Holiday Books in the Children's Room

Come to the Children's Room to find a wonderful selection of books for the holidays--we have Christmas, Hanukkah, and Kwanzaa books available for checkout.  Read your old favorites, or try some of the newest holiday titles!

Book Club According to Humphrey!

Our Jr. Book Club met in November to discuss the book The World According To Humphrey by Betty Birney.  After sharing some observations and opinions about the book, we got down to creating the perfect Humphrey-playgrounds out of materials Miss Sarah found right here in the library---we know Humphrey would have had a blast playing in these creations!

"Designing Girls" Create Rooms for their American Girl Dolls!

This Saturday, 10 creative girls gathered at the library with Miss Sarah and Miss Sue Olsen to design rooms for their favorite American Girl dolls.  We had a blast! Presented with plain, white tri-fold boards, the girls got right to work transforming them with paper, fabric, and lots of bric-a-brac.  Although they all started out the same, by the time we were through, every one was a unique reflection of the girl that created it.  See the slide show at the left to see all of the amazing "rooms" that we made!

And the winner is...

Well, I guess it should come as no surprise that the most votes for "favorite book (or series)" were cast for (drum roll....) Harry Potter by J.K. Rowling !! This series continues to enchant young and old alike.  However, our ballot box was stuffed with over 60 votes (!), and many other books were mentioned.  Also receiving multiple votes were:
Don't Let The Pigeon Drive the Bus by Mo Willems, The Warrior's series by Erin Hunter, TinTin by Herge, Ninjago books, Charlotte's Web by E.B. White, and the Rainbow Fairies series by Daisy Meadows.

 Whatever book you voted for, we are so glad that you love reading :-)

Amherst Kids Vote For Books!

Well, it's that season that we here in New Hampshire know so well---election season! And just to get us all in the mood, we've set up a voting booth here at the library.  No, we're not getting political, we're just giving everyone a chance to cast a vote for their favorite book!  So come on in and let us know your favorite--and get a special sticker for participating.  Results will be posted after Election Day.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, CHARLOTTE'S WEB!

Today is the 60th Anniversary of the publication of Charlotte's Web, by E.B. White.  60 years old!   This is one of those children's classics that never seems to get "old".  The characters are so real, and so believable that we worry right along with Wilbur, we put up with Templeton even when he doesn't deserve it, and we cheer Charlotte on right to the end, when our hearts break...
Maybe it's that heartbreak that has made this book such a classic--a tale so beautifully told, that carefully reveals some of the great questions of life, death, and the way the two interlace.  Sometimes I think that we don't give children credit for being able to explore these questions--but the long-standing love that children have for this book might suggest that not only can they handle it, but maybe they're even thirsty for it..

And even though both of you are no longer living---Thank-you, E.B. White, for giving us this absolute gem of a story--and thank you Garth Williams for the images that have stayed with me since I read, and loved, this book as a child.  Like Charlotte's children, the story and the illustrations have gone on to have lives of their own, enriching ours in the process.

Skeletons in the Library!

 On Saturday morning, Sep. 29th, we gathered at the library to make our own "Milk-jug Skeletons".  Miss Sarah talked everyone through the steps, taking occasional breaks to read a story or two to the kids, while the  adults worked hard on the spooky creations.  When we were through, we had happy children, spooky skeltons, and tired grown-ups!! I think all of us were ready to go home and put our feet up for a well-deserved rest...but aren't our skeletons (and our kids) as cute as can be?