"Buddy the Brain" reading & book signing at Barnes & Nobles, June 13

Via Ali Rheaume

"Save the date and come have some fun with Buddy and I for an upcoming Barnes & Noble's Saturday Storytime!!

The book and associated activities are mindfully created accessibly. If any additional reasonable accommodations are needed, please reach out to me any time.

Buddy the Brain at Barnes & Noble

June 13 at 10:00 AM

Location: Barnes & Noble at Stallbrook Marketplace, 270 Hartford Avenue, Bellingham, MA

Special live author reading and signing, as well as coloring fun!!

ASL and braille available during author reading

Photo of author Ali, a white female with long curly dirty blonde hair and navy blue glasses, wearing a pink sweater and holding her book Buddy the Brain. Additional photos of Buddy the Brain coloring pages and a pink crayon.

Hashtags: #childrensauthor #author #children #braininjury #accessibility"

Shared from 

https://www.facebook.com/share/1Hq9DptQ8K/

Mass Senate: We Must Fight Back Against Book Bans

Note, this was edited for publication here, to view the full set of content follow this link - https://masenate.substack.com/p/we-must-fight-back-against-book-bans?publication_id=5356564&post_id=195347225&triedRedirect=true

We have the opportunity to protect the next generation’s ability to think, question, and become fully themselves. Our values as a Commonwealth demand we take it.

͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­

	Forwarded this email? Subscribe here for more We Must Fight Back Against Book Bans We have the opportunity to protect the next generation’s ability to think, question, and become fully themselves. Our values as a Commonwealth demand we take it. Julian Cyr Apr 24 ∙ Guest post   READ IN APP   State Senator Julian Cyr speaks at a press conference featuring lawmakers, advocates, writers and librarians in support of his Protect Free Expression bill. Before I ever held elected office—before I understood the mechanics of government or the levers of policy—I was a high school student on Cape Cod trying to make sense of the world around me. At Nauset Regional High School in Eastham, I first got involved in organizing by speaking up with my classmates to protect the arts programs and teachers who helped shape who we were and who we’d become. Senator Julian Cyr as a teen. That experience taught me something I’ve carried ever since: young people deserve to be trusted with complexity, not shielded from it. Books are a fundamental part of that. The books I read in my teens gave me language for things I didn’t yet fully understand, and perspective on lives that looked different from my own. Books helped me ask questions, challenge assumptions, and, over time, better understand myself. That’s why I find the current wave of book ban efforts so troubling and so fundamentally at odds with what education—and our democracy—is supposed to be. Thanks for reading The Gavel Drop! This post is public so feel free to share it. Share <                                                         > What Happens Next An Act regarding freedom of expression is awaiting action in the House of Representatives. If passed by the House, any differences between the House and Senate versions will need to be reconciled—most likely in a conference committee—before the bill heads to Governor Healey’s desk for her review and signature. For Your Consideration If preventing politically-motivated book bans is important to you, please: Learn more in the Senate Press Room. Keep an eye on the House of Representatives for further action on this bill. Contact your State Senator to voice your support. Follow the bill on the Massachusetts Legislature website. Share this update with others! Share Get more from The Massachusetts State Senate in the Substack app Available for iOS and Android A guest post by Julian Cyr State Senator for Cape Cod, Martha’s Vineyard & Nantucket. Subscribe to receive The Gavel Drop in your inbox for FREE news and insights directly from the Massachusetts State Senate Subscribed   Like Comment Restack   © 2026 Massachusetts State Senate Massachusetts State House, 24 Beacon Street Boston, MA 02133 Unsubscribe

Unboxing books from the wishlist at Franklin Middle School (video)

via Erin O'Leary

"Thank you to all of our friends in Franklin who have purchased new books for our middle school! Let's see what's in box #1

To support our wishlist, visit:    https://bookshop.org/wishlists/79f98bd86f715dae8789b3296edd63ebd92ef1ea"

video link -> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uAusFTMmnzc

Library events for the rest of this week !!

Library events for the rest of this week !!

Sunny week of summer before the weekend hits!

Ants on a Log Concert W 7-23 10:30AM 

Dom Debaggis Concert W 7-23 6PM 

Puzzle Mania Th 7-24 5PM 

JUNTO Th 7-24 6:30PM 

Library Lawn Games F 7-25 2PM 

Painting for Adults Sa 7-26 1PM

Shared from -> https://www.facebook.com/share/16puC6kYnv/

Community through books - monthly discussions at the Franklin Public Library

Community through books - monthly
discussions at the Franklin Public Library

Summer in Franklin is vibrant! Join us for fun events this week - check out the details in our weekly Franklin Culture Eblast

Shared from -> https://www.instagram.com/p/DLUkIwNuEmY/

New Reading Challenge for Massachusetts Students

New Reading Challenge for Massachusetts Students

There is a New Reading Challenge for Massachusetts Students!

Check out the rules and sign up at MassBook.org ->   https://www.massbook.org/student-reading-challenge

Shared from ->   https://www.instagram.com/p/DKaA6r7RyGM/

There is also an Adult Reading challenge. Details here ->   https://www.massbook.org/readingchallenge

Middle School Summer Reading 2025: "Meet Me in the Middle"

"Meet Me in the Middle"

See the FLYER for all you need to know about Middle School Summer Reading 2025!

For more information about the FMS Summer Reading program, watch Ms. O'Leary's video ->   https://go.screenpal.com/watch/cTh32zn6rfV

Translated flyer

Additional Titles Translated

Shared from ->   https://www.franklinps.net/o/hmms/article/2230185

Flyer -> https://core-docs.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/documents/asset/uploaded_file/4780/FPSD/5681128/FMS_summer_reading_flyer_final.pdf

Caleigh, Erin & I had a blast talking about BLAST (audio)

FM #1434 = This is the Franklin Matters radio show, number 1434 in the series. 

This session shares my conversation about the origin story of BLAST - Bringing Libraries and Schools Together. We talk with Erin O’Leary and Caleigh Keating, the collaborators who start with “Yes” and then figure it out. We recorded this conversation virtually on Thursday, April 17, 2025. 

• Caleigh Keating, Youth Services Librarian

• Erin O’Leary, Reading Specialist at Horace Mann Middle School

We cover the following in our conversation

• The origin story

• A ‘free’ service but dependent upon the override passing

• Middle school and elementary school coordination

• How redistricting will simplify the operations

• Summer reading kickoffs being planned for

The recording runs about 32 minutes. Audio link -> https://franklin-ma-matters.captivate.fm/episode/fm-1434-blast-fun-04-17-25/

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Franklin Public Library page -> https://www.franklinma.gov/233/Franklin-Public-Library 

Erin O’Leary email address -> olearye@franklinps.net 

Caleigh Keating email address -> ckeating@minlib.net 

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We are now producing this in collaboration with Franklin.TV and Franklin Public Radio (wfpr.fm) or 102.9 on the Franklin area radio dial. 

This podcast is my public service effort for Franklin but we can't do it alone. We can always use your help.

How can you help?

• If you can use the information that you find here, please tell your friends and neighbors

• If you don't like something here, please let me know 

• And if you have interest in reporting on meetings or events, please reach out. We’ll share and show you what and how we do what we do

Through this feedback loop we can continue to make improvements. I thank you for listening.

For additional information, please visit Franklinmatters.org/  or www.franklin.news 

If you have questions or comments you can reach me directly at shersteve @ gmail dot com

The music for the intro and exit was provided by Michael Clark and the group "East of Shirley". The piece is titled "Ernesto, manana"  c. Michael Clark & Tintype Tunes, 2008 and used with their permission.

I hope you enjoy!

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You can also subscribe and listen to Franklin Matters audio on iTunes or your favorite podcast app; search in "podcasts" for "Franklin Matters"

 

BLAST is referenced in the Strategic Plan