Library to Partner With Lab of Ornithology for STEAM Book Club

Middle-graders are invited to explore science, technology, engineering, art and math through lively book discussions and hands-on activities during Tompkins County Public Library’s monthly STEAM Book Club.

Continuing Wednesday, April 27 with a discussion of “Wing Nut” by M.J. Auch, the STEAM Book Club will encourage area third, fourth and fifth graders to improve their understanding of current core competencies through critical thinking and book-related activities.

“Wing Nut” follows twelve-year-old Grady Flood and his mom, Lila, who have spent the seven years since Grady’s father died traveling.  When their old car breaks down, Grady and Lila find themselves stranded in rural Pennsylvania where Lila finds work as a cook and caretaker for eccentric mechanic and bird enthusiast, Old Charlie Fernwald—a certifiable “wing nut.”  Grady’s plans to help with Charlie’s birds and learn to fix an engine are stalled when something goes terribly wrong.

Following the book discussion, club participants will explore backyard birding with a hands-on activity facilitated by Chelsea Benson of Cornell University’s Lab of Ornithology. The STEAM Book Club is free and open to all third, fourth and fifth graders. April’s program will be held from 3:45 to 4:45 p.m. in the Library’s Thaler/Howell Programming Room.

Copies of “Wing Nut” can be picked up at the Youth Services Reference Desk.

For more information or to register, contact Kate DeVoe at (607) 272-4557 extension 277 or kdevoe@tcpl.org.

Funding for STEAM programming is provided by the Ujeni Grants for Advancing Public Education Fund of the Community Foundation of Tompkins County and the Erin Aljoe Schlather Dedicated Memorial Fund of the Community Foundation of Tompkins County.