Merrimack Public Library, Merrimack, NH

Dear Friends back home,

I have been enjoying my time here at the Merrimack Public Library, in Merrimack, NH. They have just finished their Summer Reading Program for 2011 and I hope my presence has helped make it a fun time for everyone.

The 2011 theme they have been using is "One World, Many Stories." I joined them for a sing-a-long with Hoot N Hollah, where here you see me helping them sing a Scottish song called "Aiken Drum". (I am on the podium overseeing the pictures of the food shapes that the kids choose to create Aiken Drum's features) The lady in the pink T shirt is the Children's Librarian, Mrs. Couser.

I also helped Mrs. Glavin set up a program about India during which the kids made Rangoli, a traditional decorative welcome sign for your door.

I was fortunate to meet their summer intern, Liz, who is a student at Plymouth State University. She was pretty brave on the day that Critters N Creatures Animal Show came to the library and had her picture taken with Darwin, the Tegu Lizard from South America, but as you can see, I decided to hang out on the other side of the camera lens. (Nothing personal against Darwin!)

Mrs. Couser told me to tell you that she is very proud of the kids in Merrimack who participated in the Summer Reading Program. They had 487 kids read a total of 4,802 hours! That's more than 300 hours than last year. I find this very exciting personally because the kids were challenged by the Friends of the Merrimack Library to read 3500 hours, and if they reached their goal, the Friends would make a donation of $450 to the Humane Society for Greater Nashua. I am very, very happy for the dogs, puppies, cats and kittens who will be helped by these awesome kids.

I've included a picture showing how the hours read were tracked on a gigantic poster in the hallway outside of the Children's Room, with one sticker = to one hour.

Well, I'm going to catch a few waves over here by Hawaii, and then be on my way to my next Library!


See you soon!

Your buddy,
Cole Cat

COLE VISITS BERLIN NH

COLE HAD FUN AT THE LIBRARY PLAYING ON THE COMPUTER WITH THE BOYS.

Westwood Public Library, Westwood, MA

Well I have had quite a whirlwind time here at Westwood! They are in the midst of building a state of the art new library right next door; this has made it very easy to enjoy watching all the construction. I even got to pose in front of some Diggers and very friendly construction workers. I will definitely have to make a trip out here again when the new building is done, I hear the children's room will have its own little garden... perfect place for me to get some sun while I surf and read.

I was cordially invited to attend Miss Loretta's storytime and even got to pose with some characters from the Flannel Story of "Mother Mother I want Another". I had a lot of fun and earned my keep by helping Joyce with some circulation duties.
I will miss my friends at Westwood, especially Penny the Dinosaur, she was a lovely host. Well I'm off to my next destination.
Till then,
Cole Cat (Traveler Extraordinaire)

Richmond Memorial Library, Marlborough, CT

Greetings from Marlborough CT!

I arrived here just in time to see Spring bloom (plus some wind and rain!) But that was perfect because I got to join some new friends in 2 storytimes! Ms. Eileen and the 4 & 5-yr-olds made these cute chicks! I had a blast reading to my new friend as we sat in the window and soaked up some rays.

Here's a picture of me with my new 2-yr-old friends from Ms. Patty's storytime. They were reading stories about kites and wind. Ms. Patty made this great flannelboard display of kites and clouds - and I got to be in it! You can see my red hat above the little boy 2nd from the right. Then I got to fly these kites with the kids allllllllllllllllll around the room!!!! FUN!

Well I'm off on another adventure. Then maybe the Spring winds will be flying me home soon!

Saxton B. Little Free Library , Columbia, CT

Well this week I stopped at the Saxton B. Little Free Library in Columbia, CT. I arrived the day after Dr. Seuss's Birthday, so I just had to read some of my favorites by him while I was there. Here I am checking out their display - right after I took this picture I read Bartholomew and the Oobleck with one of my new friends:


Of course I had to check out their toys! Even though the library is small, Columbia has lots of blocks, puzzles, and puppets. Here I am building a lego tower!


Usually I am a little scared of bees, but these guys were nice. Bees are sort of the unofficial mascot at the Saxton 'B.' (get it!), and these bees travel just like me! After talking with them I found out they have been all over the world with library patrons from Columbia. These bees have been to Japan, Russia, Alaska, and one even sat on the Great Wall of China. How cool is that?? Maybe I'll go to China next!

Greetings from the Oxford Public Library in Oxford, CT!

The Oxford Public Library is small - it's in the basement of the town hall - but during my stay here, I had BIG FUN!

Last Thursday, I attended a concert sponsored by the library! Children's performer, Chris Keithan, a.ka. Mr. Gym, played songs for about 40 kids and adults (plus one rabbit!). The songs were aimed at encouraging kids to get physically fit. Everyone had so much fun hopping, dancing, and playing with scarves and egg shakers!

Then, I let my creative side show as I painted with watercolors along with some new friends!

Finally, I attended Babies & Books, a storytime for infants - three-year-olds! We listened to Miss Marissa read stories, we sang songs, and then came the best part: playing with the library's toys!
Have a "hoppy" day!

Becca Bunny

Monson Free Library, Monson, MA

I had a great time at the Monson Free Library! I met a new friend named Peter who was hanging out in the Children's Room. I spent some quiet time reading to the fish too!
I found this giant jar of candy hearts but the librarians said I had to guess how many were in there if I wanted to eat them! I don't think I would have been able to eat them all anyway, the jar was as big as me!