Elementary School Summer Reading Lists

For your convenience we've linked the summer reading lists for you. The elementary grade schools have no specific required titles. Parents and children can make independent choices. The titles on these lists are age appropriate suggestions and recommended goals. If the book you want is out or your child isn't interested in the titles on the list - please stop by the desk for more suggestions from Lorraine or Nicole. The ultimate goal is just to get children reading.

And of course - don't forget to stop by the children's room beginning Monday, June 24 to sign up for our summer reading program.


Winthrop Reading List

Buker Reading List

Cutler Grade 1

Cutler Grade 2

Cutler Grade 3

Cutler Grade 4

Cutler Grade 5

Summer Schedule!

I'm happy to announce that we have published an overview of the summer schedule! 

More information will be coming on some programs, as well as our summer mascot and summer reading store hours, but for now mark your calendars for all these great events. Click the tabs above or the links below for more information and as always if you have any questions, stop by the children's room. 

Summer Weekly Programs

Wow! It's Wednesday!

Super Saturdays!

And don't miss the great programs between now and summer

Art Club

and

Growums 
(registration required)

Lorraine Booktalks the Schools - Favorite Highlights

Lorraine is making her way around the three elementary schools beginning this week to talk about all of our summer programming (schedule to be published later this week) as well booktalk new favorites and highlights from the Massachusetts Children's Book Award. Below are a few of our favorites. The book covers are linked the catalog for easy requesting. This is just the beginning of what she has brought to the schools so if there's something you're child vaguely recalls, stop by the children's desk and we'll help you find it.

The Emerald Atlas - by John Stephens

This was one of this year's MCBA Honor Books. The Emerald Atlas is the story of Kate, Michael and Emma, siblings who have moved from one orphanage to the next until landing in Cambridge Falls. Here in a home with no other orphans, the children discover their life is not as it seems, that magic exists, and the real reason for their parent's disappearance. This book is excellent as an audio narrated by Jim Dale (available in playaway, or book on CD) . Don't miss the sequel The Fire Chronicle!





The One and Only Ivan - by Katherine Applegate

This year's Newbery Award Winner tells the story of a gorilla named Ivan who has lived at the Exit 8 Big Top Mall and Video Arcade for as long as he can remember. When a baby elephant is brought to the mall and tells the story of her capture, she brings change to the Big Top Mall and within Ivan himself.


Liar & Spy - by Rebecca Stead

From the author of When You Reach Me comes a new novel. When Georges and his family have to move from their house to an apartment, he meets Safer a spy. Georges joins him in his quest to watch Mr. X a mysterious neighbor, but how far is too far to go for a friend?

The Lions of Little Rock - by Kristine Levine

In 1958, Little Rock, Arkansas closed it's high schools to avoid integration. Set here, The Lions of Little Rock focuses on Marlee and her family. Marlee has never spoken much and is terrified of started middle school, but the new girl Liz begins to bring her out of her shell. When Liz mysteriously disappears, its rumored she was really only passing for white. Marlee decides she doesn't care what color her friend's skin is, but can they maintain a friendship with so much fear and anger in Little Rock?



Palace of Stone - by Shannon Hale

This sequel to The Princess Academy takes place just before Britta's wedding as all the girls from Mount Eskel's Academy travel to Asland for the wedding. Miri attends school, makes new friends, and is forced to confront political ideals in Shannon Hale's sequel that is just as good as the first.

Read to Tessie the Dog!

Paws to Read!

Tuesday, June 25

4:00 pm

Sign up and read to 

Tessie the dog! 

Tessie is a certified therapy dog, 

through Therapy Dog Inc.

Readers who are in Kindergarten through 3rd 

grade are invited to sign up to meet Tessie and 

read a book to her.

Pre-registration is required. Sign up at the 

children’s desk for more information. 

Art Club Returns!

We are happy to announce that Art Club will be returning for two more weeks before the summer schedule begins. Art Club has changed days and will now meet on Wednesdays at 2:00 pm. Old and new members are welcome - drop in on the fun. 

Art Club

Wednesdays

June 12 & June 19

2:00 pm

Join us for an informal Art Club. 

Designed for children in preschool and up. 

No registration required; 

no experience necessary.

Drop in on the fun to 

create an art project. 

Themes:

June 12: Stained Glass

June 19: Pointillism Painting

Lego Guessing Contest Winners

Congratulations to

Emerson, 4

and

Paul, 11

winners of our

 Lego Guessing Contest!

There were 

157 

Legos in the jar.

Growums - Start your own garden!

Growums

Friday,

June 21, 2013

1:00 pm

 Add a some flavor to your garden!

Come and grow your own Pizza Garden,Taco Garden, or Herb Garden!

All materials provided.

Space is limited and pre-registration is required.

Offered at no charge to the public through the generosity of the Topsfield Fair.

Designed for ages 4 and up.

Must register in person with Children’s Librarian.

Donations Requested - Shoe boxes and baby food jars

The Children's Room needs donations of shoe boxes. 

Any size, with or without covers are welcome.

We are also collecting glass baby food jars with lids. 

Drop any donations you have off at the children's room desk.

Thank you in advance.

Raindrops Contest Winners

Congratulations to

Colby, 5

and

Ryan, 7

Winners of our

Raindrops Guessing

Contest!

There were

152

“Raindrops” in the jar.

April Vacation Highlights!

In honor of April Vacation last week we had three fabulous animal events - here are just a few highlights from the events. Missed out on the fun? Make sure to check in on the blog or follow us on Facebook or Twitter so you don't miss any future events.

Museum of Science presented Reptiles where children learned and met about several animals. On the left is the Giant Adabra Tortoise! 

Farmer Minor and Daisy the Pig presented books about fun on farms and their favorite animals. Here Farmer Minor gives Daisy a treat. 

On Friday, we celebrated a year of reading with Tessie the Therapy Dog and Pat Fleming, her owner. Tessie dressed up as a princess for the occasion. Children had the chance to meet Tessie, make a doggie craft, eat some treats and play a game. 

Children can continue to sign up to read to Tessie - check out her upcoming dates here.

Spring Schedule is Here!

The Spring Schedule for programming is now available. The registration for the Spring Session is Wednesday, April 10. Each program has different registration requirements. Check the schedule closely to see what you need to do to sign up for your child's age group program. 

We also have a number of drop in events happening throughout April.

Click on the title for more information. 

And as always, call or stop by the Children's Room if you have any questions.

Gwendolyn the Pig Author Visit and Performance 

Saturday, April 6, 2:00 pm

All Ages Welcome

Museum of Science Traveling Program: Reptiles

Wednesday, April 17, 3:00 pm

Ages 5 and up

Pig Out On Reading

Thursday, April 18, 11:00 am

All Ages Welcome

Celebrate with Tessie

Friday, April 19, 1:00 pm

All Ages Welcome

Art Club Continues

We are happy to announce that our Art Club on Fridays will be continuing for four more sessions. We will pick up the week after April vacation, the same week our regular story sessions resume as well. No registration is required - just drop in on the fun. This program is designed for children in preschooler or older.

Art Club will continue to meet from 1-2 pm on Fridays. 

Check out the themes below or our informational flyer.

Themes:

April 26th: Beading

May 3rd: Face Painting

May 10th: Masks

May 17th: Straw Painting

Congrats to Guessing Contest Winners!

Congratulations to

Abby, age 2

and 

Riley, age 9

Winners of the Children's Room

2013 Spring Eggs Guessing Contest

There were 357 Eggs!

Stay tuned for our next guessing contest! 

Kindermusik® Demonstration!

Monday, April 1 

10:30 a.m.

Join us at the library as Susan Carter-Krugman presents a 

Kindermusik® Village class.

Designed for children birth-18 months.

Alternate care for siblings is encouraged.

Explore music, movement, singing, and

instruments with your children.

Space is limited and registration is required.

Open to the public and offered at no charge.

Ms. Carter-Krugman has been teaching

Kindermusik® classes since 1998. Questions? 

Please contact Ms. Carter-Krugman at smkrugman@gmail.com

Gwendolyn the Pig Author Visit

Join us for a

 reading & dance performance of

Gwendolyn the Graceful Pig.

Saturday, April 6

2:00 pm

 Gwendolyn longs to dance ballet, 

and Omar wants to join the football team. 

There’s just one problem,

they’re both pigs!

But with a little help, 

they make their dreams come true.

 Read by the author, David Ira Rottenberg,

& performed by ballerinas from the 

Hamilton-Wenham School of Dance.

Children are encouraged to dress up in tutus,

leotards, football jerseys or all three.

All ages welcome, no registration required.

Open to the public at no charge.

    

Stay tuned for information about our April Vacation events!

Paws to Read

Paws to Read!

Tuesday, April 2

4:00 pm 

Sign up and read to Tessie the dog! 
Tessie is a certified therapy dog, through Therapy Dog Inc.
Readers who are in Kindergarten through 3rd grade are invited to sign up to meet Tessie and read a book to her.

Pre-registration is required. Sign up at the 
children’s desk for more information. 

February Vacation Highlights and New Programs in March

This February vacation we had a lot of visitors to the library. Everyone enjoyed stopping by to try out our Folk and Fairytale Scavenger Hunt. Children found twelve characters hidden throughout the room. Once completed they got a bookmark and a chance to win a bigger prize.

William, age 5 is our winner. Congratulations William!



Thursday of February vacation week marked our big event! Brett Outchcunis of Oochworld presented "Positive Spin" where over 100 people learned to put a positive spin on negative events/feelings. He also taught children his catchphrase, "Ooh yeahh" and yo-yo tricks. We hope to have a video up sometime in the future, but in the meantime check out children practicing his catchphrase.


Just because vacation is over, doesn't mean the fun is. We are happy to announce we've added two new programs to March. This first is an Art Club for children in preschool and above on Fridays at 1pm. More information can be found here. No registration is required.

In addition, Chess for Kids is back. This ever popular program is inviting children in grades 1 - 6 to learn the game, improve their skills and practice. Find all the details here. Registration is required so stop by the children's room to sign up.

New Program! Art Club on Fridays at 1:00 pm

When? Fridays: March 8, 22, 29 & April 5

What Time?  1 - 2 pm

Open to?  Preschoolers and up

Where? Children’s Room,

             Hamilton-Wenham Public Library

No registration needed;

no prior experience necessary!

Drop-in for some art fun!

Each week we will explore a new theme:

March 8th: Collage

March 22nd: Face Painting

March 29th: Zentangle drawing

April 5th: Jackson Pollock art

February Vacation: Oochworld Positive Spin

Oochworld presents

Positive Spin

Thursday, February 21

2:00 pm

Positive Spin will leave everyone feeling empowered. Through personal stories and  music, magic, yo-yos and dance, Brett (aka: Ooch) puts a positive spin on the challenges of growing up!

Come as early as 1:30 pm or stay as late as 3:30 pm for a fun yo-yo craft!

Funded by a generous grant from The First Church of Wenham and by the Friends of the Hamilton-Wenham Library.

Recommended for children in kindergarten through eighth grade and their families.

No registration necessary.Open to the public at no charge.

Check out the Overdrive Advantage children's books on bullying also provided by the generous grant from the The First Church of Wenham. 
Children's Ebooks

Children's Downloadable Audiobooks

Congrats to our Snowball Contest Winners!

CONGRATULATIONS TO:

Emma, 11

And

Evan, 4

WINNERS OF

 THE HAMILTON-WENHAM LIBRARY’S

2013 SNOWBALL GUESSING CONTEST

THERE WERE 

618

 “SNOWBALLS”!!