Children's Room Newsletter
Paper copies of our Children's Room Newsletter are available in the lobby of the library. If you'd like to be added to the GFPL Children's Room Newsletter email list, please email Janice McArdle at janicemcardlegpl@gmail.com.
Download the February Newsletter Here
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Keep up with the most relevant information about the Granby Free Public Library and what's happening in the Children's Room!
https://www.facebook.com/granbylibrarychildrens/
CFCE Playgroup
Ages Birth - 5
CFCE Playgroup
Every Wednesday and Friday at 10:30am
Ages Birth - 5
Parents & caregivers, join Marti for a free playgroup, where you and your child can play and enjoy an activity, stories and songs! Don't wear your best - we get messy and have fun.
Saturday Playgroup Dates:
March 15th - “Hola Amigos” Early childhood is a wonderful time to introduce young children to other cultures and languages. This special event introduces the Spanish and Latin American culture to children five and under, and it includes children’s music, stories, games, an art activity, and a special snack. Drop in and join us!
No Playgroup on the following dates:
February 19th and 21st
April 23rd and 25th
*There is no Playgroup when Granby Schools are closed.
Playgroup is made possible with funding from a Coordinated Family and Community Engagement (CFCE) grant from the MA Department of Early Education and Care, administered by the Collaborative for Educational Services.
Read to a Dog! Reading Buddies
Thursdays from 3:30pm - 5pm
Give your kids a fun, laid back chance to practice by reading to a dog. Our friendly, certified therapy pooch is ready to listen (along with their human teammate). A child's reading improves with practice – and the dog vocabulary will benefit, too!
Dog + kid + book = fun! Pencil in a pup appointment!
Children in Kindergarten & up ~ Sign up to reserve a 20 minute spot to read to Gwen, the sweetest greyhound, she loves to be read to!
Thursdays 3:30 -5pm
February 13th and 20th
March 6th and 20th
April 3rd and 17th
To pre-register, stop in or call the library during open library hours. 413-467-3320
Nature Times with Ranger Tasha
Story, Crafts & Hands on - Tuesdays at 10:30am
"It's like a museum visiting the library! Ranger Tasha brings fun natural resources and lots of nature knowledge!"
Drop-in! Ages 3-5 years, siblings & homeschoolers
Enjoy a nature theme story, learn hands on and make a craft about the world around us in New England.
Dates to be announced.
Presented by Tasha Daniels, Park Ranger/Visitor Services Specialist at the Silvio O. Conte National Fish and Wildlife Refuge, U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service.
Book Club Bookworms
A Book Group for Ages 8-12
Meetings include an ice breaker activity, discussion and activity. Join us! Add your name to the email list for updates.
Our Book Club will be on break until after the holidays!
February 14th at 3:15pm - The Great Gilly Hopkins by Katherine Patereson. Join us for an icebreaker, book chat, a craft and goodies! Add your name to our sign up list for updates and join.
March - No meeting; next meeting April 11th.
February is Black History Month
It's never too early to begin celebrating and teaching your child about Black leaders of yesterday and today. Explore Black scientists, politicians, activists and more, who have left their mark on U.S. history through books at the Library. Encourage your child's curiosity about the contributions and accomplishments of Black people in history.
Visit: https://www.pbs.org/parents/black-history-month
I Love Books! Read for Treats Sheet
Read (or be read to) 5 picture books or 1 chapter book, then write the book title(s) on the Read for Treats sheet and return it to the Library to redeem for a Valentine's treat by February 14!
Valentine's Take Home Craft
Create a Cup of Love! Make a Love Bug! Crafts will be out at separate times. While supplies last.
"Cozy Up and Read" Raffle
February 1st - 27th
When you check out at least one kid's book (to cozy up and read with), ask for a raffle ticket at the circulation desk. A random name will be picked to win a Winter Fun Basket with a "Snowball Fight Kit," hot cocoa and toppings. 1 raffle ticket per child.
Let's Get Busy! Help build Richard Scarry's "Busytown Village"
Tuesday, February 18th at 10:30am - *until completed
Fun for all ages, older kids are needed to help little kids engineer this large set from the ground up with many pieces, large pieces included too. Join in the group build! Drop in.
Brick Build "Glasses" Activity
Wednesday, February 19th at 11am
Add Lego to these fun frames to create some one-of-a-kind peepers! Free play with our huge selection of Lego after, too! Pre-register for the Glasses Activity so we can reserve a pair for you. Ages 4 and up.
Scholastic Teachables
The Granby Library has Scholastic Teachables for you to use for free from any device! Tons of printables, lessons and more for students through grade 6. You do not need to have a Granby library card (other communities welcome). Go to the following link: https://digital.scholastic.
On Teachables:
Username – granbypl
Password – granbypl
*You must go though our link – the picture on our library Children’s tab/ page*
Help Navigating
There are a couple of great YouTube videos that walk you through Scholastic Teachables. These videos help you navigate Teachables for it’s full potential and show you how to reach your specific needs.
Search YouTube for:
eResources Review: Scholastic Teachables
Volusia Reads: Scholastic Teachables Tutorial
Remember to use OUR library link, username & password (no library card needed).
1,000 Books Before Kindergarten
Make sure your child is as ready as they can be for one of the biggest moments of their little life - starting school. Read them 1,000 books before kindergarten & keep track with this nation-wide program.
Program Overview:
The concept if simple, but the rewards are priceless. Read a book (any book) to your newborn, infant, or toddler. The goal is to read 1,000 books (yes, you can repeat books) before your child starts kindergarten.
Sound hard? Not really if you think about it: If you read just 1 book a night, you will have read 365 books in one year - that's 730 books in two years and 1,095 books in three years. If you consider that most children start kindergarten at around five, you have more time thatn you think (to get started)!
How to participate:
Read with your child. Keep track of how many books you've read by filling in the shapes on your log. Books read at storytime count too! When each log sheet is completed, bring it back to the Youth Services Desk and receive your next log! You will get a sticker for every 100 books read.
When your child reaches 1,000 books, they will have their photo taken for our Wall of Fame, they will get a certificate and a medal, and may pick out a free book!
You may read (and re-read) ANY book. We do have a list of book suggestions if you need help choosing books.
www.1000booksbeforekindergarten.org
Guess How Many Snowballs Are in the Jar?
The closest guess, without going over, wins the jar of snowballs/marchmallows and some yummy hot cocoa!
ABC Mouse at the Library
ABCmouse.com helps kids learn to read through phonics and teaches lessons in math, social studies, art, music and much more! For kids ages 2 - 7+. Use it on the computers in the Children's Room of the Library!
Children's Resources
Great online resources offered free of charge
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Teach Your Monster To Read! The groundbreaking game that makes learning to read fun! |
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Learning apps and games. |
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Make any room a classroom. |
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An online hub for literacy and reading that features many lesson plans, activities, and printable materials such as book-themed word searches, crosswords, and memory games. |
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Get printable worksheets, at-home lesson plans, craft ideas, and activities. |
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STEM experiments and space themed storytimes. |
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Activate your kids' imagination with podcasts, audiobooks, and music. |
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Join the PBS Kids newsletter for access. |
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The publisher offers writing and drawing activities, puzzles, games and mazes, word searches, and coloring pages themed around picture books, nonfiction books, and chapter books. |
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Candlewick Press has produced a myriad of resources featuring some of our favorite characters like Stink and Mercy Watson. Click on "Resources" and then "Activity Sheets and Reproducibles." |
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Fun printables based on picture books published by Harper Collins. Also some great storytime tips! |
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Resources, downloadable activities, bookslists and more! Click on "Activities and Printables" to find printable learn-at-home activities. |
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Resources for Parents and Caregivers
Advocates for Home Education in Massachusetts, Inc. - Resources for Homeschooling in Massachusetts