| News From the Children's Room Greetings friends and welcome to winter! I am excited to share a few upcoming programs with you as we head into the holidays and school vacation. I hope you will join me for a few of these festive events. Don't worry if you miss the 'live' events as there will be videos you can watch and rewatch; who doesn't want to see Cinderella over and over. Are you looking for something good to read over school vacation? Remember you can email me at cbender@manchesterpl.org for personalized recommendations. For great titles please check out a few new favorites listed below plus New and Notable Books for Kids and Reading for Change located on our Children's webpage. These lists are continuously updated as new books come in! I wish everyone a cozy and relaxing vacation and a bedside table filled with good books! Ms. Carol
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Festive Offerings to Celebrate the Season 
We invite you (and your family & friends, near & far) to Tanglewood Marionettes 2 most beloved productions: Cinderella and An Arabian Adventure! These ZOOM events will include both a live demonstration and a Q&A session. For questions and more information contact Carol Bender at cbender@manchesterpl.org or 978.526.7711. Please Note: If you want to attend both Cinderella and An Arabian Adventure you will need to register separately for each production! CINDERELLA on Tuesday, December 29th @ 3PM Set in the 18th Century and featuring a dozen lavishly costumed 30" marionettes, this production of Cinderella is a Tanglewood Marionettes showpiece. The beautifully painted settings and all your favorite characters are here to tell this classic fairy tale with wit and style; a crowd-pleasing performance for all ages! REGISTER to receive your ZOOM Link for Cinderella HERE AN ARABIAN ADVENTURE on Tuesday, December 29th @ 7PM Featuring over a dozen beautifully hand-crafted marionettes and exquisite 'story-book' style scenery, An Arabian Adventure tells the tale of a prince who is thrown into a dungeon because of his love for a beautiful princess. Facing danger at every turn, the courageous prince must battle his way out of the underground prison to save his princess from a tragic fate. With a soundtrack that features professional acting set to both classical and traditional folk music plus clever stage illusions and lighting effects, An Arabian Adventure is an action-packed drama that is sure to delight audiences of all ages! REGISTER to receive your ZOOM Link for An Arabian Adventure HERE For a taste of the magic to come, please view Tanglewood Marionettes Video Trailer HERE Essex and Manchester Public Libraries are pleased to co-sponsor this program featuring award winning, nationally renowned puppeteers Anne Ware and Peter Schaefer, who have been performing as Tanglewood Marionettes since 1993. We thank our Friends of the Manchester Library for their support and sponsorship.
SEASONAL VIRTUAL STORY TIMES Monday, December 21 @ 10AM & Tuesday, December 22 @ 6:30PM Join us on Manchester by the Sea Facebook Events HERE OR you can view videos of past story times on our YouTube Play Lists through December 31 Stay-at-Home Story Time Playlist HERE PJ Family Story TIme Playlist HERE
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FROM OUR FRIENDS ... an overload of cuteness! Thank you to Great Scott's 4H Bunny & Cavy Club for sharing this photo slide show filled with festive holiday friends HERE 
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HELP! Support for parents in these challenging times THE KINDA GUIDE ... check it out HERE Developed by parents and education professionals at EdNavigator, a nonprofit organization that specializes in supporting families’ educational success, The Kinda Guide offers weekly, one-stop, ad-free guidance and information. Think of it as your down-to-earth, fun-to-read handbook for managing life, work, and school while the whole family is together at home, yet somehow feeling more disconnected than ever. Offerings for Parents from our Friends at Early Childhood Partners 
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A Few New Favorites Books
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| | The Ninth Night of Hanukkah
By Perl, Erica S.
Illustrator Kober, Shahar
2020-09 - Sterling Children's Books
9781454940883 Check Our Catalog A heartwarming picture book with a fresh twist on a Hanukkah celebration: celebrating a ninth night with new neighbors and friends It's Hanukkah, and Max and Rachel are excited to light the menorah in their family's new apartment. But, unfortunately, their Hanukkah box is missing. So now they have no menorah, candles, dreidels, or, well, anything Luckily, their neighbors are …More
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| | Dear Santa, Love, Rachel Rosenstein
By Peet, Amanda
Author Troyer, Andrea
Illustrator Davenier, Christine
2015-10 - Doubleday Books for Young Readers
9780553510614 Check Our Catalog For anyone who's ever asked Why can't we have a Christmas tree? comes a lighthearted story about being Jewish during the holiday season--by actress Amanda Peet Rachel Rosenstein is determined to celebrate Christmas this year--and the fact that her family is Jewish is not going to stop her. In a series of hilarious and heartwarming mishaps, Rachel writes a letter to Santa …More
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| | Happy Narwhalidays: A Narwhal and Jelly Book #5
By Clanton, Ben
2020-09 - Tundra Books (NY)
9780735262515 Check Our Catalog Narwhal and Jelly spread some holiday cheer (and warm waffle pudding) in the festive fifth book of this blockbuster graphic novel series Dive into three new stories about Narwhal's favorite time of the year It's the festive season in the world wide waters, and Narwhal is looking forward to cozying up with a good book, singing and partying with pod pals and enjoying some warm waffle …More
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| | Fern and Otto: A Story about Two Best Friends
By Graegin, Stephanie
2020-09 - Schwartz & Wade Books
9780593121306 Check Our Catalog Perfect for fans of Erin Stead and Emily Winfield Martin, here is a charming picture book about two friends who enter a fairytale world hoping to find an exciting story to tell. When best friends Fern, a bear, and Otto, a cat, go searching for an exciting story in the forest, they have different ideas about what that means. Fern thinks they should stop and watch a race between a …More
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| | If You Come to Earth
By Blackall, Sophie
2020-09 - Chronicle Books
9781452137797 Check Our Catalog From two-time Caldecott Winner author-illustrator Sophie Blackall If You Come to Earth is a glorious guide to our home planet, and a call for us to take care of both Earth and each other. This stunning book is inspired by the thousands of children Sophie Blackall has met during her travels around the world in support of UNICEF …More
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| | The Suitcase
By Naylor-Ballesteros, Chris
2020-09 - Houghton Mifflin
9780358329602 Check Our Catalog A powerful story about immigration, trust, and new beginnings, full of heart and humanity, for anyone who has ever felt unwelcome or out of place. Perfect for fans of Allen Say, Francesca Sanna, and Yuyi Morales. When a weary stranger arrives one day, with only a suitcase, everyone is full of questions: Why is he here?
Where has he come from?
…More
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| | Willa the Wisp (the Fabled Stables Book #1)
By Auxier, Jonathan
Illustrator Demidova, Olga
2020-10 - Amulet Books
9781419742699 Check Our Catalog A new, fully illustrated chapter book series from New York Times-bestselling author Jonathan Auxier Welcome to the Fabled Stables, a magical building filled with one-of-a-kind creatures. Creatures including the Gargantula, the Yawning Abyss, the Hippopotamouse . . . and Auggie. Auggie is the only human boy at the Stables, and he takes care of all the other animals. The Fabled …More
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| | The Silver Arrow
By Grossman, Lev
2020-09 - Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
9780316539531 Check Our Catalog A New York Times bestseller
"I loved every page. This is middle grade fiction at its best."-- Ann Patchett From the #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Magicians comes a must-read, wholly original middle-grade debut perfect for fans of The Chronicles of Narnia and Roald Dahl.
Dear Uncle Herbert,
You've never …More
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