Celebrate National Poetry Month and the release of The Tortured Poet's Department with an afternoon of poetry-themed Swiftie activities! We'll have blackout poetry, poetry games, friendship bracelet-making, and of course, music. Drop-in anytime from 1PM to 4PM.
Teens
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Immerse yourself in the heartbeat of Latine cultures around the world with dancer, dance instructor, and musician Luis Armacanqui. After a brief presentation to learn about the origins, associated music, and cultural significance of the Cumbia dance, get on your feet for solo and partner dance instruction set to live music. Our goal is to have participants learn and appreciate what makes each Latin dance a unique life skill that can be enjoyed anywhere! No experience or partner needed. Just show up and dance with us—all ages are welcome!
This program is sponsored by Beyond the Page, an organization that helps support humanities programming in Dane County libraries. This spring, Dane County libraries are celebrating Latine music and dance through a variety of fun and interactive programs for the whole family. See the Beyond the Page website for the full list of programs taking place this spring, including Luis's other stops on the Latine Dance Passport!
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Monday, April 29th
4:00 - 5:00 PM
Simon Sort of Says
by Erin Bow
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Simon O’Keeffe’s biggest claim to fame should be the time his dad accidentally gave a squirrel a holy sacrament. Or maybe the alpaca disaster that went viral on YouTube. But the story the whole world wants to tell about Simon is the one he’d do anything to forget: the story in which he’s the only kid in his class who survived a school shooting.
Two years after the infamous event, twelve-year-old Simon and his family move to the National Quiet Zone—the only place in America where the internet is banned. Instead of talking about Simon, the astronomers who flock to the area are busy listening for signs of life in space. And when Simon makes a friend who’s determined to give the scientists what they’re looking for, he’ll finally have the chance to spin a new story for the world to tell.
From award-winning author Erin Bow, Simon Sort of Says is a breathtaking testament to the lasting echoes of trauma, the redemptive power of humor, and the courage it takes to move forward without forgetting the past.
This session can be both in person, and online via Zoom. To join us, call Catherine at 608-798-3886 - please let Catherine know if you would like to attend virtually.
Copies are available for checkout at the library.
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Stop in during Trout Days to browse through the annual Friends of the Library used book sale! A selection of books, DVD's, puzzles, and games will be available for purchase. All sales are by donation and proceeds will go to the Friends to directly support special library projects and activities, such as our upcoming summer reading program or our recent seed library.
Shop the sale anytime on Friday between 8AM and 6PM or Saturday from 8AM to 2PM.
Interested in getting involved with the Friends of the Library? See more information here.
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Song for a Whale, by Lynne Kelly
The story of a deaf girl's connection to a whale whose song can't be heard by his species, and the journey she takes to help him.
From fixing the class computer to repairing old radios, twelve-year-old Iris is a tech genius. But she's the only deaf person in her school, so people often treat her like she's not very smart. If you've ever felt like no one was listening to you, then you know how hard that can be.
When she learns about Blue 55, a real whale who is unable to speak to other whales, Iris understands how he must feel. Then she has an idea: she should invent a way to "sing" to him! But he's three thousand miles away. How will she play her song for him?
The Tween Book club read Song for a Whale, by Lynne Kelly for their February 2021 book discussion. The author graciously agreed to answer questions from the group. Take a look at the interview, which includes a link to a fascinating article, complete with recordings of whale sounds.
Check out this interview with the author of one of our favorite reads, The True Meaning of Smekday. We have often read the book for an end of the year selection (just because we like it so much). Adam Rex offered to answer questions for our group, take a look at what he had to say.