exhibit here at Please Touch Museum!

It’s called “Access/ABILITY” and it presents people living with disabilities as participants in the world. The exhibit features fun and engaging activities that show similarities and differences in how each of us go places, communicate, have fun and learn.

Some of the things you can do:

· Going Places: Visitors can explore a wheelchair obstacle course and a multi-sensory City Walk.

· Talk with Me: Visitors learn phrases in American Sign Language, type their names in Braille and communicate using pictures.

· Just for Fun: Try a hand-pedaled bike and create art using sight, touch and sound.

· Think about It: Visitors test their attention and memory skills.

· Invent It: Experience design challenges, discover multiple ways to accomplish tasks and learn how things can be designed to work for the largest number of people.

· Resource Area: Visitors can learn more through books and online resources.

Come visit, have fun and make some new friends!

View from the Top!

2011-01-14T13:30:00.011-05:00

With Fairmount Park covered in snow in January 2011, it is hard to imagine what it looked like in May 1876…135 years ago!

It’s fun to look at things from when you are way up high…here is some information on what Fairmount Park looked like back then.

There were two observatory towers at the Centennial—Sawyer’s and George’s Hill (pictured at the right). A series of images were taken from the top of George’s Hill. (Sawyer’s Observatory was located on the Belmont plateau.)

George’s Hill is an elevated tract of eighty-three acres of land that was gifted to Philadelphia by brother and sister, Jesse and Rebecca George in 1868.

The George’s Hill summit was the highest point in the city in 1876...210 feet above tidewater. Adjoining the hill was the Belmont reservoir—with a capacity of 36,000,000 gallons of water and can be seen on the Centennial model in the Centennial Explorations exhibit in the museum!

(Top Photo: View of Centennial Grounds from George's Hill-looking northeast with Memorial Hall in the distance. Bottom Photo: View of Centennial Grounds looking east-down Avenue of the Republic.)

All Images Courtesy of Robby Cohen Collection.

Hide and Seek of the Week

2011-01-05T11:57:00.003-05:00

Your parents had them. Your grandparents had them. And there’s even a chance some of your great-grandparents had them! What are they? Lincoln Logs! These miniature notched logs were invented in 1916 by John Lloyd Wright. In addition to being a celebrated toy manufacturer, John Lloyd Wright was the son of famed American architect Frank Lloyd Wright.

Put on your looking eyes and see if you can find it during your next visit! And while you are looking high and low, don’t forget to encourage curiosity by asking open-ended questions and engaging your child in the conversation. For example: What would you build with Lincoln Logs?

You Can Count on It! Countdown to Noon: Ring in 2011 with the Family

2010-12-28T16:13:00.005-05:00

New Year’s Eve is an occasion for joy and celebration; observed and celebrated world-wide; Unfortunately for most kids, though, it’s also an occasion that is on the far side of a reasonable bedtime. Please Touch Museum’s annual Countdown to Noon® on Friday, December 31, sponsored by Macy’s, gives kids a chance to have their own, bedtime-friendly, New Year’s celebration. The event also provides an opportunity to reinforce important number concepts like counting, up and down, and to introduce concepts like time, days and months, and the calendar.

Join us for:
• Two countdowns in Hamilton Hall: at 12 PM and 1 PM.
• Performances by musical guests Louie Miranda and Fandango
• Art and storytelling activities in our Program Room
• Special appearances by Clifford the Big Red Dog and Stellaluna
• A family dance party following each countdown to ring in the new year

PTM will also be open on New Year’s Day, from 11 AM to 5 PM.

The confetti is ready to fly; the band is ready to play, so we hope you will join us on New Year’s Eve day!

Hide and Seek of the Week

2010-12-21T16:36:00.003-05:00

It’s a bird! It’s a plane! No, it’s Search and Rescue Buzz Lightyear! Kids of all ages first fell in love with Buzz Lightyear in 1995 with the release of Toy Story. Toy Story made history not only has the first movie produced by Walt Disney Pictures and Pixar, but also as the first ever full length computer animated film. To infinity….and beyond!

Make a Joyful Noise: Weekend Three!

2010-12-16T16:11:00.002-05:00

Throughout December, Please Touch Museum will be ringing in the holiday season with the “Make a Joyful Noise” performance series! Each weekend in December we’ll be welcoming all kinds of different groups to perform in Hamilton Hall, playing holiday songs that represent a diversity of styles and cultural traditions. There are as many ways to celebrate the holidays as there are families, and music is a universal language that can speak to all. The fun continues this weekend with two exciting performances:

Philadelphia Handbell Ensemble

Have you ever seen a handbell ensemble? Some are big and some are small – and together they make beautiful music! This Saturday, December 18th is your chance to catch the musical magic of this 18 member ensemble at Please Touch Museum. This is the last weekend of the Make a Joyful Noise performance series, so come the Philadelphia Handbell Ensemble ring in the holiday fun at 12 and 2 in Hamilton Hall!

St. Joe’s Prep Jazz Band

This Sunday, December 19th, all the cool cats will be swinging at Please Touch Museum with 2 performances of the St. Joe’s Prep Jazz Band. It’s time to see those saxophones, trumpets, trombones up close and personal - and don’t forget the rhythm section! The band will play the holiday classics for you to dance and sing along with at 12 and 2 in Hamilton Hall. It’s a party not to be missed!

Hide and Seek of the Week

2010-12-15T14:08:00.003-05:00

This week’s collections object is a set of Crandall’s Masquerade Blocks! Created by Charles M. Crandall, this comical set of eight blocks allows children to create 300 different combinations of characters!

Hide and Seek of the Week

2010-12-06T10:03:00.002-05:00

Whoa…that’s one sweet ride! Vroom….Vroom! This vintage Wyanotte Toys convertible wind-up roadster is fully loaded and just revving to get out on the road. All Metal Products Company, founded in 1920, produced inexpensive pressed metal toys under the Wyandotte Toys brand name. This classic roadster not only rolls along when its key is wound, but also features a working convertible roof!

Put on your looking eyes and see if you can find it during your next visit! And while you are looking high and low, don’t forget to encourage curiosity by asking open-ended questions and engaging your child in the conversation. For example: Where would you go on a road trip? What kinds of things do you think you would see?

The Gift of Giving Your Artwork

2010-12-03T11:46:00.003-05:00

Introduce your child to sculpture while spreading holiday cheer. Instead of wrapping all your presents consider allowing your child to decorate the gift boxes this year!

Throughout December, in our Program Room we will be creating Gift of Giving Sculpture boxes. Kids are invited to transform gift boxes into works of art using simple and accessible materials. Here’s how to try it out at home:

Materials:

· 1 Gift Box (can be any shape or size- we have been using 4”x4” cubes)

· Clear School Glue

· Tissue Paper

· Scissors

· Markers

· Pipe cleaners (optional)

How to PLAY:

· Give your child the gift box and encourage them to draw with markers, cut out shapes of tissue paper, or paste using the glue in order to decorate their sculpture.

o Tissue paper can be a delicate material and requires fine motor skills so be mindful that kids may need grown-up assistance at times. Remember that art time is a great time to allow your child to be the boss but it also allows you and your little one to spend quality time together and have fun!

· Start a conversation: Who will they give their box to? What will they put inside that box? Ask them why they think it's good to care for others? How will they care for others this holiday season? What is sculpture? Have you ever seen a sculpture? Tell me about that!

· Next time you visit Please Touch Museum, try to point out the sculptures you see and what you like about them- we have tons!

o Sculptures around the museum include: Statue of Liberty- Arm and Torch, Arti the Elephant, Alice, and the Rabbit from Alice in Wonderland- just to name a few!

For more information on all the holiday festive fun at Please Touch Museum, please visit our Online Calendar.

A Cinderella Story

2010-12-02T14:28:00.003-05:00

On Sunday, December 5th, Please Touch Museum will be receiving a couple of regal visitors: Cinderella and the Prince! Thanks to Enchantment Theatre Company, the royal couple will be visiting PTM’s Story Castle at 12:30. We hope you can join us for a special story time and a chance to meet Cinderella and the Prince up close! To help you prepare for their arrival, here are some of our favorite versions of the Cinderella story that you can read at home:

Cinderella by Charles Perrault, illustrated by Loek Koopmanso, translated by Anthea Bell

Loek Koopman’s watercolor paintings bring this familiar story, translated from Charles Perrault’s original French by Anthea Bell, to life in a whole new way. The chief surprise is that both Cinderella and the Prince are portrayed as children, a novel twist that children will enjoy as they imagine themselves as part of Koopmans’ richly-portrayed fairy tale kingdom.

Cinderella by Cynthia Rylant, illustrated by Mary Blair

Beloved and bestselling author Cynthia Rylant offers her own spin on the classic tale, accompanied by the paintings of Mary Blair. Ms. Blair was a concept artist for the Walt Disney Company, and these gorgeous paintings represent some of her designs for the 1950 film.

Yeh-Shen: A Cinderella Story from China by Ai-Ling Louie, illustrated by Ed Young

This ancient Chinese tale contains all of the classic elements of the Cinderella story: the overworked beauty, the wicked step sisters, a handsome prince, and a lost slipper. The story will be familiar enough to all readers, but will provide a unique cultural experience for young readers. Mr. Young’s dreamy artwork is the perfect counterpoint for this story.

Glass Slipper, Gold Sandal: A Worldwide Cinderella by Paul Fleischman, illustrated by Julie Paschkis

This wonderful book is a celebration of both this particular favorite fairy tale and the universality and joy of storytelling itself. Mr. Fleischman collects Cinderella’s from around the world and weaves them into a single, breathtaking tale. Come see kimonos and kingfishers, desert and deciduous forest all portrayed beautifully in Ms. Paschkis’ illustrations.

Enchantment Theatre Company’s production of Cinderella will run from December 7 to January 2. Click here for more details.

Make a Joyful Noise Performances Series!

2010-12-01T13:53:00.000-05:00

Throughout December, Please Touch Museum will be ringing in the holiday season with the Make a Joyful Noise performance series! Each weekend in December we’ll be welcoming all kinds of different groups to perform in Hamilton Hall, playing holiday songs that represent a diversity of styles and cultural traditions. There are as many ways to celebrate the holidays as there are families, and music is a universal language that can speak to all. The fun starts this weekend with two exciting performances:

On Saturday, December 4th: the West Philadelphia Orchestra
This Saturday at 12 and 2 we’ll be featuring holiday music from around the world as the West Philadelphia Orchestra performs in Hamilton Hall. This super fun brass band will put their own twist on the holiday classics. Come get moving and grooving while you check out the sousaphone, the clarinet, the trumpet and lots of other fun instruments!

On Sunday, December 5th: St. Joe’s Prep Choir
We hope you like to sing, because this Sunday it's time to sing along to all the holiday classics! The St. Joe's Prep School Choir will lead us in song at 12 and 2 in Hamilton Hall. With classics like Deck the Halls and Walking in a Winter Wonderland and maybe a few you don't know as well, it's a performance not to be missed!

We'll see you there!

Funky Dance Fun with Cyndi!

2010-11-30T09:13:00.010-05:00

You may have seen a fresh face dancing around at Please Touch Museum lately. Our new friend and museum intern Cyndi Strothers has been hard at work (and play) in our Community Programs, Outreach, and Partnerships Department and in the Education Department. Working with the Education Department, she has helped to develop and carry out dance programs on Mondays in Hamilton Hall. You can see some of the fun in these pictures!

I recently talked to Cyndi about her passion for dancing and here's what she had to say:

Pinky: When did you start dancing?

Cyndi: I began dancing when I was 3 – the first type of dance that I ever did was belly dancing with my Grandmother.

Pinky: Why do you like to dance?

Cyndi: Moving our bodies is a very important part of life. Dance gives me a chance to exercise daily, which helps me stay strong and healthy. Another reason dance is fun is because jumping and leaping freely to the music allows me to be happy and smile a lot. Also, people say that I look taller on stage!

Pinky: What is your favorite thing about doing dance programs at Please Touch Museum?

Cyndi: Dance programs give me a chance to interact with the children! Giving them different movements and introducing them to different types of sounds allows them to pretend to be any type of dancer they want to be.

Pinky: Do you have any tips for families to start dancing at home?

Cyndi: Pick a day of the week and make it your “dancing day”! Plan for at least 15 minutes for you and your child to move and groove together. Start by letting your little one put their favorite music on. You can teach them about stretching to get their bodies warmed up and ready to go. Don’t forget to reach for the sky and bend your knees for safe use of your body!

We Are Thankful For Your Art!

2010-11-29T17:41:00.002-05:00

Here's a recap of all the awesome artwork we found in the Program Room. This past month, visitors had the opportunity to play with paints using easels in a kid-sized art studio. During Thanksgiving Weekend, we made "Give Thanks" cards where visitors told us about all the wonderful things they are thankful for! Enjoy!

Hide and Seek of the Week

2010-11-29T16:11:00.003-05:00

This week’s collections object is the Play Family Nursery School playset! This carry-along nursery school was first introduced by Fisher Price in 1978. In addition to furniture and accessories needed to learn, the Play Family Nursery School also included all the necessary equipment to play!

Put on your looking eyes and see if you can find it during your next visit! And while you are looking high and low, don’t forget to encourage curiosity by asking open-ended questions and engaging your child in the conversation. For example: What’s your favorite part of school? What games do you play on the playground?

What are you thankful for?

2010-11-24T09:43:00.002-05:00

Pinky asks the Please Touch Museum staff what they're thankful for this holiday season.

When I Was Your Age…

2010-11-22T16:09:00.004-05:00

Hi everyone! Thanksgiving is just around the corner and I wanted to find out some favorite childhood holiday traditions from the staff at Please Touch Museum. I decided to ask around! I sat down with Daniel McCunney, Media Relations Assistant at Please Touch Museum and here's what he had to say:

Pinky: Hi Dan! Thanksgiving is one of my favorite holidays. What is your favorite part of Thanksgiving?

Dan: That’s a good question, Pinky. Thanksgiving is a good reminder for me to be thankful for everything I have and appreciate time spent with my family. I also love the food, though, Pinky! Thanksgiving dinner is one of my favorite meals of the year – from green beans and mashed potatoes to turkey and pumpkin pie, they’re all my favorites!

Pinky: Did you have any special Thanksgiving traditions when you were a kid?
Dan: Well, Pinky, I have a pretty big family (12 brothers and sisters!), and every Thanksgiving when I was young, the entire family came together and each person helped make a part of the meal – even the littlest ones - that way, everyone has a role in making the holiday special.

Pinky: Wow, that’s a lot of people! Does your family still do that now that you’re older?
Dan: Yes, we do! My family AND our Thanksgiving meals have gotten even bigger since I was a kid, so it’s a lot of fun at my house around the holidays.

Pinky: What other holiday traditions do you remember from when you were a kid?

Dan: The weekend after Thanksgiving, my siblings and I would take out all of the Christmas decorations from the closet and decorate the entire house. We always have a good time decorating together!

Pinky: That’s great, Dan. Thanks for sharing some of your holiday traditions with me!

Dan: Thank you, Pinky! And Happy Thanksgiving!

Hide and Seek of the Week

2010-11-22T09:14:00.001-05:00

“…Five, six, pick-up sticks!” This week’s collections object is a set of Pixie Pic-Up Sticks! Manufactured by Steven Manufacturing Company between 1940-1960, the classic game tests the players ability to keep a steady hand while trying to pick up a stick without disturbing the rest.

Put on your looking eyes and see if you can find it during your next visit! And while you are looking high and low, don’t forget to encourage curiosity by asking open-ended questions and engaging your child in the conversation. For example: How many sticks do you think you could pick up? Or simply play a quick game of pick-up sticks at home!

Please Touch Museum and United Way

2010-11-18T09:44:00.004-05:00

Hi, everyone! Today, my friend Margaret Walker, Development Coordinator at Please Touch Museum, is here to talk about supporting our community outreach programs. Take it away, Margaret!

Margaret: Thanks, Pinky! Most of you already know that Please Touch Museum is a museum for children and for those of you who are a child at heart. Our mission is to enrich the lives of children by creating learning opportunities through play, and we believe that early childhood education and play are equal!

What you might not know is that the museum offers a number of community programs, to ensure that all children, regardless of economic situation, can experience Please Touch Museum. We are honored to partner with the United Way to fund several of these programs.

In fact, you can help support our community outreach programs by making a gift through the United Way and donor designating Please Touch Museum. When you donor designate the museum (#1134), your gift will be used to support one of our famous outreach programs, the Portable Play program.

The Portable Play Program provides interactive family play sessions, parenting workshops and Museum visits for minority families served by social service agencies throughout the Philadelphia region. Portable Play takes our mission of “learning through play” out into the community! The program concludes with a staff facilitated visit to Please Touch Museum, where program participants receive free lifetime memberships to Please Touch Museum and can come see Pinky whenever they want!

If your employer has a United Way Campaign, please consider directing your gift to Please Touch Museum (#1134) to support this important program. For more information, please click here.

Please Touch Museum will continue to provide award-winning community programs, and by contributing through United Way, you are supporting imagination, exploration, and lifelong learning for all children!

Happy 82nd Birthday Mickey Mouse!

2010-11-16T12:19:00.013-05:00

Did you know that Mickey Mouse turns 82 this week?! On Thursday, November 18, 1928, Mickey Mouse made his debut in "Steamboat Willie" at the Colony Theater in New York.

To celebrate his big day, we have on loan a small sampling of JoAnn and Tom McDonnell's collection of Mickey Mouse objects. Tom and JoAnn are two the friendliest faces you will see at Please Touch Museum! You may know JoAnn from when you first enter the building at the admissions desk, or you may also have seen one of Tom McDonnell’s Magic Shows in the Please Touch Playhouse Theater. I had the chance to sit down with JoAnn McDonnell, Admission-Volunteer Supervisor, and she told me a little bit more about her awesome collection:

Pinky: I really love your collection of Mickey Mouse! How long have you been collecting everything "Mickey?"

JoAnn: I have been collecting since 1987, so it has been over 20 years. We now have thousands of Mickeys!

Pinky: That’s amazing! What made you want to start a collection?

JoAnn: We went to Disney with my children and really fell in love. We would buy small Mickey Mouse objects here and there then the collection grew. Friends would find out we liked Mickey Mouse and would give Mickeys to us, especially the ones related to magic because as you know Tom is a magician.

Pinky: What does your collection mean to you and your family?

JoAnn: For us it represents happy memories that we shared with family- many happy memories! It’s not just about buying Mickeys; it’s something that has to do with our family. You may see the Philadelphia sports Mickeys because our family likes the Phillies and the Flyers. Mickeys are everywhere in our house and a part of every holiday!

Pinky: I had a lot of fun seeing your part of your collection. Thanks for sharing!

Hide and Seek of the Week

2010-11-16T09:10:00.001-05:00

Old McDonald had a farm, EE-I-EE-I-O. And on that farm he had a horse, EE-I-EE-I-O. This week’s collections object is a “Victory” Domestic Animal Spelling Puzzle produced by G.J. Hayter & Co., Ltd. Between 1920 and 1930. “Victory” puzzles were a popular brand of jigsaw puzzles made from the 1920’s until the 1980’s in Bournemouth, England. This particular puzzle features animals typically found on farms, like cows, horse, cats, etc.

Put on your looking eyes and see if you can find it during your next visit! And while you are looking high and low, don’t forget to encourage curiosity by asking open-ended questions and engaging your child in the conversation. For example: What sound does a horse make? What kinds of animals do you think live on a farm? Or simply sing a couple verses of “Old McDonald”.

Hide and Seek of the Week

2010-11-08T10:51:00.002-05:00

You climbed up Rainbow Trail, ran passed the Crooked Old Peanut Brittle House and found your way through the Lollipop Woods. But be careful! Don’t get stuck in Molasses Swamp! No, it’s not a dream. It’s Candyland! This classic pre-school board game was created by Eleanor Abbott in 1945 and first produced by Milton Bradley in 1949. Since then, there have been four different versions of Candyland, the most recent released in 2002.

Put on your looking eyes and see if you can find it during your next visit! And while you are looking high and low, don’t forget to encourage curiosity by asking open-ended questions and engaging your child in the conversation. For example: What’s your favorite color? What candy would you make your own Candyland out of? Or simply play a game of Candyland when you get home!