Children’s Program

*Spring Craft: Children ages 6 and up are invited to join Marie Walker on Thursday, April 14, from 4 to 5 pm, for a craft workshop.

Children will make a bunny container from a recycled milk jug.

A $3 materials fee is due upon registration, which can be done at the Children’s Department desk.

*Art Classes To Benefit Tsunami Victims In Japan: Kristine Humber will lead a pair of special art classes on Monday, April 18.

During the first one, from 10 to 11 am, children ages 5-7 will hear a reading of Zen Shorts by Jon Muth, the story of a giant panda who teaches the children of the neighborhood to see the world in new ways. Participants will then create giant panda paintings using crayons, pastels and watercolors.

There is a $5 materials fee, which will be donated to the Red Cross for its recovery efforts in Japan.  Register online.

Then at 1 o’clock, Kristine will offer a similar class. Artists ages 8-12 are invited to this session, which will open with a reading of Ed Young’s moving book, Tsunami!, a story about a rice farmer who saved his village by setting his rice fields on fire to warn them of an impending tsunami,.

Participants will then imitate the author’s collage techniques using rice paper, pastels and crayons. Register online for this workshop, which also has a $5 material fee that will be donated to the Red Cross.

For Young Adults

Creative Writing – Mysteries for young people in grades 6-8 begins on Thursday, May 5.

Julie Stern will lead the group on successive Thursday evenings, meeting from 6 to 8 pm through June 2.  There is a limit of ten participants, who are expected to attend all five sessions.

Sharing is an important part of all writing groups, so sessions will allow time for writing and sharing stories as well as one-on-one communication between adults and young people.

There is no fee for this program. Preference will be given to Newtown students and residents.  Sign up online.

Adult Programs

*Book Discussions: The Daytime Book Discussion on Monday, April 11, at 1 pm, will concern American Pastoral by Phillip Roth; The Evening Book Discussion on Thursday, April 21, at 7:30 pm, will cover The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot on Thursday, April 21, at 7:30 pm; and the next Nonfiction Book Discussion, on Monday, May 3, at 1 pm, will cover Crazy for the Storm by Norman Ollestad.

Copies of these titles are available at the library, and newcomers are always welcome to join any of the library’s book groups.

*The Ropes of Life — Social Class, Responsibility and the Individual’s Struggle Against the Tide:

The fourth book in the series being led by Julie Stern is The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald, which will be discussed on April 13. The series will conclude with Pride and Prejudice on April 27.

Both program will begin at 7:30 pm. Multiple copies of the book are available at the second floor desk.

*Literature and Life: Yale College Associate Dean Mark Schenker is leading a series on James Joyce and his collection of short stories, The Dubliners.

The finale will be offered on Thursday, April 14, at 7 pm. The program is free but online registration is required.

*Poetry Reading with Doris Henderson and Alan Holder: These two poets will visit the library to read from their collections of poetry on Sunday, April 17, at 2 pm.

*Ghostbusters of Connecticut: On Tuesday, April 19, at 7 pm, two investigators from the Connecticut Paranormal Research Society will come to the meeting room of the library to share photos video sound recordings and great stories about haunted houses and other sites in Connecticut.

This program is not recommended for children under the age of 12. You do not need to register to attend.

C.H. Booth Library is at 25 Main Street in Newtown. Call 203-426-4533 or visit CHBoothLibrary.org to register for any of the above listings, and for information on additional programs and offerings.