Children’s Book Week is not only a celebration of books, but of connection. It’s a great way to unite kids and adults with books, authors, and illustrators in order to foster a love of reading.

This week HPL’s children’s librarians share some of their favorite books, all available on our website!

The Nutmeg Book Award nominees were announced this past week, offering a list of the best fiction and non-fiction books for grade levels kindergarten through high school picked by a panel of students, public librarians, and school librarians. The winners will be picked by Connecticut students!
Elementary
Intermediate
Middle School
High School
You can check out our virtual programming every day on our Facebook page, YouTube channel, and on our Instagram account!
On Mondays and Thursdays, we'll have story time. On Wednesdays, we'll have a story in Spanish. Tuesdays and Fridays we'll have crafts and other educational activities.
Bash the Trash 
Amanda Roy will present two instrument making tutorials that are a part of the Greater Hartford Arts Council’s Make Music Hartford event.
Journey in My Journal: Break Limiting Beliefs 
Haben Abraham will guide you through a journaling activity in which you can use pen/paper and any arts and crafts materials to identify and break down our negative beliefs that may be showing up in this pandemic. 


Rhythms In Color
Savana Jones will present beginner exercises to introduce you to contemporary, modern and jazz movement. Creating shapes and making sense to achieve a smooth flow.
Urban Maple Syrup: Meet the Trees
Collin McMullin will show how to identify maple trees in your neighborhood, how to tap a maple tree, and how to make maple syrup.
Friday Jams
Finish your week with the best music Hartford has to offer!
Each week we'll try to bring you a profile of one of our amazing local online presenters.

When Fay Taylor started keeping a journal to pass the time during her recovery from a grievous back injury, she didn't realize it would help lead her to recovery. Taylor recently spoke about her memoir "Steel," her story of triumph over adversity and a testament to the power of family and unconditional love, this past week on Facebook , YouTube , and Instagram . 

Our own Julie Styles, manager of public services at the Downtown Library, has been delving into HPL's cookbook collection. This week she makes Buttermilk Fried Chicken from Thomas Keller's "Ad Hoc at Home" cookbook.


We found a cool new resource we are excited to share! The Smithsonian Learning Lab puts the treasures of the world's largest museum, education, and research complex within reach. The Lab is a free, interactive platform for  discovering  millions of authentic digital resources,  creating  content with online tools, and  sharing  in the Smithsonian's expansive community of knowledge and learning.
Big news from the world of Harry Potter!

Daniel Radcliffe, the star of the Harry Potter films, will read the first chapter of Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone/Sorcerer’s Stone, as part of Harry Potter At Home. Look forward to more special video readings in the upcoming weeks.

"At the dawn of the 21st century, where knowledge is literally power, where it unlocks the gates of opportunity and success, we all have responsibilities as parents, as librarians, as educators, as politicians, and as citizens to instill in our children a love of reading so that we can give them a chance to fulfill their dreams."   — President Barack Obama