Community Read Program
September 18th
4 sessions throughout the day
discussions led by community facilitators
The Millbrook Literary Festival, the Millbrook Library, and the Merritt Bookstore present our community read and discussion!
We have chosen four short books from Thich Nhat Hanh’s “How To” Collection: How to Eat, How to See, How to Fight, and How to Walk.
Everyone can choose one (or more!) books to read. They are being sold at a discounted price at the bookstore and the library. On September 18th, Millbrook Community Day, discussions around each book will be held throughout the village, moderated by community members. View the schedule below and feel free to come to more than one if you’d like!
Schedule
How to Eat
10:30 am – 11:15 am, Millbrook Library
Facilitated by:
Gabe McMackin – Chef, Troutbeck
Tarajia Morrell – Food Writer and Restaurant Consultant
Ellie Brown – Grower, Stonewood Farm
How to Walk
11:30 am – 12:15 pm, Merritt Bookstore
Facilitated by:
Julie Hart – Senior Manager of Stewardship and Education at the Dutchess Land Conservancy
Ralph Schmidt – Adjunct Professor at the Earth Institute, Columbia University
How to Fight
12:30 pm – 1:15 pm, Millbrook Library
Facilitated by:
Fr. Matt Calkins – Rector, Grace Church
Cat Greenstreet – Courage & Renewal® Facilitator and Author
How to See
1:30 pm – 2:15 pm, Merritt Bookstore
Facilitated by:
Megan Brandow-Faller – Art Historian and Professor of History, City University of New York
Adam Brandow – PhD Candidate in the History of Decorative Art, Design, and Material Culture, Bard Graduate Center
You can read more about each book here.
The books will cost $2 each, subsidized by the Literary Festival and the bookstore to make sure they are available to everyone. You can buy the books at either the Millbrook Library or Merritt Bookstore.
Children’s Program
On the same day, September 18th, there will be a children’s program at the library from 10 am – 2 pm with special reading by children’s author Lesa Cline-Ransome, a pinwheel craft, and community readers. Come for all or just stay for a part. View the schedule below!
Schedule
Storytime with Abbey
10:00 am – 10:30 am
Miss Abbey hosts storytime on the lawn, reading My Magic Breath: Finding Calm Through Mindful Breathing written by Nick Ortner & Alison Taylor with pictures by Michelle Polizzi
Make Your Own Pinwheel
10:30 am – 11:00 am
To complement My Magic Breath, kids can complete a pinwheel craft with Miss Abbey. Each child will have their own craft station and supplies will be collected and disinfected. The library will have supply kits available for kids who can’t come to the program if they’d like to do the craft at home.
Chalk Our Walk
11:00 am – 12:00 pm
Come make sidewalk chalk art around the library! We will have chalk for kids to use to draw their favorite character or book-themed drawing.
Meet the Author – Lesa Cline-Ransome
12:00 pm – 12:30 pm
Local author, Lesa Cline-Ransome, will read from her middle-grade trilogy, Finding Langston, and sign books.
Finding Your Story
12:30 pm – 1:00 pm
Inspired by Finding Langston, Miss Abbey will guide kids to write their own story or poem by using the erasure or blackout method. By crossing out words from old newspaper articles and saving others, young writers will craft a story or poem entirely their own.
Who’s Around Town?
1:00 pm – 2:00 pm
Three members from the Millbrook community–a choreographer, a zookeeper, and a restaurant owner–will each read a picture book about their profession and give a short presentation about what they do.
Scavenger Hunt – Find Our Favorite Characters
All Day!
Hop inside the Children’s Room to find some of your favorite characters! Laminated and taped down throughout the Children’s Room, you’ll have to find them all to get a free book and a sweet treat!
13th Annual Millbrook Literary Festival 
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