Children’s Programs

*Hands-On Science: Newtown residents ages 7-9 are invited to join Bonnie Shugrue for “Hands On Science: Blast Off!” on Tuesday, June 7.

Participants will use air power to send a straw rocket flying high. Online registration is requested for the one-hour program, which will begin at 4:15.

*Father’s Day Craft with Marie Walker: Frame your favorite picture for your father on Thursday, July 16, at 4 pm.

Bring a picture of yourself that is no bigger than 3 by 3 inches, and you will learn how to make a frame using puzzle pieces.

The program is for ages 6-9 and there is a $3 materials fee due at registration, which can be done at the children’s circulation desk. 

*Summer Reading Kick-Off and Children’s Book Sale: Summer reading officially begins on Monday, June 27.

A magic show and stories from around the world will be presented by Full Effect Productions. There will be two performances, at 11 am and 1 pm.  Free tickets will be available at the children’s circulation desk when we open at 9:30 am on June 27.

The Friends of the Library will host a children’s book sale from 9:30 am to 5 pm. Shop for favorite titles and series and stock up for summer reading.

For Young Adults

*Harry Potter Movie Marathon: Leading up to the July 15 release of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part 2, we’ll show all the Harry Potter movies in order at the library.

Admission is free, and pizza slices will be available for $1 each between the features starting at 4 and 7 pm. Drop in and join us! The schedule is as follows:

Sunday, June 12: 4 pm, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone; and at 7, Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets;

Friday, June 17, 4 pm, Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban; and at 7, Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire; and

Friday, July 8, 1 pm, Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix; 4 pm, Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince; and at 7, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part 1.

*Cool Drinks & Cool Stories: Monday, June 27, from 3 to 5 pm.

Enjoy a fresh, made-to-order fruit smoothie, then relax and enjoy African folk tales and drumming with two really talented performers, Eshu Bumpus and Ricardo Frota.

Each year, we kick off the Teen Summer Reading Challenge with sophisticated storytellers for young adults. There will also be information on all of our summer programs for teens, along with the prizes to be awarded for summer reading for rising grades 6-12. This year’s grand prize is an Amazon Kindle®.

Registration is required, and can be done through the library’s website.

Adult Programs

*Book Groups: The Nonfiction Book Group will discuss Twilight at Monticello by Allen Pell Crawford on Tuesday, June 7, at 1 pm; The Daytime Book Group will discuss Thomas H. Cook’s The Cloud of Unknowing on Monday, June 13, at 1 pm; and The Evening Book Group will talk about The Help by Katherine Stockett on Thursday, June 16, at 7:30 pm.

Copies of these titles are available at the library, and newcomers are always welcome to join any of our book discussions.

*Get Clued In: A lecture series for writers of all ages and abilities, “Get Clued In” will offer its final program next week.

On Tuesday, June 7, at 7:30 pm, Police Detective Dan McAnaspie from Newtown Police Department will talk about police procedure both for crimes handled by local police and crimes that require collaboration between local and state police. A Q&A period will follow the presentation, which will begin at 7:30.

*Networking Strategies for a Successful Job Search.

Cheryl Schwartz, LCSW/CRC, has a practice as a career coach in Newtown and volunteers her time and expertise at the library to teach networking strategies to first time job seekers as well as the underemployed, unemployed and those contemplating a career change.  Technology has changed the way in which jobs are filled.

Cheryl will offer her next program for us on Thursday, June 16, at 3 pm. Registration is requested, online or by calling the library, and refreshments will be served.

*Escapes and Intrigues: Julie Stern, a retired teacher of English and philosophy, will be back at the library this summer to lead a discussion series on some classic mysteries. Copies of all of the books are available at the second floor circulation desk.

Programs will be on Tuesdays at 7:30 pm and the schedule is as follows: June 14, The Moonstone by Wilkie Collins; June 28, The Thirty-Nine Steps by John Buchanan; July 12, The Secret Agent by Joseph Conrad; July 26, Rogue Male by Geoffrey Household; and August 9, Our Man in Havana by Graham Greene.                

*‘Mother Nature’s Child,’ A Special Screening: Cub Scout Pack 170 and the library have teamed up to host a special viewing of Mother Nature’s Child on Monday, June 20, at 7 pm.

For thousands of years human beings evolved in the natural world, and until only a generation ago, our children played freely outdoors. In a single generation, contemporary culture has undergone drastic change forcing children indoors, where, increasingly, they exhibit symptoms of “nature deficit”: obesity, depression, and attention disorders.

Mother Nature’s Child explores the essential ways nature experience promotes children’s well-being, contributes to the future of the planet, and nourishes the human spirit. A panel discussion will follow the screening; the film’s running time is 56 minutes.

*Needlework and Craft Books at The Little Book Store: A wonderful collection of beautiful needlework books have been donated to The Little Book Store and are available for purchase. You will find selections of sampler art, stump work, crewel, embroidery as well as other needlework art and instruction books.

Several other crafts are also represented included glass painting, drawing instruction, quilting, beading and crafts for children. These bookcase top displays are in addition to our normal selection of craft books.  Stop in and stock up for your summer crafting.

Currently On View

The Hawley Family Basket Collection from the early 20th Century is on display in the large display case near the children’s area. Baskets were frequently worn out with daily use, and to have a collection in such excellent condition is notable.

The baskets include ones for sewing and marketing, and there is also a basket for holding caps from the Fairchild family.

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.