NEW! Children's Room Display Case

Disney Pixar "Cars" Collection
by Arianna Carroll

November 2009

Arianna Carroll, a kindergartener at Haddam Elementary School, started collecting Cars and Radiator Springs playsets after seeing the movie Cars. She was only 2-1/2 years old and became fascinated with the cars from the film. She has approximately 50 cars in her collection.

Kids, interested in displaying your own collection? Have your parent or guardian call the children's librarian, Ms. Diane, at
860 345-2204.

Preschool/Kindergarten
Story Times

The Preschool Story Time program is designed to help your child develop specific pre-reading skills. Stories, songs, rhymes and movement activities are incorporated into this fun forty-five minute program. A related craft activity also helps children to improve small motor skills. Parents can register children for one of the following sessions by calling 860345-2204. Some spaces are still available. Ages 3 to 5.

Session I - Tuesdays, September 15 to November 17
10:30 to 11:15 AM

Session II - Fridays, September 11 to November 20
10:30 to 11:15 AM

Pajama Story Time

Wednesdays, November 4 & 18
6:30 to 7:15 PM

Put your children in their PJs, let them choose their favorite stuffed animal, and come to the library on Wednesday nights for Pajama Story Time with Mrs. Tuckerman. The fun begins at 6:30 P.M. when she will be reading cozy bedtime stories that will relax your children and have them ready to jump into bed. Soothing songs and fingerplays will add to the fun! Pajama Story Time is for children three years and older. This is a drop-in program. No charge.

Music with Margie

Thursday, November 12
10:30 to 11:00 AM

Join Margie Warner for singing, dancing, and Springtime musical fun! Please register in advance. Limit 30 people. For children ages 2-1/2 to 5 and caregivers.

Story Time with Santa & Mrs. Claus

Friday, December 4
10:30 to 11:30 AM

For Ages 1 thru 5

Mrs. Claus baked a snack for everyone, too!

Registration required, call 860-345-2204.

Baby Sign

Enhancing Communication for Infants,
Toddlers, and Pre-School Children

Presented by Eileen D. Baker, M.E.D.

Wednesdays,  January 6, 13, 20 
& February 3 
10:30 to 11:15 AM

Ages 12 months to 4 years

Call the library for more info!
Registration required,
call 860-345-2204

Teacher's Assignment Alert

Brainerd Memorial Library welcomes advance notice of upcoming school assignments in any form. Notify us at least one week prior to the assignment, and we'll be that much better prepared to assist your students.

Please provide the following information:

(1) School name.
(2) Grade(s).
(3) Is this assignment for more than one class?
(4) Assignment start date (approximate date is OK).
(5) Anticipated due date.
(6) Description of assignment.
(7) Any specific books or other resources that you suggest we purchase to support this or future assignments.

Class Field Trips

Teachers are invited to contact the Children's Department to schedule class field trips. The field trip is designed to introduce children to their library, familiarize them with library resources and the Dewey Decimal System, provide them with a library card and encourage their participation throughout the year, at special events and during the summer reading program. Field trip activities include a tour, entertaining stories and free time to look for books and check out materials. A special book detective treasure hunt is included in extended field trips designed for grades 3 and older.

For further information or to schedule a field trip, please call Diane Therrien 860-345-2204.

Nutmeg Book Club

Children in grades 4-6 can join the Kids Book Club to read the Nutmeg Nominees. The club meets on the third Tuesday of each month (except during school vaca-tions) from 6:30 to 7:30 PM. Copies of the featured book are available to borrow a-round the first of the month. Participants read it before the meeting and come ready to discuss it. Each member is given the opportunity to choose a book from the Nutmeg list and share a snack on the evening that their book is discussed. Fun enrichment activities are always planned to wrap-up the evening. New members are welcome to join by calling Diane Therrien, Children’s/YA Librarian, at 860-345-2204.

Click here to see what it's all about!

Home Access for Scholastic BookFlix

Scholastic BookFlix is a new online literary resource that pairs clas-sic video storybooks from Weston Woods with related non-fiction eBooks from Scholastic to build a love of reading and learning. The engaging way to link fact and fiction, BookFlix reinforces early reading skills and introduces children to a world of knowledge and exploration.

Links For Parents

Advocates for Youth - Parent's Sex Ed Center. Not just sex ed- but information on developmental and social issues, links to advice columns, and worksheets and exercises to help you prepare for 'The Talk".

The Connecticut Association for the Gifted - Resources of all kinds for parents and educators alike to help for gifted children.

Drug and Substance Abuse Information
Brought to you by the Partnership for a drug free America

The Exploratorium - Looking for Cool hands-on activities? Or quick and easy science experiments you can do at home? This site from the San Francisco Science Museum can help you provide your children with hours of amusement, along with some fascinating facts.

Family Fun - Provides answers for every family's needs. Find resources on parenting and raising healthy children, activities, entertainment, recipes, family travel and attractions, budgeting, shopping, coupons, and answers from the experts, other moms.

Figure This! Parents' Site - Family members—as children's first teachers—are crucial to student success. And the more adults become engaged in their children's education, the greater the chances that children will succeed. The resources listed here may help as you work with your child.

Great Kids CT - "...the web site for parents devoted to information on parenting, education, and health and safety. The resources available on this site are related to children from birth to eight years".

Kids Health - Provides doctor-approved health information about children from before birth through adolescence.

Parents Guide to the Internet - Brought to you by the U.S. Department of Education.

RIF - Reading is Fundamental - Book ideas, craft and activity ideas, and grants to help make them possible.

Reading Rockets - This is a great resource for parents and teachers. It provides research documenting the importance of summer reading, as well as resources and ideas to encourage reluctant or struggling readers. There are also links to fun, enjoyable, summer reading lists.

Surfing the Net With Kids - Common sense safety tips, teacher approved sites, book reviews, book clubs, information for kids, teens and their parents.

Your Child: A Health Resource Guide site provides a descriptive directory of both print and online sources about children’s physical, developmental, mental, and dental health. Connecticut organizations and government agencies are included throughout the Guide.

For more links for parents, see Parent & Child
on our Useful Websites page