Library summer reading program centers on "Growing Green"

Abbey and Sam Goodspeed listen to Amy LeBlanc from Whitehill Farm read "Pumpkin Circle" Tuesday during the Wilton Free Public Library's summer reading program. Children's Librarian Sandra Warren sits next to the children and has called on community resources to make the program successful this summer.

 

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- Ann Bryant/Sun Journal

Abbey and Sam Goodspeed listen to Amy LeBlanc from Whitehill Farm read "Pumpkin Circle" Tuesday during the Wilton Free Public Library's summer reading program. Children's Librarian Sandra Warren sits next to the children and has called on community resources to make the program successful this summer.

 

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- Ann Bryant/Sun Journal

WILTON — Three-year-old Abbey Goodspeed was eagerly awaiting the start of story time at the Wilton Free Public Library on Tuesday.

She and her brother Sam, 5, were looking at books while waiting for guest speaker Amy LeBlanc from Whitehill Farm in East Wilton to read "Pumpkin Circle" by George Levenson.

The theme of the library's summer reading program, sponsored by the Tyngtown Club, has been "Growing Green" this year, said Children's Librarian Sandra Warren. Guest readers and topics have varied from recycling and reusing materials to gardens and community beautification.

As the program winds down for the summer, this week's topic centers on eating local foods and buying locally, Warren said.

LeBlanc's story and activity showed the children the growing cycle, where food starts with a seed and ends with a seed. Food begins with seeds, LeBlanc told the children.

The night of Wednesday, July 29, weather permitting, participants will meet at the library at 5:45 p.m. for a field trip to the Wilton Blueberry Farm where Selectman Irv Faunce will read "Blueberries for Sal." A tour of the farm will follow.

On Thursday, Selectman Tom Saviello will read "A Cool Drink of Water" at 6 p.m., followed by an art activity.

"We've pulled together resources from the community," Warren said of the individuals who have read stories or provided projects for the reading program. Police Chief Dennis Brown, Town Manager Rhonda Irish and Wilton school principal Darlene Payne are just a few from the community who have participated in the program this summer, she said.

"The support and funding from the Tyngtown Club is really helpful too," she said. "It's been a busy summer at the library."

After the story, LeBlanc showed a video on the Pumpkin Circle and led a game that had the children matching seeds to the vegetable they came from.

"When pumpkins are green you can write your name on it and when it's grown it will be there," she told the children while explaining that intricate artwork is often carved on the young produce.

On her farm, LeBlanc grows seedlings, especially heirloom, organic tomatoes, she said. She has a family garden and the trial garden where new and fresh plants are tried for Tomato Lovers Paradise, the catalog she produces.

abryant@sunjournal.com