Author Archives: Mary Claire O'Donnell

Peter Sheridan Music

Join Peter Sheridan on Saturday, May 23 at 10:30 am for a musical program for kids and families of all ages. Move, shake, and have fun as you sing along to great songs.

Peter Sheridan has been performing for over 25 years for children and their families. He is a proud member of the community who is spreading joy and laughter through music, puppeteering and story-telling. Throughout his career, Peter has performed at many special events, daycare centers and libraries.

No registration necessary for this program, but space is limited. Doors will be open until room capacity is reached. Find more information on the Events Calendar.

This program is recommended for kids and families of all ages. Caregivers must remain in the program room with children during the performance.

Mental Health Awareness Month Books for Kids

May is Mental Health Awareness Month. Celebrate this month with great books from the Children’s Room that champion the importance of destigmatizing mental health. These books highlight ways to normalize the practice of taking moments to recognize and prioritize mental health care without guilt or shame. These are wonderful books to read this month and all year!

Click on a book cover for more information or to see it in our catalog. See a librarian for more suggestions.

Picture Books

Chapter Books

Graphic Novels

Nonfiction

Biographies

Kids’ Groups

Our interest groups offer a space for kids to get together, make friends, and discuss books and other literary-related topics. Kids will have a chance to explore various activities to find out what excites them most and dive deeper into the stories and topics they love. Find the group that fits your age and interest, then sign up on the Events Calendar for the next meeting.

Kids’ group meetings will be in the Youth Services Program Room on the Upper Level of the library from 4:00 – 5:00 pm.

Children should sign up for the kids’ group that matches their grade level. Find more information on the Kids’ Groups page.

The Helping Hand (K/1st grades) – second Monday of the month

Book Buddies (2nd/3rd grades) – third Tuesday of the month

Once Upon a Book… (4th/5th grades) – fourth Wednesday of the month

AANHPI Heritage Month Books for Kids – Power in Unity

Celebrate Asian American, Native Hawai’ian, and Pacific Islander Heritage Month and the 2026 theme, “Power in Unity: Strengthening Communities Together,” with great books from the Children’s Room honoring the hard work of AANHPI leaders who inspire us to work collaboratively and embolden the next generation to build on their legacies (FAPAC). This year’s theme highlights the importance of leveraging collective power, telling stories, and being bridge builders in our communities. These are wonderful books to read this month and all year!

Click on a book cover for more information or to see it in our catalog. See a librarian for more suggestions.

Leaders in Sports, Arts, and Science

Leaders in Social Change

Telling Stories

Sense of Belonging

Celebrations

MA Children’s Book Awards (MCBA)

The Massachusetts Children’s Book Award was established as a program to encourage children to read great books. 25 books are nominated each year as excellent titles for 9-12 year olds in fiction, nonfiction, and graphic novels. The nominees must be available in paperback and must have been published within the last five years. In the spring, kids who have read at least 5 of the nominees can vote for their favorite. The winner, and the next slate of nominees, are announced in May. The award is sponsored by Salem State College in Salem, Massachusetts.

This year’s winner!

2023 MCBA Books (winner: Alone by Megan Freeman)

2024 MCBA Books (winner: Frizzy by Claribel Ortega)

2025 MCBA Books (winner: Hoops by Matt Tavares)

Check out the nominees below for 2026! Click on a book cover for more information.

National Library Week Books for Kids

National Library Week is April 19-25, 2026. Celebrate with great books from the Children’s Room that highlight the valuable role libraries, librarians, and library workers play in transforming lives and strengthening our communities. This year’s theme, “Find Your Joy!” is an invitation for people of all backgrounds to explore and discover what sparks joy in them at the library. These are wonderful books to read this month and all year!

Click on a book cover for more information or to see it in our catalog. See a librarian for more suggestions.

We Love Books!

Librarians We Love

Libraries in History

It happened in a library…
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