Spring into Sports!
As spring arrives at long last, so has a great new collection of sports books. Stop in and check out some of our new titles, including:
Just as Good: How Larry Doby Changed America's Game
by Chris Crowe
Many of us are familiar with the bravery of Jackie Robinson, the man who broke the color barrier in baseball by becoming the first African American to play in the Major League. Far fewer are aware, though, of the sacrifices of the other African American players of the day, including Larry Doby. Larry was the First African American player to play in the American League and a World Series Champion in 1947, proving both his own merit and strengthening the case for fully integrated baseball. This terrific picture book by Chris Crowe highlights that special year through the eyes of a young African American boy who dreams of one day taking the field.
Fenway Fever by John Ritter
Here in New England, we know a little about how to love a team even when they're down - just ask any Red Sox fan! Sox fans will enjoy this great chapter book about a boy nicknamed "Stats" and his idol, a Red Sox pitcher, who come together in a magical way to help end a losing streak and break the Curse of the Bambino.
The Fingertips of Duncan Dorfman
by Meg Wolitzer
Prefer working out your brain rather than your muscles? We've got a book for you, too! Duncan has discovered a new talent: he can feel words and pictures beneath his fingers without looking. Where on earth can you use such a talent to a great adventure? Why, the National Scrabble Championship, of course! Along with friends April and Nate, Duncan heads to the tournament with high hopes and the heart of a champion.
Snowmobile: Bombardier's Dream Machine
by Jules Older
This year it seems as though winter might never end, which is great news if you're a winter sports fan. Joseph-Armand Bombardier certainly was. He was also an inventor who made himself famous in his small town when we made a working cannon - and then set it off! He later put those same inventing skills to work to make a machine that would "float on snow." The snowmobile was invented not just for fun but to assist people in moving around when roads were few and often covered by snow for many months. This skinny chapter book tells the story of Bombardier and his machine from his first idea to the present day.
The Day Roy Riegels Ran the Wrong Way
by Dan Gutman
From everyone's favorite sports author, Dan Gutman, comes the story of Roy Riegels. Roy grabbed the fumble, ran like crazy - and scored for the other team. This fun picture book takes a look at what happened that day and how Roy came to be known as "Wrong Way Riegels." There's also some information in the back about Roy's life after that day - and a great message about putting your mistakes behind you and getting on with life.
When One Book Leads to Another...
Every once in a while, a new book leads to an old book. Or vice versa (which, in this case, means an old book leads to a new one.)
The Children's Room has quite a few new books that have links to others. If any of these are a book you enjoy, why not take a look at the one it inspired, mentioned or was visited by another book's character?
Here are a few examples:
Our new editon of Louisa May Alcott's Little Women has an introduction written by Georgia Nicholson. Georgia is a character from her own set of great books written by Louise Rennison. They include Dancing in my Nuddy-Pants!, Angus, Thongs and Full-frontal Snogging and Stop in the Name of Pants! (You'll find the Georgia Nicholson books upstairs in Young Adult.)
We also have a new book about an old character, Ruby Redfort. Ruby is the spy that Clarice Bean is always reading about in her books. It seems the author, Lauren Child, had so many requests for the stories that Clarice was reading that she had to go ahead and write them down. Now you can ask yourself, "What would Ruby Redfort do?"
A terrific book on the list of nominees for the Massachusetts Children's Book Award is Because of Mr. Terupt by Rob Buyea. The sequel, Mr. Terupt Falls Again, has his now sixth-graders reading lots of classic books including The Westing Game by Ellen Raskin, The Whipping Boy by Sid Fleischman and Wringer by Jerry Spinelli. It's also pretty cool how the students talk about The Westing Game without giving away the mystery!
If you're still reading from the Picture Book and Easy Reader sections, do not despair! There are plenty of authors waiting to help you find old friends in new books.
Mo Wiilems, a Massachusetts native and reader favorite hides characters in his books as well. Look for Knuffle Bunny in the Pigeon books, Pigeon in the Elephant and Piggie books and examine Naked Mole Rat Gets Dressed and Amanda and Her Alligator closely!
Who will YOU find?
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Coloring Pages to Collect in the Children's Room
Make Your Own ABC book in 2013
Join us each week as we go from A to Z and back again through 2013. When April arrives, we'll be up to the letter M and halfway through our alphabet. Who knew the time would pass so quickly? Stop in each week for a new coloring page and to check out our selection of books featuring the "letter of the week!"
Have You Met Saige?
American Girl's Girl of the Year 2013
Even though the holidays are through, we always have something new to look forward to in January - American Girl's Girl of the Year! This year's Girl of the Year is Saige, a southwestern girl who loves horses and the great outdoors. Saige's books are written by author Jessie Haas, who knows a thing or two about horses! She's the author of many horse books for kids including Birthday Pony, Jigsaw Pony and Beware the Mare.Our copies of Saige's two stories: Saige and Saige: Paints the Sky have arrived. You can also learn more about Saige at the American Girl website:
In addition, the Children's Room has copies of the entry from for the Saige Official Sweepstakes. Girls 8 through 13 can color an outline of a hot air balloon with markers or colored pencils and send it in for a chance to win a prize package from American Girl. Entries must be postmarked by April 1.
Reminders for the Winter Season
Now that winter weather is here, programs may be cancelled or rescheduled for everyone's safety. The Children's Room follows these guidelines:
If Grafton Public Schools are CLOSED, then all Children's Room Activities are CANCELLED.
If Grafton Public Scools are DELAYED, then morning activities in the Children's Room are CANCELLED.
As winter is also the season of sniffles and colds, we thank you for keeping sick children at home.
If you are registered for a program and unable to attend due to illness, please give us a call so that someone else may have your place for the day.
Kids
The Children's Room strives to be a fun place for children and families
to learn and read together.
We offer a wide variety of materials for learning and fun.
Our holdings include:
books
magazines
audiobooks on CD and tape
video on DVD, VHS
and a limited selection of Blu-Ray
and reference materials that remain in the library.
Most weeks during the school year, we offer a variety of storytime programs
for ages birth through 5.
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Library Babies, for children who are not yet walking
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Toddler Time for walkers up to age 2
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2s and 3s for children with their caregivers
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Preschool Storytime for ages 3 to 5 years
But the fun doesn't stop when school starts!
We also offer programs and special events for kids
up to and including age 12.
Some of these programs include:
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PAWSing to READ with therapy animals for kids in grades 1, 2, and 3.
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Family Game Night the last Wednesday of each month
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Special events and hosted performers.
Please not that due to our limited space
The Children's Room
will be CLOSED
when programs are taking place.
A parenting section full of helpful information
can be found in the Adult non-fiction stacks.
The Children's Room is now participating with the Campbell's Labels for Education program. If you are currently donating your proofs of purchase to a local area school, we hope you'll keep doing so! If not, please consider bringing them here to us.
For a full list of participating brands, please visit
As always, we thank everyone for their support of our programs and services!