Bilingual Story Stroll

June 17 - 30

Stop by the paths in front of the Granby Library to read “Isaac’s Story” on behalf of Children’s Mental Health. Different Kinds of Hurt: Isaac's Story, a graphic novel for elementary and middle school-aged children, shows how an honest conversation. Walk in one direction to read in English and the other direction to read in Spanish.

Visit: https://www.mass.gov/news/different-kinds-of-hurt-isaacs-story-sparking-conversation-about-childrens-mental-health

Summer Youth Happenings at the Granby Free Public Library

Download and print out the full flyer here.

Music with Mr. Eric

Wednesday, June 23rd at 10am

Entertaining, interactive music with a local favorite, Mr. Eric! Please sign-up for this program as space is limited.

Reading Buddies Return!

Tuesdays July 6 & 20 - 11am and 12:30pm

Ruff! Read to a Dog at the Granby Library on Tuesdays July 6 & 20 between 11am and 12:30pm.

Children in Kindergarten & up ~ Sign up to reserve a 20 minute spot to read to Gwen, the greyhound. Children enjoy reading aloud to our gentle, comforting Reading Buddy, Gwen, a Bright Spot Therapy Dog, as they practice their fluency and strengthen their confidence in reading.
To be held outdoors, weather permitting. Safety measures will be taken.
Call or stop in the library during open hours to sign up.

Imagine Your Story - Summer Reading Program

June 8th - August 13th

Bi-Weekly Imagination Kits & Storywalks
Bi-weekly, in keeping with a fantasy theme, pick up a take home bag containing a few fun projects for the week & enjoy some great Storywalks along library paths.

Royal Readers, behold our bi-weekly themes:

June 22 Unicorns
Storywalk - Sophie Johnson, Unicorn Expert
Celebrate the legendary, mystical unicorn! Take home a unicorn horn headband, make a magical bookmark & necklace. Imagination adventures with a sprinkle of pure magic.

July 6-16 Royalty
Storywalk - La Princesa and the Pea
Make way for the king & queen! Feel like royalty in a crown you decorate by adding some faux jewels! Create a fairy tale stick puppet and make a wand to help you rule.

July 20-30 Knight Training
Storywalk - Zog
Hear ye, hear ye, it's knights & princesses vs. dragons. Decorate a shield crest with your own special symbols and create a dragon mask. En garde! Catapults too! This week we will raffle off 6 sword and armor sets!

August 3-13 Gnomes
Storywalk - Go Gnome or Go Home
Create a wooden gnome door, go on a gnome hunt, scratch up some forest art and give a gnome a yarn beard!

August 10-13 Shark Week! Check out shark themed books/DVDs this week and receive a raffle ticket for our Shark Week prize basket for each book/DVD you check out. Pick up a "Name That Tail" sheet and identify the types of sharks by their tails and you'll earn another raffle ticket.

Download the full packet here.
Download the sign-up sheet here.

New! Pre-Reader Summer Program

June 8th - August 13th

Sign up your child, age birth through 5, for the Pre-Reader Summer Reading Program to build early literacy skills & earn incentives this summer!
*This program is in lieu of the Baby & Toddler Program. Due to choking hazards in weekly activity packs, activity packs are geared for older pre-readers. Please note we interchange Preschooler and Pre-Reader.

Preschool/Pre-Reader Activity Kits & Storywalks
Bi-weekly, pick up a take home bag containing a couple of fun literacy based activities geared toward preschoolers & enjoy some great Storywalks along library paths.

June 22-July 2 Sing Along
Storywalk - Sophie Johnson, Unicorn Expert
5 Little Ducks went out to play.. create the 5 little duck stick puppets and act out the song. Learn the Green Grass Grows All Around & grow a grass head.

July 6-16 The Three Bears
Storywalk - La Princesa and the Pea
Color & cut out a bear headband and spin up a yarn bear face. Make Goldilocks & the Three Bears pupper characters and act out the story.

July 20-30 Really Royal Readers
Storywalk - Zog
All things castles - castle color sorting, tracing & making crowns fit for royalty.

August 3-13 I Spy
Storywalk - Go Gnome or Go Home
Go on an I Spy store visit with fun activities for kids to try at the grocery store. Create an I Spy bottle!

August 10-13 It's Shark Week! Check out shark themed books this week & receive a raffle ticket for our Shark Week prize basket for each item you check out. Pick up a "Name That Tail" sheet and identify the sharks by their tales and you'll earn another raffle ticket.

Download the full packet for Pre-Reader Summer Program here.
Download the sign-up sheet here.

Play & Learn at Granby Library’s In- Person Outdoor Playgroups this Summer!

Let’s get together again! Join us for safe, outdoor weekly playgroups at the Granby Library beginning on June 16th. You must sign up for a 45 minute time slot to attend; time slots are 10 & 11am. There will be a limit of four families/ groups per time slot. Sanitizer will be provided, social distancing and safety measures will be taken and there will be no shared materials.

The library’s Playgroup Facilitator, Marti Wiechman, is an excellent resource for parenting skills and techniques. Marti has some great outdoor activities planned this summer.

The Granby Library Playgroup is funded by EEC and the CFCE grant (Coordinated Family and Community Engagement.)

We must cancel the outdoor Playgroup in the event of inclement weather.

Summer Stories on the Library Patio

Come and enjoy some summer stories on the library patio (off the Children’s Room) on Thursdays, June 17th and 24 ^th at 11am. We will read fun stories about bugs, butterflies and gardens!

Please sign up to join us! We will practice safety measures. Call the library or stop in the library during library hours to sign up.

Granby Free Public Library 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.

View our current newsletter here.

Granby Library’s Playgroup on Zoom!

Every Tuesday at 10am

The Collaborative will sponsor this early literacy and STEM CFCE Playgroup every Tuesday at 10am.

Join our playgroup leader, Marti live on Zoom for hands on sensory play, plus circle songs and storytime. Email the library at granbypubliclibrary@gmail.com or mwiechman@collaborative.org (same link each week) link to the join in!

Everyone is welcome! Ideal for ages birth to 7 years.

Parent Conversation Groups on Zoom geared to the challenges of raising young children in the Time of COVID.

Visit collaborative.org for updates! You will need to download the newest version of Zoom on your computer, tablet or smart phone.

Follow us on Facebook!

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/

Scholastic Teachables

Check out the new Summer Stay-on-Track Packs!

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.com/site/launch/tcb?ucn=600019968

On Teachables:
         Username – granbypl
         Password – granbypl
*You must go though our link – the picture on our library Children’s tab/ page*

Help Navigating
Here’s 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).

Children's Resources

Great online resources offered free of charge

	Teach Your Monster To Read! The groundbreaking game that makes learning to read fun!
	Learning apps and games.
	Make any room a classroom.
	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.
	Get printable worksheets, at-home lesson plans, craft ideas, and activities.
	STEM experiments and space themed storytimes.
	Activate your kids' imagination with podcasts, audiobooks, and music.
	Join the PBS Kids newsletter for access.
	Find coloring pages themed around bilingual Nick Jr. characters with words in English and Spanish.
	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.
	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."
	Fun printables based on picture books published by Harper Collins. Also some great storytime tips!
	Resources, downloadable activities, bookslists and more! Click on "Activities and Printables" to find printable learn-at-home activities.

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.

The 1,000 Books Before Kindergarten program in a nutshell:
1. When you enroll your child you will receive a folder that contains your first 100 books chart. For every book read, cross off one circle on your chart.
2. When you have read 100 books to your child, bring the completed chart to the library. Your child will get his or her name on our Wall of Fame (great photo op!), a sticker and a new chart for the next 100 books.
3. After every 100 books, make sure to pick up your sticker and the next chart.
4. When your child reaches 1,000 books, he or she will receive a book and a Certificate of Achievement.
5. Finished all the steps? Congratulations! You did it! You gave your children a priceless gift - the readiness to read!

Every child in your family can participate, from infant to Kindergarten!
Does reading 1,000 books seem totally overwhelming? We promise, it's not as hard as you think! 3 books per day for 1 year = 1,095 books . 1 book per day for 3 years = 1,095 books.

You can:
Read the same book over and over and over
Read in any language
Storytimes count too!

It's simple, fun and we'll help you get there!

ABC Mouse at the Library

New!!

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!