For Children

*Summer Reading: Summer Reading is up and running at the library. This independent reading program is open to children ages 4 through grade 5, and will continue until August 16. Sign up is ongoing throughout the eight-week program that offers children an opportunity to discuss what they are reading with a young adult volunteer and  earn rewards  donated by local businesses.

Children can earn free coupons for pizza from My Place, a donut from Dunkin Donuts, and a voucher for a Rock Cats game.   Raffle tickets are awarded for every five books they read.

Children can enter the prize raffle as often as they would like. The more they read the better their chances of winning one of the prizes. The raffle will take place on Monday, August 18. Winners will be notified by phone.

*Summer Craft: Paint a piggy bank with Mrs Walker on Monday, July 21, from 3:30 to 4:30 pm.

This workshop is for ages 6 and up, and there is a $3 supply fee due at registration.

Please sign up at the Children’s Department. Future craft workshops include making a dinosaur suncatcher, and painting a trinket box.  Visit the Children’s Department to pick up a complete schedule of these and other fun programs available this summer for children.

*Stories with Curtis: Join us for a special hour of stories on Tuesday afternoon 3:30 to 4:40 am for ages 3 to 5 (the programs are switching to their afternoon sessions next week after having run for a few morning sessions). Newtown resident Curtis Urbina will continue to entertain children with programs on July 22 and 29, and registration is not required.

*Knot Tying with Pat Martin: Professional artist and teacher Pat Martin will instruct children in the art of knot tying in a workshop on Tuesday, July 22, starting at 3:30. Participants will turn their new skill into bracelets or anklets. Once they master the technique, they will be able to make more on their own for friends and family.

Recommended for students entering grades 3-6 in the fall, this program has a $4 material fee is due upon registration.

*Zoom Science with Mrs Silkowski: Explore fun science topics with Mrs Silkowski on Wednesday afternoons in July and the first week in August.  Space is limited and the classes are filling rapidly so please call the library or visit in person to register.

On July 23, find out how many drops of water can fit on a penny in a workshop called “Surface Tension.” You can find a list of the science topics by visiting our website at CHBoothLibrary.org.

*Woodland Cinderella puppet play: Enjoy a professional production of an old tale with a new twist on Thursday, July 24, at 3 pm, in the library meeting room.

Recommended for ages 4 and up, there is no registration required, but seating is limited to the first 70.

*PJ Time: Enjoy a free puppet show and story time on Wednesday evenings at 6:30 pm. The shows are for ages 3-7 and no registration is required.

Programs will continue with the following stories: July 23, The Three Bears; July 30, Anansi and the Moss Covered Rock; August 6, Tops and Bottoms; and August 13, The Boy Who Cried Wolf.

*Cheryl Bloom’s Science Sense-ations: Cheryl uses drama and demonstration to introduce children to basic scientific principles.

The program will take place on Thursday, July 31, at 3 pm, in the library’s meeting room. No sign up is required, but space is limited.  Recommended for ages 4 and up.

Programs For Young Adults

*Altered Books: Turn your old books into entirely new works of art! Katie Stevenson will lead this new craft experience in two Wednesday sessions, July 30 and August 6, each from 1 to 3 pm.

Come to one or both sessions.  Bring an old book (board books work best) or use one of ours.

The groups are each limited to 15 young people in rising grades 5-12 (ages 10 and up). There is a $6 supply fee for each session, payable at the program.  Sign up at the Main Floor Circulation Desk.

*Digital Photo Workshop: Members of the Flagpole Photographers Club will lead a morning workshop on Saturday, August 2, from 9:30-11 am. You’ll need to bring your own digital camera with the manual, and expect to get personal tips for taking great photos.

The group is limited to 15 young adults entering grade 6 and up; young people may invite a parent or other adult to join them.

There is no charge. Sign up at the Main Floor Circulation Desk or call 426-4533.

*Booth Library Summer Film Series: Join us for free screenings of movies every other Wednesday afternoon at 1:30. The Summer Films series will feature the following:

July 23, Juno: Juno (played by the Oscar-nominated Ellen Page) is a smart teenager facing a tough decision: what to do after she gets pregnant by a friend and classmate (Michael Cera). Deciding to give the baby up for adoption to a rich couple she has full support of both of her parents. But is giving the child away what she really wants to do? Rated PG-13, this film has a running time of 92 minutes

August 6, The Diving Bell and the Butterfly: Based on a true story, Jean-Dominique Bauby (Mathieu Amalric) was the editor of Elle France. After a major stroke in 1995, he was left completely paralyzed except for his left eye. With just that one eye, however, he was able to blink out his memoir and describe what it was like not being able to move. He also very vividly described wild fantasy worlds he could visit only in his mind.

This Oscar nominated film (Best Achievement in Cinematography, Best Achievement in Directing, Best Achievement in Editing, and Best Writing) and winner of the Golden Globe for Best Foreign Language Film is rated PG-13 and has a running time of 112 minutes. Note it is in French with subtitles.

August 20, Once: This Irish romance may be a musical, but it is miles away from the traditional Hollywood idea of people bursting into song. Glen Hansard plays the male lead, known simply as Guy, a street musician who is playing for change when he meets Girl (Marketa Irglova), an immigrant from the Czech Republic.

The pair immediately bond over their shared love for music and the film chronicles their tentative relationship. The song at the center of the film, called “Falling Slowly,” won the Oscar Best Achievement in Music Written for Motion Pictures, Original Song. The film is rated R, and has a running time of 85 minutes.

C.H. Booth Library is open Monday through Thursday, 9:30 am to 8 pm; Friday from 11 am to 5 pm; Saturday, 9:30 am to 5:30 pm; and Sunday from noon to 5 pm (closed Sundays in July and August).