baystateparent magazine April 2018 by baystateparent magazine

baystateparent b aystateparent FREE

Massachusettsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Premier Magazine For Families Since 1996

APRIL 2018

SIMPLE TRICKS TO SATISFY PICKY EATERS

FREE THINGS TO DO OVER APRIL VACATION WIN: OUR FAVE TRAVEL ITEMS SCREEN-FREE GAMES FOR FAMILY TRIPS

adventure AWAITS

Cornerstone Academy

Put your child on the educational path to success by enrolling them at Cornerstone

Educating all learners in grades K-6 An elementary preparatory school that celebrates the individual.

TOURS: April 10 & 24 • Sign up on our website

r Foreve ps hi Friends

Indiv Instru idual ction

Learning, playing, meditating! Happy, playful calm, joyful Cornerstone!

Nature

— Poem written by a Cornerstone student

S.T.E.M.

Outdo Classr or oom

Rec &Kn ess ittin g

g Nurturin t n e m Environ

5 Oak Avenue • Northboro, MA 01532 • 508-351-9976 www.cornerstoneacademy.org 2 APRIL2018

At Saint Vincent Hospital, our experienced team in The Center for Women and Infants is committed to providing individual and specialized care for you and your family. We offer expert pregnancy and childbirth care in Worcester that rivals any birthing experience in Boston, providing the safety, comfort, and convenience of delivering your baby close to home. Visit stvincenthospital.com/maternity to learn more about the services and classes we offer.

BAYSTATEPARENT 3

Making a Difference One Skater at a Time

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TBD

Announcing the 2018 youth show

Past shows included: grades 8-12 - including recent high school graduates. This camp will take your teen to a higher level in theatre! They will produce and act in THEIR OWN show - separate from the younger campers! Join in this exciting adventure!

grades 2-7 Learn the importance of teamwork, make friends for life, experience being part of a show from start to finish!

July 9th - July 27th

Grades 2 -12 including recent high school graduates â&#x20AC;˘ 5 days! Mon.-Fri. â&#x20AC;˘ 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Camp show performances on July 28th & 29th Your child will enjoy a summer of music, art, drama and dance at our 3 week, state certified theatre camp held in Worcester. Campers will also produce a full show for family and friends at the conclusion of camp. Students will learn all the aspects of producing a show from acting, singing & dancing to set building, costumes and more!

For all information, call 978-602-6288 or register online at

wachusetttheatre.com

BAYSTATEPARENT 5

6 APRIL2018

table of contents APRIL 2018 VOLUME 22

OH, THE PLACES YOU’LL GO: April Calendar Of Family Events

NUMBER 12

Drive The Other Way: Summer Fun In Upstate New York

in every issue

& Jessica: 42 Rescue Children’s Book Brings Love

Of Girl And Her Service Dog

EDITOR’S NOTE: A Whole New Adventure

‘Stately’ Fashion: Cute Looks For The Spring

BY THE NUMBERS: Earth Day

Manage Vacation Travel With A Mix Of Screen-Free Activities

Drive The Other Way: Summer Fun In Upstate New York

26 49

MAKE A DAY OF IT: 3 Free Things To Do Over April Vacation

A New Kind Of House Call: See A Doctor Without Stepping Foot In The Office

Add To Cart: Cool Finds For Your Family Travels

VERY SPECIAL PEOPLE: Autism Awareness Month OH, THE PLACES YOU’LL GO: April Calendar Of Family Events

FINALLY FOREVER: April’s Child & Area Adoption Events

baystateparent.com

president PAUL M. PROVOST

associate publisher KATHY REAL 508-749-3166 ext. 331 kreal@baystateparent.com

Hair and Make up by Rob Roy Hair Academy

editorial & creative

features 12

Bittersweet Birthdays: An Annual Reminder To Be My Son’s Best Friend

Rescue & Jessica: Children’s Book Brings Love Of Girl And Her Service Dog To Life

The Best Books Your Kids Aren’t Reading

ripe

TAKE EIGHT: Shawn Colvin

meet team

Photography by Michael Stone Portraits

adventure awaits

8 9 14 16

Some see life through rose-colored glasses, and others, like Isaiah, 4, through backwards binoculars. We thought this little oops was cover-worthy cute!

Simple Tricks To Satisfy Picky Eaters

Ripe Bites

advertising

editor in chief AMANDA COLLINS BERNIER 508-865-7070 ext. 201 amanda@baystateparent.com

director of sales REGINA STILLINGS 508-865-7070 ext. 210 regina@baystateparent.com

creative director and events coordinator PAULA MONETTE ETHIER 508-865-7070 ext. 221 pethier@holdenlandmark.com

account executive KATHY PUFFER 508-865-7070 ext. 211 kathy@baystateparent.com

senior graphic designer STEPHANIE MALLARD 508-865-7070 design@baystateparent.com

account executive CHEYRL ROBINSON 508-865-7070 ext. 336 crobinson@holdenlandmark.com

account executive ERIN QUINN-SHANNON 508-865-7070 ext. 213 erin@baystateparent.com baystateparent is published monthly 22 West Street, Millbury, MA 01527 508-865-7070

It is distributed free of charge throughout Massachusetts.

BAYSTATEPARENT 7

EDITOR’S NOTE

A Whole New Adventure

Before I ever even got pregnant, my husband and I made a promise to each other that we would never be those parents. After years of doing what we wanted when we wanted – an unplanned weekend getaway, a spontaneous mountain hike or an impulsive road trip – we swore that when the time came, we wouldn’t let having a baby put the kibosh on any of our adventures. “We’ll just take him with us,” we promised. Right after having Max, this pact was put to the test. It seemed like we had just arrived home with our precious new bundle and my husband was already itching to get out of the house and “do stuff with him.” He pointed out that we had all the gear to be out and about, and that his food was conveniently attached to my chest – what was holding us back? Meanwhile, I was sobbing my way through the baby blues, obsessively checking “just to make sure he’s breathing,” and consumed with making sure that anyone who came within 50 feet of my baby had doused themself in hand sanitizer. I wasn’t going anywhere. After a few months I gave in, and we took our first family adventure to one of our favorite destinations – Boothbay Harbor, Maine. The quaint seaside village, with its rugged coast, quiet coves and pinestudded islands, is a slice of summertime bliss… unless you’re with a three month old. The brick-lined sidewalks were hard to navigate with a stroller and the artist galleries were hardly a place for a screaming infant. And that tiny hotel room overlooking the ocean? A dreamy spot for two … but three’s a crowd. Especially when you bring your own baby swing and sound machine. (Seriously, what were we thinking?) It turned out that our pre-baby paradise wasn’t quite the same postMax. Were we doomed to be those parents, after all? Things change after having kids, and they change big time, especially when it comes to traveling. A trip away takes a lot more planning, and means packing a lot more stuff. Then, once you arrive at your destination (a zillion “are we there yets” later), you can’t just suddenly relax. Someone still has to watch those kids! Can a family trip actually be called a vacation? With a couple teenagers and a lot more family getaways under her belt than me, my sister and her husband recently decided to take a real vacation: Vegas. Just the two of them. Five days to hit the slots, do some shopping, relax by the pool with a daiquiri in hand. She couldn’t wait. I texted her on day three to ask how vacation was going. “I just called the airline to see if we could move up our flight,” she wrote back. “I miss the kids. Everything I see I think, ‘oh my goodness, the girls would love that!’” Kids: can’t vacation with ‘em, can’t vacation without ‘em. As parents we might yearn for the days when getaways were actually relaxing, but family vacations offer something other than rest -- memories. Sure, some downtime is (really, really) nice, but what’s better than seeing someplace new through the eyes of your child, or knowing that they will look back on these hectic trips as some of their most cherished moments? Our family travel section starts on page 29. Hopefully, you find some helpful tips and ideas to make your summer vacations just a little easier. Adventure awaits!

Amanda 8 APRIL2018

On Earth Day 2012, more than

EARTH DAY APRIL 22

Did You Know? One ton of recycled paper can save… 17 trees • 380 gallons of oil

rode bikes in China to reduce CO2 emissions and save fuel.

BY THE NUMBERS

3 cubic yards of landfill space • 4,000 kilowatts of energy • 7,000 gallons of water

140

1970 The

year the first Earth Day was celebrated; founded in the U.S. as a day of education about environmental issues.

The number of nations participating in Earth Day celebrations in 1990, when the movement went global. Today, the Earth Day Network collaborates with more than 17,000 partners and organizations in 174 countries.

According to Earth Day Network, more than

1 billion people

are involved in Earth Day activities, making it “the largest secular civic event in the world.”

100,000 people

Earth Day is big with schools. On many school calendars, it is the third most activity-inspiring holiday, after Christmas and Halloween.

BAYSTATEPARENT 9

Attention Crafters! 17th Annual

SIMPLE TRICKS to Satisfy Picky Eaters

Apple Blossom Festival Attention Crafters!!!! Craft Fair The Friends of Sholan Farms will be hosting a craft show at the

Family mealtime can be challenging for a variety of reasons, including the varying taste buds of moms, dads and their kids. Although there is no consistent definition of picky eating, according 14th to a report published in the journal Frontiers in Pediatrics, the term is generally used to characterize children who eat a limited amount of (Rain Date May 17, 2015) food, have strong food preferences, have restricted intake of certain $ foods, or who are unwilling to try new foods. It’s difficult to account statistically for picky eating, but this relatively common behavioral problem tends to peak around age 3. Picky eating tends to be genetic. A study led by Dr. Lucy Cooke of the department of epidemiology and public health at University College London found genes are largely to blame for picky eaters. According to her research, 78 percent of pickiness is genetic and the other 22 percent is environmental. Pickiness usually is a temporary part of normal develers will be asked to make a $40.00 reservation fee non-member, $25.00 reservation opment, and many of the behaviors associated with picky eating can be or members. Fee must accompany application or your application is not considered alleviated by open-minded, patient parents who are try new lete. Refunds are only given to Crafters who are not able to set-up on the willing rain todate and things themselves.

May 19,Blossom 2018 Festival Annual Apple am-4 pm 10:00-4:00 Saturday10 May 16, 2015 Rain date May 20

at Sholan Farms, 1125 Pleasant Street, Leominster MA

40.00 Fee

terested crafters must complete the application below and submit to:

“Friends of Sholan Farms” Apple Blossom Festival – Craft ForShow more P.O. Box 632 information, please call 978-840-327601453 or Email Leominster, Massachusetts info@sholanfarms.com. Interested crafters can apply using the form below, or on the website be requested by Crafter. www.sholanfarms.com

Experiment with different textures parking space will be given to you that morning. Sometimes it isn’t the food itself but the texture of the food that is e check-in with attendant in the handicapped parking lot. the problem. Therefore, parents es are filled Name___________________________________________ according to arrival time. shouldn’t rule out certain foods just yet. For example, a child might not es cannot be assigned in advance. Address_________________________________________ like the texture of a baked potato, but mashed potatoes are fine. Try es are 12 ‘xTel 12#___________________Email____________________ ‘. Your exhibit must be fully within your own space. presenting the food in a different must supply your own table, chair and tent. way. Cauliflower is one food that can Description of Craft________________________________ be transformed into many different vehicle may stay at the booth space. styles, from being grated like rice, to ________________________________________________ baked into a pizza crust. Don’t give p time – 7:30AM – 9:30AM. up on foods on the first try. estival is held outdoors. this form to: Make meals more hands-on her – be prepared forReturn the possibility of windy conditions. Many ingredients touching one ers Confirmation noticesof willSholan be sent when the reservation has been anotheraccepted. can be an overwhelming Friends Farms experience for children getting ready vendors/crafters provide ServSafe insurance certificates. may notkids bemay Applemust Blossom Festival - Craftand Show to eat. Food For example, young not understand that melted yellow red at the festival unless you have Health Dept. P.O. Box 632 a permit through the City of Leominster stuff on a hamburger is the same type of cheese they eat cubed with Leominster, MA 01453

e any questions, please call Joanne DiNardo at 978-870-5555. 10 APRIL2018

crackers for lunch. Rather than create separate meals, make the dinner table look like a fixings bar at a restaurant. Let kids pick and choose what they want to put on their plates. This may compel them to be more adventurous with their selections. Find ways to mask nutrition Choose foods that children regularly eat and enjoy and experiment with ways to dress them up and make them more nutritious. Regular macand-cheese can be improved with the use of whole-grain pasta and fresh cheese instead of boxed mixes. Try making chicken nuggets from scratch rather than buying frozen nuggets. Even desserts can include pureed vegetables and fruits to increase their amount of vitamins and minerals.

3 Ways To Sneak Veggies Into Food 1. Make a pizza “crust” out of cauliflower. There’s a great recipe by Katie Lee at foodnetwork. com. 2. Whip up a stealthy healthy pasta dish by blending veggies into the sauce. Try pureed spinach, carrots, peas, broccoli… pretty much anything you have on hand can work! 3. Add some vegetables to your smoothies. The sweetness of a fruit smoothie is an easy way to hide vegetables. Try this: 1 frozen banana, 2 cups spinach, 1 cup milk, 1 scoop peanut butter. Food fight: Some dieticians warn that hiding vegetables in your child’s food is just a short-term fix – it doesn’t encourage children to actual like them. There are pros and cons, for sure. Your choice!

Cabbage Patch Kid

Bites

The Bay State’s Fave Jelly Bean Did you know Americans gobble up 16 billion jelly beans every Easter? With that in mind, CandyStore.com recently did some very important research: poring over a decade of sales data, surveys and polls to come up with the most beloved jelly bean flavor – state by state. Bay Staters favorite? Coconut. The sweet and creamy treat also came in tenth place nationwide. America’s top bean? Buttered Popcorn, which unseated last year’s favorite, Black Licorice.

Emily Farrell of St. Mary’s Primary School in Taunton, who grew a massive 23.6-pound cabbage, is the National Bonnie Plants Cabbage Program’s Massachusett winner. The fruit (or veggie) of her labor earned her a $1,000 savings bond towards her education. Bonnie Plants’ Third Grade Cabbage Program aims to to inspire a love of vegetable gardening in young people and grow a new generation of gardeners. Each year, the company sends more than one million free oversized cabbage plants to third grade classrooms across the country. If nurtured and cared for, kids can cultivate, nurture and grow

giant cabbages, some bigger than a basketball, tipping the scales often over 40 pounds!

McDonald’s To Make (Slightly) Healthier Happy Meals The cheeseburger is out. As part of a newly announced effort to make Happy Meals healthier, McDonald’s will be offering just Chicken McNuggets or plain hamburgers on its kiddie menu (cheese at the customer’s request, only), along with smaller portions of French fries. McDonald’s will also stop serving chocolate milk in the meals until a less sugary version is developed, and instead offer bottled water for the first time in Happy Meal history.

The fast food giant says the changes will slice 20 percent of the calories, 50 percent in added sugars and 13 percent in saturated fat from the Happy Meal. By June, all meal combinations offered on Happy Meal menu boards in the U.S. will be 600 calories or fewer.

Sip Your Way To Wellness Skip the morning coffee and try starting your day with this fresh, homemade drink instead. Spiced Cucumber and Apple Morning Boost is an invigorating wake-me-up that blends clementine, cucumber and Granny Smith apple with ice, while a pinch of red pepper brings the zing. Puree and serve. Ingredients: • 4 clementines, divided • 3 cups coarsely chopped seedless cucumber • 2 cups coarsely chopped Granny Smith apple

• ¼ teaspoon ground Red Pepper • 1 cup ice cubes Serves 4 BAYSTATEPARENT 11

Bittersweet

Birthdays: An Annual Reminder to Be My Son’s Best Friend BY LISA A. BEACH

My heart both rejoices and breaks every year when we celebrate my firstborn’s birthday. I rejoice when I think back to my son’s earlier birthdays when he was about 4 or 5 years old. Each year he’d pick a new theme for his birthday party, reflecting his current favorite passions. One year, he loved Blue’s Clues. Another year, trains. The next, magic. Weeks prior to my son’s birthday, I’d plan fun activities, crafts, games and goodie bags to go with the year’s chosen theme. Yes, I was that mom. Even in the days before Pinterest, I loved collecting ideas of how to make every DIY birthday feel special for my son and his friends. No matter the theme, each birthday party shared one thing in common: a group of friends from preschool or elementary school at our home helping my son celebrate his big day. They played silly games in our living room, ate cake on our back porch, and chased one another in our backyard. Laughter filled the air against the noisy backdrop of the slightly uncontrolled chaos of a kids birthday party. To see my son’s face light up, to know he felt valued and accepted by his friends, to hear the shared laughter – that was a birthday gift in itself. My heart swells with happiness when I look at photos of preschool party-goers standing next to the life-size, wooden Bob the Builder cut-out my husband created for a party photo opp. And I can’t help but smile when I watch the video of birthday attendees wearing their 12 APRIL2018

hand-crafted cardboard box race cars as they zoomed around our backyard crashing into each other. Those truly were the happiest of birthdays. Flash forward to middle school. Around sixth grade, we began to notice my son’s friends slowly drifting away, one by one, like balloons just floating up into the sky, forever out of reach. They stopped inviting my son to their birthday parties, to go to the movies or to just hang out. By high school, social invitations ceased to exist, except from the neighborhood teen whose family we’ve known since our boys were toddlers. Not only did my son’s old friendships fade away, but new friendships weren’t taking their place. A gaping social hole existed in his life. What happened? Around ninth grade, we discovered that my son---always a shy, socially awkward kid---has Asperger’s Syndrome. He’s a talented artist and a smart kid, even qualifying for the gifted program in elementary school. Although quirky, he was such a high-functioning kid that we didn’t connect the Asperger’s dots until high school. With social and communication difficulties at the crux of Asperger’s, this autism-spectrum disorder often spells a death-sentence to a child’s social life and delivers a devastating blow to self-confidence. Being socially awkward and missing out on the hidden nuances of body language, facial expressions, and social cues, people with Asperger’s struggle to connect with others,

making it difficult to make and keep friends. And this brings me to the bittersweet tinge of celebrating my son’s birthday. Every year since 5th or 6th grade, birthday parties have gotten noticeably smaller. In preschool, a dozen or more kids filled our back porch at birthday parties. By middle school, we could fit the entire birthday party (including our family of four) in our Honda Odyssey. The very last birthday party was an awkward gathering with two of my son’s friends who knew (but did not like) each other. Painful to watch, it was like a page right out of Agatha Christie’s novel And Then There Was None, as one by one, the attendees vanished from our once-burgeoning RSVP list. The heartbreak of it all actually mirrored a scene in the 1991 movie Little Man Tate, where seven-year-old Fred Tate (whose intellectual and artistic giftedness made him not fit in with his peers) threw a birthday party and no one showed up. You could just see the anguish on the face of his mom Dede (played by Jodie Foster). Fred could be my son, and I could be Dede Tate. I am mourning the birthdays of yesteryear filled with two dozen cupcakes, party bags, Pin the Tail on the Donkey and squeals of laughter in my backyard. I am yearning for those long-ago days when my son felt accepted and included by his peers. I am missing the days when birthdays felt 100% like the celebrations they should be. As my son’s birthday approaches

each year, I still cry a little inside for what should be the happiest day of the year for my son. I must admit, those middle and high school years pummeled my heart when my son’s birthday rolled around, making me cringe at the shrinking circle of friends who no longer issued or accepted a party invitation. Parties once populated by friends have been replaced by family-only celebrations. But I also celebrate my son, now 19 and, in college, as he prepares for the next phase of his life. I am his biggest cheerleader and in awe of the man he is turning into, as I watch his self-confidence slowly rebuild. And I silently thrill at the flicker of college friendships I see beginning to take shape. Birthdays serve as bittersweet reminders, now and forever, to be my son’s best friend, regardless of whether or not anyone else steps up to fill that role. This article originally appeared on www.GrownandFlown.com and has been republished here with permission. Lisa Beach is a freelance journalist and copywriter. Her work has been published in The New York Times, Good Housekeeping, Parents, Woman’s World, Eating Well, and more. Her writer’s website is at wwwLisaBeachWritescom.

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VERY SPECIAL PEOPLE

id you know about 3.5 million Americans live with an autism spectrum disorder -- and about 1 percent of the world’s population? Autism currently affects 1 in 68 children in the United States, according to newly released statistics from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC). April is Autism Awareness Month, a time to raise attention around the differences of those on the autism spectrum and educate the public on autism. Also referred to as Autism Acceptance Month, it promotes acceptance and celebration of people with ASD as family members, friends, classmates, co-workers, and community members making valuable contributions to our world. Autism is a natural variation of the human experience, and we can all create a world which values, includes, and celebrates all kinds of minds. Wear your favorite blue shirt as the month kicks off with World Autism Day on April 2, when thousands of landmarks, buildings, homes and communities around the world will “Light It Up Blue.” Autism-friendly events and educational activities will take place all month to increase understanding and acceptance and foster worldwide support…. here are some that are planned in the Bay State.

Light It Up BLUE Events for National Autism Awareness Month ng our pcomi ars k c Che e for u Semin ds sit web ial Nee c Spe

Autism Playgroup & Parent Support Group A Umass Lowell run socialization group for children up to age 6 that encourages social skills and play, and a support group for caregivers where parents can connect with others who facing a similar experience. Held April 4 and 18 at 4 p.m. at NFI Family Resource Center of Lowell, 27 Prescott St.

Sensory-Friendly Shopping A sensory-friendly quiet shopping hour for families at Barnes & Noble, Framingham (Shopper’s World) begins at 8 a.m. on Saturday, April 7. Kids can read to therapy dogs Fenway and Blair. Hosted by the Autism Alliance of Metrowest and the Doug Flutie Jr. Foundation for Autism.

Sensory-Friendly Mini Photography Sessions Sweetest Things Photography, based in Dudley, will hold “Autism Awareness Month Minis for Charity” on Saturday, April 7 from 9 a.m.-2 p.m. at Enchanted Passage, 145 Armsby Rd., Sutton. Stop by for 15 minute sensory-friendly photography sessions with special accomodations and no flash. Proceeds benefit a service dog fundraiser and the Autism Speaks Foundation. 3-5 digital images, $60. More information: Facebookcom/SweetestThingsPhotos/

Wings for Autism A program specifically designed to support families of children with autism, creating a travel test run to help ease the stress of airline travel. By getting comfortable with the airport and flight experience without actually leaving the airport, parents and their children with special needs can gain the familiarity and confidence they need to take future trips. Families are able to practice: entering the airport; the check-in process and checking bags; security screening and waiting in the terminal; boarding and exiting the plane; preparing for take-off. The event will take place Saturday, April 7 at Logan Airport, Terminal E, beginning at 9:30 a.m. Advance registration is required: charlesrivercenter.org.

ALEC Safety Training For Families of Children With Special Needs This free program on April 10 is open to any parent or guardian of a children with an intellectual disability and/or autism spectrum disorder. The ALEC (Autism and Law Enforcement Education Coalition) Program helps foster a deeper understanding of Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) and intellectual disabilities (ID) among public safety and law enforcement personnel. Captain Bill Cannata, Statewide Project Coordinator, and a Groton Police Officer will teach caregivers about safety measures we all should know. As fathers of children who have autism,

We’re Here to Help Whether your loved one with special needs is an adult or a child, we can help with: • Special Needs Planning • Transition Planning & Adult Services • Advocacy • Guardianship & Alternatives Contact Frederick M. Misilo, Jr., Esq. 508.459.8059 or fmisilo@fletchertilton.com

Art by Peter Graves

14 APRIL2018

WORCESTER | FRAMINGHAM | CAPE COD | PROVIDENCE

they have the personal experience, as well. Captain Cannata will discuss what parents’ roles are in emergency situations, how to inform local first responder agencies about your child’s diagnosis, and other things to consider in emergency and safety situations. Registration is required to rprice@lifelinksinc.net.

the train horn will feature a shorter blast (as required by law the horn must be blown). Fees apply, tickets required. For more information visit www.edaville.com.

Autism Awareness & Acceptance Day

Hosted by Autism Resource Central, the event includes a 5K run and walk, a USATF certified course, a kids fun run obstacle course, family activities, games, live music, and prizes for top finishers. Held at Quinsigamond State Park, 248 Lake Ave, Worcester, on April 28. Fee for runners is $30; fee for walkers is $10; fee for kids’ obstacle course is $5. The race begins at 10 a.m.; registration opens at 7:30 a.m. autismresourcecentral.org/fundraising/run-walk/

The community is invited to hear speakers, legislators, self advocates and more at the annual event at the Boston State House on April 12, starting at 9:30 a.m. Attendees are encouraged to visit their legislators to advocate for support of legislation and funding for autism-related services.

Walk & Run for Autism Acceptance

ADAM PERRI

Autism Awareness Weekend at Edaville

Professional Headshots, Portraits, and Lifestyle Photography

On April 28 and 29, the Edaville park in Carver will be sensory-friendly, and offer enjoyment and times to learn more about autism, education and safety. Special guests include the Plymouth County Sheriff’s Department, Safety Net Corporation, YogiBo and many more. The music will be turned down, and

Central Massachusetts Pop Warner

CHALLENGER CHEER PROGRAM For any individual with disabilities, between the ages of 5 and 18, living in Massachusetts We are planning now for the 2018 season that begins on August 1st 2018. Register today! Come join our family and have fun! • Learn motions, jumps, cheers, tumbling, stunts, and dances! • Cheer for football games and perform at half-time! • Perform at local, state, regional, and national competitions! But most Importantly, be a member of a team where you can learn together, work together, and build friendships that will last forever!

www.adamperri.com

adam@adamperri.com

For Registration or More Information Contact Ashley Ferraro ~ Head Coach 508-341-1990 ~ aeferraro@gmail.com For Challenger Program Contact Ginger Ferraro ~ Central MA Cheer Director 508-341-6812 ~ geferraro@charter.net centralmasspopwarner.org facebook - Central Mass Pop Warner Football and Cheer

Registrations are being accepted for traditional cheer and football teams for the 2018 season as well. BAYSTATEPARENT 15

Photo Courtesy of the Discovery Museum

OH,

THE PLACES YOUâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;LL GO

Spring Community Day. Worcester Art Museum. April 15. 16 APRIL2018

Photo by Joseph Gonzalez-Dufresne for VegFest, Inc.

Photo Courtesy of Old Sturbridge Village

Photo Courtesy of the Worcester Art Museum

Mirror, Mirror, What Do You See? Discovery Museum, Acton. April 24.

Family Farm Fest. Old Sturbridge Village. April 14 & 21.

New England VegFest. DCU Center. Worcester. April 29.

OH, THE PLACES YOU’LL GO!

Photo Courtesy of Marlo Marketing and Zoo New England.

1 Sunday

MELTDOWN WARNING: Before you pack up the minivan, please confirm your destination. Although we’ve done our best to ensure accuracy at press time, things can and do change.

Sunday Stroll. South Shore Natural Science Center, 48 Jacobs Ln., Norwell. 12-12:30 p.m. Investigate and discover what lives in the woods during this all-weather exploration. Free with admission. Members free; nonmembers $5, ages under 2 free. southshorenaturalsciencecenter.org. Clothing & Shoe Drive. Concord Museum, 200 Lexington Rd., Concord. 12-5 p.m. Take time this spring to help donate to The Wish Project and Catie’s Closet by collecting gently worn or new clothing and essentials. Through month. Free. concordmuseum.org. Spring! Children’s Museum in Easton, 9 Sullivan Ave., North Easton. 1-4 p.m. Let the thoughts of Spring inspire your creations or make things with springs. Free with admission. Members free; nonmembers $9, children under 1 free. childrensmuseumineaston.org.

2 Monday Especially for Me: Deaf, Hard of Hearing & KODA Families. Discovery Museum, 177 Main St., Acton. 9:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Come for a morning of fun and learning with Early Intervention groups and other families with deaf, hard of hearing, and KODA infants and toddlers, during this hands on time. Register ahead. Free. discoveryacton.org. Clarinets and Friends: Berklee Clarinet Choir. David Friend Recital Hall, 921 Boylston St., Boston. 4 p.m. Enjoy faculty compositions and world premieres of music for clarinet choir along with a faculty performance of chamber music by Beethoven. Free. berklee.edu/events.

3 Tuesday Tinker Tuesday: Kites. Discovery Museum, 177 Main St., Acton. 10-11 a.m. Celebrate National Kite Month by engineering your very own kite. Create and experiment using a variety of materials and imagination. Free with admission. Members free, nonmembers $14.50, children under 1 free. discoveryacton.org. Spring String Fling. Berk Recital Hall, 1140 Boylston St., Boston. 1:30 p.m. Enjoy this showcase of student musicians from the String Department in a variety of genres and studentled ensembles. Free. berklee.edu/events. Especially for Me: Sensory-Friendly Afternoons. Discovery Museum, 177 Main St., Acton. 1:30-4:30 p.m. Come explore the new Museum building as we keep crowding at a low and support exhibit accessibility. Register ahead. Free. Discoveryacton.org. Berklee Institute for Arts Education and Special Needs Showcase. David Friend Recital Hall, 921 Boylston St., Boston. 5 p.m.

Wizarding Day. Franklin Park Zoo. April 7. Faculty, graduate students, and students with special needs will present their music and talk about what they have learned through their work in various programs at the Berklee Institute for Arts Education and Special Needs. Free. berklee. edu/events.

Worcester. 7:30-8:30 p.m. Watch as love is in the air, literally, following the spectacular aerial mating display put on by this fascinating sandpiper bird. Register ahead. Member adults $14, children $7; nonmember adults $19, children $10. massaudubon.org.

Curtain Up. Berklee Performance Center, 136 Massachusetts Ave., Boston. 8 p.m. Enjoy this ninth annual concert of new, original music theater songs written, orchestrated, and performed by Berklee students and alumni. Advance $8, day-of $12. berklee.edu/events.

5 Thursday

4 Wednesday WAM Stroller Tours. Worcester Art Museum, 55 Salisbury St., Worcester. 10:30-11:30 a.m. Follow along with a museum docent as families enjoy art, an age appropriate story, and light refreshments. Designed for ages 0 to 3. Free with admission. Members free; nonmember adults $16, youths 4 to 17 $6, ages under 4 free. worcesterart.org. Backyard and Beyond: Kite Walk. Discovery Museum, 177 Main St., Acton. 11 a.m. Take a short walk to a field in the conservation land and try flying some of ours or your own kites during a celebration of National Kite Month. Free with admission. Members free, nonmembers $14.50, children under 1 free. discoveryacton.org. Found in Translation. Berk Recital Hall, 1140 Boylston St., Boston. 7 p.m. Celebrate music and poetry from around the globe, paying tribute to Berklee’s diverse community, featuring music from K-pop to salsa. Free. berklee.edu/events. Dance of the Woodcock. Broad Meadow Brook Wildlife Sanctuary, 414 Massasoit Rd.,

Take Apart, Jr. Discovery Museum, 177 Main St., Acton. 10-11 a.m. Grab some tools and discover resistors, capacitors, gears, and more as you uncover the inner workings of household gadgets and gizmos. Free with admission. Members free, nonmembers $14.50, children under 1 free. discoveryacton.org. Spring Fling: Planting Marigold. Worcester Public Library: Main Branch, 3 Salem Sq., Worcester. 11 a.m.-12 p.m. Celebrate the Spring Season with lots of stories, songs, and crafts. Recommended for ages 3 to 5. Free. mywpl.org. Time Flies. Oliver Colvin Recital Hall, 1140 Boylston St., Boston. 4 p.m. Join Eviatar Slivnik and his band for an hour of both improvised and prepared music, for an engaging and interactive performance. Free. berklee.edu/events. Speedy. Coolidge Corner Theatre, 290 Harvard St., Brookline. 7 p.m. Watch as a good-natured but scatterbrained New Yorker visits Coney Island, Babe Ruth, and more sites around the city during this classic silent film which you leave you grinning from ear to ear. $23. coolidge.org. Woodcock Watch for Families. Wachusett Meadow Wildlife Sanctuary, 113 Goodnow Rd., Princeton. 7:15-8:15 p.m. Enjoy a dazzling courtship flight featuring spirals 300 feet into the

air, and rapid descents. Register ahead. Members free; nonmember adults $6, children $3. massaudubon.org. Latin America Vive Music Festival. Berklee Performance Center, 136 Massachusetts Ave., Boston. 8 p.m. Celebrate Latin culture through its rich and thriving musical heritage, from Andean music to salsa to Latin jazz and fusion. Advance $8, day-of $12. berklee.edu/events.

6 Friday Music and Movement with Miss Bernadette. Discovery Museum, 177 Main St., Acton. 9:30-10 a.m. Explore sound through singing and playing. Move, make music, listen, learn, and get a multi-sensory workout with our favorite Kindermusik educator. Free with admission. Members free, nonmembers $14.50, children under 1 free. discoveryacton.org. Make a Mess: Revealing Rainbows. Discovery Museum, 177 Main St., Acton. 2-4:30 p.m. See if you can uncover hidden rainbows in some everyday objects and try a simple experiment to reveal a rainbow you can take home. Free with admission. Members free, nonmembers $14.50, children under 1 free. discoveryacton.org. First Friday Nights Free. Discovery Museum, 177 Main St., Acton. 4:30-8 p.m. Explore the museum at night. Non-perishable food donations for the Acton Food Pantry and Open Table of Concord and Maynard are accepted. Free. discoveryacton.org. Stars Over Springfield. Springfield Museums, 21 Edwards St., Springfield. 7:30-9:30 p.m. Join members of the Springfield Stars Club for skygazing in the Science Museum’s observatory or a special planetarium show if overcast. $3, youths ages 3 to 17 $2. springfieldmuseums.org.

7 Saturday Holliston Soup Social & Walk. First Congregational Church, 725 Washingston St., Holliston. 9 a.m.-12 p.m. The Walk Mass Volkssport Club invites walkers to complete a 5K or 10K route, at your own pace, just for fun. Walkers are invited to attend a soup social following the walk. Free, donations accepted. walknmass.org. Backyard and Beyond: Wild Plant Identification. Discovery Museum, 177 Main St., Acton. 10 a.m. Pack a snack and your water bottle and join Tim ‘PrimiTim’ Swanson on a wild plant walk through the Great Hill Conservation Land adjoining Discovery Woods. Free with admission. Members free, nonmembers $14.50, children under 1 free. discoveryacton.org. The Last Unicorn. Coolidge Corner Theatre, 290 Harvard St., Brookline. 10 a.m. Follow the world’s last unicorn as it braves sorcerers, BAYSTATEPARENT 17

OH, THE PLACES YOU’LL GO! ages 2 to 4. Free with admission. Members free, nonmembers $14.50, children under 1 free. discoveryacton.org.

Meet the Farmer. Chestnut Hill Farm, 9-99 Chestnut Hill Rd., Southborough. 10 a.m.-12 p.m. Stop by and meet the farmers who grow all of our delicious food, with fun activities for kids and their grownups to enjoy as well. Free. thetrustees.org.

Large-Scale Relief Printmaking. Museum of Fine Arts: Boston, 465 Huntington Ave., Boston. 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Explore the fascinating world of supersized printmaking, as artists from the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic converge at the MFA to print giant hand-carved woodblocks on a 4-foot by 8-foot mobile printing press. Free with admission. Members free; nonmember adults $25, youth ages 7 and up $10, ages under 7 free. mfa.org.

Wizarding Day. Franklin Park Zoo, 1 Franklin Park Rd., Boston. 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Join in a magical day at the zoo, bringing the wizarding world to life, from Quidditch lessons with the Tufts University Quidditch team the Tufflepuffles, to magic tricks, and more. Free with admission. Members free; nonmember adults $19.95, children ages 2 to 12 $13.95, children under 2 free. zoonewengland.org. Families @ WAM Tour. Worcester Art Museum, 55 Salisbury St., Worcester. 10:3011 a.m. Explore the Worcester Art Museum galleries with your family on a docent guided tour, through fun facts, stories, and observations. Free. worcesteart.org. Beyond the Spectrum: The Four Seasons. Museum of Fine Arts: Boston, 465 Huntington Ave., Boston. 10:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Explore color, shape, and texture in the Impressionist galleries before making inspired dot paintings, during this adventure in art for children on the Autism Spectrum. Recommended for ages 8 to 12. $9. mfa.org. Johnny Peers & The Muttville Comix. TCAN: Center for Arts, 14 Summer St., Natick. 11 a.m. Enjoy over a dozen dogs through hilarious tricks and challenging performances, during this slapstick comedy act. Adults $12, children $10. natickarts.org. WeeMuse: Art Lab. Berkshire Museum, 39 South St., Pittsfield. 11 a.m.-12 p.m. Celebrate Earth Day by making an Earth print and Star print as art and science combine. Free with admission. Members free; nonmember adults $13, children $6, ages under 4 free. berkshiremuseum.org.

Photo Courtesy of Old Sturbridge Village.

harpies, and human love from the Japanese anime studio that spawned Studio Ghibli. $5. coolidge.org.

Patriots’ Day Celebration. Old Sturbridge Village. April 16. Arms + Armor Demonstrations. Worcester Art Museum, 55 Salisbury St., Worcester. 11:30 a.m. & 2 p.m. Join in this fun interactive program and learn all about different kinds of arms and armor used by Roman soldiers to Medieval knights. Free. worcesterart.org. Truffle Making Workshop. KITCHEN at Boston Public Market, 100 Hanover St., Boston. 1-2:30 p.m. Celebrate your love of chocolate with Taza Chocolate to create a pot of ganache, roll decadent dark chocolate truffles by hand, and take home a box to eat. Register ahead. Members $28, nonmembers $32. thetrustees.org. Capturing Mammals with Pencil and Paper. Harvard Museum of Natural History, 26 Oxford St., Cambridge. 2-3:30 p.m. Explore the furry world of mammals from wolves and weasels to leopards and lemurs, observing closeup and learn realistic drawing techniques to capture these animals on the page. For ages 9 to 13. Register ahead. Members $25, nonmembers $35. hmnh.harvard.edu. Especially for Me: Autism-Friendly Evening. Discovery Museum, 177 Main St., Acton. 5-8 p.m. Come explore the new

Discovery Museum and Discovery Woods, during this special evening for families with members on the autism spectrum, and dinner provided by Not Your Average Joe’s. Register ahead. Free. discoveryacton.org. Black Violin. Berklee Performance Center, 136 Massachusetts Ave., Boston. 8 p.m. Join Wil B. and Kev Marcus who combine their classical training and hip-hop influences to create a distinctive multigenre sound often described as ‘classical boom.’ $21.50-32. berklee.edu/events.

8 Sunday Chicken Run. Coolidge Corner Theatre, 290 Harvard St., Brookline. 10:30 a.m. Follow Rocky the Rooster and Ginger the Hen as they attempt to escape their days of egg laying and being placed into a pie during this fantastically fun animated film. Adults $9, children $7. coolidge.org. Nature and Nurture with Miss Bernadette. Discovery Museum, 177 Main St., Acton. 10:30-11:15 a.m. Come and explore the great outdoors, as we sing songs, take a nature walk, read a story, or make a craft. Designed for

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Welcome the Stranger. Berklee Performance Center, 136 Massachusetts Ave., Boston. 7:30 p.m. Enjoy this concert featuring sacred and secular artists from Muslim and Sikh traditions in a musical response to intolerance. $28-42. berklee.edu/events.

9 Monday Laura Numeroff Celebration. Leominster Public Library, 30 West St., Leominster. 10-11 a.m. Celebrate the author of the ‘If You Give A’ series through stories, art, music, and movement. For ages 2 to 5. Register ahead. Free. leominsterlibrary.org. Library Craft Night: It’s Spring. Leominster Public Library, 30 West St., Leominster. 6-7 p.m. Enjoy a storyhour filled with books, handprint duck and flower pictures, and new friends. For ages 3 to 7. Register ahead. Free. leominsterlibrary.org. Chord Scale Madness. David Friend Recital Hall, 921 Boylston St., Boston. 7:30 p.m. Take part in this curated concert of the top works from the Jazz Composition Department, during this annual entertaining and engaging concert. Free. berklee.edu/events.

10 Tuesday Tinker Tuesday: Mix It Up. Discovery Museum, 177 Main St., Acton. 10-11 a.m. Discover the wonders of chemistry and tinker about with common household ingredients to

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OH, THE PLACES YOU’LL GO! create concoctions, chemical reactions, and more. Free with admission. Members free, nonmembers $14.50, children under 1 free. discoveryacton.org.

fast-paced competitive poetry, inviting local poets to the stage to share their original work. Free. natickarts.org.

Everyday Engineering: Kites. Discovery Museum, 177 Main St., Acton. 2-4:30 p.m. Drop-in and engage in some everyday engineering as you construct and create kites with repurposed and recycled materials. Free with admission. Members free, nonmembers $14.50, children under 1 free. discoveryacton.org.

12 Thursday

Folk Open Night: Ansel Barnum. TCAN: Center for Arts, 14 Summer St., Natick. 8 p.m. Join the best folk singers from around the area who will take to the stage before featured artists Ansel Barnum for a short concert of folk music. Members free, public $5. natickarts.org.

11 Wednesday Wednesday Wonderings Nature Playgroup. Fruitlands Museum, 102 Prospect Hill Rd., Harvard. 10:30-11:30 a.m. Enjoy hillside exploration on the museum grounds and trails as we dive into thematic stories and playful activities. Free with admission. Members free; nonmembers $5, ages under 5 free. fruitlands.org. Morse Library Poetry Slam. TCAN: Center for Arts, 14 Summer St., Natick. 7 p.m. Join the Morse Institute Library for an evening of

Doggy Days: Out for a Walk. Discovery Museum, 177 Main St., Acton. 10-11 a.m. Drop-in and come help Abby the certified Therapy Dog get her daily dose of exercise with a friendly and fun leash walk. Free with admission. Members free, nonmembers $14.50, children under 1 free. discoveryacton.org. Nature Adventures for Children. Broad Meadow Brook Wildlife Sanctuary, 414 Massasoit Rd., Worcester. 1-3 p.m. A hands-on nature program exploring the world through investigations, crafts, activities, and the outdoors. For ages 5 to 7. Register ahead. Member children $9, nonmember children $13, adults free. massaudubon.org. Scribble Bots. Discovery Museum, 177 Main St., Acton. 2-4:30 p.m. Drop-in and celebrate National Robotics Week. Create dynamic drawings using simple DIY robotic contraptions made of spinning and wiggling motors, markers, tape, pipe cleaners, and other recycled materials. Free with admission. Members free, nonmembers $14.50, children under 1 free. discoveryacton.org.

Bright Star. The Hanover Theatre for the Performing Arts, 2 Southbridge St., Worcester. 7:30 p.m. Experience the music and stories from the minds of Steve Martin and Grammy Award-winning Edie Brickell following a tale of love and redemption against the backdrop of the American South in the 1920s and ‘40s. Through Sunday. $40-70. thehanovertheatre.org. Singers Showcase. Berklee Performance Center 136 Massachusetts Ave., Boston. 8 p.m. Experience Berklee’s top student vocalists performing a variety of musical styles, backed by the college’s finest instrumentalists and backing vocalists. Advance $8, day-of $12. berklee.edu/events.

nonmembers $14.50, children under 1 free. discoveryacton.org.

14 Saturday Family Farm Fest. Old Sturbridge Village, 1 Old Sturbridge Village Rd., Sturbridge. 9:30 a.m.-4 p.m. Enjoy the spring arrival of baby animals and prepare for the planting of the fields, during this time to visit lambs, chicks, and piglets, watch farm work, and try your hand at some spring cleaning. Through Sunday. Free with admission. Adults $28, youths ages 4 and up $14, ages under 4 free. osv.org.

Stuffed Animal Story Time. Leominster Public Library, 30 West St., Leominster. 10-10:45 a.m. Bring your favorite stuffed pal to the library for songs and stories. Recommended for ages 18 months to 3 years. Free. leominsterlibrary.org.

Preschool Story and Nature Hour: Wind as a Pollinator. Wachusett Meadow Wildlife Sanctuary, 113 Goodnow Rd., Princeton. 10:3011:30 a.m. Enjoy an hour of nature-themed fun with your youngster, through a storybook, craft, and walk on the trails. For ages 2.5 to 5. Register ahead. Member children $3, nonmember children $4, adults free. massaudubon.org.

Backyard and Beyond: Forest Fridays. Discovery Museum, 177 Main St., Acton. 10-10:45 a.m. Participate in a nature-based activity on the weather and season and explore either the Discovery Woods or the conservation land adjacent to the Museums. Designed for ages 2 to 6. Free with admission. Members free,

In the Nick of Time: Family Concert. Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art, 125 West Bay Rd., Amherst. 11 a.m. Enjoy Nick Deysher’s delivery of music for all drawing on influences from The Beatles, Bob Marley, and Paul Simon for a high-energy celebration filled with clever lyrics and cheerful tunes. $5. carlemuseum.org.

13 Friday

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Around the World Adventures: Africa. Worcester Public Library: Main Branch, 3 Salem Sq., Worcester. 11 a.m.-12 p.m. Discover the amazing world through crafts, music, movement, and food. Recommended for ages 4 to 7 and families. Free. mywpl.org. Tinytropolis. Discovery Museum, 177 Main St., Acton. 11a.m.-3 p.m. Visit the Mini City with a Big Future. Design, build, and explore a mini city constructed completely out of cardboard and creativity over the course of April Vacation. Through Sunday, April 22nd. Free with admission. Members free, nonmembers $14.50, children under 1 free. discoveryacton.org. Special Storytime: Amy Maranville and Tim Palin. Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art, 125 West Bay Rd., Amherst. 2 p.m. Author Maranville and illustrator Palin share stories capturing India’s heritage in Hanuman and the Orange Sun and Hanuman Moves a Mountain about a bright, young girl hearing stories herself. Free with admission. Members free; nonmember adults $9, youths $6, ages under 1 free. carlemuseum.org. Max Raabe and Palast Orchester. Berklee Performance Center, 136 Massachusetts Ave., Boston. 8 p.m. Celebrate the music of the 1920s and 1930s with elegance, verve, and humor, as Weimar-era cabaret music is brought passionately back to life onstage. $30-65. berklee.edu/events.

Special Farmland Events Teacher’s Appreciation Day April 29th Davis Farmland celebrates teachers with FREE admission to Davis Farmland for licensed teachers AND 1/2 price admission for their immediate family on April 29th.

15 Sunday Carmen. Coolidge Corner Theatre, 290 Harvard St., Brookline. 10 a.m. The Royal Opera House screens one of the best-known operas brimming with love and fascination for the titular character, as it has been performed more than 500 times in Covent Garden, London. $23. coolidge.org.

Teachers MUST present at the time of admission one of the following: • EEC Certificate • A valid school district ID listing your name and your position as a teacher • Your MTA or AFT card or state teaching license.

Spring Community Day. Worcester Art Museum, 55 Salisbury St., Worcester. 10 a.m.4 p.m. Connect with your inner hero or villain during the annual spring community day, featuring programs, demonstrations, and activities. Free with admission. Members free; nonmember adults $16, youths ages 4 to 17 $6, ages under 4 free. worcesterart.org.

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Newton Heartbreak Hill Road Race. Newton City Hall, 1000 Commonwealth Ave., Newton. 11:30 a.m.-3 p.m. A one mile run up and down historic Heartbreak Hill on the eve of the Boston Marathon. Register ahead. Free. newtoncommunitypride.org.

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Peter Pan with Live Musical Accompaniment. TCAN: Center for Arts, 14 Summer St., Natick. 4 p.m. Enjoy the silent film adaptation of J.M. Barrie’s immortal tale of the boy who wouldn’t grow up, joined with live music. Members $10, public $12. natickarts.org.

Rd., Concord. 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Stop by the Museum following Concord’s Patriots’ Day parade to enjoy patriotic crafts, try on colonial clothing, and explore the Museum’s outstanding collection of objects witness to the events of April 1775. Free with admission. Members free; nonmember adults $10, children $5, ages under 6 free. concordmuseum.org. Patriots’ Day Celebration. Old Sturbridge Village, 1 Old Sturbridge Village Rd., Sturbridge. 9:30 a.m.-4 p.m. Enjoy this day experiencing the sights and sounds of our colonial ancestors, with military drills, lessons, musket ball making, stories of the past, and more. Free with admission. Adults $28, youths ages 4 and up $14, ages under 4 free. osv.org. Mapping the Meeting House. Old South Meeting House, 310 Washington St., Boston. 9:30 a.m.-5 p.m. Explore Old South Meeting House and its maps from a 100-year-old, 3D table map of Colonial Boston to where the Sons of Liberty may have stood before the Boston Tea Party. Through Friday. Free with admission. Members free; nonmember adults $6, youths 5 and up $1, children under 5 free. osmh.org. Scavenger Hunt Challenge. Fruitlands Museum, 102 Prospect Hill Rd., Harvard. 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Some Staycation fun, work together to follow clues around the grounds and museum buildings. Free with admission. Members free; nonmember adults $15, ages 5 to 13 $6, children under age 5 free. fruitlands.org. Mason Jar Terrariums. Appleton Farms, 299 County Rd., Ipswich. 10-11 a.m. & 2-3 p.m. Bring some green life inside with an easy and fun mason jar terrarium. Recommended for ages 7 to 10. Register ahead. Member children $12, nonmember children $20. thetrustees.org. Southwick’s Zoo Presentation. South Shore Nature Wildlife Center, 48 Jacobs Ln., Norwell. 11 a.m. & 1 p.m. Afund and educational live animal show presented by Southwick’s Zoo, featuring a variety of animals with scales, fur, and feathers. Members $7, nonmembers $10. southshorenaturesciencecenter.org. Colonial Cloth with Cluck and Baa Farm. Concord Museum, 200 Lexington Rd., Concord. 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Drop by to learn about spinning, weaving, wool preparations, and then meet the animals themselves. Free with admission. Members free; nonmember adults $10, children $5, ages under 6 free. concordmuseum.org.

17 Tuesday

16 Monday

Spectacular Science Show with Kosmic Kelly. Leominster Public Library, 30 West St., Leominster. 10-11 a.m. Enjoy this exciting, educational, and interactive science show featuring all of the best experiments from fizzy rainbow volcanoes to elephant toothpaste. Free. leominsterlibrary.org.

Patriot Day. Concord Museums, 200 Lexington

April Vacation Week at the MFA. Museum

OH, THE PLACES YOU’LL GO! of Fine Arts: Boston, 465 Huntington Ave., Boston. 10 a.m.-4 p.m. From dragons and unicorns to ancient Egyptian objects, the Museum is filled with magical and mythical artwork, so enjoy art making, performances, and stories capturing the wonder of the mythical and magical world. Through Friday. Free with admission. Members Free; nonmember adults $25, youth free. mfa.org.

Art for April Vacation Week. deCordova Sculpture Park and Museum, 51 Sandy Pond Rd., Lincoln. 1-3 p.m. Get inspired by new exhibitions Sculpting with Air and Lived Space, and create exciting and unexpected air and architectural sculpture experiences in the park. Designed for ages 5 to 12. Through Friday. Free with admission. Members free; nonmembers $14, ages 12 and under free. deCordova.org.

Special Storytime: Corinne Demas and Artemis Roehrig. Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art, 125 West Bay Rd., Amherst. 10:30 a.m. Join Corinne Demas and Artemis Roehrig as they read from their new picture book “Do Doodlebugs Doodle?” which will have kinds exploring the fantastic world of insects. Free with admission. Members free; nonmember adults $9, youths $6, ages under 1 free. carlemuseum.org.

19 Thursday

Upcylced Cinderella. John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum, Columbia Point, Boston. 10:30-11:30 a.m. Watch the Bright Star Touring Theatre as brings to life the story of Cinderella using household items, recycled objects, and physical comedy. Register ahead. Free. jfklibrary.org. History Adventures: Vacation Week. Concord Museum, 200 Lexington Rd., Concord. 11 a.m.3 p.m. Come get your hands-on with history through a week of different demonstrations of sewing, weaving, and the creation of colonial militia uniforms. Through Friday. Free with admission. Members free; nonmember adults $10, children $5, ages under 6 free. concordmuseum.org. The Whalemobile. Leominster Public Library, 30 West St., Leominster. 3-4 p.m. Learn all about whales and get the opportunity to go inside Nile, the life-sized Humpback Whale who is 43 feet long. For grades K through 6. Register ahead. Free. leominsterlibrary.org.

18 Wednesday WAM Stroller Tours. Worcester Art Museum, 55 Salisbury St., Worcester. 10:30-11:30 a.m. Follow along with a museum docent as families enjoy art, an age appropriate story, and light refreshments. Designed for ages 0 to 3. Free with admission. Members free; nonmember adults $16, youths 4 to 17 $6, ages under 4 free. worcesterart.org. Eye Spy Hike. Castle Hill on the Crane Estate, 310 Argilla Rd., Ipswich. 1 p.m.-2:30 p.m. Trek through the dunes and forest of the Crane Wildlife Refuge keeping our eyes peeled for wonders in the wilderness, before ending with hot chocolate and cookies. Member children $9, nonmember children $15, adults free. thetrustees.org. Family Hike. Fruitlands Museum, 102 Prospect Hill Rd., Harvard. 1-2:30 p.m. Hit the trails and explore the woods and meadows in this guided family hike. Register ahead. Member children $5, nonmember children $10, adults free. fruitlands.org.

Meet a Scientist. Harvard Museum of Natural History, 26 Oxford St., Cambridge. 10 a.m.12 p.m. Come see the world through the eyes of a scientist as graduate students researching evolutionary biology to planetary sciences share their research through hands-on activities. Free with admission. Members free; nonmember adults $12, youth $8, children under 3 free. hmnh.harvard.edu. Fish Printing for Kids. Castle Hill on the Crane Estate, 310 Argilla Rd., Ipswich. 1-3 p.m. Search for shapes in the wrack line to print and press; walk on the beach looking for shells and seaweed before learning how to transfer them to t-shirts and art paper. Register ahead. Member children $24, nonmember children $30, adults free. thetrustees.org. Limitless: Spring Dance Concert. Boston Conservatory at Berklee Theater, 31 Hemenway St., Boston. 6:30 p.m. Spring dance concert featuring five diverse pieces that together present the potential of modern dance. $10. berklee.edu/events. Marvel Universe Live: Age of Heroes. DCU Center, 50 Foster St., Worcester. 7 p.m. Join Spider-Man, the Avengers, and the Guardians of the Galaxy as they join forces with Doctor Strange in a race against time to recover the Wand of Watoomb during this presentation uniting some of Marvel’s greatest Super Heroes including Iron Man, Black Panther, and Thor. Through Sunday, April 22nd. $25 and up. dcucenter.com. Perfect Pitch. Berklee Performance Center, 136 Massachusetts Ave., Boston. 8 p.m. Enjoy this annual student-run project that gathers Berklee’s best performers, producers, and songwriters celebrating the college’s unparalleled ability to impact the music industry. Advance $8, day-of $12. berklee.edu/events.

SUMMER

DISCOVERY

ADVENTURES!

Summer Discovery Adventures are 5-day immersive experiences for ages 6 and up. Activities include: • Hiking on nature trails • Hearth cooking • Getting to know the Village’s animals • Summer crafts • Gardening • Woodworking • Helping with seasonal chores on the farm

PLAN A SPRING

FIELD TRIP! Step out of the classroom and into the dynamic learning environment of Old Sturbridge Village with new program offerings at New England’s largest living history museum. Ignite your student’s natural curiosity as they explore the Village’s living landscape, making connections between the past and present.

20 Friday Special Storytime: Jannie Ho. Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art, 125 West Bay Rd., Amherst. 10:30 a.m. Find out what happens when Bear finds a chicken frozen in the winter and brings it home to defrost, during this funny friendship tale in Bear and Chicken. Free with admission. Members free; nonmember adults $9, youths $6, ages under 1 free. carlemuseum.org. Meet the Scientists. Discovery Museum, 177 Main St., Acton. 11 a.m.-1 p.m. Drop-in and

For more details and to register call 508-347-0274 or visit EXPLOREOLDSTURBRIDGEVILLAGE.ORG BAYSTATEPARENT 21

OH, THE PLACES YOU’LL GO!

Photo of The Bell Ringers (ages 17 to 75) by Leah Williams, courtesy of the Charles River Watershed Association.

join Professor Piali Sengupta and her lab members from Brandeis University for hands-on activities based on their work with worms. Free with admission. Members free, nonmembers $14.50, children under 1 free. discoveryacton.org. The Box. Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art, 125 West Bay Rd., Amherst. 1 p.m. Experience the world premier of The Box by PaintBox Theatre and based on the picture book by Kevin O’Malley following a young boy who transforms a cardboard box as a vehicle for adventure. Through Saturday. Members $7.50, public $8. carlemuseum.org. Fruitlands Fairy Festival. Fruitlands Museum, 102 Prospect Hill Rd., Harvard. 1-4 p.m. Don your wings, grab your crowns, and come play in the Fruitlands woods. Learn about the little folk of the woodlands and craft a fairy wand or fairy house along the path. Register ahead. Member children $5, nonmember children $10, adults free. fruitlands.org. Meet the Cows Tour. Appleton Farms, 299 County Rd., Ipswich. 3:30-4:30 p.m. Enjoy close calf encounters, a cow story and costume, a tour of our milking barn, and more, during this fun afternoon. For ages 2 to 7. Register ahead. Member children $5, nonmember children $10. thetrustees.org. Stomp. Shubert Theatre, 265 Tremont St., Boston. 7:30 p.m. Come to this international percussion sensation that finds and fills the stage with sounds from everyday objects but unconventional percussion instruments, including matchboxes, brooms, garbage cans, hubcaps, and more. Through Saturday. $49 and up. bochcenter.org.

21 Saturday Family Farm Fest. Old Sturbridge Village, 1 Old Sturbridge Village Rd., Sturbridge. 9:30 a.m.-4 p.m. Enjoy the spring arrival of baby animals and prepare for the planting of the fields, during this time to visit lambs, chicks, and piglets, watch farm work, and try your hand at some spring cleaning. Through Sunday. Free with admission. Adults $28, youths ages 4 and up $14, ages under 4 free. osv.org.

36th Annual Run of the Charles. Christian Herter Park. April 29.

Harry the Dirty Dog. TCAN: Center for Arts, 14 Summer St., Natick. 11 a.m. Enjoy ArtsPower’s new delightful musical following Harry, the little white dog who hates baths, and hates them so much that he runs away on day to play. Adults $14, children $12. natickarts.org. Spring Discovery Day. South Shore Natural Science Center, 48 Jacobs Ln., Norwell. 11 a.m.-3 p.m. A day of hands on exploration experiencing the fun of the season. Free with admission. Members free; nonmembers $5, ages under 2 free. southshorenaturalsciencecenter.org.

22 Sunday Giselle. Coolidge Corner Theatre, 290 Harvard St., Brookline. 10 a.m. Enjoy the Bolshoi Ballet screening of this luminous ballet following a woman who dies of a broken heart and returns as a vengeful spirit. $23. coolidge.org.

Hidden Diversity: Amphibian Adaptations. Harvard Museum of Natural History, 26 Oxford St., Cambridge. 1:30-3:30 p.m. Explore the wonderful and wacky world of amphibians, from those dig to those that glide, and from those as big as dogs or as small as dimes. For families with children aged 8 to 13. Register ahead. Members $10, nonmembers $20. hmnh.harvard.edu.

Doane’s Family History Walk. Tully Lake Campground, Doane Hill Rd., Royalston. 10-11 a.m. Learn the fascinating story of Doane’s Falls and the large 19th century mill that once operated here on this historic, fun, family outing to celebrate Earth Day. Member adults $5, nonmember adults $10, children free. thetrustees.org.

Special Storytime: Pat Schories. Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art, 125 West Bay Rd., Amherst. 2 p.m. Join the illustrator of the beloved Biscuit series as she reads stories and show slides from her books. Free with admission. Members free; nonmember adults $9, youths $6, ages under 1 free. carlemuseum.org.

Earth Day: Kids Cook & Grow. Appleton Farms, 299 County Rd., Ipswich. 10-11:30 a.m. Practice basic measuring and knife skills, before whipping up a tasty farm frittata, plant a mini herb garden to take home, and enjoy a snack. Recommended for ages 6 to 10. Register ahead. Member children $12, nonmember children $20. thetrustees.org.

April Vacation: Bread & Butter Making. Appleton Farms, 299 County Rd., Ipswich. 10-11 a.m. Measure ingredients, kneed dough, and put bread into the oven. Make homemade rolls before turning Jersey milk into delicious butter. Recommended for ages 4 to 7. Register ahead. Member children $12, nonmember children $20. thetrustees.org.

April Vacation: Cheese Making. Appleton Farm, 299 County Rd., Ipswich. 2-3 p.m. Make a batch of fresh farm cheese and learn about how cows turn green grass to creamy, nutritious milk. For ages 5 to 10. Register ahead. Member children $12, nonmember children $20. thetrustees.org.

Sesame Street: Live. Agganis Arena at Boston University, 925 Commonwealth Ave., Boston. 10:30 a.m., 3 p.m. & 6 p.m. Join all of your favorite Sesame Street friends during this all-new interactive show where Cookie Monster sings, Elmo builds a snowman, and Abby marvels us with magic. Through Sunday. $25 and up. sesamestreetlive.com.

Happier Family Comedy Show. Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art, 125 West Bay Rd., Amherst. 3-4 p.m. Let out some laughs during this one-hour family improv show, with audience members’ suggestion and participation leading the way. Recommended for ages 5 to 12. Member adults $9, youths $4.50; nonmember adults $10, youths $5. carlemuseum.org.

22 APRIL2018

Earth Day Astronomy Night. Powisset Farm, 37 Powisset St., Dover. 8-9:30 p.m. Celebrate earth by looking to the stars, planets, and moon with our local astronomer. Members $5, nonmembers $10. thetrustees.org.

Ancient Engineering Family Class. Peabody Museum of Archaeology & Ethnology, 11 Divinity Ave., Cambridge. 10 a.m.-12 p.m. Explore ancient engineering while constructing simple models of a sod house, a wetu, a plank house, and a tipi. Recommended for ages 9 and up. Register ahead. Free with admission. Members free; nonmember adults $12, youths $8, ages under 3 free. peabody.harvard.edu. Celebrate Earth Day. Stevens-Coolidge Place, 92-128 Andover St., North Andover. 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Dive into the gardens as you get your hands dirty, meet local organizations, and enjoy a variety of scheduled activities throughout the

day. Member adults $5, children free; nonmember adults $10, children $5. thetrustees.org. Billy Budd in the Breadbox. Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art, 125 West Bay Rd., Amherst. 11:30 a.m. & 1 p.m. Enjoy the Berkshire Theatre Group’s journey featuring Herman Melville’s granddaughter, Eleanor, as she sets out to determine the secret the Moby Dick author has left hidden. Members $5.50, nonmembers $6.50. carlemuseum.org. Special Storytime: R.W. Alley. Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art, 125 West Bay Rd., Amherst. 2 p.m. A special storytime and drawing demonstration with the illustrator of over one hundred children’s books and many Paddington books for the past twenty years. Free with admission. Members free; nonmember adults $9, youths $6, ages under 1 free. carlemuseum.org. Earth Day Kite Festival. Fruitlands Museum, 102 Prospect Hill Rd., Harvard. 2-4 p.m. Welcome the Spring season making simple kites, or bring one from home, and fill the sky with colorful floats. Free. fruitlands.org. Earth Day Celebration. Wachusett Meadow Wildlife Sanctuary, 113 Goodnow Rd., Princeton. 2-4 p.m. Celebrate Earth Day with an afternoon hike out to one of our newer trails, with signs of spring emerging along the way. Free. massuaudubon.org. Praying Town: Natick History Screening. TCAN: Center for Arts, 14 Summer St., Natick. 4 p.m. Trace the history of Natick’s diverse populations from the time of the still-local Praying Indians tribe through the Civil War through this fantastic documentary. Members $10, public $12. natickarts.org.

23 Monday Daddy & Me Brain Building Evening. Leominster Public Library, 30 West St., Leominster. 6-7 p.m. Come with your dad or caretaker as we build birdhouses using real hammers, nails, and paint. For ages 3 to 7. Register ahead. Free. leominsterlibrary.org. Quesadilla Quest: 5-8- year-olds Cooking Class. Community Harvest Project, 37 Wheeler Rd., Grafton. 4-5 p.m. Quesadillas are an easy snack or meal. Make three different kinds and try them all, including a classic with cheese and beans, pizza quesadillas, and a dairy-free version with mashed sweet potatoes. This class emphasizes basic nutrition, reading recipes, measuring, and tasting new things. All classes include handson cooking the students will do, plus recipes that will be sent home. community-harvest.org.

24 Tuesday Mirror, Mirror, What Do You See? Discovery Museum, 177 Main St., Acton. 10-11 a.m. Play with different kinds of reflections and experiment by using mirrors to create symmetry, refract light,

OH, THE PLACES YOU’LL GO! and expand your field of vision. Free with admission. Members free, nonmembers $14.50, children under 1 free. discoveryacton.org. Folk Open Night: Julia Mark. TCAN: Center for Arts, 14 Summer St., Natick. 8 p.m. Join the best folk singers from around the area as they take to the stage before welcoming featured artists Julia Mark for a short concert of folk music. Members free, public $5. natickarts.org.

25 Wednesday Paw Patrol Live: The Great Pirate Adventure. The Hanover Theatre for the Performing Arts, 2 Southbridge St., Worcester. 10 a.m. & 6 p.m. X barks the spot in this all-new live tour, featuring the adventure of all of your favorite Paw Patrol friends on the search for treasure. $22-63. thehanovertheatre.org. ARTfull Play. deCordova Sculpture Park and Museum, 51 Sandy Pond Rd., Lincoln. 10:3011:30 a.m. Fill your morning with art and play through experiences in deCordova’s 30-acres, through art, stories, and new friends. Free with admission. Members free; nonmembers $14, ages 12 and under free. deCordova.org. Celebrate DNA Day. Discovery Museum., 177 Main St., Acton. 2-4:30 p.m. Dabble in the discovery of the double helix by creating your very own strawberry DNA necklaces for National DNA Day. Free with admission. Members free, nonmembers $14.50, children under 1 free. discoveryacton.org. Pajamarama Literacy Fair. Priest Street School, 115 Priest St., Leominster. 6-7:30 p.m. The annual Pajamarama Literacy Fair with a celebration of the theme ‘Out of This World’ featuring star, moon, and sun activities, brain building, and family time. Free. leominsterlibrary.org.

26 Thursday Make a Mess: Explore Kinetic Sand. Discovery Museum, 177 Main St., Acton. 10-11 a.m. Squish it, sculpt it, drip it, and more as you drop-by the museum and discover the unique properties of this special material bringing play, experimentation, and creation through your hands and some simple tools. Free with admission. Members free, nonmembers $14.50, children under 1 free. discoveryacton.org.

27 Friday Backyard and Beyond: Forest Fridays. Discovery Museum, 177 Main St., Acton. 10-10:45 a.m. Participate in a nature-based activity on the weather and season and explore either the Discovery Woods or the conservation land adjacent to the Museums. Designed for ages 2 to 6. Free with admission. Members free, nonmembers $14.50, children under 1 free. discoveryacton.org.

Preschool Story and Nature Hour: Rain Showers. Wachusett Meadow Wildlife Sanctuary, 113 Goodnow Rd., Princeton. 10:3011:30 a.m. Enjoy an hour of nature-themed fun with your youngster, during this time of crafting, reading, and exploration. For ages 2.5 to 5. Register ahead. Member children $3, nonmember children $4, adults free. massudubon.org. Boston Children’s Chorus: Movement Art Is. Institute of Contemporary Art: Boston. 25 Harbor Shore Dr., Boston. 8 p.m. Celebrate 15 years of music, education, and activism with the Boston Children’s Chorus as it performs with extraordinary power, grace, and hope. Through Saturday. Members $27, nonmembers $30. icaboston.org.

28 Saturday Walk & Run for Autism Acceptance. Quinsigamond State Park, 248 Lake Ave., Worcester. 7:30-11:30 a.m. Hosted by Autism Resource Central, the event includes a 5K run and walk, a USATF certified course, a kids fun run obstacle course, family activities, games, live music, and prizes for top finishers. Fee for runners is $30; fee for walkers is $10; fee for kids’ obstacle course is $5. The race begins at 10 a.m.; registration opens at 7:30 a.m. autismresourcecentral.org/fundraising/run-walk/ Birds of Prey. Farrington Nature Linc, 295 Cambridge Tpke., Lincoln. 9:30-10:30 a.m. Birds of prey have inspired artists from prehistoric times to the present day. The birds’ appeal ranges from the majesty of the peregrine falcon and the red-tailed hawk to the elfin charm of the tiny saw-whet owl. The presentation focuses on five live birds of prey. Each bird is displayed by the Wingmasters presenter for 10-15 minutes while the audience has the opportunity to draw and ask questions. The Wingmasters presenter will point out each bird’s characteristics, guiding the audience toward a fuller understanding of what defines a bird of prey. $10.

the hens. Member adults $9, nonmember adults $15, children free. thetrustees.org. Star Wars Day. Children’s Museum in Easton, 9 Sullivan Ave., North Easton. 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Come dressed as your favorite Star Wars characters and join us for a day of thematic activities. Members $5, nonmembers $10. childrensmuseumineaston.org. Play Date: What Makes Change Happen? Institute of Contemporary Art: Boston, 25 Harbor Shore Dr., Boston. 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Explore the galleries, step inside our Art Lab installation, and create and add artworks that encourage hope and change. Free with children. icaboston.org. 31st Annual Sheepshearing Festival. Gore Place, 52 Gore St., Waltham. 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Celebrate the Spring and the sheep getting trimmed down, with a day filled with fiber art, sheep-herding demonstrations, artisan crafts, music, and more. Members free; nonmember adults $20, children 12 and under free. goreplace.org. Backyard and Beyond: World Fish Migration Day and the Year of the Salmon. Discovery Museum, 177 Main St., Acton. 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Learn about our local migratory fish species and the obstacles they face in our rivers and streams, pretend to be a fish, and learn about conservation methods to help these fish on their way. Free with admission. Members free, nonmembers $14.50, children under 1 free. discoveryacton.org. Sheep & Wool Festival. Wachusett Meadow Wildlife Sanctuary, 113 Goodnow Rd., Princeton. 1-4 p.m. Celebrate the sheep and learn how sheep are sheered and how fleeces are turned to warm hats and mittens. Join local vendors and crafters, enjoy kids’ activities, and more. Rain Date Sunday. Register ahead. Member adults $7, children $4; nonmember adults $10, children $5. massaudubon.org.

Annual Earth Day Charles River Cleanup. DCR Hatch Memorial Shell & Esplanade, 47 David G Mugar Way, Boston. 9 a.m.-12 p.m. Join over 3,000 volunteers picking up litter, removing invasive species, and assisting with park maintenance to help keep the Charles clean. Free. Register ahead. crwa.org.

Especially for Me: Deaf, Hard of Hearing, or KODA Families. Discovery Museum, 177 Main St., Acton. 5-8 p.m. Enjoy an evening of exploration for families with deaf, hard of hearing, or KODA children, with dinner from Not Your Average Joe’s. Register ahead. Free. discoveryacton.org.

Art in the Garden. Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art, 125 West Bay Rd., Amherst. 10-11:30 a.m. Create a house for the real or imaginary creatures that live in your garage, as we experiment with a range of colorful, found, and recycled materials. Register ahead. Member children $10.20, nonmember children $12, adults free. carlemuseum.org.

4th Annual Worcester County Dance Festival. The Hanover Theatre for the Performing Arts, 2 Southbridge St., Worcester. 7 p.m. Enjoy an evening of diverse dance celebrating New England’s talented schools and companies on one stage fostering creative exchange of ideas and inspiration. $20. thehanovertheatre.org.

Backyard Chickens. Southwest Corridor Community Farm, Hoffman & Lamartine Streets, Jamaica Plain. 10-11:30 a.m. Come join the Chickeness of Yardbirds Backyard Chickens and her feathered friends for an overview of chicken breeds, where kids are welcome to join and meet

29 Sunday The 7th Japan Festival Boston. Boston Common, Boston. 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Enjoy food booths, workshops, stage performances, cosplay, raffles, and a kids’ corner during this day of BAYSTATEPARENT 23 REV_LDC_BSTN_BAYSTATE_PARENT_2.065X10.75.indd 13/15/18 1:22 PM

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30 Monday

New England VegFest. DCU Center, 50 Foster St., Worcester. 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Come together as a community during this celebration of vegetarianism, featuring free food, kids’ activities, cooking demonstrations, raffle prizes, and more. newenglandvegfest.com.

Art in Bloom. Museum of Fine Arts: Boston, 465 Huntington Ave., Boston. 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Celebrate the return of spring with Art in Bloom, an annual festival of fine arts and flowers, brimming with charisma and enchanting all. Free with admission. Members free; nonmember adults $25, youth ages 7 and up $10, ages under 7 free. mfa.org.

36th Annual Run of the Charles. Christian Herter Park, Soldier’s Field Rd., Brighton. 11:30 a.m. Watch the boaters, kayakers, and canoers finish Run of the Charles as you celebrate with live music, raffles, vendors, and plenty of fun. Free. crwa.org. Itty Bitty Adventures: Forest Explorers. South Shore Natural Science Center, 48 Jacobs Ln., Norwell. 1-2:30 p.m. Join us to explore a very special forest ecosystem that can be found at the Science Center. Member children $10, nonmember children $13, caregivers free. southshorenaturalsciencecenter.org. Special Sundays in the Studio: Inspired by Animals. Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art, 125 West Bay Rd., Amherst. 1-4 p.m. Enjoy this time to break away from the week and be inspired by the variety of animals just outside our door, in your house, or within our favorite picture books. Free with admission. Members free; nonmember adults $9, youths $6, ages under 1 free. carlemuseum.org.

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You Can Make Pasta! Cooking Class For 9-10- year-olds. Community Harvest Project, 37 Wheeler Rd., Grafton. Pasta making may seem like a mysterious process, but this class will unveil all of the secrets!Make hand-rolled pasta shapes and ravioli made with whole wheat and various vegetables. This class emphasizes specific nutrition topics, following advanced recipes, and adjusting recipes to your own tastes. All classes include hands-on cooking the students will do, plus recipes that will be sent home. $40. community-harvest.org.

NE our

Toddler & Me Yoga & Movement. Leominster Public Library, 30 West St., Leominster. 1-11:45 a.m. A fun-filled yoga play for active tots and preschoolers, featuring poses, songs, and movement that encourage little ones to embrace their own unique yoga expressions. For ages 1 to 3. Register ahead. Free. leominsterlibrary.org.

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MAKE A DAY OF IT

Three FREE Things To Do Over April Vacation In The Bay State … and Beyond! Looking for ways to avoid cabin fever keep ‘em busy over April vacation? While there are plenty of happenings in the region for kids and families over spring break, we’ve narrowed it down to three really cool, don’t-want-to-miss-it events. One is right here in our backyard, while the other two are just a short ride over the state border. The best part? They are all free!

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1. Patriot’s Day and the Anniversary of the Battles of Lexington & Concord Each year in mid-April, thousands of people flock to the historic Lexington and Concord Minute Man National Historical Park in Concord, Mass. to celebrate Patriot’s Day – a special holiday celebrated only in the Bay State that commemorates the opening battle of the American Revolutionary War, April 19, 1775.

Patriots Day is officially observed on Monday, April 16 this year, and the entire weekend leading up and week following – April vacation – will feature parades, reenactments and commemorative ceremonies. Battle reenactments include the “Parker’s Revenge” demonstration on Saturday, April 14, where hundreds of reenactors will take part in fast-paced action along a hotlycontested stretch of the actual Battle Road of 1775, and the Lexington Battle on Monday, April 16, where

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British and Colonial soldiers stage a reenactment of the early-morning battle and commemorate the “shot heard round the world.” Visitors can take in the home of Colonel James Barrett and his family, learn about the intense military preparations that took place there and help make cartridges for the minute men. Or, reflect on the meaning of liberty at evening lantern-lit procession and ceremony as part of the annual Patriot Vigil. Gun salutes, musket and cannon firings, and the Concord Patriot’s Day Parade are all part of what’s in store. For the full list of events, times and directions go to nps.gov. Children are free, adults $7.

Trees at Art of Arbor are on the docket for the week. For all the details, check out newportdaffydays.com.

3. Discover WILD New Hampshire Day Head up north for a wild time at the state’s Fish & Game Department’s most popular community event of the year. It’s a big deal -- and we do mean big. In recent

years, more than 10,000 people have turned out for what’s become an annual celebration of the great outdoors. The whole family can explore the Granite State’s legacy of woodsy traditions at Discover WILD New Hampshire Day, Saturday, April 21. Visitors can browse educational exhibits, see live animals, big fish and trained falcons, but the real fun is in the hands-on opportunities. Ever wanted to try your hand at archery? How about casting, fly-

tying, or BB gun shooting? It’s all a possibility. Kids can get creative with craft activities, feel different types of fur and even pet a fish -- if they dare -- in a touch tank. Mom and dad can check out the latest hunting and fishing gear and gadgets. The event takes place on the grounds of the Fish & Game Department, 11 Hazen Dr., Concord, N.H. from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Rain or shine. For more information, go to wildlife.state.nh.us.

2. Newport Daffodil Days Festival Stop and smell the daffodils! The 5th annual Newport Daffodil Days – April 14-22 – promises to be a bloomin’ fun time for the whole family. Plenty of events are lined up for the week set against the backdrop of one of New England’s most beautiful seacoast towns and over 860,000 daffodils ready to burst. Highlights of this colorful spring festival range from a “Driving Miss Daffodil” classic car show to a “Tour de Jonquilles” bike ride through flowerlined streets. Even pets get in on the fun in a parade of dogs dressed up as – you guessed it – daffodils. Little ones will love meeting Disney princesses Rapunzel and Belle, who will be in town for an “enchanted story hour” to kick things off on Saturday, April 14, leading a sing-along and signing autographs. Once you get your princess fix, cheer on runners in a 5K along Easton’s Beach, or hit historic Bellevue Avenue for some shopping. End the week at the Daffodil Garden Party, featuring live music and ballet, on Sunday, April 22. A Spring Fling, the chance to check out teddy bear topiaries (among other cool animal shapes!), and the Lighting of the BAYSTATEPARENT 27

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28 APRIL2018

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7/11/14 10:09 PM

ADVENTURE AWAITS with

“Stately” Fashions Check out the latest spring and summer fashion trends on a journey through New England.

Photography by Michael Stone Portraits Hair and Makeup by Rob Roy Hair Academy BAYSTATEPARENT 29

Bay State

Beauties From Boston to the Berkshires, the Bay State has so much family fun to offer. In a lightweight shirt and easy-to-slip-on sandals, Rowan is ready for the beach. Pennyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s breezy tunic, leggings and comfy shoes are the perfect style for a summer stroll.

Rowan is wearing a cotton Button Down Shirt and Shorts set by Nautica (sizes 2T-14). Penny is wearing a Tunic and Leggings set by Calvin Klein Baby (sizes 0-24 months). Shoes by Rampage Girls.

30 APRIL2018

Maine

Ladies

Lighthouses, lobster, and sand in your toes – there’s so many reasons to visit the beaches of Maine. Mary and Bella’s colorful, boho-style dresses are the perfect laid back look for the seashore. Bonus: these dresses are designed to “grow” along with kids, and a portion of their sale is donated to nonprofits working for girls around the world.

Mary is wearing Pom Pom Princess Dress in Elephant by Tomato Superstar (sizes 2-12). Bella is wearing Blooming Beauty Dress in Dandelion by Tomato Superstar (sizes 2-12).

BAYSTATEPARENT 31

Granite State

Taelyn is wearing a T-shirt and Scooter set by jumping beans (sizes 2-10). Shoes by Converse.

32 APRIL2018

Explorers

Isaiahâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s T-shirt, Short Sleeve Button Down Shirt and Chino Shorts are by Cat & Jack (sizes 4-18).

The towering White Mountains. The lake region. The beautiful coast. New Hampshire offers something for every kind of explorer. In fun but earthy shades of green, Taelyn, Isaiah and Anika look cool and ready to take on whatever adventure they run into.

Anika is wearing a Sleeveless Maxi Dress in Butterfly by Cat & Jack (sizes XS-XL). Shoes by Genuine Kids by OshKosh.

Connecticut

Cuties

Rolling fields and farmlands are part of the Nutmeg Stateâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s beautiful landscape. Jackson, Jailyn and Tashi are dressed for some down-to-earth fun.

Jackson is wearing Deconstructed Demin Shorts by Art Class (sizes 4-16). Shirt by Cat & Jack (sizes XS-XXL). Jailyn's 3/4 Sleeve Gauze Boho Top in Gold Paisley is by Art Class (sizes XS-XL). Shoes by Time and Tru. Tashi is wearing a Butterfly Dress by Art Class (sizes XS-XL). Shoes by FabKids.

BAYSTATEPARENT 33

ADVENTURE AWAITS

Manage Vacation Travel With A Mix

Of Screen-Free Activities

BY JODI DEE

eeping children entertained while traveling can be a challenge, especially for parents who prefer to limit their kids’ screen time. Often, irritability and crankiness is at an all-time high when you finally arrive at your destination from lack of brain stimulation and physical activity. But breaking up a trip by keeping young minds busy between screen time and brain games -- as well as some intermittent walks or stretching -- can make travel by plane, train, or automobile a pleasurable experience for all. Here’s some simple suggestions!

Mix Up Activities Make sure to plan, bring, and facilitate a mix of activities while traveling. Suggest ways for kids to pass some time on their own, such as playing small hand games like a Rubik cube or other manipulative, looking at books, reading, coloring or drawing. You can also get the whole family involved -- try games like hangman, spot the license plate (different states) or vehicle (by type or color). Initiate a dance break in 34 APRIL2018

the car or a walk up and down the aisle of the plane. If your children are old enough to have their own music players and headphones, make sure they are charged (and remember to pack chargers or plenty of extra batteries), especially if the trip is long. Headphones are also great if you do allow ipads, video games, or game players. Headphones give everyone some necessary quiet time.

Break Up The Time Children often have a hard time knowing when it is time to change activities or when they simply need a break. Evidence is watching a child who has played a video game too long or needs space from a sibling. Chaos and teasing ensue as they try to release the pent up energy. Children need breaks and transition time. Imagine the time of your trip in segments and facilitate an informal schedule. For example, 20 minutes of playing a video game or watching a show, 20 minutes of reading or looking at books, 20 minutes of drawing of coloring, 20 minutes of listening to songs, 20 minutes for snacks (eating only), 20 minutes of playing a

hand game, 20 minutes of stretching (even up and down the aisle of the plane every hour or so), and so on. A shake break or dancing in a seat for a few minutes can give a child a needed break and release of energy. Even stopping a 2-hour movie to take a break with a small child is a good idea. Twenty minutes is a guide. Time will vary by age, attention span, and activity. The attention span of a child will be much shorter when engaged in a stimulating activity over watching TV or a movie because the brain is more active. Stanford University School of Medicine conducted a study that found more calories were burned just reading a book over watching TV because the brain stays metabolically active! If you are traveling by car and can stop, it is important to break up a trip with physical movement at least every hour, for a bathroom or stretch break. Children need constant breaks and frequent movement. Breaking travel time up into segments keeps young minds active and busy, even while sitting for long periods. And repeat the schedule over and over again if you have a trip longer than a few hours.

Individual Activity Bags A great habit to get into is to have each child be responsible for packing a small activity bag or backpack to carry. Have your child, no matter what age, pick what to include and bring on the trip no matter what method of travel or distance. This bag can also be their carry-on on a plane or train. These different activities go a long way even if one only lasts for 10-15 minutes. This bag can also serve as a source of entertainment when at a hotel or a relative’s house, when there are no toys available or nothing else going on. Ideas and items to include: • Favorite snuggle toy or blanket (or a few if small for pretend play) • Box of crayons, set of colored pencils, markers • Small notebook, paper, or coloring books (color by number, how to draw books for older children) • Music player (and now ipads) • Headphones

• Small collection of toys (for younger children). My son would bring about 10 cars or army guys, my daughter a bag of Shopkins, my oldest her Uglies. The dollar stores have great options for this, children can pretend play quietly with small toys. I often buy a set before we travel (like sea creatures) so it is a new toy to explore.

Mad Libs & Table Topics, Travel Scavenger Hunts

• Manipulatives- Rubik cubes/Rubik Slides/Fidgets/Auto-Bingo

• Sudoku/Crossword puzzles/Word Searches

• Hand-held video games/ipads

• Book/Magazine. Graphic novels are great to read or be read to. One of my favorite are seek-and-find or I-SPY books where you have to find objects (even for adults). Chapter books or magazines are great for older children.

• Reusable Sticker Books- kids can create endless combinations

• Mystery Decoder sets, IQ Twist • Magna Doodle/Dry erase boards (Draw and redraw different options)

• Travel-sized board games- Connect Four, Battleship, Bingo, Scrabble • Hangman – flip to win board (Reusable board)

• Portable DVD Player and Movies • Map of the trip to track and mark landmarks • I-SPY and seek-and-find activity books • Color-by-Number, Learn-to-Draw Sketch pads • Flash cards

Jodi Dee is a mother of three with more than 20 years’ experience in early childhood and education, and 11 years as a full-time mother. She has a B.A. in psychology and Master’s Degree in Education from Clark University. She is a regular columnist, avid blogger, and children’s book author. Jodi is a passionate advocate for emotional maturity, early childhood education, and recently launched of how to createahomeoflearning.com.

• Spot It (one of my favorites!)

• Print outs. Simple printouts of favorite characters or pictures to color, and games can be downloaded online. • Reusable Sticker Books. These are great for smaller children because they use the stickers like figurines. • Puzzles. Crossword, Sudoku, Brain Games. • Other. Whatever small things your child wants to bring and carry! This is a great way to introduce responsibility. • Family/Group Games. Many of our best memories as children are when we played games with our parents, siblings or other relatives. Bring those games into the car or other when able! Games are super fun where you have to ask each other questions and guess the answers, or start a group story where one person beings with an idea and the next has to continue it, and so on. Imagination games are also fun, using the small notebooks and drawing a picture like the game Pictionary and having to guess what it is, hangman, or tic tac toe. Another fun verbal game is to start with a word (like a state, Rhode Island) and the next person has to use the last letter of that word to think of another (Delaware). This also is a great opportunity to teach new things and practice memorizing facts! And don’t forget the simple things like telling stories! Make some up and tell real ones. Listening and talking are some of the greatest ways children learn.

Travel Recommendations

Danforth Summer Arts at Framingham State University June 25 - August 24, 2018

Weeklong, full-day sessions for children entering or emerging from grades K-8. Weeklong half-day sessions for grades 9-12.

Nurture your child’s creative curiosity and self-expression through art and art-making. In Danforth Art’s studio art classes, children will develop an understanding of the elements and principles of art, and will learn skills and techniques in drawing, painting, and sculpture using a variety of 2D and 3D materials. All materials are provided.

Save up to $50 if you register before April 30th Learn more and register online: danforthart.org

If you prefer to purchase things that are ready to use, there are some great resources that are small and easy to carry. • Brain Quest games and challenges, BAYSTATEPARENT 35

ADVENTURE AWAITS

Drive The

Other Way

Summer Fun In Upstate New York BY CARRIE WATTU

36 APRIL2018

Have you ever heard of Watkins Glen, New York? I hadn’t until a friend told me about a beautiful animal rescue farm where you could stay and volunteer as a family. With our summer calendar filled with traditional New England beach destinations, we decided to “drive the other way” for a getaway focused on animals and the outdoors. As we planned the five-hour drive from central Mass. to upstate New York, we found family fun along the way for all ages and interests. While there is a lot to do, what we were most excited about was our stay at the Farm Sanctuary, the nation’s largest farm animal rescue and protection organization. It was one of the most memorable things we’ve done as a family.

Open heart, open mind Farm Sanctuary is set in a beautiful location in rural mid New York, nestled in the Finger Lakes region. On your way, you’ll pass exits for the Baseball Hall of Fame and Howe Caverns – both worth a visit. We also stopped at Cornell University, spell-bound by the Uris Library, known as the “Harry Potter” library for its nooks, scrolling ironwork and bridged tiers of impressive-

Nearby attractions While in the area, you can explore the wineries, the NASCAR race track and Lake Seneca. Be sure to check the Watkins Glen Chamber of Commerce calendar (watkinsglenchamber.com) as the region is very busy during peak NASCAR weeks. We meandered the neighborhoods in town and Lake Seneca harbor. A wonderful memory was stumbling upon an old-fashioned gazebo concert, enchanted by older adults waltzing in the summer air. An attraction you’ll definitely want to check out here is Watkins Glen State Park, the most famous of the Finger Lakes state parks. If you Google it, you may think the photos of mossy bridges, water-sculpted rocks and rocky walkways are from some far away land or enhanced with photo filters. Not the case. They’re the real deal. We walked the three-mile gorge trail on stone steps, bridges and through a tunnel. We even walked under two waterfalls. People visit from all over the world, and we found it busy with room for everyone. Plan for an hour and a half to two hours and be sure to wear good sneakers. While swimming isn’t permitted on the hike, it’s shady and you will get some spray from the falls. There is a pool in the park, which we didn’t see, but could be worth checking out if your family wants to swim.

looking books. The quaint college town of Ithaca was another great stop for its clever shops, hip restaurants and stunning flower baskets. Once at the farm, everything slowed and quieted. Surrounded by hills of green, big sky and red barns, you’ll take a guided tour and meet hundreds of rescued cows, pigs, turkeys and other farm animals. Afterwards, you’re free to spend one-on-one time at your leisure with each animal friend you’ve met. For animal lovers, it’s the most satisfying kind of peace or joy. You can also volunteer on the farm. Our assignment was to clear leaves, stones and sticks from the pathways, which may not seem “Instagramworthy” to your kids, but is part of the attention to detail that is so important here. Committed volunteers and staff members constantly and lovingly care for the area, making it a super-tidy haven for animals that have made incredible journeys to live here. Your visit will require an open heart and open mind as the farm’s mission is to combat the abuses farm animals face in the modern factory farming industry. The animals each have a story, which are insightful but not always easy to hear. Our guide knew each sheep, goat, and chicken by name and provided background on their extraor-

dinary survival. We learned of animals escaping trucks en route to the slaughterhouse and others saved from squalor and abuse. This information made their trusting nature and desire to be petted and hugged by the species who hurt them even more special. Here, a goat called Cynthia nuzzles your face like a house cat and a bull named Merlin craves affection like a gentle, supersized black lab. Plan to spend a day and get accommodations in town – about 20 minutes away-- or, if you can get a reservation, stay in one of the charming cabins or tiny houses right on the farm. They serve breakfast in the morning. Out of respect for the rescued animals at Farm Sanctuary, all food on the premises is vegan (no meat, dairy, eggs, or animal byproducts), and education about embracing a plant-based diet is part of the visit. Be prepared for literature and displays on factory farming that may be intense for visitors. However, you don’t have to be vegan to visit. Our family of five is a mix of meat-eaters, vegetarians and one vegan, and like the animals that live here, we all felt welcomed and respected. Farm Sanctuary National Headquarters Watkins Glen, NY farmsanctuary.org

Watkins Glen State Park $8 per car https://parks.ny.gov/parks/142/

Go down under at Howe Caverns At first glance, Howe Caverns looks tired with all the makings of a tourist trap, but don’t secondguess it. Once you take the elevator to the tunnels and stone walkways below, you won’t be disappointed. The cavern was accidentally discovered in 1842 by a farmer, Lester Howe, who noticed his cows gravitating to a particular spot on the hottest days. There, he found an opening emitting a cool breeze of air. Howe lowered himself into the hole with a rope and discovered a magical pathway of twists and turns complete with a river running through it. It’s awesome! Many families take the popular 90-minute cavern tour but you can also opt for a Sunday night flashlight tour. A guide leads you for the first hour and takes you on a short boat ride, reminiscent of Willy Wonka without the terror and the candy. Then the lights shut off and we found ourselves in total blackness. We had never experienced this before - the kind of dark where your

eyes will not adjust and you can’t see hands in front of your face. Using lanterns and headlamps, you’ll make your way back to the entrance. It’s really fun! Flashlight tours on Sunday evenings only $35 per person howecaverns.com If you decide to drive the other way this summer, you’ll definitely create memories. You also may find yourself building an enclosure in your yard for a new pet turkey or two. Carrie Wattu is a freelance writer living in Central Mass. with her husband and three daughters. She is no stranger to building enclosures for animals including two dogs, 12 hens, a bearded dragon and, in full disclosure, a hissing cockroach named Rhonda. BAYSTATEPARENT 37

ADVENTURE AWAITS

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raveling with children has its gifts and challenges. The excitement of a family trip is so fun to plan for and anticipate. But arranging for the extra special accommodations that are necessary for small children can make it a process. And after all that work and excitement, the last thing any family wants is for a vacation to be derailed by an illness. That’s where telehealth comes in. A new trend in medical care, telehealth sessions, also known as telemed visits, offer patients the opportunity to consult with a doctor via phone or video when getting into a doctor’s office simply isn’t feasible. That means even if you’re on a vacation at Disney, or in the mountains of Vermont, you can talk to a doctor and get treatment for minor illness without ever leaving your hotel room. The telemedicine market is expected to expand at a compound annual growth rate of 14.3 percent through 2020, eventually reaching $36.2 billion, according to a report from Foley and Lardner LLP. Here in Massachusetts, Fallon Health has partnered with Teladoc Inc., a provider of virtual care services, to help members connect with a doctor for anytime, anywhere non-emergency

issues without leaving home – or the resort. “If you’re on vacation, and you have sick kid or spouse, it’s daunting to think about having to go to an ER or walk-in clinic in a strange city,” Thomas Ebert, M.D., Fallon Health’s executive vice president and chief medical officer. “Telehealth meets those needs.” Using telehealth services like Teladoc, members can access a national network of board-certified doctors, 365 days a year, 24 hours a day using a video, web or mobile app for non-emergency issues ranging from cold and flu symptoms to nasal and sinus problems to respiratory and urinary tract infections. No authorizations or referrals are needed, and doctors can diagnose, suggest possible treatments and prescribe appropriate medications as necessary. Ebert said claims data analysis shows that 92 percent of health issues are resolved as a result of the first visit. Ebert said one of the keys of success to the platform is that patients are connected to a local doctor that knows the region. So, if your family is on vacation in Florida, for example, you will have a telehealth session with a doctor in the locality of the state. This is because local

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We will Discuss • Costs of divorce and how to avoid the most common unintended financial mistakes. • Beyond time and money that you will never get back – the irreparable damage that a divorce can cause your family, and children can be huge. • How to cut the actual time it takes to get a divorce at least by half the amount of time! • The purpose of that session is to provide folks with information, about how the divorce process works in Massachusetts. • How the mediation process works • Finding the Best Divorce Financial Solutions for your family This way folks are able to make the best decision for their situation. You will be able to begin moving forward with your life, and end your marriage without the emotional, financial drain that would have if you hired two separate lawyers and battled it out in court

doctors understand more intricately what is going in viral trends in the area. “If the patient might have flu symptoms, for instance, the local doctor knows what is happening with flu patterns in the region,” said Ebert. “They know what is going on in the community and can provide very good and quick access, and it often leads to a very good resolution to the problem.” Telehealth sessions obviously have some limitations. In cases where a culture or blood test is necessary for diagnosis, like with strep throat, a telemed visit would not be appropriate. In these kinds of cases, the patient is advised to seek care in person for the proper treatment. Ebert said this is the case about five percent of the time, based on data from Fallon’s partnership with Teladoc. No controlled substances are ever prescribed via a telehealth session, noted Ebert. The rate of antibiotic prescribing is currently lower in telehealth sessions compared to regular, in-person visits to primary care physician (PCP) practices, he said. The cost of a session is typically the same as a primary care physician co-pay. Melissa Cordial, a mom of two from Sterling, Mass., used Teladoc offered through Fallon, her insurer, before a holiday weekend. “I used Teladoc over Columbus Day weekend and it worked out very well. My daughter, age 10, had an infection on her ear from her ear piercing. This is the second time it’s happened. I called her PCP on Friday

afternoon and they wouldn’t be able to see her until the following week as they had no appointments that afternoon and were closed on Monday for Columbus Day. We were heading out the door to an event in Hartford, Connecticut. Rather than wait until the following week or deal with Urgent Care over the weekend, I used the Teladoc app and requested a call and uploaded a picture of her ear. I got a call back in about a half hour. The doctor was easy to talk to and reviewed the images, and we talked about her past issue with her ear. He prescribed her medication and it was all set. I found it very easy and convenient. I would definitely use it again.” Ebert believes telemed session are here to stay and that demand will only grow over time. Younger generations who grew up with technology and are more comfortable with this kind of interaction will come to expect and demand it, he predicts. “I think five years from now people will say this is just part of the continuum,” he said. “And as for now, when people are planning a vacation, I advise them to pack the Teladoc number.”

Joan Goodchild is a veteran writer and editor living in Central Massachusetts.

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ADVENTURE AWAITS

add to CART

Some cool finds for your family travels. Travel like a Jedi with a Hooded Travel Neck Pillow. This soft microfleece pillow by travel gear company Grand Trunk is designed with memory foam, providing ergonomic comfort and neck support, while the storable hood covers eyes for instant darkness. Plus, with its included hygienic carry bag, you won’t get it icky in transit! $39.95. grandtrunk.com.

No matter where you’re headed, this lunch box ensures you can enjoy your food just the way you pack it – hot or cold – no microwave or refrigeration required. Made from food-grade stainless steel, Vaya Tyffyn uses vacuum insulation technology to keep food warm or cold for up to 5 hours. Choose from models with one or two copper finished, stainless steel, leak-proof compartments. Bonus: the stylish carry bag doubles as a placemat! $49-$69. vayalife.com.

No more lugging booster seats around when traveling with kids. Bubblebum, an inflatable, foldable and portable booster seat, is great for children aged 4 to 11 who need an extra “boost” to prevent the risk of slouching and seat belt abdominal injury in the event of a crash. The air filled design provides extra comfort and utilizes memory foam technology to help create stability and structural integrity in the seat with side positioners to correctly position the lap belt. The cool factor makes kids more likely to use it. $29.99. bubblebum.co/us Tired carefully packing then getting to your destination only to find that everything you so painstakingly organized is one jumbled mess? This is where travel packing cubes come in handy. Mumi Packing Cubes are made of lightweight, durable material and feature mesh so you can easily see what’s in each cube. Double zippers make for accessible opening. $17-$49. mumidesign.com.

Headphones can be a lifesaver when traveling with little ones. BuddyPhones WAVE, designed specifically for kids, are wireless, waterproof and volume limiting, offering four listening modes, depending on the child’s age and surroundings. WAVE fully charges for 24 hours of playing time for long-lasting listening. BuddyPhones are also fully waterproof, so children can bring their WAVE to the beach or the pool without a worry. $79.99. buddyphones.com.

BAYSTATEPARENT 41

Children’s Book Brings Love Of Girl And Her Service Dog To Life BY AMANDA ROBERGE, ILLUSTRATION COURTESY OF SCOTT MAGOON

Here’s how the lyrics go: A dog’s best friend is a man who appreciates a dog who appreciates a man. If we change the “man” to “woman,” and you can imagine me in my black hatchback barreling up Route 190 toward home, you’d also have to imagine me hearing the song on the oldies station of my car and immediately thinking of Rescue. Maybe forever, as someone who loves old tunes, cute dogs and great children’s books, songs like that will always make me think of Rescue.

escue is a black lab who appreciates Jessica Kensky. He appreciates her primarily because she -- along with her husband Patrick Downes, of course -- is the mainline to the two things dogs love most: treats and affection. But the truth is that he has been bred to love her with treats and cuddles notwithstanding, and that was the thing that someone like Jessica needed most when she found him. Their story is now the backdrop for a beautiful children’s book entitled Rescue & Jessica: A Life-Changing Friendship, penned by the couple, which is being released this month through Candlewick Press. Both Jessica and Patrick are amputees who survived the Boston Marathon bombings -- having swung by the race that day in 2013 on a whim to 42 APRIL2018

check out the runners and lend some cheers. That violent misfortune led to Jessica losing one leg, and then the other, after what seemed like endless complications from her initial injury. Patrick also lost one of his legs in the tragic event. The two were newlyweds, having been married only a year before the bombings. While Patrick recovered relatively quickly, Jessica spent nearly four years at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Bethesda, Maryland, and only returned to their Cambridge home last summer with a new best friend in tow. That new best friend, incidentally, was named Dog of the Year by the ASPCA. Rescue, named for Worcester Firefighter John Davies, who passed away in 2011 in the line of duty and commandeered the truck known as

“Rescue 1,” is a service dog trained through the NEADS (National Education for Assistance Dogs Services) program based in Princeton, Mass. His purpose was -- and is -- to support Jessica emotionally and physically, as she navigates a new life with a whole new idea of what she is capable of. And if Rescue was able to help her recover some small pieces of her former self, writing this children’s book has gone some way toward recovering the rest. The journey to writing a children’s book came through the couple’s good friend, Clelia Gore, who works at Candlewick Press as a book agent and encouraged Jessica and Patrick to get started on sharing their story. Sharing their story, it turns out, has been a cathartic and healing experience and one that plays right into their strengths as

humans. Patrick, a clinical psychologist with a background of working with children, understood the nuanced ways in which we often fail to communicate effectively with children. His role in creating an authentic voice, especially in the context of a story of a tragedy that cannot be sugar coated and its connection with finding strength and peace, is one that he is passionate about. “As adults we often fail to trust that kids have the capacity to sit with and process truth,” he explained. “When we fail to be honest with children, they fill in the blanks with their own versions of a story -- which can be much scarier than the actual truth.” For Jessica, an oncology nurse just starting to test the waters of returning to her workplace, having a friend like Rescue distracted her from a debilitating melancholy and mourning for the life she left behind on the streets of Boston. The story she wants to share is one of hope and perseverance. “One of our first steps in figuring out how to approach telling our story was to look and see what is missing from children’s’ literature,” she said. “And what we found was a dire shortage of fun, fictional books -- not only about service dogs -- but also about people with disabilities and how they can thrive.” The book begins with Rescue as a puppy; he comes from a family of seeing eye dogs, but once his NEADS trainers noticed that he made a better companion than leader (seeing eye dogs walk in front of their partners, who are often completely blind, while s ervice dogs walk next to their partners), he began his training for his future roll. Simultaneously, Jessica is saddened and frustrated after an accident (which goes unnamed in the picture book) because the doctors must remove one of her legs. As

she recovers from surgery, a friend in the hospital introduces her to a service dog and Jessica knows right away that she must apply to have one of her own. Rescue and Jessica are instant best friends; Rescue is able help Jessica with things that are difficult as a disabled individual, and he is also there to comfort her in moments of pain and disappointment. With unique and wonderful illustrations provided by Scott Magoon of Reading, Mass., the story comes to life in a beautiful way. Coincidentally, Scott was in between the bombs when they went off that day, but was not injured. His understanding of the message that Jessica and Patrick have set out to tell is evident in his thoughtful art, and there is the hope that it will build empathy in young readers and demystify what it means to live with a physical disability. Rescue & Jessica will appeal to all readers, but is targeted for the 5 - 9 age range. As Jessica and Patrick -- and of course, Rescue -- set off for a media tour this month that will take them across the country and back, the occasion marks not only an exciting time in their lives, but also a time of reverence, with everything falling around the fifth anniversary of the bombings. Kensky, who grew up on the West Coast, is very much looking forward to reuniting with family and friends during the trip. “It’s an exciting time,” she said. Amanda Roberge is a freelance writer and artist who lives in Leominster with her husband, three teenage daughters, and one fat pug.

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The Best Books Your Kids Aren’t Reading BY KRISTIN GUAY

very year, thousands of books for children and young adults make their way to the shelves of bookstores, libraries, and homes. But as wonderful as these new releases can be, it’s important to revisit some classics and long-forgotten favorites that are tucked behind Chris Colfer’s The Land of Stories collection or and latest graphic novel. Every few years, these books and magazines should be introduced to a new generation of young readers.

Books For Developmental Stages Several years ago Harper Collins Publishing worked with child development experts and selected a collection of books entitled “The Harper Growing Tree.” This is a series of books tailored to six different stages of a child’s development from newborn to age three. At one time, these books were presented in colorful and organized displays in bookstores, but that is no longer the case. Despite the additional effort required to find these titles, these books offer parents a wonderful selection that develops along with their child. Some examples include: Maybe My Baby, by Irene O’Book. This colorful board book shows future career opportunities for a little one. Photographs of babies present the possibility of being a dancer, astronaut, builder, athlete and many more. Hey, Little Baby!, by Nola Buck, R.W. Alley. This is a perfect book for a new older brother or sister. The story presents an older sister outlining her accomplishments over the years. “Hey little baby look at me. I can read a book. I can count to three. I can dress myself in my very own clothes. I can brush my teeth. I can blow my nose.” Parents will relate to the drawings in the story of food spilled on the floor and loads of laundry -- typical daily happenings in a life with two small children. My Aunt Came Back, by Pat Cummings. The bright illustrations alone in this book would appeal to children and adults alike. In this story, a little girl receives all kinds of unique gifts from her aunt’s far away travels – but the best gift is received at the end of the book. Rhyming text allows the story to flow with an upbeat tempo. “My aunt came back from Timbuktu. She brought me back a wooden shoe. My aunt came back from Bucharest. She brought me back a quilted vest.” No, No, Jo, by Kate and Jim McMullan. This is a story about a mischievous cat that always seems to get into trouble. The best part about this book is that it can engage a child in so many ways. Each page has an extension flap that the child can open. This reveals the mess Jo has created along with the repeating refrain “No, No. Jo.” Young children can turn the page and repeat this refrain throughout the entire book.

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Let’s Be Animals, by Ann Warren Turner. A class field trip to the farm becomes a lesson in animal behavior and young children will enjoy mimicking the animals’ sounds and movement throughout the story. “We can baa and bark and hop, we can moo and clippity-clop.” Above and beyond simply reading the story, this book creates an imaginary farmyard experience. On My Street, by Eve Merriam. This story is a great tool in encouraging children to observe the world outside their own home. A toddler and his mother walk along their city street and notice “Pat at the laundromat and Gus waiting for a bus.” As extension of this would be making up rhymes for the people and places seen in your own neighborhood.

Books For Shared Reading There are several book collections that offer a shared reading experience for beginner readers and their caregiver or even an older sibling. The structure is a little different depending on the series, but most books have a way in which the text for the beginner reader is highlighted. Shared-reading books can also be used with children of varying reading levels. A more advanced reader could read the “adult” section while a beginner reader could read the other section. What a great way for children to be engaged in reading together! One shared reading series is the Usborne Very First Reading. This series is made up of several books each building on the reading skills of a previous book. The child and the adult take turns reading and the child’s material becomes a little more challenging with each book. Bright graphics and silly stories make these a delight for beginning readers. Another option is the picture books in the I Read To You and You Read To Me series by Mary Ann Hoberman. In these books, the text is written on the left side, the right side, and centered in the middle of the page. Each reader selects a side to read but when the text is in the middle, both readers read together. The stories feature topics of interest to children and are filled with rhyme, repetition, and rhythm. The illustrations provided by Michael Emberley will keep children engaged throughout the books and lead to additional conversations about the story.

Wordless Books Wordless books are a wonderful alternative when “reading” with a young child. The illustrations spark the imagination and allow the child and parent to create their own story. And the best part: the story can be different each time you look through the book. Remember that children can use this time to create a setting, a background, character emotions and thoughts, and dialogue between the characters. It is an interesting experience to watch the imagination of a child make these books come to life. Plus, looking through wordless books is appropriate for a variety of ages and reading levels. Check out these wordless books with your little one: Journey, Quest, and Return, by Aaron Becker. These three books follow a young girl’s adventures after her family’s preoccupations do not include playing with her. There is an element of Harold and the Purple Crayon in these stories, although her imaginative tool is bright red. This color provides a vivid contrast to the stark drawings throughout the books as flying carpets, doorways, wheels of a bike, scuba gear, swings, and even a submarine are created during her adventures. In the final book, Return, the preoccupied father actually follows behind the young girl on her adventures and the ending provides a promise of hope that more adventures together will follow. Wave, by Suzy Lee. Who knew that a book with only two colors, black and blue, could be so entertaining? In this sweet story, a young girl and a wave (yes, the wave is actually appears to be a character in this book) have a fun day interacting with each other at the beach. All the illustrations in the book are black charcoal on a white background and this includes the young girl, seagulls, her mother and the mountains in the background. The only color is the bright turquoise of the wave. The simplicity of the illustrations allows for further creativity in creating a story to compliment the drawings. The possibilities are endless on what can be happening in the story. The Arrival, by Shaun Tan. There is something about this book that no matter how many times you flip through the pages, you will always see something new. The Arrival takes a unique approach to presenting the hardships and triumphs of an immigrant leaving his impoverished home country in order to create a better life for his family. After a long journey, he arrives in a land where everything is unknown. Language,

architecture, animals, food, clothing, and social etiquette are all aspects of this new life to understand, learn, and hopefully embrace. He must meet these challenges while still feeling the profound separation of his family and homeland. As the pages unfold, the man slowly adjusts to his new life and prepares for the moment when his family will be reunited.

Picture Books Although there have been many wonderful pictures books created over the years, there are also some older ones that need to be dusted off every once in a while and shared with a new generation of readers. These stories have a timeless appeal because of the message presented, unique illustrations, or a little of both. The Story of Ferdinand, by Munro Leaf. Originally written in 1936, this book was briefly seen in the 2009 film, The Blind Side. The book is about a huge bull that, unlike his appearance would present, has no intention of being a fighting bull. While other bulls are displaying their skills to appear as ferocious as possible, Ferdinand would rather sit in a field of flowers. His demeanor is misunderstood when he is suddenly stung by a bee and is perceived to be a mean fighting bull. Even though he is taken into the bullring, Ferdinand does not change who he is. This book was used in The Blind Side to point out the gentle side of football player, Michael Orr, in that he was really a gentle giant. Arnie the Doughnut, by Laurie Keller. This is a silly story about Arnie (a sprinkled-covered doughnut) who is very proud and excited to be who he is – until he realizes the ultimate fate of a doughnut. Arnie, along with his purchaser Mr. Bing, come up with some imaginative uses for Arnie besides being eaten. The pages are filled with detailed illustrations and silly comments on the side margins so this book needs to be savored – not rushed. This is a great choice for relaxing, one-on-one reading and engaging in discussions beyond what is written on the page. A Chair For My Mother, by Vera B. Williams. A Caldecott Honor winner, this is the story of a little girl, her mother, and grandmother are slowly filling a large glass jar with coins to be saved for a special purchase – a big, comfy chair covered in a bright rose print. The story explains how the family lost most of their belongings in a house fire but that the

neighbors pitched in and contributed some much-needed replacements. The jar is slowly filled and they can eventually make their purchase. This story has many wonderful taking points such as patience, helping others, what is important in life, and the benefits of hard work. Harriet You Drive Me Wild, by Mem Fox. Even though this is a picture book for children, any parent of a young child will appreciate the antics of Harriet and could probably

relate to their own “Harriet” in their life. In this story, the day starts like any typical day – Harriet is goofing around at the breakfast table and spills her juice. This slowly drips across the table and onto the back of the family dog. Her mother calmly reprimands her and Harriet apologizes. As the day progress, more and more little mishaps happen with Harriet as her mom is occupied with chores – she spills jam on her pants, drips the paint from a fresh painting onto the rug, and pulls on the BAYSTATEPARENT 45

table cloth toppling her lunch onto the floor. Her final act of mischief involves a feather pillow and her dog and this mess is a little more than her patient mother can handle. Tempers flare, mom yells, Harriet cries, apologies are made and everyone works together to clean the mess. This is a great lesson in how we all can get upset but need to take a deep breath and learn this is all part of parenting a young child. William’s Doll, by Charlotte Zolotow. William is a young boy who only wants one thing as a toy – a baby doll. Because of this desire, he has to endure comments such as “creepy” and “sissy.” His father attempts to interest him in other pursuits such as basketball and trains but all William ever really wants was a doll. A visit from a no-nonsense and loving grandmother allows William to have the doll of his dreams – and teaches an important lesson to the father. The Rainbow Goblins, by Ul de Pico. A beautifully illustrated story, this tells the tale of seven evil goblins (each the color of the rainbow) who hatch a plan to steal of colors of the rainbow. The illustrations are dark and ominous yet vividly colorful all at the same time. Artistic details such as a yellow fire’s glow on the walls of a cave, a white moon’s reflection on a still blue pond, and the red-orange glow of a setting sun over a green field, all beautifully illustrate the wonderful colors in nature. This book also offers a fantastical reason why rainbows never touch the ground. Nothing To Do, by Douglas Wood. Beautifully illustrated by Wendy Anderson Halperin, the beginning of this story is a familiar scene – a young boy outstretched on a couch feeling that there is nothing to do. As the book progresses, more and more unique suggestions are offered such as discovering animal shapes in the clouds, watching an ant carry something three times its size, building a fort, catching a firefly, swinging in a tree like a monkey, reading a book, or even doing cartwheels. What makes this book so interesting are the illustrations. Anderson Halperin explains that she was inspired by a book she read entitled Patterns in Nature which shows the eight patterns of how things grow in nature – explosion, meandering, branching, alternation, spiral, helix, close packing, and spherical. Her illustrations in this book are presented within the outlines of these designs. 46 APRIL2018

Chapter Books This list provides a series of chapter books that contain classics, hidden gems, and books that are part of a lesser-known series (did you know that The Wizard of Oz is actually part of a 14-book series?). The House At Pooh Corner, by A.A. Milne. This classic should be a staple in every child’s home. This is such a magical story of a little boy’s adventures with his stuffed animal playmates. – a testament to the imagination of children. As the book outlines his adventures, we also see glimpses of a little boy growing up and getting ready to head off to school – a huge milestone that many children and parents can relate to in their own life.

Charlotte’s Web, by E.B. White. This is a timeless tale that can be shared through the generations. Although there are a handful of movie versions out there – even a video game was released in 2006 – the original classic is still the best bet. There are so many wonderful themes of friendship going on in the story that the reader cannot help feeling positive about life when they turn the final page. There is a little girl’s desire to save a pig, a spider’s plan to protect her friend, a pig’s promise to help the spider, and an entire farmyard of animals that form a strong bond when their help is needed. Even a curmudgeonly rat does what he can to help. It is an uplifting story that needs to be pulled from the shelf, dusted off, and read to a new generation of children. How To Train Your Dragon, series by Cressida Cowell. Long before Hiccup and Toothless were on the big screen thanks to DreamWorks Animation, they were part of a series of books written by British author Cowell. The twelve books in this

series feature the character Hiccup Horrendous Haddock III and his adventures in the Viking world. These adventures include his unique talent of engaging with dragons. Kids will love the series of books with such titles as How to Speak Dragonese, How To Twist a Dragon’s Tale, and How to Seize a Dragon’s Jewel, to name a few. Author Cressida Cowell definitely draws inspiration from her own youth that was spent with extended stays on an uninhabited island off the coast of Scotland with no roads, electricity, television, or telephone. The Oz series, by L. Frank Baum. The author wrote 14 books in this series – the first being The Wonderful Wizard of Oz written in 1900. During the following 20 years, he wrote The

Marvelous Land of Oz, Ozma of Oz, Dorothy and the Wizard of Oz, The Road to Oz, The Emerald City of Oz, The Patchwork Girl of Oz, Tik-Tok of Oz, The Scarecrow of Oz, Rinkitink in Oz, The Lost Princess of Oz, The Tin Woodman of Oz, The Magic of Oz, and Glinda of Oz. These stories all feature Dorothy’s adventures as she continues to make her way home back to Kansas. Readers will see familiar characters and settings but will also be introduced to new characters such as a witch named Mombi, the rainbow’s daughter named Ploychrome, and the evil King Krewl of Jinxland. They will also experience a variety of situations such as an earthquake in California, a quest for a magic pan that bakes special cookies, and Uncle Henry and Aunt Em moving to Oz. Anne of Green Gables series, by Lucy Maud Montgomery. Anne of Green Gables is the first in a series of five books that chronicle Anne’s life from age 11 to 40. The story begins with Anne Shirley, an 11-yearold orphan being sent to live with Matthew and Marilla Cuthbert. The Cuthberts had originally requested a

boy be sent to help with the chores on their farm, but decided to keep Anne anyway due to their growing fondness of her spirited behavior. During her time with her new family, Anne learns to navigate life on a farm, make new friends, tolerate bullies and handle mishaps such as dying her hair green and accidently getting her friend drunk on current wine. As the series progresses, Anne continues her education, has several love interests, loses childhood friends, lands a teaching position, finds true love and marries, and has a family of her own. Choose Your Own Adventure books. The revised edition of The Magic of the Unicorn was released in May 2017, and this created a perfect opportunity to revisit this wonderful series of books. For those not familiar with this series, Choose Your Own Adventure books were originally published in 1976, with the first book Packard’s Sugarcane Island. What is unique about these books is that the reader actually decides the direction of the story. Each book begins with reading the first few pages in order, but then the reader has an opportunity to choose what will happen next in the story and then turn to a particular page to follow that option. Some of the popular books in the ‘80s and ‘90s include The Abominable Snowman, House of Danger, Mystery of the Maybe, Space and Beyond, and Journey Under the Sea. Some more recent releases include Your Very Own Robot, Your Grandparents Are Zombies, Ghost Island, and Sand Castle. An added bonus – interactive stories such as Choose Your Own Adventure are popular among reluctant readers.

Graphic Novels Once thought of as a simple comic book, graphic novels have gained respect in schools and libraries across the country – even appearing on summer reading lists for students. In addition to being an alternative way to read a book, the selection has included classic novels, biographies, and historical events. Diary of a Wimpy Kid and Marvel Comics are popular among young readers, but other graphic novels have an appeal to this audience as well. The Adventures of Tintin comics are written by Belgian cartoonist Georges Remi, writing under the pen name Herge. Created in 1929, these comics continue to be enjoyed by young readers today. Tintin is a Belgian reporter who is always seeking adventure. Along with is dog Snowy, they navigate through many unusual and humorous events.

Puffin Graphics has taken the classics of Jack London, Shakespeare, and L. Frank Baum and adapted a series of graphic novels. Included are Black Beauty, The Call of the Wild, Dracula, Frankenstein, Macbeth, The Red Badge of Courage, Treasure Island, and The Wizard of Oz. The illustrations feature a modern twist – Dorothy’s gingham dress is replaced with flared jeans and a hoodie and Macbeth resembles a character out of a Marvel comic book. These adaptations could be appealing to readers that are being introduced to classic literature.

Rosen Publishing Company has a series of graphic novels depicting the events of World War II and the Civil War. Each book begins with a few important facts and dates, key players in the events, actual photographs, maps and other important features. The colored illustrations feature dialogue and important information about each scene or character. Each book concludes with a glossary and information on additional reading and resources. Some titles include The Battle of First Bull Run, The Monitor Versus The Merrimac, The Battle of Iwo Jima, and Pearl Harbor.

Capstone Graphic History series, which includes both biographies and special events in American History. Some titles include Clara Barton: Angel of the Battlefield, Booker T. Washington: Great American Educator, The Boston Tea Party, Lords of the Sea: The Vikings Explore the North Atlantic, The Salem Witch Trials, and The Sinking of the Titanic. These graphic novels feature colored illustrations supporting the dialogue of the characters. Each page provides a small, boxed section of text that elaborates on the historical event by providing important details. An additional feature of these books includes special notes, glossary, Internet sites, a bibliography and additional reading concerning the topic of each book.

Poetry Poetry sometimes gets a bad rap (no pun intended!) as being boring, having to rhyme all the time, and just simply a challenge to understand. Just like the different genres of literature – science fiction, biographies, short stories, etc. -- poetry can come in many forms and children just need to find the one that fits. Good Sports features a collection of poems by Jack Prelutsky with accompanying illustrations by Chris Raschka. The poems in this book reflect the excitement, apprehension, nervousness and accomplishment of playing sports. Baseball, soccer, gymnastics, basketball, swimming, football, playing Frisbee, and ice skating

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are just a few of the sports featured. By using such phrases as “I’m skiing down the sidewalk, I’m a meteor on wheels. I’m faster than an asteroid, At least, that’s how it feels,” Prelutsky does a wonderful job of describing the thrill of being involved in sports

through rhyme, repetition, and alliteration. Hip Hop Speaks to Children, A Celebration of Poetry With A Beat. As Nikki Giovanni explains in the introduction, “As long as people have stories, there will be rhythm, rap, and hip hop.” This book has an accompanying CD that features poets reading their own work or other artists providing their artistic interpretation of the poetry. Contributions are made by poets and artists such as Langston Hughes, Queen Latifah,

Maya Angelou, and Martin Luther King, Jr.

Young Adult The young adult category can sometimes be a challenge when it comes to books – not that there is a lack of interesting books, but more that this age group is swamped with school-assigned reading that forces pleasure reading to take a back seat. Below is a list of suggested reading that illuminates an event in history, takes readers on a post-apocalyptic journey, or even helps with college essays (in a fairly painless manner). March, a series of graphic novels by Congressman John Lewis, share a first-hand experience in the Civil Rights movement. The story begins on an Alabama sharecropper’s farm and ends with a congratulatory phone call to John Lewis from Senator Ted Kennedy on the passing of the 1965 voting rights act. The first book begins with a group of AfricanAmerican walking across the Edmund Pettus Bridge. With worried expressions on their faces they ask each other if the other can swim. The answer for both is “no” but they have an understanding that they might

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have to because of the police barricade at the other end of the bridge. The graphics in this series depict the fear and turbulence that was happening during this time. An example would be the jagged edges of a “word bubble” when the police are shouting through bullhorns and the word “TPPSSHHHHT” to mimic the sound of tear gas being dispensed. The Bugaboo Review, Guide to Grammar Sanity and Word Wisdom, by Sue Sommer. This book is a helpful tool for the young adult audience that is busy with high school and college acceptance essays. This guide begins with a quick review of the different parts of speech but then dives into all the confusing word uses of the English language. Some examples include the difference between the words exercise and exorcise, lightening and lightning, reign and rein, and palatable and palpable. Something to keep in mind – just because a word appears correct on a spell check does not mean it is the correct word. Definitions along with use in a sentence are provided for all word bugaboos. Tim Green is a true renaissance man – former American football player for the Atlanta Falcons, radio and TV sports commentator, attorney, and best-selling author of some amazing sports novels. He has written

several books for both football and baseball. Football fans will enjoy First Team, Kid Owner, Left Out, Perfect Season, Unstoppable, Deep Zone, The Big Time, Football Camp, Football Hero, and Football Genius. For baseball, his books include New Kid, Pinch Hit, Best of the Best, Rivals, Baseball Great, and his latest book Baseball Genius, written with baseball superstar Derek Jeter. Before the Survivor reality shows hit the TV screens, the concept of deserted island survival was explored by William Golding in his book The Lord of the Flies. In this story, an undisclosed war evacuation attempt has left a group of upper-class children stranded on an uninhabited island. Feeling that they must reorganize in order to survive, the older members of the group attempt to create a structure by assigning roles and jobs. As might be expected with a preadolescence group of boys, power struggles, fear, anger, and general fatigue and hunger begin to take a toll on their plan to survive. The themes of this book have been discussed in length in language arts classes but this is worth a read just to ponder “What would I do if I were in this situation?” The City of Ember, by Jeanne DuPrau, is a post- apocalyptic, science fiction novel that tells the drastic measures a society had to take in order to survive. Now, they have lived for 200 years in an underground city only to realize it is crumbling all around them. A secret message sends two friends, Lina and Doon, on a quest to save not only themselves but all the others in the City of Ember. Their only hope is to escape – but the world above is unknown. Nylon magazine. This magazine was first published in 1999 and was designed to focus on art, beauty, music technology and travel. Taking its inspiration from two cultures “ny” for New York and “lon” for London, this magazine presents the hippest and freshest creative information on both continents. A spring issue in 2017 featured articles such as up and coming female artists, the popularity of The Handmaid’s Tale, actress Britt Robertson, musical group Loose Tooth, and what it is like to be 18 in America. There was even an article on “The Nylon Guide to Surviving Coachella.” Kristin Guay lives on Cape Cod with her husband, two daughters, and beloved black lab. A former middle school language arts teacher, she is currently Youth Services Director at Centerville Library.

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Jordan’s Walk/Run For Adoption Every child deserves a family. That’s the premise that has made hundreds of people lace up their sneakers and come together one day in May for the past eight years. The 9th Annual Jordan’s Walk/ Run for Adoption is in the works, slated for Sunday, May 20 at Jordan’s Furniture in Taunton. The event is put on annually by the furniture company, which is rooted in the adoption community, organizing and hosting many events to support adoption over the years. It benefits Massachusetts Adoption Resource Exchange, Inc. (MARE), a nonprofit that has helped children in foster care find their forever homes for over 60 years. There are currently more than 9,600 children who have been removed from their homes dues to abuse or neglect, and are in the foster care system in Massachusetts. Some will be reunited with birth parents or adopted by other family members, but more than 800 of them have nowhere to go and are waiting for a permanent family. This walk is for them. Raising money for MARE helps allow the organization fund programs for children in foster care that go beyond what state agencies can offer. MARE brings children to the attention of potential adoptive parents in positive and creative ways; and recruiting, supporting, and advocating for families throughout the adoption process. Jordan’s Walk/Run for Adoption event includes a 5K and an afterrace party featuring plenty of family fun – glitter tattoos, face painting, balloon artistry, arts and crafts, etc. Registration for each

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participant is $35. A reduced fee of $15 is available for children aged 3 - 12 Children under 3 are free. You can create your own team and set fundraising goals, although you

don’t have to fundraise to participate. More information and registration for the event is at jordanswalkforadoption.org.

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Adoption Info and Matching Events Ready to learn more about adoption? Join an information meeting in your area to hear directly from social workers and experienced families, have your questions answered, and receive an application. Sunday, April 15 – Western Mass. Adoption Party, InterSkate 91, 2043 Boston Rd., Wilbraham. Meet children waiting for adoption

and learn about adoption from foster care. For more information, call Anna Collins at 617-9646273 ext. 110. Monday, April 23 – DCF Canton Information Meeting, Canton Police Department Conference Room,1492 Washington St., Canton. 6-9 p.m.

If your group or organization is presenting a program for adoptive families, and you would like to include it in baystateparent magazine, please send information to amanda@baystateparent.com

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April’s Child: Jaycob

Hi! My name is Jaycob and I love to smile and give hugs! Jaycob is a charming, engaging and likeable boy of Caucasian descent who is quick to give hugs. Those who know him best say that he has a silly side and is remarkably kind. Recently, when he was at the doctor’s office he asked for extra stickers so that he could bring them back to the other children in his home. Jaycob loves playing with Matchbox cars, Pokémon, Beyblade toys and video games. Jaycob hopes one day to be a contestant on the television show Wipe-Out, where contestants have to navigate an obstacle course. He plays the video game version and believes that he could complete the course in real life if given the opportunity. Jaycob enjoys going to school, is academically on track, and gets along well with his peers. Legally freed for adoption, Jaycob will do best in a two-parent family. He is eager to live in a home with other children and will do best with children of a similar age or older. Can you provide the guidance, love and stability that a child needs? If you’re at least 18 years old, have a stable source of income, and room in your heart, you may be a perfect match to adopt a waiting child. Adoptive parents can be single, married, or partnered; experienced or not; renters or homeowners; LGBTQ singles and couples. The process to adopt a child from foster care requires training, interviews, and home visits to determine if adoption is right for you, and if so, to help connect you with a child or sibling group that your family will be a good match for. To learn more about adoption from foster care, call the Massachusetts Adoption Resource Exchange (MARE) at 617-6273 or visit www.mareinc.org. BAYSTATEPARENT 49

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For more information & free brochure, please visit: www.whalecamp.com SPACES FILL UP QUICK, REGISTER TODAY! 52 APRIL2018

Registrationisisnow nowOPEN, OPEN,visit visit Registration Registration is now OPEN, visit www.SummerFenn.org www.SummerFenn.org www.SummerFenn.org

A MEET The Winchendon School

ADVERTORIAL

n immersive summer learning experience for teens, The Winchen don School Summer Programs are designed to engage campers and provide a meaningful experience. The Winchendon School (TWS) is a student-centered, student-driven New England boarding school for grades 9 - 12, plus PG. Our immersive experience (we call them ColLABs) is perfect for exploring a single subject in a two-week session during the summer months. Located in the hills of the greater Monadnock Region, Winchendon, Massachusetts borders New Hampshire and sits in the shadow of Mount Monadnock. Encompassing more than 300-acres, a nine-hole, Donald Ross designed golf course, chickens, and an outdoor pizza oven, since 1926, The Winchendon School has been a leader in innovating education. Our students tackle real-world issues in fields of study that interest them. The Winchendon School Summer Programs is a place for curious, engaged teens eager to explore, learn, connect, and grow. Teens attending The

Winchendon School Summer Programs can expect to meet teens and faculty from different cultures and backgrounds while finding inspiration, creating, learning, and growing. This summer TWS is offering three different day and boarding programs for teens 13-19. Summer Immersives: A collection of three different boarding and day programs, two-week sessions where students can dive into subjects as diverse as Ancient Asian Block Printing, Fly Fishing 101, or go on a BioBlitz through New England (collecting data in the field and conducting original scientific research). Academic Math: Step up to the challenge of taking a whole year of Math over the summer. From Pre-Algebra through Pre-Calculus teens can earn credit in our six-week course. Classes are held in the morning for day and boarding students. In the afternoon, boarding students explore the region in fun afternoon activities. English for Speakers of Other Languages: This Is The Right Course For You If: You are an English Language

Learner with a minimum TOEFL score of 40. You are interested in making the transition from a school in your home country to an American boarding school. You want to learn more about American culture and experience an American style summer with trips to the beach and exploring New England.

CAMP DATES Summer Immersive 2018 Dates Day and Residential Program (Residential campers arrive on the preceding Sunday, camps begin on Monday) Session 1: Sunday, June 24th Friday, July 6th Session 2: Sunday, July 8th Friday, July 20th Session 3: Sunday, July 22nd Friday, August 3rd

CONTACT INFO summer@winchendon.org 978.297.7808 www.winchendon.org/summer

BAYSTATEPARENT 53

I MEET Language & Culture ADVERTORIAL

Summer Immersion Academy

54 APRIL2018

t’s never too early to begin learning a second language. In fact, studies have shown that the childhood years are the best for learning a language. Learning a second language can grow children’s brains, boost their abilities in their native language, increase out-of-the-box thinking and memory, and increase problem-solving skills. Language can shape the way we think, and this is particularly true for children. Global Connect Forum is proud to provide a true immersion experience for children ages 5-12 learning Spanish, French, Italian, Mandarin Chinese, and Japanese through the Language & Culture Summer Immersion Academy (LCSIA) in the year 2018. The goal of this program is to give children a fun experience in language learning, and to endow them with the perspective of being a world citizen, as well as to prepare children with the cultural sensitivity and knowledge needed for success in today’s globalized world. A four-week session in a foreign language program

and daily cultural activities expose students to a variety of cultures, while also providing specialized language training. Learning and experiencing the art, songs, games, crafts, outdoor activities, customs, festivals, and traditions from various countries provides students with a broad and culturally diverse experience. All kids will also enjoy the traditional summer fun and activities that is a part of this great experience! The program will be held at Anna Maria College’s beautiful campus in Paxton, Massachusetts. The fully air-conditioned facilities and expansive outdoor recreational spaces provide the students with a great environment to learn and to enjoy. LCSIA is pleased to welcome your child on their thrilling journey into language and culture. Join us this summer for a language immersion program and a month filled with unforgettable experiences and new friendships. To apply, please fill out our online application and submit it along with your payment. For more information about the program and registra-

tion, please visit the website at www.GlobalConnectForum.com.

A TYPICAL DAY • 9 AM-12 PM: Language immersion (Delight in the 3-hour session of your choice in Spanish, French, Mandarin Chinese, Japanese, or Italian) • 12-1 PM: Lunchtime • 1-4 PM: Multicultural Activities

PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS • Languages: Choose from Spanish, French, Chinese, Japanese, Italian • Ages: 5-12 years old • Program Season: July 9August 3, 2018 • Location: Anna Maria College (50 Sunset Ln, Paxton, MA 01612) • Daily Schedule: 9AM-4 PM • Before & After Care available with a fee: - AM Extended Care 7:30-9 AM - PM Extended Care 4-6 PM

CONTACT INFO Phone: 508-466-8274 Email: INFO@GCF-MA.COM

REAL WORLD LEARNING | SERIOUS FUN

JUNE 24TH - AUGUST 3RD

Grades 7-12, Ages 13-19 Register by May 1st for early bird discounts. Acting, Art, and Outdoor Adventure immersive programs designed for ages 13 - 19; or choose to earn credit through our academic programs.

Email: summer@winchendon.org Phone: 978-297-7808 Visit: winchendon.org/summer

The #1 Summer STEM Camp for Ages 7–18 Empower your child to take their STEM skills to the next level. From coding and game development to robotics and design, your child will develop in-demand skills and ignite lifelong passions—all within a fun, inclusive environment. Get ready for the best summer ever!

CAMPS & ACADEMIES

Get a brochure and ﬁnd a camp near you! iDTechCamps.com | 1-844-788-1858 BAYSTATEPARENT 55

A GOOD PARTY IS ALWAYS IN SEASON “Hands on Science” offers science programs that are interactive, educational and fun for the whole family. As a wacky energetic scientist, “Kosmic Kelly” uses creative ideas to engage children on variety of topics. Learn the science behindfizzing rainbow volcanos, elephant toothpaste, “Albert Eggstein”, CO2 gas, burping beakers, bubble snakes, and much much more!

Book Ahead!

Big Joe

arties, Birthday Pstivals, Fairs & FeCamps Schools,

www.kosmickelly.com 978-320-7249 kosmickelly@yahoo.com

the Storyteller

Storytelling fun for Birthday Parties, Schools, Daycare Centers, Library Programs, Special Events and TV Featuring: • Original & Classic Stories • Puppets, Props and Surprises For Bookings and Info Call: 617-713-4349 E-mail: BigJoe@BigJoe.com Visit me on the web at: www.BigJoe.com

All Ages. Birthday Parties, Schools, Fairs, Day Care Centers, Etc.

www.rosalitaspuppets.com 617-633-2832 56 APRIL2018

nE du c

Presenting puppets, princesses, pirates, storytelling and much more! Call today for more information

New England’s #1 Traveling Animal Show

ational Exper

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• Birthday Parties • Corporate Events • Dinosaur Shows • Fairs & Festivals

• Field Trips • Petting Zoo’s • Schools • Camps • Scout Meetings

Animal Adventures Rescue & Science Center Open Year Round 336 Sugar Rd., Bolton, MA • 01740 978-779-8988 • www.animaladventures.net

April

INDEX

RESERVE YOUR PARTY PAGE AD TODAY email regina@ baystateparent.com

Birthday Parties Bounce Houses Magic Entertainment Interactive Games and More

Walter Derosier, Mr. Magic 149 Memorial Drive, Shrewsbury, MA • 508-842-2177 • magicworldamuse.com

Adam Perri Photography........................................................15 Animal Adventures................................................................56 Avidia Bank...........................................................................43 Big Joe Productions...............................................................56 Big Y Foods, Inc.....................................................................13 Boch Performing Arts Center..................................................24 Boston Conservatory (The).....................................................19 Boston Paintball....................................................................56 Camp Clio..............................................................................54 Central Mass Pop Warner.......................................................15 Cornerstone Academy..............................................................2 Davis Farmland.....................................................................20 Discovery Museums...............................................................24 Ecotarium...........................................................................6,53 Fletcher Tilton PC...................................................................14 FMC Ice Sports.........................................................................4 Framingham State University.................................................35 Global Connect Forum.......................................................50,54 Gymnastics Learning Center...................................................26 Harrington Oil.......................................................................38 Heywood Hospital..................................................................28 Hillside School.......................................................................43 ID Tech..................................................................................55 Kosmic Kelly..........................................................................56 Legoland Discovery Center Boston..........................................23 Magic World..........................................................................57 Mall At Whitney Field...............................................................8 Mary Baker Eddy Library (The)..............................................47 Massachusetts Mom and Baby Expo........................................19 Mediation Advantage.............................................................39 Mike’s Moonwalk Rentals.......................................................57 Millbury Federal Credit Union.................................................38 N. Suburban Parents of Multiples...........................................18 National Inventors Hall of Fame........................................47,51 Old Sturbridge Village............................................................21 Reliant Medical Group............................................................40 Riverbend School...................................................................51 Rosalita’s Puppets..................................................................56 Sholan Farms........................................................................10 Shrewsbury Children’s Center.................................................48 St. Vincent Hospital..................................................................3 Summer Fenn/The Fenn School..............................................52 The Children’s Workshop........................................................55 The Learning Zone.................................................................26 UMass Memorial Medical Center...................................18,39,60 Wachusett Theatre Company....................................................5 Wayside Athletic Club.............................................................51 Whale Camp..........................................................................52 Winchendon School...........................................................53,55 Worcester Art Museum......................................................27,48 Worcester JCC........................................................................50 WXLO....................................................................................25 YMCA Central Branch.............................................................53 BAYSTATEPARENT 57

TAKE EIGHT

with Shawn Colvin

Grammy-winning singer-songwriter Shawn Colvin has a new album out, and it’s one you can enjoy with your kids. “The Starlighter” is made up of songs adapted from the children’s music book Lullabies and Night Songs, which the “Sonny Came Home” songstress first encountered when she was 8 years old. Recently, she performed songs from “The Starlighter” at the Boston Children’s Museum KidStage Theater. The record, and its corresponding music videos, are available on Amazon Music. Colvin is currently on tour – for grown ups -- with Lyle Lovett.

Other than being a lullaby record, how is “The Starlighter” different than most of your other albums? A lot of the instrumentation is different. Many of the songs are primarily piano, whereas most of my other records are acoustic guitar based. There are a lot of strings as well. Certain song have arrangements that are a little jazzy - definitely a departure for me.

Lullabies and Night Songs has helped inspire two of your albums now: “Holiday Songs and Lullabies,” and now this follow-up record. Why does this book have a special meaning to you? That book has meant so much to me over the years. It was published in 1965 - my parents gave it to me not long after that. I was a piano player back then. I started learning the songs in the book and was immediately taken with the beautiful arrangements composed by Alec Wilder.

How did you chose the selections from Lullabies and Night Songs to adapt for this new record? And how did you put your signature on them? I simply went with songs I hadn’t done for “Holiday Songs and Lullabies,” and there were plenty of them. It wasn’t hard to choose them, I love them all. Some I did end up doing on acoustic guitar which is generally my signature sound.

What do you hope people take away from “The Starlighter?” Hopefully they’ll be moved by the sheer beauty of it. There isn’t a message in it. It’s simply lullabies but I do think folks of all ages will enjoy it.

How has being a mother shaped your music? Oh, it’s shaped my music and my process in many ways. First of all, I had to improve my time management skills. Less so now because my daughter is grown and on her own. Also, I found that lyrically I tended to move away from romantic drama and embrace other subjects in my life and create more fiction in my writing. And, of course, my daughter has inspired me in countless ways and that comes out in the writing, too. In fact, I just finished writing a song about her.

You marked the 20th anniversary of the release of “A Few Small Repairs” with an expanded re-release and a U.S. tour. What was it like to revisit that album two decades later? It was a complete pleasure to study and perform that record. People seem to think that it might be difficult to re-experience some emotions in the songs, but for me it really is the quality of the material and how proud I am of it.

Now you’re on tour sharing the stage with old friend Lyle Lovett. What can fans expect? Lyle and I have known each other for years and have lots of experience playing shows together and singing on each other’s records. We’ll be together onstage the whole night. There are bound to be some good stories, collaborations, and a lot of laughs.

If you could give three words of advice to a young musician, what would they be? How about four? Do what you love. 58 APRIL2018

WHO’S THE MOST amazing woman YOU KNOW? baystateparent is highlighting female game-changers in our upcoming Power of Women issue. From moms affecting change in their communities, to women inventors and entrepreneurs, to ladies who aren’t afraid of going against the grain – we’re celebrating all kinds of wonderful women. Know a local lady who would be a perfect fit? Email editor@baystateparent.com and tell us why along with a recent photo.

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START A LIFETIME OF GOOD HEALTH WITH US Eating right and exercising are two keys to staying healthy. UMass Memorial would like to add one more to that list – finding a good primary care physician. With our network of doctors at more than 80 locations throughout Central Massachusetts, finding the right primary care physician is simple. • Care for the whole family with the largest adult and pediatric primary care network in the region • Referral to highly specialized care at our nationally recognized UMass Memorial Medical Center

Find your physician by calling 855-UMASS-MD (855-862-7763) www.umassmemorial.org/mypcp UMass Memorial - Community Healthlink | UMass Memorial HealthAlliance-Clinton Hospital UMass Memorial - Marlborough Hospital | UMass Memorial Medical Center | UMass Memorial Medical Group 60 APRIL2018