Author: Neena McBaer

Read for our Community!

Read for our Community!

Tails and Tales Summer Learning Challenge Are you looking for a way to keep yourself or your family engaged in reading over the summer break? Curious about how you can make a difference in our community without leaving home? Maybe you’re competitive and really want to win prizes or earn brag tags to show off your reading progress. Whatever your motivation, our summer reading program can meet your needs! Want competition? Minutes read between June 21 and August 21 will be logged for three teams, the kids, teens, and adults! The team that reads the most minutes will be crowned Summer Reading Champions, and earn extra raffle tickets for the awesome prizes we’re giving away, like a Kindle Fire and local gift cards. Youth readers will also earn brag tags and prizes like tickets to Danbury Westerners games and books. Want to help the community? Help us earn a new marketplace kids play toy by reading and completing other learning activities. By tracking the time your family spends reading this summer, you can help us meet our...

Upcoming Youth Volunteer Opportunities

This summer, get involved in our community! Below are library volunteering opportunities for kids and teens. Included: Book Buddy Volunteers needed, Reading as service!, Garden Volunteering, and Project Do Something   Become a Book Buddy! For ages 11- 20 We are currently accepting volunteer applications for our Book Buddy program. Teens and tweens ages 11-18 can apply to become reading buddies to our community’s younger, developing readers. Volunteers will be paired with an elementary aged student, whom they will assist in practicing their reading skills, as well as read aloud to. Schedule: Virtually over Zoom, Mondays, 7/12-8/21, 2:20 – 3:00 PM Applicants need strong reading skills and to be available for at least three of the six dates of the program. A parent or guardian’s permission is needed to complete the application. The application is open now. To apply, fill out our application.  Questions can be directed to Children’s Program Coordinator, Neena McBaer at children@pawlinglibrary.org or 845-855-3444.     Reading as Service! For all ages This summer, our library is aiming to buy a brand...

Meet Princess Leia

Meet Princess Leia

Calling all Star Wars fans! The force has guided Princess Leia to our library for a special digital program. Join us on Facebook Live on May 13, 4:30 PM as Princess Leia answers questions, shares tales from her adventures in space, and more. Plus, one lucky attendee will win a free one-on-one video call with Princess Leia herself!  To attend, just join our Mid-Hudson Storytime Group in advance of the program and follow the instructions on the homepage after being added to the group. PS- can’t attend live? Don’t have Facebook? You can still participate! You can watch a recording of the event after it airs on Facebook Live or request access to our YouTube recording.     This is a partnership between Parties with Character and the following libraries: – Pawling Free Library – Patterson Library – Hurley Library – Desmond Fish Public Library – Stone Ridge Library – Pleasant Valley Library – Morton Memorial Library and Community House -NorthEast-Millerton Library With questions, contact Children’s Program Coordinator, Neena McBaer, at children@pawlinglibrary.org or 845-855-3444

Spring Children’s Programs Registration Open

No more April-fooling around! The full schedule of Spring Children’s programs for children ten and under is now available! We’re continuing to offer our popular activity kit programs, as well as digital events on Zoom and Facebook Live. Starting in May, we’re also introducing our first outdoor, socially distanced programs for children under five and their caregivers! To view all our Spring offerings and to register, visit our Spring Programs Guide. Registration is required for all programming. The program cycle will run April 12 – June 5. Registration is rolling, as space is available. For more information on policies for Zoom programs, kit programs, and in-person events, visit our Current Children’s Programs Hub.    

Want to Meet Wonder Woman?

Want to Meet Wonder Woman?

Join us April 8th, at 4:30 – 5:00 PM on Facebook Live to interact with Wonder Woman! : https://www.facebook.com/groups/midhudsonstorytime or request a recording to be sent directly to your email. Want to give your little one an experience they’ll never forget? Your child will become friends with a real superhero as they read, sing, tell engaging stories, and play games​ together — Plus,​​ she will respond to your child’s live comments by name! Join us for the second Virtual Live Storytime in an 8-month series on Thursday, April 8th at 4:30pm for an interactive experience and be automatically entered to win a video call from the hero herself! TO JOIN IN: 1) ​​Visit www.facebook.com/groups/MidHudsonStorytime ​now and request to be added to the exclusive event group. Must join BEFORE 4/8 to participate Live. 2) Visit our group again ​on 4/8 right at 4:30pm to play, read, and sing with the hero LIVE! GIVEAWAY! All attending families are automatically entered to win a 10 minute Parties with Character Diamond Package Video Call with the storytime character directly...

Dr. Seuss Read-Alikes

Dr. Seuss’s classic picture books have inspired a new generation of artists and authors, whose works we think your family will love! This list highlights books that rhyme, promote imagination and empathy, or get silly. Plus, all our picks feature illustrations that bring stories to life. Celebrate National Reading Month with a new adventure! Click here to view our list: https://www.pawlingfreelibrary.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/Copy-of-Dr.-Seuss-Readalikes.pdf

Have you tried Wonderbook?

Wonderbooks are here! Wonderbooks are children’s books with ready-to-play audiobooks already inside. Take one off the shelf and press play. It’s never been more fun to read along! Our new Wonderbook collection features several read-alongs with text and audio delivered in both English and Spanish. It’s a great way for kids to learn a new language and for native Spanish speakers to enjoy the magic of Wonderbook read-alongs. View the library’s LISTEN ALONG (orange) Wonderbook collection in the picture book section or search wonderbook in our catalog to find out more.

Meet Princess Elsa!

Meet Princess Elsa!

Announcing our Princess/Superhero Series: Meet Elsa Featuring favorite characters like Elsa, Wonder Woman, and Princess Leia, join us live or request a recording of storytimes to watch anytime. Watch live on Facebook! : Second Thursday of the month, March-October, 4:30 – 5:00 PM EST Click here to join our Facebook Live Group and watch. Watch anytime: A recording of the program will be available on Facebook shortly after the event premieres. Not on Facebook? Click here to request a recording that will be delivered straight to your inbox! Want to give your child an experience they’ll never forget? Become friends with a real princess or hero as they read, sing, tell engaging stories, and play games together — Plus, she will respond to your child’s live comments by name! Join us for the first Virtual Live Storytime in our 8-month series, featuring Princess Elsa! Watch live on Thursday, March 11th, at 4:30pm to participate in the interactive experience and be automatically entered to win a video call from Princess Elsa herself! Schedule of special guests: March 11 – Princess Elsa...

Black History in the Children’s Collection

Black History in the Children’s Collection

Looking for books to read with your children this Black History Month? We’re highlighting books by Black creators this February. This selection list includes biographies of Black trailblazers and game changers, important moments from our history, and collections of tales and folklore passed down through generations. Interested? You can request any of these books through the links below. ***Starred choices are available as digital downloads in hoopla or Libby! Thank you to Angie Webb for curating this list. Biographies Little leaders: bold women in Black history. By Vashti Harrison (Request it here) *** (Digital version) Before she was Harriet: the story of Harriet Tubman by Lesa Cline-Ransome (Request it here) Sojourner Truth: ain’t I a woman? by Pat McKissack (Request it here) Promises to keep: how Jackie Robinson changed America by Sharon Robinson (Request it here) Althea Gibson: the story of tennis’ fleet-of-foot girl by Megan Reid (Request it here) Rosa by Nikki Giovanni (Request it here) *** (Digital Version) The story of Martin Luther King Jr. by Johnny Ray Moore (Request it here) Bad news for outlaws: the remarkable life of...

Winter Children’s Programs Available

Registration is now open for our Winter 2021 children’s programs. The program session will run nine weeks, January 26th – March 26th. This session, we’ll be offering a variety of At-home kit activities and live digital programs on Zoom. Upcoming special events include a taste-safe sensory exploration kit for ages six months to five years and the return of our LEGO and Roblox Clubs. Check out our full lineup of programs and register here.  For more information on our policies, click here.