Library to sponsor Everett Smithson Band on Friday

“Wooo doggies”, as they say in the deep South.

Up here we say “Holy cats”. Much more to the point as far as I’m concerned, but either expletive is appropriate for our next event in Pine River.

Do you have the holiday blues? Do the holidays with all their “almost free deals” grate on you a little? This cheerful event is actually completely FREE:

The Pine River Public in conjunction with the Kitchigami Regional Library System Legacy Program is sponsoring the Everett Smithson Band featuring New Orleans/French Quarter Music, including Zydeco, Blues, Rockin Roots, Hillbilly Hoedowns, gospel and more. This program appeals to many ages.

Come to The Warehouse in Pine River Friday, December 7^th at 7:00PM for infectious music presented with a playful stage presence. The song list is unpredictable with songs from Fats Domino, Johnny Cash, Howlin Wolf, Rosie Ledet, Wanda Jackson and Allison Krause. Tickets are available at the Pine River Public Library.

This free Legacy Program is funded in part or in whole with money dedicated to preserve Minnesota’s art and cultural heritage. Thank you, Minnesota!

And there’s more! Saturday, December 8^th our library will be having a holiday bake sale at the library from 10:00 AM to 1:00 PM. The holiday light parade will be later in the day in Pine River. Come for the treats and stay for the lights!

Happiest of Holiday Seasons to all my friends.

Browser, the library cat

 

 

Printed in the Pine River Journal 6 December 2012

Much to be thankful for

This is, thankfully, my November offering, friends and neighbors.

Let us talk turkey, the epitome of feathered friends for the Thanksgiving season. Did you know that the turkey was domesticated about 2000 years ago in what is now Mexico? [Wikipedia.org]  Our state, Minnesota, has an actual website about turkeys! Minnesotaturkey.com I looked it over and found no turkey tacos or enchiladas. Wonder why that is. Probably you could grind your Thanksgiving turkey or cut it up into tiny pieces after the big feast and honor the turkey origins with one of those “south of the border” favorites.

 For what are you thankful? I am thankful for our feathered friends, feathers and all, though not as large as the turkey. I am thankful for my warm library, where I checked the krls.org catalog on our computer and found that there are number of books on hunting turkeys. Perhaps I should read some of those and get a few pointers on hunting birds! I am thankful for my many friends, human, feline, et al. Now it’s your turn to think about your “thankful list”.

 We do have a legacy program this month, of course. Thank you, Minnesota. It takes place at the PRB School. Alison McGhee will discuss her book, “Shadow Baby”, her talk is free to the public at 12:30.  The Chamber luncheon will be before, which you can choose to attend at a cost of $6.00 at 11:30 November 15^th, the week before Thanksgiving. Please enter by door #32. I have no idea where that is, but you could call Muriel at the Pine River Public Library (218-587-4639) and find out.

 

Have a wonderful Turkey Day and every day.

Browser, the library cat

Haunted House Open Halloween Night

HAUNTED HOUSE
FUNDRAISER
Extended to Halloween Night
6:00 PM
Brought to you by the
Pine River Public Library
Admission-$3.00
Location: 209 Park Ave, Pine River MN
(The corner of Park Ave and Second St. across from the Library)

Come support your local Public Library.

Haunted House Fundraiser and Birthday Party

HAUNTED HOUSE
FUNDRAISER
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 26 &
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 27
7:00-9:00 PM
Brought to you by the
Pine River Public Library
Admission-$3.00 All Ages
Advance Tickets $2.00 (at library only)
Location: 209 Park Ave, Pine River, MN
(The corner of Park Ave and Second St. across from the Library)


Wednesday - October 31st

The Pine River Library will be celebrating Browser's 11th Birthday.

Stop in at the library for a Browser cookie while supply last.

 

 

Library to offer 'Woody Reflected' concert

Music lovers, all,

A free concert is coming to The Warehouse Saturday, October 20^th at 2:00 PM. This one is so special I am sad that I am not allowed at concerts at The Warehouse. It is called “Woody Reflected” and is a musical tribute to Woody Guthrie, a legend in Depression era “folk” music. This will be presented by Charlie Maguire, Pop Wagner and Tony Glover. This is a very interesting combination of musicians from all over the country with differing backgrounds. Charlie Maguire is from New York originally and began as a folk singer. Pop Wagner is a “cowboy” singer and rope twirler. Tony Glover is best known for Blues, Rags and Hollers – all work songs.

Free tickets are available at Pine River Public Library. This is nostalgia at its very best.

This free Legacy Program is funded in part or in whole with money dedicated to funding to preserve Minnesota’s art and cultural heritage

 
I remain,

Browser, the library cat

PS. Don’t forget to have your pets spayed or neutered. It is important. Not all kitties and puppies will find loving homes the way I did.

Printed in the Pine River Journal 11 October 2012

Pine River Library to host workshops on genealogy, Upcycled quilts for kids

Dear friends and neighbors,

What in the world is a “workshop”? I looked it up in “The American Heritage Dictionary”. They gave me two definitions:

1.      “An area, room, or establishment in which manual work is done.”

2.      “A regularly scheduled seminar in a specialized field.”

We have two of these coming up in our Pine River Public Library. If it is #1, there would need to be some construction done to our current space, so I think perhaps #2 is the more correct definition. Still, “…regularly scheduled…” is at issue. What we have, actually, is a one time “…scheduled seminar in a specialized field.”

The first of these will be Saturday October 6^th, 2012, at 2:00PM. It is entitled “Ancestry Detectives Workshop” and will be presented by Rosemary Susens. I’m extremely excited about this one, since I know nothing about my ancestry. Perhaps Ms. Susens can give me some hints on how to search. If not me, then you. Plan to attend. This should be fun and informative.

The second workshop is “Upcycled Quilt Workshop” and is for children K to 3^rd grade. For this one, sign-up is required. It is scheduled for Saturday October 13^th, 2012 at2:00PM. Since size is limited to 15 participants, call the library and reserve your child’s space. (218-587-4639) I will be attending this workshop as well. I don’t quilt, but I do so love children.

Both of these workshops are funded by Minnesota Clean Water Land Legacy Amendment. Thank you, Minnesota.

 See you there.

Fondly,

Browser, the library cat

Printed in the Pine River Journal 27 September 2012

eBooks available to library patrons

Greetings, patrons and friends.

These words begin with the letter “e”: edify; equality; exemplary; experience; books. Now I know you are saying to yourself, “That goofy cat can’t even spell. If it weren’t for spell check he would be completely lost.” Not so. “E” is for ebooks! Beginning September 20, 2012, Pine River Public Library will begin to offer eBooks to all Kitchigami Library card holders via your e-readers and Smartphones! This is a really big deal. You don’t have to buy these books, just check them out with your library card as you would any other library book. Here’s how:

Go to the Kitchigami website (www.krls.org) or directly to the KRLSDownloadables page (http://krlsdownloadables.wordpress.com). From there, using your library card number and PIN number you will be able to sign up for Cloud Library, find directions for various devices and see the other great downloadable and streaming options that Kitchigami has to offer. If you are having any difficulties, come in to the library and ask for help. I’ll do the best I can to steer you in the right direction. Better yet, ask an actual librarian.

 

Events coming to our Pine River Public Library, thanks to the State of Minnesota:

·        Saturday, September 15^th at the library we have Minnesota Jack Salmela , author of “Of Vikings and Voyageurs”. He will be doing a book talk at 2:00 PM complete with costumed French Voyageur interpreter, Ben Kreidler. This program is brought to you by Minnesota clean water, land, and legacy amendment.
·        Saturday, September 22^nd at The Warehouse at 2:00 PM will be Carrie Vecchione and Rolf Erdahl, husband and wife instrumental duo, presenting a classical style recital. Learn about classical music including chamber orchestras and symphony orchestras. This is a rare treat and is also brought to you by Minnesota clean water, land, and legacy amendment.

Thank you, Minnesota, for making life in our state an equally edifying and exemplary experience.

 I remain,

Browser, the library cat
 

Published in the Pine River Journal Sept. 13th, 2012

Library to offer program for youth August 7th

“Let them eat cake”! And they did. Let me eat cake, that is, at our 10^th anniversary celebration at the Pine River Public Library. We celebrated moving to our new location ten years ago. We appreciate everybody who came to the festivities, and those of you who just thought about us on our big day. It seemed like my birthday, actually, with a party and cake.  In a way it was, since I had a bit of a rebirth when I came to live at the library 10 years ago.

Our library is dedicated to reading and learning on all levels. In conjunction with that, the Minnesota Legacy Program, dedicated to preserving Minnesota’s art and cultural heritage, is bringing us a wonderful program for 3 – 8 year olds and their families. August 7 at Pine River Library at 2:00 PM, a mini-play will be presented by CLIMB Theater, “The Tortoise & the Hare.” This will be 20 minutes of performance and 20 minutes of related activities. Bring your young children to this program. I look forward, as always, to seeing them.

I remain,

Browser, the library cat.

PS. Be sure to spay or neuter your pets. Stray living is not all that fun, and though Hart’s Animal Rescue can find new homes for some of us, living in a cage isn’t that great either.


Printed in the Pine River Journal 2 Aug 2012

Ten Year Anniversary for Me and The Library

“I was lost but now I’m found” (Amazing Grace)

It has been ten years since I first dragged my starving self to the back of the old Pine River Public Library and ten years since we moved that self same library to the old bank building where it and I now live.

Happy Anniversary to us! We would like you, our friends, to celebrate with us. We are having an open house at the library Saturday, July 21^st. And yes, there will be cake. There is no more perfect food, with the possible exception of tuna fish. Join us. The library is open from 10:00 AM to 1:00 PM on Saturday. For those of you who have no idea where we are located, it is 212 Park Avenue, Pine River.

 See you there!

I remain,

Browser, the library cat

PS. Don’t forget to have your pets spayed or neutered. The life of a stray kitten isn’t fun.

Browser visited by Danish filmmaker

A feline extravaganza! My weekend as a star. Who knew? Signe Veje, a Danish documentary film maker, came to Pine River. The film, “If cats could speak” will feature, you guessed it, Browser, the library cat. I knew I was famous in our community, but this is over the top. The weekend was also one of my favorites. Our library, Pine River Public Library, held its annual book sale. I spent the weekend lounging on the books and greeting my many friends.

Also visited by our film maker were the many events Pine River offered this weekend including the Cass County Fair where there was a cat show. I saw no reason to over shadow the other contestants, so did not enter this myself. Give somebody else a chance at fame, I felt. I already know I am the most beautiful of felines.

 Also interviewed were many other people in town.   Ms. Veje is based in California. Her film is a documentary being made for Danish television. She has told us she will send us a copy of her film so that we can have a premier in Pine River. There are other cats in the film, of course, but I feel certain I will stand out.

Until the next time, I remain,

Browser, the library cat

Printed in the Pine River Journal  12 July 2012

Curtis and Loretta come to Pine River once again

Another free concert sponsored by the Legacy Program of Kitchigami Regional Library System, Curtis and Loretta, a husband and wife folk duo, visit the Kitchigami region in July. They will present “Singing Tales of Truth” telling stories of many heroes and heroines, some of whom they know the real people. This duo produces extraordinary harmonies and proficiency on a parade of stringed instruments creates an alluring frame for their poignant original songs, and carefully chosen traditional pieces from the British Isles, America, and beyond. Curtis and Loretta will be here in Pine River performing at the Warehouse, Saturday, July 7th, 2012 @ 2:00pm.

This free Legacy Program is funded in part or in whole with money which is dedicated to preserve Minnesota’s art and cultural heritage. Pine River Public Library will bring more Legacy Programs to the community like Charlie Maguire, Pop Wagner and Tony Glover’s rendition of 100 years of Woody Guthrie in a performance of Woody Reflected in October. For more information, please contact The Pine River Public Library at 218-587-4639.

Youth summer reading programs ahead

Okay, I’m excited!


Big doings in Pine River, thanks to our Pine River Public Library, Kitchigami Regional Library, and the State of Minnesota Legacy program. Coming to The Warehouse Saturday, June 9th, 2012 at 2:00 PM is Dan Newton’s Café Accordion Orchestra! If you have any doubt how lucky we are to have them, Google them and see them on YouTube! I did. If I were a dog I would have had a good long sing-a-long! Being a cat, I listened, mesmerized. These are some talented people. Free tickets are available at Pine River Public Library. For more information, call the library at 218-587-4639.

Warm weather brings the summer reading program at our library. This year’s theme is Dream Big. READ! Pre-registration and picking up of your started kit starts June 4th. The program will be from June 11 to Aug. 4. Ages are 5 – 12 years old. You must read a minimum of 30 minutes a day five days a week for eight weeks. For further information, come to the library! We look forward to seeing you.

Young adults, we haven’t forgotten you. OWN the NIGHT is your reading program, age 13 – 18! Come in to the library and see what we have for you!

Don’t forget to check me out on Facebook. I am having a very exciting life! I’ve had a visitor from Mooresville, Indiana, and I have a new gadget attached to my neck. Apparently it’s pretty special because some lady from Denmark or someplace like that is coming to see ME. Go figure! If you are in doubt about how to find me, call Muriel or Sarah at the library and ask. 218-587-4639.



Until the next time,

I remain,

Browser, the library cat

Printed the the Pine River Journal May 31st, 2012

Cauli Le Chat, feline roving reporter comes to visit

Cauli Le Chat just happened to arrive at the Pine River Library on the Hottest day in May!

Cauli Le Chat, feline roving reporter for Mooresville Public Library (Mooresville, Indiana), came to visit me at the library. She's traveling on her Library Critter World Tour and stopped in Pine River . When she arrived we shared Breakfast first thing this morning. Like me, she also has her own blog at:
http://mplcatseyeview.blogspot.com

I show Cauli around the library starting with our childrens area.  She enjoyed the garden while we were in there.



I showed her our Summer Reading Program Mascot.  The theme this year is
Dream Big Read




Of course I had to show her my portrait of myself. 
Wayne Sherwood local artist did this for the library so
 I would always be remembed even after I should leave this world.



We could hardly wait for the doors to open so I could introduce my new friend to my old friends.

Had to hang out at the front desk so we could be admired.



Of course we couldn't miss naptime!



Checking out the weather outside on a hot May day

I showed Cauli where my condo was just in case she wanted to get a catnap.

There was a Tupperware Fundraiser going on Saturday so my double showed her around. 

We took a trip over the Pine River Chamber of Commerce and visited with John Wetroski.
He knows everything and everone in town.

Pine River is famous for their Duck Races.  I stay way from there since I know that Ducks don't care for cats!

Of course Cauli had to see Paul Bunyan's baby boots.

Of course it was hard to say good bye so I had my double stand in for me.
It was nice to have Cauli come visit and I hope I can come visit her some time.

As always.............
Browser

My Travels to CA

My Boss and her husband went on vacation at the beginning of May and I was lucky enough to hitch a ride with them to California.

My First airplane flight out of the Brainerd Airport on Wednesday.

This flight was from Minneapolis to Chicago.

Was quite the bumpy landing.

Had Breakfast at TGI Fridays.

It was very delicious!

As you can see we took Delta

Waiting with my bags

On Saturday we drove over the Disney Downtown.  My Bosses friends love

Disney and have passes but on this day we just explored the Downtown area!

Of course they let me onto the Trams from the parking lot.

Didn't have to walk too far!

Here I found the Chipmunks!  I've chased after these two a time or two in my life.

Wow a flying elephant.  Glad I didn't see a real one!

Took a break at the Hotel California outside California Adventure Park.

Of course you can't go to Disney without stopping at Goofy's Kitchen.

I wanted to get my picture taken with him but there was quite the line....

I guess this is the famous mouse.... 

I had to rest after my long day at Disney.

Hopefully more travels in the future.

As always Browser the library cat

“A picture is worth a thousand words”

I researched this succinct phrase expecting to find a simple reference to an author. It seemed a good way to introduce the next Legacy program at The Warehouse In Pine River on April 28th. It is to be Cal Rice, photographer, presenting his work “Bhutan: A view from the top of the world”. This was not to be the case. Phrases.org.uk states, “This phrase emerged in the USA in the early part of the 20th century. Its introduction is widely attributed to Frederick R. Barnard, who published a piece commending the effectiveness of graphics in advertising with the title "One look is worth a thousand words", in Printer's Ink, December 1921. Barnard claimed the phrase's source to be oriental by adding "so said a famous Japanese philosopher, and he was right". Ah, you might say. That would explain it. Not so fast! “…The arbitrary escalation from 'one thousand' to 'ten thousand' and the switching from Japan to China as the source leads us to smell a rat with this derivation. In fact, Barnard didn't introduce the phrase - his only contribution was the incorrect suggestion that the country of origin was Japan or China. This has led to another popular belief about the phrase, i.e. that it was coined by Confucius. It might fit the Chinese-sounding 'Confucius he say' style, but the Chinese derivation was pure invention…”


But enough of this craziness. Go look at some wondrous photographs and draw your own conclusions, and you might just get a thousand words as well.



I remain your cat crony,

Browser, the library cat

Library hosting Scentsy Fundraiser

Can't make any sense out of that?  My Library, your library, our library, Pine River Public Library is currently involved in a fund raiser called "Scentsy."  The products are on display at the library for the following week and 25 percent of sales go directly to our library.

Need a birthday present or a graduation gift or something for yourself?  The library will be taking orders until Saturday, April 7th.  Come in to the library and check it out.  You get something and give to your library at the same time.  Questions?  Call the library at 587-4636.

See you soon.

I remain,
Browser the library cat

Printed in the Pine River Journal April 5th, 2012

Story by the staff at McKinley Public Library

Hi Pine River Public Library Patrons and Browser,


Well Browser made it the McKinley Public Library in McKinley,MN. This is a
very small one-room library with about 100 residents in town.

The night Browser came--we had our special dog Pansy visiting. Pansy is a little 12
year old pomerian that the children nickname "puffball". The children read
to the dog with her owner twice a year for about 4-6 weeks.

Also, many patrons were on the computers looking at facebook, playing Barbie ,even a
new patron came into the library to fill out an application online.

Browser came to the library on a very busy night. Also,the library is in
the process of a new look with every book given a new home--so books are a
little bit of everywhere.

Nice to have you visit Browser.
McKinley

I would like to Thank McKinley Public Library for having me at their library.  McKinley is located in Northern MN.

Browser the library cat

We are lucky to have the library

Greetings and salutations, whatever they are,

We move now from Fabulous February to Marvelous March.

For those of you who fancy yourselves as at least as erudite as myself, March is the month for you.

Our next Legacy program offers you an opportunity to explore honing your skills as an author of note.

Our guest is Jess Lourey, author of her series, Murder-By-Month mysteries. She will explain how she went from unpublished author to published author of eight books!

Ms. Lourey will be welcomed at the Riverview Life Center on Barclay in Pine River on Saturday, March 3rd at 2:00 PM. The cost for this presentation is FREE.

Bring questions, perhaps a notebook and pencil, and your ex-neighbor-in-law.

This promises to be both entertaining and edifying.

Looking forward to seeing you soon,

I remain,

Browser, the library cat

Printed in the Pine River Journal 1 March 2012

Leap Into Reading At The Pine River Public Library

The Cat in the Hat Joins the Big Green Frog for

Leap Into Reading

Library's Cat in the Hat and Big Green Frog Book Display.

Happy Leap Day Everyone!

Browser

Fabulous February offers two author visits

Boozhoo! [“Greetings” in the Ojibwe language]


Browser the library cat here with news about February events. We could call this month fantastic February. First we have David Treuer at The Warehouse Friday, Feb. 17th at 6:30. He will talk about this book, “Rez Life”. Here are some excerpts from his biography on his website: (Well, the whole thing is interesting…)

“David Treuer is an Ojibwe Indian from Leech Lake Reservation in northern Minnesota. He is the recipient of a Pushcart Prize, the 1996 Minnesota Book Award, and fellowships from the NEH, Bush Foundation, and the Guggenheim Foundation. He divides his time between his home on the Leech Lake Reservation and Minneapolis. He is the author of three novels and a book of criticism. His essays and stories have appeared in Esquire, TriQuarterly, The Washington Post, the LA Times, and Slate.com.

The son of Robert Treuer, an Austrian Jew and holocaust survivor and Margaret Seelye Treuer, a tribal court judge, David Treuer grew up on Leech Lake Reservation. After graduating from high school he attended Princeton University where he wrote two senior theses--one in anthropology and one in creative writing--and where he worked with Toni Morrison, Paul Muldoon, and Joanna Scott. Treuer graduated in 1992 and published his first novel, Little, in 1995. He received his PhD in anthropology and published his second novel, The Hiawatha, in 1999. His third novel The Translation of Dr Apelles and a book of criticism, Native American Fiction; A User's Manual appeared in 2006. The Translation of Dr Apelles was named a Best Book of the Year by the Washington Post,Time Out, and City Pages.

His novels have been translated into Norwegian, Finnish, French, and Greek.”

This is something you don’t want to miss. This is about our area and the people we meet every day. It could be you or your friend.

“During a houseboat vacation on the remote Lake of the Woods, a violent gale sweeps through unexpectedly, stranding cork and his daughter, Jenny, on a devastated island where the wind has ushered in a force far darker and more deadly than any storm…”

Entranced? Our second event is William Kent Krueger, Minnesota author who will speak to us about his latest book, “Northwest Angle”. Visit Mr. Krueger’s website for more information about his writings. He has written eleven books of suspense about Minnesota. This promises to be a super experience. Mr. Krueger is a man of great charm and humor. Do not miss him Tuesday, Feb 21st at Pine River/Backus Media Center (The Library) at 6:30 PM. Signs will be posted in the high school.

For more information on these and other events, contact Pine River Public Library at 218-587-4639.

Baamaapii, [“until later” in the Ojibwe language]

Browser, the library cat

Printed in the Pine River Journal 16 Feb 2012

Wine, beer tasting fund raiser Feb 10

Hello fellow patrons of the Pine River Public Library.

February isn’t just for Valentine’s Day anymore.

Our library has several events in this month of hearts and flowers. It is, it happens, also a month of wine, beer and hors d’oeuvres. On February 10th Friends of the Pine River Library are sponsoring a Wine and Beer Tasting featuring wines from around the world. These will be provided by Quality Wine and Spirits. Our own Friends will be preparing the Hors d’oeuvres. There will also be a silent auction. This wonderful event will take place Friday, 2/10/2012 from 6pm to 8pm at the VFW Post in Jenkins. Tickets are available at Pine River Library in advance for a mere $15 or $20 at the door. Friends of the Library receive $2.00 off. Being a friend has benefits! The proceeds from this event will help pay for the roof over my head - the one at the library.

Think of this as a preamble to Valentines Day. Bring your sweetheart or your favorite neighbor or anybody remotely close to you who likes a little something to drink from time to time and needs to get out of the house…Don’t drink? There is food and the silent auction to consider. Something for everyone except for me. I will be left behind to guard the library against miscreants. I really don’t mind at all. Just save some food for me.

I remain,
Browser, the library cat

Printed in the Pine River Journal 2 February 2012

Stop hibernating and come to the library

Fellow hibernators and library lovers all,


Are we to spend our entire winter sleeping with the bears? It is tempting, but wishing or sleeping our lives away is wasteful in the extreme. I have been analyzing this and have a couple of solutions. First of all, of course, is taking this time to read, whether fiction or non-fiction. The process of reading is good for us all. Log on to krls.org and check all the features available to you, library patrons. The catalog is full of books on every subject. If you do not happen to have a home computer – some people don’t – call Pine River Public Library and reserve computer time or simply come into the library and look through the catalog computers and request reading material.

“Not active enough for me” you say? How about this: Start your garden now. What? You may ask. It’s cold and frozen outside. Yes it is, but that doesn’t need to stop you. Start some seeds growing inside. Peppers should be started now, anyway, but what about herbs? Start some and use them for house plants. My friend, Cora, at her website www.gardensbycora.com has a page under “calendar” that will help you to do this. The krls.org catalog lists 1087 printings under the search word “gardening”. Are you wondering what you might grow? There are untold numbers of seed companies, most of which have websites. Gurneys.com; burpee.com; gardensalive.com; jungseed.com; burgessseed.com; raintreenursery.com; parkseed.com; waysidegardens.com; kitchengardenseeds.com; dutchgardens.com. These are just a few of the sites that not only sell seeds but have information available on their sites.

Not for you? What about getting out all those boxes of photos and other keepsakes and do a little scrapbooking? krls.org lists 59 publications on this subject. Why not motivate yourself by inviting a few friends to join you. Bake something, make a pot of coffee or tea, get together a few simple supplies, and have some fun.

Winter won’t last forever. Make the most of it while you can.

Stop by Pine River Public Library and visit me.

I remain,

Browser, the library cat

Printed in the Pine River Journal 26th January 2012

International Falls Library on the coldest morning of the year!

Hello Readers,

My latest visit was to the International Falls Library on the coldest morning of the year so far. I was very glad for my thick coat as the temperature was -23. But 14 children (only 9 were willing or interested in being photograhed) and their parents or grandparents came out for storytime! We heard stories about winter and then they wanted a picture with me and the storytime cat Tabitha.

I also got to spend a few minutes talking with the new American Girl doll McKenna. She is a door prize when the author Mary casanova, who lives in International falls, when she comes to talk at the library on January 24th.

And then I went and spent some time with all the animals in the comfy, cozy reading area in the junior room of the library. It was fun chatting with them about their favorite stories and who they like to have read them stories.

The Librarian said she was tempted to have me visit one of the second grade classes at the elementary school as they had just read Flat Stanley and created their own flat.

As always,

Browser