Upcoming Events
Stop by the Southbury Farmers' Market and enjoy stories & a take-and-make craft with the librarians from the Southbury Public Library!
Disclaimer(s)
Accessibility
The library makes every effort to ensure our programs can be enjoyed by all. If you have any concerns about accessibility or need to request specific accommodations, please contact the library.
Join us for a captivating journey through time. In this immersive presentation, we will delve into the rich tapestry of American history, uncovering the hidden gems and iconic landmarks that have shaped the nation.
Disclaimer(s)
Accessibility
The library makes every effort to ensure our programs can be enjoyed by all. If you have any concerns about accessibility or need to request specific accommodations, please contact the library.
Zoom
This program will be taking place on Zoom. The invitation links will be sent via email on the day of the program. To ensure that the invitation link reaches you, check your inbox for the registration confirmation email after signing up.
Join us at Southbury Parks and Recreation for a Build Your Own Sticker Book program!
Disclaimer(s)
Accessibility
The library makes every effort to ensure our programs can be enjoyed by all. If you have any concerns about accessibility or need to request specific accommodations, please contact the library.
Southbury Public Library will be closed on Sundays through Labor Day Weekend for our summer hours.
Stop by our temporary Heritage Hotel location to pick up your Paper Plate Turtle Grab & Go Kit!
These kits are available beginning 11am Monday, while supplies last.
Stop by our Heritage Hotel location on Mondays for a Take & Make Craft. Bring home everything you'll need to make a fun and exciting thematic paper craft. Appropriate for all ages. Young children may need assistance.
Disclaimer(s)
Accessibility
The library makes every effort to ensure our programs can be enjoyed by all. If you have any concerns about accessibility or need to request specific accommodations, please contact the library.
Join Miss Jen and our amazing school librarians from Region 15 for a summer pop-up storytime for the whole family!
Disclaimer(s)
Accessibility
The library makes every effort to ensure our programs can be enjoyed by all. If you have any concerns about accessibility or need to request specific accommodations, please contact the library.
Accompanying Adults
This program is designed for children and accompanying adults. Please plan to attend and be engaged with your child for this program. Drop offs will not be permitted.
This month we'll be discussing Vineyard Chill: A Novel by Philip R. Craig. Print copies are available at our temporary location within the Heritage Hotel, located at 522 Heritage Road, Southbury, CT.
Disclaimer(s)
Accessibility
The library makes every effort to ensure our programs can be enjoyed by all. If you have any concerns about accessibility or need to request specific accommodations, please contact the library.
Pick up complete kits to make a macramé sun mini wreath while supplies last.
Each kit will have complete instructions and all supplies needed (except scissors).
First come, first served and while supplies last.
Disclaimer(s)
Accessibility
The library makes every effort to ensure our programs can be enjoyed by all. If you have any concerns about accessibility or need to request specific accommodations, please contact the library.


May Events at the Southbury Public Library
Hello, Friends!
Happy May! Stop by to visit our temporary location within the Heritage Hotel! Located at 522 Heritage Road in Southbury, this temporary location will provide the in-person library services you're familiar with as we continue to recover from extreme damage caused by the flooding in August 2024.
Staff Picks
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If You Lived During the Plimoth Thanksgiving
What do you know about the thanksgiving feast at Plimoth?
What if you lived in a different time and place? What would you wear? What would you eat? How would your daily life be different?
Scholastic's If You Lived... series answers all of kids' most important questions about events in American history. With a question and answer format, kid-friendly artwork, and engaging information, this series is the perfect partner for the classroom and for history-loving readers.
What if you lived when the English colonists and the Wampanoag people shared a feast at Plimoth? What would you have worn? What would you have eaten? What was the true story of the feast that we now know as the first Thanksgiving and how did it become a national holiday?
Chris Newell answers all these questions and more in this comprehensive dive into the feast at Plimoth and the history leading up to it. Carefully crafted to explore both sides of this historical event, this book is a great choice for Thanksgiving units, and for teaching children about this popular holiday.
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What Was the First Thanksgiving?
Learn more about the history of the feast that started off as a harvest celebration and has now become a national holiday.
After their first harvest in 1621, the Pilgrims at Plymouth shared a three-day feast with their Native American neighbors. Of course, the Pilgrims and the Wampanoag didn’t know it at the time, but they were making history. -
We Are Thankful
The Robin Hill School first graders learn about being thankful in this Level 1 Ready-to-Read!
It’s almost Thanksgiving, and Mrs. Connor asks the class to think about what they are thankful for. Reza and his mama make a list together. He can’t wait to talk to his class about his family, his dog, his bike, and so much more! But then at school, everyone takes turns saying what they’re thankful for, and the other kids say the same things Reza wanted to say! Can Reza think of something else he’s thankful for before it’s his turn to speak? -
Duck for Turkey Day
It's almost Thanksgiving, and Tuyet is excited about the holiday and the vacation from school. There's just one problem: her Vietnamese American family is having duck for Thanksgiving dinner - not turkey Nobody has duck for Thanksgiving - what will her teacher and the other kids think? To her surprise, Tuyet enjoys her yummy thanksgiving dinner anyhow - and an even bigger surprise is waiting for her at school on Monday. Dinners from roast beef to lamb to enchiladas adorned the Thanksgiving tables of her classmates, but they all had something in common - family Kids from families with different traditions will enjoy this warm story about "the right way" to celebrate an American holiday.
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Giving Thanks
A beautifully illustrated collection celebrating the joy of gratitude: “A book to be picked up throughout the year and savored and discussed.” —Booklist (starred review)
Newbery Medal winner Katherine Paterson and cut-paper artist Pamela Dalton, creators of Brother Sun, Sister Moon, give fans of all ages even more to be thankful for with Giving Thanks, a special book about gratitude.
Paterson’s meditations on what it means to be truly grateful and Dalton’s exquisite cut-paper illustrations are paired with a collection of over fifty graces, poems, and praise songs from a wide range of cultures, religions, and voices. The unique collaboration between these two extraordinary artists flowers in this important and stunningly beautiful reflection on the act of giving thanks.
“A joyfulness of spirit permeates the compilation.” —Publishers Weekly (starred review)
“Amen.” —Kirkus Reviews (starred review) -
Over the River and Through the Wood
Matt Tavares's lavish illustrations illuminate this definitive edition of a beloved seasonal classic.
The horse is ready, the air is bracing, and everyone is bundled into the sleigh. So let the wind blow and the snow start to fall! This family is off to Grandfather's house for a delicious feast. Matt Tavares, with his keen eye for detail, fresh and surprising perspectives, and all the warmth and coziness of a big holiday dinner, illuminates the original text of Lydia Maria Child's verse about Thanksgiving Day, which has marked the start of the holiday season for generations of children. -
Around the Table That Grandad Built
A beautifully illustrated celebration of bounty and gratitude, family and friendship, perfect for the holidays and every day.
This is the table that Grandad built.
These are the sunflowers picked by my cousins,
set on the table that Grandad built.
In a unique take on the cumulative classic "This Is the House That Jack Built," a family gathers with friends and neighbors to share a meal around a table that brims with associations: napkins sewn by Mom, glasses from Mom and Dad's wedding, silverware gifted to Dad by his grandma long ago. Not to mention the squash from the garden, the bread baked by Gran, and the pies made by the young narrator (with a little help). Serving up a diverse array of dishes and faces, this warm and welcoming story is poised to become a savored part of Thanksgiving traditions to come. -
Veterans Day
Introduces Veterans Day, explaining the historical events behind it, how it became a holiday, and how it is observed.
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Veterans Day
While Veterans Day began at the end of World War I, it is a holiday that commemorates and celebrates all men and women who have served in the military. From the starting ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier to the colorful hometown parades celebrating war heroes, patriotic pride will be stirred in young readers.
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30,000 Stitches
An MASL Dogwood Reader's Award Title
Discover the inspiring story of the American flag that flew over Ground Zero, traveled across all fifty states as it was repaired, and returned to New York as a restored symbol of unity.
In the days following September 11th, a 30-foot American flag hung torn and tattered at 90 West Street, across from Ground Zero. A few weeks later, the flag was taken down by a construction crew and tucked away in storage, where it stayed for nearly seven years.
The flag was brought out of storage in 2008 when the New York Says Thank You Foundation headed to Greensburg, Kansas, a town nearly destroyed by a tornado. NYSTY brought the flag with them, sparking a grassroots restoration effort that traveled over 120,000 miles across all fifty states, bringing together thousands of people, and helping America heal and rebuild . . . hand by hand, thread by thread, one stitch at a time.
This book is the story of that journey, a journey that ended at the opening of the National September 11 Museum, where the flag remains today. Along the way, the flag was restored using pieces of retired flags from every state--including a piece of the flag that Abraham Lincoln was laid on after he was shot at Ford's Theater and threads from the original Star-Spangled Banner flag, which flew at Fort McHenry in the War of 1812 and inspired Francis Scott Key to write the national anthem. The pieces and threads were stitched in by military veterans, first responders, educators, students, community-service heroes, and family members of 9/11 victims, among others. At each stop, communities came together to remember, to heal, and to unite.
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This Very Tree
A deeply moving story about community and resilience, from the point-of-view of the Callery pear tree that survived the attacks on September 11, from Eisner Award-nominated author-illustrator Sean Rubin.
* "A resonant, beautifully rendered testament to life and renewal." —Kirkus, starred review
In the 1970s, nestled between the newly completed Twin Towers in New York City, a Callery pear tree was planted. Over the years, the tree provided shade for people looking for a place to rest and a home for birds, along with the first blooms of spring.
On September 11, 2001, everything changed. The tree’s home was destroyed, and it was buried under the rubble. But a month after tragedy struck, a shocking discovery was made at Ground Zero: the tree had survived.
Dubbed the “Survivor Tree,” it was moved to the Bronx to recover. And in the thoughtful care of the New York City Department of Parks and Recreation, the Callery pear was nursed back to health. Almost a decade later, the Survivor Tree returned home and was planted in the 9/11 Memorial to provide beauty and comfort...and also hope.
This is the story of that tree—and of a nation in recovery. Told from the tree’s perspective, This Very Tree is a touching tribute to first responders, the resilience of America, and the restorative power of community. -
The Red Bandanna
Winner of the Christopher Award
An ILA-CBC Children's Choices Book
A NCSS-CBC Notable Social Studies Book
Welles Crowther did not see himself as hero. He was just an ordinary kid who played sports, volunteered at his local fire department, and eventually headed off to college and then Wall Street to start a career. Throughout it all, he always kept a red bandanna in his pocket, a gift from his father. On September 11, 2001, Welles was working on the 104th floor of the South Tower of the World Trade Center when the Twin Towers were attacked. That day, Welles made a fearless choice, and in doing so, saved many lives.The survivors didn't know his name, but one of them remembered a single detail clearly: the man was wearing a red bandanna. Welles Crowther was a hero.
Award-winning ESPN reporter Tom Rinaldi brings Welles's inspirational story of selflessness and compassion to life in this accessible young readers' adaptation of his New York Times bestselling book. This powerful story of making a difference through our actions is perfect for helping the post-9/11 generation understand the meaning of this historic day through the eyes of one young man.
"Rinaldi's young reader edition of his award-winning adult story puts a face on that day (9/11), a hero's face, and brings to young people someone who stood brave in the toughest of times and who, in the end, was lost doing his best to help others survive."--VOYA
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I Survived: Ten Thrilling Books (Ten-Book Set)
History's most exciting and terrifying events come to life in these ten books in the New York Times bestselling I Survived series.
When disaster strikes, heroes are made. This collection of ten books in the bestselling I Survived series from author Lauren Tarshis includes:
- I Survived the Sinking of the Titanic, 1912;
- I Survived the Shark Attacks of 1916
- I Survived the Attacks of September 11, 2001
- I Survived the Nazi Invasion, 1944
- I Survived the Bombing of Pearl Harbor, 1941
- I Survived the Battle of Gettysburg, 1863I
- Survived the Destruction of Pompeii, AD 79
- I Survived Hurricane Katrina, 2005
- I Survived the San Francisco Earthquake, 1906
- I Survived the Japanese Tsunami, 2011
With relatable characters and riveting plotlines, the I Survived books are perfect for reluctant readers or any young reader who enjoys an action packed, page turning thriller. Each book also contains several pages of nonfiction content, encouraging readers to further explore the historical topic.
When disaster strikes, heroes are made. This collection of ten books in the bestselling I Survived series from author Lauren Tarshis includes:
- I Survived the Sinking of the Titanic, 1912;
- I Survived the Shark Attacks of 1916
- I Survived the Attacks of September 11, 2001
- I Survived the Nazi Invasion, 1944
- I Survived the Bombing of Pearl Harbor, 1941
- I Survived the Battle of Gettysburg, 1863I
- Survived the Destruction of Pompeii, AD 79
- I Survived Hurricane Katrina, 2005
- I Survived the San Francisco Earthquake, 1906
- I Survived the Japanese Tsunami, 2011
With relatable characters and riveting plotlines, the I Survived books are perfect for reluctant readers or any young reader who enjoys an action packed, page turning thriller. Each book also contains several pages of nonfiction content, encouraging readers to further explore the historical topic.
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Come Juneteenth
Sis Goose is a beloved member of Luli's family, despite the fact that she was born a slave. But the family is harboring a terrible secret. And when Union soldiers arrive on their Texas plantation to announce that slaves have been declared free for nearly two years, Sis Goose is horrified to learn that the people she called family have lied to her for so long. She runs away--but her newly found freedom has tragic consequences.
How could the state of Texas keep the news of the Emancipation Proclamation from reaching slaves? In this riveting Great Episodes historical drama, Ann Rinaldi sheds light on the events that led to the creation of Juneteenth, a celebration of freedom that continues today.
Includes an author's note. -
Opal Lee and What It Means to Be Free
Booklist starred review
Black activist Opal Lee had a vision of Juneteenth as a holiday for everyone. This true story celebrates Black joy and inspires children to see their dreams blossom. Growing up in Texas, Opal knew the history of Juneteenth, but she soon discovered that many Americans had never heard of the holiday. Join Opal on her historic journey to recognize and celebrate freedom for all.
Every year, Opal looked forward to the Juneteenth picnic--a drumming, dancing, delicious party. She knew from Granddaddy Zak's stories that Juneteenth celebrated the day the freedom news of President Lincoln's Emancipation Proclamation finally sailed into Texas in 1865--over two years after the president had declared it! But Opal didn't always see freedom in her Texas town. Then one Juneteenth day when Opal was twelve years old, an angry crowd burned down her brand-new home. This wasn't freedom at all. She had to do something! But could one person's voice make a difference? Could Opal bring about national recognition of Juneteenth? Follow Opal Lee as she fights to improve the future by honoring the past.
Through the story of Opal Lee's determination and persistence, children ages 4 to 8 will learn:
- all people are created equal
- the power of bravery and using your voice for change
- the history of Juneteenth, or Freedom Day, and what it means today
- no one is free unless everyone is free
- fighting for a dream is worth the difficulty experienced along the way
Featuring the illustrations of New York Times bestselling illustrator Keturah A. Bobo (I am Enough), Opal Lee and What It Means to Be Free by Alice Faye Duncan celebrates the life and legacy of a modern-day Black leader while sharing a message of hope, unity, joy, and strength.