Your favorite Library is coming to your school to talk about new books and summer programs!

When will we be at your school? Here are the dates:

Holmes - May 6-7
Royle - May 13-15
Hindley - May 20-21
Ox Ridge - May 22
Tokeneke - June 10-11

Planting Party
Ages 6 to 11
Friday, May 30
3:30 to 5 p.m.
Plant the seeds in the Library’s very own children’s garden! The garden will be tended to by “Groovy Gardeners” on Wednesdays, July 2 to August 13. (You can register for Groovy Gardeners in June).

Wonkavision
Grades 3 to 5
Wednesday, June 25
6 to 7:30 p.m.
Participate in famous TV game shows based on Roald Dahl’s books! Children should read two of these books to participate: Matilda, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, The BFG, James and the Giant Peach, Fantastic Mr. Fox, or The Magic Finger.

Craft a Story with Sean Bryan
Ages 4 to 6
Thursday, June 26
3:30 to 4:30 p.m.
How does a book get made? Darien picture book author Sean Bryan will discuss his latest children’s book, The Juggling Pug, to explain the creative process. Then he’ll craft an original story with the group!

Nutmeg Book Group
Grades 4 to 6. Join us for a book discussion of the newest Nutmeg Book Award titles. Light dinner is provided. Register for each date.
- Tuesday, June 10 from 6 to 7 p.m. Title: Free Baseball by Sue Corbett
- Wednesday, July 2 from 6 to 7 p.m. Title: Three Good Deeds by Vivian Vande Velde
- Thursday, August 7 from 6 to 7 p.m. Title: Gossamer by Lois Lowry

Fairy tales are not the rite of passage they were as recently as a generation ago. A group of teachers with whom I worked last month indicated they had a passing awareness of fairy tale characters, but just barely.
And they were surprised by the realization.

No one (that we know of) decided to steer away from fairy tales; it just sort of happened. And it's time to steer back! Fairy tales and nursery rhymes are rich in language, drama and imagination. They have been part of our cultural heritage for hundreds of years and continue to offer the substance (verbal and visual) that hook kids on books. With a new generation of illustrators interpreting these tales, it is time to revisit Once Upon a Time.

See our display in the Children's Room this month. Share your favorite tales with your favorite children. Rediscover the magic!

We're so excited to announce that Mike Lupica will be visiting the Library on April 29th! Read all about it!

Mike Lupica, nationally-known sports journalist and author, will be at the Darien Library on Tuesday, April 29 at 4 p.m. to talk about his books for children and young adults. Families with children ages 8 and up are invited to attend.

Mike Lupica is a renowned sports journalist with a syndicated column at the New York Daily News. A TV anchor for ESPN’s “The Sports Reporters,” he has also appeared recently on The Today Show, The Early Show and Late Night with Conan O'Brien. Lupica writes emotionally gripping sports fiction for adults as well as children and teens. While adults may recognize titles like Wild Pitch and Bump and Run, he is equally popular with young readers. Some of his most popular novels for children and teens include Travel Team, Summer Ball, and his most recent novel, The Big Field. In The Big Field, 14-year-old Hutch regrets losing his shortstop position and struggles to understand his father’s resentment of the game. One of his juvenile titles for children, Heat, is a 2009 Connecticut Nutmeg Book Award nominee. Copies of the author’s books will be available for purchase and signing during the event.

There is no registration required for this program. Seating begins 15 minutes prior to the program.

Baby Boogie
Ages 8-11 months.
Tuesday, April 15th at 10 a.m.

Global Tots
Ages 2 to 4.
Please choose one session:
Tuesday, April 15th at 11 a.m.
Wednesday, April 16 at 10 a.m.
Wednesday, April 16 at 11 a.m.
Register by calling 655-1234 x117.

Join dancer Roberta Halperin for creative movement, dance, and stretches for you and your baby or toddler to share. Both programs are for children with caregivers present.

Our very favorite musical lady, Miss Mary, returns for a May mini-session. Check out the special dates and times below.

Fridays May 2, 9, 16
Walkers up to 2 ½ years meets at 9:45 a.m.
2 ½ to 4 years meets at 10:45 a.m.
Registration starts Friday, April 11 at 9 a.m. Registration is by phone at 655-1234 x117.

You've heard of Bingo? Now try playing the Library version, Lingo!

Play Lingo (Library Bingo)
April 17 from 3 to 4 p.m. (During school vacation)

Grades 1 to 5. A quick bingo lesson, then the famous game of luck begins! Prizes will be distributed. Register by calling 655-1234 x117.

Come as you are to our drop-in storytimes for ages 3 to 5! There is no registration required. Caregivers, please remain in the library for these storytimes.

Sleepytime Stories
Ages 3 to 5
Tuesday from 6:30 to 7 p.m.
April 1st (We start up again the first week of July!)

Friday Stories
Ages 3 to 5
Friday from 1:15 to 1:45
April 4 (We'll start up again in the summer. Join us then!)

Nutmeg Book Group
Grades 4 to 6. Join us for a book discussion of the newest Nutmeg Book Award titles. Light dinner is provided. Register for each date by calling 655-1234 x117.
- Thursday, April 24 from 6 to 7 p.m. Title: The Homework Machine

Book Description: 4 children who attend the Grand Canyon school invent a homework machine. But can they keep it secret?

BookMANIA! is for ages 7-9
Thursdays, April 10, April 24 from 4:15 to 5:15 p.m.

In BookMania, we'll share a story together, then do activities, games, and even eat snacks around the theme of the book! Come and ENJOY the fun! For this program, don't call ahead, just come!

Good Dad, Bad Dad : do's and dont's from the trenches by David George. I'm starting out with a dad book, in honor of my dad, who has never, ever read a parenting book (ever). This book is told from the point of view of a father whose own dad died early, leaving him to figure everything out on his own. It covers a variety of topics.

Screamfree Parenting: Raising Your Kids by Keeping Your Cool by Hal Runkel. This book provides a hands-on approach to dealing with parental stresses. It suggests that good parenting comes from an 'in control' parent.

Pressured parents, Stressed-out Kids: dealing with competition while raising a successful child by Wendy S. Grolnick and Kathy Seal. It seems as though competition is becoming one of the top issues, whether it's in sports or school. Find out how competition can find its way into the family dynamic.

You're Smarter Than You Think : a kid's guide to multiple intelligences by Thomas Armstrong. This book is my pick. I read it as a review copy several years ago, and I've always cherished warm feelings about it. It is based on a university study that suggests there are 8 different intelligences, not just the usual math or literature. Chapter by chapter, it helps you develop all 8 of your child's intelligences, and it celebrates the good in every child. Its positive outlook is right up my alley.

Sleep the Brazelton Way by T. Brazelton. For my last choice, I could have selected many excellent books, but I chose this one in honor of my friend who used this book to convince one of her boys to sleep through the night in his own bed. She really liked it, and having read a little Brazelton, I think you will too.

Local author Lauren Tarshis will visit the Library on Monday, March 10 at 4:30 p.m. to talk about her book, Emma Jean Lazarus Fell out of a Tree. This program is for grades 4 to 6, and we welcome children and parents to register by phone at 655-1234 x117. Ms. Tarshis' book was a Publisher's Weekly best book of 2007 as well as a School Library Journal best book of 2007, and received rave reviews from critics around the country. Come hear all about it!

The Darien Library is pleased to offer a “Windy Wednesday Kitemaking” workshop on Wednesday, March 19th at 4 p.m. for grades 2 to 5.

Students will make their own diamond-shaped kites, learn about kite history, how to fly a kite, and kite safety. All materials will be provided. Register in the Children’s Room.

Saturday, March 29th at 2:30 p.m.
Ages 5 and up.
Free tickets distributed 15 minutes before performance.

Opera Express will perform "Little Red Riding Hood," a children's operatic performance. The classic folktale from Germany features an original score. Opera Express is a division of the Connecticut Opera, the sixth oldest professional opera company in the United States.