Eleanor Estes

Eleanor Rosenfeld Estes, award winning children’s author was born in West Haven, Connecticut in 1906.  She is considered one of America’s best-known and well-beloved authors of children’s literature.

Estes grew up in West Haven at the turn of the twentieth century.  The town of West Haven became the setting for the fictional New England town of Cranbury, home of the Moffat children.  The Moffats, was the first book in a series of four.  Ginger Pye, Newbery Award winner and Pinky Pye were also set in the town of Cranbury.  The city of West Haven, Estes once explained, “had everything a child could want, great vacant fields with daisies and clover and buttercups and an occasional peaceful cow.  There were marvelous trees to climb, fishing and clamming in the summertime, ice and snow and sliding down hills in the wintertime.” 

Estes’ mother was most influential in her becoming a lover of books.  Her mother was a great storyteller and often recited poetry to Eleanor and her siblings.

After graduating high school Eleanor was a children’s librarian at the New Haven Free Public Library.  Four years later she was promoted to head of the children’s department.  In 1931 she was awarded the Caroline M. Hewins scholarship for children librarians who afforded  Eleanor to attend the Pratt Institute in Brooklyn, NY where she studied library science and also met her husband, Rice Estes.  In 1932 she began working at the New York Public Liberty until becoming a full-time writer after The Moffats was published in 1941.

In 1944 The Hundred Dresses was published.  This book articulates the prejudice that exists in literature for children.  A young Polish immigrant, Wanda is ridiculed by her classmates.  Wanda tells them that the faded blue dress she wears every day is one of a hundred dresses hanging in her closet.  Wanda’s classmates are left feeling extremely guilty for their mocking as it drives Wanda and her family away.

In the 1950’s Eleanor returns to the town of Cranbury, this time we are introduced to the Pye family.  Ginger Pye is awarded the Newbery Medal in 1952, along with the sequel Pinky Pye. 

Estes published nineteen books in her lifetime.  Estes gave a lasting contribution to children’s literature with her “emphasis on the positive, her celebration of the child’s spirit, her faith in the family, her fondness for small daily events and details and her wonder over the miraculous tricks life plays.” 

StoryTime had a special visitor last week!  Enzo, our turtle friend came to StoryTime.  Enzo is Miss Angelina's pet.  The children had a chance to pet Enzo and watch him eat his favorite food.

Poetry Night

Food for Fines - This week only!

Here at the Graham Room (along with the rest of the library), we are celebrating National Library Week by participating in our annual Food for Fines program.  This week only (April 9th - April 14th), you can get rid of your fines at the library by donating a non-perishable food item which will be given to WHEAT, the local food pantry.  This is how it works:

For each item you owe fines on, bring in one non-perishable good.  The packaging may be canned, plastic, or boxed.  No glass, dented, leaking, broken, or expired items will be accepted.

Regardless of the dollar amount, the policy is one food item per library item overdue.  Food for fines is only applicable to library items that have been returned.  Food may not be exchanged for relieving fines for replacement, damaged, or still-checked-out library materials.

If you do not owe fines but would like to help those in need, you can bring your food items into any library branch location.

Story Times are Fun Times

Story times are fun times here in the Graham Room all month long.  Mondays at 10:00 AM for ages 3-5, and Wednesdays at 10:00 AM for ages 0-2.

This week, 4/2 and 4/4, the theme is Easter.  We will be reading Easter books and doing related crafts and activities.

Next week, 4/9 and 4/11, the theme is Spring.  Many animals are born and come out of hibernation in the spring, including turtles, which will be the theme this week.  After turtle story and craft, we will be having a special visit with a real, live turtle!

The following week, 4/16 and 4/18, we will be celebrating National Poetry Month with poems and stories in verse and related craft and activity.

The final week of April, 4/23 and 4/25, we will be hosting a tribute to the late Eleanor Estes, a West Haven resident and celebrated author.  The same program will be held both days and will be open to children ages 0-5 years.

Don't forget about our Moonlight Story Time on Tuesday, 4/24 at 6:00 PM in the Connie Sacco Community Room.  This event is for children ages 2-10.  There will be a reading of "The Hundred Dresses" by Helena Estes, Eleanor's daughter.  There will also be a scene from the May 19th theater show, and the first 50 children will receive a free copy of "The Hundred Dresses".

I am reading Ginger Pye by Eleanor Estes a winner of the Newbery Medal Award. This month at the library we will be celebrating the life and books of Eleanor Estes.  So far Ginger Pye has been a delightful read.  Rachael and Jerry have purchased a new puppy, the star of the story.  Jerry bought Ginger with his hard-earned dollar.  He and Rachael love Ginger Pye and are very please to have a puppy. 
Do you remember getting a new puppy and how excited you were?  Share your thoughts about having a new puppy and how you might relate to Jerry and Rachel!

Spring has sprung!

We have a lot going on in the Graham Room for the month of April.  We're celebrating Easter, Spring, National Poetry Month, National Library Week, and local author Eleanor Estes.  Stay tuned for more information about our upcoming events.