<div dir="ltr">
<br id="gmail-docs-internal-guid-cc751874-7fff-fed2-c744-b1507ee9dc60"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Hello Libraryland!</span></p><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">The Benzie Shores District Library just hosted </span><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(17,85,204);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:underline;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Alex Thomas and Friends</span><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"> for a T.V. Puppetry Workshop and it was FANTASTIC. This is the second time we have hosted Alex Thomas and Friends for a program and they have been consistently wonderful to work with. </span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;text-indent:36pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">We had an intergenerational group and everyone got into the spirit and participated (even those reluctant caregivers had a great time) ! Everyone left with huge smiles and a newfound respect for the teamwork required to make shows, like Sesame Street, as a performer.  We worked on how puppets can “come to life”, perspective, teamwork, and how live puppet shows are different from the puppets you see on your screens - along with some of the “T.V. magic” that you can use to make something spectacular.  </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;text-indent:36pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">They also create great video content with puppets and can fabricate just about anything. If you have a PSA, a summer reading video, or even training videos that you think could benefit from some fancy felt friends Alex Thomas and Friends are the ones to call! </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;text-indent:36pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">I am happy to answer any questions about our experiences with them but I would highly recommend their programs and we cannot wait to have them back!</span></p><br><br><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">You can check out their website at  : </span><a href="https://www.alexthomasandfriends.com/" style="text-decoration:none"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(17,85,204);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:underline;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">https://www.alexthomasandfriends.com/</span></a><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"> </span>

<br clear="all"><br><span class="gmail_signature_prefix">-- </span><br><div dir="ltr" class="gmail_signature" data-smartmail="gmail_signature"><div dir="ltr"><div><div dir="ltr"><div><span style="font-family:garamond,times new roman,serif"><span style="color:rgb(69,129,142)"><b><font size="4">Kaitlin Matesich</font></b></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family:garamond,times new roman,serif"><b>Youth Services Coordinator</b></span></div><div><span style="font-family:garamond,times new roman,serif"><b>Benzie Shores District Library</b></span></div><div><span style="font-family:garamond,times new roman,serif"><b>630 Main St.  Frankfort, MI</b></span></div><div><span style="font-family:garamond,times new roman,serif"><span style="color:black;background:white">My Pronouns: She/Her - See <a href="http://www.mypronouns.org/" target="_blank">
<span style="color:black">www.mypronouns.org</span></a> to learn more<b>.</b></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family:garamond,times new roman,serif"><br></span></div><div><br></div><div><br></div></div></div></div></div></div>