Submitted by Tammy Eustis
(March 27, 2025) — The following programs and events will take place at Killingworth Library during the month of April, 2025. Please remember that all library programs require pre-registration, so staff can prepare supplies and seating. Visit the Calendar on the library’s website – killingworthlibrary.org – or call 860-663-2000.
How Connecticut Thumbed its Nose at Prohibition – Wednesday, April 2, 2025 at 6:00 p.m. Join historical podcaster Mike Allen for a fascinating talk. When the U.S. decided that alcohol was no longer benefiting society, every state – except two – voted to amend to the Constitution to outlaw the manufacturing and sale of liquor. Connecticut did not support the change. When the ban on alcohol became the law of the land, many people in the state found creative means around it and the Long Island Sound shoreline afforded many opportunities for rum runners.
Letters to the Earth – Saturday, April 5, 2025 at 10:30 a.m. Earth Day falls on April 22, 2025. This program is an opportunity to fill our display case with a celebration of the Earth! We will begin by working in groups to make collages of Earth-related images. Then each attendee will write a letter, sharing our own thoughts to the Earth. And we’ll finish by crafting small globes, also for display in the case. The work from this program will be on display for all library visitors during the month of April. Appropriate for ages 3 and up.
Wildlife Detectives – Tuesday, April 8, 2025 at 4:00 p.m. Clues about wildlife activity are all around us! Join Bushy Hill Nature Center’s Emily Nelson at the library. We will learn how to read animal tracks and signs, the ways different animals move, and we will make our own wildlife track to take home. Appropriate for children in Grades K through 4
Celebrate Phoebe and Her Unicorn – Wednesday, April 9, 2025 at 4:30 p.m. Are you a fan of the “Phoebe and Her Unicorn” books by Dana Simpson? Come celebrate National Unicorn Day with us! Come dressed in sparkly clothes and “unicornize” your day with other readers. We’ll enjoy the first book in the “Phoebe and Her Unicorn” series, participate in a scavenger hunt, and learn about interesting words that Simpson has sprinkled into her series. Then, create your own comic and discover your unicorn name. Appropriate for ages 10+.
Stuffed Animal Sleepover – Thursday, April 10, 2025 at 6:00 p.m. Ever wonder what stuffed animals do after bedtime? Join us with your comfy PJs and stuffed animal friend for a special story time. After the story, tuck your friend in for a sleepover at the library! Pick up your stuffed animal the following day, and see what mischief they’ve been up to. Stuffed friend pick-up will run from 3:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. on Friday, April 11, 2025. Registration is necessary to participate in the story time, and to have your stuffed friend sleep over at the library.
Writers Writing – Begins on Friday, April 11, 2025 at 1:00 p.m. Explore different genres of writing: fairy tales, children’s stories, letters to the editor, poetry, and personal essays. We’ll start with some free writing, where attendees may try out a particular writing style. In later sessions, we’ll discuss the traits and characteristics of the different genres of writing, with the opportunity to share our work. Note: sharing is not required – shyness and uncertainty are always welcome. Appropriate for adults and seniors, with homeschoolers age 15+ also welcome. This program will run for four sessions: April 11, April 25, May 9, and May 23. Please register for whichever sessions you can attend.
What Makes a Bird a Bird – Saturday, April 12, 2025 at 10:30 a.m. Flock to the library to learn all about birds, with environmental educator Julie Ainsworth! We’ll learn about bird beaks (discover how beak shape is related to food), feathers (examine feathers under magnifiers and explore their waterproof features), and bird colors (compare male and female coloring, and consider how color helps birds survive in the wild). Then design and create your own bird, with adaptations for feeding, moving, and survival. Suitable for children ages 5+.
Art for All: Make a Matisse – Monday, April 14, 2025 at 1:30 p.m. Art for all, for all levels of skill. Please join us as we explore Henri Matisse. Matisse was well-known in the 20th century and, later in his career, used bold colors and simple shapes in collage work. We will show examples and discuss some of his pieces, which participants can use as inspiration to create their own collages. Some materials will be provided, and attendees are also encourage to bring in their own projects. Presenter Gunnar Johnson is a retired graphic designer and journalist. As an independent artist, he specialized in magazines, greeting cards, and promotional materials. His recent work has been shown at the Mystic Museum of Art, the University of Connecticut, and other locations around the state.
Tasty Tuesday with Storybook Characters – Tuesday, April 15, 2025 at 1:00 p.m. Celebrate the Week of the Young Child with this interactive story time for children and their adults! Using a food theme, you’ll learn ways to engage your little ones with storybook characters. Participate in hands-on activities with the books “More Spaghetti, I Say” and “Pete the Cat and the Perfect Pizza Party.” Then play food-themed games, and those who wish can enjoy a popsicle in the reading garden. Suitable for children birth through 5 years old. This program is part of the HK Unplugged for Promoting Wellness initiative, held in conjunction with the Week of the Young Child.
Adult Movie Night: The Great Gatsby – Wednesday, April 16, 2025 at 6:00 p.m. Join us on Wednesdays for our free monthly adult movie nights. This month, we’re celebrating the 100th anniversary of The Great Gatsby. Complimentary Prohibition-inspired mocktails will be served, to get everyone into the Jazz Age spirit! Formal attire optional. We will be meeting in the adult reading area after the library closes at 6:00 p.m.. The movie running time is two hours and twenty minutes. Feel free to bring your own snacks and (covered, non-alcoholic) drinks.
Family Storytelling – Saturday, April 19, 2025 at 10:30 a.m. Have a family story to tell? Now’s your chance to work together to bring it to life. Children ages five and up are invited to bring at least one parent, grandparent, or other adult family member to produce a finished story. Mrs. Nelson will give a brief review of storytelling techniques, and then family members will have time to write and illustrate their tales. Stories can be handwritten, or you are welcome to bring a laptop if you prefer to type.
Accordion Books – Tuesday, April 22, 2025 at 2:30 p.m. It’s vacation week! Come and create an Accordion Book! We’ll supply an assortment of decorative papers, washi tape, stamps, and various types of ink pads, embossing powders, and other scrapbook embellishments. You supply the creativity! Also feel free (but it’s not necessary) to bring any tiny pictures, no larger than two inches square. For children in Grade 7 (age 12+) and older. This program runs in two parts: on Tuesday, April 22 and Tuesday, April 29. Registering for the first session also will save your spot in the second session.
Knuffle Bunny Play – Wednesday, April 23, 2025 at 10:30 a.m. The Grove School Children’s Theater Troupe is promoting their love of story and stage again! See “Knuffle Bunny” by Mo Willems come to life, and keep your eyes on the bunny! Perfect fun for all family members.
Discovering Amphibians, Frogs, and Salamanders of the Northeast – Friday, April 25, 2025 at 6:00 p.m. What makes amphibians so fascinating? They’re mostly small and well camouflaged and easily overlooked as they go about their little lives. But appealing they certainly are. This presentation with photos of our New England frogs and salamanders takes us through a typical season of their emergence in late winter until bedtime in autumn – accompanied by recordings of the different frogs you’ve likely heard on those summer evenings and rainy nights. This program is intended for adults, but older children with an interest in the topic are welcome to join. Author John Himmelman will have books available for sale and signing after the presentation.
Himmelman is an author, illustrator, and naturalist. He has written and illustrated many books, most for children, but a few for adults on various natural history subjects. He has served on a number of environmental boards and commissions over the years, including president of the New Haven Bird Club, the Connecticut Butterfly Association (which he cofounded), and the Killingworth Land Conservation Trust. John has led many trips afield in search of exciting flora and fauna and has given his presentations throughout the country. His talks began as a vehicle to share stories about the mountain of photographs he’s amassed, and that hasn’t changed. He lives in Killingworth with his wife, a potter.
Intro to Sourdough Bread – Wednesday, April 30, 2025 at 6:00 p.m. Flour, water, starter, salt. For all the simplicity of its ingredients, anybody who’s baked sourdough knows that it’s deceptively hard to master. Luckily, sourdough enthusiast Isabelle Laufer is here to help. Isabelle will explain the process from the ground up, from making and feeding a starter to baking the bread itself. Sample dough will be provided, so attendees can see and feel hands-on what it should look like. And, everyone who attends will get their own sample of starter and a recipe card, ready to go home and turn into fresh bread!
