Legos, Legos, Everywhere

Our Lego Club kids are so creative! We are having so much fun digging through our giant buckets of Legos and making our ideas a reality. This is a drop-in program, so the more the merrier. Check out our Lego Club schedule, and join in the fun.

Winter Fun

Thank you to everyone who joined us for Take Your Child to the Library Day on February 1^st! Willow the wallaby stopped by with author Sheila Cunningham, and shared the incredible story of Willow’s escape from the Stone Zoo. We had a wonderful time together!

Are you watching the 2014 Winter Olympics? We are hosting our own version of the Olympics in the Children's Room. Grab a scavenger hunt sheet over at our Winter Olympics display, and test your skills. When you finish, stop by the desk to pick out a prize, and make a personalized medal to take home. We already have several gold medalists. Great job!

Congratulations Snowball Guessing Winners!

CONGRATULATIONS TO:

Stella & Paloma

Winners of the Hamilton-Wenham Children's Room 2014 Snowball Guessing contest!

There were 596 snowballs.

Time to Register for Winter 2014 Programs!

Winter registration is open! We've brought back the ever popular Baby Bookworms, Music & Movement, and Rhythm & Rhyme.  In addition, Lisa Cheney of Hamilton-Wenham Early Childhood Partners/CFCE  presents a Musical Story Time Jam every Monday at 10:15 am and 11:15 a.m designed for children 0- 5 years. Pre-registration for these programs is required; please contact the Children's Room for more information. 

Drop-in dates for Lego-mania and Art Club are now available. Also, make sure you join us on select Saturdays for Dads & Donuts and Seasonal Stories & Crafts. To view the dates for our Super Saturdays click here.

On February 1st at 11:00 a.m., visit the library to hear the incredible story of Willow the wallaby who escaped the Stone Zoo in 1990. Meet author Shelia Cunningham and a life-sized Willow! (No live wallaby will be present.)

Celebrate National Children's Dental Health month on February 15th at 10:30 a.m. with local dentist Dr. Priscilla Magnuson. Enjoy stories and songs about teeth and dentists. Children will each have a chance to practice brushing on Skyler the horse. For more information click here. No registration is required.

Next, on February 20th at 3:00 p.m., explore the inside of a 43-foot inflatable humpback whale! Children K-6th grade are invited to listen to a 25 minute presentation, then tour the inside of a whale's belly. Explore the vertebrae, heart, lungs, stomach, esophagus, and ribs from the inside, and have an opportunity for hands-on examination of bones, baleen and other artifacts. Space is limited, and pre-registration is required. For more information click here.

For more information about all of our winter programs, or to view the schedule, click here.

We are pleased to welcome Katie Arey and Abigail Walzer, our new Children's Room Assistants. Many of you will recognize Katie, as she has been a substitute here in the room on some Saturdays.  Abigail joined us yesterday, and she is currently attending Simmons Graduate School of Library and Information Science and is excited to be part of our team. Please feel free to stop by and say hello!

Toto the Tornado Kitten!

Over 40 kids and their families enjoyed meeting Toto the tornado kitten and owner Jonathan. Jonathan shared Toto's amazing story of survival after a tornado swept through western Massachusetts in 2011.

Toto visits the Hamilton-Wenham library!

Toto and the kids listen to a story.

Toto gets lots of love.

To check out more photos from this fun event visit the Wicked Local Hamilton site.

Congratulations, Nicole!

Congratulations, Nicole on becoming Whitman Public Library's new Children's Librarian! Thank you for all that you did for us here! We will all miss you. Be sure to stop by this week (Wednesday afternoon through Friday) to wish Nicole all the best as she begins this new adventure!

Congrats to our Food Guessing Contest Winners!

Congratulations to

Caroline, 5

Lila, 4

Carter, 6

and

Sophia, 9

Winners of our food guessing contest!

There were

99

food items in our grocery cart!

Congrats to our Story Writing Contest Winners!

Congratulations to our Story Writing Contest Winners! 

1^st – 3^rd Grade

1^st Place: Fuzzy Fox Goes to Bed by Gabriella

2^nd Place: Artic Kingdom by Maya

3^rd Place: Life Forms Discovered on a Planet in Alpha Centuri by Jack

Honorable Mentions (in no particular order)

Gavin and the Big Catch by Gavin

Ava’s Dreams Come True by Elizabeth

Wars in Space by David

The Sinking Ship by Rebecca

The Letters Take a Trip by Julia

Fudgy Wudgy Had a Cludgy by Nate

Juice Cubes Everywhere by Elsa

4^th – 6^th Grade

1^st Place: A Cat Connection by Rosie

2^nd Place: Rainforest Rescue by Michael

3^rd Place: Drum Recital by Owen

Honorable Mentions (in no particular order)

Liam’s Pumpkin Pie by Lily

The Legend of Allo Hesha’s Kingdom by Oliver

The Perfect Christmas Tree by Sophie

Opposite May by Sadie

Beatrice and Olive and the Surprisingly Good Cookies by Annabelle

Adventure by Libby

The Day at the Beach by Lucy

Read all the great stories here.

December Magazine Highlight: Ranger Rick and Babybug

Each month we are highlighting two magazines we subscribe to in the Children's Room. (For previous posts click here.) This month, we'll be looking at Ranger Rick and Babybug. All children's magazines can be checked out for one week, with one renewal. For a full list of our children's magazines subscriptions, click here.

December Magazines:

Ranger Rick: Suggested for ages 9 -12. 

This advertisement-free magazine is full of stunning photography, exciting animal adventures and articles as well as fun activities.

December/January Issue Highlights:

-Attack of the Meat-Eating Plants

    Fabulous pictures grab the readers attentions while the text educates children about carnivorous plants.

-Ends of the Earth

     Pictures and facts explore the similarities and differences of the land and animals on each end of the earth.

- A Tall Tale

     Learn about the tallest land animal on earth - the giraffe! 

Babybug: 

Sturdier than other magazines, this is full of stories and poems to share with your littlest ones.

November/December Issue Highlights: 

Enjoy stories, rhymes and songs to go with the season, from giving thanks to baking gingerbread cookies.

Stop by to check them out today! 

December Programs: Storytimes, Legos, Art Club, Toto the Tornado Kitten and more!

We've brought back the ever popular December drop-ins with Baby Bookworms, Music & Movement, Terrific Twos & Threes, Lego-mania and Art Club.

In addition, there is a new story program presented by Lisa Cheney of Hamilton-Wenham Early Childhood Partners and CFCE. Designed for children 0- 5 years, Lisa presents a Musical Storytime Jam every Monday at 10:30 am. More information can be found here.

Join us on Saturdays for Dads & Donuts and Holiday Storytimes and Crafts.

Don't miss our special program with live cat, Toto the Tornado Kitten! All the details are here.

To view our entire December schedule, click here.

Monday's Kindermusik Demonstration cancelled

The Kindermusik demonstration scheduled for Monday, November 18 at 12:30 and 1:00 pm has been cancelled due to illness.  We apologize for any inconvenience.

November Magazine Highlights: Click and National Geographic Kids

Each month we are highlighting two magazines we subscribe to in the Children's Room. (For September's post, click here. October's Post is here.) This month, we'll be looking at Click and and National Geographic Kids. All children's magazines can be checked out for one week, with one renewal. For a full list of our children's magazines subscriptions, click here.

Click: Suggested for ages 3 - 6 

Answer all those why's and what's your children are asking with this magazine. Each issue explores a different topic in nature, science or the arts.

November Highlights: 

-Numbers Count: A cute illustrated story about roman numerals and how our number system began. 

-For Good Measure: Illustrations demonstrate the different ways to measure and discusses when to use what measuring system. 

-Stories, look and find pages, and more! 

National Geographic Kids: Suggested for ages 6 - 14.

A fan-favorite magazine with games, weird facts, fun quizzes, and awesome articles. 

November Highlights:

-Foxes on Ice: Learn how arctic foxes survive through the snow, ice and freezing temperatures.

-The Truth Behind Your Favorite Stars: Learn the true facts about the animals those famous characters are based on (such as Spider-Man and Perry the Platypus).

-Games, weird but true facts, and more! 

Stop by to check these out today! 

October Contest Winners

CONGRATULATIONS TO

Liza, age 8

Chloe, age 7

Brayden, age 6

Caden, age 5

& Lila, age 4

WINNERS OF THE “EYEBALL” GUESSING CONTEST

THERE WERE

95

“EYEBALLS”

Also be sure to check out the winners of our Pumpkin Decorating Contest!

Here's a picture of the pumpkins entered into the contest!

Kindermusik® Demonstration

Kindermusik® Demonstration

Monday, November 18 

12:30 pm & 1:00 pm

Join us at the library with Susan Carter-Krugman for a Kindermusik demonstration. 

Imagine That! 

12:30 pm for 

3-5 year olds 

Kindermusik Village 

1:00 pm for 

0-18 months 

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 

Read to a Dog!

There is still room to sign up to read to Tessie the dog on Friday afternoon. Tessie has been visiting the children's room for a year and a half and loves being read to by children in Kindergarten through third grade. For all the details click here.

Stop by the Children's Room to sign up.

October Magazine Highlight: Discovery Girls and Odyssey: Adventures in Science

Each month we are highlighting two magazines we subscribe to in the Children's Room. (For September's post, click here.) This month, we'll be looking at Discovery Girls and Odyssey. All children's magazines can be checked out for one week, with one renewal. For a full list of our children's magazines subscriptions, click here.

October Magazines:

Discovery Girls: Suggested for ages 8 -12 

Designed for girls entering middle school each issue is filled with articles, advice, quizzes, embarrassing moments and fashion.

October/November Issue Highlights:

-Discovery Girls of British Columbia

       Learn about girls from another country; what they like to do, eat and wear 

       as well as what they hope to do when they grow up.

-Solve Your Friendship Problems: Talk it Out!

       This article highlights common friendship issues including competition, 

       being a shadow, rejection and being teased. Each one is followed by 

       a solution and how discussion can help solve these problems.

-Stop Comparing Yourself

       An article on self-esteem designed to help girls stop comparing 

       themselves to friends, classmates and the media. 

Odyssey: Adventures in Science: Suggested for 9-14

Each issue tackles the hottest topics in physics, biology, and environmental science, introduces new and emerging technologies, and highlights top science careers. 

October Issue Highlights: 

- Meow! Woof! 

        Explores the idea and facts about the relationship between cats and dogs? 

        Are they truly natural enemies and why? 

- Your Dog = Your BFF

       Discusses the benefits of owning a dog

- Good Vibrations

       Discusses how owning a cat, and a cat's purring can effect us.

Stop by to check these out today! 

Butterfly Contest Winners

Congratulations to the winners of our Butterfly Guessing Contest!

Marianna, 8

Ava, 8

Ryanne, 11

Trenton, 8

Trevor, 11

Una, 7

Noah, 3

Isabelle, 5

We raised and released 17 butterflies this year!

New Advantage Ebooks and Audiobooks

We're happy to announce that we have purchased some new ebooks and downloadable audiobooks, exclusively for Hamilton-Wenham patrons. Click on the book cover to be linked to the book on Overdrive. Click the tabs above to the see all of the exclusive children's titles we own. 

New ebook:

2013 Newbery Winner! Ivan is an easygoing gorilla. Living at the Exit 8 Big Top Mall and Video Arcade, he has grown accustomed to humans watching him through the glass walls of his domain. He rarely misses his life in the jungle. In fact, he hardly ever thinks about it at all. Instead, Ivan thinks about TV, friends Stella, an elderly elephant, and Bob, a stray dog. But mostly Ivan thinks about art. Then he meets Ruby, a baby elephant taken from her family, and she makes Ivan see their home—and his own art—through new eyes. When Ruby arrives, change comes with her, and it's up to Ivan to make it a change for the better.

New ebook and downloadable audiobook:

Holy unanticipated occurrences! A cynic meets an unlikely superhero in a genre-breaking new novel by master storyteller Kate DiCamillo. It begins, as the best superhero stories do, with a tragic accident that has unexpected consequences. The squirrel never saw the vacuum cleaner coming, but self-described cynic Flora Belle Buckman, who has read every issue of the comic book Terrible Things Can Happen to You!, is the just the right person to step in and save him. What neither can predict is that Ulysses (the squirrel) has been born anew, with powers of strength, flight, and misspelled poetry—and that Flora will be changed too, as she discovers the possibility of hope and the promise of a capacious heart. Also check this one out as an audiobook.

New downloadable audiobook (available October 8): 

At the conclusion of The Mark of Athena, Annabeth and Percy tumble into a pit leading straight to the Underworld. The other five demigods have to put aside their grief and follow Percy's instructions to find the mortal side of the Doors of Death. If they can fight their way through the Gaea's forces, and Percy and Annabeth can survive the House of Hades, then the Seven will be able to seal the Doors both sides and prevent the giants from raising Gaea. But, Leo wonders, if the Doors are sealed, how will Percy and Annabeth be able to escape?

Meet Goats, Sweetie and Darling, at Storytime

Giddy Goats Storytime

Monday, October 7

10:30 am

Join us for goat filled stories and songs! 

Then you’ll get to meet two goats - Sweetie and Darling, 

with owner Jeremy.

There will be plenty of time for pictures and petting. 

All ages welcome. 

Caregivers must accompany their children at all times.

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