Based in Western Massachusetts, Tom Knight has been delighting children and their grown-ups with his original, interactive, musical puppet show since 1988.  His unique blend of musicianship and puppetry celebrates reading (“The Library Boogie”), the environment (“The Garbage Monster”), and science (“The Solar System”), with hand-made puppets, catchy songs, and lots of audience participation. 

The vibrant and amusing visual elements appeal to children as young as 2, while fun lyrics engage children up to twelve, and adults, too! Tom has performed more than 1000 times at libraries, schools, pre-schools, summer camps, museums, and festivals across the country.  He just released his 6th studio album for families - Look Both Ways!

“Whimsical and with sensitivity. Never preachy.”– Ithaca Times

“Affirming, empowering, and kid-friendly. Not only educational, it’s thought-provoking.”– School Library Journal

Thank you to The Friends of Forbes Library for sponsoring this event.

We've got bricks, baseplates and minifigs--now all we need is you! Join us for LEGO Club Mondays at 3:30 in the Forbes Library Community Room. Pick a design challenge out of the bowl or simply build a creation of your own choosing. This program is great for ages 4+.

Join us for stories, songs, and puppets! We'll do a 20-minute storytime together, then we'll put out toys for free play and social time until 11. For babies under 18 months and their caregivers.

Please register to attend this virtual author event.

Join this year’s winner of the National Book Award for Young People's Literature, Dan Santat, as he inspires tweens and teens to tell their own stories through graphic novels. His winning book, A First Time for Everything, is a graphic memoir based on his own awkward middle school years and the trip to Europe that changed his life.

Dan Santat began drawing as a young boy and although he first studied microbiology, he pursued his passion in illustration. He spent many hours as a child and teenager teaching himself to draw by copying illustrations from comic books until he developed the unique, recognizable style that we see today. His talk will inspire listeners to draw their own story as well as give them practical tips on the creation of graphic novels.

About the Author: Dan Santat is a Caldecott Medal winner, a National Book Award winner, and a New York Times bestselling author and illustrator. His artwork is also featured in numerous picture books, chapter books, and middle-grade novels. Santat created the animated television show, "The Replacements," as well. He lives in Southern California with his wife and two children.

This program is presented by the Library Speakers Consortium.

Read to Sunny is cancelled until further notice. We're sorry for the inconvenience.

Hello! I'm Sunny and I'm Forbes Library's reading buddy dog! You can book a 15-minute appointment to read to me on Wednesdays between 3:30-4:30. I'm a good listener and like to look at the pictures, too. Reading to me is a great way for you to practice reading! We'll meet inside the Children's Department. 

To register, please call 413-587-1010 or sign up at the Forbes Library Children's Desk. This program is great for children ages 4-10. Happy reading! 

Join us for books, songs, and puppets and participate in an open-ended art activity designed to encourage creativity! Great for ages 3-5. 

Join us for Toddler Storytime every Friday morning! We will sing songs, read stories, and have fun. This event is best suited for 1.5-3-year-olds and their caregivers. 

Every Friday, kids ages 7-12 can join us in the Community Room to hang out with other young gamers and play the library's Nintendo Switch!

For teens ages 12 and up, check out our Teen Gaming Lounge on Tuesdays.

The Poop Museum is the place to come for those who are curious and have questions about poop, and also, if like Susie Maguire, they LOVE poop, and think it’s fascinating! Susie is a poop expert who thinks poop is THE most interesting subject in the world. She has studied poop for years and loves nothing more than sharing her expansive knowledge of poop
with the people of the world. At The Poop Museum, everyone learns many fantastic, fabulous and fun facts about human, animal and insect poop, many of which truly amaze and surprise.

Just a few of the poopers that visitors to the Poop Museum will meet, include:

- The world’s messiest pooper
- The animal that has poop attack powers
- The animal that uses poop as protection
- The rainbow pooper
- The animal that has to hold its poop ALL winter long

At The Poop Museum, everyone learns A LOT, and some of the facts that are shared are mind blowing! But The Poop Museum is also full of laughter ... because ... well ... our subject is poop and Susie has found a wonderful way to blend solid science, with the hilarity that humans love, when it comes to poop. 

So come and see us to learn and laugh and talk all about poop when The Poop Museum visits your town! 

We look forward to seeing you there!

Thank you to The Friends of Forbes Library for sponsoring this event.

About Susie Maguire:
Susie is an award winning teacher, storyteller and event creator for children and adults. As a creative learning and development specialist and consultant, Susie’s company created
events around the world for many of the world’s biggest and best companies including Unilever, Hewlett-Packard, Pepsi-Co, Facebook, Ericsson and many more.

Susie is blessed to have a son (now 20) who she world-schooled as they travelled to more than 60 countries. They have called the US, Canada, France, the UK and now The Netherlands (Holland) home.

Susie has worked with children all over the world, for more than 20 years at children’s charities, schools, libraries, nurseries, kindergartens, home education groups and organisations like The Institute of Imagination in London.

We've got bricks, baseplates and minifigs--now all we need is you! Join us for LEGO Club Mondays at 3:30 in the Forbes Library Community Room. Pick a design challenge out of the bowl or simply build a creation of your own choosing. This program is great for ages 4+.

Join us for stories, songs, and puppets! We'll do a 20-minute storytime together, then we'll put out toys for free play and social time until 11. For babies under 18 months and their caregivers.

The Musical Petting Zoo is a fun and informative hands-on traveling exhibit of musical instruments! After an introduction to the instruments, participants get a chance to bow a violin, blow a horn or tap out a rhythm on a drum. Here’s your chance to try an instrument in a judgment-free zone that encourages exploration and excitement!

Thank you to The Friends of Forbes Library for sponsoring this event.

Nature-loving kids and adults are invited to join author Naila Moreira to learn observation skills during this workshop on nature journaling. We'll discover the creative process of capturing the outdoors within the pages of a notebook, from the weather, to the birds and bugs, to the plants and landscape. You don't need to be a good artist or writer - this is a way to store your own memories and learn more about the land around you. We'll start indoors with inspiration from Moreira's new middle-grade eco-novel, THE MONARCHS OF WINGHAVEN. Then we'll sally outside to observe and record whatever we find, with guidance. This practice is for everyone: the workshop is geared to kids age 7 to 13, but will be good fun as well for adults.

All materials will be provided and signed copies of The Monarchs of Winghaven will be available for purchase.

About Naila Moreira: Naila has loved nature and writing since childhood. Her bird-and-nature watching and her work as a geologist have taken her to the coasts, forests and grasslands of New England, the Pacific Northwest, Alaska, and Brazil. Through it all, she’s kept her pen busy writing about her adventures. A former artist-in-residence at the Shoals Marine Laboratory in Maine, Naila Moreira now teaches at Smith College in Massachusets, where she lives with her family. Find her online at www.nailamoreira.com.

Join us for books, songs, and puppets and participate in an open-ended art activity designed to encourage creativity! Great for ages 3-5. 

Join us for a casual meetup for tweens & teens interested in the tabletop card game Magic: The Gathering

Curious about learning how to play? Know how it works but looking for other players? Hoping to trade cards, or get help building a deck?
All are welcome! 

Bring your own card to use if you have them, or if you don't have any - that's ok - Forbes will provide cards to use at the library!

This program is for ages 10+ and meets biweekly, Thursdays from 3:45-4:45 pm in the Community Room (tables are generally set up by 3:30 for folks earger to get games going!) 

Any questions, please email jvrysen@forbeslibrary.org

Join us for Toddler Storytime every Friday morning! We will sing songs, read stories, and have fun. This event is best suited for 1.5-3-year-olds and their caregivers. 

Every Friday, kids ages 7-12 can join us in the Community Room to hang out with other young gamers and play the library's Nintendo Switch!

For teens ages 12 and up, check out our Teen Gaming Lounge on Tuesdays.

Cinema Northampton returns with free outdoor screenings of Studio Ghibli films on the Library Lawn!

This year's schedule:

Friday July 12 (Arts Night Out) - My Neighbor Totoro 9PM

Friday August 9th (Arts Night Out) - Spirited Away 8:30PM

Friday August 30th - Kiki's Delivery Service 8PM

Screentimes are based on when the sun sets, as the film cannot be seen before dark. The public are welcome to bring their own food, friends, bug spray, and lawn chairs. Bathrooms will be open in the library. Subtitles will be on. 

Cinema Northampton began in 2013 to bring free movie screenings to the community.  It was started by Northampton Community Television (now Northampton Open Media),and has grown to include the Northampton Arts Council, Forbes Library, and the Northampton Parks and Recreation Department.

We've got bricks, baseplates and minifigs--now all we need is you! Join us for LEGO Club Mondays at 3:30 in the Forbes Library Community Room. Pick a design challenge out of the bowl or simply build a creation of your own choosing. This program is great for ages 4+.

Join us for stories, songs, and puppets! We'll do a 20-minute storytime together, then we'll put out toys for free play and social time until 11. For babies under 18 months and their caregivers.

Join us to do a craft based on The Wolf Suit by Sid Sharp! We will meet in the community room. Books are available in the children's department to check out. Please email jcornick@forbeslibrary.org with any questions. 

Join us for books, songs, and puppets and participate in an open-ended art activity designed to encourage creativity! Great for ages 3-5. 

Audiences will see wonderful slides of our local butterflies presented by Jerry Schneider, creator of the award-winning Butterfly Game. Audiences will answer questions such as: What is good butterfly habitat? How can we attract more butterflies into our community? When, how, and why do Monarch butterflies go to Mexico? In addition to answering these questions, we will learn interesting butterfly characteristics (did you know that butterflies taste with their feet?). Jerry brings displays of butterflies and moths, cocoons, and sometimes caterpillars. The
second half of the program is a wonderful tee shirt craft! Heavy cotton Gildan tee shirts are $5.00, or kids may bring their own.

Thank you to The Friends of Forbes Library for sponsoring this event.

Photo courtesy of Wiscasset Public Library.

Join us for Toddler Storytime every Friday morning! We will sing songs, read stories, and have fun. This event is best suited for 1.5-3-year-olds and their caregivers. 

Every Friday, kids ages 7-12 can join us in the Community Room to hang out with other young gamers and play the library's Nintendo Switch!

For teens ages 12 and up, check out our Teen Gaming Lounge on Tuesdays.

Join the folks from Off the Wall Games for a sealed deck Magic the Gathering tournament! Cards will be provided to all players. Please feel free to bring lunch. For ages 10-17 only. The tournament will likely take around 4 hours. *Registration is required and will be capped at 15 people.* Online registration will open on Saturday, August 3 at 11 AM. Please email childrens@forbeslibrary.org with any questions!

We've got bricks, baseplates and minifigs--now all we need is you! Join us for LEGO Club Mondays at 3:30 in the Forbes Library Community Room. Pick a design challenge out of the bowl or simply build a creation of your own choosing. This program is great for ages 4+.

Join us for stories, songs, and puppets! We'll do a 20-minute storytime together, then we'll put out toys for free play and social time until 11. For babies under 18 months and their caregivers.

Join us for books, songs, and puppets and participate in an open-ended art activity designed to encourage creativity! Great for ages 3-5. 

Join us for a casual meetup for tweens & teens interested in the tabletop card game Magic: The Gathering

Curious about learning how to play? Know how it works but looking for other players? Hoping to trade cards, or get help building a deck?
All are welcome! 

Bring your own card to use if you have them, or if you don't have any - that's ok - Forbes will provide cards to use at the library!

This program is for ages 10+ and meets biweekly, Thursdays from 3:45-4:45 pm in the Community Room (tables are generally set up by 3:30 for folks earger to get games going!) 

Any questions, please email jvrysen@forbeslibrary.org

Join us for Toddler Storytime every Friday morning! We will sing songs, read stories, and have fun. This event is best suited for 1.5-3-year-olds and their caregivers. 

Every Friday, kids ages 7-12 can join us in the Community Room to hang out with other young gamers and play the library's Nintendo Switch!

For teens ages 12 and up, check out our Teen Gaming Lounge on Tuesdays.

We've got bricks, baseplates and minifigs--now all we need is you! Join us for LEGO Club Mondays at 3:30 in the Forbes Library Community Room. Pick a design challenge out of the bowl or simply build a creation of your own choosing. This program is great for ages 4+.

Join us for stories, songs, and puppets! We'll do a 20-minute storytime together, then we'll put out toys for free play and social time until 11. For babies under 18 months and their caregivers.

Join us for books, songs, and puppets and participate in an open-ended art activity designed to encourage creativity! Great for ages 3-5. 

Join us for Toddler Storytime every Friday morning! We will sing songs, read stories, and have fun. This event is best suited for 1.5-3-year-olds and their caregivers. 

Every Friday, kids ages 7-12 can join us in the Community Room to hang out with other young gamers and play the library's Nintendo Switch!

For teens ages 12 and up, check out our Teen Gaming Lounge on Tuesdays.

Cinema Northampton returns with free outdoor screenings of Studio Ghibli films on the Library Lawn!

This year's schedule:

Friday July 12 (Arts Night Out) - My Neighbor Totoro 9PM

Friday August 9th (Arts Night Out) - Spirited Away 8:30PM

Friday August 30th - Kiki's Delivery Service 8PM

Screentimes are based on when the sun sets, as the film cannot be seen before dark. The public are welcome to bring their own food, friends, bug spray, and lawn chairs. Bathrooms will be open in the library. Subtitles will be on. 

Cinema Northampton began in 2013 to bring free movie screenings to the community.  It was started by Northampton Community Television (now Northampton Open Media),and has grown to include the Northampton Arts Council, Forbes Library, and the Northampton Parks and Recreation Department.

We've got bricks, baseplates and minifigs--now all we need is you! Join us for LEGO Club Mondays at 3:30 in the Forbes Library Community Room. Pick a design challenge out of the bowl or simply build a creation of your own choosing. This program is great for ages 4+.

Join us for stories, songs, and puppets! We'll do a 20-minute storytime together, then we'll put out toys for free play and social time until 11. For babies under 18 months and their caregivers.

Join us for books, songs, and puppets and participate in an open-ended art activity designed to encourage creativity! Great for ages 3-5. 

Join us for a casual meetup for tweens & teens interested in the tabletop card game Magic: The Gathering

Curious about learning how to play? Know how it works but looking for other players? Hoping to trade cards, or get help building a deck?
All are welcome! 

Bring your own card to use if you have them, or if you don't have any - that's ok - Forbes will provide cards to use at the library!

This program is for ages 10+ and meets biweekly, Thursdays from 3:45-4:45 pm in the Community Room (tables are generally set up by 3:30 for folks earger to get games going!) 

Any questions, please email jvrysen@forbeslibrary.org

Join us for Toddler Storytime every Friday morning! We will sing songs, read stories, and have fun. This event is best suited for 1.5-3-year-olds and their caregivers. 

Every Friday, kids ages 7-12 can join us in the Community Room to hang out with other young gamers and play the library's Nintendo Switch!

For teens ages 12 and up, check out our Teen Gaming Lounge on Tuesdays.

We've got bricks, baseplates and minifigs--now all we need is you! Join us for LEGO Club Mondays at 3:30 in the Forbes Library Community Room. Pick a design challenge out of the bowl or simply build a creation of your own choosing. This program is great for ages 4+.

Join us for stories, songs, and puppets! We'll do a 20-minute storytime together, then we'll put out toys for free play and social time until 11. For babies under 18 months and their caregivers.

Join us for books, songs, and puppets and participate in an open-ended art activity designed to encourage creativity! Great for ages 3-5.