This week at the library: | | Lana Ferguson Literary Festival | | |
The Lana Ferguson Literary Festival (LFLF) endowment was donated to the library in 2015 to honor the memory of a treasured former children’s librarian, Lana Ferguson, by her family. Their wish for this endowment was to create memorable programming that enriched the lives of children and families. We have hosted several best-selling children’s authors as well as a host of other literacy-promoting programming since the creation of the LFLF. Check out these upcoming LFLF author events that you won't want to miss!
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Jasmine Warga -- Thursday, May 29th
Jasmine Warga is the #1 New York Times-bestselling author of middle grade novels Other Words For Home, The Shape of Thunder, A Rover’s Story, and A Strange Thing Happened in Cherry Hall. Her books have won numerous awards, including a Newbery Honor, been named to many state award reading lists, and listed as best books of the year by publications such as NPR, The Washington Post, Publishers Weekly and others. Originally from Cincinnati, she now lives in the Chicago-area with her family in a house filled with books.
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4:15-4:45pm
All ages
Drop-in
Meet award-winning author Jasmine Warga and have the chance to ask her questions about her life and works. Jasmine’s most recent book, “A Strange Thing Happened in Cherry Hall” will be available to purchase at the special discounted rate of $10 ($19.99 retail price for brand-new hardcover) at this event only.
When Rami sees a floating girl in the museum, he knows he has seen her somewhere before. Then he realizes, she looks just like the girl in the painting that has gone missing. But how does her appearance connect to the theft?
Purchased books and books brought from home may be autographed at no charge. Thursday, May 29th from 4:15-4:45pm. No registration necessary for this event. All ages welcome, though most suited for children ages 9 & up.
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4:45-5:45pm
Grades 3 & up
Registration required
| Award-winning middle-grade author Jasmine Warga will lead a workshop for aspiring young writers to hone their talent and creativity in the art of telling stories. This program will take place on Thursday, May 29th from 4:45pm-5:45pm, immediately following the Q&A session with the author which begins at 4:15pm. Space is limited and registration is required. For students in 3rd grade and up. Any materials required for this program will be provided. | | | |
One Saturday each month, come to the library to learn about local & global animals & plants and meet wildlife. Our Weekend Wildlife series aims to broaden understanding of and compassion for the environment, wildlife, and domestic animals through informative and interactive presentations.
Open to ages 4 & up. Registration is required for each individual event. 11:00am-12:00pm on May 31st.
For the safety of both the animals and the people, we will be limiting number of signups and checking registration at the door. If you come late or do not register, there may not be space for you in the program. We appreciate your understanding and cooperation in keeping everybody safe so we can continue to host these popular educational programs.
| May 31 - Secret Lives of Owls | |
This month we will be learning about all different owls found in Connecticut. Meet three different owls and a hawk, comparing their nocturnal and diurnal lifestyles and adaptations.
Presenter: Blue Moon Raptors.
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Time for Twos
Tuesdays, April 1st-June 3rd
10:00-10:45am
Ages 24-36 months
Registration required ~ Class size limited
A parent-child introduction to a traditional story time with books, songs, marching, and more, led by library staff for two-year-olds & parents/caregivers.
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Sunshine Storytime
Wednesdays
10:00-10:45am
All ages
Drop-in
Listen to stories and dance to songs, led by children’s library staff. Geared towards ages 3 & up, but all children who can safely and actively participate are welcome. No need to register. Outside on the front lawn/patio if weather permits. Feel free to bring your own blanket/chair/etc.
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Storytime with Mimi
Thursday, May 29th
11:00-11:30am
All ages
Drop-in
Songs, stories, felt boards, and fun with volunteer storytime reader Mimi! You’ll love her songs on flute and guitar, her hand-embroidered felt board stories, and her energetic picture book readings. Open to all ages. No need to register.
Future dates: 6/5, & 8/7
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Storytime with Aaron
Friday, May 30th
10:30-11:00am
All ages
Drop-in
A casual, simple storytime featuring new and classic stories read by volunteer Aaron Tessler with great character voices in a quiet corner of the children's room. No need to register.
Future dates: 6/27, 7/25, & 8/29
| | | | You can read to a therapy dog from the library’s Paws & Read program. Children aged 5 & up who are reading independently can sign up for a 15-minute reading slot by calling the library at (203) 453-8282 or stopping by the children’s department. | |
Paws & Read with Theo
Mondays & Wednesdays
4:00-5:00pm
Ages 5 & up
Registration required
Be a super reader with Theo! Theo is a 7-year-old Australian Labradoodle (also called a Cobberdog). He visited the library when he was a puppy but was too little to join the Paws and Read program. He has been waiting and waiting and now he is finally a certified therapy dog and is ready to listen to kids learning to read. He knows that when you keep trying to do something (like reading or becoming a therapy dog), you will get better and better. He is very excited to hear great stories from children. Theo’s human is Marie Robert, a retired pediatrician, who makes sure that she and Theo keep learning and playing.
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Paws & Read with Oliver
Tuesdays
4:00-5:00pm
Ages 5 & up
Registration required
Oliver is a 7-year-old Brittany with a happy, gentle presence perfectly suited to being a therapy dog. He loves learning new things and is a great listener. Oliver can’t wait to hear all the stories the children will read to him and help kids learn to love reading. Oliver’s human mom is Care Goodstal-Spinks, who loves her fur-child dearly.
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Paws & Read with Lilly
First Saturday of the month
10:00-11:00am
Ages 5 & up
Registration required
Lilly is a 6-year-old beagle and chihuahua mix from Tennessee. In 2020, she was rescued with her puppies and her sisters, Petunia and Pansy. Lilly was lovingly adopted by the Dell family of Guilford that same year, and she is now a certified therapy dog. Lilly brings much happiness to her family and the children she works with.
Much of Lilly’s therapy work is with her mom Laura’s 5th and 6th grade students in Branford, but she also visits high schools and colleges, especially during exam time.
Lilly loves all people, but she is especially fond of children. She enjoys being read to, and Lilly’s favorite book is “Harry, The Dirty Dog,” which her human sister reads to her each time she gets a bath.
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Homeschool lesson plans for all subjects,
Grades Pre-K through Fifth!
The Guilford Free Library has full curriculum weekly and monthly lesson plans and worksheets available for homeschooling families!
Learn English Language Arts (ELA), Math, Science, Social Studies, and Social & Emotional Learning (SEL) with the Educate Station Resource. Click on the link below to get started.
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One on Ones
Mondays April 7th-June 2nd (skip 5/26)
9:30-10:30am
12-23 months
This class is full. Call the children's department to be put on the wait list.
A playful time with songs and stories led by library staff for one-year-old toddlers & parents/ caregivers followed by play time.
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Storytime with Hesch
Monday, June 9th
10:30-11:00am
All ages
Drop-in
A casual, simple storytime featuring new and classic stories read by volunteer Hesch Sommer with friendly, soothing voices in a quiet corner of the children's room. No need to register.
Future dates: 7/7, & 8/4
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Lego Club
Tuesday, June 10th
4:00-5:00pm
Ages 5 & up
Drop-in
Once a month, kids ages 5 & up are invited to join us in the library meeting room to build with the library’s legos. Kids can work alone or in groups, and build the theme of the month or their own design. Lego creations will be displayed in the children’s room for a time before being disassembled for use at the next Lego Club meeting. Drop-ins welcome. Not appropriate for children younger than 5 years due to small pieces posing a choking hazard.
Future dates: 7/8 (3:00-4:00), 8/12 (3:00-4:00), 9/9, & 10/14
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One Saturday each month, come to the library to learn about local & global animals & plants and meet wildlife. Our Weekend Wildlife series aims to broaden understanding of and compassion for the environment, wildlife, and domestic animals through informative and interactive presentations.
Open to ages 4 & up. Registration is required for each individual event. 11:00am-12:00pm on June 14th.
For the safety of both the animals and the people, we will be limiting number of signups and checking registration at the door. If you come late or do not register, there may not be space for you in the program. We appreciate your understanding and cooperation in keeping everybody safe so we can continue to host these popular educational programs.
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Un-Bee-Lievable!
June 14th, 11:00am-12:00pm.
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Learn about the life cycle of honeybees, try on beekeeper gear, and learn how beekeepers harvest honey from this unconventional farm animal, the honeybee! Lots of fun give-aways in this interactive presentation.
Presenter: Humble Bee Honey Co.
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Less-Loved Raptors
July 19th from 11:00am-12:00pm.
Meet nature’s clean-up crew and learn about all the essential services some of our less-fancy native birds provide. Loveable once you get to know them, you can meet a crow, raven, vulture, and other birds once deemed, “pests” by humans.
Presenter: Horizon Wings Raptor Rehabilitation.
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Backyard Buddies
August 23rd from 11:00am-12:00pm.
Meet some of the local animals that live where you do and learn how each of them survives in the wild. Featuring: a turtle, a frog, owls, a vulture, and a millipede.
Presenter: Earthplace.
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Butterfly Gardening Club ~ Planting Days
Plant and care for the library’s native plant butterfly and pollinator garden! Learn about the importance of native plants and how you can help. Do crafts and participate in citizen science/community science activities, where ordinary citizens/community members help scientists by gathering local data. Help the library raise monarch caterpillars to be released as butterflies at the end of the summer. Adults, teens, and children are welcome, but children aged 8 and younger must be accompanied by a responsible adult at all times. Please register.
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Saturday, June 21st, from 10:00am-12:00pm
Help us plant some seedlings in our native plant butterfly garden! These plants will grow and bloom through the seasons so they can provide important food for butterflies, bees, and other pollinators. We’ll also be searching for monarch caterpillars to raise inside the library for tagging and release, and conducting pollinator counts to help scientists. Afterwards, we’ll come inside to make a clothespin butterfly craft for kids to take home and play with. Registration appreciated, but drop-ins still welcome.
This program will take place in the gardens outside the library in the back. The date/time is tentative and may change due to weather or other factors. Please dress appropriately for outdoor work and weather.
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Join us this summer for Nutmeg Book Club! Each Wednesday from June 25th to August 27th we’re going to be discussing one of the 2026 Intermediate Nutmeg Book Award nominees, having snacks, and doing some fun activities. To get the full book club experience, it’s strongly recommended that you finish the book before coming to book club. This club meets on Wednesdays from 2:00pm-3:30pm over the summer. Registration is required and is open to kids in grades 4-6. When registering, please put the grade the child will be attending in the fall.
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Big Hearts Book Club
A social-emotional storytime
Thursday, June 26th from 12:15-1:15pm
Ages 5-8 with an adult
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Big Hearts Book Club is a storytime for children ages 5 to 8 with accompanying adult. Are you trying to raise caring, empathetic kids but think you could use some reinforcement? Are you afraid of “teachable moments” happening with your family because you aren’t sure what to say? Do you want to have “big ideas” conversations with your little humans but aren’t sure where to start? Each month we explore a different social-emotional topic or life milestone through picture books, discussion, and activities which are appropriate and accessible to young children. Caregivers go home with a list of further resources and the confidence to continue teaching empathy. Led by children’s librarians and occasionally guest speakers. To keep discussion focused and comfortable, class size will be limited and registration will be required for each individual meeting. A free book for each participant will be given away at the meetings.
In June, we will be discussing refugees, as June is Refugee Awareness Month. We will read picture books about who and what refugees are, what challenges they face, and how to support them. All registered participants who attend will receive a free children’s book on refugees.
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Future Dates & Themes *Note time change for summer*:
June 26th ~ Refugees ~ 12:15-1:15pm
July 17th ~ Making Friends ~ 12:15-1:15pm
August 14th ~ Divorce/Having Two Homes ~ 12:15-1:15pm
| | | | | | Stay tuned for more announcements of future programs. | | |
Guilford Free Library | 67 Park St., Guilford, CT 06437 | (203) 453-8282 | www.guilfordfreelibrary.org |
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