Join Darien Library's Roots and Shoots Team!                

Wednesday, July 1 at 3pm

*Ages 7-11

Roots and Shoots is a Youth Division of the Jane Goodall Institute.

Members will learn about opportunities to make the world a better place for animals, the environment, and their community.                   

-The next meeting will be Wednesday, August 5 at 3pm.                                                                                                            

There is still space for the R.E.A.D. program this Saturday, June 20 at 1:00pm.

Kids can sign up for individual reading sessions with the Darien Library's R.E.A.D.er dog, Brasil and friends.

Stop by the children's desk, or call to register. To find out more about the R.E.A.D. program at Darien Library click here.

You can bring a book from home, or select one from the children's collection.

Here are some suggestions for books Brasil might enjoy.

R.E.A.D. Pick

And here are a few books you might NOT want to bring!

Cat Books

Students entering 6th, 7th, and 8th grade at Middlesex Middle School in September 2009 can find information about their reading requirements on the Middlesex website (Click here).

To aid in finding the books you need, click below to view and print out lists that include the LIbrary call numbers and a how to find guide:

Incoming 6th Graders

Incoming 7th Graders

Incoming 8th Graders

You can also view the books in our catalog and put them on reserve by clicking on the following tags:

Middlesex 6th & 7th Suggested Books 2009 

Middlesex 8th Required Books 2009

For more information about choosing and finding great summer books, stop by the Library and ask a librarian!

Yesterday, we had our first Stories on the Spectrum program here in the Children's Library.  The program, designed for children on the autistic spectrum between 3- and 8-years-old drew in moms, dads, aids, caregivers, grandparents, and siblings.  It was truly a family storytime.  And boy did we have fun! 

We started the storytime by blowing bubbles and watching them fall gently around us.  We read two great picturebooks, The Bus for Us by Suzanne Bloom and Dear Zoo by Rod Campbell.  (As we continue with this program, I will tag the picturebooks and materials used in our catalog under the tag "stories on the spectrum pick."  Please feel free to add your own selections to the list.) 

We sang some songs (The Wheels on the Bus by Josh Levine was a big hit), did some fingerplays (like Itsy Bitsy Spider and Twinkle Twinkle Little Star), and ended it all with a messy but super cool art project: bubble painting!  If you've never experienced bubble painting, you are missing out!  It's easy to do: just mix a little bit of washable paint into a container of blowing bubbles.  Shake it up.  Then tape up a big piece of paper to a wall or easel and blow bubbles at the paper.  Voila!  The bubbles will stick, drip down, and create lovely watercolor-like designs. 

The next Stories on the Spectrum program will take place on Saturday, June 13th at 11am.  If you are interested in signing up, you can call us at 669-5235 or email me directly at kparrott@darienlibrary.org. 

photo courtesy of Flickr user Pink Sherbert Photography