Miss Rumphius and Mrs. Grybko

You may or may not know the library's long-time Assistant Director Ann Grybko is retiring after 30 years serving the Richmond Memorial Library and its patrons. Ann has requested very little fanfare or to-do made of her retirement and we wish to respect that, however, I thought perhaps I'd highlight a few books over the next few days in her honor.

First up, "Miss Rumphius", written and illustrated by Barbara Cooney. Miss Rumphius decides very early in life that she must do three things: see the world, live by the sea, and make the world a more beautiful place. On the way, she works in a library. Mrs. Grybko also loves to travel and has been to many unique and far-flung places, (although I don't think she has fallen off a camel as Miss Rumphius does!) and Ann certainly makes the world a more beautiful place just by her presence. Miss Rumphius does too, but then she goes one further. You'll have to read the book to see what she does, but it certainly fits in with Mrs. Grybko's passion for the environment.

The book has won multiple awards and has such a powerful spirit that there is even a Miss Rumphius Award given to a teacher annually. It's a beautiful book that will likely lead to many good conversations with your children. How will each of us make the world a more beautiful place?

Storytime Sessions Are About to Begin. Yay!

9-18 Months: Wednesday at 10:30, with caregiver. Four sessions starting October 7. With Ms. Eileen.
Two year-olds: Monday OR Thursday at 10:00 (for about 30 minutes), with caregiver. Includes a craft. Five classes. With Ms. Patty
Threes and Fours: Monday OR Thursday at 1:00 (for about 45 minutes) Parent or caregiver must stay at the library. Includes a craft. Five classes. With Ms. Patty
Fours and Fives: Friday at 10:00 OR 1:00 (for about 1 hour) Parent or caregiver must stay at the library. Includes a craft. Five classes. With Ms. Eileen

About your four-year-old: As you see you have many options for your four year old to accommodate all nursery school schedules. The Friday sessions are a bit longer and will generally include more complicated crafts and some longer books. However, all classes are appropriate for all four-year-olds.

Sign up begins on Tuesday, September 1st for Marlborough residents, and September 9th for non-residents. Session I starts September 14. Session II starts October 25.

School Days

Well, it's that time again, the school year is about to begin. This is a bittersweet time for most parents; on one hand it's nice to get back into a routine and maybe, for some, have a few hours to yourself. On the other hand it's hard to give up the easy, free, days of summer and the luxury of having the company of our children. I know I will see a lot less of my kids once homework and activities kick in.

For children, it's a time of high emotions, fears, excitement, sadness, and happiness. As parents we know that this is a time to be especially gentle with our children as they make this transition. For those with children starting school for the first time, extra care is especially needed. As always, books are there to help. We have many wonderful back-to-school books and Ms. Eileen has put them on display. Please feel free to talk to us about your children's school transition and how we at the library can help.

Driving

A milestone just occurred in my life as a parent; my son bought his first car. He used his own hard-earned and saved money to buy a 1996 red Honda Civic. We registered it this morning and away he drove. Happy. He's only 16. I should have known this day would come sooner for him than for other kids when he had me read the P.D. Eastman classic, "Go, Dog, Go!" about a hundred times when he was a toddler. So, beware... if your child wants to hear "Go, Dog, Go!", or it's modern descendant, "Zoom City" by Thatcher Hurd, or "In the Driver's Seat" by Max Haynes over and over again then you may be in my position sooner than you think! (BTW, all three of these books are lively, zoom-y, a bit wild, and fun!)

A New Book

"A Pocket Can Have a Treasure In It", by Kathy Stinson with illustrations by Deirdre Betteridge is one of the new books on our shelves that is somehow being overlooked. I love this book because it is a game and a story in one. The lovely watercolor illustrations tell a story of a grandmother's visit to a little girl on a farm on a bright summery day. The story ends with the arrival of another member of the family, a new baby. The story is also a game; "Can a spoon have a noodle in it? Can a blanket have a wiggle in it?" The dual nature of the book makes it great for multiple readings. Enjoy!

Family Fun

You know by now that we have MORE than books at the library. How about a great, fantastic, wonderful, superlative-in-every-way magazine? I'm talking about Family Fun magazine and it is chock full of fun games and great ideas. Our family still uses some of the ideas we learned from Family Fun. You'll find it on the magazine rack in the children's section of the library. Get a preview by clicking here for fun COOL games for summer.

Beach Books

I'm off on vacation this week. My sisters and their families, and my kids, husband and I are all heading to Maine to camp (in tents!) at the seashore. I can't think of any great camping picture books (I'll have to research that one), but I enjoy many beach books including "Sea, Sand, Me! " by Patricia Hubbell with bright, energetic illustrations by Lisa Campbell Ernst; a young girl and her mom spend a day at the beach, told in bouncy rhymes. I also love "Yellow Ball" by Molly Bang. It reminds me a bit of "Flotsam" which I highlighted previously. It's a simple story of a ball lost in the waves and where it ends up. Petra Mathers creative, quirky Lottie the Chicken recieves a gift and makes delightful use of it all day in the sunny, whimsical book, "Lottie's New Beach Towel". Finally, "Out of the Ocean", by Debra Frasier is a more introspective, sligthly more cerebral take on the beach trip in which the mother tells her daughter "you can ask the ocean to bring you something, and if you look you might find it."

Transformation

We had a wonderful time with Paul Miller (Flow Circus) yesterday! He was funny and entertaining for children and parents. I'm still laughing at some of his routines. We had a chance to meet Paul and his wife before the performance, both of whom were very nice, smart, and funny. When he becomes his Flow Circus character, however, Paul transforms. He changes his voice, his posture, and even dramatically changes the way he looks; he transforms into the child-like clown that had us all laughing, giggling, guffawing, and smiling.

Transformation is on my mind lately as I prepare for my youngest child to head off to high school and help my oldest child buy his first car. Many of you are preparing to send your little ones to nursery school, or kindergarten, or first grade in a less than a month. At Richmond Library we are preparing for a change this fall when Ann Grybko, long-time assistant director of the library, retires. Also, our storytime schedule for fall changes a bit as we move 2s, and 3/4s to Monday and Thursdays, with 4/5s on Fridays. Change is all around.

Flow Circus!!!

Be sure to be at the library this Friday, August 7th, at 11:00 a.m. to see Flow Circus (this is a clickable link) . Flow Circus is a juggling and entertainment act that is sure to delight all of us. Paul Miller is Flow Circus and brings his humor and juggling skills to us here at the Richmond Memorial Library having been touring the East Coast; from Alabama to South Carolina to Virginia to us! Click on the link and see pictures of his other library visits and learn more about this unique performer. For all ages, so see you there!

Here's what some say about Flow Circus:
"I haven’t laughed so hard in a long time" Deborah Zulick, Project Coordinator Connecticut Library Consortium, Middletown, CT

"He is so AWESOME" Rebecca Rostron, Music Teacher Chapman High School, Spartanburg, SC

"He is an exceptional juggler and master entertainer." Terri Dollar, Program Director Artsplosure, Raleigh, NC

Olivia

Did you know that the circus is coming to Richmond Library? Well, not a WHOLE circus, but a delightful sort-of mini circus called "Flow Circus". They are here to delight us all on Friday. More about that later, but thinking about circuses got me thinking about the delightful Olivia, because of the book, "Olivia Saves the Circus". Olivia is so full of life and energy. She wears people out and sometimes wears herself out, but does so with creativity and joie de vivre. We are all fans of Olivia here at Richmond, so much so that you may see a small stuffed Olivia peeking out through the shelves in the children's section. The books, by Ian Falconer, are here for you at the library. Check them out!

Sidewalk Chalk

I hope you've noticed that we have put a basket of sidewalk chalk out in front of the library to encourage all of you to be creative and leave your mark. We've had some beautiful art show up already. If you want a lasting creation (well, it'll last for a few weeks anyway) draw under the portico. But, if you are the type that enjoys the transience of beauty, then draw on the part of the sidewalk that is not covered; when the rain wipes away your art, draw something new.

To see some AMAZING sidewalk chalk art...and I mean AMAZING...check out street artist Julian Beever (this is a clickable link).