Secret Agents Club - Volunteer Club
7th-12th Graders
Runs thru August 2024
Are you in 7th-12th grade and have an interest in the library or need to complete a certain number of volunteer hours for school or honor society? Then become a member of our Library’s Secret Agents Club. Volunteers will assist with behind the scenes library tasks that will benefit our community!
How it works: Register to become a member of our Secret Agents Club. Once you have joined, we will periodically email you details on upcoming volunteer opportunities. You only commit to the dates that work for you! Volunteer opportunities may include:
- Assisting with programs/events
- Shelving
- Shelf checking
- Cutting/assembling crafts
- Pulling materials for librarians
- Cleaning toys and shelves
- Decorating for the holidays
- Designing bulletin boards and displays
- Assisting with the Storytrails
Come be a part of our volunteer team!
I Love My Kyrgyzstan - Children Art Exhibit
March 12th - May 20th
Promoting peace through arts and culture
Come to the East Granby Public Library and view the artwork created by Kyrgyzstan students 4-17 years of age studying at the Republic Center of Aesthetic Education for Children “Balajan“ in Bishkek. The exhibit celebrates the anniversary of the establishment of the diplomatic relations between Kyrgyz Republic (also known as Kyrgystan) and the US.
This traveling exhibition is brought to us by the Fermata Arts Foundation and the Embassy of the Kyrgyz Republic to the USA.
The mission of the Fermata Arts Foundation is to aid in the preservation of peace through mutual respect, understanding, and cooperation.
Story Trail: April - November 2024
Family hikers are welcome to explore our story trail now through mid November. Hike the 1/2 mile loop at the East Granby Land Trust's Ian Clark Preserve on Kimberly Road in East Granby, CT and enjoy a children's story.
This story trail helps build children’s interest in reading, while encouraging healthy outdoor activity for children and their families. The Story Trail is brought to you by the East Granby Public Library, The Traprock Ridge Land Conservancy, and the Grochowska-Smith Family.
Stories will be updated with the seasons, offering a new experience for repeat visitors.
Current Featured Story: TRIO: The Tale of a Three-legged Cat written and illustrated by Andrea Wisnewski
Directions to Ian Clark Preserve in East Granby, CT:
Ovation Guitars & How It Saved the Singer/Songwriter Movement of the 70's
DATE CHANGE!!!!
Monday, April 1st at 6:30 pm
The Ovation Guitar, built in New Hartford, Connecticut, played a significant role in the singer/songwriter explosion of the late 60's and throughout the 70's. The advancements in live sound systems led to ever-increasing concert sizes requiring an acoustic guitar that was yet to be produced. The Ovation Guitar Company stepped up to fill that void and propelled the singer/songwriter to the forefront of the music scene in that era.
In this presentation, Jim will not only explore the history of the Ovation guitar, but the role it played during this period. Through pictures, stories, and live music from artists such as Glen Campbell, Cat Stevens, Simon & Garfunkel, Bread, John Denver, and more you will see how these artists used the Ovation guitar to push their songs and careers to the top of the charts.
Virtually step into the Smithsonian Institution’s National Museum of American History with Curator Paula Johnson as she discusses the book Smithsonian American Table: The Foods, People, and Innovations That Feed Us on Tuesday, April 2 at 2 PM via digital live-stream.
Johnson, curator and project director of the American Food History Project, will discuss several stories featured in the volume, with an emphasis on those that intersect most directly with the Smithsonian’s research, collecting, and programming around food history.
During this event, Johnson will engage viewers in discovering the connections between food and American history:
- How immigration and migration has shaped (and continues to shape) American tables,
- How food companies have influenced home cooks through advertising, from Jell-O salads to Crock-pots.
- How individuals from Brownie Wise to James Beard and Julia Child inspired generations of cooks and eaters across the United States.
- And show viewers how uniting in the kitchen can change the shape of our collective futures, specifically highlighting growers and chefs who are reclaiming and reinventing regional and cultural traditions, including Indigenous ingredients and cooking techniques.
After this enlightening, enriching, and entertaining webinar, you can cook your way through the recipes that are featured in the volume that reflect American history and culture. Hungry for more? Register now!
Little Ones Storytime
Spring Session runs from March 20th - June 5th (Note: no classes on April 10th and May 15th)
Tuesdays @ 10:30am
Ages: 18 months – 3 years old with caregiver
Wiggle, rhyme, and sing with diverse books, fingerplays, songs and crafts that encourage language, play, and exploration. Approximately 40 minutes. You only need to register once for the entire spring session.
Wednesday Afternoon at the Movies
Wednesday, April 3rd at 1pm we will be showing "The Hill"
Rated PG, 2 hours 6 minutes.
Synopsis: The inspiring true story of Rickey Hill, the son of a traveling pastor, who overcomes unsurmountable odds to fulfill his dream of playing pro baseball.
Sound Healing
Wednesday, April 3rd from 6:30 pm - 8 pm
Rest. Relax. Rejuvenate.
Take time to calm your mind, relax your body, and nourish your soul through the transformative power of sound. Led by Maria del Carmen Rodriguez of Soul Care Love LLC.
Wear comfortable clothing.
Terrific Tales 10:30am - Spring Storytime
Thursdays @ 10:30am
Spring Session runs March 21st - June 6th (Note: no class on April 11th and May 16th)
Ages 3 – 6 years old with caregiver
Explore stories, music, fingerplays, crafts and more! Register ONCE for the whole spring session. Approximately 45 minutes.
Terrific Tales 12:30pm - Spring Storytime
Thursdays @ 12:30pm
Spring Session runs March 21st - June 6th (Note: no class on April 11th and May 16th)
Ages 3 – 6 years old with caregiver
Explore stories, music, fingerplays, crafts and more! Register ONCE for the whole spring session. Approximately 45 minutes.
In-Person Book Club
The book club meets in person at the East Granby Public Library, conference room, the second Monday of the month at 10am.
Meeting, April 8th, 2024
The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie
National Book Award Winner
Bestselling author Sherman Alexie tells the story of Junior, a budding cartoonist growing up on the Spokane Indian Reservation. Determined to take his future into his own hands, Junior leaves his troubled school on the rez to attend an all-white farm town high school where the only other Indian is the school mascot.
Heartbreaking, funny, and beautifully written, The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian, which is based on the author's own experiences, coupled with poignant drawings by Ellen Forney that reflect the character's art, chronicles the contemporary adolescence of one Native American boy as he attempts to break away from the life he was destined to live.
Colum McCann with Diane Foley Tuesday, April 9th at 2 pm
Join us for a one-of-a-kind conversation with National Book Award-winner Colum McCann as he is joined by Diane Foley, the inspiration behind the heartrending book American Mother.
Wednesday Afternoon at the Movies
Wednesday, April 10th @ 1pm
"Wonka"
Rated PG-13, 1 hours 56 minutes.
Synopsis:
Based on the extraordinary character at the center of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, the jewel in the Roald Dahl crown and one of the best‐selling children’s books of all time, “Wonka” tells the wondrous story of how the world’s greatest inventor, magician and chocolate‐maker became the beloved Willy Wonka we know today. This irresistibly vivid and inventive big screen spectacle will introduce audiences to a young Willy Wonka, chock‐full of ideas and determined to change the world one delectable bite at a time—proving that the best things in life begin with a dream, and if you’re lucky enough to meet Willy Wonka, anything is possible.
Wednesday Afternoon at the Movies
Wednesday, April 10th at 1pm we will be showing Oscar Winner "Poor Things"
Rated R, 2 hours 21 minutes.
Synopsis:The incredible tale about the fantastical evolution of Bella Baxter, a young woman brought back to life by the brilliant and unorthodox scientist Dr. Godwin Baxter.
Needle Felting Workshop: A Woody Black Sheep
Join us for a needle felting class with Angelina Fleury. Instruction and materials are included in the
$15 class fee. Participants must be 18 or older.
REGISTRATION IS NOT COMPLETE UNTIL PAYMENT IS RECEIVED.
Payment is required at least 7 days in advance via cash, check, or Venmo @Eastgranbypubliclibrary.
If payment is not received the spot will be released.
Please note: After 3 last-minute cancellations or no-shows - registration will be restricted. Thank you for understanding.
Little Ones Storytime
Spring Session runs from March 20th - June 5th (Note: no classes on April 10th and May 15th)
Tuesdays @ 10:30am
Ages: 18 months – 3 years old with caregiver
Wiggle, rhyme, and sing with diverse books, fingerplays, songs and crafts that encourage language, play, and exploration. Approximately 40 minutes. You only need to register once for the entire spring session.
Wednesday Afternoon at the Movies
Wednesday, April 17th at 1pm we will be showing the documentary "Immediate Family"
Rated 16+, 1 hour 40 minutes.
Synopsis:Documentary follows the work and lives of legendary 1970s session musicians who were featured on some of the most iconic recordings of the era.
Xochitl Gonzalez, Anita de Monte Laughs Last, Wednesday, April 17th at 8 pm
We cannot wait for you to join us as we chat with award-winning and bestselling author Xochitl Gonzalez about her newest novel Anita de Monte Laughs Last.
Anita de Monte Laughs Last is a propulsive, witty examination of power, love, and art, daring to ask who gets to be remembered and who is left behind in the rarefied world of the elite. In 1985. Anita de Monte, a rising star in the art world, is found dead in New York City; her tragic death is the talk of the town. Until it isn’t. By 1998 Anita’s name had been all but forgotten―certainly by the time Raquel, a third-year art history student was preparing her final thesis. On College Hill, surrounded by privileged students whose futures are already paved out for them, Raquel feels like an outsider. Students of color, like her, are the minority there, and the pressure to work twice as hard for the same opportunities is no secret. But when Raquel becomes romantically involved with a well-connected older art student, she finds herself unexpectedly rising up the social ranks. As she attempts to straddle both worlds, she stumbles upon Anita’s story, raising questions about the dynamics of her own relationship, which eerily mirrors that of the forgotten artist.
Xochitl Gonzalez is the New York Times bestselling author of Olga Dies Dreaming. Named Best of 2022 by The New York Times, TIME, Kirkus, Washington Post, and NPR, Olga Dies Dreaming was the winner of the Brooklyn Public Library Book Prize in Fiction and the New York City Book Award.
Terrific Tales 10:30am - Spring Storytime
Thursdays @ 10:30am
Spring Session runs March 21st - June 6th (Note: no class on April 11th and May 16th)
Ages 3 – 6 years old with caregiver
Explore stories, music, fingerplays, crafts and more! Register ONCE for the whole spring session. Approximately 45 minutes.
Terrific Tales 12:30pm - Spring Storytime
Thursdays @ 12:30pm
Spring Session runs March 21st - June 6th (Note: no class on April 11th and May 16th)
Ages 3 – 6 years old with caregiver
Explore stories, music, fingerplays, crafts and more! Register ONCE for the whole spring session. Approximately 45 minutes.
Yoga Kids
Saturday, April 20th
10:30AM -11:15AM
Grades: 1-4
Join yoga instructor Aubrey Schultz for a kid-friendly yoga class. Bring your own mat or borrow one of ours.
- Participants to bring a water bottle.
- Participants to wear comfortable clothes they can move in. Layers are best as it may get hot in the room.
PUZZLE SLAM
Sunday, April 21st from 1 pm to 3 pm
Teams of 4. Individuals can choose to work alone or be assigned to a team.
Teams that include children 12 and under will have a 300-piece puzzle. Teens & Adults will compete with a 500-piece puzzle.
Teams get to keep the puzzle.
All puzzles will be the same. No one gets to see the puzzle before the timer begins. You will have two hours to complete the puzzle. The team to finish the puzzle in the fastest time WINS. If no one finishes, the pieces remaining will be counted.
There are no devices or outside assistance permitted while working on the puzzle. Individuals and teams are not allowed to distract or approach other teams' tables when the competition is in progress.
Winners will receive a gift card to a local business.
Pete the Cat Pizza Party!
Monday, April 22nd
5pm - 6pm
Ages 3-10 years with caregiver
Join us for pizza fun! Activities include a reading of the book Pete the Cat and the Perfect Pizza Party, a chef hat and pizza craft, and make your own mini pizzas to eat!
Make your own pizzas will be non-heated and created "lunchable style" as we do not have access to an oven.
Note all food will be served in one room/table. Due to limited space, we do not have a separate table for kids with food allergies. If your child has food allergies and would like to participate in the food portion, please feel free to bring ingredients that he/she can enjoy. Otherwise, they are welcome to come for the first half of the program for crafts and stories.
Peek At Our Peeps! April 24th - May 29th
Visit the library during business hours and see the life cycle of a chicken!
April 24th - May 14th: Eggs incubating
May 15th - May 18th*: Eggs hatching
May 19th - May 29th: Meet the little chicks!
*Dates of hatching are approximate.
Little Ones Storytime
Spring Session runs from March 20th - June 5th (Note: no classes on April 10th and May 15th)
Tuesdays @ 10:30am
Ages: 18 months – 3 years old with caregiver
Wiggle, rhyme, and sing with diverse books, fingerplays, songs and crafts that encourage language, play, and exploration. Approximately 40 minutes. You only need to register once for the entire spring session.
Wednesday Afternoon at the Movies
Wednesday, April 24th at 1pm we will be showing "Grace of Monaco"
Rated 13+, 1 hour 42 minutes.
Synopsis: Despite her husband's misgivings, Grace Kelly considers returning to Hollywood to star in "Marnie," but a political dispute between Monaco and France forces her to make a difficult choice.
Terrific Tales 10:30am - Spring Storytime
Thursdays @ 10:30am
Spring Session runs March 21st - June 6th (Note: no class on April 11th and May 16th)
Ages 3 – 6 years old with caregiver
Explore stories, music, fingerplays, crafts and more! Register ONCE for the whole spring session. Approximately 45 minutes.
Terrific Tales 12:30pm - Spring Storytime
Thursdays @ 12:30pm
Spring Session runs March 21st - June 6th (Note: no class on April 11th and May 16th)
Ages 3 – 6 years old with caregiver
Explore stories, music, fingerplays, crafts and more! Register ONCE for the whole spring session. Approximately 45 minutes.
Gavel Club - New members are welcome at anytime!
Sept 14th, 2023 - June 13th, 2024
Meets Every 2nd and 4th Thursday of the month
5:30pm - 6:30pm
Grades 4-9
Note: No classes on Nov 23rd, Dec 28th, or April 11th.
Register once for the entire series. Improve your public speaking and leadership skills at the Gavel Club. Learn how to craft speeches and present them. Learn skills such as giving constructive feedback, facilitating meetings, using body language and time management. Lead by Toastmaster members Abhinav, Hansika, and Surrender Lenkala.
At the end of a session, there will be contests in which you can show your public speaking and evaluation skills. Empower yourself! New members are welcome at anytime!
Gavel Club is an affiliate of Toastmasters International.
Annual membership fee: $20 per participant
Payment must be made prior to your child's first class. Venmo @Eastgranbypubliclibrary. Or cash or checks can be dropped off at the library front desk. Checks can be made out to East Granby Public Library.
By registering for this series, you are allowing us to share your information with Toastmasters International.
Meeting Dates:
Thursdays:
- Sept 14
- Sept 28
- Oct 12
- Oct 26
- Nov 9
- Nov 23 - Closed for Thanksgiving. No Gavel Club Today.
- Dec 14
- Dec 28 - No class. Winter Break.
- Jan 11
- Jan 25
- Feb 8
- Feb 22
- March 14
- March 28
- April 11 - No class. Spring break.
- April 25
- May 9
- May 23
- June 13 - Last class/Celebration
Bedtime Stories with Mr. & Mrs. Lepak
Monday, April 29th
6:00pm - 6:30pm
Join Allgrove School teachers and friends for bedtime stories. All are welcome to join. Starts at 6pm. Approximately 30 minutes. Register for each bedtime story session separately. Participants are welcome to come in their jammies and bring a small stuffed animal.
A special thanks to the Carl Allgrove teachers for volunteering their time to make these events possible! R
The virtual book club meets via Zoom the last Tuesday of the month at 4pm.
Meeting, April 30th.
Title: Once Upon a Tome by Oliver Darkshire
National Bestseller
Some years ago, Oliver Darkshire stepped into the hushed interior of Henry Sotheran Ltd (est. 1761) to apply for a job. Allured by the smell of old books and the temptation of a management-approved afternoon nap, Darkshire was soon unteetering stacks of first editions and placating the store’s resident ghost (the late Mr. Sotheran, hit by a tram).
A novice in this ancient, potentially haunted establishment, Darkshire describes Sotheran’s brushes with history (Dickens, the Titanic), its joyous disorganization, and the unspoken rules of its gleefully old-fashioned staff, whose mere glance may cause the computer to burst into flames. As Darkshire gains confidence and experience, he shares trivia about ancient editions and explores the strange space that books occupy in our lives—where old books often have strong sentimental value, but rarely a commercial one.
Little Ones Storytime
Spring Session runs from March 20th - June 5th (Note: no classes on April 10th and May 15th)
Tuesdays @ 10:30am
Ages: 18 months – 3 years old with caregiver
Wiggle, rhyme, and sing with diverse books, fingerplays, songs and crafts that encourage language, play, and exploration. Approximately 40 minutes. You only need to register once for the entire spring session.
Douglas Brunt, The Mysterious Case of Rudolf Diesel, Wednesday, May 1st at 3 pm
Join us as we chat with New York Times bestselling author, Douglas Brunt, about instant bestselling debut non-fiction work The Mysterious Case of Rudolph Diesel: Genius, Power, and Deception on the Eve of World War I. This book reveals the hidden history of Rudolf Diesel, one of the world’s greatest inventors, and his mysterious disappearance on the eve of World War I.
September 29, 1913: the steamship Dresden is halfway between Belgium and England. On board is one of the most famous men in the world, Rudolf Diesel, whose new internal combustion engine is on the verge of revolutionizing global industry forever. But Diesel never arrives at his destination. He vanishes during the night and headlines around the world wonder if it was an accident, suicide, or murder.
After rising from an impoverished European childhood, Diesel had become a multi-millionaire with his powerful engine that does not require expensive petroleum-based fuel. In doing so, he became not only an international celebrity but also the enemy of two extremely powerful men -– Kaiser Wilhelm II of Germany and John D. Rockefeller, the founder of Standard Oil and the richest man in the world. The Kaiser wanted the engine to power a fleet of submarines that would finally allow him to challenge Great Britain’s Royal Navy. But Diesel had intended for his engine to be used for the betterment of the world.
Brunt reopens the case and provides a compelling new conclusion about Diesel’s fate. Register now to see how the mystery unfolds!
Native Flower Sketch Class with Hayli
Tuesday, May 1st @ 5:30 pm
Learn to draw Bottle Getian, Wood Lily and New England Aster.
Recommended for ages 10 and up. Adults welcome.
Terrific Tales 10:30am - Spring Storytime
Thursdays @ 10:30am
Spring Session runs March 21st - June 6th (Note: no class on April 11th and May 16th)
Ages 3 – 6 years old with caregiver
Explore stories, music, fingerplays, crafts and more! Register ONCE for the whole spring session. Approximately 45 minutes.
Terrific Tales 12:30pm - Spring Storytime
Thursdays @ 12:30pm
Spring Session runs March 21st - June 6th (Note: no class on April 11th and May 16th)
Ages 3 – 6 years old with caregiver
Explore stories, music, fingerplays, crafts and more! Register ONCE for the whole spring session. Approximately 45 minutes.
CHESS CLUB - SPRING SESSION
Thursdays: May 2nd, 9th, 16th, 23rd
4:15pm - 5:00pm
Grades 1-8
Both past club members and new players are welcome. Register once for the whole spring club session. Join us for this 4-class introductory chess club session. Class will include talking about the rules, opening play, closing a winning position, and tactics.
Join retired educator, local West Hartford resident and chess lover, John Sherman, for this 4-week chess class.
This club is sponsored by the Grochowska-Smith Family.
Needle Felting Workshop for Kids: Mice
Join us for a needle felting class with Angelina Fleury. Instruction and materials are included in the
$15 class fee. Participants must be 10 years of age or older.
REGISTRATION IS NOT COMPLETE UNTIL PAYMENT IS RECEIVED.
Payment is required at least 7 days in advance via cash, check, or Venmo @Eastgranbypubliclibrary.
If payment is not received the spot will be released.
Please note: After 3 last-minute cancellations or no-shows - registration will be restricted. Thank you for understanding.
Little Ones Storytime
Spring Session runs from March 20th - June 5th (Note: no classes on April 10th and May 15th)
Tuesdays @ 10:30am
Ages: 18 months – 3 years old with caregiver
Wiggle, rhyme, and sing with diverse books, fingerplays, songs and crafts that encourage language, play, and exploration. Approximately 40 minutes. You only need to register once for the entire spring session.
Nina Simon, Mother-Daughter Murder Night, Wednesday, May 8th at 7 pm
Nothing brings a family together like a murder next door.
You’re invited to join Nina Simon online as she chats about her lighthearted whodunnit about a grandmother-mother-daughter trio of amateur sleuths, Mother-Daughter Murder Night.
Mother-Daughter Murder Night follows high-powered business woman Lana Rubicon. She has a lot to be proud of with her keen intelligence, impeccable taste, and the L.A. real estate empire she’s built. But when she finds herself trapped 300 miles north of the city, convalescing in a sleepy coastal town with her adult daughter Beth and teenage granddaughter Jack, Lana is stuck counting otters instead of square footage—and hoping that boredom won’t kill her before the cancer does.
In a turn of events, when Jack happens upon a dead body while kayaking she quickly becomes a suspect in the homicide investigation, and the Rubicon women are thrown into chaos. Beth thinks Lana should focus on recovery, but Lana has a better idea. She’ll pull on her wig, find the true murderer, protect her family, and prove she still has power. With Jack and Beth’s help, Lana uncovers a web of lies, family vendettas, and land disputes lurking beneath the surface of a community populated by folksy conservationists and wealthy ranchers. But as their amateur snooping advances into ever-more dangerous territory, the headstrong Rubicon women must learn to do the one thing they’ve always resisted: depend on each other.
Harness your inner detective and sign up for the investigation. Register now!
Terrific Tales 10:30am - Spring Storytime
Thursdays @ 10:30am
Spring Session runs March 21st - June 6th (Note: no class on April 11th and May 16th)
Ages 3 – 6 years old with caregiver
Explore stories, music, fingerplays, crafts and more! Register ONCE for the whole spring session. Approximately 45 minutes.
Terrific Tales 12:30pm - Spring Storytime
Thursdays @ 12:30pm
Spring Session runs March 21st - June 6th (Note: no class on April 11th and May 16th)
Ages 3 – 6 years old with caregiver
Explore stories, music, fingerplays, crafts and more! Register ONCE for the whole spring session. Approximately 45 minutes.
CHESS CLUB - SPRING SESSION
Thursdays: May 2nd, 9th, 16th, 23rd
4:15pm - 5:00pm
Grades 1-8
Both past club members and new players are welcome. Register once for the whole spring club session. Join us for this 4-class introductory chess club session. Class will include talking about the rules, opening play, closing a winning position, and tactics.
Join retired educator, local West Hartford resident and chess lover, John Sherman, for this 4-week chess class.
This club is sponsored by the Grochowska-Smith Family.
Gavel Club - New members are welcome at anytime!
Sept 14th, 2023 - June 13th, 2024
Meets Every 2nd and 4th Thursday of the month
5:30pm - 6:30pm
Grades 4-9
Note: No classes on Nov 23rd, Dec 28th, or April 11th.
Register once for the entire series. Improve your public speaking and leadership skills at the Gavel Club. Learn how to craft speeches and present them. Learn skills such as giving constructive feedback, facilitating meetings, using body language and time management. Lead by Toastmaster members Abhinav, Hansika, and Surrender Lenkala.
At the end of a session, there will be contests in which you can show your public speaking and evaluation skills. Empower yourself! New members are welcome at anytime!
Gavel Club is an affiliate of Toastmasters International.
Annual membership fee: $20 per participant
Payment must be made prior to your child's first class. Venmo @Eastgranbypubliclibrary. Or cash or checks can be dropped off at the library front desk. Checks can be made out to East Granby Public Library.
By registering for this series, you are allowing us to share your information with Toastmasters International.
Meeting Dates:
Thursdays:
- Sept 14
- Sept 28
- Oct 12
- Oct 26
- Nov 9
- Nov 23 - Closed for Thanksgiving. No Gavel Club Today.
- Dec 14
- Dec 28 - No class. Winter Break.
- Jan 11
- Jan 25
- Feb 8
- Feb 22
- March 14
- March 28
- April 11 - No class. Spring break.
- April 25
- May 9
- May 23
- June 13 - Last class/Celebration
Llama With Your Mama
Saturday, May 11th
11AM
Ages 3-10 years with moms/grandmas/caregivers
Join Country Quilt Llama Farm as we celebrate Mothers Day! Meet and learn about llamas and listen to the story Is Your Mama A Llama? Program will conclude with a short hike around our pond led by a llama (weather permitting)!
Spend the day with our friendly llama, enjoy the scenery and create new memories with your family.
Story reading will take place on our patio (weather permitting). In the event of rain, this program will be moved indoors to our main conference room.
In-Person Book Club
The book club meets in person at the East Granby Public Library, conference room, the second Monday of the month at 10am.
Meeting, May 13th, 2024
Fallen Angels by Walter Dean Myers
A coming-of-age tale for young adults set in the trenches of the Vietnam War in the late 1960s, this is the story of Perry, a Harlem teenager who volunteers for the service when his dream of attending college falls through. Sent to the front lines, Perry and his platoon come face-to-face with the Vietcong and the real horror of warfare. But violence and death aren't the only hardships. As Perry struggles to find virtue in himself and his comrades, he questions why black troops are given the most dangerous assignments, and why the U.S. is there at all.
CHESS CLUB - SPRING SESSION
Thursdays: May 2nd, 9th, 16th, 23rd
4:15pm - 5:00pm
Grades 1-8
Both past club members and new players are welcome. Register once for the whole spring club session. Join us for this 4-class introductory chess club session. Class will include talking about the rules, opening play, closing a winning position, and tactics.
Join retired educator, local West Hartford resident and chess lover, John Sherman, for this 4-week chess class.
This club is sponsored by the Grochowska-Smith Family.
Bedtime Stories with Mrs. Ullmann & Mrs. Smith
Monday, May 20th
6:00pm - 6:30pm
Join Allgrove School teachers and friends for bedtime stories. All are welcome to join. Starts at 6pm. Approximately 30 minutes. Register for each bedtime story session separately. Participants are welcome to come in their jammies and bring a small stuffed animal.
A special thanks to the Carl Allgrove teachers for volunteering their time to make these events possible! R
Adult Spelling Bee
Tuesday, May 21st from 6 pm - 8 pm
The Cracker Barrel, 30 Main Street, Tarriffville
$10/person
Up to 4 people per team
Everyone on the team must be at least 18 years old
No cell phones or other devices can be used
The restaurant and bar will be open for purchases. There will be prizes!
How we'll play:
The Moderator will pronounce, define, use the word in a sentence, and say the word again.
After the Moderator says the word a 2nd time, each team will have 60 seconds to discuss their answer and write it on the dry-erase board.
After 60 seconds, each team will hold up their answers.
We'll start easy, and work our way to more difficult words.
We will play 3 rounds. The winning team from each round will play against each other in a lightning round.
Whichever team has the most points during the lightning round, wins!
Rebecca F. Kuang, Babel, Yellowface, Wednesday, January 10th at 8 pm
We welcome you to register for a thrilling conversation with Rebecca F. Kuang (R.F. Kuang) as she chats with us about her New York Times bestselling novel, Yellowface. Yellowface grapples with questions of diversity, racism, and cultural appropriation, as well as the terrifying alienation of social media.
In Yellowface, Authors June Hayward and Athena Liu were supposed to be twin rising stars. But Athena’s a literary darling. June Hayward is literally nobody. Who wants stories about basic white girls, June thinks.So when June witnesses Athena’s death in a freak accident, she acts on impulse: she steals Athena’s just-finished masterpiece, an experimental novel about the unsung contributions of Chinese laborers during World War I.
So what if June edits Athena’s novel and sends it to her agent as her own work? So what if she lets her new publisher rebrand her as Juniper Song—complete with an ambiguously ethnic author photo? Doesn’t this piece of history deserve to be told, whoever the teller? That’s what June claims, and the New York Times bestseller list seems to agree.
But June can’t get away from Athena’s shadow, and emerging evidence threatens to bring June’s (stolen) success down around her. As June races to protect her secret, she discovers exactly how far she will go to keep what she thinks she deserves.
White lies, dark humor, and deadly consequences await within the pages of Yellowface. With its totally immersive first-person voice, Kuang’s novel is timely, razor-sharp, and eminently readable. Register to join the conversation!
Little Ones Storytime
Spring Session runs from March 20th - June 5th (Note: no classes on April 10th and May 15th)
Tuesdays @ 10:30am
Ages: 18 months – 3 years old with caregiver
Wiggle, rhyme, and sing with diverse books, fingerplays, songs and crafts that encourage language, play, and exploration. Approximately 40 minutes. You only need to register once for the entire spring session.
Terrific Tales 10:30am - Spring Storytime
Thursdays @ 10:30am
Spring Session runs March 21st - June 6th (Note: no class on April 11th and May 16th)
Ages 3 – 6 years old with caregiver
Explore stories, music, fingerplays, crafts and more! Register ONCE for the whole spring session. Approximately 45 minutes.
Terrific Tales 12:30pm - Spring Storytime
Thursdays @ 12:30pm
Spring Session runs March 21st - June 6th (Note: no class on April 11th and May 16th)
Ages 3 – 6 years old with caregiver
Explore stories, music, fingerplays, crafts and more! Register ONCE for the whole spring session. Approximately 45 minutes.
CHESS CLUB - SPRING SESSION
Thursdays: May 2nd, 9th, 16th, 23rd
4:15pm - 5:00pm
Grades 1-8
Both past club members and new players are welcome. Register once for the whole spring club session. Join us for this 4-class introductory chess club session. Class will include talking about the rules, opening play, closing a winning position, and tactics.
Join retired educator, local West Hartford resident and chess lover, John Sherman, for this 4-week chess class.
This club is sponsored by the Grochowska-Smith Family.
Gavel Club - New members are welcome at anytime!
Sept 14th, 2023 - June 13th, 2024
Meets Every 2nd and 4th Thursday of the month
5:30pm - 6:30pm
Grades 4-9
Note: No classes on Nov 23rd, Dec 28th, or April 11th.
Register once for the entire series. Improve your public speaking and leadership skills at the Gavel Club. Learn how to craft speeches and present them. Learn skills such as giving constructive feedback, facilitating meetings, using body language and time management. Lead by Toastmaster members Abhinav, Hansika, and Surrender Lenkala.
At the end of a session, there will be contests in which you can show your public speaking and evaluation skills. Empower yourself! New members are welcome at anytime!
Gavel Club is an affiliate of Toastmasters International.
Annual membership fee: $20 per participant
Payment must be made prior to your child's first class. Venmo @Eastgranbypubliclibrary. Or cash or checks can be dropped off at the library front desk. Checks can be made out to East Granby Public Library.
By registering for this series, you are allowing us to share your information with Toastmasters International.
Meeting Dates:
Thursdays:
- Sept 14
- Sept 28
- Oct 12
- Oct 26
- Nov 9
- Nov 23 - Closed for Thanksgiving. No Gavel Club Today.
- Dec 14
- Dec 28 - No class. Winter Break.
- Jan 11
- Jan 25
- Feb 8
- Feb 22
- March 14
- March 28
- April 11 - No class. Spring break.
- April 25
- May 9
- May 23
- June 13 - Last class/Celebration
The virtual book club meets via Zoom the last Tuesday of the month at 4pm.
Meeting, May 28th.
Title: Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus
STREAM ON APPLE TV
A #1 New York Times Bestseller
Chemist Elizabeth Zott is not your average woman. In fact, Elizabeth Zott would be the first to point out that there is no such thing as an average woman. But it’s the early 1960s and her all-male team at Hastings Research Institute takes a very unscientific view of equality. Except for one: Calvin Evans; the lonely, brilliant, Nobel–prize nominated grudge-holder who falls in love with—of all things—her mind. True chemistry results.
But like science, life is unpredictable. Which is why a few years later Elizabeth Zott finds herself not only a single mother, but the reluctant star of America’s most beloved cooking show Supper at Six. Elizabeth’s unusual approach to cooking (“combine one tablespoon acetic acid with a pinch of sodium chloride”) proves revolutionary. But as her following grows, not everyone is happy. Because as it turns out, Elizabeth Zott isn’t just teaching women to cook. She’s daring them to change the status quo.
Needle Felting Workshop: Mice
Join us for a needle felting class with Angelina Fleury. Instruction and materials are included in the
$15 class fee. Participants must be 18 or older.
REGISTRATION IS NOT COMPLETE UNTIL PAYMENT IS RECEIVED.
Payment is required at least 7 days in advance via cash, check, or Venmo @Eastgranbypubliclibrary.
If payment is not received the spot will be released.
Please note: After 3 last-minute cancellations or no-shows - registration will be restricted. Thank you for understanding.
Little Ones Storytime
Spring Session runs from March 20th - June 5th (Note: no classes on April 10th and May 15th)
Tuesdays @ 10:30am
Ages: 18 months – 3 years old with caregiver
Wiggle, rhyme, and sing with diverse books, fingerplays, songs and crafts that encourage language, play, and exploration. Approximately 40 minutes. You only need to register once for the entire spring session.
Terrific Tales 10:30am - Spring Storytime
Thursdays @ 10:30am
Spring Session runs March 21st - June 6th (Note: no class on April 11th and May 16th)
Ages 3 – 6 years old with caregiver
Explore stories, music, fingerplays, crafts and more! Register ONCE for the whole spring session. Approximately 45 minutes.
Terrific Tales 12:30pm - Spring Storytime
Thursdays @ 12:30pm
Spring Session runs March 21st - June 6th (Note: no class on April 11th and May 16th)
Ages 3 – 6 years old with caregiver
Explore stories, music, fingerplays, crafts and more! Register ONCE for the whole spring session. Approximately 45 minutes.
Join us Saturday, June 1st @ 1:00 for Backstage at the Bushnell!
Enjoy a virtual and interactive tour with trained tour guides from the Bushnell.
Guides will share the rich history, take you backstage, and tell stories of their favorite experiences.
Location: Large Conference Room
Register now!
Little Ones Storytime
Spring Session runs from March 20th - June 5th (Note: no classes on April 10th and May 15th)
Tuesdays @ 10:30am
Ages: 18 months – 3 years old with caregiver
Wiggle, rhyme, and sing with diverse books, fingerplays, songs and crafts that encourage language, play, and exploration. Approximately 40 minutes. You only need to register once for the entire spring session.
Terrific Tales 10:30am - Spring Storytime
Thursdays @ 10:30am
Spring Session runs March 21st - June 6th (Note: no class on April 11th and May 16th)
Ages 3 – 6 years old with caregiver
Explore stories, music, fingerplays, crafts and more! Register ONCE for the whole spring session. Approximately 45 minutes.
Terrific Tales 12:30pm - Spring Storytime
Thursdays @ 12:30pm
Spring Session runs March 21st - June 6th (Note: no class on April 11th and May 16th)
Ages 3 – 6 years old with caregiver
Explore stories, music, fingerplays, crafts and more! Register ONCE for the whole spring session. Approximately 45 minutes.
In-Person Book Club
The book club meets in person at the East Granby Public Library, conference room, the second Monday of the month at 10am.
Meeting, June 10th, 2024
Beloved Stars by Toni Morrison
Pulitzer Prize Winner & New York Times Bestseller
Sethe was born a slave and escaped to Ohio, but eighteen years later she is still not free. She has borne the unthinkable and not gone mad, yet she is still held captive by memories of Sweet Home, the beautiful farm where so many hideous things happened. Meanwhile Sethe’s house has long been troubled by the angry, destructive ghost of her baby, who died nameless and whose tombstone is engraved with a single word: Beloved.
Sethe works at beating back the past, but it makes itself heard and felt incessantly in her memory and in the lives of those around her. When a mysterious teenage girl arrives, calling herself Beloved, Sethe’s terrible secret explodes into the present.
Combining the visionary power of legend with the unassailable truth of history, Morrison’s unforgettable novel is one of the great and enduring works of American literature.
Gavel Club - New members are welcome at anytime!
Sept 14th, 2023 - June 13th, 2024
Meets Every 2nd and 4th Thursday of the month
5:30pm - 6:30pm
Grades 4-9
Note: No classes on Nov 23rd, Dec 28th, or April 11th.
Register once for the entire series. Improve your public speaking and leadership skills at the Gavel Club. Learn how to craft speeches and present them. Learn skills such as giving constructive feedback, facilitating meetings, using body language and time management. Lead by Toastmaster members Abhinav, Hansika, and Surrender Lenkala.
At the end of a session, there will be contests in which you can show your public speaking and evaluation skills. Empower yourself! New members are welcome at anytime!
Gavel Club is an affiliate of Toastmasters International.
Annual membership fee: $20 per participant
Payment must be made prior to your child's first class. Venmo @Eastgranbypubliclibrary. Or cash or checks can be dropped off at the library front desk. Checks can be made out to East Granby Public Library.
By registering for this series, you are allowing us to share your information with Toastmasters International.
Meeting Dates:
Thursdays:
- Sept 14
- Sept 28
- Oct 12
- Oct 26
- Nov 9
- Nov 23 - Closed for Thanksgiving. No Gavel Club Today.
- Dec 14
- Dec 28 - No class. Winter Break.
- Jan 11
- Jan 25
- Feb 8
- Feb 22
- March 14
- March 28
- April 11 - No class. Spring break.
- April 25
- May 9
- May 23
- June 13 - Last class/Celebration
Natural Weaving Loom
All Ages with caregiver
Summer 2024
Through teamwork we will create a loom masterpiece! Our weaving loom will be located on our back patio. Come during business hours this summer, gather flexible vines, flowers, and leaves and weave them into our loom.
Play-doh Fun! Drop in Program
Tuesday, June 25th and Thursday, June 27th
Tuesday, August 13th and Thursday, August 15th
10:30am - noon
Ages 2-12 years with caregiver
Come and hang out with friends and make play-doh creations in our children’s room. No registration required.
The virtual book club meets via Zoom the last Tuesday of the month at 4pm.
Meeting, June 25th.
Title: The Biggest Bluff by Maria Konnikoua
A New York Times Bestseller
It's true that Maria Konnikova had never actually played poker before and didn't even know the rules when she approached Erik Seidel, Poker Hall of Fame inductee and winner of tens of millions of dollars in earnings, and convinced him to be her mentor. But she knew her man: a famously thoughtful and broad-minded player, he was intrigued by her pitch that she wasn't interested in making money so much as learning about life. She had faced a stretch of personal bad luck, and her reflections on the role of chance had led her to a giant of game theory, who pointed her to poker as the ultimate master class in learning to distinguish between what can be controlled and what can't. And she certainly brought something to the table, including a Ph.D. in psychology and an acclaimed and growing body of work on human behavior and how to hack it. So Seidel was in, and soon she was down the rabbit hole with him, into the wild, fiercely competitive, overwhelmingly masculine world of high-stakes Texas Hold'em, their initial end point the following year's World Series of Poker.
But then something extraordinary happened. Under Seidel's guidance, Konnikova did have many epiphanies about life that derived from her new pursuit, including how to better read, not just her opponents but far more importantly herself; how to identify what tilted her into an emotional state that got in the way of good decisions; and how to get to a place where she could accept luck for what it was, and what it wasn't. But she also began to win. And win. In a little over a year, she began making earnest money from tournaments, ultimately totaling hundreds of thousands of dollars. She won a major title, got a sponsor, and got used to being on television, and to headlines like "How one writer's book deal turned her into a professional poker player." She even learned to like Las Vegas.
But in the end, Maria Konnikova is a writer and student of human behavior, and ultimately the point was to render her incredible journey into a container for its invaluable lessons. The biggest bluff of all, she learned, is that skill is enough. Bad cards will come our way, but keeping our focus on how we play them and not on the outcome will keep us moving through many a dark patch, until the luck once again breaks our way.
Play-doh Fun! Drop in Program
Thursday, June 27th
Tuesday, August 13th and Thursday, August 15th
10:30am - noon
Ages 2-12 years with caregiver
Come and hang out with friends and make play-doh creations in our children’s room. No registration required.
Read. Renew. Repeat. Storytime!
Featured Story: Pesky Plastic
July 3rd at 10:30am
Ages 3-12 years w/caregiver
Explore our summer reading theme, “ Read. Renew. Repeat.” through stories with the Kellogg Environmental Center. They will bring materials from local habitats to compare with those discussed in the stories to show the diversity of life on Earth and the role all things play in keeping the balance of habitats going. And learn what you can do to become better stewards of our natural resources!
What can we do about the problems of marine plastic? Learn about the challenges ocean creatures face from plastic as it becomes smaller and smaller in water and sand.
In-Person Book Club
The book club meets in person at the East Granby Public Library, conference room, the second Monday of the month at 10am.
Meeting, July 8th, 2024
The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky
New York Times Bestseller and a major motion picture
This haunting novel about the dilemma of passivity vs. passion marks the stunning debut of a provocative new voice in contemporary fiction: The Perks of Being A WALLFLOWER
This is the story of what it's like to grow up in high school. More intimate than a diary, Charlie's letters are singular and unique, hilarious and devastating. We may not know where he lives. We may not know to whom he is writing. All we know is the world he shares. Caught between trying to live his life and trying to run from it puts him on a strange course through uncharted territory. The world of first dates and mixed tapes, family dramas and new friends. The world of sex, drugs, and The Rocky Horror Picture Show, when all one requires is that the perfect song on that perfect drive to feel infinite.
Through Charlie, Stephen Chbosky has created a deeply affecting coming-of-age story, a powerful novel that will spirit you back to those wild and poignant roller coaster days known as growing up.
Monday Kids Crafts
July 8th
4:30pm - 5:00pm
Ages 5-12 years with caregiver
Join Mrs.Thompson as we create crafts that tie along with our summer reading theme, Read, Renew, Repeat! Space is limited. Register for EACH craft class separately.
Family Movie - Wish
Tuesday, July 9th @ 10:30am
Join us for a family movie and popcorn! Space is limited.
Rated Parental Guide (PG)
Running time: 1 hour and 35 minutes. Caregivers to supervise children at all times.
Read. Renew. Repeat. Storytime!
Featured Story: Redwoods by Jason Chin
July 10th at 10:30am
Ages 3-12 years w/caregiver
Explore our summer reading theme, “ Read. Renew. Repeat.” through stories with the Kellogg Environmental Center. They will bring materials from local habitats to compare with those discussed in the stories to show the diversity of life on Earth and the role all things play in keeping the balance of habitats going. And learn what you can do to become better stewards of our natural resources!
Compare the Redwoods and the amazing habitat they live in with our forests found here in Connecticut. Learn how trees provide so much to the environment. Write a thank you to trees using acorn ink, recipe included!
Drop-in Maker Space
Thursday July 11th
10:30am - 12:00pm
Ages 4 - 12 with caregiver
Put your imagination to work and see what you can create! Our Maker Space cart and other supplies will be provided. Caregivers to supervise their children at all times. Maker Space may contain small pieces that are choking hazards to small children.
Monday Kids Crafts
July 15th
4:30pm - 5:00pm
Ages 5-12 years with caregiver
Join Mrs.Thompson as we create crafts that tie along with our summer reading theme, Read, Renew, Repeat! Space is limited. Register for EACH craft class separately.
Monday Kids Crafts
July 22nd
4:30pm - 5:00pm
Ages 5-12 years with caregiver
Join Mrs.Thompson as we create crafts that tie along with our summer reading theme, Read, Renew, Repeat! Space is limited. Register for EACH craft class separately.
Summer Storytime! Wednesdays: July 17th, 24th, & 31st
10:30am - 11:15am; All ages with caregiver
Wiggle, rhyme, and sing with diverse books, fingerplays, and songs that encourage language, play, and exploration.
After each class, kids will be able to plant a seed to take home and care for.
Register only once for all three classes.
Drop-in Maker Space
Thursday July 18th
10:30am - 12:00pm
Ages 4 - 12 with caregiver
Put your imagination to work and see what you can create! Our Maker Space cart and other supplies will be provided. Caregivers to supervise their children at all times. Maker Space may contain small pieces that are choking hazards to small children.
Family Movie - Trolls Band Together
Tuesday, July 23rd @ 1:30pm
Join us for a family movie and popcorn! Free troll headbands will be given to child attendees while supplies last! Space is limited.
Rated Parental Guide (PG)
Running time: 1 hour and 31 minutes. Caregivers to supervise children at all times.
Summer Storytime! Wednesdays: July 17th, 24th, & 31st
10:30am - 11:15am; All ages with caregiver
Wiggle, rhyme, and sing with diverse books, fingerplays, and songs that encourage language, play, and exploration.
After each class, kids will be able to plant a seed to take home and care for.
Register only once for all three classes.
Baseball Night!
Monday, July 29th, 2024
5:30PM - 6:30PM
Ages: 5-12 years
Join Mr. Carroll for an amazing night of baseball stories, trivia, prizes, and ice cream!
We hope to toss and hit some balls too - weather permitting!
Summer Storytime! Wednesdays: July 17th, 24th, & 31st
10:30am - 11:15am; All ages with caregiver
Wiggle, rhyme, and sing with diverse books, fingerplays, and songs that encourage language, play, and exploration.
After each class, kids will be able to plant a seed to take home and care for.
Register only once for all three classes.
Touch a Truck & Construction Zone
Wednesday, August 7th
10:30am-12:00pm
Families are welcome
*Event is weather permitting*
Visit a fire truck, ambulance, and the DPW trucks out in our parking lot. Come see them up close and explore the vechicles our town uses to keep our town safe and beautiful! Adam Ice Cream truck will also have sweets for sale!
Also visit our Construction Zone inside our library. Meet with friends and build with Legos and other materials! NOTE: Construction Zone may contain small pieces that are choking hazards to small children.
In-Person Book Club
The book club meets in person at the East Granby Public Library, conference room, the second Monday of the month at 10am.
Meeting, August 12th, 2024
Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck
They are an unlikely pair: George is "small and quick and dark of face"; Lennie, a man of tremendous size, has the mind of a young child. Yet they have formed a "family," clinging together in the face of loneliness and alienation.
Laborers in California's dusty vegetable fields, they hustle work when they can, living a hand-to-mouth existence. For George and Lennie have a plan: to own an acre of land and a shack they can call their own. When they land jobs on a ranch in the Salinas Valley, the fulfillment of their dream seems to be within their grasp. But even George cannot guard Lennie from the provocations of a flirtatious woman, nor predict the consequences of Lennie's unswerving obedience to the things George taught him.
Play-doh Fun! Drop in Program
Tuesday, August 13th and Thursday, August 15th
10:30am - noon
Ages 2-12 years with caregiver
Come and hang out with friends and make play-doh creations in our children’s room. No registration required.
Play-doh Fun! Drop in Program
Thursday, August 15th
10:30am - noon
Ages 2-12 years with caregiver
Come and hang out with friends and make play-doh creations in our children’s room. No registration required.
Kindergarten Connection
Monday, August 19th @ 10:30am
For children (with caregivers) entering kindergarten in 2024
Let’s help ease the transition to Kindergarten. Join The East Granby Public Library for stories, ice breakers, songs and open play with friends. Session to last approx 45 minutes.
Note: There is another session offered on Wdnesday, August 21st at 5:30pm. Both sessions will be identical. Please only register for one session and be sure you are registering for the correct date.
Kindergarten Connection - Evening Session
Wednesday, August 21st @ 5:30pm
For children (with caregivers) entering kindergarten in 2024
Let’s help ease the transition to Kindergarten. Join The East Granby Public Library for stories, ice breakers, songs and open play with friends. Session to last approx 45 minutes.
Note: There is another session offered on Monday, August 19th at 5:30pm. Both sessions will be identical. Please only register for one session and be sure you are registering for the correct date.
In-Person Book Club
The book club meets in person at the East Granby Public Library, conference room, the second Monday of the month at 10am.
Meeting, September 9th, 2024
The Color Purple by Alice Walker
Winner of the Pulitzer Prize and the National Book Award
A powerful cultural touchstone of modern American literature, The Color Purple depicts the lives of African American women in early-twentieth-century rural Georgia. Separated as girls, sisters Celie and Nettie sustain their loyalty to and hope in each other across time, distance, and silence. Through a series of letters spanning nearly thirty years, first from Celie to God, then from the sisters to each other, the novel draws readers into a rich and memorable portrayal of Black women—their pain and struggle, companionship and growth, resilience and bravery.
Deeply compassionate and beautifully imagined, The Color Purple breaks the silence around domestic and sexual abuse, and carries readers on an epic and spirit-affirming journey toward transformation, redemption, and love.
In-Person Book Club
The book club meets in person at the East Granby Public Library, conference room, the second Monday of the month at 10am.
Meeting, October 15th, 2024
All American Boy by Jason Reynolds and Brendan Kiely
New york Times Bestseller
A bag of chips. That’s all sixteen-year-old Rashad is looking for at the corner bodega. What he finds instead is a fist-happy cop, Paul Galluzzo, who mistakes Rashad for a shoplifter, mistakes Rashad’s pleadings that he’s stolen nothing for belligerence, mistakes Rashad’s resistance to leave the bodega as resisting arrest, mistakes Rashad’s every flinch at every punch the cop throws as further resistance and refusal to STAY STILL as ordered. But how can you stay still when someone is pounding your face into the concrete pavement?
There were witnesses: Quinn Collins—a varsity basketball player and Rashad’s classmate who has been raised by Paul since his own father died in Afghanistan—and a video camera. Soon the beating is all over the news and Paul is getting threatened with accusations of prejudice and racial brutality. Quinn refuses to believe that the man who has basically been his savior could possibly be guilty. But then Rashad is absent. And absent again. And again. And the basketball team—half of whom are Rashad’s best friends—start to take sides. As does the school. And the town. Simmering tensions threaten to explode as Rashad and Quinn are forced to face decisions and consequences they had never considered before.
In-Person Book Club
The book club meets in person at the East Granby Public Library, conference room, the second Monday of the month at 10am.
Meeting, November 11th, 2024
Out of Darkness by Ashley Hope Perez
A Top Ten Most Challenged Book of the Year
"This is East Texas, and there's lines. Lines you cross, lines you don't cross. That clear?" New London, TX. 1937. Naomi Vargas is Mexican American. Wash Fuller is Black. These teens know the town's divisive racism better than anyone. But sometimes the attraction between two people is so powerful it breaks through even the most entrenched color lines. And the consequences can be explosive.
Naomi and Wash dare to defy the rules, and the New London school explosion serves as a ticking time bomb in the background. Can their love survive both prejudice and tragedy?
Race, romance, and family converge in this riveting novel that transplants Romeo and Juliet to a bitterly segregated Texas town. Includes a fascinating author's note detailing the process of research and writing about voices that have largely been excluded from historical accounts.
In-Person Book Club
The book club meets in person at the East Granby Public Library, conference room, the second Monday of the month at 10am.
Meeting, December 9th, 2024
Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher
#1 New York Times and International Bestseller. Netflix Original Series
You can’t stop the future.
You can’t rewind the past.
The only way to learn the secret . . . is to press play.
Clay Jensen returns home from school to find a strange package with his name on it lying on his porch. Inside he discovers several cassette tapes recorded by Hannah Baker—his classmate and crush—who committed suicide two weeks earlier. Hannah's voice tells him that there are thirteen reasons why she decided to end her life. Clay is one of them. If he listens, he'll find out why. Clay spends the night crisscrossing his town with Hannah as his guide. He becomes a firsthand witness to Hannah's pain, and as he follows Hannah’s recorded words throughout his town, what he discovers changes his life forever.
Need to talk? Call 1-800-273-TALK (8255) anytime if you are in the United States. It’s free and confidential.
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