As we noted in the June 2015 issue of the Connells Maple Lee Kids Club newsletter, Buds, it’s important to keep reading and learning even during summer vacation. Here’s an expanded version of a list of books that families can read aloud together that we touched on in Buds, courtesy of our friends at Bexley Public Library:
“Mr. Popper’s Penguins” by Richard and Florence Atwater
The unexpected delivery of a large crate containing an Antarctic penguin changes the life and fortunes of Mr. Popper, a house painter obsessed by dreams of the Polar regions.
“The End of the Beginning” by Avi
Avon the snail and Edward, a take-charge ant, set off together on a journey to an undetermined destination in search of unspecified adventures.
“The Penderwicks” by Jeanne Birdsall
While vacationing with their father in the Berkshire Mountains, four lovable sisters, ages four through twelve, share adventures with a local boy, much to the dismay of his snobbish mother.
“A Bear Called Paddington” by Michael Bond
A very small bear found by Mr. and Mrs. Brown at Paddington Station becomes a member of the family.
“The Mouse and the Motorcycle” by Beverly Cleary
A reckless young mouse named Ralph makes friends with a boy in room 215 of the Mountain View Inn and discovers the joys of motorcycling.
“My Father’s Dragon” by Ruth Stiles Gannett
A young boy runs away from home to rescue an abused baby dragon held captive to serve as a free 24-hour, seven-days-a-week ferry for the lazy wild animals living on Wild Island.
“The Year of Billy Miller” by Kevin Henkes
Seven-year-old Billy Miller starts second grade with a bump on his head and a lot of worries, but by the end of the year he has developed good relationships with his teacher, his little sister, and his parents and has learned many important lessons.
“Toys Go Out” by Emily Jenkins
Lumphy is a stuffed buffalo. StingRay is a stuffed stingray. And Plastic… well, Plastic isn’t quite sure what she is. They all belong to the Little Girl who lives on the high bed with the fluffy pillows. A very nice person to belong to.
“Pippi Longstocking” by Astrid Lindgren
Annalina’s diary entries reflect her feelings and experiences as she goes from being afraid to go to kindergarten to loving it during her first month of school.
“Gooney Bird Greene” by Lois Lowry
A most unusual new student who loves to be the center of attention entertains her teacher and fellow second graders by telling absolutely true stories about herself, including how she got her name.
“Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle” by Betty MacDonald
From her upside-down house, the eccentric Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle issues to parents her marvelous cures for such common children’s diseases as Won’t-Put-Away-Toys-itis, Answerbackism, and Fighter-Quarrelitis.
“The World of Winnie-the-Pooh” by A.A. Milne
The world of Pooh is a world of enchantment. It is a world where Winnie-the-Pooh and his friends Piglet, Eeyore, Tigger, Kanga and the others share unforgettable adventures with Christopher Robin.
Category: Community Involvement
Connells Maple Lee Kids Club birthday card design contest runs now through July 17
We’re looking for budding artists to enter our annual birthday card design contest.
The winning design will adorn the Connells Maple Lee Kids Club birthday card, which will be emailed to all kids club members on their birthdays. (You can see last year’s winning card to the left.)
The artist will receive free flowers on his or her birthday.
The contest is open to children ages 5 to 12. The deadline to enter is July 17.
The entry form may be downloaded at www.cmlflowers.com/kidsclub and dropped off at the nearest Connells Maple Lee: 2408 E. Main St. (Route 40), Bexley, 614-237-8653; 2033 Stringtown Road, Grove City, 614-539-4000; and 8573 Owenfield Drive, Powell, 740-548-4082.
Connells Maple Lee Kids Club event June 20 to kick off annual ‘Stems Hunger’ food drive
Our annual food drive – Connells Maple Lee Stems Hunger – will take place June 20-27 to benefit the Mid-Ohio Foodbank.
Connells Maple Lee Kids Club will help out with a special event on June 20 for children ages 5 to 12.
They are asked to donate a non-perishable food item as the price of admission and to bring an empty food can to fill with flowers and take home.
Participants also will have an opportunity to enter the kids club’s birthday card design contest and to create a Father’s Day card.
Time slots are available at 10 a.m., 2 p.m. and 3 p.m.
Registration is required by calling the nearest Connells Maple Lee: 2408 E. Main St. (Route 40), Bexley, 614-237-8653; 2033 Stringtown Road, Grove City, 614-539-4000; and 8573 Owenfield Drive, Powell, 740-548-4082.
Connells Maple Lee Stems Hunger food drive returns June 20-27
Connells Maple Lee Stems Hunger, our annual food drive, will return June 20-27 to benefit the Mid-Ohio Foodbank.
Customers who donate a non-perishable food item during the event will receive a free carnation, up to six flowers per family per visit.
The food drive will be the theme of our June 20 Connells Maple Lee Kids Club event; more details to come on that in the days ahead.
Our friends at Drayer Physical Therapy Institute will be helping us again this year, collecting food at the company’s outpatient physical therapy centers in Grove City and Hilliard.
Connells Maple Lee Kids Club spring reading list
Every November, Connells Maple Lee holds a weeklong children’s-book drive to benefit area public libraries. To encourage the reading habit, we include a reading list in each quarterly issue of our Connells Maple Lee Kids Club newsletter, Buds.
Many baby animals arrive in spring, which is the focus of our latest reading list:
“Little White Rabbit” by Kevin Henkes
This story about a bunny exploring a garden in the springtime is a perfect read-aloud.
“Smick!” by Doreen Cronin
Can a big dog be friends with a little chick? Find out in the newest book by the author of “Click, Clack, Moo: Cows that Type.”
“Animal Babies” by Harry McNaught
Readers will learn the names of 20 different baby animals in this beautifully illustrated classic.
“Deep in the Swamp” by Donna M. Bateman
This counting book features animal families that live in the Okefenokee Swamp.
“I Hatched!” by Jill Esbaum
A baby killdeer chick pecks its way out of its shell and discovers a wondrous world.
“Charlotte’s Web” by E.B. White
Older children will love reading about a baby pig who starts out as the runt of the litter but grows up to become friends with a savvy spider.
The Connells Maple Lee Kids Club is free to children ages 5 to 12. Membership benefits include a membership card, Web site activities, giveaways, contests, member-only events and the Buds newsletter. Click here to register.
Photos from another egg-cellent kids club event
Things really got hopping at our March 14 Connells Maple Lee Kids Club event, as evidenced by these photos from our Powell store.
We had a great turnout as the kids made carnation Easter bunnies.
We certainly had a terrific time, and we look forward to more fun down the bunny trail as we have three more kids club events this year:
- June 20: Help us kick off our annual food drive, “Connells Maple Lee Stems Hunger,” and enter our kids club birthday card design contest.
- Aug. 22: Summer vacation is coming to an end, so we’re going to help ease you back to school.
- Oct. 31: It’s Halloween, so be sure to wear your costume as we celebrate the holiday and kick off our annual “Bouquets for Books” children’s book drive to benefit area public libraries.
We’ll share more details closer to each event, of course.
In the meantime, we wish you and your family a Happy Easter!
Put our free March 14 kids club event in your Easter basket
Easter fun is just a hop, a skip and a jump away for Connells Maple Lee Kids Club participants.
On March 14, children ages 5 to 12 will have an opportunity to create a carnation bunny, complete with greens, an egg-and-ribbon stick-in, and pipe cleaners (for ears). Participants also will receive a balloon.
Time slots are available at 10 a.m., 2 p.m. and 3 p.m.
Admission is free but registration is required by calling one of our Columbus-area stores:
- 2408 E. Main St. (Route 40), Bexley, 614-237-8653;
- 2033 Stringtown Road, Grove City, 614-539-4000;
- 8573 Owenfield Drive, Powell, 740-548-4082.
For more information about the kids club, click here.
Connells Maple Lee Kids club announces 2015 event schedule
Another new year of fun, free Connells Maple Lee Kids Club events is upon us.
The kids club is open to children ages 5 to 12, with the events held in each of our stores, usually at 10 a.m., 2 p.m. and 3 p.m.
The 2015 schedule
- Jan. 17: There are many more weeks of winter to come, but we’re turning our attention to spring.
- March 14: Our Easter event is just a hop, skip and jump away.
- June 20: Help us kick off our annual food drive, “Connells Maple Lee Stems Hunger,” and enter our kids club birthday card design contest.
- Aug. 22: Summer vacation is coming to an end, so we’re going to help ease you back to school.
- Oct. 31: It’s Halloween, so be sure to wear your costume as we celebrate the holiday and kick off our annual “Bouquets for Books” children’s book drive to benefit area public libraries.
Kids club registration is free and may be completed by clicking here or by visiting any of our stores. Membership benefits include a membership card, website activities, an e-mail newsletter, giveaways, contests, and, of course, our events.
Jan. 17 kids club event kicks off 2015 schedule
There are many more weeks of winter to come, but we’re turning our attention to spring with the first Connells Maple Lee Kids Club event of 2015.
On Jan. 17, children ages 5 to 12 will have an opportunity to make a vase arrangement featuring carnations and daisies, similar to the ones above. Participants in this fun, free event also will receive a balloon to bring home along with their floral creations.
Time slots are available at 10 a.m., 2 p.m. and 3 p.m.
Registration is required by calling your nearest store: 2408 E. Main St. (Route 40), Bexley, 614-237-8653; 2033 Stringtown Road, Grove City, 614-539-4000; and 8573 Owenfield Drive, Powell, 740-548-4082.
You’re invited to our holiday open house, Nov. 29-30
There’s no need to stop at Black Friday. What are you doing the rest of the weekend?
Join us for our annual holiday open house. All of our stores will be open 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
We’ll be offering:
• 30 percent off Christmas silk arrangements
• Door prizes
• Free balloons for children both days
• Refreshments on Sunday
And through Dec. 5, all of our stores are collecting holiday cards and coloring pages for the American Red Cross’ “Holiday Mail for Heroes” program. For details, click here.
Of course, we’ll have lots of beautiful flowers, plants and giftware available, too, as we usher in the holiday season.
We hope to see you there.