Use this search box to find articles that have run in our newspapers over the last several years.
Date: 6/14/2023
HUNTINGTON — During the month of June, young readers have the opportunity to vote for a mascot for the Huntington Public Library, to kick off the “Find Your Voice” summer reading program.
Four stuffed mascot candidates are on display through the end of the month, including a llama named Kathy, whose favorite color is yellow and whose favorite book is “Not Enough Lollipops”; a rabbit named Chad who likes sunflower seeds, gardening and antiquing; an axolotl named Jenn whose favorite movie is “Big Hero 6” and favorite snack is Doritos; and a unicorn named Jailyn, who likes pink and the movie “Enchanted.”
Throughout the election season, Gateway Regional High School rising senior Joey Pisano will read a book related to the theme “Find Your Voice” during story hours, after which children may vote for their favorite. Pisani has an expressed interest in politics, and accompanied Gateway administrators to Boston this year to lobby for increased rural school aid.
On June 6, Pisani read “This Little Voter” by Ann Bonnie to library patrons Margaret Walters and Skylar Forgue. Before he began, he asked them, what is voting?
“When you choose something, like raising your hand in class,” said Margaret.
“You choose the most amount of people who vote. We close our eyes and raise our hands,” Skylar added.
Reading from the book, Pisani read, “This little voter went to register. This little voter marked the date. This little voter campaigned. This little voter watched debates.”
Pisani said sometimes when people vote they have to wait, then read: “This little voter cast their ballot. This little voter was committed.” He said that part is really important.
“This little voter made a choice, said ‘I did it!’ We, we, we made our voices heard,” Pisani read, adding that after they voted for the mascot, they had to say, “I did it!”
He then had Margaret and Skylar sign in, sit down at the voting booth one at a time and cast their ballots for a mascot. Afterwards, he gave them an “I voted” sticker.
“I’m interested in helping people speak up,” Pisani said after the story hour.
Upcoming story hours with Joey Pisani during the month of June include “A is for Ambitious” and “Ambitious Girl” by Meena Harris on June 15, 2:30 to 3:30 p.m.; “I Am Perfectly Designed” by Karamo Brown on June 21, 2:30 to 3:30 p.m.; and “Greta and the Giants” by Zoe Tucker on June 30, 11 a.m. to noon. Each story time will be followed by a craft related to the story. The library is at 7 E. Main St., Huntington.
Voting will continue through June 30, when the winner will be revealed that day at the summer reading kickoff.
Huntington Library Director Amanda Loiselle said the library wanted to kick off summer reading with this voting activity, which she said is also a soft introduction to Pride Month.
“We want to make sure we’re supporting everyone in the community,” she said.
The Friends of the Library purchased the four Build-a-Bears to represent candidates, which were built by Amanda Loiselle and library page Bhreanna Wieland. Whichever one wins the election will become the library’s mascot, and the remaining stuffed animals will be offered as summer reading prizes. Loiselle said children may come in anytime during the month to vote, if they cannot come to a story hour.
Other staff at the Huntington Public Library include Mike Brick, youth services director, library assistant Carol Pellerin, Megan Little, digital services, and page Abby Robbins.
Loiselle said Huntington Public Library will participate in a multi-town library kickoff in Blandford’s Town Hall auditorium on June 24 at 10 a.m. She said area libraries are coordinating activities, although not all have the same theme for summer reading. Chester shares the “Find Your Voice” theme, while in Blandford, the theme is “Oceans of Possibilities.”