Edaville Railroad Christmas Festival

Edaville Railroad in Carver, MA is opening this Christmas with two different programs for families. There is a twenty minute railroad ride with 12 amusement rides available to the public for $18 dollars for both kids and adults and $16 dollars for seniors.

AAA offers a $2 discount on the children and adult admission prices, but according to their website it is not available on Saturdays during the Christmas festival or on the Days Out With Thomas. There is nothing on the website regarding the Polar Express Train, but I suspect the same restrictions would also apply. Calling ahead would verify your discount options.

For military members there is a military discount available that provides free admission with a military ID to the ID holder and 50% discount to each family member. Carver residents are being offered a BOGO option. (Buy one get one free)

The dates for the Christmas Festival are:
Dec. 1-4, 7-11
Dec. 14-January 1
(Closed Christmas Day)
Weekdays 4pm-9pm
Weekends 2pm-9pm

More information can be found on their website.

Edaville is also offering parents and children a Polar Express adventure. The dates for this special train trip are:

November 18,19, 20, 28, 29 & 30
December 5, 6, 12, 13, 24 & 31

The train times are currently listed as 4:30pm, 5:30pm, 6:30pm and 7:30pm

Prices are $30 for adults and children and it is suggested that you buy tickets early as they expect them to go quickly.

You can find out more about this option on their website here.

This was one of my favorite places to visit as a child and I am glad it is available for kids to see again. I am in the process of trying to get family interest generated to make a trip down this Christmas season.

Pictures may not be used without written permission.

Three Young Pilgrims

I have been previewing Pilgrim books to add to my Thanksgiving box and came across Three Young Pilgrimsthrough our library network. While this book may not make this year's purchase list, it will be on next year's list.

This picture book focuses on telling the story of the Pilgrim's journey to the New World and their life here through one family's experience. Bartholomew, Remember, and Mary Allerton arrive in Plymouth and face many challenges.

The best parts of this book are the beautiful illustrations and the maps that provide extra information that the prose does not. The maps add details and added specific information that does not quite fit into the family's story.

While this is written as a picture book, this could be a good teaching tool for older elementary students if approached in the right way. A discussion about the additional information, the illustrations, and the characters can make this a much-needed addition to many dry textbooks that are on the market. However, it is also a perfect match for the target audience of primary readers that generally study the Pilgrims.

I will be putting this on my search list for next year's Thanksgiving mailing.

The Boston Massacre an Interactive History

The Boston Massacre: An Interactive History Adventure (You Choose: History)is another book I borrowed from the library prior to purchasing for Christmas this year. Like the previous stories in this series, the reader is given a background of the events leading up to the event and three characters to choose from in following the story.

This story starts with the background information of the Stamp Act, the formation of the Sons of Liberty, the Stamp Act protests, and the arrival of British troops to keep the peace in Boston. Readers are provided with three character choices to follow the adventures through the book, a 13-year-old wig maker's apprentice, a British soldier, or the role of John Hancock's maid.

The story then walks the reader through the events of the Boston Massacre through each characters experience, giving the reader options to make choices and see how those choices alter the outcomes along the path. What I found interesting and an important lesson was in some cases you could not change the outcome. Despite your best intentions, bad things still happen. This is historically accurate, but also an important life lesson illustrated for kids in a practical setting. The British soldier's life provides another side to the story that is often missed in the retelling of the Boston Massacre. The author gives his character the temptation of deserting and the life the options that would come with that or staying loyal and all the choices that come for a soldier with that option.

The book ends with a summary of events that happened after the Boston Massacre.

I was pleased this topic was one the series decided to approach. The Boston Massacre is a great example of how choices have consequences. It also demonstrates that events sometimes do end up overtaking the ability of people to avoid them. Regardless of our own wishes and choices, sometimes other’s choices prevent us from changing our outcome.

I continue to be impressed with the possibilities for this series to engage and encourage children's interest in history.

Revised Halloween Trick or Treat Schedule Metro West Massachusetts

This is by no means a complete schedule. Feel free to leave a note and I will make changes if people add any.

Thursday,November 3
Marlborough

Friday,November 4
Northborough
Sudbury
Westborough

Saturday, November 5
Southborough

Monday, November 7
Hopkinton