And then I can bring the cauldron and I can “show-and tell” how to make brews and potions! No! TRIXIE!! THAT'S HOT! You know you are too little to use the cauldron! Please go upstairs before you hurt yourself!

There’s a new program in town. This delightful event is held at the Hughes Main Library on the first Friday of the month in a drop-in format from 10:00a to 12:00p. Interact with your child at each of our early literacy play spaces (music, crafts, puzzles, etc.). Practice the same simple activities at home for a future payoff in school readiness and reading success for your child. Ages 4 and under with an adult caregiver. English/Spanish materials available. No groups; three children per adult caregiver maximum. See you there!

Kings and queens, princes and princesses, lords and ladies, knights, peasants, and more gathered by the hundreds for two Royal Balls held at the Hughes Main Library on January 29th. There was dancing, jousting, castle dwelling, and frog kissing. The princess was rescued, and the dragon was bested. The jester juggled, and the storyteller spun tales. Miss Leigh, dressed in a dazzling yellow gown, hosted the grand occasions and announced events accompanied by the royal herald’s trumpeting. It was a magical time—one that will be fondly remembered throughout the kingdom for ages to come.

Jo Jo was sleeping comfortably when suddenly something shot up through her floor making a huge hole and burning the feet off her footie jammies! What on Earth could it be? Why it’s…it’s…a MAGIC PICKLE! Fifty years ago, Dr. Formaldehyde was eating lunch when his pickle fell in the path of an experimental particle confabulator. It was instantly turned into an intelligent, muscled, noble superhero of a vegetable, Weapon Kosher. Now, fifty years later, he has been awakened from a cryogenic sleep to rid the world of evil rotten produce. With Jo Jo accidentally by his side, Weapon Kosher goes where no pickle has ever gone before.

Are you a doodler? Do you find yourself filling your notebook with pictures of dragons and baseball players instead of social studies and long division?  If so, this may be the book you’ve been looking for your whole life!  Even if you’re a terrible artist and can’t draw straight lines with a ruler, you too can become a cartoonist!  I didn’t believe it at first either.  So I tried it.  And just look what I did!

Welcome to Amelia's world. It's a world filled with best friends disguised as superheroes, nemeses in the form of wild haired little girls, way cool-rocker-guitar-playing aunts, and semi-depressed parents that have just gotten divorced. It's a crazy world she lives in, but, all in all, it's not bad. Yes, she was taken out of the only home she had ever known in Manhattan to live in a small rural community in a smallish house with her Aunt Tanner. Yes, she had to make all new friends and prove herself all over again in a new school. Yes, it may seem incredibly unfair, and she's done her share of whining, moaning, groaning, wallowing, and grumbling. But when the day is through, Amelia knows she's got it pretty good. She's got two parents that love her, even though they are hundreds of miles apart. She's got a way-cool-rocker-guitar-playing aunt, and she's got three new best friends (well, make that one new best friend, a mysterious non-talking friend, and a nemesis.) In this action packed adventure you'll get to meet Amelia and all of her friends and go on some pretty imaginative rides.

‘Twas three weeks before Christmas,
 When we were quite merry,
‘Cause Porkchop Productions
Came to grace our library.

Holly and the Christmas Gift
Was the show brought to many
Who enjoyed the production
Without spending a penny.

The play was about
A sweet elf named Holly
Who brought gifts to Bahum Bugg
To help him feel jolly.

At first Bugg was grumpy
But became a glad gent
When he learned from elf Holly
It’s okay to be different.

And we heard folks exclaim,
As they left with big grins,
“When visiting the library,
Everyone wins!”

Everyone had a great time at the November 13th Let's Pretend: Candy Land at the Hughes Main Library.

If you know a young fishing enthusiast, then this fine picture book is a must read!  If you don’t, then this book is a beautiful introduction to fish and fishing.  According to renowned fishing expert, author, and illustrator James Prosek, “The first rule in fishing is that there are no rules (except, of course, to be careful with the hooks), but it helps to know a few basic things.”  A Good Day’s Fishing is a slow tour of our young narrator’s well-stocked and seldom cleaned tackle box.  The contents are varied, humorous, and even a little bit gross.  If you have ever caught an eel on your fishing line or found an aged surprise as you cleaned up after your child, then you will be amused!  The voice of Prosek’s text is authentically childlike, and his exquisite watercolor illustrations are both appealing and realistic.  Ultimately, the narrator reveals that a day of good fishing can be enjoyed with very few things indeed, and the story and illustrations sing an ode to the natural world.  For a special treat, be sure to read the glossary Prosek added at the end of this wonderful picture book.  It is full of information and tips that anglers of all ages will appreciate.  Undoubtedly you will “know a few things” about fish and fishing after enjoying A Good Day’s Fishing. 

We had a blast at our annual “Bouncing Babies Boo Bash” on Thursday, Oct. 29 at the Main Library. This special storytime just for babies was devoted to all things Halloween. We read stories, danced to the “Monster Boogie”, enjoyed refreshments generously provided by moms, and had a costume contest! Second place went to Simone in her homemade lamb costume. Third place was awarded to Brady for his adorable state trooper costume. Chase won first place as a…chicken rider!? See pictures of this funny costume and others below.