by Beverly Ewart
If you are someone who is encouraged by the heroism of ordinary people, or you are looking for a young person who might be a role-model for the young person in your life, check out Dear World by Bana Al Abed.
Through no fault of theirs, 3-year-old Bana and her family were caught up in the battle for Aleppo, Syria from 2012 to 2016. Her biography gives a harrowing account of what it is like to live in a besieged city from the perspective of a very young child. Bana’s mother contributed her own perspective to Bana’s book, knitting Bana’s narrative together with her own beautifully written, heart-wrenching account of besieged life from the perspective of a mother.
Bana made a name for herself (and brought the wrath of the Syrian government down upon herself and her family) by tweeting about her experiences and calling for help on Twitter during the siege of Aleppo. Her tweets brought the plight of the besieged citizens to the notice of the outside world, eventually resulting in exodus to a safe haven in Turkey for Bana, her family, and other fortunate survivors.
Though Bana’s biography was published in 2018, she represents refugees from war-torn countries and the oppression of corrupt governments around the globe today.
Dear World… when will you learn?
- Dear World: My Story of War, My Plea for Peace by Bana al Abed. When seven-year-old Bana Alabed took to Twitter to describe the horrors she and her family were experiencing in war-torn Syria, her heartrending messages touched the world and gave a voice to millions of innocent children. ~ Publisher
CHILDREN’S PROGRAMS: Virtual Preschool Storytime happens Wednesdays at 10:30am. Join us!
We also invite you to check out the archive on our website to view one of the many virtual story times posted since April 2020. Scroll down the webpage for older content.
We will return to in-person children’s programming in July with the 2022 Summer Library Program: Oceans of Possibility! Stay tuned for details and registration information.
If you are finding yourself short on time, please remember that curbside service is still very much an option! Just give us a call or send an email, and we will pack up your books, check them out, and hand them to you from the front door of CFL. Hope to see you there!
PARDON OUR DUST: Our handicap-access ramp is closed to the public for renovation until further notice. We apologize for the inconvenience, but we think you will appreciate the improvements!
In terms of accessibility, we are slightly challenged at the moment; our lift is being belligerent, but we have the means to make it behave! If you need a lift to reach any of our floors, simply ring for assistance – the lift is safe, and we are glad to help.
MORLEY BRANCH is open on Tuesday 1pm-3pm; Wednesday 4pm-6pm; Thursday 10am-12pm. There is a computer available for your use, but it’s a good idea to call first to check on availability. Scheduled appointments are encouraged, but not required. Call for more details: 315-379-0066.
RENSSELAER FALLS BRANCH is open onTuesdays from 11am – 5pm. Children under age 12 must be with an adult. Call the library (315-344-4155) for additional information.
A great way to find out what’s happening at our Morley and Rensselaer Falls Branches is to check out their Facebook pages:
Morley: https://www.facebook.com/MorleyBranchLibrary
Rensselaer Falls: https://www.facebook.com/RensselaerFallsLibrary
Canton Free Library’s Hours: 9am-6pm Monday – Friday; 10am-3pm Saturday. For more CFL news, stay tuned on Facebook, Instagram, or our website. Find new additions to our collection on our website: cantonfreelibrary.org. To renew your current checkouts, login to ncls.org; you may also renew via email at canlib@ncls.org, or by calling (315) 386-3712 (choose option 1, “For curbside service” on the menu – we continue to offer curbside service for your convenience).
CFL is following CDC guidelines on masking.
Be inspired by young heroes @ your library!