One Book/One Hopkinton

Programs by Age Group

All programs are at Hopkinton Public Library unless otherwise noted and may require registration

Jump to Programs for:

Adult

Suitcase: A True and Inspiring American Dream Story, by D.N. Chadha
Tuesday, September 26th
6:30 PM – 7:30 PM

Join us for an engaging evening with D.N. Chadha, Hopkinton resident and author of Suitcase: A True and Inspiring American Dream Story

Mr. Chadha is not a rich businessman or famous celebrity but an ordinary man who came to America with only a Suitcase. His story is the story of all Immigrants who came to America with only a suitcase and some extraordinary dreams. He desired to succeed in his career, business, and education in order to have a better life for himself and his family in America. His story reveals how he achieved success with focus, hard work, passion, and confidence despite many challenges, difficulties, and failures. Importantly, these elements of success can be applied to everyone’s life. Suitcase goes beyond the milestones achieved in Mr. Chadha’s professional life to explore the meaning of the American Dream. This event is appropriate for adults.

Mr. Chadha has passion for politics and has been engaged in multiple state and federal political campaigns.  He was President of the India Association of Greater Boston, served on the Massachusetts Minority Business Oversight Committee, and earned recognition from President Barack Obama, Governor Deval Patrick, Governor Mike Dukakis and Congressman Barney Frank. He was also the first Vice President of the Hopkinton Lions Club from 2019-2022.

The Fabric of Fusion – One of Many, Many to One
Saturday, September 30th
3:00 PM – 4:00 PM

In the novel, Digging to America, the Donaldsons and Yazdans grapple with the topic of assimilation vs. integration as they go about raising their Korean-born daughters. Join members of the South Asian Circle of Hopkinton for a lively panel discussion across many facets of life that require locating or living a part of your life away from a country and origin or working within family structures that belong to different locations in one’s formative years and onwards. 

We will cover family dynamics, parenting, aging, happiness, financial perspectives, and overall evolution of individual minds grappling with multiple geographies, cultures and perspectives and yet…dig deeper into happiness as an outcome each chases in their unique manner. 

Information Session on Fostering and Adopting in the State of Massachusetts
Tuesday, October 17th
6:00 PM – 7:30 PM

To foster a child, you can be singled, partnered, divorced or widowed, and can rent or own your own home. Time spent with you in a stable environment gives a child a chance to heal. The rewards of providing daily care, guidance, and acceptance to a child are immeasurable. Come learn from staff from the Massachusetts Department of Children & Families about how to foster and/or adopt here in the Commonwealth.

Adult Take & Make: Origami Diya for Diwali
Pickup Starts Monday, November 10th

Adults are invited to pick up a kit to make origami Diya to celebrate Diwali! 

Many of Hopkinton’s residents have brought with them the tradition of celebrating Diwali, the Hindu Festival of Light. Diya are lamps that are lit to celebrate the victory of good over evil. This craft honors the traditions that our Hindu neighbors have brought with them to their new home. 

Thanks to the Friends of the Library for sponsoring this event.

Adult Take & Make: Fondant Leaf Cupcake Toppers for Thanksgiving
Pickup Starts Tuesday, November 14th

Adults are invited to pick up a kit to make fondant leaf toppers for cupcakes!

Thanksgiving is a quintessentially American holiday. While many other countries celebrate Thanksgiving, including Canada, Liberia, and unofficial celebrations in Brazil and the Philippines, Massachusetts has a strong tradition of Thanksgiving celebrations dating back to its first white immigrants, the Pilgrims. Modern immigrants to Massachusetts and the United States as a whole must decide whether or how they and their families will celebrate these new holidays. This craft honors the traditions that Massachusetts offers to its newest residents.

Thanks to the Friends of the Library for sponsoring this event.

Adult & Teen

Genealogy with Eric Migdal: Ethnicity and Migration

Tuesday, October 3rd
6:30 PM – 7:30 PM

Join us online for an evening of genealogy with Eric Migdal of It’s All Relative Genealogy. Eric will take us through tracing relatives via ethnicity and migration. Migration can prove challenging to trace, especially when names shift in pronunciation or spelling, or are translated across languages or alphabets. Accessing records in far away localities can prove difficult, especially when the records are not digitized, or are not in a language that the researcher can read. Ethnicity can also become diluted after multiple generations, creating further challenges. Eric will also talk about Boolean Search Terms and cover some history of ethnic migration in the United States. This program requires registration and is appropriate for older teens and adults with an interest in genealogy.

Pesky Pronouns and a Drowning Dog: Adventures in Translating Fiction with Dave Dollenmayer
Tuesday, October 24th
6:30 PM – 7:30 PM

For such a seemingly straightforward and innocent part of speech, pronouns have been in the news a lot lately. What happens when a whole story hinges on pronouns that English doesn’t even have? Come and hear translator David Dollenmayer describe his pronoun adventures when translating from German into English.

David is a retired professor of German at Worcester Polytechnic Institute, a Hopkinton Public Library trustee, and an active translator. He and his family have lived in Hopkinton since 1978. This program is appropriate for older teens and adults.

Make Your Own Korean Lantern with the Korean Spirit & Culture Promotion Project
Saturday, November 4th
3:00 PM – 4:00 PM

In celebration of Korean culture, we will be joining the Korean Spirit & Culture Promotion Project for an afternoon of crafting. Make your own Korean flower lantern and learn about Korean culture as you craft. 

The presenter will be remote. Visit www.kscpp.net for information on KSCPP.

This program is appropriate for older teens and adults. Registration is required.

Genealogy with Eric Migdal: Adoption
Tuesday, November 7th
6:30 PM – 7:30 PM
[Virtual]

Join us online for an evening of genealogy with Eric Migdal of It’s All Relative Genealogy. Eric will teach us how to search for relatives when you or the focus of your genealogy search is adopted. As an adoptee, Migdal spent many years searching for his biological family with very few results. His starting information was wrong and the assumptions he made were also incorrect; he did DNA testing, family tree building and extensive research to assist him with finding the truth about his family, which ultimately led him to the correct information. Migdal began assisting others in their search for biological family, building and verifying family trees and conducting research to answer the questions most important to his clients. This program is appropriate for older teens and adults with an interest in genealogy.

Japchae, Traditional Korean Dish with the Korean Spirit & Culture Promotion Project
Saturday, November 18th
3:00 PM – 4:00 PM
[Virtual]

Please join us for an online cooking lesson with KSCPP on how to prepare Japchae (Potato starch noodles with various vegetables), with step-by-step instructions via Zoom. In addition to the cooking lesson, KSCPP will explain the health benefits of traditional Korean meals and will provide a short documentary film on Bangjja, traditional Korean bronzeware. Please visit our website for more participation information. This program is appropriate for adults and teens old enough to cook on their own. Families are welcome to view and cook together.

All Ages

Kathakas: Dancing Rhythms and Stories of India
Saturday, September 23rd   
3:30 PM – 4:30 PM
Hopkinton Family Day, Outdoor Stage Hopkinton High School Campus

The ancient art of Kathak is one of the eight forms of classical Indian dance. Its name comes from the Sanskrit word for “story.” Kathak dancers use swift and precise footwork and graceful gestures to tell traditional Indian stories. Through movement, music and math, Kathakas perform “Kathak Yoga” – a technique which unifies the recitation of taal (rhythm), the singing of a melody and the dancing of complex footwork and rapid spins. Students will learn to count out complex poly-rythmns to help the dancer keep time, and a few volunteers may learn some basic Indian dance steps. This is a family program where all ages are welcome to participate.

This program is funded, in part, by a Talk Story grant provided by the American Library Association.

Traditions of Chinese Acrobatics: Acrobatic Performance with Li Liu
Saturday, October 21st
1:00 PM – 2:00 PM

Traditions of Chinese Acrobatics is a one-woman acrobatic performance. Li Liu performs hand balancing, plate spinning, ribbon dancing, diabolos and foot juggling. A limited number of volunteers get to join her on stage to create an impromptu ribbon dance, and also to try their hand at plate spinning. Educational connections are made with the Chinese language and culture. Li explains some of the rituals of Chinese New Year, teaches the audience some basic Chinese phrases, and encourages them to think about what it might have been like to grow up in a different time and place. Li’s Ideal audience is all ages!

Coffee House: Josee Vachon, French Canadian Singer and Musician
Saturday, October 21st
3:00 PM – 4:00 PM

Join us for a coffee house-style concert (with juice provided for the wee ones) from renowned French-Canadian  singer and musician, Josee Vachon. This family performance will feature songs in French, English, and Spanish.  All are welcome, and families are encouraged to enjoy the music together.  During our celebration of multiculturalism through One Book/One Hopkinton, we will explore cultures of the people who have settled in Hopkinton.  Many French Canadian people came to Hopkinton to seek employment opportunities in our factories.  Over 1 million French-Canadian immigrants came to New England from 1840-1930. Although many settled in the larger factory towns such as Lowell, MA and Manchester, NH, 1 in 5 New Englanders descends from those French-Canadians.  Josee will help us connect to those immigrants through traditional and interactive songs.  

Time to Spout Off Pottery
Saturday, October 28th
1:00 PM – 2:30 PM

Join us for an interactive pottery event with the Pied Potter Hamelin. This workshop is a celebration of the similarities and differences experienced with many cultures by way of a pot of tea. The history of teapots will take shape on the potter’s wheel. Rick will introduce teapots from the Middle East, the Orient, Europe and the Americas. Brown Betty teapots, ring teapots and teapots filled from the bottom and a surprise ANIMAL teapot will be made on the potter’s wheel. We will be passing from person to person a freshly made pot from the potter’s wheel and the chance to feel a dry and wet pot as it rotates on the wheel.  Additionally, participants will be able to make their own clay pinch pot.  No experience needed! This program is appropriate for tweens, teens, and adults.  

Children

October StoryWalk®: “Ten Little Eggs: A Celebration of Family”
The Entire Month of October

Stop by the library to visit our outdoor October StoryWalk® honoring One Book/One Hopkinton. The book of the month is Ten Little Eggs: A Celebration of Family by Jess Mikhail. The publisher states, “Ten Little Eggs celebrates springtime and the bond between a parent and child. With sweet and silly read-aloud rhymes and adorable illustrations, this book reminds readers that families come in all shapes and sizes, but what holds them together is love.” The StoryWalk® is located on the back lot of the library (adjacent to the parking lot) and can be accessed any time of day. 

The StoryWalk® Project was created by Anne Ferguson of Montpelier, VT and developed in collaboration with the Kellogg-Hubbard Library. Storywalk® is a registered service mark owned by Ms. Ferguson.

Baby-Toddler Storytime
Tuesday & Wednesday Mornings

Tuesdays @ 10:00 AM on

October 3, 10, 17, & 24

Wednesdays @ 10:00 AM on

October 11, 18, & 25

Each month Baby-Toddler Storytime has a theme, and October’s theme will be “Love & Family.” While each week will feature the same songs/rhymes to build consistency and familiarity for little ones and their caregivers, each week will feature a different book relevant to the theme. Each storytime also features…bubbles! Baby-Toddler Storytimes are held on Tuesday (“Sensory-Friendly”) and Wednesdays (check the library’s calendar for availability and to register.

Preschool Storytime
Tuesday, October 17th
11:00 AM – 11:30 AM [Sensory-Friendly]
and
Wednesday, October 18th
11:00 AM – 11:30 AM

Join us for a Preschool Storytime celebrating family in honor of One Book/One Hopkinton. Preschool storytime is typically enjoyed by children ages 3-6 and their caregivers. This storytime will feature 1-2 stories about family, a thematic song, bubbles, and a picture frame craft.

Monthly Music & Movement featuring Shon Gordon
Wednesday October 4th
10:30 AM – 11:15 AM

The Children’s Department hosts a monthly Music & Movement program featuring a variety of musicians. October’s musician will be Shon Gordon who will focus his musical set on songs celebrating family in honor of One Book/One Hopkinton. This program is typically enjoyed by patrons between the ages of 0-5. Kids and their caregivers enjoy singing along and dancing…and maybe even some bubbles! 
Music & Movement is generously supported by the Hopkinton Public Library Foundation