September 2025
September marks the start of the back-to-school season! We invite you to visit us and take advantage of the programs, spaces, and supplies available to ensure a successful academic year. Our teen area features comfortable chairs, a sofa, computers, and a cart full of supplies. We also provide computers, printers, AWE stations, and quiet homework areas for students of all ages.
Drop-in storytimes will begin on Monday, September 29, at 10:30 AM. Children of all ages are welcome to join us in the Children’s Room for stories, songs, crafts, and friendship! Additionally, Grab & Go bags will be available starting Monday, September 8. This month, the bags will include a Back-to-School Bingo game.
We will be hosting two monthly chess clubs throughout the fall. The first, the Checkmate Society, is for children entering 6th grade and older. This club will meet on September 23, October 21, November 18, and December 16, from 5:30 to 6:30 PM. Registration is required.
The second club, Knights of the Chess Table, is for children in grades 3-5. They will meet on September 30, October 28, and November 25, also from 5:30 to 6:30 PM. Registration is required.
August 2025
The Summer Reading Program ends on Friday, August 1. All logging must be completed by the end of that day. Please ensure that you enter all of your basket raffle tickets into the baskets of your choice by August 1. The store will close at 4:45 PM on that day; if you have any Level-Up-Bucks remaining to spend, please do so before closing. Winners of the basket raffle will be notified by phone starting Monday, August 4. We encourage you to come in and claim your prize as soon as possible.
Our Level-Up Gaming program has been rescheduled for Monday, August 4th, from 4-6 pm. Join us for an epic afternoon of multiplayer gaming fun featuring Nintendo, Xbox, and Meta Quest VR! Registration is required. This program is for children ages 7 and older.
I would like to express my gratitude to everyone who contributed to the success of this program. A special thank you goes to the local businesses that generously donated many of the gift cards included in our “Mystery Bags.” Without your continued support, this program would not be possible!
We have a Grab & Go activity available on August 4. It is a bug scavenger hunt for children ages
Stay tuned for upcoming fall programs, including Drop-in Storytime and monthly Grab & Go bags.
Keep reading and see you at the library!
July 2025
The theme for this year’s Summer Reading Program is “Level-Up At Your Library.” Join us for a month filled with reading and exciting activities! Please remember that the store closes 30 minutes before the library each day, so plan your visit accordingly.
Storytime takes place on Monday mornings at 10:30 AM, outdoors (weather permitting). This is a drop-in program for all ages. We also offer Grab-and-Go activities every Tuesday; please check our youth calendar for specific details regarding these activities.
We are excited to introduce two new programs this summer: a chess program for children entering 6th grade and older, and a coding program for ages 11 and up. Registration is required for both of these programs.
This month, we have a number of performers scheduled! Some of the highlights include Sportstacking, a Pirate Adventure, and The Poop Museum Part 2. These programs also require registration and tend to fill up quickly. Please refer to the attached flyers for more information.
Come in and beat the summer heat—we have something for everyone!
June 2025
Summer is just around the corner, and it’s time for our highly anticipated Summer Reading Program! This year’s theme is “Level Up at Your Library!” We have two programs available:
1. Littles for ages 0-4
2. Middles/Bigs for children entering Kindergarten through 10th grade
The Littles program will track the number of books read, while the Middles and Bigs will log reading minutes. As in previous years, all logging will be done through Beanstack. Registration begins on Monday, June 16, 2025, and participants can start logging their reading as soon as they are registered. The store will open for the Middles and Bigs on Monday, June 23.
Many summer programs are available for all ages, so please check our event calendar on the SFL website. We will kick off the month with a “Make Your Own Bird Feeder” Grab & Go on June 2, open to all ages. Summer Grab & Go kits will be available every Tuesday starting June 24. Many programs require registration, so ensure your child meets the age requirements for each program and scan the QR code to register. Registration for all programs will begin on June 16.
Drop-in storytime will start on Monday, June 23, and will be held outdoors, weather permitting. We will also host a “Make-A-Plate” week from June 23 to June 29. Have your child draw a design on paper, and we will send it out to be made into a plate. The cost is $9.00, payable by check or cash.
Our first program is a Level Up Gaming event on Wednesday, June 25, from 4:00 to 6:00 p.m. Join us for an exciting afternoon of multiplayer gaming featuring Nintendo, Xbox, and Meta Quest VR! This program requires registration and is for children ages 9 and older.
Sign up for a 15-minute time slot to read to service dog Rudy on Fridays from 2:00 to 3:00 p.m. This opportunity is for children ages 4-10. Also, don’t miss our creative writing program for ages 8 – 12 and a coding class for children ages 11 and older. Classes begin the week of June 23, and registration is required.
We are excited to see everyone this summer!
May 2025
Spring has finally arrived, as seen by the blooming tulips around our library grounds! To celebrate the upcoming growing season, we are offering Grab & Go bags featuring a Make Your Own Seed Balls kit. Each bag contains everything you need to create lovely, easy-to-plant flower seed balls that are environmentally friendly. Our Seed Library makes this program possible and connects nicely with our Pollinators Kit, which you can check out. Grab & Go bags will be available on Monday, May 5, while supplies last.
Additionally, our Spring drop-in Storytimes will continue at 10:30 AM on Monday mornings until May 19. We invite you to join us for stories, songs, and crafts! Please note there is no storytime on Monday, April 28 due to staff development.
The new Nutmeg titles for 2026 will be available on May 1. On May 15, we will announce the winners of the 2025 Nutmeg award.
Summer reading is just around the corner, so be on the lookout for more information about our popular reading program. Throughout the summer, we will have numerous activities available for all age groups. Registration begins on Monday, June 16, using Beanstack.
April 2025
Spring is here! We hope the longer, warmer, and sunnier days will encourage you to visit the Children’s Room and participate in our many activities this month!
Voting for your favorite 2025 Nutmeg Books begins on April 1 and runs through April 30. You may vote for one book in each category. Winners will be announced on May 15, 2025.
Our Grab and Go on April 7 will coincide with National Library Week. This month, we have a “Books & Cookies” theme. Children of all ages can come in, choose a book to keep, and receive a package of cookies to enjoy while reading! We will also host a special drop-in storytime on Monday, April 7, at 10:30 AM, featuring therapy dog Olive.
We have a drop-in activity each weekday during vacation week, from April 14 to 18:
– Monday, April 14: Sticker Day
– Tuesday, April 15: Legos
– Wednesday, April 16: Perler Bead Day (Ages 8 and older)
– Thursday, April 17: Game Day (Play one of our board games with your friends)
– Friday, April 18: Play Dough
Drop-in spring storytime begins on Monday, April 21, at 10:30 AM and runs through Monday, May 19. Please note that storytime will not be held on April 28.
We invite you to join us on Tuesday, April 22, at 10:30 AM when the Eastern Connecticut Ballet comes to SFL for a creative movement class. This program is for children ages 3-6,and registration is required. .
We look forward to seeing you this month!
March 2025
March winds are blowing in many fun activities at the Stonington Free Library. You have until March 30th to complete our 50 To Grow On and Family Reading challenges. The 50 To Grow On challenge participants must pick up their completion prizes by April 4. Winners of the raffles will be notified by phone on March 31.
We are offering a chess class called The Checkmate Society for children ages 11 and older. The program runs from Tuesday, March 4th, through Tuesday, April 8th, from 5:30-6:30. Parents must remain in the building during this time. Registration is required.
On March 3rd, our monthly Grab & Go activity features a leprechaun game for children ages 5 and older, available while supplies last. Please note that Monday, March 31st, will be the last storytime for our winter session.
March is a time to celebrate Women’s History Month and St. Patrick’s Day! We invite you to stop by and explore our display of books honoring these important events.
Keep reading!
February 2025
Winter is a wonderful time to visit the Children’s Room and discover everything we have to offer! We provide more than just books to help alleviate the cold weather blues. Enjoy our selection of board games for all ages, coloring activities, toys, weekly storytime sessions, and monthly Grab and Go crafts. Additionally, Nintendo Switch games and consoles are available for checkout with an adult library card, and you can also use a Nintendo Switch console through our “Stay and Play” program. Come by, warm up, and have some fun!
From January 1, 2025, to March 30, 2025, we have two reading challenges for children of all ages. Registration and logging are done through BEANSTACK. The first challenge is the “50 To Grow On” for children ages 0-7. We have a curated list of 40 books, and you can select ten of your favorites. Once you have completed this challenge, visit the library to collect a completion prize. Finishers will also earn a raffle ticket for a book and a matching stuffed character.
The Family Reading Challenge is designed for children in 1st through 8th grade. We offer a list of 18 books that include various reading levels and genres. Read the books that interest you and your family. You will earn a raffle ticket for a Kid’s Kindle for each book read.
Get ready for Valentine’s Day with our February Grab and Go bags! On February 3rd, we will feature kits to make a Valentine’s Day necklace. This activity is for children ages 4 and older while supplies last.
Keep Reading!
January 2025
Remember, the time of year
when the future appears
like a blank sheet of paper
a clean calendar, a new chance. – Jackie Kay
The new year offers the opportunity to try a new activity, read a different genre, and make new friends. Please take advantage of all the library offers and make this year the best!
We are offering two reading challenges this winter. They run from January 1-March 30. 50 To Grow On is a read-to-me program for children ages 0-7. To participate, you must register and log books online using Beanstack. We curate a selection of 40 books, and you can add ten books of your choosing. This program often introduces parents to undiscovered authors and children to new genres.
The Family Reading Challenge is a read-aloud program for children in grades 1-8. This program is designed to make “the road to reading” a journey that everyone enjoys taking together. The list includes books at different reading levels and in varied genres. Read whatever appeals to you and your family. There is something here for everyone! Each book read earns an entry to a prize drawing. Registration and logging are done on Beanstack.
Winter drop-in storytime begins on Monday, January 6 at 10:30 and runs through March 31. Please note that no storytime will be held on January 20, February 17 or in the event the library closes due to inclement weather. Join us for stories, songs, crafts, and friendship!
Knights of the Chess Table is a chess club for children ages 7-10. The program will be held on Tuesday, January 7, through Tuesday, January 28, from 5:30-6:30 pm. The program is limited to 10 children, and parents must remain in the building during this time. Please click here to register.
Join us on Saturday, February 1, at 1:00 to celebrate Take Your Child To The Library Day. We will be hosting a program with local musician Michele Urban. Michele will be performing a musical rendition of the Three Little Pigs. Registration is required.
We hope to see many of you in the New Year!
December 2024
Season’s Greetings from the Library!
As the holiday season approaches, we want to extend our warmest wishes to all of our littlest patrons and their families. No matter how you choose to celebrate, we hope this time of year brings joy, laughter, and plenty of opportunities to create lasting memories!
Grab and Go Craft Bags:
Available Monday, December 2
This month’s craft is a festive tree made by folding a magazine! The kit includes glitter glue and a star to decorate the tree once you’ve finished folding. This craft is best suited for children ages 8 and older, and bags will be available for pickup while supplies last.
Annual Stonington Village Stroll:
Friday, December 6, 5:00 PM
Join us for a special storytime in the library, followed by a visit from Santa, just before the Stonington Village Stroll kicks off! We can’t wait to see you there as we celebrate the season with our community.
Gingerbread House Pickup:
Wednesday, December 11, 11:30 AM – 6:00 PM
If you’ve reserved a gingerbread house kit, be sure to pick it up on December 11 during this time frame. Unfortunately, we cannot store kits overnight, so please pick them up by 6:00 PM. If someone else will be picking up your kit, be sure to contact us by phone or email. After 6:00 PM, we’ll begin calling from the waitlist. A huge thank you to Vesta Bakery for making 60 gingerbread houses for our community!
Winter Storytimes:
Starting Monday, January 6, 2025, at 10:30 AM
Join us for winter storytimes filled with stories, songs, crafts, and friendship! No registration is required, and all families are welcome.
Winter Reading Challenges:
January 1 – March 30, 2025
Our Winter Reading Challenges are back!
- 50 to Grow On (for children ages 0-7): This read-to-me program encourages young readers and their families to explore new authors and genres. Participants will log books online via Beanstack and earn virtual badges, a completion prize after reading 50 books, and a chance to win a stuffed animal!
- Family Reading Challenge (for children in grades 1-8): This read-aloud literacy program invites families to read together. With books at various reading levels and genres, there’s something for everyone! Each book read earns an entry for a kid’s Kindle.
Both challenges are tracked via Beanstack. Registration will open on January 1.
We wish you all a magical and merry holiday season filled with joy, warmth, and reading!
November 2024
We are excited to announce that we now have a Nintendo Switch available in the Children’s Room! The console comes preloaded with popular games such as Super Mario Wonder, Untitled Goose Game, Animal Well, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Just Dance 2023, and Guacamelee. To sign out the gaming system, please visit the office and book a half-hour time slot. The Switch MUST remain in the Children’s Room!
Grab & Go bags will be available starting on Monday, November 4th. These bags contain stickers for creating a fall scene and are suitable for ages 3 and older while supplies last. Additionally, our last storytime for the fall will be Monday, November 4. Local author Libby Koponen will join us as she reads her new book Is That The Bus?
As the holiday season approaches, we will offer gingerbread houses for home decorating. Each kit includes a pre-baked gingerbread house from Vesta bakery, frosting, and all the decorations needed to make your house spectacular. To reserve a gingerbread house, please click here beginning Monday, November 18 at 10:00. This event is popular, so please call if registration fills up and you wish to be placed on a waiting list. Gingerbread houses must be picked up on Wednesday, December 11, between 11:30 am and 6:00 pm.
October 2024
Halloween
The bats come out.
The cats come out.
The pumpkins come out, too.
The treats come out.
The ghosts come out.
It’s Halloween! BOO!
The haunting season is here! Please come in and enjoy our wonderful selection of Halloween and fall books!
We are excited to introduce a Chess Club beginning on Tuesday, October 1, from 5:30 to 6:30. This program will run weekly through November 5 and will be led by Karen Lindeborg. Children 8 and older of all ability levels are welcome. Registration is required.
Drop-in storytimes are held on Mondays at 10:30 through November 4, except Monday, October 14, when the library is closed for Indigenous People’s Day. Please join us for stories, crafts, and fun! Grab and Go bags will be available on Monday, October 7, featuring a fall Bingo game!
Please join us on Saturday, November 2, at 1:00 as we welcome local Outreach and Tradition Specialist, David Eichelberg. David will present a family program titled “Culture and History of the Mohegan Tribe.” This event will follow a “Show and Tell” format with lots of hands-on experiences. What a great way to kick off National Native American Heritage Month!
We look forward to seeing you!
September 2024
September is back to school month! Please come in and take advantage of the programs, spaces and supplies necessary to make this academic year a successful one. Our teen area offers comfortable chairs, a sofa, computers and a cart full of supplies. We have computers, printers, AWE stations, and quiet homework areas for students of all ages!
Drop-in storytimes will begin on Monday, September 16th at 10:30. All ages are welcome to join us in the Children’s Room for stories, songs, crafts and friends! Grab & Go bags will be available on Monday, September 9. This month our bags will include watercolor paints and paper. This is coordinated with our annual “Love where you read” art contest.
We have many new toys and games available, thanks to a grant from the Mystic Chamber of Commerce and The Home Depot. Please stop in to play a game or enjoy our new toys!
We are co- hosting an author’s talk and book signing with Bank Square Books on September 22 at 1:00. Authors S.J .Taylor and Cindy Rodriguez will discuss their new books Lola Reyes Is So Not Worried and Madsi the True. Register here for this event.
Keep reading!
August 2024
The Summer Reading Program ends on Friday, August 2. All logging must be completed by the end of the day. Please be sure to have all of your basket raffle tickets entered into the baskets of your choice by August 2. The store closes at 4:45 on that day, so if you have any Reuse-a-Bills left to spend, please do so. Winners of the basket raffle will be notified by phone beginning Monday, August 5. Please try to come in and claim your prize as soon as possible.
I would like to thank everyone who helped make this program a huge success. A special thank you goes out to all the local businesses who generously donate many of the gift cards that go into our “Mystery Bags”. Without your continued support, this program would not be possible!
Stay tuned for upcoming fall programs including Drop-in Storytime beginning on September 16th at 10:30. We are partnering with Bank Square books and hosting tween fiction authors S.J. Taylor and Cindy Rodriguez who will share their latest books with our young readers on September 22nd. Teen Jackbox Game Night will be back as well as our monthly Grab & Go projects. If you haven’t checked out the new teen room, please stop in and hang out for a while. See you at the library!
July 2024
“Read, Renew, Repeat” is this year’s Summer Reading Program theme. Please join us for a fun-filled month of reading and activities! As a reminder, the store closes 30 minutes before the library closes each day, so time your visit accordingly.
Storytime is on Monday mornings at 10:30 (outdoors, weather permitting). It is a drop-in program for all ages. We offer Grab-and-Go activities every Thursday. Please check our youth calendar to find out Grab-and-Go specifics. We are pleased to announce two writing programs this summer: one for children ages 8-12 and a teen writing program for ages 13-17. Both of these programs require registration.
We have many performers lined up this month. The Denison Pequotsepos Nature Center, Simply Enchanted, Drumming, and Butterfly House Building are just a few. These programs require registration and fill up quickly. Please see the attached flyers for more information.
Come on in and beat the summer heat – we have something for everyone!
June 2024
Summer is approaching, and its arrival signals the beginning of our ever-popular Summer Reading Program. This year’s theme is Read, Renew, Repeat! We have two programs – Littles (ages 0-5) and Middles/Bigs for children entering 1st – 12th grade. The Littles program will log books read, and the Middles and Bigs will log minutes read. As in the past, all logging will be done on Beanstack. Registration begins on Monday, June 17, 2024 and logging can begin as soon as you are registered. The Store will open on Monday, June 24, for the Middles and Bigs.
We have many summer programs available for all ages. Please check out our event calendar on the SFL website. We will begin the month with a Plant-a-Seed Grab & Go on June 3, available for all ages. Summer Grab & Go kits will be available every Thursday beginning June 27th (except July 4th). Many of the programs require registration. Please ensure your child meets the age requirements for each program and scan the QR code to register. Registration for all programs will begin on June 17th.
Drop-in storytime will begin on Monday, June 24, and will be held outdoors, weather permitting. Our first program will be a visit from the Poop Museum – yes, you read that correctly, on Monday, June 24 at 4:00. Sign up for a 15-minute time slot to read to service dog Rudy on Friday, June 28 from 2:00-3:00 for ages 4-10. Register for our NEW writing programs for ages 8 through adult. Classes begin the week of June 24th.
We are excited to see everyone this summer!
April 2024
Spring is here! We hope the longer, warmer, sunnier days encourage you to come into the Children’s Room to participate in our many activities this month!
Voting for your favorite 2024 Nutmeg books begins on April 1 and runs through April 30. You may vote for one book in each category. Winners will be announced on May 15, 2024.
The April 1st Grab and Go will consist of a pair of eclipse glasses – so you can safely watch the Solar Eclipse on April 8th. We are also offering a book and a snack – come in and choose a book to keep and a snack to munch on while reading. This Grab and Go is for all ages!
We have a drop-in activity each weekday for vacation week – April 8-12.
Monday, April 8 – Color a space placemat
Tuesday, April 9 – Legos
Wednesday, April 10 – Teen Pop Art – 4-6 pm for ages 10 and older
Thursday, April 11 – Game Day – play one of our board games with your friends
Friday, April 12 – Play Dough
Drop-in spring storytime begins on Monday, April 15, at 10:30 and runs through Monday, May 20. Please note that storytime is not held on April 29.
We are hosting a Taylor Swift Tortured Poets Department Release Party on Friday, April 19. Come in and make a friendship bracelet, listen to some Taylor Swift music, color, and take pictures against our photo backdrop!
We are excited to see you at these events!
March 2024
March winds are blowing in many fun activities at the Stonington Free Library. You have one month left to complete our 50 To Grow On and Family Reading challenges. All logging must be done on Beanstack and finished by March 31. Participants of the 50 To Grow On challenge need to pick up their completion prizes by April 3. Winners of the raffles will be notified by phone by April 3.
March 4 is our monthly Grab & Go activity. We have “Dizzy Tops” available for children ages 8 and older while supplies last. Monday, March 25, is the last storytime for the winter session. We will resume storytimes on Monday, April 15, 2024
We are offering a Creative Baby class on Tuesday, March 26, at 10:30. This class is for babies ages 6 – 18 months old with their parents/caregivers. This month we will focus on art materials. Please click here to register.
March has us celebrating Women’s History Month, St. Patrick’s Day, Holi, and Easter – Please stop in and check out one of the many books we have on display honoring these events!
Keep Reading!
February 2024
Winter is a great time to visit the Children’s Room and see all we offer! More than just books are available to break up the cold weather doldrums. We have board games for all ages, coloring, toys, weekly storytime, and monthly Grab and Go crafts. Nintendo Switch games and consoles are available to check out with an adult library card. Please stop by, warm up, and have some fun!
From January 1, 2024, to March 31, 2024, we have two reading challenges for children of all ages. Registration and logging are done on Beanstack. First is our 50 To Grow On challenge for children ages 0-7. There is a curated list of 40 books, and you can choose ten of your favorites. Once completed, come to the library to collect a completion prize. Finishers will also earn a raffle ticket for a Sesame Street stuffed animal and book.
The Family Reading Challenge is for children in 1st grade through 8th grade. We have a list of 18 books offering various reading levels and genres. Read books that appeal to you and your family. Each book read earns a raffle ticket for gift cards.
Our February 5th Grab and Go activity is a winter bird scavenger hunt and a project to make a bird feeder! Please stop by to pick up this activity, intended for ages 4 and up, while supplies last. Once you have completed the scavenger hunt, return it to the library for a free book!
We look forward to seeing you!
January 2024 – Happy New Year!
A new year brings new opportunities to participate in our many programs in the Children’s Room this month!
We have two new reading challenges for children of all ages from January 1, 2024, to March 31, 2024. Registration and logging is done on Beanstack. First is our 50 To Grow On challenge for children ages 0-7. There is a curated list of 40 books, and you can choose ten of your favorites. Once completed, come to the library to collect a completion prize. Finishers will also earn a raffle ticket for a Sesame Street stuffed animal and book.
The Family Reading Challenge is for children in 1st grade through 8th grade. We have a list of 18 books offering various reading levels and genres. Read books that appeal to you and your family. Each book read earns a raffle ticket for gift cards.
Drop-in storytime resumes on Monday, January 8 at 10:30 and runs through March 25, except when the library is closed for a holiday or inclement weather. Please join us for stories, songs, crafts, and friendship!
The Children’s Room will be closed for floor cleaning and waxing from Wednesday, January 17, through Thursday, January 18. We will have a few carts of books upstairs, and our digital library is always available.
Creative Baby will be held on Tuesday, January 30, at 10:30. This program is for children ages 8 to 18 months. Registration begins on January 2.
Saturday, February 3, is Take Your Child To The Library Day. We will have a performance by Belle from Simply Enchanted at 11:00 that day. Registration opens on January 2.
We hope to see many of you at these events and look forward to a new year of reading!
December 2023
December is a magical time of year! The excitement and anticipation of celebrating and gathering with family and friends brings out the child in all of us. Please join us on Friday, December 1, at 5:00 for a special storytime before the Holiday stroll. We will be reading Dasher by Matt Tavares. A visit from Santa will follow the reading, so be sure to bring a camera!
December’s Grab & Go includes a pine cone Christmas tree you can create at home and a holiday scavenger hunt. Once you have finished locating all the items on the hunt, please bring your completed sheet to the library and receive a holiday book! This activity is best suited for children ages 4-8.
Our annual Gingerbread house kits are available to reserve by clicking here. The kits include a choice of a Hanukkah or Christmas house, icing, and candy. The gingerbread houses are made by our friends at Vesta Bakery. If you reserve a house, pick-up is on Wednesday, December 6, from 11:00-6:30. It is imperative that your house be picked up on that day. If you cannot make it, please arrange for someone else to get it for you. Call 860-535-0658 if you wish to be placed on a waitlist.
We plan on having weekly crafts available for teens this month, so be sure to check our website for updates!
Happy Holidays to all!
November 2023
We would like to thank Tom’s Newsstand for his continued support of Children’s Programming at the Stonington Free Library. We received a generous donation of $1,280.04 last month from customer donations. We cannot thank you enough for supporting the library and our youngest patrons!
November will bring some new programs to the Children’s Room. We are excited to offer a “Baby Art” class for children ages 8-18 months. Participants will have fun exploring different materials and go home with a handmade creation. Space is limited, so please click here to register. We proudly announce a special storytime and meet and greet with the Eastern Connecticut Ballet Nutcracker performers on Sunday, November 12, from 1:30-2:15. No registration is required; please bring a camera for photo opportunities with the dancers.
Our annual Holiday House decorating kits will be available again this year. Kits include a gingerbread house (provided by Vesta Bakery), icing and candy. Registration opens on November 20 at 10:00 a.m. Pickup is December 6, from 11-6. One house per family, please.
Please stop in to check out our new books and the Native American Heritage Month display.
October 2023
There are some spooky happenings at the library during October. A bat-themed Grab & Go appropriate for ages 4-8 will be available on Monday, October 2. This will include special glasses needed to view the solar eclipse on October 14.
We have two special programs sponsored by Stonington Human Services this month. The first is a “Spooky Storytime” on Tuesday, October 24, at 4:30. Come join us for some scary stories and balloon creations. Please feel free to wear your Halloween costume. No registration is required for this event.
The Denison Pequotsepos Nature Center will be here on Thursday, October 26, at 5:00, with some Creepy Creatures to learn about. Registration is required and can be done by calling the library (860) 535-0658 or coming in person.
We have drop-in storytimes on Mondays at 10:30, except Monday, October 9, when the library will be closed in observance of Indigenous Peoples’ Day.
We look forward to seeing everyone as we celebrate the frightful holiday of Halloween – BOO!
September 2023
Thank you to everyone who helped make our Summer Reading Program a huge success this year! A big part of our program relies on local businesses whose support makes it possible. We hope you enjoyed reading, shopping in the store, deciding which baskets to put your tickets in, and spending the gift cards you received in the Mystery Bags. Congratulations to all the basket winners!
September allows us to transition from the lazy days of summer to a more structured routine. Cooler days remind us that change is in the air. I can almost smell the scent of freshly picked apples and pumpkin spice! We hope you attend our drop-in storytimes beginning on Monday, September 18, at 10:30. There will be stories, songs, and a related craft. Storytime will continue through November 13, except for October 9, when the library is closed for Indigenous Peoples’ Day.
This month’s Grab and Go craft will be available on Monday, September 11, with a Back to School Bingo game and snacks! This activity is appropriate for children ages four and older. We will have an additional Grab and Go available on Saturday, September 16, in conjunction with the Artwalk.
We look forward to seeing you – keep reading!
August 2023
The Summer Reading Program is coming to a close this month. The last day to participate is Friday, August 4. You must have all your basket raffle tickets in by 5 pm on that day. Children who are participating in the ‘Little’s” program should collect their finishing prize by August 4. Thank you to all who participated to make this another successful summer!
We have a final Grab and Go available on August 3 for children ages 3-8. Have fun making a plant head, and watch the” hair” grow!
Chess lessons are being taught on Thursday, August 7 from 2:30-4:00 for children ages 10-12. Space is limited – click here to register.
July 2023
July means that our Summer Reading Program is in full swing! It’s not too late to join in the fun, earn books bucks, and raffle tickets. Click here to register. The program runs through August 4.
We are offering Grab & Go bags on Thursdays through August 3. Please check the website to find out what the craft is and the appropriate ages for each activity.
We have Ed Pop, a magician and balloon sculptor joining us for a performance on Tuesday, July 11 at 1:00. This show is best suited for children ages three and older. Please call the library at 860-535-0658, or come in to register.
Roxanne Steed will be here on Wednesday, July 19 at 4:00 to teach a watercolor painting class for people ages 12 – adult. Registration for this program opens on Friday, July 7.
A henna artist will be here on Tuesday, July 25 from 2:30-4:30. This program is for ages 10 and up, and registration begins on Friday, July 14. Sign up for a time slot here to participate!
Drop-in storytimes are being held on Mondays at 10:30 for all ages. We will be outdoors in nice weather, and inside in the event of inclement weather.
We hope to see many of you at these events!
June 2023
June means that Summer Reading is right around the corner, and we have lots of fun activities for all ages. Online registration begins on June 19. The library is closed that day to observe Juneteenth, but our online program allows you to register at home and start logging your reading as soon as you are registered. Click here to register. The program will run the same as last year and any questions you may have can be found by reviewing the letters and activity calendar below. As always, please do not hesitate to contact us with any questions.
To read the Littles letter, Click here
Read the Middles and Bigs – entering first grade – 11th-grade letter by clicking here.
Our calendar of activities is available here
Our June Grab and Go bags are available on Monday, June 5. We have paper dolls for you to color, cut, and play with. This activity is for children ages 4 and up.
We will be offering Grab and Go activities each Thursday beginning June 22-August 3.
Drop-in story times will begin on Mondays at 10:30 beginning June 26th. We will hold these outdoors, so please bring a blanket to sit on. In the event of inclement weather, story time will be held indoors
We have a special drop-in story time with a local author Sarah Downie on Wednesday, June 21 at 4:30. Sarah will be reading her new book 1,2,3 The Castles I See. We hope to see you there!
Please check our flyers for program registration dates, age requirements, and times.
- Musical storytime and concert at the La Grua Center – June 23 at 5:30 pm.
- Mary Poppins sing-a-long registration begins on June 16 and must be done by calling the library at 860-535-0658 or coming by in person.
- To register for Reading with Rudy –Click Here
- Gnome houses registration begins on June 16 – Click Here
We look forward to seeing you this summer!
MAY 2023
Spring is finally here, as evidenced by the tulips blooming all around our library grounds! May’s Grab and Go Activity is a flapping butterfly. These will be available on Monday, May 8th for ages 8 and up. Each kit will provide you with the materials needed to make a beautiful butterfly out of craft supplies. Speaking of butterflies, stop in this month to witness the metamorphosis of our Painted Lady caterpillars as they transform into butterflies. The process takes at least three weeks, so please come in frequently and have a look!
THE QUESTION OF THE MONTH IS BACK!! After a long hiatus, the popular raffle has made a return. Simply fill out a slip of paper with your name, age, phone number, and answer to the posted question. One winner will be chosen each month and they will receive a book of their choice. This activity is open to children ages 12 and under.
Drop-in Storytimes will continue at 10:30 on Monday mornings with the exception of May 1. Please join us.
Summer reading is right around the corner. Keep a watchful eye out for more information on our popular reading program. We have many activities that will be available to all age groups throughout the summer. Registration begins on Monday, June 19. Although the library will be closed that day in honor of Juneteenth, all signing up is done online with our software program Beanstack, which is available 24/7!
APRIL 2023
Spring is a harbinger of new life. Longer, warmer days encourage us to spend more time outdoors and offer the opportunity to try new things. Please “Spring” on over to the children’s room this month for a variety of activities.
Our Grab & Go will be available on Monday, April 3. We have stick puppets for you to make that go with the story of the Three Billy Goats Gruff. This activity is for children ages 7 and under. Try your hand at putting on your own theatrical production!
Drop in winter story time will end on Monday, April 3. We will have a one-week break and begin again on Monday, April 17, at 10:30. Story times are for all ages, so please join us for stories, songs, crafts, and friendship.
We will offer daily activities during spring vacation week – April 10-14. The schedule is as follows:
Monday, April 10: Unicorn story time at 3:00 for ages 4 and up.
Listen to some unicorn stories, make a craft, and have a special snack. Click here to register.
Tuesday, April 11: Come in and enjoy some Lego fun! This is a drop-in activity that will run all day.
Wednesday, April 12: Playdough day! Stop by and have some squishy fun – this will be available all day.
Thursday, April 13: Catapult building and launch competition contest at 3:00. This activity is for children ages 7 and up. Click here to register.
Friday, April 14: BINGO – join us at 2:00 for some BINGO fun and prizes! Ages 5 and up.
We hope to see some new and familiar faces at all our activities!
MARCH 2023
Welcome to the Children’s Room! My name is Cathy Taylor and I am the new Director of Youth Services. Joining me is Alyssa Downey and together we are hoping for a seamless transition of leadership and programs. We are both very excited to work together and with the library community.
March is Women’s History Month. Stop by and browse through some of our books on display that highlight the accomplishments of women throughout history. The Nutmeg book nominees are due to be released on March 15, so please keep a lookout for the new titles as they become available. We also have books celebrating St. Patrick’s day and Ramadan – a very busy month indeed!
Don’t forget that March 31 is the last day to complete our 50 To Grow On reading challenge. All reading and logging must be completed by then. Once finished with the challenge, please remember to enter your virtual ticket for a chance to win one of the stuffed animals on display. Winners will be notified on April 3 and completion prizes must be picked up by that date as well.
Our Grab and Go activity for this month is Desk Pets. Come in on Monday, March 6 for a bag of supplies to create a habitat for your new friend. This activity is open to children ages 6-12 while supplies last.
We offer story time for all ages on Mondays at 10:30 through April 3. Please join us for stories, songs, crafts, and camaraderie. No registration is required.
Alyssa and I look forward to meeting you, please stop in and say hi!
FEBRUARY 2023
My husband and I are moving to Delaware at the end of this month to be closer to our granddaughter and leaving the Stonington Free Library is bittersweet for me. While I am very excited to embark on this new adventure, I am very sad to say goodbye to all the families I have met over my time here. I have seen a generation grow up and was able to be a part of their lives. That is why this career is so fulfilling – I have a front row seat to every stage and every change. Thank you for sharing your children with me; it has been a joy.
I am leaving the department in the very capable hands of Cathy Taylor, who has been with SFL part-time for over 10 years and was a preschool teacher at Pine Point. She will be assisted by Alyssa Downey, who has been out on maternity leave but is returning this month. Karen Lindenborg will return in the summer when she finishes her school year at West Vine Street School. Millie Donovan (whose blackboard art skills are second to none) will continue in the Children’s Room part-time. I know I am passing “my baby” on to the best team and I am certain they will build upon our past successes and create new library programs and opportunities.
JANUARY 2023
A new year brings a new reading challenge
A new program
A return to Story Time
We have a brand new Winter Reading Challenge, All the Feels, for children ages 8 – 13 this January. You can register on Beanstack beginning January 1 and log your reading time online in one-hour increments. After reading four hours and earning the two activity badges (one for visiting the library and one describing yourself in emoticons), you will be eligible for a raffle ticket for a special prize. Simple, fun, and you get to pick whatever you like to read!
Stoningtonfreelibrary.beanstack.org
Story Times will resume on January 9, Mondays at 10:30. No Story Time on holidays or in case of inclement weather. Please check our website to see if we are closed or have a delayed opening.
On January 25 at 4:30, we will host a Teddy Bear Picnic for ages 3 – 8. Registration is required and space is limited. Come listen to a story, enjoy a snack, and bring home a new stuffie to love! The snow date for this event is February 8. Please use the QR code on the flyer to register.
Our early literacy challenge, 50 to Grow On, continues through March 31. It is for children ages 7 and younger and you can sign up and log books through Beanstack. After reading the 50 books, each child receives a completion prize and a chance for one of the stuffed animals on display in the Children’s Room.
Our Grab & Go this month is a snowman joke puzzle to assemble for ages 6 – 12. Instructions and material will be provided. Pick up in the Children’s room after 11 am on January 9, while supplies last.
DECEMBER 2022
Anticipation of first snowflakes
Fire crackling in the hearth
Peaceful crystalline night skies
December
We hope that everyone who registered for a Holiday Gingerbread House enjoys decorating it! Please email photos of your masterpieces to marisfrey@stoningtonfreelibrary.org. Donations from Tom’s News Stand made this program possible this year, so please sign our Thank You card when you pick up your house.
Our early literacy reading challenge, 50 to Grow On, begins on December 1 and will end on March 31. It is open to all children ages 7 and younger and is a perfect read-to-me format for those cold winter nights. We have chosen 40 books and you choose 10. Registration and activity logging is available on
Beanstack.stoningtonfreelibrary.org.
We will have many of the books available on our YouTube channel if your children enjoy listening!
In January, we will have a reading challenge for older children, so watch our website. Monday Story Times will also resume in January.
NOVEMBER 2022
Tom’s News Stand Has Done It AGAIN!
There are no words that can adequately express the depth of our gratitude to Tom and his unending generosity to the Stonington Free Library and the children of our community. For the third time since June, Tom has designated a collection bucket at his popular store for donations to Children’s Programming at the library. He delivered another $1240.40 last week, bringing the total this year to $4,387.16. That is the total for 2022 alone!
Supporters like this are valued for their commitment to our programs, their community spirit, and their confidence in our dedication to our youth. Tom and the support of our entire community keep us moving our programs forward and reaching further into our town. Please be sure to personally thank Tom the next time you are at the News Stand.
He is a true pillar of the community.
October 2022
A month with a small nip to the air
Changing leaves beginning to crunch underfoot
Apples, pumpkins, and cinnamon
Boo!
We are very excited to bring back in-person story times beginning Oct. 3 at 10:30. Each meeting will be about 30 minutes long with stories, finger plays and songs with time for an easy project and socializing afterward. Most appropriate for ages 1 – 5, but all ages and siblings are welcome. If this is your child’s first experience with a group, we are most understanding of age appropriate behavior. Out of respect for all, if your child is having a meltdown, please feel free to leave the story time area and return when “big feelings” have calmed. Also, when you do leave, please move into another room, so as not to distract the rest of the group – thank you very much for understanding!
We will have our Grab & Go on October 3 beginning at 11 am (AFTER Story Time). This month, we have ghosts made of Tootsie Pops! These are available while supplies last.
Finally, we have the third graders visiting the library in October, so the Children and Teen Rooms will open at 10:30 on October 14, October 18, and October 19.
We look forward to seeing you!
September 2022
Summer 2022 made us feel that things were moving back toward normal. We appreciate everyone who joined our Summer Reading Program and hope that you had fun reading, shopping in the store, finishing your challenge if you were a Little and getting your prize, and deciding where to put your basket raffle tickets. We continued a “Give Back Summer” with many gift card purchases (and some donations!) from our local business friends who have supported us in the past. Still a wonderful experience to step up and help those who have been so generous to us. Those Mystery Bags just kept flying out the door!
Many thanks to Tom’s News who collected TWO jars of contributions to the Children’s Room totaling $3,146.76! We are also very proud to announce that SFL won an honorable mention in Beanstack’s Summer Reading Challenge with an award of $250. Thank you for helping the library achieve this distinction.
September will bring a new reading challenge for all ages – NASA’s Artemis Project: To the Moon, Mars, and Beyond! Read a little, try out some fun activities, and log everything in your Beanstack account. Registration opens August 29 at stoningtonfreelibrary.beanstack.org. If you are posting to social media, use the hashtags #STEAMinLIB and #BeanBlast to help us win a circulation backpack of STEM activities from the Space Science Institute. We also have some very cool space-related prizes for raffle winners here at the library!
Monthly Grab & Go kits will be available on the first Monday of the month, beginning Sept.12 (due to the holiday). We have two different choices in September to cover everyone from ages 2 – 13. In person Story Times will resume in October on Mondays at 10:30 – we are excited to see you here again!
Keep reading, my friends!
Maris Frey
June 2022
Change is in the Air
We are finally seeing beautiful spring weather, with summer just around the corner. Our very popular Summer Reading program begins on June 20 and this year, we have some changes that we hope will make things even more exciting and user friendly.
We have eliminated all paper raffle tickets – no more having to write names and phone numbers! All raffles have photos on the Beanstack site and you just choose where you want to place your chance. We have also made the Middles and Bigs a 20 minute goal to earn a Camp Buck. Additionally, they will also automatically get a raffle entry at every 40 minute increment. Middles and Bigs will earn both Camp Bucks to spend in the store and raffle tickets until they read 30 hours. At that time, all reading time will earn raffle tickets up to 90 hours. That will conclude the program for them. Remember to log reading time online, as that will determine how many Camp Bucks earned when you come into the library. There will not be a limit on Mystery Bags this year, as long as supplies last.
Littles will log books read online – every 5 books wins a raffle ticket and after 30 books, they will earn a completion prize. Additionally, Littles can complete 5 activity badges that earn an additional 5 raffle tickets. Their raffle prizes are pictured online. Super easy to log books for Littles – just scan the barcode on the back cover as you finish the book.
Registration is online beginning on June 20th. The Library is closed that day to observe Juneteenth, but that is the beauty of an online program – you can register from home at stoningtonfreelibrary.beanstack.com
We will have some fun programs this summer and our calendar is also here, along with Parent Letters for our programs – Littles and Middles/Bigs. And to start the month off, we have a Grab & Go Fire Breathing Dragon for ages 3 – 8 to pick up June 6, while supplies last.
Can’t wait to see everyone!
May 2022
It’s May! It’s May!
Let’s welcome the beginning of spring (in New England) with some fun growing activities. On May 2, our Grab & Go bags are a perfect way to celebrate the upcoming growing season – Make Your Own Seed Balls! You will get everything you need to make some lovely and easy to plant flower seed balls that are environmentally friendly. They are made possible with our Seed Library and are a great tie-in with our Pollinators Kit that you can check out. Our Grab & Go bags are available while supplies last.
Summer Reading is coming up soon with registration opening on June 20 (we are closed this day in honor of Juneteenth, but that is the beauty of online registration!) The Store will open on June 27 and we have worked hard to streamline and improve your experience with Beanstack. We have also made some exciting changes to our program and we have Parent Letters explaining what to expect. Monday Outdoor Story Times will begin on June 27 (weather permitting). Please bring a blanket and chairs to be comfy. We will have Grab & Go activities on Thursdays June 23 – August 4 and Noreen Kepple will be here to direct a garden activity for ages 4 – 8 on June 28 (this one will require registration). We are also welcoming back Judi the Hula Hoop Queen on July 7 with a rain date of July 12. Her program, Dancing with Hoops, is fun for all ages and we do need registration so we have enough hoops for everyone!
We are looking forward to a wonderful summer program with popular Mystery Bags, exciting new raffle prizes, and a Store filled with awesome options. We just may have a few surprises up our sleeves so join us to start a fun-filled reading journey.
April 2022
We will have some great poetry books on display this month in honor of National Poetry Month – drop by and find something fun.
Our Reading Challenges, 50 to Grow On for ages 7 and younger and Family Reading Challenge for students in grades 1 – 8, will both end on April 4.
Our Grab & Go this month will tie in with National Library Week and what better way to celebrate than with books! Come to the Children’s Room from April 4 – April 10 and choose a book to keep! We have origami bookmarks to make or pop-art bookmarks to color. And there’s a snack to enjoy with your new book.
We are in the process of finalizing plans for our Summer Reading Program 2022. More details will be upcoming in next month’s eLibrarian!
As always, stay healthy and safe,
Maris Frey
March 2022
Spring into a New Season
Women’s History Month
Our Reading Challenges, 50 to Grow On for ages 7 and younger and Family Reading Challenge for students in grades 1 – 8, are ongoing. They will both end on April 4, but there is still plenty of time to participate. In fact, you need to read fewer than 2 books a day to finish 50 to Grow On! Join the fun today! If you already have a Beanstack account, you can register online and if you don’t, you can create an account at stoningtonfreelibrary.beanstack.org. There is an app for your devices that makes it very easy to log your progress.
Stop by and see our Women’s History Month displays and learn something new! We will also have St. Patrick’s Day and spring books spotlighted.
Our March Grab & Go is very special this month – we have desk pets and habitats for you to put together and decorate. Pick yours up on March 7 while supplies last. This month’s project is for ages 4 – 10.
As always, stay healthy and safe,
Maris Frey
February 2022
A Season for Caring
Valentine’s Day and Black History Month are both celebrated this month. We are reminded of the many ways we can show kindness, whether it is a hug or kiss for our family, a sweet card with friendship wishes, or expanding our awareness and appreciation of Black contributions to our world.
We have two Grab & Go options this month: sticker scenes for ages 2 – 8 and Valentine Make a “Love” Pet Craft for ages 5 – 12. Both will be available on February 7, while supplies last.
We have many books by black authors on display this month, so be certain to browse for something new. Some recent staff favorites in Young Adult authors are Tiffany D. Jackson and Angie Thomas, Jason Reynolds, Brandy Colbert and Kwame Alexander for teens and middle schoolers and Gaia Cornwall, Nikole Hannah-Jones and Winsom Bingham have wonderful picture books. And anything illustrated by Jerry Pinkney or Kadir Nelson is going to be magnificent. So many new and exciting voices to discover in children’s literature!
Our Winter Reading Challenges are ongoing. You can register for 50 to Grow On (ages 7 and younger) and Family Reading Challenge (grades 1 – 8) online on your Beanstack app or you can create an account at stoningtonfreelibrary.beanstack.org. There are selections from both challenges on our YouTube channel, so tune in!
As always, stay healthy and safe.
Maris Frey
January 2022
We are offering our Winter Reading Challenges and you can register now. 50 to Grow On (ages 0 – 7) and our Family Reading Challenge (grades 1 – 8) will begin on January 3 and run through April 4. Registration is online through Beanstack and all logging can be done online. We do have paper logs and stickers for 50 to Grow On if you would like to pick one up to bring home. All completion prizes for 50 to Grow On will be picked up at the library and your raffle ticket should be entered virtually for a chance at a stuffed animal by April 4. Family Reading Challenge participants earn a virtual ticket for each book read and they are entered for a chance for a Kindle Fire tablet. Look at our YouTube channel for books being read aloud for these challenges. We will also have copies on display in the library for check out. It’s a fun way to try out some new titles or authors and discover new favorites. Remember we always have curbside pickup available.
Grab & Go bags will be available January 3 with a sparkling snowflake to create for ages 4 – 12 and a little surprise for a healthy New Year from our own Millie Donovan. They are first come, first served while supplies last.
Thanks to the generosity of Tom’s News, we are trying out a new program, Zoom Minecraft Mania, on January 28, 4:15pm – 6pm. We are teaming up with the Mystic Noank Library and grades K – 5 can join our Zoom and play Minecraft from home. Space is limited for this program and registration will be online and open January 10. You can link to the registration by scanning the QR code on the flyer. We will send out the Zoom link a couple days before the event. We hope this is a successful program and that we can offer it again. Please join us for a fun Friday afternoon.
As always, stay healthy and safe.
Maris Frey
December 2021
The holiday season is upon us and with it comes joy, anticipation, and a celebration of family traditions. We are offering a fun activity and reading challenge, Holidays Around the World, that enriches knowledge of different cultures. You can sign up online through stoningtonfreelibrary.beanstack.org. All logging is online through Beanstack. The Grab & Go bags on December 6 will have many activities for this challenge included – first come, first served.
Our annual Gingerbread House Decorating workshop on December 9 (as a take home activity) is currently filled, but we are making a wait list. Life happens and we often have some unclaimed houses. Please email marisfrey@stoningtonfreelibrary.org with your family name, children’s ages, email, and phone number. We will call if there is an opening, but as always, we do not leave voicemail messages. The call will come from the library or my cell which has a 774 area code.
Our 50 to Grow On and our Family Reading Challenge will begin on January 3rd and run through April 4th. Registration is online through Beanstack and all logging can be done online. We do have paper logs and stickers for 50 to Grow On if you would like to pick one up to bring home. All completion prizes for 50 to Grow On will be picked up at the library and your raffle ticket should be entered virtually for a chance at a stuffed animal by April 4. Family Reading Challenge participants earn a virtual ticket for each book read and they should be entered for a chance for a Kindle Fire tablet by April 4.
As we move into January, we will have books from both challenges available on our YouTube channel playlists.
November 2021
November is a month for gratitude – from Veterans Day to Thanksgiving, we recognize the many things we are thankful for in our world. There is always something that shines in our lives, sometimes we just have to pause and take a silent moment to find and acknowledge it. Let’s try to do that every day this month.
Thanks to all who participated in our first Hallow – Read challenge. We loved seeing your photos and hope you had some fun! We certainly did as we chose badges and activities. Our next challenge, Holidays Around the World begins on November 29. This one is for ages 4 – 12 and we will again include lots of fun activities for the challenge in our December Grab & Go Bags on December 6th. All registrations and badges are on stoningtonfreelibrary.beanstack.org.
We have a fun Grab & Go Bag this month, filled with a Thanksgiving Family Jeopardy game along with sticker scenes and coloring for the young family members. These are while supplies last. You can always email me to check if we have any left – marisfrey@stoningtonfreelibrary.org. Don’t forget to stop in or arrange curbside pickup for some great Thanksgiving books!
Registration opens November 19 for our VERY popular Gingerbread House Decorating program with a pickup on December 9! This is a free activity to enjoy at home and we do limit it to ONE per family. You can sign up online. We will send an email the week of the event to the address you provide, which will require a confirmation. We always have a wait list for this program and we do try to accommodate as many families as we have houses. We are SO grateful to Vesta Bakery in Westerly for making the cutest, most delicious gingerbread houses and we have so much fun buying all the goodies to decorate them! Please remember to email photos of your finished masterpieces to marisfrey@stoningtonfreelibrary.com.
Enjoy the month of Thankful.
October 2021
Lots of things are happening downstairs as we move into autumn!
Registration for our new Hallow – Read challenge opened on Sept. 27; go to BEANSTACK to sign up. All registration and all logging will be online. This program is for children ages 2 – 8 and will run until November 1. There will be activities and crafts, so be sure to pick up a Grab & Go bag at the library on Oct. 4, while supplies last.
Remember we have a new story time posting on our YouTube channel every Monday morning, with the United Way doing a special read aloud on Oct. 4 online. Look under the playlist Story Time with Mrs. Frey, but check out other options in the Picture Book Story Time playlist. On October 18 and 25, we will have Halloween Story Times (no Story Time Oct. 11).
Mark your calendars now to pick up your Grab & Go bag on Nov. 1, with a Thanksgiving Jeopardy game for the family to play and a Thanksgiving sticker scene and coloring sheet.
Enjoy apple season and fall foliage!
September 2021
Due to the Labor Day Holiday, our first Monday of the Month Grab & Go Bags will be available on September 13th. We are offering a Fall Leaf Craft for ages 2 – 6 and a Back to School Stress Ball for ages 7 – 12 (this was one of our most popular over the summer, so we are giving those who missed out a second chance). Both of these are available while supplies last.
Virtual Story Times will resume on September 13 on our YouTube channel on Monday mornings. We will be starting off with two brand new books, Noah’s Seal by Layn Marlow and Don’t Worry, Little Crab by Chris Haughton. Tune in and watch whenever is most convenient for your family.
Thanks to our new software, Beanstack, we will offer a fun month-long program – Hallow-Read! The program will begin on September 27 and run through November 1. You will sign up online via the Beanstack website or app (a tip – the app is much easier to use – download it now). If you already used Beanstack over the summer, please use your same user name and password to avoid duplicate accounts. There are activities, a playlist of music, crafts, videos and books to enjoy. Our Grab & Go Bags on Oct. 4 will have materials for crafts and some will even have a little surprise. These will be available as supplies last. Have some spooky fun!
I am also happy to report that overall, 79% of the children and teens registered for our Summer Reading Program participated by reading this summer! I hope everyone enjoyed themselves and found some good books.
Keep reading, my friends!
Maris Frey
August 2021
August brings an end to our Summer Reading Programs for Children, Teens, and Adults. We welcomed enthusiastic readers and shoppers to our Store and Basket Raffles and we were energized by your excitement. A second “Give Back Summer” involved many gift card purchases (and some donations!) from our local business friends who have always supported us in the past. It felt great to step up and help them through some tough times these last two summers. Those Mystery Bags just kept flying out the door!
If you are interested in our last few activities, stop in to pick a Stress Ball Grab & Go Kit on Monday, August 2 and be sure to sign up online for Teen Aromatherapy which is a ZOOM program led by Kim Larkin on Thursday August 5 @ 4:30 (ages 10+). Kits for this program are available to pick up in advance.
All Basket Raffle winners will be telephoned August 9. Please be sure to check your messages if you miss our call.
Looking ahead, we will offer monthly Grab & Go kits on the first Monday of the month, beginning Sept.13 (due to the holiday). Online Story Times will resume in September and they will be posted to our YouTube channel on Mondays. Thanks to our new software, Beanstack, we will offer a fun month-long program in October – Hallow-Read with books and activities to suit the season. Watch our website and social media for further details.
Keep reading, my friends!
Maris Frey
July 2021
Sum, Sum, Summertime!
Many things are happening this month for children and teens! Remember to sign up for Summer Reading if you haven’t had a chance to yet. Our new software, Beanstack, is proving to be a popular resource. You can sign up (all ages) at stoningtonfreelibrary.beanstack.org and then track everything when you download the Beanstack app. As a heads up, as the parent, you are creating the account for the family in your name (the “driver” or account creator) and everyone else is an additional reader in your “car”. That way it’s only one account, one user name, one password. The app is simple to use, colorful and fun without being too busy, and also has a built in timer! In this transition year, we are still offering paper logs and money to give everyone the opportunity to visually track their reading and reinforce their math skills.
Hula Hoop Dancing is back on the lawn July 7 at 1pm, weather permitting with a rain date of July 14. Online registration opens June 25. We have a ZOOM Chocolate Tasting Workshop on July 15 at 4pm for ages 8 – 14. Space is limited and online registration opens July 8 with kits available for pickup at the library beginning that day also. Candy Sushi will be a Grab & Go on July 29 with online registration beginning July 17. This program will be for ages 7 – 11 and also ages 12+. Again, space will be limited. A Zoom Teen Aromatherapy Workshop with both botanical pillow and soap making will be August 5 with registration opening July 24. This workshop is for ages 10+ with limited space. Kits will be available for pickup beginning July 28. Mondays will be our Grab & Go days with Placemat Coloring (ages 2 – 7) July 12, Kool Aid Playdough Making (ages 3 – 8) July 19, Candle Decorating (ages 7 – 14) July 26 and Waterbead Stress Balls (great for back to school!) (ages 7 – 14) August 2.
The last day for all Summer Reading redemptions is August 6 by 5pm.
Happy Reading!!
June 2021
Summer is Coming . . .
We paid close attention to all your comments in our survey last summer and with them in mind, we have a new, exciting, user friendly experience to offer this year. Our new software program, Beanstack will make participating in our summer reading programs faster and easier. You can register your entire family with one login and password and use a simple app on your mobile devices to log reading time. We will have paper logs for your child to keep track of their time and paper money to reinforce those math skills. The store will be back with social distancing guidelines and all patrons age 2 and older will need to wear masks covering their noses and mouths in the library. This is to keep everyone healthy and safe.
Registration Week will begin June 14 and the Store will open June 21. You will be able to register for the program online at Stoningtonfreelibrary.beanstack.org beginning June 14. Download the Beanstack app to any device, look for our library and you can quickly and easily log your reading (Adult Summer Reading also!) Look for further information to come home from school and on our website. Challenging times can provide opportunities for improvements and we are excited to share some of our new features. Sneak peek – the Littles group will have their own, exclusive raffle baskets with virtual ticket entries!
Our first program will be a Grab and Go Birdfeeder kit on June 29 for ages 4 and older, while supplies last. Can’t wait to get started!
Happy Reading,
Maris Frey and Cathy Taylor
May 2021
Pequot Plant Farm donated some adorable succulent plants when our evergreen seedlings didn’t arrive in time for our Earth Day Grab and Go. Happy to report that our seedlings have arrived, so please come by the library starting Monday, May 3 to get your free tree to plant.
On the subject of Grab and Go, on May 7, we will have a great gift for the mom in your life – bath fizzie kits! Enjoy making and indulge Mom in a mini spa treatment.
We paid close attention to all your comments in our survey last summer and with them in mind, we have a new, exciting, user friendly experience to offer this year. Our new software program, Beanstack will make participating in our summer reading programs faster and easier. You can register your entire family with one login and password and use a simple app on your mobile devices to log reading time. We will have paper logs for your child to keep track of their time and paper money to reinforce those math skills. The store will be back with social distancing guidelines and raffle tickets will be digital. There will be some small changes in age groups and Littles will count books read, instead of time. We are adapting programs, as we navigate new elements that work and tweaking things to attempt to maintain the most enjoyable aspects of our Summer Reading Program. Registration Week will begin June 14 and the Store will open June 21. Look for further information to come home from school or on our website.
APRIL 2021
Spring is upon us, with the joys of emerging flowers, longer days, increasingly warm sunshine, and since we live in New England – mud.
It is a time of rebirth and an opportunity to take pleasure in all the beautiful sights around us. There is increased hope for relief from the COVID virus that has overshadowed our days. There is also a growing awareness that we have frequently overlooked the people and things that are truly most important in our lives. We have been given a chance to see that our families, our friends, and the small everyday interactions we have with those around us are truly what brings meaning to our lives. So let us move forward with a resolution to keep those “most important things” front and center in our lives.
Let’s live with
Kindness
Wonder
Empathy
Happiness
Gentle words
Acceptance
Humor
It is always a good day to see the world through the eyes of a child.
MARCH 2021
March is National Women’s History Month and a time to take note of the extraordinary and sometimes unknown roles that women have played throughout history. We have the opportunity to look at both the large and small differences women add to all our lives, every day.
We have a responsibility to reinforce to all our children that women are equal to men and to introduce them to women who have made contributions to our world. They may have worked to improve workers’ rights and safety – Brave Girl: Clara and the Shirtwaist Makers’ Strike of 1909, perhaps they opened up education to those denied – I Am Malala: How One Girl Stood Up for Freedom and Changed the World, Beatrice’s Goat, Temple Grandin or found paths to freedom – Wheels of Change: How Women Rode the Bicycle to Freedom, Unspoken: A Story from the Underground Railroad. They may have played a sport or found expression through dance – Dirt on their Skirts: The Story of the Young Women Who Won the World Championship, A Dance like Starlight: One Ballerina’s Dream, Bunheads. They might have been notable in science – The Doctor with an Eye for Eyes: the Story of Dr. Patricia Bath, Women in Science: 50 Fearless Pioneers Who Changed the World, Hidden Figures: The True Story of Four Black Women and the Space Race, A Computer Named Katherine: How Katherine Johnson Helped Put America on the Moon. We can read short synopses of outstanding female contributors in Good Night Stories for Rebel Girls: 100 Tales of Extraordinary Women (Volumes 1 & 2), or Good Night Stories for Rebel Girls:100 Immigrant Women Who Changed the World, and Little Leaders: Bold Women in Black History.
There are many books in the library that introduce us to famous women and also many that show us the heroism of fictional women. Rosie Revere, Iggy Peck, Ada Twist and Sofia Valdez teach us that women can become engineers, architects, scientists or presidents. It is a good month for inspiring an appreciation for the women in our lives. Reading books to our children that showcase the many and varied roles that women play in both our past and present will help guarantee equal footing for women in their future.
