Now On View

*Quilt Show: “Amazement” is the title of The Scrap Bag Art Quilters’ annual show, which will open April 28 and then remain on view until May 26. You will be amazed at the originality and finesse.

The Quilters live in surrounding towns of Newtown.

Children’s Programs

*Mother’s Day Craft Workshop: Sign up to make something special for mom on her special day.

Marie Walker will lead a workshop on Saturday, May 6, at 1:30 pm. A $3 material fee is due upon registration. Open to ages 6 and older.

For Young Adults

*YA Book Talk: Let’s Talk About… For Freedom: The Story of a French Spy, by Kimberly Brubaker Bradley. A 2007 YA Nutmeg nominee, For Freedom will be the focus of our next young adult book discussion on Wednesday, May 10, from 4 to 5 pm, in the Story Room.

Suzanne just wants to focus on her wish to become an opera star, but when Nazi troops invade, she decides to become a spy for the Allies.

These monthly book discussions for grades 5-9 and up, or any young person who has read the book, and are co-sponsored by Reed Intermediate School. Books are available at both libraries.

Sign up at Booth Library’s main floor circulation desk or by calling 426-4533.

Adult Programs

*Book Discussions at the Library: Upcoming discussions will include Tuesday, May 2, at 7:30 pm, The Great Influenza by John Barry; Monday, May 8, at 1 pm, The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini; and Thursday, May 18, at 7:30 pm, Queen of the South by Arturo Perez-Reverte.

*Literature for a Lifetime: Patricia Barkman will lead discussions on four fiction books that deal with “Literature Around Catastrophic Events.”

Our generation has been witness to many natural and terrorist driven catastrophic events, from 9/11 and the tsunami of 2004 to Hurricane Katrina and others. Through the discussion of books in this series, participants will have an opportunity to examine some of the emotional, psychological, economic and political impacts events these have on people.

Participants will read The Bookseller of Kabul for the first discussion, on May 24; Balzac and the Little Seamstress for the June 7 discussion; Speak Memory for June 28; and Reading Lolita in Tehran for July 5.

All discussions will take place from 7 to 8:30 pm.  Multiple copies of the books are available at the library. Call if you have any questions.

*Independent Film Series: The previously-announced film Agata and the Storm will not be shown in May. The SCAN Art Show will be in the meeting room that weekend, so please stop by and enjoy the art of our Newtown and regional artists.

Watch the paper for the new film series, which will be beginning in June. We will be showing a wonderful assortment of new foreign and independent films.

*Author Talk: Lisa Phillips, writer and Newtown native, will read from her newly published book, Public Radio: Behind the Voices on Thursday, May 11, at 7 pm. Please call to let us know you are coming.

*Book Nook Notes: Mother’s Day is coming and the Book Nook has something for all of the moms on your list. Cookbooks, gardening books, mysteries, quilting books and lots of favorite authors abound. The Book Nook, just around the corner from the main circulation desk, is open during regular library hours.

*Help Needed: Are you an aficionado of LPs? Interested in putting your knowledge to work helping the Friends of the Library?

We have received a large order of unusual 78s and 33s for the book sale that need to be sorted and priced.

Please call Mary Maki at 426-3889 if you’d like to join the fun and can volunteer some of your time.

C.H. Booth Library, at 25 Main Street in Newtown, can be reached by calling 426-4533.