Lit Kits Are Back!

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From our Head of Children’s Services, Ali:

Have you ever wanted to do your own library-style Storytime at home? Well now you can! We’ve revamped our Lit Kits and they are better than ever! These Lit Kits are a great way to take storytime and learning home with you, and help support success in school by providing families with hands-on strategies for building pre-reading and literacy skills while having fun and bonding with your child. They can also help children hit important developmental milestones. Our Lit-Kits are designed for children 3-5 years old, but they can be adapted or modified for use with almost any age group!

Stop by the Children’s Room to see the new and improved backpacks that are available for checkout. Each kit contains 3-4 books on a theme, toys or manipulatives, and a caregiver guide with suggested songs and activities. The following kits are available: Alphabet, All About Me, Numbers, Ocean, Zoo, Dogs, Things That Go, and Dinosaurs. There will be more Lit Kit topics coming soon, and be sure to be on the lookout for upcoming STEM Kits (ages 5 & up), and Early Literacy Kits (ages 0-3)!

 

 

 

CPL Staff’s Favorite Reads of 2019

/ Louise / 1 Comment

As you might imagine, our library staff reads a lot of books! I recently asked CPL staffers what their favorite reads of the last year were, and the list was varied and long, a mix of fiction and nonfiction, older titles and new releases. If you’re looking for some “librarian-approved” reading, we’ve got quite a few suggestions for you!

Print Fiction:

Audiobook:

Graphic Novel:

Print Nonfiction:

Libraries are Avenues to Art

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Today’s post is brought to us by Bill, Head of Adult Services.

Why is art so important to individuals and society?

  • We use art to create and express ourselves.
  • Art is a part of our culture and reflects the society in which it was created.
  • We become more mindful when we create and view art – it allows us to slow down in a fast-paced world, increasing our self-awareness.
  • Art encourages critical thinking as we interpret what we see and then communicate our thoughts to others.
  • Art has no language barriers – it is a universal form of communication regardless of one’s culture.
  • Art can inspire, please  and motivate us, and influence our daily lives. It makes us think and feel in new ways.

Public Libraries are a great place to experience art and artists for free. From art books, concerts, exhibits, and programs, your public library brings many different forms of art to the community.

Art speaks to individuals in many different ways. To that end, we are hosting a community art discussion with the Mattatuck Museum of Waterbury on Monday, December 16, 2:00 p.m.   The museum is looking to engage area residents in discussions based upon some of its exhibitions. Valerie Rodgers, Lead Museum Educator, will present this discussion using images of paintings, artworks, archival photographs and more!

Have you ever visited the Mattatuck Museum lately? Cheshire residents can check out a museum pass which gives two adults and accompanying children free admission. The museum exhibits American art and cultural history – with a focus on the history of the Naugatuck Valley and the artists of Connecticut, using its history collections to tell the community’s stories and to collaborate with neighborhood associations, ethnic organizations and manufacturing groups.

Art is everywhere, and your library can bring it to you!

Susan’s Best Reads of 2019

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I don’t read as much as I wish I could; I just don’t have time at the moment. It doesn’t help that I wind up with sometimes 600 page books in my hands, and those take longer.  I never know what I’ll read next, and I read a bunch of good ones last year. Here are some of my favorites:

One of the two best books I read this year, I’ve already blogged about: Creativity, Inc, by Ed Catmull, was amazing. Not just a history of Pixar films, it’s also the best darned, most entertaining book on business and employee management you will read. Pixar is a 5-star company for a reason.

The second of my Best Reads this year is The Man from the Train: The Solving of a Century-Old Serial Killer Mystery by Bill James and Rachel McCarthy James.  From approximately 1898 to 1912, a serial killer traversed the US by train – coming through New Haven’s Union Station on the way – with an MO of bludgeoning his victims with the back of an axe. Because of communications at the time, few people were able to connect the murders. James painstakingly, with the utmost detail, traces the dozens of murders and examines them, deciding if they were likely by the same killer or not, and why. He traces the paths through the states and the seasons, chasing the trail to a man who was most likely the killer. By the time he’s done, you are convinced and amazed. I could not stop reading this book. I read it while waiting for the school bus. I read it while cooking. I would have read it in the shower if I could have. If you love a mystery, if you love history, if you love crime stories, this book is a must.

I’m only 30 years late in reading Neuromancer, the Hugo-winning cyberpunk novel by William Gibson. I can see why it is held as one of the greatest novels of our time. Gibson predicts and writes about today’s modern computers and internet and gaming – long before they existed. The scenarios he describes are both familiar and futuristic at the same time. While not only visionary, it’s written in  a flawless style and with realistic, interesting characters. If you loved Ready Player One or The Matrix (which has to have been influenced by this book), you will love Neuromancer.

If you’re aware of social and racial issues, I strongly recommend Survival Math, by Mitchell S. Jackson. A professor of writing, in achingly beautiful prose worthy of Martin Luther King Jr., with the voice of a preacher without being preachy, Johnson breaks down the issues faced in his own family, examining how he came to where he is, how racism played into it without even being visible, and how despite all the odds, it’s possible to thrive. He covers harsh topics without flinching. The book is brilliant, spellbinding, and a superb read from a voice that soars with truth.

Far more than I expected, I loved Total Recall, an older door-stop of a biography on Arnold Schwarzenegger. From his birth in a tiny town in Austria (which still has only 2500 people) to his divorce from Maria Shriver, Arnold is witty and candid and down to Earth. No matter what you think of his politics or his movies or his personal life, this book may be older, but it was highly entertaining. His best friend just died in September of this year.

Not my favorite, but worth mentioning because of its local importance, is Frog Hollow  by Susan Campbell. Campbell, a former reporter with the Hartford Courant, digs into the history of the notorious Frog Hollow section of Hartford, and through tireless research shows the former glory of the neighborhood as not only an important area in Colonial times, but once a major manufacturing center (in 1898, Pope automotive made half the cars in the US). I was hoping for a deep sociologic dissection of the issues, but instead Campbell gives us an upbeat view from street level about the good aspects of Hartford and the people who live there, not just the doom and gloom of ad-selling news clips.

Last but not least, I’ll throw in a kid’s series you probably missed; with 18 years between my last two kids, I certainly did, but my youngest is so hooked on the British easy reader series Urgency Emergency! by Dosh Archer, I wound up buying most of them. The series is so witty and enjoyable you don’t mind reading them over and over again. Doctor Glenda, Nurse Percy, and the Pengamedics, in predictable melodrama, assist the maladies of Humpty Dumpty, The Big Bad Wolf, the Itsy Bitsy Spider, and many more. They are a delight. The library has several of the stories; be sure to read them all!

What’s Happening at Cheshire Library in December

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It may be cold outside, but we’ve got some hot programming this month at CPL. Check it out:

New Movie Thursday ~ Where’d You Go, Bernadette (2019)

Did you miss the screening of a film you wanted to see in theatres?  Join us for the first Thursday of the month for a screening of a recently released film.  This month’s film is Where’d You Go, Bernadette, rated PG-13 and starring Cate Blanchett. Registration appreciated for this adult program.

The Nutcracker performed by Brass City Ballet

Saturday, December 7, 2019, 1:00pm and 3:00pm

Brass City Ballet celebrates the magic of Christmas in a live, narrated performance of The Nutcracker. Children and adults will delight in the story of Clara and her journey through the Land of Snow to the Kingdom of the Sweets where she meets the Sugar Plum Fairy and all her delicious treats. Please register for either the 1:00 show, or the 3:00 show.

Holiday Concert with Boogie Chillun’

Sunday, December 8, 2019, 2:00 – 3:00pm

Celebrate the season with Boogie Chillun’!    This special concert will engage and captivate adults and kids alike with interactive sing-a-long seasonal holiday songs from multiple traditions. No registration required.

DIY Ornament Making (All Ages)

Thursday, December 12, 2019, 5:30 – 7:30pm

Join us for a evening of DIY ornament making!  All materials will be provided by the library and each participant will leave with one completed ornament. Stop in anytime between 5:30 and 7:30pm. Light refreshments will be served.  Registration is required.

Play & Learn

Saturday, December 14, 2019, 10:00 – 11:00am

Our drop-in play group for children and their caregivers! Children and their caregivers explore interactive and sensory activities together, encouraging the development of early literacy skills.  We will have lots of movement, songs, and a short storytime during the last 20 minutes of the program. Best for ages 2 to 5 years old, no registration required.

Mattatuck Museum Community Art Discussion

Monday, December 16, 2019, 2:00 – 3:30pm

The Mattatuck Museum is looking to engage area residents in a community art discussion based upon some of our exhibitions. Valerie Rodgers, Lead Museum Educator, will present this discussion using images of paintings, artworks, archival photographs and more! Registration is required.

Homeschool Meetup

Wednesday, December 18, 2019, 11:00am – 12:00pm

Meet other local families who are educating their children and teens at home while sharing tips, ideas, and educational materials. Please register each child or teen separately.

Terrific Tweens: Let’s Make Wishing Bracelets!

Wednesday, December 18, 2019, 4:00 – 4:45pm

Kids in grades 5-8 are invited for fun with art, science, technology, and games. Today we’ll decorate paper beads on one side with crayons, markers or pencils, and then write a wish on the other. Then we’ll roll them up, string them together and wish for good things! No registration required.

Books Over Coffee: Snow Child

Wednesday, December 18, 2019, 12:00 – 1:30pm

Want to engage in great discussions about books? Meet new people? Eat lunch with friends? Join us for an adult monthly book club. We’ll meet from 12-1:30 in The Loft to discuss the selected title. Snow Child by Eowyn Ivey is our December selection. You bring your lunch, we’ll provide the coffee and tea. Registration is required.

Trivia Night

Wednesday, December 18, 2019, 6:30 – 8:00pm

Come by yourself of bring friends. Test your knowledge of categories including pop culture, current events, history, music, and of course, literature. It’s all for pride, not for prize. Registration is required for this adult program. When registering please register entire group from one person to a max five people.

Holiday Wrapping Event

Thursday, December 19, 2019, 6:00 – 8:00pm

Do you have many presents to wrap this holiday season?  Need a place to spread out?  Need to get away from prying eyes?  Join us for a holiday wrapping event.  Each participant will have a table, 1 roll of paper, scissors and tape.  Feel free to bring your own supplies but please note you must complete your wrapping by 8PM. Space is limited for this fun event, Registration will take place two weeks before and tea/coco will be offered.

DIY Holiday Cards and Gift Bags (All Ages)

Monday, December 23, 2019, 5:00 – 6:30pm

Need a last minute gift bag? Forgot to grab holiday cards? We got you covered! The library will provide all sorts of materials and tools to create one-of-a-kind holiday cards and giftbags. Light refreshments will be provided. Registration is required.

Movies @ the Library: Elf (2003)

Thursday, December 26, 2019, 2:00 – 3:45pm

Don’t be a cotton-headed ninny-muggins! Make sure you bring the whole family for a screening of the movie, Elf (2003)!  Popcorn will be served. All ages are welcome. Runtime: 97 minutes, rated PG. No registration required.