Children's programming: Story & Craft

We offer story time every month during our local school year. 

Join us at the Danvers Historical Society on October 15th @10 a.m. for our Not-So-Spooky Story Time! 

We'll read stories, play games, and sing and dance!

This activity is free, intended for children 0-6, and no registration is required.

Join Bookworms this month on October 29th at 6:30 p.m. as we discuss Erik Larson's The Devil in the White City. We are always looking for new faces with fresh perspectives. (We have a Facebook group called Bookworms: A Danvers Book Club where we interact and post updates!)

A brief synopsis of The Devil in the White City:

"Author Erik Larson imbues the incredible events surrounding the 1893 Chicago World's Fair with such drama that readers may find themselves checking the book's categorization to be sure that 'The Devil in the White City' is not, in fact, a highly imaginative novel. Larson tells the stories of two men: Daniel H. Burnham, the architect responsible for the fair's construction, and H.H. Holmes, a serial killer masquerading as a charming doctor.

Burnham's challenge was immense. In a short period of time, he was forced to overcome the death of his partner and numerous other obstacles to construct the famous "White City" around which the fair was built. His efforts to complete the project, and the fair's incredible success, are skillfully related along with entertaining appearances by such notables as Buffalo Bill Cody, Susan B. Anthony, and Thomas Edison.

The activities of the sinister Dr. Holmes, who is believed to be responsible for scores of murders around the time of the fair, are equally remarkable. He devised and erected the World's Fair Hotel, complete with crematorium and gas chamber, near the fairgrounds and used the event as well as his own charismatic personality to lure victims.

Combining the stories of an architect and a killer in one book, mostly in alternating chapters, seems like an odd choice but it works. The magical appeal and horrifying dark side of 19th-century Chicago are both revealed through Larson's skillful writing. - John Moe"

If you have any questions about Bookworms, please email us at danvers.tl.rsa@gmail.com.

2024 Bookworms Line-Up:

January 30: Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt

February 27: The Sweetness of Water by Nathan Harris

March 26: Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus

April 30: The Storied Life of AJ Fikry by Gabrielle Zevin

May 28: All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr

June 25: Daisy Jones and the Six by Taylor Jenkins Reid

July 30: The Wishing Game by Meg Shaffer

August 27: The Gilded Ones by Namina Forna

September 24: Then She Was Gone by Lisa Jewell

October 29: The Devil in the White City by Erik Larson

November 26: The Firekeeper’s Daughter by Angeline Boulley

December 17: Beartown by Frederik Backman 

Beginning in September, stop by the circulation desk to pick up your free spice (measured to accompany attached recipe)! While supplies last. 

Each month, we'll feature a new spice and attach a recipe to go with it!

 For special events or programs check our Calendar of Events Page. 

Welcome to 1,000 Books Before Kindergarten Club! This free program encourages you to read 1,000 books with your child before they enter school—a goal experts say children need to help them learn to read for themselves.

One of the best ways to encourage learning is to spend time sharing books every day. Reading together helps develop important pre-reading skills that provide a solid reading foundation—a key to school and learning success. Plus, sharing stories together is fun! 

Here are the easy steps for participation: 

1. Read together.

2. Mark the dot on your child’s log. If you read a book more than once, you can record it each time. Books read at our library Story Time, daycare, or others also count.

3. When you finish 100 books, give your sheet to the librarian and

· Receive a sticker

· Receive a book

4. Repeat steps 1—3 and receive a different sticker and book at each level.

5. After finishing 1,000 books, your child

· Receives a sticker and a book

· Receives a special prize

This club has no end date except your child’s going to school, so don’t feel rushed—just enjoy the experience! Take every chance you have to read with your children, talk about stories, say nursery rhymes, sing songs, and attend library programs. By reading just three stories a day you and your child will have read over 1,000 books in one year. You will also have shared many special moments along the way.

The library is a fun place featuring books to check out, DVDs, free programs, and great suggestions for what to read. Stop in often and talk to our friendly staff—we are here to help.

Happy Reading!