Feb 10th Chocolate Awareness Day at GPL 9:30 - 11:30

Cindy Hyland and Caterina Maxwell will share their research on the Chocolate Trade: fair trade, child labor, heritage & tradition, etc. Tasting will be a crucial element! Feel free to bring your own Choco-facts and even a favorite chockie to share -- check that label...!

Feb. 3rd Game Day at GPL!

Join us from 9:30 to 11:30 next Tuesday for Game Day in Room 2 of Groton Public Library! BYO favorite board games and ideas to share! Bingo? A Scrabble-Off, anyone? Chutes & Ladders? Does anyone have Twister? (And, I'm sure the Library has plenty of other choices.) Bring your faves and your smiles!
* Special Appearances by Finn & Nolan - the Homeschool Magicians *
Feel free to use the comment section to announce which treasured game you will be bringing, or to connect with fellow enthusiasts.

$5! Inkheart Movie Opening Day at Waterford 1:40

The Homeschool "Book-Was-Better" Club is meeting for the
1:40 Show at Regal Cinemas, 123 Cross Rd, Waterford, CT
on Friday, January 23 - Opening Day
$5/pp* rate has been negotiated for our (home)school group.

The movie is rated PG for fantasy adventure action, some scary moments and brief language.

Inkheart is based on the 2003 book by Cornelia Funke about story/telling so powerful, the characters literally come to life!

Those who are so inclined may be interested in a follow up tea & crumpet Book vs. Movie Discussion at nearby Panera Bread (other suggestions welcome!)

Please bring a friend - this is open to all - we've just coordinated the rate for our group at the 1:40 screening.

* We do not need to go in all together - just mention Homeschool Book Club - Richard, the Manager with whom we chatted, should be onsite.

RSVP so we can keep an eye out & say "hi" and/or Questions:
jenniferpryor@sbcglobal.net

Regal 9 Theater Location Map:
http://maps.google.com/maps?hl=en&q=123+Cross+Road+Waterford+CT+map&um=1&ie=UTF-8&split=0&sa=X&oi=geocode_result&resnum=1&ct=title

Panera Bread Location Map:
http://maps.google.com/maps?hl=en&um=1&ie=UTF-8&q=903+Hartford+Tpke+Waterford,+CT+06385&fb=1&geocode=14076729808967314165,41.378044,-72.147478&oi=manybox&ct=14&cd=1&resnum=1

Movie Website:
www.inkheartmovie.com/

Book & Real-people Reviews:
http://www.amazon.com/Inkheart-Cornelia-Funke/dp/0439531640

New Dates for Groton Public Library!

We have a new set of Tuesdays in Room 2 of GPL from 9:30 - 11:30! They are a slightly quirky list due to increased demand of library facilities (following closures & shifting of other local meeting spaces - but we are very happy to share the time & space we can find! The dates are:

Feb 3
Feb 10
Feb 17
Mar 3
Mar 10
Mar 17

930 - 1030 Bookchat in Teen Area
The bookchat group has been a lovely ongoing & self-sustaining adventure -- thanks largely to the talents of Librarian Anne Campbell, and our brilliant team of homeschool families.

930 - 1030 Room Two open
1030 - 1130 Room Two open

Important Question:
OOOooh, the options on how to fill that Room 2! Please give feedback on whether you prefer to see one or two "classes" running all six Tuesdays, or treating each day as a 2-hour workshop opportunity led by different volunteer family/parent hosts.

- Jennifer Pryor is willing to do a Math Café workshop or series for apx 8 - 12yo, potentially with teen assistance.

Click to comment, or email jenniferpryor@sbcglobal.net

Book Was Better - Friday, Jan 16th 2:30 - 5:30ish

On Friday, January 16th, we will be screening Lemony Snicket's Series of Unfortunate Events in the Pryor Barn at 35 Pearl Street. Popcorn & seltzer will be provided (you may bring a snack to share if you wish!) A discussion comparing the film & books will follow. The film includes elements from the first three books: The Bad Beginning, The Reptile Room and The Wide Window.
See www.lemonysnicket.com
The movie is 107 minutes long and stars Jim Carrey, and features Meryl Streep, Jude Law, Billy Connolly, Cedric the Entertainer & more and is rated PG for thematic elements, scary situations and brief language, and 107 minutes long. Please see the very helpful site http://www.kids-in-mind.com/l/lemonysnicketsaseriesofunfortunateevents.htm for detailed ratings of sex & nudity (1/10), violence & gore (4/10), and profanity (1/10).
The stories have a gothic air, a dark sense of humor, well-supported vocabulary lessons, and feature three self-educated & self-sufficient siblings. Recommended for about age 8+ but you know your child best!
Amazon.com Review
Fans of Lemony Snicket and newcomers to his gleefully ghastly Series of Unfortunate Events will be elated to discover this boxed gift set of the first three books in hardcover: The Bad Beginning, The Reptile Room, and The Wide Window. While it's true that the events that unfold in Snicket's novels are bleak, and things never turn out as you'd hope, these delightful, funny, linguistically playful books are reminiscent of Roald Dahl, Charles Dickens, and Edward Gorey. After they get their paws on this boxed set, there is no question that young readers will want to read the continuing unlucky adventures of the three Baudelaire orphans. (Ages 9 and older) --Karin Snelson
RSVP to jenniferpryor@sbcglobal.net

Holiday Bowl Lunch, Tuesday, Jan 13 11- 1 abt $9

Come one, come all - bring friends for a casual & sporty lunch at HolidayBowl in Groton (following our bookchat at the Lib).
http://newlondon.citysearch.com/profile/map/2022570/groton_ct/holiday_bowl.html
We have a party rate to share lane/s: $55 includes 2 hours of bowling, shoes, pizza & soda and we can fit 6 or so kids per lane. Parents can bowl, too! There is also a video gaming room and additional highly nutritional foods available at the takeout counter. If you think you'll be there, RSVP to
jenniferpryor@sbcglobal.net
so we know how many lanes to reserve!