WESTWOOD—A year after the welcoming Shy Touba Memorial Garden was dedicated, with love and laughter, at Westwood Public Library, many Friends of the Library, library trustees, staff, and local garden enthusiasts reveled in another special event, July 10.
According to Westwood Public Library Director Martha Urbiel, the weather was perfect for “a garden party to celebrate the beautiful space created for Shy, and to acknowledge our commitment to reading the Library’s One Book Westwood choice this year: ‘Wishtree’ by Katherine Applegate.”
Shaigun “Shy” Touba, 96, was a beloved member of the Friends of the Library and a library employee. She died in April 2021. In her memory, with a gift from the Touba Family Foundation, friends took a bare patch and turned it into a garden.
Urbiel said, “That garden plus the Betty Bischak garden and the Dawn Finn garden in front, make the library, in my opinion, the prettiest building in town. Last year, we were able to create a garden club and they have worked tirelessly to not only maintain these spaces but to also hold gardening programs and fundraise for their continued maintenance.”
She says this is a story “about community, gardening, and summer reading.” Apt, as the theme of this year’s summer reading is All Together Now. “We are definitely working all together now to make a nice space in Westwood.”
Urbiel told us at its dedication that Shy’s garden “will serve as a reminder of Shy’s significant contribution to the Westwood Library and to her as a person known for her intelligence, wit and grace.”
Speakers at the dedication were Urbiel, Friends of the Library member Mike Violano, Shy’s daughter Mariam Touba, Touba Family Foundation representative Jacqueline Touba, Councilman and library liaison Chris Montana, and Pastor Tom Pranschke, of Zion Lutheran Church.
In One Book Westwood, all are invited to read a common title, this year “Wishtree” June 23–Aug. 11. Copies are available at the front desk..
In “Wishtree,” for grades 4–8, School Library Journal says “Newbery Award-winning author Applegate meets high expectations in this tale told by a tree named Red, a red oak who is ‘two hundred and sixteen rings old.’ Touching on religious bigotry and the environment, Applegate keeps the emphasis on her characters, the many animals and birds who find shelter in the tree’s branches all year round. (All the birds and animals have names and the power to talk, just like Red.)”
The Journal says, “Around the first of May, people write down their wishes on pieces of cloth and hang them from the tree’s branches, giving Red a special place in the community.”
t says, “Even those who shy away from books with talking animals will find this believable fantasy elegant and poignant. Widening the appeal is a sparse word count, making this a great choice for a family or classroom read-aloud and an inviting option for reluctant readers… a top choice for middle graders.”
Applegate is the author of several best-selling young adult series, including “Animorphs” and “Roscoe Riley Rules.”
“Home of the Brave,” her first standalone novel, received the SCBWI 2008 Golden Kite Award for Best Fiction and the Bank Street 2008 Josette Frank Award.
The library says there are two opportunities to get involved:
- Kids in grades 3–5 can register for a tabletop wish tree craft program.
- “Kids and parents of all ages” can join the fun on the front lawn of the library, 49 Park Ave., on Monday, Aug. 7 at 7 p.m. “for discussion and to make our own wishes.” Also, email a song title of your choice that best represents the summer reading theme. This will be added to a Spotify playlist that will add to the fun.
For more information visit westwoodpubliclibrary.org or call (201) 664-0583.