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.
Download the August & September Newsletter Here
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/
CFCE Playgroup
Ages Birth - 5
CFCE Summer Playgroup is on break until the last week of August; Wednesday, August 27th Playgroup (regular, drop-in) and Friday, August 29th Pre-K Readiness Playgroup (registration required). No Playgroup September 3rd or 5th.
Fall Playgroup Dates: Staring on September 10th, every Wednesday and Friday from 10:30am to 12pm.
Join us for these free playgroups, where you and your child (birth-5 years) can enjoy playtime, an activity and circle time with facilitator, Marti. Drop in and dress for mess. On nice days we may play outside.
Playgroup is made possible with funding from a Coordinated Family and Community Engagement (CFCE) grant from the MA Department of Early Education and Care, administered by the Collaborative for Educational Services
School Readiness Playgroup
Select Fridays this Summer!
Join CES-CFCE for a FREE 6-week school readiness playgroup for ages 3-5 years. We will play and learn together, meet new friends and practice important school readiness skills for young childre.
When: Fridays August 8th and 29th
Time: 10:30am - 11:30am
Registration required! Please contact Marti at mwiechman@collaborative.org to sign up.
Get a free kit! Get a kit of hands-on materials created by Boston Children's Museum to keep.
Read to a Dog! Reading Buddies
Thursdays from 3:30pm - 5pm
Give your kids a fun, laid back chance to practice by reading to a dog. Our friendly, certified therapy pooch is ready to listen (along with their human teammate). A child's reading improves with practice – and the dog vocabulary will benefit, too!
Dog + kid + book = fun! Pencil in a pup appointment!
Children in Kindergarten & up ~ Sign up to reserve a 20 minute spot to read to Gwen, the sweetest greyhound, she loves to be read to!
Reading Buddies with Bright Spot Therapy Dogs
Thursdays 3:30 – 5pm. Aug. 21 & Sept. 4
Thursdays 3:50 -5:15pm. Sept. 18, October 2,16, & 30
Children in Kindergarten & up will enjoy reading aloud to gentle,
comforting Reading Buddies with Bright Spot Therapy Dogs as they practice their reading.
Pre-register for a time slot.
Summer Reading Adventure
June 20th – August 8th
Summer Reading Program 2025
“Level Up at Your Library”
Summer reading is winding down. If you haven't already, stop in to get your free Cindy's Ice Cream cone coupon prize pack if you have logged 25 days of reading this summer. The last day to submit your sheet for a grand prize drawing is August 8th! The completed reading log is kid’s entry to the two main prizes - $175. gift certificate for Mystic Aquarium & sea fun puzzle/ book and a $100. gift certificate for Magic Wings & a butterfly hatchery set.
Download information and log sheets here.
Silly Pet Photo Contest - The pets are in! Stop in to vote on your favorite silly pet. The silliest pet in photo will win a $50 gift certificate for Granby Grain.
Fly Away with Books!
Finished Summer Reading and want another challenge? Pick up a "Fly Away with Books" sheet. Read 5 picture books or 1 chapter book at home and write the title(s) on the lines in the hot air balloon. Color your hot air balloon, then return the sheet to the library for a small prize by August 29th.
For kids up to age 11 years.
Mochi Squishy Scavenger Hunt
August 12th - 23rd
Cute little Mochi Kawaii critters are fun to play with, but they are very sneaky and we've had many of ours escape. Can you help us find them? Take a find sheet, find them, then turn in your sheet for your own *Mochi Kawaii to take home! Ages 4-11 years. 1 time per child. While supplies last.
Be a Spy Kid!
August 26th - September 13th
Check out an I-Spy or Look & Find type of book and get a DIY mini I-Spy bottle kit. While supplies last. Ages 4 and up.
Play I-Spy - Look in our I-Spy aquarium, find and count the items on the Find Sheet as you go. When you've spied everything on the sheet, then you receive a little toy/treat!
September Read for Treats "Apple" Sheets
September 2nd - 23rd
Pick up a sheet & get a treat for reading! Read 5 picture books or 1 chapter book at home, then write the book title(s) on the lines inside the apple. Color the apple & return the sheet to the library to redeem for a treat/toy. Ends September 23rd.
Meet a Balloon Artist - A Sensory Friendly Experience with Brie's Balloons
Thursday, September 25th from 5:30pm - 7:00pm
Sign up for a 15 minute, one-on-one balloon twisting session with Brie's Balloons. Spaces are limited, please pre-register.
Choose between 2 experiences with Brie's Balloons when you register:
Exploration session (ages 3-4 years) is great for those getting comfortable with different sensory experiences or as an introduction to balloon twisting.
Balloon twisting teaching session (youth ages 5 years and up) is good for those who are ready to learn how to twist 1-2 balloon animals.
Book Club Bookworms
A Book Group for Ages 8-12
Book Club is on a break for the summer. See you in the fall!
Library Wildlife Habitat
Our Library's Children's Garden is now a National Wildlife Federation Certified Wildlife Habitat proving that we provide the 4 basic elements for wildlife to thrive; food, water, cover and places to raise young.
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.
Program Overview:
The concept if simple, but the rewards are priceless. Read a book (any book) to your newborn, infant, or toddler. The goal is to read 1,000 books (yes, you can repeat books) before your child starts kindergarten.
Sound hard? Not really if you think about it: If you read just 1 book a night, you will have read 365 books in one year - that's 730 books in two years and 1,095 books in three years. If you consider that most children start kindergarten at around five, you have more time thatn you think (to get started)!
How to participate:
Read with your child. Keep track of how many books you've read by filling in the shapes on your log. Books read at storytime count too! When each log sheet is completed, bring it back to the Youth Services Desk and receive your next log! You will get a sticker for every 100 books read.
When your child reaches 1,000 books, they will have their photo taken for our Wall of Fame, they will get a certificate and a medal, and may pick out a free book!
You may read (and re-read) ANY book. We do have a list of book suggestions if you need help choosing books.
www.1000booksbeforekindergarten.org
Scholastic Teachables
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.
On Teachables:
Username – granbypl
Password – granbypl
*You must go though our link – the picture on our library Children’s tab/ page*
Help Navigating
There are 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).
ABC Mouse at the Library
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!
Children's Resources
Great online resources offered free of charge
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Teach Your Monster To Read! The groundbreaking game that makes learning to read fun! |
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Learning apps and games. |
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Make any room a classroom. |
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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. |
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Get printable worksheets, at-home lesson plans, craft ideas, and activities. |
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STEM experiments and space themed storytimes. |
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Activate your kids' imagination with podcasts, audiobooks, and music. |
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Join the PBS Kids newsletter for access. |
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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. |
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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." |
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Fun printables based on picture books published by Harper Collins. Also some great storytime tips! |
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Resources, downloadable activities, bookslists and more! Click on "Activities and Printables" to find printable learn-at-home activities. |
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Resources for Parents and Caregivers
Advocates for Home Education in Massachusetts, Inc. - Resources for Homeschooling in Massachusetts