OWL Virtual: Book & Cook Club
Enjoy exploring these cooking videos for the month of March!
For Families
This February we celebrated our third year of the OWL Virtual: Book & Cook Club! We know that winter can be a tricky time to get to a Library program–the adverse weather, early darkness, and how it seems at least one family member is always fighting a cold...we get it!
That’s why every Tuesday in February Mrs. Tricia uploaded a video where she shared a picture book and then prepared a recipe from that book! Each video is available for one month after it is posted.
• Week 1 (posted on 2/4): Refrigerator Pickles from Pickle Words written by April Pulley Sayre and illustrated by Jialei Sun
Click here for the link to the Refrigerator Pickles video.
• Week 2 (posted on 2/11): Blackberry Fool from A Fine Dessert: Four Centuries, Four Families, One Delicious Treat written by Emily Jenkins and illustrated by Sophie Blackall
Click here for the link to the Blackberry Fool video.
• Week 3 (posted on 2/18): Bao from Dumplings for Lili written and illustrated by Melissa Iwai
Click here for the link to the Bao video.
• Week 4 (posted on 2/25): Thunder Cake from Thunder Cake written and illustrated by Patricia Polacco
Click here for the link to the Thunder Cake video.
If you post any pictures or videos of your family cooking-along with Mrs. Tricia, be sure to tag OWL!
March Events:
Clay Monsters
March Family Take & Make - SOLD OUT!
Available beginning March 1*
*while supplies last
Our March Take & Make has you creating adorable clay monsters! Using air dry clay, your hands, and some toothpicks, you can create a hand-sculpted clay monster that is as sweet or as scary as you'd like!
NEW! Baby Time
Tuesdays at 10:30 AM - Beginning March 4
Perfect for 0 - 12 months, but fun for everyone!
Meet us in the Children’s Room for Baby Time! This calm, cozy program is designed for pre-walkers who aren't quite ready for the high energy of Rhyme Time. We will focus on nursery rhymes, lullabies, and bonding with your baby.
Rhyme Time & Playgroup
Wednesdays at 10:30 AM
Perfect for 18 - 36 months, but fun for everyone!
Lots of rhymes, a sprinkling of songs, and one or two shared board books round out this library program that is perfect for little ones who need to get those wiggles out. Stay to PLAY! After the rhymes, stay for some unstructured play time with other kiddos.
Preschool Storytime
Thursdays at 10:30 AM
Perfect for 3 - 5 year olds, but fun for everyone!
Join Mrs. Tricia for a classic library storytime - books, songs, bubbles, and more! Come for early literary skills, social connections, and fun! We will focus on one special picture book author each week.
Saturdays at OWL - Stay to Play
Saturdays at 10:30 AM
All Ages Welcome!
Saturday Storytime is BACK! Come to OWL for an all ages storytime in the children's room every Saturday at 10:30 then stay to play. In addition to our puppet theater, wooden blocks, and train set, we now have a dollhouse! We also have an ongoing Scavenger Hunt with a squishy prize for winners. During January our craft table is home to a GIANT coloring poster, as well as a special weekly craft for older children. And most importantly come in to browse our collection of print books, Nutmeg nominees, and Wonderbooks!
Be a Nutmeg Reader: Take Home Book Club
March's Nutmeg Selections
Best for Grades 2 - 3, but fun for all elementary readers and their families
Each month read two Elementary Nominees for the 2025 Nutmeg Book Award. By April you will have read all the nominees and will be ready to vote for your favorite! We know families are busy and schedules are packed so this is a Take Home Book Club. Beginning on the first of each month check out copies of the two featured books and receive a Book Club Kit with Discussion Questions, Further Reading Suggestions, and an activity!
MARCH BOOKS ARE:
Wombats! Go Camping
by Maddie Frost
Albert and Pickles are best friends on a camping adventure! Albert can't wait for a rustic experience, while Pickles is imagining a luxury resort. When a baby koala stumbles onto their campsite in need of its mama, the two friends must put aside their differences.
Yoshi's Big Swim: One Turtle's Epic Journey Home
by Mary Wagley Copp, art by Kaja Kajfez
Yoshi, an injured loggerhead sea turtle, was rescued by fishermen who brought her to an aquarium for care. As she grew, she captured the hearts of all she came in contact with. Twenty years later, Yoshi was ready to return to her true home.
OWL Virtual: Masterpiece Mayhem
Tuesdays in March
For Families
Join us for our third year of OWL Virtual: Masterpiece Mayhem! March may go out like a lamb here in New England but it comes in like a lion! We know the end of winter can still be a tricky time to get to a Library program–the uncertain weather, and those last lingering winter germs…we get it! That’s why every Tuesday in March Ms. Tricia will upload a video where she shares a picture book biography of an artist and then creates an art project in their signature style. Each video will be available for one month after it is posted.
Come to OWL each week in March to check out your copy of the book and to grab any craft materials you might need.
• Week 1 (posted on 3/4): Fearless World Traveler by Laurie Lawlor, illustrated by Becca Stadtlander
Click here for the video link to learn about botanical artist Marianne North and a North-related craft.
• Week 2 (posted on 3/11): Just Being Dali by Amy Guglielmo, illustrated by Bret Helquist
Click here for the video link to learn about artist Salvador Dali and a Dali-related craft.
• Week 3 (posted on 3/18): Paper Son by Julie Leung, illustrated by Chris Sasaki
• Week 4 (posted on 3/25): Little Frida by Anthony Browne
If you post any pictures or videos of your family creating-along with Mrs. Tricia, be sure to tag OWL!
April Events:
SCREENAGERS: Elementary School Age Edition
Film Viewing & Discussion
Live, In-Person:
Tuesday, April 29 at 6:00 PM
Registration is required to attend In-Person. Register here
In partnership with the Litchfield PTO and The Litchfield Prevention Council, OWL is pleased to continue our ongoing series pertaining to screen use by our youth. This event is open to our entire community. Come and learn the latest research as well as what we can do to ensure play-based childhood in our community.
OWL’s Children’s & YA Audio Program
Do you love listening to audiobooks but no longer have access to a CD player?
We can help! Check out one of our 5 circulating CD players and receive a free pair of earbuds and a retro prize from our 90s time capsule! You will also receive a prize for any Juvenile or Young Adult CD audiobooks that you check out. Prizes include koosh balls, mini troll dolls, and slap bracelets all harkening back to the decade when portable CD players were all the rage.
MORE Information about Zoom:
All of our Virtual Zoom Events are live. They are not recorded. To participate/join the event, you need to use the exact link connected to the event. Once you click on the link at the specified date and time, you will be prompted to open Zoom, the virtual meeting program we are using. All you need is an internet connection and a device or computer with a webcam and audio. Most computers have built-in webcams. No passwords or confirmation codes, just click the link and follow the prompts.
Still having difficulty understanding how to access Zoom: email info at owlibrary dot org and we will go over it with you.
More security, more privacy: In response to concerns about privacy in a virtual meeting space, we have enabled additional security features in Zoom and updated our meeting links to be protected, private, and secure. These new, unique links can be accessed solely through our e-newsletters.To receive secure information regarding these events, please subscribe to our e-newsletter! Click here to subscribe If you misplace the email and need the link again, email info at owlibrary dot org