What's New?

3/11/25 - Caldecott, Carnegie, and Emmy Award-winning author, illustrator, animator and playwright Mo Willems shares some of the keys to creating memorable characters.

2/3/25 - The Library of Congress and Every Child a Reader announced the appointment of Mac Barnett as the 2025-2026 National Ambassador for Young People’s Literature. Barnett is the ninth author to hold this position. He succeeds Meg Medina, who served as the National Ambassador from 2023 through 2024.

Barnett is the author of more than 60 books for children, including Twenty Questions, Sam & Dave Dig a Hole, A Polar Bear in the Snow, and Extra Yarn, as well as the popular Mac B., Kid Spy series of novels, The First Cat in Space graphic novels, and The Shapes Trilogy picture books.  Read more here.

10/29/24 - Award-winning, bestselling author Jason Reynolds will join Kwame to talk about generating ideas and how to tap into feelings and experiences to get started with writing.

Hardwick and Woodbury 6th grade students gathered in the Woodbury Elementary School gym to listen to these two master writers discuss their methods.

9/17/24 - Newbery winning and #1 New York Times best-selling author, Kwame Alexander, kicks off the new school year with a live, virtual author event designed to pump kids up about reading and writing!

Hardwick and Woodbury 5th and 6th graders were treated to Kwame reading from his new novel, Black Star, the second book in the Door of No Return trilogy. They also got to "meet" special guest, Mo'ne Davis, the Little League super-star pitcher who inspired the main character!

January 18, 2023 - Meg Medina, author of middle grade works including Newbery winner Merci Suárez Changes Gears, as well as acclaimed picture books and YA titles, will be the next National Ambassador for Young People's Literature. She takes the torch from Jason Reynolds and will be inaugurated at the Library of Congress on January 24. Brava!

Read more at School Library Journal.

January 17, 2023 - Hardwick Elementary School has been fortunate to have local author, Natalie Kinsey-Warnock, working with K-6 students for the past 3 weeks as part of the CLiF Year of the Book Program. Through sharing her own artifacts and family stories, passed down through generations, Natalie has inspired and encouraged students to collect and preserve their own. Finished projects will be presented at a community event at HES on Thursday, February 9 at 1:00. Natalie will join us for the unveiling of student work and we will have Natalie's book, The Bear Who Heard Crying, available for purchase and signing. 

11/17/22 - Author David Martin visits HES with stories and musical entertainment for our CliF Year of the Book Family Literacy Night

10/4/22 - Duncan McDougall kicks off HES's CliF Year of the Book Program with fun stories and the 1st of many book give-aways

Anyone and everyone is welcome to join the VIRTUAL book clubs for trans & nonbinary youth (ages 8-12 & 13-18).

Readers can explore, question, & connect with one another through books centering trans, nonbinary, & gender-creative characters. 

To join one or both of these unique, safe, brave, VIRTUAL literature spaces, register @ www.tinyurl.com/affirmationsbookclub2022

The North Branch Nature Center has more than 2,000 books to explore in their brand new Syz Family Nature Lending Library, including everything from bird taxonomy to environmental history to children's nonfiction. The library is open to the public, and NBNC members are invited to sign out books. Learn more and browse the catalog online.

Oct.6, 2020 - Jacqueline Woodson, author of Brown Girl Dreaming, Harbor Me, and The Day You Begin, has been named a MacArthur Fellow for "redefining children’s and young adult literature to encompass more complex issues and reflect the lives of Black children, teenagers, and families." Read more here and here.

From picture books to graphic novels, fantasy to family fun, these must-read books have the power to hook both boys and girls. Some are cultural touchstones that belong in every kid's library. Others open kids' minds to cultures beyond their own. And some are modern releases that have the timeless quality of classics -- the kinds that get handed down to siblings and passed around classrooms. Whether you have a reluctant reader or a budding bookworm, check out these surefire, kid-tested titles. 

Read more and check out the list by Common Sense Media.

Trans and nonbinary youth are invited to participate in an online book group once a month. Participants are divided into ages 8-13 and 14-18 because there are actually enough books to talk about now! We read a mix of graphic novels, fiction, and the occasional nonfiction titles centered on trans and nonbinary characters. The group started in western Massachusetts, but now includes youth from around the country. Facilitated by a nonbinary middle school librarian, discussions are inspired by the text, but it isn't necessary to read the book to participate. 

Sponsored by High Five Books and Translate Gender.

Above, students in first grade settle in to the library with a Golden Moment. The mindfulness practice involves taking three deep belly breaths to help calm our bodies and minds in order to be ready for learning.

Read more about this powerful practice and it's importance in the classroom here.

Here's another one we're working on that helps send kindness into the world, even to people we might not like so much.

Jan.13, 2020 - Jason Reynolds, beloved author and promoter of youth literature, says he didn't read a whole book before the age of 17. Read more...

Watch his interviews on CBS here and here.

What Are Mirrors & Windows? Kids need to read and hear stories that reflect their own experience as well as have opportunities to empathize with the experiences of others. Why is this important? Keep reading...