Diwali story time!

 

 

 

 

Archaeology Day

Kids engrossed in the hands-on activities related to archaeology with the presenter Crag Chariter

 

 

 

 

 

Shruti and Srujana performing an Indian dance

 

 

 

Jordan, Sriya and Chloe at the talent show

Harini wows the audience with her beautiful dance

 

 

Amy and Khushi doing a beautiful dance

 

Jeffrin playing the keyboard

Talent show on July 29

 

Zinara playing the keyboard

Pictures from Dinoman Space

 

Starship Adventure

Online registration for the summer reading program, Starship Adventure, begins on June 22nd. Come in that week to collect the information packet and calendar and learn how you can get raffle tickets. We have a lot of cool prizes this year, so start reading and record the number of minutes you read.
Special programs during the summer:
Thursday, June 25 @ 2:30 PM : Dino-man Space
An interactive variety show of Fun!

Saturday, June 27 @ 10:00 AM: Aldrich Astronomical Society presents "Meteorites: Thunderstones from Outer Space"
There will be a slide show and hands-on demonstrations. Door prizes and a chance to win Spacey.

Stop in and see a REAL spacesuit, made by the David Clark Company in Worcester, on loan to us July 16th-24th.

Monday, July 27 @ 2:30 PM : Pumpernickel Puppets
The 3 Billy Goats Gruff/ The Lion and the mouse

Tuesday, August 11: Museum of Science presents: Rockets: There and Back
Learn how rockets work and the challenges of traveling huge distances. Hands-on workshop. Please call after July 27th about show times and reserving tickets.

Thursday, August 13: Summer Picnic sponsored by the Friends of the Shrewsbury Public Library.

Grand finale with Library Buds

It was our last session with the Library Buds. All of them received certificates and the graduating buds (7th graders) received a journal. The Library Buds program will resume in the Fall. This is a program where children in 4th-7th grades learn about the behind-the-scenes activities in the Children's room. We are looking forward to working with the Buds again in the Fall.

April Vacation Week - April 21-24

We have fun activities planned for the whole vacation week. We are closed on Monday, April 20th for Patriot's Day.
April 21, 2:30 PM - Bilingual story time in English and Hindi. We will read stories, sing songs and recite poems. All ages are welcome. No registration required.
April 22, 2:30 PM - Power point class for kids in Grades 3-7. Sign-up starts April 8th.
April 23, 2:30-4:30 - Fairy Houses with Cheryl Carlson-Perrow for children in grades 1-4. Registration begins April 9th.
April 24, 10-11 AM, Ages 4-6 - Mr. Raindrop Water Cycle Terrarium presented by The Water Department and SELCO
April 24, 2-3 PM, Ages 7-9 - Mr. Raindrop Water Cycle Terrarium presented by The Water Department and SELCO

Library Buds playing Dewey Match

 

National Library Week

The week of April 12-18 is declared as National Library Week. By coincidence, a Boys Scout student has created a Poster Contest as his Community project. The topic for the poster is Why I love the library. You have to submit your poster by April 17th and voting will take place during the Vacation week (April 21st-24th). Winners will be announced on April 24th at 4 PM. So, be creative and design fun posters!

MCBA 2009 WINNER

The Massachusetts Children's Book Award, sponsored by the Salem State College, has been awarded to The Mysterious Benedict Society by Trenton Lee Stuart. Four titles have been named Honor Books -
Double Identity by Margaret Peterson Haddix
H.I.V.E by Mark Walden
The Homework Machine by Dan Gutman
Miracle on 49th Street by Mike Lupica
Children across the state read at least five books and vote for their favorite title.

March Money Madness

Kids enjoying money-related activities

 

 

Book review by Nishta Krishnan

EVERY SOUL A STAR by Wendy Mass
The book is set at the Moon Shadow Campground in the days surrounding a total solar eclipse. Three narrators tell the story of how their paths come together there, just as the moon's shadow crosses the sun. There's Ally, a self-confident, home-schooled kid who has grown up at the Moon Shadow, spending her time searching for alien signals and arranging rocks in the campground labyrinth. There's Bree, firmly set in the life of a middle school butterfly until her parents say that she's moving to the middle of nowhere so they can work on a research project. And there's Jack, who flunked science class and is sentenced to a summer project at the Moon Shadow with his teacher.
I found Every soul a Star to be inspirational. It gives the reader a chance to really get engrossed into the book and really learn in an interesting way. Mass does a magnificent job of making the voices of her characters distinct. In addition, novels created like this can often be a bit repetitive as events are recurring from the viewpoint of another character, but Mass does not do this. She allows the novel to flow naturally, giving the reader a chance to infer what the other characters might be thinking. If I had one complaint about this novel, it would be that I would have liked to know what happens to Ally, Bree and Jack when the summer ends. In my opinion, I would have liked if Jack and Ally ended up in the same city and school.

Kids cooking Indian food

 

Kids showing off the rainbow fruit kabobs they made

School vacation week

The Whitney family presents Long Winter's nap puppet show on Tuesday, Feb 17th at 1:30 PM. On Feb 18th and 19th, you can come in to the Children's room any time between 10 and 4 to make some crafts. On Friday, Feb 20th, there will be an Indian cooking program from 11 AM-12 PM. Some exciting treats await the kids in Grades K-4, who have signed up.

Book review by Nishta Krishnan

Toy Dance Party by Emily Jenkins


The main characters are bossy, know-it-all, Stingray; a courageous and daring buffalo Lumphy; and a round, independent, scarlet ball named Plastic. As these old toys get rejected by their six-year-old owner, the little girl is growing up. She now takes an interest in the soundless Barbies who the toys intensely envy. As they go to the movies, think deeply, have exhilarating adventures, and try to get the Girl's attention back, the silent Barbies seem to take it all away. Why won’t the girl play with talking toys?

Here is a scene where the Girl has a sleepover with some of her friends and Barbies are brought along...

Honey and Shay dress the Barbies,
and undress the Barbies,
and brush their hair,
and put their hair in ponytails,
and dress the Barbies,
and undress the Barbies,
and wonder why one of them have teeth marks
on its leg,
and why the other one has teeth marks on its hand,
and then forget about that
and dress the Barbies,
and undress the Barbies,
and brush their hair,
and dress the Barbies again.
For a very long time.


Even though I haven’t read Toys Go Out, I loved the book Toy Dance Party. In each of the short, fun stories, the same characters would do crazy stunts like jumping into the snow, getting themselves in sticky jam and getting sucked into the vacuum. If you haven’t read Toy Dance Party, you should. My next read would be Toys Go Out.

Book review

Violet Raines almost got struck by lightning

An exciting story of eleven-year-old Violet Raines who is loyal and hilarious. She is the best friend any girl could have but her troubles with new prissy Melissa begin soon. Violet knows that Melissa wants to pry Lottie away from her but will Melissa succeed? Violet is not the only one who is coming to the fish fry. Guess who else is? Melissa. Is Melissa Gold going to barge into everything? Will a lightning bolt change Violet’s life forever?

The book was almost real! Violet's voice grabbed me from the very first page until the very last page. Danette Haworth is an author with an enormous vocabulary. She uses words like “taradiddle”. Violet’s story is a classic tale of best friends, every girl should read. I have read the book twice already.
Nishta Krishnan

2009 Newbery and Caldecott awards announced

The House in the Night written by Susan Marie Swanson and illustrated by Beth Krommes has won the Caldecott award.



The Graveyard book by Neil Gaiman has won the Newbery award.

Chinese New Year on Jan 26

 

Come to the children's room to make these crafts.

Abe Lincoln's birthday

 

Come to the Children's room and make crafts to commemorate Lincoln's birthday on Thursday, Feb 12th, between 10 and 4.

Poem by Nishta Krishnan

Thank you, Nishta Krishnan for submitting a very timely poem!

I built a snowman tall and strong,
one cold and bitter day.
He stood outside my window sill,
and waited for me to come out and play.

The snowman was my favorite friend,
He’d whisper in my ear,
wink his eye, and tip his hat
whenever I was near.

He had coal, black eyes and a carrot nose,
bright pink scarf and mittens the color of rose.
He had a smile for everyone. FLASH!
You should strike a pose!

He was there, the lively fellow;
He never used to bellow,
Then heat came and he did melt,
but his absence will always be felt.

Kids enjoying the Hero Hunt

 

 

 

Valentines for Vets

 

The wonderful kids who belong to Brownie troop number 30423 are helping us with the Valentines for Vets program this year. You can see the fabulous posters they have created all around the library. Come in to the Children's room and create valentines to send to the troops.