Next Intrepid Readers April 9: Moloka’i

Posted on by justinsnook

Join the Douglas Library Intrepid Readers on April 9 to discuss Moloka’i by Alan Brennert.

This richly imagined novel, set in Hawai’i more than a century ago, is an extraordinary epic of a little-known time and place—and a deeply moving testament to the resiliency of the human spirit.

Rachel Kalama, a spirited seven-year-old Hawaiian girl, dreams of visiting far-off lands like her father, a merchant seaman. Then one day a rose-colored mark appears on her skin, and those dreams are stolen from her. Taken from her home and family, Rachel is sent to Kalaupapa, the quarantined leprosy settlement on the island of Moloka’i. Here her life is supposed to end—but instead she discovers it is only just beginning. -Goodreads

Call the Library 508-476-2695 for a copy of the book. New members always welcome. Homemade refreshments, inspired by the title being discussed, will be served.

Homeschool Curriculum Talk-Share-Swap

Posted on by justinsnook
Saturday, March 30
10:00am – 12:00pm
Let’s compare curricula! On Saturday morning, local area home educators are invited to the library for a morning devoted to connecting the curricu-curious to current users.
The primary goal here is for everyone to talk about opinions and experiences, compare notes, and walk away with a broader and more confident base of knowledge. But if you have material you are finished with and would like to give away or swap for something new, bring it!
We will definitely have people on hand who are familiar with Tapesty of Grace, Brave Writer, Saxon Math, Right-Start Math, Logic of English, All About Spelling, IEW, Cover Story, Times Tales, and A Year of Playing Skillfully.
Also up for discussion will be community resources and events and how to homeschool through high school in an environment that seems to favor resources for younger children.
Kids are welcome, so don’t let that deter you. For questions, please contact lori.colbert@charter.net (event co-organizer) or jsnook@cwmars.org (library director).

Greatest Book Club Ever

Posted on by justinsnook

If you are looking for a book club, you should try out our Greatest Book Club ever! If you aren’t looking for a book club, you should try out our Greatest Book Club Ever! The group meets on the first Thursday of every month at 6:30pm.

The next meeting is April 4 and the book is Where’d You Go, Bernadette by Maria Semple.

When her daughter Bee claims a family trip to Antarctica as a reward for perfect grades, Bernadette, a fiercely intelligent shut-in, throws herself into preparations for the trip. But worn down by years of trying to live the Seattle life she never wanted, Ms. Fox is on the brink of a meltdown. And after a school fundraiser goes disastrously awry at her hands, she disappears, leaving her family to pick up the pieces–which is exactly what Bee does, weaving together an elaborate web of emails, invoices, and school memos that reveals a secret past Bernadette has been hiding for decades. Where’d You Go Bernadette is an ingenious and unabashedly entertaining novel about a family coming to terms with who they are and the power of a daughter’s love for her mother.  -Goodreads

Winter Storytime

Posted on by justinsnook

Join Miss Debbie for stories, crafts, songs, and shenanigans during our Winter Storytime at the Simon Fairfield Public Library. Winter Storytime starts on January 7 and lasts until March 6.

Monday storytime is at 1pm and geared for ages 3 to 5.

Tuesday storytime is at 6pm and is geared for ages 4 to 7.

Wednesday storytime is at 10am and is geared to ages 18 months to 3.

Please call the library at 508-476-2695 or email dsoderman@cwmars.org to register or ask further questions. Sign-ups are necessary to ensure adequate supplies of snacks, crafts, energy drinks, and free puppies for the children.

Note: If school (in Douglas) is cancelled, there is no storytime. If they are delayed, there is no morning storytime. If they are released early, there is no afternoon storytime.

Starting Off the School Year Well

Posted on by justinsnook

For the mom who is sending her child off to school for the first time or the dad who is hoping for a year of easier transitions and joyful experiences, Peaceful Life coach Janet Gonzalez will be offering a free workshop at the library on August 23 from 7-8pm. Some topics she will touch on are getting out the door in the mornings, welcoming your child home in the afternoon, and homework & bedtime in the evening.

Every Thursday is Mahjong Thursday

Posted on by justinsnook

A new weekly event is popping up at the library. A group of seasoned mahjong playing patrons will be meeting to play at the library every Thursday from 12:30 to 4pm and are inviting new players. If you already know how to play, come play with some delightful people! If you don’t, come anyway and they will teach you.

Local Author Party

Posted on by justinsnook

On June 5th, we welcomed 4 local authors and 26 guests to a literary party at the Library. The Friends of the Library put out quite the spread:

Paula Sullivan, Rachel Odell howe, Jane Willan, and Michael Stinger not only sold and signed books, but talked extensively about their writing and publishing processes:

Paula Sullivan is the author of Simply Being Happy, and Rachel Odell How is the author of Ripple:

Michael Stinger is the author of Runner’s Dawn, and Paula Sullivan is the author of The Shadow of Death:

The event drew a nice crowd, and we all enjoyed discussing books until well after the library “closed:”

This little one proved that you are never too young to start thinking about writing your own book:

A Walk in the Woods

Posted on by justinsnook

On May 23, around a dozen library staff and patrons gathered at Cedar Swamp in the Douglas State Forest for a nature hike. Led by Mary Sughrue-Yacino, we heard many bird calls and learned a lot about local flora.

We saw the tiniest lady slipper in the world:

And a very purple bog onion (or jack-in-the-pulpit for you Northern folk):

Cinnamon ferns:

And these things:

The kids got really excited when we started finding a trail of fake money:

And then the adults even got a little excited:

Finally, we gazed upon the remains of a fire started by Matthew Mcconaughey during the filming of Sea of Trees. Unfortunately, the scene was deleted:

Mary tried calling in an owl, but it just hooted at us from afar. I believe a good time was had by all, though, regardless of the standoffish night  fowl.

Music and Movement Themes for March-June

Posted on by justinsnook

If you haven’t already brought your preschooler to one of our Music and Movement Storytimes with Deb Hudgins, you really should. They are every Tuesday at 1, and every week is a different theme. Here are the themes for the upcoming months:

March 6 “At the Circus”
March 13 “Wearing of the Green!”
March 20 “Welcome, Spring!”
March 27 “Sillytime Songs”

April 3 “My Five Senses”
April 10 “What Is The Weather?”
April 17 “Earth Day Celebration”
April 24 “Nursery Rhyme Time”

May 1 “Opposites”
May 8 “All Shapes and Sizes”
May 15 “Dinosaurs”
May 22 “I Like Me”
May 29 “Going Camping”

June 5 “Under the Sea”
June 12 “Exercise Is Fun!”
June 19 “Hooray for Summer!”
June 26 “Beautiful Birds”