Kids

In honor of National Poetry Month, we're having a "Pocket Poem Contest" in the Children's Library. You could win a gift certificate to Toadstool Bookshop! Simply bring in your poems and put them in the pockets on the bulletin board. There will be 2 levels for judging: Age 7 and under & Age 8-13. Every Friday during the month of April, the staff will evaluate the poems and pick the winners. Be sure to attach the slip provided, indicating your name, age, and phone number... weekly winners will be notified.

Do you have a poem in your pocket? April is National Poetry Month, and we'll be celebrating with special displays and activities. There will be an ongoing Poetry Contest throughout April, with weekly prizes. Thursday, April 30th is Poem in Your Pocket Day...drop by the Children's Library for something special!

As most school kids know, March 2nd is Dr. Seuss's birthday! It is hard to think of a children's author who has brought so much delight to people of all ages. Born Theodor Seuss Geisel in 1904 in Springfield, Massachusetts, Ted entertained us with silly rhymes, witty and wise stories and his fabulous signature cartoons, right up until his death at age 87. The library has a comprehensive collection of Dr.

News Flash...
Maddy is in Philadelphia, and she won't make it back for Paws to Read this week (February 19).
She says to tell you she's looking forward to reading with you on March 19!

Our Maddy has developed quite a following! Everyone loves to practice reading with her...she is so sweet and lovable. She will continue to visit on the third Thursday of every month, from 4:00-5:30pm. Walk-ins are welcome, but if you want to be sure to have your own 15-minute private time with Maddy, it is advised that you sign up on-line. You will then be called to nail down your specific time slot. Her next visit will be on Thursday, February 19th.

Midgrade Book Club members... Please note: The next meeting date has been moved to March 16th. We are skipping February because of Presidents' Day and school vacation.

Good news! Maddy will be here again on Thursday, Januay 15 from 4:00 to 5:30pm to read with kids. She is a trained serv ice dog, and a real sweetheart. You can sign up for a 15-minute time slot on-line if you want to be sure to get a time slot. Walk-ins are always welcome, but there can be no guarantee that you'll get a turn to read to Maddy.

Welcome to 2015! Bob Rotier's students have been at it again! This year's creation represents hotels on the Las Vegas Strip. The Bellagio and Paris Hotels were assembled by Mr. Rotier's physics class at Souhegan High School in Amherst. Sue Downer's chemistry students built the Luxor Hotel. Both teachers are Bedford residents, teaching at Souhegan. The entire exhibit is built with a gingerbread base, then thoroughly embellished with candy, gum and cookies. This has been a tradition for several years now.

12-year-old Carley Connors is angry! She doesn't trust anybody...and with good reason! She has been placed in foster care after being beaten severely by her stepfather, along with her mother, who wound up in the hospital. Sure, Mrs. Murphy seems nice enough, even loving; and the kids and their dad are gradually accepting her into the family... but Carley is still on the defensive. Then something happens that changes everything...will Carley allow herself to find happiness after all?

And the winner is...If I Built a House by Chris Van Dusen! Kids from all over New Hampshire chose this title overwhelmingly... Bedford kids included! This book won by a landslide 10,231 votes out of the 23,093 ballots cast statewide. The second most popular title was The Very Inappropriate Word, with 2801 votes, followed closely by Outfoxed, with 2670. All 10 books received a respectable number of votes.