Kids' Day Out at Goodnow to Feature Live Animal Show, Raffle

Looking for a way to beat the winter blues? On Saturday, Jan. 25 the Children’s Room at the Goodnow Library will hold an open house with lively, free family entertainment, refreshments—plus an exclusive chance to win a Red Sox autographed baseball.

The event is a special thank-you to the Sudbury community for its support of the just-finished Children’s Room renovation. The Goodnow Library Foundation, which spearheaded the project, will host the event, along with The Friends of the Goodnow Library. 

“Kids’ Day Out at the Goodnow Library” begins at 1 p.m. and ends at 4 p.m.

Animal Adventures of Bolton will present a live animal show featuring four “furry” and four “scaly” creatures. Among possible furry participants are a skunk and a chinchilla; an alligator and a boa constrictor or python are likely to be among the scaly visitors. According to an Animal Adventures spokesman, the selection depends on “how the animals feel that day.”  The animal show runs from 1:30-2:30 p.m.

Attendees can also enter a raffle to win a Dustin Pedroia autographed baseball. Pedroia, the Red Sox second baseman, has won several awards in Major League Baseball, including American League Rookie of the Year in 2007 and American League MVP (Most Valuable Player) in 2008.

Raffle tickets will be sold at the event only. Two tickets will sell for $5, five tickets for $10, and twelve tickets for $20. 

Also on tap are two scavenger hunts, for younger children and for teens. Those participating in the younger children’s hunt will search for a list of new items added to the Children’s Room during the renovation. Teenagers will hunt for items needed to survive an apocalypse, which are hidden throughout the library. Winners in each category will get two free raffle tickets for the Pedroia baseball. (Participants can sign up for only one scavenger hunt.)

The Children’s Room renovation began last October, funded by an initial $25,000 donation from an anonymous Sudbury couple to the Goodnow Library Foundation. The foundation is a non-profit group that funds capital projects for the library. All proceeds from the foundation’s 2013 fall wine-tasting fundraiser went to the renovation. In all, the foundation raised $66,000 for the renovation and the Town of Sudbury contributed $27,000, making the total cost of the renovation $93,000.

Cream, slate blue and soft yellow paint replaced the old gray paint, with complimentary carpeting. New furnishings, including the very popular yogibos (bean bag-like seating), give the room a fresh feel, along with new shelving, an airplane play structure, display cases, an aquarium and large color photographs of animals and reptiles.

The foundation is still accepting donations to pay for the work as well as for future improvements, which include the creation of a welcoming community space in the library entrance area. To make a donation, contact the Goodnow Library Foundation at development@goodnow-foundation.org, or phone (978) 639-3224.

The library is located at 21 Concord Rd.