No Afternoon StoryTime today ....

Afternoon StoryTime has been canceled, and the Upton Town Library will be closing at 2pm.

Happy Thanksgiving!

The Library will be closing at 2pm today,
and will be closed Thursday and Friday.
We will be open on Saturday, 10-2.

Programs:
Library Table at the Senior Center--Wed. 11am-12noon
Music & Movement -- Wed. 1pm at Town Hall
NO STORYTIMES this week.

Happy Thanksgiving!!

LOTS of NEW books, just in time for Back-to-School!

Hello Everyone,
Now that the busy Summer has come to an end, we're getting back into our regular storytime schedules and routines at the library!

Don't Forget:
Music&Movement returns this week!
Wednesdays at 1:00pm
in the Upton Town Hall


Come to the Library and see all the new books
that have just arrived, including the "most challenged book of 2006" ....

Click here to learn about why this book:

topped the list of "challenged books" last year!

*************************

Be sure to check out some new titles in the
BEGINNING READER section:

********************

Also, just in:
The Brand-New Magic Tree House book, Monday With a Mad Genius

and the latest Ivy & Bean chapter book:

Hope to see you soon @ the Library!
~Lisa
:)

This week's Library Events

This week:

Wednesday, August 15
6:30pm
PJ StoryTime at the Upton Town Library
Wear your PJs, bring a 'blankie' or teddy, and join me for bedtime stories, followed by cookies & milk!


Saturday, August 18
10am - 2pm
End-of-Summer Celebration!
This is the finale to our Summer Reading Program ...
Join us at the Upton Town Library and in the Upton Town Hall and find out what we've been up to all summer!

• This will be the last day to redeem clock hours for prizes from the Treasure Chest!

• Summer Reading Program participants can stop by and pick up a certificate of completion if they have logged at least 10 hours.

• Dance-Dance Revolution Tournament 10-12noon in Town Hall

• skits performed by drama program participants 12-12:30 in Town Hall

• Make-Your-Own-Sundaes, sponsored by the Friends of the Upton Town Library, outside, 12:30-2pm

• Face Painting, Arts&Crafts, sponsored by ULTRA, ongoing 10-2

Hope to see you there!!

End-of-Summer Celebration!

It's hard to believe the summer is winding down already!

Please join us on
Saturday, August 18, 2007
from 10-2

here at the Library
and at the Upton Town Hall.

We will have a Dance Dance Revolution tournament taking place in the Town Hall from 10-12; skits performed by students in the drama programs directed by Jen Davis-Nichol from approx. 12-12:30 on the Town Hall stage; Friends of the Library will be sponsoring a Make-Your-Own Sundae booth outside the library from 12:30-2; ULTRA will be offering Face Painting and arts&crafts activities for kids to enjoy. Hope to see you there!

Rhythms of the World: Stories&Songs for Everyone

The Upton Town Library
presents
Rhythms of the World:
Stories & Songs for Everyone
a multi-cultural celebration in story and song with two Parents' Choice Award winning performers ...
Davis Bates & Roger Tincknell

Tuesday, July 24, 2007
2:00pm
Nipmuc HS Auditorium

FREE!
No registration required!

Part of the library's annual summer reading program "Catch the Beat at Your Library!" This performance is funded, in part, by a grant from the Upton Cultural Council, a local agency supported by the Massachusetts Cultural Council, a state agency.

Potter Party a Success!

I just wanted to say what a huge success the Harry Potter Party was, at the Library, on Friday night!! More than 100 people stopped in to enjoy snacks and arts & crafts, and to watch Harry Potter movies, between 4pm - midnight ... many staying the entire 8 hours! It was a really fun time, and would not have been possible without all the help from volunteers!! A HUGE Thank You to the Friends of the Upton Library who organized and shopped for the food, crafts and decorations for the event, and for all the wonderful helpers who set-up, donated and/or collected decorations, brought baked goods to share, and helped clean up at midnight! Thanks also to the ULTRA members who staffed the arts&crafts table all evening!

(Believe it or not, I think *most* of the glitter from the
magic wands actually got cleaned up pretty well!)

Summer Program in full swing ....

Well, we're off to a great start, with more than 400 kids already registered for the Summer Reading Program! As usual, the Treasure Chest of prizes is VERY popular with our young readers who are busy tracking the time they spend reading. And teens are submitting book reviews for their chance to win prizes, too, in a special teen-only weekly raffle.

Last night's Pajama StoryTime was a success, with several families attending in PJs to enjoy stories followed by a snack of milk & cookies!

"Read-to-the-Beat", the book group for ages 6-9 started yesterday, at Memorial School, with lots of happy readers leaving with a book to read and a very noisy kazoo they each created from a cardboard tube, wax paper, and lots of imagination!
(THANK YOU to all the parents who helped with that activity, especially Erin Alcott! I could NOT have pulled that off without her!)
We'll make a different musical instrument each week!

There's still time to register for "The Beat Goes On" the book group for 9-12 year olds. This group will actually be more of a theater workshop/drama class than just a book group! Participants are asked to read the 2000 Newbery Medal Winner, Bud, Not Buddy by Christopher Paul Curtis and come to the first session on July 11 prepared to discuss the book and work on creating a skit based on the characters and story. This group will be directed and facilitated by Upton resident Jennifer Jo Davis. Please call the library for more info!

Looking for things to do this Summer?
Don't forget to check the list of
COUPONS
available at the Library!
Save money at lots of fun places all over Massachusetts this Summer!

Lil' Folk Farm

Just a reminder that
Lil' Folk Farm
will be visiting Upton today,
from 1-3pm,
outside at the library!

(Don't forget your cameras!)

FREE coupons for Summer Reading Program Participants!

In addition to all of our regular museum passes, sponsored by the Friends of the Upton Town Library, we also have a bunch of limited-time-only discount coupons for lots of fun places all over the state!

For a list of sponsors who have donated coupons to the 2007 Massachusetts Statewide Summer Reading Program, click here.

Coupons are free, and available for the asking, beginning on June 12, until August 18. Each coupon has its own expiration date and 'rules' so be sure to read it carefully when you receive it.

Summer Updates!!

In addition to all the great events happening in JUNE, here are a few more dates to remember:

Tuesday, June 12: stop by and meet the Friends of the Upton Town Library ~ chat, have some coffee and find out how you can help! (This is also the first day to register for the Summer Reading Programs!) Hope to see you there!
(Keep an eye out for the Friends Newsletter, arriving in Upton mailboxes this week!!)

Don't Forget to come visit with Arthur on Friday, June 15th! 2-4pm

Just added:

Tuesday, June 26: Pajama StoryTime!
Come to the Library at 6:30 for a very special storytime.
Wear your PJs and bring a blankie! Cookies & Milk will be served.

Fun Family Events in June!

Here's what's happening at the Upton Town Library next month ...

Wednesday, June 6:

Music & Puppets w/Mr. Kim
1:00 at the Upton Town Hall
sponsored by a grant from Beginning Years Family Network

Tuesday, June 12:

Registration begins for the 2007 Summer Library Adventure!

Wednesday, June 13:

New England Aquarium's
Traveling Tide Pool Exhibit

inside Town Hall, 1-3pm (stop by anytime)
sponsored, in part, by a grant from Circle of Friends Community Partnership for Children

Friday, June 15:

Come meet Arthur
and sign-up for the Summer Reading Program!

2-4pm at the Library
sponsored, in part, by Barnes & Noble's Community Outreach Program and the Friends of Upton Town Library

Wednesday, June 20:

Animal Adventures
Wild, exotic animals will be here for you to visit,
outside at the library (or inside Town Hall if it rains)
1-3pm (stop by anytime)
sponsored, in part, by a grant from Circle of Friends Community Partnership for Children


The Little Red Wagon returns!
The traveling theatre troupe that brought us Treasure Island last year, returns to Upton for a creative, interactive interpretation of Aesop's Fables in
"Don't Count Your Chickens Until They Cry Wolf"
6pm, behind Nipmuc HS
(inside the auditorium if it rains!)
Bring your blankets or lawn chairs and come join the fun!

Wednesday, June 27:

Lil' Folk Farm's
Traveling Petting Farm

outside at the library 1-3pm (stop by anytime)
sponsored, in part, by a grant from Circle of Friends Community Partnership for Children


All events are Free, and No registration is required!
Please call the library w/any questions!
508-529-6272

Getting Ready for Book #7.....

If you're a Harry Potter fan, your calendar is probably already marked with the release date of the 7th and final book .... Saturday, July 21, 2007!

To celebrate the event, we are in the midst of planning a
"Potter Party" for the evening of July 20th,
4pm-Midnight in the Library!!

We're collaborating with members of the Friends of Upton Town Library to plan a fun family-friendly event, so stay tuned for more details as the date approaches ....

Thanks to all who attended ....

THANK YOU to all of you who attended our recent library-sponsored events, including the David Polansky concert at the Senior Center, and the PJ StoryTime at Barnes&Noble!!! I hope you had as much fun as I did?!!

Getting Ready to Catch the Beat .....

Hello Library Friends!
I am so sorry I haven't posted anything new here in a while .... been VERY busy finishing up a couple of courses this semester and planning for LOTS of fun activities, programs and events for this Summer! The 2007 theme for the statewide Summer Library Adventure is "Catch the Beat at Your Library!" I will be updating this blog, with all the info over the next few weeks, so please keep checking back! Fliers with a complete schedule will be sent home with all students at United Parish Preschool and Memorial School in Upton. Registration will officially begin on Tuesday, June 12, at the Library ....

National Library Week!

Happy School Vacation Week .... and Happy National Library Week!!

Click here for National Library Week Events sponsored by Upton Town Library!

Don't forget about all the wonderful passes we have to area museums, thanks to the Friends of the Upton Town Library! Click here for a complete list!

Tuesday is National Library Workers Day!

Libraries work because WE do!

Charlotte's Web on DVD

The 'best family film of the year' arrives on DVD this Tuesday, April 3rd!
It's 'SOME MOVIE'!
'Terrific'!

Finding Meaning in The Higher Power of Lucky

Click here to watch an interview with Susan Patron, author of this year's controversial Newberry Medal winner, The Higher Power of Lucky.

Click HERE to read what others have said about the controversy surrounding this book.

Septimus Heap: Book #3 is Here!

Book #3: Physik

Fans of Septimus Heap will be thrilled to know that the third installment has arrived! This series has fans of all ages, with parents reporting it as a fave even more than kids! If you like Harry Potter, you should definitely check out this 'magykal' trio by Angie Sage ...

Book #1: Magyk .... The seventh son of a seventh son, Septimus Heap is destined to be a powerful wizard, but is carried off shortly after his birth by a midwife who says he was born dead. In his place, his parents raise an abandoned newborn baby girl. Ten years later an evil wizard named DomDaniel appears to search for the baby girl, who is actually a princess.

Book #2: Flyte .... When Princess Jenna is pursued by a dark wizard, it is the apprentice, Septimus Heap, who must save her while enduring such terrors as a night in the Forest with hungry wolverines and carnivorous trees.

I met Jane Yolen!!!

As if my surprise birthday celebration at Thursday's storytime wasn't enough excitement for one week, on Friday I had the great pleasure of meeting JANE YOLEN!!! Jane was the keynote speaker at a Massachusetts Library Association conference for youth-services librarians from all across the state, at Tower Hill in Boylston.

Jane Yolen is the author of approximately a gazillion books for readers of all ages and has won LOTS of awards.


She has often been referred to as America's Hans Christian Andersen ...
you can read an interview of her discussing one of her books which honors that beloved author here.

An incredible writer,

she is also a wonderful speaker and it was truly an honor to be in her presence and listen to all she had to say about children's literature.

Miss Lisa's Birthday Surprise!

Thursday was my birthday, and did I get a BIG surprise from my morning StoryTime friends!!!

WOW!

Madeline & Abby's mom, Lori, made a truly AMAZING cake!!!

She MADE this herself .... from scratch .... I am still recovering from the surprise .... and all that yummy chocolate!!!

Thank you Lori, and everyone else who helped make my day so special!

Eragon ...

. . . released on DVD today!

National Library Week events . . .

More exciting events to look forward to!!! In addition to the intergenerational concert w/David Polansky, coming up on April 18, here are some more things to do during April school vacation week (which just so happens to also be NATIONAL LIBRARY WEEK!)

On the evening of Friday, April 20th, as part of the Barnes and Noble statewide fundraiser, Catch the Beat for your Library, I will be hosting a Pajama Storytime at 5:30pm in the Millbury B&N store! Wear your PJs and bring a 'blanky' and join me for a fun-filled half hour of bedtime stories!

Later that evening, ULTRA members will be participating in a Teen Book Talk, where teens from other library advisory boards will get together at B&N to discuss Teen Books in honor of the first-ever Support Teen Literature Day, sponsored by YALSA, as part of National Library Week.

Just in . . .

Everyone's Hero: "Directed - and inspired - by Christopher Reeve ... a fun-filled animated adventure the whole family will love!"

more new DVDs for Kids!

Look for some fun, new DVD's in the children's area!
I've just added a whole bunch, including several titles from the Air Bud series---even the new one, Air Buddies!

We have 3 volumes of Charlie and Lola on DVD, and 4 National Geographic DVDs about baby animals in the wild. And for all you truck and tractor fans, be sure to look for All About John Deere!

"3 Generations Sing"

Registration is taking place NOW for the next session of "3 Generations Sing" ~ an intergenerational music program facilitated by Apple Tree Arts of Grafton, and sponsored cooperatively by the Upton Town Library and the Upton Senior Center.
Space is limited to 12 families with children ranging in age from birth thru age 6 (with at least one child between the ages of 2-6) and any seniors (aka: Life-experienced Individuals or LEI's!) who would like to participate in this very educational, musical, social time together. Classes are 45-minutes and are held at the Senior Center.

Contact Lisa for more info. 508-529-6272 or email UptonStoryTime@yahoo.com

Upcoming Events....

This is just one of several upcoming events:

The Upton Town Library presents

an Intergenerational Concert

featuring

David Polansky

Wednesday, April 18, 2007

1pm at the

Upton Senior Center

Free Admission! Fun for ALL Ages!

Contact Lisa at the Library or Natasha at the Center for more info.

Look for David's CDs at the Upton Town Library:
I Like Dessert, Animal Alphabet Songs, and 32 Familiar Kid Songs.

Watch for more info soon,
about the many activities planned for June!

This week's storytime: GREEN!

Please wear something GREEN to the preschool storytime sessions this Thursday! To celebrate March and St. Patrick's Day, and looking forward to the coming of Spring, this week's theme will be the color green!

What's all the fuss about? 2007 Newbery Winner challenged!

This year's "most distinguished book for children", The Higher Power of Lucky, by Susan Patron, has come under recent fire from school personnel for its use of the word "scrotum" ....

Read the AASL/ALSC joint statement on the book’s true value, and author Susan Patron’s latest observations in the Los Angeles Times....
'Scrotum' as a children's literary tool: Children's books often tenderly introduce kids to sensitive adult-world realities, says the author of a controversial, prize-winning book.

I read, and LOVED, this book, and would highly recommend it ....

What do YOU think about the controversy, and about censorship in general?

Your local (public) Children's Librarian and ALA member,
Lisa Stratton

Happy Birthday, Cat in the Hat!

Click here to help celebrate The Cat-in-the-Hat's 50th Birthday and support Early Literacy!

http://www.seussville.com/


This week's storytime will include a reading of this Dr. Seuss classic!

Gung Hay Fat Choy!

That means Happy New Year in Chinese!

The Chinese New Year started this past Sunday, February 18, and the celebration runs until the full moon, on March 4th.
2007 is the Year of the Pig.

At today's storytime, I read one of many legends about how the 12 animals were chosen for the Chinese Zodiac, and the children helped by placing photos of the different animals onto the flannel board.

I also read This Next New Year by Janet S. Wong

(New York: Frances Foster Books, 2000)

After the stories, we made paper lanterns!