Cheshire Library

Spooky Selections for Middle Grade Readers

/ Sharon Tyler / Leave a comment

mgspook1Do you have a middle grade reader that lovers anything spooky? This age group often loves to be scared, but not terrified, by their scary stories. Finding books that make parents and readers happy is sometimes hard, but here are some books that might just hit the mark.

Wait Till Helen Comes by Mary Downing Hahn
Unhappy about moving into a converted church in the country with her mother and new stepfather, Molly must put aside her dislike of her little stepsister, Heather, when the child is possessed by a malevolent ghost.

The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaimanmgspooky3
Raised since he was a baby by ghosts, werewolves, and other residents of the cemetery in which he has always resided, Bod wonders how he will manage to survive amongst the living with only the lessons he has learned from the dead.

Doll Bones by Holly Black
Zach, Alice, and Poppy, friends from a Pennsylvania middle school who have long enjoyed acting out imaginary adventures with dolls and action figures, embark on a real-life quest to Ohio to bury a doll made from the ashes of a dead girl.mgspooky4

A Tale Dark & Grimm (A Tale Dark & Grimm, #1) by Adam Gidwitz
Follows Hansel and Gretel as they walk out of their own story and into eight more tales, encountering witches, devils, warlocks, kindly strangers, and other helpful folk as they take charge of their own happily ever after.

The Cavendish Home for Boys and Girls by Claire Legrand
Practically-perfect twelve-year-old Victoria Wright must lie, sneak, and break the rules when her investigation of the disappearance of her best–and only–friend, Lawrence, mgspooky6reveals dark secrets about her town and the orphanage run by the reclusive Mrs. Cavendish.

Skulduggery Pleasant (Skulduggery Pleasant, #1) by Derek Landy
When a not-so-innocent twelve-year-old girl named Stephanie inherits her eccentric uncle’s estate, she must join forces with Skulduggery Pleasant, a skeleton mage, to save the world from an ancient evil.

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Looking for more spooky mayhem that will please a middle grade (or older) reader? Here are a few more of the many avalible options: Coraline by Neil Gaiman, The Old Willis Place by Mary Downing Hahn, The Nightmarys by Dan Poblocki, The Doll in the Garden by Mary Downing Hahn, The Halloween Tree by Ray Bradbury, The House with a Clock in Its Walls (Lewis Barnavelt, #1) by John Bellairs, School Spirit (Suddenly Supernatural #1) by Elizabeth Cody Kimmel,  Skeleton Man by Joseph Bruchac, The Ghost Comes Calling by Betty Ren Wright, Liesl & Po by Lauren Oliver,  Ghosts I Have Been by Richard Peck, and The Ghost’s Grave by Peg Kehret.

What’s Happening at Cheshire Library in October

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October means falling leaves, picking pumpkins, and shopping for bargains at our Fall Booksale! Not to mention TONS of great programs for kids and adults:

1ABC Amigos

Friday, Oct 2, 2015, 10:00 AM

Cheshire Public Library is proud to host ABC Amigos,  a bilingual storytime to start teaching Spanish to toddlers and preschoolers. This storytime will be tons of fun with songs, games, activities and stories in both English and Spanish. No prior knowledge of Spanish is necessary. Ages 3-6, no registration required.

Screen Shot 2015-09-16 at 7.35.43 PMDrop-in Tech Help

Monday, Oct 5, 2015, 4:00 – 6:00 PM

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Do you have questions about your computer, smartphone, or iPad? Do you need help navigating Facebook or downloading an ebook? Let our tech gurus help! Bring your technology-related questions and curiosities to Cheshire Public Library’s Tech Open House. Our knowledgeable staff will be available to answer your questions and help solve your technology-related problems.  No registration required. NOTE: If you are coming for assistance with your own electronic device, please be sure it is fully charged beforehand. In the event your question or issue is more involved, we may ask you to schedule an appointment and come back for one-on-one help.

2Rick Riordan New Book Release Party

Tuesday, Oct 6, 2015, 6:30 -7:30 PM

Are you a fan of Rick Riordan’s book series, like Percy Jackson and the Heroes of Olympus? Then this is the party for you! October 6th is the day that Rick Riordan releases the first book in a brand-new series: Magnus Chase and the Gods of Asgard, Book 1: The Sword of Summer. We’ll have some fun Norse mythology activities and even a chance for a few lucky kids to win their very own copies of Riordan’s new book! No registration required. For ages 8 and up. [NOTE: We will be meeting upstairs on the 3rd floor of the library.]

a010255-v6Germans to America, 1683-1893

Tuesday, Oct 6, 6:30 – 8:00 PM

German Americans comprise the largest ancestry group in the U.S., having high rates of immigration to the U.S. beginning in the mid-1800s. Genealogist Penelope Hartzell will present an overview of German immigration, which began in 1683, and end in 1892, with the opening of Ellis Island. She will discuss pre-Ellis Island ports of entry, early German settlements before the American Revolution, online resources to access for transcriptions of German records, microfilms of German records in German, helpful online info about German research, and organizations to join. Penelope Hartzell has 20 years of research experience and is a member of numerous genealogical societies. Seating for this event is limited. Please register online at or call 203-272-2245, ext. 4.

51lTkG2sJSL._SX327_BO1,204,203,200_Oktoberfest

Thursday, Oct 8, 2015, 7:00 – 8:00 PM

Join us on October 8th at 7 pm as we celebrate a mini-Oktoberfest! Local beer historian and author Will Siss leads a discussion of the history of beer in Connecticut and provides profiles for nearly all existing breweries. He will discuss his book Connecticut Beer : A History of Nutmeg State Brewing.  Copies of the book will be available for purchase and signing. Registration is required. Come learn about the hoppy history of Connecticut! Please register online at or call 203-272-2245, ext. 4.

Social Security

Tuesday, Oct 13, 2015, 6:15 – 7:45 PM

07132011_Social_Security_articleThe Cheshire Public Library presents a series of retirement planning workshops this Fall. The three topics are Social Security, Retirement Income Planning, and Long Term Care. Social Security will be the focus on Tuesday, October 13.  After being told for years that Social Security is “going broke,” baby boomers are realizing that it will soon be their turn to collect. But the decisions they make now can have a tremendous impact on the total amount of benefits they stand to receive over their lifetime.  Seating for this event is limited. Please register online or call 203-272-2245, ext. 4.

couponsKeep the Stress Out of Holiday Shopping With Coupons

Thursday, Oct 15, 2015, 6:00 – 8:00 PM

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Don’t stress about the holidays. Come learn how to save money with tips and tricks with coupons. Presented by Gina Juliano. Please register online  or call 203-272-2245 ext. 4.

Book Sale Members Preview

booksaleWednesday Oct 21, 2015, 6:30  –  8:00 PM

A preview sale for members of the Friends of the Library. Memberships will be for sale at the door, so you can join and then browse before the sale opens to the general public.

The Friends of the Library Fall Book Sale!

book-sale_fb_cover_imae_0Thursday, October 22 – Sunday, October 25

This bi-annual used book sale, run by Friends of the Cheshire Library, raises money to pay for programming at Cheshire Public Library, among other things.  All of the library’s programs are funded through the Friends, and the books sale is their biggest fundraiser.  Come support the library and pick up some bargains in the process! See our event calendar for more info.

A Halloween Read-Aloud with the FEA

FEA logo with childrenThursday Oct 22, 2015, 3:30 –  4:15 PM

Come read with the Future Educators of America from Dodd Middle School!
Dress up in Halloween colors to get into the spirit! We will be reading books, creating crafts, and snacks will be provided. This program will meet on the 3rd floor of the library. Please register online.

Howlarious Halloween Show with Mary Jo Maichack, Storyteller

maryjomMonday Oct 26, 2015,  6:00 PM

A guaranteed hoot and a holler, this show of classic ghost stories, songs & jokes will make you jump, giggle & groan like a coffin lid. Once you hear Mary Jo’s opening version of e.e. cummings’s “hist whist,” you’ll understand why MJ has become known for the spookiest, eeriest, snort-your-candy-corn-in-the dark funniest set of Halloween fun. NO REGISTRATION REQUIRED.

Retirement Income Planning

Retirment-Plan-300x199Tuesday Oct 27, 2015,  6:15 PM  –  7:45 PM

With recent reductions and eliminations in pension plans, an uncertain future for social security, and the shift towards employee-directed retirement plans, the need to plan for your own retirement has never been greater.  This class is geared for people within 5 years of retirement to help them determine when they can retire and how to make the most of what they’ve saved.   Seating for this event is limited.  Please register online or call 203-272-2245, ext. 4.

Honest Conversations with Muslim Neighbors

Screen Shot 2015-09-16 at 7.54.50 PMWednesday Oct 28, 2015, 6:30  –  8:00 PM

CCIU – CT Council for Interreligous Understanding, the Muslim Coalition of Connecticut, and Hartford Seminary are co-sponsoring a series of conversations throughout Connecticut to inform the public about the American-Muslim experience and to discuss some of the concerns about that community raised by the broader American public since 9/11. Four Muslim neighbors will informally share some of their experiences and respond to questions involving customs, politics, and perspectives on other monotheistic faiths. American Muslims do not have all the answers, but guests will respond out of their own experiences, raising issues that concern all Americans.

Screen Shot 2015-09-16 at 8.01.16 PMHalloween Storytime and Parade

2 sessions:

Thursday Oct 29, 2015, at 4:00 PM and 6:00 PM

Join Miss Nicole and her friends for a Halloween Storytime and Parade in the library! We’ll read some stories and then go trick-or-treating around the library!
Be sure to wear your costume! For ages 8 and under.  Registration online starting on October 1st.

What’s Happening at Cheshire Library in September

/ cheshirelib / Leave a comment

Did you know that September is Library Card Sign-up Month?  A time to remind parents and children that a library card is the most important school supply of all. While you don’t need a library card to participate in our great programs, there are a lot of great things your library card can do for you, so don’t miss out!

On our program roster this month:

bookMindfulness Workshop for Kids

Thursdays, September 3, 10, 17, 24, October 1, 8, 15, 22 at 4:00 pm. 

Children are leading an increasingly busy life with school, sports events, music lessons and more. So they also experience that rushed pace.  Mindfulness techniques train you to pay attention to those things in the present moment in a nonjudgmental and accepting manner. This gives children the opportunity to stop and choose a response thoughtfully rather than reacting impulsively. Parents/caregivers will be participating in this 8-week program as well through mindfulness exercises with your child and through a book discussion.  The book Mindful Parenting by Dr. Kristen Race will be used to discuss techniques for mindful parenting.  Register on our website beginning August 15.

 

SAT Preparation Seminar

Tuesday Sep 8, 2015, 6:30  –  8:00 PM

Prominent language arts tutor, Ellis Ratner, will  present this free SAT Preparation Seminar. This program will address all aspects of the Reading and Writing Sections, including sentence completion, reading comprehension, grammar and essay writing.  Attendees will also receive, free of charge, an SAT Preparation Primer authored by Mr. Ratner.  Please register on our website.

 

Bouncing Babies

Mondays at 10:00 AM

This new drop-in program is a special time to interact with stories, songs, rhymes, and lap bounces. This fun and interactive time features music, repetition, rhymes, puppets, instruments, and felt boards. A must-do for babies and toddlers! Ages birth to 2 years.Drop-in, no registration required.

 

Curious George Curiosity Day

Thursday Sep 17, 2015, 6:00  –  6:45 PM

Each year fun-filled, family-friendly “Curiosity Day” celebrations occur in cities around the country celebrating everyone’s favorite monkey, Curious George. Come join the Cheshire Public Library Curiosity Celebration full of stories and songs, and a snack even Curious George would love. This program is a family friendly program, best for kids ages 2 and up. (REGISTRATION?)

 

Fab Film Saturday: Disney’s Cinderella

Saturday Sep 19, 2015, 2:00  –  4:00 PM

Come enjoy some great box office kids’ movies with Fab Film Saturdays at Cheshire Public Library!

Disney’s CINDERELLA (2015).  Celebrate Disney’s CINDERELLA, a modern classic that shines with beauty, imagination… and magic! Despite being bulled by her stepmother (Cate Blanchett) and stepsisters, a spirited Ella (Lily James) resolves to take charge of her fate. Add a royal ball, a Fairy Godmother (Helenal Bonham-Carter) and a glass slipper, and suddenly — magic becomes reality! Running Time 2 hours, 24 minutes.  Rated PG. No registration required.  Feel free to bring your own snacks!

 

Cigar Box Purse Craft Class

Thursday Sep 24, 2015, 6:00  –  8:00 PM

Please join Vanessa Fasanella as she teaches how to make cigar box purse in this adult crafting class. Design purse and handles; transform a recycled cigar box into a usable purse.  This adult only class is free and all materials will be provided.  Registration required as space is limited so register early. Registration on our website.

Screen Shot 2015-08-28 at 3.38.01 PMTown-Wide Photo Scavenger Hunt

Saturday Sep 26, 2015, 9:30 AM  –  4:30 PM

Grab your friends, family, and mobile device for a scavenger hunt that will take you all around Cheshire! To participate, form a team that will fit in one vehicle, pick up a list of clues from Cheshire Library on the morning of the hunt, and drive around town solving each clue. Post a photo of each clue to Instagram and use the tag #cheshirehunt2015, then return to the Library in the afternoon for refreshments and prizes. Prizes will be chosen across several categories, such as creativity and number of clues solved, and by random drawing.

Pre-registration of teams is required. One team and one Instagram account per vehicle.

9:30-11:00 am – Clue pick-up in Baldwin Room (Instagram help will be available)

10:00 am – Donuts with Grownups Storytime on the Third Floor

3:30 pm – Post-hunt party in Baldwin Room
Please register on our website.

 

Donuts with Grownups Storytime

Saturday Sep 26, 2015, 10:00 AM

Donuts with Grownups Storytime is designed especially for working families with children ages 3 and up who can’t make it to our regularly schedule storytimes during the week. Enjoy crafts, activities, music, stories and of course Donuts as a family!  This program is designed as a family event to give bonding time.  Each session will also have a literacy building station to help young ones start building necessary pre-literacy skills or enhance those skills for older children.  Best suited for children age 3-8. No Registration Required. This program will meet on the Third Floor of the Library.

 

Help, I’m Addicted to Sugar! (and white flour)

Monday Sep 28, 2015, 6:30  –  8:00 PM

Are afternoon and evening munchies getting the better of you? Do chips, cookies and breads call your name – even though your good intentions and knowledge try to push them away? Getting over these uncontrollable eating urges can be a lot easier than you think, and it doesn’t even have much to do with willpower at all. This is a highly motivational presentation showing exactly why this “vicious cookie cycle” occurs – and most importantly, what to do about it. Seating for this event is limited.  Please register online or call 203-272-2245, ext. 4.

 

Jacket.aspx‘Who Was’ Book Club: HELEN KELLER

Wednesday Sep 30, 2015, 4:00  –  5:00 PM

If you love reading books from the ‘Who Was’ series, than this is the book club for you! At the meeting, we’ll chat about what we discovered in the book and do one or more fun activities inspired by that persons life. No need to register – all fans of the series are welcome! Copies of Who Was Helen Keller? will be available to borrow from the Children’s Room.

 

Colonial Goodwife

Wednesday Sep 30, 2015, 6:30  –  8:00 PM

colonial_goodwife_nonpdf_long_logoThe “Not-So-Good Life of The Colonial Goodwife” not only makes audience members laugh and grimace, but it also honors our foremothers. It’s not about quilting bees and spinning wheels – it’s an interactive presentation about the little-known issues faced by New England’s colonial women.Enjoy a complimentary cup of organic herbal Women’s Tonic Tea as author Velya Jancz-Urban shares tidbits about issues faced by everyday 18th-century New England women. Seating for this event is limited.  Please register online or call 203-272-2245, ext. 4.

 

Memoirs of an Underdog – 3 Dog Tales

/ Louise / Leave a comment

Hard to believe that it’s been 10 years since “doggy memoir” Marley & Me came out. The runaway popularity of this dog tale spawned several spinoff books (Marley: A Dog Like No Other, Bad Dog, Marley!,  A Very Marley Christmas, to name a few), and a very successful movie (Marley & Me starring Owen Wilson and Jennifer Anniston). I cried like a baby, you know you did, too!

Suddenly, book deals for dogs became a regular thing. Stories of how animals make a difference in so many lives can make for some pretty compelling reading, especially if you’re an animal lover to begin with. Here are a few more dog tales that will tug at your heartstrings:

1A Dog Named Boo by Lisa J. Edwards. Boo was found by Lisa in a cardboard box outside a pet store. Lisa, a professional dog trainer, felt drawn to the runt of the litter, and decided to take him home and train him to be a companion animal for her terminally ill brother, who was becoming more physically restricted by the day. Unfortunately, Boo turned out to be the class dunce. Boo’s apparent failure to live up to Lisa’s expectations was followed shortly by the loss of the family member she loved most. It was when things were at their worst, however, that Boo’s exceptional talent for giving love and comfort showed.

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2Wallace by Jim Gorant. Today, Wallace is a champion; but in the summer of 2005, he was living in a shelter, a refugee from a suspicious pit-bull breeding operation. Then Andrew “Roo” Yori entered the picture. A scientist and shelter volunteer, Roo could immediately see that Wallace was something special. When Roo learned that Wallace was about to be put down, he and his wife frantically fought to keep Wallace alive until they could adopt him. Overcoming everything from injuries to prejudice against the breed, the unlikely pair persevered to become world champions.
                                                                 
3Until Tuesday by Luis Carlos Montalván. Captain Luis Montalvan never backed down from a challenge during his two tours of duty in Iraq. After returning home from combat, however, the pressures of his physical wounds, traumatic brain injury, and crippling post-traumatic stress disorder began to take their toll. Then Luis met Tuesday, a beautiful and sensitive golden retriever trained to assist the disabled. A unique story about the love between a man and a dog, and how they healed each other’s souls.

 

 

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Some other wonderful stories about the bonds between humans and dogs include:
A Dog Walks Into a Nursing Home : Lessons in the Good Life From an Unlikely Teacher by Sue Halpern
You Had Me at Woof : How Dogs Taught Me the Secrets of Happiness by Julie Klam
Oogy : The Dog Only a Family Could Love by Larry Levin
Dogs Never Lie About Love : Reflections on the Emotional World of Dogs by Jeffrey Moussaieff Masson
Good Dog. Stay. by Anna Quindlen
Pure Joy : The Dogs We Love by Danielle Steel
   

8 Reasons to Love Audiobooks (Or Give Them a Try)

/ Lauren / 1 Comment

Ever notice how your list of books to read never seems to get any shorter? For every title I cross off my list, three more appear, and at this rate it’ll take me at least 20 years to completely finish (I know because I’ve calculated it). I lose precious reading time to obligations like commuting, feeding myself, and keeping my living space somewhat clean. But I recently started listening to audiobooks, and I was able to turn those obligations into perfect opportunities to whittle down my list. I can now go through a book in one day and still get the laundry done!

We have a bunch of books on CD here at the library, but I prefer downloading audiobooks with the OverDrive app on my smartphone. I hook up my phone to my car stereo and don’t have to fumble with CDs while I’m on the highway, and I can keep listening indoors without having to drag a pile of discs with me. Another upside to downloading: no fees! Digital items disappear automatically when the loan period expires so you’ll never get hit with late charges, plus you can’t scratch them up or lose them under a car seat.

Here are some more reasons to love audio:

1) Multitask like a boss. Start up an audiobook and chores will suddenly become much more enjoyable. You can spend an afternoon reorganizing your closets while also tackling titles on your to-read list, like Graham Greene’s The End of the Affair read by Colin Firth. You may even find yourself actually seeking out more chores so you can continue listening!

2) Cut your screen time. After a long workday in front of a computer screen, do you really want to veg out in front of another glowing blue screen? Light mysteries like the books in Sue Grafton’s Kinsey Millhone series (A is for Alibi, B is for Body, etc.) offer nice background noise without disrupting your sleep.

3) A good narrator enhances your experience of the book. Mindy Kaling’s Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me? is a funny book, but it’s even better when you hear her narration. An adept narrator enhances humor, drama, and other emotions in ways that you can’t replicate when your eyes are zooming across the page. Augusten Burroughs’ memoir Dry had me laughing hysterically one minute, then weeping the next.

4) Long drives seem shorter. It’s tough to stay alert when you’re driving alone, at night, on a really boring road (I’m thinking of you, New Jersey interstate). Picking up something long like The Book Thief by Marcus Zusak will keep your brain engaged and will make any long drive more endurable. Similarly, long workouts on the treadmill are less arduous when you have a plot to engage your mind.

5) Audiobooks are interactive. Have you been on the waitlist for the print copy of The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up by Marie Kondo? You can download it right now through Hoopla and experience the magic by listening to the audio – while simultaneously tidying up! I’ve also found myself talking out loud to characters in suspenseful audiobooks like Tana French’s The Secret Place.

6) Long, difficult books can be less daunting in audio. Everyone has those “I’d like to read it, but I probably will never get around to it” books. I would never realistically have finished the 917-page behemoth of Roots, but it only took me a couple weeks to reach the end of disc 24.

7) You might actually retain more. There’s a theory that you retain more information when listening because your brain doesn’t have to work as hard at creating imagery. I used to think I would have a problem remembering what happened in audiobooks, but then I remembered all the times I’d looked up from reading a printed book and realized I didn’t remember any of the last six pages. It’s just bound to happen, I think (no pun intended).

8) You’ll realize you’ve been pronouncing a word wrong your entire life. Interminable. Prerogative. Indefatigable. Cache. Aluminum has five syllables?! Oh wait, nevermind, the narrator is British.

Now here’s how to get the audiobooks mentioned:

Do you currently listen to audio books? If not, do you think you’ll give them a try?