Now On View

*Alaska – There and Back: Artist Marja Gina Prewitt will be exhibiting drawings and paintings in the library’s lower meeting room through July 31.

The artwork is a unique interpretation of Native American “transformations,” which show the artist’s strong ties to native American culture.

Programs For Young Adults

*Nutmeg Book Discussion: Thunder from the Sea by Joan Hiatt Harlow will be discussed on Wednesday,

July 26, beginning at 4 pm.

Students entering grades 4 through 6 in the fall are invited to join this hour-long informal discussion of this Nutmeg nominee about an orphan boy, Tom, and a stranded dog, Thunder, and their struggle to find a family despite a blizzard, a tidal wave, and worst of all, Thunder’s former owner.

*PJ Time: “The Elephant’s Sneeze” will be the puppet play performed on Wednesday, July 26, at 6:30 pm, for PJ Story Time.

This 45-minute program of stories, songs and a puppet show is recommended for ages 3-7. Don’t forget to wear your pajamas!

*Family Program with Les Julian: Les Julian will bring his unique, award-winning family program of songs and stories to C.H. Booth Library on Thursday, July 27, from 7 to 8 pm.

Over the past 25 years, Mr Julian has entertained thousands with his original songs on guitar and mandolin. His unforgettable voice and expressive story-telling is sure to captivate.

Seating will be on a first come, first served basis.

*Author workshop: Newtown resident and author-illustrator Jennifer Thermes will discuss the creative aspects of picture book writing in a workshop on Thursday, August 3, from 3:30 to 4:30 pm, for ages 7-10.

Participants will be asked to stretch their imaginations and create a character based on a pair of shoes (supplied by the author).

Class size is limited to 15; sign up in the children’s department.

Signed copies of Sam Bennett’s New Shoes, Mrs Thermes’s new book, will be available for purchase.

Young Adult Events

*YA Book Talk: Let’s talk about Inventing Elliot by Graham Gardner, a 2007 YA Nutmeg nominee.

Elliot, a victim of bullying, invents a calmer, cooler self when he changes schools in the middle of freshman year, but the Guardians gang wants him to join up with them.

Join us on Wednesday, August 9, from 4 to 5 pm, in the Story Room. Sign up at the Main Floor Circulation Desk, call 426-4533, or just drop in.

*Cool Drinks & Cool Stories for rising 6th graders and up.

Come on Thursday, August 10, at 4 pm, and make a delicious smoothie to beat the heat. Then sit back and listen to master storyteller Carol Birch tell some captivating stories that should be in our history books.

Sign up at the Main Floor Circulation Desk or call 426-4533.

Adult Programs

*Book Discussions: The next program scheduled will be a discussion about A.S. Byatt’s The Djinn in the Nightingale’s Eye on Monday, August 14, at 1 pm.

*Indie Film Series: Films return to the lower meeting room for free screenings on August 8 with Spare Parts. Screenings begin at 7:30 and are free of charge.

Later offerings in the series will be Campfire on November 14, and Hawaii, Oslo on December 12.

*Sounds Of Summer: Join us at The Pleasance, at the corner of Main Street and Sugar Street, for free concerts this summer.

Picnic under the stars with friends and neighbors. Bring your own blankets or low lawn chairs for seating. Concerts begin at 7 pm.

The 2006 series will continue on Friday, August 18, with Goldrush, and then concludes on Friday, September 8, with The Golden Angel Jazz Band.

In the event of rain on any of the concert dates, the shows will move into the lower meeting room at the library.

*Book Nook Notes: Suffering from the post Book Sale Blues? The Book Nook is exploding with great summer reading choices for readers of all ages. A special collection of American President biographies is being featured this month; pick up some beautiful hard cover volumes  for your home library.

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